Total Tl Research Articles

Transport of monovalent thallium across the membrane of oocyte of the lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis

Mechanisms of transport of monovalent thallium across the membrane of oocyte of the lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis were studied by using 204Tl. Transport of Tl+ in lamprey oocytes has been shown to be realized by at least two pathways: through Na/K-pump and by the mechanism of Na,K,Cl-cotransport. In the standard Ringer solution (mM): 4 KCl, 140 NaCl, 0.5 CaCl2, 5 glucose, 10 Tris-HCl--in the presence of oubain, the coefficient of the 204Tl stationary distribution (cell/medium) was within the range of 2.3-2.5, while the time necessary to reach its 50 % value amounted to 40-5 min at 20 degrees C. In potassium-free media, transport of 204Tl via Na/K-pump was described by simple kinetis with saturation and was characterized by the value V(max) = 520 pmol/(cell x h) and K(M) = 0.3 mM. In the presence of 4 mM K+ and 0.1 mM/l Tl+, the oubain-sensitive Tl+ flow decreased to 75 pmol/(cell x h). At activation of the mechanism of Na,K,Cl-cotransport by the outer Na+ (in Na-NMDG media of different composition) the total inflow of Tl+ reached 193 +/- 20 pmol/(cell x h), while the butamenide-sensitive component--119 +/- 12 pmol/(cell x h) with K(M) for Na+ about 20 mM. In the incubation media with variable concentration of chloride ions (replacement of Cl- by NO3(-)) the total Tl+ flow reached 220 +/- 21, while via the mechanisms of Na,K,Cl-cotransport--87 +/- 8 pmol/(cell x h). Under our experimental conditions, mechanisms of active transport and Na,K,Cl-cotransport accounted for 94% of the Tl+ inflow. The potassium channels that usually are also permeable to monovalent thallium ions were not revealed.

Population dynamics of the euphausiids Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa inspinata in the Oyashio region during the 2007 spring phytoplankton bloom

The abundance and population structure of Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa inspinata were investigated during the period 9 March–29 April 2007 at a single station in the Oyashio region. Water temperature and chlorophyll a concentration varied from 1.1 to 6.1 °C and from 0.02 to 6.3 mg m −3, respectively, primarily reflecting the effects of varying mixtures of the water masses prevailing in this region. The abundance of euphausiids, collected by oblique hauls with Bongo nets (0–200 m) at night, fluctuated from 41 to 1040 individuals m −2 for E. pacifica and from 50 to 186 individuals m −2 for T. inspinata. Correlation analyses revealed that the variations in the abundance of E. pacifica were related to water temperature and chlorophyll a, while abundance of T. inspinata only varied with temperature. Adult males and females (with and without spermatophores) were the major components of both euphausiid stocks (>90% of the total). Modal size (=total length or TL) analysis revealed that one group with large sizes (14–18 mm TL for E. pacifica, 16–18 mm TL for T. inspinata) occurred throughout the study period, often accompanied by one discrete group of smaller individuals (<11 mm TL for both euphausiids), suggesting the distribution of the same euphausiid populations across the heterogeneous water masses. Adult males were significantly smaller than adult females in T. inspinata, but this was not the case in E. pacifica. Tracing the progressive increase in the mean sizes of the larger size groups, growth rates were estimated to be 0.082 mm day −1 for E. pacifica and 0.022 mm day −1 for T. inspinata. The difference in the growth rates of the two euphausiids is discussed in light of species-specific differences in the allocation of energy to reproduction and somatic growth during the present study period.

Assessment of the BCR sequential extraction procedure for thallium fractionation using synthetic mineral mixtures

This work focused on the specific behavior of Tl-bearing phases in the BCR (Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction (SE) scheme, namely Tl-bearing ferrihydrite, goethite, birnessite, calcite, illite, sphalerite and feldspar in their simple model mixtures with quartz. Several significant discrepancies between the obtained and expected behaviors of these phases in the BCR SE were observed. The amount of Tl released as the exchangeable/acid-extractable fraction (55–82% of the total Tl content) showed a substantial H +-promoted dissolution of all Fe(III) and Mn(III, IV) oxides (corresponding to up to 61% of solid Fe dissolved) and incongruent (increased) extraction of Tl from ferrihydrite and goethite. Reductive conditions of the second SE step were insufficient to complete goethite dissolution with corresponding Tl amount retained in the solid phase. Similarly, insufficient oxidation of sphalerite and lower Tl recovery of the oxidisable fraction was identified. In contrast, the BCR SE seems to produce well predictable results of Tl leaching from Tl-bearing calcite and feldspar. Only 70% of total Tl content was extracted from Tl-modified illite in the exchangeable/acid-extractable step, while 30% was associated with the reducible and residual fractions, i.e., Tl was strongly fixed to the illite matrix.

