Overview of microwave components activities at the European SpaceAgency

A review of some of the activities of the European Space Agency in the area of microwave devices and components for space applications is presented. The activities discussed are in the areas of solid-state devices and technology, traveling-wave amplifiers, microwave filters, and time references. Each area is discussed in detail, illustrating the achievements of ongoing research and development programs involving European industries and research centers. The growing importance of microwave technology for space applications is discussed, and the future challenges are outlined, indicating how the European space industry is preparing for the future through the many R&D activities sponsored by the European Space Agency     

PD98059 is an equipotent antagonist of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase

Striatal dopamine transporter function and dopamine D2 receptor status were evaluated in 15 patients with early untreated Parkinson's disease using single photon emission tomography (SPECT) with 123I-Iodo-2beta-carboxymethoxy-3beta-(4-idiophenyl)tropane (beta-CIT) and 123I-Iodobenzamide (IBZM) as pre- and postsynaptic ligands. Symptoms were unilateral in five patients and bilateral but asymmetric in 10 patients. Patients with bilateral symptoms had significantly lower 18-hour striatal/cerebellar beta-CIT binding ratios (3.59 +/- 0.79) than hemiparkinsonian patients (5.76 +/- 1.48, p < 0.05) reflecting more advanced disease in this subgroup. Patients with bilateral parkinsonism were also found to have a significant side-to-side difference in striatal beta-CIT binding with more marked reduction contralateral to the presenting limb (18-hour striatal/cerebellar ratio: 4.13 +/- 0.78 [ipsilateral] versus 3.59 +/- 0.79 [contralateral], p < 0.05). Dopamine D2 receptor binding as measured by IBZM was significantly elevated contralateral to the affected side in hemiparkinsonian patients (striatal/cerebellar ratio: 2.42 +/- 0.90 [contralateral] versus 2.19 +/- 0.80 [ipsilateral], p < 0.05). This asymmetric upregulation was absent in the patients with bilateral parkinsonism (striatal/cerebellar ratio: 1.85 +/- 0.43 [contralateral to more severely affected side] versus 1.83 +/- 0.34 [ipsilateral], p > 0.05). Our data suggest that postsynaptic dopamine receptor upregulation contralateral to the presenting side occurs in untreated unilateral PD and disappears in untreated bilateral (asymmetric) PD despite a greater loss of dopamine transporter function. Combined beta-CIT and IBZM SPECT studies may be helpful to monitor the progression of nigrostriatal dysfunction in early PD.     

Sinusitus Supplement missing osteopathic component

A 57 years old trader of agricultural goods with chronic asthma had attended our medical department for diagnosis and therapy. Since more than 35 years the patient had always experienced work-related asthma episode and rhinoconjunctivities when he worked in workplace where castor-bean oil cake as fertilizer was sold. With the intensive contact with castor-bean containing goods beginning about eight years ago, his asthma attack had become chronic. The allergological diagnosis confirmed that he had high-degree type I-allergy to castor-bean allergens.     

Native-like {beta}-hairpin structure in an isolated fragment from ferredoxin: NMR and CD studies of solvent effects on the N-terminal 20 residues

The conformational properties of protein fragments have beenwidely studied as models of the earliest initiation events inprotein folding. While native-like -helices and ß-turnshave been identified, less is known about the factors that underlyß-sheet formation, in particular ß-hairpins,where considerably greater long-range order is required. TheN-terminal 20 residue sequence of native ferredoxin I (fromthe blue-green alga Aphanothece sacrum ) forms a ß-hairpinin the native structure and has been studied in isolation byNMR and CD spectroscopy. Local native-like interactions aloneare unable to stabilize significantly a folded conformationof the 20-residue fragment in purely aqueous solution. However,we show that the addition of low levels of organic co-solventspromotes formation of native-like ß-hairpin structure.The results suggest an intrinsic propensity of the peptide toform a native-like ß-hairpin structure, and that theorganic co-solvent acts in lieu of the stabilizing influenceof tertiary interactions (probably hydrophobic contacts) whichoccur in the folding of the complete ferredoxin sequence. Thestructure of the isolated hairpin, including the native-likeregister of interstrand hydrogen bonding interactions, appearsto be determined entirely by the amino acid sequence. The solventconditions employed have enabled this intrinsic property tobe established.     

