Microbial sensor for preliminary screening of mutagens utilizing a phage induction test

For the preliminary screening of mutagens, a novel microbial sensor system was developed utilizing a phage induction test. Escherichia coli lysogenic strain GY5027 and nonlysogenic strain GY5026 were used in this study. The number of living cells was determined by measuring the respiration of cells immobilized onto an oxygen electrode. The injection of a mutagen, such as AF-2 and MNNG, caused the phage induction in the lysogenic strain, resulting in the decreased respiration of only the lysogenic strain immobilized onto the oxygen electrode but not of nonlysogenic strain. The rate of current increase correlated well with the concentration of mutagens. The sensor responses to the antibiotics and bactericides were definitely different from those of mutagens. Therefore, utilization of this microbial sensor system makes possible the estimation of a substrate's mutagenicity.     

Effects of alloy additions on the microstructures and tensile properties of cast Co-Cr-Mo alloy used for surgical implants

The composition of the Co-Cr-Mo alloy has been modified by additions of nickel and some trace elements aluminium, titanium and boron. In this paper, the first part of the present study, the effects of alloy additions on the microstructures and tensile properties of the as-cast Co-Cr-Mo alloy are discussed. The effects of alloy additions on the fatigue behaviour of the alloy will be discussed in the second part of the present study. It is found that alloy additions do not seem to result in changes in the nature of the casting structure. A directional, coarse dendritic cast structure is produced in the modified alloys as in the base alloY. However, the alloy additions affect the carbide precipitations and the formation of some fine details of the microstructure such as dislocations, stacking faults and twins produced during the solidification. A considerable improvement in the transient mechanical properties, especially in the tensile ductility, is achieved by modifying the base alloy with alloy additions.     

Interfacial strength and chemistry of additive-free silicon nitride ceramics brazed with aluminium

Two kinds of additive-free silicon nitride ceramics were brazed with aluminium; one was with as-ground faying surfaces and the other was with faying surfaces heat-treated at 1073K for 1.8 ksec in air. The heat-treatment of the silicon nitride ceramics formed a silicon oxynitride layer on the faying surfaces and increased the brazing strength of the joints. A silica-alumina non-crystalline layer and a β′-sialon layer were formed successively from the aluminium side at the interface of the joints. The heat-treatment which made the former layer thicker is a necessary process in making reliable, strong brazed joints.     

Wide frequency range sine wave VCO with a tunable inductor andcapacitor

A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) with sine wave output has been built using a tunable inductor along with a tunable capacitor to operate at frequencies ranging from 100 kHz to over 20 MHz. The method of tuning the inductor by changing the permeability of its ferrite core and the ability to extend the frequency response of the core are discussed. Dynamic characteristics of the VCO are explained with examples of a parallel and series tank implementation