Synthesis and evaluation of tetra(2,7-octadienyl) titanate as a reactive diluent for air-drying alkyd paints

Environmental regulations are forcing the reformulation of many decorative and protective coatings systems. In particular, air-drying solventborne alkyd paints need to meet increasingly stringent emission limits and often must be reformulated with suitable exempt solvents or reactive diluents to achieve volatile organic compound (VOC) reduction. In the research summarized in this article, a new reactive diluent, tetra(2,7-octadienyl) titanate, was synthesized and evaluated in alkyd formulations for VOC reduction and property enhancement. A soy-based long-oil alkyd resin; a soy-based high-solids, long-oil alkyd resin; and a linseed-based, high-solids long-oil alkyd resin were evaluated in combination with the new reactive diluent at weight percentages ranging from 10% to 50%. Characterization included measuring viscosity, film dry times, and film performance of the reactive diluent formulations in comparison to neat alkyd resins used as control. The tetra(2,7-octadienyl) titanate formulations consistently exhibited reduced viscosities and dry times as a function of concentration. The resulting films were harder and more thoroughly cured than the control systems.     

Relationships among alcohol availability, drinking location, alcohol consumption, and drinking problems in adolescents

We examined relationships among perceived alcohol availability, drinking location, alcohol consumption, and drinking problems. Subjects were 3,372 adolescent drinkers, ages 16-18, who participated in the Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol Project baseline survey. Mixed-model regression was employed to identify predictors of alcohol consumption and drinking consequences. Perceived alcohol availability was significantly associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption for males. Drinking in a public location with higher levels of alcohol consumption for females. Results underscore the importance of youth alcohol assessibility.     

Women's career choices: Focus on science, math, and technology careers.

This study was part of a longitudinal study of factors related to persistence in a science-related career. Participants (N?=?173; 97 women and 76 men) were a subsample of matched participants from the 1980 and 1990 phases of data collection in the midwestem United States who in 1980, while in high school, aspired to a science, math, or technology career. By 1990, 36% of women and 46% of men had persisted in a science-related career. Structural equation model testing indicated that for women persistence was related to the number of elective high school science courses taken and that women who had higher career commitment were more likely to have switched aspirations to another career field. For men, persistence was related to their 1980 and 1990 career aspiration level and needing and obtaining financial support for college. For men these relationships also incorporated the largely indirect effects of high school science grade point average. Implications for counseling include encouraging interested adolescent girls to take elective science courses and nurturing aspiration level in adolescent boys who have science ability and are interested in a science career. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Linking active living and nutrition counselling: dietitians' perceptions.

Healthy eating and active living have become key concepts in health promotion, and, increasingly, the two messages are being combined. Dietitians are in an ideal position to promote physical activity as an adjunct to nutrition counselling. Focus group interviews were used to identify dietitians' perceptions and needs related to incorporating active living messages into their practices. Six focus groups, involving 42 participants (40 registered dietitians and two dietetic interns), were conducted in cities throughout Alberta. Issues explored during the interviews included the dietitian's role in promoting active living, barriers to promoting physical activity, opportunities for collaboration between dietitians and exercise professionals, and dietitians' perceived needs for integrating active living messages into their practices effectively. Findings indicate strong support for incorporating active living messages into nutrition counselling. However, lack of knowledge was identified as a barrier to dietitians' proactive role, and concerns were raised about public and professional perceptions if dietitians counselled on this issue. Participants felt that they required additional knowledge and training in physical activity in order to promote it effectively. Development and implementation of programs designed to meet these needs would help dietitians integrate active living messages into their practices.     

Training in experiential therapy.

Literature on training in the core facilitative conditions is reviewed to highlight issues that have emerged from this research tradition. A reconceptualization of the way in which empathic responding is conceptualized is called for, and suggestions are made about features that need to be addressed in empathy training. Four methods of training therapists (didactic, skill training, experiential, and personal growth) are examined, and a combination of these methods is proposed as the best means of training experiential therapists. Current developments in manualization and adherence measurement in experiential approaches are reviewed. The advantages of context-sensitive, process diagnostic manuals are discussed. These manuals specify not only what the therapist does but also when and in what sequence interventions are made. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Formation and evaluation of highly uniform aluminate interface coatings for sapphire fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites (FRCMCs) using carboxylate-alumoxane nanoparticles

