Electrochemical properties of two-component polymers of palladium and pyrrolidine and piperazine derivatives of C60

Redox-active films have been generated via electrochemical reduction in a solution containing palladium(II) acetate and [C₆₀]fullerene, or derivatives of C₆₀. The C₆₀ derivatives include piperazine (piperazine-C₆₀), pyrrolidine (CH₃-pyr-C₆₀), and a pyrrolidine salt, [(CH₃)₂-pyr-C₆₀]⁺ attached to the fullerene unit. In these films, fullerene moieties are covalently bonded to palladium atoms to form a polymeric network. The polymer yields involving the piperazine and pyrrolidine derivatives of C₆₀ are significantly lower than the yield of the C₆₀/Pd film. The CH₃-pyr-C₆₀/Pd and [(CH₃)₂-pyr-C₆₀]⁺/Pd films are electrochemically active in the negative potential region due to the reduction of the fullerene moiety. Reduction of the CH₃-pyr-C₆₀/Pd film is accompanied by the transport of supporting electrolyte cations from the solution into the film. In the first reduction step of the [(CH₃)₂-pyr-C₆₀]⁺/Pd film, both cations and anions of the supporting electrolyte are involved. The piperazine-C₆₀/Pd film exhibits electrochemical activity at both negative and positive potentials. In the negative potential region, reduction of the fullerene cage takes place. Oxidation of the piperazine moiety is responsible for the observed current in the positive potential range. Here, the oxidation process of this polymer is significantly influenced by the presence of metallic palladium particles in the film.     

Effects of Strength and Microstructure on Hydrogen-Assisted Crack Propagation in 22Cr-13Ni-5Mn Stainless Steel Forgings

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of hydrogen on the fracture toughness and fracture mechanisms for the nitrogen-strengthened, austenitic stainless steel 22Cr-13Ni-5Mn, an alloy with potential value in high-pressure hydrogen containment components. The fracture initiation toughness and crack-growth resistance were measured before and after thermal precharging with hydrogen and as a function of crack-growth orientation and material strength. The effects of crack-growth orientation and material strength dominated over the effect of hydrogen exposure. The former two variables caused changes in fracture initiation toughness of up to 400 pct, while dissolved hydrogen resulted in only modest decreases in fracture initiation toughness of 20 to 40 pct. Coarse Z-phase (CrNbN) particles aligned in bands governed the measured fracture toughness and observed fracture mode. Fracture progressed by void nucleation and growth in the Z-phase bands, forming microcracks that ultimately linked through the remaining austenite matrix. Crack-growth orientation, material strength, and hydrogen exposure affected the nucleation and growth of voids in the Z-phase bands and the subsequent linking of microcracks. Control or elimination of the coarse, banded Z phase would likely enhance the fracture resistance of this alloy.     

Short communication: relationship between body growth and mammary development in dairy heifers

Our objective was to determine if prepubertal rate of body weight (BW) gain, independent of diet, was related to mammary development of dairy heifers. Data from two studies recently conducted at Michigan State University were used to identify factors, within a dietary treatment group, that would account for variation in first lactation milk production or amount of mammary parenchymal DNA at the time of puberty. Factors analyzed for variation in milk production during first lactation were: postpartum BW, prepubertal BW gain, gestational BW gain, postpartum BW gain, body condition score (BCS) at breeding, and BCS at calving. Factors analyzed for variation in mammary parenchymal DNA at puberty were: BW at slaughter, age at puberty, prepubertal BW gain and body protein and body fat content at slaughter. For both analyses, prepubertal BW gain did not account for any of the variation in mammary development. The only significant covariate for the milk production model (r2 = 0.44) was BCS at breeding. Similarly, the only significant covariate in the parenchymal DNA model (r2 = 0.22) was body fat content at slaughter. These results suggest that, within a dietary treatment, heifers that grow faster do not have impaired mammary development, and increased body fatness may be a better predictor of impaired mammary development than BW gain.     

Significance of a behavioral economic index of reward value in predicting drinking problem resolution.

This study investigated whether a behavioral economic index of the value of rewards available over different time horizons improved prediction of drinking outcomes beyond established biopsychosocial predictors. Preferences for immediate drinking versus more delayed rewards made possible by saving money were determined from expenditures prior to resolution attempts by problem drinkers with different help-seeking experiences (N = 144). As hypothesized, stable resolutions over a 2-year follow-up were associated with proportionally more preresolution discretionary expenditures on savings and less on alcohol compared with unstable resolutions. The relationship held regardless of help-seeking history, and preresolution drinking practices, problems, and income were similar across outcomes. The findings extend experimental work on behavioral economics and indicate that measuring monetary allocation improves prediction of outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does solitary substance use increase adolescents' risk for poor psychosocial and behavioral outcomes? A 9-year longitudinal study comparing solitary and social users.

This longitudinal study compared Grade 8 solitary cigarette smokers (n = 541), drinkers (n = 577), and marijuana users (n = 148) with adolescents who restricted their use of these substances to social settings (ns = 562, 1,426, and 388, respectively) on adolescent functioning and young adult outcomes. In Grade 8, solitary users held more positive beliefs about the consequences of substance use, earned poorer grades, engaged in more deviant behavior, and devoted less time to school and more time to social activities. By age 23, these solitary users had lower educational attainment, poorer self-rated health, and greater substance use problems. Results indicate the importance of better understanding and addressing the needs of this understudied group of high-risk youth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of a daily long term record of NOAA-14 AVHRR land surface temperature over Africa

