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BackgroundEx utero intrapartum treatment (‘EXIT’ procedure) is a well described method for maintaining maternal–fetal circulation in the setting of airway obstruction from compressive neck masses. When ex utero intrapartum treatment to airway is not feasible, ex utero intrapartum treatment to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (‘ECMO’) has been described in fetal cardiopulmonary abnormalities.ObjectiveThis paper presents the case of a massively compressive midline neck teratoma managed with ex utero intrapartum treatment to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, allowing for neonatal survival, with controlled airway management and subsequent resection.Case reportA 34-year-old-female presented with a fetal magnetic resonance imaging scan demonstrating a 15 cm compressive midline neck teratoma. Concern for failure of ex utero intrapartum treatment to airway was high. The addition of the ex utero intrapartum treatment to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation procedure provided time for the planned subsequent resection of the mass and tracheostomy.ConclusionEx utero intrapartum treatment procedures allow for securement of the difficult neonatal airway, while maintaining a supply of oxygenated blood to the newborn. Ex utero intrapartum treatment circulation lasts on average less than 30 minutes. The arrival of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has enabled the survival of neonates with disease processes previously incompatible with life.

We report on the Balloonborne Investigation of Temperature and Speed of Electrons in the corona (BITSE) mission launched recently to observe the solar corona from about 3 Rs to 15 Rs at four wavelengths (393.5, 405.0, 398.7, and 423.4 nm). The BITSE instrument is an externally occulted single stage coronagraph developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in collaboration with the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI). BITSE used a polarization camera that provided polarization and total brightness images of size 1024 x 1024 pixels. The Wallops Arc Second Pointing (WASP) system developed at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) was used for Sun-pointing. The coronagraph and WASP were mounted on a gondola provided by WFF and launched from the Fort Sumner, New Mexico station of Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) on September 18, 2019. BITSE obtained 17,060 coronal images at a float altitude of about 128,000 feet (39 km) over a period of about 4 hrs. BITSE flight software was based on NASA's core Flight System, which was designed to help develop flight quality software. We used EVTM (Ethernet Via Telemetry) to download science data during operations; all images were stored onboard using flash storage. At the end of the mission, all data were recovered and analyzed. Preliminary analysis shows that BITSE imaged the solar minimum corona with the equatorial streamers on the east and west limbs. The narrow streamers observed by BITSE are in good agreement with the geometric properties obtained by SOHO coronagraphs in the overlapping physical domain. In spite of the small signal-to-noise ratio (about 14) we were able to obtain the temperature and flow speed of the western steamer region in the range 4 to 7 Rs as: For the equatorial streamer on the west limb, we obtained a temperature of 1.0 +/- 0.3 MK and a flow speed of about 260 km/s with a large uncertainty interval., 40 pages, 25 figures, 4 tables, 3 electronic supplements, to appear in Solar Physics

Rapid synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by pulsed electrodeposition was investigated in the non-aqueous electrolyte, 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazoliumbis(trifluoro-methanesulfonyl)imide ([EMIM]TFSI) with gold trichloride (AuCl3). To aid the dissolution of AuCl3, 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ([EMIM]Cl) was used as a supporting electrolyte in [EMIM]TFSI. Cyclic voltammetry experiments revealed a cathodic reaction corresponding to the reduction of gold at −0.4 V vs. Pt-QRE. To confirm the electrodeposition process, potentiostatic electrodeposition of gold in the non-aqueous electrolyte was conducted at −0.4 V for 1 h at room temperature. To synthesize AuNPs, pulsed electrodeposition was conducted with controlled duty factor, pulse duration, and overpotential. The composition, particle-size distribution, and morphology of the AuNPs were confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrodeposited AuNPs were uniformly distributed on the platinum electrode surface without any impurities arising from the non-aqueous electrolyte. The size distribution of AuNPs could be also controlled by the electrodeposition conditions.

Objectives To determine whether Armstrong pressure equalization tubes allow passage of water into the middle ear with complete submersion in water up to 76 cm for 2 min. Methods 10 adult cadaver heads were first assessed for the presence of fluid in both middle ears with zero-degree rigid endoscopes, after being submerged for 2 min in a plastic receptacle filled with 76 cm of water. A 25% perforation was then made in the tympanic membrane of one ear. A myringotomy was then made in the tympanic membrane of the contralateral ear, with the placement of a beveled Armstrong pressure equalization tube. The head was then submerged again for 2 min. Both ears were then examined for the presence of fluid in the middle ear using a rigid endoscope and with suction. Results Eight out of ten (80%) of the heads showed the presence of fluid in the middle ear on the perforation side after submersion, whereas none of the heads showed fluid in the middle ear on the side with the pressure equalization tube. Conclusions At depths of 76 cm, total submersion in water for 2 min does not facilitate the passage of water into the middle ear via an Armstrong pressure equalization tube.

