Electronic properties of dehydrogenated nanodiamonds: A first-principles study

First-principles calculations using quantum-mechanical density functional theory (DFT) are carried out to study the geometric structure and electronic properties of dehydrogenated nanodiamonds with diameters varying from 0.8 nm to 1.6 nm. The results show that the electronic properties of dehydrogenated nanodiamond are quite different from those of bulk diamond or hydrogenated nanodiamond. Surface atoms play an important role in the electronic structure, especially the states near the Fermi level, for dehydrogenated nanodiamond. In addition, it has been revealed that the size-dependent feature in the electronic properties for dehydrogenated diamonds is also contributed by the surface effect, in addition to the quantum confinement effect.     

Development of composite tissue scaffolds containing naturally sourced mircoporous hydroxyapatite

The aims of this work were to investigate the conversion of a marine alga into hydroxyapatite (HA), and furthermore to design a composite bone tissue engineering scaffold comprising the synthesised HA within a porous bioresorbable polymer. The marine alga, Phymatolithon calcareum, which exhibits a calcium carbonate honeycomb structure, with a natural architecture of interconnecting permeable pores (microporosity 4–11 μm), provided the initial raw material for this study. The objective was to convert the alga into hydroxyapatite while maintaining its porous morphology using a sequential pyrolysis and chemical synthesis processes. Semi-quantitative XRD analysis of the post-hydrothermal material (pyrolised at 700–750 °C), indicated that the calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramic most likely consisted of a calcium carbonate macroporous lattice, with hydroxyapatite crystals on the surface of the macropores. Cell visibility (cytotoxicity) investigations of osteogenic cells were conducted on the CaP ceramic (i.e., the material post-hydrothermal analysis) which was found to be non-cytotoxic and displayed good biocompatibility when seeded with MG63 cells. Furthermore, a hot press scaffold fabrication technique was developed to produce a composite scaffold of CaP (derived from the marine alga) in a polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix. A salt leaching technique was further explored to introduce macroporosity to the structure (50–200 μm). Analysis indicated that the scaffold contained both micro/macroporosity and mechanical strength, considered necessary for bone tissue engineering applications.     

Nucleoside-diphosphate kinase-mediated signal transduction via histidyl-aspartyl phosphorelay systems in Escherichia coli

Nucleoside-diphosphate kinase (NDP kinase), a key enzyme in nucleotide metabolism, is also known to be involved in growth and developmental control and tumor metastasis suppression. Interestingly, we find that coexpression of NDP kinase with Taz1, a Tar/EnvZ chimera, in the absence of its native signal, can activate a porin gene ompC-lacZ expression in Escherichia coli. Further studies show that NDP kinase can act as a protein kinase to phosphorylate histidine protein kinases such as EnvZ and CheA which are members of the His-Asp phosphorelay signal transduction systems in E. coli. Instead of ATP, the exclusive phosphodonor for histidine kinases, GTP can be utilized in vitro in the presence of NDP kinase to phosphorylate EnvZ and CheA, which then transfer the phosphoryl group to OmpR and CheY, the respective response regulators. The direct involvement of GTP for the phosphorylation of EnvZ through NDP kinase was further demonstrated by the use of a mutant EnvZ, which lost ability to be autophosphorylated with ATP. Phospho-OmpR thus formed can bind specifically to an ompF promoter sequence. These results suggest that NDP kinase may play a physiological role in signal transduction.     

High-speed InGaP/GaAs HBTs with a strained InxGa1-xAs base

A self-aligned InGaP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor with a compositionally graded In_xGa_1-xAs base has been demonstrated with f_T=83 GHz and f_max=197 GHz. To our knowledge, these results are the highest reported for both parameters in InGaP/GaAs HBT's. The graded base, which improves electron transport through the base, results in a DC current gain and a cutoff frequency which are 100% and 20% higher, respectively, than that achieved by an identical device with a nongraded base. The high f_max results from a heavily doped base, self-aligned base contacts, and a self-aligned collector etch. These results demonstrate the applicability of InGaP/GaAs HBT's in high-speed microwave applications     

LOW-CYCLE FATIGUE UNDER NON-PROPORTIONAL LOADING

A series of strain-controlled, low-cycle fatigue experiments have been conducted on 42CrMo steel under various loading paths including circular, square, cruciform, and rectangular paths. Present experiments have shown that there is additional hardening under non-proportional cyclic loading. Non-proportional cyclic additional hardening also results in a shorter life for multiaxial low cycle fatigue. A non-proportionality measure of strain path based on both a physical basis and macromechanical phenomena is proposed. The loading path effect on additional hardening is also described well. Low-cycle fatigue damage accumulation and the evolution process under non-proportional loading is analysed via the Continuum Damage Mechanics Model of Chaboche. A non-proportinality measure is introduced in the damage evolution equation and a modified Coffin-Manson type formula is derived. A novel fatigue life prediction approach based on the critical-plane concept of Brown and Miller is proposed.     

Characterization of optoacoustic surgical devices

Describes a measurement technique specially developed to characterize optoacoustic sources. The technique provides a convenient baseline for a comparison of different surgical ultrasonic systems utilizing optoacoustic and ultrasonic transducers. In addition, it provides a well-defined tool to optimize the performance of a variety of designs. Attention is focused on the laser-assisted devices in which appropriately delivered light energy is converted into acoustic shock wave. A meaningful comparison of such devices with other therapeutic equipment designed for a direct interaction with tissue requires knowledge of energy needed for a successful surgical treatment. It is demonstrated that knowledge of the key shock wave parameters allows the total acoustic energy associated with the shock wave to be determined. The procedure developed to calculate this energy is discussed and it is shown that the value of this energy can be conveniently used as an indicator of efficacy of an optoacoustic converter in a clinical environment. The influence of the performance of the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hydrophone probes on the measurement results was also analyzed. It was determined that when appropriately selected, the wide-band PVDF probes are well suited for characterization of the optoacoustic devices in the frequency range 1-100 MHz. The characterization procedure developed is applicable to surgical ultrasonic systems including conventional and laser-assisted phacoemulsifiers     

Cast bulk ZrTiAlCuNi amorphous alloys

Cylindrical bulk amorphous samples with diameters up to 10 mm have been prepared by casting ZrTiAlCuNi alloys in a copper mould. In order to rank glass-forming ability as a function of alloy composition, alloys were also cast into wedge-shaped moulds; to a first approximation, the thickness of the amorphous region obtained can be taken as an indication of glass-forming ability. The compositions which lead to the production of bulk glasses all have reduced glass transition temperatures in excess of 0.65 and the extremely high glass-forming ability of these compositions is discussed. We suggest that both the Al and Ti contents are determining factors for the production of bulk amorphous samples and these are believed to reduce the driving force for, and hence the rate of, crystallisation. These amorphous alloys have been found to display high thermal stability and can be annealed for several minutes in the supercooled liquid region. They are ductile at room temperature and have a high value of yield stress.