Self-identification algorithm for zeolite-based thermal capacity gas sensor

Microsystem Technologies - We demonstrate a new operation mode of thermal gas sensor based on thermal capacity extraction with identification algorithm. The system is a silicon microstructure...     

Infiltration and Top Seed Growth-Textured YBCO Bulks With Multiple Holes

The recently reported hole-patterned YBa₂Cu₃O _y (Y123) bulks with improved superconducting properties are highly interesting from material quality and application variety points of view. It is well known that the core of plain bulk superconductors needs to be fully oxygenated and some defects like cracks, pores, and voids must be suppressed in order that the material can trap a high magnetic field or carry a high current density. To minimize the above defects, we have used a combination of standard superconducting ceramic processing and an infiltration technique to prepare regularly perforated YBa₂Cu₃O _y (Y123) bulk superconductors. This process leads to negligible shrinkage upon annealing and a uniform distribution of Y211 inclusions. Texture was evidenced by neutron pole figure measurements. Flux mapping was used to verify the superconducting homogeneity of the samples and to investigate the field-trapping ability. In addition, the textured drilled samples were reinforced using resin or metal impregnation and the influence of the different processing steps on the hardness of the materials has been investigated.     

Study of CeO/sub 2/+SnO/sub 2/+Ag doped YBCO as a candidate for welding composition

The doping mixture CeO/sub 2/+SnO/sub 2/+Ag has been added to YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta//(Y123). The basic idea was to combine the greatly enhanced superconducting properties of CeO/sub 2/+SnO/sub 2/ doped Y123 and the silver faculty to decrease the melting peritectic decomposition temperature of Y123, in order to use this material as a welding material for CeO/sub 2/+SnO/sub 2/ doped Y123 textured blocks. Consequently, different physico-chemical properties of this composition have been studied. It is shown that silver decreases the decomposition temperature of CeO/sub 2/+SnO/sub 2/ doped Y123 from at least 30/spl deg/C and that, for an addition of 5 wt%Ag, the critical current densities under all magnetic fields are totally similar to the CeO/sub 2/+SnO/sub 2/ doped Y123 ones. Hence, this composition appears really promising as a candidate for realizing high quality welds of CeO/sub 2/+SnO/sub 2/ doped Y123 blocks.     

Demonstration of thermal dissipation of absorbed quanta during energy-dependent quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in photosynthetic membranes

Generally biglycan, a small proteoglycan, has been thought to play a role as an extracellular matrix and/or a reservoir for other factors, such as TGF-beta and collagens. Recently, we have found that a soluble 100 kDa biglycan, produced from the rat thymic myoid cells and the brain glial cells, predominantly stimulates growth and differentiation of monocytic lineage cells from various lymphatic organs, including microglias. In the present study, we attempted to identify biological significance of the corresponding molecules in human, using five myasthenic thymuses (three with hyperplasia and two with thymoma) that had been surgically removed for therapeutic purpose. With immunohistochemistry, many biglycan positive cells were detected in the germinal center of the three hyperplastic thymuses, but not in the two thymuses associated with lymphocytic thymoma. Biglycan purified from the hyperplastic thymuses by an immunoaffinity column was found as a monomer with apparent molecular size of 95-100 kDa and self associated oligomers of greater than 201 kDa. The purified biglycan markedly stimulated the growth and differentiation of monocytic cells from haemopoietic stem cells of the rat bone marrow. These results suggest that particular cells, which produce haemopoietic biglycan, play significant roles in generation and maintenance of the hyperplastic changes associated with myasthenia gravis.     

Characterisation of Commercial Vodkas by Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Analysis

A reliable method for the characterisation of vodkas has been developed by application of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS). Sixty-four samples of commercial Canadian and American vodkas, and one sample each of Japanese and German vodkas, were investigated in this study. The procedure yielded reproducible chromatographic profiles. The detected components were ethyl esters of C₈ to C₁₈ fatty acids at μg litre⁻¹ levels, various additives and contaminants. Distinctive profiles were observed for various brands. Markers for differentiating between Canadian and American vodkas were identified. The results of this study indicate that vodkas are differentiated by the combined effects of the original raw materials, any added substances, and differences in processing.     

