A hitherto unrecognized variant of solid-pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is reported. The tumor presented in the pancreatic tail of a 44-year-old female patient. It was a well-defined, solid...Full Text Available
ObjectiveThe goal of the study was to investigate the genetic and molecular basis of a novel syndrome of marked hyperglucagonemia and pancreatic α cell hyperplasia...Full Text Available
Active oxygens produced by low-dose irradiation can induce the synthesis of proteins involved in the active oxygen reduction path and can activate the chemical self-defense mechanisms in vivo, which can alleviate the injuries caused by active oxygens themselves. The following findings suggests that it is not only by low-dose irradiation that can induce the responses described above but also by any physical and/or chemical stresses which can produce small amount of active oxygens in vivo. 1. X-irradiation with 0.5 Gy and/or water immersion and restraint induced heat shock protein (HSP)70 in rat stomach cells. HSP70 was also induced in adrenal cells by paraquat administration. 2. The SOD activity in pancreas of rat significantly increased by #gamma#-irradiation with 0.5 Gy. 0.5 Gy irradiation preceeding the alloxan administration significantly suppressed the increase in pancreatic lipid peroxides and in blood glucose levels, ...
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) results from insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction, in the setting of hyperglucagonemia. Glucagon is a 29 amino acid peptide hormone, which is secreted from...Full Text Available
Pancreatic islet transplantation into the liver provides a possibility to treat selected patients with brittle type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, massive early β-cell death increases the number...Full Text Available
The typical MRI features of the most common pancreatic diseases, such as pancreatitis and adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, have been established. However, even in these common pancreatic disorders, MRI correlation with the underlying pathology is limited for clinical reasons. We emphasize MR-pathological correlation of inflammatory and neoplastic pancreatic changes, including pancreatitis, adenocarcinoma, acinar cell carcinoma, rare cystic and solid pancreatic neoplasms, and islet cell tumors. By highlighting the correlation of key pathological features with MR findings, a better understanding of the MR appearance of pancreatic pathology can be provided. In addition, MRI may prove a powerful tool in detection and characterization of pancreatic tumors. (orig.) [Deutsch] Das ...
Menin, which is encoded by the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene, is a tumor suppressor and transcriptional regulator. Menin controls proliferation and apoptosis of cells, especially pancreatic...Full Text Available
Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) is a secretory pancreatic protein present in small amounts in normal pancreas and overexpressed during the acute phase of pancreatitis. In this paper, the authors describe the cloning, characterization, and chromosomal mapping of the human PAP gene. The gene spans 2748 bp and contains six exons interrupted by five introns. The gene has a typical promoter containing the sequences TATAAA and CCAAT 28 and 52 bp upstream of the cap site, respectively. They found striking similarities in genomic organization as well as in the promoter sequences between the human and rat PAP genes. The human PAP gene was mapped to chromosome 2p12 using rodent-human hybrid cells and in situ chromosomal hybridization. This localization coincides with that of the reg/lithostathine gene, which encodes a pancreatic secretory protein structurally related to PAP, suggesting ...
Nonfunctioning pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs) are rare and generally asymptomatic. A 68-year-old woman who had refused treatment for a pancreatic mass, revealed by ultrasonography to be 55 mm in diameter, was referred to us again 29 months later with jaundice. Investigations showed an 82-mm tumor in the head of pancreas, exposed from the papilla of Vater to the duodenal lumen. After biliary decompression and drainage, we performed pancreatoduodenectomy with resection of the portal vein and superior mesenteric vein, followed by reconstruction using a cylindrically customized autologous graft harvested from the right ovarian vein. The tumor was resected curatively. Microscopically, it consisted of trabecular and ribbon-like arrangement of neoplastic cells. Immunohistochemical staining wa...
Nerve growth factor (NGF), a survival factor for neurons enforces pain by sensitizing nociceptors. Also in the pancreas, NGF was associated with pain and it can stimulate the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) respond to NGF with apoptosis. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-b, one of the strongest pro-fibrogenic activators of pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) induced NGF and its two receptors in an immortalized human cell line (ihPSC) and primary rat PSC (prPSC) as determined by RT-PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence. In contrast to HSC, PSC expressed both NGF receptors, although p75NTR expression was weak in prPSC. In contrast to ihPSC TGF-b activated both Smad signaling cascades in prPSC. NGF secretion was diminished by the activin-like kinase (ALK)...
Previous studies using in vitro cell culture systems have shown the role of the dynamin-related GTPase Opa1 in apoptosis prevention and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintenance. However, it remains to...Full Text Available
We have studied the impact of overexpression of an intracellular signaling protein, integrin-linked kinase (ILK), on the survival and function of encapsulated islet tissue used for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. The dimensions of the encapsulated tissue can impact the stresses placed on the tissue and ILK overexpression shows the ability to extend function of dissociated cells as well as intact islets. These results suggest that lost cell-extracellular matrix interactions in cell encapsulation systems can lead to decreased insulin secretion and ILK signaling is a target to overcome this phenomenon. (communication)
Walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN), formerly known as pancreatic abscess is a late complication of acute pancreatitis. It can be lethal, even though it is rare. This critical review provides an overview...Full Text Available
Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare cause of recurrent acute pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis in middle-aged patients, and is characterised by a marked infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma...Full Text Available
In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, pancreatic islet dysfunction results in part from cytokine-mediated inflammation. The ubiquitous eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A), which is the...Full Text Available
Extracellular ATP has been proposed as a paracrine signal in rodent islets, but it is unclear what role ATP plays in human islets. We now show the presence of an ATP signaling pathway that enhances...Full Text Available
We have identified another Drosophila GTP-binding protein (G protein) alpha subunit, dGq alpha-3. Transcripts encoding dGq alpha-3 are derived from alternative splicing of the dGq alpha locus previously...Full Text Available
The solid-pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is a rare type of exocrine pancreatic neoplasm. SPT predominantly affects young women and female children, and is usually discovered incidentally. This tumor is generally benign with a low incidence of malignancy. A 13-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital with a few weeks' history of mild abdominal pain and jaundice. On physical examination, there was no palpable mass. The laboratory tests showed increased SR, CRP, high bilirubin, amylase and lipase serum levels. Ultrasound imaging revealed a solid lesion in the region of the pancreatic head. On MRI, precise tumor localization in the head of the pancreas with pancreatic duct dilatation and compression of the common bile duct were visualized. Pancreaticoduodenectomy and cholecystectomy was performed with good clinical outcome. Microscopic and immunohistochemical studies indicated that tumor ...
The purpose was to study the toxicity of drugs known to generate free radicals on isolated pancreatic islets. The accumulattion of "8"6Rb"+ by mouse pancreatic islets was measured in vitro. Exposing the islets to 6-hydroxydopamine, minhydrin, or phenazine methosulphate + NADH inhibited the Rb"+ uptake, whereas paraquat or acetylphenylhydrazine had no effect. This effect of 6-hydroxydopamine was prevented by either of the hydroxyl radical scavengers, sodium benzoate and mannitol, but not by the non-scavenger,urea; ninhydrin was partially protected against by mannitol but not by benzoate. Protection against 6-hydroxydopamine was also afforded by D-glucose but not by L-glucose or 3-O-methyl-D-glucose; none of the sugars protected against ninhydrin. In damaging islet beta-cells and in being protected against by D-glucose, 6-hydroxydopamine closely resembles the diabetogenic drug, alloxan. It is suggested that protection against ...
Glucagon plays critical roles in regulating glucose homeostasis, mainly by counteracting the effects of insulin. Consequently, the dysregulated glucagon secretion that is evident in type 2 diabetes has significant implications in the pathophysiology of the disease. Glucagon secretion from pancreatic -cells has been suggested to be modulated by blood glucose, signals from the nervous system and endocrine components. In addition to these regulators, intraislet factors acting in a paracrine manner from neighbouring -cells are emerging as central modulator(s) of -cell biology. One of the most important of these paracrine factors, insulin, modulates glucagon secretion. Indeed, the -cell-specific insulin receptor knockout (IRKO) mouse manifests hypersecretion of glucagon in the postprandial stag...
The loss of #alpha#-globin gene transcriptional activity rarely occurs as an acquired abnormality during the evolution of myeloproliferative disease or preleukemia. To test whether the mutation responsible for the loss of #alpha#-globin gene expression (hemoglobin H disease) in these patients is linked with the #alpha#-globin genes on chromosome 16, the authors transferred chromosome 16 from preleukemic patients with acquired hemoglobin H disease to mouse erythroleukemia cells and measured the transcriptional activity of the human #alpha#-globin genes. After transfer to mouse erythroleukemia cells, the expression of human #alpha#-globin genes from the peripheral blood or marrow cells of preleukemic patients with acquired hemoglobin H disease was similar to that of human #alpha#-globin genes ...
The Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is taken as an example of the diagnostic and therapeutic strategy in gastro-entero-pancreatic endocrine tumours, given the standard characteristics of this procedure, whatever the nature of the primitive tumour. Management of ZES includes: anatomical localization of gastrinoma and of possible metastases, in 60 % of cases this step conditioning therapeutic indications and chances of cure; search of a type 1-multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN A), in 25 % of cases; therapeutic indications: ablative surgery with curative intent in case of gastrinoma and of resectable liver metastases, palliative treatment otherwise: anti-secretory drugs, somatostatin analogues, chemotherapy and interferon {alpha}; long-term follow-up of patients with resected tumour. At each step, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy with indium 111-pentetreotide does play a pivotal role. (author). 110 refs.
Standard pancreatic resections, such as pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, or total pancreatectomy, result in an important loss of normal pancreatic parenchyma and may cause impairment...Full Text Available
Pro-inflammatory cytokines may directly influence the viability and metabolic function of colonic epithelial cells (CEC) as an early event in the development of inflammatory bowel disease. We report here that TNF-alpha+IFN-gamma induced a synergistic, concentration-dependent decline in butyrate oxidation, an essential energy supply, in HT-29 and DLD-1 cells. TNF-alpha+IFN-gamma induced a parallel profound decline in cell viability in HT-29 cells, but not in DLD-1 cells, where impairment of butyrate oxidation seemed to precede later occurrence of cell damage. TNF-alpha+INF-gamma induced CEC damage was independent on NO formation and involved the IFN-gamma signalling pathway as well as induction of apoptosis. If cytokines have similar effects in vivo, these may lead to energy deficiency and thus ...
BackgroundDespite an ever-improving understanding of the molecular biology of cancer, the treatment of most cancers has not changed dramatically in the past three decades and drugs that do not discriminate between tumor cells and normal tissues remain the mainstays of anticancer therapy. Since Hsp90 is typically involved in cell proliferation and survival, this is thought to play a key role in cancer, and Hsp90 has attracted considerable interest in recent years as a potential therapeutic target.MethodsWe focused on the interaction of Hsp90 with its cofactor protein p60/Hop, and engineered a cell-permeable peptidomimetic, termed "hybrid Antp-TPR peptide", modeled on the binding interface between the molecular chaperone Hsp90 and the TPR2A domain of Hop.ResultsIt was demonstrated that this designed hybrid Antp-TPR peptide inhibited the interaction of Hsp90 with the TPR2A domain, inducing cell death of ...
The most common causes of omental sac collections (OSC) are necrotic pancreatitis (90%) and pancreatic trauma (10%). Acute OSC is a form of local peritonitis in acute pancreatitis, subacute OSC are caused by internal pancreatic fistulas. The clinical and radiological signs, enzymatic activity of the exudate, morphological features of peritonitis were investigated. Treatment of acute OSC included conservative measures, of subacute OSC-surgical procedures. PMID:9163152
Insulitis is considered the histopathological hallmark of type I diabetes. In the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse, diabetes has never been observed in the absence of insulitis. The in vivo detection of insulitis could be of relevance for early prediction of diabetes. As approximately 15% of islet-infiltrating lymphocytes express interleukin 2 receptors, the authors have labelled recombinant inter-leukin 2 with "1"2"3I and used this radiopharmaceutical to detect insulitis by gamma camera imaging. The authors studied 71 prediabetic NOD and 27 normal Balb/c mice. Labelled #alpha#-lactalbumin was used as the control protein. In the first set of experiments the tissue distribution of radiolabelled interleukin 2 in isolated organs from animals sacrificed at different time points was studied. Higher radioactivity was detected in the pancreas of NOD mice injected with labelled interleukin 2, as compared to NOD mice receiving labelled ...
An /alpha//sub 2/-adrenergic receptor subtype has been cloned from a human kidney cDNA library using the gene for the human platelet /alpha//sub 2/-adrenergic receptor as a probe. The deduced amino acid sequence resembles the human platelet /alpha//sub 2/-adrenergic receptor and is consistent with the structure of other members of he family of guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptors. The cDNA was expressed in a mammalian cell line (COS-7), and the /alpha//sub 2/-adrenergic ligand (/sup 3/H)rauwolscine was bound. Competition curve analysis with a variety of adrenergic ligands suggests that this cDNA clone represents the /alpha//sub 2/B-adrenergic receptor. The gene for this receptor is on human chromosome 4, whereas the gene for the human platelet /alpha//sub 2/-adrenergic receptor (/alpha//sub 2/A) lies on ...
Treatment of cultures of 3T3-L1 cells with methylisobutyl-xanthine and dexamethasone has been shown to result in accumulation of lipid and conversion to the morphology of adipocytes in more than 90% of the cells. The status of the stimulatory (Gs), inhibitory (Gi) and Go-proteins during the course of 3T3-L1 differentiation was examined. The amount of alpha subunit of Gs (#alpha#Gs), assayed by radiolabeling in the presence of cholera toxin and ["3"2P]NAD"+, increased upon differentiation as previously described by others. The amounts of #alpha#Gi and #alpha#Go assayed by radiolabeling in the presence of pertussis toxin and ["3"2P]NAD"+ increased 3-fold upon differentiation. Immunoblots of cell membranes subjected to gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate were probed with two rabbit antisera raised against bovine brain ...
The soluble pool of alpha hemoglobin chains present in blood or bone marrow cells was measured with a new affinity method using a specific probe, beta A hemoglobin chain labeled with ["3H]N-ethylmaleimide. This pool of soluble alpha chains was 0.067 #+-# 0.017% of hemoglobin in blood of normal adult, 0.11 #+-# 0.03% in heterozygous beta thalassemia and ranged from 0.26 to 1.30% in homozygous beta thalassemia intermedia. This elevated pool of soluble alpha chains observed in human beta thalassemia intermedia decreased 33-fold from a value of 10% of total hemoglobin in bone marrow cells to 0.3% in the most dense red blood cells. The amount of insoluble alpha chains was measured by using the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in urea and Triton X-100. In beta thalassemia intermedia the amount of insoluble alpha chains was ...
Pancreatic amyloid deposits of amylin are a hallmark of Type II diabetes and considerable evidence indicates that amylin oligomers are cytotoxic to beta-cells. Many efforts are presently spent to find out naturally occurring molecules, or to design synthetic ones, able to hinder amylin aggregation or to protect cells against aggregate cytotoxicity. In this context, a protective effect of some polyphenols against amyloid cytotoxicity was reported. Actually dietary polyphenols are endowed with multiple health benefits, and extra virgin olive oil is attracting increasing interest as a source of these substances. Here, we investigated the effects on amylin aggregation and cytotoxicity of the secoiridoid oleuropein aglycon, the main phenolic component of extra virgin olive oil. We found that oleuropein, when present during the aggregation of amylin, consistently prevented its cytotoxicity to RIN-5F ...
... The basal markers CK5, alpha 6 integrin (CD49f), CD44, and p63 were strongly expressed by the majority of sphere-forming cells. ... p63 p63 PSCA ...
Synthesis genes encoding the human #alpha#- and #beta#-globin polypeptides have been expressed from a single operon in Escherichia coli. The #alpha#- and #beta#-globin polypeptides associate into soluble tetramers, incorporate heme, and accumulate to >5% of the total cellular protein. Purified recombinant hemoglobin has the correct stoichiometry of #alpha#- and #beta#-globin chains and contains a full complement of heme. Each globin chain also contains an additional methionine as an extension to the amino terminus. The recombinant hemoglobin has a C_4 reversed-phase HPLC profile essentially identical to that of human hemoglobin A_0 and comigrates with hemoglobin A_0 on SDS/PAGE. The visible spectrum and oxygen affinity are similar to that of native human hemoglobin A_0. The authors have also expressed the #alpha#- and #beta#-globin genes separately and found that the expression of the ...
The authors have cloned a full-length putative rat pancreatic lysophospholipase cDNA by an improved mRNA isolation method and cDNA cloning strategy using (/sup 32/P)-labelled nucleotides. These new methods allow the construction of a cDNA library from the adult rat pancreas in which the majority of recombinant clones contained complete sequences for the corresponding mRNAs. A previously recognized but unidentified long and relatively rare cDNA clone containing the entire sequence from the cap site at the 5' end to the poly(A) tail at the 3' end of the mRNA was isolated by single-step screening of the library. The size, amino acid composition, and the activity of the protein expressed in heterologous cells strongly suggest this mRNA codes for lysophospholipase.
Two monoclonal antibodies, TAL-1B5 and TAL-3C3, specific for human Ia alpha-chain subunits have been produced by fusing P3/NSI/1-Ag4-1 mouse myeloma cells with spleen cells from a BALB/c mouse immunized...Full Text Available
We have identified the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase syk as a marker of differentiation/tumor suppressor in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Syk expression is lost in poorly differentiated PDAC...Full Text Available
Pain caused by chronic pancreatitis is medically intractable and resistant to conventional interventional or surgical treatment. We report a case of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for intractable pain...Full Text Available
Objectives:Cachexia is common in pancreatic cancer and may have an influence on longterm survival but few studies have investigated this in patients with operable tumours. Therefore,...Full Text Available
BackgroundGastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) frequently occur in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). It has been reported that GIST may co-exist with pancreatic endocrine...Full Text Available
Patients with pancreatic cancer normally present with advanced disease that is lethal and notoriously difficult to treat. Survival has not improved dramatically, despite routine use of chemotherapy...Full Text Available
The virtual lack of well-characterized metastatic pancreatic cancer tissues for study has limited systematic studies of the metastatic process of this deadly disease. To address this important...Full Text Available
BackgroundASCL1 role in pancreatic endocrine tumourigenesis has not been established. Recently it was suggested that ASCL1 negatively controls expression of the...Full Text Available
Of 868 patients admitted with pancreatitis between 1971 and 1976, coexisting hyperbilirubinemia was noted in 125 (14%). The patient population was primarily composed of alcoholics (84%) with chronic...Full Text Available
We examined the association between N-acetyltransferase 1 and 2 (NAT1 and NAT2) haplotype and risk of pancreatic cancer by genotyping eight...Full Text Available
Recently, there has been significant progress in the development of genetically-engineered mouse (GEM) models. By introducing genetic alterations and/or signaling alterations of human pancreatic cancer...Full Text Available
AIM: To distinguish anastomotic from parenchymal leakage at duct-to-mucosa reconstruction of the pancreatic remnant.METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 68 pancreaticod-uodenectomies performed...Full Text Available
Pancreatic cysts are challenging lesions to diagnose and to treat. Determining which of the five most common diagnoses—pancreatic pseudocyst, serous cystic neoplasm (SCN), solid pseudopapillary...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe elevated serum and peritoneal cytokine concentrations responsible for the systemic response syndrome (SIRS) and multiorgan failure in patients with severe acute pancreatitis...Full Text Available
The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical significance of nodal micrometastasis detected by immunohistochemistry in patients that had undergone curative surgery for pancreatic cancer....Full Text Available
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal human malignancy with dismal prognosis and few effective therapeutic options. Novel agents that are safe and effective are urgently...Full Text Available
Autoimmune pancreatitis is frequently associated with elevated serum and tissue IgG4 levels in the adult population, but there are few reports of pediatric autoimmune pancreatitis, and even fewer reports...Full Text Available
In this study, the cytocompatibility of new 'iron-modified/alpha-tricalcium phosphate (IM/alpha-TCP) and calcium sulfate dihydrate (CSD)' bone cement (IM/alpha-TCP/CSD-BC) intended for spinal applications has been approached. The objective was to investigate by direct-contact osteoblast-like cell cultures (from 1 to 14 days) the in vitro cell adhesion, proliferation, morphology and cytoskeleton organization of MG-63 cells seeded onto the new cements. The results were as follows: (a) quantitative MTT-assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that cell adhesion, proliferation and viability were not affected with time by the presence of iron in the cements; (b) double immunofluorescent labeling of F-actin and alpha-tubulin showed a dynamic interaction between the cell and its ...
In spite of the improved imaging techniques currently available, mortality for pancreatic cancer is still high, and pancreatics is often diagnosed only in its advanced stages. The authors investigated the value of different imaging techniques - i.e., US, CT, and ERCP - for an early diagnosis, when a more effective (curative?) treatment can be suggested. Fifty-six cases of pancreatic cancer and 36 cases of chronic pancreatitis were evaluated. The results indicate that ERCP, with the help of statistical methods, is superior to US and CT not only in evaluating early neoplastic or inflammatory lesions, but also for their differential diagnosis. In the letter case, ERCP can sometimes be used as a valid alternative to fine-needle aspiration biopsy.
Methods for improving the sensitivity of scintillation cells for radon concentration measurements were studied with emphasis on improving light collection efficiency. This allows the length and hence the volume of the cell to be increased. Variables studied were choice of scintillator material, its method of application and thickness, length of cell, cell material, type and configuration of reflectors, choice of photomultipliers, and factors affecting background. Response from various areas of the cell surface was studied with an alpha source and with radon filling. Coating the window with phosphor was found to be counter-productive. The optimum results obtained were with the inside of the cell (other than the window) covered with a thick layer of ZnS(Ag), or with a thick layer of reflective material coated with a thin layer of phosphor. ...
Mutations in transcription factors hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNF)-1#alpha# and HNF-1#beta# cause maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) types 3 and 5, respectively. HNF-1#alpha# and HNF-1#beta# mutations are well studied in some tissues, but the mechanism by which HNF-1#alpha# and HNF-1#beta# mutations affect sucrase-isomaltase (SI) transcription in the small intestine is unclear. We studied the effects of 13 HNF-1#alpha# mutants and 2 HNF-1#beta# mutants on human SI gene transcription, which were identified in subjects with MODY3 and MODY5, respectively. Transactivation activity of 11 HNF-1#alpha# and 2 HNF-1#beta# mutants was significantly lower than that of wild (wt)-HNF-1#alpha# and wt-HNF-1#beta#. Furthermore, in co-expression studies with mutant (mu)-HNF-1#alpha#/ wt-HNF-1#beta# and ...
BackgroundEstrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) are transcription factors (TFs) that mediate estrogen signaling and define the hormone-responsive phenotype...Full Text Available
The majority of diseases in the retina are caused by genetic mutations affecting the development and function of photoreceptor cells. The transcriptional networks directing these processes are regulated...Full Text Available
..cap alpha..-2 adrenergic agents have been shown to influence blood pressure, heart rate and other physiological and behavioral functions through interactions with adrenergic pathways within the central nervous system. Pharmacologically relevant ..cap alpha..-1 adrenergic receptors were biochemically characterized and radiohistochemically analyzed in intact tissue sections of the rat and human central nervous system. The anatomical distribution of the ..cap alpha..-2 receptors, labeled with the agonist (/sup 3/H)para-aminoclonidine, verified the concept that ..cap alpha..-2 receptors are closely associated with adrenergic nerve terminals and that ..cap alpha..-2 agents can influence autonomic and endocrine function through an action in the central nervous system. Since ..cap alpha..-2 agonists can influence sympathetic outflow, ..cap ...
New phosphates with NaZr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} structure of the B{sub 0.5}FeTa(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}-type (where B-Ca, Sr, Ba) are synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and IR-spectroscopy. The heating behavior of the phosphates is studied using high-temperature X-ray crystallography in the range 15-625 deg. C. The unit-cell parameters, the coefficients of thermal expansion {alpha}{sub a}, {alpha}{sub c} and their thermal expansion anisotropy |{alpha}{sub c} - {alpha}{sub a}| of the phosphates under study are determined and the dependences of these characteristics on the nature of cations are established and analyzed.
The authors have cloned and determined the entire nucleotide sequence of cDNAs corresponding to the putative {alpha} subunits of the human and rat mast cell high-affinity IgE receptors. Both human and rat cDNAs encode an NH{sub 2}-terminal signal peptide, two immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains (encoded by discrete exons), a hydrophobic transmembrane region, and a positively charged cytoplasmic tail. The human and rat {alpha} subunits share an overall homology with one another and the immunoglobulin gene family, suggesting that they arose from a common ancestral gene and continue to share structural homology with their ligands. In addition, the rat gene is transcribed into at least three distinct forms, each of which yields a somewhat different coding sequence.
The K0.5 for intracellular sodium of the two forms of (Na ,K )-ATPase which exist in rat adipocytes has been determined by incubating the cells in the absence of potassium in buffers of varying sodium concentration; these conditions shut off the Na pump and allow sodium to equilibrate into the cell. The activity of (Na ,K )-ATPase was then monitored with YWRb /K pumping which was initiated by adding isotope and KCl to 5 mM, followed by a 3-min uptake period. Atomic absorption and SSNa tracer equilibration were used to determine the actual intracellular (Na ) under the different conditions. The K0.5 values thus obtained were 17 mM for alpha and 52 mM for alpha(+). Insulin treatment of rat adipocytes had no effect on the intracellular (Na+) nor on the Vmax of YWRb /K pumping, but did produce a shift in the sodium ion K0.5 values to 14 mM for alpha and 33 mM for ...
The purpose was to identify human in vitro cell lines with a high relative cellular sensitivity to fast neutrons as compared to photons and to examine their relationship to intrinsic photon radiosensitivity and cellular proliferation kinetics. The clonogenic cell survival following exposure to low LET, 4 MeV photons or, high LET, 62.5 MeV (p #-># Be"+) fast neutrons and the cell survival following exposure to low LET, 4 MeV photons or, high LET, 62.5 MeV (p #-># Be"+) fast neutrons and the cell kinetic parameters of 30 human in vitro cell lines, covering a wide range of histologies, were analyzed alone and with previously published data of Fertil and Malaise. The relative survival at 1.6 Gy of neutrons (SF_1_._6) compared to 2 Gy of photons (SF_2) and the cell kinetic parameters of the 30 cell lines were also compared. The relative ...
Understanding prostate stem cells may provide insight into the origin of prostate cancer. Primary cells have been cultured from human prostate tissue but they usually survive only 15-20 population doublings before undergoing senescence. We report here that RC-170N/h/clone 7 cells, a clonal cell line from hTERT-immortalized primary non-malignant tissue-derived human prostate epithelial cell line (RC170N/h), retain multipotent stem cell properties. The RC-170N/h/clone 7 cells expressed a human embryonic stem cell marker, Oct-4, and potential prostate epithelial stem cell markers, CD133, integrin #alpha#2#beta#1"h"i and CD44. The RC-170N/h/clone 7 cells proliferated in KGM and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium with 10% fetal bovine serum and 5 #mu#g/ml insulin ...
The neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor {alpha}7 subunit is a member of a family of ligand-gated ion channels, and is the only subunit know to bind {alpha}-bungarotoxin in mammalian brain. {alpha}-Bungarotoxin binding sites are known to be more abundant in the hippocampus of mouse strains that are particularly sensitive to nicotine-induced seizures. The {alpha}7 receptor is highly permeable to calcium, which could suggest a role in synaptic plasticity in the nervous system. Auditory gating deficiency, an abnormal response to a second auditory stimulus, is characteristic of schizophrenia. Mouse strains that exhibit a similar gating deficit have reduced hippocampal expression of the {alpha}7 subunit. We have cloned and sequenced the full length cDNA for the mouse {alpha}7 gene (Acra-7) and characterized its gene structure. The murine ...
One of the first technical applications of gene technology is reported here. The DNA of E. coli cells was rearranged such that these cells produce large quantities of the enzyme ..cap alpha..-galactosidase. This enzyme is used to split the trisaccharide, raffinose, which is formed during the production of sugar from sugar beet. By this means sugar yields can be increased and the energy required for sugar crystallisation reduced.
The importance of cellular dosimetry in both diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine is becoming increasingly recognized. Experimental range-energy relations for electrons and alpha particles, along with derived geometric reduction factors, are used to calculate cellular absorbed fractions for these radiations. The resulting absorbed fractions are employed to calculate cellular S-values for several radionuclides. Cellular absorbed fractions for monoenergetic electron sources with energies ranging from 0.1 keV to 1 MeV, distributed uniformly in the source region, are calculated for several target {l_arrow} source combinations including cell{l_arrow}cell, cell{l_arrow}cell surface, nucleus{l_arrow}nucleus, nucleus {l_arrow}cytoplasm and nucleus {l_arrow}cell surface. Similar data are also provided for monoenergetic alpha particle sources with energies ranging from 3 to 10 MeV. ...
The pharmacology of the alpha-2 adrenoceptor of the human adipocyte was improved by using some new alpha-2 antagonists from different chemical families (imidazolines, benzazepines and benzofuroquinolizines) in biological and binding assays. Moreover, investigations were also carried out to define the binding properties of a new imidazolinic antagonist, RX821002 (2-(2-methoxy-1,4-benzodioxan-2yl)-2-imidazoline), which could be a potential radioligand. (3H)RX821002 binding was very rapid and reversible. Saturation isotherms indicated that (3H)RX821002 labeled, with high affinity, a homogeneous population of noninteracting binding sites with a mean Kd of 0.98 +/- 0.05 nM (n = 6). The binding of (3H)RX821002 on the human fat cellalpha-2 adrenoceptor displayed a specificity which is strictly similar to that obtained with (3H)rauwolscine and which is classical for an alpha-2 A ...
Morusin is a pure compound isolated from root bark of Morusaustralis (Moraceae). In this study, we demonstrated that morusin significantly inhibited the growth and clonogenicity of human colorectal cancer HT-29 cells. Apoptosis induced by morusin was characterized by accumulation of cells at the sub-G_1 phase, fragmentation of DNA, and condensation of chromatin. Morusin also inhibited the phosphorylation of IKK-#alpha#, IKK-#beta# and I#kappa#B-#alpha#, increased expression of I#kappa#B-#alpha#, and suppressed nuclear translocation of NF-#kappa#B and its DNA binding activity. Dephosphorylation of NF-#kappa#B upstream regulators PI3K, Akt and PDK1 was also displayed. In addition, activation of caspase-8, change of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO, and activation of caspase-9 and -3 were observed at the early time point. Downregulation in the ...
Background:Solid pseudopapillary tumor is a rare pancreatic neoplasm with uncertain to low malignant potential. This is an uncommon neoplasm with many pseudonyms, occurring...Full Text Available
Background This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and follow-up results of endoscopic papilletomy (ESP) with pancreatic and biliary duct stent placement for ampullary tumors. The therapeutic approach to benign ampullary tumors remains unsettled. The ESP procedure is a curative treatment option for benign papillary tumors, but ESP raises concerns about a relatively high risk for procedure-related complications such as pancreatitis. A pancreatic stent may protect against complications. Methods Between September 2000 and June 2008, 36 patients with ampullary tumors confined to the mucosa and no intraductal tumor growth underwent ESP. The preprocedural diagnostic tools included endoscopic ultrasound, transpapillary intraductal ultrasound, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancr...
We have observed significant differences in the response to ionizing radiation of two closely related human cell lines, and now compare the effects on these lines of both low and intermediate LET radiation. Compared to TK6, WTK1 has an enhanced X-ray survival, and is also more resistant to cell killing by {alpha}-particles. The hprt locus is more mutable in WTK1 than in TK6 by both X-rays and {alpha}-particles. WTK1 is also more mutable by {alpha}-particles than by X-rays at the hprt locus. X-ray-induced mutation at the heterozygous tk locus in WTK1 is about 25 fold higher than in TK6, while {alpha}-particle-induced mutation is nearly 50 fold higher at this locus. Also, the slowly growing tk- mutants, which comprise the majority of spontaneous and X-ray-induced tk- mutants of TK6, were not induced significantly by {alpha}-particles. ...
An in vitro system for studying Pu uptake by, and removal from, macrophages was developed to provide data for the actinide therapy program. We have shown that "2"3"9PuO_2 particle uptake in vitro resembles the process in vivo with respect to the intracellular localization of phagocytized particles. At the end of 7 days of culture of Pu-loaded cells, 54% of the cells were viable even though 71% of the cells in the culture initially contained enough "2"3"9PuO_2 to deliver more than 53 intracellular #alpha#-disintegrations.
Protein kinase C activity has been identified in the rat brown adipocyte. About 60% of this activity is found in the cytosolic fraction under basal conditions, and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) causes a rapid shift from the cytosol to the particulate fraction. Norepinephrine and phenylephrine causes a similar redistribution that can be blocked by prazosin but not by alprenolol. {alpha}{sub 1}-Adrenergic agonists cause three- to fivefold stimulation of type 2 iodothyronine 5{prime}-deiodinase activity in brown adipocytes. TPA has no effect on basal deiodinase activity and reduces the response of the enzyme to {alpha}{sub 1}-adrenergic agonists. These results suggest that the translocation of protein kinase C from cytosol to particulate fraction is not sufficient to increase deiodinase activity but can modulate the {alpha}{sub 1}-adrenergic agonist-mediated responses in these cells.
Ionizing radiations that differ in number, size, and distribution of energy deposition events might be expected to cause different effects for the same absorbed dose. Furthermore, microdosimetry calculations suggest that large variations in biological effectiveness might be expected for internally deposited alpha-emitting radionuclides for the same absorbed dose, depending upon the specific activity and spatial distribution of the sources in tissue. The study described in this article was designed to demonstrate these phenomena in vitro. Cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1 BH4) cells were exposed in vitro to inert, insoluble ceramic microspheres in zirconium dioxide labeled with "2"3"9Pu. The average exit energy of the 5.15 MeV alpha particle was calculated to be 4.3 MeV. Exposure times varied from four to seven hours to achieve the desired dose level.
Although low-energy ion radiation has been proven to have a wide range of biological effects and led to fruitful achievements as a new mutagenic source for genetic modification, there still exist some disputes about its mutagenic mechanisms because of its short-penetrating property. In present research, Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic for GUS recombination substrate was used to evaluate the genomic instability induced by irradiations of alpha particle (3.3MeV) and Low-energy-Argon ion (30 KeV). A pronounced effects of alpha particle irradiation to Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings and Argon ion irradiation to seeds on the somatic homologous recombination frequency (sHRF) were reported. The sHRFs increased 1.88-fold and 2.42-fold, respectively, which indicated that the short-penetrating radiation could effectively induce the plant genomic instability in either dry seeds or seedlings with active metabolism. The local alpha ...
The origin of the epithelial and myoepithelial cells in the human breast has not been delineated. In this study we have addressed whether luminal epithelial cells and myoepithelial cells are vertically connected, i.e., whether one is the precursor for the other. We used a primary culture assay allowing preservation of basic phenotypic traits of luminal epithelial and myoepithelial cells in culture. The two cell types were then separated immunomagnetically using antibodies directed against lineage-specific cell surface antigens into at best 100% purity. The cellular identity was ascertained by cytochemistry, immunoblotting, and 2-D gel electrophoresis. Luminal epithelial cells were identified by strong expression of cytokeratins 18 and 19 while myoepithelial cells were recognized by expression of vimentin and ...
Cholestatic liver injury induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) is provoked by injury to intrahepatic bile ducts and the progression of hepatic necrosis requires the procoagulant protein tissue factor (TF) and extrahepatic cells including neutrophils. Recent studies have shown that myeloid cell TF contributes to neutrophil activation. We tested the hypothesis that myeloid cell TF contributes to neutrophil activation in ANIT-treated mice. TF activity in liver homogenates increased significantly in TF^f^l^o^x^/^f^l^o^x mice treated with ANIT, but not in TF^f^l^o^x^/^f^l^o^x/LysMCre mice (TFD^M^y^e^l^o^i^d mice), which have reduced TF expression in monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils. Myeloid cell-specific TF deficiency did not alter expression of the chemokines KC or MIP-2 but redu...
Cultures of 3T3-L1 cells were incubated with either 10 ng/ml cholera toxin or 10 ng/ml pertussis toxin from 4 days prior to the initiation of differentiation and throughout the subsequent incubation. Toxin concentrations were sufficient to completely prevent the labelling of alpha-subunits with ["3"2P]NAD"+ and pertussis toxin and to prevent by more than 90% the labelling with ["3"2P]NAD"+ and cholera toxin in membranes prepared from these cells. Neither toxin prevented the differentiation to the adipocyte phenotype. Neither toxin prevented the increases in the relative amounts of G-proteins which occur upon differentiation. Both toxins dramatically decreased the amount of beta-subunits. As measured by quantitative immunoblotting with antisera specific for both the 35 kDa and 36 kDa beta-subunits, levels of beta-subunit were decreased by more than 50% of steady-state level of control cells. Thus, ...
Oxygenated sterol compounds (OSC), when incubated for 1 hr with human erythrocytes in lipoprotein-depleted medium at concentrations of 0.625-5 x 10/sup -5/M, are inserted into the cell membrane and remain there despite subsequent washing of the cells. The insertion results in expansion of the surface area of the red cell ghost membrane, an increase in critical hemolytic volume, and as a consequence, in dimished osmotic fragility of the erythrocytes. This effect is seen with echinocyte-forming as well as with non-echinocyte-forming OSC. Erythrocytes treated with OSC do not differ from control cells with respect to their mean cell volume (MCV) in isotonic solution, water content, ion fluxes, and filterability through polycarbonate filters. The shift of the osmotic fragility curve toward lower NaCl concentrations is proportional to the amount of OSC inserted into the red ...
[alpha]-Melanocyte stimulating hormone ([alpha]-MSH), a hormone originally named for its ability to regulate pigmentation of melanocytes, is a 13-amino-acid post-translational product of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene. [alpha]-MSH and the other products of POMC processing, which share the core heptapeptide amino acid sequence Met-Glu (Gly)-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly (Asp), the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), [beta]-MSH, and [gamma]-MSH, are collectively referred to as melanocortins. While best known for their effects on the melanocyte (pigmentation) and adrenal cortical cells (steroidogenesis), melanocortins have been postulated to function in diverse activities, including enhancement of learning and memory, control of the cardiovascular system, analgesia, thermoregulation, immunomodulation, parturition, and neurotrophism. To identify the chromosomal band encoding the human melanocortin-1 receptor ...
A new simple multi-well plate-based assay to determine monocyte differentiation-inducing activity was developed. It is based on the increase of macrophage adherence after the induction of monocyte differentiation. The assay was conducted using a human monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1, treated with either 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate or cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma. This method is sensitive and easy to perform, especially in case of analyzing a large number of samples. PMID:17920620
This research has two main goals; (1) to quantify mechanisms for radon entry into homes of different types and to determine the fraction of indoor radon attributable to each source and (2) to model and calculate the dose (and therefore alpha particle fluence) to cells in the human and animal tracheobronchial tree that is pertinent to induction of bronchogenic carcinoma from inhaled radon daughters.
1 Measurements of the binding of 12-alpha-[3H]-digoxin to the membranes of intact erythrocytes, erythrocytic 86rubidium uptake and intraerythrocytic sodium concentrations have been made in the red cells...Full Text Available
The cellular transport systems and the transport kinetics of ["1"2"3I]IMT uptake into non-malignant extracranial cells were characterized for the first time. Human fibroblasts were chosen as non-malignant extracranial cells as they are found ubiquitous in the body. ["1"2"3I]IMT is exclusively transported into fibroblasts via the sodium independent system L. An apparent Michaelis constant K_m=116.2#+-#18.9 #mu#M and a maximum transport velocity V_m_a_x=191.6#+-#13.9 pmol * (10"6 cells)"-"1 * min"-"1 were calculated for the sodium-independent transport. These results were compared with those determined in two malignantly transformed extracranial cell lines, the human Ewing's sarcoma cell lines VH-64 and CADO-ES-1.
The cell's cytoskeleton, providing the cell with structure and shape, consists of a complex array of structural proteins, including microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments. Intermediate filaments play a crucial role in mechanotransduction and in providing mechanical stability to cells, in particular under large deformation. By utilizing molecular simulation, here we report a nanomechanical analysis of vimentin intermediate filament dimers, the basic building blocks of intermediate filaments. We describe a detailed analysis of the mechanical properties and associated deformation mechanisms, and find that mechanical stretch induces a transition from alpha-helices to beta-sheets, a phenomenon known as alpha-beta transition. A comparison of the Young's modulus predicted from simulation with experimental measurements is provided, and good agreement is found. We present an ...
3-["1"2"3I]Iodo-L-#alpha#-methyl tyrosine (["1"2"3I]IMT) scintigraphy of extracranial malignant tumors has been described, but little is known about the transport systems involved in ["1"2"3I]IMT uptake into extracranial tumor cells. Here, the precise kinetics of ["1"2"3I]IMT transport into human Ewing's sarcoma cells (VH-64) was determined. The apparent Michaelis constant was of high affinity value (K_m=41.7#+-#3.9 #mu#M) and maximum transport velocity amounted to V_m_a_x=20.7#+-#0.6 nmol#centre dot#mg protein"-"1#centre dot#10 min"-"1. Inhibition experiments revealed the predominance of ["1"2"3I]IMT uptake via sodium-independent system L.
Invading melanoma spreads to local and unpredictable distant location at the early stages of its development. It is justifiable, therefore, to classify the disease as a systemic disorder. This requires a systemic treatment that reaches all melanoma cells irrespective of whether they are singly dispersed and in circulation or already forming solid tumours of various sizes. Targeted radiotherapy affects directly and selectively cancer cells provided an appropriate radionuclide and its carrier are chosen. Melanoma is a pigmented tumour. Methylene blue (MTB)) accumulates selectively in melanoma cells due to its exceptionally high affinity to melanin. MTB serves, therefore, as a carrier for radionuclides. "2"1"1At-MTB has proved to be particularly effective in treating disseminated melanoma when administered systemically and, at the same time, non-toxic to normal non-pigmented and pigmented organs. (authors)
... be able to watch the many intricate steps Dr. Richard Alexander must accomplish to remove the cancer. ... door to informed medical care. Now let's join Dr. Richard Alexander at the University of Maryland Medical ...
1. Proteolytic enzyme activities were examined in the pancreas of zinc-deficient and control rats. 2. No change was detected in trypsin-plus-chymotrypsin activity. 3. Carboxypeptidase activity was...Full Text Available
BACKGROUNDSolid-pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) are rare pancreatic tumors with malignant potential. Clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes of patients with...Full Text Available
We report here a case of a pathologically proven solitary fibrous tumor of the pancreas. A 54-year-old man was referred to our hospital for further evaluation of a pancreatic mass that was found incidentally....Full Text Available
AIM: To investigate differential points of solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas and pancreatic endocrine tumor (PET).METHODS: Ten cases of SPN and fourteen cases of PET were studied...Full Text Available
This case report describes the second known instance of a multifocal capillary pancreatic neoplasm. Both cases occurred in young African American females. A less-than-total pancreatectomy was performed...Full Text Available
Middle segment pancreatectomy (MSP) is a new operation where the advantages of parenchymal preservation are counterbalanced by a high postoperative complication rate and unease among surgeons with adopting...Full Text Available
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a widely used diagnostic and therapeutic modality in the management of biliary and pancreatic disease. Some of the complications of the procedure,...Full Text Available
In spite of their rarity, cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are characterized by existing or potential malignancy that cannot be ignored during decisive process with regard to the choice of treatment....Full Text Available
The solubility limit of #alpha#'-SiAlON solid solutions on the Si_3N_4-YN:3AlN composition join in the system Si_3N_4-YN-AlN has been determined at 1800 degrees C. The end members of these solid solutions are Y_0_._4_3Si_1_0_._7Al_1_._3N_1_6 and Y_0_._8Si_9_._6Al_2_._4N_1_6. Unit-cell dimensions of the #alpha#'-SiAlON solid solutions in the system Si,Al,Y/N,O can be expressed as follows: a_0 (Angstrom) = 7.752 + 0.045m + 0.009n, c_0 (Angstrom) = 5.620 + 0.048m + 0.009n, where the #alpha#'-SiAlON solid solution has the formula Y_xSi_1_2_-_(_m _+ _n_)Al_m_+_nN_1_6_-_nO_n. The single-phase boundary of the solid solution #alpha#'-SiAlON on the composition triangle Si_3N_4-YN:3AlN-Al;N:Al_2O_3 is delineated. The present paper also reports the phase relationships involving #alpha#'-SiAlON.
The shock-induced {alpha}(bcc){r_arrow}{var_epsilon}(hcp) transition in iron begins at 13 GPa on the Hugoniot. In the two-phase region above 13 GPa, the Hugoniot lies well above the equilibrium surface defined by G{sub {alpha}}=G{sub {var_epsilon}}, with G the Gibbs free energy. Also, the phase transition relaxation time {tau} is uncertain, with estimates ranging from {lt}50 ns to {approx}180 ns. Here we present an extensive study of these important aspects, metastability and dynamics, of the {alpha}-{var_epsilon} transition in iron. Our primary theoretical tools are (a) accurate theoretically based free energies for {alpha} and {var_epsilon} phases of iron and (b) accurate calculations of the wave evolution following planar impacts. We define metastable surfaces for forward and reverse transitions by the condition that the thermodynamic driving force G{sub {alpha}}{minus}G{sub ...
The present study was undertaken to determine the involvement of calcium-protein kinase C pathway in the mechanism of action of Escherichia coli heat stable enterotoxin (STa) apart from STa-induced activation of guanylate cyclase in human colonic carcinoma cell line COLO-205, which was used as a model cultured cell line to study the mechanism of action of E. coli STa. In response to E. coli STa, protein kinase C (PKC) activity was increased in a time-dependent manner with its physical translocation from cytosol to membrane. Inhibition of the PKC activity in membrane fraction and inhibition of its physical translocation in response to IP_3-mediated calcium release inhibitor dantrolene suggested the involvement of intracellular store depletion in the regulation of PKC activity. Among different PKC isoforms, predominant involvement of calcium-dependent protein kinase C (PKC#alpha#) was specified using isotype-specific ...
A major regulatory element required for expression of the human [alpha]-globin genes is located 40 kb upstream of the embryonic [zeta]-globin gene. To understand how this and other locus control region (LCR) elements contribute to high-level expression in erythroid cells, we have performed high-resolution, in vivo dimethyl sulfate footprinting. In addition, we have modified the dimethyl sulfate-based ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction in vivo footprinting procedure to permit the assessment of interactions at guanine and adenine residues, rather than guanines alone. In vivo footprinting of the human [alpha]-LCR element carried on chromosome 16 in a mouse erythroleukemia cell environment revealed protein occupancy at GATA-1, AP-1/NF-E2, and CACC/GGTGG motifs, specific differences compared with in vitro protein binding, and distinct changes in one region upon dimethyl sulfoxide-induced cellular ...
Data from Monte Carlo transport codes are used to model radiobiological effects. We previously reported the Fourier analysis of ionization data generated by simulating a 500-keV proton traversing water. Here, we extend Fourier analysis to energy transfer data of another radiation type, a 14-MeV #alpha#-particle. A radiobiological model based on this frequency-domain analysis views cell as an information processing system . It lends itself naturally to traditional engineering analyses. One engineering principle-the output response of a linear system to random signal-is applied here to explain the fact that there is measurable difference in the magnitude of the biological effectiveness when a given biological system is irradiated with two different radiation types of the same Linear Energy Transfer (LET).
Under certain growth conditions, the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 exhibits intestinal enterocyte-like properties. The differentiated cells possess a brush border with the enzyme markers (aminopeptidase and sucrase) normally associated with the intestine. To aid in the characterization of the transport properties of these cells, the uptake of a non-metabolizable amino acid analog, "1"4C-#alpha#-methylaminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB) as examined in the HT-29-Al subclone which possesses a brush border. The cells exhibited a time-dependent uptake of MeAIB which was concentrative and sodium-dependent. The pH optimum for uptake was about 7.8. Uptake was inhibited by low temperature, 1 mM ouabain, or 0.5 mM dinitrophenol. A 1 hr-preincubation of the cells in an isotonic KCl solution resulted in a decreased uptake rate, suggesting that a negative membrane ...
The maintenance of a balance between cell gain and cell loss is essential for proper liver function. The exact role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis of liver cells remains unclear, since ligand-dependent activation of AhR has been shown to induce cell cycle arrest, proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis, depending on the cellular model used. AhR can directly interact with retinoblastoma protein in hepatic cells, forming protein complexes that can efficiently block cell cycle progression by inducing G1 arrest, or to induce the expression of inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases, such as p271. On the other hand, it has been suggested that AhR could play a stimulatory role in cell proliferation, either directly or by mediating a release from contact inhibition. It is ...
Influenza virus infection during pregnancy has been implicated as one of cause of premature delivery, abortion and stillbirth. We have reported that cultured human fetal membrane chorion cells undergoing apoptosis by influenza virus infection secrete unidentified heat-stable monocyte differentiation-inducing (MDI) factors. In this study, cellular, biological and immunochemical characteristics of MDI factors were investigated using human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and cell adhesion assays. The treatment of THP-1 cells with culture supernatants from the influenza virus-infected chorion cells induced the nitroblue tetrazolium reduction ability, which was inhibited by the addition of superoxide dismutase and diphenyleneiodonium chloride, an inhibitor for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase. The phenomenon was also observed ...
NFAT involvement in adipocyte physiological processes was examined by treatment with CsA and/or GSK3{beta} inhibitors (Li{sup +} or TZDZ-8), which prevent or increase NFAT nuclear translocation, respectively. CsA treatment reduced basal and TNF{alpha}-induced rates of lipolysis by 50%. Adipocytes preincubated with Li{sup +} or TZDZ-8 prior to CsA and/or TNF{alpha}, exhibited enhanced basal rates of lipolysis and complete inhibition of CsA-mediated decreased rates of lipolysis. CsA treatment dramatically reduced the mRNA levels of adipocyte-specific genes (aP2, HSL, PPAR{gamma}, ACS and Adn), compared with control or TNF{alpha}-treatment, whereas Li{sup +} pretreatment blocked the inhibitory effects of CsA, and mRNA levels of aP2, HSL, PPAR{gamma}, and ACS were found at or above control levels. NFAT nuclear localization, assessed by EMSA, confirmed that CsA or Li{sup +} treatments inhibited or increased NFAT nuclear ...
The alpha emitter plutonium-238 ("2"3"8Pu), which is produced in uranium-fueled, light-water reactors, is used as a thermoelectric power source for space applications. Inhalation of a mixed oxide form of Pu is the most likely mode of exposure of workers and the general public. Occupational exposures to "2"3"8PuO_2 have occurred in association with the fabrication of radioisotope thermoelectric generators. Organs and tissue at risk for deterministic and stochastic effects of "2"3"8Pu-alpha irradiation include the lung, liver, skeleton, and lymphatic tissue. Little has been reported about the effects of inhaled "2"3"8PuO_2 on peripheral blood cell counts in humans. The purpose of this study was to investigate hematological responses after a single inhalation exposure of Beagle dogs to alpha-emitting "2"3"8PuO_2 particles and to extrapolate results to humans.
Redd1, a recently discovered stress-response gene, is regulated by hypoxia via hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and by DNA damage via p53/p63; however, the signaling pathway by which its expression is induced by hypoxia has not been elucidated. We demonstrated that the up-regulation of Redd1 transcription by hypoxia and high cell density (HCD) depends on cooperation between Sp1 and HIF-1#alpha# downstream of the PI3K/Akt pathway.
A process has been developed that exploits the characteristics of microwave heating for the vitrification of high-level radioactive liquid waste. This process, microwave vitrification, has been successfully operated at pilot plant scale in an active cell using simulated liquid waste containing several curies of radioactivity. Excellent decontamination factors have been achieved for both volatiles and nonvolatiles with an average ruthenium decontamination factor of 490 and a gross alpha emitter decontamination factor of 100,000. Almost all the radioactivity is incorporated in a glass block.
A process has been developed that exploits the characteristics of microwave heating for the vitrification of high-level radioactive liquid waste. This process, microwave vitrification, has been successfully operated at pilot plant scale in an active cell using simulated liquid waste containing several curies of radioactivity. Excellent decontamination factors have been achieved for both volatiles and nonvolatiles with an average ruthenium decontamination factor of 490 and a gross alpha emitter decontamination factor of 100,000. Almost all the radioactivity is incorporated in a glass block.
Introduction The progressive growth of malignancies is accompanied by a decline in the immune response through mechanisms which are poorly understood. Apoptosis and induction of inflammation by tumor released cytokines as tumor escape mechanisms have been proposed to play an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Methods Expression of Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-?) was analyzed in colorectal cancer specimen and the cancer cell line HT-29 by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. TNF-? expression on protein and mRNA level were correlated with clinical characteristics and impact on survival. TNFR-1 was co-labelled with TNF-? and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in immunofluorescence double staining experiments. Results: 94% (n?=?98/104) of the patients with CRC expressed TNF-?. High TNF-? express...
