Synthesis and characterization of poly(siloxane-urethane)s

A series of polyurethane block copolymers based on hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane and poly(propylene glycol) soft segments of molecular weights 1818 and 2000, respectively, were synthesized. The hard segments consisted of 4,4′-diphenylnethane diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol as the chain extender. Samples with different molar ratios were prepared. We tried to synthesize polydimethylsiloxane-based polyurethanes (PDMS-PU) containing a hard block as major fraction and a soft block as minor fraction for preparing toughened rigid systems. After a study of the pure polydimethylsiloxane-based polyurethane and poly(propylene glycol)-based polyurethane (PPG-PU), (mixed polyol)-based block copolymers and blends of PDMS-PU and PPG-PU were synthesized, and characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing and scanning electron microscopy. In (mixed polyol)-based copolymers and lower hard-segment content blends, macro-phase separation occurred, but blends with higher hard-segment contents showed significant reduction in amounts of phase separation.     

Differential K+ channel clustering activity of PSD-95 and SAP97, two related membrane-associated putative guanylate kinases

The molecular mechanisms underlying the clustering and localization of K+ channels in specific microdomains on the neuronal surface are largely unknown. The Shaker subclass of voltage-gated K+ channel alpha-subunits interact through their cytoplasmic C-terminus with a family of membrane-associated putative guanylate kinases, including PSD-95 and SAP97. We show here that heterologous coexpression of either sap97 or PSD-95 with various Shaker-type subunits results in the coclustering of these proteins with the K+ channels. Mutation of the C-terminal sequence (-ETDV) of the Shaker subunit Kv1.4 abolishes its binding to, and prevents its clustering with, SAP97 and PSD-95. Whereas PSD-95 induces plaque-like clusters of K+ channels at the cell surface; however, SAP97 coexpression results in the formation of large round intracellular aggregates into which both SAP97 and the K+ channel proteins are colocalized. The efficiency of surface clustering by PSD-95 varies with different Shaker subunits: striking Kv1.4 clustering occurs in > 60% of cotransfected cells, whereas Kv1.1 and Kv1.2 form convincing clusters with PSD-95 only in approximately 10% of cells.     

Effects of viscosity on the bitterness and astringency of grape seed tannin

To examine the separate effects of viscosity and sweetness on astringency, aqueous solutions of grape seed tannin (GST) were thickened with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) from 2 to 45 cP (experiment 1) or sweetened with 0 to 1.8 g/L aspartame (experiment 2). Trained subjects continuously rated astringency and bitterness in duplicate. Subjects were categorized by the salivary flow induced by citric acid and ability to taste n-propyl thiouracil (PROP). In experiment 1, maximum intensity and total duration of astringency were significantly decreased as viscosity rose, although time to maximum intensity of astringency was not affected. Maximum intensity and total duration of bitterness were not significantly affected by increasing viscosity; however, the onset of bitterness was significantly delayed. In experiment 2, increasing sweetness had no affect on any astringency parameter, although maximum intensity of bitterness was significantly decreased. Neither PROP nor salivary flow-status had any effect on perception of bitterness or astringency in either experiment.     

Mixing in processing of thermoplastics by extrusion

Translated from Khimicheskoe i Neftyanoe Mashinostroenie, No. 8, pp. 9–11, August, 1993.     

Reduction of loading effect by tungsten etchback in a magneticallyenhanced reactive ion etcher

The plug loading effect occurring during the etchback of tungsten was investigated in a magnetically enhanced reactive ion etcher using SF ₆/Ar mixtures. It was found that while the plug loading effect is independent of varying SF₆/Ar flow rate ratio and magnetic field intensity, it is reduced under the condition of high selectivity of tungsten relative to TiN which was achieved at high chamber pressure and low RF power. It is proposed that when TiN is used as a glue layer, the W etch rate enhancement in the plug is mainly controlled by a local loading effect. Under the optimized etchback conditions the plug loss was successfully controlled without the tungsten residue left on severe topology     

Effect of Forming Pressure on the Internal Structure of Alumina Green Bodies Examined with Immersion Liquid Technique

Green bodies prepared by compaction of alumina granules were made transparent by an immersion liquid technique, and the internal structure was characterized with an optical microscope to study the effect of forming pressure on the internal structure. Clear images obtained by the technique provide more detailed information than other existing methods for structures ranging from one to tens of micrometers. Intergranular pores were present between unfractured granules. Their sizes and concentration tended to decrease with increasing forming pressure. However, pores were clearly present even in the green body prepared at 600 MPa. A rod- and needlelike feature was also found and was concluded to correspond to a high-density region. The significance of large pores and high-density regions on processing as well as the details of the technique is discussed.     

The prospects of non-volatile phase-change RAM

Phase-change read-and-write memory (PRAM) is a promising memory that can solve the problems of conventional memory—scalability, read/write speed, and reliability. We will review the opportunities and technical challenges of PRAM. The most important challenge of PRAM is the reduction of the writing current. Various approaches to reduce the writing current will be reviewed and the prospects of PRAM are discussed.     

Complete joint weight enumerators and self-dual codes

We define the complete joint weight enumerator in genus g for codes over /spl Zopf//sub 2k/ and use it to study self-dual codes and their shadows. These weight enumerators are related to the theta series of the associated lattices and Siegel and Jacobi forms are formed from these series.     

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