Diffusion von45Ca,85Sr und32P in Hydroxylapatit

Zusammenfassung Es wurde der Transport von⁴⁵Ca,⁸⁵Sr und³²P in polykristallinen Sinterkörpern von synthetischem Hydroxylapatit im Temperaturbereich 1000 bis 1400 °C untersucht. Nach sorgfältiger Berücksichtigung von Korngrenzen-Diffusionseffekten ergaben sich für die Diffusion von⁴⁵Ca und⁸⁵Sr gleiche Werte für die Aktivierungsenthalpien und Frequenzfaktoren, und zwar beipH₂O<30 Torr:Q=3,50 ± 0,02 eV;D ₀=41 ± 5 cm²s^–1 und beipH₂O=230 Torr:Q=3,55 ± 0,02 eV;D ₀=20 ± 3 cm²s^–1 Die Abhängigkeit des Kationen-Diffusionskoeffizienten vom Wasserdampfpartialdruck ist vermutlich dadurch bedingt, daß im untersuchten Temperaturbereich feste Lösungen von Hydroxylapatit und Oxyapatit entstehen und Leerstellen im OH^–-Teilgitter den Kationentransport beschleunigen. Der³²P-Transport wurde nur bei 1360 °C undpH₂O < 30 Torr gemessen. Der Diffusionskoeffizient ist um einen Faktor 400 ± 50 kleiner als der entsprechende Diffusionskoeffizient der Kationen.Die Ergebnisse der Diffusionsuntersuchungen werden in Verbindung mit einer einfachen Modellvorstellung zum Retentionsmechanismus der Erdalkalien im Skelett diskutiert.

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Diffusion of⁴⁵Ca,⁸⁵Sr, and³²P in hydroxyapatite

Summary The transport of⁴⁵Ca,⁸⁵Sr, and³²P in polycrystalline sinter pellets of synthetic hydroxyapatite has been investigated in the temperature range 1000 to 1400 °C. After subtraction of activity transports by grain boundary diffusion processes, equal values of activation enthalpy and frequency factor were found for the lattice diffusion of⁴⁵Ca and⁸⁵Sr: atpH₂O<30 Torr:Q=3,50 ± 0,02 eV,D ₀=41 ± 5 cm²s^–1 and atpH₂O=230 Torr:Q=3,55 ± 0,02 eV,D ₀=20 ± 3 cm²s^–.The dependence of the cation diffusion coefficient on the partial vapour pressure is probably caused by formation of solid solutions of hydroxyapatite and oxyapatite where vacancies of the OH^– sublattice accelerate the cation transport. The diffusion of³²P was investigated only atT=1360 °C andpH₂O<30 Torr. The value obtained is smaller by a factor of 400 ± 50 then the cation diffusion coefficient.The results of the diffusion experiments are discussed in the light of a simple model for the retention mechanism of the alkaline earth metals in the skeleton.

     

Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of herbivorous chironomid larvae in Lake Balaton

The oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of a herbivorous midge larva,Chironomus sp., inhabiting Lake Balaton was measured at two different temperatures. The loss of energy through respiration and that through ammonia excretion were calculated. The daily respiratory energy loss amounted to 655.5 ± 123.8 J g^–1 at 17 °C and to 1 160.0 ± 168.4 J g^–1 (dry weight) at 25 °C. Mean energy loss through ammonia excretion was about 40% less than through respiration.     

