The press as a vehicle for the introduction of a fashionable disease]

Two journalists wrote a book on HPU (haemopyrrol-lactamuria), a hitherto unknown metabolic disease that was alleged to cause a whole range of complaints. The book is based on the ideas of a biochemist who is also the director of a commercial organisation that offers a diagnostic test as well as a therapy (nutrition supplement) for HPU. The release of the book was accompanied by a press release that provoked various publications in both biomedical journals and the lay press. In response to these reports, the director sometimes registered a complaint with the Dutch Council for Journalism, but on other occasions he did not. The content of this book is in no way based on scientific research. In retrospect, it is obvious that the authors, the biochemist and the publishing company have joint commercial ties. All professional standards of scientific research and journalistic decency are thus being violated. In this way, they are doing harm to the independence and integrity of researchers and journalists in the public image. All the activities of the press seem to have been an essential part of a deliberate marketing strategy for the introduction of a non-disease.     

Influence of Microstructure and Surface Activation of Dual‐Phase Membrane Ce0.8Gd0.2O2−δ–FeCo2O4 on Oxygen Permeation

Dual‐phase oxygen transport membranes are fast‐growing research interest for application in oxyfuel combustion process. One such potential candidate is CGO‐FCO (60 wt% Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2?δ–40 wt% FeCo₂O₄) identified to provide good oxygen permeation flux with substantial stability in harsh atmosphere. Dense CGO‐FCO membranes of 1 mm thickness were fabricated by sintering dry pellets pressed from powders synthesized by one‐pot method (modified Pechini process) at 1200°C for 10 h. Microstructure analysis indicates presence of a third orthorhombic perovskite phase in the sintered composite. It was also identified that the spinel phase tends to form an oxygen deficient phase at the grain boundary of spinel and CGO phases. Surface exchange limitation of the membranes was overcome by La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3?δ (LSCF) porous layer coating over the composite. The oxygen permeation flux of the CGO‐FCO screen printed with a porous layer of 10 μm thick LSCF is 0.11 mL/cm² per minute at 850°C with argon as sweep and air as feed gas at the rates of 50 and 250 mL/min.     

Development of a metallic/ceramic composite for the deposition of thin-film oxygen transport membrane

Asymmetric perovskite membranes have an attractive potential in the application of O₂/N₂ gas separation for future membrane-based power plants using oxyfuel technology. In this study – a metal-supported membrane structure with a thin-film perovskite layer and porous ceramic interlayers was developed. Porous NiCoCrAlY sintered at 1225 °C in H₂ was selected as the substrate based on a sufficient permeability and corrosion resistance in co-firing conditions. According to the oxidation behaviour of NiCoCrAlY, the temperature for co-firing of the substrate and the interlayers was defined as 1100 °C for 5 h in air. Two interlayers of La_0.58Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3?δ were applied by screen printing. The top layer was deposited by magnetron sputtering with a thickness of 3.8 μm. While gas-tightness was improved considerably, significant air-leakage was still detected. In summary, the successful development of a metal-perovskite-composite is shown, which acts as a basis for further development of a gas-tight metal-supported oxygen transport membrane structure.     

Posttranslational processing and identification of a neutralization domain of the GP4 protein encoded by ORF4 of Lelystad virus

GP4 is a minor structural glycoprotein encoded by ORF4 of Lelystad virus (LV). When it was immunoprecipitated from cell lysates and extracellular virus of CL2621 cells infected with LV, it was shown to have an apparent molecular mass of approximately 28 and 31 kDa, respectively. This difference in size occurred because its core N-glycans were modified to complex type N-glycans during the transport of the protein through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi compartment. A panel of 15 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reacted with the native GP4 protein expressed by LV and the recombinant GP4 protein expressed in a Semliki Forest virus expression system. However, these MAbs did not react with the GP4 protein of U.S. isolate VR2332. To map the binding site of the MAbs, chimeric constructs composed of ORF4 of LV and VR2332 were generated. The reactivity of these constructs indicated that all the MAbs were directed against a region spanning amino acids 40 to 79 of the GP4 protein of LV. Six MAbs reacted with solid-phase synthetic dodecapeptides. The core of this site consists of amino acids 59 to 67 (SAAQEKISF). Comparison of the amino acid sequences of GP4 proteins from various European and North American isolates indicated that the neutralization domain spanning amino acids 40 to 79 is the most variable region of GP4. The neutralization domain of GP4, described here, is the first identified for LV.     

