Kinetics of coal desulphurization by Acidianus brierleyi

Acidianus brierleyi was demonstrated to remove pyritic sulphur from coal. A. brierleyi was also found capable of catalyzing the removal of what is normally reported as organic sulphur from coal 171US34. A kinetic analysis was performed by assuming a first order reaction. The first order kinetics allowed a comparison with literature data for Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Also, formation of jarosite was taken into account in the analysis. The simple first order kinetics was observed to fit the data on removal of sulphur satisfactorily.     

Fiber four-wave mixing demultiplexing with inherent parametricamplification

We present an all-optical time-division demultiplexer with 22 dB conversion efficiency, using four-wave mixing (FWM) at 1550 nm in a single-mode dispersion-shifted fiber. Error-free demultiplexing of 20 Gb/s data to 10 Gb/s is obtained, with 1.4 dB power penalty at BER=10 ^-9. We also derive theoretical expressions for the conversion efficiency, the maximum bit rate that is possible to demur and the shape of the switching window. In particular we emphasize the importance of phase-matching in order to achieve a flat switching window. Furthermore the pump must remain undepleted to avoid a detrimental reduction of the extinction ratio due to instantaneous parametric gain saturation     

Grain size in evaporated nickel-aluminium films

Nickel-aluminium films with compositions ranging from pure nickel to 50 at.% Al were prepared by co-evaporation from two electron-beam-heated crucibles at a substrate temperature of 570 K. The grain size and the microstructure were investigated in a transmission electron microscope. The grain size decreases rapidly when small amounts of aluminium are added. For higher concentrations the presence of intermetallic phases determines the growth and the grain size. In the range between 33 and 50 at.% Al the films are covered with surface outgrowths similar to those found on films deposited at low substrate temperatures. The formation of these outgrowths is suggested to be due to the difference in the heat of formation between the nickel and the NiAl phase.     

The in vitro radiosensitivity of human head and neck cancers

A study was made of the intrinsic radiosensitivity of 140 biopsy and surgical specimens of malignant head and neck tumours of different histologies. Using a soft-agar clonogenic assay, the material was assessed for the ability to grow in culture (colony-forming efficiency; CFE) and inherent tumour radiosensitivity (surviving fraction at 2 Gy, SF2). The success rate for obtaining growth was 74% (104/140) with a mean CFE of 0.093% (median 0.031) and a range of 0.002-1.3%. SF2 was obtained for 88 of 140 specimens, representing a success rate of 63% with a mean SF2 of 0.48 (median 0.43) and a range of 0.10-1.00. There were no significant differences in radiosensitivity between different sites of the head and neck region. There were no significant relationships between SF2 and disease stage, nodal status, tumour grade, patient age, primary tumour growth pattern and CFE. The results were compared with those for other tumour types previously analysed with the same assay. The distribution of the SF2 values for the head and neck tumours was similar to that for 145 cervix carcinomas and there was no significant difference in mean radiosensitivity between the two tumour types. Also, there was no significant difference in radiosensitivity between head and neck tumours and either breast or colorectal cancers. However, a group of eight lymphomas was significantly more radiosensitive. These results confirm the feasibility of carrying out radiosensitivity measurements using a soft-agar clonogenic assay on head and neck tumours. In addition, the work has shown that radiosensitivity is independent of many clinical parameters and that the mean value is similar to that reported for cervix carcinomas.     

Carbon fiber reinforced root canal posts. Mechanical and cytotoxic properties

The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical properties of a prefabricated root canal post made of carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRC) with metal posts and to assess the cytotoxic effects elicited. Flexural modulus and ultimate flexural strength was determined by 3 point loading after CRFC posts had been stored either dry or in water. The bending test was carried out with and without preceding thermocycling of the CFRC posts. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by an agar overlay method after dry and wet storage. The values of flexural modulus and ultimate flexural strength were for dry stored CFRC post 82 +/- 6 GPa and 1154 +/- 65 MPa respectively. The flexural values decreased significantly after water storage and after thermocycling. No cytotoxic effects were observed adjacent to any CFRC post. Although fiber reinforced composites may have the potential to replace metals in many clinical situations, additional research is needed to ensure a satisfying life-span.     

Broadband microstrip antenna element and array

Foam-supported highly efficient microstrip antennas are described. Theoretical and experimental results show that bandwidths up to 15 percent can be obtained at the expense of an increase in the antenna height (to about 0.1 wavelength). The performance of an array of broadband elements fed by a microstrip corporate feed network is also described.