OBJECTIVE:The African Neuropsychology Battery (ANB) includes eight culturally appropriate cognitive tests developed for use in the Congo and other sub-Saharan African populations. The current study examines the reliability of the ANB in three samples of participants of African descent.METHODS:Subjects were recruited in the United States and the Congo to participate in three studies of ANB internal consistency reliability (Study 1), test-retest reliability (Study 2), and interrater reliability for the two ANB measures (i.e., Visuospatial Memory and Proverb Tests) requiring examiner ratings of response adequacy (Study 3). Subjects were administered ANB tests of visuospatial perception, language, memory, abstract reasoning, and problem solving. We calculated Cronbach's alpha, corrected item-total correlations and mean inter-item correlations for internal consistency, Pearson product-moment correlations and intraclass correlation coefficients for test-retest reliability, and intraclass correlation coefficients for interrater reliability.RESULTS:The ANB tests had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas ranging from .37 to .93). Across subtests, test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from .39 to .91, and intraclass correlation stability coefficients (ICCs) ranged from .39 to .82. Of the two ANB tests requiring interrater reliability, only the Proverb Test had a low ICC of .13, (confidence intervals: -.29 to .52).CONCLUSION:The present study demonstrated that most ANB tests show adequate reliability in participants of African descent. However, the scoring criteria of the African Proverb Test require revision in order to improve the interrater reliability of the measure.

To test a core assumption of the African Neuropsychology Battery (ANB) that greater African enculturation is associated with better performance. Subjects were 27 African immigrants to the U.S. [mean age = 39 (SD = 11.5), mean education = 16.3 years (SD = 2.9)], 32 African-Americans [mean age = 34.0 (SD = 11.2), mean education = 16.2 (SD = 2.5)], and 21 U.S. Caucasians [mean age = 45.7 (SD = 13.8), mean education = 17.2 (SD = 2.3)]. All subjects completed a questionnaire on familiarity with elements of African culture. The ANB was administered one-on-one, by trained technicians, in English, in a single session. ANB tests measured visuospatial perception, naming, memory, and abstract reasoning utilizing content drawn from sub-Saharan African cultures. Groups differed significantly in age (p < .05), but not education or gender, and age was used as a covariate in subsequent group comparisons. African immigrants showed highest African enculturation, followed by African Americans, and Caucasians [F(2, 74) = 36.16, p < .000], with all groups differing significantly from one another in post-hoc comparisons (p < .02). African enculturation correlated significantly only with ability to identify pictures of African fruits (Pearson r = .58, p < .001) and objects (r = .25, p < .03). Analysis of Covariance followed by Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons confirmed that African immigrants were superior to Caucasians (p < .001) and African-Americans (p < .001) in identifying fruits, with the latter two groups not differing significantly from one another. African immigrants were superior to Caucasians in object identification (p < .05), but did not differ significantly from African-Americans. African enculturation influences performance on some ANB tests and results support the potential of the ANB to assess performance in a less culturally-biased manner in African immigrants.

Trauma can oftentimes be a catalyst for changes in an individual's religious and spiritual beliefs. Beliefs about the cause of the trauma, for instance, may include attributions of possessing spirits, and are to be found in an increasingly pluralistic and multicultural society. Such preternatural explanations may be referred to as dissociative identity disorder, possession form. Unwittingly, an overreliance on neurobiological explanations and relegation of cultural idioms of distress may diminish effective collaboration with ecclesiastical authorities. Concomitantly, ecclesiastical experts are confronted with bewildering posttrauma dissociative symptomatology, and may not be prepared as diagnosticians to rule out psychobiological explanations. In both instances, client care may be compromised. Noteworthy, the current investigation integrates the author's participant observation research at the Vatican's school of Exorcism in Rome, Italy.

FuelCell Energy is developing a Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC)-Battery Energy System for Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (LDUUV) propulsion as part of the Office of Naval Research’s LDUUV Innovative Naval Prototype (INP) Energy Program. The project objective is the development of an air-independent refuelable power system with high energy density suitable for long duration underwater missions. The Hybrid SOFC-Battery system will be capable of generating 1800kWhr of electricity over a 70 day mission with no exhaust discharged outside of the vehicle at any time. The energy system is fueled by JP-10 logistic fuel, utilizes liquid O2 for air-independent operation, and is compact enough to fit within a 42-inch square by 120-inch long LDUUV power section. Phase I of the project includes process design and cost analysis, development of a 3-D CAD model of the energy system, breadboard testing of components and the integrated system, as well as completion of a Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA).

