Diagnostics of laser-induced plasma on carbon-based polymer material using atomic and molecular emission spectra

Time-integrated optical emission analysis of laser-induced plasma on Teflon is presented.Plasma was induced under atmospheric pressure air using transversely excited atmospheric CO_(2) laser pulses.Teflon is a C-based polymer that is,among other things,interesting as a substrate for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy analysis of liquid samples.This study aimed to determine the optimal experimental conditions for obtaining neutral and ionized C spectral lines and C2 and CN molecular band emission suitable for spectrochemical purposes.Evaluation of plasma parameters was done using several spectroscopic techniques.Stark profiles of appropriate C ionic lines were used to determine electron number density.The ratio of the integral intensity of ionic-to-atomic C spectral lines was used to determine the ionization temperature.A spectral emission of C2 Swan and CN violet bands system was used to determine the temperature of the colder,peripheral parts of plasma.We critically analyzed the use of molecular emission bands as a tool for plasma diagnostics and suggested methods for possible improvements.

Comethylation of p16 and MGMT genes in colorectal carcinoma:Correlation with clinicopathological features and prognostic value

AIM: To investigate the significance of p16 and O6- methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) genes promoter hypermethylation and K-ras mutations on colorectal tumorigenesis and progression. METHODS: p16 and MGMT methylation status was examined on 47 tumor samples, and K-ras mutational status was examined on 85 tumor samples. For methylation analysis, a methylation specific PCR (MS-PCR) method was used. RESULTS: p16 and MGMT promoter methylation was found in 51% (24/47) and 43% (20/47) of CRCs, respectively, and the K-ras mutation was found in 44% (37/85) of CRCs. Comethylation of p16 and MGMT genes was significantly associated with lower aggressiveness of the disease within a two-year period of observation. Only 27% of patients with simultaneous p 16 and MGMT methylation showed the detectible occurrence of metastasis and/or death, compared to 67% of patients without double methylation or with no methylation (3/11 vs 22/33, P < 0.05, χ2-test). In addition, p16 and MGMT comethylation showed a trend toward an association with longer survival in patients with CRCs (35.5 ± 6.0 mo vs 23.1 ± 3.2 mo, P = 0.072, Log-rank test). Progression of the disease within a two-year period was observed in 66% of patients carrying the K-ras mutation, compared to only 19% of patients with wild type K-ras (29/44 vs 7/37, P < 0.001, χ2-test). The presence of the K-ras mutation significantly correlated to shortened overall survival (20.0 ± 1.9 mo vs 37.0 ± 1.8 mo, P < 0.001, Log-rank test). The comethylation of p16 and MGMT genes was significantly associated with lower aggressiveness of the disease even when K-ras mutations were included in the analysis as an independent variable. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that comethylation of promoters of p 16 and MGMT genes could have a prognostic value in patients with CRC. Specifically, concurrent methylation of both genes correlates with better prognosis.

Microstructure and Toughness of Seeded Hot-Pressed Si_3N_4 Ceramics

Densification, phase transformation and fracture toughness were studied in hot-pressed Si_3N_4 seeded by in-houseproduced large, elongated β-Si_3N_4 seeds. A mixture of Y_2O_3-Al_2O_3 was used as the sintering aid. Concentration ofseeds were varied from 0 to 6 wt pct and the sintering time at 1700℃ was varied from 1 to 4 h. Maximum fracturetoughness of 9.0 MPam^(1/2) was measured in samples containing 5 wt pct seeds, hot pressed at 1700℃ for 4 h.

Catastrophe of Power Transmission System

Power systems are critical infrastructures in the same way as gas and oil networks, water networks, transportation networks, telecommunications systems and computer systems. These complex networked systems are increasingly interdependent on each other, as the digital society matures on a global scale. A typical example of a critical infrastructure vulnerability that undergoes rising vulnerability to catastrophic failure is the power transmission network. There are several reasons for such a situation to prevail. Firstly, as witnessed in developed countries, there has been a very slow expansion of the high voltage transmission grid during recent decades due to stringent regulations put forward in response to environmental concerns. Secondly, there are the profound structural reforms that the power industry has embarked on, which are geared toward the emergence and consolidation of competitive energy markets. In the evaluation of catastrophe of the power transmission system, the most important parameter to be taken into a consideration is resilience index of electro-magnet floury. In particular, it has been taken into consideration its effect on the different fields of human interest.

A model for the chain-to-plane charge transfer in YBa_2Cu_3O_(6+x)

A model for the chain-to-plane charge transfer is proposed to account for the two plateaus, at 60 K and at 90 K, of the Tc（x） characteristics of the YBa2Cu3O6＋x high-Tc superconductor. It is assumed that the number of holes transferred from a CuO chain of length l to two nearby CuO2 sheets is proportional to l （that is, to the number of oxygen atoms in the chain）, if the chain length is greater than, or equal to, a certain critical chain length, lcr, that is required to trigger the charge transfer process. No holes are assumed to have been transferred from chains of length l〈 lcr. The calculated Tc（x） dependence is found to be in excellent agreement with the experimentally reported Tc（x）. The critical chain length parameter is estimated to be equal to lcr = 11 （eleven oxygen atoms in a chain）, which is a greater value than that obtained in the previously proposed model for the chain-to-plane charge transfer （lcr = 4）. The results obtained out of the proposed model are briefly discussed.