Using matrix peaks to map topography: increased mass resolution and enhanced sensitivity in chemical imaging

It is well known in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) that sample topography leads to decreased mass resolution. Specifically, the ion's time of flight is dependent on where it was generated. Here, using matrix-enhanced SIMS, it is demonstrated that, in addition to increasing the yield of intact pseudomolecular ions, the matrix allows the user to semiquantitatively record the topography of a sample. Through mapping the topography-related mass shifts of the matrix (which leads to decreased mass resolution), the analogous mass shifts of higher mass ions can be deconvoluted and higher resolution and greater sensitivity obtained. Furthermore, the semiquantitative topographical map obtained can be compared with any chemical images obtained, allowing the user to quickly ascertain whether local intensity maximums are due to topological features or represent genuine features of interest.     

An approach to regulating machine sharing in reconfigurable back-end semiconductor manufacturing

By complying with the operational philosophy of virtual production lines, a back-end semiconductor manufacturing system can be controlled and managed with better reconfigurability. However, due to the absence of a fully-integrated information system and the gaining popularity of distributed computing, machine reconfiguration decisions are made by machine controllers on the shop floor where heterarchical control architecture is typically used. This research investigates how non-cooperative game theory could be applied for facilitating the decision process reconfiguration decision-making at the machine controller level as machines are competed by multiple jobs streams. This paper presents how material flow traffic can be better regulated in a reconfigurable manufacturing environment. A study using an industrial pilot system is discussed to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach, in which heuristics are used to determine the game specification.     

The effects of item composition,tag inlay design,reader antenna polarization,power and transponder orientation on the dynamic coupling efficiency of backscatter ultra‐high frequency radio frequency identification

The effects of packaged content, packaging material, transponder inlay design, reader antenna polarization, interrogation power and transponder orientation on the detection rate of ultra‐high frequency radio frequency identification (UHF RFID) passive transponders were studied. The influence of individual factors and their interactions were determined using general linear model analysis of variance. Influences originated in order of importance, from sample type, antenna polarization, power and inlay design. Important interactions in decreasing order of significance exist between: power and antenna polarization; sample type and antenna polarization; sample type and inlay design; inlay design and antenna polarization; sample type, power and antenna polarization; sample type and power; inlay design and power; sample type, inlay design and power. It was also observed that random orientation of tags did not cause a statistically significant variation in tag detection rate. It can be concluded that the use of UHF RFID for item level of food requires multi‐parameter assessment before hand. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integrated physical and transcript map of 5q31.3-qter

The disposition of S-2-[4-(3-methyl-2-thienyl)phenyl]propionic acid (CAS 155680-07-2, S-MTPPA, code: M-5011) was studied after oral administration to rats, dogs and monkeys using the 14C-labeled drug. After oral dosing, S-MTPPA was well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, to the extent of 97.7% in rats. The concentration of S-MTPPA in rat plasma reached a peak (Cmax: 13.07 micrograms/ml) at 15 min (tmax) after dosing and declined with a half-life (t1/2) of 2.5 h. The values of the parameters tmax, Cmax and t1/2 for dogs were 30 min, 26.2 micrograms/ml and 7.0 h, and those for monkeys were 15 min, 12.8 micrograms/ml and 3.0 h, respectively. The radioactivity was widely distributed in tissues and almost completely excreted in urine and feces within 48 h after oral administration to rats. The excretion of radioactivity in bile, urine and feces within 48 h after oral administration of 14C-S-MTPPA to bile duct-cannulated rats amounted to 75.0, 18.6 and 1.4% of the dose, respectively. The drug was metabolized mainly by oxidation of the thiophenyl moiety and by glucuronidation of the carboxyl group in rats and monkeys. The major urinary and fecal metabolite in dogs was identified as the taurine conjugate of MTPPA.     

Long-term inhalable particles and other air pollutants related to mortality in nonsmokers

Long-term ambient concentrations of inhalable particles less than 10 microm in diameter (PM10) (1973- 1992) and other air pollutants-total suspended sulfates, sulfur dioxide, ozone (O3), and nitrogen dioxide-were related to 1977-1992 mortality in a cohort of 6,338 nonsmoking California Seventh-day Adventists. In both sexes, PM10 showed a strong association with mortality for any mention of nonmalignant respiratory disease on the death certificate, adjusting for a wide range of potentially confounding factors, including occupational and indoor sources of air pollutants. The adjusted relative risk (RR) for this cause of death as associated with an interquartile range (IQR) difference of 43 d/yr when PM10 exceeded 100 microg/m3 was 1.18 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 1.36). In males, PM10 showed a strong association with lung cancer deaths-RR for an IQR was 2.38 (95% CI: 1.42, 3.97). Ozone showed an even stronger association with lung cancer mortality for males with an RR of 4.19 (95% CI: 1.81, 9.69) for the IQR difference of 551 h/yr when O3 exceeded 100 parts per billion. Sulfur dioxide showed strong associations with lung cancer mortality for both sexes. Other pollutants showed weak or no association with mortality.     

Endoscopic CO2 laser excision of large or recurrent laryngeal saccular cysts in adults

BACKGROUND: Most paediatric cardiac arrest studies have been conducted in the USA, where paramedics provide prehospital emergency care. We wanted to study the outcome of paediatric cardiac arrest patients in an emergency medical system which is based on physician staffed emergency care units. METHODS: We analysed retrospectively the files of 100 prehospital cardiac arrest patients from Southern Finland during a 10-year study period. The patients were less than 16 years of age. RESULTS: Fifty patients were declared dead on the scene (DOS) without attempted resuscitation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated in 50 patients. The sudden infant death syndrome was the most common cause of arrest in the DOS patients (68%) as well as in those receiving CPR (36%). Asystole was the initial cardiac rhythm in 70% of the patients in whom CPR was attempted. Resuscitation was successful in 13 patients, 8 of whom were ultimately discharged. Six of the patients survived with mild or no disability and 4 of them had near-drowning aetiology. In multivariate analysis, the short duration of CPR (< or = 15 min) was the only factor significantly associated with better survival. CONCLUSIONS: Although prehospital care was provided by physicians, the overall rate of survival was found to be equally poor as reported from systems with paramedics. The only major difference between physician- and paramedic-staffed emergency care units is the ability of physicians to refrain from resuscitation already on the scene when prognosis is poor.