Online in-situ control of lead zirconate titanate film growth in gas discharge chamber

Online in situ monitoring of the gas-discharge deposition of lead zirconate titanate Pb(Zr _x Ti_{1 − x} )O₃ (PZT) films onto a stainless steel substrate revealed oscillatory decay in the intensity of light with a wavelength of 0.640 μm specular reflected from the growing film. It is established that the parameters of the reflectance curves depend on the electric power deposited in discharge and correlate with the type of growing films (possessing pyrochlore or perovskite structures). Using the proposed method, it is possible to control technological parameters of the deposition process, which determine the physical characteristics of the obtained PZT films.     

Chemical recognition and binding kinetics in a functionalized tunnel junction

4(5)-(2-mercaptoethyl)-1H-imidazole-2-carboxamide is a molecule that has multiple hydrogen bonding sites and a short flexible linker. When tethered to a pair of electrodes, it traps target molecules in a tunnel junction. Surprisingly large recognition-tunneling signals are generated for all naturally occurring DNA bases A, C, G, T and 5-methyl-cytosine. Tunnel current spikes are stochastic and broadly distributed, but characteristic enough so that individual bases can be identified as a tunneling probe is scanned over DNA oligomers. Each base yields a recognizable burst of signal, the duration of which is controlled entirely by the probe speed, down to speeds of 1 nm s -1, implying a maximum off-rate of 3 s -1 for the recognition complex. The same measurements yield a lower bound on the on-rate of 1 M -1 s -1. Despite the stochastic nature of the signals, an optimized multiparameter fit allows base calling from a single signal peak with an accuracy that can exceed 80% when a single type of nucleotide is present in the junction, meaning that recognition-tunneling is capable of true single-molecule analysis. The accuracy increases to 95% when multiple spikes in a signal cluster are analyzed.     

What predicts weight regain in a group of successful weight losers?

This study identified predictors of weight gain versus continued maintenance among individuals already successful at long-term weight loss. Weight, behavior, and psychological information was collected on entry into the study and 1 year later. Thirty-five percent gained weight over the year of follow-up, and 59% maintained their weight losses. Risk factors for weight regain included more recent weight losses (less than 2 years vs. 2 years or more), larger weight losses (greater than 30% of maximum weight vs. less than 30%), and higher levels of depression, dietary disinhibition, and binge eating levels at entry into the registry. Over the year of follow-up, gainers reported greater decreases in energy expenditure and greater increases in percentage of calories from fat. Gainers also reported greater decreases in restraint and increases in hunger, dietary disinhibition, and binge eating. This study suggests that several years of successful weight maintenance increase the probability of future weight maintenance and that weight regain is due at least in part to failure to maintain behavior changes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Scattering of Plain Waves by the System of Balanced Vibrators with Nonlinear Loads under the Influence of Nonlinear Radar

Analysis of the secondary fields radiated by an ensemble of balanced vibrators with nonlinear loads under the influence of the radiation of nonlinear radar. The possibility of taking into account the empirically detected effect of the onset of negative differential resistance on the current-voltage characteristic of silicon diode structures under the influence of a relatively high level of the microwave power of nonlinear radar     

Involving Support Partners in Obesity Treatment.

In this study, the authors examined whether the number or success of weight loss partners influences participants' outcomes in behavioral weight loss treatment. Overweight participants (n = 109) assigned to an exercise intensive group in a larger trial were encouraged to invite up to 3 partners to attend treatment. Weight losses at 6, 12, and 18 months were not associated with the number of partners (0-3) but were associated with the weight loss success of the partners. Participants with at least 1 successful partner (weight loss ≥10% at 6 months) lost significantly (p = .004) more weight at 6, 12, and 18 months than those with no successful partners and those without partners. Interclass correlations of weight change between participants and their partner(s) were strong at all time points (ps     

Optical resonance identification of long-range electron tunneling between superlattice levels in an electric field

A method for diagnostics of the interaction of electron states in multilayer heterostructures in a dc electric field is suggested. The method is based on measurements of the resonance response of the harmonic amplitude of the current in a heterostructure to modulated laser radiation. The method is used for studying tunneling between the Wannier-Stark levels in the superlattice with strongly coupled quantum wells.     

Degradation of a Foam‐Promoting Barley Protein by a Proteinase from Brewing Yeast

The degradation of a major protein component in beer, the lipid transfer protein (LTP1), by the yeast proteinase A was determined. Another major protein fraction in beer, the protein Z‐fraction, was not degraded by this enzyme. Protein preparations from beer and barley containing LTP1 were examined for degradation by proteinase A using SDS‐PAGE, immunoblotting and RP‐HPLC. LTP1 from barley was completely resistant to proteinase A, whereas LTP1 concentrated from beer was cleaved. We conclude that LTP1 was modified during the brewing process, thus rendering it more susceptible to proteinase A degradation.     

Influence of the preparation and excitation conditions of ZnS:Er,F TFELS on the radiative characteristics in the visible and near‐infrared spectral regions

Abstract— The voltage (V) dependences of the luminance and transferred charge of ZnS:Er,F TFELS prepared by varying the annealing temperature (Tann) are given at different frequencies (f). The change in the relative intensity of the green band (523 nm) and the near‐infrared bands (983 and 1530 nm) in the emission spectrum when V, f, and Tann are varied is also considered. The influence of the annealing temperature on the energy spectrum of defects in ZnS:Er,F film was studied by photodepolarization spectroscopy. The revealed effect of the above excitation and preparation conditions on the radiative characteristics is discussed.