Scale-Up of PTFE-Based Gas Diffusion Electrodes Using an Electrolyte-Integrated Polymer-Coated Current Collector Approach.

Nonconductive porous polymer substrates, such as PTFE, have been pivotal in the fabrication of stable and high-performing gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) for the reduction of CO/CO in small scale electrolyzers; however, the scale-up of polymer-based GDEs without performance penalties to technologically more relevant electrode sizes has remained elusive. This work reports on a new current collector concept that enables the scale-up of PTFE-based GDEs from 5 to 100 cm and beyond. The present approach builds on a multifunctional current collector concept that enables multipoint front-contacting of thin catalyst coatings, which mitigates performance losses even for high resistivity cathodes.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurement with a handheld device.

A sensing system for fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement is presented, which is characterized by a compact setup and a cost potential to be made available for the patient at home. The sensing is based on the work function measurement of a phthalocyanine-type sensing material, which is shown to be sufficiently sensitive for NO(2) in the ppb range. The transducer used to measure the work function is a field effect transistor with a suspended gate electrode.

Malate dehydrogenase activities are lower in some types of peripheral leucocytes of dogs and cats with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The activities of the enzymes in the malate-aspartate shuttle were measured in peripheral leucocytes of spontaneous type 1 diabetic dogs and cats treated with insulin injections. In the diabetic dogs and cats, fasting plasma glucose concentrations were three- or fourfold greater than the control levels in spite of insulin injections and the activities of cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (MDH), one of pivotal enzymes in the malate-aspartate shuttle, were remarkably lower than the controls. Depressed expression of cytosolic MDH mRNA was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis in the diabetic animals.

Decrease in malate dehydrogenase activities in peripheral leucocytes of type 1 diabetic dogs.

The activities of the enzymes involved in the malate-aspartate shuttle were measured in peripheral leucocytes of dogs with type 1 diabetes mellitus. In the diabetic dogs, fasting plasma glucose concentrations were twofold greater than control levels despite insulin injections and the activities of malate dehydrogenase (MDH), which plays a crucial role in the malate-aspartate shuttle, were decreased remarkably. The cytosolic ratio of MDH/lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity (M/L ratio) in leucocytes of the diabetic dogs was significantly lower than that of normal control dogs.

Changes in activities of enzymes in erythrocytes from ddY mice supplemented with dietary selenium.

Plasma and erythrocyte enzyme activities were measured in ddY mice supplemented with dietary selenium (Se) from baker's yeast (Saccharomyces serevisiae) or selenious acid at 0.3 ppm Se content. Glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) activities increased significantly in erythrocytes from mice supplemented with dietary Se.