Recognition of Face Identity and Emotion in Expressive Specific Language Impairment

Objective: To study face and emotion recognition in children with mostly expressive specific language impairment (SLI-E). Subjects and Methods: A test movie to study perception and recognition of faces and mimic-gestural expression was applied to 24 children diagnosed as suffering from SLI-E and an age-matched control group of normally developing children. Results: Compared to a normal control group, the SLI-E children scored significantly worse in both the face and expression recognition tasks with a preponderant effect on emotion recognition. The performance of the SLI-E group could not be explained by reduced attention during the test session. Conclusion: We conclude that SLI-E is associated with a deficiency in decoding non-verbal emotional facial and gestural information, which might lead to profound and persistent problems in social interaction and development. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Sorption and Biodegradation of 2,4-Dichlorophenol in the Presence of Organoclays

The influence of sorption on the biodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) by Ralstonia eutropha was investigated using organoclays. The aim was to examine the suitability of organoclays combined with biodegradation in remediation techniques. Two types of organoclays were used: a dodecyltrimethylammonium montmorillonite. where 89% of the former sodium ions were exchanged by the cationic surfactant (C-12-MM), and a dioctadecyldimethylammonium montmorillonite complex (35% exchange of the sodium-ions) (2C(18)-MM). The organoclays showed high sorption affinity to DCP resulting in the intercalation of DCP into the interlayers of the organoclay. The sorption processes were reversible and completed within minutes. Neither organoclay was inhibitory to R. eutropha degrading fructose. This was different with DCP as sole energy and carbon source. In the presence of DCP C-12-MM led to a decrease in cell numbers caused by a coupled effect of DCP and small amounts of free C-12 in solution. This was not observed with 2C(18)-MM, as the concentration of 2C(18) in solution was lower because of the lesser degree of exchange (35% compared to 89%). The addition of 2C(18)-MM enabled complete biodegradation of DCP in initially toxic DCP concentration ranges. Adsorption lowered the DCP concentration to a non-toxic level. Because the sorption process was reversible, DCP was desorbed when R. eutropha reduced the DCP concentration in the liquid phase by biodegradation. The whole amount of DCP-dissolved and initially adsorbed-was degraded as confirmed by oxygen consumption and cell concentration measurements. Organoclays can be very helpful tools in remediation when the exchanged amount of surfactant remains low. They even allow bioremediation under toxic circumstances, as was shown with 2C(18)-MM. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Preservation potential of the Last Interglacial lower Rhine delta relative to the Holocene Rhine-Meuse delta

In order to improve our insights in the sequence stratigraphic and architectural development of lower deltaic hydrocarbon reservoirs we study the Last Interglacial Rhine delta (MIS-5), and compare it to its well investigated counterpart, the Holocene (MIS-1) Rhine- Meuse delta (Berendsen & Stouthamer, 2000). The Last Interglacial record has experienced a full glacialinterglacial cycle of sea-level and climate change in a subsiding tectonic setting, and arguably is in a more relevant state of preservation when the delta is to be used as a reservoir analogue

Preservation of Last Interglacial and Holocene transgressive systems tracts in the Netherlands and its applicability as a North Sea Basin reservoir analogue

Understanding of complex sedimentary records formed by transgressive systems is critical for hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation, and carbon capture and storage. This paper discusses the facies proportions and preservation of the Last Interglacial and Holocene transgressive systems tracts in the Netherlands and their applicability as a North Sea Basin analogue for the Early Jurassic Åre Formation in the Norwegian offshore. New and existing data from both (sub-)modern transgressive Rhine records were thoroughly reviewed from a sequence stratigraphic perspective, before volumetrics were calculated and longitudinal trends quantified at reservoir scale. Large differences between the Last Interglacial and Holocene transgressive systems were found: the volume of fluvial deposits is almost six times larger and the volume of organics nearly twenty times larger in the Holocene record than in the Last Interglacial record. In contrast, the volume of estuarine deposits in the Holocene record is only half of that of the Last Interglacial record. Remarkably, both records show similar averaged sediment-trapping rates of 8–9 km3/ka. Initial valley configuration and relative sea-level rise-rates during both transgressions were key controls on the volume and spatial arrangement of the transgressive deposits. Relative sea-level fall and river avulsion determined what amount of sediment was left preserved after completion of one interglacial-glacial cycle. Comparison of the Late Quaternary Rhine records with the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic Åre Formation in the Heidrun Field off mid-Norway, showed the potential of the (sub-)modern Rhine records as analogues for ancient stratigraphic records. Especially the transgressive Rhine sequence from the Last Interglacial provided remarkable similarities in facies proportions, preservability, autogenic processes and controlling forcings, ranging from metre-scale vertical-successions to kilometre-scale field-wide events for parts of the Åre Formation. The side-by-side availability of the truncated Last Interglacial and (still) fully preserved Holocene transgressive system proved to be an excellent natural laboratory to study the stratigraphic architecture and assess depositional trends and preservability over longer time scales (>100 ka). It nevertheless demonstrates that no ‘one-size-fits-all’ analogue exists, but that various other analogues are needed to solve the complex puzzle which the Åre Formation resembles