Determination of the labeling yield and stability of the complexes Bi-BSA-DOTA and Bi-BSA-DTPA

Labeling of a biochemical compound (conjugate) with α-emitting isotopes was studied with the aim to develop a biochemical substance for targeted delivery of α-emitting isotopes to a cancer cell. The ²¹²Bi (²¹²Pb/²¹²Bi) and ²¹³Bi (²²⁵Ac/²¹³Bi) isotope generators were developed. A procedure for preparing the conjugate (monoclonal antibody + chelator) with α-emitting isotopes ²¹²Bi and ²¹³Bi and methods for identification of the labeled conjugate (γ-ray spectrometry and protein staining) are presented. The procedure for calibration of the gel filtration column (GFC) for correcting the GFC certificate data, obligatory in such operations, is described. DTPA as chelating agent appeared to be preferable over DOTA, with 70–80% incorporation of ²¹²Bi and ²¹³Bi into the conjugate reached.     

Control theory and the dynamics of the firm

Summary This paper gives an overview to the state-of-art of applying control theory to the analysis of the dynamics of the firm. Three types of models are considered: one firm facing a certain environment, one firm facing a stochastic environment and with a risk of bankruptcy, and models of duopolies. In spite of the limits of these control theory models, they are useful to improve the understanding of important microeconomic phenomena and to explain to students or to junior managers how to combine policies through time to define an efficient strategy. An extended bibliography is given.

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Zusammenfassung Dieses Manuskript gibt einen Über-blick über den Stand der Forschung zur Anwendung der Kontrolltheorie bei der Analyse der Unternehmens-dynamik. Drei Modellarten werden betrachtet: ein Unternehmen in einer gewissen Umwelt, ein Unternehmen in einer stochastischen Umwelt mit der Möglichkeit des Bankrotts und Modelle, bei denen das Unternehmen in Konkurrenz zu einem anderen steht. Trotz der Grenzen dieser kontrolltheoretischen Modelle sind sie nützlich bei der Verbesserung des Verständnisses von bedeutenden mikroökonomischen Phänomena und wenn man Studenten oder Jungmanagern erklären will, wie man Politiken im Verlauf der Zeit kombiniert um eine wirksame Strategie zu entwickeln.

     

Assessment of the cost and accuracy of the generalized FEM

In this paper, we address the cost versus accuracy capabilities for the generalized FEM (GFEM) which was developed in (Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 2003; 192 :3109–3161, Int. J. Numer. Meth. Engng 2004; 60 :1639–1672, Ph.D. Thesis, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, August 2003 (Advisor: T. Strouboulis)), and also the construction of two‐sided a posteriori error estimates, which can be used to assess the achieved accuracy at all levels of the method. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Absorption of acrylates and polysilazanes in the far UVC and the VUV regions

A simple but reliable method was developed for the determination of wavelength-dependent absorption coefficients in the vacuum-UV (VUV) spectral range 160 nm < λ < 195 nm.     

A re-parameterisation of the Power Model of the relationship between the speed of traffic and the number of accidents and accident victims

This paper presents a re-analysis of the Power Model of the relationship between the mean speed of traffic and road safety. Past evaluations of the model, most recently in 2009, have broadly speaking supported it. However, the most recent evaluation of the model indicated that the relationship between speed and road safety depends not only on the relative change in speed, as suggested by the Power Model, but also on initial speed. This implies that the exponent describing, for example, a 25% reduction in speed will not be the same when speed changes from 100 km/h to 75 km/h as it will when speed changes from 20 km/h to 15 km/h. This paper reports an analysis leading to a re-parameterisation of the Power Model in terms of continuously varying exponents which depend on initial speed. The re-parameterisation was accomplished by fitting exponential functions to data points in which changes in speed and accidents were sorted in groups of 10 km/h according to initial speed, starting with data points referring to the highest initial speeds. The exponential functions fitted the data extremely well and imply that the effect on accidents of a given relative change in speed is largest when initial speed is highest.     

