A controlled trial of venlafaxine in trichotillomania: interim phase I results

Vibrio vulnificus, a particularly virulent halophilic vibrio, has been isolated from the blood and skin necrotic lesion of a hemodialyzed patient with sepsis. The patient has had exposure of the skin to seawater. Various chronic conditions including renal failure have a great risk for developing septicemia due to V vulnificus. It is necessary to inform persons with liver diseases or immunocompromising conditions of hazards associated with the consumption of undercooked seafood and seawater exposure.     

Comparative studies on mammalian Hoxc8 early enhancer sequence reveal a baleen whale-specific deletion of a cis-acting element

Variations in regulatory regions of developmental control genes have been implicated in the divergence of axial morphologies. To find potentially significant changes in cis-regulatory regions, we compared nucleotide sequences and activities of mammalian Hoxc8 early enhancers. The nucleotide sequence of the early enhancer region is extremely conserved among mammalian clades, with five previously described cis-acting elements, A-E, being invariant. However, a 4-bp deletion within element C of the Hoxc8 early enhancer sequence is observed in baleen whales. When assayed in transgenic mouse embryos, a baleen whale enhancer (unlike other mammalian enhancers) directs expression of the reporter gene to more posterior regions of the neural tube but fails to direct expression to posterior mesoderm. We suggest that regulation of Hoxc8 in baleen whales differs from other mammalian species and may be associated with variation in axial morphology.     

Behavioral and pharmacologic approaches to smoking cessation

Cigarette smoking continues to be the single, most preventable cause of death and disability in the United States. For individuals who have cancer, continuing to smoke negatively impacts their treatment, survival, and risk for second primary tumors. This review of behavioral and pharmacological approaches to smoking cessation focuses on the recent comprehensive review of cessation interventions by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), as well as on new developments in the field. An intervention model is outlined that provides oncologists with a brief and easily implemented method of systematically treating patients who smoke. By assessing patient smoking status, advising smoking patients to quit, and proactively assisting their patients in quitting, oncologists can significantly influence patient health and fulfill their professional and ethical responsibility to address this life-threatening behavior.     

Ozone Treatment of Surface Water to Provide High Quality Cooling Water and Process Water

The characteristic feature of this cooling tower water treatment is the intermittent addition of ozone for several days.     

Druids' Knowledge in Chemical Engineering: Analysis of the Illustrated Literature by Goscinny and Uderzo

The illustrated literature series Asterix (and Obelix) is commonly known as entertainment and distraction, but behind that mask, case studies for chemical production in small medium enterprises and the crucial role of research and development can be discovered. The series rightly puts chemistry and chemical engineering at the heart of success and prosperity. Overall, the motives exemplified are of high relevance today for chemical industry.     

Impact of dietary n−3 FA deficiency on rat bone tissue FA composition

The effect of dietary n−3 FA deficiency on bone tissue FA composition was evaluated in growing rats. Two mixtures combining hydrogenated coconut oil with safflower oil served as the n−3-deficient dietary treatments and provided two levels of linoleic acid (LA). The n−3 treatments were formulated with added α-linolenic acid (LNA) from flaxseed oil (diet LNA) or LNA plus DHA, and both were balanced for LA. This study showed that bone is sensitive to changes in dietary n−3 FA and that DHA is more effective than LNA in maintaining DHA levels in these tissues.     

The Importance of Crosslinking and Glass Transition Temperature for the Mechanical Strength of Nanofibers Obtained by Green Electrospinning

Crosslinked particles containing butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and allyl methacrylate are prepared by free‐radical emulsion polymerization. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers are varied by the crosslinking densities in the latex particles. Aqueous acrylate dispersions with polymers of different glass transition temperatures are electrospun with PVA as the matrix polymer. The effects of crosslinking density and T_g on the structure and mechanical properties of the fibers are studied. Crosslinking of unreacted allyl groups is induced by UV irradiation to stabilize the fibers by interparticle crosslinking. Both the ability to undergo interparticle crosslinking and the E modulus depend on the merging of the particles during the electrospinning process.

     

“Barbed nanowires” from polymers via electrospinning

Electrospinning is a highly versatile technique that allows producing fibers with diameters down to a few nanometers not only from polymers but also from metals, metal oxides, or ceramics. Fiber formation in electrospinning differs strongly from other fiber producing methods such as extrusion in that it is basically governed by self‐assembly processes induced by specific electrostatic interactions following the Earnshaw theorem of electrostatics. This allows the production of nanofibers with very peculiar shapes. Here, we report the one step fabrication of barbed nanofibers due to a particular choice of the spinning conditions. Such barbed fibers allow, among others, to control the total porosity of nanofiber nonwovens and to reduce the tendency of linear nano‐objects towards aggregation. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers