In nuclear fuel, in approximately one quarter of the fissions, one of the two formed fission products is gaseous. These are mainly the noble gases xenon and krypton with isotopes of xenon contributing up to 90% of the product gases. These noble fission gases do not combine with other species, and have a low solubility in the normally used uranium oxide matrix. They can be dissolved in the fuel matrix or precipitate in nanometer-sized bubbles within the fuel grain, in micrometer-sized bubbles at the grain boundaries, and a fraction also precipitates in fuel pores, coming from fuel fabrication. A fraction of the gas can also be released into the plenum of the fuel rod. With increasing fission, and therefore burn-up, the ceramic fuel material experiences a transformation of its structure in the 'cooler' rim region of the fuel. A subdivision occurs of the original fuel grains of few microns size into thousands of small grains of sub-micron sizes. Additionally, larger ...
This chapter consists of some points including an introduction, the basic parts of mass spectroscope device, sample introduction into the inductively coupled plasma, pneumatic nebuliser, ultrasonic nebuliser, dry gas cloud system, laser ablation unit, inductively coupled plasma-ion source, extraction of ions from ion source, mass analysis, quad-polar mass spectrometer, dual assembly mass spectrometer, mass spectrometer by calculation of time of flight, ion interferences and the ability of resolution, ion counter, working conditions of inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscope device, efficiency of ion transportation in an inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscope device and applications of analysis using mass spectroscope of induced plasma including nuclear, industrial, geological, environmental and archaeological applications, measurement of isotopes ratio and applications in ...
In laser ablationinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS), the properties of laser-generated aerosols, such as size and composition, are crucial for matrix-independent quantification. In this study, the aerosol particle morphology and elemental composition generated by two state-of-the-art laser systems (ArF excimer nanosecond-UV laser and Ti:sapphire femtosecond-IR laser) were investigated by electron microscopic techniques. Electrostatic sampling of the aerosols directly onto transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grids allowed us to study the morphology and elemental composition of the aerosols using TEM and TEM-EDX (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) analyses, respectively. The results of the electron microscopic studies were finally compared to the LA-ICPMS signals of the main matrix components. The investigations were carried out for non-conducting materials (glass and zircon), metallic samples (steel and brass) and ...
The paper describes novel analytical methods developed for the detection of previous neutron irradiation and reprocessing of illicit nuclear materials, which is an important characteristic of nuclear materials of unknown origin in nuclear forensics. Alpha spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma sector-field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) using solution nebulization and direct, quasi-non-destructive laser ablation as sample introduction were applied for the measurement of trace-level "2"3"2U, "2"3"6U and plutonium isotopes deriving from previous neutron irradiation of uranium-containing nuclear materials. The measured radionuclides and isotope ratios give important information on the raw material used for fuel production and enable confirm the supposed provenance of illicit nuclear material.
... see and electrophysiological study and catheter ablation with 3D mapping. During the procedure, doctors look at the ... perform a electrophysiology study with ablation, using our 3D mapping system. Keep in mind, that during the ...
... Accession Number : ADD431225. Title : Influence of Fiber Loading on Thermal Ablation of PTFE,. Corporate Author : Personal Author(s) : Letson,KN. ...
For many centuries paper was the main material for recording cultural achievements all over the world. Paper is mostly made from cellulose with small amounts of organic and inorganic additives, which allow its identification and characterization and may also contribute to its degradation. Prior to 1850, paper was made entirely from rags, using hemp, flax and cotton fibres. After this period, due to the enormous increase in demand, wood pulp began to be commonly used as raw material, resulting in rapid degradation of paper. Spectroscopic techniques represent one of the most powerful tools to investigate the constituents of paper documents in order to establish its identification and its state of degradation. This review describes the application of selected spectroscopic techniques used for paper characterization and conservation. The spectroscopic techniques that have been used and will be reviewed include: Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic ...
Superstrong shock waves of multimegabar level generated during ablation of an aluminum surface by intense (<1 PW/cm2) femtosecond laser pulses have been detected by observing the propagation of a shock wave in air from the ablated surface to a broadband piezoelectric receiver. The estimated initial pressure and velocity of the shock wave (ablation plume) agree well with data obtained earlier by various methods for shock waves propagating inside ablated targets.
Acute pneumothorax is a frequent complication after percutaneous pulmonary radiofrequency (RF) ablation. In this study we present three cases showing delayed development of pneumothorax after pulmonary RF ablation in 34 patients. Our purpose is to draw attention to this delayed complication and to propose a possible approach to avoid this major complication. These three cases occurred subsequent to 44 CT-guided pulmonary RF ablation procedures (6.8%) using either internally cooled or multitined expandable RF electrodes. In two patients, the pneumothorax, being initially absent at the end of the intervention, developed without symptoms. One of these patients required chest drain placement 32 h after RF ablation, and in the second patient therapy remained conservative. In the third patient, a slight pneumothorax at the end of the intervention gradually increased and led into tension pneumothorax 5 days ...
BackgroundRadiofrequency ablation (RFA) of tumors by means of internally cooled electrodes (ICE) combined with interstitial infusion of saline may improve clinical results. To date,...Full Text Available
Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is the treatment of choice for osteoid osteoma of the appendicular skeleton. However, difficulties in localizing the lesion in the spine and its proximity to neural...Full Text Available
... catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation procedure utilizing 3-D mapping and rotational intracardiac echocardiography. This program is ... of the MRI scan and then there's the 3-D image, which is generated from the pixels chosen ...
Catheter ablation is a first line treatment for many cardiac arrhythmias and is generally performed under x-ray fluoroscopy guidance. However, current techniques for ablating complex arrhythmias such...Full Text Available
For many years one of us has cooked on an induction cooktop and been impressed by its efficiency, cleanliness, and responsiveness. The commercial name ``induction'' cooktop suggests that we have here an application of Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction since the cooktop produces an oscillating magnetic field.
To assess the feasibility of transluminal radiofrequency thermal ablation using a stent-type electrode and to determine, by means of in-vivo and in-vivo animal studies, the appropriate parameters. In-vivo: the radiofrequency electrode used was a self-expandable nitinol stent with 1cm insulated ends. A stent was placed in the portal vein of bovine liver, and ablations at target temperatures of 70, 80, 90, and 100 .deg. C were performed. Ablated sizes were measured longitudinally. In vivo: four mongrel dogs were anesthetized, and a stent was inserted in the common bile duct under fluoroscopic guidance through an ultrasound-guided gall bladder puncture site. The ablation temperature was set at 80 .deg. C, and each dog underwent proximal and distal esophageal ablations lasting 12 minutes. They were sacrificed immediately. In-vivo: ablated sizes showed significant ...
The aim of this study was to investigate whether sub-ablative pulsed C0{sub 2} laser (1 0,6 {mu}m) irradiation is capable of reducing the susceptibility of the dental enamel to demineralization, and thus achieving a potential caries-protective effect. The crowns of 51 bovine front teeth, embedded in acrylic resin and polished until exposure of flat enamel surface, were used. The samples were cut in cubes of 10x10 mm, and totally coated with acid-resistant nail varnish, except for an enamel exposed window of 16 mm square. Three groups (n=17) were obtained: control group (CG) not irradiated; group laser A (LA) and group laser B (LB) where the samples were irradiated. The conditions were 60 mJ, 100 Hz, 0,3 J/cm{sup 2} for LA and 135 mJ, 10 Hz, 0,7 J/cm{sup 2} for LB. Two samples of each group were submitted to SEM analysis and fifteen to demineralization in 3 ml acetate buffer solution (0,1 mol/L) with pH 4,5 for 24h at 37 deg C, with regular agitation. After the ...
The influence of ablation on stagnation region convective heating for ... and thermal properties of this fiber depend on the fluorination process ... However, these properties are between those of graphite and those of PTFE (Teflon). ...
A common reinforced liner material is a cloth formed of PTFE fibers and fiber of ... and ablation protection provided. All of these methods of thermal ..... The influence of fiber content on the microstructures of the composites is ...
The influence of ablation on stagnation region convective heating for ... and thermal properties of this fiber depend on the fluorination process ... However, these properties are between those of graphite and those of PTFE (Teflon). ...
... with dynamic gridding capability to account for material ablation, as well as the addition of energy sources and heat transfer augmentation due to ...
Objectives: To report six month outcome in patients undergoing their first pulmonary vein ablation procedure for idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF) at a “non-pioneering”...Full Text Available
The invention relates to a pulsed laser ablation method of metals and/or dielectric films from the surface of a wafer, printed circuit board or a hybrid substrate. By utilizing a high-energy ultra-short pulses of laser light, such a method can be used to manufacture electronic circuits and/or electro-mechanical assemblies without affecting the material adjacent to the ablation zone.
Nano-sized particles of a lithium ion conductive solid electrolyte, LiTi{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}, were prepared by laser ablation. The obtained particles were ca. 10nm in diameter. X-ray powder diffraction and Raman spectroscopy showed that they were amorphous with local structure similar to the crystalline counterpart. They were crystallized by the heating at ca. 630{sup o}C. (author)
Efficient and precise ablation of soft tissue is needed for non-invasive dermatological and corneal surgeries. Previous research has revealed that smooth and efficient cutting of certain soft tissues and gelatin is possible using a Free Electron Laser (FEL) with a wavelength of #lambda#=6.45 #mu#m, tuned to the amide-II band of protein. Gelatin ablation experiments have been carried out using a mid-infrared FEL within the waveband #lambda#=5.6-6.7 #mu#m by changing the primary absorbers such as water (#lambda#=6.1 #mu#m) and protein (#lambda#=6.45 #mu#m). The gelatin with 80 wt% water was efficiently ablated by FEL irradiation with the waveband #lambda#=#approx#5.95-6.19 #mu#m. On the other hand, using irradiation within #lambda#=#approx#6.4-6.6 #mu#m, many small bubbles were observed in the irradiated volume, and the gelatin was not ablated but significantly melted. Thus, it was found that the most ...
... the high current induction linear accelerator of the nanosecond range, meant to be used as injector in the collective ion accelerator, are presented. ...
MAGNETIC FORMING .............. MAGNETIC INDUCTION ............ MAGNETIC MATERIALS ............ MAGNETIC MEASUREMENT .......... MAGNETIC PERMEABILITY . ...
... The effectiveness of immune suppression with both 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate was insufficient to permit induction of a clinically useful ...
We demonstrate that the nanoparticle formation during laser ablation of metals by short (of a few tens of ps) laser pulses strongly depends on the concentration of surrounding gas. While, at vacuum conditions, nanoparticle formation shows very ''sharp'' atomic force microscope images of aggregated clusters, following with clear appearance of plasmon resonance on the absorption spectra of deposited films, an addition of gas particles starts to decrease the probability of cluster formation. This process shows a threshold for both helium (33 torr) and xenon (12 torr) above which no surface plasmon resonance and correspondingly no observable nanoparticles on the deposited surfaces were detected. The destruction of nanoparticle formation was attributed to the negative influence of surrounding gas particles on ablated particles aggregation. (orig.)
Full text: Tumour ablation with radiofrequency (RF) energy is a relatively new procedure for the treatment of focal malignant disease. At our institution this is currently being used in the treatment of certain liver and lung lesions with the patients involved being enrolled in clinical trials. The poster describes the technique used at our institution for the placement of the radiofrequency ablation electrode using CT fluoroscopy. Criteria for patient selection are included. Complications from the procedure are described, as well as follow up appearances and results. Our results from the treatment of primary and secondary lesions in the liver correlate well with published literature. Treatment is still not as successful as surgical resection but there is significantly less morbidity. Where this method may be appropriate is when the patient is not a candidate for surgical resection. The treatment of colorectal metastases in the lung shows early ...
BackgroundHeterogeneous results for research investigating health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients undergoing sphincter-ablating procedures for rectal cancer...Full Text Available
Background:Liver resection of large hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), measuring at least 10 cm remains a controversial debate. Multiple studies on HCCs treated with surgical resection...Full Text Available
Micropatterned materials were obtained by a controlled laser ablation of a photoimmobilised homogeneous layer of hyaluronic acid (Hyal) and its sulphated derivative (HyalS). The photoimmobilisation was performed by coating the polysaccharide, adequately functionalised with a photoreactive group, on aminosilanised glass substrate and immobilising it on the surface under UV light. Hyal or HyalS photoimmobilised samples were then subjected to laser ablation with wavelengths in the UV regions in order to drill the pattern. Four different patterns with stripes of 100, 50, 25 and 10 {mu}m were generated. A chemical characterisation by attenuated total reflection/Fourier transform infrared (ATR/FT-IR) and time of flight-secondary ions mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) confirmed the success of the laser ablation procedure and the presence of alternating stripes of polysaccharide and native glass. The exact dimensions of the stripes were ...
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an established endoscopic technique for ablating Barrett’s esophagus with high-grade dysplasia or early-stage intraepithelial neoplasia. The most common clinically...Full Text Available
Cigarette smoke (CS) induces recruitment of inflammatory cells in the lungs leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are involved in lung inflammation and injury. Nicotinamide...Full Text Available
The murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) M33 gene is conserved among all betaherpesviruses and encodes a homologue of seven-transmembrane receptors (7TMR) with the capacity for constitutive signaling. Previous...Full Text Available
Transgenic mouse models have contributed considerably to our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which androgens control spermatogenesis. Cell-selective ablation of the androgen...Full Text Available
BackgroundThere are various treatment options for congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN), including surgical excision, dermabrasions, curettage, laser treatment, chemical peels and cryosurgery....Full Text Available
Procedures for {sup 131}I ablation in renal failure are not known. In one patient receiving dialysis, detailed dosimetry and health safety aspects were obtained. The results showed insignificant contamination of equipment, but a surprisingly significant reduction in biologic half-life of {sup 131}I due to efficient dialysis extraction. The data indicate that {sup 131}I ablation can be done safely and easily during dialysis but that much higher {sup 131}I doses must be used to achieve equivalent results to those obtained in patients with normal renal function.
To assess the technical feasibility of a newly designed stent-like electrode in rabbits. A stent-like electrode was knitted from a single thread of nitinol wire and interconnected to a generator using similar wire. In order to gauge the extent of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), we measured the depth of the ablated area in cow liver using a combination of 180-sec time intervals and 20- watt power increments. For data processing, Cox regression analysis was used. RFA was also applied to the small intestine of rabbits using this stent-like electrode under six different sets of conditions: 10 watts for 1 min, 10 watts for 2 mins, 20 watts for 1 min, 20 watts for 2 mins, 30 watts for 1 min, and 30 watts for 2 mins. To determine the gross and microscopic findings, six animals were sacrificed immediately after the procedure and the results obtained under the different sets of conditions were correlated. Eight rabbits were monitored for 4 weeks prior to ...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and the optimal conditions of radiofrequency (RF) ablation by using the stent-type electrode upon the saphenous vein of goats for the endovenous treatment of varicose veins. A self-expandable nitinol stent electrode (6 mm diameter, 2 cm length, cell size; 1.3 x 2 mm) was designed to expose the distal 1 cm segment to allow for contact with the venous wall. The proximal part of the electrode was connected to the RF generator by insulated copper wires located within the stent electrode introducer. Initially, to optimize the power setting, ablation of 6 saphenous veins in 3 goats was performed with power settings of 10, 20 and 30 W. Pull back rate of the electrode was 2 and 4 cm/min for each power level, respectively. The goats were sacrificed 4-6 weeks later and histologic examinations of the saphenous veins were done. For the second part of the experiment, RF ...
A compression ignition engine was operated on dual fuel principle inducting two commercial fuels and four pure hydrocarbon fuels in turn through intake manifold along with air and injecting diesel fuel to initiate the combustion in the conventional manner. The engine was operated at different loads and at each load the quantity of inducted fuel was increased gradually till knocking set in. The engine performance and exhaust pollutant emissions were recorded at different operating conditions. It was observed that the extent of induction and the effect on the performance depend on the properties of the inducted fuel such as volatility, self ignition temperature and oxidation characteristics. The energy release during the cycle was also observed to shift depending on the properties of inducted fuel. With the dual fuel operation, the thermal efficiency at part loads was observed to be ...
Purpose. The paper introduces a novel design of air-core inductive sensors in printed circuit board (PCB) technology for a tongue control system. The tongue control system provides a quadriplegic person with a keyboard and a joystick type of mouse for interaction with a computer or for control of an assistive device. Method. Activation of inductive sensors was performed with a cylindrical, soft ferromagnetic material (activation unit). Comparative analysis of inductive sensors in PCB technology with existing hand-made inductive sensors was performed with respect to inductance, resistance, and sensitivity to activation when the activation unit was placed in the center of the sensor. Optimisation of the activation unit was performed in a finite element model. Results. PCBs with air-core indu...
Purpose: To report on the nephron-sparing, percutaneous ablation of a large renal cell carcinoma by combined superselective embolization and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. Materials and Methods: A 5 cm renal cell carcinoma of a 43-year-old drug abusing male with serologically proven HIV, hepatitis B and C infection, who refused surgery, was superselectively embolized using microspheres (size: 500 - 700 {mu}m) and a platinum coil under local anesthesia. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation using a 7F LeVeen probe (size of expanded probe tip: 40 mm) and a 200 Watt generator was performed one day after transcatheter embolization under general anesthesia. Results: The combined treatment resulted in complete destruction of the tumor without relevant damage of the surrounding healthy renal tissue. The patient was discharged 24 hours after RF ablation. No complications like urinary leaks or fistulas ...
The role of phytochrome in the induction of nitrate reductase of etiolated field peas (Pisum arvense L.) was examined. Terminal bud nitrate concentration increased in darkness, and...Full Text Available
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of maternal obesity on mode of delivery following induction of labour (IOL) for prolonged pregnancy and subsequent intrapartum and neonatal complications.DesignRetrospective...Full Text Available
AimThe goal of this study is to characterize the changes in 33 biomarkers within the gingival crevicular fluid during the 3-week induction and 4-week resolution of...Full Text Available
Because power requirements in induction heating applications are largely dependent on the physical properties of the product to be heated, inducting, heating is mainly used in steelwork applications, for the manufacture of finished or semi-finished parts. Applications here cover five main types of steelworks operation: smelting, heating prior to forming, heat treatment, surface treatment, and assembly process. At the same time, technological progress has opened up innovative applications in sectors such as chemical and agro-food industries. Other emerging applications for induction include direct forming of liquid metal, wholly or partially replacing mechanical transformations on solid metal. Techniques include electromagnetic forming, continuous cold-crucible casting, electromagnetic mixing, flow control by continuous magnetic field, and production of intense sliding fields (pumps, flow regulation). (author)
An all solid-state kicker pulser for a proton radiography system has been designed. Multiple solid-state modulators stacked in an inductive-adder configuration are utilized in this kicker pulser design. Each modulator is comprised of multiple metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) which quickly switch the energy storage capacitors across a magnetic induction core. Metglas is used as the core material to minimize loss. Voltage from each modulator is inductively added by a voltage summing stalk. A circuit model of a prototype inductive adder kicker pulser modulator has been developed to predict the performance of the pulser modulator. The modeling results are compared with experimental data.
The energy spectra of energetic confined alpha particles are being measured using the pellet charge exchange method [R. K. Fisher, J. S. Leffler, A. M. Howald, and P. B. Parks, Fusion Technol. 13, 536 (1988)]. The technique uses the dense ablation cloud surrounding an injected impurity pellet to neutralize a fraction of the incident alpha particles, allowing them to escape from the plasma where their energy spectrum can be measured using a neutral particle analyzer. The signal calculations given in the above-mentioned reference disregarded the effects of the alpha particles' helical Larmor orbits, which causes the alphas to make multiple passes through the cloud. Other effects such as electron ionization by plasma and ablation cloud electrons and the effect of the charge state composition of the cloud, were also neglected. This report considers these issues, reformulates the signal level calculation, and uses a Monte-Carlo approach to calculate ...
Zinc oxide thin films were obtained by laser ablation of a Zn target in oxygen reactive atmosphere, the oxygen being supplied either by a standard gas inlet valve or from a radio-frequency (rf) oxygen plasma. Pt-coated silicon and MgO were used as substrates. The influence of the deposition parameters as laser wavelength (266, 355, 1064 nm), laser fluence (1.5-20 J/cm2) and oxygen pressure (1-60 Pa) was studied. The influence of the rf plasma beam addition on the morphological proprieties of zinc oxide films was particularly investigated, simultaneously with several configurations of the direction of the ablation plasma, the rf plasma beam and the substrate. The obtained films, with thicknesses in the range of 50 nm to 1 ?m have been characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Radio-frequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of the distal pulmonary veins is increasingly being used to treat recurrent or refractory atrial fibrillation that doesn't respond to pharmacologic therapy or cardioversion. Successful RFCA of atrial al fibrillation depends on the pre-procedural understanding of the complex anatomy of the distal pulmonary veins and the left atrium. Aim of this parer is to describe the technical main features that characterise the multidetector helical computed tomography in the evaluation of this anatomic region before and after RFCA procedure. The 3D post-processing techniques useful for pre-RFCA planning are straightforward.
Pulsed atomic beams produced in vacuum by laser induced ablation from a lithium target are analyzed by laser induced fluorescence (LIF). The 1-mixing processes induced in the n = 9, 10 Li Rydberg states by collisions with CO_2 molecules illustrate the application of the method. Resolution is limited by the 1 mm diameter of the probe laser beam. Combining LIF and absorption measurements gives n_L_i as a function of time at various distances from the target surface. The investigation of the Li-C0_2 1-mixing process in a heat pipe oven proved impossible due to the high reactivity of Li with C0_2. This problem was solved by renewing the Li atoms at each laser shot. Values obtained for n = 9, n = 10 are k = 17 x 10"-"8 and 15 x 10"-"8 cc/sec, respectively.
A rapid and cost-effective assessment was required to provide advice to management on the connectivity between juvenile and adult life cycle stages of Baldchin Groper Choerodon rubescens, a labrid endemic to the west coast of Australia, which has high social value, but relatively low commercial fishery importance. To minimise costs we used laser ablation ICP-MS to analyse levels of a small suite of elements (Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, Sr, Rb, Ba and Pb) at the margin (adult phase) and core (juvenile phase) of the same otoliths of adult C. rubescens, collected at ten locations in five management zones. The elemental composition of both otolith margins and cores differed significantly among management zones and in some cases among locations within zones. Similarity of the pattern of among-zone elem...
Abstract Residual limb pain (RLP) and phantom limb pain (PLP) can be debilitating and can prevent functional gains following amputation. High correlations have been reported between RLP and the stump neuromas following amputation. Many treatment methods including physical therapy, medications, and interventions, have been used with limited success. Pulsed radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) has shown promise in treating neuropathic pain because of the inhibition of evoked synaptic activity. We present 4 amputees who were treated with PRFA after failing conservative management for their RLP and PLP. All 4 patients underwent PRFA and demonstrated at least 80% relief of RLP for over 6 months. One patient reported a complete resolution of phantom sensation while another patient had significantly de...
The optical and nonlinear optical properties of colloidal solutions of silver obtained by laser ablation in water and ethanol are studied. It is shown that freshly prepared colloids experience a full or partial sedimentation by changing their nonlinear optical properties. Aqueous colloids undergo a partial sedimentation and their nonlinear optical absorption changes to nonlinear optical transmission. The obtained results are interpreted using the Drude model for metal particles taking the particle size into account and can be explained by the sedimentation of larger silver particles accompanied by the formation of a stable colloid containing silver nanoparticles with a tentatively silver oxide shell. The characteristic size of particles forming such a stable colloid is determined and its optical nonlinearity is estimated.
X-ray ablation of material from the first wall and other components of an ICF (Inertial Confinement Fusion) chamber is a major threat to the laser final optics. Material condensing on these optics after a shot may cause damage with subsequent laser shots. To ensure the successful operation of the ICF facility, removal rates must be predicted accurately. The goal for this dissertation is to develop an experimentally validated x-ray response model, with particular application to the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Accurate knowledge of the x-ray and debris emissions from ICF targets is a critical first step in the process of predicting the performance of the target chamber system. A number of 1-D numerical simulations of NIF targets have been run to characterize target output in terms of energy, angular distribution, spectrum, and pulse shape. Scaling of output characteristics with variations of both target yield and hohlraum wall thickness are also described. ...
The beams in electron linear colliders can be converted to nearly monochromatic photon beams by means of Compton backscattering of laser photons. The electron beams must then be diverted from the interaction point by some means, the best of which seems to be a plasma lens. This paper describes the constraints on the plasma lens in this application and shows how the ablation of solid hydrogen pellets might be able to produce plasmas to satisfy these constraints. ((orig.)).
The purpose of this study was to compare a double freeze-thaw protocol to a triple freeze-thaw protocol for pulmonary cryoablation utilizing an in vivo porcine lung model. A total of 18 cryoablations were performed in normal porcine lung utilizing percutaneous technique with 9 each in a double- (10-5-10) and triple-freeze (3-3-7-7-5) protocol. Serial noncontrast CT images were obtained during the ablation. CT imaging findings and pathology were reviewed. No imaging changes were identified during the initial freeze cycle with either protocol. However, during the first thaw cycle, a region of ground glass opacity developed around the probe with both protocols. Because the initial freeze was shorter with the triple freeze-thaw protocol, the imaging findings were apparent sooner with this protocol (6 vs. 13 min). Also, despite a shorter total freeze time (15 vs. 20 min), the ablation zone identified with the triple freeze-thaw protocol was not ...
Although matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is involved in cardiomyocytes contractility dysfunction, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-4 (TIMP-4) mitigates the effect of MMP-9, and proteinase-activated...Full Text Available
Magnetic properties of a recently developed Fe-based amorphous alloy with a high saturation induction of 1.65 T are reviewed. The increased saturation induction is fully utilized in transformers with reduced magnetic losses, physical sizes and audible noises, minimizing some of the drawbacks of amorphous metal-based transformers based on a currently available amorphous alloy. Impacts of this on the worldwide energy savings and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are discussed. A recent effort in achieving a saturation induction beyond 1.65 T in nanocrystalline alloys is mentioned.
Tests have been conducted on a special compression ignition research engine to investigate the effects of gaseous fuels on the ignition delay in dual fuel engines. Diesel oil, n-heptane, or cetane were used as pilot fuels, and hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or methane were inducted in the intake manifold. Induction of nitrogen was used as a reference to eliminate the influence of changes in oxygen concentration and specific heats. Helium was inducted in additional tests. From the results of a number of parameter variations, the cylinder charge temperature (determined by intake temperature and compression ratio), the pilot fuel amount, and the flow of combustible gas were found to have the most significant influence on the ignition delay.
In response to stress, cells start transcriptional and transcription-independent programs that can lead to adaptation or death. Here, we show that multiple inducers of autophagy, including nutrient...Full Text Available
A device made of amorphous silicon which exhibits inductive properties at certain voltage biases and in certain frequency ranges in described. Devices of the type described can be made in integrated circuit form.
Apr 9, 2003 ... Adam Kissiah Jr., a retired KSC engineer, will be honored for his development of the digital hearing aid technology that led to the cochlear ...
... ge aircraft engines (geae) has taken to development an induction plasma deposition (ipd) processing method for the fabrication of ti6242/sic mmc ...
The effects of temperatures, durations of treatment, and derivations from spermatophores or spermaries on in vitro acrosome reaction of the spermatozoa in the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis...Full Text Available
Synthesis of wild-type Neurospora crassa assimilatory nitrate reductase is induced in the presence of nitrate ions and repressed in the presence of ammonium ions. Effects of several...Full Text Available
Several scientists have proposed that DNA repair deficiencies and the induction of a mutator phenotype are responsible for the generation of multiple mutagenic alterations in cancer cells. I propose...Full Text Available
The experimental superconducting magnetic system of 0.5 MJ energy storage is described. The step variation of the winding inductance provides a control by the discharge current at the energy output on a high-ohmic load. The voltage on a load is 45 kV at the current 1100 A under the controllable discharge conditions. The energy transfer coefficient constitutes 0,76 under the maximum-to-minimal current ratio equal to 1.3. 7 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.
The effects of sodium ions on the uptake of Hg2+ and induction of the Tn21 mer operon were studied by using Escherichia coli HMS174 harboring the reporter plasmids pRB28 and pOS14. Plasmid pRB28 carries...Full Text Available
Ditercalinium, an antitumor bifunctional intercalator which forms a high affinity reversible complex with DNA, was found to be specifically cytotoxic for polA and lig7 E. coli strains. In the polA strain,...Full Text Available
A previous study described the basic theoretical expectations of the magnetic dipole radiation and unipolar induction of pulsars and presented observational results. This paper further discusses the difference between the two braking mechanisms and analyses the results of a statistical study through observed data of apparent beamwidth's distributions and a geometrical method. The theory of magnetic dipole radiation of pulsars agrees with the observations. Unipolar induction as a braking mechanism is not consistent with the observations.
In a positive polarity induction adder each of the induction cavities is a cathode, which emits electrons at a unique potential. These broad spectrum electrons strongly affect Magnetically Insulated Transmission Line (MITL) behavior. Electron flow decreases the cavity-to-MITL coupling efficiency, and reduces the power transport efficiency along the system. Also, the operating impedance of the MITL is lowered, reducing the diode impedance required for good coupling and good total system power efficiency. It is therefore imperative to understand the details of MITL electron flow. In previous work, measurement of MITL electron flow for a twenty-stage linear induction adder (Hermes III), operated in positive polarity, was compared with simulations. There was qualitative agreement, but some differences were noted. For example, measured electron flow in the first cavities was greater than in the simulations. The authors have ...
Free Electron Laser (FEL) with the wide wavelength tunability has been developed and used for various applications. The FEL gives high efficiency for the photo-induced ablation when the laser is tuned to an absorption maximum of the target. The FEL was tuned to 9.4 #mu#m, which is an absorption maximum of phosphoric acid ion, a known major component of dentine. The FEL pulse length was several ps. The average output power was varied from 5 to 20 mW by filters. The change of irradiated dentine surface was analyzed by mass spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Positive ions which correspond to Na"+, CO_3"+ and many phosphoric acid ions were measured. It was found that atomic ratio of P/Ca had reduced from 0.65-0.60. The atomic ratio of P/Ca, however had not changed with irradiation by Er:YAG laser (2.9 #mu#m), or CO_2 laser (10.6 #mu#m). These results indicate the selective ablation of phosphoric acid ion by the 9.4 mm FEL ...
Tetracycline is an antibiotic that absorbs ultraviolet light at 355 nm and preferentially binds to atherosclerotic plaque both in vitro and in vivo. Tetracycline-treated human cadaveric aorta was compared with untreated aorta using several techniques: absorptive spectrophotometry; and tissue uptake of radiolabeled tetracycline, which showed 4-fold greater uptake by atheroma than by normal vessel. In addition, intravenous tetracycline administered to patients undergoing vascular surgery demonstrated characteristic fluorescence in surgically excised diseased arteries. Because of tetracycline's unique properties, the authors exposed tetracycline-treated and untreated aorta to ultraviolet laser radiation at a wavelength of 355 nm. They found enhanced ablation of tetracycline-treated atheroma compared with untreated atheroma. The plaque ablation caused by ultraviolet laser radiation was twice as extensive in tetracycline-treated vs ...
We found that the androgenic gland (AG) of Macrobrachium rosenbergii possesses three cell types. Type I cells are small polygonal shaped-cells (13.4 mu m in diameter), stain strongly with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), have abundant multilayered rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER), and nuclei containing mostly heterochromatin. Type II cells are slightly larger (18.6 mu m in diameter), stain lightly with H&E, have rER with dilated cisternae, and nuclei containing mostly euchromatin. Type III cells (previously undescribed) are similar in size and shape to type I cells, but the cytoplasm is unstained and they have a high amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (sER) and mitochondria with tubular cristae. Bilateral eyestalk-ablation resulted in AG hypertrophy with a proliferation and predominance of ty...
Full text: The isotopic assay instrument under development at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is capable of rapid prescreening to detect small and rare particles containing high concentrations of uranium in a heterogeneous sample. The isotopic measurement concept is based on laser vaporization of solid samples followed by sensitive isotope-specific detection using either uranium atomic fluorescence emission or uranium atomic absorbance. Both isotopes are measured concurrently, following a single ablation laser pulse using two external-cavity violet diode lasers. The simultaneous measurement of both isotopes enables the correlation of the fluorescence and absorbance signals on a shot-to-shot basis. This measurement approach demonstrated negligible channel crosstalk between isotopes. Scanning the heterogeneous samples provides high-resolution imagery of sample isotopic fluorescence and absorbance. Isotopically selective excitation of uranium vapor also ...
Original investigations of ablation of minerals, fullerene-like compounds, polymers and complicated biological macromolecules under the action of submillimeter radiation of the free-electron laser (FEL) developed and built at Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics [V.P. Bolotin et al., First experiments on high-power Novosibirsk terahertz free-electron laser, Budker INP, 2005, p. 37 [1
The purpose of this paper is to report the personal experience with helical CT evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with various percutaneous interventional procedures. From December 1996 to September 1998 it were examined with helical CT 41 patients (73 nodules in all) with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with percutaneous ablation therapies: conventional ethanol injection in 18 subjects (31 nodules), one-shot ethanol injection 3 (8 nodules), radiofrequency thermal ablation in 16 (25 nodules), and combined chemo embolization and ethanol injection in 4 (9 nodules). CT performed was 4-27 days after the last session, acquiring biphasic volumetric images in 14 patients and triphasic volumetric images in 27. A second treatment with subsequent CT study was performed for 28 lesions; 15 underwent 3 serial studies and 6 underwent 4 studies. Compared with pretreatment findings, the diameter was unchanged in 62% of the nodules and increased in ...
Determination of the trajectory of a phase transition front moving in a forward or reverse direction is reduced to the solution of an ordinary differential equation. A numerical check of the results shows the method to be highly accurate. The method was used recently over a period of several years to solve various problems connected with the thawing of frozen rocks and their refreezing; among the problems considered was that of the ablation of rocks during the channeling of well, in which the method invariably proved its effectiveness. This furnishes a basis for recommending it for broader usage.
Clinical studies have proved the effectiveness of local ablading methods in pations with non-resectable liver metastases of a colorectal carcinoma. RF ablation and LITT are a potentially curative therapy option and an alternative to systemic chemotherapy; the latter is carried out primarily for reducing tumour size with the goal of secondary resectability. The number of R0-sesectable metastases can be enhanced by a combined therapy of surgery and local ablading methods, e.g. by preoperative, intraoperative or postoperative ablasion of further non-resectable tumours during surgery. Systemic chemotherapy combined with surgery as an adjuvant method is not recommended unless in cases of non-abladable tumour recidivation. Currently, systemic chemotherapy is used as a neo-adjuvant therapy for tumour size reduction with the goal of secondary resectability or, in case of inoperability, local ablation. (orig.) [German] Abladierende Verfahren. Klinische ...
Investigations of radionuclide metabolism and effects in various mammalian species revealed important similarities between animals and humans and between some animal species. These include skeletal deposition of radium and radiostrontium in bone volume; deposition on bone surfaces of plutonium and other actinides; liver deposition of actinides; induction of skeletal or liver malignancies by these radionuclides; induction of tooth and jaw abnormalities; mammary cancer induction by radium in humans and in the beagle; depression of circulating cells in blood; and induction of bone fractures. There are also inter-species differences that may not have been noted if multiple species (including humans) had not been studied. Some of these are more rapid excretion of radium in humans compared with most other mammals; induction by radium of eye melanomas in animals but not humans; rapid loss ...
