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A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting rates of CDI among persons requiring MHD in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were performed. Searches were conducted on May 17, 2021, and March 4, 2022.In total, 2,408 titles and abstracts were identified; 240 underwent full text review. Among them, 15 studies provided data on rates of CDI among persons requiring MHD, and 8 of these also provided rates among persons not requiring MHD. The pooled prevalence of CDI among persons requiring MHD was 19.14%, compared to 5.16% among persons not requiring MHD (odds ratio [OR], 4.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.07-9.16;Persons requiring MHD have a 4-fold higher risk of CDI compared to persons not requiring MHD, and rates of CDI are increasing over time in both groups.

Resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, has been shown to inhibit cancer growth by targeting several cancer-related signalling pathways. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant leukocyte population that are associated with poor prognosis in over 80% of breast cancer cases. However, little is known about the effect of resveratrol in the TME.In this study, MDA-MB-231(MB231), cisplatin resistance MDA-MB-231 (cisR), and T47D were used to examine the antitumor effect of resveratrol. The effectiveness of resveratrol, together with cisplatin as breast cancer treatment was investigated in vivo. Gene expressions of M1 (iNOS and CXCL10) and M2 (ARG1, CD163 and MRC1) markers in differentiated macrophages derived from THP-1 cells were examined to investigate the effect of resveratrol on TAM polarization in breast cancer progression.Our results demonstrated that resveratrol significantly reduced cell proliferation and enhanced chemosensitivity in breast cancer cells by inhibiting production of IL-6 and STAT3 activation. Treatment of resveratrol increased CXCL10 (M1 marker) expression. Further, resveratrol decreased IL-6 levels in LPS-treated differentiated macrophages. The use of resveratrol with cisplatin inhibited suppressed tumor growth when compared with cisplatin alone.This study revealed that resveratrol inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation by promoting M1/M2 macrophage polarization ratio and suppressing IL-6/pSTAT3 pathway.

Beginning in the late 1980s, many unexpected superconductors have emerged. They raised not only the transition temperature limit but, just as importantly, the theoretical challenges beyond the BCS theory. Following the previous article on historical perspective of low-temperature specific heat of superconductors prior to 1986, we review briefly here some calorimetric studies on representative high-Tc and other novel superconductors discovered during the new era. Major emphasis is centered on special features of each set of temperature- and magnetic field-dependent specific heat data being fitted to select theoretical models. The models may involve multi-gap or a certain type of order-parameter symmetry.

Absract Specific heat is a fundamental thermodynamic quantity closely related to internal energy and entropy of a system. In superconductivity research, it has been playing important roles ever since the intriguing critical phenomenon was discovered. Looking back, though, calorimetric measurements, along with the relevant low-temperature techniques, improved slowly over decades. Erroneous conclusions were reached often in the beginning, but eventually several calorimetrically-derived key features formed part of the basis in the microscopic BCS theory and its extended versions. While unable to predict whether or when a given material would become superconducting, theories helped data analysis and guided new superconductors search. Many elements, alloys and compounds joined the long list of known superconductors over the 75-year period between 1911 and 1986. Specific heat data yielded characteristic parameters, and ascertained whether an observed transition was a bulk effect. In the later years, theoretical models or experimental results also revealed a few classes of unconventional superconductors, mostly involving the interplay between superconductivity and magnetism. This article is purposely focused, as historical perspective, on how such activities progressed. Only initial findings and some related reports are cited, leaving out much more detailed and better executed work published later. For the same reason, only select figures and discussions of cited articles, but not their full extent, are included.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is widely used by many industries these days such as militaries, agriculture, and surveillance. However, one of the main challenges of UAV is navigating through an environment where global positioning system (GPS) is being denied. The main purpose of this paper is to find a solution for UAV to be able to navigate in a GPS denied surrounding without affecting the drone flight performance. There are two ways to overcome these challenges such as using visual odometry (VO) or by using simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). However, VO has a drawback because camera sensors require good lighting which will affect the performance of the UAV when it is navigating through a low light intensity environment. Hence, in this paper 2-D SLAM will be use as a solution to help UAV to navigate under a GPS-denied environment with the help of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor which known as a LIDAR-based SLAM. This is because SLAM can help UAVs to localize itself and map the surrounding of the environment. The concept and idea of this paper will be fully simulated using MATLAB, where the drone navigation will be simulated in MATLAB to extract LIDAR data and to use the LIDAR data to carry out SLAM via pose graph optimization. Besides, the contribution to this research work has also identified that in pose graph optimization, the loop closure threshold and loop closure radius play an important role. The loop closure threshold can affect the accuracy of the trajectory of the drone and the accuracy of mapping the environment as compared to ground truth. On the other hand, the loop closure search radius can increase the processing speed of obtaining the data via pose graph optimization. The main contribution to this research work is shown that the processing speed can increase up to 45 % and the accuracy of the trajectory of the drone and the mapped surrounding is quite accurate as compared to ground truth.

Low-temperature heat capacity C(T) of the weakly electron-correlated SrNi2Ge2 122-layer compound undergoes a superconducting transition with onset at 1.4 K and a bulk T c =0.75 K, where heat-capacity jump ratio ΔC(T c )/γT c =0.88–1.05. A small average superconducting energy gap E g (ave)=2.21 kT c =0.14 meV is derived for this multi-gap superconductor. Similar results for isostructural SrPd2Ge2 include T c (onset)=3.5 K, bulk T c of 2.92 K, ΔC(T c )/γT c =0.70 and E g (ave)=2.54 kT c =0.64 meV. The higher T c onset could be associated with stoichiometric 1:2:2 grains in the polycrystalline samples. In addition, deviations of E g /kT c from the BCS ratio of 3.5 suggest that, just like their iron-based counterpart, these 122-layer germanides may also exhibit an unconventional, fully-opened multi-gap s-wave superconductivity.

This study examines the thermoelectric behavior of composites containing hydrothermally processed tellurium-coated bismuth particles of various sizes. Since only a very thin layer of Bi2Te3 forms on the particle surface, the high-pressure compacted composite is still dominated by bismuth as the main ingredient (∼96% Bi). Thermoelectric figure of merit ZT values are derived from measurements of thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and Seebeck coefficient. As expected, a ZT value almost three times higher than that of bismuth is found. This enhancement appears to be caused mainly by lowered thermal conductivity due to the significant number of grain boundaries, short phonon mean free path in the coating layers, and lattice mismatch.

Tubal ectopic pregnancy (tEP) is currently the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths during the first trimester. Our current knowledge on the molecular pathogenesis is limited.The objective of the study was to find out the possible role of adrenomedullin (ADM) in the pathogenesis of tEP.This was an experimental in vitro study on oviductal tissue.The study was conducted at a university teaching hospital.Patients included those having oviducts removed surgically during salpingectomy for tEP or hysterectomy for benign gynecological conditions. Oviductal tissues were incubated in hormonal condition mimicking early pregnancy before used for in vitro experiments.Plasma ADM concentration, oviductal expression of ADM and its receptors, ciliary beat frequency, smooth muscle contraction were measured.The ciliary beat frequency and frequency of muscle contraction were lower in the oviducts from patients with tEP than those from simulated normal pregnancy. The plasma and oviductal tissue ADM levels were also lower. The decreases in ciliary beat and frequency of contraction were restored to normal after ADM treatment.The results suggest that the lower ADM level in the oviducts of tEP may lead to the decrease in ciliary beating and muscle contraction, with the result that the embryo is retained and implanted in the oviduct. Our findings explain for the first time the etiology of tubal pregnancy on the basis of an impairment of the transport of the fertilized ovum resulting from an ADM deficiency and raise the possibility of using the plasma ADM level as a predictor for tubal ectopic pregnancy.

Our laboratory previously showed that oviduct produced the greatest amount of adrenomedullin (ADM) in the rat female reproductive tract. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in ADM levels resulting from the contact between the sperm and the oviduct and the possible roles of ADM in ciliary beating and oviductal contractility. Oviducts from Sprague–Dawley rats removed at pre- and post-ovulatory stages were cut open longitudinally and treated with ADM and/or receptor blockers before ciliary beat frequency (CBF) was measured. The effects of sperm on ADM production and CBF in the oviduct were also determined. The contraction of the oviduct after treatment with ADM and receptor antagonists was measured using the organ-bath technique. The results showed that ADM increased the CBF in rat oviduct and this stimulating effect was blocked by the calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist, hCGRP8–37. CBF was lower in post-ovulatory than pre-ovulatory oviducts. The presence of sperm in the oviduct increased both the ADM level and CBF. ADM treatment was shown to inhibit the contractility of the oviduct by lowering the basal tone and decreasing the contraction amplitude. The ADM receptor antagonist, hADM22–52, was effective in counteracting the relaxation effect of ADM in the oviduct. All in all, these results indicate that ADM may play a crucial role in transporting the gametes/embryos by regulating ciliary beating and muscular contraction.

