Preface

User Modeling and User-Adapted Interaction -     

Development of a multifunctional coating system for laser-induced material transport

The aim of our research is to develop a novel surface coating for the use in laser microdissection and laser pressure catapulting (LMPC). LMPC is a contact- and contamination-free technique to separate histologic material and living cells for further proteomic and genomic analysis. Several physico-chemical functions must be included within the optimum coating system designed for this purpose, like optical absorption at the laser wavelength, combined with optical transparency in the visible region, a control of the laser ablation process, mechanical stability and biocompability for the adhesion of the histologic material.To achieve the optimum system the combination of several layers is required. The optical absorbance to capture the radiation energy from a frequency-tripled Nd:YAG laser (λ = 355 nm) is reached by a thin layer of zinc oxide (ZnO), deposited by hollow cathode gas flow sputtering. The laser ablation process is controlled by a polyelectrolyte multilayer, consisting of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS). The evaporation of chemisorbed water from the film is used to promote the catapulting process. For the mechanically stable, laser-dissectible layer organic coatings, like photoresists or lacquers, are suitable. Silica-containing polyacrylate nanocomposites were employed for this purpose.The investigation of the coating system included LMPC experiments with varying compositions of the layer system. The best results were obtained using a system consisting of ZnO, a polyelectrolyte multilayer deposited from 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ containing polymer solutions, and a 1.5-μm thick layer of the polyacrylate nanocomposite.To check the quality of the developed system, experiments with the commonly used poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) foil were performed simultaneously. In addition to the determination of the parameters required for LMPC, quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (rt-PCR) of the dissected material verified the benefit of the new system.     

The effect of plate thickness on the generation of thermal stress and strain in quenched steels of high hardenability

A visco-elastic-plastic mathematical model that also incorporates transformation plasticity has been used to determine the thermal stress and strain generation in quenched plates of various thicknesses. An increase in plate thickness produced an increase in the maximum amount of absolute strain introduced during the quench. This was associated with an increase in the residual strain at the end of a water quench, but the residual strain was reduced in the case of an oil quench. Former results were in agreement with the experimental data obtained from 20 and 40 mm thick specimens. In contrast, the level of residual absolute stress at specific points in water quenched plates fell as the thickness increased, mainly on account of the amount of stress-relaxation in the later stages of the cooling process, as the temperature in the interior of the thicker sections fell to ambient. This effect did not agree well with the experimental results and casts some doubt on the viscous flow data used at longer times and lower temperatures. The agreement between calculation and experiment was much better in the case of the oil quenched material.     

Carbide characterization in low-temperature tempered steels

The nature of the initial carbides formed during the early stages of the tempering of steels is still a matter of debate. Conventionally, the main transition carbide is described as epsilon carbide, with a composition of approximately Fe_2.4C. However, earlier one-dimensional atom probe (1DAP) results indicated the existence of carbon-rich regions having much lower carbon contents, with maxima of around 10 at%. There was some uncertainty about the interpretation of the 1DAP results, because of possible problems with alignment of the aperture and with trajectory aberration effects. We have therefore re-visited this topic, using the three-dimensional (3D) atom probe, and studying both a model Fe–Ni–C alloy and a well-known engineering steel (AISI4340). We demonstrate that, for both materials, low-temperature (20–150 °C) aging produces carbon-rich regions with average peak carbon contents of up to 10%. We show for the first time the three-dimensional structure of these carbon-rich regions, and demonstrate that fine-scale faulting exists within them.     

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)     

Report of an IEEE Task Force?An IEEE Opinion on Research Needs for Biomedical Engineerng Systems

MORE than 200 years ago, our forefathers made note of man's inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To the engineering community (applied science in the service of man), these may be coincident with applications to medicine and biology (biomedical engineering), defense, and entertainment. Biomedical engineering research has the distinction, among these three missions, of not only contributing to the quality of human life through the industrial economy but also to life itself?the most fundamental concern of all people. It is through biomedical engineering research that we have been able to learn much concerning the functioning of living systems, and it is through such knowledge that we have been able to develop improved clinical diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment, including life-sustaining devices and aids to the handicapped. Each step represents an improvement in the quality of life, and each step forms the foundation upon which to gain new knowledge to improve upon earlier developments.     

用于揩布和医用产品的Fleissner木浆复合产品水刺非织造布生产线

Fleissner的水刺非织造布生产线生产用于揩布产品和医用产品的木浆复合产品,注重于节省原材料成本,降低能耗,保护环境。     

A brief assessment of concerns associated with genetic testing for cancer: The multidimensional impact of cancer risk assessment (MICRA) questionnaire.

The Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) is a new tool to measure the specific impact of result disclosure after genetic testing. The authors compared its performance with that of questionnaires measuring general and cancer-specific distress. Participants (158 women) responded 1 month after they received genetic test results. The women were divided into 4 standard clinical test result groups: BRCA1/2 positive, BRCA1/2 negative, panel negative, and true negative. Factor analysis supported the formation of 3 subscales: Distress (6 items, α= .86), Uncertainty (9 items, α= .77), and Positive Experiences (4 items, α= .75). All 3 MICRA subscales differentiated participants who were BRCAI/2 positive from the other 3 groups. MICRA thus helps identify subgroups of vulnerable genetic testing participants. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)