The global positioning system (GPS) has become an effective tool for measuring the dynamics of engineering structures from their absolute displacements. Although dual-frequency GPS receivers are wi...

The effect of working pressure on the properties of Al2O3 films was investigated in direct-type plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. Increasing pressure yielded a denser Al2O3 film and a thinner SiOx interlayer, but only slightly affected the Al2O3 film thickness. The diffusivity of O atoms was evaluated by using time-averaged emission intensities of the He I and O I lines. The consumption rate of O radicals and the production rate of H radicals, as functions of plasma exposure time, were deduced from analyzing temporal evolutions of emission intensities of the O I and Hα lines, respectively. The amounts of C and H impurities in the film were confirmed by using an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Finally, the mechanisms by which the working pressure affected the properties of Al2O3 films were discussed based on the experimental results.

Absorption of posaconazole oral suspension is influenced by several factors including diet, medications, and mucosal integrity. However, there are few prospective data about which is the most important modifiable factor in routine clinical practice. We prospectively analyzed clinical risk factors associated with low posaconazole trough concentrations in 114 patients receiving anticancer chemotherapy due to acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome who received posaconazole oral suspension. In multivariate analyses, risk factors for drug level

Two dielectric barrier discharge reactors, based on L-shaped electrodes, were designed and fabricated for in-line surface treatment of polyimide (PI) substrates. Under homogeneous discharge mode, their surface treatment performance was evaluated in terms of water contact angles (WCAs) of PI film. Hydrophilicity of polymer films arises from the grafting of functional groups onto the polymer’s surface by O and N radicals. In our reactor, ambient air could be entrained into the discharge region, such that the WCA of PI film was effectively lowered without adding O2 or N2 gas. The PI film WCA decreased with increased applied voltage or with decreased motion speed of the substrate. A serial connection of the electrode lowered the WCA, whereas O2 addition only weakly affected the PI film hydrophilicity. The mechanisms underlying these phenomena were analyzed using the discharge current, the temporal and time-averaged discharge images, and the optical emission profiles.

Thin film deposition processes emit large amounts of NF3 and by-product particles, which are of great concerns in the semiconductor industry, from the environmental and economic points of view. With an objective to overcome these concerns, plasmas are generated from a cylindrical reactor placed before a vacuum pump. The discharge stability is evaluated by monitoring the changes in the plasma images with the pressure. By using a particle sampler and a particle trap, the size and quantity of the by-product particles are compared during plasma-on and plasma-off. The effects of adding O2 and H2O to the by-products of the NF3 abatement process are investigated by analyzing the spectra obtained with a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Further, the H2O flow rate is optimized for the highest destruction and removal efficiency of NF3. Finally, the applicability of our device to the after-treatment equipment is discussed.

The patches of the rice paddies are generally positioned by a traditional surveying method such as Plane Table and Total Station in Korea. This study has been undertaken to check whether TLS (Terrestrial Laser Scanner) could meet the accuracy standard, compare TLS survey data with those one of the new modern survey technologies such as digital aerial photogrammetry and RTK GPS. As a result, it is shown that terrestrial laser scanning and 3D stereo plot of digital aerial photogrammetry technology could meet a positional accuracy standard with artificial target. The extraction of ridges of rice paddies is, however, difficult due to the limitation of the tone colour identification and the noise of digital aerial image, and low density of the point clouds in TLS scanning. It is therefore expected that more researches into the sophisticated algorithms for the natural boundary extraction and the noise removal in digital aerial image are required.

Objective Examination of neonatal hearing screening practices around the world suggests that more attention is placed on infants who fail bilaterally on their hearing screen than infants who refer (fail) in one ear. Some programmes only report bilateral failures as positive hearing screens. This study investigates how limitations of the screening techniques demand continued audiologic evaluations in unilateral referrals. Setting The study sample consisted of all infants born at a single academic paediatric hospital between February 1998 and February 2002. Methods There were 16,007 infants screened using ALGO automated auditory brainstem response. Eighteen of the infants who failed the screen in one ear but passed in the other ear were found to have permanent hearing loss, and had their subsequent clinical course and audiologic management analysed. The final audiologic outcome after four years in both the pass and fail ear were examined. Results One group of unilateral referrals (n = 6) had obvious anatomic reasons for the ear failing the screen (canal atresia/stenosis). There were five patients in which the ear that passed the screen was later found on more extensive audiologic evaluation to have significant hearing loss. Review of recent literature was also completed to examine the methods by which unilateral screening referrals are commonly reported and whether or not this affected follow-up diagnostic evaluation. Conclusion Infants who pass one ear and refer one ear on neonatal hearing screening still need to have thorough and prompt evaluations. In many cases, the ear that passed can be found to have significant hearing loss.

