The Use of a Rabbit Model to Evaluate the Influence of Age on Excision Wound Healing

Background: The wound healing involves a highly co-ordinated cascade of cellular and immunological response over a period of time including coagulation, inflammation, granulation tissue formation, epithelialization, collagen synthesis and tissue remodeling. Wounds in aged heal more slowly than those in younger, mainly because of co morbidities that occurs as one ages. Present study is about the influence of age on wound healing. 1x1cm2 (100mm) wounds were created on the back of the animal. The animals were divided into two groups; one group had animals in the age group of 3-9 months while another group had animals in the age group of 15-21 months. Materials and Methods: 24 clinically healthy rabbits in the age group of 3-21 months were used as experimental animals and divided in two groups viz A and B. All experimental parameters i.e Excision wound model, Measurement of wound area, Protein extraction and estimation, Protein extraction and estimation and DNA extraction and estimation were done by standard methods. Results: The parameters studied were wound contraction, hydroxyproline, glucosamine, protein and DNA. Significant increase (p<0.005) in the hydroxyproline, glucosamine, protein and DNA and significant decrease in wound area (p<0.005) was observed in the age group of 3-9 months when compared to animals of age group of 15-21 months. Wound contraction together with hydroxyproline, glucosamine, protein and DNA estimations suggest that advance age results in retarded wound healing. Conclusion: The decrease wound contraction and accumulation of hydroxyproline, glucosamine, protein and DNA in group B animals may be associated with the reduction or delay in growth factors because of the advancing age

Uniform planarization technique for the realization of a twin-guide membrane laser

The InP Membrane on Silicon (IMOS) generic technology promises high index contrast photonic integrated circuits. To make this a reality fabrication of an electrically pumped twin-guide laser is pursued. In this paper, one of the bottle-necks for the processing is discussed, the planarization step and subsequent etch-back. Benzocyclobutene (BCB) is used to planarize SOA structures before contacting. Complete curing of BCB at 280oC creates uniformity issues during etch-back. To mitigate this, a partial cure at 180oC before the etch-back and a complete cure afterwards is performed. Experiments show repeatability and reproducibility. Good uniformity after etch-back is found

Dry Gas Seals: General (Installation, Operation, Troubleshooting, and Retrofitting), Controls

Discussion GroupSuggested Topics for Dry Gas Seals Discussion group: • DGS operating characteristics • Unidirectional versus bidirectional • Seals faces and seats, O rings materials • Explosive decompression • Primary seal gas supply control system Primary seal failure detection • Primary seal gas vent to flare control system • Secondary seal failure detection • Tertiary seal types, carbon rings versus labyrinth • Buffer gas and associated control • Separation gas, air or nitrogen and associated controls • Tandem versus double seals application • Field problems and experiences • Challenges in Dry Gas Seal retrofits • Operation and spares maintenance, shelf life and requalification. • Dry Gas seals reliability and availability. • Dew point monitoring and control • Seal Gas Conditioning systems • Seal Gas Boosters and Heaters • API 614 – 5th Edition, current and advancements in Dry Gas seals & System

Mechanical (Liquid) Seals: General (Installation, Operation, Troubleshooting, and Retrofitting)

Discussion GroupMechanical seals are the most common method of sealing industrial centrifugal pumps and other rotary equipment. Although the basic concepts of a seals are simple, successfully using seals requires an understanding of the selection and operational requirements which can be unique for a specific application. In this discussion group, we will cover many of these considerations along with other application experiences from end users and seal OEMs. The discussion group will actively solicit topics from the attendees so the discussions will address real-world problems and challenges faced by the group. Suggested Topics for Mechanical Seals (Liquid) - Discussion group: Advancements in mechanical sealing – API 682 4th Edition Air testing of seals in pumps prior to installation • Challenges with low temperatures sealing • Effective leakage containment of single seals • The Selection and Design of Dual Pressurized Liquid Sealing Systems • Strengths and weaknesses in Plan 53A, 53B, and 53C piping plans Considerations when sealing abrasive slurries • How to apply dual pressurized gas seals • Mechanical seals for multiphase applications • Advances in seal face materials • Process for handling problem pump and seal applications • Definition of mean time between failure and industry best practices How and when to use split seals • Seal & System for rotating equipment other than pumps • Polymer and Elastomers sealing elements – reliability in Mechanical Seal

Model Independent Information On Solar Neutrino Oscillations

We present the results of a Bayesian analysis of solar neutrino data in terms of nu_e->nu_{mu,tau} oscillations, independent from the Standard Solar Model predictions for the solar neutrino fluxes. We show that such a model independent analysis allows to constraint the values of the neutrino mixing parameters in limited regions around the usual SMA, LMA, LOW and VO regions. Furthermore, there is a strong indication in favor of large neutrino mixing and large values of Delta m^2 (LMA region). We calculate also the allowed ranges of the neutrino fluxes and we show that they are in good agreement with the Standard Solar Model prediction. In particular, the ratio of the 8B flux with its Standard Solar Model prediction is constrained in the interval [0.45,1.42] with 99.73% probability. Finally, we show that the hypothesis of no neutrino oscillations is strongly disfavored in a model independent way with respect to the hypothesis of neutrino oscillations.Comment: 40 pages, 20 figures. Added references and improved figure

Dry Gas Seals: General (Installation, Operation, Troubleshooting, and Retrofitting), Controls

Discussion GroupSuggested Topics for Dry Gas Seals Discussion group: • DGS operating characteristics • Unidirectional versus bidirectional • Seals faces and seats, O rings materials • Explosive decompression • Primary seal gas supply control system Primary seal failure detection • Primary seal gas vent to flare control system • Secondary seal failure detection • Tertiary seal types, carbon rings versus labyrinth • Buffer gas and associated control • Separation gas, air or nitrogen and associated controls • Tandem versus double seals application • Field problems and experiences • Challenges in Dry Gas Seal retrofits • Operation and spares maintenance, shelf life and requalification. • Dry Gas seals reliability and availability. • Dew point monitoring and control • Seal Gas Conditioning systems • Seal Gas Boosters and Heaters • API 614 – 5th Edition, current and advancements in Dry Gas seals & System

Evidence of Color Coherence Effects in W+jets Events from ppbar Collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.8 TeV

We report the results of a study of color coherence effects in ppbar collisions based on data collected by the D0 detector during the 1994-1995 run of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, at a center of mass energy sqrt(s) = 1.8 TeV. Initial-to-final state color interference effects are studied by examining particle distribution patterns in events with a W boson and at least one jet. The data are compared to Monte Carlo simulations with different color coherence implementations and to an analytic modified-leading-logarithm perturbative calculation based on the local parton-hadron duality hypothesis.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures. Submitted to Physics Letters