Child Maltreatment and Psychosocial Functioning in the Context of Foster Care: Self-Concept as a Mediator and a Moderator

Youth in foster care experience high prevalence rates of emotional and behavioral problems (Burns et al., 2004; Clausen et al., 1998; Fernandez, 2009; Orton et al., 2009; see McWey et al., 2010; see Pilowsky, 1995) due to a range of risk factors they encounter. Exposure to maltreatment can generally lead to increased internalizing problems (e.g., Avery et al., 2000; Carlson et al., 1997; see McWey et al., 2010), externalizing behaviors (e.g., Prino & Peyrot, 1994; McWey et al., 2010), social problems (e.g., Bolger & Patterson, 2001; Bolger et al., 1998), and poor self-perceptions or self-worth (see Arata et al., 2005; Bolger et al., 1998). Self-concept has been examined with respect to how it may affect youth’s emotional, behavioral, and social functioning in the general population. Research has shown that self-perception can help explain underlying pathways to adaptive or maladaptive outcomes (e.g., Mann et al., 2004). Negative self-concept or self-esteem can mediate the relationship between the experience of stressors and the development of psychopathology. Studies also suggest positive self-concept may buffer against the adverse effects of maltreatment. Positive self-perceptions of competence have been found to promote healthy development and protect against negative outcomes, regardless of the accuracy of the self-perceptions (e.g., Kim & Cicchetti, 2003, 2004; Patterson et al., 1990). However, these effects of self-concept have not been examined among foster youth. The present study sought to examine the mediating and moderating effect of self-concept in the relation between maltreatment and psychosocial functioning (i.e., internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and social problems) during the first year of children and adolescents’ placement in the child welfare system

Near-field spectroscopy of bimodal size distribution of InAs/AlGaAs quantum dots

We report on high-resolution photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy of spatial structure of InAs/AlGaAs quantum dots (QDs) by using a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM). The double-peaked distribution of PL spectra is clearly observed, which is associated with the bimodal size distribution of single QDs. In particular, the size difference of single QDs, represented by the doublet spectral distribution, can be directly observed by the NSOM images of PL.Comment: 3pages, 3figue

Ultra High Speed Space Division Multiplexing OCT

OCT has been taking an important role in medical imaging. Firstly used as a time domain model, it’s somewhat limited by its speed. However, speed is significantly improved after the introduction of Fourier Domain OCT. Since this imaging method is commonly used in ophthalmology, it requires higher speed to reduce motion artifacts. It’s also known that higher sensitivity is a favorable factor in OCT too. Resolution also takes an unnegligible role here. With better resolution we can delve into tissues with more clear images, which leaves us more information available for analysis. With all that being said, it’s not hard to imagine how many efforts have been put into it to achieve higher speed, sensitivity and resolution. We, as a part of this field, are also striving to achieve this goal. By using integrated photonic chip which has a three layer cascade of 1X2 splitters to split incident light into 8 beams we can not only reduce the complexity of the structure of fiber optics in its prototype but also lower the cost. From [5,6] we know that the speed is proportional to the number of beams, and an imaging speed of 800, 000 A-scans/s was achieved with a sensitivity of 91 dB. In this paper an improved version of Space Division Multiplexing OCT system based on the previous systems was demonstrated with an increase of sensitivity by 6dB, from 91 dB to 97dB

The cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Sepiidae, Cephalopoda) constructs cuttlebone from a liquid-crystal precursor

Cuttlebone, the sophisticated buoyancy device of cuttlefish, is made of extensive superposed chambers that have a complex internal arrangement of calcified pillars and organic membranes. It has not been clear how this structure is assembled. We find that the membranes result from a myriad of minor membranes initially filling the whole chamber, made of nanofibres evenly oriented within each membrane and slightly rotated with respect to those of adjacent membranes, producing a helical arrangement. We propose that the organism secretes a chitin-protein complex, which self-organizes layer-by-layer as a cholesteric liquid crystal, whereas the pillars are made by viscous fingering. The liquid crystallization mechanism permits us to homologize the elements of the cuttlebone with those of other coleoids and with the nacreous septa and the shells of nautiloids. These results challenge our view of this ultra-light natural material possessing desirable mechanical, structural and biological properties, suggesting that two self-organizing physical principles suffice to understand its formation.Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion [CGL2010-20748-CO2-01, CGL2013-48247-P, FIS2013-48444-C2-2-P]; Andalusian Consejeria de Innovacion Ciencia y Tecnologia [RNM6433]; (Sepiatech, PROMAR program) of the Portuguese Ministerio da Agricultura e do Mar, Portugal [31.03.05.FEP.002]; Junta de Andalucia [RNM363]; FP7 COST Action of the European Community. [TD0903]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio