Reflections on a proposed theory of reservation-dwelling American Indian alcohol use: Comment on Spillane and Smith (2007).

In their recent article, N. Spillane and G. Smith (see record 2007-06095-002) suggested that reservation-dwelling American Indians have higher rates of problem drinking than do either non–American Indians or those American Indians living in nonreservation settings. These authors further argued that problematic alcohol use patterns in reservation communities are due to the lack of contingencies between drinking and “standard life reinforcers” (SLRs), such as employment, housing, education, and health care. This comment presents evidence that these arguments were based on a partial review of the literature. Weaknesses in the application of SLR constructs to American Indian reservation communities are identified as is the need for culturally contextualized empirical evidence supporting this theory and its application. Cautionary notes are offered about the development of literature reviews, theoretical frameworks, and policy recommendations for American Indian communities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Job stress in the Australian and international health and community services sector: A review of the literature.

We reviewed 25 international and 10 Australian studies published between 1999 and 2004 for evidence of individual and organizational impacts of stress in the health and community services (HCS) sector. Several HCS occupations showed high levels of distress compared to Australian population data. Results were consistent with the Job Demands-Resources model: High demands (e.g., workload, emotional) combined with low resources (e.g., control, rewards, support) were associated with adverse health (e.g., psychological, physical) and organizational impacts (e.g., reduced job satisfaction, sickness absence). Australian-specific issues included rural and remote work and the complex role of Aboriginal Health Workers. Strong associations between modifiable work factors and adverse outcomes provide a rationale for primary preventive policy development by occupational health and safety regulators and workers' compensation authorities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spectral characterization of electroluminescent devices containing functionalized dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine complexes

A series of functionalized dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine complexes with copper(I), rhenium(I), ruthenium(II) and iridium(III) have been synthesized and used as dopants in OLEDs. The ruthenium-based complexes are the most efficient appearing blue in colour, the copper complexes give devices that appear white in emission. In most cases the emission colour is a mixture of emission from the metal complex and from the matrix (PVK).     

Synthesis of new phosphate derivative of benzothiazole and its inhibiting effect on two series of human neuroblastoma cell growth

The sodium salt of di ((1-hydroxy-2-benzothiazolium-1-yl) ethyliden-1,1-H-bisphosphonic acid) orthophosphate was synthesized and its toxicity and viability effects screened on two different human neuroblastoma cell lines. This novel derivative of benzothiazole provides a new compound in connection with research and therapeutic application for tumor cell growth inhibition. Benzothiazole was alkylated in reaction with bromoacetic acid and then converted to its H-bisphosphonic acid derivative in presence of H₃PO₃/POCl₃. The procedure led to formation of two molecules of corresponding H-bisphosphonic acid which attached together via a phosphate bridge. The investigated compound exhibits activities (IC₅₀ value) ranging from 14–23 μM (corresponding to human neuroblastoma SK-BE (2) and SK-NM-C cells).     

Polymerised high internal phase emulsion cement hybrids: Macroporous polymer scaffolds for setting cements

We polymerised the continuous styrene/divinylbenzene monomer phase of high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) containing 70 vol.% cement slurry as internal phase to synthesise polymer cement hybrid materials. These novel cement containing poly(merised)HIPEs have an interconnected bi-phasic structure consisting of an interpenetrating network of set cement and polymer. Incorporating 14 wt.% of polymer into the cement resulted in an increased compressive strain to failure as compared to pure set cement but both elastic modulus and crush strength decreased. These novel polymer cement hybrid materials have a better chemical resistance against acetic acid then pure cement and showed also no shrinkage when exposed to xylene and dodecane.     

A Review of Occupational Stress Interventions in Australia.

The authors investigated empirical research into occupational stress interventions conducted in Australia within the past 10 years. They focused on evidence published and the quality of the evidence base. All intervention studies were conducted in the public sector. Only 1 study reached the gold standard in evidence-based research. Most interventions were individually focused, despite the preponderance of research identifying risky work environment stressors. Results suggest a paucity of published information regarding what works with occupational stress interventions in Australia and an urgent need for further research in the area, particularly focusing on the private sector, rural workers, and scientific evaluation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

PARTICLE SIZE,SOLVENT, OXYGEN,TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE EFFECTS ON THE CONTENTS OF INSOLUBLE FRACTIONS FROM SOLID VACUUM RESIDUA

ABSTRACT

n-Heptane insoluble contents were determined for an extraheavy-oil vacuum residue, one petroleum and one coal pitch as a function of particle size. This variable was found to affect the yields of insoluble material, aspect which was also observed during extractions carried out with aromatic and halogenated solvents. The precision of results was observed to be independent on the operators. A study was carried out to determine the effect of sample drying time on fraction yields. It was found that maltene fractions were strongly dependent on this variable, whereas asphaltene fractions were totally independent

Predissolution in aromatic solvents proved worthless from the repeatability point of view. However, predissolution of the oil residue in CH₂Cl₂ followed by filtration and asphaltene precipitation with simultaneous solvent removal, was deemed to be a suitable technique to remove mineral matter and isolate asphaltenes in a single step

Sample oxidation during asphaltene precipitation and isolation was detected by gravimetric and spectroscopic techniques. This fact is very important since common precipitation techniques do not address this issue

Preliminary accelerated extraction experiments carried out with pitch samples at high temperature and pressure, revealed that this approach can be a very interesting research tool to investigate solubility properties.     

Novel Use of Scanning Electron Microscopy for Detection of Iron‐Induced Morphological Changes in Human Blood

Fibrinogen is key to the maintenance of hemostasis and is an acute phase protein that is part of the coagulation cascade of proteins. It plays a fundamental role in inflammation, particularly as indicator for a proinflammatory state and is a prominent marker for developing vascular inflammatory diseases. The ultrastructure of fibrin nets can be studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with the addition of thrombin to plasma. In inflammatory conditions such as thromboembolic ischemic stroke and diabetes, the fibrin networks are changed to from dense matted fibrin deposits (DMDs) instead of typical netlike appearance. Similar DMDs can also be induced with the addition of FeCl₂ and FeCl₃. Importantly, the iron‐induced DMDs look similar to those from patients with prothrombotic conditions. Excessive or misplaced tissue iron now is recognized to pose a substantial health risk. The current research therefore investigates the establishment of a laboratory fibrinogen model to study that might mimic fibrin fiber generation that is achieved using plasma from healthy and diseased individuals. Furthermore, to determine whether the addition of iron to purified fibrinogen will show DMDs and whether hydrophilic agents can prevent them. We conclude that SEM is a very effective tool for the visualization of circulatory consequences of the interaction of iron‐induced hydroxyl radicals with human fibrinogen. Furthermore, this novel fibrinogen model provides a convenient method to study the interactions of the intramolecular and intermolecular hydrophobic forces responsible for the maintenance of the tertiary structure of native fibrin(ogen) and the prevention of iron‐induced DMDs formation by hydrophilic agents. Microsc. Res. Tech. 76:268–271, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis and evaluation of anticancer natural product analogues based on angelmarin: targeting the tolerance towards nutrient deprivation

Inspired by nature: Angelmarin is an anticancer natural product with potent antiausterity activity, that is, selective cytotoxicity towards nutrient-deprived, resistant cancer cells. Through structure-activity relationship studies, three analogues were identified as lead compounds for the develpoment of molecular probes for the investigation of the mode of action and biological targets of the antiausterity compounds.