Mechanochemical polymerization in mixtures of diallyl terephthalate and distilled water by ultrasonic irradiation

Summary Mechanochemical polymerization in systems of diallyl terephthalate-distilled water has been studied by ultrasonic irradiation at 90°C. An additional effect of distilled water on mechanochemical polymerization of diallyl terephthalate was investigated. When a 1.2 wt % distilled water solution, the conversion of poly(diallyl terephthalate) was the greatest and the initial rate of the polymerization R _p was 1.3x10^-5 mol/l sec. This polymerization proceeded by a radical mechanism and the primary radicals produced from water molecules by ultrasonic waves. In addition, changes in the iodine value and the weight-average molecular weight of the resulting polymers were proved.     

Plastic optical fibers with fluoroalkyl methacrylate copolymer as their core

Novel plastic optical fibers having a core made of a crosslinking copolymer containing mainly fluoroalkyl methacrylate (FMA–POFs) were fabricated and their optical properties were analyzed. In the visible wavelength region, attenuation losses of as-manufactured FMA–POFs were low and their loss spectra were similar to that of the plastic optical fiber whose core was made of methyl methacrylate copolymer (MMA–POF). But after heating at 160°C in air, increases in attenuation losses of FMA–POFs were about 10 times smaller than that of the MMA–POF. FMA–POFs had an optical window at 780 nm. There was hardly any change in loss at 780 nm compared with the loss increase at 660 nm. This indicated that FMA–POFs would be applicable to optical communications at 780 nm in the near-IR region.     

Diode laser pumped Er/sup 3+/ fibre laser operation between 2.7-2.8 mu m

CW laser operation in the 2.7-2.8 mu m region has been observed in Er/sup 3+/ doped fluorozircoaluminate glass fibres by diode laser pumping at 0.8 mu m. An absorbed threshold power of 10 mW and an output laser power of 2.1 mW with a slope efficiency of 8% were obtained.<>     

Programmed cell death in the development of the mouse external auditory canal

Programmed cell death (PCD) is an essential event for development. The purpose of this work was to ascertain how PCD, in vivo designated apoptosis, is involved in the development of the external auditory canal. We performed a time sequence study of the distribution of apoptosis during the development of external auditory canal (EAC) of the mouse. ICR mice ranging in age from embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) to 12 days after birth (DAB) were used in the present study. A part of each head including both ears was removed and was processed according to its purpose. Light and electron microscopy for morphological studies and TUNEL method (Gavrieli et al. [1992] J Cell Biol., 119:493-501) for histochemical studies were used. On E11.5, distinct TUNEL-positive staining occurred in the branchial arch. Between E15.5 and 1DAB, TUNEL-positive cells were observed throughout the EAC and the number of these cells decreased with age. On E15.5 and E16.5, numerous TUNEL-positive cells were observed in a cavity remained in the epithelial plate. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that these cells had the features of apoptosis. From 3-12 DAB, no apoptosis was observed in the EAC except for the terminal differentiation of the skin of the EAC. Apoptosis was not observed during recanalization of the EAC, but occurred during the formation of the epithelial plate. The investigation established that PCD is involved in the formation of the epithelial plate, whereas only cornification of the epithelium of the EAC is associated with recanalization.     

Thermal hydraulic study on a high-temperature gas–gas heat exchanger with helically coiled tube bundles

An experimental study was carried out to investigate flow-induced vibration, heat transfer and pressure drop of helically coiled tubes of an intermediate heat exchanger (IHX) for the HTTR, using a full-size partial model and air as the fluid. The test model has 54 helically coiled tubes separated into three layer bundles, surrounding the center pipe. The vibration of the tube bundles was mainly at the center pipe, and the individual vibrations of the tube bundles were not significant under the operation conditions of the IHX. The heat transfer of the tube outside, due to forced convection, was obtained as a function of Re^0.51Pr^0.3, and the friction factor, depending on the tube arrangement, was proportional to Re^−0.14.     

