Cross Sections for He, Li, and Be Isotopes Produces in the a + a Reactions at 198.4 MeV

This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHy 87-1440

Beneficial immunostimulatory effect of short-term Chlorella supplementation: enhancement of natural Killer cell activity and early inflammatory response (Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial)

Background - In vitro and animal studies have demonstrated that Chlorella is a potent biological response modifier on immunity. However, there were no direct evidences for the effect of Chlorella supplementation on immune/inflammation response in healthy humans. Methods - This study was designed for an 8-week randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial: 5g of Chlorella (n=23) or Placebo (n=28) as form of tablets. Mainly, cytotoxic activities of Natural killer (NK) cells and serum concentrations of interferon-¿, interleukin-1ß and interleukin-12 were measured. Results - After the 8-week, serum concentrations of interferon-¿ (

A Method for Assaying Deubiquitinating Enzymes

A general method for the assay of deubiquitinating enzymes was described in detail using (125)I-labeled ubiquitin-fused αNH-MHISPPEPESEEEEEHYC (referred to as Ub-PESTc) as a substrate. Since the tyrosine residue in the PESTc portion of the fusion protein was almost exclusively radioiodinated under a mild labeling condition, such as using IODO-BEADS, the enzymes could be assayed directly by simple measurement of the radioactivity released into acid soluble products. Using this assay protocol, we could purify six deubiquitinating enzymes from chick skeletal muscle and yeast and compare their specific activities. Since the extracts of E. coli showed little or no activity against the substrate, the assay protocol should be useful for identification and purification of eukaryotic deubiquitinating enzymes cloned and expressed in the cells

Microstructural and electrochemical properties of impregnated La0.4Sr0.6Ti0.8Mn0.2O3±d into a partially removed Ni SOFC anode substrate

The microstructural and electrochemical properties of anodes obtained by impregnation of the La0.4Sr0.6Ti0.8Mn0.2O3±d (LSTM) oxide system into two types of anode substrates such as Ni/ 8YSZ substrate (Ni (E)/ 8YSZ) and partially Ni removed Ni/ 8YSZ substrate (Ni(R)/8YSZ) were investigated in order to apply them as anode material for solid oxide fuel cells. All of the samples with LSTM impregnated on Ni (R)/ 8YSZ show higher electrical conductivity values than those of unimpregnated Ni (E)/ 8YSZ under dry H2 condition. The highest electrical conductivity values of 2041.2, 1877.4, and 1764.3 S/cm at 700, 800 and 900 °C can be achieved by samples with 3 wt% impregnated LSTM on Ni (R)/ 8YSZ. From the XPS analysis, the existence of a Ti metal peak on the surface of LSTM was only measured for the LSTM (3 wt%)-Ni (R)/ 8YSZ sample, metallic titanium on the surface can improve the electrical catalytic reaction. LSTM (3 wt%)-Ni (R)/ 8YSZ showed higher electrical conductivity values then those of LSTM (3 wt%)-Ni (E)/ 8YSZ in all the temperature ranges measured in the case of dry CH4 supply. Finally, the electrical conductivity of LSTM (3 wt%)-Ni (R)/ 8YSZ was stably maintained even when exposed to dry CH4 condition at 900 °C for a long time (100 h). © 2020 Elsevier B.V

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study of impregnated La0.4Sr0.6Ti0.8Mn0.2O3±d anode material for high temperature-operating solid oxide fuel cell

In this study, the chemical states of a powder type and an impregnated type of the La0.4Sr0.6Ti0.8Mn0.2O3±d (LSTM) oxide system were investigated along with its electrical conductivities in order to apply these materials as alternative anode materials for high temperature-operating Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (HT-SOFCs). The Ni/8YSZ samples with LSTM impregnated into the pores created by partially removing nickel, Ni/8YSZ (Ni (R)/8YSZ), showed much higher electrical conductivity values than those of unimpregnated Ni/8YSZ (Ni (E)/8YSZ) samples under dry H2 fuel condition. Reduction of Mn4+ to Mn3+ was observed when LSTM was reduced. Additional reduction properties of Mn2+ from Mn3+ and satellite peaks were found when impregnated LSTM was coated onto a Ni/8YSZ substrate. The reduction of the charge state of Ti contained in LSTM showed the same behavior as the reduction property of Mn. However, a satellite peak identified as metal Ti was only observed when impregnated LSTM was coated on a selectively Ni-removed Ni/8YSZ (Ni (R)/8YSZ) substrate

