A Novel Counter Sheet-Flow Sandwich Cell Culture Device For Mammalian Cell Growth In Space

Cell culture and growth in space is crucial to understand the cellular responses under microgravity. The effects of microgravity were coupled with such environment restrictions as medium perfusion, in which the underlying mechanism has been poorly understood. In the present work, a customer-made counter sheet-flow sandwich cell culture device was developed upon a biomechanical concept from fish gill breathing. The sandwich culture unit consists of two side chambers where the medium flow is counter-directional, a central chamber where the cells are cultured, and two porous polycarbonate membranes between side and central chambers. Flow dynamics analysis revealed the symmetrical velocity profile and uniform low shear rate distribution of flowing medium inside the central culture chamber, which promotes sufficient mass transport and nutrient supply for mammalian cell growth. An on-orbit experiment performed on a recovery satellite was used to validate the availability of the device.

ABCD matrix for reflection and refraction of Gaussian beams at the surface of a parabola of revolution

We report the formulation of an ABCD matrix for reflection and refraction of Gaussian light beams at the surface of a parabola of revolution that separate media of different refractive indices based on optical phase matching. The equations for the spot sizes and wave-front radii of the beams are also obtained by using the ABCD matrix. With these matrices, we can more conveniently design and evaluate some special optical systems, including these kinds of elements. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America

A paradigm for virus-host coevolution: Sequential counter-adaptations between endogenous and exogenous retroviruses

Endogenous retroviruses ( ERVs) are remnants of ancient retroviral infections of the host germline transmitted vertically from generation to generation. It is hypothesized that some ERVs are used by the host as restriction factors to block the infection o

Polishing Treatment of Molasses Wastewater with Iron Salts: the Role of Counter-ions

The effect of counter-ions on the coagulation of biologically treated molasses wastewater using iron-based coagulants was investigated. Parameters such as removals of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color, and residual turbidity, were measured to evaluate coagulation performance. Experimental results showed that ferric chloride and ferric nitrate were more effective than ferric sulfate at optimal dosages, achieving 89 to 90% and 98 to 99% of COD and color removals, respectively, with residual turbidity of less than 5 NTU. High-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) results revealed differences in the removal of the molecular weight fraction of organic compounds using iron salts. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed randomly formed coagulated flocs characterized with irregular, sheet-like shapes. Nitrate and chloride counter-ions had similar effects on coagulation performance compared to sulfate. Both FeCl3 and Fe(NO3)(3) yielded better results than Fe(SO4)(2) under underdosed and optimum dosage conditions. Coagulation efficiency was less adversely affected in the overdosed regions, however, if sulfate rather than chloride or nitrate was present. Water Environ. Res., 81, 2293 (2009).

The radio counter-jet of the QSO 3C 48

We present multi- frequency radio observational results of the quasar 3C 48. The observations were carried out with the Very Large Array ( VLA) at five frequencies, 0.33, 1.5, 4.8, 8.4, and 22.5 GHz, and with the Multi- Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network ( MERLIN) at the two frequencies of 1.6 and 5 GHz. The source shows a one- sided jet to the north within 1", which then extends to the northeast and becomes diffuse. Two bright components ( N2 and N3), containing most of the flux density, are present in the northern jet. The spectral index of the two components is alpha(N2) similar to -0.99 +/- 0.12 and alpha(N3) similar to - 0.84 +/- 0.23 ( S proportional to nu(alpha)). Our images show the presence of an extended structure surrounding component N2, suggestive of strong interaction between the jet and the interstellar medium ( ISM) of the host galaxy. A steep- spectrum component, labelled S, located 0.25 " southwest to the flat- spectrum component which could be the core of 3C 48, is detected at a significance of > 15 sigma. Both the location and the steepness of the spectrum of component S suggest the presence of a counter- jet in 3C 48.

Studies of timing for a TOF counter at external target facility

Timing and amplitude properties of a prototype scintillator TOF counter at an external target facility are studied with a cosmic rays test. The dependence of signal pulse height and time resolution on the coordinate along the scintillator TOF counter is investigated with two different discriminators. A time resolution of 165 ps can be achieved at the center of the counter with a constant fraction discriminator. Time resolution better than 150 ps is obtained at the center with a leading edge discriminator af...

The time and energy signals, counter plateau, energy resolution and gas gains performances of a new kind of micro-pattern gaseous detector-Micromegas

In present paper, a new Micromegas detector is developed, and its time and energy signals are obtained in the figure form. The rising time of fast time signal is less than 2 ns due to the very fast collection of avalanche electrons, and the rising time of the energy pulse is about 100 ns, which is corresponding to the total collecting time of the electrons and ions in the avalanche process. The counter plateau, energy resolution and the gas gains of the detector have been compared with other groups' experimental results and the Garfield simulation result.

Winter counter-wind currents off the southeastern China coast: A review

This review covers the discovery and studies of the year-round northeastward currents off the southeastern China coast, paying special attention to its upwind characteristic in winter, mainly focusing on work by Chinese oceanographers. This current system is a prominent and unique phenomenon in the shelf circulation of the world ocean. The general features of the current system are summarized. The evidence for the existence and the variation of the three parts of the currents-the South China Sea Warm Current, the Taiwan Strait Warm Current and the Taiwan Warm Current-are separately elucidated. The formation mechanisms of the current as a whole are explained using dynamic analysis and numerical simulation results. Some suggestions for further studies are also made.

An efficient combination of supercritical fluid extraction and high-speed counter-current chromatography to extract and purify homoisoflavonoids from Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker-Gawler

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used to extract homoisoflavonoids from Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker-Gawler. The optimization of parameters was carried out using an orthogonal test L-9 (3)(4) including pressure, temperature, dynamic extraction time and the amount of modifier. The process was then scaled up by 100 times with a preparative SFE system under the optimized conditions of 25 MPa, 55 degrees C, 4.0 h and 25% methanol as a modifier. Then crude extracts were separated and purified by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/ACN/water (1.8:1.0:1.0:1.2:1.0 v/v). There three homoisoflavonoidal compounds including methylophiopogonanone A 6-aldehydo-isoophiopogonone A, and 6-formyl-isoophiopogonanone A, were successfully isolated and purified in one step. The collected fractions were analyzed by HPLC. In each operation, 140 mg crude extracts was separated and yielded 15.3 mg of methylophiopogonanone A (96.9% purity), 4.1 mg of 6-aldehydo-isoophiopogonone A (98.3% purity) and 13.5 mg of 6-formyl-isoophiopogonanone A (97.3% purity) respectively. The chemical structure of the three homoisoflavonoids are identified by means of ESI-MS and NMR analysis.

One step isolation and purification of liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Risch using high-speed counter-current chromatography

High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) technique in semi-preparative scale has been successfully applied to the separation of bioactive flavonoid compounds, liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin in one step from the crude extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Risch. The HSCCC was performed using a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-acetonitrile-water (2:2:1:0.6:2, v/v). Yields of liquiritigenin (98.9% purity) and isoliquiritigenin (98.3% purity) obtained were 0.52% and 0.32%. Chemical structures of the purified liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin were identified by electrospray ionization-MS (ESI-MS) and NMR analysis. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.