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This article summarizes presentations and discussion at the workshop "Enabling Biomaterial Technology for Tissue Engineering," which was held during the Fifth World Biomaterials Congress in May 1996. Presentations covered the areas of material substrate architecture, barrier effects, and cellular response, including analysis of biomaterials challenges involved in producing specific tissue-engineered products.
Thin-film CuInS2 solar cell is the leading candidate for space power because of bandgap near the optimum value for AM0 solar radiation outside the earth's atmosphere, excellent radiation hardness, and freedom from intrinsic degradation mechanisms unlike a-Si:H cells. Ultra-lightweight thin-film solar cells deposited on flexible polyimide plastic substrates such as Kapton(trademark), Upilex(trademark), and Apical(trademark) have a potential for achieving specific power of 1000 W/kg, while the state-of-art specific power of the present day solar cells is 66 W/kg. This paper describes the preparation of Cu-rich CuIn(sub 1-x)Ga(sub x)S(sub 2) (CIGS2) thin films and solar cells by a process of sulfurization of CuGa-In precursor similar to that being used for preparation of large-compact-grain CuIn(sub 1-x)Ga(sub x)Se2 thin films and efficient solar cells at FSEC PV Materials Lab.
Introduction: A scientist with experience as a sample science analyst, provider of flight hardware for multiple missions, and senior engineer in an ISO 2000-rated manufacturing plant has described the timeline of key participants in any PI-led sample return mission, the breadth of the organizations involved [1,2], and, of interest to this meeting, choosing the types of data to preserve and issues of future data accessibility. This work broadens that perspective by giving similar lessons from Genesis sample curation point-of-view. Curation participation regarding data gathering was part of the mission review process from the beginning. Genesis’ story illustrates outcome of several choices about types of data to record and preserve. Precision analysis of solar wind atoms captured in pure, ultraclean substrates is the driving science goal; therefore, detailed documentation was captured from all mission and curation phases and from investigator laboratories because these processes affect the final analytical results [3]. Pre-flight: Design and fabrication of the spacecraft. Like many modern small sample return missions, Genesis was a tightly managed team integrated across science, engineering and curation. Communication across the team was excellent, and, for the most part, the hands-on engineering technicians understood the impacts of “small choices” they routinely make, and the eyes-on oversight of manufacturing processes by scientists was mindful of details. The payload was designed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the spacecraft by Lockheed Martin. Solar wind collectors and instruments were fabricated by multiple vendors and laboratories. The main portion of the payload was assembled at JSC. Fabrication procedures and contamination-control data (with witness coupons) were stored primarily at JSC. The original composition, dimensions and configuration of components, results of thermal testing, etc. are still needed for interpretation of analytical data. At times, these must be estimated from secondary information acquired pre-flight. Moreover, some files (e.g., original 3-D models and early Powerpoint) cannot be opened using software. Archived curation data includes 2-D drawings, material usage lists, QA documentation and analyses of consumables used during fabrication. Important chemical information still resides in archived hardware, paints and lubricants, material coupons, cleaning coupons, environmental witness plates and reference materials from manufacturing facilities. Purity and cleanliness of collector substrates. Semi-conductor vendors provided surface cleanliness data and some purity data. Purity for specific elements of interest was verified by science team members in their laboratories [4]. Curation archived procurement and shipping records, analysis reports, and non-proprietary fabrication data. A physical archive of flight collector reference materials is maintained for future use so additional data can be collected as analytical techniques improve. These are of increased value due to the hard landing upon re-entry. Cleaning and cleanliness assessments of flight hardware. Cleaning of the science canister payload was performed at JSC in a dedicated ISO 4 cleanroom using ultrapure water (UPW). The cleanliness of this UPW was monitored throughout processing. The archive for the clean lab also includes airborne particle counts, airborne molecular and inorganic contamination measurements as well as cleanroom construction material coupons and witness coupons. Hardware cleanliness was assessed by particle counts in rinse water batches. This information is recorded in batch cleaning forms and logbooks, and are, perhaps, of decreased value due to the hard landing. Post-flight: Curation-generated data. The curation handling history of each Genesis sample is documented in a typical astromaterials sample database which captures sample location, physical description and characterization data. Samples have a “shelf life”. Crucial to the preservation of samples is ongoing documentation of the sample environment, initially under curatorial control but is now a separate facility function with requires coordination. PI-generated data. Data on sample characterization and cleaning techniques continues to be generated by sample users [5]. These are often captured in LPSC abstracts, but these “engineering” results often are not publishable as stand-alone papers. We are actively looking for ways to make this information more accessible to users. Ion implants into samples have aided science return and can be shared among investigators. These (and similar) materials should be added to the curatorial collection with appropriate process and characterization data generated externally. Summary: Complete data archives for returned astromaterial samples must be broad in types and formats, and inclusive of environmental monitoring.