Integrated motor drives: state of the art and future trends

With increased need for high power density, high efficiency and high temperature capabilities in Aerospace and Automotive applications, Integrated Motor Drives (IMD) offers a potential solution. However, close physical integration of the converter and the machine may also lead to an increase in components temperature. This requires careful mechanical, structural and thermal analysis; and design of the IMD system. This paper reviews existing IMD technologies and their thermal effects on the IMD system. The effects of the power electronics (PE) position on the IMD system and its respective thermal management concepts are also investigated. The challenges faced in designing and manufacturing of an IMD along with the mechanical and structural impacts of close physical integration is also discussed and potential solutions are provided. Potential converter topologies for an IMD like the Matrix converter, 2-level Bridge, 3-level NPC and Multiphase full bridge converters are also reviewed. Wide band gap devices like SiC and GaN and their packaging in power modules for IMDs are also discussed. Power modules components and packaging technologies are also presented

Eighty Years of Mycopathologia: A Retrospective Analysis of Progress Made in Understanding Human and Animal Fungal Pathogens

Mycopathologia was founded in 1938 to \u27diffuse the understanding of fungal diseases in man and animals among mycologists.\u27 This was an important mission considering that pathogenic fungi for humans and animals represent a tiny minority of the estimated 1.5-5 million fungal inhabitants on Earth. These pathogens have diverged from the usual saprotrophic lifestyles of most fungi to colonize and infect humans and animals. Medical and veterinary mycology is the subdiscipline of microbiology that dwells into the mysteries of parasitic, fungal lifestyles. Among the oldest continuing scientific publications on the subject, Mycopathologia had its share of \u27classic papers\u27 since the first issue was published in 1938. An analysis of the eight decades of notable contributions reveals many facets of host-pathogen interactions among 183 volumes comprising about 6885 articles. We have analyzed the impact and relevance of this body of work using a combination of citation tools (Google Scholar and Scopus) since no single citation metric gives an inclusive perspective. Among the highly cited Mycopathologia publications, those on experimental mycology accounted for the major part of the articles (36%), followed by diagnostic mycology (16%), ecology and epidemiology (15%), clinical mycology (14%), taxonomy and classification (10%), and veterinary mycology (9%). The first classic publication, collecting nearly 200 citations, appeared in 1957, while two articles published in 2010 received nearly 150 citations each, which is notable for a journal covering a highly specialized field of study. An empirical analysis of the publication trends suggests continuing interests in novel diagnostics, fungal pathogenesis, review of clinical diseases especially with relevance to the laboratory scientists, taxonomy and classification of fungal pathogens, fungal infections and carriage in pets and wildlife, and changing ecology and epidemiology of fungal diseases around the globe. We anticipate that emerging and re-emerging fungal pathogens will continue to cause significant health burden in the coming decades. It remains vital that scientists and physicians continue to collaborate by learning each other\u27s language for the study of fungal diseases, and Mycopathologia will strive to be their partner in this increasingly important endeavor to its 100th anniversary in 2038 and beyond

Genetic Sharing with Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Diabetes Reveals Novel Bone Mineral Density Loci.

Bone Mineral Density (BMD) is a highly heritable trait, but genome-wide association studies have identified few genetic risk factors. Epidemiological studies suggest associations between BMD and several traits and diseases, but the nature of the suggestive comorbidity is still unknown. We used a novel genetic pleiotropy-informed conditional False Discovery Rate (FDR) method to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with BMD by leveraging cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated disorders and metabolic traits. By conditioning on SNPs associated with the CVD-related phenotypes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, triglycerides and waist hip ratio, we identified 65 novel independent BMD loci (26 with femoral neck BMD and 47 with lumbar spine BMD) at conditional FDR < 0.01. Many of the loci were confirmed in genetic expression studies. Genes validated at the mRNA levels were characteristic for the osteoblast/osteocyte lineage, Wnt signaling pathway and bone metabolism. The results provide new insight into genetic mechanisms of variability in BMD, and a better understanding of the genetic underpinnings of clinical comorbidity