Effects of finite curvature on soliton dynamics in a chain of nonlinear oscillators

We consider a curved chain of nonlinear oscillators and show that the interplay of curvature and nonlinearity leads to a number of qualitative effects. In particular, the energy of nonlinear localized excitations centered on the bending decreases when curvature increases, i.e. bending manifests itself as a trap for excitations. Moreover, the potential of this trap is double-well, thus leading to a symmetry breaking phenomenon: a symmetric stationary state may become unstable and transform into an energetically favorable asymmetric stationary state. The essentials of symmetry breaking are examined analytically for a simplified model. We also demonstrate a threshold character of the scattering process, i.e. transmission, trapping, or reflection of the moving nonlinear excitation passing through the bending.Comment: 13 pages (LaTeX) with 10 figures (EPS

Monte Carlo simulation of subsurface ordering kinetics in an fcc-alloy model

Within the atom-vacancy exchange mechanism in a nearest-neighbor interaction model we investigate the kinetics of surface-induced ordering processes close to the (001) surface of an fcc A_3B-alloy. After a sudden quench into the ordered phase with a final temperature above the ordering spinodal, T_f > T_sp, the early time kinetics is dominated by a segregation front which propagates into the bulk with nearly constant velocity. Below the spinodal, T_f < T_sp, motion of the segregation wave reflects a coarsening process which appears to be slower than predicted by the Lifschitz-Allen-Cahn law. In addition, in the front-penetrated region lateral growth differs distinctly from perpendicular growth, as a result of the special structure of antiphase boundaries near the surface. Our results are compared with recent experiments on the subsurface ordering kinetics at Cu_3Au (001).Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. B, in prin

The Cuprous-Cupric Complex in Hydrochloric Acid Solution

In the process described by Diehl and Brouns (1) for the direct determination of copper in bronze by electrodeposition from hydrochloric acid solution using hydroxylammonium chloride as anodic depolarizer and controlling the cathode potential automatically (3), the sample of bronze is dissolved in hydrochloric acid by the dropwise addition of nitric acid or of hydrogen peroxide. Subsequently the solution is diluted and electrolyzed, the cathode reaction being· first the reduction of cupric ion to the chlorocuprous ion, CuCl3==, and then the deposition of copper. The time of electrolysis can be materially shortened if the first reduction is effected chemically, by the addition of hydrocxylammonium chloride or of stannous chloride. If the reducing agent be added to the solution before it is diluted, that is, to a fairly concentrated hydrochloric acid solution, the solution turns dark brown or black, the color being due to some material in solution which disappears on dilution. It became of interest to learn more of this dark colored solution, particularly since it was observed that a small amount of antimony did or did not deposit with the copper depending on whether the reduction was made before or after the dilution

IGBT pretvarač za velike snage s mekim sklapanjem

A soft-switching topology for high power buck converter is proposed. Zero-current turn-on and zero-voltage turn-off is achieved without auxiliary switches. All active switches in the converter transmit power to the load equally. Converter control is simple despite four active switches. Converter operation is described and DC analysis is carried out. All operation modes are identified. The condition for soft-switching is derived. A full-scale 38 kW laboratory prototype with 1700 V IGBT modules is built for railway application. Switching frequency is fixed at 20 kHz. Experimental results are shown. The results confirm the analysis. A high efficiency of 97 % is achieved.Predstavljena je nova topologija silaznog istosmjernog pretvarača s mekim sklapanjem pogodna za velike snage. Isklapanje pri nuli napona i uklapanje pri nuli struje ostvareno je bez pomoćnih sklopki. Sve aktivne sklopke u pretvaraču prenose snagu u teret podjednako. Upravljanje pretvaračem je jednostavno unatoč većem broju aktivnih sklopki. Opisan je i analiziran rad pretvarača. Identificirani su svi načini rada. Izvedeni su uvjeti za meko sklapanje. Izra.en je laboratorijski model pretvarača u punoj snazi od 38 kW. Model je izveden s 1700 V-tnim IGBT modulima, a za primjenu na tračničkim vozilima. Sklopna frekvencija je konstantna i iznosi 20 kHz. Prikazani su rezultati mjerenja. Potvr.ena je provedena analiza. Postignut je visoki stupanj korisnog djelovanja od 97 %

