A unified theory of thin material wires [EM scattering]

The author presents an integral equation and method of moments (MM) solution to the problem of scattering by a thin material wire of circular cross section. In general the material wire has permittivity and permeability different from those of free space. The wire of radius a must be sufficiently thin so that k₀a ≪1, where k₀ is the free space wavenumber. However, there is no restriction on |k|a, where k is the wavenumber in the material wire. The method is referred to as unified in that it applies to thin material wires of arbitrary complex permittivity and permeability. Thus, a single or unified formulation applies to a low-density dielectric/ferrite wire or to a highly conducting metallic wire     

Effects of order of presentation on perceptions of the counselor.

Attempted to determine whether the order in which 2 counselors were presented on videotape would affect ratings of their performances. 70 participants (63 women and 7 men) randomly assigned to 2 groups viewed and rated counseling interviews conducted by C. Rogers and E. L. Shostrom. Groups differed only in the order of presentation of counselors. The resulting 2?×?2 split-plot factorial design had 1 between-Ss factor (order of presentation) and 1 within-S factor (counselor). A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) yielded a statistically significant interaction, indicating that the order in which counselors were evaluated significantly affected the magnitude of ratings of their performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lifetime Measurements on a High-Reliability RF-MEMS Contact Switch

Radio frequency microelectromechanical systems (RF MEMS) cantilever contact switches have been tested for lifetime. The mean cycles-to-failure measured on an ensemble of switches was 430 billion switch cycles. The longest lifetime exhibited without degradation of the switch was 914 billion switch cycles. The devices were switched at 20 kHz with an incident RF frequency of 10 GHz and an incident RF power of 20 dBm. Testing was performed continuously over a period of approximately 18 months. The switches were operated in a cold-switched mode.     

Factors affecting contrasting results between self-reported and performance-based levels of physical limitation

Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps of certain 3-methoxy flavone derivatives having different anti-picornavirus activities have been studied. Geometries of the molecules were optimised and charge distributions computed using the AM1 molecular orbital method. Hybridization displacement charges (HDC) were combined with the L?wdin charge distributions to compute the MEP maps. Reliability of the method of computing MEP maps was tested by studying certain other molecules for which ab initio MEP results are available. The anti-picornavirus activities of the flavones have been shown to be related with negative MEP values in two regions, one near the 3-methoxy group and another in a diagonally opposite region near the substituent attached to the C7 atom of the molecules.     

Activity of the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase and optimal glycolytic flux are required for rapid adaptation and growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of the weak-acid preservative sorbic acid

The weak acid sorbic acid transiently inhibited the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in media at low pH. During a lag period, the length of which depended on the severity of this weak-acid stress, yeast cells appeared to adapt to this stress, eventually recovering and growing normally. This adaptation to weak-acid stress was not due to metabolism and removal of the sorbic acid. A pma1-205 mutant, with about half the normal membrane H+-ATPase activity, was shown to be more sensitive to sorbic acid than its parent. Sorbic acid appeared to stimulate plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity in both PMA1 and pma1-205. Consistent with this, cellular ATP levels showed drastic reductions, the extent of which depended on the severity of weak-acid stress. The weak acid did not appear to affect the synthesis of ATP because CO2 production and O2 consumption were not affected significantly in PMA1 and pma1-205 cells. However, a glycolytic mutant, with about one-third the normal pyruvate kinase and phosphofructokinase activity and hence a reduced capacity to generate ATP, was more sensitive to sorbic acid than its isogenic parent. These data are consistent with the idea that adaptation by yeast cells to sorbic acid is dependent on (i) the restoration of internal pH via the export of protons by the membrane H+-ATPase in an energy-demanding process and (ii) the generation of sufficient ATP to drive this process and still allow growth.     

Interest of epitopic dissection in immunoanalysis of proteins and peptides: review of theoretical and practical aspects

AIM: To assess cell proliferation in early prostate cancer and associated pathological lesions. METHODS: Using the Ki-67 antibody, the cell proliferation index was measured in early stage prostatic carcinoma in 37 incidental tumours diagnosed at transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) and in 20 low volume cancers treated by radical prostatectomy. Proliferation indexes have also been measured in areas of normal peripheral zone, transition zone hyperplasia, atrophic appearing lobules, and high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia in the radical prostatectomy cases. RESULTS: In the TURP series the proliferation index correlated with grade and stage. Logistic regression analysis, however, showed that Gleason grade was the most reliable predictor of biopsy proven residual disease and clinical progression. In the radical series transition zone carcinoma the proliferation index was half that of peripheral zone carcinoma. The atrophic lobules also showed a high proliferation index of the same order as seen in the peripheral zone carcinoma. Normal peripheral zone showed the lowest proliferation index and in hyperplastic transition zone it was also less than the other areas. CONCLUSIONS: There is only limited support for the correlation of proliferation index with grade in early stage prostatic carcinoma. The findings do not suggest that proliferation index adds to the prognostic information given by grade and stage in pT1 disease. The significant difference in proliferation index in transition zone and peripheral zone carcinomas supports the morphological distinction of these tumour types and is consistent with differences in biological behaviour. The high proliferation index in lobules considered morphologically atrophic is reminiscent of previous observations in which carcinoma was spatially associated with atrophy.     

Gastrointestinal lavage reduces total body water

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to measure changes in total body water (TBW) in surgical patients after gastrointestinal lavage. METHODS: In a prospective, controlled study we used bioelectrical impedance to calculate the change in TBW in two groups of general surgical patients in the pre-operative period: the colonic lavage group consisted of patients fasted overnight who received 3 L of gastrointestinal lavage solution (GLS; n = 30), and the control group consisted of patients fasted overnight only (n = 30). Total body water was measured before and after either lavage and fasting (lavage group) or fasting alone (control group). RESULTS: The lavage group had a mean TBW loss of 729 mL +/- s.e. 217 and the control group a mean loss of 84 mL +/- s.e. 93 (P < 0.01 unpaired t-test). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that GLS results in a net loss of TBW. Although this fluid loss is modest, it may be important in surgical patients who have minimal cardiovascular reserve.