Transparent Nano-Composites Ceramics by Annealing of Amorphous Phase in the HfO2-Al2O3-GdAlO3 System

We have succeeded in fabricating transparent nano-structured ceramics by annealing of the amorphous phase obtained by the solidification of the eutectic melt in the ternary system HfO₂− Al₂O₃− GdAlO₃. The ceramics annealed at 1273 K for 6 hr contained 5-10-nm cubic hafnia grains, and those annealed at 1273 K for 72 hr contained both cubic hafnia and gadolinium aluminum garnet grains 5-10 nm in size. They showed high transparency. Annealing at 1473 K, however, resulted in grain growths that brought about non-transparency.     

Isolation and identification of the cDNA encoding the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide and additional neuropeptides in the oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The present study is concerned with cloning and characterizing Has-PBAN cDNA which is 756 nucleotides long, isolated from the brain and suboesophageal ganglion complex (Br-Sg) of Helicoverpa assulta adults. The 194-amino acid sequence deduced from this cDNA possessed the proteolytic endocleavage sites to generate multiple peptides. From the processing of the prepro-hormone, it can be predicted that the cDNA has a PBAN domain with 33 amino acids and four additional peptide domains: 24 amino acid-, 7 amino acid-, 18 amino acid- and 8 amino acid-long sequences, with FXPR (or K) L (X = G, T or S) amidated at their C-termini. The amino acid sequence of all five predicted peptides, including the PBAN, are identical to that of Helicoverpa zea (Raina, A.K., Jaffe, H., Kempe, T.G., Keim, P., Blacher, R.W., Fales, H.M., Riley, C.T., Klun, J.A., Ridgway, R.L., Hayes, D.K., 1989. Identification of a neuropeptide hormone that regulates sex pheromone production in female moths. Science 244, 796-798 and Ma, P.W.K., Knipple, D.C., Roelofs, W.L., 1994. Structural organization of the Helicoverpa zea gene encoding the precursor protein for pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide and other neuropeptides. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., U.S.A. 91, 506-510). A single mRNA species corresponding to the size of Has-PBAN cDNA was detected from the Br-Sg of 1-3-day old female and male adults, and their expression was also at a similar level. Pheromone production was induced upon injection of female or male Br-Sg extracts or synthetic PBAN into the haemocoel of decapitated 1-3-day old female adults during the photophase when they are not supposed to produce pheromone. From these results, H. assulta adult females seem to use their own PBAN for regulating sex pheromone biosynthesis. Functions of the four other peptides ending with FXPR (or K) L in the Has-PBAN cDNA and of the male PBAN remain to be elucidated.     

Effect of flow direction on the morphological responses of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

Establishing the mean normal prothrombin time (MNPT) from fresh samples for prothrombin ratios and INR often presents difficulty in selection and collection of donors. A set of seven lyophilized normal plasmas has therefore been prepared at the ECAA Central Facility and studied at 143 laboratories in sixteen European states using coagulometers in serial field exercises. All centres tested either the high ISI ECAA rabbit or low ISI ECAA human reference thromboplastin. The MNPT of fresh plasmas and means of the lyophilized samples were closely comparable with most routine rabbit thromboplastins. Using human thromboplastins means with the lyophilized normals were marginally but significantly longer and with the bovine Thrombotest significantly shorter than the MNPT of fresh plasmas causing alterations in INR. There was no appreciable effect on INR of 2.5 and 3.5 when lyophilized normals were substituted for fresh normals with the rabbit reagents.     

A study on AIDS awareness and knowledge. Report II. Investigation of clinical technician, nurse and office staff

After ingestion of an unknown dose of detajmium, a 14-year-old female collapsed with asystolia. Resuscitation efforts were not successful. A medicolegal autopsy was carried out, and blood, liver and gastric content were extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). After derivatization with acetic anhydride, detajmium and twelve of its derivatives and metabolites were identified. The main metabolic pathways include hydroxylation and subsequent O-methylation of the indol ring, and oxidation as well as reduction of the C-21 hydroxyl function. Cleavage of the N-alkyl side-chain is a further, possibly non-enzymatic degradation pathway. Artifact formation induced by acetylation included dehydratation of the hydroxyl function of C-21 and the N-alkyl side-chain. The detajmium concentration in blood of the decreased was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection (12 micrograms/ml).     