A new solvent-based CO2 capture process couples the unique attributes of non-aqueous, CO2-binding organic liquids (CO2BOLs) with the newly discovered polarity-swing-assisted regeneration (PSAR) process that is unique to switchable ionic liquids. Laboratory measurements with PSAR indicate the ability to achieve a regeneration effect at 75°C compared to a temperature of 120°C using thermal regeneration only. Initial measurements also indicate the kinetic behavior of CO2 release is also improved with PSAR.

Systems comprising multiple sorbent and catalytic beds have been developed for the warm cleanup of coal- and biomass-derived syngas. Tailored specifically for biomass application, the process described here consists of six primary unit operations: (1) a Na2CO3 bed for HCl removal, (2) two regenerable ZnO beds in parallel for bulk H2S removal, (3) a ZnO bed for H2S polishing, (4) a NiCu/SBA-16 sorbent for trace metal (e.g., AsH3) removal, (5) a steam reforming catalyst bed for tars and light hydrocarbon reformation and NH3 decomposition, and (6) a Cu-based LT-WGS catalyst bed. Simulated biomass-derived syngas containing possible inorganic contaminants (H2S, AsH3, HCl, and NH3) and hydrocarbons (methane, ethylene, benzene, and naphthalene) was used to demonstrate process effectiveness. The efficiency of the process was demonstrated for a period of 175 h, during which time no signs of deactivation were observed. However, postrun analysis revealed that small levels of sulfur slipped through the sorbent bed train to the two downstream catalytic beds. Future improvements will be made to the trace metal polishing sorbent to ensure complete inorganic contaminant removal (to low parts per billion level) prior to the catalytic steps. However, dual regenerating ZnO beds were effective for continuous removal for the vast majority of the sulfur present in the feed gas. The process was effective for complete AsH3 and HCl removal. The steam reforming catalyst completely reformed all the hydrocarbons present in the feed (methane, ethylene, benzene, and naphthalene) to additional syngas. However, postrun evaluation, under kinetically controlled conditions, indicates some deactivation of the steam reforming catalyst occurred. Spent catalyst characterization suggests this can be attributed, in part, to coke formation, likely due to the presence of benzene and/or naphthalene in the feed. Future adaptation of this technology may require dual, regenerable steam reformers. The process and materials described in this report hold promise for the warm cleanup of a variety of contaminant species within warm syngas.

In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) results on correlating the Pt local coordination and electronic structure with the Pt/C catalyst activity and selectivity during aqueous reforming of glycerol at different pH are reported. The results show that both low and high pH favor C–O cleavage over that of C–C. However, the selectivity toward C–O bond cleavage was higher under the acidic conditions. XANES measurements under reaction conditions showed that low pH increased the Pt electron density while the effect of basic conditions was minimal. ΔXANES was used to estimate the coverage of adsorbates under reaction conditions and the results suggest a change in the adsorbates coverage by the acidic conditions, resulting in higher electron density on Pt.

This theoretical review integrates findings from functional imaging, counseling effectiveness program evaluation, and childhood physical abuse to inform current assessment and intervention practices with partner abusive men. Understanding how to adequately assess traumatic brain injury, trauma symptomatology, and concomitant deficits in conflict regulation strategies will be elucidated. Particular emphasis on executive functioning, verbal deficits, impulsivity and an integrative biopsychosocial model including the roles of quantitative electroencephalography, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, sympathetic nervous system, and serotonergic system will be presented, enriching current conceptualization and treatment of partner abusive men.

OPAL is an English national programme that takes scientists into the community to investigate environmental issues. Biological monitoring plays a pivotal role covering topics of: i) soil and earthworms; ii) air, lichens and tar spot on sycamore; iii) water and aquatic invertebrates; iv) biodiversity and hedgerows; v) climate, clouds and thermal comfort. Each survey has been developed by an inter-disciplinary team and tested by voluntary, statutory and community sectors. Data are submitted via the web and instantly mapped. Preliminary results are presented, together with a discussion on data quality and uncertainty. Communities also investigate local pollution issues, ranging from nitrogen deposition on heathlands to traffic emissions on roadside vegetation. Over 200,000 people have participated so far, including over 1000 schools and 1000 voluntary groups. Benefits include a substantial, growing database on biodiversity and habitat condition, much from previously unsampled sites particularly in urban areas, and a more engaged public.