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICCA) in a small, nonrandomized series. From February 2004 to July 2008, six patients (four men and two women; mean age 69.8 years [range 48 to 83]) with ICCA underwent percutaneous US-guided RFA. Preintervetional transarterial embolization was performed in two cases to decrease heat dispersion during RFA in order to increase the area of ablation. The efficacy of RFA was evaluated using contrast-enhanced dynamic computed tomography (CT) 1 month after treatment and then every 3 months thereafter. Nine RFA sessions were performed for six solid hepatic tumors in six patients. The duration of follow-up ranged from 13 to 21 months (mean 17.5). Posttreatment CT showed total necrosis in four of six tumors after one or two RFA sessions. Residual tumor was observed in two ...
A great deal of current research is directed to finding a way to minimize thermal injury in the esophagus during radiofrequency catheter ablation of the atrium. A recent clinical study employing a cooling intraesophageal balloon reported a reduction of the temperature in the esophageal lumen. However, it could not be determined whether the deeper muscular layer of the esophagus was cooled enough to prevent injury. We built a model based on an agar phantom in order to experimentally study the thermal behavior of this balloon by measuring the temperature not only on the balloon, but also at a hypothetical point between the esophageal lumen and myocardium (2 mm distant). Controlled temperature (55 {sup 0}C) ablations were conducted for 120 s. The results showed that (1) the cooling balloon provides a reduction in the final temperature reached, both on the balloon surface and at a distance of 2 mm; (2) coolant temperature has a significant effect ...
Objective: To find out safety and efficiency of Misoprostol in cervical ripening and induction of labour to achieve vaginal delivery. Results: From Misoprostol insertion to delivery time was 4-24 hours. Vaginal delivery was achieved in 80.2%, which included spontaneous, forceps and vacuum extraction. Caesarean section rate was 19.7%. Indications for C. Section included Misoprostol unresponsiveness 11% and fetal distress in 8.6%. Oxytocin augmentation was required in 32% of cases. Term babies were 58%. Intrauterine death and neonatal deaths were 9.8% and 8.6% respectively. Hyper stimulation and postpartum haemorrhage was seen in 2.4% and 3.7% of patients respectively. Conclusion: intravaginal Misoprostol is well tolerated and is very effective for the induction of labour in eclampsia. It helps vaginal delivery in toxemic patients, reduces maternal morbidity, mortality and hospital stay. (author)
This paper presents a new and simple method for sensorless control of matrix converter drives using a power flowing to the motor. The proposed control algorithm is based on controlling the instantaneous real and imaginary powers into the induction motor. To improve low-speed sensorless performance, the nonlinearities of a matrix converter drive such as commutation delays, turn-ON and turn-OFF times of switching devices, and on-state switching device voltage drop are modeled using a PQ power transformation and compensated using a reference power control scheme. The proposed sensorless control method is applied for the induction motor drive using a 3 kW matrix converter system. Experimental results are shown to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed strategy. Udgivelsesdato: September
To test the hypothesis that leaf level photosynthetic related traits might confer late successionals a competitive advantage over early successionals in low light growth conditions, steady photosynthetic assimilation and dynamic photosynthetic induction related traits were examined in low light grown seedlings with contrasting successional status. Compared with the early successionals, late successionals as a group significantly exhibited lower leaf gas exchange rates. While late successionals required a longer time to respond to simulated sunflecks, they had lower rates of induction losses after sunflecks. Such photosynthetic induction traits allowed late successionals to more effectively utilize subsequent sunflecks. It was observed that plants with lower gas exchange rates responded mor...
The high repetition rate and low single-pass gain inherent in an rf-driven Free Electron Laser (FEL) dictate that the laser system be configured as an oscillator. This allows the laser's electric field to build up over many passes around a high Q cavity. By way of contrast, the high-current capability of the Induction Linac (IL) system permits high single-pass optical gain, but the relatively low duty factor precludes oscillator operation; the pulses are neither long enough nor often enough to permit a field to accumulate in a cavity. The IL is thus configured as a MOPA (master oscillator/power amplifier) with a conventional laser serving as the MO. This report concentrates on the status of IL-driven FEL research at LLNL and gives a description of several applications for the high-peak-power radiation produced by an induction linac FEL.
The enzyme TEM1-b-lactamase has been used as a model to study the impact of different cultivation and induction regimes on the structure of cytosolic inclusion bodies (IBs). The protein has been heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli in fed-batch cultivations at different temperatures (30, 37, and 40degreeC) as well as induction regimes that guaranteed distinct product formation rates and ratios of soluble to aggregated protein. Additionally, shake flask cultivations at 20, 30, and 37degreeC were performed. IBs were sampled during the whole bioprocess and structural analysis was performed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy. This work clearly demonstrates that the tested production regimes and rates had no impact on the IB structure, wh...
Several lines of evidence are presented that indicate that the level of tetracycline resistance of Esherichia coli strains harboring plasmid pBR322 varies according to whether the SOS system of the host bacteria has been induced. These include use of strains in which the SOS system is expressed constitutively (lexA def.), is thermoinducible (recA441) or noninducible (lexA ind-), or is highly repressed (multiple copies of lexA+). Similar induction was observed with the product of another plasmid gene, beta-lactamase. The amounts of extractable plasmid DNA were also increased by SOS induction, and we propose that the SOS-induced increases in levels of tetracycline resistance and beta-lactamase activity are due to an increased plasmid copy number.
Mini-LIA is a miniature of a linear induction accelerator developed by China Academy of Engineering Physics and Tsinghua University in 2007. It has been constructed with a thermionic cathode in an electron injector and a metglas core in the induction accelerator cavities. A double-pulsed electron beam was produced for the first time in China on the Mini-LIA with a thermionic cathode in the electron gun and a metglas core in the induction accelerator cavities. A double-pulsed beam current of more than 1.1A was obtained on condition of 80 kV double-pulsed high voltage produced by pulsed power system supplying to the injector and accelerating modules. Some primary experiments for measuring the parameters of Mini-LIA has been performed, and some beam characterizations of Mini-LIA are presented. Further improvement is underway. (authors)
The first part of this article in two parts deals with the cupola furnace process regarding the energy consumption figures and efficiencies. The splitting of heat transfer into the two stages of melting and superheating makes the poor use of energy in superheating clear. For this reason the previously published idea of duplication, i.e. melting in a cupola furnace and superheating in an induction channel furnace or coreless induction furnace, has gained in interest. The last section of part I examines and compares cupola and electrode furnaces regarding the use of primary energy, where, surprisingly, roughly equal efficiencies of 20 to 25% are found for the melting processes considered.
Recent advances made in the area of amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys exhibiting high saturation inductions are reviewed. A new chemical composition was identified that achieves a saturation induction of 1.64 T in an iron-based amorphous alloy. This alloy, when used in electrical transformers, shows a much improved performance over the existing amorphous alloy. Nanocrystalline FeCoCuNbSiB alloys are found to have saturation induction levels reaching 1.7 T. These materials are suited for use in sensors and inductors carrying large currents. Some of these nanocrystalline alloys show a BH squareness ratio exceeding 90%, which can be utilized in pulse power devices. Recent developments in the applications of these materials are also pointed out.
We have investigated the transport of tritiated indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in intact, red light-grown maize (Zea mays) coleoptiles during gravitropic induction and the subsequent development...Full Text Available
When faced with a harsh climate or inadequate food, some mammals enter a state of suspended animation known as torpor. A major goal of torpor research is to determine mechanisms that integrate...Full Text Available
The present invention relates to a method of recycling polymeric waste products into monomers and high value forms of carbon by pyrolytic conversion using an induction coupled RF plasma heated reactor.
Recommended treatment of chronic hepatitis B with interferon-α and/or nucleos(t)ide analogues does not lead to a satisfactory result. Induction of HBV-specific T cells by therapeutic...Full Text Available
BackgroundIn Pseudomonas fluorescens ST, the promoter of the styrene catabolic operon, PstyA, is induced by styrene and is subject to catabolite...Full Text Available
We have developed a method to extract and separate phytochelatins (PCs)—metal(loid) complexes using parallel metal(loid)-specific (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) and organic-specific...Full Text Available
BackgroundActivation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) within antigen presenting cells (APCs) is linked to abnormal APCs differentiation and function....Full Text Available
Purpose: This paper reviews and reassesses the internationally accepted niches or ‘targets’ in bone marrow that are sensitive to the induction of leukaemia and primary...Full Text Available
A DNA sequence encoding the A chain of ricin toxin (RTA) from the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis, was placed under GAL1 promoter control and transformed into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Induction...Full Text Available
A regulatory locus on the Staphylococcus aureus chromosome, designated sar, is involved in the expression of cell wall proteins, some of which are potentially important in the pathogenesis of endocarditis....Full Text Available
Rhizosphere acidification by Fe-deficient bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants was induced by trace amounts of divalent metal ions (Zn, Mn). The induction of this Fe-efficiency reaction...Full Text Available
Lifetime exposure to physical activity is an important construct for evaluating associations between physical activity and disease outcomes, given the long induction periods in many chronic diseases....Full Text Available
Carbenoxolone (CBX) is a semisynthetic derivative of the licorice root substance glycyrrhizinic acid and has been previously reported to induce only heat shock protein 70 [Hsp70, HSPA1A (the systematic...Full Text Available
Recovery of hydraulic conductivity after the induction of embolisms was studied in woody stems of laurel (Laurus nobilis). Previous experiments confirming the recovery of hydraulic...Full Text Available
Technologies for materials, processes, and manufacturing that will provide safe, .... advanced energy conversion techniques, and pulsed inductive and ... duration antimatter storage and transportation, and methods for utilizing ...... EVA systems can be found in the EVA Technology Roadmap of the EVA Project Plan. ...
A Monascus pilosus strain was selected for production of intracellular α-galactosidase. Optimum conditions for mycelial growth and enzyme induction were determined. Galactose...Full Text Available
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent moderator of soft tissue repair through induction of the inflammatory phase of repair and subsequent enhanced collagen deposition. We examined the effect...Full Text Available
Effects of physical environment on plasma membrane semipermeability and osmotic induction of changes in aqueous cytoplasmic volume were studied in vegetative and spore cells of a plant pathogenic fungus,...Full Text Available
The author derives to which of the three types an irreducible UA representation which is obtained with the procedure of generalised induction belongs. The question whether or not the irreducible induced UA representations are on standardform is analysed. The results hold as well for induced PUA representations. (Auth.).
Importance of the fieldThe cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms that are selectively induced following exposure to structurally-diverse chemicals often are the ones capable...Full Text Available
Increased oxidative stress is associated with perinatal asphyxia and respiratory distress in the newborn period. Induction of nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45-related factor (Nrf2) has been shown to decrease...Full Text Available
The effect of different nitrogen compounds on the induction of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-nitrate reductase was examined in Neurospora crassa. Whereas in the wild-type strain...Full Text Available
Transcriptional regulation of the galactose-metabolizing genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae depends on three core proteins: Gal4p, the transcriptional activator that binds to upstream activating DNA sequences (UASGAL); Gal80p, a repressor that binds to the carboxyl terminus of Gal4p and inhibits transcription; and Gal3p, a cytoplasmic transducer that, upon binding galactose and adenosine 5'-triphosphate, relieves Gal80p repression. The current model of induction relies on Gal3p sequestering Gal80p in the cytoplasm. However, the rapid induction of this system implies that there is a missing factor. Our structure of Gal80p in complex with a peptide from the carboxyl-terminal activation domain of Gal4p reveals the existence of a dinucleotide that mediates the interaction between the two. Biochemical and in vivo experiments suggests that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) plays a key role in the initial ...
Human skin is a local source of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and expresses CRH and CRH receptors (CRH-R) at mRNA and protein levels. Epidermal melanocytes respond to CRH by induction...Full Text Available
AbstractIntrathymic expression of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) has been viewed as the key element in the induction of central tolerance and recently, a central role for the autoimmune...Full Text Available
The use of infectious pathogens has allowed the detection of the development of synergism between pathogens and ubiquitous environmental chemical contaminants. This synergism has been demonstrated to...Full Text Available
In Experiment I, lever pressing by squirrel monkeys was maintained under a sequence of variable-interval, multiple variable-interval variable-interval, and multiple variable-interval extinction schedules...Full Text Available
Somatic radiation doses are recognized to be possible factors of carcinogenesis. In correctly performed mammography, however, even as screening test, the radiation dose does not reach such an order of magnitude that the benefit of the procedure as to prevention of breast cancer is called into question.
Previous experimental data from various laboratories indicate that endotoxin of gram-negative oral microorganisms might be one of the most important bacterial products involved in bone resorption during...Full Text Available
Water samples from several ponds in Minnesota were evaluated for their capacity to induce malformations in embryos of Xenopus laevis. The FETAX assay was used to assess the occurrence of malformations...Full Text Available
During the treatment of neonatal apnea, formula-fed infants, compared to breastfed infants, show nearly three-fold increase in clearance of caffeine, a substrate...Full Text Available
Experiments were conducted to determine the dose response of rat bladder urothelium to a range of different single and fractionated intravesicular doses of the carcinogen, N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)....Full Text Available
Unless relaxation of the stringent response is achieved, all nongrowing bacteria rapidly develop resistance to autolysis induced by a variety of agents, including all classes of cell wall synthesis...Full Text Available
TCDD and other polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) have been classically considered as non-genotoxic compounds because they fail to be directly mutagenic...Full Text Available
Colonization of barley (Hordeum vulgare cv Salome) roots by an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith, leads to elevated levels...Full Text Available
The effects of an electric current on ethylene biosynthesis were investigated in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) fruit that were producing almost no ethylene. Direct currents at 0.5...Full Text Available
The use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) endotoxins to control insect vectors of human diseases and agricultural pests is threatened by the possible evolution of resistance in major pest...Full Text Available
The induction of voltages on pipelines and railroad signal wires can be a problem when high-voltage transmission lines share the right of way. A handbook and two computer programs provide the analytic tools for utilities to avoid the problem.
The reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS), the reactive upper airways dysfunction syndrome (RUDS), the sick building syndrome (SBS), and the multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome (MCS) are overlapping...Full Text Available
Electric cars can be recharged via charging stations, battery exchange, or induction cable lanes in asphalted roads. The users' wishes remain unexplored, so a number of technologies are competing in this sector.
A linear induction accelerator that produces a beam of energetic heavy ions (T -- 10 GeV, A -- 200 amu) is a prime candidate as a driver for an inertial fusion power plant. Some early perceptions were that heavy-ion drive fusion would not be cost-competitive with other power sources because of the high cost of the accelerators. However, improved understanding of the physics of heavy-ion transport and acceleration (supported by experimental results), combined with advances in accelerator technology, have resulted in accelerator design costs -- 50% of previous estimates. As a result, heavy-ion drive fusion power plants are now projected to be cost-competitive with other conceptual fusion power plants. A brief formulation of transport and acceleration physics is presented here, along with a description of the induction Linac cost optimization code LIACEP. Cost trends are presented and discussed, along with specific cost estimates for several ...
A linear induction accelerator that produces a beam of energetic heavy ions (T #approx =# 10 GeV, A #approx =# 200 am#mu#) is a prime candidate as a driver for an inertial fusion power plant. Some early perceptions were that heavy-ion driven fusion would not be cost-competitive with other power sources because of the high cost of the accelerators. However, improved understanding of the physics of heavy-ion transport and acceleration (supported by experimental results), combined with advances in accelerator technology, have resulted in accelerator design costs -- 50% of previous estimates. As a result, heavy-ion driven fusion power plants conceptual fusion power plants. A brief formulation of transport and acceleration physics is presented here, along with a description of the induction Linac cost optimization code LIACEP. Cost trends are presented and discussed, along with specific cost estimates for several accelerator designs matched to ...
The alternative sigma factor ςB of Bacillus subtilis is required for the induction of approximately 100 genes after the imposition of a whole range of stresses and...Full Text Available
Metabolic profiling analyses were performed to determine metabolite temporal dynamics associated with the induction of acquired thermotolerance in response to heat shock and acquired freezing tolerance...Full Text Available
BackgroundEscherichia coli strain EL350 contains chromosomally integrated phage lambda Red recombinase genes enabling this strain to be used for modifying the sequence...Full Text Available
Retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) is a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) responsible for detection of nucleic acids from pathogens in the cytoplasm of infected cells and induction of type I interferon...Full Text Available
Spontaneous mouse models of cancer show promise to more accurately recapitulate human disease and predict clinical efficacy. Transgenic mice or viral vectors have been required to generate spontaneous...Full Text Available
BACKGROUND: H2-histamine receptors mediate a wide range of physiological functions extending from stimulation of gastric acid secretion to induction of human promyelocyte differentiation. We have previously...Full Text Available
The cellular properties of long-term potentiation (LTP) following pairing of pre- and postsynaptic activity were examined at a known glutamatergic synapse in the leech, specifically between the pressure...Full Text Available
We introduce cyclophosphamide-induced alopecia (CYP-IA) in C57BL-6 mice as a clinically relevant model for studying the biology of chemotherapy-induced alopecia and for developing anti-alopecia drugs....Full Text Available
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved degradative pathway that has been implicated in a number of physiological events important for human health. This process was originally identified as a response...Full Text Available
The in planta induction of anaerobic nitrate respiration by Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica in relation to the in situ oxygen status in soft rotting potato tubers...Full Text Available
BackgroundBacterial constituents, such as Gram-negative derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS), can initiate inflammatory bone loss through induction of host-derived inflammatory...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe first week of human pre-embryo development is characterized by the induction of totipotency and then pluripotency. The understanding of this delicate process will have...Full Text Available
There is increasing concern for the potential adverse health effects of human exposures to chemical mixtures. To better understand the complex interactions of chemicals within a mixture, it is essential...Full Text Available
Charged particle beams in circular accelerators couple with their surroundings through induced electromagnetic fields. This interaction can be described by so-called coupling impedances. In the frequency domain the impedance in connection with the bunch spectrum allows for stability analysis and estimates. However, for simulation codes one usually needs the wakefunction, the equivalent of the impedance in time domain. Recently the transverse impedance of a cylindrical pipe with arbitrary surface impedance was given by L. Vos. An expression for the wakefunction of this transverse resistive wall impedance with inductive bypass is derived here.
Rotary furnaces are a well established alternative to cupola furnaces. Recent innovations in oxygas furnaces have made them the preferred choice even over medium-frequency electric furnaces in many European foundries. The article explains in what respects the rotary furnace is a new iron smelting concept, as different from the cupola furnace as the medium-frequency electric furnace. (author)
A study was conducted on diesel engines to find out the effect of induction rate of biogas on engine performance indices. The results of dual fuel engine performance was compared with diesel mode for various levels of biogas induction rate (0.3 to 7.2 l/s) engine load (20% to full load) and injection timing (20.6 to 48 before top dead centre). At full and 80% brake load, the best energy mix between diesel and biogas was 1.5:1 and 4:1 respectively. (author). 7 refs., 7 figs., 4 tabs.
Correct prediction of the fission products inventory in irradiated nuclear fuels is essential for accurate estimation of fuel burnup, establishing proper requirements for spent fuel transportation and storage, materials accountability and nuclear forensics. Such prediction is impossible without accurate knowledge of neutron induced fission yields. The uncertainty of the fission yields reported in the ENDF/B-VII.0 library is not uniform across all of the data and much of the improvement is desired for certain fissioning isotopes and fission products. We discuss our measurements of cumulative fission yields in nuclear fuels irradiated in thermal and fast reactor spectra using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. (author)
Correct prediction of the fission products inventory in irradiated nuclear fuels is essential for accurate estimation of fuel burnup, establishing proper requirements for spent fuel transportation and storage, materials accountability and nuclear forensics. Such prediction is impossible without accurate knowledge of neutron induced fission yields. The uncertainty of the fission yields reported in the ENDF/B-VII.0 library is not uniform across all of the data and much of the improvement is desired for certain fissioning isotopes and fission products. We discuss our measurements of cumulative fission yields in nuclear fuels irradiated in thermal and fast reactor spectra using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.
Results obtained on induced current and voltage caused by a high voltage transmission lines running parallel at a trolley bus contact lines, are presented. A computer program in Basic language, was developed to calculate the electric induction, problems of safety, a theoretical development and mathematical model of the electric factors between two lines (inductor and induced) are also discussed. 11 figs., 1 tab., 8 refs.
The rate of hepatic cytochrome P450 Cypla1 and Cyp1a2 induction was investigated in C57BL male mice during induction with o-aminoazotoluene (OAT), benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone (AQ). The Cypla1 mPNA level determined by quantitative RT-competitive PCR increased more than three orders of magnitude during induction with OAT and BP compared with untreated animals and remained unchanged during induction with AQ. The Cypla2 mRNA level was only 8.5, 18.7 and 1.9 times higher during induction with OAT, BP and AQ respectively than in untreated mice. At the same time 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and 7-Methoxyresorufin-O-demethylase (MROD) activities of Cypla were also investigated in liver. The increase of Cypla1 mRNA level correlated with the increase of EROD activity. This suggests involvement of the transcriptional mechanism of the inducibility of this enzyme. ...
The main problems with the use of neat vegetable oils in diesel engines are higher smoke levels and lower thermal efficiency as compared to diesel. The problem can be tackled by inducting a gaseous fuel in the intake manifold along with air. In this investigation, hydrogen is used as the inducted fuel and rubber seed oil (RSO), rubber seed oil methyl ester (RSOME) and diesel are used as main fuels in a dual fuel engine. A single cylinder diesel engine with rated output of 4.4 kW at 1500 rpm was converted to operate in the dual fuel mode. Dual fuel operation of varying hydrogen quantity with RSO and RSOME results in higher brake thermal efficiency and significant reduction in smoke levels at high outputs. The maximum brake thermal efficiency is 28.12%, 29.26% and 31.62% with RSO, RSOME and diesel at hydrogen energy share of 8.39%, 8.73% and 10.1%, respectively. Smoke is reduced from 5.5 to 3.5 BSU with RSOME and for RSO it is from 6.1 to 3.8 BSU ...
Minimally invasive treatment for small renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can be necessary in selected patients and, anyway, is desirable. In situ ablation techniques, including RFA, have been developed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety and short-term local effectiveness of percutaneous US-guided RFA in a small series, as well as mid-term patient outcome. Thirteen patients with a total of 18 tumors (17 small lesions, 35 mm in size or less, and a larger one, 75 mm in size) underwent 19 RFA sessions. Seven patients had a solitary kidney, and three suffered from VHL disease, too. We treated four lesions in a patient with a bilateral tumor. In another patient, three lesions were ablated. Seventeen tumors were RCC; one was a metastasis from lung cancer. Eight lesions were parenchymal, six exophytic, two parenchymal/exophytic, one parenchymal/central and one central. A monopolar RF system with multitined expandable electrode ...
OBJECTIVE To present our initial experience of thulium laser resection via a flexible cystoscope for recurrent non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (ThuRBT), as transurethral resection for bladder tumour (TURBT) is regarded as the reference standard for treating this disease, but alternative laser resection or ablation is suitable especially for recurrent tumours. PATIENTS AND METHODS From January 2005 to October 2005, 32 patients with early recurrent bladder tumour (recurrent within a year after TURBT) were treated with ThuRBT via a flexible cystoscope. The follow-up included urine analysis, ultrasonography and cystoscopy every 3 months. RESULTS All patients were treated successfully with ThuRBT in one session, with no bladder haemorrhage, obturator nerve reflex or vesicle perforation. Rand...
The feasibility of spectroscopic measurement of the velocity distribution of alpha particle using the ablation cloud of a lithium or boron pellet was tested in the DT experiment of TFTR. The measurement was performed using a 10-channel narrow-band filtered spectrometer in the wavelength covering the 3.5 MeV alpha particle Doppler broadening region of the He II 468.6 nm line and its vicinity. The spectra from a lithium pellet consists of the continuum bremsstrahlung background, lithium line emissions and possibly a 468.6 nm helium line. However, no clear evidence of alpha particles was observed, even when boron pellets were injected. (orig.) 4 refs.
The goal of this research program is to determine whether pulsed laser deposition is an effective alternative method for growing TiCN thin films. Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is chosen because of its well-documented capability for growing uniform, stoichiometric films in ultra-high vacuum or gaseous environments. Processing of thin films by PLD is also achieved at relatively low temperatures compared with CVD processing. Given these attributes, the primary objectives in this article are to determine whether nitrogen may be readily incorporated into films resulting from the laser-ablation of TiC in an N{sub 2} environment, determine what effect nitrogen has on mechanical properties, and determine whether nitrogen incorporation is strongly influenced by processes unrelated to laser deposition (e.g., thermally-activated surface reactions).
In general, macroscopic material failure is a manifestation of irreversible changes at the microscopic level. Many tissues, which may appear to be macroscopically homogeneous, are, at a fundamental microscopic level, a composite material. For example, cornea is composed of a hyaluronic acid matrix in which layers of collagen fibers are overlaid in a crossing pattern. The points where the collagen fibers intersect are potential nucleation sites for microscopic defects, which under the action of tensile stress, nucleate, grow and coalesce to form macroscopic failure planes, or spall planes. Using a model based on microstructural evolution, this paper examines the failure process during photoablation. Specifically, the paper describes a physically motivated, micromechanical model based on the nucleation and growth of spherical voids. This model is then used to simulate photoablation of cornea. Potential for using this model to predict the stress wave and material damage measured by ...
Effective localization of small magnets against a noisy, real world background can involve various methods to first identify the magnetic fields produced by the magnet of interest, then to filter out background noise, and then to analyze the available magnetic field data to localize the magnet. Here we discuss low cost techniques which allow localization of small magnets with field strengths in the milliGauss range against real world background fields in the range of hundreds of mG, which may be fluctuating by up to tens of mG. Such techniques allow magnet tracking to be used to localize catheters in place of more invasive and expensive methods, e.g. fluoroscopy, for a variety of applications, including drug infusion with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), laser ablation (TMR, PTMR) and introduction of pacemaker leads.
Objective To report the clinical response to image-guided percutaneous cryotherapy (IPC) for the palliative management of localized metastases in patients with gynecologic malignancies. Methods Institutional review board approval and patient consent were obtained. Gynecologic oncology patients were identified from our institution's cryotherapy database from August 2003 to August 2007. Cryotherapy was performed with 2.4?mm diameter probes (Endocare, Irvine, CA) with ultrasound or computerized tomography (CT) guidance under conscious sedation and local anesthesia. Follow-up was conducted by imaging studies and clinical encounters, using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST criteria). Results Twenty-eight ablation sessions were performed for 41 metastatic foci in 15 patients w...
The wavelength of the free electron laser (FEL) in Osaka University can be continuously varied in the range of 5.0-20.0 #mu#m. The FEL has a double-pulse structure, consisting of a train of macropulses of pulse duration 12 #mu#s. Each macropulse contains a train of 330 micropulses of pulse duration 5 ps. The tunability and picosecond pulses afford new medical and biological applications. However, a macropulse of long pulse duration leads to undesirable secondary effects. Precise control of the macropulse duration is essential for the high-precision applications of the FEL. An FEL pulse control system using acousto-optic modulators has been developed to investigate mechanical (shock-wave) effects of the FEL on living tissues. With this system, we have controlled photoinduced shock waves and determine the mechanism of interaction during FEL-induced tissue ablation.
Background: Ventricular repolarization (VR) is strongly influenced by heart rate (HR) and autonomic nervous activity, both of which also are important for arrhythmogenesis. Their relative influence on VR is difficult to separate, but might be crucial for understanding while some but not other individuals are at risk for life-threatening arrhythmias at a certain HR. This study was therefore designed to assess the -pure- effect of HR increase by atrial pacing on the ventricular gradient (VG) and other vectorcardiographically (VCG) derived VR parameters during an otherwise unchanged condition. Methods: In 19 patients with structurally normal hearts, a protocol with stepwise increased atrial pacing was performed after successful arrhythmia ablation. Conduction intervals were measured on averag...
TP63, a member of the TP53 gene family, is a nuclear marker of myoepithelial cells. Antibody against p63 is frequently used to aid in the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma, as well as in the identification of myoepithelial cells in other tissues including the breast. p63 is also a marker for squamous cell carcinoma. Recently, it was found that all p53 family members are involved in regulating the process of muscle differentiation through the retinoblastoma (RB) protein. Ablation of these p53 family functions blocks the differentiation program and promotes malignant transformation by enabling cooperating oncogenes to transform myoblasts. We therefore studied p63 expression in a number of neoplasms with myogenic differentiation. Immunohistochemical staining for p63 was performed on paraffin se...
Power output of a hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel engine is limited by the onset of knock as the percentage of heat input derived from hydrogen increased beyond a certain limit. Earlier work carried out at the Internal Combustion Engines Laboratory, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, indicates that this knock sets in when the induced hydrogen exceeds about 60% of input energy at a pilot diesel quantity of 30% of full load diesel amount. At higher rates of hydrogen induction, the richer hydrogen-air mixture is more prone to knocking. Hardly any information is available on the possibilities of improving the knock limited power output of a hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel engine. Water can serve as a powerful internal coolant in decreasing the unburned mixture temperature because of its high latent heat. This paper presents the results of our investigation on improving the knock limited power output when water is inducted with the intake charge of a ...
This paper presents a technique for speed control three-phase induction motor using the pulse width modulation (PWM), in open loop while maintaining the tension for constant frequency. The technique is adapted from a thesis entitled 'Control of the three-phase induction motor, using discrete PWM generation, optimized and synchronized', where studies are presented aimed at their application in home appliances, to eliminate mechanical parts, replaced by low cost electronic control, thus having a significant reduction in power consumption. Initially the experiment was done with the Intel 80C31 micro controller. In this paper, the PWM modulation is implemented using a PIC micro controller, and the speed control kept a low profile, based on tables, synchronized with transitions and reduced generation of harmonics in the network. Confirmations were made using the same process of building tables, but takes advantage of the program of ...
Ethidium bromide (EB) and ultraviolet light (UV) in combination are known to produce a synergistic induction of 'petite' mutants in yeast. Two other agents were combined with EB, 3-Carbethoxypsoralene (3 CPs) activated by 365 nm light or #gamma# rays. EB in combination with 3 CPs also resulted in an enhanced production of 'petite' mutants. After the photoaddition of 3 CPs in exponential phase cells, recovery of the 'petite' mutation during dark liquid holding was inhibited by the presence of EB producing an enhanced number of 'petite' mutants. The behavior of mitochondrial antibiotic resistance markers after individual and combined treatments with EB and 3 CPs indicates a random loss of markers after EB and a preferential loss of a certain region for the 3 CPs photoaddition. The combination of the two agents leads to an additivity of total drug marker losses rather than a synergistic loss. The combination of EB with #gamma# rays produced no enhancement in 'petite' ...
A technique and a particular apparatus for an inductive measurement of critical currents as a function of temperature and magnetic field in thin-film superconductors are described. The technique has been found to be particularly useful for high-field A-15 compounds 2 to 3 ..mu..m thick. Samples with lower critical current densities would have to be correspondingly thicker to measure over the same broad range of temperature and field. The design of the apparatus is detailed showing that the film can be taken directly from the deposition chamber and mounted without electrical contacts so samples can be changed easily. The principles of operation are developed based on the Critical State Model. These principles are tested by measurements which verify that the measured value of critical curent is independent of the amplitudes and frequency of the small ac magnetic field which is added to a much larger quasistatic field. The inductive measurements ...
The addition of paraquat (methyl viologen) to a growing culture of Escherichia coli K-12 led within 1 hr to a 10- to 20-fold increase in the level of endonuclease IV, a DNase for apurinic/apyrimidinic sites. The induction was blocked by chloramphenicol. Increases of 3-fold or more were also seen with plumbagin, menadione, and phenazine methosulfate. H_2O_2 produced no more than a 2-fold increase in endonuclease IV activity. The following agents had no significant effect: streptonigrin, nitrofurantoin, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, #gamma# rays, 260-nm UV radiation, methyl methanesulfonate, mitomycin C, and ascorbate. Paraquat, plumbagin, menadione, and phenazine methosulfate are known to generate superoxide radical anions via redox cycling in vivo. A mutant lacking superoxide dismutase was unusually sensitive to induction by paraquat. In addition, endonuclease IV could be induced by merely growing the mutant in pure O_2. The levels of endonuclease ...
Experimental and theoretical research has been conducted jointly at the Livermore and Los Alamos National laboratories on dc electromagnetic railgun Lorentz accelerators. Pellets weighing a few grams to tens of grams have been launched at velocities up to better than 11 km/s. The research is addressed to attaining repeated launches of samples at hypervelocity in target impact experiments. In these experiments, shock-induced pressures in the tens of megabars range are obtained for high pressure equation-of-state research. Primary energy sources of the order of several hundred kJ to a MJ and induction currents of the order of 1 or more MA are necessary for these launches. Erosion and deformation of the conductor rails and the accelerated sample material are continuing problems. The heating, stress, and erosion resulting from simultaneous imposition of rail induction current, dense plasma (armature) interaction, current distribution, magnetic ...
Model construction of the laboratory scale superconducting fault current limiter circuit (SFCL) has been performed. The SFCL is fault current limiter and used as electric network security. It mainly consists of a copper coil, a superconducting ring and an iron core that are concentrically arranged. The SFCL circuit is essentially a transformer where the secondary windings are being replaced by the ring of YBa_2Cu_3O_7_-_x superconductor (HTS). The ring has critical transition temperature Tc = 92 K and critical current Ic = 3.61 A. Characterization of the SFCL circuit is simulated by ANSYS version 5.4 software. The SFCL circuit consists of load and transformer impedances. The results show that the inductions of magnet field flux in the iron core of primer windings and ring disappear to one other before fault state. It means that impedance of the transformer is zero. After the condition a superconductivity behavior of the ring is disappear so that the impedance of ...
In response to a heat shock, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae undergoes a large increase in its resistance to heat and, by the induction of its recombinational DNA repair capacity, a corresponding increase in resistance to radiation. Yeast which lack mitochondrial DNA, mitochondria-controlled protein synthetic apparatus, aerobic respiration, and electron transport (rho/sup 0/ strain) were used to assess the role of O/sub 2/, mitochondria, and oxidative processes controlled by mitochondria in the induction of these resistances. We have found that rho/sup 0/ yeast grown and heat shocked in either the presence or absence of O/sub 2/ are capable of developing both radiation and heat resistance. We conclude that neither the stress signal nor its cellular consequences of induced heat and radiation resistance are directly dependent on O/sub 2/, mitochondrial DNA, or mitochondria-controlled protein synthetic or oxidative processes.
By contrast to the large mass, complexity and recirculating power of conventional drivers for inertial confinement fusion (ICF), antiproton annihilation offers a specific energy of 90MJ/{micro}g and thus a unique form of energy packaging and delivery. In principle, antiproton drivers could provide a profound reduction in system mass for advanced space propulsion by ICF. We examine the physics underlying the use of antiprotons ({bar p}) to drive various classes of high-yield ICF targets by the methods of volumetric ignition, hotspot ignition and fast ignition. The useable fraction of annihilation deposition energy is determined for both {bar p}-driven ablative compression and {bar p}-driven fast ignition, in association with 0-D and 1-D target burn models. Thereby, we deduce scaling laws for the number of injected antiprotons required per capsule, together with timing and focal spot requirements. The kinetic energy of the injected antiproton beam required to ...
