High-temperature adsorption of n-alkanes on ZSM-5 zeolites: influence of the Si/Al ratio and the synthesis method on the low-coverage adsorption properties

The influence of the composition and synthesis method on the low-coverage adsorption properties of C₅–C₉ n-alkanes on ZSM-5 zeolites was studied using the pulse chromatographic technique at temperatures between 200 and 400 °C. Experiments were performed with materials having Si/Al ratios between 12 and 400, synthesized with and without an organic template. For all ZSM-5 samples, the Henry adsorption constants increase exponentially with the carbon number, while zero-coverage adsorption enthalpies increase in a linear way. With decreasing Al content, the Henry constants and adsorption enthalpies decrease. An increase in adsorption enthalpy of 10.1 kJ/mol per added –CH₂– group is observed for an Si/Al ratio of 400, while an increase of 12.1 kJ/mol is found for an Si/Al ratio of 15. The contribution to the adsorption entropy per carbon atom depends on the ZSM-5 composition and varies between 11.2 and 14.4 J/(mol K). A significant effect of the synthesis method on the Henry constants, adsorption enthalpies and entropies is observed. All ZSM-5 samples synthesized using organic templates show the same unique relationship between adsorption enthalpy and entropy, different from that of zeolites synthesized without organic template.     

Spatial dependence of Raman frequencies in ordered and disordered monolayer graphene

A micro-Raman investigation was carried out on several flakes of monolayer (1 L) graphene obtained by the micro-mechanical exfoliation technique and, then, put on a c-Si wafer coated by a SiO₂ thin film. Some of the 1 L zones show a remarkable dispersion of the 2D-overtone wavenumber as a function of the position within the graphene sheet, and, in some case, a significant broadening of the E_2g phonon (G band) is associated to this wavenumber shift of 2D-band. Such effects were studied, in particular, for a 1 L zone characterized by a rather strong lattice disorder, as revealed by the strong D/G band intensity ratio, and for other zones quite ordered, showing a vanishing intensity of the D band. Moreover, by moving along different directions within 1 L graphene sheets, different trends for 2D wavenumber and E_2g phonon bandwidth vs. position were observed. All these reported behaviours are explained in terms of different distributions of intrinsic uniaxial strain occurring within the 1 L graphene sheets.     

Self-management of cystic fibrosis: short-term outcomes of the Cystic Fibrosis Family Education Program

This study tested the efficacy of the Cystic Fibrosis Family Education Program, a cystic fibrosis self-management program, on improving participants' knowledge, self-efficacy, self-management behavior, health, and quality of life. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest nonequivalent comparison group design was employed. Participants made up 104 patient-primary caregiver dyads from the intervention site cystic fibrosis center and 95 from the usual care comparison center. The intervention, a self-paced print curriculum based on social cognitive theory, targeted behavioral capability, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations and was implemented as an integral part of medical care. Parents, early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescents received separate materials on respiratory, nutrition and malabsorption, communication, and coping issues. Significant intervention effects were found on the knowledge scores for caregivers, adolescents, and children; caregiver and adolescent total self-management scores; Child Behavior Checklist total score; one parent coping scale score; the modified NIH score; NIH pulmonary factor 1; and the Brasfield total score. Significant interaction effects were evident in the self-efficacy scores for caregivers and children.     

A multimethod validation of the Inpatient Multidimensional Psychiatric Scale with chronically institutionalized patients.

Assessed the convergent and discriminant validity of the Inpatient Multidimensional Psychiatric Scale (IMPS) for 80 chronically institutionalized patients (mean age 44 yrs) over 3 modes of assessment (interview ratings, ward ratings, and observed frequency of behavior), 2 settings (interview and ward), and 2 points in time. Sequential performance of raw-score intercorrelations, principal-components analyses, and multimethod factor analysis indicated that the IMPS possessed excellent concurrent validity. However, it failed to demonstrate the same utility as a measure of change. Caution should therefore be exercised in any usage of the IMPS where absolute level differences are required for evaluative assessment. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-ratings and judges' ratings of heterosexual social anxiety and skill: A generalizability study.

The performance of 79 male undergraduates in 2 heterosexual social situations was rated by questionnaires (including the Social Anxiety and Skill Questionnaire), self-ratings in role plays, self-ratings of videotapes of role plays, ratings by confederates, and ratings of videotaped role plays by judges. These ratings were characterized with respect to mode, method, and situation facets; the consistency of ratings was obtained under different conditions of these facets, which were investigated by use of a generalizability approach in which estimates of variance components and generalizability coefficients were calculated. Self-report and judges' ratings of anxiety and social skill based on a fairly large number of observations were found to be at best moderately generalizable across the various facets investigated; the relationship between anxiety and skill was found to vary considerably among the various methods; substantial proportions of variance, indicative of level differences, were found within judges for anxiety ratings and within judges and methods for skill ratings; and substantial proportions of variance were influenced by mode of measurement. The implications of these findings for obtaining reliable ratings of heterosexual social anxiety and skill are discussed. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ecological validity of role plays for assessing heterosocial anxiety and skill of male college students.

Examined the ecological validity of role-played dating interactions. 45 male undergraduates, categorized into low-, medium-, and high-frequency dating groups (Social Activity Questionnaire), participated in 4 heterosexual social (heterosocial) situations in a laboratory. Two situations were role plays simulating dating interactions, and 2 were more naturalistic waiting-period interactions. Controls for confederate familiarity and role-play order were used. Judges rated Ss as more skillful in role plays than waiting periods and rated low-frequency daters as more anxious than high-frequency daters. High-frequency daters rated themselves as more skillful than did low-frequency daters. Ss rated the waiting-period interactions as more like "real life" and their behavior in waiting periods as more representative of everyday heterosocial interactions. However ANOVAs did not result in major differences between role plays and waiting periods, and correlational analyses indicated that the relative ranking of Ss was similar in role plays and waiting periods. Implications for the use of role-play assessments in the heterosocial skill area are discussed. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous silica SBA 15 improved the efficacy of CORM-2 against hypoxia reoxygenation injury

Journal of Porous Materials - Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) exhibited protection against cardiac hypoxia reoxygenation injury (H/R). However, its poor water solubility and short...