A Computation in a Cellular Automaton Collider Rule 110

A cellular automaton collider is a finite state machine build of rings of one-dimensional cellular automata. We show how a computation can be performed on the collider by exploiting interactions between gliders (particles, localisations). The constructions proposed are based on universality of elementary cellular automaton rule 110, cyclic tag systems, supercolliders, and computing on rings.Comment: 39 pages, 32 figures, 3 table

Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) in a Croatian psychiatric outpatient sample

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate psychometric properties and factorial structure of the Croatian adaptation of the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) in a sample of psychiatric outpatients (n=328). ----- METHOD: The participants filled out the TCI-R, as well as self-report measures of the Big-Five personality traits (IPIP-50), trait impulsivity (BIS-11), depression (BDI-II), suicidality (SBQ-R), and life satisfaction (SWLS). We explored the internal consistency of 7 domains and 29 subscales and compared it with the Croatian version of the original TCI used in prior studies. Principal component analysis with promax rotation was conducted on temperament and character subscales separately, while concurrent validity was examined through the TCI-R's relations with the abovementioned psychological measures. ----- RESULTS: The TCI-R scales showed adequate internal consistencies, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.77 to 0.93. The internal consistency showed to be higher in comparison with the Croatian version of the original TCI. The postulated four-factor structure of temperament and the three-factor structure of character were confirmed. The meaningful associations with other measures supported the concurrent validity of the TCI-R. ----- CONCLUSION: The Croatian adaptation of the TCI-R exhibited satisfactory reliability and validity in a sample of psychiatric outpatients. These findings support the use of the TCI-R in Croatian clinical settings over its predecessor (TCI)

Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) in a Croatian psychiatric outpatient sample

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate psychometric properties and factorial structure of the Croatian adaptation of the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) in a sample of psychiatric outpatients (n=328). ----- METHOD: The participants filled out the TCI-R, as well as self-report measures of the Big-Five personality traits (IPIP-50), trait impulsivity (BIS-11), depression (BDI-II), suicidality (SBQ-R), and life satisfaction (SWLS). We explored the internal consistency of 7 domains and 29 subscales and compared it with the Croatian version of the original TCI used in prior studies. Principal component analysis with promax rotation was conducted on temperament and character subscales separately, while concurrent validity was examined through the TCI-R's relations with the abovementioned psychological measures. ----- RESULTS: The TCI-R scales showed adequate internal consistencies, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.77 to 0.93. The internal consistency showed to be higher in comparison with the Croatian version of the original TCI. The postulated four-factor structure of temperament and the three-factor structure of character were confirmed. The meaningful associations with other measures supported the concurrent validity of the TCI-R. ----- CONCLUSION: The Croatian adaptation of the TCI-R exhibited satisfactory reliability and validity in a sample of psychiatric outpatients. These findings support the use of the TCI-R in Croatian clinical settings over its predecessor (TCI)

Experiences of emotional eating in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy based weight management intervention (SWiM): A qualitative study

Background Emotional eating is a barrier to weight management. Interventions based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) promote the acceptance of uncomfortable feelings, which can reduce the urge to use food as a coping mechanism. We aimed to explore how participants of an ACT-based weight management intervention (WMI) experience emotional eating and relevant intervention content. Methods We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with participants of a digital ACT-based guided self-help WMI. Fifteen participants were purposefully selected to represent a range of demographic characteristics and emotional eating scores. We used reflexive thematic analysis to explore experiences of emotional eating. Results We generated five themes. Participants improved emotional eating by disconnecting emotions from behaviours though increased self-awareness (theme 1) and by implementing alternative coping strategies, including preparation, substitution, and acceptance (theme 2). Most participants maintained improvements in emotional eating over time but wished for more opportunities to re-engage with intervention content, including more immediate support in triggering situations (theme 3). Participants who struggled to engage with emotional eating related intervention content often displayed an external locus of control over emotional eating triggers (theme 4). The perceived usefulness of the intervention depended on participants’ prior experiences of emotional eating, and was thought insufficient for participants with complex emotional experiences (theme 5). Discussion This ACT-based WMI helped participants with emotional eating by improving self-awareness and teaching alternative coping strategies. Intervention developers may consider adding ongoing forms of intervention that provide both real-time and long-term support. Additionally, a better understanding of how to support people with an external locus of control and people with complex experiences of emotional eating is needed. Future research may explore ways of personalising WMIs based on participants’ emotional needs

