The influence of iodide on glass transition temperature of high-pressure nuclear waste glasses

The glass transition temperature (T_g) is a key parameter to investigate for application in nuclear waste immobilization in borosilicate glasses. T_g for several glasses containing iodine (I) has been measured in order to determine the I effect on T_g. Two series of glass composition (ISG and NH) containing up to 2.5 mol% I and synthesized under high pressure (0.5 to 1.5 GPa) have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The I local environment in glasses has been determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and revealed that I is dissolved under its iodide form (I⁻). Results show that T_g is decreased with the I addition in the glass in agreement with previous results. We also observed that this T_g decrease is a strong function of glass composition. For NH, 2.5 mol% I induces a decrease of 24°C in T_g, whereas for ISG, 1.2 mol% decreases the T_g by 64°C. We interpret this difference as the result of the I dissolution mechanism and its effect on the polymerization of the boron network. The I dissolution in ISG is accompanied by a depolymerization of the boron network, whereas it is the opposite in NH. Although ISG corresponds to a standardized glass, for the particular case of I immobilization it appears less adequate than NH considering that the decrease in T_g for NH is small in comparison to ISG.     

Critical heat flux on a flat plate heater located at the middle of a duct in forced flow of pressurized He II

Critical heat fluxes (CHFs) were measured for two types of rectangular ducts containing horizontal flat plate heaters. One has the flat plate heater of 6 mm wide and 20 mm long located on the inner lower wall at 50 mm from the inlet. The other duct has two horizontal flat plates of 6 mm wide and 20 mm long on inner upper and lower walls at 50 mm from the inlet. The equation of CHF for the forced convection containing a new nondimensional-parameter m introduced in order to calculate cross-sectionally averaged liquid temperature at the center of the duct was derived based on two fluid model, ordinary convection theorem and experimental results. It was confirmed that this correlation can describe not only the author's data on the duct but also other worker's data for channels with different shapes and sizes.     

Rapid detection cytomegalovirus pneumonia in recipients of bone marrow transplant: evaluation and comparison of five survey methods for bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

To detect cytomegalovirus-associated interstitial pneumonia (CMV-IP) in recipients of BMT in its earliest stage, five CMV methods were assessed for their usefulness using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as the test specimen. Of the 43 cases enrolled in the study, PCR was positive in 12 cases, shell vial in eight, culture in eight and cytology in three. There were no positive cases in in situ hybridization. Based on this result, the 43 cases were classified into four groups: Group 1, three cases: positive in PCR, shell vial and cytology; Group 2, five cases: positive in PCR and shell vial; Group 3, four cases: positive only in PCR; and Group 4, 31 cases: negative in all CMV tests. Cases in Group 1 were judged as having the highest risk of overt CMV-IP. They were successfully treated with a combination of ganciclovir and immunoglobulin. Group 2 was diagnosed as having active CMV infection and ganciclovir monotherapy was effective for these patients. Groups 3 and 4 were not given anti-CMV therapy, but they were free from CMV-related manifestations throughout the study. The sensitivity and specificity of each survey method for the detection of Groups 1 and 2 were 1.0 and 0.89 in PCR, 1.0 and 1.0 in shell vial, 0.88 and 1.0 in culture, and 0.38 and 1.0 in cytology. Similarly, the positive and negative predictive values were 0.67 and 1.0 in PCR, 1.0 and 1.0 in shell vial, 1.0 and 0.97 in culture, and 1.0 and 0.88 in cytology. Thus, CMV survey on bronchoalveolar fluid was thought to be useful in detecting post BMT CMV-IP in its earliest stage.     

Hepatitis GB virus C genome in the serum of aplastic anaemia patients receiving frequent blood transfusions

GB virus C (GBV-C) RNA was detected in five of 18 patients with aplastic anaemia who had received blood transfusions, whereas it was not detected in eight patients who had not received any transfusions. Antibody against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was detected in nine patients in the transfusion group, compared with one of eight who had not received any transfusions. Therefore, the route of transmission of both GBV-C and HCV in these patients appeared to have been multiple blood transfusion. Since all of the GBV-C RNA-positive patients harboured anti-HCV, GBV-C seems to frequently superinfect with HCV. Neither GBV-C nor HCV is likely to have been a causative agent of the anaemia in the cases examined.     

Westernized food habits and concentrations of serum lipids in the Japanese

It has recently been reported that there exists a new 'RING-finger' protein family among the zinc-finger (Zf) proteins. Previously, we had isolated the mouse Mel-18 cDNA (mMel-18) encoding the nuclear RING-finger protein that exhibits an ability to bind to a nonspecific DNA column. Here, we have isolated and characterized the human Mel-18 cDNA (hMel-18) using the mMel-18 cDNA as a probe. The deduced hMel-18 protein contains 344 amino acids (38 kDa) with a RING-finger motif, a helix-loop-helix (HLH)-like structure and a Pro/Ser-rich region. The hMel-18 gene is conserved among vertebrates. Its mRNA is highly expressed in placenta, lung and kidney, but the level is low in liver, pancreas and skeletal muscle. Using in situ hybridization, we mapped hMel-18 to band q22 of chromosome 12. It is possible that the Mel-18/bmi-1 gene family represents a mammalian homologue of the Drosophila polycomb gene group.     

