Bi-2223 precursor billets for pit wire production

High temperature superconductor precursor billets (feed rods) have been developed for loading into silver tubes. The billets are loaded prior to rolling or drawing operations in PIT wire manufacture. Investigations have shown that wires and tapes prepared from feed rod loaded tubes show enhanced uniformity of electrical transport properties when compared with conventional powder packing, especially in wires drawn to long lengths. Analysis on production feed rods have shown carbon content to be as low as 110 ppm. © 1999 IEEE.

Production of metal oxide nanoparticles

Particles having at least regions of at least one metal oxide having nano-sized grains are produced by providing particles of a material having an initial, nonequiaxed particle shape, prepg. a mixt. of these particles and at last one metal oxide precursor, and treating the mixt. such that the precursor reacts with the particles. The process can be a co-pptn. process, sol-gel synthesis, micro-emulsion method, surfactant-based process, or a process that uses polymers. Complex metal oxide nanoparticles are produced by (a) prepg. a soln. contg. metal cations, (b) mixing the soln. with a surfactant to form micelles within the soln., and (c) heating the micellar liq. to form metal oxide and to remove the surfactant. The formed metal oxide particles have essentially the same morphol. (particle size and shape) as the initial morphol. of the material particles provided. [on SciFinder(R)]

Production of fine-grained particles

A method of producing particles having nano-sized grains comprises the steps of: (a) prepg. a soln. contg. one or more metal cations; (b) mixing the soln. from step (a) with one or more surfactants to form a surfactant/liq. mixt. and (c) heating the mixt. from step (b) above to form the particles. [on SciFinder(R)]

Pavlovian fear memory circuits and phenotype models of PTSD

Pavlovian fear conditioning, also known as classical fear conditioning is an important model in the study of the neurobiology of normal and pathological fear. Progress in the neurobiology of Pavlovian fear also enhances our understanding of disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and with developing effective treatment strategies. Here we describe how Pavlovian fear conditioning is a key tool for understanding both the neurobiology of fear and the mechanisms underlying variations in fear memory strength observed across different phenotypes. First we discuss how Pavlovian fear models aspects of PTSD. Second, we describe the neural circuits of Pavlovian fear and the molecular mechanisms within these circuits that regulate fear memory. Finally, we show how fear memory strength is heritable; and describe genes which are specifically linked to both changes in Pavlovian fear behavior and to its underlying neural circuitry. These emerging data begin to define the essential genes, cells and circuits that contribute to normal and pathological fear.

The health outcomes and costs of people attending an interdisciplinary chronic disease service in regional Australia : protocol for a longitudinal cohort investigation

Background Rates of chronic disease are escalating around the world. To date health service evaluations have focused on interventions for single chronic diseases. However, evaluations of the effectiveness of new intervention strategies that target single chronic diseases as well as multimorbidity are required, particularly in areas outside major metropolitan centres where access to services, such as specialist care, is difficult and where the retention and recruitment of health professionals affects service provision. Methods This study is a longitudinal investigation with a baseline and three follow-up assessments comparing the health and health costs of people with chronic disease before and after intervention at a chronic disease clinic, in regional Australia. The clinic is led by students under the supervision of health professionals. The study will provide preliminary evidence regarding the effectiveness of the intervention, and evaluate the influence of a range of factors on the health outcomes and costs of the patients attending the clinic. Patients will be evaluated at baseline (intake to the service), and at 3-, 6-, and 12-months after intake to the service. Health will be measured using the SF-36 and health costs will be measured using government and medical record sources. The intervention involves students and health professionals from multiple professions working together to treat patients with programs that include education and exercise therapy programs for back pain, and Healthy Lifestyle programs; as well as individual consultations involving single professions. Discussion Understanding the effect of a range of factors on the health state and health costs of people attending an interdisciplinary clinic will inform health service provision for this clinical group and will determine which factors need to be controlled for in future observational studies. Preliminary evidence regarding changes in health and health costs associated with the intervention will be a platform for future clinical trials of intervention effectiveness. The results will be of interest to teams investigating new chronic disease programs particularly for people with multimorbidity, and in areas outside major metropolitan centres.

