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The hindgut epithelial barrier plays an important role in maintaining absorption and immune homeostasis in ruminants. However, little information is available on changes in colon epithelial barrier structure and function following grain-induced subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of grain-induced SARA on colon epithelial morphological structure, permeability, and gene expression involved in epithelial barrier function. Twelve mid-lactating (136 ± 2 d in milk; milk yield = 1.68 ± 0.15 kg/d) Saanen dairy goats with 62.13 ± 4.76 kg of body weight were randomly divided into either the control (CON) treatment (n = 6) or SARA treatment (n = 6). The CON goats were fed a basal diet with a nonfiber carbohydrates to neutral detergent fiber ratio of 1.15 for 60 d. The SARA goats were fed 4 diets with increasing nonfiber carbohydrates to neutral detergent fiber ratio at 1.15, 1.49, 2.12, and 2.66 to induce SARA, with each diet (referred to as period) being fed for 15 d, including 12 d for adaptation and 3 d for sampling. Continuous ruminal pH recordings were used to diagnose the severity of SARA. Additionally, colonic tissues were collected to evaluate the epithelial morphological structure, permeability, and expression of tight junction proteins using transmission electron microscopy, Ussing chamber, quantitative real-time PCR, and Western blotting. Profound disruption in the colonic epithelium was mainly manifested as the electron density of tight junctions decreased, intercellular space widened, and mitochondria swelled in SARA goats. Colon epithelial short-circuit current, tissue conductance, and the mucosal-to-serosal flux of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran 4 kDa were increased and potential difference was decreased in SARA goats compared with CON goats. Subacute ruminal acidosis increased mRNA and protein expression levels of CLDN1 and OCLN in the colonic epithelium. Overall, the data of the present study demonstrate that SARA can impair the barrier function of the colonic epithelium at both structural and functional levels, which is associated with severe epithelial structural damage and increased permeability and changes in the expression of tight junction proteins.

The effects of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) on the electrophysiological and rumen epithelium barrier functions and its mechanism using dairy goats as a ruminant model were investigated. Eight ruminal cannulated female Sannan dairy goats of mid-lactating period (body weight 43.58 ± 2.77 kg) were selected. The experiment lasted 60 d, and divided equally into 4 periods. During each phase, animals were fed with 4 diets in which non-fiber carbohydrates/neutral detergent fiber ratios (NFC/NDF) were either 1.40, 1.78, 2.31, or 3.23 respectively. Ruminal fluid samples were collected for volatile fatty acids analyzed. Ruminal pH was measured continuously for 72 h. Ruminal tissue samples from the ventral sac were analyzed by Ussing chamber, where electrophysiological properties were determined in parallel with the permeability of marker molecules of different sizes, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and horseradish peroxidase(HRP), from luminal to apical side. Additionally, ruminal epithelial junction (TJs) proteins gene expressions were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. The ruminal acetate concentration and Acetate/Propionate ratio (A/P) decreased, and the concentration of propionate, butyrate and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) increased with the increase of dietary NFC/NDF ratio. Rumen epithelial short- circuit current (Isc) and tissue conductance (Gt) increased in SARA goats compared with control goats, and the mucosal to serosal flux of HRP and FITC increased as well, indicating a higher permeability for SARA goats. SARA increased mRNA and protein expressions of Claudin-4 compared with control group. The mRNA and protein expressions of Claudin-1, Claudin-7, Occludin, ZO-1 and Connxin-43 in SARA group were lower than those in control. The mRNA and protein expressions of desmoglein-1 in SARA group were significantly lower than in the control group. Hence, dairy goats suffering from SARA could result in damaged ruminal epithelial barrier functions, resulting in increase of ruminal epithelial permeability.

Computer aided design is an important method in industrial design. The process of single chip micro-controller unit (MCU) based on Proteus simulation software is ocular, rapid, easy debugging, with low cost and high efficiency. DS18B20 temperature sensor has high accuracy, wide range and anti-interference properties. Hardware design, software editing, component welding and system debugging are involved in circuit design. Under the environment of Proteus, the hardware design and software debugging of single chip micro-controller and digital circuit can be completed easily. This can shorten the cycle of product development and enhance design efficiency. It can be applied to the t range of temperature occasions from -55°C to +125°C. Keywords-temperature; proteus software; simulation; microcontroller; design I. INTRODUCTION With the development of computer technology, all kinds of computer-aided design and production increase daily. Man-machine dialogue is a kind of work mode which is used in industrial design. The computer has interactive, rapid access and automatic processing and other functions. It can not only show the design effect and high efficiency, but also can do further simulation of the design content, show even 3D virtual component, device or product. The production of temperature measurement system is based on Proteus simulation software, combined with the microcontroller circuit principle. The circuit design process involves the hardware design, software programming, component and system for welding debugging. The design of hardware and software, the single-chip microcomputer and digital electronic circuit and convenient debugging can be completed in the Proteus environment. The product development cycle can be shortened and the design efficiency improved. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the temperature measurement system which is designed under the Proteus software. First it shows the circuit, then programming, finally simulates the virtual system.

