Room temperature CW operation of orange light (625 nm) emitting InGaAlP laser

An InGaAlP laser operating under continuous wave excitation, having a record short wavelength of 625 nm at room temperature has been constructed. This was accomplished employing a tensile strained ( Delta a/a=-1%) multiquantum well active region and a six pair multiquantum barrier structure.<>     

Fatty acid composition of oil from soybean seeds grown at extreme temperatures

Temperature during seed development is known to influence the level of the various fatty acids in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] oil. In order to determine the range of values that can be obtained for each fatty acid, five lines (A5, C1640, N78-2245, PI 123440 and PI 361088B) known to possess low linolenic acid (18:3) levels, one line (A6) known to possess a high stearic acid (18:0) level, and two cultivars (Century and Maple Arrow) were grown at 40/30, 28/22, and 15/12°C day/night. At 40/30°C, high oleic acid (18:1), low linoleic acid (18:2), and low linolenic acid levels were obtained that were beyond the range of levels reported for the soybean germplasm. The linolenic acid levels for A5, C1640 and N78-2245 grown at 40/30°C were below 2.0%, and are the lowest values reported for soybean oil. A6 displayed a high level of stearic acid at 28/22 and 40/30°C but displayed a relatively low level at 15/12°C. This indicates that temperature may affect the expression of thefas ^a allele, which is responsible for high stearic acid levels in A6. The linolenic acid levels of PI 361088B and C1640, both possessing thefan allele, were the lowest for all lines grown at 15/12°C. Therefore, thefan allele is an appropriate source for the development of low linolenic acid lines adapted to cool areas.     

The androgenic regulation of prostate proteins with a high affinity for deoxyribonucleic acid. Evidence for a prostate deoxyribonucleic acid-unwinding protein

1. When testosterone is injected into castrated rats in vivo, a significant increase in the incorporation of [35S]methionine into prostate proteins may be detected under conditions in vitro. 2. Studies based on DNA-cellulose chromatography show that the synthesis of prostate proteins with a high affinity for DNA is particularly enhanced by androgenic stimulation. 3. These changes in protein synthesis are negated when the anti-androgen, cyproterone acetate, is administered concomitantly with testosterone in vivo. 4. Two assays were developed for measuring the strand separation of prostate DNA; first, the retention of 3H-labelled native DNA on nitrocellulose membranes, and second, the activation of native DNA as a template for 9S prostate DNA polymerase. On the basis of these criteria, DNA-unwinding activity is present in the prostate gland and it is regulated by androgens in a steroid-and tissue-specific manner. 5. The results are discussed in the context of the mechanism of action of androgens, particularly since the changes provoked in DNA-unwinding activity by androgens precede the onset of DNA replication and mitosis.     

Improved Estimation of ADCP Apparent Bed-Load Velocity Using a Real-Time Kalman Filter

An estimate of apparent bed-load velocity (v) can be derived from the difference between differential global positioning system (DGPSs) and acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) bottom track (BT) measurements when BT is biased by a moving bottom. A Kalman filter has been developed to integrate GPS and bottom track data to improve estimation of boat velocity during ADCP measurements under moving bed conditions (Rennie and Rainville, 2008, J. Hydraulic Eng., in review). The boat velocity estimated using the Kalman filter is superior to boat velocity from raw GPS data. In this paper we assess the improvement in estimation of v using the Kalman filter as opposed to raw GPS data. Specifically, a synthetic moving bed bias was generated for 22 repeat transects of the Gatineau River, Quebec. The synthetic moving bed bias had mean, variance, and distribution across the section as typically observed during bed-load transport conditions, and had the advantage that it was known explicitly. The errors in estimated apparent bed-load velocity derived using either raw DGPS data or the Kalman filter boat velocity were compared. It was found that the improved boat velocity from the Kalman filter yielded significantly (α = 0.05) better estimates of v, (e.g., 61% reduction in error when the Kalman filter boat velocity was used instead of wide area augmentation system GGA), because boat velocity errors were reduced. Tests with real moving bed data confirmed the Kalman filter was able to significantly reduce errors in bed load calculated with stand alone GPS.     

Assessment of endotoxin levels in the home and current asthma and wheeze in school-age children

The relationship between household endotoxin and asthma in children is not clear. To further investigate the relationship between sources of endotoxin and childhood asthma, we conducted a case-control study of children with and without asthma and examined their more frequent household exposures in the home. Children ages 6-13 years with current asthma (n = 70) or wheeze only (n = 19) were sex and age matched (+/-1 year) to 107 controls. Play area and mattress dust were collected for endotoxin analysis. Atopic status was determined by skin prick testing for allergies. A family size of >4 per household was associated with higher endotoxin levels (EU/mg) in the bed dust (P < 0.05). Passive smoking (P < 0.05) and the presence of a cat were associated with higher levels of endotoxin in mattress dust. Endotoxin levels in either the play dust or the bed dust did not differ between cases and controls. Within atopic cases, those with higher endotoxin loads (EU/m2) in bed or play areas were more likely to miss school for chest illness (P < 0.05). In this study, household endotoxin is not a risk factor for current asthma overall but may be associated with increased severity in children with atopic asthma. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study did not find that household sources of endotoxin were associated with asthma. However, within atopic asthmatics, asthma severity (as measured by a history of being kept home from school because of a chest illness in the past year) was associated with higher levels of endotoxin in dust from the child's bed. There is a need to further investigate the nature of the relationship between household endotoxin and asthma severity in children which could lead to better management of childhood asthma.     

Deformation behaviour simulation of an apple under drop case by finite element method

This study focuses on the deformation behaviour of organic materials under a drop case. A Golden Delicious apple was chosen as the sample organic material. A three-dimensional (3D) scanner, high speed camera and finite element method (FEM) simulations were utilised to investigate drop case deformation events of the organic material. In total, 22 steps after impact were set up in the simulation by comparing high speed camera screen steps. Maximum equivalent stress of 0.416 MPa and maximum contact force (resultant normal force from rigid plane at impact) of 250.980 N were obtained from simulation results. Visual investigations and simulation results relating to deformations observed under the drop case, agreed well. This study contributes to further our understanding of fruit and vegetable damage/deformation by using computer aided engineering applications.