The paper investigates the yield and the role of the computerized tomography in diagnosing abdominal gunshot wounds, with their rich and varied radiological signs and associated injuries, and subsequently used in the diagnosis. [Italian] Scopo del lavoro e' riportare l'esperienza personale nell'uso della tomografia computerizzata per riconoscere le lesioni da arma da fuoco dell'addome e nelle fasi successive dell'approfondimento diagnostico.
The quality insurance in radiotherapy in the frame of highly complex technical process as Intensity modulated radiotherapy (I.M.R.T.) needs independent control of the delivered dose to the patient. Actually, up to now, most of the radiotherapy treatments rely only on computed dosimetry through a rather complicated series of linked simulation tool. This dosimetry approach requires also qualified treatment means based on cautious quality insurance procedures. However, erroneous parameters could be difficult to detect and systematical errors could happen leading to radiotherapy accidents. In this context, in vivo dosimetry has a critical role of final control of the delivered dose. As many beam incidences and ports are used for any photon therapy treatment, external control could be very tedious and time consuming. Therefore, innovations are needed for in vivo dosimetry to provide ergonomic and efficient tools for these controls. This paper presents a review of ...
The open circuit potential (OCP) of stainless steels immersed in natural waters generally increases with time. This phenomenon is strongly linked to the formation of a bio-film on the surface. Several studies have proved that the bio-film modifies the reaction of reduction of dissolved oxygen and that it acts mainly on the cathodic processes. One of the hypotheses explaining the action of the bio-film involves certain bacteria which use dissolved oxygen and extracellular enzymes to produce reactive oxygen species. Among this kind of metabolites is hydrogen peroxide H{sub 2}O{sub 2}. This compound interacts with the passive layer of stainless steels and affects their electrochemical behaviour, even when the chloride concentration is low. The aim of this work is to study the influence of an enzymatic reaction (of the oxidoreductase type) on anodic and cathodic processes on AISI 316L stainless steel. Experiments are carried out in two artificial electrolytes simulating natural fresh ...
sur la médiatisation des élections Il s'est ouverte le 16 septembre 2011 à Matadi dans le Bas-Congo une formation sur la médiatisation des questions électorales,...
The growing concern of the population with regards to the problem of atmospheric pollution has induced a change in the role of air quality monitoring networks, especially those monitoring air pollution in large cities which suffer from summer smog. The population is no longer satisfied with real-time measurements but wants to be warmed of high pollutants concentrations in advance. Some countries have been forecasting air pollution, and especially ozone, for a large number of years. Although most of them use statistical models based on the analyses of past conditions which induced high pollution episodes, some predict ozone levels using only their knowledge of the meteorological situation. Nowadays two trends appear regarding ozone forecasting: either very basic statistical methods, such as regression, or more sophisticated ones, such as neural networks. The paper then reviews several behaviours common to most forecasting models: the uncertainly due to the great ...
Aim of the work was to describe the noninvasive assessment of bone mineral density, geometrical and biochemical properties in premenopausal women with dietary intake of phytoestrogens and comparison of these parameters with those of age-matched female subjects with Mediterranean dietary intake lacking in these substances. Volumetric cortical, trabecular and total mineral density and bone geometrical properties were evaluated with peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at the distal radius of the non dominant forearm. pQCT showed higher bone mineral density (total and trabecular) and SSI values in premenopausal with dietary intake of phytoestrogens. Despite the lack of statistical significance, these preliminary results, should further support the few literature findings about the potential role of phytoestrogens consumption in preventing trabecular bone loss. However, further studies are warranted to evaluate definitively postmenopausal osteoporosis. ...
Le Club d’Orientation du CERN vous propose de venir participer à la cinquième étape de la coupe d’automne Genevoise. Celle-ci sera organisée samedi 16 octobre par le club de Lausanne-Jorat (Canton de Vaud). Un fléchage depuis le Mont-sur-Lausanne en direction de Cugy vous conduira au Chalet à Gobet. 5 circuits seront proposés sur la carte Le Flon. Les inscriptions et les départs se feront sur place de 13h à 15h. Il est prévu une initiation à 13h30 pour les débutants. Les deux dernières étapes de la coupe d’automne sont prévues pour vendredi 22 octobre au soir et samedi 23 octobre après-midi. Le Club d’Orientation du CERN Informations sur ...
The purpose of this work is to investigate the possible role of Helical CT defecography in pelvic floor disorders by comparing the results of the investigations with those of conventional defecography. The series analyzed consisted of 90 patients, namely 62 women and 28 men, ranging in age 24-82 years. They were all submitted to conventional defecography, and 18 questionable cases were also studied with Helical CT defecography. The conventional examination was performed during the 4 standard phases of resting, squeezing, Valsalva and straining; it is used a remote-control unit. The parameters for Helical CT defecography were: 5 mm beam collimation, pitch 2, 120 KV, 250 m As and 18-20 degrees gantry inclination to acquire coronal images of the pelvic floor. The rectal ampulla was distended with a bolus of 300 mL nonionic iodinated contrast agent (dilution: 3g/cc). The patient wore a napkin and was seated on the table, except for those who could not hold the position ...
operations and defense, personnel misconduct (PM), law enforcement (LE), and counterintelligence (CI) investigations.- At any time, the USG may inspect and seize data stored on...
ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment) is conducting a large research and development programme on innovative vehicles with high energy efficiency and low environmental impact. In particular conducts activities on electric and hybrid vehicles. Testing and evaluation activities play a strong role in this programme. A complete characterization chain has been then defined and set up with a network of facilities which covers main testing needs for single components, subsystems and complete vehicles, in simulated and real operating conditions. The test facility which has been realised is able to experiment and fully characterise complete drive-trains (and subsystems) for pure electric and hybrid vehicles. It is composed by a different section for each subsystem: 1) power generation; 2) energy storage and management; 3) driving motors. Each section acts as an experimental island, able to operate alone or jointly with the other ...
The aim of this work is to account for the effects of the high temperature oxidation of metals on their microstructure and their mechanical properties. 'Model' materials like pure nickel, pure iron and the Ni-20Cr alloy are studied. Nickel foils have been oxidised at 1000 C on one side only in laboratory air, the other side being protected from oxidation by a reducing atmosphere. After the oxidation treatment, the unoxidized face was carefully examined by using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Grain boundaries grooves were characterised and their depth were compared to the ones obtained on the same sample heat treated in the reducing atmosphere during the same time. They are found to be much deeper in the case of the single side oxidised samples. It is shown that this additional grooving is directly linked to the growth of the oxide scale on the opposite side and that it can be explained by the diffusion of the vacancies produced at the oxide scale - metal interface, ...
The lowest excited level in Ni-like ions, 3d{sup 9}4s {sup 3}D{sub 3}, decays only via a magnetic octupole (M3) decay. They present calculated values of transition wavelengths and rates for ions with 30 {le} Z {le} 100. They have observed this line in Xe{sup 26+}, using the Livermore EBIT-I electron beam ion trap and a microcalorimeter, as well as a high-resolution flat-field grating spectrometer.
The purpose of this work is to describe the radiological appearance of overlooked malignant pulmonary lesions at CT and to analyze the reasons of misdiagnosis. Ten patient with pulmonary lesion (PML) overlooked at forst CT examination were selected among patients with lung cancer. Endobronchial location of the tumors and their small size were the most frequent causes of misdiagnosis of PML at chest CT in the series. However, a systematic evaluation of CT scans can reduce the percentage of missed lesions. [Italian] Scopo del presente lavoro e' di descrivere le caratteristiche radiologiche delle lesioni polmonari maligne non identificate con la Tomografia Computerizzata (TC) e definire le possibili cause di errore. Sono stati esaminato 10 pazienti con tumore polmonare. Le sedi endobronchiale e centrale nonche' le piccole dimensioni delle lesioni polmonari maligne rappresentano ...
Magnetization, specific heat, and electrical resistivity measurements were made on single crystals of the filled skutterudite compound PrOs{sub 4}As{sub 12}. Specific heat measurements indicate an electronic specific heat coefficient {gamma} {approx} 50-200 mJ/mol K{sup 2} at temperatures 10 K {le} T {le} 18 K, and {approx} 1 J/mol K{sup 2} for t {le} 1.6 K. Magnetization, specific heat, and electrical resistivity measurements reveal the presence of two, or possibly three, ordered phases at temperatures below {approx} 2.3 K and in fields below {approx} 3 T. The low temperature phase displays antiferromagnetic characteristics, while the nature of the ordering in the other phase(s) has yet to be determined.
Aim of the work was to describe computerised tomography (CT) findings of calcified renal metastases focusing on differential diagnosis problems. Abdominal CT scans of 8000 patients with tumor, performed from 1984 to 1998, have been retrospectively reviewed. [Italian] Scopo del lavoro e' quello di descrivere gli aspetti con tomografia computerizzata delle metastasi renali calcificate enfatizzando le problematiche diagnostico differenziali. Sono state valutate retrospettivamente le indagini TC addominali di 8000 pazienti affetti da tumore nel periodo 1984-1998, analizzando le lesioni calcificate riscontrate.
Mycobacterium xenopi is one of the most common agents responsible for nontubercolar mycobacterial pulmonary disease on AIDS patients. These lesions have been studied with conventional radiography while CT has been used in patients with aspecific mycobacterioses or non-AIDS pulmonary conditions from Mycobacterium xenopi. 12 AIDS patients were examined. They had pulmonary lesions from Mycobacterium xenopi, patients age ranged 30 to 46 years. All patients had CD4 blood levels lower than 250 cells/mL and Mycobacterium xenopi in the sputum. All patients underwent a standard chest radiograph and a CT examination. CT images were evaluated by three radiologists independently and the definitive diagnosis was made in the presence of a fourth radiologist. Chest CT showed parenchymal consolidation in 66% of cases, associated with bilateral basal bands in 16% of cases. Consolidation was unilateral in 41% of cases and most frequently involved the right lower lobe. Bilateral reticular interstitial ...
Returns singular values (sigma), ;left field (x) vectors, ..... n) do begin point=ngbrs(i) if (point+tau le nt-1) then begin if (x(point+tau,0) ne q) then .... ;FILTER ;applies a gaussian filter in the frequency domain function filter, x ...
Sep 1, 2011 ... Title: THINEX - an expert system for estimating forest harvesting productivity and cost. Author: LeDoux, C. B.; Gopalakrishnan, B.; Pabba, R. S. ...
The activated charcoal is very appreciates for the water treatment. It do not generate by-product of treatment. In return it is saturated after some time and may releases pollutant compounds. When and how to get to its regeneration?.
The advanced technologies of Ka-Band systems such as high gain spot .... sometimes used based on link requirements for a specific application. .... received at NASA LeRC from a Ku-band satellite and retransmitted to the USAT at Ka-Band. .... and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project ...
ResumeObjectif determiner dans une etude randomisee l'impact d'un enregistrement continu du glucose sous-cutane pendant 48 heures sur le controle glycemique trois mois plus tard chez des patients presentant un diabete de type 1 (DT1) ou de type 2 (DT2). Methodes Quarante-huit patients avec un mauvais equilibre glycemique (HbA1c : 8-10,5 %) ont beneficie d'un enregistrement continu du glucose sous-cutane pendant 48 heures avec le systeme GlucoDay (A. Menarini Diagnostics) et ont ete randomises en deux groupes : ajustement de traitement en fonction de l'autosurveillance glycemique capillaire (groupe ASG) ou du profil d'enregistrement continu du glucose sous-cutane (groupe CGM). Le dosage d'HbA1c et le port du GlucoDay ont ete renouveles trois mois plus tard. Resultats Trente-quatre patients ...
Aqu? va a poder aprender acerca de la Dros?fila Melanogaster, a la cual se le conoce como la mosca de la fruta! Usted podr?. Interpretar por qu? las moscas ...
This course is based upon lectures in physics given by Professor Feynman at the California institute of technology during 1961 and 1962. This volume is dedicated to quantum physics, semiconductors, symmetry and advanced principles of physics.
This article describes a hierarchical and functional model for continuous process control aid. The expertise is represented by graphs from a simple functional restructuring of the Grafcet, which is the formalism used by the designers of the command-control program. The new structure is familiar to the operator, and it is settled in an expert system. The application built on the basis of this method detects some default types which are not detected by the control-command. It proposes a diagnosis to the operator, and can explain and justify the state of the process. (authors) 9 refs.
CT is a valuable tool in assessing thoracic gunshot wounds. CT is also the method of choice in emergency, because it permits rapid depiction of bullet damage to the chest and to other body districts. This in turn permits correct assessment of the main thoracic injuries, plus adequate and prompt planning of surgical treatment or support intensive care. It is reported on the role of CT in diagnosing the complex pleuropulmonary, cardiovascular and thoracic wall injuries caused by gunshot wounds, with their specific and acute signs which differ greatly fro those of other types of chest trauma. In the last 4 years, it was observed an amount of 76 cases of gunshot injury, twenty-six of them involved the chest. The patients, 25 men and 1 woman (mean age: 32 years, range: 17-48), were all submitted to emergency CT with iv contrast agent injection and the CT-angiography technique. The reanimator was always presented to monitor the patients' vital functions and ...
We proposed that a new type of the electrostatic microwiggler with a wiggler period (0.1 mm {le}1{sub w}{le}1 mm) and the wiggler field strength (E{sub w}{le} 100 kV/m) can be produced on the surface of a PZT when a high power and high frequency ultrasonic wave travels through a PZT bar. Numerical simulations in the linear and nonlinear gain regime show that a weak microwiggler (E{sub w}100 kV/m,{lambda}{sub w}{approx}100 periods), operating in magnetoresonance with a strong guide field (B{sub o}{approx} 3.6T), can generate a millimeter and submillimeter radiations with medium electronic efficiency of few percents. It is shown that the maximum output power of the compact FEL using the wiggler system generated on the surface of the piezoelectric material may be upto a few Watts with a relatively low energy and low current electron beam (Ew {approx}100 keV and I{sub b}1 mA).
Acute thoracic aortic injuries account for up to 10-20% of fatalities in high-speed deceleration road accidents and have an estimated immediate fatality rate of 80-90%. Untreated survivors to acute trauma (10-20%) have a dismal prognosis: 30% of them die within 6 hours, 40-50% die within 24 hours, and 90% within 4 months. It was investigated the diagnostic accuracy of Helical Computed Tomography (Helical CT) in acute traumatic injuries of the thoracic aorta, and the role of this technique in the diagnostic management of trauma patients with a strong suspicion of aortic rupture. It was compared retrospectively the chest Helical CT findings of 256 trauma patients examined June 1995 through August 1999. Chest Helical CT examinations were performed according to trauma score, to associated traumatic lesions and to plain chest radiographic findings. All the examinations were performed with no intravenous contrast agent administration and the pitch 2 technique. After a ...
The purpose of this work is to characterize the role of the financial institutions in achieving sustainable development meaning a process of development which leaves at least the same amount of capital, natural and man-made, to future generations as current generations have access to. This makes it clear that sustainable development is about capital allocation and thus should be at the core of financial markets activity. On a more practical level the different ways banks affect environment are analyzed: as investors - supplying the investments with environmental perspective; as lenders - developing new financial products to encourage sustainable development; as valuers - estimating risks and opportunities in project-financing; as powerful stake holders - as shareholders and lenders they can exercise considerable influence over companies; - as polluters - while not dirty industries, financial institutions do consume natural resources. By the study of these ...
Over the last 30 years, a program of R-matrix analyses has been carried out at Los Alamos in the mass range 2 {le} A {le} 18 that gives useful information about the light systems. These analyses provide data for astrophysics, as well as for neutronic and thermonuclear applications, and can yield important constraints from the experimental measurements on the nature of few-body interactions. Following a brief introduction to R-matrix theory, I will describe recent work on reactions in the A=2 (NN) and A=4 systems. Finally, some comments will be made about extending the theory to complex energies in order to obtain information about resonances and other types of S-matrix singularities.
The main purpose of this work is to report the personal experience with addition of contrast-enhanced multiphase helical CT to unenhanced CT (Lipiodol CT) in the evaluation of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with chemoembolization and to analyze the present role of oily agent CT. It has been retrospectively reviewed the examinations of 42 consecutive patients submitted to global chemoembolization over a 2-year period. CT was performed 18-30 days after the treatment. The Lipiodol CT study was carried out with volume acquisitions. It has been considered as nodules all well-defined areas with dense oily agent uptake; uptake itself was classified as: 0=absent, I=lower than 10% of the tumor volume; II=lower than 50%, III=50%, IV=homogeneous. Contrast-enhanced helical CT was performed with the 2-phase technique in 28 patients and with the 3-phase technique in 14; it has been considered as nodules all well-defined and relatively homogeneous areas with hyper ...
Transcription for a hybrid SV40 promoter-beta globin coding sequence recombinant initiates from both early-early (EE) and late-early (LE) SV40 start sites (EES and LES) in the absence of DNA replication....Full Text Available
This publication of the Areva Group, a world nuclear industry leader, provides information on the energy in many domains. This issue deals with the nuclear fuel cycle, the biofuels, the everyday geothermal power, the Unites States energy supply and types, the Bertrand Picard solar aircraft, the kyoto protocol and the wind power leaders. A special chapter is devoted to the renaissance of solar homes. (A.L.B.)
The molybdenum iron-sulphur protein originally isolated from Desulfovibrio gigas by Moura, Xavier, Bruschi, Le Gall, Hall & Cammack [(1976) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 72, 782-789] has been...Full Text Available
During its jubilee, the French building technical and scientific centre (CSTB) has organized a colloquium about the future tendencies of buildings evolution in the 20 forthcoming years: autonomy in energy production and wastes or effluents management, reduction of water consumption and management of water, hot water production and space heating, bio-sensors for the management of indoor air-quality, control of noise environment using active acoustic systems etc.. (J.S.)
This paper deals with the control of an electromechanical valves engine. The control uses neural networks in order to build a non-linear model of engine filing which depends on the driven inlets. The aim is to build this real-time model and to integrate this model to a control system which performs an iterative inversion. (J.S.)
This autumn, Nice welcomed the thirteen European photovoltaic conference. It was the occasion for the world of solar energy to measure technical progress which were carried out and the market which are still to win. If developing countries are a reserve of new markets, they are not solvent and programmes depend on North/South negotiations. (N.C.).
... Producers and their Impacts on Women in Central Java, IndonesiaActions basées sur des scénarios visant à élever ... impact sur les femmes dans le centre de Java, en IndonésieInvestigación-acción basada en...
Brachytherapy consists of sealed radioactive source implantation. The diversity in the nature of radioelements, in their energy and activity requires strict implantation and utilization rules. These rules include radioactive source physical parameters check, after-loading machine and treatment planning system quality assurance and safe and reproducible dosimetric systems. Patient and medical workers information guarantee radioprotection and prevention of accidental exposures. (authors)
In this article, the authors recall the factors apt to influence image quality in NMR Imaging and present the european works that have been developed in MRIQA to set 5 quality assurance tests: EUROSPIN 1 to 5.
This device has and head-race pipe with an external part and a coaxial inner part. A measuring head is mounted movable between these 2 parts and has at least a thermocouple and a mobile grid for varying the section and the sodium flow to facilitate the impurities dissolution. This ensemble is completed by a longitudinal body containing the main parts of the indicator and surrounded by a thermal exchanger to cool the sodium.
