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REBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7}$−x (REBCO, RE = rare earth) compounds with different single RE elements were grown via TFA-MOD (metal-organic deposition of trifluoroacetates) to clarify their T$_{c}$ values when grown by the same preparation method and their processing windows; here: the crystallisation temperatures at a constant process gas composition (pO$_{2}$, pH$_{2}$O). We focussed on the lanthanides (Ln) Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er and Yb as substituents for Y in the REBCO phase and investigated their growth behaviour in terms of resulting physical (inductive T$_{c}$ and J$_{c}$(77 K)) and structural properties (determined by XRD, SEM, TEM). All phases were grown as pristine films on LaAlO$_{3}$ and SrTiOx$_{3}$ and compared to their respective nanocomposites with 12 mol% BaHfO$_{3}$ for in-field pinning enhancement. With regard to T$_{c}$ and J$_{c}$(77 K), the optima of both values shift towards higher growth temperatures for increasing and decreasing RE ion size with respect to yttrium. Highest T$_{c}$ values achieved so far do not show a trend that can solely be related to the RE ionic size. On the contrary, T$_{c,90}$ values of the LnBCO compounds from Sm to Er range between 94.0 and 95.3 K and are, therefore, significantly larger than the highest values of the average-size non-lanthanide, Y, with T$_{c,90}$ = 91.5 K. J$_{c,sf}$ values at 77 K seem to plateau between 5 and 6 MA cm$^{-2}$ from Sm to Er and are again clearly above the maximum values we ever achieved for Y with 4.2 MA cm$^{-2}$. REBCO phase formations of the very small Yb and large Nd turned out to be more difficult and require further adjustment of growth parameters. All REBCO phases investigated here show distinct dependences of T$_{c}$ on the lattice parameter c.

An interactive quantitative temporal model of glucose intake, absorption and utilization in humans has been assembled using the Center for Research and Education in Aging Language (CREAL). CREAL is a language that can be used to describe biological systems from a macro to a molecular scale. This model displays the concentration of glucose throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in relation to time. The rate of absorption of glucose through the intestinal walls and subsequent modulation of insulin and glucagon secretion rates can be graphed in relation to time as well as the utilization and depletion of glucose by the various organ systems. The model can also be utilized as part of a more comprehensive system that can simulate the intake, absorption and utilization of other compounds, such as lipids, proteins, minerals and carbohydrates. The quantitative results from these large scale simulations can be used to validate results from higher resolution simulations such as those that take place at the cellular scale.

Advanced ceramic composite materials that exhibit high strength and toughness with good thermal shock resistance are needed for emerging high-temperature engineering applications. A recently developed in situ reinforced barium aluminosilicate glass-ceramic shows promise of meeting many of the requirements for these types of applications with the added benefit of low-cost fabrication through densification by pressureless sintering. The material is toughened through in situ growth of rodlike {beta}-Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} grains resulting from the {alpha}-{beta} silicon nitride phase transformation. Microstructural development and material properties for temperatures up to 1,400 C are discussed. When compared to monolithic barium aluminosilicate, barium aluminosilicate reinforced with 70% by volume of Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} shows a significant increase in flexural strength (from 80 to 565 MPa) and fracture toughness (from 1.8 to 5.74 MPa {center_dot} m{sup 1/2}) with a high resistance to thermal shock.

A language that can describe biological systems from a macro to a molecular scale can play an important role in better understanding the mechanisms that drive the aging process and other biological processes. The Center for Research and Education in Aging Language (CREAL), was developed to allow biologists and Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to augment a Knowledge Base (KB) that can be used as a data source by a massively paralleled simulation engine to describe complex systems. CREAL uses Java Script Object Notation (JSON) as its template to create nodes of information that can interact with other nodes within the simulation. The language can describe systems of transportation and location as well as properties, actions, and conditions of biological components and processes. A simulation using a KB with CREAL nodes can reveal many relationships between processes when using Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm, and with the aid of tools such as Hidden Markov Models (HMM) could suggest possible linkages...

Certain glass compositions in common use as gap spacers in ferrite recording head sliders have been shown to interact with air at 75% R.H. The reaction proceeds at 20°C and the corrosion products appear within a few days. The products vary from shape-less lumps to long single-crystal whiskers. In the presence of 300 ppb each of SO 2 and NO 2 the products are more voluminous. While the products are more prominent at the interface between glass and ferrite, they also appear on polished bulk glass specimens in total absence of a ferrite. The effect has been traced to the diffusion of lead, barium or lanthanum to the glass-air surface where the ions react with the atmosphere. An interaction between glass and ferrite was observed to occur during glass bonding. This interaction was indicated by the appearance of prominant grain boundaries in the ferrite at the ferrite/glass interface. Transgranular grain etching was also found. It is believed that interdiffusion of glass and ferrite components occurs and that this contributes to the mobility of the metal ions in the glass.

The corrosion resistance of cobalt alloy magnetic recording media was studied using both electrochemical and accelerated business environment corrosion testing. The electrochemical test was found to correlate reasonably well with the environmental test. Examination of various cobalt alloy discs, after exposure to the environmental test, showed similar corrosion product sizes, the presence of sulfur and oxygen in the corrosion products and different corrosion morphologies. A carbon overcoat served to improve a disc's corrosion resistance by inhibiting the lateral growth of corrosion products across the disc surface. Generally, Co-Cr media are the most corrosion resistant, followed by Co-Ni and Co-P, in decreasing order.