Renal-related perinephric fluid collections: MRI findings

We retrospectively reviewed MR studies on 10 patients with renal-related perinephric fluid collections who underwent MRI in three institutions between January 2001 and August 2004. All patients underwent MRI of the abdomen and T1-weighted, T2-weighted and serial contrast-enhanced images, including delayed-phase contrast-enhanced images 10-12 min after contrast injection, were obtained. Perinephric fluid collections in 5 patients revealed MRI findings of simple fluid content (i.e., hypointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images). In another 5 patients, a complex perinephric fluid content (i.e., mixed hyper/hypointense on T1-weighted images and mixed hypo/hyperintense on T2-weighted images compatible with blood breakdown products and pus) was observed. In 5 patients, contrast extravasation on late-phase images that was compatible with urine leak was demonstrated. Our results suggest that MRI may determine the content of perinephric fluid collections on noncontrast T1-weighted and T2-weighted images and that contrast extravasation on late-phase images is associated with urine extravasation from renal collecting systems.     

Cryogenic radiometer based absolute spectral power responsivity calibration of integrating sphere radiometer to be used in power measurements at optical fiber communication wavelengths

This paper covers the absolute spectral power responsivity calibration of spectralon-coated Integrating Sphere Radiometer (ISR) equipped with 3 mm diameter InGaAs photodiode to be used as a transfer standard in fiber optic power measurements against Electrical Substitution Cryogenic Radiometer (ESCR) in Optics Laboratory of National Metrology Institute (TUBITAK UME) of Turkey. The initial uncertainty arising from the use of the Electrically Calibrated Pyroelectric Radiometer (ECPR) as a transfer standard in radiometric scale is 0.5% (k=2), which particularly comes from irregularity in the surface homogeneity of ECPR. In order to eliminate the ECPR step as well as its initial uncertainty contribution in fiber optic power measurements, the calibration application herein was carried out. Moreover power stabilization measurements of DFB laser sources at both 1309.1 nm and 1549.0 nm, the beam size determinations, and spectral analyses of these laser sources as well as spatial and angular dependence of spectral responsivities of the ISR were presented in this paper. The total expanded uncertainties were calculated as 0.283% and 0.315% in the determination of absolute spectral power responsivities of the ISR for 1309.1 nm and 1549.0 nm wavelengths respectively (k=2).     

Characterization and determination of the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of p-CP adsorption onto organophilic bentonite from aqueous solution

The characterization of tetraethylammonium bentonite and the adsorption of p-chlorophenol (p-CP) onto organophilic bentonite (tetraethylammonium bentonite) was studied as a function of the solution concentration and temperature. The observed adsorption rates were found to fit first-order kinetics. The rate constants were calculated for temperatures ranging between 15.0 and 35.0 degrees C at constant concentration. The adsorption energy E and adsorption capacity q(m) for the phenolic compound adsorbing on organophilic bentonite were estimated using the Dubinin-Radushkevic equation. Thermodynamic parameters (Deltag(a), Deltah(a), Deltas(a)) were calculated by a new approximation from the isotherms of p-CP adsorption on organophilic bentonite. These isotherms were modeled according to Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevic adsorption isotherms. The amount of adsorption of p-chlorophenol on organophilic bentonite was found to be dependent on the relative energies of adsorbent-adsorbate, adsorbate-solvent, and adsorbate-adsorbate interactions.     

All-optical transistor action with bistable switching in a photonic crystal cross-waveguide geometry

We demonstrate all-optical switching action in a nonlinear photonic crystal cross-waveguide geometry with instantaneous Kerr nonlinearity, in which the transmission of a signal can be reversibly switched on and off by a control input. Our geometry accomplishes both spatial and spectral separation between the signal and the control in the nonlinear regime. The device occupies a small footprint of a few micrometers squared and requires only a few milliwatts of power at a 10-Gbit/s switching rate by use of Kerr nonlinearity in AlGaAs below half the electronic bandgap. We also show that the switching dynamics, as revealed by both coupled-mode theory and finite-difference time domain simulations, exhibits collective behavior that can be exploited to generate high-contrast logic levels and all-optical memory.     

Transport of Acids through Polyether-Sulfone Anion-Exchange Membrane

Diffusion dialysis of sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid into water with a polyether-sulfone anion-exchange membrane was studied. Transport of sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid through the membrane has been quantified by diffusion coefficients and mass transfer coefficients. The mass transfer coefficients were investigated as a function of the rotational speed of the stirring rate of both sides of the membrane and with different pH ranges. It was observed that the diffusion dialysis seems to be dependent on the rotational speed of the stirrer; in contrast, the membrane mass transfer coefficients are independent of rotational speed, but they are slightly affected by the initial acid concentration in donor phase. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

The heavy-ion magnetic spectrometer PRISMA

PRISMA is a magnetic spectrometer installed at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (Italy) and designed for A=100–200, E=5–10 MeV-per-nucleon beams, and for possible use with the proposed radioactive beam facility SPES. The foremost features of the instrument are presented, along with the outline of two data analyses exemplifying the effectiveness of PRISMA-CLARA in studies of reaction dynamics.     

Simulation of spray combustion in a lean-direct injection combustor

Large-eddy simulation (LES) of a liquid-fueled lean-direct injection (LDI) combustor is carried out by resolving the entire inlet flow path through the swirl vanes and the combustor. A localized dynamic subgrid closure is combined with a subgrid mixing and combustion model so that no adjustable parameters are required for both non-reacting and reacting LES. Time-averaged velocity predictions compare well with the measured data. The unsteady flow features that play a major role in spray dispersion, fuel–air mixing and flame stabilization are identified from the simulation data. It is shown that the vortex breakdown bubble (VBB) is smaller with more intense reverse flow when there is heat release. The swirling shear layer plays a major role in spray dispersion and the VBB provides an efficient flameholding mechanism to stabilize the flame.     

Poly(p‐phenylene methylene)‐based block copolymers by mechanistic transformation

The synthesis of poly(p‐phenylene methylene) (PPM)‐based block copolymers such as poly(p‐phenylene methylene)‐b‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly(p‐phenylene methylene)‐b‐polytetrahydrofuran by mechanistic transformation was described. First, precursor PPM was synthesized by acid‐catalyzed polymerization of tribenzylborate at 16 °C. Then, this polymer was used as macroinitiators in either ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone or cationic ring‐opening polymerization of tetrahydrofuran to yield respective block copolymers. The structures of the prepolymer and block copolymers were characterized by GPC and ¹H NMR investigations. The composition of block copolymers as determined by ¹H NMR and TGA analysis was found to be in very good agreement. The thermal behavior and surface morphology of the copolymers were also investigated, respectively, by differential scanning calorimetry and atomic force microscopy measurements, and the contribution of the major soft segment has been observed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011