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1.
Chem Phys Lipids ; 220: 66-76, 2019 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30448398

RESUMO

The voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) is a mitochondrial outer membrane protein whose fundamental function is to facilitate and regulate the flow of metabolites between the cytosol and the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the dependence of VDAC selectivity towards small inorganic anions on two factors: the ionic strength and the lipid composition. In agreement with experimental data we found that VDAC becomes less anion selective with increasing salt concentration due to the screening of a few basic residues that point into the pore lumen. The molecular dynamics simulations provide insight into the regulation mechanism of VDAC selectivity by the composition in the lipid membrane and suggest that the ion distribution is differently modulated by POPE compared to the POPC bilayer. This occurs through the more persistent interactions of acidic residues located at both rims of the ß-barrel with head groups of POPE which in turn impact the electrostatic potential and thereby the selectivity of the pore. This mechanism occurs not only in POPE single component membranes but also in a mixed POPE/POPC bilayer by an enrichment of POPE over POPC lipids on the surface of VDAC. Thus we show here that computationally-inexpensive coarse-grained simulations are able to capture, in a semi-quantitative way, essential features of VDAC anion selectivity and could pave the way toward a molecular level understanding of metabolite transport in natural membranes.


Assuntos
Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Fosfatidilcolinas/farmacologia , Fosfatidiletanolaminas/farmacologia , Canais de Ânion Dependentes de Voltagem/metabolismo , Animais , Camundongos , Fosfatidilcolinas/química , Fosfatidiletanolaminas/química , Sais/química , Sais/farmacologia , Eletricidade Estática , Propriedades de Superfície , Canais de Ânion Dependentes de Voltagem/química
2.
HIV Med ; 19(10): 724-733, 2018 11.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30101539

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: The single-tablet regimen rilpivirine, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide (RPV/FTC/TAF) for treatment of HIV-1-infected adults was approved based on bioequivalence. We assessed the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of switching to RPV/FTC/TAF from either RPV/FTC/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or efavirenz (EFV)/FTC/TDF. METHODS: We conducted two distinct randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, noninferiority trials in participants taking RPV/FTC/TDF (Study 1216) and EFV/FTC/TDF (Study 1160). Each study randomized virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL) adults (1:1) to switch to RPV/FTC/TAF or continue their current regimen for 96 weeks. We evaluated efficacy as the proportion with HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL using the Food and Drug Administration snapshot algorithm and prespecified bone and renal endpoints at week 96. RESULTS: We randomized and treated 630 participants in Study 1216 (RPV/FTC/TAF, n = 316; RPV/FTC/TDF, n = 314) and 875 in Study 1160 (RPV/FTC/TAF, n = 438; EFV/FTC/TDF, n = 437). In both studies, the efficacy of switching to RPV/FTC/TAF was noninferior to that of continuing baseline therapy at week 96, with respective percentages of patients with HIV RNA < 50 copies/mL being 89.2% versus 88.5% in Study 1216 [difference 0.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI) -4.3 to +5.8%] and 85.2% versus 85.1% in Study 1160 (difference 0%; 95% CI -4.8 to +4.8%). No participant on RPV/FTC/TAF developed treatment-emergent resistance versus two on EFV/FTC/TDF and one on RPV/FTC/TDF. Compared with continuing baseline therapy, significant improvements in bone mineral density and renal tubular markers were observed in the RPV/FTC/TAF groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Switching to RPV/FTC/TAF from RPV/FTC/TDF or EFV/FTC/TDF was safe and effective and improved bone mineral density and renal biomarkers up to 96 weeks with no cases of treatment-emergent resistance.


