Cell‐Tethered Ligands Modulate Bone Remodeling by Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts

The goals of the present study are to establish an in vitro co‐culture model of osteoblast and osteoclast function and to quantify the resulting bone remodeling. The bone is tissue engineered using well‐defined silk protein biomaterials in 2D and 3D formats in combination with human cells. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) are selected because of their roles in bone remodeling for expression in tethered format on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The cell‐modified biomaterial surfaces are reconstructed from scanning electron microscopy images into 3D models for quantitative measurement of surface characteristics. Increased calcium deposition and surface roughness are found in 3D surface models of silk protein films remodeled by co‐cultures containing tethered PTH, and decreased surface roughness is found for the films remodeled by tethered GIP co‐cultures. Increased surface roughness is not found in monocultures of hMSCs expressing tethered PTH, suggesting that osteoclast‐osteoblast interactions in the presence of PTH signaling are responsible for the increased mineralization. These data point towards the design of in vitro bone models in which osteoblast‐osteoclast interactions are mimicked for a better understanding of bone remodeling.     

Thermomechanical fatigue behavior of Sn-Ag solder joints

Microstructural studies of thermomechanically fatigued actual electronic components consisting of metallized alumina substrate and tinned copper lead, soldered with Sn-Ag or 95.5Ag/4Ag/0.5Cu solder were carried out with an optical microscope and environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). Damage characterization was made on samples that underwent 250 and 1000 thermal shock cycles between −40°C and 125°C, with a 20 min hold time at each extreme. Surface roughening and grain boundary cracking were evident even in samples thermally cycled for 250 times. The cracks were found to originate on the free surface of the solder joint. With increased thermal cycles these cracks grew by grain boundary decohesion. The crack that will affect the integrity of the solder joint was found to originate from the free surface of the solder very near the alumina substrate and progress towards and continue along the solder region adjacent to the Ag₃Sn intermetallic layer formed with the metallized alumina substrate. Re-examination of these thermally fatigued samples that were stored at room temperature after ten months revealed the effects of significant residual stress due to such thermal cycles. Such observations include enhanced surface relief effects delineating the grain boundaries and crack growth in regions inside the joint.     

Realization of very long wavelength infrared photovoltaic detector arrays on mercury cadmium telluride epitaxial layers grown on Si substrates

This paper proposes a development of n-on-p structures for realizing very long wavelength infrared (VLWIR) detector arrays on mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) epitaxial layers grown on Si substrates. It is shown from a comparative study of zero-bias resistance-area product (R₀A) of diodes in n-on-p and p-on-n configurations that the n-on-p structure has promising potential to control contribution of dislocations, without actually reducing dislocation density below the current level (mid-10⁶ cm⁻²) of HgCdTe/Si material technology. The resulting gain will be in terms of both higher numerical magnitudes of R₀A and its reduced scatter.     

A simple finite-difference frequency-domain (FDFD) algorithm for analysis of switching noise in printed circuit boards and packages

Simultaneous switching noise (SSN) compromises the integrity of the power distribution structure on multilayer printed circuit boards (PCB). Several methods have been used to investigate SSN. These methods ranged from simple lumped circuit models to full-wave (dynamic) three-dimensional Maxwell equations simulators. In this work, we present an efficient and simple finite-difference frequency-domain (FDFD) based algorithm that can simulate, with high accuracy, the capacity of a PCB board to introduce SSN. The FDFD code developed here also allows for simulation of real-world decoupling capacitors that are typically used to mitigate SSN effects at sub 1 GHz frequencies. Furthermore, the algorithm is capable of including lumped circuit elements having user-specified complex impedance. Numerical results are presented for several test boards and packages, with and without decoupling capacitors. Validation of the FDFD code is demonstrated through comparison with other algorithms and laboratory measurements.     

A heuristic method for optimum redundancy allocation in non-coherent systems

This paper presents a heuristic method for optimum redundancy allocation in non-coherent systems. The method uses two forms of redundancy, namely parallel and series forms. System reliability of non-coherent systems cannot be generally improved by using only parallel redundancy. So use of series or parallel redundancy, whichever gives better system reliability, is recommended. The proposed method retains all the advantages of the most recommended [2,4,5] heuristic reliability optimization techniques. The method is general and can be used with linear or non-linear, separable or non-separable constraints.     

Ba-M+Y (Ba4−XCo2+XFe36O60) complex hexaferrite: structural,electrical, magnetic,and enhanced microwave absorbing properties over 8–18 GHz frequency

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Hexaferrites are a class of materials that have practical applications as microwave absorbing materials (MAMs) and radar absorbing materials...     

Characterization of phospholipid reverse micelles in nonaqueous systems in relation to their rejection during membrane processing

The phospholipid (PL) rejection mechanism during membrane degumming was evaluated based on its critical micelle concentration (CMC) levels in undiluted and hexane-diluted vegetable oils. In this context, the influence of PL composition and solvent medium on the CMC levels has been investigated. In real and model systems, higher phosphatidylcholine to PL ratio lowered the CMC value and vice versa. The CMC of PL was lower in hexane-diluted systems when compared to undiluted oil systems owing to the greater hydrophobic-repulsive forces between hexane and amphiphilic PL. The PL rejection by UF membrane was near complete when the PL content of system was above CMC. Among the systems with lower PL contents (< CMC), rejection was greater in hexane-diluted systems (82-99% in lecithin-hexane system) than in undiluted oil systems (~ 40% in sunflower oil) owing to greater concentration polarization effect responsible for reverse micelle formation at the membrane surface leading to their subsequent rejection. UF membranes are generally preferred owing to higher productivity and the results suggest that their rejection performance could be kept high by careful manipulation of initial PL content. Nonporous membranes were effective in degumming vegetable oils irrespective of initial PL content and the type of system.     

The computer analysis of space frames with offset members

The problems involved in the analysis of three dimensional frames having offset prismatic members are investigated. The sources of offset considered are the rigid gusset plate effects and misalignment of members from specified joint positions. The secondary effects due to axial forces are also considered in the analysis. The displacement method of structural analysis is used with an iterative procedure to take into account the secondary effects. The complete stiffness matrix has been derived. The computer program developed, based on this analysis, is also explained. From the example of steel frame folded plate it is seen that the difference in maximum axial forces and bending moments due to the offset members are about 20%. It appears that the method, developed herein, for analysing space frames having offset members, offers a very direct and versatile approach to the problem of analysing structures having misaligned members.     

Effect of water deficit on yield and protein content in pearl millet grains

Seventy-two pearl millet genotypes were water stressed at panicle development and grain filling stages. Neither grain yields, yield components, protein percent nor total protein per unit area were affected by water deficit during panicle development but protein content per grain was increased. When plants were water stressed during grain filling, grain yield, grains per unit area and 1000 grain weight were reduced, but grain protein percentage increased. Total protein per unit area was reduced primarily due to lower grain yield. The protein content per grain was unaffected by stress, suggesting that the apparent increase in protein percentage is due to reduced carbohydrate accumulation under stress.