Occlusion and ion exchange in the molten (lithium chloride+potassium chloride+alkaline-earth chloride) salt+zeolite 4A system with alkaline-earth chlorides of calcium and strontium and in the molten (lithium chloride+potassium chloride+actinide chloride) salt+zeolite 4A system with the actinide chloride of uranium

The interaction between molten salts of the type LiCl-KCl-MeCl _n (Me=Ca, Sr, U; = to 0.45; and x _KCl/x _LiCl=0.69) and zeolite 4A have been studied at 823 K. The main interactions between these salts and zeolite are molten salt occlusion to form salt-loaded zeolite and ion exchange between the molten salt and salt-loaded zeolite. An irreversible chemical reaction has been observed in the LiCl-KCl-UCl₃+zeolite system. The extent of occlusion is a function of the concentration of MeCl _n in the zeolite and is equal to 10±1 Cl⁻ per zeolite unit cell, (AlSiO₄)₁₂, at infinite MeCl _n dilution. The ion-exchange mole-fraction equilibrium constants (separation factors) with respect to Li are decreasing functions of the concentration of SrCl₂ and UCl₃, but an increasing function of the concentration of CaCl₂ in the zeolite. At infinite MeCl _n dilution, they are equal to 0.9, 11.9, and 13 for CaCl₂, SrCl₂, and UCl₃, respectively. The standard ion-exchange chemical potentials are equal to −50.0, −84, and −101.1 kJ·mol⁻¹ for Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and U³⁺, respectively.     

Methods,architecture, evaluation and usability of a case-based antibiotics advisor

In this paper, we discuss the usability of an antibiotics therapy adviser, with a broad, complex spectrum of functions which we have developed within the ICONS project. We present the architecture of the system, case-based reasoning methods used, steps and results of medical evaluations, which are concerning the quality of the recommended therapies, the user friendliness of the system and the interpretation of laboratory results. Furthermore, we discuss problems of transferability of such a system from one site to another as well as problems of local susceptibility patterns and individual dose regimens.     

The Changes of Angiogenesis and Immune Cell Infiltration in the Intra- and Peri-Tumoral Melanoma Microenvironment

Malignant melanoma (MM) urgently needs identification of new markers with better predictive value than currently-used clinical and histological parameters. Cancer cells stimulate the formation of a specialized tumor microenvironment, which reciprocally affects uncontrolled proliferation and migration. However, this microenvironment is heterogeneous with different sub-compartments defined by their access to oxygen and nutrients. This study evaluated microvascular density (MVD), CD3⁺ lymphocytes (TILs) and FOXP3⁺ T-regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs) on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections using light microscopy. We analyzed 82 malignant melanomas, divided according to the AJCC TNM classification into four groups—pT1 (35), pT2 (17), pT3 (18) and pT4 (12)—and 25 benign pigmented nevi. All parameters were measured in both the central areas of tumors (C) and at their periphery (P). A marked increase in all parameters was found in melanomas compared to nevi (p = 0.0001). There was a positive correlation between MVD, TILs, FOXP3⁺ Tregs and the vertical growth phase. The results show that MVD, TILs and FOXP3⁺ Tregs substantially influence cutaneous melanoma microenvironment. We found significant topographic differences of the parameters between central areas of tumors and their boundaries.     

Vibrations of two coaxial cylindrical shells containing fluid

This paper considers the vibrational behavior of two long, elastic, coaxial cylindrical shells containing (or conveying) fluid. Both exact and approximate formulas for the added (attached, virtual) mass of the fluid are derived. The method of analysis is illustrated using appropriate shell equations.     

Integral equation method for soulution of boundary value problems of structural mechanics,Part I. Ordinary differential equations

This paper presents a method of numerical solution of boundary value problems governed by a set of ordinary differential equations. The highest derivative is chosen as the unknown function. Governing equations are transformed into a set of integral equations. The kernels of integral equations turn out to be influence functions for deflection and/or bending moments of a corresponding beam, and can, therefore, be computed using well-known methods of structural analysis. Finally, the unknown function (highest derivative) is approximated in a defined manner and the solution is obtained through numerical integration.     

Analysis of the temperature rise in the projectile and extended chain polyethylene fiber composite armor during ballistic impact and penetration

The ultra-high strength/modulus, extended chain polyethylene fiber (Spectra® fiber) composite has shown great potential as a lightweight armor material with its extraordinary capability of absorbing the kinetic energy of projectiles. But the relatively low melting point of this fiber (～ 145°C) has caused concerns regarding the effect of temperature rise during the impact/penetration process on the performance as armor material. In this article, an analysis of temperature rise in projectile and the fiber composite during the impact/penetration process is described. Combining the simulation of impact deformation by finite element analysis and the simulation of temperature rise by a finite difference approximation of the related dynamic equations, the temperature rise caused by the projectile/composite interaction was estimated. Results show that there is a significant temperature rise at the projectile/composite interface due to the friction but that the short length of time involved in the process and the low thermal conductivity of Spectra fiber composite keep the temperature rise in a very small region (in the order of 0.001 cm) around the interface during the impact/penetration process. Consequently, the volume that is affected by the temperature rise is very small, in the order of total 0.001 cm³ around the projectile, and this is too small to generate any detectable effect on the armor performance. After the projectile is stopped, however, substantial heating of fiber composite can occur under specific conditions as the result of heat flow from the hot projectile embedded in the composite. This heating of fibers, however, is a postmortem effect and hence inconsequential to the ballistic performance of the composite armor.     

