Electromagnetic levitation coil fabrication technique for MSFC containerless processing facilities

A technique is described for more reproducible fabrication of electromagnetic levitation coils. A split mandrel was developed upon which the coil is wound. After fabrication the mandrel can be disassembled to remove it from the coil. Previously, a full day was required to fabricate a levitation coil and the success rate for a functional coil was only 50 percent. About eight coils may be completed in one day using the technique developed and 95 percent of them are good levitation coils

Time-resolved impulse response of the magnetoplasmon resonance in a two-dimensional electron gas

We have used optically excited ultrashort electrical pulses to measure the magnetoplasmon resonance of a two-dimensional electron gas formed in an AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure at frequencies up to 200 gigahertz. This is accomplished by incorporating the sample into a guided wave probe operating in a pumped (^{3}He) system. We are able to detect the resonance by launching a stimulus pulse in the guide, and monitoring the system response in a time resolved pump-probe arrangement. Data obtained from measurements yield resonant frequencies that agree with the magnetoplasmon dispersion relation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Создание износостойких покрытий, наплавленных в пучке релятивистских электронов

Работа направлена на формирование на поверхности низкоуглеродистой стали СтЗ износостойких покрытий методом наплавки на ускорители релятивистских электронов ЭЛВ-6.The work is aimed at forming wear-resistant coatings on the surface of low-carbon steel STZ by surfacing on relativistic electron accelerators ELV-6

Identification of proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis missing in attenuated Mycobacterium bovis BCG strains.

A proteome approach, combining high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) with mass spectrometry, was used to compare the cellular protein composition of two virulent strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with two attenuated strains of Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), in order to identify unique proteins of these strains. Emphasis was given to the identification of M. tuberculosis specific proteins, because we consider these proteins to represent putative virulence factors and interesting candidates for vaccination and diagnosis of tuberculosis. The genome of M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv comprises nearly 4000 predicted open reading frames. In contrast, the separation of proteins from whole mycobacterial cells by 2-DE resulted in silver-stained patterns comprising about 1800 distinct protein spots. Amongst these, 96 spots were exclusively detected either in the virulent (56 spots) or in the attenuated (40 spots) mycobacterial strains. Fifty-three of these spots were analyzed by mass spectrometry, of which 41 were identified, including 32 M. tuberculosis specific spots. Twelve M. tuberculosis specific spots were identified as proteins, encoded by genes previously reported to be deleted in M. bovis BCG. The remaining 20 spots unique for M. tuberculosis were identified as proteins encoded by genes that are not known to be missing in M. bovis BCG

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) α Increases Collagen Accumulation and Proliferation in Intestinal Myofibroblasts via TNF Receptor 2

Intestinal fibrosis is an incurable complication of Crohn's disease involving increased numbers of collagen-producing myofibroblasts. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha has defined proinflammatory roles in Crohn's disease but its role in fibrosis is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that TNFalpha increases collagen accumulation and proliferation in intestinal myofibroblasts and has additive effects in combination with insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I. The mechanisms, TNF receptor isoform, and downstream signaling pathways were examined. Intestinal myofibroblasts from wild-type (WT) mice or mice homozygous for disruption of genes encoding TNFR1 (TNFR1-/-), TNFR2 (TNFR2-/-), or both (TNFR1/2-/-), were treated with TNFalpha, IGF-I, or both. In WT cells, TNFalpha and IGF-I stimulated type I collagen accumulation and DNA synthesis in an additive manner. IGF-I, but not TNFalpha, stimulated type I collagen gene activation. TNFalpha, but not IGF-I, induced tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) expression and reduced matrix metalloproteinases-2 activity and collagen degradation. TNFalpha also activated ERK1/2. These responses to TNFalpha were absent in TNFR2-/- and TNFR1/2-/- myofibroblasts, whereas TNFR1-/- cells showed similar responses to WT. Inhibition of ERK1/2 diminished TNFalpha induced DNA synthesis in WT and TNFR1-/- cells. Differences in TNFalpha-induced STAT3/DNA binding activity and not NFkappaB and AP-1 transcriptional activation correlated with impaired collagen accumulation/TIMP-1 induction in TNFR2(-/-) cells. Constitutively active STAT3 rescued TIMP-1 expression in TNFR2-/- cells. We conclude that TNFalpha and IGF-I may additively contribute to fibrosis during intestinal inflammation. TNFR2 is a primary mediator of fibrogenic actions of TNFalpha acting through ERK1/2 to stimulate proliferation and through STAT3 to stimulate TIMP-1 and inhibit collagen degradation

