Mössbauer Studies and Magnetic Properties of Y3−x Ce x Fe5O12

It is shown that in-situ ^166mHo (I = 7) in a spherical single crystal of HoF₃ can be used as sensitive internal thermometer to thermally detect NMR (NMR-TDNO) from the 100% abundant stable ¹⁶⁵Ho (I = 7/2) nuclei. In addition, new ^166mHo NMRON results are reported. Both the ^166mHo NMRON and ¹⁶⁵Ho NMR-TDNO spectra show three distinct quadrupolar split sub-resonances, in zero applied field. The data is used to make estimates of the Ho magnetic moments and quadrupole parameters for the ^166mHo and ^166mHo sites.     

Strong visible PL from the nc-Si thin film by Ni silicide mediated crystallization

We studied the growth of nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) thin film exhibiting a strong room temperature photoluminescence (PL) at 1.81–2.003 eV. The amorphous silicon was crystallized by Ni silicide mediated crystallization (Ni SMC) and then Secco-etched to exhibit the PL. The PL peak energy and intensity increase with increasing the metal density on the a-Si because of the reduction in the grain size down to 2 nm. The photoluminescence energy and peak intensity depend strongly on the Secco etch time because the grain size is reduced by etching the grain boundaries.     

A spring-embedding approach for the facility layout problem

The facility layout problem is concerned with finding the most efficient arrangement of a given number of departments with unequal area requirements within a facility. The facility layout problem is a hard problem, and therefore, exact solution methods are only feasible for small or greatly restricted problems. In this paper, we propose a spring-embedding approach that unlike previous approaches results in a model that is convex. Numerical results demonstrating the potential of our model and the efficiency of our solution procedure are presented.     

Experimental Evaluation of Strain Shielding in Distal Femur in Revision TKA

Theoretical concerns about the use of cemented and press-fit stems in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) include stress shielding with adverse effects on prosthesis fixation. Radiological studies have showed distal femoral bone resorption after revision TKA. The revision with use of stems can place abnormal stresses. These stresses can promote the effect of bone stress shielding and may contribute to bone loss. Experimental quantification of strain shielding in the distal synthetic femur following TKA is the main purpose of the present study. Three different constructs of TKA were assessed. The first construct included a stemless femoral component. The other two included a press-fit and a cemented femoral stem. Cortical bone strains were measured experimentally with tri-axial strain gauges in synthetic femurs before and after in-vitro knee surgery. The difference between principal strains of implanted and intact femur was calculated for each strain gauge position. This study indicates that the use of stems in distal femur changes the distribution and magnitude of bone strains. The press-fit stem provoked relevant bone area (stem length) subjected to strain shielding and also originated the highest reduction of strains in the distal region, which can potentially induce bone resorption. The stemless implanted femur produced minor bone strain changes relatively to the intact femur. The use of distal femur stems increases initial stability in the bone, but the observed reduction of strains in this region, relative to the intact femur, provokes strain shielding that can induce bone resorption and may compromise the long term implant stability.     

Singlewall carbon nanotubes covered with polystyrene nanoparticles by in‐situ miniemulsion polymerization

This work is to make carbon nanotubes dispersible in both water and organic solvents without oxidation and cutting nanotube threads. Polystyrene‐singlewall carbon nanotube (PS‐SWNT) composites were prepared with three different methods: miniemulsion polymerization, conventional emulsion polymerization, and mixing SWNT with PS latex. The two factors, crosslinking and surface coverage of PS are important factors for the mechanical and electrical properties, including dispersion states of SWNT in various solvents. The PS‐SWNT composite prepared via a conventional emulsion polymerization showed SWNT bundles entirely covered with PS, whereas the PS‐SWNT composite prepared via a miniemulsion polymerization showed SWNT partially covered with crosslinked PS nanoparticles. The method of mixing SWNTs with PS latex did not show the well dispersed state of carbon nanotubes because PS was not crosslinked and was dissolved in a solvent, and nanotubes separated from PS precipitated. So the PS nanoparticle‐SWNT composite had lower electrical resistance, and higher mechanical strength than the other composites made by the latter two methods. As the amount of SWNT increases, the bare surface area of SWNT increases and the electrical conductivity increases in the composite made by the miniemulsion polymerization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 573–584, 2006     

Investigation of the Doughnut Effect in Cy3-Labeled Protein Microarrays using Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscope

We demonstrate the fluorescence mapping of protein microarrays by the technique of scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) and confocal microscopy. Micron sized spots (300 μm) of human Immunoglobulin G (hIgG) protein with and without a Cy3 dye labeling have been fabricated on glass substrates by an immobilization method which makes use of calixcrown derivatives termed Prolinker. We have also tried to probe into the well-known “doughnut effect” observed in fluorescence images of proteins using the SNOM technique. The topographic and fluorescence SNOM images revealed that the number of proteins at the boundary of the spot were more than at the center in the case of the microarray spot which showed brighter luminescence at the edge than at the center in the confocal image.     

A convenient synthesis of a selective gelatinase inhibitor as an antimetastatic agent

Compound 1, 2-(4-phenoxyphenylsulfonylmethyl)thiirane, is a potent and selective inhibitor for human gelatinases (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 6799-6800), enzymes implicated in a number of diseases, including cancer. This compound is showing excellent promise in animal trials in a number of disease models. Large quantities of this compound were necessary for these studies. A convenient four-step synthetic route for compound 1 is described herein. The synthesis is amenable to scale-up to tens of grams and gives an overall yield of 57% for this important compound.     

Determination of Dextromethorphan and its Metabolite Dextrorphan in Human Hair by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

An analytical method has been developed for determination of dextromethorphan (DMP) and dextrorphan (DRP) in human hair by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Hair samples (30 mg) were washed with distilled water and acetone and cut into small fragments (<1 mm) before extraction with methanol. The extracts were evaporated to dryness and then derivatized by use of BSTFA containing 1% TMCS, for preparation of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative of DRP. The extract (1 μL) was then injected into the GC–MS. Recoveries of DMP and DRP at 7.0 and 22.5 ng mg^?1 were in the range 90.6–97.2% with intra-assay and inter-assay precision of less than 5.7% and 4.7%, respectively. LOD and LOQ were, respectively, 0.67 and 2.13 ng mg^?1 for DMP and 0.14 and 0.47 ng mg^?1 for DRP. The responses were linear with correlation coefficients (r > 0.9995) for the drugs studied. The applicability of the method was proven by analysis of authentic hair samples.     

Vapor-particle partitioning of hydrocarbons in Western Mediterranean urban and marine atmospheres

An analytical procedure is described for a comprehensive determination of the composition of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere, based on: (a) aerosol filtration and subsequent adsorption of the vapor phase onto active charcoal and polyurethane foam; (b) GPC and HPLC fractionation of the extracts, and (c) analysis of the fractions by GC-MS under EI and NICI modes. Special emphasis is placed onn-alkanes, PAHs and their oxygenated derivatives.The characterization of samples collected in a coastal urban area (Barcelona city), and far away over the Western Mediterranean, at sea level and at 1100 m of altitude, revealed significant changes in the aerosol composition, mainly attributed to initial vapor-particle partitioning processes, influenced by ambient temperature variations, and to others taking place during long-range atmospheric transport, related with the different compound photoreactivities and with an unexplained source-decoupling phenomenon.