Influence of varying fiber lengths on mechanical,thermal, and morphological properties of MA‐g‐PP compatibilized and chemically modified short pineapple leaf fiber reinforced polypropylene composites

Environmentally benign, low cost and abundantly available short pineapple leaf fibers (PALF), found mostly in the Tropical rain forest climates are ideal materials for manufacture of thermoplastic polymer‐matrix composites. Here, mechanical and thermal properties of composites of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA‐g‐PP) and chemically modified short PALF are studied as a function of different fiber lengths at 10 vol % fibers loading with fiber orientation in the longitudinal direction. The effects of fiber lengths and fiber loading on the morphological properties are assessed via observations by scanning electron microscopy. Fiber length of 6 mm oriented longitudinally at 10 vol % fibers loading in PP is the optimum and recommended composition, where 73% increase in impact properties, 37% increase in the flexural modulus, 33% increase in flexural strength, and 14% increase in vicat softening temperature are observed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

ZnO nanocones: Solvothermal synthesis and photoluminescence properties

Ellipsoidal and prism shaped ZnO nanocrystals with hexagonal cross-sections have been synthesized by a simple solvothermal process. The ellipsoidal ZnO nanocrystals possessed a unique hexagonal cross-section having two sharp pointed ends and a flattened central part. The well faceted prism like particles resembled hexagonal cones in their shape. Dimensions of the nanocrystals increased systematically with the increase in the synthesis temperature. The synthesized nanocrystals exhibited near band edge UV emission centered at ～400 nm. An additional defect related green emission band at ～500 nm was observed from the samples synthesized at higher temperatures.     

Endosonographic evaluation of the rectum in children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mechanism of the adverse relationship between perioperative blood transfusion and lung cancer recurrence, by focusing on endothelial cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), which are thought to play a role in distant tumor cell implantation. DESIGN AND OUTCOME MEASURES: Murine endothelial cells were cocultured with allogeneic leukocytes, syngeneic leukocytes, and syngeneic lung carcinoma cells for 60 hours. The percentage of endothelial cells expressing vascular CAMs (VCAMs) and intercellular CAMs (ICAMs) was quantified during this time using indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Tumor cell adhesion to the endothelium was quantified for 6 hours using cells labeled with sulfur 35 and a scintillation counter. SETTING: Laboratory. MATERIALS: C57/BL and Balb/C mice. RESULTS: Vascular CAM was not expressed on the endothelium, but ICAM was preferentially expressed without stimulation. Tumor-cell adhesion and endothelial ICAM expression were inversely related. After 15 hours of coculture, tumor cell adhesion was four-fold greater in the experimental group than in the control, and coincident endothelial ICAM expression was fourfold lower. CONCLUSION: Endothelial cell ICAM expression is negatively correlated with metastatic potential.     

Linewidth measurements and phase locking of Josephson oscillatorsusing RSFQ circuits

We present a technique for linewidth measurement and phase-locking of Josephson oscillators using digital rapid single-flux-quantum (RSFQ) circuits. The oscillator consists of a resistively shunted 6 μm×6 μm Nb/AlO_x/Nb Josephson tunnel junction that is integrated with RSFQ input and output circuits. A cascade of RSFQ T flip-flops is used to directly monitor the output of the Josephson oscillator. Spectral characteristics have been measured directly for oscillator frequencies ranging from 10-50 GHz. The linewidth can be reduced by over 100 times by phase-locking the oscillator to an RSFQ pulse train generated by an external sinusoidal signal. These Josephson oscillators can be used as on-chip stable high frequency clocks for RSFQ circuits     

Changes in fatty acid composition of phospholipids from liver microsomes and nuclei in rats fed a choline-free diet

Male F-344 rats were fed a choline-free (CF) diet, and changes in phospholipid content, phospholipid fatty acids and phospholipase A₂ activity in liver nuclei and microsomes were examined during the first 72 hr. Both nuclei and microsomes showed a decrease in phosphatidylcholine (PC) content. Microsomes showed an increase in PC arachidonate while nuclei showed a decrease. Also, microsomes showed increased activity of phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) while nuclei did not. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the absence of diene conjugates in liver microsomes in the rats on the CF diet may reflect the increased rate of removal of peroxidized fatty acids by phospholipase A₂.     

Aberrant retropharyngeal lymph nodes of a horse (Equus caballus)

The occurrence of aberrant lymph nodes, on both sides of the head of a horse, belonging to the retropharyngeal lymphocenter has been reported.