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Irradiation Dose (irradiation + dose)
Kinds of Irradiation Dose Selected AbstractsCorrelation between the residual resistivity ratio and the power-law of the normal-state resistivity in MgB2CRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2008I. M. Obaidat Abstract MgB2 polycrystalline superconducting specimens were irradiated with several doses of ,-rays up to 100 MR. An increase in the normal state resistivity and a broadening of the resistive transition to the superconducting state were observed with increasing ,-irradiation dose. Although very small changes to the superconducting transition temperature were obtained after ,-irradiation, different temperature dependence of normal-state resistivity and different residual resistivity ratios, RRR were obtained for different doses. We have found a correlation between RRR and the power law dependence of resistivity, n as the irradiation dose increases. This correlation may be an indication that the electron-phonon interaction is important in these samples. These results are attributed to the disorder caused by ,-rays. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Studies of thioguanine-resistant lymphocytes induced by in vivo irradiation of miceENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 5 2008Irene M. Jones Abstract The frequency of Hprt -deficient lymphocytes in mice after in vivo , irradiation, has been found to vary as a function of time elapsed after exposure and irradiation dose. The frequency of mutant lymphocytes in spleen was determined using an in vitro, clonogenic assay for thioguanine-resistant T-lymphocytes. Mice were exposed to single doses of 0,400 cGy from cesium-137 or to eight daily doses of 50 cGy. The time to maximum-induced mutant frequency was 3 weeks. The dose response was strikingly curvilinear at 3,5 weeks after irradiation, but less precisely defined for 10,53 weeks after exposure, being fit by either linear or quadratic dependence. Three weeks after eight daily 50 cGy exposures, mutant frequency was elevated above controls and mice exposed to 50 cGy (which were not distinct from the nonirradiated controls), but only 17% in that of mice given a single 400 cGy fraction. This fractionation effect and the curvilinearity of the early dose,response curve suggested that saturation of repair increased the yield of mutations at higher acute doses. The decline of spleen mutant frequency in mice observed between 5 and 10 weeks after irradiation may reflect selection against some mutants. The marked variation of mutant frequency, as a function of time after irradiation and of dose rate, emphasize the need to evaluate these variables carefully and consistently in future studies. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Fading of artificial hair colour and its prevention by photofiltersINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 3 2006B. Locke Fading of artificial hair colour has been investigated by simulating actual usage conditions through exposure to artificial radiation in a weatherometer, with 0.35 mW (m2nm),1 at 340 nm, for 16,48 h, and by periodical washing. Hair colour was produced by using commercial two-part, permanent hair dyes with light auburn, medium auburn and dark auburn shades. Formulations based on red couplers, such as 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene and 1-naphthol, as well as primary intermediates, such as 1-hydroxyethyl-4,5-diamino pyrazole sulphate, were employed. Results indicate that the extent of fading, as measured by the total colour change parameter, dE, is greatest for coloured hair subjected to both irradiation and shampooing, and significantly smaller for hair undergoing only irradiation or washing. Colour loss has been also found to be dependent upon the hair type employed, with coloured natural white and bleached hair undergoing much greater change than coloured brown hair. It has been also shown that hair colour based on pyrazole intermediates displayed the deepest fading as a result of shampooing (dE 4,6 after 10 shampooings) and irradiation per shampooing (dE 14,16 after 32 h of light exposure and four shampooings). The contribution of UV light (UVB + UVA) to the artificial hair-colour loss was found experimentally to be dependent upon the irradiation dose and varied from 63% at 16 h of irradiation time to 27% at 48 h of light exposure. The theoretical extent of photoprotection by a formulation was assessed by calculating the percentage of UV light it attenuates in the wavelength range from 290 to 400 nm. The results indicate that UVB photofilters, such as octyl methoxy cinnamate, absorb <25% of the total UV irradiation at concentrations as high as 30 mg (g hair),1. UVA absorbers were found to be more effective, with benzophenone-3 and benzophenone-4 absorbing about 40% of UV at the same concentration. Corresponding experimental data were in reasonable agreement with the theoretical predictions. The data are also presented for colour protection with treatments containing two photo-absorbers: benzophenone-3,ZnO; benzophenone-4,ZnO; octyl methoxy cinnamate,ZnO; and dimethylpabaimidopropyl laurdimonium tosylate-benzophenone-3. [source] Effects of low dose gamma irradiation on microbial inactivation and physicochemical properties of fried shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2010He Wang Summary Changes in microbiological, physicochemical and sensory properties of shrimp gamma irradiated with 60Co at doses of 0, 1, 3, 6, 9 kGy were investigated. Irradiation at 6 kGy eliminated most of the spoilage microorganisms and did not affect sensory quality. The L* value increased as irradiation dose increased, while a* value decreased as irradiation dose increased. Irradiation had no significant effect on the texture of shrimp samples; however, increasing the dose up to 9 kGy significantly increased the amount of volatile compounds, such as, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, furans, and oxides. According to the total sensory points, the appearance and flavour of the shrimp product was considered as acceptable by sensory evaluation when irradiated at doses of 0,6 kGy. These results showed that gamma irradiation processing (<6 kGy) had the potential to extend the shelf life of fried shrimp. [source] Effect of gamma-ray irradiation on the physicochemical properties of flour and starch granule structure for wheatINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Jun Wang Summary Effect of gamma irradiation on the physicochemical properties of flour and starch granule structure of wheat was compared to non-irradiated wheat. The moisture content of wet gluten and titratable acidity of wheat flour were significantly affected by gamma irradiation. This treatment also destroyed the starch granules of wheat grain and their breakage augmented as the dose of gamma irradiation increased, apparently resulting in the increase of small starch granules. Probably, these results were due to the disruption of large molecule, such as proteins, lipids and starch. The irradiated wheat flour for RVA pasting properties (flour viscosity) was also evaluated. Besides the difference in RVA profile, starch pasting curves showed a considerable decrease for six main parameters as gamma irradiation dose at different velocity increased. [source] Radical annihilation of ,-ray-irradiated contact lens blanks made of a 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer at elevated temperaturesJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2010Young-Shang Lin Abstract The annihilation of the radicals in irradiated 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer was analyzed by the use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The EPR spectra were deconvoluted into three radicals: a quartet (Ra), a triplet (Rb), and a broad singlet (Rc). Radical Ra was attributed to coupling with a methyl radical and/or a doublet or triplet with about the same hyperfine coupling due to a methylene radical. Radical Rb was due to a methylene radical produced by main-chain scission. Radical Rc was attributed to various free radicals without coupling to protons. By comparing the EPR spectra of radicals Ra, Rb, and Rc with the spectrum of a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) standard with a known spin number, we calculated the spin numbers of the radicals, which decreased with time in the temperature range 25,45°C, regardless of the irradiation dose. The annealing of Ra and Rb and the annealing of Rc at longer times followed second-order kinetics; these were different from the kinetics for the color formation and defect-controlled hardening of polymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 [source] Synthesis and characterization superabsorbent-ethanol polyacrylic acid gelsJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2007Zhao Qingchun Abstract In this article, superabsorbent-ethanol polyacrylic acid gels were synthesized by free-radical aqueous polymerization method by using , rays as initiator and varying the concentration of the Zn2+ from 0.1 to 0.3%, which acts as crosslinker. Effect of irradiation dose, monomer concentration, kind, and concentration of the crosslinker on swelling behaviors of polyacrylic acid gels were investigated. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007 [source] EFFECTS OF ANTIOXIDANTS ON IRRADIATED BEEF COLORJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 3 2010LAKSHMANAN RAMAMOORTHI ABSTRACT Fresh beef was dipped into ascorbic acid (AA; 500 ppm), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA, 150 ppm), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, 100 ppm) or propyl gallate (PG; 100 ppm); control samples were dipped in deionized water. Samples were vacuum packaged, then irradiated (0, 1.25 or 2.50 kGy). After irradiation, samples were stored (0, 7 or 14 days) at 4C. Color was assessed instrumentally (L*, a*, b*values, hue angles, chroma) and visually. All antioxidants increased L*value by two units (lighter); however, irradiation dose had no effect. Irradiation increased wet dog and rancid odors of beef; however, it decreased sour odor, a*value, chroma and hue angle, and increased visual green and brown colors, indicating that it reduced redness and color intensity. Antioxidants reduced L*(decreased lightening) and a*values (redness) compared to controls. BHA had the greatest effect on a*value. AA decreased visual green color the most; however, BHA and BHT were also effective. Antioxidants had inconsistent effects on b*value, chroma and hue angle. Storage decreased L*and a*values, and chroma. BHA and PG were most effective at maintaining low thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances when samples were irradiated. