Modeling of innovation research clusters in the field of radioactive waste utilization

The situation with the processing and disposal of radioactive waste, including the liquid phase, is not resolved. Many questions remain regarding the environmental safety of processes and the technological implementation of the most energy-efficient solutions. Thus, the article’s main attention is paid to theoretical studies of the development innovation directions of radioactive waste processing using the VOSviewer software tool. The clusters were formed under modeling directions of application of radiolysis for radioactive waste utilization: the red cluster includes research of radionuclide sorption processes and their concentration for radiolysis of liquid media; the green cluster concerns factors of influence on water radiolysis in hydrogen production; the yellow cluster includes research areas of natural processes related to radiolysis; the blue cluster is connected with mathematical modeling of radiolysis process with fuel production and engineering implementation and the purple cluster related to the processes of radioactive waste management and disposal as well as the application of radiolysis for this purpose. The cluster simulations of nanoparticle and radiolysis applications for radioactive waste treatment have resulted in a new energy recovery strategy. The development of new matrix materials in combination with nanoparticles for the agglomeration and concentration of radionuclides is a promising innovation method improving radiolysis under hydrogen production from radioactive waste

The Hearing Outcomes of Cochlear Implantation in Waardenburg Syndrome

Objectives. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of cochlear implantation for sensorineural hearing loss in patients with Waardenburg syndrome. Method. A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent cochlear implantation at the University of Tokyo Hospital. Clinical classification, genetic mutation, clinical course, preoperative hearing threshold, highresolution computed tomography of the temporal bone, and postoperative hearing outcome were assessed. Result. Five children with Waardenburg syndrome underwent cochlear implantation. The average age at implantation was 2 years 11 months (ranging from 1 year 9 months to 6 years 3 months). Four patients had congenital profound hearing loss and one patient had progressive hearing loss. Two patients had an inner ear malformation of cochlear incomplete partition type 2. No surgical complication or difficulty was seen in any patient. All patients showed good hearing outcome postoperatively. Conclusion. Cochlear implantation could be a good treatment option for Waardenburg syndrome

Responsive glyco-poly(2-oxazoline)s: synthesis, cloud point tuning, and lectin binding

A new sugar-substituted 2-oxazoline monomer was prepared using the copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. Its copolymerization with 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline as well as 2-(dec-9-enyl)-2-oxazoline, yielding well-defined copolymers with the possibility to tune the properties by thiol-ene "click" reactions, is described. Extensive solubility studies on the corresponding glycocopolymers demonstrated that the lower critical solution temperature behavior and pH-responsiveness of these copolymers can be adjusted in water and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) depending on the choice of the thiol. By conjugation of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranose and subsequent deprotection of the sugar moieties, the hydrophilicity of the copolymer could be increased significantly, allowing a cloud-point tuning in the physiological range. Furthermore, the binding capability of the glycosylated copoly(2-oxazoline) to concanavalin A was investigated

Examination of Selective Low-pressure Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology Under Ultrasound Guidance

Cytology by fine-needle cytology is indispensable for diagnosing head and neck tumor, especially for thyroid nodule. There are two methods of fine needle cytology; one of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC and another of fine-needle non-aspiration cytology (FNNAC). These previous procedures has each disadvantage such as the mixing of blood or low yield of cells. We proposed a new technique: selective low-pressure fine needle aspiration cytology (SLOP-FNAC) to overcome the backwards of previous procedures. We used the scoring system by Mair et al. to evaluate smear quality of specimens obtained with FNNAC and SLOP-FNAC. SLOP-FNAC smears exhibited higher scores in amount of cellular material, degree of cellular degeneration and cell yield, and retention of appropriate architecture compared to FNNAC smears. The SLOP-FNAC smears scored significantly higher for amount of cellular material and retention of appropriate architecture evaluated (P = 0.0261 and P = 0.0024, Student’s t-test). SLOP-FNAC may be a useful cell sampling technique that reduces blood contamination while securing a high cell yield with maintaining tissue structure

Dendritic glycopolymers based on dendritic polyamine scaffolds: view on their synthetic approaches, characteristics and potential for biomedical applications

