The Normal State Properties of Y3Ba5Cu8?xZnxO18?δ Superconductor in Bipolaron Model

We report the effect of Zn Substitution on superconducting and normal state properties of new Y-based Y₃Ba₅Cu_8−x Zn _x O_18−δ superconductor. The resistivity of the samples rather shows linear temperature dependence. Two cases of bipolaron model, in presence and absence of thermally excited individual polarons, are used to analyze normal state resistivity. The effect of Zn substitution on carrier localization, transition temperature, boson–boson relaxation time, and extended bosons are discussed.     

Elementary school children's perceptions of their actual and ideal school experience: A developmental study.

154 2nd, 4th, and 6th graders were interviewed about their perceptions of school in 2 domains. The action domain tapped perceptions of their actual and ideal prerogatives with respect to privacy, territoriality, and 3 types of decision making (custodial, governance, and instructional). The value domain addressed Ss' evaluations of the school as a safe, just, responsive, important, and liked environment. Ss reported a fair amount of discrepancy between their ideal and actual status in the action domain, asserting that they ought to have more prerogatives than those they perceived as available to them, particularly with respect to decision making. This discrepancy increased with grade level. Ss' evaluations of school in the value domain were, on the whole, overwhelmingly positive. Results indicate that Ss did not see the school as supporting the expression of their emerging social competence and/or aspirations. In contrast, Ss saw the school as substantially sharing their values while constraining their actions. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Teachers' attitudes toward young deviant children.

Investigated the effect of written information about the behaviors (acting out or withdrawn), label condition (label or no label), therapy condition (psychotherapy or no psychotherapy), and sex (male or female) of hypothetical 2nd graders on elementary school teachers' expectations of the pupils' present and future school functioning. The pupils' behavior was the prepotent determinant of teachers' expectations for both the present and future ratings. Acting out behaviors were viewed more negatively than were withdrawn ones; the other pupil variables did not affect teacher expectations. Teachers' future ratings of the children were consistently more positive than were their present ratings. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Maternal dietary conjugated linoleic acid alters hepatic triacylglycerol and tissue fatty acids in hatched chicks

The effects of feeding CLA to hens on newly hatched chick hepatic and carcass lipid content, liver TAG accumulation, and FA incorporation in chick tissues such as liver, heart, brain, and adipose were studied. These tissues were selected owing to their respective roles in lipid assimilation (liver), as a major oxidation site (heart), as a site enriched with long-chain polyunsaturates for function (brain), and as a storage depot (adipose). Eggs with no, low, or high levels of CLA were produced by feeding hens a corn-soybean meal-basal diet containing 3% (w/w) corn oil (Control), 2.5% corn oil +0.5% CLA oil (CLA1), or 2% corn oil +1.0% CLA oil (CLA2). The egg yolk content of total CLA was 0.0, 1.0, and 2.6% for Control, CLA1, and CLA2, respectively (P<0.05). Maternal dietary CLA resulted in a decrease in chick carcass total fat (P<0.05). Liver tissue of CLA2 chicks had the lowest fat content (P<0.05). The liver TAG content was 8.2, 5.8, and 5.1 mg/g for Control, CLA1, and CLA2 chicks, respectively (P<0.05). The chicks hatched from CLA1 and CLA2 incorporated higher levels of cis-9,trans-11 CLA in the liver, plasma, adipose, and brain than Control (P<0.05). The content of 18∶0 was higher in the liver, plasma adipose, and brain of CLA1 and CLA2 than Control (P<0.05), but no difference was observed in the 18∶0 content of heart tissue. A significant reduction in 18∶1 was observed in the liver, plasma, adipose, heart, and brain of CLA1 and CLA2 chicks (P<0.05). DHA (22∶6n−3) was reduced in the heart and brain of CLA1 and CLA2 chicks (P<0.05). No difference was observed in carcass weight, dry matter, or ash content of chicks (P>0.05). The hatchabilities of fertile eggs were 78, 34, and 38% for Control, CLA1, and CLA2, respectively (P<0.05). The early dead chicks were higher in CLA1 and CLA2 than Control (18 and 32% compared with 9% for Control), and alive but not hatched chicks were 15 and 19% for CLA1 and CLA2, compared with 8% for Control (P<0.05). Maternal supplementation with CLA leads to a reduction in hatchability, liver TAG, and carcass total fat in newly hatched chicks.     

Smart Bandage for Monitoring and Treatment of Chronic Wounds

Chronic wounds are a major health concern and they affect the lives of more than 25 million people in the United States. They are susceptible to infection and are the leading cause of nontraumatic limb amputations worldwide. The wound environment is dynamic, but their healing rate can be enhanced by administration of therapies at the right time. This approach requires real‐time monitoring of the wound environment with on‐demand drug delivery in a closed‐loop manner. In this paper, a smart and automated flexible wound dressing with temperature and pH sensors integrated onto flexible bandages that monitor wound status in real‐time to address this unmet medical need is presented. Moreover, a stimuli‐responsive drug releasing system comprising of a hydrogel loaded with thermo‐responsive drug carriers and an electronically controlled flexible heater is also integrated into the wound dressing to release the drugs on‐demand. The dressing is equipped with a microcontroller to process the data measured by the sensors and to program the drug release protocol for individualized treatment. This flexible smart wound dressing has the potential to significantly impact the treatment of chronic wounds.