Survival factors regulating ovarian apoptosis -- dependence on follicle differentiation

Only a minute fraction of the ovarian follicles present in a fetal ovary will complete the path to ovulation. Most of the follicles will undergo atresia, a hormonally controlled apoptotic process. Apoptosis occurs at each stage of follicular development and there is a marked reduction in the number of follicles present at birth. Stage-dependent mechanisms of follicle survival can be postulated to achieve co-ordinated development, leading to ovulation of a small fraction of follicles. Indeed, hormone and growth factor regulation of follicular atresia is stage-specific. This short review considers the factors that promote survival of ovarian follicles throughout development, including endocrine, locally produced and intracellular mediators, as exemplified mainly by follicular development in rodents. In primordial follicles, oocyte apoptosis is considered to be the cause of subsequent follicle degeneration. In slow-growing preantral follicles, FSH is not a survival factor, but some locally produced growth factors are. Progression to the antral follicle stage is probably the most critical stage of follicle development in vivo, and FSH is a major survival factor at this stage. In addition, insulin-like growth factor I and interleukin 1beta are potent survival factors for cultured rat follicles at the antral stage. Preovulatory follicles express receptors for LH, and both of the gonadotrophins are survival factors at this stage. Relatively little is known about the period between the LH surge and ovulation; however, it has been suggested that at this stage progesterone acts as a survival factor.     

Anodic oxidation of phenol for waste water treatment

The electrochemical oxidation of phenol for waste water treatment was studied at a platinum anode. Analysis of reaction intermediates and a carbon balance has shown that the reaction occurs by two parallel pathways; chemical oxidation with electrogenerated hydroxyl radicals and direct combustion of adsorbed phenol or/and its aromatic intermediates to CO₂.     

Processing and Properties of TiB2 with MoSi2 Sinter-additive: A First Report

The densification of non-oxide ceramics like titanium boride (TiB₂) has always been a major challenge. The use of metallic binders to obtain a high density in liquid phase-sintered borides is investigated and reported. However, a non-metallic sintering additive needs to be used to obtain dense borides for high-temperature applications. This contribution, for the first time, reports the sintering, microstructure, and properties of TiB₂ materials densified using a MoSi₂ sinter-additive. The densification experiments were carried out using a hot-pressing and pressureless sintering route. The binderless densification of monolithic TiB₂ to 98% theoretical density with 2–5 μm grain size was achieved by hot pressing at 1800°C for 1 h in vacuum. The addition of 10–20 wt% MoSi₂ enables us to achieve 97%–99%ρ_th in the composites at 1700°C under similar hot-pressing conditions. The densification mechanism is dominated by liquid-phase sintering in the presence of TiSi₂. In the pressureless sintering route, a maximum of 90%ρ_th is achieved after sintering at 1900°C for 2 h in an (Ar+H₂) atmosphere. The hot-pressed TiB₂–10 wt% MoSi₂ composites exhibit high Vickers hardness (∼26–27 GPa) and modest indentation toughness (∼4–5 MPa·m^1/2).     

碳钢在人造小孔中阳极溶解的研究

<正> 孔蚀的发生与发展既受材料因素的制约,又受环境条件的影响。由于小孔在生长过程中其总表面积一直在变化,直接测定小孔生长速度十分困难,因此有人采用人工小孔模型以研究小孔的生长规律。本工作采用人造小孔模型系统研究了环境因素对碳钢单蚀孔阳极溶解的影响规律及蚀孔内表面膜的组成与作用。     

Study of low work function materials for hot cavity resonance ionization laser ion sources

The selectivity of a hot cavity resonance ionization laser ion source (RILIS) is most often limited by contributions from competing surface ionization of the hot walls of the ionization cavity. In this article we present investigations on the properties of designated high temperature, low work function materials regarding their performance and suitability as cavity material for RILIS. Tungsten test cavities, impregnated with a mixture of barium oxide and strontium oxide (BaOSrO on W), or alternatively gadolinium hexaboride (GdB₆) were studied in comparison to a standard tungsten RILIS cavity as being routinely used for hot cavity laser ionization at ISOLDE. Measurement campaigns took place at the off-line mass separators at ISOLDE/CERN, Geneva and RISIKO/University of Mainz.     