In this review we highlight the potential for biomedical applications of dendritic glycopolymers based on polyamine scaffolds. The complex interplay of the molecular characteristics of the dendritic architectures and their specific interactions with various (bio)molecules are elucidated with various examples. A special role of the individual sugar units attached to the dendritic scaffolds and their density is identified, which govern ionic and H-bond interactions, and biological targeting, but to a large extent are also responsible for the significantly reduced toxicity of the dendritic glycopolymers compared to their polyamine scaffolds. Thus, the application of dendritic glycopolymers in drug delivery systems for gene transfection but also as therapeutics in neurodegenerative diseases has great promisePublikacja w ramach programu Royal Society of Chemistry "Gold for Gold" 2014 finansowanego przez Uniwersytet Łódzk

Allyl Isothiocyanate that Induces GST and UGT Expression Confers Oxidative Stress Resistance on C. elegans, as Demonstrated by Nematode Biosensor

Electrophilic xenobiotics and endogenous products from oxidative stresses induce the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), which form a large family within the phase II enzymes over both animal and plant kingdoms. The GSTs thus induced in turn detoxify these external as well as internal stresses. Because these stresses are often linked to ageing and damage to health, the induction of phase II enzymes without causing adverse effects would be beneficial in slowing down ageing and keeping healthy conditions. for use as a nematode biosensor. With the nematode biosensor, we found that AITC induced GST expression and conferred tolerance on the nematode against various oxidative stresses. We also present evidence that the transcription factor SKN-1 is involved in regulating the GST expression induced by AITC.We show the applicability of the nematode biosensor for discovering and evaluating functional food substances and chemicals that would provide anti-ageing or healthful benefits

Recent advances in glycopolypeptide synthesis

Glycosylated peptides and proteins are ubiquitous in nature and display a wide range of biological functions including mediation of recognition events, protection from proteases, and lubrication in eyes and joints. Similarly, synthetic glycopolypeptides are also expected to show great potential as biomedical materials (e.g. scaffolds for tissue repair and drug carriers), as well as serve as valuable tools for probing carbohydrate-protein interactions. Although block copolypeptides and other complex polypeptide architectures have been known for some time, the synthesis of complex and well-defined glycopolypeptide materials, until recently, has been challenging. This article reviews the many advances and accomplishments made in the past few years toward development of strategies and methods for the preparation of synthetic glycopolypeptides via ring opening polymerization. © 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Basic research on heat transport characteristics of low filling ratio pulsating heat pipe (Effect of heat pipe installation posture on heat transport performance)

The heat generation density of electronic components has increased as they have become smaller and more powerful. Various types of heat pipes have been used as thermal control devices, utilizing heat transport by the gas-liquid phase change of refrigerant. Pulsating Heat Pipe (PHP) has attracted much attention because of its compactness and high heat transport performance. This study is on Low Filling Ratio Pulsating Heat Pipe (LFR-PHP), which can realize more efficient heat transport than conventional PHP. The appearance and experimental outline are the same as those of the conventional PHP, but the amount of working fluid filled is extremely low (10 vol.%), which is considered to cause dry-out in the conventional system. Although the LFR-PHP achieves highly efficient heat transport, the details of the heat transport characteristics, such as the operating principle, have not yet been clarified. In this report, the effects of the installation posture of LFR-PHP (bottom-heat, horizontal-heat, and top-heat posture) on the heat transport performance were investigated. As a result, In the bottom-heat position, the minimum thermal resistance of LFR-PHP was 0.18 K/W, which was about 1/5 times higher than that of conventional PHP and it was confirmed to operate at filling ratios of 3 to 10 vol.%. Experiments with different heat exchange section ratios in the bottom-heat and horizontal positions showed that the heat transport distance was increased and the heat transport performance was improved by adding 60 area.% of adiabatic section area. in the horizontal position, the LFR-PHP was cooled efficiently by placing the heating section in the center of the LFR-PHP, and heat transport performance of it was approximately the same as that of bottom-heat position. In the top-heat posture, it operated when the heating section was 50 area.%, with a minimum thermal resistance of 0.22 K/W