Electrical and optical studies of ZnO:Ga thin films fabricated via the sol–gel technique

The effects of dopant (Ga) concentration, post-heat treatment temperatures, and different heat treatment environments on the morphology, electrical and optical properties of ZnO films were studied. ZnO films doped with Ga are derived from non-alkoxide zinc acetate via the alcoholic route by a sol–gel dip-coating technique. Introduction of Ga, as a dopant, can reduce crystallite size, which is attributed to the increased number of nucleation centers. Grain growth was also observed at high post-heat treatment temperature. It was discovered that different post-heat treatment environments (air or reduced atmosphere) did not change the structure orientation, microstructure shapes and size. It was found that the sheet resistance, R_s could be reduced by an order of magnitude, using post-heat treatment in reduced atmosphere (4%H₂–96%N₂).     

Regeneration studies on nickel molybdate catalysts used for the upgrading of coal-derived liquids

Nickel molybdate catalysts used in several different upgrading reactions of coal-derived materials from low-rank Australian coals have been regenerated and their activity assessed using a number of physical and chemical techniques. Regeneration of spent coked catalysts for 20 hours in air at 450°C was sufficient to restore chemical hydrogenation activity to catalyst used for pre-asphaltene, asphaltene and oil upgrading, provided poisoning of the catalyst surface by other impurities, principally chlorine-containing molecules, had not occurred.     

Inhibition of sickle beta-chain (betaS)-dependent polymerization by nonhuman alpha-chains. A superinhibitory mouse-horse chimeric alpha-chain

Horse alpha-chain inhibits sickle beta-chain-dependent polymerization; however, its inhibitory potential is not as high as that of mouse alpha-chain. Horse alpha-(1-30) and alpha-(31-141) segments make, respectively, minor and major contributions to the inhibitory potential of horse alpha-chain. The sum of the inhibitory potential of the two segments does not account for the inhibitory potential of the full-length horse alpha-chain. Although the polymerization inhibitory potential of horse alpha-chain is lower than mouse alpha-chain, the inhibitory potential of horse alpha-(31-141) is comparable to that of mouse alpha-(31-141). When mouse alpha-(1-30) is stitched to horse alpha-(31-141), the product is a chimeric alpha-chain with an inhibitory potential greater than mouse alpha-chain. In contrast, the stitching of horse alpha-(1-30) with mouse alpha-(31-141) had no additional inhibitory potential. Molecular modeling studies of HbS containing the mouse-horse chimeric alpha-chain indicate altered side-chain interactions at the alpha1beta1 interface when compared with HbS. In addition, the AB/GH corner perturbations facilitate a different stereochemistry for the interaction of the epsilon-amino group of Lys-16(alpha) with the beta-carboxyl group of Asp-116(alpha), resulting in a decrease in the accessibility of the side chain of Lys-16(alpha) to the solvent. Based on molecular modeling, we speculate that these perturbations by themselves, or in synergy with the altered conformational aspects of the alpha1beta1 interactions, represent the molecular basis of the superinhibitory potential of the mouse-horse chimeric alpha-chains.     

Electrocatalyst performance in industrial water electrolysers

Electrocatalyst materials used in industrial water electrolysis equipment must meet stringent requirements for long-term stability. Low electrode overvoltages must be sustained over prolonged periods of normal operation, including power interruptions. This paper presents an overview of the catalyst systems currently favoured for use in alkaline electrolyte. Performance data covering test periods exceeding 30 000 h are presented for representative commercial electrocatalysts. Results obtained in 100 000-A unipolar cells are correlated in detail with expectations based on measurements in laboratory and pilot-plant equipment.Particular attention is given to the effects of open-circuit conditions on electrode stability. An accelerated reverse-potential cycling test is described which allows identification of materials expected to withstand industrial operating conditions. It is found that the better materials which have been identified can be used with confidence, at least in electrolysers of the unipolar design in which potential variations encountered during current interruptions are modest.     

Origin of visible photoluminescence from porous silicon as studied by Raman spectroscopy

In this paper we discuss the different models proposed to explain the visible luminescence in porous silicon (PS). We review our recent photoluminescence and Raman studies on PS as a function of different preparation conditions and isochronal thermal annealing. Our results can be explained by a hybrid model which incorporates both nanostructures for quantum confinement and silicon complexes (such as SiH _x and siloxene) and defects at Si/SiO₂ interfaces as luminescent centres.     

On joint transmitter and receiver optimization formultiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) transmission systems

The problem of joint transmitter and receiver optimization for MIMO systems under the mean-squared error (MSE) criterion is revisited. We address the general problem of N (number of users) ≠M (number of channel inputs) ≠P (number of channel outputs) when the system is Nyquist bandlimited and obtain analytical solutions for the optimal transmit-receive pair. Next, we demonstrate how the above result is directly applicable to the problem where the system has excess bandwidth, thereby generalizing the results of Salz (1985). In conclusion, several numerical examples are included to demonstrate the performance gains obtainable with jointly optimized MIMO systems vis-a-vis systems based only on receiver optimization     

The putative tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 5q for hepatocellular carcinoma is distinct from the MCC and APC genes

We have previously shown that the tumor suppressor gene for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without cirrhosis may be located on chromosome 5q35-qter. In this study, we analyzed nine cases of primary HCC without cirrhosis using probes from the MCC and APC genes, which are in the region 5q21-22. None of the informative cases had allele loss detected by these probes, whereas the probe lambda MS8 for the region 5q35-qter showed allele loss in six out of six informative cases. The results confirm that the putative tumor suppressor gene for HCC without cirrhosis on chromosome 5q is distinct from the MCC and APC genes.     

Prenatal care in the inner-city: a cooperative effort

PAHCF and Women and Infants Hospital have been working together for many years to provide high quality, accessible prenatal and obstetrical care to low-income, inner-city residents in the Providence area. Many of these patients have multiple medical, social, and nutritional problems that place them at increased risk for poor pregnancy outcomes. The PAHCF sites offer convenient locations, evening hours, and culturally-sensitive, bilingual staffs; together the five sites provided prenatal care to nearly 1200 patients last year. Women and Infants Ambulatory Care Department provided prenatal care to an additional 1800 women in 1991, including all high risk patients referred for complications or diagnostic evaluations. All patients deliver at Women and Infants, then return to their original source of care for postpartum followup and family planning services. Patient records are readily transferred between the sites, eliminating the need for unnecessary duplication of information or laboratory tests. This close collaboration is mutually beneficial to both the health care providers and the patients whom they serve.     

Ewing sarcoma. Diagnostic imaging

Ewing's sarcoma is a highly malignant neoplasm of the bone whose origin is still uncertain. A strong relationship exists between Ewing's sarcoma and tumors of neural origin (Ewing family of tumors). Ewing's sarcoma must be distinguished from other round-cell tumors like lymphoma and neuroblastoma and also must be differentiated from osteogenic sarcomas. On plain radiographs, Ewing's sarcoma appears as a lytic or mixed lytic-sclerotic, rarely as predominantly sclerotic lesion with margins Lodwick grade III. It is located primarily in the diaphyseal and metadiaphyseal regions of the long bones of the lower extremities. A large soft tissue tumor is usually present. Magnetic resonance imaging is the imaging modality of choice to evaluate the extent of the primary lesion, to monitor the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and to follow up non-resected Ewing's sarcomas. Bone scintigraphy is necessary to detect skeletal metastasis, and 201thallium scanning has been shown to be sensitive in the monitoring of treatment response. Today, computed tomography is not longer used to image the tumor site; however, spiral CT of the lungs plays a central role as a staging and follow-up tool.