Simple and Patlak models for myocardial blood flow measurements with nitrogen-13-ammonia and PET in humans

The Simple and Patlak models for estimating myocardial blood flow with 13N-ammonia have become attractive for clinical applications with PET because of their simplicity and ease of implementation. However, these models are sensitive to factors such as the data acquisition times and data integration times, which can cause errors in the estimation of myocardial blood flow, as demonstrated in this study. Limiting the application of these models to specific conditions can minimize the errors. METHODS: Dynamic PET images of the uptake of 13N-ammonia in the heart were obtained in seven humans under rest and dipyridamole stress. Myocardial blood flow was estimated using the Simple and Patlak models for different data acquisition times and data integration times. Blood flow values were compared to flow values computed with the two-compartment model as a reference. RESULTS: Blood flow values calculated with the Simple and Patlak models during the first 2 min of data acquisition were closely correlated to the two-compartment model values. Longer acquisition times resulted in significant underestimation of blood flow for the Simple model. Long integration times of greater than 60 sec also resulted in significant underestimation of blood flow for both models. CONCLUSION: The Simple and Patlak models produce estimates of myocardial blood flow that are well correlated with the two-compartment model estimated blood flows for the integration time of 60 sec from 60 to 120 sec postinjection. Because of the errors associated with longer data acquisition times and longer integration times, use of these models should be limited to a well-documented data acquisition paradigm.     

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) value adjusted for transition zone volume and free PSA (gamma-seminoprotein)/PSA ratio in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in patients with intermediate PSA levels

OBJECTIVE: To identify binding proteins of leptin in human plasma. METHODS: Binding was evaluated by electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), Western blotting, and radioisotope labeling. Quantification of leptin and the different forms of alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2-M) was performed by ELISA. RESULTS: Leptin interacts with the proteinase inhibitor, alpha2-M. 125I-labeled leptin specifically binds to the transformed inhibitor, which arises by reaction with proteinases or with reactive primary amines. No leptin binding was observed to the native alpha2-M, which abundantly occurs in plasma. The complex formation between leptin and alpha2-M was found to proceed within minutes and was stable, as it resisted separation by SEC and electrophoresis. The Kd of the complex was 2.14 +/- 0.78 micromol/l. Complex formation with transformed alpha2-M did not interfere with the immunological determination of leptin in plasma. The leptin-alpha2-M complex was found to be recognized by the alpha2-M receptor/low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein. By computer analysis, a simple model is presented showing that the degree of transformation of alpha2-M may significantly influence the leptin concentration in blood. CONCLUSIONS: The proteinase inhibitor, alpha2-M, may act as a leptin-binding protein in human plasma. Binding of leptin to transformed alpha2-M and its rapid clearance by the alpha2-M receptor may significantly influence the bioavailability of leptin in human plasma.     

Cerebral cytochrome oxidase monitoring by near infrared spectroscopy during selective cerebral perfusion

To evaluate selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) for brain protection, the redox state of cytochrome oxidase (Cyt. aa3) in brain tissue were studied in 27 patients with thoracic aortic repair. The redox state of Cyt. aa3 was monitored by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) (OM-110, Shimazu). There were no significant changes in the Cyt. aa3 redox state in 13 (Group I), the oxidation state of Cyt. aa3 decreased then recovered to control levels in 12 (Group II), and the oxidation state decreased but did not recover in 2 patients (Group III). Postoperative cerebral damage was observed in 5 patients; blindness occurred in one patient in Group I (8.3%), 2 patients developed hemiplegia in Group II (15.4%), and the 2 patients in Group III failed to reawaken (100%). The incidence of cerebral damage was significantly higher in Group III than in Groups I and II (p < 0.05). We conclude that monitoring the redox state of Cyt. aa3 using NIRS is useful in predicting postoperative cerebral damage. However, it is necessary to increase the number of measurement sites since NIRS can reflect the state in only a small area of the brain.