Methods and results of tests of a large model of the TUK-84 container

Tests of a prototype model of TUK-84 and the corresponding experimental procedures used at the test center of the All-Russia Research Institute of Technical Physics are described. The results are presented, and it is shown that the prototype withstood the tests. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 100, No. 6, pp. 441–445, June, 2006.     

Fractures of Structural Steels (Part 2)

Fractures of group II (according to the classification given in Part 1) are described in detail. The deviations of the structure of a fracture from the groups of fiber and crystalline fractures are explained by the chemical micro- and macroinhomogeneity of the metal. The characteristics of fractures, the causes of their formation, the methods for fighting and eliminating them, and the interrelation with the mechanical properties of the steel are described. Every kind of fracture is illustrated.     

A new ZVS-PWM unity power factor rectifier with reduced conductionlosses

This paper introduces a new single-phase high power factor rectifier, which features regulation by conventional PWM, soft commutation and instantaneous average line current control. Furthermore, thanks to the use of a single converter, instead of the conventional configuration composed of a four-diode front-end rectifier followed by a boost converter, a significant reduction in the conduction losses is achieved. A prototype rated at 1.6 kW, operating at 70 kHz, with an input AC voltage of 220 Vrms and an output voltage of 400 V_DC has been implemented in the laboratory. An efficiency of 97.8 % at 1.6 kW has been measured. Analysis, design, and the control circuitry are also presented in the paper     

The dermorphin peptide family

1. In 1980, the skin of certain frogs belonging to the genus Phyllomedusinae was found to contain two new peptides that proved to be selective mu-opioid agonists. Given the name dermorphins, these were the first members of a peptide family that in the past 15 years has grown to reach a total of seven naturally occurring peptides and nearly 30 synthetic analogs. 2. Dermorphin peptides are potent analgesics in rodents and primates, including man. Some dermorphins can enter the blood-brain barrier and produce central antinociception after peripheral administration. 3. The dermorphin family also includes mu 1-opioid receptor selective agonists that produce intense opioid analgesia, but stimulate pulmonary ventilation. 4. Experiments in rats and mice chronically exposed to dermorphins have shown that not only do they have higher antinociceptive efficacy and potency than morphine, but they are also less likely than morphine to produce tolerance, dependence and opiate side effects.     

In-utero transplantation of parental CD34 haematopoietic progenitor cells in a patient with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCIDXI)

BACKGROUND: X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCIDXI) is an inherited immune defect which leads to death in infancy from severe infections. The defect is caused by mutations of the IL-2RG gene that encodes for the common gamma chain shared by several cytokine receptors. The disease is characterised by lack of T and NK cells with normal numbers of B cells. SCIDXI can be cured by bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or prevented by abortion after prenatal diagnosis. METHODS: A male fetus was diagnosed as having SCIDXI by molecular, immunophenotypic, and functional analyses. The fetus was injected intraperitoneally under ultrasound guidance with CD34 haematopoietic progenitor cells purified from paternal bone marrow and T-cell depleted by E rosetting. Chimerism analysis was by HLA-DQ alpha typing and gamma-chain staining on cord blood. FINDINGS: A healthy 3.6 kg boy was delivered by caesarean section at 38 weeks of gestation with no clinical or laboratory signs of graft-versus-host disease. Engraftment of donor-derived CD2 cells was found at birth. At 3.5 months of age the infant is well and his T-cell counts and function are normal. INTERPRETATION: In-utero transplantation of haematopoietic progenitor cells allowed immune reconstitution of a fetus with SCIDXI and may be an alternative to elective abortion. Our report should encourage applications of this method to other inherited disorders curable by BMT.     

Digital implementation of bus clamped space vector modulation

Space vector modulation has recently become a popular PWM method of supplying a high performance drive. An adaptation of SVM modulation is presented here. This system is called bus clamped space vector modulation. This method has some practical advantages when compared to normal SVM. These include a reduced average switching frequency, easy digital implementation and asynchronous control and switching frequencies