Altered membrane fluidity in rat hepatocytes during endotoxic shock

Steady-state fluorescence anisotropy measurements of the fluorescent hydrocarbon probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,4-hexatriene (DPH) were carried out in isolated hepatocytes of saline control andSalmonella enteritidis endotoxin (20 mg/kg) injected rats. Statistically significant differences were observed in the fluorescent anisotropy (r_s) and membrane microviscosity ( ) values of control (r_s=0.107±0.004 (SEM), =0.98±0.08, n±6) versus endotoxin injected rat hepatocytes (r_s=0.134±0.005, =1.43±0.08, n=6, p<0.001) at 37°C. Fluidity was similarly lower in the isolated plasma membrane preparations from endotoxin-injected rat livers relative to control livers. When endotoxin-injected rats were treated with the calcium channel-blocker diltiazem, the anisotropy and microviscosity values were comparable to thos eobtained from control rats (r_s=0.152±0.003, =1.00±0.003, n=6). These measurements were made in animals five hours after endotoxin had been injected, and thus represent thein vivo effects of bacterial endotoxins. Temperature scan studies of DPH from 5–40°C revealed that the membrane fluidity of endotoxin-injected rat hepatocytes was significantly lower than control hepatocytes at all temperatures investigated. The data suggest that endotoxin alters the membrane fluidity of hepatocytes, and that calcium-channel blockers can prevent the alteration. Our previous studies have shown that calcium channel blocker prevented endotoxin induced alterations in hepatic cellular regulation of Ca²⁺. Thus, cellular calcium homeostasis may be important in the maintenance of membrane fluidity and other membrane-associated transport functions. (Mol Cell Biochem121: 143–148, 1993)     

Temperature and humidity dynamics of cutaneous and respiratory evaporation in pigeons,Columba livia

Summary Using a two-compartment metabolism chamber, we measured oxygen consumption simultaneously with evaporative water loss (EWL) separately from the skin and respiratory tract of pigeons exposed to various air temperatures and humidities. Both respiratory (REWL) and cutaneous (CEWL) water loss increased markedly with increasing air temperature, and latent heat loss through both routes dissipated large fractions of internal heat production during mild heat stress. CEWL as a percentage of total EWL significantly exceeded REWL (60±1.5%) at thermoneutral air temperatures, and was also a substantial fraction of total EWL at lower and higher temperatures. Both REWL and CEWL were inverse functions (apparently linear) of ambient humidity at 20 and 30 °C. These observations verify suggestions by other investigators that CEWL in birds plays a greater role in water balance and in counteracting heat stress than was previously believed.Abbreviations EWL evaporative water loss - CEWL cutaneous EWL - REWL Respiratory EWL - Oxygen consumption (cm³ g^–1 h^–1) - metabolic heat production per unit external surface area (W/m²) - Water vapor density (g/m³)     

Mass-transfer-limited nitrate uptake on a coral reef flat,Warraber Island,Torres Strait,Australia

Previous research has identified a relationship between the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy, , and the mass-transfer-limited rate of uptake by a surface, herein called the ^1/4 law, and suggests this law may be applicable to nutrient uptake on coral reefs. To test this suggestion, nitrate uptake rate and gravitational potential energy loss have been measured for a section of Warraber Island reef flat, Torres Strait, northern Australia. The reef flat section is 3 km long, with a 3 m tidal range, and on the days measured, subject to 6 m s^–1 tradewinds. The measured nitrate uptake coefficient, S , on two consecutive days during the rising tide was 1.23±0.28 and 1.42±0.52×10^–4 m s^–1. The measured loss of gravitational potential energy across the reef flat, GPE , on the same rising tides over a 178 m section was 208±24 and 161±20 kg m^–1 s^–2. Assuming the GPE is dissipated as turbulent kinetic energy in the water column, and using the ^1/4 law, the mass-transfer-limited nitrate uptake coefficient, S_MTL , on the two days was 1.57±0.03 and 1.45±0.04×10^–4 m s^–1. Nitrate uptake on Warraber Island reef flat is close to the mass-transfer limit, and is determined by oceanographic nitrate concentrations and energy climate.Communicated by B.C. Hatcher     

Respiratory frequency, dive behaviour and social interactions of leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea during the inter-nesting interval