On the Superfluid Fraction and the Hydrodynamics of Supersolids

This review largely considers the author’s extensions of two foundation works in supersolids: Andreev and Lifshitz’s hydrodynamics, and Leggett’s Non-Classical Rotational Inertia (NCRI) with estimates of the T=0 upper limit. Relative to the case of a perfect lattice, the Andreev and Lifshitz equations contain an additional degree of freedom, which permits a liquid-like internal pressure P that is distinct from the lattice stress (or ‘solid-like pressure’). This is particularly relevant to ⁴He, which requires an applied pressure P _a to solidify; use of a Maxwell relation relating P and strain yields that $P\sim P_{a}^{2}$ ; we estimate that near the melting pressure the liquid-like pressure in equilibrium is about 1/4 of the solid-like pressure. This new freedom also permits vacancy diffusion, which we have studied for both ordinary solids and supersolids. In both cases, for the vacancy diffusion mode the liquid-like pressure and the lattice stress cancel. Further, since at T=0 the supersolid fraction f _s is less than unity and the excitation part of the normal fraction is zero, we argue that there must be an additional source of “normal” mass, to which we attribute a velocity that in principle is distinct from the lattice velocity associated with elasticity. Relative to NCRI we have made numerous estimates of the upper limit for the superfluid fraction f _s ; we find f _s values on the order of 0.2 for realistic models of the atomic density. Correlation effects in the solid cause the superfluid velocity $\vec{v}_{s}$ of one particle to depend on correlations with the positions of other particles, and this leads to a more complex theory for the flow pattern and for the upper limit on f _s .     

Variation of the Kondo temperature with the nature and concentration of the solute metal

From the available data on the physical properties of dilute magnetic alloys, Daybell and Steyert obtain V-shaped semilog plots ofT _K vs. N (whereT _K is the Kondo temperature andN is the serial number of the magnetic solute in the 3d series). This requires a large variation in the rather small exchange interaction parameterJ, while the Kondos–d exchange model is based on a smallJE _F (whereE _F is the Fermi energy). Taking the ordinary scattering into account,T _K =T _F exp((1– cos ²)/(JD cos²)), whereJ<0, 1, is the phase shift for ordinary scattering, andD is the density of states of one spin direction per atom. It has been shown by us recently, from the concentration dependences of the Kondo slopes and the extremum values of the thermoelectric power of dilute magnetic alloys, that 0<d shells, and 3/4<< for those having less-than-half filled 3d shells. We show, on this basis, that the range of variation ofJ is now reduced to more acceptable values, as the solute metal traverses the 3d series. Again, based on our inference that increases with the increase of the solute concentrationc, we show that an increase of the more-than-half filled solute concentration decreasesT _K , while the increase of the less-than-half filled solute concentration increasesT _K . The fact that the increase of cobalt content in copper or gold favors magnetism while the increase of vanadium content in gold favors nonmagnetism is understandable on this basis.     

Estimating the Expected and the Optimal Probabilities of Misclassification

The problem is to estimate the expected and the optimal probabilities of misclassification in the context of the two group p-dimensional normal classification problem with means and common covariance matrix unknown and a rule based on the linear discriminant function. Performance of several estimators is compared by means of a computer sampling study. For larger p (p = 20) certain estimators are definitely superior for each of the probabilities, while for small p there is less differentiation in performance.     

Influence of the standing time of the extrudate and speed of rotation of the spheroniser plate on the properties of pellets produced by extrusion and spheronization

The aim of the investigation was to study the influence of the standing time of the extrudate prior to spheronization and the speed of rotation expressed as linear peripheral velocity of the spheroniser plate on the properties of pellets using a 5² factorial experiment. Pellets composed of diclofenac sodium (5%), lactose monohydrate (20%) and microcrystalline cellulose (75%), prepared with water as the liquid binder (total solids to liquid ratio 1:0.675) using a screen extruder were produced after various standing times of the extrudate (ranging from immediate spheronization to 2 h) and at different rotational speeds ranging from 770 to 2900 rpm, which translates into a linear peripheral velocity of the friction plate from 4.84 to 18.22 m/s. The relative yield in the practically used pellet size fraction of 0.71–1.44 mm depended significantly on the standing time of the extrudate. Pellets produced at the lowest linear peripheral velocity were not round, and this was not affected by the standing time of the extrudate. Both the surface tensile strength and the density of the pellets were related to the extrudate standing time and the linear peripheral velocity, whereby the two factors were found to interact. However, neither of the process parameters nor the pellet properties themselves appeared to have an influence on the dissolution of the drug.     

Influence of the nature and density of defects on the thermodynamic and electrical properties of semiconductor materials

This paper examines the use of coulometric titration in studies of the nonstoichiometry, defect structure, and thermodynamic properties of semiconductor materials and also for doping of a number of chalcogenides with lead, copper, and germanium. A direct relationship is established between the thermodynamic and electrical properties of the binary compound semiconductors Pb_{1 ± δ}X (X = S, Se, Te), Cu_{2 ± δ}Se, and Cd_{2 ± δ}Se and the ternary spinel semiconductors Cd_{1 ? δ}Cr₂Se₄ and Cu_{1 ± δ}Cr₂S₄ within their homogeneity ranges. The width and symmetry of the homogeneity range of these semiconductor materials are determined using coulometric titration in combination with emf and electrical conductivity measurements. Electrochemically doped nonstoichiometric copper selenide samples are shown to have compositions in the range Cu_1.27Se–Cu_2.73Se.     

