Failure by the Processes of Nucleation and Growth

Failure of products due to the combined processes of nucleation and growth of deleterious phases is discussed and categorized. Reliability predictions are made for both catastrophic and progressive failure. The technique is very general and relates the thermodynamic and kinetic data of the failure mechanism to product lifetime. Measurements of nucleation and growth rates might result in savings of product test-time and money.     

Effect on learning of postinstructional responses to questions of differing degrees of complexity.

Investigated the effect on the learning of science subject content of having students respond to questions of different degrees of complexity following segments of instruction. The study involved 193 7th-grade students in 5 groups. Questions of differing degrees of complexity were interspersed every 20th frame of the programmed instruction material for 3 treatment groups. The 4th treatment group read a paragraph related to the questions. The 5th group acted as a control. The groups that completed the instructional materials and responded to the interspersed questions scored significantly higher than the group that completed the instructional materials and did not respond to questions. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cloning and functional expression of a human liver organic cation transporter

OBJECTIVE: The triglyceride-lowering effects of omega-3 fats and HDL cholesterol-raising effects of exercise may be appropriate management for dyslipidemia in NIDDM. However, fish oil may impair glycemic control in NIDDM. The present study examined the effects of moderate aerobic exercise and the incorporation of fish into a low-fat (30% total energy) diet on serum lipids and glycemic control in dyslipidemic NIDDM patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In a controlled, 8-week intervention, 55 sedentary NIDDM subjects with serum triglycerides > 1.8 mmol/l and/or HDL cholesterol < 1.0 mmol/l were randomly assigned to a low-fat diet (30% daily energy intake) with or without one fish meal daily (3.6 g omega-3/day) and further randomized to a moderate (55-65% VO2max) or light (heart rate < 100 bpm) exercise program. An oral glucose tolerance test (75 g), fasting serum glucose, insulin, lipids, and GHb were measured before and after intervention. Self-monitoring of blood glucose was performed throughout. RESULTS: In the 49 subjects who completed the study, moderate exercise improved aerobic fitness (VO2max) by 12% (from 1.87 to 2.07 l/min, P = 0.0001). Fish consumption reduced triglycerides (0.80 mmol/l, P = 0.03) and HDL3 cholesterol (0.05 mmol/l, P = 0.02) and increased HDL2 cholesterol (0.06 mmol/l, P = 0.01). After adjustment for age, sex, and changes in body weight, fish diets were associated with increases in GHb (0.50%, P = 0.05) and self-monitored glucose (0.57 mmol/l, P = 0.0002), which were prevented by moderate exercise. CONCLUSIONS: A reduced fat diet incorporating one daily fish meal reduces serum triglycerides and increases HDL2 cholesterol in dyslipidemic NIDDM patients. Associated deterioration in glycemic control can be prevented by a concomitant program of moderate exercise.     

A recombinant adenovirus that directs secretion of biologically active kappa-bungarotoxin from mammalian cells

The purpose of this investigation was to develop a method that could be used to estimate how damaging sodium ethoxide is to different antigens with respect to immunolabeling when epoxy sections are deplasticized. If we obtain weak labeling for an antigen on deplasticized epoxy sections, this might be caused by the damaging effect of the ethoxide solution. It is therefore interesting to develop a method to check if this really is the reason. Fibrin clots and tissues of human kidney and thyroid were embedded in LR White resin. Some thin sections from these specimen blocks were exposed to sodium ethoxide in the same way as epoxy sections are when being deplasticized. Other sections from the same blocks were not exposed to sodium ethoxide. Both categories of sections were immunogold-labeled with anti-fibrinogen, anti-thyroglobulin, anti-IgA, anti-IgG, or anti-IgM. The intensity of immunolabeling of sections treated with ethoxide was compared with the immunolabeling of corresponding sections that were not treated with ethoxide. No significant differences were found in immunolabeling for fibrinogen, IgA, IgG, and IgM. For thyroglobulin, the intensity was approximately 30% less in tissues that were exposed to sodium ethoxide. The practical significance of this method is that we easily can examine the degree to which a given antigen is affected by sodium ethoxide, which is the agent used for deplasticizing epoxy sections.     

Identification of patients at risk for nonresponse and negative outcome in psychotherapy.

This study evaluated the use of pretherapy patient variables as correlates of 3 categorical types of outcome: negative response (negative change of more than 1 normative SEest on depression measure): nonresponse (change within?±?1 SEest on depression measure); and positive response (positive change of more than 1 SEest on depression measure) to psychotherapy among 62 patients with major depressive disorder. By using 4 scales from the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, age, and sex, 75.8% of the Ss were correctly classified into the 3 groups. Negative responders were characterized by high levels of interpersonal difficulty and low levels of subjective distress. Nonresponders displayed moderate levels of both interpersonal difficulties and subjective distress. Positive responders displayed high levels of both interpersonal difficulties and subjective distress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Molecular typing techniques to characterize the development of a lactic acid bacteria community on vacuum-packaged beef

The development of a community of lactic acid bacteria from vacuum-packaged beef was investigated during a 6-week storage trial at 2 degrees C. The lactic acid bacteria population was monitored by using molecular techniques to identify a random sample of isolates at biweekly intervals during the storage trial. The polymerase chain reaction and a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA technique were used to identify and distinguish populations of lactic acid bacteria that developed during the storage trial. At week 0, the population of lactic acid bacteria was 3.5 log cfu/120 cm2 and by week 6, the population reached a maximum of 7.6 log cfu/120 cm2. A sampling from the week 0 population indicated a mixed community of Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus sakei and Leuconostoc spp. However, the sampling from week 6 indicated the population composition had changed to one where a single Leuconostoc strain predominated. This strain demonstrated antagonism towards the growth of other lactic acid bacteria isolated during the study. Additionally, the strain inhibited the growth of foodborne pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. DNA sequence data from the 16S rRNA gene suggested that the isolate may be a Leuconostoc gelidum strain.     

High-speed Schottky-barrier pMOSFET with f/sub T/=280 GHz

High-speed results on sub-30-nm gate length pMOSFETs with platinum silicide Schottky-barrier source and drain are reported. With inherently low series resistance and high drive current, these deeply scaled transistors are promising for high-speed analog applications. The fabrication process simplicity is compelling with no implants required. A sub-30-nm gate length pMOSFET exhibited a cutoff frequency of 280 GHz, which is the highest reported to date for a silicon MOS transistor. Off-state leakage current can be easily controlled by augmenting the Schottky barrier height with an optional blanket As implant. Using this approach, good digital performance was also demonstrated.