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Effects of different dietary fats on plasma, hepatic and biliary lipids were determined in male golden Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) fed on purified diets for 7 weeks. Diets were made by blending different fats containing characteristic fatty acids: butter (14:0 + 16:0), palm stearin (16:0), coconut oil (12:0 + 14:0), rapeseed oil (18:1), olive oil (18:l) and sunflowerseed oil (18:2). In all diets except the sunflowerseed oil diet dietary 18:2 was held constant at 2% energy. Total fat supplied 12% of energy and cholesterol was added at 4 g/kg diet. Plasma cholesterol and triacyglycerol concentrations were increased by dietary cholesterol. After 7 weeks, plasma cholesterol concentrations were highest with the palm Stearin, coconut oil and olive oil diets (8·9, 8·9 and 9·2 mmol/l) and lowest with the rapeseed oil and sdowerseed oil diets (6·7 and 5·5 mmol/l) while the butter diet was intermediate (8·5 mmol/l). Hepatic cholesterol concentration was highest in hamsters fed on the olive oil diet and lowest with the palm stearin diet (228 v. 144 µmol/g liver). Biliary lipids, lithogenic index and bile acid profile of the gall-bladder bile did not differ significantly among the six diets. Although the gallstone incidence was generally low in this study, three out of 10 hamsters fed on the palm stearin diet developed cholesterol gallstones. In contrast, no cholesterol gallstones were found with the other diets. Rapeseed and dowerseed oils caused the lowest plasma cholesterol and triacyglycerol concentrations whereas olive oil failed to demonstrate a cholesterol-lowering effect compared with diets rich in saturated fatty acids. Since 18:2 was kept constant at 2% of energy in all diets, the different responses to rapeseed and olive oils could possibly be attributed to their different contents of 16:0 (5·6 % v. 12·8% respectively). Other possible explanations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An aperture-limited, differentially pumped environmental cell has been developed and installed in a JEOL 4000 EX electron microscope. With this environmental cell it is possible to observe, at high spatial resolution, the detailed changes in microstructure that occur during the interaction between a solid and a gaseous environment. The cell has been pressurized to 70 Torr with H[sub 2] gas for several hours with no adverse effects on the microscope performance. While the initial tests have been performed with hydrogen gas, the materials used to construct the environmental ceil can tolerate corrosive environments. The key features of the environmental cell design along with the results from some applications are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the influence of boron on the plasticity and strength of the intermetallic compound NiAl at stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric compositions, grown by self-propagating high temperature synthesis. We have determined the nature of the fracture and the fraction of brittle intercrystallite and viscous transcrystallite fracture. A correlation is found between the low temperature plasticity and the fraction of transcrystallite fracture. It is shown that the addition of boron, up to its solubility increases the cohesive strength of the grain boundaries in melts at the stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric compositions. In a melt with 25 at. % Al it remains about two times smaller than in a melt with 24 at. % Al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article talks about a Marigold Shark Cucullia calendulae trapped in Waterford on the south-east coast of Ireland. It discusses the specimen identification and offers information on the areas it is known, its wing time and overwintering, and its larvae feeding. It also mentions the other migrant moths trapped along with the Marigold Shark at the beginning of the immigrant activity period.

Background: currently applied surface treatments for zirconia bonding may create undesired microcracks and surface flaws. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of alternative surface treatments on the shear bond strength of high translucency zirconia to 10-Methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP)-containing resin-based cement. Methods: fifty disk-shaped specimens (10 mm × 5 mm) were fabricated from a commercial yttria-stabilized zirconia with 5 mole% yttrium oxide tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (5Y-TZP), and underwent air-abrasion with alumina particles (50 μm-AL50 and 90 μm-AL90), glass beads (GB 10–60 μm), and ablation with femtosecond laser (FEMTO). Shear bond strength was evaluated with a universal testing machine under a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min until fracture. Fracture type was evaluated with an optical stereomicroscope. Differences among groups were evaluated by one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni pairwise comparison tests (p < 0.05). Results: the highest shear bond strength values were presented by the laser treated group (23.97 ± 3.7 MPa). No statistically significant differences were found among the Cl, Al50, Al90 and FEMTO groups. The lowest mean value was presented by the glass-beads treated group (11.93 ± 2.88 MPa) which was significantly lower compared to all other groups (p < 0.001). Conclusions: under the limitations of this in vitro study, femtosecond laser treatment of High-translucent monolithic zirconia (HTZ) ceramics is a promising alternative method for the mechanical retention of resin cements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Redox-active Group 13 molecules possess the unusual combination of concomitant redox and acid–base reactivity. These combined properties enable regeneration of a metal hydroxide complex in a cycle for conversion of CO2 into carbonate salts. Reaction of (IP−)2Al(OH) (M = Al, Ga) with 1 atm of CO2 affords [(IP−)2Al]2(μ2κ1:κ2-OCO2). Subsequent reduction affords MgCO3 or CaCO3 and two equivalents of [(IP2−)2Al]−, which can be reoxidized to (IP−)2Al(OH) to close a cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first report on bioinspired silica – produced using a green method – supported carbonic anhydrase for carbon capture and demonstrate significantly improved carbon capture efficiency and stability relevant to flue gas temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proposes that the variation in position and shape of dimorphic tusks observed in Mesoplodon whales may function as a precopulatory species isolating mechanisms. Information on Mesoplodon whales; Role of species recognition in the shape and position of sexually dimorphic tusks; Implications of the ecological differences of species.