The determination of the dose to organs from diagnostic x rays has become important because of reports of radiation injury to patients from fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures. We have modified a convolution/superposition-based treatment planning system to compute the dose distribution for kilovoltage beams. We computed lung doses using this system and compared them to those calculated using the CDI3 organ dose calculation program. We also computed average lung doses from a simulated radiofrequency ablation procedure and compared our results to published doses for a similar procedure. Doses calculated using this system were an average of 20% lower for AP beams and 7% higher for PA beams than those obtained using CDI3. The ratio of the average dose to the lungs to the skin dose from the simulated ablation procedure ranged from 25% higher to 15% lower than that determined by other authors. Our results show that a treatment planning ...
OBJECTIVE:- To determine the effectiveness and safety of short-term treatment of infliximab (IFX) in a group of Chinese patients with active Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS:- Patients with established diagnosis of active CD were treated with IFX intravenously with a dose of 5-mg/kg at week 0, 2, 6. Clinical assessments were performed at baseline (week 0) and every week after IFX infusion until 8 weeks after the induction dose. RESULTS:- Fourteen patients (nine male, five female) with a mean age of 29.7 years (range from 15 to 65 years) were included in the analysis. The mean subjective scores were decreased from 2.85--0.57 at baseline to 1.3--0.4 at week 14 (P-CONCLUSIONS:- Treatment with three infusions of IFX at a dose of 5-mg/kg was effective for induction of remission for active CD patie...
In defining criteria for good protection against ionizing radiation, it is important to assess quantitatively the likely risk of any radiation exposure. The 'somatic' risks to the individual result mainly from induction of cancer in the organs irradiated, and these risks can now be estimated on the basis of numerous detailed epidemiological surveys of exposed human populations. Estimates of the risk of hereditary effects, from genetic changes induced in germ cells, are based largely on the frequency with which such effects are induced in other species. In both cases the risk at very low dose can be inferred using knowledge of the way in which radiation damage is caused in tissues. Coherent systems of radiation protection are based on a restriction of doses to the whole body and to individual organs, such that the induction of cancer and genetic harm is infrequent, and the threshold dose for causing other, 'non-stochastic', effects is not ...
We present the design, analysis, and results of the high brightness electron beam experiments currently under investigation at Sandia National Laboratories. The anticipated beam parameters are the following: energy 12 MeV, current 35 endash 40 kA, rms radius 0.5 mm, and pulse duration 40 ns full width at half-maximum. The accelerator is SABRE, a pulsed linear inductive voltage adder modified to higher impedance, and the electron source is a magnetically immersed foilless electron diode. 20 endash 30 T solenoidal magnets are required to insulate the diode and contain the beam to its extremely small-sized (1 mm) envelope. These experiments are designed to push the technology to produce the highest possible electron current in a submillimeter radius beam. Design, numerical simulations, and experimental results are presented. copyright 1997 American Institute of Physics.
Allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT) is potentially curative therapy in AML by providing both dose-intensive chemo-radiotherapy and induction of graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect. Historically, more emphasis was given to the intensity of conditioning. Over the last decade the pendulum turned more towards induction of GvL as the primary goal. A plethora of non-myeloablative (NMA) and reduced-intensity conditioning regimens (RIC) were introduced trying to reduce transplant-related toxicities and allow SCT in elderly and medically infirm patients. In addition, reduced-toxicity myeloablative regimens (RTC) based on fludarabine and myeloablative alkylating-agent doses were designed to allow safer administration of dose-intensive therapy. Conditioning dose-intensity is highly correlated w...
Synergism has been observed during inhibiting initiated oxidation of styrene or tetralin by organic phosphites in the presence of complex compounds of some transition metals. The results are given of non-additive intensification of antioxidative activity of triphenylphosphite (TPP) and tri-(4-methyl-6-tert.-- butyl)-phenyl-phosphite (TMBP) in the process of initiated oxidation of styrene or tetralin with addition of acetylacetonates of cobalt and vanadyl. During styrene oxidation, inhibition of the reaction with chelate complex of vanadyl is weakened considerably when phosphite is added into the reaction system. During tetralin oxidation, postcatalytic (or branched) oxidation is observed only for large concentration of vanadyl complex. Addition of TPP to above complex sharply increases the induction period. When the induction period is completed, oxidation of tetralin follows the mechanism of usual, i.e. initiated, reaction.
In this article a production method of a magnetorheological suspension composed with silicon steel particles of size 0.1-0.15 mm and 4% silicon content is described. Steel particles were dispersed in a conducting carrier of a by mixture of graphite particles with size 2-5 {mu}m and cedar wood oil. The filling factor of the suspension with the silicon steel particles and with graphite particles amounted to 0.25-0.40. Samples of this suspension were placed in a rectangular vessel with electrodes and used for the investigation of the Hall effect in magnetic field with induction 0-8 T, generated by Bitter-type magnet. A non-linear dependence of Hall voltage on the induction of the applied magnetic field and a hysteresis loop of this voltage in the shape of inclined digit eight were found. The causes of the observed effects is the ordering of silicon steel particles and graphite particles along the side of magnetic field lines.
The effects of spin diffusion on the free induction decay (FID) of protons associated with the noncrystalline domains of two polymers, polyethylene and blended Nylon 66 (ZYTEL-408), have been examined using Goldman--Shen NMR pulse sequence ((1/2)..pi..x-t/sub 0/-(1/2)..pi..x-bar-tau-(1/2)..pi..x-t). At tau< or approx. =100 ..mu..s, the FID is drastically distorted from the exponential form while at longer tau(tau> or approx. =500 ..mu..s) an exponential FID is observed; but its transverse spin relaxation rate is smaller than that of the FID obtained after a single (1/2)..pi..x pulse and approaches this value at the limit of large tau. These findings are interpreted in terms of the theory of rapid spin diffusion. The spatial variation in the spin relaxation rate within the noncrystalline domain is inferred.
A new method for analysis and design of smoothing reactances utilising two-dimensional planar models is presented in this paper. Inductance and magnetic flux density are calculated, and their results compared with those measured experimentally. The results obtained are good if compared with those measured once the machine have been built. Moreover, the method herein developed is applied to the calculation of air gap lengths in terms of the desired current and inductance. The kind of reactances studied presents windings in both limbs and air gaps in the four corners (joint of limbs and yokes). The main contribution of this paper is the presentation of a method of industrial application, to be easily developed, with a very important reduction in the time of machine calculation (due to the decrease in the number of nodes and elements compared with the three-dimensional model) for the determination of the air gap length in smoothing reactances. ...
Finding interesting rule in the sixth strategy step about threshold control on generalized relations in attribute oriented induction, there is possibility to select candidate attribute for further generalization and merging of identical tuples until the number of tuples is no greater than the threshold value, as implemented in basic attribute oriented induction algorithm. At this strategy step there is possibility the number of tuples in final generalization result still greater than threshold value. In order to get the final generalization result which only small number of tuples and can be easy to transfer into simple logical formula, the seventh strategy step about rule transformation is evolved where there will be simplification by unioning or grouping the identical attribute. Our approach to measure interesting rule is opposite with heuristic measurement approach by Fudger and Hamilton where the more complex concept hierarchies, more ...
Carcinogenesis is now generally recognized to be an important detrimental effect in man after low dose irradiation. The carcinogenic action of ionizing radiation is clearly demonstrated after exposure to relatively high doses (in excess of 0.5 Gy) but for lower dose levels reliable direct observations are not available. With the introduction of special protocols for the performance of large scale screening programs by mammography the average absorbed dose in glandular tissue in the average breast can be restricted to a value of 3 mGy per mammogram. The risk for tumor induction after exposure to these low doses can never be established from human epidemiology. In order to investigate the risk of repeated exposure to small dose of ionizing radiation the induction of mammary tumors has been investigated in rats of the WAG/Rij strain after single and fractionated irradiations with gamma-rays. (author). 8 refs., 3 figs.
Maintenance of genomic integrity in embryonic cells is pivotal to proper embryogenesis, organogenesis and to the continuity of species. Cultured mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), a model for early embryonic cells, differ from cultured somatic cells in their capacity to remodel chromatin, in their repertoire of DNA repair enzymes, and in the regulation of cell cycle checkpoints. Using 129XC3HF1 mESCs heterozygous for Aprt, we characterized loss of Aprt heterozygosity after exposure to ionizing radiation. We report here that the frequency of loss of heterozygosity mutants in mESCs can be induced several hundred-fold by exposure to 5-10Gy of X-rays. This induction is 50-100-fold higher than the induction reported for mouse adult or embryonic fibroblasts. The primary mechanism underlying the...
A totally-enclosed, fan-cooled, rib-cooled type induction motor is adopted for an exhauster which is to be installed in a ventilation station for dust catcher in a tunnel. It has the highest capacity in Japan for the above purpose, and is provided with a cooling fan inside to recirculate cooled air, thereby improving cooling efficiency and reducing size and weight. Three-row combined angular ball bearings are used as the thrust bearings, and grease lubrication system is adopted to simplify the inspection/maintenance works. It is to be delivered to Japan Highway Public Corporation's Shizuoka Construction Bureau, Yaizu site office. Its electric specifications are 455 kW, 440 V, 890 A and 510 rpm, and its mechanical specifications are thrust load: 16 kN and impeller load: 7.2 kN. (translated by NEDO)
Abstract Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) causes acute lymphoma and leukemia upon experimental infection of various monkey species. HVS strain C488 is also capable of transforming human T-lymphocytes to stable growth in culture. The most susceptible species for oncogenesis are New World primates, in particular the cottontop tamarin (Saguinus oedipus). However, Old World monkeys such as macaques are the most used animal model for the close-to-human situation. The limited data on HVS infection in Old World monkeys prompted us to investigate susceptibility to infection and disease induction by HVS in macaques. After having established that rhesus macaques can be infected productively, and that rhesus T-cells can be transformed in vivo by HVS, we observed induction of lymphoma in all inoculated anima...
In tomato crop, the induction of resistance emerges as an important alternative for achieving the reduction of chemicals in disease control. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of 28 Trichoderma isolates to promote the growth of tomato seedlings and to induce systemic resistance (ISR) against Xanthomonas euvesicatoria and Alternaria solani, the causal agents of bacterial spot and early blight, respectively. Twelve isolates promoted the increase of plant dry matter mass (DMM) above 100%, showing the great potential of these strains. All isolates were able to colonize the root system of tomato plants. The plant growth-promoting isolates were further evaluated for potential elicitation of ISR. Treatment of the soil with all Trichoderma isolates provided protection in tomato plants from 2...
With appropriate circuit resistance and inductance and sufficient stored energy, discharging a charged human body or component through an exploding bridgewire (EBW) detonator may cause the detonator to function or may damage the detonator. We have studied the effects of electrostatic discharge (ESD) on a number of exploding bridgewire detonators which were subjected to discharges which passed directly through the bridgewires (pin-to-pin), as well as discharges which passed from the bridge to the metal case of the detonator (pin-to-case). We have performed calculations to determine the values of inductance and resistance for which burst and melt may occur for given ESD sources, using a phenomenological model of bridgewire burst in a computer code called FIRESET. Bridge melt was computed using the same computer code, but using experimental values of bridge resistivity and specific heat up to melt. 13 refs., 5 figs.
The production method of the elastic composite containing ferrous particles and titanium barium particles dispersed in the porous silicone matrix is described in this article. Since it contains ferrous and titanium barium particles, this composite shows magnetorheological and also electrorheological properties. The electrostriction of composite samples in the electric field with maximal intensity 1.5x10{sup 6} V/m was investigated. The magnetostriction in the magnetic field with maximal induction 1 T was also investigated. It was found that samples elongate with increased electric field intensity, and the magnetic field induction was detected. By increasing the samples' elongation with increase of ferrous particles, titanium barium particles and pores number were also detected. In the investigated division of the electric and magnetic field the elongation changed in a linear way. The maximal elongation achieved was 1.59%.
We have constructed a mathematical model that describes the coherent spontaneous radiation of a macroscopically filled exciton mode. We have demonstrated qualitatively ways in which a coherent subsystem of excitons can be formed. When this occurs under the influence of an external coherent source, exciton free induction occurs, while in the case of a spontaneous transition of the excitons to a coherent state through freezing of the reservoir of intermolecular interactions superradiance occurs. We have concluded that superradiance in the system of Frenkel excitons is possible under the influence of the non-Dicke mechanisms of self-induction of correlations, when the dipole transition moments of the individual atoms are coupled into a single macroscopic effective spin through their electrostatic interaction, this being analogous to the ordering of magnetic dipole moments in a ferromagnet.
The design and operating principle of a small (50 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height) ???-73C vacuum spark gap are described. It is shown that it can be efficiently switched using a control circuit with a low (?900 V) supply voltage, which is based on an inductive energy storage and a diode opening switch that forms a high-voltage igniting pulse with a rise time of nanosecond duration. The ???-73C switching process is investigated at different rise times of igniting voltage pulses and different igniting current amplitudes. The results of tests of the spark gap operating in regimes of switching current pulses with an amplitude of 12 kA and a rise time of 800 ns are presented.
The FVM-LES-acoustic analogy method (FVM-LES-AAM), which is a hybrid prediction technique for the acoustical property computation, is presented and performed in this paper. The FVM-LES-AAM was developed by combining the finite volume method (FVM), the large eddy simulation (LES), and the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings analogy algorithm (FWH-AA). To predict the acoustical properties of induction cookers, the FVM is used for discretizing the calculation field and building numerical equations, and the LES and FWH-AA are performed for computing the sound sources and predicting the far-field sound, respectively. Using the FVM with the unstructured grids method to discretize the control equation of Navier-Stokes was introduced for illuminating the above numerical simulation procedure. To prove the FVM...
A thermal-electric mathematical model for a squirrel cage induction motors which permits to specify the best motor for specific drive, under thermal and electric aspects based, only on manufacturer technical bulletins and technical information is presented. Changes of rotor parameters due Skin Effect and changes of winding resistances (both stator and rotor) with the temperature are considered. The accuracy of this model is appraised using experimental results. The thermal behavior and electric performance for some motors are obtained for continuos and intermittent duties with sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal voltages. (author)
An overview of the developments and designs of electric cars is given. It can be concluded that the numbers of electric-powered vehicles in the world, presented by different companies, are confusing and that it is very difficult to categorize the electric cars because of the many different prototypes under development sofar. Also an introduction is given on the engine technology of such cars. Attention is paid to the direct current (DC) motor, the induction motor, the brushless DC-motor, and the synchronous motor. 2 figs., 4 ills., 35 refs.
This report describes the test of a dynamic phase compensation unit for a wind turbine with directly connected induction generators. The compensation unit is based on thyristor switched capacitors, where conventional wind turbine compensations use mechanical contactors to switch the capacitors. The influence on power quality analysed, and influence on component lifetime is discussed. Besides, simulation models in Matlab/Simulink are presented, including a flicker meter model. (au)
The motion of an accelerated charge in a vacuum is analyzed, via the superposition principle and Fourier analysis, into uniform-motion components, which include bradyonic as well as tachyonic contributions. It is shown that the former contribute only to the induction fields whereas the latter are the source of the radiation emitted by the charge, via the Sommerfeld-Cerenkov mechanism. This result calls for a reexamination of some recently formulated theories of superluminal particles.
Purpose.To report the increased production of extracellular transforming growth factor β-induced protein (TGFBIp) by human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) after induction...Full Text Available
We review the status of free electron laser (FEL) research being conducted at LBL and LLNL as part of a broader program of research on two beam accelerators (TBAs). Induction accelerator-driven FELs for use as power sources for high-gradient accelerators are discussed, along with preliminary cost estimates for this type of power source. Finally, a promising new version of an FEL/TBA is described. 25 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.
Pacini (1973) has considered basic theoretical expectations regarding the magnetic dipole radiation and unipolar induction of pulsars, taking into account observational results. The present investigation is concerned with the difference between the two braking mechanisms. Attention is also given to a statistical study involving a comparison of the two braking mechanisms with observations. The study makes use of the observational data for the distribution of apparent beamwidth, and a geometrical method. The obtained results agree with the theory of magnetic dipole radiation.
1. The induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) was investigated in the rat dentate gyrus in the presence of ryanodine, an agent which is known to selectively bind to the ryanodine receptor (RyR) Ca2+...Full Text Available
A cDNA library was constructed from HL60 human promyelocyte poly(A)+ RNA harvested 3 h after induction of macrophage differentiation with 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate in the presence of cycloheximide....Full Text Available
From the frequency of diagnostic radiologic examinations and their radiation dose delivered to the population the risk of cancer induction and genetic damage is calculated on the basis of the risk factors given by the ICRP. Thus 0.38 % and 3 % of the total mortality for cancer and leukemia, resp., can be attributed to X-ray diagnostics. Chest examinations alone result in 0.07-0.7 damages per 100,000 persons depending on the imaging technique applied. (author).
This research has two main goals; (1) to quantify mechanisms for radon entry into homes of different types and to determine the fraction of indoor radon attributable to each source and (2) to model and calculate the dose (and therefore alpha particle fluence) to cells in the human and animal tracheobronchial tree that is pertinent to induction of bronchogenic carcinoma from inhaled radon daughters.
This report continues the studies of simplified methods, of magnetic diagnostics in application to TCA/BR tokamak. Here we study the accuracy of known formula for {beta}{sub 1} + l{sub 1}/2 determination from the poloidal magnetic field asymmetry. Errors of the diamagnetic measurements due to vibrations of the vacuum vessel are also considered. (author). 3 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.
Primary leaves of 7- to 9-day-old etiolated seedlings of Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Red Kidney infiltrated in darkness with aqueous solutions of α, α′-dipyridyl,...Full Text Available
BackgroundAfrican horse sickness virus (AHSV) causes a non-contagious, infectious disease in equids, with mortality rates that can exceed 90% in susceptible horse populations....Full Text Available
The use of irrigation systems in the proximity of high voltage transmission lines is increasing. This study examines the induced voltages and currents on a pivotal irrigation system operating under a 765 kV line. With a few simple precautions such as a system can be operated in complete safety. 1 ref.
PNAS-4, a novel pro-apoptotic gene activated during the early response to DNA damage, can inhibit proliferation via apoptosis when overexpressed in some tumor cells. Recent studies have indicated that honokiol can induce apoptosis, inhibit angiogenesis, and suppress tumor growth. In the present study, we investigated whether mouse PNAS-4 (mPNAS-4) could augment the apoptosis of tumor cells induced by honokiol in vitro, and whether the antiangiogenic activity of honokiol and induction of apoptosis by mPNAS-4 could work cooperatively to improve the antitumor efficacy in vivo. In vitro, mPNAS-4 inhibited proliferation of murine colorectal carcinoma CT26 and Lewis lung carcinoma LL2 cells through induction of apoptosis, and significantly augmented the apoptosis of CT26 and LL2 cells induced by honokiol. Compared with treatment with mPNAS-4 or honokiol alone, in vivo systemic administration of an expression plasmid encoding mPNAS-4 and low-dose ...
Dendritic cells (DC) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells and play a central role in the induction of antiviral immune responses. Recently, we have shown that monocyte-derived DC (MoDC) from...Full Text Available
The study examined the possibility for fuel ignition by spark discharge caused by induction effects under high voltage transmission lines. Theoretical background information on capacitive spark discharges and fuel ignition processes is given. Laboratory experiments were conducted to test the dependence of fuel ignition on three parameters: impedance in discharge path, multiple discharges, and larger electrode shapes. The results of these tests are discussed in terms of fuel ignition possibilities under high voltage transmission lines.
Occupational and environmental exposure to organic ligands, solvents, fuel hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls are linked with increased risk of hematologic malignancies. DOE facilities and waste sites in the U.S. are contaminated with mixtures of potentially hazardous chemicals such as metals, organic ligands, solvents, fuel hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and radioactive isotopes. A major goal of this project was to establish linkage between chemical/radiation exposure and induction of genomic damage in target populations with the capability to undergo transformation.
The objective of this study was to determine if genistein (GEN) modulation of the immune responses might contribute to the increased host resistances to tumors. A time-course study was performed...Full Text Available
Two cellular DNA regions representing common domains for proviral DNA integration ( Mlvi -1 and Mlvi -2) have been identified in Moloney murine leukemia virus-induced rat thymic lymphomas. Cellular...Full Text Available
This paper proposes a novel control strategy for tracking peak power in a wind or wave energy system using a squirrel cage induction generator. It eliminates wind speed measurement or estimation and uses a simple scalar technique by exploiting the cubic nature of the power curve. The method works even when air velocity is varying dynamically. (author)
Because of questions regarding current density and inductance estimates of the Atlas oil transmission line in the region where the vertical plates connect to the disk line, calculations using the 3D FE program Flux3d were initiated. Flux3d inductance values are nearly that estimated by D. Scudder. Calculations for three base designs of E. Ballard and D. Pierce were completed where several variations for each base design were used to determine the important parameters affecting inductance and to check inductance consistency. Flux3d showed for the first base design a very high current density of 36MA/m at the connection between the vertical and horizontal ground plates resulting in a magnetic pressure of 120 kpsi. The second base design modified this connection to reduce the current density to 20MA/m and 36 kpsi and for design 3 current density is 17MA/m. Maximum current density on the hot plates is ...
Multilayer mirrors for the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) are keyelements for numerous applications of coherent EUV sources such as newtabletop lasers and free-electron lasers. However the field ofapplications is limited by the radiation and thermal stability of themultilayers. Taking into account the growing power of EUV sources thestability of the optics becomes crucial. To overcome this problem it isnecessary to study the degradation of multilayers and try to increasetheir temporal and thermal stability. In this paper we report the resultsof detailed study of structural changes in Sc/Simultilayers when exposedto intense EUV laser pulses. Various types of surface damage such asmelting, boiling, shockwave creation and ablation were observed asirradiation fluencies increase. Cross-sectional TEM study revealed thatthe layer structure was completely destroyed in the upper part ofmultilayer, but still survived below. The layers adjacent tothe substrateremained intact even ...
SommarioScopo In questo studio riportiamo i dati relativi all'ablazione percutanea con Radiofrequenza (RF) di HCC e trombosi neoplastica dei vasi portali. Pazienti e metodi Dieci pazienti (pz) cirrotici, 7 maschi e 3 femmine, eta media 68 anni, con 10 noduli di HCC e trombosi neoplastica dei vasi portali sono stati sottoposti ad ablazione percutanea con RF del trombo neoplastico e dell'HCC. La RF veniva ritenuta efficace quando alla TC con mdc si osservava la necrosi completa dell'HCC e al Color Doppler si osservava la ricanalizzazione completa dei vasi portali. Risultati La necrosi completa dell'HCC e la ricanalizzazione completa dei vasi portali si osservava in 7 (70%) dei 10 pazienti. Nei rimanenti 3 (30%) la necrosi dell'HCC e la ricanalizzazione dei vasi portali non risultavano comple...
The Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is taken as an example of the diagnostic and therapeutic strategy in gastro-entero-pancreatic endocrine tumours, given the standard characteristics of this procedure, whatever the nature of the primitive tumour. Management of ZES includes: anatomical localization of gastrinoma and of possible metastases, in 60 % of cases this step conditioning therapeutic indications and chances of cure; search of a type 1-multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN A), in 25 % of cases; therapeutic indications: ablative surgery with curative intent in case of gastrinoma and of resectable liver metastases, palliative treatment otherwise: anti-secretory drugs, somatostatin analogues, chemotherapy and interferon {alpha}; long-term follow-up of patients with resected tumour. At each step, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy with indium 111-pentetreotide does play a pivotal role. (author). 110 refs.
Both (001)- and (111)-oriented CeO[sub 2] thin films have been grown on amorphous fused silica (SiO[sub 2]) substrates by ion-beam assisted pulsed laser ablation of a polycrystalline CeO[sub 2] target. Using 200 eV Ar[sup +] ions incident at 55[degree] to the substrate normal, the preferred orientation for CeO[sub 2] film growth is (001) at room temperature, but changes to (111) for temperatures [ge]300 [degree]C. Furthermore, the ion-beam assisted CeO[sub 2] films exhibit strong in-plane crystallographic alignment. In contrast, CeO[sub 2] films grown without ion-beam assistance exhibit a mixture of polycrystalline orientations with the relative amounts depending on growth temperature. Under optimum conditions, off-normal-incidence Ar[sup +] ions produce a (111)-oriented crystalline CeO[sub 2] film that is aligned with respect to a single in-plane axis, on an amorphous substrate.
Ferroelectric thin films such as BST, PZT and PLZT are extensively being studied for the fabrication of DRAMS since they have high dielectric constant. The large and reversible remnant polarization of these materials makes it attractive for nonvolatile ferroelectric RAM application. In this paper we report the characterization of Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 (BST) thin films grown by pulsed laser ablation on oxide electrodes. The structural and electrical properties of the fabricated devices were studied. Growth of crystalline BST films was observed on La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 (LSCO) thin film electrodes at relatively low substrate temperature compared to BST grown on PtSi substrates. Electrical characterization was carried out by fabricating PtSi/LSCO/BST/LSCO heterostructures. The leakage current of the heteros...
Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is known for its capacity to reproduce a target composition on a substrate. The authors have used this deposition technique to produce thin films of transition metal chalcogenides. However, the deposits were always deficient in Te relative to the starting material (composed by a refractory metal (niobium) and a chalcogene (tellurium)). Variations of the interreticular distances have been observed with respect to fluence and substrate temperature. The authors show that spatial composition of the films is determined by a degree of crystallinity of deposit and by the reaction of formation of Te{sub 2} molecule within laser induced plume. Two kinds of deposits have been obtained: Nb{sub 5}Te{sub 4}-type thin films which have a one-dimensional structure and NbTe{sub 2}-type thin films which have a two-dimensional structure. While NbTe{sub 2} films have been realized by sputtering, it is the first time that Nb{sub 5}Te{sub 4} films have been deposited.
The aim of this paper is offering a critical review of Calibration-Free Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (CF-LIBS), the approach of multi-elemental quantitative analysis of LIBS spectra, based on the measurement of line intensities and plasma properties (plasma electron density and temperature) and on the assumption of a Boltzmann population of excited levels, which does not require the use of calibration curves or matrix-matched standards. The first part of this review focuses on the applications of the CF-LIBS method. Quantitative results reported in the literature, obtained in the analysis of various materials and in a wide range of experimental conditions, are summarized, with a special emphasis on the departure from nominal composition values. The second part is a discussion of the simplifying assumptions which lie at the basis of the CF-LIBS algorithm (stoichiometric ablation and complete atomization, thermal equilibrium, homogeneous plasma, thin ...
The aim of this paper is offering a critical review of Calibration-Free Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (CF-LIBS), the approach of multi-elemental quantitative analysis of LIBS spectra, based on the measurement of line intensities and plasma properties (plasma electron density and temperature) and on the assumption of a Boltzmann population of excited levels, which does not require the use of calibration curves or matrix-matched standards. The first part of this review focuses on the applications of the CF-LIBS method. Quantitative results reported in the literature, obtained in the analysis of various materials and in a wide range of experimental conditions, are summarized, with a special emphasis on the departure from nominal composition values. The second part is a discussion of the simplifying assumptions which lie at the basis of the CF-LIBS algorithm (stoichiometric ablation and complete atomization, thermal equilibrium, homogeneous plasma, thin ...
A newly constructed Fourier transform microwave spectrometer has been used to record the pure rotational spectra of four isotopomers of SrS ({sup 88}Sr{sup 32}S, {sup 87}Sr{sup 32}S, {sup 86}Sr{sup 32}S, and {sup 88}Sr{sup 34}S) between 6 and 26 GHz. The molecules were produced by reacting laser ablated strontium with carbonyl sulfide (0.1% in argon). Pure rotational transitions in the ground, first and second vibrational states have been observed. The data set has enabled a multi-isotopomer fit. Born-Oppenheimer breakdown terms for both atoms have been determined. The {sup 87}Sr nuclear quadrupole coupling constant in {sup 87}Sr{sup 32}S has been determined for the first time.
The aim of this work was to study the possibility of producing a fast switching optical thin film device to react to laser radiation in the visible/near infrared region of the spectrum. The switching mechanism was to be thermally driven. A computer program was written to enable the effects of changes of the refractive index of a component of a multilayer thin film stack to be modelled. Attempts to use the phase transition in vanadium dioxide were unsuccessful because, in the spectral region of interest, the 'open-state' absorption was too great. A class of materials known as 'the bronzes' was identified as being potentially useful. Attempts were made to produce thin films of bronze compounds of vanadium, tungsten and molybdenum by the techniques of conventional thermal evaporation and laser ablation for further studies. The former technique appeared to suffer from problems of decomposition of the source material. The latter technique showed greater promise although ...
The purpose of this paper is to report the personal experience with helical CT evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with various percutaneous interventional procedures. From December 1996 to September 1998 it were examined with helical CT 41 patients (73 nodules in all) with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with percutaneous ablation therapies: conventional ethanol injection in 18 subjects (31 nodules), one-shot ethanol injection 3 (8 nodules), radiofrequency thermal ablation in 16 (25 nodules), and combined chemo embolization and ethanol injection in 4 (9 nodules). CT performed was 4-27 days after the last session, acquiring biphasic volumetric images in 14 patients and triphasic volumetric images in 27. A second treatment with subsequent CT study was performed for 28 lesions; 15 underwent 3 serial studies and 6 underwent 4 studies. Compared with pretreatment findings, the diameter was unchanged in 62% of the nodules and increased in ...
The possibility of the group preconcentration of Zr(4), Hf(4), Nb(5), and Ta(5) countercurrent liquid chromatography using extraction systems based on di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine, and tetraoctylethylenediamine (TOEDA) is studied. A method have been proposed for the group extraction of Zr(4), Hf(4), Nb(5), and Ta(5) from solution of geological samples. At the stage of the preconcentration of Zr(40, Hf(4), Nb(5) and Ta(5) with a 0.1 M solution of TOEDA in chloroform from mixture of oxalic (0.01 M) and hydrochloric (0.1 M) acids, matrix components are eluted with a flow of the mobile phase, Then, upon changing the eluent (2.0 M HCl), the four elements mentioned above are extracted to a small (7-8 mL) eluate fraction. The results of determining Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry in the international standard reference material Granite GM after their preconcentration in the system with TOEDA ...
The crystallization of calcium sulfate from aqueous solutions with NaCl is both geological and industrial interest because NaCl is the dominant solute in natural brines and many industrial fluids. Induction periods for the nucleation of calcium sulfate dihydrate were experimentally determined as a function of supersaturation in NaCl solutions from 0 to 6 m at 25 C and in 3.0-m NaCl solutions at temperatures from 25 to 90 C. Using classic nucleation theory, the interfacial tension between gypsum and 3.0-m NaCl solution was estimated to be about 39 mJ/m[sup 2] at 25 C and increases with increasing temperature (to 63 mJ/m[sup 2] at 90 C). It was observed that the induction period decreases with increasing NaCl concentrations up to 3 m and then starts to increase slightly at a given temperature and saturation state. The electrolyte effect on nucleation was proportional to the enhanced solubility of calcium sulfate dihydrate in NaCl solutions. This ...
Nitrogen ion implantation improves the wear resistance of Ti-6Al-4V alloys by forming a hard TiN superficial passivation layer. However, the thickness of the layer formed by traditional ion implantation is typically 100-200 nm and may not be adequate for many industrial applications. We propose to use radio-frequency (RF) plasma nitriding and nitrogen plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) to increase the layer thickness. By using a newly designed inductively coupled RF plasma source and applying a series of negative high voltage pulses to the Ti-6Al-4V samples. RF plasma nitriding and nitrogen PIII can be achieved. Our process yields a substantially thicker modified layer exhibiting more superior wear resistance characteristics, as demonstrated by data from micro-hardness testing, pin-on-disc wear testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The performance of our newly developed inductively ...
Nitrogen ion implantation improves the wear resistance of Ti-6Al-4V alloys by forming a hard TiN superficial passivation layer. However, the thickness of the layer formed by traditional ion implantation is typically 100-200 nm and may not be adequate for many industrial applications. We propose to use radio-frequency (RF) plasma nitriding and nitrogen plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) to increase the layer thickness. By using a newly designed inductively coupled RF plasma source and applying a series of negative high voltage pulses to the Ti-6Al-4V samples. RF plasma nitriding and nitrogen PIII can be achieved. Our process yields a substantially thicker modified layer exhibiting more superior wear resistance characteristics, as demonstrated by data from micro-hardness testing, pin-on-disc wear testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The performance of our newly developed inductively ...
Samples of air-dust-concentration- and air-dust-deposit measurements were digested by a standardized wet digestion procedure and the amounts of substances in the dust according to class I TA Luft by Atomic Emission Spectroscopy with Inductively Coupled Plasma (AES-ICP). The characteristic values for procedures according to VDI 2449, sheet 1, were determined for lead, vanadium, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel and zinc. By partial automatic control of the digestion procedure the personel expenditure of work could be reduced by a factor 13. Dust filter samples were analysed without sample preparation by evaporating the material with a solid state laser. The absolute detection limit was between 1 and 100 ng/cm"2 for the elements arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, mercury, antimony, selen and thallium. For sampling by means of the Beta-Staubmeter the relative detection limits for the laser-ICP were 10-fold lower than by use of a nebulizer. (orig.).
Homogeneous mixtures of Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9 (GDC) and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) nanopowders were successfully synthesized using induction plasma by axial injection of a solution. The resulting nanocomposite powders consisted of two kinds of nanopowders with different mass ratio of GDC/LSCF, such as 3/7 and 6/4. The morphological features, crystallinity, and the phases of the synthesized powders were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), local energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The nanopowders are almost globular in shape with a diameter smaller than 100?nm and their BET specific areas are around 20?m2?g?1. The GDC and LSCF phases are well distributed in the nanopowders. In addition, suspens...
Dose measurements were performed in several body regions of patients suffering from inflammatory degenerative diseases (humeral epicondylitis, humeroscapular periarthritis, gonarthrosis, axillary hidradenitis, rheumatoid arthritis, coxarthrosis, parotitis). The problem of the radiation induction of neoplasms is predominant concerning somatic as well as genetic risk, discussed by example of the most frequently occurring organ cancer. Compared to the rate of breast cancer in the highly developed industrial states (5,000 to 6,000 cancers/100,000 women) the 'radiation induction' calculated according to a mathematical model of ICRP 26 (1.25 cases of death for breast cancers/100,000 women following for example irradiation of epicondylitis) is behind several powers of ten and not demonstrable. The genetic radiation exposure is also low. Derived from the measurements it is wrong to give up reliable and approved indications of radiotherapy of ...
Recently there has been much concern with the ability of plants to uptake heavy metals from their surroundings. With the development of instrumental techniques with low detection limits such as inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), attention is shifting toward achieving faster and more elegant ways of oxidizing the organic material inherent in environmental samples. Closed-vessel microwave dissolution was compared with conventional methods for the determination of concentrations of cerium, samarium, europium, terbium, uranium and thorium in a series of samples from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and from fields in Idaho. The ICP-MS technique exhibited detection limits in parts-per-trillion and linear calibration plots over three orders of magnitude for the elements under study. The results obtained by using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide in a microwave digestion system for the analysis of reference materials showed close ...
