Columnar alteration with prominent apical snouts and secretions: a spectrum of changes frequently present in breast biopsies performed for microcalcifications

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of treatment with an inactivated, gp120-depleted, HIV-1 immunogen (Remune) in 30 Thai subjects infected with HIV-1 subtype E. DESIGN: Sixty-week open-label study. METHODS: Thirty HIV-positive volunteers with CD4 cell counts > or = 300 x 10(6)/l were given intramuscular injections of Remune into the triceps muscle on day 1 and then at weeks 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60. RESULTS: Treatment with Remune was well-tolerated and augmented HIV-1-specific immune responses. Furthermore, subjects had a significant increase in CD4 cell count (P < 0.0001), CD4 cell percentage (P < 0.0001), CD8 cell percentage (P < 0.0001), and body weight (P < 0.0001) compared with pretreatment levels. Fourteen subjects with detectable viral load at day 1 showed a decrease at week 60 (P=0.04). Retrospective Western blot analysis showed 23 subjects with increased intensity of antibody bands and 15 patients showed development of new reactivities to HIV proteins, especially towards p17 and p15. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that HIV-specific immune-based therapeutic approaches such as Remune should be further examined in countries with different clades of HIV-1 and where access to antiviral drug therapies is limited.     

SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF PAKISTAN COALS (III) EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE EXTRACTS BY SPECTROSCOPIC TECHNIQUES

The Makerwal coal of Pakistan gives higher extractibi1ity with Tetrahydrofuran ( THF ) as compared to Sharigh, Sor-Range and Lakhra coals. The structural characterization of Pakistan coal extracts by FT-IR spectroscopy indicates that all the extracts contained less condensed aromatic rings in comparision to their original coal.     

Otitis media with effusion: a disability or not?

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a disease most commonly affecting the paediatric population. However, it is a condition that is also seen in adults and does lead to significant morbidity. We studied the effect of surgical treatment of OME in an adult population and found that the subjective relief of symptoms exceeded the objective audiometric gain. In children where subjective symptoms are perhaps more difficult to assess the clinician needs to beware of underestimating the effect of a hearing loss.     

Spray pyrolysis and heat treatment of CuInSe2 for photovoltaic applications

Thin films (about 1 μm) of CuInSe₂ were prepared by spray pyrolysis. The component ratios in the spray solutions and the glass substrate temperature were varied in order to produce films of the desired stoichiometry and the importance of this starting ratio is demonstrated. The optimum spray conditions were suggested by thermodynamical calculations using a free energy minimization computer program applied to the Cu-In-Se system. Optical absorption studies of the films verified the existence of the proper compound.Heat treatments of the films were performed in order to produce conductivities and crystal structures for photovoltaic applications and are discussed in detail. In particular for CuInSe₂ which gives the sphalerite structure under most spray conditions, a short heat treatment of a film with a starting Cu:In:Se ratio of 1.1:1:4 for 10 min at temperatures of 600, 500 and 400°C is described, which produces the chalcopyrite structure.     

Laser cutting of 7050 Al alloy reinforced with Al2O3 and B4C composites

In the present study, laser cutting of 7050 aluminum alloy sheets reinforced with Al₂O₃ and B₄C particles are carried out. The cut geometry is examined using scanning electron microscope and the optical microscope. The lump parameter analysis technique is used to formulate and determine the kerf width size. The predictions for kerf width are compared with experimental data. The percentage kerf width size variation along the cut edges is determined and the influence of the laser power level and duty cycle of the laser pulses on the percentage kerf width size variation is examined. It is found that 7050 aluminum alloy reinforced with 20% Al₂O₃ composite results in relatively large kerf width size as compared to its counter parts that corresponding to 7050 aluminum alloy reinforced with 20% B₄C composite. The kerf width size predicted agreed with the experimental data for both composites.     

An extended Hückel theory based atomistic model for graphene nanoelectronics

An atomistic model based on the spin-restricted extended Hückel theory (EHT) is presented for simulating electronic structure and I–V characteristics of graphene devices. The model is applied to zigzag and armchair graphene nano-ribbons (GNR) with and without hydrogen passivation, as well as for bilayer graphene. Further calculations are presented for electric fields in the nano-ribbon width direction and in the bilayer direction to show electronic structure modification. Finally, the EHT Hamiltonian and NEGF (Nonequilibrium Green’s function) formalism are used for a paramagnetic zigzag GNR to show 2e ²/h quantum conductance.     

Perovskite SrFe1-xTixO3-δ (x < = 0.1) cathode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cell

Stable and compatible cathode materials are a key factor for realizing the low-temperature (LT, ≤600?°C) operation and practical implementations of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In this study, perovskite oxides SrFe_1-xTi_xO_3-δ (x?< = 0.1), with various ratios of Ti doping, are prepared by a sol-gel method for cathode material for LT-SOFCs. The structure, morphology and thermo-gravimetric characteristics of the resultant SFT powders are investigated. It is found that the Ti is successfully doped into SrFeO_3-δ to form a single phase cubic perovskite structure and crystal structure of SFT shows better stability than SrFeO_3-δ. The dc electrical conductivity and electrochemical properties of SFT are measured and analysed by four-probe and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) measurements, respectively. The obtained SFT exhibits a very low polarization resistance (R_p), .01 Ωcm² at 600?C. The SFT powders using as cathode in fuel cell devices, exhibit maximum power density of 551?mW?cm^?2 with open circuit voltage (OCV) of 1.15?V at 600?C. The good performance of the SFT cathode indicates a high rate of oxygen diffusion through the material at cathode. By enabling operation at low temperatures, SFT cathodes may result in a practical implementation of SOFCs.