Subglottic hemangioma is a rare condition that can be potentially life threatening because of airway obstruction. It is common for subglottic hemangioma to be misdiagnosed as croup initially. Infants with a subglottic hemangioma and cutaneous facial hemangiomas in a "beard" distribution should be evaluated for PHACE syndrome. Endoscopic laser resection is effective for subglottic hemangioma but carries a chance of subglottic stenosis, up to 25%. Open excision of subglottic hemangioma is an excellent option, particularly in patients with bilateral or circumferential subglottic hemangioma. It is a more extensive surgery when compared with endoscopic laser resection. Surgeons who do not have access to a pediatric intensive care unit staffed by experienced pediatric intensivists should not use this procedure.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to review our experience with pediatric melanoma of the head and neck and discuss proper diagnostic protocols and suggest a possible treatment algorithm. Study Design: The authors conducted a retrospective chart review of patients under the age of 18 who underwent treatment for melanoma of the head and neck at a tertiary care university hospital. Results: Six patients were identified in the last 25 years at our institution. Four patients had melanomas in the auricle, one in the cheek, and one in the forehead. All occurrences identified presented in the past 7 years. All were treated with wide local excision. Three patients received sentinel lymph node biopsy, one received a neck dissection after identification of positive sentinel nodes, and two patients received postoperative interferon therapy. No surgical complications were reported. At the time of this submission, no patients were found to have recurrence of the disease. Conclusions: Pediatric melanoma of the head and neck may be managed effectively using current techniques used in treating adult patients. The use of sentinel lymph node biopsy is recommended when the depth of invasion cannot be determined from original biopsy, the original pathologic diagnosis is ambiguous, or depth of invasion from biopsy is sufficient to warrant its use. In addition, the use of adjuvant interferon α-2b is recommended in patients at high risk for recurrence.

This paper presents a review of our current experimental research on GaP nanowires grown by a vapor deposition method. Their structural, electrical, opto-electric transport, and gas-adsorption properties are reviewed. Our structural studies showed that a GaP nanowire consisted of a core–shell structure with a single-crystalline GaP core and an outer Ga2O3 layer. The individual GaP nanowires exhibited n-type field effects. Their electron mobilities were in the range of about 6 to 22 cm2/V s at room temperature. When the nanowires were illuminated with an ultraviolet light source, an abrupt increase of conductance occurred resulting from carrier generation in the nanowire and de-adsorption of adsorbed OH- or O2 - ions on the Ga2O3 surface shell. Using an intrinsic Ga2O3 shell layer as a gate dielectric, top-gated GaP nanowire field-effect transistors were fabricated and characterized. Like other metal oxide nanowires, the carrier concentration and mobility of GaP nanowires were significantly affected by the surface molecular adsorption of OH or O2. The GaP nanowire devices were fabricated as sensors for NO2, NH3, and H2 gases by using a simple metal decoration technique.

We have performed a form of lunate replacement arthroplasty, which included excision of the lunate and insertion of a vascularised radial bone flap wrapped in pronator quadratus, for stage IIIB or stage IV Kienböck’s disease, in 41 patients who have been followed up for more than three years. All patients reported an improvement in their symptoms, and 20 of the 41 became free of pain after the operation. Extension and flexion of the wrist were increased by a mean of 9° and 6°, respectively (p < 0.05). The radioscaphoid angle and the carpal height ratio were not significantly changed and only minimal deterioration was observed due to degenerative change. The size, density or location of the inserted bone did not change with time. A vascularised radial bone flap wrapped in pronator quadratus can be a reliable treatment option for advanced Kienböck’s disease, when the pedicled bone and muscle envelope acts as a stable spacer for the excised lunate.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is less invasive and more tissue sparing than extirpative techniques, with an assumed benefit of diminished postoperative pain. Oral opioids are commonly prescribed after sinus surgery but are associated with adverse effects, including gastrointestinal and neurologic symptoms. Nonopioid analgesics have been suggested to offer similar pain control efficacy with fewer adverse effects. Study Design: To investigate postoperative analgesia in FESS, a prospective randomized, double-blinded comparison of hydrocodone/acetaminophen 7.5/750 mg (an opioidderivative) with rofecoxib 50 mg (a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor) was performed. Methods: Forty subjects were enrolled, of which 28 successfully completed the study. Subjects recorded peak pain levels and requirement for rescue analgesia on the day of surgery and for 4 days thereafter. On postoperative day 5, subjects completed an exit survey in which adverse effects and overall satisfaction with pain control were recorded. Results: In this study, there were no statistical differences in peak pain levels between the groups at any point in the postoperative period, regardless of extent of surgery. Adverse effect profiles were also similar for the two groups. Conclusions: The use of nonopioid analgesics after FESS may provide similar pain control to oral opioids.