An acceptance‐based guided self‐help program for weight loss maintenance in adults who have previously completed a behavioral weight loss program: The SWiM feasibility study

Background Most weight lost during weight-loss programmes is eventually regained. Interventions based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) demonstrate good evidence for long-term weight loss, but are often costly and difficult to scale up. Guided self-help programmes delivered using technology and non-specialist coaches could increase scalability, but it is unclear whether delivering ACT-based interventions in this way is feasible and acceptable. Methods In this feasibility study, 61 people who recently completed a behavioral weight management intervention (BWMI) for weight management were randomly allocated to SWiM (“Supporting Weight Management”: 4-month digital guided self-help ACT-based intervention for weight loss maintenance) or a standard care group (leaflet about maintaining weight loss) using a 2:1 allocation ratio. At baseline and 6 months, participants completed measures of weight, mental health, eating behavior, and other psychosocial variables. Participants completed an intervention evaluation questionnaire. At 3 and 6 months, qualitative interviews were conducted with participants from both trial arms and SWiM coaches. The analysis integrated statistics and thematic analysis, informed by the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for process evaluations. Since this was a feasibility study, analyses focused on process outcomes instead of interpreting statistical significance. Results Eighty-eight percent (36/41) of participants allocated to SWiM completed at least the first session and 22 (54%) completed all sessions. At 6 months, mean weight change was −2.2 (+/−6.4 SD) kg in SWiM participants and +2.2 (+/−6.6) kg in standard care participants. Descriptively, eating behavior and mental health scores improved in SWiM participants but not in standard care participants. In interviews, SWiM participants noted that they reinforced their existing knowledge while acquiring new skills and strategies, which were felt to contribute to positive behavioral changes. Conclusion The SWiM intervention is practical and well-received, and shows promise in supporting weight loss maintenance, though evaluation in a larger trial is needed to assess effectiveness. Trial Registration ISRCTN1268596

Degradation pathways of pentachlorophenol and benzo(a)pyrene during heterogeneous photocatalysis

Abstract Organic micropollutants, in particular those of anthropogenic origin, may have a toxic influence on water organisms. Photochemical oxidation processes are one of the most effective methods of decomposition of a wide range of those compounds. During the oxidation process a large number of different by-products are generated, which can still be biologically active. The development of analytical techniques, including the reduction of the detection limit to several fg/L, allows the identification of even trace concentrations of compounds. The paper presents the determination of pentachlorophenol and benzo(a)pyrene degradation pathways during the process of heterogeneous photocatalysis carried out in the presence of titanium dioxide. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of post-processing samples indicated the formation of different by-products of the parent micropollutants. Moreover, the toxicity assessment demonstrates for both tested micropollutants an increase in the toxicity within the whole time of the UV irradiation process run.</jats:p

Reducing the hardness of effluents from urban wastewater treatment plant by use membrane filtration