Analyses and comparisons of telomerase activity and telomere length in human T and B cells: Insights for epidemiology of telomere maintenance

Telomeres are the DNA–protein complexes that protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. The cellular enzyme telomerase counteracts telomere shortening by adding telomeric DNA. A growing body of literature links shorter telomere length and lower telomerase activity with various age-related diseases and earlier mortality. Thus, leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and telomerase activity are emerging both as biomarkers and contributing factors for age-related diseases. However, no clinical study has directly examined telomerase activity and telomere length in different lymphocyte subtypes isolated from the same donors, which could offer insight into the summary measure of leukocyte telomere maintenance. We report the first quantitative data in humans examining both levels of telomerase activity and telomere length in four lymphocyte subpopulations from the same donors—CD4+, CD8+CD28+ and CD8+CD28− T cells and B cells, as well as total PBMCs—in a cohort of healthy women. We found that B cells had the highest telomerase activity and longest telomere length; CD4+ T cells had slightly higher telomerase activity than CD8+CD28+ T cells, and similar telomere length. Consistent with earlier reports that CD8+CD28− T cells are replicatively senescent cells, they had the lowest telomerase activity and shortest telomere length. In addition, a higher percentage of CD8+CD28− T cells correlated with shorter total PBMC TL ( r = − 0.26, p = 0.05). Interestingly, telomerase activities of CD4+ and CD8+CD28+ T cells from the same individual were strongly correlated ( r = 0.55, r < 0.001), indicating possible common mechanisms for telomerase activity regulation in these two cell subtypes. These data will facilitate the understanding of leukocyte aging and its relationship to human health.

Aortic Remodeling in Type B Aortic Dissection: Effects of Endovascular Stent-Graft Repair and Medical Treatment on True and False Lumen Volumes

To analyze aortic remodeling processes in terms of true (TL) and false lumen (FL) volumes in patients with type B aortic dissection undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) versus patients treated medically. Serial contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans of 27 type B dissection patients (24 men; mean age 60+/-13 years) who underwent TEVAR (n = 17) or medical therapy only (n = 10) were analyzed. TL and FL volumes over the entire descending aorta at baseline and at follow-up were quantified by 3-dimensional reconstruction. Follow-up in the 27 patients was a mean 14+/-6 months. TEVAR resulted in a continued gain in total TL volume (132+/-56 mL at baseline, 164+/-51 mL early after TEVAR, and 220+/-68 mL at follow-up, p<0.001), whereas TL volume was almost unchanged in the medical therapy group (113+/-34 to 120+/-41 mL, p = 0.195). Total FL volume decreased significantly in TEVAR patients during follow-up (257+/-147 mL at baseline to 178+/-140 mL, p<0.001), whereas there was no significant change in FL volume in the medical therapy patients. The increase of TL and the decrease of FL volume in the TEVAR group were mainly observed in the descending thoracic aorta. TEVAR for type B aortic dissection results in a significant increase in TL and a decrease in FL volumes, not only acutely but also over time due to continued remodeling processes primarily in the thoracic aorta, with little impact on abdominal aortic volumes. Our data provide insight into the mechanism of a potential therapeutic benefit of TEVAR over medical therapy in type B dissection, which remains to be confirmed in a randomized clinical trial.

Interannual Variability of Fecundity and Egg Size of an Invasive Cyprinid, Carassius gibelio: Effects of Density-Dependent and Density-Independent Factors

ABSTRACT A population of the invasive Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) was examined over a three-year period in a mesotrophic reservoir to find out interannual variations of fecundity and egg size and the influence of maternal condition (total length, TL, and age class) and environmental factors (water temperature and fish density) on these variables. Prussian carp reproduction was synchronous, with only a single batch, and fecundity ranged from 1,250 to 62,400 eggs per female. Relative fecundities and egg size showed no significant between-year differences. Fecundity increased with age, whereas egg diameter remained unchanged with age and TL. Fecundity was affected positively by TL and negatively by fish density, whereas temperature had no significant effect. Egg size was not affected by fish density or temperature.

Factors affecting accumulation of thallium and other trace elements in two wild Brassicaceae spontaneously growing on soils contaminated by tailings dam waste

Thallium is a scarce, highly toxic element. There are several investigations that report Tl accumulation in plants of the family Brassicaceae. These plants could pose a risk in areas where Tl is present at higher concentrations than normal soils. The present study reports analyses of two wild Brassicaceae, Hirschfeldia incana and Diplotaxis catholica, growing spontaneously at five sampling sites moderately polluted with Tl and other trace elements in the Green Corridor of the Guadiamar river, Seville, S. Spain. In general, trace element content was unremarkable in all part plants, despite the concentrations present in soil. Thallium was the only element whose concentration in both plant species was above normal for plants (maximum values of 5.00 mg kg −1 in H. incana flowers). There were significant positive correlations between total Tl in soil and Tl in both plant species. Transfer Coefficients (TC) for all elements were, in general, <1 for both species, except for Tl in flowers and fruits at some sites. The highest Enrichment Factor (EF) was found for Tl in H. incana fruits (EF = 607) and D. catholica flowers (EF = 321). H. incana was studied in a previous growing season (2004) in the same area, although the rainfall was 3 times more than in the year of the present study (2005), giving a maximum Tl content of 46.5 mg kg −1 in H. incana flowers. The data presented here show that Tl content of plants growing in semi-arid conditions can be significantly influenced by precipitation. In dry years, plant Tl accumulation may be significantly reduced.

Dual-isotope myocardial SPECT in patients with redefined myocardial infarction

Background According to the redefinition of myocardial infarction (MI) by the ESC/ACC Committee, patients with unstable angina (UA) without significant elevation of creatine kinase (CK) but with elevation of troponin T should be diagnosed as MI. Methods One hundred and forty-six consecutive patients formerly diagnosed as UA, with peak CK levels<twice upper normal level, who underwent myocardial Thallium-201 (Tl; perfusion tracer) and 123I-15-iodophenyl 3-methyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP; metabolism tracer) dual isotope single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), were retrospectively reclassified into redefined MI and UA groups according to the redefinition (troponin T: rapid bedside assay positive or quantitative level >0.10 ng/ml). Dual SPECT findings were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively in blinded manner. Results Forty-seven patients (32%) were redefined as MI and 99 patients (68%) were redefined as UA. On admission, there were small but statistically significant elevations in laboratory parameters such as white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, CK and CK-MB in the redefined MI group compared with the redefined UA group. The proportion of patients with perfusion and metabolic abnormalities was significantly higher in the redefined MI group (Tl defect 36% vs. 4%, odds ratio: 13.5, p<0.001; BMIPP defect 64% vs. 23%, odds ratio: 5.8, p<0.001). Semi-quantitative evaluation revealed that the total Tl and BMIPP scores were significantly higher in the redefined MI patients ( p<0.001). Conclusions In the redefined MI patients, perfusion and metabolic abnormalities occurred frequently and more extensively. However, Tl/BMIPP dual SPECT had limited ability to detect minor myocardial infarcts classified as redefined MI. A more sensitive stratification combined with troponin T directed assignment should be established to incorporate the ongoing minor infarcts which could not be assessed by serial dual-scintigraphic evaluations.

Distribution of natural and anthropogenic thallium in the soils in an industrial pyrite slag disposing area

