Miniature Schnauzers under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013: demography, mortality and disorders

Individual dog breeds are often reported as predisposed to specific breed-related disorders but reliable epidemiological data on disease prevalence are sparse. The Miniature Schnauzer in the UK is a popular small breed dog that is often considered as relatively healthy and long-lived, but is this really true? This study aimed to use data from the VetCompass™ Programme at the Royal Veterinary College to characterise the demography, mortality and common disorders of the general population of Miniature Schnauzers under veterinary care in the UK

Observation of the molten state of nano-particles with an atomic force microscope

An atomic force microscope was used to directly examine the physical state of nanometer-sized particles. The critical diameter of indium particles, where evidence of melting at room temperature was observed, was 7.8±1.2 nm. This conclusion is based on a method relying on the manipulation of particles in ambient air and at constant temperature. This method involves a simple set up that permits a combination of both manipulation and imaging of individual particles. To determine whether a particle is molten, three criteria are used: the merging of particles to form bigger spherical particles, a tip-induced shape change and the formation of nanofibres. All three criteria have been checked using other particle materials. The use of the atomic force microscope to determine whether a nanoparticle is molten, is however complicated by oxidatio

Helios movable Hartmann ball

The MHB has been in operation for about nine months and has been performing quite well. It has provided the Helios laser fusion facility with additional target illumination flexibility so that many additional parameters can be investigated in the realm of target implosion physics

Direct observation of the molten state of nanometer-sized particles with an atomic force microscope: A feasibility study

An atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to directly examine the physical state of nanometer-sized particles. The critical diameter of indium particles, where evidence of melting at room temperature was observed, was 7.8 +/- 1.2 nm. This conclusion is based on a method relying on the manipulation of particles in ambient air and at constant temperature. This method involves a simple set-up that permits a combination of both manipulation and imaging of individual particles. To determine whether a particle is molten, three criteria are used: the merging of particles to form bigger spherical particles, a tip-induced shape change, and the formation of nanofibers. All three criteria have been checked using other particle materials. An attempt at 56degreesC revealed oxidation of the indium particles as the major problem for melting investigation. Manipulations under high-purity nitrogen atmosphere support the validity of the findings. The use of the AFM to determine whether a nanoparticle is molten is, however, complicated by the oxidation issue