An efficient birdcage resonator at 2.5 MHz using a novel multilayer self-capacitance construction technique

The birdcage resonator, well appreciated for its high signal-to-noise ratio and its magnetic field uniformity characteristics, operates efficiently in mid- to high-field MRI systems but, unfortunately not for low-field (<0.4 T) applications. The inherently low inductance of the birdcage architecture is the main obstacle to achieving low-frequency resonance because of the need to use very high-value capacitors for the tuning. Small-case-size, high-value ceramic capacitors are known to have high dissipation factors which when used in the fabrication of RF coils could result in poor efficiency. To overcome this limitation, a novel technique known as multilayer self-capacitance (MLSC) construction has been developed and a prototype 2.5-MHz bird-cage resonator of length 25 cm and diameter 20 cm has been built. The technique involves the modification of the leg sections of the conductors constituting the bird cage into integrated capacitors using very low-loss materials as dielectrics. The observed unloaded Q-factor was 267 using the MLSC construction, and when loaded with a 16-cm-diameter bottle of 0.45% saline, its Q dropped to 246, The RF field uniformity plots have demonstrated that the MLSC technique has no adverse effects on the magnetic field homogeneity of the bird-cage resonator.     

Molecular design of transition metal alkynyl complexes as building blocks for luminescent metal-based materials: structural and photophysical aspects

In this Account, the design and successful isolation of a series of soluble di- and polynuclear alkynyl complexes of selected metals with d(8) and d(10) electronic configurations are described. These organometallic complexes are found to exhibit rich photophysical and photochemical properties that are unique to the presence of the alkynyl ligand. By a systematic variation of the nature of the ligands, the metal centers, and certain structural features, the photophysical properties could be readily varied and their spectroscopic origins elucidated. Some of these complexes have been shown to be ideal building blocks for the design of luminescent organometallic oligomers and metal-based functional materials.     

RB Regulates DNA Double Strand Break Repair Pathway Choice by Mediating CtIP Dependent End Resection

Inactivation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene (RB1) leads to genome instability, and can be detected in retinoblastoma and other cancers. One damaging effect is causing DNA double strand breaks (DSB), which, however, can be repaired by homologous recombination (HR), classical non-homologous end joining (C-NHEJ), and micro-homology mediated end joining (MMEJ). We aimed to study the mechanistic roles of RB in regulating multiple DSB repair pathways. Here we show that HR and C-NHEJ are decreased, but MMEJ is elevated in RB-depleted cells. After inducing DSB by camptothecin, RB co-localizes with CtIP, which regulates DSB end resection. RB depletion leads to less RPA and native BrdU foci, which implies less end resection. In RB-depleted cells, less CtIP foci, and a lack of phosphorylation on CtIP Thr847, are observed. According to the synthetic lethality principle, based on the altered DSB repair pathway choice, after inducing DSBs by camptothecin, RB depleted cells are more sensitive to co-treatment with camptothecin and MMEJ blocker poly-ADP ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) inhibitor. We propose a model whereby RB can regulate DSB repair pathway choice by mediating the CtIP dependent DNA end resection. The use of PARP1 inhibitor could potentially improve treatment outcomes for RB-deficient cancers.     

Dendrimer-encapsulated metal nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and applications to catalysis

This Account reports the synthesis and characterization of dendrimer-encapsulated metal nanoparticles and their applications to catalysis. These materials are prepared by sequestering metal ions within dendrimers followed by chemical reduction to yield the corresponding zerovalent metal nanoparticle. The size of such particles depends on the number of metal ions initially loaded into the dendrimer. Intradendrimer hydrogenation and carbon-carbon coupling reactions in water, organic solvents, biphasic fluorous/organic solvents, and supercritical CO2 are also described.     

n- and p-Type modulation of ZnO nanomesh coated graphene field effect transistors

Periodic zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomeshes of different thicknesses were deposited on single-layer graphene to form back-gated field effect transistors (GFETs). The GFETs exhibit tunable electronic properties, featuring n- and p-type characteristics by merely controlling the thickness of the ZnO nanomesh layer. Furthermore, the effect of thermal strain on the GFETs from the substrate is suppressed by the ZnO nanomesh, which improves the thermal stability of the GFETs. This nanopatterning technique could modulate the electronic properties of the GFETs effectively.     

