Age trends in musical preferences in adulthood: 1. Conceptualization and empirical investigation

This article aims to fill some gaps in theory and research on age trends in musical preferences in adulthood by presenting a conceptual model that describes three classes of determinants that can affect those trends. The Music Preferences in Adulthood Model (MPAM) posits that some psychological determinants that are extrinsic to the music (individual differences and social influences), and some that are intrinsic to the music (the perceived inner properties of the music), affect age differences in musical preferences in adulthood. We first present the MPAM, which aims to explain age trends in musical preferences in adulthood, and to identify which variables may be the most important determinants of those trends. We then validate a new test of musical preferences that assesses musical genres and clips in parallel. Finally, with a sample of 4,002 adults, we examine age trends in musical preferences for genres and clips, using our newly developed test. Our results confirm the presence of robust age trends in musical preferences, and provide a basis for the investigation of the extrinsic and intrinsic psychological determinants of musical preferences, in line with the MPAM framework.This research was supported by the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada granted to the first author

Treatment of ink-containing wastewater by coagulation/flocculation using biopolymers

A coagulation/flocculation process using a selection of biopolymers (chitosan and tannin) was used to treat an ink-containing effluent generated in the processing of packaging. The efficiency of the process was investigated in terms of the influence of pH, coagulant and flocculant concentrations, as well as chitosan characteristics (especially the molecular weight). The process was particularly efficient under acidic solutions: the amount of coagulant and flocculant to be used were significantly reduced by limiting the pH to 5. Optimum conditions for colour abatement (measured at 528 nm) were obtained at pH 5 using the most viscous chitosan (highest molecular weight) at a concentration close to 20 mg·ℓ-1 and a concentration of tannin close to 70-100 mg·ℓ-1.. Water SA Vol.31 (3) 2005: pp.369-37

Propiedades tecnológicas de la madera de Citharexylum montevidense (Spreng.) Mol. “Espina de bañado”

Citharexylum montevidense (Spreng.) Mol “Espina de bañado” es una especie nativa empleada artesanalmente en carpintería, construcciones, postes y marcos para aberturas. Sin embargo, no existen estudios tecnológicos que caractericen sus cualidades maderables, los cuales podrían permitir revalorizar su madera hacia productos de mayor valor agregado. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar las propiedades físicas y mecánicas de su madera con el propósito de identificar potenciales nuevos usos. Se determinaron: contenido de humedad, densidad normal, cambios dimensionales, dureza Janka y flexión estática. La densidad (0,68 g.$latex cm^{-3}$ +/- 1208,08). De acuerdo con los valores de dureza Janka hallados, puede considerarse a la madera de Espina de bañando como semidura. Los valores obtenidos en los parámetros físico mecánicos estudiados presumen un buen comportamiento de esta madera al secado, haciéndola apta para la fabricación de pisos, aberturas y muebles.Citharexylum montevidense (Spreng.)Mol a.k.a. “Marsh Thorn” is a native species used in craft carpentry, constructions, posts and door frames. However, there are no studies that characterize technological timber qualities, which could allow wood to revalue its higher value-added products. The aim of this work was to determine the physical and mechanical features of this wood in order to identify potential new uses. Thus water content, normal density, dimensional changes, Janka hardness and static bending were determined. Density values (0.68 g.$latex cm^{-3}$+/- 1208.08). According to the values found for the Janka hardness, the wood ofCitharexylum montevidense (Spreng.) Mol is a semi-hard one. All the values obtained for both the physical and mechanical parameters of this woodletits good behavior be assumed as to the drying process which makes it suitable for the making of floors, openings, and furniture

Selective Hybridization of a Terpyridine-Based Molecule with a Noble Metal

The electronic properties of metal-molecule interfaces can in principle be controlled by molecular design and self-assembly, yielding great potential for future nano- and optoelectronic technologies. However, the coupling between molecular orbitals and the electronic states of the surface can significantly influence molecular states. In particular, molecules designed to create metal-organic self-assembled networks have functional groups that by necessity are designed to interact strongly with metals. Here, we investigate the adsorption interactions of a terpyridine (tpy)-based molecule on a noble metal, Ag(111), by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By comparing the local density of states (DOS) information gained from STS for the molecule on the bare Ag(111) surface with that of the molecule decoupled from the underlying metal by a NaCl bilayer, we find that tpy-localized orbitals hybridize strongly with the metal substrate. Meanwhile, those related to the phenyl rings that link the two terminal tpy groups are less influenced by the interaction with the surface. The selective hybridization of the tpy groups provides an example of strong, orbital-specific electronic coupling between a functional group and a noble-metal surface, which may alter the intended balance of interactions and resulting electronic behavior of the molecule-metal interface

Advances in technologies for propagation and domestication of plants of economic and environmental interest in Argentina

