A study of the suppression of the high-temperature helium embrittlement in an oxide-particle dispersion strengthened alloy

In this paper, an investigation on the micro-structure of an Fe-base oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloy irradiated with high-energy Ne-20 ions to different doses at a temperature around 0.5T(m) (T-m is the melting point of the alloy) is presented. Investigation with the transmission electron microscopy found that the accelerated growth of voids at grain-boundaries, which is usually a concern in conventional Fe-base alloys under conditions of inert-gas implantation, was not observed in the ODS alloy irradiated even to the highest dose (12000 at.ppm Ne). The reason is ascribed to the enhanced recombination of point defects and strong trapping of Ne atoms at the interfaces of the nano-scale oxide particles in grains. The study showed that ODS alloys have good resistance to the high-temperature inter-granular embrittlement due to inert-gas accumulation, exhibiting prominence of application in harsh situations of considerable helium production at elevated temperatures like in a fusion reactor.

Controls on suppression of methane flux from a peat bog subjected to simulated acid rain sulfate deposition

The effect of acid rain SO42− deposition on peatland CH4 emissions was examined by manipulating SO42− inputs to a pristine raised peat bog in northern Scotland. Weekly pulses of dissolved Na2SO4 were applied to the bog over two years in doses of 25, 50, and 100 kg S ha−1 yr−1, reflecting the range of pollutant S deposition loads experienced in acid rain-impacted regions of the world. CH4 fluxes were measured at regular intervals using a static chamber/gas chromatographic flame ionization detector method. Total emissions of CH4 were reduced by between 21 and 42% relative to controls, although no significant differences were observed between treatments. Estimated total annual fluxes during the second year of the experiment were 16.6 g m−2 from the controls and (in order of increasing SO42− dose size) 10.7, 13.2, and 9.8 g m−2 from the three SO42− treatments, respectively. The relative extent of CH4 flux suppression varied with changes in both peat temperature and peat water table with the largest suppression during cool periods and episodes of falling water table. Our findings suggest that low doses of SO42− at deposition rates commonly experienced in areas impacted by acid rain, may significantly affect CH4 emissions from wetlands in affected areas. We propose that SO42− from acid rain can stimulate sulfate-reducing bacteria into a population capable of outcompeting methanogens for substrates. We further propose that this microbially mediated interaction may have a significant current and future effect on the contribution of northern peatlands to the global methane budget.

Suppression of phase separation in PC/PMMA blend film by thermoset oligomer

Phase separation of bisphenol A polycarbonate (PC) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) thin blend film is suppressed by addition of solid epoxy oligomer. Epoxy has strong intermolecular interactions with both PC and PMMA, while PC and PMMA are quite incompatible with each other. Consequently, phase separation in the PC/PMMA blend film pushes epoxy to the interface; at the same time, PC and epoxy react readily at the interface to form a cross-linking structure, binding PMMA chains together. Therefore, the interface between PC and PMMA is effectively reinforced, and the PC/PMMA thin blend film is stabilized against phase separation. On the other hand, only an optimal content of epoxy (i.e., 10 wt %) can serve as an efficient interfacial agent. In contrast to the traditional reactive compatibilization, here we observed that the cross-linking structure along the interface is much more stable than block or graft copolymers. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to characterize the morphological changes of the blend films as a function of annealing time. Two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (2D-FFT) of AFM data allows quantitative investigation of the scaling behavior of phase separation kinetics.

Determination of ascorbic acid by flow injection chemiluminescence suppression method

chemiluminescence suppression method for the determination of ascorbic acid based on Luminol-KIO4-H2O2-ascorbic acid system was established. The linear range for ascorbic acid is 1.0 x 10(-7) similar to 1.0 x 10(-5) mol/L and the detection limit is 6.0 x 10(-8) mol/L. The relative standard deviation (n = 11) is 1.0% for 8.0 x 10(-7) mol/L ascorbic acid. The method has been used to determine the content of ascorbic acid in tablets and injections with satisfactory results.

The suppression of Ge-132 on the Maillard reaction of BSA by fluorescence spectrum

The fluorescences of BSA and glycosylated BSA were observed respectively. The lambda(cm) of BSA was 340 nm; while the lambda(cm) of glycosylated BSA was 436 nm. Because the fluorescence spectra of them were different greatly, we can observe the suppression of Ge-132 on the Maillard reaction of BSA without any interference of itself. It was showed that the fluorescence intensity of glycosylated BSA increased continuously with the cultured time, Ge-132 may suppress the Maillard reaction of BSA greatly, and the suppressing efficicency would be 32 %. The key site of the Maillard reaction of BSA is free amino groups of alanine residues on N-terminal amino group, besides the epsilon-amino groups of intrachain Lysine residues.

