Individual Differences in (Non-Visual) Processing Style Predict the Face Inversion Effect

Recent research suggests that individuals with relatively weak global precedence (i.e., a smaller propensity to view visual stimuli in a configural manner) show a reduced face inversion effect (FIE). Coupled with such findings, a number of recent studies have demonstrated links between an advantage for feature-based processing and the presentation of traits associated with autism among the general population. The present study sought to bridge these findings by investigating whether a relationship exists between the possession of autism-associated traits (i.e., as indicated by individualsautism quotient [(AQ) and the size of the FIE. Participants completed an on-line study in which the AQ was measured prior to a standard face recognition task where half of the faces were inverted at test. The results confirmed that higher AQ levels were predictive of smaller FIEs. Implications for a common underlying factor relating to processing orientation are discussed

Heart diseasae in pregnancy

A series of two hundred and twenty -five patients with heart disease is reviewed, showing its incidence in pregnancy to be 0.8 per cent, and its mortality 3.1 per cent.With better obstetrics and fewer deaths from sepsis, heart disease is occupying a relatively more prominent position as a cause of maternal deaths, being the fourth most common cause in this series, and accounting for 11.6 per cent of all maternal deaths.Rheumatic fever was responsible for 93 per cent of cases, and the mitral valve was the site of the lesion in all but a few.Observation of patients with heart disease at weekly intervals is recommended, owing to the danger of their condition deteriorating and in order immediately to observe any adverse change: and it is recommended that all patients should be admitted for one week about the twenty- eighth week, for rest and assessment, and again seven to ten days before full term. Antenatal care is one of the major factors in lowering the mortality rate, and each visit of the patient should include careful medical examination, especially of her lung bases for the early crepitations, close questioning as to her daily routine and an assurance that she keeps within the limits of her cardiac reserve. It is possible that the more frequent examination and earlier advice and treatment of the Group II patients may be the key to the avoidance of the occasional failure in this group.Respiratory infections, however trivial, have to be treated seriously, as they have a tendency to resist ordinary treatment and may precipitate.heart failure; anaemia, too, should be avoided, and, if marked, a careful look-out kept for signs which might suggest subacute endocarditis, and the patient should be advised to report should she develop any new symptom.The functional heart grouping of the American Heart Association gives a good indication of the cardiac reserve, and offers a common nomenclature for reporting results.Some additional factors in assessment in individual cases, as suggested by Lamb (1934), may help to lessen the dangers of cardiac decompensation and, towards this end, the co- operation between the cardiologist and the obstetrician is essential.A history of previous failure is a bad prognosti sign, and, although there is an apparent recovery, such patients should be regarded as group IV cases. It may, in fact, be advisable, as regards the obstetric treatment, to place the patient in the least favourable group to which she may have reached, no matter what the improvement obtained with treatment, or what more favourable group she may later occupy during pregnancy.Spontaneous labour, aided, if necessary, by forceps, would seem to be the best mode of delivery, and is possible in the vast majority of cases; Caesarean section being reserved for the presence of other obstetrical complications, or, in some cases, where surgical termination of the pregnancy is indicated.It has been noted in this series, that patients with heart disease do not stand up well to prolonged labour or to accouchement force, and, if these are anticipated, a Caesarean section may be less of a risk to the patient. Observation of the pulse and respiration rates during the first stage of labour, as recommended by Mendelson and Pardee (1942), and immediate digitalisation, if necessary, may serve to prevent decompensation developing.The anaesthetic which is best advised is morphia for the first stage and pudendal block for the second stage of labour, supplemented by a light gas and oxygen and episiotomy when forceps are used.There is a definite place for therapeutic abortion in the group III and IV patients; and in others, rho have given a history of previous heart failure, it is assessed individually.The selection of bad-risk cardiac patients should be one at cardiac clinics, where they should be advised against becoming pregnant: and this precaution together with careful choosing of patients who are to proceed with pregnancy and avoid decompensation, with its attendant risks, can serve greatly to lower the mortality rate. Gilchrist and Murray Lyon (1933) say that one or two pregnancies do not shorten the expectation of life in the cardiac: and Jones (1944) advises against a third pregnancy. These observations have shown, however, that, altho pregnancy may not induce heart failure, it may leave the heart severely crippled. It has been shown in this series that patients who have changed to a less favourable functional heart group during pregnancy are more liable to show these adverse effects in later years. No difference, however, in the age of death has been shown in nulliparous and parous women.Of congenital lesions, unless there is persistent cyanosis, which would justify advising against pregnancy, or securing an early termination, the patient is treated as for other heart lesions: the exception being in those lesions where excess straining must be avoided and when, therefore, a Caesarean section should be performed.A guarded prognosis has to be given until the end of the puerperium, since the majority of fatalities occur then, and additional rest in hospital should be advised for patients at this time.Before the patient leaves hospital, to assume the extensive burdens of the care of her child, a full opportunity should be taken to discuss with her the domestic responsibilities which she has to meet: and if indicated, as it is in most cases, arrangements made whereby she may have the assistance of a Home-help, such as is now available from most local Authority Departments. Finally, a date is given to the patient for attendance at a Cardiological clinic for future advice and guidance

