Learning to read and to write influences not only verbal skills but also global cognitive performance. Our study aimed to compare the visuoconstructional abilities of elderly illiterates with those of elderly literates. A total of 125 healthy subjects over 65 years old were recruited. Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) constructional praxis examination were used. We divided subjects into three groups (educated literate n = 53, uneducated literate n = 36 and uneducated illiterate n = 36). Interlocking pentagons drawing, a part of the K-MMSE, was scored using the 6-point hierarchical scale. The uneducated-illiterate group obtained significantly lower scores than did the other two groups. Scores on the ADAS-cog constructional praxis test were highest in the educated-literate group and those in the uneducated-illiterate group obtained the lowest scores. We demonstrated that illiteracy influences not only language performance but also visuoconstructional functioning. (JINS, 2011, 17, 934–939)

As a part of the optimization study for achieving the highest possible Hanford and Savannah River Site waste loading into acceptable borosilicate glasses, thirty glass compositions were selected for testing at KRI. These thirty test matrix glasses were designed to augment existing data within the compositional regions of interest with relatively high concentration of Al2O3 between 10 and 20 wt%.

This paper reports experimental data on liquidus temperature (TL) and crystallization behavior of all synthesized glasses as well as durability of quenched and heat-treated glasses. The results of this study will be used to develop glass formulations for specific DOE waste streams to maintain or meet waste loading and/or waste throughput expectations while satisfying critical process and product performance related constraints.

To enhance the detection of bacterial meningitis in an East Asian surveillance study, we employed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bacterial culture, latex agglutination (LA) and polymerase chain reaction–enzyme immunoassay (PCR–EIA) testing for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp). The sensitivity and specificity of CSF PCR–EIA testing was compared to LA and culture. A meningitis case was defined by one positive result for any of the three tests. The sensitivity of H. influenzae CSF PCR–EIA, LA, and culture was 100%, 40% and 57·5% respectively; and for Sp CSF PCR–EIA, LA and culture, the sensitivity was 100%, 58·3% and 66·7%, respectively. Hib and Sp specificity was 100% by each method. CSF PCR–EIA was more sensitive than culture or LA for the detection of Hib and Sp meningitis cases increasing their incidence by 74% and 50% compared to culture respectively. CSF PCR–EIA should be included for the detection of bacterial meningitis in surveillance studies.

We present the formation of SnO2-In2O3 hetero nanostructures. Kinetically, SnO2 nanowires form prior to the heterostructure. In2O3shell was regularly distributed on the SnO2 nanowire surface, and form sheath subsequently. We theoretically explained the morphological evolution of an anisotropic heterostructure such as core-sheath structure.

The mechanical properties of NiAl/Ni micro-laminated composites with highly gradient microstructure have been investigated. Two types of composites with different gradient microstructures were prepared by reaction synthesis. Intermetallics of type I and type II composites mainly consisted of Al-rich Ni0.45Al0.55 with variable thickness and Ni-rich Ni0.58Al0.42 with similar thickness, respectively. As intermetallic volume fraction increased, yield strength of type II followed the rule-of-mixture well, while that of type I deviated due to the composition variation of intermetallic phases. Fracture toughness of type II was higher than that of type I, and all showed KR curves with upward curvature by large-scale bridging. Even though the relative strength of constituent phases in intermetallic/metal laminates was not constant due to the gradient microstructure, the fracture mode transition showed similar behavior to that of metal/ceramic laminates.

To realize Gigabit density ferroelectric memory devices, downscaling issues involving processing, materials, and fundamental ferroelectric behavior must be resolved. To address patterning and characterizing ferroelectric films at the nanoscale, we have prepared different lateral sizes of ferroelectric PZT capacitors down to 120 nm, using direct-write electron beam lithography. Characterization of the piezoelectric activity of the patterned elements was performed by means of piezoelectric-sensitive scanning probe microscope in the contact mode. Switching of single 120 nm cells was achieved.

The magnetic Nd–Fe–B powders were prepared by a mechanochemical method, including the processes of spray drying, debinding, milling, H2 reduction, Ca reduction, and washing. The liquid solution dissolved with various metal salts was first spray-dried to prepare the precursor powders having uniformly dispersed Nd, Fe, and B components. The precursor powders in turn were subjected to the subsequent processes. The particle size of the resultant Nd–Fe–B powders was about 1 μm. Effects of the process parameters on phases, morphologies, microstructures, compositions, and thermal properties of the powders were investigated.

Mixed composition layered lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films sZr/Ti ratio = 30/70 + 65/35d with stoichiometric lead containing PZT thin layer at the film/electrode interface were successfully fabricated by a modified chemical solution deposition method. These modified PZT thin films are highly (111) textured, and have square-shaped P-E hysteresis loops with large remanent polarization and low coercive field, as well as low saturation voltage. In addition, these films show good fatigue and imprint behavior with Pt electrodes; the retained polarization of the modified film was above 50% after fatigue testing to 109 cycles, and the thermally induced voltage shifts (ΔV) were 0.51 V after heating at 150 °C for 4410 s, two times lower than for films without a stoichiometric thin layer.

We have investigated the effect of oxygen vacancies on imprint and fatigue behavior of the PLZT thin films. It is found that the compensation of oxygen vacancies with various dopant concentrations and electrode structures is an important process parameter in determining the tendency to imprint and fatigue. In the case of PLZT thin films, the voltage shifts related to imprint are attributed to the trapping of electrons at ionic defect sites such as oxygen vacancies near the film/electrode interface, the magnitude of polarization, and concentration of defect-dipole complexes involving oxygen vacancies such as V′Pb–V••o. The strong dependence of fatigue rate on electrode material for PLZT thin films is due to the effect of the ferroelectric/electrode interaction on the pinning and/or unpinning rate involving the accumulation of oxygen vacancies near the film/electrode interface during fatigue cycling. By using RuO2 as the top and/or bottom electrode instead of Pt, improved fatigue properties are obtained compared to Pt/PLZT/Pt capacitors. This is because a reduced accumulation of oxygen vacancies near the interface by the oxide electrode such as RuO2 may reduce the electronic charge trapping and, consequently, lead to less domain wall pinning.

SiO2 films were deposited on silicon wafers at 25°C by plasma enhanced decomposition of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in a mixture of argon and oxygen. The deposition was performed in a rf-powered (13.56 MIHz) asymmetric plasma reactor. The effect of ion bombardment was evaluated by varying the ion energy flux (IEF) at the substrate surface from 0.93 to 9.94 W/cm2. On-line optical emission spectra (OES) revealed CO, CH, and H peaks whose absorption intensities increased with increasing applied power. On-line mass spectrometer data showed that the peak intensities of OC2H5, SiOH (m/e=45), and HSiOH (m/e=46) fragments decreased with increasing applied power indicating the decomposition of these species. FTIR spectra of the deposited films showed that the concentrations of Si-OH and trapped CO gases in the film decreased with increasing IEF. Also, the FTIR results and the refractive index measurements indicated that the film density increased as a function of IEF. The stoichiometry of the film did not change when IEF was below 2, but for IEF greater than 4.91 W/cm2, the film became Si-rich.