Sensorineural hearing loss associated with enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct (EVA) can be associated with mutations of the SLC26A4 gene. In western populations, less than one-half of the affected individuals with EVA have two mutant SLC26A4 alleles, and EVA is frequently caused by unknown genetic or environmental factors alone or in combination with a single SLC26A4 mutation as part of a complex trait. In this study, we ascertained 26 Korean probands with EVA and performed nucleotide sequence analysis to detect SLC26A4 mutations. All subjects had bilateral EVA, and 20 of 26 were sporadic (simplex) cases. Fourteen different mutations were identified, including nine novel mutations. Five mutations were recurrent and accounted for 80% of all mutant alleles, providing a basis for the design and interpretation of cost-efficient mutation detection algorithms. Two mutant alleles were identified in 21 (81%), one mutant allele was detected in three (11%), and zero mutant allele was detected in two (8%) of 26 probands. The high proportion of Korean probands with two SLC26A4 mutations may reflect a reduced frequency of other genetic or environmental factors causing EVA in comparison to western populations.

Objective Much has been written about the merits of various techniques of adenotonsillectomy. Proponents of each technique tout many virtues over one another. However, cost remains one variable that has not been thoroughly addressed. In this study, we compared the surgery time, anesthesia time, bleeding, and cost between 2 well-established techniques. Electrocautery tonsillectomy/adenoid ablation was compared against traditional cold knife dissection with adenoid curette. Study design and setting A retrospective chart review of 275 patients in a large tertiary teaching hospital. Results The electrocautery group had overall savings of 8, 8, and 9 minutes in surgery, anesthesia, and operating room times, respectively. In terms of cost, the variable cost of the electrocautery group was 19% less than the cold knife dissection group. Conclusion/significance This study demonstrated that cautery ablation of adenoids, when employed as part of adenotonsillectomy, enables the surgical team to save significant amount of time, and substantial cost for patients. EBM rating: B-3.

Thermoreversible gelation of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) in propylene carbonate (PC) solutions at relatively low concentrations (0.5–3.5 wt.%) has been studied in terms of the gelation time (or rate) as a function of temperature and polymer concentration. A master curve could be made for the gelation time–temperature curves using the temperature shift based on the difference in the gel melting temperature (T m g) at different PVDF concentrations. The apparent activation energy of gelation was estimated to be proportional to (T m g − T)−1.8. The gel melting enthalpy (ΔH m g) determined from the modified Eldrige–Ferry equation was 18.67 kJ/mol. In dried gel films many spherulites connected by tie molecules were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). From the wide angle x‐ray diffraction (WAXD) measurement, crystallites from PVDF gels were found to consist only of the γ‐type crystal with the TTTGTTTG¯ conformation, irrespective of the polymer concentration. As judged from the results o...

A scientific basis for the evaluation of the risk to public health arising from excessive dietary intake of nitrate in Korea is provided. The nitrate () and nitrite () contents of various vegetables (Chinese cabbage, radish, lettuce, spinach, soybean sprouts, onion, pumpkin, green onion, cucumber, potato, carrot, garlic, green pepper, cabbage and Allium tuberosum Roth known as Crown daisy) are reported. Six hundred samples of 15 vegetables cultivated during different seasons were analysed for nitrate and nitrite by ion chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, respectively. No significant variance in nitrate levels was found for most vegetables cultivated during the summer and winter harvests. The mean nitrates level was higher in A. tuberosum Roth (5150 mg kg(-1)) and spinach (4259 mg kg(-1)), intermediate in radish (1878 mg kg(-1)) and Chinese cabbage (1740 mg kg(-1)), and lower in onion (23 mg kg(-1)), soybean sprouts (56 mg kg(-1)) and green pepper (76 mg kg(-1)) compared with those in other vegetables. The average nitrite contents in various vegetables were about 0.6 mg kg(-1), and the values were not significantly different among most vegetables. It was observed that nitrate contents in vegetables varied depending on the type of vegetables and were similar to those in vegetables grown in other countries. From the results of our studies and other information from foreign sources, it can be concluded that it is not necessary to establish limits of nitrates contents of vegetables cultivated in Korea due to the co-presence of beneficial elements such as ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol which are known to inhibit the formation of nitrosamine.

