Oxidation processes in magneto-optic and related materials

The surface oxidation processes of thin films of magneto-optic materials, such as the rare-earth transition metal alloys have been studied, starting in ultrahigh vacuum environments, using surface analysis techniques, as a way of modeling the oxidation processes which occur at the base of a defect in an overcoated material, at the instant of exposure to ambient environments. Materials examined have included FeTbCo alloys, as well as those same materials with low percentages of added elements, such a Ta, and their reactivities to both O2 and H2O compared with materials such as thin Fe films coated with ultrathin adlayers of Ti. The surface oxidation pathways for these materials is reviewed, and XPS data presented which indicates the type of oxides formed, and a critical region of Ta concentration which provides optimum protection

Predictors of nurturant parenting in teen mothers living in three generational families

Direct and indirect effects of grandparents on maternal nurturance in teen mothers (TM) living in three-generational families were explored with path analytic techniques in a sample of 107 working-class families. Perceived support from the teen's mother, grandparents' nurturance toward the baby, and the presence of the grandfather as a father figure in the home were hypothesized as increasing TM nurturance. TM nurturance was found to be positively predicted by grandparent nurturance and negatively predicted by TM perceived support from her mother. The strongest predictor of TM nurturance was grandfather nurturance toward the baby.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43953/1/10578_2006_Article_BF02353198.pd

An Evaluation of Peri-Operative Antimicrobial Use and Surgical Site Infection Rates in General Surgery

ABSTRACTThe prescribing, delivery, and effectiveness of surgical prophylaxis were assessed in 201 general surgery patients. Antimicrobials were ordered prior to 156 (73%) of 213 operations. For biliary, colorectal, hernia, breast, and head and neck procedures, prophylaxis was used in 90% (44/49), 100% (46/46), 73% (22/30), 9% (2/22) and 22% (4/18) of cases, respectively. Antimicrobial selection was inappropriate in 15% (23/156) of cases. The administration of 28% (67/238) of prophylactic doses was either not recorded or occurred at inappropriate times relative to the time of incision. Antimicrobial therapy was continued postoperatively in 18% (28/156) of cases for treatment of existing infection or surgical complication. The duration of prophylaxis was inappropriately prolonged following 41% (14/34) of colorectal and 33% (31/94) of other operations. Prophylactic antimicrobials were associated with significant adverse effects in 3.2% (5/156) of patients. Twelve surgical site infections (SSIs) were diagnosed during hospitalization, two were identified upon re-admission, and an additional seven were identified during post-discharge follow-up. A high incidence of SSIs observed following colorectal operations was associated with low doses and inappropriate timing of prophylactic antimicrobials.RÉSUMÉLa prescription, l'administration et l'efficacité de la prophylaxie chirurgicale ont été évalués chez 210 patients subissant une chirurgie générale. Des antibiotiques ont été prescrits avant l'opération pour 156 (73 %) des 213 chirurgies. On a eu recours à l'antibiothérapie prophylactique dans les proportions suivantes, pour chaque type de chirurgie : biliaire 90 % (44/49); colorectale 100 % (46/46); herniaire 73 % (22/30); du sein 10 % (2120); cervico-crânienne 22 % (4/18). Dans 15 % des cas (23/156) le choix de l'antibiotique était inadéquat. De plus, l'administration de doses prophylactiques 28 % (67/238) n'a soit pas été documentée, soit été effectuée au mauvais moment par rapport au moment où l'incision a eu lieu. L'antibiothérapie a été poursuivie dans 18 % (281156) des cas pour le traitement d'une infection existante ou due à une complication chirurgicale. La durée de l'antibiothérapie prophylactique a été indûment prolongée dans 41 % (14/34) des cas de chirurgie colorectale et dans 33 % (31/94) des autres chirurgies. L'antibiothérapie prophylactique a été associée à des réactions indésirables graves chez 3,2 % (5/156) des opérés. Au cours de l'hospitalisation, on a diagnostiqué 12 infections dans la région opérée, dont deux l'ont été lors de leur réadmission et sept autres au cours des suivis après leur congé. On a signalé une fréquence élevée d'infection dans la région opérée lorsque les antibiotiques étaient administrés à faible dose ou à un moment inopportun

GRAIN REFINEMENT OF CVD TiC LAYERS BY AlCl3, ZrCl4 AND BCl3 IMPURITIES

The influence of small amounts of AlCl3, ZrCl4 and BCl3 on CVD of TiC with a TiCl4/H2/CH4 gas mixture under reduced pressure was investigated. Grain refinement of TiC coatings could be obtained by adding dopant compounds at suitable concentrations. Their interactions are explained by the formation of co-deposited phases which interfere with the growth of TiC crystals and promote surface nucleation. The effectiveness of dopants to decrease the grain size is explained by the formation of thin films on the growing TiC crystals having a different chemical bonding than TiC

Body machine interface: remapping motor skills after spinal cord injury.

The goal of a body-machine interface (BMI) is to map the residual motor skills of the users into efficient patterns of control. The interface is subject to two processes of learning: while users practice controlling the assistive device, the interface modifies itself based on the user's residual abilities and preferences. In this study, we combined virtual reality and movement capture technologies to investigate the reorganization of movements that occurs when individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are allowed to use a broad spectrum of body motions to perform different tasks. Subjects, over multiple sessions, used their upper body movements to engage in exercises that required different operational functions such as controlling a keyboard for playing a videogame, driving a simulated wheelchair in a virtual reality (VR) environment, and piloting a cursor on a screen for reaching targets. In particular, we investigated the possibility of reducing the dimensionality of the control signals by finding repeatable and stable correlations of movement signals, established both by the presence of biomechanical constraints and by learned patterns of coordination. The outcomes of these investigations will provide guidance for further studies of efficient remapping of motor coordination for the control of assistive devices and are a basis for a new training paradigm in which the burden of learning is significantly removed from the impaired subjects and shifted to the devices