You protest too much, methinks: Investigating the features of truthful and fabricated reports of traumatic experiences.

Legal decision-makers frequently assess the credibility of reports of traumatic victimization. In this study, we compared the memory features and post-traumatic symptoms associated with truthful and malingered reports of trauma. Participants (N=126) described in writing both a genuine and a fabricated traumatic experience (counterbalanced) and completed scales relating to the severity of the associated trauma symptoms. Relative to accounts of genuine trauma, the information in fabricated accounts was less plausible and contained fewer contextual details. However, truthful and false reports were qualitatively similar on other criteria such as coherence and relevance. Fabricated traumatic experiences were associated with extreme ratings on multiple, diverse psychological measures of emotional distress and a higher level of apparent post-traumatic stress disorder. However, most participants were able to "fool" widely used validity scales. Implications for evaluating the credibility of claims of victimization in legal cases are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modeling and simulation of a smart catalytic converter combining NOx storage, ammonia production and SCR

Dynamic simulation of the smart catalytic converter, proposed by Daimler AG, is presented. The smart catalytic converter combines NOx storage, on-board ammonia production and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and functions in a dual-mode operation, alternating between lean burn and rich burn. It relies on intrinsic dynamic operation and synchronization of all units and its development demands a reliable dynamic simulator. A platform capable of simulating the dynamic behavior of multiple-unit aftertreatment system was developed based on COMSOL package. Predictive kinetic models were developed for NOx storage unit that includes ammonia formation function and for NH₃-SCR unit. Using these kinetic models, two-unit smart catalytic converter was simulated on the developed simulator. The results of the simulator were validated using two-unit experimental data. The simulator was also employed to control and optimize the performance of smart catalytic converter. It was shown that the simulator is vital for optimization of lean and rich periods in order to ensure stable lean–rich cycles.     

Morphosynthesis and morphology characterization of aniline and aniline/Laponite films

We report on morphosynthesis techniques that have been employed to tune polyamine film nanoarchitectures and on their resulting morphologies. Specific layers discussed include films of aniline/Laponite clay and aniline solution processed with V₂O₅ catalyst. Synthesis approaches examined include films generated in-situ (glass templating), solution based drop casting, and mechanochemical grinding. Surface topography results suggest that these approaches provide dimensionality control of the polyaniline morphology. Surface images of the mechanochemically ground polyaniline/Laponite nanocomposite layer reveal interfacial contact which is promising for potential heterojunction solar cell designs.     

Remaining life assessment of welded pipes containing cracks

The presence of flaws, their size and location in the welded region affects the safe service life of pressure pipes operating at elevated temperature. A remaining life assessment was required to determine the probable remaining safe life of pressure pipes in a high-temperature steam distribution system in which crack-like defects had been identified in many welds. The crack-like defects indicated by NDE lacked the required information to fully identify their locations within the pipe wall. The effect of not knowing complete details of the location of the identified cracks was studied by considering a 360° circumferential crack with initial radial dimension a₀. The crack positions evaluated were: an internal surface crack, an external surface crack, and embedded cracks at various distances from the internal wall of the pipe. Crack growth was modeled using time-dependent fracture mechanics and a newly developed computer code.     

耐热嗜碱蛋白酶基因的克隆、表达及其酶学性质分析

碱性蛋白酶是一类重要的工业酶制剂。为进一步提高碱性蛋白酶在高温碱性条件下的活力,增强其工业应用价值,本文从地衣芽胞杆菌CCTCC M2018539中首先通过PCR扩增获得碱性蛋白酶编码基因aprE539并克隆入表达载体pND-113中,在枯草芽胞杆菌WB600中实现碱性蛋白酶AprE539的表达;重组酶AprE539经硫酸铵沉降(30%~70%)、透析、DEAE阴离子交换和超滤获得纯酶,并以SDS-PAGE电泳测定AprE539的分子量大小。结果表明,AprE539的分子量大小为30 kDa。进一步对其酶学性质研究表明:AprE539的最适作用pH为11.0,最适作用温度为65~70℃;在pH6.0~12.0范围内具有较好的稳定性;在60℃保温1 h后酶活剩余70%;Cu²⁺、Mn²⁺、Ca²⁺和Mg²⁺对酶活有明显促进作用。AprE539在氨基酸序列上仅有2个氨基酸残基与碱性蛋白酶2709存在差异,但其酶学特征差异明显,为后续进一步探究其酶学性质差异性奠定基础。     

The effect of treatment variables on mood and social adjustment in adult patients with pituitary disease

The effect of 50 days of streptozotocine-induced diabetes mellitus (blood glucose 20 mmol/l) on contraction and relaxation of isolated renal and intrarenal arteries in rats were examined. Strong and similar contractions were induced by potassium (60 mM), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in renal and intrarenal arteries in diabetic and control rats. The vasodilatory reactivity, after precontraction with 5-HT, of neuropeptide Y (NPY) was similar to that of acetylcholine (ACh), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and was similar in diabetic and control rats. The relaxing effect of NPY was decreased (40%) only in the diabetic group by blockade of nitric oxide synthase with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (10(-4) M) and by blockade (50%) of NPY with alpha-trinositol (10(-6) M). In conclusion, the present study showed that diabetes mellitus in the rat is associated with normal vasoconstrictive and vasodilatory capacities. However, the vasodilatory response to NPY was largely eliminated by blockade of nitric oxide synthesis only in the diabetic animals. This indicates that the vasodilatory effect of NPY in diabetes mellitus may be dependent on nitric oxide synthesis.     

Myopathy in guinea pigs

Myopathy resembling nutritional muscular dystrophy occurred in a colony of 150 guinea pigs. Of 54 animals affected, 27 died. Major clinical signs were depression, conjunctivitis, and reluctance to move. Lesions were widespread throughout skeletal and cardiac musculature. Clinical signs and deaths ceased when the diet was changed to a different commercial ration. A single intramuscular injection of sodium selenite and alphatocopherol brought prompt remission of clinical signs in one group of 20 so treated.     

Polymers from the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane

The hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane was studied under various solvent and temperature conditions. A method was developed by which reaction rates can be measured even in the presence of alcohols other than ethanol. The structures of the resulting polymers were dependent upon the reaction conditions employed, those formed at high temperature being highly condensed materials.     

Modeling of drying and ameliorative effects of relative humidity (RH) against β-carotene degradation and color of carrot (Daucus carota var.) slices

Food Science and Biotechnology - Drying and β-carotenes retention kinetics were predicted using models in relative humidity (RH) drying condition. This was achieved by drying carrot slices...     

Book reviews

The Housing and Living Environment for Retired people in Australia. edited by Ross Thorne. Sydney: Hale & Iremonger. 1986. pp348 $A 29.95.

The Modern Urban Landscape. by Edward Relph. London: Croom Helm, 1987 pp279. £10.95.

Housing the Homeless. edited by Jon Erickson and Charles Wilhelm New Brunswick, New Jersey: Center for Urban Policy Research, Rutgers University. 1986. pp459. $19.95.

Cities: Special Issue: Shelter and Homelessness. Vol 4 No 1, February 1987. London: Butterworth. pp104.