Apparatus for igniting solid propellants Patent

Solid propellant ignition with hypergolic fluid injected to predetermined portions of propellan

Method of igniting solid propellants Patent

Method for igniting solid propellant rocket motors by injecting hypergolic fluid

Advanced subsonic transport propulsion

A brief review of the current NASA Energy Efficient Engine (E(3)) Project is presented. Included in this review are the factors that influenced the design of these turbofan engines and the advanced technology incorporated in them to reduce fuel consumption and improve environmental characteristics. In addition, factors such as the continuing spiral in fuel cost, that could influence future aircraft propulsion systems beyond those represented by the E(3) engines, are also discussed. Advanced technologies that will address these influencing factors and provide viable future propulsion systems are described. The potential importance of other propulsion system types, such as geared fans and turboshaft engines, is presented

Relationship Between Anti-DFS70 Autoantibodies and Oxidative Stress

Background: The anti-DFS70 autoantibodies are one of the most commonly and widely described agent of unknown clinical significance, frequently detected in healthy individuals. It is not known whether the DFS70 autoantibodies are protective or pathogenic. One of the factors suspected of inducing the formation of anti-DFS70 antibodies is increased oxidative stress. We evaluated the coexistence of anti-DFS70 antibodies with selected markers of oxidative stress and investigated whether these antibodies could be considered as indirect markers of oxidative stress. Methods: The intensity of oxidative stress was measured in all samples via indices of free-radical damage to lipids and proteins such as total oxidant status (TOS), concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides (LPH), lipofuscin (LPS), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The parameters of the non-enzymatic antioxidant system, such as total antioxidant status (TAS) and uric acid concentration (UA), were also measured, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Based on TOS and TAS values, the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. All samples were also tested with indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and 357 samples were selected for direct monospecific anti DFS70 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing. Results: The anti-DFS70 antibodies were confirmed by ELISA test in 21.29% of samples. Compared with anti-DFS70 negative samples we observed 23% lower concentration of LPH (P =.038) and 11% lower concentration of UA (P =.005). TOS was 20% lower (P =.014). The activity of SOD was up to 5% higher (P =.037). The Pearson correlation showed weak negative correlation for LPH, UA, and TOS and a weak positive correlation for SOD activity. Conclusion: In samples positive for the anti-DFS70 antibody a decreased level of oxidative stress was observed, especially in the case of samples with a high antibody titer. Anti-DFS70 antibodies can be considered as an indirect marker of reduced oxidative stress or a marker indicating the recent intensification of antioxidant processes

Analysis of the impact of sex and age on the variation in the prevalence of antinuclear autoantibodies in Polish population: a nationwide observational, cross-sectional study

The detection of antinuclear autoantibody (ANA) is dependent on many factors and varies between the populations. The aim of the study was first to assess the prevalence of ANA in the Polish adult population depending on age, sex and the cutoff threshold used for the results obtained. Second, we estimated the occurrence of individual types of ANA-staining patterns. We tested 1731 patient samples using commercially available IIFA using two cutoff thresholds of 1:100 and 1:160. We found ANA in 260 participants (15.0%), but the percentage of positive results strongly depended on the cutoff level. For a cutoff threshold 1:100, the positive population was 19.5% and for the 1:160 cutoff threshold, it was 11.7%. The most prevalent ANA-staining pattern was AC-2 Dense Fine speckled (50%), followed by AC-21 Reticular/AMA (14.38%) ANA more common in women (72%); 64% of ANA-positive patients were over 50 years of age. ANA prevalence in the Polish population is at a level observed in other highly developed countries and is more prevalent in women and elderly individuals. To reduce the number of positive results released, we suggest that Polish laboratories should set 1:160 as the cutoff threshold

Spectroscopic ellipsometry of the ferroelectric crystals in the vacuum ultraviolet

Badania kryształów ferroelektrycznych pozostają jednym z głównych kierunków współczesnej nauki o ciele stałym głównie dzięki zainteresowaniom mechanizmami mikroskopowymi przemian fazowych. Z tego względu ważne jest badanie struktury elektronowej pasmowej i osobliwości wiązań chemicznych międzyatomowych w kryształach ferroelektryków. Takie dane są niezbędne do wyjaśnienia osobliwości oddziaływania elektron-fononowego i ewentualnych mechanizmów strukturalnych przemian fazowych. Widma optyczne współczynnika odbicia R kryształów TGS w zakresie wzbudzenia elektronów walencyjnych były badane w zakresie energii fotonów E od 4 do 22 eV, głównie w pracach [1, 2]. Jednak metodyka pomiarów współczynników odbicia R(E) w tych pracach nie gwarantowała obliczenie przy pomocy relacji KramersaKroniga widm części rzeczywistej i urojonej przenikalności elektrycznej e1(E) i e2(E) kryształów TGS o wystarczająco wysokiej dokładności. W niniejszej pracy są przedstawione wyniki badań właściwości optycznych w zakresie wzbudzenia elektronów walencyjnych ferroelektrycznych kryształów siarczanu trójglicyny (TriGlycine Sulfate, TGS), (CH2NH2COOH)3×H2SO4, otrzymane metodą elipsometrii spektroskopowej z wykorzystaniem promieniowania synchrotronu BESSY-II w Berlinie. Ta metodyka, w porównaniu do stosowanej w pracach [1, 2], jest generalnie o wiele dokładniejsza