Prevalence and sequelae of betrayal trauma in a Japanese student sample.

The aims of this study were to test predictions of betrayal trauma theory (Freyd, 1996) in a non-Western culture and to contribute to the limited empirical literature on child abuse in Japan. Per betrayal trauma theory, high betrayal trauma is abuse perpetrated by someone close to the victim, medium betrayal trauma is abuse perpetrated by someone not close, low betrayal trauma involves no identifiable perpetrator, and as level of betrayal increases so does posttraumatic distress and trauma-related memory disruption. Seventy-nine Japanese university students completed an anonymous online survey of trauma experiences, psychological health and cultural values. It was hypothesized that high betrayal childhood abuse (physical, sexual, and emotional maltreatment and/or neglect) would predict greater psychological distress and trauma-related memory disruption than would medium betrayal trauma and these hypotheses were partially supported. Endorsement of traditional Asian cultural values (e.g., interpersonal harmony) was not a significant moderator on the betrayal effects found. The findings partially support predictions of betrayal trauma theory in a non-Western culture and have intervention and prevention implications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil washing residues with amino polycarboxylic acids

Removal of Cu, Pb, and Zn by the action of the two biodegradable chelating agents [S,S]-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) and methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), as well as citric acid, was tested. Three soil samples, which had previously been treated by conventional soil washing (water), were utilized in the leaching tests. Experiments were performed in batches (0.3 kg-scale) and with a WTC-mixer system (Water Treatment Construction, 10 kg-scale). EDDS and MGDA were most often equally efficient in removing Cu, Pb, and Zn after 10–60 min. Nonetheless, after 10 d, there were occasionally significant differences in extraction efficiencies. Extraction with citric acid was generally less efficient, however equal for Zn (mainly) after 10 d. Metal removal was similar in batch and WTC-mixer systems, which indicates that a dynamic mixer system could be used in full-scale. Use of biodegradable amino polycarboxylic acids for metal removal, as a second step after soil washing, would release most remaining metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) from the present soils, however only after long leaching time. Thus, a full-scale procedure, based on enhanced metal leaching by amino polycarboxylic acids from soil of the present kind, would require a pre-leaching step lasting several days in order to be efficient.     

Acoustic emissions simulation of tumbling mills using charge dynamics

Knowledge of the internal variables of a mill is of importance in design and performance optimization of the mill, notwithstanding the difficulty in measuring these variables within the harsh mill environment. To overcome this problem, the research has focused on measuring the internal parameters through non-invasive measurement methods such as the use of the vibration/acoustic signal obtained from the mill. Alternatively, virtual instruments, such as discrete element methods (DEM), are employed. Here, a methodology is developed to simulate on-the-shell acoustic signal emitted from tumbling mills using the information extracted from a DEM simulator. The transfer function which links the forces exerted on the internal surface of the mill and the acoustic signal measured on the outer surface is measured experimentally. Given this transfer function and the force distribution obtained from the DEM simulation, and assuming a linear time-invariant response, the on-the-shell acoustic of a laboratory scale ball mill has been simulated. Comparison of this simulated signal with the signal measured experimentally can be used as a criterion to judge the validity of the DEM simulations, and as a tool for enhancing our understanding of both DEM simulations and the use of acoustics within the context of mineral processing. The results derived from preliminary experiments on a laboratory scale mill shows satisfactory agreement between the actual measurement and the simulated acoustic signal.     

Passive mixing control for innovative air diffusion terminal devices for buildings

This paper presents an innovative concept for optimized air diffusion in buildings. The method uses passive control of air jet through lobed diffusers. An analysis is done experimentally at different scales for a lobed shaped geometry. A cross-shaped jet is characterized first through an isolated orifice and then at the scale of one perforated panel. An intermediary analysis of two coalescent and a row of cross-shaped jets is also proposed. All the results lead to the same conclusion. The lobed diffuser favors the self-induction compared to a reference conventional circular perforated diffuser. The air flow induced in the case of the lobed perforated panel is in average twice as the one of the circular perforated panel. Despite the consequent gain in air induction for the lobed perforated panel flow, the streamwise maximum velocities display comparable values in the far field which signifies comparable throws for the two flows. Consequently, the presented lobed perforated panel concept can be generalized to different type of diffusers to improve mixing ventilation in buildings.     

Evaluation of ergonomic adjustments of catering carts to reduce external pushing forces

An existing standard catering cart was compared with two prototypes for pushbar and castor design. The first objective of this study was to find out which cart was accompanied with the lowest manually exerted external forces in pushing in a straight way and in pushing a 90 turn. The second objective was to explore effects of the pushbar and castor design of the carts. In the initial and ending phase, the prototypes were accompanied with higher exerted forces compared with the standard catering cart. In pushing straight. the reversed start position of the bigger castors of the prototypes hampered a fluent acceleration and caused higher initial forces. In decelerating, the lower rolling friction of the bigger castors required higher forces to stop the prototypes compared to the standard cart. During the sustained phase, the prototype carts were more favourable. Effects of pushbar and castor design were studied during a turn. The vertical pushbars of the prototypes resulted in lower time-integrated pushing forces. Providing an axis of rotation for turning activities by means of a fixed wheel was proven to be advantageous.     

Desire for euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide in palliative cancer care.

Objective: To investigate the attitudes of terminally ill individuals toward the legalization of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and to identify those who would personally desire such a death. Design: In the Canadian National Palliative Care Survey, semistructured interviews were administered to 379 patients who were receiving palliative care for cancer. Patients who expressed a desire for physician-hastened death were followed prospectively. Main Outcome Measures: Attitudes toward the legalization of euthanasia or PAS were determined, as was the personal interest in receiving a hastened death. Demographic and clinical characteristics were also recorded, including a 22-item structured interview of symptoms and concerns. Results: There were 238 participants (62.8%) who believed that euthanasia and/or PAS should be legalized, and 151 (39.8%) who would consider making a future request for a physician-hastened death. However, only 22 (5.8%) reported that, if legally permissible, they would initiate such a request right away, in their current situations. This desire for hastened death was associated with lower religiosity (p = .010), reduced functional status (p = .024), a diagnosis of major depression (p     

Experimental Analysis of Punch-Through Conditions in Power P-I- N Diodes

Commercial power diodes are optimized to feature punch-through behavior. However, a tradeoff between the width and the doping level of the diode epitaxial layer leads to various levels of optimization. For a given breakdown voltage, a shorter epitaxial layer width leads to better transient performances. Device datasheets do not cover this issue and a simple experimental setup is presented to assess the optimization conditions inside the diode epitaxial layer. Three commercial devices are tested and experimental results are confronted to device simulations. A good agreement is found     

On the validity of the standard SPICE model of the diode forsimulation in power electronics

A systematic study of the standard SPICE model of the diode in the case of simulations of power diodes in power electronic applications shows the limits of accuracy with respect to experiments. Therefore, the interest in such a model in power electronic applications is comparable to the high-low resistance model