We report here SQUID (magnetization) measurements, along with supporting specific heat, Raman, SEM (scanning electron microscope), EDX (energy dispersive X-ray) and XRD (X-ray diffraction) measurements, on Cu-doped and undoped double perovskite $\mathrm{Sr}_{2}^{2+}\mathrm{Y}^{3+}\mathrm{Ru}^{5+}\mathrm{O}_{6}^{2-}$ (abbreviated as SrY2116) system grown as single crystal using high-temperature solution growth technique. These measurements show the undoped system to be a nonmetallic (insulating) spin glass (SG) and the ∼5–30% Cu-doped (i.e. Cu-concentration/(Cu + Ru-concentration) ∼5–30%) system to be a spin glass superconductor (SGSC) with T c (critical temperature) ∼28–31 K and superconducting volume fraction, f sc∼2.2–9%. To mention, similar measurements done on undoped and Cu-doped BaY2116 and BaPr2116 systems show for them the same (SG, SGSC) behaviors. However they show a decrease in T c and f sc when diamagnetic Y3+ ions are replaced by Pr3+ spins, presumably due to enhanced internal pair breaking, and also decreased Cu–O–Cu overlap, owing to Pr3+ presence; these phenomena are known to exist in the Pr123 compound, PrBa2Cu3O7−δ (δ∼0), due to ∼10% of Pr3+ ions having tendency to occupy Ba2+ sites. Measurements done on undoped and Cu-doped SrHo2116 show similar SG and SGSC properties. Further, the undoped and Cu-doped SrY2116 crystals grown by hydrothermal growth technique (i.e., grown using lower temperature and high pressure) show same behaviors. From these investigations it can be said that the undoped Ru-double perovskites (A2BB′O6, B′=Ru) are SG systems and that Cu-doped Ru-double perovskites (A2BB′O δ , δ∼6, B′=Ru1−x Cu x , 0

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a stadium-sized facility under construction that will contain a 192-beam, 1.8-MJ, 500-TW, ultraviolet laser system together with a 10-m diameter target chamber with room for multiple experimental diagnostics. NIF is the world's largest and most energetic laser experimental system, providing a scientific center to study inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and matter at extreme energy densities and pressures. NIF's laser beams are designed to compress fusion targets to conditions required for thermonuclear burn, liberating more energy than required to initiate the fusion reactions. NIF is comprised of 24 independent bundles of eight beams each using laser hardware that is modularized into more than 6000 line replaceable units such as optical assemblies, laser amplifiers, and multi-function sensor packages containing 60,000 control and diagnostic points. NIF is operated by the large-scale Integrated Computer Control System (ICCS) in an architecture partitioned by bundle and distributed among over 800 front-end processors and 50 supervisory servers. NIF's automated control subsystems are built from a common object-oriented software framework based on CORBA distribution that deploys the software across the computer network and achieves interoperation between different languages and target architectures. A shot automation framework has been deployed during the past year to orchestrate and automate shots performed at the NIF using the ICCS. In December 2006, a full cluster of 48 beams of NIF was fired simultaneously, demonstrating that the independent bundle control system will scale to full scale of 192 beams. At present, 72 beams have been commissioned and have demonstrated 1.4-MJ capability of infrared light. During the next 2 years, the control system will be expanded in preparation for project completion in 2009 to include automation of target area systems including final optics, target positioners and diagnostics. Additional capabilities to support fusion ignition shots in a National Ignition Campaign (NIC) beginning in 2010 will include a cryogenic target system, target diagnostics, and integrated experimental shot data analysis with tools for data visualization and archiving. This talk discusses the current status of the control system implementation and discusses the plan to complete the control system on the path to ignition.

Ancestral open-pollinated populations of U.S. maize (Zea mays L.) are a resource to broaden the genetic base of modern maize and to ensure long-term gains in maize breeding. We report the extent and distribution of simple sequence repeat (SSR) variation in a comprehensive study of Northern Flints (NFs), Southern Dents (SDs), Corn Belt Dents (CBDs), and historically important inbred lines, and address their implications for maize improvement and conservation. We found that the loss of rare alleles in open-pollinated cultivars from elite gene pools resulted in the divergence of inbred lines as a distinct group apart from their progenitor races. In contrast, the Corn Belt Dent cultivars retained high levels of genetic variation that approximated or exceeded that found in their NF and SD progenitors. Within open-pollinated varieties, the absence of any clear pattern of population differentiation indicates frequent admixture, a relatively recent time of divergence, or poor correlation between the degree of divergence at neutral marker loci and quantitative trait variation. This research suggests that the inbred lines currently used by breeders as the primary genetic resource for line improvement do not represent the genetic variation available in the temperate races from which they are derived: only 56% of the alleles found in the Corn Belt Dents were displayed in a diverse set of inbred lines. Extensive sampling targeted at a limited number of Corn Belt Dent cultivars is a promising approach toward the identification and introgression of rare alleles that were lost during early inbred development or the maintenance of open-pollinated populations.

