4,666 research outputs found
Communities of Co-presence and Surveillance: how public open space shapes awareness and behaviour in residential developments
No full text12-15 June 200
Cation migration in zeolites: An in situ powder diffraction and MAS NMR study of the structure of zeolite Cs(Na)-Y during dehydration
No full textIn situ synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and Cs-133 and Na-23 MAS NMR have been used to investigate the cation migration and ordering in samples of cesium-exchanged zeolite NaY as a function of temperature and cesium cation-exchange level and during dehydration. Samples were prepared with cesium-exchange levels varying from 68 to 83% of the total cation content by carrying out repeated ion-exchange and calcination steps. Lower cesium content samples contain sodium cations in the sodalite cages and cesium cations in the supercages (SII and SIII) directly after the ion-exchange process. After dehydration at 350 degrees C and above, sodium cations are observed in the supercages (in SII) and in the double B-rings (SI). A maximum of 8 cesium cations/unit cell (1/sodalite cage) migrate from the super to the sodalite cages, occupying SII' and SI' positions. The supercage sodium cations are then exchanged for cesium in the subsequent ion-exchange steps, increasing the cesium content. In situ X-ray data, collected during dehydration, showed that the sodium migration from SI' to SI occurs initially (at > 180 degrees C). This migration appears to be accompanied by, or drives, the migration of Cs+ from the supercages to the sodalite cages, which occurs at approximately the same temperature (> 200 degrees C). It is not until > 300 degrees C that the migration of SI' sodium cations to SII is observed. Significant variations in the cation occupancies within the cages are seen at different temperatures in the dehydrated samples. For example, at 500 degrees C, there are an equal number of SII and SIII' cesium cations in the lower cesium content sample. On cooling, the cesium cations order in the SII position, the SIII' occupancy dropping from 12.5 to 7. An ordering scheme for the cations in the supercage is suggested to explain these observations. A number of resonances are seen in the Cs-133 MAS NMR, which are assigned, making use of the occupancies obtained from the Rietveld refinements, to the various cesium positions. The lack of spinning sidebands associated with some of the resonances indicates that the some cations in the supercages are mobile, even at room temperature. When the temperature is raised, a number of SII and Sm resonances coalesce, as the cation mobility in the supercages increases
Sorbate rearrangement and cation migration in HFC-134 loaded NaY zeolite: A temperature dependent synchrotron powder diffraction study
No full textThe HFC-134/NaY binding has been monitored by temperature dependent X-ray powder diffraction. Diffraction patterns were obtained as a function of different loading levels to investigate the rearrangement of the cations and of the HFC-134 molecules, in the temperature range 100-230 K. In situ real-time data were collected using a Translating Imaging Plate System (TIPS) at the NSLS (USA). Rietveld structure refinements were performed for the HFC-134 (32 molecules per unit cell [m/uc = molecules per unit cell] or 4 molecules per supercage [m/sc = molecules per supercage]) using data collected from 100 to 230 K. A phase transition is observed at about 180 K (A to B phase transition) where a disordering of the HFC-134 molecule takes place and modification of its surrounding due to Na+ migrations is observed. These results are preliminary and the experiment with the 32 m/ue should be repeated in order to assess whether the observed effect is reproducible
Formation of alpha-eucryptite, LiAlSiO4: An in-situ synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction study of a high temperature hydrothermal synthesis