Direct determination of trace elements in powdered samples by in-cell isotope dilution femtosecond laser ablation ICPMS

A method has been developed for the direct and simultaneous multielement determination of Cu, Zn, Sn, and Pb in soil and sediment samples using femtosecond laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (fs-LA-ICPMS) in combination with isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS). The in-cell isotope dilution fs-LA-ICPMS method proposed in this work was based on the quasi-simultaneous ablation of the natural abundance sample and the isotopically enriched solid spike, which was performed using a high repetition rate laser and a fast scanning beam device in a combined manner. Both the sample preparation procedure and the total analysis time have been drastically reduced, in comparison with previous approaches, since a unique multielement isotopically enriched solid spike was employed to analyze different powdered samples. Numerous experimental parameters were carefully selected (e.g., carrier gas flow rate, inlet diameter of the ablation cell, sample translation speed, scanner speed, etc.) in order to ensure the complete mixing between the sample and the solid spike aerosols. The proposed in-cell fs-LA-ICP-IDMS method was tested for the analysis of two soil (CRM 142R, GBW-07405) and two sediment (PACS-2, IAEA-405) reference materials, and the analysis of Cu, Zn, Sn, and Pb yielded good agreement of usually not more than 10% deviation from the certified values and precisions of less than 15% relative standard deviation. Furthermore, the concentrations were in agreement not only with the certified values but also with those obtained by ICP-IDMS after the microwave-assisted digestion of the solid samples, demonstrating therefore that in-cell fs-LA-ICP-IDMS opens the possibility for accurate and precise determinations of trace elements in powdered samples reducing the total sample preparation time to less than 5 min. Additionally, scanning electron microscope measurements showed that the aerosol generated by in-cell fs-LA-ICP-IDMS predominantly consisted of linear agglomerates of small particles (in the order of few tens of nanometers) and a few large spherical particles with diameters below 225 nm

Thaliporphine Preserves Cardiac Function of Endotoxemic Rabbits by Both Directly and Indirectly Attenuating NFκB Signaling Pathway

Cardiac depression in sepsis is associated with the increased morbidity and mortality. Although myofilaments damage, autonomic dysfunction, and apoptosis play roles in sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction, the underlying mechanism is not clear. All of these possible factors are related to NFκB signaling, which plays the main role in sepsis signaling. Thaliporphine was determined to possess anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective activity by suppressing NFκB signaling in rodents. The purpose of this study is to further prove this protective effect in larger septic animals, and try to find the underlying mechanisms. The systolic and diastolic functions were evaluated in vivo by pressure-volume analysis at different preloads. Both preload-dependent and -independent hemodynamic parameters were performed. Inflammatory factors of whole blood and serum samples were analyzed. Several sepsis-related signaling pathways were also determined at protein level. Changes detected by conductance catheter showed Thaliporphine could recover impaired left ventricular systolic function after 4 hours LPS injection. It could also reverse the LPS induced steeper EDPVR and gentler ESPVR, thus improve Ees, Ea, and PRSW. Thaliporphine may exert this protective effect by decreasing TNFα and caspase3 dependent cell apoptosis, which was consistent with the decreased serum cTnI and LDH concentration. Thaliporphine could protect sepsis-associated myocardial dysfunction in both preload-dependent and -independent ways. It may exert these protective effects by both increase of “good”-PI3K/Akt/mTOR and decrease of “bad”-p38/NFκB pathways, which followed by diminishing TNFα and caspase3 dependent cell apoptosis

Mononuclear cells modulate the activity of pancreatic stellate cells which in turn promote fibrosis and inflammation in chronic pancreatitis

