Cancer therapy with localized hyperthermia using an invasive microwave system.

A system has been developed for producing local hyperthermia in small animal tumors by means of an invasive needle microwave antenna. Thermal distributions produced by this system using 1 GHz microwaves have been characterized in mammary adenocarcinomas (MTG-B) implanted in thighs of C3H mice. Therapeutic efficacy by hyperthermia was demonstrated by comparing MTG-B diameters in mice following control, sham or hyperthermia treatment. It is proposed that this system could be employed clinically to provide very local hyperthermia in deep-seated tumors.     

Inclusion of chufa in the human diet as a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids

In 2 experiments lasting 30 days each with participation of 6 volunteers the possibility of daily consumption in the diet of chufa in an amount allowing for minimal requirement of the organism in polyunsaturated fatty acids was studied. The experimental food ration accorded with individual requirements in its basic components. None of the participating volunteers demonstrated any untoward deviations of objective and subjective nature in their health status. For a month chufa was introduced daily at the rate of 1.7 g per kg of body weight.     

Influence of banded fertiliser on the chemical environment surrounding the band: I.—Effect on pH and solution nitrogen

The influence of several banded fertilizers on soil pH, soil solution pH, and concentration of NH₄-N, NO₂-N and NO₃-N at two distances from the band was studied. Treatments consisted of various combinations of monocalcium phosphate (MCP), KCl, NH₄-NO₃, (NH₄)₂HPO₄ and urea applied on a nutrient element basis of 22.4 or 67.2 kg/ha. Urea treatments produced the highest initial pH, and MCP treatments resulted in the lowest pH values. The greatest pH changes during a 32-day incubation period resulted from treatments that contained urea, (NH₄)₂ HPO₄ or NH₄NO₃. Changes in pH with time, for treatments containing the N sources, reflected the rate of nitrification of NH₄-N to NO₃-N which, in turn, controlled the solution concentrations of NH₄-N and NO₃-N. The NO₂-N content near 67.2 kg/ha urea applications increased with time to potentially toxic concentrations (over 500 ppm). Combination of MCP with urea markedly lowered pH and NO₂-N content compared to treatments in which MCP was not supplied. Application of (NH₄)₂HPO₄ or urea at 22.4 kg/ha resulted in a rapid increase in NO₃-N and decrease in pH with time. The pH decrease and accumulation of NO₃-N were much slower when (NH₄)₂HPO₄ or urea was applied at 67.2 kg/ha.     

Hydrogen peroxide staining to visualize intracellular bacterial infections of seedling root cells

Visualization of bacteria in living plant cells and tissues is often problematic due to lack of stains that pass through living plant cell membranes and selectively stain bacterial cells. In this article, we report the use of 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine tetrachloride (DAB) to stain hydrogen peroxide associated with bacterial invasion of eukaryotic cells. Tissues were counterstained with aniline blue/lactophenol to stain protein in bacterial cells. Using this staining method to visualize intracellular bacterial (Burkholderia gladioli) colonization of seedling roots of switch grass (Panicum virgatum), we compared bacterial free seedling roots and those inoculated with the bacterium. To further assess application of the technique in multiple species of vascular plants, we examined vascular plants for seedling root colonization by naturally occurring seed‐transmitted bacteria. Colonization by bacteria was only observed to occur within epidermal (including root hairs) and cortical cells of root tissues, suggesting that bacteria may not be penetrating deeply into root tissues. DAB/peroxidase with counter stain aniline blue/lactophenol was effective in penetration of root cells to selectively stain bacteria. Furthermore, this stain combination permitted the visualization of the bacterial lysis process. Before any evidence of H₂O₂ staining, intracellular bacteria were seen to stain blue for protein content with aniline blue/lactophenol. After H₂O₂ staining became evident, bacteria were often swollen, without internal staining by aniline blue/lactophenol; this suggests loss of protein content. This staining method was effective for seedling root tissues; however, it was not effective at staining bacteria in shoot tissues due to poor penetration. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:566–573, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A 130 point Nd:YAG Thomson scattering diagnostic on MAST

A Thomson scattering diagnostic designed to measure both edge and core physics has been implemented on MAST. The system uses eight Nd:YAG lasers, each with a repetition rate of 30 Hz. The relative and absolute timing of the lasers may be set arbitrarily to produce fast bursts of measurements to suit the time evolution of the physics being studied. The scattered light is collected at F/6 by a 100 kg six element lens system with an aperture stop of 290 mm. The collected light is then transferred to 130 polychromators by 130 independent fiber bundles. The data acquisition and processing are based on a distributed computer system of dual core processors embedded in 26 chassis. Each chassis is standalone and performs data acquisition and processing for five polychromators. This system allows data to be available quickly after the MAST shot and has potential for real-time operations.