Topotaxial Formation of Mg4Nb2O9 and MgNb2O6 Thin Films on MgO (001) Single Crystals by Vapor–Solid Reaction

Thin-film solid-state reactions in the system MgO–Nb₂O₅ are experimentally investigated. MgO (001) substrates are subjected to Nb-O vapor at different temperatures in high vacuum. Thin films containing the phases Mg₄Nb₂O₉ and MgNb₂O₆ are formed by a vapor–solid reaction between the Nb-O vapor and the substrate. The crystallographic orientations of these phases are studied by X-ray diffractometry including pole figure analysis. Mg₄Nb₂O₉ grows (11.4)-, (11.6)-, and (11.9)-oriented, whereas MgNb₂O₆ grows with a preferential (241) orientation. The crystallographic relationships and their origins are discussed.     

Processing of the quench detection signals in W7-X

The Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) project uses superconductive coils for generation of the magnetic field to keep the plasma. One of the important safety systems is the protection against quench events. The quench detection system of W7-X protects the superconducting coils, the superconducting bus bar sections and the high temperature superconductor of the current leads against the damage because of a quench and against the high stress by a fast discharge of the magnet system.Therefore, the present design of the quench detection system (QDS) uses a two-stage safety concept for discharging the magnetic system. This paper describes the present design of the system assembly from the quench detection unit (QDU) for the detection of the quench to the quench detection interface (QDI) to implement the two-stage safety concept.     

大型X射线光学仪器:单层镜和多层镜的制造与表征

150~500 mm长度的各种X射线光学元件可用于光束导引,光束调整,以及单色化。本文介绍了两种不同的大型X射线反射镜。第一种为单层反射镜,这种反射镜以2°掠入射角在软X射线区(50~200 eV)起全反射镜作用,可用于自由电子激光器,如德国汉堡的FLASH。第二种是多层镜,由于它的布喇格反射特性,适于作为反射镜以0.4~1°的入射角用于硬X射线区(20~50 keV),如层析光束线的同步辐射存储环中。两种反射镜都用最新物理汽相淀积法制备,并用磁控溅射来实现X射线光学应用所需要的优良光学品质。这一淀积工艺使不同批次的镀膜稳定性良好,有利于实际反射镜在优质衬底上的最后淀积。单层镜和多层镜在它们的相关能量范围内都有很高的反射率,表面粗糙度也很低,且在整个光学波长区这些特性表现均匀。文中所叙相关研究都是借助X射线反射计量(XRR)法,透射电子显微镜(TEM)、光学轮廓仪(OP),以及原子力显微镜(AFM)完成的。     

Pre-Transplant Serum Leptin Levels and Relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia after Allogeneic Transplantation

Weight loss and metabolic activity influence outcome after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). This study evaluates pre-conditioning Leptin, a peptide hormone involved in metabolism and immune homeostasis, as a prognostic factor for survival, relapse and non-relapse mortality (NRM) following alloSCT. Leptin serum levels prior to conditioning were determined in a cohort of patients transplanted for various hematologic malignancies (n = 524) and correlated retrospectively with clinical outcome. Findings related to patients with acute leukemia (AL) from this sample were validated in an independent cohort. Low pre-conditioning serum Leptin was an independent prognostic marker for increased risk of relapse (but not of NRM and overall mortality) following alloSCT for AL of intermediate and advanced stage (beyond first complete remission). Multivariate analysis revealed a hazard ratio (HR) for relapse of 0.75 per log2 increase (0.59–0.96, p = 0.020). This effect was similar in an independent validation cohort. Pre-conditioning serum Leptin was validated as a prognostic marker for early relapse by fitting the multivariate Cox model to the validation data. Pre-conditioning serum Leptin levels may serve as an independent prognostic marker for relapse following alloSCT in intermediate and advanced stage AL patients. Prospective studies are required to prove whether serum Leptin could be used for guiding nutritional intervention in patients with AL undergoing alloSCT.     