Assuntos
Antirretrovirais/administração & dosagem , Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Atividade/métodos , Combinação de Medicamentos , Substituição de Medicamentos/métodos , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Antirretrovirais/efeitos adversos , Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Atividade/efeitos adversos , Método Duplo-Cego , Substituição de Medicamentos/efeitos adversos , Feminino , HIV-1/isolamento & purificação , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , RNA Viral/sangue , Resultado do Tratamento , Carga Viral
3.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol ; 39(8): 1400-1405, 2018 08.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29976832

RESUMO

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Radiologists should manage the radiation dose for pediatric patients to maintain reasonable diagnostic confidence. We assessed the variation in estimated radiation dose indices for pediatric noncontrast head CT in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiation dose indices for single-phase noncontrast head CT examinations in patients 18 years of age and younger were retrospectively reviewed between July 2011 and June 2016 using the American College of Radiology CT Dose Index Registry. We used the reported volume CT dose index stratified by patient demographics and imaging facility characteristics. RESULTS: The registry included 295,296 single-phase pediatric noncontrast head CT studies from 1571 facilities (56% in male patients and 53% in children older than 10 years of age). The median volume CT dose index was 33 mGy (interquartile range = 22-47 mGy). The volume CT dose index increased as age increased. The volume CT dose index was lower in children's hospitals (median, 26 mGy) versus academic hospitals (median, 32 mGy) and community hospitals (median, 40 mGy). There was a lower volume CT dose index in level I and II trauma centers (median, 27 and 32 mGy, respectively) versus nontrauma centers (median, 40 mGy) and facilities in metropolitan locations (median, 30 mGy) versus those in suburban and rural locations (median, 41 mGy). CONCLUSIONS: Considerable variation in the radiation dose index for pediatric head CT exists. Median dose indices and practice variations at pediatric facilities were both lower compared with other practice settings. Decreasing dose variability through proper management of CT parameters in pediatric populations using benchmarks generated by data from registries can potentially decrease population exposure to ionizing radiation.


Assuntos
Tomografia Computadorizada de Feixe Cônico/normas , Cabeça/diagnóstico por imagem , Doses de Radiação , Adolescente , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Sistema de Registros , Estudos Retrospectivos , Estados Unidos
4.
Clin Microbiol Infect ; 24(4): 429.e1-429.e5, 2018 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28782651

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: Dalbavancin is a long-acting lipoglycopeptide with activity against gram-positives, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The potential for lipoglycopeptides, with half-lives greater than 1 week, to select for resistance is unknown. Here we explore a case of MRSA central line-associated bloodstream infection in which dalbavancin and vancomycin non-susceptibility emerged in a urine isolate collected after the patient was treated with vancomycin and dalbavancin sequentially. METHODS: Isolates from blood and urine underwent susceptibility testing, and whole genome sequencing (WGS). The blood isolate was subjected to successive passage in vitro in the presence of escalating dalbavancin concentrations and the emergent isolate was subjected to repeat susceptibility testing and WGS. RESULTS: The blood isolate was fully susceptible to vancomycin; however, MICs of the urine isolate to dalbavancin, vancomycin, telavancin, and daptomycin were at least fourfold higher than the blood-derived strain. Both strains were indistinguishable by spa and variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) typing, and WGS revealed only seven variants, indicating clonality. Four variants affected genes, including a 3bp in-frame deletion in yvqF, a gene which has been implicated in glycopeptide resistance. Vancomycin and dalbavancin non-susceptibility emerged in the blood isolate after successive passage in vitro in the presence of dalbavancin, and WGS identified a single non-synonymous variant in yvqF. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first case in which VISA has emerged in the context of a dalbavancin-containing regimen. The selection for cross-resistance to vancomycin in vitro by dalbavancin exposure alone is troubling. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility for emergence of dalbavancin non-susceptibility and glycopeptide cross-resistance arising following therapy.


Assuntos
Antibacterianos/administração & dosagem , Infecções Relacionadas a Cateter/tratamento farmacológico , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina/efeitos dos fármacos , Sepse/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções Estafilocócicas/tratamento farmacológico , Teicoplanina/análogos & derivados , Vancomicina/administração & dosagem , Adulto , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Sangue/microbiologia , Infecções Relacionadas a Cateter/microbiologia , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Humanos , Masculino , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina/isolamento & purificação , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Sepse/microbiologia , Inoculações Seriadas , Infecções Estafilocócicas/microbiologia , Teicoplanina/administração & dosagem , Teicoplanina/farmacologia , Urina/microbiologia , Vancomicina/farmacologia , Sequenciamento Completo do Genoma
5.
Mucosal Immunol ; 10(1): 69-78, 2017 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27049061