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Irradiation has the potential to reduce microbial load, increasing both the safety and shelf life of red meat products; however, it has the potential to damage fresh meat color, resulting in unacceptable discoloration. Irradiation can increase off-odors (wet dog, rancid) of beef; however, it can decrease sour odor, instrumental measures of red color, and increase visual green and brown colors. Use of antioxidants including ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole and propyl gallate can help maintain the color of irradiated beef held in refrigerated storage for up to 2 weeks. [source] Effect of Gamma-irradiation on Color, Pungency, and Volatiles of Korean Red Pepper PowderJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 8 2004J.H. Lee ABSTRACT: Effect of gamma-irradiation on color, pungency, and volatiles of Korean red pepper powder (Capsicum annuum L.) was investigated. Red pepper powder, vacuum-packaged in a polyethylene/polypropylene bag, was gamma-irradiated up to 7 kGy. An irradiation dose of 7 kGy reduced the population of mesophilic bacteria and fungi effectively without affecting major quality factors. Pungency of irradiated red pepper powder was not changed based on the amount of capsanoids by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the Scoville sensory score. The red color of irradiated pepper powder was not significantly different from that of the control, judged from the capsanthin content by HPLC and color assessment using spectrophotpmetric (American Spice Trade Assn. units) and colorimetric measurements (Hunter a values). Further, the sensory evaluation showed no significant difference in pungent odor and off-odor between nonirradiated control and irradiated red pepper powder. However, when headspace volatiles of gamma-irradiated red pepper powder were evaluated by gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry with solid-phase microextraction and electronic nose with metal oxide sensors, the profiles of odor were classified into irradiated dose levels of 0, 3, 5, and 7 kGy by principal component analysis and multivariate analysis of variance. Such a difference of odor might result from the disappearance of some volatiles, such as hexanoic acid and tetramethyl-pyrazine, and the appearance of 1,3-di-tert-butylbenzene during irradiation. Moreover, it appears that the irradiation of packaging material induced a formation of 1,3-di-tertbutylbenzene, which migrated into the red pepper powder. [source] Lipid Oxidation, Color, Volatiles, and Sensory Characteristics of Aerobically Packaged and Irradiated Pork with Different Ultimate pHJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 8 2001K.C. Nam ABSTRACT: Irradiation and storage increased lipid oxidation of normal and pale-soft-exudative (PSE) muscles, whereas dark-firm-dry (DFD) muscle was very stable and resistant to oxidative changes. Irradiation increased redness regardless of pork-quality type, and the increases were proportional to irradiation dose. Irradiation increased the production of sulfur-containing volatiles, but not lipid oxidation products. The total volatiles produced in normal and PSE pork were higher than the DFD pork. Some volatiles produced in meat by irradiation evaporated during storage under aerobic packaging conditions. Nonirradiated normal and DFD pork had higher odor preference scores than the nonirradiated PSE, but irradiation reduced the preference scores of all 3 pork-quality types. [source] Rheological Examination of White Pepper Slurries to Determine Prior Treatment of Pepper with Gamma-IrradiationJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 2 2001S.D. Yi ABSTRACT: A study was carried out to examine rheological properties for the detection of irradiated white pepper by viscosity and maximum viscosity methods. Samples in polyethylene bags were irradiated and measured for apparent viscosity and maximum viscosity. The viscosity of all samples decreased with increasing stirring speeds and irradiation dose. This trend was similar for maximum viscosity. The results suggest that the detection of irradiated white pepper is possible by both the viscometric and maximum viscosity methods. Therefore, maximum viscosity method can be used as a new method to detect the irradiated white pepper. [source] Effect of crosslinking, remelting, and aging on UHMWPE damage in a linear experimental wear modelJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 7 2007Suzanne A. Maher Abstract The objective of this study was to establish the effect of postirradiation melting as a function of irradiation dose on the wear behavior and material characteristics of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. Our hypothesis was that a low dose of irradiation followed by melting would have the same improved wear performance as is found with higher doses of irradiation, but without the disadvantages associated with reduced fracture toughness. The hypothesis was tested by measuring the wear performance (wear track area, incidence of pitting and delamination) in a linear doubly curved-on-flat cyclic test, material behavior (elastic modulus, fracture toughness), and aging response (density changes through the thickness) of the following