Slip-System-Related Dislocation Study from <Emphasis Type="Italic">In-Situ</Emphasis> Neutron Measurements

A combined experimental/computational approach is employed to study slip-system-related dislocation-substructure formation during uniaxial tension of a single-phase, face-centered-cubic (fcc), nickel-based alloy. In-situ neutron-diffraction measurements were conducted to monitor the peak-intensity, peak-position, and peak-broadening evolution during a displacement-controlled, monotonic-tension experiment at room temperature. The measured lattice-strain evolution and the macrostress/macrostrain curves were used to obtain the material parameters required for simulating the texture development by a visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) model. The simulated texture compared favorably with experimentally-determined texture results over a range of 0 to 30 pct engineering strain. The grain-orientation-dependent input into the Debye-intensity ring was considered. Grains favorably oriented relative to the two detector banks in the geometry of the neutron experiment were indicated. For the favorably oriented grains, the simulated slip-system activity was used to calculate the slip-system-dependent, dislocation-contrast factor. The combination of the calculated contrast factor with the experimentally-measured peak broadening allows the assessment of the parameters of the dislocation arrangement within the specifically oriented grains, which has a quantitative agreement with the transmission-electron-microscopy results. This article is based on a presentation given in the symposium entitled “Neutron and X-Ray Studies for Probing Materials Behavior,” which occurred during the TMS Spring Meeting in New Orleans, LA, March 9–13, 2008, under the auspices of the National Science Foundation, TMS, the TMS Structural Materials Division, and the TMS Advanced Characterization, Testing, and Simulation Committee.

---

Nanometer-level autofocus air gauge

A noninvasive, pneumatic, low-flow, differential, hot-wire, top-surface sensing device is described and demonstrated for use in the Etec ALTA^® mask and reticle writer. This apparatus, a nanometer-level autofocus air gauge, is capable of sensing the distance from the final objective lens to the top surface of the photoresist with greater than 0.1 μm accuracy, 100-Hz bandwidth, and less than 10 nm of peak-to-peak noise. It can do this quite independent of the resist’s surface or bulk properties, such as the dielectric constant. The engineering requirements and efficacy of hot-wire sensing are developed and implemented. The theory, in general, for modeling hot wires in this device, as well as the fundamental time constants, transmission line effects, and constraints, are discussed. The necessary electronic circuitry for creating constant temperature bridges using hot wires and running them differentially is also developed and implemented. Results and data are included.     

Cyclophilin Inhibition Protects Against Experimental Acute Kidney Injury and Renal Interstitial Fibrosis

Cyclophilins have important homeostatic roles, but following tissue injury, cyclophilin A (CypA) can promote leukocyte recruitment and inflammation, while CypD can facilitate mitochondrial-dependent cell death. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of a selective cyclophilin inhibitor (GS-642362), which does not block calcineurin function, in mouse models of tubular cell necrosis and renal fibrosis. Mice underwent bilateral renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) and were killed 24 h later: treatment with 10 or 30 mg/kg/BID GS-642362 (or vehicle) began 1 h before surgery. In the second model, mice underwent unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO) surgery and were killed 7 days later; treatment with 10 or 30 mg/kg/BID GS-642362 (or vehicle) began 1 h before surgery. GS-642362 treatment gave a profound and dose-dependent protection from acute renal failure in the IRI model. This protection was associated with reduced tubular cell death, including a dramatic reduction in neutrophil infiltration. In the UUO model, GS-642362 treatment significantly reduced tubular cell death, macrophage infiltration, and renal fibrosis. This protective effect was independent of the upregulation of IL-2 and activation of the stress-activated protein kinases (p38 and JNK). In conclusion, GS-642362 was effective in suppressing both acute kidney injury and renal fibrosis. These findings support further investigation of cyclophilin blockade in other types of acute and chronic kidney disease.     

Foliar potassium fertilization improves fruit quality of field‐grown muskmelon on calcareous soils in south Texas

BACKGROUND: Among plant nutrients, potassium (K) has the strongest influence on crop quality parameters that determine consumer preference. However, soil and plant factors often limit adequate soil K uptake to satisfy quality requirements during fruit development stages. The objectives of this multiyear field study with muskmelon were to determine if this apparent K deficiency and the associated fruit quality limitations can be alleviated by supplementing soil‐derived K with foliar K nutrition, and whether differences exist among potential foliar K salts. RESULTS: Foliar K treatments increased tissue K concentrations, fruit sugars and bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid and β‐carotene) by 19%, 21% and 15%, respectively, even though soil K levels were high, indicating that soil K alone was inadequate to improve these quality traits. All the K salts evaluated increased tissue K and fruit quality traits; however, no clear trends in the relative magnitudes of these enhancements were apparent among K sources, except for KNO₃ which consistently resulted in non‐significant effects. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that late‐season foliar K feeding can improve fruit quality of muskmelons grown on calcareous soils. The data also reveal differences among K salts and suggest a reassessment of K management strategies aimed at improving quality. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

可定制的功能会聚便携设备

在TI大屏幕电视市场的同事很是值得羡慕,不管他们开发什么新式显示技术,无论是DLP,等离子,还是LED、LCD,拥有这些显示技术的设备总是变得越来越大,而且离AC电源插座的距离也不会超过6英尺.对于便携市场领域而言,我们也努力实现更好的显示功能,不过需要解决两大难题.首先,封装空间非常有限,而且似乎越来越小;其次,必须保证设备能以越来越小的电池为其供电.这些已经是昨天的事情了.今天,我们的客户有了新的要求,希望获得多功能便携式设备,将传统上彼此不同但又相互联系的技术放入一部便携式设备之中.     

