Coating silver nanoparticles on poly(methyl methacrylate) chips and spheres via ultrasound irradiation

Ultrasound irradiation is used for anchoring silver nanoparticles with an average size of ～ 51 nm onto the surface of poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA chips (2 mm diameter), and silver nanoparticles with an average size of ～ 20 nm onto the surface of the PMMA spheres (1–10 μm). The sonochemical reduction was carried out under argon atmosphere at room temperature. The silver nanoparticles were obtained by the irradiation of a mixture containing the PMMA, silver nitrate, ethylene glycol, ethanol, water, and 24% (wt) aqueous ammonia for 2 h, yielding a PMMA‐nanosilver composite. By controlling the atmosphere and reaction conditions, we could achieve the deposition of silver nanoparticles onto the surface of poly(methyl methacrylate). The silver‐deposited PMMA chips (loaded with 0.01–1.0 weight percent silver) were successfully homogenized in melt by extrusion and then injection molded into small, disc‐shaped samples. These samples were analyzed with respect to their directional spectral optical properties in UV, VIS, and IR spectroscopy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Scheme for a spin-based quantum computer employing induction detection and imaging

A theoretical spin-based scheme for performing a variety of quantum computations is presented. It makes use of an array of multiple identical “computer” vectors of phosphorus-doped silicon where the nuclei serve as logical qubits and the electrons as working qubits. The spins are addressed by a combination of electron spin resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques operating at a field of $\sim $ 3.3 T and cryogenic temperatures with an ultra-sensitive surface microresonator. Spin initialization is invoked by a combination of strong pre-polarization fields and laser pulses, which shortens the electrons’ $T_{1}$ . The set of universal quantum gates for this system includes an arbitrary rotation of single qubits and c-NOT operation in two qubits. The efficient parallel readout of all the spins in the system is performed by high sensitivity induction detection of the electron spin resonance signals with one-dimensional imaging. Details of the suggested scheme are provided, which show that it is scalable to a few hundreds of qubits.     

The Aral Sea and the Dead Sea: Disparate lakes with similar histories

In spite of significant differences in their sizes, depths, salinity and other properties, the Aral Sea and the Dead Sea share many features, as illustrated by a comparison of the histories of both water bodies. Fifteenth and early sixteenth century maps, based on the ‘Geography’ of Ptolemy, contain both lakes. The first successful limnological surveys of the lakes were made in the same year 1848, when Alexey Butakov explored the Aral Sea and William Lynch mapped the Dead Sea. Paintings and drawings by Taras Shevchenko (Aral Sea) and David Roberts (Dead Sea) document the landscapes around the lakes in the first half of the 19th century. The water balance of both lakes has been strongly negative in the past decades, leading to a decreased water surface area and volume for both lakes, their increased salinity and deterioration of their local infrastructures. Complex and expensive mitigation schemes have been proposed for both lakes, based on the import of large quantities of water from distant sources via canals or pipelines (i.e. Siberian rivers or Caspian Sea to supply water to the Aral Sea, Mediterranean Sea or Red Sea, to be connected with the Dead Sea). Less dramatic solutions to improve the local situations already have resulted in improved water quality in the Aral Sea, and partial restoration of its fisheries. In contrast, the Dead Sea remains much too saline to support higher forms of life. Nevertheless, a biblical prophecy predicts that even this most hypersaline of all lakes will eventually be teeming with fish of many kinds.     

Preparation and characterization of FexOy-TiO2 via sonochemical synthesis

Sonication is used to prepare binary oxide Fe_xO_y-TiO₂. Under sonication, the reaction of FeCl₃ with (i-C₃H₇O)₄Ti takes place successfully. The products are characterized by XRD, Mössbauer, Magnetic, DSC, TEM, SEM, and BET measurements. The results of characterization show that iron oxides in as-prepared samples are all amorphous and that the particles are nanometric. The product of the nonhydrolytic reaction remains amorphous at 773 K, and at higher temperatures the iron ions exist in the form of Fe₂TiO₅. The mesopores can withstand calcination of 773 K.     

国际电工委员会(IEC)百年寄语

今年是国际电工委员会（IEC）为电工电子领域、为世界各国、以及全人类服务的第100个年头。我们将安排许多特殊的活动来纪念百年庆典。     

Regulation of endogenous glucose production by glucose per se is impaired in type 2 diabetes mellitus

We examined the ability of an equivalent increase in circulating glucose concentrations to inhibit endogenous glucose production (EGP) and to stimulate glucose metabolism in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). Somatostatin was infused in the presence of basal replacements of glucoregulatory hormones and plasma glucose was maintained either at 90 or 180 mg/dl. Overnight low-dose insulin was used to normalize the plasma glucose levels in DM2 before initiation of the study protocol. In the presence of identical and constant plasma insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone concentrations, a doubling of the plasma glucose levels inhibited EGP by 42% and stimulated peripheral glucose uptake by 69% in nondiabetic subjects. However, the same increment in the plasma glucose concentrations failed to lower EGP, and stimulated glucose uptake by only 49% in patients with DM2. The rate of glucose infusion required to maintain the same hyperglycemic plateau was 58% lower in DM2 than in nondiabetic individuals. Despite diminished rates of total glucose uptake during hyperglycemia, the ability of glucose per se (at basal insulin) to stimulate whole body glycogen synthesis (glucose uptake minus glycolysis) was comparable in DM2 and in nondiabetic subjects. To examine the mechanisms responsible for the lack of inhibition of EGP by hyperglycemia in DM2 we also assessed the rates of total glucose output (TGO), i.e., flux through glucose-6-phosphatase, and the rate of glucose cycling in a subgroup of the study subjects. In the nondiabetic group, hyperglycemia inhibited TGO by 35%, while glucose cycling did not change significantly. In DM2, neither TGO or glucose cycling was affected by hyperglycemia. The lack of increase in glucose cycling in the face of a doubling in circulating glucose concentrations suggested that hyperglycemia at basal insulin inhibits glucose-6-phosphatase activity in vivo. Conversely, the lack of increase in glucose cycling in the presence of hyperglycemia and unchanged TGO suggest that the increase in the plasma glucose concentration failed to enhance the flux through glucokinase in DM2. In summary, both lack of inhibition of EGP and diminished stimulation of glucose uptake contribute to impaired glucose effectiveness in DM2. The abilities of glucose at basal insulin to both increase the flux through glucokinase and to inhibit the flux through glucose-6-phosphatase are impaired in DM2. Conversely, glycogen synthesis is exquisitely sensitive to changes in plasma glucose in patients with DM2.     

Operation of a deep, well-mixed, high-rate photosynthetic oxidation pond

The maximum depth for the stable operation of a photosynthetic high-rate oxidation pond was found to be 90cm. At this depth, both the pH and the peak oxygen concentration were significantly lower than the values obtained in shallow high-rate oxidation ponds.     

Model studies in aqueous chlorination: The chlorination of phenols in dilute aqueous solutions

A study of the chlorination of four phenols in dilute aqueous solution at initial pH's of 6.0 and 3.5 is described. Extensive chlorination is observed under these mild reaction conditions. Identification of the products indicates that the reactions occurring involve chlorination to more highly chlorinated phenols, oxidation to chlorinated p-benzoquinones, chlorine addition to the aromatic ring to form chlorinated 2,5-cyclohexadienones, and addition of 2 moles of chlorine or one each of chlorine and hypochlorous acid to give chlorinated cyclohexenones and chlorinated hydroxycyclohexenones.