Irradiation damage on BaLiF3 crystallites and its suppression by rare-earth ion doping

The x-ray and gamma-ray induced damage in BaLiF3 crystallites and its suppression by rare earth ion doping have been studied by electron spin resonance and thermally stimulated luminescence methods. It has been found that the x-ray irradiation damage is light and can be erased easily. This shows that the BaLiF3 crystallite is an ideal host for x-ray storage material. But the damage induced by gamma-ray has been found to be relatively hard to recover; however the gamma-ray irradiation hardness can be improved by rare earth (e.g., La3+, Yb3+) ion doping. So the BaLiF3 is also promising material for being used in detection of high-energy particles (e.g., gamma-ray).

Suppression of zebrafish VEGF gene by cytomegalovirus promoter-driven short hairpin constructs induces vascular development defects and down regulation NRP1 expression

The usage of RNA interference for gene knockdown in zebrafish through expression of the small interfering RNA mediators from DNA vectors has created a lot of excitement in the research community. In this work, the ability of human cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter (CMV promoter)-driven short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression vector to induce shRNA against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene in zebrafish was tested, and its effects on VEGF-mediated vasculogenesis and angiogenesis were evaluated. Altogether four vectors targeting various locations of VEGF gene were constructed, and pSI-V4 was proven to be the most effective one. Microinjection of pSI-V4 into the zebrafish embryos resulted in defective vascular formation and down regulation of VEGF expression. In situ hybridization analysis indicated that silencing VEGF gene expression by pSI-V4 resulted in down regulation of neuropilin-1 (NRP1), a potent VEGF receptor. Knockdown of VEGF expression by morpholino gave the same result. This provided evidence that the VEGF-mediated angiogenesis in zebrafish was in part dependent on NRP1 expression. The results contributed to a better understanding of molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular development and provided a potential promoter for making inducible knockdown in zebrafish.

Screening of genes related to ovary development in Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis by suppression subtractive hybridization

The ovary of triploid shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis was apparently impaired compared to that of the diploid shrimp at the same age. Therefore triploid shrimp ovary is possible to be taken as a model to understand the mechanism of ovary development of shrimp compared to that of the ovary of diploid shrimp at the same age. In the present study, a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique was applied to identify differentially expressed genes in the ovary between diploid and triploid shrimp. For the forward library (RNA from the ovary of triploid shrimp as the tester), 54 genes were identified. For the reverse library (RNA from the ovary of diploid shrimp as the tester), 16 genes were identified. The identified genes encoded proteins with multiple functions, including extracellular matrix components, cytoskeleton, cell growth and death, metabolism, genetic information processing, signal transduction/transport or immunity related proteins. Eleven differentially expressed genes were selected to be confirmed in the ovaries of triploid and diploid shrimp by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Genes encoding spermatogonial stem-cell renewal factor, cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II, clottable protein, antimicrobial peptide and transposase showed up-regulated expressions in the ovary of triploid shrimp. Genes encoding tubulin, cellular apoptosis susceptibility protein, farnesoic acid O-methyltransferase, thrombospondin and heat shock protein 90 genes showed higher expressions in the ovary of diploid shrimp. The differential expressions of the above genes are suggested to be related to the ovary development of shrimp. It will provide a new clue to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying the ovarian development in penaeid shrimp. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Possible suppression of exogenous beta-1,3-glucanase gene gluc78 on rice transformation and growth

Three genes encoding for fungal cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDE), ech42, nag7O and gluc78 from the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma atroviride were transformed into rice mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens singly and in all possible combinations. A total of more than 1800 independently regenerated plantlets in seven different populations (for each of the three genes and each of the four gene combinations) were obtained. Our data indicated that gluc78 gene had negative effects on transformation frequency and plant growth. Some regenerated plants with gluc78 gene were stunted; spontaneously produced brown specks; could not tassel. The combination with either one of the two other genes (ech42, nag70) present in the same T-DNA region reduced the negative effect of gluc78 on plant growth. These results indicated that expression of several genes in one T-DNA region interfered with each other and expression of exogenous gene in recipient plant was a complex behavior. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.