Equilibrium States of Liquid, Solid, and Vapor and the Configurations for Copper, Tungsten, and Pores in Liquid-Phase Sintering

The equilibrium state of the liquid-solid structure during liquid-phase sintering (LPS) is pondered with respect to minimum energy geometries. Besides the solid-liquid ratio, several interfacial energies determine the most stable geometric configuration. In this study, we rely on the attributes of the copper or nickel as the liquid, tungsten as the solid, and vapor to solve for terminal configurations that include liquid pools inside the solid grains. Surface evolution is enabled using a stepwise computer program[1] to rearrange and reshape small grain clusters reflective of LPS based on a preset combination of wetting and dihedral angles. The findings show how different interfacial energies, as a result of oxidation or impurity segregation, play a role in determining the final geometry. The specific concern is identification of situations in which a liquid is stable inside the solid, as observed in some LPS materials.open112Nsciescopu

Dog owners are more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than people without at dog: An investigation of the association between dog ownership and physical activity levels in a UK community

Previous research suggests that dog owners are slightly more physically active than those without dogs, but have only studied one household member, and it is unclear whether time spent dog walking replaces other physical activity (PA). A survey of 191 dog owning adults (DO), 455 non-dog owning adults (NDO), and 46 children, living in 385 households in West Cheshire UK, was conducted in July-August 2015. Objective (accelerometer) validation occurred on a subset (n=28 adults). Survey PA outcomes were modelled using hierarchical logistic and linear multivariable regression modelling, accounting for clustering of participants in households. DO were far more likely than NDO to report walking for recreation (OR=14.35, 95% CI=5.77-35.79, P<0.001), and amongst recreational walkers walked for longer per week (RR=1.39, 95%CI=1.27-5.91, P<0.001). Other PA undertaken did not differ by dog ownership. The odds of DO meeting current physical activity guidelines of 150mins per week were four times greater than for NDO (OR=4.10, 95% CI=2.05-8.19, P<0.001). Children with dogs reported more minutes of walking (P=0.01) and free-time (unstructured) activity (P<0.01). Dog ownership is associated with more recreational walking and considerably greater odds of meeting PA guidelines. Policies regarding public spaces and housing should support dog ownership due to PA benefits

The association between dog ownership or dog walking and fitness or weight status in childhood

Health benefits of dog walking are established in adults: dog owners are on average more physically active and those walking their dogs regularly have lower weight status than those who do not. However, there has been little research on children. A survey of pet ownership and involvement in dog walking was combined with fitness and weight status measurements of 1021 9-10 yrs old children, in the Liverpool SportsLinx study. We found little evidence to support that children who live with, or walk with, dogs, are any fitter or less likely to be obese than those who do not. This is an important finding as it suggests that the activity that children currently do with dogs is not sufficient enough to impact weight status or fitness

Prevalence of Disorders Recorded in Dogs Attending Primary-Care Veterinary Practices in England

Purebred dog health is thought to be compromised by an increasing occurence of inherited diseases but inadequate prevalence data on common disorders have hampered efforts to prioritise health reforms. Analysis of primary veterinary practice clinical data has been proposed for reliable estimation of disorder prevalence in dogs. Electronic patient record (EPR) data were collected on 148,741 dogs attending 93 clinics across central and south-eastern England. Analysis in detail of a random sample of EPRs relating to 3,884 dogs from 89 clinics identified the most frequently recorded disorders as otitis externa (prevalence 10.2%, 95% CI: 9.1-11.3), periodontal disease (9.3%, 95% CI: 8.3-10.3) and anal sac impaction (7.1%, 95% CI: 6.1-8.1). Using syndromic classification, the most prevalent body location affected was the head-and-neck (32.8%, 95% CI: 30.7-34.9), the most prevalent organ system affected was the integument (36.3%, 95% CI: 33.9-38.6) and the most prevalent pathophysiologic process diagnosed was inflammation (32.1%, 95% CI: 29.8-34.3). Among the twenty most-frequently recorded disorders, purebred dogs had a significantly higher prevalence compared with crossbreds for three: otitis externa (P = 0.001), obesity (P = 0.006) and skin mass lesion (P = 0.033), and popular breeds differed significantly from each other in their prevalence for five: periodontal disease (P = 0.002), overgrown nails (P = 0.004), degenerative joint disease (P = 0.005), obesity (P = 0.001) and lipoma (P = 0.003). These results fill a crucial data gap in disorder prevalence information and assist with disorder prioritisation. The results suggest that, for maximal impact, breeding reforms should target commonly-diagnosed complex disorders that are amenable to genetic improvement and should place special focus on at-risk breeds. Future studies evaluating disorder severity and duration will augment the usefulness of the disorder prevalence information reported herein