Use of Stable Iodine as Tracer in the Dynamic Functional Study of Human Thyroid

Over the last few years several interesting applications of the X-ray fluorescence induced by radioisotopic sources have been developed. In the medical and biological fields these concern primarily “in vitro” analyses [1–4] and more recently “in vivo” measurements in animals [5].     

Step-addition Method for Enhancing the Yield of Gold Nanoparticles in Block Copolymer Solution

Triblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) has been used to synthesize gold nanoparticles from hydrogen tetrachloroaureate (III) hydrate (HAuCl₄·3H₂O) salt in aqueous solution at room temperature. Measurements were performed using the triblock copolymer Pluronic P85 (EO₂₆PO₃₉EO₂₆) at a fixed concentration (1 wt%) mixed with varying HAuCl₄·3H₂O concentration in the range of 0.001 to 0.1 wt%. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band in UV-visible absorption spectra confirmed the formation of the gold nanoparticles. The maximum yield of the nanoparticles was found at 0.005 wt% of the salt solution. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) does not show any significant change in the scattering profile in these suspensions of the nanoparticles. A similar behavior was also observed in dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments where autocorrelation function was found to be independent of the salt concentration. This can be understood since a high-block copolymer-to-gold ion ratio (r ～ 22) is required in the reduction reaction to produce gold particles. As a result, a very small fraction of the block copolymers were associated with the gold nanoparticles, and hence lead to a very low yield. Both SANS and DLS basically see the micelles of most of these block copolymers, which are not associated with nanoparticles. Based on this explanation, a step-addition method was used to enhance the yield of gold nanoparticles by manifold, where the gold salt is added in small steps to maintain higher value of r (>22), and therefore continuous formation of nanoparticles.     

Application of 35S as a Radioactive Tracer for a Determination of the Composition and the Structure of Dispersion Coatings,Containing MoS2

A method is proposed for the determination of the content and distribution of MoS₂ in Ni-P-MoS₂, coatings deposited on a steel using ³⁵S as a radioactive tracer. ³⁵S is isolated and measured as BaSO₄. At the same time this approach gives the possibility to perform an autoradiographic investigation which enlarges the metallographic data.     

Successive,Seed‐Mediated Growth for the Synthesis of Single‐Crystal Gold Nanospheres with Uniform Diameters Controlled in the Range of 5–150 nm

A simple and robust route is described to the synthesis of single‐crystal Au nanospheres with diameters controlled in the range of 5 nm to 150 nm. The success of this synthesis relies on the use of single‐crystal Au spheres with different diameters as the seeds for successive growth and the use of a slow injection rate for the precursor to enable surface diffusion for the atoms added onto the surface of a seed. The diameters could be precisely controlled by varying the size and/or number of the seeds. The products exhibit excellent uniformity in terms of both size and shape and they are expected to find widespread use in a number of applications, including self‐assembly, fabrication of metallodielectric photonic crystals, plasmonics, and biomedical research.     

Crystalline structures as an approximant of quasicrystal and distortion of B12 icosahedron in boron-rich solids: Search for semiconducting quasicrystal

Analyzing the crystalline structure of α- and β-rhombohedral boron as an approximant structure of a quasicrystal, atomic structures of two unit cells (prolate and oblate rhombohedra) of icosahedral quasicrystal are constructed. According to molecular orbital calculation, a neutral B ₁₂ H ₁₂ icosahedral cluster is distorted to a cubic or rhombohedral type by the Jahn–Teller effect. The distortion of B ₁₂ in the β-rhombohedral boron and K₂B₁₂H₁₂ has the same sign as the lowest energy distortion in the calculation. Among the α-rhombohedral type structures, the distortion of B₁₂ is correlated with the rhombohedral axis angle, and the angle is the closest to the icosahedral angle for B₆O and the distortion is the smallest for B–C. A meta-stable phase has been found on the way towards crystallization of amorphous B–C films.     