RESUMO

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are innate-like T cells that respond to lipid antigens presented by CD1d. These immunoregulatory cells have the capacity for rapid cytokine release after antigen recognition and are essential for the activation of multiple arms of the immune response. HIV-1 infection is associated with iNKT cell depletion in the peripheral blood; however, their role in the gastrointestinal-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) is less well studied. Our results show that iNKT cells are found at a higher frequency in GALT compared with blood, particularly in HIV-1 elite controllers. The capacity of iNKT cells to produce interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 in the GALT was associated with less immune activation and lower markers of microbial translocation, whereas regulatory T cell frequency showed positive associations with immune activation. We hypothesized that the composition of the microbiota would influence iNKT cell frequency and function. We found positive associations between the abundance of several Bacteroides species and iNKT cell frequency and their capacity to produce IL-4 in the GALT but not in the blood. Overall, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that GALT iNKT cells, influenced by certain bacterial species, may have a key role in regulating immune activation in HIV-1 infection.


Assuntos
Bacteroides/imunologia , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/imunologia , Infecções por HIV/imunologia , HIV-1/imunologia , Intestinos/imunologia , Células T Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Linfócitos T Reguladores/imunologia , Adulto , Idoso , Antígenos CD1d/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Feminino , Humanos , Imunidade Inata , Interleucina-10/metabolismo , Interleucina-4/metabolismo , Lipídeos/imunologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Células T Matadoras Naturais/microbiologia , Células T Matadoras Naturais/virologia , Adulto Jovem
6.
PLoS One ; 11(11): e0166759, 2016.
Artigo | Sec. Est. Saúde SP, SESSP-IBPROD, Sec. Est. Saúde SP | ID: but-ib14169

RESUMO

Chronic HIV infection is characterized by increased immune activation and immunosenescence. p16(INK4a) (p16) is a member of the cyclin-dependent kinase antagonist family that inhibits cellular proliferation, and its protein expression increases during normal chronological aging. However, some infectious diseases can increase the expression of this anti-proliferative protein, potentially accelerating immunological aging and dysfunction. In order to investigate the immunological aging in HIV patients, p16 protein expression was evaluated by flow cytometry, in T cell subsets in a cohort of chronically HIV-infected patients on and off ART as well as age-matched healthy controls. Results showed that untreated HIV-infected subjects exhibited increased per-cell p16 protein expression that was discordant with chronological aging. ART restored p16 protein expression to levels comparable with HIV-negative subjects in the CD4 compartment, but not in CD8 T cells, which can be an indicative of an irreversible activation/exhaustion status on these cells. Additionally, the frequency of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was positively correlated with p16 expression in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in untreated subjects. In contrast to healthy controls, untreated HIV-infected individuals had increased p16 levels within the effector memory (T-EM) subset, indicating a possible role for this marker in impaired clonal expansion during antiviral effector function. Taken together, these data demonstrate that chronic HIV infection is associated with elevated expression of the cellular aging marker p16 in T cells. ART restored normal p16 levels in the CD4+ T cell compartment, indicating that use of therapy can be of fundamental importance to normal cell cycling and maintaining immune homeostasis


Assuntos
Alergia e Imunologia , Virologia
7.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25875029

RESUMO

Herein, chlorophyll and betalain dyes are extracted from fresh spinach leaves and beetroots. Fourier transform infrared spectra are used to identify the characteristic peaks of the extracted dyes. UV-vis light absorption characteristics of the dyes and their mixed counterpart are investigated by varying their pH and temperature. These dyes are used as photo sensitizer for fabrication of zinc oxide photo-anode based dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photo-voltaic characteristics of the developed DSSCs are measured under simulated solar light (power of incident light 100 mW cm(-2) from Air Mass 1.5G). The solar to electric conversion efficiencies for the chlorophyll, betalain and mixed dye based solar cells are estimated as 0.148%, 0.197% and 0.294% respectively. The highest conversion efficiency for mixed dye based solar cell is attributed due to the absorption of wider range of solar spectrum.


