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The nature of the proton in water is one of the most fundamental aspects of aqueous chemistry, and one important aspect of the aqueous proton is its anomalously high mobility [...], We report the OH stretching vibrational spectra of size-selected [H.sup.+][([H.sub.2]O).sub.n] clusters through the region of the pronounced 'magic number' at n = 21 in the duster distribution. Sharp feature8 are observed in the spectra and assigned to excitation of the dangling OH groups throughout the size range 6 ≤ n ≤ 27. A multiplet of such bands appears at small duster sizes. This pattern simplifies to a doublet at n = 11, with the doublet persisting up to n = 20, but then collapsing to a single line in the n = 21 and n = 22 dusters and reemerging at n = 23. This spectral simplification provides direct evidence that, for the magic number cluster, all the dangling OH groups arise from water molecules in similar binding sites.

To understand the origins of stress in thin films, we have used wafer curvature to measure the stress evolution during electrodeposition of Ni on lithographically patterned Si substrates. The stress is measured as the hemispherical islands grow and impinge upon each other, forming interfacial boundaries between them.We relate the results to a model for polycrystalline films in which the stress is attributed to competing processes occurring where the layers in adjacent grains grow into each other and form new segments of grain boundary. This model predicts that the stress in each layer depends on the rate at which the grain boundary is growing when that layer is incorporated into the film. The calculations agree with the measured stress vs thickness using a single set of fitting parameters for five different growth rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During deposition, many thin films go through a range of stress states, changing from compressive to tensile and back again. In addition, the stress depends strongly on the processing and material parameters. We have developed a simple analytical model to describe the stress evolution in terms of a kinetic competition between different mechanisms of stress generation and relaxation at the triple junction where the surface and grain boundary intersect. The model describes how the steady state stress scales with the dimensionless parameter D/LR where D is the diffusivity, R is the growth rate, and L is the grain size. It also explains the transition from tensile to compressive stress as the microstructure evolves from isolated islands to a continuous film. We compare calculations from the model with measurements of the stress dependence on grain size and growth rate in the steady state regime and of the evolution of stress with thickness for different temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray diffraction patterns showed that crystallinity of the annealed ZnO films was improved by thermal annealing. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that columnar structures were preferentially formed in ZnO thin films due to thermal annealing, and electron energy loss spectroscopy images showed that annealing caused O2 atoms to diffuse out from the upper region in the ZnO thin film. The effects of thermal treatment on the formation of the columnar structures in ZnO thin films grown on Si (100) substrates are described on the basis of the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new variable step-size diffusion affine projection algorithm (VSS-DAPA) to advance the filter performance of the diffusion affine projection algorithm (DAPA). The proposed VSS strategy is developed for the DAPA, which can solve the distributed estimation problem over diffusion networks well. To obtain the optimal step size reasonably, we seek the update recursion of mean-square deviation (MSD) that is suitable for the DAPA. The step size is optimally given through the minimization for the MSD of the DAPA at each iteration. The derived step size through the MSD minimization improves the filter performance with respect to the convergence and the estimation error in steady state. The results based on simulations demonstrate that the proposed VSS-DAPA performs better than the existing algorithms with a system-identification scenario in diffusion network. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The prevalence of community-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is increasing throughout the world and is an important cause of skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) in children and neonates. Aim To describe the successful control of an outbreak caused by a new strain of CA-MRSA in a newborn nursery. The investigation of the outbreak in July 2012 is reported with the control measures taken. Molecular typing of the MRSA isolates was performed. Findings An outbreak of SSTI caused by CA-MRSA occurred in a newborn nursery. Six neonates were infected in a one-month period [infection rate: 8.5% (6/71)]. A new variant of CA-MRSA was responsible, which was characterized as USA300-related, Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL) positive, arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) negative, sequence type 8 (ST8), staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type IVa, agr type I and spa type t008. The outbreak among term neonates followed a rapid transmission pattern and was successfully controlled by implementing various outbreak control measures, including universal chlorhexidine bathing. Conclusion This is the first report of a hospital outbreak caused by a USA300-related CA-MRSA clone in Korea. Early recognition and reinforcement of infection control measures are important in decreasing transmission of CA-MRSA in a hospital setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the property and effects of using magnetic bearings for the synchronous magnetic axial coupling operation of magnetic wireless pumps. Typically, the developed magnetic wireless pump can be driven by both synchronous radial and axial coupling. However, because of the radial direction of magnetization in the fully magnetic impeller and the strong coupling force, synchronous magnetic radial coupling has been used for magnetic wireless pumps. To utilize a synchronous axial coupling with weaker coupling force to driving the pump, we considered a magnetic bearing mechanism using the magnetic array of rectangular Nd-Fe-B magnets (14 pieces). The proposed magnetic bearing resulted in a magnetically levitated effect, stable operation, and wide torque variation in the magnetic axial coupling. We investigated the magnetic properties and the enhanced driving performance of the magnetic wireless pump through simulation with experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