Photochemie von Bis-2H-tetrazolen. III. Nachweis von Bisnitriliminen durch Tieftemperatur-UV-Spektroskopie und thermische Folgereaktionen durch Photolyse von Bis-2H-tetrazolen

Photochemistry of Bis-2H-tetrazoles. III. Detection of Bisnitrilimines through Low-Temperature-UV-Spectroscopy and Thermic Consecutive Reactions through Photolysis of Bis-2H-tetrazoles The photolysis of 2H-tetrazoles ( 1 ) leads to nitrilimines. Bis-2H-tetrazoles form correspondingly bisnitrilimines 2 . They were detected directly by the photolysis of bis-2H-tetrazoles ( 1 ) in an ethanol/ether glass at 95 K. The absorption maxima are depend in an expected manner on the substituents. In the presence of dipolarophiles the reaction of bis-2H-tetrazoles ( 1 ) at room temperature gives bis-Δ²-pyrazolines ( 3 ). These reactions can also be explained by a photoreaction of bis-2H-tetrazoles ( 1 ) to bisnitrilimines 2 at 95 K and subsequent cycloaddition above 150 K. Some bis-Δ²-pyrazolines ( 3 ) are described. The photolyses of bis-2H-tetrazoles ( 1 ) to the bisnitrilimines 2 proceed as one step eliminations of two molecules of nitrogen.     

Closed full-field solutions for stresses and displacements in the Brazilian disk under distributed radial load

The Brazilian disk test, namely the diametric compression of a circular disk by radial loads that are uniformly distributed along two symmetric arcs of its periphery, is studied using the method of complex potentials introduced by Kolosov and Muskhelishvili. The rock is assumed to be linear elastic. Closed form full-field solutions are obtained for both the stress and the displacement fields, assuming either plane-stress or plane-strain conditions. The theoretical analysis highlights some critical features of the stresses and the displacements immediately adjacent to the load contact areas, revealing the limitations of the linear elastic solutions. The problem is also studied experimentally by carrying out a series of Brazilian disk tests, according to the ISRM suggestions, with specimens mainly made from Dionysos marble. In addition, a limited number of tests are carried using specimens made from porous natural building stones or from PMMA. The results of the theoretical solution are compared with those of the experiments, and the agreement is satisfactory, at least in the regions of the disk where the stresses developed during loading remain below the linearity limit of the materials.     

Influence of the zeolite structure and acidity on the hydroisomerization of n-heptane

Different acid solids loaded with 1 wt.% of Pt have been studied in n-heptane hydroisomerization in order to determine the influence of porosity and acidity (considered measured by the activity) on selectivities. The open solids like Y and β zeolites and a pillared clay present different activities towards n-C₇ conversion but similar selectivities. Consequently, acidity seems to be a less important parameter in n-C₇ isomerization than porosity. Very different results were obtained as a function of the solid structure and so n-heptane hydroconversion appears to be a simple and rapid method to obtain data concerning the porosity of unknown zeolite structures. The highest content of multibranched isomers was obtained on open solids but the value predicted by the thermodynamic was never reached due to the fact that cracking of multibranched isomers is initiated quickly.     

Life Expectancy Evaluation of the Wood Poles Which Support the Hellenic Electrical Distribution Network

The Hellenic electrical distribution lines have been basically supported with the use of wood poles. Outages due to aging, degradation, or broken wood poles may infer significant costs due to repair and loss of energy to consumers. Lifetime estimation of wood poles is significant for maintenance and replacement decisions at the power utility. The paper presents a methodology, based on a statistical analysis, for the evaluation of the life expectancy and the production of a survival curve of a typical Hellenic distribution wood pole in-service. The proposed methodology intends to minimize the life-cycle cost of inspection and refurbishment of wood poles in the distribution network of Hellas, something that is really important in the new competitive and liberating Hellenic electrical energy market.