Slow crack growth in single-crystal silicon

Time-dependent crack growth has been measured on a precracked, single-crystal silicon cantilever beam 75 micrometers long that was excited at resonance. Growth of the precrack changes the resonant frequency of the beam, which is correlated to crack length. The measured steady-state crack growth rate was as slow as 2.9 x 10(-13) meter per second, although the apparatus can measure crack growth rates as low as 10(-15) meter per second. It is postulated that static fatigue of the native surface silica layer is the mechanism for crack growth. These experiments demonstrate the possibility of rate-dependent failure of silicon devices and the applicability of linear elastic fracture mechanics to small-scale micromechanical devices. The results indicate that slow crack growth must therefore be considered when evaluating the reliability of thin-film silicon structures.     

Role of cathepsins B and D in proteolysis of yolk in the catfish Clarias gariepinus

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - Yolk processing pathways vary in the oocytes of benthophil and pelagophil teleosts. The present study investigated the yolk processing pattern in the oocytes of...     

Understanding genetic diversity in blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] collections of Indian National Genebank

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] is a protein rich pulse crop of Indian origin. The crop is cultivated in diverse range of agro-ecological regions,...     

Critical care monitoring considerations for the diabetic patient

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common endocrine disease encountered in the emergency and critical care setting. The diabetic Ketoacidotic (DKA) animal represents an extreme of the DM patient with regard to hyperglycemia and acid-base and electrolyte derangements. Prompt diagnosis of DKA in a critical patient and rapid initiation of appropriate therapy are necessary for a positive outcome. The steps of treatment, in order of importance, include initiation of intravenous fluid therapy, insulin therapy, electrolyte replacement, and reversal of the metabolic acidosis. The main goals of therapy--including correction of dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities and acidosis via aggressive fluid therapy with electrolyte supplementation and correction of ketoacidosis and hyperglycemia via initiation of insulin therapy--can be achieved if these steps are followed. Because of the severity of metabolic alterations in the DKA animal, frequent and careful monitoring are paramount because they will allow the clinician to tailor treatment to each case.     

Safety and efficacy of high‐dose fomepizole compared with ethanol as therapy for ethylene glycol intoxication in cats

Objective – To determine the safety and efficacy of high‐dose fomepizole compared with ethanol (EtOH) in cats with ethylene glycol (EG) toxicosis. Design – Prospective study. Setting – University veterinary research laboratory. Animals – Thirteen cats. Interventions – Two cats received injections of high‐dose fomepizole (Study 1). Three cats received lethal doses of EG and fomepizole treatment was initiated 1, 2, or 3 hours later (Study 2). Eight cats received a lethal dose of EG and were treated with fomepizole or EtOH (Study 3). Cats treated with fomepizole received 125 mg/kg IV initially, then 31.25 mg/kg at 12, 24, and 36 hours. Cats treated with EtOH received 5 mL of 20% EtOH/kg IV initially, then every 6 hours for 5 treatments, then every 8 hours for 4 treatments. Cats also received fluids and supportive therapy as needed. Measurements and Main Results – Clinical signs were monitored and serial blood analyses performed. Cats receiving fomepizole experienced mild sedation but no biochemical evidence of toxicity. Cats receiving fomepizole for EG intoxication survived if therapy was initiated within 3 hours of EG ingestion. One of the 6 developed acute renal failure (ARF) but survived. Only 1 of the 3 cats treated with EtOH 3 hours following EG ingestion survived; 2 developed ARF and were euthanized. Cats treated 4 hours following EG ingestion developed ARF, whether treated with EtOH or fomepizole. Conclusions – Fomepizole is safe when administered to cats in high doses, prevents EG‐induced fatal ARF when therapy is instituted within 3 hours of EG ingestion, and is more effective than treatment with EtOH.     

Characterization of CO2 Responsiveness in a Brassica oxycamp Interspecific Hybrid

A study of the characterization of CO₂ responsiveness in Brassica oxycamp and its parents Brassica oxyrrhina and Brassica campestris was done using open top chamber technology. The response of the X. B. oxycamp (hybrid) to elevated CO₂ was significantly positive in respect of photosynthesis and growth and similar to that of its parent B. campestris. X B. oxycamp and B. campestris with greater sink potential responded significantly, whereas B. oxyrrhina with a poor sink, did not respond to CO₂ enrichment. Photosynthetic changes at elevated CO₃ levels in the hybrid and parents are partially attributed to the CO₂ effects on stomatal conductance and chlorophyll fluorescence.     

Suppressiveness of steam-exploded biomass of Miscanthus sinensis var. giganteus against soil-borne plant pathogens

Commercial compost is a renewable resource widely used in horticulture as an organic amendment, though its suppression against soil-borne plant pathogens remains limited. Preliminary studies conducted on the disease suppression effect of the biomass waste obtained in a steam explosion plant demonstrated positive results. Steam-Exploded Biomass (SEB) of Miscanthus sinensis var. giganteus, a herbaceous perennial energy crop, is a multifunctional renewable energy resource, which could also be useful in crop protection to find valid alternative to the compost use in horticulture. The purpose of this work was to assess the suppressiveness of SEB against five plant pathogenic fungi that are important in many Italian horticultural cropping systems. Analyses of the microbial inhibitors (furfurals, organic acids and lignosulfonates) present in the SEB were performed by the High Performance Liquid Chromatography technique. Assessment of toxic effect of the furfurals present in the SEB (furfuraldehyde and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural), added to a growing medium at the different concentration ranges, was carried out in vitro on Phytophthora nicotianae, Pythium ultimum, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae, F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis and Rhizoctonia solani. The suppressiveness of SEB, added to a potting soil used in horticulture at the different doses, was tested in vivo on tomato/P. nicotianae, cucumber/P. ultimum, lettuce/F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae, melon/F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis and bean/R. solani. The results showed that furfuraldehyde, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, lignosulfonates, acetic and formic acid were detected at a concentration of 2.93, 0.28, 4.12, 10.07 and 1.88 g/kg SEB, respectively. The P. nicotianae, P. ultimum and R. solani fungi were highly inhibited by the addition of 3.2 g/L furfuraldehyde and 0.48 g/L 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Moreover, the inhibitory effect was found not adequate against F. oxysporum at the same concentrations. The SEB increased significantly the suppressiveness level of the peat substrate on P. ultimum in cucumber and R. solani in bean in all the trials. For P. nicotianae in tomato, the SEB addition showed a significant suppression at the 20 and 30% doses, but the change was not significant at the 10% dose. In case of F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae in lettuce and F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis in melon, the SEB addition showed no suppressive effect with respect to compost in all the trials. In conclusion, the SEB could be used against some soil-borne fungal diseases in place of compost in the potting soil, and its suppressiveness could be related to the concentration of the microbial inhibitors produced during the processing of fresh biomass in the steam explosion plant.