The total concentrations combined with the chemical speciation of thallium (Tl) were examined in order to track the distribution of natural and anthropogenic Tl in the soils in an industrial pyrite slag disposing area. Their geochemical behaviors in the soils were further discussed. Soil samples were collected from three soil profiles adjacent to a large open-disposed pile of industrial Tl-rich pyrite slag, and from one soil profile in the background area. The results show that the soil contamination with Tl derived from slag (slag-Tl) is generally limited; slag-Tl was mainly accumulated in the upper part (<16.5 cm) of the vicinal soils of the slag pile and shows large variation in concentration among different sampling sites. Basically, the soils surrounding the slag pile within 5 m are more Tl-contaminated than those under the slag pile and those far away from the slag pile. In respect of the concentrations of total Tl, the deeper soils of the studied profiles seem to be uncontaminated. However, the percentages of Tl in the easily reducible fraction indicate that these soils have been actually contaminated by slag-Tl. Natural Tl and anthropogenic Tl are distributed differently among the soil components in the studied soils. Natural Tl in the background soils is predominantly hosted in the residual fraction (∼98%), while anthropogenic Tl was significantly incorporated into the more labile fractions of the soil (up to ∼80%), especially in the acid-extractable fractions and easily reducible fraction (up to ∼30% and ∼45%, respectively). Detailed analysis of speciation data of Tl suggests that despite being predominantly controlled by the degree of Tl pollution, the distribution of slag-Tl in the soils can be further affected by the general differences in soil properties. In this study, the order for preferential immobilization of anthropogenic Tl among major soil components can be roughly summarized as: Tl(III) carbonates and hydroxides>Mn oxide–hydroxides>Fe oxide–hydroxides>adsorption sites on the surface of soil, while the order can be significantly mediated by the pH conditions in the soils. The correlations between the fractions of Tl in the slag and in the soils indicate that the anthropogenic Tl in the soils in the studied slag disposing area should be mainly derived from the dissolved slag-Tl that was leached by rainwater rather than from the washed-out particles of slag.

Thallium Behavior in Soils Polluted by Pyrite Tailings (Aznalcóllar, Spain)

Thallium content and chemical speciation was studied at 91 sites contaminated by water and tailings spilled from the settling pond of a pyrite mine into the Agrio and Guadiamar rivers in Aznalcóllar (Spain). The contamination was highly heterogeneous, with 15% of the affected area seriously contaminated, 55% moderately contaminated and 30% uncontaminated. The total Tl content in the surface horizon increased with respect to the background level, more than 4-fold in the uppermost 10 cm of the soils, and clearly decreased with depth without contaminating either the subsoil or groundwater. Most of the Tl (approximately 75%) was in non-extractable forms, either as a component of the particles in the tailings or adsorbed to crystalline oxides. The remaining Tl was held on, or occluded in, amorphous or poorly crystallized oxides. In acidic soils, the adsorption of Tl was dominated by iron oxides (Feo) and, in neutral-alkaline soils, by aluminium oxides (Alo). A relatively high amount of the Tl adsorbed by amorphous oxides in the uppermost 10 cm of the soils was extracted with acetic acid, and was presumably bio-available (mean values approximately 15% of the Tlo). The EDTA is a strong extractant of inorganic forms of aluminium and, consequently, the quantity of Tl extracted by EDTA in neutral-alkaline soil (mean values more than 10% of the total Tl) could be higher than the truly bio-available fraction. Approximately 1% of the total Tl was extracted with calcium chloride, but only in the neutral-alkaline soil was the extraction significantly related to the cation-exchange capacity and, thus, adsorbed by the negative charges of the clay and organic matter. The Tl soluble in water (< 0.1%) declined with the pH in the neutral-alkaline soils, and was unrelated to any soil property in the acid soils. Thus, the behavior of Tl is determined by climatic conditions, soils properties and time.

Metal dispersion and mobility in soils from the Lik Zn–Pb–Ag massive sulphide deposit, NW Alaska: environmental and exploration implications

The Lik deposit in northern Alaska is a largely unexposed shale-hosted Zn–Pb–Ag massive sulphide deposit that is underlain by continuous permafrost. Residual soils overlying the mineralized zone have element enrichments that are two to six times greater than baseline values. The most prominent elements are Ag, Mo, P, Se, Sr, V by total 4-acid digestion and Tl by a weak partial digestion (Enzyme Leach or EL) because they show multi-point anomalies that extend across the entire mineralized zone, concentration ranges are 0.5–2.6 ppm Ag, 4–26 ppm Mo, 0.1–0.3% P, 3–22 ppm Se, 90–230 ppm Sr, 170–406 ppm V, and 1.6–30 ppb Tl. Lead, Sb, and Hg are also anomalous (up to 178 ppm, 30 ppm, and 1.9 ppm, respectively), but all are characterized by single point anomalies directly over the mineralized zone, with only slightly elevated concentrations over the lower mineralized section. Zinc (total) has a consistent baseline response of 200 ppm, but it is not elevated in soils overlying the mineralized zone. However, Zn by EL shows a distinct single-point anomaly over the ore zone that suggests it was highly mobile and partly adsorbed on oxides or other secondary phases during weathering. In situ analyses (by laser ablation ICP-MS) of pyrite and sphalerite from drill core suggest that sphalerite is the primary residence for Ag, Cd, and Hg in addition to Zn, and pyrite contains As, Fe, Sb, and Tl. The level and degree of oxidation, and the proportion of reacting pyrite and carbonate minerals are two factors that affected the mobility and transport of metals. In oxidizing conditions, Zn is highly mobile relative to Hg and Ag, perhaps explaining the decoupling of Zn from the other sphalerite-hosted elements in the soils. Soils are acidic (to 3.9 pH) directly over the deposit due to the presence of acid-producing pyrite, but acid-neutralizing carbonate away from the mineralized zone yield soilsthat are near neutral. The soils therefore formed in a complex system involving oxidation and weathering (mechanical and chemical) of sulphide minerals, dissolution of carbonate minerals, and precipitation of iron and manganese oxide minerals.

