Performance of laminated contact material Cu—Mo in open air AC low voltage contactors

In the paper performance of laminated contact material Cu—Mo when use in open air ac low voltage contactors is presented and discussed. On the basis of the investigated results conclusions on effective application of such material to replace silver based compositions are formulated.Представлены и обсуждаются эксплуатационные качества слоистого контактного материала Cu—Mo, используемого в низковольтных контакторах на открытом воздухе. По результатам исследований сформулированы рекомендации по эффективному применению такого материала взамен серебросодержащего.Представлено і обговорюються експлуатаційні властивості шаруватого контактного матеріалу Cu—Mo, який використовується в низьковольтних контакторах на відкритому повітрі. За результатами досліджень сформульо-вано рекомендації щодо ефективного застосування такого матеріалу замість срібловміщуючого

Laser spectroscopy for breath analysis : towards clinical implementation

Detection and analysis of volatile compounds in exhaled breath represents an attractive tool for monitoring the metabolic status of a patient and disease diagnosis, since it is non-invasive and fast. Numerous studies have already demonstrated the benefit of breath analysis in clinical settings/applications and encouraged multidisciplinary research to reveal new insights regarding the origins, pathways, and pathophysiological roles of breath components. Many breath analysis methods are currently available to help explore these directions, ranging from mass spectrometry to laser-based spectroscopy and sensor arrays. This review presents an update of the current status of optical methods, using near and mid-infrared sources, for clinical breath gas analysis over the last decade and describes recent technological developments and their applications. The review includes: tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy, cavity ring-down spectroscopy, integrated cavity output spectroscopy, cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy, photoacoustic spectroscopy, quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy, and optical frequency comb spectroscopy. A SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) is presented that describes the laser-based techniques within the clinical framework of breath research and their appealing features for clinical use.Peer reviewe

Preservation of microvascular barrier function requires CD31 receptor-induced metabolic reprogramming

Endothelial barrier (EB) breaching is a frequent event during inflammation, and it is followed by the rapid recovery of microvascular integrity. The molecular mechanisms of EB recovery are poorly understood. Triggering of MHC molecules by migrating T-cells is a minimal signal capable of inducing endothelial contraction and transient microvascular leakage. Using this model, we show that EB recovery requires a CD31 receptor-induced, robust glycolytic response sustaining junction re-annealing. Mechanistically, this response involves src-homology phosphatase activation leading to Akt-mediated nuclear exclusion of FoxO1 and concomitant \u3b2-catenin translocation to the nucleus, collectively leading to cMyc transcription. CD31 signals also sustain mitochondrial respiration, however this pathway does not contribute to junction remodeling. We further show that pathologic microvascular leakage in CD31-deficient mice can be corrected by enhancing the glycolytic flux via pharmacological Akt or AMPK activation, thus providing a molecular platform for the therapeutic control of EB response

The widening spectrum of C9ORF72-related disease; genotype/phenotype correlations and potential modifiers of clinical phenotype

The GGGGCC (G4C2) repeat expansion in C9ORF72 is the most common cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD) and ALS–FTLD, as well as contributing to sporadic forms of these diseases. Screening of large cohorts of ALS and FTLD cohorts has identified that C9ORF72-ALS is represented throughout the clinical spectrum of ALS phenotypes, though in comparison with other genetic subtypes, C9ORF72 carriers have a higher incidence of bulbar onset disease. In contrast, C9ORF72-FTLD is predominantly associated with behavioural variant FTD, which often presents with psychosis, most commonly in the form of hallucinations and delusions. However, C9ORF72 expansions are not restricted to these clinical phenotypes. There is a higher than expected incidence of parkinsonism in ALS patients with C9ORF72 expansions, and the G4C2 repeat has also been reported in other motor phenotypes, such as primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, corticobasal syndrome and Huntington-like disorders. In addition, the expansion has been identified in non-motor phenotypes including Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. It is not currently understood what is the basis of the clinical variation seen with the G4C2 repeat expansion. One potential explanation is repeat length. Sizing of the expansion by Southern blotting has established that there is somatic heterogeneity, with different expansion lengths in different tissues, even within the brain. To date, no correlation with expansion size and clinical phenotype has been established in ALS, whilst in FTLD only repeat size in the cerebellum was found to correlate with disease duration. Somatic heterogeneity suggests there is a degree of instability within the repeat and evidence of anticipation has been reported with reducing age of onset in subsequent generations. This variability/instability in expansion length, along with its interactions with environmental and genetic modifiers, such as TMEM106B, may be the basis of the differing clinical phenotypes arising from the mutation

Activity of arginase within winter triticale seedlings attacked by grain aphid [Sitobion avenae F.]

