UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundTristetraprolin (TTP/ZFP36) family proteins have anti-inflammatory activity by binding to and destabilizing pro-inflammatory mRNAs such as Tnf mRNA, and represent a potential...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The cell cycle-regulatory transcription factor E2F-1 is regulated by interactions with proteins such as the retinoblastoma gene product and by cell cycle-dependent alterations in E2F-1 mRNA abundance....Full Text Available

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To understand the molecular mechanisms of how 5^oC-incubation activates mRNA expression of Hsp70a and Samui genes in Bombyx mori diapause eggs, we first searched the 5'-upstream regions of the Hsp70a and Samui genes for heat shock elements (HSEs) and found two regions [Hsp70aHSE-1 (-95 to -58) and -2 (-145 to -121), and SamuiHSE-1 (-84 to -55) and -2 (-304 to -290)] corresponding to HSEs (repeats of nGAAn and/or nTTCn). We cloned four cDNAs encoding heat shock factor (HSF)-a2 (627 amino acids), -b (685 aa), -c (682 aa) and -d (705 aa), which were produced by alternative splicing. When we exposed diapause eggs to 5^oC beginning at 2 day post-oviposition to break diapause, HSFd mRNA only increased after chilling for 6-8 days, a pattern very similar to those of Hsp70a and Samui mRNAs. To exam...

Science.gov (United States)

NFAT involvement in adipocyte physiological processes was examined by treatment with CsA and/or GSK3{beta} inhibitors (Li{sup +} or TZDZ-8), which prevent or increase NFAT nuclear translocation, respectively. CsA treatment reduced basal and TNF{alpha}-induced rates of lipolysis by 50%. Adipocytes preincubated with Li{sup +} or TZDZ-8 prior to CsA and/or TNF{alpha}, exhibited enhanced basal rates of lipolysis and complete inhibition of CsA-mediated decreased rates of lipolysis. CsA treatment dramatically reduced the mRNA levels of adipocyte-specific genes (aP2, HSL, PPAR{gamma}, ACS and Adn), compared with control or TNF{alpha}-treatment, whereas Li{sup +} pretreatment blocked the inhibitory effects of CsA, and mRNA levels of aP2, HSL, PPAR{gamma}, and ACS were found at or above control levels. NFAT nuclear localization, assessed by EMSA, confirmed that CsA or Li{sup +} treatments inhibited or increased NFAT nuclear translocation, respectively. ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

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...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Spindle cell sarcomas consist of tumors with different biological features, of which distant metastasis is the most ominous sign for a poor prognosis. However, metastasis is difficult to predict on the basis of current histopathological analyses. We have identified actin filament-associated protein 1-like 1 (AFAP1L1) as a candidate for a metastasis-predicting marker from the gene expression profiles of 65 spindle cell sarcomas. A multivariate analysis determined that AFAP1L1 was an independent factor for predicting the occurrence of distant metastasis (P=0.0001), which was further confirmed in another set of 41 tumors by a quantitative mRNA expression analysis. Immunohistochemical staining using paraffin-embedded tumor tissues revealed that the metastasis-free rate was significantly better...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The CCR4-NOT complex is the main enzyme catalyzing the deadenylation of mRNA. We have investigated the composition of this complex in Drosophila melanogaster by immunoprecipitation...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Localized mRNA provides spatial and temporal protein expression essential to cell development and physiology. To explore the mechanisms involved, considerable effort has been spent in establishing new...Full Text Available

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Poncirin, flavanone glycoside, isolated from the fruit of Poncirus trifoliata, has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, the effects of poncirin on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells were investigated. The C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells and primary bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were studied. In the C3H10T1/2 cells, poncirin prevented adipocyte differentiation, as demonstrated by inhibition of cytoplasm lipid droplet accumulation and peroxisome proliferator-activating receptor-? (PPAR-?) and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein-? (C/EBP-?) mRNA expression. By contrast, poncirin enhanced the expression of the key osteogenic transcription factors, runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). Poncirin also enhanced expression of the osteogenic marker genes including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OC). Poncirin ...

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The authors developed a method, termed an H-blot, by which the poly(A) tract of any specific mRNA may be detected by RNA filter hybridization after its removal from the body of the mRNA by a RNase H-catalyzed endonucleolytic cleavage in the 3' untranslated region. Using this method, they studied the modulation of the length of the poly(A) tract of rat vasopressin mRNA in vivo during changes in the levels of this mRNA resulting from a physiologic stimulus, osmotic stress. The poly(A) tract of hypothalamic vasopressin mRNA in hydrated rats was, quite remarkably, --250 nucleotides in length, in contrast to that of somatostatin mRNA, which was --30 nucleotides long. Vasopressin mRNA poly(A) tail length increased progressively from --250 to --400 nucleotides with the application of the hyperosmotic stimulus and declined to base line ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Gene expression is a fundamentally stochastic process, with randomness in transcription and translation leading to significant cell-to-cell variations in mRNA and protein levels. This variation...Full Text Available

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In the presentation the major factors determining the conditions of NCC (Natural Coolant Circulation) in the primary circuit and in particular conditions of coolant rate distribution on the horizontal tubes of PGV-1000 in NPP with VVER-1000 under NCC are considered. 5 refs.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A recombinant M13 clone (O42) containing a 65 b.p. cDNA fragment from human fetal liver mRNA coding for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase has been identified and it has been used to isolate from...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Recombinant plasmids containing mutant or wild-type adenovirus serotype 2 EIa genes that produce the 12S mRNA alone, the 13S mRNA alone, or both mRNAs were cotransfected into HeLa cells with plasmids...Full Text Available

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We study the low energy expansion of the nucleon`s electroweak form factors in the framework of an effective chiral Lagrangian including pions, nucleons and the {Delta}(1232). We work to third order in the so-called small scale expansion and compare the results with the ones previously obtained in the chiral expansion. In addition, these calculations serve as a first exploratory study of renormalization and decoupling within the small scale expansion. (orig.) 35 refs.

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In this experiments, we established long-termed culture methods of bone marrow stromal cells for proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. And we selected some extracts which support maximal proliferation of stromal cells with this method. We conformed the synergic effects of herval mixture extracts for stromal cell growth. The proliferation of stromal cells was increased rather by the addition of mixture extracts than by addition of single strain extract. In the previous and cooperative experiments, we selected complex extracts which increased the number of nonadherent mononuclear cells. Different cytokine expression patterns were observed stromal cells cultured in the presence or absence of mixture extracts which support differentiation of nonadherent cells. Stimulation of macrophage cell line with herval extracts with the treatments of recombinant interferon-{gamma} resulted in increased nitric oxide synthesis in a dose-dependent manners. In addition, these extracts induced ...

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In this experiments, we established long-termed culture methods of bone marrow stromal cells for proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. And we selected some extracts which support maximal proliferation of stromal cells with this method. We conformed the synergic effects of herbal mixture extracts for stromal cell growth. The proliferation of stromal cells was increased rather by the addition of mixture extracts than by addition of single strain extract. In the previous and cooperative experiments, we selected complex extracts (Him-I, Him-II) which increased the number of nonadherent mononuclear cells. Different cytokine expression patterns were observed stromal cells cultured in the presence or absence of mixture extracts which support differentiation of nonadherent cells. Some fractions of Him-I and Him-II increased the proliferation of bone marrow cells irradiated {gamma}-ray(4Gray). Stimulation of macrophage cell line with herval extracts with the treatments of recombinant ...

Science.gov (United States)

The Drosophila sequence-specific DNA binding protein, Adf-1, is capable of activating transcription of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene, Adh, and is implicated in the transcriptional control of other developmentally regulated genes. We have cloned the cDNA encoding Adf-1 by generating specific DNA probes deduced from partial amino acid sequence of the protein. Several cDNA clones encoding an extended open reading frame were isolated from a phage lambda library. The complete amino acid sequence of Adf-1 deduced from the longest cDNA reveals structural similarities to the putative helix-turn-helix DNA binding motif of Myb and Myb-related proteins. DNA sequence analysis of genomic clones and Northern blot analysis of mRNA suggest that Adf-1 is a single-copy gene encoding a 1.9-kb transcript. Purified recombinant Adf-1 expressed in Escherichia coli binds specifically to Adf-1 recognition sites and activates transcription of a synthetic Adh promoter in vitro in a manner ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Contemporary high dimensional biological assays, such as mRNA expression microarrays, regularly involve multiple data processing steps, such as experimental processing, computational processing, sample...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We have studied the functions of the intracellular RNAs of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) by purification and translation in vitro. Two major size classes of MMTV RNA, 35S and 24S RNA, were isolated...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

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

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The lysosomal catabolism of sulfatide requires arylsulfatase A and a specific sphingolipid activator protein, SAP-1. While most patients with metachromatic leukodystrophy have mutations in the gene...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by binding to the messenger RNA (mRNA) of protein coding genes. They control gene expression by either...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The genomic termini of RNA viruses contain essential cis-acting signals for such diverse functions as packaging, genome translation, mRNA transcription, and RNA replication, and thus...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Major factors that contribute to maximized impact resistance of semicrystalline engineering polymers include increased matrix molecular weight, minimal rubber glass-transition temperature, and optimal rubber-particle size, which depends on matrix type. Additional constraints are posed by the limitations of available materials and commercial requirements. Expanding the understanding of impact-modified crystalline engineering polymers will further extend their property ranges and utility. This chapter describes the phenomenology of certain factors, illustrates a new technique to measure rubber particle size, and contrasts the fracture mechanisms of poly(butylene terephthalate), nylon 66, and polyacetal. 49 refs., 24 figs.

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The profitability of combustion turbines intended for export is of extreme importance for Electricite de France. It is principally during the development phase of a project that one can ensure resect of two indissociable factors, essential to the per-kWh production cost: global operating costs and performance in terms of reliability and availability. The approach proposed here advocates the global acquisition of the installation and its logistic support. Generally applicable recommendations are given. They enable integrating in the future plant specifications all requirements relative to plant reliability, availability, maintainability and logistic support. They are structured according to type: expression of needs and management factors. (orig.) 4 refs.

Science.gov (United States)

We previously reported that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 (PGC-1) mRNA in rat epitrochlearis muscle was increased after swimming exercise training. In the present study, we demonstrated further that PGC-1 mRNA expression in the epitrochlearis muscle of 4-5-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats was increased after a 6-h acute bout of low-intensity swimming exercise. With this increase, the expression level was approximately 8-fold of control and immersion group rats that stayed for 6-h in warm water, maintained at the identical temperature of the swimming barrel (35 degrees C) (p<0.01). Second, PGC-1 mRNA expression in the muscle was found to have increased 6-h after 30 10-s tetani contractions were induced by in vitro electrical stimulation. Finally, PGC-1 mRNA expression in the muscle incubated for 18-h with 0.5mM 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR: ...

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Presented are some preliminary studies made in preparation for the design of a solar powered loop for desalination by humidification - dehumidification process. The studies concentrated on the evaluation of different parameters affecting the performance of the combination of different components in such a loop in the hope of outlining the most decisive factors for the choice or design of solar collectors or heat source. The results presented relate to the performance of two of the most important components in a loop of such purpose, that is: the humidifying and the dehumidifying columns or stacks. 4 refs.

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The conductivity of the membrane is a limiting factor for the efficiency and power density of PEFCs. Because this conductivity is strongly dependent on the membrane hydration, water management is an important aspect of PEFC optimisation. Single cell model experiments were made in order to determine the in-plane hydration of a Nafion{sup R} membrane under fuel cell conditions as function of the gas humidities. (author) 4 fig., 3 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The implementation of the convolution/superposition method in real dose planning situations is considered. The modelling of photon spectra, the use of patient and treatment setup information, and the calculation of the photon energy released in a patient are detailed. A comparison is made between the approaches of calculating the relative dose directly and using a factor derived from measurements to correct the calculated relative dose. 13 refs.; 7 figs.

Science.gov (United States)

Probiotic agents, live microorganisms with beneficial effects for the host, may offer an alternative to conventional antimicrobials in the treatment and prevention of enteric infections. The probiotic agents Lactobacillus plantarum 299v and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG quantitatively inhibited the adherence of an attaching and effacing pathogenic Escherichia coli to HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells but did not inhibit adherence to nonintestinal HEp-2 cells. HT-29 cells were grown under conditions that induced high levels of either MUC2 or MUC3 mRNA, but HEp-2 cells expressed only minimal levels of MUC2 and no MUC3 mRNA. Media enriched for MUC2 and MUC3 mucin were added exogenously to binding assays and were shown to be capable of inhibiting enteropathogen adherence to HEp-2 cells. Incubation of L. plantarum 299v with HT-29 cells increased MUC2 and MUC3 mRNA expression levels. From these in vitro studies, we propose the ...

