5,148 research outputs found
Rapid Dissolution for Destructive Assay of Nuclear Melt Glass
This study evaluates four methods for dissolving complex glassy debris resulting from nuclear detonations. The samples of interest simulate the glassy debris generated from a nuclear detonationâs fireball coming in contact with solid masses. Each method attempts to achieve dissolution through different approaches involving either acid digestion, alkaline digestion, or molten salt fusion. Two of the four methods were modified to retain all elements of the debris or surrogate debris. This retention is critical to the proportional relationships used in identifying fuel types and designs of nuclear weapons. Analysis is conducted with an inductively coupled time of flight mass spectrometer (ICP-TOF-MS) to provide exact elemental composition and yield for each dissolution method. The samples analyzed were trinitite (trin), surrogate trinitite formulation (STF), urban surrogate melt glass (NYC), and MAPEP MaS 32 (MAPEP). All samples have well known elemental compositions except for trinitite, however there are published compositional norms that are predicted for the trinitite. The four methods used were a Lithium Fusion (Larivière Method), a Sodium Hydroxide Fusion (Maxwell Method), an Acidic Digestion (Eppich Method), and a Modified Rapid Acidic Digestion (Auxier Method). Outcomes for the Lithium and the Maxwell Method failed to produce meaningful results due to the mass difference in fusion material compared to the isotopes of interest in the sample material mass. At the maximum concentration limit of 25-35 parts per thousand the mass spectrometer could not meaningfully detect the barium or uranium in any of the samples. The acidic digestion, and the Auxier Method both showed success with detecting appropriate levels of uranium, barium, and other lighter elements. The Auxier Method shows the best results when compared to ideal 100% yield from each sample. For Auxierâs Method, uranium averages a yield of 5%Âą.02% of ideal. This is 614% above the acidic digestion and over 1200% above the other methods. For barium, the Auxier Method averages a yield of 9% of ideal. This is 595% above the acidic digestion and 4300% above the other methods. The Auxier Method demonstrates repeatability across three runs of each sample and sample independence as percent yields were similar across sample types
Elements of the B Cell Signalosome Are Differentially Affected by Mercury Intoxication
It has been suggested that environmental exposures to mercury contribute to autoimmune disease. Disruption of BCR signaling is associated with failure of central tolerance and autoimmunity, and we have previously shown that low levels of Hg2+ interfere with BCR signaling. In this report we have employed multiparametric phosphoflow cytometry, as well as a novel generalization of the Overton algorithm from one- to two-dimensional unimodal distributions to simultaneously monitor the effect of low level Hg2+ intoxication on activation of ERK and several upstream elements of the BCR signaling pathway in WEHI-231 B cells. We have found that, after exposure to low levels of Hg2+, only about a third of the cells are sensitive to the metal. For those cells which are sensitive, we confirm our earlier work that activation of ERK is attenuated but now report that Hg2+ has little upstream effect on the Btk tyrosine kinase. On the other hand, we find that signaling upstream through the Syk tyrosine kinase is actually augmented, as is upstream activation of the B cell signalosome scaffolding protein BLNK
Master Equation Analysis of Thermochemical Nonequilibrium of Nitrogen
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97092/1/AIAA2012-3305.pd
Constraining Intermediate-Mass Black Holes in Globular Clusters
Decades after the first predictions of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs)
in globular clusters (GCs) there is still no unambiguous observational evidence
for their existence. The most promising signatures for IMBHs are found in the
cores of GCs, where the evidence now comes from the stellar velocity
distribution, the surface density profile, and, for very deep observations, the
mass-segregation profile near the cluster center. However, interpretation of
the data, and, in particular, constraints on central IMBH masses, require the
use of detailed cluster dynamical models. Here we present results from Monte
Carlo cluster simulations of GCs that harbor IMBHs. As an example of
application, we compare velocity dispersion, surface brightness and
mass-segregation profiles with observations of the GC M10, and constrain the
mass of a possible central IMBH in this cluster. We find that, although M10