利用显微红外光谱技术表征非均质油气储层裂缝特征——以任丘潜山蓟县系雾迷山组碳酸盐岩储层为例

油气储层裂缝既是重要的储油空间,又是油气运移的主要通道,因此,裂缝表征非常重要。然而储层岩石具有强烈的非均质性,如何精确表征非均质储层裂缝是需要亟待解决的问题。利用显微红外光谱技术可以对矿物分子的光谱曲线进行分析,得到不同的峰值特征,精确获得岩石介质成分、裂缝的大小、裂缝充填物特性等。以任丘潜山型碳酸盐岩非均质储层为例,基于显微红外光谱技术,通过分析岩心光片显微红外成像光谱图和不同特征区域的光谱曲线,获得了目标样品岩石介质的物化特性和空间分布特征,预测了裂缝可能发育的区域, 并分析了裂缝的有效性。结果表明,岩心样品主要介质为白云岩;储层裂缝中含有烃类有机物和盐水包裹体,它们主要赋存于白云岩介质中;裂缝充填物中盐水包裹体所占比例为51.7%,烷烃有机物所占比例为26.0%,裂缝发育从岩心样品左上方区域延伸至右下方区域,表明该延伸区域可能是流体运移的通道;盐水包裹体会阻碍油气的运移,导致裂缝的渗透率降低;实验测得岩石裂缝宽度为1~1.5 mm,属于大裂缝,油气可以顺利通过,因此,裂缝的有效性好。研究表明利用显微红外光谱成像技术表征非均质储层裂缝特征是切实可行的,为非均质油气储层精确表征提供了一种新方法。     

Raman spectroscopy as a potential method for the detection of extremely halophilic archaea embedded in halite in terrestrial and possibly extraterrestrial samples

Evidence for the widespread occurrence of extraterrestrial halite, particularly on Mars, has led to speculations on the possibility of halophilic microbial forms of life; these ideas have been strengthened by reports of viable haloarchaea from sediments of geological age (millions of years). Raman spectroscopy, being a sensitive detection method for future astrobiological investigations onsite, has been used in the current study for the detection of nine different extremely halophilic archaeal strains which had been embedded in laboratory‐made halite crystals in order to simulate evaporitic conditions. The cells accumulated preferentially in tiny fluid inclusions, in simulation of the precipitation of salt in natural brines. FT‐Raman spectroscopy using laser excitation at 1064 nm and dispersive micro Raman spectroscopy at 514.5 nm were applied. The spectra showed prominent peaks at 1507, 1152 and 1002 cm⁻¹ which are attributed to haloarchaeal C₅₀ carotenoid compounds (mainly bacterioruberins). Their intensity varied from strain to strain at 1064‐nm laser excitation. Other distinguishable features were peaks due to peptide bonds (amide I, amide III) and to nucleic acids. No evidence for fatty acids was detected, consistent with their general absence in all archaea. These results contribute to a growing database on Raman spectra of terrestrial microorganisms from hypersaline environments and highlight the influence of the different macromolecular composition of diverse strains on these spectra. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ultrasound irradiation as an effective tool in synthesis of the slag-based catalysts for carboxymethylation

Waste minimization strategy was applied in the current work for synthesis of the catalysts from industrial solid waste, namely desulfurization slag. The starting slag material comprising CaCO₃, Ca(OH)₂, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, and TiO₂ was processed by various treating agents systematically varying the synthesis parameters. A novel efficient technique – ultrasound irradiation, was applied as an additional synthesis step for intensification of the slag dissolution and crystallization of the new phases. Physico-chemical properties of the starting materials and synthesized catalysts were evaluated by several analytical techniques. Treatment of the industrial slag possessing initially poor crystal morphology and a low surface area (6 m²/g) resulted in formation of highly-crystalline catalysts with well-developed structural properties. Surface area was increased up to 49 m²/g. High basicity of the neat slag as well as materials synthesized on its basis makes possible application of these materials in the reactions requiring basic active sites. Catalytic performance of the synthesized catalysts was elucidated in the synthesis of carbonate esters by carboxymethylation of cinnamyl alcohol with dimethyl carbonate carried out at 150 °C in a batch mode. Ultrasonication of the slag had a positive effect on the catalytic activity. Synthesized catalysts while exhibiting similar selectivity to the desired product (ca. 84%), demonstrated a trend of activity increase for materials prepared using ultrasonication pretreatment. The choice of the treating agent also played an important role in the catalytic performance. The highest selectivity to the desired cinnamyl methyl carbonate (88%) together with the highest activity (TOF₃₅ = 3.89*10⁻⁷ (mol/g*s)) was achieved over the material synthesized using 0.6 M NaOH solution as the treating agent with the ultrasound pre-treatment at 80 W for 4 h.     

