Anticipatory Smiling: Linking Early Affective Communication and Social Outcome

In anticipatory smiles, infants appear to communicate pre-existing positive affect by smiling at an object and then turning the smile toward an adult. We report two studies in which the precursors, development, and consequences of anticipatory smiling were investigated. Study 1 revealed a positive correlation between infant smiling at 6 months and the level of anticipatory smiling at 8 and 10 months during joint attention episodes, as well as a positive correlation between anticipatory smiling and parent-rated social expressivity scores at 30 months. Study 2 confirmed a developmental increase in the number of infants using anticipatory smiles between 9 and 12 months that had been initially documented in the Study 1 sample [Venezia, M., Messinger, D. S., Thorp, D., & Mundy, P. (2004). The development of anticipatory smiling. Infancy, 6(3), 397–406]. Additionally, anticipatory smiling at 9 months positively predicted parent-rated social competence scores at 30 months. Findings are discussed with regard to the importance of anticipatory smiling in early socioemotional development

Durum wheat growth analysis in a semiarid environment in relation to crop rotation and nitrogen rate

SUMMARY – A research on durum wheat growth analysis was carried out at Sparacia farm (37°37’N-13°42’E) during the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 seasons in a typical semi-arid environment. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of crop rotation (continuous wheat and wheat-pea rotation) and N fertilizer rates (0, 60 and 120 Kg ha-1) on growth of four durum wheat varieties, characterized by different productive ability and adaptation. A split- split-plot design with three replications was used. The study highlighted the role of the CGR index in order to enable a better knowledge of the relationship among crop techniques and wheat yield respons

ANALISIS DEBIT BANJIR DAN TINGGI MUKA AIR SUNGAI TALER DI KELURAHAN PAPAKELAN KECAMATAN TONDANO TIMUR KABUPATEN MINAHASA

Sungai Taler merupakan salah satu sungai yang berada di Kecamatan Tondano Timur yang pernah meluap dan membanjiri Kelurahan Papakelan. Kejadian ini menyebabkan kerugian bagi masyarakat akibat terendamnya rumah penduduk, jalan serta lahan pertanian. Oleh karena itu dalam mengantisipasi banjir yang kemungkinan akan terjadi kelak, dibutuhkan data mengenai besarnya debit banjir dan tinggi muka air untuk penyesuaian penampang sungai Taler.Pada penelitian ini dilakukan perkiraan debit banjir rencana di Sungai Taler dengan analisis hidrologi untuk mengetahui besarnya debit banjir rencana. Simulasi elevasi tinggi muka air pada penampang sungai yang ditinjau menggunakan program komputer HEC-RAS. Analisis dimulai dengan mencari frekuensi debit menggunakan metode Log Pearson III untuk mendapatkan debit banjir rencana dengan kala ulang 2 tahun, 5 tahun, 10 tahun, 50 tahun dan 100 tahun. Adapun data debit yang digunakan berasal dari pos pemantauan debit Taler – Papakelan. Data debit yang digunakan adalah data debit maksimum sesaat tahunan dengan debit terukur tahun 2004, 2010 sampai tahun 2018. Debit puncak hasil simulasi setiap kala ulang dimasukkan dalam program komputer HEC-RAS untuk simulasi tinggi muka air pada penampang sungai yang telah diukur.Hasil simulasi menunjukkan bahwa penampang sungai Taler untuk STA 0+50, STA 0+75, STA 0+150 dan STA 0+200 pada kala ulang 2 tahun, STA 0+25 sampai STA 0+200 pada kala ulang 5 tahun, 10 tahun, 50 tahun dan 100 tahun tidak dapat menampung debit banjir yang terjadi. Hal ini disebabkan oleh tinggi muka air banjir melebihi elevasi tebing sungai. Kata kunci: Sungai Taler, Debit Banjir Rencana, Tinggi Muka Air, HEC-RAS

Crop rotation, nitrogen fertilization and genotype effects on durum wheat productive characteristics

A field trial was performed in 2000/01 and 2001/02 in the experimental farm “Sparacia” (Cammarata – AG – Sicily) in order to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative response of four varieties of durum wheat when grown after a legume crop (field pea) or in rotation with itself and when submitted to different N-fertilization levels: no fertilization (N0, control), 60 kg ha-1 (N 60, rate advised by the EC n. 2078/92 for the Sicilian territory) and 120 kg ha-1 (N 120, fertilization rate commonly used under the “traditional” cropping technique). In the first trial year, the fertilized trial expressed a better yield performance than the control, but in 2001/02, characterized by severe and prolonged dry periods, the effect of crop rotation and variety was shown to be more important

Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Over Zr-Promoted Co/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts

Two Zr-modified alumina supports were synthetized containing the same amount of Zr but a different distribution of this modifier over the alumina surface. These supports, together with the unmodified alumina carrier, were used to prepare three cobalt-based catalysts which were characterized and tested under relevant Fischer–Tropsch conditions. The three catalysts presented very similar porosity and cobalt dispersion. The addition of Zr nor its distribution enhanced the catalyst reducibility. The catalyst activity was superior when using a carrier consisting of large ZrO2 islands over the alumina surface. The use of a carrier with a homogeneous Zr distribution had however, a detrimental effect. Moreover, a faster initial deactivation rate was observed for the Zr-promoted catalysts, fact that may explain this contradictory effect of Zr on activity. Finally, the addition of Zr showed a clear enhancement of the selectivity to long chain hydrocarbons and ethylene, especially when Zr was well dispersed

Gastrointestinal colonization by KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae following hospital discharge: duration of carriage and risk factors for persistent carriage

AbstractThe natural history of KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC KP) carriage is unknown. We aimed to examine the duration of KPC KP carriage following hospital discharge and to study the risk factors for persistent carriage. A cohort of 125 KPC KP carriers was followed monthly for between 3 and 6 months after discharge from an acute-care hospital. Rectal swabs and data were collected at baseline and at each visit. KPC KP was detected by culture and direct blaKPC PCR. Acquisition time was regarded as the earliest date of KPC KP isolation. Resolution of carriage was defined as a negative KPC KP test in at least two consecutive samples. Analyses were separated for recent (<4 months) (REC, 75 patients) and remote (≥4 months) (REM, 50 patients) acquisition groups. Risk factors for persistent carriage were examined by survival analyses for the REC group and by prevalence methods for the REM group. The mean age of patients was 67.5 years and 49.6% were male. Forty-six (61%) patients in the REC group and 14 (28%) in the REM group were persistent carriers (p < 0.001). A significant risk factor for persistent carriage identified in both the REC and REM groups was the presence of any catheter (p < 0.05). Unique risk factor groups included long-term care facility (LTCF) residence (p < 0.01) and a low functional status as measured by the Barthel’s index (p < 0.05) in the REC group and high Charlson’s score in the REM group (p < 0.05). Out of the entire 100 patients who had at least one negative sample, only 65 remained negative on subsequent cultures. In conclusion, persistent carriage of KPC KP is associated with catheter use and a low functional status; it is more common in patients with recent acquisition and is related to LTCF stay. A single negative KPC KP test is insufficient to exclude persistent carriage

Lithium-Metal Free Sulfur Battery Based on Waste Biomass Anode and Nano-Sized Li2S Cathode

The realization of a stable lithium-metal free (LiMF) sulfur battery based on amorphous carbon anode and lithium sulfide (Li2S) cathode is here reported. In particular, a biomass waste originating full-cell combining a carbonized brewer's spent grain (CBSG) biochar anode with a Li2S-graphene composite cathode (Li2S70Gr30) is proposed. This design is particularly attractive for applying a cost-effective, high performance, environment friendly, and safe anode material, as an alternative to standard graphite and metallic lithium in emerging battery technologies. The anodic and cathodic materials are characterized in terms of structure, morphology and composition through X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopies. Furthermore, an electrochemical characterization comprising galvanostatic cycling, rate capability and cyclic voltammetry tests were carried out both in half-cell and full-cell configurations. The systematic investigation reveals that unlike graphite, the biochar electrode displays good compatibility with the electrolyte typically employed in sulfur batteries. The CBSG/Li2S70Gr30 full-cell demonstrates an initial charge and discharge capacities of 726 and 537 mAh g−1, respectively, at 0.05C with a coulombic efficiency of 74%. Moreover, it discloses a reversible capacity of 330 mAh g−1 (0.1C) after over 300 cycles. Based on these achievements, the CBSG/Li2S70Gr30 battery system can be considered as a promising energy storage solution for electric vehicles (EVs), especially when taking into account its easy scalability to an industrial level. © 2022 The Authors. Energy &amp; Environmental Materials published by John Wiley &amp; Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Zhengzhou University

Predictive factors of polycystic ovary syndrome in girls with precocious pubarche

