The increase of sheep meat competitiveness in international markets can be attributed to the rise of the quantity and the improvement of the quality of the edible portion of sheep carcasses. Usually, carcass yield is established after the slaughter of the animals. Yet, when carcass yield is determined in vivo, it can be both a costly and subjective method. This study proposes models for predicting the physical characteristics of lamb carcass using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in live animals. Thirty-one Texel × Ile de France crossbreed ram lambs were slaughtered at 20, 26, 32 or 38 kg of BW. Before the slaughter, values of resistance (Rs) and reactance (Xc) were collected using a single-frequency BIA equipment (Model RJL Quantum II Bioelectrical Body Composition Analyzer). Then, BIA main variables such as body bioelectrical volume (V), phase angle (PA), resistive density (RsD) and reactive density (XcD) were calculated. After slaughter, cold carcass weight (CCW), cold carcass yield (CCY), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), soft tissue weight (STW) and soft tissue yield (STY) were also measured. Multiple regression analyses were carried out using the physical characteristics as dependent variables and the bioimpedance values as independent variables. Predictive performance of the models was assessed using leave-one-out cross-validation. The prediction model of CCW was obtained using the V, PA and RsD (R2 = 0.97), STW through the V, RsD and XcD (R2 = 0.97), CCY by Rs, Z and XcD (R2 = 0.69), STY by V and XcD (R2 = 0.67), and SFT only for XcD (R2 = 0.84). The results indicated that BIA has the potential to predict carcass characteristics of lambs at different body masses.

There is considerable confusion concerning the species of Sarcocystis in South American camelids (SAC). Several species names have been used; however, proper descriptions are lacking. In the present paper, we redescribe the macroscopic sarcocyst forming Sarcocystis aucheniae and describe and propose a new name, Sarcocystis masoni for the microscopic sarcocyst forming species. Muscles samples were obtained from llamas (Lama glama) and guanacos (Lama guanicoe) from Argentina and from alpacas (Vicugna pacos) and llamas from Peru. Individual sarcocysts were processed by optical and electron microscopy, and molecular studies. Microscopic sarcocysts of S. masoni were up to 800 µm long and 35–95 µm wide, the sarcocyst wall was 2·5–3·5 µm thick, and had conical to cylindrical villar protrusions (vp) with several microtubules. Each vp had 11 or more rows of knob-like projections. Seven 18S rRNA gene sequences obtained from sarcocysts revealed 95–96% identity with other Sarcocystis spp. sequences reported in the GenBank. Sarcocysts of S. aucheniae were macroscopic, up to 1·2 cm long and surrounded by a dense and laminar 50 µm thick secondary cyst wall. The sarcocyst wall was up to 10 µm thick, and had branched vp, appearing like cauliflower. Comparison of the 11 sequences obtained from individual macroscopic cysts evidenced a 98–99% of sequence homology with other S. aucheniae sequences. In conclusion, 2 morphologically and molecularly different Sarcocystis species, S. masoni (microscopic cysts) and S. aucheniae (macroscopic cysts), were identified affecting different SAC from Argentina and Peru.

While methods to evaluate antioxidant capacity in animals exist, one problem with the models is induction of oxidative stress. It is necessary to promote a great enough challenge to induce measurable alterations to oxidative parameters while ensuring the protocol is compatible with animal welfare. The aim of the present study was to evaluate caged transport as a viable short-term stress that would significantly affect oxidative parameters. Twenty adult Beagle dogs, maintained on the same diet for 60 d prior to the transport, were included in the study. To simulate the stress, the dogs were housed in pairs in transport cages (1·0 m × 1·0 m × 1·5 m), placed on a truck coupled to a trailer and transported for a period of 15 min. Blood collection was performed immediately before and again 3 h after the transportation to evaluate oxidative parameters in blood serum, including thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), sequestration activity of the radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH•), protein carbonylation (PC), total sulfhydryl groups (SH), alpha-tocopherol (αToc) and retinol (Ret). PC, SH and αToc were not significantly changed in the study; however, TBARS, TAC and DPPH increased, whereas Ret decreased after the transport. Although the lack of a control group of dogs not submitted to transport is a limitation to be considered, we conclude that the transport model is effective in inducing an antioxidant response in dogs and relevant blood parameters show sensitivity to this proposed model.

