Some microwave applications of BaSrTiO3 and high temperature superconductors

Abstract

The group at the University of Colorado has been working on the applications of BaSrTiO₃ and high temperature superconductors to microwave circuits and systems with support from Superconducting Core Technologies, NASA and ONR. This work has included the development of a voltage tunable oscillator, a phase shifter, and a voltage tunable phased array antenna system. An important aspect of this program is the lattice match between the high temperature superconductor and the ferroelectric materials which enables us to grow thin films of either material on each other. By choosing the appropriate barium stronium ratio we are able to obtain changes in the dielectric constant of 5 to 1 in bulk capacitors at 77 K, the liquid nitrogen boiling temperature. Phase shifts of a little less than 126° at 10 Ghz have been obtained by applying 5 volts on a one centimeter coplanar line. The proposed phased array systems should enable us to point the beam radiated from the antenna in an arbitrary direction using two control voltages of less than 50 volts. We believe this approach leads to the possibility of inexpensive electronically scannable antenna systems which could be used for mobile communications with satellites and cellular systems.     

Avoiding filter cake cracking: Influence of consolidation on desaturation characteristics

In cake filtration processes with an air-blowing step, cracking is an undesirable phenomenon as it leads to deterioration of the filtration process by highly increasing gas throughput. This leads to higher residual moisture if the pressure difference cannot be maintained and an increase in overall cost. Crack formation can be avoided by compacting the filter cake before desaturation. While this action will make the separation process applicable by highly reducing gas consumption, there are also potential negative effects. Compaction increases filter cake resistance and might therefore slow down desaturation kinetics. Therefore, the authors investigated how the filter cake characteristics governing desaturation change from the nonconsolidated to the consolidated state of the filter cake and compared these findings to the actual dewatering kinetics. The results showed that for the case where cracking could be oppressed, dewatering kinetics of the consolidated cake are actually faster than for the nonconsolidated cake, despite higher resistance of the consolidated cake. Thus, compaction is an appropriate action when dealing with filter cake cracking.     

Development of organosilicone–polyurethanes as stone preservation and consolidation materials

Two organosilicone-modified polyurethanes are investigated as potential materials for the conservation and consolidation of natural stones. The materials are low molecular weight oligomers at the application stage and react with the humidity of the air to give polymers, forming continuous microlayers. The two differ in the length of the organosilicone chain, resulting in pronounced differences in their physical state: one forms a brittle glassy material (T_g ≈ 70°C). and the other, a soft rubbery material (T_g ≈ −100°C). The rate of the polymerization of the prepolymers was investigated at different conditions, showing a strong dependence on the presence of a catalyst and air humidity. Both these favorable conditions exist probably in the natural stone pores, enhancing the formation of the protective hydrophobic internal microlayer. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Flavine und Zimtsäurederivat im Zusammenhang mit der lichtinduzierten Blattöffnung bei Albizia julibrissin

Flavins and Chinamoyl Derivatives in Relation to the Light-induced Leaf Opening in Albizia julibrissin In search of blue-light photoreceptors for light-induced leaf opening we isolated from the aqueous extract of Albizia julibrissin Durazz. two flavins by adsorption on XAD-4 and separation with HPLC. One sample was identified as riboflavin 1a. In the hydrolysate of the second flavin fraction we found another dimethylisoalloxazine with a C₅-side chain. Furthermore we isolated the cinnamoyl derivatives 3-O-(4-hydroxy-trans-cinnamoyl) quinic acid 2 and 3-O-(3,4-dihydroxy-trans-cinnamoyl)-4-O-malonyl-quinic acid 3 which formed charge transfer complexes with the flavins in the XAD-fraction. As a model complex we examined the absorption behaviour of the complex between riboflavin and chlorogenic acid. Using the association constant, we calculated the absorption spectrum and could show that a complex between a flavin and a phenolic compound is a possible blue-light photoreceptor for the light-induced leaf opening in Albizia julibrissin.     

Determination of Glyphosate and Its Metabolite AMPA (Aminomethylphosphonic Acid) in Cereals After Derivatization by Isotope Dilution and UPLC-MS/MS”

A straightforward analytical method has been developed for the determination of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), its major metabolite in cereals. This method entails a rapid extraction and derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate followed by separation with a conventional reversed-phase rapid chromatography used in daily routine analysis and detection by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. To overcome matrix effects and compensate for any analyte losses during sample treatment, an isotopic dilution approach was used. Since 2010, the monitoring of cereals for the widely used herbicide glyphosate is obligatory to all European Union (EU)-member states, laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1213/2008. Hence, there is definitively a need for a reliable and easy-to-handle analytical method for monitoring of this compound. The proposed method can be run without having to make time-consuming changes on the equipment used for daily routine analysis. The analytical performance of the method was evaluated according to SANCO/10684/2009 criteria and demonstrated that this method is rugged and cost-effective, therefore suitable for monitoring purposes as well as legislative enforcements within the EU. The apparent recoveries of both analytes were between 97% and 113% with relative standard deviations less than 20%. The limits of quantification of glyphosate and AMPA were 0.02 mg/kg in cereal matrices. Finally, the accuracy of the method was assessed by analyzing a proficiency test material which was available from a previous round (EUPT-C4).     

Cloning of the bile salt hydrolase (bsh) gene from Enterococcus faecium FAIR-E 345 and chromosomal location of bsh genes in food enterococci

Enterococcus faecium strain FAIR-E 345 isolated from food was shown to possess bile salt hydrolase (Bsh) activity in a plate screening assay and by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The bsh gene was cloned and sequenced. DNA sequence analysis revealed that it encoded a protein of 324 amino acids, with pI 4.877. A bsh gene probe was prepared from the cloned bsh gene and was used for probing plasmid and total genomic DNA of Bsh-positive enterococci isolated from food to determine the genomic location of their bsh genes. This probe was able to detect the bsh gene among total genomic DNA preparations but not from plasmid preparations of 10 plasmid-bearing Enterococcus strains. However, the probe could detect the bsh gene from total genomic DNA preparations of 12 Enterococcus strains that did not contain detectable plasmid DNA. In no cases did the probe hybridize with plasmid DNA preparations, suggesting that the bsh gene among enterococci is probably generally chromosomally encoded. This presumptive chromosomal location of bsh genes among food enterococci suggests that transfer of this trait by conjugative plasmids is unlikely.