Determination of the minimum value of the safety factor from geodesic Alfven eigenmodes in Joint European Torus

An analysis of the experimental conditions under which low-frequency (70-150 kHz) Alfven eigertmodes (AE) are excited during the monster sawtooth in Joint European Torus [F Romanelli et al, Proceedings of the 22nd IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, Geneva, Switzerland, 2008] is presented for the specific case of a discharge with ion cyclotron heating (5 MW) Using a simplified AE model for modes excited at the Alfven wave continuum maximum with geodesic corrections taken into account, the temporal evolution of the value of the safety factor q(0) at the magnetic axis is determined We describe a new scheme to determine the time variation of q(0) that works under conditions in which other standard diagnostics, such as the motional Stark effect do not give reliable results such as during a monster sawtooth [doi 10 1063/1 3494212]

Dispersion of electron g-factor with optical transition energy in (In,Ga)As/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots

The electron spin precession about an external magnetic field was studied by Faraday rotation on an inhomogeneous ensemble of singly charged, self-assembled (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots. From the data the dependence of electron g-factor on optical transition energy was derived. A comparison with literature reports shows that the electron g-factors are quite similar for quantum dots with very different geometrical parameters, and their change with transition energy is almost identical. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3588413]

FLOW PROPERTIES AND TUBE FRICTION FACTOR OF MILK CREAM: INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE AND FAT CONTENT

The rheological behavior of milk cream was studied for different fat contents (0.10 to 0.31) and for a wide temperature range (2 and 87C) using a rotational rheometer. Newtonian behavior was observed, except for fat content between 0.20 and 0.31 and temperature between 2 and 33C, where viscoplastic behavior was remarkable. The rheological parameters (Newtonian viscosity, plastic viscosity and yield stress) and density were well correlated to temperature and fat content. Tube friction factor during flow of cream was experimentally obtained at various flow rates, temperatures and tube diameters (86 < Re < 2.3 x 104, 38 < Re(B) < 8.8 x 103, 1.1 x 103 < He < 6.7 x 103). The proposed correlations for density and rheological parameters were applied for the prediction of friction factor for laminar and turbulent flow of cream using well-known equations for Newtonian and viscoplastic flow. The good agreement between experimental and predicted values confirms the reliability of the proposed correlations for describing the flow behavior of cream. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This paper presents correlations for the calculation of density and rheological parameters (Newtonian viscosity, Bingham plastic viscosity and yield stress) of milk cream as functions of temperature (2-87C) and fat content (0.10-0.31). Because of the large temperature range, the proposed correlations are useful for process design and optimization in dairy processing. An example of practical application is presented in the text, where the correlations were applied for the prediction of friction factor for laminar and turbulent tube flow of cream using well-known equations for Newtonian and viscoplastic flow, which are summarized in the text. The comparison with experimental data obtained at various flow rates, temperatures and tube diameters showed a good agreement, which confirms the reliability of the proposed correlations.

Friction factor for small diameter polyethylene pipes

On this paper, the results of an experimental study oil the hydraulic friction loss for small-diameter polyethylene pipes are reported. The experiment was carried out using a range of Reynolds number between 6000 to 72000, obtained by varying discharge at 20 degrees C water temperature, with internal pipe diameters of 10.0 mm, 12.9 mm, 16.1 mm, 17.4 mm and 19.7 mm. According to the analysis results and experimental conditions, the friction factor 0 of the Darcy-Weisbach equation call be estimated with c = 0.300 and m = 0.25. The Blasius equation (c = 0.316 and m = 0.25) gives an overestimate of friction loss, although this fact is non-restrictive for micro-irrigation system designs. The analysis shows that both the Blasius and the adjusted equation parameters allow for accurate friction factor estimates, characterized by low mean error (5.1%).

