Methanol-tolerant electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

Heat-treated -oxo-iron(iii) tetramethoxy phenyl porphyrin (Fe-TMPP)2O and iron(iii) tetramethoxy phenyl porphyrin (FeTMPP-Cl) as well as iron(iii) octaethyl porphyrin (FeOEP-Cl) adsorbed on high-area carbons such as deashed and un-deashed RB carbon (Calgon) and Black Pearls-2000 (Cabot) have been found to exhibit stable and very high oxygen reduction rates. Experiments done over a period of 24h showed no performance degradation. Measured performances were very similar to supported platinum (E-Tek), when tested in 85% H3PO4-equilibrated Nafion 117 membrane at 125°C and hydrated-Nafion membrane at 60°C in a minifuel cell. The macrocycle cathodes are insensitive to the presence of methanol whereas the platinum cathodes are very sensitive and show degradation in the oxygen reduction performance.     

Distribution of AT4 receptors in the Macaca fascicularis brain

Angiotensin IV (Val Tyr Ile His Pro Phe), administered centrally, increases memory retrieval and induces c-fos expression in the hippocampus and piriform cortex. Angiotensin IV binds to a high affinity site that is quite distinct in pharmacology and distribution from the angiotensin II AT1 and AT2 receptors and is known as the AT4 receptor. These observations suggest that the AT4 receptor may have multiple central effects. The present study uses in vitro receptor autoradiography, and employs [125I]angiotensin IV to map AT4 receptors in the macaca fascicularis brain. The distribution of the AT4 receptor is remarkable in that its distribution extends throughout several neural systems. Most striking is its localization in motor nuclei and motor associated regions. These include the ventral horn spinal motor neurons, all cranial motor nuclei including the oculomotor, abducens, facial and hypoglossal nuclei, and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. Receptors are also present in the vestibular, reticular and inferior olivary nuclei, the granular layer of the cerebellum, and the Betz cells of the motor cortex. Moderate AT4 receptor density is seen in all cerebellar nuclei, ventral thalamic nuclei and the substantia nigra pars compacta, with lower receptor density observed in the caudate nucleus and putamen. Abundant AT4 receptors are also found in areas associated with cholinergic nuclei and their projections, including the nucleus basalis of Meynert, ventral limb of the diagonal band and the hippocampus, somatic motor nuclei and autonomic preganglionic motor nuclei. AT4 receptors are also observed in sensory regions, with moderate levels in spinal trigeminal, gracile, cuneate and thalamic ventral posterior nuclei, and the somatosensory cortex. The abundance of the AT4 receptor in motor and cholinergic neurons, and to a lesser extent, in sensory neurons, suggests multiple roles for the AT4 receptor in the primate brain.     

Benefit‐cost analysis of commercially available activated carbon filters for indoor ozone removal in single‐family homes

This study involved the development of a model for evaluating the potential costs and benefits of ozone control by activated carbon filtration in single‐family homes. The modeling effort included the prediction of indoor ozone with and without activated carbon filtration in the HVAC system. As one application, the model was used to predict benefit‐to‐cost ratios for single‐family homes in 12 American cities in five different climate zones. Health benefits were evaluated using disability‐adjusted life‐years and included city‐specific age demographics for each simulation. Costs of commercially available activated carbon filters included capital cost differences when compared to conventional HVAC filters of similar particle removal efficiency, energy penalties due to additional pressure drop, and regional utility rates. The average indoor ozone removal effectiveness ranged from 4 to 20% across the 12 target cities and was largely limited by HVAC system operation time. For the parameters selected in this study, the mean predicted benefit‐to‐cost ratios for 1‐inch filters were >1.0 in 10 of the 12 cities. The benefits of residential activated carbon filters were greatest in cities with high seasonal ozone and HVAC usage, suggesting the importance of targeting such conditions for activated carbon filter applications.     

Treatment: A Report of the Commission of Inquiry Into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs was established May 29th, 1969. The interim report prepared by the Commission and tabled in parliament on June 19th, 1970, has resulted in the creation of the Non-Medical Drug Directorate within the National Department of Health and Welfare. However, other than providing some funds for research, no comprehensive program has been developed by the directorate to deal with abuse and addiction problems. Furthermore the government has indicated that the final direction of federal programs will not be determined until the Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs has made its final report and until a discussion of their recommendations has been held. This commentary presents the views of the Canadian Psychological Association regarding the report on "Treatment" only and will be followed by a commentary on "Cannabis" and the "Final" reports. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Real-time quantification of microscale bioadhesion events in situ using imaging surface plasmon resonance (iSPR)

From macro- to nanoscales, adhesion phenomena are all-pervasive in nature yet remain poorly understood. In recent years, studies of biological adhesion mechanisms, terrestrial and marine, have provided inspiration for "biomimetic" adhesion strategies and important insights for the development of fouling-resistant materials. Although the focus of most contemporary bioadhesion research is on large organisms such as marine mussels, insects and geckos, adhesion events on the micro/nanoscale are critical to our understanding of important underlying mechanisms. Observing and quantifying adhesion at this scale is particularly relevant for the development of biomedical implants and in the prevention of marine biofouling. However, such characterization has so far been restricted by insufficient quantities of material for biochemical analysis and the limitations of contemporary imaging techniques. Here, we introduce a recently developed optical method that allows precise determination of adhesive deposition by microscale organisms in situ and in real time; a capability not before demonstrated. In this extended study we used the cypris larvae of barnacles and a combination of conventional and imaging surface plasmon resonance techniques to observe and quantify adhesive deposition onto a range of model surfaces (CH(3)-, COOH-, NH(3)-, and mPEG-terminated SAMs and a PEGMA/HEMA hydrogel). We then correlated this deposition to passive adsorption of a putatively adhesive protein from barnacles. In this way, we were able to rank surfaces in order of effectiveness for preventing barnacle cyprid exploration and demonstrate the importance of observing the natural process of adhesion, rather than predicting surface effects from a model system. As well as contributing fundamentally to the knowledge on the adhesion and adhesives of barnacle larvae, a potential target for future biomimetic glues, this method also provides a versatile technique for laboratory testing of fouling-resistant chemistries.