Search

Yttria Stabilized Zirconia layers were deposited on metal tape using modified magnetron sputtering.

A rotatable sputter magnetron is proposed for the sputter deposition of YBCO coated conductors.

The majority of cases of Alzheimer's disease are sporadic. However, there are also numerous examples of families in which Alzheimer's disease is passed from generation to generation. While the sporadic cases of Alzheimer's disease generally begin only at an advanced age, the familial cases are usually of much earlier onset. Some researchers are returning to familial cases of Alzheimer's disease with renewed interest. The authors describe the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease as an inherited trait in two large Belgian families. In both families, the disorder seems to be passed along as an autosomal dominant trait, although mapping of the gene to a particular chromosome has not yet been accomplished for these two families. (Other research has indicated that the gene is on chromosome 21.) A total of 63 affected patients occurred in the two families, and the majority first developed symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in their thirties. While the age of onset of AD for some family members is not known, an onset as early as 26 years was observed and no onset later than age 45 has been documented. The neuropathological examination of autopsy material from the first family revealed the typical neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease. Since the second family had a greater frequency of myoclonus and pyramidal signs, there was some suggestion that the syndrome might, in fact, be Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS). However, neuropathological examination of autopsy specimens from this family as well showed the typical changes of Alzheimer's disease and did not show any of the spongiform changes associated with GSS. Numerous studies of Alzheimer's disease have failed to reveal a clear understanding of the underlying genetics; some authors feel that a strong genetic component is masked simply because many people carrying the putative gene do not live long enough to express it. Conversely, studies on identical twins have demonstrated that a single gene is not sufficient to explain the clinical disease. The authors emphasize that familial Alzheimer's disease provides a unique opportunity and urge that if such families are encountered, they be studied in a careful and reliable way and that blood specimens be obtained for subsequent genetic analysis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Rotatable magnetron sputtering is still a promising technique for scaling up of large area deposition of high temperature superconducting thin films. Furthermore, it represents a standard equipment for very large area web coating and glass coating in industrial environment. We have already demonstrated that with rotatable magnetron sputtering epitaxial c-axis oriented NdBa2Cu3O7-x (NBCO) thin films could be obtained on MgO and YSZ single crystals and buffered tapes. The superconducting properties, like Tc and Jc, of these films are still reduced due to low pressure sputtering. The c-axis lattice parameter is expanded or the sputtered NBCO thin film exists of 2 phases, one with the correct c-axis parameter and the other phase shows an elongated c-axis parameter, which influences the superconducting properties. In this work we will investigate the properties of thin films, sputtered with a nonstoichiometric target at low pressure (classical sputter regime). Especially, the influence of the oxygen partial pressure is very important and will be studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of sputter deposition of YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) from rotatable targets is an important step in the realisation of a large scale deposition process for YBCO coated conductor. Rotatable magnetron sputter sources are standard equipment in large scale sputter industry and the power input in a rotatable magnetron can be much higher compared to a planar magnetron with the same race track area. This result in improved discharge characteristics and increased deposition speed. For this work a flame sprayed and a plasma sprayed cylindrical YBCO target was used to deposit YBCO thin films on single crystal MgO. c-Axis oriented YBCO thin films were obtained at lower pressure than is normally used for YBCO sputter deposition, resulting in a higher deposition speed. The influence of deposition parameters (such as sputter pressure, oxygen partial pressure, substrate temperature, etc.) on the properties of the YBCO layer was investigated and the possibilities for large scale deposition were explored. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The growth mechanism in general and the biaxial alignment in detail were investigated for thin films of yttria stabilized zirconia deposited by unbalanced magnetron sputtering on non-aligned polycrystalline stainless steel and amorphous glass substrates. A strong influence of the Ar/O2 flow ratio on the preferential out-of-plane orientation was observed. The out-of-plane orientation changed from nearly perfect [002] to a mixture of 30% [220] and 70% [111] with increasing O2 partial pressure. It was concluded that the change from a [002] to a [111] out-of-plane orientation is caused by an increased adatom mobility during the growth. The change from a [002] to a [220] out-of-plane orientation is believed to be a consequence of a change in the plasma composition due to an increased oxygen partial pressure. By tilting the substrate with respect to the sputter source, an in-plane aligned YSZ layer was obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Rotatable magnetron sputter sources are standard equipment in large scale sputter industry for the deposition of metals and metal oxides. The power input in a rotatable magnetron can be much higher compared to a planar magnetron, resulting in improved discharge characteristics and increased deposition speed. In order to develop rotatable magnetron deposition of YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) on an industrial scale, the construction of large cylindrical YBCO targets using plasma and flame spraying was explored. Large cylindrical targets (∅ 13 cm×30 cm length) consisting of a stainless steel substrate coated with a 5 mm YBCO coating were fabricated. This paper describes the microstructure, mechanical, structural, thermal and electrical characterisation of the obtained coatings and the characteristics of the targets during magnetron sputtering. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the interest in RNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) based drug products has increased drastically. While one RNA-LNP drug product, Onpattro, was already on the market in 2018, high volume manufacturing was only initiated end of 2020 with the approval of the mRNA-LNP vaccines, Comirnaty and Spikevax. As such, deep product knowledge for RNA-LNPs is continuously increasing. In this article the effect of large-scale mixing and lab-scale shaking on mRNA-LNP drug product quality characteristics is investigated. It is shown that mixing and shaking can have a profound impact on both LNP size distribution and mRNA encapsulation, suggesting a direct correlation between both quality characteristics, and further supported by a proposed underlying mechanism. An in-depth investigation of different drug product (DP) presentations reveals a consistent effect of headspace volume and LNP content on the shaking stress sensitivity. Results reported in this study are of utter importance for both small- and large-scale manufacturers but also for care givers and patients using these products., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Behavioural variation among individuals has received a lot of attention by behavioural ecologists in the past few years. Its causes and consequences are becoming vast areas of research. The origin and maintenance of individual variation in behaviour within and among populations is affected by many facets of the biotic and abiotic environment. Here, two populations of lab-reared juvenile three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) are tested for three behaviours (boldness, exploration, and sociability). Given the identical rearing conditions, the only difference between these populations is the parental habitat. In both populations, correlations between behaviour and body length are found. Interestingly, these differ between the populations. In one population body length was negatively correlated with exploratory behaviour, while in the other one body length correlated negatively with sociability. Considering the identical environment these juvenile fish were exposed to, these findings suggest a potential (epi)genetic foundation for these correlations and shows that, in three-spined sticklebacks, the proximate basis for correlations between body length and behaviour appears quite malleable., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this paper, I will argue that ageing can be construed as disease. First, the concept of disease is discussed, where the distinction is made between two lines of thought, an objectivist and a subjectivist one. After determining the disease conception to be used throughout the argument, it is proposed that senescence could be seen as disease. Three common counterarguments are discussed, none of which appears strong enough to effectively counter the advocated view. In the third section, two potential implications of the view advocated here will be briefly touched upon. These are the quest for a cure or treatment for ageing and the general attitude towards the elderly. It is concluded that, utilizing an objective disease concept, ageing could be seen as a disease. None of the considered counterarguments packs enough of a punch to discard this. The implications are complex and intertwined, but need not be negative.