We collected simultaneous dive Time Depth Recorder (TDR) data and video images from free swimming adult female leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, during the first 24 h after nesting on the beach, in order to determine relationships between dive parameters, activity, overall respiratory frequency and behaviour.We identified three different underwater locomotory activities (subsurface swimming, V-shaped dives and U-shaped dives) from video and TDR data that varied in their mean depth, duration and a number of other parameters. Overall respiratory frequency (overall f_R) was significantly different between all locomotory activities, with turtles taking 1.7±0.1 breaths min⁻¹ while subsurface swimming, 0.78 breaths min⁻¹ after V-shaped dives and 0.57 breaths min⁻¹ after U-shaped dives. Descent rates and ascent rates were significantly faster in U-shaped dives (descent 0.19±0.010 m s⁻¹, ascent 0.28±0.015 m s⁻¹) than in V-shaped dives (descent 0.10±0.008 m s⁻¹, ascent 0.12±0.012 m s⁻¹). Flipper stroke rates were significantly lower during the bottom component of U-shaped dives (0.18±0.02 strokes s⁻¹) than during the descent (0.29±0.03 strokes s⁻¹) or ascent (0.29±0.03 strokes s⁻¹). From overall f_R and flipper stroke rate data, we inferred that turtles used less energy during U-shaped dives than the other activity types. We recorded interactions between male turtles and the study females that lasted up to 11 min, during which male turtles displayed the characteristic courtship behaviour of sea turtles. It appeared that females attempted to avoid males by aborting ascent and extending dive duration to swim to the sea floor when males were present.     

Progressively developed myocardial apoptotic cell death during late phase of reperfusion

Myocardial apoptosis is primarily triggered during reperfusion (R). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that R-induced apoptosis develops progressively during the late phase of R, and that R-induced apoptosis is associated with changes in expression of anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins and infiltrated inflammatory cells. Thirty-one dogs were subjected to 60 min of left anterior descending coronary occlusion followed by 6, 24, 48, and 72 h R, respectively. There was no group difference in collateral blood flow, measured by colored microspheres during ischemia. Necrotic cell death (TTC staining) was significantly increased during R, starting at 27 ± 2% at 6 h R and increasing to 41 ± 2% at 24 h R. There was no further change at 48 (37 ± 3%) and 72 (36 ± 6%) h R, respectively. TUNEL positive cells (% total normal nuclei) in the peri-necrotic zone progressively increased from 6 (26 ± 2^*) to 24 (38 ± 1^*), 48 (48 ± 3^*) and 72 (59 ± 4^*) h R, respectively. The number of detected TUNEL positive cells at these time points was consistent with an increased intensity of DNA ladders, identified by agarose gel electrophoresis. Compared with normal tissue, western blot analysis showed persistent reduction in expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 from 6 (16 ± 0.8%^*) to 72 h R (78 ± 2%^*), and increase in expression of pro-apoptotic proteins including Bax from 6 (30 ± 3%^*) to 72 h R (66 ± 3%^*), and p53 from 6 (12 ± 1%^*) to 72 h R (91 ± 2%^*), respectively. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that infiltrated neutrophils (mm² myocardium) were significantly correlated with development of necrotic and apoptotic cell death from 6 to 24 h R, respectively (P < 0.05), while large macrophage infiltration seen during 48 to 72 h R were correlated with apoptotic cell death (P < 0.05). These results indicate that 1) necrosis peaked at 24 h R when apoptosis was still progressively developing during later R; 2) changes in Bcl-2 family and p53 proteins may participate in R-induced myocardial apoptosis; 3) inflammatory cells may play a role in triggering cell death during R. ^* P < 0.05 vs. normal nuclei and tissue; P < 0.01 vs. 6 h R.     

Analysis of cylindrical Langmuir probe using experiment and different theories

Cylindrical probe data have been analyzed using different theories in order to determine some plasma parameters (electron temperature and electron and ion densities). Langmuir probe data are obtained in a cylindrical DC glow discharge in the positive column plasma at argon gas pressures varied from 0.5 to 6 Torr and at constant discharge current equal to 10 mA. The electron density has calculated from the electron current at the space potential and from Orbital Motion Limited (OML) collisionless theory. Ion density has obtained from the OML analysis of the ion saturation currents. In addition, the electron temperature has measured by three different methods using probe and electrons currents. The electron temperature T _e , plasma density n _e , and space potential V _s , have been obtained from the measured single cylindrical probe I–V characteristic curves. The radial distribution of the electron temperature and plasma density along the glow discharge are measured and discussed. Using the collisionless theories by Langmuir cylindrical probe and up to several Torr argon gas pressures the differences between the values of electron temperature and electron and ion densities stay within reasonable error limits.     

