Structural development and magnetic phenomenon in Zn–Cr–Fe multi oxide nano-crystals

The Cr³⁺ ions doped multi-oxide ZnFe_2−xCr_xO₄ ferrite nanoparticles have been synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method. Site occupancies of Zn²⁺, Cr³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions were analyzed using X-ray diffraction data and Buerger's method. The effect of the constituent phase variation on the magnetic hysteresis behavior was examined by saturation magnetization which decreases with the increase in Cr³⁺ content in place of Fe³⁺ ions at octahedral B-site. Typical blocking temperature (T_B) around 90 K was observed by zero field cooling and field cooling magnetization study. Room temperature Mössbauer spectra show two paramagnetic doublets (tetrahedral and octahedral sites). The isomer shifts of both doublets decrease whereas quadrupole splitting and relative area of tetrahedral A-site increases with increasing Cr³⁺ substitution. The dielectric constant (measured on compositions x=0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.0) increases when the temperature increases as in the semiconductor. This behavior is attributed to the hopping of electrons between Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions with a thermal activation.     

A selection of material using a novel type decision-making method: Preference selection index method

The aim of the current study is to implement a novel tool to help the decision-maker for selection of a proper material that will meet all the requirements of the design engineers. Preference selection index (PSI) method is a novel tool to select best alternative from given alternatives without deciding relative importance between attributes. In the present study, three different types of material selection problems are examined. A validation and consistency test of preference selection index method is performed in present work by comparing results of PSI method with published results of graph theory and matrix approach (GTMA), and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method, respectively. The research has concluded that the PSI method is logical and more appropriate for the material selection problems.     

Preparation,dosimetric characterisation and investigation of related TSL defect centres in Li3Po4:Mg,Cu phosphor

L3PO4:Mg,Cu, a low effective atomic number and high sensitivity TSL phosphor, has been prepared. Its TSL glow curve shows a major peak around 360 degrees C with minor peaks around 110 degrees C and 230 degrees C. The optimum concentrations of the dopants are found to be 200 ppm each. Its gamma sensitivity is 1.2 times as compared to CaSO4:Dy (0.1 mol%). The optimum preirradiation annealing treatment is found to be 650 degrees C, 15 min. Its PL emission shows a band at 370 nm with excitation band at 250 nm. Dose to TSL response shows that its response is linear up to the gamma dose of 100 Gy for irradiations carried out at RT. An irradiated sample shows a distinct new ESR signal, which is tentatively assigned to an electron/hole localised on one of the oxygen(s) of the phosphate group. Step annealing experiments show decay of the defect centre around 340 degrees C. This correlates well with the TSL peak around 360 degrees C.     

SLH电源拓扑及其开环系统的负载适应性—SLH功率变换技术及应用(三)

在 “SLH 连载之一、二”从理论角度阐明开关线性复合(SLH)电源因高阻输出特性而获强鲁棒性的基础上，结合其典型拓扑的实践及效果，揭示了SLH开环系统对负载参数变化和多类负载呈现自适应能力的内在原因，廓清了相关学术概念，为 “连载之一、二”提供了实验依据。     

Pr（Ⅲ） and Nd（Ⅲ） Absorption Spectroscopic Probe to Investigate Interaction with Lysozyme （HEW）

Pr（ Ⅲ ） and Nd（ Ⅲ ） can be utilized as absorption spectroscopic probes to investigate the interaction of biomolecules like Lysozyme （HEW） with Ca（ Ⅱ ） in-vitro ; the most abundant metal ion in the human body system. The spectroscopic techniques involving comparative absorption, absorption difference, and quantitative intensity analysis using 4f-4f transitions are utilized for changes in the inner sphere coordination pattern of Pr（ Ⅲ ） and Nd（Ⅲ ） in solution as well as in solid state. The present study deals with an important biomolecule in human metabolism, that is, Lysozyme （HEW）. The absorption er-Condon the probab spectral parameters such as the oscillator strength （P）, the Judd-Ofelt （Tλ） intensity parameters, and the Slatinter electronic parameters are calculated using chi square methods. The obtained results are used to determine le geometry of the complex in the solution, the nature of the bond between Pr（Ⅲ）/Nd（Ⅲ） with lysozyme, and the inner sphere coordination environment of f-f transitions. The results obtained from various experimental conditions are utilized to investigate the coordination changes in the Pr（Ⅲ）/Nd（Ⅲ） complexes caused by different coordinating sites of lysozyme, normalized bite, denticity, the solvent nature, the coordination number, the nature of bond and other parameters to mimic the interaction of the Ca（ Ⅱ ） ion with such biomolecule.     

