New method for coating microspheres with zirconium carbide and zirconium carbide--carbon graded coats

A new method for the chemical vapor deposition of ZrC and C--ZrC alloys has been developed. This process has been applied to the fabrication of coated particle nuclear fuels of the type used in the large High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor. A powder feeder is used to supply ZrCl$sub 4$ to the fluidized bed coating furnace where it undergoes reaction with a hydrocarbon to form ZrC. Quantitative metering of the ZrCl$sub 4$ makes it possible to control the deposition of the ZrC and the codeposition of the C--ZrC alloys on the fuel particles. Examples of both types of coats made using the described technique are discussed and illustrated. (auth

rf plasma synthesis of ultrafine, ultrapure silicon carbide powder

Ultrafine, ultrapure silicon carbide powder has been produced by reaction of silane and methane in a high temperature rf plasma. Preliminary studies include the effect of gas composition and of powder (plasma temperature) on the stoichiometry of the powder. The carbon-to-silicon ratio of the powder was varied from 1.0 to 1.9 by changing the process conditions. The powder has a BET surface area of 101 m/sup 2//g, which is equivalent to a particle diameter of 18.5 nm. A particle size in the range of 10 to 20 nm was measured by transmission electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction results indicate a domain size of 7.5 nm and a crystal structure of beta (cubic) silicon carbide. Spectrographic analysis shows that metallic impurities are lower than high quality grade commercial powder. Because of the high surface area, the powder must be stored and processed in an inert atmosphere to prevent severe contamination with oxygen

Release rates of liposomal contents are controlled by kosmotropes and chaotropes

Contents release from redox-responsive liposomes is anion-specific. Liposomal contents release is initiated by the contact of apposed liposome bilayers having in their outer leaflet 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphoethanolamine (DOPE), whose presence is due to the redox-stimulated removal of a quinone propionic acid protecting group (Q) from Q-DOPE lipids. Contents release occurs upon the phase transition of DOPE from its lamellar liquid-crystalline phase (Lα) to its hexagonal-II inverted micelle (HII) phase. Contents release is slower in the presence of weakly hydrated chaotropic anions versus highly hydrated kosmotropic anions and is attributed to ion accumulation near the zwitterionic DOPE headgroups, in turn altering the headgroup hydration, as indicated by the Lα → HII phase transition temperature, TH, for DOPE. The results are significant, not only for mechanistic aspects of liposome contents release in DOPE-based systems but also for drug delivery applications wherein exist at drug targeting sites variations in the type and concentration of ions and neutral species. © 2013 American Chemical Society

Histology of the vaginal wall in women with pelvic organ prolapse: a literature review.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The pathophysiology of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is incompletely understood. The purpose of this study is to describe the current knowledge about histology of the vaginal wall and its possible involvement in the pathogenesis of pelvic organ prolapse. METHODS: Eligible studies were selected through a MEDLINE search covering January 1986 to December 2012. The research was limited to English-language publications. RESULTS: Investigations of changes in the vaginal tissue that occur in women with genital prolapse are currently still limited and produced contrary results. The heterogeneity of the patients and the control groups in terms of age, parity and hormonal status, of the localization of biopsies and the histological methods as well as the lack of validation of the quantification procedures do not allow clear and definitive conclusions to be drawn. CONCLUSIONS: This review shows that current knowledge of the histological changes observed in women with POP are inconclusive and relatively limited. More studies are needed in this specific field to better understand the mechanisms that lead to POP