The role of deactivation of cyclohexane oxidation catalyst in caprolactam production

Screening of new catalytic systems over the model equipment for oxidation of cyclohexane shows the absence of resins and precipitates (adipates) on the reactor walls. This confirms that the use of more active and selective catalyst can significantly suppress the formation of resins, and thus prolong the service period and increase the efficiency of industrial reactors

Elicited bid functions in (a)symmetric first-price auctions

We report on a series of experiments that examine bidding behavior in first-price sealed bid auctions with symmetric and asymmetric bidders. To study the extent of strategic behavior, we use an experimental design that elicits bidders' complete bid functions in each round (auction) of the experiment. In the aggregate, behavior is consistent with the basic equilibrium predictions for risk neutral or homogenous risk averse bidders (extent of bid shading, average seller's revenues and deviations from equilibrium). However, when we look at the extent of best reply behavior and the shape of bid functions, we find that individual behavior is not in line with the received equilibrium models, although it exhibits strategic sophistication.This research benefited from financial support from the European Commission through a TMR-ENDEAR Network Grant (FMRX-CT98-0238) and a Marie Curie Fellowship (Sadrieh: HPMF-CT-199-00312) and from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through SFB 303

Учет влияния времени коммутации полупроводниковых приборов на форму импульсов напряжения на нагрузке импульсного трансформаторного источника напряжения

Розглянутo вплив часу комутації напівпровідникових приладів на форму, амплітудні і часові параметри імпульсів напруги на навантаженні трансформаторного джерела. Встановлена залежність тривалості фронту імпульсу від власних параметрів джерела і часу комутації напівпро-відникових приладів.Influence of time of commutation of semiconductor devices is considered on a form, peak and temporal parameters of pulses of voltage in a load of transformer source. Dependence of duration of pulse front is set on the own parameters of source and time of commutation of semiconductor devices

Dying cell clearance and its impact on the outcome of tumor radiotherapy

The induction of tumor cell death is one of the major goals of radiotherapy and has been considered to be the central determinant of its therapeutic outcome for a long time. However, accumulating evidence suggests that the success of radiotherapy does not only derive from direct cytotoxic effects on the tumor cells alone, but instead might also depend – at least in part – on innate as well as adaptive immune responses, which can particularly target tumor cells that survive local irradiation. The clearance of dying tumor cells by phagocytic cells of the innate immune system represents a crucial step in this scenario. Dendritic cells and macrophages, which engulf, process and present dying tumor cell material to adaptive immune cells, can trigger, skew, or inhibit adaptive immune responses, respectively. In this review we summarize the current knowledge of different forms of cell death induced by ionizing radiation, the multi-step process of dying cell clearance, and its immunological consequences with special regard toward the potential exploitation of these mechanisms for the improvement of tumor radiotherapy

Teaching self-regulation

Children’s self-regulation abilities are key predictors of educational success and other life outcomes such as income and health. However, self-regulation is not a school subject, and knowledge about how to generate lasting improvements in self-regulation and academic achievements with easily scalable, low-cost interventions is still limited. Here, we report the results of a randomized controlled field study which integrates a short self-regulation teaching unit based on the concept of mental contrasting with implementation intentions into the school curriculum of first graders. We demonstrate that the treatment increases children’s skills in terms of impulse control and self-regulation while also generating lasting improvements in academic skills like reading and monitoring careless mistakes. Moreover, it has a substantial effect on children’s long-term school career by increasing the likelihood of enrolling in an advanced secondary school track three years later. Thus, self-regulation teaching can be integrated into the regular school curriculum at low cost, is easily scalable and can substantially improve important abilities and children’s educational career path

Sistem Informasi Strategis Mendayagunakan Sistem Informasi untuk Mencapai Keunggulan Kompetitif

While most companies are content to develop and implement computer-based information systems to improve their operational and managerial effectiveness, a few also rely on innovative systems to give them an edge over the competition. An information system that is specifically designed with the aim to create a competitive advantage for its firm is called a strategic information system.To build a strategic information system, one should have a good understanding as to what factors contribute towards competitive advantage. It is here that the analyses by Michael E. Porter on this subject are particularly invaluable. Furthermore, one should also realize what the modern computer excels at fast processing time, fast data retrieval, fast communications, and reliability.There are also risks inherent to strategic information systems. These include the large capital outlay involved, as well as the reality that any competitive advantage thus achieved is not sustainable for long

Purification of diesel fractions from silicon compounds with NiMo/Al2O3 catalysts

The influence of chemical composition and textural properties of NiMo/Al2O3 on the removal of silicon compounds from diesel fractions was studied. It was found that the increase of the average pore diameter from 80 to 130-185 A provides the increase in Si capacity from 1,4 to 2,7 wt. %. Maximal Si capacity for studied NiMo/Al2O3 samples was 3 wt. %. The composition of NiMo/Al2O3 guard bed catalyst with optimal textural characteristics for silicon removal from diesel fractions was proposed

Release of monocyte migration signals by breast cancer cell lines after ablative and fractionated gamma-irradiation

Background: Radiotherapy, administered in fractionated as well as ablative settings, is an essential treatment component for breast cancer. Besides the direct tumor cell death inducing effects, there is growing evidence that immune mechanisms contribute - at least in part - to its therapeutic success. The present study was designed to characterize the type and the extent of cell death induced by fractionated and ablative radiotherapy as well as its impact on the release of monocyte migration stimulating factors by dying breast cancer cells. Methods: Cell death and senescence assays were employed to characterize the response of a panel of breast cancer cell lines with different receptor and p53 status towards.-irradiation applied in a fractionated (daily doses of 2 Gy) or ablative setting (single dose of 20 Gy). Cell-free culture supernatants were examined for their monocyte migration stimulating potential in transwell migration and 2D chemotaxis/chemokinesis assays. Irradiation-induced transcriptional responses were analyzed by qRT-PCR, and CD39 surface expression was measured by flow cytometry. Results: Fast proliferating, hormone receptor negative breast cancer cell lines with defective p53 predominantly underwent primary necrosis in response to.-irradiation when applied at a single, ablative dose of 20 Gy, whereas hormone receptor positive, p53 wildtype cells revealed a combination of apoptosis, primary, and secondary (post-apoptotic) necrosis. During necrosis the dying tumor cells released apyrase-sensitive nucleotides, which effectively stimulated monocyte migration and chemokinesis. In hormone receptor positive cells with functional p53 this was hampered by irradiation-induced surface expression of the ectonucleotidase CD39. Conclusions: Our study shows that ablative radiotherapy potently induces necrosis in fast proliferating, hormone receptor negative breast cancer cell lines with mutant p53, which in turn release monocyte migration and chemokinesis stimulating nucleotides. Future studies have to elucidate, whether these mechanisms might be utilized in order to stimulate intra-tumoral monocyte recruitment and subsequent priming of adaptive anti-tumor immune responses, and which breast cancer subtypes might be best suited for such approaches