Herbicides 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) and 5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil (bromacil) effectively controlled live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.) when applied in the spring and fall in south Texas. A mixture of picloram plus (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4,5-T) also was effective. Higher rates of bromacil were required than for picloram or picloram plus 2,4,5-T for effective control. Bromacil was more injurious to herbaceous vegetation. The phenoxy herbicides (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-T were ineffective.

Granular 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) was effective in controlling live oak (Quercus virginiana (Mill.), huisache) (Acacia farnesiana (L.), Willd.), and yaupon (Ilex vomitoria Ait.), but not honey mesquite (Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC. var. glandulosa (Torr.) Cockerell) in south Texas. Granular 5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil (bromacil) controlled live oak and huisache. Herbicides applied to soil were usually most effective in spring and fall during periods of active brush growth. Picloram granules applied in May to a mixed stand of woody plants in Puerto Rico usually were effective. However, rates up to 30 lb/A were ineffective on some species.

A knowledge based expert system for the design and analysis of composite laminated struts is described. This system is part of a Composite Design EXpert (CODEX) system that not only performs analysis and design of composite laminated plates and struts, but also incorporates the modelling of uncertainties of information, definition and decision when assessing competing designs. The analysis part of the system is based on a minimum weight optimisation that satisfies the failure criteria of local buckling, overall buckling and maximum strain or maximum stress. Available in the system for analysis and assessment are seven types of strut shapes, six composite materials and aluminium alloy. Examples of strut design are carried out and assessed using this system.

A life-course approach to reduction of risk of non-communicable diseases (NCD) suggests that early-life interventions may be more effective than lifestyle modifications in middle age. Knowledge translation to develop understanding of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) within the community offers the potential to encourage informed diet and lifestyle choices supporting reduction of NCD risk in current and future generations. Many women do not make sustained dietary change before or during pregnancy, therefore appropriate nutritional behaviours need to be established prior to adulthood. This makes adolescence an appropriate stage for interventions to establish suitable dietary and lifestyle behaviours. Therefore, we engaged adolescents in a school-based educational intervention, and assessed the value of this in development of understanding of DOHaD concepts to support behaviour change that could lead to NCD risk reduction in the next generation. Modules of course work were written for 11–14 year olds and trialled in nine schools. Matched pre- and post-intervention questionnaire responses from 238 students and 99 parents, and post-intervention interviews evaluated the intervention. Understanding of a link between maternal diet during pregnancy and the health of the foetus in adulthood increased from 46% to 76% following intervention. Post-intervention evidence suggests the programme facilitated discussion of diet, lifestyle and DOHaD concepts in most families. The intervention was effective in improving understanding of DOHaD concepts and in some cases led to appropriate behaviour change. However, the sustainability of these changes remains to be determined through on-going evaluation of attitudes and behaviour within this cohort.

A prospective longitudinal study was conducted on 96 smallholder duck farms in Indonesia over a period of 14 months in 2007 and 2008 to monitor bird- and flock-level incidence rates of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infection in duck flocks, and to identify risk factors associated with these flocks becoming H5 seropositive. Flocks that scavenged around neighbouring houses within the village were at increased risk of developing H5 antibodies, as were flocks from which carcases of birds that died during the 2 months between visits were consumed by the family. Duck flock confinement overnight on the farm and sudden deaths of birds between visits were associated with lower risk of the flock developing H5 antibodies. Scavenging around neighbouring houses and non-confinement overnight are likely to be causal risk factors for infection. With this study we have provided insights into farm-level risk factors of HPAI virus introduction into duck flocks. Preventive messages based on these risk factors should be included in HPAI awareness programmes.

Felinine is a branched-chain sulfur amino acid present in the urine of certain Felidae, including domestic cats. The objective of the present study was to determine if additional cystine and/or dietary N would increase felinine and N-acetylfelinine excretion by intact male cats fed a low-protein (LP) diet. Feeding five adult intact male cats an LP diet (18·8 % of metabolisable energy (ME) as protein) v. a high-protein diet (38·6 % of ME as protein) resulted in a trend (P = 0·08) for decreased urinary felinine and no change in N-acetylfelinine excretion. In a 23 d study, when the LP diet was supplemented with l-cystine at 9·3 g/kg DM, urinary felinine:creatinine ratio showed a linear two-fold (121 %) increase (P < 0·01) from 0·24 (sem 0·05) to 0·53 (sem 0·13) after 10 d. Subsequent feeding of the LP diet resulted in a decrease in felinine excretion to base levels. Plasma γ-glutamylfelinylglycine concentrations were consistent with the excretion of felinine. Supplementation of the LP diet with l-cystine (9·3 g/kg DM), dispensable amino acids and arginine to a second group (n 5) also resulted in a significant (P < 0·01) but smaller (+72 %) increase in the daily felinine:creatinine ratio (0·25 (sem 0·04) to 0·43 (sem 0·05)). The degree of felinine N-acetylation within groups was unaffected by dietary addition and withdrawal of amino acids. The results indicate that felinine synthesis is regulated by cystine availability, and that arginine may be physiologically important in decreasing felinine biosynthesis in intact male cats.