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The authors characterized nine human actin genes that they isolated from a library of cloned human DNA. Measurements of the thermal stability of hybrids formed between each cloned actin gene and ..cap alpha..-, ..beta..-, and ..gamma..-actin mRNA demonstrated that only one of the clones is most homologous to sarcomeric actin mRNA, whereas the remaining eight clones are most homologous to cytoplasmic actin mRNA. By the following criteria they show that these nine clones represent nine different actin gene loci rather than different alleles or different parts of a single gene: (i) the restriction enzyme maps of the coding regions are dissimilar; (ii) each clone contains sufficient coding region to encode all or most of an entire actin gene; and (iii) each clone contains sequences homologous to both the 5' and 3' ends of the coding region of a cloned chicken ..beta..-actin cDNA. They conclude, therefore, that ...

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There are few studies on coke's micro-pore structure in recent years, however, micro-pore structure of foundry coke determines its macroscopically quality index and reactivity in cupola furnace. Effect of such factors on micro-pore structure were investigated under different carbonization conditions with certain ratio of raw materials and material forming process in this article as charging temperature (A); braised furnace time (B); heating rate of the first stage (C)and the second stage (D) and holding time of ultimate temperature (E). Research showed that charging temperature was the most influential factor on the coke porosity, pore volume, pore size and specific surface area. It is suggested that formation of plastic mass and releasing rate of volatile during carbonization period are two main factors on microstructure of foundry coke while charging temperature contributes most to the above ...

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With using artificial neural networks (ANNs), an analytical study related to the heated length effect on critical heat flux (CHF) has been carried out to make an improvement of the CHF prediction accuracy based on local condition correlations or table. It has been carried out to suggest a feasible criterion of the threshold length-to-diameter (L/D) value in which heated length could affect CHF. And within the criterion, a L/D correction factor has been developed through conventional regression. In order to validate the developed L/D correction factor, CHF experiments for various heated lengths have been carried out under low and intermediate pressure conditions. The developed threshold L/D correlation provides a new feasible criterion of L/D threshold value. The developed correction factor gives a reasonable accuracy for the original database, showing the error of -2.18% for average and 27.75% for RMS, and promising results ...

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Three samples of dusts generated by the non ferrous metallurgical industries are treated between 200 and 800 degree centigree in controlled oxidizing and reducing atmospheres. The objective of this study is to recover the valuable metals from these wastes. The treatments of these solids under oxidizing conditions at 700 degree centigree are well adapted for two samples. The totality of valuable elements are concentrated in the treatments residues. The use of hydrogen at 600 degree centigree, permits the removal of up to 100 % of valuable metals contained in the treated industrial wastes. The recovery rate of valuable metals (Pb, Zn, Cu) as well as the Global Decontamination Factor are reported. (Author) 9 refs.

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A conceptual climate model describing regional two-way atmosphere-vegetation interaction has been extended by a simple qualitative scheme of ecosystem adaptation to drought stress. The results of this explorative study indicate that the role of terrestrial vegetation under different forcing scenarios depends crucially on the rate of the ecosystems adaptation to drought stress. The faster the adaptation of important ecosystems such as forests the better global climate is protected from abrupt climate changes. (author) 1 fig., 3 refs.

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Factors influencing the rooting-potential of stem cuttings of conifers were studied for the purpose of improving methods of rapid vegetative propagation. Within the bounds of hereditary limits, root regeneration depends, to a considerable extent, on the qualities of rooting-media, date of cutting excision, age and physiological conditions of the stock plant, age of the cutting-wood, its position on the plant, and chemical treatment. Hardwood cuttings, which have a relatively high content of endogenous auxin and carbohydrates, and morphological root initials, gave the best results. This method made it possible to increase the growth rate of cuttings 2.5-5 times that of cuttings taken from shoots of current growth. (Refs. 21).

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Audible noise from corona discharge had been identified as one of the most important factors in the design of conductor configurations for high-voltage transmission lines. 500 kV and above. Therefore this paper describes audible noise characteristics of 6 X 480 mm{sup 2} conductor bundle in KEPRI 765 kV Test Line and Corona Cage. Prediction formula for audible(corona) noise on a 765 kV Transmission Line was developed using this results. (author). 4 refs., 4 figs., 4 tabs.

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The Balandin type volcano plots have been considered for the main criterion both in catalysis and electrocatalysis to estimate their fundamental properties and optimal activity: ({alpha}) The ones, when some physical feature or catalytic activity itself is plotted usually along transition series, and ({beta}) The others, when catalytic activity arises as a function of some energetic property, the most usually of the adsorption enthalpy of intermediates bonding upon the substrate in the rate determining step (rds). 29 refs.

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The importance of ecosystem restoration to land reclamation is discussed. If a plant community is to be self sustaining, natural diversity processes provide a useful model for restoration. Biodiversity is important for utilitarian, ecological, and ethical/aesthetic reasons. Issues that must be considered include sampling and management scales, the separate richness of the diverse array of species playing a role in ecosystem productivity and stability, and natural trends in diversity. Ecological restoration comprises two fundamental activities: management for some pre-disturbance level of biodiversity and the combination of species in a manner that is essentially experimental. Endeavours to restore biological diversity are a useful method of experimenting with the factors that control ecosystem structure and function. 21 refs.

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Discusses methods for determining ash content in coal using backscattering in X-ray fluorescence. The following aspects are evaluated: principle of ash content determination, energy sources, factors that influence measurement accuracy, reliability. Types of X-ray fluorescence analyzers developed in Czechoslovakia and manufactured in the Czech Republic are comparatively evaluated. Operation of the RPM 113.1 radionuclide X-ray fluorescence analyzer developed by the PAR company and used for measuring ash content in coal and coal calorific value is discussed. 7 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This report reviews the published literature on the anaerobic oxidation of iron in aqueous solutions which are of particular relevance to Swedish granitic groundwaters. The thermodynamics of iron corrosion in water are briefly considered. Following this the experimental data found in the literature are presented and discussed. Results were found for corrosion of iron in both pure water and solutions containing mineral salts. The literature work in the nature of the films formed on iron surfaces under anaerobic conditions is reviewed and the possible mechanisms of film formation are discussed. Conclusions are drawn on the factors most likely to influence and control film growth. 32 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Three cDNAs, designated IIA3, IIA3v, and IIA4, coding for P450s in the CYP2A gene subfamily were isolated from a #lambda#gt11 library prepared from human hepatic mRNA. Only three nucleotide differences and a single amino acid difference, Leu"1"6"0#->#His, were found between IIA3 and IIA3v, indicating that they are probably allelic variants. IIA4 displayed 94% amino acid similarity with IIA3 and IIA3v. The three cDNAs were inserted into vaccinia virus, and recombinant viruses were used to infect human hepatoma Hep G2 cells. Only IIA3 was able to produce an enzyme that had a reduced CO-bound spectrum with a #lambda#_m_a_x at 450 nm. This expressed enzyme was able to carry out coumarin 7-hydroxylation and ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation. cDNA-expressed IIA3v and IIA4 failed to incorporate heme and were enzymatically inactive. Analysis of IIA proteins in human liver microsomes, using antibody against rat IIA2, revealed two proteins of 49 and 50 kDa, the former of ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Three transcription units are present in the adenovirus type 2 region EII. Transcription units EIIaE and EIIaL encode the mRNA for the 72,000-dalton DNA binding protein, early and late in the lytic...Full Text Available

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We have found that the methionine repression of the ..beta..-subunit gene expression is not due to degradation of the ..beta..-subunit but is due to an effect on synthesis of the ..beta..-subunit. The effect of methionine on the synthesis of the ..beta..-is due to an inhibition of ..beta..-subunit mRNA synthesis. 3 references, 1 figure.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Although human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is the etiologic agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), the role of viral gene expression in the progression to and maintenance of the...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The proteins encoded by polar-localized mRNAs play an important role in cell fate specification along the anteroposterior axis of the Drosophila embryo. The only maternally synthesized mRNA known previously...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Expression of brome mosaic virus (BMV) coat protein and internal genes of many other positive-strand RNA viruses requires initiation of subgenomic mRNA synthesis from specific internal sites on minus-strand...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The neocortex plays a critical role in the gradual formation and storage of remote declarative memories. Because the circuitry mechanisms of systems-level consolidation are not well understood, the...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

MicroRNAs are short (∼22 nucleotides) noncoding RNAs that regulate the stability and translation of mRNA targets. A number of computational algorithms have been developed to help predict which...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Quantitative bone scans were evaluated in 16 patients with osteoporosis and in a control group of 7 healthy subjects. Along with a detailed biochemical analysis of calcium-phosphorus metabolism and standartized reongenographs, a quantitative dynamic bone scintigraphy was performed according to the method proposed by the authors. The bone-accumulating factor K_b was determined on the base of mathematical analysis of the graph reflecting activity changes in bone tissue unit during the investigation, the blood-elimination factor K_h and kidney-elimination factor K_k. In addition the accumulation index AI (in %) was calculated as a relation between the activity in bone tissue unit, registered in 20 min interval, and the activity in soft tissues for the same time. Whereas the static gamma camera scintigraphy, made 3-4 hrs after injecting of the osteotrope radiopharmaceuticals, showed no specific changes in the patients examined, ...

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Short communication. 1 ref.

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Shale oil as a fuel source would need to compete with crude oil. The prospects for shale oil therefore depend upon the market outlook and likely prices for crude oil and its products. These are examined for both the world and Australia. For Australia, market prospects for shale oil are assessed in terms of maintaining a degree of self-sufficiency in petroleum fuels. Shale oil might also need to compete with other synthetic liquid fuels. The prospects for producing these in Australia are discussed. Some factors which might influence the pattern of development of a synthetic fuels industry in Australia are described and a role suggested for the federal government to ensure optimum development for national economic growth. 6 refs., 1 fig.

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Discusses scaling of closed systems for cooling coal gas from black coal coking. Scaling rate and factors that influence scaling are analyzed. Physical and chemical properties of scale buildup on the inner walls of pipe cooling systems are evaluated. Water pH value and its effects on scaling and solubility of chemical compounds that form scale are discussed. Use of ammonium sulfate for scale control is analyzed. Consumption rate of ammonium sulfate depends on ambient temperature, water pH value and chloride content in return water. Formulae for calculating optimum content of ammonium sulfates for scale control are derived. 3 refs.

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Studies the quality of metallurgical coke produced from a mixture of USA (80%) and Soviet (20%) coking coals. Properties of coal were analyzed according to ICCP and ISO international standards, including mechanical and petrographic tests. Content of the coal mixture included 8.2% moisture, 7.6% ash, 0.98% sulfur, 27.7% volatiles. The swelling index was 6 and dilation index 15%. Properties of coke produced from this coal mixture in the Croatian Bakar coking plant are presented for lump sizes of 25-80 mm, 10-25 mm and 0-10 mm. The produced coke was of favorable quality, having a strength index of 4.70, an ASTM stability factor of 61, and an M40 strength of 73.3%. 9 refs.

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In this paper the availability and properties of radioisotopes for both radioimmunodiagnosis (RAID) and radioimmunotherapy (RAIT) are discussed. Examples are provided for radioisotopes available via direct production in nuclear reactors and accelerators or as daughters obtained from radionuclide generator systems whose parents are either reactor or accelerator produced. Important factors which must be considered for the use of a particular radioisotope include availability, the physical half-life and decay properties, and chemical versatility for protein attachment. Although both direct'' and indirect'' methods are available for attachment of radioisotopes to antibodies, this broad field of research is not reviewed in detail. Practical issues related to the availability and use of a variety of radionuclides are described. 47 refs., 5 tabs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Microprocessor based ''smart'' pressure, level, and flow transmitters were tested to determine the radiation hardness of this class of electronic instrumentation for use in reactor building applications. Commercial grade Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits used in these transmitters were found to fail at total gamma dose levels between 2500 and 10,000 rad. This results in an unacceptably short lifetime in many reactor building radiation environments. Radiation hardened integrated circuits can, in general, provide satisfactory service life for normal reactor operations when not restricted to the extremely low power budget imposed by standard 4--20 mA two-wire instrument loops. The design of these circuits will require attention to vendor radiation hardness specifications, dose rates, process control with respect to radiation hardness factors, and non-volatile programmable memory technology. 3 refs., 2 figs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The history of the technical, economic, and financial performances of these four countries' power companies over the past two decades is recounted, and then interpreted as the result of the existing organizational models. The changes that have occurred can be understood in long-term perspective by comparing the performance of these companies to the characteristics, rules, and objectives used to define the models, which also helps explain the history of performance indicator variations. Two models are defined: one for the physical plant and one for the management. These correspond to two successive phases in the organization and operation of the electrical sector. Rural electrification and regional interconnection will be important factors in any new model or models developed for the future, because the forms they take is likely to modify the characteristics of these national power companies. 26 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.

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The HEU and LEU fuel elements used in the ORR whole-core demonstration were gamma-scanned to determine the axial distribution of the {sup 140}La and {sup 137}Cs activities. Analysis of this data is now complete. From the {sup 140}La activity distributions cycle-averaged powers were determined while the {sup 137}Cs data provided a measure of the final {sup 235}U burnup in the fuel elements. A method for calculating correction factors for activity gradients transverse to the fuel element axis is presented and is applied to the first mixed core used in the demonstration during the gradual transition to an all LEU core. Results based on the gamma-scanning of the LEU fuel followers are also presented. Improved burnup calculations against which the experimental results are to be compared are now in progress. 7 refs., 21 figs., 3 tabs.