Rhodopseudomonas viridis was grown in liquid culture at 30 degrees C anaerobically in light (generation time, 13 h) and under microaerophilic growth conditions in the dark (generation time, 24 h). The bacterium could be cloned at the same temperature anaerobically in light (1 week) and aerobically in the dark (3 to 4 weeks) if oxygen was limited to 0.1%. Oxygen could not be replaced by dimethyl sulfoxide, potassium nitrate, or sodium nitrite as a terminal electron acceptor. No growth was observed anaerobically in darkness or in the light when air was present. A variety of additional carbon sources were used to supplement the standard succinate medium, but enhanced stationary-phase cell density was observed only with glucose. Conditions for induction of the photosynthetic reaction center upon the change from microaerophilic to phototrophic growth conditions were investigated and optimized for a mutant functionally defective in phototrophic growth. R. viridis ...
Chromium electroplated AISI 316L stainless steel was nitrided using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) for application in the bipolar plate of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). A continuous and thin chromium nitride layer was formed at the surface of the samples after ICP nitriding for 2 h at 400 C. The interfacial contact resistance (ICR) and corrosion resistance in simulated PEMFC operating conditions were higher than the required values, while they varied with the applied dc bias voltage during the nitriding process. The ICR value decreased with an increase in bias voltage. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements showed that all of the nitrided samples had excellent corrosion resistance with a current density of {proportional_to}10{sup -7} A cm{sup -2} at the cathode. It was also found that the oxygen content at the surface was not increased after the corrosion test. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy ...
The production of cellulolytic enzymes from fungi has been extensively studied. Several mutants of Trichoderma reesei were selected. Most of the studies were carried out on T. reesei, T. viride, T. harzianum, Penicillium funiculosum, Altemaria alternata. Aspergillus phoenicis, A. ustus, A. tamarii, A. japonicus, and A. niger. T. koningii is one of the most active producers of the so-called C, factor, which is indispensable for the rapid and extensive attack on crystal-line cellulose. However, Trichodenna is known to excrete only small amounts of {beta}-glucosidase. Therefore, Trichoderma is supplemented with {beta}-glucosidase from Aspergillus to increase the saccharification rate of cellulose to glucose as the main sugar. Induction of mutations in Trichodenna spp. rather than T. viride as a tool for the enhancement of {beta}-glucosidase activity was reported. Unfortunately, T. reesei is a poor producer of {beta}-glucosidase. On the other hand, T. harzianum M{sub ...
Cell death in general can be a physiological process of cell number regulation in tissue, or it can be the result of exo or endogenous injuries, such a low-dose of radiation. Chicken B cell population in the bursa of Fabricius are very susceptible to PCD. Our present studies concern the development of radiation damage of chicken defence mechanisms. In 6 experiments pathogen free chicken were irradiated by gamma rays with the total doses of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 Gy. The induction of apoptosis was checked by Flow-cyto-meter 12 h after irradiation in bursa cell suspension. There is some increase in the number of induced apoptotic cells 12 h after irradiation at the dose 0.5-.4.0 Gy. There were no significant changes in the proportion of proliferating lymphocytes (G2 M), but cellularity decreased significantly at dose 2.0 and 4.0 Gy/12 h after irradiation. (author)
Protocols were standardized for in vitro propagation of several elite and diverse banana accessions using shoot tip explants. Tissue culture raised plants were field planted at multiple locations. Studies were undertaken for the induction of mutations using multiple shoot cultures of six selected cultivars, Shreemanti (AAA), Basrai (AAA), Lal Kela (AAA), Rasthali (AAB), Karibale Monthan (ABB) and a wild diploid (BB). These shoot cultures were irradiated at different doses of gamma rays (0-100 Gy) and subcultured thrice (up to M_1V_3) to separate shimeras, followed by induction of rooting (M_1V_4). In general, the rate of multiplication had a negative association with the dose of gamma rays. Enhanced multiplication of shoots was noticed at lower doses. The proliferation of shoots was arrested beyond 50 Gy and a dose of 70 Gy was completely lethal for all the genotypes studied. The rooted plantlets were hardened in the green house and in the ...
The NRL Long Pulse Induction Linac is being employed in a Free Electron Laser (FEL) experiment. The authors present results of beam transport and focusing experiments as well as measurements of the output radiation generated by various magnetic wigglers. The electron gun of the accelerator presently has a 17-cmdiam. cold cathode which is located in a nearly zero magnetic field (B /SUB z/ less than or equal to 5 G). The gun voltage is flat to within approx. = + or - 5% for 1.5 #mu#sec with this graphite brush cathode. The beam is focused by a series of solenoidal coils as it propagates through the 4-m-long accelerator."2 A solenoidal field which can be varied from 1-10 kG confines the beam in the FEL interaction region. Previous experiments were limited by poor beam transport, focusing, and matching into the relatively large solenoidal field in the FEL region. By smoothing the axial magnetic field profile in the accelerator and making a more adiabatic transition ...
Along with the shrinkage of LSI geometries, a higher quality of ultrapure water has been continuously required. Analytical technology for ultrapure water has also progressed before ultrapure water production technology improvements. In this study, we performed optimization of the analytical conditions for the direct analysis of acid droplets, and established an analytical technology for measurements of trace amounts of metallic impurities deposited on a wafer surface by means of Vapor Phase Decomposition (VPD)/Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). As a result, analytical technology for metallic elements of the 1x10"8 atoms/cm"2 level on wafer surface has been established. By applying analytical technology to the wafer that has been contacted with ultrapure water, a new evaluation technology for ultrapure water quality by means of wafer surface contamination has been established. We confirmed good correlations between metal contamination of the ...
Inductively coupled fluorocarbon (CF4/Ar and C4F8/Ar) plasmas were used to etch HfO2, which is a promising high-dielectric-constant material for the gate of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor devices. The etch rates of HfO2 in CF4/Ar plasmas exceeded those in C4F8/Ar plasmas. The tendency for etch rates to become higher in fluorine-rich (high F/C ratio) conditions indicates that HfO2 can be chemically etched by fluorine-containing species. In C4F8/Ar plasmas with a high Ar dilution ratio, the etch rate of HfO2 increased with increasing bias power. The etch rate of Si, however, decreasd with bias power, suggesting that the deposition of carbon-containing species increased with increasing the power and inhibited the etching of Si. The HfO2/Si selectivity monotonically increased with increasing power, then became more than 5 at the highest tested bias power. The carbon-containing species to inhibit etching of Si play an important role in enhancing the HfO2/Si ...
Background: The effective-dose method which was proposed by the ICRP (International Commission of Radiation Protection) for the estimation of risk to the general population from occupational or environmental, low-dose radiation exposure is not adequate for estimating the risk of cancer induction by radiotherapy of malignant or nonmalignant diseases. Methods:The risk of cancer induction by radiotherapy of benign diseases should be based on epidemiologic data directly derived from follow-up studies of patients who had been given radiotherapy for nonmalignant diseases in the past. Results: Risk factors were derived from epidemiologic studies of patients treated with irradiation for nonmalignant diseases to be used for selecting treatment options and optimizing treatment procedures. Conclusion: In most cases, cancer risks estimated by the effective-dose method may overestimate the true risks by one order of magnitude, yet in other cases even may ...
Background: The effective-dose method which was proposed by the ICRP (International Commission of Radiation Protection) for the estimation of risk to the general population from occupational or environmental, low-dose radiation exposure is not adequate for estimating the risk of cancer induction by radiotherapy of malignant or nonmalignant diseases. Methods:The risk of cancer induction by radiotherapy of benign diseases should be based on epidemiologic data directly derived from follow-up studies of patients who had been given radiotherapy for nonmalignant diseases in the past. Results: Risk factors were derived from epidemiologic studies of patients treated with irradiation for nonmalignant diseases to be used for selecting treatment options and optimizing treatment procedures. Conclusion: In most cases, cancer risks estimated by the effective-dose method may overestimate the true risks by one order of magnitude, yet in other cases even may ...
Elise is a heavy ion induction linear accelerator that will demonstrate beam manipulations required in a driver for inertial fusion energy. With a line charge density similar to that of heavy ion drivers, Elise will accelerate a #>=# 1 gs beam pulse of K"+ ions from an initial energy of 2 MeV to a final energy #>=# 5 MeV. In the present design, the Elise electrostatic quadrupoles (ESQ) will have a 2.33 cm radius aperture operating at #+-#59 kV. The half-lattice periods range from 21 cm to 31 cm. The entire machine will be approximately 30 m long, half of that is the induction accelerator and the remaining half is the injector (including the Marx generator) and the matching section. Elise will be built in a way that allows future expansion into the full ILSE configuration, therefore it will have an array of four ESQ focusing channels capable of transporting up to a total of 3.2 A of beam current. Elise will also have an active alignment ...
In this work, the silicon oxynitride layer was studied as a tunneling layer for non-volatile memory application by fabricating low temperature polysilicon thin film transistors on glass. Silicon wafers were oxynitrided by only nitrous oxide plasma under different radio frequency powers and plasma treatment times. Plasma oxynitridation was performed in RF plasma using inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition. The X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy was employed to analyze the atomic concentration ratio of nitrogen/oxygen in oxynitride layer. The oxynitrided layer formed under radio frequency power of 150 W and substrate temperature of 623 K was found to contain the atomic concentration ratio of nitrogen/oxygen as high as 1.57. The advantage of high nitrogen concentration in silicon oxide layer formed by using nitrous oxide plasma was investigated by capacitance-voltage measurement. The analysis of capacitance-voltage characteristics demonstrated that ...
In this work, the silicon oxynitride layer was studied as a tunneling layer for non-volatile memory application by fabricating low temperature polysilicon thin film transistors on glass. Silicon wafers were oxynitrided by only nitrous oxide plasma under different radio frequency powers and plasma treatment times. Plasma oxynitridation was performed in RF plasma using inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition. The X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy was employed to analyze the atomic concentration ratio of nitrogen/oxygen in oxynitride layer. The oxynitrided layer formed under radio frequency power of 150 W and substrate temperature of 623 K was found to contain the atomic concentration ratio of nitrogen/oxygen as high as 1.57. The advantage of high nitrogen concentration in silicon oxide layer formed by using nitrous oxide plasma was investigated by capacitance-voltage measurement. The analysis of capacitance-voltage characteristics demonstrated that ...
The CYP1A (EROD)-inducing potencies of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 3,3minutes or feet,4,4minutes or feet,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) and benzo(k)fluoranthene (B(k)F) were studied in avian embryo livers. TCDD and PCB126 proved to be much more potent as inducers in the chicken than in the other species examined. This finding is consistent with a considerably higher sensitivity of the chicken compared with a number of other avian species to the embryotoxic effects of these compounds. Furthermore, the relative potencies of the tested Ah receptor agonists as CYP1A inducers differed substantially between species. B(k)F and PCB126 showed similar induction potencies in domestic duck embryos, whereas PCB126 is much more potent than B(k)F in the chicken. Also, the potency of PCB126,relative to that of TCDD, was much lower in quail embryo liver in vitro than in chicken embryo liver. Thus, there are large interspecific differences in birds in the sensitivity ...
To identify radio-protective agent candidate among medicinal plants and to elucidate the mechanism of action of the candidate material by using modern biochemical and molecular biological methods, we screened radio-protective activity among 48 medicinal plants. Seven samples showed above 20% protective activities against oxidative cell damage: Euryale ferox, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Eucomia ulmoides, Paeonia suffruticosa, Spirodela polyrrhiza, and Nelumbo nucifera. We also screened for oxidative stress sensitizing activity among other 51 medicinal plants. Among those samples, 11 samples showed good sensitizing effect; Melia azedarach, Agastache rugosa, Catalpa ovata, Prunus persica, Sinomenium acutum, Pulsatilla koreana, Oldenlandia diffusa, Anthriscus sylvestris, Schizandra chinensis, Gleditsia sinensis, and Cridium officinale. We also reported the radio-protective effect of DTT. The treatment of DTT increased cell survival after gamma-irradiation, decreased in the ...
2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) has been deposited onto the surface of silicon substrate (thickness = 500 ?m) using plasma polymerization technique. Polymerization process was carried out in an in-house developed inductively coupled plasma polymerization setup. The depositions were carried out using RF power supply (13.56 MHz) at power of 75 W for 10 and 40 min. The RF supply was coupled to the inductance through a matching network. The effect of plasma polymerization (surface grafting) on the degree of surface modification has been investigated. The chemical changes on the polymer backbone are followed from the results of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which show the peaks corresponding to the functional groups of the HEMA polymerized onto the silicon surface. The morphology of the modified surfaces has also been investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic ...
A new method for the determination of {sup 237}Np and Pu isotopes in large soil samples has been developed that provides enhanced uranium removal to facilitate assay by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This method allows rapid preconcentration and separation of plutonium and neptunium in large soil samples for the measurement of {sup 237}Np and Pu isotopes by ICP-MS. {sup 238}U can interfere with {sup 239}Pu measurement by ICP-MS as {sup 238}UH{sup +} mass overlap and {sup 237}Np via {sup 238}U peak tailing. The method provides enhanced removal of uranium by separating Pu and Np initially on TEVA Resin, then transferring Pu to DGA resin for additional purification. The decontamination factor for removal of uranium from plutonium for this method is greater than 1 x 10{sup 6}. Alpha spectrometry can also be applied so that the shorter-lived {sup 238}Pu isotope can be measured successfully. {sup 239}Pu, {sup 242}Pu and {sup 237}Np were measured ...
This study develops a framework for analysis and assessment of the cost of ownership and use of major cooking appliances. This involved an assessment of the monetary cost as well as the cost of human resources required to maintain and operate cooking systems. The goal was to provide information useful in making purchase decisions within a framework that can be used to organize information about cost beyond the initial purchase price. Five cooktops - conventional electric oil, induction, solid element with thermostatic control, solid element with thermal limiter, and gas - and a microwave oven were used to develop a decision-making matrix. Results were used to assign weights in the matrix used to develop a 10-point scale that represented the total cost of owning and using a cooking system in food preparation. Based on the matrix, the microwave oven received the highest score followed by gas, conventional electric coil, solid element with thermostatic control, solid ...
Two plasma chemistries, i.e., CH_4/H_2/Ar and Cl_2/Ar, were compared for the etching of InGaP, AlInP, and AlGaP under inductively coupled plasma (ICP) conditions. While the etching with CH_4/H_2/Ar discharges appears to be ion driven, Cl_2/Ar discharges showed an additional strong chemical enhancement. The highest etch rate (#approx#1 #mu#m/min) for InGaP was achieved at high ICP source power (#>=#750 W) with the Cl_2/Ar chemistry. Cl_2/Ar discharges provided very smooth surfaces in all three materials with root-mean-square roughness measured by atomic force microscopy around 2 nm. This result may be due to the efficient ion-assisted product desorption in this chemistry. The etched near-surface region of InGaP (#approx#100 Angstrom) with Cl_2/Ar maintained almost the same stoichiometry as that of the unetched control. By contrast, the CH_4/H_2/Ar plasma chemistry produced somewhat rougher surfaces and depletion of phosphorous (P) from the surface of InGaP. ...
We reported the radio-protective effect of DTT. The treatment of DTT increased cell survival after gamma-irradiation, decreased in the frequencies of micronucleus, and reduction in DNA fragmentation and apoptotic cells. Induction of apoptosis after UV-C irradiation was revealed by the changes in the relative cell death, increase in the relative amount of apoptotic cells, and the induction of DNA fragmentation. About 100 medicinal plants were purchased and methanol extract samples were prepared. Radio-protective and radio-sensitizing activities of these samples were screened. Seven samples showed above 20% radio-protective activities: Salvia miltiorrhiza, Areca catechu, Cornus officinalis, Alpiniae officinari rhizoma, Meliae fructus, Alpiniae katsumadaii semen, Betulae cortex. Acanthopanax sessiliflous showed the highest radio-sensitizing effect and 10 other samples revealed moderate activities: Melia japonica, Agastache rugosa, Platycodon ...
Two series of diffusion tests were performed to examine the degradation of dichloromethane (DCM) as it diffuses through clay. The first series showed the use of a synthetic leachate with no significant initial bacterial population diffusing through a plug of intact clay; there was an induction period of 95--135 d, during which diffusion was as expected in the absence of degradation, followed by a second stage, where degradation occurred with an apparent half-life of less than 55 d at a temperature of 24 C. The second series of tests examined the diffusion of an actual leachate from the Keele Valley Landfill (KVL) (which provided both nutrients and a source of bacteria), through a compacted clay. In these tests, the induction period was reduced to 40--60 d, after which the apparent half-life was 20 d or less at 27 C. The diffusion coefficient for DCM was approximately 8 {times} 10{sup {minus}10} m{sup 2}/s, with partitioning coefficient K{sub d} ...
An electric propulsion concept suitable for delivering heavy payloads from low earth orbit (LEO) to high energy earth orbit is proposed. The system consists of a number of pulsed inductive plasma thrusters powered by a 100 kWe space nuclear power system. The pulsed plasma thruster is a relatively simple electrodeless device. It also exhibits adequate conversion to thrust power in the desired I sub sp regime of 1500 to 3000 seconds for optimal payload transfer from low earth to high earth orbit. Because of these features and the fact that the nuclear power unit will be capable of delivering sustained high power levels throughout the duration of any given mission, the system presented appears to be a very promising propulsion candidate for advanced orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) applications. An OTV, which makes use of this propulsion system and which has been designed to lift a 9000-lb payload into geosynchronous earth orbit, (GEO) is also examined.
A study of stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of Zircaloy-4 in chloride-containing aqueous methanolic media is presented. The influence of water content is investigated in the 5-100 vol. % water range. The dependence of stress corrosion cracking on potential is evidenced. A close correlation is established with pitting susceptibility determined by a statistical analysis of induction times. A correlation with the repassivation potential is observed in the water-rich solutions. In the low water content solutions, two repassivation curves are determined according to the experimental technique. Pit morphology and fractography show a transition from aqueous to organic media. (author).
Recent research work on adjustable speed pumped storage plants conducted in Japan, the USA and Europe suggests that they have many advantages over fixed-speed plants, and can contribute to power system regulation even in pump mode. This paper describes two types of static frequency converter for such pumped storage plants, especially those with greatly fluctuating heads. The design characteristics and operation of the doubly fed induction machine and the synchronous machine with DC link converter are set out and the devices compared. (UK)
Solenoid transport of high current, heavy ion beams is considered for several stages of a heavy ion fusion driver. In general this option is more efficient than magnetic quadrupole transport at sufficiently low kinetic energy and/or large e/m, and for this reason it has been employed in electron induction linacs. Ideally an ion beam would be transported in a state of Brillouin flow, i.e. cold in the transverse plane and spinning at one half the cyclotron frequency. The design of appropriate solenoids and the equilibrium and stability of transported ion beams are discussed. An outline of application to a fusion driver is also presented.
Introduction Gastrointestinal bleeding is a common life-threatening problem, causing significant mortality, costs and resource allocation. Its management requires a dynamic multidisciplinary approach that directs diagnostic and therapeutic priorities appropriately. Materials and methods Articles published within the past 15 years, related to gastrointestinal bleeding, were reviewed through MEDLINE search, in addition to current guidelines and standards. Results Decisions of ICU admission and blood transfusion must be individualized based on the extent of bleeding, hemodynamic profile and comorbidities of the patient and the risk of rebleeding. A secure airway may be required to optimize oxygenation and to prevent aspiration. Doses of induction agents must be reduced due to the changes in v...
We present a study of the interaction between Josephson junctions in circular superconducting rings and non-classical microwaves, treating both quantum mechanically. A Hamiltonian that describes both inductive and capacitive coupling between the two systems is derived within the external field approximation. Other Hamiltonians which go beyond the external field approximation, and describe explicitly the interaction of the quantum circuit that produces the non-classical microwaves with the Josephson junction circuit, are also presented. A comparison between current experiments which use classical electromagnetic fields and the proposed experiments that use non-classical microwaves, is made. (orig.) With 6 figs., 32 refs.
Fifty patients scheduled to undergo IVF received a standard anesthetic of fentanyl and propofol for induction, followed by propofol infusion, with Bispectral index values and modified Ramsey sedation scores recorded at 5-minute intervals for the duration of anesthesia care. Moderate sedation was found only transiently during the first 5-10 minutes of the oocyte retrieval, but thereafter the level of sedation increased, with deep sedation and general anesthesia measured in all patients as determined by both the Bispectral index scores and lack of response to painful stimulation.
Methods are described for the production of callus and subsequent shoot and root induction and multiplication using stamen filaments, nodes of young stems of mature trees or cotyledon petioles. A high frequency of contamination occurred using nodal sections from mature trees, whereas up to 100% sterility was obtained with cotyledons and stamens. The rooting % of shoot cultures from nodes or stamen callus was low compared with that of shoots from seedling callus. Considerable variation was observed between clones from different trees in their ability to produce shoots and roots. 27 references
Purpose: To prevent evaporization stills against corrosion due to radioactive liquid wastes. Constitution: Microwaves are supplied from a microwave generator by way of a wave guide tube and through a microwave permeation window to the inside of an evaporatization still. A matching device is attached to the wave guide tube for transmitting the microwaves in order to match the impedance. When the microwaves are supplied to the inside of the evaporization still, radioactive liquid wastes supplied from a liquid feed port by way of a spray tower to the inside of the evaporization still is heated and evaporated by the induction heating of the microwaves. (Seki, T.).
This review of methods and designs of transducers for nondestructive determination of the magnitude and nature of the anisotropy of magnetic properties (permeability, induction, coercive force, energy loss due to magnetization reversal) in local portions of ferromagnetic sheet and, in some cases, in individual parts of products. The need to measure the anisotropy is considered for two angles: for the case when the anisotropy is due to the crystallographic texture and determines the main operating characteristics of widely used sheet such as electrical steel and automobile body sheet, and for crystallographically isotropic materials, in which the anisotropy of magnetic properties as a result of mechanical stresses is a measure for determining the internal stresses.
Titanium metal-matrix composites (MMC) are prime candidate materials for aerospace applications be-cause of their excellent high-temperature longitudinal strength and stiffness and low density compared with nickel- and steel-base materials. This article examines the steps GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) has taken to develop an induction plasma deposition (IPD) processing method for the fabrication of Ti6242/SiC MMC material. Information regarding process methodology, microstructures, and mechani-cal properties of consolidated MMC structures will be presented. The work presented was funded under the GE-Aircraft Engine IR & D program.
Studies on pupal irradiation of Earias vittella Fabricius, were undertaken to determine the optimum dose for sterile and competitive adults. Late pupae were irradiated with gamma radiation doses ranging from 150 to 300 Gy. Emerging adults were normal and without malformation. When males that emerged from irradiated pupae were crossed with normal female, fecundity as well as longevity was comparable to control, but there was drastic reduction in percent egg hatch in all the treatments. However, when females emerging from irradiated pupae were crossed with normal male, there was reduction in the fecundity as well as fertility and this effect was dose dependent. (author).
Several compounds were evaluated in nonhuman primates for their potential to induce neoplasms, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The compounds can be classified into three groups: food contaminants, model rodent carcinogens, and nitrosamines. All three compounds in the food contaminants group, namely, aflatoxin B1, sterigmatocystin, and methylazoxymethanol acetate, induced HCC. None of the model rodent carcinogens tested consistently induced HCC in rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys. Three of four nitrosamines evaluated induced HCC in rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys. One nitrosamine, diethylnitrosamine, is a predictable and potent inducer of HCC and is useful for establishment of a nonhuman primate model for numerous oncologic studies.
Several fast neutral pressure gauges have been installed on NSTX [National Spherical Torus Experiment] to measure the vessel and divertor pressure during inductive and coaxial helicity injected (CHI) plasma operations. Modified, PDX [Poloidal Divertor Experiment]-type Penning gauges have been installed on the upper and lower divertors. Neutral pressure measurements during plasma operations from these and from two shielded fast Micro ion gauges at different toroidal locations on the vessel mid-plane are described. A new unshielded ion gauge, referred to as the In-vessel Neutral Pressure (INP) gauge is under development.
As a part of the program at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in induction-linac free-electron laser (IFEL) research, the authors are conducting a variety of activities addressing the unique requirements imposed on IFEL wiggler systems. They are actively developing improved DC iron-core electromagnetic wiggler designs to attain higher peak fields, greater tunability, and lower random error levels. They are pursuing specialized control systems, such as magnetic-field and beam-position controllers, which can relax requirements on the wiggler itself. They are also pursuing basic studies to establish the effect of radiation on permanent magnets.
As a part of the program at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in induction-linac free-electron laser (IFEL) research, we are conducting a variety of activities addressing the unique requirements imposed on IFEL wiggler systems. We are actively developing improved dc iron-core electromagnetic wiggler designs to attain higher peak fields, greater tunability, and lower random error levels. We are pursuing specialized control systems, such as magnetic-field and beam-position controllers, which can relax requirements on the wiggler itself. We are also pursuing basic studies to establish the effect of radiation on permanent magnets.
Earlier work carried out on the hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel engine indicates that knock sets in when the inducted hydrogen exceeds about 60% of input energy with a pilot quantity of 30% of full load diesel amount. Some of the findings of an investigation into knock-free performance of a hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel engine with the addition of a diluent-carbon dioxide are presented. The effects of carbon dioxide on the suppression of knocking in the hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel engine and on the improvement in the knock limited power output are described.
Drawing on work in epistemology and the philosophy of science, this paper seeks to provide very general reasons for why a comparative perspective needs to be applied to the inferential procedures of research methodologies where these concern the issue of justifying knowledge claims. In particular, the paper explores the role of culture on a number of important patterns of reasoning that figure in inferential arguments in research methodologies. The patterns examined are induction, both enumerative and analytical, hypothetico-deductive reasoning, and abductive inference. In each case it is argued that substantive theories about the world, including cultures, significantly affect inferential procedures. Examples chosen to illustrate this in more detail mostly reflect the impact of Confucian ...
Isotopic analyses of radioactive materials such as irradiated nuclear fuel are of major importance for the optimization of the nuclear fuel cycle and for safeguard aspects. Among the mass-spectrometric techniques available, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and thermal ionization mass spectrometry are the most frequently applied methods for nuclear applications. Because of the low detection limits, the ability to analyze the isotopic composition of the elements and the applicability of the techniques for measuring stable as well as radioactive nuclides with similar sensitivity, both mass-spectrometric techniques are an excellent amendment to classical radioactivity counting methods. The paper describes selected applications of multicollector ICP-MS in combination with c...
Male meadow voles maintained in a long photoperiod (LP) from birth have heavier brains than do females, but in short photoperiods (SP) this sex dimorphism is absent. Testosterone propionate (TP) administration on the second day of postnatal life produced significant increases in brain weight of LP but not SP females at 35 days of age. Short daylengths reduce the responsiveness of the meadow vole nervous system to the masculinizing effects of perinatal testosterone and may, in part, mediate the seasonally reduced sex difference in brain weight. PMID:8446686
A high-power microwave Free Electron Laser (FEL) experiment has been performed to study the inherent electron beam bunching that occurs in the FEL interaction. An induction linac delivered a 1 kA, 2.2 MeV electron beam to a FEL amplifier. In the process of amplifying the input signal of frequency 35 GHz to power levels of the order of 10 MW, the electron beam was bunched by the ponderomotive force. In this paper we describe the FEL experiment and the optical technique that was used to observe the bunches. Their properties as functions of the basic FEL parameters are discussed. copyright 1996 American Institute of Physics.
The mutual inductance between parallel transmission lines influences the locating of the transmission line faults. A fault location algorithm for parallel lines developed in this paper takes into account the magnetic coupling between parallel lines. The paper presents a detailed description of the developed algorithm and test results performed on a simplified real transmission line. The obtained error is less than 0.5 percent in most cases. Also, the developed algorithm is not sensitive to typical fault parameters, such as: resistance, type, location, and incidence angle. 7 refs, 4 figs, 12 tabs
We report the case of a 22-year-old man with Ewing's sarcoma who attained a complete remission (CR) after combination radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Secondary acute lymphoblastic leukemia with multiple cytogenetic abnormalities involving chromosome 5 and 7 developed 16 years later. The patient underwent induction chemotherapy and entered a CR. Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation from a matched sibling was performed successfully and he is in complete remission of both ALL and Ewing's sarcoma. (Copyright (c) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam. All rights reserved.)
A new simple multi-well plate-based assay to determine monocyte differentiation-inducing activity was developed. It is based on the increase of macrophage adherence after the induction of monocyte differentiation. The assay was conducted using a human monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1, treated with either 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate or cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma. This method is sensitive and easy to perform, especially in case of analyzing a large number of samples. PMID:17920620
A new simple multi-well plate-based assay to determine monocyte differentiation-inducing activity was developed. It is based on the increase of macrophage adherence after the induction of monocyte differentiation. The assay was conducted using a human monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1, treated with either 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate or cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-? and interferon-?. This method is sensitive and easy to perform, especially in case of analyzing a large number of samples.
The effect of 50 Hz and 60 Hz (frequencies of current distribution) and 20 kHz to 50 kHz (frequencies of induction cooktop) magnetic interference on implanted pacemakers have been assessed with the present generation of device technology. Sixty patients implanted in 1998 and 1999 with dual chamber pacemakers from 9 different manufacturers were monitored with telemetry while passing through, and standing between a system of two coils. They generated a 50 Hz or a 60 Hz magnetic field at 50 microT. Then, patients used a cooktop at different power. The recordings were made with the standard setting of "medically correct" sensing parameters chosen for the patients. Then pacemakers were reprogrammed to the unipolar mode, with the highest atrial (A) and ventricular (V) sensitivity that did not induce muscular inhibition while moving. Between each exposure (50 Hz, 60 Hz or 20 kHz to 50 kHz), the pacemaker programmation was controlled. At the end of the tests, pacemakers ...
The Segmented Rail Phased Induction Motor (SERAPHIM) is a compact, pulsed linear induction motor (LIM) offering a unique capability for very high speed train propulsion. It uses technology developed for the Sandia coilgun, an electromagnetic launcher designed to accelerate projectiles to several kilometers per second. Both aluminum cylinders and plates were accelerated to a kilometer per second (Mach 3) by passing through a sequence of coils which were energized at the appropriate time. Although this technology was developed for ultra-high velocity, it can be readily adapted to train propulsion for which, at sea level, the power required to overcome air resistance limits the operational speed to a more modest 300 mph. Here, the geometry is reversed. The coils are on the vehicle and the ``projectiles`` are fixed along the roadbed. SERAPHIM operates not by embedding flux in a conductor, but by excluding it. In this propulsion scheme, pairs of ...
High quality single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) have been synthesized at large scales by the method of direct evaporation of carbon black and metallic catalyst mixtures, using induction thermal plasma technology. The processing system consists mainly of an RF plasma torch, which generates a plasma jet of extremely high temperature (?15 000 K), with a high energy density and abundance of reactive species (ions and neutrals). With the present reactor system, it has been demonstrated that carbon soot product which contains approximately 40 wt% of SWNT can be continuously synthesized at the high production rate of ?100 g h-1. The processing parameters involved have been examined closely in order to evaluate their individual influences on SWNT synthesis. The results have shown that the quality and purity of the SWNT produced are critically affected by the grade of carbon black, the plasma gas composition and the metallic catalyst employed. Theoretical calculations, ...
Peroxisome proliferating agents (PPAs) are a structurally diverse group of chemicals that include environmental chemical contaminants such as certain chlorinated herbicides, solvents and plasticizers. PPAs have previously been shown to induce anti-trout laruci acid hydroxylase immunoreactive proteins in bluegill and catfish. In this investigation, induction of lauric acid hydroxylase activity and immunoreactive proteins was confirmed, and the mass spectral analysis of specific hydroxylation products was performed in order to identify possible species-specific differences in fatty acid metabolism. Male bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were administered clofibrate or ciprofibrate 48 hr prior to hepatic or trunk kidney (catfish only) microsome preparation. While no significant differences were observed in male catfish, male bluegill had significant decreases in hematocrit and plasma protein indicating hemodilution due to ...
The /sup 13/C-AP breath test is shown to be a convenient, noninvasive method to monitor velocity and capacity of P450-dependent AP N-demethylation in infancy and childhood. According to /sup 13/C-AP breath tests, neonates have a very low capacity to eliminate /sup 13/CO/sub 2/, which is only 15 to 21% of the activity in adults. During the first year of life AP N-demethylation increases to reach its maximum at about 2 years; afterwards a slight decrease occurs. In 25 neonates exposed prenatally to different antiepileptic drugs /sup 13/C-AP breath test was efficiently used to prove that cytochrome AP N-demethylation was considerably stimulated. After primidone/phenobarbitone, especially in combination with phenytoin, /sup 13/C elimination reaches and even surpasses the range for older children. Valproate exposure during fetal life is not consistently followed by a significant increase in AP N-demethylation. The enzyme induction demonstrated by /sup 13/C-AP breath ...
Purpose To investigate the sensitivity and accuracy of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for restaging the mediastinum after induction chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods One hundred twenty-four consecutive patients with tissue-proven stage IIIA-N2 disease who were treated with induction chemotherapy and who had undergone mediastinal restaging by EBUS-TBNA were reviewed. On the basis of computed tomography, 58 patients were classified as having stable disease and 66 were judged to have had a partial response. All patients subsequently underwent thoracotomy with attempted curative resection and a lymph node dissection regardless of EBUS-TBNA findings. Results Persistent nodal metastases were detected by using EBUS-TBNA in 89 patients (72%). Of the 35 patients in whom no metastases were assessed by EBUS-TBNA, 28 were found to have residual stage IIIA-N2 ...
1-Furan-2-yl-3-pyridin-2-yl-propenone (FPP-3) is an anti-inflammatory agent with a propenone moiety and chemically synthesized recently. In this study, we examined the chemopreventive effect of FPP-3 on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced genotoxicity in MCF-7 cells. FPP-3 reduced the formation of the DMBA-DNA adduct. DMBA-induced CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 gene expression and enzyme activity were inhibited by FPP-3. It inhibited DMBA-induced aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transactivation and DMBA-inducible nuclear localization of the AhR. Induction of detoxifying phase II genes by chemopreventive agents represents a coordinated protective response against oxidative stress and neoplastic effects of carcinogens. Transcription factor NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates antioxidant response element (ARE) of phase II detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (QR). FPP-3 increased the expression ...
Over the past few years there has been a great deal of interest in reducing experimental systems to a lab-on-a-chip scale. There has been particular interest in conducting high-throughput screening studies using microscale devices, for example in stem cell research. Microwells have emerged as the structure of choice for such tests. Most manufacturing approaches for microwell fabrication are based on photolithography, soft lithography, and etching. However, some of these approaches require extensive equipment, lengthy fabrication process, and modifications to the existing microwell patterns are costly. Here we show a convenient, fast, and low-cost method for fabricating microwells for cell culture applications by laser ablation of a polyester film coated with silicone glue. Microwell diameter was controlled by adjusting the laser power and speed, and the well depth by stacking several layers of film. By using this setup, a device containing hundreds of microwells ...
