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The objective of the study was to investigate the differences in eggshell quality, bone quality and serum bone biochemistry markers associated with changes in age and dietary soybean oil levels in laying hens. A total of 54, 19-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were housed in 18 battery cages (3 birds/cage) and randomly divided into three diet treatments for 90 d: control-fat (CF, 1.9% soybean oil), moderate-fat (MF, 7% soybean oil) and high-fat (HF, 10% soybean oil). The hens' body weights (BW), egg production, egg weights, eggshell thickness and femoral diameter were higher at d 90 than at d 60 or d 30. Meanwhile, feed intake, relative bone weights, all bone strength parameters and serum Ca were lower at d 90 or 60 than at d 30. Compared to the CF hens, the feed intake, BW, abdominal fat pad weights and serum alkaline phosphatase activity were elevated in MF or HF hens. The eggshell thickness, relative femoral and tibial weight, femoral stiffness, femoral modulus, tibial mixed force and serum calcium and phosphorus levels were lower in MF or HF hens than CF hens. These findings suggest that bone loss in caged hens starts from an early stage of the laying period, and dietary oil (particularly with diets over 10% soybean oil) has harmful effects on eggshell quality, bone strength and bone mineralisation from an early stage of the laying period.

Recent progress in studies of several types of core-shell structured electrode materials, including TiO2/C, Si/C, Si/SiOx, LiCoO2/C, and LiFePO4/C nanocomposites, including details of their preparation and their electrochemical performance is briefly reviewed. Results clearly show that the coating shell can effectively prevent the aggregation of the nanosized cores, which are the electrochemically active materials. In addition, the diffusion coefficients of lithium ions can be increased, and the reversibility of lithium intercalation and deintercalation is improved. As a result, the cycling behavior is greatly improved. The reviewed results suggest that core-shell nanocomposites are a good starting point for further development of new promising electrode materials.

Epitaxial Cu-poor CuInSe2 films have been synthesized on GaAs(1 1 1)B [As-terminated], (1 1 1)A[Ga-terminated] and (0 0 1) substrates by co-sputtering Cu/In and evaporating Se method. Scanning electron micrograph results show that surface morphologies of the epitaxial Cu-poor CuInSe2(1 1 2)B[Se-terminated], (1 1 2)A[metal-terminated] and (0 0 1)-oriented films are substantially different. The surface morphology results clarify that the (1 1 2)B facets are the lowest energy, being the only surfaces which are stable against roughening. The characteristic stacking fault, twin, dislocation and anti-phase domain boundary structures in the epitaxial films, and the faceted second phase and Kirkendall void structures in the GaAs substrates have been observed by the cross-sectional transmission electron microscope and secondary ion mass spectrometry examinations. The resistivities of the grain boundary-free epitaxial Cu-poor films are two orders lower than those of the compositionally corresponding polycrystalline films. It implies that there exists a resistive Cu-poor point-defect and/or ordered vacancy compound in the grain boundaries of the polycrystalline Cu-poor films.

A new composite anode material of Ag and polymeric carbon was prepared by heat-treating the mixture of polyacrylonitrile and AgNO3. They were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrochemical measurements. It was found that the addition of Ag was favorable for the improvement of electrochemical performance of the composite in comparison with the virginal polymeric carbon. These improvements were due to an increase of electronic conductivity, alloying of lithium with Ag and smaller particle size of the composites. The optimal amount of Ag addition is 5% based on the molar ratio of the monomer unit. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The objective of this study was to determine the cytocompatibility of three different extracts of gingival retraction cords and to compare the cytotoxic effect of these materials on human gingival fibroblasts. Gingival retraction cords impregnated with aluminium sulphate (Gingi-Aid), dl-adrenaline HCl (Gingi-Pak) and non-drug-impregnated cord (Gingi-Plain) were eluted with culture medium for 10 min and 24 h. Cytotoxicity was judged using a tetrazolium bromide reduction assay. Our data demonstrated that gingival retraction cords applied alone almost completely inhibited cell viability (P0.05). In addition, the results also showed that the eluates from aluminium sulphate-impregnated cord, dl-adrenaline HCl-impregnated cord and non-drug-impregnated cord were cytotoxic to primary human gingival fibroblast cultures (P0.05). The cell viability of incubation of gingival fibroblasts containing 10-min eluates of aluminium sulphate, dl-adrenaline HCl and non-drug-impregnated cord was 61, 21 and 70%, respectively. The cell viability of incubation of gingival fibroblasts containing 24 h eluates of aluminium sulphate, dl-adrenaline HCl and non-drug-impregnated cord was 68, 58 and 72%, respectively. It was found that dl-adrenaline HCl-impregnated gingival retraction cord was the most toxic gingival retraction cord among the materials tested in all cultures (P0.05). The cytotoxicity decreased in an order of dl-adrenaline HCl-impregnated cordaluminium sulphate-impregnated cordnon-drug-impregnated cord. The extent or degree of the cytotoxicity depended on the materials tested. Gingival retraction cords have significant potential for gingival toxicity. Careful management of gingiva retraction cords would lower the risk of potential gingival tissue damage during clinical application procedure and thus increase the success of prosthodontic procedures.

