Magnetic properties of magnesium-cobalt ferrites synthesized by co-precipitation method

The alternating current (a.c.) low field susceptibility vs temperature, magnetization and⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect measurements are reported for the spinel solid solution series Mg _x Co_1?x Fe₂O₄ synthesized by a wet-chemical method before and after high temperature annealing. The observed features for the wet samples, such as the coexistence of paramagnetic doublet and magnetic sextets in Mössbauer spectra and lower saturation magnetization values confirm small particle ferrite behaviour. Especially, Mössbauer spectra of wet samples reveal the presence of superparamagnetic particles which exist simultaneously with ferrimagnetic regions in the materials well supported by a.c. susceptibility data. The high temperature annealing changes the wet-prepared ferrites into the ordered magnetic structure of ceramic ferrites.     

Structural, dielectric and transport properties of Pb(Mno.5Wo.5)O3

Polycrystalline Pb(Mn_0.5W_0.5)O₃, a ferroelectric oxide having perovskite structure, was prepared by high temperature solid state reaction technique. Preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis confirms single phase formation with the lattice parametersa = 7.2501 Å,b = 8.1276 Å andc = 12.0232 Å. Room temperature dielectric constant (ε′) and loss tangent (tan δ) were scanned with respect to frequency in the range 100 Hz-1 MHz. Detailed study of dielectric constant and electrical conductivity reveals a phase change around 400 K, which is quite different from those in the other materials of the same type. Further, the seebeck coefficient (α) is temperature independent. The conduction is interpreted as due to small polaron hopping.     

Plasma spraying of biologically derived hydroxyapatite on implantable materials

Plasma spraying of hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings on human implants is considered to provide a promising means of enhancing their biocompatibility and improving tissue growth. This paper briefly describes a method of extracting HA powder from a biological source, namely human teeth. The physical and chemical characteristics of the derived powder are studied and the suitability of this powder for plasma spraying applications is ascertained. The deposited coatings are found to retain the chemistry characteristic of the apatite. Typical results of metallographic and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies and hardness measurements on the sprayed HA coatings are presented.     

Apical orientation of the microtubule organizing center and associated gamma-tubulin during the polarization of the retinal pigment epithelium in vivo

Simple epithelial cells express a morphological and functional polarity along their apical-to-basal axis. During the development of epithelia, a unique reorganization of microtubule arrays is thought to play a fundamental role in the establishment of cell polarity. To begin to understand this process in vivo, we have determined the distribution of gamma-tubulin within developing chicken retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). gamma-Tubulin is a recently discovered centrosomal protein that plays a role in nucleating microtubule growth from the centrosome. Although the RPE monolayer becomes established during embryonic Day 3, cell polarity gradually develops and matures over the next 10-13 days. Our studies reveal that gamma-tubulin is located in a distinct focus subjacent to the apical membrane by embryonic Day 3, the beginning of the polarization process. Using primary cell cultures, we examined the relationship between the establishment of junctional complexes and the reorganization of microtubule arrays. Despite the recovery of junctional complexes and a transepithelial electrical resistance, cultured cells failed to relocate gamma-tubulin foci to a position subjacent to the apical membrane. Rather, these foci remained in the juxtanuclear region. These data indicate that the rearrangement of unique, epithelial microtubule arrays requires more than cell-cell and cell-basement membrane interactions.     

Tamoxifen (estrogen antagonist) inhibits voltage-gated calcium current and contractility in vascular smooth muscle from rats

Tamoxifen (Tx) has been used in breast cancer treatment and prophylaxis because of its antiestrogenic activity; however, Tx may also have beneficial cardiovascular effects and other actions mediated by mechanisms other than estrogen receptors. Previous studies showing interactions of Tx with Ca+(+)-channel blockers suggested that Tx may affect Ca++ channels, an hypothesis that was investigated using whole cell patch clamp techniques in vascular smooth muscle cells (cell line A7r5 and freshly dissociated cells) and by determining effects on contractions of isolated blood vessels. Tx reduced current through L-type Ca+2 channels, with an ID50 of 2 x 10(-6) M when applied by cumulative addition to A7r5 cells. With acute application, 10(-6) M Tx significantly reduced L-type current in A7r5 cells within 2 min to 88% of control (vehicle, 0.1% ethanol) in A7r5 cells, 67% of control in aortic vascular smooth muscle cells, and 60% of control in tail artery vascular smooth muscle cells. Tx also decreased the rate of inactivation of L-type current. Inhibition of T-type current by Tx was less than for L-type current but was significant at 10(-5) M Tx. Treatment of tail artery rings with Tx (10(-5) M, 15 min; 10(-6) M, 4 hr) reduced K+-elicited contractions. Since therapeutic concentrations of Tx during treatment may exceed 10(-6) M, these effects of Tx on vascular smooth muscle Ca++ channels and vessel contractions may have a role in the efficacy and side-effects of Tx treatment.     

A 2-ns cycle, 3.8-ns access 512-kb CMOS ECL SRAM with a fullypipelined architecture

The authors describe a 512 K CMOS static RAM (SRAM) with emitter-coupled-logic (ECL) interfaces which has a 2-ns cycle time and a 3.8-ns access time, both of which are valid for random READ/WRITE operations. The CMOS technology and the physical organization of the chip are briefly discussed, and the pipelined architecture of the chip is described. Detailed measurements of internal chip waveforms demonstrating 2-ns cycle time operation are presented. The impact of wire RC delays on performance is discussed. Circuit examples that demonstrate the implementation of the pipelined architecture are included. Measurements of operating margins, access time, and cycle time are outlined     

Design and performance evaluation of a compact thermosyphon

Thermosyphons are a promising option for cooling of high heat dissipating electronics. In this paper, the first known implementation of a compact two-phase thermosyphon for cooling of a microprocessor in a commercial desktop computer is presented. The implemented thermosyphon involves four components in a loop: an evaporator with a boiling enhancement structure, a rising tube, a condenser and a falling tube. The performance of the thermosyphon with water and PF5060 as working fluids, and the effect of inclination are studied experimentally under laboratory conditions. Experimental observations are also made at actual operating conditions to monitor the thermal behavior with changes in power output of the microprocessor. The inside cabinet of the desktop computer is also numerically simulated to understand the airside performance of the condenser.     

Orientation independent two-phase heat spreaders for space constrained applications

This paper presents a novel orientation independent two-phase heat spreader for constrained space applications.¹ The two-phase spreader plate has a central evaporator section with an integrated condenser along the edges. A micro-fabricated three-dimensional enhancement structure is employed to improve the heat transfer performance of the spreader plate. The thermal performance of the system is characterized at different power levels and also for various inclination angles. At the maximum heat flux of 6.3 W/cm² under natural convection conditions, the junction temperature of the two-phase spreader was found to be 47.6 °C less than the junction temperature predicted for an equivalent solid metal plate subjected to similar boundary conditions. The performance of the spreader plate is found to be orientation independent as long as the enhancement structure in the evaporator remains flooded with the coolant liquid.