Unlabelled: We compared the hemodynamic stability during carotid endarterectomy of remifentanil with that of sufentanil anesthesia. Fifty-six patients were randomly assigned into Remifentanil (n = 27) or Sufentanil (n = 29) groups. In the Remifentanil group, IV propacetamol (2 g) and morphine (0.1 mg/kg) were infused 30 min before skin closure. In the Sufentanil group, patients received 2 g propacetamol. Beat-to-beat recordings of systolic arterial blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) were stored on a computer. The maximum and minimum values of BP and HR after induction, at intubation, during the surgical procedure, and after the operation and the coefficients of variation of SBP and HR were used as indices of hemodynamic stability. The coefficients of variation of SBP and HR were similar in both groups during and after surgery. However, at intubation, maximal SBP was higher in the Sufentanil group (P < 0.05). Decreased propofol doses and isoflurane end-tidal concentrations were used in the Remifentanil group. At recovery, a similar profile of SBP and HR was found in both groups. We conclude that intra- and posthemodynamic stability was similar with remifentanil or sufentanil in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. However, remifentanil was more effective for blunting the increase in SBP at intubation without increasing the blood pressure-decreasing effect of induction. Intraoperative remifentanil use was associated with a decreased amount of hypnotic drug administered., Implications: Beat-to-beat recordings of heart rate and blood pressure in patients undergoing carotid surgery revealed that hemodynamic stability was similar with remifentanil or sufentanil anesthesia both during and after surgery. Remifentanil was more effective in limiting the increase in blood pressure associated with intubation without increasing the blood pressure-lowering effect of induction or the blood pressure response to recovery.