UNLABELLED The release of excitatory amino acids (EAAs), nitric oxide, and prostaglandins plays a critical role in the development of peripheral tactile and thermal hypersensitivity after the induction of knee joint inflammation. In this study, we used a model of chronic spinal microdialysis to examine the effect of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammation on the spinal release of EAAs and also assessed the antinociceptive effect of a new alpha(2)-adrenergic agonist, apraclonidine, by using this model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with microdialysis catheters. CFA was injected into the plantar surface of the left hindpaw to induce inflammation. Concentrations of amino acids in dialysate and thermal and tactile withdrawal latency were evaluated for 1 wk. Intraplantar injection of CFA evoked a significant release of glutamate, aspartate, and citrulline for 6 days. Three milligrams of intraperitoneal apraclonidine significantly suppressed the release of EAAs and citrulline. Apraclonidine was given intraperitoneally 2--3 days after CFA injection. Prominent thermal and tactile allodynia was observed for 6 days. Our results show that the significant modulatory effect of the alpha(2)-adrenergic agonist apraclonidine on the release of EAAs may account for its antinociceptive properties in adjuvant-induced inflammation. IMPLICATIONS This study showed a novel finding that the hypersensitivity state seems to be dependent on increased release of spinal excitatory amino acids (EAAs), and the significant modulatory effect of the alpha(2)-adrenergic agonist apraclonidine on the release of spinal EAAs accounts for its analgesic properties in adjuvant-induced inflammation.

A long-lasting antihyperalgesic effect has been demonstrated for intrathecal (IT) clonidine, an alpha2-adrenergic agonist. In the present study, the mechanism and antihyperalgesic effects of IT clonidine were examined post-treatment in a rat model of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory hyperalgesia. Using a chronic model of spinal cord dialysis, we examined the effect of the adjuvant-induced inflammation on spinal release of nitric oxide (NO) and the development of chronic pain and assessed the antinociceptive effects and mechanisms of the alpha2-adrenergic agonist, clonidine (IT). Chronic, persistent inflammatory pain was induced by left hind paw injection of 0.3 ml CFA prepared in a mixture with Mycobacterium butyricum. Rats were randomly assigned to groups receiving IT clonidine in discrete doses of 1, 10 or 50 μg, 3 or 24 hr post-inflammation. Measurement of total NO x (NO + $${\text{NO}}_{2 - } + {\text{NO}}_{3 - } $$ ) was used to determine NO release into the cerebrospinal fluid. Rat thermal antinociception was assessed using a radiant heat thermal hyperalgesia model. CFA injection resulted in significant thermal hyperalgesia throughout the four days of observation. A dose-dependent suppression of thermal hyperalgesia and spinal NO release was observed after IT clonidine treatment. Evidence from this CFA-induced inflammatory pain model suggests that clonidine's spinal antihyperalgesic mechanisms act through inhibition of spinal NO release.