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The Level 1 probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) for Wolsung(WS) 2/3/4 nuclear power plant (NPPs) in design stage is performed using the methodologies being equivalent to PWR PSA. Accident sequence evaluation program (ASEP) human reliability analysis (HRA) procedure and technique for human error rate prediction (THERR) are used in HRA of WS 2/3/4 NPPs PSA. The= purpose of this paper is to introduce the procedure and methodology of HRA in WS 2/3/4 NPPs PSA. Also, this paper describes the interim results of importance analysis for human actions modeled in WS 2/3/4 PSA and the findings and recommendations of administrative control of secondary control area from the view of human factors. (Author) 10 refs., 2 tabs.

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A pipeless batch plant is a batch processing production system using mobile vessels. The plant performances depend on both hardware of equipment and software of operation. So the plant includes many design factors such as number of vessels, stations and AGVS, layout of stations, vessel moving rules, job scheduling and so on. In this paper, the characteristics of pipeless batch plant design are considered to handle the problem by the systems engineering approach. Then, a practical design method known as design-by-analysis is applied to solve such a complex design problem. Based on this concept, a design support system composed of modeling, simulation and evaluation subsystems is developed. This system enables rational decision making through performance evaluation for proposed design of a pipeless batch plant. The usefulness of the system is illustrated by industrial examples. 12 refs., 8 figs., 6 tabs.

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This paper briefly describes an industrial application of the foam decontamination process applied to large volume components. The process is based on the filling of the component with liquid foam containing suitable chemical reagents, and a circulation loop enables its continuous recycling. The process was successfully validated during the decontamination of a graphite gas-cooler representing a developed area of 1000 m{sup 2}. A decontamination factor up to 190 was obtained leading to a residual activity below 1 Bq/cm{sup 2}. The process only produced 6 m{sup 3} of effluent i.e. about ten times less than for a chemical solution technique. (authors) 2 refs.

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We investigate the quantum cosmology of spatially homogeneous models with compact spatial sections admitting a u(2) isometry algebra. The metric ansatz in these models is that of Bianchi type IX with two scale factors set to be equal. We apply the Hartle-Hawking no-boundary path integral prescription and find the semi-classical contributions to the wave function. Exact formulae are obtainable for certain contributions and otherwise the limits of large and small anisotropy (for the pure vacuum case) and large spatial volume or small anisotropy (for the case with a positive cosmological constant) are considered. For the pure vacuum case we find no semiclassical components which would correspond to Lorentzian universes. For the case with a cosmological constant the Hartle-Hawking boundary conditions formally constrain one of the parameters in the Lorentzian solutions to be purely imaginary. Possible interpretations of this imaginary parameter are discussed. 27 ...

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There are many different types of open pit mining operations around the world, and the challenge for any drive system manufacturer is to produce a system(s) that will work satisfactorily in these mines. Several factors must be considered such as vehicle speed requirements, available engine horsepower, mine rolling resistance, grades, grade lengths, payload, and tire sizes. How well a particular drive system performs depends on the size, weight, and available tractive/retarding effort. In addition to performance, the system must also have an operating cost that will be acceptable over the life of the equipment. Today the choice of drive systems is not only between mechanical and electrical drives, but also within these categories are the different manufacturers. Regardless of how the power is provided to the rear wheels, the job must be accomplished reliably and at an acceptable cost. This paper covers the characteristics of an electric drive system and how it is ...

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The effects of reservoir layering and gravity segregation on nonisothermal injection and falloff tests are investigated. Results show that layering does not affect injection or falloff data if all the layers are permeable and accept fluids from the wellbore. In such cases, the average permeability, skin factor, and distance to the thermal front can be calculated using the techniques developed for homogeneous reservoirs. Special considerations have to be taken for cases where several layers are impermeable or are permeable but do not accept fluids of the well face. In the first case (impermeable layers), knowledge of the total thickness of the permeable layers is required for the existing techniques to be applied successfully. In the second case, the existing techniques cannot be applied, but characteristic responses from injection and falloff test are seen; therefore, this case can be identified easily. 13 refs., 8 figs.

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The role of the environment is an important issue in policy making and the accurate assessment of the environmental conditions is vital. In this paper, using nonparametric techniques, an environmental efficiency index is developed for each of the OECD countries. These indexes allow one both to do cross section comparisons on the state of each country's production process in its treatment of undesirable outputs and also to trace each country's modification of their production processes overtime. Furthermore in this study we investigate the factors underlying societies' environmental concerns that eventually lead to changes in the environmental efficiency. The results provide further empirical evidence for the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis. 16 refs.

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Flue gas desulfurizing capacities of active carbon fibers (ACF) made from polyacrylonitrile (PAN-ACF) were studied, the features were clarified and at the same time the factors governing the capacities were studied to get guides for better products. Desulfurization capacities of 17 kinds of ACFs were studied. Two kinds of PAN-ACF, FE-200 and FE-300, especially the latter exhibited the higher desulfurization capacity. The capacity of FE-300 was about 20 times higher than those of fibers other than PAN systems and about 4 times higher than that of active coke for desulfurization. From the influence of reacting conditions on the desulfurizating capacity and the desorption profiles of adsorbed SO {sub 2}, it was concluded that the capacity was determined by the effective adsorption capacity of ACF and SO {sub 2} was retained on ACF as sulfuric acid. It was suggested that main factors governing the adsorption capacity were the large surface area of ...

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A new method for the preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of lead at the {mu}g/L level in natural waters has been established based on the formation of the thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) complex with dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) by means of synergistic extraction and back-extraction combined with atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The effect of various factors (synergism with TTA and DB18C6, shaking time, preconcentration factor, composition of the extracted species, and foreign ions etc.) on the extraction and back-extraction of lead has been investigated in detail. The lead-TTA chelate in o-dichlorobenzene forms a stable adduct with DB18C6 as Pb(TTA){sub 2} DB18C6. The stability constant ({beta}) of the adduct determined by curve fitting method was log {beta} = 4.2. The amount of lead in natural waters such as tap water (Kanazawa University) and Kakehashi river (Komatsu City) determined by the present method was found to be ...

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The purpose of this report is to summarize the assumptions, dose factors, consumption rates, and methodology used to evaluate potential radiation doses to persons who may eat contaminated wildlife or contaminated plants collected from the Hanford Site. This report includes a description of the number and variety of wildlife and edible plants on the Hanford Site, methods for estimation of the quantities of these items consumed and conversion of intake of radionuclides to radiation doses, and example calculations of radiation doses from consumption of plants and wildlife. Edible plants on the publicly accessible margins of the shoreline of the Hanford Site and Wildlife that move offsite are potential sources of contaminated food for the general public. Calculations of potential radiation doses from consumption of agricultural plants and farm animal products are made routinely and reported annually for those produced offsite, using information about concentrations of ...

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Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), a protease inhibitor that circulates in association with plasma lipoproteins (VLDL, LDL and HDL), helps to regulate the extrinsic blood coagulation cascade. The authors have cloned a 125-kb genomic region containing the entire human TFPI gene on six overlapping cosmids and prepared a restriction map of this contig to clarify gene structure. More than half (45 kb) of the 85-kb gene is occupied with 5[prime] noncoding elements: coding begins at exon 3. A HindIII RFLP identified with one cosmid was genotyped in the CEPH panel of 559 reference families. Linkage analysis using markers on human chromosome 2 located the TFPI gene on 2q, 36 cM proximal to D2S43(pYNZ15) and 13 cM distal to the crystalline [gamma]-polypeptide locus CRYGP1(p5G1). 31 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.

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Corrosion in drilling and well stimulation is described in relation to acid corrosion inhibition, acid inhibitors, acetylenic inhibitors, synergistic blends, metallurgy, wellbore tubulars, coiled tubing, and high alloy tubular materials. Acidizing is a procedure for stimulating oil and gas wells. Factors that have an important influence on the reaction rate and the way in which acid reacts with rock include temperature, acid concentration, acid volume, injection velocity, acid viscosity, and fluid loss properties of the formation. The cost of drill pipe failures are $1 per fot of hole drilled, which is a significant fraction of the drilling cost. Steps in a test procedure are listed, as well as factors which determine the extent of acid corrosion in a given situation including acid type and strength, metal type, temperature, contact time; pressure, and volume/surface area ratio. Underbalanced drilling is a method for completing oil and gas ...

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The tri-n-butyl phosphate(TBP) extraction behavior of tritium was studied to support the evaluation of tritium confinement in the Purex process. The tritium distribution ratio in the system of U - 30% TBP/n-dodecane(nDD) - HNO[sub 3] [minus]H[sub 2]O was measured in batch-wise experiments. The tritium decontamination factor in a tritium scrubbing step was measured in chemical flow sheet experiments using a 6 stage mixer-settler having an internal recycle system of aqueous solution in each stage. Tritium was mainly extracted in the forms of water and nitric acid in the system. Less than 1% of the amount of tritium in the organic phase was fixed in the degradation products of the solvent. A tritium decontamination factor of about 500 in the tritium scrubbing step was obtained under the conditions of about 85 g-U/dm[sup 3] of uranium concentration in the irradiated solvent(30% TBP/nDD), 3 M nitric acid in the tritium scrubbing solution and an ...

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In this paper, an amount of confining reinforcement required for the sufficient flexural ductility of reinforced concrete column was investigated. An equation to calculate the required confining reinforcement ratio was deduced from the analytical investigation and examination on the previous experimental data as to the effects of various factors on the required confining reinforcement ratio. The rotation angle required in plastic hinges, the axial force ratio, the material properties such as concrete strength, and the ratio of core area to the whole area of column sections were employed as the factors. From the examination of the equation, it was shown that the ultimate rotation in plastic hinges calculated by the equation was more conservative than the ultimate rotaion angle of members obtained by test column specimens. It was also indicated that the ultimate rotation angle of members of columns failed in shear was smaller than the ultimate ...

Science.gov (United States)

Persons with a thermolabile form of the enzyme 5,10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) have reduced enzyme activity and increased plasma homocysteine which can be lowered by supplemental folic acid. Thermolability of the enzyme has recently been shown to be caused by a common mutation (677C{sup {r_arrow}}T) in the MTHFR gene. We studied 41 fibroblast cultures from NTD-affected fetuses and compared their genotypes with those of 109 blood specimens from individuals in the general population. 677C{sup {r_arrow}}T homozygosity was associated with a 7.2 fold increased risk for NTDs (95% confidence interval: 1.8-30.3; p value: 0.001). These preliminary data suggest that the 677C{sup {r_arrow}}T polymorphism of the MTHFR gene is a risk factor for spina bifida and anencephaly that may provide a partial biologic explanation for why folic acid prevents these types of NTD. 13 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A rat thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH) receptor cDNA was isolated that encoded a protein of 764 amino acids, M_r 86,528. Transfection of the cDNA caused COS-7 cells to develop a TSH-sensitive adenylate cyclase response and the ability to bind "1"2"5I-labeled TSH; both activities were similar to those of rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells and not duplicated by lutropin. The gene represented by the cDNA was assigned to mouse chromosome 12 and human chromosome 14. Northern analyses identified two species of mRNA, 5.6 and 3.3 kilobases, in FRTL-5 thyroid cells; the transcripts appeared to differ only in the extent of their 3' noncoding sequences. There were minimal amounts of the two mRNAs in rat ovary, and neither was detected in RNA preparations from rat testis, liver, lung, brain, spleen, and FRT thyroid cells, which do not have a functional TSH receptor. TSH decreased both mRNA species 3- to 4-fold within 8 hr in FRTL-5 thyroid cells; ...

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Short communication. 6 refs., 2 figs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A multielement apparatus for the removal of aerosols formed in the vitrification of simulated high-activity accident wastes from the decommissioned nuclear power plant A-1 has been designed, manufactured and tested. The apparatus consists of two cooling and condensing steps connected in series, and of five filtration steps also connected in series. The five filtration steps allowed to achieve a decontamination factor of 1x10"5 in the case of removal of a NaCl("2"4Na) testing model aerosol. The decontamination factor for removal of the cesium aerosol by the whole apparatus was 3.3x10"6. In the first filtration step the aerosols are removed by the cartridge with a filtration fabric made of polyethylene fibers, in the second step by the cartridge with a granulated natural material, in the third step by the cartridge with glass-fiber filtration paper, in the fourth and fifth steps by the cartridge with high-efficiency filtration paper made of glass ...

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The problem of buried steelwork in cargo hold insulation has been investigated by several using empirical methods. These efforts have resulted in correction factors that serve as a useful aid in the complex task of estimating the K-value of a ship`s cargo holds for the correct dimensioning of the refrigeration plant. Today, the advent of the digital computer has established numerical methods of analysis as a common working tool among practicing engineers. For estimating the flow in cases of buried steelwork that cannot be handled by correction factors, this is an effective approach. This study is an analytical/numerical investigation of the effect that buried steelworks have on the heat leakage across cargo hold walls. It aims at providing enlightenment on the physical significance of the parameters influencing the problem and developing practically simple methods for predicting the heat leakage across the hold walls. The study is set in the ...

