Oxidation-resistant coatings for refractory metals used in inert atmospheres

Test conditions and results are reported for various coatings on a 1 percent zirconium columbium alloy at a temperature of 2000 deg F. Molybdenum silicide over molybdenum is most effective coating, tin-aluminum coating is adequately protective, chromium-molybdenum silicides are not protective

Resilience in Adolescents Who Survived a Suicide Attempt from the Perspective of Registered Nurses in Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities

The number of deaths by suicide has increased over the last few years. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore components of resilience in adolescents who survived a suicide attempt from the perspective of nine psychiatric nurses. Resilience was used as a guiding conceptual framework which proposes that resilience is the interplay between risk and protective factors. Three categories emerged including risk factors, protective factors, and future recommendations of suicide prevention strategies. The perspectives gained from this study will help develop nursing interventions for adolescents to overcome risk factors and to build on their protective factors

An improved technique for the use of zinc-rich coatings

Blistering and peeling of topcoats used over ethyl silicate, inorganic, zinc-rich protective coatings are virtually eliminated when primer is allowed to cure outdoors for extended period of time and is moistened during process

Delayed development of the protective IL-17A response following a Giardia muris infection in neonatal mice

Giardia is an intestinal protozoan parasite that has the ability to infect a wide range of hosts, which can result in the clinical condition 'giardiasis'. Over the years, experimental research has shown the crucial involvement of IL-17A to steer the protective immune response against Giardia. The development of the protective response, as reflected by a significant drop in cyst secretion, typically takes around 3 to 4 weeks. However, early-life infections often have a more chronic character lasting for several weeks or months. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the dynamics of a Giardia muris infection and the subsequent host immune response in neonatal mice infected 4 days after birth. The outcome of the study showed that a G. muris infection in pre-weaned mice failed to trigger a protective IL-17A response, which could explain the prolonged course of infection in comparison to older mice. Only after weaning, a protective intestinal immune response started to develop, characterized by an upregulation of IL-17A and Mb12 and the secretion of parasite-specific IgA

New Zealand designs law: The case for reform

This article is about New Zealand designs law, considered in an international and comparative context. It argues that New Zealand designs law is unsustainable and in need of reform. New Zealand is a small jurisdiction with a relatively small manufacturing industry, and New Zealand is a net importer of technology. Yet New Zealand operates a designs regime which is more protective of design than jurisdictions with proportionately much larger manufacturing and design based industries. Designs regimes in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom and Europe are all less protective and more conducive to competition and innovation than the existing New Zealand regime. New Zealand operates a designs law regime which is over-protective, which excessively interferes with healthy competition to the disadvantage of consumers, and which imposes excessive burdens on second-comers and follow-on innovation. New Zealand's designs regime also significantly disadvantages New Zealand designers as compared with non-resident designers, and creates obstacles to exporters. The article reviews the international law framework for designs protection, and the regimes in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom and Europe. It argues that reform of the New Zealand designs regime is now overdue, and reviews the reform proposals and processes that have been undertaken over the last two decades

Avidity of influenza-specific memory CD8+ T-cell populations decays over time compromising antiviral immunity

Decline of cell-mediated immunity is often attributed to decaying T-cell numbers and their distribution in peripheral organs. This study examined the hypothesis that qualitative as well as quantitative changes contribute to the declining efficacy of CD8+ T-cell memory. Using a model of influenza virus infection, where loss of protective CD8+ T-cell immunity was observed 6 months postinfection, we found no decline in antigen-specific T-cell numbers or migration to the site of secondary infection. There was, however, a large reduction in antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell degranulation, cytokine secretion, and polyfunctionality. A profound loss of high-avidity T cells over time indicated that failure to confer protective immunity resulted from the inferior functional capacity of remaining low avidity cells. These data imply that high-avidity central memory T cells wane with declining antigen levels, leaving lower avidity T cells with reduced functional capabilities

Effect of hard particle impacts on the atomic oxygen survivability of reflector surfaces with transparent protective overcoats

Silver mirror samples with protective coatings were subjected to a stream of 27 microns alumina particles to induce pinhole defects. The protective coating consisted of a layer of aluminum dioxide over silver followed by a layer of silicon dioxide over the alumina. Samples were prepared on both graphite-epoxy composite and fused quartz substrates. After exposure to the hard particle stream, the samples were exposed to an oxygen plasma environment in a laboratory plasma asher. The effects of both the hard particles and the oxygen plasma were documented by both reflectance measurements and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that oxidative damage to the silver reflecting layer continues beyond that of the erosively exposed silver. Oxidative undercutting of the silver layer and graphite-epoxy substrate continues in undamaged areas through adjacent, particle damaged defect sites. This may have implications for the use of such mirrors in a space station solar dynamic power system