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To establish the value of time-resolved contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (TR-MRA) in identifying transverse sinus (TS) thrombosis in patients with a unilaterally absent TS signal on phase-contrast (PC) magnetic resonance venography (MRV).Forty-five patients who were suspected of TS thrombosis clinically with a unilaterally absent TS signal on PC MRV were evaluated using TR-MRA. The image quality was compared between PC MRV and TR-MRA via calculating signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) of the normal TS. Images obtained by PC MRV and TR-MRA were assessed independently by two neuroradiologists regarding whether the absent signal was thrombosis or hypoplastic TS. Then a consultant neurologist made the final diagnosis based on all available clinical, laboratory, and radiological results (delivered by a consultant neuroradiologist via computed tomography [CT]/CT venography, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]/MRV or digital subtraction angiography [DSA]), which was set as the reference standard. The accuracy of the radiological diagnosis from both techniques was assessed.For image quality, the SNRs and CNRs of TR-MRA were 452.14 and 440.92, respectively, significantly higher than that of PC MRV (both p0.001). The interobserver agreement of TR-MRA in identifying TS thrombosis from hypoplastic TS was excellent (κ = 0.951; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.902-1), much higher than PC MRV (κ = 0.526; 95% CI, 0.389-0.663). Consensus of assessment based on TR-MRA was highly consistent with the reference standard (100% sensitivity, 96.67% specificity) and superior to PC MRV (60% sensitivity, 90% specificity).TR-MRA is better than PC MRV for visualising TS and distinguishing thrombosis from congenitally atretic TS.

This study aims to reveal the TWIST protein expression in the degenerated nucleus pulposus (NP), its effect on the TNF-α treated NP cells, and to explore its specific mechanism of anti-senescence.NP tissues from spine fracture patients without intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and the IDD patients were collected to detect the TWIST1/2 protein expression by Western blot (WB). NP cells isolated from the healthy tissue was treated with TNF-α to induce senescence, and the TWIST1/2 protein expression was also analyzed. We transfected NP cells with the plasmid coding TWIST to upregulate its expression, which was also cultured in the TNF-α condition. Besides, the TNF-α pretreated NP cells were further stimulated with the recombinant human TWIST1/2 protein. The collagen II and senescent marker β-galactosidase (β-gal) were determined by immunofluorescence (IF); the MMP-13, TIMP-3, IL-10, IL-1β mRNA expression level was detected by quantitative Real Time PCR; the cell proliferation was analyzed by CCK8 assay; the cell cycle was measured by flow cytometry.TWIST1/2 protein was decreased both in the degenerated NP tissue, and TNF-α treated NP cells. The overexpression of TWIST1/2 could prevent the p53, p21, β-gal, MMP-13, and IL-1β expression, moreover, it protected the collagen II, TIMP-3, and IL-10 expression in the TNF-α treated NP cells. Additionally, TWIST overexpression also promoted cell proliferation by ensuring the process of the cell cycle. Furthermore, the supplement of TWIST protein was functional to reverse these senescent phenotypes caused by TNF-α partly.TWIST alleviates the TNF-αinduced NP cells senescence via the inhibition of the p53/p21 pathway.

The intrinsic characteristics of 54 honey samples were assessed by qualitative analysis of their volatile fraction through GC-E-NOSE and GC-IMS. Both systems detected differences among samples, due to botanical origin, breeding techniques and production processes. The application of IMS allowed to identify the discriminating molecules among honey samples.

Honey represents one of the most relevant food fraud targets, which is mainly ascribable to its economic value and its worldwide production, but also to the existing problems related to the monitoring and management of bees’ farms. To corroborate its authenticity, the assessment of the honey’s volatile fraction combined with chemometric techniques could be an innovative and powerful analytical alternative. The aim of this study was to analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from Acacia and Millefiori honey samples by using two diverse gas chromatography (GC) instruments (Heracles GCE- Nose and FlavourSpec GC-IMS), followed by chemometric processing, in order to discriminate honey according its intrinsic characteristics (i.e. botanical origin). The results showed that the two GC instruments were able to generate very similar outputs, when used under the same operating, analytical, and statistical conditions. The untargeted analysis of honeys’ volatile fraction associated with chemometric data processing led to sample clustering, thus allowing a preliminary identification of qualitative differences among honey samples. In addition, targeted GC-IMS analysis proved to successfully identify discriminating molecules to legitimize the sample classification obtained with the untargeted GC analysis, being thus useful to distinguish with greater certainty a conventional honey from an organic one.

