Epidemiology of acute promyelocytic leukemia

BACKGROUND: The estimated incidence of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is approximately 6 cases per 10 million people per year with no apparent differences between sexes. The age of APL cases is younger than that of other acute myeloid leukemias (AML). Spatial and temporal clusters of APL have been reported. These observations suggest a possible selective role for environmental and/or occupational factors in APL development. METHODS: A multicenter case-control study was carried out on risk factors for acute leukemias and preleukemias. In this report data related to APL are selectively analyzed from the larger study to identify specific risk factors. RESULTS: The case-control study on 38 cases of APL showed a strong association with shoemaking (odds ration 6.3, 95% confidence interval 1.3-31.1). A moderate leukemogenic effect from living in houses built with tuff, a polous building material containing gamma-emitting radionuclides and having a high radon concentration, and from using hair dyes was also suggested. CONCLUSIONS: These data, together with the reported spatial and temporal clustering of APL, support the hypothesis of specific environmental and/or occupational risk factors for APL among other AML subtypes and indicate the need for additional ad hoc multicenter studies.     

Real-Time Decision Support for Emergency Management: An Integration of Advanced Computer and Communications Technology

Responses to emergencies are typically based on contingency plans. However, unexpected events can occur during the operation that affect safety and/or effectiveness of the activated response plan. Latest advances in communications and information technology can collect and transfer a large amount of data to the on-scene commander in real-time. The commander can then assess the potential impact of such events and decide if and how to revise the planned course of action to maintain safety and efficiency of the operation. This paper proposes a new paradigm for real-time decision support for emergency response - operational risk management. Emergency response is modelled as a large-scale operational system, including a human-machine real-time controller. The decision model is based on a topological graph structure, where the nodes are decisions and the arcs the activities. The attributes of the activities are expressed as ordinal preference values. The optimal course of action is the sequence of activities with the highest preference for resolving the emergency situation. The implementation of the decision model into a prototype decision support system is discussed.     

What can a country with small nuclear program learn from other European countries?

In this paper the present status of the nuclear programme and radioactive waste management in Slovenia is briefly presented. The quantities of accumulated radioactive wastes are given and the storage capacities and plans and problems concerning the final disposal are described. Because of small nuclear programme and limited resources Slovenia cannot afford expensive research and development projects; therefore, in selecting the optimal long-term solution for its radioactive waste foreign experience and approaches are very important. Intercomparison of solutions in different areas of radioactive waste management in more developed countries can be of great help to such countries when the disposal programme is prepared, as is indicated in this paper.     

Interrelation between dyeing and thermal properties of PET fibers

The interrelation between dyeing and the thermal properties of micro and conventional poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers is studied with conventional and modulated differential scanning calorimetry. X‐ray diffraction, density, and birefringence studies are used to confirm the obtained results. It is shown that three studied anthraquinone dyes, in contrast to three studied benzodifuranone dyes, act as plasticizers for the fibers. A comparison between fibers and partially crystallized bulk samples is made. The specific fiber morphology makes the fibers more susceptible to plasticization than are bulk samples. This ability of a dye to lower the glass transition of the fibers will influence the dye diffusion and this information is needed to optimize the dyeing process for a specific dye–fiber combination. Further, the presence of an anthraquinone dye in the fiber alters the melting endotherm by changing the stability of the original crystals. The onset of the melting and recrystallization process is lowered. Although still well above the dyeing temperature, this lowering may be critical for the dimensional stability of the fabrics during any subsequent high‐temperature process. A first investigation of the effect of variations in the thermal properties on the obtained color strength after dyeing is reported. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 105–114, 2003     

Bounding set calculation for neural network-based output feedback adaptive control systems

Evaluating the bounding set of dynamic systems subject to direct neural-adaptive control is a critical issue in applications where the control system must undergo a rigorous verification process in order to comply with certification standards. In this paper, the boundedness problem is addressed for a comprehensive class of uncertain dynamic systems. Several common but unnecessary approximations that are typically performed to simplify the Lyapunov analysis have been avoided in this effort. This leads to a more accurate and general formulation of the bounding set for the overall closed loop system. The conditions under which boundedness can be guaranteed are carefully analyzed; additionally, the interactions between the control design parameters, the ‘Strictly Positive Realness’ condition, and the shape and dimensions of the bounding set are discussed. Finally, an example is presented in which the bounding set is calculated for the neuro-adaptive control of an F/A-18 aircraft, along with a numerical study to evaluate the effect of several design parameters.     

