Good news, bad news makes excellent time while being lost.

Contends that M. Bobele and L. Winderman's (1981) criticisms of the present author's (see record 1981-26926-001) application of general systems theory in actual day-to-day clinical service are based on badly drawn inferences and misreading. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Surface-enhanced vibrational microspectroscopy of fulvic acid micelles

Micro-Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption microspectroscopy, and AFM images of nano- or microsized micelles formed by fulvic acid (FA) solutions, prepared at different pHs, and cast on glass slides or gold island films, are reported. FA films cast on gold islands are characterized by surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA), surface-enhanced infrared reflection absorption, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Based on spectral evidence, it is expected that the chemisorption of FA on gold island films takes place through thiol groups, which become more active as pH increases. The SEIRA spectra of these films show increased peak intensity, as well as improved band resolution. Microspectroscopy SERS studies show that, at pH 5, FA form small aggregates on gold surfaces. At pH 8, FA tends to expand due to electrostatic repulsion, giving rise to a fractal surface composed of different domains. SERS studies of these domains reveal that the most polar molecules are located on the external faces. At pH 11, fractal conformations are even more pronounced and give rise to radial patterned structures. At this pH, the position of fulvic acid molecules in the fractal micelles is the same as observed at pH 8. In this way, SERS can be viewed as a powerful tool for the analysis of the composition, apparent contribution of the surface functional groups of FA films, and the FA building blocks (i.e., catechol, gallic, salicylic, or ftalic acids) in the structures of these materials.     

A new microscope stand for use with the LKB Ultratome III and cryokit

A method is described for estimating the number of blocked pore channels and pore density and spatial distribution by the staining of the exterior pore openings of unobstructed pores with uranyl acetate, and identification of them using backscattered electron atomic number contrast imaging in the scanning electron microscope.     

Polymer degradation. V. Changes in molecular weight distributions during sonic irradiation of polyisobutene

Gel permeation chromatography was used to follow changes in the molecular weight distribution of a polyisobutene, initial M _v = 466,000, during degradation induced by sonic irradiation. Seven samples taken at times of 200–163,500 sec. were studied. In general, a steady decrease in molecular weight was observed, although a bimodal distribution was present after 20,000 sec. irradiation. Various measures of inhomogeneity, M _w/M _n, U, etc., were examined. The function, σ_n/M _w, where σ_n is the standard deviation of the number distribution, is considered as a measure of the relative distribution. It is shown to be almost constant throughout the degradation.     

Some Observations on the Semantics of “Information”

The term Information is widely used in the rhetoric of the Information Society, a rhetoric which some critics have judged to be empty, at least in part because of the overextension and inconsistent use of this word. We review the emergence of the concept of Information, identify a number of dimensions of similarity and difference in the way that the concept of Information is used and defined, and point up some specific areas where further critical attention is needed, of especial concern to the field of Information Systems. In particular we highlight some problems in identifying and understanding Information Work, and some research themes relevant to Virtual Organisations and Computer Supported Collaborative Work.     

Anbindung von Fluoreszenzfarbstoffen an plasmachemisch funktionalisierte und Cucurbituril‐modifizierte Oberflächen

Coupling of fluorescence labels to plasma‐chemically functionalized and cucurbituril modified surfaces Plasma polymerized allylamine layers (50 nm thick) were deposited on polypropylene foils. The in this way with amino groups functionalized polymer surface was reacted with fluorophors of xanthene type resulting in surfaces with relatively low fluorescence intensities. To increase the fluorescence of the labelled foils two ways of decoupling of the fluorescence dye molecules from the surface were tested. At first a spacer was introduced by reaction of the primary amino groups with glutaraldehyde followed by reaction of the residual aldehyde group with diaminohexane. The fluorescence of foils produced by subsequent reaction of the spacer bonded amino‐functionalized surface with the fluorescence dyes was compared with that of the directly labelled allylamine layer. As a second method of amplification a suited supramolecular encapsulation molecule the cucurbit[6]uril (CB6) was applied. The CB6 modified and labelled foils showed enhanced fluorescence intensity.     

Attachment style,social skills,and Facebook use amongst adults

Research suggests that online communication may benefit those high in social anxiety. The current study examined Facebook use from the perspective of adult attachment theory, exploring relationships between attachment anxiety and avoidance and Facebook use. Social skills have been found to be related to attachment style and internet use thus we also examined the role of these skills. A diverse sample of adult participants (N = 617; 50.1% female) completed a self report questionnaire measuring attachment dimensions, social skills, and Facebook use and experience. In line with predictions grounded in attachment theory, we found that individuals with high attachment anxiety used Facebook more frequently, were more likely to use it when feeling negative emotions and were more concerned about how others perceived them on Facebook. High attachment avoidance was related to less Facebook use, less openness and less positive attitudes towards Facebook. These relationships remained when social skills were controlled. These results suggest that Facebook may serve attachment functions and provide a basis for understanding how online communication may be related to attachment styles.     

Characteristics of the turbulent/non-turbulent interface of a non-isothermal jet

The turbulent/non-turbulent interface of a jet is characterized by sharp jumps ('discontinuities') in the conditional flow statistics relative to the interface. Experiments were carried out to measure the conditional flow statistics for a non-isothermal jet, i.e. a cooled jet. These experiments are complementary to previous experiments on an isothermal Re=2000 jet, where, in the present experiments on a non-isothermal jet, the thermal diffusivity is intermediate to the diffusivity of momentum and the diffusivity of mass. The experimental method is a combined laser-induced fluorescence/particle image velocimetry method, where a temperature-sensitive fluorescent dye (rhodamine 6G) is used to measure the instantaneous temperature fluctuations. The results show that the cooled jet can be considered to behave like a self-similar jet without any significant buoyancy effects. The detection of the interface is based on the instantaneous temperature, and provides a reliable means to detect the interface. Conditional flow statistics reveal the superlayer jump in the conditional vorticity and in the temperature.