Arginase (EC 3.5.3.1) catalyses biodegradation of L-arginine to L‑ornithine and urea. The aim of the study was to determine changes in arginase activity within seedlings of winter triticale caused by Sitobion avenae feeding. Obtained results showed an increase in the arginase activity within shoots of winter triticale seedlings susceptible Tornado cv and decrease in less susceptible Witon cv after 24 h of the grain aphid feeding. Further aphid feeding caused decrease in activity of the enzyme within shoots of the both studied cultivars and final induction after two weeks of feeding. In the roots of Tornado cv the enzyme activity decreased during the first week of the aphid feeding and slightly increased after two weeks. However, in analogous parts of the Witon cv seedlings settled by S. avenae an increase in arginase activity was observed after 24 h and decrease after one week was noticed. Importance of the arginase in interactions between the winter triticale and S. avenae is discussed

Applying CEAS method to UV, VIS, and IR spectroscopy sensors

In the paper, several applications of Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (CEAS) for trace mater detection are described. NO2 sensor was constructed using this technique with blue-violet lasers (395–440 nm). The sensor sensitivity reaches the level of single ppb and it was applied in security portal. For detection of two gases at the same time, two-channel sensor was constructed. Used method allows a significant reduction in the cost of optoelectronic CEAS sensor designed to measure of concentrations of many gases simultaneously. Successful monitoring of N2O and NO in the air requires high precision mid-infrared spectroscopy. The constructed sensors are able to measure concentration at ppb level. These sensors might be used for monitoring of atmospheric purity as well as for detection of explosives

Preconcentration of explosives

Przedstawiono wyniki badań nad zastosowaniem instrumentalnej chromatografii cienkowarstwowej do pomiaru skuteczności retencji wybranych materiałów wybuchowych (TNT, NG i TAT P) na adsorbentach stosowanych w analizatorach par MW lub produktach ich rozkładu. Dowiedziono, że wstępne stężanie może być wykorzystane wyłącznie do detekcji par MW; analizy ilościowe nie są możliwe, ponieważ nie zaobserwowano liniowych zależności między czasem retencji a masą zaadsorbowanych MW. Wykazano też, że szybka detekcja stężonych par MW jest możliwa jedynie przy użyciu detektorów o wykrywalności granicznej rzędu nanogramów.Application of the instrumented thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for the evaluation of retention effectiveness of chosen explosives (TNT, NG, TAT P, PETN ) on some adsorbents used in explosive vapor (or the explosive decomposition products) analyzers is presented. It was confirmed that the initial preconcentration can be used only for detection of explosives; quantitative analysis cannot be performed because there is no linear dependence of the adsorbed mass of an explosive on the retention time. It was also shown that fast detection of the concentrated explosive vapor is possible only with using detectors whose detection limits are at a level of nanograms

Zgrzewanie doczołowe iskrowe szyn o wysokiej wytrzymałości

The article features the results of research in the field of welding high-strength rails. The scope of the research combined not only monitoring of the welding process as such but also the assessment of the achieved results. The recommendations how to carry out welding operations are part of the results too.W artykule opisano wyniki badań w zakresie spawania szyn o wysokiej wytrzymałości. Zakres tych badań obejmował nie tylko monitorowanie samego procesu, lecz także ocenę uzyskanych rezultatów. Wynikiem badań są także rekomendacje sposobu prowadzenia robót

Kontrola operacyjna w informacyjnym systemie zarządzania zgrzewaniem doczołowym szyn realizowana w czasie rzeczywistym

Operational control of welding quality is the fundamental element of the entire rail manufacturing process. In practice, real-time systems are used for this purpose. This article features a new method that makes use of fuzzy logic to analyze the data from mechanical tests and from the ultrasound inspection of connections.Kontrola operacyjna jakości zgrzewania szyn jest zasadniczym elementem kontroli procesu całego procesu technologicznego produkcji szyn. W praktyce do tego celu stosowane są systemy działające w czasie rzeczywistym. W artykule zaproponowano nową metodę, która stosuje logikę rozmytą do analizowania danych pochodzących z testów mechanicznych połączeń oraz inspekcji ultradźwiękowej połączeń