Functionalized Cluster‐Assembled Magnetic Nanostructures for Applications to high Integration‐Density Devices

This paper presents recent results on the preparation and characterization of original magnetic nanostructures from nanoclusters preformed in the gas phase. Magnetic binary‐clusters (i.e. Co‐Sm, Co‐Pt, Co‐Ag) with rather well controlled sizes, structures and compositions, are prepared in the gas phase using a combined laser vaporization‐rare gas condensation source and subsequently deposited at low energy (LECBD : Low Energy Cluster Beam Deposition) on various functionalized substrates to grow cluster‐assembled magnetic nanostructures exhibiting specific magnetic properties. Especially a high magnetic anisotropy and consequently a high magnetic blocking temperature compatible with future applications to high density memory devices and spin electronics are expected. In this context of applications, 2D‐organized arrays of functionalized binary‐cluster assembled dots are prepared by LECBD on FIB‐functionalized substrates (FIB: Focussed Ion Beam) with the ultimate objective to reach areal densities in the range of the Tbits/in².     

Identification of the inertia matrix of a rotating body based on errors‐in‐variables models

This paper proposes a procedure for identifying the inertia matrix of a rotating body. The procedure based on Euler's equation governing rotational motion assumes errors‐in‐variables models in which all measurements, torque as well as angular velocities, are corrupted by noises. In order for consistent estimation, we introduce an extended linear regression model by augmenting the regressors with constants and the parameters with noise‐contributed terms. A transformation, based on low‐pass filtering, of the extended model cancels out angular acceleration terms in the regressors. Applying the method of least correlation to the model identifies the elements of the inertia matrix. Analysis shows that the estimates converge to the true parameters as the number of samples increases to infinity. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the performance of the algorithm and support the analytical consistency. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detailed study and projection of hard breakdown evolution in ultra-thin gate oxides

The mechanism responsible for post-soft breakdown leakage current increase in ultra-thin oxides depends on the nature of the conducting filament formed at the instant of dielectric breakdown. The conductance of the filament formed during soft breakdown has been observed to be either stable until hard breakdown occurs or to increase continually with time. The acceleration factors for predicting hard breakdown are different in each case. Recent experimental results suggest that the “hardness” of the first breakdown influences the type of conducting filament formed during the soft breakdown event the time in which hard breakdown subsequently occurs. Electron current-induced defect formation appears to be the driving force for the eventual hard breakdown event.     

Cigarette smoking is an independent predictor of nonadherence in HIV-infected individuals receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Current treatment guidelines for the management of HIV-infected individuals emphasize the importance of excellent adherence to antiretroviral medications. We conducted a prospective 24-week study of adherence to lopinavir/ritonavir in a group of 64 subjects using the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS). A range of demographic and clinical information, including cigarette smoking status, was collected from each participant. The overall mean adherence rate of the study cohort was 72.8% (SD = 22.2%). Current smokers took 63.5% (SD = 22.1) of prescribed doses, compared with 84.8% (SD = 15.8%) in nonsmokers (p<.001). We found no difference in adherence rates between ex-smokers and subjects who had never smoked. In a multiple linear regression model, factors independently associated with lower adherence rates included current smoking (p = .001), lower CD4+ lymphocyte count at enrollment (p = .04), and lower educational attainment (p = .04). Depression and history of illicit substance use were not associated with nonadherence. In our study cohort, current cigarette smoking was an important and significant marker of inferior adherence to antiretroviral medication.     

Concurrent task demands and individual differences in the architecture of reading: Discriminating artifacts from real McCoys.

K. R. Paap and R. W. Noel (1991) observed a striking effect in which low-frequency exception words were pronounced faster under a larger memory load although other types of words slowed down. This effect strongly favored dual-route models of pronunciation. S. E. Bernstein and T. H. Carr (1996) reported that only certain selected readers produced Paap and Noel's effect, suggesting individual differences in reading-system architecture. P. M. Pexman and S. J. Lupker (1998) criticized Bernstein and Carr's finding as artifactual and failed to replicate it with a different way of selecting readers. They also failed to support an alternative individual-difference hypothesis of their own. In the current article, the authors developed a new approach to identifying individual differences and applied the approach to a variety of data. They found little evidence of systematic individual differences in the occurrence of Paap and Noel's effect, and indeed, they found little evidence that the effect could be replicated at all. Therefore, they gave up. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multicenter study of case finding in elderly emergency department patients

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility of a brief comprehensive case-finding program for detecting functional, cognitive, and social impairments among elderly ED patients and to estimate the prevalence of unknown, undetected, or untreated impairments elderly patients may have. METHODS: A multicenter prospective study conducted at five private and public hospital EDs in five different communities across the country. Patients aged 60 years and older released to their homes during 52 randomly selected evening and weekend shifts between February 1 and April 30, 1993, were eligible for the case-finding program. They were evaluated by medical students who received special training (instructional videotape, supervised examinations, and conference calls) in the administration of a standardized 17-item protocol that included an interview and simple tests of function. The patients' physicians were notified of the screening results and were asked to return a one-month follow-up questionnaire. The physicians answered whether the presumed problem had been confirmed and whether a treatment plan for a new problem had been developed. RESULTS: Patient acceptance of the case-finding program was good; 252 of 338 eligible patients (75%) agreed to participate, and 281 conditions were detected for 242 screened patients (96%). The most frequently reported problems were with: performing the activities of daily living (79%); vision (55%); lack of influenza vaccination (54%); home environment (49%); mental status (46%); general health (41%); falls (40%); and depression (36%). The physicians returned questionnaires for 153 patients (63%); 76 patients (50%) were evaluated at follow-up visits, during which 47 newly identified problems (62%) were confirmed and treatment plans were developed for 25 problems (53%) among 21 patients. A mean time of 17.7 +/- 10.2 minutes was required to complete the screen. CONCLUSIONS: A brief comprehensive case-finding program for functional, cognitive, and social impairment among elderly ED patients is feasible. The screening uncovered a significant amount of morbidity among older patients visiting EDs.     

Murine NIMA-related kinases are expressed in patterns suggesting distinct functions in gametogenesis and a role in the nervous system

NIMA protein kinase is a major regulator of progression into mitosis in Aspergillus nidulans. Dominant negative forms of NIMA protein prevent entrance into mitosis in HeLa cells, suggesting that mammals have a similar pathway. We have reported previously the isolation of a murine NIMA-related kinase, designated Nek1, and more recently several additional NIMA-related human kinases have been cloned. The existence of several mammalian NIMA-related genes raises the questions of whether the different mammalian members have redundant, overlapping or distinct functions, and whether these functions are related to the role of NIMA in controlling mitosis. To address these questions we have studied the expression patterns of the different murine nek genes. To this end, we isolated a murine nek2 cDNA and compared its patterns of expression, during both gametogenesis and embryogenesis, to those of nek1. Both genes were highly expressed in developing germ cells, albeit in distinct patterns. In both females and males, nek1 is expressed much earlier than nek2, suggesting only limited ability for functional redundancy. Surprisingly, a striking specificity of nek1 expression was found: high levels of nek1 RNA were observed in distinct regions of the nervous system, most notably in neurons of the peripheral ganglia. These patterns suggest that the different mammalian NIMA-related kinases participate in different phases of the meiotic process and may also have functions other than cell cycle control.