Ho Ho Ho! When Water was Diatomic

When he introduced the concept of atomic weights at the beginning of the 19; th; Century CE, John Dalton assumed that water had the formula HO. This assumption resulted in a half century of confusion - partly because on a scale of H = 1, he defined the atomic weights O = 8 and C = 6, and partly because elements that could exhibit variable valency appeared to possess different atomic (or rather equivalent) weights. The correction of the formula of water, together with the recognition of the diatomic nature of the gases hydrogen and oxygen, were formalized following the Karlsruhe congress of 1861 and allowed the establishment of the 'modern' and consistent atomic weights

Weight gain and resistance to gastrointestinal nematode infections in two genetically diverse groups of cattle

Body weight gain (BWG) and gastrointestinal nematode challenge (GIN) were investigated in two genetically diverse groups of cattle. Thirty-two dairy calves (D = Swedish Red/Holstein) and 31 dairy × beef crosses (C = Swedish Red/Holstein × Charolais) pairwise matched by dam breed and birth dates, were monitored for ≈20 weeks on a pasture grazed by cattle in the previous year. At turn-out, animals (between 6 and 12 months age) from each genotype were either infected with 5000 third stage (L3) Ostertagia ostertagi (50%) and Cooperia oncophora (50%) larvae (H, high-exposure); or treated monthly with 0.5 mg ivermectin (Noromectin®, Pour-on) per kg bodyweight to remove worms ingested (L, low-exposure). Animals were weighed every fortnight and individual BWG was calculated. Faecal and blood samples were collected every four weeks throughout the experiment for nematode faecal egg counts (FEC) and larvae cultures and serum pepsinogen concentrations (SPC), respectively. Nematode eggs were observed 29 days post turn-out in both H groups. FEC peaked to around 200 eggs per gram (epg) on days 58 and 85 respectively in both H groups. FEC were also observed in the L groups at the same time, but mean epg remained very low ( 3.5 IU tyrosine whereas only six DH animals reached similar pepsinogen levels. The level of infection (H and L) significantly affected BWG in both genotypes. Even though there was no statistically sig- nificant genotype (C or D) × treatment (H or L) interaction, there was a larger difference in body weight of H and L in C (37 kg) compared to D (17 kg) genotypes at the end of the experiment. Our data collectively support the view crossbred (C) animals experience the impact of gastrointestinal parasitism more severely compared to pure dairy (D) first season grazers. The mechanisms that underpin this remains speculative

The nature of Ho magnetism in multiferroic HoMnO3

Using x-ray resonant magnetic scattering and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, techniques that are element specific, we have elucidated the role of Ho3+ in multiferroic HoMnO3. In zero field, Ho3+ orders antiferromagnetically with moments aligned along the hexagonal c direction below 40 K, and undergoes a transition to another magnetic structure below 4.5 K. In applied electric fields of up to 1x10^7 V/m, the magnetic structure of Ho3+ remains unchanged.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures Manuscript accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett. 200

The Suberogation Problem for Lei Zhong's Confucian Virtue Theory of Supererogation

A virtue-based theory of right action aims to explain deontic moral principles in terms of virtue and vice. For example, it may maintain the following account of moral obligation: It is morally obligatory for an agent A to ϕ in circumstances C if and only if a fully virtuous and relevantly informed person V would characteristically ϕ in C. However, this account faces the so-called supererogation problem. A supererogatory action is an action that is morally praiseworthy but not morally obligatory. Suppose John risks his own life to save a stranger, which is supererogatory rather than obligatory. However, a fully virtuous..

The influences of holmium on the solidification, microstructure and mechanical properties of elektron 21 magnesium alloy

The solidification parameter of Elektron 21 magnesium alloys with various Ho concentrations were investigated using computer-aided cooling curve thermal analysis system, and the solidification microstructure and phase constitution of the investigated alloys were characterized by SEM, EDX, and XRD. The mechanical properties were also investigated comparatively. The Ho was selected due to the ability to develop new intermetallic phases together with Mg and have a positive potential to reflect the properties of Mg alloys. As the outcome from this study, the cooling parameter of Elektron 21 with lower addition Ho content, the nucleation and growth temperature of α-Mg in Elektron 21 magnesium alloy decreased, where the Ho changed the solution degree of Zn, which resulted in refinement of microstructure. The results of solidification parameters showed the addition of 0.083 and 0.16 wt. % Ho cause a decrease of the solidification temperature alloys, which lead to the grain size about 64.0 %, which being a most effective addition. The microstructure of the result indicated that the intermetallic phases in the Elektron 21 cast alloy consisted mainly of α-Mg matrix, Mg12Nd, Mg41Nd5, Mg3Gd and Mg3Nd phase. The lower addition of Ho consists of Mg-Zn-Ho phase appears in the cast alloys. However, after adding 0.5 to 3.0 wt. % Ho, the Mg-Zn-Ho phase was suppressed and the phase has earlier been mixed Mg2Ho and Mg3Ho phase. Moreover, the addition of 0.083 wt. % of Ho exhibited an excellent improvement of ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and hardness of 139.7 MPa, 105.62 MPa and 103.52 Hv, respectively. The solidification, microstructure and mechanical properties of Elektron 21 magnesium alloys influenced by the Ho concentration in the magnesium alloys; Elektron 21 with 0.083 wt.% Ho exhibited the refinement of microstructure and displayed the best properties compared to other alloys

Funds Transfer Operations: Boon or Bane to the Viability of Rural Financial Intermediaries?

As far as the policies are concerned, the government has been successful in reversing the flow of loanable funds in favor of rural areas through maintenance of agricultural loan quota and deposit retention policies. This paper examines the structure of funds transfer operations of rural-based branches of banks, the factors that determine the volume of transferred funds from one branch to another and the impact of funds transfer operations on the savings mobilization efforts of rural-based financial intermediaries.banking system, rural sector, deposit liabilities, financial intermediaries, funds transfer

Funds Transfer Operations: Boon or Bane to the Viability of Rural Financial Intermediaries?

As far as the policies are concerned, the government has been successful in reversing the flow of loanable funds in favor of rural areas through maintenance of agricultural loan quota and deposit retention policies. This paper examines the structure of funds transfer operations of rural-based branches of banks, the factors that determine the volume of transferred funds from one branch to another and the impact of funds transfer operations on the savings mobilization efforts of rural-based financial intermediaries.banking system, rural sector, deposit liabilities, financial intermediaries, funds transfer