972 research outputs found
Optical fiber systems are convectively unstable
We theoretically and experimentally evidence that fiber systems are convective systems since their nonlocal inherent properties, such as the dispersion and Raman effects, break the reflection symmetry. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations carried out for a fiber ring cavity demonstrate that the third-order dispersion term leads to the appearance of convective and absolute instabilities. Their signature is an asymmetry in the output power spectrum. Using this criterion, experimental evidence of convective instabilities is given in a fiber cavity pumped by a pulsed laser
Effects of Ursolic Acid and its Analogues on Soybean 15-Lipoxygenase Activity and the Proliferation Rate of A human Gastric Tumour Cell Line
The authors have previously isolated and purified ursolic acid from
heather flowers (Calluna vulgarts). This terpene was found to
inhibit HL-60 leukaemic cell proliferation and arachidonic acid
oxidative metabolism in various cell species. The effects of ursolic
acid and its analogues on soybean 15-lipoxygenase activity and on
the proliferation of a human gastric tumour cell line (HGT), have
been assessed. These triterpenes inhibited soybean 15-lipoxygenase
at its optimal activity (pH 9). The proliferation ofHGT was
decreased in a dose-dependent manner. At 20 ÎĽM the rank order is:
ursolic acid > uvaol > oleanolic acid > methyl ursolate. The
carboxylic group at the C28 position of ursolic acid appears to be
implicated in the inhibition of both lipoxygenase activity and cell
proliferation. Thus methylation of this group decreases these two
inhibitory properties. Oleanolic acid, which differs by the position
of one methyl group (C20 instead of C19) is less inhibitory than
ursolic acid. The lipophilicity of the terpene is also implicated
since uvaol appears to be more inhibitory than methyl ursolate
Situational analysis of nutritional status among 1899 children presenting with cleft lip and/or palate in Indonesia
BACKGROUND: Given the increased risk of malnutrition in children with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP), determining their nutritional status is critical for preventing adverse surgical risks. However, no such disaggregated, national-level data are available in Indonesia. We aimed to determine the nutritional status of patients with clefts in Indonesia and to identify problems and solutions for malnutrition cases within the population.METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we considered records of individuals who underwent primary surgery for CLP in Smile Train-sponsored facilities in Indonesia between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2021 (n = 18 480). We only included children under the age of five with an evaluation date prior to admission date and excluded subjects with invalid data values. We classified their nutritional status by z-scores according to the World Health Organization Child Growth Standard (2006). Malnutrition cases cover four indicators - stunting, wasting, underweight, and overweight. We compared the prevalence for malnutrition cases in children under the age of five using national health survey data.RESULTS: We included 1899 records following data validation. The national prevalence of stunting (24.4%), wasting (12.5%), and overweight cases (12.9%) was high, while underweight cases (6.8%) were comparatively low. Statistical analyses showed significant differences in nutritional status based on length/height-for-age between girls and boys aged 0-5 months (P = 0.008) and 48-60 months (P = 0.001), and based on body mass index-for-age (P = 0.000) between girls and boys aged 0-5 months. Girls in different age groups exhibited a statistically significant difference in nutritional status based on length/height-for-age (P = 0.002) and weight-for-age (P = 0.017). Concurrent stunting and overweight were the most common forms of concurrent malnutrition (8.7%). We found a significant difference in the prevalence of underweight (P = 0.001) and overweight (P = 0.000) cases between children with CLP and those without CLP.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of nutritional interventions for children with orofacial clefts in Indonesia, and the importance of age and gender in their design and implementation. Further investigation is necessary to explore the risks of overweight and concurrent malnutrition among this population.</p
Suction measurements on a natural unsaturated soil: A reappraisal of the filter paper method
International audienceSoil suction measurements on an unsaturated soil were performed using the filter paper method and a high capacity tensiometer so as to analyse the reliability of the filter paper technique. The results show that an alternative approach of the filter paper method based on using a previously wetted filter paper can fruitfully be used to measure suction provided an appropriated calibration curve is used. This method was compared to the standard filter paper method in which the paper is initially dry and a good agreement was found between the two approaches, being the “wet” method somewhat faster in terms of suction equilibration. Suction data also agree well with results obtained independently using a home made high capacity tensiometer. The two methods finally provide a first outlook of the water retention properties of an unsaturated loess from Northern France, observing some evidences of hydraulic hysteresis on it
Infection inapparente spontanée du Singe cynocéphale (Papio papio L.) au virus de Rubarth
Martin L.- A., Delage B. Infection inapparente spontanée du Singe cynocéphale (Papio papio L.) au virus de Rubarth. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 108 n°6, 1955. pp. 225-228
Controlling suction by vapour equilibrium technique at different temperatures, application to the determination of the water retention properties of MX80 clay
Problems related to unsaturated soils are frequently encountered in
geotechnical or environmental engineering works. In most cases, for the purpose
of simplicity, the problems are studied by considering the suction effects on
volume change or shear strength under isothermal conditions. Under isothermal
condition, very often, a temperature independent water retention curve is
considered in the analysis, which is obviously a simplification. When the
temperature changes are too significant to be neglected, it is necessary to
account for the thermal effects. In this paper, a method for controlling
suction using the vapour equilibrium technique at different temperatures is
presented. First, calibration of various saturated saline solutions was carried
out from temperature of 20 degrees C to 60 degrees C. A mirror psychrometer was
used for the measurement of relative humidity generated by saturated saline
solutions at different temperatures. The results obtained are in good agreement
with the data from the literature. This information was then used to determine
the water retention properties of MX80 clay, which showed that the retention
curve is shifting down with increasing of temperature
Testing surfactants as additives for clay improvement: compaction and suction effects
Environmental Geotechnics (Joint TC106-TC215 Session)This paper presents an exploratory study on surfactants as additives to improve soil properties. It is hypothesized that surfactant molecules populate the air-water interfaces reducing surface tension and suction thus allowing a control of the mechanical response of the soil. Suction measurements by means of a high suction tensiometer, compaction tests and Atterberg limits were conducted in mixtures of sand and kaolin, with and without a surfactant solution. The results revealed a prominent effect on suction, but to a lesser extent on the Atterberg limits and compaction behavior (the maximum dry density). This targeted effect of the surfactants suggests its molecules populate, not only the air-water interfaces decreasing surface tension, but may be adsorbing to the clay particles and forming micelles in the pore water as well. Therefore the interplay between the three may influence the soil behavior.published_or_final_versio
Comparisons of different suction control techniques by water retention curves:theoretical and experimental studies
Effect of particle size on the measurement of the apparent contact angle in sand of varying wettability under air-dried conditions
Session: Advances in Experimental Methods: Mechanical PropertiesChanges in the wettability of soil are known to affect several processes such as infiltration and the shear strength of soil. In this study, the wettability of a medium to fine sand was chemically modified by using different concentrations of dimethyldichlorosilane (DMDCS). The sessile drop method (SDM) was used for the assessment of wettability of hydrophobised Leighton Buzzard Sand (LBS). The results demonstrate that beyond a concentration of 2 g per kg of LBS, the finer fraction had its apparent contact angle (ACA) increased up to 115° while the maximum ACA attained by the coarser fractions was 100°. At such high concentration of DMDCS, the effect of trapped air, which is known to increase the ACA, was found to be either small or insignificant. The standard deviations of the ACAs agreed well with past studies. The most important factors contributing to the water-repellent behaviour of chemically synthesised sand were attributed to the characteristics of the particles; these include surface area and particle shape.published_or_final_versio
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