This study evaluates 40-nm-thick amorphous Ta2N (a-Ta2N) thin films with various compositions and metallurgical designs as diffusion barriers for copper metallization. Results based on sheet resistance measurements, x-ray diffraction analyses, and transmission and scanning electron microscopies consistently follow a sequence of coarsening copper grains, transforming a-Ta2N into a crystalline phase, and finally forming {111}-faceted pyramid Cu3Si precipitates and TaSi2. The degradation of the single-layered stoichiometric Ta2N (a-Ta67N33) barriers is primarily triggered by a premature crystallization of the amorphous barrier layers at temperatures as low as 450 °C. However, as adequately designed double-layered (20 nm Ta67N33/20 nm Ta62N38) amorphous barriers can be subjected to high-temperature annealing without crystallization, the effectiveness of the double-layered barriers can be significantly improved, elevating the degradation temperature by approximately 100 °C.

The neural and nonneural factors contributing to maintain the hemodynamic status in 14 to 16 weeks old stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were compared with those of the age matched normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats under chloralose-urethane anesthesia. The ascending aortic blood flow, arterial blood pressure and heart rate were measured under resting condition, ganglionic blockade by hexamethonium, 5 mg/kg i.v. and maximum vasodilation by hexamethonium and 0.07 mg/kg nitroprusside. The neural component (hexamethonium blockable component) was the major factor in the maintenance of resting blood pressure and total peripheral resistance index (TPRI) in the above three strains of rats. In contrast, the residual component after hexamethonium and nitroprusside administrations was the most important controlling factor for cardiac index (CI). In SHRSPs, the neural component of TPRI and residual component of CI were both significantly higher than those of WKYs by 75% and 47%, respectively. In SHRs, the residual component of CI was 52% higher than that of WKYs. These results suggest that both the increased neural component of TPRI and nonneural component of CI are important contributing factors for the blood pressure increase in the early stage of established hypertension in SHRSPs. On the other hand, in the age matched SHRs, the most important contributing factor for hypertension is the increased nonneural component of CI. Considering the differences between these two strains of hypertensive rats, the neural component of TPRI is the major factor responsible for the different levels of hypertension in SHRSPs and SHRs.

Gas-phase host-guest chemistry of two hemicarcerands and one carcerand, having masses of approximately 2000 Da and with successively more restricted access to their interior phases (because they possess two, three, and four bridging -O-CH 2 -O- groups, respectively), are studied by laser desorption Fourier transform mass spectrometry (LD-FTMS). Gas-phase reactions of the hemicarcerands with dimethylacetamide and of a triply-bridged hemicarcerand with α-pyrone are reported, and it is shown that the laser desorption behaviour and gas-phase reactivities are in qualitative agreement with the expected effects of steric requirements of the guests

Nanowire fabrication methods can be classified either as 'top down', involving photo- or electron-beam lithography, or 'bottom up', involving the synthesis of nanowires from molecular precursors. Lithographically patterned nanowire electrodeposition (LPNE) combines attributes of photolithography with the versatility of bottom-up electrochemical synthesis. Photolithography defines the position of a sacrificial nickel nanoband electrode, which is recessed into a horizontal trench. This trench acts as a 'nanoform' to define the thickness of an incipient nanowire during its electrodeposition. The electrodeposition duration determines the width of the nanowire. Removal of the photoresist and nickel exposes a polycrystalline nanowire--composed of gold, platinum or palladium--characterized by thickness and width that can be independently controlled down to 18 and 40 nm, respectively. Metal nanowires prepared by LPNE may have applications in chemical sensing and optical signal processing, and as interconnects in nanoelectronic devices.

Several lines of evidence have accumulated that release of excitatory amino acids, nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) play a critical role in the development of peripheral tactile and thermal hypersensitivity in chronic inflammatory pain models. Synthesis of PGE2 is controlled by cyclooxygenase (COX), either the COX-1 or COX-2 isoform. COX-2 plays a central role in the inflammatory reactions. The relationship between central sensitization of a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced inflammation and expressions of COX-2 were assessed in a rat model of CFA injection induced inflammation. Moreover, the time course of analgesia and spinal COX-2 expression following intrathecal (IT) injection with a nonspecific COX inhibitor (ketorolac) and COX-2 inhibitor (celecoxib) were determined using Western blot and immunohistochemistry. COX-2 protein was slightly increased in the lumbosacral spinal cord at 24 h following subcutaneous injection of CFA in the plantar surface of the left hindpaw (p > 0.05). COX-1 was not detected in normal and CFA injection rats. Surprisingly, IT ketorolac or celecoxib significantly increased spinal COX-2 levels at 1 h post-IT injection (p < 0.05) both in inflamed and non-inflamed rats. Then, spinal COX-2 levels declined at 3 and 6 h post-IT injection. These results provide strong in vivo evidence that COX-2 activity but not level may play a central role in the Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammation. However, spinal COX-2 level was upregulated following IT ketorolac and celecoxib injection. These data implies that suppression of PGE2 activity may induce the expression of spinal COX-2 in Freund's adjuvant-induced pain model. Our study concludes that IT administration of COX-2 inhibitor or nonspecific COX inhibitor is associated with significant short-term increase in spinal COX-2 expression.