Our detailed measurements show the undoped double perovskite Ba 2+ 2 Pr 3+ Ru 5+ O 2− 6 to be a nonmetallic (insulating) spin glass (SG) and the ∼ 5–10% Cu-doped (i.e., Cu-concentration/(Cu + Ru-concentration) ∼ 5–10%) system to be a spin glass superconductor (SGSC), though the critical temperature, Tc ,( ∼ 8–11 K) and the superconducting volume fraction, fsc ,( ∼ 1– 4%) are small. This smallness is presumably due to the presence of a large number of pair breaking spins and small carrier concentration in the lattice. Results and their implications are discussed.

Magnetic properties, phase evolution and aftereffect of melt-spun Pr10Fe90−xBx (x=5.88–11.5) nanocomposite ribbons have been studied. Summarizing the results of thermal magnetic analysis and Mossbauer spectroscopy, two phases, namely Pr2Fe14B and α-Fe, were found for ribbons with x=5.88 and 7.5, while additional two metastable phases, Pr2Fe23B3 and Fe3B, prevailed for x=9. For x=10 and 11.5, only three of these phases: Pr2Fe14B, Pr2Fe23B3, and Fe3B, but not α-Fe were present. The optimal magnetic properties of Br=10.1 kG, iHc=6.4 kOe, and (BH)max=16.1 MGOe were achieved in the Pr10Fe84.12B5.88 ribbon, while iHc 8.71 kOe and (BH)max 14.7 MGOe were obtained in Pr10Fe80B10. Furthermore, Pr10Fe78.5B11.5 having the optimal iHc (9.33 kOe) exhibited minimum values in activation volume V=5.03×10−19 cm3, because it possessed the least volume fraction of the magnetically soft phases. Finally, confirmation of the absence of spin reorientation in Pr2Fe14B down to 5 K assures its advantage over Nd2Fe14B for low-temper...

Nanoparticles of ZnO doped with 6 at.% Mn were produced by a sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction confirms the hexagonal structure as that of the parent compound ZnO, and high-resolution electron transmission microscopy reveals a single-crystallite lattice. Magnetic measurements using a superconducting quantum interference device indicate that about one half of the Mn2+ions follow Curie's law for paramagnetism. The remaining Mn2+ions exhibit a weak ferromagnetic character, which might be induced through canted antiferromagnetic interactions.

We conducted a detailed study of the structure and magnetic properties of ([ital R][sub 1[minus][ital x]]Pr[sub [ital x]])Ba[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7] sintered samples, where [ital R]=Lu, Yb, Tm, Er, Y, Ho, Dy, Gd, Eu, Sm, and Nd for [ital x]=0.5--1.0. We found that the temperature dependence of the dc susceptibility follows the Curie-Weiss law in the temperature range 20--300 K and the paramagnetism of the Pr and [ital R] sublattices exist independently of one another. The antiferromagnetic ordering temperature [ital T][sub [ital N]] of Pr ions decreases monotonically with increasing [ital R] concentration (1[minus][ital x]). At a given [ital x], [ital T][sub [ital N]] is [ital R]-ion-size dependent. The slope in the [ital T][sub [ital N]] vs [ital x] curve is steeper for ions with smaller ionic radii. The observed results are interpreted in terms of the hybridization between the local states of the Pr ion and the valence-band states of the CuO[sub 2] planes.

Antiferromagnetic ordering among Gd 3+ ions in the nonsuperconducting compound TlBa 3 GdCu 2 O 7-δ occurs near 2.2-2.3 K as confirmed by magnetic and calorimetric measurements. This compound is similar in structure to that of superconducting GdBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-y , but with the Cu-O chains replaced by Tl-O planes, which also exhibits a similar magnetic transition at 2.2-2.3 K. This paper further compares the Neel temperatures and magnetic specific-heat anomalies of various Gd-containing compounds and related systems. Some common features between the compounds are discussed

The ferroelectric properties of tetragonal phase Pb (Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) solid solutions have been investigated. The coercivity,E C, increases monotonically with PT content. The remanent polarization,P r, on the other hand, decreases rapidly with PT content and reaches a minimum value for a sample containing 0.365 mol % PT. It increases moderately when the PT content is further increased. The deformation parameter, δ, is used to correlate the composition to ferroelectric characteristics of these materials. A critical deformation parameter, δC=0.008 984, is observed at which the remanent polarization contributed from Mg2+ and Nb5+ cations,P r MN , decreases with δ value when δ δC. The remanent polarization contributed from Ti4+ cations,P r Ti , on the other hand, increases with δ value, following the trendP r Ti =kδ1/2. The rattling of Mg2+ and Nb5+ cations among off-centred sites in oxygen octahedra is adapted to explain such a phenomenon.