The neutron detector is cased in a metal envelop and has one detector with a very sensitive fission chamber and a second detector with a fission chamber less sensitive that the first one and a boron coated ionisation chamber for reducing gamma radiation detection.
The proposed aim of the work is to verify the effects produced on different kinds of environmental pollutants after exposure to a low frequency radiation such as microwaves. They have proved capable of producing minimum heating of the matrix as well as modifications in the structure of the molecules at the level of simple bonds. Steps were also taken ti check whether the degradation action of the microwaves could be boosted by sunlight. For this reason tests were run also on samples irradiated using microwaves and a lamp capable of simulating the sun's spectrum, as well as in the presence of a single lamp. [Italian] Lo scopo di questa ricerca e' di verificare gli effetti prodotti su inquinanti ambientali, di diversa natura, a seguito di un'esposizione ad una radiazione a bassa frequenza come le microonde. Le microonde possono produrre minimi riscladamenti della matrice e modificazioni della struttura delle molecole, a ...
In this article, the author presents the main technological solutions, available or in development, on X-ray detectors in order to obtain a digital image in biomedical radiography or in industrial radiography: linear x-ray detectors and bidimensional x-ray detectors (memory radioluminescent screens, matrix plan detectors).
The authors present electric-field dependent electroreflectance and photocurrent spectra of visible-bandgap In{sub x}(Al{sub y}Ga{sub 1{minus}y}){sub 1{minus}x}P/In{sub x{prime}}(Al{sub y{prime}}Ga{sub 1{minus}y{prime}}){sub 1{minus}x{prime}}P multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structures. These structures, grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy on 6{degrees}-misoriented (100) GaAs substrates, have undoped MQWs sandwiched between doped In{sub 0.5}Al{sub 0.5}P layers, forming p-i-n diodes. Quantum-well compositions in the range 0.46{le}x{le}0.52 and 0{le}y{le}0.4, corresponding to bandgaps in the red to yellow-green range, were used. The Stark shifts in these various samples were measured and found to depend on the details of the Mg p-type doping profile, confirming important diffusion effects, in agreement with secondary ion mass spectrometry and capacitance-voltage data. The results show that these new materials are promising for ...
The device is made by a tool at the end of a flexible cable, a motor for the rotation of the flexible, a linear drive with a guide for it between the winder and the tube.
In the last issue of 'L'Industrie ceramique et verriere', we presented the first part of this study. We describe in this issue the experimental procedure, the results and the conclusions of this work. (authors)
In order to conserve vaccines in hot countries a solar refrigerator has been made by a French university. It is a photothermal refrigerator without batteries. It uses two gases: ammonia and calcium chloride. The refrigerator is autonomous and can work eleven days without sun. (N.C.)
In this article is reviewed the role of Computed Tomography (CT) in thoracic complications following ortho topic liver transplantation (OLT). In a post-OLT population of 567 patients transplanted in the Italian institutions, 100 patients (17.6%) were examined with chest CT. It was reviewed data relative to the total number of examinations, clinical and/or radiographic indications, the CT technique-i.e., conventional (with (out) intravenous, i.v., contrast material) or high-resolution (HRCT). It also reviewed the radiologic patterns and their correlation with the other clinical, bronchoscopic and/or laboratory results. Of 152 chest CT examinations, 45 (29.6%) were performed because of clinical indications, 31 (20.4%) because of a radiographic abnormality, 64 (42.1%) because of clinical and radiographic abnormality, 64 (42.1%) because of clinical and radiographic indications, while in 12 cases (7.9%) the reasons were unknown; 133/152 (87.5%) examinations had been ...
In order to investigate the role of mononuclear cells in infiltrates during the initial stages of atherogenesis, the authors have studied by immunohistochemical methods the aortas and coronary vessels...Full Text Available
To examine the possibility that mast cells have a central role in the pathogenesis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, 20 patients with this disease were studied with the aim of seeking evidence for mast...Full Text Available
Different aspects of overall evaluation of training programmes and processes as well as role of evaluation in the quality assurance process are considered.
BackgroundMitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is being analyzed by an increasing number of laboratories in order to investigate its potential role as an active marker of tumorigenesis...Full Text Available
Purpose of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness and role of CT in blunt diaphragmatic injuries by reviewing our 8-year experience. It is reviewed the preoperative CT findings of 35 patients with surgically confirmed diaphragmatic rupture. Surgical repair was performed in the acute setting (within 12 hours of trauma) in 22 cases, and late (8 months-5 years) in 13 cases. Twenty-eight patients (80%) were examined with conventional CT and 7 (20%) with Helical CT. Of the 13 patients examined long after trauma, the left hemi diaphragm was ruptured in 12 cases (with visceral herniation in 4), and the right hemi diaphragm in 1, with no herniation. The diaphragmatic rent was found in the dome (15 cases, 43%), muscolotendinous junction (11 cases, 31%), muscular portion (8 cases, 23%), and at the muscular attachments on the ribs (1 case, 3%). As for the site of diaphragmatic injury, CT never depicted the diaphragmatic rent in the dome and at the muscolotendinous ...
This paper reports some technical contributes related to the Kyoto Protocol and its application in Italian decision making policy. [Italian] Il presente volume raccoglie una decina di contributi tecnici originariamente preparati o commissionati dall'ENEA, Ente Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente, in vista della Conferenza Nazionale Energia e Ambiente. Questa fotografia di una situazione in rapida evoluzione e' stata preparata da esperti del settore che contribuiscono a redigere il materiale tecnico di base utilizzato dai negoziatori nazionali durante le trattative internazionali e dai responsabili nazionali per avviare il processo di presa di decisioni in materia.
We summarize results of recent studies of heavy quarkonia correlators and spectral functions at finite temperatures from lattice QCD and systematic T-matrix studies using QCD motivated finite-temperature potentials. We argue that heavy quarkonia dissociation shall occur in the temperature range $1.2 \\le T_d/T_c \\le 1.5$ by the interplay of both screening and absorption in the strongly correlated plasma medium. We discuss these effects on the quantum mechanical evolution of quarkonia states within a time-dependent harmonic oscillator model with complex oscillator strength and compare the results with data for $R_{\\rm AA}/R_{\\rm AA}^{\\rm CNM}$ from RHIC and SPS experiments. We speculate whether the suppression pattern of the rather precise NA60 data from In-In collisions may be related to the recently discovered X(3872) state. Theoretical support for this hypothesis comes from the cluster expansion of the plasma Hamiltonian for heavy ...
Magnetic properties of single crystals of nonstoichiometric fluorides M[sub 1-x]R[sub x]F[sub 2+x] (M = Ca, Sr, Ba; R = Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb; with 0.05 [le] x [le] 0.28) with the fluorite-type structure have been studied for the first time. The magnetic susceptibility was measured using a Faraday balance in the 15-300 K temperature range. The samples are paramagnetic following the Curie-Weiss law. The values of paramagnetic Curie temperatures and effective magnetic moments of rare-earth ions have been found. Deviations of the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility from the Curie-Weiss law are observed for some nonstoichiometric fluorides at temperatures ranging from 60 to 85 K. Possible reaons for these deviations are discussed. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility provide an effective technique for a rapid and accurate determination of the concentration of rare-earth ions in nonstoichiometric fluorides.
Vanadium doped manganese bi-oxide has been obtained from a solution containing both cations. The X-ray diffraction of this material indicates a rutile-type phase but the enlargement of some lines supports the existence of several lattice defects. Also the particle size of the doped material is significantly smaller than the one of the non-doped material obtained in the same conditions. The presence of pentavalent vanadium inside the lattice leads to a small amount of trivalent manganese. Electron microscopy shows the existence of defects which have a tendency of becoming well-ordered and to stabilize a sur-structure. At ambient temperature, the electrochemical behaviour of doped manganese bi-oxide is greatly improved when compared to the non-doped phase. This behaviour is due to the presence of numerous lattice defects and to the smaller size of crystallites. In polymer batteries, the behaviour is similar the one of the non-doped material for which the kinetics performances are ...
Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1{minus}x}P layers (0 {le} x {le} 0.7), with thicknesses of {ge}1 {micro}m were grown on Si (100) wafers by metal-organic molecular beam epitaxy (MOMBE) at 450 C. Transmission electron micrographs of the single crystal films revealed that the microstructure contains stacking faults and microtwins especially near the interface as well as both threading and misfit dislocations. Hardness and elastic modulus were measured using a Nanotest 500 indenter, which can probe the film properties without influence from the substrate. The hardness H varies linearly according to (11.8 {minus} 2.3x) GPa. The absence of alloy hardening is due to the fact that there is no difference in atomic size of Al and Ga. The indentation modulus E/(1{minus}v{sup 2}) decreases monotonically from 136 GPa for GaP to 129 GPa for Al{sub 0.7}Ga{sub 0.3}P and bows only slightly (about 2%) below the straight line of linear interpolation.
The magnetic susceptibility and high-field magnetization have been measured for the intermediate valence system Eu(Pd{sub 1{minus}x}Pt{sub x}){sub 2}Si{sub 2} with 0{le}x{le}0.15. A first-order valence transition is observed for all the compounds under high field of 100 T at low temperatures. This valence transition is of first order accompanied with a large hysteresis, which is in contrast to a continuous valence change against temperature. Based on the interconfigurational fluctuation (ICF) model, the temperature- and field-induced valence transitions are discussed. It is found that a first-order valence transition can be induced by magnetic field, even if the system shows a continuous valence transition against temperature. Metamagnetic behavior at finite temperatures is also understood qualitatively by the ICF model. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
The study compares the doses absorbed by the dentomaxillary area in spiral CT and panoramic examinations. The dose measurements demonstrate that patients receive smaller doses with panoramic radiography than with spiral CT with Dentascan. After following for some variations from instrumental differences, they are in substantial agreement with literature data. Further investigations are needed considering the radiobiological risk related to the growing spread of Dentascan examinations. [Italian] Questo lavoro intende confrontare le dosi assorbite nel distretto dento-mascellare, con le due principali tecniche utilizzate in questo campo: TC spirale e ortopantomografia. Emerge come l'esame panoramico delle arcate dentarie eseguito con l'ortopantomografo comporti la'ssorbimento di dosi inferiori rispetto a quelle dell'esame TC spirale con programma Dentascan. Questi dati, pur essendo soggetti a ...
We model the transport of cosmic ray nuclei in the Galaxy by means of a new numerical code. Differently from previous numerical models we account for a generic spatial distribution of the diffusion coefficient. We found that in the case of radially uniform diffusion, the main secondary/primary ratios (B/C, N/O and sub-Fe/Fe) and the modulated antiproton spectrum match consistently the available observations. Convection and re-acceleration do not seem to be required in the energy range we consider: $1 \\le E \\le 10^3$ GeV/nucleon. We generalize these results accounting for radial dependence of the diffusion coefficient, which is assumed to trace that of supernova remnants. While this does not affect the prediction of secondary/primary ratios, the simulated longitude profile of the diffuse $\\gamma$-ray emission is significantly different from the uniform case and may agree with EGRET measurements without invoking {\\it ad hoc} assumptions on ...
Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to draw together the salient issues surrounding customer loyalty and customer relationship management (CRM) into a single coherent discussion. Various schools of academic thought are examined. The paper concludes with practical implications for managers. Design/methodology/approach - The literature surrounding customer loyalty, customer satisfaction, effective CRM and managing loyalty in a profitable manner are all reviewed. The paper allows managers to consider a wide range of material in the context of their business. Findings - The need for businesses to retain customers is an important issue in today's global marketplace. To retain customers, a business must forge loyal and long-term relationships with profitable customers. Reasons why customers le...
Thermodynamic states encountered during combustion of Aluminum powder in Shock-Dispersed-Fuel (SDF) explosions were analyzed with the Cheetah code. Results are displayed in the Le Chatelier diagram: the locus of states of specific internal energy versus temperature. Accuracy of the results was confirmed by comparing the fuel and products curves with the heats of detonation and combustion, and species composition as measured in bomb calorimeter experiments. Results were fit with analytic functions u = f(T) suitable for specifying the thermodynamic properties required for gas-dynamic models of combustion in explosions.
This document provides information and presents data on the energy situation in many regions of Canada. The first part deals with the petroleum and the bitumen shales of Alberta (reserves, exploitation and production, environmental impacts), the second part discusses with the hydroelectricity choice of Quebec and the 2004 crisis. The nuclear situation of Ontario is presented in the third part (nuclear park, programs, uranium reserves, research and development on Candu reactors), while the fourth part deals with the renewable energies (wind power and biomass). The canadian situation facing the Kyoto protocol is discussed in the last part. (A.L.B.)
Although the oil price is still far from its historical maximum, the oil market is today in crisis. To explain this situation the author discusses the nature of the supply constraints. The reserves are today better known and so more plentiful than at a previous period of the oil history and the russian production since 2004 is stagnating. The main factor seems to be the OPEC policy and in particular the will of limiting the oil production to defend upper prices. (A.L.B.)
The French office for technical studies and control of big dams (BETCGB), has recently reedited the `guidebook for the control of dams in exploitation`. The aim of this document is to provide to the regional directions of industry, research and environment (DRIRE) a methodological help for their control actions of hydroelectric dams granted for exploitation. It comprises 6 chapters dealing with: the different type of dams, the inspection, the surveillance, the floods evacuation, the flood instructions, and the particular emergency plans. (J.S.)
The authors present a guide to the imaging of facial fractures. It is illustrated with conventional radiographs and computed tomograms; the magnetic resonance images primarily suggest the potential applications of this technique. This book provides a source of imaging information on facial trauma. A section on pertinent anatomy is followed by a systematic discussion of the common isolated and complex facial fractures. Perspectives are offered on some commonly seen but infrequently described relationships, such as the tripod-LeFort II association. Consideration is also given to related soft-tissue injuries. The book includes a brief chapter on the type and utility of supplementary imaging studies in the evaluation of those intracranial injuries that may occur concurrently.
A major component of the 1990 recommendations of ICRP (ICRP, 1991a) was the revision of the dose limits. But other changes were introduced which necessitated a review of earlier guidance. In particular, ICRP set up a Task Group in 1993 to prepare a report on the principles for the protection of workers. The report was adopted in 1997 and has now been published as ICRP Publication 75 (ICRP, 1997). It is for others to judge the real significance of the guidance provided; what follows are some of the main points. (author)
Preliminary results of studies into penetrant testing at high surface temperature (up to 200 deg.C), are presented. Tests were performed to assess the effectiveness of red dye penetrants using Al and NiCr samples containing artificial as well as natural discontinuities. The test results will be used in due course to formulate a specification for non-destructive testing procedure qualification at non-standard (i.e. outside 16-52 deg.C) temperatures.
We propose a new approach to study Koszul cohomology of general $g^r_d$'s on general curves via degenerations and deformations. As an application of this new method, we prove projective normality for general line bundles $L$ on general curves with $h^1(L)\\le1$ and degree greater than roughly $(5/4)g$. This improves the bound in a classical theorem of Green and Lazarsfeld. Also we give some partial results on vanishing of higher syzygies for line bundles with $h^1(L)=1$.
... A better understanding of the links between nutrients, the gut microbiome and the intestinal immune system is likely to pave the way to the development of innovative approaches that target activation of specific immunological pathways for promoting the hostrsquo;s gut defense. Such knowledge should positively impact on the development of vaccine formulations and intervention strategies for improved control of enteric infections in developing countries. Registration fees # The Registration Fee is $715.00 on and before September 7, 2011. # After September 7, 2011, the ...
Since the mid-1980s the number of scientists from all over the world using CERN's facilities has increased enormously. Currently more than 6,000 users, over half of the planet's high-energy physicists, carry out fundamental research at CERN. This user community is living proof that CERN welcomes inter- regional collaboration which benefits all and boosts the progress of science. The LHC, the only machine capable of addressing problems way beyond today's frontiers of high energy physics, offers an unique opportunity for extending world wide collaboration.
A 2D matrix allows a fairly rapid verification of irradiation parameters transferred on computer processing equipment without expanding the dosimetry means to implement. Associated to 'Multicheck and Verisoft' software it will handle some of the regulatory recommendations of the A.F.S.S.A.P.S. for quality control of accelerators and ensure the traceability of testing carried out. (N.C.)
The Purex process and the fluorescence spectrometry are first recalled, then uranyl fluorescence is studied in a pure nitric medium without other elements to establish a theoretical model, allowing the description of uranium fluorescence signal with a general equation. The influence of different parameters (temperature, inhibitors, dynamic quenching of iron and cerium) is investigated to develop the model. A quantitative analysis method without addition of reagents is proposed to validate the model.
CYRANO3 is the new EDF thermomechanical code developed to evaluate the overall fuel rod behavior under irradiation. In that context, this paper presents the phenomena to be simulated and the correlations adopted for modelling purposes. The empirical models presented are taken from the CYRANO2 code and a compilation of the relevant literature. The present revision corrects and supplements version B on the basis of its use during the software coding phase from January 1991 to May 1993. (authors). figs., tabs., 120 refs.
We prove a cosmic no-hair theorem for Bianchi models in power-law inflation. Provided that the potential of an inflaton {phi} is exp({minus}{lambda}{kappa}{phi}) with 0{le}{lambda}{lt} {radical}2/3 , we find that the isotropic power-law solution is the unique attractor for any initially expanding Bianchi-type models except type IX. For Bianchi type IX, this conclusion is also true if the initial ratio of the vacuum energy to the maximum three-curvature is larger than one half.
This work gives a global view of legislations in which are included metals chemical states, briefly recalls the conditions to be respected for the CRM (Certified Reference Materials), and describes the results of some current plans for the Norms, Measures and Tests program. (O.M.) 23 refs.
Bone integrity and mineral status were studied with a noninvasive method in uremic patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. [Italian] Gli autori propongono un metodo non invasivo per studiare la densita' minerale e le caratteristiche geometriche e biomeccaniche dell'osso nei pazienti uremici affetti da iperparatiroidismo secondario grave.
Resistance to abrupt and gradual cold shock was determined in bioassays with pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), and a northwestern crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) acclimated to higher temperatures at 5 C increments. Test criteria were median tolerance limits (TLm) for 96-h exposures after abrupt cold shock, and 50 percent loss of equilibrium (LE50) for decline rates of 18, 15, 10, 5, and 1 C/h during gradual cold shock. Cold resistance depended on original acclimation temperature (AT) and varied among species under both test conditions in the order: pumpkinseed less than rainbow trout less than crayfish. The lower TLm limit for pumpkinseed was 12.3 C at 30 C AT, 9.6 C at 25 C AT, 4.5 C at 20 C AT, and 2.7 C at 15 C AT. Rainbow trout at 20, 15 and 10 C AT survived abrupt exposures to cold down to 3.3, 1.4 and 0.5 C, respectively. Crayfish at 25, 20 and 15 C AT survived exposures down to 2.5, 0.4 and 0.0 C, respectively. TLm values ...