Many assays for oncogenic transformation have been developed ranging from those in established rodent cell lines where morphological alteration is scored, to those in human cells growing in nude mice where tumor invasiveness is scored. In general, systems that are most quantitaive are also the least relevant in terms of human carcinogenesis and human risk estimation. The development of cell culture systems has made it possible to assess at the cellular level the oncogenic potential of a variety of chemical, physical and viral agents. Cell culture systems afford the opportunity to identify factors and conditions that may prevent or enhance cellular transformation by radiation and chemicals. Permissive and protective factors in radiation-induced transformation include thyroid hormone and the tumor promoter TPA that increase the transformation incidence for a given dose of radiation, and retinoids, ...
Many assays for oncogenic transformation have been developed ranging from those in established rodent cell lines where morphological alteration is scored, to those in human cells growing in nude mice where tumor invasiveness is scored. In general, systems that are most quantitaive are also the least relevant in terms of human carcinogenesis and human risk estimation. The development of cell culture systems has made it possible to assess at the cellular level the oncogenic potential of a variety of chemical, physical and viral agents. Cell culture systems afford the opportunity to identify factors and conditions that may prevent or enhance cellular transformation by radiation and chemicals. Permissive and protective factors in radiation-induced transformation include thyroid hormone and the tumor promoter TPA that increase the transformation incidence for a given dose of radiation, and retinoids, ...
Objective: To study the effects of minocycline hydrochloride (MINO) on the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining-positive multinucleated osteoclast-like cells in mouse bone marrow cells (BMCs) treated with 1@a,25(OH)"2D"3 or soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-@kB ligand (s-RANKL). Materials and methods: Mouse BMCs were cultured in alpha-modified minimum essential medium containing foetal calf serum (10%) and tetracyclines (2.5, 5 and 10@mM), such as MINO, tetracycline hydrochloride (TC), oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OXT) or doxycycline (DOXY) in the presence of 1@a,25(OH)"2D"3 (10nM) or s-RANKL (20ng/ml) for 7 days, and the number of TRAP staining-positive osteoclast-like cells was counted. In RNA isolated from BMCs treated with 1@a,25(OH)"2D"3 or s-R...
The mortality in undrained abdominal abscesses is high with a mortality rate ranging between 45 and 100%. The outcome in abdominal abscesses, however, has improved due to advances in image guided percutaneous interventional techniques. The main indications for the catheter drainage include treatment or palliation of sepsis associated with an infected fluid collection, and alleviation of the symptoms that may be caused by fluid collections by virtue of their size, like pancreatic pseudocele or lymphocele. The single liver abscesses may be drained with ultrasound guidance only, whereas the multiple abscesses usually require computed tomography (CT) guidance and placement of multiple catheters. The pancreatic abscesses are generally drained routinely and urgently. Non-infected pancreatic pseudocysts may be simply observed unless they are symptomatic or cause problems such as pain or obstruction of the biliary or the ...
Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a T-cell-derived lymphokine critical in the activation and proliferation of T cells, B cells, and lymphokine-activated killer cells. It is a glycoprotein of #approx#15,500 daltons that is synthesized and secreted after activation by antigen or mitogen. By using the analogs 8-azidoadensoine 5'-[#gamma#-"3"2P]triphosphate ([#gamma#-"3"2P]8N_3ATP) and nicotinamide 2-azidoadenine [adenylate-"3"2P]dinucleotide ([#alpha#-"3"2P]2N_3NAD"+) as photoaffinity probes, the authors have detected specific, metal ion-requiring nucleotide binding sites on recombinant human IL-2 (rhIL-2). The specificity of these nucleotide interactions with rhIL-2 was demonstrated by saturation effects and by competition by the parent nucleotides at physiologically relevant concentrations. Saturation of photoinsertion into rhIL-2 occurred at 50 #mu#M [#gamma#-"3"2P]8N_3ATP. Saturation of ...
Rabbit antisera raised to human and chicken MHC molecules were used to immunoprecipitate cross-reactive molecules from biosynthetically and cell surface-labeled spleen and/or blood cells of representative vertebrate species. Five major points emerged: 1) There were many nonspecific cross-reactions using these techniques, so various criteria were developed to distinguish these from true MHC-like molecules. 2) Only very small subpopulations of immunogen-specific antibodies cross-reacted with MHC-like molecules in other nonmammalian species. These subpopulations were different for each species and even within a species, sometimes being so limited as to behave like alloantisera. This led to a very scattered pattern of true cross-reactions that sometimes failed to reflect the properties of the bulk antibody population. 3) Antisera containing antibodies to class II beta- and class I alpha-chains cross-reacted better and more ...
Strain embrittlement in Ti base alloys during tensile testing was investigated. Results show that in an #alpha#-#beta# titanium alloy the local activity of H in alpha phase (#alpha#/sub H//sup #alpha#) increases and activity of H in beta phase (#alpha#/sub H//sup #beta#) decreases as the equiaxed #alpha# particle size decreases at constant volume fraction of phases. Thus with decreasing particle size there would be a tendency for H to move from #alpha# to #beta#, decreasing the H content of #alpha#. Also whether H tended to move from #beta# to #alpha# or from #alpha# interiors to the #alpha#-#beta# interface this tendency would be reduced by surface tension effects, making the alloy less susceptible to embrittlement.
Coutinho MF, Encarnao M, Gomes R, da Silva Santos L, Martins S, Sirois-Gagnon D, Bargal R, Filocamo M, Raas-Rothschild A, Tappino B, Laprise C, Cury GK, Schwartz IV, Artigals O, Prata MJ, Alves S. Origin and spread of a common deletion causing mucolipidosis type II: insights from patterns of haplotypic diversity. Mucolipidosis II (ML II alpha/beta), or I-cell disease, is a rare genetic disease in which activity of the uridine diphosphate (UDP)-N-acetylglucosamine:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase (GlcNAc-phosphotransferase) is absent. GlcNAc-phosphotransferase is a multimeric enzyme encoded by two genes, GNPTAB and GNPTG. A spectrum of mutations in GNPTAB has been recently reported to cause ML II alpha/beta. Most of these mutations were found to be private or rare. ...
The most abundant minor hemoglobin component of human hemolysate is Hb A1c, which has glucose bound to the N-terminus of the beta chain by a ketoamine linkage. Hb A1c is formed slowly and continuously throughout the 120 day lifespan of the red cell. It can be synthesized in vitro by incubating purified hemoglobin with 14C-glucose. Other minor components, Hb A1a1 and Hb A1a2 are adducts of sugar phosphates at the N-terminus of the beta chain. Hb A1b contains an unidentified nonphosphorylated sugar at the beta N-terminus. In addition, a significant portion of the major hemoglobin component (Hb Ao) is also glycosylated by a glucose ketoamine linkage at other sites on the molecule, including the N-terminus of the alpha chain and the epsilon-amino group of several lysine residues on both the alpha and the beta chains. The results indicate that the interaction of glucose and hemoglobin is rather nonspecific and suggests that ...
The progress made during the first two years of a program to study the migration of grain boundaries in ceramic oxides is reported. The principal results of the program are concerned with the structure of grain boundaries in ..cap alpha..-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, although important new information has also been obtained on grain boundaries in spinels and both germanlum and silicon. Attention is focused on the basal twin boundary in ..cap alpha..-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ which had been identified as a model interface in early work. A series of new grain boundaries exemplified by the (11anti23) twin are also discussed briefly as is the rhombohedral twin interface. Earlier results on the first-order (..sigma..=3) twin in spinel have been extended with the development of models for the computer-simulation of high-resolution TEM images of these interfaces. A study of low-angle grain boundaries in spinel is giving new insight into the effect which the large size ...
The research on the therapy of brain tumors and others by the thermal neutron irradiation using research reactors is to kill tumor cells by accumulating boron at a tumor part, and using {alpha} particles and {sup 7}Li generated by {sup 10}B(n, {alpha}){sup 7}Li reaction of thermal neutrons, which is known as boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). In Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, the medical irradiation facility was installed in the thermal neutron column of the JRR-2, and as of March, 1994, 22 cases of irradiation have been carried out. In order to monitor the variation of thermal neutron flux during irradiation, the real time measurement using a simultaneous monitor is carried out, but there is the variation of measured values in the Si semiconductor, p-n junction detector possibly due to its direction dependence. The experiment was carried out to quantity the direction dependence of the detector by using the ...
The drug-binding properties of human alpha-foetoprotein (alpha FP) were investigated by a fluorescence-spectral method. Human alpha FP was shown to bind to albumin's site I marker (warfarin, phenylbutazone),...Full Text Available
Producing nuclear energy in order to reduce anthropic CO{sub 2} emission and to meet high energy demand, implies three conditions to the nuclear plants of the IV. generation: safety improvements, radioactive waste minimization, and fuel breeding for a sustainable use of the resources. The Thorium fuel cycle used in Molten Salt Reactors seems promising. Many numerical studies based on probabilistic codes are carried out in order to analyse the behaviour of such reactors. Nevertheless, one of the most important parameters is badly known: the alpha ratio of {sup 233}U, ratio of the neutron capture cross section to fission one for {sup 233}U. This key-parameter is necessary to calculate the breeding ratio and thus, the deployment capacities of those reactors. This Ph-D thesis was intended to prepare a precise measurement of the alpha ratio of {sup 233}U between 1 eV and 10 keV. Preliminary measurements have been performed on the experimental ...
The emission lines H#alpha#, H#beta#+[OIII], and L#alpha# have been observed in the high-redshift quasar 1225+31. The ratios of line intensities in 1225+31 are found to be L#alpha#/H#alpha#approx.0.8, H#alpha#/(H#beta#+[OIII]) approx.4, and 4alpha#/H#beta#<10. The observed value of L#alpha#/H#alpha# agrees well with the ratio derived by Baldwin on the basis of a composite quasar spectrum, and with direct determination of this ratio in 3C 273 and PKS 0237--23. The ratio H#alpha#/H#beta# is in the range of values found for a sample of low-redshift quasars by Baldwin. The low value for the L#alpha#/H#alpha# ratio cannot be reasonably explained by foreground extinction between the Sun and 1225+31.
The nucleotide sequence of the 5'-terminal oligonucleotides produced by pancreatic RNase digestion of bacteriophage T3 RNA polymerase (EC 2.7.7.6) transcripts of T3 DNA has been determined. The sequence...Full Text Available
Background/AimsAlthough endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has been introduced and its use has been increasing in Korea, there have not been many reports...Full Text Available
The experiment on the determination of the tensor polarization of the residual nucleus is described for the reaction "6Li (#alpha#, #alpha#') "6Li. It is based on the unique connection of polarization tensors t_l_m of the residual nucleus for the reaction (#alpha#, #alpha#') and the angular correlation function W (#omega#_1, #omega#_2) for #alpha#'-particle and decay product of this nucleus, where #omega#_1, #omega#_2 are motion directions of #alpha#'-particle and decay product. The angular correlations of #alpha#'-particle and deuteron are measured for the "6Li (#alpha#, #alpha#', d)"4He reaction on the 27.2 MeV #alpha#-particle beam. The recording system consists of six silicon detectors and provides the energy resolution about 0.8 MeV and the angular resolution #+-# 3 deg. The ...
This report covers the second year of the 28 month grant current grant to Clarkson University to study the chemical and physical behavior of the polonium 218 atom immediately following its formation by the alpha decay of radon. Because small changes in size for activity result in large changes in the delivered dose per unit exposure, this behavior must be understood if the exposure to radon progeny and it dose to the cells in the respiratory tract are to be fully assessed. Two areas of radon progeny behavior are being pursued; laboratory studies under controlled conditions to better understand the fundamental physical and chemical process that affect the progeny`s atmospheric behavior and studies in actual indoor environments to develop a better assessment of the exposure of the occupants of that space to the size and concentration of the indoor radioactive aerosol. This report describes the progress toward achieving these objectives.
This report covers the second year of the 28 month grant current grant to Clarkson University to study the chemical and physical behavior of the polonium 218 atom immediately following its formation by the alpha decay of radon. Because small changes in size for activity result in large changes in the delivered dose per unit exposure, this behavior must be understood if the exposure to radon progeny and it dose to the cells in the respiratory tract are to be fully assessed. Two areas of radon progeny behavior are being pursued; laboratory studies under controlled conditions to better understand the fundamental physical and chemical process that affect the progeny's atmospheric behavior and studies in actual indoor environments to develop a better assessment of the exposure of the occupants of that space to the size and concentration of the indoor radioactive aerosol. This report describes the progress toward achieving these objectives.
The design of a reaction cell which permits the investigation of the sorption kinetics of microcomponents without separation of the phases under automated condition has been described. The use of thin-layer inorganic sorbents obtained by depositing films of a sorbing substance from aqueous solutions on flat substrates of small thickness makes it possible to determine the extent of sorption even at small values in the case of /beta/ emitters with a low energy and /alpha/ emitters. Detailed observation of the kinetics of isotopic exchange in the CdS-/sup 115m/Cd-HNO/sub 3/ system has made it possible to reveal at least four stages in the process during the time of observation.
A series of #alpha#-sialon (#alpha#') compositions containing mixed stabilising cations were prepared, by introducing additional CaO to a basic Sm #alpha#-sialon compositions. The thermal stability of these Sm-Ca-containing #alpha#-sialon phases was investigated using XRD, SEM and EDXS techniques. It was found that the addition of calcium into the Sm #alpha#-sialon systems greatly improved the stability of the #alpha#-sialon phases. Calcium was found to be incorporated into the #alpha#-sialon structure, coexistent with the samarium, and partitioning of the calcium and samarium was observed between the #alpha#' phase and grain boundary phases. This indicates a technique which may be used to improve the thermal stability of the #alpha#' phase while maintaining good refractory phases at the sialon grain ...
DNA polymerase gamma from purified nuclei of EMT-6 cells (mice) seems to be identical to the mitochondrial DNA polymerase from the same source following several criteria. These two enzyme activities are strongly inhibited by ethidium bromide and acriflavin, while proflavin, acridine orange, daunomycin and chloroquine inhibition is less pronounced. In the case of DNA polymerases alpha and beta very little inhibition by ethidium bromide was observed. Intercalation of this dye in a poly dA-dT 12-18 template-primer was studied spectrophotometrically under conditions similar to those in the in vitro DNA polymerase assay. The polymerase assay. The inhibition by this drug of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma activity was shown to be competitive at varying concentrations of TTP while the inhibition was of the non-competitive type at different concentrations of poly dA-dT 12-18. We conclude that the drug, most probably in the intercalated form, is ...
This study sought to quantitate lidocaine's interaction with alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG), human serum albumin (HSA), and AAG in the presence of HSA, and to determine the extent of displacement of lidocaine from its binding site(s) by selected cardiovascular drugs (dipyridamole, disopyramide and quinidine). Since the limited experimental work reported in this area has involved the use of a single lidocaine concentration, this study involved the evaluation of a range of lidocaine concentrations. Lidocaine interaction with plasma proteins (AAG and HSA) was studied at 37/sup 0/C using an isothermal equilibrium dialysis system and /sup 14/C-lidocaine HCl. A dialysis membrane (M.W. cutoff 12,000 to 14,000) separated the two chambers of each dialysis cell. The extent of /sup 14/C-lidocaine dialysis was studied with respect to both drug and protein concentrations. Aliquots of each chamber of each of the cells were ...
Using U-120 cyclotron in the course of correlation experiment one studied mechanisms of excitation and decay of "1"2C nucleus states resulting from irradiation of deuterium-polyethylene target by 27.2 MeV energy #alpha#-particle beam via recording of #alpha#-#alpha#-coincidence simultaneously with investigations of #alpha# + d-interactions. Production of "1"2C excited states decaying with the escape of #alpha#-particle and "8Be nucleus in the ground and the excited states is the basic mechanism of the studied #alpha# + "1"2C interaction
Long-Range Alpha Detector (LRAD) systems are designed to monitor alpha contamination by measuring the number of ions in the air. Alpha particles are a form of ionizing radiation and a typical 5-MeV alpha particle will create about 150,000 ion pairs in air. Field tests at various DOE sites have shown that LRAD Surface Soil Monitors (SSM), Sample Monitors, and Object Monitors are faster and more sensitive than traditional alpha detectors for measuring alpha contamination. This paper discusses the various applications of LRAD technology to low-level radioactive waste management.
The adsorption properties of four samples of the #alpha#-modification of boron nitride (#alpha#-BN) were investigated by the gas-chromatographic method. According to the electron microscopy data, the #alpha#-BN particles possess the shape of thin plates. An #alpha#-BN sample prepared from magnesium polyboride, is the most uniform adsorbent. For a series of n-alkanes, benzene, and alkyl benzenes, by testing the #alpha#-BN samples one has obtained the retained volumes (Henry constants) and the values of the differential adsorption heat, which are close to those of the surface zero filling. These thermodynamic characteristics of adsorption have shown that the #alpha#-BN, line the graphitized thermal carbon black, is not a specific adsorbent.
The formation of #alpha#'-sialon using Li as a modifying cation was investigated. The effects of the Li content, firing temperatures and Si/Al ratios on #alpha#'- yield were studied. The results indicated that at lower sintering temperatures the stabilisation of #alpha#'-sialons was obtained but the high weight losses of Li at higher temperatures limited the stabilisation. Increased ''Al'' content in the compositions resulted in an increase in the stability of Li-#alpha#'-sialon at higher temperatures, by the formation of a liquid phase which retains Li in the system. (orig.).
The advance in the analysis of very small amount (<= 1#alpha#/cm"2h) of #alpha#-emitters in the cited materials is reviewed. The review, for which 75 references are listed, covers the period from January, 1978, to June, 1982. The use of #alpha#-ray counting, #alpha#-ray spectrometry, #gamma#-ray spectrometry, neutron activation analysis and mass spectrometry is discussed, and their relative merit and limitation are outlined. (J.P.N.).
We studied the effect of extracellular Ca"2"+ concentration ([Ca"2"+]_e) on adipocyte differentiation. Preadipocytes exposed to continuous [Ca"2"+]_e higher than 2.5 mmol/l accumulated little or no cytoplasmic lipid compared to controls in 1.8 mmol/l [Ca"2"+]_e. Differentiation was monitored by Oil Red O staining of cytoplasmic lipid and triglyceride assay of accumulated lipid, by RT-PCR analysis of adipogenic markers, and by the activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH). Elevated [Ca"2"+]_e inhibited expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor #gamma#, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein #alpha#, and steroid regulatory binding element protein. High [Ca"2"+]_e significantly inhibited differentiation marker expression including adipocyte fatty acid binding protein, and GPDH. The decrease in Pref-1 expression that accompanied differentiation also was prevented by high [Ca"2"+]_e. Treatment of 3T3-L1 cells with high [Ca"2"+]_e ...
Candoxin (PDB #1JGK), a three-finger neurotoxin from Bungarus candidus venom, inhibits post-synaptic neuromuscular and neuronal alpha7nACh-receptors, and induces delayed cell-death throughout the glial population. When applied to cultured human glial cell lines, candoxin (CDX) induced cell death in a concentration (EC(50) approximately 1muM) and time dependent manner. Results of TUNEL-histochemistry further confirm CDX-induced brain (hippocampus, frontal cortex, and temporal regions) damage when administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v) in adult mice. In this study, we explored differential gene expression profiles following exposure of human glial (Hs 683) cell lines to CDX at various time intervals using Affymetrix-GeneChips. By means of MAS and GeneSpring analyses, 105 genes whose expression was significantly (P<0.01) altered by at least 3-fold were selected. Results of ...
Glycyrrhiza glabra root is one of the common traditional Chinese medicines and used as flavoring and sweetening agents for tobaccos, chewing gums, candies, toothpaste and beverages. While glycyrrhizin is one of the main components in the extract of G. glabra root and has been characterized, the other components have not been well characterized. The mechanism of growth activation of breast cancer MCF-7 cells, including the activation of Erk1/2 and Akt, and the transcriptional regulation of estrogen-responsive genes, was examined by means of sulforhodamine B, luciferase reporter gene, real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting assays after the induction of the cells with the extract of G. glabra root. The extract has similar activity to that induced by 17beta-estradiol (E(2)), although glycyrrhizin did not show such an activity. Moreover, the estrogen receptor alpha-dependent neurite outgrowth induced by the extract was similar to ...
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 ...
Schindler disease is a recently recognized infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy resulting from the deficient activity of the lysosomal hydrolase, alpha-N-acetylgalctosaminidase (alpha-GalNAc). The recent...Full Text Available
The results of a study of the expression of embryonic hemoglobin genes in mice which show an imbalance of alpha and non-alpha chain synthesis are reported. (ACR)
Quantitative metallography is often used to confirm the proper processing of aerospace metallic materials. A microstructural feature of great importance for titanium alloys processed in the alpha-beta phase field is the volume fraction of primary alpha. S...
Heavy quark production in $\\gamma\\gamma$ collisions is analyzed within the approach to hard collisions of photons recently proposed by the author. In this approach evaluating the cross section $\\sigma(\\gamma\\gamma\\to Q\\bar{Q})$ in the ``next-to-leading order of QCD'' requires the inclusion of direct photon contributions up to the order $\\alpha^2\\alpha_s^2$, whereas in the standard approach direct photon terms only up to the order $\\alpha^2\\alpha_s$ are taken into account. Phenomenological consequences of this difference are discussed.
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 ...
ObjectiveTo assess whether 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate reduces the rate of preterm birth in women carrying triplets.MethodsFull Text Available
Phase transformations from #alpha#- to #beta#-SiAlONs (i.e., from #alpha#' to #beta#') have been recently reported in a number of rare-earth SiAlON systems during postsintering heat treatment. In the present work, this transformation process in a Sm (#alpha# + #beta#)-SiAlON material is studied by using XRD, TEM, and EDS X-ray mapping techniques. It is observed that in addition to the formation of #beta#' and M' phases, the #alpha#'-to-#beta#' transformation is accompanied by a significant increase in the amount of an AlN-polytypoid phase. The results suggest that some #alpha#' phases are thermodynamically unstable at temperatures lower than the material sintering temperature and will decompose when conditions allow. For the composition studied in this work, the #alpha#-SiAlON decomposition can be described in general as #alpha#' #-># ...
Alpha-toxin, the major cytotoxic agent elaborated by Staphylococcus aureus, was the first bacterial exotoxin to be identified as a pore former. The protein is secreted as a single-chain, water-soluble...Full Text Available
The study of the {alpha}-particle energy distributions associated with ND and SD states in {sup 151,152}Dy has been carried out. The Dy isotopes were produced in the reaction {sup 37}Cl+{sup 123}Sb at 191 MeV via the ({alpha}5n) and ({alpha}4n) channels, respectively. In {sup 151}Dy the {alpha}-particle energy distributions associated to ND and SD are very different from each other, both at the low and high energy sides inducing a difference of 3 MeV in the {alpha}-particle mean energy. In {sup 152}Dy the situation is different; the {alpha}-particle spectral shapes are similar and a difference in the {alpha}-particle mean energy of only 0.7 MeV is deduced. A description in terms of energy localization of entry states is given. (orig.)
Abnormalities of dystrophin, the sarcoglycans, and laminin alpha2 are responsible for a subset of the muscular dystrophies. In this study we aim to characterise the nature and frequency of abnormalities...Full Text Available
Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) integrated circuits, with the benefits of low power consumption, represent the state of the art technology for implantable medical devices. Three significant sources of radiation are classified as having the ability to damage or alter the behavior of implantable electronics; Secondary neutron cosmic radiation, alpha particle radiation from the device packaging and therapeutic doses(up to 70 G{gamma}) of high energy radiation used in radiation oncology. The effects of alpha particle radiation from the packaging may be eliminated by the use of polyimide or silicone rubber die coatings. The relatively low incidence of therapeutic radiation incident on an implantable device and the use of die coating leaves cosmic radiation induced secondary neutron single event upset (SEU) as the main pervasive ionising radiation threat to the reliability of implantable devices. A theoretical model which predicts the susceptibility ...
Vildagliptin is a potent and selective dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor in development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes that improves glycemic control by enhancing alpha- and beta-cell responsiveness to glucose. Two open-label, single-dose, randomized, crossover studies in healthy subjects (ages 18-45 years) investigated the dose proportionality of vildagliptin pharmacokinetics (n = 20) and the effect of food (n = 24) on vildagliptin pharmacokinetics. There was a linear relationship (r(2) = 0.999) between vildagliptin doses of 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC(0-infinity)) and maximum plasma concentration (C(max)). Dose proportionality was assessed using a statistical power model [X = alpha x (dose)(beta)]. The 90% confidence intervals of the proportionality coefficient, beta, for AUC(0-infinity) (1.15-1.19) and C(max) (1.04-1.14) indicated that ...
Thin film solar cells and solar cell testing - photovoltaic cells, radiation damage to cadmium sulfide solar cells, and airplane testing of solar cells
It has been discovered that the presence of MoO/sub 3/ lowers the ..cap alpha..-..beta.. transition in Sb/sub 2/O/sub 4/ from 935 to 850/sup 0/C with concurrent dissolution of Mo in the high-temperature (..beta..) form. The structure of Mo-doped ..beta..-Sb/sub 2/O/sub 4/ has been investigated by powder neutron diffraction, extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and Raman spectroscopies, and scanning-electron microscopy (SEM). Cell parameters: a = 12.0571 (12) A, b = 4.8335 (1) A, c = 5.3838 (6) A, ..beta.. = 105.579 (5)/sup 0/, monoclinic, space group C2/c, Z = 4. Combining the results of these techniques leads to the hypothesis that Mo is located interstitially within channels of electron density in the Sb/sub 2/O/sub 4/ structure with concurrent vacancy of two Sb/sup III/ atoms. There is no apparent oxygen deficiency in the resulting structure. 25 references, 6 figures, 3 tables.
Constitutive activation of the oncogenic transcription factor STAT3 frequently occurs in various human malignancies. STAT3 activation involves dimerization via intermolecular pTyr-SH2 interaction. Thus, antagonizing this interaction is a feasible approach to inhibit STAT3 activation for cancer therapy. In order to identify selective STAT3 inhibitors, we developed a biochemical HTS system based on AlphaScreen technology, which measures the abilities of test compounds to antagonize pTyr-SH2 interactions. We screened our chemical libraries using this system and identified 5,15-diphenylporphyrin (5,15-DPP) as a selective STAT3-SH2 antagonist. Selective inhibition of STAT3 nuclear translocation and DNA biding activity was observed in cells treated with 5,15-DPP. IL-6-dependent dimerization of STAT3, c-myc promoter binding and c-myc protein expression were all suppressed by 5,15-DPP, whereas no decrement in either expression or phosphorylation level ...
Zinc-fingers, which widely exist in eukaryotic cell and play crucial roles in life processes, depend on the binding of zinc ion for their proper folding. To computationally study the zinc coupled folding of the zinc-fingers, charge transfer and metal induced protonation/deprotonation effects have to be considered. Here, by attempting to implicitly account for such effects in classical molecular dynamics and performing intensive simulations with explicit solvent for the peptides with and without zinc binding, we investigate the folding of the Cys2His2 type zinc-finger motif and the coupling between the peptide folding and zinc binding. We find that zinc ion not only stabilizes the native structure, but also participates in the whole folding process. It binds to the peptide at early stage of folding, and directs or modulates the folding and stabilizations of the component beta-hairpin and alpha-helix. Such a crucial role of zinc binding is ...
