Melatonin administration does not affect isoproterenol-induced LVH.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), a common sequella of hypertension, is associated with increased incidence of sudden cardiac death. The study reported herein measured the effect of melatonin on the heart in the setting of direct cardiac myocyte stimulation with isoproterenol, thus minimizing the role of autonomic output from the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and clarifying the effect of melatonin on LVH, an outcome of chromic hypertensions. Results show that daily injections of high dosages of melatonin do not affect heart weight:body weight or heart weight:tibia length ratios in the setting of isoproterenol-induced hypertrophy, suggesting that the cardiovascular effects of melatonin observed by others are not due primarily to a direct effect of melatonin on cardiac myocytes but to another mechanism, possibly melatonin modulation of SCN output. Melatonin has no effect on isoproterenol-induced LVH, suggesting that its cardiovascular effects are not due to a direct effect on cardiac myocytes. Melatonin has been found to have a significant effect on hypertension; however, in this study, one effect of extended hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, which can ultimately lead to cardiac failure, was not affected, even by very large doses of melatonin in a chemically induced hypertrophy mouse model. It has been suggested that the effect of melatonin on hypertension is comparable to common antihypertensive agents.     

Concurrent validity of three WAIS—R short forms in psychiatric inpatients.

Several investigators have proposed short forms of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) to provide more cost-effective estimates of intellectual ability. The present study compared the concurrent validity of A. B. Silverstein's (1982) 2-subtest, Doppelt's (1956) 4-subtest, and L. C. Ward's (1990) 7-subtest short forms in predicting the WAIS—R Full Scale IQs of 304 psychiatric inpatients. Although Full Scale IQs were highly correlated with 2- and 4-subtest estimates, a significantly higher correlation was obtained with the 7-subtest short form. Errors in predicted IQ were smallest for the 7-subtest form. The results support previous research that found better predictive accuracy for the 7-subtest short form than for the 2- and 4-subtest methods, despite little additional cost in administration time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Function of sulfur dioxide in the kinetic mechanism of oxidation of carbon

Retardation of the gasification reaction of carbon with oxygen by SO₂ was observed. Rates of oxidation were determined by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) of a nuclear graphite in the temperature range of 550–700°C, and of a coconut charcoal in the temperature range of 400–505°C. The oxidant gases were dry air containing 0–6% SO₂. Reduction of the rate by SO₂ varied with burn-off. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) was also applied to detect the retardation effect of SO₂. The technique of infrared internal reflection spectroscopy (IRS) was used to examine the surface species of reacted charcoal samples. Absorption bands were assigned to surface carbonyls, lactones, and a chemisorbed SO₂ in the form of sulfate. Chemisorption of SO₂ was attributed to cause the retardation of the oxidation reaction.     

Epoxy fatty acid ester plasticizers. Preparation and properties

Summary The preparation of epoxy fatty acid ester plasticizers has been reviewed. These plasticizers can be prepared by epoxidation reactions, utilizing a preformed peracid or anin-situ technique. A newin-situ epoxidation process, utilizing hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid in the presence of strong acid catalyst, has been described. Excellent conversions to epoxide have been achieved with a series of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated esters. Epoxy fatty acid esters are excellent plasticizers for vinyl resins. Their performance in a series of additional epoxy plasticizers of vegetable and marine origin is described. Novel epoxy plasticizers based upon mixed acetylated mono- and di-glyceride have been prepared and are found to have excellent plasticizer performance. Presented at the 28th fall meeting, American Oil Chemists’ Society, October 1954, Minneapolis, Minn.     

Full AC analysis of value of DER to the grid and optimal DER scheduling

This paper presents part of the work ComEd and Quanta Technology have performed to quantify the locational and temporal value of DER to avoid distribution grid upgrade investments. It focuses on the formulation of a robust and efficient algorithm for DER optimal dispatch on a distribution feeder to mitigate the violation of current and voltage limits using the allocated cost of capacity and locational marginal value of real and reactive DER injection/withdrawal.     

Optimized capacitive active ripple compensation topology for a 3.7 kW single-phase high power density on-board charger of electric vehicles

Electrical Engineering - In this paper, a comprehensive investigation of the capacitive active ripple compensation (ARC) techniques is made to conclude which one is optimal to be used in on-board...