Ultra-fast vapour-liquid-solid synthesis of Si nanowires using ion-beam implanted gallium as catalyst

The feasibility of gallium as a catalyst for vapour-liquid-solid (VLS) nanowire (NW) growth deriving from an implantation process in silicon by a focused ion beam (FIB) is investigated. Si(100) substrates are subjected to FIB implantation of gallium ions with various ion fluence rates. NW growth is performed in a hot wall chemical vapour deposition (CVD) reactor at temperatures between 400 and 500?°C with 2% SiH(4)/He as precursor gas. This process results in ultra-fast growth of (112)- and (110)-oriented Si-NWs with a length of several tens of micrometres. Further investigation by transmission electron microscopy indicates the presence of a NW core-shell structure: while the NW core yields crystalline structuring, the shell consists entirely of amorphous material.     

Isogeometric finite element data structures based on Bézier extraction of T‐splines

We develop finite element data structures for T‐splines based on Bézier extraction generalizing our previous work for NURBS. As in traditional finite element analysis, the extracted Bézier elements are defined in terms of a fixed set of polynomial basis functions, the so‐called Bernstein basis. The Bézier elements may be processed in the same way as in a standard finite element computer program, utilizing exactly the same data processing arrays. In fact, only the shape function subroutine needs to be modified while all other aspects of a finite element program remain the same. A byproduct of the extraction process is the element extraction operator. This operator localizes the topological and global smoothness information to the element level, and represents a canonical treatment of T‐junctions, referred to as ‘hanging nodes’ in finite element analysis and a fundamental feature of T‐splines. A detailed example is presented to illustrate the ideas. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An isogeometric analysis approach to gradient damage models

Continuum damage formulations are commonly used for the simulation of diffuse fracture processes. Implicit gradient damage models are employed to avoid the spurious mesh dependencies associated with local continuum damage models. The C⁰‐continuity of traditional finite elements has hindered the study of higher order gradient damage approximations. In this contribution we use isogeometric finite elements, which allow for the construction of higher order continuous basis functions on complex domains. We study the suitability of isogeometric finite elements for the discretization of higher order gradient damage approximations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

17-4PH不锈钢纳米析出物的磁小角中子散射研究

本文充分发挥中子对磁灵敏、穿透力强等技术优势,利用加载磁场小角中子散射实验技术研究核电站实际服役14年的阀杆17 4PH不锈钢样品。结果表明,与不加磁场时相比,加载磁场条件下二维散射图谱呈明显各向异性,在散射矢量垂直于磁场方向上散射强度显著增强。利用多分散球模型对数据进行拟合,结合原子探针实验结果分析得出,衬度的增加降低了Cu析出物周围元素分布不均匀对散射的相对贡献,从而有助于更加准确地获得Cu纳米析出物的尺寸。     

The J558 VH CDR3 region contributes little to antibody avidity; however, it is the recognition element for cognate T cell control of the alpha(1-->3) dextran-specific antibody response

Analysis of the humoral immune response of BALB/c mice to alpha(1-->3) dextran (Dex) reveals novel aspects of T cell-mediated control of 'type 2 thymus-independent' responses against polysaccharide antigens. The IgM and IgG antibody response, dominated by the J558 idiotype (Id), is controlled by Id-specific T cells. These regulatory T cells, for which the T cell clone 178-4 Ts with characterized TCR alpha and beta chain sequences is the prototype, expand in all BALB/c mice upon immunization with Dex. They suppress in a cognate interaction the expansion of J558 Id-bearing B cells, committed for production of IgG antibodies. Furthermore they provide a gate which precludes variability in the VH CDR3 region of IgG antibodies appearing occasionally in the periphery. The VH CDR3 region is the recognition element of 178-4 Ts analogous T cells but contributes little to affinity for the antigen. For recognition by 178-4 Ts cells not even minimal sequence deviations of the J558 Id peptide are allowed. The tight germline programmed complementarity between J558 Id-bearing Dex-specific B and J558 Id-specific 178-4 Ts analogous T cells leaves little room on both sides for ontogenetic variability.     

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D induces lipoprotein lipase expression in 3T3-L1 cells in association with adipocyte differentiation

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] is known to modulate the development of bone and other mesenchymal cell types. Since osteoblasts and adipocytes are thought to arise in bone marrow from a common progenitor, this work examined the effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on adipocyte development, and in particular on the expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which is an early marker for the differentiated adipocyte. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured in the presence of 1,25-(OH)2D3 (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) for up to 7 days. LPL activity was measured in the medium and cell extracts, and LPL messenger RNA levels were measured by Northern blotting. When compared to control cells, 10(-7) M 1,25-(OH)2D3 increased medium LPL activity by 2- to 3-fold and cellular LPL by 1.5-fold. Significant increases in medium and cellular LPL were observed at 10(-9) M and were maximal at 10(-7) M. Along with the increase in LPL activity, there was an increase in LPL messenger RNA by 2-fold at 5 days, and by 5-fold at 7 days. In addition to an increase in LPL, 1,25-(OH)2D3 increased expression of aP2, an adipocyte-specific marker associated with differentiation. After the addition of 1,25-(OH)2D3, there was a decrease in 3T3-L1 cell number, which is consistent with differentiation, and a decrease in vitamin D receptors. Finally, these cells developed a different morphology. 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated cells assumed a rounded appearance, although without detachment from the dish and without the degree of lipid accumulation usually associated with the addition of insulin, isbutylmethylxanthine, and dexamethasone. It is concluded that 1,25-(OH)2D3 induced LPL expression in 3T3-L1 cells through an induction of differentiation-dependent mechanism(s). These findings suggest an important role for 1,25-(OH)2D3 in normal adipocyte differentiation.     

The plant cDNA LCT1 mediates the uptake of calcium and cadmium in yeast

Nonessential metal ions such as cadmium are most likely transported across plant membranes via transporters for essential cations. To identify possible pathways for Cd2+ transport we tested putative plant cation transporters for Cd2+ uptake activity by expressing cDNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and found that expression of one clone, LCT1, renders the growth of yeast more sensitive to cadmium. Ion flux assays showed that Cd2+ sensitivity is correlated with an increase in Cd2+ uptake. LCT1-dependent Cd2+ uptake is saturable, lies in the high-affinity range (apparent KM for Cd2+ = 33 microM) and is sensitive to block by La3+ and Ca2+. Growth assays demonstrated a sensitivity of LCT1-expressing yeast cells to extracellular millimolar Ca2+ concentrations. LCT1-dependent increase in Ca2+ uptake correlated with the observed phenotype. Furthermore, LCT1 complements a yeast disruption mutant in the MID1 gene, a non-LCT1-homologous yeast gene encoding a membrane Ca2+ influx system required for recovery from the mating response. We conclude that LCT1 mediates the uptake of Ca2+ and Cd2+ in yeast and may therefore represent a first plant cDNA encoding a plant Ca2+ uptake or an organellar Ca2+ transport pathway in plants and may contribute to transport of the toxic metal Cd2+ across plant membranes.     

Werkstoffcharakterisierung mittels dreidimensionaler Atomsonde

The three-dimensional atom probe is a nanoanalytical instrument capable of reconstructing the three-dimensional element distribution of chemical inhomogenities, e.g. precipitates, in metallic materials. The atom probe became one of the most important methods for characterizing materials in nanometer scale. The basic principle of this method is the field evaporation and ionization of material atoms and the localization of generated ions on a position-sensitive multidetector. Chemical species are identified by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Examples of applications as well as the performance of a three-dimensional atom probe are described and discussed.