Circuit fabrication at 17 nm half-pitch by nanoimprint lithography

High density metal cross bars at 17 nm half-pitch were fabricated by nanoimprint lithography. Utilizing the superlattice nanowire pattern transfer technique, a 300-layer GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice was employed to produce an array of 150 Si nanowires (15 nm wide at 34 nm pitch) as an imprinting mold. A successful reproduction of the Si nanowire pattern was demonstrated. Furthermore, a cross-bar platinum nanowire array with a cell density of approximately 100 Gbit/cm(2) was fabricated by two consecutive imprinting processes.     

Slatted floors and solid floors: stress and strain on the bovine hoof capsule analyzed in finite element analysis

An established finite element model of a bovine claw was used to compare mechanical stress levels in a loaded model claw on different types of flooring. The following situations were compared: a claw standing on a solid floor, a claw standing on the edge of a short tie stand, and claws standing on slatted floors with slats of 28 and 40 mm (wide) running parallel and perpendicular to the claw axis. Finite element analysis allowed visualization of stress peaks seen predominantly in the weight-bearing border of the dorsal abaxial wall and of the bulbar region and in the proximal axial wall. Maximum stress values of 13 MPa were found in the model claw loaded on the solid floor and values of 18 to 22 MPa were seen in the model claw loaded on the edge of the solid floor. On slatted floors, stresses increased in the situation in which the claw was not supported under the abaxial wall. Comparison between the other slatted floors showed little difference in amounts of mechanical stress. A clear distinction was detected between the solid floor with full claw contact and the slatted floors. From the point of view of the mechanical stress seen in finite element analysis, a large contact area between claw and floor, as seen in the solid surface floor, is preferable. When use of slatted floors is unavoidable, direction of the slats should run perpendicular to the direction of the walkway to prevent even more mechanical impact in certain footing situations.     

Effects of structure strategy training and signaling on recall of text.

Younger and older adults participated in 9 hr of either structure strategy training, interest strategy training, or no training. Both trained groups reported positive changes in reading, but only the structure strategy group showed increased total recall from a variety of texts and an informative video. Structure strategy training increased the amount of information remembered as well as recall of the most important information. This training affected the organization of recall and was critical for producing readers who could use the structure strategy consistently across a variety of expository texts. In addition, it helped learners use signals in text more effectively. There was an additive effect of training plus signaling for use of the structure strategy consistently across five passages. The strategy switch hypothesis was supported, indicating that signaling affects encoding rather than retrieval processes. The findings have implications for both reading and writing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Give them prizes and they will come: Contingency management for treatment of alcohol dependence.

This study evaluated the efficacy of a contingency management (CM) procedure that provided opportunities to win prizes as reinforcers. At intake to outpatient treatment, 42 alcohol-dependent veterans were randomly assigned to receive standard treatment or standard treatment plus CM, in which they earned the chance to win prizes for submitting negative Breathalyzer samples and completing steps toward treatment goals. Eighty-four percent of the CM participants were retained in treatment for an 8-week period compared with 22% of the standard treatment participants (p×p×     

Weight suppression and weight rebound in ex-smokers treated with fluoxetine.

Fluoxetine's effect (30 mg, 60 mg, and placebo) on postcessation weight gain was studied among participants from a randomized, double-blind 10-week smoking cessation trial who met strict criteria for abstinence and drug levels. It was hypothesized that (a) fluoxetine would dose-dependently suppress postcessation weight gain and (b) drug discontinuation would produce dose-dependent weight rebound. During the on-drug phase, placebo participants gained weight linearly (M?=?2.61 kg), exceeding both fluoxetine groups (30-mg M?=?1.33 kg, 60-mg M?=?1.25 kg). Weight suppression was initially greater for 60 mg than 30 mg, but both were followed by weight gain. Six months off-drug produced greater dose-dependent weight rebound for 60 mg than 30 mg or placebo. Considering both on- and off-drug phases, weight gain for 60 mg of fluoxetine (M?=?6.5 kg) was comparable with that for placebo (M?=?4.7 kg) but greater than that for 30 mg (M?=?3.6 kg). Fluoxetine appears to forestall postcessation weight gain, allowing time for the weight-conscious smoker to focus on quitting smoking rather than on preventing weight gain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

BeamDyn: a high‐fidelity wind turbine blade solver in the FAST modular framework

This paper presents a numerical implementation of the geometrically exact beam theory based on the Legendre‐spectral‐finite‐element (LSFE) method. The displacement‐based geometrically exact beam theory is presented, and the special treatment of three‐dimensional rotation parameters is reviewed. An LSFE is a high‐order finite element with nodes located at the Gauss–Legendre–Lobatto points. These elements can be an order of magnitude more computationally efficient than low‐order finite elements for a given accuracy level. The new module, BeamDyn, is implemented in the FAST modularization framework for dynamic simulation of highly flexible composite‐material wind turbine blades within the FAST aeroelastic engineering model. The framework allows for fully interactive simulations of turbine blades in operating conditions. Numerical examples are provided to validate BeamDyn and examine the LSFE performance as well as the coupling algorithm in the FAST modularization framework. BeamDyn can also be used as a stand‐alone high‐fidelity beam tool. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Selective Enhancement of the Cell-Permeabilizing Activity of Adenylate Cyclase Toxin Does Not Increase Virulence of Bordetella pertussis

