The effect of grafting on rubber-phase oxidative etch resistance in high-impact polystyrene

A relatively simple, reproducible method for the determination of grafting in high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) shows that high- and low-graft HIPS exhibit differences in morphology following treatment with an oxidative etching solution. Because this method is quite sensitive to small differences, it yields a more definitive evaluation of grafting in the finished polymer than any other previously used analytical procedure. These differences have been quantified, and the data used to compare relative grafting in polystyrenes reinforced with the same or different rubber types. The method shows an increase in grafting when either the peroxide initiator feed level or 1,2-vinyl content of the polybutadiene is increased.     

Learning from the U.S. National Assessment of Climate Change Impacts

The U.S. National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change was a federally coordinated nationwide effort that involved thousands of experts and stakeholders. To draw lessons from this effort, the 10 authors of this paper, half of whom were not involved in the Assessment, developed and administered an extensive survey, prepared a series of working papers, and conducted an invitational workshop in Washington, DC, on April 29, 2004. Considering all these sources, the authors conclude that the Assessment was largely successful in implementing its basic design of distributed stakeholder involvement and in achieving its basic objectives. Future assessments could be significantly improved if greater attention were devoted to developing a collective understanding of objectives, preparing guidance materials and providing training for assessment participants, developing a budgeting mechanism which would allow greater freedom in allocating resources across various assessment activities, and creating an environment in which assessments were part of an ongoing process.     

Concentrations of ganglioside type M1 and immunoglobulin G in colostrum are inversely related to bacterial infection at early lactation in cows

The levels of IgG and ganglioside type M1 in the colostrum of cows and heifers were analyzed to examine their utility in predicting acquisition of intramammary infection (IMI) during the first weeks postpartum. In general, high levels of IgG and ganglioside type M1 in cows were associated with lower new incidence of IMI, and linear discriminate analysis based on these 2 variables yielded 69.4% successful classification into cows that did or did not acquire new IMI. This analysis was less successful in heifers because a high proportion of them joined the herd when already infected with bacteria in their udders. It is suggested that application of a wider range of measures that reflect the immune status would enable the identification of most cows prone to new IMI.     

Frequencies of thalassemia in American blacks

The frequency of thalassemia was determined in a group of 541 healthy adult black males. Individuals with decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) values were evaluated further with hemoglobin analysis, iron studies, and globin chain synthesis. Of the males screened, 13.4% had MCH levels below 27.0 pg, while 1.4% had heterozygous beta thalassemia, 2.3% had iron deficiency, and 5.7% had globin synthesis findings compatible with the diagnosis of alpha thalassemia trait (alpha thalassemia-1). This study suggests that thalassemia is one of the most frequent hematologically depictable abnormalities in American blacks.     

Keratoconjunctivitis associated with sialodacryoadenitis in rats

A high incidence of keratoconjunctivitis was observed in a closed colony of inbred Lewis/Wistar rats. Clinical signs including blinking, ocular discharge, circumcorneal flush, corneal opacity, ulceration, pannus, hypopyon, and hyphema were observed at about three weeks of age. Acute disease subsided by six weeks of age, but some lesions progressed to low-grade chronic keratitis. Six per cent of affected rats developed megaloglobus, which usually appeared by three weeks of age. Lesions included focal or diffuse interstitial keratitis, corneal ulceration, anterior synechia, and inflammatory exudate in the anterior chamber. A high incidence of lenticular and retinal degeneration was associated with megaloglobus. Most affected rats also had harderian dacryoadenitis. Sialodacryoadenitis virus (SDA) was recovered from nasal washes, but not from affected eyes. Serological evidence indicated that SDA virus infection was widespread in the colony.