PurposeTo evaluate and compare the diagnostic ability of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for detecting localized retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defects in topographic RNFL maps and circumpapillary RNFL (cpRNFL) thickness measurements.MethodsSixty-four eyes with localized RNFL defects in red-free RNFL photographs and 72 healthy eyes were included. All participants were imaged with SD-OCT. The area and angular width of the localized RNFL defects were measured with ImageJ software on RNFL thickness map, significance map (yellow pixels, <5% level), and red-free RNFL photographs. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were calculated for cpRNFL thickness, macular inner retina thickness, and RNFL maps (thickness, significance) according to the quantitative measurements and a <5% level of classification to distinguish eyes with localized RNFL defects from healthy eyes.ResultsRNFL thickness map (sensitivity 96.9-98.4%, specificity 86.1-98.6%, and AUCs 0.915-0.992) and significance map (sensitivity 96.9-98.4%, specificity 88.9-95.8%, and AUCs 0.937-0.983) showed superior performance in detecting localized RNFL defects compared with other parameters (P-value 0.001-0.024) except for 36 sector cpRNFL thickness (sensitivity 92.2%, specificity 87.5%, and AUCs 0.898; P-value 0.080-0.545). The sensitivity for detecting RNFL defects was related to the angular width, area, and depth of the RNFL defects in the cpRNFL (4 sector, 12 sector) and macular inner retinal measurements. RNFL thickness and significance maps showed a constant sensitivity regardless of variations in angular width, area, and depth of the RNFL defects.ConclusionRNFL thickness and significance maps could be used to distinguish eyes with localized RNFL defects from healthy eyes more effectively than cpRNFL thickness and macular inner retina thickness measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress generation was examined during the electrodeposition of NixPt1-x alloys from 0.5 M NaCl + 3 mM K2PtCl4 + 0.1 M NiCl2 (pH = 2.5), using the wafer curvature method, in films measuring less than 50 nm in thickness. Steady state tensile stress, ranging from 0.5 to 1.4 GPa, developed in the NixPt1-x films and showed a strong dependence on electrode potential. Deposit grain size, measured by XRD line broadening, appears to be independent of deposition potential, suggesting that nuclei coalescence, though a primary source of tensile stress, does not determine its dependence on the potential. However the steady state stress of the Ni-rich alloys shows a strong growth rate dependence, similar to that of pure Ni, which is consistent with an increase in free volume that can be associated with grain boundaries, as well as vacancy or vacancy cluster formation. Steady state stresses as large as 1.4 GPa can be generated in 35 nm Ni-rich electrodeposits. However, these large stresses can be reduced by 35% if the composition of the film is changed incrementally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stress behavior of hydrogen adsorption/absorption into Pd layers electrodeposited on (111)-textured gold has been examined in alkaline solution. Although the kinetics are much slower than in acidic solution, the stress induced by H adsorption and absorption is very similar. Hydrogen adsorption causes a -0.46 N/m change in the surface stress. Compressive stress generation is consistent with first principle calculations as well as experimental data for hydrogen on Pt. Hydrogen absorption causes GPa-level compressive stress in the Pd due to the large volume expansion associated with the α-PdH to β-PdH phase transition. Although some indication of plastic deformation during hydride formation was observed, the large tensile coherency stress due to the + 4.9% lattice misfit between Pd and Au keeps the hydride cycle in the elastic regime. The stress measurement probes only those processes concerned with adsorption and absorption. Since the wafer curvature measurement responds directly to the volumetric strain induced by hydrogen incorporation and is insensitive to parasitic reactions, it serves as a nice complement to the more traditional electroanalytical techniques for studying hydrogen absorption kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is difficult to predict or measure the breakdown strength of SF6 gas in the high pressure range. Therefore, it is hard to find reference data of the high pressure SF6 gas breakdown strength. This paper attempts to provide empirically a novel criterion for the estimation of SF6 gas breakdown strength in a spark gap switch. For this purpose, J.C. Martin's breakdown field strength of non-uniform gap in air and Kuffel et al's breakdown field strength by exploiting streamer criterion of uniform field in SF6 gas are adopted. The research is made for the empirical method of predicting the high pressure SF6 breakdown strength and compared results have been ascertained with several experimental data from different investigators in a wide range of pd (pressure times distance) and field enhancement factor (FEF). For further confirmation of the empirical approach, we have designed and developed a high pressure spark gap switch to be closely coupled to a high voltage PFN-Marx system. The designed spark gap switch operates above 1 MV. Our tests have verified the prediction of the breakdown strength of the SF6 filled spark gap switch in a pd range of 0.27-1.62 MPa . cm (2.7 to 16.2 bar.cm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From an investigation of a statistical model-based voice activity detection (VAD), it is discovered that a simple heuristic way like a geometric mean has been adopted for a decision rule based on the likelihood ratio (LR) test. For a successful VAD operation, the authors first review the behaviour mechanism of support vector machine (SVM) and then propose a novel technique, which employs the decision function of SVM using the LRs, while the conventional techniques perform VAD comparing the geometric mean of the LRs with a given threshold value. The proposed SVM-based VAD is compared to the conventional statistical model-based scheme, and