Diagnostics of A Range of Highly Superorbital Carbon Dioxide Flows

Expansion tubes are impulse facilities capable of generating highly energetic hyper-sonic flows. This work surveys a broad range of flow conditions produced in the facility X1 with carbon dioxide test gas, for simulation of spacecraft entry into the Martian atmosphere. Conditions with nominal flow speeds of 7, 9, 11 and 13 km/s were tested. The freestream conditions were calibrated using static/Pitot pressure measurements and advanced optical diagnostics. An extensive set of holographic interferometry experiments was performed on flows over wedges for quantitative study of freestream and post-shock densities, and post-shock ionisation. A one-dimensional code with frozen and equilibrium chemistry capabilities was used to estimate the freestream conditions. An equilibrium chemistry model produced a good match to measured freestream quantities at the high enthalpy conditions which are a major aim of this facility's operation. The freestream in the lower enthalpy conditions was found to be heavily influenced by chemical non-equilibrium. Non-equilibrium in the final unsteady expansion process of flow generation was accounted for by switching from equilibrium to frozen chemistry at a predetermined point. Comparison between the freestream density results of holographic interferometry, pressure measurements and computations shows good agreement.

Biology and production attributes of the farmed Rusa deer

Rusa deer were introduced to Queensland in the 1970s and 1980s, and they now are about half of the farmed deer herd. Rusa tolerate the subtropical climatic and disease environments. Rusa venison has a low fat content and is acceptable to consumers. Protein and energy requirements are similar to values for other tropical deer. Growth may be limited by the low protein content of tropical grasses during winter. Rusa deer could contribute to the diversity of the Australian livestock industries.

Sperm morphology: A novel way to associate female-males of highly sexual dimorphic fig wasp species

Males of pollinating and some non-pollinating fig wasps are wingless and quite dissimilar to their co-specific females. Due to the accentuated sexual dimorphism, males and females of some fig wasp species were described in different genera. We used morphological sperm features obtained from male seminal vesicles and female spermathecas to associate sexes in three non-pollinating fig wasp species, genus Idarnes, that are associated with Ficus citrifolia in Brazil. Sperm obtained from each female morph species presented diagnostic features that led to the association with sperm obtained from males. This method can potentially be used to help enlighten taxonomic problems in other wasp species with sexual di- or polymorphism.

A new chemorheological analysis of highly filled thermosets used in integrated circuit packaging

Chemorheology (and thus process modeling) of highly filled thermosets used in integrated circuit (IC) packaging has been complicated by their highly filled nature, fast kinetics of curing, and viscoelastic nature. This article summarizes a more thorough chemorheological analysis of a typical IC packaging thermoset material, including novel isothermal and nonisothermal multiwave parallel-plate chemorheology. This new chemorheological analysis may be used to optimize existing and design new IC packaging processes. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Immediate early gene expression and delayed cell death in limbic areas of the rat brain after kainic acid treatment and recovery in the cold

Systemic injection of kainic acid (KA) results in characteristic behaviors and programmed cell death in some regions of the rat brain. We used KA followed by recovery at 4 degrees C to restrict damage to limbic structures and compared patterns of immediate early gene (IEG) expression and associated DNA binding activity in these damaged areas with that in spared brain regions. Male Wistar rats were injected with BA (12 mg/kg, ip) and kept at 4 degrees C for 5 h. This treatment reduced the severity of behaviors and restricted damage (observed by Nissl staining) to the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus and an area including the entorhinal cortex. DNA laddering, characteristic of apoptosis, was first evident in the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex 18 and 22 h after RA, respectively. The pattern of IEG mRNA induction fell into three classes: IEGs that were induced in both damaged and spared areas (c-fos, fos B, jun B, and egr-1), IEGs that were induced specifically in the damaged areas (fra-2 and c-jun), and an IEG that was significantly induced by saline injection and/or the cold treatment (jun D). The pattern of immunoreactivity closely followed that of mRNA expression. Binding to the AP-1 and EGR DNA consensus sequences increased in all three regions studied. This study describes a unique modification of the animal model of ICA-induced neurotoxicity which may prove a useful tool for dissecting the molecular cascade that ultimately results in programmed cell death. (C) 1997 Academic Press.

