Thermal resistance measurement techniques study program Final report

Thermal resistance measurement technique development for transistor

Comment on “Effects of focused ion beam milling on the nanomechanical behavior of a molybdenum-alloy single crystal” Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 111915 (2007)

While this article provides insight into differences in mechanics between Ga+-irradiated and “pure” surfaces of molybdenum, there are several statements that are either inaccurate or poorly stated. It is clear that when a surface is directly irradiated by orthogonal ion beam (0.07–0.21 mW), a focused ion beam (FIB) damage layer will likely form and affect the strength. However, this finding does not provide adequate foundation for raising the question of FIB-induced hardening in nanopillars, given the vast differences between these experiments and procedure used in pillar fabrication. These issues would cause considerable confusion and result in disservice to mechanical testing community if not clarified

The Effects of Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplementation on Indirect Indicators of Muscle Damage and Performance

The purpose of this study was to determine whether branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation attenuates indirect indicators of muscle damage, lowers ratings of perceived exertion, and improves aerobic performance as compared to an isocaloric, carbohydrate (CHO) beverage or a non-caloric placebo beverage. Nine, untrained males (VO2 max 36.26 2.23 ml/kg/min) performed three 90-minute cycling bouts at 55% VO2 max followed by a 15-minute time trial. Metabolic data was collected every 15 minutes during the steady-state ride, and indirect muscle damage markers were assessed pre, post, 4-hours, 24-hours, and 48-hours post-exercise. Pre and post-exercise concentrations of the BCAA and glucose were also recorded. All blood markers were adjusted for plasma volume shifts.There were no differences in dietary intake between trials for 3 days prior to exercise. Creatine kinase concentrations were significantly lower after the BCAA trial as compared to the placebo trial at 4, 24, and 48-hours post-exercise, as well as the CHO beverage at 24-hours post-exercise. Creatine kinase was lower in the CHO trial at the 24- and 48-hour time points as compared to the placebo trial. Lactate dehydrogenase concentrations were elevated in the placebo trial at 4-hours as compared to the BCAA trial. As compared to the alternate trials, ratings of perceived soreness were lower at 24-hours post-exercise, leg flexion torque was higher at the 48-hour time point, and plasma concentrations of the BCAA were elevated following the BCAA trial. Time-trial performance was improved in the CHO trial, and ratings of perceived exertion were lower at 75 and 90-minutes of exercise in the BCAA trial as compared to the placebo trial. There were no significant condition x time differences for leg extension torque, VO2, ventilation, heart rate, RER, or energy expenditure. In addition, there was no order effect for creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, leg flexion/extension torque, ratings of perceived soreness, or time trial performance. The present data suggest that BCAA supplementation attenuates muscle damage during prolonged endurance exercise in unfit, college-aged males, but does not affect time trial performance. CHO ingestion improves time trial performance and attenuates post-exercise creatine kinase levels at 24-hours post-exercise as compared to a placebo beverage

Quality of Healthcare Resources for Transgender Identifying Individuals in Baltimore, MD

More recently, we have seen an increase in awareness of the transgender community nationwide. Despite the transgender community starting to receive representation in popular entertainment media, politics, and within our own localities, there is still a large number of people who have negative perspectives and beliefs about the transgender community and their rights. The transgender community is under constant scrutiny and has to battle for basic human rights on a daily basis. Our politicians are trying to revoke the rights of transgender individuals to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity as opposed to their sex assigned at birth, prohibit transgender individuals from serving in the military, trying to allow health insurance companies to not cover transgender affirming healthcare procedures and medications, and many other various ways to harm the transgender community. Working within the healthcare system, there are a large number of people who are uneducated on how to work with the transgender community in an affirming way and providing the best quality of care. They constantly misgender or use dead names with transgender patients, refuse to provide scripts for hormone therapy, refusing to write letters for transgender patients to receive gender reassignment surgeries, and purposefully providing inadequate care as a form of discrimination. This portfolio aims to identify methods of education for healthcare staff and advocate for more readily available resources that provide transgender affirming healthcare

Web ware for cultivar grain yield evaluation and selection

Non-Peer ReviewedThe variable weather conditions and climatic zones in western Canada often lead to differences in regional adaptation of cultivars that must be identified so that cropping risks can be reduced and returns maximized. Regional testing programs have been developed to provide a database for the determination of average grain yields for target areas, but in recent years the number of new cultivar releases has increased dramatically and the available resources for regional testing has been reduced. Attempts to deal with these problems have lead to web based systems that allow visitors to make head-to-head comparisons among cultivars of interest. However, the limitations associated with the comparison of means persist in these systems and considerable information of importance remains buried in the data files. This paper describes an interactive web-based model for head-to-head cultivar grain yield comparisons that calculates relative yields based on the growing season environmental potential at any prospective location in western Canada. By adapting and combining the databases from cooperative and provincial testing programs this decision-making tool also offers the opportunity to make plant breeding programs more effective while reducing the need for extensive post-registration regional testing

A web-based model for estimating winter survival in cereals

Non-Peer ReviewedAn interactive web-based model for estimating winter survival in cereals has been developed for use by farmers, extension workers, and researchers. The model is based on a series of equations that describe acclimation, dehardening, and damage due to low-temperature stress that are consistent with recent interpretation of low-temperature gene regulation. Low-temperature tolerance is estimated on a daily basis relative to stage of phenological development and cultivar cold hardiness potential. The model has been field validated for cereals in Saskatchewan and has been used in the simulation of over wintering for a wide range of species. Because it complies with the known low-temperature responses of cereals and is fully interactive, it can be used as a teaching tool that allows production risks, cause-and-effect processes, and genetic theories to be systematically investigated

