Occurrence and characterisation of the hydrogen-evolving enzyme in Frankia sp.

An increase in hydrogen evolution from the hydrogen-evolving enzyme in the actinomycete Frankia was recorded in the presence of nickel. Immunogold localisation analysis of the intracellular distribution of hydrogenase proteins indicated that they were evenly distributed in the membranes and cytosol of both hyphae and vesicles. In addition, molecular characterisation of the hydrogen-evolving enzyme at the proteomic level, using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis combined with mass spectrometry, confirmed that the Frankia hydrogen-evolving enzyme is similar to the cyanobacterial bidirectional hydrogenase of Anabena siamensis.     

Plaque herniation through an intracoronary stent

We present a case where a Wiktor intracoronary stent was inserted for 'poor angiographic result' following balloon angioplasty. Despite appropriate positioning and repeated dilation of the stent a suboptimal result was achieved because of plaque herniation through the stent. The case emphasizes that the choice of stent used is important and will become more so as the number of choices available increases.     

Studies on the dielectric and relaxor behavior of sol-gel derived barium strontium zirconate titanate thin films

The dielectric behavior of sol-gel derived Ba_0.80Sr_0.20(Zr_xTi_1−x)O₃ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.50) thin films is studied. A relaxor behavior is observed for x ≥ 0.35. The degree of relaxation increases with Zr content. The frequency dependence of the polar regions follows Vogel-Fulcher relation with a characteristic cooperative freezing at freezing temperature (T_f). Below T_f, a long range polarization ordering is likely to take place. The plausible mechanism of the relaxor behavior of BSZT thin films with Zr contents ≥ 0.35 has been proposed based on the measured temperature as well as frequency dependent dielectric data. The solid solution system is visualized as a mixture of Ti^+ 4 rich polar regions and Zr^+ 4 rich regions; with the increase in Zr content the volume fraction of the polar regions is progressively reduced. At and above 35.0 at.% Zr substitution the polar regions exhibit typical relaxor behavior.