Superhydrophobic CFx coating via in-line atmospheric RF plasma of He-CF4-H2

Stable superhydrophobic coatings on various substrates are attained with an in-line atmospheric rf plasma process using CF4, H2, and He. The coating layer is composed of CFx nanoparticulates and has an average roughness of approximately 10 nm. This roughness is much smaller than other surfaces reported for superhydrophobicity in the literature. The superhydrophobic coatings are produced on both metallic and insulating substrates without any need of separate microroughening or vacuum lines.     

Analytical calculations and comparison with numerical data forannular klystrode

The performance of a klystrode is investigated for annular electron beams. Numerical simulations of the output cavity in the klystrode device are carried out by making use of the fully electromagnetic three-dimensional code, HFSS, and the fully electromagnetic, two-and-one-half-dimensional, self-consistent PIC code, MAGIC. In addition, an analytical expression to predict the efficiency and gap-field strength of the device is developed to investigate klystrode performance over a wide range of parameters. This analytical expression for the annular klystrode is developed based on the Maxwell's equations and Newton's second law of motion. The analytical results agree fairly well with data obtained numerically from the MAGIC code. The presented results indicate that the theoretical formula obtained from the analytical calculation may be useful for designing the klystrode microwave tubes     

Graphene supported electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation

Graphene nanosheet was prepared by modified Hummer’s chemical method and utilized as a catalyst support of PtRu nanoparticles for the electro-oxidation of methanol. Home-made graphene nanosheet was clearly characterized by Raman spectroscopy and we applied colloidal method to synthesize with high metal content of 80 wt.% Pt–Ru catalyst, which is extensively clarified by HR-TEM and XRD analysis. 80 wt.% Pt–Ru/graphene nanosheet catalyst showed superior electrochemical activity toward methanol oxidation compared to Pt–Ru/Vulcan XC-72R. It is due to the significant increase of electrochemical active surface area for better catalyst utilization.     

Study of structural changes for STS 316L using the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

The defects due to extrusion strengths and the temperature dependent deformities for low carbon stainless steel (STS 316L) were investigated using positron annihilation spectroscopy. The defects were restored after tempering at 700 °C. The gradients of the peak on the positron annihilation lifetime spectrum for a sample annealed at 700 °C is increased compared to the as extruded sample. In addition, we calculated the trapping rate and bulk lifetime based on the theoretical model. Both values are decreased, as the extrusion strengths are reduced. All annealed samples showed reduced trapping rate and bulk lifetime, comparing with as extruded samples.

     

Differential responses of cancer cell lines to non-thermal plasma from dielectric barrier discharge

The differential responses of six cancer cell lines after treatment of non-thermal plasma from dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) were studied. Two plasma exposure methods including cell suspension exposure and media only exposure were used, and the effects were examined in six cancer cell lines including KB, MCF-7, HeLa, H460, SNU-80 and T98G from different human organs. The result indicates that both methods affected six cell lines similarly in proliferation, mitochondria activity, and apoptosis related gene expression, which implies that the cell culture media have significant role in plasma–cell interaction. H460 showed a significant reduction in cell number after plasma exposure, whereas MCF-7 showed less reduction. Mitochondria activity of all the cancer cell lines reduced following exposure and incubation times except MCF-7. The mRNA expression of Bax, the apoptosis related gene, was highly enhanced in KB, HeLa, MCF-7 and SNU-80, while none was detected in T98G. All six cancer cell lines showed unexpectedly low mRNA expression of tumor suppressor gene p53. These differential responses of six cell lines suggest that non-thermal plasma should activate different pathways in each cancer cell line. Further researches on tissue-specific responses to plasma treatment should be conducted, comparing their responses with normal tissue–cell responses.     

Influence of reactive oxygen species on the sterilization of microbes

The influence of reactive oxygen species on living cells, including various microbes, is discussed. A sterilization experiment with bacterial endospores reveals that an argon–oxygen plasma jet very effectively kills endospores of Bacillus atrophaeus (ATCC 9372), thereby indicating that oxygen radicals are the key element of sterilization. Ozone in acidic water also kills endospores of B. atrophaeus very effectively, demonstrating the capability of cleaning a large surface area contaminated by toxic biological agents. The viable microbe numbers after the contact with acidic ozone water directly correlate with increase in the ozone decay time in water after lowering the pH value of water from pH = 7 to 4 indicating that acidic ozone water is an effective means of sterilizing microbes. However, advanced cells such as fertilized eggs were not greatly influenced by the acidic ozone water. Also, both human and canine cells after treatment with the acidic ozone water prospered without showing signs of stress due to ozone in acidic water. This study suggests that antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase can be developed in the advanced cells to protect themselves from attacks by reactive oxygen species. Meanwhile, the advanced cells utilize oxygen by certain enzymes, proliferating life on earth.     

Influence of oscillations on NOx emissions from ducted flames

Concentrations of NOx were measured at the exit of round sudden-expansion combustors and quantify the effects of oscillations at equivalence ratios between stoichiometry and the lean limit. The maximum temperature was constrained by the adiabatic flame temperature at the higher equivalence ratios so that oscillations led to lower mean temperatures and concentrations of NOx. In contrast, the minimum temperature and concentrations were constrained by extinction close to the lean limit and oscillations led to increased concentrations. Received: 15 June 2001 / Accepted: 30 October 2001