Experimental investigation of X-ray lasing in a capillary argon discharge

Results are presented from experiments on the laser generation of X-ray radiation at the wavelength λ=469 ? (ε=26.4 eV) on the 3p(J=0)−3s(J=1) transition of Ne-like Ar ions. Experiments were carried out on the SIGNAL electrophysical facility with a 3.1-mm-diameter 157-mm-long Al₂O₃ ceramic capillary filled with argon at a pressure of 0.2–1.0 Torr. The discharge current amplitude was I ∼ 25–40 kA, the current rise rate being dI/dt ∼ 10¹² A/s. By a vacuum X-ray diode tuned to detect X-ray photons with energies in the range 10–40 eV, laser pulses with a duration of t ₁ ∼ 1 ns and maximum energy of E _1,max ∼ 1 μJ were recorded. The pulses were generated 35 ns after the discharge current was switched on. The line spectra in the wavelength range of 150–500 ? showed the bright λ=469 ? line. The angular divergence of the generated X-ray laser beam was estimated to be Δϑ ∼ 2 mrad. Original Russian Text ? O.N. Gilev, V.I. Afonin, V.I. Ostashev, V.Yu. Politov, A.M. Gafarov, A.L. Zapysov, A.V. Andriyash, é.P. Magda, L.N. Shamraev, A.A. Safronov, A.V. Komissarov, N.A. Khavronin, N.A. Pkhaĭko, L.V. Antonova, L.N. Shushlebin, 2006, published in Fizika Plazmy, 2006, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 160–165.     

The role of body surfaces and ventilation in gas exchange of the abalone, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haliotis iris</Emphasis>

The archaeogastropod Haliotis iris possesses paired bipectinate gills and normally four to six shell holes. In still water, endogenous water flow entered the branchial chamber anteriorly to the left of the head and was exhaled primarily from the three most posterior holes. The first or second anterior aperture was occasionally weakly inhalant. Cardiac interaction superimposed an oscillatory component upon ciliary ventilation but did not augment mean flow. At normal endogenous flow rates 49% of oxygen was extracted from the branchial flow, increasing to 71% at lower flows. In still water, normoxic was 0.47 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹. Oxyregulation occurred down to with partial oxyregulation down to 45 Torr (P _crit), and oxyconformity below this. The oxyregulatory plateau was absent in artificially ventilated animals but normoxic was higher (0.65 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹). Endogenous ventilation was unaffected by hypoxia to 15 Torr. Heart rate decreased by ~20% at 26 Torr before falling more steeply. Oxygen uptake from the branchial ventilation stream fully accounted for normoxic In hypoxia (<30 Torr), no uptake occurred from the head or foot despite extensive eversion of the epipodium. Blood oxygen measurements excluded the right mantle as a significant gas exchange organ. Changes in oxygen uptake caused by changes in the velocity of external water currents support the concept of induced ventilation and suggest that in still water aerobic respiration was ventilation-limited. Although ciliary ventilation appears adequate to support resting aerobic metabolism, induced ventilation may provide increased aerobic scope for activity and repayment of oxygen debt. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Diagnostics of soft X-ray emission from the plasma of a fast capillary discharge

Results are presented from time-resolved measurements of the soft X-ray emission in the 10-to 40-eV spectral range from the plasma of a pulsed capillary discharge in argon at current pulse amplitudes of up to 26 kA and a current rise time of ～10¹² A/s. The experiments were carried out with 0.3-cm-diameter 15.7-cm-long ceramic capillaries filled with argon at a pressure of 0.25–0.5 Torr in the SIGNAL electrophysical facility. The experimental data are interpreted via computer simulations of the magnetohydrodynamics and level-by-level ion kinetics of an argon plasma. The results obtained indicate that soft X-ray laser pulses with a photon energy of 26.4 eV and duration of 1–2 ns are generated ≈33 ns after the beginning of the discharge current pulse.     

