Characterization of plasma accelerators with RF linac terminology

The physics of plasma acceleration is described by using RF linac terminology such as shunt impedance, filling time, transit time factor, etc. It is shown that some differences between conventional RF accelerators and plasma accelerators make it difficult to import the RF linac terminology directly into the new field. For example, the shunt impedance is of limited use and the filling time is no use in wake-field accelerators with single-drive beams or single-pump pulses. The beatwave accelerator, a driven oscillator system, has in a sense more similarity to RF linacs than wake-field accelerators. It was shown that plasma wave decay due to collisions and modulational instability seriously deteriorate the quality factor.     

Oleic acid and angiotensin II induce a synergistic mitogenic response in vascular smooth muscle cells

Oleic acid and angiotensin II (Ang II) are elevated and may interact to accelerate vascular disease in obese hypertensive patients. We studied the effects of oleic acid and Ang II on growth responses of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Oleic acid (50 micromol/L) raised thymidine incorporation by 50% at 24 hours and cell number by 55% at 6 days (P<.05). Ang II (10(-11) to 10(-6) mol/L) did not significantly increase thymidine incorporation or VSMC number. Combining Ang II and 50 micromol/L oleic acid doubled thymidine incorporation and VSMC number. Losartan, an angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist, blocked the synergistic interaction between Ang II and oleic acid, whereas the AT2 receptor antagonist PD 123319 did not. Protein kinase C inhibition and downregulation, as well as inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation by PD 98059, eliminated the rise of thymidine incorporation in response to oleic acid and the synergistic interaction with Ang II. However, the response to 10% fetal bovine serum was unaffected. An antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to ERK-1 and ERK-2 reduced ERK protein expression and activation by 83% and 75%, respectively. Antisense prevented the rise of thymidine incorporation in response to oleic acid and the synergy with Ang II. Antisense reduced but did not prevent increased thymidine incorporation in response to serum. The data indicate that oleic acid and Ang II exert a synergistic mitogenic effect in VSMCs and suggest an important role for the AT1 receptor, PKC, and ERK in this synergy. The observations raise the possibility that a synergistic mitogenic interaction between oleic acid and Ang II accelerates vascular remodeling in obese hypertensive patients.     

Cerebral effects of differential experience in hypophysectomized rats.

Examined whether the effects of enriched and impoverished environments on brain chemistry and weights in rats may be mediated hormonally. 3 experiments were done on 78 male Fischer and Long-Evans rats hypophysectomized at about 30 days and on normal controls. Environmental treatments lasted about 35-65 days of age. Among operates as among controls the enriched-environment Ss showed significantly greater cortical weight, decreased cortical acetylcholinesterase (AChE)/weight, and increased cholinesterase (ChE)/AChE. Thus these effects of differential environment do not require mediation by hormones of the pituitary or those regulated by the pituitary. Hypophysectomized Ss had significantly lower brain weights, lower cortical AChE/weight, and greater cortical ChE/AChE than did controls. (17 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Wall thickness distribution in thermoforming

This paper presents an isothermal, one-dimensional model predicting wall-thickness profiles of vacuum- or pressure-formed products. After formulating a set of simplifying assumptions theoretical analyses of forming into conical and truncated (deep and shallow) molds are presented and discussed. Fair agreement is found between previously reported experimental results and the proposed theoretical models.     

Psychological science around the world.

Discusses the numbers and training of psychologists and psychological researchers worldwide, based largely on responses from 38 countries to an International Union of Psychological Science survey. The total number of psychologists in the world appears to be over 500,000, with 62,000–82,000 engaged in research as their primary or secondary work activity. Differences between industrialized and developing nations are described in the deployment of psychologists among fields of research. The differences are examined in terms of traditional academic/research fields and health service provider fields. A trend toward a growth of practice and a decline of academic/research psychology is noted. Concerns are expressed about insufficient numbers of psychological researchers. Major obstacles to such research include insufficient financial support. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Skinner's fictions: A response to Elms.

Suggests that the elucidation by A. C. Elms (see record 1982-00013-001) of B. F. Skinner's (1948) autobiographic novel Walden Two in terms of E. Erickson's life cycle stages represents an arresting paradox. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of an aggregation-based immunoassay for anti-protein A using gold nanoparticles

A unique, sensitive, and highly specific immunoassay system for antibodies using gold nanoparticles has been developed. The assay is based on the aggregation of gold nanoparticles that are coated with protein antigens in the presence of their corresponding antibodies. The aggregation of the gold nanoparticles results in an absorption change at 620 nm that is monitored using an absorption plate reader. To demonstrate the analytical capabilities of the new technique, monodispersed protein A-coated gold particles, averaging 10 nm in diameter, were used to determine the level of anti-protein A in serum samples. The effects of the pH, the temperature, and the concentration of protein A-coated gold nanoparticles on the sensitivity of the assay were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV/vis absorption spectroscopy. A dynamic range of 2 orders of magnitude and a limit of detection of 1 microg/mL of anti-protein A were observed. The new technique could be used for fast, high-throughput screening of antibodies in clinical diagnostic applications.