Ultrasonic Dispersion of Ceramic Powders

Ultrasonication is very effective in dispersing alumina and barium titanate slurries. When optimum conditions are used, very short durations (2 to 3 min) are enough to achieve well-dispersed, stable suspensions.     

In Situ X-ray Diffraction and Young's Modulus Measurement during Heat Treatment of High-Alumina Cement Castables

In situ Young's modulus measurements and synchrotron radiation-energy dispersive diffraction have been used to study changes in high-alumina castables subjected to heat treatment from room temperature to 1600°C. Particular attention was paid to the hydrate "conversion" process and the effects of high temperature.     

Study of cracking and microstructural evolution during drying of tape-cast aluminium nitride sheets

The influence of organic phases on the drying of tape-cast aluminium nitride green sheets was studied. The cracking during drying and the microstructure of green tapes are sensitive to the inorganic to organic and binder to plasticizer ratios. A high amount of a plasticizer-rich organic phase promotes a low-speed shrinkage of the green tape during drying and prevents it from cracking. The apparent density and the porosity of the green tapes decrease whereas the total shrinkage of the green tapes increases when the organic content increases. The apparent density increases whereas the porosity and the shrinkage decrease when the plasticizer content increases.     

Detection of hazelnut proteins in foods by enzyme immunoassay using egg yolk antibodies

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was developed for the detection of hazelnut proteins in foods. This assay used inexpensive chicken egg yolk antibodies in a sandwich EIA format for the immunospecific capture and detection of hazelnut proteins present in a variety of different food matrices. The assay was able to detect less than 1 ppm of hazelnut protein in most of the foods tested and did not exhibit any appreciable cross-reactivity with other nuts or food matrices. This assay will be a useful tool for the food industry and regulatory agencies that wish to test foods for the presence of undeclared hazelnut allergens.     

Results of human islet allotransplantation in cystic fibrosis and type I diabetic patients

The relationship between aplastic anaemia (AA) and pregnancy remains uncertain. To assess whether an association between pregnancy and severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) exists, we compared the frequency of pregnancy in 35 young women with newly diagnosed SAA with the expected frequency in the general population. The observed pregnancy rate in the SAA group was 3-6%. This percentage approximates the expected pregnancy rate of 4.4% in the general population and is not compatible with a strong association between pregnancy and SAA.     

Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression in Escherichia coli of levansucrase genes from the plant pathogens Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea and P. syringae pv. phaseolicola

Plant-pathogenic bacteria produce various extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) which may function as virulence factors in diseases caused by these bacteria. The EPS levan is synthesized by the extracellular enzyme levansucrase in Pseudomonas syringae, Erwinia amylovora, and other bacterial species. The lsc genes encoding levansucrase from P. syringae pv. glycinea PG4180 and P. syringae pv. phaseolicola NCPPB 1321 were cloned, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Heterologous expression of the lsc gene in Escherichia coli was found in four and two genomic library clones of strains PG4180 and NCPPB 1321, respectively. A 3. 0-kb PstI fragment common to all six clones conferred levan synthesis on E. coli when further subcloned. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed a 1,248-bp open reading frame (ORF) derived from PG4180 and a 1,296-bp ORF derived from NCPPB 1321, which were both designated lsc. Both ORFs showed high homology to the E. amylovora and Zymomonas mobilis lsc genes at the nucleic acid and deduced amino acid sequence levels. Levansucrase was not secreted into the supernatant but was located in the periplasmic fraction of E. coli harboring the lsc gene. Expression of lsc was found to be dependent on the vector-based Plac promoter, indicating that the native promoter of lsc was not functional in E. coli. Insertion of an antibiotic resistance cassette in the lsc gene abolished levan synthesis in E. coli. A PCR screening with primers derived from lsc of P. syringae pv. glycinea PG4180 allowed the detection of this gene in a number of related bacteria.     

ADSL调制解调器的保护线路接口设计

异步数字用户线路(ADSL)调制解调器由于同普通电话线相连,容易遭受电击。因此,必须施加恰当保护,以抵抗破坏性过压和压流的冲击。通晓保护标准、指导原则和器件,可以提高设计人员保护ADSL调制解调器的电话线及数据线免遭过压冲击的能力。如表1所示,标准的选择取决于设备类型、在网络中的位置和网络的地理区域。对于并联元器件,特别是具有急剧短路特性的器件,可以提供必要的雷电冲击保护功能。急剧短路器件的优点是可以高效地短接电话双绞线,消除过压,而且热量极小。在正常电压下,急剧短路器件保持开路状态。器件的电流处理能力取决于器…     

Tape Casting of Al2O3/ZrO2 Laminated Composites

Fracture toughness of ZrO₂-toughened alumina could he increased by macroscopic interfaces, such as those existing in laminated composites. In this work, tape casting was used to produce A/A or A/B laminates, where A and B can be Al₂O₃, Al₂O₃/5 vol% ZrO₂, and Al₂O₃/l0 vol% ZrO₂. An increase of toughness is observed, even in the Al₂O₃/Al₂O₃ laminates.     

Microstructural aspects in a polymer-modified cement

Scanning electron microscopic observations of polymer-free and polymer-modified cements have shown that the polymer particles are partitioned between the inside of hydrates and the surface of anhydrous cement grains. Differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and porosimetry experiments show the retardant effect of the polymer and provide information on changes in porosity.