Objective: The aim of this study is to clarify, in girls with premature pubarche (PP), the influence of premature androgenization on the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Design and patients: Ninety-nine PP girls, 63 who developed PCOS and 36 who did not develop PCOS, were retrospectively included. Clinical, anthropometric, and metabolic parameters were evaluated at the time of diagnosis of PP and after 10 years from menarche to find predictive factors of PCOS. Results: Young females with PP showed a PCOS prevalence of 64% and showed a higher prevalence of familial history of diabetes (P = 0.004) and a lower prevalence of underweight (P = 0.025) than PP-NO-PCOS. In addition, girls with PP-PCOS showed higher BMI (P &lt; 0.001), waist circumference (P &lt; 0.001), total testosterone (P = 0.026), visceral adiposity index (VAI) (P = 0.013), total cholesterol (P &lt; 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (P &lt; 0.001), non-HDL cholesterol (P &lt; 0.001) and lower age of menarche (P = 0.015), ISI-Matsuda (P &lt; 0.001), DIo (P = 0.002), HDL cholesterol (P = 0.026) than PP-NO-PCOS. Multivariate analysis showed that WC (P = 0.049), ISI-Matsuda (P &lt; 0.001), oral disposition index (DIo) (P &lt; 0.001), VAI (P &lt; 0.001), total testosterone (P &lt; 0.001) and LDL-cholesterol (P &lt; 0.001) are independent predictive factors for PCOS in girls with PP. Conclusions: Our study established a strong association between multiple risk factors and development of PCOS in PP girls. These risk factors are predominantly related to the regulation of glucose, lipid, and androgen metabolism. Among these factors, WC, ISI-Matsuda, DIo, VAI, total testosterone, and LDL-cholesterol predict PCOS

Co3O4 particles grown over nanocrystalline CeO2: influence of precipitation agents and calcination temperature on the catalytic activity for methane oxidation

Crystalline cobalt oxides were prepared by a precipitation method using three different precipitation agents, IJNH4)2CO3, Na2CO3 and COIJNH2)2. Cobalt oxide nanoparticles corresponding to a Co3O4 loading of 30 wt% were also deposited over high-surface area nanocrystalline ceria by the same precipitation agents. The effect of calcination temperature, 350 or 650 °C, on the morphological and structural properties was evaluated. Characterization by BET, XRD, SEM, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, H2-TPR, XPS and NH3-TPD was performed and the catalytic properties were explored in the methane oxidation reaction. The nature of the precipitation agent strongly influenced the textural properties of Co3O4 and the Co3O4–CeO2 interface. The best control of the particle size was achieved by using COIJNH2)2 that produced small and regular crystallites of Co3O4 homogeneously deposited over the CeO2 surface. Such a Co3O4–CeO2 system precipitated by urea showed enhanced low-temperature reducibility and high surface Co3+ concentration, which were identified as the key factors for promoting methane oxidation at low temperature. Moreover, the synergic effect of cobalt oxide and nanocrystalline ceria produced stable full conversion of methane in the entire range of investigated temperature, up to 700–800 °C, at which Co3O4 deactivation usually occurs

3D printed catalytic reactors for aerobic selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol into benzaldehyde in continuous multiphase flow

In this work, novel, patterned monolithic reactors were devised to explore more efficient routes for reactant conversion in order to investigate their potential to replace the packed bed and batch reactors conventionally employed in chemical industries. Well-defined bimetallic formulations were developed to substitute platinum group metals and critical raw materials such as palladium and cobalt, at least in part, by less active, but more sustainable and cost-effective metals such as earth-abundant iron. FePd and FeCo based monoliths were 3D printed and stacked in a continuous flow tubular reactor for testing the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BA) into benzaldehyde (BZ) under mild conditions (80–100 °C and atmospheric pressure). The novel monolithic reactors were evaluated against current state-of-the-art reactor technologies, conventional packed bed and batch reactors. The FeCo- and FePd-Al2O3-supported monolithic catalyst beds showed higher conversion and TOF than their packed bed counterparts under the same operating conditions, revealing the impact of the novel design on both regular geometry and composition. What is of particular interest in the catalytic measurements shown is that the combined stacking of two monoliths in a flow reactor, Al2O3-supported Fe and GO-supported FePd catalysts, can significantly improve the performance with an increase in TOF of up to 90% in comparison to their FePd analogues. Mathematical modelling was used to obtain additional insights into the physical and chemical processes governing the rate of BA conversion. It was found that due to the flow regime inside the microchannels, an axial dispersion model was appropriate, which allowed for mapping the concentration profiles of the reactants and products within the respective monolith geometries