In order to fabricate high temperature superconducting tapes for power applications, the authors have analyzed different buffer layer architectures grown on textured Ni substrates suitable for YBCO deposition. Due to its optimal lattice matching the studied structures present as top layer a CeO{sub 2} film. The deposition of CeO{sub 2} on Ni substrates was performed by pulsed laser ablation and by e-beam evaporation at different temperatures. The films obtained by the two deposition techniques have not optimal structural properties, having a polycrystalline component. The misorientation of CeO{sub 2} is probably due to the formation of NiO at the interface between the film and the substrate during the deposition process even if no oxygen is introduced. In order to prevent Ni oxidation an intermediate 2000 {angstrom} Pd thick film was deposited by e-beam. Furthermore, the lattice mismatch between Pd and CeO{sub 2} is smaller than that between Ni and CeO{sub 2}. The ...
The Siberian Altai covers about 70% of the area of all south Siberian glaciers, which provide fresh water to the upper tributaries of the Ob and Yenisey rivers. The observed air temperature has increased by 1.2 deg. C over northern Eurasia during the last 120 years, affecting the degradation of the Siberian Altai glaciers. In this study, we estimated glacier area changes in the Aktru River basin (44.8 km{sup 2}), located in the central Altai mountains. We used the 1952, 1966, 1975 and 2006 remote sensed images with 0.6-3.0 m spatial resolution (aerial photographs, Corona and PRISM satellite images) and differential GPS (DGPS) data. From 1952 to 2006, the total glacier area in the Aktru basin shrank by 7.2% (1.2 km{sup 2}). During the last three decades, the rate of glacier area loss increased by a factor of 1.8, thus resembling trends in other mountain systems of Eurasia (Alps, Tien Shan). The glacier area changes were caused mainly by increase of summer air temperature by 1.03 deg. C ...
The Siberian Altai covers about 70% of the area of all south Siberian glaciers, which provide fresh water to the upper tributaries of the Ob and Yenisey rivers. The observed air temperature has increased by 1.2 deg. C over northern Eurasia during the last 120 years, affecting the degradation of the Siberian Altai glaciers. In this study, we estimated glacier area changes in the Aktru River basin (44.8 km"2), located in the central Altai mountains. We used the 1952, 1966, 1975 and 2006 remote sensed images with 0.6-3.0 m spatial resolution (aerial photographs, Corona and PRISM satellite images) and differential GPS (DGPS) data. From 1952 to 2006, the total glacier area in the Aktru basin shrank by 7.2% (1.2 km"2). During the last three decades, the rate of glacier area loss increased by a factor of 1.8, thus resembling trends in other mountain systems of Eurasia (Alps, Tien Shan). The glacier area changes were caused mainly by increase of summer air temperature by 1.03 deg. C (from 1951 ...
Full text: Based on experience with nuclear material confiscated in Hungary from illicit trafficking activities in the nineties it has been decided that traditional gamma-spectrometry should be complemented by destructive analytical techniques. The 17/1996 (I. 31.) Korm. Governmental Decree delegated the identification, categorization and characterization tasks to the Institute of Isotopes, Budapest. Routine gamma-spectrometric methods have been further developed aiming at the i) age (production date) determination of seized samples and complete (nondismountable) uranium-bearing items (such as fresh fuel bundles and fission chambers) by HRGS technique, ii) improvement of measurement accuracy and reliability. Starting in 2005 mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) and scanning electron microscopy have been implemented to characterize nuclear samples in more detail and to analyze environmental samples both for isotopic and elemental composition focusing on long-lived radioactive isotopes including ...
This report is the 1992 annual progress report for the Energy Conversion and Storage Program, a part of the Energy and Environment Division of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Work described falls into three broad areas: electrochemistry; chemical applications; and materials applications. The Energy Conversion and Storage Program applies principles of chemistry and materials science to solve problems in several areas: (1) production of new synthetic fuels, (2) development of high-performance rechargeable batteries and fuel cells, (3) development of advanced thermochemical processes for energy conversion, (4) characterization of complex chemical processes and chemical species, and (5) study and application of novel materials for energy conversion and transmission. Projects focus on transport-process principles, chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, separation processes, organic and physical chemistry, novel materials, and advanced methods of analysis. Electrochemistry research aims to ...
The Energy Conversion and Storage Program applies chemistry and materials science principles to solve problems in (1) production of new synthetic fuels, (2) development of high-performance rechargeable batteries and fuel cells, (3) development of advanced thermochemical processes for energy conversion, (4) characterization of complex chemical processes, and (5) application of novel materials for energy conversion and transmission. Projects focus on transport-process principles, chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, separation processes, organic and physical chemistry, novel materials, and advanced methods of analysis. Electrochemistry research aims to develop advanced power systems for electric vehicle and stationary energy storage applications. Topics include identification of new electrochemical couples for advanced rechargeable batteries, improvements in battery and fuel-cell materials, and the establishment of engineering principles applicable to electrochemical energy storage and ...
The Energy Conversion and Storage Program applies chemistry and materials science principles to solve problems in (1) production of new synthetic fuels, (2) development of high-performance rechargeable batteries and fuel cells, (3) development of advanced thermochemical processes for energy conversion, (4) characterization of complex chemical processes, and (5) application of novel materials for energy conversion and transmission. Projects focus on transport-process principles, chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, separation processes, organic and physical chemistry, novel materials, and advanced methods of analysis. Electrochemistry research aims to develop advanced power systems for electric vehicle and stationary energy storage applications. Topics include identification of new electrochemical couples for advanced rechargeable batteries, improvements in battery and fuel-cell materials, and the establishment of engineering principles applicable to electrochemical energy storage and ...
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy was selected by NASA as part of the ChemCam instrument package for the Mars Science Laboratory rover to be launched in 2009. ChemCam's Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy instrument will ablate surface coatings from materials and measure the elemental composition of underlying rocks and soils at distances from 1 up to 10 m. The purpose of our studies is to develop an analytical methodology enabling identification and quantitative analysis of these geological materials in the context of the ChemCam's Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy instrument performance. The study presented here focuses on several terrestrial rock samples which were analyzed by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy at an intermediate stand-off distance (3 m) and in an atmosphere similar to the Martian one (9 mbar CO{sub 2}). The experimental results highlight the matrix effects and the measurement inaccuracies due to the noise accumulated ...
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy was selected by NASA as part of the ChemCam instrument package for the Mars Science Laboratory rover to be launched in 2009. ChemCam's Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy instrument will ablate surface coatings from materials and measure the elemental composition of underlying rocks and soils at distances from 1 up to 10 m. The purpose of our studies is to develop an analytical methodology enabling identification and quantitative analysis of these geological materials in the context of the ChemCam's Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy instrument performance. The study presented here focuses on several terrestrial rock samples which were analyzed by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy at an intermediate stand-off distance (3 m) and in an atmosphere similar to the Martian one (9 mbar CO2). The experimental results highlight the matrix effects and the measurement inaccuracies due to the noise accumulated when low signals are ...
The quantitative determination of oxide concentration by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy is relevant in various fields of applications (e.g.: analysis of ores, concrete, slag). Calibration free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and the multivariate calibration are among the methods employed for quantitative concentration analysis of complex materials. We measured the intensity of neutral and ionized atomic emission lines of oxide materials by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and we modified the calibration free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy method to increase the accuracy. The concentration of oxides was obtained by using stoichiometric relations. Sample materials were prepared from oxide powder (Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}, MgO, CaO) by mixing and pressing. The concentration was 9.8-33.3 wt.% Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}, 7.6-33.3 wt.% MgO and 33.3-81.2 wt.% CaO for different samples. Nd:YAG laser (wavelength 1064 nm, pulse duration {approx} 6 ns) ablation was ...
Introduction The progressive growth of malignancies is accompanied by a decline in the immune response through mechanisms which are poorly understood. Apoptosis and induction of inflammation by tumor released cytokines as tumor escape mechanisms have been proposed to play an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Methods Expression of Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-?) was analyzed in colorectal cancer specimen and the cancer cell line HT-29 by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. TNF-? expression on protein and mRNA level were correlated with clinical characteristics and impact on survival. TNFR-1 was co-labelled with TNF-? and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in immunofluorescence double staining experiments. Results: 94% (n?=?98/104) of the patients with CRC expressed TNF-?. High TNF-? express...
PurposeThe behavior of trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) during maxillofacial surgeries has not yet been sufficiently studied and knowledge of its behavior is limited to some case reports. The present study aimed to assess the occurrence of TCR in bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy and to determine the possible effect of Gow-Gates block on its incidence. Materials and MethodsTwenty candidates for bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (included were American Society of Anesthesiologists I Class III patients with a prognathism of 3 to 5 mm) were given routine general anesthesia after at least 12 hours of fasting. All patients received Gow-Gates mandibular nerve block on 1 random side (case ramus; the other side was used as the control) after induction of general anesthesia before surger...
In this article, a method of producing elastic ferromagnetic composite containing particles of chemical pure iron with sizes of 0.10-0.15 mm was described. The particles were dispersed in an elastic matrix of an elastic silicone rubber. The filling factor of composite by ferromagnetic particles and porous factors were changed in the range from 0.15 to 0.45. The samples of the obtained composite were placed in the magnetic field with induction of 0-8 T, produced by the Bitter-type magnet. The longitudinal magnetostriction of samples was measured by using a coaxial capacitor with a movable plate. It was found that the maximal relative elongation of samples was 4.81% and hysteresis of magnetostriction and also remanent magnetostriction amounted to 1.08%. A slow decay of remanent magnetostriction up to 0.14% in 10{sup 5} s was also observed.
The presence of washed or unwashed cellophane alone or together with a bleomycin, mitomycin C or hydrochlorothiazide, ('Esidrex') showed no appreciable effect on survival of either unirradiated or irradiated conidia. Irradiation for a period of 20min reduced the survival of conidia to 20%. The growth of irradiated conidia in the presence of bleomycin, mitomycin C or Esidrex is associated with a 2- to 3-fold increase in the frequency of gene convertants, but was not accompanied by an increase in point mutants. When conidia were grown on cellophane but otherwise treated as before the frequency of gene convertants was increased 8-fold, but induction of point mutants was negligible. This effect was the same for irradiated and unirradiated conidia. The environment created by the cellophane in contract with the medium appears to affect the action of each of the three compounds synergistically. (author).
We consider a SQUID ring inductively coupled to an electromagnetic field mode, both treated quantum mechanically. We demonstrate a method for creating a maximally entangled state between the ring and the field mode. Our method utilises a non-adiabatic external magnetic flux pulse to move into and out of a transition region. Hence, our approach is fundamentally different to techniques based on Landau-Zener tunnelling that can also be used to achieve similar results. Our analysis is extended to include the effects of coupling the system to a dissipative environment. With this model we show that although such an environment makes a noticeable difference to the time evolution of the system, it need not destroy the entanglement of this coupled system over time scales required for quantum technologies.
Inductive electromagnetic launchers, or coilguns, use discrete solenoidal coils to accelerate a coaxial conductive armature. To date, Sandia has been using an internally developed code, SLINGSHOT, as a point-mass lumped circuit element simulation tool for modeling coilgun behavior for design and verification purposes. This code has shortcomings in terms of accurately modeling gun performance under stressful electromagnetic propulsion environments. To correct for these limitations, it was decided to attempt to closely couple two Sandia simulation codes, Xyce and ALEGRA, to develop a more rigorous simulation capability for demanding launch applications. This report summarizes the modifications made to each respective code and the path forward to completing interfacing between them.
An attempt is made to induce in mud crab (Scylla serrata) epileptiform activities that resemble the generalized epileptic seizures. Cerebral ganglion of crab was exposed in situ, to a convulsant drug pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) 100?mM, for induction of seizures. Also, crabs were pretreated with antiepileptic drug viz sodium valproate (120??mol/l) to inhibit epileptiform activities. The surface electrical discharges of cerebral ganglion were recorded using Unkelscope (MIT, USA) in control as well as experimental animals. The cerebral ganglion of crab showed a pattern of high cerebral electrical discharges after PTZ treatment compared to control. The sodium valproate promoted sedative action in control and prevented PTZ-mediated epileptiform discharges. Glutamate and GABA contents in cerebral g...
This paper presents a new method to improve sensorless performance of matrix converter drives using a parameter estimation scheme. To improve low-speed sensorless performance, the non-Iinearities of a matrix converter drive such as commutation delays, turn-on and turn-off times of switching devices, and on-state switching device voltage drop is modelled using PQR transformation and compensated using a reference current control scheme. To eliminate the input current distortion due to the input voltage unbalance, a simple method using PQR transformation is also presented. The proposed compensation method is applied for high performance induction motor drives using a 3 kW matrix converter system without a speed sensor. Experimental results are shown to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed strategy.
The spontaneous precipitation of calcium sulfate in supersaturated solutions over the temperature range between 25.0 and 80.0 C was investigated by monitoring the solution specific conductivity during desupersaturation. From measurements of the induction times preceding the onset of precipitation the surface energy of the forming solid, identified as gypsum, was found between ca. 12 and 25 mJ/m{sup 2} for the temperature range between 80.0 and 25.0 C, respectively. Kinetics analysis showed that over 50 C it is possible that anhydrous calcium sulfate is forming as a transient phase converting into the more stable calcium sulfate dihydrate. The linear dependence of the rates of precipitation on the relative solution supersaturation suggested a mechanism according to which the growth units are integrated into the active sites of the supercritical nuclei by surface diffusion. According to the morphological examination of the crystals it is possible that crystal growth ...
The point at which the common final pathway for induction of cancer by chemical carcinogens and ionizing radiation has not been identified. Although common molecular targets are suggested by recent findings about the role of oncogenes, the mechanism by which the deposition of radiation energy and the formation of adducts or other DNA lesions induced by chemicals affects the changes in the relevant targets may be quite different. The damage to DNA that plays no part in the transformation events, but that influences the stability of the genome, and therefore, the probability of subsequent changes that influence tumorigenesis may be more readily induced by some agents than others. Similarly, the degree of cytotoxic effects that disrupt tissue integrity and increase the probability of expression of initiated cells may be dependent on the type of carcinogen. Also, evidence was presented that repair of the initial lesions could be demonstrated after exposure to low-LET ...
Lung cancer is still difficult to treat by current chemotherapeutic procedures. We recently found that MVL, an anti-HIV lectin from blue-green algae Microcystis viridis, also has antitumor activity. The objective of this study was to investigate apoptosis-inducing activity of recombinant MVL (R-MVL) and proteomic changes in A549 cells, and to identify the molecular pathways responsible for the anti-cancer action of R-MVL. We found that R-MVL induces A549 cells apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner by using MTT assay, fluorescent microscope (FM) and flow cytometry (FCM), and the IC50 was calculated to be 24.12??g/ml. Subsequently, 7 altered proteins in R-MVL-treated A549 cells were identified, including upregulated aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 and ?-actin, and five downregulated proteins: heat s...
Early failure of an induction-hardening carbon steel pipe, which was used to transport tailing slurry, was caused by pitting corrosion. The microstructure on the internal pipe surface layer was found being a mixture of martensite, pearlite and ferrite. In this work, the pitting corrosion behavior of each constitute in the microstructure of steel is investigated with electrochemical noise analyses; the electronic properties of passive films were studied with Mott-Schottky relationship. It is found that the passive films formed on the materials under investigation are highly disordered n-type semiconductors. The high-to-low pitting susceptibility is ferrite > martensite > pearlite. The pitting resistance is related to the semiconductive nature of the passive film formed on each constitute. The pitting susceptibility increases with the donor concentration in the passive films. (author)
Wild and tissue cultured plants of Portulaca grandiflora Hook. have shown to be able to decolorize a sulfonated diazo dye Navy Blue HE2R (NBHE2R) up to 98% in 40h. A significant induction in the activities of lignin peroxidase, tyrosinase and DCIP reductase was observed in the roots during dye decolorization. The wild plants and tissue cultures could independently decolorize and degrade NBHE2R into metabolites viz. N-benzylacetamide and 6-diazenyl-4-hydroxynaphthalene-2-sulfonic acid. A dye mixture and a textile effluent were also decolorized efficiently by P. grandiflora. The phytotoxicity study revealed reduction in the toxicity due to metabolites formed after dye degradation.
Summary Background Current management of egg allergy relies on egg elimination from the diet. It does not protect patients from reactions after accidental ingestion of the food and it has a negative influence on quality of life. To solve these problems, some desensitization protocols have been described that are safe and effective, but only one study of a rush regimen for egg with a small patient sample has been published. Objective To evaluate the safety, efficacy and immunologic effects of an oral rush desensitization protocol for immediate egg allergy. Methods Subjects aged 5 years or older with symptomatic IgE-mediated allergy to hen's egg underwent a 5-day oral tolerance induction regimen and were subsequently maintained on a regular egg intake. The variables studied were the reaction...
Due to size and costs of big slewing rings, the common methods of experimental trial and error together with destructive test methods for verification of the inductive hardening process are limited. Thereby it is essential to simulate the hardening process in addition to the tests. With these simulations, it should be possible to get conclusions for the hardening pattern, the residual stress and distortion. With actually existing methods a fully three dimensional simulation is extremely time consuming. For that reason, a new method was developed that combines two dimensional with three dimensional simulation to shorten the time for calculation tremendously. (orig.)
Each of the three cysteine residues in the Escherichia coli RecA protein was replaced with a number of other amino acids. To do this, each cysteine codon was first converted to a chain-terminating amber codon by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. These amber mutants were then either assayed for function in different suppressor strains or reverted by a second round of mutagenesis with oligonucleotides that had random sequences at the amber codon. Thirty-three different amino acid substitutions were obtained. Mutants were tested for three functions of RecA: survival following UV irradiation, homologous recombination, and induction of the SOS response. It was found that although none of the cysteines is essential for activity, mutations at each of these positions can affect one or more of the activities of RecA, depending on the particular amino acid substitution. In addition, the cysteine at position 116 appears to be involved in the RecA-promoted cleavage of the ...
Low level radioactive wastes (concrete pieces) or materials to be melted such as burnt ashes of wastes are charged into a melting furnace. Then, gyrotron of a microwave generator is oscillated, and generated microwaves of a large power are introduced to a melting furnace by a waveguide. The microwaves are irradiated from an irradiator to a beam converging-type reflecting mirror antenna disposed opposite to the irradiator. Then, an antenna driving portion is operated to rotate and move the antenna in parallel. With such procedures, the microwaves of a large power are converged acutely in a beam-like manner to a predetermined range in the melting furnace, and the converged beams of the microwaves are scanned. This can generate heat from the inner side of the materials to be melted charged to the melting furnace by the induction loss and they are melted. (I.N.)
This article describes the complete microsporogenesis and pollen formation in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) at the various developmental stages (pollen mother cell, meiosis, tetrads, early free spore, mid uninucleate, late uninucleate, binucleate and mature pollen grain). Light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used for the study. Floral bud size and other inflorescence characteristics were correlated with specific stages of the microspore development. This association allows a rapid selection of floral buds with similar microspore developmental stages, useful when a large number of homogeneous cells are needed for analysis and for in vitro induction of androgenesis. This article also compares methods for digestion the exine wall ...
The results of following the oxidative degradation of a plastic-bonded explosive (PBX 9501) are reported. Into over 1100 sealed containers were placed samples of PBX 9501 and combinations of its components and aged at relatively low temperatures to induce oxidative degradation of the samples. One of the components of the explosive is a poly(ester urethane) polymer and the oxidative degradation of the samples were following by measuring the molecular weight change of the polymer by gel permeation chromatography (coupled with both differential refractive index and multiangle laser light scattering detectors). Multiple temperatures between 40 and 64 degreeC were used to accelerate the aging of the samples. Interesting induction period behavior, along with both molecular weight increasing (cro...
Ex vivo expanded peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) have been shown to provide rapid neutrophil engraftment, and in some patients, to eliminate neutropenia after transplantation to support high-dose chemotherapy. However, the effect of expansion culture on stem cell content and potential loss of stem cells caused by induction of differentiation remains a concern. We have transplanted 21 patients with breast cancer with expanded autologous PBPC, with 11 patients receiving expanded PBPC as their sole hematopoietic cell source. In these studies, the CD34+ cells were selected and cultured for 10 days in defined media containing 100 ng/mL each of recombinant human stem cell factor (rhSCF), recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF), and recombinant human megakaryocy...
The aim of this thesis is the design of a faults diagnosis-aiding system in a nuclear facility of the Cea. Actually the existing system allows the optimization of the production processes in regular operating conditions. Meanwhile during accidental events, the alarms, managed by threshold, are bringing no relevant information. To increase the reliability and the safety, the human operator needs a faults diagnosis-aiding system. The developed system, SECAPI, combines problem solving techniques and automatic learning techniques, that allow the diagnosis and the the simulation of various faults happening on nuclear facilities. Its reasoning principle uses case-based and rules-based techniques. SECAPI owns a learning module which reads out knowledge connected with faults. It can then simulate various faults, using the inductive logical computing. SECAPI has been applied on a radioactive tritium treatment operating channel, at the Cea with good results. (A.L.B.)
The feather has been widely used as a indicator tissue of metal exposure in birds. The feathers were collected from Tuskegee University poultry farm (TUPF) and Harrison Poultry farm (HPF) chicken and analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy for lead, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, and copper contaminations. The mean levels of lead, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, and copper in TUPF chicken were 3.67, 0.13, 12.23, 0.22, and 7.71 ppm, respectively, and in HPF chicken were 5.32, 0.096, 11.03, 0.15, and 8.06 ppm, respectively. The mean levels of these metals did not show any significant difference between TUPF and HPF chicken.
DNA methylation is considered as a potential cause of aberrations in regulation of gene expression during carcinogenesis. Therefore, changes in DNA methylation patterns may be targets for chemoprevention. In the present study, we investigated effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), vitamin D3, and resveratrol alone and in combination with adenosine analogues: 2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (2CdA) and 9-beta-d-arabinosyl-2-fluoroadenine (F-ara-A), on methylation and expression of retinoic acid receptor beta 2 (RARbeta2) in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Alterations in methylation and expression levels after treatment of cells with the tested compounds were evaluated by methylation-sensitive restriction analysis (MSRA) and real-time PCR, respectively. RARbeta2 promoter in the ...
The author explains current developments in high voltage cable technology and subsequently describes problems inherent in its application, from the users viewpoint, in municipal electricity supply. The planning of a high voltage cable network and the selection of a specific type of cable are not only dependent on the typical properties of various cables but to a major degree also on the feasible laying technique, the power transmitted, the costs, the stellation treatment of the high voltage network, the acceptance requirement, the inductive influence from telecommunication cable, thermal influences from the environment, eventual safeguards from mechanical and chemical damage to the network, frequency of failure and surveillance and breakdown location. In conclusion, the author portrays potential developments in the fields of high and maximum voltage cable from the perspectives of today.
Sensitive and quick-response nonlinear inductance characteristics are found for high Tc superconducting (YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-chi/) disk cores at 77K in which soft magnetic BH hysteresis loops are observed. Various quick response magnetic devices such as modulators, amplifiers and sensors are built using these cores. The magnetizing frequency can be set to more than 20 MHz, which is difficult for conventional ferromagnetic bulk materials such as Permalloy amorphous alloys and ferrite. New quick-response fluxgate type magnetic-field sensors are made using ac and dc voltage sources. The former is used for second-harmonic type sensors, while the latter is for voltage-output multivibrator type sensors. Stable and quick-response sensor characteristics were obtained for two-core type multivibrators.
This study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial effect of BSAP-254 on Bacillus cereus with the induced stress proteins. The BSAP-254 is an antimicrobial peptide isolated from soybean-fermenting bacteria, Bacillus subtilis SC-8. It had a narrow spectrum of activity against B. cereus group. The growth inhibitory effect of BSAP-254 (50??g/mL) reduced the population of B. cereus from >108 to 104 colony-forming units per milliliter within 30?min. In B. cereus exposed to BSAP-254, 14 intracellular proteins were differentially expressed as determined by 2-DE coupled with MS. Of the differentially expressed proteins identified, the stress protein GroEL, which is heat shock protein, was induced in B. cereus exposed to antibacterial peptide.
Field-annealed Co-based amorphous ribbon (Metglas? 2705M) with a meander structure is fabricated by MEMS technology and the giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effects are studied at different magnetic fields and frequencies. The maximum longitudinal GMI ratio of the ribbon is 193.7% and the magnetic field sensitivity is 17.4%/Oe. The maximum GMI ratio of the meander ribbon is much larger than the single strip ribbon mainly due to the larger change ratio of inductance L. The sensitivity of an output U reach up to 10 V/A and U thermal fluctuation is less than 15 mV in the temperature range of ?20 to 40?C. This meander shape ribbon can be considered as a good candidate for the GMI-based sensor fabrication.
Human embryonic stem (ES) cells can undergo spontaneously differentiation in standard culture conditions, demonstrating that the undifferentiated state is relatively unstable. The heterogeneous expression of SSEA3 observed within human ES colonies, provides a means to examine undifferentiated stem cell substates. Through functional testing of single cells we have shown that undifferentiated ES cells can be segregated into functionally discrete subpopulations on the basis of SSEA3 expression: SSEA3(High), SSEA(Low) and SSEA3(Negative). Human ES subpopulations were found to be interconvertible, but they possess distinct properties when challenged to differentiate along the neural lineage. These data suggest that ES cells with pluripotent/self-renewal capacities can exhibit different responses to induction of differentiation. PMID:21763622
Objective: : Evaluate expression of inducible negative regulators of JAK/STAT pathway and their target proteins during the course of ligature-induced experimental periodontal disease in rats. Design: : Rats were sacrificed 07, 15 and 30days after disease induction for histological evaluation of periodontal inflammation and macroscopic analysis of alveolar bone loss. SOCS expression and the activation status of STAT1 and STAT3 were evaluated in gingival biopsies by real time PCR and Western blot. Results: : Ligature-induced model presented significant progressive bone loss from 7 to 30days. Inflammation was evident and similar for 07 and 15days; however, a decrease on severity at the end of the experimental period was observed. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase on SOCS1 and SOCS3 ge...
AbstractBackground: So far, infliximab (IFX) therapy for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) has generally been guided by clinical symptoms. Data on treatment response as ascertained by endoscopy in IFX therapy are scarce. The aims of this study were to measure the endoscopic response rate during IFX induction and maintenance therapy in luminal CD, and also evaluate the role of endoscopy in monitoring IFX therapy. Methods: Data obtained from 71 patients with active luminal CD and treated with IFX were analyzed retrospectively. The endoscopy findings were scored according to mucosal activity as: 0 (remission), 1-2 (mild), 3-4 (moderate), and 5-6 (severe). A positive endoscopic response was determined by a decrease in score of at least two points and mucosal healing was assigned a score of...
The present study was designed to determine the exercise intensity equivalent to the metabolic aerobic/anaerobic transition of alloxan diabetic rats, through lactate minimum test (LMT), and to evaluate the effects of swimming exercise at this intensity (LM) on the glucose and protein metabolism of these animals. Adult male Wistar rats received alloxan (SD, alloxan-injected rats that remained sedentary) intravenously (30 mg kg?1 body weight) for diabetes induction. As controls (SC, vehicle-injected rats that remained sedentary), vehicle-injected rats were utilized. Two weeks later, the animals were submitted to oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) and LMT. After the tests, some of the animals were submitted to swimming exercise training [TC (vehicle-injected rats that performed a 6-week exerc...
The presence of washed or unwashed cellophane alone or together with a bleomycin, mitomycin C or hydrochlorothiazide, ('Esidrex') showed no appreciable effect on survival of either unirradiated or irradiated conidia. Irradiation for a period of 20min reduced the survival of conidia to 20%. The growth of irradiated conidia in the presence of bleomycin, mitomycin C or Esidrex is associated with a 2- to 3-fold increase in the frequency of gene convertants, but was not accompanied by an increase in point mutants. When conidia were grown on cellophane but otherwise treated as before the frequency of gene convertants was increased 8-fold, but induction of point mutants was negligible. This effect was the same for irradiated and unirradiated conidia. The environment created by the cellophane in contract with the medium appears to affect the action of each of the three compounds synergistically.
Coilguns have the ability to provide magnetic pressure to projectiles which results in near constant acceleration. However, to achieve this performance and control projectile hearing, significant constraints are placed on the design of the coils. We are developing coils to produce an effective projectile base pressure of 100 MPa (1kbar) as a step toward reaching base pressures of 200 MPa. The design uses a scalable technology applicable to the entire range of breech to muzzle coils of a multi-stage launcher. This paper presents the design of capacitor-driven coils for launching nominal 50 mm, 350 gram projectiles. Design criteria, constraints, mechanical stress analysis, launcher performance, and test results are discussed.
Pro-inflammatory cytokines may directly influence the viability and metabolic function of colonic epithelial cells (CEC) as an early event in the development of inflammatory bowel disease. We report here that TNF-alpha+IFN-gamma induced a synergistic, concentration-dependent decline in butyrate oxidation, an essential energy supply, in HT-29 and DLD-1 cells. TNF-alpha+IFN-gamma induced a parallel profound decline in cell viability in HT-29 cells, but not in DLD-1 cells, where impairment of butyrate oxidation seemed to precede later occurrence of cell damage. TNF-alpha+INF-gamma induced CEC damage was independent on NO formation and involved the IFN-gamma signalling pathway as well as induction of apoptosis. If cytokines have similar effects in vivo, these may lead to energy deficiency and thus contribute to CEC damage and disturbance of the epithelial integrity.
As lithium battery technology sets out to bridge the gap between portable electronics and the electrical automotive industry, cathode materials still stand as the bottleneck regarding performances. In the realm of highly attractive polyanion-type structures as high-voltage cathode materials, the sulfate group (SO4)^2^- possesses an acknowledged superiority over other contenders in terms of open circuit voltage arising from the inductive effect of strong covalent S-O bonds. In parallel, novel lithium insertion mechanisms are providing alternatives to traditional intercalation, enabling reversible multi-electron processes securing high capacities. Combining both of these advantageous features, we report here the successful electrochemical reactivity of copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4.5H2O...
Objective Over recent years the Internet has become an increasingly popular source of support and information for infertility, with a growing number of online support groups now available to individuals affected by fertility problems. The aims of the present study were therefore to explore the online experiences of individuals accessing infertility support groups via the Internet. Methods Ninety-five participants who were recruited from several online infertility support groups completed an online questionnaire containing a series of open-ended questions. Responses to the open-ended questions were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results The thematic analysis revealed five recurrent themes, which were labelled: `unique features of online social support', `improved relationship w...
SBA-15 supported nano-scaled copper oxide was synthesized by impregnation method via ultrasonic-assisted route. The removal test from gas mixture containing 0.1?vol.% hydrogen sulfide was carried out over this material at atmospheric conditions. The effects of the chemical nature of copper oxide and the textural properties of the material on removal capacity were studied. The materials before and after the removal test were analyzed by nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscope, X-ray photoelectron Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer and Inductive Coupled Plasma. The results showed that copper species are located predominantly in mesopore channels, existing as copper oxide nanoparticles. Mesopores are active sites for removal reaction. The ou...
Electromagnetic forming (EMF) is a forming process that relies on the inductive electromagnetic force to deform metallic workpiece at high speed. Calculation of the electromagnetic force is essential to understand the EMF process. However, accurate calculation requires complex numerical solution, in which the coupling between the electromagnetic process and the deformation of workpiece needs be considered. In this paper, an appropriate formula has been developed to calculate the electromagnetic force in metal work-piece in the sheet EMF process. The effects of the geometric size of coil, the material properties, and the parameters of discharge circuit on electromagnetic force are taken into consideration. Through the formula, the electromagnetic force at different time and in different positions of the workpiece can be predicted. The calculated electromagnetic force and magnetic field are in good agreement with the numerical and experimental results. The accurate ...
Abstract Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which infects not only B cells, but also T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, is associated with multiple lymphoid malignancies. Recently, the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib was reported to induce apoptosis of EBV-transformed B cells. We evaluated the killing effect of this proteasome inhibitor on EBV-associated T lymphoma cells and NK lymphoma cells. First, we found that bortezomib treatment decreased the viability of multiple T and NK cell lines. No significant difference was observed between EBV-positive and EBV-negative cell lines. The decreased viability in response to bortezomib treatment was abrogated by a pan-caspase inhibitor. The induction of apoptosis was confirmed by flow cytometric assessment of annexin V staining. Additionally, cleavage o...
Using a case-study, inductive, narrative approach, this article explores the history, drivers, benefits, and barriers to the Bakun Hydroelectric Project in East Malaysia. Situated on the island of Borneo, Bakun Dam is a 204m high concrete face, rock filled dam on the Balui River in the Upper Rajang Basin in the rainforests of Sarawak. Bakun Dam and its affiliated infrastructure could be the single largest and most expensive energy project ever undertaken in Southeast Asia. Based on data collected through site visits, original field research in Sarawak, and more than 80 research interviews, the article begins by teasing out the complex history and drivers behind the Bakun project before identifying a set of potential social, political, and economic benefits the project could deliver. It the...
The thermal recovery of superconducting elements working as secondaries in fault current limiters can be enhanced by taking advantage of the removal of heat by conduction from an array of artificial weak zones (AWZ) distributed along the superconductor perimeter (hot parts) to the non-weak segments (cold parts). These results were obtained by studying samples with weak parts in the shape of grooves, all identical in size. In this paper we consider the case in which one of the AWZ is slightly different from the rest. Our results show that a change in its length has a negligible effect. On the contrary, a groove which is slightly deeper can be overheated and hence can strongly determine the recovery time of the whole limiter.
From optical point of view and due to the magnetic interaction of the cold neutrons with the unpaired electron shell, magnetic materials hae a neutron spin-dependent refractive index n[sup +] [spin up] and n[sup -] [spin down]. Magnetic media such as Fe, Co and Ni react like birefringent uniaxial crystals in ordinary optica. n[sup +] and n[sup -] are the equivalent of the ordinary and extraordinary refractive indices. The specular reflection of spin polarized neutrons which is due to the discontinuity of the magnetic induction at the surface of the ferromagnet is a sensitive probe of surface and interface magnetism. We shall first give the background of the art of polarized neutron optics. Secondly, some recent examples from surface and interface magnetism will be given to illustrate the power of this technique such as the magnetic coupling in thin films and multilayers and flux penetration in superconductors. (orig.).
Recently, the precise isotope ratios of some refractory elements in meteorites have been reported using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The in situ decay of {sup 182}Hf (T{sub 1/2}=9 Myr), which was produced at the latest nucleosynthesis, is recognized in many meteorites as isotopic anomalies of its daughter isotope, {sup 182}W. The degrees of relative {sup 182}W isotopic deviation in extra-terrestrial and terrestrial silicate samples vary from +0.3% to {+-}0% related to the size of their parent bodies. One ready interpretation of its correlation is the difference in timing of metal-silicate separation in the parent bodies. Between the earth and meteorite parent bodies, the difference is calculated to be about four times of the half-life of {sup 182}Hf, equivalent to 36 Myr. (author)
Summary Background- Treatments that achieve sustainable steroid-free clinical remission in Crohn-s disease are needed; however, long-term steroid-sparing efficacy data are limited. Aim- To evaluate steroid-sparing efficacy and the impact of steroid discontinuation on adverse events during treatment of Crohn's disease with adalimumab in the phase III randomised, double-blind 1-year CHARM trial and for an additional 2-years in its open-label extension ADHERE. Methods- Steroid-free remission and response and steroid-sparing (-50% steroid dose reduction) remission rates were evaluated over 3-years in patients who were taking corticosteroids at CHARM baseline. Results- Of 778 patients randomised in CHARM (including those who did not achieve clinical response to open-label induction therapy), 31...
