Technical note on cold weather installation of HDPE

In order to successfully seam HDPE flexible membrane liners (FMLs) in cold weather (less than 4·5°C (40°F), FML temperature may not be the most important factor. Secondary cold weather effects such as frozen subgrade, bridging, snow and ice removal, and worker discomfort pose a much more significant risk to the integrity of the liner installation.     

Can we confirm our theories? Can we measure causal effects?: Reply to Kazantzis et al (2001).

Correlations between psychotherapy homework (HW) and recovery from depression (DEP) could be explained by 4 models: (a) HW causes reductions in DEP; (b) reductions in DEP lead to HW compliance; (c) HW and DEP have circular causal effects on each other; and (d) HW and DEP are simultaneously influenced by a 3rd variable, such as motivation. In the D. D. Burns and D. Spangler (2000) (see record 2000-13544-005) study of HW and changes in DEP during the first 12 weeks of therapy using structural equation modeling (SEM), only the first model was consistent with the data. Still, one cannot conclude that a model is "true" or definitely confirm a causal effect, even with experimental designs. The authors recommend SEM for naturalistic and experimental designs. Quality of HW should be included in future research, as N. Kazantzis, K. R. Ronan, and F. Deane (2001) (see record 2001-05666-023) suggest. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Authenticating network attached storage

We present an architecture for network-authenticated disks that implements distributed file systems without file servers or encryption. Our system provides network clients with direct network access to remote storage     

Time-resolved cryotransmission electron microscopy

We describe a new technique, time-resolved cryotransmission electron microscopy (TRC-TEM), that can be used to study changes in microstructure occurring during dynamic processes such as phase transitions and chemical reactions. The sample is prepared on an electron microscope grid maintained at a fixed temperature in a controlled atmosphere. The dynamic process is induced on the grid by a change in pH, salt, or reactant concentration by rapid mixing with appropriate solutions. Alternatively, induction is by rapid change of specimen temperature, or by controlled evaporation of a volatile component. We call such procedures on-the-grid processing. The dynamic process is permitted to run for a defined time and then the thin-film specimen is thermally fixed by plunging into liquid ethane at its freezing point, producing a cryotransmission electron microscopy specimen. By repeating this procedure with varying delays between induction and sample fixation, we can observe transient microstructures. We demonstrate the use of TRC-TEM to study the intermediate structures that form during the transitions between Lα, I_II, and H_II liquid crystalline phases in phospholipid systems. We also identify several other possible applications of the technique.     

Effect of intrinsic phase mismatch on linear modulator performanceof the 1×2 directional coupler and Mach-Zehnderinterferometer

The performance of 1×2 directional couplers and Mach-Zehnder interferometers as linear modulators is compared. Models describing the operation of each device, incorporating the intrinsic phase mismatch Δβ₀ which is present in nonideal devices, are developed. Distributions of Δβ₀ are obtained for each device and are shown to be independent of device type. Linear dynamic range and sensitivity measurements showing how Δβ₀ affects performance agree with theory. The additional effect of the coupling coefficient in the 1×2 directional coupler is demonstrated. This information can be used to predict device yield when combined with the measured Δβ₀ distributions     

Investigation of the effects of mechanical post‐processing with a colloid mill on the texture properties of stirred yogurt

Texture properties of stirred low‐fat yogurt were investigated in terms of processing after fermentation. The yogurt gel was pumped through a colloid mill at two gap widths and various peripheral velocities of the rotor. The storage modulus and yield stress were measured after 1 day and after 3 weeks, and the occurrence of syneresis was noted. The main factor for the structural degradation in the shear gap was the mean peripheral velocity of the rotor, rather than the apparent shear rate. Syneresis is related to a certain level of the storage modulus. The yield stress correlated with the storage modulus.     

Anger management style and emotional reactivity to noxious stimuli among chronic pain patients and healthy controls: The role of endogenous opioids.

Objective: Previous work suggests that elevated trait anger-out exacerbates pain responses in part through endogenous opioid dysfunction. The authors examined whether this opioid dysfunction affects not only perceived pain intensity, but also emotional responses to being hurt. Design: 79 chronic low back pain (LBP) patients and 46 healthy controls received opioid blockade (8 mg naloxone i.v.) and placebo in randomized, counterbalanced order in separate sessions. During each session, participants sequentially experienced finger pressure pain and ischemic forearm pain tasks, with emotional state assessed at baseline and postpain. Main Outcome Measures: Blockade effects indexing opioid modulation of emotional reactivity were derived by subtracting placebo from blockade condition emotional reactivity. Results: Significant Participant Type × Anger-Out interactions on blockade effects indicated that in LBP participants but not in controls, greater anger-out was associated with deficient opioid modulation of anxiety, anger, and fear reactivity to noxious stimulation. Across participant types, greater anger-in was associated with impaired opioid modulation of anxiety and fear reactivity. Anger-in opioid effects were partially due to overlap with general negative affect. Conclusions: Opioid dysfunction associated with trait anger-out may affect not only perceived pain intensity, but also pain-related suffering in individuals with chronic pain conditions. Implications for understanding the health effects of anger management styles are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clarification of the relationship between free radical spin trapping and carbon tetrachloride metabolism in microsomal systems

It has been proposed that the C-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone/trichloromethyl radical adduct (PBN/.CCl3) is metabolized to either the C-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone/carbon dioxide anion radical adduct (PBN/.CO2-) or the glutathione (GSH) and CCl4-dependent PBN radical adduct (PBN/[GSH-.CCl3]). Inclusion of PBN/.CCl3 in microsomal incubations containing GSH, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), or GSH plus NADPH produced no electron spin resonance (ESR) spectral data indicative of the formation of either the PBN/[GSH-.CCl3] or PBN/.CO2- radical adducts. Microsomes alone or with GSH had no effect on the PBN/.CCl3 radical adduct. Addition of NADPH to a microsomal system containing PBN/.CCl3 presumably reduced the radical adduct to its ESR-silent hydroxylamine because no ESR signal was observed. The Folch extract of this system produced an ESR spectrum that was a composite of two radicals, one of which had hyperfine coupling constants identical to those of PBN/.CCl3. We conclude that PBN/.CCl3 is not metabolized into either PBN/[GSH-.CCl3] or PBN/.CO2- in microsomal systems.