p21WAF1/Cip1 expression is associated with cell differentiation but not with p53 mutations in squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx

The anti-metastatic effect of Z-100, an immunomodulatory arabinomannan extracted from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, was investigated in mice bearing B16 melanoma cells. Treatment of BF10 mice implanted with high metastatic B16F10 melanoma cells with a 10 mg/kg dose of Z-100 resulted in the reduction of experimental pulmonary metastasis as compared with that of BF10 mice treated with saline. The number of pulmonary metastatic colonies in BF1 mice (mice implanted with low metastatic B16F1 melanoma cells) was greatly increased after the inoculation of CD4+ CD11b+ CD281+ TCR alphabeta+ type 2 T cells (F10-Th2 cells) derived from BF10 mice, while only a few metastatic colonies were demonstrated in lungs of BF1 mice inoculated with naive CD4+ T cells. However, the numbers of metastatic colonies in BF1 mice were not increased when they were inoculated with the F10-Th2 cell fraction derived from Z-100-treated BF10 mice and the generation of F10-Th2 cells in BF10 mice was effectively suppressed by the Z-100 treatment. These results suggest that Z-100 inhibits pulmonary metastasis of B16 melanoma through the regulation of tumor-associated Th2 cells, which are a key cell in the acceleration of tumor metastasis.     

Integratable, high speed buried ridge DFB lasers fabricated on semi-insulating substrates

The fabrication of buried ridge DFB lasers on semi-insulating substrates is described. A novel contacting mechanism was employed to give a series resistance of less than 4 Omega . Devices were fabricated at both 1.3 and 1.53 mu m with lasing thresholds as low as 16 mA. Single longitudinal mode operation was achieved with SMSR greater than 30 dB at both wavelengths. The structure gives an inherently low capacitance, which together with low threshold currents, low series resistance and fabrication on SI substrates makes these devices suitable for integration and high speed applications.<>     

Domestic demand-side response with heat pumps: controls and tariffs

ABSTRACT

Electric heat pumps feature prominently in projected energy transitions in the UK and elsewhere. Owing to their high electricity consumption, heat pumps are viewed as important targets for demand-side response (DSR). Findings are presented from a field trial of a new control system that aims to optimize heat pump performance, including under time-varying tariff conditions. The trial involved monitoring 76 properties with heat pumps, but without dedicated heat storage; 31 of these received the control system. Interviews were conducted with a subsample of 12 participants. The controller successfully evened out electricity demand over the day (reducing the evening peak), but this was associated with increased late night and daytime temperatures. Interview participants reported some disturbance owing to overnight heating and noise, as well as usability issues with the controller interface and hardware. These issues present risks to the future acceptability of such systems. While the system delivered short-term demand reductions successfully, longer-term demand shifting risked causing unacceptable disturbance to occupants. Future control systems could overcome some of the issues identified in this pioneering trial through more effective zoning, using temperature caps or installing dedicated heat storage, but these may either limit the available flexibility or be challenging to achieve.     

Hip fractures in elderly people. The surgical treatment in Leuven, Belgium

From 1978 to 1990 inclusive more than 1,200 patients above 70 years of age have been treated surgically for a hip fracture at the University Hospitals of Leuven. Intracapsular fractures were classified as to Garden and extracapsular fractures as to Evans. The physical and mental conditions of the patients at the time of the accident were largely determining the choice of the treatment, a treatment that held quo ad vitam only little risk for the patient and that permitted early weight bearing on the operated limb. We concluded that: Stable intracapsular fractures have to be treated with simple cancellous bone screws. For unstable intracapsular fractures, a total hip prosthesis is the best solution; hemiarthroplasty must be reserved for high risk patients with a limited life expectancy. Nearly all type 1 pertrochanteric fractures can be treated with a (modified) dynamic hip screw technique. Prosthetic surgery is only indicated in very complex type 1d fractures. For type 2 fractures, the gamma-nail is (may be) the best solution.     

Lycopene from two food sources does not affect antioxidant or cholesterol status of middle-aged adults

Background

Epidemiological studies have reported associations between reduced cardiovascular disease and diets rich in tomato and/or lycopene. Intervention studies have shown that lycopene-containing foods may reduce cholesterol levels and lipid peroxidation, factors implicated in the initiation of cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to determine whether consumption of lycopene rich foods conferred cardiovascular protection to middle-aged adults as indicated by plasma lipid concentrations and measures of ex vivo antioxidants.

Methods

Ten healthy men and women consumed a low lycopene diet with no added lycopene (control treatment) or supplemented with watermelon or tomato juice each containing 20 mg lycopene. Subjects consumed each treatment for three weeks in a crossover design. Plasma, collected weekly was analyzed for total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride concentrations and for the antioxidant biomarkers of malondialdehyde formation products (MDA), plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). Data were analyzed using Proc Mixed Procedure and associations between antioxidant and lipid measures were identified by Pearson's product moment correlation analysis.

Results

Compared to the control diet, the lycopene-containing foods did not affect plasma lipid concentrations or antioxidant biomarkers. Women had higher total cholesterol, HDL-C and triglyceride concentrations than did the men. Total cholesterol was positively correlated to MDA and FRAP while HDL-C was positively correlated to MDA and GPX. GPX was negatively correlated to triglyceride concentration.

Conclusions

The inclusion of watermelon or tomato juice containing 20 mg lycopene did not affect plasma lipid concentrations or antioxidant status of healthy subjects. However, plasma cholesterol levels impacted the results of MDA and FRAP antioxidant tests.     

Self-assembled nano-phase particles for enhanced oxygen barrier coatings on polymeric materials

Aqueous-based inorganic–organic hybrid coating materials comprising self-assembled nanophase particles (SNAP) were investigated for their potential to confer high gas barrier performance to flexible polymeric substrates, particularly to improve suitability of the substrates as encapsulation materials for organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Potential benefits of this approach include versatility in barrier coating formulation to achieve specific barrier properties, and application of coatings in a reel-to-reel process under ambient conditions. The present study focused on enhancement of the oxygen barrier performance of polypropylene (PP) substrates by applying SNAP-based coatings with and without the addition of an oxygen scavenging additive. SNAP particles were characterised using ²⁹Si NMR and dynamic light scattering, and coatings were analysed using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. SNAP particle preparation and coating formulation was optimised with respect to oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the coating on PP, and mechanical properties of the coating solution. In the absence of oxygen scavenger, the lowest OTR attained for the SNAP-based coatings was 0.87 cm³ mil m⁻² day⁻¹ atm⁻¹. The OTR was further reduced to 0.22 cm³ mil m⁻² day⁻¹ atm⁻¹ on addition of 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-dissulfonic acid (AQDS) into the coating as an oxygen scavenger. These results represent a decrease in OTR by 4 orders of magnitude compared with uncoated PP, and the oxygen barrier obtained by addition of AQDS surpasses the performance of many plastic materials considered to be high oxygen barriers in the food and pharmaceutical industries.     

Removal of dioxins and furans from flue gases by non-flammable adsorbents in a fixed bed

The presented adsorption--process KOMBISORBON is applied for high efficient off-gas purification, preferably of polychlorinated dioxins and furans from off-gas of incineration plants, which are generated, when these are operated under unfavourable conditions [2]. This off-gas purification process complies with german laws, which limit the concentration of these substances to less than 0.1 ng toxicity equivalents (TE) per cubic metre of gas [1]. The adsorbent, the adsorption process and its plant concept (fixed bed) is described in detail including economics and obtained operation results. Alternative removal technologies are briefly outlined.