According to the LeChatelier-Braun principle, when a closed quiescent system initially in an equilibrium or unstressed steady state is subjected to an externally imposed ``stress'' it responds in a manner tending to alleviate that stress. Use of this entropically based qualitative rule, in combination with the notion of Maxwell thermal stresses existing in nonisothermal gases and liquids, enables one to (i) derive Maxwell's thermal-creep boundary condition prevailing at the boundary between a solid and a fluid (either gas or liquid) and (ii) rationalize the phenomenon of thermophoresis in liquids, for which, in contrast with the case of gases, an elementary explanation is currently lacking. These two objectives are achieved by quantitatively interpreting the heretofore qualitative LeChatelier-Braun notion of stress in the present context as being the fluid's stress tensor, the latter including Maxwell's thermal stress. In effect, thermophoretic ...
The paper present the results of the study on D.U. (depleted uranium) contamination in the environment and possible effects on animal healths in the region o f Bujanovac. Samples of soil, feed, leaves, grass, lichen, moss, honey and water were collected randomly in 2003/2004 in the vicinity of the target area (500-1000 m) and 5 km from the target area. Activity of the radionuclides ({sup 226}Ra, {sup 232}Th, {sup 40}K, {sup 210}Pb, {sup 238}U, {sup 235}U, {sup 137}Cs, {sup 7}Be) in soils, grass, lichen, moss and honey was determined on Hp Ge detector (Canberra, relative efficiency 23%) by standard gamma spectrometry. Total alpha and beta activity in water was determined on proportional alpha/beta counter (Canberra 2400, efficiency for alpha emitters 11%, efficiency for beta emitters 30%). Non significantly higher values of concentrations of {sup 226}Ra, {sup 232}Th, {sup 238}U and {sup 235}U were measured in the immediate vicinity of the targeted site, but {sup 235}U/{sup 238}U ...
The main purpose of this work is to evaluate the role of CT in identifying other morphological signs of met static lymph node involvement from non small cell bronchogenic carcinoma. This is done to improve N staging, a critical step in this disease. In fact, since diameter is the only criterion used to distinguish normal form abnormal lymph nodes, mediastinal CT only has 80% diagnostic accuracy. 137 patients with known or suspected lung cancer were examined with Helical CT during early and late arterial phases (2 min. delay, 3 mm thickness, 5 mm inter slice gap) to depict node characteristics. Mediastinal lymph nodes, located according to the American Thoracic Society mapping, were considered normal when they were not visible or, if visible, less than 1 cm in diameter and of homogeneous density; lymph nodes over 1 cm in diameter and homogenous density were considered reactive. A lymph node was considered metastatic when, independent of size, the following signs ...
BackgroundThe thymus plays a critical role in the development and maturation of T-cells. Humans have a single thoracic thymus and presence of a second thymus is considered an anomaly....Full Text Available
Different models have been proposed that link the tubulin heterodimer nucleotide content and the role of GTP hydrolysis with microtubule assembly and dynamics. Here we compare the thermodynamics of...Full Text Available
This is a retrospective study of the development of the social worker role within the multi-disciplinary team setting of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department at Burnley General Hospital...Full Text Available
BackgroundThis study focuses on the role of an Internet-based group for people who have an autoimmune liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis. Primary biliary...Full Text Available
As the Medical Library Association (MLA) enters its second century, its role in providing leadership and focus for the education of health information professionals in a changing environment will be...Full Text Available
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that play a central role in regulation of gene expression by binding to target genes. Many miRNAs were associated with the function of the central nervous...Full Text Available
BackgroundCurli, cellulose and the cell surface protein BapA are matrix components in Salmonella biofilms. In this study we have investigated the roles of these...Full Text Available
Green leaf C6-volatiles are among the most important herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). They play important roles in mediating the behavior of herbivores and their natural enemies, and in triggering...Full Text Available
ObjectiveTo implement a role-reversal exercise to increase first-year pharmacy students' awareness of communication barriers in the health care setting, especially for deaf and hard-of-hearing...Full Text Available
To investigate the role of thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) and albumin in the availability of thyroid hormones to peripheral tissues, comprehensive kinetic studies of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine...Full Text Available
A number of studies have indicated that plasma membrane calcium ATPases (PMCAs) are expressed in the brain and spinal cord and could play important roles not only in the maintenance of cellular calcium...Full Text Available
Accumulated lines of evidence suggest that hyperimmune responses to periodontal bacteria result in the destruction of periodontal connective tissue and alveolar bone. The etiological roles of periodontal...Full Text Available
MicroRNAs (miRs) can regulate many cellular functions, but their roles in regulating responses of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) to mechanical stimuli remain unexplored. We hypothesize that the physiological...Full Text Available
Although cellular immunity has a crucial role during cryptococcosis, several in vitro studies have pointed out the importance of IgG anti-Cryptococcus neoformans antibodies and complement components...Full Text Available
To evaluate the role of putative group A streptococcal virulence factors in the initiation of skin infections, we compared the adherence of a wild-type M49-protein skin-associated strain to that of...Full Text Available
The secreted Bv8 protein has been recently characterized as a regulator of myeloid cell mobilization and a neutrophil-derived mediator of tumor angiogenesis in several xenografts, but its role in tumor...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe lactogenic hormones prolactin (PRL) and placental lactogens (PL) play central roles in reproduction and mammary development. Their actions are mediated via binding...Full Text Available
Interleukin 2 (IL-2) and B-cell growth factors I and II (BCGF I and BCGF II) are lymphokines produced by T cells that play a major role in T- and B-cell cooperation. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from...Full Text Available
This study sought to assess the association between traditional masculine gender role ideologies and sexual risk and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration behaviors in young men's heterosexual...Full Text Available
Heat shock proteins (Hsp) are a family of stress-inducible molecular chaperones that play multiple roles in a wide variety of animals. However, the roles of Hsps in parasitic nematodes remain largely...Full Text Available
Transcription factors drive organogenesis, from the initiation of cell fate decisions to the maintenance and implementation of these decisions. The Drosophila embryonic salivary gland...Full Text Available
The role of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) in the regulation of pheromone biosynthesis of several female moth species is well elucidated, but its role in the males has been a...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe motivation for this study was to investigate how role stress among nurses could affect their job satisfaction and organizational commitment, and whether the job rotation...Full Text Available
PurposeTo address the roles of the stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) α in the course of experimental corneal neovascularization (CNV).MethodsCNV...Full Text Available
Tyrosinase or polyphenol oxidase (EC 1.14.18.1) is the key enzyme in melanin biosynthesis and in the enzymatic browning of fruits and vegetables. The role of tyrosinase in the secondary metabolism of...Full Text Available
The patient positioning and repositioning control in radiation therapy all along the treatment can be conducted using a variety of X-ray sources and imaging detector devices. The development of image guided radiation therapy techniques leads to more frequent use of this imaging control. In this article we summarize the current methods for measuring the dose delivered by X-ray imaging devices used in radiation therapy, as well as basic proposals to take account of these imaging doses for prescribing, recording and reporting radiation therapy treatment. (authors)
Building complex knowledge based applications requires encoding large amounts of domain knowledge. After acquiring knowledge from domain experts, much of the effort in building a knowledge base goes into verifying that the knowledge is encoded correctly. We consider the problem of verifying hybrid knowledge bases that contain both Horn rules and a terminology in a description logic. Our approach to the verification problem is based on showing a close relationship to the problem of query containment. Our first contribution, based on this relationship, is presenting a thorough analysis of the decidability and complexity of the verification problem, for knowledge bases containing recursive rules and the interpreted predicates =, {le}, < and {ne}. Second, we show that important new classes of constraints on correct inputs and outputs can be expressed in a hybrid setting, in which a description logic class hierarchy is also considered, and we present the first ...
In order to avoid the use of catalysts in the process of auto-thermal reforming, it is possible to adopt a running at high temperature. In this study are presented the results of simulations of an auto-thermal/recuperator hybrid reforming system; these results are obtained with the oxidation model of alkanes developed by Ranzi and Faravelli. An isothermal configuration at high temperature improves the hydrogen yield and avoids the formation of soots. The analysis of the powers to be furnished to assure such an experimental mode, and the global approach of the fuel cell system show that the management of the heat exchanges is a key parameter in this process. (O.M.)
ObjectiveTo characterize global structural features of large-scale biomedical terminologies using currently emerging statistical approaches.DesignGiven rapid growth of terminologies, this research was designed to address scalability. We selected 16 terminologies covering a variety of domains from the UMLS Metathesaurus, a collection of terminological systems. Each was modeled as a network in which nodes were atomic concepts and links were relationships asserted by the source vocabulary. For comparison against each terminology we created three random networks of equivalent size and density.MeasurementsAverage node degree, node degree distribution, clustering coefficient, average path length.ResultsEight of 16 terminologies exhibited the small-world characteristics of a short average path le...
This article presents numerical study of 3-D thermosolutale mixed convection (TSMC) in horizontal rectangular channels. The contribution of this work is to characterize the travelling wave's appearance and to generalize the behavior of Poiseuille-Rayleigh-Benard (PRB) systems for a broad range of dimensionless parameters, which control the double diffusive mixed convection. The numerical results consist of analyzing the flow regimes of the steady longitudinal thermoconvectives rolls for the case of purely thermal mixed convection (TMC) and for both thermal and mass transfer (TSMC). The transition from opposed volume forces to cooperating ones at fixed Rayleigh (Ra), Reynolds (Re), and Lewis (Le) numbers, considerably affects the birth and the development of the longitudinal rolls (noted R/...
Energy projects are extremely capitalistic and the costs involved have a significant weight on the balance sheets of companies. This paper describes the general rules of financing policies used by companies from the natural gas and petroleum industries: constraints (external and financial markets, partnership, warranties..); implication of financiers; risk analysis (political (nationalization, civil or military troubles, difficult transfer of profits outside the project..), financial (property developer, nature of the project, delay, cost overruns, performance, market..)); financial instruments (proper funds and debt, bankers and insurers, loans etc..). These rules are illustrated with several examples of recent projects of gas pipelines and exploitation of oil fields abroad. (J.S.)
The opportunity of use self-maintained plasma-beam discharge in an extended pulsing plasma diode of low pressure for making powerful sources of the soft X-rays is investigated. Conditions of formation of the self-maintained plasma-beam discharge are determined. The mode of making of dense high-temperature plasma on the basis of stannum ions in the discharge is shown. The stannum ions are used as a working element of a radiation sources at pulsing power of electron beam P?10...100 MW. Results of the examination on formation of the dense (np?1016 cm3), small sizes (le?100 eV in conditions of working material evaporation from the anode are given. The total contribution of energy to the discharge has made W < 20 J.
Solar thermophotovoltaics (STPV) potentially have high system power efficiency together with other attractive attributes for both space and terrestrial applications. This paper presents a summary of work that has been conducted by NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) and McDonnell Douglas Aerospace (MDA). The paper discusses analytical modeling and subsystem testing, laboratory, and field testing that has been conducted. The features which make solar thermophotovoltaics attractive for both space and terrestrial applications are discussed. Based upon these investigations and the work of others, a conceptual design has been formulated, and an estimate of system performance is presented. This estimate indicates a solar thermophotovoltaics system can result in competitive energy costs for the utility electrical market applications and a high power-to-mass ratio for space power applications.
DVR project concerns the creation of a virtual reality OpenGL system for desktop applications in archaeology. The main goal is the creation of a 3D information system using the real time interaction of OpenGL environments. The first case study implemented is the Vettii House, one of the most important and outstanding monuments in Pompei. The virtual reconstruction of these architectural models is based on very detailed photogrammetric surveys and it is connected with information layers and archaeometric data-bases regarding the state of conservation of walls, structures and any type of materials of the monument. A full 3D interface characterizes the system, comprising a high resolution texturing with detailed volumetric and geometric data. Finally, for the future, the project plans to fit the system for scientific and end users through the installation of stations on site.
Radon ({sup 222}Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and can be used as a tracer in hydrogeologic studies. Radon concentration measurements have been achieved in ground-air and in groundwater by means of nuclear track detectors to estimate long-term variations. Continuous measurements have been conducted using an electronic automatic probe, to evaluate short-term variations. The results obtained from bore-holes show a good correlation between the aquifer`s structural characteristics and the radon concentrations. The continuous measurements specify rainfall influence. (author). 10 refs., 7 figs., 2 tabs.
SummaryPermeable pavement functions as a porous infrastructure interface allowing the infiltration and evaporation of rainfall-runoff while functioning as a relatively smooth load-bearing surface for vehicular transport. Hydraulic conductivity (k) of permeable pavement is an important hydraulic property and is a function of the pore structure. This study examines k for a cementitious permeable pavement (CPP) through a series of pore-structure models. Measurements utilized include hydraulic head as well as total porosity, (t), effective porosity (e), tortuosity (Le/L) and pore size distribution (PSD) indices generated through X-ray tomography (XRT). XRT results indicate that the permeable pavement pore matrix is hetero-disperse, with high tortuosity and t!=e. Power law models of k-t and k-e...
The biological treatment process was selected by Gaz de France (GDF), the French national gas utility, for the de-pollution of an old gas works where the main pollutants are coal tars containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Microorganism-based biological treatment techniques may involve bio-reactors, static ground knolls (where oxygen is brought through drains) and dynamic knolls (where oxygenation is carried out by turning up the soil). Issues on sampling, sorting, process testing, site preparation, process control, etc. are reviewed
New Non Destructive Testing techniques are currently being developed for the inspection of two groups of components in the FA3 EPR nuclear reactor at Flamanville. The first group of components to be controlled is constituted by the welds of the (89) rod cluster control assemblies' containment; two control types are to be used: an ultrasonic technique (UT) evaluation from the outside of the flange-casing weld, and an ET control from the inside of the three other welds. The second group of components is formed by the 44 welded joints of the primary circuit, which will be inspected through ultrasonic testing. Details of the components, control devices and sensors are given and some test results are presented
Two constructions due to Dr\\'apal produce a group by modifying exactly one quarter of the Cayley table of another group. We present these constructions in a compact way, and generalize them to Moufang loops, using loop extensions. Both constructions preserve associators, the associator subloop, and the nucleus. We conjecture that two Moufang 2-loops of finite order $n$ with equivalent associator can be connected by a series of constructions similar to ours, and offer empirical evidence that this is so for $n=16$, 24, 32; the only interesting cases with $n\\le 32$. We further investigate the way the constructions affect code loops and loops of type $M(G, 2)$. The paper closes with several conjectures and research questions concerning the distance of Moufang loops, classification of small Moufang loops, and generalizations of the two constructions.
This poster presentation details the procedure that was followed for the development of the Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND) manual. This manual was developed to provide a detailed summary of the important results obtained through studies sponsored by the MEND program and other studies conducted on topics related to acid mine drainage. The manual was divided into volumes dealing with topics such as summary, sampling and analysis, predictions, prevention and control, treatment, and monitoring. Details concerning the format, research conducted under the auspices of MEND, utilization and limitations, methodology, variations, costs, and references were also discussed. The author stated that the manual is to be used as a guide. The proposed English publication dates for the volumes were indicated, and they ranged from the fall of 2000 for volumes 3, 5, and 6, to the CD-ROM publication in March 2001. The French publication is expected to be in print by mid 2001. 26 figs.
Visualization of a liquid metal flow and image processing methods to measure the vector field are carried out by real-time neutron radiography. The JRR-3M real-time thermal neutron radiography facility in the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute was used. Lead-bismuth eutectic was used as a working fluid. Particles made from a gold-cadmium intermetallic compound (AuCd{sub 3}) were used as the tracer for the visualization. The flow vector field was obtained by image processing methods. It was shown that the liquid metal flow vector field was obtainable by real-time neutron radiography when the attenuation of neutron rays due to the liquid metal was less than l/e and the particle size of the tracer was larger than one image element size digitized for the image processing. (orig.).
Visualization of a liquid metal flow and image processing methods to measure the vector field are carried out by real-time neutron radiography. The JRR-3M real-time thermal neutron radiography facility in the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute was used. Lead-bismuth eutectic was used as a working fluid. Particles made from a gold-cadmium intermetallic compound (AuCd_3) were used as the tracer for the visualization. The flow vector field was obtained by image processing methods. It was shown that the liquid metal flow vector field was obtainable by real-time neutron radiography when the attenuation of neutron rays due to the liquid metal was less than l/e and the particle size of the tracer was larger than one image element size digitized for the image processing. (orig.).
The steam generator inspection and maintenance device has an articulated arm formed at least by two rigid segments connected by a pivot and two plates on the ends of the arms by articulated joints which enable them to rotate about two orthogonal axis. One of the axis is parralel to the axis of the pivot between the arm sections while the other is perpendicular to the surface of the corresponding plate. Each of the plates carries coupling elements which are able to engage with the perforations of the heat exchanger tube plates and also a support for a maintenance tool.
The renovation programme of the Phenix nuclear power plant (fast neutrons reactor situated at Marcoule) has for objective to ensure the reactor operation lengthening. In this frame, expertise and monitoring operation in situ of materials have been started. The presence of sodium and a temperature at the cold breakdown of the primary circuit between 150 and 180 degrees (Celsius) imply, for fast reactors, very special conditions. In this context, Framatome has realised three intervening in the area of nondestructive testing: the inspection of the cone-shaped support ring, the monitoring of the upper part of the primary vessel and the monitoring of the intermediary exchanger equipment. (N.C.)
The paper describes the latest developments in STRASSY (Strategy Assistance System), the strategy assistance system for the inspection of nuclear materials. The user can now select the fuel cycle he wishes to investigate from an initial range of 19 facilities. An inspection interface has been developed to enable the details and dates of inspections to be modified. One of the special features of the application of STRASSY in international safeguards is the taking into account of timeliness of detection; certain aspects of the time manager algorithms are presented and analysed, including the guaranteed existence of a solution. The results of a study of diversion paths in a simplified cycle consisting of our facilities are presented. Finally, the modifications necessary to enable STRASSY to be used for a posterior analysis of inspection results are discussed. (authors). 7 refs., 3 figs.
The EU-home team is in charge of the R and D related to the ITER baffle first wall. Five small-scale mock-ups, using Be, CFC and W tiles and different armour/heat-sink material joints under development, have been fabricated and thermomechanically tested in FE200 (Le Creusot) and JUDITH (Juelich) electron beam facilities. The small-scale mock-ups have been submitted to thermo-mechanical fatigue tests (up to failure using accelerating techniques). The objective was to determine the performances of the armour material joints under high heat flux cycles. (orig.)
The last developments in lithium batteries design have demonstrated the advantages of graphite: competitive cost, flat output curve, high capacity thanks to the obtention of a final compound close to LiC{sub 6}, good behaviour during cycling and a high mass energy. However, these advantages are slightly tarnished by parasite secondary reactions during the evolution of the element. Two different cases are encountered: the formation of a passivation layer (loss of Li ions and formation of irreversible bounds) and the formation of a passivation layer with a reaction between graphite and the solvent (partial destruction of the graphite crystal lattice). In the first case, the theoretical graphite insertion capacity remains at 372 mAh/g while in the second case the insertion capacity is greatly reduced. Abstract only. (J.S.)