Assuntos
Beta vulgaris/química , Betalaínas/química , Clorofila/química , Fontes de Energia Elétrica , Fármacos Fotossensibilizantes/química , Spinacia oleracea/química , Betalaínas/isolamento & purificação , Clorofila/isolamento & purificação , Corantes/química , Corantes/isolamento & purificação , Eletricidade , Eletrodos , Luz , Fármacos Fotossensibilizantes/isolamento & purificação , Folhas de Planta/química , Raízes de Plantas/química , Energia Solar , Espectrofotometria Ultravioleta , Óxido de Zinco/química
8.
Haemophilia ; 21(5): 662-9, 2015 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25854144

RESUMO

Factor VIII (FVIII) mutations cause haemophilia A (HA), an X-linked recessive coagulation disorder. Over 1000 missense mutations in FVIII are known and they lead to variable clinical phenotypes (severe, moderate and mild). The exact molecular basis of this phenotypic heterogeneity by FVIII missense mutations is elusive to date. In this study, we aimed to identify the severity determinants that cause phenotypic heterogeneity of HA. We compiled and curated a data set of 766 missense mutations from the repertoire of missense mutations in FVIII. We analysed these mutations by computational programs (e.g. Swiss-PdbViewer) and different mutation analysis servers (e.g. SIFT, PROVEAN, CUPSAT, PolyPhen2, MutPred); and various sequence- and structure-based parameters were assessed for any significant distribution bias among different HA phenotypes. Our analyses suggest that 'mutations in evolutionary conserved residues', 'mutations in buried residues', mutation-induced 'steric clash' and 'surface electrostatic potential alteration' act as risk factors towards severe HA. We have developed a grading system for FVIII mutations combining the severity determinants, and the grading pattern correlates with HA phenotype. This study will help to correctly associate the HA phenotype with a mutation and aid early characterization of novel variants.


Assuntos
Simulação por Computador , Fator VIII/genética , Hemofilia A/genética , Hemofilia A/patologia , Mutação de Sentido Incorreto/genética , Substituição de Aminoácidos , Sequência Conservada , Fator VIII/química , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Humanos , Ligação de Hidrogênio , Estabilidade Proteica , Estrutura Terciária de Proteína , Software , Solventes , Eletricidade Estática
9.
Br J Cancer ; 110(8): 2144-58, 2014 Apr 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24667650

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: The overexpression of oestrogen-related receptor-ß (ERRß) in breast cancer patients is correlated with improved prognosis and longer relapse-free survival, and the level of ERRß mRNA is inversely correlated with the S-phase fraction of cells from breast cancer patients. METHODS: Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) cloning of ERRß transcriptional targets and gel supershift assays identified breast cancer amplified sequence 2 (BCAS2) and Follistatin (FST) as two important downstream genes that help to regulate tumourigenesis. Confocal microscopy, co-immunoprecipitation (CoIP), western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR confirmed the involvement of ERRß in oestrogen signalling. RESULTS: Overexpressed ERRß induced FST-mediated apoptosis in breast cancer cells, and E-cadherin expression was also enhanced through upregulation of FST. However, this anti-proliferative signalling function was challenged by ERRß-mediated BCAS2 upregulation, which inhibited FST transcription through the downregulation of ß-catenin/TCF4 recruitment to the FST promoter. Interestingly, ERRß-mediated upregulation of BCAS2 downregulated the major G1-S transition marker cyclin D1, despite the predictable oncogenic properties of BCAS2. INTERPRETATION: Our study provides the first evidence that ERRß, which is a coregulator of ERα also acts as a potential tumour-suppressor molecule in breast cancer. Our current report also provides novel insights into the entire cascade of ERRß signalling events, which may lead to BCAS2-mediated blockage of the G1/S transition and inhibition of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition through FST-mediated regulation of E-cadherin. Importantly, matrix metalloprotease 7, which is a classical mediator of metastasis and E-cadherin cleavage, was also restricted as a result of ERRß-mediated FST overexpression.


Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Folistatina/biossíntese , Proteínas de Neoplasias/biossíntese , Receptores de Estrogênio/genética , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células , Transição Epitelial-Mesenquimal/genética , Receptor alfa de Estrogênio/genética , Feminino , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Receptores de Estrogênio/biossíntese , Transdução de Sinais , Ativação Transcricional , beta Catenina/genética
11.
Adv Orthop ; 2013: 745610, 2013.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23984077

RESUMO

Alternatives to conventional rigid fusion have been proposed for several conditions related to degenerative disc disease when nonoperative treatment has failed. Semirigid fixation, in the form of dynamic stabilization or PEEK rods, is expected to provide compression under loading as well as an intermediate level of stabilization. This study systematically examines both the load-sharing characteristics and kinematics of these two devices compared to the standard of internal rigid fixators. Load-sharing was studied by using digital pressure films inserted between an artificially machined disc and two loading fixtures. Rigid rods, PEEK rods, and the dynamic stabilization system were inserted posteriorly for stabilization. The kinematics were quantified on ten, human, cadaver lumbosacral spines (L3-S1) which were tested under a pure bending moment, in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. The magnitude of load transmission through the anterior column was significantly greater with the dynamic device compared to PEEK rods and rigid rods. The contact pressures were distributed more uniformly, throughout the disc with the dynamic stabilization devices, and had smaller maximum point-loading (pressures) on any particular point within the disc. Kinematically, the motion was reduced by both semirigid devices similarly in all directions, with slight rigidity imparted by a lateral interbody device.

12.
J Sports Med Phys Fitness ; 52(5): 465-73, 2012 Oct.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22976732

RESUMO

AIM: The purpose of this study was to develop a linear regression model to predict treadmill VO2max scores using non-exercise data. METHODS: In this cross sectional study, one hundred twenty college-aged participants (60 male, 60 female, mean age 22.02±2.29 years) voluntarily participated and successfully completed a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) on a motorized treadmill to assess VO2max (mean±SD; 2.05 L·min-¹±1.03 L·min-¹). The maximal treadmill GXT required participants to exercise to volitional fatigue. RESULTS: Relevant non-exercise data included a mean (±SD) perceived functional ability (PFA) score, and physical activity rating (PA-R) score, body surface area (BSA) of 14.6±3.9, 2.97±1..75, 1.66±0.17, respectively. Multiple linear regression generated the following regression equation (R=0.899, R2=0.805, adjusted R2=0.799, SEE=0.426 L·min-¹): VO2max (L/min)=-1.541+1.096 (gender, 1=male, 0=female) +.081 (PFA) +1.084(BSA). Each predictor variable was statistically significant (P<0.05) with beta weights for gender, PFA, BSA, PA-R, and equal to (-0.518), (0.255), (0.228), (0.092), percent body fat (-0.003), respectively. The accuracy of the model was evaluated by conducting a cross-validation analysis (N.=18). CONCLUSION: This study provides a N-EX regression prediction model that yields results and also provide a convenient and efficient tool that estimate VO2max in healthy college-aged participants in India.


Assuntos
Consumo de Oxigênio/fisiologia , Estudos Transversais , Teste de Esforço , Feminino , Humanos , Índia , Modelos Lineares , Masculino , Modelos Biológicos , Modelos Estatísticos , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adulto Jovem
13.
Radiat Prot Dosimetry ; 143(1): 88-96, 2011 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21112888

RESUMO

A systematic study of the gamma radiation levels (indoor and outdoor) in the villages surrounding the uranium-enriched regions around Jaduguda, India has been undertaken by monitoring selected dwellings in six villages. Each dwelling unit was monitored for a total duration of 1 y. The gamma radiation measurements were carried out using card-based CaSO(4): Dy thermoluminescent dosemeters. The estimated average annual gamma dose values for indoor and outdoor were 980 and 924 (µGy y(-1)), respectively, for the entire region studied. The maximum indoor and outdoor gamma doses experienced in North Dungridih and South Dungridih villages were 1305 and 1223 (µGy y(-1)), respectively. The minimum indoor and outdoor gamma dose values observed in Chatikocha village were 624 and 696 (µGy y(-1)), respectively. Seasonal variation of the indoor gamma values was not observed during the year; however, a small variation was seen with the type of building materials used for construction purposes. A statistical analysis was attempted to characterise the distribution of terrestrial gamma radiation obtained in the study area. The average quarterly indoor gamma values for spring, summer, monsoon and winter seasons as prevalent in the regions were 267±71, 262±54, 213±91, 238±66 (µGy 90 d(-1)), respectively. The annual effective doses to the local population residing in the selected dwelling units were estimated to be 0.6 and 0.1 (mSv y(-1)) for indoor and outdoor, respectively, using an occupancy factor of 0.8 and 0.2.