During the phases of separation, treatment, conditioning and storage of radioactive waste, destructive and nondestructive methods for their characterization are needed. In order to satisfy this necessity, in the frame of the National Program of Research and Development, the 'Laboratory for characterization of spent nuclear fuel and high/medium level radioactive waste- LABORAD' was created. The purpose of the project was to accredit the analysis methods available in the laboratory, and also to develop new methods for the characterization of the radioactive waste. A special attention was paid to the high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel characterization that require special facilities for handling. These facilities (e.g. hot cells, remote handlers, transport container) are already available in our institute. Experimental results and performances obtained during validation of the methods are presented in this paper. The laboratory (LABORAD) is notified ...
The Feynman-#alpha# method was applied to measurement of reactivity and the ability of this method for a real-time reactivity monitoring system was assessed. In the experiment, all measured data by BF_3 detectors were stored in a multi-channel scaler controlled by a personal computer, and they were analyzed to obtain prompt neutron decay constant (#alpha#) and reactivity with consideration of dead time of detector. It was found that #alpha# could be obtained almost in a real-time even for both positive and negative reactivities by the present experimental technique. (author).
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a central role in activation of first-line defenses of a host against foreign organisms. To determine whether Brucella infection modulated TNF-alpha production,...Full Text Available
The reactions of alpha particles on natural abundance chromium have been studied between 40 and 110 MeV, in order to produce "5"2Fe for medical use. The yield of the reaction "5"2Cr(#alpha#,4n)"5"2Fe for Esub(#alpha#) = 85 #-># 53 MeV is only 30 #mu#Ci/#mu#Ah. (orig.).
Current applications of ..cap alpha..-particle spectrometry in post-irradiation research and reprocessing are reviewed. Implementation of procedures and techniques described in the literature to the particular samples at S.C.K./C.E.N. often results in a combined radiochemical method where ..cap alpha..-particle spectrometry is used to complement or enforce results obtained by other methods. Typical cases are reported and results obtained by different methods are compared to the results obtained by ..cap alpha..-particle spectrometry.
In the present work the excitation functions for the reactions "1"4"1Pr(#alpha#,n)"1"4"4Pm and "1"4"1Pr(#alpha#,2n)"1"4"3Pm have been measured experimentally below 50 MeV #alpha#-particle
Abstract The term -stem cell- most commonly refers to embryonic stem cells, particularly in the lay media; however, it also describes other cell types. A stem cell represents a cell of multi-lineage potential with the ability for self-renewal. It is now clear that the plasticity and immortality of a given stem cell will depend on what type of stem cell it is, whether an embryonic stem cell, a fetal-placental stem cell or an adult stem cell. Stem cells offer great promise as cell-based therapies for the future. With evolving technology, much of the socio-political debate regarding stem cells can now be avoided.
In connection with the different cyclical strengths of the two-phase (#alpha# + #beta#) titanium alloy in the case of the acicular and rounded formations of the #alpha#-phase, we have studied, employing the X-ray diffraction method, the phase composition of the alloy and the influence of heat treatment upon it. Using the method of electronic fractography, we examined the fractures in samples destroyed by the asymmetric twisting, in order to find out why the durability of the alloy is dependent upon the #alpha# - phase structure. It has been found that in the BT22 alloy, the decay the #beta#-phase may proceed in two ways; either with the formation of the martensite #alpha#'-phase of the acicular shape or with the separation of the non-martensite round-shaped #alpha#-phase. The character of the phase transformations #beta# - #alpha# or ...
The interaction between a lower hybrid wave and a fusion alpha particle displaces the alpha particle simultaneously in space and energy. This results in coupled diffusion. Diffusion of alphas down the density gradient could lead to their transferring energy to the wave. This could, in turn, put energy into current drive. Here we calculate numerical solutions for the alpha energy transfer and study a range of conditions that are favourable for wave amplification from alpha energy. We find that it is possible for fusion alpha particles to transfer a large fraction of their energy to the lower hybrid wave. The numerical calculation shows that the net energy transfer is not sensitive to the value of the diffusion coefficient over a wide range of practical values. An extension of this idea, the use of a lossy boundary to enhance the energy transfer, is investigated. ...
The interaction between a lower hybrid wave and a fusion alpha particle displaces the alpha particle simultaneously in space and energy. This results in coupled diffusion. Diffusion of alphas down the density gradient could lead to their transferring energy to the wave. This could, in turn, put energy into current drive. Here we calculate numerical solutions for the alpha energy transfer and study a range of conditions that are favourable for wave amplification from alpha energy. We find that it is possible for fusion alpha particles to transfer a large fraction of their energy to the lower hybrid wave. The numerical calculation shows that the net energy transfer is not sensitive to the value of the diffusion coefficient over a wide range of practical values. An extension of this idea, the use of a lossy boundary to enhance the energy transfer, is investigated. ...
The interaction between a lower hybrid wave and a fusion alpha particle displaces the alpha particle simultaneously in space and energy. This results in coupled diffusion. Diffusion of alphas down the density gradient could lead to their transferring energy to the wave. This could, in turn, put energy into current drive. An initial analytic study was done by Fisch and Rax. Here the authors calculate numerical solutions for the alpha energy transfer and study a range of conditions that are favorable for wave amplification from alpha energy. They find that it is possible for fusion alpha particles to transfer a large fraction of their energy to the lower hybrid wave. The numerical calculation shows that the net energy transfer is not sensitive to the value of the diffusion coefficient over a wide range of practical values. An extension of this idea, the use of a ...
The experiments show that the fluence threshold of 316L SS irradiated by 1.8 MeV alpha particle is between (0.8655-1.3457) x 10"1"8 #alpha#/cm"2, and the threshold decreases in the 1.5 MeV and 1.0 MeV alpha particle irradiation. For the solid solution samples irradiated by 1.5 MeV alpha particle, the threshold is below 0.5595 x 10"1"8#alpha#/cm"2, and for the 20% cold-worked sample, the threshold is between (0.8595-0.5063) x 10"1"8 #alpha#/cm"2. In 1.0 MeV alpha particle irradiation, the threshold for the solid solution sample and 20% cold-worked sample is between (0.3073-0.1024) x 10"1"8 #alpha#/cm"2 and (0.4108-0.3063) x 10"1"8 #alpha#/cm"2 respectively. The difference of threshold of the two kinds of samples shows that the 20% cold-working can influence the occurrence of blistering
The "2H(#alpha#,p#alpha#)n reaction was investigated in a kinematically complete experiment with a #alpha#-beam at energy 27.2 MeV.The "5He excited state was observed and its parameters were determinate.Coincidence spectra were fitted by contribution of sequential decay through the "5He ground and excited states.The best agreement with the data was obtained assuming the following "5He excited state parameters: E_a_n=2.8 MeV #GAMMA#=2.5 MeV.
Phase transformations occuring during cold deformation in hardened #alpha#+#beta# titanium alloy of the Ti-Al-Mo-Zr-Sn-Si system with 10% summary content of alloying elements are studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. Two stages of trapsformation of metastable #alpha#''-phase are found. A conclusiop is made that ability of the alloy containing #alpha#''-phase to cold deformation is determined by the presence of favourable texture, by high degree of metastability and by volume portion of #alpha#''-phase in the alloy structure.
The neutron transition multipole moment, M/sub n/, for (0"+#->#2"+, 1.84 MeV) transition is inferred by measuring the (#alpha#,#alpha#') angular distribution at E/sub #alpha#/ = 50 MeV and comparing it with a microscopic distorted-wave Born approximation calculation. Proton transition densities are taken from electron scattering data. M/sub n//M/sub p/ is found to be substantially less than N/Z in agreement with the (p,p') result.
In the case of inelastic scattering of alpha particles to the 3"+ state, the averaged angular distributions show a characteristic shape, corresponding to the excitation of such an unnatural parity state by alpha particles in the compound nucleus process. The modified Hauser-Feshbach cross-section calculations give a good description of the averaged distributions for the alpha particle scattering to the 3"+ state and the compound nucleus parameters could be extracted. The calculations of the compounds nucleus contributions to the other states in the case of 24 MeV alpha particle scattering from "2"8Si show that this contribution is not negligible and in the case of the scattering to the 4"+ state seems to be dominant. (Z.M.).
The adsorption properties of four samples of ..cap alpha..-BN were studied by means of gas chromatography. The particles of ..cap alpha..-BN particles, according to data obtained by electron microscopy, have the shape of thin platelets. A sample of ..cap alpha..-BN prepared from magnesium polyboride was found to be the most nearly homogeneous adsorbent. For a number of n-alkanes, benzene, and alkylbenzenes, data have been obtained on the retention volumes (Henry constants) and the differential heats of adsorption for surface coverages approaching zero. These thermodynamic data on the adsorption showed that ..cap alpha..-BN, like graphitized thermal carbon black, is a nonspecific adsorbent.
Both microstructural graded and homogenous single-phase #alpha#-Sialon is obtained from Si_3N_4 powder for a broad range of compositions of practical interest. Elongated grains of #alpha#-Sialon could be developed in the monophase material by controlled mechanism of nucleation and growth. Tailoring of microstructure was realized through slow transformation reaction from Si_3N_4 to #alpha#-Sialon at lower temperature than sintering temperature when the composition is near the #alpha#-Sialon phase boundary. The mechanical properties are strongly correlated with the microstructure and are enhanced greatly in the optimized Sialon composition. (author)
The present study has examined for #alpha#/#beta#-Ti alloys the relationship between the morphology and crystallography of Widmanstaetten plates of #alpha#-Ti in colonies within a prior grain of #beta#-Ti. Thus, optical metallography, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy have been used to characterize the morphological features of the microstructure, whereas orientation-imaging microscopy (OM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been employed to reveal crystallographic information. It has been discovered that within a prior #beta#-Ti grain, although the growth direction of the Widmanstaetten plates in given colonies may differ by large angles from #alpha#-plates in other colonies, they may exhibit very close crystallographic relationships. For example, inclined #alpha#-plates may share common basal planes and be related by a rotation of #approx#10.5 deg. about ...
The "7Be(#alpha#,#gamma#)"1"1C and "7Li(#alpha#,#gamma#)"1"1B reactions are investigated in the three-cluster Generator Coordinate Method. The microscopic wave functions are described from #alpha# and "3He ("3H) clusters, with two coupling modes: #alpha#+"7Be ("7Li) and "3He ("3H)+"8Be. Different internal states of "7Be ("7Li) and "8Be are taken into account. The model is tested on "1"1C and "1"1B spectroscopic properties, which agree fairly well with experiment. We suggest that, in both nuclei, the (3)/(2)"- and (5)/(2)"- states located close to the #alpha#+"7Be ("7Li) threshold, are intruder states. The "7Be(#alpha#,#gamma#)"1"1C and "7Li(#alpha#,#gamma#)"1"1B reaction rates are calculated for temperatures up to 10"9 K. A strong enhancement is found with respect to the reaction rates currently used in astrophysical calculations. ((orig.)).
Ca #alpha#-sialon is a high hardness material that exhibits in-situ growth of elongated grains during pressureless sintering. This potentially gives the material very good fracture toughness. This paper examined the effects of a number of variables on microstructural development during sintering. The effect of composition was investigated by studying seven different compositions. Densification was seen to be hindered in compositions that produced only small quantities of liquid phase during sintering. Elongated #alpha#-sialon was observed in all the compositions. It was in combination with equiaxed #alpha#--sialon in low liquid compositions, but only elongated #alpha#-sialon was present in the liquid rich compositions. The effects of using P-Si_3N_4 instead of #alpha#-Si_3N_4 starting powders were also examined. Compositions using only #alpha#-S_3N_4 and those ...
Let $M$ be a complex manifold of complex dimension $n+k$. We say that the functions $u_1,...s,u_k$ and the vector fields $\\xi_1,...,\\xi_k$ on $M$ form a \\emph{complex gradient system} if $\\xi_1,...,\\xi_k,J\\xi_1,...,J\\xi_k$ are linearly independent at each point $p\\in M$ and generate an integrable distribution of $TM$ of dimension $2k$ and $du_\\alpha(\\xi_\\beta)=0$, $\\d^c\\u_\\alpha(\\xi_\\beta)=\\delta_{\\alpha\\beta}$ for $\\alpha,\\beta=1,...,k$. We prove a Cauchy theorem for such complex gradient systems with initial data along a $\\CR-$submanifold of type $(\\CRdim,\\CRcodim)$. We also give a complete local characterization for the complex gradient systems which are \\emph{holomorphic} and \\emph{abelian}, which means that the vector fields $\\xi_\\alpha^c=\\xi_\\alpha-J\\xi_\\beta$, $\\alpha=1,...,k$ are holomorphic and satisfy ...
Traditionally wafer bumps are made from Pb containing solders. Over 20 years ago IBM recognized that {sup 210}Pb has a decay chain resulting in a 5.4 MeV alpha particle that induces soft errors. A variety of efforts to produce and characterize low alpha Pb ensued. Work at Honeywell over the past several years has shown that low alpha lead activity does not follow the decay signature predicted from {sup 210}Pb secular equilibrium. Data are presented indicating that smelting has a minimal effect on {sup 210}Pb/{sup 210}Po secular equilibrium and that other trace radionuclides are the alpha source. The implications of these data to possible alpha emitter sources in lead free solders are discussed, along with a method developed by Honeywell to remove alpha emitters from lead free solder components.
The sequence segment 181-200 of the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) #alpha#subunit forms a binding site for #alpha#-bungarotoxin (#alpha#-BTX). Synthetic peptides corresponding to the homologous sequences of human, calf, mouse, chicken, frog, and cobra muscle nAChR #alpha#1 subunits were tested for their ability to bind "1"2"5I-#alpha#-BTX, and differences in #alpha#-BTX affinity were determined by using solution (IC_5_0s) and solid-phase (K_ds) assays. Panels of overlapping peptides corresponding to the complete #alpha#1 subunit of mouse and human were also tested for #alpha#-BTX binding, but other sequence segments forming the #alpha#-BTX site were not consistently detectable. The role of a putative vicinal disulfide bound between Cys-192 and -193, relative to the Torpedo sequence, ...
Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) are multipotent progenitor cells that have transient immunomodulatory properties on Natural Killer (NK) cells, Dendritic Cells (DC), and T cells. This...Full Text Available
Changes in the phosphate metabolism of the transplanted SCCVII (squamous cell carcinoma VII) tumor were studied before and after irradiation using in vivo [sup 31]P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Phosphocreatine (PCr), [gamma]-, [alpha]-, [beta]-ATP, inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphomonoester (PME), and phosphodiester (PDE) were detected in [sup 31]P-MR spectra of tumor tissues. The curve fitting method was employed for calculating each peak of [sup 31]P-MR spectra (PCr, [beta]-ATP, Pi, PME, PDE). The values of PCr, PCr/Pi, [beta]-ATP/Pi and pH decreased in proportion to the growth of tumor, whereas that of Pi, PME and PDE increased. But the changes of [beta]-ATP were minimal in degree. Based on the fact that the ratio of PCr/Pi highly correlated with tumor volume and showed the most remarkable change among various parameters, it might be the useful index for the tumor growth. Because the phospholipid metabolite PME was detected in the ...
L-[3-"1"8F]-#alpha#-methyltyrosine ("1"8F-FMT) is an amino-acid tracer for positron-emission tomography (PET). We have conducted a clinicopathologic study to elucidate the correlation of angiogenesis with "1"8F-FMT and 2-["1"8F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ("1"8F-FDG) uptake in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thirty-seven NSCLC patients were enrolled in this study, and two PET studies with "1"8F-FMT and "1"8F-FDG were performed. Uptake of PET tracers was evaluated with standardized uptake value. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD31, CD34, L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) and Ki-67 labeling index of the resected tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining, and correlated with the clinicopathologic variables and the uptake of PET tracers. The median VEGF rate was 45% (range, 10-78%). High expression was seen in 30 patients (81%, 30/37). VEGF expression was statistically associated with progressively ...
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a promising binary treatment modality for high-grade primary brain tumors (glioblastoma multiforme, GM) and other cancers. BNCT employs a boron-10 containing compound that preferentially accumulates in the cancer cells in the brain. Upon neutron capture by {sup 10}B energetic alpha particles and triton released at the absorption site kill the cancer cell. In order to gain penetration depth in the brain Fairchild proposed, for this purpose, the use of energetic epithermal neutrons at about 10 keV. Phase I/II clinical trials of BNCT for GM are underway at the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor (BMRR) and at the MIT Reactor, using these nuclear reactors as the source for epithermal neutrons. In light of the limitations of new reactor installations, e.g. cost, safety and licensing, and limited capability for modulating the reactor based neutron beam energy spectra alternative neutron ...
Porcine pancreatic lipase immobilized on celite particles has been employed as a catalyst for the esterification of dodecanol and decanoic acid in a predominantly organic system. Solvent influence on the equilibrium position and on the catalyst activity has been studied using 20 solvents, including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers, ketones, nitro- and halogenated hydrocarbons, and esters. The equilibrium constant for esterification correlates well with the solubility of water in the organic solvent, which in turn shows a good relationship with a function of Guttman's donor number and the electron pair acceptance index number of the solvent. This may be rationalized in terms of the requirements for solvation of water and of the reactants. The catalyst activity, measured as the initial rate of the esterification reaction, is best correlated as a function of both n-octanol-water partition coefficient (log P) and either the electron pair acceptance index or ...
The theory of ..cap alpha.. decay in first-order perturbation theory is presented. The theory is designed for a strongly deformed nucleus in an isomeric state which changes its deformation dynamically through decay from a very deformed to an almost spherical shape. It is shown that other channels are not coupled to the ..cap alpha.. channel in first-order perturbation theory. The collective degrees of freedom of the daughter nucleus are described by shape vibrational states, eigenstates of a Hamiltonian whose potential has two minima. The parent nucleus is described by dynamically coupling the vibrational degrees of freedom to the ..cap alpha..-particle motion and also taking rotations into account. The ..cap alpha.. particle is taken to be a point-like particle. The theory is applied to the ..cap alpha.. decay of the isomeric state of /sub 95//sup 242/Am.
An experiment on the K#beta#/K#alpha# characteristic X-ray intensity ratio in silver was performed at VEC Centre, Calcutta using the #alpha#-beams at energies 40 MeV and 50 MeV employing a Si(Li) detector system on-line. The results show that the K#beta#/K#alpha# X-ray intensity ratio at energies 40 and 50 MeV are 0.215 #+-# 0.006 and 0.216 #+-# 0.006, respectively, which indicates no change with beam energy and in accordance with the earlier reports. The present experiment shows the feasibility of studying the K#beta#/K#alpha# ratios as a function of beam energy in different regions of periodic table. Experiments in elements belonging to the 3d shell and their compounds are suggested to look for the chemical effects and their dependence on #alpha#-energy. (author). 7 refs.
A LLX procedure for carrier-free separation of the radioisotopes, {sup 47}Sc, {sup 48}V and {sup 48},{sup 49},{sup 51}Cr, the 40 MeV {alpha}-particle activation products of titanium has been developed. Sequential separations of the radionuclides produced in the titanium matrix through the nuclear reactions ({alpha}, {alpha}p{chi}n), ({alpha}, p{chi}n) and {alpha}, ({chi}n) have been performed through LLX from aqueous H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} and HClO{sub 4} acid media using the liquid cation exchanger, HDEHP, as an extractant. Purity of the carrier-free radiotracers at different stages of their separations has been verified by {gamma}-ray spectrometry. (author).
The high-frequency data from 12 sensors at the ITCE 1976 are analyzed to determine the Kolmogoroff constants for velocity, temperature and humidity fluctuations, ..cap alpha../sub u/, ..cap alpha../sub T/, and ..cap alpha../sub q/. The occurrence of aliasing in the spectral analysis in some cases together with the limited response of some sensors at the higher frequencies introduces some uncertainties into the analysis. The Soviet sonic anemometer, fine-wire thermometer and infrared hygrometer and the Australian infrared hygrometer provide the best information, namely that: ..cap alpha../sub u/ = 0.59 +/- 0.01, ..cap alpha../sub T/ = 0.68 +/- 0.02, ..cap alpha../sub q/ = 0.76 +/- 0.03, where the errors quoted refer solely to statistical errors. The other instruments provide general support to these values. The technique of using spectral density measurements to ...
Quantitative analytical electron microscopy study of dopant distribution in the microstructure of selected Nd-#alpha#-sialon samples revealed the presence of relatively large amounts of glassy phase at quadruple pockets, which exhibited a common composition similar to a melilite solution. Al segregants were depleted from adjacent grain boundaries to satisfy the 'stoichiometry' of such glass. Existence of this glass results in significant deviation of the Nd-#alpha#-sialon composition from the expected values, which shifts the #alpha#-#beta#-sialon phase boundary. Only extra Nd_2O_3 additives enable a monolithic #alpha#-sialon microstructure. The absence of similar glass in Yb-#alpha#-sialon materials keeps the phase relations from such deviations.
The relative merits and difficlties of the primary and secondry origin hypotheses for the observed cosmic-ray antiprotons, including the new low-energy measurement of Buffington, et al are discussed. We conclude that the cosmic-ray antiproton data may be evidence for antimatter galaxies and baryon symmetric cosmology. The present bar P data are consistent with a primary extragalactic component having /p /equiv 1+/- 3.2/0.7x10 to the -4 independent of energy. We propose that the primary extragalactic cosmic ray antiprotons are most likely from active galaxies and that expected disintegration of bar alpha/alpha ban alpha/alpha. We further predict a value for ban alpha/alpha /equiv 10 to the -5, within range of future cosmic ray detectors.
Motivation: Automatic recognition of cell identities is critical for quantitative measurement, targeting and manipulation of cells of model animals at single-cell resolution. It has been...Full Text Available
Results of an experimental study of the interaction of 140 MeV alpha particles with /sup 90/Zr nuclei resulting in fragmentation of the alpha particle are reported. The experimental observations of the study are analyzed and are found to show that alpha particle breakup reactions leading to at least 4-body final states, composed of two charged alpha particle fragments, contribute significantly to the singles yield of charged fragments observed at a fixed forward angle. The conclusions are based on coincidence measurements where one charged fragment is detected at a small forward angle which remains fixed, while the second charged fragment is detected at a series of coplanar secondary angles. The largest coincidence charged particle yield for the multiparticle final state events results from /sup 90/Zr(..cap alpha..,pp)X reactions, where both of the measured protons have energy ...
Results of an experimental study of the interaction of 140 MeV alpha particles with _9_0Zr nuclei resulting in fragmentation of the alpha particle are reported. The experimental observations of the study are analyzed and are found to show that alpha particle breakup reactions leading to at least 4-body final states, composed of two charged alpha particle fragments, contribute significantly to the singles yield of charged fragments observed at a fixed forward angle. The conclusions are based on coincidence measurements where one charged fragment is detected at a small forward angle which remains fixed, while the second charged fragment is detected at a series of coplanar secondary angles. The largest coincidence charged particle yield for the multiparticle final state events results from _9_0Zr(#alpha#,pp)X reactions, where both of the measured protons have energy distributions ...
The high frequency, low mode number toroidicity-induced Alfven eigenmodes (TAE) are shown to be driven unstable by the circulating and/or trapped {alpha}-particles through the wave-particle resonances. Satisfying the resonance condition requires that the {alpha}-particle birth speed v{sub {alpha}} {ge} v{sub A}/2{vert bar}m-nq{vert bar}, where v{sub A} is the Alfven speed, m is the poloidal model number, and n is the toroidal mode number. To destabilize the TAE modes, the inverse Landau damping associated with the {alpha}-particle pressure gradient free energy must overcome the velocity space Landau damping due to both the {alpha}-particles and the core electrons and ions. The growth rate was studied analytically with a perturbative formula derived from the quadratic dispersion relation, and numerically with the aid of the NOVA-K code. Stability criteria in terms of the ...
There is very little known about the long-term evolution of the MHC and MHC-like molecules. This is because both the theory (the evolutionary questions and models) and the practice (the animals systems, functional assays and reagents to identify and characterize these molecules) have been difficult to develop. There is no molecular evidence yet to decide whether vertebrate immune systems (and particularly the MHC molecules) are evolutionarily related to invertebrate allorecognition systems, and the functional evidence can be interpreted either way. Even among the vertebrates, there is great heterogeneity in the quality and quantity of the immune response. The functional evidence for T-lymphocyte function in jawless and cartilagenous fish is poor, while the bony fish seem to have many characteristics of a mammalian immune system. The organization and sequence of fish Ig genes also indicate that important events in the evolution of the immune system and the MHC occurred in the fish, but ...
The 2- and 8-azido trimer 5'-triphosphate photoprobes of 2-5A have been enzymatically synthesized from [#gamma#-"3"2P]2-azidoATP and [#alpha#-"3"2P]8-azidoAPT by 2-5A synthetase from rabbit reticulocyte lysates. Identification and structural determination of the 2- and 8-azido adenylate trimer 5'-triphosphates were accomplished by enzymatic hydrolyses with T2 RNase, snake venom phosphodiesterase, and bacterial alkaline phosphatase. Hydrolysis products were identified by HPLC and PEI-cellulose TLC analyses. The 8-azido photoprobe of 2-5A displaces p_3A_4["3"2P]pCp from RNase L with affinity equivalent to p_3A_3. The 8-azido photoprobe also activates RNase L to hydrolyze poly(U)["3"2P]pCp 50% at 7 /times/ 10/sup /minus/9/ M in core-cellulose assays. The 2- and 8-azido photoprobes and authentic p_3A_3 activate RNase L to cleave 28S and 18S rRNA to specific cleavage products at 10/sup /minus/9/ M in rRNA cleavage assays. The nucleotide binding site(s) of RNase L and/or ...
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The capacity to maintain internal ion homeostasis amidst changing conditions is particularly important for teleost fishes whose reproductive cycle is dependent upon movement from freshwater to seawater. Although the physiology of seawater osmoregulation in mitochondria-rich cells of fish gill epithelium is well understood, less is known about the underlying causes of inter- and intraspecific variation in salinity tolerance. We used a genome-scan approach in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) correlated with variation in four salinity tolerance performance traits and six body size traits. Comparative genomics approaches allowed us to infer whether allelic variation at candidate gene loci (e.g., ATP1alpha1b, NKCC1, CFTR, and cldn10e) could have underlain observed variation. RESULTS: Combined parental analyses yielded genome-wide significant QTL on linkage groups 8, 14 and 20 for salinity ...
