Status of the Closed-Cycle Dilution Refrigerator Development for Space Astrophysics

The closed-cycle dilution refrigerator for space applications is an on-going development to improve the performance of the open-cycle dilution refrigerator successfully used on the Planck mission. This solution has been considered in various projects in X-ray and far-infrared space instruments for astrophysics (ATHENA, SPICA) and in advanced studies for future CMB polarization surveys (COrE). It is shown that for sub-Kelvin applications, this refrigerator is fully competitive with some ADR-based solutions. Compared to ADR, the main advantages are (1) a stable cooling power adapted to long uninterrupted sky surveys (2) a low mass of the coldest stages (3) the absence of magnetic field. We present the current status of the development and discuss the options for the \(^{3}\) He compressor.     

Evaluation of Adverse Effects of Resorbable Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: Determination of Macrophage Responses

Resorbable tissue fillers for aesthetic purposes can induce severe complications including product migration, late swelling, and inflammatory reactions. The relation between product characteristics and adverse effects is not well understood. We hypothesized that the degree of cross-linking hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers was associated with the occurrence of adverse effects. Five experimental HA preparations similar to HA fillers were synthesized with an increasing degree of cross-linking. Furthermore, a series of commercial fillers (Perfectha^®) was obtained that differ in degradation time based on the size of their particulate HA components. Cytotoxic responses and cytokine production by human THP-1-derived macrophages exposed to extracts of the evaluated resorbable HA fillers were absent to minimal. Gene expression analysis of the HA-exposed macrophages revealed the responses related to cell cycle control and immune reactivity. Our results could not confirm the hypothesis that the level of cross-linking in our experimental HA fillers or the particulate size of commercial HA fillers is related to the induced biological responses. However, the evaluation of cytokine induction and gene expression in macrophages after biomaterial exposure presents promising opportunities for the development of methods to identify cellular processes that may be predictive for biomaterial-induced responses in patients.     

Spektroskopische Untersuchungen an Naphtho[1,2-d]thiazolen. II. Bandenanalyse der Absorptions- und Fluoreszenzspektren von 2-Aryl-naphtho[1,2-d]thiazolen

Spectroscopic Investigations on Naphtho[1.2-d]thiazoles. II. Deconvolution of Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra of 2-Aryl-naphtho[1.2-d]thiazoles Fluorescence measurements were carried out of organic fluorescent compounds of the type of 2-aryl-naphtho[1.2-d]thiazoles ( 1a–k ) substituted in the aryl group by different electronic donor and acceptor substituents. 2-Phenyl-naphtho[1.2-d]thiazole was used in the series of these compounds as the reference system for optical properties. A scheme of vibronic terms in ground and excited states resulting from the spectra of emission, ultraviolet absorption and excitation is given.