Toluenesulfonate-acyl esters of ethylene glycol and other 1,2-diols as industrial antioxidants with cupric ion

Ethylene glycol esters of soybean oil FA increased in viscosity much more slowly than methyl or glycerol esters when oxidized at 105°C in the presence of flowing air and colloidal copper. This increased stability was caused by a minor constituent of the ethylene glycol esters, which was shown by MS to be a mixed ethanediol fatty acylate p-toluenesulfonate (EFAT). The p-toluenesulfonate group came from the catalyst used in the formation of the ethylene glycol esters. EFAT was quantified by UV spectrometry, HPLC, or GC of the acyl group that it contains. EFAT could be synthesized in good yield by reacting ethylene glycol, a FA, and p-toluenesulfonic acid (TSA) in a 1∶1∶1 molar ratio using a benzene azeotrope to remove water of esterification. EFAT increased the time required for the polymerization of soybean oil by about 27 times but required concentrations of 2–5% by weight. EFAT made with a variety of FA were active in delaying viscosity increase. Ethyl and decyl p-toluenesulfonate were inactive. Replacing ethylene glycol by glycerol and 1,2-propylene glycol but not by 1,3-propylene glycol resulted in active EFAT. TSA itself delayed the polymerization of soybean oil, especially in the presence of free ethylene glycol and FA, but this probably was caused by formation of EFAT during the oxidation test. Colloidal copper could be replaced by cupric ion. EFAT-copper appeared to act as an antioxidant by destroying hydroperoxides without initiation of free radical chains.     

Automatic construction of multiple-object three-dimensional statistical shape models: application to cardiac modeling

A novel method is introduced for the generation of landmarks for three-dimensional (3-D) shapes and the construction of the corresponding 3-D statistical shape models. Automatic landmarking of a set of manual segmentations from a class of shapes is achieved by 1) construction of an atlas of the class, 2) automatic extraction of the landmarks from the atlas, and 3) subsequent propagation of these landmarks to each example shape via a volumetric nonrigid registration technique using multiresolution B-spline deformations. This approach presents some advantages over previously published methods: it can treat multiple-part structures and requires less restrictive assumptions on the structure's topology. In this paper, we address the problem of building a 3-D statistical shape model of the left and right ventricle of the heart from 3-D magnetic resonance images. The average accuracy in landmark propagation is shown to be below 2.2 mm. This application demonstrates the robustness and accuracy of the method in the presence of large shape variability and multiple objects.     

Automotive Powertrain Control — A Survey

This paper surveys recent and historical publications on automotive powertrain control. Control‐oriented models of gasoline and diesel engines and their aftertreatment systems are reviewed, and challenging control problems for conventional engines, hybrid vehicles and fuel cell powertrains are discussed. Fundamentals are revisited and advancements are highlighted. A comprehensive list of references is provided.     

The effect of perceptual load on attention-induced motion blindness: The efficiency of selective inhibition.

Recent visual marking studies have shown that the carry-over of distractor inhibition can impair the ability of singletons to capture attention if the singleton and distractors share features. The current study extends this finding to first-order motion targets and distractors, clearly separated in time by a visual cue (the letter X). Target motion discrimination was significantly impaired, a result attributed to the carry-over of distractor inhibition. Increasing the difficulty of cue detection increased the motion target impairment, as distractor inhibition is thought to increase under demanding (high load) conditions in order to maximize selection efficiency. The apparent conflict with studies reporting reduced distractor inhibition under high load conditions was resolved by distinguishing between the effects of "cognitive" and "perceptual" load. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health Care, National Health Insurance, and Psychology.

The role of psychologists as health care providers and the parameters of reimbursement for health care services are timely and controversial issues. A landmark decision was reached in this controversy in the 1980 appeal of a Virginia suit by clinical psychologists in which the court ruled that Blue Shield's refusal to directly reimburse psychologists was a violation of antitrust law. Thus, the requirement that psychologists bill through physicians was not upheld. In recent years a specific aspect of this controversy involved psychologists' roles in potential national health insurance programs. A limited study (appearing in the "National Register of Health Services Providers in Psychology" 1976-1978) of clinical psychologists' attitudes toward national health insurance suggests that Congress and psychologists may have disparate views. In addition to favoring national health insurance, over 85% of psychologists surveyed responded that consumers would benefit from such a program with mental health coverage. Only 16% agreed that such a program would constitute a subsidy of the rich by the poor (Albee, 1977). Several areas of conflicting or confusing responses in this study may reflect legitimate reasons for concern by Congress regarding institution of national health insurance. Belief that providers would benefit from mental health coverage in a national health insurance program was shared by 80% of respondents. Ninety-five percent of respondents identified the inclusion or exclusion of clinical psychologists in such a national health insurance as affecting the future of the profession. Curiously, over 50% of respondents agreed that primary care physicians should be reimbursed for mental health services, although such physicians have received no formal training in psychological services. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Heavy metal bioaccumulation and macroinvertebrate community changes in a Mediterranean stream affected by acid mine drainage and an accidental spill (Guadiamar River, SW Spain)