Effect of the reaction bath temperature in a fixed-bed reactor for oxidation of oxylene over V2O5/TiO2 catalysts

The effects of the reaction variables in the operation of a fixed-bed reactor for oxidation ofo-xylene over V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalysts were studied experimentally using a bench reactor. Reaction temperature, feed flow rate and feed concentration ofo-xylene were found to have significant effects on the product distribution and the temperature profile in the reactor. Drastic enhancements ofo-xylene oxidation reaction were observed at some conditions, which was ascribed to the effect of heat accumulated in the bed and indicated a possible way to increase the productivity in the industrial condition. This paper was presented at the 8th APCChE (Asia Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering) Congress held at Seoul between August 16 and 19, 1999.     

The influence of heat treatment on the properties of shape memory fibers. II. Tensile properties,dimensional stability,recovery force relaxation,and thermomechanical cyclic properties

Shape memory fibers (SMFs) were prepared via a melt spinning process. The fibers were subject to different heat treatments to eliminate internal stress and structure deficiency caused during the melt spinning process. The influences of heat treatments on the SMF thermal properties, molecular orientation, tensile properties, dimensional stability, recovery force relaxation, and thermomechanical cyclic properties were studied. It was found that the heat treatments increased soft segment crystallinity and phase separation while decreased molecular orientation. The low‐temperature heat treatment increased the breaking elongation, shape fixity ratios, and decreased boiling water shrinkage while shape recovery ratios were decreased. High‐temperature treatment increased both the shape recovery ratios, fixity ratios, recovery stress stability and at the same time decreasing the fiber mechanical strength. The results from differential scanning calorimetry, molecular orientation apparatus, and cyclic tensile testing were used to illustrate the mechanism governing the mechanical properties and shape memory effect. To obtain comprehensive outstanding properties, the SMF is expected to be treated at a high temperature because of the hard segment high glass transition temperature. Unfortunately, the heat treatment could not be conducted at a too high temperature because the SMF became too tacky and soft due to the melting of the soft segment phase. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Dynamic modelling of CO2 absorption for post combustion capture in coal-fired power plants

Power generation from fossil fuel-fired power plants is the largest single source of CO₂ emissions. Post combustion capture via chemical absorption is viewed as the most mature CO₂ capture technique. This paper presents a study of the post combustion CO₂ capture with monoethanolamine (MEA) based on dynamic modelling of the process. The aims of the project were to compare two different approaches (the equilibrium-based approach versus the rate-based approach) in modelling the absorber dynamically and to understand the dynamic behaviour of the absorber during part load operation and with disturbances from the stripper. A powerful modelling and simulation tool gPROMS was chosen to implement the proposed work. The study indicates that the rate-based model gives a better prediction of the chemical absorption process than the equilibrium-based model. The dynamic simulation of the absorber indicates normal absorber column operation could be maintained during part load operation by maintaining the ratio of the flow rates of the lean solvent and flue gas to the absorber. Disturbances in the CO₂ loading of the lean solvent to the absorber significantly affect absorber performance. Further work will extend the dynamic modelling to the stripper for whole plant analysis.     

Zeolites in Microsystems for Chemical Synthesis and Energy Generation

Zeolites were incorporated as membrane and catalyst in chemical microsystems for portable energy generation and fine chemical synthesis. Microfabricated HZSM-5 micromembrane was used as a proton-exchange membrane in a miniature direct methanol fuel cell (μ-DMFC). The good proton conductivity of HZSM-5 micromembrane was attributed to a Grotthus-like diffusion of protons along the water molecules bridging neighboring aluminum sites in the hydrated HZSM-5. The 6-μm thick HZSM-5 micromembrane exhibited comparable proton flux as Nafion^® 117 and delivered a P _max of 2.9 mW cm^?2 (E = 0.33 V) at room temperature. This is smaller compared to 16.5 mW cm^?2 (E = 0.23 V) for a Nafion^®-based μ-DMFC and was believed to be caused by adsorbed methanol molecules interrupting the proton transport along the water bridge. A Cs-exchanged NaX on NaA bilayer catalyst-membrane incorporated in microreactor channels was used for the Knoevenagel condensation reactions between benzaldehyde and (1) ethyl cyanoacetate, (2) ethyl acetoacetate (EAA) and (3) diethyl malonate. Microreactor and membrane microreactor gave higher conversion compared to fixed-bed and batch reactors, but the reaction of benzaldehyde and EAA in the microreactor had poorer selectivity due to the slow diffusion of the product molecules in the microchannel that allowed their further reactions to form undesired byproducts.