To gain in efficiency, lightness and volume, the hybrid and electric-powered cars will certainly follow the cellular phone path. The key of success of todays hybrid cars is the Ni-MH battery developed by Matsushita (87.5% of the market in 2004). The lithium-ion batteries will be the next step and would allow to supply 80 to 100% of the energy of the vehicle, the thermal engine becoming just an auxiliary system for additional power, autonomy and air-conditioning. Prototypes can reach today 200 to 450 km of autonomy and 130 km/h speeds with batteries of about 200 kg. If most of the safety problems linked with the Li technology have been solved, the main drawback remains the cost of the Li-ion technology. Short paper. (J.S.)
This research deals with in the study of the use of innovating magnetic sensors in eddy current non destructive inspection. The author reports an analysis survey of magnetic sensor performances. This survey enables the selection of magnetic sensor technologies used in non destructive inspection. He presents the state-of-the-art of eddy current probes exploiting the qualities of innovating magnetic sensors, and describes the methods enabling the use of these magnetic sensors in non destructive testing. Two main applications of innovating magnetic sensors are identified: the detection of very small defects by means of magneto-resistive sensors, and the detection of deep defects by means of giant magneto-impedances. Based on the use of modelling, optimization, signal processing tools, probes are manufactured for these both applications.
Petrographical analysis is a microscopical analytical tool which allows definition of the exact nature of the components of different concrete mixes, as well as definition of internal structures and alteration processes. In order to improve the precision and the swiftness of the petrographical analysis, an automated image analysis system has been developed. In the next stage of this study, which consisted in the testing of new concrete mixes containing fluidised bed ashes, petrography has been used, not only to identify the nature of the mix components, but also assess the behaviour of these new concrete mixes when exposed to aggressive conditions.
In the framework of the plutonium production optimization in the PWR, many solutions are studied to decrease or recycle the plutonium of the nuclear fuels. Among these solutions, the inert matrix fuels (IMF) are proposed in this thesis. In seven chapters the author presents, the context and the state of the art, the different matrix, the calculi codes such as APOLLO2 or TRIPOLI4 needed to the neutronic analysis, the different fuel assemblies (CERMET UO{sub 2}, MOX, PuO{sub 2} and PuO{sub 2}-UO{sub 2}), the efficiency of the control rods in the case of the PWR, the cross sections problem, preliminary reflexions on critical accidents. (A.L.B.)
Intelligent and decision aiding systems as support to operators are becoming increasingly a necessity in nuclear installations and in nuclear reactors in particular, specially after the Tree Mile Island. Development of new technologies based on linguistic approaches such as fuzzy logic has given rise to much interest during the last years. Fuzzy logic controller (FLC) has many advantage compared to conventional controllers using classical techniques. The aim of the present work is to use a fuzzy logic controller in parallel to actual semi-automatic controller in order to supervise in real time the operation of the research nuclear reactor. The principal of this controller is based on rules which are established previous from experiment using the semi-automatic controller and from the knowledge of the operators. (authors)
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are being proposed for many applications including surveillance, mapping and atmospheric studies. These applications require a lightweight, low speed, medium to long duration airplane. Due to the weight, speed, and altitude constraints imposed on such aircraft, solar array generated electric power is a viable alternative to air-breathing engines. Development of such aircraft is currently being funded under the Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program. NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) is currently building a Solar Electric Airplane to demonstrate UAV technology. This aircraft utilizes high efficiency Applied Solar Energy Corporation (ASEC) GaAs/Ge space solar cells. The cells have been provided by the Air Force through the ManTech Office. Expected completion of the plane is early 1995, with the airplane currently undergoing flight testing using battery power.
In these years Information Technology has been used in activities that require an intelligent intervention. In this context take placing Decision Support Systems, since they use Information Technology to support users in decision processes, that is problems of logical level greater then problems normally treated by traditional information systems. The purpose of this work is to describe Decision Support Systems specifying what they are, their functionally and structure, identifying, furthermore, user types referred to and interaction modality between them; and to present a prototype of these systems. From a preliminary analyses phase of ENEA being and its Information Systems to understand which topics can be supported by systems of this type, it deals with one of these topics: weighing of new project, finding parameters, or key quantity, that affect and determine decisions. It describes, then, models, conceived form parameters, that permit to the user, through a simple representation ...
This paper presents the current status and future prospects of rocket propellants and the development of rocket engines. The combinated rocket propellant of liquid oxygen (LO/sub 2/) and liquid hydrogen (LH/sub 2/) is so much effective that it is typically used for the main engine of the space shuttle of the U.S. LE-7 engine with the thrust output of 100 tons is being developed for H-2 launcher following H-1 launcher in Japan. Meanwhile, HM-60 engine is being developed for ARIANE-5 launcher in Europe. Although the LO/sub 2//LH/sub 2/ engine predominates in this field at present, a dual fuel engine combining LO/sub 2//LH/sub 2/ and LO/sub 2//hydrocarbon will be realized in near future. The fuel such as LNG (methane) and LPG (propane) will be used for rocket and ramjet engines. (10 refs, 2 figs, 3 tabs)
The objective of this project was to implement a centralised data base of internal quality control in radiotherapy according to the criteria of the decree of A.f.s.s.a.p.s. (French agency of sanitary safety of health products on 27 july 2007, about the internal quality control of external radiotherapy facilities. The software on one year meets the objectives: compliance by comparison with A.f.s.s.a.p.s. criteria but particularly optimization of the centralisation and analysis of the internal quality controls. (N.C.)
Purpose Nonpoint sources (NPS) pollution has been an important cause for water quality impairment worldwide. To take the temporal variations of both NPS pollution and in-stream attenuation into consideration, an inverse modeling approach and the load duration curve (LDC) method were combined for variable nutrient total maximum daily load (TMDL) development. Methods Water quality and hydrological parameters were monitored monthly along the ChangLe River system in 2004?2008. The catchment NPS export load (EL) and TMDL for total nitrogen (TN) were estimated by the inverse format of an existing stream nutrient transport equation. The LDC method was used to describe the variability of EL, TMDL, requiring load (RLR) and percent (the ratio between the RLR and the EL, RPR) reduction, and then to s...
... due to the evolving nature of the Strategy Maps and the changing priority roles, it was decided not to link the SMSP directly with any Strategic Plans. ...
The purpose of this document is to describe the NIF Project Organization and the roles and responsibilities of the managers charged with executing the Project.
The author presents his impressions of the conference - that is - major lessons as presented in the talks on nonlinearities and their role in condensed matter physics. (WRF)
... or the Noncommissioned Officer Efficiency Report (NCOER) for promotion ... Providing effective coaching, delegating, counseling, and role modeling ...
The purpose of this paper is to report the personal experience with helical CT evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with various percutaneous interventional procedures. From December 1996 to September 1998 it were examined with helical CT 41 patients (73 nodules in all) with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with percutaneous ablation therapies: conventional ethanol injection in 18 subjects (31 nodules), one-shot ethanol injection 3 (8 nodules), radiofrequency thermal ablation in 16 (25 nodules), and combined chemo embolization and ethanol injection in 4 (9 nodules). CT performed was 4-27 days after the last session, acquiring biphasic volumetric images in 14 patients and triphasic volumetric images in 27. A second treatment with subsequent CT study was performed for 28 lesions; 15 underwent 3 serial studies and 6 underwent 4 studies. Compared with pretreatment findings, the diameter was unchanged in 62% of the nodules and increased in 38%. Morphology was unchanged in 63% of ...
We report the first visible (657 nm) vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser. The photopumped undoped structure was grown using low-pressure metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy in a single-growth sequence on misoriented GaAs substrates. The optical cavity consists of an In{sub 0.54}Ga{sub 0.46}P/In{sub 0.48}(Al{sub 0.7}Ga{sub 0.3}){sub 0.52} P strained quantum-well active region and a lattice-matched In{sub 0.48}(Al{sub {ital y}}Ga{sub 1{minus}{ital y}}){sub 0.52} P (0.7{le}{ital y}{le}1.0) graded spacer region, while the distributed Bragg reflectors are composed of Al{sub 0.5}Ga{sub 0.5}As/AlAs quarter-wave stacks. Room-temperature optically pumped lasing was achieved with a very low-threshold power, clearly demonstrating the viability of this new technology. These results provide the foundation for visible semiconductor laser-diode arrays for a number of applications including laser projection displays, holographic memories, and plastic fiber ...
The article provides a 1998 updated picture of Italy's and the world's photovoltaic market in terms of produced modules and total installed capacity, as well as market growth forecasts up to 2010. After a short description of the state-of-the-art of cell and module manufacturing, ana analysis of the cost of producing a photovoltaic kw is reported for different plant types: stand-alone plants with energy storage batteries, plants connected to low low voltage networks or intended for supporting medium voltage networks, hybrid plants with diesel sets. The article is concluded by illustrating ENEL's (Electric Power Production Company) engagement in the field of photovoltaic solar energy as regards theoretical studies, research and testing of new technologies, and installing plants; over nearly twenty years of activity, ENEL has designed and built a few hundreds of photovoltaic plants for a total capacity of about 4.000 kw, and is currently in the process of ...
The dependence of the photoluminescent properties of In{sub 0.48}(Al{sub {ital y}}Ga{sub 1{minus}{ital y}}){sub 0.52}P alloys (0{le}{ital y}{le}0.5) on growth temperature and substrate misorientation off GaAs(100) has been studied. Samples were grown using low-pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. By studying the dependence of ordering behavior in InGaP as a function of substrate misorientation and growth temperature simultaneously, a very large range in low-temperature photoluminescence emission energy---135 meV---has been obtained. The photoluminescence linewidth exhibits a strong, continuous dependence on the extent of atomic ordering (the emission energy) in the alloys. The results indicate that inhomogeneity in the microstructure of the material (i.e., between ordered'' domains and the disordered'' matrix) is the dominant photoluminescence broadening mechanism. This investigation has allowed a ...
The dependence of the photoluminescent properties of In{sub 0.48}(Al{sub {ital y}}Ga{sub 1{minus}{ital y}}){sub 0.52}P alloys (0{le}{ital y}{le}0.5) on growth temperature and substrate misorientation off GaAs(100) has been studied. Samples were grown using low-pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. By studying the dependence of ordering behavior in InGaP as a function of substrate misorientation and growth temperature simultaneously, a very large range in low-temperature photoluminescence emission energy---135 meV---has been obtained. The photoluminescence linewidth exhibits a strong, continuous dependence on the extent of atomic ordering (the emission energy) in the alloys. The results indicate that inhomogeneity in the microstructure of the material (i.e., between ordered'' domains and the disordered'' matrix) is the dominant photoluminescence broadening mechanism. This investigation has allowed a ...
The ORNL high temperature isopiestic apparatus was adapted for adsorption measurements. The quantity of water retained by rock samples taken from three different wells of The Geysers was measured at 150 °C and at 200 °C as a function of pressure in the range 0.00 ≤ p/p0 ≤ 0.98, where p0 is the saturated water vapor pressure. The rocks were crushed and sieved into three fractions of different grain sizes (with different specific surface areas). Both adsorption (increasing pressure) and desorption (decreasing pressure) runs were made in order to investigate the nature and extent of the hysteresis. Additionally, BET surface area analyses were performed by Porous Materials Inc. on the same rock samples using nitrogen or krypton adsorption measurements at 77 K. Specific surface areas and pore volumes were determined. These parameters are important in estimating water ...
A study has been made of the reaction [sup 86]Kr + [sup 63]Cu at incident energies of 486, 550, 640, and 730 MeV. Measurements include cross sections, angular distributions, and energy spectra for light charged particles ([sup 1,2,3]H and [sup 4]He), intermediate mass fragments (IMF) (4 [le] Z [le] 17), and heavy fragments (Z [ge] 18). Coincidences between light charged particles and between particles and fragments have been measured to obtain cross sections, energy spectra, and angular distributions. Statistical model analysis of the energy spectra for [sup 1]H and [sup 4]He detected in coincidence with the fragments has allowed estimation of [sup 1]H and [sup 4]He multiplicities associated with the evaporation residues, fragments, and composite nuclei prior to scission. A comparison of cross sections, energy spectra, angular distributions, and particle multiplicities for these matched entrance channels has provided the means for a detailed ...
The rare-earth based nickelates RNiO{sub 3} (R = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Pr{sub 1-x}La{sub x}, 0{<=}x{<=}0.7) were studied by inelastic neutron scattering. Energy splittings due to the crystalline-electric-field (CEF) interaction at the R{sup 3+} site within the electronic ground-state J multiplet (for R = Pr, Nd, and Pr{sub 1-x}La{sub x}) as well as within the two lowest-lying J multiplets (for R = Sm and Eu) were directly observed, and the corresponding CEF energy-level schemes were reconstructed. The latter were rationalized in terms of CEF parameters, which vary smoothly over the rare-earth series and give magnetic properties associated with the R sublattice in agreement with results from neutron powder diffraction experiments. Across the metal-insulator transition, a continuous change in the electronic part of the CEF parameters is observed. However, an attempt to quantify a charge transfer from the observed variation of the CEF parameters in an effective point charge ...
Role-limiting approaches support knowledge acquisition (KA) by centering knowledge base construction on common types of tasks or domain-independent problem-solving strategies. Within a particular problem-solving strategy, domain-dependent knowledge plays specific roles. A KA tool then helps a user to fill these roles. Although role-limiting approaches are useful for guiding KA, they are limited because they only support users in filling knowledge roles that have been built in by the designers of the KA system. EXPECT takes a different approach to KA by representing problem-solving knowledge explicitly, and deriving from the current knowledge base the knowledge gaps that must be resolved by the user during KA. This paper contrasts role-limiting approaches and EXPECT`s approach, using the propose-and-revise strategy as an example. EXPECT not only supports users in ...
In response to an earlier published paper by Fordyce, some assumptions underlying the behavior management paradigm of chronic pain are critically discussed. While operant treatment has proved successful, the conclusion that operant factors play an important role in the development and maintenance of chronic benign pain is debated. Some empirical studies, regularly used to demonstrate this role, are re-evaluated. An alternative theory is proposed for chronic pain behavior, in which the role of a lower tolerance to proprioceptive stimuli, which may include more than just pain stimuli, is emphasized. PMID:3313200
Critical knowledge is proliferated among different knowledge owners of a corporate system through the individuals lying inside or outside the system. Extraction of such knowledge is a very crucial requirement for all organisations. This paper presents the role of critical knowledge in the proper functioning of a system by representing it in the form of eXtensible Markup Language to develop a corporate memory. In order to demonstrate the role of corporate memory in the organisation, a real-world problem of a global supply chain is considered. The problem utilises the concept of corporate memory for the selection of potential suppliers from a set of available suppliers, and further to select the best route from a set of available alternative routes. The objective deals with the minimisation ...
A number of herbal drugs are used in the Unani (Greco-Arab) System of Medicine for cardiovascular diseases. The herbs were analyzed by flame AAS and ICP-AES to determine if their therapeutic actions can be associated with the elements present in them. Cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, nickel, phosphorus, lead and zinc were some of the elements which play various roles in cardiovascular affections. An effort was made to correlate the role of these elements in cardiac diseases. (Auth.). 2 tabs., 32 refs.
The liver is a primary target of growth hormone (GH). GH signals are mediated by the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5). Here, we focus on recent discoveries about the role of GH-STAT5 signaling in hepatic physiology and pathophysiology. We discuss roles of the GH-STAT5 axis in body growth, lipid metabolism, and the cell cycle pertaining to hepatosteatosis, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Finally, we discuss recent discoveries about the role of GH-STAT5 in sex-specific gene expression and bile acid, steroid, and drug metabolism.
Vitamin D is now known to be of physiological importance outside of bone health and calcium homeostasis, and there is mounting evidence that it plays a beneficial role in the prevention and/or treatment...Full Text Available
Background. The role of vitamin D in the body's ability to fight influenza and URI's may be dependent on regulation of specific cytokines that participate in the host inflammatory...Full Text Available
Viral infections are frequently cited as a major environmental factor involved in subacute thyroiditis and autoimmune thyroid diseases This review examines the data related to the role of viruses in...Full Text Available
Aim:To present three patients with ocular disease who developed a range of complications following use of traditional medications.Settings...Full Text Available
The lipid composition of skin is important to a variety of functions served by this organ. Therefore, skin expresses multiple enzymes that synthesize and metabolize lipids. An important class of lipid...Full Text Available
Contagious diseases are a threat to animal health and productivity, both nationally and at the farm level. This makes implementation of biosecurity measures to prevent their introduction and...Full Text Available
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved, catabolic process that involves the entrapment of cytoplasmic components within characteristic vesicles for their delivery to and degradation within lysosomes....Full Text Available
Information about the greenhouse effect, the role of greenhouse gases in global climate change, levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and references....
This article discusses issues in teaching secure coding in the context of both academic institutions and training organizations. The emphasis is on the importance of assurance. There is also some discussion of the role of checklists.
The Nobel lecture of Chandrasekhar is printed in which he describes the basic processes that determine the life history of a star with particular emphasis on the roles of stellar mass and radiation pressure. (AIP)
BackgroundNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat postoperative and chronic pain. Animal studies suggest these drugs act in part by blocking...Full Text Available
AIM: To analyze the contribution of Orvosi Hetilap (Hungarian Medical Journal) to the field of gastroenterology.METHODS: All issues of the journal between 1857 and 2008 and identified...Full Text Available
The relative role of the maternal source and the filial sink in controlling the composition of maize (Zea mays L.) kernels is unclear and may be influenced by the genotype and the N...Full Text Available
Regulatory T cells are proposed to play a central role in the maintenance of immunological tolerance in the periphery, and studies in many animal models demonstrate their capacity to inhibit inflammatory...Full Text Available
As controlled clinical vocabularies assume an increasing role in modern clinical information systems, so the issue of their quality demands greater attention. In order to meet the resulting stringent...Full Text Available
The purpose of this article is to review the literature for clinical presentation, treatment, outcome and complications of using radiotherapy for the treatment of orbital lymphoma. For this, MEDLINE,...Full Text Available
Background and PurposeHemodynamic insults at arterial bifurcations are hypothesized to play a key role in intracranial aneurysm formation. This study investigates...Full Text Available
The causes of autoimmune responses leading to human kidney pathology remain unknown. However, environmental agents such as microorganisms and/or xenobiotics are good candidates for that role. Metals,...Full Text Available
In recent years increasing evidence is pointing toward white matter abnormalities in schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. The present paper will provide an overview over the role of...Full Text Available
Lens-induced glaucoma comprises a number of different glaucomatous processes occurring in the elderly that share in common the role of the crystalline lens in the mechanism of increase in intraocular...Full Text Available
The Second Kitasato Symposium: New Prospects for Cytokines brought together researchers and rheumatologists to consider the essential role of cytokines in health and their contributions to autoimmunity....Full Text Available
SYNOPSISPreterm infants are at risk for both iron deficiency and iron overload. The role of iron in multiple organ functions suggests that iron supplementation is essential for...Full Text Available
• Background and Aims The occurrence of stomata in seed coats is uncommon and there is limited information about their function(s). The aim of this study was to verify the distribution...Full Text Available
Contractile vacuole complexes are critical components of cell volume regulation and have been shown to have other functional roles in several free-living protists....Full Text Available
Aging is a biological process that affects most cells, organisms and species. Human aging is associated with increased susceptibility to a variety of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease,...Full Text Available
Immunomodulation by environmental chemical contaminants and the role immune parameters play in toxicity and risk assessment studies is of increasing concern. Although considerable evidence has indicated...Full Text Available
Behavioral responses to wind are thought to play a critical role in controlling the dispersal and population genetics of wild Drosophila species1,Full Text Available
diet and genetic obesity metabolic defects and inflammation. To determine the role of adipocyte death in promoting adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance in animal...