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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 ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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Abstract. The potential effects of synthetic unmethylated oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing CpG motifs, mimicking bacterial DNA, has never been evaluated on the immune response in the teleost fish gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), the most important fish species in Mediterranean aquaculture. First, binding and competition studies have demonstrated that binding is saturated and promiscuous, suggesting the participation of several receptors. Moreover, leucocyte cytotoxic (NCC) activity, production of ROIs (reactive oxygen intermediates), and expression of immune-relevant genes was greatly primed by ODNs. Focusing on the mechanism, the TLR9 gene is widely distributed in seabream tissues and differently regulated in vitro by several stimuli. Moreover, and for the first time in fish, TLR9...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Inhibition of adipogenesis and lipid accumulation has a very crucial role to prevent obesity. Low molecular weight (LMW) chitosan is known to inhibit fat accumulation and adipogenesis. (N,O)-sulfated chitosan is a sulfation derivative of chitosan oligomers, and its anti-obesity effect is not yet reported. In this study, it has been reported that (N,O)-sulfated chitosan significantly decreased lipid accumulation, an indicator for adipogenesis, in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. Furthermore, mRNA expressions and protein levels of key adipogenic markers such as peroxisome prolifetor-activated receptor (PPAR)-@c and CCAAT-enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)-@a were considerably decreased by (N,O)-sulfated chitosan treatment. As a consequence, sulfation of LMWC remarkably increased its ...

CERN Document Server

Proteins are polymers of amino acids. These macromolecules are synthesized by intracellular machines called {\\it ribosome}. Although, traditionally, the experimental investigation of protein synthesis has been an active area of research in molecular cell biology, important quantitative models of this phenomenon have been reported mostly in the research journals devoted to statistical physics and related interdisciplinary topics. From the perspective of a physicist, protein synthesis is a phenomenon of {\\it classical transport of interacting ribosomes on a messenger RNA (mRNA) template} that dictates the sequence of the amino acids on the protein. Here we bring this frontier area of contemporary research into the classroom by appropriate simplification of the models and methods. In particular, we develope a simple toy model and analyze it by some elementary techniques of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics to predict the average rate of protein synthesis and ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquious in the environment both as natural products and as environmental contaminants. Among PAHs, phenanthrene (PH) that is ubiquitously distributed throughout the environment was subjected in this study. Although environmental distribution and metabolism of PH have been well reported, there are only a few studies examined the expression of mRNA and their functions on PH-induced toxicity. A new paradigm in toxicity screening, toxicogenomic technology represents a useful approach for evaluating the toxic properties of environmental pollutants. In this respect, we elicited the genes which were changed more than 2-fold by analysis of gene expression profiles in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells, exposed to PH by using human oligonucleo...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) offers a mechanically and structurally simple method of harnessing the energy of the wind. Fast and accurate predictions of the VAWT performance can be obtained using momentum models. Aerodynamic streamtube models are based on the conservation-of-momentum principle in a quasi-steady flow, by equating the forces of the rotor blades to the change in streamwise momentum through the turbine. An analytical model considering a multi-streamtube system divided into two parts has been developed to determine the aerodynamic blade loads and rotor performance of the Darrieus wind turbine (CARDAA computer code). This so-called double multiple-streamtube (DMS) model uses two constant interference factors in the induced velocities and accounts for vertical variations in the free stream velocity. It has been recently modified to produce an efficient software package appropriate for the needs of VAWT designers. This software called CARDAAV runs ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The ability of "9"9"mTc-IgG scintigraphy to predict the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 47 patients with arthralgia was investigated. "9"9"mTc-IgG scintigraphy and the serum test for rheumatoid factor (RF), measured at the beginning of a year long study, were compared for their ability to predict RA. During the study 8 patients developed RA. The specificity and positive predictive values of RF in predicting RA were 79% and 50% respectively, and for "9"9"mTc-IgG scintigraphy 97% and 88%. The sensitivity and negative predictive values of RF were 100% and of "9"9"mTc-IgG-scintigraphy 88% and 97%, respectively. In conclusion, "9"9"mTc-IgG scintigraphy has additional value to RF with respect to the prediction of the development of RA in patients with arthralgia. 27 refs.

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With an objective to perform three-dimensional analysis with high accuracy in using the electromagnetic exploration method, characteristics in electromagnetic response were analyzed, and conditions for acquiring necessary data were discussed. The discussion defined a parameter called `response anomaly` which uses response from media to standardize response only from substances with abnormal resistivity. The receivers were located uniformly on the same plane, and the response anomaly was derived from electromagnetic response from each of the three horizontal and vertical components at each receiving point, which was expressed as a contour map. The parameter for the abnormal body was consisted of location and resistivity contrast with media. Discussions using the contour map were given on the response when these factors for the parameter were varied. As a result, it was found that the response anomaly appears in the form that reflects the abnormal body, and the ...

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A stochastic-convective reactive (SCR) transport method is developed for one-dimensional steady transport in physically heterogeneous media with nonlinear degradation. The method is free of perturbation amplitude limitations and circumvents the difficulty of scale dependence of phenomenological parameters by avoiding volume-averaged specifications of diffusive/dispersive fluxes. The transport system is conceptualized as an ensemble of independent convective-reactive streamlines, each characterized by a randomized convective velocity (or travel time). Dispersive effects are treated as a component of the randomness in the streamline velocity ensemble, so no explicit expression for hydrodynamic dispersive flux is written in the streamline transport equation. The expected value of the transport over the stream tube ensemble is obtained as an average of solutions to the reactive convection equation according to the stream tube (travel time) probability distribution function. In this way, ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The neutron capture cross sections of Sr-88 and Y-89 were measured in a quasi-stellar neutron spectrum for kT = 25 keV via the activation method. Relevant systematic uncertainties were determined experimentally by repeated activations under different conditions and with different samples. Gold was used as a cross section standard. The resulting stellar cross sections for kT = 30 keV are 6.13 + or - 0.18 mbarn for Sr-88 and 19.0 + or - 0.6 mbarn for Y-89. The partial cross section Sr-86(n, gamma) Sr-87m was measured to 48.1 + or - 1.2 mbarn. Compared to previous data, the associated uncertainties are reduced by factors of 3 and 5, respectively. The implications for s-process nucleosynthesis around magic neutron number N = 50 are discussed in the light of new information on neutron density and temperature. 38 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Solubilization of lignite including a large amount of oxygen containing functional groups was attempted using HF/BF3, and the behavior of oxygen containing functional group, one of the important factors for coal liquefaction, was studied. In experiment, the cooled slurry of Yallourn coal specimen and solvent (toluene, isopentane) was filled into a vacuum autoclave together with HF/BF3. Reaction was performed under spontaneous pressure at 50, 100 or 150{degree}C for 3 hours. The distribution of oxygen containing functional groups in each coal specimen was determined by quantification of carboxyl group, hydroxyl group and carbonyl group. As the experimental result, the superacid mixture of HF and BF3 considerably improved the solubility of coal specimens into solvent as compared with individual HF and BF3. The solubility was 68wt% into benzene, 96% into THF and 99% (nearly 100%) into pyridine. It was suggested that production of Broensted acid with strong acidity ...

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The adsorption capacity of radionuclides onto suspended sediment was experimented on each of the coastal seawater sampled around the Kori and the Wolsung nuclear power plant. During the experiment the quantity and size fraction of suspended sediment were adjusted and the seawater and sediment chemistry is approximated to the expected field condition. Because the sorption capacity depends on the specific minerals, ocean chemistry and radionuclide involved, it is necessary to analyze sediment mineralogy. Clay mineral is dominant in seabed mineral and suspended sediment as the result of x-ray diffraction. Radionuclide sorbed to silty-clay mineral can be rather transported to ocean than scavenged to seabed because of low quantity and fine grained suspended sediment in the coast around the Kori and the Wolsung. The result of adsorption examinations shows that {sup 139}Ce and {sup 51}Cr and {sup 110m}Ag are strongly sorbed to suspended particle, while {sup 137}Cs is less sorbed and {sup ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Targeted studies completed include the evaluation of tritiated N-0437, evaluation of "3"5S-cysteamine, evaluation of "1"8F-FDG and initiation of synthetic efforts towards the synthesis of iodinated N-0437 and pergolide analogs. The direction of the project has been changed due to several factors which include the decided lack of favorable experimental results, the excellence of results using muscarinic receptor ligands in pituitary, brain and heart and the contention of the DOE review panel that the original grant proposal was based on flawed assumptions together with their perceived lack of importance to pituitary imaging. In the final year of this grant, three studies will be completed. The first study is the continuation of synthetic efforts to prepare iodinated N-0437 and pergolide analogs for possible use as brain imaging agents. The second study is directed towards completion of biochemical evaluation of various muscarinic receptor analogs for heart, brain ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A brain weight deficit of about 70 mg was induced at doses of approximately 75-mGy and a deficit of 60 mg was induced at 100 mGy. This confirms the effects projected and observed by Wanner and Edwards. Although the data do not demonstrate a clear dose-response relationship between the 75-mGy and 100-mGy groups, the data are statistically consistent with a dose-response effect because of the overlapping confidence intervals. The lack of a statistically significant observation is most likely related to the small difference in doses and the limited numbers of animals examined. There are several factors that can influence the brain weight of guinea pig pups, such as caging and housing conditions, the sex of the animal, and litter size. These should be taken into account for accurate analysis. Dam weight did not appear to have a significant effect. The confirmation of a micrencephalic effect induced x rays at doses of 75-mGy during this late embryonic stage of ...

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The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is developing a treatment process for remote-handled (RH) liquid transuranic mixed waste governed by the concept of minimizing the volume of waste requiring disposal. This task is to be accomplished by decontaminating the bulk components so the process effluent can be disposed with less risk and expense. Practical processes have been demonstrated on the laboratory scale for removing cesium 137 and strontium 90 isotopes from the waste, generating a concentrated waste volume, and rendering the bulk of the waste nearly radiation free for downstream processing. The process is projected to give decontamination factors of 10{sup 4} for cesium and 10{sup 3} for strontium. Because of the extent of decontamination, downstream processing will be contact handled. The transuranic, radioactive fraction of the mixed waste stream will be solidified using a thin-film evaporator and/or microwave solidification system. Resultant solidified ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The contribution of platelets and clotting factors in thrombosis on cardiovascular prostheses had been quantified with several tracers. Thrombus formation in vivo could be measured semiquantitatively in animal models and patients with indium-111, Technetium-99m labeled platelets, iodine-123, iodine-131 labeled fibrinogen, and In-111 and Tc-99m labeled antibody to the fibrinogen-receptor on the platelet- membrane, or fibrin. The early studies demonstrated that certain platelet-inhibitors, e.g. sulfinpyrazone, aspirin or aspirin- persantine increased platelet survival time with mechanical valves implanted in the baboon model and patients. Thrombus localization by imaging is possible for large thrombus on thrombogenic surface of prosthesis in the acute phase. The majority of thrombus was found in the sewing ring (Dacron) in the acute phase in both the mechanical and tissue valves. The amount of retained thrombus in both mechanical and tissue valves in our one-day ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In order to investigate pitting corrosion of copper coiled tubes for air conditioning systems with an open heat storage water tank, the effect of carbon films on the inner surface of copper tubes and fine corrosion-product particles in water as environmental corrosion factor on pitting corrosion was studied by field test under real environmental conditions. As a result, pitting corrosion of copper tubes was caused by synergistic effect of fine corrosion-product particles in water and carbon films. Generation of pitting corrosion was derived from deposition of the films and particles, while considerable growth of pitting corrosion was dependent on the particles. Time variation of spontaneous electrode potential also showed the effect of the film and particle. Pitting corrosion potential was estimated to be nearly 100mV vs. SCE. The following measures against pitting corrosion were considered to be effective: (1) Removal of the particles, (2) Corrosion proofing of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ozone production by synchrotron radiation as a function of power density in air was investigated using a white beam at the BNL National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) x-ray ring. Power densities were calculated from the energy spectrum at 2.52 GeV. Ozone concentrations in small beam pipes were measured for power densities between I = 10"1"2 and 10"1"5 eV . cm"-"3 . sec"-"1. The measured ozone half-life was 37 +- 2 min. The measured G-value was 2.69 +- 0.14 mol/100 eV and the ozone destruction factor k was less than 7 x 10"-"1"9 cm"3 . eV"-"1. The random uncertainties stated are approximately one standard error. The large departure of the values for G and k from previous values suggest that some undiscovered systematic error may exist in the experiment. Ozone concentration in excess of the 0.1 ppM ACGIH TLV can be generated in the experimental hutches but can readily be controlled. Industrial hygiene aspects of operation and possible control measures will be ...