Bombesin's influence on gastric vagal afferent discharge (GVAD) was studied in urethan-anesthetized rats. Vehicle and peptides were injected intravenously at 30-min intervals. Cholecystokinin (CCK; 300 pmol) and bombesin (300 pmol) increased ongoing multiunit GVAD by 153 +/- 59 and 162 +/- 37%, respectively; similar increases were induced by a second injection of bombesin and CCK. The bombesin antagonist, ICI-216140, prevented bombesin-induced increase in GVAD, whereas the CCK response was not influenced. The CCK-A receptor antagonist devazepide reduced the activation of GVAD induced by bombesin from 107 +/- 11 to 63 +/- 6%, while abolishing the CCK response. Devazepide given alone or in combination with ICI-216140 did not modify gastric distension (3 ml)-induced increase in GVAD. Of 22 single units that were activated by gastric load (4 ml), 17 and 20 units responded also to bombesin (620 pmol) and CCK (870 pmol), respectively. Of the nine units that did not respond to gastric load, eight had an increase in GVAD induced by both bombesin and CCK. There was no specific binding of 125I-labeled [Tyr4]bombesin on cervical vagus, either intact or 24 h after ligation. These data suggest that intravenous bombesin-induced stimulation of GVAD is indirect and initially mediated through specific receptor activation influencing gastric smooth muscle and the release of CCK.

We have recently found, and begun the physical characterization of, a new type of intermetallic superconductor based on rare earths, the transition metals Ni, Pd and Pt, and boron and carbon. The prototype crystal structure, found for LuNi 2 B 2 C (T c = 16.6 K ), consists of alternating, square LuC  Ni 2 B 2 layers. The highest T c in the family is found for YPdBC at 23K, equivalent to the highest T c ever observed for an intermetallic material.

The uper critical field H c2 and the lower critical field H c1 have been measured for a new family of boride-carbide superconductors, LnNi 2 B 2 C (Ln=Lu and Y) and mixed-phase Y-Pd-B-C. The results for the Ni compounds indicate that these are clean-limit superconductors with a coherence length ξ of ∽60 A. A moderately high density of states, likely due to a dominant Ni 3d character near the Fermi level, is estimated from the obtained superconducting parameters, placing them in a comparable position to A-15 compounds in the linear specific-heat coefficient γ and T c plot.

The competition between magnetism and superconductivity was investigated for the recently discovered R${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}$${\mathrm{B}}_{2}$C superconductors with the magnetic rare-earth elements R=Tm,Er,Ho,Dy. The systematic decrease of ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$, approximately scaled by the de Gennes factor, implies a very weak coupling between the rare-earth magnetic moments and the conduction electrons due to a small conduction-electron density at the rare-earth site. Associated with the antiferromagnetic order of the rare-earth moments, a pronounced dip structure in the upper critical field ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}2}$(T) was observed; a similar structure has been seen in the previously known magnetic superconductors R${\mathrm{Rh}}_{4}$${\mathrm{B}}_{4}$ and R${\mathrm{Mo}}_{6}$${\mathrm{S}}_{8}$. For ${\mathrm{HoNi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{B}}_{2}$C, the pair-breaking associated with the magnetic transition is strong enough to bring about a resistive reentrant behavior even under zero field, an effect which, to our knowledge, has not previously been observed in antiferromagnetic superconductors.

