Real-time organic aerosol chemical speciation in the indoor environment using extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Understanding the sources and composition of organic aerosol (OA) in indoor environments requires rapid measurements, since many emissions and processes have short timescales. However, real-time molecular-level OA measurements have not been reported indoors. Here, we present quantitative measurements, at a time resolution of five seconds, of molecular ions corresponding to diverse aerosol-phase species, by applying extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (EESI-MS) to indoor air analysis for the first time, as part of the highly instrumented HOMEChem field study. We demonstrate how the complex spectra of EESI-MS are screened in order to extract chemical information and investigate the possibility of interference from gas-phase semivolatile species. During experiments that simulated the Thanksgiving US holiday meal preparation, EESI-MS quantified multiple species, including fatty acids, carbohydrates, siloxanes, and phthalates. Intercomparisons with Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) and Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer suggest that EESI-MS quantified a large fraction of OA. Comparisons with FIGAERO-CIMS shows similar signal levels and good correlation, with a range of 100 for the relative sensitivities. Comparisons with SV-TAG for phthalates and with SV-TAG and AMS for total siloxanes also show strong correlation. EESI-MS observations can be used with gas-phase measurements to identify co-emitted gas- and aerosol-phase species, and this is demonstrated using complementary gas-phase PTR-MS observations.     

Where is the psychology going? Structural fault lines revealed by psychologists' use of Kuhn.

Psychologists' appropriation of language and ideas from Thomas Kuhn's (1962, 1970b) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions reveals deep and contradictory concerns about truth, science, and the progress of the field. The author argues that psychologists, uncomfortably straddling natural and social science traditions, reference Structure for 2 reasons largely overlooked: first, because it presents an intermediate, naturalistic position in the war between relativist and rationalist views of scientific truth, and second, because it presents a psychologized model of scientific change. The author suggests that the history of this mutual influence--psychologists being influenced by Kuhn and vice versa--may usefuly inform current practices of psychological science. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Progress in the development of polymer cholesteric liquid crystal flakes for display applications

Polymer cholesteric liquid crystal (PCLC) flake technology is being developed as an alternative display technology for flexible, reflective particle displays. The motion of PCLC flakes suspended in a host fluid can be controlled with an electric field, creating a way to electrically control the flakes' ability to brightly reflect light that is circularly polarized. The PCLC flake/host fluid dispersion has been successfully microencapsulated both in a polymer matrix and in gelatin micro-capsules. Microencapsulation will not only expand the applications scope of the technology, but also may aid in addressing some potential problem areas that are inherent to many forms of particle display technology. A second important development in PCLC flake technology involves the manufacture of shaped flakes based on soft lithography techniques. The size and shape of a flake impact its reorientation, and uniformly shaped flakes respond in a similar manner. The unique reflective properties of PCLC flakes also provide possible applications in areas such as optics and photonics, switchable ‘smart windows’ or conformal coatings, and information displays such as ‘electronic paper.’     

Termination of pregnancy at 9-13 weeks' amenorrhoea with mifepristone and misoprostol

The effectiveness of a combined regimen of mifepristone and vaginal misoprostol for termination of pregnancies of 9-13 weeks of gestation was investigated in 120 UK abortion patients (median age, 22.1 years; median duration of amenorrhea, 10.3 weeks). Each woman received a single oral dose of 200 mg of mifepristone 36-48 hours before admission, at which time 800 mcg of misoprostol was administered vaginally. Where indicated, a further two doses of 400 mcg of misoprostol (vaginal or oral) were provided every 3 hours. All 120 women aborted on the day of prostaglandin administration; however, 6 women (5%) required exploratory curettage after the procedure for retained placenta. The median prostaglandin dose was 1200 mcg (range, 800-1600 mcg). The median time from misoprostol administration to abortion was 4.33 hours (range, 1.3-16.0 hours). 60 women (50%) required oral analgesics and 26 (22%) received parenteral analgesia. Diarrhea occurred in 38 women (32%). The median duration of bleeding after abortion was 12.5 days (range, 3-43 days). In questionnaires administered to 73 women, only 3 (4%) expressed dissatisfaction with medical abortion, because of pain or prolonged bleeding. The relatively high dose of misoprostol used in this study and the vaginal route of administration are presumed to account for the 95% success rate. Extension of medical abortion to later gestation times would decrease the need for surgery and expand women's choice of methods of pregnancy termination.     

