Uses of fats,fatty oils,and derivatives in the petroleum industry

Conclusion The use of fats, fatty oils, and derivatives is extensive in the petroleum industry to improve its lubricants in their wetting ability or oiliness. Fats and their derivatives serve to carry active elements such as chlorine, sulfur, and phosphorus for the improvement of load-carrying capacity, resistance to oxidation, inhibiting corrosiveness, and preventing wear during use. Greases are compounded from whole fats and fatty acids which serve under suitable conditions to gel lubricating oil and thus fulfill lubricating requirements which the liquid oils cannot themselves satisfy. Greases and their components may be tested for skin hardening in storage by means of an oxygen absorption test which distinguishes between satisfactory and unsatisfactory ingredients and products. Presented in a symposium on the Industrial Applications of Fats & Fatty Acids at the Fall Convention of the American Oil Chemists Society, Chicago, Oct. 1939.     

p27kip1 Modulates the Morphology and Phagocytic Activity of Microglia

p27^kip1 is a multifunctional protein that promotes cell cycle exit by blocking the activity of cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase complexes as well as migration and motility via signaling pathways that converge on the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton. Despite the broad characterization of p27^kip1 function in neural cells, little is known about its relevance in microglia. Here, we studied the role of p27^kip1 in microglia using a combination of in vitro and in situ approaches. While the loss of p27^kip1 did not affect microglial density in the cerebral cortex, it altered their morphological complexity in situ. However, despite the presence of p27^kip1 in microglial processes, as shown by immunofluorescence in cultured cells, loss of p27^kip1 did not change microglial process motility and extension after applying laser-induced brain damage in cortical brain slices. Primary microglia lacking p27^kip1 showed increased phagocytic uptake of synaptosomes, while a cell cycle dead variant negatively affected phagocytosis. These findings indicate that p27^kip1 plays specific roles in microglia.     

A Novel Mechanism of Embrittlement Affecting the Impact Reliability of Tin-Based Lead-Free Solder Joints

This work addresses a new mode of brittle failure that occurs in the bulk of tin-based lead-free solder joints, unlike the typical brittle failures that occur in the interfacial intermetallics. Brittle failures in the joint bulk result from the low-temperature ductile-to-brittle transition in the fracture behavior of β-tin. The bulk embrittlement of these joints is discussed by referring to the results of impact tests performed on both solder joints and bulk solder specimens. The mechanism of bulk embrittlement is largely explained based on the results of a fractography study performed on the bulk joint failures using scanning electron microscopy.     

IS QUALITY ENGINEERING AN OXYMORON?

It is my purpose in this editorial to offer some highly personal and likely controversial views on the state of statistics and the quality profession. These views are based on my personal experiences and prejudices-especially those of my 10 years as an independent statistical consultant. I wish to particularly absolve my current employer, Merck and Company, and my colleagues there of any guilt by association. The opinions rendered here are entirely my own and in no way represent Merck's practices or policies, Mea culpa.     

Capillary zone electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection for the determination of nanomolar concentrations of noradrenaline and dopamine: application to brain microdialysate analysis

Determination of catecholamines by capillary zone electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection was performed on low-concentration samples, which were derivatized with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde to give highly fluorescent compounds. When the borate concentration in the derivatization medium was decreased from 130 to 13 mM, sensitivity for noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) was greatly enhanced while resolution between these two compounds decreased. A 50 mM borate concentration in derivatization medium was chosen since it provided maximal resolution between NA and DA, together with a high separation efficiency (3.1 million theoretical plates per meter for DA). The injection of 2.4 nL of a NA and DA solution derivatized at 10(-9) M produced peaks with signal-to-noise ratio of 8:1 and 3:1, respectively, corresponding to 1.8 amol of each catecholamine. The calibration curves were linear when NA and DA solutions were derivatized at concentrations ranging from 10(-6) to 10(-9) M. This method was used to determine NA in brain extracellular fluid: a peak corresponding to a basal level of 5 x 10(-9) M endogeneous NA was observed in microdialysates from the medial frontal cortex of the rat, and its nature was confirmed by both electrophoretic and pharmacological validations.     

Make computer assisted instruction smarter

It is argued in this paper that the quality of computer assisted instruction can only increase if more research is directed towards the development of generative intelligent CAI systems. Characteristics of these systems are described and the state-of-the-art is assessed. Finally the design of one such future system is presented.