The whooping cough agent, Bordetella pertussis, secretes an adenylate cyclase toxin–hemolysin (CyaA, ACT, or AC-Hly) that catalyzes the conversion of intracellular ATP to cAMP and through its signaling annihilates the bactericidal activities of host sentinel phagocytes. In parallel, CyaA permeabilizes host cells by the formation of cation-selective membrane pores that account for the hemolytic activity of CyaA. The pore-forming activity contributes to the overall cytotoxic effect of CyaA in vitro, and it has previously been proposed to synergize with the cAMP-elevating activity in conferring full virulence on B. pertussis in the mouse model of pneumonic infection. CyaA primarily targets myeloid phagocytes through binding of their complement receptor 3 (CR3, integrin α_Mβ₂, or CD11b/CD18). However, with a reduced efficacy, the toxin can promiscuously penetrate and permeabilize the cell membrane of a variety of non-myeloid cells that lack CR3 on the cell surface, including airway epithelial cells or erythrocytes, and detectably intoxicates them by cAMP. Here, we used CyaA variants with strongly and selectively enhanced or reduced pore-forming activity that, at the same time, exhibited a full capacity to elevate cAMP concentrations in both CR3-expressing and CR3-non-expressing target cells. Using B. pertussis mutants secreting such CyaA variants, we show that a selective enhancement of the cell-permeabilizing activity of CyaA does not increase the overall virulence and lethality of pneumonic B. pertussis infection of mice any further. In turn, a reduction of the cell-permeabilizing activity of CyaA did not reduce B. pertussis virulence any importantly. These results suggest that the phagocyte-paralyzing cAMP-elevating capacity of CyaA prevails over the cell-permeabilizing activity of CyaA that appears to play an auxiliary role in the biological activity of the CyaA toxin in the course of B. pertussis infections in vivo.     

Embracing brain and behaviour: Designing programs of complementary neurophysiological and behavioural studies

NeuroIS—the methods and knowledge of neuroscience applied to the information systems (IS) domain—has become an established research field within the IS discipline. A key advantage of NeuroIS is its ability to provide insights into human cognition beyond those obtained using behavioural techniques alone. Nevertheless, in neuroscience, there is renewed interest in examining behaviour together with neurophysiological methods to better inform our understanding of neural processes. In this research opinion article, we argue that in the field of NeuroIS, there is an opportunity for hybrid programs of study that combine neurophysiological and behavioural methods in a complementary manner. We outline four strategies for designing complementary neurophysiological and behavioural experiments in a research program: (1) observe the relationship between neural processes and behavioural change; (2) combine neurophysiological and behavioural methods to enhance internal, external, and ecological validity; (3) extend, rather than replicate, experiments based on theory; and (4) use neurophysiological and behavioural experiments together to evaluate IT artefact design. By applying these strategies, researchers can more effectively design programs using complementary neurophysiological and behavioural methods, which, in turn, can help to provide richer insights into the phenomena under study as well as accelerate the advancement of IS knowledge.     

A GC–MSD method for analysis of dimethyl sulfate in palm oil-based esterquat

Dimethyl sulfate (DMS) is a quarternizing agent for esteramine used for the synthesis of esterquat. To date there is no reliable published method for quantification of DMS in palm-based esterquat. Esterquat is used in the formulation of personal care and textile cleaning. The process of quaternization is usually incomplete and there will be unreacted DMS. This work presents a new simple method involving solvent extraction of DMS followed by analysis with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry detector to quantify the unreacted DMS. This method was validated as per International Council for Harmonization requirements. This novel method showed good repeatability (relative standard deviation [RSD] < 5%) and inter-day with different analyst reproducibility (RSD < 5%). The limits of detection and quantification were 5 and 10 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by the analysis of spiked samples and it was found that good recovery was found at spiking levels of 20, 30, and 50 μg mL⁻¹ with % recovery falling within the 80%–120% acceptable limit. However, at 10 μg mL⁻¹, the percentage recovery was slightly below the recommended limit.     

Structural Aspects of Native and Acid or Enzyme Degraded Amylopectins - a 13C NMR Study

¹³C NMR signal assignments were achieved for amylopectin (from waxy maize starch) dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide mainly by comparison with the corresponding amylose spectrum and chemical shift arguments. From these data a branching degree of amylose and amylopectin of 1.4±0.5% and 6.0±0.7% could be estimated. Investigation of acid and enzyme degraded amylopectins by means of this method revealed that cleavage by these methods proceeded in an analogous manner. Thus, viewed from the standpoint of structural aspects they yielded virtually identical products.