materials: elevated crosslinked groups,radiated at 25, 65, and 120 kGy, melted, sterilized and aged; a melted group,melted, sterilized, and aged; and a control group,sterilized and aged. Our findings suggest that postirradiation melting, not the irradiation dose, dominates the material property changes and wear response. Melting ensured reduced modulus and therefore decreased contact stresses, superior wear performance, and good resistance to aging, even after low levels of irradiation (25 kGy). The low modulus of the 25 kGy elevated crosslinked group, coupled with increased fracture toughness compared to samples irradiated at higher doses and a resistance to aging not found in the melted group, support our hypothesis. A low dose of irradiation followed by heat treatment has the same beneficial effects in terms of improved wear performance, but without the disadvantages of reduced fracture toughness found with higher doses of irradiation. © 2007 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 25:849,857, 2007 [source] Melatonin modulates the action of near infrared radiation on cell adhesionJOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2003Tiina I. Karu Abstract: The adhesion of human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells to a glass matrix is evaluated following their irradiation in a suspension with a pulsed near-infrared (IR) light-emitting diode (wavelength 820 nm, pulse repetition frequency 10 Hz, irradiation dose 16,120 J/m2) when melatonin (4 × 10,11 to 4 × 10,5 m) is added to cell suspension immediately before or after the irradiation. Also, the dependence of visible-to-near-IR radiation (600,840 nm, 52 J/m2) on cell adhesion (action spectrum) is recorded in absence and presence of melatonin (4 × 10,6 m). It is found that melatonin in pharmacological concentrations (but not in physiological range) inhibited cell adherence. Irradiation of cells before or after melatonin treatment normalizes cell adhesion to control level. Melatonin in pharmacological concentrations eliminates stimulation of cell attachment induced by irradiation. Pre-treatment (but not post-treatment) with melatonin in the physiological concentration eliminates cell adhesion stimulation induced by irradiation. Melatonin modifies the light action spectrum significantly in near IR region (760,840 nm only). Thus, the peak at 820,830 nm characteristic for the light action spectrum is fully reduced. [source] Spectroscopic study of the penetration depth of grafted polystyrene onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene- co -perfluoropropylvinylether) substrates.JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 19 2002Abstract This study concerns the radiation grafting of styrene onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene- co -perfluoropropylvinylether) (PFA) substrates and the penetration depth of the graft. Grafting was obtained by the simultaneous irradiation method, and the spectroscopic analysis was made with the micro-Raman technique. Effects of grafting conditions such as the type of solvent, dose rate, and irradiation dose on the grafting yield were investigated. Of the different solvents used, the most efficient in terms of increasing grafting yield were dichloromethane, benzene, and methanol, respectively. A mixture of methanol and dichloromethane used as a solvent for styrene achieved a higher degree of grafting and concentration of grafted polystyrene onto the surface of PFA substrates than solutions of the monomer in the separate solvents. The degree of grafting increased with increasing radiation dose up to 500 kGy, stabilizing above this dose. However, the grafting yield decreased with an increase in the dose rate. The increase in the overall grafting yield was accompanied by a proportional increase in the penetration depth of the grafts into the substrate. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3191,3199, 2002 [source] Raman spectroscopy of ion-irradiated astrophysically relevant materialsJOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 2 2008G. A. Baratta Abstract Solid objects in space (interstellar grains, comets, interplanetary dust particles, etc.) are continuously exposed to energetic processes, such as cosmic ion irradiation, that influence their evolution. In this paper we present an experimental study, carried out by Raman spectroscopy, of the effects induced by ion irradiation on frozen ices and refractory materials. If the irradiated ice mixture contains a relevant amount of carbon atoms, the ice is converted into an organic residue (stable at room temperature), which at high irradiation dose evolves toward a hydrogenated amorphous carbon. Here we show that material similar to that produced in the laboratory by ion irradiation of frozen ice mixtures and refractory materials can be formed in space by cosmic ion irradiation. This finding has been recently confirmed by the Stardust mission, which revealed in some of the cometary particles collected in space and returned to earth carbonaceous materials that have been processed by cosmic ion irradiation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Comparison of Minolta colorimeter and machine vision system in measuring colour of irradiated Atlantic salmonJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 4 2009Yavuz Yagiz Abstract BACKGROUND: Minolta