A MEMS‐based heating holder for the direct imaging of simultaneous in‐situ heating and biasing experiments in scanning/transmission electron microscopes

The introduction of scanning/transmission electron microscopes (S/TEM) with sub‐Angstrom resolution as well as fast and sensitive detection solutions support direct observation of dynamic phenomena in‐situ at the atomic scale. Thereby, in‐situ specimen holders play a crucial role: accurate control of the applied in‐situ stimulus on the nanostructure combined with the overall system stability to assure atomic resolution are paramount for a successful in‐situ S/TEM experiment. For those reasons, MEMS‐based TEM sample holders are becoming one of the preferred choices, also enabling a high precision in measurements of the in‐situ parameter for more reproducible data. A newly developed MEMS‐based microheater is presented in combination with the new NanoEx?‐i/v TEM sample holder. The concept is built on a four‐point probe temperature measurement approach allowing active, accurate local temperature control as well as calorimetry. In this paper, it is shown that it provides high temperature stability up to 1,300°C with a peak temperature of 1,500°C (also working accurately in gaseous environments), high temperature measurement accuracy (<4%) and uniform temperature distribution over the heated specimen area (<1%), enabling not only in‐situ S/TEM imaging experiments, but also elemental mapping at elevated temperatures using energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS). Moreover, it has the unique capability to enable simultaneous heating and biasing experiments. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:239–250, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effect of Oxygen Pressure on Thermoelectric Properties of p-Type CuAlO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Films Fabricated by Pulsed Laser Deposition

We focus on the growth of p-type CuAlO₂ thin films and its thermoelectric properties. Thin films are deposited by pulsed laser deposition technique on single-crystal sapphire substrates varying the oxygen partial pressure. Thin film deposited at oxygen partial pressure of 200 mTorr presents bigger grains (about 10 μm in size) and shows Seebeck coefficient as high as 270 µV/K with a conductivity of about 0.8 S/cm so that its power factor is about 5.7 µW/mK² at 800 K, twice than observed in the film deposited at 60 mTorr of oxygen.     

In Situ Soft X‐ray Microscopy Study of Fe Interconnect Corrosion in Ionic Liquid‐Based Nano‐PEMFC Half‐Cells

This in situ soft X‐ray scanning microscopy electrochemical study of model proton exchange cathodic and anodic nano‐fuel cells is exploring the evolving structure and chemical composition of key cell components represented by Au and Fe electrodes in contact with Nafion‐ionic liquid composite electrolyte containing Pt black catalyst particles. Morphological and chemical changes of the electrodes as well as the chemical state and fate of the Fe species released into the electrolyte are monitored in short circuit and with applied cathodic or anodic polarization. The in situ X‐ray absorption images of the cathodic cell fed with 2.5 × 10^–5 mbar O₂ have revealed corrosion‐induced morphology changes in the Fe electrode, being more pronounced in the vicinity of Pt‐black particles, and deposition of the Fe species released into the electrolyte, onto the intact Au counter electrode upon cathodic polarization. The Fe electrodes of the anodic cell containing NaBH₄ in the electrolyte appear relatively more corrosion resistant. The Fe L₃ absorption spectra taken in different locations within the Fe electrode have shown lateral variations in the relative ratio between Fe²⁺ and Fe^3&4+ oxidation states, whereas the Fe species released into the RTIL electrolyte are only in the high Fe^3&4+ oxidation states.     

Optimization of Extrusion Parameters for Preparing PCL‐Layered Silicate Nanocomposites Supported by Modeling of Twin‐Screw Extrusion

PCL‐based nanoclay (layered silicate) nanocomposites are prepared using a small scale intermeshing co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder. Improving the level of nanoclay dispersion in PCL nanocomposites is obtained by changing the extrusion parameters. Increasing the screw speed and decreasing the throughput leads to an improved dispersion quality, as observed from the improved mechanical properties of the nanocomposites as well as from their clearly affected rheological and crystallization behavior. Furthermore, a commercially available software that simulates the twin‐screw extrusion process (LUDOVIC) is used to asses the processing parameters applied for making the nanocomposites.