1. The stereospecificity of the enantiomers of LY253352, a potent and selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, were studied in the human prostate and canine brain using radioligand receptor binding...Full Text Available
Angiokeratoma corporis diffusum with glycopeptiduria is a recently recognized inborn error of glycoprotein catabolism resulting from the deficient activity of human alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (E.C....Full Text Available
Treatment of male rat pups from five to 34 days of age with dihydrotestosterone or 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, resulted in reduced testicular size at 35 days of age. This appeared to be...Full Text Available
N alpha-Acetylenkephalin carboxypeptidase was co-purified with N-acetyltyrosine deacetylase from monkey kidney. Almost 90% of the activity from the homogenate was recovered in a high-speed supernatant...Full Text Available
Serum protein and lipid concentrations as well as the serum protein binding of propranolol, diazepam and phenytoin were measured in normal weight and obese volunteers. Concentrations of alpha 1-acid...Full Text Available
alpha-actinins are actin microfilament crosslinking proteins. Vertebrate actinins fall into two classes: the broadly-expressed actinins 1 and 4 (actn1 and actn4)...Full Text Available
A total of 262 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the mammary gland of dairy cows were examined for the production of alpha-hemolysin. Strains were cultured in a liquid medium of casein...Full Text Available
Probabilistic sensitivities using the score function method are developed for a lifing analysis of an alpha + beta titanium alloy in a round bar under axial fatigue load. Sensitivities with respect to the statistical inputs of the crack initiation size (a...
Optimization of radiation shielding for a medium energy accelerator with 60 MeV alpha ions is carried out using the cost-benefit approach. Cost optimum shield thicknesses are estimated for different operating conditions of the accelerator. (author). 5 refs, 1 tab.
1. In normal rats and rats with bladder hypertrophy secondary to outflow obstruction, undergoing continuous cytometry, we examined the responses to the selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist doxazosin...Full Text Available
Of the many ways of detecting high redshift galaxies, the selection of objects due to their redshifted Ly-alpha emission has become one of the most successful. But what types of galaxies are selected in this way? Until recently, Ly-alpha emitters were understood to be small star-forming galaxies, possible building-blocks of larger galaxies. But with increased number of observations of Ly-alpha emitters at lower redshifts, a new picture emerges. Ly-alpha emitters display strong evolution in their properties from higher to lower redshift. It has previously been shown that the fraction of ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) among the Ly-alpha emitters increases dramatically between redshift three and two. Here, the fraction of AGN among the LAEs is shown to follow a similar evolutionary path. We argue that Ly-alpha emitters are not a homogeneous class of ...
Since a large body of data has suggested a significant role for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the regulation of the immune response at a number of levels, we examined the possibility of a specific receptor...Full Text Available
Dysprosium #alpha#-sialon ceramic has been fabricated from #alpha#-Si_3N_4, AlN, Al_2O_3 and Dy_2O_3 starting powders, using gas pressure sintering at 1800 deg C or higher temperatures under a relatively low gas pressure of 0.9MPa N_2. The resultant #alpha#-sialon grains showed significantly different features, such as equiaxed, elongated, and even a few extraordinarily large with high aspect ratio grains in the fine matrix, which has rarely been observed in #alpha#' ceramics. It is suggested that the temperature strongly influences the grain morphologies of #alpha#-sialon, playing an important role particularly in the latter stage of the 'nucleation-growth' process. Such a microstructural morphology of mixed with equiaxed and elongated grains toughens the #alpha#-sialon ceramics and leaves them still hard. Overly high temperature treatment leads to the ...
Experimental, relative intensities for the components of L X-ray were collected from literature, and atomic-number dependency of L#beta#/L#alpha# has been found. (author).
The in vitro antibacterial activities of the newly developed 7 alpha-methoxy cephalosporins and 7 beta-methoxyiminoacetamido cephalosporins against 67 clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis and their...Full Text Available
A process is claimed for selectively preparing alpha-olefins having from 2 to about 22 carbon atoms by contacting a gaseous mixture containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen with an iron titanate alkali metal hydroxide catalyst at reaction conditions correlated so as to favor the formation of a substantial proportion of such alpha-olefin product.
Several investigations suggested abnormalities in circadian rhythms are related to the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, including drug addiction. Recently, orphan nuclear receptor rev-erb alpha...Full Text Available
In nuclear fuel with a burn-up of 33 kg/t U and 52 kg/t U 15 transuranium nuclides /sup 237/Np to /sup 246/Cm have been determined by alpha and gamma spectroscopy after radiochemical separation.
Alpha-hemoglobin-stabilizing protein (AHSP) is an erythroid-specific protein that acts as a molecular chaperone for the free α chains of hemoglobin. Evidence strongly suggests...Full Text Available
Multi-cation #alpha#-Sialon ceramics were prepared using mixtures of samarium with calcium, magnesium, yttrium and ytterbium, and compared with a pure Sm-Sialon of equivalent total stabilising cation composition. A ratio of 80eq% samarium to 20eq% of the second stabilising additive was used. Samples were fired at 1820 deg C and subsequently heat treated at 1450 deg C. XRD phase analysis showed that all additives resulted in greater #alpha#-Sialon stability, and that calcium was the most effective additive for the stabilisation of the #alpha#-Sialon phase. Copyright (1998) Australasian Ceramic Society
At the RIKEN-RAL Muon Facility, {mu}{sup -} to {alpha} sticking K{sub {beta}} X-rays were observed for the first time taking advantage of the pulsed beam structure. The precision of the present measurements was insufficient to distinguish between theoretical models, however the observed K{sub {beta}}/K{sub {alpha}} X-ray intensity ratio tends to be smaller than most of these theoretical predictions.
Alpha particle confinement is necessary for ignition of a D-T tokamak fusion plasma and for first wall protection. Due to high radiation backgrounds and temperatures, scintillators and semiconductor detectors may not be used to study alpha particles which are lost to the first wall during the D-T programs on JET and ITER. An alternative method of charged particle spectrometry capable of operation in these harsh environments, is proposed: it consists of thin foils of electrically isolated conductors with the flux of alpha particles determined by the positive current flowing from the foils. 2 refs., 3 figs.
Nucleosynthesis and energy production in stellar environments depend critically on nuclear reaction cross sections. Reactions induced by alpha particles are important in the helium burning stage of stars, novae, and supernovae events. They involve light to medium weight nuclei up to about Z=32, and center-of-mass energies up to about 20 MeV. We are working on a project to compile and evaluate cross section data for alpha-induced reactions. These data will eventually be used to derive #alpha#-nucleus potential parameters. (author)
The possibilities, advantages, and difficulties of determining nuclear matter densities by elastic scattering of alpha-particles are generally discussed. On the basis of particular experimental data - 104 MeV alpha-particle scattering from "4"0,"4"2,"4"4,"4"8Ca - a refined folded potential is introduced using a density-dependent alpha-nucleon-interaction and target nucleus densities described by Fourier-Bessel-series. Thereby, the total nucleon densities of these isotopes were determined with little model dependence. The resulting root-mean-square radii and density differences are compared with other experimental results obtained by different methods. (orig.).
PURPOSE: To determine the recommended dose of radiotherapy when combined with full-dose gemcitabine and erlotinib for unresected pancreas cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with unresected pancreatic cancer (Zubrod performance status 0-2) were eligible for the present study. Gemcitabine was given weekly for 7 weeks (1,000 mg/m(2)) with erlotinib daily for 8 weeks (100 mg). A final toxicity assessment was performed in Week 9. Radiotherapy (starting at 30 Gy in 2-Gy fractions, 5 d/wk) was given to the gross tumor plus a 1-cm margin starting with the first dose of gemcitabine. A standard 3 plus 3 dose escalation (an additional 4 Gy within 2 days for each dose level) was used, except for the starting dose level, which was scheduled to contain 6 patients. In general, Grade 3 or greater gastrointestinal toxicity was considered a dose-limiting toxicity, except for Grade 3 anorexia or Grade 3 fatigue alone. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients were treated (10 men and 10 ...
The aim of this study was to compare multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) findings between cases of sclerosing cholangitis with autoimmune pancreatitis (SC-AIP) and infiltrative extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IEC). We retrospectively assessed MDCT findings from 16 IEC cases and 13 SC-AIP cases. MDCT findings were analyzed with regard to location, length, wall thickness, contour, stricture wall enhancement pattern, proximal duct diameter, and the presence of diffuse concentric thickening in the proximal duct and gallbladder wall thickness. Stricture length, stricture wall thickness, and proximal duct diameter were significantly smaller for SC-AIP than for IEC: 19.3#+-#8.7 vs. 31.8#+-#12.0 mm (P=0.004), 2.1#+-#1.3 vs. 4.1#+-#1.3 mm (P<0.001), and 9.2#+-#3.9 vs. 13.3#+-#5.0 mm (P=0.012), respectively. SC-AIP was correlated with stricture location in both the intrapancreatic and hilar hepatic bile ducts, concentric stricture contour (P<0.001), and ...
The TTT diagrams describing the beta to alpha isothermal transformation have been made by isothermal dilatometry for pure uranium and 21 alloys based on chromium, silicon, molybdenum, iron, aluminium, zirconium. The thermal cycle preceeding the isothermal...
The influence of structure on mechanical properties in the course of tensile tests in a wide range of temperatures was studied, using the VT16 structure thermally strengthened (alpha+beta)-titanium alloy by way of example. It is ascertained that transition from ductile to brittle fracture at the temperature of -196 deg C is observed only in coarse-grain alloy having alpha-eldging of beta grains.
Immobilization of long-lived fission products (LLFP) such as radioactive Tc, Cs and Sr into #alpha#-SiAlON ceramics was evaluated using stable isotopes instead of radioactive isotopes, and the applicability of #alpha#-SiAlON ceramics as the inert matrix for transmutation of LLFP was investigated. In the case of single addition of SrO, SrCO_3, Cs_2CO_3 or ReO_2 to the starting materials, #alpha#-SiAlON, single phase was not formed after hot-pressing. When Y_2O_3 was added with SrO, SrCO_3 or Cs_2CO_3 to the starting materials (#alpha#-Si_3N_4, AlN and #alpha#-Al_2O_3) in optimum compositions, #alpha#-SiAlON single phase was obtained after hot-pressing at 1700degC or 1800degC. From the EDS analysis, Sr and Y were detected from grains. It is suggested that Y would assist the expansion of interstices of #alpha#-SiAlON lattice, resulting in the ...
We studied telomeric DNA in leukemic cells as well as in normal T cells, B cells, monocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells. No marked differences were...Full Text Available
We develop the formalism of a unified semi-microscopic description of low-energy proton and {alpha}-particle interaction with nuclei. We analyze elastic and inelastic proton scattering at the energy 25.05 MeV and {alpha}-particle scattering at the energy 104 MeV by the {sup 90}Zr nucleus. Information is obtained on differences in the deformation of the proton and neutron distributions. We study the energy dependence of the semi-microscopic {alpha}-particle potential including the energy dependence of the potential geometry.'' We analyze the change in angular distributions of elastically scattered {alpha} particles with increase of energy and the contribution to the scattering cross section from nucleon-nucleon correlations.
The neutron transition multipole moment, M/sub n/, for (0/sup +/..-->..2/sup +/, 1.84 MeV) transition is inferred by measuring the (..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..') angular distribution at E/sub ..cap alpha../ = 50 MeV and comparing it with a microscopic distorted-wave Born approximation calculation. Proton transition densities are taken from electron scattering data. M/sub n//M/sub p/ is found to be substantially less than N/Z in agreement with the (p,p') result.
Proton and alpha decay from the giant resonance region of {sup 28}Si excited with a 129 MeV alpha particle beam has been measured in coincidence with inelastic alpha particles detected at 0{degree}. The angular correlation data show the presence of decay from both {ital E}0 and {ital E}2 giant resonances. The {ital E}0 giant resonance decays primarily through the {alpha}{sub 0}, {alpha}{sub 1}, {ital p}{sub 0}, and {ital p}{sub 1,2} channels with the branching ratios 18{plus minus}6 %, 24{plus minus}8 %, 23{plus minus}9 %, and 18{plus minus}8 %, respectively. Substantial direct decay is observed.
Comparisons of calculated neutron yield distributions from #alpha#-particle induced reactions on thick targets are made with measured data to analyze the initial reaction process in the framework of the exciton (hybrid) model code ALICE91 (M. Blann, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Report UCID 19614, 1982). We have considered two reaction mechanisms: dissolution of the #alpha# in the nuclear field, and preequilibrium processes initiated by #alpha#-nucleon collisions. Both these processes seem to contribute to the emitted neutron spectra in varying proportions depending on the incident #alpha# energy and possibly on the target nucleus. Contributions from other processes appear to be non-negligible.
Differential cross sections of the (#alpha#, t) reactions on "4"5Sc, "5"1V, and "5"9Co nuclei are measured in the 10-71 deg, 10-155 deg, and 10-171 deg angular ranges, respectively, with 27.2 MeV alpha particles. The cross sections have also been calculated on the basis of the distorted wave theory. The possibility of an unambiguous choice of the optical potential for alpha particles is discussed. The angular distribution calculations using several combinations of the optical potentials in the inlet and outlet channels of the reactions show that consistence between the calculations and the measurements is achieved (especially in angular range, less than 90 deg, if one of the potentials is chosen to be a sufficiently deep one.
"2"7Al and "2"9Si solid-state NMR spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns were obtained for #alpha#-SiAlON powders prepared by combustion synthesis, according to which the phase transformation and structure evolution of #alpha#-SiAlON were studied. It was found that in #alpha#-SiAlON "2"9Si chemical shift values (-48 < #delta# _S_i < -47) were close to those in #beta#-Si_3N_4 and #alpha#-Si_3N_4, indicating that Si atoms kept SiN_4 coordination to a large extent in #alpha#-SiAlON despite the presence of O atoms. Dissimilarly, "2"7Al chemical shift values in #alpha#-SiAlON deviated clearly from that corresponding to AlN_4 coordination (#delta# _A_l #approx# 112) and occurred in a range from #delta# _A_l 95.5 to 99.9, which should be assigned to tetrahedral AlO _xN_4_-_x (0 #<=# x #<=# 4) coordination. The broadening effect of AlO _xN_4_-_x peaks ...
Using conventional deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS), we have characterized the defects introduced in OMVPE n-GaAs at 15 K by 5.4 MeV alpha particle irradiation from an americium 241 radio-nuclide. After this low temperature irradiation two new defects not yet reported for alpha irradiated GaAs before, E[alpha]7 and E[alpha]9, were detected 0.07 eV and 0.19 eV below the conduction band, respectively. The introduction rates of E[alpha]7 and E[alpha]9 are calculated to be 41 cm[sup -1] and 187 cm[sup -1] respectively. It was observed that both defects obeyed first order annealing kinetics, with E[alpha]9 being removed at 225 K and E[alpha]7 at 245 K corresponding to the well known stage I annealing region. The annealing rate of E[alpha]7 corresponds to an activation energy of 0.86 eV, with a ...
Abstract: Snake venom contains a number of small proteins,enzymes and other components,which displays a broad spectrum of biological activities. With the ability of specifically binding on acetylcholine acceptor, alpha-bungarotoxins are not only useful molecular probes in investigating the mechanism of neural signal transmission, but also potential pharmic preparations for neural disease treatment. In current research,cDNAs of Bungarus multicinutus venom gland were synthesized using SMART cDNA amplification kit and then, alpha-bungarotoxin genes were cloned and sequenced. Total of 20 clones were sequenced representing 14 isotoxin mRNAs of alpha-bungarotoxins. Among those clones, a novel isotoxin gene was subcloned into two expression plasmids, alpha-BgTX/pQE30a and alpha-BgTX/pGEX-4T-1, and transformed into E. coli. After inducing with IPTG, fused protein of ...
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) have been shown to stimulate bone resorption in vitro. We have now investigated whether these cytokines also cause a similar action when administered in vivo. This was made possible by the adaptation of a newly developed technique that enables the continual assessment of bone resorption in vivo in mice by measuring urinary excretion of {sup 3}H from ({sup 3}H)tetracycline-prelabeled animals. Experiments using maneuvers known to influence bone resorption, such as a change in dietary calcium or administration of parathyroid hormone or dichloromethylenebisphosphonate, indicate that the technique is reliable and sensitive in mice. Daily intravenous administration of either recombinant human or recombinant murine TNF-alpha, as well as subcutaneous administration of recombinant human IL-1 alpha, were found to stimulate bone resorption in a ...
The possibility of having Sr as an interstitial metal cation in #alpha#-SiAlON has been investigated in two systems: a single-cation system (Si_3N_4-SrO-AlN) and a multication system (Si_3N_4-(Y_2O_3/SrO/CaO)-AlN). It was found that Sr alone does not form #alpha#-SiAlON and that Sr could only be accommodated in #alpha#-SiAlON in conjunction with Y and Ca. The Sr content of #alpha#-SiAlON increased as the total content of (Y + Ca) increased and appeared to reach a limit at 0.5 at.%, or 0.15 atom per #alpha#-SiAlON. Unexpectedly, some of the #alpha#-SiAlON that contained (Sr + Y + Ca) was present as laths or fibers with the c-axis perpendicular to the hot-press direction.
The densification of #alpha#"1-and #alpha#"+#beta#"1-sialon ceramics has been studied by means of in situ dilatometry. It is seen that the densification is greatly affected by the reaction sequences and the grain growth. The formation and densification of sialons start simultaneously as the dissolution of nitrides into the oxide eutectic liquid phase occurs. The formation of sialons is complete at 1800 deg C., while full densification can only be obtained by using gas pressure sintering. The typical microstructure of both #alpha#"'-and mixed #alpha#'+#beta#'-sialon ceramics consists of a crystalline phase of sialons and a small fraction of amorphous phase at grain boundaries. Vickers hardness (HV0.5) was measured by using the indentation technique, and the biaxial bending strength (#sigma#_b_i) was determined with the 'ball-on-ring' test. Fracture toughness was determined by using both the indentation ...
Rare earth stabilised #alpha#-SiAlONs are commonly observed with an equiaxed grain morphology. Elongated #alpha#-SiAlON has been observed in some of these systems, however it usually results from special techniques such as pressure sintering. The formation of elongated #alpha#-SiAlON grains during pressureless sintering has been shown to commonly occur in the Ca #alpha#-SiAlON system. Examination of phase and microstructural development in three Ca #alpha#-SiAlON compositions in the temperature range 1400 deg to 1800 deg C showed that phase development and grain growth occurred at different temperatures. It was found that chemical reactions were completed by 1550 deg C, however significant grain growth did not occur at this temperature. Grain growth progressed from 1600 deg C and continued up to 1800 deg C, the maximum temperature investigated. At 1800 deg C, ...
The traditional view that Ly-alpha emission and dust should be mutually exclusive has been questioned more and more often, notably the observations of Ly-alpha emission from ULIRGs seems to counter this view. In this paper we seek to address the reverse question: How large a fraction of Ly-alpha selected galaxies are ULIRGs? Using two samples of 24/25 Ly-alpha emitting galaxies at z = 0.3/2.3 we perform this test, also including results at z = 3.1, and find that whereas the ULIRG fraction at z = 3.1 is very small, it systematically increases towards lower redshifts. There is a hint that this evolution may be quite sudden and that it happens around a redshift of z ~ 2.5. Measuring the infrared luminosities of the Ly-alpha emitters, we find that they are in the normal to ULIRG range in the lower redshift sample, whereas the higher redshift galaxies all have luminosities in the ULIRG ...
We construct a sample of low-redshift Ly-alpha emission-line selected sources from GALEX grism spectroscopy of nine deep fields to study the role of Ly-alpha emission in galaxy populations with cosmic time. Our final sample consists of 122 (142) sources selected in the redshift interval z=0.195-0.44 (z=0.65-1.25) from the FUV (NUV) channel. We classify the Ly-alpha sources as AGNs if high-ionization emission lines are present in their UV spectra and as galaxies otherwise. These classifications are broadly supported by comparisons with X-ray and optical spectroscopic observations. We classify additional sources as AGNs using line widths for our Ly-alpha emitter (LAE) analysis. Defining the GALEX LAE sample in the same way as high-redshift LAE samples, we show that LAEs constitute only about 5% of NUV-continuum selected galaxies at z~0.3. We also show that they are less common at z~0.3 than they are at ...
Obtained experimental data on integral cross sections (ICS) of inelastic scattering of 50.5 MeV #alpha# particles with the excitation of "6","7Li, "9Be, "1"2","1"3C, "1"4C, "1"4N, "2"0Ne, "2"4Mg, "2"8Si nucleus low-lying energy levels are discussed. Regularities, detected in the behaviour of ICS forward scattering for 20-90 deg angles and backscattering for 90-160 deg angles for the target-nucleus under investigation are considered. Effect of reaction open channel number on #alpha#-particle scattering ICS where n,p,d- and #alpha#-channels were considered as the main channels for all the target-nuclei, is discussed. Dependence of #alpha#-particle scattering ICS on the target-nucleus level excitation energy and dependences of reaction open channel number on the channel spin, calculated for 50.5 MeV #alpha# particles and different target nuclei are shown in the diagrams. It is noted ...
A technique has been developed for high resolution alpha particle spectroscopy from track length determination in CR-39 plastic. On individual tracks an energy resolution deltaE close to the range straggling limit is obtainable. For 6 MeV alpha-particle deltaE is proportional 35 keV on individual particles and for groups of particles deltaE proportional 20 keV can be achieved using certain data selection criteria. At 100 keV on individual particles deltaE is proportional 20 keV. The analysis requires 1) a knowledge of the track-etch rate (Vsub(T))-range relationship and 2) a theoretical understanding of alpha-particle track structure in CR-39 as a function of particle energy, dip angle and degree of etching. The structure of alpha-particle etched tracks in CR-39 is described and two methods of analysis discussed. Examples are given of the resolution attainable on tracks of ...
The development of tough #alpha#-SiAlON with elongated grains in the last five years is summarized. This progress has been guided by the improved understanding of phase relations and nucleation/growth kinetics in SiAlON ceramics. Although most #alpha#-SiAlON compositions can be processed to contain some elongated grains, their microstructure, fracture toughness and R-curve behavior vary greatly. Such variability is due to the different phase stability of #alpha#-SiAlONs and the varying physical chemistry of the competing phases, including the transient/residual liquid. For this reason, microstructure control of #alpha#-SiAlON must pay close attention to the composition, starting powder and heating schedule. Seeding with single crystals of an appropriate #alpha#-SiAlON composition provides an attractive alternative that simplifies the task of microstructure control, since such seeds ...
The crystallography of #alpha#(hcp) precipitates formed on the #beta#(bcc) matrix grain boundaries has been studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in a Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al alloy. The #alpha# precipitates have a near-Burgers orientation relationship with respect to at least one of the adjacent #beta# grains. Among the possible 12 variants in this orientation relationship, the variant that [11 bar 20]_#alpha# is parallel to the _#beta# closest to the grain boundary plane tends to be preferred by the #alpha# precipitates. Additionally, further variant selections are made so as to minimize the deviation of orientation relationship with respect to the ''opposite'' #beta# grain from the Burgers one. Such rules in variant selection often result in the formation of precipitates with a single variant at a planar grain boundary. Prior small deformation of #beta# matrix changes the variant of ...
We have investigated the properties of nerve cell precursors in hydra by analyzing the differentiation and proliferation capacity of interstitial cells in the peduncle of Hydra oligactis, which is a region of active nerve cell differentiation. Our results indicate that about 50% of the interstitial cells in the peduncle can grow rapidly and also give rise to nematocyte precursors when transplanted into a gastric environment. If these cells were committed nerve cell precursors, one would not expect them to differentiate into nematocytes nor to proliferate apparently without limit. Therefore we conclude that cycling interstitial cells in peduncles are not intermediates in the nerve cell differentiation pathway but are stem cells. The remaining interstitial cells in the peduncle are ...
Recent studies have shown Y chromosome microdeletions associated with male infertility. The factors responsible for Y chromosome microdeletions in spermatozoa remain unresolved. However, the environmental pollutants are known to damage DNA in differentiating and maturing germ cells in the male reproductive tract. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of seminal hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and its isomers, an environmental pollutant, in 50 fertile and 50 infertile males in relation to semen quality and the incidence of Y chromosome microdeletion in azoospermic factor (AZF) region. As compared to control, an increased HCH level and significantly decreased semen quality were observed in the infertile males. A positive significant association was found between sperm count with alpha-HCH and beta-HCH in the infertile males. A negative significant association was observed between sperm counts with gamma-HCH in asthenospermia ...
The authors have used limited proteolysis of affinity-labeled estrogen receptors (ER), coupled with antireceptor antibody immunoreactivity, to assess structural features of ER and the relatedness of ER from MCF-7 human breast cancer and rat uterine cells. MCF-7 ER preparations covalently labeled with ["3H]tamoxifen aziridine (["3H]TAZ) were treated with trypsin (T), #alpha#-chymotrypsin (C), or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease prior to electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels. Fluorography revealed a distinctive ladder of ER fragments containing TAZ for each protease generated from the M/sub r/ 66,000 ER. Immunoblot detection with the primate-specific antibody D75P3#gamma# revealed that all immunoreactive fragments corresponded to TAZ-labeled fragments but that some small TAZ-labeled fragments were no longer immunoreactive. In contrast, use of the antibody H222SP#gamma# revealed a correspondence between TAZ-labeled and immunoreactive ...
Aldosterone has been suggested to elicit vessel contraction via a nongenomic mechanism. We tested this proposal in microdissected, perfused rabbit renal afferent arterioles. Aldosterone had no effect on internal diameter in concentrations from 10(-10) to 10(-5) mol/L, but aldosterone abolished the ability of 100 mmol/L KCl to induce vascular contraction. The inhibitory effect of aldosterone was observed from 1 pmol/L. The inhibitory effect was significant after 5 minutes and maximal after 20 minutes and was fully reversible. Actinomycin D (10(-6) mol/L) prolonged the effect of aldosterone. The effect was abolished by the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone (10(-7) mol/L) but not by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone (10(-6) mol/L). The K+-mediated increase of intracellular calcium concentration in afferent arterioles was not affected by aldosterone. Mineralocorticoid receptor was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and ...
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone, secreted by the syncytiotrophoblast cells of the fertilized ovum, that enters the maternal circulation at the time of endometrial implantation. It is composed of two nonidentical subunits; ..cap alpha.. and ..beta.., with molecular weights of 14 kD and 23 kD, respectively. Human chorionic gonadotropin binds to the same receptor as hLH and displays the same biological response, namely, to stimulate the declining function of the corpus luteum to produce progestins and estrogen late in the menstrual cycle. The differences in the structures of hCG and hLH have been exploited to develop antibodies that can measure hCG specifically in the presence of hLH. Two-site antibody binding assays have been developed, based on a surface immunological concept of hCG epitopes, that involve four distinct regions to which antibodies against hCG can bind simultaneously. Antibody cooperative effects, in ...
Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies are caused by defects of dystrophin, which forms a part of the membrane cytoskeleton of specialized cells such as muscle. It has been previously shown that the dystrophin-associated protein A1 (59-kDa DAP) is actually a heterogeneous group of phosphorylated proteins consisting of an acidic ({alpha}-A1) and a distinct basic ({beta}-A1) component. Partial peptide sequence of the A1 complex purified from rabbit muscle permitted the design of oligonucleotide probes that were used to isolate a cDNA for one human isoform of A1. This cDNA encodes a basic A1 isoform that is distinct from the recently described syntrophins in Torpedo and mouse and is expressed in many tissues with at least five distinct mRNA species of 5.9, 4.8, 4.3, 3.1, and 1.5 kb. A comparison of the human cDNA sequence with the GenBank expressed sequence tag (EST) data base has identified a relative from human skeletal muscle, EST25263, which ...
The objectives of this research were to investigate the possibility of controlling the #alpha#'/#beta#' phase ratio and morphology in Sialon ceramics. These objectives have been sought by the control of the starting composition, and by post sintering heat treatment. The main emphasis has been on the production of a series of #alpha#' and (#alpha#'+#beta#') Sialon ceramics with a minimum amount of the glass phase by the pressureless sintering technique and using ytterbium (Yb) as an #alpha#' stabilising element. The Yb additions were made via the oxide or the alumino- silicate presynthesised glass; the latter was found to improve the density. The XRD analysis of the as sintered materials revealed #alpha#' to be the dominant phase with minor contributions from #beta#' sialon and/ or 12H A1N polytype. Additions of SiO_2 or #beta#-Si_3N_4 were made to various materials to assess ...
A silicon solar cell assembly comprising a large, thin silicon solar cell bonded to a metal mount for use when there exists a mismatch in the thermal expansivities of the device and the mount.
Experiments were designed to elucidate whether or not the irradiated bone marrow cells receive any stimulation for the self-replication and differentiation from normal 'stromal' cell colonies in the bone marrow cell culture in vitro. When irradiated or unirradiated bone marrow cells were overlaid on the normal adherent cell colonies, the proliferation of haemopoietic stem cells was supported, the degree of the stimulation depending on the starting cellular concentration. There was, however, no significant changes in the concentration of either CFUs or CFUc regardless of the dose of irradiation on the bone marrow cells overlaid. This was a great contrast to the dose-dependent decrease of CFUs or CFUc within the culture in which both the stem cells and stromal cells were ...
Ethane oxidation was studied in ethane-grown resting cells (mycelia) of an Acremonium sp. and in cell-free preparations of such mycelia. From resting cell experiments evidence was found for a pathway...Full Text Available
In most adult tissues there reside pools of stem and progenitor cells inside specialized microenvironments referred to as niches. The niche protects the stem cells from inappropriate expansion...Full Text Available
... Fuel Cell Technologies Equipment on Environmental Expert Find and compare a variety of fuel cell technologies equipment on the world's largest environmental industry portal. View ...
Purpose.There is a paucity of neuron replacement studies for retinal ganglion cells. Given the complex phenotype of these neurons, replacement of ganglion cells may be impossible....Full Text Available
Cell cultures were prepared from lung tumors occurring in beagles following exposure to inhaled plutonium. Morphologic and growth characteristics of two of these cell lines are described.
We report the isolation of adherent, clonogenic, fibroblast-like cells with osteogenic and adipogenic potential from the blood of four mammalian species. These cells phenotypically resemble but are...Full Text Available
The functional interaction between the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor {gamma} (PPAR{gamma}) and its coactivator PGC-1{alpha} is crucial for the normal physiology of PPAR{gamma} and its pharmacological response to antidiabetic treatment with rosiglitazone. Here we report the crystal structure of the PPAR{gamma} ligand-binding domain bound to rosiglitazone and to a large PGC-1{alpha} fragment that contains two LXXLL-related motifs. The structure reveals critical contacts mediated through the first LXXLL motif of PGC-1{alpha} and the PPAR{gamma} coactivator binding site. Through a combination of biochemical and structural studies, we demonstrate that the first LXXLL motif is the most potent among all nuclear receptor coactivator motifs tested, and only this motif of the two LXXLL-related motifs in PGC-1{alpha} is capable of binding to PPAR{gamma}. Our studies reveal that the strong interaction ...
Precise measurements of alpha particle counting efficiencies have been made using isotropic, infinitely thin alpha emitting sources placed in direct contact with a thin, end-window, gas flow proportional detector. Except for alpha particle absorption in the window material, this geometry approaches 2#pi#, such that the only other variation in the response of the counter is from the random decay of the source. The data are fitted to the expected linear function of count rate versus window thickness and the resulting fitting parameters are used to calculate the counting efficiencies for a given thickness of window material. Counting efficiencies for 5.31, 6.06, and 8,78 MeV alpha particles have been determined from sources of "2"1"0Po and the progeny of "2"1"2Pb. For the particular counter used, the counting efficiencies in counts per alpha and their respective relative standard ...
Effects of cell concentrations on the survival and repopulation of haemopoietic stem cells after irradiation were studied in the long-term culture of mouse bone marrow cells in vitro. No difference was observed in the survival of the stem cells among cultures in which 0 - 10/sup 7/ cells were re-inoculated on the adherent cell colonies in the culture flask. Stem cells showed a significant proliferation within 1 week and the number of the stem cells exceeded the control in 3 weeks after irradiation in the cultures with less than 10/sup 6/ re-inoculated cells per flask. In contrast, there was a considerable delay in the onset of stem cell proliferation after irradiation in the culture with 10/sup 7/ cells per flask. Based on these results, a possibility that a ...
Testing was performed to determine the feasibility and processing characteristics of evaporation of actual Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) recycle material. Samples of the Off Gas Condensate Tank (OGCT) and Slurry Mix Evaporator Condensate Tank (SMECT) were transferred from DWPF to the Savannah River National Lab (SRNL) Shielded Cells and blended with De-Ionized (DI) water and a small amount of Slurry Mix Evaporator (SME) product. A total of 3000 mL of this feed was concentrated to approximately 90 mL during a semi-batch evaporation test of approximately 17 hours. One interruption occurred during the run when the feed tube developed a split and was replaced. Samples of the resulting condensate and concentrate were collected and analyzed. The resulting analysis of the condensate was compared to the Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) limits for the F/H Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). Results from the test were compared to previous testing using simulants and ...
Radiation therapy has had a significant and an expanded role in the management of cancer of the pancreas during the last decade. In particular, for locally advanced disease, radiation therapy has improved the median survival of patients to 1 year. Intraoperative electron beam therapy has been applied to unresectable and resectable pancreatic cancer in an attempt to enhance local control of disease and to improve patient survival. This paper presents a survey of the role of radiation therapy in treatment of cancer of the pancreas, provides information on the radiobiological aspects of this treatment modality and details the physical and dosimetric characteristics of intraoperative radiation therapy with electrons. Presented are the design specifics of an applicator system, central axis beam data, applicator parameters, dose distribution data, shielding, treatment planning and means of verification. Emphasis is placed on the collaboration and cooperation necessary ...
Radiation therapy has had a significant and an expanded role in the management of cancer of the pancreas during the last decade. In particular, for locally advanced disease, radiation therapy has improved the median survival of patients to 1 year. Intraoperative electron beam therapy has been applied to unresectable and resectable pancreatic cancer in an attempt to enhance local control of disease and to improve patient survival. This paper presents a survey of the role of radiation therapy in treatment of cancer of the pancreas, provides information on the radiobiological aspects of this treatment modality and details the physical and dosimetric characteristics of intraoperative radiation therapy with electrons. Presented are the design specifics of an applicator system, central axis beam data, applicator parameters, dose distribution data, shielding, treatment planning and means of verification. Emphasis is placed on the collaboration and cooperation necessary ...
The authors studied the resolution of racemic glycidol through esterification with butyric acid catalyzed by porcine pancreatic lipase in organic media. A screening of seven solvents (log P values between 0.49 and 3.0, P being the n-octanol-water partition coefficient of the solvent) showed that neither log P nor the logarithm of the molar solubility of water in the solvent provides good correlations between enantioselectivity and the properties of the organic media. Chloroform was one of the best solvents as regards the enantiometic purity (e.p.) of the ester produced. In this solvent, the optimum temperature for the reaction was determined to be 35C. The enzyme exhibited maximum activity at a water content of 13 [plus minus] 2% (w/w). The enantiomeric purity obtained was 83 [plus minus] 2% of (S)-glycidol butyrate and did not depend on the alcohol concentration or the enzyme water content for values of these parameters up to 200 mM and 25% (w/w), respectively. ...
A radioimmunoassay is described for the molluscan neuropeptide, Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH"2(FMRFamide). The antibody used is C-terminal-specific and shows slight but significant (1-2%) cross-reactivity with chicken pancreatic polypeptide (APP). The assay has been used to identify in rat brain extracts a pair of molecules that may represent mammalian counterparts of FMRFamide. Their concentrations were highest in spinal cord and hypothalamus (>10 pmol.g"-_1) and lowest in cerebellum and striatum (<3.5 pmol.g"-_1). The two immunoreactive peptides were separated on CM ion-exchange chromatography where they appeared to be less basic than FMRFamide. On Sephadex G50 gel filtration one eluted in a similar position to FMRFamide and the other slightly earlier suggesting it may be of higher molecular weight. The rat immunoreactive components do not correspond to previously described neuropeptides or hormones, and may be members of a new group of mammalian neuropeptides with ...
Gallstone is a common disease with a 10% prevalence in the United States and Western Europe. However, it is only symptomatic in 20-30% of patients, with biliary pain "colic" being the most common symptom. Complications of asymptomatic gallstone disease are generally rare, with an incidence of <1 %/yr. The most common complications of gallstone disease are acute cholecystitis, acute pancreatitis, ascending cholangitis, and gangrenous gallbladder. Less frequent complications include Mirizzi syndrome, cholecystocholedochal fistula, and gallstone ileus. Mirizzi syndrome and cholecystocholedochal fistula are two manifestations of the same process that starts with impaction of a gallstone in the gallbladder neck that results in obstruction of the bile duct, causing jaundice. The gallstone may erode into the bile duct, causing cholecystocholedochal fistula. Gallstone ileus refers to small bowel obstruction resulting from the impaction of one or more gallstones after ...
Serum ferritin levels were measured in 72 normal subjects and in 214 cases with various diseases by an immunoradiometric assay. In normal subjects, the serum ferritin levels were 27-230 ng/ml. Elevated serum ferritins were observed in most cases with iron excess and acute hepatitis. Markedly elevated levels were found in the majority of cases with acute leukemia, malignant lymphoma, hepatoma, and pancreatic cancer. High ferritin levels were also found in other malignant diseases. However, the range overlapped broadly with that of nonmalignant diseases. The serum ferritin correlated significantly with serum iron in normals and in those with iron deficiency anemia. In most nonmalignant cases, the serum ferritin and iron levels distributed on a regression line obtained from levels in normals and those with iron deficiency anemia. However, 92% of the malignant cases showed a serum ferritin to iron ratio higher than that of normal subjects. The estimation of the serum ...
This article concerns the synergetic effects between an MoO{sub 3} sample composed of crystallites exposing preferentially the (010) basal faces and {alpha}-Sb{sub 2}O{sub 4} in the oxygen-assisted dehydration of 2-butanol at 220 C. The conversion of 2-butanol and the yield to butene improved when MoO{sub 3} was reacted in the presence of {alpha}-Sb{sub 2}O{sub 4}. The origin of the synergism is discussed. When reacted in the absence of {alpha}-Sb{sub 2}O{sub 4}, MoO{sub 3} got over-reduced and fragmented to MoO{sub 2}. MoO{sub 2} is intrinsically less active than MoO{sub 3} thus explaining that the deep reduction of MoO{sub 3} corresponds to its tendency to deactivate. In the presence of {alpha}-Sb{sub 2}O{sub 4}, the formation of MoO{sub 2} is inhibited with, as a consequence, the absence of deactivation. This leads to the synergetic effects obtained with the mechanical mixture of MoO{sub 3} with ...
For several decades, ceramic matrix composite have been attracted attention in advanced structural and tribological applications. Advanced structural ceramics are presently used in diverse tribological applications such as tips for ballpoint pens, precision instrument bearings and cutting tools inserts. Design and selection of ceramics for these applications require reliable data on the effects of temperature, load and environment on the tribological behavior of these ceramics. In the present work, #alpha#-sialon matrix composites reinforced with different amounts of #beta#-sialon fibers were produced with the aim of improving their toughness to increase the industrial applications. The wear properties of #alpha#-sialon matrix composites were evaluated by carried out wear tests using a pin-on-disk tribometer under dry conditions. The #alpha#-sialon matrix composites were manufactured by slip casting and sintered by uniaxial ...
The energy spectra of energetic confined alpha particles are being measured using the pellet charge exchange method [R. K. Fisher, J. S. Leffler, A. M. Howald, and P. B. Parks, Fusion Technol. 13, 536 (1988)]. The technique uses the dense ablation cloud surrounding an injected impurity pellet to neutralize a fraction of the incident alpha particles, allowing them to escape from the plasma where their energy spectrum can be measured using a neutral particle analyzer. The signal calculations given in the above-mentioned reference disregarded the effects of the alpha particles' helical Larmor orbits, which causes the alphas to make multiple passes through the cloud. Other effects such as electron ionization by plasma and ablation cloud electrons and the effect of the charge state composition of the cloud, were also neglected. This report considers these issues, reformulates the signal level calculation, ...
The effect of one on-ramp (entry) and one off-ramp (exit) is investigated numerically in one dimensional-cellular automaton traffic flow model, with open boundary conditions, using parallel dynamics. Our aim in this paper is to study how the injecting rates $\\alpha$ and $\\alpha_{0}$ and the extracting rates $\\beta$ and $\\beta_{0}$ acts on the density and flux of cars in one dimensional road. The priority of occupation at entry site $i_{1}$ (moving at exit site $i_{2}$) is attributed to the particle which entered (absorbed) in the chain. Phase diagrams in ($\\beta_{0},\\alpha_{0}$), and ($\\beta,\\alpha_{0}$) plans are established. For $\\alpha=0.1$, they show three different topologies in the flow behaviour. The first one correspond to the presence of four regions, by varying $\\alpha_{0}$; namely low density phase (LDP), intermediate density phase (IDP), ...
The detailed electronic energy band structure of hexagonal close-packed #alpha#-zirconium, corresponding to the atomic configuration of 4d"25s"2 of its four outermost valence electrons, has been computed by the composite-wave variational version of the augmented-plane-wave(APW) method in conjunction with the X#alpha#(#alpha# = 0.70424) exchange approximation for obtaining the potentials. From these data the electronic density of states and its angular-momentum-decomposed components have been obtained by the Raubenheimer-Gilat method. These quantities are required in order to calculate the electron-phonon interaction parameter (lambda) and the superconducting transition temperature (Tsub(c)) within the framework of the theories of Gaspari and Gyorffy and McMillan. A study of the variation of Tsub(c) with the Coulomb pseudopotential (#mu#*) revealed that #mu#* = 0.1 yields the best agreement between theory and experiment for ...
A radiochemical charged particle activation procedure for production and separation of carrier free {sup 52,56}Mn, {sup 55,56,58}Co and {sup 56,57}Ni has been developed. The radioisotopes produced on bombardment of an iron foil target with a 40 MeV {alpha}-particle beam through the nuclear reactions, Fe({alpha}, {alpha}pxn){sup 52,56}Mn, Fe({alpha}, pxn){sup 55,56,58}Co and Fe({alpha}, nx){sup 56,57}Ni, have been separated by LLX. The target element and the activation products have been sequentially separated from an HCl medium using diethylether and the liquid anion exchanger, TIOA, as extractants. Extent of separation and purity of the carrier free radiotracers at different stages of their LLX separation have been verified by taking recourse to {gamma}-ray spectrometry. (Author).
For optimizing the microstructure of the (#alpha# + #beta#)-titanium alloy TiAl5Fe2.5 the content of the two alloying elements aluminium and iron in the #alpha#- and #beta#-phase was determined by microprobe analysis. The alloys with the composition of the #alpha#- and of the #beta#-phase at 850 degC TiAl6Fe0.5 (#alpha#-phase) and TiAl3.5Fe6.5 (#beta#-phase) were prepared by arc melting and rolling at 850 degC. The mechanical properties of the '#alpha#'- and of the '#beta#'-phase-alloy are compared with the properties of the (#alpha# + #beta#)-alloy TiAl5Fe2.5 in the as rolled and swaged condition and after an additional aging at 550 degC. By this optimizing process it was possible to achieve a tensile strength of Rsub(m) = 1012 N/mm"2, an yield strength of Rsub(p0.2) 954 N/mm"2 and an elongation at fracture A = 14.5% in the TiAl5Fe2.5-alloy, although the degree ...
Powders with nominal compositions (in atomic percent) Ti-48Al and Ti-48Al-2Nb-2Cr were prepared by the plasma rotating electrode process (PREP) and gas atomization (GA) techniques. As-solidified and heat-treated (1000degC per 3 h) powder samples were examined by metallography, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The microstructures of the powders were characterized as a function of atomization technique, alloy content, powder particle size (solidification rate) and thermal history. All of the as-solidified powders were comprised of disordered [alpha], and ordered [alpha][sub 2]-Ti[sub 3]Al and [gamma]-TiAl. For both alloys, a larger volume fraction of [alpha] and [alpha][sub 2] was observed in the PREP powders relative to GA powders of comparable size. Additionally, for both alloys and both atomization techniques, the volume fraction of ...
Theoretical interpretation of fast-charged-particle spectra, observed in the #alpha#-particle-induced reactions on the s-d shell nuclei (A = 24-28), in terms of the Intranuclear Cascade Model and the GDH exciton model (ALICE) is presented. The de-excitation of the excited residual nuclei is accounted for by the evaporation process. The theoretically predicted fast-proton and #alpha#' spectral shapes compare reasonably well with the corresponding measured spectra. However, the magnitude depends critically (as expected) on the reaction cross section employed by the model. As a first step to improve the model predictability of the reaction products, a closer look at the calculation of the #alpha#-particle reaction cross sections was undertaken. A microscopic approach using the optical theorem of Glauber's theory was employed to estimate the #alpha#-induced reaction cross sections for the light target ...
The unit cost of energy production of wind generators is examined by means of a model of the turbine power curve and the Weibull model of wind probability function, by applying the usual economic equations. The analysis is carried out in terms of dimensionless variables whose range of variability is defined by examining the data of 80 modern commercial wind turbines; likewise, the economic parameters are based on the present state of costs. The unit cost decreases asymptotically when alpha (ratio between mean wind speed and cut-in speed) - increases and shows a lower limit of 2 to 5 Ecent/kWh. This cost depends both on the value of the machine parameter {phi} (ratio between nominal and cut-in speed) and on the basic prices. The effect of the Weibull shape parameter kappa is different according to the values of {alpha} and {phi}: with low {alpha} and high {phi} the unit cost increases along with {kappa} (that is with the ...
We compute the complete two-loop O(alpha) Wilson coefficients relevant for radiative decays of the B meson in the SM. This is a necessary step in the calculation of the O(alphaalpha_s^n ln^n m_b/M_W) corrections and improves on our previous analysis of electroweak effects in B -> X_s gamma. We describe in detail several interesting technical aspects of the calculation and include all dominant QED matrix elements. In our final result, we neglect only terms originated from the unknown O(alphaalpha_s) evolution of the Wilson coefficients and some suppressed two-loop matrix elements. Due to the compensation among different effects, we find that non-trivial electroweak corrections decrease the branching ratio by about 3.8% for a light Higgs boson, in agreement with our previous analysis. As in [1], the corresponding SM prediction for the branching ratio with E_gamma > 1.6 GeV is ...
The broad bands in the room-temperature excitation spectra of Sm"3"+-, Dy"3"+- and Tm"3"+-activated Ca-#alpha#-SiAlON phosphors are interpreted as the N"3"--to-rare earth charge transfer transition (CTT). From the energies of the charge transfer transitions and from the optical data presented for the Eu"2"+ ion, the location of the divalent rare earth ion energy levels relative to the valence and the conduction band of Ca-#alpha#-SiAlON is derived. The salient features of the energy-level diagram are shown to be practical in explaining the temperature-dependent variations of the Eu"2"+ and Yb"2"+ luminescence efficiency in Ca-#alpha#-SiAlON. A comparative study pertaining to the nature of the Yb"2"+ and Eu"2"+ ion luminescence in Ca-#alpha#-SiAlON and in SrSi_2O_2N_2 is presented. A tentative energy-level diagram of the trivalent rare earth ions in Ca-#alpha#-SiAlON is also ...
The effect of the nitrogen uptake in {alpha}-iron upon spark erosion in gaseous and liquid ammonia, plasma nitriding, and plasma immersion ion implantation is studied. The resulting phases and hyperfine parameters, measured by the Moessbauer spectroscopy, are discussed from the point of view of initial conditions of their preparation and subsequent heat and/or mechanical treatment. Spark erosion in the ammonia gas produces fine particles with the dominating ferromagnetic {alpha}-Fe phase (50%). The 20% of specimen volume form {alpha}'-Fe and {alpha}''-Fe{sub 16}N{sub 2} phases. The last 30% occupy the {gamma}'-Fe{sub 4}N, ferro- and paramagnetic {epsilon} phases, and {gamma}-Fe(N). Nitriding in the liquid ammonia allows to incorporate the higher content of nitrogen into {alpha}-iron particles which results in the formation of paramagnetic ...
The effect of the nitrogen uptake in #alpha#-iron upon spark erosion in gaseous and liquid ammonia, plasma nitriding, and plasma immersion ion implantation is studied. The resulting phases and hyperfine parameters, measured by the Moessbauer spectroscopy, are discussed from the point of view of initial conditions of their preparation and subsequent heat and/or mechanical treatment. Spark erosion in the ammonia gas produces fine particles with the dominating ferromagnetic #alpha#-Fe phase (50%). The 20% of specimen volume form #alpha#'-Fe and #alpha#''-Fe_1_6N_2 phases. The last 30% occupy the #gamma#'-Fe_4N, ferro- and paramagnetic #epsilon# phases, and #gamma#-Fe(N). Nitriding in the liquid ammonia allows to incorporate the higher content of nitrogen into #alpha#-iron particles which results in the formation of paramagnetic #epsilon#(#zeta#)-Fe_2N phase. This phase also dominates ...
New and elaborate techniques for alpha-particle autoradiography of thick specimens based on the plastic nuclear track detector CR-39 have been developed. These permit a full analysis of both trace element and microdistribution of alpha-active nuclides present. The important features of the techniques are: 1) reliable low level configuration down to 10/sup -15/ Ci g/sup -1/, 2) high resolution alpha-particle spectroscopy in CR-39, 3) determination of the absolute abundance of alpha active nuclides present in the specimen, 4) determination of the distribution of emission with height up to 30 microns above the surface of the autoradiograph, 5) the local determination of the radon diffusion coefficient in the specimen which is needed to calculate the activity levels of /sup 222/Rn and daughter nuclei, 6) the analysis of small and large clusters of alpha-particle activity recorded on the ...
SummaryIn vivo tumor cell migration through integrin-dependent pathways is key to the metastatic behavior of malignant cells. Using quantitative in vivo...Full Text Available
Terminal differentiation of many vascular cells involves cell wall changes. Cells first elongate their primary wall, then lay down a lignified secondary wall, which is often followed by digestion of...Full Text Available
For proper tissue morphogenesis, cell divisions and cell fate decisions must be tightly and coordinately regulated. One elegant way to accomplish this is to couple them with asymmetric cell divisions....Full Text Available
Totipotent stem cells have the potential to differentiate into every cell type. Renewal of totipotent stem cells in the germline and cellular differentiation during early embryogenesis rely upon posttranscriptional...Full Text Available
We have established a cartilaginous fish cell line [Squalus acanthias embryo cell line (SAE)], a mesenchymal stem cell line derived from the embryo of an elasmobranch, the spiny dogfish...Full Text Available
AIM: To isolate and identify the biological characteristics of human colon cancer stem cells (SW1116 cells) and further study their proteome.METHODS: SW1116 cells were isolated and cultured with...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
Normal cells, both in vivo and in vitro, become quiescent after serial cell proliferation. During this process, cells can develop immortality with genomic instability,...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
Endothelial cells and mural cells (smooth muscle cells, pericytes, or fibroblasts) are known to communicate with one another. Their interactions not only serve to support fully functional blood...Full Text Available
BackgroundAs the resident stem cells of skeletal muscle, satellite cells are activated by extracellular cues associated with local damage. Once activated, satellite cells will re-enter...Full Text Available
Craniofacial injuries require a variety of different cell types to repopulate areas of bone, cartilage, tendon, and fat. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) provide a multipotent cell source for tissue...Full Text Available
We describe the lethal, recessive accelerated-cell-death11 Arabidopsis mutant (acd11). Cell death in acd11 exhibits characteristics of animal apoptosis...Full Text Available
Somatic cell nuclear transfer or therapeutic cloning has provided great hope for stem cell-based therapies. However therapeutic cloning has been experiencing both ethical and technical difficulties....Full Text Available
Background:Stem cells can differentiate into multiple cell types, and therefore can be used for cellular therapies, including tissue repair. However, the participation of stem cells...Full Text Available
It has been postulated that thrombin binds to endothelial cells through, at least in part, cell surface glycosaminoglycans such as heparan sulfate, which could serve as antithrombin cofactor on the...Full Text Available
Hematopoietic stem cells replenish all the cells of the blood throughout the lifetime of an animal. Although thousands of stem cells reside in the bone marrow, only a few contribute to blood production...Full Text Available
In the growing chloronema cell suspension cultures of the moss Funaria hygrometrica Hedw., activities of several enzymes have been found to be cell-density-dependent. Cyclic nucleotide...Full Text Available
In preimplantation mouse development, the first cell lineages to be established are the trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass. TE possesses epithelial features, including apical-basal cell polarity...Full Text Available
...false Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research Presidential Documents ...2009 Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research Memorandum for the Heads...scientifically worthy human stem cell research, including human...
We have developed a cell-mediated mutagenesis assay in which cells with the appropriate markers for mutagenesis are co-cultivated with either lethally irradiated rodent embryonic cells that can metabolize carcinogenic hydrocarbons or with primary rat liver cells that can metabolize chemicals carcinogenic to the liver. During co-cultivation, the reactive metabolites of the procarcinogen appear to be transmitted to the mutable cells and induce mutations in them. Assays of this type make it possible to demonstrate a relationship between carcinogenic potency of the chemicals and their ability to induce mutations in mammalian cells. In addition, by simultaneously comparing the frequencies of transformation and mutation induced in normal diploid hamster cells by benzo(a)pyrene (BP) and one of its metabolites, it is possible to estimate the genetic ...
