Semantic networks for odors and colors in Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: Impairment in odor-naming ability and in verbal and visual semantic networks raised the hypothesis of a breakdown in the semantic network for odors in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The current study addressed this hypothesis. Method: Twenty-four individuals, half patients with probable AD and half control participants, performed triadic-similarity judgments for odors and colors, separately, which, utilizing the multidimensional scaling (MDS) technique of individual difference scaling analysis (INDSCAL), generated two-dimensional configurations of similarity. The abilities to match odors and colors with written name labels were assessed to investigate disease-related differences in ability to identify and conceptualize the stimuli. In addition, responses on attribute-sorting tasks, requiring the odor and color perceptions to be categorized as one polarity of a certain dimension, were obtained to allow for objective interpretation of the MDS spatial maps. Results: Whereas comparison subjects generated spatial maps based predominantly on relatively abstract characteristics, patients with AD classified odors on perceptual characteristics. The maps for patients with AD also showed disorganized groupings and loose associations between odors. Their normal configurations for colors imply that the patients were able to comprehend the task per se. The data for label matching and for attribute sorting provide further evidence for a disturbance in semantic odor memory in AD. The patients performed poorer than controls on both these odor tasks, implying that the ability to identify and/or conceptualize odors is impaired in AD. Conclusion: The results provide clear evidence for deterioration of the structure of semantic knowledge for odors in AD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Statistical evaluation of dye desorption – mixed two- and three-level design and kinetic modeling

Abstract

Biosorption has been shown in the literature to be effective in the removal of dye from aqueous solution. To be fully useful, a desorption process is necessary, which has a direct impact on the process costs. The aim of this work was to evaluate the desorption of the azo dye Acid Yellow 23 adsorbed in a biosorbent obtained from Bombyx mori cocoons. Temperature and pH media were evaluated through a mixed two- and three-level design, using NaOH as desorbing agent. Kinetic desorption was also obtained at the optimized condition. The statistical evaluation of the experimental design showed that the pH has almost two times more influence on the dye desorption than the temperature, with only the linear parameters being statistically significant. Among four kinetic desorption models adjusted to the experimental data, the proposed n-order model was statistically determined as the best representation of the experimental data.     

Acute Cycling Exercise Induces Changes in Red Blood Cell Deformability and Membrane Lipid Remodeling

Here we describe the effects of a controlled, 30 min, high-intensity cycling test on blood rheology and the metabolic profiles of red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma from well-trained males. RBCs demonstrated decreased deformability and trended toward increased generation of microparticles after the test. Meanwhile, metabolomics and lipidomics highlighted oxidative stress and activation of membrane lipid remodeling mechanisms in order to cope with altered properties of circulation resulting from physical exertion during the cycling test. Of note, intermediates from coenzyme A (CoA) synthesis for conjugation to fatty acyl chains, in parallel with reversible conversion of carnitine and acylcarnitines, emerged as metabolites that significantly correlate with RBC deformability and the generation of microparticles during exercise. Taken together, we propose that RBC membrane remodeling and repair plays an active role in the physiologic response to exercise by altering RBC properties.     

Extensional viscosity measurements and characterization of poly (vinyl chloride‐co‐vinyl acetate) plastisols and foams

The foaming of PVC‐VA [Poly (vinyl chloride‐co‐vinyl acetate)] plastisols is a complex combination of processes involving the simultaneous curing of the paste with the evolution of gases caused by the decomposition of the chemical blowing agent. The extensional viscosity is a fundamental characteristic of the material, responsible for the behavior of the system when undergoing the extensional stress produced by the released gases. Nevertheless, such changes have not been considered to the same extent as the complex viscosity evolution or the thermal processes suffered by PVC‐VA plastisols. The objective of the present work is to study the extensional viscosity of the PVC‐VA plastisols prepared with three plasticizers of similar structure, but with different curing and rheological behavior in order to investigate its influence on the quality of the foams obtained. Extensional viscosity measurements under forced prestretch conditions revealed that depending on the structure and consequently on the compatibility of the plasticizer used, each plastisol develops its properties and structure accordingly. DINCH plasticizer (Diisononyl cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxylate presenting alicyclic ring) seems to be the less compatible compared with the other two studied (both presenting aromatic rings) according to its behavior during the curing and foaming processes and may not be able to withstand the pressure evolved by the released gases during the foaming process yielding foams of poorer quality. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Deposition Uniformity and Particle Size Distribution of Ambient Aerosol Collected with a Rotating Drum Impactor