and machine vision are two different instrumental techniques used for measuring the colour of muscle food products. Between these two techniques, machine vision has many advantages, such as its ability to determine L*, a*, b* values for each pixel of a sample's image and to analyse the entire surface of a food regardless of surface uniformity and colour variation. The objective of this study was to measure the colour of irradiated Atlantic salmon fillets using a hand-held Minolta colorimeter and a machine vision system and to compare their performance. RESULTS: The L*, a*, b* values of Atlantic salmon fillets subjected to different electron beam doses (0, 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 kGy) were measured using a Minolta CR-200 Chroma Meter and a machine vision system. For both Minolta and machine vision the L* value increased and the a* and b* values decreased with increasing irradiation dose. However, the machine vision system showed significantly higher readings for L*, a*, b* values than the Minolta colorimeter. Because of this difference, colours that were actually measured by the two instruments were illustrated for visual comparison. Minolta readings resulted in a purplish colour based on average L*, a*, b* values, while machine vision readings resulted in an orange colour, which was expected for Atlantic salmon fillets. CONCLUSION: The Minolta colorimeter and the machine vision system were very close in reading the standard red plate with known L*, a*, b* values. Hence some caution is recommended in reporting colour values measured by Minolta, even when the ,reference' tiles are measured correctly. The reason for this discrepancy in colour readings for salmon is not known and needs further investigation. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Phenolic compounds and the colour of oranges subjected to a combination treatment of waxing and irradiationJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 13 2004Mostafa Moussaid Abstract The effects of waxing, irradiation doses and storage on phenolic compounds and colour of irradiated oranges were investigated. Mature oranges (Citrus sinensis (L) Osbeck var Maroc late) waxed or unwaxed were treated with 0, 1 or 2 kGy radiation and stored up to 9 weeks at 20 °C and 40,50% RH. Colour of the oranges, total phenols and flavones in the peel were measured. Phenolic compounds increased with irradiation dose and storage time. Hue angle, L* value and chroma of the orange colour were more affected by waxing and storage time than the irradiation treatment. Changes in the phenolic compounds were linked with changes in the redness and saturation of the orange colour. Irradiation stimulated synthesis of flavones; waxing controlled changes induced by irradiation. These results may aid in maintaining the quality and safety of oranges during storage. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Effects of gamma irradiation on physical and chemical properties of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum)JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 14 2002John A Graham Abstract Changes in the physical and chemical properties of chickpeas gamma irradiated with 60Co at doses of 0,50,kGy were investigated. Irradiation between 0 and 20,kGy had no significant effect on the hydration capacity of the chickpeas; however, increasing the dose from 20 to 50,kGy significantly decreased the hydration capacity owing to leaching of soluble compounds from the cotyledon to the water. There was an improvement in cooking quality (defined as degree of softness) with increased irradiation. Gelatinisation properties of the starch (measured with a Rapid Visco-Analyser) exhibited a deterioration with increasing irradiation dose, while reversed phase HPLC identified a sequential decrease in low-molecular-weight protein composition with increasing irradiation dose. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Biodegradable Water Absorbent Synthesized from Bacterial Poly(amino acid)sMACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE, Issue 3 2004Masao Kunioka Abstract Summary: Biodegradable hydrogels prepared by , -irradiation from microbial poly(amino acid)s have been studied. pH-Sensitive hydrogels were prepared by the , -irradiation of poly(, -glutamic acid) (PGA) produced by Bacillus subtilis and poly(, -lysine) (PL) produced by Streptomyces albulus in aqueous solutions. When the , -irradiation dose was 19 kGy or more, and the concentration of PGA in water was 2 wt.-% or more, transparent hydrogels could be produced. For the 19 kGy dose, the produced hydrogel was very weak, however, the specific water content (wt. of absorbed water/wt. of dry hydrogel) of this PGA hydrogel was approximately 3,500. The specific water content decreased to 200, increasing when the , -irradiation dose was over 100 kGy. Under acid conditions or upon the addition of electrolytes, the PGA hydrogels shrunk. The PGA hydrogel was pH-sensitive and the change in the volume of the hydrogel depended on the pH value outside the hydrogel in the swelling medium. This PGA hydrogel was hydrodegradable and biodegradable. A new novel purifier reagent (coagulant), made from the PGA hydrogels, for contaminated turbid water has been found and developed by Japanese companies. A very small amount of this coagulant (only 2 ppm in turbid