Assuntos
Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/análise , Contaminação Radioativa do Ar/análise , Sulfato de Cálcio/química , Materiais de Construção , Monitoramento de Radiação , Dosimetria Termoluminescente/instrumentação , Exposição Ambiental , Raios gama , Habitação , Índia , Doses de Radiação , Proteção Radiológica , Medição de Risco , Fatores de Risco , Estações do Ano
14.
J Med Phys ; 35(4): 235-41, 2010 Oct.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21170189

RESUMO

The concentrations of natural radionuclides in surface soil samples around selected villages of Jaduguda were investigated and compared with the radioactivity level in the region. Concentrations of (238)U, (232)Th, and (40)K were determined by a gamma ray spectrometer using the HPGe detector with 50% relative efficiency, and the radiation dose to the local population was estimated. The average estimated activity concentrations of (238)U, (232)Th, and (40)K in the surface soil were 53.8, 44.2 and 464.2 Bq kg(-1) respectively. The average absorbed dose rate in the study area was estimated to be 72.5 nGy h-1, where as the annual effective dose to the population was 0.09 mSv y-1. A correlation analysis was made between measured dose rate and individual radionuclides, in order to delineate the contribution of the respective nuclides towards dose rate. The radio-elemental concentrations of uranium, thorium and potassium estimated for the soils, in the study area, indicated the enrichment of uranium series nuclide. The results of the present study were subsequently compared with international and national recommended values.

15.
Appl Radiat Isot ; 68(1): 28-32, 2010 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19822438

RESUMO

Inhalation of radon ((222)Rn) and thoron ((220)Rn) are a major source of natural radiation exposure. Indoor radon-thoron study has been carried out in some dwellings of Ganjam district, southern coastal Orissa, India using LR-115 type II plastic track detectors. Seasonal variation of indoor radon and thoron shows high values in winter and low values in both summer and rainy. The inhalation dose lies in the range of 0-0.06muSvh(-1) and is not high from those found elsewhere in India.


Assuntos
Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/análise , Radônio/análise , Poluentes Radioativos do Ar , Radiação de Fundo , Habitação , Índia , Monitoramento de Radiação , Estações do Ano
16.
Appl Radiat Isot ; 67(5): 849-53, 2009 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19249217

RESUMO

Some radon related parameters have been determined through two different techniques (passive and active) in soil and phosphogypsum samples. Emanation factors determined through these techniques show a good agreement for soil samples while for phosphogympsum samples appear large discrepancies. In this paper, these discrepancies are analyzed and explained if non-controlled radon leakages in the passive technique are taken into account.


Assuntos
Monitoramento de Radiação/métodos , Radônio/análise , Sulfato de Cálcio/análise , Fósforo/análise , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Solo/análise
17.
J Phys Chem B ; 113(7): 1877-82, 2009 Feb 19.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19173570

RESUMO

A molecular dynamics simulator coupled to a quantum semiempirical Hamiltonian model was applied to multiscale modeling of the catalytic decomposition of hydrocarbons during carbon nanotube (CNT) and carbon nanofiber (CNF) growth. It was found that catalytic decomposition of acetylene is accompanied by a large energy release and its rate weakly depends on temperature in the range from 20 to 700 degrees C. In contrast, the methane decomposition rate substantially decreases as the iron temperature drops. A comparative analysis of acetylene decomposition on a clean surface and on an oxidized Fe(100) surface showed that the presence of oxygen reduces the decomposition rate by an order of magnitude, but has very little influence on the amount of heat released by the reaction. We also found that oxygen absorbed on the surface of catalyst does not easily diffuse into the catalyst or desorb from the surface. This implies that the surface of the catalyst is quickly covered by oxygen during CNT/CNF growth even at low oxygen flow rates.


