Carbonate coprecipitation synthesis of Sr- and Mg-doped LaGaO3

A carbonate coprecipitation synthesis, simple and easily scalable to industrial level, has been successfully applied to produce Sr- and Mg-doped LaGaO₃. The thermal evolution shows that the main perovskite phase crystallizes already at 1000 °C. Samples sintered at 1400 °C for 10 h have a relative density of 93% and an electrical conductivity of 7.7 ? 10^− 2 S cm^− 1 at 800 °C, similar to the one reported for solid state synthesis. The presence of small amounts of secondary phases (about 17%) such as LaSrGaO₄ and LaSrGa₃O₇ does not seem to deeply affect the electrical properties of the final material.     

Independent factor discriminant analysis

In the general classification context the recourse to the so-called Bayes decision rule requires to estimate the class conditional probability density functions. A mixture model for the observed variables which is derived by assuming that the data have been generated by an independent factor model is proposed. Independent factor analysis is in fact a generative latent variable model whose structure closely resembles the one of the ordinary factor model, but it assumes that the latent variables are mutually independent and not necessarily Gaussian. The method therefore provides a dimension reduction together with a semiparametric estimate of the class conditional probability density functions. This density approximation is plugged into the classic Bayes rule and its performance is evaluated both on real and simulated data.     

Chitosan–Quercetin Bioconjugate as Multi‐Functional Component of Antioxidants and Dual‐Responsive Hydrogel Networks

Multifunctional hydrogels based on chitosan–quercetin (CHITQ) conjugate are prepared by a thermo‐induced radical procedure in the presence of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), acrylamide (AAm), and N,N′‐methylenebis(acrylamide) (MEBA). At first, quercetin (Q) is grafted onto chitosan backbone with a functionalization degree of 275 mg of Q per gram of conjugate, as calculated by ¹H‐NMR analyses to impart antioxidant properties to the polysaccharide. Then, a pH and temperature sensitive hydrogel was obtained by involving CHITQ and NIPAAm in the polymerization reaction. The accessibility of phenolic moieties is modified in response to the hydrogel swelling/deswelling, as confirmed by antioxidant tests performed at different temperatures. Dual stimuli‐responsive hydrogels are proposed for the delivery of caffeine as model drug. The release profiles of caffeine depict a system particularly performing as on/off device at acidic pH with excellent applicability prospects.     

Influence of packaging on spoilage yeast population in minimally processed orange slices

The yeast population of minimally processed orange slices, packaged both in normal and modified atmosphere and with films of different permeabilities, was studied in order to set up the most suitable packaging conditions. Modified atmosphere resulted in a fermentative association of yeast strains, with the dominance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. In samples packaged in normal atmosphere isolated strains have been mainly identified as Rhodotorula spp.     

Animals' representation of enclosed spaces: Evidence for use of a similar frame of reference following different disorientation procedures in the domestic chick (gallus gallus).

A wide range of vertebrate species has been proved to be capable, following passive disorientation, to reorient into enclosures of different shapes using the metrical distribution of surfaces as surfaces and the geometric sense of left and right. Two procedures can be used to get a subject to loose its orientation: The subject itself can be rotated with the eyes closed or in the dark (viewer-movement procedure) or the external enclosure can be rotated while the subject stays still in a fixed position with the eyes closed or in the dark (i.e., without the possibility to notice any change outside; space-movement procedure). Although the 2 procedures are equivalent in that both cause a change in the spatial relationships between the viewer and the external layout, it has been suggested on the basis of research in human infants that they may involve the use of different frames of reference to reestablish one's bearing and relocate the target. However, no comparison between viewer- and space-movement procedures has been carried out in nonhuman species. Here, the authors show that newborn domestic chicks (Gallus gallus) can reorient effectively irrespective of the specific disorienting procedure applied. The results are discussed in comparative and developmental perspectives. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Microstructure and Tensile Properties of Nanostructured and Ultrafine Grained FeMoB Alloys Produced by Spark Plasma Sintering of Mechanically Alloyed Powders

Boron alloyed Fe-1.5%Mo alloys (B from 0.42 to 1.66%) were produced starting from a prealloyed ferrous powder and an elemental boron powder, by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering. Near full density samples were obtained (density >99%) with a nano- and ultrafine grained structure, consisting in a ferritic matrix with a fine dispersion of Fe and Mo borides. High boron content and a low sintering temperature are favorable to minimize grain growth on sintering. On increasing the boron content from 0.42% up to 1.66%, yield strength increases and ductility decreases; this effect is enhanced by the sintering temperature because of the structural coarsening. Both ultrafine grained and nanostructured materials have a dimpled ductile fracture. On increasing the crystallite size, a mixed dimpled-cleavage fracture is observed.     

Validation of two algorithms to evaluate the interface between bone and orthopaedic implants

The level of fit and fill of the prosthetic stem in the femoral canal is an important parameter when planning a cementless total hip arthroplasty. However, the standard templates used in combination with radiographs are not always effective in the pre-operative evaluation of the level of fitting. For this reason, two algorithms were developed able to provide clinically relevant three-dimensional indicators of the implant fit and fill in the host femur, based on the CT data of each specific patient as collected in vivo. In this study the computational methods were described and validated using digital phantom datasets. Then the algorithms were applied for in vivo datasets and the sensitivity of each indicator was evaluated. The validation showed that the two algorithms are accurate from a computational point of view. Moreover, the in vivo testing demonstrated that the developed methods provide reasonable quantitative indicators of the stem positioning in the femoral CT dataset.     

Magnetic field behavior of Fiske steps in long Josephson junctions

The magnetic field dependence of the maximum current of Fiske steps for long, one-dimensional, Josephson tunnel junctions has been measured. Experimental data obtained from junctions of various normalized lengths are presented; for slightly long junctions a comparison with the theory is made.     

The role of coloscopy in the differential diagnosis between idiopathic ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease of the colon

The authors point out the striking significance of coloscopy in establishing a correct diagnosis of inflammatory diseases of the colon. In particular, the most valuable endoscopic features are indicated which may permit distinguishing between idiopathic ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease of the colon. Differentiation between these two diseases cannot always be achieved by means of available diagnostic procedures other than coloscopy. Moreover, the endoscopic findings enable an assessment to be made of the extent, stage, severity and course of either disease. The authors' experience encompass 2,478 coloscopy examinations: the observed cases of idiopathic ulcerative colitis are 182, those of Crohn's disease of the colon are 104.     

Context Management for Adaptive Information Systems

Modern technologies enable users accessing services using multiple channels. In the service design phase, this poses additional requirements for high software adaptivity along different technical requirements and different user expectations. During execution, services are usually dynamically selected; this service selection phase requires the identification of the most suitable service along the context that characterizes the users in the time instant in which they send the service request. This paper focuses on the selection phase and it aims at providing a framework to define and manage the context in a general environment characterized by adaptivity and multichannel access. An example to demonstrate the suitability and feasibility of the framework is provided referring to the MAIS (Multichannel Adaptive Information Systems) architecture and considering services related to the tourism domain. The MAIS architecture aims at providing automatically and efficiently services with the appropriate features by choosing among many provider offerings.