Combined application of modern techniques for microarea-analysis on metallic coated steel sheet

Steel sheet today ranks among the highly developed products of Europe's steel industry. Given the increasing consumption and expand-ing range of applications of the coated steel sheet materials, it is becoming more and more important to know the surface properties. This applies both to the surface of uncoated steel sheet and to that of the metallic zinc and zinc alloy coatings. Current objectives of the steel makers are, in particular, knowledge of the chemical composition of the surface throughout the route of production, as well as targeted production control to achieve a defined composition. A producer or end user correlates the surface composition with technological, processing and service properties, and is hence interested in compiling and complying with defined supply specifications. Against this background, the modern analysis techniques used for the chemical characterisation of steel sheet surfaces take on a key function for product development and quality control. Currently, a multitude of possible analysis techniques like EPMA, GDOES, SNMS, AES and ESCA are available for the chemical characterisation of surfaces. Within the framework of a European research project (ECSC - European coal and steel community), the suitabil-ity of such modern analysis techniques for the needs of the steel sheet producers, customers and users has been studied and adapted to the requirements involved. The following article – divided into four parts- will give a report about some analytical applications and the actual state of the art regarding microarea and surface analysis of steel sheet surfaces.     

Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid in Norway. Clinical course and endocrinological aspects

A study of the clinical, biochemical and histological findings of 57 patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MCT) in Norway, is presented. The diagnosis was established by light and electron microscopy and by measurements of immunoreactive calcitonin (iCT) in serum. The major factor influencing the prognosis was the extension of the disease at presentation. None of the 24 patients with tumour confined to the thyroid gland have died of the disease, and serum iCT was normal in 15 patients. Of 19 patients with regional lymph node metastes only 11 are alive 1 to 14 years after treatment, and of these 9 had increased serum iCt. 14 patients technically inoperable and/or with distant metastases, 12 have died of MCT, 1 are alive with elevated serum iCT. Of 14 patients with raised serum iCT, 8 have no clinical recurrence of the disease from 1 to 15 years after the operation. MCT-associated diseases were found in 8 patients, chronic thyroiditis in 10. Serum iCT was measured in 249 relatives of 42 patients, and abnormal elevations were found in 11 members of 6 families.     

Pulse pileup correction in the presence of a large low-energy background

Pulse pileup correction is required for high count rate experiments. Spectral distortion due to pileup is strongly affected by the distribution of pulse heights. Methods used to limit the digitization rate – including energy thresholds and coincidence requirements – adversely affect attempts to correct the pileup-induced distortion. A simplified method for correcting the spectral distortion using a general pileup function can be used when the spectrum is dominated by a low-energy background. This method has particular relevance for nuclear resonance fluorescence experiments.     

Endocrine response and resistance in breast cancer: a role for the transcription factor Fos

The concentration of the tumor marker CA 19-9 is influenced by the patient's secretor status and Lewis genotype. The aim of this study was to establish novel reference intervals for CA 19-9 in serum based on secretor and Lewis genotypes, to investigate the biological variation of CA 19-9, and to evaluate the utility of Lewis and secretor genotyping on a group of individuals with serologically defined Lewis phenotypes. CA 19-9 was measured in serum of 500 healthy individuals. Secretor and Lewis genotypes were determined by sequencing and PCR-cleavage methods. Significant differences were found between subgroups with different Lewis and secretor genotypes. Genotype-based reference intervals for CA 19-9 are presented. The upper reference limit for all individuals was 28.7 kilounits/L; for secretors and nonsecretors, the upper reference limits were 12.4 and 61.2 kilounits/L, respectively. The analytical imprecision (CVA) was 9.8%, the within-subject variability (CVI) was 15.8%, and the between-subject variability (CVG) was 102.2%. Good agreement was found between Lewis and secretor genotyping and conventional blood grouping. Genotype-based reference intervals may be a way to increase the clinical utility of CA 19-9. On the basis of the calculation of a critical difference for sequential values (significant at P 相似文献   

Dietary protein level and experimental aortic atherosclerosis

During short-term incubations of isolated posterior pituitary glands of the mouse, isotopically labelled amino acids were incorporated into protein by the cells of the pars intermedia. Using labelled leucine, 5-10% of incorporated label was found in a protein (P1) with a molecular weight of about 75 000. Protein P1 could be isoalted from both fresh and incubated tissue, and was a normal and indeed major, secretory product of the ppars intermedia. constituting more than 50% of the protein present.     

A real-time photoluminescence imaging system

We have developed a real-time photoluminescence imaging system. In contrast to scanning systems, in our set-up the photoluminescence is excited over theentire area of a sample at once. The intensity of the spectrally resolved emission from the whole sample is monitored and displayed in real-time, in a color-coded format. This system can be used for the quick inspection of optical and electro-optical materials, and is promising for in-situ characterization. As an example for the performance of the system we show data obtained on a GaAs/AlGaAs p-i-n quantum well modulator, and on an InP substrate.