Adhesion-Induced Interactions between Micron-Sized Zirconia or Carbon Spheres and Melamine-Cross-Linked Polyester Surfaces

The thermodynamic work of adhesion between micron-sized zirconia or carbon spheres and polyester-melamine surfaces was determined using the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) relationship, after first validating the JKR approach for this system. The calculated works of adhesion for both zirconia and carbon were similar for any given substrate composition and were found to be approximately 35 mJ/m² at low melamine concentrations, close to theoretical predictions. The apparent work of adhesion decreased with increasing melamine concentration, most likely due to the presence of a glassy melamine-rich surface layer, which is not representative of the bulk. The value found for low melamine concentration was assumed to be a true value for cocondensed polyester-melamine, and this was used to estimate surface modulus and the amount of excess melamine in the surface as a function of bulk composition.     

Memory loss resulting from fornix and septal damage: Impaired supra-span recall but preserved recognition over a 24-hour delay.

Despite increasing evidence that the fornix is important for memory, uncertainty remains about the exact nature of subsequent impairments arising from damage to this tract. This uncertainty is often created by pathology in additional brain structures. The present study involved a young man, DN, who had almost complete bilateral loss of the rostral columns of the fornix and much of the surrounding septum in the left hemisphere following the surgical removal of a cavernous angioma. Quantitative MRI analyses of structure size, normalized to intracranial volume, showed no difference in any of the additional brain regions measured, apart from those areas removed to expose the tumor. DN showed a marked, stable anterograde memory impairment that was still present 4 years postsurgery. In contrast, DN performed within normal levels on most tests of recognition memory. This sparing was most striking when given a 24-hr delay between study and test of the Warrington Recognition Memory Test. This recall/recognition dissociation provides further evidence for neuroanatomical divisions within recognition memory processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Real time small-angle X-ray scattering from polystyrene crazes during fatigue

Real time small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) from polystyrene (PS) crazed in cyclic three-point bending is investigated using intense X-ray radiation from the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, CHESS. The SAXS patterns are recorded using a two-dimensional image intensifier/TV camera/video tape recorder system, operating at 30 frames/sec. At the maximum of the load cycle the SAXS pattern has a well defined streak normal to the craze fibrils. During the unloading portion of the cycle, however, the streak decreases in intensity and is spread into a diffuse fan. The loss of intensity is due to the decrease in volume of craze matter in the beam as the craze closes while the spreading of the diffraction pattern is due to the disorientation of the craze fibrils as they buckle in response to compression by the surrounding polymer matrix. Whilst reloading of the sample causes a relatively narrow SAXS streak to reappear, at the maximum load irreversible changes occur in the pattern from one cycle to the next. These changes are due to both an increase in craze fibril volume in the beam (craze growth) and to fibril breakdown and permanent disorientation.     

Early detection of recurrent prostate cancer with an ultrasensitive chemiluminescent prostate-specific antigen assay

OBJECTIVES: Treatment failure after radical prostatectomy is most commonly heralded by an increase in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to detectable levels. We evaluated the clinical utility of an ultrasensitive chemiluminescent PSA assay. METHODS: We evaluated the assay in banked sera obtained from 170 men after radical prostatectomy. Controls consisted of 142 females, 29 men who had undergone cystoprostatectomy without evidence of prostate cancer, and 25 men without evidence of recurrent disease at least 5 years after prostatectomy for organ-confined disease. Lead time to diagnosis of recurrence was based on comparisons with the IMx or Tandem E assays using a cutoff of 0.1 ng/mL (100 pg/mL). RESULTS: The biologic level of detection of this assay is 8 pg/mL. Serum PSA levels were undetectable in 82.4% of females, 86.2% of the cystoprostatectomy patients, and 96% of the radical prostatectomy controls. After radical prostatectomy, PSA levels were undetectable at last check in 104 of 168 (61.9%) men. In the 24 men with prostate cancer recurrence, the enhanced sensitivity of 8 pg/mL provided a mean lead time based on conservative calculations of 12.7 to 22.5 months over conventional assays. Thirty-four of the 41 men with detectable PSA levels and no evidence of disease recurrence had PSA levels of 30 pg/mL or less. CONCLUSIONS: PSA levels are undetectable in most men who do not have recurrence of disease after radical prostatectomy. Low but detectable serum PSA levels less than or equal to 30 pg/mL can be produced by nonmalignant sources of PSA. PSA assays with enhanced sensitivity can detect recurrent prostate cancer with significant lead time over conventional assays.     

Retrofit of 22 pipeline pumping stations with 3000-hp motors andvariable-frequency drives

Learning experiences encountered on a large variable-frequency induction motor drive installation are reported. The drives were widely dispersed at multiple locations and generally fed from very weak power systems. This paper discusses several different and unusual interferences and power quality issues encountered with different electrical utilities and makes suggestions with respect to specifications, logistics, installation and field measurements for the benefit of future projects     

Effects of various process parameters on struvite precipitation kinetics and subsequent determination of rate constants.

In this paper, struvite (MgNH(4)PO(4).6H(2)O) precipitation kinetics were studied with different operating conditions (varying supersaturation, pH, Mg:P ratio, degree of mixing and seeding conditions) and relevant rate constants were determined by fitting a slightly modified first-order kinetic model to the experimental data obtained. The rate of change of ortho-P concentration in the bulk solutions increases with increasing supersaturation ratio. The estimated rate constants are 2.034, 1.716 and 0.690 hr(-1) for the supersaturation ratio of 9.64, 4.83, and 2.44, respectively. Kinetic parameters were also evaluated for the Mg:P ratio between the ranges of 1.0 and 1.6, indicating higher phosphorus removal efficiency with increasing Mg:P ratio. The rate constants were found to be 0.942, 2.034 and 2.712 hr(-1) for Mg:P ratios of 1.0, 1.3 and 1.6, respectively. The experimental observations for kinetic study of struvite precipitation with different stirrer speeds clearly show that the mixing intensity used had little effect on the intrinsic rate constants. K values found to be 2.034 and 1.902 h(-1) for 100 and 70 rpm, respectively. Seeding, with 250-500 microm of seed crystals during the struvite precipitation kinetics test, was found to have very little effect on the ortho-P removal.     

Comments on Gloria.

The author comments on his peformance with the client "Gloria" in the classic training film The Three Approaches to Psychotherapy. It is noted that rational-emotive therapy has employed many new thinking, feeling, and behavioral techniques since the film was made in 1965, including cognitive distraction, modeling, and skill training. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chromatographic and hyphenated methods for elemental speciation analysis in environmental media

This review discusses chromatographic techniques that permit the analysis of speciated metals in the environment using conventional detectors, such as UV, and element-specific detectors, such as flame atomic absorption spectrometry, electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The importance of determining precise elemental forms in hazardous waste-contaminated soil, water and biota in terms of toxicity is outlined. Previous reviews on this subject are described and recent research on this subject is discussed. Most of the work cited has been performed in the 1990s and a table summarizing the chromatographic method and the detector system used, including brief comments on the work, is included to enable quick reference.