A Convergent-Divergent Approach to Context Processing, General Intellectual Functioning, and the Genetic Liability to Schizophrenia.

Convergent and divergent validity are critically important in developing psychological measures that reveal interpretable deficits in disordered populations. This article reports on 2 studies that evaluated the validity of context processing measures. In Experiment 1, a confirmatory factor analysis of data from 481 healthy adults established the convergent validity of 2 context processing measures and showed that context processing accounted for significant amounts of variance in standard IQ and working memory measures. In Experiment 2, 20 schizophrenia patients, 16 of their healthy siblings, and 28 controls were evaluated using a novel, short context processing measure, the dot pattern expectancy (DPX) task. The DPX was sensitive to specific deficits in schizophrenia patients and their healthy siblings. These findings support the construct validity of context processing measures, suggest context processing is a component of intellectual functioning, and demonstrate that brief context processing measures remain sensitive to psychopathological deficits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Experimental and theoretical study of semiconductor laser dynamics due to filtered optical feedback

We report experimental results on the nonlinear dynamical response of a semiconductor laser subjected to time-delayed (>5 ns), frequency selective, optical feedback from a Fabry-Pe/spl acute/rot interferometer type of filter. Three regimes of interest, based on the relative value of the filter bandwidth with respect to the relevant laser parameters (relaxation oscillation frequency and external cavity mode spacing), are identified, viz. a wide filter case, an intermediate filter width case, and a narrow filter case. The dynamical response of the laser is shown to be quite different in each of these regimes. The principal results are 1) the laser's linewidth enhancement factor, coupled with the nonlinear response of the filter, can be exploited to induce nonlinear dynamics in the instantaneous optical frequency of the laser light on a time scale related to the time-delay of the feedback, 2) a mode mismatch effect which arises from a detuning between the filter center frequency and the nearest external cavity mode and manifests itself in a reduction of the maximum light available for feedback, and 3) a reduction in, or even disappearance of, relaxation oscillations in the laser dynamics when a filter of appropriate width is chosen. More generally, it is observed that certain dynamics that occur due to unfiltered optical feedback may be suppressed when the feedback light is spectrally filtered.     

Sesamin modulation of lipid class and fatty acid profile in early juvenile teleost, Lates calcarifer, fed different dietary oils

Sesamin, a major sesame seed lignan, has diverse biological functions including the modulation of molecular actions in lipid metabolic pathways and reducing cholesterol levels. Vertebrates have different capacities to biosynthesize long-chain PUFA from dietary precursors and sesamin can enhance the biosynthesis of ALA to EPA and DHA in marine teleost. Early juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer, were fed for two weeks on diets rich in ALA or SDA derived from linseed or Echium plantagineum, respectively. Both diets contained phytosterols and less cholesterol compared with a standard fish oil-based diet. The growth rates were reduced in the animals receiving sesamin regardless of the dietary oil. However, the relative levels of n-3 LC-PUFA in total lipid, but not the phospholipid, increased in the whole body by up to 25% in animals fed on sesamin with ALA or SDA. Sesamin reduced the relative levels of triacylglycerols and increased polar lipid, and did not affect the relative composition of phospholipid subclasses or sterols. Sesamin is a potent modulator for LC-PUFA biosynthesis in animals, but probably will have more effective impact at advanced ages. By modulating certain lipid metabolic pathways, sesamin has probably disrupted the body growth and development of organs and tissues in early juvenile barramundi.     

Particulate matter chemical component concentrations and sources in settings of household solid fuel use

Particulate matter (PM) air pollution derives from combustion and non‐combustion sources and consists of various chemical species that may differentially impact human health and climate. Previous reviews of PM chemical component concentrations and sources focus on high‐income urban settings, which likely differ from the low‐ and middle‐income settings where solid fuel (ie, coal, biomass) is commonly burned for cooking and heating. We aimed to summarize the concentrations of PM chemical components and their contributing sources in settings where solid fuel is burned. We searched the literature for studies that reported PM component concentrations from homes, personal exposures, and direct stove emissions under uncontrolled, real‐world conditions. We calculated weighted mean daily concentrations for select PM components and compared sources of PM determined by source apportionment. Our search criteria yielded 48 studies conducted in 12 countries. Weighted mean daily cooking area concentrations of elemental carbon, organic carbon, and benzo(a)pyrene were 18.8 μg m^?3, 74.0 μg m^?3, and 155 ng m^?3, respectively. Solid fuel combustion explained 29%‐48% of principal component/factor analysis variance and 41%‐87% of PM mass determined by positive matrix factorization. Multiple indoor and outdoor sources impacted PM concentrations and composition in these settings, including solid fuel burning, mobile emissions, dust, and solid waste burning.     