Influence of the addition of alkanolamines and tetramethylammonium hydroxide on the shape and size of zeolite-A particles

Influences of the addition of alkanolamines and alkylammonium hydroxide into the starting suspensions on the shape and the size of zeolite-A (NaAlSiO₄·xH₂O) particles were investigated by optical microscopy and liquid-state NMR measurements. Zeolite-A was prepared from a mixture of NaAlO₂, Na₂SiO₃·9H₂O, alkanolamine or alkylammonium hydroxide, and H₂O by hydrothermal treatment. The addition of triethanolamine (TEA) into the starting suspension led to the enlargement of the particle size of the prepared zeolite-A, whereas the addition of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) decreased it. TEA was confirmed to coordinate to Al to form [N(C₂H₄O)₃Al(OH)]⁻ complex, decreasing the degree of supersaturation of free [Al(OH)₄]⁻ and inhibiting the excess nucleation of zeolite. On the other hand, the addition of TMAOH facilitated the dissolution of silica gel in the starting suspension, very probably due to its higher basic property, and increased the degree of supersaturation of Si species, which resulted in the decreases in the particle size.     

Estimation of the Shape and Scale Parameters of the Weibull Distribution

Estimates ? and are proposed for the shape parameter c and the scale parameter b of the Weibull distribution on the assumption that the location parameter is known: ? obtained by first finding an estimate of 1/c, and then setting ? = 1/. When b is unknown, is a consistent and non-negative estimate of d, with a bias which tends to vanish as the sample size increases and with an asymptotic efficiency of about 55%. When b is known, is an unbiased, non-negative and consistent estimate of d, and its efficiency is approximately 84%. An estimate In∧b of In b is found. Its asymptotic efficiency is 95%. It is proposed that exp(In∧b) be used to estimate b.     

New results for the spin of the Eulerian triad and the logarithmic spin and rate

Summary A new basis-free expression is derived for the logarithmic spin tensor, which assumes a unified form for all the three cases of coalescence of the three eigenvalues of the left Cauchy-Green deformation tensorB. It is shown that this new expression is endowed with particular continuity properties, i.e., each of its coefficients either accompanies the vanishing of its associated term or remains valid whenever the eigenvalues ofB become repeated. These favorable properties, which are not enjoyed by the expressions derived earlier, result in the foregoing unified form of expression which could not be achieved by means of the previous expressions. At the same time, a fully explicit, basis-free expression is obtained for the spin tensor of the Eulerian triad, which is expressed straightforwardly in terms of the three basic invariants ofB and hence renders computations of the eigenvalues ofB unnecessary. Moreover, remarks are given towards explaining and clarifying some issues concerning the hypo-elastic equation of grade zero with the logarithmic rate, including the exact integrability and unstable stress responses associated with initial shear stresses at simple shear deformations, etc.     

Electroless deposition of Ni-Co-B alloy films and influence of heat treatment on the structure and the magnetic performances of the film

The Ni-Co-B alloy was electrolessly deposited from the bath using potassium borohydride as a reducing agent and ethylenediamine as a stabilizer. The effects of the plating conditions on the plating rate and the composition of the deposit were studied to improve the stability of the plating bath and to control the composition of the Ni-Co-B deposit. The crystallization behavior of the deposit was investigated by X-ray diffraction. The results show that the structure of the as-plated deposit is amorphous, and the deposit was crystallized into cubic Ni₃B and Ni-Co phases at 350 °C. The effect of heat treatment on the magnetic performances of the deposit was studied by vibrating sample magnetometer. The saturation magnetization and the residual magnetization of the coating go up with the increase of heat treatment temperature from 50 °C to 600 °C. The deposit heat-treated at 600 °C is found to be suitable as soft magnetic materials.     

