A General Heap Processor

Switzerland's first 16-bit processor design may lead to a system capable of easing HLL implementation. It has already led to a better understanding of complex ICs.     

Reevaluation of the Fe-Mn phase diagram

New results for the enthalpy of mixing of liquid Fe-Mn alloys, the enthalpy of formation of γ-Fe-Mn solid solutions and the heat capacity of α-Fe-Mn and γ-Fe-Mn alloys obtained by isoperibolic calorimetry and differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements have been used for the reassessment of the molar Gibbs energy of the various phases of the Fe-Mn system. Experimental information about martensitic transformation temperatures in Fe-Mn alloys published recently was incorporated in the updating of the occurring metastable equilibria. The present reevaluation results in a good fit with all available experimental data and is compared with the results of previous assessments.     

Characterization of isotopic abundance measurements in high resolution FT-ICR and Orbitrap mass spectra for improved confidence of metabolite identification

Currently there is limited information available on the accuracy and precision of relative isotopic abundance (RIA) measurements using high-resolution direct-infusion mass spectrometry (HR DIMS), and it is unclear if this information can benefit automated peak annotation in metabolomics. Here we characterize the accuracy of RIA measurements on the Thermo LTQ FT Ultra (resolution of 100,000-750,000) and LTQ Orbitrap (R = 100,000) mass spectrometers. This first involved reoptimizing the SIM-stitching method (Southam, A. D. Anal. Chem. 2007, 79, 4595-4602) for the LTQ FT Ultra, which achieved a ca. 3-fold sensitivity increase compared to the original method while maintaining a root-mean-squared mass error of 0.16 ppm. Using this method, we show the quality of RIA measurements is highly dependent on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), with RIA accuracy increasing with higher SNR. Furthermore, a negative offset between the theoretical and empirically calculated numbers of carbon atoms was observed for both mass spectrometers. Increasing the resolution of the LTQ FT Ultra lowered both the sensitivity and the quality of RIA measurements. Overall, although the errors in the empirically calculated number of carbons can be large (e.g., 10 carbons), we demonstrate that RIA measurements do improve automated peak annotation, increasing the number of single empirical formula assignments by >3-fold compared to using accurate mass alone.     

A subset of HLA-DR9 molecules is detected by a polymorphic monoclonal antibody on lymphoblastoid cell lines but not on peripheral blood lymphocytes

Recent studies of the factors regulating neurogenesis in vertebrates reveal three emerging themes. First, the number of cellular stages involved in this process may be greater than has previously been appreciated. Second, homologues of genes that regulate neurogenesis in invertebrates appear to play analogous roles in development of vertebrate nervous systems. Third, extrinsic factors can act to regulate neuron number during neurogenesis by controlling survival and differentiation, and not simply proliferation, of neural progenitor cells.     

A bibliography of mental patients' autobiographies: an update and classification system

OBJECTIVE: This article brings to the present earlier bibliographies of books written by former mental patients. These books provide an inside view of mental disorder that can be useful in teaching, public education, theory, and research, and they have played a catalyzing role in mental health reform and in theory development. METHOD: The authors list seven anthologies and 48 autobiographies of former patients published since 1980 and introduce a classification system intended to increase the research value of this important archive. RESULTS: Recent books of this genre show more individuals with a mood disorder and more therapists and more women as authors. CONCLUSIONS: The research potential of these books suggests the value of an electronic database for classifying and retrieving the information they contain.     

Thermodynamic investigations of the ternary Au-Sn-Zn system

The thermodynamic properties of liquid ternary Au-Sn-Zn alloys were measured with an electromotive force (emf) method at four cross sections with a constant Au to Sn ratio of 9:1, 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3, respectively. At the last three cross sections, calorimetric measurements were also carried out in order to compare the integral enthalpy of mixing from the direct measurements with the data of the emf measurements which were derived by Gibbs-Duhem integration.     

The ORF47 and ORF66 putative protein kinases of varicella-zoster virus determine tropism for human T cells and skin in the SCID-hu mouse

The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) genes ORF47 and ORF66 are predicted to encode serine/threonine protein kinases, which are homologs of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) UL13, and US3. When mutants were constructed by inserting stop codons into ORF47 and ORF66, the recombinants ROka47S and ROka66S, as well as intact ROka replicated in tissue culture. In contrast, inoculation of human thymus/liver or skin implants in SCID-hu mice showed that ORF47 protein was required for viral growth in human T cells and skin. Eliminating ORF66 expression inhibited VZV infectivity for T cells partially but did not impair replication in skin compared with ROka. Infectivity for T cells and skin was restored when ROka47S virus was complemented by insertion of ORF47 into a distant, noncoding site. The ORF47 gene product is the first VZV protein identified as necessary for T cell tropism. It also is essential for skin infectivity in vivo, as is glycoprotein C. Expression of ORF66 did not compensate for the absence of the ORF47 protein. The requirement for ORF47 expression in T cells and skin indicates that this gene product, which is dispensable in vitro, has a critical role within differentiated cells that are essential targets for VZV pathogenesis in vivo.     

Topographic anatomic study of cells transplanted from the groin region]

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a formerly rare disease, is estimated to occur in up to 5% of all patients with AIDS. The high prevalence of PML in AIDS patients currently enables a comprehensive evaluation of this disorder. We evaluated the clinical and radiographic features of PML in a large cohort of AIDS patients identified by retrospective chart review from 1981 to 1994. Two hundred and five patients were diagnosed with PML of which 154 met the inclusion criteria. Seventy-two (47%) were pathologically confirmed and the remaining 82 (53%) met clinical and radiographic criteria. There was a 12-fold increase in the frequency of PML between 1981-1984 and 1991-1994. PML affected 136 men and 18 women with AIDS. Eighty-four percent of cases were 20-50 years old (range 5 to 68 years). The most common AIDS risk factors were homosexuality (57%) among men and heterosexual transmission (28%) and intravenous drug abuse (28%) among women. In 27% of patients, PML heralded AIDS. Common manifestations included weakness, gait abnormalities, speech disturbance, cognitive disorders, headache, and visual impairment. The CD4 lymphocyte counts exceeded 200 cells in 11% at the time of presentation. Involvement of posterior fossa structures was evident in 48% of cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, but in only 11% of computed tomographies (CT) of the brain. Contrast enhancement, typically faint and peripheral, was seen in 10% of CT scans and 15% of MRIs. The median survival was 6 months and survival exceeded 1 year in 9%. PML is no longer a rare disease. It often heralds AIDS and may occur in the absence of significant decline in CD4 lymphocytes. Survival is generally poor, although prolonged survival beyond 1 year is not unusual.     

Investigation of fusion welded butt joints in structural steels

In the present paper research work is presented combining material related research, weld fabrication related research and research in the field of numerical analysis of welded joint performance. Elements belonging to this extensive combination are mechanical testing, fracture mechanics testing of small scale and full thickness specimens, component testing including engineering defect assessment and numerical modelling using finite element method. Examples are given for each of the above mentioned elements.     

Modeling and experimental validation of pressure drop for pneumatic plug conveying

This paper indicates that a variety of models exist to calculate the pressure drop of pneumatic plug conveying. Unfortunately these models are limited in their flexibility and calculate pressure drop only for two extremes, the active and passive case of bulk solid. Until now the stress state within the plug cannot be determined. Therefore a sensor was built to detect wall shear stress, normal stress and the stress state along a moving plug. Beginning with vertical pneumatic plug conveying, the previous models were verified and modified to get new perceptions about formation, stability and pressure drop of plugs.The DFG (German Research Community) is gratefully appreciated for the financial support to this work.Received October 2003