A randomized controlled trial of the effect of fish oil supplementation in late pregnancy and early lactation on the n−3 fatty acid content in human breast milk

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of fish oil supplementation, in the third trimester of pregnancy and early lactation period of healthy pregnant Danish women. Forty-four pregnant women were randomly allocated to fish oil supplementation (1.3 g EPA and 0.9 g DHA per day) from week 30 of gestation (FO-group) or to a control regimen (olive oil or no oil; controls). The FO-group was randomly subdivided into women stopping fish oil supplementation at delivery [FO(pregn)], and women continuing supplementation for an, additional 30 d [FO(pregn/lact)]. Thirty-six women agreed to collect milk samples at days 4, 16, and 30 postpartum. The FA composition of the milk samples was determined by GLC. At days 4, 16, and 30 in lactation, FO(pregn/lact) women (n=12) had, respectively 2.3 (P=0.001), 4.1 (P=0.001), and 3.3 (P=0.001) times higher mean contents of LCPUFA(n−3) in their breast milk compared with controls (n=13), and 1.7 (P=0.005), 2.8 (P=0.001), and 2.8 (P=0.001), times higher LCPUFA(n−3) contents, respectively, at these days compared with FO(pregn) women (n=11). The latter group did not differ significantly from controls with regard to LCPUFA(n−3) content in the breast milk. Similar results were obtained when analyzing separately for effects on the milk content of DHA. Dietary supplementation with 2.7 g LCPUFA(n−3) per day from week 30 of gestation and onward more than tripled the LCPUFA(n−3) content in early breast milk; supplementation limited to pregnancy only was much less effective.     

Numerical simulation and visualization of elastic waves using mass-spring lattice model

A computer program package has been developed for simulation and visualization of two-dimensional elastic wave propagation and scattering using the mass-spring lattice model (MSLM) and, for comparison, a finite difference model. To assess the reliability of the numerical schemes, their convergence and accuracy have been analysed using the Taylor series expansion and the von Neumann analysis methods. As a result, the grid spacing-time increment combinations previously adopted in the literature have proved to be non-optimal. The optimal combinations have been found and shown to yield the most accurate results with the least computation time, particularly in the high frequency regime. Using these algorithms, a program package has been developed in Visual C++(R) (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) with graphic user interfaces for convenient exploration of visualized results. Numerical results have been obtained for some fundamental problems in ultrasonic testing such as plane waves incident on cracks. All numerical results have shown excellent qualitative agreements with the analytical results of the wave physics, as the reflected, diffracted, head, and Rayleigh waves have been observed. Also, for numerical results with anisotropic media, the cusps on the shear wavefronts have been observed. Finally, slight modification of the modeling method for free surfaces has led to more accurate prediction of Rayleigh waves.     

Study of the Formation of Bubbles in Rigid Substrate-Flexible Substrate Bonding Using Anisotropic Conductive Films and the Bubble Effects on Anisotropic Conductive Film Joint Reliability

The formation of process-related bubbles that become entrapped inside the anisotropic conductive film (ACF) layer during bonding processes remains an issue. The formation of these bubbles is strongly influenced by the process variables, such as bonding pressure and bonding temperature. Therefore, bonding process variables of bonding temperature, bonding pressure, and type of flexible substrate (FS) were changed in order to investigate the effects of the changes as they concern the formation of bubbles. According to the results, the tendency toward bubble formation was closely related to these three factors. The bubble area increased as the bonding temperature increased. Moreover, the shape and tendency of bubbles coincided with temperature distribution in␣the ACF layer. Two different types of FS, each with different surface roughnesses and energies, were used. The bubbles formed only on the FS with the larger roughness and lower surface energy. According to the results from a surface energy measurement of FS types using goniometry, a FS with a higher surface energy is favorable for a bubble-free assembly, as the higher surface energy provides better wettability. In addition, in order to investigate the effect of bubbles on the reliability of ACF joints, the pressure cooker test (PCT) was performed, and all samples with bubbles electrically failed after 72 h of a PCT, as the process-related bubbles provided a moisture penetration path and entrapment site for moisture. However, all type 1 test vehicles (TVs) survived even after 120 h of a PCT. Therefore, Ar and O₂ plasma treatments were performed on the FS with the lower surface energy in order to improve the surface energies and wettability. Following this, the bubbles were successfully removed at rigid substrate (RS)–FS bonding joints using ACFs.     