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Projected scenarios for the proposed Yucca Mountain repository include significant periods of time when high relative humidity atmospheres will be present, thus the reaction processes of interest will include those known to occur under these conditions. The ideal natural analog for the proposed Yucca Mountain repository would consist of natural borosilicate glasses exposed to expected repository conditions for thousands of years; however, the prospects for identifying such an analog are remote, but an important caveat for using natural analog studies is to relate the reaction processes in the analog to those in the system of interest, rather than a strict comparison of the glass compositions. In lieu of this, identifying natural glasses that have reacted via reaction processes expected in the repository is the most attractive option. The goal of this study is to quantify molecular water diffusion in the natural analogs obsidian and tektites. Results from this study can be used in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Neutron scattering experiments on the mixed-valence (MV) compounds SmB{sub 6} are reported. The inelastic magnetic response of SmB{sub 6} at T = 2 K, measured on a double-isotope single crystal,displays a strongly damped peak at 35 meV corresponding to the inter multiplet transition of Sm{sup 2+}. At lower energies ( h.{omega} {approx_equal} 14 meV), a narrow magnetic excitation is observed, with remarkable scattering-vector and temperature dependences of its intensity. This novel feature is discussed in terms of recent theoretical works describing the formation of an anisotropic local bound state in semiconducting MV materials. If the average samarium valence is decreased by substituting La for Sm, a peak is found to appear at high energies. The elastic magnetic form factor of SmB{sub 6} was determined using polarised neutrons and no significant difference is observed in its Q-dependence with respect to that of pure divalent samarium. This surprising behaviour is ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Swirling speed in a direct injection diesel engine was measured by a laser doppler velocimeter. Intake port geometry and engine speed were changed as factors affecting the swirling flow to study the distribution of swirling flow speed. The distribution of swirling flow speed changes complicatedly owing to axial nonsymmetry during intake process but becomes simple shape of axial symmetry during compression process after closing intake valve. But if this is assumed as the rigid swirl shape, the difference due to each intake port cannot be expressed but also large error may be possible to appear close to the cylinder wall. The distribution of swirling flow speed during compression process changes similarly, nearly proportinal to engine speed. But the similarity is higher at the middle period in compression process than at the end period in compression period. Axial distribution of local swirling ratio during compression process is nearly uniform. 8 ...

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With regard to a fracture system in the Hijiori hot dry rock artificial reservoir, an attempt was made on an interpretation which integrates different data. Major factors that characterize development and performance of an artificial reservoir are composed of a fracture system in rocks, which acts as circulating water paths, a heat exchange face and a reservoir space. The system relates not only with crack density distribution, but also with cracks activated by water pressure fracturing, cracks generating acoustic emission (AE), and cracks working as major flow paths, all of which are characterized by having respective behaviors and roles. Characteristics are shown on AE cluster distribution, crack distribution, production zone and estimated stress fields. Mutual relationship among these elements was discussed based on the Coulomb`s theory. The most important paths are characterized by distribution of slippery cracks. Directions and appearance frequencies of the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A highly efficiency partial smoothing method is proposed to be used for inverters for 40W class household fluorescent inverters. In this system, the input current from the commercial AC power source is accumulated in a capacitor with comparatively small capacity as the electric charge, and then the lamp circuit is driven by the inverter utilizing the charging voltage of the capacitor and the charging voltage of the separately prepared partial smoothing capacitor. By this method, the RF harmonic components in the supply current can be decreased to improve the power factor with no complicated feedback controlling device. In addition, comparatively small capacity coils and capacitors can be used. The structure of the circuit and the operation of this proposed method are described, and the operational characteristic of the prototype circuit and the result of analysis are shown. Furthermore, problems and improving method of the actual circuit are investigated by an ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Establishment of a continuous population has been prevented over a 24 year period in the San Joaquin Valley, USA, through continuous, daily in-season release of sterile pink bollworms based on an extensive trap monitoring programme. A post-harvest crop destruction ordinance and occasional use of pheromones as disruptants were the only other factors used by programme management, except in 1990. In 1990, the programme used a conventional insecticide on 280 acres (113 ha) out of 1.18 million acres (477,546 ha) of cotton. During the four year period 1986-1989, a management system was explored using a high rate pheromone disruption system and sterile insects. Major reductions in conventional insecticide usage, while maintaining extremely low populations, were evident in this semi-isolated valley of southern California. It is hoped that this will provide a model for a future large scale test on up to 20,000 acres (8100 ha) of cotton. (author). 11 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the development of high performance heat transfer surface on a compact heat exchanger, it was clarified that how reattachment point heat transfer and fluid flow are affected by channel width, at the same time, an evaluation of heat transfer performance and an investigation of optimum channel width were carried out. The channel system used in the experiment is as follows; (1) blow-off type with rectangular section channel, (2) span length of 200 mm, (3) wave length (pitch) of 80 mm, and (4) channel length of 12.5 wave length. The channel Reynolds number was set at about 10/sup 4/ which is relatively higher than the current studies. The results of the experiment were summarized as follows. (1) The channel width H has relevance to the phase difference between the fluid flow in cone portion of main stream and wave shape, the flow patterns are divided roughly into three types. These boundaries exist at P/H 3.0 and 1.5 (P: pitch, H: width). (2) The reattachment point appears at axial ...

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The polarization of extracted SATURNE II proton beam as a function of different ion source configurations was studied. Two distinct experiments were necessary for this purpose. In the first one, the left-right instrumental asymmetry of the beam polarimeter was determined using an unpolarized beam. In the second one this correction factor was applied to asymmetries measured with the beam from the polarized ion source in all polarization states. The measurements were carried out at the proton beam kinetic energy 0.80 GeV, where the pp-elastic scattering analyzing power is near its maximum. The results confirmed that the two so-called ``unpolarized states`` of the source were polarized to several percent, whereas the absolute values of the beam polarizations in the so-called ``polarized states`` were equal and opposite. It was observed that the hexapole lens of the ion source produced beam polarization in the absence of any transition. The beam polarization as a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The US Department of Energy (DOE) sponsors an extensive research program to improve the methods, dosimeters, and instruments available to DOE facilities for measuring neutron dose and assessing its effects on the work force. The Total Dose Meter was recently developed for measuring in real time the adsorbed dose of mixed neutron and gamma radiation and for calculating the dose equivalent. The Field Neutron Spectrometer was developed to provide a portable instrument for determining neutron spectra in the workplace for flux-to-dose equivalent conversion and quality factor calculation. The Combination Thermoluminescence/Track Etch Dosimeter (TLD/TED) was developed to extend the effective neutron energy range of the conventional TLDs to improve detection of fast-energy neutrons. An Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimeter is presently being developed for application to gamma, neutron, and beta radiation. An Effective Dose Equivalent System is being developed to ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this study, the adoptable essential technologies and reference design concept of the advanced reactor were developed and related basic experiments were performed. (1) Once-through Helical Steam Generator: a performance analysis computer code for heli-coiled steam generator was developed for thermal sizing of steam generator and determination of thermal-hydraulic parameters. (2) Self-pressurizing pressurizer : a performance analysis computer code for cold pressurizer was developed. (3) Control rod drive mechanism for fine control : type and function were surveyed. (4) CHF in passive PWR condition : development of the prediction model bundle CHF by introducing the correction factor from the data base. (5) Passive cooling concepts for concrete containment systems: development of the PCCS heat transfer coefficient. (6) Steam injector concepts: analysis and experiment were conducted. (7) Fluidic diode concepts : analysis and experiment were conducted. (8) Wet thermal ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The fuel composition heterogeneity effect on reactor performance parameters was assessed by refueling simulations for three DUPIC fuel options of fuel composition heterogeneity control: the fissile content adjustment, the reactivity control by slightly enriched and depleted uranium, and the reactivity control by natural uranium. For each DUPIC fuel option, the simulations were performed using 30 heterogeneous fuel types which were determined by the agglomerative hierarchical clustering method. The heterogeneity effect was considered during the refueling simulation by randomly selecting fuel types for the refueling operation. The refueling simulations of the heterogeneous core have shown that the key performance parameters such as the maximum channel power (MCP), maximum bundle power (MBP), and channel power peaking factor (CPPF) are close to those of the core that has single fuel type. For the three DUPIC fuel options, the uncertainties of MCP, MBP, and CPPF due to ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nowadays climate change is one of the environmental problems in the global policy agenda. However, in countries like United States and United Kingdom the media started to report regularly on this issue in 1988. Since then many researches have been carrying out focused on how the media influence, along with other factors, public understanding of climate change through the media construction of the problem in several countries. Given the implications of social acceptance for design and implementation of public policies on mitigation and adaptation to climate change, the overall aim of this report is to review the status of the issue from a qualitative and quantitative approach. Qualitatively, media construction of climate change is described as the result of different processes taking place at macro and micro scales. Interactions among scientists, politicians, industry, the media themselves and the social context are considered macro-scale influences, while ...

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Based on wind tunnel experiments, theoretical considerations and measurements the dispersion model CAR (Calculation of Air pollution from Road traffic) has been developed for determining air quality in city streets. CAR International is a simple parameterized model using readily available input data and calculating annual percentile values and average concentrations close to streets (at the kerb side) for non-reactive air pollutants and NO{sub 2}. Originally the model was set up for the Dutch situation (traffic, meteorology) with a system of fixed parameters. In order to extend its application to other countries the program has been made more flexible and user friendly. User defined system data can now be changed interactively, such as emission factors of passenger cars and trucks, fraction of directly emitted NO{sub 2}, city and regional background concentration, and average regional wind speed. The accuracy of the model has proved to be good and is within the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Reviews types of hydraulic power shovels used in coal surface mines in the USA, FRG, Japan and other countries. Excavators of the first, second and third generation are compared. Hydraulic schemes of the excavators are compared. The following excavators are reviewed: the RH-75, RH-75C, 1000 SK, H-801, RC-1500, H-185, EX-1800, R-994, RH-120C, H-241, Marion 3560, H-285, EX-3500, H-485, RH-300. The following parameters are compared: mass, price, digging range, digging power, productivity, motors, travelling speed, availability coefficient, pressure in the hydraulic systems, control systems. The following elements are discussed: schemes of hydraulic drives, main motors and engines, pump stations, hydraulic equipment, hydraulic accumulators, systems for cleaning and cooling hydraulic fluids, control systems, working fluids. Reliability of hydraulic power shovels and factors that influence reliability are analyzed. 54 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This document describes the contents of a digital climatological data set that may be used by raster or vector geographic information systems (GISs). The primary focus of the data set is the quantification of the occurrence of synoptic storms and other climatological factors that affect coastlines. However, recent demands for new and/or improved climatologies of storm events as well as an increase in the availability of source data have made it useful to extend the domain of most of the data variables to that of regional and/or global coverage. The expansion of the data makes the data set applicable in several areas of climatic research. The data set contains eight data groups. Spatial coverage of data varies by data group. All data groups except one are referred to 1{degree} {times} 1{degree} or 5{degree} {times} 5{degree} grid cells of latitude and longitude. (Data group (3) is referenced by state.) 19 refs., 12 figs., 26 tabs.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A summary of the effects presented here is given in the table. The designation "factor present" implies that there is knowledge (from human or animal studies, or both) of a specific factor(s) present...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Two candidate small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) corresponding to severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) spike gene were designed and in vitro transcribed to explore the possibility of silencing SARS-CoV S gene. The plasmid pEGFP-optS, which contains the codon-optimized SARS-CoV S gene and expresses spike-EGFP fusion protein (S-EGFP) as silencing target and expressing reporter, was transfected with siRNAs into HEK 293T cells. At various time points of posttransfection, the levels of S-EGFP expression and amounts of spike mRNA transcript were detected by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, Western blot, and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. The results showed that the cells transfected with pEGFP-optS expressed S-EGFP fusion protein at a higher level compared with those transfected with pEGFP-S, which contains wildtype SARS-CoV spike gene sequence. The green fluorescence, mean fluorescence intensity, and SARS-CoV S RNA ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A cDNA library was constructed using RNA isolated from the livers of chickens which had been treated with zinc. This library was screened with a RNA probe complementary to mouse metallothionein-I (MT), and eight chicken MT cDNA clones were obtained. All of the cDNA clones contained nucleotide sequences homologous to regions of the longest (375 bp) cDNA clone. The latter contained an open reading frame of 189 bp, and the deduced amino acid sequence indicates a protein of 63 amino acids of which 20 are cysteine residues. Amino acid composition and partial amino acid sequence analyses of purified chicken MT protein agreed with the amino acid composition and sequence deduced from the cloned cDNA. Amino acid sequence comparison establish that chicken MT shares extensive homology with mammalian MTs. Southern blot analysis of chicken DNA indicates that the chicken MT gene is not a part of a large family of related sequences, but rather is likely to be a unique gene sequence. In the chicken ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

