Examination of cognitive variables relevant to sunbathing

This study examined cognitions relevant to sunbathing decision-making in college-aged subjects. Using Jaccard's (1981) theory of alternative behavior as a guiding model, 263 subjects were recruited from psychology classes and administered questionnaires assessing their sunbathing behavioural tendencies, attitudes toward sunbathing, attitudes toward reasonable behavioral alternatives to sunbathing, and cognitive variables underlying these attitudinal variables. The fits of models predicting sunbathing attitudes and sunbathing behavioural tendencies (evaluated using covariate structural equations modeling techniques; LIS-REL VIII) were good for all models tested. In contrast to previous work, the results of this study support the notion that young people will make their decisions regarding sunbathing based on the behavioral alternatives available to them (i.e., generally the one that they prefer most). Furthermore, the multivariate approach used clearly delineates the specific cognitive beliefs and orientations that might be targeted to change these attitudes. The relevance of these findings to skin cancer prevention interventions is discussed.     

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.     

Passivity of polycrystalline NiMnGa alloys for magnetic shape memory applications

The corrosion and passivation behaviour of bulk polycrystalline martensite Ni₅₀Mn₃₀Ga₂₀ and austenite Ni₄₈Mn₃₀Ga₂₂ alloys was compared in electrolytes with different pH values. Linear anodic and cyclic potentiodynamic polarisation methods and anodic current transient measurements have been conducted for the alloys and their constituents to analyze free corrosion, anodic dissolution and passive layer formation processes. Electrochemically treated alloy surfaces were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and angle-resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical response of both alloys is in principal similar and is dominated by the Ni oxidation. In acidic solutions (pH 0.5 and 5) a slightly higher reactivity is detectable for the martensitic alloy which is mainly attributed to enhanced dissolution processes at the multiple twin boundaries. In weakly acidic to strongly alkaline solutions (pH 5-11) both alloys exhibit a low corrosion rate and a stable anodic passivity. While air-formed films comprise NiOOH, Ga₂O₃ and MnO₂, passive films formed in near neutral media (pH 5-8.4) are composed of Ni(OH)₂, NiOOH and Ga₂O₃ in the outer region and of NiO, MnO₂ and MnO in the metal-near region.     

Nucleation and growth of the electrodeposited iron layers in the presence of an external magnetic field

The effect of an uniform magnetic field with a flux density up to 1 T and different configurations relative to the electrode surface on the electrocrystallization of Fe on polycrystalline Au(1 1 1) from acidic sulphate electrolyte has been investigated. It was found, irrespective of the applied parameters, that the deposition proceeds through successive nucleation and growth steps. The first one related to 2D growth was followed by a second nucleation and 3D diffusion controlled growth. At potential of −1500 and −1550 mV_MSE nucleation proceeds via a progressive mode, while at −1650 mV_MSE it follows an instantaneous mode. A strong influence of the parallel-to-electrode magnetic field on the nucleation processes was found for the progressive mode, which leads to the increase of the growth rate and as a consequence to retardation of the nucleation rate of the 3D step. Additionally, in this configuration at a sufficiently high magnetic flux density a third nucleation step could be observed (3D), which was found to be also affected by a magnetic field. No effect of a perpendicular-to-electrode magnetic field on the nucleation has been observed. The effects of a magnetic field on the nucleation and growth processes are discussed with respect to the magnetohydrodynamic effect (MHD) and confirmed by rotating disc electrode (RDE) experiments.     

Effect of hydrogen on the amorphous structure of the alloy Mg<Subscript>65</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>25</Subscript>Y<Subscript>10</Subscript> under electrochemical saturation

Thin ribbons of the metallic glass Mg₆₅Cu₂₅Y₁₀, obtained by spinning, were saturated with atomic hydrogen from electrochemical decomposition of water. The maximum amount of absorbed hydrogen was 4 mass %. The hydrogen content was determined by hot extraction. We studied the microstructure of samples with different hydrogen contents by x-ray phase analysis (from the change in the diffuse maximum), atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. When the hydrogen content increases up to 3.6 mass %, the amorphous structure of the Mg₆₅Cu₂₅Y₁₀ alloy is converted to a nanocrystalline structure, with formation of magnesium and yttrium hydrides at room temperature.     

