Synthesis and characterization of La0.8Sr0.2MO3−δ (M=Mn, Fe, or Co) cathode materials by induction plasma technology

In this work, nanopowders of perovskite cathode materials (La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO_3−δ, La_0.8Sr_0.2FeO_3−δ, and La_0.8Sr_0.2CoO_3−δ), for use in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), were successfully synthesized, using induction plasma techniques. Their compositions, structures, morphology, particle size distributions, and BET specific surface areas were determined for comparison with their counterparts prepared by the Pechini method and by the glycine-nitrate combustion (GNC) technique. The particle sizes of the plasma-synthesized powders are mostly around 63 nm. These plasma-synthesized powders are generally globular, their BET specific surface areas being about 26 m²g⁻¹, approximately twice those of powders prepared by the GNC and Pechini methods. These plasma-synthesized powders are readily reproducible and are not agglomerated. Their individual particle sizes and distributions are very independent of their composition.     

Activity measurements of Al and Cu in Si–Al–Cu melt at 1273 and 1373 K by the equilibration with molten Pb

For the effective control of Al introduction to solidified Si during the solidification refining of Si with the Si–Al-based melt for the solar cell material or the LPE Si film growth processes from the Si–Cu–Al solvent, thermodynamic properties of the Si–Al–Cu melt were investigated at 1273 and 1373 K. Activities of Al and Cu in the Si–Al–Cu melt were measured by the equilibration with molten Pb. Also, the excess Gibbs energy of the melt was studied by the ternary regular solution model.

The evaluated thermodynamic properties of the Si–Al–Cu melt indicated that Cu addition to the Si–Al melt brings the smaller activity coefficient of Al and is effective for reducing the Al content of solidified Si from the melt more effectively than its dilution effect for Al.     

Influence of Plasma Instabilities in Ceramic Suspension Plasma Spraying

Direct current Suspension Plasma Spraying (SPS) allows depositing finely structured coatings. This article presents an analysis of the influence of plasma instabilities on the yttria-stabilized suspension drops fragmentation. A particular attention is paid to the treatment of suspension jet or drops according to the importance of voltage fluctuations (linked to those of the arc root) and depending on the different spray parameters such as the plasma forming gas mixture composition and mass flow rate and the suspension momentum. By observing the suspension drops injection with a fast shutter camera and a laser flash sheet triggered by a defined transient voltage level of the plasma torch, the influence of plasma fluctuations on jet or drops fragmentation is studied through the deviation and dispersion trajectories of droplets within the plasma jet. This article is an invited paper selected from presentations at the 2007 International Thermal Spray Conference and has been expanded from the original presentation. It is simultaneously published in Global Coating Solutions, Proceedings of the 2007 International Thermal Spray Conference, Beijing, China, May 14-16, 2007, Basil R. Marple, Margaret M. Hyland, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Chang-Jiu Li, Rogerio S. Lima, and Ghislain Montavon, Ed., ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 2007.     

Proteomics of plaques and novel sources of potential biomarkers for atherosclerosis

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and loss of productive life years in the world. The underlying syndrome of CVD, atherosclerosis, is a complex disease process, which involves lipid metabolism, inflammation, innate and adaptive immunity, and many other pathophysiological aspects. Furthermore, CVD is influenced by genetic as well as environmental factors. Early detection of CVD and identification of patients at risk are crucial to reduce the burden of disease and to allow personalized treatment. As established risk factors fail to accurately predict which part of the population is likely to suffer from the disease, novel biomarkers are urgently needed. Proteomics can play a significant role in identifying these biomarkers. In this review, we describe the progress made in proteome profiling of the atherosclerotic plaque and several novel sources of potential biomarkers, including circulating cells and plasma extracellular vesicles. The importance of longitudinal biobanking in biomarker discovery is highlighted and exemplified by several plaque proteins identified in the biobank study Athero-Express. Finally, we discuss the PTMs of proteins that are involved in atherosclerosis, which may become one of the foci in the ongoing quest for biomarkers through proteomics of plaque and other matrices relevant to the progression of atherosclerosis.     