IL-4-induced Stat6 signaling is active in a variety of cell types and plays a role in cell proliferation/growth and resistance to apoptosis. Using EMSA, we identified differential IL-4/Stat6 activities in colorectal cancer cell lines, HT-29 being active Stat6"h"i"g"h phenotype and Caco-2 being defective Stat6"n"u"l"l phenotype, respectively. Active Stat6"h"i"g"h HT-29 cells exhibited resistance to apoptosis by flowcytometry and aggressive metastasis by Transwell assay compared with defective Stat6"n"u"l"l Caco-2 cells. Comparing one another using RT-PCR, Stat6"h"i"g"h HT-29 cells expressed more mRNA of anti-apoptotic and pro-metastatic genes Survivin, MDM2, and TMPRSS4, while Stat6"n"u"l"l Caco-2 cells expressed more mRNA of pro-apoptotic and anti-metastatic genes BAX, CAV1, and P53, respectively. This is the first study describing correlations of IL-4/Stat6 activities with apoptosis and metastasis in colon cancer. These findings, together with ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Consolidation of spent fuel is under active consideration as the US Department of Energy plans to dispose of spent fuel. During consolidation, the fuel pins are removed from an intact fuel assembly and repackaged into a more compact configuration. After repackaging, approximately 30 kg of residual spent fuel assembly hardware per assembly remains that is also radioactive and requires disposal. Understanding the nature of this secondary waste stream is critical to designing a system that will properly handle, package, store, and dispose of the waste. This report presents a methodology for estimating the radionuclide inventory in irradiated spent fuel hardware. Ratios are developed that allow the use of ORIGEN2 computer code calculations to be applied to regions that are outside the fueled region. The ratios are based on the analysis of samples of irradiated hardware from spent fuel assemblies. The results of this research are presented in three volumes. In Volume 1, the development of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Over the recent years the nuclear structure around the N = 50 shell closure, which is very pronounced in the strontium and zirconium isotopes, has been the subject of extensive experimental and theoretical work. On the proton side Z = 38 and Z = 40 provide fairly closed sub-shells. In the strontium isotopes the lg/sub 9/2/ neutron shell is closed at "8"8Sr, supplying relatively pure neutron-hole and neutron-particle states with large spectroscopic factors in "8"7Sr and "8"9Sr, as well as core-coupled states. The mass region is thus ideally suited to examine the transition from a correlated to an uncorrelated (chaotic?) excitational behavior. These two types are characterized e.g. by the density of excited states, the transition strengths, and the spectroscopic factors observed in transfer reactions. We conducted (n,#gamma#) and (d,p) reactions leading to /sup 87,88,89/Sr in addition to "8"8Sr(d,t)"8"7Sr and 24 keV neutron capture in "8"8Sr. The ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

From 1981 up to February 1985, a total of 93 protocol patients entered the study CESS 81. The protocol recommended an initial 18-week period of polychemotherapy (VACA) followed by local therapy and two additional cycles of chemotherapy. Local therapy consisted either of radical surgery or of incomplete resection plus postoperative irradiation with 36 Gy or of radiotherapy alone (46 and 60 Gy). Centrally located lesions were always irradiated with 60 Gy. This article summarizes the data after 5 years. Data of 93 patients were analysed in October 1986 after a median follow-up of 37 months. The projected 5-year survival is 50%. The relapse rate was 42%, distant relapses occurred in 19%, local (plus distant) relapses in 23%. Most of the relapses occurred during the first 3 years of observation. Failure rate was high in patients undergoing irradiation alone (44%). Initial tumour mass (> 100 ml) and histopathologic response to initial chemotherapy were identified as major prognostic ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The first part of a systematic investigation is presented of surface treatments affecting the fatigue behavior of smooth and notched quenched and tempered (Q and T) specimens made of a B-Mn SS2131 ({approx}AISI 15B21H) steel. In this part, the effects of plasma nitriding (nitriding temperature=480 C, time=24 h) on the fatigue strength and notch sensitivity were investigated. Constant stress amplitude plane reversed bending fatigue tests (R=-1) at 47 Hz were conducted using cylindrical plasma nitriding (PN) and Q and T steel specimens with K{sub t}=1.05 and 1.7. The compound layer was found to consists of {epsilon}-phase and {gamma}`-phase. S-N curves show that plasma nitriding improves the fatigue limit by 53 and 115% of Q and T smooth and notched specimens, respectively. The fatigue strength of smooth specimens is improved through the whole fatigue life but only for long fatigue lives for notched specimens. Plasma nitriding reverses the low notch sensitivity (at short lives) and high ...

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Effective doses from {sup 210}Po intake with caribou meat were determined for human residents in Baker Lake and Snowdrift in the Northwest Territories of Canada and compared to doses calculated from reported {sup 210}Po tissue activities in Alaskan and British residents. Effective doses were calculated to separate body tissues, using ICRP 60 human weighting factors and the ICRP 30 metabolic model for {sup 210}Po. Baker Lake and Alaskan effective doses were similar at 0.4 mSv y{sup {minus}1} and slightly higher than Snowdrift doses (0.3 mSv y{sup {minus}1}). Alaskan tissue activities indicated higher effective doses to liver, bone surfaces and red marrow and lower doses to spleen than the {sup 210}Po metabolic model (ICRP 1979a) predicts. Effective doses to Baker Lake and Snowdrift caribou and wolves, calculated from tissue activities, ranged from 7-20 mSv y{sup {minus}1} using human weighting factors for comparison to human doses only. ...

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This paper presents thermodynamic and kinetic data collected for aqueous blends of piperazine (PZ), an ethylamine, and potassium carbonate (K{sub 2}CO{sub 3}). Mixtures of K{sup +} and PZ have been investigated in a wetted-wall column at 40 to 80{sup o}C, typical conditions for an industrial absorber. The addition of 0.6 m PZ to 20 wt% (3.6 m) K{sub 2}CO{sub 3} increases the rate of CO{sub 2} absorption by a factor of ten from the value in unpromoted solutions at 60{sup o}C. The addition of PZ increases the heat of absorption from 4 kcal/mol in 3.6 m K{sup +} to 10 kcal/mol when 0.6 m PZ is added. The capacity, ranging from 0.4 to 0.7 mol-CO{sub 2}/kg-H{sub 2}O, approaches that of monoethanolamine (MEA) solutions and seems to be a strong function of K{sup +} concentration. Speciation of the solution was obtained using proton nuclear magnetic reasonance (NMR), verifying and quantifying the presence of three PZ species. An equilibrium model and a rate model were ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The five thermal-hydraulic concepts chosen for conceptual study of advanced PWR systems have been studied as follows: (1) Critical Heat Flux in passive PWR Conditions: review of previous works (various of correlations, analysis of parametric trends) on CHF, assessment and improvement of CHF prediction models for round tubes, development of the prediction model on bundle CHF with considering the correction factor calculated from the tube data base, design and construction of the intermediate-pressure CHF experimental loop, extension of CHF data base by performing the experiments at low-flow, and low-quality conditions (2) Passive Cooling Concepts for Concrete Containment Systems: Selection of the external condenser by comparing and reviewing between passive cooling concepts for concrete containment system concepts, survey and review of previous studies (theoretical mechanism of condensation heat transfer and effect of non-condensable gases) on the condensation ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In the CNS, there are widespread and diverse interactions between growth factors and estrogen. Here we examine the interactions of estrogen and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), two...Full Text Available

KoreaScience (Korea)

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Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Short communication. 3 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Short communication. 4 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Short communication. 4 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Short communication. 1 ref., 4 figs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A discussion is presented of the chemistry and technology of coal liquefaction and the physics and technology of coal desulfurization. 31 refs.

Wastenet

com/Descartes-Error-Emotion-Reason-Human/dp/014303622X/ref=cm_lmf_img_12_rdssss0\\

CERN Document Server

Regulatory genes called small RNAs (sRNAs) are known to play critical roles in cellular responses to changing environments. For several sRNAs, regulation is effected by coupled stoichiometric degradation with messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The nonlinearity inherent in this regulatory scheme indicates that exact analytical solutions for the corresponding stochastic models are intractable. Here, we present a variational approach to analyze a well-studied stochastic model for regulation by sRNAs via coupled degradation. The proposed approach is efficient and provides accurate estimates of mean mRNA levels as well as higher order terms. Results from the variational ansatz are in excellent agreement with data from stochastic simulations for a wide range of parameters, including regions of parameter space where mean-field approaches break down. The proposed approach can be applied to quantitatively model stochastic gene expression in complex regulatory networks.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The promising use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in regenerative technologies accounts for necessity of detailed study of their physiology. Proliferation and differentiation of multipotent cells often involve changes in their metabolic state. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of ATP-sensitive potassium (K"A"T"P) channels in MSC and upon in vitro differentiation. K"A"T"P channels are present in many cells and regulate a variety of cellular functions by coupling cell metabolism with membrane potential. Kir6.1, Kir6.2 and SUR2A were expressed in undifferentiated MSC, whereas SUR2B and SUR1 were not detected on cDNA and protein level. Upon adipogenic differentiation Kir6.1 and SUR2A showed a significant reduction of the amount of mRNA by 84% and 95%, respectively, whereas Ki...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The expression of three c-onc genes (c-erb, c-myc, c-myb) was investigated in five cell lines established from fibrosarcomas induced with 20-methylcholanthrene (MCA) of Japanese quails. These cell lines showed low levels of the three c-onc genes, with the exception of two cell lines that accumulated moderate (MCAQ 1-4) and large amounts (MCAQ 3-5) of c-myc RNA. Molecular cloning and restriction endonuclease analyses indicated that expression of c-myc in these two cell lines were not associated with detectable rearrangements in the c-myc locus, that the size of the c-myc transcript (2.7 kb) in MCAQ 3-5 was similar to that of the normal c-myc messenger RNAs (mRNA) and that the transcriptional activatin observed in MCAQ 3-5 was not mediated by the LTR (long terminal repeat) of a proximate ALV (avian leukosis virus) provirus. Finally, when analyzed with the restriction enzymes Msp I and Hpa II, the c-myc locus of MCAQ 3-5 and MCAQ 1-4 was found hypomethylated as ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

It Peripheral blood progenitor enriched CD34+ cells (PBPC) are rather often used as stem cell background in cancer patients following high dose therapy. Keeping in mind that precursor dendritic cells (DCs) originate from haematopoietic progenitor cells, purified CD34+ cells might also serve as starting cells for ex-vivo production of DC. The aim of the present study is to develop a clinical grade procedure for ex-vivo production of DC derived from enriched CD34+ cells. Various concentrations of CD34+ cells were grown in gas-permeable Teflon bags with different serum-free and serum-containing media supplemented with GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-a, SCF, Flt-3L and INF-a. Serum-free CellGroSCGM medium for 7 days followed by CellGroDC medium in 7 days gave equal results as serum-containing medium. Follow...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Long-term divergent selection for low or high body weight from the same founder population has generated two extremely divergent lines of chickens, the high- (HWS) and low-weight (LWS) selected lines. At selection age (56?days), the lines differ by more than nine times in body weight. The HWS line chickens are compulsive feeders, whereas in the LWS line, some individuals are anorexic and others have very low appetite. Previous studies have implicated the central nervous system and particularly the hypothalamus in these behavioural differences. Here, we compared the mRNA expression in hypothalamus tissue from chickens on day?4 post-hatch using oligonucleotide arrays and found that the divergent selection had resulted in minor but multiple expression differences. Differentially expressed gen...

Science.gov (United States)

The gene expression of beta(1)-adrenergic receptor (beta(1)AR) and stimulatory G-protein Gsalpha in ventricle after chronic treatment with doxorubicin (DOX) in rat was investigated. The rats were treated with DOX in a dose of 2.5 mg/kg once a week for 5 weeks, the cumulative dose being 12.5 mg/kg. Two weeks after the last injection, the positive inotropic effect of isoproterenol was noticeably decreased in left atrial muscle preparations isolated from DOX-treated rats. Northern blot hybridization showed that the mRNA transcripts of beta(1)AR and Gsalpha, important signal transduction elements for regulating heart rate and contractility, were significantly decreased in the ventricle of DOX-treated rats. Thus, chronic treatment with DOX decreases the gene expression levels of myocardial beta(1)AR and Gsalpha. PMID:15353854

