Studies on amalgam electrodes. The reaction of but-1-yn-3-ol at copper amalgam

The copper amalgam electrode can be used for clean oxidative coupling of but-1-yn-3-ol in good yield. An electrochemically generated intermediate can be further coupled in a solution process by aeration of the electrolyte giving increased yields. Addition of pyridine depresses coulombic yields in the electrochemical system, although it increases the rate of the purely chemical process.     

Plasma display panels have come of age

This paper discusses the present situation for plasma display panels, their principles and characteristics. Work being conducted in a c plasma technology at Thomson-CSF is described in detail.     

The effect of recent and remote frames of reference on temporal judgments of schizophrenic patients.

"46 schizophrenic patients were compared with 80 control Ss with respect to their estimation of one clock second's duration under long and short anchor conditions, where anchor represented the extreme duration in a series. In addition, the interaction of recent and more remote anchors was studied." The findings suggested that the schizophrenic is likely to overestimate the duration of a clock second and that they responded only to the pulling effect of immediate anchors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Skin disease affecting the conservation of the western swamp tortoise (Pseudemydura umbrina)

OBJECTIVE: To review the present position of the western swamp tortoise (Pseudemydura umbrina) as an endangered species and significant health issues affecting efforts to save it from extinction. PROCEDURE: A retrospective analysis of the husbandry, hospital and pathology records of the western swamp tortoise captive breeding program at Perth Zoo. RESULTS: In 1987 a captive breeding project was developed to prevent the extinction of the western swamp tortoise but an outbreak of a necrotising dermatitis in 1989 threatened the survival of the captive bred hatchlings. Less severe outbreaks occurred in 1990 and 1993, with isolated cases in between. Of 283 tortoises that were born in captivity or came into captivity from the wild, 37 (13.1%) were affected, comprising 37% of all males, 26% of all females and 13% of animals of unknown gender. Of the affected animals, 70% were less than 2 years of age and 29% were older. Males were 1.6 times more likely to be infected than females but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.27). Culture of the lesions consistently yielded unidentified Pseudomonas sp. CONCLUSION: Improved husbandry, such as strict maintenance of water quality and temperature conditions similar to that of the animal's natural habitat, and monitoring the health of individual tortoises have successfully controlled skin disease in the captive breeding of the western swamp tortoise.