A successful optical resolution of the racemic modification of citronellic acid was carried out by using (–)-cinchonidine, one of the cinchona alkaloids. The resultant crystals contain the protonated cinchonidinium cation and the (S)-(–)-citronellate anion in 1:1 ratio. A successful optical resolution of the racemic modification of citronellic acid was carried out by using (–)-cinchonidine, one of the cinchona alkaloids. The resultant crystals contain the protonated cinchonidinium cation and the (S)-(–)-citronellate anion in 1:1 ratio.

A systematic analysis of defect textures in facetted nanoparticles with polygonal configurations embedded in a nematic matrix is performed using the Landau-de Gennes model, homeotropic strong anchoring in a square domain with uniform alignment in the outer boundaries. Defect and textures are analyzed as functions of temperature T, polygon size R, and polygon number N. For nematic nanocomposites, the texture satisfies a defect charge balance equation between bulk and surface (particle corner) charges. Upon decreasing the temperature, the central bulk defects split and together with other -1/2 bulk defects, are absorbed by the nanoparticle's corners. Increasing the lattice size decreases confinement and eliminates bulk defects. Increasing the polygon number increases the central defect charge at high temperature and the number of surface defects at lower temperatures. The excess energy per particle is lower in even than in odd polygons, and it is minimized for a square particle arrangement. These discrete modeling results show for first time that even under strong anchoring, defects are attached to particles as corner defects, leaving behind a low energy homogeneous orientation field that favors nanoparticle ordering in nematic matrices. These new insights are consistent with recent thermodynamic approaches to nematic nanocomposites that predict the existence of novel nematic/crystal phases and can be used to design nanocomposites with orientational and positional order., Author's version. Published in Langmuir, http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/la203226g

A protocol has been developed for the synthesis of the linear naphthopyran 16, by the TiCl4-catalyzed isomerization of 2,5-dimethyl dioxolane 1, having a methoxy group at position 1′ and a bromine atom at position 4′ of the naphthyl precursor to favor isomerization at position 2′.

Bromination in acetic acid is favored at C‐8 in 5,7‐dimethoxy‐4‐naphthol when the C‐2 substituent is methyl carboxylate, whereas C‐1 is favored when the C‐2 substituent is either acetoxymethylene or methyl.

In this work, the authors present a commonly used example in electrostatics that could be solved exactly in a conventional manner, yet expressed in a compact form, and simultaneously work out special cases using the method of images. Then, by plotting the potentials and electric fields obtained from these two methods, the authors demonstrate that these two methods provide identical solutions. Furthermore, a number of sum rules are deduced based on the arguments that these two methods should also give the same induced charge, and force.

In applying the variational method, six different sets of trial wave functions are used to calculate the ground state and first excited state energies of the strongly bound potentials, i.e. V(x) = x 2 m , where m = 4, 5 and 6. It is shown that accurate results can be obtained from thorough analysis of the asymptotic behaviour of the solutions. Consequently, it was found that there is a progressive qualitative change in the wave functions from the harmonic to anharmonic and then strongly bounded region, which explains why using a harmonic oscillator wave function together with the conventional perturbative approach to calculate the energy correction, was unsuccessful.

Communication skills are generic skills which need to be developed for success in the vocational education entering the workforce. This study aimed to discover the attributes of communication skill considered important in entering the workforce as perceived by vocational education students. The research was conducted by survey method using questionnaire as data collecting tool. The research population is final year student of D3 Vocational education Program and D4 Managerial Vocational education in academic year 2016/2017 who have completed field work practice in industry. The sampling technique was proportional random sampling. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and independent sampel t-test. Have ten communication skills attributes with the highest important level required to enter the workplace as perceived by the vocational education diploma. These results indicate that there was the same need related communication skills to enter the workforce

Applying the commonly used partial wave method in the quantum theory of collisions, the scattering cross-sections of the two- and three-dimensional attractive and repulsive potentials are expressed as sums of phase shifts. With the help of the Maple software program, the phase shifts and cross-sections are plotted as functions of the kinetic energy and potential height, and it is demonstrated that the systematic convergence of the cross-sections as higher angular-momentum phase shifts are included in the summations. It is found that the cross-sections of the attractive potential oscillate with both the kinetic energy and the potential strength, even though the phase shifts are monotonic. It is also shown that in the case of the repulsive potential, both the phase shifts and cross-sections change profoundly when the kinetic energy of the incident particle is lower than the potential height.