The free-electron laser (FEL) projects that are currently in progress in Japan are discussed. Particular attention is given to the storage ring FELs at the Electrotechnical Laboratory, the Institute for Molecular Physics, and the Kyushu University; the superconducting linear accelerator (SC linac) FELs being developed at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute; and the RF-linac FEL being developed by the Nuclear Engineering Research Laboratory of the University of Tokyo, the Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research of Osaka University, the Mitsubishi Electric Company, and Tokyo Institute of Technology. Consideration is also given to the microtron FEL being constructed at the Nihon University; the induction-linac and pulseline FELs of the Institute of Laser Engineering of Osaka University, the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, the National Laboratory for High-Energy Physics, and ISAS; and the Smith-Purcell-effect FEL developed by Tohoku ...
Glycyrrhiza glabra root is one of the common traditional Chinese medicines and used as flavoring and sweetening agents for tobaccos, chewing gums, candies, toothpaste and beverages. While glycyrrhizin is one of the main components in the extract of G. glabra root and has been characterized, the other components have not been well characterized. The mechanism of growth activation of breast cancer MCF-7 cells, including the activation of Erk1/2 and Akt, and the transcriptional regulation of estrogen-responsive genes, was examined by means of sulforhodamine B, luciferase reporter gene, real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting assays after the induction of the cells with the extract of G. glabra root. The extract has similar activity to that induced by 17b-estradiol (E2), although glycyrrhizin di...
This paper presents a new method to compensate the nonlinearities for matrix converter drives. The nonlinearities of matrix converter drives such as commutation delay, turn-on and turn-off time of the switching devices, and on-state switching device voltage drop is corrected by a new matrix converter model using the direction of current. The proposed method does not need any additional hardware or complicated software and it is easy to realize by applying the algorithm to the conventional vector control. The proposed compensation method is applied for high-performance induction motor drives using a 3-kW matrix converter system without a speed sensor. Experimental results show the proposed method provides good compensating characteristics.
Although low-energy ion radiation has been proven to have a wide range of biological effects and led to fruitful achievements as a new mutagenic source for genetic modification, there still exist some disputes about its mutagenic mechanisms because of its short-penetrating property. In present research, Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic for GUS recombination substrate was used to evaluate the genomic instability induced by irradiations of alpha particle (3.3MeV) and Low-energy-Argon ion (30 KeV). A pronounced effects of alpha particle irradiation to Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings and Argon ion irradiation to seeds on the somatic homologous recombination frequency (sHRF) were reported. The sHRFs increased 1.88-fold and 2.42-fold, respectively, which indicated that the short-penetrating radiation could effectively induce the plant genomic instability in either dry seeds or seedlings with active metabolism. The local alpha particle irradiation of root was performed. Result exhibited ...
A new method that allows rapid preconcentration and separation of plutonium and neptunium in water samples was developed for the measurement of "2"3"7Np and Pu isotopes by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and alpha spectrometry. "2"3"8U can interfere with "2"3"9Pu measurement by ICP-MS as "2"3"8UH"+ mass overlap and "2"3"7Np via peak tailing. The method provide enhanced removal of uranium by separating Pu and Np initially on TEVA Resin, then moving Pu to DGA resin for additional removal of uranium. The decontamination factor for uranium from Pu is almost 100,000 and the decontamination factor for U from Np is greater than 10,000. This method uses stacked extraction chromatography cartridges and vacuum box technology to facilitate rapid separations. Preconcentration is performed using a streamlined calcium phosphate precipitation method. Purified solutions are split between ICP-MS and alpha spectrometry so that long and short-lived Pu isotopes ...
Full text: The general population is daily exposed to chronic, low doses of ionizing radiation (IR) from both natural and artificial sources. The biological consequences of acute, high dose IR exposure can be readily determined; however, the nature and significance of low dose, low dose-rate IR effects are still the subject of debate. Confounding the issue, are the phenomena collectively referred to as the Radiation-induced Bystander Effect (RIBE). The RIBE describes a collection of in vitro observations that suggest the presence of a soluble, transmissible factor(s) released from irradiated cells that can induce a biological response in un-irradiated cells. The induction, nature and magnitude of the RIBE varies between cell culture systems, radiation sources and end-points measured. Efforts to confirm the presence of the RIBE in vivo have been confined to in vivo-like culture systems and limited work with tumour and bone-marrow transplantation models. Validation ...
A new method that allows rapid preconcentration and separation of plutonium and neptunium in water samples was developed for the measurement of {sup 237}Np and Pu isotopes by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and alpha spectrometry; a hybrid approach. {sup 238}U can interfere with {sup 239}Pu measurement by ICP-MS as {sup 238}UH{sup +} mass overlap and {sup 237}Np via peak tailing. The method provide enhanced removal of uranium by separating Pu and Np initially on TEVA Resin, then moving Pu to DGA resin for additional removal of uranium. The decontamination factor for uranium from Pu is almost 100,000 and the decontamination factor for U from Np is greater than 10,000. This method uses stacked extraction chromatography cartridges and vacuum box technology to facilitate rapid separations. Preconcentration is performed using a streamlined calcium phosphate precipitation method. Purified solutions are split between ICP-MS and alpha spectrometry so ...
Homogeneous nucleation of CaSO{sub 4}{center_dot}2H{sub 2}O (gypsum) based on an optical diagnostic technique was studied within a supersaturation range of 1--4 at 25--90 C. The experiments were carried out using an experimental apparatus consisting of a batch crystallizer with the related measurement devices. Signals of scattered and transmitted light coming from a He-Ne laser source were analyzed to measure the induction period (t{sub ind}), that is, the time delay necessary for homogeneous nucleation to take place. As expected from theory, it was found that t{sub ind} decreases when either temperature or supersaturation increase; from the dependence of t{sub ind} on supersaturation, it was possible to distinguish between the mechanisms of homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation. From the experimental data relative to homogeneous nucleation, the interfacial tension ({gamma}{sub s}) between CaSO{sub 4}{center_dot}2H{sub 2}O and the surrounding aqueous solution ...
The MTX experiment was proposed in 1986 to apply high frequency microwaves generated by a free-electron laser (FEL) to electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) in a high field, high density tokamak. As the absorption of microwaves at the electron cyclotron resonance requires high frequencies, the opportunity of applying a free-electron laser has appeal as the device is not limited to frequencies in the microwave or long millimeter wavelength regions, in contrast to many other sources. In addition, the FEL is inherently a high power source of microwaves, which would permit single units of 10 MW or more, optimum for reactors. Finally, it was recognized early in the study of the application of the FEL based on the induction linear accelerator, that the nonlinear effects associated with the intense pulses of microwaves naturally generated would offer several unique opportunities to apply ECRH to current drive, MHD control, and other plasma effects. It was ...
In the present paper a procedure is proposed for the determination of traces of Cd, Co, Mn and Cr in petroleum industry produced water by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The procedure is based on cloud point extraction of these metals, as their dithizonate complexes, into the surfactant-rich phase of octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol surfactant (Triton X-114). Extractions were carried out in solutions with salinities between 10 per mille and 70 per mille. Since residual salinity in the surfactant-rich phase caused differences in its transport to the plasma, yttrium was used as an internal standard to correct for this effect. The simultaneous metal extraction procedure was optimized by response surface methodology using a Doehlert design and desirability function. Enhancement factors of 21, 21, 9 and 19, along with limits of quantification of 0.093, 0.20, 0.73 and 1.2 #mu#g L"-"1, and precision expressed as relative standard deviation (n = 8, ...
Structural and functional alterations in hepatocytes of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla, following a 4-week-exposure to 5, 50, and 250 micrograms/liter dinitro-o-cresol (DNOC) were investigated by means of electron microscopy and biochemistry and compared to liver pathology in eels exposed to the chemical spill into the Rhine river at Basle in November 1986. Whereas phenological parameters (growth, condition factor) are unaffected, ultrastructural and biochemical alterations are detectable at greater than or equal to 50 and 5 micrograms/liter DNOC, respectively. Structural modifications include: rounding-up of the nuclei; fractionation and reduction of the rough endoplasmic reticulum; proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER), mitochondria, peroxisomes, and lysosomes; bundles of rod-shaped SER profiles; annulate lamellae; membrane whorls within mitochondria; crystallization of the peroxisomal matrix and glycogen bodies; glycogen depletion and lipid augmentation. ...
The sterile insect release technique can often be improved by removal of females before release. Rearing efficiencies can also be increased if removal of the females occurs at early developmental stages. In order to begin to develop genetic sexing strains for the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), it was necessary to determine the best dosage of radiation for induction of viable sex linked recessive lethal mutations and to see if stocks containing induced sex linked lethals could be maintained in culture. Sex linked recessive lethal mutations can be detected by distorted sex ratios in the progeny of treated adults. However, in the pink bollworm, highly distorted sex ratios are common even in the absence of induced mutations. Therefore, a visible sex linked trait, purple eye, was used as a marker for the untreated X-chromosomes in crosses. Thus, the presence of a recessive sex linked lethal mutation induced by the radiation treatment may be detected ...
The space environment consists of a varying field of radiation particles including high-energy ions, with spacecraft shielding material providing the only major protection to astronauts from harmful exposure. Unlike low-linear energy transfer (LET) {gamma} or X-rays, the presence of shielding does not always reduce the radiation risks for energetic charged particle exposure, since the dose delivered by the charged particle increases sharply as the particle approaches the end of its range, a position known as the Bragg peak. The Bragg curve does not necessarily represent the biological damage along the particle traversal, and the 'biological Bragg curve' is dependent on the energy and the type of the primary particle, and may vary for different biological endpoints. Here we used a unique irradiation geometry to measure the biological response across the Bragg curve in human fibroblasts exposed to 577MeV/nucleon incident Fe ions in vitro. Polyethylene shielding was used ...
Abstract High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules, favors tissue regeneration via recruitment and activation of leukocytes and stem cells. Here we demonstrate, in a model of acute sterile muscle injury, that regeneration is accompanied by active reactive oxygen species (ROS) production counterbalanced and overcome by the generation of antioxidant moieties. Mitochondria are initially responsible for ROS formation. However, they undergo rapid disruption with almost complete disappearance. Twenty-four hours after injury, we observed a strong induction of MURF1 and atrogin-1 ubiquitin ligases, key signals in activation of the proteasome system and induction of muscle atrophy. At later time points, ROS generation is maintained by nonmitochondrial sources. The antioxidant response occurs in both regenerating fibers and leukocytes that express high levels of free thiols and antioxidant enzymes, such as ...
Metabolism of benzene is thought to be necessary to produce the toxic effects, including carcinogenicity, associated with benzene exposure. To extrapolate from the results of rodent studies to potential health risks in man, one must know how benzene metabolism is affected by species, dose, dose rate, and repeated versus single exposures. The purpose of our studies was to determine the effect of repeated inhalation exposures on the metabolism of [14C]benzene by rodents. Benzene metabolism was assessed by characterizing and quantitating urinary metabolites, and by quantitating 14C bound to hemoglobin and micronuclei induction. F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice were exposed, nose-only, to 600 ppm benzene or to air (control) for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 3 weeks. On the last day, both benzene-pretreated and control animals were exposed to 600 ppm, 14C-labeled benzene for 6 hr. Individual benzene metabolites in urine collected for 24 hr after the exposure were analyzed. There ...
In order to gain an overall picture of the genetic effects of an increased level of background radiation it is necessary to study the results of protracted exposures to embryonic and immature germ-cell stages as well as to stages found in the mature organism. For this purpose, litters produced by female mice, kept in a 10 or 20 rad/day /sup 60/Co ..gamma..-irradiation field, were kept in the same fields from conception until about 60 days later, having absorbed doses of 526 and 1078 rad respectively. Tests on exposed female offspring showed them to be sterile. Eight weeks after removal from the gamma field, mean testis masses of males in the 20 rad/day series were only half normal but those receiving 10 rad/day were little affected. Frequencies of translocations in spermatocytes at diakinesis/metaphase I were only slightly increased in the exposed series, differences not being significant. Estimated rates of translocation induction were around 5 x 10sup(-6) per ...
Two plasma chemistries, i.e., CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2}/Ar and Cl{sub 2}/Ar, were compared for the etching of InGaP, AlInP, and AlGaP under inductively coupled plasma (ICP) conditions. While the etching with CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2}/Ar discharges appears to be ion driven, Cl{sub 2}/Ar discharges showed an additional strong chemical enhancement. The highest etch rate ({approximately}1 {mu}m/min) for InGaP was achieved at high ICP source power ({ge}750 W) with the Cl{sub 2}/Ar chemistry. Cl{sub 2}/Ar discharges provided very smooth surfaces in all three materials with root-mean-square roughness measured by atomic force microscopy around 2 nm. This result may be due to the efficient ion-assisted product desorption in this chemistry. The etched near-surface region of InGaP ({approximately}100 {Angstrom}) with Cl{sub 2}/Ar maintained almost the same stoichiometry as that of the unetched control. By contrast, the CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2}/Ar plasma chemistry produced somewhat rougher ...
When preadipocytes differentiate into adipocytes, several differentiation-linked genes are activated. Lipo-protein lipase (LPL) is one of the first genes induced during this process. To investigate early events in adipocyte development, we have focused on the transcriptional activation of the LPL gene. For this purpose, we have cloned and fused different parts of intragenic and flanking sequences with a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene. Transient transfection experiments and DNase I hypersensitivity assays indicate that several positive as well as negative elements contribute to transcriptional regulation of the LPL gene. When reporter gene constructs were stably introduced into preadipocytes, we were able to monitor and compare the activation patterns of different promoter deletion mutants at selected time points representing the process of adipocyte development. We could delimit two cis-regulatory elements important for gradual activation of the LPL gene during ...
Influenza virus infection during pregnancy has been implicated as one of cause of premature delivery, abortion and stillbirth. We have reported that cultured human fetal membrane chorion cells undergoing apoptosis by influenza virus infection secrete unidentified heat-stable monocyte differentiation-inducing (MDI) factors. In this study, cellular, biological and immunochemical characteristics of MDI factors were investigated using human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and cell adhesion assays. The treatment of THP-1 cells with culture supernatants from the influenza virus-infected chorion cells induced the nitroblue tetrazolium reduction ability, which was inhibited by the addition of superoxide dismutase and diphenyleneiodonium chloride, an inhibitor for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase. The phenomenon was also observed in human peripheral blood monocytes and histiocytic leukemia U937 cells, but not in promyelocytic leukemia ...
A next generation e"+-e"- linear collider in the TeV range can be converted into a #gamma#-#gamma# collider by converting it to e"--e"- operation and then generating #gamma#-rays via Compton backscattering with optical beams. This provides unique access to some areas of fundamental physics as well as highly desirable redundancy to the collisions. The required optical beam (with a wavelength of about 1 micron) must have very high peak power, (about 1 TW) as well as average power (about 10 kW). To achieve a 1 : 1 conversion from an electron to #gamma#-quantum, each micropulse must contain about one Joule and must be about one picosecond long, the micropulse peak power being about one Terawatt. To match the electron beam pulse structure, a macropulse consists of a sequence of about one hundred micropulses separated by about one nanosecond, and the macropulses am repeated at a rate of about 100 Hz. Thus, the time average power is about 10 kW propose and analyze a promising scheme to ...
Purpose of this work is to investigate the role of Helical CT and the usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) imaging for pre-operative planning and follow-up of reconstructive maxillofacial surgery with alloplastic material in neoplastic disease involving this region. From 1996 to 1999 eleven patients were examined with Helical CT and 3D images for planning of maxillofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery for advanced cancer of this anatomically complex region. A 3D-modulated titanium mesh (100%) or micro nets was used to rebuild the anterior surface of maxillary bone and the orbital floor. The mesh was cut to the appropriate size and shape and curved where necessary. Within the residual sinusal cavity a siliconed filling was used surmounting an acrylic prosthesis with dental arch to rebuild the palate. A rehydrated bovine pericardium was affixed and moduled on the borders in two cases only. Three-dimensionally reconstructed CT images were obtained preoperatively and at least 6 months ...
Minimally invasive thermotherapies for focal tissue destruction on the basis of laser-, microwave-, focused ultrasound-, or cryogeninduced changes of tissue temperature represent an alternative to surgical tissue ablation, particularly in the treatment of tumors. The thermotherapy modalities listed necessitate indirect guidance and monitoring, since they often do not lend themselves to immediate visual control. In the brain, in head and neck tumors, in the liver, and in the prostate, MRI reliably and accurately delineates both the positions of interstitial thermotherapy applicators and - in contrast-enhanced, T1-weighted images - the perfusion defects in tissue necrosis induced by thermotherapy. The transfer of results of in-vitro and in-vivo model studies to assess interstitial temperature and lesion development during thermotherapy to the actual treatment of patients, however, is still in an initial phase. Further development of both rapid MRI sequences and MRI ...
This thesis deals with the analysis of dominant loss mechanisms in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) and hydrogen fed polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEFC) by means of experimental characterization and modeling work. Due to different fuels used in these two fuel cell types, the dominant loss mechanisms are different in their nature. All in-situ characterization techniques that are used in this work are based on a novel test fuel cell with embedded reference electrodes. The first part of this work presents a new concept for realizing a reference electrode configuration in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell by means of laser ablation. The laser beam is used to evaporate a small gap into the electrode surface of a catalyst coated membrane (CCM) to isolate the reference electrode from the working/counter electrode (WE/CE). This method enables the simultaneous ablation of the electrodes on both sides of the CCM because the membrane is ...
Effect of low-frequency pulsating magnetic field on the microstructure and magnetic properties of amorphous alloy Fe_7_8Si_9B_1_3 were investigated. The temperature rise induced by the treatment was measured by a non-contact infrared thermometer. The crystallization behavior and microstructure of specimens were studied by Moessbauer spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Magnetic properties of the specimens were investigated by alternating gradient magnetometer (AGM). The results show that the low-frequency pulsating magnetic field can promote the single-phase crystallization of amorphous alloy Fe_7_8Si_9B_1_3. The frequency, f of applied field is from 10 to 40 Hz, magnetic field, H is from 0.02 to 0.04 T and treatment duration, t is from 180-300 s. The volume fraction of crystallization phase (#alpha#-Fe(Si), the grain size, 2-10 nm) is 3-7%. The temperature rise less than 7 deg. C. Magnetic properties of samples are improved by magnetic field. The field's f is 40 ...
Uranium-aluminum alloys with a significant enrichment of uranium with "2"3"3U or "2"3"5U serve as nuclear fuels in research reactors. The quality assurance of this fuel requires, among other things, precise knowledge that all trace metal constituents that affect neutron economy, fuel integrity, and fuel fabrication process parameters are well within the specification limits. Trace metal characterization of "2"3"5U-Al alloy has been carried out by atomic spectrometry. The trace metal constituents of interest are grouped into common metals (silver, boron, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, nickel, lead, silicon, tin, titanium, vanadium, tungsten, and zinc) and lanthanides (cerium, dysprosium, europium, gadolinium, holminium, lutetium, samarium, and terbium). The elements yttrium and zirconium are grouped with the latter in view of the chemical separation procedure used. The alloy samples are dissolved in 6 M HCl and evaporated to ...
The Two-Beam Accelerator (TBA) consists of a long high-gradient accelerator structure (HGS) adjacent to an equal-length Free Electron Laser (FEL). In the FEL, a beam propagates through a long series of undulators. At regular intervals, waveguides couple microwave power out of the FEL into the HGS. To replenish energy given up by the FEL beam to the microwave field induction accelerator units are placed periodically along the length or the FEL. In this manner it is expected to achieve gradients of more than 250 MV/m and thus have serious option for a 1 TeV /times/ 1 TeV linear collider. The state of present theoretical understanding of the TBA is presented with particular emphasis upon operation of the ''steady-state'' FEL, phase and amplitude control of the rf wave, and suppression of sideband instabilities. Experimental work has focused upon the development of a suitable HGS and the testing of this structure using the Electron ...
The medical applications of radiation comprise three main fields namely: Diagnostic Radiology, Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine. With the new weighting factors of ICRP (IC91a) the effective dose due to medical applications can be established. I is common to separate the effective dose into the genetic part and the somatic part, SED. In dealing with gonad doses it is important to account for the age of the person at the time of exposure as this will influence the number of children still to be expected from that person. The resulting dose will then be called the genetically significant dose, GSD. In a similar fashion this age factor will be important in considering the chance of tumor induction. The age of patients differs considerably from the average age of the general population. This age difference has to be accounted for if a comparison is to be made with other sources of radiation. This justifies establishing a somatically significant dose, SSD. The reduction ...
The radiosensitivity of spermatogonial stem cells of C3H/HeHx101/H F[sub 1] hybrid mice was determined by counting undifferentiated spermatogonia at 10 days after X-irradiation. During the spermatogenic cycle, differences in radiosensitivity were found, which were correlated with the proliferative activity of the spermatogonial stem cells. In stage VIII[sub irr], during quiescence, the spermatogonial stem cells were most radiosensitive with a D[sub 0] of 1.4 Gy. In stages XI[sub irr]-V[sub irr], when the cells were proliferatively active, the D[sub 0] was about 2.6 Gy. Based on the D[sub 0] values for sensitive and resistant spermatogonia and on the D[sub 0] for the total population, a ratio of 45:55% of sensitive to resistant spermatogonial stem cells was estimated for cell killing. When the present data were compared with data on translocation induction obtained in mice of the same genotype, a close fit was obtained when the translocation yield (Y; in % abnormal ...
Effects of swimming exercise training on left ventricular contraction and relaxation, the incidence of spontaneous defibrillation and the ventricular fibrillation threshold were studied in the isolated, perfused rat heart. The heart/body weight ratio was 4.8 +/- 0.4 x 10(-3) in swimmers compared with 3.9 +/- 0.6 x 10(-3) in sedentary controls (p less than 0.0005). The spontaneous heart rate was lower in isolated hearts of trained animals (222 +/- 18 bpm compared with 244 +/- 28, p less than 0.05). Left ventricular systolic pressure was higher in trained hearts and the rate of ventricular relaxation enhanced (p less than 0.05). The ventricular fibrillation threshold was 7.2 +/- 5.2 and 10.8 +/- 6.1 mamp in hearts of swimmers and controls, respectively, the difference not being significant. The incidence of spontaneous defibrillation was not significantly different between the two groups. It is concluded that, while swimming induces cardiac hypertrophy and hemodynamic changes, it neither ...
Ultrafine particles of Sn-Sb alloys with different chemical composition have been prepared by hydrogen plasma-metal reaction. Structure, morphology, size and chemical composition of the Sn-Sb ultrafine particles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, BET gas adsorption, and induction-coupled plasma spectroscopy. It was found that all the particles have spherical shapes, with average particle size in the range of 100-300 nm. The electrochemistry properties as an alternative anode material for lithium-ion batteries have been characterized by constant current cycling and cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemical measurements showed that the alloys with Sn-46.5 at.% Sb have best reversible capacity and capacity retention. It exhibited a high reversible lithium-ion storage capacity of 701 mAh g"-"1 in the initial cycle, which has remained at 81% (i.e., 566 mAh g"-"1) of its original capacity after 20 cycles.
Fine ceramic particles of zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA), titania toughened alumina (TTA), and zirconia-titania toughened alumina (ZTTA) have been synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) at various temperatures from starting salt solutions of various compositions aiming for the development of catalytic material. These particles were characterized for properties such as shape, size and size distribution, diffraction pattern, and chemical and phase composition of elements by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size analyzer (PSA), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Chemical compositions and sizes of ceramic composites have been controlled by the stoichiometry of salt solutions and the flow rate of spraying solutions. The optimum experimental conditions for the various composite particle synthesis have been proposed.
Fine ceramic particles of zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA), titania toughened alumina (TTA), and zirconia-titania toughened alumina (ZTTA) have been synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) at various temperatures from starting salt solutions of various compositions aiming for the development of catalytic material. These particles were characterized for properties such as shape, size and size distribution, diffraction pattern, and chemical and phase composition of elements by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size analyzer (PSA), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Chemical compositions and sizes of ceramic composites have been controlled by the stoichiometry of salt solutions and the flow rate of spraying solutions. The optimum experimental conditions for the various composite particle synthesis have been proposed.
The Ti-6Al-4V alloy was treated by inductively coupled rf plasma nitriding. The effects of plasma-processing time in the range of 5-35 min on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the plasma-nitrided Ti-6Al-4V samples were studied. The plasma power input was adjusted at 450 W and pure N{sub 2} gas was introduced to establish a treatment pressure of 8.0-8.4 x 10{sup -2} mbar. The characteristics of the nitrided layers have been investigated by microhardness testing, surface roughness measurements, optical microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The results show that the surface microhardness increases as the plasma-processing time increases to reach 2000 HV0.1 at a plasma-processing time of 35 min. A high nitriding rate of 2.81 {mu}m{sup 2} s{sup -1} at a plasma-processing time of 25 min was achieved. The formation of the hard phases TiN, Ti{sub 2}N, and Ti(N) in the Ti-6Al-4V surfaces are found to be the reason for the increased microhardness. Surface ...
The Ti-6Al-4V alloy was treated by inductively coupled rf plasma nitriding. The effects of plasma-processing time in the range of 5-35 min on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the plasma-nitrided Ti-6Al-4V samples were studied. The plasma power input was adjusted at 450 W and pure N_2 gas was introduced to establish a treatment pressure of 8.0-8.4 x 10"-"2 mbar. The characteristics of the nitrided layers have been investigated by microhardness testing, surface roughness measurements, optical microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The results show that the surface microhardness increases as the plasma-processing time increases to reach 2000 HV0.1 at a plasma-processing time of 35 min. A high nitriding rate of 2.81 #mu#m"2 s"-"1 at a plasma-processing time of 25 min was achieved. The formation of the hard phases TiN, Ti_2N, and Ti(N) in the Ti-6Al-4V surfaces are found to be the reason for the increased microhardness. Surface energy, yield strength and ...
A 750 J plasma coaxial accelerator is used to produce plasma using air at 0.2 torr pressure and 8 kv charging voltage. The discharge current and voltage traces showed that the total circuit inductance was about 1750 ?H. The experimental results showed that the plasma sheath reached the muzzle after 6 ?s with velocity equal to 4 cm/?s, after then it decreased, while the simulation model showed that the plasma sheath reaches the muzzle with velocity of 3 cm/?s and after one microsecond it increases to reach about 4 cm/?s after 12 ?s then it decreased. The plasma temperature measurements showed that the plasma sheath reached the muzzle with temperature of about 9 eV and increase to reach about 12 eV after 8.5 ?s then after it decrease. The simulation model showed that the plasma temperature at the muzzle is about 10.5 eV and continue to increase to reach 17.5 eV after 12 ?s then it decrease.
Magnetic fluids (MFs) with a similar narrow size distribution of the iron oxide core were stabilized with lauric acid (MF 1), oleate (MF 2) or, after dialysis in the presence of liposomes, with phospholipid molecules (MF 3 and MF 4, respectively). The hydrodynamic sizes of the MF 1 and MF 3 were half those found for MF 2 and MF 4. The MFs were exposed to inductive heating in an alternating magnetic field at a frequency of 200 kHz and a maximum magnetic field strength of 3.8 kA m{sup -1}. Specific absorption rates (SAR) of 294 {+-} 42 (MF 1), 214 {+-} 16 (MF 2), 297 {+-} 13 (MF 3) and 213 {+-} 6 W g{sup -1} Fe (MF 4) were obtained. The data for MF 2 and MF 4 were identical to those found for the commercially available ferucarbotran. The biomedical relevance of the phospholipid-coated MFs is briefly discussed.
A study of specific adsorption of arsenic (As) and humic acid (HM) onto Pt and PtO films using cyclic voltammetry and cyclic massogram in 0.5-M H_2SO_4 is presented, which may serve as an alternative to studies involving specific adsorption of these species on soil minerals. Adsorption of As is normally evaluated by conducting batch adsorption experiments, followed by analysis using hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrophotometry (HGAA) or inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). We found that specific adsorption of As and HM depends both on the surface and on these species present in the adsorption solution. HM does not desorb previously adsorbed As at the HM concentrations used in the present study, but it does co-adsorb with As from a 1 x 10"-"6-M aqueous solution of As_2O_3 containing 1 mg of carbon L"-"1 HM. Arsenic adsorbs strongly on Pt in the presence of HM or during sequential specific adsorption with HM.
Multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) are three dimensional cell culture systems induced by suspension culture. MCTS are widely used in cancer research because of their similarity to solid tumors. CaSki cells are derived from a metastatic cervical cancer containing human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16). Cell death of CaSki cells in MCTS has been previously reported, and our model is used to better characterize the mechanisms of cell death of HPV16-positive keratinocytes. In this study, we found that apoptosis of CaSki cells was induced by suspension culture along with the formation of MCTS after 24?h of incubation. In suspended CaSki cells, monoclonal antibodies blocking E-cadherin function inhibited MCTS formation and suppressed suspension-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Western bl...
Research performed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory on the equilibrium and stability of a new class of ambient-temperature passive bearing systems is described. The basic concepts involved are: (1) Stability of the rotating system is only achieved in the rotating state. That is, disengaging mechanical systems are used to insure stable levitation at rest (when Earnshaw`s theorem applies). (2) Stable levitation by passive magnetic elements can be achieved if the vector sum of the force derivatives of the several elements of the system is net negative (i.e. restoring) for axial, transverse, and tilt-type perturbations from equilibrium. To satisfy the requirements of (2) using only permanent magnet elements we have employed periodic ``Halbach arrays.`` These interact with passive inductive loaded circuits and act as stabilizers, with the primary forces arising from axially symmetric permanent-magnet elements. Stabilizers and other elements needed to create ...
This paper describes an approach to the reliability engineering in aerospace technology. To promote development, configuration management (clarifies the base line of technology), reliability management, quality control, safety management, progress management, and cost management are very important. The following example related to reliability was contained for the development of an N-1 rocket in Japan. A timer and amplifier that are old-fashioned but have actual results were supplied from abroad. The induction system that was purchased from abroad contained faulty components in quality control. The improvement in reliability has priority and the first-stage tank was changed to a home-made aluminum alloy that is superior in stress-resistant corrosiveness. An H-II rocket was completely developed in Japan by self-technology. The number of faults to be generated in the H-II rocket decreases as compared with the N-1 rocket. In the combustion test of an H-II rocket`s ...
This study presents a rapid and selective method for the recovery of lanthanides and yttrium, existing in economically interesting concentrations, from red mud, the byproduct of the alumina production. The leaching process is based on the extraction of these elements with diluted nitric acid from red mud under moderate conditions and without using any preliminary treatment. Several parameters such as leaching agents, contact time, temperature, pressure and solid to liquid ratio were investigated in order to achieve an optimum recovery. The process followed here was selected taking into account its efficiency for the selective recovery of yttrium and lanthanides, but also its suitability for the subsequent liquid-liquid extraction of the leaching solution for the separation of the individual lanthanides. The achieved recovery percentages were for Y about 90%, for the investigated heavy lanthanides (Dy, Er, Yb) up to 70%, for the middle ones (Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd) up to 50% and for the group ...
This study presents a rapid and selective method for the recovery of lanthanides and yttrium, existing in economically interesting concentrations, from red mud, the byproduct of the alumina production. The leaching process is based on the extraction of these elements with diluted nitric acid from red mud under moderate conditions and without using any preliminary treatment. Several parameters such as leaching agents, contact time, temperature, pressure and solid to liquid ratio were investigated in order to achieve an optimum recovery. The process followed here was selected taking into account its efficiency for the selective recovery of yttrium and lanthanides, but also its suitability for the subsequent liquid-liquid extraction of the leaching solution for the separation of the individual lanthanides. The achieved recovery percentages were for Y about 90%, for the investigated heavy lanthanides (Dy, Er, Yb) up to 70%, for the middle ones (Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd) up to 50% and for the group ...
Cisplatin (cis-diaminedichloroplatinum [II] is a coordination compound, used in the treatment of several solid tumors. Cisplatin and its hydrolysis products exhibit a great pharmacological effect but are very toxic and probably carcinogenic. The present review summarizes the most important advances in the last years in the techniques employed for the detection and quantification of cisplatin and its hydrolysis products and in the different matrixes studied. The new emerging techniques and their modifications recently developed, fundamentally the combined use of detection and separation techniques for the analysis of platinum species and their impact on the speed, sensitivity and specificity of the analytical determination, with regard to the techniques used in the last century are discussed. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Capillary Electrophoresis, coupled with detection methods such as Mass Spectrometry, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry, ...
Application of electromagnetic forces to materials processing, so-called {open_quotes}electromagnetic processing of materials (EPM){close_quotes} has been recognized as cutting edge technology, especially in the fields of steelmaking and advanced materials processing in Japan. The history of EPM in Japan is mentioned and the background to promote EPM is described. The current status of research and development of EPM is shown briefly introducing several examples. Regarding the application of high-frequency magnetic field, two topics are dealt with. The first is the improvement of the surface quality of cast steel where an alternating magnetic field is imposed on the molten steel from the outside of the mold, and the second is the induction cold crucible where a considerably large amount of molten intermetallic compound is levitated. Examples of the application of DC magnetic field are the control of molten steel flow in a mold and the suppression of the mixing of ...
Quantitative estimates of lung cancer risk from exposure to diesel engine emissions were developed using data from three chronic bioassays with Fischer 344 rats. Human target organ dose was estimated with the aid of a comprehensive dosimetry model. This model accounted for rat-human differences in deposition efficiency, normal particle clearance rates, transport of particles to lung-associated lymph nodes, respiration rates, and lung surface area, as well as high-dose inhibition of particle clearance. Recent evidence indicates that the inert carbon core of the diesel particulate matter is likely to be the primary source of carcinogenicity. The epithelial tissue lining the alveoli and lower airways is the primary target site for induction of lung tumors. Dose was therefore based upon the concentration of carbon particulate matter per unit lung surface area. Unit risk estimates were developed using either a time-to-tumor or a linearized multistage model. The unit ...
In the fuel testing facilities of Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, the post-irradiation test of practical fuel used in nuclear power stations was begun in December, 1979, and the soundness of practical fuel has been confirmed, and the valuable post-irradiation test data on the behavior of fuel have been acquired. Recently, the heightening of fuel burnup has been advanced, and also in fuel testing facilities, the development and preparation of the post-irradiation testing facility required for examining in detail high burnup fuel have been carried out. The course of the installation of the post-irradiation testing facility and the outline of the facility are reported. As the preparation of the post-irradiation testing facility for high burnup fuel, a hyperfine hardness tester that measures dynamic hardness, the measuring instrument for pellet thermal diffusion rate by laser flash method, the measuring instrument for pellet melting point by high frequency ...
Estrogen metabolism is suggested to play an important role in estrogen-induced breast carcinogenesis. Epidemiologic studies suggest that diets rich in phytoestrogens are associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. Phytoestrogens are biologically active plant compounds that structurally mimic 17b-estradiol (E2). We hypothesize that phytoestrogens, may provide protection against breast carcinogenesis by altering the expression of estrogen-metabolizing enzymes cytochrome P450 1A1 (Cyp1A1) and 1B1 (Cyp1B1). Cyp1A1 and Cyp1B1 are responsible for the metabolism of E2 to generate 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2) and 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OHE2), respectively. Studies suggest that 2-OHE2 and 2-methoxyestradiol may protect against breast carcinogenesis, while 4-OHE2 is carcinogenic in rodent models....