shows better performances in various noise environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether manual acupuncture at the Siguan points (bilateral points LI4 and LR3) affects intestinal motility in healthy human subjects. Twenty healthy male subjects were randomly assigned either to real acupuncture (RA) at Siguan points or sham acupuncture (SA) groups in a crossover manner. All subjects underwent two experimental sessions; the RA group in the first session was treated with SA in the second session after a 2-week washout period, and vice versa. Each subject took 20 radio-markers and was treated with acupuncture 0, 12, 24, and 36 hours after radio-marker intake. Radiographs were taken at 6, 12.5, 24.5, and 48 hours, and the effect of acupuncture on intestinal motility was evaluated based on the distribution of the radio-markers in the ileum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid/ rectum, and outside the body. Defecating habit was monitored during the trial, and complete blood counts were checked before and after the two acupuncture sessions. The RA and SA results showed extremely similar distributions of the radio-markers in these five regions of the alimentary canal and outside the body in radiographs taken at four different times, verifying that there was no effect of manual acupuncture at the Siguan points on intestinal motility, at least in healthy human subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vacuum and teat-cup chamber ratio are important operating parameters that affect milking performance by milking machines. In addition, the design and composition of materials are major elements affecting the performance characteristics of (teat-cup) milking machine liners. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of vacuum and teat-cup chamber ratio on the performance of a unique monoblock silicone milking machine liner that is round in the open position and triangular in the collapsed position. System vacuum settings (set at receiver) were 40.6, 43.9, and 47.3 kPa, whereas teat-cup chamber ratios were 60:40, 65:35, and 70:30. Milk yield was greatest at a vacuum of 43.9 kPa. Manual adjustments and kickoffs were very low (<2%) at all vacuum levels and for all ratios. The interaction of vacuum level and ratio was significant for milking duration, peak flow rate, and average flow rate, but not for milk yield. Average and peak milk flow rates increased at each increasing vacuum level and each wider ratio, whereas milking duration decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose two fuzzy data mining approaches for microarray analysis, namely Fuzzy Associative Gene Expression (FAGE) and Ripple Effective Gene Expression Rule (REGER) algorithms. Both of them first transform microarray data into fuzzy items, and then use fuzzy operators and specially-designed data structures to discover the relationships among genes. Through the proposed algorithms, a novel pattern named Ripple Pattern is discovered that indicates the genes active at the same time with their linguistic terms being monotone in-creasing or decreasing. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithms are effective in discovering novel and useful rules from microarray data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the OH stretching vibrational spectra of size-selected H[sup+](H[sub2]O)[subn] clusters through the region of the pronounced "magic number" at n = 21 in the cluster distribution. Sharp features are observed in the spectra and assigned to excitation of the dangling OH groups throughout the size range 6 ≤ n ≤ 27. A multiplet of such bands appears at small cluster sizes. This pattern simplifies to a doublet at n = 11, with the doublet persisting up to n = 20, but then collapsing to a single line in the n = 21 and n = 22 clusters and reemerging at n = 23. This spectral simplification provides direct evidence that, for the magic number cluster, all the dangling OH groups arise from water molecules in similar binding sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the evolution of the gas/melt interface and the distribution of the residual wall thickness of skin melt along with the advancement of gas/melt front. Implementation of numerical simulations on a fixed mesh covering; Calculation of the residual thickness of a polymer layer and the length of gas penetration; Direction of molding process.

We report upon the distribution of galanin-immunoreactive (GAL-IR) cells in the lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of the rat, and upon the distribution of GAL-IR cells, which also contain calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-, substance P (SP)- and somatostatin (SOM)-immunoreactivity. Neuropeptide-immunoreactive lumbar DRG cells were 55.8% for CGRP, 12.7% for SP, and 6.5% for GAL in lumbar DRG cells. There was no significant difference between the right and left DRGs (L[sub 1] - L[sub 6]) for any neuropeptide-immunoreactive cell (P<0.01). In terms of size distribution, CGRP-immunoreactive cells were identified below 1500 μm², and SP-, and GAL-IR cells below 600 μm². Neuropeptide immunoreactive cells showed various immunoreactivities in the cytoplasm according to each neuropeptide. CGRP and SP immunoreactive cells were colocalized with GAL immunoreactive cells in the serial sections about 83.3 and 60% respectively, but SOM colocalizing with GAL-IR cells were not in evidence. The current results confirm and extend previous results, and show that neuropeptides can coexist in single sensory neurones of the rat DRG. In addition, our results demonstrate that the normal distribution of some neurotransmitters modulating sensory action in Wistar Kyoto rat, make this model more prone to develop neuropathic pain than Sprague-Dawley rat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bright-field transmission electron microscopy images, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images, energy dispersive spectroscopy profiles, and high-resolution x-ray diffraction curves showed that a high density of ZnSe nanostructures with a small size was formed on the Cl-doped ZnSe thin films grown on GaAs substrates. The formation of the ZnSe nanostructures was attributed to the strain energy resulting from the existence of the compressive strain generated by the accumulation of Cl impurities on the surface of the ZnSe thin film and from the residual strain existing in the ZnSe thin film with a thin thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]