Thermo-hydraulic modeling of the ITER radial neutron camera

The ITER Radial Neutron Camera (RNC) is a diagnostic system designed as a multichannel detection system to measure the uncollided neutron flux from the plasma, generated in the tokamak vacuum vessel, providing information on neutron emissivity profile. The RNC consists of array of cylindrical collimators located in two diagnostic structures: the ex-port system and the in-port system. The in-port system, contains the diamond detectors which need a temperature protection. Feasibility study of the efficiency of the cooling system for the In-port Detector Modules of the RNC during baking process was the main goal of thermo-hydraulic numerical modeling. The paper presents the concept of the cooling system layout and the original way of integration of numerical thermo-hydraulic analyses of the in-port detector cassette. Due to the large extent of the detector cassette it is impossible to include all relevant thermal and hydraulic effects in one global model with sufficient level of details. Thus the modelling strategy is based on the concept of three stage modelling from details to global model. The presented paper includes results of numerical calculations made with ANSYS Fluent software in order to provide the final answer, including calculation of heat loads in the detector cassette from adjacent walls during baking and normal operation conditions

Differences in proteolytic activity and gene profiles of fungal strains isolated from the total parenteral nutrition patients

Fungal infections constitute a serious clinical problem in the group of patients receiving total parenteral nutrition. The majority of species isolated from infections of the total parenteral nutrition patients belong to Candida genus. The most important factors of Candida spp. virulence are the phenomenon of “phenotypic switching,” adhesins, dimorphism of fungal cells and the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes such as proteinases and lipases, including aspartyl proteinases. We determined the proteolytic activity of yeast-like fungal strains cultured from the clinical materials of patients receiving total parenteral nutrition and detected genes encoding aspartyl proteinases in predominant species Candida glabrata—YPS2, YPS4, and YPS6, and Candida albicans—SAP1–3, SAP4, SAP5, and SAP6. C. albicans released proteinases on the various activity levels. All C. glabrata strains obtained from the clinical materials of examined and control groups exhibited secretion of the proteinases. All 13 isolates of C. albicans possessed genes SAP1–3. Gene SAP4 was detected in genome of 11 C. albicans strains, SAP5 in 6, and SAP6 in 11. Twenty-six among 31 of C. glabrata isolates contained YPS2 gene, 21 the YPS4 gene, and 28 the YPS6 gene. We observed that clinical isolates of C. albicans and C. glabrata differed in SAPs and YPSs gene profiles, respectively, and displayed differentiated proteolytic activity. We suppose that different sets of aspartyl proteinases genes as well as various proteinase-activity levels would have the influence on strains virulence

Condensin complexes regulate mitotic progression and interphase chromatin structure in embryonic stem cells

Loss of the condensin complex components Smc2 and -4 disrupts epigenetic modifications required for embryonic stem cell survival

Overcoming the blood–brain barrier: the role of nanomaterials in treating neurological diseases

Therapies directed toward the central nervous system remain difficult to translate into improved clinical outcomes. This is largely due to the blood–brain barrier (BBB), arguably the most tightly regulated interface in the human body, which routinely excludes most therapeutics. Advances in the engineering of nanomaterials and their application in biomedicine (i.e., nanomedicine) are enabling new strategies that have the potential to help improve our understanding and treatment of neurological diseases. Herein, the various mechanisms by which therapeutics can be delivered to the brain are examined and key challenges facing translation of this research from benchtop to bedside are highlighted. Following a contextual overview of the BBB anatomy and physiology in both healthy and diseased states, relevant therapeutic strategies for bypassing and crossing the BBB are discussed. The focus here is especially on nanomaterial‐based drug delivery systems and the potential of these to overcome the biological challenges imposed by the BBB. Finally, disease‐targeting strategies and clearance mechanisms are explored. The objective is to provide the diverse range of researchers active in the field (e.g., material scientists, chemists, engineers, neuroscientists, and clinicians) with an easily accessible guide to the key opportunities and challenges currently facing the nanomaterial‐mediated treatment of neurological diseases

PTEN as a Prognostic and Predictive Marker in Postoperative Radiotherapy for Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck

BACKGROUND: Tumor suppressor PTEN is known to control a variety of processes related to cell survival, proliferation, and growth. PTEN expression is considered as a prognostic factor in some human neoplasms like breast, prostate, and thyroid cancer. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study we analyzed the influence of PTEN expression on the outcome of a randomized clinical trial of conventional versus 7-days-a-week postoperative radiotherapy for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. The patients with cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx were randomized to receive 63 Gy in fractions of 1.8 Gy given 5 days a week (CF) or 7 days a week (p-CAIR). Out of 279 patients enrolled in the study, 147 paraffin blocks were available for an immunohistochemical assessment of PTEN. To evaluate the prognostic value of PTEN expression and the effect of fractionation relative to PTEN, the data on the outcome of a randomized clinical trial were analyzed. Tumors with a high intensity of PTEN staining had significant gain in the loco-regional control (LRC) from p-CAIR (5-year LRC 92.7% vs. 70.8%, for p-CAIR vs. CF, p = 0.016, RR = 0.26). By contrast, tumors with low intensity of PTEN did not gain from p-CAIR (5-year LRC 56.2% vs. 47.2%, p = 0.49, RR = 0.94). The intensity of PTEN highly affected the LRC in a whole group of 147 patients (5-year LRC 80.9% vs. 52.3% for high vs. low PTEN, p = 0.0007, RR = 0.32). In multivariate Cox analysis, including neck node involvement, EGFR, nm23, Ki-67, p53, cyclin D1, tumor site and margins, PTEN remained an independent predictor of LRC (RR = 2.8 p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that PTEN may serve as a potent prognostic and predictive marker in postoperative radiotherapy for high-risk squamous cell cancer of the head and neck

Student session, morning, 13 Aug 1998

Searches for R-parity violating Chargino decays. Why does particle physics community need java?Student projects presentatio