Identification of five new genes, closely related to the interleukin-1beta converting enzyme gene, that do not encode functional proteases

Interleukin-1beta converting enzyme (ICE) was the first identified member of a growing family of cysteine proteases that now includes ten mammalian homologs. Within this large family, two functional proteins, denoted TX and TY share 60% amino-acid identity with ICE in the mature protein and, together with ICE, constitute the ICE subfamily. The present study describes the identification of five new gene sequences, denoted S1-S5, closely related to ICE and TX and belonging to this subfamily. Sequences were identified using genomic Southern-blot analysis of human DNA with probes corresponding to ICE and TX exon 6. Using PCR amplification and cloning, the complete exon-6 sequence of these new genes was identified; three exhibit around 90% identity with Ice within exon 6, whereas the two others share about 70% identity with Ice. Examination of open reading frames and of amino acids essential for ICE activity indicate that none of these genes encodes for a functional protease. In conclusion, extensive analysis of the genes closely related to Ice shows that the Ice subfamily is constituted of eight members. Three of them encode for functional proteases (ICE, TX and TY) whereas the remaining members probably correspond to pseudogenes.     

Bcl-2 is overexpressed and alters the threshold for apoptosis in a cholangiocarcinoma cell line

Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant neoplasm originating from cholangiocytes. The mechanisms responsible for oncogenesis of cholangiocytes are unknown. Resistance to apoptosis, especially by altered expression of B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 2 (Bcl-2) family members, has been implicated as a mechanism contributing to malignant transformation. Thus, our aim was to test the hypothesis that altered expression of Bcl-2 family members by cholangiocarcinoma cells renders them resistant to apoptosis. We compared the apoptotic threshold and expression of the Bcl-2 protein family members, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and Bax, in two human cell lines: 1) nonmalignant human cholangiocytes immortalized by transfection with the simian virus 40 (SV 40) large T antigen; and 2) a malignant human cholangiocarcinoma cell line. Apoptosis was induced pharmacologically using beauvericin. Bcl-2, Bcl-x long, and Bax protein expression were evaluated by immunoblot analysis, and Bcl-2 expression was modulated using antisense technology. The cholangiocyte and malignant/nonmaligant phenotype of both cell lines was verified using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. Beauvericin induced apoptosis of nonmalignant cholangiocytes in a concentration- (0 to 25 micromol/L) and time- (0 to 6 hours) dependent manner. In contrast, malignant cholangiocytes were resistant to apoptosis. Although expression of Bcl-x long and Bax protein were similiar in the two cell lines, Bcl-2 protein expression was 15-fold greater in malignant than in nonmalignant cholangiocytes. An 18 mer bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotide reduced expression of Bcl-2 protein by 50% and increased the rate of beauvericin-induced apoptosis more than threefold in the malignant cells. Our results support the hypothesis that resistance to apoptosis by overexpression of Bcl-2 may be a feature of cholangiocarcinoma.     

Direct and hybrid microwave solid state synthesis of CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramic: Microstructures and dielectric properties

CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) electroceramic possesses unusual giant dielectric permittivity up to ε?=?10⁴ at low frequency range and room temperature. CCTO dielectric properties strongly depend on its microstructure therefore it is essential to pay attention to the processing techniques which impact grain size and microstructure. In this work, direct and hybrid microwave solid state synthesis was specifically designed and used for the synthesis of CCTO. The microwave process was also compared to the conventional process which involves usual infrared heating. The structural (XRD) and microstructural (SEM) characterizations indicate that microwave synthesis is particularly efficient to get rapidly pure CCTO powder. The fully automated 915?MHz single-mode microwave cavity used for hybrid synthesis allows a perfect control of the temperature distribution and heating rate. Therefore hybrid microwave synthesis leads to a fine, mono-disperse and practically pure CCTO powder in the range of 300 – 500?nm. The advantages of the hybrid microwave heating method are discussed and compared to the conventional and direct microwave heating processes. From the powders synthesized by the different routes, dense compacts were sintered in air at 1050?°C in a conventional furnace. Microstructural characterizations reveal abnormal grain growth during sintering which levels dielectric properties. All exhibit a giant dielectric constant ε?>?10³ at room temperature which decreases drastically to ε?=?90 at 10?K. Those properties are discussed according to the well-established Internal Barrier Layer Capacitor (IBLC) model.