Hyperspaces of Normed Linear Spaces with the Attouch–Wets Topology

Let Cld _AW (X) be the hyperspace of nonempty closed subsets of a normed linear space X with the Attouch–Wets topology. It is shown that the space Cld _AW (X) and its various subspaces are AR's. Moreover, if X is an infinite-dimensional Banach space with weight w(X) then Cld _AW (X) is homeomorphic to a Hilbert space with weight 2 ^w(X).     

Electron localization and a confined electron gas in nanoporous inorganic electrides

The nanoporous main group oxide 12CaO.7Al(2)O3 (C12A7) can be transformed from a wide-gap insulator to an electride where electrons substitute anions in cages constituting a positive frame. Our ab initio calculations of the electronic structure of this novel material give a consistent explanation of its high conductivity and optical properties. They show that the electrons confined in the inert positive frame are localized in cages and undergo hopping between neighboring cages. The results are useful for the understanding of behavior of confined electron gas of different topology and electron-phonon coupling, and for designing new transparent conductors, electron emitters, and electrides.     

Interaction and arrangement of nitrogen and carbon atoms in fcc γ-iron

A Mössbauer effect measurement has been done for Fe?N, Fe?Al?C and Fe?Ni?C austenite in order to study the interaction between the interstitial atoms and their distribution among the octahedral sites of the fcc lattice, together with the influence of Al and Ni atoms. The spectra for Fe?N and Fe?Al?C austenite are decomposed into three components; one singlet γ₀, and two sets of doublet γ₁ and γ₂, with different quadrupole splittings, while no γ₂ component is found in the spectrum for Fe?Ni?C. By analyzing the component ratio in each spectrum, it is concluded that, in Fe?N and Fe?Al?C, the interaction between 2nd nearest neighboring nitrogen or carbon atoms is attractive, and is repulsive between 1st nearest for Fe?N, and that the interaction between 2nd nearest atoms is repulsive for Fe?Ni?C. By measuring the spectra of Fe?Ni?C in magnetic field, the sign of EFG for most of the γ₁ component is determined to be negative.     

Fluorine and chlorine behavior in chlorine-rich volcanic rocks from White Island, New Zealand

Extraordinarily high chlorine-bearing volcanic bombs were erupted from White Island volcano on January 25, 1987. The concentrations of fluorine and chlorine were measured in these paralava bombs and their likely parent rocks. The paralavas contain glass with over 1.0 wt.% and up to 1.7% of chlorine. The F/Cl ratios and their relationship with other constituents show that the fluorine and chlorine in the bombs were derived from hydrothermal fluid, most likely concentrated brine in an active Crater Pool.     

Electromagnetic Properties of Lanthanum Manganese Oxides Doped with Iron

The mechanism of GMR effects in La(Mn_1–x Fe _x )O₃ (x=0, 0.01, 0.03) oxides has been investigated by means of magnetic measurements, resistivity measurements in magnetic field and Mössbauer spectroscopy. For the x=0.01 sample, the GMR behavior is similar to that of the conventional (La, A)MnO₃ (A: divalent cations) oxides. For the x=0.03 sample, even though the temperature dependence of the Mössbauer spectra was similar to that of the x=0.01 sample, the mechanism for the occurrence of the GMR effect seems to be different. The x=0 sample shows a similar behavior to the x=0.03 sample. A thermal stabilization of spin fluctuation is proposed for the x=0 and x=0.03 sample.     

Sonodynamic therapy

Recently, there have been numerous reports on the application of non-thermal ultrasound energy for treating various diseases in combination with drugs. Furthermore, the introduction of microbubbles and nanobubbles as carriers/enhancers of drugs has added a whole new dimension to therapeutic ultrasound. Non-thermal mechanisms for effects seen include various forms of energy due to cavitation, acoustic streaming, micro jets and radiation force which increases possibilities for targeting tissue with drugs, enhancing drug effectiveness or even chemically activating certain materials. Examples such as enhancement of thrombolytic agents by ultrasound have proven to be beneficial for acute stroke patients and peripheral arterial occlusions. Non-invasive low intensity focused ultrasound in conjunction with anti-cancer drugs may help to reduce tumor size and lessen recurrence while reducing severe drug side effects. Chemical activation of drugs by ultrasound energy for treatment of atherosclerosis and tumors is another new field recently termed as “Sonodynamic therapy”. Lastly, advances in molecular imaging have aroused great expectations in applying ultrasound for both diagnosis and therapy simultaneously. Microbubbles or nanobubbles targeted at the molecular level will allow medical doctors to make a final diagnosis of a disease using ultrasound imaging and then immediately proceed to a therapeutic ultrasound treatment.     