CAREER: The Role of Microorganisms in Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater

Arsenic is the only contaminant for which exposure through drinking water has been proven to cause cancer in humans. The US Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that the present drinking water limit of 50 ug/L arsenic is not sufficiently protective and proposes a new limit of 10 ug/L. In most cases, the arsenic originates in the geologic materials of the aquifer. While correlations with bedrock types have been made, the factors that affect arsenic concentrations and speciation in drinking water are poorly understood. As(III), the reduced inorganic form, is more mobile and more toxic than As(V), thus speciation affects both the concentration and the health implications of arsenic exposure. Microorganisms probably affect As concentrations in groundwater, but the magnitude and nature of their participation in the arsenic cycle have not yet been clarified. Microorganisms can affect the chemistry of arsenic compounds in a number of ways. Laboratory and field studies as proposed in this program will build on the PI\u27s preliminary data that indicate the presence of arsenate reducing microorganisms in well water to determine how microbial activities affect soluble arsenic concentrations. This information will be used to create a conceptual model of the processes that affect As in groundwater. Molecular probes will be developed to determine the importance of the isolated arsenate-degrading microorganisms in situ. Existing geological data and field data gathered by high school and undergraduate students will be used to assess whether or not the model derived from laboratory experiments is supported by field observations. Since the project requires an interdisciplinary approach, links with microbial ecologists and environmental microbiologists will be strengthened to support the investigator\u27s research goals. The research results will form the basis of new modules in two undergraduate environmental engineering courses. An outreach program for high school students will also contribute to the collection of field data

Making co-enrolment feasible for randomised controlled trials in paediatric intensive care.

Enrolling children into several trials could increase recruitment and lead to quicker delivery of optimal care in paediatric intensive care units (PICU). We evaluated decisions taken by clinicians and parents in PICU on co-enrolment for two large pragmatic trials: the CATCH trial (CATheters in CHildren) comparing impregnated with standard central venous catheters (CVCs) for reducing bloodstream infection in PICU and the CHIP trial comparing tight versus standard control of hyperglycaemia

Optical frequency generation using fiber Bragg grating filters for applications in portable quantum sensing

A method for the agile generation of the optical frequencies required for laser cooling and atom interferometry of rubidium is demonstrated. It relies on fiber Bragg grating technology to filter the output of an electro-optic modulator and was demonstrated in a robust, alignment-free, single-seed, frequency-doubled, telecom fiber laser system. The system was capable of 50 ns frequency switching over a ~40 GHz range, ~0.5 W output power and amplitude modulation with a ~15 ns rise/fall time and an extinction ratio of 120 $\pm$ 2 dB. The technology is ideal for enabling high-bandwidth, mobile industrial and space applications of quantum technologies