Total dose and transient radiation effects on GaAs MMICs

To elucidate the effects of radiation on GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), radiation-induced changes in DC parameters of test FETs and in the measured microwave performance of MMICs were compared. Changes in material parameters determined from the DC results were used to model the observed microwave performance degradation. In addition, the effect of accumulated radiation damage in MMICs was studied in terms of the amplifier response to transient radiation pulses. The effect of 1-MeV electron irradiation on microwave response and transient radiation pulse response was measured in 0.5- to 12.5-GHz distributed amplifiers (ion-implanted) and in 28-GHz power amplifiers (with epitaxially grown active layers)     

Characterization of La0.995Ca0.005NbO4/Ni anode functional layer by electrophoretic deposition in a La0.995Ca0.005NbO4 electrolyte based PCFC

The Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) technique has been applied to the preparation of a porous La_0.995Ca_0.005NbO₄/Ni composite anode layer, deposited on a porous pre-sintered La_0.995Ca_0.005NbO₄/Ni support. Powders of La_0.995Ca_0.005NbO₄ and NiO were suspended in a solution of acetylacetone, iodine and water. Selectivity in the composition of the deposited layer was analyzed as a function of the suspension compositions and deposition conditions. A quasi-symmetrical cell was produced by depositing La_0.995Ca_0.005NbO₄ electrolyte layer on the anode layer by EPD, and by applying a porous La_0.995Ca_0.005NbO₄/Ni counter electrode on the dense electrolyte layer by brushing. The performance of the electrodes was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 3% wet H_2.     

Overview,testing and solutions to ESD‐induced,solar‐array string,on‐orbit failures

Geostationary satellites have had sections of their high‐voltage GaAs (and perhaps silicon) solar arrays fail abruptly on orbit. The recent (1997/8) occurrence of the problem was shown to correlate highly with active Geomagnetic‐substorm activity (of the type that can result in spacecraft charging events) and thus was attributed to electrostatic discharge (ESD). A review of the cause and damage mechanisms of the effect is provided, along with the array requirements for this type of damage and the solutions to the problem. A comparison is made between several aspects of silicon and GaAs cells and how these could affect the probability of such damage. An extended discussion of the various points includes speculation about earlier solar‐cell‐string failures on silicon arrays. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of the emission mechanism in milled SrAl₂O₄:Eu, Dy using optical and synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy

There currently exists much debate as to the active state related to the "long afterglow" effect in europium doped oxide materials. Redox couples that consist of Eu(+/2+) and Eu(2+/3+) are discussed, but no common answer is currently accepted. Here, we present a comparison of the optical properties of a commercially available SrAl(2)O(4):Eu, Dy phosphor, as a function of nanoparticle size reduction via dry mechanical milling. X-ray and optical spectroscopic data indicate a significant decrease in phosphorescence efficiency and an increase in laser stimulated emission efficiency as near surface Eu(2+) ions are oxidized to Eu(3+) as a consequence of increased exposure during the milling process. These results show evidence only for Eu(2+/3+) oxidation states, suggesting the mechanism related to long afterglow effect does not arise from Eu(+) species. We also suggest that size reduction, as a rule, cannot be universally applied to improve optical properties of nanostructures.     

Natural antibodies related to energy balance in early lactation dairy cows

The objectives of this study were to determine the presence of natural antibodies (NAb) in plasma and milk of individual dairy cows and to study the relation between NAb concentrations and energy balance (EB) and dietary energy source. Cows (n = 76) were fed a mainly glucogenic, lipogenic, or a mixture of both diets (50:50 dry matter basis) from wk 3 before the expected calving date until wk 9 postpartum. Diets were isocaloric (net energy basis) and equal in intestinal digestible protein. Blood and milk were sampled weekly. Liver biopsies were taken in wk −2, 2, 4, and 6 relative to calving. Data are expressed as LSM ± SEM. The NAb titers are expressed as the ²log values of the highest dilution giving a positive reaction. The NAb concentration in plasma binding either keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) or Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased with parity. The NAb concentration binding KLH was greater for cows fed the glucogenic diet (9.63 ± 0.08) compared with the lipogenic diet (9.26 ± 0.08). In milk, cows fed the glucogenic diet had smaller NAb concentrations binding KLH (3.98 ± 0.18) and LPS (2.88 ± 0.17) compared with cows fed the mixed diet (KLH: 4.93 ± 0.18; LPS: 3.70 ± 0.17). The NAb concentration in plasma had a positive relation with energy balance variables: EB, dry matter intake, milk yield, and plasma cholesterol, whereas NAb concentration in milk had a negative relation with energy balance variables: EB, dry matter intake, and plasma cholesterol. Additionally, NAb concentrations in milk had a positive relation with plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentration and milk fat and protein percentage. There was a tendency for a positive relation of NAb concentration binding LPS in plasma and somatic cell count in milk. No significant relations were detected between NAb concentrations in milk or plasma and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentration and liver triacyl glyceride content. In conclusion, NAb are present in both milk and plasma of dairy cows peripartum and NAb concentrations increase with parity. Furthermore, our data indicate that a negative energy balance in dairy cows in early lactation can be associated with compromised innate immune function as indicated by decreased NAb concentration in plasma.