Проблема правової культури в історії філософсько-педагогічної думки

(uk) Стаття присвячена проблемі правової культури в історії філософсько-педагогічної думки

Theoretical study of the absorption spectra of the lithium dimer

For the lithium dimer we calculate cross sections for absorption of radiation from the vibrational-rotational levels of the ground X [singlet Sigma g +] electronic state to the vibrational levels and continua of the excited A [singlet Sigma u +] and B [singlet Pi u] electronic states. Theoretical and experimental data are used to characterize the molecular properties taking advantage of knowledge recently obtained from photoassociation spectroscopy and ultra-cold atom collision studies. The quantum-mechanical calculations are carried out for temperatures in the range from 1000 to 2000 K and are compared with previous calculations and measurements.Comment: 20 pages, revtex, epsf, 6 fig

Association Between COVID-19 and Mortality in Hip Fracture Surgery in the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C): A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the outcomes of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-positive patients undergoing hip fracture surgery using a national database. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study comparing hip fracture surgery outcomes between COVID-19 positive and negative matched cohorts from 46 sites in the United States. Patients aged 65 and older with hip fracture surgery between March 15 and December 31, 2020, were included. The main outcomes were 30-day all-cause mortality and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: In this national study that included 3303 adults with hip fracture surgery, the 30-day mortality was 14.6% with COVID-19-positive versus 3.8% in COVID-19-negative, a notable difference. The all-cause mortality for hip fracture surgery was 27.0% in the COVID-19-positive group during the study period. DICUSSION: We found higher incidence of all-cause mortality in patients with versus without diagnosis of COVID-19 after undergoing hip fracture surgery. The mortality in hip fracture surgery in this national analysis was lower than other local and regional reports. The medical community can use this information to guide the management of hip fracture patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19

Growth Hormone Reduces the Severity of Fibrosis Associated With Chronic Intestinal Inflammation

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Growth hormone (GH) is used to treat growth delay in children with Crohn's disease and in patients with short-bowel syndrome. GH can increase collagen accumulation in intestinal mesenchymal cells, raising concern that GH therapy could exacerbate fibrosis in patients with Crohn's disease. We tested if GH treatment altered inflammation or fibrosis during chronic, experimental granulomatous enterocolitis. METHODS: Ileum and cecum of Lewis rats were subserosally injected with peptidoglycan-polysaccharide (PG-APS) or control human serum albumin. At the onset of chronic PG-APS-induced inflammation, rats were administered recombinant human GH or vehicle for 14 days. Fibrosis and inflammation were quantified by gross gut disease scoring, histologic scoring, type I collagen, and cytokine expression in cecum. Abundance and localization of suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3) messenger RNA and/or protein were determined in cecum. Effect of GH, cytokines, or PG-APS on SOCS-3 synthesis was measured in intestinal myofibroblasts. Myofibroblasts overexpressing SOCS-3 were used to test whether SOCS-3 inhibits collagen accumulation. RESULTS: In PG-APS-injected rats, GH modestly reduced gross adhesions and mesenteric contractions, cecal fibrosis score, and collagen expression, but had no effect on intestinal inflammation. GH increased SOCS-3 messenger RNA and protein abundance in PG-APS rats and SOCS-3 messenger RNA was localized to the periphery of granulomas. GH in combination with cytokines or PG-APS, but not alone, induced SOCS-3 synthesis in intestinal myofibroblasts. Myofibroblasts overexpressing SOCS-3 showed reduced cytokine-induced collagen accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: GH modestly reduces intestinal fibrosis associated with chronic experimental enterocolitis and stimulates expression of antifibrogenic SOCS-3, suggesting that GH therapy in inflammatory bowel disease should not exacerbate fibrosis