Bonding Of Alumina And Metal Using Bulk Metallic Glass Forming Alloy

Metal-alumina joints have found various practical applications in electronic devices and high technology industry. However, making of sound metal ceramic brazed couple is still a challenge in terms of its direct application in the industry. In this work we successfully braze copper with Al2O3 ceramic using Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 bulk metallic glass forming alloy as filler alloy. The shear strength of the joints can reach 140 MPa, and the microstructrural analysis confirms a reliable chemical boning of the interface. The results show that the bulk metallic glass forming alloys with high concentration of active elements are prospective for using as filler alloy in metal-ceramic bonding.

Identification and characterization of a cathepsin L-like cysteine protease from Taenia solium metacestode

Taenia solium metacestode, a larval pork tapeworm, is a causative agent of neurocysticercosis, one of the most common parasitic diseases in the human central nervous system. In this study, we identified a cDNA encoding for a cathepsin L-like cysteine protease from the T solium metacestode (TsCL-1) and characterized the biochemical properties of the recombinant enzyme. The cloned cDNA of 1216 bp encoded 339 amino acids with an approximate molecular weight of 37.6 kDa which containing a typical signal peptide sequence (17 amino acids), a pro-domain (106 amino acids), and a mature domain (216 amino acids). Sequence alignments of TsCL-1 showed low sequence similarity of 27.3-44.6 to cathepsin L-like cysteine proteases from other helminth parasites, but the similarity was increased to 35.9-55.0 when compared to mature domains. The bacterially expressed recombinant protein (rTsCL-1) did not show enzyme activity; however, the rTsCL-1 expressed in Pichia pastoris showed typical biochemical characteristics of cysteine proteases. It degraded human immunoglobulin G (IgG) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), but not collagen. Western blot analysis of the rTsCL-1 showed antigenicity against the sera from patients with cysticercosis, sparganosis or fascioliasis, but weak or no antigenicity against the sera from patients with paragonimiasis or clonorchiasis. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.

In-situ resistivity measurement of ZnS in diamond anvil cell under high pressure

An effective method is developed to fabricate metallic microcircuits in diamond anvil cell (DAC) for resistivity measurement under high pressure. The resistivity of nanocrystal ZnS is measured under high pressure up to 36.4 GPa by using designed DAC. The reversibility and hysteresis of the phase transition are observed. The experimental data is confirmed by an electric current field analysis accurately. The method used here can also be used under both ultrahigh pressure and high temperature conditions.

Kinetic isotope effects of proton transfer reaction for amines by ultrasonic relaxation methods: Unexpected evidence from the results in ethylamine solutions

Ultrasonic absorption coefficients for ethylamine in heavy water (D2O) and in light water (H2O) have been measured in the frequency range from 0.8 to 220 MHz at 25 degrees C. A single relaxational process has been observed in these two kinds of solutions. From the concentration dependence of the ultrasonic relaxation parameters, and following the reaction mechanism proposed by Eigen et al. for ethylamine in H2O, the causes of the relaxations have been attributed to a perturbation of an equilibrium associated with a deuteron or proton transfer reaction. The rate and equilibrium constants have been estimated from deuterioxide or hydroxide ion concentration dependence of the relaxation frequency, and the kinetic isotope effects have been determined. In addition, the standard volume changes of the reactions have been calculated from the concentration dependence of the maximum absorption per wavelength, and the adiabatic compressibility has also been determined from the density and sound velocity for ethylamine in D2O and in H2O, respectively. These results are compared with those for propylamine and butylamine and are discussed in relation to the different kinetic properties between D2O and H2O, the reaction radii derived by Debye theory, and the structural properties of the reaction intermediate.