Background: Interactions between mononuclear cells and activated pancreatic myofibroblasts (pancreatic stellate cells; PSC) may contribute to inflammation and fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis (CP). Methods: Markers of fibrosis and inflammation were concomitantly analysed by immunohistochemistry in chronic pancreatitis tissues. In vitro, PSC were stimulated with TNFalpha and LPS. Primary human blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and PSC were cocultured, followed by analysis of cytokines and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. PBMC were derived from healthy donors and CP and septic shock patients. Results: In areas of mononuclear cell infiltration in chronic pancreatitis tissues, there was decreased immunoreactivity for collagen1 and fibronectin, in contrast to areas with sparse mononuclear cells, although PSC were detectable in both areas. LPS and TNFalpha induced collagen1 and fibronectin levels as well as the matrix degradation enzyme MMP-1. Coculture experiments with PSC and PBMC revealed increased fibronectin secretion induced by PBMC. In addition, donor and CP PBMC significantly induced an increase in IL-6, MCP-1 and TGFbeta levels under coculture conditions. Determination of the source of cytokines and ECM proteins by mRNA expression analysis confirmed PSC as major contributors of ECM production. The increase in cytokine expression was PBMC- and also PSC-derived. Conclusion: Mononuclear cells modulate the activity of pancreatic stellate cells, which may in turn promote fibrosis and inflammation

Dissolved zinc in the subarctic North Pacific and Bering Sea : its distribution, speciation, and importance to primary producers

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2012. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Global Biogeochemical Cycles 26 (2012): GB2015, doi:10.1029/2010GB004004.The eastern subarctic North Pacific, an area of high nutrients and low chlorophyll, has been studied with respect to the potential for iron to control primary production. The geochemistry of zinc, a critical micronutrient for diatoms, is less well characterized. Total zinc concentrations and zinc speciation were measured in near-surface waters on transects across the subarctic North Pacific and across the Bering Sea. Total dissolved zinc concentrations in the near-surface ranged from 0.10 nmol L−1 to 1.15 nmol L−1 with lowest concentrations in the eastern portions of both the North Pacific and Bering Sea. Dissolved zinc speciation was dominated by complexation to strong organic ligands whose concentration ranged from 1.1 to 3.6 nmol L−1 with conditional stability constants (K′ZnL/Zn′) ranging from 109.3 to 1011.0. The importance of zinc to primary producers was evaluated by comparison to phytoplankton pigment concentrations and by performing a shipboard incubation. Zinc concentrations were positively correlated with two pigments that are characteristic of diatoms. At one station in the North Pacific, the addition of 0.75 nmol L−1 zinc resulted in a doubling of chlorophyll after 4 days.This research was supported by NSF grant OCE-0136835 and by an EPA STAR Fellowship.2012-11-1

Determination of “borderline resectable” pancreatic cancer – A global assessment of 30 shades of grey

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. Accurate preoperative assessment using computed tomography (CT) to determine resectability is crucial in ensuring patients are offered the most appropriate therapeutic strategy. Despite the use of classification guidelines, any interobserver variability between reviewing surgeons and radiologists may confound decisions influencing patient treatment pathways. Methods: In this multicentre observational study, an international group of 96 clinicians (42 hepatopancreatobiliary surgeons and 54 radiologists) were surveyed and asked to report 30 pancreatic CT scans of pancreatic cancer deemed borderline at respective multidisciplinary meetings (MDM). The degree of interobserver agreement in resectability among radiologists and surgeons was assessed and subgroup regression analysis was performed. Results: Interobserver variability between reviewers was high with no unanimous agreement. Overall interobserver agreement was fair with a kappa value of 0.32 with a higher rate of agreement among radiologists over surgeons. Conclusion: Interobserver variability among radiologists and surgeons globally is high, calling into question the consistency of clinical decision making for patients with PDAC and suggesting that central review may be required for studies of neoadjuvant or adjuvant approaches in future as well as ongoing quality control initiatives, even amongst experts in the field