...Basic Information | Fuel Cells & Vehicles | US EPA This web page provides basic information on EPA's Fuel Cells & Vehicles web site ...including the chemical composition of fuel cell technology, how it works, descriptions of the various types of fuel cells , their availability and ... background,electrochemical,hydrogen,fuel cell,fuel cell vehicle,fuel reformer,performace,improved fuel economy,increased engine efficiency,lower emissions,zero emissions,availablity,fuel cell types,diagram,Proton ...Exchange Membrane,PEM Basic Information | Fuel Cells & Vehicles | US EPA background,electrochemical,hydrogen,fuel cell,fuel cell vehicle,fuel reformer,performace,improved fuel economy,...
The Drell-Yan mechanism for the production of lepton pairs is one of the most basic processes for physics studies at hadron colliders. It is therefore important to have accurate theoretical predictions. In this work we compute the two-loop virtual mixed QCD x QED corrections to Drell-Yan production. We evaluate the Feynman diagrams by decomposing the amplitudes into a set of known master integrals and their coefficients, which allows us to derive an analytical result. We also perform a detailed study of the ultraviolet and infrared structure of the two-loop amplitude and the corresponding poles in epsilon.
We present numerical calculations for cesium and mercury to estimate the sensitivity of the scattering length to the variation of the fine structure constant alpha. The method used follows ideas Chin and Flambaum [Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 230801 (2006)], where the sensitivity to the variation of the electron to proton mass ratio, beta, was considered. We demonstrate that for heavy systems, the sensitivity to variation of alpha is of the same order of magnitude as to variation of beta. Near narrow Feshbach resonances the enhancement of the sensitivity may exceed nine orders of magnitude.
The K_#beta#/K_#alpha# X-ray intensity ratios are measured for Mn and Fe and for six other elements with Z lying in the range 49<=Z<=82 following electron capture decay and photon excitation using "2"4"1Am and "5"7Co sources. High-resolution Si(Li) and HpGe detector systems were used in the experiments. The dependence of K_#beta#/K_#alpha# values on the mode of excitation in the case of Mn and Fe is attribuited to the chemical effects, while no such dependence is found for the high-Z elements.
By employing the higher dimensional version of the Wu-Yang Ansatz we obtain magnetically charged new black hole solutions in the Einstein-Yang-Mills-Lovelock (EYML) theory with second ($\\alpha2$) and third ($\\alpha3$)order parameters. These parameters, where $\\alpha2$ is also known as the Gauss-Bonnet parameter, modify the horizons (and the resulting thermodynamical properties) of the black holes. It is shown also that asymptotically, these parameters contribute to an effective cosmological constant -without cosmological constant- so that the solution behaves de-Sitter (Anti de-Sitter) like.
Hitherto in this laboratory, ionization coefficients alpha and attachment coefficients #eta# have been determined from Townsend's discharge experiments by a curve-fitting method. However, the method proved to be laborious, Formulae have been derived in this paper to give value of alpha and #eta# as a function of Isubo, Isub1 and Isub2 where Isubo is the photoelectric current at a gap setting d and Isub2 the current at another gap setting 2 d. The values of alpha and #eta# obtained give currents in agreement to within 3% in the best cases with the observed currents.
The methods of optical and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the influence of different programmes of hot deformation on the structure formation of (#alpha#+#beta#) titanium alloy VT9. The #beta# alloy VT-15 was studied at the same time in order to simulate the dislocation structure generated in the process of hot deformation. During the hot deformation of two-phase titanium alloys in both #beta# and (#alpha#+#beta#) ranges there is found to be an optimum range of deformation in which a homogeneous, polygonized structure is formed.
The effect of variations of the fundamental constants on the thermonuclear rate of the triple alpha reaction, "4He(#alpha##alpha#, #gamma#)"1"2C, that bridges the gap between "4He and "1"2C is investigated. We have followed the evolution of 15 and 60 M#centre dot# zero metallicity stellar models, up to the end of core helium burning. They are assumed to be representative of the first (Population III) stars. The calculated oxygen carbon abundances resulting from helium burning can then be used to constrain the variation of the fundamental constants.
This paper reviews and elaborates on the issue of the dilaton transformation under the usual {tau} {yields} {alpha}{prime}/{tau} target space duality and its non-static generalization (or {sigma}-model duality). It is found that the transformation law {tau} {yields} {alpha}{prime}/{tau}, {phi} {yields} {phi} In ({tau}/{alpha}{prime}) which guarantees duality at the one-loop {sigma}-model level should be modified at two (and higher) loop order. The non-static duality is illustrated on the example of cosmological solutions in D {ge} 2 with time-dependent radii of space torus.
Nano-indentation has been used to assess the hardness of equiaxed grains of #alpha#-Ti as a function of orientation. Surface normals of these grains in metallographic sections were assessed using orientation imaging microscopy. Thin membranes of material from below a series of nano-indentations were excised by use of a dual-beam focused ion beam instrument. In this way, the dislocation substructures beneath individual indentations were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, permitting an identification of both statistically stored and geometrically necessary dislocations.
The purpose of the present research is to find a suitable technique to measure trace amounts of uranium and thorium and to determine the surface #alpha#-flux in silicon compound (SiO) used for fabrication of integrated circuit packaging materials. Among several commonly-used detecting techniques, it was found that neutron activation analysis (NAA) was most promising. The results from NAA show a large difference in uranium and thorium concentrations when cadmium and boron carbide shields are used, whereas #alpha#-flux measurements show a low #alpha#-activity, which corresponds to the trace amounts of uranium and thorium expected to be present in these materials. (author) 13 refs.; 6 figs.
Bremsstrahlung emitted in the {alpha}+p reaction at 50 MeV/nucleon was studied using a 200 MeV {alpha}-particle beam and a liquid hydrogen target. Double-differential photon cross sections were measured over a wide range of angles and energies. Coherent bremsstrahlung was found to be strong for all photon energies. The cross section is enhanced at the highest photon energies and is characteristic of direct capture to the unbound {sup 5}Li ground and first excited state. With direct capture as a limiting case of coherent bremsstrahlung a consistent reaction picture can be obtained.
The charge distribution in the alpha particle induced fission of "2"0"9Bi has been studied at alpha particle energy of 55.7 MeV and 58.6 MeV. The fractional cumulative yields of "9"7Zr, "9"9Mo, "1"0"1Mo and "1"1"2Pd have been determined using gamma ray spectrometry. The charge distribution have been found to be broad. (author). 4 refs., 1 ta b.
This paper describes and analyzes a dithering technique for accurately specifying small values of opacity ({alpha}) that would normally not be possible because of the limited number of bits available in the alpha channel of graphics hardware. This dithering technique addresses problems related to compositing numerous low-opacity semitransparent polygons to create volumetric effects with graphics hardware. The paper also describes the causes and a possible solution to artifacts that arise from parallel or distributed volume rendering using bricking on multiple GPU's.
Laser-assisted processing techniques for producing high-quality solar cell metallization patterns are investigated, developed, and characterized. The tasks comprising these investigations are outlined. A new batch of solar cells was processed using the laser decomposition of spun-on silver neodecanoate to metallize cells. Decomposition of silver neodecanoate was carried out at different laser powers on different cells on a given wafer to determine whether this would have any effect on cell performance. Solar cells which were written with laser powers of 5 to 8 watts, gave excellent results with cell efficiencies in the range of 14 to 16%.
... nent to the design and construction of metal-semiconductor solar cells, in that both the photovoltage and the efficiency of metal-semiconductor cells ...
There are some indications from recent determinations of the strong coupling constant alpha_s and the gluon condensate that the Operator Product Expansion may not be accurate enough to describe non-perturbative effects in hadronic tau decays. This breakdown of the Operator Product Expansion is usually referred to as being due to"Duality Violations." With the help of a physically motivated model, we investigate these duality violations. Based on this model, we argue how they may introduce a non-negligible systematic error in the current analysis, which employs finite-energy sum rules with pinched weights. In particular, this systematic effect might affect the precision determination of alpha_s from tau decays. With a view to a possible future application to real data, we present an alternative method for determining the OPE coefficients that might help estimating, and possibly even reducing, this systematic error.
The fatigue life variability of the #alpha#+#beta# titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo increased with decreasing stress level. The variability in life was found to be due to segregation of lives due to two failure mechanisms. A bimodal cumulative distribution model was shown to accurately describe the combined failure modes. The nominal failure processes for the two regimes were similar, with crack nucleation occurring in equiaxed #alpha#p particles, irrespective of life or stress level. However the variability in life was not controlled by the size of the crack-nucleating #alpha#p, but rather by the ability of the material to distribute deformation and avoid early crack nucleation.
Hilled Bend Spechene of an Alpha-Beta Titanium Alloy. Ti-6M14V. ..... The all beta titanium alloy was nllled from both sides; only the edges were taped. ...
Titanium base 'alpha'-alloys (Pt-7M, RK-20 and Ti-5Al-2Zr-1.5V) are considered for their behaviour under neutron irradiation. The role of alloying elements in radiation hardening is discussed depending of neutron fluence and irradiation temperature. For PK-20 alloy three stages of change in mechanical properties are revealed which are following: incubation period and weak hardening, intense radiation hardening, radiation hardening attenuation. Irradiation temperature rise results in an increase of incubation period and threshold neutron fluence. A special attention is paid to hydrogen absorption in #alpha#-titanium alloys under irradiation. It is concluded that titanium base 'alpha'-alloys are serviceable as structural materials in nuclear plants with allowance made for peculiar features of their radiation behaviour. 4 refs.; 7 figs.; 1 tab.
The purpose of this experimental study is to investigate the micromechanical fatigue behavior, in terms of slip nature and preferential cracking sites, of a commercial #alpha#/#beta#-forged Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Electron backscattering diffraction is extensively used to identify the deformation (prismatic, basal, pyramidal slip) and crack formation modes activated by fatigue at the surface of several hundred primary #alpha# nodules. Some fatal crack formation sites are also characterized. Cracking in basal planes is identified as the most critical damage mode leading to fracture. An explanation is proposed which involves the resolved shear stress, taking into account the Schmid factor and the normal stress in relation to the elastic anisotropy of the #alpha#-phase. Finally, the spatial distribution of the secondary cracks is analyzed according to the crystallographic textures (macrozones) present on a mesoscopic scale in the ...
We discuss the foundations of factor or regression models in the light of the self-consistency condition that the market portfolio (and more generally the risk factors) is (are) constituted of the assets whose returns it is (they are) supposed to explain. As already reported in several articles, self-consistency implies correlations between the return disturbances. As a consequence, the alpha's and beta's of the factor model are unobservable. Self-consistency leads to renormalized beta's with zero effective alpha's, which are observable with standard OLS regressions. Analytical derivations and numerical simulations show that, for arbitrary choices of the proxy which are different from the true market portfolio, a modified linear regression holds with a non-zero value $\\alpha_i$ at the origin between an asset $i$'s return and the proxy's return. Self-consistency also introduces ``orthogonality'' and ``normality'' conditions ...
The radiative electroweak symmetry breaking, the b-\\tau Yukawa and gauge couplings unification in the MSSM and its SU(5) extensions are studied in detail. In the framework of the two-loop renormalization group equations both low- and high-energy threshold effects are included. In the case of the minimal SU(5), the values of \\alpha_s obtained are somewhat larger than the experimental average. The Peccei-Quinn version of the missing-doublet SU(5) model generally predicts smaller values of \\alpha_s and b-\\tau unification, in excellent agreement with all low energy experimental data. We also study the generation of the GUT scale through radiative corrections in the context of an R-symmetric ``flipped" SU(5) x U(1)_X model and we find that this is possible in a certain range of values of the parameter space.
A kinetic model based on the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism that allows to describe the microkinetics of the heterogeneously catalysed partial oxidation of {alpha}, {beta}-unsaturated aldehydes is presented. This conversion is represented by a network, composed of the oxidation of the {alpha}, {beta}-unsaturated aldehyde towards the {alpha}, {beta}-unsaturated carboxylic acid and the consecutive oxidation of the acid as well as the parallel reaction of the aldehyde to products of deeper oxidation. The reaction steps of aldehyde respectively acid oxidation and catalyst reoxidation have been investigated separately in transient experiments. The combination of steady state and transient experiments has led to an improved understanding of the interaction of the catalyst with the aldehyde and the carboxylic acids as well as to a support of the kinetic model assumptions. (orig.)
While the etiology of Parkinson's disease remains largely elusive, there is accumulating evidence suggesting that mitochondrial dysfunction occurs prior to the onset of symptoms in Parkinson's disease....Full Text Available
With the assistance of mechanical activation, yttrium-stabilized #alpha#-SiAlON was prepared by combustion synthesis in air, instead of high-pressure N_2 atmosphere for the first time. The reaction activity of metallic particles was remarkably enhanced by mechanical activation, which conduced the reduction of grain size, increased the total surface area and formation of fresh surface. The formation of #alpha#-SiAlON by combustion synthesis in air was explained by a kinetically induced reaction mechanism, in which both initial formation of #alpha#-SiAlON and following avoidance of oxidation were fulfilled by the retardation of O_2 infiltration owing to the short reaction period and fast cooling rate.
Crystalline {alpha}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} powder was prepared by the mechanical milling of crystalline {alpha}-FeOOH at room temperature in air. This result means that crystalline {alpha}-FeOOH is dehydrated by mechanical milling at room temperature. The obtained {alpha}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} powder worked as a rechargeable electrode material in lithium ion conductive organic electrolytes. The electrodes exhibited high discharge capacities of over 1000mAhg{sup -1} corresponding to 6 Li per {alpha}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} at potentials ranging from the open circuit potential to 0.5V (versus Li{sup +}/Li) in the first discharging (lithium insertion) process. This suggests that the valence deviation from Fe{sup 3+} in {alpha}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} to Fe{sup 0} may be caused by electrochemical reduction. In contrast, after the first discharge, the electrodes exhibited high charge ...
Low-porosity #alpha#- and #beta#-SiAlON composite material was prepared when the powder mixture intended for preparation of yttrium #alpha#-SiAlON, with the formula Y_0_._4Si_1_2_-_m_+_nAl_m_+_nO_nN_1_6_- _n, was attritor milled in isopropyl alcohol or contained excess oxygen (n > 0.6). The region of stability of single-phase yttrium #alpha#-SiAlON was smaller at lower temperatures. Wet milling (in isopropyl alcohol) of AlN powder was found to introduce excess oxygen into the milled powder.
In this paper, we investigate the epidemic spreading for SIR model in weighted scale-free networks with nonlinear infectivity, where the transmission rate in our analytical model is weighted. Concretely, we introduce the infectivity exponent $\\alpha$ and the weight exponent $\\beta$ into the analytical SIR model, then examine the combination effects of $\\alpha$ and $\\beta$ on the epidemic threshold and phase transition. We show that one can adjust the values of $\\alpha$ and $\\beta$ to rebuild the epidemic threshold to a finite value, and it is observed that the steady epidemic prevalence $R$ grows in an exponential form in the early stage, then follows hierarchical dynamics. Furthermore, we find $\\alpha$ is more sensitive than $\\beta$ in the transformation of the epidemic threshold and epidemic prevalence, which might deliver some useful information or new insights in the epidemic spreading and ...
In the paper results of the investigation on the effect of microstructure on room temperature tensile properties and fracture toughness of two-phase #alpha#+#beta# titanium alloy Ti-6Al-2Mo-2Cr have been presented. Microstructure has been varied by changes in the cooling rate from the solution treatment temperature and aging time and temperature. Mechanical properties examined show dependence on the treatment conditions, especially aging conditions. It has been attributed mainly to the amount and morphology of #alpha# phase obtained after heat treatment. The higher volume fraction of lamellar #alpha# structure, the higher fracture toughness. (author)
Effect of globular structure parameters - size of primary #alpha#-phase particles (bsub(I)), thickness and amount of plates of secondary #alpha#-phase (bsub(II), #gamma#sub(II#alpha# )) - on a complex of mechanical properties (#sigma#sub(#beta#), S, phi, asub(H), asub(T), Ksub(Q), #sigma#sub(-1), #sigma#_1_0_0"4"5"0, #sigma#sub(0.2/100)) of VT3-1 (#alpha#+#beta#)-titanium alloy is studied. The dependences obtained allow one to determine globular structure parameters, providing necessary mechanical properties. In combination with data on the effect of thermal treatment conditions on structure parameters, results obtained in the paper may be used for structure control to increase a level of required characteristics.
In the present study, the relationship between the crystallographic orientations and growth directions of grain boundary-allotriomorphic-#alpha# (GB #alpha#) and secondary Widmanstaetten #alpha# laths growing from the GB #alpha# at grain boundaries separating #beta# grains with specific misorientations has been examined. These relationships have been determined using a variety of characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, orientation imaging microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and a dual-beam focused ion beam instrument to provide site-selected TEM foils. Two very interesting cases, one in which the two adjacent #beta# grains are rotated mutually by approximately 10.5"o about a common direction and the other in which the two #beta# grains are in a twin relationship, i.e. a 60"o rotation about a common direction, have been studied. It was discovered that the ...
Highly intelligent, confident, and successful, alpha males represent about 70% of all senior executives. Natural leaders, they willingly take on levels of responsibility most rational people would find overwhelming. But many of their quintessential strengths can also make alphas difficult to work with. Their self-confidence can appear domineering. Their high expectations can make them excessively critical. Their unemotional style can keep them from inspiring their teams. That's why alphas need coaching to broaden their interpersonal tool kits while preserving their strengths. Drawing from their experience coaching more than 1,000 senior executives, the authors outline an approach tailored specifically for the alpha. Coaches get the alpha's attention by inundating him with data from 360-degree feedback presented in ways he will find compelling--both hard-boiled metrics and vivid ...
Formulae are obtained for the angular correlation function of inelastically scattered ..cap alpha.. particles and ..gamma.. quanta of a pure EL multipolarity, which are emitted by an excited nucleus, in the case of exchange processes, if distortions are introduced into the eikonal approximation. The matrix element of the exchange processes is considered as a coherent sum of contributions from two mechanisms: replacement and stripping of a heavy particle. Concrete calculations are performed for the reaction /sup 12/C(..cap alpha.., ..cap alpha..'..gamma..)/sup 12/C. The obtained results show that the developed formalism enables one to get an agreement between the theoretical angular correlation functions with the experimental data at reasonable values of the calculation parameters.
BackgroundFunction exertion of specific proteins are key factors in disease progression, thus the systematical identification of those specific proteins is a prerequisite to understand...Full Text Available
We have mapped and studied the effects of MeV alpha-particle bombardment in polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) and polyethylene (PE). We used 3.5 and 5.0 MeV alpha-particle incident beams and stacked polymer films to separate the contributing effects of the electronic ({var_epsilon}{sub e}) and nuclear ({var_epsilon}{sub n}) stopping powers. The electrical conductance and change in the chemical structures were measured by direct resistivity measurement, Raman microprobe, RBS and FTIR. The results indicate significant differences in the ({var_epsilon}{sub e}) and ({var_epsilon}{sub n}) effects at higher alpha-particle bombardment fluences. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}
(#alpha#+#beta#)-SiALON ceramic composites are industrially important materials. Due to their unique chemistry, crystal structure and microstructural features, #alpha#-SiAlON has superior hardness while #beta#-SiALON offers high strength and toughness. The combination of the two phases enables materials engineers to design a ceramic where the physical properties of the composite can be tailored to a particular application. This article presents a general review of the crystal structures, fabrication and properties of the (#alpha#+#beta#)-SiALON composites with special highlights outlining how microstructural tailoring can control the properties of these advanced ceramic alloys. Copyright (1997) Institute of Metals and Materials Australasia Ltd.
... and pathogen transmission. Because the ultimate object of stem cell research is cell-based clinical therapy, hES cells should ... 4%) Supported by grants (SC12021 and SC11012) from Stem Cell Research...
Abstract Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which infects not only B cells, but also T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, is associated with multiple lymphoid malignancies. Recently, the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib was reported to induce apoptosis of EBV-transformed B cells. We evaluated the killing effect of this proteasome inhibitor on EBV-associated T lymphoma cells and NK lymphoma cells. First, we found that bortezomib treatment decreased the viability of multiple T and NK cell lines. No significant difference was observed between EBV-positive and EBV-negative cell lines. The decreased viability in response to bortezomib treatment was abrogated by a pan-caspase inhibitor. The induction of apoptosis was confirmed by flow cytometric assessment of annexin V staining. Additionally, cleavage o...
The K alpha / K beta ratio of Mn KX-rays scattered by metallic samples changed remarkably with the geometry between the sample and the (55)Fe source-Si(Li) detector system. On the contrary, this intensity ratio changed little in the cases of non-metallic scatterer samples such as lucite or mylar. This difference is interpreted as due to the occurrence of strong or weak interference in the coherent scattering photons. PMID:7280291
L_#alpha#/L_l X-ray intensity ratios have been measured in elements Ta, W, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th and U using L-shell photoionization by 60 keV photons. The present results are found to agree with the calculated values of Scofield within experimental uncertainties. (author).
It has often been proposed that track diameter in etched detectors can be used for energy spectrometry. To test this proposition, the relationship between track diameter and energy of alpha particles, in the range 0.1-5.5 MeV, incident on CR-39 was studied. Two sets of detectors were irradiated by a collimated normally-incident beam of {alpha}-particles of different energies, using an Am-241 source. Different foils of the first set were etched for variable lengths of time in such a way that, in each case, the etchant reached the end of the latent track. Foils in the second set were etched for a fixed 'short' time of 2 h, for all {alpha}-energies. The linear rate of energy loss as well as the residual range of {alpha}-particles was determined by using Henke and Benton's computer program. It is found that, for 'short' etching times, the track diameter mimics ...
The elastic scattering angular distributions of 25 MeV alpha particles scattered from "7"3Ge, "8"9Y, "9"0Zr, "9"1Zr"9"4Zr, "9"3Nb, "4"4Ca and "4"5Sc have been measured experimentally, and fitted using a conventional optical model. (author).
The paper reports the recovery of zinc and cadmium following 6.1 MeV alpha particle irradiation at 4.2 K as studied by means of electrical reistivity measurements. Specimens of 10 #mu#m thick have been used in order to obtain a homogeneous defect distribution over the whole thickness of the specimen. The pre-irradiation resistivity ratios were 700 and 750 for cadmium and zinc, respectively. (Auth.).
Tensor polarization of "6Li(2.18 MeV, 3"+) nucleus at inelastic scattering of #alpha# particles for #THETA#_l_a_b=45 deg angle is measured. The results are described by the calculations in terms of Born approximation of distorted waves with internucleonic interaction realistic potential.
Correlations of the Woods-Saxon four-parameter optical potential of scattering of 38 MeV #alpha# particles on sup(68)Zn have been analyzed. A search for discrete sets of potential parameters and functional ratios between different parameters is carried out.
The influence of heat treatment on the structure, mechanical properties and fracture peculiarities of high-strength (#alpha#+#beta#)-titanium alloy VT22 has been studied. It is ascertained that thermal cycling and subsequent high-temperature aging permit to reduce considerably crack growth rate. Thermal cycling is realized in the following mode: heating in #beta#-region, cooling and allowance in (#alpha#+#beta#)-region, heating in #beta#-region.
The energy distribution of neutrons generated due to bombardment of 40 MeV alpha particles on thick elemental tantalum is measured using threshold activation detectors. A method of unfolding the neutron spectrum from the activation data based on information-entropy weighted average solution is described. The present unfolding method does not require 'a priori' information about the shape of the solution spectrum. 16 refs. (author).
The physical methods were used to study the decomposition of a metastable #beta#-solid solution in the VT22 two-phase titanium alloy. It is shown that the martensitic #beta# #-># #alpha#'' transformation in doped-element depleted microvolumes of the #beta#-solid solution are dominanted and the long-time multistage decomposition through a number of intermediate states in others.
The effect of nuclear scattering on the suprathermal fusion probability of recoiling d-t nuclei under the impact of fusion products, a 14.1-MeV neutron and a 3.5 MeV alpha particle, in thick pellets is investigated with the help of the Boltzmann-Fokker-Planck equation. Although the suprathermal fusion from alpha-particle recoils is quite small, the one originating from neutron recoils is considerable.
Although peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) is closely associated with myocardial fatty acid metabolism, the pathophysiological role of PPARα in myocardial infarction...Full Text Available
The isostructural #gamma#-#alpha# phase transition of Ce which occurs at 8 kbar has been studied by means of fully self-consistent (non-muffin-tin potential) linearized-augmented-plane-wave energy band calculations carried out for five different values of the lattice constant. In contradiction to the 4f electron promotional model of the transition, the results yield essentially one 4f electron to be occupied in each phase but with the 4f wave function somewhat less localized, and therefore more bandlike, in the ''collapsed'' #alpha# phase. A singly occupied 4f state is shown to be consistent with the available experimental data. These results strongly support the picture of a 4f localized bold-arrow-left-right itinerant transition at the #gamma#-#alpha# transition and conflict with the promotional model in which some fraction of 4f electrons are transferred to the sd conduction bands. The weaker bonding of the 4f electrons, ...
The emission of #alpha# particles in coincidence with the most deeply inelastic heavy-ion reactions has been studied for "1"8"1Ta + "1"6"5Ho at 1354 MeV laboratory energy and /sup nat/Ag + "8"4Kr at 664 MeV. #alpha# particle energy spectra and angular distributions, in coincidence with a projectile-like fragment, were acquired both in the reaction plane and out of the reaction plane at a fixed in-plane angle. The in-plane data for both systems are employed to show that the bulk of the #alpha# particles in coincidence with the deep-inelastic exit channel can be explained by evaporation from the fully accelerated fragments. Average velocity diagrams, #alpha#-particle energy spectra as a function of angle in several rest frames, and #alpha#-particle angular distributions are presented. The out-of-plane #alpha# particle angular distributions and the #gamma#-ray ...
The kinetics of the urea-induced dissociation of human plasma alpha 2-macroglobulin into two half-molecular fragments was investigated at 21.0 degrees C by using small-angle neutron scattering. The...Full Text Available
Our studies on K#beta#/K#alpha# X-ray intensity ratios of some of the technologically important 3d-transition metal compounds have been reviewed. Comparison of the experimental results with single-configuration Dirac-Fock calculations provided important information on the valence states of the transition metals in various compounds, which can be helpful in understanding the nature of bonding in the compounds. (author)
Two cDNA libraries corresponding to polyA+ RNA from human adult skeletal muscle have been constructed by cloning in the PstI site of pBR322. Skeletal alpha actin cDNA clones have been isolated and characterized....Full Text Available
Ksub(#beta#)/Ksub(#alpha#) X-ray intensity ratios have been measured for various elements between Z = 29 and Z = 79 for incident proton energies of 23.6, 32.1 and 43.6 MeV. The results yield no evidence for a variation in ratio with particle energy. (orig.).