Ion-beam pore opening of porous anodic alumina: The formation of single nanopore and nanopore arrays

Anodized aluminium oxide (AAO) fabricated by electrochemical anodization of aluminium is used as the substrate for focused ion-beam (FIB) fabrication of single nanopore and nanopore arrays. The method is based on the controlled and selective removal of AAO barrier oxide film by FIB milling. FIB process with different milling conditions is applied to open single nanopores (diameter of 60 nm) or circular nanopore arrays with a different number of opened pores on AAO substrate. This process combines a low cost AAO substrate and FIB milling, and offers an economically viable alternative for the fabrication of nanopore devices with controlled dimensions for a range of applications in nanofluidics, molecular separations and biosensing.     

Translocator Protein Modulation by 4′-Chlorodiazepam and NO Synthase Inhibition Affect Cardiac Oxidative Stress,Cardiometabolic and Inflammatory Markers in Isoprenaline-Induced Rat Myocardial Infarction

The possible cardioprotective effects of translocator protein (TSPO) modulation with its ligand 4′-Chlorodiazepam (4′-ClDzp) in isoprenaline (ISO)-induced rat myocardial infarction (MI) were evaluated, alone or in the presence of L-NAME. Wistar albino male rats (b.w. 200–250 g, age 6–8 weeks) were divided into 4 groups (10 per group, total number N = 40), and certain substances were applied: 1. ISO 85 mg/kg b.w. (twice), 2. ISO 85 mg/kg b.w. (twice) + L-NAME 50 mg/kg b.w., 3. ISO 85 mg/kg b.w. (twice) + 4′-ClDzp 0.5 mg/kg b.w., 4. ISO 85 mg/kg b.w. (twice) + 4′-ClDzp 0.5 mg/kg b.w. + L-NAME 50 mg/kg b.w. Blood and cardiac tissue were sampled for myocardial injury and other biochemical markers, cardiac oxidative stress, and for histopathological evaluation. The reduction of serum levels of high-sensitive cardiac troponin T hs cTnT and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), then significantly decreased levels of serum homocysteine Hcy, urea, and creatinine, and decreased levels of myocardial injury enzymes activities superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as lower grades of cardiac ischemic changes were demonstrated in ISO-induced MI treated with 4′-ClDzp. It has been detected that co-treatment with 4′-ClDzp + L-NAME changed the number of registered parameters in comparison to 4′-ClDzp group, indicating that NO (nitric oxide) should be important in the effects of 4′-ClDzp.     

Particle release and transport from human skin and clothing: A CFD modeling methodology

Particle release from human skin and clothing has been identified as an important contributor to particulate matter burden indoors. However, knowledge about modeling the coarse particle release from skin and clothing is limited. This study developed a new empirically validated CFD modeling methodology for particle release and transport from seated occupants in an office setting. We tested three modeling approaches for particle emissions: Uniform; Uniform + Localized; and Uniform + Localized with Body Motion; applied to four office scenarios involving a single occupant and two occupants facing each other at 1- and 2-m distances. Uniform particle emissions from skin and clothing underpredicted personal inhalation exposure by as much as 55%–80%. Combining uniform with localized emissions from the armpits drastically reduced the error margin to <10%. However, this modeling approach heavily underestimated particle mass exchange (cross-contamination) between the occupants. Accounting for the occupant's body motion—by applying the momentum theory method—yielded the most accurate personal exposure and cross-contamination results, with errors below 12%. The study suggests that for accurate modeling of particle release and transport from seated occupants indoors, localized body emissions in combination with simplified bodily movements need to be taken into account.     

Exact bit error probabilities and packet error statistics for SVD transmission over time-varying dual-branch MIMO systems obtained by a Markov model

Using a finite state Markov channel model, we develop an analytical method for evaluation of the packet error structure in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems based on singular value decomposition (SVD). We consider dual-branch MIMO systems, with either two transmit and arbitrary number of receive antennas, or arbitrary number of transmit and two receive antennas. The corresponding Markov model parameters are obtained using a novel closed-form expressions for probability density function and level crossing rate of the signal-to-noise ratio at the output of eigenchannels in a MIMO system, derived for a case of Rayleigh propagation, imperfect channel state information and any fixed power allocation. The exact bit error rate for the transmission of quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) symbols through the eigenchannels is derived in polynomial closed form. Furthermore, by using the developed Markov model, the packet error statistics in the corresponding eigenchannels are determined, and the closed-form analytical expression for the system throughput is derived when ‘go-back-N’ automatic repeat request procedure is applied in time-varying eigenchannels. The analytical results are validated by using Monte Carlo simulations.