Investigations of the photon fluences in various n+γ\=mixed fields in the fast neutron reactor

The LET factors RＬＥＴ(RＬＥＴ≈005) of neutron response for LiF(Mg,Cu,P)TLD have been determined experimentally due to the existing LET effects of the response for LiFTLD to neutron absorbed dose.Based on the data,one experimental method to define the photon fluence in various n+γ mixed fields in the fast neutron reactor with coupled 6LiF7LiFTL detectors has been checked.The experimental results show that the ratios of the TL due to the effect of neutrons in 7LiF(Mg,Cu,P)to the total TL due to the combined effects of the γrays and neutrons are between 81% and 17.1%.In order to reduce the effect caused by the uncertainty of the neutron spectra and improve the accuracy of the measurement for the photon fluence,we propose a new LiFTLD,in which there are 50% 6LiF and 50% 7LiF.It is coupled with a 6LiFTLD to measure the photon fluence in the n+γ mixed fields.

Lung and thorax development during adolescence: relationship with pubertal status.

The aim of the present study was to define reference values for lung volumes and the lung transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TL,CO) for an adolescent population using thoracic volume index (TVI) and an index of pubertal stage in order to account for the variation in growth pattern between adolescents. TVI, pubertal stage by Tanner scale (PST), time since menarche, functional residual capacity measured using the helium-dilution technique, vital capacity, total lung capacity and TL,CO measured using a steady-state method were determined in 51 males (aged 13-20 yrs; PST T3-T5) and 52 females (aged 13-18 yrs; PST T2-T4; all but three had already undergone menarche). In male adolescents, height, weight, TVI, lung volumes and TL,CO increased with age. This was not the case in female adolescents. In males, the TVI was the independent variable that best correlated with pulmonary volumes. In females, height was the independent variable that best correlated with pulmonary volumes. In both sexes, the variable that best correlated with TL,CO was PST, associated with height in males. This cross-sectional study provides prediction equations for lung volumes and the lung transfer factor for carbon monoxide taking into account thoracic volume index and pubertal stage. It shows that, in adolescent males, lung and thoracic development occurs during and until the end of puberty. Conversely, in adolescent females, lung development is almost finished following menarche.

Operational speciation of thallium in environmental solid samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry according to the BCR sequential extraction scheme

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was applied to the determination of extractable Tl in soil, sediment and fly ash certified reference materials (certified only in total Tl content) following the application of the BCR sequential extraction scheme. Strong matrix interference due to the presence of chloride arising from the hydroxylamine hydrochloride reagent used for leaching the reducible phase was observed. Thermal programmes were optimised for atomisation of Tl from aqueous standards, matrix-matched standards with extractants and real extracts obtained after treatment using the above method. In order to efficiently stabilise Tl for its determination in the acid-soluble and oxidisable fractions, 8 µg Pd were needed as a matrix modifier. The depressive interference caused by chloride required the use of 8 µg Pd + 8 µg ascorbic acid for determination of Tl in the reducible and residual phases. Application of stabilised temperature platform conditions in conjunction with a transverse-heated atomiser and longitudinal Zeeman background correction allowed calibration to be performed with aqueous standards in the acid soluble and oxidisable phases, whilst the standard additions technique was mandatory in the reducible and residual phases in order to achieve accurate results. Low extractability of Tl was observed in most of the analysed samples, thus indicating a low mobility for this metal. Between-batch precision values were lower than 5%. The LOD of Tl when determined in BCR extracts was 0.05 mg kg−1.