An immunoglobulin G3(kappa) monoclonal antibody (MAb), MAb 32-1-E3, which was prepared in BALB/c mice by using a heated, alcohol-acetone-extracted Salmonella newport CDC 50 antigen, reacted with protein-free lipopolysaccharides from Salmonella groups C2 (O:6,8) and C3 (O:-,8) but not with those from any other serogroup tested. Sodium periodate did not inhibit antigen reactivity, which was consistent with its identity as the abequose-containing disaccharide O:8 antigen. Reactivity was inhibited by competition with serogroup C2 (O:6,8) and C3 (O:-,8) antigens but not with non-O:8 antigens. Reactivity was also inhibited by preincubation of the antigen with polyclonal rabbit antiserogroup C2 or C3 antibodies but not with antisera to serogroup C1 or other Salmonella serogroups. The MAb agglutinated with all strains of Salmonella serogroups C2 and C3 tested but not with other bacteria. Agglutination was inhibited by preabsorbing the MAb with either of two serogroup C3 Salmonella strains, S. virginia CDC 189 or S. haardt MDL 83A4545, which contain only O:8, but not by preabsortion with O:8-negative S. cholerasuis MDL 81A7623 (group C1; O:6,7), S. paratyphi type B CDC 157 (group B; O:1,[4],5,12), or Escherichia coli (O:157) (which contains no Salmonella serogroup antigens). The MAb reacted strongly (4+ agglutination) with all 140 wild-type strains of group C2 and C3 Salmonella spp. tested and showed no reaction with any of 1,324 wild-type strains of non-C2 or non-C3 Salmonella spp. tested. The MAb is useful as a replacement for absorbed, polyclonal, single-factor O:8 antiserum to discriminate Salmonella serogroups C2 and C3 from serogroup C1.

We have prepared potassium-doped bulk K x C 60,70 and measured noise spectrum power as a function of temperature. We discovered that in the normal state, the magnitude of the normalized noise spectral power density is greater by about eleven orders of magnitude than the value of a normal metal predicted by Hooge's formula. Another unusual findings is the observation of a markedly enhanced peak near the superconducting transition, which cannot be explained by presently available theories.

Laboratory and net house assays of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana CS-1, were conducted to examine the possibility of using this strain to control the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella in Korea. Treatment of conidial suspensions at various concentrations indicated that corrected mortality at 1 x 10 8 conidia/ml was 86.23% with LT 50 of 1.63 days under the laboratory conditions and 66.5% with LT 50 of 3.61 days in the net house assay. Assessment of rigorous dose-response showed that at least 1800 conidia of the strain CS-1 should adhere to a single DBM larva to induce successful infection. These results indicated that the strain CS-1 has the capability to lower the DBM larval population rapidly as well as effectively.

The abatement characteristics of N2O were investigated in a plasma reactor positioned in front of a vacuum pump. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used for evaluating the destruction and removal efficiency (DRE) and the identification of byproducts. The concentration of NO x (NO and NO2) was quantified by using an NO x analyzer. The DRE of N2O was enhanced by increasing the power or decreasing the N2O flow rate. A higher pressure yields a higher DRE of N2O and a lower concentration of NO x in the destroyed N2O. For understanding this phenomenon, the discharge characteristics were analyzed by using optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The spatial distribution of emission spectra from the discharge in a mixture of N2O and Ar gases was measured by varying the pressure. The mechanisms underlying the pressure effect on the N2O DRE and NO x concentration are discussed in terms of the electron density and the concentration of O radicals.

Sensorineural hearing loss associated with enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct (EVA) can be associated with mutations of the SLC26A4 gene. In western populations, less than one-half of the affected individuals with EVA have two mutant SLC26A4 alleles, and EVA is frequently caused by unknown genetic or environmental factors alone or in combination with a single SLC26A4 mutation as part of a complex trait. In this study, we ascertained 26 Korean probands with EVA and performed nucleotide sequence analysis to detect SLC26A4 mutations. All subjects had bilateral EVA, and 20 of 26 were sporadic (simplex) cases. Fourteen different mutations were identified, including nine novel mutations. Five mutations were recurrent and accounted for 80% of all mutant alleles, providing a basis for the design and interpretation of cost-efficient mutation detection algorithms. Two mutant alleles were identified in 21 (81%), one mutant allele was detected in three (11%), and zero mutant allele was detected in two (8%) of 26 probands. The high proportion of Korean probands with two SLC26A4 mutations may reflect a reduced frequency of other genetic or environmental factors causing EVA in comparison to western populations.

Pediatric melanoma is a rare but lethal disease. These tumors tend to present at more advanced stages when compared to adult cases. Additionally, the inability to obtain accurate diagnosis often further delays the onset of treatment. Here, we present two cases of auricular melanoma in 3-year-old patients that were biopsied by the shave method prior to referral to an otolaryngologist. With the staging of the disease in question, sentinel lymph node biopsy were completed. Case 1 demonstrated positive sentinel nodes and underwent subsequent modified neck dissection. The second patient with negative sentinel nodes required no further surgery. Both patients remain disease free currently, at 16 and 22 months after the sentinel node biopsy. By discussing our experience and reviewing the current literature, we hope to shed some light in the diagnosis, staging and treatment of pediatric melanoma of the head and neck.

