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Focuses on a study that reported the conduction enhancement characteristics and the conduction mechanism in nitroxide. Sample preparation and measurements; Results; Discussion; Conclusions.

Empirical soil erosion models continue to play an important role in soil conservation planning and environmental evaluations around the world. The effect of hillslope length on soil loss, often termed the slope length factor, is one of the main and most variable components of any empirical model. In the most widely used model, the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), normalized soil loss, L, is expressed as a power function of slope length, [Lambda], as L = [([Lambda]/22.1).sup.m], in which the slope exponent, m, is 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 for different, increasing slope gradients. In the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), the exponent, m, is defined as a continuous function of slope gradient and the expected ratio of rill to interrill erosion. When the slope gradient is 60% and the ratio of rill to interrill erosion is classified as moderate, the exponent m has the value of 0.71 in RUSLE, as compared with 0.5 for the USLE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between soil loss and slope length for slopes up to 60% in steepness. Soil loss data from natural runoff plots at three locations on the Loess Plateau in China and data from a previous study were used. The results indicated that the exponent, m, for the relationship between soil loss and the slope length for the combined data from the three stations in the Loess Plateau was 0.44 ([r.sup.2] = 0.95). For the data as a whole, the exponent did not increase as slope steepness increased from 20 to 60%. We also found that the value of m was greater for intense storms than for less intense storms. These experimental data indicate that the USLE exponent, m = 0.5, is more appropriate for steep slopes than is the RUSLE exponent, and that the slope length exponent varies as a function of rainfall intensity.

Although the 137Cs technique has been widely used to estimate soil redistribution in past decades, most 137Cs-conversion models have not been rigorously validated. The objective of this study was to explicitly evaluate the sediment deposition components of three widely used 137Cs models using 34 yr of soil loss data from a plot (200 × 80 m). The average slope of the plot is approximately 4% in the upper section and 1% in the lower section. The primary soil (fine, mixed, thermic, Udertic or Pachic Paleustoll) is silt loam with 23% sand and 56% silt. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was raised primarily under conventional tillage. Sediment load was measured with a pump sampler at the outlet. Bulk soil cores were taken in a 10-m grid to estimate 137Cs inventory. The 137Cs depth profiles were measured at eight locations to determine net deposition depth. The proportional model (PM) and two mass balance models (mass balance model 1 [MBM1] and mass balance model 2 [MBM2]) were evaluated. The measured average deposition depth in the depositional area of the lower section was 5.83 cm, and the predicted deposition depths in the area were 4.12, 2.02, and 1.64 cm for PM, MBM1, and MBM2. The results indicated that the simple PM appeared to predict deposition depths better than the two sophisticated mass balance models under the study conditions. However, the true capability of the two mass balance models needs to be further evaluated under more complex conditions that include the critical period of 137Cs peak fallout in the 1950s and 1960s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the most common complications for patients undergoing spinal surgery. This study aims to investigate preventive effects of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) on the formation of DVT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study involved 37 patients who underwent spinal surgery between April 2016 and April 2017. Patients were divided into LMWH group and Control group. Clinical parameters, including operation time, intra-operative blood loss, incision length, post-operative visual analogue scale (VAS), exercise- time leaving bed and post-operative extubation time, were collected. Blood routine analysis, including platelet count (PLT), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC) and hemoglobin (HGB) were also conducted. Coagulation parameters, including prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR), fibrinogen (FIB), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time 1 (PT-1) and D-dimer (DD), were evaluated. The drainage fluid was collected. RESULTS: LMWH treatment significantly decreased operative time, blood loss and incision length compared to Control group at 1st, 3rd and 7th day post-operation (all p<0.05). LMWH treatment significantly increased WBC levels compared to Control group at 1st, 3rd and 7th day post-operation (p<0.05). LMWH treatment significantly decreased DD levels in the post-operative patients compared to Control group at 1st, 3rd and 7th day post-operation (p<0.05). However, LMWH treatment doesn't affect drainage amounts of patients. DD levels were positively correlated with WBC counts for the LMWH treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Low molecular weight heparin effectively prevents the formation of DVT by reducing DD values in patients undergoing spinal surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of miR-145 silencing in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), BCL2-Associated X(bax) and caspase-3 in avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 12 healthy wild-types (the control group) and 12 miR-145 knock-out (miR-145-/-) (the experimental group) adult New Zealand white rabbits were selected to construct ANFH model with steroid. Four weeks later, immunohistochemistry, qRTPCR and Western blot were performed to measure the VEGF, bFGF, Bcl-2, bax, caspase-3, β-catenin as well as c-Myc expression. Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining analysis was used to detect the apoptosis of bone cells in each group. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the expression of VEGF, bFGF, Bcl-2, β-catenin and c-Myc in the miR-145-/- group raised (p<0.05). Moreover, the expression level of bax and caspase-3 significantly decreased in the miR- 145-/- group (p<0.05). TUNEL staining showed decreased apoptosis in the miR-145-/- group. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-145 silencing promotes bone repair of ANFH via upregulating VEGF, bFGF and inhibiting the bone cells apoptosis through Wnt/β-catenin pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A double layer composite coating on Q235 steel substrate was prepared using a new developed in situ technology consisting of a self-propagation high-temperature synthesis (SHS) reaction, laser cladding and metal dusting techniques. The samples were subjected to various microstructural examinations and the microhardness was also measured. A double layer composite coating consisted of TiO2-TiC ceramic outer layer and a TiC-carbon nano-tubes (CNTs) cermet inner layer. An excellent bonding was observed among the outer layer, the inner layer and the steel substrate. The TiO2 distributed uniformly in the microstructure and a small number of porosities were seen in the outer layer. The cermet inner layer consisted of γ-(Fe, Ni) as a metallic matrix binder and TiC-CNTs as a reinforced phase in the microstructure. The hardness of the coating was significantly higher than that of the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which investigated the temperature dependance of electronic conduction in thin nitrided oxides. Sample fabrication; Discussion of the conduction currents in the nitrided oxides; Conclusions.

Seed injection is an important technology in single longitude mode laser for Doppler wind lidar (DWL). Different methods of seed injection lead to difference of anti-jamming of the system. For mobile and airborne wind lidar, vibration influences the frequency stability of laser, which results in frequency jitter and larger errors in wind measurements. The frequency stability of locked lasers with the technology of build-up time minimization and ramp-fire technology are investigated respectively to compare the dependence of frequency stability on vibration. Results show that the frequency-locked 532 nm pulsed laser with ramp-fire technology has frequency stability of less than 5.00 MHz under vibration condition, while the frequency stability of the laser with build-up time minimization technology reaches up to 9.00 MHz. This suggests that the laser with ramp-fire technology is more suitable than laser with built-up time minimization technology for DWL used in the vibration environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a curve fitting approach for calculating both transmittance and optical rotation angles via the measurement system based on optical null methods. The system contains a digital signal processor (DSP) controlled step-motor rotating stage structure and a modulated laser diode (LD). Ink and sugar solutions of different concentrations are tested. Results for dual parameter measurement have been discussed. The feasibility, accuracy, along with the wide measuring range of this fitting approach is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]