... 84. Fields BS, Haupt T, Davis JP, Arduino MJ, Butler JC. Pontiac fever due to Legionella micdadei from a whirlpool spa: Possible role of bacterial endotoxin. ...
The next generation of particle accelerator is currently being designed at CERN. An understanding of the market forces in the computer industry will play a crucial role in the success of the project.
BackgroundThe metagenomic analysis of microbial communities holds the potential to improve our understanding of the role of microbes in clinical conditions. Recent, dramatic improvements...Full Text Available
Recent field observations have shown that the atmospheric plumes of quiescently degassing volcanoes are chemically very active, pointing to the role of chemical cycles involving halogen species and...Full Text Available
The immune system plays a crucial role in maintaining health; however, accumulating evidence indicates that this system can be the target for immunotoxic effects caused by a variety of chemicals including...Full Text Available
DescriptionThis Studentship will focus on the implications of material nutrition and health for reproduction in green turtles, and specifically the role played by dietary carotenoids.
The role of apoptosis or programmed cell death in the regulation of development and maintenance of homeostasis in multicellular organisms is well established. During the last decade, naturally...Full Text Available
... in MEDCAP "the level of interface was left up ... of these patients had peripheral nerve injuries, head ... with poorly constructed prosthesis or waiting for ...
Silicon carbide (SiC) based electronic devices are of great importance for applications under the condition of high temperature, high power and high radiation. Schottky diodes of Palladium/SiC are good candidates for hydrogen and hydrocarbon gas sensors at elevated temperature. The detection sensibility of the diodes has been found heavily temperature dependent. In this work, the electrical and chemical properties of Pd/SiC Schottky contacts were studied by XPS and AES at different annealing temperatures. Schottky diodes were made by depositing ultra-thin palladium films onto a silicon carbide substrate. No significant change in the Schottky barrier height of the Pd/SiC contact was found in the temperature range of 300-673K. Palladium diffusion into SiC and the formation of palladium silicides were observed at room temperature and became significant at 300^oC and higher temperature. The mechanism of diffusion and reaction at the Pd/SiC interface will be discussed. The XPS/AES results ...
Numerical solutions given by a vorticity-velocity method are presented for combined free and forced laminar convection in the thermal entrance region of a horizontal rectangular channel without the assumptions of large Prandtl number and small Grashof number. The channel wall is heated with a uniform wall heat flux. Typical developments of temperature profile, secondary flow, and axial velocity at various axial positions in the entrance region are presented. Local friction factor and Nusselt number variations are shown for Rayleigh numbers Ra = 10{sup 4}, 3 {times} 10{sup 4}, 6 {times} 10{sup 4}, and 10{sup 5} with the Prandtl number as a parameter. The solution for the limiting case of large Prandtl number and small Grashof number obtained from the present study confirms the data of existing literature. It is observed that the large Prandtl number assumption is valid for Pr = 10 when Ra {le} 3 {times} 10{sup 4} but for a larger Prandtl number when the Rayleigh ...
The urban zone needs clean air to assure public health. To achieve this goal several filter samples were collected in different sites in Algiers city. Toxic elements such as: Na, Mg, Cl, Sc, Cr, Ti, V, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Ag, Sb, Ce, La, Hf, Ta and Hg have been measured in the filters using neutron activation analysis technique. Irradiation of filter samples and standards were carried out in Es-Salem reactor. The experimental procedure and the results are discussed. We noted during this work that the upper limit values for suspended dusts and the high concentrations for some toxic elements found are due to the weather conditions and intense road traffic around collecting sites. (authors)
The tribo characteristics of self-lubricating 40-mm-bore ball bearings with a retainer of glass cloth-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) laminate, which has elliptical pockets with a large pocket clearance, were tested under thrust loads at speeds up to 50,000 rpm, 2 million DN, in liquid hydrogen (LH2) and in liquid nitrogen (LN2). During testing, the bearing torque, outer-race temperature, and electric resistance between the inner and outer races were monitored to verify the formation and rupture of a PTFE transfer film. Testing showed that the bearings having the elliptical retainer pockets were superior to the conventional bearings with circular pockets. It was determined that, at the maximum inner race spinning velocity of about 5 m/s, a PTFE transfer film could sustain the maximum Hertz stress, up to about 2000 N/sq mm, in LH2, without severe film rupture resulting in bearing seizure. In LN2, the critical load capacity of PTFE transfer film with bearing seizure was about 2700 N/sq ...
R?sum? La rate baladeuse est une anomalie rare chez l?enfant. Elle est souvent d?crite chez l?adulte, particuli?rement la femme enceinte. Elle est due ? un d?faut de fixit? anatomique de la rate avec les organes de voisinage. Ses manifestations cliniques sont variables, mais la complication la plus redoutable est la survenue d?une torsion du p?dicule spl?nique. Nous rapportons le cas d?une fille de 11 ans qui s?est pr?sent?e avec des douleurs abdominales aigu?s et des vomissements. Les examens radiologiques ont montr? une absence de la vascularisation spl?nique. ? l?exploration chirurgicale, on a d?couvert une torsion du p?dicule spl?nique avec une isch?mie tissulaire avanc?e. La rate ?tait d?pourvue d?attaches ligamentaires. La d?torsion n?a pas permis de sauvegarder la rate, et une spl?n...
The report published in 2003 by the European committee on the risk of irradiation (C.E.R.I.) criticizes a part of the ICRP recommendations relative to the internal contaminations.Consequently, I.R.S.N. wishes to supply its own analysis. The present report points the questions linked to the internal contamination and to the difficulties inherent to the risk incurred after chronic exposure.Consequently it does not treat all the problems of the workers and populations radiation protection. (N.C.)
France has committed herself to keep in 2010 the same levels of greenhouse gas emissions as those of 1990, i.e. 144 millions of tons of carbon equivalent (MtCe). However, taking into account the existing pollution abatement measures and the measurements performed so far, the greenhouse gases level should reach 160 MtCe in 2010. Therefore, the inter-ministry commission on greenhouse effect decided on November 27, 1998 to elaborate a new national plan of fight against greenhouse effect. The elaboration of the new plan has fallen under the responsibility of the inter-ministry mission of greenhouse effect (MIES). The new plan was presented by the prime minister, L. Jospin, on January 19, 2000. This document summarises the content of the new plan: architecture (modalities of elaboration, content), measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (industry, transportation sector, buildings, agriculture-forestry, wastes valorization, development of renewable energies, refrigerants), new ...
The relative contributions of interstitials and vacancies to diffusion of a dopant A in silicon are specified by the interstitial fraction of diffusivity, f{sub A}. Accurate knowledge of f{sub A} is required for predictive simulations of Si processing during which the point defect population is perturbed, such as transient enhanced diffusion. While experimental determination of f{sub A} is traditionally based on an underdetermined system of equations, we show here that it is actually possible to derive expressions that give meaningful bounds on f{sub A} without any further assumptions but that of local equilibrium. By employing a pair of dopants under the same point-defect perturbance, and by utilizing perturbances very far from equilibrium, we obtain experimentally f{sub Sb}{le}0.012 and f{sub B}{ge}0.98 at temperatures of {approximately}800{degree}C, which are the strictest bounds reported to date. Our results are in agreement with a theoretical expectation that ...
LiNiO{sub 2} is one of the most promising material for positive electrodes of lithium-ion batteries. However, its behaviour during cycling and the existence of several phase transitions induced by the lithium ions de-intercalation process has not been explained so far. A transition electron microscopy study of various Li{sub x}NiO{sub 2} (0.25
Under the auspices of the Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND) Program, several waste rock piles were monitored and characterized. Acid rock drainage (ARD) became a mechanism better understood based on the data acquired during these projects. Numerical simulation was used to better comprehend the quantitative issues associated with the characterization of three specific sites for the purpose of this study. The sites selected were the south waste rock pile of the Doyon Mine in Quebec, the Northdale of the mining district of Ronnenberg in Germany, and the waste rock pile of the Sugar Shack South of the Questa mine in New Mexico. The observed and simulated conditions were very distinct from one mine to another, even if the same mechanisms were involved. The dominant oxygen and heat transfer mechanisms displayed the most varied behavior between the sites. ARD control or site rehabilitation decisions were based on the quantitative understanding gained from the monitoring and led to ...
The German voluntary standard 'Passivhaus' (passive house) leads to buildings with practically no energy consumption. The first residential buildings of this type were built in 1998 and the first tertiary buildings in 2000. Such a passive house must fulfill 5 efficiency criteria: annual space heating needs {<=} 15 kWh/m{sup 2}, U{sub v} envelope coefficient lower than 0.15 W/(m{sup 2}.K), U{sub v} of openings lower than 0.8 W/(m{sup 2}.K), airtightness {<=} 0.6 volume/hour, and total energy needs (space heating, hot water, ventilation, lighting and domestic uses) measured at the meter lower than 42 kWh/m{sup 2}.year. This article makes a status of the effective efficiency of existing passive buildings both in the residential and tertiary sectors and presents some possible ways of improvement. (J.S.)
This work presents the development of a streak camera 'jitter free' sweep unit synchronized on a femtosecond laser. This application of high voltage photoconductive switches ('High voltage Auston switch') yields subpicosecond resolution for accumulated images on streak camera on a few hundreds micro joule femtosecond laser. Two others applications of these photoconductive switches are studied: - ultrafast optical commutation by a Pockels cell directly driven by a photoconductive switch (rising edge < 100 ps and jitter < 2 ps), - laser pulse energy self-stabilization experimentally proving that driving a Pockels cell by a photoconductive switch can increase the stability of the laser pulse energy from 7 % to 0.7 % rms. Additionally, the application of the acoustic-optical programmable dispersive filter (Dazzler) to the self referenced spectral phase measurement is presented. As these measurements require a linear filter combined with a ...
The properties of the triplet of low-lying states in {sup 101}Mo have been studied through spectroscopy of the {gamma} radation following thermal neutron capture in {sup 100}Mo and {beta}-decay of {sup 101}Nb and through a measurement of the proton angular distributions in the {sup 100}Mo(d, p) reaction with 14 MeV deuteron energy. The half-lives of the 13.5 keV state and the 57.0 keV 5/2{sup +} state have been measured as 226(7) and 133(7) ns, respectively. These values and the quadrupole/dipole mixing ratios of the 13.5 keV and 43.5 keV transitions yield spin and parity 3/2{sup +} for the 13.5 keV level. The E2 components in the 13.5 (3/2{sup +}->1/2{sup +}) and 43.5 keV (5/2{sup +}->3/2{sup +}) transitions are {le} 8x10{sup -4} and 54(9)%, respectively. The possibility of an additional state near to the 57.0 keV level is discussed. IBFM/PTQM calculations, taking into consideration the transitional character of the {sup 100}Mo boson core, account for the ...
This document gathers the presentations given at the first French national meetings of solar energy for the development of solar systems in buildings. The meeting was organized over two days. The first day comprises 4 workshops about: urbanism and planning, cultural acceptability of solar energy in buildings (the OPAC 38 housing association, point of view on an energy information point, the Freiburg (Germany) solar region and marketing examples), technical integration to the structure (Clipsol solutions), and economical criteria (compared impacts of R and D public photovoltaic programs (USA, Japan, Germany, France, Italy), financing of rehabilitation projects, global approach of solar photovoltaic energy, technical solutions and strategy of products development, why and how to make an economical analysis of solar energy applications in the building industry). The second day comprises a plenary session and a round table: global status of solar energy development in Europe, status of ...
The durability of ball bearings, 32-mm- and 45-mm-bore, with a retainer or glass cloth-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) laminate was tested under a high radial load at a speed of 20,000 rpm in LOX or LN2. The retainers were characterized as good self-lubricators because the abrasive glass-cloth fiber tips exposed on the retainer were chemicaly etched away with hydrofluoric acid (HF). During testing, the bearing-cartridge-acceleration was monitored to detect bearing damage. Testing in LOX for about 2.2 hr showed that excellent lubricating conditions were obtained for all bearings. Testing in LN2 for about 5.1 hr detected that the fatigue life of the bearing was about the same as the calculated B10 fatigue life. The HF chemical treatment resulted in a reacted fluoride-oxide material which remained in the etched part of the glass fiber. Several chemical products, particularly MgO, CaO, and CaCO3, enhanced adhesion of PTFE transfer film to the counterface, resulting in the formation of a ...
The present study treats only the collective risk of ex-utero leukaemia associated with the routine releases of the nuclear industrial installations of the North Cotentin (0.0009 cases over the considered period) the uncertainty on the contribution to the collective risk of the incidents and the accidents of the nuclear installations (notably the drilling of the pipe of release in sea arisen in 1979-1980 and the fire of the waste silo on January 6. 1981, for the reprocessing plant of La Hague has not been considered. Only 45% of the risk are taken into account by the study. Every calculated value remains very inferior to the number of leukemia cases observed (4 cases observed for two expected cases) and to the risk of radioinduced leukemia any merged exposure sources, that is to say 0.84 cases. It appears thus not very probable that the nuclear installations of the North - Cotentin can explain the tendency to the excess of observed leukaemia. The limits of the study become attached for ...
This issue of Barrages newsletter comprises three articles. The first article treats of the quality approach relative to the organization of the inspections of big and medium size dams. It summarizes the improvements of this approach added in 2003 after analysis of the experience feedback. The second article presents the conclusions of the decennial and annual inspections of dams in exploitation. Only the observations requiring a special follow-up are reported. The last article summarizes the activities of the control services for the third quarter of 2003: decennial and annual visits, important facts, administrative instructions, studies, projects and works, organization of services, technical studies etc.. (J.S.)
Solid-state fermentation of soybean hulls supplemented with wheat bran using a co-culture of Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus oryzae was performed. Three parameters - initial moisture content, incubation temperature, and initial pH - were optimized in culture flasks using response surface methodology. Parameter optimization was carried out with respect to filter paper activity and b-glucosidase activity in the culture. Temperature of 30^oC, pH of 5, and moisture content of 70% were found to be optimum. Optimized parameters were used for laboratory scale-up in static tray fermenters. The maximum filter paper activity of 10.7FPU/g-ds and b-glucosidase of 10.7IU/g-ds were obtained after 96-h incubation period in static tray fermenters in agreement with optimized activities at shake flask le...
Controls of welds by radiographies are an efficient non destructive technique but it can be dangerous if not managed following a strict set of rules. EDF acts to avoid risks via several ways (adapted tools, best practices) and seeks for an integration of the radiographies with respect to the other maintenance operations, in order to raise the ratio of availability of the electricity production unit. This study explores an original analysis of industrial radiography: the influence of the representations of the workplace and its utilizations. This document supports the utilization of some space constraints as explanations of difficulties in the industrial radiography activity. The document proposes innovative points of view coming for on-site observations and from a theoretical background 'cognitive sciences' completed by technical propositions. (author)
The plastic flow behavior of a #beta#-titanium alloy (Ti-15% Mo) was investigated over a wide range of temperatures and strain rates covering those conditions where the #omega#-phase forms dynamically. Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect was observed in this alloy at temperatures between 575 and 775 K at a strain rate of 1.31 x 10"-"4 s"-"1. The serrated flow behavior of this alloy could be suppressed by rendering the matrix #beta#-phase more stable against the #beta# to #omega# transformation. PLC bands formed in this alloy, studied at different levels of magnification using light, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy, showed a high density of deformation bands within the macroscopic PLC band. The following mechanism of serrated flow is proposed; the load drop is ascribed to the sudden flow associated with the formation of deformation bands within which #omega#-particles were destroyed while the subsequent load rise results from pinning of ...
The European demonstration project Hip Hip (house integrated photovoltaic high-tech in public) led the French photovoltaic market to reach a level comparable to those of the other European countries in terms of relevance of implemented solutions and costs. This document presents the best realizations and the experience gained through the Hip Hip project. Its aim is to convince the designers and managers of building projects of the advantages of photovoltaic installations integrated to the structure and connected to the power distribution grid: 1 - presentation of the technology; 2 - status of the Hip Hip demonstration project (goals, results: main innovations and impact on the French market); 3 - different possibilities of integration to the building structure; 4 - examples of projects realized in France in the framework of the Hip Hip project: integration in glass roof, frontage, added elements, fitting on roofs. (J.S.)
Passive films formed anodically on titanium (Ti) plates in 0.5 M sulfuric acid were corroded in aqueous solutions of H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} in the dark and under illumination of a 250-W mercury lamp. The corrosion depth was determined by calculating the thickness of the oxide layers from interference patterns of reflection spectra in the visible region. Corrosion was observed at pH {le} 3, with the corrosion rate increasing exponentially with decreasing pH and achieving a maximum value at pH {approximately} 1. Photocorrosion generally was quicker than corrosion occurring in the dark in all cases (i.e., open-circuit, short-circuit, bias conditions) and increased under anodic polarization of the oxide electrode together with the photocurrent. Corrosion occurring in the dark decreased very weakly under anodic polarization. Long-term corrosion experiments indicated the initial corrosion rate for a thick anodic oxide was higher than the later rates, probably because of the ...
Une enfant drepanocytaire homozygote SS de 14 ans (sans deficit en G6PD), non transfusee anterieurement, a une cholecystectomie pour lithiase decouverte a un bilan systematique. L'intervention est encadree de 2 transfusions de concentres erythrocytaires (CGR) phenotypes ABO Rh Kell, compatibilises. Quinze jours apres, elle presente une hemolyse aigue associant fievre, ictere, insuffisance renale tubulaire, hemoglobinurie et anemie profonde (Hb 3,6 g/dL). Les RAI deviennent positives avec, entre autres, un auto anticorps anti D suspecte, le test de Coombs direct est positif de type mixte. L'enfant n'est pas retransfusee, mais recoit 1 mg/kg/j de corticoides IV pendant 10 jours. L'hemoglobine retrouve sa valeur de base (9 g/dL) apres 15 jours. Un antigene RH1(D) partiel de type DAR est ulter...
The progress made in particle detection, particularly the design of multi-detectors, like INDRA, that cover a solid angle of almost 4{pi}, have given a new impetus to heavy ion collisions. These detectors are demanding for an efficient way of selecting events that have a common history or similar features, for instance the events representing the de-excitation of a unique emitter. The problem is to find the adequate variable on which the discrimination can be based. Different methods are proposed in this work, the common point is that they require efficient models to reproduce and analyse experimental data in order to apprehend the equation of state of nuclear matter. Most of these models are based on the numerically solving of the nuclear Boltzmann equation. The application to the Ni + Ni reaction with an energy ranging from a few A.MeV to more than 50 A.MeV illustrates this work. (A.C.)