No full textHydrothermal conversion of zeolite Li-A(BW), LiAlSiO4 H2O, into alpha-eucryptite, LiAlSiO4, occurs at temperatures above 350 degrees C. We report here the first in-situ study of a high-temperature hydrothermal synthesis using time-resolved powder diffraction. The following hydrothermal reactions were studied: 4 M NaNO3:LiAlSiO4 [ABW] --> Li(Na)AlSiO4 H2O [ABW] --> Na(6)Al(6)Si6O(24).2NaNO(3) [SOD]; 2 M LiCl:LiAlSiO4 H2O [ABW] --> alpha-LiAlSiO4; 2 M LiCl:LiAlSiO4[ABW] --> LiAlSiO4.H2O [ABW] --> alpha-LiAlSiO4. The hydrothermal syntheses were performed in stainless steel capillaries. To maintain hydrothermal conditions, a hydraulic pressure of 2-300 atm was applied. Synchrotron X-ray radiation with energies of 35-40 keV was used in order to penetrate the steel capillaries. Room temperature Imaging Plate powder diffraction data were collected on a sample of zeolite Li-A(BW) contained in a steel capillary in an aqueous solution at 200 atm. pressure. With the use of a 10 min exposure, it was possible successfully to refine the crystal structure of zeolite Li-A(BW) using Rietveld refinement. Angle dispersive time-resolved in-situ powder diffraction patterns were collected using a Translating Imaging Plate (TIP) camera. Crystallization and degradation curves for the high-temperature hydrothermal conversion experiments were determined using integrated intensities of selected diffraction lines. The kinetic curves were analyzed using first-order rate expressions
Combined MAS NMR and X-ray powder diffraction structural characterization of hydrofluorocarbon-134 adsorbed on zeolite NaY: Observation of cation migration and strong sorbate-cation interactions
No full textNa-23 MAS NMR and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction methods have been used to study the binding of hydrofluorocarbon-134 (HFC-154, CF2HCF2H) in zeolite NaY. A contraction of the volume of the unit cell is observed on gas adsorption, and the interaction of HFC-134 with the extraframework sodium cations is so strong that extraframework sodium cations in the sodalite cages (site I') migrate into the supercages. These sodium cations are found on positions close to the site III' positions of zeolite NaX. Both ends of the HFC molecules are bound to sodium cations, the HFC molecule bridging the site II and III' cations in the supercages. The strong cation-HFC interaction results in a considerable displacement of the sodium site II cation along the [111] direction into the supercage and an increase in the T-O-T bond angle for the three oxygen atoms coordinated to this cation. A decrease in the Na-23 quadrupole coupling constant on HFC adsorption from 4.4 to less than 2.8 MHz, for the sodium cations originally located in the sodalite cages (site I'), is consistent with the sodium cation migrations
JC and BK polyomavirus-like particles as targets of innate and adaptive humoral immunity
No full textJC polyomavirus (JCPyV) and BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) were identified as the first of now more than 12 human polyomaviruses (HPyVs). The average JCPyV and BKPyV seroprevalence rates in adults are 70% and 90%, respectively. After asymptomatic infection both viruses persist in the renourinary tract. In fact, asymptomatic viruria is detectable in one-third of general population. However, in immunocompromised patients, JCPyV and BKPyV replication may progress to significant diseases. Hence, JCPyV can cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in patients with HIV-AIDS, malignancies or autoimmune diseases under immunosuppressive treatment. BKPyV can be a cause of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PyVAN) in kidney transplant recipients or hemorrhagic cystitis (PyVHC) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Due to more frequent application of immunosuppression, the risk of developing these diseases has increased in the last few decades. The risk of PML development is estimated to be 100-fold higher for JCPyV-seropositive patients in comparison to JCPyV-seronegatives. Most cases of PyVAN and PyVHC have been tested positive for BKPyV at the moment of disease diagnosis. Unfortunately, there is no specific antiviral therapy against any of these HPyV diseases. Thus, current strategies to avert PyVAN or PyVHC aim at identifying patients with BKPyV viremia and reducing immunosuppression. Similar strategies for PML have not been effective, since JCPyV viremia is usually not detected prior to or at the diagnosis of disease. The fate of BKPyV and JCPyV virus-like particles (VLPs) was examined in an animal model corresponding to primary viremia in non-immune host. Radioactively labeled VLPs were used to assess