Effect of cleaving environment on the growth of ZnSe on the GaAs (1 1 0) surface by molecular beam epitaxy

Abstracts are not published in this journal This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Roles of a neuronal cell-surface molecule, neuropilin, in nerve fiber fasciculation and guidance

PURPOSE: To determine whether infiltrative lung, airway, or vascular disease can be differentiated as the cause of mosaic attenuation on thin-section computed tomographic (CT) scans of the lung. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thin-section CT scans were reviewed in 70 patients examined at three institutions. A mosaic attenuation pattern and pathologic or clinical proof of a specific type of disease were demonstrated. Causes of the mosaic pattern included infiltrative lung disease (n = 37), airway disease (n = 22), and vascular disease (n = 11). Thin-section CT findings were assessed independently by two observers blinded to clinical findings. RESULTS: The type of disease was identified correctly at CT in 58 (83%) of 70 patients by observer 1 and 57 (81%) of 70 patients by observer 2. Infiltrative lung disease was diagnosed correctly by both observers in 34 (92%) of 37 cases. Observer 1 identified 21 (95%) of 22 cases of airway disease and three (27%) of 11 cases of vascular disease. Observer 2 identified 19 (86%) of 22 cases of airway disease and four (36%) of 11 cases of vascular disease. CONCLUSION: Infiltrative lung disease and airway disease may be differentiated reliably as the cause of mosaic attenuation on lung CT scans, whereas vascular disease is often misinterpreted as infiltrative lung disease or airway disease.     

On the "Excess spontaneous emission factor" in gain-guided laser amplifiers

Petennann [1] computed an "excess spontaneous emission factor" for gain-guided laser. In this paper, we investigate further the role of this factor. Such a factor also appears in the treatment of thermodynamic equilibrium in an attenuating medium-a seeming paradox. Further investigation shows that the excess spontaneous emission excitation at thermal equilibrium is cancelled by the excitations in the other modes which are correlated with that in the fundamental mode. In a medium with gain, cancellation also occurs in a short amplifier in which there is no gain discrimination among modes. The "excess spontaneous emission factor" is fully present only in a system in which the different higher order modes have an appreciably smaller gain than the lowest order mode, a high gain amplifier. An analysis of the signal-to-noise ratio of a high gain amplifier reveals that the excess noise factor can be fully compensated by proper input excitation by a lens arrangement. The lens arrangement provides the signal with an "excess gain" factor. An "excess gain" factor is also present when a thermal source is used.     

Capacitor discharge percussion welding of pure aluminum wire to pure copper sheet

This paper presents the results of a research into capacitor discharge percussion welding (CDPW) of pure aluminum wires and pure copper sheets, using percussion welding power and special welding device. A lot of CDPW factors, which will affect aluminum and copper dissimilar bonding, are described and these parameters have also been optimized. The fracture pull, inter'ace compounds, microstructure and hardness are all studied. The results show that aluminum wire welding to copper sheet can form a sound weld and in some conditions the fracture pull is similar to that of the pure aluminum wires. The capacitance, discharge voltage, wire taper angle and machine oil as welding assistant medium affect fracture pull. The intermetallic compounds Al2 Cu appears on the copper side of joint. Narrower heat-affected zone is observed.     

Magnetically Ordered State of Cold Fermions on a Decorated Square Lattice

We study two-component ultracold fermions with repulsive interactions, which are loaded into a decorated square lattice. By combining the real-space dynamical mean-field theory with the numerical renormalization group method, we discuss magnetic properties in the system. It is clarified how the ferromagnetically ordered ground state, which is stabilized by a flat band mechanism, is adiabatically connected to the ferrimagnetically ordered state expected in the strong coupling limit.     

Optical and electrical anisotropies of polydiacetylene derivative film aligned by shear stress

The molecular alignment of polydiacetylene (PDA) derivatives and their optical and electrical properties of thin films based on PDA derivatives have been studied. The PDA derivatives were aligned depending on the direction of applied shear stress in the film. From measurements of the polarized absorption and current–voltage characteristics, the optical and electrical anisotropies have been observed, that was discussed by taking the PDA main chain alignment into consideration.     

Substance P- and calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing nerve fibers in the nasal mucosa of chronically hypoxic rats

Changes made in 1997 and 1998 in the U.S. childhood immunization schedule are discussed, with a focus on the use of poliovirus, pertussis, and combination vaccines. Oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), the vaccine of choice for all four doses in the polio immunization series since 1962, can cause vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP). The inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) has not been associated with VAPP but must be administered by injection and provides inferior intestinal immunity. With the reduced threat of poliovirus importation into the United States, the risk of VAPP, although low, has become less acceptable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accordingly recommended a shift from OPV to IPV in the childhood immunization schedule for the United States, effective January 1997. A sequential OPV and IPV series is recommended, but the schedule includes an OPV-only option, which may be preferred in order to avoid the required injections, and an IPV-only option, which is recommended for immunocompromised persons and their contacts. Concern over local and systemic reactions associated with whole-cell pertussis vaccines, in addition to controversy over a possible relationship between the whole-cell vaccine and neurologic damage, has led to the development of new diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine products for use in the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis immunization series. Several combination products were licensed in 1997, and more are on the way. This will mean fewer inoculations for children. Increased use of IPV and acellular pertussis products could reduce the frequency of VAPP due to OPV and the local and systemic reactions associated with whole-cell pertussis vaccine.     

Effect of a plated Fe-Cr-Ni alloy layer for rapid nitriding of invar

The nitriding rate in a plated invar with an Fe-Ni-Cr alloy (face-centred cubic) layer were compared by optical microscopy with the rate in an unplated invar. In the plated invar rapid nitrogen diffusion was discovered. The plated layer plays a role in enhancing the nitriding rate. The result gives a solution for an abnormal enhancement nitriding rate in austenitic stainless steels. The enhancement is explained from the viewpoint of non-equilibrium thermodynamics.     

Expression of prolactin gene in mouse placenta during late pregnancy: detection of mRNA and its translation product

Threshold photoelectron spectra of N2+ were measured between 23.4 and 27.6 eV with high resolution and high intensity by using the penetrating field technique and synchrotron radiation. Five vibrational progressions were observed. The first of these progressions was the C2Sigmau+ state. The second progression was identified as the transition to the second state of 2Pig symmetry found by P. Baltzer, M. Larsson, L. Karlsson, B. Wannberg, and M. Carlsson (1992. Phys. Rev. A 46, 5545). The third progression, which was discovered by F. Merkt and P. M. Guyon (1993. J. Chem. Phys. 99, 3400), can be designated as the 2Sigmau- state by comparison with previous theoretical study (E. W. Thulstrup and A. Andersen, 1975. J. Phys. B 8, 965). The fourth and fifth progressions were designated as the 2Deltau and 2(2) Piu states by similar comparison with previous theories. Copyright 1997 Academic Press. Copyright 1997Academic Press