Improved magnetic trapped field in thin-wall YBCO single-domain samples by high-pressure oxygen annealing

Oxygen high pressure (up to 16 MPa) has been introduced in the oxygen-annealing step necessary to make the YBa₂Cu₃O_x phase superconducting (change x from 6 to about 7). It enables a displacement in the equilibrium phase diagram towards higher temperatures, which means the possibility to achieve the same final oxygen content as the one at low temperature, but with the benefit of higher diffusion rates. Initial development made on thin bars (1.5–3 mm thick) has confirmed the interest of using a high pressure of oxygen. TEM observations have shown an increase of twin density associated with higher Jc. This is in agreement with other works claiming the possibility of higher Jc by twin engineering, and more precisely by twin refinement while annealing at high temperature. We report the successful application of this process without any adjustment to so-called thin-wall single-domain samples. These samples are obtained by growing a crystal on a pellet already shaped with an array of holes. The advantage is that, as far as diffusion processes are concerned, the typical length is not anymore the diameter of the sample, but the thickness of the walls between holes. The trapped field of 16 mm diameter Y123 thin-wall single-domain samples was doubled (0.6 T vs. 0.3 T at 77 K) in a rather short annealing time (about 3 days). Microstructures as well as magneto-optical observations of plain and thin-wall samples evidenced a reduction of cracks in the thin-wall samples. Improved performances were confirmed by further characterizations performed from 77 down to 20 K using the pulse-field facilities of the LNCMP at Toulouse.     

Effect of Chromium on the Structure and Properties of Boride Diffusion Coatings

We have studied the effect of the chromium concentration in an impregnating borochromating powder mixture on the change in the lattice parameters of the rhombic FeB phase of boride coatings on carbon steels, their microhardness, and the BK _α energy spectra. An increase in the microhardness of the boride phases for chromium concentration 3.5-6 mass% in powder boron-impregnating mixtures is accompanied by a decrease in the FeB lattice parameters. Interpretation of the BK _α spectra has allowed us to establish that this fact is due to an increase in the covalent component of the Fesd ― Bp bond.

     

Energy Levels of “Hydrogen Atom” in Discrete Time Dynamics

We analyze dynamical consequences of a conjecture that there exists a fundamental (indivisible) quant of time. In particular we study the problem of discrete energy levels of hydrogen atom. We are able to reconstruct potential which in discrete time formalism leads to energy levels of unperturbed hydrogen atom. We also consider linear energy levels of quantum harmonic oscillator and show how they are produced in the discrete time formalism. More generally, we show that in discrete time formalism finite motion in central potential leads to discrete energy spectrum, the property which is common for quantum mechanical theory. Thus deterministic (but discrete time!) dynamics is compatible with discrete energy levels.     

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy in Novel Porcine Model of Diffuse Liver Damage Induced by Repeated Biliary Obstruction

In liver surgery, biliary obstruction can lead to secondary biliary cirrhosis, a life-threatening disease with liver transplantation as the only curative treatment option. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have been shown to improve liver function in both acute and chronic liver disease models. This study evaluated the effect of allogenic MSC transplantation in a large animal model of repeated biliary obstruction followed by partial hepatectomy. MSC transplantation supported the growth of regenerated liver tissue after 14 days (MSC group, n = 10: from 1087 ± 108 (0 h) to 1243 ± 92 mL (14 days); control group, n = 11: from 1080 ± 95 (0 h) to 1100 ± 105 mL (14 days), p = 0.016), with a lower volume fraction of hepatocytes in regenerated liver tissue compared to resected liver tissue (59.5 ± 10.2% vs. 70.2 ± 5.6%, p < 0.05). Volume fraction of connective tissue, blood vessels and bile vessels in regenerated liver tissue, serum levels of liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and GGT) and liver metabolites (albumin, bilirubin, urea and creatinine), as well as plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and TGF-β, were not affected by MSC transplantation. In our novel, large animal (pig) model of repeated biliary obstruction followed by partial hepatectomy, MSC transplantation promoted growth of liver tissue without any effect on liver function. This study underscores the importance of translating results between small and large animal models as well as the careful translation of results from animal model into human medicine.     

Development of vibration damping materials based on butyl rubber: A study of the phase equilibrium,rheological, and dynamic properties of compositions

A detailed study of butyl rubber-based vibration damping formulations linking their composition, morphology, phase structure, viscosity, mechanical loss factor, and other characteristics is presented for the first time. High performance of the compositions including aromatic petroleum oil is explained by limited solubility of the plasticizer that leads to the formation of a highly-viscous emulsion (η_20°C ≈ 1000 Pa·s) consisting of a swollen butyl rubber matrix and dispersed oil droplets in the broad composition range. Chalk is found to be the best inorganic filler as its spherical particles provide strong adhesion to the reinforcing layer of aluminum foil. Aiming to eliminate ecologically unfriendly aromatic compounds, a new low-cost binding agent formulation based on butyl rubber mixed with polyisobutylene and highly refined mineral oil is suggested. Being environmentally safe, it possesses high viscosity of 1000–3000 Pa·s, cohesion strength of 3.5–5.0 N/cm, penetration of 4.5–6.0 mm, and mechanical loss factor up to 0.34 at room temperature, which are as good as, or even better than, the properties of currently produced vibration damping materials containing aromatic compounds. New materials can be used in car and aircraft parts for effective vibration isolation.     