Assuntos
Simulação por Computador , Hidrocarbonetos/química , Modelos Químicos , Nanotubos de Carbono/química , Teoria Quântica , Catálise , Propriedades de Superfície , Fatores de Tempo
18.
J Long Term Eff Med Implants ; 19(1): 31-9, 2009.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20402628

RESUMO

Bone loss around the femoral stems during the insertion of a standard prosthesis is a major problem in hip arthroplasty. Moreover, long periods of use of the standard metallic prosthesis often lead to revision surgery because of disuse osteoporosis (stress shielding). The main factor behind this problem is the material-stiffness mismatch of the bone and implant, with the latter consisting of metals such as stainless steel, Co-Cr-Mo alloy, or Ti6Al4V alloy. Our study aimed to decrease the factor of geometric mismatch by designing and making customized hip prostheses from computed tomography scan data and finite element analysis. Therefore, the inner medullar cavity of the femur would match exactly with the prosthesis. Our results showed that the desired stress-strain values were close to the physiological level. We observed that the maximum Von Mises stresses for the bone and implant were 41.8 MPa and 197 MPa, respectively. An optimization analysis of the taper angle of the prosthesis hip ball for fixation with the stem has also been performed, in which the angle was found to be approximately 2 deg. The taper angle plays an important role in load transfer and safe levels of stress-strain using various ball materials.

19.
J Environ Radioact ; 99(8): 1289-93, 2008 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18467012

RESUMO

Coal and its by products often contain significant amounts of radionuclides, including uranium which is the ultimate source of the radioactive gas radon. Burning of coal and the subsequent emission to the atmosphere cause the re-distribution of toxic trace elements in the environment. Due to considerable economic and environmental importance and diverse uses, the collected fly ash has become a subject of worldwide interest in recent years. In the present study, radon exhalation rate and the activity concentration of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K radionuclides in fly ash samples from Durgapur thermal power plant (WB) have been measured by "Sealed Can technique" using LR-115 type II detectors and a low level NaI (Tl) based gamma ray spectrometer, respectively. Radon exhalation rate varied from 360.0 to 470.0 mBq m(-2)h(-1) with an average value of 406.8 mBq m(-2)h(-1). Activity concentrations of (238)U ranged from 84.8 to 126.4 Bq kg(-1) with an average value of 99.3Bqkg(-1), (232)Th ranged from 98.1 to 140.5 Bq kg(-1) with an average value of 112.9 Bq kg(-1) and (40)K ranged from 267.1 to 364.9 Bq kg(-1) with an average value of 308.9 Bq kg(-1). Radium equivalent activity obtained from activity concentrations is found to vary from 256.5 to 352.8 Bq kg(-1) with an average value of 282.5 Bq kg(-1). Absorbed gamma dose rates due to the presence of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K in fly ash samples vary in the range 115.3-158.5 nGy h(-1) with an average value of 126.4 nGy h(-1). While the external annual effective dose rate varies from 0.14 to 0.19 mSv y(-1) with an average value of 0.15 mSv y(-1), effective dose equivalent estimated from exhalation rate varies from 42.5 to 55.2 microSv y(-1) with an average value of 47.8 microSv y(-1). Values of external hazard index H(ex) for the fly ash samples studied in this work range from 0.69 to 0.96 with a mean value of 0.77.


Assuntos
Radiação de Fundo , Carbono/química , Material Particulado/química , Centrais Elétricas , Radônio/análise , Cinza de Carvão , Índia , Doses de Radiação
20.
Appl Radiat Isot ; 66(3): 401-6, 2008 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18063375

RESUMO

Coal is a technologically important material used for power generation. Its cinder (fly ash) is used in the manufacturing of bricks, sheets, cement, land filling etc. Coal and its by-products often contain significant amounts of radionuclides, including uranium which is the ultimate source of the radioactive gas radon. Burning of coal and the subsequent atmospheric emission cause the redistribution of toxic radioactive trace elements in the environment. In the present study, radon exhalation rates in coal and fly ash samples from the thermal power plants at Kolaghat (W.B.) and Kasimpur (U.P.) have been measured using sealed Can technique having LR-115 type II detectors. The activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in the samples of Kolaghat power station are also measured. It is observed that the radon exhalation rate from fly ash samples from Kolaghat is higher than from coal samples and activity concentration of radionuclides in fly ash is enhanced after the combustion of coal. Fly ash samples from Kasimpur show no appreciable change in radon exhalation. Radiation doses from the fly ash samples have been estimated from radon exhalation rate and radionuclide concentrations.

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