Search

The present study investigates the high temperature oxidation of alloy Sanicro 28 (35Fe27Cr31Ni) in 5% O2 and in 5% O2 + 40% H2O. Polished steel coupons were isothermally exposed in a tube furnace at 600, 700 and 800 °C for up to 168 h. The samples were investigated by gravimetry, grazing angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-rays (STEM/EDX). The results show that the material forms a protective scale in both environments. The scale is duplex. The inner part of the scale consists of corundum type chromium-rich (Cr xFe1− x)2O3, and the outer layer consists of spinel type oxide. Chromia is lost from the protective oxide by vaporization of CrO2(OH)2 in O2 + H2O environment. The capacity of Sanicro 28 to suffer chromia vaporization without forming a rapidly growing iron-rich oxide is attributed to its high Cr/Fe ratio. The spinel formed at the oxide/gas interface could in addition be beneficial for oxidation behavior in wet oxygen because it may slow down chromia evaporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We haplotyped 13 Finnish, 10 Swedish, 12 Danish and 2 Norwegian SBMA (spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, Kennedy disease) families with a total of 45 patients and 7 carriers for 17 microsatellite markers spanning a 25.2 cM region around the androgen receptor gene on chromosome Xq11-q12 in search of a genetic founder effect. In addition, the haplotypes of 50 Finnish, 20 Danish and 22 Swedish control males were examined. All the Scandinavian SBMA families shared the same 18 repeat allele for the intragenic GGC repeat, which was present in only 24% of the controls. Linkage disequilibrium was also seen for the closest microsatellite markers. In addition, extended haplotypes of the Finnish, Swedish and Danish SBMA families revealed country-specific common founder haplotypes, which over time became gradually shortened by recombinations. No common haplotype was found among the controls. The data suggest that the SBMA mutation was introduced into western Finland 20 generations ago. Haplotype analysis implies a common ancestor for the majority of Scandinavian SBMA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The features of mucous cells in 10% formalin (FA)-fixed submandibular glands differ markedly from those fixed in glutaraldehyde (GA). We therefore studied morphological changes in mucous cells during 10% FA fixation. Mucous cells were fixed in either 10% FA, neutral sodium-phosphate-buffered (Na-PBed) 10% FA, ice-cold 10% FA or an ice-cold fixative mixture of 2.0% paraformaldehyde (PA) and 0.5% GA. Two different methods were used: immersion fixation and venous perfusion fixation. The 10% FA-fixed tissues had elliptical or flattened nuclei, a clear cytoplasm and no secretory granules. Tissues fixed with the fixative mixture displayed almost round nuclei, a broad endoplasmic reticulum and abundant secretory granules in the cytoplasm. Tissues immersion-fixed with neutral Na-PBed 10% FA or perfusion-fixed with ice-cold 10% FA had almost the same light microscopic appearance as that of the mixture-fixed tissues. To elucidate the process of morphological changes during 10% FA fixation at room temperature, samples immersed in 10% FA for varying periods of time were postfixed immediately in the fixative mixture and exposed to microwave irradiation. This method produced a variety of findings, even within the same section. There was a significant difference in the findings seen in the center of the section and at the periphery. The initial changes caused by 10% FA were rupture of the secretory granules located in the perinuclear region and destruction of the perinuclear organelles such as Golgi apparatus, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Absorption of the endoplasmic reticulum progressed so that the pennuclear region became translucent. To obtain a better structure in mucous cells from the fixed submandibular gland tissues, an appropriate fixative such as GA should be used and the fixative should infiltrate into the tissue as quickly as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ELISA was developed for the detection of IgM antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in human sera, using microtiter plates coated with rabbit antiserum to human IgM selecting for IgM antibodies in the first reaction step. The specific antibodies were detected using enzyme-labelled, detergent-solubilized antigen. The complement fixation test was used as reference method. In a prospective study of 59 patients with community-acquired pneumonia, 13 of whom had evidence of mycoplasmal etiology, the ELISA was shown to have high specificity (97%). In samples taken seven days after onset of the disease all complement-fixation positive samples (n=20) but one were positive, demonstrating the diagnostic value of a positive test in samples taken after that period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different approaches how to handle the electromigration dispersion process that occurs in separation and determination of enantiomers are presented. The use of cyclodextrins as chiral selectors in resolution enantiomers involves the possibility to tune the conductivity of the sample band in order to obtain symmetrical and efficient peaks. Determination of impurities that migrate in the rear part of an overloaded main peak can be accomplished if the conductivity of the background electrolyte (BGE) is adapted to the conductivity of the sample band. This strategy was shown in determination of the content of D-sotalol in a mixture of L and D-sotalol. The efficiency and the symmetry of the overloaded L-sotalol peak was substantially improved by substitution of tetrabutylammonium ions for tetrapentylammonium ions as co-ions in the BGE. In this system it was possible to determine 0.2% w/w of the chiral impurity D-sotalol. A resolution model is presented and used qualitatively in the study where the complexation between the tetraalkyllammonium ions and the cyclodextrins is taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]