Effect of different temperatures and storage atmospheres on Coratina olive oil quality

Olives (Olea europaea cv. Coratina) used for oil production were stored for 30 days at three different temperatures and under different atmospheres (ambient temperature, 5 °C with a flux of humidified air, 5 °C with a flux of 3%O₂ + 5%CO₂). The olives were kept in jars used for fruit storage, each with a capacity for 1.5 kg of olives.     

Ethical administration of sociometric measures: Procedures in use and suggestions for improvement.

Success in the ethical use of sociometric measures requires understanding the impact of the variety of procedures in use. This study identified sociometric testing procedures currently in use in the peer-relations literature and summarized procedures that researchers have found useful in minimizing risk to research participants. Researchers who use sociometric measures (n?=?145) completed a survey about procedures used in their sociometric research. Results indicated variability in sociometric question format, consent-assent procedures, confidentiality instructions, and scheduling and administration procedures. Procedures for conducting sociometric research so as to maximize adherence to the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (American Psychological Association, 1992) and to minimize risk to children are suggested, and needs for future research on sociometric testing are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structural operational capacities in integrative spatial ability.

Four experiments were conducted to explore a distinction between structural capacity, the maximum number of informational units that can be temporarily stored, and operational capacity, the number of processing operations that can be executed while simultaneously preserving the products of earlier processing. The results, from a synthesis task requiring the integration of successively presented line segments into a composite stimulus, revealed that there were little or no age differences in structural capacity but large age differences favoring young adults in operational capacity. An attempt was also made to determine how much earlier information was available after each additional processing operation, but equivocal results precluded a definitive conclusion about the exact nature of the age differences in operational capacity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age and experience effects in spatial visualization.

Three studies were conducted to investigate effects related to age and experience on measures of spatial visualization ability. All research participants were college-educated men; those in the experienced group were practicing or recently retired architects. The major results of the studies were (a) that increased age was found to be associated with lower levels of performance on several tests of spatial visualization and (b) that this was true both for unselected adults and for adults with extensive spatial visualization experience. These findings seem to suggest that age-related effects in some aspects of cognitive functioning may be independent of experiential influences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Antimicrobial applications of electroactive PVK-SWNT nanocomposites

The antibacterial properties of a nanocomposite containing an electroactive polymer, polyvinyl-N-carbazole (PVK) (97 wt %), and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) (3 wt %) was investigated as suspensions in water and as thin film coatings. The toxic effects of four different PVK-SWNT (97:3 wt %) nanocomposite concentrations (1, 0.5, 0.05, and 0.01 mg/mL) containing 0.03, 0.015, 0.0015, and 0.0003 mg/mL of SWNT, respectively, were determined for planktonic cells and biofilms of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis). The results showed that the nanocomposite PVK-SWNT had antibacterial activity on planktonic cells and biofilms at all concentration levels. Higher bacterial inactivation (94% for E. coli and 90% for B. subtilis) were achieved in planktonic cells at a PVK-SWNT concentration of 1 mg/mL. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging showed significant reduction of biofilm growth on PVK-SWNT coated surfaces. This study established for the first time that the improved dispersion of SWNTs in aqueous solutions in the presence of PVK enhances the antimicrobial effects of SWNTs at very low concentrations. Furthermore, PVK-SWNT can be used as an effective thin film coating material to resist biofilm formation.     

Diesel emission control: Catalytic filters for particulate removal

The European diesel engine industry represents a vital sector across the Continent, with more than 2 million direct work positions and a turnover of over 400 billion Euro. Diesel engines provide large paybacks to society since they are extensively used to transport goods, services and people. In recent years increasing attention has been paid to the emissions from diesel engines which, like gasoline engine emissions, include carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NO_x). Diesel engines also produce significant levels of particulate matter (PM), which consists mostly of carbonaceous soot and a soluble organic fraction (SOF) of hydrocarbons that have condensed on the soot.

