Comparison of D.C. and A.C. techniques for the evaluation of inhibitor efficiency in acid corrosion

Five different techniques (analytical determination of dissolved iron, Tafel line extrapolation, linear polarization method, impedance and Faradaic distortion measurements) were used for the evaluation of the inhibiting efficiency of N-decyl-3-hydroxypyridine bromide in 1 M hydrochloric acid solutions. The results obtained with the different methods were found to agree satisfactorily. High inhibiting efficiency value was obtained at 1× 10^?4Mdm^?3 concentration.     

Guidelines for management of left-sided prosthetic valve thrombosis: a role for thrombolytic therapy. Consensus Conference on Prosthetic Valve Thrombosis

OBJECTIVES: We sought to form a consensus recommendation for management of prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) from previous case and uncontrolled reports from a consensus of international specialists. BACKGROUND: PVT and thromboembolism relate to inadequate anticoagulation and valve type and location. PVT is suspected by history (dyspnea) and auscultation (muffled valve sounds or new murmurs) and confirmed by Doppler echocardiography showing a marked valve gradient. METHODS: A consensus conference was held to recommend management of left-sided PVT. RESULTS: Transesophageal Doppler echocardiography is used to visualize abnormal leaflet motion and the size, location and mobility of thrombus. Thrombolysis is used for high risk surgical candidates with left-sided PVT (New York Heart Association functional class III or IV) because cerebral thromboembolism may occur in 12% of patients. Duration of thrombolysis depends on resolution of pressure gradients and valve areas to near normal by Doppler echocardiography performed every few hours. Lysis is stopped after 72 or 24 h if there is no hemodynamic improvement (operation indicated). Heparin infusion with frequent measurement of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) begins when aPTT is more than twice control levels and can be converted to warfarin (international normalized ratio [INR] 2.5 to 3.5) plus aspirin (81 to 100 mg/day). Patients in functional class I or II have lower surgical mortality, and those with large immobile thrombi on the prosthetic valve or left atrium have responded to endogenous lysis with combined subcutaneous heparin every 12 h (aPTT 55 to 80 s) plus warfarin (INR 2.5 to 3.5) for 1 to 6 months. Operation is advised for nonresponders or patients with mobile thrombi. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombolysis, followed by heparin, warfarin and aspirin, is advised for high risk surgical candidates with left-sided PVT.     

Water uptake of water-borne paint resin films as studied by impedance spectroscopy and gravimetry

Impedance spectroscopy and gravimetry were employed to characterize alkyd-acrylate and styrene-acrylate water-borne resin film properties during wetting-through (i.e. during water uptake).     

The convergence of graphics and vision

Computer graphics and computer vision are inverse problems. Traditional computer graphics starts with input geometric models and produces image sequences. Traditional computer vision starts with input image sequences and produces geometric models. Lately, there has been a meeting in the middle, and the center, the prize, is to create stunning images in real time. Vision researchers now work from images backward, just as far backward as necessary to create models that capture a scene without going to full geometric models. Graphics researchers now work with hybrid geometry and image models. Approaching similar problems from opposite directions, graphics and vision researchers are reaching a fertile middle ground. The goal is to find the best possible tools for the imagination. This overview describes cutting edge work, some of which will debut at Siggraph 98     

A routine for measuring synergy in university–industry–government relations: mutual information as a Triple-Helix and Quadruple-Helix indicator

Mutual information in three (or more) dimensions can be considered as a Triple-Helix indicator of possible synergy in university–industry–government relations. An open-source routine th4.exe makes the computation of this indicator interactively available at the internet, and thus applicable to large sets of data. Th4.exe computes all probabilistic entropies and mutual information in two, three, and, if available in the data, four dimensions among, for example, classes such as geographical addresses (cities, regions), technological codes (e.g. OECD’s NACE codes), and size categories; or, alternatively, among institutional addresses (academic, industrial, public sector) in document sets. The relations between the Triple-Helix indicator—as an indicator of synergy—and the Triple-Helix model that specifies the possibility of feedback by an overlay of communications, are also discussed.     