Three turbulent shear flows with quadratic mean-velocity profiles are generated by using an appropriately designed honeycomb and parallel-rod grids with adjustable rod spacing. The details of two of the flow fields, with quadratic mean-velocity profiles with constant positive mean-shear gradients ($\partial^2\overline{U}_1/\partial X^2_2 >0$), are obtained, and include, in the mean flow direction, the development and distribution of mean velocities, fluctuating velocities, Reynolds stresses, microscales, integral scales, energy spectra, shear correlation coefficients and two-point spatial velocity correlation coefficients. A third flow field is generated with a quadratic mean velocity profile with constant negative mean-shear gradient ($\partial^2\overline{U}_1/\partial X^2_2 < 0$), to investigate in the mean flow direction the effect of the change in sign on the resulting field. An open-return wind tunnel with a 2 × 2 × 20 ft test-section is used.

It has recently been suggested that lycra garments are helpful for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Twelve children, with athetosis, ataxia, and spasticity, were fitted with lycra garments (Kendall-Camp UK Ltd). Scores on the Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) scales were determined before and after wearing the garment for at least 6 hours a day for 6 weeks. Five children with motor problems representative of the whole group were investigated during a reach-and-grasp task by kinematic motion analysis; reflective markers were used with and without the garment. Carers were given a questionnaire concerning the practicalities of using the garments. All 12 children made improvements in at least one of the functional scales of the PEDI, and scores for the whole group showed significant gains (Wilcoxon χ2 test, self-help p<0.01; mobility p<0.5; social p<0.1). These changes were usually slight, although noticed by carers. Six children made gains of at least one scale of the caregiver assistance scores, two of the children showed losses (due to difficulties removing the garment for toileting), and four showed no change. Motion analysis indicated that (1) two children with athetosis had improved proximal stability in sitting and in smoothness of arm movements, (2) one child with ataxia had improved in proximal and distal stability, and (3) two children with spasticity had more jerky movements, although one improved in proximal stability. All children had problems in wearing the garments, including problems with toileting and incontinence of urine; the parents of only one child wanted to continue using it. Results suggest that the functional benefit of lycra garments for children with CP is mainly due to improvements in proximal stability but this should be weighed against the inconvenience and loss of independence.

Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) is widely used in the management of muscle spasticity in children. However, at present the dose of BTX-A for a given patient is selected empirically. The aim of this study is to provide dosage guidelines that are based on risk/benefit assessment. This was a multicentre retrospective study of the safety profile and efficacy of BTX-A in children with chronic muscle spasticity. Data in 758 patients who received a total of 1594 treatments were analysed (mean age 7.2 years; 429 males, 329 females). Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) was the most common diagnosis (94% of the study sample). Of all treatments 7% resulted in adverse events; incidence was related to the total dose rather than the dose calculated on the basis of body weight. The highest incidence of adverse events was observed in patients who received >1000 IU of BTX-A per treatment session. The odds of an adverse event was 5.1 times greater for this group of patients than for those who had 250 IU or less (p<0.001). A good overall response to treatment was reported in 82% and treatment goals were fully or partially achieved in 3% and 94% of participants respectively. More patients in the highest dose group reported functional deterioration. Interestingly, multilevel treatments resulted in a better response than single-level treatments (odds ratio 1.7, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.2, p=0.001).

Ion beam synthesis of CoSi2 layers in Si by MEVVA (Metal Vapor Vacuum Arc) implantation has been performed under various conditions. The formation and characteristics of these CoSi2 layers have been studied by XTEM, RBS, AFM, X-ray diffraction, ellipsometry, electrical and Hall effect measurements. It was found that a higher substrate temperature during implantation results in an as-implanted Co distribution closer to the surface and hence the formation of a shallower CoSi2 layer after annealing. Buried CoSi2 layers of good crystal quality and low resistivity CoSi2 can be formed by MEVVA implantation and annealing under appropriate conditions. A strong temperature dependence of the Hall coefficient showing a large peak at around 100K was observed for the CoSi2 layers formed in p-type Si substrates but not in n-type substrates. The properties and their dependence on the processing conditions, in particular, the substrate temperature during implantation, are presented and discussed.