Meeting the emission levels imposed for NO_x and PM by legislation (Euro IV in 2005 and, in the 2008 perspective, Euro V) requires the development of a number of critical technologies to fulfill these very stringent emission limits (e.g. 0.005 g/km for PM). This review is focused on these innovative technologies with special reference to catalytic traps for diesel particulate removal.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of oil palm microfibril‐reinforced natural rubber composites

The dynamic mechanical properties of macro and microfibers of oil palm‐reinforced natural rubber (NR) composites were investigated as a function of fiber content, temperature, treatment, and frequency. By the incorporation of macrofiber to NR, the storage modulus (E') value increases while the damping factor (tan δ) shifts toward higher temperature region. As the fiber content increases the damping nature of the composite decreases because of the increased stiffness imparted by the natural fibers. By using the steam explosion method, the microfibrils were separated from the oil palm fibers. These fibers were subjected to treatments such as mercerization, benzoylation, and silane treatment. Resorcinol‐hexamethylenetetramine‐hydrated silica was also used as bonding agent to increase the fiber/matrix adhesion. The storage modulus value of untreated and treated microfibril‐reinforced composites was higher than that of macrofiber‐reinforced composites. The T_g value obtained for this microfibril‐reinforced composites were slightly higher than that of macrofiber‐reinforced composites. The activation energy for the relaxation processes in different composites was also calculated. The morphological studies using scanning electron microscopy of tensile fracture surfaces of treated and untreated composites indicated better fiber/matrix adhesion in the case of treated microfibril‐reinforced composites. Finally, attempts were made to correlate the experimental dynamic properties with the theoretical predictions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Oil palm microcomposites: Processing and mechanical behavior

The present work focuses on the effect of concentration and modifications of oil palm microfibrils in natural rubber. Increase in the concentration of microfibrils resulted in the reduction of tensile and tear strengths while an increase in modulus, hardness, and abrasion resistance of composites. The extent of microfibril orientation in the composite was determined from green strength measurements. Microcomposites were also prepared by using fibrils treated with benzoyl chloride, silane coupling agent, and hydrated silica‐resorcinol‐hexamethylenetetramine bonding agent. The treated and untreated microfibrils were characterized by FTIR. Scanning electron micrograph studies were carried out to analyze the microfibril pull out and fiber/matrix adhesion of composites. The extent of fiber alignment and interfacial adhesion were analyzed from swelling measurements. Finally, experimental results of mechanical properties were compared with the theoretical predictions. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:1853–1863, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Episodic and semantic memory in posthypnotic amnesia: A reevaluation.

J. F. Kihlstrom (see record 1980-11245-001) hypothesized that posthypnotic amnesia involved a dissociation between episodic and semantic components of memory. The present study tested an alternative hypothesis that Kihlstrom's findings resulted from experimental demands conveyed by the wording of the amnesia suggestion he employed. It was hypothesized that hypnotically amnesic Ss would show performance deficits on semantic and episodic memory tasks if expectations for such deficits were subtly conveyed to them. Using 2 treatment conditions, 60 undergraduates were divided into susceptibility groups. Condition 1 replicated Kihlstrom's experiment; in Condition 2, Ss were given an alternative hypnotic suggestion. It was found that Ss could be induced to show only episodic impairments (thereby replicating Kihlstrom) or both episodic and semantic impairments (contrary to Kihlstrom) by subtly varying the wording of amnesia suggestions. Findings are inconsistent with a dissociation hypothesis. Instead, they support the notion that hypnotic amnesia is a strategic enactment strongly influenced by expectations generated in the amnesia testing situation. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Skin permeation of 5-methoxypsoralen from topical dosage forms

The topical photochemotherapy of dermatoses with psoralens (PUVA therapy) requires an adequate drug level at the target site (basal epidermis) at the time of UVA radiation. The aim of this work was to enhance 5-methoxypsoralen transport to the basal epidermis, with the goal to shorten the delay between drug application and UVA irradiation. 5-Methoxypsoralen transport through rabbit skin was studied in vitro from topical formulations (water solution, gel, and emulsion). The results obtained show that the use of the emulsion increased the flux through rabbit ear skin, even if partitioning was not favorable. Additionally, the time lag was sensibly reduced, compared with the gel and solution. Furthermore, drug accumulation in human skin in vitro was determined using the thin slicing technique. Human skin accumulation profile was significantly higher for the emulsion, compared with the gel, indicating that the delay between psoralen application and UVA irradiation can be shortened.