Electron and ion beam dynamics of the PF-1000 facility were investigated for the first time at its upper energy limit (?1 MJ) in relation to neutron emission, the pinch's plasma ('target') characteristics and some other parameters with the help of a number of diagnostics with ns temporal resolution. Special attention was paid to the temporal and the spatial cross correlations of different phenomena. Results of these experiments are in favour of a neutron emission model based on ion beam-plasma interaction with three important features: (1) the plasma target is hot and confined during a few 'inertial confinement times'; (2) the ions of the main part of the beam are magnetized and entrapped around the pinch plasma target for a period longer than the characteristic time of the plasma inductive storage system and (3) ion-ion collisions (both fusion collisions, due to head-on impacts and Coulomb collisions) are responsible for neutron emission. Analysis has shown that ...
The Cement Bond Log Advisor is an expert system being developed to assist users in the design, evaluation, and interpretation of cement bond logs (CBL's). CBL's are produced by sonic tools run after the casing is cemented in a well to determine how well the cement is bonded to the casing and formation and whether a cement squeeze jog should be attempted. During the development of program, two particular challenges were encountered and resolved in ways that might be of general interest to developers of expert system applications for the petroleum industry. The first challenge was to find an efficient and effective method for guiding the user in correlating and interpreting the relationships between multiple sources of continuous visual data (the various waveforms making up the log output). Second, the nomographs, which correlate log amplitudes with cement compressive strength and are used in the log interpretation, were derive from empirical data and were not readily ...
Callus cultures of Calophyllum inophyllum were established using seed, nodal/ internodal and leaf explants on WPM basal medium supplemented with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), a-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid), and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) in different combinations and concentrations with the view to study the influence of hormones on callus induction and the pattern of expression of dipyranocoumarins including anti-HIV, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors inophyllum B and P in callus cultures. 96.01% seed explants, 87.50% nodal/internodal explants and 86.66% leaf explants were converted into calluses when inoculated on WPM supplemented with IBA 4.0mgl-1 along with BAP 1.0mgl-1, IBA 4.0mgl-1, and picloram 6.0mgl-1 along with BAP 2....
Inductively coupled plasma etching of InGaP, AlInP and AlGaP in BI{sub 3} or BBr{sub 3} discharges was investigated as a function of source power, dc chuck bias and plasma composition. InGaP etches at the fastest rates ({gt}6000thinsp{Angstrom}thinspmin{sup {minus}1}) in both chemistries, followed by AlGaP. It is found that AlInP provides an excellent etch stop for the other two materials in both mixtures. The InGaP surface morphology improves with increasing BI{sub 3} or BBr{sub 3} content, and with increasing dc chuck bias. The etched features for this material are highly anisotropic. Etch selectivities for InGaP over SiO{sub 2} and SiN{sub x} of {ge}8 are obtained in both plasma chemistries, and there is no etch incubation time with either mixture, indicating that both can scavenge the native oxide on InGaP, AlGaP and AlInP. {copyright} {ital 1998 American Vacuum Society.}
Inductively coupled plasma etching of InGaP, AlInP and AlGaP in BI_3 or BBr_3 discharges was investigated as a function of source power, dc chuck bias and plasma composition. InGaP etches at the fastest rates (>6000 Angstrom min"-"1) in both chemistries, followed by AlGaP. It is found that AlInP provides an excellent etch stop for the other two materials in both mixtures. The InGaP surface morphology improves with increasing BI_3 or BBr_3 content, and with increasing dc chuck bias. The etched features for this material are highly anisotropic. Etch selectivities for InGaP over SiO_2 and SiN_x of #>=#8 are obtained in both plasma chemistries, and there is no etch incubation time with either mixture, indicating that both can scavenge the native oxide on InGaP, AlGaP and AlInP. copyright 1998 American Vacuum Society.
In this paper we study different effects of excited molecules on swarm parameters, electron energy distribution functions and gas discharge modeling. First we discuss a possible experiment in parahydrogen to resolve the discrepancy in hydrogen vibrational excitation cross section data. Negative differential conductivity (NDC) is a kinetic phenomenon which manifests itself in a particular dependence of the drift velocity on E=N and it is affected by superelastic collisions with excited states. A complete kinetic scheme for argon required to model excited state densities in gas discharges is also described. These results are used to explain experiments in capacitively and inductively coupled RF plasmas used for processing. The paper illustrates the application of atomic and molecular collision data, swarm data and the theoretical techniques in modeling of gas discharges with large abundances of excited molecules. It is pointed out that swarm experiments with excited ...
RNA interference has become a powerful biological tool over the last decade. In this study, a tetracycline-inducible shRNA vector system was designed for silencing CFP expression and delivered alongside the yfp marker gene into Chinese hamster ovary cells using impalefection on spatially indexed vertically aligned carbon nanofiber arrays (VACNFs). The VACNF architecture provided simultaneous delivery of multiple genes, subsequent adherence and proliferation of interfaced cells, and repeated monitoring of single cells over time. Following impalefection and tetracycline induction, 53.1% 10.4% of impalefected cells were fully silenced by the inducible CFP-silencing shRNA vector. Additionally, efficient CFP-silencing was observed in single cells among a population of cells that remained CFP-expressing. This effective transient expression system enables rapid analysis of gene silencing effects using RNAi in single cells and cell populations.
Hydrolysis kinetics of the lead silicate glass (LSG) with 40 mol% PbO in 0.5 N HNO_3 aqueous acid solution was investigated. The surface morphology and the gel layer thickness were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP) were used to determine the composition of the gel layer and the aqueous solution, respectively. The silicon content of the dissolution products was determined by using weight-loss data and compositions of the gel layer and the solution. The kinetic parameters were determined using the shrinking-core-model (SCM) for rate controlling step. The activation energy obtained for hydrolysis reaction was Q_c_h_e = 56.07 kJ/mole. The diffusion coefficient of the Pb ions from the gel layer was determined by using its concentration in solution and in LSG. The shrinkage of the sample and the gel layer thickness during dissolution process were ...
The design and analysis of a high brightness electron beam experiment under construction at Sandia National Laboratory is presented. The beam energy is 12 MeV, the current 35 endash 40 kA, the rms radius 0.5 mm, and the pulse duration FWHM 40 ns. The accelerator is SABRE [J. Corley, J. A. Alexander, P. J. Pankuch, C. E. Heath, D. L. Johnson, J. J. Ramirez, and G. J. Denison, in Proceedings of the Eighth International IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, San Diego, California, 1991 (IEEE, New York, 1991), p. 920], a pulsed inductive voltage adder, and the electron source is a magnetically immersed foilless diode. This experiment has as its goal to stretch the technology to the edge and produce the highest possible electron current in a submillimiter radius beam. copyright 1996 American Institute of Physics.
Functionalizing nanoparticle surfaces is essential for achieving homogeneous dispersions of monodisperse particles in polymer nanocomposites for successful utilization in engineering applications. Functionalization reduces the surface energy of the nanoparticles, thereby limiting the tendency to agglomerate. Moreover, reactive groups on the surface can also participate in the polymerization, creating covalent bonds between the inorganic and organic phases. In this paper, a fluidized bed inductively coupled plasma (FB-ICP) reactor is used to break apart the agglomerates and functionalize commercial TiO2 nanoparticle powders in a batch of several grams. The fluidized bed could be implemented into a continuous flow reactor, potentially making this a viable method to treat larger quantities of commercial powders. The particles are treated with acrylic acid (AA) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) plasma and the functionalized particles were collected separately from ...
Our studies have shown that endotoxin intratracheally instilled into the rat lung induces proliferation of alveolar type II cells. In that study, the alveolar type II cells. In that study, the alveolar type II cell hyperplasia occurred 2 d after instillation of endotoxin and persisted for a further 2 d. After hyperplasia, the lung remodeled and returned to a normal state within 24-48 h. Understanding the mechanisms involved in the remodeling process of this transient hyperplasia may be useful to identify molecular changes that are altered in neoplasia. The purpose of the present study was to corroborate induction of epithelial cell hyperplasia by endotoxin and to delineate mechanisms involved in tissue remodeling after endotoxin-induced alveolar type II cell hyperplasia. In conclusion, immonostaining with cyclin D1 and cytokeratin shows that endotoxin induced epithelial cell proliferation and resulted in hyperplasia in the lung which persisted through 4 d ...
Diesel engines operating on gaseous fuels are commonly known as dual-fuel engines. In the present work, a single-cylinder, compression ignition, indirect injection research (Ricardo E6) engine has been installed at United Arab Emirates University for investigation of the exhaust emissions when the engine is operating as a dual-fuel engine. The influence of changes in major operating and design parameters, such as the concentration of gaseous fuel in the cylinder charge, pilot fuel quantity, injection timing and intake temperature, on the production of exhaust emissions was investigated. Diesel fuel was used as the pilot fuel, while methane or propane was used as the main fuel which was inducted in the intake manifold and mixed with the intake air. The experimental investigations showed that the poor emissions at light loads can be improved significantly by increasing the concentration of gaseous fuel (total equivalence ratio), employing a large pilot fuel quantity, ...
The accumulation of osmolytes in leaf tissues and the abscisic acid-induced stomatal closure are well-recognized mechanisms associated with drought tolerance in crop plants. We determine the response in terms of osmotic potential and the contents of leaf proline, glycine betaine and soluble sugar at booting and grain filling stages of four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars to drought and exogenously applied abscisic acid (ABA) in a pot study. Leaf sample were collected 3, 6 and 9 days after drought induction and at 48 and 72 h of re-watering (recovery). Marked decreases in osmotic potential associated with the accumulation of proline, glycine betaine and soluble sugars occurred under conditions of drought stress Accession 011320 was most sensitive to drought and showed the largest decrease in osmotic potential and least accumulation of proline, sugar and glycine betaine The inhibitory effects of drought stress were ameliorated by exogenous application of ABA. ...
Development status of small direct injection diesel engine at Isuzu Motors Ltd. is reviewed. There is much difficulty in combustion optimization of small DI engines, due to small combustion chamber volume, large surface to volume ratio, wide engine speed range and so on. Novel ideas in the area of injection system, combustion chamber and induction swirl were tried to solve these problems and their effects are presented here. Our prototype DI engines which adopted some of these ideas has turned out to have better fuel economy by about 15 percent, 2 - 3 dB(A) higher noise level than IDI and almost the same power output performance as IDI. As to exhaust emissions, they have a possibility to conform to '86 California emission standards, in inertia weight classes up to 2625 LBS. The remaining problem areas are noise emission, durability of injection pump and cabin heater performance. These problems must be solved by further innovation, before DI engines will be ...
Fe-Cr-Mn stainless steel is one of the candidate materials for the 1`st wall materials and structural applications of fusion reactor as regards reduced radioactivation properties than Fe-Cr-Ni austenitic stainless steels. This report deals with the effects of annealing and aging heat treatment on the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Fe-Cr-Mn alloys varying Mn and W contents, which were made using vacuum high frequency induction furnace. Increasing Mn contents, austenite phase was increased, and maximum .epsilon. martensite phase was formed at about 21% Mn. W-addition made small amount of ferrite phase in the matrix, and the ferrite contents were increased with raising annealing temperature. Increased Mn contents reduced tensile stress and yield stress but increased the elongation. W-addition raised the high temperature tensile properties. The variation of Mn contents had no influenced on corrosion resistance. However, W-addition ...
A highly reliable screening method was developed for the determination of lead in tin plated layers and tin-bismuth plated layers. The contents of lead in the layers of the various samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The calibration curve for lead in the tin and tin-bismuth plated layers by using WD-XRF exhibited linear correlation from 130 #mu#g/g to 2070 #mu#g/g. Calibration curve of lead normalized with Pb-L#alpha#/Sn-K#alpha# intensity was more linear, and this method was possible to evaluate very small sample. The calibration curve for lead in the tin plated layers by using ED-XRF was good linearly, but it for lead in the tin-bismuth plated layers was affected by Pb-L#alpha# spectrum and Bi-L#alpha# spectrum overlap each other. It was effective for decreasing affect of Bi-L#alpha# spectrum by using curve fitting method. (author)
In searching modulators of immunity and hematopoiesis among natural products, being used as foods, six herbs exhibited lymphocyte proliferation in vitro, and six exhibited augmentation of hematopoietic cell growth. The combined treatments showed synergistic effects of lymphocyte proliferation and of hematopoietic cell growth. On the other hand, we found four effective oriental medicinal prescriptions, used as energy tonic or blood-building decoctions, for survival and regeneration of hematopoietic cells and for protection of stem cells of intestinal crypt in irradiated mice. On the basis of these results, extracts from combinations of herbs were made in expectation of higher effects in the three respects. In immuno modulation activity by the two combinations of herbs was confirmed in mice. In culture of bone narrow cells, growth improvement of non-adherent precursor and induction of cytokine expression by herb mixture extracts were observed. In evaluation of ...
In this paper the authors present a design study on the longitudinal dynamics of a relativistic klystron two-beam accelerator (RK-TBA) scheme which has been proposed as a power source candidate for a 1 TeV next linear collider (NLC). They address the issue of maintaining stable power output at desired level for a 300-m long TBA with 150 extraction cavities and present their simulation results to demonstrate that it can be achieved by inductively detuning the extraction cavities to counter the space charge debunching effect on the drive beam. They then carry out simulation study to show that the beam bunches desired by the RK-TBA can be efficiently obtained by first chopping an initially uniform beam of low energy into a train of beam bunches with modest longitudinal dimension and then using the open-quotes adiabatic captureclose quotes scheme to bunch and accelerate these beam bunches into tight bunches at the operating energy of the drive beam. The authors have ...
Relativistic electron beams are used for generating high power microwaves. These microwave sources require electron beam generators spanning significant ranges in voltage and impedance. The pulsed power technology used to generate these electron beams is presented. Electron beam generators that produce beams with pulse durations in the 10-ns to 100-ns regime consist of an energy-storage section, pulse-shaping section, and an electron beam diode. The energy-storage section is either a Marx generator or capacitor bank-pulsed transformer. The pulse shaping is done with high-voltage transmission lines. The electron beam diode is usually a cold-cathode, space-charge-limited flow device. For longer pulses (/approximately/1 ..mu..s) the energy storage and pulse chaping can be combined. Lumped-element pulse-forming networks (PFN) can be designed to produce the desired pulse shape. The Marx generator becomes one of the elements of the PFN. Alternatively, a low voltage PFN followed by a highly ...
Relativistic electron beams are used for generating high power microwaves. These microwave sources require electron beam generators spanning significant ranges in voltage and impedance. The pulsed power technology used to generate these electron beams is presented. Electron beam generators that produce beams with pulse durations in the 10 ns to 100 ns regime consist of an energy storage section, pulse shaping section, and an electron beam diode. The energy storage section is either a Marx generator or capacitor bank-pulsed transformer. The pulse shaping is done with high-voltage transmission lines. The electron beam diode is usually a cold-cathode, space-charge-limited flow device. For longer pulses (approx.1 ..mu..s) the energy storage and pulse shaping can be combined. Lumped-element pulsed-forming networks (PFN) can be designed to produce the desired pulse shape. The Marx generator becomes one of the elements of the PFN. Alternatively, a low voltage PFN followed by a highly coupled ...
Data mining is a useful decision support technique that can be used to discover production rules in warehouses or corporate data. Data mining research has made much effort to apply various mining algorithms efficiently on large databases. However, a serious problem in their practical application is the long processing time of such algorithms. Nowadays, one of the key challenges is to integrate data mining methods within the framework of traditional database systems. Indeed, such implementations can take advantage of the efficiency provided by SQL engines. In this paper, we propose an integrating approach for decision trees within a classical database system. In other words, we try to discover knowledge from relational databases, in the form of production rules, via a procedure embedding SQL queries. The obtained decision tree is defined by successive, related relational views. Each view corresponds to a given population in the underlying decision tree. We selected the classical ...
As lithium battery technology sets out to bridge the gap between portable electronics and the electrical automotive industry, cathode materials still stand as the bottleneck regarding performances. In the realm of highly attractive polyanion-type structures as high-voltage cathode materials, the sulfate group (SO{sub 4}){sup 2-} possesses an acknowledged superiority over other contenders in terms of open circuit voltage arising from the inductive effect of strong covalent S-O bonds. In parallel, novel lithium insertion mechanisms are providing alternatives to traditional intercalation, enabling reversible multi-electron processes securing high capacities. Combining both of these advantageous features, we report here the successful electrochemical reactivity of copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO{sub 4}.5H{sub 2}O) with respect to lithium insertion via a two-electron displacement reaction entailing the extrusion of metallic copper at a dual voltage of 3.2 V and 2.7 V ...
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence suggests that various epigenetic aberrations play definite roles in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. We investigated the histone acetylation status in endometriosis and the application of the histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) for the treatment of endometriosis. METHODS The levels of acetylated histones in the endometriotic cyst stromal cells (ECSCs) and normal endometrial stromal cells (NESCs) were evaluated. The effects of the HDACIs on cell proliferation, the cell cycle, apoptosis of ECSCs and NESCs, and the expression of genes related to these cellular events were investigated. The effects of HDACIs on histone acetylation in chromatin of the promoter region of the cell cycle regulatory genes in ECSCs were also investigated. RESULTS The acetylated histone levels were significantly lower in ECSCs than in NESCs (P endometriosis and that HDACIs reactivated epigenetically silenced genes, resulting in the suppression of cell proliferation, ...
A few papers have been interested by the fixed switching frequency direct torque control fed by direct matrix converters, where we can find just the use of direct torque controlled space vector modulated method. In this present paper, we present an improved method used for a fixed switching frequency direct torque control (DTC) using a direct matrix converter (DMC). This method is characterized by a simple structure, a fixed switching frequency which causes minimal torque ripple and a unity input power factor. Using this strategy, we combine the direct matrix converters advantages with those of direct torque control (DTC) schemes. The used technique for constant frequency is combined with the input current space vector to create the switching table of direct matrix converter (DMC). Simulation results clearly demonstrate a better dynamic and steady state performances of the proposed method.
Divided into three sections, this paper briefly presents Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning; surveys some key research relating childrearing practices to adolescents' social competence, including moral reasoning; and reports research findings concerning the value systems adolescents develop. The first section characterizes preconventional, conventional, and postconventional morality and explores ways of promoting the development of a mature concept of justice, which includes role taking and living in a "just community." The second section focuses on aspects of social learning, which include authoritative parenting, inductive discipline, argumentative discourse, and tradition-based upbringing. In addition, this section explores socialization practices that hinder the development of mature moral reasoning. Focusing initially on characteristics of alienated youth and parental influences on such youth, the third section describes studies investigating the values ...
Unipolar induction (UI) is a fundamental physical process, which occurs when a conducting body transverses a magnetic field. It has been suggested that UI is operating in RX J0806+15 and RX J1914+24, which are believed to be ultra-compact binaries with orbital periods of 5.4 min and 9.6 min respectively. The UI model predicts that those two sources may be electron cyclotron maser sources at radio wavelengths. Other systems in which UI has been predicted to occur are short period extra-solar terrestrial planets with conducting cores. If UI is present, circularly polarised radio emission is predicted to be emitted. We have searched for this predicted radio emission from short period binaries using the VLA and ATCA. In one epoch we find evidence for a radio source, coincident in position with the optical position of RX J0806+15. Although we cannot completely exclude that this is a chance alignment between the position of RX J0806+15 and an artifact in the data ...
LEDF(Large Equipment Dismantling Facility) is the solid waste processing technology development facility that carries out high-volume reduction and low dosage processing. The high-volume reduction processing of the high dose {alpha}-waste configured with combustible waste, pvc and rubber, spent ion exchange resin, and noncombustible waste have been planned the incinerating and melting facility using the in-can type high frequency induction heating in LEDF. This test is intended to clarify the design data. It was confirmed that the incinerating and melting performance, molten solid properties and exhaust gas processing performance with pilot testing equipment and bench scale equipment. The result of this test are as follows. 1. Processing speed is 6.7 kg/h for the combustible waste, 13.0 kg/h for the ion exchange resin, and 30.0 kg/h for the noncombustible waste. For above optimum processing conditions are as follows. Operating temperature is 1000degC for the ...
There is a lot of interest in the studies that would help to understand whether there is a casual association between cancer and various types of molecular or cytogenetic damage detected in human cells. One major oncogenesis process is activation of proto-oncogenes by point mutations or chromosomal translocation. There are substantial evidence that indicates that the loss of heterozygosity of certain chromosomes is involved in human cancerogenesis. Our study aimed to elicit the possible association between cancer and DNA and cytogenetic abnormalities induced in lymphocytes of people bearing various categories of skin cancer cells. Fresh blood was collected by venipuncture from 25 individuals (including nine prior to cancer treatment). All patients were nonsmoking males, however 42.3 % of them were former smokers. Blood samples were divided into two parts and in the first part of samples cytogenetic studies were performed immediately, while from the second part lymphocytes were isolated ...
The herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK) reporter system is being used to directly and indirectly monitor therapeutic gene expression, immune cell trafficking and protein-protein interactions in various living animals. However, the issues of HSV1-TK enzyme stability in living cells and whether this reporter system is optimal for dynamic studies of gene expression events in genetic imaging have not be addressed. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the application of this reporter system in dynamic studies of transcriptional gene regulation. To achieve this purpose, we established two tetracycline-inducible murine sarcoma cell lines, tetracycline-turn-off HSV1-tk-expressing cell line (NG4TL4/tet-off-HSV1-tk) and tetracycline-turn-off Luc-expressing cell line (NG4TL4/tet-off-Luc), to create an artificially regulated gene expression model in vitro. The dynamic transcriptional events mediating a series of doxycycline (Dox) inductions were ...
Most countries have taken the vitrification route for managing High Level Waste (HLW). Depending on composition of site-specific HLW, suitable glass forming oxides are added to it in a melting furnace designed for converting the mixture to a matrix of borosilicate glass. After thorough homogenization, the product is poured into stainless steel canisters as an inert solidified form. Canisters are seal welded and 2-3 such containers are then packed and sealed in another bigger container for providing an additional engineered barrier. This product form is considered safe for long-term storage. The concurrent vitrification technologies employ either induction-heated metallic melters or joule-heated direct resistance-heated ceramic melters. In India, both technologies have been adopted. While older facilities in Trombay and Tarapur employ metallic melters, a retrofitted facility at Tarapur and the new plant at Kalpakkam are based on ceramic melter operations. Compared ...
The application of the large-bore direct injection high efficiency nebulizer (LB-DIHEN) for the determination of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) in urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is described. The LB-DIHEN is compared with the standard method using a concentric pneumatic nebulizer and cyclonic spray chamber. In addition to the toxicological significance of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg, these elements represent a cross-section of analytical issues including spectral interferences (e.g., {sup 40}Ar{sup 35}Cl{sup +} on {sup 75}As{sup +} and {sup 98}Mo{sup 16}O{sup +} on {sup 114}Cd{sup +}) and memory effects (Hg). In this study, the low sample consumption of the LB-DIHEN is used to reduce the volume of urine needed for analysis, and to reduce the volume of final diluted sample required for analysis. Eliminating the spray chamber and reducing the dead volume of the nebulizer reduces memory effects, especially for analytes ...
Purpose: Radiotherapy (RT) has been the predominant local treatment for Ewing's sarcoma of bone at the University of Florida. Twice-daily hyperfractionated RT was initiated in 1982 to improve local control and functional outcome. This retrospective review compares the results of once-daily vs. twice-daily RT in patients with primary Ewing's sarcoma of an extremity, with emphasis on functional outcome. Methods and Materials: Between June 1971 and January 1990, 37 patients were treated at the University of Florida for nonmetastatic Ewing's sarcoma of bone with a primary lesion in an extremity. Three patients underwent amputation. Of 34 patients treated with RT, 31 had RT alone and 3 had a combination of RT and local excision. Before 1982, 14 patients received once-daily RT; since 1982, 17 patients have received twice-daily RT. Doses of once-daily RT varied from 47 to 61 Gy at 1.8-2 Gy per fraction. Doses of twice-daily RT varied, depending on the response of the soft-tissue component of ...
Purpose/Objective: The role of programmed cell death (apoptosis) as a cellular response to cancer therapy such as radiation or chemotherapy is the subject of much study, and manipulation of the apoptotic response in tumor cells may be valuable in the treatment of a variety of cancers. Both p53 dependent and independent apoptotic pathways have been identified; p53 is mutated in at least 50 % of human cancers and a majority of radiation resistant tumors contain p53 mutations. This study is designed to examine the induction of programmed cell death in a human colon carcinoma cell line that possesses two mutated p53 alleles. Ionizing radiation alone, or in combination with the chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), were used to elicit the apoptotic response. This study will focus on whether these treatments can induce a significant apoptotic response in cells that have mutated p53 alleles. Materials and Methods: HT-29 cells were assessed for clonogenic survival ...
In 1999, the plasma parameters of reversed shear (RS) plasmas had been extended in 1) DT-equivalent fusion power gain Q_D_T"e"q - 0.5 (n_D(0)#tau#_ET_i(0) - 4x10"2"0 m"-"3#centre dot#keV#centre dot#s) for 0.8 s and 2) full non-inductive current drive with 80% of the bootstrap current fraction. Physics of the internal transport barriers (ITBs) in RS plasmas, including the energy transport and the formation of ITB, were extensively studied. A nearly full current drive (92% non-inductively) was obtained with negative ion based neutral beam (NNB) injection (360 keV, 3.4 MW) in a high #beta#_p H-mode plasma (I_p=1.5 MA, B_T=3.7 T, q_9_5=4.2) with high plasma performance (#beta#_N=2.4 and H_8_9=2.56). Rise in the central electron temperature (T_e - 9 keV) resulted in the current drive efficiency #eta#_C_D of NNB reached 1.3x10"1"9 A/W/m"2, the highest for the neutral beam current drive. As for the H-mode plasmas, decrease in the pedestal ion ...
Purpose: To determine if involved field radiation (IF) is equivalent to standard whole bone radiation (SF) in local tumor control; to establish patterns of failure following treatment; and to determine response, event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival rates from multidisciplinary therapy in Ewing's sarcoma. Methods and Materials: Between 1983 and 1988, 184 children with Ewing's sarcoma were enrolled onto Pediatric Oncology Group 8346 (POG 8346). A total of 178 (97%) met eligibility criteria; 6 had pathology other than Ewing's sarcoma. Induction chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin (adriamycin )(C/A) x 12 weeks was followed by local treatment either surgery or radiation therapy and C/A, dactinomycin, and vincristine for 50 weeks. Resection was advised for patients with small primary tumors if accomplished without functional loss. Forty patients were randomized to receive SF, whole bone radiation to 39.6 Gy plus a 16.2 Gy boost (total 55.8 Gy) or IF ...
Purpose: To determine if involved field radiation (IF) is equivalent to standard whole bone radiation (SF) in local tumor control; to establish patterns of failure following treatment; and to determine response, event free (EFS) and overall survival rates from multi-disciplinary therapy in Ewing's Sarcoma (ES). Materials and Methods: Between 1983 and 1988, 184 children with ES were enrolled onto POG 8346. 178 (97%) met eligibility criteria; 6 had non-ES pathology. Induction treatment of Cyclophosphamide/Adriamycin (C/A) x 12 weeks was followed by local treatment either surgery or radiation therapy (XRT) and C/A, Dactinomycin and Vincristine for 50 weeks. Resection was advised for patients with small primary tumors if accomplished without functional loss. 40 patients were randomized to receive SF, whole bone XRT to 39.6 Gy plus a 16.2 Gy boost (total 55.8 Gy) or IF to 55.8 Gy while 84 were assigned to IF XRT. Results: Of 179 eligible patients, 141 (79%) had ...
Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) entry into target cell is initiated by the ionic interactions between positively charged viral envelop glycoproteins and a negatively charged cell surface heparan sulfate (HS). This first step involves the induction of HS-rich filopodia-like structures on the cell surface that facilitate viral transport during cell entry. Targeting this initial first step in HSV-1 pathogenesis, we generated different zinc oxide (ZnO) micro-nano structures (MNSs) that were capped with multiple nanoscopic spikes mimicking cell induced filopodia. These MNSs were predicted to target the virus to compete for its binding to cellular HS through their partially negatively charged oxygen vacancies on their nanoscopic spikes, to affect viral entry and subsequent spread. Our results demonstrate that the partially negatively charged ZnO-MNSs efficiently trap the virions via a novel virostatic mechanism rendering them unable to enter into human corneal ...
The authors have demonstrated that induction of mitogenesis in human T lymphocytes is associated with the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 66KD soluble substrate-TPP 66. Since DMSO has been shown to be a non-specific stimulator of tyrosine protein kinases they have examined the effect of DMSO on both activation and tyrosine phosphorylation in human T cells. Human peripheral blood T lymphocytes were isolated by dextran sedimentation, Ficol/Paque centrifugation and nylon wool filtration. Phosphorylation was performed in cells incubated with ["3"2P] orthophosphate followed by DMSO for 30 min. TPP 66 was identified by 2-D PAGE, autoradiography, and HV electrophoresis of the hydrolyzed protein. Concentrations of DMSO from 1% to 50% induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of TPP 66 with maximal stimulation seen at 20%. DMSO alone did not activate the T cells (measured by ["3H] thymidine incorporation) when tested at high concentrations for 30 sec to 10 min. (longer incubations ...
Effect of low-frequency pulsating magnetic field on the microstructure and magnetic properties of amorphous alloy Fe{sub 78}Si{sub 9}B{sub 13} were investigated. The temperature rise induced by the treatment was measured by a non-contact infrared thermometer. The crystallization behavior and microstructure of specimens were studied by Moessbauer spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Magnetic properties of the specimens were investigated by alternating gradient magnetometer (AGM). The results show that the low-frequency pulsating magnetic field can promote the single-phase crystallization of amorphous alloy Fe{sub 78}Si{sub 9}B{sub 13}. The frequency, f of applied field is from 10 to 40 Hz, magnetic field, H is from 0.02 to 0.04 T and treatment duration, t is from 180-300 s. The volume fraction of crystallization phase ({alpha}-Fe(Si), the grain size, 2-10 nm) is 3-7%. The temperature rise less than 7 deg. C. Magnetic properties of samples are improved by magnetic ...
Three CRMs of plant origin (SRM 1515 Apple Leaves, SRM 1570a Trace Elements in Spinach Leaves, and SRM 1575 Pine Needles) were used for analytical quality assurance of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, and Pb determination by ICP-MS. The samples were decomposed using microwave assisted pressurized digestion by HNO_3 and HNO_3 + H_2O_2 mixture and temperature programmed dry ashing. Concentrations of elements in samples were evaluated by external calibration. All samples, blanks, and standards were spiked to 100 #mu#g/L concentration of In and Bi as internal standards. During the measurement, signals of "5"2Cr, "5"3Cr, "5"4Fe, "5"5Mn, "5"9Co, "6"0Ni, "6"2Ni, "6"3Cu, "6"5Cu, "6"6Zn, "9"5Mo, "1"1"1Cd, "1"1"2Cd, "1"1"5In, "2"0"6Pb, "2"0"7Pb, "2"0"8Pb and "2"0"9Bi were monitored. Results of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Mo and Co determination were in good agreement with certified values. In order to obtain accurate results for As at low levels, it was necessary to mathematically correct the ...
A new emissivity measurement device with inductive sample heating is described. The disc shaped samples can be measured between 800 C and 2000 C in vacuum or in each available gas atmosphere. Two kinds of surface temperature measurement methods are described, one by measuring in a blackbody hole and one by measuring at the surface without additional measures to correct emissivity. Total normal and spectral emissivity at wavelengths between 0,5 {mu}m and 8,3 {mu}m of various high temperature materials like platinum and Pt-Rh-alloys, siliconcarbide and molybdenum disilicide have been measured. From the investigated materials a few have been selected as reference samples for comparative emissivity measurements fullfilling the requirement of stability on air up to 400 C to 1000 C in order to ensure reproducibility of the results at different measurement conditions in air and in vacuum. (orig.) [Deutsch] Der Aufbau einer neuen Messapparatur fuer Emissionsgradmessungen ...
The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75"N"T"R) is a death receptor which belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor super-family of membrane proteins. This study shows that p75"N"T"R retarded cell cycle progression by induced accumulation of cells in G0/G1 and a reduction in the S phase of the cell cycle. The rescue of tumor cells from cell cycle progression by a death domain deleted (#DELTA#DD) dominant-negative antagonist of p75"N"T"R showed that the death domain transduced anti-proliferative activity in a ligand-independent manner. Conversely, addition of NGF ligand rescued retardation of cell cycle progression with commensurate changes in components of the cyclin/cdk holoenzyme complex. In the absence of ligand, p75"N"T"R-dependent cell cycle arrest facilitated an increase in apoptotic nuclear fragmentation of the prostate cancer cells. Apoptosis of p75"N"T"R expressing cells occurred via the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway leading to a sequential caspase-9 and -7 cascade. Since the ...
Metabolic profile is an important biological marker of neoplastic processes not only in the tumor itself but also in the host organism. The neuro-hormone melatonin has been implicated in the experiments as an oncostatic agent. Female Wistar:Han SPF rats (Velaz, Prague, Czech Republic) were irradiated continuously for 15 days using a daily gamma rays dose of 96 mGy. At the end of exposure one group of rats was administered 5 mg/kg b.w. of dimethylbenz/a/anthracene (DMBA) intragastrically. During the period of exposure to ionizing radiation a part of the animals was supplied with melatonin (M) at a concentration of 20 #mu#l/ml in drinking water. Selected parameters of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and levels of selected hormones were determined 2, 30 and 100 days post-irradiation. The irradiation itself caused only small changes in tissue lipids. The application of a single low dose (subthreshold from the point of view of induction of mammary tumors) of DMBA ...
The IRG protein Irgm3 preserves cell survival during coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection. However, the molecular mechanisms are not clear. Here, we examined the effect of Irgm3 expression on ER stress triggered by pharmacological agents or CVB3 infection. In Tet-On/Irgm3 HeLa cells, Irgm3 expression suppressed either chemical- or CVB3-induced upregulation of glucose-regulated protein78. Further, Irgm3 strongly inhibited the activation of both the PERK and ATF6 pathways of ER stress responses, which further led to the diminished phosphorylation of eIF2?, reduced cleavage/activation of transcription factor SREBP1 and attenuated induction of proapoptotic genes CHOP and GADD34. These data were further supported by experiments using Irgm3 knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts, in which the ER stress induced by CVB3 was not relieved due to the lack of Irgm3 expression. In addition, the tunicamycin-triggered ER stress promoted the subsequent CVB3 infection. The effect of ...
Although polybrominated naphthalenes (PBNs) are contaminants of the commercial fire retardant fireMaster BP-6, the individual PBN isomers have not been identified. In order to study PBNs possessing an analogous level of bromination to those found in fireMaster BP-6, three synthetic PBN mixtures, averaging 5.0, 5.3, and 5.6 bromines per naphthalene were synthetized and partially characterized. The PBN mixtures were administered to immature male Wistar rats and found to be potent inducers of cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases. At the lowest dose tested, 30 mumol X kg-1, each PBN mixture caused maximal induction of benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase activity. On the basis of enzyme activities, ligand-binding spectra and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the PBN mixtures were determined to be 3-methylcholanthrene-type inducers of cytochrome P-450 (P-448), resembling qualitatively the most toxic polyhalogenated biphenyls, dibenzofurans, and ...
