Radiation Thermometry Toward the Triple Point of Water?

The article describes and evaluates the possibility of using a high-temperature blackbody of accurately known thermodynamic temperature as a reference source for the determination of lower thermodynamic temperatures by spectral radiation thermometry. By applying various intermediate steps, this approach will allow spectral radiation thermometry to be used for the determination of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water with a low uncertainty. The procedure for such an attempt is outlined, theoretical, and practical limits of the resulting uncertainty in thermodynamic temperature are given. The described experimental approach also provides a framework to calculate the uncertainties in determining the thermodynamic temperatures of the defining high-temperature fixed points of the International Temperature Scale of 1990 down to the triple point of water. The estimation of uncertainties is based on current and future values of the relevant contributing components. The uncertainty anticipated in determining the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water is 24 mK with current uncertainties and 1.9 mK in the future. Thus, the described approach yields uncertainties that are slightly higher, but comparable to, the tentative uncertainties of other methods—e.g., dielectric constant gas thermometry developed and applied within the framework of the new determination of the Boltzmann constant.     

FEM supported optimization of bending processes for vibration damping steel sheets

An FE-model has been developed that allows large relative sheet displacement and sheet splitting as well, in order to obtain more information for the bending process of vibration damping steel sheets. In addition to the evaluation of the material data for the visco-elastic resin core the main process parameters for the die bending are optimized. Best results are realized by using higher forming temperatures in combination with a large die width and different flange length. The variation of the punch force and the punch radius can be used to regulate the spring back and the possible splitting of the sheets.     

Hazardous materials and work safety in veterinary practice. 1: Hazardous material definition and characterization, practice documentation and general rules for handling

The role of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in the discriminative and aversive stimulus effects of ethanol was studied in rats. In the operant drug discrimination procedure the rats were trained to discriminate between 1.0 g/kg ethanol and saline under the FR10 schedule of sweetened milk reinforcement. Neither the nAChR agonist, nicotine (0.1-0.6 mg/kg) nor the nAChR antagonist, mecamylamine (3.0-6.0 mg/kg) substituted for the ethanol stimulus. Moreover, mecamylamine (0.5-6.0 mg/kg) did not antagonise the ethanol stimulus. The cross-familiarisation conditioned taste aversion procedure was used as an alternative method to study stimulus resemblance between ethanol and nicotine. Six daily injections of nicotine (0.6 mg/kg) significantly decreased a subsequent ethanol-induced taste aversion conditioning. The aversive stimulus effects of ethanol were investigated with the conditioned taste aversion (CTA) paradigm. Mecamylamine (1.0-3.0 mg/kg) did not attenuate an ethanol-induced CTA. These results suggest that: (1) nAChRs are not primarily involved in the discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol when studied with the operant drug discrimination test; (2) nAChRs are not critically involved in the ethanol-induced CTA.     

"Clinical comparability of the standard MMPI and the MMPI-168": Correction to Hart, McNeill, Lutz, and Adkins.

Reports an error in "Clinical comparability of the standard MMPI and the MMPI-168" by Ronald R. Hart, John W. McNeill, David J. Lutz and Thomas G. Adkins (Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 1986[Jun], Vol 17[3], 269-272). In this article, the copyright information was incorrect. The corrected copyright information is included in the erratum. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 1986-26219-001.) Examined the clinical correspondence of the full-scale Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the MMPI-168 on a psychiatric screening sample of 210 men (mean age 43.27 yrs). The present results fail to replicate previous optimistic findings regarding the worth of the MMPI-168 and accent the need for caution in any further use of this abbreviated instrument. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Adhesive anterior tooth restorations" with the use of dentin bonding with and without a cavity liner

The exfoliation syndrome as a risk factor for lens opacification was investigated with pairwise comparisons of lens opacity, visual acuity, refraction, and anterior chamber depth in 126 eyes of 63 patients with unilateral exfoliation syndrome, and in 84 eyes of 42 patients with unilateral capsular glaucoma. As compared with fellow eyes, the exfoliative eyes showed poorer visual acuity (p < 0.05) and more frequent occurrence of subcapsular cataract (2% vs 8%). Compared with the fellow eyes the lenses in the capsular glaucomatous eyes were more opaque, whether without pilocarpine (p < 0.05), or with pilocarpine treatment (p < 0.0001). Visual acuity was poorer (p < 0.01), refraction more myopic (p < 0.05), and anterior chamber depth less (p < 0.05) in the capsular glaucomatous eyes with pilocarpine treatment. Thus, there are slight changes in the lenses of the exfoliative eyes, the cataractous lens changes being more advanced in the capsular glaucomatous eyes.     

Carboxypeptidase U (CPU,TAFIa, CPB2) in Thromboembolic Disease: What Do We Know Three Decades after Its Discovery?

Procarboxypeptidase U (proCPU, TAFI, proCPB2) is a basic carboxypeptidase zymogen that is converted by thrombin(-thrombomodulin) or plasmin into the active carboxypeptidase U (CPU, TAFIa, CPB2), a potent attenuator of fibrinolysis. As CPU forms a molecular link between coagulation and fibrinolysis, the development of CPU inhibitors as profibrinolytic agents constitutes an attractive new concept to improve endogenous fibrinolysis or to increase the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy in thromboembolic diseases. Furthermore, extensive research has been conducted on the in vivo role of CPU in (the acute phase of) thromboembolic disease, as well as on the hypothesis that high proCPU levels and the Thr/Ile325 polymorphism may cause a thrombotic predisposition. In this paper, an overview is given of the methods available for measuring proCPU, CPU, and inactivated CPU (CPUi), together with a summary of the clinical data generated so far, ranging from the current knowledge on proCPU concentrations and polymorphisms as potential thromboembolic risk factors to the positioning of different CPU forms (proCPU, CPU, and CPUi) as diagnostic markers for thromboembolic disease, and the potential benefit of pharmacological inhibition of the CPU pathway.     

Citation concept analysis (CCA): a new form of citation analysis revealing the usefulness of concepts for other researchers illustrated by exemplary case studies including classic books by Thomas S. Kuhn and Karl R. Popper

Scientometrics - In recent years, the full text of papers are increasingly available electronically which opens up the possibility of quantitatively investigating citation contexts in more detail....     

Membranfunktionalisierung im Pilotmaßstab: Rolle-zu-Rolle-Elektronenstrahlsystem mit Inline-Kontaktwinkelbestimmung

To increase the permeation performance and antifouling properties of polymer membranes, a one-step reaction using electron irradiation was developed. This process combines the surface activation of the membrane polymer and the simultaneous permanent immobilization of hydrophilic molecules. This technology can be applied to various polymers, flat sheet/hollow fiber membranes and all pore ranges. The roll-to-roll system developed for this enables all process steps including inline analysis for quality control of the membrane surface in a continuously operated system.