The study by impedance and photoelectrochemical measurements of passive films formed on an AISI 304 type stainless steel shows that important parameters of the electronic structure of these films are modified under ..cap alpha.. irradiation, namely: width of the space charge region, donors concentration and diffusion length for minority carriers. The consequences of ..cap alpha.. irradiation on localized corrosion processes are discussed.
The study by impedance and photoelectrochemical measurements of passive films formed on an AISI 304 type stainless steel shows that important parameters of the electronic structure of these films are modified under #alpha# irradiation, namely: width of the space charge region, donors concentration and diffusion length for minority carriers. The consequences of #alpha# irradiation on localized corrosion processes are discussed.
Cyclic strength of #alpha#+#beta#-titanium alloy BT3-1 is studied under load frequencies of 33 and 300 Hz. The increase in the cyclic strength with growing frequency is caused by formation of FCC interphase layers of titanium hydrides. Their formation is one of possible ways of raising the fatigue strength of titanium alloys. Peculiarities of FCC interlayer formation in #alpha#+#beta# phases under loading frequency variation are revealed.
The expression status of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and that of the epidermal growth factor receptor Her-2/neu frequently correlate inversely in breast cancers. While ERα-dependent...Full Text Available
The Ksub(#beta#)/Ksub(#alpha# 12) x-ray intensity ratio of the Si K spectrum was measured for proton impact on Si0_2 in the energy range 300-800 keV. An energy dependence of the intensity ratio was found and an explanation is given in terms of multiple ionisation. (author).
A theoretical model is proposed for analyzing elastic scattering of 100-150 MeV #alpha#-particles on intermediate mass nuclei. It is shown that, within the scope of this model accounting for inhomogeneous target-nucleus density, an anomalous growth of differential cross section of elastic scattering in the region of average angles can be explained.
The electronic structure of octahedral metal atom clusters Me_6 of 3d, 4d, and 5d transition metal atoms (V, Cr; Nb, Mo; Ta, W) has been calculated applying two different quantum-chemical approximation methods (Extended Hueckel (EH) method; SW-Xsub(alpha) method). Equilibrium structures, energy level schemes, Fermi energies and band widths as well as densities of states of clusters are discussed in detail.
Results on defect structure study and degree of molybdenum radiation hardening irradiated by fission neutrons and medium energy alpha-particles are presented. It is shown that molybdenum irradiation by alpha-particles and neutrons leads to different degree of material hardening for the same damage level. It is established that molybdenum radiation hardening is mainly defined by radiation defect clusters visible in electron microscope whose coefficient of rigidity depends on their size. 5 refs.; 6 figs.; 2 tabs. (author).
Chemical influences on the relative Ksub(..beta..)/Ksub(..cap alpha..) x-ray intensity ratio up to five per cent were found for different chemical constitutions of Cr, Mn, Fe and Cu by very precise PIXE measurements. In the discussion of these effects, screening of 3p electrons by a varying 3d valence charge, as well as polarizational effects are of importance.
Chemical influences on the relative Ksub(#nu#)/Ksub(#alpha#) x-ray intensity ratio up to five per cent were found for different chemical constitutions of Cr, Mn, Fe and Cu by very precise PIXE measurements. In the discussion of these effects, screening of 3p electrons by a varying 3d valence charge, as well as polarisational effects are of importance. (author).
The operation principle, construction and characteristics of the Bragg curve spectroscopy detector (BCS detector) are described. The electric field of the BCS detector is parallel to the particle trajectories. The detector was tested by 8.78 MeV and 6.02 MeV #alpha# particles from a ThC-ThC's source. The energy resolutions are 1.5% and 2.6% respectively for two groups of #alpha# particles, and the charge resolution is 2.7%. Further test experiments with heavy ions will be arranged.
Several closely related Mn(II)-oxidizing alpha-Proteobacteria were isolated from very different marine environments: strain SI85-9A1 from the oxic/anoxic interface of a stratified...Full Text Available
In nuclear fuel with a burn-up of 33 kg/t U and 52 kg/t U 15 transuranium nuclides "2"3"7Np to "2"4"6Cm have been determined by alpha and gamma spectroscopy after radiochemical separation. (author).
Defects are produced in zinc by 6.1 MeV #alpha#-particle irradiation at 4.2 K and the subsequent recovery between 4.2 and 22 K. No evidence is found for free migration of an interstitial in the temperature range investigated. The recovery spectra reveal a series of substages which are ascribed to recombination of close Frenkel pairs. (author).
In order to identify cells of maternal origin in CVS cultures, tissue from 1st trimester abortions were cultivated and the cultures stained in situ for X-chromatin. Convoluted cells and maternal fibroblasts were found to be positive. By chromosome analysis of cultures from 105 diagnostic placenta biopsies, obtained by the transabdominal route, metaphases of maternal origin were found in nine cases. In eight of these cases colonies of convoluted cells were observed. We conclude that convoluted cells are of maternal origin and are a reliable marker for maternal cell contamination in CVS cultures.
Backgrund: Interleukin-1, tumornecrosisfactor-{alpha} and interferon-{gamma} endogenously provide protection of the hematopoietic system against radiation. Thiols have already been used successfully as radioprotective agents. In this study the effect von N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the release of interleukin-1{alpha} and {beta} (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-{gamma} (IFN-{gamma}) and tumornecrosisfactor-{alpha} (TNF-{alpha}) was assessed in an in vitro assay. Patients and Methods: Whole blood samples from 8 healthy volunteers were stimulated with 7.5 {mu}m/ml PHA. NAC was added at concentrations of 0.6, 6, 12 and 24 mmol/l. Subsequently the samples were irradiated with a dose of 18 Gy according to preceding validation experiments. Results: IL-1{alpha}, IL-1{beta} and IL-2: In comparison to simulation and radiation alone the addition of 0.6 and 6 mmol/l with IL-2 also 12 ...
First results are presented from an analysis of data from the DRIFT-IIa and DRIFT-IIb directional dark matter detectors at Boulby Mine in which alpha particle tracks were reconstructed and used to characterise detector performance--an important step towards optimising directional technology. The drift velocity in DRIFT-IIa was [59.3 +/- 0.2 (stat) +/- 7.5 (sys)] m/s based on an analysis of naturally-occurring alpha-emitting background. The drift velocity in DRIFT-IIb was [57 +/- 1 (stat) +/- 3 (sys)] m/s determined by the analysis of alpha particle tracks from a Po-210 source. 3D range reconstruction and energy spectra were used to identify alpha particles from the decay of Rn-222, Po-218, Rn-220 and Po-216. This study found that (22 +/- 2)% of Po-218 progeny (from Rn-222 decay) are produced with no net charge in 40 Torr CS2. For Po-216 progeny (from Rn-220 decay) the uncharged fraction is (100 +0 ...
Samples of nylon 66 rods were irradiated using a cobalt-60 gamma ray source at a dose rate of 0.25 Mrad h[sup -1] in air at room temperature to a maximum dose of 500 Mrad. The linear coefficient of thermal expansion ([alpha]) was measured using a three-terminal capacitance technique reported previously. The variation of [alpha] with temperature between 10 K and 340 K was investigated for an unirradiated sample and two samples irradiated to 300 Mrad and 500 Mrad. In the range 10K to 160K, [alpha] is almost invariant with radiation dose and there is little difference between the values for the unirradiated and the 300 Mrad irradiated samples above 160 K. The sample irradiated to 500 Mrad does show a 6% increase in [alpha] over the other samples in the higher temperature range. All samples show an increase overall in the value of [alpha] with temperature. The melting point of each ...
Carbothermal reduction-nitridation (CRN) of SiO_2 is an attractive method for manufacturing Si_3N_4 powders with controlled grain morphology. Moreover, #beta#-sialon powders could also be synthesized from either pure powder mixtures or some inexpensive raw minerals by CRN. The resultant powders have shown some advantages, especially in manufacturing sialon products at low cost. However, there have been only a few works on preparing #alpha#-sialon powders. In this work, Ca-#alpha# sialon powder was synthesized by CRN of a SiO_2-Al_2O_3 and CaCO_3 powder mixture An unusual morphology of hollow balls of 200 to 500nm with many nano size #alpha#-sialon particles of 10 to 30nm was identified from the resultant Ca-#alpha# sialon powders. This has never been previously reported for sialon ceramics. It was consequently confirmed that the morphologies of the products were clearly related to the intermediate ...
Nitrogen-rich Ca-#alpha#-sialon ceramics, prepared with CaH_2 as one of the starting powders, were compressively deformed in spark plasma sintering equipment. Compared with the oxygen-rich Ca-#alpha#-sialons, increasing onset deformation temperatures (about 150 K higher) were observed for nitrogen-rich Ca-#alpha#-sialons deformed at a rate of 2 x 10"-"3 s"-"1. High hardness (H_V_1_0 = 18-20 GPa) and toughness (K_I_C = 4-7 MPa m"1"/"2) were maintained after the deformation. Anisotropic grain growth was found to take place during deformation, resulting in anisotropic microstructures, containing coarse and elongated grains. The observed differences in deformation behaviour and properties between nitrogen-rich and oxygen-rich Ca-#alpha#-sialons are, as indicated by transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy analysis, attributed to the presence of reduced amounts of a ...
The fluorescent behaviour and the photodynamic effect was studied in native and structurally modified lysozyme and ..cap alpha..-lactalbumin. The Tyr residues in lysozyme and ..cap alpha..-lactalbumin show different sensitivities to the photodynamic effect. The effect is zero in the case of Tyr from native lysozyme. In contrast, the Tyr residues in ..cap alpha..-lactalbumin are susceptible to photooxidation, which indicates a greater degree of exposure to the solvent. The three His residues of ..cap alpha..-lactalbumin have different degrees of exposure and show two different kinetics of photooxidation whereas the His residue of lysozyme is photooxidized with a single kinetic. Two photooxidation kinetics were obtained for the Trp residues of both native proteins, an indication that in both cases there are Trp residues that are differently exposed to the solvent. The wavelengths of maximum fluorescent ...
Nuclear structure information for all nuclei with mass number A = 216 is summarized. Evaluated data and the adopted levels and spin and parity assignments are given. Only the #alpha#-decay mode has been observed for all nuclei in this mass chain. Possible epsilon-capture and/or #beta#-decay are expected to be quite weak for most of them. An upper limit of 0.6 percent was set by 68Va18 for "2"1"6Th epsilon-decay from #alpha#-yields. The compilers estimate any epsilon-capture decay from "2"1"6At to "2"1"6Po to be less than 1.5 x 10"-"6 percent; similarly, #beta#-decay from "2"1"6At to "2"1"6Rn ground state is expected to be less than 0.0004 percent, and allowed #beta#"- to any yet unobserved level in "2"1"6Rn can be estimated to be less than 0.005 percent from expected log ft values. Level scheme information for all nuclei is from #alpha#-decays of their parents with A = 220. #alpha#-parents are shown on ...
Excitation functions ({alpha},3n) and ({alpha},4n) for {sup 209}Bi have been measured up to 60 MeV {alpha}-particle energy. The excitation functions are measured at 15{alpha}-particle energies by a stack foil technique in two steps. Excitation functions for the above two reactions have been reported for the first time in the energy range from 40 to 60 MeV. The measured experimental values are compared with the geometry-dependent hybrid (GDH) model in which the emission of particles prior to the equilibrium decay is taken into account whenever the interaction of projectile with the target nucleus is considered. It is found that the compound nucleus decay mechanism alone is unable to explain the experimental trend of our data. The initial exciton number 4 with different configurations has been tested and it is concluded that the configuration (2n + 2p + 0h) gives the best fit to the experimental data. ...
Excitation functions (#alpha#,3n) and (#alpha#,4n) for "2"0"9Bi have been measured up to 60 MeV #alpha#-particle energy. The excitation functions are measured at 15#alpha#-particle energies by a stack foil technique in two steps. Excitation functions for the above two reactions have been reported for the first time in the energy range from 40 to 60 MeV. The measured experimental values are compared with the geometry-dependent hybrid (GDH) model in which the emission of particles prior to the equilibrium decay is taken into account whenever the interaction of projectile with the target nucleus is considered. It is found that the compound nucleus decay mechanism alone is unable to explain the experimental trend of our data. The initial exciton number 4 with different configurations has been tested and it is concluded that the configuration (2n + 2p + 0h) gives the best fit to the experimental data. ...
The formation of the melilite solid solution phase (M'), Sm_2Si_3_-_xAl_xO_3_+_xN_4_-_x, in an #alpha#-sialon sample of overall composition Sm_0_._6Si_9_._2_8Al_2_._6_9O_1_._3_6N_1_4_._7_6, was studied as a function of time in the temperature interval 1,375--1,525 C. The #alpha#-sialon ceramic contained only minor amounts of the 21R sialon polytype and some residual grain-boundary glass before heat treatment. In situ studies by high-temperature X-ray diffraction were combined with postsintering heat treatment followed by quenching. The M'-phase was found to be formed by two different mechanisms: either crystallization of the residual grain-boundary liquid or a direct decomposition of the #alpha#-sialon phase. The liquid crystallized during the first 10--15 min of heat treatment, yielding a rapid M'-phase formation, and further formation of M'-phase continued at a much slower rate, related to the decomposition of ...
A technique for following sialon formation in situ by high temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD) was developed. The composition chosen for study was an yttrium #alpha#-sialon with x=0.4. Powder compacts containing silicon nitride, aluminum nitride and yttria powders were pre-sintered at 1350 C and then studied by HT-XRD at temperatures between 1450 and 1580 C and nitrogen pressures of 0.11 MPa. The furnace was made from graphite coated with porous silicon nitride/silicon carbide. The coating prevented silicon carbide formation in the sample up to 1600 C. X-ray diffraction results show the formation of a Y_1_0Al_2Si_3O_1_8N_4 phase at 1350 C, which dissolved to form #alpha#-sialon and other phases at higher temperatures. The amounts of #alpha#-sialon formed are similar to the amounts reported by other authors. An empirical method was used for the calculation of activation energy for the silicon nitride to ...
Chemical analyses were done on the abnormal hemoglobins of the five (101 x SEC)F_1 offspring of X- irradiated adult SEC mice to determine which hemoglobin genes were expressed in each hemoglobin variant. Three offspring of irradiated SEC males did not express either of the two kinds of #alpha#-chains normally found in all SEC mice. The deficient #alpha#-chain synthesis caused these mice to exhibit an #alpha#-thalassemia similar to human #alpha#-thalassemia. Scanning electron microscopy was used to show that many erythrocytes of mice with #alpha#-thalassemia have bizarre shapes; e.g. many erythrocytes appeared flattened or had thorny projections (acanthocytes). One mutant with a tandem duplication of a segment of chromosome 7 (site of locus determining #beta#-chain structure) produced twice as much SEC as 101 #beta#-chain polypeptides. One mutant that probably arose by ...
Blood flow changes in the periodontal ligament (PDL) were measured indirectly by monitoring the local clearance of /sup 125/I/sup -/ during electric sympathetic nerve stimulation or close intra-arterial infusions of either noradrenaline (NA) or adrenaline (ADR) before and after administration of phentolamine (PA), phenoxybenzamine (PBZ) or Idazoxan (RX). At the doses used in the present study, PA was the only antagonist that significantly reduced the blood flow decrease seen on activation of sympathetic fibers, although PBZ also reduced this response. Idazoxan, however, did not induce the consistent effect on blood flow decreases seen on sympathetic activation. All three ..cap alpha..-adrenoceptor antagonists almost abolished the effects of exogenously administered NA and ADR. The results suggest the presence of functional post-junctional adrenoceptors of both the ..cap alpha.. 1 and ..cap alpha.. 2 subtypes in the ...
A highly reliable screening method was developed for the determination of lead in tin plated layers and tin-bismuth plated layers. The contents of lead in the layers of the various samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The calibration curve for lead in the tin and tin-bismuth plated layers by using WD-XRF exhibited linear correlation from 130 #mu#g/g to 2070 #mu#g/g. Calibration curve of lead normalized with Pb-L#alpha#/Sn-K#alpha# intensity was more linear, and this method was possible to evaluate very small sample. The calibration curve for lead in the tin plated layers by using ED-XRF was good linearly, but it for lead in the tin-bismuth plated layers was affected by Pb-L#alpha# spectrum and Bi-L#alpha# spectrum overlap each other. It was effective for decreasing affect of Bi-L#alpha# spectrum by using curve fitting method. (author)
The spectral properties of Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) offer a means to isolate pure samples displaying either dominant Ly-alpha in absorption or Ly-alpha in emission using broadband information alone. We present criteria developed using a large z ~ 3 LBG spectroscopic sample from the literature that enables large numbers of each spectral type to be gathered in photometric data, providing good statistics for multiple applications. In addition, we find that the truncated faint, blue-end tail of z ~ 3 LBG population overlaps and leads directly into an expected Ly-alpha emitter (LAE) population. As a result, we present simple criteria to cleanly select large numbers of z ~ 3 LAEs in deep broadband surveys. We present the spectroscopic results of 32 r' <~ 25.5 LBGs and r' <~ 27.0 LAEs at z ~ 3 pre-selected in the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey that confirm these criteria.
The aim of the paper is to investigate the process of #alpha#-particle breakup into two deuterons and to estimate the applicability of data on breakup for extraction of diffusivity parameter (a) in the framework of the diffraction approach. Measurements of absolute values of differential cross sections (DCS) of 96 MeV #alpha#-particle breakup on "5"8","6"4Ni are carried out in the limited angular range: #THETA#_1=22.5 deg, #THETA#_2=50, 55, 60, -50, -60 deg. Wide maxima typical for the process of incident #alpha#-particle breakup are observed in deuteron energy spectra. Measured DCS for #alpha#-particle breakup show distinct difference for "5"8Ni and "6"4Ni. The calculations describe satisfactorily this difference in the framework of the diffraction approach, if it is supposed that the diffusivity parameter for "5"8Ni nucleus has the value a=0.65 fm, and for "6"4Ni - a=0.85 fm.
The inducible transcription factor NF-#kappa#B regulates divergent signaling pathways including inflammatory response and cancer development. Selective inhibitors for NF-#kappa#B signaling are potentially useful for treatment of inflammation and cancer. NF-#kappa#B is canonically activated by preferential disposal of its inhibitory protein; I#kappa#B, which suppresses the nuclear translocation of NF-#kappa#B. I#kappa#B#alpha# (a major member of I#kappa#B family proteins) is phosphorylated with an I#kappa#B kinase (IKK) and subsequently polyubiquitylated by SCF"#beta#"T"r"C"P"1 ubiquitin-ligase in the presence of E1 and E2 prior to proteasomal degradation. Here, we describe a novel inhibitor termed GS143, which suppressed I#kappa#B#alpha# ubiquitylation, but not I#kappa#B#alpha# phosphorylation, MDM2-directed p53 ubiquitylation, and proteasome activity in vitro. GS143 markedly suppressed the destruction of ...
An assay system for the stem cell that colonizes the thymus and differentiates into T cells was developed, and by using this assay system the existence of two subpopulations of stem cells for T cell lineage was clarified. Part-body-shielded and 900-R-irradiated C57BL/6 (H-2b, Thy-1.2) recipient mice, which do not require the transfer of pluripotent stem cells for their survival, were transferred with cells from B10 X Thy-1.1 (H-2b, Thy-1.1) donor mice. The reconstitution of the recipient's thymus lymphocytes was accomplished by stem cells in the donor cells and those spared in the shielded portion of the recipient that competitively colonize the thymus. Thus, the stem cell activity of donor cells can be evaluated by determining the proportion of donor-type (Thy-1.1+) ...
The herbicide atrazine is a known immunotoxicant and an inhibitor of human natural killer (NK) cell lytic function. The precise changes in NK cell lytic function following atrazine exposure have not been fully elucidated. The current study identifies the point at which atrazine exerts its affect on the stepwise process of human NK cell-mediated lyses of the K562 target cell line. Using intracellular staining of human peripheral blood lymphocytes, it was determined that a 24-h in vitro exposure to atrazine did not decrease the level of NK cell lytic proteins granzyme A, granzyme B or perforin. Thus, it was hypothesized that atrazine exposure was inhibiting the ability of the NK cells to bind to the target cell and subsequently inhibit the release of lytic protein from the NK cell. To test t...
Introduction: Haploidentical transplantation, with extensive T cell depletion to prevent GvHD, is associated with a high incidence of infection-related deaths. The key challenge is to improve immune recovery with allogeneic donor T cells without triggering GvHD. As T regulatory cells (Tregs) controlled GvHD in pre-clinical studies, the present study evaluated the impact of an infusion of donor CD4/CD25 + Tregs, followed by an inoculum of donor mature T cells (Tcons) and positively immunoselected CD34 + cells in the setting of haploidentical stem cell transplantation. Patients and methods: Twenty-eight patients were enrolled in this study (22 AML; 5 ALL; 1 NHL). All received immunoselected Tregs (CliniMACS, Miltenyi Biotec) followed by positively immunoselected CD34 + cells together with Tc...
The presence of a high number of activated T cells in the bloodstream and spontaneous proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro are striking characteristics of human T-cell leukemia...Full Text Available
The article is the second part of a review dealing with latest developments in the area of solar cell technologies and application. Physical principles, design and efficiency as well as advantages and disadvantages of GaAs- and CdS-solar cells are described. Power generation solar cell systems with voltage converters, combined solar cell/solar collector systems and thermoelectric solar systems are presented in the second part of the article.
The herbicide atrazine is a known immunotoxicant and an inhibitor of human natural killer (NK) cell lytic function. The precise changes in NK cell lytic function following atrazine exposure have not been fully elucidated. The current study identifies the point at which atrazine exerts its affect on the stepwise process of human NK cell-mediated lyses of the K562 target cell line. Using intracellular staining of human peripheral blood lymphocytes, it was determined that a 24-h in vitro exposure to atrazine did not decrease the level of NK cell lytic proteins granzyme A, granzyme B or perforin. Thus, it was hypothesized that atrazine exposure was inhibiting the ability of the NK cells to bind to the target cell and subsequently inhibit the release of lytic protein from the NK cell. To test this hypothesis, flow cytometry ...
Cell therapy is a promising novel option for treatment of cardiovascular disease. Because the role of bone marrow-derived circulating progenitor cells (BM-CPCs) after cell therapy is less clear, we...Full Text Available
PCD (programmed cell death) in plants presents important morphological and biochemical differences compared with apoptosis in animal cells. This raises the question of whether PCD arose independently...Full Text Available
Although human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is the etiologic agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), the role of viral gene expression in the progression to and maintenance of the...Full Text Available
Bovine leukemia virus (BLV), a retrovirus related to human T-cell leukemia virus types 1 and 2, can induce persistent nonneoplastic expansion of the CD5+ B-cell population, termed...Full Text Available
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) is expected as a new power generation source. The development of SOFC is being conducted by CRIEPI, and so far several reports of the reults were presented. This report examines materials of SOFC. For the purpose, cells were made using some of typical materials and manufacturing processes, and cell performance tests were carried out.
A single round of Edman degradation was employed to remove the NH_2-terminal valine from isolated #alpha# chains of human hemoglobin. Reconstitution of normal #beta# chains with truncated or substituted #alpha# chains was used to form truncated (des-Val"1-#alpha#1) and substituted ([[1-"1"3C]Gly"1]#alpha#1) tetrameric hemoglobin analogs. Structural homology of the analogs with untreated native hemoglobin was established by using several spectroscopic and physical methods. Functional studies indicate that the reconstituted tetrameric protein containing des-Val"1-#alpha# chains has a higher affinity for oxygen, is less influenced by chloride ions or 2,3-biphosphoglycerate, and shows lower cooperativity than native hemoglobin. These results confirm the key functional role of the #alpha#-chain NH_2 terminus in mediating cooperative oxygen binding across the dimer ...
The title compounds were prepared by arc-melting of the elemental components. Whereas NdPdSi and SmPdSi are already present after the arc-melting, alpha-GdPdSi and alpha-TbPdSi are formed only during the annealing at 800 degC. The four compounds crystallize with the recently reported alpha-YbAuGe type structure, which was refined for alpha-GdPdSi: Pnma, a=2108.0(4) pm, b=433.9(1) pm, c=745.6(1) pm, Z=12, R=0.026 for 1447 structure factors and 62 variable parameters. The lanthanoid atoms are situated between two-dimensionally infinite nets of condensed, puckered hexagons formed by alternating palladium and silicon atoms, with Pd-Si distances varying between 251 and 262 pm. In the third dimension these nets are linked via weak Pd-Pd (300 pm), Pd-Si (283 pm), and Si-Si bonds (261 pm). The refinements of the occupancy parameters suggested that ca. 2% of the palladium sites are occupied by silicon atoms and ...
'Improvement in understanding of the deposition of ambient dust particles on ECAM (Environmental Continuous Air Monitor) filters, reduction of the alpha-particle interference of radon progeny and other radioactive aerosols in different particle size ranges on filters, and development of ECAM''s with increased sensitivity under dusty outdoor conditions. As of May 1, 1998 (1/2 year into the project) the research-prototype 30-cm pulsed ionization chamber (PIC) is assembled and operational with an alpha particle energy resolution of better than 45 keV for 5-MeV alpha particles. Measurements of spectral resolution for alpha particles from radon decay products have been made as a function of filter type and dust loading conditions. So far, a study of ten filter types has found that the best combination of resolution and throughput is obtained with 3.0 \\265m Millipore fluoropore and ...
Target of rapamycin (TOR) kinases control cell growth through two functionally distinct multiprotein complexes. TOR complex 1 (TORC1) controls temporal cell growth and is sensitive to rapamycin, whereas...Full Text Available
Amorphous silicon solar cells have been shown to have efficiencies which degrade as a result of long exposure to light. Annealing such cells in air at a temperature of about 200.degree. C. for at least 30 minutes restores their efficiency.
Red cell transfusions are associated with the development of acute lung injury in the critically ill. Recent evidence suggests that storage induced alterations of the red blood cell (RBC) collectively...Full Text Available
Many patients who undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) present with anemia and have received red blood cell transfusions before HCT. As a result, iron overload is frequent and appears...Full Text Available
Metastatic testicular germ cell tumours are cured in approximately 85% of patients using cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. Patients who fail to respond have a poor prognosis, and there is a...Full Text Available
... ions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cell Culture Culture of NT2/D1 cells was carried out as described previously (18, 19). NT2 cells were plated at a density of 2. ... ...
BACKGROUND--Interstitial lung diseases are characterised by the recruitment of mononuclear cells to disease sites where maturation occurs and activation products, including lysozyme (LZM), are released....Full Text Available