Methods currently being used or developed for the elemental analysis of materials are chemical analysis, non-destructive inspection and calorimetry. The chemical analysis, which removes high-level radioactive elements through chemical treatments and then performs the quantitative analysis using the ICP-MS(Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometer) or the ID-MS(Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometer), is recognized the most accurate. However, it requires a long, complex pre-treatment process in which a mass spectrometer could be contaminated. To solve this problem, a new method, which can be performed with high-level radioactivity and at high temperature, was desired. Such a method should also have the same accuracy as the chemical analysis, with a less possibility for instruments to be contaminated. In addition, as interests in the environment and the life quality are increased, a detailed analysis on the environmental impacts is also required. Satisfying all of ...
In the present paper the contamination levels of trace and toxic metals in drinking water collected from Tarapur industrial area, Thane were investigated. The concentrations of trace and toxic metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Se, V, Zn, Mn, Mo, Co, As and Ba) were determined simultaneously using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results were compared with international water quality guidelines (WHO, 2008) and were found within the permissible limits. The quality assurance was checked by standard addition method and spike recovery. The concentration of Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Se, V, Zn, Mn, Mo, Co, As and Ba varies from 4.25-19.62 #mu#g/L, 0.13-1.49 #mu#g/L, 0.60-65.55 #mu#g/L, 0.46-4.15 #mu#g/L, <0.1 #mu#g/L, 0.5- 9.35 #mu#g/L, <0.5 #mu#g/L, 3.41-99.64 #mu#g/L, 0.80-9.62 #mu#g/L, 0.30-1.48 #mu#g/L, <0.1-0.90 #mu#g/L, <0.63 #mu#g/L and 0.71-9.0 #mu#g/L respectively. Similarly Na, K, Ca and Mg varies from 8.83-61.54 mg/L, ...
Embryos of chicken (Gallus domesticus), domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos), and common eider duck (Somateria mollissima) were exposed in ovo to PCBs and to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Two coplanar PCBs, 3,3{prime},4,4{prime}-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB {number_sign}77) and 3,3{prime},4,4{prime},5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB {number_sign}126), were considerably more lethal and potent as inducers of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) in chicken embryos (Gallus domesticus) than in embryos of the other two species. In chicken embryos, these compounds caused edema and eye and beak deformities. An artificial mixture of 18 PAHs which all have been detected in environmental samples, was slightly more toxic to embryos of the domestic duck and the common eider duck than to chicken embryos. The most potent compound in the mixture was benzo(k)fluoranthene. When chicken embryo livers were exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in vitro, EROD was induced by very low concentrations ...
''Magnetic braking'' of the plasma toroidal rotation in the high confinement H mode by applied resonant, low m,n=1 static error fields is used in DIII-D [Nucl. Fusion 31, 875 (1991)] as an independent control to evaluate the E_rxB stabilization of microturbulence in the plasma core. In the core (#rho# approx-lt 0.9) of a tokamak, the radial electric field and its shear are dominated by toroidal rotation. The fundamental quantity for shear stabilization of microturbulence is shear in the velocity of the fluctuations v_p_e_r_p_e_n_d_i_c_u_l_a_r#approx#E_rxB/B#centre dot#B which in the core is v_p_e_r_p_e_n_d_i_c_u_l_a_r#approx#v_#phi#B_#theta#/ B_#phi#. With magnetic braking greatly decreasing the toroidal rotation and thus reducing the core radial electric field and shear, far infrared (FIR) measurements of density microturbulence show downshifting in frequency near #rho##approx#0.8 as a result of the reduced Doppler shift (#omega##approx#k_#theta#E_r/B_#phi#) and a factor of 2 increase ...
Multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) are three dimensional cell culture systems induced by suspension culture. MCTS are widely used in cancer research because of their similarity to solid tumors. CaSki cells are derived from a metastatic cervical cancer containing human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16). Cell death of CaSki cells in MCTS has been previously reported, and our model is used to better characterize the mechanisms of cell death of HPV16-positive keratinocytes. In this study, we found that apoptosis of CaSki cells was induced by suspension culture along with the formation of MCTS after 24 h of incubation. In suspended CaSki cells, monoclonal antibodies blocking E-cadherin function inhibited MCTS formation and suppressed suspension-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot for E-cadherin detected upregulation of the authentic 120 kDa band from MCTS of CaSki cells as well as a shorter 100 kDa band. Addition of EGF, whose receptor is known to form a complex with ...
Coilguns have demonstrated their capability to launch projectiles to 1 km/s, and there is interest in their application for long-range precision strike weapons. However, the incorporation of cooling systems for repetitive operation will impact the mechanical design and response of the future coils. To assess the impact of such changes, an evaluation of the ruggedness and reliability of the existing 50 mm bore coil designed in 1993 was made by repeatedly testing at stress levels associated with operation in a coilgun. A two-coil testbed has been built with a static projectile where each coil is energized by its own capacitor bank. Simulation models of the applied forces generated in this testbed have been created with the SLINGSHOT circuit code to obtain loads equivalent to the worst-case anticipated in a 50 mm coilgun that could launch a 236 g projectile to 2 km/s. Bench measurements of the seven remaining coils built in 1993 have been used to evaluate which coils were viable for ...
The epidermal compartment is complex and organized into several strata composed of keratinocytes (KCs), including basal, spinous, granular, and cornified layers. The continuous process of self-renewal and barrier formation is dependent on a homeostatic balance achieved amongst KCs involving proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. To determine genes responsible for initiating and maintaining a cornified epidermis, organotypic cultures comprised entirely of stratified KCs creating epidermal equivalents (EE) were raised from a submerged state to an air/liquid (A/L) interface. Compared to the array profile of submerged cultures containing KCs predominantly in a proliferative (relatively undifferentiated) state, EEs raised to an A/L interface displayed a remarkably consistent and distinct profile of mRNAs. Cultures lifted to an A/L interface triggered the induction of gene groups that regulate proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Next, differentially ...
Compounds isolated from Magnolia officinalis such as magnolol, honokiol and obovatol exhibit several pharmacological effects on CNS including depressant, anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects, as well as neuroprotective effects against chemical and heat damages. Recently, honokiol was found to have a neurotrophic effect in fetal rat cortical neurons. In the present study, we show that 4-O-methylhonokiol, a novel compound from Magnolia officinalis, promotes neurite outgrowth in a concentration- dependent manner in rat embryonic neuronal cells. In parallel with the neurite outgrowth activity, the expression of neurite outgrowth marker proteins is also increased by treatment with 4-O-methylhonokiol. We also found that 4-O-methylhonokiol promotes the release of NGF and BDNF into cell culture medium. In addition, lower concentration of 4-O-methylhonokiol (1 and 2 lM) further enhanced neurite outgrowth and expression of neurite outgrowth marker proteins in the presence of NGF (50 ng/ml) or ...
Ramsar, a city in the northern Iran, has the highest level of natural background radiation in the world. It has been clearly shown that low doses of ionising radiation can induce resistance to subsequent higher exposures. This phenomenon is termed radioadaptive response. We have compared induction of cytogenetic radioadaptive response by High Natural Background Radiation (HNBR) in Ramsar and X-ray occupational exposure as conditioning doses in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. 30 healthy control individuals, living in Ramsar but in normal background radiation areas, 15 healthy individuals from Talesh Mahalleh, a region with extraordinary high level of background radiation, and 7 X-ray radiographers working in Ramsar hospital located in normal natural background ionising radiation area were evaluated. Peripheral blood samples were prepared and exposed to challenge dose of 0 and 2 Gy. Lymphocytes were scored using analysis of metaphase, for the presence of ...
The objective of the current study was the gradual development of the formation of the nitride layer during inductive r.f. plasma nitriding. The study centers on characterization of refined layers and plasma diagnostics in the vicinity of the sample, and raises critical questions of how the layers and interfacial microstructure might affect the near-surface properties. The composition of the plasma near the surface of the sample (plasma layer) was examined by optical emission spectroscopy and mass spectrometry during plasma nitriding and while sputtering the sample after the nitriding process. It was observed that during the nitriding process, the plasma layer contains Ti, NH[sub n] species, N (or/and N[sup +]), H[sub n] species (or/and H[sup +][sub 2]). However, when the nitrided sample was exposed to argon plasma, Ti, Al and NH were observed. It was found that two distinct sublayers, comprising [delta]-TiN and [delta]-TiN + [epsilon]-Ti[sub 2]N phases, were ...
Alloys from the Gd{sub 4}(Bi{sub x}Sb{sub 1{minus}x}){sub 3} series were prepared by melting a stoichiometric amounts of pure metals in an induction furnace. The crystal structure is of the anti-Th{sub 3}P{sub 4} type (space group I{bar 4}3d) for all the compounds tested. The linear increase of the lattice parameters with Bi concentration is attributed to the larger atomic radius of Bi than that of Sb. Magnetic measurements show that the alloys order ferromagnetically from 266K to 330K, with the ordering temperature increasing with decreasing Bi concentration. The alloys are soft ferromagnets below their Curie temperatures, and follow the Curie-Weiss law above their ordering temperatures. The paramagnetic effective magnetic moments are low compared to the theoretical value for a free Gd{sup 3+}, while the ordered magnetic moments are close to the theoretical value for Gd. The alloys exhibit a moderate magnetocaloric effect (MCE) whose maxima are located between ...
We have observed significant differences in the response to ionizing radiation of two closely related human cell lines, and now compare the effects on these lines of both low and intermediate LET radiation. Compared to TK6, WTK1 has an enhanced X-ray survival, and is also more resistant to cell killing by {alpha}-particles. The hprt locus is more mutable in WTK1 than in TK6 by both X-rays and {alpha}-particles. WTK1 is also more mutable by {alpha}-particles than by X-rays at the hprt locus. X-ray-induced mutation at the heterozygous tk locus in WTK1 is about 25 fold higher than in TK6, while {alpha}-particle-induced mutation is nearly 50 fold higher at this locus. Also, the slowly growing tk- mutants, which comprise the majority of spontaneous and X-ray-induced tk- mutants of TK6, were not induced significantly by {alpha}-particles. Previously, we showed that TK6 has a reduced capacity for recombination compared with WTK1, and therefore, these results indicate that recombinational ...
Twenty-four high-risk Ewing's sarcoma patients were treated on an intensive combined modality protocol including low-dose fractionated total body irradiaiton (TBI) and autologous bone marrow infusion (ABMI). Twenty patients (83%) achieved a complete clinical response to the primary and/or metastatic sites following induction therapy. The median disease-free interval was 18 months, and nine patients remain disease-free with a follow-up of 22 to 72 months. Local failure as a manifestation of initial relapse occurred in only three patients (15%), each having synchronous distant failure. Eight patients failed initially with only distant metastases, usually within 1-2 years following a complete clinical response. Two patterns of granulocyte recovery following consolidative therapy (including TBI and ABMI) were recognized. The time to platelet recovery was different for the groups with early and late granulocyte recovery. Patients with late recovery did not tolerate ...
The effect of insulin on protein biosynthesis was examined in differentiated 3T3-L1 and 3T3-F442A adipocytes. Insulin altered the relative rate of synthesis of specific proteins independent of its ability to hasten conversion of the fibroblast (preadipocyte) phenotype to the adipocyte phenotype. Although more than one pattern of response to insulin was observed, the authors focused on the induction of a Mr 33,000 protein which was identified as the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Exposure of 3T3 adipocytes to insulin throughout differentiation specifically increased GAPDH activity and protein content by 2- to 3-fold as compared to 3T3 adipocytes differentiated in the absence of insulin. These changes in enzyme activity and content could be accounted for by a 4-fold increase in the relative rate of synthesis of GAPDH and a 9-fold increase in hybridizable mRNA levels. Within 2 h of insulin addition to 3T3 adipocytes differentiated ...
We show how to obtain positive energy representations of the group G of smooth maps from a union of circles to U(N) from geometric data associated with a Riemann surface having these circles as boundary. Using covering spaces we can reduce to the case where N=1. Then our main result shows that Mackey induction may be applied and yields representations of the connected component of the identity of G which have the form of a Fock representation of an infinite dimensional Heisenberg group tensored with a finite dimensional representation of a subgroup isomorphic to the first cohomology group of the surface obtained by capping the boundary circles with discs. We give geometric sufficient conditions for the correlation functions to be positive definite and derive explicit formulae for them and for the vacuum (or cyclic) vector. (This gives a geometric construction of correlation functions which had been obtained earlier using tau functions.) By choosing particular ...
Purpose: The aim of this study was to create, perfect and test a hyperthermia balloon catheter for local treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. The device should induce hyperthermia in tumor tissue by acting locally in the bile duct lumen in contact with the tumor-infiltrated duct wall. In addition, it should exert tissue compression to cause an appreciable reduction in tumor microvasculature flow, thus improving thermal performance. Methods: According to the design specifications, the working temperature range should allow the device to be used for hyperthermia therapy either in combination with radiation and/or chemotherapy(radio/chemo-sensitizing effect at 42-45 deg. C) or alone (induction of coagulation necrosis above 65 deg. C). The balloon serves as an anchoring system during treatment and as a functional element to induce tissue compression. In vitro mechanical evaluation of the pressure/volume relationship, with the balloon inside rigid walled conduits, was ...
Human Hb, the monomeric Hb of Glycera dibranchiata and horse Mb were modified by replacement of the protoheme with 2,4-dibromodeuteroheme. Following neutron capture by "7"9Br and "8"1Br, the locations of radioactive Br were determined. Although human Hb had approximately four times the mass and volume of the other proteins, about 9% of the activated Br was inserted into each of the three globins. These results suggest that the insertion is short-range (within 15 angstrom) and that this method could be used to label target sites in various proteins and other biological structures. Carp Hb's containing proto-, meso-, deutero- and dibromoheme were prepared. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for oxygen and CO binding were determined at Ph 6 (+IHP) (T-state, low-affinity protein) and Ph 9 (R-state, high-affinity protein). Parameters for the binding of oxygen and CO were related to the properties of the four hemes to estimate the inductive and steric factors in the ...
This report presents information obtained during five different studies of field effects from high voltage transmission lines performed at EPRI's High Voltage Transmission Research Center. The first study is the development of a methodology for the evaluation of the expected frequency of occurrence of specific short-term effects of spark discharges and induced currents caused by overhead high voltage transmission lines. The methodology is divided into the analysis of the expected frequency of occurrence of situations in which induction effects may occur, and the analysis of the expected severity of the effect. The second study is of the electric field in the surface and on the immediate proximity of the strands of stranded conductors used for overhead high voltage lines. In particular, the cases of deformations of stranded conductors, caused by air expansion or by popped out strands, are analyzed for the purpose of determining the conditions for occurrence ...
We have updeated the radiological dose assessment for Enjebi Island at Enewetak Atoll using data derived from analysis of food crops grown on Enjebi. This is a much more precise assessment of potential doses to people resettling Enjebi Island than the 1980 assessment in which there were no data available from food crops on Enjebi. Details of the methods and data used to evaluate each exposure pathway are presented. The terrestrial food chain is the most significant potential exposure pathway and /sup 137/Cs is the radionuclide responsible for most of the estimated dose over the next 50 y. The doses are calculated assuming a resettlement date of 1990. The average wholebody maximum annual estimated dose equivalent derived using our diet model is 166 mremy;the effective dose equivalent is 169 mremy. The estimated 30-, 50-, and 70-y integral whole-body dose equivalents are 3.5 rem, 5.1 rem, and 6.2 rem, respectively. Bone-marrow dose equivalents are only slightly higher than the whole-body ...
Five hydrated inorganic divalent cations, Mg[sup 2+], Co[sup 2+], Ni[sup 2+], Cu[sup 2+], and Zn[sup 2+], have successfully been used as templates for the synthesis of manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves (OMS-1) having the todorokite structure. The OMS-1 samples have been well characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray studies, inductively coupled plasma analysis, electron paramagnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thiosulfate titration, and cyclohexane sorption. Catalytic CO oxidation and 2-propanol decomposition were carried out. Results show that these OMS-1 samples with a tunnel size of about 6.9 angstroms are crystalline and chemically pure. They have the following formulas: Mg[sub 3.17]Mn[sub 5.05]O[sub 12] [center dot] 4.52H[sub 2]O, Co[sub 1.84]Mn[sub 5.59]O[sub 12] [center dot] 3.45H[sub 2]O, Ni[sub 1.64]Mn[sub ...
The operation of Diesel engines on gaseous fuels, commonly known as dual fuel engines, uses Diesel fuel as the pilot fuel and gaseous fuel (methane and sometimes propane in the present work) as the main fuel. The gaseous fuel was inducted in the intake manifold to mix with the intake air. The investigation was conducted on a high speed indirect injection (Ricardo-E6) dual fuel engine and was concerned with the effects of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on the dual fuel engine combustion and emissions, in particular, the effects of intake air temperature and diluent admissions (N{sub 2} and CO{sub 2}) on combustion and emissions. The use of diluents to displace oxygen (O{sub 2}) in the intake air resulted in a reduction in the O{sub 2} supplied to the engine, increased the inlet charge thermal capacity (thermal effect) and, potentially, CO{sub 2} and N{sub 2} participated in the combustion process (chemical effect). In a separate series of tests, the temperature of ...
While underground power transmission lines have become to use CV cables as the mainstream, existing facilities still use OF cables. Factors of OF cable deterioration include heat cycles during operation and surge intrusion. As a method to diagnose this deterioration in insulation, characteristics tests are performed by collecting insulation oil in a cable connection box. The insulation oil collection work has been done conventionally with the power line stopped to prevent danger from induction voltage. A power uninterruptible oil collection tool was developed recently. The tool consists mainly of an insulator made of epoxy resin, wherein a connection box connector is rotated and loosened by operating an insulating operation rod, with the structure not contacted directly with metallic sheath, so that insulation oil can go through the oil collecting tool and gets collected. Discussions were given on the tool to be capable of collecting samples for analyzing water ...
The effect of prenatal cimetidine exposure (PreCM) on the duration of pentobarbital-induced narcosis (DPN) was assessed in immature (14- and 28-day old) and adult (50-60-day old) male and female rats. PreCM exposure was accomplished by treating mothers with cimetidine (CM) (20 mg/kg, ip) daily for the last two days of gestation and then (0.01% in drinking water) throughout lactation. Pregnant mothers of untreated offspring (Con) received saline. PreCM decreased DPN to 505 +/- 33 min (from 611 +/- 23 min in Con) and 393 +/- 190 min (from 686 +/- 44 min in Con) in 14-day old male and female rats, respectively. Similarly, PreCM decreased DPN to 88 +/- 15 min (from 134 +/- 3 min in Con) and 102 +/- 19 min (from 171 +/- 44 min in Con) in 28-day old male and female rats, respectively. At 21 days, PreCM did not alter DPN in either sex. At 50-60 days, however, it decreased DPN to 144 +/- 41 min (from 238 +/- 7 min in Con) in females but had no effect in males; PreCM also increased the plasma ...
In the medical and occupational exposures, there is a tradition to use the genetically significant dose as an index of harm to the population although it only includes the genetical effects from ionizing radiations. A similar significant dose for somatic effects such as radiation leukemogenesis and carcinogenesis should be added to the genetically significant dose in order to approach an index of total harm to the population from medical and occupational exposures. For this purpose, leukemia and malignant significant factors were determined based on the induction of malignant diseases including leukemia for the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the life expectancy of individuals subject to medical examinations or treatments as well as radiation workers, taking account of the possibility of their deaths due to other diseases or accidents during a latent period of malignant diseases. The resultant significant factors were tabulated as a function of life ...
A cytochrome P450 that hydroxylates lauric acid at the 12 position (P450LA omega) was isolated from liver microsomes of clofibrate treated rats. P450LA omega was immunologically distinct from P450s a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,j,PB1, and PCN1. Polyclonal antibody against P450LA omega was utilized to screen a gt11 cDNA library. A clone (pP450LA omega), was isolated and its sequence determined. The P450LA omega mRNA is a minimum 2387 nts in length and codes for a P450 of Mr.58,222 daltons. This protein shares less than 35% amino acid similarity with P450s b,c,d,e,f,PB1, and PCN1; however, it does contain a hydrophobic amino terminal peptide and a conserved sequence surrounding the Cys residue at position 456, which is similar to other microsomal P450s. P450LA omega is present at high levels in untreated rat kidney and is induced by clofibrate in both kidney and liver. This induction is the result of an accumulation of mRNA through a rapid transcriptional activation of the P450LA ...
Cadmium is a non-essential heavy metal found abundantly in the environment. Children of women exposed to cadmium during pregnancy display lower motor and perceptual abilities. High cadmium body burden in children is also related to impaired intelligence and lowered school achievement. However, little is known about the molecular and cellular basis of developmental neurotoxicity in the sensitive early life stages of animals. In this study, we explore neurological deficits caused by cadmium during early embryonic stages in zebrafish by examining regionalization of the neural tube, pattern formation and cell fate determination, commitment of proneural genes and induction of neurogenesis. We show that cadmium-treated embryos developed a smaller head with unclear boundaries between the brain subdivisions, particularly in the mid-hindbrain region. Embryos display normal anterior to posterior regionalization; however, the commitment of neural progenitor cells was affected ...
A Task Group of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has finished a report Biological Effects after Prenatal Irradiation (Embryo and Fetus) which has been approved by the Main Commission and Will be Published. Some new important scientific data shall be discussed in this contribution. During the preimplantation period lethality of the mammalian embryo is the dominating radiation effect. However, in mouse strains with genetic predispositions it has been shown that also malformations can be caused. This effect is genetically determined and its mechanisms is different from the induction of malformations during major organogenesis. Radiation exposures during this prenatal period leads ato an increase of genomic instability of cells in the normal appearing fetuses. These radiation effects can be transmitted to the next generation. A renewed analysis of individuals with severe mental retardation after exposures during the 8th to 15th week post ...
This study is aimed at exploring the possible mechanism of hypnosis-enhancing effect of HgS or cinnabar (a traditional Chinese medicine containing more than 95% HgS) in mice treated with pentobarbital. We also examined whether the effect of HgS is different from that of the well-known methyl mercury (MeHg). After a short period (7 days) of oral administration to mice, a nontoxic dose (0.1 g/kg) of HgS not only significantly enhanced pentobarbital-induced hypnosis but also attenuated tolerance induction; while a higher dose (1 g/kg) of HgS or cinnabar exerted an almost irreversible enhancing effect on pentobarbital-hypnosis similar to that of MeHg (2 mg/kg) tested, which was still effective even after 10 or 35 days cessation of administration. To study comparatively the effects of different mercury forms from oral administration of MeHg and HgS on membrane ATPase activities of experimental mice, analysis of the Hg content in the cerebral cortex revealed that ...
To facilitate the evaluation of alternate canister designs, 2 canisters were outfitted with thermocouples at elevations of 1/2, 3 1/2, and 6 1/2 inches from the canister bottom. The canisters were fabricated from two inch diameter schedule 10 and two inch diameter schedule 40 stainless steel pipe. Each canister was filled with approximately 2 kilograms of 49 wt percent lanthanide (Ln) loaded 25SrABS glass during 5 inch Cylindrical Induction Melter (CIM5) runs for TTR Tasks 3.03 and 4.03. Melter temperature, total mass of glass poured, and the glass pour rates were almost identical in both runs. The schedule 40 canister has a slightly smaller ID compared to the schedule 10 canister and therefore filled to a level of 9.5 inches compared to 8.0 inches for the schedule 40 canister. The schedule 40 canister had an empty mass of 1906 grams compared to 919 grams for the schedule 10 canister. The schedule 10 canister was found to have a higher maximum surface temperature ...
In vertebrates, the positioning of the internal organs relative to the midline is asymmetric and evolutionarily conserved. A number of molecules have been shown to play critical roles in left-right patterning. Using representational difference analysis to identify genes that are differentially expressed on the left and right sides of the chick embryo, we cloned chick Claudin-1, an integral component of epithelial tight junctions. Here, we demonstrate that retroviral overexpression of Claudin-1, but not Claudin-3, on the right side of the chick embryo between HH stages 4 and 7 randomizes the direction of heart looping. This effect was not observed when Claudin-1 was overexpressed on the left side of the embryo. A small, but reproducible, induction of Nodal expression in the perinodal region on the right side of the embryo was noted in embryos that were injected with Claudin-1 retroviral particles on their right sides. However, no changes in Lefty,Pitx2 or cSnR ...
We have fabricated MgB_2 dc SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices) containing inter-grain nanobridges as Josephson elements by a focused ion beam (FIB) etching method and measured their transport properties. The entire structure including the SQUID loop was patterned only using a FIB. The beam energy was 30 kV and the current was 0.9 nA for larger structures and 34 and 1.5 pA for the nanobridge pattern. Each bridge with a nominal width of 100 nm crossed a single grain boundary in the normal direction. The SQUID loop had a 3.1 #mu#m x 3.1 #mu#m hole with a 2 #mu#m average linewidth, corresponding to an inductance of 5.1 pH. The nanobridges had a two-step transition with an increase in the resistivity of more than a decade and a substantial decrease in the critical current density. Current-voltage characteristics showed a resistively shunted junction behavior at all temperatures below T_c, which implies that the current in the inter-grain nanobridges ...
Glycyrrhiza glabra root is one of the common traditional Chinese medicines and used as flavoring and sweetening agents for tobaccos, chewing gums, candies, toothpaste and beverages. While glycyrrhizin is one of the main components in the extract of G. glabra root and has been characterized, the other components have not been well characterized. The mechanism of growth activation of breast cancer MCF-7 cells, including the activation of Erk1/2 and Akt, and the transcriptional regulation of estrogen-responsive genes, was examined by means of sulforhodamine B, luciferase reporter gene, real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting assays after the induction of the cells with the extract of G. glabra root. The extract has similar activity to that induced by 17beta-estradiol (E(2)), although glycyrrhizin did not show such an activity. Moreover, the estrogen receptor alpha-dependent neurite outgrowth induced by the extract was similar to that by E(2), whereas glycyrrhizin had no ...
A newly synthesized glycine derivative (termed GlyD), 2-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylamino)acetic acid hydrochloride, was used to inhibit uniform and pitting corrosion processes of Al in 0.50 M KSCN solutions (pH 6.8) at 25 "oC. For uniform corrosion inhibition study, Tafel extrapolation, linear polarization resistance and impedance methods were used, complemented with SEM examinations. An independent method of chemical analysis, namely ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry) was also used to test validity of corrosion rate measured by Tafel extrapolation method. GlyD inhibited uniform corrosion, even at low concentrations, reaching a value of inhibition efficiency up to 97% at a concentration of 5 x 10"-"3 M. Results obtained from the different corrosion evaluation techniques were in good agreement. This new synthesized glycine derivative was also used to control pit nucleation and growth on the pitted Al surface based on cyclic polarization, ...
An IAEA databank lists a number of reported cases of illicitly trafficked nuclear or other radioactive materials. Apart from the traditional concern with nuclear proliferation, the post September 11th public is now wary of a possible attack by terrorists with a nuclear or radiation dispersion device (RDD). Until now, the seized quantities have not been sufficient to manufacture a nuclear explosive device, but they might be enough to construct an RDD. Recognizing the latent global challenge to public health and safety, the G8 States (Japan, USA, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Canada, and Russia) have called for 'joint international efforts to identify and suppress illicit supply' of, and demand for, nuclear material and to deter potential traffickers. One measure gaining in significance is to identify seized material and trace it back to its origin the objective of an emerging science known as nuclear forensics. Repeatedly nuclear or other radioactive material of unknown origin are ...
The regional concentrations of nine radiochemicals were measured in rat brain after induction of cerebral ischemia to identify tracers concentrated by brain undergoing selective neuronal necrosis. Transient (30 minute) forebrain ischemia was produced in the rat; 24 hours after cerebral recirculation the radiochemicals were injected intravenously and allowed to circulate for 5 hours. The brain concentrations of the radiochemicals in dissected regions were determined by scintillation counting. Forebrain ischemia of this nature will produce extensive injury to striatal neurons but will spare the great majority of neocortical neurons at 24 hours. The regional concentrations of these radiochemicals varied considerably in both control and ischemic animals. In postischemic animals, 4 radionuclides (/sup 63/Ni, /sup 99/TcO/sub 4/, /sup 22/Na, and (/sup 3/H)tetracycline) were concentrated in the irreversibly damaged striatum in amounts ranging from 1.4 to 2.4 times greater ...
This research project aimed to determine the factors for the transfer of the elements silver (Ag), cerium (Ce), cobalt (Co), chrome (Cr), gallium (Ga), lanthanum (La), molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb), radium (Ra), ruthenium (Ru), antimony (sb), thorium (Th), titanium (Ti) and uranium (U) from food into the mother's milk. This factors will be used as a basic to check and derive activity values for the contamination of food and for radiation protection at working places of suckling women. For this purpose 19 mothers collected samples daily (2-8 weeks), using the duplicate method, of all the food they consumed as well as of their milk. After microwave-assisted digestion the element contents were analysed by mass-spectroscopy with inductive coupled plasma (ICP-MS). The results of the mothers who participate for more than 5 weeks were used to make a time lapse between the intake and transfer of the elements in the mothers milk visible. (orig.) [German] Ziel ...
In an epidemiological study of the somatic late effects risk following incorporation of a short lived #alpha#-emitter, 1473 ankylosing spondylitis patients treated with repeated intravenous injections of "2"2"4Ra in the years 1948 - 75, have been observed in the GSF. The usual therapeutic plan consisted of a total of 10 - 12 injections of 1.036 MBq (28 #mu#Ci) of "2"2"4Ra each, given at weekly intervals; this would result in an cumulative #alpha#-dose of 0.56 - 0.67 Gy to the marrow-free skeleton of a 70-kg-man (standard man). These patients have been followed together with a control group of ankylosing spondylitis patients not treated with radioactive drugs and/or X-rays. Until May 1993 (mean follow-up time 19.9 yr), 595 patients of the exposure group and 722 patients of the control group have died, causes of death have been ascertained for 578, resp. 668 patients. Among others we observed in the exposure group 10 cases of leukaemia (vs. 2.7 - 2.8 cases expected, p < 0.001) and 6 ...
The rare earth metal rich compounds RE4NiMg (RE=Y, Pr-Nd, Sm, Gd-Tm, Lu) were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum tubes in an induction furnace. All compounds were investigated by X-ray diffraction on powders and single crystals: Gd4RhIn type, space group F4-bar 3m, Z=16, a=1367.6(2) pm for Y4NiMg, a=1403.7(3) pm for Pr4NiMg, a=1400.7(1) pm for Nd4NiMg, a=1386.5(2) pm for Sm4NiMg, a=1376.1(2) pm for Gd4NiMg, a=1362.1(1) pm for Tb4NiMg, a=1355.1(2) pm for Dy4NiMg, a=1355.2(1) pm for Ho4NiMg, a=1354.3(2) pm for Er4NiMg, a=1342.9(3) pm for Tm4NiMg, and a=1336.7(3) pm for Lu4NiMg. The nickel atoms have trigonal prismatic rare earth coordination. These NiRE6 prisms are condensed via common edges to a three-dimensional network which leaves voids for Mg4 tetrahedra and the RE1 atoms which show only weak coordination to the nickel atoms. The single crystal data indicate two kinds of solid solutions. The RE1 positions reveal small RE1/Mg mixing and some ...
Full text: An adaptive response is a decreased biological effect induced by a priming radiation dose given prior to a challenge dose. Adaptive responses contradict the linear-nothreshold model of risk estimation. The pKZ1 mouse chromosomal inversion assay is an extremely sensitive assay for studying the mutagenic effect of low dose radiation. A non-linear dose response for chromosomal inversion has been observed in pKZ1 spleen and prostate after a single whole body irradiation with doses between 1?Gy and 10mGy. Doses between 5-10?Gy resulted in an induction in inversions and doses between 1-10mGy resulted in a reduction below endogenous inversion frequency. These results suggest that doses in the 1-10 mGy range cause host responses which overcompensate by not only preventing inversions that would normally occur as a result of the low doses of radiation but also by preventing some of the endogenous inversions that would have occurred in the absence of radiation. It ...
The central aim of this thesis is to present a new kind of realism that is driven not from the traditional realism/anti-realism debate but from the practice of physicists. The usual debate focuses on discussions about the truth of theories and their fit with nature, while the real practices of the scientists are forgotten. The position I shall defend is called 'phenomenological realism': theories are merely tools to construct other theories and models, including phenomenological models; phenomenological models are the vehicles of representation. The realist doctrine was recently undermined by the argument from the pessimistic meta-induction, also known as the argument from scientific revolutions. I argue that phenomenological realism is a new kind of scientific realism which can overcome the problem generated by the argument from scientific revolutions, and which depend on the scientific practice. The realist tried to overcome this problem by ...
The objective of this project is to increase oil recovery from fractured reservoirs through improved fundamental understanding of the process of spontaneous imbibition by which oil is displaced from the rock matrix into the fractures. Spontaneous imbibition is fundamentally dependent on the reservoir surface free energy but this has never been investigated for rocks. In this project, the surface free energy of rocks will be determined by using liquids that can be solidified within the rock pore space at selected saturations. Thin sections of the rock then provide a two-dimensional view of the rock minerals and the occupant phases. Saturations and oil/rock, water/rock, and oil/water surface areas will be determined by advanced petrographic analysis and the surface free energy which drives spontaneous imbibition will be determined as a function of increase in wetting phase saturation. The inherent loss in surface free energy resulting from capillary instabilities at the microscopic (pore ...
Petroleum resources are finite and, therefore, search for their alternative non-petroleum fuels for internal combustion engines is continuing all over the world. Moreover gases emitted by petroleum fuel driven vehicles have an adverse effect on the environment and human health. There is universal acceptance of the need to reduce such emissions. Towards this, scientists have proposed various solutions for diesel engines, one of which is the use of gaseous fuels as a supplement for liquid diesel fuel. These engines, which use conventional diesel fuel and gaseous fuel, are referred to as 'dual-fuel engines'. Natural gas and bio-derived gas appear more attractive alternative fuels for dual-fuel engines in view of their friendly environmental nature. In the gas-fumigated dual-fuel engine, the primary fuel is mixed outside the cylinder before it is inducted into the cylinder. A pilot quantity of liquid fuel is injected towards the end of the compression ...
Purpose: The occurrence of extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma (ES) in deep soft tissues has been well described, but cases in which this tumor occurs in a primary cutaneous or subcutaneous site have rarely been reported. The superficial variant may be less aggressive than are the more common bony and deep soft tissue counterparts with an apparently favorable outcome. A retrospective review of patients with cutaneous or subcutaneous ES was conducted to analyze outcome and patterns of failure. Methods and Materials: Between July 1985 and March 1997, 14 patients with cutaneous or subcutaneous ES were treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The median age at presentation was 16 years (range 7-21 years). Anatomic locations included trunk and pelvis (7), upper or lower extremity (4), and head and neck (3). The median size of the lesion was 3 cm (range, 1-12 cm). Thirteen had definitive surgical resections, and one had biopsy of the mass at the time of referral. They were enrolled on ...