A species of Besnoitia from naturally infected rabbits from Argentina was propagated experimentally in mice, gerbils, rabbits, cats, and cell cultures. Cats fed tissue cysts from rabbits shed oocysts with a prepatent period of nine to 13 days. Sporulated oocysts were infective to gerbils, rabbits, outbred Swiss Webster and interferon gamma gene knockout mice. Bradyzoites were infective orally to gerbils and cats. Tachyzoites were successfully cultivated and maintained in vitro in bovine monocytes and African green monkey kidney cells. Schizonts were seen in the lamina propria of the small intestine of cats fed tissue cysts; the largest ones measured 52×45 μm. Schizonts were also present in mesenteric lymph nodes, livers, and other extra-intestinal organs of cats fed tissue cysts. Oocysts were 10–14×10–13 μm in size. This rabbit-derived species of Besnoitia resembled B. darlingi of the North American opossum, Didelphis virginiana with an opossum-cat cycle, but it was not transmissible to D. virginiana, and B. darlingi of opossums was not transmissible to rabbits. Based on biological, serological, antigenic, and molecular differences between the rabbit and the opossum Besnoitia, a new name, B. oryctofelisi is proposed for the parasite from domestic rabbits from Argentina.

We report on the structure and electronic properties of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) tips with atomically spatial resolution. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) show topographic images of closed tips with a variety of geometrical structure; these include round, conical, as well as tips with a messy shape. At low bias voltage, topographic STM images show standing wave pattern of the charge density in the vicinity of nanotube ends. The patterns originate from constructive interference between the electronic states and its reflection on the nanotube tips. The modulations extend along 6-8 nm away from the cap. Atomically resolved images show asymmetry in the charge density that smears out as the bias voltage increases. These distinctive tip states do not exist elsewhere on the tube and are related to the presence of topological defects at tube ends.

We report the stability of TlBa2CaCu2O7 and Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 on LaAlO3(100) epitaxial thin films, under a variety of conditions. All films are stable in acetone and methanol and with repeated thermal cycling to cryogenic temperatures. Moisture, especially vapor, degrades film quality rapidly. These materials are stable to high temperatures in either N2 or O2 ambients. While total degradation, resulting from Tl depletion, occurs at the same temperatures for both phases, 600 °C in N2 and 700 °C in O2, the onset of degradation occurs at somewhat lower temperatures for TlBa2CaCu2O7 than for Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8.

Epitaxial Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 (Tl-2212) films ∼5500 Å thick are grown on LaAlO3(100) substrates using a new hybrid two-zone/crucible furnace process enabling precise control of thallination. This method combines the best features of both conventional crucible and two-zone processing for the first time: superb film properties and reduced handling of hazardous Tl-oxide powders. Single-phase, highly caxis oriented Tl-2212 films are grown with smooth morphology, Meissner transition ∼103 K, and critical current density ∼1.1 × 107 A/cm2 at 5 K for twenty consecutive runs without having to change or add to the Tl-oxide source.

We review the synthesis methods and properties of single crystal, powder, and thin film TlBaCaCuO high-temperature superconducting (Tl-HTS) materials. With transition temperatures ≥ 100 K for several compounds, Tl-HTS materials present real opportunities for applications above 77 K. Experiments using (1) single crystals: determined precise structural parameters and identified the complex Tl1+–Tl3+ equilibrium model; (2) powders: studied the complex thermodynamic phase diagram; and (3) epitaxial films: studied fundamental properties such as electron pair symmetry and the effect of controlled extrinsic defects on flux pinning strength, as well as providing the large-area surfaces required for device applications.

Lattice defects are introduced into the structure to suppress the motion of magnetic vortices and enhance the critical current density in high temperature superconductors. Point defects are not very effective pinning sites for the cuprate superconductors; however, extended defects, such as linear tracks, have been shown to be strong pinning sites. We study the superconducting cuprate TI-2212 (the numbers designate Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu stoichiometry). Large enhancements of vortex pinning potential were observed in TI-2212 after high-intermediate energy heavy-ion irradiations where non-continuous extended defects were induced at dE/dx of 9 to 15.2 keV/nm (60 MeV Au, 60 MeV Cu, and 30 MeV Au) and continuous linear defects were induced at 19.5keV/nm (88MeV Au). Our research addresses the question of pinning in highly anisotropic materials like Tl-2212 where the vortices are “pancakes” rather than “rods” and suitable defect structures may be discontinuous extended damage domains. The defect microstructure and the effectiveness of the pinning potential in TI-2212 after irradiation by intermediate energy Au at lower dE/dx of 5–15 keV/nm, where recoils are more significant, is studied using high resolution transmission electron microscopy digital imaging and a SQUID magnetometer. The nature of the ion irradiation damage at these intermediate dE/dx will be correlated to the average vortex pinning potential and the TRIMRC calculations for recoils.

