En route to a harmony of being: Viewing aloneness as a need in development and child analytic work.

The construct aloneness, proposed as a basic-level human need, parallel to and of the same valency as attachment, is viewed in the process of development over the life span. It is suggested that focus on attachment and object relations has kept the regulatory function of detachment, and thus aloneness, in partial eclipse. Borrowing from the discourse of psycholinguistics, the authors view aloneness as the unmarked member of a pair of antonyms, aloneness/loneliness, rather than as the marked member of the pair, attached/alone. The contributions of psychoanalysts across models and infant researchers are recalled in the service of tracing the presence of an aloneness need. Examples from psychoanalytic child treatments are offered to illustrate the juxtaposition of aloneness and attachment in analytic discourse at successive developmental stages. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some thermodynamic properties of tetrafluoroethene-hexafluoropropene copolymers

Copolymers of tetrafluoroethene (TFE) with hexafluoropropene (HFP) have been prepared in the 0-14mol% HFP composition range. Their melting temperatures (T_m), enthalpies (ΔH_f) and entropies (ΔS_f) of first and second fusion, and crystallinities (X) according to x-ray diffraction(x.r.d.) and differential scanning calorimetry (d.s.c.) have been determined. The results indicate that ΔH_f/X_x.r.d of the polymer crystals decreases with higher HFP content.     

Radionuclide imaging and ultrasound in liver/spleen trauma: a prospective comparison

In a prospective blind study of liver/spleen trauma, 32 consecutive patients were evaluated by radionuclide imaging (99mTc-sulfur colloid) and gray-scale ultrasound. Six patients (19%) had inadequate sonograms due to injuries and pain. Thirteen (41%) were normal, 13 (41%) were abnormal with one technique or the other, and there was a discrepancy in 2 (6%). Of the 13 abnormal patients, 1 had a lacerated spleen, 2 had angiographic confirmation of a subcapsular hematoma, and 10 showed resolution on follow-up. Two patients with left-sided trauma had abnormal radionuclide scans of the liver; sonograms were initially normal in one of them, but subsequent imaging confirmed the abnormality. The authors feel that imaging with 99mTc-sulfur colloid should be the primary screening examination for liver/spleen trauma.     

The structure of attitudes toward persons with disabilities: An Israeli validation of Siller's Disability Factor Scales—General (DFS—G).

Investigated the transcultural generalizability of the Disability Factor Scales—General (DFS—G) of J. Siller et al (1967) in 658 Jewish Israeli 11th and 12th graders and undergraduates. All Ss filled out a Hebrew translation of the 69-item DFS—G. Factor analysis of the Ss' responses provided support for the replicability of a major part of the DFS—G's structure. Also, a subsample of 114 Ss was administered the Edwards Social Desirability Scale while a subsample of 197 Ss was administered the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Correlations between some scales of the DFS—G and these 2 measures are discussed as possible evidence that attitudes toward disability may reflect defenses against intra- and interpersonal pressures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chemically Mediated Species Recognition in Closely Related Podarcis Wall Lizards

In many animals, chemical signals play an important role in species recognition and may contribute to reproductive isolation and speciation. The Iberian lizards of the genus Podarcis, with up to nine currently recognized lineages that are often sympatric, are highly chemosensory and provide an excellent model for the study of chemically mediated species recognition in closely related taxa. In this study, we tested the ability of male and female lizards of two sister species with widely overlapping distribution ranges (Podarcis bocagei and P. hispanica type 1) to discriminate between conspecific and heterospecific mates by using only substrate-borne chemical cues. We scored the number of tongue flicks directed at the paper substrate by each individual in a terrarium previously occupied by a conspecific or a heterospecific lizard of the opposite sex. Results show that males of P. bocagei and P. hispanica type 1 are capable of discriminating chemically between conspecifics and heterospecifics of the opposite sex, but females are not. These results suggest that differences in female, but not male, chemical cues may underlie species recognition and contribute to reproductive isolation in these species. The apparent inability of females to discriminate conspecific from heterospecific males, which is not because of reduced baseline exploration rates, is discussed in the context of sexual selection theory and species discrimination.     

Life cycle assessment of municipal solid waste management with regard to greenhouse gas emissions: Case study of Tianjin, China

The environmental impacts of municipal solid waste (MSW) management have been highlighted in China, due to the continually increasing amount of MSW being generated and the limited capacity of waste treatment facilities. Of particular interest is greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, aided by the Kyoto Mechanisms. China is an important case study for this global issue; however, an analysis of the entire life cycle of MSW management on GHG emissions is not available for China. This study evaluates the current and possible patterns of MSW management with regard to GHG emissions, using life cycle assessment (LCA), based on the Tianjin case. We assess the baseline scenario, reflecting the existing MSW management system, as well as a set of alternative scenarios, five exploring waste treatment technology innovations and one exploring integrated MSW management, to quantitatively predict potentials of GHG mitigation for Tianjin. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis is used to investigate the influence of landfill gas (LFG) collection efficiency, recycling rate and methodological choice, especially allocation, on the outcomes. The results show GHG emissions from Tianjin's MSW management system amount to 467.34 Mg CO₂ eq. per year, based on the treatment of MSW collected in the central districts in 2006, and the key issue is LFG released. The integrated MSW management scenario, combining different improvement options, shows the highest GHG mitigation potential. Given the limited financial support and the current waste management practice in Tianjin, LFG utilization scenario would be the preferred choice. The sensitivity analysis of recycling rate shows an approximately linear relation of inverse proportion between recycling rate and total GHG emissions. Kitchen waste composting makes a considerable contribution to total GHG emissions reduction. Allocation choices result in differences in total quantitative outcomes, but preference orders and contributions analysis are found to be robust, suggesting LCA can support decision making.     

Characterisation of the Dynamic Interactions between Complex N-Glycans and Human CD22

CD22 (Siglec-2) is a B-cell surface inhibitory protein capable of selectively recognising sialylated glycans, thus dampening autoimmune responses against self-antigens. Here we have characterised the dynamic recognition of complex-type N-glycans by human CD22 by means of orthogonal approaches including NMR spectroscopy, computational methods and biophysical assays. We provide new molecular insights into the binding mode of sialoglycans in complex with h-CD22, highlighting the role of the sialic acid galactose moieties in the recognition process, elucidating the conformational behaviour of complex-type N-glycans bound to Siglec-2 and dissecting the formation of CD22 homo-oligomers on the B-cell surface. Our results could enable the development of additional therapeutics capable of modulating the activity of h-CD22 in autoimmune diseases and malignancies derived from B-cells.     

Filtration performance at high temperatures and analysis of ceramic filter elements during biomass gasification

During the CHRISGAS project, various experimental campaigns were performed with the aim to study the hot gas filtration process during steam-O₂ biomass gasification at Delft University of Technology. The test-rig consists of a 100 kW thermal atmospheric circulating fluidized-bed gasifier and a high temperature filter unit which contains 3 rigid ceramic candles with an outer diameter of 60 mm, 10 mm wall thickness and a length of 1520 mm. This paper gives an overview of tests performed with different fuels (A-wood, B-wood, miscanthus) and with sand and magnesite used as bed materials. Dia-Schumalith¹ candles were operated in the temperature range between 600 °C and 800 °C for more than 50 h. The filtration performance was studied through continuous observation of the increasing differential pressure while the filter cake formed on the surface of the candles. Gas face velocities ranged between 3 cm s^?1 and 5 cm s^?1. Stable filtration was achieved during some tests. Dust cake analysis indicated formation of calcium phosphates and silicates and potassium silicates.