Drug-carrying magnetic nanocomposite spheres were synthesized using magnetite nanoparticles and poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) for the purpose of magnetic targeted drug delivery. Magnetic nanoparticles ( 13 nm on average) of magnetite were prepared by a chemical coprecipitation of ferric and ferrous chloride salts in the presence of a strong basic solution (ammonium hydroxide). An oil-in-oil emulsion/solvent evaporation technique was conducted at 7000 rpm and 1.5–2 hours agitation for the synthesis of nanocomposite spheres. Specifically, PLGA and drug were first dissolved in acetonitrile (oily phase I) and combined with magnetic nanoparticles, then added dropwise into viscous paraffin oil combined with Span 80 (oily phase II). With different contents (0%, 10%, 20%, and 25%) of magnetite, the nanocomposite spheres were evaluated in terms of particle size, morphology, and magnetic properties by using dynamic laser light scattering (DLLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The results indicate that nanocomposite spheres (200 nm to 1.1 m in diameter) are superparamagnetic above the blocking temperature near 40 K and their magnetization saturates above 5 000 Oe at room temperature.

Recurrent pneumothorax is rare during pregnancy. We describe a Chinese woman, with a history of spontaneous pneumothorax managed with an intercostal drain, who developed a recurrent pneumothorax during her 32nd week of pregnancy. There is no consensus on management in this situation. We review the literature and discuss different management approaches. Thirty-six cases of antepartum pneumothorax have been reported in 31 case reports. An intercostal drain only (n=11) or surgeries (thoracotomy, n=9; or video-assisted thoracoscopy, n=2) were common treatment options with no surgical complications reported. Twenty-two (61%) patients progressed to a normal vaginal delivery, while the rest required forceps delivery (22%) or Caesarean section (14%). No single treatment option outweighed the others. There were no maternal or foetal complications reported in those who underwent antepartum surgical intervention. Surgical management of recurrent pneumothorax during pregnancy is well tolerated.

A series of sodium potassium cobalt oxyhydrates NaxKz(H2O)yCoO2 (x=0.38–0.28 and z=0–0.08) were synthesized using aqueous KMnO4 solution with various molar ratio of KMnO4/Na with respect to the sodium content in the parent compound γ‐Na0.7CoO2. Superconductivity was observed at the transition temperature Tc ∼ 4.5 – 4.6 K. in all fully‐hydrated samples.

Chromium dioxide CrO2 nanoparticles with size below 4 nm were chemically synthesized. In contrast to the bulk compound, which undergoes a ferromagnetic transition at 390 K, SQUID data of the highly‐disordered nanoparticles follow approximately a Curie‐Weiss fit. The low temperature specific heat is dominated by a much larger ferromagnetic spin‐wave term than that of bulk CrO2. A spin‐glass‐type transition occurs near 6.5 K, based on the observation of a cusp in the temperature dependence of the ac susceptibility, accompanied by a small specific heat anomaly.

As much of the sterilization process involves heat treatment during the preparation of milk on an industrial scale, the unpredictable measures of the process are an essential issue in determining the quality of the milk. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the major protein change(s) of whey proteins in processed milk and extend the knowledge for future reference in the dairy industry. Using a native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we showed almost a 90% loss and denaturation of beta-lactoglobulin (LG), but not alpha-lactalbumin (LA), in some brands of the processed and dry milks. Immunochemical analysis using Western blotting revealed that part of the loss was attributed to the formation of large multiple forms of LG in the processed product. Such denaturation was presumably associated with the heating procedure used in the process. Essentially, LG was the only major fraction converted to aggregates in milk heated at 95 degrees C for 30 min on 2-dimensional PAGE. The detailed thermal denaturation of purified LG and LA at various temperatures (50 to 95 degrees C) and time (5 to 960 s) were investigated using a circular dichroic analysis. The maximal changes of ellipticity at 205 nm (converting beta-structure to disordered structure) were correlated to heating temperature and time. There were no significant conformational changes of LG at temperatures below 70 degrees C for as long as 480 s. Pronounced and rapid changes occurred between 80 to 95 degrees C in a time-dependent manner. Fifty percent of the maximal changes could be reached within 15 s. In conclusion, the unique chemical and immunochemical loss and conformational changes made LG a superior marker for evaluating the thermal processing of milk. The detailed thermal denaturation curves of LG constructed with its time and temperature in this study provide a valuable reference for the dairy industry. We postulate that heat treatment over 80 degrees C in 15 s may induce a significant denaturation of milk LG.

The treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is at best controversial, although there is considerable anecdotal experience to show the benefits of corticosteroid therapy for selected patients. Some patients deteriorate relentlessly despite treatment with antibiotic, corticosteroid and mechanical ventilation.To attempt to determine the clinical efficacy of pentaglobin, an IgM-enriched immunoglobulin preparation, on 12 severe SARS patients who continued to deteriorate despite corticosteroid and ribavirin therapy.Retrospective analysis of daily quantitative and radiographic data on the cohort in a regional teaching hospital.There was significant improvement in radiographic scores, when compared with day 1, on days 5, 6 and 7 (P0.05) after commencement of pentaglobin treatment. Similarly, there was significant improvement in oxygen requirement, when compared with day 1, on days 6 and 7 (P0.05) after commencement of pentaglobin treatment. There were no reported adverse events attributable to pentaglobin administration. Ten patients made an uneventful recovery after treatment. One elderly man died from cardiorespiratory arrest despite clinical and radiological improvement, and another patient is making good progress. Pentaglobin is safe and probably effective in the treatment of steroid-resistant SARS. A double-blind placebo-controlled study should therefore be considered.

The Ni-Co-Cr-base Elgiloy is one of the commonly used engineering materials. Most applications rely on its high strength, ductility, corrosion resistance and excellent fatigue life over a wide temperature range. However, in the medical application of cerebral aneurysm clips, the alloy is often subjected to strong magnetic fields associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Its paramagnetic behavior meets MRI safety requirements, but is the source of relatively large artifacts and thus less MRI-compatible for MRI procedure involving the brain. This article reports superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements on the magnetic properties of a series of Elgiloy wires in either as-drawn or heat-treated conditions. Furthermore, low-temperature calorimetry was employed to reveal the existence of submicroscopic clusters containing ferromagnetic elements such as Ni or Co in the macroscopically paramagnetic matrix.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung (LELC) is a rare form of non-small cell lung cancer predominantly affecting young non-smoking Asians, and there has been only limited experience in its palliative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We investigated tumour response, time to progression and survival of LELC patients who received such treatment.We prospectively recruited patients with confirmed advanced LELC who were treated with chemoradiotherapy in our unit, a regional tertiary referral centre for lung cancer treatment.There were 10 patients (five males, age 47 +/- 9.8 years, median follow-up 22 months) with advanced LELC (respectively 1, 4, and 5 patients at TNM stage IIIA, IIIB and IV) who received systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The primary chemotherapy regimen consisted of 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin/cisplatin. The response rates to 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin/cisplatin were 60% partial response, 10% stable disease, and 30% progressive disease. Eight patients were also given local radiotherapy. Five patients received salvage chemotherapy when disease progressed after primary chemotherapy. The overall median survival was 23.4 +/- 4.7 months.The encouraging response to combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin/ cisplatin, although empirical, supports its use with radiotherapy in unresectable lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung.

Calorimetric measurements between 0.3 and 10 K have been made on a single crystal of the AuCu 3 -type cubic compound ErGa 3 . The temperature dependence of specific heat exhibits an antiferromagnetic ordering-induced peak near 2.7 K, a second peak at 2.5 K due to spin reorientation, and a Schottky anomaly with crystal-field parameters x=0.17 and W=0.22 K, all in agreement with the results from neutron studies. The sum of the calculated entropies associated with the order-disorder process (R In 2) and the crystal-field effect, respectively, is lower by 0.1R than the experimentally derived magnetic entropy values at approximately 6-10 K. This difference provides an estimate of a 2-J/mol latent heat for the spin rotation process. An anticipated transition from an amplitude-modulated magnetic structure to an equal magnetic-moment structure at temperatures near T N /2 was not observed.

To evaluate the reproducibility of Thermoscan, an infrared emission detection ear thermometer, and to establish the normal reference range of ear temperature in Chinese neonates.Neonates were recruited from the inpatients population with exclusion of those suffering from infections.Forty-nine neonates were recruited with 1,115 temperature taking sessions. Mean left ear temperature was 36.64 degrees C +/- 0.35 degree C. Mean right ear temperature was 36.64 degrees C +/- 0.37 degree C. Clinical repeatability for left and right ear was 0.17 degree C and 0.17 degree C, respectively.Thermoscan produced reproducible results in Chinese neonates. The normal range of ear temperature for Chinese neonates is 35 degrees C to 37 degrees C. Ear temperature37.8 degrees C should be regarded as fever.

Reactions of methyl 6-azido-hexanoate, 8-azidooctanoate, and 12-azido-dodecanoate with [60]fullerene (1) gave the corresponding aza-[60]fullerene ester derivatives (2a-2c, 22-35% based on the amount of [60]fullerene reacted). The nitrogen atom is bonded to the [60]fullerene cage to yield a "[5,6]-open" type aza substructure. This was confirmed by the appearance of 30-31 sp2 signals at deltac 133-147 in the carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Reaction of methyl 11-azido-7-undecynoate with [60]fullerene furnished a mixture of aza-[60]fullerene (2d, 53%) and aziridine-[60]fullerene (2e, 38%) ester derivatives. Compound 2e was identified as the "[6,6]-closed" type aziridine-[60]fullerene derivative, which displayed 10 sp2 signals in the region deltac 140-145 and one signal at deltac 85.05 for the sp3 carbons of the cage. Refluxing a solution of compound 2d in toluene for 50 h gave about 50% yield of compound 2e, but not vice versa.

