Endosonographic evaluation of the rectum in children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mechanism of the adverse relationship between perioperative blood transfusion and lung cancer recurrence, by focusing on endothelial cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), which are thought to play a role in distant tumor cell implantation. DESIGN AND OUTCOME MEASURES: Murine endothelial cells were cocultured with allogeneic leukocytes, syngeneic leukocytes, and syngeneic lung carcinoma cells for 60 hours. The percentage of endothelial cells expressing vascular CAMs (VCAMs) and intercellular CAMs (ICAMs) was quantified during this time using indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Tumor cell adhesion to the endothelium was quantified for 6 hours using cells labeled with sulfur 35 and a scintillation counter. SETTING: Laboratory. MATERIALS: C57/BL and Balb/C mice. RESULTS: Vascular CAM was not expressed on the endothelium, but ICAM was preferentially expressed without stimulation. Tumor-cell adhesion and endothelial ICAM expression were inversely related. After 15 hours of coculture, tumor cell adhesion was four-fold greater in the experimental group than in the control, and coincident endothelial ICAM expression was fourfold lower. CONCLUSION: Endothelial cell ICAM expression is negatively correlated with metastatic potential.     

Performance of suspended flat plate air heater

In this communication, a heat transfer model to predict the transient behaviour of a suspended flat plate solar collector with constant flow of fluid (air) above the absorber has been presented. A reflecting sheet with an air gap between the absorber plate and bottom insulation to reduce heat loss has been used. The effect, on performance of the air heater, of the parameters viz, spacing between cover and plate, heat capacity of air and absorber plate, flow rate of fluid and collector length have been studied. The effect of changing the averaging inlet temperature with varying collector length has also been studied.     

Role of indium in controlling the magnetic properties of bulk and nano magnetic systems

ABSTRACT

In the present ferrites (soft & hard) series, Saturation Magnetization, increases only at lowers concentration of Indium. The cation distribution from Mössbauer analysis indicates that Indium ion at lower concentration (10 to 20%) goes to tetrahedral site only, whereas higher concentration it goes octahedral sites also. Magnetization has been explained on the basis of super exchange hyperfine interactions as well as cation distribution of magnetic ions as per the Neel's two sub lattice model of ferromagnetism. In all the chosen ferrite series magnetic behavior is consistent with substitution of dopant (In³⁺ ions). Ferromagnetic results are further authenticated by Mössbauer Spectroscopic analysis.     

High Surface Area Flexible Chemiresistive Biosensor by Oxidative Chemical Vapor Deposition

Fabrication of a chemiresistive biosensor for detection of biomolecules is demonstrated on a high surface area, flexible electro‐spun nylon fiber mat. For the first time, the –OH functionalized conducting copolymer of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) and 3‐thiopheneethanol (3‐TE) is synthesized and conformally deposited on the electro‐spun mats by oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD). The free –OH functional groups of the copolymer are available for immobilization of analyte specific biomolecules. Here, avidin and biotin molecules are employed as the analyte‐specific molecule and analyte respectively for their high specificity to each other. The sensitivities of avidin immobilized conducting copolymer on electro‐spun mats are tested against micro‐molar to nano‐molar concentrations of biotin in aqueous solutions. Application of electro‐spun fiber mat in this case enhances the sensor response 6 times when compared to a flat substrate and also significantly lowers the response time. In addition to the experimental studies, current work also includes modeling of the kinetics of the change of response for the biotin‐avidin interactions as a function of time. Most importantly, this fabrication technique promises an extremely sensitive and field deployable method for the detection of other biomolecules, for example, food pathogens.     

Neutron Powder Diffraction Study in La<Subscript>0.85</Subscript>Ag<Subscript>0.15</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

La_0.85Ag_0.15MnO₃, the colossal magnetoresistance compound was prepared and the neutron powder diffraction patterns at different temperatures down to 19 K were recorded to study their crystal structure and magnetic properties. These patterns were analyzed by the Rietveld refinement technique and are found to be free from any impurity phase. The compound is found to crystallize in a mixture of R[`3]cR\overline{3}c and Pnma space group and the phase fraction is found to vary with temperature. A cross-over from R[`3]cR\overline{3}c dominated high temperature phase to Pnma dominated low temperature phase at around 130 K was observed. At low temperatures, especially below 285 K, the diffraction patterns could be refined by including the magnetic reflections corresponding to ferromagnetic structure. The refined magnetic moment of Mn ions is found to be along b axis of the unit cell with a maximum moment of 3.74 μ_B at 19 K and this value is comparable to the saturation magnetization observed at 20 K from magnetization measurement.     

Effect of movable insulation on the performance of ground collector

This communication presents an analysis of the thermal performance of an inexpensive underground solar water heater. The system has been studied under two modes of heat collection (a) constant flow rate and (b) constant collection temperature. The effect of variation of different parameters, viz., flow rate of water, depth of plane of heat retrieval, thickness of flowing water column and duration of insulation on top to prevent night heat losses, has also been discussed.     

Performance of a two channel suspended flat plate solar air heater

In the present communication, an analytical model to study the performance of a two channel suspended flat plate air heater is presented. The effect of different parameters, e.g. spacing between the plates, plate length, same and different flow rates of air in the two channels of the air heater, on the air temperature has been studied. A comparison of single channel and two channel air heaters has also been made. Numerical calculations have been made for a typical cold day in Delhi, viz. Jan. 26, 1980.     

Mechanism and specificity of immunoprotection induced by mycobacterial proteins against experimental tuberculosis in mice

Mechanism of immunoprotection and specificity of two highly immunoprotective mycobacterial proteins, viz. 71 and 30 kDa were investigated. The adoptive transfer studies indicated that immunoprotection was mainly mediated by cooperative effect of CD4+ and CD8+ (66.7-73.3% on the basis of percent survival) which was further enhanced marginally by supplementation of B cells, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, macrophages and other immune cells. The specificity studies indicated that both the proteins did not cross react with the unrelated intracellular pathogens i.e. Aspergillus fumigatus, Salmonella typhi and Leishmania donovani as seen by T cell proliferation assay. The protection imparted by these mycobacterial proteins was also specific as the 71 and 30 kDa primed mice did not exhibit any cross protection against sublethal challenge of S typhi. The results indicate 71 and 30 kDa mycobacterial proteins to contain T cell specific epitopes responsible for specific immunoprotection, thus indicating their potential role as antituberculous vaccine candidates.