Background: Alverine citrate is commonly used in the treatment of painful affections of the colon. Aim: To determine whether alverine citrate acts on the vagal sensory endings. Methods: Unitary recordings were performed at the level of the vagal fibres in the nodose ganglion of anaesthetized cats using extracellular glass microelectrodes, and the patterns of response to chemical and mechanical stimuli applied to identified vagal intestinal mechanoreceptors were studied. Results: The intestinal mechanoreceptors located at the endings of type C vagal fibres responded mainly to mechanical stimuli (distension and contraction), but also responded to chemical substances (cholecystokinin and substance P). The most conspicuous effect of alverine (2 mg/kg) was that it significantly inhibited the pattern of vagal activity produced in response to either cholecystokinin (5–10 μg/kg), substance P (5–10 μg/kg) or phenylbiguanide (5–10 μg/kg), a 5-HT3 receptor agonist. On the other hand, the unitary vagal response to the mechanical distension was slightly enhanced by alverine, as was any spontaneous activity present. Conclusions: Based on the present data, alverine citrate can be said to decrease the sensitivity of the intestinal mechanoreceptors, which is consistent with its previously established anti-spasmodic effects.

Photoelectron-diffration studies of Nb(001) have been performed to determine the first-interlayer contraction using Mg Kα radiation (hν=1253.6 eV) as an excitation source. Photoemission intensities of the 3d 5/2 core level were measured as a function of the polar angle along several azimuths on the single-crystal surface. The 202.3-eV (205.O-eV) binding energy for the 3d 5/2( 3d 3/2) core level was well resolved in the photoemission spectra, where the peak intensity could be easily evaluated by curve-fitting processes. Large oscillations of the 3d 5/2 intensity as a function of the polar angle due to forward-focusing were observed. Based on multiple-scattering calculations for several first-interlayer spacings ranging from the bulk value to 16% contraction, the best agreement with experiment was obtained for a (13±5)% contraction of the first-interlayer spacing.

BACKGROUND Anecdotal reports have suggested that systemic chemotherapy with agents that better cross the blood-brain barrier may result in long term disease remission in some patients with central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. This treatment strategy has the advantage of sparing patients the late neurologic complications from brain irradiation. METHODS Eligible patients were required to 1) have tissue-proven and measurable non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)- related primary or metastatic CNS lymphoma; 2) have normal hemogram, renal function, and hepatic function; 3) be age ≤ 75 years; and 4) have provided informed consent. Patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma or patients who previously had been exposed to nitrosoureas, etoposide, or high dose methotrexate were not eligible. The systemic chemotherapy (BOMES regimen) included carmustine, 65 mg/m2/day, intravenously (i.v.) on Days 1-2; vincristine, 2 mg/day, i.v. on Days 1 and 8; methotrexate, 1.5 g/m2, i.v. on day 15 followed by leucovorin rescue; etoposide, 50 mg/m2/day, i.v. on Days 1-5; and methylprednisolone, 200 mg/day, i.v. on Days 1-7; repeated every 4 weeks (BOMES regimen). Four doses of intrathecal methotrexate were given to patients who had involvement in the cerebrospinal fluid. RESULTS Between March 1991 and March 1997 a total of 19 patients were enrolled on the study. There were 13 men and 6 women, with a median age of 57 years. Fourteen patients had primary CNS lymphoma and 5 patients had concurrent extra-CNS lymphoma. Nine patients previously had been treated by radiotherapy (four patients), chemotherapy (three patients), or both (two patients). There were 11 complete remissions (CR) (57.9%) and 5 partial remissions (26.3%), with a total remission rate of 84.2%. One patient had had progressive brain lymphoma during systemic chemotherapy with the conventional cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone regimen, but achieved CR soon after the regimen was changed to BOMES. The median time to progression of the responders was 6 months. At last follow-up, 4 patients were alive without lymphoma at 10, 47, 64, and 66 months, respectively. There were two treatment-related deaths due to sepsis. Another two patients died of fulminant hepatitis that most likely was chemotherapy-related reactivation of chronic B viral hepatitis. CONCLUSIONS The authors believe systemic chemotherapy alone may result in long term disease remission in some select patients with non-AIDS-related CNS lymphoma. Further investigation for better protocols is mandatory. Cancer 1998;82:1946-51. © 1998 American Cancer Society.