Genetic linkage studies have indicated that chromosome 14q24.3 harbours a major locus for early-onset (onset age <65 years) Alzheimer's disease (AD3). Positional cloning efforts have identified a novel gene S182 or presenilin 1 as the AD3 gene. We have mapped S182 in the AD3 candidate region between D14S277 and D14S284 defined by genetic linkage studies in the two chromosome 14 linked, early-onset AD families AD/A and AD/B. We have shown that S182 is expressed in lymphoblasts and have determined the complete cDNA in both brain and lymphoblasts by RT-PCR sequencing. S182 is alternatively spliced in both brain and lymphoblasts within a putative phosphorylation site located 5' in the coding region. We identified two novel mutations, Ile143Thr and Gly384la located in, respectively, the second transmembrane domain and in the sixth hydrophilic loop of the putative transmembrane structure of S182. As families AD/A and AD/B have very similar AD phenotype our observation of two mutations in functionally different domains suggest that onset age and severity of AD may not be very helpful predictors of the location of putative S182 mutations.

Genetic linkage studies with chromosome 21 DNA markers and mutation analysis of the beta-amyloid protein precursor gene located in 21q21.3 have indicated that early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) is a heterogeneous disorder for which at least one other chromosomal locus exists. We examined two extended histopathologically confirmed EOAD pedigrees, AD/A and AD/B, with highly informative short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms and found complete linkage of the disease to a (CA)n dinucleotide repeat polymorphism at locus D14S43 in 14q24.3 (Zmax = 13.25 at theta = 0.0). Using additional chromosome 14 STR polymorphisms we were able to delineate the region containing the EOAD gene to an area of, at most, 8.9 centiMorgans between D14S42 and D14S53, flanking D14S43 on both sides.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1a (CMT 1a) is an autosomal dominant peripheral neuropathy linked to the DNA markers D17S58 and D17S71, located in the pericentromeric region of the chromosome 17p arm. We analyzed an extended 5-generation Belgian family, multiply affected with CMT 1a, for linkage with eight chromosome 17 markers. The results indicated that the CMT 1a mutation is localized in the chromosomal region 17p11.2-p12 between the marker D17S71 and the gene for myosin heavy polypeptide 2 of adult skeletal muscle.

Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type I (HMSN I) or Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is an autosomal dominant peripheral neuropathy. In some CMT families linkage has been reported with either the Duffy blood group or the APOA2 gene, both located on chromosome 1q. More recently, linkage has been found in six CMT families with two chromosome 17p markers. We extensively analyzed a multi-generation Charcot-Marie-Tooth family by using molecular genetic techniques in order to localize the CMT gene defect. First, we constructed a continuous linkage group of 11 chromosome 1 markers and definitely excluded chromosome 1 as the site of mutation. Second, we analyzed the family for linkage with chromosome 17. The two-point lod scores obtained with D17S58 and D17S71 proved that this Charcot-Marie-Tooth family is linked to chromosome 17. Moreover, multipoint linkage results indicated that the mutation is most likely located on the chromosome 17p arm, distal of D17S71.