Gastroduodenal opportunistic infections and dyspepsia in HIV-infected patients in the era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Background and Aim: Dyspeptic symptoms are frequently reported by human immuno-defficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients under highly active antiretroviral therapy. Whether opportunistic infections are a cause of dyspepsia is still unknown. In this study we prospectively compare the prevalence of gastrointestinal opportunistic infections in dyspeptic versus non-dyspeptic HIV-infected patients with advanced immunodeficiency. Patients and Methods: Six hundred and ninety HIV-infected patients under highly active antiretroviral therapy underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with mucosal biopsies from the stomach and duodenum. Group 1: 500 patients (161 women, 339 men; mean age 38.8 years; mean CD4 count 154.3 cells/mm(3) with dyspeptic symptoms such as epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting and fullness. Group 2: 190 patients (169 men, 21 women; mean age 40.7 years; mean CD4 count 171.6 cell/mm(3)) with no dyspeptic symptoms. Results: Group 1: Gastrointestinal opportunistic infections were observed in eight (1.6%), and non-opportunistic parasites in two (0.4%), patients. They were: Cytomegalovirus (four patients), Cryptosporidium sp. (two patients), Schistosoma mansoni sp. (one patient), Strongyloides stercoralis (one patient) and Giardia sp. (two patients). In five patients esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed no mucosal lesions. Group 2: Giardia sp. was detected in two patients (1.1%: P = 0.07947). Conclusion: Gastrointestinal opportunistic infections were shown in a small number of HIV-infected patients under highly active antiretroviral therapy with advanced immunodeficiency. Although gastrointestinal opportunistic infections were detected exclusively in the dyspeptic patient group, they could not be related to these symptoms, since the number of infected patients was not statistically significant. To correctly diagnose opportunistic infections, multiple biopsy specimens may be necessary even from normal-appearing mucosa.

Human mucosal leishmaniasis: Neutrophils infiltrate areas of tissue damage that express high levels of Th17-related cytokines

Mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) is characterised by severe tissue destruction. Herein, we evaluated the involvement of the IL-17-type response in the inflammatory infiltrate of biopsy specimens from 17 ML patients. IL-17 and IL-17-inducing cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-23, IL-6 and TGF-beta) were detected by immunohistochemistry in ML patients. IL-17(+) cells exhibited CD4(+), CD8(+) or CD14(+) phenotypes, and numerous IL-17(+) cells co-expressed the CC chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6). Neutrophils, a hallmark of Th17-mediated inflammation, were regularly detected in necrotic and perinecrotic areas and stained positive for neutrophil elastase, myeloperoxidase and MMP-9. Taken together, these observations demonstrate the existence of Th17 cells in ML lesions associated with neutrophils in areas of tissue injury and suggest that IL-17 is involved in ML pathogenesis.

From medical librarian to informacionist: semantic traces of their profiles and areas of performance

This literature review retakes the discussion of the profiles and competences of the information area professional, specifically, in the health field. Therefore, the aim here is to outline the new fields of performance for the informationist and the profiles required in the health context.

Subchondral Cystlike Lesions Develop Longitudinally in Areas of Bone Marrow Edema-like Lesions in Patients with or at Risk for Knee Osteoarthritis: Detection with MR Imaging-The MOST Study

Purpose: To assess the association of prevalent bone marrow edema-like lesions (BMLs) and full-thickness cartilage loss with incident subchondral cyst-like lesions (SCs) in the knee to evaluate the bone contusion versus synovial fluid intrusion theories of SC formation. Materials and Methods: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis study is a longitudinal study of individuals who have or are at risk for knee osteoarthritis. The HIPAA-compliant protocol was approved by the institutional review boards of all participating centers, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Magnetic resonance images were acquired at baseline and 30-month follow-up and read semiquantitatively by using the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score system. The tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joints were subdivided into 14 subregions. BMLs and SCs were scored from 0 to 3. Cartilage morphology was scored from 0 to 6. The association of prevalent BMLs and full-thickness cartilage loss with incident SCs in the same subregion was assessed by using logistic regression with mutual adjustment for both predictors. Results: A total of 1283 knees were included. After adjustment for full-thickness cartilage loss, prevalent BMLs showed a strong and significant association with incident SCs in the same subregion, with an odds ratio of 12.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.9, 18.6). After adjustment for BMLs, prevalent full-thickness cartilage loss showed a significant but much less important association with incident SCs in the same subregion (odds ratio, 1.4; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.0). There was no apparent relationship between severity of full-thickness cartilage loss at baseline and incident SCs. Conclusion: Prevalent BMLs strongly predict incident SCs in the same subregion, even after adjustment for full-thickness cartilage loss, which supports the bone contusion theory of SC formation. (C) RSNA, 2010