The microbial communities of 5-stage BNR activated sludge samples were analyzed using fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and 16S rDNA characterization. The total cell numbers of each reactor were from 2.36 x 10(9) cells/ml to 2.83 x 10(9) cells/ml. From 56.5% to 62.0% of total DAPI cell counts were hybridized to the most bacterial specific probe EUB 338. Among them, beta-proteobacteria were most dominant in each tank. The number of phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) was almost 50% of the total cell number in anoxic-1 tank, and these results indicate that this process has a high content of denitrifying phosphorus accumulating organisms (dPAOs). In contrast with FISH, 16S rDNA analysis showed that dominant groups were the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium group and high G+C% gram-positive bacteria, which were determined as PAOs in anoxic-1 tank. The beta subclass Proteobacteria did not accumulate a large amount of polyphosphate. The overall results indicate that high G+C% gram-positive bacteria and the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium group might play a key role as dPAOs in this process.

COPPER oxide compounds have dominated superconductivity research since 1986 because of their very high transition temperatures (Tcs). In contrast, no new families of high-Tc intermetallic compounds have been discovered since the A15-type Nb3X compounds were first reported in 19531. The intermetallies with highest Jcs have all been based on niobium, with the highest Tcs being 20.7 K for bulk Nb3Ga and 23.2 K for sputtered films of Nb3Ge (refs 2, 3). Here we report the observation of superconductivity at 23 K in a multiple-phase bulk sample of a quaternary intermetallic, yttrium palladium boride carbide. This is higher than any Tc reported previously for a bulk intermetallic compound. Although the materials are not yet single-phase, the superconducting volume fraction is large. We propose that this compound may represent the first of a new family of superconducting intermetallics with relatively high Tcs.

The PTEN tumor suppressor is mutated in diverse human cancers and in hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes. PTEN is a phosphatase that can act on both polypeptide and phosphoinositide substrates in vitro. The PTEN structure reveals a phosphatase domain that is similar to protein phosphatases but has an enlarged active site important for the accommodation of the phosphoinositide substrate. The structure also reveals that PTEN has a C2 domain. The PTEN C2 domain binds phospholipid membranes in vitro, and mutation of basic residues that could mediate this reduces PTEN's membrane affinity and its ability to suppress the growth of glioblastoma tumor cells. The phosphatase and C2 domains associate across an extensive interface, suggesting that the C2 domain may serve to productively position the catalytic domain on the membrane.

Adelson, David W., Jen Yu Wei, Mahrokh Yashar, T. J. O-Lee, and Yvette Taché. Central autonomic activation by intracisternal TRH analogue excites gastric splanchnic afferent neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 81: 682–691, 1999. Intracisternal (ic) injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) or its stable analogue RX 77368 influences gastric function via stimulation of vagal muscarinic pathways. In rats, the increase in gastric mucosal blood flow evoked by a low ic dose of RX 77368 occurs via release of calcitonin gene-related peptide from capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons, most probably of spinal origin. In this study, the effect of low ic doses of RX 77368 on afferent impulse activity in splanchnic single fibers was investigated. The cisterna magna of overnight-fasted, urethan-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats was acutely cannulated, and fine splanchnic nerve twigs containing at least one fiber responsive to mechanical probing of the stomach were isolated at a site immediately distal to the left suprarenal ganglion. Unit mechanoreceptive fields were encountered in all portions of the stomach, both superficially and in deeper layers. Splanchnic afferent unit impulse activity was recorded continuously during basal conditions and in response to consecutive ic injections of saline and RX 77368 (15–30 min later; 1.5 or 3 ng). Basal discharge rates ranged from 0 to 154 impulses/min (median = 10.2 impulses/min). A majority of splanchnic single units with ongoing activity increased their mean discharge rate by ≥20% after ic injection of RX 77368 at either 1.5 ng (6/10 units; median increase 63%) or 3 ng (19/24 units; median increase 175%). Five units lacking impulse activity in the 5-min before ic RX 77368 (3 ng) were also excited, with the onset of discharge occurring within 1.0–5.0 min postinjection. In units excited by ic RX 77368, peak discharge occurred 15.6 ± 1.3 min after injection and was followed by a decline to stable activity levels ≤20–40 min thereafter. In a few cases (4/24), ic RX 77368 (3 ng) inhibited the impulse activity of initially active units, with a time course comparable to that seen in units excited by the same treatment. The pattern of discharge in most units was not suggestive of mechanical modulation of activity by rhythmic gastric contractions. The data demonstrate that low ic doses of TRH analogue induce sustained increases in afferent discharge in a substantial proportion of splanchnic neurons innervating the rat stomach. These findings support the notion that splanchnic afferent excitation occurs concomitantly with vasodilatory peptide release from gastric splanchnic afferent nerve terminals after ic TRH-induced autonomic activation.

