Prediction of corrosion product stability in high-temperature aqueous systems

Calculated thermodynamic data for metal oxidation/oxide reduction reactions of Fe, Ni, Co and Cu, and for formation, oxidation and reduction of NiFe₂O₄, CoFe₂O₄, CuFeO₂ and CuFe₂O₄, are examined for aqueous systems containing dissolved hydrogen and oxygen at temperatures up to 300°C. The data are presented as equilibrium partial pressures of oxygen and hydrogen for specific reactions. This information is used to predict which solids are stable in an equilibrium system containing known concentrations of oxygen and hydrogen, and in a non-equilibrium system in which γ and neutron radiation fields cause the concentrations of oxygen and hydrogen to be much greater than the equilibrium values. Results of X-ray diffraction studies of corrosion products filtered from the heat-transport system of the Douglas Point Generating Station are compared with phase stability predictions.     

Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection in blood donors and park rangers in relation to local habitat

Serum samples were obtained from blood donors in eleven selected locations in Ireland and tested for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and immunoblot (IB). The highest seroprevalence (8.7%) was found in Portumna, an area rated as high risk because of the presence of public access woodland harbouring both ticks and spirochaete reservoir hosts. The lowest seroprevalence (0.0%) was found in Ballina, an area where there is no suitable woodland though ticks are common on pastures grazed by cattle and sheep. These results support the findings of an earlier less extensive study and suggest that infection with B. burgdorferi s.l. in Ireland is mainly associated with mixed woodland containing deer and a variety of spirochaete reservoir hosts. The lack of association of tick-infested farmland with seropositive samples suggests that exposure to ticks alone is not a reliable indicator of risk of Lyme borreliosis. This is supported by the fact that none of 38 park rangers, all of whom are regularly bitten by ticks, were seropositive for B. burgdorferi s.l. The low overall seroprevalence of 3.4% in Ireland correlates with the rarity of clinical cases compared with continental European countries, and is due in part to the scarcity of high risk Lyme borreliosis habitat.     

Terminology for photonic matrix switches

A classification scheme is suggested here for matrix switches that use photonic principles, generally for broadband signal routing. The classification considers three independent properties, providing for a large number of categories with properties that differ in identifiable ways. Salient properties of each class are noted. Matrices are classified in the following ways: according to the switching principles used i.e. optical or optoelectronic; according to the multiplexing system used in the switch i.e. space division, modulation division or carrier division; and according to the optical configuration of the switched systems, i.e. centrally switched, optically extended or distributed. Examples of the various types are given     

Rat bone marrow-derived mast cells co-cultured with 3T3 fibroblasts in the absence of T-cell derived cytokines require stem cell factor for their survival and maintain their mucosal mast cell-like phenotype

The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) and single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) in the diagnosis of dementia. Fifty-two patients with clinical diagnosis of dementia and 11 controls were studied. The scans were interpreted by one experienced neuroradiologist and one nuclear radiologist, both blinded to the clinical data. In the diagnosis of dementia, CT and SPECT showed equal sensitivity (82.7%) and statistically similar specificity (63.8 and 81.8%, respectively). The specificity of SPECT in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (100%) was statistically superior to CT (69%). However, both methods showed similar sensitivity in detecting Alzheimer's disease. In conclusion, SPECT and CT showed similar accuracy in the diagnosis of dementia. The quite high specificity of SPECT in Alzheimer's disease may be useful for confirming that diagnosis, particularly for patients with presenile onset of the disease.     

Aumakua: Behavioral direction visions in Hawaiians.

Presents case histories of 3 17–20 yr old Hawaiian school dropouts (2 males and 1 female) who had persistent hallucinations while residing in a Job Corps training center. Desensitization techniques failed to alleviate the hallucinations. Clients were told to face the visions, which were of departed relatives, and listen for messages. The youths were advised to alter their behavior to match cultural and social norms. Though the trainees had no remorse for their past acts, they altered their behavior in accordance with the advice, and the hallucinations stopped. A comment is made regarding clients from different cultures. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)