The integration of high quality, single crystal thin film gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide (InP) based photonic and electronic materials and devices with host microstructures fabricated from materials such as silicon (Si), glass, and polymers will enable the fabrication of the next generation of micro-opto-mechanical systems (MOMS) and optoelectronic integrated circuits. Thin film semiconductor devices deposited onto arbitrary host substrates and structures create hybrid (more than one material) near-monolithic integrated systems which can be interconnected electrically using standard inexpensive microfabrication techniques such as vacuum metallization and photolithography. These integrated systems take advantage of the optical and electronic properties of compound semiconductor devices while still using host substrate materials such as silicon, polysilicon, glass and polymers in the microstructures. This type of materials optimization for specific tasks creates higher performance systems than those systems which must use trade-offs in device performance to integrate all of the function in a single material system. The low weight of these thin film devices also makes them attractive for integration with micromechanical devices which may have difficulty supporting and translating the full weight of a standard device. These thin film devices and integrated systems will be attractive for applications, however, only when the development of low cost, high yield fabrication and integration techniques makes their use economically feasible. In this paper, we discuss methods for alignment, selective deposition, and interconnection of thin film epitaxial GaAs and InP based devices onto host substrates and host microstructures.
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Abstract Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are protein organelles consisting of an inner enzymatic core encased within a selectively permeable shell. BMC shells are modular, tractable architectures that can be repurposed with new interior enzymes for biomanufacturing purposes. The permeability of BMC shells is function-specific and regulated by biophysical properties of the shell subunits, especially its pores. We hypothesized that ions may interact with pore residues in a manner that influences the substrate permeation process. In vitro activity comparisons between native and broken BMCs demonstrated that increasing NaCl negatively affects permeation rates. Molecular dynamics simulations of the dominant shell protein (BMC-H) revealed that chloride ions preferentially occupy the positive pore, hindering substrate permeation, while sodium cations remain excluded. Overall, these results demonstrate that shell properties influence ion permeability and leverages the integration of experimental and computational techniques to improve our understanding of BMC shells towards their repurposing for biotechnological applications.
Failure of the spherical bearing shaft of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) gimbal bearing assembly was encountered during Design Verification Specification testing of the full scale engine. Investigation revealed that the failure was caused by a deficiency in the lubrication system. Based upon the materials and gimbal operating conditions, a lubricant of MoS2 and graphite with a ceramic binder was the best lubricant candidate for this particular application; however, the decision to implement the change was not made without verification testing. Scaled down simulation testing was performed. Four different substrate materials and eight different dry film lubricants were subjected to tests under simulated SSME environmental and stress load conditions. The test specimens were evaluated for friction and operating life. Each test specimen was subjected to cyclic operation under load until failure. The force required to move the bearing surfaces relative to each other was monitored throughout the test, thus providing analytical data for derivation of the coefficient of friction. Results indicate that the MoS2/graphite lubricant with ceramic binder proved to be superior from the standpoint of endurance and also from the standpoint of friction reducing capabilities when applied to the titanium substrate material used on SSME. Endurance of this lubricant was approximately 16 times that of the lubricant which was being used when the SSME gimbal failed.
Branching enzymes (BEs) are essential in the biosynthesis of starch and glycogen and play critical roles in determining the fine structure of these polymers. The substrates of these BEs are long carbohydrate chains that interact with these enzymes via multiple binding sites on the enzyme’s surface. By controlling the branched-chain length distribution, BEs can mediate the physiological properties of starch and glycogen moieties; however, the mechanism and structural determinants of this specificity remain mysterious. In this study, we identify a large dodecaose binding surface on rice BE I (BEI) that reaches from the outside of the active site to the active site of the enzyme. Mutagenesis activity assays confirm the importance of this binding site in enzyme catalysis, from which we conclude that it is likely the acceptor chain binding site. Comparison of the structures of BE from Cyanothece and BE1 from rice allowed us to model the location of the donor-binding site. We also identified two loops that likely interact with the donor chain and whose sequences diverge between plant BE1, which tends to transfer longer chains, and BEIIb, which transfers exclusively much shorter chains. When the sequences of these loops were swapped with the BEIIb sequence, rice BE1 also became a short-chain transferring enzyme, demonstrating the key role these loops play in specificity. Taken together, these results provide a more complete picture of the structure, selectivity, and activity of BEs.