This poster presentation dealt with a brief overview of the practices in effect in British Columbia related to metal leaching and acid mine drainage. The metals mined in the province include coal, gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, lead, and zinc. Some mines operate under the surface, while others are strip mines, etc. under a variety of climactic conditions and a host of different mining companies, such as Cominco, Placer Dome and Noranda. The primary objective is the prevention of negative environmental impacts on land and in the water. Salmon and other fish need to be protected. A secondary objective is the minimization of impacts on the biota, which requires a detailed study of ecological risks. The solution often lies in soil covering. To illustrate, the author described the situation at Huckleberry Mines Ltd. and the remedial action that was implemented, and discussed the results on the beavers. In conclusion, the author discussed the strategies implemented by the British Columbia ...
Purpose of this item is to report the CT patterns of pancreatic mesenchymal lesions and to investigate the capabilities and limitations of this technique in terms of characterization. In selected cases, CT can provide virtually diagnostic information (lipoma and teratoma), or at least highly suggestive findings (NHL, plexiform neurofibroma, lymphangioma). Moreover, knowledge of the variable morphostructural patterns of mesenchymal hisototypes (SCH, Sarcoma etc.) permits to include them in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic masses. [Italian] Scopo di questo rapporto e' descrivere gli aspetti semeiologici dei tumori mesenchimali del pancreas con la TC verificandone le possibilita e i limiti per la caratterizzazione. Pur nella rarita' dei reperti considerati, la TC puo' consentire l'effettiva caratterizzazione in alcuni casi (lipoma, neurofibroma plessiforme, linfangioma) o includere anche istotipi meno comuni (Schwannoma, ...
This work concerns the study of the nuclear superdeformation phenomenon in the rare earth region (A {approx} 150). The superdeformed (SD) states in Gadolinium and Dysprosium isotopes were produced via heavy-ion induced reactions and studied with the (EUROGAM EUROpean GAmma-ray Microscope) gamma multidetector array. Precise level attenuation method (DSAM). From the derived quadrupole moments, we find large differences in deformation between the yrast bands in neighbour nuclei explained in terms of the case of nuclei corresponding to an axis ratio of 2:1, the shell gaps are not fixed at a specific particle number and deformation. Furthermore the present results indicate that the deformations associated with identical bands are different supporting the picture that mass and deformation changes tend to compensate in SB bands with the same moments of inertia. (author). 114 refs.
This study examines some radiation accidents occurred in the past. This information has been systematically assessed to get global lessons. The experience feedback shows that the most of accidents happened in certain conditions. These conditions can be distributed in four categories: 1- perception and vigilance in occupation: accidental exposure happened by lack of vigilance in details and lack of vigilance and perception; 2- procedures: accidental exposure happened following a lack of procedures or control that were not enough complete, not enough documented or not completely implemented; 3- training and understanding: accidental exposures happened because the personnel was not enough qualified and educated, did not get the general training nor the the necessary specialized training; 4- liabilities: accidental exposures happened following lacks and ambiguity in the definition of functions of the personnel and in the hierarchy liabilities. In these precise cases the safety tasks have ...
This project of law concerns an additional protocol to the agreement of warranties signed on September 22, 1998 between France, the European atomic energy community and the IAEA. This agreement concerns the declaration of all information relative to the R and D activities linked with the fuel cycle and involving the cooperation with a foreign country non endowed with nuclear weapons. These information include the trade and processing of nuclear and non-nuclear materials and equipments devoted to nuclear reactors (pressure vessels, fuel loading/unloading systems, control rods, force and zirconium tubes, primary coolant pumps, deuterium and heavy water, nuclear-grade graphite), to fuel reprocessing plants, to isotope separation plants (gaseous diffusion, laser enrichment, plasma separation, electromagnetic enrichment), to heavy water and deuterium production plants, and to uranium conversion plants. (J.S.)
RESUME: Cet article propose une tude du r le croissant que joue l valuation dans la gouvernance des services domicile en Europe. L introduction de quasi march s dans plusieurs pays europ ens va de pair avec un processus d autonomisation de la fonction d valuation qui devient un v ritable outil de r gulation de la concurrence. Une analyse compar e des situations en Belgique, France et Royaume Uni, tant de la demande que de l offre de services, met en vidence les tensions r currentes dans les objectifs de l valuation (qualit des services, ma trise des budgets sociaux, cr ation d emploi), la faible prise en compte de la qualit de l emploi ainsi que les limites des dispositifs standardis s d valuation au regard de la rh torique du libre choix de l usager (consommateur).
Aim: The study aimed to analyze blood pressure (BP) responses in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) over a 24h period following resistance (RES) and aerobic (AER) exercise. Methods: Ten adults with T2D (age: 55.8+/-7.7 years; weight: 79.4+/-14.0kg; fasting glucose: 133.0+/-36.7mg.dL^-^1) underwent: (1) AER: 20min of cycling at 90% lactate threshold (90% LT); (2) RES: three laps of a circuit of six exercises with eight repetitions at 70% 1-RM and 40s of recovery; and (3) a control session of no exercise. Heart rate (HR), and systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean arterial (MAP) and pulse (PP) BP, as well as lactataemia (Lac), VO2, respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at rest, during exercise and control (CON) periods, and 60min after interve...
SommarioScopo Valutare limpatto clinico negli anni dellecografia intraoperatoria (IOUS) nella identificazione delle metastasi epatiche rispetto alle altre metodiche di imaging. Materiali e metodi risultati delle ecografie intraoperatorie effettuate per lidentificazione delle metastasi epatiche in un periodo compreso tra gli anni 2000 e 2006 sono stati retrospettivamente revisionati e comparati con le metodiche di imaging preoperatorio: Ecografia (US), Tomografia Computerizzata (TC) e/o Risonanza Magnetica (RM). Tutti i casi sono stati patologicamente provati. Sono stati calcolati per anno i casi discordanti in termini di presenza/assenza di lesione focale epatica. Il confronto statistico e stato effettuato con il test di McNemar. Un valore del p<0,05 e stato considerato statisticamente sig...
Increasingly stringent pollution regulations have spurred a broad interest in the reduction of engine emissions. Two strategies can be considered: after-treatment or engine emissions reduction. For Diesel engines, after-treatment has a high cost induced by the required technology and implementation issues. In this context, the Highly Premixed Combustion combustion mode (HP C) has emerged as a topic of major interest in recent years. It represents one of the most promising ways for new generation of CI engines using high Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) rates. Experimentation on the test bench brought the proof of significant emission reduction. However, actual vehicle implementation implies frequent transient which fall far beyond steady state experimentation on the test bench. Several key challenges have to be addressed. With this combustion technology; accurate torque balancing at all engine modes is a requirement. Even slight unbalance between the cylinders can have dramatic ...
This paper elucidates morphological characteristics, reproduction forms and ecological characteristics of Plectus sp. and Rhabditis sp. which are most frequently detected nematodes separated from tap water. The paper also discussed experimentally establishment of cultivating conditions for these nematodes, and behavior and reproduction characteristics of nematodes under widely ranging conditions of temperatures, bacteria concentrations and pH. Plectus sp. grows in hermaphroditic individuals, while Rhabditis sp. grows only in female. An LE culture medium can cultivate nematodes that appear in tap water, and is suitable for subculture of nematodes. Conditions of temperatures from 20{degree}C to 25{degree}C, pH and inoculated concentration of bacteria at 10{sup 8} cell {center_dot} ml{sup -1} are suitable for reproduction of Plectus sp. and Rhabditis sp. Plectus sp. and Rhabditis sp. prefer mild temperatures for reproduction, cannot reproduce below about 5{degree}C, ...
Gastric stromal tumors are an ill-defined group of lesions arising from muscle wall cells and characterized by extremely variable biological patterns. Thanks to modern immunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques, four main classes of these lesions have been identified, namely: (1) tumors with differentiation toward smooth muscle cells; (2) tumors with differentiation toward neural elements; (3) tumors with differentiation toward neural elements; (3) tumors with dual differentiation toward either cell type. It was investigated the yield of CT in diagnosing and characterizing gastric stromal tumors. It was retrospectively reviewed the CT findings of 38 patients (15 men and 23 women; mean age 51 years) with pathologically proven gastric stromal tumors, namely 31 of myoid origin, 4 of neural origin, 2 with both muscle and neural differentiation, 1 lacking differentiation with either cell type. The myoid tumors involved gastric fundus in 9/13 and 5/7 benign lesions and lesions with ...
If the first (PopIII) stars were very massive, their final fate is to collapse into very massive black holes. Once a proto-black hole has formed into the stellar core, accretion continues through a disk. It is widely accepted, although not confirmed, that magnetic fields drive an energetic jet which produces a burst of TeV neutrinos by photon-meson interaction, and eventually breaks out of the stellar envelope appearing as a Gamma Ray Burst (GRB). Based on recent numerical simulations and neutrino emission models, we predict the expected neutrino diffuse flux from these PopIII GRBs and compare it with the capabilities of present and planned detectors as AMANDA and IceCube. If beamed into 1% of the sky, we find that the rate of PopIII GRBs is $\\le 4 \\times 10^6$ yr$^{-1}$. High energy neutrinos from PopIII GRBs could dominate the overall flux in two energy bands [$10^4 - 10^5$] GeV and [$10^5 - 10^6$] GeV of neutrino telescopes. The enhanced sensitivities of ...
Cooperation for low carbon and energy efficient development is a high priority for France, in line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. France contributes to tackling climate change by working with its partners on all continents to implement projects both to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to climate change. Within the framework of the Marrakech Accords, France also encourages the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol Clean Development Mechanism, in particular between French business and non-Annex I countries; this mechanism will facilitate the financing of mitigation projects and contribute to the sustainable development of host countries in the South. At multilateral level, France is a major donor. At a bilateral level, an initial analysis of cooperation projects which are strongly linked to tackling climate change identified public support of 136 millions euros per year, as an average over the past few years. Some project examples, mostly ...
Introduction: We have evaluated the ability of a semi-automated, optomotor reflex method to assess drug-induced visual dysfunction, in albino and pigmented rats and mice. Methods: Male Han Wistar (HW) and Long Evans (LE) rats and mice (CD-1 and C57BL/6) were tested in a chamber formed by 4 computer monitors displaying a rotating vertical grating, to elicit head-tracking movements. The highest visible grating frequency was taken as the threshold of visual acuity, in cycles per degree (c/d). Animals received an intravenous infusion of either sodium iodate (50mg/kg) or 0.9% w/v NaCl (aq). They were tested 2h later, then re-tested daily for a further 3days. The time course of the effect was assessed in HW rats over a 6-week period, including electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical analysi...
Different experimental measurements (Theology, granulometry, XRD) were carried out in order to study the main properties of bentonite suspensions in presence of anionic additives at different concentrations. These additives are: Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) as surfactant, a flexible polymer (Sodium Carboxy Methyl Cellulose, CMC) and a semi-rigid polymer (Xanthan gum). It has been shown that the structural nature of anionic additive influences directly the mixtures viscoelastic and flow behavior. The steric effect of the surfactant modifies the Face-Edge interactions and yields changes of the mixtures rheological behavior at low deformation rates. Polymers act by coating each clay particle and prevent their agglomeration. Therefore, bentonite has no direct effect on the rheological behavior of the mixtures: the additives are responsible for the mechanisms of de-structuration and structure reorganization as well as the mixtures viscous and viscoelastic behavior. (author)
Steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants are periodically checked by means of eddy current probes. The output of a probe is composed of three types of signals: known events (rolling zone, support plates, U-bend part), noise (mainly metallurgical noise) and possible flaws. The latter are random transients, both in arrival time and in shape: they have to be detected and then estimated, before to be fed to the high level stages of a diagnostics system. The objective of the study presented is to develop a semi-automatic system, which could manage and process more than 1 M-bytes of data per tube and provide an operator with reliable diagnostics proposals within a few minutes. This can be achieved only by cooperation of several digital signal processing techniques: detection, segmentation, estimation, noise subtraction, adaptive filtering, modelization, pattern recognition. The paper describes some of these items.
Steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants are periodically checked by means of eddy current probes. The output of a probe is composed of three types of signals: known events (rolling zone, support plates, U-bend part), noise (mainly metallurgical noise) and possible flaws. The latter are random transients, both in arrival time and in shape: they have to be detected and then estimated, before to be fed to the high level stages of a diagnostic system. The objective of the study presented is to develop a semi-automatic system, which could manage and process more than 1 M-bytes of data per tube and provide an operator with reliable diagnostics proposals within a few minutes. This can be achieved only by cooperation of several digital signal processing techniques: detection, segmentation, estimation, noise subtraction, adaptive filtering, modelization, pattern recognition. The paper describes some of these items.
The diagnostic imaging findings in hepatic amoebiasis and the capabilities of percutaneous drainage have already been described but some debate is open on both diagnosis and treatment. It is reported the experience with the ultrasound (US) and Computed Tomography (CT) studies of the hepatic amoebic abscess and its management. [Italian] I reperti con diagnostica per immagini nell'amebiasi epatica e le possibilita' del drenaggio percutaneo sono stati gia' illustrati; esistono tuttavia controversie sul piano sia diagnostico che terapeutico. Obiettivo di questo lavoro e' quello di riportare l'esperienza personale nella diagnostica con ecografia e tomografia computerizzata (TC) e nel trattamento degli ascessi amebici del fegato.
After a short review of the classical simplified expressions able to evaluate the seepage path in the core of a river levee, this paper first discusses the results obtained assuming the Dupuit approximation. Dimensionless nomographs are then showed, obtained by means of numerical integration of the seepage equations, These nomographs allow a quick levee design to be developed, after the definition of flood hydrography, seepage and embankment characteristics. [Italian] Dopo un sintetico richiamo di alcune classiche formulazioni semplificate per la determinazione dell'andamento della linea di infiltrazioner in un rilevato arginale, nell'articolo vengono presentati e discussi i risultati conseguiti prima assumendo la sola ipotesi di Dupuit e, successivamente, risolvendo l'equazione completa del moto di filtrazione. In particolare, vengono forniti abachi adimensionali che consentono, una volta fissate le caratteristiche ...
The photodegradation of two well known recalcitrant compounds was studied. At this aim, a photosystem constituted by titanium dioxide and polyaniline, both immobilised in a PVC membrane, and a sunlight simulating irradiation source was used. The optimisation of the experimental conditions, ph, ionic strength and, when operating on soils, humic acid concentration, allowed the photodegradation of Paraquat at a nearly 100% extent, while, an oxidation by hypochlorite was needed to degrade cyanuric acid. [Italian] E' stata studiata la fotodegradazione di due composti notoriamente recalcitranti a questo tipo di rimozione. Con un sistema fotocatalitico costituito da biossido di titanio e polianilina immobilizzati in una membrana di PVC ed operando con luce solare simulata e' possibile, ottimizzando le condizioni sperimentali di pH, forza ionica e - operando su terreno - concentrazione di acidi umici, ottenere la degradazione del paraquat fino a valori ...
Yet designed to measure charged component of the cosmic rays, the foreseen Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) could also release {gamma}-ray studies, in the energy range from GeV to TeV, using the tracker system, for {gamma}-rays converted in e{sup +}e{sup -} pair, and the electromagnetic calorimeter. In the first part of the thesis are described the calibrations and the performances of the engineering model of the calorimeter, obtained from the analysis of data taken during a test-beam performed at CERN in July 2002. In the second part of the thesis, the AMS-02 discovery potential for {gamma}-astrophysics is presented. While exposure maps of the {gamma}--sky are computed for one year of data taking with the {gamma}--detectors, the acceptance of the calorimeter is obtained from Monte-Carlo simulations. The AMS-02 potential is then estimated for signals from the Vela pulsar and for some supersymmetric signals from the Galactic Center. (author)
The finest particle size fractions ({le} 25 {mu}m) in four fly ash samples from fluidised bed combustion of three biomass based fuels and a municipal solid waste fuel were size separated using a centrifugal SPLITT fractionation cell. The ashes were separated into different size fractions and the cadmium concentration, partition and speciation in each separated fraction were then investigated in relation to their possible leaching. The fractionation was evaluated by environmental scanning electron microscopy, which also provided indications of the associations between Cd and other main elements on the particles through the use of X-ray fluorescence mapping. The total concentration of Cd in each fraction was determined by AAS analysis which showed different dependence on the ash particle size in the case of biomass or waste fuels. In addition, the speciation of Cd in each fraction, investigated by sequential chemical extractions and X-ray powder diffraction analysis, ...
This article, published in issue 80 of 'l'ACROnique du nucleaire', aims to retrace the early steps in the consideration of the possibility of a nuclear accident in France, with the inclusion of 'non-institutional' participants and applying the lessons learned in Belarus in the contaminated territories around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. After a review of the origin of the involvement of the Association pour le Controle de la Radioactivite dans l'Ouest (ACRO) in addressing post-accident issues alongside the populations living in an environment polluted by radioactivity, it discusses, from the critical viewpoint of an NGO, the context and the working method adopted for this examination. This is followed by some key elements of the programme and unresolved questions about the available body of knowledge which motivates research and about the method adopted for the work. The conclusion, moderately optimistic, ...
The European gas market is continuing to expand due to increased industrial, domestic and power generation demand. As a result of this demand, and the trend toward liberalization of the market, the need for storage of gas is also increasing. One key segment of the large scale storage of gas is underground storage, either in partially depleted gas or oil fields, naturally occurring caverns, aquifers and salt cavities. In most cases the gas produced after storage requires conditioning to meet the water of hydrocarbon dew point specification of the gas transmission system. For that reason export gas from storage will require gas conditioning in order to meet pipeline specifications. Adsorption as a feasible and reliable process will be presented in detail and especially in regards to hydrocarbon dew-pointing compared with other process options. (author)
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of lung perfusions permits to map functioning lung parenchyma with higher sensitivity than CT. Delivering higher radiations doses it used to increase local control in lung carcinoma; this strategy is based on radiobiological and clinical studies. Lung parenchyma is a dose-limiting tissue in patients irradiated for lung cancer. Functional mapping based on SPECT and CT findings permits to design radiation beams such as to minimize irradiation of functioning lung. [Italian] L'integrazione delle immagini diagnostiche aventi diverso contenuto informativo anatomico-funzionale puo' essere utilizzata nella radioterapia per migliorare le procedure diagnostiche e ottimizzare la geometria dell'irraggiamento. I sistemi per l'elaborazione di piani di radioterapia oggi in uso sono direttamente interfacciati con gli apparecchi di Tomografia Computerizzata (TC) e l'impiego di immagini ...
Bacteriocins are an abundant class of antimicrobial molecules that appear to mediate population dynamics within species. The bacteriocins of Escherichia coli have served as a model for exploring the ecological role of these potent toxins. Studies suggest that colicins provide a competitive edge in nutrient-poor environments and that there might be a trade-off between the costs and benefits of colicin production. PMID:10203843
This paper presents the Asian landscape with its regional balances and imbalances and its changes after September 11 and subsequent events. The nuclear posture and the role of nuclear weapons inside the China-India-Pakistan triangle is analyzed with respect to the US non-proliferation policy and its expanding military presence over the Asian continent. (J.S.)