Frequency and conduction velocity analysis of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle during early fatigue

The physiological behavior of the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle during early stage of fatigue is important as a reference for future clinical assessment of a pathologically altered muscle, as e.g. in carpal tunnel syndrome. The purpose of this study was to assess changes of force and surface electromyograms (sEMG) during early stage of fatigue of the APB. Thumb abduction force and sEMG derived from a multi-electrode array were recorded during isometric contraction. Electrode placement over the innervation zone (IZ) and the muscle tendon interface were avoided. The sEMGs of two adjacent electrode pairs were selected for the analysis, which yielded (a) motor unit conduction velocities (MUCV) derived from a correlation analysis between the EMGs and (b) mean frequencies obtained by using either fast Fourier (FMF) or Wavelet Transform (WMF). Early fatigue resulted in a relative decay rate of force (?2.1%¹ s^?1), MUCV (?1.5%¹ s^?1), FMF (?4.1%¹ s^?1), WMF (?3.7%¹ s^?1) and in a change of the power spectrum shape. Lower mean frequencies were observed at greater distances from the IZ independently of fatigue. The APB muscle seems to be fast fatigable and the relative decay rate of mean frequency was significantly larger than the one of force and MUCV.     

Effect of Hemorrhagic Hypotension on Cortical Oxygen Pressure and Striatal Extracellular Dopamine in Cat Brain

This study investigated the relationships between blood pressure, cortical oxygen pressure, and extracellular striatal dopamine in the brain of adult cats during hemorrhagic hypotension and re-transfusion. Oxygen pressure in the blood of the cortex was measured by the oxygen dependent quenching of phosphorescence and extracellular dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) by in vivo microdialysis. Following a 2 h stabilization period after implantation of the microdialysis probe in the striatum, the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was decreased in a stepwise manner from 132 ± 2 Torr (control) to 90 Torr, 70 Torr and 50 Torr, holding the pressure at each level for 15 min. The whole blood was then retransfused and measurements were continued for 90 min. As the MAP was lowered there was a decrease in arterial pH, from a control value of 7.37 ± 0.05 to 7.26 ± 0.06. The PaCO₂ decreased during bleeding from 32.3 ± 4.8 Torr to 19.6 ± 3.6 Torr and returned to 30.9 ± 3.9 Torr after retransfusion. The PaO₂ was 125.9 ± 15 Torr during control conditions and did not significantly change during bleeding. Cortical oxygen pressure decreased with decrease in MAP, from 50 ± 2 Torr (control) to 42 ± 1 Torr, 31 ± 2 Torr and 22 ± 2 Torr, respectively. A statistically significant increase in striatal extracellular dopamine, to 2,580 ± 714% of control was observed when MAP decreased to below 70 Torr and cortical oxygen pressure decreased to below 31 Torr. When the MAP reached 50 Torr, the concentration of extracellular dopamine increased to 18,359 ± 2,764% of the control value. A statistically significant decrease in DOPAC and HVA were observed during the last step of bleeding. The data show that decreases in systemic blood pressure result in decrease in oxygen pressure in the microvasculature of the cortex, suggesting vascular dilation is not sufficient to result in a full compensation for the decreased MAP. The decrease in cortical oxygen pressure to below 32 Torr is accompanied by a marked increase in extracellular dopamine in the striatum, indicating that even such mild hypoxia can induce significant disturbance in brain metabolism.     

Ultrahigh charging of dust grains by the beam−plasma method for creating a compact neutron source

Generation of high-voltage high-current electron beams in a low-pressure (P = 0.1–1 Torr) gas discharge is studied experimentally as a function of the discharge voltage and the sort and pressure of the plasma-forming gas. The density of the plasma formed by a high-current electron beam is measured. Experiments on ultrahigh charging of targets exposed to a pulsed electron beam with an energy of up to 25 keV, an electron current density of higher than 1 A/cm², a pulse duration of up to 1 μs, and a repetition rate of up to 1 kHz are described. A numerical model of ultrahigh charging of dust grains exposed to a high-energy electron beam is developed. The formation of high-energy positive ions in the field of negatively charged plane and spherical targets is calculated. The calculations performed for a pulse-periodic mode demonstrate the possibility of achieving neutron yields of higher than 10⁶ s^–1 cm^–2 in the case of a plane target and about 10⁹ s^–1 in the case of 10³ spherical targets, each with a radius of 250 μm.     