The chemical modification of RNA bases represents a ubiquitous activity that spans all domains of life. Pseudouridylation is the most common RNA modification and is observed within tRNA, rRNA, ncRNA and mRNAs. Pseudouridine synthase or ‘PUS’ enzymes include those that rely on guide RNA molecules and others that function as ‘stand-alone’ enzymes. Among the latter, several have been shown to modify mRNA transcripts. Although recent studies have defined the structural requirements for RNA to act as a PUS target, the mechanisms by which PUS1 recognizes these target sequences in mRNA are not well understood. Here we describe the crystal structure of yeast PUS1 bound to an RNA target that we identified as being a hot spot for PUS1-interaction within a model mRNA at 2.4 Å resolution. The enzyme recognizes and binds both strands in a helical RNA duplex, and thus guides the RNA containing the target uridine to the active site for subsequent modification of the transcript. The study also allows us to show the divergence of related PUS1 enzymes and their corresponding RNA target specificities, and to speculate on the basis by which PUS1 binds and modifies mRNA or tRNA substrates.
Manganese (Mn) oxides are among the strongest oxidants and sorbents in the environment, and Mn(II) oxidation to Mn(III/IV) (hydr)oxides includes both abiotic and microbially-mediated processes. While white-rot Basidiomycete fungi oxidize Mn(II) using laccases and manganese peroxidases in association with lignocellulose degradation, the mechanisms by which filamentous Ascomycete fungi oxidize Mn(II) and a physiological role for Mn(II) oxidation in these organisms remain poorly understood. Here we use a combination of chemical and in-gel assays and bulk mass spectrometry to demonstrate secretome-based Mn(II) oxidation in three phylogenetically diverse Ascomycetes that is mechanistically distinct from hyphal-associated Mn(II) oxidation on solid substrates. We show that Mn(II) oxidative capacity of these fungi is dictated by species-specific secreted enzymes and varies with secretome age, and we reveal the presence of both Cu-based and FAD-based Mn(II) oxidation mechanisms in all 3 species, demonstrating mechanistic redundancy. Specifically, we identify candidate Mn(II)- oxidizing enzymes as tyrosinase in Stagonospora sp. SRC1lsM3a, bilirubin oxidase in Stagonospora sp. and Paraconiothyrium sporulosum AP3s5-JAC2a, and GMC oxidoreductase in all 3 species, including Pyrenochaeta sp. DS3sAY3a. Furthermore, we demonstrate that secretome-based Mn(II) oxidative capacity is induced by the presence of Mn(II) in Stagonospora sp. and Pyrenochaeta sp., suggesting a physiological role for Mn(II) oxidation in these Ascomycetes. The diversity of the candidate Mn(II)-oxidizing enzymes identified in this study suggests that the ability of fungal secretomes to oxidize Mn(II) may be more widespread than previously thought.
This paper discusses the utilization of acoustic surface wave filters, beam lead components, and thin film metallized ceramic substrate technology as applied to the design of deep space, long-life, multimission transponder. The specific design to be presented is for a second mixer local oscillator module, operating at frequencies as high as 249 MHz.
Preamplifier with hybrid discrete components and integrated-circuit packaging is designed specifically for use as television image-tube output signal conditioner. Circuit is fabricated on alumina substrate, measuring 0.5 by 0.5 by 0.015 inch using gold-base conductor with conductive gold crossovers and dielectric insulation.
An investigation of smoke generation during the burning of natural and synthetic solid materials (relevant to fire safety problems), under simulated fire conditions, is presented. Smoke formation mechanisms, including flaming and nonflaming combustion, are reviewed, and the complex physical, chemical, and electrical processes, important in smoke particulate production, are identified. With reference to the smoke formation mechanisms, measured experimental data are discussed, and include effects of ventilation gas temperature, dependence on material composition, and chemical analysis of smoke particulates. Significant differences in smoke characteristics are observed between flaming and nonflaming conditions, which is attributed to specific differences in controlling mechanisms and resultant ways leading to particulate formation. The effects of polymer substrate properties and effects of additives for a given substrate on smoke properties are also discussed in terms of basic processes. It is shown that many of the measured trends can be interpreted by considering postulated mechanisms of particulate formation.