The possible role of space-like objects in elementary particle physics (and in quantum mechanics) is reviewed and discussed, mainly by exploiting the explicit consequences of the peculiar relativistic mechanics of Tachyons. Particular attention is paid: (i) to tachyons as the possible carriers of interactions; (ii) to the possibility of ''vacuum decays'' at the classical level; (iii) to a Lorentz-invariant bootstrap model; (iv) to the apparent shape of the tachyonic elementary particles and its possible connection with the de Broglie wave-particle dualism. (author).
Vibration of machinery plays an important role in preventive maintenance programs of machinery. It can be applied in different phases ranging from simple to computerized programs. The advantages of applying machine condition monitoring programs are numerous since vibration measurement and analysis leads to the early detection of component deterioration. The cost, savings and some details of the vibration preventive maintenance program are discussed.
Gamma interferon plays an important role in regulating the functional properties of mononuclear phagocytes. In the present study, the role of activated protein kinases in the mechanism of action of...Full Text Available
DescriptionThe importance of inorganic nitrate for the nutrition and growth of marine and freshwater autotrophic phytoplankton has long been recognised, in particularly because of the 'blooms' formed in nitrate and phosphate polluted water and their possible roles as carbon dioxide sinks. By contrast, the utilisation of nitrate by heterotrophic bacteria has historically received less attention. Up until now, the primary role of heterotrophic bacteria has classically been considered to be the decomposition [continued...
Quark models of cumulative particle production and EMS effect are analyzed. All the models are characterized by a universal relationship between the spectrum of cumulative nucleons and the cross section of cumulative particles containing valence nuclear quarks. This relationship is tested for a deuteron. The role is discussed played by secondary nuclear processes for heavy nuclei. A special role of ''sea'' cumulative particles (K"-, p-bar) is pointed out in understanding the nature of the difference between the structure functions of a nucleus and of free nucleon.
BackgroundATRX is a tightly-regulated multifunctional protein with crucial roles in mammalian development. Mutations in the ATRX gene cause ATR-X syndrome, an X-linked...Full Text Available
Penetrating liver wounds are related to many causes and rank second after blunt abdominal and liver trauma. In this report are examined the clinical and radiological findings of personal series of patients with penetrating trauma, especially by firearms and stab and cut wounds. It will also tried to define the diagnostic workup of these traumas, which is especially based on CT signs of liver damage and associated changes and which is of basic importance for following treatment, both surgical or conservative. In the last seven years it was retrospectively reviewed 31 cases of penetrating liver trauma. The patients were 19 men and 12 women, ranging in age 18 to 73 (mean 42), with penetrating liver injuries from firearms (16 patients) and stab (9 cases) wounds; 6 patients had injuries from different cases. Abdominal CT was carried out in emergency with the CT Angiography (CTA) technique in all patients. In the patients with suspected chest and abdomen involvement CT was performed from the ...
Mechanistic studies on a charged ultrafiltration (UF) membrane fouled with natural organic matter (NOM) and colloidal particles are systematically investigated to understand the relative role of each NOM fraction and the presence of colloidal particulate to membrane fouling. Humic acid (HA), dextran, and kaolin were employed as surrogate model foulants representing the organic hydrophobic acid NOM, hydrophilic neutral NOM, and inorganic colloidal materials, respectively. The results obtained showed that the organic NOM of hydrophilic surrogate (dextran) plays a primary role in promoting membrane fouling, followed by hydrophobic acids and inorganic kaolin, but to a lesser extent than organic NOM compounds. Significant differences in the extent of fouling between dextran and HA have been obs...
This conference examined the potential role of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) which are gaining interest around the world. Emerging PHEV technologies were reviewed along with the role that biofuels and electricity play in their widespread use. It was attended by members of industry, academia, utilities, government and institutions to review on-going research and demonstrations of PHEV projects across North America. The purpose was to understand how PHEV technologies can be integrated into current and future transportation systems and the electrical power grid. Other objectives were to establish a primarily-Canadian network focused on PHEV-related issues to promote public engagement for the plug-in highway. The possible role of government support for PHEV research, development and commercialization was also discussed. In addition to workshops and poster sessions, this conference featured 75 presentations, of which ...
The interaction energies between the different types of bases of a single strand of DNA molecule have been calculated. Using these original values of energies the harmonic behavior of a number of base patterns of DNA has been studied. In view of the great interest aroused by the discovery of the role of the telomere segment of the DNA in the replication process and its possible link with the aging process, we have investigated, with simple models, the harmonic behavior of the telomeric pattern of bases as well as the thermodynamic response in the biological system. With these results a conclusion on the probable role of the telomeric pattern on aging has also been drawn. Here the calculated values of harmonic frequencies of the telomeric pattern of bases and of other possible patterns show that the telomeric pattern is associated with the highest vibrational frequency among all patterns of base combinations at the replication end of DNA. This ...
The purpose of this work is to investigate whether any morphometric or densitometric are detectable in the kidneys of type 2 diabetic patients. 40 diabetic patients were examined and of 20 non-diabetics (the control group) were submitted to triphasic helical CT for different abdominal conditions. The type 2 diabetic patients were 23 men and 17 women, mean age 62 years, while the nondiabetic controls were 12 men and 8 women, mean age 58 years. All the CT images were analyzed using the Multiplanar Reconstruction (MPR) software. It was evaluated morphometric features, such as the presence of parenchymal or vascular calcifications, axial and coronal renal diameters, coronal renal area, and cortico medullary ratio, and densitometric and functional features, such as unenhanced renal density, cortical and medullary density in the arterial phase, parenchymal density in the nephrographic phase, and contrast elimination. It was also compared the results in the subgroups of patients with those in ...
The mechanisms that contribute to the extinction of previously acquired memories are not well understood. These processes, often referred to as inhibitory learning, are thought to be parallel...Full Text Available
Auditory neurons in the superior colliculus (SC) respond preferentially to sounds from restricted directions to form a map of auditory space. The development of this representation is shaped...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe epidemiology of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in gulls is only partially known. The role of the world's most numerous gull species, the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa...Full Text Available
To evaluate the role of chronic inflammation in the development of gallstones and biliary tract cancer, we examined the risk associated with 62 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including...Full Text Available
Forward and reverse genetic experiments have both played important roles in revealing critical aspects of mammalian signal transduction pathways in cell culture experiments. Only recently have we begun...Full Text Available
The oxidative stress theory of aging predicts that manipulations that alter oxidative stress/damage will alter aging. The gold standard for determining whether aging is altered is lifespan,...Full Text Available
The substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) represents an endogenous seizure suppressing system, which may be targeted to develop treatments for generalized or multifocal epilepsies. This review summarizes...Full Text Available
For an enzyme functioning predominantly in a seemingly housekeeping role of 5′ tRNA maturation, RNase P displays a remarkable diversity in subunit make-up across the three domains of...Full Text Available
Type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) play a central role in the pathogenicity of many important pathogens, including Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Helicobacter pylori, and...Full Text Available
The sequential events and the inflammatory mediators that characterize disease onset and progression of ulcerative colitis (UC) are not well known. In this study, we evaluated the early pathologic events...Full Text Available
Sequence-directed variations in the canonical DNA double helix structure that retain Watson-Crick base-pairing play important roles in DNA recognition, topology, and nucleosome positioning....Full Text Available
BackgroundDinoflagellates are unicellular, often photosynthetic protists that play a major role in the dynamics of the Earth's oceans and climate. Sequencing of dinoflagellate nuclear...Full Text Available
Highly polymorphic genes with central roles in lymphocyte mediated immune surveillance are grouped together in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in higher vertebrates. Generally, across vertebrate...Full Text Available
While it has been established that microRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles throughout development and are dysregulated in many human pathologies, the specific processes and pathways regulated by individual...Full Text Available
The interactions between biochemical processes and mechanical signaling play important roles during various cellular processes such as wound healing, embryogenesis, metastasis, and cell migration. While...Full Text Available
Until the second half of the 20th century, it was broadly accepted that most birds are microsmatic if not anosmic and unable to detect and use olfactory information. Exceptions were...Full Text Available
The structure of the skin in the epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi) wing and body trunk was studied with a view to understanding possible adaptations for gas metabolism and...Full Text Available
Purpose of ReviewThe vertebrate cap’n’collar family transcription factor Nrf2 and its invertebrate homologs SKN-1 (in worms) and CncC (in flies) function...Full Text Available
Assessments of drinking water safety rely on the assumption that ingestion represents the principal route of exposure. A review of the experimental literature revealed that skin penetration rates for...Full Text Available
Ecological speciation is the process by which barriers to gene flow between populations evolve due to adaptive divergence via natural selection. A relatively unexplored area in ecological speciation...Full Text Available
FRAXA is one of a number of fragile sites in human chromosomes that are induced by agents like fluorodeoxyuridine (FdU) that affect intracellular thymidylate levels. FRAXA coincides with a >200...Full Text Available
Krabbe disease (KD) is an inherited neurological disorder caused by the deficiency of galactocerebrosidase activity resulting in accumulation of psychosine, which leads to energy depletion,...Full Text Available
Previous studies have shown that both bipolar disorder (BPD) and psychomotor agitation (PMA) are associated with substance dependence. These two findings have yet to be integrated, despite evidence...Full Text Available
Pseudomonas putida encodes 20 extracytoplasmic sigma factors (ECFs). In this study, we show that one of these ECFs, known as ECF-Pp12...Full Text Available
To understand the function of edges in perception of moving objects, we defined four questions to answer. Is the focus point in visual motion detection of a moving object: (1) the body or the edge of...Full Text Available
Thyroid hormone is a critical regulator of growth, development and metabolism in virtually all tissues, and altered thyroid status affects many organs and systems. Although for many years testis...Full Text Available
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is an adverse pregnancy outcome associated with significant perinatal and paediatric morbidity and mortality, and an increased risk of chronic disease later in adult life....Full Text Available
The central nervous system (CNS) utilizes anticipatory (APAs) and compensatory (CPAs) postural adjustments to maintain equilibrium while standing. It is known that these postural adjustments...Full Text Available
p53 plays a critical role in tumor suppression. As a transcription factor, in response to stress signals, p53 regulates its target genes and initiates stress responses, including cell cycle arrest,...Full Text Available
The ability to respond to stress is at the core of an organism's survival. The hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine play a central role in stress responses in mammals, which require the synchronized...Full Text Available
Skeletal muscle uses calcium as a second messenger to respond and adapt to environmental stimuli. Elevations in intracellular calcium levels activate calcineurin, a serine/threonine phosphatase, resulting...Full Text Available
ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC transporters) utilize the energy of ATP hydrolysis to translocate an unusually diverse set of substrates across cellular membranes. ABCA4, also known as...Full Text Available
The role of IGF-I in the negative regulation of GH expression and release is demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo models; however, the targets and mechanisms of IGF-I...Full Text Available
SYNOPSISRhomboid proteases are a fascinating class of enzymes that combine a serine protease active site within the core of an integral membrane protein. Despite having key roles...Full Text Available
When attempting to feed on their hosts, ticks face the problem of host hemostasis (the vertebrate mechanisms that prevent blood loss), inflammation (that can produce itching or pain and thus...Full Text Available
Atg4 cysteine proteases (autophagins) play crucial roles in autophagy by proteolytic activation of Atg8 paralogs for targeting to autophagic vesicles by lipid conjugation, as well as in subsequent deconjugation...Full Text Available
1. The uptake and esterification to trigylceride of oleic acid in micellar form was studied in rat intestine in vitro. Sacs of the upper half of the everted intestine taken from bile...Full Text Available
Little is known about how sociodemographic factors relate to children’s chronic pain. This paper describes the pain, health, and sociodemographic characteristics of a cohort of children...Full Text Available
This article reports on an exploratory study of hospice social workers’ assessment and collaborative practices related to pain management; especially caregiver concerns about patient...Full Text Available
It has become increasing clear that alterations in cellular metabolism have a key role in the generation and maintenance of cancer. Some of the metabolic changes can be attributed to the activation...Full Text Available
Sirtuin 1 acts in various cell processes, deacetylating both chromatin and non-histone proteins, and its role in cancer and aging has long been studied and debated. Here we discuss another aspect of...Full Text Available
BackgroundRecent evidence suggests that some sex differences in brain and behavior might result from direct genetic effects, and not solely the result of the organizational effects...Full Text Available
Receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) play key roles in the pathogenesis of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO). The aim of our study was to determine whether the...Full Text Available
Using longitudinal data from the Youth Development Study (analytic sample N = 712), we investigate how age, adult role acquisition and attainments, family resources, parent-child relationship...Full Text Available
We study the role of rolling tachyons in the cosmological model with dilatonic gravity. In the string frame, flat space solutions of both initial-stage and late-time are obtained in closed form. In the Einstein frame, we show that every expanding solution is decelerating.
The intracellular bioavailability of lead (Pb) at low dosage levels in major target organs such as the kidney and brain appears to be largely determined by complexation with a group of low molecular...Full Text Available
To study the relationship between vasopressin and the renal kallikrein-kinin system we measured the rate of excretion of kinins into the urine of anesthetized rats during conditions of increased and...Full Text Available
A positive, genetic selection against the activity of the nitrogen regulatory (NTR) system was used to isolate insertion mutations affecting nitrogen regulation in Klebsiella aerogenes. Two classes...Full Text Available
The ruminal selenomonad strain H18 grew rapidly (mu = 0.50 h-1) in a defined medium containing glucose, ammonia, purified amino acids, and sodium (95 mM); little if any ammonia was utilized as a nitrogen...Full Text Available
A vast amount of circumstantial evidence implicates oxygen-derived free radicals (especially, superoxide and hydroxyl radical) and high-energy oxidants [such as peroxynitrite (OONO−)]...Full Text Available
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is one of the strongest reducers of nitrate in the genus Mycobacterium. Under microaerobic conditions, whole cells exhibit upregulation of...Full Text Available
A copper-resistant strain (09906) of Pseudomonas fluorescens that was isolated from a citrus grove soil is being investigated as a biological control agent for Phytophthora root rot. Since citrus grove...Full Text Available
BackgroundGlycochenodeoxycholate (GCDA) is one of the major human bile salts. Bile salts stimulate cell survival and proliferation through the mitogen-activated protein kinase, but...Full Text Available
Acetaminophen (N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (APAP), paracetamol) is a commonly used analgesic and antipyretic agent. Although considered safe at therapeutic doses, accidental or intentional...Full Text Available
Selection of the denitrifying community by plant roots (i.e., increase in the denitrifier/total heterotroph ratio in the rhizosphere) has been reported by several authors. However, very few studies...Full Text Available
PurposeIn our previous studies we showed that upregulating claudin-6 (CLDN6) expression may contribute to preventing breast cancer, and that 17β-estradiol induces a concentration-...Full Text Available
• Background and Aims Development and architecture of plant roots are regulated by phytohormones. Cytokinin (CK), synthesized in the root cap, promotes cytokinesis, vascular...Full Text Available
The sequence information available for homeodomains reveals that salt bridges connecting pairs 19/30, 31/42, and 17/52 are frequent, whereas aliphatic residues at these sites are rare and mainly restricted...Full Text Available
The transport of serine into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. var. Xanthi) cells grown in liquid medium was studied. Serine transport was maximal below pH 4.0. A time-dependent stimulation...Full Text Available
BackgroundCalcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) is a neuropeptide that is abundant in the sensory neurons which innervate bone. The effects of CGRP on isolated bone cells have been...Full Text Available
Rhizosphere acidification by Fe-deficient bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants was induced by trace amounts of divalent metal ions (Zn, Mn). The induction of this Fe-efficiency reaction...Full Text Available
That regulatory T cells (Tregs) have a crucial role in controlling allergic diseases such as asthma is now undisputed. The cytokines most commonly implicated in Treg-mediated suppression of...Full Text Available
RasGRF1 is a Ras-guanine nucleotide exchange factor implicated in a variety of physiological processes including learning and memory and glucose homeostasis. To determine the role of RASGRF1 in aging,...Full Text Available
A structurally conserved element, the trigger loop, has been suggested to play a key role in substrate selection and catalysis of RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcription elongation. Recently resolved...Full Text Available
Stem cells are expected to play a key role in the development and maintenance of organisms, and hold great therapeutic promises. However, a number of questions must be answered to achieve an...Full Text Available
We investigated the role of early portal hypotensive pharmacotherapy in preventing the development of portal-systemic shunting in a portal hypertensive model of chronic murine schistosomiasis induced...Full Text Available
The parathyroid hormone receptor (PTHR) is a class B G protein-coupled receptor that plays critical roles in bone and mineral ion metabolism. Ligand binding to the PTHR involves interactions to both...Full Text Available
Preterm and low birthweight (PTLBW) continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity across the world. In recent years, maternal periodontal disease has been implicated as a risk factor for...Full Text Available
BackgroundHealthcare professionals can play a crucial role in optimizing the health status of patients with cardiovascular risk factors (abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, low...Full Text Available
BackgroundWhile prepubertal nutritional influences appear to play a role in sexual maturation, there is a need to clarify the potential contributions of maternal and childhood influences...Full Text Available
Experiments were carried out to determine whether platelet aggregation plays a primary role in cardiac allograft hyperacute rejection, as has been observed in renal allograft hyperacute rejection....Full Text Available
Because many diseases of the Western Hemisphere are hormone-dependent cancers, we have postulated that the Western diet, compared to a vegetarian or semivegetarian diet, may alter hormone production,...Full Text Available
The role of phytochrome in the induction of nitrate reductase of etiolated field peas (Pisum arvense L.) was examined. Terminal bud nitrate concentration increased in darkness, and...Full Text Available
Insulin resistance plays a central role in type 2 diabetes and obesity, which develop as a consequence of genetic and environmental factors. Dietary changes including high fat diet (HFD) feeding promotes...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVENicotinamide adenine dinucleotides (NAD+ and NADH) play a crucial role in cellular energy metabolism, and a dysregulated NAD+-to-NADH ratio is implicated...Full Text Available
BackgroundLittle is known about the role European patient organisations play in the process of deciding on reimbursement for medicines. Therefore we explore the...Full Text Available
The retroviral RNA genome is dimeric, consisting of two identical strands of RNA linked near their 5′ ends by a dimer linkage structure. Previously it was shown that human foamy virus (HFV)...Full Text Available
Background:The non-surgical management of non-melanoma skin cancers is an area requiring clinical investigation. Radiotherapy has a role in treatment for a defined subset...Full Text Available
BackgroundAurora kinases play an essential role in orchestrating chromosome alignment, segregation and cytokinesis during mitotic progression, with both aurora-A and B frequently...Full Text Available
BackgroundReplication capacity (RC) of specific HIV isolates is occasionally blamed for unexpected treatment responses. However, the role of viral RC in response to antiretroviral...Full Text Available
BackgroundStem cell characteristics are an important feature of human cancer cells and play a major role in the therapy resistance of tumours. Strategies to target cancer stem cells...Full Text Available
The nucleocapsid protein (NC) of retroviruses plays a major role in genomic RNA packaging, and some evidence has implicated the matrix protein (MA) of certain retroviruses in viral RNA binding. To further...Full Text Available
Noncoding RNAs play important roles in various aspects of gene regulation. We have identified 7SK RNA to be enriched in nuclear speckles or interchromatin granule clusters (IGCs), a subnuclear domain...Full Text Available
Aims: To study the expression of nuclear β catenin in patients with colorectal cancer, colorectal adenoma, and colorectal polyps to elucidate its role in carcinogenesis, and its...Full Text Available
BackgroundMutations that impair mitochondrial functioning are associated with a variety of metabolic and age-related disorders. A barrier to rigorous tests of the role of mitochondrial...Full Text Available
adenines, like adenine itself, may fllerefore have played an important role in the. RNA world. Griffin, B.E., Haslam, W.J., Reese, C. B.: 1964, J. Mo/. ...
