Infrared detection of chlorinated hydrocarbons in water at ppb levels of concentrations

Infrared sensor, based on attenuated total reflection phenomenon, for the detection of chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs) represents a big advantage compared to chromatographic and mass spectroscopic techniques since it is a one step detector. Pre-concentration and separation take place in the polymer film with simultaneous identification of pollutants by the infrared beam. The analysis is rapid, sample does not require any initial preparation, and can be easily performed in the field. The main default of the latest version of the sensor was a low sensibility (above 1 ppm) compared to the threshold levels of the contaminants. In the present work, it is documented that the response dynamics of the optical sensor and its sensitivity depend strongly on the diffusion of pollutants through a boundary layer formed between polymer film and the monitored solution and in the polymer film. The reduction of thickness of the boundary layer through a controlled high flow rate, and the optimization of thickness (volume) of polymer films result in a tremendous improvement of the response dynamics. It is demonstrated that the sensor can detect simultaneously six CHCs: monochlorobenzene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, chloroform, trichloroethylene, and perchloroethylene in their mixture with a sensitivity as low as a few ppb. This level of detection opens up numerous applications for the optical sensor.     

Multilabeling biomolecules at a single site. 1. Synthesis and characterization of a dendritic label for electrochemiluminescence assays

Ultrasensitive bioanalytical assays are of great value for early detection of human diseases and pathogens. The sensitivities of immunoassays and DNA probing can be enhanced by multilabeling the biorecognition partner used for affinity-based assays. However, the bioreactivity of biomolecules is affected by a high degree of multilabeling at multiple functional sites. It is proposed that dendritic scaffoldings be used to link multiple signal-generating units to a single site with potentially minimum impact on the bioaffinity. A prototype label, a zeroth-generation dendron, bearing three [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) units for electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assays was synthesized and characterized preliminarily by spectroscopic, electrochemical, and ECL methods. No evidence of interaction between the neighboring [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) units in the label molecule was found from these characterizations. Both the photoluminescence and ECL of the prototype label have features very similar to those of mononuclear [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) compounds. Labeling a model protein with a triad of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) at one NH(2) position was demonstrated. The results reported here provide support to applying the proposed multilabeling strategy to affinity-based bioanalytical assays.     

A simple method for labeling lipids in the bile lipoprotein

A simple method is proposed for the specific radioactive labeling of phosphatidylcholines and cholesterol in the bile lipoprotein complex. It can be used for human and animal bile samples and results in labeling with the desired specific radioactivity and position. Experiments which determined the intermicellar concentration of lipid constituents suggested that incorporation of radioactive lipids could occur through small dialyzable structures termed mixed premicelles in therm odynamic equilibrium with the bile lipoprotein complex.     

Review of Psychologie générale.

Reviews the book, Psychologie générale by Spencer A. Rathus (1985). I am overall strongly impressed by this work. This is an important work and it is crucial that it has been translated. In itself, the work very correctly seems to me to approach the relevant topics, has a solid introduction, has psychology and I note that, all along the various chapters, the author has exposed the reader to various nuances and subtleties in the various fields of psychology. Overall, this book is recommended. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Components and recognition of facial expression in the communication of emotion by actors.

Addresses the issue of the communication of emotion by actors. In Study 1, the facial behavior of 6 actors portraying emotions as felt or unfelt were analyzed with the Facial Action Coding System. Results indicated that the portrayals of felt emotions were closer to the expression of genuine emotion than the portrayals of unfelt emotions for 3 of the 6 emotions under investigation. Study 2 examined the decoding of actors' portrayals from facial behavior. Decoders were found to be very accurate in recognizing the emotional category but not in judging the encoding condition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The bizarreness effect: It's not surprising, it's complex.

Higher recall of bizarre images relative to common images (the bizarreness effect) is consistently found when bizarreness is varied as a within-subject (mixed-list) variable. In Experiment 1, mixed lists, rather than the smaller number of bizarre sentences typically used in such lists, determined the occurrence of the bizarreness effect. Contrary to predictions from expectation-violation theory, Experiments 2 and 3 showed that manipulations designed to augment or attenuate surprise reactions to bizarre sentences had little impact on the bizarreness effect. Experiments 4 and 5 indicated that mixing affected the degree to which participants differentially encoded order information for bizarre and common items. A new account of the bizarreness effect is presented that combines considerations of distinctiveness with the differential use of order information across bizarre and common items. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Le décodage de prototypes émotionnels faciaux.

This study examined the recognition of the facial prototypes comprised in the expressive emotional repertory proposed by Ekman and Friesen (1978a) and by Wiggers (1982). The prototypes were shown to 74 decoders who had to rate the intensity of the emotion or emotions being portrayed. The results indicated that the majority of the prototypes, except those of fear and disgust, clearly signaled the predicted emotion. The various prototypes related to the same emotion were found to differ in their signal value, some of them being better recognized and more specific than others. Some prototypes of fear and disgust were found to signal mixed rather than pure emotions. The results also revealed that the level of recognition of emotional expression varies according to the encoder which suggests that interindividual differences in facial anatomy influence the perception of emotion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of vaporization studies and mass spectrometry in the thermodynamics and phase relations of nuclear materials

The thermodynamics and phase relations of nuclear materials can be conveniently and powerfully studied by high-temperature vaporization investigations, especially if mass spectrometric techniques are incorporated. This paper discusses the physical principles of importance in high-temperature vaporization experiments and the use and limitations of conventional and mass spectrometric techniques. A vaporization study gives thermodynamic information about condensed materials and gases if equilibrium exists during the measurements. The course of a vaporization study leading to equilibrium values is described. The mass spectrometer has not been excelled for the identification of species, for rapid measurements of abundances, and for measurements of the temperature coefficients of the intensities of all the species. The instrument may be used for the investigation of vaporization reactions, for the study of reactions involving only gases in equilibrium with one another, and for the measurement of the chemical potentials of the individual components in a chemical system throughout wide composition ranges.