Objectives Optimal treatment strategies in frail and/or elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have not been well defined. Using data from a prospective, phase II study of elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with bevacizumab and capecitabine, we explored the differences in functional measure and quality of life (QoL) between patients with ECOG performance status (PS) 1 and 2. Materials and Methods Geriatric functional measures included patient reported limitations in ADLs and IADLs, ECOG PS, 3-item recall, hearing acuity, and the "Get up and Go" test. QoL was assessed by means of the FACT-C questionnaire and the EQ-5D questionnaire. The prognostic impact of baseline characteristics on survival was studied using univariate Cox regression analysis. Results The majority (62%) of the 45 patients had an ECOG PS of 2. The ECOG PS 2 group had more limitations in IADLs, lower baseline QoL, and a lower patient-rated health score. For all participants, QoL significantly improved from baseline to the start of cycle 2 (FACT-C: 99.9 vs. 105.4, p =0.01) and did not deteriorate when baseline scores were compared to when participants went off study (FACT-C: 99.9 vs. 98.6, p =0.59). In the Cox-regression analysis, a positive "Get up and Go" test was prognostic for improved survival (HR=0.31, p =0.01). Conclusion There is significant heterogeneity in functional measures and quality of life among elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with ECOG PS 1 and 2. The "Get up and Go" test may be a useful prognostic indicator for survival in this population.

We have demonstrated magnetic recording at an areal density of 5 Gb/in/sup 2/ using dual stripe magnetoresistive heads (DSMR) on low noise and low-glide height quaternary CoCrTa-based alloy thin film disks. The data rate is 120 Mb/sec with a PR4 channel, and the on-track error rate achieved is around 10/sup -9/. The demonstration was accomplished in two cases using two different types of heads. In the first case, it was done with a DSMR head having shield-shield spacing of 0.165 /spl mu/m and 1 /spl mu/m stripe height flying at 25 nm, resulting in a linear density of 321.7 KBPI, and a track density of 15.6 KTPI. The second case was performed with DSMR heads having shield-shield spacing of 0.18 /spl mu/m and 8 /spl mu/m stripe height flying at proximity height of 12 nm, achieving a 358.75 KBPI and 13.8 KTPI. This is the highest linear density published so far for either GMR or AMR heads. It is the direct consequence of high signal/noise of DSMR heads and proximity recording over low noise, low-glide-height media. To explore the large dynamic range of DSMR heads, this study was also done with a variety of low noise disks with Mrt ranging broadly from 0.45 to 1.0 memu/cm/sup 2/ and coercivity of 3000 Oe.

This paper presents a magnetic self-power microgenerator with induction planar Cu coil, microspring membrane and a permanent magnet of FePt. A vibratory magnet is fabricated using sputtering process. The induced voltage is simulated using ANSYS software. The size of this microgenerator is as small as 0.45 cm 3 in volume. A maximum energy product ( BH ) max of 40 kJ/m 3 can be achieved after post-annealing process. At exciting 60 Hz frequencies, maximum power 100 μW and voltage 40 mV are induced experimentally. The experimental and simulated results are discussed and compared.

Sodium phytate was hydrolysed and inositol phosphates with 3 to 6 phosphates (IP3, IP4, IP5 and IP6) were purified by column chromatography. Intestinal mucosal samples were prepared from 4 pigs and incubated with each of the inositol phosphates and hydrolysis estimated by measuring phosphate released at 37°C over a 2 hr period. Optimal conditions for the hydrolysis of IP3–IP6 were assessed by altering the substrate concentrations, pH and the amount of added zinc and magnesium. The effects of these factors differed among the substrates. For all substrates, the jejunum had the highest activity. It was concluded that in the pig intestinal mucosa there was hydrolytic enzymic activity towards IP3–IP6, which decreased with increasing number of phosphate groups. Since microbial phytase is being added to some pig feeds, it is likely that the lower inositol phosphates generated in the diet will be subjected to further hydrolysis in the intestine.