water) with poly(aluminum chloride) can be used for the purification of turbid water. A PL aqueous solution also can change into a hydrogel by , -irradiation. The specific water content of the PL hyrdogel ranged from 20 to 160 depending on the preparation conditions. Under acid conditions, the PL hydrogel swelled because of the ionic repulsion of the protonated amino groups in the PL molecules. The rate of enzymatic degradation of the respective PL hydrogels by a neutral protease was much faster than the rate of simple hydrolytic degradation. [source] Steerable Sheath Catheter Navigation for Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: A Case-Control StudyPACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 7 2008CHRISTOPHER PIORKOWSKI M.D. Background: Lack of stable access to all desired ablation target sites is one of the limitations for efficacious circumferential left atrial (LA) pulmonary vein (PV) ablation. Targeting that, new catheter navigation technologies have been developed. The aim of this study was to describe atrial fibrillation (AF) mapping and ablation using manually controlled steerable sheath catheter navigation and to compare it against an ablation approach with a nonsteerable sheath. Methods and Results: In this case-control-analysis 245 consecutive patients (controls) treated with circumferential left atrial PV ablation were matched with 105 subsequently consecutive patients (cases) ablated with a similar line concept but mapping and ablation performed with a manually controlled steerable sheath. One hundred sixty-six patients were selected to be included into 83 matched patient pairs. Ablation success was measured with serial 7-day Holter electrocardiograms. Patients ablated with the steerable sheath showed an increase in the success rate (freedom from AF) from 56% to 77% (P = 0.009) after a single procedure and 6 months of follow-up. With respect to procedural data no difference could be found for procedure time, fluoroscopy time, irradiation dose, and radiofrequency (RF) burning time. With the steerable sheath mean procedural RF power (33 ± 9 vs 41 ± 4 W; P < 0.0005) and total RF energy delivery (97,498 vs 111,864 J; P < 0.005) were significantly lower and the rate of complete PV isolation significantly increased from 10% to 52% (P < 0.0005). The complication rate was the same in both groups. Among different arrhythmia, procedure, and patient characteristics, the lack of early postinterventional arrhythmia recurrences was the only but powerful predictor for long-term ablation success. Conclusions: An AF mapping and ablation approach solely using a manually controlled steerable sheath for catheter navigation improved the outcome of circumferential left atrial PV ablation at similar intervention times and similar complication rates. The 6-month success rate after a single LA intervention increased from 56% to 77%. [source] Effect of electron beam treatments on degradation kinetics of polylactic acid (PLA) plastic waste under backyard composting conditionsPACKAGING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Issue 2 2009L. Fernando Vargas Abstract The effects of electron beam irradiation on backyard composting behaviour of polylactic acid (PLA) polymer were evaluated. Samples (10,mm2 × 0.75,mm) from thermoformed PLA drinking cups were exposed to 10,MeV electron beam irradiation at doses of 0, 72, 144 and 216,kGy. Irradiated PLA samples were placed in heat-sealed, plastic screen and added to organic feedstock in a rotating composter within a computer-controlled environmental chamber for 10 weeks at 35°C. Changes in weight, structural integrity and molecular weight were assessed over time. Results show that irradiation enhanced PLA breakdown. PLA weight decreased by increasing amounts as irradiation dose increased. Sample brittleness increased with irradiation dose and composting time. Finally, PLA molecular weight decreased as irradiation dose and compost time increased. Molecular weight D values for irradiated PLA were found to be about 430,kGy. After 1 week in a typical backyard composter, molecular weight D values increased to about 560,kGy and then fell to about 380,kGy after 2 weeks of composting. Samples irradiated at 216,kGy showed a reduction in weight of 9.4% after 10 weeks of composting, and a reduction of weight-average molecular weight of 93.7% after 6 weeks. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Characteristics of He+ -irradiated Ni Schottky diodes based on 4H-SiC epilayer grown by sublimationPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 12 2009A. M. Strel'chuk Abstract Forward and reverse current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics of the of He+ , irradiated Ni-SiC(4H) Schottky diodes (SDs) are presented prior and after irradiation. The effect of irradiation was weakly observed in the region of small forward and reverse current, but series resistance of SD demonstrated tendency to rise with increasing irradiation dose. The most interesting effect was the big scatter of the series resistances after exposure to high irradiation dose 2×1012 cm -2. By contrast, uncompensated donor concentration had just minor changes (from 3.3×1017 cm -3 prior irradiation to 1.8×1017 cm -3 at highest irradiation dose) with no connection with SDs resistance. Hypothesis that localized defect-induced current paths could explain this behaviour is discussed. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Irradiated polymethylmethacrylate studied by positron annihilation spectroscopyPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 10 2007Hamdy F. M. Mohamed Abstract The effect of gamma irradiation dose on microscopic structure of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has been studied using positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) and Doppler broadening of annihilation radiation (DBAR) techniques. The measurements were performed at room temperature as a function of the ,-irradiation doses from 60-1200 kGy. The observed lifetime spectra were resolved into three components. The size and the fraction of the o-Ps hole volume were estimated from the positron annihilation parameters. The effect of ,-irradiation was identified at lower doses to be cross-linking while at higher doses the chemical degradation of the polymer was observed. Moreover, the distribution of the free volume shifts from a large to small size as the irradiation increases and has very similar Gaussian-like distribution. The PAL results were confirmed with X-ray measurement. A correlation between the macroscopic mechanical properties Hv and positron annihilation parameters has been demonstrated. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Enhanced Crystallinity of PTFE by Ion Irradiation in a Dense Plasma FocusPLASMA PROCESSES AND POLYMERS, Issue 2 2007Mehboob Sadiq Abstract Nitrogen-ion beam pulses emitted from a low-energy (1.45 kJ) Mather-type plasma focus device are used for the surface modification of PTFE polymer specimens. The specimens, placed at a fixed position, are implanted using different number of pulses. Raman spectroscopy and XRD are employed to probe the structural changes incurred during the ion implantation. Both techniques indicate that the crystalline order in the specimens increases with increasing the irradiation dose. The crystallinity degree of the irradiated specimens, as measured from the XRD data, is found to enhance monotonically from 40% to about 55%. Possible crystallinity enhancement mechanism of irradiated PTFE specimens via chain scission is discussed. [source] Effect of ,-irradiation on the physical properties and dyeability of poly(vinyl butyral) blends with polystyrene and poly(ethylene glycol)POLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 6 2008Horia M. Nizam El-Din Cast films of polymer blends essentially based on poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) and equal ratios of polystyrene (PS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were prepared from benzene and butyl alcohol solutions of the individual polymers. The effect of ,-irradiation on the thermal decomposition and tensile mechanical properties was investigated. Moreover, the effect of ,-irradiation on the dye affinity of PVB/PS and PVB/PEG for basic and acid dyestuffs was studied. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) study showed that the unirradiated PVB polymer films prepared in benzene displayed higher thermal stability than the same polymer films prepared in butanol. However, in all cases the thermal stability was found to increase with increasing ,-irradiation dose. On the other hand, PVB/PS blend possesses higher thermal stability than PVB/PEG, as shown from the determination of the weight loss (%) at different heating temperatures, the temperatures of the maximum rate of reaction and the activation energy. While, pure PS films showed the stress-strain behavior of brittle polymers, PVB/PS films showed the behavior of tough polymers with yielding properties. The results of dyeing clearly showed that the solvent type, blend composition, and irradiation dose are determining factors for the dye affinity for basic or acid dyes. For example, unirradiated PVB films prepared from butanol displayed a higher affinity for the basic and acid dyes than the same polymer prepared from the same benzene. However, PVB prepared from butanol showed higher affinity to the dyes than PS prepared from the same solvent. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] The effect of 60Co ,-rays on the crystal structure, melting and crystallization behavior of poly(butylene succinate)POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 11 2004Jianbin Song Abstract The results obtained for poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) after 60Co ,-ray irradiation, studied by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM), revealed that the degree of crystallinity, melting temperature and enthalpy decreased with increasing irradiation dose, but that the crystal structure of PBS did not vary when compared to non-irradiated PBS. By using Scherrer equation, small changes occurred in the crystal sizes of L020, L110 and L111. The spherulitic morphology of PBS was strongly dependent on irradiation dose and changed significantly at higher irradiation dosages. The crystallization kinetics of PBS indicated that the Avrami exponent (n) for irradiated PBS was reduced to 2.3, when compared to non-irradiated PBS (3.3). