The weld-brazing metal joining process

Superior mechanical properties were obtained in metal joints weld-brazed between faying surfaces. Weld-braze applications and advantages are listed

Manifestation of three-body forces in f7/2-shell nuclei

The traditional nuclear shell model approach is extended to include many-body forces. The empirical Hamiltonian with a three-body force is constructed for the identical nucleons on the 0f7/2 shell. Manifestations of the three-body force in spectra, binding energies, seniority mixing, particle-hole symmetry, electromagnetic and particle transition rates are investigated. It is shown that in addition to the usual expansion of the valence space within the tranditional two-body shell model, the three-body component in the Hamiltonian can be an important part improving the quality of the theoretical approach.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Activities of \gamma-ray emitting isotopes in rainwater from Greater Sudbury, Canada following the Fukushima incident

We report the activity measured in rainwater samples collected in the Greater Sudbury area of eastern Canada on 3, 16, 20, and 26 April 2011. The samples were gamma-ray counted in a germanium detector and the isotopes 131I and 137Cs, produced by the fission of 235U, and 134Cs, produced by neutron capture on 133Cs, were observed at elevated levels compared to a reference sample of ice-water. These elevated activities are ascribed to the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear reactor complex in Japan that followed the 11 March earthquake and tsunami. The activity levels observed at no time presented health concerns.Comment: 4 pages, 8 figure

Partial hepatectomy and toxicity of dimethyl-nitrosamine and carbon tetrachloride, in relation to the carcinogenic action of dimethylnitrosamine.

The yield of tumours in the liver of rats was increased when dimethylnitrosamine was given 1, 6 or 12 h after partial hepatectomy and still further increased if it was given after an interval of 24-72 h. The increase was greater after two-thirds than after one-third hepatectomy. An increase in the number of kidney tumours was also found. Microsomal DMN-demethylase activity was depressed after partial hepatectomy for up to 6 days in mice and rats. The LD50 of DMN on the other hand was decreased for 3 days, after which it returned to normal. The extent of liver necrosis produced by DMN was increased at 6 and 24 h after partial hepatectomy but was within the usual range at longer intervals. These results suggest that prolonged exposure of the tissues to DMN after partial hepatectomy played a significant role in the development of liver tumours as well as those in the kidney, in addition to the role of regeneration of the liver, and that the relative roles were still to be elucidated

The Ever Changing Circumstellar Nebula Around UW Centauri

We present new images of the reflection nebula surrounding the R Coronae Borealis Star, UW Cen. This nebula, first detected in 1990, has changed its appearance significantly. At the estimated distance of UW Cen, this nebula is approximately 0.6 ly in radius so the nebula cannot have physically altered in only 8 years. Instead, the morphology of the nebula appears to change as different parts are illuminated by light from the central star modulated by shifting thick dust clouds near its surface. These dust clouds form and dissipate at irregular intervals causing the well-known declines in the R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars. In this way, the central star acts like a lighthouse shining through holes in the dust clouds and lighting up different portions of the nebula. The existence of this nebula provides clues to the evolutionary history of RCB stars possibly linking them to the Planetary Nebulae and the final helium shell flash stars.Comment: To be published in ApJ Letters. 5 pages, 3 figures (2 in color

Living with the user: Design drama for dementia care through responsive scripted experiences in the home

Participation in forms of drama and narrative can provoke empathy and creativity in user-centred design processes. In this paper, we expand upon existing methods to explore the potential for responsive scripted experiences that are delivered through the combination of sensors and output devices placed in a home. The approach is being developed in the context of Dementia care, where the capacity for rich user participation in design activities is limited. In this case, a system can act as a proxy for a person with Dementia, allowing designers to gain experiences and insight as to what it is like to provide care for, and live with, this person. We describe the rationale behind the approach, a prototype system architecture, and our current work to explore the creation of scripted experiences for design, played out though UbiComp technologies.This research is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council UK, (AH/K00266X/1) and Horizon Digital Economy Research (RCUK grant EP/G065802/1)

Using cultural probes to inform the design of assistive technologies

This paper discusses the practical implications of applying cultural probes to drive the design of assistive technologies. Specifically we describe a study in which a probe was deployed with home-based carers of people with dementia in order to capture critical data and gain insights of integrating the technologies into this sensitive and socially complex design space. To represent and utilise the insights gained from the cultural probes, we created narratives based on the probe data to enhance the design of assistive technologies.This work was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/K00266X/1) and RCUK through the Horizon Digital Economy Research grant (EP/G065802/1)

Comparison of Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug susceptibility using solid and liquid culture in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: This study compares Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture isolation and drug sensitivity testing (DST) using solid (LJ) and liquid (BACTEC-MGIT-960) media in Nigeria. METHODS: This was a cross sectional survey of adults attending reference centres in Abuja, Ibadan and Nnewi with a new diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) or having failed the first-line TB treatment. Patients were requested to provide three sputum specimens for smear-microscopy and culture on LJ and BACTEC-MGIT-960. Positive cultures underwent DST for streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol. RESULTS: 527 specimens were cultured. 428 (81%) were positive with BACTEC-MGIT-960, 59 (11%) negative, 36 (7%) contaminated and 4 (1%) had non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM). 411 (78%) LJ cultures were positive, 89 (17%) negative, 22 (4%) contaminated and 5 (1%) had NTM. The mean (SD) detection time was 11 (6) and 30 (11) days for BACTEC-MGIT-960 and LJ. DST patterns were compared in the 389 concordant positive BACTEC-MGIT-960 and LJ cultures. Rifampicin and isoniazid DST patterns were similar. Streptomycin resistance was detected more frequently with LJ than BACTEC-MGIT-960 and ethambutol resistance was detected more frequently with BACTEC-MGIT-960 than LJ, but differences were not statistically significant. MDR-TB was detected in 27 cases by LJ and 25 by BACTEC-MGIT-960 and using both methods detected 29 cases. CONCLUSIONS: There was a substantial degree of agreement between the two methods. However using the two in tandem increased the number of culture-positive patients and those with MDR-TB. The choice of culture method should depend on local availability, cost and test performance characteristics

The carcinogenic action of 2-aminodiphenylene oxide and 4-aminodiphenyl on the bladder and liver of the C57 X IF mouse.

CLAYSON, Lawson, Santana and Bonser (1965) suggested that in the mouse the oral administration of chemical bladder carcinogens induced hyperplasia of the bladder epithelium in the first days or weeks of the experiment. Subsequently, Clayson and Pringle (1966) showed that the number of mitoses in the normal adult mouse bladder epithelium is very low and suggested that it is necessary to increase the mitotic rate in order to induce tumours. They showed that the implantation of a paraffin wax or cholesterol pellet, or a small glass bead, into the lumen of the bladder increased the mitotic rate. Subsequently, Clayson, Pringle and Bonser (1967) found that a single oral administration of 4-ethylsulphonylnaphthalene-1sulphonamide, a murine bladder carcinogen, greatly increased the number of mitoses in the bladder epithelium, while Wood (personal communication) observed a smaller increase in mice given 2-acetamidofluorene in the diet. Thus, the correlation of early hyperplasia and subsequent malignancy can be explained on the grounds of an initial increase in the number of mitoses in the bladder epithelium. In the course of the experiments of Clayson et al. (1965) a number of chemical