Odpływ z oczyszczalni ścieków komunalnych może charakteryzować się wysokim stężeniem zarówno soli wapnia, jak i magnezu, powodującym twardość tego strumienia wodnego. Będzie to dotyczyło głównie lokalizacji, gdzie występują systemy dystrybucji wody bazujące na ujęciach wód podziemnych. Wykorzystywanie twardej wody m.in. w gospodarstwach domowych powoduje, że powstające w wyniku działalności bytowej ścieki będą również charakteryzować się twardością. Twardość ścieków nie jest wskaźnikiem normatywnym. Jest to jednak istotny aspekt badawczy w obszarze odzyskiwania wody ze ścieków. W pracy podjęto badania nad obniżeniem twardości ogólnej odpływu z wybranej oczyszczalni ścieków zlokalizowanej na Górnym Śląsku w Polsce. W badaniach wstępnych określono, że odpływ z badanej oczyszczalni ścieków, według powszechnej klasyfikacji twardości wód, jest jak woda twarda (350-550 mg CaCO3/dm3). Do obniżenia twardości odpływu ścieków zaproponowano filtrację membranową, w tym nanofiltrację i odwróconą osmozę. Procesy prowadzono porównawczo z wykorzystaniem rurowych membran kompozytowych firmy PCI Membrane System Inc. Do nanofiltracji zastosowano membranę AFC-30, a do odwróconej osmozy AFC-80. W obu przypadkach ciśnienie transmembranowe wynosiło 2,0 MPa, a temperatura i prędkość liniowa nadawy odpowiednio 20 °C i 3,4 m/s. Wykazano, że ścieki oczyszczone zarówno w procesie odwróconej osmozy, jak i w nanofiltracji były bardzo miękkie. Można więc rozważyć ich wykorzystanie np. na potrzeby gospodarcze. Jednak pod względem wydajności membrany korzystniejszy był proces nanofiltracji.The effluents from urban wastewater treatment plant are characterized by high concentrations of both calcium and magnesium salts which contribute to the hardness of this particular water flux. It applies primarily to places where the distribution systems draw water from underground sources. Using hard water, for instance, in households causes the domestic wastewater to be hard as well. The hardness of wastewater is not a normative indicator. However, it is an important scientific aspect in the field of water reclamation. As part of this work, research of the reduction of the overall hardness of effluent from the selected urban wastewater treatment plant in the Upper Silesia (Poland) was commenced. After the preliminary tests it was determined that, according to the common water hardness classification, the hardness of effluent from the researched treatment plant equals the hardness of hard water (350-550 mg CaCO3/dm3). In order to reduce the hardness of wastewater effluent a membrane filtration, including nanofiltration and reverse osmosis, was proposed. The processes were performed comparatively with the use of composite pipe membranes of PCI Membrane System Inc. (USA). The membrane used for nanofiltration was AFC-30 and the one for reverse osmosis was AFC-80. In both cases the transmembrane pressure was 2.0 MPa, while temperature and feed linear velocity amounted to 20 °C and 3.4 m/s, respectively. It was determined that after both the reverse osmosis and nanofiltration the treated wastewaters were very soft. Therefore, the use of these processes, for instance, for productive purposes, may be considered. It should also be borne in mind that the nanofiltration process was more favorable in terms of membrane effectiveness

The influence of selected organic micropollutants on water ecosystems

W pracy dokonano przeglądu literatury pod kątem oddziaływania wybranych mikrozanieczyszczeń z grupy związków farmaceutycznych, konserwantów żywności, pestycydów oraz organicznych filtrów UV na różne gatunki roślin oraz zwierząt zasiedlających ekosystemy wodne. W badaniach własnych oceniono wpływ stężenia mikrozanieczyszczeń obecnych w środowisku wodnym na wywoływany efekt toksykologiczny u wybranych organizmów wskaźnikowych. Badania prowadzono przy użyciu bakterii słonowodnych z rodzaju Aliivibrio fischer, skorupiaków słodkowodnych Daphnia magna oraz słonowodnych Artemia fanciscana, jak również roślin naczyniowych Lemna minor. Wykazano, że organizmy testowe cechują się odmienną czułością na obecność mikrozanieczyszczeń. W przypadku wszystkich stosowanych testów wraz ze wzrostem stężenia związku obserwowano wzrost odpowiedzi organizmów wskaźnikowych świadczący o wzroście toksycznego oddziaływania mikrozanieczyszczenia. Najwyższą toksycznością zarówno względem bakterii, skorupiaków jak i roślin naczyniowych charakteryzował się roztwór benzofenonu-3 o stężeniu 5 mg/dm3.The paper presents a literature review in terms of the impact of selected micropollutants from the group of pharmaceutical compounds, food preservatives, pesticides and organic UV flters on various plants and animals species, which inhabit the water ecosystems. During own studies the impact of concentrations of micropollutants in the water environment on selected indicator organisms was evaluated. The study was conducted using saltwater Aliivibrio fischer bacteria, freshwater Daphnia magna and saltwater Artemia fanciscana crustaceans, as well as vascular plants Lemna minor. It was shown that the test organisms are characterized by a different sensitivity for the presence of micropollutants. For all applied tests an increase in the response of indicator organisms with the increasing compound concentration was observed. It demonstrates the growing toxic impact of micropollutants. The solution of benzophenone-3 at a concentration of 5 mg/dm3 was characterized by the highest toxic effects against both bacteria, crustaceans and vascular plants