blood decay, organ, and hepatocellular distribution of ligand, and non-labeled VLPs to examine cellular uptake by immunohisto- and cytochemistry. Rapid distribution of both BKPyV and JCPyV VLPs to the liver was observed, with lesser uptake in kidney and spleen. Liver uptake was predominantly observed in LSECs. Blood half-life and tissue distribution of both wild-type JCPyV VLPs and two mutant JCPyV VLPs (L55F and S269F), lacking sialic acid binding affinity, were similar, indicating involvement of non-sialic acid receptors in cellular uptake. We concluded that LSECs very effectively cleared a large fraction of blood-borne BKPyV and JCPyV VLPs, indicating a central role of these cells in early removal of polyomavirus from the circulation. Moreover, we observed that a subpopulation of endothelial cells in kidney, the main organ of polyomavirus persistence, showed selective and rapid uptake of VLPs, suggesting a role in viremic organ tropism (Simon-Santamaria et al., p. 54). Giving the increasing clinical need to reliably determine JCPyV and BKPyV IgG levels in patients at risk, we first reviewed and optimized serological tools for JCPyV and BKPyV IgG detection including virus-like particle (VLP)-based ELISA. We demonstrated that although no statistically significant differences in intraassay and interassay variability were revealed for JCPyV serology of 400-fold diluted sera from healthy donors, qualitative differences were seen in the identification of the individual JCPyV serostatus. The cause of discordance for approximately 10% of sera resulted from a low IgG activity close to the cutoff of the assay. Therefore we standardized the ELISA using reference serum for normalization. Moreover, we developed a preadsorption assay with cutoff of 35% reduction of the JCPyV IgG activity after preincubation with JCPyV VLPs. Importantly, we excluded BKPyV antibody cross-reactivity by testing JCPyV IgG positive sera in preadsorption assay using BKPyV VLPs. In conclusion, we showed that VLP-based ELISA with normalization can serve as a reliable tool for JCPyV IgG serology. Additionally, the preadsorption assay can help with unequivocal determination of JCPyV serostatus for samples with low IgG levels. (Kardas et al., p. 72). We also normalized this VLP-based ELISA for BKPyV IgG detection and showed that for seroepidemiology studies, normalized JCPyV and BKPyV IgG ELISA at 1:200 serum dilution provides optimal sensitivity and specificity with the lowest false-positive and false-negative rate. However, for individual risk assessment, 100-, 200-, and 400-fold dilutions combined with preadsorption for low-reactive sera might be the most appropriate (Kardas et al., p. 82). This improved ELISA was used to investigate JCPyV and BKPyV specific antibody levels in several clinical studies: (1) one case of PML patient where positive JCPyV IgG status was compatible with other PML-indicating symptoms (Kurmann et al., p. 90); (2) one case of PyVAN caused by JCPyV rather than BKPyV, as confirmed by JCPyV IgG/IgM positive and BKPyV IgG/IgM negative results (Lautenschlager et al., 99); (3) one case of PyVHC patient after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation where increasing BKPyV IgG activities were in line with progression of BKPyV viremia (Koskenvuo et al., p. 106). Further, by serological testing of 122 immunocompetent and 63 immunocompromised patients we demonstrated that the BKPyV IgG level is age-dependent, with the highest values between 20 and 30 years (Schmidt et al., p. 119). In another study we compared serological outcomes of ELISA utilizing two different antigens in terms of prognostic value in prostate cancer development. To accomplish this we utilized improved ELISA for BKPyV IgG activity to both BKPyV VLPs and BKPyV LTag. Testing of 226 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for primary prostate cancer revealed that BKPyV VP1 serostatus, in contrast to BKPyV LTag, has no prognostic value in prostate cancer progression (Keller et al., p. 125). In conclusion, we provided a new input into knowledge about tropism and clearance of polyomaviruses from blood. Moreover, we established a reliable and sensitive VLP-based assay for specific detection of JCPyV and BKPyV IgG and IgM. Serostatus based on ELISA results was compatible with other symptoms of BKPyV- and JCPyV-related diseases
