Brain‐Penetrant Triazolopyrimidine and Phenylpyrimidine Microtubule Stabilizers as Potential Leads to Treat Human African Trypanosomiasis

In vitro whole‐organism screens of Trypanosoma brucei with representative examples of brain‐penetrant microtubule (MT)‐stabilizing agents identified lethal triazolopyrimidines and phenylpyrimidines with sub‐micromolar potency. In mammalian cells, these antiproliferative compounds disrupt MT integrity and decrease total tubulin levels. Their parasiticidal potency, combined with their generally favorable pharmacokinetic properties, which include oral bioavailability and brain penetration, suggest that these compounds are potential leads against human African trypanosomiasis.     

Modeling segregation of bidisperse granular materials using physical control parameters in the quasi‐2D bounded heap

Quantitatively predicting segregation of size‐disperse granular materials is of potential value in many industrial applications. We consider granular segregation of size‐bidisperse particles in quasi‐2D bounded heaps, a canonical granular flow, using an advection‐diffusion transport equation with an additional term to account for particle segregation. The equation is characterized by two dimensionless parameters that are functions of control parameters (flow rate, system size, and particle sizes) and kinematic parameters (flowing layer depth, diffusion coefficient, and percolation length scale). As the kinematic parameters are usually difficult to measure in practice, their dependence on the control parameters is determined directly from discrete element method simulations. Using these relationships, it is possible to determine which values of the control parameters result in a mixed or segregated heap. The approach used here is broadly applicable to a wide range of other flow geometries and particle systems. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 1524–1534, 2015     

Instructions and experiential feedback in the treatment of social skills deficits in adults.

36 adult outpatients (aged 19–70 yrs) with social skills deficits participated in an 8-session individual social skills, role-playing training program. Some Ss were given instructions on specific behaviors to modify during role playing; a 2nd group developed its own instructions; a 3rd group was given no instructions but simply role-played the scenes. Half the Ss in each condition also received experiential feedback, which was effective in helping clients become more socially skilled. Instructions on specific behaviors to modify did not significantly improve social skills. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ultra-shallow junction formation by spike annealing in a lamp-based or hot-walled rapid thermal annealing system: effect of ramp-up rate

Ultra-shallow p-type junction formation has been investigated using 1050°C spike anneals in lamp-based and hot-walled rapid thermal processing (RTP) systems. A spike anneal may be characterized by a fast ramp-up to temperature with only a fraction of a second soak-time at temperature. The effects of the ramp-up rate during a spike anneal on junction depth and sheet resistance were measured for rates of 40, 70 and 155°C/s in a lamp-based RTP, and for 50 and 85°C/s in a hot-walled RTP. B⁺ implants of 0.5, 2 and 5 keV at doses of 2×10¹⁴ and 2×10¹⁵ cm⁻² were annealed. A significant reduction in junction depth was observed at the highest ramp-up rate for the shallower 0.5-keV B implants, while only a marginal improvement was observed for 2- and 5-keV implants. It is concluded that high ramp-up rates can achieve the desired ultra-shallow junctions with low sheet resistance but only when used in combination with spike anneals and the lowest energy implants.     

Protein‐Based Hydrogels that Actuate Self‐Folding Systems

An approach to build a chemomechatronic system inspired by self‐folding robots is described. This system, which comprises a protein‐based hydrogel bound to a low‐profile laminate, responds to different aqueous environments by undergoing geometric transformations. This response is dependent on the thickness and stiffness of the templating hydrogel, which directly regulates the diffusion of water into and out of the platform to initiate its reversible shape changes. When modified to include more complex geometries, these controllable shape changes can also be used to selectively trigger multiple folding events, illustrating a new platform for chemically initiated mechatronic devices. Together, these data show how compositionally discrete components are physically, chemically, and mechanically coupled together to generate a new actuator for biohybrid self‐folding systems.     

A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO THE ASSESSMENT OF HEAD RETENTION OF BOTTLED BEERS

A method is described for the assessment of the head retention of bottled beers. The technique enables three aspects of head retention (head formation, adhesion and collapse rate of the foam) to be simultaneously determined. The procedure consists of the shock injection of a small volume of carbon dioxide under pressure into a known volume of beer, previously introduced without fobbing into a specially-calibrated glass vessel, followed by measurements at stated intervals on the foam so produced. The apparatus is simple and inexpensive and a determination can be completed in 7–8 min. Some results for bottled beers are discussed in respect of bottle-to-bottle differences; the effect on head retention of storage and of the use of wheat flour in the grist has also been examined. It is claimed that the method gives results which are more informative than those defined by a single factor such as half-life and are more in line with consumer judgement.     

Vulnerability Analysis of Future Public Water Supply Under Changing Climate Conditions: A Study of the Moy Catchment,Western Ireland

An application of the Water Evaluation and Planning tool Version 21 (WEAP21) is developed to analyse the vulnerability of the future public water supply in the River Moy catchment, western Ireland. The River Moy’s future hydrology is modelled using the WEAP21 integrated rainfall runoff module and an ensemble of statistically downscaled future climate series. This approach facilitates the identification of the most vulnerable future public water supplies without being constrained by the availability of historically observed streamflow records. The model is calibrated by linking the model-independent parameter estimation tool (PEST) with the hydrological model and verified by reproducing observed streamflow records. This research suggests an emerging vulnerability to water stress of the public water supply sector under the four modelled scenarios, for areas which currently have plenty of water available. These results present a basis for future planning and management of the Moy catchment and its water resources.