Free energy of CO binding to iron(II) protoporphyrin IX in water

A series of CO binding constants to two iron porphyrins in different solvents have been determined spectrophotometrically in an effort to estimate the free energy of CO binding to heme in water. The free energy of CO binding to iron(II) protoporphyrin IX dimethylester(1,2-dimethylimidazole), FePPIXMe(DMI), in water has been estimated by determining the CO binding constant for the water-soluble heme iron(II) tetra(p-trimethlyammoniumphenyl)porphyrin(DMI), FeTAP(DMI), in phosphate buffer and assuming that the difference in free energies for binding CO to FeTAP(DMI) and to FePPIXMe(DMI) is the same in water as in DMSO solvent (this is equivalent to assuming that the FePPIXMe(DMI)-to-FeTAP(DMI) ratio of CO binding constants is the same in DMSO as in water). These studies estimate the CO binding constant to FePPIXMe(DMI) in phosphate buffer to be (9.1 ± 2.4) × 10⁶ M⁻¹ (P_1/2^CO=0.082±0.022 Torr). Using reported CO affinity to T-state hemoglobin (J.P. Collman, Inorg. Chem. (1997) 5145 and references therein), this leads to the smaller estimate of distal and proximal protein contributions to CO binding in T-state hemoglobin of +0.55 kcal/mol.     

Photosynthetic induction in leaves of co-occurring <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus lucida</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Castanopsis lamontii</Emphasis> saplings grown in contrasting light environments

Photosynthetic induction times and photoinhibition in relation to simulated sunflecks (sudden increase of irradiance from 20 to 1,500 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) were examined in leaves of co-occurring Fagus lucida (a deciduous tree) and Castanopsis lamontii (an evergreen tree) saplings grown either in a beech forest understory or in an adjacent open site during a late rainy season. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) understory leaves would display faster photosynthetic induction times and greater photoinhibition than open-grown leaves; and (2) evergreen species would have slower photosynthetic induction times and lighter photoinhibition than deciduous species. Times to reach 90% of maximal CO₂ assimilation rate (t _90%A ) and stomatal conductance did not differ between species, but showed faster by 3–5 min in open-grown leaves than understory leaves due to higher initial stomatal conductance (g _{s initial}) and induction state 1 min into simulated sunflecks (IS_1min) in the former. Our analysis across the published data on photosynthetic induction of 48 broad-leaved woody species again revealed the negative correlations between t _90%A and either g _{s initial} or IS_1min, and the similarity of t _90%A and between evergreen and deciduous species. Measurements of maximum PSII photochemical efficiency (F _v/F _m) indicated that photoinhibition occurred in saplings in any of the growth habitats during sunfleck-induced photosynthetic induction. Despite no interspecific differences in the degree of photoinhibition, understory leaves of both species suffered heavier photoinhibition than open-grown leaves, as indicated by a stronger decrease of F _v/F _m in the former. Dynamic changes in the quantum yields of PSII photochemistry and ΔpH- and xanthophyll-regulated thermal dissipation and adjustments in the partitioning of electron flow between assimilative and non-assimilative processes were functional to resist photoinhibition. However, such photoinhibition, together with stomatal and biochemical limitations, would decrease carbon gain during simulated sunflecks, particularly in understory leaves.     

