The incidence of allergic diseases has increased over the past 50 years, likely due to environmental factors. However, the nature of these factors and the mode of action by which they induce the type 2 immune deviation characteristic of atopic diseases remain unclear. It has previously been reported that dietary sodium chloride promotes the polarization of T helper 17 (T17) cells with implications for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStandard wafer solar cells are made of near-semiconductor quality silicon. This high quality material makes up a significant part of the total costs of a solar module. Therefore, new concepts with less expensive so called solar grade silicon directly based on physiochemically upgraded metallurgical grade silicon are investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDetermination of k(0)-factors for zirconium isotopes was performed by co-irradiation of Zr and Au-Al. Due to the highly thermalized irradiation position at FRM-II, interferences from epithermal neutrons were found largely decreased for (96)Zr (n, gamma) (97)Zr-(97m)Nb, the reaction with the highest Q(0)-value in all (n, gamma) reactions. Results showed that, the (95)Zr k(0)-values from this work were the same as the recommended ones.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSilicon doping has being carried out at FRM II since 2 years. During the commissioning of our new reactor, a simple test rig was used to determine the neutron flux profile at the irradiation position and optimise a nickel absorber liner, which is equipped at the irradiation position for vertical smoothing of the neutron flux profile. MCNP-code was used during the design of the liner.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDue to its physical and chemical characteristics, 177Lu is a very attractive radionuclide for use in nuclear medicine. This paper introduces a method for a precise calculation of the irradiation yield of 177Lu produced by neutron activation of 176Lu in a nuclear reactor. The calculation is based on the Westcott convention which requires the knowledge of the neutron flux parameters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF