Stability of stainless-steel nanoparticle and water mixtures

Fluids containing particles that are small enough to remain in suspension over prolonged periods of time sometimes exhibit exceptional thermal properties. While considerable work has been reported on such mixtures based on oxides, inert powders and non-corrosive fluids, the present work explores the stability and thermal conductivity of mixtures of fine particles of stainless steel and pure water. In particular, aspects of sedimentation and the ability to obtain dispersals of particles with the fluid and avoid agglomeration were studied. Amongst the parameters studied, it is found that controlling the hydrogen ion concentration helps to stabilise the mixtures more than the addition of surfactants in case of 0.017 wt% stainless steel-water fluids. This is important in obtaining ζ-potentials that are large enough to sustain a significant repulsion between like particles in the fluid. The work forms the foundation of future studies on the properties of such mixtures, especially for heavy metallic particles. For 0.017wt% stainless steel-distilled water nanoparticle-fluid, the thermal conductivity increases by 8.3% at the optimal stability condition of pH 11.This is the accepted manuscript. The final version is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003259101400936X

3D-Printed Drug/Cell Carrier Enabling Effective Release of Cyclosporin A for Xenogeneic Cell-Based Therapy

Systemic administration of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA) is frequently associated with a number of side effects; therefore, sometimes it cannot be applied in sufficient dosage after allogeneic or xenogeneic cell transplantation. Local delivery is a possible solution to this problem. We used 3D printing to develop a CsA-loaded 3D drug carrier for the purpose of local and sustained delivery of CsA. The carrier is a hybrid of CsA-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microsphere-loaded hydrogel and a polymeric framework so that external force can be endured under physiological conditions. The expression of cytokines, which are secreted by spleen cells activated by Con A, and which are related to immune rejection, was significantly decreased in vitro by the released CsA from the drug carrier. Drug carriers seeded with xenogeneic cells (human lung fibroblast) were subcutaneously implanted into the BALB/c mouse. As a result, T-cell-mediated rejection was also significantly suppressed for 4 weeks. These results show that the developed 3D drug carrier can be used as an effective xenogeneic cell delivery system with controllable immunosuppressive drugs for cell-based therapy.1176Ysciescopu

Hydrogen diffusion and the percolation of austenite in nanostructured bainitic steel

The diffusion of hydrogen in austenite is slower than in ferrite. Experiments have been conducted to study the behaviour of hydrogen in a nanostructured steel sample consisting of a mixture of thin plates of bainitic ferrite and intervening films of retained austenite, with the latter phase present in a quantity larger than the percolation threshold, i.e. it has three-dimensional connectivity. The structure was then heat treated to control the fraction of austenite, and hence to study the role of hydrogen when the austenite decomposes below the value required to sustain percolation. The experiments have involved both thermal desorption analysis and permeation, and when combined with theoretical analysis, indicate a significant influence of percolating austenite in hindering the passage of hydrogen into the steel during hydrogen charging, and its permeation through the composite nanostructure. The effect is not as large as might be expected from a simple comparison of independent data on the diffusivities of hydrogen in the two lattices, because the effective diffusivity in ferrite is found to be much smaller than in the defect-free ferrite, owing to trapping effects. The morphology of the austenite is demonstrated to play a role by comparing with a sample containing a larger volume fraction of austenite but present as isolated grains which are ineffective to the permeation of hydrogen.X1199Ysciescopu

Emeishan Basalts, SW China: Reappraisal of the formation's type area stratigraphy and a discussion of its significance as a large igneous province

The late Permian Emeishan Basalt Formation of SW China is one of Earth's LIPs (large igneous provinces), yet its basic geology remains poorly documented. Recent work on sections close to the type area in Sichuan Province enable us in part to rectify this. Descriptions of the formation and associated units at two areas, one on the lower flanks of Mt Emei and another from a series of outercrops in Ebian County, 50-70 km to the SW, are presented. The basalt pile is 180-270 m thick and in both areas comprises 12 flows that were erupted in relatively quick succession. It rests conformably upon shallow-marine limestones/lignites suggesting emplacement close to sea level. The upper half of the youngest basalt was intensively weathered, but not eroded, prior to it being conformably succeeded by complex body of rocks c. 30 m thick, that includes thin basalts, pyroclastic rocks, tuffs and organic-rich terrestrial sediments. This unit, which has previously been described as a sedimentary package, presumably because intense weathering has obscured the primary lithological fabric in key outcrops, is considered to mark the volcanic waning phase. Uppermost Permian and Triassic terrestrial sediments conformably overlie the terminal volcanic rocks. The sub-regional stratigraphy is compared, as best it can be, with that described from two sections 400 km to the SE; one section matches reasonably well, the other does not, indicating that regional correlations need to be developed carefully. The information is discussed in the context of LIP generator models; several key features of the Emeishan Basalt terrain are at odds with those commonly encountered in LIP's. The most important conclusion is that the unit marks a prematurely terminated system in which full bloodied rifting leading to the development of an ocean basin never started.published_or_final_versio

Sorghum cobalt analysis on not determined wave length with atomic absorption spectrophotometer on background correction mode

This study was to know the better wave length on measuring cobalt content in forage sorghum hybrid (Sorghum bicolor) with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The analysis was on background correction mode with three wave lengths; 240.8, 240.7 (determined wave length or recommended wave length) and 240.6 nm, respectively. The larger absorbance value on the 240.7 nm, apparently, it might be considered as a good wave length but the smaller background value was a more important factor for the analysis as was shown on 240.6 nm. Correlation coefficients between the values on 240.7 nm: 240.6 nm and between them (240.8 nm: 240.6 nm) were higher and this common 240.6 nm was considered the better wave length.Key words: Atomic absorption spectrophotometer; background correction mode, cobalt analysis, forage sorghum, not determined wave lengths

Coping with workplace incivility in hospital teams: How does team mindfulness influence prevention and promotion focused emotional coping?