The sequence-dependent structural variability and conformational dynamics of DNA play pivotal roles in many biological milieus, such as in the site-specific binding of transcription factors to target...Full Text Available
A number of studies have examined the functional roles of individual muscles during normal walking, but few studies have examined which are the primary muscles that respond to changes in external...Full Text Available
BackgroundCalcium signaling plays an important role in B lymphocyte survival and activation, and is critically dependent on the inositol-1,4,5-tris-phosphate-induced...Full Text Available
Mitochondrial heat shock protein 70 (mtHSP70) is found to play a primary role in cellular defense against physiological stress like exposure to environmental contaminants and helpful in the maintenance...Full Text Available
BackgroundThere are no drugs presently available to treat traumatic brain injury (TBI). A variety of single drugs have failed clinical trials suggesting a role for drug combinations....Full Text Available
Using the photopigment melanopsin, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) respond directly to light to drive circadian clock resetting and pupillary constriction. We now...Full Text Available
Sources of manganese are identified. Uptake and distribution of manganese in plants and man are discussed, and the role of manganese in metabolism is described. The epidemiology of manganese toxicity is outlined, permissible air concentrations are listed, and the symptoms of manganese toxicity and deficiency are described. 555 references, 32 tables.
The prognosis for patients with newly diagnosed malignant gliomas remains poor; however there have been some recent advances in treatment that have generated optimism. Medical management usually includes...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVE: The management and outcome of 138 abdominal shotgun wounds were examined over a 5-year period. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: It has been proposed that exploratory laparotomy may be unnecessary...Full Text Available
End binding proteins (EBs) are highly conserved core components of microtubule plus-end tracking protein networks. Here we investigated the roles of the three mammalian EBs in controlling microtubule...Full Text Available
Nitric oxide (NO) and related reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play a major role in the pathophysiology of stroke and other neurodegenerative diseases. One of the poorly understood consequences...Full Text Available
A growing number of studies suggest that the development of compulsive drug seeking and taking depends on dorsostriatal mechanisms. We previously observed that ex vivo acute...Full Text Available
1. Nitric oxide generation is important in the regulation of resistance vessel tone. Until now, however, there has been no evidence of such a role for basal generation of nitric oxide in the skin microcirculation...Full Text Available
BackgroundLipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is a bacteriostatic factor that may also modulate cellular function, however, little is known concerning the expression or role of Lcn2 in CNS inflammation....Full Text Available
In this study, our main objective was to determine whether energy restriction (ER) affects the rate of oxygen consumption of mice transiently or lastingly and whether metabolic rate plays a role in...Full Text Available
In Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), the expression of reproductive behavior requires the perception of social odors. The behavioral response to these odors is mediated...Full Text Available
Intrinsically disordered proteins are predicted to be highly abundant and play broad biological roles in eukaryotic cells. In particular, by virtue of their structural malleability and propensity...Full Text Available
AMP-activated-protein-kinase (AMPK) is a key sensor and regulator of cellular and whole-body energy metabolism and plays a key role in regulation of lipid metabolism. Since lipid metabolism...Full Text Available
Percutaneous coronary intervention can be associated with distal embolization of thrombotic material causing myocardial necrosis and infarction.We discuss the role of intravascular imaging to...Full Text Available
Infections have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of autoimmune diseases, and Yersinia enterocolitica (YE) might play a role in the development of autoimmune thyroid disease...Full Text Available
To gain insight into ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) function and its potential role in AD pathology, we analyzed the expression of the cholesterol transporter ABCA1...Full Text Available
Immunotherapy has shown promise in a number of tumor types, but its exact role in sarcoma remains to be defined. Advanced bone and soft tissue sarcomas are challenging diseases to treat with an unmet...Full Text Available
Suppressed IL-12 production and maladaptive immune activation, both of which are ameliorated by successful highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), are thought to play important roles in the immunopathogenesis...Full Text Available
The biological accumulation of heavy metals and cesium, strontium, and uranium in plants is discussed. The role of nutrient deficiencies and foliar treatments of manganese and iron compounds is described.
BackgroundIn chordates, retinoid metabolism is an important target of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs). It is not known whether SDRs play a role in retinoid...Full Text Available
BackgroundAnimals carrying genetic mutations have provided powerful insights into the role of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in motility. One classic model is...Full Text Available
Cellular hypertrophy is regulated by coordinated pro- and antigrowth machineries. Foxo transcription factors initiate an atrophy-related gene program to counter hypertrophic growth. This study was designed...Full Text Available
Viruses, and more particularly retroviruses, have been postulated to play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In a search for spumaretrovirus infection markers, we screened a group of...Full Text Available
BackgroundPromoter region plays an important role in determining where the transcription of a particular gene should be initiated. Computational prediction of eukaryotic Pol II promoter...Full Text Available
BackgroundHuman Papillomavirus (HPV) E2 plays several important roles in the viral cycle, including the transcriptional regulation of the oncogenes E6 and E7, the regulation of the...Full Text Available
Hydrogen cyanide polymerizes readily under a variety of conditions and significant prebiotic roles have been suggested for these polymers due to the abundance of HCN in universe. However, the structures...Full Text Available
The torque-velocity relationship is known to be affected by ageing, decreasing its protective role in the prevention of falls. Interindividual variability in this torque-velocity relationship is partly...Full Text Available
In the context of social dilemmas, previous research has shown that human cooperation is mainly based on the social norm of conditional cooperation. While in most cases individuals behave according...Full Text Available
Rapid place encoding by hippocampal neurons, as reflected by place-related firing, has been intensely studied, whereas the substrates that translate hippocampal place codes into behavior have received...Full Text Available
ObjectiveTo examine the role of first trimester bacterial vaginosis (BV) and level of BV-associated microorganisms diagnosed using the Nugent’s Gram stain...Full Text Available
Phox2b-expressing neurons of the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) located in the ventrolateral brainstem are sensitive to changes in PCO2/pH, have excitatory projections...Full Text Available
Epidemiologic research concerning electric and magnetic fields in relation to cancer has focused on the potential etiologic roles of residential exposure on childhood cancer and occupational exposure...Full Text Available
The advantages of district heating as an environmental-friendly and energy-saving technique are reviewed. The role of district heating as part of the Dutch national plan to reduce the emission of acidification and greenhouse gases by respectively 50 and 25 percent is clarified. 12 Tabs. (A.S.).
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) take a major human toll on society and reduce public confidence in the healthcare system. The current convergence of scientific, public, and legislative...Full Text Available
Bacterial nitric oxide synthases (bNOS) are present in many Gram-positive species and have been demonstrated to synthesize NO from arginine in vitro and in vivo. However, the physiological role...Full Text Available
This is the second of two papers which critically examine the relationship between the 1918/19 influenza pandemic and encephalitis lethargica (EL). The role of influenza in the etiology of EL...Full Text Available
Bistability plays a central role in the gene regulatory networks (GRNs) controlling many essential biological functions, including cellular differentiation and cell cycle control. However, establishing...Full Text Available
After some preliminary comments on prevailing attitudes about tachyons, the author discusses superluminal transformations and the electromagnetic properties of tachyons. Their role in quantum mechanics is examined and a relativistically invariant hadron bootstrap model, which appears to account for many hadron states, is presented. (W.D.L).
Substantial roles of precipitates such as Zr-Fe-Cr type intermetallic compounds on uniform corrosion and hydrogen pickup of zirconium alloys in pure water autoclave tests were investigated from an electrochemical point of view. In the previous paper, corrosion mechanism was elucidated by the anodic protection-precipitates degradation model. This paper describes the roles on hydrogen pickup. 633 K pure water autoclave test was performed on high purity zirconium, Zr-0.2Fe, Zr-0.2Cr, and Zr-0.1Fe-0.1Cr alloys. Hydrogen analysis after the corrosion test showed that hydrogen pickup ratio of Zr-0.2Fe alloy was about 80%. It was much higher than about 30% of pure Zr and about 10% of both Zr-0.2Cr and Zr-0.1Fe-0.1Cr alloys. Larger hydrogen content was introduced into Zr-0.2Fe alloy than the other ones by the cathodic hydrogen charging under coulombic equivalence. The precipitates at metal-oxide interface could act not only as cathodic sites in the ...
Substantial roles of precipitates such as Zr-Fe-Cr type intermetallic compounds on uniform corrosion and hydrogen pickup of zirconium alloys in pure water autoclave tests were investigated from an electrochemical point of view. In the previous paper, corrosion mechanism was elucidated by the anodic protection-precipitates degradation model. This paper describes the roles on hydrogen pickup. 633 K pure water autoclave test was performed on high purity zirconium, Zr-0.2Fe, Zr-0.2Cr, and Zr-0.1Fe-0.1Cr alloys. Hydrogen analysis after the corrosion test showed that hydrogen pickup ratio of Zr-0.2Fe alloy was about 80%. It was much higher than about 30% of pure Zr and about 10% of both Zr-0.2Cr and Zr-0.1Fe-0.1Cr alloys. Larger hydrogen content was introduced into Zr-0.2Fe alloy than the other ones by the cathodic hydrogen charging under coulombic equivalence. The precipitates at metal-oxide interface could act not only as cathodic sites in the ...
Substantial roles of precipitates such as Zr-Fe-Cr type intermetallic compounds on uniform corrosion and hydrogen pickup of zirconium alloys in pure water autoclave tests were investigated from an electrochemical point of view. This paper describes the roles on corrosion. A corrosion test on precipitate-containing and precipitate-free materials made from pure zirconium and a small quantity of iron and chromium, rest potential measurements on an intermetallic compound of Zr(FeCr){sub 2} and zirconium matrix, and a galvanic coupling test of those were performed. Results showed that corrosion behavior of zirconium alloys could be attributed to the electrochemical properties of intermetallic compounds precipitated in each alloy. Namely, the cathodic and anodic polarization characteristics were associated with anodic protection provided by the precipitates on the alloys and the precipitates degradation in the oxide films, respectively. The mechanism ...
Substantial roles of precipitates such as Zr-Fe-Cr type intermetallic compounds on uniform corrosion and hydrogen pickup of zirconium alloys in pure water autoclave tests were investigated from an electrochemical point of view. This paper describes the roles on corrosion. A corrosion test on precipitate-containing and precipitate-free materials made from pure zirconium and a small quantity of iron and chromium, rest potential measurements on an intermetallic compound of Zr(FeCr)_2 and zirconium matrix, and a galvanic coupling test of those were performed. Results showed that corrosion behavior of zirconium alloys could be attributed to the electrochemical properties of intermetallic compounds precipitated in each alloy. Namely, the cathodic and anodic polarization characteristics were associated with anodic protection provided by the precipitates on the alloys and the precipitates degradation in the oxide films, respectively. The mechanism was ...
The roles played by environmental factors in seasonal changes in microbial populations were investigated in the Tvärminne area, off the southern coast of Finland. Surface-layer samples were...Full Text Available
A micro-mechanistic understanding of bone fracture thatencompasses how cracks interact with the underlying microstructure anddefines their local failure mode is lacking, despite extensive research nthe response of bone to a variety of factors like aging, loading, and/ordisease.
In response to oxidative stress, the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) controls the fate of cells through transcriptional upregulation of antioxidant response element (ARE)-bearing...Full Text Available
BackgroundThis paper is based on data gathered from a 2006 survey of 1,098 "street children" in Northern Tanzania. It examines the role that school may play in preventing the migration...Full Text Available
BackgroundAnhedonia towards physical or sensory experiences (i.e., physical anhedonia) has most often been examined as a differentia of schizophrenia and not depression,...Full Text Available
One of the most pervasive ideas regarding the causes of aging is that longevity is constrained in large measure by damage to macromolecules. An increasing body of cellular and molecular data, generated...Full Text Available
Understanding the pathogenesis of obesity is now more important than ever, given the remarkable world-wide epidemic. This paper explores the potential role of core temperature in energy balance, and...Full Text Available
SUMMARYEstrogen has an important role in the reconstruction of a new vascular network in the endometrium during each menstrual cycle; however, the underlying mechanisms...Full Text Available
The liver plays a vital role in glucose homeostasis, the synthesis of bile acids and the detoxification of foreign substances. Liver culture systems are widely used to test adverse effects of drugs...Full Text Available
Normal reproductive functioning may require secretion of LH independently of FSH. Variation in GnRH pulse frequency and inhibin negative feedback are mechanisms for differential gonadotropin regulation;...Full Text Available
Despite their wide use, the physiological relevance of organotypic slices remains controversial. Such cultures are prepared at 5 days postnatal. Although some local circuitry remains intact, they develop...Full Text Available
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is thought to play a critical role in circadian rhythm generation and entrainment to the light/dark cycle. In adult rats, the SCN shows a circadian...Full Text Available
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. However, the role of the AHR...Full Text Available
The study of the Military Strategic and Tactical Relay (MILSTAR) program focuses on the role of the program manager and contracting officer in developing the acquisition strategy.
The sale of consumer products over the Internet has grown rapidly, including the sale of drugs. While the growth in online drug sales by reputable pharmacies is a trend that may provide benefits to...Full Text Available
Enolase is a multifunctional enzyme that plays important roles in many biological and disease processes. α-Enolase from human liver (hENO1) was expressed as a soluble protein and purified by...Full Text Available
Since polyglutamine (polyQ) aggregate formation has been implicated as playing an important role in expanded CAG repeat diseases, it is important to understand the biophysics underlying the...Full Text Available
Following a brief description of the SSC, the computing needs are discussed for both the accelerator design and the experimentation. The computing power required is considerably beyond that being used at present facilities, and parallel processing is expected to play an important role in supplying these needs.
One of the central questions of molecular biology is the discovery of the semantics of DNA. This discovery relies in a critical way on a variety of expensive computations. In order to solve these computations, both parallel computers and special-purpose hardware play a major role.
Pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) is a neuropeptide that plays a prominent role in the circadian clock of several insects. The cockroach Leucophaea maderae...Full Text Available
The mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway plays a key role in mediating estrogen actions in the brain and neuronal sensitization during inflammation....Full Text Available
Mao Zedong dreamed of splitting an electron; this was no idle diversion. According to natural dialectics, which formed the philosophical underpinnings of Marxism, the entire universe, from top to bottom, was seething with tension and change. (1 page)
Detecting plant health conditions plays a key role in farm pest management and crop protection. In this study, measurement of hyperspectral leaf reflectance in rice crop (Oryzasativa...Full Text Available
The role of the ventricular ependyma in the elaboration of cerebrospinal fluid under resting conditions is well documented. In an attempt to elucidate its response to cerebrospinal fluid leakage, male...Full Text Available
Excess caveolin-1 has been reported to play a role in age-dependent hyporesponsiveness to growth factors in vitro. Therefore, we hypothesized that caveolin-1–dependent hyporesponsiveness...Full Text Available
Stomatal movements depend on both ion influx and efflux; attainment of steady state apertures reflects modulation of either or both processes. The role of Ca2+ in those two processes was...Full Text Available
BackgroundBiomarkers play a key role in risk assessment, assessing treatment response, and detecting recurrence and the investigation of multiple biomarkers may also prove useful...Full Text Available
We examined the bacterial aerobic nasal flora of 216 healthy volunteers to identify potential competitive interactions among different species, with special emphasis on the influence of staphylococcal...Full Text Available
The relative roles of de novo biosynthesis of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and IAA conjugates stored in mature seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in supplying auxin to germinating bean seedlings...Full Text Available
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a critical role in normal development as well as retinal vasculature disease. During retinal vascularization, VEGF is most strongly expressed by not yet...Full Text Available
Sustained nigrostriatal dopamine depletion increases the serine/threonine phosphorylation of multiple striatal proteins that play a role in corticostriatal synaptic plasticity, including Thr286...Full Text Available
Background and aims: Serotonin (5-hydroxtryptamine, 5-HT) is an important factor in gut function, playing key roles in intestinal peristalsis and secretion, and in sensory...Full Text Available
Experimental studies have demonstrated that not only dopaminergic signaling but also glutamatergic/NMDA receptor signaling play indispensable roles in the development of methamphetamine psychosis. Our...Full Text Available
Evaluating the systolic function of the left ventricle (LV) is important in the hemodynamic management of the critically ill patients with circulatory failure. Echocardiography is considered the standard...Full Text Available
Arabidopsis thaliana SUPERMAN (SUP) plays an important role during flower development by maintaining the boundary between stamens and carpels in the inner two whorls....Full Text Available
Pharmacologic or genetic deletion of components of the renin-angiotensin system leads to postnatal kidney injury, but the roles of these components in kidney development are unknown. To test the hypothesis...Full Text Available
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate biotrophs, known to play an important role in ecological processes. Conventional light microscopy is the most common method used to detect their presence...Full Text Available
A remarkable discovery of recent years is that, despite the complexity of ageing, simple genetic interventions can increase lifespan and improve health during ageing in laboratory animals. The pathways...Full Text Available
The cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) has emerged as a key regulator of metabolism, stress resistance and longevity. Apart from its role as ...Full Text Available
MRI plays an increasingly important role for assessment of patients with chronic liver disease. MRI has numerous advantages, including lack of ionizing radiation and the possibility of performing...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe successful interaction of bacterial pathogens with host tissues requires the sensing of specific chemical and physical cues. The human gut contains a huge number of...Full Text Available
Adipocyte death has been reported in both obese humans and rodents. However, its role in metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation associated with obesity...Full Text Available
Platelet reactivity plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ischemic adverse events during and after acute coronary syndromes (ACS), and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Glycoprotein (GP)...Full Text Available
BackgroundCentrosome aberrations can cause genomic instability and correlate with malignant progression in common human malignancies such as breast and prostate cancer. Deregulation...Full Text Available
Electrostatic nature of plant plasma membrane (PM) plays significant roles in the ion uptake and toxicity. Electrical potential at the PM exterior surface (ψ0o) influences...Full Text Available
The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) plays a central role in the regulation of the female reproductive behavior lordosis, a behavior dependent upon the sequential activation of receptors for the ovarian...Full Text Available
KLF1 regulates a diverse suite of genes to direct erythroid cell differentiation from bipotent progenitors. To determine the local cis-regulatory contexts and transcription factor networks...Full Text Available
Thiamin(e), also known as vitamin B1, is now known to play a fundamental role in energy metabolism. Its discovery followed from the original early research on the ‘anti-beriberi factor’...Full Text Available
Gene expression profiling has played an important role in cancer risk classification and has shown promising results. Since gene expression profiling often involves determination of a set of...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and the long-term risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the role of age as a modifier of this association.PARTICIPANTS...Full Text Available
Physiological cardiac hypertrophy is associated with mitochondrial adaptations that are characterized by activation of PGC-1α and increased fatty acid oxidative (FAO) capacity. It is...Full Text Available