Fluorinated γ-alumina aerogels and xerogels: characterisation and catalytic behaviour

The porosity of -alumina-based materials is an important parameter affecting the extent of fluorination (aerogels > commercial -Al₂O₃ > xerogels) and, consequently, also the textural, acidic and catalytic properties of the final fluorinated materials. Only the highly fiuorinated aluminas having strong Lewis acidic sites catalyse the isomerisation of CHF₂CHF₂ to CF₃CH₂F.     

Recovery of flavonoids from grape skins by enzyme-assisted extraction

Grape skin contains large amounts of different flavonoids so it can be used for their recovery. Optimization of enzyme-assisted extraction of flavonoids was conducted using oenological enzyme preparations with respect to enzyme dosage, temperature, extraction time, pH, and enzyme preparation. Optimal conditions were obtained using enzyme preparation Lallzyme EX-V, at the temperature of 45°C, time of 3 h, pH 2.0, and enzyme dosage of 10.52 mg/g. The new optimized extraction method is less expensive, simple, accurate, and selective for the recovery of simple flavonoids. It is based on an environmentally-friendly extraction solvent which may provide a valuable alternative to conventional methods.     

篮筐公寓楼 法国巴黎第19区

正项目情况:邀请竞赛2008年,开工2009年,竣工2012年项目类型:(学生)公寓工作室、公共空间、就餐区、生活空间、储藏空间建设单位:Regie Immobiliere de la Ville de Paris建筑面积:场地1 981平方米,工作室大小35平方米,建筑物931平方米,总建筑面积8 500平方米,景观1 050平方米建设成本:175万欧元建筑位于巴黎19区ParcLaVilette边角位置的一块极为狭长的场地上,是由Reichen和Robert建筑师完成的城市开发项目。     

3-D/2-D registration of CT and MR to X-ray images

A crucial part of image-guided therapy is registration of preoperative and intraoperative images, by which the precise position and orientation of the patient's anatomy is determined in three dimensions. This paper presents a novel approach to register three-dimensional (3-D) computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) images to one or more two-dimensional (2-D) X-ray images. The registration is based solely on the information present in 2-D and 3-D images. It does not require fiducial markers, intraoperative X-ray image segmentation, or timely construction of digitally reconstructed radiographs. The originality of the approach is in using normals to bone surfaces, preoperatively defined in 3-D MR or CT data, and gradients of intraoperative X-ray images at locations defined by the X-ray source and 3-D surface points. The registration is concerned with finding the rigid transformation of a CT or MR volume, which provides the best match between surface normals and back projected gradients, considering their amplitudes and orientations. We have thoroughly validated our registration method by using MR, CT, and X-ray images of a cadaveric lumbar spine phantom for which "gold standard" registration was established by means of fiducial markers, and its accuracy assessed by target registration error. Volumes of interest, containing single vertebrae L1-L5, were registered to different pairs of X-ray images from different starting positions, chosen randomly and uniformly around the "gold standard" position. CT/X-ray (MR/ X-ray) registration, which is fast, was successful in more than 91% (82% except for L1) of trials if started from the "gold standard" translated or rotated for less than 6 mm or 17 degrees (3 mm or 8.6 degrees), respectively. Root-mean-square target registration errors were below 0.5 mm for the CT to X-ray registration and below 1.4 mm for MR to X-ray registration.     

Vitreous humor in the pathologic scope: Insights from proteomic approaches

The vitreous humor (VH) is the largest component of the eye. It is a colorless, gelatinous, highly hydrated matrix that fills the posterior segment of the eye between the lens and retina in vertebrates. In VH, a diversity of proteins that can influence retinal physiology is present, including growth factors, hormones, proteins with transporter activity, and enzymes. More importantly, the protein composition of VH has been described as being altered in a number of disease states. Therefore, attempts aiming at establishing a map of VH proteins and detecting putative biomarkers for ocular illness or protein fluctuations with putative physiologic significance were conducted over the last two decades, using proteomic approaches. Proteomic strategies often involve gel-based or LC techniques as sample fractioning approaches, subsequently coupled with MS procedures. This set of studies resulted in the proteomic characterization of a range of ocular disease samples, with particular incidence on diabetic retinopathy. However, practical therapeutic applications arising from these studies are scarce at the moment. A pertinent example of therapeutic targets arising from VH proteomics has emerged concerning vasoproliferative factors present in the vitreous, which should be involved in neovascularization and subsequent fibrovascular proliferation of the retina, in ocular disease context. Therefore, this review attempts to sum up the information acquired from the proteomic approaches to ocular disease conducted in VH samples, highlighting its clinical potential for disclosing ocular disease mechanisms and engendering pharmacological therapeutic treatments.     