Method for the production of porous complex metal oxides using a porogen

A method of producing porous complex oxides includes the steps of providing a mixt. of (a) precursor elements suitable to produce the complex oxide, or (b) one or more precursor elements suitable to produce particles of the complex oxide and one or more metal oxide particles; and (c) a particulate carbon-contg. pore-forming material selected to provide pore sizes in the range of 7-250 nm, and treating the mixt. to (i) form the porous complex oxide in which two or more of the precursor elements from (a) above or one or more of the precursor elements and one or more of the metals in the metal oxide particles from (b) above are incorporated into a phase of the complex metal oxide and the complex metal oxide has grain sizes in the range of 1-150 nm, and (ii) removing the pore-forming material under conditions such that the porous structure and compn. of the complex oxide is substantially preserved. The method may be used to produce nonrefractory metal oxides as well. The mixt. further includes a surfactant, or a polymer. [on SciFinder(R)]

Production of porous metal oxides

Porous complex oxides are produced by reacting metal oxide precursors in the presence of a pore-forming material to provide pore sizes in the range of 7-250 nm, followed by removal of the pore-forming material under conditions preserving the structure and compn. of the formed oxides. The pore-forming material are carbon black particles having a particle size of 10-100 nm. The carbon particles are removed from the formed oxide by heating at 100-300°. A surfactant can be added to the reaction mixt. [on SciFinder(R)]

Production of fine-grained particles

A method of producing particles having nano-sized grains comprises the steps of: (a) prepg. a soln. contg. one or more metal cations; (b) mixing the soln. from step (a) with one or more surfactants to form a surfactant/liq. mixt. and (c) heating the mixt. from step (b) above to form the particles. [on SciFinder(R)]

Production of metal oxide particles with nano-sized grains

A method for producing metal oxide particles having nano-sized grains is disclosed. A solution of metal cations is mixed with surfactant under conditions such that surfactant micelles are formed. This mixture is then heated to form the metal oxide particles; this heating step removing the surfactant, forming the metal oxide and creating the pore structure of the particles. The pore structures are disordered. This method is particularly advantageous for production of complex (multi-component) metal oxides in which the different atomic species are homogeneously dispersed.

Continuous production of Bi-2212 thick film on silver tape

Bi-2212 thick film on silver tapes are seen as a simple and low cost alternative to high temperature superconducting wires produced by the Powder In Thbe (PIT) technique, particularly in react and wind applications. A rig for the continuous production of Bi-2212 tapes for use in react and wind component manufacture has been developed and commissioned. The rig consists of several sections, each fully automatic, for task specific duties in the production of HTS tape. The major sections are: tape coating, sintering and annealing. High temperature superconducting tapes with engineering critical current densities of 10 kA/cm2 (77 K, self field), and lengths of up to 100 m have been produced using the rig. Properties of the finished tape are discussed and results are presented for current density versus bend radius and applied strain. Depending on tape content and thickness, irreversible strain tirrm varies between 0.04 and 0.1 %. Cyclic bending tests when applied strain does not exceed Eirrm showed negligible reduction in J c along the length of the tape.

Experiences of regional and rural people with cancer being treated with radiotherapy in a metropolitan centre

This paper explores the issues related to rural people with cancer whose choice of radiotherapy treatment necessitated travel and accommodation in a metropolitan centre. Semi-structured interviews with 46 participants, from the Toowoomba and Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, were conducted and the data thematically analysed. The specific themes identified were: being away from loved ones, maintaining responsibilities whilst undergoing treatment, emotional stress, burden on significant others, choice about radiotherapy as a treatment, travel and accommodation, and financial burden. This study supports the need for a radiotherapy centre in the location of Toowoomba as a way of providing some equity and access to such treatment for the rural people of Queensland.