Enhancement of tumor killing using a combination of tumor immunization and HSV-tk suicide gene therapy

Tumor cells genetically modified with the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene in combination with ganciclovir (GCV) demonstrate a "bystander effect". Previous attempts to enhance the bystander tumor killing by combining cytokine genes with HSV-tk/GCV have met with varying results. The present study was designed to determine the effects of tumor immunization in combination with HSV-tk gene-modified tumor cells and GCV on tumor killing and to determine if the bystander tumor killing could be enhanced. Tumor-bearing mice immunized with syngeneic tumor (KBALB) prior to treatment with an i.p. injection of xenogeneic HSV-tk gene-modified tumor cells (PA-1STK) had prolonged animal survival (group 4, 56.4 days). In contrast, unimmunized tumor-bearing mice (group 2) or tumor-bearing mice immunized to the xenogeneic PA-1STK tumor cells (group 5) showed a mean survival of about 27 days after receiving an i.p. injection of PA-1STK cells and GCV. Control groups, which were either not immunized and did not receive HSV-tk cells (group 1) or immunized but treated only with GCV (group 3) showed short survival (16-18 days). Analysis of tumors for cytokine mRNA expression revealed increased TNF-alpha and IL-1alpha mRNA expression in group 4 mice. Furthermore, IL-2 mRNA expression was detectable on days 2 and 4 only in group 4 mice. Immunophenotypic analysis for tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes demonstrated an increase in macrophage (4%, p = 0.0001) and T cells (1.8%, p < 0.001) in group 4 mice with an enhanced T-cell response as compared with mice from groups 1, 2 and 3. Our results demonstrate that tumor immunization combined with HSV-tk/GCV treatment results in increased animal survival with enhanced immune response. Furthermore, the cytokine milieu observed in the present study can modulate the tumor micro-environment in vivo from one that is immunosuppressive to one that is immune-stimulatory.     

Response of the hypothalamic neurons to stimulation of the vestibular nerve and lateral vestibular nucleus in rabbits

Effects of single, double, and rhythmic stimulation upon hypothalamic neurons responding to the 1st excitatory phase of lateral vestibular nucleus stimulation, were studied. The data obtained show that activation of some hypothalamic neurons following stimulation of the lateral vestibular nucleus has a monosynaptic character. The findings suggest that ascending afferents from the lateral vestibular nucleus to the hypothalamus pass via oligo- as well as polysynaptic pathways.     

Congenital abnormalities in Brazilian children associated with misoprostol misuse in first trimester of pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Misoprostol is commonly used to induce abortion in Brazil, and in other countries in South and Central America where abortions are illegal. However, misoprostol is not very effective in inducing abortions, and exposure to the drug in utero can cause abnormalities in the fetus. We aimed to define the common phenotypical effects of exposure to the drug. METHODS: We studied 42 infants from S?o Paulo, Brazil, who were exposed to misoprostol during the first 3 months of gestation, and then born with congenital abnormalities. We interviewed each of the infants' mothers to find out about misoprostol exposure and dosage. Each infant was physically examined by a geneticist or a neuropaediatrician. FINDINGS: 17 of the infants had equinovarus with cranial-nerve defects. Ten children had equinovarus as part of more extensive arthrogryposis. The most distinctive phenotypes were arthrogryposis confined to the legs (five cases) and terminal transverse-limb defects (nine cases) with or without Mobius sequence. The most common dose of misoprostol taken was 800 microg (range 200-16000 microg). INTERPRETATION: Deformities attributed to vascular disruption were found in these children. We suggest that the uterine contractions induced by misoprostol cause vascular disruption in the fetus, including brain-stem ischaemia. Information on the effects of taking misoprostol during pregnancy should be made more widely available, to dissuade women from misusing the drug.     

New protein genetic studies in six Amazonian Indian populations

A total of 732 individuals affiliated with six Amazonian Indian populations were variously studied in relation to 26 protein genetic systems. Eleven of them were found to be monomorphic in these groups, in accordance with previous investigations. Similarities and dissimilarities (the latter involving the Rh, Duffy, haptoglobin and transferrin systems) were observed in relation to earlier investigations in four of these populations (Galibi, Palikour, Mundurucu and Tenharim). A dimeric, cathodal variant of albumin was found among two Galibi subjects, and the fairly common occurrence of CP* ACAY among some South American Indian populations was confirmed. The results in the six populations were compared with those from 29 others. When relationships are searched for among tribes of the same linguistic group, the factor that seems to be most influential is geographical localization, an exception being the pattern observed among the Cayapo subgroups. The latter shows genetic differences of the same level of magnitude as those observed among Ge-speaking tribes.     

Regulation of Sos activity by intramolecular interactions

The guanine nucleotide exchange factor Sos mediates the coupling of receptor tyrosine kinases to Ras activation. To investigate the mechanisms that control Sos activity, we have analyzed the contribution of various domains to its catalytic activity. Using human Sos1 (hSos1) truncation mutants, we show that Sos proteins lacking either the amino or the carboxyl terminus domain, or both, display a guanine nucleotide exchange activity that is significantly higher compared with that of the full-length protein. These results demonstrate that both the amino and the carboxyl terminus domains of Sos are involved in the negative regulation of its catalytic activity. Furthermore, in vitro Ras binding experiments suggest that the amino and carboxyl terminus domains exert negative allosteric control on the interaction of the Sos catalytic domain with Ras. The guanine nucleotide exchange activity of hSos1 was not augmented by growth factor stimulation, indicating that Sos activity is constitutively maintained in a downregulated state. Deletion of both the amino and the carboxyl terminus domains was sufficient to activate the transforming potential of Sos. These findings suggest a novel negative regulatory role for the amino terminus domain of Sos and indicate a cooperation between the amino and the carboxyl terminus domains in the regulation of Sos activity.