The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effect of alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) in dairy cows and its metabolic mechanism. Thirty Holstein cows weighing 550 ± 25 kg, 200 ± 15 days of lactation and calving 2–3 times were randomly divided into three groups, ten cows in each group. Different doses of α-LA were added based on body weight: 0 (CTL), 30 (LA-L) and 60 (LA-H) mg/kg per head per day; 7 days adaptation period, 30 days formal period. Milk production was recorded daily during the test period. Milk and blood samples were collected on the last day. ELISA kits and automatic biochemical analyser were used to detect the indicators in blood; serum metabolites were detected and analysed by non-target metabolomics. The results of the study showed that the addition of α-LA significantly increased milk yield; blood concentrations for HDL, triglyceride, cortisol and triiodothyronine were significantly elevated; and levels of glutathione reductase and nitric oxide synthase were significantly reduced in LA-L group as compared to CTL group. The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-2, TNF-α, IgG and IgA were significantly higher after supplementation with α-LA. Metabolomics analysis revealed 13 and 15 differential metabolites each in positive or negative modes. Methylmalonic acid levels were significantly higher following α-LA supplementation compared to CTL group, as were D-lactose, D-maltose and oleanolic acid levels in LA-L group. In summary, α-LA can enhance milk production, improve antioxidant capacity and immunity, and is more beneficial for animal production and economic benefits at 30 mg/kg.

Bifurcation of non-radial solutions from radial solutions of a semilinear elliptic equation with negative exponent in expanding annuli of ℝ2 is studied. To obtain the main results, we use a blow-up argument via the Morse index of the regular entire solutions of the equation

The main results of this paper can be seen as applications of the results obtained recently for finite Morse index solutions of the equation

with N ⩾ 2 and p > 0.

In order to extend the dynamic range of a hydrogen sensor with a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) type structure, Pd-Cr and Pd-Ni alloy gated samples were studied. The PdCr gated sample shows quite stable and reproducible response, and could measure hydrogen concentrations from 100 to 50, 000 ppm. While the Pd-Ni gated sample shows turn-on/off response drift, this drift is probably due to the presence of oxygen on the surface of the insulator and the formation of metal hydride. Furthermore, the effect of oxygen on the sensors response was investigated; oxygen may deplete protons from the metal/insulator interface and could reduce the sensor's response.

Anatase-TiO2 films (thickness 100-1000 nm) were grown on glass, sapphire, and Si(100) substrates using pulsed dc-magnetron reactive sputtering. By measuring the curvature of substrates before and after the thin film deposition, the residual stresses were determined. These results clearly show that the bi-axial stresses are compressive type and decreases with the increasing film thickness. The Raman spectra of these films were measured with two different excitation wavelengths (514 and 785 nm) and the thickness dependent shifts of Eg phonon mode were studied. The dominant 144 cm-1 Eg mode in TiO2 anatase clearly shifts to a higher value by 0.45 to 17.4 cm-1 depending on the type of substrate and the thickness of the film. Maximum shift was seen for the films on glass substrate indicating a higher bi-axial compressive stress in agreement with the curvature measurements. The excitation wavelength dependent shift of Eg mode clearly shows that the bi-axial stress increases along the film depth, being larger at the film/substrate interface.

TiO2 thin films (500 – 1000 nm in thickness) were deposited using pulsed DC magnetron reactive sputtering, on glass substrates. The depositions used a Ti source in an Ar+O2 gas mixture with different parameters of power (350 - 500W), substrate temperature (no additional heat - 400°C), growth pressure (3.0 - 5.0 mTorr) and oxygen gas flow rate (6.0 - 8.0 sccm). The x-ray diffractions (XRD) show amorphous and/or anatase phases depending on the deposition conditions. The films were found to be amorphous at lower substrate temperature and at lower powers. The sample with 4 mTorr, 400W of power, a substrate temperature of 250 C with 7.0 sccm of oxygen flow has the best crystalline quality. The temperature dependent electrical conductivity measurement in air for the above films shows an exponential increase in conductivity with temperature.

An MIS Hydrogen sensor with a Pd0.96Cr0.04/AlN/Si structure was fabricated, exhibiting the dynamic range considerably wider than that of analogous devices with pure Pd gates. A useful response could be obtained for Hydrogen concentrations as large as 50, 000 ppm. Although the response amplitude was much reduced at the lower concentrations, satisfactory signal to noise down to 50 ppm could be obtained. The saturating magnitude of the electrical response is in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 V, which is the same as that for the pure Pd gated devices, inspite of the 3 orders of magnitude difference in the saturation hydrogen concentration. This result will be discussed in terms of the response mechanism of these devices.

Chromium is of great concern in the vitrification of high-level nuclear waste sludges because it forms separate crystallites in the molten glass. Inadequate removal of chromium from sludges could result in the production of an unacceptably large volume of HLW glass. Alkaline oxidative leaching is considered one of the pretreatment strategies to remove chromium before the vitrification.

In this study, Cr(III) hydroxide solids were prepared under different conditions and characterized by EXAFS and IR. The rate of oxidation of the solids by hydrogen peroxide in alkaline solutions was studied by UV absorption spectroscopy. EXAFS and IR experiments indicate that the degree of oligomerization in the Cr(III) hydroxide solids increases with the increase in the concentration of NaOH in solution, the aging temperature and the aging time. The rate of oxidation of the solids follows the same order previously observed for Cr(III) oligomers in solution, i.e., species with higher degree of oligomerization are oxidized more slowly.