Modeling lightness perception—a response to Kuehni

We agree with the main point of Rolf Kuehni's letter; time is ripe to improve the standard lightness metric L*. We discuss items he raised: scientific literature supporting both log and power laws of lightness, the relation of math theory and curve fitting, crispening, different models of lightness for different situations, and “who cares?” © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 39, 105–106, 2014     

Efficiency of removal of whey protein from sweet whey using polymeric microfiltration membranes

Our objective was to measure whey protein removal percentage from separated sweet whey using spiral-wound (SW) polymeric microfiltration (MF) membranes using a 3-stage, 3× process at 50°C and to compare the performance of polymeric membranes with ceramic membranes. Pasteurized, separated Cheddar cheese whey (1,080 kg) was microfiltered using a polymeric 0.3-μm polyvinylidene (PVDF) fluoride SW membrane and a 3×, 3-stage MF process. Cheese making and whey processing were replicated 3 times. There was no detectable level of lactoferrin and no intact α- or β-casein detected in the MF permeate from the 0.3-μm SW PVDF membranes used in this study. We found BSA and IgG in both the retentate and permeate. The β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) and α-lactalbumin (α-LA) partitioned between retentate and permeate, but β-LG passage through the membrane was retarded more than α-LA because the ratio of β-LG to α-LA was higher in the MF retentate than either in the sweet whey feed or the MF permeate. About 69% of the crude protein present in the pasteurized separated sweet whey was removed using a 3×, 3-stage, 0.3-μm SW PVDF MF process at 50°C compared with 0.1-μm ceramic graded permeability MF that removed about 85% of crude protein from sweet whey. The polymeric SW membranes used in this study achieve approximately 20% lower yield of whey protein isolate (WPI) and a 50% higher yield of whey protein phospholipid concentrate (WPPC) under the same MF processing conditions as ceramic MF membranes used in the comparison study. Total gross revenue from the sale of WPI plus WPPC produced with polymeric versus ceramic membranes is influenced by both the absolute market price for each product and the ratio of market price of these 2 products. The combination of the market price of WPPC versus WPI and the influence of difference in yield of WPPC and WPI produced with polymeric versus ceramic membranes yielded a price ratio of WPPC versus WPI of 0.556 as the cross over point that determined which membrane type achieves higher total gross revenue return from production of these 2 products from separated sweet whey. A complete economic engineering study comparison of the WPI and WPPC manufacturing costs for polymeric versus ceramic MF membranes is needed to determine the effect of membrane material selection on long-term processing costs, which will affect net revenue and profit when the same quantity of sweet whey is processed under various market price conditions.     

Past is prologue: Teachers composing narratives about digital literacy

This study examines the technological literacy autobiographical narratives (TLANs) written by 23 graduate students enrolled in a teacher-preparation course, Teaching Writing in a Digital Age. The purpose of this research was to understand the meanings and values these future composition teachers ascribed to technological literacy in their own past histories, as well as potential sources of reluctance or resistance to engage technological literacy in the teaching of composition. Findings from these TLANs suggest that participants’ past experiences with technology in school were often less compelling than extracurricular motives for using technology, such as social contact, playful experimentation, and the pursuit of existing interests. The article also explores the TLAN as a pedagogical activity and its potential for helping future instructors realign their orientations toward digital literacies.     

Cognitive Correlates of Improvised Behaviour in Disaster Response: the Cases of the Murrah Building and the World Trade Center

While emergency response actions are known to range from conventional to improvised, less is known about the thinking processes that underlie these actions. This paper presents a statistical analysis of cognition and behaviour reported by police personnel who responded to two significant US disasters: the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City and the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. The results suggest the prominence of conventional behaviour coupled with cognitive processes closely tied to recognition, and of improvised behaviours that are linked to more explicit reasoning processes. The results underscore the value of exploring cognitive foundations of both conventional and improvised behaviours to enrich understanding of human response to disaster.     

Evaluation of surface/interface quality,microstructure and mechanical properties of hybrid additive-subtractive aluminium parts

A disadvantage of selective laser melting (SLM) processes for the manufacture of large parts is their slow build time per unit volume. A hybrid route is to generate core simple shapes traditionally, for example by machining, followed by adding final features by SLM. Here the mechanical integrity of such hybrid parts is studied, choosing the building of AlSi10Mg by SLM on a machined AA6082 base, in the shape of a tensile test piece, as a simple example. These materials are chosen for their relevance to lightweight parts. As-built parts fail at the SLM/machined interface but standard heat treatments transfer failures to the machined material. Optimised SLM processing conditions and microstructures of the SLM and interfacial regions are reported.