Principle components analysis with covariance matrix on regional differences for mortality and percentages of cancers in Shandong province [山东省恶性肿瘤死亡率和构成比地区差异协方差矩阵主成分分析]

Objective To explore the characteristics of regional distribution of cancer deaths in Shandong Province with the principle components analysis. Methods The principle components analysis with co-variance matrix for age-adjusted mortality rates and percentages of 20 types of cancer in 22 counties （cities） were carried out using SAS Software. Results Over 90% of the total information could be reflected by the top 3 principle components and the first principle component alone represented more than half of the overall regional variances. The first component mainly reflected the area differences of esophageal cancer. The second component mainly reflected the area differences of lung cancer， stomach cancer and liver cancer. The value of the first principal component scores showed a clear trend that the west areas possessed higher values and the east the lower values. Based on the top two components，the 22 counties （cities） could be divided into several geographical clusters. Conclusion The overall difference of regional distribution of cancers in Shandong is dominated by several major cancers including esophageal cancer， lung cancer， stomach cancer and liver cancer. Among them，esophageal cancer makes the largest contribution. If the range of counties （cities） analyzed could be further widened， the characteristics of regional distribution of cancer mortality would be better examined. Abstract in Chinese 目的 利用主成分分析探讨山东省恶性肿瘤死亡的地区分布特征. 方法 利用SAS软件对山东省22个县市区2004～2006午的20种恶性肿瘤标化死亡率和构成比分别进行协方差矩阵主成分分析. 结果 前3个主成分就反映了总体差异90%以上的信息,其中仅第1主成分就提供了总体差异一半以上的信息.第1主成分主要反映了食管癌的地区差异,第2主成分主要反映肺癌的地区差异,兼顾胃癌和肝癌.各地区第1主成分得分呈现西高东低的趋势,根据第1和第2主成分可以将调查地区分为若干类别,表现为明显的地理聚集性. 结论 山东省各地区恶性肿瘤死亡的总体差异主要取决于少数高发肿瘤,包括食管癌、肺癌、胃癌、肝癌等,其中以食管癌地位最为突出.如能进一步扩大分析范围,可更好地查明恶性肿瘤死亡的地区特征.

Storylines of institutional responses to climate change as a transformative stressor : the case of regional planning in South East Queensland, Australia

Institutional responses to climate change stresses through planning will require new and amended forms of governance. Institutional framing of change imperatives can significantly condition associated governance responses. This paper builds on scholarly conversations concerning the conceptual role of ‘storylines’ in shaping institutional responses to climate change through governance. It draws on conceptual perspectives of climate change as a ‘transformative stressor’, which can compel institutional transformation within planning. The concepts of storylines and transformative stressors are conceptually linked. The conceptual approach is applied to an empirical enquiry focused on the regional planning regime of South East Queensland (SEQ), Australia. This paper reports and examines three institutional storylines of responding to climate change through planning governance in SEQ. It concludes that the manifestation of climate change as a transformative stressor in SEQ prompted institutional transformation, leading to a dominant storyline focused on climate adaptation as an important facet of regional planning governance.

Co-production of actions and activities at airport security screening

In this paper we will examine passenger actions and activities at the security screening points of Australian domestic and international airports. Our findings and analysis provide a more complete understanding of the current airport passenger security screening experience. Data in this paper is comprised of field studies conducted at two Australian airports, one domestic and one international. Video data was collected by cameras situated either side of the security screening point. A total of one hundred and ninety-six passengers were observed. Two methods of analysis are used. First, the activities of passengers are coded and analysed to reveal the common activities at domestic and international security regimes and between quiet and busy periods. Second, observation of passenger activities is used to reveal uncommon aspects. The results show that passengers do more at security screening that being passively scanned. Passengers queue, unpack the required items from their bags and from their pockets, walk through the metal-detector, re-pack and occasionally return to be re-screened. For each of these activities, passengers must understand the procedures at the security screening point and must co-ordinate various actions and objects in time and space. Through this coordination passengers are active participants in making the security checkpoint function – they are co-producers of the security screening process.