Computational Fluid Dynamics–Habitat Suitability Index (CFD–HSI) Modelling as an Exploratory Tool for Assessing Passability of Riverine Migratory Challenge Zones for Fish

We developed two‐dimensional computational fluid hydraulics–habitat suitability index (CFD–HSI) models to identify and qualitatively assess potential zones of shallow water depth and high water velocity that may present passage challenges for five major anadromous fish species in a 2.63‐km reach of the main stem Penobscot River, Maine, as a result of a dam removal downstream of the reach. Suitability parameters were based on distribution of fish lengths and body depths and transformed to cruising, maximum sustained and sprint swimming speeds. Zones of potential depth and velocity challenges were calculated based on the hydraulic models; ability of fish to pass a challenge zone was based on the percent of river channel that the contiguous zone spanned and its maximum along‐current length. Three river flows (low: 99.1 m³ sec^‐1; normal: 344.9 m³ sec^‐1; and high:792.9 m³ sec^‐1) were modelled to simulate existing hydraulic conditions and hydraulic conditions simulating removal of a dam at the downstream boundary of the reach. Potential depth challenge zones were nonexistent for all low‐flow simulations of existing conditions for deeper‐bodied fishes. Increasing flows for existing conditions and removal of the dam under all flow conditions increased the number and size of potential velocity challenge zones, with the effects of zones being more pronounced for smaller species. The two‐dimensional CFD–HSI model has utility in demonstrating gross effects of flow and hydraulic alteration, but may not be as precise a predictive tool as a three‐dimensional model. Passability of the potential challenge zones cannot be precisely quantified for two‐dimensional or three‐dimensional models due to untested assumptions and incomplete data on fish swimming performance and behaviours. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

Female Sex Pheromone of the Cone Moth, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dioryctria mendacella</Emphasis>: Investigation of Synergism between Type I and Type II Pheromone Components

Polyunsaturated hydrocarbons (Type II pheromone components) have been reported to be synergists for unsaturated acetates, alcohols or aldehydes (Type I components) in the sex pheromones of several species of Lepidoptera. However, there is some debate over whether the active components are the hydrocarbons themselves or more volatile degradation products. Extracts of pheromone glands of adult females of the cone moth, Dioryctria mendacella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), contain (Z,E)-9,11-tetradecadienyl acetate (ZE9,11–14:Ac) and at least ten times as much (Z,Z,Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9,12,15-pentacosapentaene (ZZZZZ3,6,9,12,15–25:H). The former elicits a strong electroantennogram response from males while no response could be recorded to the latter. In field trapping tests, both compounds were individually unattractive to male D. mendacella moths, but blends of the two compounds containing at least a 10:1 ratio of ZZZZZ3,6,9,12,15–25:H : ZE9,11–14:Ac were highly attractive. The relatively involatile hydrocarbon was shown to be released from the dispensers used and no significant degradation could be detected. Furthermore, blends of ZE9,11–14:Ac and analogs of ZZZZZ3,6,9,12,15–25:H with fewer carbons and/or double bonds that might be expected to produce similar degradation products to ZZZZZ3,6,9,12,15–25:H were unattractive. This indicated a specific response to the hydrocarbon itself, further substantiated by the observation that related hydrocarbons did not interfere with the activity of ZZZZZ3,6,9,12,15–25:H. Thus a three-step conversion of fish oil was used to produce a blend of unsaturated hydrocarbons containing ZZZZZ3,6,9,12,15–25:H as the major component, albeit only 30% of the total, and a blend of this material with ZE9,11–14:Ac was as attractive to male D. mendacella moths as blends with an equivalent amount of the purified material. This mixture of unsaturated hydrocarbons is much cheaper to produce than the pure pentaene, and may be useful in lures for other species using these compounds. Dioryctria mendacella is a major constraint to production of edible pine kernels throughout the Mediterranean region. Pheromone traps will provide a means to improve monitoring of seasonal flight patterns and changes in population abundance of this pest.     

Quantitative analysis of oil removal from cotton fabrics through thein situ formation of microemulsions by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance

Solubilization and subsequent removal of soybean oil from cotton fabrics through thein situ formation of microemulsions were evaluated by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry. Regions of water-in-oil and oil-in-water microemulsions were identified for systems that contained polyoxyethylene (60) sorbitol hexaoleate, soybean oil, and an aqueous phase composed of water/ethanol or isopropanol (80:20 wt%) at 25°C. The amount of oil removed from the cotton fabrics was determined by solid-state NMR after constructing a calibration curve relating the intensity of camphor/oil NMR signals (I_c/I_o) to their molar ratio (M_c/M_o). A precision Crockmeter (Mul-Tech Industries, New York, NY) was used to reproducibly remove soybean oil stain from cotton fabric, which was subsequently analyzed by NMR. Typically, more than 90% of the oil stain was removed after 200 revolutions of the Crockmeter finger with 2 wt% surfactant at 25°C. Increasing the amount of surfactant to 6 wt% improved soybean oil removal from the fabric to 99 wt%.     

Defect analysis in crystals using X-ray topography

A brief review of X-ray topography--a nondestructive method for direct observation and characterization of defects in single crystals--is presented here. The origin and development of this characterization method and the different techniques derived from it are described. Emphasis is placed on synchrotron X-ray topography and its application in studying various crystal imperfections. Mechanisms of contrast formation on X-ray topographs are discussed, with emphasis on contrast associated with dislocations. Determination of Burgers vectors and line directions of dislocations from analysis of X-ray topographs is explained. Contrast from inclusions is illustrated, and their differentiation from dislocations is demonstrated with the aid of simulated topographs. Contrast arising from the deformation fields associated with cracks is also briefly covered.