Rickettsia in Synanthropic and Domestic Animals and Their Hosts from Two Areas of Low Endemicity for Brazilian Spotted Fever in the Eastern Region of Minas Gerais, Brazil

The aim of this study was to understand the current epidemiology of rickettsial diseases in two rickettsial-endemic regions in Brazil. In the municipalities of Pingo D`Agua and Santa Cruz do Escalvado, among serum samples obtained from horses and dogs, reactivity by immunofluorescent assay against spotted fever group rickettsiae was verified. In some serum samples from opossums (Didelphis aurita) captured in Santa Cruz do Escalvado, serologic response against rickettsiae was also verified. Polymerase chain reaction identified rickettsiae only in ticks and fleas obtained in Santa Cruz do Escalvado. Rickettsiae in samples had 100% sequence homology with Rickettsia fells. These results highlight the importance of marsupials in maintenance of the sylvatic cycle of rickettsial disease and potential integration with the domestic cycle. Our data also support the importance of horses and dogs as sentinels in monitoring circulation of rickettsiae in an urban area.

The effects of silica fillers on the gelation and vitrification of highly filled epoxy-amine thermosets

Highly filled thermosets are used in applications such as integrated circuit (IC) packaging. However, a detailed understanding of the effects of the fillers on the macroscopic cure properties is limited by the complex cure of such systems. This work systematically quantifies the effects of filler content on the kinetics, gelation and vitrification of a model silica-filled epoxy/amine system in order to begin to understand the role of the filler in IC packaging cure. At high cure temperatures (100 degreesC and above) there appears to be no effect of fillers on cure kinetics and gelation and vitrification times. However, a decrease in the gelation and vitrification times and increase the reaction rate is seen with increasing filler content at low cure temperatures (60-90 degreesC). An explanation for these results is given in terms of catalysation of the epoxy amine reaction by hydrogen donor species present on the silica surface and interfacial effects.

The effects of fillers on the chemorheology of highly filled epoxy resins: I. Effects on cure transitions and kinetics

This work examines the effects of level of silica filler (at 0, 10, 30, 50wt%) on the gelation and vitrification of a model silica-filled diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F (DGEBF)/methylenedianiline (MDA) system. An increased filler level is shown to decrease the gelation and vitrification times at low temperatures (below 80degreesC). FTIR cure kinetics show that the reaction rates are increased and the activation energies of gelation are reduced at these temperatures, indicating that network formation is made easier. Entropic and catalytic reasons for this phenomenon are discussed. (C) 2003 Society of Chemical Industry.

Characterization of highly conserved microsatellite loci in Araucaria cunninghamii and related species

Ten microsatellite loci are described in Araucaria cunninghamii, the first reported in the Araucariaceae. Eight were tested in sections Eutacta and Bunya, which diverged more than 200 MYA, and to the sister genus Agathis. Specific amplification products within the expected size range were obtained for six to eight loci in section Eutacta (depending on species), five loci in section Bunya and three. loci in Agathis. Two of the loci (CRCAc1 and CRCAc2, both GA repeats) produced specific amplification products in all taxa, with orthology confirmed by sequence analysis. The repeats were perfect in all taxa. The flanking sequences were extremely conserved, with sequence divergence of 0% to 2.0% within Araucaria species and 2.9% to 7.5% between Araucaria and Agathis. These microsatellites represent some of the most conserved microsatellite loci reported in plants. This may be due to a low evolutionary rate in Araucariaceae genome or the loci may be closely associated with highly conserved, unreported genes.

Experimental investigation of continuous-variable quantum teleportation

We report the experimental demonstration of quantum teleportation of the quadrature amplitudes of a light field. Our experiment was stably locked for long periods, and was analyzed in terms of fidelity F and with signal transfer T-q=T++T- and noise correlation V-q=Vinparallel to out+Vinparallel to out-. We observed an optimum fidelity of 0.64+/-0.02, T-q=1.06+/-0.02, and V-q=0.96+/-0.10. We discuss the significance of both T-q>1 and V-q