Calcium phosphate based biomaterials are extensively used in the context of tissue engineering: small changes in composition can lead to significant changes in properties allowing their use in a wide range of applications. Samples of composition (Al(2)O(3))(x)(Na(2)O)(0.11-x)(CaO)(0.445)(P(2)O(5))(0.445), where x = 0, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.08, were prepared by melt quenching. The atomic-scale struc...

It is well known that aluminium is potentially neurotoxic. Moreover, there has been concern in recent years that dietary and environmental exposure to aluminium might cause developmental toxicity in mammals. While it is well established that aluminium may be a developmental toxic when administered parenterally, until recently there was little concern about embryo/fetal consequences of aluminium...

Aluminium salt slag (also known as aluminium salt cake), which is produced by the secondary aluminium industry, is formed during aluminium scrap/dross melting and contains 15-30% aluminium oxide, 30-55% sodium chloride, 15-30% potassium chloride, 5-7% metallic aluminium and impurities (carbides, nitrides, sulphides and phosphides). Depending on the raw mix the amount of salt slag produced per t...

AIMS To determine a possible mechanism to explain the presence of aluminium lines within fully calcified bone in aluminium-related osteomalacia. METHODS Fifty five bone cases shown by bone biopsy to be aluminium-related osteomalacia were studied. In 38 specimens aluminium lines were identified within calcified bone by means of the Aluminon stain and a characteristic form of patchy mineralisat...

Isothermal thin-layer chromatography in a non-thermostatted horizontal chamber has been investigated at sub-ambient and elevated temperatures. The rate of temperature equilibration was determined for the commercially available Chromdes DS-L horizontal TLC chamber placed in a circulating-air incubator. The time required for temperature equilibration was also studied for commonly used glass and a...

Unusual mechanical properties of mechanical metamaterials are determined by their carefully designed and tightly controlled geometry at the macro- or nanoscale. We introduce a class of nanoscale mechanical metamaterials created by forming continuous corrugated plates out of ultrathin films. Using a periodic three-dimensional architecture characteristic of mechanical metamaterials, we fabricate ...

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a powerful joining process which is limited by its range of application and processing rate. Here the range of application is extended to small-diameter butted pipe sections and high processing rates are applied for increased productivity in manufacturing. Full penetration friction stir welds are performed on butted sections of aluminium alloy 6061-T6 pipe. These ...

The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in vertebrate CNS. At GABAergic synapses, a high-affinity transporter exists, which is responsible for GABA reuptake and release during neurotransmission. GABA transporter activity depends on the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation state, being modulated by Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin)....