Calcined hydrotalcites for the catalytic decomposition of N2O in simulated process streams

Various hydrotalcite based catalysts were prepared for testing for the catalytic decomposition of N₂O. CoAl, NiAl, Co/PdAl, Co/RhAl, and Co/MgAL substituted hydrotalcites and CoLaAl hydroxides offer very good activity at modest temperatures. Precalcination of these materials at ca. 450–500°C, which destroys the hydrotalcite phase, is necessary for optimum activity and life. For Co substituted hydrotalcites, the optimal ratio of Co/Al is 3.0. The temperature for 50% conversion of N₂O of these calcined cobalt hydrotalcites is ca. 75°C lower than for the previous highly active Co-ZSM-5. These calcined cobalt hydrotalcite materials display sustained life at temperatures in excess of 670°C in an O₂ rich, wet stream with high levels of N₂O [10%]. Excess O₂ does not seriously impact N₂O decomposition, but the combination of both water vapor and O₂ does reduce activity by ca. 50%.     

Experimental verification of a microbuckling model for the axial compressive failure of high performance polymer fibres

A previously derived theoretical compressive strength for fibres composed of uniaxially oriented and extended polymer chains was compared with the measured strengths of several high performance fibres. For failure initiated by elastic microbuckling of polymer chains or fibrils, the maximum fibre strength is predicted to be equal to the minimum longitudinal shear modulus of the fibre. An excellent linear correlation between measured strengths and torsion moduli was obtained for four liquid-crystalline polymer fibres and high modulus graphite fibres. The correlation shows that measured strengths are 30% of the corresponding torsion moduli for all these fibres. A high modulus, high strength polyethylene fibre exhibited a compressive strength-torsion modulus ratio that was lower than the value 0.3 obtained for the other fibres examined in this study.     

The stability of preferences for life-sustaining care among persons with AIDS in the Boston Health Study

In 1982, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified inadequate relief from cancer pain as an international health problem. WHO recommended that governments develop and implement national policies and programs for cancer pain relief. This report evaluates national health policy and the systems of health care delivery in relation to cancer pain management in the new South Africa. This field study included multiple methods of data collection: analysis of documents, field trips with participant observation in sites of care delivery, focused interviews, and in-depth interviews of key informants. The purposive sample of key informants (n = 33) represented multiple stakeholders in a variety of settings. Strengths of the developing health policy include specific recommendations related to palliative care; the shift to universal primary care; policies to support drug availability; the inclusion of morphine and codeine as essential drug at the primary health care level; and the development of a national standard related to cancer pain management. Health services are characterized by two parallel systems of care (private and public) with numerous vestiges of the inequities of apartheid. The management of pain varies by provider and setting; major problems with access exist in the rural areas. Health services in South Africa have been plagued by inequity and inadequate resources. New health policies have set a path to ensure universal access to health care including palliative care for cancer. Their successful implementation is the next necessary step toward improving health services and alleviating the suffering of increasing numbers of individuals with cancer.     

MMPI--A scores and high points of male juvenile delinquents: Scales 4, 5, and 6 as markers of juvenile delinquency.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI--A) clinical, supplementary, and content scale score patterns for 655 male delinquents were examined. Low scores on Scale 5 (Masculinity/Femininity) were found to be the most frequent deviation, followed by elevations on Scales 6 (Paranoia) and 4 (Psychopathic Deviate). This is consistent with previous research, although the importance of Scale 5 deviations has been little noted because of the traditional focus on scale elevations only. Classification analysis indicated that a combination of MMPI--A scales discriminated between this delinquent sample and the normative sample, with a sensitivity of 90%-95% and a specificity of 80%-95%. This level of sensitivity was maintained in a replication sample (N=473). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Possible dihydroepiandrosterone-induced mania

BACKGROUND: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is among the most abundant steroids in the human body and appears to have diverse biochemical activities. This multifunctional hormone has long been a compound of interest to research psychiatrists. Its recent promotion and availability as an over-the-counter supplement to the general public has led to widespread use. Little is known about potential adverse effects of DHEA when consumed on an acute or chronic basis. We report a case of mania in an older man acutely admitted to our psychiatric facility with no previous personal or family history of bipolar disorder that appeared to be related to recent DHEA use. The patient had initiated DHEA use 6 months prior to admission and was taking 200-300 mg/day at the time of presentation. METHODS: He was treated with valproic acid 500 mg twice daily. RESULTS: The patient showed sufficient improvement to be discharged following a 7-day inpatient hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of medications have been associated with the induction of hypomania and mania, and we have provided a brief discussion of the potential for DHEA to trigger manic symptoms.     

Internal auditory artery infarction: clinicopathologic correlation

Immunocytochemical examination for mitochondrial protein and cytochrome oxidase was performed to demonstrate oncocytes in normal adenohypophysis obtained from 28 patients of various age. A small number of solitary large epithelial cells showed intense cytoplasmic granular immunoreactivities for mitochondrial protein and cytochrome oxidase. The proportions of the cells positive for the former and the latter ranged from 0% to 5.9% (mean+/-SD; 1.5+/-1.7%) and from 0% to 4.9% (1.4+/-1.6%), respectively. These cells were either absent or extremely rare in young patients (under 10 years) but tended to increase in number with age (P < 0.0001). On the other hand, the mirror section technique showed that most of these cells were negative for adenohypophysial hormones, but a few of them were faintly positive for: alpha-subunit (8.0%), beta-subunits of follicle-stimulating hormone (4.8%), luteinizing hormone (2.5%), thyroid-stimulating hormone (1.0%), and growth hormone (0.5%), and were negative for prolactin and adrenocorticotropic hormone. We considered that these cells represent oncocytes that exist in varying numbers in normal adenohypophysis. It was suggested that oncocytes in normal adenohypophysis share various common features with tumorous oncocytes of pituitary oncocytomas.     

Orally active, hydrolytically stable, semisynthetic, antimalarial trioxanes in the artemisinin family

In only three chemical operations, natural trioxane lactone artemisinin (1) was converted into a series of C-10 carbon-substituted 10-deoxoartemisinin compounds 4-9. The three steps involved lactone reduction, replacement of the anomeric lactol OH by F using diethylaminosulfur trifluoride, and finally boron trifluoride-promoted substitution of F by aryl, heteroaryl, and acetylide nucleophiles. All of these C-10 nonacetal, chemically robust, enantiomerically pure compounds 4-9 have high antimalarial potencies in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites, and furans 5a and 5b and pyrrole 7a are antimalarially potent also in vivo even when administered to rodents orally.     

Structural mechanics modeling of the impact of a double cantilever beam

A Global/Local model is developed for the calculation of dynamic stress intensity history resulting from the impact of a double cantilever beam. The model separates the Global structural dynamics from the Local crack tip zone dominated by singular stresses. The Global model, consisting of connected waveguides, describes the structural dynamics using spectral elements. The Local model, describing the crack tip behavior, is based on an application of the J-integral that converts the dynamic structural resultants directly into strain energy release rate. Previous work used this approach successfully for pure mode II deformation; the present paper extends the modeling to mode I and mixed mode deformation. Of special concern is the local modeling of the elasticity and mass in the vicinity of the crack tip; structural mechanics modeling is combined with Hamilton's principle to properly address this question. The accuracy of this approach is assessed by comparing it to a two dimensional finite element analysis.