OBJECTIVE To establish an indirect immunofluorescent test so as to improve the sensitivity and specificity of examination of antibodies to beta(2)-glycoprotein METHODS Full-length beta(2)GP cDNA was obtained from human hepatocellular cancer cell line HepG2 by RT-PCR and cloned into the mammalian expression vector pEGFP-C1 The recombinant plasmid pEGFP-beta(2)GP was transfected into HEp-2 cells RT-PCR, immunoblotting (IBT), confocal fluorescence microscopy, and indirect immunofluorescent test (IIF) were used to confirm the expression, localization, and antigenicity of fusion protein of green fluorescent protein (GFP) Serum specimens from 19 patients suspected as with secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), 1 patient diagnosed as with primary APS, and 10 normal persons were detected with IIF-IgG-beta(2)GP1, ELISA-IgG-ACL, and ELISA-IgG-beta(2)GP I simultaneously RESULTS (1) The HEp-beta(2)GP I cells thus obtained retained their ability of expression of beta(2)GP-I-GFP for more than ten generations This beta(2)GP-I-GFP showed the antigenicity of beta(2)GP-I with a characteristic feature (2) Seven of the 20 serum specimens from APS patients showed characteristic immunofluorescent pattern No serum specimen from normal persons showed immunofluorescent staining The comparison of results of the three methods showed that the concordance between IIF-IgG-beta(2)GP I and ELISA-IgG-beta(2)GP I was the most perfect (Kappa = 0886) (3) HEp-beta(2)GP I retained the immunofluorescent property of HEp-2 cell CONCLUSION As a new kind of substrate of IIF, beta(2)GP I transfectant can be used to detect anti-beta(2)GP-I antibodies Transfeted HEp-2 cells keep the immunofluorescent property of HEp-2 cells in IFANA test and can be used as substrate for routine IFANA detection

[Expression of fusion proteins in beta(2)GP I gene-transfected HEp-2 cells and its clinical application].

Recent advances in enhanced photocatalytic activity of bismuth oxyhalides for efficient photocatalysis of organic pollutants in water: A review

The present work critically reviews the scientific and patent literature on low melting bismuth based oxide glass frits in materials for electronics, sensors and related applications such as sealing glasses, solar cells, architectural and automotive glass, the main motivation being to replace lead based materials by environmentally more benign ones. Due to similar glass forming properties of Bi and Pb, Bi based glasses are the closest ‘drop-in’ alternative for lead bearing formulations, and are therefore actually replacing them in many applications, helped also by previous experience with Bi containing materials in thick film technology and component metallisations. The outstanding issues are discussed, e.g. matching the lowest processing temperatures achieved by the classical lead based glasses without sacrificing durability and stability, as well as stability versus chemical reduction. Finally, consideration is also given to special ‘heavy’ glasses (often containing Bi and Pb together) that are ...

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Review of Bi2O3 based glasses for electronics and related applications

The purpose of this review is to present the recent developments in silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramics and to examine the achievements regarding our understanding of the relationship between processing conditions, chemical composition, microstructure and mechanical properties of Si3N4. Si3N4 is one of the most important structural ceramics because it possesses a combination of advanced properties such as good wear and corrosive resistance, high flexural strength, good fracture resistance, good creep resistance and relatively high hardness. These properties are obtained through the processing method involving liquid phase sintering in which a tailored microstructure, with high aspect ratio grains and chemistry of intergranular phase, triggers the toughening and strengthening mechanisms leading to the development of high fracture toughness and fracture strength. However, despite high fracture toughness and strength, Si3N4 ceramic materials still break catastrophically, and the fracture behaviour of this ceramic is considered to be the major obstacle for its wider use as a structural material. In addition to the macrostructure–mechanical properties relationship, this paper also reviews new designs involving laminates possessing no plane of weakness and some theoretical developments involving crack opening displacement. Proposals of how to improve the fracture resistance were also discussed.