We applied an advanced backcross breeding strategy to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of agronomic importance in a cross between two elite inbreds of maize, RD6502 (Mo17-type recurrent parent) and RD3013 (Iodent donor parent). Two hundred and four BC(2) families were scored at 106 SSR, 15 AFLP, and 38 Heartbreaker (MITE) loci. BC(2) testcrosses (TC) with B73 were phenotyped at six locations in the Midwest and N.Y. We detected four grain yield, six grain moisture, and three plant height QTLs at which the RD3013 allele had a favorable effect ( p < 0.05). All four yield QTLs were selected as target introgressions in the development of BC(3)TC families. As predicted by BC(2)TC analysis, BC(3)TC entries containing introgressions at yld3.1 and yld10.1 significantly outperformed non-carrier entries by 11.1% (15.6 bu/A at one location) and 6.7% (7.1 bu/A averaged across two locations), respectively, in replicated Midwestern trials ( p < 0.05). Detection of yld10.1 effects in the BC(2)TC by spatial analysis (i.e., incomplete block, response surface, autoregressive, moving average or autoregressive moving average), but not by conventional single point analysis or interval mapping, indicated the utility of local environmental control for QTL mapping in unreplicated maize progeny. This work demonstrated that the advanced backcross QTL method can be applied to identify and manipulate useful QTLs in heterotic inbreds of elite maize. Genetic gains by this approach can be coupled with the maintenance and selection of favorable epistatic gene complexes by traditional hybrid breeding for maize improvement.

The previously described cyclic mu opioid receptor-selective tetrapeptide Tyr-c[D-Cys-Phe-D-Pen]NH2 (Et) (JOM-6) was modified at residues 1 and 3 by substitution with various natural and synthetic amino acids, and/or by alteration of the cyclic system. Effects on mu and delta opioid receptor binding affinities, and on potencies and efficacies as measured by the [35S]-GTPgammaS assay, were evaluated. Affinities at mu and delta receptors were not influenced dramatically by substitution of Tyr1 with conformationally restricted phenolic amino acids. In the [35S]-GTPgammaS assay, all of the peptides tested exhibited a maximal response comparable with that of fentanyl at the mu opioid receptor, and all showed high potency, in the range 0.4-9nM. However, potency changes did not always correlate with affinity, suggesting that the conformation required for binding and the conformation required for activation of the opioid receptors are different. At the delta opioid receptor, none of the peptides were able to produce a response equivalent to that of the full delta agonist BW 373,U86 and only one had an EC50 value of less than 100nM. Lastly, we have identified a peptide, D-Hat-c[D-Cys-Phe-D-Pen]NH2 (Et), with high potency and1,000-fold functional selectivity for the mu over delta opioid receptor as measured by the [35S]-GTPgammaS assay.

The effective therapy for uremic pruritus remains a clinical challenge, and the factors affecting the pruritus before and after parathyroidectomy have not been defined.Thirty-seven patients were operated on for secondary hyperparathyroidism. Their ages ranged from 14 to 73 years, and the duration of dialysis from 12 to as long as 168 months. Indications for surgery were skin itch in 22 patients and other reasons in 15 patients. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, intact PTH (i-PTH), and alkaline phosphatase were checked at two different intervals-before surgery and 1 week after operation. Immunohistochemical stain of mast cells, antihuman macrophage (CD68), antihuman dendritic reticulum cell (CD35), and i-PTH (IHPTH) were performed on skin specimens. Skin samples were prepared into tissue homogenates and analyzed for concentrations of interleukin-2 (II-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). II-2 and TNF-alpha were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The extent of pruritus was evaluated on a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 10 and a behavior rating scale (BRS) ranging from 0 to 5, at a preoperative stage and 1 week after operation.Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, the product of calcium and phosphorous (Ca x P), alkaline phosphatase, and i-PTH changed significantly after parathyroidectomy. The VAS decreased from 5.4 +/- 3.2 to 1.8 +/- 1.5 (p0.001). Significant improvement of BRS was achieved 1 week after surgery (p0.001), and in the followup period. Before surgery, there was no correlation between serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, Ca x P, alkaline phosphatase, i-PTH, number of mast cells, CD68, CD35, and IHPTH, and the scale of itch estimated with either VAS or BRS. The tissue levels of Il-2 and TNF-alpha were not detectable in any of them. We noted that high levels of phosphorus and Ca x P affected the postoperative extent of pruritus. But a linear regression test showed Ca x P was the only factor affecting postoperative itch.Pruritus in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism can be reduced by parathyroidectomy. Apparently, high-level Ca x P is the only factor that seems to affect the postoperative extent of pruritus.