Intrathecal pertussis toxin injection has been used as a neuropathic pain model. In the present study, its effects on cerebrospinal fluid biochemistry and nociceptive behavioral expression were examined in rats. Cerebrospinal fluid dialysate samples were collected and pertussis toxin was injected using an intrathecally implanted dialysis loop catheter; samples were collected and hyperalgesia behavior was noted every 2 days for 8 days after pertussis toxin injection. Pertussis toxin injection induced thermal hyperalgesia which peaked between day 2 and 4; no cold allodynia was observed. Pertussis toxin at all doses tested (0.5, 1, or 2 μg) also induced a significant increase in cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of aspartate and glutamate between days 2 and 8, while level of the inhibitory amino acid glycine were significantly decreased by the two higher doses of pertussis toxin. Intrathecal administration of the N -methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist D-2-amino-5-phosponovaleric acid (10 μg) or glycine (200 μg), inhibited pertussis toxin-induced thermal hyperalgesia. Pertussis toxin injection had no effect on serine, glutamine, and taurine concentrations. These results show that intrathecal pertussis toxin injection induces thermal hyperalgesia and it is associated with an increasing of excitatory and a decreasing of inhibitory amino acids release in the spinal cord.

In this study, a platform for wash-free immunomagnetic detections is discussed. The reagent is a magnetic fluid composed of biofunctionalized magnetic particles dispersed in water. The assay instrument is a mixed-frequency magnetosusceptometer. The mixed-frequency ac magnetic susceptibility χac of the magnetic reagent is reduced, as a result of the formation of magnetic clusters via the association among magnetic nanoparticles and a specific biotarget. The immunoassay detection of proteins in water, such as aqueous c-reactive protein, is characterized and is compared to that in serum. These observations demonstrate the advantages of high convenience, high sensitivity, and high specificity for χac-reduction immunomagnetic detection.

Thin films of Ti1−xAlxN were deposited on (100) Si by ultrahigh-vacuum dual-target reactive sputtering, and the impact of lightly doping Al of x as small as 0.09 on altering the films’s microstructure upon thermal annealing, and hence the performance of the films (40nm thick) as diffusion barriers for Cu metallization was evaluated. The results of transmission electron microscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, and grazing-incidence x-ray diffraction show that the TiN barrier layer gives the commonly observed voided, columnar grains composed of 5nm sized subgrains. Upon annealing, the subgrains tend to coalesce into 20nm sized equiaxed grains full of crystalline defects, initiating an inward penetration of Cu and a partial dissociation of TiN, transforming themselves, respectively, into pyramidal (or columnar) Cu3Si precipitates and a dendritic Ti5Si3 layer just after 550°C, 10min annealing. However, the lightly doped Al not only overrides the tendency to form intercolumnar voids inherent in sput...

Laser desorption Fourier transform mass spectrometry (LD/FTMS) was used to obtain mass spectra of bradykinin, Lys-bradykinin, and Met-Lys-bradykinin. With poly(ethylene glycol) as an external mass standard, absolute errors for mass measurement accuracy averaging 2–7 ppm were obtained for the major ions of the bradykinins. Similar absolute errors for mass measurement accuracy were obtained when poly(ethylene glycol) was used as an internal standard. Mass measurement accuracy was investigated and applicability of the measurements to elemental composition assignments examined. Present results are compared with previous field desorption, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and fast atom bombardment spectra of bradykinins.

