Insight into the decomposition pathway of the complex hydride Al3Li4(BH4)13

The decomposition pathway of the complex hydride Al₃Li₄(BH₄)₁₃ is in the focus of this study. Initially the compound attracted great interest due to its high H₂ capacity (17.2 wt.%) and desorption at moderate temperatures (<100 °C). This work sheds light on its decomposition reaction by a unique experimental setup of thermogravimetry combined with spectroscopic gas phase analysis (FT-IR and MS) at ambient conditions. It is observed that the compound itself is metastable and decomposes immediately into its components, solid LiBH₄ and Al(BH₄)₃ which is monitored in the gas phase. Carbon addition decreases the observed mass loss and the spectroscopic gas phase analysis is used to learn about the impact of carbon addition.     

Aminoglycoside 3'‐phosphotransferase II (APH(3')II): Review of its safety and use in the production of genetically engineered plants

Calgene conducted a thorough review and analysis of the use of the kan^r gene and gene product, aminoglycoside 3'‐phosphotransferase II (APH(3')II), for use as a selectable marker in FLAVR SAVR? tomatoes, in BXN? cotton and oil‐modified rapeseed. The data generated support the conclusions that APH(3')II is not a toxin or allergen, that the kan ^r gene is highly unlikely to move from the plant genome into microorganisms via horizontal gene transfer, that if such transfer could occur the impact would be minimal, and that APH(3')II in transgenic plants will not compromise antibiotic use in humans or animals.

At FDA's Food Advisory Committee meeting on April 6–8, 1994, the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) concluded that the FLAVR SAVR tomato was as safe and nutritious as other commonly consumed tomatoes and “that the use of the kan^r gene and APH(3')II will not have a significant impact on the environment and that an environmental impact statement is not required.”; On May 18, 1994, the FDA finished its safety review of the FLAVR SAVR tomato and APH(3')II. The FDA concluded that “FLAVR SAVR? tomatoes have not been significantly altered when compared to varieties of tomatoes with a history of safe use”; (Federal Register 59: 26646) and “that the use of aminoglycoside 3'‐phosphotransferase II is safe for use as a processing aid in the development of new varieties of tomato, oilseed rape, and cotton intended for food use”; (Federal Register 59: 26700).     

液力变矩器减振迎接新挑战及解决方法

如果假设某个工程师喜欢一个很有挑战性的工作，现在是参与变矩器开发的好时机。汽车液力变矩器的功能是帮助发动机使整车平稳启动，减轻发动机振动对变速箱和传动系统的影响。在过去的100多年时间里，汽车液力变矩器非常有效的完成了上述功能，现在，工作变得比以前困难了。     

The ZEUS forward plug calorimeter with lead–scintillator plates and WLS fiber readout

A Forward Plug Calorimeter (FPC) for the ZEUS detector at HERA has been built as a shashlik lead–scintillator calorimeter with wave length shifter fiber readout. Before installation it was tested and calibrated using the X5 test beam facility of the SPS accelerator at CERN. Electron, muon and pion beams in the momentum range of 10–100 GeV/c were used. Results of these measurements are presented as well as a calibration monitoring system based on a ⁶⁰Co source.     

A METHOD FOR TESTING THE CROSS-BENDING STRENGTH OF ENAMELS1

Methods which have been proposed for measuring the strength of enamels, by means of impact tests, are not entirely applicable to enameled flat ware, where the ordinary strains are due to bending of the sheets. An apparatus has been devised by means of which bending stresses can be applied in gradually increasing increments so that the normal behavior of enamels under such stresses can be observed and measured.     

Protein Nanofibrils Balance Colours in Organic White-Light-Emitting Diodes

In this review we discuss our efforts in using protein nanowires (amyloid fibrils) as structural templates for use in organic electronics applications, mainly focusing on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). We discuss different ways of functionalising amyloid fibrils. In one method, the amyloid fibril is used to organise luminescent polymers. We also discuss an alternative preparative method, resulting in amyloid-like materials functionalised with phosphorescent organometallic complexes. We discuss the incorporation of such materials in organic electronics devices, such as OLEDs. When amyloid fibrils are integrated into the OLED active layer, consisting of an electroluminescent blue-emitting polyfluorene, the efficiency of the device increases by a factor of 10. Furthermore, when amyloid fibrils incorporating phosphorescent metal complexes are used, the phosphorescent guest functions more efficiently than in the corresponding case where naked metal complexes are used. By preparing amyloid fibrils incorporating green- and red-emitting phosphorescent complexes, and combining these with blue-emitting polyfluorene, we can fabricate devices for white-light emission. The origin of the effects of the biomaterial on device performance is discussed.     

Gadolinium-doped silica nanoparticles encapsulating indocyanine green for near infrared and magnetic resonance imaging

Clinical applications of the indocyanine green (ICG) dye, the only near infrared (NIR) imaging dye approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA, are limited due to rapid protein binding, fast clearance, and instability in physiologically relevant conditions. Encapsulating ICG in silica particles can enhance its photostability, minimize photobleaching, increase the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and enable in vivo studies. Furthermore, a combined magnetic resonance (MR) and NIR imaging particulate can integrate the advantage of high-resolution 3D anatomical imaging with high-sensitivity deep-tissue in-vivo fluorescent imaging. In this report, a novel synthesis technique that can achieve these goals is presented. A reverse-microemulsion-based synthesis protocol is employed to produce 25 nm ICG-doped silica nanoparticles (NPs). The encapsulation of ICG is achieved by manipulating coulombic attractions with bivalent ions and aminated silanes and carrying out silica synthesis in salt-catalyzed, mildly basic pH conditions using dioctyl sulfosuccinate (AOT)/heptane/water microemulsion system. Furthermore, paramagnetic properties are imparted by chelating paramagnetic Gd to the ICG-doped silica NPs. Aqueous ICG-dye-doped silica NPs show increased photostability (over a week) and minimal photobleaching as compared to the dye alone. The MR and optical imaging capabilities of these particles are demonstrated through phantom, in vitro and in vivo experiments. The described particles have the potential to act as theranostic agents by combining photodynamic therapy through the absorption of NIR irradiated light.