A light-transmitting two-dimensional photodetector array using a-Sipin photodiodes and poly-Si TFT's integrated on a transparent substrate

A light-transmitting two-dimensional photodetector array (32×32 cells) using amorphous silicon (a-Si) pin photodiodes and polysilicon (poly-Si) thin film transistors (TFT's) integrated on a transparent substrate has been developed for use in a free-space optical switching network. The fabrication and the characteristics of the photodetector array are discussed. With driving circuits and sensing amplifiers, this photodetector array shows a minimum detectable power of -25 dBm and an insertion loss of 0.4 dB for an incident optical beam with a diameter of 550 μm. By monitoring the positions and the states of input optical beams, this photodetector array can be used to control the optical paths in photonic switching systems, such as a 1024-input-port optical concentrator     

Heat transfer and flow of He II in narrow channels

Heat transfer and fluid flow of He II in a long, narrow channel connected to a bath that supplies a constant supply of heat have been investigated by numerical simulations by using the simplified model of Kitamura et al. [Cryogenics 37 (1) (1997) 1]. Such channels are used to cool compact, stable, low-temperature magnets. The fluid flow is driven by natural convection and the mutual friction between the normal fluid and the superfluid.In this model, the thermomechanical effect and the Goter-Mellink mutual friction balance each other. A consequence of this balance is that the velocity and temperature distributions of He II can be characterized by a dimensionless, dependent parameter equal to the ratio of the fluid speeds of internal convection to the total fluid flow. After a sudden application of heat flux, the internal convection dominates over the total fluid flow until the establishment of steady-state temperature gradients. This predicts that the time required to set up the steady-state total fluid flow is proportional to the total heat capacity in the channel.     

Normal uterus and FIGO stage I endometrial carcinoma: dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging

Dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed on a 1.5-T superconducting unit for evaluation of 26 stage I endometrial carcinomas. To establish the appearance of the normal uterus, 27 normal uteri were also evaluated. After rapid injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine, dynamic images were obtained every 30 seconds with the spin-echo technique in the sagittal plane. On dynamic studies of endometrial carcinoma, the tumor-myometrial contrast was marked at 120 seconds after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine (contrast-to-noise ratio [C/N], 26.0). The tumor-myometrial contrast on the dynamic study was more marked than that on postcontrast T1-weighted images (C/N, 10.0) and on T2-weighted images (C/N, 2.14). Dynamic and postcontrast MR images were superior in enabling differentiation of viable tumors from necrosis or residual secretion in the endometrial cavity. In the evaluation of presence of tumor and myometrial invasion, the accuracy of T2-weighted imaging and dynamic imaging was 67.9% and 84.9%, respectively.     

The relation between platelet aggregation and constitutional and lifestyle variables in two Japanese communities

To investigate the contribution of the platelet aggregation in the development of cardiovascular diseases, we examined the relation of constitutional and lifestyle variables with platelet aggregation for a total of 306 males aged 50 to 70 in Ikawa town, Akita prefecture (n = 163) and Noichi town, Kochi prefecture (n = 143). The examination of platelet aggregation was completed within 3 hours of obtaining blood samples. We used ADP (Adenosine 5'-diphosphate) as an agonist and obtained PATI (the platelet aggregatory threshold index) by nephelometry. Platelet count, mean platelet volume, white blood cell count, serum fatty acid compositions were also examined and dietary intake of fish, seafood and soy bean foods were inquired using one-week dietary records. PATI indicated a logarithmic normal distribution in both Ikawa and Noichi. The mean of logarithmic transformed PATI (log PATI) was higher in Ikawa than in Noichi. Thus platelet aggregation was lower in Ikawa than in Noichi. According to multiple regression analysis, age, platelet count in platelet rich plasma, mean platelet volume in platelet rich plasma, and white blood cell count were inversely associated with log PATI. Serum arachidonic acid composition tended to be inversely related with log PATI. Serum n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid composition was positively related with log PATI, and log gamma-GTP tended to be positively associated with log PATI. Soy protein intake and cigarette smoking showed no consistent associations with log PATI. This cross-sectional study suggests that serum n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid, and gamma-GTP, as an index of alcohol intake, reduce platelet aggregation while age, white blood cell count, platelet count, mean platelet volume, and serum arachidonic acid raise platelet aggregation.