Syngas for synthesis applications benefits energetically from warm gas cleanup through avoiding cooling and re-heating the feeding gas. A multi-step approach has been developed for removal of major and minor impurities from syngas at warm temperatures. CO2 capture and release also needs to be carried out at warm temperatures to realize economic benefits of warm gas cleanup. MgO-Na2CO3 double salt shows promising CO 2 capacity, and can capture and regenerate via either T or P swing. Current work focuses on improving double salts' kinetics of CO2 capture.

With efficient energy recovery, calcium-oxide-based absorbents that operate at elevated temperatures have an advantage over absorbents that operate at lower temperatures for CO2 capture from coal power plants. The major limitation of these absorbents is that the carbonation and decarbonation reactions of CaO and CaCO3 are for from complete or reversible. Rapid loss of CO2 capacity over many carbonation/decarbonation cycles is always observed because of severe absorbent sintering. We have found that this sintering effect can be effectively mitigated by properly mixing calcium oxide precursors with small rod-like MgAl2O4 spinel nanoparticles. A new class of CaO-based absorbents with much improved high-temperature durability was developed by wet physical mixing of calcium acetate with nano MgAl2O4 spinet particles followed by high-temperature calcination. CaO-MgAl2O4 (32 wt % spinet content) material provides 34 wt % CO2 capacity after 65 carbonation decarbonation cycles (650 and 850 degrees C, respectively), corresponding to 63% CaO use. Under the same test conditions, the CO2 capacity of natural dolomite (35 wt % MgO and 65 wt % CaO) decreases rapidly from 25 wt % for the 1st cycle to less than 5 wt % for the 50th cycle.

An uncharacterized phase of ammonia borane (AB) was previously identified while investigating the thermal aging of this hydrogen rich solid state material. This phase was identified as a key intermediate for the release of hydrogen from AB prompting the current characterization study. The new phase (AB*) was investigated extensively using in situ solid state MAS NMR spectroscopy, including 11B, 15N and 1H NMR. Single-pulse excitation, cross polarization and T1 relaxation experiments for all nuclei collectively demonstrated a significant increase in mobility of AB in the new phase compared to the room temperature phase of AB, consistent with a highly mobile solid. This implies a disruption of the extensive dihydrogen bonding network, allowing increased motional freedom. Complementary studies by in situ X-ray diffraction showed AB* to have the same crystal lattice as AB, but suggested an expanded lattice, providing support for increased mobility. NMR measurements of AB embedded into a mesoporous scaffold were also consistent with high mobility in AB*. These data suggest that a breakdown of the extensive hydrogen bonding network occurs before hydrogen can be released and will be an important factor in the practical use of AB as a hydrogen storage material.

Nickel-based catalysts have been widely tested for reforming undesired tar and methane from hot biomass-derived syngas. However, nickel catalysts readily deactivate through the adsorption of sulfur compounds in the syngas. We report a new regeneration process that can effectively regenerate sulfur-poisoned Ni reforming catalysts. This process consists of four sequential treatments: (1) controlled oxidation at 750 °C in 1% O2, (2) decomposition at 900 °C in inert gas, (3) reduction at 900 °C in 2% H2, and (4) reaction at 900 °C under reforming condition. This 4-step regeneration process might have advantages over the conventional steam regeneration process.

Calcium oxide based materials are attractive regenerable absorbents for separating CO{sub 2} from hot gas streams because of their high reactivity, high CO{sub 2} capacity, and low material cost. Their high carbonation temperature makes it possible to recover and use high quality heat released during CO{sub 2} capture, which increases overall process efficiency. However, the performance of all reported CaO-based absorbents deteriorates as the number of carbonation-decarbonation cycles increases. This is caused by absorbent sintering during the highly exothermic carbonation process. We have found that sintering can be effectively mitigated by properly mixing with a modest amount of MgO. A class of CaO-based absorbents with improved durability and CO{sub 2} reactivity were prepared by physical mixing of Ca(CH{sub 3}COO){sub 2} with small MgO particles followed by high temperature calcination. With 26 wt % MgO content, a CaO-MgO mixture prepared by this method gives as high as 53 wt % CO{sub 2} capacity after 50 carbonation-decarbonation cycles at 758{sup o}C. Without MgO addition, the CO{sub 2} capacity of pure CaO obtained from the same source decreases from 66 wt % for the first cycle to 26 wt % for the 50th cycle under the same test conditions.