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We present a modified assembly for high pressure and temperature measurements in a MAX80 press. The designs include a T-shaped power coupler with a ring-shaped insulator, a precision made, all-in-one single-piece crucible, with mirror-image located, flat-bottomed sample and pressure marker chambers, with press-fit lids and thermocouple insert in the middle of the crucible. These features facilitate assembly stability, reproducibility ofin situmeasurements, avoidance of chemical contamination, portability of assembly and ease of sectioning for further analysis. These attributes are important in evaluating phase relations at high pressure, especially where melting of the charge is investigated. While the cubic-diamond structured silicon–germanium system exhibits a complete solid solution, in practice, homogeneous solid solutions are not readily accessible because of the considerable difference in temperature between the liquidus and solidus and concomitant segregation coefficients. We use our designs, forin situX-ray diffraction measurements and melting of germanium–silicon alloys at high pressure for both a germanium-rich and a silicon-rich starting composition. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Human population data on air pollution and its effects on the immune system are scarce. A survey was conducted within the framework of the Central European Study of Air Quality and Respiratory Health (CESAR) to measure a panel of immune biomarkers in children of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. Seventeen cities were chosen to represent a wide range of exposure to outdoor air pollution. In each, ambient particulate matter of less than 10 µm diameter and less than 2.5 µm diameter (PM[sub 10] and PM[sub 2.5]) were measured with a Harvard impactor. Blood was collected from 366 school children aged 9 to 11 yr between 11 April and 10 May 1996. The percentage of B, total T, CD4 + , CD8 + , and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes was determined by flow cytometry (Becton Dickinson); total immunoglobulins of class G, M, A and E (IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgE) were measured in serum using nephelometry (Behring). Associations between PM and each log-transformed biomarker concentration were studied by linear regression, in a two-stage model. The yearly average concentrations varied from 41 to 96 µg/m[sup 3] for PM[sub 10] across the 17 study areas, from 29 to 67 µg/m[sup 3] for PM[sub 2.5], and from 12 to 38 µg/m[sup 3] for PM[sub 10-2.5] (coarse). Number of B, CD4 + , CD8 + , and NK lymphocytes increased with increasing concentration of PM, having adjusted for age, gender, parental smoking, laboratory of analysis, and recent respiratory illness. Differences in lymphocyte number were larger and statistically significant for exposure to PM[sub 2.5]. Similar results were found when we examined the association between PM and lymphocyte number separately for each laboratory. Total IgG was increased with increasing concentration of PM, significantly in the case of PM[sub 2.5]. When we repeated the analyses with two other statistical approaches the results did not differ from those reported here. The effect of coarse PM on lymphocyte numbers appears small in comparison to PM[sub 2.5]. One possible interpretation of our findings is that long-term exposure to airborne particulates leads to inflammation of the airways and activation of the cellular and humoral immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various papers published within the issue, including one on research resource of Aphasia-Bank, and another on Apraxia treatments.

The article presents a note on this special issue of the journal. The author says that articles contained in this issue concern aphasia, right hemisphere damage and language changes linked with aging. She says that the speech impairment and its effects on daily activities of people with aphasia and related disorders as well as their families are inseparable from social participation.

A preface for the 2008 issue of the journal "Aphasiology" is presented.

Investigates the occurrence of sick building syndrome in a Canadian office complex. List of health complaints from employees; Generation of greater complaint from employees working in cubicles; Relationship between type of work location and health complaint; Results of the environmental assessment.