碳化硅对莫来石-铝矾土浇注料力学性能的影响

以莫来石、铝矾土为主要原料,铝酸钙水泥为结合系统,分别研究了不同碳化硅含量经过不同热处理温度后对莫来石-铝矾土浇注料性能的影响。试样自然干燥24 h脱模后,再经110℃烘干24 h,在空气中分别于1000℃、1300℃和1500℃热处理3 h。检测各种温度热处理后试样的线变化率、抗折强度、耐压强度和耐磨性能。结果表明,当ω(碳化硅)=10%时,莫来石-铝矾土浇注料经过1000℃和1300℃热处理后的线收缩率出现最小值。由于热处理过程中形成的适量SiO2液相有助于浇注料表面防氧化薄膜的形成,提高了材料的抗氧化性能,防止碳化硅的进一步氧化,保护了碳化硅材料,增大了材料的强度。在本实验条件下,SiC加入量为ω(碳化硅)=10%时,浇注料的力学性能最好。     

Plasma Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Levels Are Associated with Progression of Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

Although numerous experiments revealed an essential role of a lipid mediator, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), in breast cancer (BC) progression, the clinical significance of S1P remains unclear due to the difficulty of measuring lipids in patients. The aim of this study was to determine the plasma concentration of S1P in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BC patients, as well as to investigate its clinical significance. We further explored the possibility of a treatment strategy targeting S1P in ER-positive BC patients by examining the effect of FTY720, a functional antagonist of S1P receptors, on hormone therapy-resistant cells. Plasma S1P levels were significantly higher in patients negative for progesterone receptor (PgR) expression than in those positive for expression (p = 0.003). Plasma S1P levels were also significantly higher in patients with larger tumor size (p = 0.012), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.014), and advanced cancer stage (p = 0.003), suggesting that higher levels of plasma S1P are associated with cancer progression. FTY720 suppressed the viability of not only wildtype MCF-7 cells, but also hormone therapy-resistant MCF-7 cells. Targeting S1P signaling in ER-positive BC appears to be a possible new treatment strategy, even for hormone therapy-resistant patients.     

Mechanical Properties of Hot Isostatically Pressed Zirconia-Toughened Alumina Ceramics Prepared from Coprecipitated Powders

Amorphous Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ composite powders with 5–30 mol% ZrO₂ have been prepared by adding aqueous ammonia to the mixed solution of aqueous aluminum sulfate and zirconium alkoxide containing 2-propanol. Simultaneous crystallization of γ-Al₂O₃ and t -ZrO₂ occurs at 870°–980°C. The γ-Al₂O₃ transforms to α-Al₂O₃ at 1160°–1220°C. Hot isostatic pressing has been performed for 1 h at 1400°C under 196 MPa using α-Al₂O₃– t -ZrO₂ composite powders. Dense ZrO₂-toughened Al₂O₃ (ZTA) ceramics with homogeneous-dispersed ZrO₂ particles show excellent mechanical properties. The toughening mechanism is discussed. The microstructures and t / m ratios of ZTA are examined, with emphasis on the relation between strength and fracture toughness.     

Synthesis of 6-phosphatidyl-L-ascorbic acid by phospholipase D

Phospholipase D (EC 3.1.4.4) ofStreptomyces species was found to catalyze transphosphatidylation to L-ascorbic acid from phosphatidylcholine (PC) in a biphasic reaction system. The product was identified as 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-6′-L-ascorbic acid (PA-AsA) by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The optimal pH of transphosphatidylation was 4.5 and the rate of PA-AsA formation increased as concentrations of L-ascorbic acid increased. The conversion of PC to PA-AsA was greater than 80%. PA-AsA was found to be more resistant to hydrolysis by phospholipase D than was PC.     

Optical properties of dye-doped deoxyribonucleic acid films

Dye-doped deoxyribonucleic acid–surfactant films have been prepared by an intercalation method and their optical properties have been investigated. Coumarin 1 (C1), known as a neutral laser dye, can be successfully incorporated in deoxyribonucleic acid-surfactant films by immersing them in aqueous dye solution. About 6 wt% C1 can be doped in samples when the immersion time is 86400 s. C1-doped samples show pronounced optical absorption and photoluminescence bands. Not only hydrophobic–hydrophobic interactions but also molecular structures of dyes play prominent roles in the formation of neutral dye-doped deoxyribonucleic acid-surfactant films. It is surmised that C1 stays inside the double helix of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and/or between the alkyl groups of surfactants.     

Application of magnetic ribbon coated with poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxy‐thiophene)/poly(4‐styrenesulfonate) to a wireless humidity sensor

This paper describes a wireless humidity sensor that employs the mechanical resonance frequency, fr, change in a magnetic ribbon coated with poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(4‐styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS). PEDOT/PSS expands or contracts by several percentage when it absorbs or desorbs water vapor, and so the curvature, 1/R, of the ribbon varies in response to changes in relative humidity, RH. It is also proved that fr is proportional to 1/R. Consequently, RH can be detected by monitoring the fr using a pickup coil placed away from the ribbon; fr changes from 68 kHz at RH = 87% to 148 kHz at RH = 0%. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Decolorization of methylene blue in aqueous suspensions of titanium peroxide

The pretreatment of TiO(2)-photocatalysts in solutions of H(2)O(2) was studied by examining the decolorization of methylene blue in the dark. Incubation of TiO(2) particles in H(2)O(2) solutions increased the oxidizing capacity of TiO(2). Methylene blue (0.3 mM) was degraded in the presence of pretreated TiO(2), and a decolorizing ratio of 47% was obtained after a 48-h incubation period in the presence of 5.0 g/L pretreated TiO(2). Titanium peroxide as a stable oxidant, which can be synthesized with the reaction of titanium sulfate and H(2)O(2), was studied in the decolorizing process of methylene blue. Concentrations of methylene blue were significantly reduced in the presence of titanium peroxide, and a greater extent of decolorization was obtained with larger amounts of titanium peroxide. A 63% decrease in methylene blue concentration was achieved in 5h incubation in the presence of 4.0 g/L titanium peroxide. H(2)O(2) accelerated the decolorizing process in the presence of titanium peroxide. The addition of 100 mM H(2)O(2) to a methylene blue solution containing 2.0 g/L titanium peroxide increased the decolorizing ratio to 85% after 5 h incubation. The addition of a hydroxyl radical scavenger, dimethyl sulfoxide, significantly decreased the decolorizing ratio, indicating the role of hydroxyl radicals in the oxidation process.     

Effect of oxygen plasma treatment on bonding states for columnar structured a-CNx thin films prepared by reactive sputtering

Amorphous carbon nitride (a-CN) thin films were deposited on silicon single crystal substrates by rf-reactive sputtering method using a graphite target and nitrogen gas. The substrate temperature was varied from room temperature (RT) to 853 K. After deposition, the effect of oxygen plasma treatment on bonding structures of the film surface has been studied by using an oxygen discharge at 16 Pa and rf power of 85 W. The chemical bonding states and film composition were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), while film thickness was obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ellipsometer. XPS study revealed that the films have NO₂ and NO₃ bonding structures when the films are deposited at temperatures higher than 673 K. After exposure to oxygen plasma, carbon in the film surface was etched selectively and this phenomenon was observed in all films. In contrast, the surface concentration of nitrogen was ket at constant values before and after oxygen plasma treatment. The NO₃ bonding state had dramatically increased after oxygen plasma treatment for films deposited at higher deposition temperatures. The film surfaces have been observed to change the function from hydrophobic to hydrophilic after oxygen plasma treatment.