Bioremediation Kinetics of Crude Oil at 5°C

This bench scale experiment investigated the mineralization of crude oil at cold temperatures. Biodegradation rates of Alberta Sweet Mix crude oil at 5°C and at ambient temperatures (21°C) were compared. The experimental design consisted of 14 soil columns. Off-gas samples for each column were analyzed every second day using a gas chromatograph to determine CO2 production rates. The run lasted for 219 days, at which time the soil columns were sacrificed for analysis. Oil mineralization values were modeled by a number of methods, including CO2 production determination from GC measurements and gravimetrically determined hydrocarbon loss using soxhlet extraction. The results of the experiment suggested that temperature only affected the biodegradation rates of crude oil in the initial phase of the biodegradation process. After approximately 3 months, the degradation rates of crude oil at 5°C and 21°C were similar at about 11 mg hydrocarbon∕kg dry soil∕day. The conclusion of this study was that significant mineralization of Alberta Sweet Mix crude oil can occur at cold temperatures.     

Frequency of child custody evaluation complaints and related disciplinary action: A survey of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.

Psychologists who conduct child custody evaluations take their practices into a most challenging and stressful area. This study surveyed the 61 member boards of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) about number and category of child custody complaints in the last decade, number of findings against psychologists, and related disciplinary action. Results reveal that psychologists who accept work in this area are extremely likely to also encounter the anguish of defending a related licensure board complaint at some point. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quantitative analysis of protein phosphorylation in mouse brain by hypothesis-driven multistage mass spectrometry

Determination of site-specific changes in the levels of protein phosphorylation in mammals presents a formidable analytical challenge. Here, we demonstrate a strategy for such analyses utilizing a combination of stable isotope chemical labeling and tandem mass spectrometry. Phosphoproteins of interest are isolated from two sets of animals that have undergone differential drug treatments, separated by SDS-PAGE, excised, and subjected to in-gel enzymatic digestion. Using a simple chemical labeling step, we introduce stable, isotopically distinct mass tags into each of the two sets of peptides that originate from the samples under comparison, mix the samples, and subject the resulting mixture to a procedure based on our previously reported hypothesis-driven multistage MS (HMS-MS) method (Chang, E. J.; Archambault, V.; McLachlin, D. T.; Krutchinsky, A. N.; Chait, B. T. Anal. Chem. 2004, 76, 4472-4483). The method takes advantage of the dominant loss of H3PO4 during MS/MS from singly charged phosphopeptide ions produced by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) in the ion trap mass spectrometer. In the present work, quantitation is achieved by isolating the range of m/z values that include both isotopic forms of the putative phosphopeptide and measuring the relative intensities of the two resulting -98-Da fragment ion peaks. This MS/MS measurement can be repeated on the same MALDI sample for all potential phosphopeptide ion pairs that we hypothesize might be produced from the protein under study. Use of MS/MS for quantitation greatly increases the sensitivity of the method and allows us to measure relatively low levels of phosphorylation, phosphopeptides, or both that are not easily observable by single-stage MS. We apply the current method to the determination of changes in the levels of phosphorylation in DARPP-32 from the mouse striatum upon treatment of animals with psychostimulant drugs.     

Copper Compatible Barium Titanate Thin Films for Embedded Passives

Barium titanate thin films have been prepared by chemical solution deposition on 18 m thick, industry standard copper foils in the absence of chemical barrier layers. The final embodiment exhibits randomly oriented BaTiO₃ grains with diameters between 0.1 and 0.3 m, and an equiaxed morphology. The average film thickness is 0.6 m and the microstructure is free from secondary or interfacial phases. The BaTiO₃ films are sintered in a high temperature reductive atmosphere such that copper oxidation is avoided. Subsequent lower-temperature, higher oxygen pressure anneals are used to minimize oxygen point defects. Permittivities of 2500 are observed at zero bias and room temperature, with permittivities greater than 3000 at the coercive field. Loss tangents under 1.5% are demonstrated at high fields. The BaTiO₃ phase exhibits pronounced ferroelectric switching and coercive field values near 10 kV/cm. Temperature dependent measurements indicate a ferroelectric transition near 100C with very diffuse character. Combining the approaches of the multilayer capacitor industry with traditional solution processed thin films has allowed pure barium titanate to be integrated with copper. The high sintering temperature—as compared to typical film processing—provides for large grained films and properties consistent with well-prepared ceramics. Integrating BaTiO₃ films on copper foil represents an important step towards high capacitance density embedded passive components and elimination of economic constraints imparted by traditional noble metallization.     

Quantification of copper doses to settlement plates in the field using diffusive gradients in thin films

A study of carbon (C) storage in the 0-0.75-m profile of soils subtending various types of grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau showed that the organic carbon content of the 1,627,000 km2 of such lands in the region reaches 33.52 Pg of C. Organic carbon is mainly stored in the meadow and steppe soils of the Plateau, which combined, represents 23.2 Pg of C stored in organic form. This represents 23.44% of China's total organic soil-stored carbon and 2.5% of the global pool of soil carbon as of 1996. Carbon emissions from the grassland soils were estimated based on the two major modes of emission: (i) natural soil respiration and (ii) shifts in net C flux to/from soil due to land-use changes and their potential influence on organic matter decomposition. Annual soil respiration-driven CO2 emissions from the grassland soils of the plateau reached 1.17 Pg C year(-1), accounting for 26.4% of China's total soil respiration and 1.73% of global soil respiration. Because the grassland area accounts for 1.02% of the global terrestrial land and 16.9% of China's total terrestrial land, this CO2 emission rate is significantly higher than the country's mean annual rate (approx. 4.2 Pg C year(-1)) and even higher than the global mean rate (approx. 68 Pg C year(-1)). In the last 30 years, approximately 3.02 Pg C have been emitted from the grassland soils of the plateau due to land-use changes and grassland degradation. The total CO2 emissions rate from the grassland soils of the plateau reached 1.27 Pg C year(-1). Protecting grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is of great importance in limiting global climate change.     

Rapid, high-resolution HPLC separation of peptides using small particles at elevated temperatures

Practical advantages are described for operating small-particle columns at elevated temperatures to increase the peak capacity, resolution or speed for separating peptides. Columns of small, highly-purified porous silica microspheres with a dense covalently bonded, bulky alkylsilane stationary phase permit continuous operation at temperatures of at least 90 degrees C. Operation at elevated temperatures decreases mobile phase viscosity and enhances solute diffusion, resulting in increased column plate number and separation resolution. Higher temperatures also decrease column back pressure, permitting longer columns of small particles for separating complex mixtures requiring large plate numbers. Use of a sterically protecting di-isobutyl-n-octadecylsilane stationary phase ensures stable and reproducible columns for operation at high temperatures, with the aggressive low pH mobile phase preferred for separating peptides. The monomeric nature of this phase ensures rapid mass transfer and high column efficiency.