Specific features of Eu~(3+) and Tb~(3+) magnetooptics in gadolinium-gallium garnet (Gd_3Ga_5O_(12))

We reported magnetooptical properties of Eu3+(4f(6)) and Tb3+(4f(8)) in single crystals of Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG), Y3Ga5O12 (YGG), and Eu3+(4f(6)) in Eu3Ga5O12 (EuGG) for both ions occupying sites of D2 symmetry in the garnet structure. Absorption, luminescence, and magnetic circular polarization of luminescence (MCPL) spectra of Tb3+ in GGG and YGG and absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) of Eu3+ in EuGG were studied. The data were obtained at 85 K and room temperature (RT). Magnetic susceptibility of...     

Redox Kinetics of U,Pu, and Np in TBP Solutions: VI. Reactions of Neptunium and Plutonium with Organic Reducing Agents: Determination of the Final Oxidation States and Reaction Rates

Reactions of Pu(IV) and Np(VI) with organic reducing agents of various types (substituted hydroxylamines, oximes, aldehydes, etc.) in tributyl phosphate solutions containing nitric acid were studied spectrophotometrically. The molar extinction coefficients of neptunium and plutonium in various oxidation states [Np(IV,V,VI), Pu(III,IV,VI)] in TBP solutions were determined as influenced by HNO₃ and H₂O concentrations and temperature. It was found that organic reducing agents at low HNO₃ concentration convert plutonium and neptunium to Pu(III) and Np(V), respectively. With increasing HNO₃ concentration Pu(III) and Np(V) are partly oxidized back to Pu(IV) and Np(VI), respectively, by reaction with nitrous acid. The rate constants of Pu(VI) and Np(VI) reduction and Np(V) oxidation as influenced by concentration of organic reducing agents and HNO₃ were evaluted from the kinetic data.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of S6K1 and S6K2 expression in human breast tumors

AIM: To express recombinant S6K2 in baculovirus expression system; to purify large quantities of recombinant S6K2 for biochemical studies; to generate and characterise specific MABs against recombinant S6K2; to study the patterns S6K1 and S6K2 expression and subcellular localization in normal, benign and malignant breast tissues. METHODS: Recombinant baculovirus, expressing wild type S6K2 was generated using Bac-to-Bac system (Invitrogen); recombinant S6K was purified from infected Sf9 cells using affinity purification approach; monoclonal antibodies against recombinant S6K2 were generated; the specificity of generated MABs towards recombinant and endogenous S6K2 were examined by ELISA, Western blotting, immunoprecipitation and immuhohistochemical staining; immunohistochemical detection of S6K1 and S6K2 in human breast tissues was performed using specific monoclonal antibodies towards S6K1 and S6K2. RESULTS: Large amounts of enzymatically active S6K2 were purified using baculovirus expression system; highly purified preparations of S6K2 were used to generate and characterize anti-S6K2 MABs; elevated levels of S6K1 and S6K2 were found in breast tumors when compared to normal breast tissues; S6K2 is frequently localized in the nuclei of adenocarcinoma tissues, but rarely in fibroadenoma or "normal" breast tissues. CONCLUSION: Production of recombinant S6K2 in large amount and generation of specific monoclonal antibodies towards S6K2 has provided us with excellent tools to study the function and regulation of this important signalling molecule in normal and cancer cells. Immunnohistochemical analysis of S6K1 and S6K2 expression in normal and malignant breast clearly indicates that both kinases are overexpressed in breast tumors, when compared to "normal" tissues. The retention of S6K2 in the nuclei of malignant cells may be caused by disregulation of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and could subsequently affect cell growth and proliferation.     

Mechanisms of formation of hardening precipitates and hardening in aging of Al–Li–Cu–Mg model alloys with silver additions

The mechanisms of the influence of silver additions on the phase transformations that occur in aging are revealed. The contribution of Ω'-phase particles to the deformation stress in Al alloys is estimated. The mechanisms of the effect of low (up to 0.5 wt %) silver additions and the copper content on the structure of the Ω'-phase precipitates in Al alloys are found. According to the proposed model, silver atoms remain immobile during the decomposition of a solid solution and nucleation centers of the Ω' phase form near them in low-temperature aging. Upon hardening aging, fragmented Ω'-phase particles intersect with each other, and the contribution of the intersection regions to the hardening of alloys by Ω'-phase particles is principal.     

Scintillating properties of Pr-doped YAlO<Subscript>3</Subscript> single crystals grown by the micro-pulling-down method

Pr-doped YAlO₃ (0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mol % Pr₆O₁₁) single crystals were grown by the micro-pulling-down method and their optical and luminescence properties were investigated in the range 80–300 K. Dominant 5d–4f double-peak emission at 254 and 282 nm was observed both in radio-and photoluminescence, and was accompanied by weak 4f–4f luminescence at 495 and 620 nm. The 5d–4f emission shows almost no temperature dependence below 300 K, and achieved radioluminescence intensity is more than 15 times higher than that of Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂. The text was submitted by the authors in English.