Resveratrol, a natural product present in wine, decreases tumour growth in a rat tumour model

Resveratrol administration to rats inoculated with a fast growing tumour (the Yoshida AH-130 ascites hepatoma) caused a very significant decrease (25%) in the tumour cell content. The effects of this diphenol were associated with an increase in the number of cells in the G2/M cell cycle phase. Interestingly, flow cytometric analysis of the tumour cell population revealed the existence of an aneuploid peak (representing 28% of total), which suggests that resveratrol causes apoptosis in the tumour cell population resulting in a decreased cell number.     

阳极支撑结构IT-SOFC的阳极及电解质层的水系流延与共烧

采用水系流延成型,共烧制备了平板式中温固体氧化物燃料电池（SolidoxidefuelcellSOFC）的NiO/YSZ阳极支撑电解质氧化钇稳定氧化锆（YSZ）薄膜复合体。通过调节优化浆料的pH值、分散剂和粘度获得了具有均匀的微观结构电解质YSZ与阳极NiO/YSZ流延素坯。调节阳极中的YSZ粉体的颗粒级配,以促使阳极坯片的烧成收缩与电解质坯片的烧成收缩相匹配,获得大面积、平整的阳极与电解质复合烧结体,其中阳极层厚度为0.5～1.0mm,孔隙分布均匀,孔隙率达30vol%以上;电解质厚度为15μm以下,相对密度大于98%;阳极与电解质层界面两者能很好地烧结在一起。     

Power law fluids and Bingham plastics flow models for ceramic tape casting

A generalized pressure flow is used as a basis for developing a flow model for ceramic tape casting with different types of fluids such as Newtonian, power law and Bingham plastics. The slurry flow is modeled as part of a pressure flow through an imaginary parallel channel. Analytical equations for the flow field are presented. Equations for obtaining velocity profiles and flow rates are included. These can be used to estimate the thickness of the ceramic tape to be cast. The formulations were validated by means of published data, the results of which are included in the paper. Finally, the effect of various process parameters on the size of the imaginary flow channel is studied.     

High resolution channeling contrast microscopy and channeling analysis of SiGe quantum well structures

High resolution channeling contrast microscopy (CCM) and channeling measurements were carried out to characterize SiGe quantum well structures on micron thick graded layers (i.e. virtual substrates). The virtual substrates were grown by gas source molecular beam epitaxy at a pressure of 10⁻⁵ mbar and low pressure chemical vapor deposition at 10⁻² mbar on boron doped Si(0 0 1) substrates respectively. A homoepitaxial silicon buffer layer was grown prior to the deposition. The nominal structure is a 20 nm Si_0.75Ge_0.25 layer at the surface, followed by 10 nm pure Si, 500 nm Si_0.75Ge_0.25 and a 1000 nm thick graded SiGe (0–26%) layer. RBS was used to measure the depth profiles, and angular scans around the (1 0 0) axis were carried out to assess crystal and interface quality. CCM was used to acquire depth resolved images of micron-sized lateral inhomogenities (‘cross-hatch') present on both samples.     

Significant reduction of UVB caused by smoke from biomass burning in Brazil

We report six caucasian patients who had acute pain in the hip and marked limitation of all movement of the joint. Plain radiographs and CT of the pelvis showed calcification within the reflected head of rectus femoris. All six responded to accurate CT-controlled injections of corticosteroid and local anaesthetic with dramatic and prolonged pain relief, although one required a second injection for recurrence of symptoms after two months.     

An overview of depression in the elderly: a US perspective

Surnames are the result of historic and cultural processes which give information about the ethnic composition and genetic structure of populations. Based on the use of isolation and sedentarisness estimators, obtained from surnames frequency and distribution, the population dynamics of highland communities located at the Province of Jujuy (Northwest of Argentina), situated in two ecologically different regions, was analysed. Surnames were obtained from register of electors (1982) and they correspond to 67 villages of Quebrada of Humahuaca and Puna Juje?a. The surnames were analysed exactly as they were registered (NM = Non-merged) and merged according to their spelling and or similarity in pronunciation (M = Merged). The following estimators were used: 1) percentage of the population covered by unique surnames; 2) percentage of the population covered by the most frequent surnames; 3) ratio between number of individuals and number of surnames. Inter-population differences were detected by means of non-parametric tests. It was observed that, in general, there are no statistically significant differences between NM and M data and among the towns in Quebrada de Humahuaca and Puna, but there were differences according to whether they were located on or away from the main road between regions. These results were compared with those of other populations and we conclude that the simultaneous use of the 4 estimators, to characterize the isolation or sedentarisness of vast population groups, show highly consistent results.     

A cytogenetic study of 514 Chinese couples with recurrent spontaneous abortion

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of chromosomal aberration in the causation of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) in Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 514 Chinese couples with 2 or more spontaneous abortions at less than 24 weeks of gestation were included. For each proband, a minimum of 13 metaphases were analyzed by G-banding. Additional cells (usually 50-100 cells) were screened when mosaicism was suspected. Chi 2 test was used to compare the number and frequency of couples with and without balanced translocation with respect to whether liveborn was present or absent. Chi 2 test for trend was used to show whether a correlation existed between the occurrence of balanced translocation and the number of spontaneous abortions at ascertainment. RESULTS: The overall incidence of chromosome anomaly was 51 out of 514 (9.92%). Chi 2 test for trend analysis showed that the chance of one member of a couple being a balanced carrier increased with the number of spontaneous abortions. The chance of finding translocation in couples with liveborn was higher than that in couples without liveborn, but the difference was not statistically significant. We also found that pericentric inversion 9 did not play an important role in the causation of recurrent abortion. CONCLUSIONS: Cytogenetic analysis is indicated in couples with 2 or more spontaneous abortions and the chance of finding chromosomal aberration increases with the number of abortions at the time of ascertainment.