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The authors have previously identified a small-cell lung cancer cell line (NCI-H209) that expresses an aberrant, underphosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma protein RB1. Molecular analysis of RB1 mRNA from this cell line revealed a single point mutation within exon 21 that resulted in a nonconservative amino acid substitution (cysteine to phenylalanine) at codon 706. Stable expression of this mutant RB1 cDNA in a human cell line lacking endogenous RB1 demonstrated that this amino acid change was sufficient to inhibit phosphorylation. In addition, this cysteine-to-phenylalanine substitution also resulted in loss of RB1 binding to the simian virus 40 large tumor and adenovirus E1A transforming proteins. These results confirm the importance of exon 21 coding sequences and suggest that the cysteine residue at codon 706 may play a role in achieving a specific protein conformation essential for protein-protein interactions.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We discuss the consequence of local duality for elastic scattering, and derive a model-independent equation between structure functions at x ? 1 and elastic electromagnetic form factors. Then the electromagnetic form factors of proton are discussed using the quark-hadron duality theory. We also debate the form factor of proton in a bound state. It may be an effective approach to study the form factor of proton in media.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Background:Tobacco smoking is the most important risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) development. Inhaled cigarette smoke can induce tumor necrosis factor-α...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The experiments at the incinerator for low-level wastes processing, (containing transuranium radionuclides) are described. Air decontamination factors and detector readings correction factors for efficiency and absorption are indicated.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A fluid-phase immunoradiometric assay has been developed which identifies an antigen on the Factor VIII (antihemophilic factor) procoagulant protein. This sensitive and quantitative assay is not influenced...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Caries is a multifactorial disease, and studies aiming to unravel the factors modulating its etiology must consider all known predisposing factors. One major factor is bacterial colonization,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The extracellular domain of human fibroblast growth factor receptor (XC-FGF-R) was expressed in Escherichia coli. The protein was purified to homogeneity and the interaction with basic fibroblast growth...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report presents an assessment of the potential energy savings that could accrue from the use of alternative fuels in future transportation engines. Alternative fuels are defined in this study as hydrocarbon fuels which possess characteristics that assure user safety and satisfaction, but require less energy to produce than conventional specification fuels produced from the same resource. In particular, the energy requirements for producing such fuels from domestic coal and oil shale resources are examined from the standpoint of their adaptability to engine types having a high potential for achieving significant efficiency gains over existing transportation engines. Incentives for specific types of engine development are identified in terms of energy savings above those obtainable with current specification fuels. While engine research and development incentives historically are based on economic trade-offs between the fuel and the engine, no attempt is made in this study to ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A decade ago, Lovelock and Whitfield raised the question of how much longer the biosphere can survive on Earth. They pointed out that, despite the current fossil-fuel induced increase in the atmospheric CO[sub 2] concentration, the long-term trend should be in the opposite direction: as increased solar luminosity warms the Earth, silicate rocks should weather more readily, causing atmospheric CO[sub 2] to decrease. In their model, atmospheric CO[sub 2] falls below the critical level for C3 photosynthesis, 150 parts per million (p.p.m.), in only 100 Myr, and this is assumed to mark the demise of the biosphere as a whole. Here, this problem is re-examined using a more elaborate model that includes a more accurate treatment of the greenhouse effect of CO[sub 2] a biologically mediated weathering parameterization, and the realization that C4 photosynthesis can persist to much lower concentrations of atmospheric CO[sub 2] ([lt]10 p.p.m.). It was found that a C4-plant-based biosphere could ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The thesis relates to an investigation done on greenhouse gases in coniferous forest soils. The production of nitrous oxide (N{sub 2}O) and carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}), and the consumption of methane (CH{sub 4}) in a temperate forest soil were studied by a rapid and sensitive gas chromatographic (GC) method for analysing all three greenhouse gases at or below ambient levels. Gas fluxes were measured in soil incubation and lysimeter experiments. 15 soil samples were taken at random within a 100 m{sup 2} area in a Norway spruce forest stand (Picea abies). The fluxes of N{sub 2}O, CH{sub 4} and CO{sub 2} were measured under standardized laboratory incubation conditions to investigate spatial variability in relation to other factors such as nitrogen (N) mineralization rate, nitrification rate, organic carbon (OC), total N and pH. The effects of temperature, soil moisture content, and ammonium addition were also studied in an incubation experiment. A more detailed study ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Back in 1985 it was the European Commission's intention to demonstrate on rather large scale the provision of clean and renewable energy with hydrogen as energy vector and fuel. The cheapest and technologically available form of renewable electricity, the primary energy for electrolytic hydrogen, is hydropower. Most of the hydroenergy sources are oversea's. The World's topologically and technically exploitable hydroenergy potential is estimated to be in the order of 20.10{sup 3} TWh/y, i.e. 0.0057% of the hydraulic cycle energy. Today's hydroelectricity generation is {approx}2500 TWh/y i.e. {approx}21% of the World's electricity generation. Quebec's installed hydroelectricity is 33.5 GW, its residual potential is 50 GW or 190 TWh/y and 285 TWh/y, respectively (load factor 0.65). The construction of hydropower installation is rather clean. The construction of La Grande at James Bay with an installed rating of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Using discrete air sampling, values of {delta}{sup 13}C and {delta}{sup 18}O in atmospheric CO{sub 2}, as well as its concentration, were measured in a forest in the central part of the main island of Japan during the period from June 1994 to June 1996 to examine the biospheric contribution to their temporal variations. {delta}{sup 13}C shows a prominent diurnal variation with high values in the daytime and low values in the nighttime, especially during the warm season. {delta}{sup 13}C also vary seasonally, showing a maximum in summer and a minimum in spring. The diurnal and seasonal variations of {delta}{sup 13}C are opposite in phase with those of the CO{sub 2} concentration. The rate of change in {delta}{sup 13}C with respect to the CO{sub 2} concentration is found to be approximately -0.005 per mille/ppmv. This suggests that the diurnal and seasonal variations of the CO{sub 2} concentration are produced primarily by diurnally- and seasonally-dependent photosynthetic-respiratory ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The K site near Seoul began landfilling in 1992. The landfilled wastes include municipal solid waste (66.4%), construction residues (20.4%), water and wastewater sludges (trace levels), and hazardous waste (trace levels). The water content of the municipal solid waste is very high (47.3%); as a result, the leachate level (average E.L.) of the landfill, the design value of which is 7.0 m, was measured at 10.3 m in January 1995 and is increasing. The increase of leachate level in the landfill site causes a problem with slope stability. The leachate level at each disposal stage divided by the intermediate cover layer was calculated with the HELP (Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance) model and calibrated with the data measured from February 1993 to June 1995. Also, the hydraulic conductivities of the waste layer and the intermediate cover layer in each stage were calibrated continuously with HELP model analysis. To verify these results, the total water balance in the landfill ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels are subjected to neutron irradiation at a temperature of about 290 deg C. This radiation exposure alters the mechanical properties, leading to a shift of the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature toward higher temperatures and to a diminution of the rupture energy as determined by Charpy V-notch tests. This radiation embrittlement is one of the important aging factors of nuclear power plants. U.S. NRC recommended the basic requirements for the determination of the pressure vessel fluence by regulatory guide DG-1025 in order to reduce the uncertainty in the determination of neutron fluence calculation and measurements. The determination of the pressure vessel fluence is based on both calculations and measurements. The fluence prediction is made with a calculation and the measurements are used to qualify the calculational methodology. Because of the importance and the difficulty of these calculations, the method`s ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The presence of water in export coals increases transport and handling costs. Coarse (+0.5 mm) coal constitutes the majority of the product, and small changes in its final moisture content will have a significant effect on overall product moisture. An on-line moisture monitor was installed on a product belt immediately after a coarse coal centrifuge to continuously measure the moisture content of the coal from a single centrifuge. Basic studies were also conducted with a laboratory centrifuge specifically designed to characterize various coarse coal samples in terms of their water retention capacity. The moisture of the coarse coal (typically 6 to 9%) was found to vary by at least 1% at a particular plant, and by a number of percentage points between plants. An empirical model has been developed which can explain about 80% of the moisture variation from the 25 samples investigated. The rank of the coals ranged from 0.7 to 1.65% mean reflectance. The model identified four principle ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In many parts of the world and certainly in Europe large areas exist where the wind resources are good or very good and the grid is relatively weak due to a small population. In the areas the capacity of the grid can very often be a limiting factor for the exploitation of the wind resource. There are two main problems concerned with wind power and weak grids. The first is the steady state voltage level. The other main problem is voltage fluctuations. Some or all the these problems can be avoided if a so-called power control concept is applied together with the wind farm. The idea behind the power control concept is eliminate the violations of the steady state voltage level by buffering the power from the wind turbines in periods where the voltage limits might be violated and combine this ability with smoothing of the power output. The investigations have shown that the power control concept can compete with grid reinforcement and usually the dumping of wind energy ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Over the past few years, the development of domestic oil shale resources has regained significant attention. High oil prices, emerging recovery technologies, increasing world demand for liquid hydrocarbons, and the continued decline in United States conventional oil production has contributed to this interest. Several initiatives have been undertaken by the United States federal government and the private sector to encourage the development of a domestic oil shale industry. The United States has nearly 2.0 trillion barrels of oil shale resources across the eastern and western states. However, the development of this massive resource is constrained by a number of key factors, such as resource access, technology, economics, infrastructure and environmental and regulatory issues. In order to review emerging oil shale technologies from 23 companies and identify options to accelerate the development of this resource, a comprehensive analysis has been completed. This ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We have investigated the effect of plasma nitriding and plasma nitrocarburizing on the microstructure and properties of electroplated chromium. Plasma nitriding and plasma nitrocarburizing are applied to 15-100 [mu]m thick electroplated hard chromium coatings to increase both the wear and the corrosion resistance. The properties of the plasma-modified hard chromium layers are characterized by measuring the wear resistance with a Taber wear tester and the corrosion resistance with a salt spray fog test. Cyclic voltammetry is performed in a standard electrochemical cell using a 0.5 M H[sub 2]SO[sub 4] solution acidified to pH 0.3. The compound layer after plasma nitriding consists of CrN and Cr[sub 2]N with a maximum hardness of about 1100 HK[sub 0.01]. After plasma nitrocarburizing, Cr[sub 3]C[sub 2] and Cr[sub 7]C[sub 3] are formed. After plasma nitrocarburizing, the maximum hardness is increased up to 2200 HK[sub 0.01]. The wear rate is reduced as compared to an untreated chromium ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The mining complex Eustis-Capelton, located in the Estrie, was created in 1860, just as the demand and the prices for copper were beginning to rise. It survived the economic crash that followed the end of the American Civil War and continued its activities. Mine Albert was closed in 1907, and the Capelton chemical complex in 1924. As for the Eustis Mine, it continued to operate until 1939. The various mining companies operating in the region were able to maintain their presence throughout the difficult periods due to their flexibility, their capacity to innovate and their good management practices. It was the lack of minerals and several other factors that finally contributed to the demise of the mining industry in the Estrie region. The waste rock piles and tailings at the Eustis, Albert, Capel, and Hartford Mines all display acid mine drainage potential. The tailings are located along the Eustis and Capel streams, which follow a steep course toward the Massawippi ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Power source requirements for the military were presented to provide guidelines for research and development planning. Power sources that contain a high amount of energy and are small, light and durable are a common request from military users. Safety, reliability and low temperature performance are also important factors in the selection of power sources, as are cost and energy efficiency. Issues concerning advanced batteries were reviewed with reference to high energy density cathode materials. Various thermoelectric and renewable energy materials were discussed, with reference to recovery and conversion of waste heat. It was suggested that photovoltaic devices could help revolutionize military logistics by modifying energy re-supply requirements. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) were considered in relation to the high price of the ceramic materials required for operation. It was noted that the development of SOFC anodes capable of generating hydrogen from liquid ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Two different reverse osmosis systems were investigated. The first was a 50-element plant-scale system that is used to treat 2200 m"3 of AECL liquid radwastes annually.It uses thin-film composite (TFC) membranes and operates at an applied pressure of 2760 kPa, with a fixed crossflow of about 40 L/min. The other system uses the same thin-film composite membranes for waste processing but is a two-element pilot-scale system. It is operated at pressures m ranging between 1500 and 7000 kPa, at a fixed crossflow of 55 L/min. The average lifetime of the thin-film composite membranes in the plant-scale processing application at AECL is about 3000 h. After this service life has expired the rejection efficiency declines rapidly from 99.5% to about 95% as the membranes become impaired from chemical cleaning procedures that are required after each 100 m"3 of waste is treated. The permeation flux for the plant-scale system decreases from about 2.2 L/min/element to below 0.5 L/min/element at the end ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The trend towards more effective use of fossil fuels and reduced environmental pollution represents a major task of improvement within the refinery processes. The highly isomerized and high octane paraffins produced from isobutane and light olefins by alkylation fulfill all the requirements for reformulated gasoline. This doctoral thesis discusses new catalyst systems because of their potential in alkylation. A slurry reactor apparatus for solid-acid catalysed isobutane/butene alkylation was developed and used to investigate the performance of various heterogeneous catalysts. The selected materials were mainly zeolite types with faujasite structures. The samples were characterized by various methods before alkylation. In general, the order of decreasing catalyst activity after 3 h of reaction at 80{sup o}C was found to be: H-EMT >> H-FAU, dealuminated H-FAU >> NS.500, TA-Y, CeY-98 > Nafion-H. The order of decreasing alkylate selectivity of the catalysts was: H-EMT ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Dissolved humic substances (humic and fulvic acids) occur in surface waters and groundwaters in concentrations ranging from less than 1 mg(C)/L to more than 100 mg(C)/L. Humic substances are strong complexing agents for many trace metals in the environment and are also capable of forming stable soluble complexes or chelates with radionuclides. Concentrations of humic materials as low as 1 mg(C)/L can produce a detectable increase in the mobility of some actinide elements by forming soluble complexes that inhibit sorption of the radionuclides onto rock materials. The stability of trace metal- or radionuclide-organic complexes is commonly measured by an empirically determined conditional stability constant (K'), which is based on the ratio of complexed metal (radionuclide) in solution to the product concentration of uncomplexed metal and humic complexant. Larger values of stability constants indicate greater complex stability. The stability of radionuclide-organic complexes is ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Frictional pressure drop and heat transfer performance in a very narrow rectangular channel having one-sided constant heat flux and repeated-ribs for turbulent flow have been investigated experimentally, and their experimental correlations were obtained using the least square method. The rib pitch-to-height ratios(p/k) were 10 and 20 while holding the rib height constant at 0.2mm, the Reynolds number(Re) from 2,414 to 98,458 under different channel heights of 1.2mm, 2.97mm, and 3.24mm, the rib height-to-channel equivalent diameter(k/De) of 0.03, 0.04, and 0.09 respectively. The results show that the rib-roughened surface augments heat transfer 2-3 times higher than that of the smooth surface with the expense of 2.8-4 times higher frictional pressure drop under Re=5000-10{sup 5}, p/k=10, and H=1.2mm. Experimental results obtained by channel height, H=1.2mm shows a little bit higher heat transfer and friction factor performance than the higher channel height, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The purpose of the present work is to investigate the effects of matrix resin and fiber content on the behavior of fatigue crack propagation in continuous-glass-fiber-mat reinforced CP-resin composites. For this purpose, ductile matrix resin and brittle one are used. These two kinds of resins have the characteristic that the elastic modulus and tensile strength are nearly the same with each other while the elongation is different. The composite specimens are made of these resins and continuous grass fiber mat of 20 wt.% and 60 wt% fiber contents. The fatigue crack propagation test was conducted by using the tapered DCB specimens to control the stress intensity factor range, {delta}K, during the test. The results obtained are as follows; (1) The relation between the crack propagation rate, da/dN, and {delta}K for all the present materials is shown by a straight line in logarithmic representation. (2) For the composites of 20 wt.% fiber content, the da/dN of the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Maintaining uniformity of properties over long distances is one of the fabrication problems encountered with the new high {Tc} superconductors. Uniform properties are crucial in long tapes or wires with high critical current since local nonuniformities can limit the current carrying capacity of the whole piece. Transport critical currents in high {Tc} superconductors are conventionally measured with the contact 4-point probe DC current-voltage technique. This technique requires contact with the sample and and spatially averages over the region between the two voltage contacts. Two techniques have been used to infer the critical state model. The first uses the net magnetization of a suitably shaped sample in an external magnetic field. The second combines a DC magnetic field with AC induced currents to infer spatial flux profiles. The AC magnetization technique offers an advantage in that it is noncontacting; however, it also averages the measurement over a large area and requires that ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper describes considerations given on factors affecting radon concentrations, and the radon concentration measurements in hot springs distributed in the northern part of Kumamoto Prefecture. As a result of analyzing radon concentration attenuation in the vertically upward direction using a diffusion equation, it was revealed that radon carrier gas velocities affect strongly the radon concentration, and the [sup 220]Rn source is limited to a very shallow bed below the ground surface. An inclined face was prepared against the [sup 222]Rn decay constant distribution using an inclined face analyzing method. The [sup 222]Rn concentration direction based on this inclined face harmonized approximately well with the hot spring distribution direction. Base rocks that well up hot springs were inferred to be granite from the concentration distribution and pH of chemical components in each hot spring. As a result of surveying joints and linearments in granite rocks ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The release of {sup 14}C as {sup 14}CO{sub 2} from partly failed spent fuel containers has been analyzed by the flow of gases into and out of the containers. This flow of gases is driven by pressure differences, which are in turn caused by heating by the spent fuel. In this analysis, the timing and size of holes in the containers are assumed to be given. A better means of predicting the time distribution and sizes of penetrations in nuclear waste containers is needed. For the purposes of far-field transport calculations, we have adopted release rates that are shown to be bonding for the large range of hole sizes studied. The transport of released {sup 14}CO{sub 2} has been analyzed by transport in equivalent porous medium. The peak {sup 14}CO{sub 2} concentration in pore gas at 350 m above the repository does not depend on the time of hole occurrence, although the time of penetration obviously affects the arrival and duration of exposure to {sup 14}C. Nor does water saturation have ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A method for assessing management systems for low-level radioactive waste is being developed for US Department of Energy. The method is based on benefit-cost-risk analysis. Waste management is broken down into its component steps, which are generation, treatment, packaging, storage, transportation, and disposal. Several different alternatives available for each waste management step are described. A particular waste management system consists of a feasible combination of alternatives for each step. Selecting an optimal waste management system would generally proceed as follows: (1) qualitative considerations are used to narrow down the choice of waste management system alternatives to a manageable number; (2) the costs and risks for each of these system alternatives are evaluated; (3) the number of alternatives is further reduced by eliminating alternatives with similar risks but higher costs, or those with similar costs but higher risks; (4) a trade-off factor ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this paper, a phenomenological model of the thermal hydraulics of convective boiling in the post-critical-heat-flux (post-CHF) regime is developed and discussed. The model was implemented in the TRAC-PF1/MOD2 computer code (an advanced best-estimate computer program written for the analysis of pressurized water reactor systems). The model was built around the determination of flow regimes downstream of the quench front. The regimes were determined from the flow-regime map suggested by Ishii and his coworkers. Heat transfer in the transition boiling region was formulated as a position-dependent model. The propagation of the CHF point was strongly dependent on the length of the transition boiling region. Wall-to-fluid film boiling heat transfer was considered to consist of two components: first, a wall-to-vapor convective heat-transfer portion and, second, a wall-to-liquid heat transfer representing near-wall effects. Each contribution was considered separately in each of the inverted ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Radium is known to be taken up by aquatic animals, and tends to accumulate in bone, shell and exoskeleton. The most common approach to estimating the uptake of a radionuclide by aquatic animals for use in health and environmental risk assessments is the concentration factor method. The concentration factor method relates the concentration of a contaminant in an organism to the concentration in the surrounding water. Site specific data are not usually available, and generic, default values are often used in risk assessment studies. This paper describes the concentration factor method, summarizes some of the variables which may influence the concentration factor for radium, reviews reported concentration factors measured in marine environments and presents concentration factors derived from data collected in a study in coastal Louisiana. The use of generic default ...

