Proteomic analysis of the rat ovary following chronic low-dose exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a ubiquitously distributed endocrine-disrupting chemical and reproductive toxicant. In order to elucidate low-dose TCDD-mediated effects on reproductive or endocrine functions, female Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered various concentrations (20, 50, or 125 ng/kg once weekly) TCDD for 29 wk. A proteomic analysis of the ovaries by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) tandem mass spectrometry showed distinct changes in the levels of several proteins that are relevant markers of TCDD toxicity. Serum estradiol (E2) levels of TCDD-treated animals were markedly lower than control. There were no significant differences in bone mineral density (BMD) of femurs. The body weight of the 125-ng/kg TCDD group was significantly decreased relative to control and there was also a significant reduction in absolute and relative ovarian weights. Expressions of selenium binding protein 2, glutathione S-transferase mu type 3, Lrpap1 protein, NADPH, and peptidylprolyl isomerase D were upregulated, while prohibitin and N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor expression levels were downregulated. Data provide further insight into the mechanisms by which TCDD disrupts ovarian function by indicating which differential protein expressions following low-dose TCDD exposure

Comparison of Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck model with 4 π Heavy Ion Data

Streamer chamber data for collisions of Ar + KCl and Ar + BaI2 at 1.2 GeV/nucleon are compared with microscopic model predictions based on the Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck equation, for various density-dependent nuclear equations of state. Multiplicity distributions and inclusive rapidity and transverse momentum spectra are in good agreement. Rapidity spectra show evidence of being useful in determining whether the model uses the correct cross sections for binary collisions in the nuclear medium, and whether momentum-dependent interactions are correctly incorporated. Sideward flow results do not favor the same nuclear stiffness parameter at all multiplicities

Hot isostatically pressed zirconolite wasteforms for actinide immobilisation

In order to demonstrate the deployment of Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) for the immobilisation of Pu stocks and residues, a series of active and inactive zirconolite formulations have been processed and characterised. In this instance, Ce, U, and Th have been applied as chemical surrogates for Pu4+. A range of formulations targeting isovalent Zr4+ site substitution (i.e. to simulate CaZr1-xPuxTi2O7) have been processed by HIP and characterised by powder X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy, in order to determine surrogate partitioning between the host zirconolite phase, and accessory phases that may have formed during the HIP process

A REAL TIME MONITORING MODEL OF THE CALCIUM CARBONATE FOULING INDUCTION PERIOD BASED ON THE CONDUCTANCE TITRATION

A new method has been developed to monitor the calcium carbonate fouling induction period (CCFIP) in real time. Based on the conductance titration, this paper investigated the forming process of CCFIP by a staticdynamic combined simulation experiment unit. With the help of titration analysis (that is titrimetry), an accurate definition of CCFIP and the corresponding real time monitoring model were built up. The investigation results show that the proposed model applies not only to measure the CCFIP in real time, but also applies to an investigation of the influence of various factors on the CCFIP

Ce and U speciation in wasteforms for thermal treatment of plutonium bearing wastes, probed by L3 edge XANES

X-ray absorption spectroscopy was applied to understand the speciation of elements relevant to the immobilisation and disposal of radioactive plutonium bearing wastes, utilizing Ce as a Pu surrogate. Ce L3 XANES (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure) characterisation of a crystallised glass material produced by cold crucible plasma vitrification, at demonstration scale, evidenced incorporation as Ce3+ within the glass phase, providing an important validation of laboratory scale studies. U and Ce L3 XANES investigation of brannerite ceramics, U0.9Ce0.1Ti2O6, synthesized under oxidizing, neutral and reducing conditions, established the charge compensation mechanism as incorporation of Ce3+ through formation of U5+ and/or U6+ In each of these examples, X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy has provided a pivotal understanding of element speciation in relation to the mechanism of incorporation within the host wasteform intended for geological disposal

A self-consistent method to analyze the effects of the positive Q-value neutron transfers on fusion

AbstractConsidering the present limitation of the need for external parameters to describe the nucleus–nucleus potential and the couplings in the coupled-channels calculations, this work introduces an improved method without adjustable parameter to overcome the limitation and then sort out the positive Q-value neutron transfers (PQNT) effects based on the CCFULL calculations. The corresponding analysis for Ca+Ca, S,Ca+Sn, and S,Ca+Zr provides a reliable proof and a quantitative evaluation for the residual enhancement (RE) related to PQNT. In addition, the RE for S32,Ca40+Zr94 shows an unexpected larger enhancement than S32,Ca40+Zr96 despite the similar multi-neutron transfer Q-values. This method should rather strictly test the fusion models and be helpful for excavating the underlying physics

Nicotinamide complex of silver(III) with expanded coordination number

In strongly alkaline media ([OH-] ≥ 0.12 M), nicotinamide (nica) forms a complex with square-planar Ag(OH)4- [nica] ≥ 0.05 M. The complex decomposes in seconds to nicotinamide N-oxide. The correlation of maximum absorbance of the complex with concentrations of nicotinamide and hydroxide requires that the complex is either the five-coordinate Ag(OH)4(H-1nica)2- or the six-coordinate Ag(OH)5(nica)2-. Comparison with the reactions of Ag(OH)4- with nicotinate ion (nic-) and acetamide under similar conditions indicates that nicotinamide coordinates with Ag(OH)4- by the amido group rather than the nitrogen on the pyridine ring or the amido oxygen. Kinetics of the Ag(III)- nica redox reaction are consistent with direct reaction between nicotinamide and uncoordinated Ag(OH4)-. Oxidation takes place at the pyridine ring, yielding nicotinamide N-oxide. Silver(III) is reduced to monovalent silver

Superconductivity and single crystal growth of Ni0:05TaS2

Superconductivity was discovered in a Ni0:05TaS2 single crystal. A Ni0:05TaS2 single crystal was successfully grown via the NaCl/KCl flux method. The obtained lattice constant c of Ni0:05TaS2 is 1.1999 nm, which is significantly smaller than that of 2H-TaS2 (1.208 nm). Electrical resistivity and magnetization measurements reveal that the superconductivity transition temperature of Ni0:05TaS2 is enhanced from 0.8 K (2H-TaS2) to 3.9 K. The charge-density-wave transition of the matrix compound 2H-TaS2 is suppressed in Ni0:05TaS2. The success of Ni0:05TaS2 single crystal growth via a NaCl/KCl flux demonstrates that NaCl/KCl flux method will be a feasible method for single crystal growth of the layered transition metal dichalcogenides.Comment: 13pages, 6 figures, Published in SS

Growth and haemolytic activity of pathogenic Vibrio species in egg-fried-rice with different egg ratios

Growth and haemolytic activity of several pathogenic Vibrio species were compared in egg-fried-rice with different egg ratios. Egg-fried-rice preparations with rice-to-egg ratios of 4:1, 1:1, and 1:4 were inoculated with either Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae, V. vulnificus, or V. alginolyticus and incubated for 24 h. Cell number, thermostable direct haemolysin (TDH) activity, and total haemolytic activity were determined. The cell number and total haemolytic activity increased in all Vibrio strains after 24 h, and these were most marked in egg-fried-rice with the highest egg content (1:4 (rice:egg) ratio; P<0.05). V. alginolyticus exhibited the maximal growth and V. parahaemolyticus the highest haemolytic activity, but only V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 33847, V. alginolyticus CAMT 21162, and V. alginolyticus HY 91101 showed TDH activity. Results suggest that lowering egg content in egg-fried-rice could reduce growth and virulence of Vibrio pathogens