Nonpigmented fixed drug eruption from pseudoephedrine

The biotransformation of oxazepam by Bifidobacterium bifidum was studied. The major metabolite was purified by chromatographic methods and found to be desmethyldiazepam using NMR, IR and other physicochemical data.     

Continuous precipitation of calcium sulfate dihydrate from waste sulfuric acid and lime

Precipitation of calcium sulfate dihydrate, gypsum, from (i) a pure sulfuric acid/lime suspension and (ii) a waste sulfuric acid/lime suspension in a continuous pilot plant in the temperature range from 40 °C to 80 °C was studied. It was observed that in the case of waste sulfuric acid with a high content of Mg²⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions, several hours after the beginning of the precipitation, partial dissolution of the product and modification of the crystals from needle‐ and plate‐like to agglomerated structures occurred. It is suggested that the secondary changes occur due to the increased concentration of Mg²⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions in the reactor. Below 60 °C, and above 70 °C plate‐like and needle‐like single crystals respectively were formed. The mean size (d₅₀) of the crystals was found to increase with increasing temperature and decrease with the initial concentration of lime. Gypsum produced between 70 °C and 80 °C is suitable for further processing for construction plaster. In a precipitation process with pure sulfuric acid only single perfect needle‐like crystals occurred. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mapping the Characteristics of a 'Good' Play Therapist.

In this pilot study, concept mapping, a methodological approach combining qualitative and quantitative analytic strategies, was used to identify the therapist qualities, competencies, and skills necessary for effective play therapy outcomes as perceived by a sub-sample of 28 experienced play therapists who are members of the Association for Play Therapy (APT). The clusters associated with the therapeutic relationship and facilitative skills (e.g., empathy, warmth, and genuineness) were rated as the most essential skills to possess and also as the most difficult to develop. In contrast, the clusters associated with play therapy interventions and theories were rated as the least important skills to possess but as the easiest to acquire. The findings are discussed, with implications for therapeutic practice, research, and policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fluage à long terme du bois fléchi en grandeur structurale

Résumé Cet article présente un modèle permettant de calculer le fluage de poutres fléchies de différentes sections soumises à des environnements variables en ce qui concerne l'humidité relative. Ce modèle est utilisé ici pour interpréter de nouveaux essais à long terme sur des poutres en bois massif et lamellé-collé qui ont été chargées pendant plus de 800 jours en conditions extérieures sous abri à Paris

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Summary Long term bending experiments on full size timber and glulam beams have been carried out under external and sheltered climatic conditions in Paris, and more than two years of test results on the creep behaviour of 75 beams are available. A model for predicting the long term mechanical behaviour of timber under variable humidity and load conditions, previously developed by the author, is described. The model is based on transient moisture transfer analysis linked with deformation analysis using a step-by-step computation scheme, and has been compared previously with experiments carried out under laboratory conditions of controlled variable climates by the author as well as with test results obtained from several other institutions. In general, the model has agreed satisfactorily with the experimental results. In the present paper the model is compared with experiments on full size beams carried out under the changeable conditions of a natural climate. The results show that, for low stress levels and corresponding loads, the model provides a reasonable prediction of the end creep levels after two years of loading.

     

Structural changes in air aged and poisoned diesel catalysts

Laboratory-scale ageing and poisoning procedures were performed on selected diesel catalysts. The results showed that phosphorus poisoning together with high temperature ageing has a strong effect on the catalytic activity and microstructure of platinum containing catalysts. Phosphorus poisoning contaminated the catalysts resulting in phosphate formation, e.g. CePO₄ and AlPO₄. Poisoning and air ageing increased platinum particle-size and washcoat grain-size.     

The Effects of Debonding on the Low-Velocity Impact Response of Steel-CFRP Fibre Metal Laminates

The effect of metal-composite debonding on low-velocity impact response, i.e. on contact force–central deflection response, deformation profiles and strains on the free surfaces was studied. We focused on type 2/1 fibre metal laminate specimens made of stainless steel and carbon fibre epoxy layers, and tested them with drop-weight impact and quasi-static indentation loadings. Local strains were measured with strain gauges and full-field strains with a 3-D digital image correlation method. In addition, finite element simulations were performed and the effects of debonding were studied by exploiting cohesive elements. Our results showed that debonding, either the initial debonding or that formed during the loading, lowers the slope of the contact force–central deflection curve during the force increase. The debonding formation during the rebound phase was shown to amplify the rebound of the impact side, i.e. to lower the ultimate post-impact deflection. The free surface strains were studied on the laminate’s lower surface at the area outside the debond damage. In terms of in-plane strains, debonding formation during impact and indentation, as well as the initial debonding, lowered the peripheral strain and resulted in a positive change in the radial strain.     

Differences in cytocompatibility,dynamics of the oxide layers’ formation,and nickel release between superelastic and thermo-activated nickel–titanium archwires

Superelastic (SE) and thermo-activated (TA) nickel–titanium (NiTi) archwires are used in everyday orthodontic practice, based on their acceptable biocompatibility and well-defined shape memory properties. However, the differences in their surface microstructure and cytotoxicity have not been clearly defined, and the standard cytotoxicity tests are too robust to detect small differences in the cytotoxicity of these alloys, all of which can lead to unexpected adverse reactions in some patients. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the differences in manufacture and microstructure of commercially available SE and TA archwires may influence their biocompatibility. The archwires were studied as-received and after conditioning for 24 h or 35 days in a cell culture medium under static conditions. All of the tested archwires, including their conditioned medium (CM), were non-cytotoxic for L929 cells, but Rematitan SE (both as received and conditioned) induced the apoptosis of rat thymocytes in a direct contact. In contrast, TruFlex SE and Equire TA increased the proliferation of thymocytes. The cytotoxic effect of Rematitan SE correlated with the higher release of Ni ions in CM, higher concentration of surface Ni and an increased oxygen layer thickness after the conditioning. In conclusion, the apoptosis assay on rat thymocytes, in contrast to the less sensitive standard assay on L929 cells, revealed that Rematitan SE was less cytocompatible compared to other archwires and the effect was most probably associated with a higher exposition of the cells to Ni on the surface of the archwire, due to the formation of unstable oxide layer.     

Random binary search tree with equal elements

We consider random binary search trees when the input consists of a multiset, i.e. a set with multiple occurrences of equal elements, and prove that the randomized insertion and deletion algorithms given by Martínez and Roura (1998) [4] produce random search trees regardless of multiplicities; even if all the elements are equal during the tree updates, a search tree will maintain its randomness. Thus, equal elements do not degenerate a random search tree and they need not to be handled in any special way. We consider also stability of a search tree with respect to its inorder traversal and prove that the algorithms used produce stable trees. This implies an implicit indexing of equal elements giving another proof that multiplicities do not pose problems when maintaining random binary search trees.     

Overlap-freeness in infinite partial words

We prove that there exist infinitely many infinite overlap-free binary partial words containing at least one hole. Moreover, we show that these words cannot contain more than one hole and the only hole must occur either in the first or in the second position. We define that a partial word is $k$-overlap-free if it does not contain a factor of the form $xyxyx$ where the length of $x$ is at least $k$. We prove that there exist infinitely many 2-overlap-free binary partial words containing an infinite number of holes.