Superconducting spin precession magnets for a new neutron spectrometer

The required field shape of optimal Larmor precession magnets to obtain the bestpossible homogeneity is B0cos2(¿z/L). In practice this field shape is approximated by 30 superimposed concentric solenoids. The coils are made with an extreme dimensional precision with a typical error of 10 ¿m. A special winding technique in combination with a relatively thin superconducting wire of 230 ¿m diameter provided a significant overall accuracy. In this paper the design and construction aspects of the superconducting Larmor precession magnets will be discussed. Results of the magnetic field optimisation as well as preliminary test results of the magnets are presented. However, the ultimate performance will be investigated when the magnets are put into operation in the new neutron Larmor precession spectrometer at the Institut Laue Langevin

Cross-Border Trading as a Mechanism for Capital Flight: ADRs and the Argentine Crisis

This paper examines the surprising performance of the Argentine stock market in the midst of the country’s most recent financial crisis and the role played by ADRs in Argentine capital flight. Although Argentine investors were subject to capital controls, they were able to purchase stocks with associated ADRs for pesos in Argentina, convert them into ADRs, re-sell them in New York for dollars and deposit the dollar proceeds in U.S. bank accounts. In the paper we show that: (1) ADR discounts went as high as 60% (indicating that Argentine investors were willing to pay significant amounts in order to legally move their funds abroad), (2) the market anticipated (correctly) a 40% devaluation, (3) local market factors in Argentina became more important in pricing peso denominated stocks with associated ADRs, while the same stocks in New York were mainly priced based on global factors, (4) capital outflow using the ADR market was substantial (our estimate is between $835 million and$3.4 billion).Argentina, Financial Crises, Capital Controls, ADRs

DWPF Recycle Evaporator Shielded Cells Testing

Testing was performed to determine the feasibility and processing characteristics of evaporation of actual Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) recycle material. Samples of the Off Gas Condensate Tank (OGCT) and Slurry Mix Evaporator Condensate Tank (SMECT) were transferred from DWPF to the Savannah River National Lab (SRNL) Shielded Cells and blended with De-Ionized (DI) water and a small amount of Slurry Mix Evaporator (SME) product. A total of 3000 mL of this feed was concentrated to approximately 90 mL during a semi-batch evaporation test of approximately 17 hours. One interruption occurred during the run when the feed tube developed a split and was replaced. Samples of the resulting condensate and concentrate were collected and analyzed. The resulting analysis of the condensate was compared to the Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) limits for the F/H Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). Results from the test were compared to previous testing using simulants and OLI modeling. Conclusions from this work included the following: (1) The evaporation of DWPF recycle to achieve a 30X concentration factor was successfully demonstrated. The feed blend of OGCT and SMECT material was concentrated from 3000 mL to approximately 90 mL during testing, a concentration of approximately 33X. (2) Foaming was observed during the run. Dow Corning 2210 antifoam was added seven times throughout the run at 100 parts per million (ppm) per addition. The addition of this antifoam was very effective in reducing the foam level, but the impact diminished over time and additional antifoam was required every 2 to 3 hours during the run. (3) No scale or solids formed on the evaporator vessel, but splatter was observed in the headspace of the evaporator vessel. No scaling formed on the stainless steel thermocouple. (4) The majority of the analytes met the F/H ETP WAC. However, the detection limits for selected species (Sr-90, Pu-238, Pu-240, Am-243, and Cm-244) exceeded the ETP WAC limits. (5) I-129 was calculated to have exceeded the ETP WAC limits based on an assumed Decontamination Factor (DF) of 1 during evaporation. (6) The DF for most species was limited by the detection limits of the sample analysis. Based on iron, manganese, total alpha, total beta, and other species, very low entrainment was noted and evaporator DF was >10,000 for non-volatile species. (7) Very low DF's were obtained for selected species, especially mercury and formate. These species are present as volatile compounds and will exceed ETP WAC limits if sufficient concentrations are in the evaporator feed. (8) The evaporator DF's for the radioactive test were in good agreement with simulant test results. Differences noted in the DF of selected species, such as Hg, were more likely attributed to analytical issues than differences in the performance of the two evaporators. (9) The simulant appeared to be conservative in terms of foaming and scaling characteristics of the evaporator. The initial spike in foaming that occurred during all simulant runs did not occur during the Shielded Cells run and overall foaminess after the start of the test was controlled by antifoam additions. The splatter that was deposited during the radioactive test was less than the simulant runs and was more easily removed. (10) The OLI model results were overly conservative due to the manner that entrainment of solids was incorporated into the model

RNA expression of breast cancer resistance protein, lung resistance-related protein, multidrug resistance-associated proteins 1 and 2, and multidrug resistance gene 1 in breast cancer: correlation with chemotherapeutic response

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether expression of particular drug resistance genes in primary operable breast cancer correlates with response to first-line chemotherapy in advanced disease. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We determined mRNA levels of BCRP, LRP, MRP1, MRP2, and MDR1 in 59 primary breast tumor specimens of patients who

Microwave assisted synthesis of novel bis-flavone dimers as new anticancer agents

In this study we describe a microwave based click chemistry method used to prepare a family of novel bis-flavone dimers. The substituted 7-hydroxy and 4’-hydroxy flavonoids were linked through a triazole ring. The compounds were easily synthesized and purified in high yields. The bis-flavonoids were tested on different cell lines including HCT116, HepG2, MCF7 and MOLT-4. Several analogues showed to have anticancer activity with IC50 values in the range of 20-60 µM. Flavonoids are known for their anticancer properties and this method provides the basis for new medicinal structures

Comparison of soft and hard tissue ablation with sub-ps and ns pulse lasers

Tissue ablation with ultrashort laser pulses offers several unique advantages. The nonlinear energy deposition is insensitive to tissue type, allowing this tool to be used for soft and hard tissue ablation. The localized energy deposition lead to precise ablation depth and minimal collateral damage. This paper reports on efforts to study and demonstrate tissue ablation using an ultrashort pulse laser. Ablation efficiency and extent of collateral damage for 0.3 ps and 1000 ps duration laser pulses are compared. Temperature measurements of the rear surface of a tooth section is also presented

Temporal progress and spatial patterns of quiescent diseases in guava influenced by sanitation practices

ABSTRACT: Postharvest diseases are a major problem in guava crops as the symptoms normally appear during fruit ripening. This study aimed to detect and characterize the temporal dynamics and spatial patterns of the most important guava diseases in orchards with and without removal of crop residues as a sanitation practice. The experiment was conducted in an orchard of ‘Pedro Sato’ guavas, over two consecutive seasons, and data were collected from the flowering to the fruit ripening stage. In immature guavas treated with paraquat and ethrel, Colletotrichum spp. was detected from the 5th day of incubation. Anthracnose was detected in flowers at incidences higher than 50 % and black spot in fruit larger than 5.5 cm in length. The monomolecular and the exponential models provided the best fit to anthracnose and black spot incidence progress curve data, respectively. Both diseases showed a predominantly random spatial pattern in the orchard. The removal of crop residues reduced the rate of disease progress in at least one season, and was effective in reducing the areas under the quiescent disease progress curves (AUDPC) of anthracnose. Anthracnose incidence increased from 57 to 96 % and black spot from 1 to 48 %, respectively, at fruit maturation levels 1 and 3. A negative correlation was found between disease incidence and the color of the fruit skin (°h). Fruit harvested during the later maturation stages showed higher incidence of the diseases. Due to the wide distribution and early infection of quiescent diseases, starting at flowering, preventive management should consider disease monitoring and removal of crop residues