Perancangan Sistem Informasi Pengelola Barang/Inventaris Di Jc Komp
No full textInventory information system is a system used to enter inventory data into the database, so that there are no errors in input, output data, and reporting based on the desired data. based on surveys and interviews with jc comp personnel, information was obtained that the existing system in the jc comp warehouse section is still manual. therefore, the system that will be created by the author is the result of a replication of the existing system in the jc comp warehouse section. in addition to the process of input and output of goods, this information system is also equipped with features for creating data reports, input and output of goods, and searching for goods data by item name. with the inventory information system is expected to be useful for the warehouse parts jc comp. By implementing this system in the jc comp warehouse, it is hoped that it can reduce errors that may occur. this system is also expected to further speed up the process of input, output, and report generation, which in turn will help the jc comp warehouseSistem Informasi Persediaan Barang adalah sebuah sistem yang digunakan untuk memasukkan data-data persediaan barang ke dalam database, sehinggga tidak terjadi kesalahan dalam input, output data, dan pembuatan laporan berdasarkan data yang diinginkan. Berdasarkan survey dan wawancara dengan bagian personalia Jc Komp, didapatkan informasi bahwa sistem yang ada dibagian gudang Jc Komp masih manual. Oleh karena itu, sistem yang akan dibuat oleh penulis adalah hasil replikasi dari sistem yang telah ada dibagian gudang Jc Comp. Selain proses input dan output barang, pada sistem informasi ini juga dilengkapi fitur pembuatan laporan data, input, dan output barang, dan pencarian data barang berdasarkan nama barang. Dengan adanya Sistem Informasi persediaan barang ini diharapkan dapat bermanfaat bagi bagian gudang Jc Komp. Dengan diterapkannya sistem ini pada bagian gudang Jc Comp, maka diharapkan dapat mengurangi kesalahan-kesalahan yang mungkin terjadi. Sistem ini juga diharapkan dapat lebih mempercepat proses input, output, dan pembuatan laporan yang pada akhirnya dapat membantu bagian gudang Jc Komp
Amenable L-2-Theoretic Methods and Knot Concordance
No full textWe reveal new structures in the topological knot concordance group. As a key ingredient, we develop obstructions using L-2-theoretic methods for amenable groups in Strebel's class recently introduced by Orr and the author. Concerning (h)-solvable knots, which are defined in terms of certain Whitney towers of height h in bounding 4-manifolds, we show the following: for any n>1, there are (n)-solvable but non-(n. 5)-solvable (and therefore nonslice) knots, which are not detected by prior methods using Cochran-Orr-Teichner L-2-signature obstructions as well as Levine algebraic obstructions and Casson-Gordon invariants.X1197sciescopu
Dynamics of Network Formation Processes in the Co-Author Model
No full textThis article studies the dynamics in the formation processes of a mutual consent network in game theory setting: the Co-Author Model. In this article, a limited observation is applied and analytical results are derived. Then, 2 parameters are varied: the number of individuals in the network and the initial probability of the links in the network in its initial state. A simulation result shows a finding that is consistent with an analytical result for a state of equilibrium while it also shows different possible equilibria.Dynamics, Network, Game Theory, Model,Simulation, Equilibrium, Complexity
High-level polyomavirus JC viruria following long-term steroid therapy
No full textCASE REPORT JC virus is a highly seroprevalent ubiquitous polyomavirus which is acquired at an early age through respiratory or oral route, Thereafter JCV establishes persistent, but mainly asymptomatic, infections in various tissues, including the genitourinary tract and brain Corresponding author Cristina Costa, MD S.C.D.U. Virologia Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Giovanni Battista di Torino Via Santena, 9 -10126 Torino E-mail: [email protected] increasing with age, with adult prevalence rate often between 15% and 60
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