Influence of the photocatalyst type and ph of solution on photocatalytic decomposition efficiency of bisphenol A

Przedstawiono badania porównawcze efektywności rozkładu bisfenolu A (BPA) w procesie fotokatalizy, prowadzonym z udziałem komercyjnego ditlenku tytanu (TiO2) oraz własnych modyfikowanych fotokatalizatorów (kompozytów) otrzymanych na bazie komercyjnego TiO2, węgla aktywnego (AC) oraz alkoholu metylowego (C), tj. TiO2/AC i C-TiO2/AC. Określono wpływ początkowej wartości odczynu roztworu modelowego (w zakresie od 4 do 7) na skuteczność adsorpcji oraz rozkładu badanego mikrozanieczyszczenia za pomocą promieniowania ultrafioletowego (UV). Na podstawie przeprowadzonej analizy chromatograficznej HPLC stwierdzono, że stopień usunięcia bisfenolu A był wyższy w przypadku zastosowania modyfikowanych fotokatalizatorów niż dla komercyjnego TiO2. Prawdopodobnie było to związane z obecnością węgla aktywnego, który w układzie TiO2-AC czy też C-TiO2/AC pełni nie tylko funkcję nośnika fotokatalizatora, ale jest również czynnikiem zwiększającym potencjał adsorpcyjny kompozytu. W oparciu o kinetykę Langmuira-Hinshelwooda (L-H) wyznaczono również parametry kinetyczne przeprowadzonych procesów. Na podstawie obliczonych wartości pseudo-pierwszorzędowych stałych szybkości reakcji udokumentowano, że proces rozkładu bisfenolu A przebiega najintensywniej w pierwszych 15 minutach prowadzenia procesu. Z kolei wartość stałej szybkości reakcji k była wyższa dla modyfikowanych fotokatalizatorów niż dla komercyjnego TiO2. Nie zaobserwowano znaczącego wpływu pH roztworu na adsorpcję oraz rozkład BPA w obecności komercyjnego ditlenku tytanu. Natomiast zarówno sorpcja, jak i proces fotokatalizy realizowany przy udziale modyfikowanych fotokatalizatorów zależały od odczynu roztworu. Największy stopień rozkładu bisfenolu A zaobserwowano, naświetlając roztwór o pH 4.In this study the photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A in the presence of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and own modified photocatalysts (composites) based on TiO2, activated carbon (AC) and methyl alcohol (C) i.e. TiO2/AC and C-TiO2/AC were investigated. The effect of initial pH (in the range from 4 to 7) of model solution were determined in order to adsorption effectiveness and decomposition of tested micropollutant under ultraviolet irradiation (UV). Based on chromatographic analysis (HPLC) results it was found that the decomposition of bisphenol A was higher for modified photocatalysts than for commercial TiO2. It was possibly associated with the presence of activated carbon, which in TiO2/AC and C-TiO2/AC system is not only a support for photocatalysts but also increases the adsorption capacity. Based on the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model, the kinetic parameters of the photocatalysis process were carried out. According to the pseudo first-order parameters, the results showed that the decomposition of bisphenol A was most intensively in the first 15 minutes of the process. However the value of the k rate was higher for modified photocatalysts than for commercial TiO2. No significant effect of pH on adsorption and BPA decomposition in the presence of commercial titanium dioxide were observed. Whereas, both the sorption and photocatalysis carried out in the presence of modified photocatalysts depended on the pH of model solution. The highest degree of bisphenol A decomposition were observed by irradiating mixture at pH 4