Modified track membranes with antibacterial properties

Microbiological contamination of polymeric membranes in the process of their exploitation is an essential problem of membrane technology. It results in the increase of manufacturing costs, destruction of membranes, operating life reduction and secondary contamination of water by the metabolism products of microorganisms. For the purpose of reduction of membrane biofouling and biodegradation investigation of adsorption of the guanidine containing oligomers on the surface of PET track membranes was conducted and their influence on the selectivity and antibacterial properties of the membranes was investigated. It was established that modified membranes have substantially higher resistance to biofouling.     

On thermal and vibrational properties of LaGaO3 single crystals

The thermal expansion and vibrational properties of [1 0 0] and [0 0 1] LaGaO₃ single crystals have been studied by thermal mechanical analysis and micro-Raman spectroscopy. A first-order orthorhombic to rhombohedral phase transition has been confirmed by both techniques, as well as by in situ heating using optical microscopy. The appearance of a metastable intermediate phase, tentatively assigned as monoclinic, has been detected both by optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy upon heating of the [1 0 0] and [0 0 1] LaGaO₃ single crystals. Not only temperature, but the stress-induced orthorhombic to rhombohedral phase transition has also been detected by Raman mapping of the residual impression made by Vickers indentation. The position map of bands belonging to the lower-temperature/pressure orthorhombic and the higher-temperature/pressure rhombohedral phase show that the rhombohedral phase is located inside the impression, where the applied indentation stresses are the highest, whereas no rhombohedral phase is detected outside the impression, where the surface has not been altered by contact stresses.     

Effectiveness of error management training: A meta-analysis.

Error management training (EMT) is a training method that involves active exploration as well as explicit encouragement for learners to make errors during training and to learn from them. Past evaluation studies, which compared skill-based training outcomes of EMT with those of proceduralized erroravoidant training or of exploratory training without error encouragement, have yielded considerable variation in effect sizes. The present meta-analysis compiles the results of the existing studies and seeks to explain this variation. Although the mean effect of EMT across all 24 identified studies (N = 2,183) was positive and significant (Cohen's d = 0.44), there were several moderators. Moderator analyses showed effect sizes to be larger (a) for posttraining transfer (d = 0.56) than for within-training performance and (b) for performance tasks that were structurally distinct (adaptive transfer; d = 0.80) than for tasks that were similar to training (analogical transfer). In addition, both active exploration and error encouragement were identified as effective elements in EMT. Results suggest that EMT may be better suited than error-avoidant training methods for promotion of transfer to novel tasks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Efficient stabilization of bulk fish oil rich in long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

The aim of the present study was to systematically investigate the possibilities of stabilizing a bulk oil rich in long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids under ambient conditions. Combinations of different antioxidants (α‐, γ‐ and/or δ‐tocopherol, rosmarinic acid and rosemary extract rich in carnosic acid) as well as lecithin and citric acid were systematically investigated. Efficient stabilization was achieved by choosing a combination of tocopherols rich in γ‐ or δ‐tocopherol and low in α‐tocopherol, by including tocopherol‐sparing synergists like ascorbyl palmitate and carnosic acid from rosemary extract and metal‐chelating agents. For carnosic acid, a concentration of 400 mg/kg oil provides sufficient protection; the concentration of the metal chelator should be adapted to the concentration of metal ions present in the oil. As an alternative ingredient with metal‐chelating and tocopherol‐sparing activity, lecithin may be included in the formulation, but its poor solubility in bulk oils limits its use.     

Variation in the serotonin transporter gene modulates selective attention to threat.

The 5-HTTLPR is an insertion/deletion polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene. Prior research has revealed associations between the short-allele variant of this polymorphism, enhanced self-reported negative emotionality, and hypersensitivity of fear relevant neural circuits. In a sample of 50 healthy women we examined the role of 5-HTTLPR for cognitive-affective processing of phylogenetical fear-relevant stimuli (spiders) in a dot probe task. In contrast to homozygote long-allele carriers (ll), participants carrying at least 1 short allele (ss and sl) selectively shifted attention toward pictures of spiders, when these were presented for a duration of 2,000 ms. These results argue for an involvement of 5-HTTLPR in cognitive processing of threatening stimuli and thus, underpin its general role for individual differences in negative affect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adsorption of Positively-Charged β-Lactoglobulin Derivatives to Casein Micelles

Positively-charged β-lactoglobulin derivatives prepared by amidation or esterification of available carboxyl groups of the native protein were bound strongly by casein micelles. Increasing amounts of these additives progressively decreased rennet coagulation time of casein micelles. Higher concentrations of positively-charged proteins coagulated casein micelles without addition of rennet extract. Of the modified proteins tested, approximately 1.0 g amidated β-lactoglobulin, 2.0 g ethyl-esterified β-lactoglobulin, or 1.0 g methyl-esterified β-lactoglobulin would be required to coagulate 100 ml of casein micelles at concentrations in milk.     

Analysis of intraparticle diffusion on adsorption of crystal violet on bentonite

Abstract

In the present work, kinetics of crystal violet (CV) adsorption on bentonite was studied by pore volume and surface diffusion model (PVSDM), surface diffusion model (SDM), and pore volume diffusion model (PVDM). The adsorption decay curves were obtained in batch system using different adsorbent dosages. The PVDM model did not interpreted the kinetic adsorption since the calculated value of D_p equal to 5.64?×?10^?7 cm² s^?1 predicted a slower adsorption than that obtained by the experimental data. The PVSDM results indicates that the intraparticle diffusion is predominantly due to surface diffusion (93%) and the pore volume diffusion can be negligible. Once the surface diffusion was the limiting step, the estimation with one (D_s) and two (D_sq and α) parameters were tested in the SDM model. The statistical analysis revealed that the one-parameter SDM model was most appropriate to predict the CV adsorption on bentonite. The optimal values of Ds ranged from 6.19?×?10^?10 to 6.49?×?10^?10 cm² s^?1, and decrease with the adsorbent dosage.     

The ritual as a psychotherapeutic intervention.

Examines ritual as a tool for psychotherapeutic application with clients experiencing grief, trauma, anxiety, and family dysfunction. Case vignettes are provided to illustrate the therapeutic properties and creative power of rituals as interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Media,Technologies, Cooperation – Rethinking Publics and Publicness in the MENA Region

Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) -