Silicon nitride: the engineering material of the future

We report the simultaneous electroanalytical determination of Pb2+ and Cd2+ by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) using a bismuth nanoparticle modified boron doped diamond (Bi-BDD) electrode. Bi deposition was performed in situ with the analytes, from a solution of 0.1 rnM Bi(NO3)(3) in 0.1 M HClO4, (pH 1.2), and gave detection limits of 1.9 mu g L-1 and 2.3 mu g L-1 for Pb(II) and Cd(II) respectively. Pb2+ and Cd2+ could not be detected simultaneously at a bare BDD electrode, whilst on a bulk Bi macro electrode (BiBE) the limits of detection for the simultaneous determination of Pb2+ and Cd2+ were ca. ten times higher. In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) was performed to characterize the Bi nanoparticle growth on the BDD surface over a period of 120 s. The average final size of the Bi nanoparticles was 45 +/- 25 nm in height with a number density on the electrode surface of ca. 7 x 10(9) np/cm(2) obtained. The in situ AFM characterization suggests that the Bi nanoparticles are deposited by an "instantaneous" nucleation and growth mechanism.

The Fabrication and Characterization of a Bismuth Nanoparticle Modified Boron Doped Diamond Electrode and Its Application to the Simultaneous Determination of Cadmium(II) And Lead(II)

Experimental data are presented and available published information is generalized on phase relations in the Bi2O3-TiO2 system. The phase diagrams in stable equilibrium and metastable states are constructed. The homogeneity range of the phase with a sillenite Bi12TiO20 structure is refined, and so is the temperature range of the existence of the metastable and equilibrium states of the phase with a pyrochlore Bi2Ti2O7 structure.

Phase relations in the Bi2O3-TiO2 system

Bismuth nanoparticles have been produced in pores of opal matrices by reducing bismuth salts and oxide compounds with supercritical isopropanol. According to transmission electron microscopy data, the diameter of the SiO2 spheres in the opal matrices is about 260 nm, and that of the bismuth nanoparticles does not exceed 80 nm.

Preparation of bismuth nanoparticles in opal matrices through reduction of bismuth compounds with supercritical isopropanol

Three-dimensional nanocomposites consisting of an opal matrix and a metal have been prepared by the interaction of salts and oxides of different elements (Ni, Co, Fe, etc.) embedded in an opal matrix with isopropanol in the range of supercritical state parameters of the alcohol. According to X-ray powder diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy data, the composites consist of an X-ray amorphous opal matrix with pores filled by nanoparticles of Co (or CoO
 x
 ), metallic Ni, or Fe3O4 with a magnetite structure of various morphology. The sizes of the nanoparticles do not exceed the diameter of the pores in the opal matrix. A complex investigation of the nanocomposites has been performed using the electron magnetic resonance and vibrating magnetometry methods. All the studied samples at room temperature exhibit a ferromagnetic behavior. The coercive force of the samples lies in the range from 150 Oe for iron-containing nanocomposites to 565 Oe for cobalt-containing nanocomposites.

Properties of three-dimensional composites based on opal matrices and magnetic nanoparticles

Silicon nitride ceramics containing calcium aluminates as sintering aids have been prepared by hot pressing at 1650°C in a nitrogen atmosphere, and the effect of sintering aid content on their microstructure, phase composition, mechanical strength, and air oxidation resistance has been studied. The results demonstrate that the Si3N4 ceramic containing 10 wt % calcium aluminates has a uniform distribution of intergranular multicomponent oxide phases and consists of densely packed silicon nitride grains. Owing to this, it offers the maximum mechanical strength (850 MPa) and is stable to air oxidation up to 1300°C.

Microstructure and properties of silicon nitride ceramics with calcium aluminate additions

We have studied typical features in reflection spectra of the (111) surface of opal photonic crystals based on synthetic opals filled with Eu2O3-doped silica sols. The reflection spectrum of the composite of opal and europium-doped silica sols is found to contain a resonance at a wavelength of 617.5 nm. A theory has been developed for describing the optical dispersion of resonant photonic crystals. We have calculated the dispersion curves and reflectivity of undoped and Eu2O3-doped opal crystals and compared the calculated reflection spectra to experimental data. Nanocomposites of opal and europium-doped silica sols can be used in laser cavities.

S. N. Ivicheva

Papers

Phase relations in the Bi2O3-TiO2 system

Preparation of bismuth nanoparticles in opal matrices through reduction of bismuth compounds with supercritical isopropanol

Properties of three-dimensional composites based on opal matrices and magnetic nanoparticles

Microstructure and properties of silicon nitride ceramics with calcium aluminate additions

Optical dispersion in synthetic opal matrices filled with europium-oxide-doped silica sols