In the 1998 Aznalcóllar mining accident, 5 million cubic meters of toxic waste were spilled into the Guadiamar River (SW Spain). This paper describes the likely effects of metal pollution on the macroinvertebrate community in the first 15 km of the river adjacent to the mine, 2 years after the spill. The contents of Zn, Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Tl, and Sb in water, sediment, and in the caddisfly Hydropsyche were analysed, together with some physico-chemical parameters. From the results of physico-chemical and community parameters, the studied area was divided into three sections: the first section contained upstream control stations, not affected by current mining activities, and with a diverse macroinvertebrate community structure (mean number of families = 19); the second section, close to the mine, was severely polluted, with more than 50 mg l(-1) of Zn or 1.6 mg l(-1) of Cu in water, a pH of nearly 4, and a very diminished macroinvertebrate community (three families); in the last section, 6-15 km downstream from the mine, the water quality improved, metal concentrations decreased, pH reached neutrality and the macroinvertebrate community comprised eight families. We also determined metal concentrations in the larvae of Hydropsyche and found increases of 3- to 35-fold (for Cu and Cd, respectively) compared to control sites. As far as we are aware, these values are the highest concentrations so far detected in this caddisfly anywhere in the world. Different patterns of metal and pH tolerance were identified in macroinvertebrates. Most of the species were intolerant to present pollution levels and were only present in control sites. Others were tolerant to metal pollution but not to low pH and were present in the main river downstream of the mine, while a very few species managed to live in the most polluted section, with very low pH and high metal concentrations.     

In situ spectral monitoring of mRNA translation in embryonic stem cells during differentiation in vitro

Raman microspectroscopy was used to determine biochemical markers during the differentiation of embryonic murine stem cells (mES) in vitro. Such markers are useful to determine the differentiation status of ES cells cultured on biomaterials. Raman spectra of mES cells as undifferentiated, spontaneously differentiated (4 days), and differentiated cells via formation of embryoid bodies (16, 20 days) were analyzed. Unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis were used to determine biochemical differences between mES cells in various states of differentiation. The undifferentiated cells were characterized by high scores of the first principal component (PC1, 49% variance). Similarity between the PC1 loading and the Raman spectrum of RNA indicated a high concentration of RNA in mES cells compared to differentiated cells. The ratio between the peak areas of RNA and proteins was used as a measure of mRNA translation. Using the same peak area ratio, it was possible to differentiate even between mES as undifferentiated and in early stages of differentiation (4 days). These findings were correlated with biological studies reporting high levels of nontranslated mRNA during early embryonic development. Therefore, the RNA translation obtained from the Raman spectra can be used as marker of differentiation state of mES cells.     

Dual holographic interferometry for measuring the three velocity components in a fluid plane

A technique that allows one to measure simultaneously the three velocity components in a fluid plane is presented. One obtains the quantitative information from only one holographic recording by combining two different reconstruction processes. As both processes use an interferometric comparison of two waves, we refer to this technique as dual holographic interferometry. The far-field fringe pattern that is obtained when reconstruction is made with an expanded laser beam allows one to determine the in-plane velocity components. The image-field fringe pattern that is obtained when a pointwise laser beam is used for reconstruction contains information about an out-of-plane velocity component. As the two reconstruction processes have different sensitivities, two different ways to combine them are proposed. The system has been demonstrated in a fluidlike solid object and in a convective flow.     

Counselor Rating Form—Short version: Further validation and comparison to the long form.

Initial validation data on the Counselor Rating Form—Short Version (CRF—S; J. D. Corrigan and L. D. Schmidt; see record 1983-09385-001), a revised version of the Counselor Rating Form (CRF; A. Barak and M. B. LaCrosse; see record 1976-07806-001), were positive. The present study, with 215 college students, largely replicated the methodology, and simultaneous collection of data on the CRF and the CRF—S allowed for direct comparisons between the 2 instruments. Results generally add to the validation of the CRF—S, but it was not successful in facilitating greater use of the lower end of the 7-point rating scale. Differences in counselor ratings suggest that the 2 instruments might be measuring slightly different constructs. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)