Ion beam synthesis of CoSi2 layers in Si by NIEVVA (Metal Vapor Vacuum Arc) implantation has been performed under various conditions. The formation and characteristics of these CoSi2 layers have been studied by XTEM, RBS, AFM, X-ray diffraction, ellipsometry, electrical and Hall effect measurements. It was found that a higher substrate temperature during implantation results in an as-implanted Co distribution closer to the surface and hence the formation of a shallower CoSi2 layer after annealing. Buried CoSi2 layers of good crystal quality and low resistivity CoSi2 can be formed by MEVVA implantation and annealing under appropriate conditions. A strong temperature dependence of the Hall coefficient showing a large peak at around 100K was observed for the CoSi2 layers formed in p-type Si substrates but not in n-type substrates. The properties and their dependence on the processing conditions, in particular, the substrate temperature during implantation, are presented and discussed.

Amorphous alloys of the binary system CaAl are known to have highly unusual electron transport properties with resistivities up to 450μΣcm and a Hall coefficient that deviates from free electron values at Ca concentrations higher than 45 atomic percent. For amorphous CaMg alloys, on the other hand, the resistivity is very much less and this great difference between the two sets of alloys is not fully understood.

We report on the correlation of photoemission and transport measurements made on two sets of amorphous CaAl and CaMg alloys prepared by magnetron sputtering in such a way that we could carry out both sets of measurements within the same UHV system. A special feature of the measurements was that the electrical resistivity was also measured in-situ using a specially designed 4-point probe to check for amorphicity and to compare with transport experiments carried out elsewhere.

Photoemission studies were carried out in the energy range 15–50 eV with tuneable synchrotron radiation enabling us to examine the Ca 3p-3d photoemission resonance in detail. The main result from the present series of experiments was that whereas in the CaAl alloys the Fermi edge developed a shoulder at high concentrations of Al, this feature was completely absent in CaMg. At the same time the intensity of the Ca 3p-3d photoemission resonance revealed the presence of d-states in both sets of alloys, indicating that the presence of these dstates cannot, by itself, explain the high resistivity of CaAl.

Working for Patients (DOH, 1989) has provided considerable impetus to the development of medical audit. The Royal College of Psychiatrists (1989) Preliminary Report on Medical Audit defined and distinguished between clinical audit, peer review and performance indicators, and referred to some of the particular problems affecting the development of audit in psychiatric practice. There are special concerns for child and adolescent psychiatrists developing medical audit programmes because of the wide diversity of child and adolescent practice and the considerable variability of resources in the subspecialty. Nicol (1989) has described the initial concern of the National Child Psychiatry Section's Working Group on audit with the Korner Report (HMSO, 1982) and the proposals on performance indicators outlined by the DHSS in 1987.

We have detected two dominant paramagnetic centers in porous silicon by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). One of them is isotropic, assigned to a defect in amorphous silicon oxide in the porous silicon layer. The other is anisotropic, and is very much like a P b center at a planar Si/SiO2 interface. This EPR center is unambiguously identified as an •Si≡Si3 moiety, a silicon with dangling orbital, back-bonded to three silicon atoms, by 29 Si hyperfine structure (HFS) associated with the dangling orbital, and 29 Si superHFS from three neighboring silicon atoms, as similarly observed in the usual planar surface Pb structure. The dangling orbitals are highly localized and heavily p character. The disposition of dangling orbitals is evidence that the skeletal structure of luminescent porous silicon is crystalline and has a lattice which is aligned and continuous with the wafer substrate. The possibility that these centers are the major photoluminescent killers or quenchers is not supported by our hydrogen annealing experiments.

It is now recognized that diffuse matter in space plays a decisive role in the evolution of our Galaxy and of similar galaxies. Primordial gas—together with gas ejected in planetary nebulae, stellar winds, novae, supernovae, and other types of stars—has accumulated to form a complex medium containing regions with densities ranging from 10–3 to 106 particles cm-3 and with temperatures ranging from 10 K to 106 K. From time to time, part of the interstellar medium collapses to form stars. In order to understand the evolution of the Galaxy, it is essential to understand how energy, mass, trace elements, and dust grains are deposited into the interstellar medium by stars. It is also essential to understand the mechanisms that initiate star formation in certain regions, and how the ensuing collapse develops in space and time.