Fractal dimension measurement of engineering surfaces

Many types of engineered surfaces have been observed to exhibit a fractal geometry. In some cases, modeling the generation of the surfaces predicts this and provides correlation between the dimension and history and properties of the surfaces. The complex process of machining precision surfaces does not yet lend itself to such detailed modeling, but observations of the correlations between production methods and surface dimension, independent of material type and hardness, offer encouragement.     

Diversifying consulting psychology for the future.

The growth of new and atypical consulting psychology practices described in this integration of the articles in Finkelman’s (2010c) special issue, New and Emerging Practices in Consulting Psychology, exemplifies the dynamic change taking place in consulting and underscores the need for consultants to diversify their practices to keep the discipline vibrant, growing, and relevant for clients. Consultants must continually add new techniques to their complement of interventions and sharpen their focus to help their clients respond to a changing and increasingly challenging environment. Psychologists’ evolving roles as consultants are maximizing their ability to function as “experts in behavior” who apply unique knowledge and skills to address emerging client needs. The evolution of consulting practices of psychologists as experts in behavior is captured by the diverse array of consulting activities in this special issue. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reduction of NOx emissions from a dry process preheaterkiln with calciner through the use of the urea-based SNCR process

The post combustion reduction of NO_x using urea has proven to be an effective method in controlling NO_x from various combustion sources, such a reduction process has been successfully demonstrated in a week-long test at Ash Grove's dry process cement kiln system located in Seattle. This system is equipped with planetary coolers, a 5-stage preheater and an air-through-the-kiln calciner. Testing was done under ten different kiln/calciner operating conditions. Using three to four injectors, NO_x was efficiently reduced from 350-600 lb per hour lb/ton of clinker to less than 100 lb per hour. This calculates to a NO_x reduction of greater than 80% for most cases. Chemical utilization was greater than 50% percent. A high degree of mixing and a long residence time at an appropriate temperature present in the preheater tower contributed to these excellent results. An average ammonia slip was four ppm above a baseline level at a normalized stoichiometric ratio of 1. This demonstration confirms expectations that dry process cement kilns with 4+ preheater stages are an ideal application for the selective noncatalytic reduction of NO_x with urea. NO_x was efficiently and effectively reduced with minimal byproduct emissions and virtually no effect on plant operations     

Deletions of the heavy neurofilament subunit tail in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Retinol and retinyl esters are converted with time to slowly increasing amounts of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) in cultured human keratinocytes. Exogenous RA has been shown to limit retinol oxidation and to increase retinol esterification. Because significant amounts of retinol are present in biologic systems, we examined whether RA and all-trans-retinoyl-beta-D-glucuronide (RAG) interact with retinol in exhibiting their activities on HaCaT keratinocytes maintained in a retinoid-free culture system. RA was more potent than RAG and retinol in inducing ultrastructural changes attributed to retinoids, inhibiting cell proliferation as well as enhancing keratin 19 expression. In addition, retinoids were able to induce cellular retinoic acid-binding protein II mRNA levels in the cultures, whereas early RA and late RAG activity was detected. The described biologic effects of RA and RAG were diminished by simultaneous cell exposure to retinol. HaCaT cells quickly metabolized retinol to retinyl esters and consequently to low amounts of RA. RA treatment led to an early high peak of cellular RA followed by reduction to trace amounts. Treatment with RAG resulted in constantly high cellular RAG and low RA levels. Under the combined RA and retinol treatment retinyl esters were increased and RA was reduced in HaCaT cells, whereas extracellular RA levels were similar to those obtained by RA alone. On the other hand, the combination of RAG and retinol resulted in higher extracellular RAG, similar cellular RAG, and lower cellular RA levels than those obtained by RAG alone without any change in retinyl esters. This study demonstrates that retinoid signaling by RA and RAG is attenuated by simultaneous exposure of HaCaT keratinocytes in vitro to retinol. The presence of retinol in the medium alters the rate of RA or RAG metabolism and thus cellular RA concentrations. The intensity of retinoid signal is probably dependent on cellular RA levels. The resulting "antagonism" among retinoids is consistent with the presence of an auto-regulatory mechanism in human keratinocytes offering protection against excessive accumulation of cellular RA.     

Intercomparison of whole-body counters by using a subject who had incorporated 137Cs into the body

During the years 1996-2000, eight whole-body counting facilities (WBC) from Finland, Germany, Japan and Russia took part in an intercomparison using a resident of the Russian town of Novozybkov who had been seriously contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl accident. The subject R (adult male, height 172 cm average body mass 64 kg; and 137Cs body burden within the range of 1-15 kBq) was investigated in the participating institutions during his business trips. The experimentally obtained data for his 137Cs body burden were compared with the predicted values, which had been deduced from the measurements of subject R using the reference WBC (St Petersburg Institute of Radiation Hygiene) and from his effective half-time of 137Cs in the body (68 days). The obtained results did not deviate more than 20% from reference activities. Four facilities were able to quantity the 40K in the subject's body. The differences between reported values of potassium did not exceed 10%. For subject R, the average annual effective dose from radiocaesium was 0.25 mSv and it was 0.18 mSv from 40K in the years 1996/97. The reliability of using a subject with naturally incorporated artificial radionuclides ('walking standard') instead of an anthropomorphous phantom for calibration and intercomparison of whole-body counters in a large-scale nuclear accident is discussed.     

Leading Psychology Forward: Staying the Course in Uncertain Times.

Like everyone in the country, those in organized psychology have functioned recently in a climate marked by threats of terrorism, uncertainty, and a declining economy. In such challenging times, it might seem logical for the profession to wonder how it needs to change to respond to current circumstances. Yet at such times, staying the course already charted is likely a far more effective strategy. For psychology, this means continuing to press for mental health parity, educating decision makers about the important role of psychological services in preventive care, helping to integrate psychological and physical health services, continuing to hold managed care companies accountable, and increasing the profession's political giving. Psychologists must also be prepared to ensure that psychological services are treated as an integral part of any health reform plan that emerges. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)