Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory correlates of dysphasic language disturbances.

Compared the MMPI performances of 15 male dysphasic brain-damaged adults with the performances of 15 matched control brain-damaged Ss without specific language impairment. A significant overall difference on the 9 clinical scales combined was shown by multivariate analysis, with higher scores obtained by dysphasic Ss. Further univariate analysis showed significantly higher scores on the Pd and Sc scales. Results are discussed in terms of (a) evidence for a closer relation between MMPI variables and behavioral measures than between MMPI variables and neurological measures of lesion laterality, and (b) the interpretive limitations implied by uncritical transference of MMPI findings based on psychiatric patients and normals to patients with central nervous system lesions. The need for validation studies investigating social behavior correlates of MMPI results in brain-damaged samples is emphasized. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neuropsychological outcome at 1-year post head injury.

Neuropsychological outcome at 1 year postinjury was examined prospectively in representative groups of 4–6 adult head-injured participants and 121 general-trauma control participants. A comprehensive battery of neuropsychological measures was administered. The head-injured group performed significantly worse than the trauma controls on most measures (p?     

Comparison of electrodialysis and reverse electrodialysis processes in the removal of Cu(II) from dilute solutions

Electrodialysis (ED) and electrodialysis reversal (EDR) processes have been often used for separation of ions in dilute solutions. In this study, the performance of ED and EDR processes has been examined in the removal of copper from the dilute solutions. First, applied voltage, initial concentration, flow rate, type of electrolyte and the effect of concentration were determined for both processes. Then, separation efficiency, current efficiency, energy requirement and material flux of the processes were calculated, and the performances of the processes were compared. The separation efficiency and energy consumption of EDR process were higher compared to ED process under equal operating conditions. Also, the current efficiency (39.58%) of EDR process was lower than the current efficiency (67.46%) of ED process. It can be said that the ED process is more suitable in terms of energy consumption for separation in the low flow rate and concentration.     

Preparation and Thermodynamic Properties of Camphene/Stearic Acid Composites as Phase-Change Materials in Buildings

In this study, a series of shape-stabilized phase-change materials (PCMs) of camphene/stearic acid (CS) were prepared and their thermal properties were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicated that the mixture consisting of 60 mass% camphene and 40 mass% stearic acid is the most favorable as a PCM, in terms of the phase-change temperature and latent heat. Thereafter, the CS was absorbed in fly ash, pyroclastic, barite, and marble powder, which acts as a supporting material, to prepare four kinds of composite-based PCMs. DSC, FT-IR, and scanning electron microscopy measurements were made to investigate the structures and properties of the PCMs. DSC results showed that the latent heats of melting and freezing of the composite PCMs were sharply decreased. Morphology and structural characterization revealed that, in form-stable PCMs, the dispersion of the supporting materials in the camphene/stearic acid matrix is homogeneous and there is no chemical interaction between the CS and composites. The composite PCMs showed excellent thermal stabilities and reliabilities, when their phase-change temperatures were concerned. These indicate that the prepared composite-based PCMs are suitable for thermal energy storage because of their applicable temperature range, thermal reliability, and chemical stability.     

Heterotrophic/autotrophic denitrification (HAD) of drinking water: prospective use for permeable reactive barrier

This work aims to explore the use of an innovative denitrification process developed by our group for groundwater remediation. This process is coupling heterotrophic-autotrophic denitrification processes (HAD) supported by cotton and zero-valent iron (ZVI). In the experimental part, the effect of two amounts of ZVI (150 and 300 g), two nitrate (100 and 220 mg/l) and phosphate (3 and 6 mg/l) inlet concentrations on nitrate removal performance is investigated in two parallel continuous fed plug-flow reactors. The possible in-situ application of the proposed system in permeable reactive barriers (PRB) is further discussed. The HAD showed higher volumetric nitrate removal ratio (VNR) than the cotton supported heterotrophic denitrification one, and VNR increased with the amount of ZVI packed in the reactors. Ammonium production by the reductive action of iron was kept on acceptable level adjusting the contact time between water and ZVI. Iron release from ZVI decreased with time to negligible value (<0.5 mg/l) thanks to the formation of iron green rust compounds (GR). The HAD seems to be adequate for PRB systems, because both cellulose-based material and ZVI have been used in reactive trench for site remediation. Moreover, the proposed process could have the function for removal of nitrate and priority pollutants, such as chlorinated ethenes, simultaneously.     

The Role of Fluorine Substitution in Biphenyl Methylene Imidazole‐Type CYP17 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Prostate Carcinoma

It has been established that the growth of most prostate carcinomas depends on androgen stimulation. The inhibition of cytochrome P450‐17 (CYP17) to block androgen biosynthesis is therefore regarded as a promising approach to therapy. Based on our previously identified lead compound Ref 1 , a series of fluorine‐substituted biphenyl methylene imidazoles were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as CYP17 inhibitors to elucidate the influence of fluorine on in vitro and in vivo activity. It was found that meta‐fluoro substitution at the C ring improved activity, whereas ortho substitution decreased potency. Docking studies performed with our human CYP17 homology model suggest the presence of multipolar interactions between fluorine and Arg109, Lys231, His235, and Glu305. As expected, introduction of fluorine also prolonged the half‐life in plasma. The SARs obtained confirm the reliability of the protein model; compound 9 (IC₅₀=131 nM ) was identified as a strong CYP17 inhibitor, showing potent activity in rat, high bioavailability, and a long plasma half‐life: 12.8 h.     

The Seashore Tonal Memory Test as a neuropsychological measure.

Evaluated the sensitivity of the Seashore Tonal Memory Test to impaired brain function and compared it with that of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery and the Trail Making Test. Neurologic Ss consisted of 102 individuals (mean age 26.45 yrs) with histories of head trauma or epilepsy, and control Ss consisted of 68 individuals (mean age 27.22 yrs) without histories of neurological problems. In general, the Tonal Memory Test differentiated the normal and neurologic Ss on either an S-by-S or group-by-group basis as well as did the other neuropsychological measures, and without excessive overlap with them. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

DBPs formation and toxicity monitoring in different origin water treated by ozone and alum/PAC coagulation

In this study, aluminium sulphate (alum) and polyaluminum chloride (PAC) coagulation were used for coagulation of different origin water (Buyukcekmece, BC and Omerli, OM in Istanbul, Turkey and Carmine, CR in Salerno, Italy) treatment. The effect of pre-ozonation alone and combined with coagulation on NOM removal which was characterized by TOC, UV254 was investigated. DBPs formation and acute toxicity on Daphnia magna of chlorinated raw and treated samples were defined in parallel. Moreover, bromide spiking was evaluated for DBPs speciation. Optimum alum dose for TOC removal was found to be 40 mg/L for OM while 80 mg/L of alum exhibited the lowest total trihalomethane formation potential (TTHMFP). Pre-ozonation enhanced the removal of TOC and reduction of TTHMFP when it was used in combination with both coagulants. In contrast, total haloacetic acid formation potential (THAAFP) increased after each coagulation, ozonation and their combination. 300 µg/L bromide spiking (around the same level with BC) in raw sample collected from CR increased the formation of brominated disinfection byproducts. Raw and treated samples displayed acute toxicity on Daphnia magna in different pattern and practically “no dose-response behavior” was observed.