Coupled Surge-Heave Motions of a Moored System. II: Stochastic Analysis and Simulations

Analyses and simulations of the coupled surge-and-heave motions of a nonlinear, moored, experimental, submerged structure subjected to random waves are presented here. The random wave excitations examined include periodic waves with additive noise and narrow-band random waves. Characteristic experimental results include noisy subharmonic and superharmonic responses, and transition behaviors among multiple coexisting responses. This investigation applies a systematic, stochastic analysis procedure to further the deterministic study presented in Part I. Good agreement between the analytical predictions and experimental results is shown. Effects of random perturbations in waves on nonlinear response phenomena are examined, especially for the cases of multiple responses coexisting with chaos. It is found that chaotic responses are sensitive and of weak strength compared to other coexisting responses, and the system response trajectories mainly stay in the stronger, periodic attracting domains. Numerical results indicate perturbation-induced response transitions leading to very large-amplitude response beyond the experimental model limitations.     

The contact resistance and reliability of anisotropicallyconductive film (ACF)

The effect of bonding pressure on the electrical and mechanical properties of anisotropic conductive film (ACF) joint using nickel particles and metal-coated polymer ball-filled ACFs was investigated. The contact resistance decreases as the bonding pressure increases. Contact resistance of ACF is determined by the contact area change between particles and contact substrates. Electrical conduction through the pressure engaged contact area between conductive particles and conductor substrates is the main conduction mechanism in ACF interconnection. In addition, environmental effects on contact resistance and adhesion strength such as thermal aging, high temperature/humidity aging and temperature cycling were also investigated. Interestingly, the contact resistances of the excessively bonded samples deteriorated more than those of optimally bonded ones. Increasing contact resistance and decreasing adhesion strength after harsh environmental tests were mainly due to the loss of contact by thermal stress effect and moisture absorption, and also partially due to the formation of metal oxide on the conductive particles     

九间堂--另类的别墅文化

文章阐述九间堂的设计起点,并引出建筑设计到底只是当今生活文化的一个演绎。     

Physics-Based Constitutive Model of Porous Materials for Die/Isostatic Compaction of Metallic Powders

Metals and Materials International - A physics-based constitutive model of porous materials is proposed to enhance the accuracy of numerical analysis in die/isostatic compaction. The correlation...     

Operating characteristics of 40 W-class PEMFC stacks using reformed gas under low humidifying conditions

The small PEMFC stack to be integrated with miniaturized fuel reformer is usually operated under very poor operating conditions such as low relative humidity and reformed gas conditions including trace amounts of CO. Hence, for the stable operation of the stack under such real conditions, the effect of reactants feeding method and stack operating conditions such as stack temperature and gas humidity were experimentally investigated and the optimal operating strategy was suggested.     

Preparation by gravity casting and hydrogen-storage properties of Mg–23.5 wt.%Ni–(5, 10 and 15 wt.%)La

Mg–23.5 wt.%Ni–(5, 10 and 15 wt.%)La alloys were prepared by gravity casting and their hydrogen-storage properties were examined after pulverizing. The gravity cast Mg–23.5Ni–(5, 10 and 15)La alloys consist of α-Mg, Mg₂Ni and Mg₁₇La₂ phases. The activated Mg–23.5Ni–10La alloy has the highest hydrogen-storage capacity of 4.96 wt.%H (from P–C–T curve) and the highest initial hydriding rate (hydrogen content 3.83 wt.%H at 10 min) with an initial hydrogen pressure in the channel of 11 bar H₂ at 573 K. This is attributed to its containing the largest amount of the Mg₁₇La₂ phase, which is easily dissociable during the hydriding reaction.