Air trapping: The major factor limiting diaphragm mobility in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Background and objective: Patients with COPD can have impaired diaphragm mechanics. A new method of assessing the mobility of the diaphragm, using ultrasound, has recently been validated. This study evaluated the relationship between pulmonary function and diaphragm mobility, as well as that between respiratory muscle strength and diaphragm mobility, in COPD patients. Methods: COPD patients with pulmonary hyperinflation (n = 54) and healthy subjects (n = 20) were studied. Patients were tested for pulmonary function, maximal respiratory pressures and diaphragm mobility using ultrasound to measure the craniocaudal displacement of the left branch of the portal vein. Results: COPD patients had less diaphragm mobility than did healthy individuals (36.5 +/- 10.9 mm vs 46.3 +/- 9.5 mm, P = 0.001). In COPD patients, diaphragm mobility correlated strongly with pulmonary function parameters that quantify air trapping (RV: r = -0.60, P < 0.001; RV/TLC: r = -0.76, P < 0.001), moderately with airway obstruction (FEV1: r = 0.55, P < 0.001; airway resistance: r = -0.32, P = 0.02) and weakly with pulmonary hyperinflation (TLC: r = -0.28, P = 0.04). No relationship was observed between diaphragm mobility and respiratory muscle strength (maximal inspiratory pressure: r = -0.11, P = 0.43; maximal expiratory pressure: r = 0.03, P = 0.80). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the reduction in diaphragm mobility in COPD patients is mainly due to air trapping and is not influenced by respiratory muscle strength or pulmonary hyperinflation.

Timing and Dose of Statin Therapy Define Its Impact on Inflammatory and Endothelial Responses During Myocardial Infarction

Objective-Clinical trials of statins during myocardial infarction (MI) have differed in their therapeutic regimes and generated conflicting results. This study evaluated the role of the timing and potency of statin therapy on its potential mechanisms of benefit during MI. Methods and Results-ST-elevation MI patients (n = 125) were allocated into 5 groups: no statin; 20, 40, or 80 mg/day simvastatin starting at admission; or 80 mg/day simvastatin 48 hours after admission. After 7 days, all patients switched their treatment to 20 mg/day simvastatin for an additional 3 weeks and then underwent flow-mediated dilation in the brachial artery. As of the second day, C-reactive protein (CRP) differed between non-statin users (12.0 +/- 4.1 mg/L) and patients treated with 20 (8.5 +/- 4.0 mg/L), 40 (3.8 +/- 2.5 mg/L), and 80 mg/day (1.4 +/- 1.5 mg/L), and the daily differences remained significant until the seventh day (P < 0.0001). The higher the statin dose, the lower the elevation of interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, the greater the reduction of 8-isoprostane and low-density lipoprotein(-), and the greater the increase in nitrate/nitrite levels during the first 5 days (P < 0.001). Later initiation of statin was less effective than its early introduction in relation to attenuation of CRP, interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, 8-isoprostane, and low-density lipoprotein(-), as well as in increase in nitrate/nitrite levels (P < 0.0001). At the 30th day, there was no longer a difference in lipid profile or CRP between groups; the flow-mediated dilation, however, was proportional to the initial statin dose and was higher for those who started the treatment early (P = 0.001). Conclusion-This study demonstrates that the timing and potency of statin treatment during MI are key elements for their main mechanisms of benefit.

Malnourished mice display an impaired hematologic response to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration

The aim of this Study was to determine if protein-energy malnutrition Could affect the hematologic response to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Swiss mice were fled a low-protein diet containing 4% protein, whereas control mice were fed a 20% protein-containing diet. After the malnourished group lost 20% of their original body weight, the mice were subdivided in 2 treatment groups, and hematopoietic parameters were studied. Mice were injected with either 8 mu g/kg per day of G-CSF or saline twice daily for 4 days. Malnourished mice developed anemia with reticulopenia and leukopenia with depletion of granulocytes and lymphocytes. Both malnourished and control mice treated with G-CSF showed a significant increase in neutrophils; however, in the control group, this increase was more pronounced compared to the malnourished group (4.5-fold and 3.4-fold, respectively). Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration increased bone marrow blastic (P < .001) and granulocytic (P < .01) compartments in the controls bill had no significant effect oil these hematopoietic compartments in the Malnourished animals (P = .08 and P = .62, respectively). We report that malnourished mice display an impaired response to G-CSF, which contributes to the decreased production of leukocytes in protein-energy malnutrition. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In Vitro Sun Protection Factor Evaluation of Sunscreens Containing Rutin and its Derivative

This research aimed at determining spectrophotometrically (290 to 320nm) the in vitro Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of sunscreens developed with rutin (R) or succinate rutin (SR), in association or not with UVB filter. Formulations were developed based on phosphate-base O/W emulsions, with (B) or not (A) the presence of polyacrylamide/C13-14 isoparaffin/laureth-7 (PIL), in accordance with the following associations: (a) control; (b) 1.0 % SR; (c) 0.1 % R; (d) 7.5 % ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC); (e) 7.5 % EHMC + 0.1 % RS; (0 7.5 % EHMC + 0.1 % R. It was verified a statistical significative elevation of the SPF from 13.93 +/- 0.02 (Af) to 16.63 +/- 0.27 (Bf) and also in relation to 15.53 +/- 0.14 (Bd). According to the results, the EHMC had distinct behavior depending on the presence of bioactive substance and viscosity agent, thus, rutin obtained better profile as a SPF booster in these experimental conditions with the presence of PIL.