Sapphire fibers have been dip-coated in aqueous and CHCl₃ solutions of carboxylate-alumoxane nanoparticles and calcium-, lanthanum-, and yttrium-doped carboxylate-alumoxane nanoparticles and fired up to 1400°C to form uniform, conformal and contiguous, aluminate coatings. Optimum solvent, dip/dry, and firing sequences were determined for the formation of crack-free coatings. Both carboxylate-alumoxane and ceramic coated fibers were examined by field emission scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy, microprobe analysis and optical microscopy. Coatings produced were stable to thermal cycling in air up to a temperature of 1400°C. The ability of the carboxylate-alumoxanes to provide crack infiltration and repair was demonstrated. Sapphire fiber/alumina matrix FRCMCs have been prepared with calcium-, lanthanum-, and yttrium-aluminate interphase layers. Microscopy and fiber push-out data confirm that the calcium- and lanthanum-aluminate coatings provide a means for controlling failure properties at the fiber-matrix interface. However, FRCMCs containing YAG-coated fibers failed catastrophically before interfacial debonding and/or sliding occurred.     

Successful transplantation of bovine testicular cells to heterologous recipients

While heterologous germ cell transplantation was successful in pigs and goats, autologous transplantation alone has been reported to result in donor-derived spermatogenesis in cattle. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the transplantation of heterologous germ cells could result in colonization of recipient testes in cattle of different breeds. Testicular cells were isolated from 8 Bos taurus donor bull calves and then transferred into 15 Bos indicus-cross bull calves. All animals were prepubertal, donors were aged 5-7 months and recipients 5-11 months, and scrotal circumferences ranged from 15 to 22 cm. Single cell suspensions of donor testicular cells, prepared by enzymatic digestion, were labelled with fluorescent dyes PKH26 or CFDA-SE, before transfer into the rete testis of recipients under ultrasonographic guidance. To assess the longevity of colonization by donor cells, recipients were castrated 2-30 weeks after cell transfer. Donor cells were observed in 15/25 (60%) of the testes that received PKH26-labelled cells, whereas no CFDA-SE-positive cell was identified in any recipients. The maturity of the donors or recipients (measured by scrotal circumference) did not affect colonization potential. In freshly isolated tubules, clumps of PKH26-positive cells were observed, which indicated either cell division or extensive local colonization of specific areas of the tubules. In frozen sections, PKH26-positive cells were identified on the seminiferous tubule basement membrane, which indicated that these cells had successfully migrated from the tubule lumen and were likely to be spermatogonia. We conclude that PKH26 was more suitable for labelling donor testis cells and donor cells can be identified up to 6 months following transfer. These results indicate that allogeneic transplantation of testicular cells can occur between Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle. Further studies will investigate functionality of transferred testicular cells.     

The importance of cognitive processing to adjustment in the 1st year following amputation.

Objective: To describe depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and posttraumatic growth at 6 and 12 months following amputation and to explore differences by demographic variables and cognitive processing of trauma. Participants: 83 adults with newly acquired limb loss. Setting: Two large metropolitan hospitals. Main Outcome Measures: The Patient Health Questionnaire depression module, PTSD Checklist, and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Results: Significant depressive and PTSD symptoms were reported by 15%-25% of participants. Relatively low levels of posttraumatic growth were reported. Negative cognitive processing predicted depressive and PTSD symptoms at 6 months. Positive cognitive processing predicted posttraumatic growth at 12 months. Conclusion: Cognitive processing appears to be integral to positive and negative psychosocial outcomes following amputation and should be targeted by clinical interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parameter estimation in a model for misclassified Markov data — a Bayesian approach

We estimate parameters in the context of a discrete-time hidden Markov model with two latent states and two observed states through a Bayesian approach. We provide a Gibbs sampling algorithm for longitudinal data that ensures parameter identifiability. We examine two approaches to start the algorithm for estimation. The first approach generates the initial latent data from transition probability estimates under the false assumption of perfect classification. The second approach requires an initial guess of the classification probabilities and obtains bias-adjusted approximated estimators of the latent transition probabilities based on the observed data. These probabilities are then used to generate the initial latent data set based on the observed data set. Both approaches are illustrated on medical data and the performance of estimates is examined through simulation studies. The approach using bias-adjusted estimators is the best choice of the two options, since it generates a plausible initial latent data set. Our situation is particularly applicable to diagnostic testing, where specifying the range of plausible classification rates may be more feasible than specifying initial values for transition probabilities.     

Applying hierarchical task analysis to medication administration errors

Medication use in hospitals is a complex process and is dependent on the successful interaction of health professionals functioning within different disciplines. Errors can occur at any one of the five main stages of prescribing, documenting, dispensing or preparation, administering and monitoring. The responsibility for the error is often placed on the nurse, as she or he is the last person in the drug administration chain whilst more pressing underlying causal factors remain unresolved. This paper demonstrates how hierarchical task analysis can be used to model drug administration and then uses the systematic human error reduction and prediction approach to predict which errors are likely to occur. The paper also puts forward design solutions to mitigate these errors.