Liquid phase sintering and characterization of SiC ceramics

The present study focuses on the sintering of silicon carbide-based ceramics (SiC) by liquid phase sintering (LPS) followed by characterization of the produced ceramics. AlN/Re₂O₃ mixtures were used as additives in the LPS process. In the first step, the LPS-SiC materials were produced in a graphite resistance furnace in the form of discs at different temperatures. The conditions with the best results regarding real density and relative density were taken as reference for sintering in the form of prismatic bars. In the second step, these samples were evaluated regarding fracture toughness (K_IC), by the Single Edge V Notch Beam – SEVNB – method, and flexural strength. K_IC behavior was evaluated according to the depth and curvature radius of the notches. Reliable K_IC values were presented when the ceramic displayed a small curvature radius at the notch tip. When the radius was large, it did not maintain the square root singularity of the notch tip. Tests were carried out to determine K_IC values in atmospheric air and water. K_IC results were lower in water than air, with a decrease ranging between 2.56% and 11.26%. The observations indicated a direct grain size correlation between K_IC values and fracture strength of the SiC ceramics.     

Primary (granulomatous) angiitis of the central nervous system with multiple aneurysms of spinal arteries. Case report

A 55-year-old woman with primary (granulomatous) angiitis of the central nervous system in association with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type) presented with an acute spinal subdural hemorrhage secondary to rupture of one of several fusiform inflammatory aneurysms of the spinal cord radicular arteries. The literature on hemorrhagic complications, aneurysms, and spinal cord involvement in granulomatous angiitis is reviewed. Recognition of granulomatous angiitis is important, as the condition may be responsive to immunosuppressive therapy.     

Induction of mosaic sex-linked recessive lethals in the different germ cell stages of Drosophila melanogaster by bleomycin

The dead-end filtration characteristics of the dimorphic yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus var. marxianus (formerly fragilis) NRRLy2415 were investigated for a range of mean cell morphologies, ranging from predominantly yeast-like to predominantly filamentous. Semiautomated image analysis was used to measure the mean cell specific surface area, Sv, and the mean ratio of cell length to equivalent cylindrical diameter, Ldm, in each broth. The method of Ju and Ho (Biotechnol. Bioeng. 1988, 32, 95-99) was used to show that for broths with Ldm values between 1.72 and 10.03, the voidage of cell pellets formed by centrifugation increased with increasing Ldm. In the pressure range 30-180 kPa, the specific filter cake resistance, alpha, was found to be related to pressure, DeltaP, through the equation alpha = alpha0(1 + kcDeltaP). The dependence of alpha0/Sv2 on Ldm was found to be qualitatively consistent with the pellet voidage data and the Carman-Kozeny equation. Considerably better agreement with the experimental data was obtained when the Kozeny constant, K, was treated as variable and related to Ldm through the equation K = 4.83 + 7.08 log10 Ldm. The cake compressibility constant, kc, was found to increase with increasing Ldm, a phenomenon consistent with the wide range of voidages that can be displayed by beds of long cylinders.     

High brachial artery bifurcation: a report of 2 cases

High division of the brachial artery was observed in two cadavers, during routine dissection of upper extremities. In the first case, the brachial artery of the right upper extremity was divided into its two terminal branches immediately after passing between the lateral and medial roots of the median nerve and just below the origin of the profunda brachii artery. The lateral branch was the radial artery, located in the space normally occupied by the brachial artery and the medial one was the ulnar artery. In the second case, the brachial artery was divided into its two terminal branches just below the origin of the profunda brachii artery. Accurate knowledge of the relationships and course of these major arterial conduits and particularly of their variational patterns, is of considerable practical importance in the conduct of reperative surgery in the arm, forearm and hand.     

Assay of oral vaccination of dogs against rabies in Tunisia with the vaccinal strain SADBern

The possibility of immunizing dogs orally against rabies, using SADBern, an attenuated strain, was tested on dogs in the field in Tunisia. This strain induced high neutralizing antibody titres and conferred to all vaccinated dogs total resistance against a challenge with a Maghrebian strain. However, an excretion of virus of vaccinal origin was observed in one dog, hampering the use of SADBern in dogs. Nevertheless, this work demonstrates for the first time that dogs in developing countries, especially those which are inaccessible to parenteral vaccination, could be efficiently immunized against rabies by the oral route.     

Microsatellite markers in leukaemia and lymphoma: comments on a timely topic

Microsatellites are unique highly polymorphic and informative genetic markers dispersed in the human genome. Their detection by PCR is rapid and a wide variety of DNA sources including archival material are available for diagnostic purposes. Microsatellite typing of haematological neoplasms may be applied to the search for loss of heterozygosity at loci possibly harbouring tumour suppressor genes, for example in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The technique may detect submicroscopical chromosomal deletions which are not visible in the leukaemic karyotype. RER+ tumours exhibiting microsatellite instability appear to be rare among haematological cancers with the possible exception of lymphoid tumours in immunosuppressed patients and lymphomas derived from mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. An X-chromosomal microsatellite near the human androgen receptor gene (HUMARA) may be used for clonal X-inactivation analysis. Microsatellites therefore represent a collection of powerful genetic markers suitable to tackle questions relevant to basic research and clinical problems in leukaemia and lymphoma.     

Cure of malignant ascites and generation of protective immunity by monoclonal antibody-targeted activation of a glucuronide prodrug in rats

We examined the in vivo efficacy of targeting beta-glucuronidase (betaG) to activate a glucuronide prodrug (BHAMG) of p-hydroxyaniline mustard (pHAM) at hepatoma ascites in Sprague-Dawley rats. Injection i.p. of 500 microg RH1-betaG, a conjugate formed between recombinant betaG and monoclonal antibody RH1 with specificity for an antigen expressed on AS-30D rat hepatoma cells, into rats bearing AS-30D ascites resulted in the accumulation of 54 microg conjugate per 10(9) tumor cells after 2 hr. Ascites fluid and serum contained 0.53 and 0 microg/ml, respectively, RH1-betaG 2 hr after injection of the conjugate. Conjugate binding to AS-30D cells was heterogeneous and non-saturated, as determined by flow cytometry. BHAMG was less toxic than pHAM to SD rats based on measures of animal mortality, weight loss and hematological toxicity. Treatment of rats bearing established hepatoma ascites with 500 microg RH1-betaG followed 2 hr later with a single i.p. injection of 30 mg/kg BHAMG or 3 i.p. injections of 10 mg/kg BHAMG 2, 3 and 4 hr later resulted in the cure of 6/8 and 8/8 animals, respectively. Treatment with BHAMG or pHAM alone did not produce cures, whereas treatment with a control antibody-betaG conjugate and BHAMG produced significantly greater hematological toxicity compared to treatment with RH1-betaG and BHAMG. All cured rats were completely protected from rechallenge with 2 x 10(7) AS-30D cells, indicating that successful treatment of animals induced protective immunity.