Increase of core temperature induced by corticotropin-releasing factor and urocortin: A comparative study

This study compared the ability of CRF and UCN1 to induce a thermoregulatory response when centrally injected into rats. The effects of antipyretic drugs and CRF receptor antagonists (CRF(1) and CRF(2)) on the temperature (T) changes induced by these peptides were also investigated. Rectal (rT) and tail skin (T(sk)) temperatures were measured with a thermistor probe while body (bT) temperature was measured with a battery-operated biotelemetry transmitter in male Wistar rats (200 g) every 30 min over a period of 6 h, after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of 1 nmol of either CRF or UCN1. Rats were pre-treated with indomethacin (2 mg kg(-1), i.p.) or celecoxib (5 mg kg(-1), p.o.), dexamethasone (0.5 mg kg(-1), s.c.), astressin (a CRF(1)/CRF(2) antagonist, 7 nmol, icy.) or antalarmin (a CRF(1) antagonist, 20 mg kg 1, i.p.). The increase in body temperature induced by CRF was accompanied by a reduction in T(sk) while the response induced by UCN1 was accompanied by an elevation in T(sk). Indomethacin or celecoxib did not change the increases in rT caused by either CRF or UCN1. Although dexamethasone attenuated the increase in rectal temperature in response to CRF, dexamethasone did not modify the response induced by UCN1. Astressin blocked the UCN1-induced hyperthermia and reduced CRF-induced fever. Antalarmin did not modify the hyperthermia in response to UCN1, but reduced the fever evoked by CRF. This study demonstrated that CRF by acting on the CRF(1) receptor induces a prostaglandin-independent fever which seems to depend, at least in part, on the synthesis of other mediators while UCN1 acts on the CRF(2) receptor, promoting a hyperthermic response which seems to be independent on synthesis/release of any mediator. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stress corrosion crack propagation in AerMet 100

Fracture mechanics tests were carried out for AerMet 100 in distilled water and NaCl (3.5 and 35 gl(-1)). The initiation period at higher values of the stress intensity factor indicated that load application in the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) environment is a necessary but not sufficient factor for SCC and that time is needed for some other factor (e.g., the local hydrogen concentration) to reach an appropriate value. The threshold stress intensity factor, K-ISSC, was found to increase with decreasing NaCl concentration. The plateau stress corrosion crack velocity was 2 x 10(-8) ms(-1) for NaCl (3.5 and 35 gl(-1)). The fracture mode was transgranular with small areas of an intergranular nature. (C) 1998 Chapman & Hall.

3,5-cycle decompositions

For all odd integers n and all non-negative integers r and s satisfying 3r + 5s = n(n -1)/2 it is shown that the edge set of the complete graph on n vertices can be partitioned into r 3-cycles and s 5-cycles. For all even integers n and all non-negative integers r and s satisfying 3r + 5s = n(n-2)/2 it is shown that the edge set of the complete graph on n vertices with a 1-factor removed can be partitioned into r 3-cycles and s 5-cycles. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Saturation mutagenesis of the beta subunit of the human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor shows clustering of constitutive mutations, activation of ERK MAP kinase and STAT pathways, and differential beta subunit tyrosine phosphoryl

The high-affinity receptors for human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-1 (IL-3), and IL-5 are heterodimeric complexes consisting of cytokine-specific alpha subunits and a common signal-transducing beta subunit (h beta c). We have previously demonstrated the oncogenic potential of this group of receptors by identifying constitutively activating point mutations in the extracellular and transmembrane domains of h beta c. We report here a comprehensive screen of the entire h beta c molecule that has led to the identification of additional constitutive point mutations by virtue of their ability to confer factor independence on murine FDC-P1 cells. These mutations were clustered exclusively in a central region of h beta c that encompasses the extracellular membrane-proximal domain, transmembrane domain, and membrane-proximal region of the cytoplasmic domain. Interestingly, most h beta c mutants exhibited cell type-specific constitutive activity, with only two transmembrane domain mutants able to confer factor independence on both murine FDC-P1 and BAF-B03 cells. Examination of the biochemical properties of these mutants in FDC-P1 cells indicated that MAP kinase (ERK1/2), STAT, and JAK2 signaling molecules were constitutively activated. In contrast, only some of the mutant beta subunits were constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated. Taken together; these results highlight key regions involved in h beta c activation, dissociate h beta c tyrosine phosphorylation from MAP kinase and STAT activation, and suggest the involvement of distinct mechanisms by which proliferative signals can be generated by h beta c. (C) 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.