Rotating drum impactors (RDI) are cascade type impactors used for size and time resolved aerosol sampling, mostly followed by spectrometric analysis of the deposited material. They are characterized by one rectangular nozzle per stage and are equipped with an automated stepping mechanism for the impaction wheels. An existing three-stage rotating drum impactor was modified, to obtain new midpoint cutoff diameters at 2.5 μm, 1 μm, and 0.1 μm, respectively. For RDI samples collected under ambient air conditions, information on the size-segregation and the spatial uniformity of the deposited particles are key factors for a reliable spectrometric analysis of the RDI deposits. Two aerodynamic particle sizers (APS) were used for the determination of the RDI size fractionation characteristics, using polydisperse laboratory room air as quasi-stable proxy for urban ambient air. This experimental approach was suitable for the scope of this study, but was subject to numerous boundary conditions that limit a general use. Aerodynamic stage penetration midpoint diameters were estimated to be 2.4 and 1.0 μm for the first two RDI stages. Additionally, the spatial uniformity and geometrical size distribution of the deposited aerosol were investigated using micro-focus synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (micro-SR-XRF) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The size distribution of the particles found on the TEM samples agreed well with the results from the APS experiments. The RDI deposits showed sufficient uniformity for subsequent spectrometric analysis, but in the 2.5–10 μm size range the particle area density was very low. All of the applied methods confirmed the theoretical cutoff values of the modified RDI and showed that compared to other cascade impactors, the determined stage penetration sharpness was rather broad for the individual impactor stages.     

Different preparative modes for the incorporation of additives in NR/SBR blends

Rubber goods usually require a combination of properties that cannot be provided by one elastomer only and then two or more polymer components have to be mixed to meet specific requirements. In such cases, the additives normally employed in rubber formulations are unevenly distributed, depending on the affinity of each compound to each polymeric phase. Thus, the dispersion of each one of these ingredients in the different rubbers will influence the rate and degree of vulcanization and, in consequence, the performance of the final composite. In this work, natural rubber (NR) and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) were mixed in a 1 : 1 ratio. The compositions were obtained according to ASTM D 3182, by using four different preparative modes for the incorporation of the additives. After vulcanization, morphological, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, tensile strength, hardness, and tear resistance of each composition were investigated. The results show that the best properties were found when the NR/SBR mixture was prepared in such a way as to favor the vulcanization of the SBR phase while preserving the NR phase from excessive vulcanization. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 483–489, 2004     

Atomic-level molecular modeling of the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100: the OPE9 component in vacuum and water

The commercially available nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 is a mixture of polyoxyethylene tert-octylphenyl ethers (OPE_n) with an average of n = 9.5 oxyethylene (OE) units in the molecules, and the population maximum at n = 9. Thus, the OPE_{n = 9} component was chosen to be studied by atomic level molecular modeling, using second-generation force fields. The 1,000 conformers generated via random sampling of torsional angles around single bonds yielded 11 clusters based on geometrical similarity. Representatives of geometrically distinctly different clusters with significant populations were chosen from a narrow energy range around the most probable energy to be analyzed for interaction with water. The effect of water on the conformation of the OE chain was found to be modest, similar to the situation that had been reported earlier for the anionic surfactant Aerosol-OT (AOT). The number of bound water molecules is strongly dependent on the conformation of the OE chain and is affected by electrostatic as well as steric effects. Unlike the case of AOT, for which the length of the hydrophobic tail was found to govern the size of reverse micelles in CCl₄, the size of reverse micelles of OPE_{n = 9} cannot be predicted from the dimensions of the hydrophilic tail.     

分散剂净化处理泄漏石油重新受到重视

在工业上,很少有化学品的用途比表面活性剂更广泛,化学分散剂是表面活性剂中的一类多作用品种,正日益广泛地应用于泄漏石油净化到工业处理乃至油漆,涂料和个人用品中固体的稳定化应用等。     

High-resolution multi-bit second-order incremental converter with 1.5-μV residual offset and 94-dB SFDR

This paper describes an incremental converter based on a second order ???? modulator. The scheme uses a 3-bit DAC with inherent linearity, an optimal reset of integrators, and gives rise to an effective offset cancellation with a novel technique based on single or double chopping. The circuit, fabricated in a mixed 0.18-0.6???m CMOS technology, obtains 1.5-??V residual offset with 2V_PP fully differential range. The measured resolution is 19 bit obtained with 512 clock periods.     

On the mode of action of N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine in plants

N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine, a sediment contaminant previously identified as a major toxicant of site-specific importance was investigated for its mode of toxic action. From short-term bioassays with daphnids, fish eggs, bacteria, and algae it appears that this compound has specific phytotoxic properties at concentrations below 100 microg/L, which cannot be explained assuming an unspecific narcosis type of action in plants. Also, hydroxy-, nitro-, and methylderivatives show clear excess toxicity as compared to baseline toxic effects. Of several plant-specific growth and development processes investigated, only photosynthesis could be demonstrated to be affected at short exposure times and low concentrations. Disturbance of primary photosynthetic reactions such as oxygen evolution and fluorescence quenching, however, becomes only apparent after 2-3 h of exposure, which is in sharp contrast to known specific inhibitors targeting processes such as electron transport or ATP production. This, and concentration-time-effect modeling lead to the suggestion that N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine acts intracellular as a reactive compound in cell membranes producing irreversible, and thus cumulative, damage over time in algae. The effects may become first apparent in membrane-rich compartments such as the algal chloroplast.