Secretory profile of metapleural gland cells of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex coronatus (Formicidae: Attini)

Ants present a pair of metapleural glands located at the posterolateral end of the thorax. Because of its importance in the social organization of ants, the present study was aimed at describing the morphophysiology of this gland in three worker castes of Acromyrmex coronatus, focused on secretory activity using histological and histochemical techniques. Our findings revealed that the secretory and the storage portions of this gland are connected by extracytoplasmic portion of canaliculi that drain the secretion from each secretory cell to the collecting chamber. This secretion contains glycoproteins. In minor workers, the secretion contains higher levels of polysaccharides when compared to that of major workers, supporting the role of the metapleural gland in the maintenance of the fungus garden. The nucleus as well as cytoplasm of secretory cells were strongly positive for RNA indicating that these cells are active in the synthesis of proteins and lipids, compounds found in the final secretion. The variant of the CEC revealed that the secretory activity of the entire gland is synchronous, as all cells exhibit the result.     

光伏电池最大功率点跟踪方法比较

根据太阳能光伏电池的工程数学模型,在Matlab环境下建立了光伏电池仿真模型,分析了光照强度和温度变化对光伏电池输出特性的影响。针对扰动观察法采用固定的扰动步长而难以获得较高跟踪精度和响应速度的问题,提出了一种基于变步长的改进的扰动观察法,并通过对光伏电池控制系统进行仿真,比较了这2种最大功率点跟踪方法的仿真曲线。结果表明,采用改进的扰动观察法的光伏电池控制系统能更快速跟踪最大功率点,且在最大功率点处稳定性较好。     

基于光伏电池输出特性的MPPT算法研究

为了寻找更好的实现光伏发电系统最大功率点跟踪控制方法,基于单个光伏电池的物理特性建立了太阳能光伏电池阵列的Matlab仿真模型,分析了太阳能光伏电池阵列所具有的随着光照强度和温度不同而变化的P-U和I-U非线性特性.基于光伏电池的动态特性,在最大功率点跟踪算法的设计中增加一个电流监测回路,并结合自寻优技术对电导增量法进行改进,提出了一种自适应变步长寻优算法.仿真结果表明,该算法能够快速准确的跟踪最大功率点.     

结合先天和适应性免疫的蠕虫检测免疫模型

现有的蠕虫检测方法大多通过关闭不安全的端口,切断感染主机与未感染主机之间通信等方法延缓蠕虫传播而达到将损害减少到最低程度的目的.实际上在实施这些方法时往往有许多障碍需要克服,其中的最大障碍就是存在错误检测率高的问题.现将免疫危险理论中的DCs(树突状细胞,Dendritic Cells)-T细胞协同机制用于蠕虫检测,其中DCs属于先天免疫系统细胞,T细胞属于适应性免疫系统细胞.本模型将蠕虫进程触发的系统调用序列当作抗原,将感染蠕虫导致的主机和网络异常当作危险信号.在该模型中,DCs负责危险信号的收集检测并提呈与该危险信号关联的抗原给T细胞检测器进行抗原结构检测.理论分析说明,这样的双重检测方法可以降低伪肯定率和伪否定率,并且记忆T细胞检测器的采用能使系统对类似蠕虫的再次感染反应更加迅速.     

基于单元串联多电平型变频器的设计

针对现有高压变频器存在的问题,文章设计了一种新型变频器,详细介绍了该变频器功率单元的硬件组成、工作原理、电路设计及其软件控制的实现方法。该变频器采用单元串联多电平技术,可以得到阶梯SPWM波形,无需输出滤波器,可直接驱动普通电动机。     

RADIOIMMUNOTOXICOLOGICAL EFFECT OF ENRICHED URANIUM ON CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL IMMUNE CELLS AND THE PROTECTIVE ACTION OF IL－1 AND IL－2

ＲＡＤＩＯＩＭＭＵＮＯＴＯＸＩＣＯＬＯＧＩＣＡＬＥＦＦＥＣＴＯＦＥＮＲＩＣＨＥＤＵＲＡＮＩＵＭＯＮＣＥＮＴＲＡＬＡＮＤＰＥＲＩＰＨＥＲＡＬＩＭＭＵＮＥＣＥＬＬＳＡＮＤＴＨＥＰＲＯＴＥＣＴＩＶＥＡＣＴＩＯＮＯＦＩＬ－１ＡＮＤＩＬ－２￥ＺｈｕＳｈｏｕｐｅ...