The study of silicates and refractory materials at high pressures and temperatures

To better understand high pressure behavior of solids, both silicates and oxides have been investigated to clarify the high pressure melting, phase transformations and thermal parameters as well as their size dependences, both theoretically and experimentally. ^ To judge the precision of data determined experimentally, the reliabilities of different high pressure techniques have been discussed. A thermodynamic model has been developed and demonstrated to be able to closely reproduce the melting of solids by comparison between results calculated and data obtained experimentally, including metals (Al, Ni and Pt), Silicates (Mg3Al 2Si3O12 and CaMgSi2O6), Halides (NaCl, CsCl and LiF) and Oxides (MgO, FeO and Al2O3). The melting data obtained have been discussed to address the dynamics of the Earth's interior. ^ Results obtained with Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction show that solids including silicates (andradite and pyrope) and oxides (CeO2 and TiO2) undergo a series of pressure-induced phase transformations. The effects of particle size under high pressures have been investigated. The results obtained indicate that the reduction of particle size leads to the enhancement of the bulk modulus and a significant decrease of transition pressure in TiO2 (rutile) and CeO2. The pressure-induced amorphization in anatase also results from the size effects. ^ Combining the data obtained with global seismic tomography, the physics and chemistry of the Earth's mantle and the dynamics of the core-mantle interaction have been discussed. The high pressure phases of Al3+- and Fe3+-bearing minerals play important roles in the dynamics of the lower mantle. ^

"Absence of a refractory period for mechanical activation of p54-JNK in rat plantaris in situ"

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Enhancing non-refractory aerosol apportionment from an urban industrial site through receptor modelling of complete high time-resolution aerosol mass spectra

Receptor modelling was performed on quadrupole unit mass resolution aerosol mass spectrometer (Q-AMS) sub-micron particulate matter (PM) chemical speciation measurements from Windsor, Ontario, an industrial city situated across the Detroit River from Detroit, Michigan. Aerosol and trace gas measurements were collected on board Environment Canada’s CRUISER mobile laboratory. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was performed on the AMS full particle-phase mass spectrum (PMFFull MS) encompassing both organic and inorganic components. This approach was compared to the more common method of analysing only the organic mass spectra (PMFOrg MS). PMF of the full mass spectrum revealed that variability in the non-refractory sub-micron aerosol concentration and composition was best explained by six factors: an amine-containing factor (Amine); an ammonium sulphate and oxygenated organic aerosol containing factor (Sulphate-OA); an ammonium nitrate and oxygenated organic aerosol containing factor (Nitrate-OA); an ammonium chloride containing factor (Chloride); a hydrocarbon like organic aerosol (HOA) factor; and a moderately oxygenated organic aerosol factor (OOA). PMF of the organic mass spectrum revealed three factors of similar composition to some of those revealed through PMFFull MS: Amine, HOA and OOA. Including both the inorganic and organic mass proved to be a beneficial approach to analysing the unit mass resolution AMS data for several reasons. First, it provided a method for potentially calculating more accurate sub-micron PM mass concentrations, particularly when unusual factors are present, in this case, an Amine factor. As this method does not rely on a priori knowledge of chemical species, it circumvents the need for any adjustments to the traditional AMS species fragmentation patterns to account for atypical species, and can thus lead to more complete factor profiles. It is expected that this method would be even more useful for HR-ToF-AMS data, due to the ability to better understand the chemical nature of atypical factors from high resolution mass spectra. Second, utilizing PMF to extract factors containing inorganic species allowed for the determination of extent of neutralization, which could have implications for aerosol parameterization. Third, subtler differences in organic aerosol components were resolved through the incorporation of inorganic mass into the PMF matrix. The additional temporal features provided by the inorganic aerosol components allowed for the resolution of more types of oxygenated organic aerosol than could be reliably re-solved from PMF of organics alone. Comparison of findings from the PMFFull MS and PMFOrg MS methods showed that for the Windsor airshed, the PMFFull MS method enabled additional conclusions to be drawn in terms of aerosol sources and chemical processes. While performing PMFOrg MS can provide important distinctions between types of organic aerosol, it is shown that including inorganic species in the PMF analysis can permit further apportionment of organics for unit mass resolution AMS mass spectra.