The morphology of the mature motor neuron dendritic arbor is determined by activity-dependent processes occurring during a critical period in early postnatal life. The abundance of the AMPA receptor subunit GluR1 in motor neurons is very high during this period and subsequently falls to a negligible level. To test the role of GluR1 in dendrite morphogenesis, we reintroduced GluR1 into rat motor neurons at the end of the critical period and quantitatively studied the effects on dendrite architecture. Two versions of GluR1 were studied that differed by the amino acid in the "Q/R" editing site. The amino acid occupying this site determines single-channel conductance, ionic permeability, and other essential electrophysiologic properties of the resulting receptor channels. We found large-scale remodeling of dendritic architectures in a manner depending on the amino acid occupying the Q/R editing site. Alterations in the distribution of dendritic arbor were not prevented by blocking NMDA receptors. These observations suggest that the expression of GluR1 in motor neurons modulates a component of the molecular substrate of activity-dependent dendrite morphogenesis. The control of these events relies on subunit-specific properties of AMPA receptors.
Z-DNA is a high energy conformer of B-DNA that forms in vivo during transcription as a result of torsional strain generated by a moving polymerase. An understanding of the biological role of Z-DNA has advanced with the discovery that the RNA editing enzyme double-stranded RNA adenosine deaminase type I (ADAR1) has motifs specific for the Z-DNA conformation. Editing by ADAR1 requires a double-stranded RNA substrate. In the cases known, the substrate is formed by folding an intron back onto the exon that is targeted for modification. The use of introns to direct processing of exons requires that editing occurs before splicing. Recognition of Z-DNA by ADAR1 may allow editing of nascent transcripts to be initiated immediately after transcription, ensuring that editing and splicing are performed in the correct sequence. Structural characterization of the Z-DNA binding domain indicates that it belongs to the winged helix-turn-helix class of proteins and is similar to the globular domain of histone-H5.
It is now possible to grow silicon nanowires at chosen positions and orientations by a method that involves a combination of standard microfabrication processes. Because their positions and orientations can be chosen with unprecedented precision, the nanowires can be utilized as integral parts of individually electronically addressable devices in dense arrays. Nanowires made from silicon and perhaps other semiconductors hold substantial promise for integration into highly miniaturized sensors, field-effect transistors, optoelectronic devices, and other electronic devices. Like bulk semiconductors, inorganic semiconducting nanowires are characterized by electronic energy bandgaps that render them suitable as means of modulating or controlling electronic signals through electrostatic gating, in response to incident light, or in response to molecules of interest close to their surfaces. There is now potential for fabricating arrays of uniform, individually electronically addressable nanowires tailored to specific applications. The method involves formation of metal catalytic particles at the desired positions on a substrate, followed by heating the substrate in the presence of silane gas. The figure illustrates an example in which a substrate includes a silicon dioxide surface layer that has been etched into an array of pillars and the catalytic (in this case, gold) particles have been placed on the right-facing sides of the pillars. The catalytic thermal decomposition of the silane to silicon and hydrogen causes silicon columns (the desired nanowires) to grow outward from the originally catalyzed spots on the substrate, carrying the catalytic particles at their tips. Thus, the position and orientation of each silicon nanowire is determined by the position of its originally catalyzed spot on the substrate surface, and the orientation of the nanowire is perpendicular to the substrate surface at the originally catalyzed spot.
In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in properties of unidirectional materials grown on highly oriented polymer surfaces such as the poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) films coated onto smooth glass surfaces. In this technique, a thin PTFE film is deposited by sliding or rubbing a Teflon bar over a heated glass surface at a specific temperature. Depending on the pressure, temperature and sliding rate the thickness of deposited layers can be varied from 30 A to 150 A. The PTFE-coated substrate is simple yet surprising versatile for oriented growth of many organic, inorganic and polymer. The significant aspect of PTFE films is their unusual ability to molecularly align a wide variety of materials grown onto them from solution, melt or vapor phase deposition, at temperature below the melting point of PTFE (approx. 340 C). The PTFE structure may be derived, in part, from the multitude of ridges forming in the film and these ridges can presumably provide effective nucleation sites to induce the unidirectional growth of variety of materials. Electron diffraction studies of these films revealed that the PTFE macromolecules are oriented parallel to each other along the sliding direction. Direct observation of the film thickness, molecular structure and individual fluorine atoms from these highly oriented films were achieved using atomic force microscopy (AFM). In this paper, we also report the first direct observation of individual fluorine atoms, and the measurement of the fluorine-helix and carbon-helix radii to be 1.70 A and 0.54 A, respectively.