Block polymer nonionic surfactants in textiles

Block polymer surfactants have wide acceptance in the textile industry. These products are characterized by low-to-moderate foam, low levels of toxicity, and a variety of other desirable physical properties. This paper reviews their use as lubricants, texturizers, antistats, softeners, dyes, rayon processing agents, emulsifiers, defoamers and bleaching agents.     

Blue Thread of the Tzitzit: Was the Ancient Dye a Prussian Blue or Tyrian Purple?

The Radzin process for renewing the use of the Biblical blue thread on the Jewish ritual fringed garment (tz\Xz\xj is examined. The colouring matter formed proved to be Prussian blue. Since a natural dye obtained from a shellfish is required, the Radzin product is disqualified as an authentic revival. An alternative identification of the ancient blue with Tyrian purple is inconsistent with the accepted designation of the latter as the Biblical purple “argaman”. The Biblical blue is to be identified with the ancient hyacinthine purple, which was evidently derived from Murex trunculus. The Janthina hypothesis is also discussed.     

Deuteron trapping in titanium

A tensimetric technique has been developed for measuring 15 keV D⁺ trapping in Ti metal. The formation of the TiD₂ phase in the surface and near-surface regions was monitored by decoupling the θ–2θ scan of an X-ray diffractometer as well as by scanning electron microscope studies. Micron-sized ‘reaction zones’ appear to serve as nucleation centers for the TiD₂ phase. Insight into the mechanism of chemical trapping is obtained by correlating the results from the three types of measurements used in the present work.     

Conventions Should Serve Needs of Professors.

It was with a sense of relief that I learned that APA in 1971 was to meet in Washington, D. C., rather than Hawaii. The relief came because additional time is left for me to save my money for the long and expensive journey. The end is not in sight for APA exotic meeting places: New Orleans, Montreal, and who knows where else. Seriously, I am concerned about the meeting-place choices because of the travel and accommodation expense. If we pursue having meetings in expensive resort, areas (e.g., Miami Beach), the cost of meeting attendance increases, penalizing many of the people who want and should attend-graduate students, young faculty, and also the non-grant-supported psychologists. In effect, meetings become the province of the grantsman, the well-to-do. It seems to me, if APA wishes to have a broad representation of its membership, if it is to provide opportunities for graduate students to seek out potential employers, if professional communication is to be as maximal as possible, meeting sites should be selected in the most central cities, with adequate and relatively inexpensive hotels, etc. I think it is line to face up to the justification for annual meetings. If they are to be junkets and excuses for tax-exempt vacations, so be it; but if they are to serve the needs of the professor, then I think more rational choices in meeting sites must be made. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Extinction versus credibility in the desensitization of speech anxiety.

Compared systematic desensitization with 2 control treatments—a nonextinction control procedure in which visualizations of hierarchy items were paired with an aversive shock, and a placebo treatment equal to desensitization in credibility. 97 undergraduates with public speaking anxiety (Personal Report of Confidence As a Speaker) served as Ss. Significant improvement was obtained for all 3 conditions on all outcome measures. Data indicate that Ss in all 3 conditions improved more than minimal treatment, simulation, and high-demand no-treatment-control Ss. Analyses failed to uncover any significant between-group differences. On 2 self-report measures, Ss' pretreatment ratings of treatment credibility accounted for significant and substantial proportions of the variance (12.6 and 36.5%). Data support the influence of perceived treatment credibility on outcome measures, and they tend to disconfirm conditioning explanations of the efficacy of systematic desensitization. A significant difference in treatment credibility ratings between actual Ss and pretest pilot Ss was also noted, suggesting the advisability of checking credibility manipulations with Ss who believe that they are to receive the treatment described in the rationale. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Distribution and clearance of polybrominated biphenyls in cows and calves

The distribution and clearance of polybrominated biphenyls were determined in two cows and a calf fed polybrominated biphenyls by boluses, by placental transport to a calf from a contaminated dam, and to another calf via milk from the contaminated dam. Feces were an important route of excretion of polybrominated biphenyls during exposure and the period when the contaminated feed was cleared from the digestive tract. Approximately 50% of single intraruminal doses of these hydrocarbons were cleared by 168 h. Free polybrominated biphenyls in urine could not be quantitated. However, 24% of carbon-14 from tetrachlorobiphenyl was recovered, suggesting that significant quantities of halogenated biphenyl may be excreted in urine. Milk was also an important excretion route with one cow excreting 23% of the polybrominated biphenyl dose in 168 days. Concentrations of polybrominated biphenyls in the fat of most tissues were similar, with higher concentrations in liver and lower in the nervous system. Gross or histopathologic lesions of tissues collected at necropsy could not be related specifically to polybrominated biphenyl toxicity.     

Nurse turnover as reasoned action: Development of a process model.

We used the theory of reasoned action to build a model of nurse turnover. Based primarily on the theory, a questionnaire was constructed and administered to 1,835 registered nurses. Six months after the questionnaires were completed, we obtained status information (remained or resigned) for those nurses who returned useable questionnaires. For status, differential intention was the only significant predictor. The significant predictors of differential intention were differential attitude, differential subjective norm, and differential moral obligation. For the combination of all predictors, R–2?=?.32 for status, and R–2?=?.68 for differential intention. These findings held up under replication procedures. Additional findings suggested potential modifications of the theory of reasoned action and the methodology used to validate its principles. Overall, the theory demonstrated its usefulness both from conceptual and applied perspectives. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Antioxidant and functional properties of a high dietary fibre powder from carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) pomace

The use of carambola pomace as a raw material for the production of a high dietary fibre powder (HDFP) was investigated. A face‐centred design was used to study the effects of extraction conditions, namely water‐to‐pomace ratio, time and temperature, on both reducing sugars (RS) and total extractable polyphenols (EPP) contents of fibre concentrate. RS content decreased by increasing extraction times and water‐to‐pomace ratios, while EPP tend to diminish by increasing temperature and contact time (P < 0.01). Selected HDFPs showed an EPP content in the range of 5.0–6.1 g GAE 100 g^?1 dry basis (db), with antioxidant activities between 386.2–443.9 and 204.7–228.6 μmol Trolox equivalents g^?1 db according to FRAP and ABTS assays, respectively. HDFP obtained at 55 °C, 5 min and 2:1 water‐to‐pomace ratio exhibited the highest EPP content, total dietary fibre (84.0% db) and dietary indigestible fraction (61.3% db). This product can be considered as a potential valuable food ingredient considering their oil retention and swelling capacities.     

Protection of the skin around intestinal fistulas

The use of two recently introduced skin protective preparations in the treatment of perifistular skin inflammation is described. Karaya gum in paste form (karaya paste) and a compressed wafer of gelatin, pectin and methyl cellulose (Stomahesive) were used, alone or in combination; with drainable collecting appliances. The method protects the inflamed skin from fistula discharge and allows healing to proceed beneath the dressing. A technique to improve the adhesion of the appliance, in spite of large fluid losses, is outlined. Healing of skin excoriation was obtained in nearly all cases. Complete control of leakage was achieved in a group of patients with a high output fistula.