does not seem to possess a cuspy surface density profile, the presence of an
IMBH with a mass up to 0.75% of the total cluster mass, corresponding to about
600 Msun, cannot be excluded. This is also in agreement with the surface
brightness profile, although we find it to be less constraining, as it is
dominated by the light of giants, causing it to fluctuate significantly. We
also find that the mass-segregation profile cannot be used to discriminate
between models with and without IMBH. The reason is that M10 is not yet
dynamically evolved enough for the quenching of mass segregation to take
effect. Finally, detecting a velocity dispersion cusp in clusters with central
densities as low as in M10 is extremely challenging, and has to rely on only
20-40 bright stars. It is only when stars with masses down to 0.3 Msun are
included that the velocity cusp is sampled close enough to the IMBH for a
significant increase above the core velocity dispersion to become detectable.Comment: 30 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Ap
Airway expression of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Vanniloid-1 and Ankyrin-1 channels is not increased in patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Dry cough is a common symptom described in patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
(IPF) and impairs quality of life. The exact mechanisms causing cough in IPF remain unclear,
however evidence suggests altered cough neurophysiology and sensitisation plays a role; IPF
patients have an enhanced cough reflex sensitivity to inhaled capsaicin. The Transient Receptor
Potential Vanniloid-1 channel (TRPV-1) has a role in the cough reflex and airway expression
is increased in patients with chronic cough. The Ankyrin-1 receptor (TRPA-1) is often coexpressed.
It was hypothesised that, like chronic cough patients, IPF patients have increased
airway TRP receptor expression. Bronchial biopsies were obtained from 16 patients with IPF,
11 patients with idiopathic chronic cough and 8 controls without cough. All other causes of
cough were rigorously excluded. Real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction was used
to detect TRPV-1 and TRPA-1 mRNA expression with Immunohistochemistry demonstrating
protein expression. Mean TRPV-1 and TRPA-1 gene expression was higher in IPF patients
compared with controls, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Immunostaining
supported these findings. This study suggests that structural up-regulation of central airway
TRP receptors is not the key mechanism for cough in IPF patients. It is probable that IPF
cough results from altered neuronal sensitivity at multiple levels of the cough pathway
âCatch 22â: biosecurity awareness, interpretation and practice amongst poultry catchers
Campylobacter contamination of chicken on sale in the UK remains at high levels and has a substantial public health impact. This has prompted the application of many interventions in the supply chain, including enhanced biosecurity measures on-farm. Catching and thinning are acknowledged as threats to the maintenance of good biosecurity, yet the people employed to undertake this critical work (i.e. âcatchersâ) are a rarely studied group. This study uses a mixed methods approach to investigate catchersâ (n = 53) understanding of the biosecurity threats posed by the catching and thinning, and the barriers to good biosecurity practice. It interrogated the role of training in both the awareness and practice of good biosecurity. Awareness of lapses in biosecurity was assessed using a Watch-&-Click hazard awareness survey (n = 53). Qualitative interviews (n = 49 catchers, 5 farm managers) explored the understanding, experience and practice of catching and biosecurity. All of the catchers who took part in the Watch-&-Click study identified at least one of the biosecurity threats with 40% detecting all of the hazards. Those who had undergone training were significantly more likely to identify specific biosecurity threats and have a higher awareness score overall (48% compared to 9%, p = 0.03). Crucially, the individual and group interviews revealed the tensions between the high levels of biosecurity awareness evident from the survey and the reality of the routine practice of catching and thinning. Time pressures and a lack of equipment rather than a lack of knowledge appear a more fundamental cause of catcher-related biosecurity lapses. Our results reveal that catchers find themselves in a âcatch-22Ⲡsituation in which mutually conflicting circumstances prevent simultaneous completion of their job and compliance with biosecurity standards
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