Trajectories leading to school-age conduct problems.

The present study applied a semiparametric mixture model to a sample of 284 low-income boys to model developmental trajectories of overt conduct problems from ages 2 to 8. As in research on older children, 4 developmental trajectories were identified: a persistent problem trajectory, a high-level desister trajectory, a moderate-level desister trajectory, and a persistent low trajectory. Follow-up analyses indicated that initially high and low groups were differentiated in early childhood by high child fearlessness and elevated maternal depressive symptomatology. Persistent problem and high desister trajectories were differentiated by high child fearlessness and maternal rejecting parenting. The implications of the results for early intervention research are discussed, with an emphasis on the identification of at-risk parent-child dyads. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cytokine responses of human lung cells (BEAS-2B) treated with micron-sized and nanoparticles of metal oxides compared to soil dusts

Background  

The induction of cytokines by airway cells in vitro has been widely used to assess the effects of ambient and occupational particles. This study measured cytotoxicity and the release of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 by human bronchial epithelial cells treated with manufactured nano- and micron-sized particles of Al₂O₃, CeO₂, Fe₂O₃, NiO, SiO₂, and TiO₂, with soil-derived particles from fugitive dust sources, and with the positive controls LPS, TNF-α, and VOSO₄.     

Depression in college students: Personality and experiential factors.

In this study we examined the nature of college-student depression and its relation to personality variables and to experiences unique to college life. Thirty-five depressed and 39 nondepressed students completed a depression inventory, a series of personality scales, and a survey developed to investigate the impact of potentially distressing components of college life. Results revealed that college-student depression, though mild in intensity, represents a serious problem: Three quarters of depressed students had been depressed for more than 3 months, and half had contemplated suicide. Both personality characteristics and experiential variables were found to be significantly related to depression, together accounting for approximately half the variance. We examined individual personality traits and experiential variables that were found to differ between depressed and nondepressed subjects, and we discuss the implications of the findings for counseling and for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Synthesis and Polymerization of Cationic bis(cyclopentadienyliron)arene Complexes Containing Arylazo Dyes

The synthesis of the title complexes was achieved via the reaction of -p-dichlorobenzene- -cyclopentadienyliron cations with 4,4′-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)valeric acid to produce the diiron complexes which were then reacted with a number of arylazo dyes to give cationic bis(cyclopentadienyliron)arene complexes containing the arylazo dyes. These iron-containing monomers were subsequently polymerized via nucleophilic aromatic substitution using 1,8-octanedithiol, 4,4′-thiobisbenzenethiol, or bisphenol A to produce the desired coloured cationic organoiron polymers. The weight – average molecular weights were estimated to range from 11,800 to 31,600. UV–vis studies conducted in dimethylformamide (DMF) showed that the metallated polymers exhibited of 412–491 nm. Addition of HCl to the polymer solution caused a bathochromic shift into the range of 515–530 nm. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the iron moieties were cleaved between 205 and 248 °C while the polyether/thioether backbone degraded between 380 and 613 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the polymers exhibited glass transition temperatures (Tg) ranging from 106 to 184°C.This paper is dedicated to Professor Richard J. Puddephatt in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of metal-containing polymers.     

Organoiron Polyelectrolytes: Synthesis and Characterization of Cationic Cyclopentadienyliron Complexes of Polyarylether-Imines

The synthesis of an aromatic ether complex of cyclopentadienyliron containing two terminal aldehyde groups was achieved via metal-mediated nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions. This dialdehyde monomer was subsequently reacted with a variety of aliphatic and aromatic diamines to produce the corresponding soluble cationic organoiron polyether-imines. These cationic organometallic polymers were characterized using IR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR, viscosity and thermogravimetric analysis. Viscosity measurements showed that these polymers exhibited polyelectrolyte effects in DMSO solutions. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that decoordination of the iron moieties occurred at about 300°C for polymers with aliphatic spacers in their backbones, while the cyclopentadienyliron moieties were cleaved from the polymers with aromatic spacers in their backbones at about 200°C. Photolytic demetallation of the organoiron polymers resulted in the removal of the pendent cyclopentadienyliron moieties and allowed for the isolation of their organic analogs. While the organoiron polymers were soluble in polar organic solvents, the corresponding organic polymers exhibited very limited solubilities or were insoluble. The organic polymers had glass transition temperatures between 101 and 120°C