The densification and strength of porous Y-TZP materials with a bimodal particle size distribution for dental applications

In this study the densification behavior of bimodal Y-TZP powder compacts consisting of nano/sub-micron-sized particles was studied and an explanation for their improved flexural strength while biscuit-sintered is provided. An in situ-heating TEM analysis revealed that up to 800 °C only the nanoparticles sinter in a bimodal mixture without any densification. By increasing the temperature to 900 °C the densification of the nanoparticles begins and partially densified nanoparticle clusters migrate into the contact area between the core particles. Consequently, the driving force for the sintering of the powder-blend compacts is reduced and this is reflected in a slower densification compared to that of the core material. At 1000 °C the sintered nanoparticle clusters begin to incorporate into the core material, resulting in a sharp increase in the strength due to the increased neck area. Biscuit-sintered powder-blend compacts reached a plateau of strength at 670 MPa, which was reached at a relative density of 70%.     

Charge Photogeneration in Few‐Layer MoS2

The 2D semiconductor MoS₂ in its mono‐ and few‐layer form is expected to have a significant exciton binding energy of several 100 meV, suggesting excitons as the primary photoexcited species. Nevertheless, even single layers show a strong photovoltaic effect and work as the active material in high sensitivity photodetectors, thus indicating efficient charge carrier photogeneration. Here, modulation spectroscopy in the sub‐ps and ms time scales is used to study the photoexcitation dynamics in few‐layer MoS₂. The results suggest that the primary photoexcitations are excitons that efficiently dissociate into charges with a characteristic time of 700 fs. Based on these findings, simple suggestions for the design of efficient MoS₂ photovoltaic and photodetector devices are made.     

Tem analyses of the local crystal and domain structures in (Na(1-x)K(x))0.5Bi(0.5)TiO3 perovskite ceramics

The local crystal and domain structures of the ((Na(1-x)K(x))(0.5)Bi(0.5)TiO(3) (NBT-KBT) solid solutions were studied because of their influence on the enhanced electromechanical properties of ceramics. Based on X-ray diffraction, the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) was determined for the composition x = 0.20, in which the rhombohedral and the tetragonal structures were observed to coexist. However, detailed domain-structure analyses using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), performed on the NBT, KBT, and five NBT-KBT solid-solution compositions, revealed some structural changes at/near the MPB. In the samples on the tetragonal side of the MPB, the grains showed a lamellar domain structure with 90° orientations of the individual domains, separated by straight domain boundaries, i.e., (011)/(101) twin planes. The rhombohedral samples on the other side of the MPB showed a typical square-net pattern with needle-like or lamellar ~71°/109° rhombohedral domains with (001) and/or (110) twin planes separating the individual domains. The domain structure at the MPB showed well-defined lamellar domains. Based on the occurrence of the superstructure reflections in the SAED patterns of various crystallographic zones, on the characteristic splitting of the reflections, and on the domain morphology observations, the crystal structure in/near the boundary region was determined to be a tetragonal structure with an in-phase oxygen octahedral tilt system (probably a(0)a(0)c(+)). It is suggested that the tetragonal polar order is partly induced from the rhombohedral structure at the MPB as a result of mechanical loading during TEM sample preparation.     

The capital cities of the ten new European Union countries in selected bibliographic databases

Summary The aim is to investigate the cities based on the author-affiliation data from Web of Science, Biosis Previews, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts, Compendex/Inspec, Francis, Medline, Pascal, and Sociological Abstracts databases. Specifics of particular cities and publishing patterns and trends with reference to particular disciplines are studied. Characteristics of city-data collection with regard to retrieval accuracy are investigated. Databases are compared regarding document coverage and input consistency. A city as an emerging supranational unit is proposed as a scientometric object and indicator in its own right as a complement to the traditional notion of a country or a nation-state.     

Synthesis of Nickel Sulfides by Mechanical Alloying

The feasibility and kinetics of synthesizing various nickel sulfides by milling of elemental mixtures of Ni and S in a high-energy shaker mill have been investigated. The phases Ni₃S₂ and the high-temperature polymorph of NiS are formed readily via such processing. In distinction, it requires prolonged milling to obtain Ni₇S₆; NiS₂ can only be obtained as a minor reaction product; and Ni₃S₄ cannot be formed by milling for the conditions of this study. Structural evolution during synthesis and the kinetics of Ni₃S₂ formation are investigated in depth. S coats the Ni particles and sulfide formation takes place at the interface of the elements after a certain degree of microstructural refinement due to the plastic deformation accompanying milling. Ni₃S₂ forms rapidly at this stage. However, a stasis in the reaction is then observed. This is associated with NiS formation and a slight decrease in the amount of Ni₃S₂. The stasis is of approximately 5-min duration and is followed by a recurrence in the formation of Ni₃S₂ and a disappearance of the NiS phase. The kinetics can be mimicked through a model of the mechanical alloying process. The model is able to predict the time dependence of the initial and later stages of Ni₃S₂ formation and the effect of other parameters, such as mill atmosphere and use of premilled powder, on the reaction kinetics. The microstructures found in the intermediate to later stages of milling are similar to those associated with self-sustaining reactions.