Consumption of solutions containing sodium chloride is enhanced in female oxytocin-deficient mice.

Intact and ovariectomized oxytocin (OT)-deficient (OT-/-) and wild-type (OT+/+) mice were tested for consumption of 0.5 M NaCl solution or tap water in a 2-bottle choice test. During 3 days of acclimation, voluntary ingestion of NaCl was equal between genotypes. After overnight fluid deprivation, intact OT-/- mice ingested 2 times more NaCl solution than OT+/+ mice in the 6th hr, but not the 1 st hr, after reintroduction of fluid. Ovariectomized mice consumed less than intact mice after overnight fluid deprivation. When a 0.2 M NaCl solution was administered for 6 days in ovariectomized mice, OT-/- mice voluntarily consumed greater amounts than OT+/+ mice. After overnight fluid deprivation, consumption by OT-/- mice was 3 times that of OT+/+ mice at 1 hr and 2-fold greater after 6 hr. Enhanced intake of NaCl-containing solutions in female OT-/- mice suggests that central OT may be an important inhibitor of sodium consumption. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Determination of the liquidus lines and isotherms of the Hg-Zn-Te system by a modified direct observation method

The modified direct observation method is employed for the determination of the liquidus lines in the (Hg_{1_x}Zn_x)_{1_y}Te_y, ternary system. The liquidus temperatures of the ternary samples of various compositions withx from 0.05 to 0.30 andy from 0.5 to 0.9 are measured. The temperature-composition phase diagrams and some liquidus isotherms are established for this system.     

High-power etched-facet lasers

We demonstrate, for the first time, laser diodes with anetched facet fabricated by chemically assisted ion beametching, producing 1?7 W pulsed and 470mW CW output power from one facet. The devices were coated and bonded junction-side-up and tested at room temperature. The single 40 ?m stripe, 300 ?m-long devices exhibit 94 mA threshold current and differential quantum efficiencies of 80% pulsed (78% CW).     

Chemical Interactions in Diboride-Reinforced Oxide-Matrix Composites

Thermochemical analyses of interfacial reactions in titanium, zirconium, and hafnium diboride reinforced oxidematrix composites have been carried out to evaluate the chemical compatibility. The chemical reactivity of these diborides with oxygen and the high volatility of B₂O₃( l ) at reduced oxygen pressures are concerns during processing and operating conditions. The thermochemical stability and the vaporization behavior of B₂O₃( l ) are discussed in terms of partial pressures of dominant gaseous species of the boron-oxygen system at 1700 and 2300 K. The TiB₂/ZrO₂ and TiB₂/HfO₂ systems are thermodynamically stable in a limited oxygen pressure range. The TiB₂/Al₂O₃ system is stable, but the reactions in this system may apparently be accompanied by formation of gaseous products (B₂O₃, AlO, Al₂O, and lower boron oxides) in the presence of elemental oxygen. These thermochemical considerations are very useful in evaluating the effectiveness of oxides as diffusion barrier coatings on diboride reinforcements.     

Bulk growth of Hg0.8Cd0.2Te single crystals by a combined CVT-seeding technique

The growth of high quality Hg_0.8Cd_0.2Te bulk single crystals by CVT, combined with an in-situ seeding technique, is reported here for the first time. For this purpose, a temperature difference of 590° → 540° C with a gradient of 40°-50° C/cm at the solid-vapor interface, and about 0.1 atm of HgI₂ as a transport agent, were employed. The bulk crystals have the expected stoichiometry and compositional homogeneity. Etch pit densities of 10⁴-10⁵ cm⁻² on the (111) face and hitherto unreported etch pits on the (100) face were observed in this work. Possible origins of the sub-grain structure are discussed.     

Oberflächenbehandlungsverfahren und deren Einfluß auf die Korrosionsbeständigkeit nichtrostender Stähle

Surface treatments and their influence on the corrosion resistance of stainless steel The surface treatments pickling, grinding and glass beading were investigated on several stainless austenitic steels and one ferritic/austenitic steel. The different surface treatments were used on two different prepared types of samples:

• 1 high temperature oxidized samples
• 2 welded samples

The quality of the surface treatments has been examined by means of potentiodynamic, ferric chloride, dip and spray tests made in series. The corrosion resistance was highly depending on the used treatments. All in all the examination showed that a higher corrosion resistance was achieved by pickling than by grinding or glass beading.