Stimulation and molecular characterization of bacterial perchlorate degradation by plant-produced electron donors

Root homogenate from poplar trees (Populus deltoides x nigra DN34, Imperial Carolina) stimulated perchlorate degradation in microcosms of soil and water samples collected at a perchlorate contaminated site, the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant (LHAAP), located outside Karnack, Texas. Direct use of root products by perchlorate-degrading bacteria was shown for the first time as six pureculture bacteria isolated from LHAAP perchlorate-degrading microcosms degraded perchlorate when given root products as the sole exogenous source of carbon and electron donor. Nonenriched environmental consortia were able to utilize root products for perchlorate degradation, regardless of prior exposure to perchlorate. Microcosms that contained perchlorate-contaminated groundwater (MW-3) or uncontaminated surface water (Harrison Bayou) as inoculum degraded approximately 240 and 160 mg L(-1) perchlorate, respectively, using root products (approximately 440 mg L(-1) as COD) over 38 days. The predominant bacterial species in these aqueous microcosms, identified by DGGE, depended only upon the source inoculum as similar sequences were obtained whether root products or lactate was the electron donor. Sequences from DGGE bands that matched species within Dechloromonas, a genus consisting of many perchlorate degraders, were identified in all perchlorate-degrading microcosms. This study demonstrates the ability of root products to drive perchlorate respiration by bacteria and the potential for successful achievement of perchlorate rhizodegradation using in situ phytoremediation.     

A meta-analytic examination of hardiness.

Hardiness, which is a multidimensional personality trait that is hypothesized to protect people from the effects of stress, has attracted considerable research attention during the last 30 years. The current study provides a meta-analytic review of hardiness. Specifically, we examined the relationships between the hardiness facets, the relationship between hardiness and other personality variables, as well as the relationships between hardiness and several hypothesized criteria, including stressors, strains, social support, coping, and performance. Our analyses generally suggest that hardiness is: (a) positively related to other personality traits that are expected to protect people from stress, (b) negatively related to personality traits that are expected to exacerbate the effects of stress, (c) negatively related to stressors, strains, and regressive coping, and (d) positively related to social support, active coping, and performance. Regression analyses suggest that hardiness is significantly related to important criteria after the effects of other personality traits (e.g., the Five Factor Model traits) are controlled. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Child maltreatment moderates the association of MAOA with symptoms of depression and antisocial personality disorder.

There is a growing body of data indicating that Gene × Child Maltreatment interactions at monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) play a role in vulnerability to symptoms of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) but not major depression (MD). Using a sample of 538 participants from the Iowa Adoption Studies, we introduce a conceptual model that highlights two distinct pathways from child maltreatment to symptoms of MD, suggesting that maltreatment has different effects depending on genotype and highlighting the importance of including the indirect pathway through ASPD. As predicted by the model, high activity alleles predispose to symptoms of MD in the context of child maltreatment whereas low activity alleles predispose to symptoms of ASPD. We conclude that the Gene × Environment interplay at this locus (MAOA) contributes to both symptoms of ASPD and MD and that careful specification of child maltreatment may be essential if genetic association research is to produce replicable results. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential susceptibility to parenting among African American youths: Testing the DRD4 hypothesis.

To test the differential susceptibility to parenting hypothesis, a 4-wave, randomized prevention design was used to examine the impact of the Strong African American Families program on past-month substance use across 29 months as a function of DRD4 genotype. Youths (N = 337; M age = 11.65 years) were assigned randomly to treatment condition. Those carrying a 7-repeat allele showed greater differential response to intervention vs. control than those with two 4-repeat alleles. Control youths but not treatment youths with a 7-repeat allele reported increases in past-month substance use across the 29-month study period, but this pattern did not emerge for those with the 4-repeat allele. Supporting the differential susceptibility to parenting hypothesis, the results suggest a greater preventive effect for youths carrying a 7-repeat allele, a role for DRD4 in the escalation of substance use during adolescence, and potential for an enhanced understanding of early-onset substance use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Copper Complex of Aminoisoborneol Schiff Base Cu2(SBAIB‐d)2: An Efficient Catalyst for Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Nitroaldol (Henry) Reaction

A new bifunctional copper complex of the aminoisoborneol Schiff base – Cu₂(SBAIB‐d)₂ – has been developed for the effective direct catalytic asymmetric Henry reaction. One mol% of this catalyst produces the expected Henry products in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). The utility of the present catalyst was also extended to the Henry reaction with nitroethane and 1‐nitropropane that furnished the corresponding products in moderate to high yields (up to 99%) with moderate to high enantioselectivities of syn (up to 98% ee) and anti (up to 98% ee) diastereomers. The highlights of this catalytic system are easy manipulation, air and moisture tolerance, the need for 1 mol% of an easily synthesizable catalyst and the high enantioselectivities achieved for a wide range of substrates.