Prognosis of the development of artificial kidneys based upon patent literature

This paper offers a fundamental methodological approach to the classifying and sorting of information oriented to the future development of renal function replacement as disclosed in patent specifications. Arranged information items are subjected to analyses and generalizations in sequential small steps down to the final prognostic consideration. Laborious and time-consuming as the process of evaluation may be, such analyses can bring very valuable studies covering the development of the field under consideration. The achieved study comes very close to the outline of future development of means for renal function replacement, as set forth by one of the world's best specialists in the field of failing kidney replacement, a pioneer in this branch and designer of the first successful artificial kidney J.W. Kolff. In an historical review the sequence of steps of patent literature evaluation follows the development of renal function replacement means as described by Hoeltzenbein.     

The Equivalent Electron Density Concept for Static and Dynamic Modeling of the IGBT Base in Soft- and Hard-Switching Applications

The transient and static behavior of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) are analyzed through finite elements simulations and physically based equations. The standard model using a bipolar transistor driven by a MOSFET is abandoned for three partial voltage drops in series, each with its specific static and dynamic behavior. One voltage drop on the internal MOSFET, one on the base and one on the collector-base junction. It is found that the dynamic model can be drastically simplified by focusing on the equivalent electron density. This takes into account the most important phenomena related to the carrier mobilities, necessary for an accurate transient modeling. The specific behavior of the gate-collector capacitance in soft switching conditions is discussed. An equation set based on semiconductor physics is developed to determine the static operating points for each contribution. The importance of the minority carriers transit time in soft switching conditions is then shown. The similarity observed between the waveforms obtained through a finite element simulation and the waveforms obtained using the developed IGBT model within various external structures validates the proposed approach.     

Self-assembly of POSS-containing block copolymers: Fixing the hierarchical structure in networks

A series of P(MMA-co-GMA)-b-PMAPOSS block copolymers (BCPs) were synthesized by ATRP. The BCPs contain POSS (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) as a pendant unit on a particular polymer block chain. In selective solvents, the BCPs self-assemble to form ordered micellar-like structures. Spherical, cylindrical or vesicle-like morphologies were produced by tuning the BCP and mixed solvent compositions. Crosslinking of the BCP by the reaction of the glycidyl groups in the P(MMA-co-GMA) block of the micelle shell (GMA = glycidyl methacrylate) with a diamine results in a long-range structure ordering. The hexagonally packed cylindrical arrangement of the BCP networks was revealed by SAXS and TEM. The hierarchical, ordered structure of the POSS-containing hybrids was fixed by crosslinking. In addition, transient physical gels were prepared from triblock copolymers with outer MAPOSS blocks, and their rheological behavior was investigated.     

The Influence of Thermal Expansion and Mass Loss on the Young’s Modulus of Ceramics During Firing

During the heating stage of the firing of a ceramic material, the mass \(m\) , length \(l\) , and diameter \(d\) of the sample alter their values depending on the temperature \(t\) . Young’s modulus \(E(f,m,l,d)\) measured by a sonic resonance method is also a function of the resonance frequency \(f\) . Therefore, three thermal analyses (TGA, TDA, modulated force TMA) must be performed to obtain correct values of Young’s modulus. The calculation of Young’s modulus can be simplified if TGA and/or TDA are omitted. This necessarily leads to partly incorrect results. If TGA is not performed, we have \(E[f(t),m_0 ,l(t),d(t)]\) and the relative difference \((\{E[f(t),m(t),l(t),d(t)]-E[f(t),m_0 ,l(t),d(t)]\}/E[f(t),m(t),l(t),d(t)])\) reaches 7 % for \(t> 650\,^\circ \text{ C}\) and less than 2 % for \(t< 500\,^\circ \text{ C}\) . If TDA is not performed, we have \(E[f(t),m(t),l_0 ,d_0 ]\) and the relative difference ( \(\{E[f(t),m(t),l(t),d(t)]-E[f(t),m(t),l_0 ,d_0 ]\}/E[f(t),m(t),l(t),d(t)])\) is less than 0.6 % for \(t < 1000\,^\circ \text{ C}\) . For the simplest case, we have \(E[f(t),m_0 ,l_0 ,d_0 ]\) and the relative difference ( \(\{E[f(t),m(t),l(t),d(t)]-E[f(t),m_0 ,l_0 ,d_0 ]\}/E[f(t),m(t),l(t),d(t)])\) is 7.5 % for \(t > 600\,^\circ \text{ C}\) and less than 2 % for \(t<500\,^\circ \text{ C}\) .     

Adenosine Kinase Isoforms in the Developing Rat Hippocampus after LiCl/Pilocarpine Status Epilepticus

LiCl/pilocarpine status epilepticus (SE) induced in immature rats leads, after a latent period, to hippocampal hyperexcitability. The excitability may be influenced by adenosine, which exhibits anticonvulsant activity. The concentration of adenosine is regulated by adenosine kinase (ADK) present in two isoforms—ADK-L and ADK-S. The main goal of the study is to elucidate the changes in ADK isoform expression after LiCl/pilocarpine SE and whether potential changes, as well as inhibition of ADK by 5-iodotubercidin (5-ITU), may contribute to changes in hippocampal excitability during brain development. LiCl/pilocarpine SE was elicited in 12-day-old rats. Hippocampal excitability in immature rats was studied by the model of hippocampal afterdischarges (ADs), in which we demonstrated the potential inhibitory effect of 5-ITU. ADs demonstrated significantly decreased hippocampal excitability 3 days after SE induction, whereas significant hyperexcitability after 20 days compared to controls was shown. 5-ITU administration showed its inhibitory effect on the ADs in 32-day-old SE rats compared to SE rats without 5-ITU. Moreover, both ADK isoforms were examined in the immature rat hippocampus. The ADK-L isoform demonstrated significantly decreased expression in 12-day-old SE rats compared to the appropriate naïve rats, whereas increased ADK-S isoform expression was revealed. A decreasing ADK-L/-S ratio showed the declining dominance of ADK-L isoform during early brain development. LiCl/pilocarpine SE increased the excitability of the hippocampus 20 days after SE induction. The ADK inhibitor 5-ITU exhibited anticonvulsant activity at the same age. Age-related differences in hippocampal excitability after SE might correspond to the development of ADK isoform levels in the hippocampus.     

Preparation of tartaric acid modified Raney nickel catalysts: study of modification procedure

Chiral modification of Raney nickel using (2R,3R)-tartaric acid was studied. The prepared catalyst was used in enantioselective hydrogenation of methylacetoacetate (MAA) to methyl-(3R)-hydroxybutyrate. The influence of the most important modification parameters, such as pH, temperature, time, concentration of the modifier and the presence of a co-modifier, on the optical yield of MAA hydrogenation was systematically investigated. From the data obtained, a considerable influence of modifying conditions on the resulting enantioselectivity of the catalyst was evident. The optical yield increased with an increasing of the modifying temperature and time. Dependencies of the optical yield on the tartaric acid concentration and on the modifying pH passed through a maximum. Therefore, there exists an optimal value of modifying pH, at which a minimal catalyst amount is leached to the modifying solution. Furthermore, significant adsorption of tartaric acid and subsequent complex formation of nickel and tartaric acid occurs on the catalyst surface. It was found that the presence of sodium bromide in the modifying solution resulted in a lower degree of the nickel leaching, and a decrease of the residual aluminum content in the catalyst increased the optical yield of the reaction.