Accuracy of Global Microirrigation Distribution Uniformity Estimates

Emitter pressures and flow rates were systematically and extensively sampled in one drip and one microspray field. The data distributions are presented. The accuracy of rapid (limited samples) evaluation pressure sampling procedures was found to be quite good if the pressure distribution was systematic, but erroneous if the pressure distribution throughout a field was random. A simple mathematical combination of two nonuniformity components (due to pressure differences, and other causes of flow variation) provided a better estimate of overall system distribution uniformity than more complex mathematics.     

Effect of weaning and dietary galactose supplementation on digesta glycoproteins in pigs

Changes in pig digesta mucin and glycoprotein content at weaning and with the inclusion of galactose in the postweaning diet were studied. Mucus was collected from ileal contents of cannulated pigs pre‐ and postweaning, and glycoproteins were analysed based on staining patterns and size exclusion chromatography. An increased concentration of intestinal mucin in lumen contents was observed in newly weaned pigs compared to the same pigs prior to weaning. Analysis of O‐linked oligosaccharides indicated changes in mucin structure from pre‐ to postweaning. Supplementing the diet with galactose resulted in modification of mucin in postweaned pigs compared to a control diet and may limit microbial degradation of mucin. These data indicate that weaning and the subsequent transition to a grain‐based diet result in changes to digesta mucin and endogenous glycoproteins; and dietary galactose may play a role in the final composition and quantity of these compounds. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Performance models for network processor design

To provide a variety of new and advanced communications services, computer networks are required to perform increasingly complex packet processing. This processing typically takes place on network routers and their associated components. An increasingly central component in router design is a chip-multiprocessor (CMP) referred to as "network processor" or NP. In addition to multiple processors, NPs have multiple forms of on-chip memory, various network and off-chip memory interfaces, and other specialized logic components such as CAMs (content addressable memories). The design space for NPs (e.g., number of processors, caches, cache sizes, etc.) is large due to the diverse workload, application requirements, and system characteristics. System design constraints relate to the maximum chip area and the power consumption that are permissible while achieving defined line rates and executing required packet functions. In this paper, an analytic performance model that captures the processing performance, chip area, and power consumption for a prototypical NP is developed and used to provide quantitative insights into system design trade offs. The model, parameterized with a networking application benchmark, provides the basis for the design of a scalable, high-performance network processor and presents insights into how best to configure the numerous design elements associated with NPs.     

Facilitation using personal associations in a lexical decision task.

Experimenters using the lexical decision task have reported that the processing of a word target is facilitated by the prior processing of a related word prime. Three experiments with 60 university students are reported that generalize this phenomenon to personal associative structures between randomly selected items. The magnitude of the effect from these personal associations was contrasted with the effect obtained from using the more usual high-frequency word pairs associated in a normative manner. There was no difference between the facilitation obtained for common or personal associates, regardless of whether testing was immediate or delayed. It is concluded that the structural/processing characteristics that cause the phenomenon can validly be assumed to be general throughout memory. (French abstract) (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optimization of carbon nanotube synthesis from porous anodic Al-Fe-Al templates

A parametric study of carbon nanotube (CNT) synthesis from catalytically active porous anodic Al-Fe-Al multilayer templates was conducted with respect to pore aspect ratio, Fe layer thickness, CNT synthesis temperature, and pre-anodization thermal annealing. Performance metrics included CNT catalytic activity and the pore wall integrity at the Al-Fe-Al interface. The observed CNT density was a strong function of pore diameter, synthesis temperature and pre-anodization annealing of the catalyst film. Vertical pore wall integrity at the Al-Fe-Al interface was optimized by selection of pre-anodization annealing conditions, with interfacial void formation observed in the absence of this technique. Based on CNT growth rates, an activation energy of 0.52 eV was observed for CNT synthesis for all film structures, regardless of pore aspect ratio. The optimization of templated CNT synthesis is expected to assist in the development of high-density vertically oriented CNT-based devices.     

Some physiological characteristics to estimate species potential as a mine reclamation ground cover

In finding what physiological characteristics can be used to predict ground cover success on mine reclamation sites, 14 herb and grass species were tested. Establishment and early growth was tested on three different soils, ie vermiculate and quartz sand mixture, quarry overburden and coal mine overburden in a greenhouse. The results indicate that plant height and cover, transpiration rate and foliar pigments may be used to select plant adaptability to mined soil. White clover (Trifolium repens L.) showed the greatest potential as ground cover for mined soils. Species most widely used in reclamation tended to be perennials of moderate rate.     

Determination of the structure and orientation of organic molecules tethered to flat graphitic carbon by ATR-FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy

Mono- and multilayers of nitroazobenzene (NAB), azobenzene (AB), nitrobiphenyl (NBP), biphenyl (BP), and fluorene (FL) were covalently bonded to flat pyrolyzed photoresist films (PPF) by electrochemical reduction of their diazonium derivatives. The structure and orientation of the molecular layers were probed with ATR-FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. A hemispherical germanium ATR element used with p-polarized light at 65 degrees incidence angle yielded high signal/noise IR spectra for monolayer coverage of molecules on PPF. The IR spectra are dominated by in-plane vibrational modes in the 1000-2000-cm(-1) spectral range but also exhibit weaker out-of-plane deformations in the 650-1000-cm(-1) region. The average tilt angle with respect to the surface normal for the various molecules varied from 31.0 +/- 4.5 degrees for NAB to 44.2 +/- 5.4 degrees for FL with AB, NBP, and BP exhibiting intermediate adsorption geometries. Raman intensity ratios of NAB and AB for p- and s-polarized incident light support the conclusion that the chemisorbed molecules are in a predominantly upright orientation. The results unequivocally indicate that molecules electroreduced from their diazonium precursors are not chemisorbed flat on the PPF surface, but rather at an angle, similar to the behavior of Au/thiol self-assembled monolayers, Langmuir-Blodgett films, and porphyrin molecules chemisorbed thermally on silicon and PPF from alkyne and alkene precursors.