The article offers information related to entomology, highlighting the discovery of a male microcaddisfly amongst a batch of Northern Ireland micromoths. Other information about the specimen, which was readily identifiable from its genitalia as Hydroptila simulans as well as the adult Trichoptera, or caddisflies, of Britain and Ireland is presented.

The article reports sighting of Pieris napi butterflies in West Perthshire, Great Britain, and talks of mud puddling habit of Lepidoptera to acquire fluid and nutrients like sodium, and impact of contaminated mud on the attractiveness of Lepidoptera.

The article offers information on Eucosma conterminana, a moth of the Tortricidae family. Topics discussed include specimen of the same was taken at Tramore, Co. Waterford which identified it as Eucosma tripoliana; identifying the habitat of the species; and increasing migrant activity and behaviour of the same.

The article presents information on the first Irish record of Lozotaeniodes formosana (Frölich), a moth of the family Tortricidae.

The article reports sighting of False Cacao Moth Ephestia woodiella in Ireland, and talks of larva habit of feeding on dried plant material, dried berries and the dead stems of ivy, and lodging of specimen by National Museum of Ireland, Natural History, Dublin, Ireland.

Astrapotheria is an order of extinct South American herbivores recorded throughout the continent, from the late Paleocene to middle Miocene. Here we describeHilarcotherium castanedaii, gen. et sp. nov., an Uruguaytheriinae astrapothere from sediments of La Victoria Formation (middle Miocene) in the Tolima Department, Upper Magdalena Valley, Colombia.H. castanedaii, represented by a partial skull, mandible, and some postcranial remains, is characterized by (1) unique dental formula, with 0/3i, 1/1c, 1/1p, and 3/3 m; and (2) lower canines with subtriangular transverse section at the base.Hilarcotheriumdiffers from the equatorial Uruguaytheriinae generaXenastrapotheriumandGranastrapotheriumin (1) having three lower incisors; (2) the diagonal implantation of the lower canines; (3) lower molars with lingual cingulid; (4) the presence of the hypocone in the third upper molar; and (5) the presence of an anterolingual pocket in the fourth upper premolar. Our phylogenetic analysis supports the monophyly of the subfamilies Astrapotheriinae and Uruguaytheriinae. Within the latter, we confirm the monophyly of the neotropical clade (Hilarcotherium,Xenastrapotherium, andGranastrapotherium).H. castanedaiishows some plesiomorphic features such as the aforementioned presence of the i3 and the developed hypocone in the last upper molar. Its estimated body mass (1303 kg) is intermediate among Astrapotheriidae. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:82377B38-8B39-4D71-9117-FD17CB329238 SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free atwww.tandfonline.com/UJVP [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper demonstrates a substantial enhancement in radiation tolerance for small period-thickness of CrN/AlTiN multilayered nanofilms. CrN/AlTiN multilayered nanofilms with period-thicknesses of 3, 5, 7, and 9 nm were irradiated by 190 keV Ar+ ions to fluences ranging from 1 to 5 × 1016 ions/cm2. Nanofilm with 3 nm period-thickness begins to be amorphized under 5 × 1016 ions/cm2, while those with larger period-thicknesses are amorphized under 3 × 1016 ions/cm2. Our results show that multilayered ceramic nanofilms are potential radiation tolerant materials with good properties. The interfaces in the multilayered nanofilms act as good sinks to absorb the radiation-induced defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]