Mixing characteristics of a rotary tubular reactor used for processing slimy ores

A baffled rotary tubular reactor has been designed for hydrometallurgical processing of slimy ores. The mixing characteristics of the coarse solids, slimes, and liquids continuously fed into the reactor have been evaluated through residence time distribution studies. All three phases have similar mixing patterns in the reactor, as shown by similar vessel dispersion numbers.     

Assessment of homeostasis by body''s adaptative responses in patients with tuberculous pleurisy]

AIM: The study of the detection rate and potential pathogenetic significance of antibodies to low density oxidated lipoprotein (LDOL) in patients who had ischemic cerebral circulation disorder (ICCD) at young age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The examination (enzyme immunoassay, general and neurological investigations, laboratory and instrumental tests) covered 148 patients who survived ICCD at young age (mean age 37.2 years). RESULTS: 48 of 108 (44%) patients had LDOL antibodies. Antibodies to cardiolipin, lupus anticoagulant were recorded in 33 (31%) patients. LDOL antibodies were higher and occurred more frequently in patients with Sneddon's syndrome (35% of patients, mean LDOL antibodies-44 units) and primary antiphospholipid syndrome (17% of patients, 45 units) than in atherosclerotic affection of the major head arteries (4%, 29 units) or occlusion of cerebral arteries of unclear genesis (8% of patients, 29 units). CONCLUSION: ICCD were not related to fast development of cerebral atherosclerosis or periaortitis due to production of LDOL antibodies as no relationships were found between their rise and atherosclerotic lesions of cerebral major arteries or periaortitis as shown by ultrasonic dopplerography or cerebral angiography. Feasibility of LDOL antibodies participation in the coagulation cascade and induction of hypercoagulatory condition causing ICCD needs special investigation.     

Ischemic therapy in thrombocytopenia from hypersplenism

Percutaneous transfemoral arterial balloon occlusion or gelatin sponge embolization of the splenic artery or both were carried out in three high-risk patients with hepatic cirrhosis to reduce splenic hyperfunction and improve severe thrombocytopenia. Although this maneuver raised peripheral platelet counts in each patient, in one patient left upper quadrant pain with splinting of the lower chest cage led to hypostatic lower lobe pneumonia, while in another septic splentitis with gas-forming organisms necessitated splecectomy. Transfemoral occlusion of the splenic artery, although an effective, noninvasive approach to control splenic hyperfunction, has at the same time potential dangers that should be viewed with extreme caution in therapeutic application.     

BCR-ABL induces neurite-like structures and BCR lacking the SH2-binding domain induces cell rounding in PC12 cells

The activated tyrosine kinase oncoprotein BCR-ABL is responsible for pathogenesis of Philadelphia chromosome-positive human leukemias. Because BCR carries a GAP (GTPase-activating protein) activity toward cytoskeleton-related small GTP-binding proteins, we utilized a neuronal PC12 cell system to test morphogenic potentials of BCR-ABL or BCR. We report here unique morphological phenotypes of PC12 cells expressing either BCR-ABL or a BCR mutant which lacks the SH2-binding domain (BCR Delta162-413). Although MAP kinase was not activated in PC12 cells expressing BCR-ABL, they showed incomplete neurite extensions even in the absence of the nerve growth factor (NGF). Overproduction of BCR Delta162-413 in PC12 cells, on the other hand, induced cell rounding in the absence of NGF. Interestingly, those cells could hardly make terminal differentiation in the presence of NGF and continued to grow without changing their round shape, although NGF receptor as well as MAP kinase appeared to be activated. Interestingly, the botulinum C3 toxin induced neurite-like structures in PC12 cells overexpressing BCR Delta162-413 without NGF.     

Normal regional anatomy of the shoulder

Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is associated with a high relapse rate, locally and systemically, particularly in patients with nodal or soft-tissue involvement, despite radical cystectomy. The responsiveness of the disease to chemotherapy in the metastatic setting has stimulated the use of systemic therapy in earlier stage disease, either before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) definitive local therapy. Interpretation of the data is hampered by low patient accrual to randomized trials, lack of standardization of local treatment modalities, and the use of a variety of chemotherapy agents and regimens pointing to the difficulty in reaching a consensus as to what constitutes standard therapy. In this article, we review the use of adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches, and the recommendations that can be made based on available data. New approaches to improving survival, potentially with organ preservation, include the development of more effective chemotherapy, and the identification of prognostic features-clinical or biologic-that might be a better guide to patient selection.     

Effect of heat treatment and precipitation state on toughness of heavy section Mn-Mo-Ni-steel for nuclear power plants components

With regard to the mechanical properties of heavy forgings, made from steel grade 508 ASTM Class 3 (20 MnMoNi 5 5) the influence of the cooling intensity during hardening was investigated and the possibilities and limits of accelerating the cooling rate were studied. The importance of the transformation heat is discussed. It can be concluded from this, that it is impossible to avoid the formation of upper bainite as a typical microstructure of heavy forgings from this steel type.To obtain high impact energy the annealing condition must be conform with this type of microstructure. The reason for impact decrease by over-annealing is related to Mo₂C precipitation in the bainitic ferrite.Finally, experiences with intercritical heat treatment of this steel type are described and the special behaviour of the microstructure obtained is demonstrated.