Fabrication and Properties of CoSm-Based Multilayer Thin Films

In recent years, SmCo series thin films have been found to be good candidates for fabricating integrated electromagnetic components and ultrahigh density magnetic recording media[1,2]. Up to now,intensive studies of such films have been carried out in order to obtain appropriate microstructure, crystallographic orientation and other properties. Substitution of Cu or Ni for Co in SmCo/Cr series films leads to a decrease of the saturation magnetization, magnetic switching volume, and to an increase of uniaxial anisotropy and coercivity[3-5].Various deposition conditions have also been investigated[6]. The large increase in coercivity for the annealed SmCo/Cr films is due to the growth of crystallitest[7,8]. In this article, we report a study of the deposition process,structure, and magnetic behavior of sputtered Sm (Co,Cu, Ti)/Cr series thin films.     

机械合金化工艺对Fe-Ni合金显微结构的影响

对机械合金化制备的Fe-Ni粉体利用X射线衍射(XRD)进行分析，得到了不同Ni含量和不同球磨时间Fe-Ni纳米晶的XRD谱．实验表明，w(Ni)=10％和20％时，Ni溶入Fe晶格，分别在球磨20h和50h后形成单一的a(bcc)相；w(Ni)=50％时，其先后经历了γ(fcc)→←a(bcc)正逆转变，在球磨120h后最终形成单一γ(fcc)相．无论是a(bcc)相还是γ(fcc)相．它们的固溶度均比块体Fe-Ni合金显著提高．w(Ni)=35％时，则始终是两相共存．对试样的XRD谱采用3种不同的方法测定了Fe-Ni粉体的晶粒尺寸和显微畸变，发现经球磨20h后，不同Ni含量的粉体均呈纳米结构，并随球磨时间延长，Fe-Ni纳米晶的晶粒尺寸下降而显微畸变上升．     

A Theoretical Approach for Estimating Fracture Toughness of Ductile Metals

Fracture toughness is very important when applying Damage Tolerance Design and Assessment Techniques. The traditional testing approach for obtaining fracture toughness values is costly and time consuming. In order to estimate the fracture toughness of ductile metals, the fracture mechanics theory, materials plastic deformation theory and materials constructive relationships are employed here. A series of formulae and a theoretical approach are presented to calculate fracture toughness values of different materials in the plane stress and plane strain conditions. Compared with test results, evaluated values have a good agreement.     

Systemic Indicators for Rural Communities in Developing Economies: Bringing the Shared Vision into Being

Community indicators have been a frequent focus of the scholarly literature. There has been little exploration, however, in relation to rural communities, especially in developing countries. This reflects the special challenges associated with the complexity of rural systems, and the difficulties involved in developing appropriate and systemic indicators for rural communities. Identifying indicators that help the community to monitor progress towards sustainable outcomes requires a framework that is both practical and holistic. This paper introduces a participatory systemic framework for identifying community indicators, which respects the principles of complexity and honours the sense of ownership present in the communities. This framework is an iterative, sharing, co-learning engagement process that extends from creating a shared vision and extracting its core messages, to identifying indicators of progress and determining what actions to try. Importantly, this framework enables us to rank the indicators identified by communities with reference to ‘leverage points’, the best places to intervene in the social-environmental system for transformational change. This framework provides a potential pathway for sustainable rural development and perhaps also for organisations and urban communities.     

Arboreality predicts Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection level in tropical direct-developing frogs

Pathogen-mediated changes in host behaviour can result from hosts altering their habitat preferences. Although infection risk with pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians is associated with environments favouring its growth, the relationship with microhabitat use has not been examined. Here, we aim to determine if microhabitats used by frogs during their nocturnal activity predict B. dendrobatidis prevalence and infection intensity. Our focal host, Eleutherodactylus coqui, is a habitat generalist that uses multiple habitats from the forest floor to the canopy. We analysed data on B. dendrobatidis occurrence in 157 adults and 122 juveniles at El Yunque National forest in Puerto Rico. We categorized each individual’s nocturnal microhabitat as forest floor, curled palm fronds in the floor, arboreal bromeliads and foliage or tree trunks 50 cm to 2.5 m above ground. We found that frogs on the forest floor had the greatest B. dendrobatidis prevalence (73%), compared with those active in vegetation above ground (55%). Overall, the probability of B. dendrobatidis infection in frogs using microhabitats on the forest floor was twice as great as for those on arboreal substrates. Differences in B. dendrobatidis prevalence and intensity in E. coqui may be explained by specific abiotic conditions of microenvironments (temperature and humidity) affecting both pathogen and host, and by the age-specific ecological requirements of hosts. Adults were found to be most active in microhabitats where individuals had lower infection burdens, suggesting pathogen-modulated habitat choice. This work has important implications for the evolutionary dynamics of enzootic diseases and provides data that may inform potential mitigation strategies against a generalist amphibian pathogen.     

Morphology of tube-like threads related to Limnochares aquatica (L., 1758) (Acariformes: Hydrachnidia: Limnocharidae) in the laboratory

Water mites Limnochares aquatica (L., 1758) during maintenance in the laboratory for a long period of time in constant conditions periodically produced certain whitish flocculent material consisting of long rigid unbranched tube-like threads 1.3 ± 0.3 µm in diameter crossing freely. These threads were studied using light-optical as well as transmission electron microscopical and scanning electron microscopical methods. Microbiological staining was also applied to the threads to exclude their bacterial or fungal origin. The thread wall is built of fine fibrils arranged at different angles to the long axis of threads that is reflected in a certain stratification of the wall. Threads are mostly hollow or may contain electron-dense homogeneous material. No cell components are present in the thread composition. Numerous dermal glands with their small slit-like orifice scattered throughout the mite body surface are thought to produce these threads. Most probably the thread formation is a reaction of mites to stress under laboratory conditions, and this is expected to be a type of defensive reaction.     

Carbon nanotubes as anti-bacterial agents

Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections that have evolved via natural selection have increased alarmingly at a global level. Thus, there is a strong need for the development of novel antibiotics for the treatment of these infections. Functionalized carbon nanotubes through their unique properties hold great promise in the fight against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. This new family of nanovectors for therapeutic delivery proved to be innovative and efficient for the transport and cellular translocation of therapeutic molecules. The current review examines the latest progress in the antibacterial activity of carbon nanotubes and their composites.