Soil pollution by oxidation of tailings from toxic spill of a pyrite mine

On the 25th April 1998, toxic water and tailings from a pyrite mine of Aznalcóllar (southern Spain) spilled into the Agrio and Guadiamar River Basin affecting some 40 km 2. In five sectors throughout the basin, we monitored the physical and chemical properties of the tailings as well as the degree of pollution in the soils on four different sampling dates: 5 May, 20 May, 4 June and 22 July 1998. The characteristics of the tailings deposited on the soils are shown to be related to distance from the spill. The oxidation rate of the tailings and the solubilization of the pollutant elements were more pronounced in the middle and lower sectors of the basin, where the particle size was finer, the sulfur content higher and the bulk density less. The increases in water-soluble sulfates, Zn, Cd and Cu were very rapid (the highest values being reached 25 days after the spill) and intense (reaching 45% of the total Cu, 65% of the total Zn and Cd). Meanwhile, the increases in water-soluble As, Bi, Sb, Pb and Tl were far lower (ranging between 0.002% of the total Tl and 2.5% of the total As) and less rapid in the case of As, Bi and Pb (the highest values for these elements being reached 40 days after the spill). These soluble elements infiltrated the soils with the rainwater, swiftly augmenting the soil pollution. Twenty-five days after the spill, when the rainfall ranged between 45 and 63 mm, the first 10-cm of the soils in the middle and lower sectors of the basin exceeded the maximum concentration permitted for agricultural soils in Zn, Cu and Tl. At 40 days after the spill, when the rainfall ranged between 60 and 89 mm, all the soils reached or exceeded the maximum permitted concentrations for As and Tl. Nevertheless, the pollutants tended to concentrate in the first 10 cm of the soils without seriously contaminating either the subsoil or the groundwaters. Consequently, a rapid removal of the tailings and the ploughing of the first 25–30 cm of the soils would be urgent measures to diminish pollutant concentration in the soils affected by the spill.

RÉGIME ALIMENTAIRE DE LA GRANDE ALOSE ALOSA ALOSA (LINNÉ, 1766) ET DE L’ALOSE FEINTE ALOSA FALLAX (LACÉPÈDE, 1803) DANS LE GOLFE DE GASCOGNE.

L’examen de contenus stomacaux de 193 spécimens d’Alosa alosa (longueur totale Lt 181 à 538 mm / 2 à 4 ans) et de 175 d’Alosa fallax (Lt 204 à 486 mm / 2 à 6 ans) pêchés au niveau du plateau continental océanique français de l’Atlantique Ouest montre que les aloses sont en mer des prédateurs sélectifs d’espèces essentiellement pélagiques. A. alosa est à dominante zooplanctonophage. Les euphausiacés sont la composante alimentaire principale avec les copépodes, dans une moindre part. Les poissons avec l’anchois et le sprat (Engraulis encrasicolus et Sprattus sprattus) restent des proies accidentelles toute l’année. A. fallax est nettement plus piscivore. L’anchois constitue sa proie préférentielle tout au long de l’année. Les euphausiacés, mieux représentés dans le bol alimentaire au moment du printemps, restent des proies secondaires. La saison d’alimentation la moins intense se situe en été chez les deux espèces, période où l’embonpoint des aloses chute. L’activité alimentaire de l’alose feinte montre une augmentation durant les 4 à 8 heures qui suivent le lever du soleil.

Changes in perfusion and fatty acid metabolism of rat heart with autoimmune myocarditis

To elucidate the change in perfusion and aerobic metabolism in myocarditis, tissue counting and dual tracer ex vivo autoradiography with Tl-201 and a free fatty acid analog, I-123- or I-125-labeled (p-iodophenyl)-methyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP), were performed in rats with myocarditis induced by immunization with cardiac myosin. Inflammatory damage was classified histologically. At the acute stage (2-4 weeks after the antigen-injection), total heart uptakes of Tl and BMIPP and the ratio (BMIPP/Tl) were significantly reduced in myocarditis rats (N = 15) compared with the controls (N = 12). Myocardial distribution of Tl and BMIPP was not homogeneous. Relative uptake of Tl and BMIPP (N = 9, 128 regions) was gradually decreased with the extent of inflammation, and the regional BMIPP/Tl was smaller than the control. At the subacute stage (7 weeks after the antigen-injection), total Tl uptake in myocarditis rats (N = 5) recovered to the control level (N = 4), but that of BMIPP was still significantly lower than the control. BMIPP/Tl was still significantly lower in myocarditis. Myocardial distribution of Tl and BMIPP recovered to be more homogeneous. Relative uptake of Tl and BMIPP (N = 6, 78 regions) still gradually but significantly decreased with the extent of inflammation. Regional BMIPP/Tl was still depressed in myocarditis. These results indicate that myocardial perfusion and aerobic metabolism were discrepant and heterogeneously suppressed with severe inflammation during the acute stages, but the difference decreases with time. Examination with Tl-201 and BMIPP may provide information about the severity of myocarditis.

