Locus heterogeneity in autosomal dominant congenital external ophthalmoplegia (CFEOM)

An autopsy case of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma of a centenarial male is described. He complained of abdominal pain in his left side 1 month before his death. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a large mass in the left abdominal cavity. At autopsy, a circumscribed mass, 15 cm in diameter, was found in the left-upper abdominal cavity, and seemed to be derived from the retroperitoneum in an exophytic manner. Histologically, spindle cells with slight eosinophilic cytoplasm and blunt-ended nuclei showed interwoven fascicular growth, and mitotic figures were easily encountered. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were labeled by alpha-smooth muscle actin and vimentin. To our knowledge, this case of leiomyosarcoma has presented in the oldest patient ever reported. The rarity of soft tissue sarcomas in the extremely elderly is also discussed.     

Accuracy of single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging in patients with stents in native coronary arteries

Strategies to noninvasively evaluate patients after coronary stenting have not been evaluated. To determine the accuracy of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging in patients after coronary stenting, 209 patients who had undergone stenting followed by late stress SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging were evaluated. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed in 33 patients following SPECT imaging. SPECT restenosis was defined as a reversible or fixed defect within the stented vascular territory. Angiographic restenosis was examined using 2 definitions: total area narrowing > or =50% or > or =70% of the stent site or stented artery. The SPECT and angiographic findings were concordant in 22 of 33 stented vascular territories using the 50% definition of restenosis and in 29 of 33 stented territories using the 70% definition. Use of the 70% definition of restenosis resulted in improved accuracy of SPECT to detect a significant stenosis in the stented artery. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of SPECT were 95%, 73%, 88%, 89%, and 88% respectively. In patients with positive SPECT scans, the most significant stenosis in the stented artery was outside the stent site in 50% of cases. SPECT imaging appears to be accurate to predict significant stenosis in the stented artery, although the most severe stenosis is frequently distant from the stent site.     

5-HPETE is a potent inhibitor of neuronal Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity

The effects of 1 microM concentrations of arachidonic acid hydroperoxide (HPETES) products of 5-, 12- and 15-lipoxygenase on Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity were investigated in synaptosomal membrane preparations from rat cerebral cortex. 5-HPETE inhibited Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity by up to 67 %. In contrast, 12-HPETE and 15-HPETE did not inhibit Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity. In addition, neither 5-HETE or LTA4 inhibited Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity. Dose-response studies indicated that 5-HPETE was a potent (IC25 = 10(-8) M) inhibitor of Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity. These findings indicate that 5-HPETE inhibits Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity by a mechanism that is dependent on the hydroperoxide position and independent of further metabolism by 5-lipoxygenase. It is proposed that 5-HPETE production by 5-lipoxygenase and subsequent inhibition of neuronal Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity may be a mechansim for modulating synaptic transmission.     

Incorporation of zinc into calcium silicate hydrates, Part I: formation of C-S-H(I) with C/S=2/3 and its isochemical counterpart gyrolite

We have investigated the incorporation of zinc into both nanocrystalline and crystalline calcium silicate hydrates with starting C/S ratios of 2/3 (0.66). Zinc was added replacing calcium in the starting mixtures [Zn/(Zn+Ca)=0-1/4; 0-10 wt.% Zn], and the resultant phases were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry (DTA-TG) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM).In both groups of samples, increasing zinc content led to gradual structural changes, until eventually a second phase was formed. Zinc was incorporated to similar limits in both sets of samples. The thermal stability of the structures increased to a certain zinc content, beyond which there was structural destabilisation. Zinc incorporation is possible up to ∼6 wt.%. Our observations strongly indicate similar zinc incorporation mechanisms in both sample series, namely incorporation of zinc into the interlayer of C-S-H(I) and the X-sheet of gyrolite for nanocrystalline and crystalline samples, respectively.     

Response of real-time black carbon mass instruments to mini-CAST soot

Soot is a climate forcer and a dangerous air pollutant that has been increasingly regulated. In aviation, regulatory measurements of soot mass concentration in the exhaust of aircraft turbine engines are to be based on measurements of black carbon (BC) calibrated to elemental carbon (EC) content of diffusion flame soot. The calibration soot must currently meet only one criterion: minimum EC to total carbon (TC) ratio of 0.8. However, not including soot properties other than the EC/TC ratio may potentially lead to discrepancies between different BC measurements. We studied the response of two instruments, the AVL Micro-Soot Sensor (MSS) and the Artium Laser-Induced Incandescence 300 (LII), to soot from two miniature combustion aerosol standard (mini-CAST) burners. By changing the air-fuel ratio, premixing nitrogen into the fuel, and using a catalytic stripper to remove volatile compounds, we produced a wide range of particle morphologies and EC contents. As the EC content decreased, both the instruments underreported the EC mass, but the LII diverged more severely. Upon closer investigation of eight conditions with EC/TC > 0.8, the LII underreporting was found independent of primary particle size, but increased with decreasing geometric mean diameter of the soot agglomerates. As the geometric mean diameter decreased from 160 nm to 50 nm, the differences between the LII and MSS increased from 15% to 50%. The results suggest that in addition to EC content, calibration procedures for the regulatory BC measurements may need to take particle size distributions into account.

