Linear Chains of Styrene and Methyl-Styrene Molecules and their Heterojunctions on Silicon: Theory and Experiment

We report on the synthesis, STM imaging and theoretical studies of the structure, electronic structure and transport properties of linear chains of styrene and methyl-styrene molecules and their heterojunctions on hydrogen-terminated dimerized silicon (001) surfaces. The theory presented here accounts for the essential features of the experimental STM data including the nature of the corrugation observed along the molecular chains and the pronounced changes in the contrast between the styrene and methyl-styrene parts of the molecular chains that are observed as the applied bias is varied. The observed evolution with applied bias of the STM profiles near the ends of the molecular chains is also explained. Calculations are also presented of electron transport along styrene linear chains adsorbed on the silicon surface at energies in the vicinity of the molecular HOMO and LUMO levels. For short styrene chains this lateral transport is found to be due primarily to direct electron transmission from molecule to molecule rather than through the silicon substrate, especially in the molecular LUMO band. Differences between the calculated position-dependences of the STM current around a junction of styrene and methyl-styrene molecular chains under positive and negative tip bias are related to the nature of lateral electron transmission along the molecular chains and to the formation in the LUMO band of an electronic state localized around the heterojunction.Comment: 17 pages plus 11 figures. To appear in Physical Review

An Exploratory Evaluation of a Treatment Mall at a State Psychiatric Hospital

The Treatment Mall is a model of inpatient psychosocial treatment provided to adults with severe mental illness to deliver recovery-oriented, evidenced-based treatment and has been implemented in state mental hospitals across the United States. The present study is an exploratory evaluation of a recently implemented Treatment Mall in a state mental hospital. To evaluate this program, the experiences of clients (N=28), staff (N=32), and administrators (N=5) were compiled using a quantitative questionnaire and focused on empowerment, skill development, and satisfaction. Additionally, data from the hospital database (N=183) were extracted and analyzed by comparing frequencies of occurrence 90 days before and 90 days after Treatment Mall implementation. The findings indicate that clients reported learning skills and were satisfied with how they were treated at the Treatment Mall. Female clients and staff viewed independent living and recovery possibilities significantly more positively than male clients and staff. Hospital performance indicators showed no significant changes pre to post implementation.

Production method for making rare earth compounds

A method of making a rare earth compound, such as a earth-transition metal permanent magnet compound, without the need for producing rare earth metal as a process step, comprises carbothermically reacting a rare earth oxide to form a rare earth carbide and heating the rare earth carbide, a compound-forming reactant (e.g. a transition metal and optional boron), and a carbide-forming element (e.g. a refractory metal) that forms a carbide that is more thermodynamically favorable than the rare earth carbide whereby the rare earth compound (e.g. Nd.sub.2 Fe.sub.14 B or LaNi.sub.5) and a carbide of the carbide-forming element are formed

Some Evidence on the Relevance of the Chain-reaction Theory in Selected Countries

In this paper we challenge the traditional labour market view, which argues that unemployment is determined in the long-term by its equilibrium rate, which in turn is affected by permanent shocks of some exogenous variables. In our empirical approach we decompose the dynamics of employment and labour force into transitory and permanent components. We estimated a small labour market model using VAR techniques. By simulating the model we are able to quantify the relative importance of the permanent and transitory components for the movements of the unemployment rate in four countries (Austria, France, UK, and USA). We find that the transitory component has a significant impact on unemployment only in the US. In contrast to that the permanent component appear to influence unemployment significantly in all included countries. In combination with the observation that labour market dynamics differ between countries, this may have powerful policy implications.Unemployment, Natural rate hypothesis, Labour markets, Employment, Adjustment costs

Informed Blending of Databases for Emotional Speech Synthesis

The goal of this project was to build a unit selection voice that could portray emotions with varying intensities. A suitable definition of an emotion was developed along with a descriptive framework that supported the work carried out. A single speaker was recorded portraying happy and angry speaking styles. Additionally a neutral database was also recorded. A target cost function was implemented that chose units according to emotion mark-up in the database. The Dictionary of Affect supported the emotional target cost function by providing an emotion rating for words in the target utterance. If a word was particularly ’emotional’, units from that emotion were favoured. In addition intensity could be varied which resulted in a bias to select a greater number emotional units. A perceptual evaluation was carried out and subjects were able to recognise reliably emotions with varying amounts of emotional units present in the target utterance

Randomized controlled trial of Family Nurture Intervention in the NICU: assessments of length of stay, feasibility and safety

Background: While survival rates for preterm infants have increased, the risk for adverse long-term neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes remains very high. In response to the need for novel, evidence-based interventions that prevent such outcomes, we have assessed Family Nurture Intervention (FNI), a novel dual mother-infant intervention implemented while the infant is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Here, we report the first trial results, including the primary outcome measure, length of stay in the NICU and, the feasibility and safety of its implementation in a high acuity level IV NICU. Methods: The FNI trial is a single center, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital for mothers and their singleton or twin infants of 26–34 weeks gestation. Families were randomized to standard care (SC) or (FNI). FNI was implemented by nurture specialists trained to facilitate affective communication between mother and infant during specified calming interactions. These interactions included scent cloth exchange, sustained touch, vocal soothing and eye contact, wrapped or skin-to-skin holding, plus family-based support interactions. Results: A total of 826 infants born between 26 and 34 weeks during the 3.5 year study period were admitted to the NICU. After infant and mother screening plus exclusion due to circumstances that prevented the family from participating, 373 infants were eligible for the study. Of these, we were unable to schedule a consent meeting with 56, and consent was withheld by 165. Consent was obtained for 150 infants from 115 families. The infants were block randomized to groups of N = 78, FNI and N = 72, SC. Sixteen (9.6%) of the randomized infants did not complete the study to home discharge, 7% of those randomized to SC and 12% of FNI infants. Mothers in the intervention group engaged in 3 to 4 facilitated one- to two-hour sessions/week. Intent to treat analyses revealed no significant difference between groups in medical complications. The mean length of stay was not significantly affected by the intervention. Conclusion: There was no significant effect demonstrated with this intervention amount on the primary short-term outcome, length of stay. FNI can be safely and feasibly implemented within a level IV NICU

Randomized controlled trial of Family Nurture Intervention in the NICU: assessments of length of stay, feasibility and safety

Background: While survival rates for preterm infants have increased, the risk for adverse long-term neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes remains very high. In response to the need for novel, evidence-based interventions that prevent such outcomes, we have assessed Family Nurture Intervention (FNI), a novel dual mother-infant intervention implemented while the infant is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Here, we report the first trial results, including the primary outcome measure, length of stay in the NICU and, the feasibility and safety of its implementation in a high acuity level IV NICU. Methods: The FNI trial is a single center, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital for mothers and their singleton or twin infants of 26–34 weeks gestation. Families were randomized to standard care (SC) or (FNI). FNI was implemented by nurture specialists trained to facilitate affective communication between mother and infant during specified calming interactions. These interactions included scent cloth exchange, sustained touch, vocal soothing and eye contact, wrapped or skin-to-skin holding, plus family-based support interactions. Results: A total of 826 infants born between 26 and 34 weeks during the 3.5 year study period were admitted to the NICU. After infant and mother screening plus exclusion due to circumstances that prevented the family from participating, 373 infants were eligible for the study. Of these, we were unable to schedule a consent meeting with 56, and consent was withheld by 165. Consent was obtained for 150 infants from 115 families. The infants were block randomized to groups of N = 78, FNI and N = 72, SC. Sixteen (9.6%) of the randomized infants did not complete the study to home discharge, 7% of those randomized to SC and 12% of FNI infants. Mothers in the intervention group engaged in 3 to 4 facilitated one- to two-hour sessions/week. Intent to treat analyses revealed no significant difference between groups in medical complications. The mean length of stay was not significantly affected by the intervention. Conclusion: There was no significant effect demonstrated with this intervention amount on the primary short-term outcome, length of stay. FNI can be safely and feasibly implemented within a level IV NICU

High-Specific Impulse Hall Thrusters, Part 1: Influence of Current Density and Magnetic Field

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76841/1/AIAA-15952-715.pd

An Integrated Imaging Approach to the Study of Oxidative Stress Generation by Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Living Cells

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of action of many environmental agents commonly involve oxidative stress resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction. Zinc is a common environmental metallic contaminant that has been implicated in a variety of oxidant-dependent toxicological responses. Unlike ions of other transition metals such as iron, copper, and vanadium, Zn(2+) does not generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) through redox cycling. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the role of oxidative stress in zinc-induced toxicity. METHODS: We used an integrated imaging approach that employs the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-specific fluorophore Peroxy Green 1 (PG1), the mitochondrial potential sensor 5,5 ,6,6 -tetrachloro-1,1 ,3,3 -tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1), and the mitochondria-targeted form of the redox-sensitive genetically encoded fluorophore MTroGFP1 in living cells. RESULTS: Zinc treatment in the presence of the Zn(2+) ionophore pyrithione of A431 skin carcinoma cells preloaded with the H(2)O(2)-specific indicator PG1 resulted in a significant increase in H(2)O(2) production that could be significantly inhibited with the mitochondrial inhibitor carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone. Mitochondria were further implicated as the source of zinc-induced H(2)O(2) formation by the observation that exposure to zinc caused a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Using MTroGFP1, we showed that zinc exposure of A431 cells induces a rapid loss of reducing redox potential in mitochondria. We also demonstrated that zinc exposure results in rapid swelling of mitochondria isolated from mouse hearts. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these findings show a disruption of mitochondrial integrity, H(2)O(2) formation, and a shift toward positive redox potential in cells exposed to zinc. These data demonstrate the utility of real-time, live-cell imaging to study the role of oxidative stress in toxicological responses

Clinical features of the pathogenic m.5540G>A mitochondrial transfer RNA tryptophan gene mutation

AbstractMitochondrial DNA disease is one of the most common groups of inherited neuromuscular disorders and frequently associated with marked phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity. We describe an adult patient who initially presented with childhood-onset ataxia without a family history and an unremarkable diagnostic muscle biopsy. Subsequent multi-system manifestations included basal ganglia calcification, proteinuria, cataract and retinitis pigmentosa, prompting a repeat muscle biopsy that showed features consistent with mitochondrial myopathy 13 years later. She had a stroke with restricted diffusion change in the basal ganglia and internal capsule at age 44 years. Molecular genetic testing identified a previously-reported pathogenic, heteroplasmic mutation in the mitochondrial-encoded transfer RNA tryptophan (MT-TW) gene which based on family studies was likely to have arisen de novo in our patient. Interestingly, we documented an increase in the mutant mtDNA heteroplasmy level in her second biopsy (72% compared to 56%), reflecting the progression of clinical disease