Acute Effects of Plyometric and Resistance Training on Running Economy in Trained Runners

Results regarding the acute effects of plyometric and resistance training (PRT) on running economy (RE) are conflicting. Eight male collegiate distance runners (21 +/- 1 years, 62.5 +/- 7.8 ml/kg/min V[Combining Dot Above]O2 peak) completed V[Combining Dot Above]O2 peak and 1 repetition maximum (1RM) testing. Seven days later, subjects completed a 12 minute RE test at 60% and 80% V[Combining Dot Above]O2 peak, followed by a PRT protocol or a rested condition of equal duration (CON). The PRT protocol consisted of 3 sets of 5 repetitions at 85% 1RM for barbell squats, Romanian deadlifts, and barbell lunges; the same volume was utilized for resisted lateral lunges, box jumps, and depth jumps. Subjects completed another RE test immediately following the treatments as well as 24 hours later. Subjects followed an identical protocol six days later with condition assignment reversed. RE was determined by both relative V[Combining Dot Above]O2 (ml/kg/min) as well as energy expenditure (kcal/min). There was a significant (p \u3c 0.05) between-trial increase in V[Combining Dot Above]O2 (37.1 +/- 4.2 ml/kg/min PRT vs. 35.5 +/- 3.9 ml/kg/min CON) and energy expenditure (11.4 +/- 1.3 kcal/min PRT vs. 11.0 +/- 1.4 kcal/min CON) immediately post-PRT at 60% V[Combining Dot Above]O2 peak, but no significant changes were observed at 80% V[Combining Dot Above]O2 peak. Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was significantly (p \u3c 0.05) reduced 24 hours post-PRT (0.93 +/- 0.0) as compared to the CON trial (0.96 +/- 0.0) at 80% V[Combining Dot Above]O2 peak. Results indicate that high intensity PRT may acutely impair RE in aerobically trained individuals at a moderate running intensity, but that the attenuation lasts less than 24 hours in duration

Reliability of BOD POD Measurements Remain High Following a Short Duration Low-Carbohydrate Diet

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether expected changes in body weight via a three day low-carbohydrate (CHO) diet will disrupt the reliability of air displacement plethysmography measurements via BOD POD. Twenty-four subjects recorded their typical diets for three days prior to BOD POD and seven-site skinfold analyses. Subjects were matched for lean body mass and divided into low-CHO (LC) and control (CON) groups. The LC group was given instruction intended to prevent over 50 grams/day of carbohydrate consumption for three consecutive days, while the CON group replicated their previously recorded diet. Body composition measurements were repeated post-dietary intervention. Test -retest reliability measures were significant (p \u3c 0.01) and high for body fat percentage in both the LC and CON groups (r = 0.993, 0.965, respectively). Likewise, skinfold analysis for body fat percentage reliability was high in both groups (r = 0.996, 0.997, respectively). There were significant differences between first and second BOD POD measurements for body mass (72.9 ± 13.3 vs. 72.1 ± 13.0 kg) and body volume (69.0 ± 12.7 to 68.1 ± 12.2 L) in the LC group (p \u3c 0.05). However, there were no differences (p \u3e 0.05) in BOD POD-determined body fat percentage, lean body mass, or fat mass between the first and second trial in either groups. Body composition measures via BOD POD and seven-site skinfolds remain reliable after three days of a LC diet despite significant decreases in body mass

Assessing N competition between outplanted conifer seedlings and early successional plants using ion-exchange membranes

Non-Peer ReviewedDuring the early establishment phase, outplanted white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss.) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings are vulnerable to lethargic growth or mortality because of interspecific competition for soil nutrients, particularly nitrogen (N). Accurately quantifying the degree of N competition is essential for supporting effective vegetation management decisions. This study evaluated N competition at four boreal forest sites, three years following outplanting, using two-week in situ burials of ion-exchange membrane (IEM) in plots with and without vegetation management (VM). The effect of noncrop N uptake on soil N availability also was assessed using conventional 2N KCl extractions. Vegetation management continued to support increased conifer seedling growth, with no effect on survival compared to control plots. Although the N supply rate measured using IEM (Plant Root Simulator™-probes) were not correlated (P >0.05) with 2N KCl-extracted N concentration, there was a correlation (R2 = 0.68 to 0.76, P <0.01) between N supply rate and seedling growth. Ammonium-N supply rate was better correlated than NO3--N with conifer seedling growth, which is in agreement with preferential NH4+-N uptake by conifer species. The results of this study support the use of in situ IEM burials for monitoring soil N bioavailability during the early establishment phase

Thermal rejuvenation of an aged Au-based metallic glass by fast scanning calorimetry

A metallic glass (MG) annealed above its glass-transition temperature Tg, and cooled, may show an enthalpy increase ΔH, and other property changes. The extent of this thermal rejuvenation depends on the state of the MG (represented by effective cooling rate Φi) and the post-anneal cooling rate Φc. Previous studies examined effects of (Φc/Φi) up to 102. With a Au-based MG aged for up to 10 years at room temperature, and using fast calorimetry to anneal and then cool at up to 5000 K s−1, we extend (Φc/Φi) to 107. The rejuvenation is limited by anneal temperature or by Φc, when, for all MGs, ΔH/Tg shows a universal approximate scaling with log(Φc/Φi). We detect decoupling of vitrification from α relaxation, and highlight limitations in the use of fictive temperature to characterize glassy states. Rejuvenation of the Au-based MG decreases its elastic modulus and hardness, extending trends reported for other MGs