The E3 architecture: enabling future cellular networks with cognitive and self‐x capabilities

Future mobile networks are expected to be complex heterogeneous systems. On the one hand this will enable users to take advantage of a number of different access technologies. On the other hand it will seriously affect network management procedures since more extensive operations and decisions will have to be dealt with. To tackle these challenges a number of new dynamic mechanisms need to be designed. It is imperative that certain network management tasks have to be performed without human intervention to reduce the OPEX costs and achieve faster responses in different events. To achieve this goal, the introduction of self‐x functionalities, combined with cognitive mechanisms and the ability to reconfigure network entities and terminals, is required. Moreover, the introduction of a new pilot channel needs to be considered to assist the terminals in selecting the most suitable radio access technology according to their requirements. We present the functional architecture of an evolved network that was designed in the context of the EU‐funded IP project ‘E³: End‐to‐End Efficiency’. This architecture aims to enhance existing procedures usually performed in traditional operation and maintenance systems (e.g. spectrum management, network planning, configuration actions). We explain the rationale of our design and provide specific examples to illustrate the role of the different functional entities and their interfaces. A considerable part of this architecture has recently been approved as a feasibility study by the ETSI Committee Reconfigurable Radio System. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In situ analysis of three-dimensional electrolyte convection evolving during the electrodeposition of copper in magnetic gradient fields

A novel three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry technique was used to examine the flow during electrodeposition of Cu. For the first time electrode-normal, circumferential, and radial velocities were spatially resolved during deposition in superimposed low and high magnetic gradient fields. In this way the complex interaction of magnetic field gradient force and Lorentz force induced convective effects could be measured and analyzed. Magnetic field gradient force induced electrolyte flow was detected only in high gradient magnetic fields, and it was found to be directed toward regions of gradient maxima. Since this electrode-normal flow causes enhanced transport of Cu(2+) ions from the bulk electrolyte to those regions of the working electrode where maxima of magnetic gradients are present, a structured deposit is formed during diffusion-limited electrodeposition. Lorentz force driven convection was observed during deposition in the low and the high magnetic gradient experiments. The overall fluid motion and the convection near the working electrode were determined experimentally and discussed with regard to the acting magnetic forces and numerical simulations.     

M cells in the rabbit palatine tonsil: the distribution, spatial arrangement and membrane subdomains as defined by confocal lectin histochemistry

We report a patient with eosinophilic granuloma localized to the left mandible who was subsequently shown to have Erdheim-Chester disease involving the lower extremities, omentum and lung. The diagnosis of eosinophilic granuloma was based on the presence of typical CD1a+ Langerhans' cell granulomas in a biopsy of mandible. The diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease was established on the basis of the pattern of radioisotopic uptake by long bones, seen on a technetium bone scan, and the presence of characteristic histopathological features in biopsies of lung and peritoneum. The pathological findings in lung were compatible with the abnormalities observed by tomodensitometry, but strikingly different from those seen in Langerhans' cell granulomatosis. The differences in the histological features of pulmonary involvement seen in the two diseases, and the possible relationship between Langerhans' cell granulomatosis and Erdheim-Chester disease, are discussed.     

Microsatellite instability analysis: a multicenter study for reliability and quality control

The molecular biology section of the Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer study group-Germany, instituted a multicenter study to test the reliability and quality of microsatellite instability (MSI) analysis. Eight laboratories compared MSI analyses performed on 10 matched pairs of normal and tumor DNA from patients with colorectal carcinomas. A variety of techniques were applied to the detection of microsatellite changes: (a) silver and ethidium bromide staining of polyacrylamide gels; (b) radioactive labeling; and (c) automated fluorescence detection. The identification of highly unstable tumors and tumors without MSI was achieved in high concordance. However, the interpretation of the band patterns resulted in divergent classifications at several microsatellite marker loci for a large fraction of this tumor/normal panel. The data on more than 30 primers per case suggest that the enlargement of the microsatellite panel to more than 10 loci does not influence the results. In this study, cases with MSI in less than 10% of loci were classified as microsatellite stable, whereas MSI was diagnosed in cases with more than 40% of all markers unstable. We propose that a panel of five microsatellite loci consisting of repeats with different lengths should be analyzed in an initial analysis. When less than two marker loci display shifts in the microsatellite bands from tumor DNA, the panel should be enlarged to include an additional set of five marker loci. The number of marker loci analyzed as well as the number of unstable marker loci found should always be identified. These criteria should result in reports of MSI that are more comparable between studies.