平行因子分析法在太湖水体三维荧光峰比值分析中的应用

以太湖水样三维荧光光谱数据为例,提出在采用平行因子分析法(PARAFAC)处理后的荧光数据中提取荧光峰强度计算荧光峰比值进行水环境分析评价的方法,较直接在水样原始荧光谱图中获取的荧光峰强度更加准确客观。天然水体中各水样间由于受荧光团复杂多样性等因素的影响,某类荧光物质荧光峰的激发发射波长位置并不是固定不变的,就同一水样而言各类荧光峰之间的相互重叠干扰也将影响到荧光峰强度和位置的准确判断。而在PARAFAC模型各因子中提取相应荧光峰值可以保证各水样间同类荧光物质荧光峰在同一位置又有效减弱同一水样中各类荧光物质荧光峰之间的相互干扰,更加高效准确的利用荧光峰比值进行水环境分析。区域差异性分析时水样因子得分比值的区域变化与原始荧光峰比值变化趋势是一致的。     

Analysis of Purkinje images as an effective method for estimation of intraocular lens implant location in the eyeball

The implantation of an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) into a capsular bag in place of an extracted natural, but nontransparent lens is a standard therapy method in the case of cataract. Any decentration or tilt of the IOL can cause a deterioration of the retinal image quality, thus decreasing the vision quality. The analysis of the relative position of Purkinje images being a reflection of the point light source from the refracting surfaces of the eyeball determines the location of IOL inside the eye and thus enables to state its wrong or correct location. The paper describes the Purkinje experimental setup consisting of an illuminator (several infrared LEDs arranged in a circle), an imaging telecentric lens and image recording CCD camera and reports details of the system calibration The usefulness of the experimental setup has been proven both in laboratory conditions using artificial model of the eyeball and in measurements on human subjects. Simulations of the retinal image with different decentrations or tilts are shown.     

Monitoring of the lifetimes of the metastable states in Au in an air-acetylene flame as a probe for local stoichiometric conditions by the laser-enhanced ionization technique

The behaviour of the lifetimes of the metastable 5d ⁹ 6s ^{2 2} D _3/2 and 5d ⁹ 6s ^{2 2} D _5/2 states in Au in an air/acetylene flame has been studied using the step-wise delayed laser-enhanced ionization technique. Using a new, fast and reliable, automated experimental procedure, we have conducted a systematic investigation of the lifetimes for various flame characteristics, namely lateral and vertical position in the flame and flame composition. It was found that the lifetimes of the metastable states are affected by at least three different mechanisms: i) a rather small but almost constant quenching rate, unaffected by the variations in the flame environment; ii) quenching by oxygen, which is proportional to the local partial pressure of oxygen; and iii) quenching by unburned fuel components. We have shown that by monitoring the lifetime of a metastable state as a function of various flame parameters, the conditions for local stoichiometry in the flame can be determined by this technique.     

A Modified Version of the Grimm's Glow Discharge Lamp for Use as a Demountable Hollow Cathode Emission Source. V. Determination of Minor Constitutents and Trace Elements in Steel

The applicability of the modified hollow cathode emission source to the determination of some elements usually contained in steel was tested in the case of chromium (0.144 – 3.07%), copper (0.090 – 0.49%), manganese (0.016 – 1.42%), molybdenum (0.007 – 1.41%), nickel (0.048 – 5.15%, silicon (0.013 – 0.81%), and vanadium (0.034 – 0.64%). The linearity of the calibration curves was found to be highly satisfactory, the Bravais - Pearson correlation coefficient ranging from 0.97 to 0.99. Moreover, results showed that background intensity is negligible and that blackening values can be plotted without resorting to internal standards or other preliminary corrections.     