© 2016 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Steady-state and transient ampacity of bus bar

This paper presents a thermal model that can be used to calculate both the steady-state and transient electrical current carrying capacity (ampacity) of a power system busbar. Using a thermal model, a computer program has been formulated that can calculate the ampacity of busbar for any time-varying current and any variation in environmental conditions. Relations for the convection heat transfer coefficient for busbars with circular, rectangular and angular cross-sections are presented. The steady state values for ampacity predicted by the program are compared to accepted values. The transient capabilities of the program are illustrated by calculating the variation in busbar temperature when it is subjected to a step change in current. The predicted temperature histories of typical bus designs are compared to temperatures measured in the laboratory using thermocouples attached to the bus material     

Rapid Detection and Quantification of Triacylglycerol by HPLC–ELSD in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Chlorella Strains

Triacylglycerol (TAG) analysis and quantification are commonly performed by first obtaining a purified TAG fraction from a total neutral lipid extract using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and then analyzing the fatty acid composition of the purified TAG fraction by gas chromatography (GC). This process is time-consuming, labor intensive and is not suitable for analysis of small sample sizes or large numbers. A rapid and efficient method for monitoring oil accumulation in algae using high performance liquid chromatography for separation of all lipid classes combined with detection by evaporative light scattering (HPLC–ELSD) was developed and compared to the conventional TLC/GC method. TAG accumulation in two Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (21 gr and CC503) and three Chlorella strains (UTEX 1230, CS01 and UTEX 2229) grown under conditions of nitrogen depletion was measured. The TAG levels were found to be 3–6 % DW (Chlamydomonas strains) and 7–12 % DW (Chlorella strains) respectively by both HPLC–ELSD and TLC/GC methods. HPLC–ELSD resolved the major lipid classes such as carotenoids, TAG, diacylglycerol (DAG), free fatty acids, phospholipids, and galactolipids in a 15-min run. Quantitation of TAG content was based on comparison to calibration curves of trihexadecanoin (16:0 TAG) and trioctadecadienoin (18:2 TAG) and showed linearity from 0.2 to 10 μg. Algal TAG levels >0.5 μg/g DW were detectable by this method. Furthermore TAG content in Chlorella kessleri UTEX 2229 could be detected. TAG as well as DAG and TAG content were estimated at 1.6 % DW by HPLC–ELSD, while it was undetectable by TLC/GC method.     

A cathode support structure for use in a magnetron oscillator experiment

A low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material system has been used to develop a protype field emission cathode structure for use in an experimental magnetron oscillator. The structure is designed for used with 30 gated field emission array (GFEA) die electrically connected through silver metal traces and electrical vias. To approximate a cylinder, the cathode structure (48 mm long and 13.7 mm in diameter) is comprised of 10 faceted plates which cover the GFEA dies. Slits in the facet plates allow electron injection. The GFEA die (3 mm × 8 mm) are placed in axial columns of 3 and spaced azimuthally around a cylindrical support structure in a staggered configuration resulting in 10 azimuthal locations. LTCC manufacturing techniques were developed in order to fabricate the newly designed cathode with seven layers wrapped to form the cylinder with electrical traces and vias. Two different cathode wrapping techniques and two different via filling techniques were studied and compared. Two different facet plate manufacturing techniques were studied. Finally, four different support stand configurations for firing the cylindrical structure were also compared with a square post stand having the best circularity and linearity measurements of the fired structure.     

Characterization of particle emissions from consumer fused deposition modeling 3D printers

Particle emissions from multiple fused deposition modeling consumer 3D printers were systematically quantified utilizing an established emission testing protocol (Blue Angel) to allow quantitative exposure assessments for printers operating in different environments. The data are consistent with particle generation from volatilization of the polymer filament as it is heated by the extruder. Typically, as printing begins, a burst of new particle formation leads to the smallest sizes and maximum number concentrations produced throughout the print job. For acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) filaments, instantaneous concentrations were up to 10⁶ #/cm³ with mean particle sizes of 20 to 40 nm when measured in a well mixed 1 m³ chamber with 1 air change per hour. Particles are continuously formed during printing and the size distribution evolves consistent with vapor condensation and particle coagulation. Particles emitted per mass of filament consumed (particle yield) varied widely due to factors including printer brand, and type and brand of filament. Higher extruder temperatures result in larger emissions. For filament materials tested, average particle number yields ranged from 7.3 × 10⁸ to 5.2 × 10¹⁰ g^?1 (approximately 0.65 to 24 ppm), with trace additives apparently driving the large variations. Nanoparticles (diameters less than 100 nm) dominate number distributions, whereas diameters in the range of 200 to 500 nm contribute most to estimated mass. Because 3D printers are often used in public spaces and personal residences, the general public and particularly susceptible populations, such as children, can be exposed to high concentrations of non-engineered nanoparticles of potential toxicity.

Copyright © 2017 American Association for Aerosol Research