Low power heating element provides thermal control during swaging operations

Low power, cylindrical heating element in a swaging anvil assembly heats the material being worked on. The increased ductility of heated material results in crack-free deformation

Neotectonics of the San Andreas fault system: Basin and range province juncture

Several new details regarding the surficial patterns of neotectonic activity of the Eastern Transverse Ranges and vicinity were discovered. Additionally a number of data display and analysis techniques were developed. These findings will be useful both in the continued development of neotectonic models for southern California and for the future application of remote sensing methodologies elsewhere

Neotectonics of the San Andreas Fault system, basin and range province juncture

The development, active processes, and tectonic interplay of the southern San Andreas fault system and the basin and range province were studied. The study consist of data acquisition and evaluation, technique development, and image interpretation and mapping. Potentially significant geologic findings are discussed

Climate in Earth history

Complex atmosphere-ocean-land interactions govern the climate system and its variations. During the course of Earth history, nature has performed a large number of experiments involving climatic change; the geologic record contains much information regarding these experiments. This information should result in an increased understanding of the climate system, including climatic stability and factors that perturb climate. In addition, the paleoclimatic record has been demonstrated to be useful in interpreting the origin of important resources-petroleum, natural gas, coal, phosphate deposits, and many others

Surface Roughness Dominated Pinning Mechanism of Magnetic Vortices in Soft Ferromagnetic Films

Although pinning of domain walls in ferromagnets is ubiquitous, the absence of an appropriate characterization tool has limited the ability to correlate the physical and magnetic microstructures of ferromagnetic films with specific pinning mechanisms. Here, we show that the pinning of a magnetic vortex, the simplest possible domain structure in soft ferromagnets, is strongly correlated with surface roughness, and we make a quantitative comparison of the pinning energy and spatial range in films of various thickness. The results demonstrate that thickness fluctuations on the lateral length scale of the vortex core diameter, i.e. an effective roughness at a specific length scale, provides the dominant pinning mechanism. We argue that this mechanism will be important in virtually any soft ferromagnetic film.Comment: 4 figure

Do statins cause myopathy?

If statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) cause myopathy, the risk is very low (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A). There is no direct evidence to answer this question. A pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials found similar myopathy rates in patients taking statins and placebo. However, a large cohort study revealed a very small but statistically significant increased risk of myopathy in patients taking statins (number needed to harm=10,000/year). Case reports suggest a myopathy risk for all statins, including fatal rhabdomyolysis. Risk of myopathy may increase with higher statin doses, certain comorbid states (eg, hypothyroidism, renal insufficiency [especially with diabetes], recent trauma, perioperative periods, advanced age, small body frame) and concurrent medications, including fibrates, cyclosporine, azole antifungals, and macrolide antibiotics (SOR: B). No studies have directly compared myopathy rates among statins, and there is no good evidence to suggest any differences. No controlled study has directly examined statin rechallenge in patients with previous myopathy; however, case reports and expert opinion support this practice (SOR: B)