A new class of bookshelf bistable siloxane modified ferroelectric LC materials with electrical repairability in an LCoS configuration

Abstract— Investigation of siloxane‐based ferroelectric liquid crystals (Si‐FLCs) has revealed chevron‐free long‐term bistable behavior and, unusually, an easy regeneration of bistable performance after damage (e.g., by mechanical shock). The properties are intrinsically related to the chemical structure of the oligosiloxane materials. The phenomena result from the coupling of siloxane and organic moieties that causes nano‐phase segregation, which essentially reduces the correlation of tilting from adjacent layers and also generates weak anchoring by decoupling the bulk structure from the strong surface anchoring. A method of regenerating a condition with bistable performance by an electric field (without mechanical and heat treatment) is established. An in‐house Si‐FLC over a silicon (Si‐FLCoS) device is demonstrated, which exhibits good memory effects without chevron defects and a repair function for regenerating bistability in case of damage.     

Cord blood leptin reflects fetal fat mass

This case report describes a 15-month-old female who developed diffuse cerebral vasospasm after resection of a cerebellopontine angle primitive neuroectodermal tumor. The patient developed an acute dense left hemiparesis 16 days postoperatively with partial right ptosis. Initial magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion study were unremarkable, though a magnetic resonance angiography 1 day later demonstrated severe intracranial vasospasm of both carotid and vertebral arteries. The vasospasm was confirmed with cerebral angiography. The patient progressed to bihemispheric infarcts with laminar necrosis despite combination therapy with anticoagulation, pharmacological hypertension, hypervolemia, and nimodipine. The clinical course, radiographic, and pathological findings are presented.     

Effects of maternal exercise on fetal activity in late gestation

Sixty malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas originating in the upper aerodigestive tract have been analyzed for their cytologic type, immunophenotype and association with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The majority of these tumors were B-cell lymphomas of blastic cytology (78%) with the exception of lymphomas in the parotid gland. Large B-cell lymphomas were the most frequent encountered in the sinonasal region and Waldeyer's ring. Twelve lymphomas were of T- or T/NK (natural killer)-cell lineage. They were in the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses (4), the tonsil (5), and the oral cavity (3). Epstein-Barr sequences were detected in five angiocentric T/NK-lymphomas, one peripheral T-cell lymphoma, one lymphoma of lymphomatoid granulomatosis type, one large B-cell lymphoma, and in a lymphoroliferative disorder in an HIV-positive patient. These results suggest that EBV is not involved in lymphomagenesis of B-cell tumors, but is associated with angiocentric T/NK-cell lymphoma in the upper aerodigestive tract.     

Cigarette smoking and breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: To investigate osteoclastic resorption in trabeculae of osteoporotic femoral head. METHODS: Osteoporotic femoral heads were collected from 7 aged women with an average age of 72.4 years, who underwent endoprosthetic replacement for intracapsular hip fracture. Femoral head trabeculae from 3 young adults killed in traffic accidents served as control. The two types of specimens were processed and studied under scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: The trabeculae of femoral head formed round or roundish arch structure. The columnar trabeculae of femoral head in the aged women showed overt osteoclastic resorption, manifested in thinning, tapering and perforation, resulting in formation of icicle-like trabeculae, which then became rounded, lost height and eventually turned into small tubercle. As a result, the inter-trabecular space enlarged markedly. Under high magnification, the trabeculae could be discerned oval, narrow oval or spindle-shaped. Howship resorption lacunae, which varied in size, depth and content, but all revealed punched-out margin. During bone resorption, the inorganic and organic components were successively resorbed. In the Howship lacunae and surrounding areas, newly formed collagen fibrils and bone tissues emerged, signifying reversal and new bone formation phases after bone resorption phase. CONCLUSION: Osteoclastic resorption markedly compromises the structural integrity and strength of the trabeculae of the arch structure of the femoral head in the aged women.     

The effect of aging on the fracture behavior of Cu-AI-Ni jo phase alloys

The beneficial effect of aging on the intergranular embrittlement of the shape memory Cu-AI-Ni β phase alloys is described. The fracture progressively changes from completely intergranular to transgranular when quenched samples are aged. The change in fracture behavior appears to be associated with the precipitation of a ductile phase (a) in the grain boundary region. This hypothesis is supported by the results of electron microprobe analysis and Auger electron spectroscopy. Aging does not have any significant effect on the microhardness of samples. Some transmission electron microscopic observations of the changes occurring on aging are also presented. Formerly with The University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268.     

Adaptive Forecasting with Orthogonal Polynomial Models

The analysis of time series data can be significantly eased by the use of orthogonal polynomials. This technique is based on traditional regression analysis, but the necessity for solving the associated normal equations is eliminated. Also, the orthogonal polynomial technique includes a means to statistically test the level of fit of the independent terms in a forecast model (e.g., constant, linear, or quadratic). This paper shows the application of orthogonal polynomial technique to the analysis of time series data, but more importantly develops a mathematical means for updating the forecast model from one period to the next without completely recomputing the model from stored historical data. This result considerably improves the ease of application of the orthogonal polynomial technique and increases the value of the technique in practice.     

Grain dust-induced airflow obstruction and inflammation of the lower respiratory tract

To investigate the relationship between the physiologic and biologic effects of grain dust inhalation, we exposed 15 nonsmoking, nonasthmatic, nonatopic male grain handlers to buffered saline and aqueous corn dust extract by inhalation challenge in a crossover study. The inhalation challenges to buffered saline and corn dust extract were separated by at least 14 d. Compared with buffered saline, inhalation of corn dust extract resulted in significant airflow obstruction, which was observed within 30 min of exposure and persisted for 5 h. Inhalation of corn dust extract resulted in an acute inflammatory response characterized by higher concentrations of neutrophils (p = 0.001), IL-1 beta (p = 0.001), IL-1RA (p = 0.001), IL-6 (p = 0.001), IL-8 (p = 0.001), and TNF-alpha (p = 0.04) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. mRNA levels specific for IL-1 beta, IL-1RA, IL-6, and IL-8 from cells present in the BAL fluid were significantly greater after challenge with corn dust extract than after challenge with buffered saline. Importantly, no significant differences were observed in the concentration of lymphocytes or eosinophils in the BAL fluid following inhalation of corn dust extract, and the concentrations of histamine and 15-HETE were similar in BAL fluid after the two challenges. The maximal percentage decrease in FEV1 was significantly associated with the absolute neutrophil concentration in the BAL fluid (p = 0.001), as well as the concentration of TNF-alpha (p = 0.03), IL-1 beta (p = 0.005), IL-1RA (p = 0.001), IL-6 (p = 0.001), and IL-8 (p = 0.001) in the BAL fluid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The impact of group psychological interventions on distress in infertile women.

Infertile women express higher levels of distress than fertile women, with distress peaking between the 2nd and 3rd year. The purpose of this study was to determine whether group psychological interventions could prevent this surge. One hundred eighty-four women who had been trying to conceive between 1 and 2 years were randomized into either a cognitive-behavioral group, a support group, or a control group. All experimental participants attended a 10-session group program. Participants completed psychological questionnaires at intake and again at 6 and 12 months. Substantial attrition occurred, particularly in the control group. The cognitive-behavioral and support participants experienced significant psychological improvement at 6 and 12 months compared with the control participants, with the cognitive-behavioral participants experiencing the greatest positive change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)