This study investigated whether lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an acute-phase reactant that can cause important bias in risk factor analysis for coronary heart disease among patients with an acute-phase response (APR patients). To determine whether serum Lp(a) concentrations increase among APR patients, we compared the Lp(a) concentrations and apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] phenotypes of 100 controls with those of a random sampling of 100 APR patients. Serum Lp(a) concentration was measured by ELISA; Lp(a) phenotyping was performed by electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. Lp(a) was significantly (P0.0001) higher among APR patients (mean +/- SD 0.300 +/- 0.284 g/L) than among controls (0.118 +/- 0.193 g/L) even though the distribution of apo(a) phenotypes did not differ significantly. The 100 APR patients were grouped into 4 categories: 48 patients with infections, 25 postoperative patients, 17 patients with tumors, and 10 patients with other diseases, all of whom showed substantially higher Lp(a) values than did the controls. For the S5, S4S5, S5S5, and S4 phenotypes, the mean concentrations of serum Lp(a) were substantially higher among the APR patients.

Synthesis of Vi antigen, a capsular polysaccharide expressed by Salmonella typhi, is controlled by the viaA and viaB chromosomal loci. It was previously shown that Vi antigen expression was regulated by a system similar to the rcs regulatory system involved in colanic acid synthesis in Escherichia coli. We have cloned the rcsA, rcsB, and rcsC genes from S. typhi. The predicted amino sequences of the RcsA and RcsB proteins showed a high degree of similarity to their E. coli homologs. The nucleotide sequence of the rcsC gene was partially determined and was shown to be homologous to that of its E. coli counterpart. Complementation experiments indicated that rcsB and rcsC were encompassed within the viaA locus. The RcsA protein was not involved in Vi antigen synthesis. In contrast, the RcsB protein acted as a positive regulator of Vi polysaccharide expression. By mRNA and gene fusion analyses, we studied the role of RcsB and TviA, a via-B-encoded regulatory protein characterized previously, in regulating Vi antigen synthesis. The transcriptional start point of tviA mRNA was not influenced by RcsB or TviA. In the absence of RcsB or TviA protein, transcription of tviA gave rise to only a monocistronic tviA-specific mRNA. The presence of RcsB and TriA not only increased the amount of monocistronic tviA-specific mRNA but also resulted in countranscription of tviA and tviB, which is located immediately downstream of tviA on the viaB locus. In addition, TviA protein did not appear to be subject to degradation by the Lon protease. These results strongly suggest that TviA might act in concert with RcsB at the tviA promoter to activate transcription of the genes involved in Vi polymer synthesis in S. typhi in a Lon-independent manner.

SRPX2 (Sushi repeat-containing protein, X-linked 2) has recently emerged as a multifunctional protein that is involved in seizure disorders, angiogenesis and cellular adhesion. Here, we analyzed this protein biochemically. SRPX2 protein was secreted with a highly post-translational modification. Chondroitinase ABC treatment completely decreased the molecular mass of purified SRPX2 protein to its predicted size, whereas heparitinase, keratanase and hyaluroinidase did not. Secreted SRPX2 protein was also detected using an anti-chondroitin sulfate antibody. These results indicate that SRPX2 is a novel chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG). Furthermore, a binding assay revealed that hepatocyte growth factor dose-dependently binds to SRPX2 protein, and a ligand–glycosaminoglycans interaction was speculated to be likely in proteoglycans. Regarding its molecular architecture, SRPX2 has sushi repeat modules similar to four other CSPGs/lecticans; however, the molecular architecture of SRPX2 seems to be quite different from that of the lecticans. Taken together, we found that SRPX2 is a novel CSPG that is overexpressed in gastrointestinal cancer cells. Our findings provide key glycobiological insight into SRPX2 in cancer cells and demonstrate that SRPX2 is a new member of the cancer-related proteoglycan family.

A case of spontaneous rupture of bladder in pregnancy is reported. Due to its rarity, the diagnosis of this condition is difficult.