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Comparative study of the radiation-induced grafting of styrene onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene- co -perfluoropropylvinyl ether) and polypropylene substrates.POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 5 2003I: Kinetics, structural investigation Abstract A comparative study has been made of the radiation grafting of styrene onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene- co -perfluoropropyl vinyl ether) (PFA) and polypropylene (PP) substrates, using the simultaneous irradiation method. Effects of grafting conditions such as monomer concentrations, type of solvent, dose rate and irradiation dose on the grafting yield were investigated. Under the same grafting conditions it was found that a higher degree of grafting of styrene was obtained using a mixture of dichloromethane/methanol solvents for PFA and methanol for PP and the degree of grafting was higher in PP than in PFA at all doses. However, the micro-Raman spectroscopy analysis of the graft revealed that, for the same degree of grafting, the penetration depth of the grafted polystyrene into the substrate was higher in PFA than in PP substrates. In both polymers the crystallinity was hardly affected by the grafting process and the degree of crystallinity decreased slightly with grafting dose. The dependence of the initial rate of grafting on the dose rate and the monomer concentration was found to be 0.6 and 1.4 order for PFA and 0.15 and 2.2 for PP, respectively. The degree of grafting increased with increasing radiation dose in both polymers. However, the grafting yield decreased with an increase in the dose rate. The increase in the overall grafting yield for PFA and PP was accompanied by a proportional increase in the penetration depth of the graft into the substrates. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Synthesis and characterization of polyelectrolyte hydrogels with controlled swelling behaviourPOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 12 2001Ayman M Atta Abstract Copolymerization of sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt (K-SPMA) and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) has been studied in the range 10,90% K-SPMA in the feedstock. The reactivity ratios have been determined for K-SPMA/AMPS copolymers. The copolymer compositions, utilized for determining the reactivity ratio, have been determined from nitrogen content. Crosslinked poly(AMPS) and K-SPMA/AMPS copolymers were prepared in water in the presence of potassium persulfate as initiator and N,N -methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as tetrafunctional crosslinker. Irradiation of K-SPMA and AMPS with an electron-beam was carried out at 50,wt% aqueous solution with low pH and irradiation dose 40,120,kGy. The swelling behaviour of highly crosslinked K-SPMA/AMPS copolymer polyelectrolyte gels in aqueous medium was studied in the presence of different types of salts. The crosslink density, the average molecular weight between the crosslinks and the dissociation constant (pKa) of the crosslinked polymer were determined from stress,strain measurements. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Effect of electron-beam irradiation on poly(vinyl chloride)/epoxidized natural rubber blend: dynamic mechanical analysisPOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 5 2001Chantara Thevy Ratnam Abstract The irradiation-induced crosslinking in 50/50 poly(vinyl chloride)/epoxidized natural rubber (PVC/ENR) blend was investigated by means of dynamic mechanical analysis. The influence of trimethylolpropane triacrylate on the irradiation-induced crosslinking of PVC/ENR blends was also studied. The enhancement in storage modulus and Tg with irradiation dose indicated the formation of irradiation-induced crosslinks. This is further supported by the decrease in tan ,max and loss modulus peak. The compatibility of the blend was found to be improved upon irradiation. The Fox model was used to provide a further insight into the irradiation-induced compatibility in the blend. Scanning electron microscopy studies on the cryofracture surface morphology of the blends as well as the homopolymer have been undertaken in order to gain more evidence on the irradiation-induced crosslinking. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Yielding behaviour of thermoplastic/elastomer blends cured by gamma irradiationPOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2001A Shaltout Abstract Mechanical blends of thermoplastic medium density polyethylene (MDPE) and elastomeric ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) have been prepared with a fixed composition of 60/40,wt%. They have been used either in their gum form or loaded with two different reinforcing fillers, high abrasion furnace (HAF) carbon black or precipitated SiO2 (Hi Sil) of concentration 25,100,phr (parts per hundred parts of resin) with respect to the blend. Curing was achieved by gamma irradiation. Yielding properties (yield stress, yield strain and cold drawing) have been followed as a function of irradiation dose for different blend compositions. Yield stress values increased with irradiation dose and with the content of the reinforcing filler, but yield strain and cold drawing values decreased with irradiation dose and also with the filler content. The data obtained reveal that Hi Sil is more effective as a reinforcing filler, and the prepared blends are suitable for load-bearing applications. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||