Over-the-horizon radars (OTHRs) utilize the refractive properties of the ionosphere to illuminate targets beyond the Earth's horizon. Consequently, the performance of this type of radar is highly ...dependent on the ionosphere. Reliable models of the radar ground backscatter are required to accurately assess the ionospheric propagation conditions and, thus, the expected performance of OTHRs. The ground backscatter coefficient characterizes the amount of radiation scattered back from a surface toward a receiver per unit area. While the backscatter coefficient of the sea is well understood and may be calculated from theory if the sea state is known, the backscatter coefficient of land at high frequencies is not well understood. To calculate the land backscatter coefficients over Northern Australia, a methodology that compares observed backscatter ionograms to those synthesized using high-frequency (HF) radio wave ray-tracing techniques through model ionospheres was developed. Maps of the backscatter coefficients across Northern Australia were produced. The effects of surface properties, including topography, soil moisture, and vegetation cover on the backscatter coefficients, were investigated. A weak positive correlation between the backscatter coefficient and the soil moisture and surface roughness was observed; however, it was found that the vegetation had the largest effect on the backscatter coefficient.
Gravimetric normal-phase silver ion-silica gel column chromatography has been used for the novel application of purification of GLA-containing triglycerides (GLA-TGs) from evening primrose seed oil ...(EPO). Gradient elution with increasing polarity enabled separation of valuable TG species containing γ-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n-6). Enzymatic hydrolysis revealed the distribution of fatty acids (FAs) in the isolated TG species, with GLA in the sn-2 position in different percentages, depending on the degree of unsaturation. A novelty of this work was the successful use of the procedure to improve the purification of raw GLA species from EPO up to preparative scale, thus enabling use of this methodology for industrial purposes.
Effect of alternative splicing (AS) on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) pathogenesis and survival has not been systematically addressed. Here, we compared differentially expressed genes and ...exons in association with survival after chemoimmunotherapy, and between germinal center B-cell like (GCB) and activated B-cell like (ABC) DLBCLs. Genome-wide exon array-based screen was performed from samples of 38 clinically high-risk patients who were treated in a Nordic phase II study with dose-dense chemoimmunotherapy and central nervous system prophylaxis. The exon expression profile separated the patients according to molecular subgroups and survival better than the gene expression profile. Pathway analyses revealed enrichment of AS genes in inflammation and adhesion-related processes, and in signal transduction, such as phosphatidylinositol signaling system and adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporters. Altogether, 49% of AS-related exons were protein coding, and domain prediction showed 28% of such exons to include a functional domain, such as transmembrane helix domain or phosphorylation sites. Validation in an independent cohort of 92 DLBCL samples subjected to RNA-sequencing confirmed differential exon usage of selected genes and association of AS with molecular subtypes and survival. The results indicate that AS events are able to discriminate GCB and ABC DLBCLs and have prognostic impact in DLBCL.
Abstract Lymphocytes are major players in the development of innate and adaptive immune responses but their behavior in patients with acute stroke has received little attention. Experimental ...procedures: Using flow cytometry we identified total lymphocytes, T cells, helper T (Th) cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), natural killer (NK) cells, B cells, and regulatory T (Treg) cells in 46 consecutive patients with acute stroke within a median of 180 min of clinical onset, and at days 2, 7, and 90. Daily neurological score (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), diffusion-weighted imaging on brain magnetic resonance imaging, functional impairment, and stroke-associated infection (SAI) at day 7 were assessed. Apoptosis in lymphocyte subsets, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α/interleukin (IL) -4 production in stimulated Th and CTL, cluster of differentiation 86 (CD86) (B7-2) expression in B cells, cortisol and metanephrine in serum were measured. Multivariate analyses were used to evaluate SAI, and stroke outcome. Results: Increased apoptosis and a fall of T, Th, CTL, B, and Treg cells were observed after stroke. Severer stroke on admission and SAI disclosed a greater decline of T, Th, and CTL cells. Increased cortisol and metanephrine was associated with severe stroke and SAI, and inversely correlated with T, and CTL. T cells, and CTL were correlated with infarct growth. Stroke but not SAI resulted in lower TNF-α production in Th cells. SAI showed the greatest fall of lymphocytes, T, Th, and CTL, but not B cells, or Treg. Poor outcome was associated with reduced levels of B cells, and increased expression of CD86 in B cells, but not with SAI. Conclusion: Lymphopenia and increased apoptosis of T, Th, CTL, Treg and B cells are early signatures after human stroke. A decreased cellular response after stroke is a marker of ongoing brain damage, the stress response, and a higher risk of infection. A lower humoral response is predictor of poorer long-term outcome.
In this paper we investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of ionospheric irregularities in the South-East Asian longitude sector by analysing the scintillation of GPS signals received at ...ground based stations. The data used for this work were collected during 1998 to 2002 with our regional network of GPS based scintillation monitors (Thomas et al., 2001). The aim of this analysis is to better understand the morphology and climatology of ionospheric irregularities in our region. Interesting differences between the north and south anomalies are noted when we examine the latitudinal–temporal variation of irregularity activity. We investigate the possible causes of these differences and note that variations in the irregularity seeding mechanism and in the background ionosphere at the two anomalies could be important. Phase screen diffraction theory is used to analyse our scintillation data and we note problems with this theory for ray-paths with large off-zenith angles. The height of the phase screen is another important issue. We discuss the implications for models which rely on phase screen diffraction theory.
We report on results obtained with the NEXT-DEMO prototype of the NEXT-100 high-pressure xenon gas time projection chamber (TPC), filled with pure xenon gas at 10 bar pressure and exposed to an alpha ...decay calibration source. Compared to our previous measurements with alpha particles, an upgraded detector and improved analysis techniques have been used. We measure event-by-event correlated fluctuations between ionization and scintillation due to electron-ion recombination in the gas, with correlation coefficients between ?0.80 and ?0.56 depending on the drift field conditions. By combining the two signals, we obtain a 2.8% FWHM energy resolution for 5.49 MeV alpha particles and a measurement of the optical gain of the electroluminescent TPC. The improved energy resolution also allows us to measure the specific activity of the radon in the gas due to natural impurities. Finally, we measure the average ratio of excited to ionized atoms produced in the xenon gas by alpha particles to be 0.561+ or - 0.045, translating into an average energy to produce a primary scintillation photon of W sub(ex)=(39.2+ or - 3.2) eV.
Triarachidonoyl Glycerol Purification Process Venegas-Venegas, E.; Rincón-Cervera, M. A.; Guil-Guerrero, J. L.
Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society,
March 2011, Letnik:
88, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Purification of arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) from different sources has been previously reported, but in most cases AA is obtained after triacylglycerol (TAG) hydrolysis. In this work, gravimetric ...normal-phase chromatography with gradient elution has been used to purify an AA-enriched fraction of TAG from the commercial single cell oil named ARASCO (38–44% AA content). A TAG fraction with more than 90% AA content was obtained, employing appropriate solvents for alimentary processing. The process was scaled up with satisfactory results. Due to the use of food-safe solvents in the whole process, it could be applied with alimentary or pharmaceutical purposes.
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