Incivility is a growing concern for researchers and practitioners alike, yet we know little about how the team context is related to the way that employees respond to it. In this study, we examined the role of team mindfulness and its direct and buffering effects on individual-level promotion- and prevention-focused emotional coping. We also examined how these forms of coping were related to individual work engagement. In a temporally lagged study of 73 hospital teams (involving 440 team members), multi-level analyses showed that team mindfulness was directly negatively associated with individual-level prevention-focused emotional coping (behavioral disengagement, denial, and venting); however, it was not positively related to individual-level promotion-focused forms of coping (positive reframing and acceptance). In addition, a cross-level interaction effect was identified whereby team mindfulness reduced the positive relationship between incivility and venting, meaning there was less individual-level venting following incivility in the context of higher team mindfulness. These findings may have implications for work engagement, which was shown to be negatively related to venting and behavioral disengagement. Our findings are useful for managers of teams that regularly experience customer incivility as it uncovers how they can develop a team context that discourages ineffective coping responses

How liquid are banks : some evidence from the United Kingdom

This paper uses quantitative balance sheet liquidity analysis, based upon modified versions of the BCBS 1 and Moody’s 2 models, to provide indicators which would alarm the UK banks’ short and long-term liquidity positions respectively. These information will also underpin other research related liquidity risk to banks’ lending and performance. Our framework accurately reflect UK banks’ liquidity positions under both normal and stress scenarios based on the consistent accounting information under IFRS. It has significant contribution on Basel III liquidity ratios calculation. The study also presents fundamental financial information to facilitate analysis of banks’ business models and funding strategies. Using data for the period 2005-2010, we provide evidence that there have been variable liquidity strains across the UK banks in our sample. The estimated results show that Barclays Bank was the only bank to maintain a healthy short-term liquidity position throughout the sample period; while HSBC remained liquid in the short term, in both normal and stress conditions, except in 2008 and 2010. RBS, meanwhile, maintained healthy long-term liquidity positions from 2008 after receiving government injections of capital. And Santander UK was also able to post healthy long-term liquidity positions, except in 2009. However, the other four banks, the Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB, Natwest, and Standard Chartered, proved illiquid, on both a short-term and long-term basis, throughout the six-year period, with Natwest being by far the worst performer

Interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme-like protease cleaves DNA-dependent protein kinase in cytotoxic T cell killing.

Cytotoxic T cells (CTL) represent the major defense mechanism against the spread of virus infection. It is believed that the pore-forming protein, perforin, facilitates the entry of a series of serine proteases (particularly granzyme B) into the target cell which ultimately leads to DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. We demonstrate here that during CTL-mediated cytolysis the catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs), an enzyme implicated in the repair of double strand breaks in DNA, is specifically cleaved by an interleukin (IL)-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE)-like protease. A serine protease inhibitor, 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (DCl), which is known to block granzyme B activity, inhibited CTL-induced apoptosis and prevented the degradation of DNA-PKcs in cells but failed to prevent the degradation of purified DNA-PKcs by CTL extracts. However, Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-CH2Cl (YVAD-CMK) and other cysteine protease inhibitors prevented the degradation of purified DNA-PKcs by CTL extracts. Furthermore, incubation of DNA-PKcs with granzyme B did not produce the same cleavage pattern observed in cells undergoing apoptosis and when this substrate was incubated with either CTL extracts or the ICE-like protease, CPP32. Sequence analysis revealed that the cleavage site in DNA-PKcs during CTL killing was the same as that when this substrate was exposed to CPP32. This study demonstrates for the first time that the cleavage of DNA-PKcs in this intact cell system is exclusively due to an ICE-like protease

Transitions/relaxations in polyester adhesive/PET system

The correlations between the transitions and the dielectric relaxation processes of the oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) pre-impregnated of the polyester thermoplastic adhesive have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic dielectric spectroscopy (DDS). The thermoplastic polyester adhesive and the oriented PET films have been studied as reference samples. This study evidences that the adhesive chain segments is responsible for the physical structure evolution in the PET-oriented film. The transitions and dielectric relaxation modes’ evolutions in the glass transition region appear characteristic of the interphase between adhesive and PET film, which is discussed in terms of molecular mobility. The storage at room temperature of the adhesive tape involves the heterogeneity of the physical structure, characterized by glass transition dissociation. Thus, the correlation between the transitions and the dielectric relaxation processes evidences a segregation of the amorphous phases. Therefore, the physical structure and the properties of the material have been linked to the chemical characteristics

Quantum nondemolition measurement of mechanical motion quanta

The fields of opto- and electromechanics have facilitated numerous advances in the areas of precision measurement and sensing, ultimately driving the studies of mechanical systems into the quantum regime. To date, however, the quantization of the mechanical motion and the associated quantum jumps between phonon states remains elusive. For optomechanical systems, the coupling to the environment was shown to preclude the detection of the mechanical mode occupation, unless strong single photon optomechanical coupling is achieved. Here, we propose and analyse an electromechanical setup, which allows to overcome this limitation and resolve the energy levels of a mechanical oscillator. We find that the heating of the membrane, caused by the interaction with the environment and unwanted couplings, can be suppressed for carefully designed electromechanical systems. The results suggest that phonon number measurement is within reach for modern electromechanical setups.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures plus 24 pages, 11 figures supplemental materia