Effect of applied voltage and fluoride ion content on the formation of zirconia nanotube arrays by anodic oxidation of zirconium

Anodised zirconium (Zr) foil at 20 V for 1 h in Na₂SO₄ with 0.5 wt.% NH₄F resulted in 6 μm thick anodic oxide film with nanotubular structure. At 50 V the anodic layer is consisted of an irregular inner layer with the nanotubular structure only at the top of the layer. Nonetheless, the anodic oxides formed are crystalline and photocatalytic ability of the anodic oxide was assessed by photodegradation of methyl orange.     

Investigation of forming-gas annealed CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> thin film on GaN

The effects of post-deposition annealing temperatures (400, 600, 800, and 1,000°C) in forming gas (95% N₂ + 5% H₂) ambient on metal–organic decomposed cerium oxide (CeO₂) thin films deposited on n-type GaN substrate had been investigated. The occurrence of CeO₂ phase transformation was reported and presence of CeO₂, α-Ce₂O₃, and β-Ga₂O₃ had been detected, depending on the annealing temperature. As the annealing temperature increased, grain size and microstrains of CeO₂ films were, respectively, increased and reduced. Metal–oxide–semiconductor characteristics of the annealed samples were systematically investigated. The highest dielectric breakdown field was perceived by sample annealed at 400°C due to the reduction of semiconductor–oxide interface trap density and effective oxide charge.     

Novel choline transport characteristics in Caco-2 cells

Choline transport is characterized by sodium-dependent high-affinity, sodium-independent low-affinity, and sodium-independent blood-brain barrier transport mechanisms. Each defined mechanism has specific characteristics with regard to affinity for choline, transport capacity, and inhibition by hemicholinium. The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics of choline transport across Caco-2 monolayers. Methods. Choline transport across Caco-2 cell monolayers was determined in both the apical to basal direction and the opposite direction. Further, the determination of calcium dependence and specific inhibitors was made. Determination of the apparent permeability of choline was calculated by established methods. Results. The apical to basal Caco-2 permeability coefficient is 11.11 ± 0.33 × 10^-6 cm/sec with 21.3% of the choline associating with the cells. Meanwhile the basal to apical value is approximately 50% less (5.55 ± 0.14 × 10^-6 cm/sec), suggesting an active apical to basal transport mechanism. Choline transport in this system was inhibited by nifedipine (82%), verapamil (80%), EGTA (36%), and cyclosporin (15%). Conclusions. Choline transport across Caco-2 cells is demonstrated to be active and both pH- and Ca²⁺-dependent. Furthermore, choline transport across Caco-2 monolayers has unique characteristics when compared to traditional choline transport models.     

Proton MR spectroscopy of childhood adrenoleukodystrophy

PURPOSE: To determine the potential of proton MR spectroscopy to monitor patients with childhood-onset cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (COCALD). METHODS: Single-voxel MR spectroscopy was performed in 16 children with COCALD (24 examinations) who had had no treatment and in 7 children (13 examinations) who had had bone marrow transplantation. RESULTS: In the untreated children with clinically active COCALD, the metabolite ratios N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) and NAA/choline (Ch) were decreased while Ch/Cr was increased. This trend agrees well with those reported by other researchers, although different experimental sequences and parameters were used in our study. Comparison of these ratios with those from a control group yielded significant differences in the occipital region. In the children who were clinically stable after bone marrow transplantation, the mean levels of the three ratios were between those of the control subjects and the patients with untreated COCALD: the differences in these ratios approached significance. In patients who had been monitored periodically, MR spectroscopy metabolite ratios correlated well with the dementia rating score, reflecting clinical status. CONCLUSION: There is good correlation between MR spectroscopy metabolite ratios and a patient's clinical status. MR spectroscopy appears to be a useful, noninvasive tool to monitor patients with adrenoleukodystrophy, and it increases the overall sensitivity of MR techniques in clinical applications.     

Characteristics of APA members in the 1962 "National Scientific Register."

8650 (45%) of 19,370 National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel questionnaires mailed to American Psychological Association members were returned within a month. Analysis of a 5% sample (432) provides the following information. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin produced, trained, and employed approximately ? of the 1962 sample. 69% had the doctorate, 28% masters, and 4% bachelor's degree. Age range of respondents was 23-90; median 38. Principal employers were colleges, 39%, and governmental organizations, 28%. Primary full time work activities were clinical and counseling practice 28%, teaching and research 21%, management and administrative tasks, 14%. Median income for full-time employed psychologists was nearly $11,000. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some relationships between the MMPI and a problem checklist.

Problem Checklist responses and MMPI T-scores were obtained for 335 male and 125 female student counselees. The most frequently checked problems dealt with educational and vocational difficulties, and males were nearly twice as variable as females in number of problems checked. "In general, there seems to be some logical correspondence between several of the Checklist problems and personality characteristics as assessed by the MMPI… [but]… Since the number of individuals in most of the high scale groups was so small… valid inference from the… results is impossible." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validity and factor analyses of naval air training predictor and criterion measurers.

"The most substantial relationships existed between tests of academic aptitude and grades in the pre-flight phase of training. Tests of spatial and perceptual abilities correlated highest with final basic and advanced flight grades. Four significant factors derived by factor analysis were: perceptual, academic potential, comprehension of relationships, and applied spatial relations [these factors, however, accounted for only 51 percent of the total variance]. Although the inclusion of criterion variables did not reveal any new factors, it did aid considerably in defining those factors found." 15 references. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Survey of graduate education in psychology: Some trends for the last decade.

In 1963, 182 of 186 psychology departments responded to a questionnaire in the endeavor to develop a contemporary picture of graduate training in psychology. 880 doctoral degrees were granted by 99 departments and 1796 masters degrees were granted by 158 departments. "At the doctoral level, the 13 largest departments produced 36% of all psychology doctorates granted in academic year 1962-63. At the doctoral level, clinical and experimental psychology dominated the areas of specialization with 36% and 29%, respectively, of the degrees granted. "In 1954, 37 or 77% of the 48 psychology doctoral programs in clinical were APA approved; in 1963, 60 or 76% of the 79 programs were approved." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Formation of ZnO nanorod arrays on polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) via a seeded growth low temperature hydrothermal reaction

ZnO nanorod arrays were formed by a low temperature hydrothermal process on seeded polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) sheets. The seed layer was formed using thermal oxidation of a thin evaporated Zn film on the PTFE sheet at 300 °C in air for 10 min. The formation of ZnO nanorod arrays in the hydrothermal reactive bath consisting of hexamethylamine (HMT) and Zn ions occurred via the reaction of hydroxyl ions released during the thermal degradation of HMT with the Zn ions. The seed layer provided a template for the nucleation of the ZnO and HMT which also acted as a chelating agent that promoted growth of the ZnO along the c-axis, leading to the formation of exclusively (0 0 2) ZnO nanorods. The effect of exposure time of the seeded PTFE to the reactive solution on the formation of the nanorods was investigated. Well aligned, relatively uniform tapered 300 nm long nanorods can be formed after 8 h of exposure. Longer exposure times to 24 h resulted in the formation of more uniform nanorods with base diameter averaged of ∼100 nm and the tip diameter of ∼50 nm. XRD analysis showed that the ZnO nanorod array had a hexagonal wurtzite structure. This result is in agreement with HR-TEM observations and Raman scattering analysis. Photoluminescence study showed that a strong UV emission peak was obtained at 380 nm and a small peak at 560 nm, which is associated with green emission. The optical band gap measured from these plots was at 3.2 eV on average.