Modeling of High-Dose-Rate Pulsed Radiation Effects in the Parasitic MOS Structures of CMOS LSI Circuits

A theoretical analysis and a numerical simulation are reported of physical processes in the field oxide of CMOS circuits exposed to an ionizing-radiation pulse of high dose rate. Account is taken of (i) the field of radiation-generated charge carriers, (ii) the random distribution of the local field due to randomly scattered charges in the oxide, and (iii) geminate and bimolecular recombination. For weak and medium static applied fields, the dispersive transport of free holes is analyzed by the fractional Fokker–Planck equation, and a Monte Carlo simulation is conducted with regard to the oxide-charge field and the field dependence of hop times. The response of SOI oxide containing electron traps is considered. A method is proposed for the physical simulation of field-oxide radiation response at high dose rates. It consists in replacing pulsed irradiation at room temperature with steady-state irradiation at a low temperature.     

New generation precision motion simulators with inertial sensors and digital control

Precision motion simulators (controlled platforms) that use inertial angular rate sensors based on various principles (fiber optic, laser, floated, and other gyros) both for a single-mode simulator operating on the self-testing principle and for a wide range simulator operating in the low speed and high speed modes and equipped (to extend its functional capabilities) with triads of quartz pendulous accelerometers are considered. The problem is in designing digital control systems for such motion simulators that ensure highly accurate stabilization of the prescribed motions of the controlled platform. A solution of this problem is found that allows one to design digital control algorithms for the use with various angular rate sensors. The solutions are analyzed in the time and frequency domains, and the high quality of control is confirmed.     

Author's response

This article contains the author's responses to the five discussion papers commenting on the results presented in Nikiforov (2016 Nikiforov, I. V. (2016). Sequential Detection/Isolation of Abrupt Changes, Sequential Analysis 35: 268–301.[Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]). The quickest detection/isolation of abrupt changes is the generalization of the quickest detection of abrupt changes to the case of M post-change hypotheses. It is necessary to detect the change in distribution as soon as possible and to indicate which hypothesis is true after a change occurs.     

Validating Reference Gene Expression Stability in Human Ovarian Follicles,Oocytes, Cumulus Cells,Ovarian Medulla,and Ovarian Cortex Tissue

Human ovarian cells are phenotypically very different and are often only available in limited amounts. Despite the fact that reference gene (RG) expression stability has been validated in oocytes and other ovarian cells from several animal species, the suitability of a single universal RG in the different human ovarian cells and tissues has not been determined. The present study aimed to validate the expression stability of five of the most used RGs in human oocytes, cumulus cells, preantral follicles, ovarian medulla, and ovarian cortex tissue. The selected genes were glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), beta-2-microglobulin (B2M), large ribosomal protein P0 (RPLP0), beta-actin (ACTB), and peptidylprolyl isomerase A (PPIA). Overall, the stability of all RGs differed among ovarian cell types and tissues. NormFinder identified ACTB as the best RG for oocytes and cumulus cells, and B2M for medulla tissue and isolated follicles. The combination of two RGs only marginally increased the stability, indicating that using a single validated RG would be sufficient when the available testing material is limited. For the ovarian cortex, depending on culture conditions, GAPDH or ACTB were found to be the most stable genes. Our results highlight the importance of assessing RGs for each cell type or tissue when performing RT-qPCR analysis.     

Thermal Stresses Generated in the Lining of a Steel Ladle

Conditions for the thermal regime of 25-ton steel ladles lined with periclase-carbon refractories are analyzed. The input data for numerical analysis are the temperatures at the inner surface of the lining measured experimentally. Temperature profiles over the cross-section of the hot layer of the lining are calculated and then used to determine thermal stresses in the refractory material. A conclusion is drawn that sharp temperature gradients during the heating-up should be avoided. The currently employed heating regimes generate thermal stresses that exceed the strength tolerance limits for refractory materials. __________ Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 10, pp. 84 – 87, August, 2005.     

Thermoelectric properties of rare-earth alloys

The electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, and thermopower have been measured for a large number of newly synthesized metallic compounds and alloys of simple, transition, and rare-earth elements. The maximum room-temperature values of the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT for the presented systems are about 7%. The temperature dependences of the resistivity and thermoelectric power have been discussed. Particular attention has been given to possible manifestations of the Kondo effect and intermediate valence including those in systems based on silicides and nickelides of cerium.     

Production of heat-insulating diatomite articles by a plastic method of molding

The basic technological parameters of the process of molding by means of extrusion of diatomic articles at OOO Diatomitovye Kombinat are determined, in particular, the composition of the charge, methods of preparation of the charge, and the molding and heat processing regimes. It is shown that addition of chalk to the charge increases the working temperature to 1200°C and improves the physico-chemical indicators of the properties of the resulting articles.     

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Chronic Inflammation in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine–metabolic disorder affecting a vast population worldwide; it is linked with anovulation, mitochondrial dysfunctions and hormonal disbalance. Mutations in mtDNA have been identified in PCOS patients and likely play an important role in PCOS aetiology and pathogenesis; however, their causative role in PCOS development requires further investigation. As a low-grade chronic inflammation disease, PCOS patients have permanently elevated levels of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, CRP, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18). In this review, we summarise recent data regarding the role of mtDNA mutations and mitochondrial malfunctions in PCOS pathogenesis. Furthermore, we discuss recent papers dedicated to the identification of novel biomarkers for early PCOS diagnosis. Finally, traditional and new mitochondria-targeted treatments are discussed. This review intends to emphasise the key role of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in PCOS pathogenesis; however, the exact molecular mechanism is mostly unknown and requires further investigation.