Evaluation of soot particles of biomass fuels with endocrine-modulating activity in yeast-based bioassay

Exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP) from the combustion of biomass fuels is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In the work discussed in this paper we evaluated the endocrine activity of soot particles from biomass fuels by using yeast bioassay. These pollutants could have beta-galactosidase activity with a relative potency (RP) about 10(-7)-10(-9) that of estradiol. Soot particles from wood and straw combustion only partially induced beta-galactosidase activity whereas others produced fully inductive activity in the yeast assay system. These pollutants did not have estrogen antagonist and progesterone agonist activity within the defined concentration range. However, these pollutants require 2-4 orders of magnitude higher IC50 to inhibit the activity of progesterone in a similar dose-response manner to mifepristone. We therefore propose that the endocrine activity of some environmental pollutants may be because of inhibition of the progesterone receptor (hPR). GC-MS results showed that substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds, substituted phenolic compounds and derivatives, aromatic carbonyl compounds, and phytosteroids in these soot particles may be mimicking endogenous hormones.

Transparent and Light-Emitting Epoxy Super-Nanocomposites Containing ZnO-QDs/SiO2 Nanocomposite Particles as Encapsulating Materials for Solid-State Lighting

In this article, the ZnO quantum dots-SiO2 (Z-S) nanocomposite particles were first synthesized. Transparent Z-S/epoxy super-nanocomposites were then prepared by introducing calcined Z-S nanocomposite particles with a proper ratio of ZnO to SiO2 into a transparent epoxy matrix in terms of the filler-matrix refractive index matching principle. It was shown that the epoxy super-nanocomposites displayed intense luminescence with broad emission spectra. Moreover, the epoxy super-nanocomposites showed the interesting afterglow phenomenon with a long phosphorescence lifetime that was not observed for ZnO-QDs/epoxy nanocomposites. Finally, the transparent and light-emitting Z-S/epoxy super-nanocomposites were successfully employed as encapsulating materials for synthesis of highly bright LED lamps.

Assembly of side-functional monomers with inorganic nanometer particles

Monomers of methacrylate with various pi -conjugated pendants were designed and prepared in our laboratory, The monomer with suitable end-group was successfully assembled with nano-scale inorganic particles to form an orderly-aligned structure that showed special optical properties, both absorption and emission band were much red-shifted compared with the monomer, A new type of organic/inorganic hybrid materials was obtained by in situ polymerization of the assembly, The hybrid materials could also show special optical properties as the assembly, This might open a new route to tune the emission color.

High-frequency ferromagnetic resonance on ultrafine cobalt particles

We report on high-frequency (300-700 GHz) ferromagnetic resonance (HF-FMR) measurements on cobalt superparamagnetic particles with strong uniaxial effective anisotropy. We derive the dynamical susceptibility of the system on the basis of an independent-grain model by using a rectangular approach. Numerical simulations give typical line shapes depending on the anisotropy, the gyromagnetic ratio, and the damping constant. HF-FMR experiments have been performed on two systems of ultrafine cobalt particles of different sizes with a mean number of atoms per particles of 150 +/- 20 and 310 +/- 20. In both systems, the magnetic anisotropy is found to be enhanced compared to the bulk value, and increases as the particle size decreases, in accordance with previous determinations from magnetization measurements. Although no size effect has been observed on the gyromagnetic ratio, the transverse relaxation time is two orders of magnitude smaller than the bulk value indicating strong damping effects, possibly originating from surface spin disorders.

High-field ferromagnetic resonance in fine particles

We investigate high-field ferromagnetic resonance of superparamagnetic particles with uniaxial anisotropy, In this case, since the field is large enough to saturate the magnetization, the thermal orientational fluctuations of the magnetic moment of the particle are negligible. Thus, we derive the dynamic susceptibility of the system on the basis of an independent particle model. High-field ferromagnetic resonance has been performed on fine cobalt particles, The analysis of the spectra obtained at different frequencies allows us to estimate the effective magnetic anisotropy, the gyromagnetic ratio, and the transverse relaxation time. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Transverse trapping forces of focused Gaussian beam on ellipsoidal particles

A modified T-matrix method is presented to compute the scattered fields of various realistically shaped particles; then the radiation forces on the particles can be calculated via the Maxwell stress tenser integral. Numerical results of transverse trapping efficiencies of a focused Gaussian beam on ellipsoidal and spherical particles with the same volume are compared, which show that the shape and orientation of particles affect the maximal transverse trapping force and the displacement corresponding to the maximum. The effect of the polarization direction of the incident beam on the transverse trapping forces is also revealed. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.