Objectives This study aims to determine the efficacy and tolerability of capecitabine (CAP) plus bevacizumab (BEV) as treatment for frontline metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in frail and/or elderly patients. Materials and Methods This was an open label, multi-site, single arm, phase II study in frontline mCRC. In this study, patients (pts) who were frail (ECOG 2) or older patients with ECOG 1 performance status (PS) received CAP (1000mg/m 2 bid, 14days of every 21days) plus BEV (7.5mg/kg iv once every 21days). The primary objective was progression free survival (PFS). Secondary objectives were overall response rate (ORR) and toxicity. Results In terms of patients: 50 were enrolled; 5 withdrew consent prior to treatment; 45 were treated, and 41 were evaluable. The mean age was 75.9 (range 54–93) and 62% had an ECOG 2 PS. The median PFS was 6.87months (95% CI, 5.1–11.5months) and median overall survival was 12.7months (95% CI, 6.9–12.7months). The most common grades 3–4 toxicities were: diarrhea (17.8%), fatigue (13.3%), hand–foot syndrome (13.3%), dehydration (8.9%), hypertension (6.7%) and vomiting (6.7%). Conclusions The results of this trial support the use of CAP plus BEV as first-line treatment for frail/elderly patients with metastatic CRC. The ORR (40%) is comparable to pooled data in elderly on fluorouracil (5-FU)+BEV. The median PFS (7.2months) in this study is slightly lower than that seen with 5-FU+BEV but this study had a high percentage of ECOG PS 2 patients. Side effects were manageable with no new safety signals.

The thermal and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Fe, CoFe 2 , and Co particles as well as their bulk samples were studied between room temperature and 900°C. From the thermogravimetric analyzer measurements, we have observed that near 200°C an endothermal signal occurs abruptly within 10°C for nanocrystalline Fe, and then this signal decreases with increasing temperature and shows a kink near 550°C. However, an exothermal signal starts near 200°C for nanocrystalline Co and CoFe 2 , and it stops to decrease near 310°C and 440°C for Co and CoFe 2 , respectively. Both endo- and exo-thermal effects near 200°C are related to the aggregation and oxidation of the ultra-fine particles. The kink near 550°C for Fe is related to the Curie temperature of Fe 3 O 4 . The magnetization of the ultra-fine particles was slightly smaller than that of the bulk samples, and it decreased very fast with increasing temperature between 100°C and 200°C. The coercivity of nanocrystalline CoFe 2 is roughly 1780 Oe, and is larger than that of Co ( H c ∼1198 Oe) and Fe ( H c ∼883 Oe). After annealing in air, the content of oxygen in nanocrystalline particles increases roughly to 40% for Fe particles, and roughly to 30% for CoFe 2 and Co particles. The oxidation is manifestly reduced after adding the Co element into Fe nanoparticles.

High-power light-emitting diodes (LEDs) modules encapsulated with different lens shapes after a thermal-aging test were studied experimentally and numerically. Samples from different manufacturers were aged at 65, 85, and 95degC under a constant driving current of 350 mA. The results showed that the optical power of the LED modules at the two view angles of plusmn (45deg~75deg) decreased more than the other view angles as the aging time increased. This was due to the reduction of radiation pattern from the corner effect of lens shape, resulted in lower output power. The simulation of the corner effect of lens shape is in good agreement with the experiment result. Results also showed that the center wavelength of the LED spectrum shift 5 nm after thermal aging 600 hours at 95degC because of degradation the lens material. The key module package related failure modes under thermal-aging may be due to the corner effect of lens shape and the degradation of the lens material. Therefore, improving the lens structure and lens material is essential to extend the operating life of the phosphor-based white LEDs modules.

High-power LED modules encapsulated with different lens shapes after a thermal-aging test were studied experimentally and numerically. Samples from different manufacturers were aged at 80, 100, and 120degC under a constant driving voltage of 3.2 V. The results showed that the LED modules encapsulated with a hemispherical-shaped plastic lens exhibited a better lifetime due to their better thermal dissipation than those with cylindrical- or elliptical-shaped plastic lenses. Results also showed that the optical power of the LED modules increased after removing the plastic lens, because the degradation of the material of the plastic lens decreased the amount of light. The key module package related failure modes under thermal-aging were identified as the degradation of the plastic lens and lens material. A finite-element method (FEM) showed that the thermal and major principle stress distributions of the LED modules were significantly dependent on the aging temperature. Both experimental and FEM simulated results clearly indicated that a uniformly thermal dissipation to minimize the thermal effect along the thermal path from the LED chip to the plastic lens is essential to extend the operating life of high-power LED modules.