Excitation wavelength dependence of fluorescence intermittency in CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots

Core/shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dot fluorescence-blinking statistics depend strongly on excitation wavelength. Excitation on the band gap (575 nm) results in inverse-power law "on" time distributions. However, distributions resulting from excitation above the band gap (525 nm) require a truncated power law and are 100 times less likely to display 10-s fluorescence. "Off" time statistics are insensitive to the excitation wavelength. The results may be explained by nonemissive trap states accessed with the higher-photon excitation energies.     

Hyaluronan/Diethylaminoethyl Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complexes as Carriers for Improved Colistin Delivery

Improving the therapeutic characteristics of antibiotics is an effective strategy for controlling the growth of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to develop a colistin (CT) delivery system based on hyaluronic acid (HA) and the water-soluble cationic chitosan derivative, diethylaminoethyl chitosan (DEAECS). The CT delivery system was a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) obtained by interpolymeric interactions between the HA polyanion and the DEAECS polycation, with simultaneous inclusion of positively charged CT molecules into the resulting complex. The developed PEC had a hydrodynamic diameter of 210–250 nm and a negative surface charge (ζ-potential = −19 mV); the encapsulation and loading efficiencies were 100 and 16.7%, respectively. The developed CT delivery systems were characterized by modified release (30–40% and 85–90% of CT released in 15 and 60 min, respectively) compared to pure CT (100% CT released in 15 min). In vitro experiments showed that the encapsulation of CT in polysaccharide carriers did not reduce its antimicrobial activity, as the minimum inhibitory concentrations against Pseudomonas aeruginosa of both encapsulated CT and pure CT were 1 μg/mL.     

Synthesis,morphology and properties of segmented poly(ether ester amide)s comprising uniform glycine or β-alanine extended bisoxalamide hard segments

Segmented poly(ether ester amide)s comprising glycine or β-alanine extended bisoxalamide hard segments are highly phase separated thermoplastic elastomers with a broad temperature independent rubber plateau. These materials with molecular weights, M_n, exceeding 30 × 10³ g mol^?1 are conveniently prepared by polycondensation of preformed bisester–bisoxalamides and commercially available PTHF diols. FT-IR revealed strongly hydrogen bonded and highly ordered bisoxalamide hard segments with degrees of ordering between 73 and 99%. The morphology consists of fiber-like nano-crystals randomly dispersed in the soft polymer matrix. The micro-structural parameters of the copolymers were addressed by simultaneous small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering. It is shown that the crystals have strictly identical thickness, which is close to the contour length of the hard segment. The long dimension of the crystals is identified with the direction of the hydrogen bonds. The melting transitions of the hard segments are sharp, with temperatures up to 170 °C. The studied polymers have an elastic modulus in the range of 139–170 MPa, a stress at break in the range of 19–31 MPa combined with strains at break of higher than 800%. The segmented copolymer comprising the β-alanine based bisoxalamide hard segment with a spacer of 6 methylene groups has a melting transition of 141 °C which is higher than the melting transition of its glycine analogue of 119 °C. Likewise, the fracture stress increased from 22 to 31 MPa when the glycine ester group in the hard segment was replaced with β-alanine. The improved thermal and mechanical properties of the latter polymers is related to the crystal packing of the β-alanine based hard segments in the copolymer compared to the packing of the hard segments comprising glycine ester groups.     

Potentiometric determination of ketoprofen and piroxicam at a new PVC electrode based on ion associates of Rhodamine 6G

The characteristics, performance and application of ion-selective electrodes for ketoprofen and piroxicam ions based on Rhodamine 6G as electrode-active substances are described. These electrodes respond with sensitivities of (58.0 ± 1.0) and (57.0 ± 2.0) mV/decade over the range 1.0 × 10^? 4–1.0 × 10^? 1 and 1.0 × 10^? 4–5.0 × 10^? 2 mol/l at pH 5–9 and 6–10 and a detection limit of 6.3 × 10^? 5 and 3.2 × 10^? 5 mol/l for ketoprofen and piroxicam, respectively. The electrodes are easily constructed at a relatively low cost, have a fast response time and can be used for a period of 5 months without any considerable divergence in potential. The proposed sensor displayed good selectivity for ketoprofen and piroxicam in the presence of several substances and inorganic anions. It was used for the direct assay of ketoprofen and piroxicam in commercial pharmaceutical preparations.     

Hotspot propagation in superconductive strip detectors

Hotspots formed in superconductive strips due to interaction with particles are considered. The superconductive strip detector is considered in terms of a model of one-dimensional superconductor. D.C. electric current flowing through a film leads to Joule heating of the normal phase and causes either expansion or collapse of the hotspot. It is shown that the energy of a particle can be obtained by measuring the length of the expanding hotspot.