Science.gov (United States)

... implementation." 4 1 Factors Affecting Rural Construction. Two new factors profoundly modify today's pacification equa- tion. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The data base for the form factors of the nucleon obtained from elastic ep scattering is discussed, as well as some recent developments in their calculation.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This is a presentation on Human Factors in reactor operations. It discusses issues that deal with power plant operations, training and design, operational effectiveness and safety, supporting people to achieve effective and error free performance.

CERN Document Server

The stock market has been known to form homogeneous stock groups with a higher correlation among different stocks according to common economic factors that influence individual stocks. We investigate the role of common economic factors in the market in the formation of stock networks, using the arbitrage pricing model reflecting essential properties of common economic factors. We find that the degree of consistency between real and model stock networks increases as additional common economic factors are incorporated into our model. Furthermore, we find that individual stocks with a large number of links to other stocks in a network are more highly correlated with common economic factors than those with a small number of links. This suggests that common economic factors in the stock market can be understood in terms of deterministic factors.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) is decommissioning many of its excess facilities through removal of the facility structures leaving only the concrete-slab foundations in place. Site-specific, risk-based derived concentration guideline levels (DCGLs) for radionuclides have been determined for a future industrial worker potentially exposed to residual contamination on these concrete slabs as described in Jannik. These risk-based DCGLs were estimated for an exposure area of 100 m2. During deactivation and decommissioning (D and D) operations at SRS, the need for area factors for larger and smaller contaminated areas arose. This paper compares the area factors determined for an industrial worker exposed to a concrete slab end-state for several radionuclides of concern at SRS with 1) the illustrative area factors provided in MARSSIM, 2) the area correction factors provided in ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Short communication. 3 refs.

Science.gov (United States)

... Dynamics) environment (ref. 13) to work seamlessly with their flagship products, MSC.Nastran and MSC.Patran. In addition ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Short communication. 1 ref., 4 figs.

Science.gov (United States)

... within an accuracy of +5 psig. 2. Starting Pressure and Diffuser Geometra Preliminary, tests indicated that the geometry suggested by Ref. ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared.

KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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International Science & Technology Center (ISTC)

Determination of the Ecology Factor for the Magistral Oil Pipelines, Working in Difficult Hilly and Geology Conditions

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Short communication.

KoreaScience (Korea)

Full Text Available

KoreaScience (Korea)

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International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Collection, analysis and quantification of human factor data are important compositions of human reliability analysis (HRA) and probabilistic risk assessment (PRA). Various human factor databases have been set up, but there are comparatively little human factor data management systems which can be uses for collection, classification, analysis, calculation and predication of the human factor data. Therefore, the human factor data management system for Daya Bay NPP is developed, with the following three modules and four databases: original data module, computing module, introduced data module, and basic database, other data source of the plant, external database and introduced database. The foundational problems about human factor data and the systemic structure and function are described. The data structure in the database is also discussed, because it is of the ...

Science.gov (United States)

Elastic electromagnetic form factors of nucleons are investigated for both the time-like and the space-like momenta by using the unsubtracted dispersion relation with QCD constraints. It is shown that the calculated form factors reproduce the experimental data reasonably well; they agree with recent experimental data for the neutron magnetic form factors for the space-like data obtained by the CLAS Collaboration and are compatible with the ratio of the electric and magnetic form factors for the time-like momentum obtained by the BABAR Collaboration.

Science.gov (United States)

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by a widespread microangiopathy, autoimmunity and fibrosis of the skin and of various internal organs. Microangiopathy is characterized by a reduced capillary density and an irregular chaotic architecture that lead to chronic tissue hypoxia. Despite the hypoxic conditions, there is no evidence for a sufficient compensative angiogenesis in SSc. Furthermore, vasculogenesis is also impaired. An imbalance between angiogenic and angiostatic factors might explain the pathogenetic mechanisms of SSc vasculopathy. As far as angiogenic factors are concerned, within the most important are vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-?), fibroblast growth factor -2 (FGF-2), angiopoietin 1 (Ang-1), stromal ...

CERN Document Server

The activity assay of a radiopharmaceutical administration to a patient is normally achieved via the use of a radionuclide calibrator. Because of the different geometries and elemental compositions between plastic syringes and glass vials, the calibration factors for syringes may well be significantly different from those for the glass containers. The magnitude of these differences depends on the energies of the emitted photons. For some radionuclides variations have been observed of 70 %, it is therefore important to recalibrate for syringes or use syringe calibration factors. Calibration factors and volume correction factors have been derived for the NPL secondary standard radionuclide calibrator, for a variety of commonly used syringes and needles, for the most commonly used medical radionuclide.

Science.gov (United States)

The complete world set of parity-violating electron scattering data up to Q{sup 2}{approx}0.3 GeV{sup 2} is analyzed. We extract the current experimental determination of the strange electric and magnetic form factors of the proton, as well as the weak axial form factors of the proton and neutron, at Q{sup 2}=0.1 GeV{sup 2}. Within experimental uncertainties, we find that the strange form factors are consistent with zero, as are the anapole contributions to the axial form factors. Nevertheless, the correlation between the strange and anapole contributions suggest that there is only a small probability that these form factors all vanish simultaneously.

Science.gov (United States)

Endothelial dysfunction and increased platelet aggregation may be involved in the pathogenesis of normal tissue radiation toxicity. This study assessed clopidogrel, an inhibitor of ADP-induced platelet aggregation, as a modulator of intestinal radiation injury (radiation enteropathy). Rat small intestine was exposed to 21 Gy X-radiation. Clopidogrel (20 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was administered from 2 days before to 10 days after irradiation. Structural radiation injury, neutrophil infiltration, smooth muscle cell proliferation, collagen content, and TGF-beta1 expression were assessed 2 weeks (early phase) and 26 weeks (delayed phase) after irradiation, using quantitative histology and immunohistochemistry, morphometry, and real-time fluorogenic probe RT-PCR. Irradiated intestine exhibited significant histopathologic injury, reduced mucosal surface area, vascular sclerosis, intestinal wall fibrosis, increased collagen content, and increased TGF-beta1 expression. Clopidogrel reduced ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies are caused by defects of dystrophin, which forms a part of the membrane cytoskeleton of specialized cells such as muscle. It has been previously shown that the dystrophin-associated protein A1 (59-kDa DAP) is actually a heterogeneous group of phosphorylated proteins consisting of an acidic ({alpha}-A1) and a distinct basic ({beta}-A1) component. Partial peptide sequence of the A1 complex purified from rabbit muscle permitted the design of oligonucleotide probes that were used to isolate a cDNA for one human isoform of A1. This cDNA encodes a basic A1 isoform that is distinct from the recently described syntrophins in Torpedo and mouse and is expressed in many tissues with at least five distinct mRNA species of 5.9, 4.8, 4.3, 3.1, and 1.5 kb. A comparison of the human cDNA sequence with the GenBank expressed sequence tag (EST) data base has identified a relative from human skeletal muscle, EST25263, which is probably a human ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We previously reported the identification of a new family of plant methyltransferases (MTs), named the SABATH family, that use S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) to methylate a carboxyl moiety or a nitrogen-containing functional group on a diverse array of plant compounds. The Arabidopsis genome alone contains 24 distinct SABATH genes. To identify the catalytic specificities of members of this protein family in Arabidopsis, we screened recombinantly expressed and purified enzymes with a large number of potential substrates. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis thaliana gene At3g44860 encodes a protein with high catalytic specificity towards farnesoic acid (FA). Under steady-state conditions, this farnesoic acid carboxyl methyltransferase (FAMT) exhibits K{sub M} values of 41 and 71 {mu}M for FA and SAM, respectively. A three-dimensional model of FAMT constructed based upon similarity to the experimentally determined structure of Clarkia breweri salicylic acid methyltransferase (SAMT) ...