We developed a new 6-year daily, daytime and nighttime, NOAA-14 AVHRR based land surface temperature (LST) dataset over continental Africa for the period 1995 through 2000. The processing chain was developed within the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping System (GIMMS) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. This paper describes the processing methodology used to convert the Global Area Coverage Level-1b data into LST and collateral data layers, such as sun and view geometries, cloud mask, local time of observation, and latitude and longitude. We used the Ulivieri et al. [Ulivieri, C., M.M. Castronuovo, R. Francioni, and A. Cardillo (1994), A split window algorithm for estimating land surface temperature from satellites, Adv. Space Research, 14(3):59-65.] split window algorithm to determine LST values. This algorithm requires as input values of surface emissivity in AVHRR channels 4 and 5. Thus, we developed continental maps of emissivity using an ensemble approach that combines laboratory emissivity spectra, MODIS-derived maps of herbaceous and woody fractional cover, and the UNESCO FAO soil map. A preliminary evaluation of the resulting LST product over a savanna woodland in South Africa showed a bias of < 0.3 K and an uncertainty of < 1.3 K for daytime retrievals (< 2.5 K for night). More extensive validation is required before statistically significant uncertainties can be determined. The LST production chain described here could be adapted for any wide field of view sensor (e.g., MODIS, VIIRS), and the LST product may be suitable for monitoring spatial and temporal temperature trends, or as input to many process models (e.g., hydrological, ecosystem).     

Use of knee height to correct the body height of elderly Hispanics

Loss of stature in certain elderly subjects can be attributed to diseases such as osteoporosis, as well as to age and generational effects. In addition, many elders cannot stand straight for accurate measurement. For these cases, total height can be estimated with regression equations based on knee height. The aims of this study were, firstly, to evaluate the applicability of regression equations based on knee height for estimation of stature and, secondly, to document the differences between measured and estimated height in a group of elderly Hispanics with postural problems (n = 166) in comparison with a group of elderly Hispanic without postural problems (n = 270). Using both, estimated and measured height, we also calculated the body mass index (BMI) of both groups of elders. Statistical analyses were done with paired t-tests, within sex and study group. Within the group with postural problems, estimated height was higher than the measured height for both men (p < or = 0.001) and women (p < or = 0.001). There were no significant differences between measured and estimated height in the group without postural problems. Furthermore, in the group with postural problems, BMI values calculated with estimated height were lower than those estimated with the measured height, and these differences were also significant for both men (p < or = 0.001) and women (p < or = 0.001). With the aging of the Latin American population, there is a need for more nutrition and health research among elders. In order to do this we need to develop and use methods and criteria appropriate for each population.     

Photoperiodic effects on dairy cattle: a review

Since the initial report in 1978 of galactopoietic effects of a photoperiod of 16 h of light:8 h of darkness, numerous studies have confirmed long-day stimulation of milk yield. The endocrine factor(s) responsible for increased milk yield, however, has eluded identification. Recent studies suggest that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) may mediate the galactopoietic response to long day photoperiod. Indeed, long days increase IGF-I in heifers and lactating cows; in the latter case, the response preceded an increase in milk yield. In heifers and cows, the increase in IGF-I is independent of changes in circulating growth hormone. Melatonin feeding to mimic a short-day photoperiod suppressed the increase of IGF-I in heifers induced by long days. However, melatonin feeding had no effect on milk yield in cows. Despite lack of resolution of the endocrine mechanism, dairy producers are interested in how photoperiod management can be integrated with current practices throughout the lactation cycle. There is strong evidence that milk yield responses to long days persist through an entire lactation. Also, long days can be combined with bovine somatotropin (bST) to produce additive increases in milk yield. During the dry period, long days increase the periparturient surge of prolactin. However, relative to long days, short-day treatment during the dry period produces the largest magnitude of response in milk yield during the subsequent lactation. The response to short days during the dry period may be due to a priming effect on the photoperiodic response system. In summary, IGF-I has emerged as a possible mediator of the increase of milk yield in response to long-day photoperiod. Photoperiod can be combined effectively with other management techniques such as bST. Consideration of photoperiod management during the dry period is essential to maximize responses during the subsequent lactation.     

Influence of bovine antiserum (Bo-Bac 2X) injection on colostral immunoglobulin G absorption in neonatal dairy calves

On the background of positive survival data from farms in Mississippi, treating calves with antiserum injection in addition to normal colostrum administration, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of a single subcutaneously administered bovine antiserum injection (0.031 g of IgG/kg of body weight) and pooled colostrum administration on efficiency of Ig absorption and on 24-h plasma IgG concentration in neonatal bull calves. Twenty-nine male dairy calves (21 Holsteins and 8 Jerseys) were assigned randomly at parturition to receive one of four treatments: 1) colostrum (n = 9), 2) colostrum and bovine antiserum injection (n = 7), 3) milk replacer (n = 5), or 4) milk replacer and bovine antiserum injection (n = 8). At birth, calves either did or did not receive an injection of bovine antiserum and were fed pooled colostrum or milk replacer (Holsteins, 3.8 L; Jerseys, 1.9 L) via an esophageal feeder. Blood was collected immediately before administration of the colostrum or milk replacer, then again at 24 and 48 h postpartum. Immunoglobulin G concentrations of colostrum, milk replacer, antiserum, and plasma were monitored by single radial immunodiffusion. Colostrum administration and injection of bovine antiserum each increased plasma Ig concentration at 24 h posttreatment. In addition, antiserum injection increased the apparent efficiency of absorption of colostral Ig by 42% over that for calves fed colostrum alone. The increase in plasma IgG for antiserum-treated calves exceeded the total amount of IgG administered in the antiserum injection; hence, this increase appeared to be the result of an increase in total absorption of colostral IgG, or possibly antiserum injection somehow triggered active synthesis of IgG. Injection of antiserum might possibly serve as a beneficial adjunct to a colostrum management program by enhancing the acquisition of passive immunity from colostral sources.