For more information, see the E.O. Lawrence Award website. The alloy, which contains up to eight elements, is amorphous and is not affected by magnetic hysteresis, a lag in magnetization that causes measurable energy losses. Alloys currently used in the cores cause energy losses because of heat generated by continually changing direction of magnetization, as energy is transmitted from the primary to the secondary coils. The amorphous property of the new alloy eliminates this problem because the absence of a crystalline structure in the alloy prevents magnetic hysteresis. However, new research on Ritalin indicates that it is safe if taken in pill form for that therapeutic purpose.
Brain cells release dopamine to send signals of pleasure or reward for a person's behavior.
When cocaine or Ritalin molecules enter the brain, they cause a buildup of dopamine and the brain sends a pleasure signal repeatedly. The researchers saw a dramatic difference between Ritalin taken orally by ADHD children and Ritalin injected by teenagers and adults to get high. The scientists concluded that when the pathway to the brain is less direct, as with a pill, the effects aren't sudden enough to cause a high and to develop a reinforcing effect that leads to addiction, but they are enough to focus the attention of the child and calm the hyperactivity. This research is supported by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research. To learn more about this research, see the October '98 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.