Cohort trends in age of initiation to heroin use

This paper examines gender differences and trends over time in the age of initiation to heroin use. Data from two large surveys: the Sydney component of the ANAIDUS, conducted in 1989, and the ASHIDU, conducted in 1994, were used to examine this issue. Together, these studies contained information on 1,292 individuals who identified themselves as heroin users. Results indicated that, while there were no significant gender differences in age of initiation to heroin use, there was a significant (p < 0.001) time trend in the mean age at which heroin was first used. Specifically, the mean age of first heroin use among individuals born during the interval 1940-1949 was 20.5 years while among those born during 1970-1979 the mean age of first heroin use was 16.5 years. These findings were confirmed by analyses of the National Household Survey. Further analysis of the ASHIDU data indicated that younger age of initiation to heroin use was associated with polydrug use, overdose and crime after the effects of duration of heroin use had been statistically controlled. These findings suggest that there has been both an increase in the willingness of young people to experiment with heroin and an increased availability of the drug over this time. In combination with evidence that there has been an increase in the amount of heroin being imported into Australia, and an increased demand for treatment for opiate dependence, these data suggest that Australia is experiencing an increase in the use of heroin, particularly among youth.

Enhanced downregulation of the p75 nerve growth factor receptor by cholesteryl and bis-cholesteryl antisense oligonucleotides

The effects of conjugating cholesterol to either or both ends of a phosphorothioate (PS) oligonucleotide were analyzed in terms of cellular uptake and antisense efficacy. The oligo sequence was directed against the p75 nerve growth factor receptor (p75), and was tested in differentiated PC12 cells, which express high levels of this protein. The addition of a single cholesteryl group to the 5'-end significantly increased cellular uptake and improved p75 mRNA downregulation compared with the unmodified PS oligo, However, only a minor degree of downregulation of p75 protein was obtained with 5' cholesteryl oligos, Three different linkers was used to attach the 5' cholesteryl group but were found not to have any impact on efficacy. Addition of a single cholesteryl group to the 3'-end led to greater p75 mRNA downregulation (31%) and p75 protein downregulation (28%) than occurred with the 5' cholesteryl oligos. The biggest improvement in antisense efficacy, both at the mRNA and protein levels, was obtained from the conjugation of cholesterol to both ends of the oligo. One of the bis-cholesteryl oligos was nearly as effective as cycloheximide at decreasing synthesis of p75, The bis-cholesteryl oligos also displayed significant efficacy at 1 mu M, whereas the other oligos required 5 mu M to be effective. The enhanced efficacy of bis-cholesteryl oligos is likely to be due to a combination of enhanced cellular uptake and resistance to both 5' and 3' exonucleases.

Binding of YY1 and Oct1 to a novel element that downregulates expression of IL-5 in human T cells

Background: IL-5 controls development of eosinophilia and has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. In both atopic and nonatopic asthma, elevated IL-5 has been detected in peripheral blood and the airways. IL-5 is produced mainly by activated T cells, and its expression is regulated at the transcriptional level. Objective: This study focuses on the functional analysis of the human IL-5 (hIL-5) promoter and characterization of eis-regulatory elements and transcription factors involved in the suppression of IL-5 transcription in T cells. Methods: Methods used in this study include DNase I footprint assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and functional analysis by mammalian cell transfection involving deletion analysis and site-directed mutagenesis. Results: We identified 5 protein binding regions (BRs) located within the proximal hIL-5 promoter. Functional analysis indicates that the BRs are involved in control of hIL-5 promoter activity. Two of these regions, BR3 and BR4 located at positions -102 to -73, have not previously been described as regulators of IL-5 expression in T cells. We show that the BR3 sequence contains a novel negative regulatory element located at positions -90 to -79 of the hIL-5 promoter, which binds Oct1, octamer-like, and YY1 nuclear factors. Substitution mutations, which abolished binding of these proteins to the BR3 sequence, significantly increased hIL-5 promoter activity in activated T cells. Conclusion: We suggest that Oct1, YY1, and octamer-like factors binding to the -90/-79 sequence within the proximal IL-5 promoter are involved in suppression of IL-5 transcription in T cells.