The livers of some larger fish such as shark, tuna and seabass have been reported to be responsible for a peculiar poisoning causing headaches and desquamation. This type of poisoning can also be induced by ingestion of the livers of the sea whale, the polar bear and the seal. Since these animals contain an extremely large quantity of vitamin A in their livers and the symptoms of poisoning in the patients resembled those of patients with acute hypervitaminosis A, the poisoning was believed to have been caused by excessive vitamin A intake. We observed an episode of acute fish liver intoxication in which 3 man experienced dizziness, headache, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, fever, and desquamation after ingesting the liver of the grouper fish Cephalopholis boenak (C. boenak). One of the patients had full-blown symptoms and presented with a high fever, headache, dizziness, generalized aching pain, and superficial vesicles and bullae of the skin. The treatment was mainly supportive. In the follow-up period, he subsequently developed hair loss and diffuse peeling of the skin on his palms and soles. Acute fish liver intoxication is rare, especially in subtropical regions. Symptomatologically, the clinical pictures of these patients were comparable to acute hypervitaminosis A or retinoid intoxication. The average vitamin A content in the grouper (C. boenak) is high enough to cause acute vitamin A intoxication. Moreover, ethanol may play a potentiating role in this type of event.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonize only foveolar gastric-type mucosa and are associated with active chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer. The aim of this study was to investigate whether H. pylori can also be found in Meckel's diverticulum which contains heterotopic gastric mucosa.Biopsy specimens of Meckel's diverticulum resected in Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, during the 10 year period 1986-1995 were retrieved and reviewed. Those containing gastric heterotopia were examined for the presence of H. pylori, using Warthin-Starry silver stain.In the 59 cases of Meckel's diverticula studied, 16 were found to contain heterotopic gastric mucosa. Helicobacter pylori were not identified in any of these cases. In one of the 16 patients a concomitant gastric biopsy was performed. Although the gastric mucosa of this patient was heavily colonized by H. pylori, again no H. pylori was found in the heterotopic gastric mucosa in the Meckel's diverticulum.The absence of H. pylori in all the Meckel's diverticula examined, even when the stomach was heavily colonized by the organisms, suggests that colonization of Meckel's diverticulum by H. pylori is a rare event. This, together with the overall rarity of H. pylori in all reported series of Meckel's diverticulum, argues against its causative role in complications of Meckel's diverticulum.

Superconducting Bi‐Pb‐Sr‐Ca‐Cu‐O films doped with Sb have been fabricated on MgO single‐crystal substrates without post‐annealing, using pulsed excimer laser deposition. Deposition at 800 °C in 0.2 Torr oxygen environment from a target doped with Sb yielded as‐deposited superconducting films with zero resistance at 70 K. X‐ray diffraction data show the films are c‐axis oriented 2212 phase material. Scanning electron micrographs indicate that doping with Sb enhances grain growth. These results demonstrate that Sb acts to stabilize the 2212 phase in the as‐deposited films.

The conduction‐band offsets ΔEc of n‐isotype InxAl1−xAs/In0.53Ga0.47As heterojunctions, with 0.47

The different rates of breast cancer found between Chinese women in Asia compared with Chinese-born women in the United States suggest that dietary and environmental factors may be of etiological significance. We evaluated the proportion of 480 premenopausal Chinese women who yielded nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) by birthplace in Asia versus the United States and by reproductive and other risk factors. Birthplace was used as a surrogate for presumed differences in exposures during gestation, childhood, and adolescence that might influence yield of NAF in premenopausal women. In United States-born Chinese women compared with Asia-born Chinese women, the proportion yielding NAF was 44 of 95 (46.3%) versus 120 of 385 (31.2%), respectively. The relative risk of yield of NAF in United States-born women compared with Asia-born women was odds ratio = 2.37 (95% confidence interval, 1.26-4.47). Independent positive associations of NAF yield were also found with history of parity and breast feeding, cerumen phenotype, and a negative association with ever use of oral contraceptives. These findings support the hypothesis that early environmental exposures may have long-lasting physiological effects discernible in the breast glands of adult women.

To review the paediatric upper gastrointestinal endoscopy service in a paediatric department in Hong Kong.Records of all endoscopies undertaken in this department from May 1995 to January 1996 were retrieved and analysed.The commonest indication for upper endoscopy was dyspepsia with 88% positive histological findings. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was found in 25% of this group of children.Paediatric upper gastrointestinal endoscopy service is invaluable in a paediatric department by providing useful diagnostic information which would otherwise be missed.