"Absence of a refractory period for mechanical activation of p54-JNK in rat plantaris in situ"

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Cost-effectiveness of zoledronic acid and strontium-89 as bone protecting treatments in addition to chemotherapy in patients with metastatic castrate-refractory prostate cancer: results from the TRAPEZE trial (ISRCTN 12808747)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adding zoledronic acid or strontium-89 to standard docetaxel chemotherapy for patients with castrate-refractory prostate cancer (CRPC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data on resource use and quality of life for 707 patients collected prospectively in the TRAPEZE 2 × 2 factorial randomised trial (ISRCTN 12808747) were used to assess the cost-effectiveness of i) zoledronic acid versus no zoledronic acid (ZA vs. no ZA), and ii) strontium-89 versus no strontium-89 (Sr89 vs. no Sr89). Costs were estimated from the perspective of the National Health Service in the UK and included expenditures for trial treatments, concomitant medications, and use of related hospital and primary care services. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were calculated according to patients' responses to the generic EuroQol EQ-5D-3L instrument, which evaluates health status. Results are expressed as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.

RESULTS: The per-patient cost for ZA was £12 667, £251 higher than the equivalent cost in the no ZA group. Patients in the ZA group had on average 0.03 QALYs more than their counterparts in no ZA group. The ICER for this comparison was £8 005. Sr89 was associated with a cost of £13 230, £1365 higher than no Sr89, and a gain of 0.08 QALYs compared to no Sr89. The ICER for Sr89 was £16 884. The probabilities of ZA and Sr89 being cost-effective were 0.64 and 0.60, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The addition of bone-targeting treatments to standard chemotherapy led to a small improvement in QALYs for a modest increase in cost (or cost-savings). ZA and Sr89 resulted in ICERs below conventional willingness-to-pay per QALY thresholds, suggesting that their addition to chemotherapy may represent a cost-effective use of resources.

Sub lethal mercuric chloride toxicity induced stress related alterations in the epithelial lining of foot of the freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck)

Sub lethal (0.2 ppm) mercuric chloride induced stress related histopathological alterations in the epithelial linings of foot (podium) of the edible freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck) were studied using histochemical techniques up to 60 days of exposure. The histomorphological changes were manifested only slowly and its intensity was somewhat proportional to the duration of exposure. The immediate response of the exposed mussels was the altered mucous secretion. There was a progressive incorporation of sulphated glycoproteins into the secretory contents of the mucous cells especially in the first half of the experiment. Marked histopathological changes including necrosis, appearance of pyknotic nuclei, sloughing of epithelial cells and appearance of non-tissue spaces, etc., started appearing during the later half of the experiment. The fag end of the experiment, which witnessed prominent histomorphological changes, was accompanied by highly decreased mucous secretion. KEYWORDS: heavy metal toxicity, mercuric chloride, Lamellidens marginalis, freshwater mussel, histopathology.

Glatiramer Acetate-associated Refractory Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

We present a case of glatiramer acetate-associated refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in a female patient with multiple sclerosis. A search of MEDLINE/PubMed did not find any connection between glatiramer acetate and thrombocytopenia, specifically ITP. The autoimmune reaction was resistant to conservative ITP treatment, and was eventually managed only by splenectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of glatiramer acetate-associated ITP. Physicians should be aware of this condition, and consider performing routine blood counts at the beginning of glatiramer acetate treatment.

Endoscopic incision for the treatment of refractory esophageal anastomotic strictures: outcomes of 13 cases with a minimum follow-up of 12 months

Background and aim: Endoscopic incision is an alternative method for refractory esophageal strictures; however, little is known about its long-term efficacy. The aim of the study is to assess the long-term outcomes of endoscopic incision for treating refractory esophageal anastomotic strictures. Methods: Between September 2011 and September 2014, 13 patients with refractory esophageal anastomotic strictures were treated with endoscopic incision. Their clinical data were retrospectively collected to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the technique. Results: All the 13 patients underwent the procedure successfully with median operation duration of 15 minutes. A total of 27 sessions were necessary to maintain lumen patency until September 2015, and 7 patients needed retreatment. The symptoms relieved in all the cases, and the median dysphagia score decreased from 4 to 1 during a median follow-up of 24 months. The median diameter of stricture was enlarged from 4 mm to 12 mm. As a short-term effect, dysphagia symptoms improved in 100% (13/13), 84.6% (11/13) and 76.9% (10/13) of the patients one, three and six months after a single treatment. As long-term effect, the dysphagia improved in 61.5% (8/13), 63.6% (7/11) and 60% (6/10) of the patients 12, 18 and 24 months after a single treatment. Conclusions: The efficacy of endoscopic incision is favorable in the short term. However, retreatment is needed to maintain the long-term lumen patency for parts of the patients.

Association of interleukin 17 / angiotensin II with refractory hypertension risk in hemodialysis patients.