Semi-free actions of zero-dimensional compact groups on Menger compacta

Let be the -dimensional universal Menger compactum, a -set in and a metrizable zero-dimensional compact group with the unit. It is proved that there exists a semi-free -action on such that is the fixed point set of every . As a corollary, it follows that each compactum with can be embedded in as the fixed point set of some semi-free -action on .

     

Evaluation and comparison of three novel microbubbles: Enhancement of ultrasound-induced cell death and free radicals production

Three novel lipid-shell-type microbubbles (MBs), AS-0100, BG6356A and BG6356B, have been evaluated for their impact on ultrasound (US)-induced cell death and free radicals production. Previously studied and well-characterized US exposure conditions were employed in which human myelomonocytic lymphoma U937 cells were exposed to 1 MHz pulsed US beam (0.3 W/cm², 10% duty factor) for 1 min with or without MBs. Three different concentrations of each MB were used. Apoptosis and cell lysis were assessed by examining phosphatidylserine externalization and by counting viable cells, respectively, 6 h post-exposure. Free radicals production and scavenging activities were evaluated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-spin trapping. The results showed that only AS-0100 and BG6356A were able to enhance the US-induced apoptosis, mainly by increasing the secondary necrosis. Apoptosis and cell lysis seemed to depend more on mechanical forces exerted by oscillating MBs while free radicals played a trivial role. BG series MBs exhibited pronounced scavenging activities. Generally, despite the need for further optimization, AS-0100 and BG6356A appear to be promising as adjuncts in cases where US-induced cell death is required.     

Oxygen ion conduction in 12CaO·7Al2O3: O2− conduction mechanism and possibility of O− fast conduction

12CaO·7Al₂O₃ (C12A7) with a unique nano-porous structure and free O^2? ions entrapped in sub-nanometer-sized cages is a fast oxygen-ion-conducting material. These free O^2– may be replaced by various oxygen-related species, OH^?, O^2? and O^?, by tuning the atmosphere during the heat treatment. We examined the conduction mechanism for stoichiometric C12A7 (C12A7:O^2?), in which O^2? ions exist as counter anions in sub-nanometer-sized cages, by Raman measurement of C12A7:O^2? annealed in a dry ¹⁸O₂ atmosphere. It was revealed that the primary ion conducting species is an O^2? ion which diffuses via exchange with O^2? in the cage wall. An experimental result on the sample containing O^? ions implied that O^? is more mobile than O^2? in C12A7. Ab initio calculations on the diffusion paths of O^2? and O^? ions in C12A7 supported the above experimental results.     

Structure-activity relationships of neuromedin U. V. study on the stability of porcine neuromedin U-8 at the C-terminal asparagine amide under mild alkaline and acidic conditions

Porcine neuromedin U-8 (X-Asn-NH(2), X=H-Tyr-Phe-Leu-Phe-Arg-Pro-Arg) is occasionally unstable in the biological fluids used for bioassay as well as in the acidic solutions used for purification of synthetic peptides. In this study, HPLC examination of an incubate solution of X-Asn-NH(2) revealed that the main decomposition products in Tyrode's solution (pH 7.4) were either alpha- or beta-monocarboxylic acid analogs (X-Asn-OH or X-Asp-NH(2)), and that no dicarboxylic acid analog (X-Asp-OH) was produced. Further investigation, employing a model peptide (Y-Asn-NH(2), Y=Benzoyl-Pro-Arg) incubated in a 0.1 M sodium bicarbonate solution at 60 degrees C, revealed that the decomposition of C-terminal Asn-NH(2) occurred through the formation of an aminosuccinimide intermediate (Y-Asu), at a rate faster than that of Y-Asn-Ser peptide but slower than that of Y-Asn-Gly peptide. Mild acid hydrolysis of X-Asn-NH(2) examined in a 1 M HCl solution at 60 degrees C yielded X-Asn-OH and X-Asp-NH(2), which further decomposed to yield X-Asp-OH. The C-terminal degradation of X-Asn-NH(2) resulted in reduced biological and immunochemical binding activities.