We present primary results from the Sequencing Quality Control (SEQC) project, coordinated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Examining Illumina HiSeq, Life Technologies SOLiD and Roche 454 platforms at multiple laboratory sites using reference RNA samples with built-in controls, we assess RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) performance for junction discovery and differential expression profiling and compare it to microarray and quantitative PCR (qPCR) data using complementary metrics. At all sequencing depths, we discover unannotated exon-exon junctions, with >80% validated by qPCR. We find that measurements of relative expression are accurate and reproducible across sites and platforms if specific-filters are used. In contrast, RNA-seq and microarrays do not provide accurate absolute measurements, and gene-specific biases are observed for all examined platforms, including qPCR. Measurement performance depends on the platform and data analysis pipeline, and variation is large for transcript-level profiling. The complete SEQC data sets, comprising >100 billion reads (10Tb), provide unique resources for evaluating RNA-seq analyses for clinical and regulatory settings.

We propose some simple experiments to measure moments of inertia of certain physical pendula having high and low symmetry. Periods of oscillation, mass, and distance of the pivot from the center of mass are used to measure ICM for: (a) the “floating eagle,” an intriguing toy, and (b) a rectangular plate. Values of ICM obtained from measurements about different parallel axes may be checked for consistency.

Three sets of trial wave functions were applied to calculate the ground state and first excited state energies of the x 4 and x 6 anharmonic oscillator potentials. We demonstrate that, even with a rather crude initial guess, results can be improved by proper adjustment of the trial wave functions after careful study of their general features. Meanwhile, we found some interesting and unexpected results when applying the second set of trial wave functions. Once again, we suggest using together with computer algebra software packages, these examples when teaching the variational method in a quantum mechanics course.

When applying the variational method, it is demonstrated that the systematic improvements in calculating the eigen‐energies of quantum mechanical systems can be achieved by careful study of the general features of the trial wave functions. Two sets of trial wave functions were used for the harmonic oscillator potential. In the first example, it is shown, even with a crude initial guess, that accurate results will be obtained by adjusting the wave function without introducing any additional variational parameters. Even though the second example requires more algebraic manipulation, it is shown that it converges to the exact result much faster. It is suggested that these calculations be incorporated in computer algebra software packages for the teaching of quantum mechanics.

In this paper, we present an alternative approach for deriving the self‐induced emf of a three‐dimensional current distribution using a long wire of length las an example. Two infinite multiply‐con...

Unitary activities were recorded in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VHM) of anesthetized rats. Cells responding to periodontal stimulation (100-200 g disto-mesial traction applied to an upper incisive) were selected. The effects of gastric stimulation (2-5 ml distension) were then investigated. Out of the 40 cells activated (22 cells) or inhibited (18 cells) by periodontal stimulation, only seventeen were influenced by gastric stimulation. Eight of them responded in the same way and nine in the opposite way. Unlike the periodontal stimulation, which elicited specific spatio-temporal patterns, the gastric stimulation had only weak effects. These data nevertheless demonstrate that periodontal-gastric convergences exist in the VHM nucleus, which is consistent with the role previously ascribed to this area in alimentary behaviour.

The main purpose of the bromine atom at position 4′ is to favor cyclization at position 2′.

Based on the effective-mass approximation, the energy spectrum of the free A-exciton states of cadmium sulphide is studied. The Stark effect in an electric field, the Zeeman effect and the diamagnetic interaction in a magnetic field of the A-exciton states are analysed by using a novel perturbative-variational approach. The results are compared with experimental data and previous calculations using different approaches. Results are in good agreement with previous work and the method is much more efficient.

We have used lattice statics and dynamics, as well as molecular dynamics to investigate the possibility of structural phase transitions in NaCaX3 compounds in which X is one of the halides; F, Cl, Br, I. These simulations were done using 320-ion clusters and ab initio potentials with no adjustable parameters. Our computations lead to the prediction that these compounds all have high temperature phases which are distorted perovskites and that each of them undergoes a phase transition to a polar state, although the structure of the ground state and the direction of the polar axis varies with the size of the halide ion.