Objective: The study was performed to investigate the association of interleukin 17 (IL 17) or angiotensin II (Ang II) with refractory hypertension risk in hemodialysis patients. Methods: Ninety hemodialysis patients were enrolled into this study, and those with hypertension were divided into two groups. The Easy-to-Control Hypertension group (ECHG) had fifty patients, while the refractory hypertension group (RHG) had forty patients. Twenty healthy individuals were recruited as the control group. IL17 and Ang II were determined using a human IL 17 / Ang II enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Serum IL 17 and Ang II concentrations in RHG patients were higher than those in ECHG patients. Results: Serum IL 17 and Ang II concentrations in both patient groups were higher than those in the control group. Linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation between IL 17 and Ang II. In multivariate regression analysis, we found that IL17 and Ang II were associated with refractory hypertension risk in hemodialysis patients. Conclusion: IL17 and Ang II were associated with refractory hypertension risk in hemodialysis patients. There was also a positive correlation between IL 17and Ang II.

Arsenic bioleaching in medical realgar ore and arsenicbearing refractory gold ore by combination of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

Purpose: To develop a novel biotechnological method for removing toxic arsenic from two kinds of representative arsenic-containing ores using different mixed mesophilic acidophiles. Methods: Bioleaching of the two types of arsenic-containing ores by mixed arsenic-unadapted Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans or mixed arsenic-adapted cultures, were carried out. Arsenic bioleaching ratios in the various leachates were determined and compared. Results: The results showed that the maximum arsenic leaching ratio obtained from realgar in the presence of mixed adapted cultures was 28.6 %. However, the maximum arsenic leaching ratio from realgar in the presence of mixed unadapted strains was only 12.4 %. Besides, maximum arsenic leaching ratios from arsenic-bearing refractory gold ore by mixed adapted strains or unadapted strains were 45.0 and 22.9 %, respectively. Oxidation of these two ores by sulfuric acid was insignificant, as maximum arsenic leaching ratios of realgar and arsenic-bearing refractory gold ore in the absence of any bacterium were only 2.8 and 11.2 %, respectively. Conclusion: Arsenic leaching ratio of realgar and refractory gold ore can be enhanced significantly in the presence of arsenic-adapted mesophilic acidophiles.

In vivo confocal microscopy of the palpebral conjunctiva and tarsal plate

Purpose The aim of this work is to develop a more complete understanding of the in vivo histology of the human palpebral conjunctiva and tarsal plate. Methods. The upper eyelids of 11 healthy human volunteer subjects were everted, and laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to examine the various tissue layers of the palpebral conjunctiva and tarsal plate. Results The superficial and basal epithelial layers are composed of cells with gray cytoplasm and thick, light gray borders.Nuclei can not be seen. The stroma has a varied appearance; fibrous tissue is sometimes observed, interspersed with dark,amorphous lacunae, and crevases. Numerous single white or gray cells populate this tissue, and fine blood vessels are seen traversing the field. Occasional conjunctival microcysts and Langerhans cells are observed. The tarsal plate is dark and amorphous, and meibomian gland acini with convoluted borders are clearly observed. Acini are composed of an outer lining of large cuboidal cells, and differentiated secretory cells can be seen within the acini lumen. Conclusions Laser scanning confocal microscopy is capable of studying the human palpebral conjunctiva, tarsal plate, and acini of meibomian glands in vivo. The observations presented here may provide useful supplementary anatomical information relating to the morphology of this tissue.

Computer profiling for forensic purposes

Computer forensics is the process of gathering and analysing evidence from computer systems to aid in the investigation of a crime. Typically, such investigations are undertaken by human forensic examiners using purpose-built software to discover evidence from a computer disk. This process is a manual one, and the time it takes for a forensic examiner to conduct such an investigation is proportional to the storage capacity of the computer's disk drives. The heterogeneity and complexity of various data formats stored on modern computer systems compounds the problems posed by the sheer volume of data. The decision to undertake a computer forensic examination of a computer system is a decision to commit significant quantities of a human examiner's time. Where there is no prior knowledge of the information contained on a computer system, this commitment of time and energy occurs with little idea of the potential benefit to the investigation. The key contribution of this research is the design and development of an automated process to describe a computer system and its activity for the purposes of a computer forensic investigation. The term proposed for this process is computer profiling. A model of a computer system and its activity has been developed over the course of this research. Using this model a computer system, which is the subj ect of investigation, can be automatically described in terms useful to a forensic investigator. The computer profiling process IS resilient to attempts to disguise malicious computer activity. This resilience is achieved by detecting inconsistencies in the information used to infer the apparent activity of the computer. The practicality of the computer profiling process has been demonstrated by a proof-of concept software implementation. The model and the prototype implementation utilising the model were tested with data from real computer systems. The resilience of the process to attempts to disguise malicious activity has also been demonstrated with practical experiments conducted with the same prototype software implementation.