Fabrication of high-purity silica glass through the WSPA-sol-gel process

High-purity and large-size silica glass was prepared by a wet process silica and pH adjustment (WSPA)-sol-gel process which involved the following steps: (1) colloidal silica synthesis through the hydrolysis reaction of TEOS catalysed by ammonia solution; (2) sol preparation through the hydrolysis reaction of TEOS by hydrochloric acid; (3) mixing the colloidal silica and sol solution; (4) adjusting the pH values of the mixed solution to 4–6; (5) gelling; (6) drying to a dry gel; (7) heat treatment of the gel to collapse the pores, finally to become a silica glass. The purity of the derived silica glass was examined in relation to the metallic impurities and -OH impurities. The relation between ultraviolet absorption of silica glass and metallic impurities was investigated. Ti addition to the silica glass gave a strong absorption at 200 m, for which the ultraviolet absorption coefficient, , was found to be 1.57×10⁴ l mol^–1 cm^–1. The effects of the properties of colloidal silica on the -OH concentration and also the relations between the sintering conditions and residual -OH concentration in silica glass were examined. Using colloidal silica with a large particle size and heat treatment in vacuum resulted in a silica glass with a low concentration of residual -OH.     

Enhancement of Thermoelectric Properties in Surface Nanostructures

The thermoelectric properties of TiN/MgO surface nanostructures have been determined using first-principles calculations based on the nonequilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) method. Through structural modification of the surfaces at the atomistic level, we find that the metallic TiN thin-film layer becomes semiconducting with a small bandgap, which enhances the Seebeck coefficient, while the electrical conductivity remains high at room temperature. Hence, a much larger thermoelectric figure of merit is obtained compared with bulk. These findings indicate the possibility of designing thermoelectric devices with surface nanostructures.     

Effect of Surface Condition on Oxygen Self-Diffusion Coefficients for Single-Crystal Al2O3

Oxygen self-diffusion coefficients were determined for two Al₂O₃ single crystals by the isotope-exchange technique, using chemically polished and Ar -ion-milled samples. Results represented by D=562 exp[–665(kJ/mol)/RT] cm²/s are lower than those for diamond-paste-finished samples and near Reed and Wuensch's results. The oxygen diffusion coefficient determined using crushed particles and the microscopically measured ratio of surface area to volume agreed with these values     

Dynamic study of intramembranous particles in human fresh erythrocytes using an "in vitro cryotechnique"

For analyses of dynamic ultrastructures of erythrocyte intramembranous particles (IMPs) in situ, a quick-freezing method was used to stabilize the flow behavior of erythrocytes embedded in vitreous ice. Fresh human blood was jetted at various pressures through artificial tubes, in which the flowing erythrocytes were elongated from biconcave discoid shapes to elliptical ones, and quickly frozen in liquid isopentane-propane cryogen (-193 degrees C). They were freeze-fractured using a scalpel in liquid nitrogen, and routinely prepared for replica membranes. Many IMPs were observed on the protoplasmic freeze-fracture face (P-face) of the erythrocyte membranes. Some control erythrocytes under nonflowing or stationary conditions showed IMPs with their random distribution. However, other jetted erythrocytes under flowing conditions showed variously sized IMPs with much closer distribution. They were also arranged into parallel rows in some parts, and aggregated together. This quick-freezing method enabled for the first time the visualization of time-dependent topology and the molecular alteration of IMPs in dynamically flowing erythrocytes.     

紫外Ce3+:LuLiF4晶体激光光谱特性的研究

Ce³⁺:LuLiF₄晶体被证明在紫外区域具有较大的增益光谱宽度,这点对于短脉冲激光应用非常有吸引力.我们获得了较大的小信号增益,大于6dB/厘米.而且,在共焦四程放大结构中,对连续的氦镉激光的增益达到20dB.     

Molecular Classification and Overcoming Therapy Resistance for Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Adverse Genetic Factors

The European LeukemiaNet (ELN) criteria define the adverse genetic factors of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML with adverse genetic factors uniformly shows resistance to standard chemotherapy and is associated with poor prognosis. Here, we focus on the biological background and real-world etiology of these adverse genetic factors and then describe a strategy to overcome the clinical disadvantages in terms of targeting pivotal molecular mechanisms. Different adverse genetic factors often rely on common pathways. KMT2A rearrangement, DEK-NUP214 fusion, and NPM1 mutation are associated with the upregulation of HOX genes. The dominant tyrosine kinase activity of the mutant FLT3 or BCR-ABL1 fusion proteins is transduced by the AKT-mTOR, MAPK-ERK, and STAT5 pathways. Concurrent mutations of ASXL1 and RUNX1 are associated with activated AKT. Both TP53 mutation and mis-expressed MECOM are related to impaired apoptosis. Clinical data suggest that adverse genetic factors can be found in at least one in eight AML patients and appear to accumulate in relapsed/refractory cases. TP53 mutation is associated with particularly poor prognosis. Molecular-targeted therapies focusing on specific genomic abnormalities, such as FLT3, KMT2A, and TP53, have been developed and have demonstrated promising results.     

Multilayer Mg-Stainless Steel Sheets,Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties

Different multilayer Mg AZ31 and SS304L steel sheet combinations were prepared with different volume fractions of Mg. Isolated stress–strain curves of the Mg layers showed significant improvements in the strength and elongation of multilayer samples. Results indicated that in the most extreme situation with the lowest Mg volume fraction (V _f  = 0.39), the ultimate strength was increased by 25 pct to 370 MPa and the elongation was improved by 70 pct to 0.34. Investigation of the fracture surface showed that failure occurs by the coalescence of cracks close to the interface region. The improved strength of the multilayer samples was due to the combined effect of surface crack prevention by the steel layer and the higher work-hardening rate caused by the possible increased activity of non-basal systems. It is suggested that the stronger work-hardening behavior and the enhanced activity of non-basal systems in the multilayer samples were due to the formation of new stress components in the transverse direction. The larger the volume fraction of steel in the multilayer, the longer the distance remaining unstrained before the UTS.

     

Bacterial growth monitoring in a microfluidic device by confocal reflection microscopy

The feasibility of a method to nondestructively measure planktonic bacterial growth in a microfluidic device was addressed. Here, we report that the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a microfluidic device could be measured by a three-dimensional image analysis technique based on confocal reflection microscopy in a time-course.     

PAD1 and FDC1 are essential for the decarboxylation of phenylacrylic acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The volatile phenols, to which Saccharomyces cerevisiae converts from phenylacrylic acids including ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, and cinnamic acid, generate off-flavors in alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine. Using gene disruptants, transformants and cell-free extracts of these strains, we have verified that the adjacent PAD1 (phenylacrylic acid decarboxylase, YDR538W) and FDC1 (ferulic acid decarboxylase, YDR539W) genes are essential for the decarboxylation of phenylacrylic acids in S. cerevisiae. Pad1p and Fdc1p are homologous with UbiX and UbiD, respectively, in the ubiquinone synthetic pathway of Escherichia coli. However, ubiquinone was detected quantitatively in all of the yeast single-deletion mutants, Δpad1, Δfdc1, and double-deletion mutant, Δpad1Δfdc1.