Effect of parylene C coating on the antibiocorrosive and mechanical properties of different magnesium alloys

In this paper, parylene C coating with the thickness of 2 μm was deposited on different magnesium alloy substrates (AZ31, WE43 and AZ91). The structure and phase composition of parylene C coating was analysed by Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, extensive surface characterization was done using atomic force microscopy. The corrosion performance of polymer-coated magnesium alloys was investigated by electrochemical measurements in Hanks’ balanced salts solution that simulates bodily fluids at 37 ± 0.5 °C. The depth-dependent mechanical properties including Young’s modulus and nanohardness of parylene C films were investigated using nanoindentation technique. The effect of the penetration depth on the properties on nano- and microscale level have been described in detail. The percentage of elastic recovery was used to characterize the elastic properties of the polymeric coatings. The results of XRD showed (020) preferred orientation of the monoclinic unit cell of the alpha phase of parylene C. The parylene C revealed a semicrystalline structure with nanocrystalline blocks of 4.9 nm. The parylene C film shows a uniform surface morphology with a higher roughness level at micro and nanoscales compared to magnesium alloy surfaces. All of the uncoated substrates exhibited a low corrosion resistance compared to the coated samples, indicating that the corrosion resistance of the magnesium alloys could be improved by parylene C coating. The resulting average nanohardness and Young’s modulus of the parylene C coatings deposited onto different substrates were in the range of 0.18–0.25 GPa and 4.19–5.14 GPa, respectively. Furthermore, a higher percentage of elastic recovery of the polymer coating indicated a higher elasticity as compared to the magnesium alloy surface. The polymer coating has revealed the ability to recover elastically. Therefore, parylene C coating can not only improve corrosion resistance, but also provide the ability to recover elastically, expanding the potential applications of this material to include various biointerface platforms

Predicting Postfire Douglas-Fir Beetle Attacks and Tree Mortality in the Northern Rocky Mountains

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) were monitored for 4 years following three wildfires. Logistic regression analyses were used to develop models predicting the probability of attack by Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotugae Hopkins, 1905) and the probability of Douglas-fir mortality within 4 year following fire. Percent crown volume scorched (crown scorch), cambium injury, diameter at breast height (DBH), and stand density index for Douglas-fir were most important for predicting Douglas-fir beetle attacks. A nonlinear relationship between crown scorch and cambium injury was observed, suggesting that beetles did not preferentially attack trees with both maximum crown scorch and cambium injury, 1 and 2 years following fire. Crown scorch, cambium injury, DBH, and presence/absence of beetle attack were the most important variables for predicting postfire Douglas-fir mortality. As DBH increased, the predicted probability of mortality decreased for unattacked trees but increased for attacked trees. Field sampling suggested that ocular estimated of bark char may not be a reliable predictor of cambium injury. Our results emphasize the important role of Douglas-fir beetle in tree mortality patterns following fire, and the models offer improved prediction of Douglas-fir mortality for use in areas with or without Douglas-fir beetle populations

Desempenho e morfometria da mucosa de duodeno de frangos de corte alimentados com farelo de canola, durante o período inicial Performance and duodenum mucous morphometry of broiler chickens fed canola meal, during the starting period

Um experimento foi conduzido para verificar o efeito da utilização de níveis crescentes (0, 10, 20, 30 e 40%) de farelo de canola nas rações de frangos de corte, sobre o desempenho e a morfologia da mucosa, durante o período inicial (1 - 21 dias) e os efeitos de sua utilização no período de crescimento. Foram utilizados 1000 pintos machos de um dia de idade, distribuídos em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos, quatro repetições e 50 aves por unidade experimental. No 1º, 21º e 41º dia, as aves e as rações foram pesadas e no 21º dia duas aves de cada unidade experimental foram sacrificadas para a colheita de um segmento do duodeno para avaliação de morfometria intestinal. Os resultados demonstraram que níveis crescentes de farelo de canola induziram à redução linear no ganho de peso, peso médio e consumo de ração e piora na conversão alimentar. Durante o período de crescimento (21 a 41 dias), no qual todas as aves receberam ração semelhante, observou-se decréscimo no peso médio e ganho de peso, com o aumento dos níveis de farelo de canola, enquanto os parâmetros conversão alimentar e consumo de ração foram semelhantes. Os dados referentes a morfometria da mucosa intestinal, submetidos à análise de regressão, demonstraram que houve aumento na profundidade de cripta conforme o aumento nos níveis de farelo de canola. Os resultados permitem afirmar que é possível a inclusão de até 20% de farelo de canola, sem prejuízos no desempenho das aves e no trato digestório.<br>A trial was carried to verify the effect of increasing levels (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%) of canola meal in diets of broiler chickens, on performance and mucous morphology, during the starting period (1 - 21 days). 1,000 male chicks one-day-old were used, distributed in a randomized experimental assay, with five treatments, four replicates and 50 birds per experimental unit. At the 1st, 21st and 41st days, the birds and the rations were weighed and at the 21st day two birds of each experimental unit were sacrificed for collection of a duodenum segment for evaluation of intestinal morphometry. The results demonstrated that increasing levels of canola meal induced to a linear reduction in weight gain, weight and feed intake and worst feed conversion. During the growing period (21 to 41 days), in which all of the birds received similar diet, a decrease was observed in the weight and weight gain, with the increase of the levels of canola meal, while parameters feed conversion and feed intake were similar. Data regarding mucous morphology, submitted to the regression analysis, demonstrated that there was increase in crypt depth in accordance of increasing levels of canola meal. It is possible to include up to 20% of canola meal without damages on broiler performance and in the digestive tract