With a proper choice of coordinates and for certain substances over a limited temperature range, the information contained in a whole family of adsorption isotherms coalesces into a single universal curve. Such behaviour can be related to a particularly simple thermodynamic model. This model and some of its implications are explored in detail. In particular, thermodynamic internal self-consistency demands that there be a unique (generally non-linear) relationship between the mass adsorbed and the film thickness which is completely deducible from measured adsorption isotherms plus bulk thermodynamic data. It is independent of assumptions regarding the form of the van der Waals attraction binding the adsorbate to the adsorbent substrate. The integral equation embodying this relationship is derived and exhibited. As an example of its use the equation is applied to the case of thin films of helium II.

The results of experiments characterizing CuInSe2 deposition by reactive magnetron sputtering and by a hybrid sputtering and evaporation technique are presented. Both techniques produce films with chemical and structural properties comparable with those commonly used for polycrystalline CuInSe2-based solar cells. The reactive sputtering technique produces films with compositions ranging from copper rich to indium rich with near-stoichiometric selenium contents at low temperatures. Indium-rich films cannot be produced at temperatures above about 400°C. The hybrid process produces films over a large composition range at growth temperatures up to 450°C. Film compositions are uniform across 25 mm substrates to within ±1 at.% and non-uniformities can be directly related to the deposition geometry. For hybrid films, the selenium flux is shown to play a major role in determining both the selenium and the indium contents of the films at elevated temperatures. A coupled In-Se desorption mechanism which is inhibited by the presence of large amounts of excess selenium is proposed to explain the latter data. The substrate material is shown to affect strongly the film chemistry. Films deposited on copper show a higher copper content due to diffusion of the substrate material into the film during growth. Layers deposited by the hybrid process on molybdenum exhibit lower indium and higher selenium contents than films on glass at all temperatures examined. Finally, copper, indium and selenium diffusion into molybdenum substrates was observed at all growth temperatures.

The test results of 320 units of a laser initiated microdetonator are summarized. The commercially fabricated units used a lead styphnate/lead azide/HMX (1 mg/13.5 mg) explosive train design contained in a miniature aluminum can that was capped with a glass-metal seal window. The test parameters were the laser energy, temperature, laser pulse duration, laser wavelength and nuclear radiation (5,000,000 rad of 1 MeV gamma rays). The performance parameters were the laser energy for ignition and the actuation response time.

Positive and negative ion laser desorption Fourier transform mass spectra of ascorbic acid, isoascorbic acid, and their sodium and potassium salts have been determined. A number of differences between these spectra and previously reported laser microprobe mass analyzer (LAMMA) spectra are found. In contrast with earlier results, m/z 175 anions are present in all negative ion spectra, as are cluster ions. Thus, it should not be concluded that the radical salts are electroneutral, as claimed in the earlier study.

The resonant frequency of a quartz crystal oscillating in the thickness-shear mode changes by virtue of the mass loading due to any type of film laid down on its surfaces. For a helium film only the normal fraction remains rigidly coupled to the substrate motion. Adsorption isotherms of He-4 measured with this technique show clear departures from conventional nonsuperfluid behavior. We attribute this effect to the onset and presence of superfluidity in the film.

Immediate longitudinal detonations have been observed in confined small-diameter columns of PETN, RDX, and tetryl by using a focused Q-switched ruby laser. The energy ranged from 0.8 to 4.0 J in a pulse width of 25 nsec. A 1000-A-thick aluminum film deposited on a glass window was used to generate a shock wave at the window-explosive interface when irradiated by the laser. In some cases, steady-state detonations were reached in less than .5 microsec with less than 10% variation in the detonation velocity.

The resonant frequency of a thickness-shear mode oscillating quartz crystal is lowered by virtue of the mass loading of any film laid down on its surfaces.1,2 For a uniformly deposited, thin solid film with thickness less than 1% or so of the crystal thickness this change Δf, is given by the formula $$ - \Delta f = 2(2{f^2}/c{\rho _q})\sigma $$ (1) Here σ represents that part of the mass per unit area which remains rigidly coupled to the substrate motion, f is the resonant frequency, c is the shear wave velocity in the crystal, and ρ q is the density of the quartz.