En el Laboratorio de Estudios de la Madera de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina, se implementa el proyecto de desarrollo tecnológico denominado Métodos y tecnologías de propagación y domesticación de plantas para el desarrollo de una bioeconomía local basada en la biodiversidad. El objetivo del mismo es desarrollar, optimizar y adaptar nuevas metodologías y tecnologías de propagación y conservación de recursos genéticos vegetales para la producción de plantas en nuevo escenario de la bioeconomía nacional. La diversidad está en la base de la bioeconomía, y muchas veces el material vegetal para plantar para diferentes fines es escaso. Las especies contempladas en éste proyecto son: Quercus sp.; Polylepis tarapacana; Prosopis alpataco, Eranthemun pulchelum y Heteropteris angustifolia Griseb. En este trabajo se comunican algunos de los avances alcanzados aplicando diferentes enfoques para la producción de plantas de calidad (semillas, cultivo de tejidos in vitro, macropropagación y plantines en contenedores).The Timber Research Laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences of the National University of La Plata (LIMAD), Argentina, implements the technological development project called Methods and technologies of plant propagation and domestication for the development of a local bioeconomy based on biodiversity. Its objective is to develop, optimize and adapt new methodologies and technologies for the propagation and conservation of plant genetic resources for the production of plants in a new scenario of national bioeconomy. Diversity is at the base of bioeconomy, and often planting plant material for different purposes is scarce. The species covered by this project are: Quercus sp. (exotic forest); Polylepis tarapacana (native forest); Prosopis alpataco. (multipurpose native forestry), Eranthemun pulchelum and Heteropteris angustifolia Griseb (ornamental species of great potential and use in green roofs). This work communicates some of the progress made by applying different approaches to the production of quality plants (seeds, in vitro tissue culture, macro propagation and seed container planting).Fil: Sharry, E.S.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Weber, C.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Cellini, M.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, Victoria Lien. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Boeri, P.. Universidad Nacional de Rio Negro. Sede Alto Valle y Valle Medio.; ArgentinaFil: Roussy, L.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Sceglio, P.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Ramilo, D.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Galarco, S.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; Argentin

Characterization method of dielectric properties of free falling drops in a microwave processing cavity and its application in microwave internal gelation

[EN] Microwave internal gelation (MIG) is a chemical process proposed for the production of nuclear particle fuel. The internal gelation reaction is triggered by a temperature increase of aqueous droplets falling by gravity by means of non-contact microwave heating. Due to the short residence time of a solution droplet in a microwave heating cavity, a detailed knowledge of the interaction between microwaves and chemical solution (shaped in small drops) is required. This paper describes a procedure that enables the measurement of the dielectric properties of aqueous droplets that freely fall through a microwave cavity. These measurements provide the information to determine the optimal values of the parameters (such as frequency and power) that dictate the heating of such a material under microwaves.This work is a part of the PINE (Platform for Innovative Nuclear FuEls) project which targets the development of an advanced production method for Sphere-Pac fuel and is financed by the Swiss Competence Center for Energy and Mobility. The work has been also financed by the European Commission through contract no 295664 regarding the FP7 PELGRIMM Project, as well as contract no 295825 regarding the FP7-ASGARD Project. MC-S would like to thank the ITACA research team (UPV Valencia, Spain) and the EMPA Thun (Switzerland) for their support in the measurements and Carl Beard (PSI, Switzerland) for the help provided in respect with CST simulations. The work of FLP-F was supported by the Conselleria d'Educacio of the Generalitat Valenciana for economic support (BEST/2012/010).Cabanes Sempere, M.; Catalá Civera, JM.; Penaranda-Foix, FL.; Cozzo, C.; Vaucher, S.; Pouchon, MA. (2013). Characterization method of dielectric properties of free falling drops in a microwave processing cavity and its application in microwave internal gelation. Measurement Science and Technology. 24(9). https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-0233/24/9/095009S24

Child and parent predictors of picky eating from preschool to school age

Background: Picky eating is prevalent in childhood. Because pickiness concerns parents and is associated with nutrient deficiency and psychological problems, the antecedents of pickiness need to be identified. We propose an etiological model of picky eating involving child temperament, sensory sensitivity and parent-child interaction. Methods: Two cohorts of 4-year olds (born 2003 or 2004) in Trondheim, Norway were invited to participate (97.2% attendance; 82.0% consent rate, n = 2475) and a screen-stratified subsample of 1250 children was recruited. We interviewed 997 parents about their child’s pickiness and sensory sensitivity using the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment (PAPA). Two years later, 795 of the parents completed the interview. The Children’s Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ) was used to assess children’s temperament. Parent- child interactions were videotaped and parental sensitivity (i.e., parental awareness and appropriate responsiveness to children’s verbal and nonverbal cues) and structuring were rated using the Emotional Availability Scales (EAS). Results: At both measurement times, 26% of the children were categorized as picky eaters. Pickiness was moderately stable from preschool to school age (OR = 5.92, CI = 3.95, 8.86), and about half of those who displayed pickiness at age 4 were also picky eaters two years later. While accounting for pickiness at age 4, sensory sensitivity at age 4 predicted pickiness at age 6 (OR = 1.25, CI = 1.08, 2.23), whereas temperamental surgency (OR = 0.88, CI = 0.64, 1.22) and negative affectivity (OR = 1.17, CI = 0.75, 1.84) did not. Parental structuring was found to reduce the risk of children’s picky eating two years later (OR = 0.90, CI = 0.82, 0.99), whereas parental sensitivity increased the odds for pickiness (OR = 1.10, CI = 1.00, 1.21). Conclusions: Although pickiness is stable from preschool to school age, children who are more sensory sensitive are at higher risk for pickiness two years later, as are children whose parents display relatively higher levels of sensitivity and lower levels of structuring. Our findings suggest that interventions targeting children’s sensory sensitivity, as well as parental sensitivity and structuring, might reduce the risk of childhood pickiness. Health care providers should support parents of picky eaters in repeatedly offering unfamiliar and rejected foods to their children without pressure and acknowledging child autonomy