A multi-zone muffle furnace design

A Multi-Zone Muffle-Tube Furnace was designed, built, and tested for the purpose of providing an in-house experience base with tubular furnaces for materials processing in microgravity. As such, it must not only provide the desired temperatures and controlled thermal gradients at several discrete zones along its length but must also be capable of sustaining the rigors of a Space Shuttle launch. The furnace is insulated to minimize radial and axial heat losses. It is contained in a water-cooled enclosure for purposes of dissipating un-wanted residual heat, keeping the outer surfaces of the furnace at a 'touch-safe' temperature, and providing a rugged housing. This report describes the salient features of the furnace, testing procedures and results, and concluding remarks evaluating the overall design

Deciphering the role of Epstein-Barr virus in the pathogenesis of T and NK cell lymphoproliferations

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a highly successful herpesvirus, colonizing more than 90% of the adult human population worldwide, although it is also associated with various malignant diseases. Primary infection is usually clinically silent, and subsequent establishment of latency in the memory B lymphocyte compartment allows persistence of the virus in the infected host for life. EBV is so markedly B-lymphotropic when exposed to human lymphocytes in vitro that the association of EBV with rare but distinct types of T and NK cell lymphoproliferations was quite unexpected. Whilst relatively rare, these EBV-associated T and NK lymphoproliferations can be therapeutically challenging and prognosis for the majority of patients is dismal. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of EBV in the pathogenesis of these tumours, and the implications for treatment. \ud \u

Modelling Provenance of Sensor Data for Food Safety Compliance Checking

The research described here was funded by an award made by the RCUK IT as a Utility Network+ (EP/K003569/1) and the UK Food Standards Agency. We thank the owner and staff of Rye & Soda restaurant, Aberdeen for their support throughout the project.Postprin

Random phase approximation and its extension for the quantum O(2) anharmonic oscillator

We apply the random phase approximation (RPA) and its extension called renormalized RPA to the quantum anharmonic oscillator with an O(2) symmetry. We first obtain the equation for the RPA frequencies in the standard and in the renormalized RPA approximations using the equation of motion method. In the case where the ground state has a broken symmetry, we check the existence of a zero frequency in the standard and in the renormalized RPA approximations. Then we use a time-dependent approach where the standard RPA frequencies are obtained as small oscillations around the static solution in the time-dependent Hartree-Bogoliubov equation. We draw a parallel between the two approaches.Comment: 26 pages, Latex file, no figur

Non-specific abdominal pain and air pollution: a novel association.

We studied whether short-term exposure to air pollution was associated with non-specific abdominal pain in epidemiologic and animal studies. Patients visiting the emergency department with non-specific abdominal pain were identified in Edmonton (1992 to 2002, n = 95,173) and Montreal (1997 to 2002, n = 25,852). We calculated the daily concentrations for ozone (O(3)), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), carbon monoxide (CO), and particles <10 (PM(10)) or <2.5 (PM(2.5)) µm. A case crossover study design was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) associated with an increase in the interquartile range of the air pollutants. We investigated differential effects by age and sex. Mice were gavaged with urban particle extracts. In animal models, colonic motility was tested, and visceral abdominal pain was measured using a writhing test, and behavioral response to oil of mustard and neostigmine. Motility and pain was measured acutely (1.5 hours after gavage) and chronically (7-days and 21-days after gavage). Emergency department visits for non-specific abdominal pain were primarily by women between the ages of 15-24 years. Individuals aged 15 to 24 years were at increased risk of non-specific abdominal pain in Edmonton (same day CO: OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02-1.06; and NO(2): OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.03-1.09). The risk of air pollution among 15-24 year olds in Montreal was significantly positive (same day CO: OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.05-1.17; NO(2): OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.01-1.16; SO(2): OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.10-1.25; PM(2.5): OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.04-1.15). Abdominal pain was increased by an acute gavage of pollution extract but not to chronic exposure to pollutants. Colonic transit was delayed following chronic but not acute exposure with the pollutants. Epidemiological and animal data suggest that short-term exposure to air pollution may trigger non-specific abdominal pain in young individuals