Manganese oxide ͑MnOx͒ xerogel and ambigel films were investigated as ultracapacitor electrodes in unbuffered aqueous electrolytes. These nanostructured, mesoporous gels, derived from the sol-gel reaction of NaMnO 4 •H 2 O and fumaric acid, were cast as continuous thin films on indium-tin oxide glass. Further processing of the wet gels produces birnessite Na ␦ MnO 2 •xH 2 O nanoarchitectures in either a densified xerogel or a highly porous ambigel form. The pseudocapacitances of these mesoporous MnOx films in unbuffered aqueous electrolytes are characterized by spectroelectrochemical methods. Monitoring the changes in the optical absorbance during electrochemical cycling provides an in situ measure of the electronic state of the MnOx as the electrode is charged and discharged. Manganese oxide films prepared as highly porous ambigels exhibit a more capacitive-like character than xerogels, and also undergo less capacity loss with cycling.

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A glass used to liquid‐phase sinter BaTiO3 was developed and its properties were tested to determine the feasibility of using this glass to aid densification behavior. Glass was added to pure BaTiO3 powder and pressed into dimpled pellets with glass contents varying from 4 to 20 vol%. The breakdown strength was measured and compared with pure BaTiO3 and two commercially available dielectric materials. Liquid‐phase sintering increased the breakdown strength of pure BaTiO3 for all the compositions tested. The breakdown strength of the samples containing 20 vol% glass additions was increased by a factor of 2.8 compared with pure BaTiO3.

A novel carrier solution, icodextrin 20 (7.5%) has allowed exploration of prolonged intraperitoneal (IP) infusion of the cytotoxic drug, 5-fluorouracil. Eighteen patients with intraperitoneal carcinomatosis were entered into a feasibility and pharmacokinetic study of prolonged regional (IP) chemotherapy.. Specialist nurses trained the patients to self-administer their own treatment via a permanent i.p. catheter. A twin bag delivery system was used to perform one exchange daily. It proved possible to deliver continuous (5 days per week) i.p. 5-fluorouracil at doses of 200 mg/m2 and 300 mg/m2 for up to 12 weeks. The toxicities seen were infective peritonitis, nausea and vomiting, lethargy and anorexia. This was a nurse-led study and the home-based therapy holds promise for patients with malignant peritoneal disease.

Students at the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) were awarded a grant to develop kits that could be used by high school science teachers to promote interest in ceramic materials to their students. The proposal was funded by the Associated Glass and Pottery Manufacturers Association (AGPMA) with the intent of increasing the visibility of Ceramic Engineering as a career to high school students.As part of the project, UMR undergraduates are developing and testing self-contained kits for distribution to high schools. The kits will contain all of the materials and supplies needed for high school teachers to perform experiments and controlled demonstrations that illustrate important scientific principles in an entertaining manner. Laboratory exercises based on slip casting and glass melting have been prepared for the kits. These hands-on activities give a basic understanding for what ceramic materials are and how they are produced. They emphasize the application of science (chemistry and physics) to form common raw materials into useful products. At the end of the funding cycle, an example kit, written instructions, and an interactive digital video disk (DVD) will be delivered to AGPMA for distribution to high schools.The kits will include materials for slip casting clay-based ceramics, glass making, a ceramic superconductor demonstration, and a space shuttle tile demonstration. The slip casting materials include pre-made slips that will fire to various colors. The kit also contains molds and glazes. The glass making kit includes instructions, raw materials, and supplies needed to make watercorn syrup-sugar analogues to the modifier-intermediate-glass former roles of the components in soda-lime-silicate glasses. Each kit also comes with an YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ pellet and a magnet for demonstration of the Meissner effect. Finally, the kits contain a space shuttle tile and instructions for demonstrations of the insulating power of this fascinating material.