Alteration of Sertoli cell differentiation in the presence of carcinoma in situ in human testes

PURPOSE: We investigated Sertoli cells in testicular biopsies with carcinoma in situ (CIS) in respect to cytokeratin expression to elucidate the status of Sertoli cell differentiation adjacent to CIS in human testes. Cytokeratin 18 intermediate filaments indicate a state of undifferentiation usually observed in Sertoli cells of prepubertal testes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 29 testicular biopsies presenting CIS were investigated by means of immunohistochemistry, using a polyclonal antibody against placental-alkaline phosphatase to detect CIS cells and a monoclonal antibody against human cytokeratin 18 to show expression of cytokeratin 18 intermediate filaments in Sertoli cells. RESULTS: All tubules bearing CIS showed positive cytokeratin expression of Sertoli cells if tubules were devoid of normal germ cells. However, a total of 13 specimen revealed CIS cells together with normal germ cells. In the presence of CIS cells together with round or elongated spermatids, adjacent Sertoli cells did not express cytokeratin immunoreactivity. In the case of combined presence of CIS and spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes, Sertoli cells could be found either immunopositive or immunonegative, and were positive in tubules with CIS and spermatogonia only. CONCLUSIONS: Sertoli cells associated with CIS cells undergo a process of dedifferentiation, seen by the re-expression of cytokeratin intermediate filaments. We suggest that this dedifferentiation results in a loss of Sertoli cell function and leads to a cessation of spermatogenic activity.     

Understanding TES microcalorimeter noise and energy resolution

We have performed numerical calculations of the noise in voltage-biased superconducting transition edge-based X-ray microcalorimeters, using a finite-element model. Details of the model are discussed, as well as results for different absorber geometries. The results are in agreement with an analytical model and show that the amount of internal thermal fluctuation noise can be reduced by using a segmented absorber. The simulation also agrees well with experimental data, which, for our detectors, contain no major unidentified noise sources. Furthermore, the discrepancy between the (small-signal) theoretical and the measured energy resolutions for 5.9 keV X-rays, for our sensors typically a factor of 2, is explained by a more accurate modelling of the sensor responsivity, taking into account the large signal behaviour.     

Über die Eignung der Wechselbiegemaschine „WEBI”︁ zur Ermittlung von Ermüdungskennwerten

On Alternating Bending Machine WEBI's Suitability for Determination of Fatigue Characteristics Already in 1966, experimental investigations revealed that the flat bending torsion testing machine ?FLATO”? (Schenck, Darmstadt) doesn't keep constant its torsional moment amplitude in case of specimen's fatigue softening or hardening, respectively. Thus. conclusions concerning the material's fatigue characteristics drawn from such experimental results might therefore be seriously false. Furthermore, also the alternating bending testing machine ?WEBI”? (Schenck, Darmstadt) shows an equivalent behaviour concerning its bending moment amplitude. For this reason. the main findings of a comprehensive experimental study carried out on WEBI with an unalloyed steel C 45 (0.45 mass perccnl C) in different heat treatment conditions are reported in this paper.     

Erbium-doped fiber amplifier second-order distortion in analog links and electronic compensation

The authors study the second-order distortion when an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) is used to amplify the analog optical AM cable TV (CATV) multiple carrier signal from a directly modulated distributed feedback (DFB) semiconductor laser. Experimentally, it was seen that this second order distortion depends critically on the gain of the EDFA fiber amplifier. The authors attribute this distortion to the interaction between the frequency chirping of the DFB laser and the variable gain with wavelength of the amplifier. The authors describe an electronic predistorter that compensates the nonlinearity produced by the DFB-laser-EDFA combination. As a result, the high power advantage of the EDFA can be fully realized in spite of the potential for second-order distortion in the system.<>     

Fatigue life estimation of graphite/epoxy laminates under consideration of delamination growth

A closed form approach to the assessment of the fatigue life of graphite/epoxy laminates under cyclic tension–compression loading has been developed. The model is mechanistic and uses cyclic energy release rates for prediction of delamination growth and of critical delamination sizes which induce buckling and the final failure of the laminates. Tests performed with graphite/epoxy specimens of stacking order [0_n, ?_m]_s with severed central plies [?], and of stacking order [0₂, +45, 0₂, ?45, 0, 90]_s with a central unloaded hole, indicate good correlation between estimated values and observed delamination growth, critical buckling strength of separated plies and load cycles to failure.     

Reduction of low-frequency pressure fluctuations in wind tunnels

The determination of dynamic wind loads on buildings, i.e. pressure and deflection, has gained increasing interest (European Prestandard ENV 1991-2-4, Eurocode 1: basis of design and actions on structures—Part 2-4: actions on structures—wind actions, European Committe for Standardization, Brussels, 1995; DIN 1055 Teil 4 Lastannahmen für Bauten, Verkehrslasten, Windlasten bei nicht schwingungsanfälligen Bauwerken, 1991; N. Hölscher, M. Hortmanns, J. Sahlem, Praxisnahe Erfassung von Windwirkung an Industrie- und Hochbauten, Windwirkung im Bauwesen, Braunschweig, 7, Dreiländertagung D-A-CH 2001, Windtechnologische Gesselschaft, 2001 [1], [2] and [3]). Therefore, the spectral distributions of velocity and pressure fluctuations in wind tunnels are an important quality aspect. While velocity fluctuations can be manipulated by the obstacles used to create the turbulence, pressure fluctuations are influenced by acoustic noise as well. Especially, the first eigenfrequency of the longitudinal mode of the wind tunnel tends to disturb the pressure spectrum.In this paper, a solution for the reduction of low-frequency acoustic pressure fluctuation is presented and its application in the atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel at the IAG is shown.     

Prozesse mit hoher Plasmastromdichte und unterschiedlichen Verdampfungsquellen

The hot filament supported high current discharge can be used with various process steps. During the heating cycle, intense electron bombardment provides a soft and efficient energy source. In triode etching the high plasma density improves the throwing power and reduces the arcing problem on oxide inclusions from preceding grinding steps. For the coating cycle the high current density can be fitted into different deposition processes. Activated reactive ion plating is done with a high voltage electron beam gun. But one can also combine the high current density plasma with a magnetron to produce a high plasma density on the substrate and solve the problems of reactivity of this vapor source. Alternatively the high current density plasma can also be used to drive a CVD-reaction. Several of these processes can be combined to hybrid deposition technologies. A few examples of coating realisations and performance in the different processes will be given.