A feasibility study of temperature rise measurement in a tissue phantom as an alternative way for characterization of the therapeutic high intensity focused ultrasonic field

The feasibility that temperature field measurements in vitro as an alternative way to characterize the high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) field used in therapeutic applications has been explored in a phantom study. Thermocouples (copper-constantan, diameter 0.125 mm) are embedded in a phantom filled with tissue mimicking material that simulates the thermal and acoustic properties of soft-tissue. The temperature rises as a function of ultrasound exposure time near the focus of a HIFU transducer (1.1 MHz, active radius a = 32 mm, geometric focal length = 62 mm) of various acoustic powers up to 30 W are measured and compared with predicted values using a simple nonlinear Gaussian model. The experimental results can be explained well by the model if no acoustic cavitation takes place. When the acoustic power become higher (>5 W) and the local temperature elevation >15 °C and the local temperature is >40 °C at the focal point, cavitation vapor bubbles appear. The presence of the cavitation bubbles may increase the temperature rise rate initially. The bubble aggregates may form along the beam axis under sonication and then eventually makes the temperature elevation reach a saturated value. When acoustic cavitation occurs, the bubble-assisted enhancement of the initial temperature rise (exposure time t < 2 s) can still be predicted by the theory.     

Recent trends in the applications of sonochemical reactors as an advanced oxidation process for the remediation of microbial hazards associated with water and wastewater: A critical review

Water is one of the major sources that spread human diseases through contamination with bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms. This review focuses on microbial hazards as they are often present in water and wastewater and cause various human diseases. Among the currently used disinfection methods, sonochemical reactors (SCRs) that produce free radicals combined with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have received significant attention from the scientific community. Also, this review discussed various types of cavitation reactors, such as acoustic cavitation reactors (ACRs) utilizing ultrasonic energy (UE), which had been widely employed, involving AOPs for treating contaminated waters. Besides ACRs, hydrodynamic cavitation reactors (HCRs) also effectively destroy and deactivate microorganisms to varying degrees. Cavitation is the fundamental phenomenon responsible for initiating many sonochemical reactions in liquids. Bacterial degradation occurs mainly due to the thinning of microbial membranes, local warming, and the generation of free radicals due to cavitation. Over the years, although extensive investigations have focused on the antimicrobial effects of UE (ultrasonic energy), the primary mechanism underlying the cavitation effects in the disinfection process, inactivation of microbes, and chemical reactions involved are still poorly understood. Therefore, studies under different conditions often lead to inconsistent results. This review investigates and compares other mechanisms and performances from greener and environmentally friendly sonochemical techniques to the remediation of microbial hazards associated with water and wastewater. Finally, the energy aspects, challenges, and recommendations for future perspectives have been provided.     

The order with respect to oxygen and the activation energy for the burning of an anthracitic char in O2 in a fluidised bed, as measured using a rapid analyser for CO and CO2

Measurements of the oxidation of a coal char in a fluidised bed have the advantages that the rates of heat and mass transfer to and from a reacting particle are large and characterised well. However, problems have arisen from a combination of the slow, but typical, response–time (4 s) of the analysers for CO and CO₂ and the slow mixing of gases when filling a fairly large fluidised bed. The resulting time constant for the sampling system was 8 s and comparable to the time for combustion at 900 °C or above. The purpose of this work was to measure the kinetics of oxidation of a char in a smaller fluidised bed (with a shorter mixing time) using an analyser for CO and CO₂ with a response time as low as 0.1 s. The result is that the oxidation of an anthracitic char is now found to be first order in O₂ between 700 and 900 °C; at 900 °C the order previously measured was almost zero. The activation energy is now measured here to be 145 ± 25 kJ/mol, in agreement with some early work.