The role of microstructural evolution during spark plasma sintering on the soft magnetic and electronic properties of a CoFe–Al2O3 soft magnetic composite

Journal of Materials Science - For transformers and inductors to meet the world’s growing demand for electrical power, more efficient soft magnetic materials with high saturation magnetic...     

Sensitive Mother-to-Adolescent Disclosures After Divorce: Is the Experience of Sons Different From That of Daughters?

This study addressed two main questions: (a) Are adolescent sons and daughters exposed to sensitive maternal disclosures after divorce with similar frequency and in similar detail? and (b) Does gender act as a moderator in the association between maternal disclosures and adolescent adjustment difficulties? Forced-choice and open-ended data were collected from 194 adolescents within 2 years after their parents' divorce. Quantitative analyses revealed that although the majority of adolescents experience some level of maternal disclosure, neither frequency nor detail of maternal disclosure differed as a function of adolescent gender. Frequent and detailed maternal disclosures were associated with adolescent adjustment difficulties, primarily psychological distress. Gender did not moderate that significant association. Qualitative analysis shed light on the link between maternal disclosures and adolescent distress, suggested the importance of how disclosures are made, and revealed several gender differences in reactions to maternal disclosures. Implications of the findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

To Be or Not to Be Electronic Money, That's the Question

The European Electronic Money Directive contains a definition of electronic money. However, determining which systems involving the use of electronic value fall under its scope can be more complicated than one might think. This issue is explored in this article through consideration of the question of whether prepaid mobile phone credits qualify as electronic money—a question that is currently being debated by telecommunications operators and regulators.     

Confucian and Socratic learning.

Replies to the comments by R. A. R. Gurung (see record 2003-03405-011) and J. Li (see record 2003-03405-012) regarding comments on the article by R. G. Tweed and D. R. Lehman (2001) which stated that a Confucian-Socratic framework provides a structure for analyzing culture-influenced aspects of academic learning. In this article, Tweed and Lehman argued that these ancient exemplars model approaches to learning continue to differentiate students within a modern Canadian postsecondary context. In this reply, Tweed and Lehman advise caution in how Gurung placed their Confucian-Socratic framework within the context of prior theory on education and epistemological development because these models were developed exclusively in the West. Furthermore, Tweed and Lehman believe that Li's argument misinterpreted their article, and that they should of consistently used the term "personal reform" rather than "behavioral reform" in order to communicate the depth of personal change envisioned by Confucius. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The absolute number of trans-rearrangements between the TCRG and TCRB loci is predictive of lymphoma risk: a severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) murine model

Pilot studies in human populations have demonstrated a correlation between the level of antigen receptor trans-rearrangements and risk (at the population level) of lymphoid malignancy. Irradiation of newborn severe combined immune deficiency mice results in an increased risk of subsequent development of thymic lymphoma (100% of mice so irradiated are dead of thymic lymphoma by 20 weeks of age). We, therefore, assayed the occurrence of trans-rearrangements in this well-controlled mouse mutant system and found a 50-100-fold increase in the absolute number of TCRGV-TCRBJ trans-rearrangements compared to unirradiated littermates (and a comparable fold increase over age-matched BALB/c mice) at 2 weeks following irradiation. We also found a marked disproportion in generating trans-rearrangements versus intralocus rearrangements in the severe combined immune deficiency system compared to BALB/c, independent of irradiation. The trans-rearrangements noted were polyclonal in nature. These data, again, suggest that the absolute level of antigen receptor trans-rearrangements may serve as a biomarker of lymphoma risk.     

A broadly cross-protective monoclonal antibody binding to Escherichia coli and Salmonella lipopolysaccharides

During the last decade, episodes of sepsis have increased and Escherichia coli has remained the most frequent clinical isolate. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS; endotoxin) are the major toxic and antigenic components of gram-negative bacteria and qualify as targets for therapeutic interventions. Molecules that neutralize the toxic effects of LPS are actively investigated. In this paper, we describe a murine monoclonal antibody (MAb; WN1 222-5), broadly cross-reactive and cross-protective for smooth (S)-form and rough (R)-form LPS. As shown in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the passive hemolysis assay, WN1 222-5 binds to the five known E. coli core chemotypes, to Salmonella core, and to S-form LPS having these core structures. In immunoblots, it is shown to react with both the nonsubstituted core LPS and with LPS carrying O-side chains, indicating the exposure of the epitope in both S-form and R-form LPS. This MAb of the immunoglobulin G2a class is not lipid A reactive but binds to E. coli J5, an RcP+ mutant which carries an inner core structure common to many members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Phosphate groups present in the inner core contribute to the epitope but are not essential for the binding of WN1 222-5 to complete core LPS. Cross-reactivity for clinical bacterial isolates is broad. WN1 222-5 binds to all E. coli clinical isolates tested so far (79 blood isolates, 80 urinary isolates, and 21 fecal isolates) and to some Citrobacter, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella isolates. This pattern of reactivity indicates that its binding epitope is widespread among members of the Enterobacteriaceae. WN1 222-5 exhibits biologically relevant activities. In vitro, it inhibits the Limulus amoebocyte lysate assay activity of S-form and R-form LPS in a dose-dependent manner and it neutralizes the LPS-induced release of clinically relevant monokines (interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor). In vivo, WN1 222-5 blocks endotoxin-induced pyrogenicity in rabbits and lethality in galactosamine-sensitized mice. The discovery of WN1 222-5 settles the long-lasting controversy over the existence of anti-core LPS MAbs with both cross-reactive and cross-protective activity, opening new possibilities for the immunotherapy of sepsis caused by gram-negative bacteria.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of potential tumor-inhibitory analogues of trimelamol (2,4,6-tris[(hydroxymethyl)methylamino]-1,3,5-triazine) having electron-withdrawing groups in place of methyl

In exploring the structural features which determine the antitumor activity of 2,4,6-tris-[(hydroxymethyl)methylamino]-1,3,5-triazine (trimelamol, 1), we have synthesized analogues in which the methyl groups have been replaced by the electron-withdrawing substituents 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl (5), propargyl (13), and cyanomethyl (15) via the respective tris(alkylamino)triazines 3, 12, and 14. Three mono[(hydroxymethyl)amino]triazines (4, 7, and 10) were also prepared. All the new tris(hydroxymethyl) derivatives showed cytotoxicities toward a variety of experimental rodent and human ovarian tumor cell lines similar to those shown by 1, the cyanomethyl analogue (15) having the most favorable profile. Mono(hydroxymethyl) derivatives (4 and 7) were ca. one-third as toxic. The new tris(hydroxymethyl) analogues were more stable to aqueous hydrolysis than was 1. Half-life (pH 7.5) values were, for 1, 120 min, for 5, 690 min, for 13, 450 min, and for 15, 275 min, but at pH 2.0, 15 (t1/2 350 min) was the most stable. This cyanomethyl analogue was also the most water-soluble, being comparable to 1 whereas 5 and 13 were poorly soluble.     

Integrated magnetic full wave converter with flexible output inductor

A new integrated magnetic full wave DC/DC power converter that provides flexible transformer design by incorporating an independent output inductor winding is introduced. The transformer is implemented on a traditional three-leg magnetic core. The inductor winding can be separately designed to control the output current ripple. The cross-sectional area of the inductor core leg can be reduced dramatically. The operation and performance of the proposed circuit are verified on a 100 W prototype converter.