Many applications of high temperature superconductors, HTS, require the presence of lattice defects in the material structure to suppress the motion of magnetic vortices and enhance the critical current density, Jc. The microstructure of Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8-δ (T1–2212) thin films which have extended defects induced by high energy Au and Cu ion irradiation is studied using high resolution transmission electron microscopy, HRTEM, with slow scan digital imaging. In order to optimize the HTS properties and better analyze the consequent microstructural modification, the fluence is varied. At moderate fluences, resulting in ∼4% reduction of the superconducting transition, large enhancements of Jc, and vortex pinning potential are observed. The density and microstructure of isolated defects and surrounding structure will be discussed and compared to damage profiles calculated using the TRIM code. Correlation will be made between the HRTEM results and the changes in HTS properties.

Isolated, monodisperse α-Fe clusters between 1.4 and 15 nm in diameter were prepared inside inverse micelles using an oil-continuous, nonaqueous system. The magnetic properties of these clusters were studied in a SQUID magnetometer as a function of cluster size, temperature and applied magnetic field. The blocking temperature, coercive field and remanent moment of 12.5 nm Fe clusters in inverse micelles are significantly lower than those reported for clusters of similar α-Fe core size but with a surface oxide. The novel synthesis technique may yield metallic clusters with essentially intrinsic magnetic properties.

The structural, electrical and magnetic properties are compared for three superconducting Tl-Ca-Ba-Cu-O thin films prepared by different deposition and sintering protocols. One film containing a mixture of Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3Ox and Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3Oy structural phases has the best superconducting properties. Deposition of a Tl-free Ca-Ba-Cu-O precursor film followed by sintering in Tl-O vapor may be the preferred protocol to obtain a single structural phase.

We have examined several crystals belonging to the Tl‐2122 structure type (Tl2CaBa2Cu2O8 with c=29Å), and have shown that cation solid solution occurs. Such cation disorder appears to be responsible for the observed small differences in lattice parameters reported by various investigators and to contribute towards the substantial variation in the superconducting transition temperatures.

The effects of oxygen and helium ion irradiation on the superconducting properties of Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3010 thin films were investigated. The transition temperature and width were monitored as a function of ion fluence using both magnetization and resistivity measurements. These data suggest that superconductivity is completely suppressed at 0.020 dpa for both He and 0 ion irradiation. Further, the rate of decrease in Tc as a function of deposited energy showed that the dominant mechanism causing damage-induced suppression of Tc in these films was from atomic collisions.

Magnetization and resistivity data are presented which show a substantial difference in superconducting transitions for nominal Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3Ox plates with identical crystal structures grown from two different “melt” compositions. A Tl-O and CuO-rich flux yielded approximately stoichiometric plates which have sharp transitions beginning near 111 K, while a second Tl-O-rich flux produced plates containing more Tl and less Ba with very broad transitions starting near 96 K. These data demonstrate the extreme sensitivity of superconductivity to cation site disorder in the Tl-Ca-Ba-Cu-O system.

Vacuum-annealed samples of single-phase orthorhombic YBa2Cu3O6.9 have been reoxygenated. The vacuum-annealed material is tetragonal, semiconducting at room temperature, and shows no superconductivity. Upon annealing these samples in 640 Torr O2 at 200°C, a partial return of 90 K superconductivity is observed; complete restoration is achieved following 300°C anneals. Oxygen uptake in vacuum-annealed pellets follows an Arrhenius relation with an activation energy of −27 kcal/mol. Deoxygenation and reoxygenation does not seem to affect the structure of the grain interconnects in the material. The maximum oxygen uptake for vacuum-annealed material occurs at 450°C, while the maximum magnetic Meissner effect is observed following oxygen annealing at 350°C.