The use of sodium thiocyanate for the salting-out of water-soluble dyes

During a recent attempt to produce solid forms of water-soluble, sulphonated reactive dye samples with low electrolyte content, it was found that salting-out of such dyes with sodium thiocyanate dihydrate and subsequent washing with acetone gave a product with very low content of inorganic salts. A readily soluble solid of high tinctorial strength was produced.     

SurA assists the folding of Escherichia coli outer membrane proteins

Many proteins require enzymatic assistance in order to achieve a functional conformation. One rate-limiting step in protein folding is the cis-trans isomerization of prolyl residues, a reaction catalyzed by prolyl isomerases. SurA, a periplasmic protein of Escherichia coli, has sequence similarity with the prolyl isomerase parvulin. We tested whether SurA was involved in folding periplasmic and outer membrane proteins by using trypsin sensitivity as an assay for protein conformation. We determined that the efficient folding of three outer membrane proteins (OmpA, OmpF, and LamB) requires SurA in vivo, while the folding of four periplasmic proteins was independent of SurA. We conclude that SurA assists in the folding of certain secreted proteins.     

Ultrasonic thin-walled tube wave structure for sensing devices

Theoretical and experimental investigations of thin-walled tube acoustic wave devices for gravimetric sensing applications are presented. Integrated sensor configurations have been demonstrated by employing a sol-gel processed thin piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) film. This was coated coaxially on stainless steel tubes and interdigital transducers (IDT) fabricated as the transmitter and receiver on the curved tube surfaces. We have observed tube waves along both the axial and circumferential directions between 1 and 6.6 MHz. We have also analyzed the mass sensitivities of different modes propagating along the tubes and shown that high mass sensitivity can be achieved by keeping the tube wall thin     

Assessment of alcohol consumption and alcoholism in the elderly

This study evaluates characteristics associated with alcohol consumption or alcohol-related problems in an elderly population, as detected by CAGE questionnaire and self-reported alcohol intake respectively. Data were obtained from a multidimensional study carried out in a community-dwelling population aged 70-75 (n = 1205, 389 males and 816 females) living in the city center of Brescia, in northern Italy. All information was gathered by self-report. Male gender, better mood, daily function, somatic health, not living alone, and being married were significantly associated with self-reported alcohol consumption. Male gender, poorer cognitive function, and income dissatisfaction were significantly associated with alcohol problems as detected by CAGE. Data suggest that self-report of alcohol intake, though intrinsically loaded with imperfect internal consistency, does not necessarily indicate risk of alcoholism; on the contrary, it can reveal the positive psychological attitude of the drinking habit. CAGE questionnaire, which is sensitive to alcohol related problems, is associated with poor psychosocial conditions.     

Mapping of Trellises Associated with General Encoders onto High-Performance VLSI Architectures

A rate 1/n binary generic convolutional encoder is a shift-register circuit where the inputs are information bits and the outputs are blocks of n bits generated as linear combinations on the appropriate shift register contents. The decoding of the outputs of a convolutional encoder can be carried out by the well-known Viterbi algorithm. The communication pattern of the Viterbi Algorithm is given as a graph, called trellis, associated to the state diagram of the corresponding encoder. In this paper we present a methodology that permits the efficient mapping of the Viterbi algorithm onto a column of an arbitrary number of processors. This is done through the representation of the data flow by using mathematical operators which present an inmediate hardware projection. A single operator string has been obtained to represent a generic encoder through the study of the data flow of free-forward encoders and feed-back encoders. The formal model developed is employed for the partitioning of the computations among an arbitrary number of processors in such a way that the data are recirculated opimizing the use of the processors and the communications. As a result, we obtain a highly regular and modular architecture suitable for VLSI implementation.     

Minimal invasive therapy of aneurysms of the superficial femoral artery and the popliteal artery

Percutaneous stent placement has been described for treatment of aneurysms as an alternative to surgical therapy. Literature reports of percutaneous minimal invasive therapy of peripheral aneurysms shall be reviewed and compared with our own results. Six male patients (51-69 years) with femoropopliteal occlusions related to aneurysms were treated percutaneously. In two cases Wallstents and in four cases polyester-covered nitinol stents were applicated. A clinical investigation including doppler-ultrasound was performed 24 hrs, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after the intervention. Stent placement succeeded in all cases. No adjunctive surgical treatment was necessary. Ankle-brachial-index (ABI) improved from 0.22 +/- 0.2 before to 0.74 +/- 0.2 24 hours after the intervention. One patient was lost for follow-up (Wallstent). A decrease of ABI and additional intraarterial angiography revealed stent-graft occlusion within one month (n = 2) and within three months (n = 1). One of these cases was successfully recanalized with local fibrinolysis therapy. In three patients patency of the stent persisted for 24 (+/- 2) months follow-up with three-vessel-supply of the calf. These results warrant further investigations for this minimal invasive method of percutaneous stent deployment as an alternative to surgical bypass treatment of femoropopliteal aneurysms. Time of hospitalization was reduced. At this time, surgical treatment of peripheral vascular aneurysms is gold standard.     

Computer-based spelling remediation for dyslexic children

Abstract The SelfSpell programs provide a multi-media environment for dyslexic children which uses synthesised speech to augment the written text. In earlier research we established that by encouraging users to enter a rule to help them remember how to spell each word, SelfSpell was very effective in improving spelling ability. The evaluation study reported here confirmed the efficacy of the rule-based approach using a group of 11-year-old dyslexic children with severe impairments in spelling. Of particular theoretical significance, however, was the finding that use of a mastery learning technique for learning spellings was just as effective as the rule-based approach. These findings are interpreted in the light of Frith's influential framework for the development of reading and spelling ability. It is suggested that the multimedia presentation approach may provide a uniquely effective method for helping dyslexic children to acquire the 'alphabetic' stage of linguistic processing.     

Factors in American State Government spending on research and development

This paper investigates factors that lead state governments in the United States to spend on research and development and research and development plant. Data come from a national survey of such spending. Regression analysis is used. Findings include the following: the relative wealth of a state, as measured by its tax capacity, predicts some of such spending; the level of a state's taxation, as measured by its tax effort, predicts some of such spending; and the political party composition of a state predicts some of such spending. By contrast, a state's economic difficulty, as measured by its unemployment rate, has almost no relationship to such spending.     

A comprehensive study of performance and reliability of P, As, andhybrid As/P nLDD junctions for deep-submicron CMOS logic technology

A comprehensive study of P, As, and hybrid As/P nLDD junctions is presented in terms of performance, reliability, and manufacturability for the first time. It is found that As junctions limit the performance of deep submicron devices due to unacceptable hot-carrier reliability, whereas a hybrid junction (light dose P added to medium dose As) dramatically improves hot-carrier reliability while maintaining high performance and manufacturability. For L_eff of 0.19 μm, using this hybrid junction in a manufacturing process, an inverter gate delay of 32 ps, dc hot carrier life time exceeding ten years, and off-state leakage below 30 pA/μm at 2.9 V have been achieved