Synthesis and sintering of nano-sized BaSnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> powders containing BaGeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The formation of solid solutions of the type [Ba(HOC₂H₄OH)₄][Sn_1−x Ge _x (OC₂H₄O)₃] as BaSn_1−x /Ge _x O₃ precursor and the phase evolution during its thermal decomposition are described in this paper. The 1,2-ethanediolato complexes can be decomposed to nano-sized BaSn_1−x /Ge _x O₃ preceramic powders. Samples with x = 0.05 consist of only a Ba(Sn,Ge)O₃ phase, whereas powders with x = 0.15 and 0.25 show diffraction patterns of both the Ba(Sn,Ge)O₃ and BaGeO₃ phase. The sintering behaviour was investigated on powders with a BaGeO₃ content of 5 and 15 mol%. These powders show a specific surface area of 15.4–15.9 m²/g and were obtained from calcination above 800 °C. The addition of BaGeO₃ reduced the sintering temperature of the ceramics drastically. BaSn_0.95Ge_0.05O₃ ceramics with a relative density of at least 90% can be obtained by sintering at 1150 °C for 1 h. The ceramic bodies reveal a fine microstructure with cubical-shaped grains between 0.25 and 0.6 μm. For dense ceramics, the sintering temperature could be reduced down to 1090 °C, when the soaking time was extended up to 10 h.     

CD146 Delineates an Interfascicular Cell Sub-Population in Tendon That Is Recruited during Injury through Its Ligand Laminin-α4

The interfascicular matrix (IFM) binds tendon fascicles and contains a population of morphologically distinct cells. However, the role of IFM-localised cell populations in tendon repair remains to be determined. The basement membrane protein laminin-α4 also localises to the IFM. Laminin-α4 is a ligand for several cell surface receptors, including CD146, a marker of pericyte and progenitor cells. We used a needle injury model in the rat Achilles tendon to test the hypothesis that the IFM is a niche for CD146+ cells that are mobilised in response to tendon damage. We also aimed to establish how expression patterns of circulating non-coding RNAs alter with tendon injury and identify potential RNA-based markers of tendon disease. The results demonstrate the formation of a focal lesion at the injury site, which increased in size and cellularity for up to 21 days post injury. In healthy tendon, CD146+ cells localised to the IFM, compared with injury, where CD146+ cells migrated towards the lesion at days 4 and 7, and populated the lesion 21 days post injury. This was accompanied by increased laminin-α4, suggesting that laminin-α4 facilitates CD146+ cell recruitment at injury sites. We also identified a panel of circulating microRNAs that are dysregulated with tendon injury. We propose that the IFM cell niche mediates the intrinsic response to injury, whereby an injury stimulus induces CD146+ cell migration. Further work is required to fully characterise CD146+ subpopulations within the IFM and establish their precise roles during tendon healing.     

Mothers’ and fathers’ attributions for adolescent behavior: An examination in families of depressed, subdiagnostic, and nondepressed youth.

This study examined whether parents of adolescents experiencing depressive symptoms or disorder make more negative and fewer positive attributions for their adolescents’ behavior than do parents of nondepressed adolescents, and whether parental attributions for adolescents’ behavior contribute to parenting behavior, above and beyond the adolescents’ behavior. Parents and adolescents (76 girls and 48 boys) participated in videotaped problem-solving interactions (PSIs). Each parent subsequently watched the videotape and offered attributions for their adolescent’s behavior. In addition, parent and adolescent behavior during the PSIs was coded. Mothers and fathers in families of nondepressed adolescents made significantly fewer negative attributions for their children’s behavior than did parents in families of adolescents with diagnostic or subdiagnostic levels of depressive symptoms. Moreover, mothers’ and fathers’ negative attributions were related to greater levels of observed aggressive behavior and lower levels of observed facilitative behavior during the PSIs controlling for both demographic characteristics and the relative level of adolescent aggressive and facilitative behavior during the PSI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optical properties and appearance characteristics of tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Characterisation of the optical properties of the internal structures of tomatoes enhances assessment of the composite appearance. Reflectance colorimetry and the Kubelka-Munk analysis to distinguish three distinct maturity groups of tomatoes were tested. Differences in the scatter, absorption and internal transmittance were found amongst the component structures of the intact tomato. Tomato fruit was also pulped and a range of dilutions prepared. The decrease in scatter, absorption and increase in internal transmittance with increased dilution suggests the importance of optical properties with changes in concentration.     

Waviness removal in grinding of wire-sawn silicon wafers: 3D finite element analysis with designed experiments

Silicon wafers are used to fabricate more than 90% of integrated circuits. Surface grinding has been used to flatten wire-sawn silicon wafers. A major issue in grinding of wire-sawn wafers is that conventional grinding cannot effectively remove the waviness induced by wire-sawing process. Soft-pad grinding is a promising method to effectively remove waviness. This paper presents the results of three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis of soft-pad grinding of wire-sawn silicon wafers. In this investigation, a four-factor two-level full factorial design is employed to reveal main effects as well as interaction effects of four factors (Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and thickness of the soft pad, and waviness wavelength of the wafer) on the effectiveness of waviness reduction. Implications of this study to manufacturing are also discussed.     

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