Book review: Food Biotechnology

Modern Food Microbiology, Third Edition. J.M. Jay. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 115 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10003. 642 pp. 1986. $29.95 (US).

Title: Fermentation and Biochemical Engineering Handbook; Principles, Process Design, and Equipment Author(s): Henry C. Vogel (Editor) Publisher: Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ. 1986

Principles of Fermentation Technology P.F. Stanbury and A. Whitaker Pergamon Press Inc., Elm3ford, NY, USA 225 pp., 1984, $19.25 (soft cover), $48.00 (hard cover)

Biotechnology in Agricultural Chemistry H.M. Le Baron, R.O. Mumma, R.C. Honeycutt and J.H. Duesing (eds) ACS Symposium Series 33t, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC 367 pp., 1987, $64.95 (US)

Supercritical Fluids ‐ Chemical and Engineering Principles and Applications T.G. Squires and M.E. Paulaitis (Editors) ACS Symposium Series #329, 294pp., $59.95 (US & Canada), $71.95 (Export)

Title: Biogeneration of aromas. Authors: Parliment, T. H. and R. Croteau (Editors) Publishers: ACS Symposium Series, Washington, DC, 1986

Title: Ecology and Metabolism of Plant Lipids Author(s): Glenn Fuller and W. David Nes (Editors) Publisher: American Chemical Society. Symposium Series, Washington DC, 1986

Title: Chemistry and Function of Pectins Author(s): Fishman, M.L. and Jen, J.J. Publisher: ACS Symposium Series, Washington, DC 1986

“Plant Proteins: Applications, Biological Effects and Chemistry”; R.L. Ory (ed), ACS Symposium Series, American Chemical Society 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA 285 PP, 1986, $59.95 (U.S. and Canada)     

Photoclickable Surfaces for Profluorescent Covalent Polymer Coatings

The nitrile imine‐mediated tetrazole‐ene cycloaddition reaction (NITEC) is introduced as a powerful and versatile conjugation tool to covalently ligate macromolecules onto variable (bio)surfaces. The NITEC approach is initiated by UV irradiation and proceeds rapidly at ambient temperature yielding a highly fluorescent linkage. Initially, the formation of block copolymers by the NITEC methodology is studied to evidence its efficacy as a macromolecular conjugation tool. The grafting of polymers onto inorganic (silicon) and bioorganic (cellulose) surfaces is subsequently carried out employing the optimized reaction conditions obtained from the macromolecular ligation experiments and evidenced by surface characterization techniques, including X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and FT‐IR microscopy. In addition, the patterned immobilization of variable polymer chains onto profluorescent cellulose is achieved through a simple masking process during the irradiation.     

An a posteriori error estimate and a comparison theorem for the nonconforming <Emphasis Type="Italic">P</Emphasis><Subscript>1</Subscript> element

A posteriori error estimates for the nonconforming P ₁ element are easily determined by the hypercircle method via Marini’s observation on the relation to the mixed method of Raviart–Thomas. Another tool is Ainsworth’s application of the hypercircle method to mixed methods. The relation on the finite element solutions is also extended to an a priori relation of the errors, and the errors of four different finite element methods can be compared.      

NAFLA – Ein Simulationswerkzeug zur analytischen Abschätzung von Schadstofffahnenlängen

Groundwater pollution with organic contaminants remains a world-wide problem. Before selection of any remediation technique, it is important to pre-assess contaminated sites with respect to their hazard. For this, several analytical and numerical approaches have been used and an initial assessment of contaminated sites the MS-Excel^© tool “NAFLA” was developed. “NAFLA” allows a quick and straightforward calculation and comparison of some analytical approaches for the estimation of maximum plume length under steady-state conditions. These approaches differ from each other in source geometry, model domain orientation, and in the consideration of (bio)chemical reaction within the domain. In this communication, we provide details about the development of “NAFLA”, its possible usage and information for users. The tool is especially designed for application in student education, by authorities and consultants.