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Abstract: The thermal properties of (TiSi)N thin films deposited by dc reactive magnetron sputtering on steel have been measured using contactless modulated IR radiometry. To interpret the measured IR signals, a two-layer model has been applied, and to describe surface roughness effects related to the coatings'' growth process, a three-layer model has been developed. Empirical correlations have been found between thermal transport properties and structural–physical parameters, e.g. the grain size and surface roughness of the coatings, and first correlations have additionally been found with the deposition conditions, e.g. the bias voltage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The principles of non-destructive, non-contact characterization of coatings by means of photothermal measuring techniques are briefly explained. A method of quantitative interpretation is presented, which relies on the relative extrema of the calibrated thermal wave phase lags measured as a function of the heating modulation frequency for coatings deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering. The application potential of this interpretation method with respect to the on-line control of coating deposition processes is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Study objectives: To test if morbid obesity causes pulmonary function changes and if massive weight loss have effect on pulmonary function (especially in subjects with BMI⩾60kg/m2). Participants: Thirty-nine morbid obese subjects before and after massive weight loss. Measurements and results: Patients had baseline BMI⩾40kg/m2, pulmonary function test (PFT) before and after surgery for gastric volume reduction and massive weight loss, and presented no complaints unrelated to obesity. Based on initial BMI, the patients were dividied in groups A (BMI 40–59.9kg/m2) and B (BMI⩾60kg/m2). Initially, group A () had normal PFT, however group B () presented FVC and FEV1 measurements in the lowest limit of normality (with normal FEV1/FVC), significantly different from group A. After massive weight loss, the group B compared to A had a significant improvement in FVC (23.7% vs. 9.7%, ) and FEV1 (25.6% vs. 9.1%, ); thus the initial difference in FVC and FEV1 between groups no longer existed after weight loss. Conclusions: These results point out that the severe morbid obesity (BMI⩾60kg/m2) may lead to pulmonary function impairment and presents more prominent pulmonary function gain after massive weight reduction. The possible clinical implications of these results are that PFT abnormalities in subjects with BMI<60kg/m2 should probably be interpreted as consequence of intrinsic respiratory disease and that severe morbid obese patients may be encouraged to lose weight to improve their pulmonary function, especially those with concomitant pulmonary disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Based on the Bertalanffy-Richards growth function, assumptions, two special cases are considered for practical applications. The assumptions, the solutions and the relationships between parameters in the Schnute's and th Bertalanffy-Richards models are analysed in detail. Anexample of dbh growth for 12 stand densities of Eucalyptus grandis in South Africa is used to illustrate and compare the relationships between the two models, to show that they give the same results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CaSiO 3 doped with Eu, at various amounts in ppm, has been produced by the devitrification method. • 1000 ppm of Eu doped CaSiO 3 display dosimetric capability to very high gamma radiation dose (kGy). • The largest contribution of the TL response comes from photons with wavelengths between 400 and 440 nm. • PL measurements show the presence of both Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions in the CaSiO 3 :Eu matrix. • O− ion and two different F+ centers have been identified in the gamma-irradiated CaSiO 3 : Eu phosphor. CaSiO 3 doped at different ppm of Eu were synthesized by the devitrification method. Polycrystals exhibit a prominent high-temperature TL peak that increases in intensity and shifts toward higher temperatures with increasing amounts of dopant. TL emission spectrum of CaSiO 3 : Eu displays two very broad bands centered at 400 and 440 nm corresponding to the temperatures of 229.5 and 373.5 °C, respectively. PL measurements indicate the presence of Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions. EPR spectrum arises from two defect centers. One of the centers with principal g -values 2.016, 2.0091, and 2.0051 is attributed to O− ion and the center correlates with the TL peak at 236 °C. Center II with an isotropic g -value of 2.0018 is attributed to an F+ center and the center relates to the TL peak at 120 °C. Center III is also tentatively identified as the F+ center which is associated with the TL peak at 365 °C. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving meat production traits has increased its importance in sheep breeding. We report novel associations of SNP present in genes related to lipid metabolism and growth with several carcass traits in purebred Texel lambs. Expected progeny differences (EPD) predictions from 461 animals from the Central Progeny Testing of Texel breed in Uruguay were used for the association analysis. Live weights at different stages, ultrasound and post-mortem traits were analyzed. Markers in several genes were associated with growth, carcass and meat quality traits. Among others: PPARGC1A with valuable cuts weight, hot carcass weight and carcass fatness; DGAT1 with live weights, fat thickness, rib-eye area and shoulder weight; CAST with birth weight and fat thickness; GHR with birth weight and carcass fatness, and GHRHR with live weights and fat thickness. Genotypic effects ranged from 0.035 to 