Probing the effects of conjugation path on the electronic transmission through single molecules using scanning tunneling microscopy

A systematic study of the relationship between the molecular structure of a series of thiol end-capped oligo-phenylenevinylenes (OPVs) and the coherent electronic transmission at the single molecule level was measured by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). This reveals a significant change in the electronic transparency of various OPV derivatives due to the insertion of a methylene spacer group or due to nitro group substitution. Apparently, changes in the conjugation path through the central benzene ring from para to meta substitution does not have a profound effect on the electronic transparency of the molecules.     

Electric-field assisted growth and self-assembly of intrinsic silicon nanowires

Electric-field assisted growth and self-assembly of intrinsic silicon nanowires, in-situ, is demonstrated. The nanowires are seen to respond to the presence of a localized DC electric field set up between adjacent MEMS structures. The response is expressed in the form of improved nanowire order, alignment, and organization while transcending a gap. This process provides a simple yet reliable method for enhanced control over intrinsic one-dimensional nanostructure placement and handling.     

Derivation of sustainable breeding goals for dairy cattle using selection index theory

The objective was to present 2 methods for the derivation of nonmarket values for functional traits in dairy cattle using deterministic simulation and selection index theory. A nonmarket value can be a value representing animal welfare and societal influences for animal production, which can be added to market economic values in the breeding goal to define sustainable breeding goals. The first method was restricted indices. A consequence of adding a nonmarket value to a market economic value for a given functional trait is less selection emphasis on milk yield. In the second method, the loss in selection response in milk resulting from greater emphasis on functional traits was quantified. The 2 methods were demonstrated using a breeding goal for dairy cattle with 4 traits (milk yield, mastitis resistance, conception rate, and stillbirth). Nonmarket values derived separately using restricted indices were 0.4 and 2.6 times the value of market economic values for mastitis resistance and conception rate, respectively. Nonmarket values for mastitis resistance and conception rate were both lower when derived simultaneously than when derived separately. This was due to the positive genetic correlation between mastitis resistance and conception rate, and because both traits are negatively correlated with milk yield. Using the second method and accepting a 5% loss in selection response for milk yield, nonmarket values for mastitis, conception rate, and stillbirth were 0.3, 1.4, and 2.9 times the market economic values. It was concluded that the 2 methods could be used to derive nonmarket values for functional traits in dairy cattle.     

Membranous nephropathy

Levels of cefuroxime in bronchial secretion were measured in 49 patients requiring bronchoscopy for diagnostic purposes. Patients were randomly allocated to one of 4 groups which differed with respect to the size (750 mg or 1.5 g) and number (1 or 7) of intravenous doses of cefuroxime given approximately 1 hour prior to sampling. Levels of cefuroxime achieved after administration of all 4 dosages were sufficient to exceed the MIC values for the major chest pathogens. Penetration of cefuroxime into bronchial secretion was also found to be dose-related.     

Restraint theory and its applicability to overweight individuals.

Tested several aspects of restraint theory using 89 female college students in a 2–3 between-Ss design. The ice cream consumption of overweight and normal-weight restrained and unrestrained eaters was measured during a taste test. Prior to the taste test, half the Ss received a milkshake preload. Results reveal significant Weight by Restraint, Weight by Preload, and Restraint by Preload interactions. Unrestrained eaters consumed less after the preload than without it, whereas restrained eaters ate more. Overweight Ss ate less after the preload than without it, whereas normal-weight Ss ate slightly more. Among overweight Ss, unrestrained eaters ate more than restrained eaters, whereas among normal-weight Ss, the reverse was true. The significant Weight by Preload and Restraint by Preload interactions possibly reflect psychometric problems in the restraint scale. Numerically equivalent scores may indicate less "true" restraint in overweight than in normal-weight Ss. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Exact and approximate state estimation for nonlinear dynamic systems

This paper presents a modified approach to solve state estimation problems of nonlinear dynamic systems involving noise free, uncorrelated and correlated state and measurement noise processes. The basic approach makes use of the matrix minimum principle together with the Kolmogorov and Kushner's equations to minimize the error-variance, taken to be the estimation criterion. The filtering equations obtained for nonlinear systems with white noise process are exact, but for non-white noise processes the results obtained are approximate.

For systems with polynomial or product types non-linearities, the proposed algorithms can be evaluated without the need of approximation under the assumption that the estimator errors are Gaussian. Such an assumption is significantly different from the most commonly used assumption that the state is Gaussian. Simulation results obtained from the proposed filtering algorithms are compared to various other approximate nonlinear filters. The results indicate the superiority of the proposed filter over those of other filters investigated.