Carbon overcoat has been used extensively on both disks and heads to enhance the tribological properties of head/disk interfaces. The electric properties, such as resistivity and breakdown voltage of the carbon overcoat are of great interest with the advent of magneto-resistance technology. The characterization and the underlying mechanisms of these electric properties will be extensively discussed. A highly reproducible computer-controlled voltage-current (V-I) setup, on carbon and ZrO/sub 2/ overcoats ranging from 100 to 250 /spl Aring/ in thickness, is used to measure resistance and breakdown voltage. An analytic model, based on the thermal and electrical properties of the carbon overcoat was used to interpret data. Basically, the model states that the increasing voltage causes thermal heating in the overcoat, thereby lowering its resistivity. Yet, when the applied field is sufficiently large, heating becomes excessive and thermal run-away occurs, resulting in the breakdown of the carbon. The model achieved good agreement with experimental results and its implication is discussed.

Recording results of write heads using sputtered laminated FeN/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ materials on thin film media with coercivity up to 3800 Oe are compared with those obtained using plated NiFe materials. The thickness of P2 (second pole) of FeN merged write heads is about 3.2 /spl mu/m, and those of plated NiFe heads, 3.5 and 6.3 /spl mu/m respectively. These heads have two write gap thickness, around 0.2 and 0.4 /spl mu/m. Various recording measurements show that these high magnetization FeN heads of 0.15 /spl mu/m gap write well on media of 3800 Oe, while the corresponding NiFe ones with a P2 of twice the thickness could not. For a wide 0.39 /spl mu/m gap, the FeN write heads still work well and the NiFe ones with twice the pole thickness, also did, but at reduced resolution, In short, write heads using a narrow gap and high magnetization materials such as FeN can write 3800 Oe coercivity media, which is capable of storing a bit density over 10 Gb/in/sup 2/. >

By varying the Ga concentrations x of EuTm2Fe5−xGaxO12 from x = 0 to about 0.8, thin magnetic films supporting stable bubbles with diameters from 0.5 to about 8μm, respectively, are deposited epitaxially onto gadolinium gallium garnet substrates oriented (111). For low values of x, the Ga segregation coefficient is about 2 and it decreases slightly as x increases. Thus, films contain roughly twice as much Ga as the LPE fluxed melts in which they grow. Both the characteristic length and magnetic bubble stability factor (Q) increase rapidly with x and, to a lesser degree, so does the uniaxial anisotropy field HA while both 4πM and the uniaxial anisotropy Ku decrease.

Hard bubble suppression with proton and neon implantation was achieved in one micron Eu .8 Tm 2.2 Ga .5 Fe 4.5 O 12 films. The dose and energy required in these one micron bubble films are similar to that required in five micron bubble films, despite the fact that the one micron films have larger uniaxial anisotropy to be overcome with the induced magnetostriction. In addition, controlled state generation (for bubble lattlce device applications) has been demonstrated in the proton implanted samples using two different techniques. The first technique, using a combination of an in-plane field and a critical velocity, is identical to what Hsu has reported with five micron bubbles, except that the in-plane field required in this case is 20 to 40% larger. The second technique, using DC and AC in-plane fields only without any field gradient, has also been shown. In the case of conversion from a bubble that propagates at an angle from the field gradient to one that propagates along the field gradient, a DC in-plane field of 300 Oe is needed. While in the reverse case, an AC in-plane field of 100 Oe or so is necessary.

The (EuTm)3(FeGa)5O12 garnet system is particularly useful in studies of small magnetic bubbles. Physical properties change relatively slowly with the Eu/Tm ratio, and the film composition changes little with isothermal LPE growth conditions. Uniform Eu0.85Tm2.15Fe4.45 Ga0.55O12 films with 1 μm diameter bubbles were grown on 38mm diameter substrates of GGG oriented (111). Using dilute, large volume (100 cc) melts undercooled 25°C and substrates rotated slowly (36 rpm) in a horizontal plane, the collapse field (H0) and thickness are uniform to within 2 percent laterally across films. The temperature stability of H0 and of domain periodicity are good up to 100°C presumably because the films have a high Curie temperature (∠215°C).