0.923 ( DGAT1 vs. weaning weight) units of phenotypic SD. Most of the associations described are novel in sheep breeding, deserving further analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noble metal powders containing gold and silver have been used for many centuries, providing different colours in the windows of the medieval cathedrals and in ancient Roman glasses. Nowadays, the interest in nanocomposite materials containing noble nanoparticles embedded in dielectric matrices is related with their potential use for a wide range of advanced technological applications. They have been proposed for environmental and biological sensing, tailoring colour of functional coatings, or for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Most of these applications rely on the so-called localised surface plasmon resonance absorption, which is governed by the type of the noble metal nanoparticles, their distribution, size and shape and as well as of the dielectric characteristics of the host matrix. The aim of this work is to study the influence of the composition and thermal annealing on the morphological and structural changes of thin films composed of Ag metal clusters embedded in a dielectric TiO 2 matrix. Since changes in size, shape and distribution of the clusters are fundamental parameters for tailoring the properties of plasmonic materials, a set of films with different Ag concentrations was prepared. The optical properties and the thermal behaviour of the films were correlated with the structural and morphological changes promoted by annealing. The films were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering and in order to promote the clustering of the Ag nanoparticles the as-deposited samples were subjected to an in-air annealing protocol. It was demonstrated that the clustering of metallic Ag affects the optical response spectrum and the thermal behaviour of the films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the thermal stability of TiAg x thin films, deposited by magnetron sputtering, was evaluated, envisaging their application in biomedical devices, namely as electrodes for biosignal acquisition. Based on the composition and microstructural characterization, a set of four representative TiAg x thin films was selected in order to infer whether they are thermally stable in terms of functional properties. In order to achieve this purpose, the structural and morphological evolution of the films with annealing temperature was correlated with their electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. Two distinct zones were identified and two samples from each zone were extensively analysed. In the first zone (zone I), Ti was the main component (Ti-rich zone) while in the second, zone II, the Ag content was more significant. The selected samples were annealed in vacuum at four different temperatures up to 500 °C. For the samples produced within zone I, small microstructural changes were observed due to the recrystallization of the Ti structure and grain size increment. Also, no significant changes were observed with annealing temperature regarding the films' functional properties, being thermally stable up to 500 °C. For higher Ag contents (zone II) the energy supplied by thermal treatments was sufficient to activate the crystallization of Ti–Ag intermetallic phases. A strong increase of the grain size of these phases was also reported. The structural and morphological organization proved to be determinant for the physical responses of the TiAg x system. The hardness and Young's modulus were significantly improved with the formation of the intermetallic phases. The silver addition and annealing treatments also played an important role in the electrical conductivity of the films, which was once again improved by the formation of Ti–Ag phases. The thermal diffusivity of the films was practically unchanged with the heat-treatment. This set of results shows that this intermetallic-like thin film system has good thermal stability up to high temperatures (as high as 500 °C), which in case of the highest Ag content zone is particularly evident for electrical and mechanical properties, showing an important improvement. Hardness increases about three times, while resistivity values become half of those from the lowest Ag content zone. These sets of characteristics are consistent with the targeted applications, namely in terms of biomedical sensing devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Several naturalized sheep breeds in the South American continent have little objective information available and as population size is becoming smaller the need for this information becomes more critical. The objective of this study was to differentiate between naturalized breeds in Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia using morphological descriptors and compare them with commercial breeds. The amount of 928 morphometric measurements and 2918 weights were collected. Phenotypic characterization was carried out using size, weight, colour and conformation of the animals, as well as 16 morphometric measurements of the animals. Phenotypic data were analysed using PROC GLM, CORR and PRINCOMP of Statistical Analysis System (SAS®). The distance between breeds was carried out using morphometric and morphological data using UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method Arithmetic Mean) method to create a dendrogram. Phenotypic characterization was shown to be an accessible and easy to use tool in conservation and breeding programs. The breed was the most important factor to differentiate between the animals measured, and adult weight most influenced by the environment. Commercial breeds were larger and Santa Inês animals from the Center-west and Southwest closer to Bergamasca than in other regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]