Nanostructured high‐energy xLi2MnO3·(1‐x)LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 (0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.6) cathode materials

Nanostructured lithium‐manganese‐rich nickel‐manganese‐oxide xLi₂MnO₃·(1‐x)LiNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ (0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.6) composite materials were synthesized via spray pyrolysis using mixed nitrate precursors. All the materials showed a composite structure consisting of Li₂MnO₃ (C2/m) and LiNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ components, and the amount of Li₂MnO₃‐phase appeared to increase with x, as observed from XRD analysis. These composite materials showed a high‐discharge capacity of about 250 mAhg^?1. In the range of x considered, the layered 0.5Li₂MnO₃·0.5LiNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ materials displayed the highest capacity and superior cycle stability. Nonetheless, voltage suppression from a layered‐spinel phase transition was observed for all the composites produced. This voltage suppression was dependent of the amount of Li₂MnO₃ phase present in the composite structure. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J 60: 443–450, 2014     

Juvenile Hormone III Influences Task-Specific Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profile Changes in the Ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myrmicaria eumenoides</Emphasis>

We investigated the influence of juvenile hormones (JH) on the composition of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) and the division of labor in colonies of the African ant Myrmicaria eumenoides. CHCs have long been implicated in nestmate recognition in social insect colonies. In M. eumenoides, the CHC profiles also vary with the task performed from brood-tender-type to forager type. The endocrine factors regulating the task allocation as well as the intracolonial recognition cues are not well understood, but JHs are prime candidates. Only JH III was identified in the hemolymph of M. eumenoides workers. Foragers had significantly higher JH III titers than brood tenders. The application of exogenous JH III and a JH analogue (methoprene) to M. eumenoides workers did not result in an observable acceleration of task change in our study. However, longevity of the focus workers, and thus the observational period, was reduced by the applications. Changes from a brood-tender-type to a forager-type CHC profile were accelerated by the application of JH III and methoprene, resulting in brood-tending workers that displayed forager-type CHC profiles. We present the first data supporting that recognition cues of an eusocial Hymenopteran are influenced by JH III, which could thus play a major role in the regulation of the dynamic nature of social insect colonies. JH III is connected to at least two key processes: the acceleration of CHC changes and the more long-term modulation of task shifting. Moreover, this indicates that changes in CHC recognition cues do not trigger task allocation in social insect colonies.     

Corrosion-protection properties of water-borne paint coatings as studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and gravimetry

Water-borne paint coatings while used outdoors, show good protective behaviour on metals, even though they can take up and release much moisture. As experience shows for physically drying paint coatings, the changing wet-and-dry environment improve their corrosion protection properties. To find out the reasons, eight model coatings – built up from various combinations of layers made of the physically drying styrene-acrylate, and the oxidatively drying alkyd-acrylate based paints – were tested on metal substrate by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; water uptake/release kinetics was followed by gravimetry on self-standing films made of the above resins. The results of experiments simulating the weathering effects (wet–dry cycling and heating) with the physically drying paint coatings lead us to the conclusions that: (i) water uptake and release removes the water-soluble components from the film and thereby contributes to the good or improving corrosion protection feature, and explains the observation that these coatings perform satisfactorily outdoors and (ii) water release is always much faster than the uptake which helps to keep the interior of the coating dry protecting the metal surface against moisture.     

A new radiation-free conditioning in bone marrow transplantation and dibromo-mannitol therapy in chronic myeloid leukemia

A new, radiation-free, conditioning protocol, containing the original Hungarian mitobronitol (DBM) (DBM/ cytosine arabinoside/cyclosphosphamide) has been applied to 36 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients followed by bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from HLA identical sibling donors between 1990-1997. In spite of some prognostically disadvantageous factors (half of them were above 40 years, 10 out of 36 patients were in accelerated phase, the disease history was longer than 2 years in average) the overall survival (30/36) and the leukemia free survival rate (26/36) were in accordance with the best international results. Transplantation-related toxicity was remarkably reduced in comparison to bone marrow transplantation performed by total body irradiation/cyclophosphamide (TBI/Cy) or busulphan/cyclophosphamide (Bu/Cy) conditioning protocols. Acute graft versus host disease was present in lower percentage (9/36) and the number of serious cases was only 2/36. Chronic GVH disease, generally known to be associated with antileukemic effect (GVL), occurred in 25 of cases. Early haematological relapse among the 34 patients with functioning graft occurred in 6 patients which rate is slightly higher than reported after TBI/Cy or Bu/Cy conditioning treatment. There was no relapse among patients transplanted within one year post-diagnosis and patients having CML with accelerated phase. The leukemia free post-transplant period was in association with the chronic GVH disease and full chimeric state.