Thick Binder‐Free Electrodes for Li–Ion Battery Fabricated Using Templating Approach and Spark Plasma Sintering Reveals High Areal Capacity

The templating approach is a powerful method for preparing porous electrodes with interconnected well‐controlled pore sizes and morphologies. The optimization of the pore architecture design facilitates electrolyte penetration and provides a rapid diffusion path for lithium ions, which becomes even more crucial for thick porous electrodes. Here, NaCl microsize particles are used as a templating agent for the fabrication of 1 mm thick porous LiFePO₄ and Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ composite electrodes using spark plasma sintering technique. These sintered binder‐free electrodes are self‐supported and present a large porosity (40%) with relatively uniform pores. The electrochemical performances of half and full batteries reveal a remarkable specific areal capacity (20 mA h cm^?2), which is 4 times higher than those of 100 µm thick electrodes present in conventional tape‐casted Li–ion batteries (5 mA h cm^?2). The 3D morphological study is carried out using full field transmission X‐ray microscopy in microcomputed tomography mode to obtain tortuosity values and pore size distributions leading to a strong correlation with their electrochemical properties. These results also demonstrate that the coupling between the salt templating method and the spark plasma sintering technique turns out to be a promising way to fabricate thick electrodes with high energy density.     

Dynamic and energetic mechanisms for the distinct permeation rate in AQP1 and AQP0

Despite sharing overall sequence and structural similarities, water channel aquaporin 0 (AQP0) transports water more slowly than other aquaporins. Using molecular dynamics simulations of AQP0 and AQP1, we find that there is a sudden decrease in the distribution profile of water density along the pore of AQP0 in the region of residue Tyr23, which significantly disrupts the single file water chain by forming hydrogen bond with permeating water molecules. Comparisons of free-energy and interaction-energy profiles for water conduction between AQP0 and AQP1 indicate that this interruption of the water chain causes a huge energy barrier opposing water translocation through AQP0. We further show that a mutation of Tyr23 to phenylalanine leads to a 2- to 4-fold enhancement in water permeability of AQP0, from (0.5 ± 0.2) × 10^− 14 cm³s^− 1 to (1.9 ± 0.6) × 10^− 14 cm³s^− 1. Therefore, Tyr23 is a dominate factor leading to the low water permeability in AQP0.     

Micropatterning of Flexible and Free Standing Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF) Films for Enhanced Pyroelectric Energy Transformation

In an effort to harvest thermal energy and exploit abundantly available waste heat the pyroelectric effect offers the opportunity to convert temperature fluctuations into useable electrical energy. Here, the micropatterning of the surface of a pyroelectric in order to enhance heat transfer and achieve faster and larger temperature fluctuations, which improve pyroelectric energy transformation, is reported. Methods for the fabrication of partially covered electrodes on polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) films are developed to investigate and quantify the benefits of such an electrode structure for pyroelectric energy harvesting. The micropattern consists of an array of holes that are etched into the upper aluminum electrodes of free standing ferroelectric PVDF films using a low cost photolithography and wet etching process. Under the application of infrared radiation heating, it is demonstrated that such microfeatures are able to significantly improve the open circuit voltage by 380% and the closed circuit current by 420% for an electrode area coverage of 45% when compared to a fully covered electrode design. Capacitance measurements show constant electric fields with microfeatures for electrode area coverages as low as 28%. A specific generator performance of 66.9 μJ cm^?3 cycle^?1 is presented at oscillation temperatures of 2.8 °C.     

Spatiotemporal evolution of the current and the integral and spectral emission characteristics of a negative corona in nitrogen during its transformation into a spark

Results are presented from experimental studies of the conversion of a steady-state negative corona into a spark. It is found that a spark in a negative corona in nitrogen and air is formed in the absence of fast primary streamers. It is shown that, in atmospheric-pressure nitrogen, the conversion of a corona into a spark begins with the propagation of a plasma channel (secondary streamer) from the point electrode (cathode) to the plane electrode (anode). In contrast, the plasma channel in air originates near the plane electrode and then propagates towards the point electrode. The propagation velocity of the secondary streamer is very low, V=10³–10⁴ cm/s. Two possible scenarios of the formation of the spark channel in a negative corona in nitrogen are described on the basis of the concept of a contracted volume glow discharge. Results are presented from time-resolved spectral measurements of plasma emission from different regions of the corona during its transformation into a spark.