Strengthening of copper matrix composites by nickel-coated single-walled carbon nanotube reinforcements

Mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of nickel-coated single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) reinforced copper matrix composites were investigated. The composites were fabricated by means of a powder metallurgy process, which consists of mixing nickel-coated carbon nanotubes with copper powders followed by hot-pressing. A homogeneous mixture could be obtained by the mechanical mixing process due to the similar density of nickel and copper. A high temperature displacement rate tester and a ball-on-disk device were employed to evaluate mechanical and tribological properties. Also, a four-point probe technique and a laser flash method were used to obtain electrical resistance and thermal conductivity. The mechanical and tribological properties of the copper matrix composites significantly improved by the incorporation of nickel-coated SWNT reinforcements. However, electrical resistance and thermal conductivity of the nickel-coated SWNT reinforced copper matrix composites were similar to those of the sintered nickel–copper specimens with the equivalent composition.     

Acheivement of Nano-Scale SiGe Layer with Discrete Ge Mole Fraction Profile Using Batch-Type HVCVD

The strained Si grown on the relaxed SiGe-on-insulator C-MOSFET's is a promising device for the future system LSI devices with the design rule of sub-micron. The achievement of the discrete Ge mole fraction in the SiGe layer is a key engineering in low-temperature SiGe epitaxial growth using HVCVD. The pre-flow of GeH4 gas enhanced the Ge mole fraction and SiGe layer thickness. In addition, the Ge mole fraction and SiGe layer thickness increases with the gas ratio of GeH4/SiH4 + GeH4, process temperature, and gas flow time. However, the haze was produced if the Ge mole fraction is above 22wt%. The discrete-like Ge mole fraction with 22 wt% in 10 nm SiGe layer was obtained by the pre-flow of GeH4 for 10 s, the mixture gas ratio of GeH4/SiH4 + GeH4 of 67%, and the gas flow time for 150 s at the process temperature of 550 C.     

Elastase and the LasA protease of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are secreted with their propeptides

Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase and the LasA protease are synthesized as preproenzymes with long amino-terminal propeptides. The elastase propeptide is cleaved autocatalytically in the periplasm to form a transient, inactive elastase-propeptide complex. In contrast, the processing of proLasA does not involve autoproteolysis. In this study, we analyzed short-term P. aeruginosa cultures under conditions that minimize proteolysis and found that an elastase-propeptide complex is secreted, and then the propeptide is degraded extracellularly, apparently by elastase itself. LasA protease, on the other hand, was found to be secreted in its unprocessed 42-kDa proenzyme form. The processing of proLasA occurred extracellularly, and it involved the transient appearance of a 28-kDa intermediate and the respective 14-kDa LasA propeptide fragment. The processing of proLasA in P. aeruginosa strain FRD740, which does not express elastase, also proceeded via the 28-kDa intermediate, but the rate of processing was greatly reduced. This low rate of proLasA processing was further reduced when the activity of a secreted lysine-specific protease was blocked. Purified secreted proteases of P. aeruginosa (i.e. elastase, the lysine-specific protease, and alkaline proteinase) converted proLasA to the active enzyme. Processing by elastase and the lysine-specific enzyme, but not by alkaline proteinase, proceeded via the 28-kDa intermediate, and both were far more effective than alkaline proteinase in converting proLasA to the mature enzyme. We conclude that LasA protease and elastase are secreted with their propeptides, which are then degraded by secreted proteases of P. aeruginosa. In addition to their other functions, the propeptides may play a role in targeting their respective enzymes across the outer membrane.     

Receptors involved in nerve-mediated vasoconstriction in small arteries of the rat hepatic mesentery

Systemic inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) causes acute insulin resistance (IR), but the mechanism is unknown. We tested whether L-NMMA-induced IR occurs via NOS blockade in the central nervous system (CNS). Six groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were studied after chronic implantation of an intracerebroventricular (ICV) catheter into the lateral ventricle and catheters into the carotid artery and jugular vein. Animals were studied after overnight food deprivation, awake, unrestrained, and unstressed; all ICV infusion of L-NMMA or D-NMMA (control) were performed with artificial cerebrospinal fluid. ICV administration of L-NMMA resulted in a 30% rise in the basal glucose level after 2 h, while ICV D-NMMA had no effect on glucose levels. Insulin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine levels were unchanged from baseline in both groups. Tracer (3H-3-glucose)-determined glucose disposal rates during 2 h euglycemic hyperinsulinemic (300 microU/ml) clamps performed after ICV administration of L-NMMA were reduced by 22% compared with D-NMMA. Insulin secretory responses to a hyperglycemic clamp and to a superimposed arginine bolus were reduced by 28% in L-NMMA-infused rats compared with D-NMMA. In conclusion, ICV administration of L-NMMA causes hyperglycemia via the induction of defects in insulin secretion and insulin action, thus recapitulating abnormalities observed in type 2 diabetes. The data suggest the novel concept that central NOS-dependent pathways may control peripheral insulin action and secretion. This control is not likely to be mediated via adrenergic mechanisms and could occur via nonadrenergic, noncholinergic nitrergic neural and/or endocrine pathways. These data support previously published data suggesting that CNS mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of some forms of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes independent of adiposity.