Monitoring anomalous fading of TL of feldspars by using far-red emission as a gauge

TL dating of feldspars of volcanic origin is thwarted by anomalous fading of its emission in the usual spectral range from UV to red, though in the far-red range it has been shown to be stable. A new method of evaluation of this anomalous fading is proposed. The comparison is no longer made directly between total TL emissions after different storage times. Instead, TL is first measured in two spectral ranges simultaneously, the ‘blue’ one, usually monitored for fading, and the far-red one. Secondly, at every temperature the ratio of ‘blue’ to far-red, named B ir, is computed. Thirdly, to monitor anomalous fading, these ratios are compared between different TLs. When fading shows, values of B ir are observed to decrease during storage, according to the logarithmic law, down to very low values. A temperature dependance of anomalous fading is firmly established.

Observations of thermal transfer OSL signals in glacigenic quartz

The conclusions of Rhodes and Pownall (Rhodes, E.J., Pownall, L., 1994. Zeroing of the OSL signal in quartz from young glaciofluvial sediments. Radiation Measurements 23, 329–333) were somewhat discouraging for the prospects of using quartz OSL for dating glacigenic sediments, while the more detailed study of Rhodes and Bailey (Rhodes, E.J., Bailey, R.M., 1997. The effect of thermal transfer on the zeroing of the luminescence of quartz from recent glaciofluvial sediments. Quaternary Science Reviews (Quaternary Geochronology) 16, 291–298) provided more encouragement. Specifically, the latter authors were able to account for the relatively high D e values observed for recent glacigenic (dominantly glaciofluvial) sediments in terms of an anomalously high thermal transfer effect, rather than simply insufficient bleaching prior to deposition. In other locations, the OSL of quartz from glacigenic material appears to provide reliable age estimates, and does not suffer from these effects (Owen, L.A., Richards, B., Rhodes, E.J., Cunningham, W.D., Windley, B.F., Badamgarav, J., Dorjnamjaa, D., 1998. Relic permofrost structures in the Gobi of Mongolia: age and significance. Journal of Quaternary Science 13 (16), 539–548; Richards, B.W., Owen, L.A., Rhodes, E.J., 2000. Timing of Late Quaternary glaciations in the Himalayas of northern Pakistan. Journal of Quaternary Science 15, 283–297). In this paper, laboratory bleached samples from both the above studies are remeasured, using an experimental design to correct for OSL sensitivity changes, which has some similarities to the single aliquot regenerative dose (SAR) protocol of Murray and Wintle (Murray A.S., Wintle A.G., 2000. Luminescence dating of quartz using an improved single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol. Radiation Measurements 32, 57–73). Clear evidence of thermal transfer OSL signals, generated during the preheating procedure, is presented. Further measurements, using the full SAR protocol, demonstrate that the source of this charge is related to natural dosing. For one sample, the apparent effect is subtracted effectively by the SAR protocol. Another sample studied in detail shows a striking relationship between the thermally transferred OSL signal and the total TL observed during the ramping of the preceding preheat treatment.

Study of the TL response of LiF:Mg,Ti to 3 and 7.5 MeV helium ions: Measurements and interpretation in terms of the track interaction model

We have measured the LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100) thermoluminescent response, efficiency and supralinearity, to 3 and 7.5 MeV helium ions in the fluence interval between 6×107 to 1.5×1011 cm−2. Ion irradiations were performed using a flux of elastically scattered ions from a thin gold target. The measured efficiencies with respect to 60Co γ-rays are equal to 0.074 and 0.174 at 3 and 7.5 MeV, respectively, for the response of peak 5. The supralinearity functions for peaks 4, 5, 6a, 6b, 7, 8, 9 and the total TL signal indicate that supralinearity is an increasing function of energy and that it increases with peak temperature. The data for peaks 5, 8 and 9 have been successfully described by Monte Carlo simulations of the track interaction model. The fitted parameters show that peak 5 displays a special behaviour which requires the use of a much larger effective track radius than the higher temperature peaks.