Novel sensing system for glucose based on the complex formation between phenylborate and fluorescent diol compounds

From the standpoints of long-term stability and simple handling, a glucose sensor composed of totally synthetic sensing moieties should be of great advantage. This study was performed to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel glucose sensing system in an aqueous milieu based on a change in the fluorescence on competitive binding between a fluorescent diol compound and glucose toward a phenylborate compound. 6,7-Dihydroxy-4-methyl-coumarin (DHMC) was selected as a fluorophore, and 3-propionamidophenylboronic acid (PAPBA) as a phenylborate compound. The relationship between the glucose concentration and fluorescence intensity was linear in the range of 0 to 500 mg/dl of glucose. The availability of various derivatives of DHMC and phenylborate compounds allows the incorporation of these functionalities on the tip of an optical fiber to construct an opto-sensing system for glucose.     

Optimal planned maintenance with salvage cost for a two-unit standby redundant system

This paper considers the optimal spare ordering policies for a cold standby redundant system with two dissimilar units. Especially, the planned maintenance schedule with salvage cost is discussed. The failure time distributions for respective units are assumed to be arbitrary. By applying the expected cost per unit time in the steady-state and the stationary availability as criteria of optimality, the optimal ordering policy minimizing or maximizing each criterion is obtained under some economical and/or physical assumptions. Finally, numerical examples are presented, and the effect of the failure time distributions for the optimal ordering policy is examined in detail.     

Escherichia coli transformant expressing the glucose dehydrogenase gene from Bacillus megaterium as a cofactor regenerator in a chiral alcohol production system

Seventy mother-newborn pairs were studied for hepatitis C viremia to evaluate the risk of vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus from human immunodeficiency virus-negative mothers. Forty-five mothers were hepatitis C virus-RNA positive: 4 to 45 children were positive at birth and during follow-up. The level of viremia plays an important role in vertical transmission.     

The leveling of thermosetting waterborne coatings. Part II: Drying of coated wet films

Evaporation behavior of water/solvent blends was estimated using the universal functional activity coefficient, UNIFAC, method. The evaporation rate from a free surface of a waterborne coating, WBC, containing a co-solvent was experimentally determined. These results were used to estimate the evaporation rate from wet films of a WBC containing a variety of co-solvents with a range of initial thickness. Knowing the composition of the WBC during the drying process, the change in the viscosity and the surface tension was determined. The results strongly support the development of a surface tension gradient in the film. It is also suggested that a surface tension gradient would accelerate the leveling of the ribs if a proper co-solvent were employed.     

INSTANTANEOUS DOPPLER FREQUENCY FOR SQUINT SAR IMAGING

Instantaneous Doppler frequency for squint SAR imaging has been found with Chirp Scaling Algorithm (CSA). Because the azimuth sample is not perpendicular to the range sample,the range signal must impact on the azimuth signal in the squint SAR data processing, and the different slant range targets have different Doppler frequencies. From the mathematical model of SAR echo signal, this paper carefully analyzes the instantaneous azimuth frequency, the instantaneous Doppler frequency component of the azimuth frequency and the impact of range chirp on azimuth frequency, which explains that Doppler frequency should be properly selected for correct SAR imaging in the squint SAR. The results of point target simulation experiments show that the way is reasonable for the squint SAR and can effectively complete range compression and azimuth focusing, and improve images‘ quality.     

网格编码矢量量化在SAR原始数据压缩中的应用

本文提出了一种结合传统的块自适应量化与网格编码矢量量化对SAR原始数据进行压缩的方法。首先对SAR原始数据实施块自适应量化以减小数据的动态范围,然后对块自适应量化后的数据进行网格编码矢量量化。该方法在考虑了SAR原始数据特性的基础上较好地利用了矢量的空间相关性和信号的时间相关性,进一步提高了量化增益。仿真结果表明,该方法在SAR原始数据的压缩中取得了很好的效果。