The relation between the fracture toughness of plates and the thickness of the shear lips

Single edge-cracked plate tension fracture toughness specimens were machined from Comsteel 3140 and an Atlas steel of approximately the same grade. Specimens were fatigue-precracked, quenched. and then tempered at various temperatures. Tensile specimens were machined from the same stock and heat treated with the fracture toughness specimens. Yield stress (0.2% offset), σ_y, was determined from the various tensile specimens, and fracture toughness. K_c, from the fracture toughness specimens. The average thickness of the shear lips, t₈, was measured on the fracture toughness specimens. Over the range of relative fracture toughness (0.12 ? K_c/σ_y ? 0.55) it was found that t₈ could be related to K_c and σ_y through t₈ = 0.18 (K_c/σ_y)^1·9. A rationale for this result is that t₈ is approximately equal to the radius of the plane stress plastic zone at and near the free surface of the plate specimens, r_y, which is estimated from analysis as $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{y}}\text{= (}\text{1}\text{2}\text{π)}$ (K_c/σ_y)² = 0.16 (K_c/σ_y)². The application of the result to failure analysis is discussed.     

Comparative study of the effect of the incorporation of cobalt and nickel oxides on the density and optical properties of copper tellurite glasses

Two series of ternary semiconducting glasses with composition 65 TeO₂-(35–x)CuO-xMO in mole percent (x=0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and M stands for Co or Ni) were prepared by a melt quenching technique. The densities of annealed and unannealed disc-shaped samples and the optical energy gap of thin blown films of both series of glasses were measured, and the comparative effect of each transition metal (TM) oxide was estimated. It was found that forx=0.5 to 1 mol% andx=2 to 4mol%, the optical energy gap (E _opt) was somewhat greater in TeO₂-CuO-NiO than in TeO₂-CuO-CoO glasses. This increase inE _opt is interpreted in terms of the decreasing number of non-bridging oxygen ions with the increase of each TM oxide. NiO was found to be more effective in increasing the density than CoO in annealed copper tellurite glasses.     

Outgassing from stainless steel and the effects of the gauges

The true outgassing from surfaces is often masked by the production of gases and pumping within the measuring gauge. Quadrupole mass analysers have been used to measure the outgassing from carefully prepared samples of stainless steel. By using an isolation pressure rise technique coupled to non-evaporable getter pumping, the problem of production of methane by the gauge is overcome and it has been possible to measure the outgassing of methane to very low levels. The specific outgassing rate of methane from 316 L stainless steel is found to be ?5×10⁻²² mbar l s⁻¹ cm⁻². The outgassing of the other gases has been measured using several gauges. The specific outgassing of hydrogen is found to be 4.5×10⁻¹⁵ mbar l s⁻¹ cm⁻² and the total of all other gasses amounted to no more than 10% of this figure. Although the measurements of the other gases are more ambiguous than those for methane, it is concluded that, in all probability, only hydrogen is outgassed from stainless steel.     

Influence of the heat treatment procedure and irradiation on the structure of the anionic motif and crystallization of uranium-containing phosphate glasses

The solubility of UO₃ in sodium almino(ferro)phosphate (SAFP) glasses prepared by quenching of melts reaches almost 50 wt %. The structure of the anionic motif of the network of such glasses is formed by polyanions and consists of alumino(ferro)phosphate and uranium–oxygen constituents. Irradiation with electrons of up to 8 MeV energy to an absorbed dose of 10⁶ Gy does not lead to appreciable changes in the glass structure, except insignificant increase in the fraction of octahedrally coordinated aluminum. After annealing, samples of sodium aluminophosphate glasses with low content of uranium oxides (up to 10 wt %) partially crystallize with the formation of phosphotridymite, whereas high-uranium glasses (up to ~50 wt % UO₃) remain X-ray amorphous. Samples of SAFP glasses at low concentrations of uranium oxides remain amorphous and at high concentrations undergo phase segregation with the formation of a SAFP glass phase enriched in uranium oxides and crystalline phase of sodium aluminum iron orthophosphate Na₃(Al,Fe)₂(PO₄)₃ containing impurity amounts of uranium ions. The incorporation of uranium ions is most probably due to the occurrence of redox processes between uranyl and iron ions.     

Measurements of the viscosity and density of three hydrocarbons and the three associated binary mixtures versus pressure and temperature

The dynamic viscosity η and density ρ of the pure substances (heptane, methylcyclohexane, 1-methylnaphthalene) and of the three associated binary mixtures (heptane+methylcyclohexane, heptane+1-methylnaphthalene, methylcyclohexane+1-methylnaphthalene) were measured as a function of temperatureT (303.15, 323.15, and 343.15 K) and pressureP(≤100 MPa). For the binary mixtures the mole fractionx of each component was successively 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, 0.5, 0.625, 0.75, 0.875, and 1. The total experimental results represent 432 different points: 54 for the pure substances and 378 for the binary mixtures (x≠0 and 1).