Rizatriptan nasal spray was developed to achieve fast a high effectiveness and to overcome limitations associated with oral formulation. The objective of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of a rizatriptan nasal spray compared with an oral formulation in a two treatments, two periods, randomized crossover design. At each phase, each subject received 5 mg rizatriptan as a nasal spray or an oral tablet. Plasma concentrations of rizatriptan were determined by HPLC. Rizatriptan was absorbed more rapidly following nasal spray with detectable plasma concentrations 5 min after dosing. There was no statistically significant difference for AUC or Cmax values between the nasal spray and the oral tablet. The relative bioavailability of nasal formulation to oral formulation was 96%+/-16%. All the formulations were well tolerated and adverse events were generally of short duration and of mild intensity. Thus, rizatriptan nasal spray offers more rapidly absorption compared to the oral route, which may be particularly beneficial to those patients who have gastrointestinal disturbances during their migraine attack or who have difficulty in swallowing a tablet.

We present a variational Monte Carlo (VMC) study of a square lattice spin‐12 Heisenberg antiferromagnet in a magnetic field along the z axis. Regarding the spin system as a quantum boson liquid, we take advantage of a McMillan‐type trial wavefunction which was originally devised for simulating liquid 4He. We find that the ground state energies, magnetization curves and spin structure factors agree well with other numerical and theoretical results.

Experiments are described in which ∼0.2‐s‐wide argon laser pulses are incident on a 6‐μm‐thick n− Si epitaxial layer. Local melting and refreezing of both the layer and a small volume of the underlying p+ boron‐doped Si substrate occur. In the molten phase, boron diffusion from the substrate is sufficient to make a low resistance path between the front surface and the substrate, with a nearly uniform dopant concentration of 5×1018/cm3. The melted/recrystallized front surface diameter is ∼50 μm. Unique features and applications of this type of substrate contacting are discussed.

The structural transformation in aragonite CaCO3 is simulated by molecular dynamics. The simulations are based on the potentials calculated from the Gordon-Kim modified electron gas formalism. We found two phase transitions in aragonite at high temperature.

More than a decade ago computer simulations based on Gordon-Kim potentials suggested that NaCaF3 would be a ferroelectric compound if it could be formed experimentally. Recent attempts to form thin films of NaCaF3 using pulsed-laser deposition have prompted us to carry out further theoretical studies of this material. Here we apply the self-consistent atomic deformation method to calculate electronic, structural and vibrational properties of NaCaF3 and the constituent compounds NaF and CaF2.

Ion-implant doped polysilicon, in situ doped polysilicon, and in situ doped ultrahigh vacuum chemical vapor deposition (UHV/CVD) low-temperature epitaxial silicon emitter contacts were used to fabricate shallow junction vertical p-n-p transistors. The effect of these materials on emitter junction depth and on device characteristics is reported. A DC current gain as high as 45 was measured on polysilicon emitter devices. Regardless of emitter contact material, all devices showed sufficiently high breakdown voltages for circuit applications. However, only for ion-implant doped polysilicon emitter devices was the narrow-emitter effect observed through the emitter-collector punchthrough voltage, emitter resistance, and current gain measurements. >

Alverine citrate is commonly used in the treatment of painful affections of the colon.To determine whether alverine citrate acts on the vagal sensory endings.Unitary recordings were performed at the level of the vagal fibres in the nodose ganglion of anaesthetized cats using extracellular glass microelectrodes, and the patterns of response to chemical and mechanical stimuli applied to identified vagal intestinal mechanoreceptors were studied.The intestinal mechanoreceptors located at the endings of type C vagal fibres responded mainly to mechanical stimuli (distension and contraction), but also responded to chemical substances (cholecystokinin and substance P). The most conspicuous effect of alverine (2 mg/kg) was that it significantly inhibited the pattern of vagal activity produced in response to either cholecystokinin (5-10 microg/kg), substance P (5-10 microg/kg) or phenylbiguanide (5-10 microg/kg), a 5-HT3 receptor agonist. On the other hand, the unitary vagal response to the mechanical distension was slightly enhanced by alverine, as was any spontaneous activity present.Based on the present data, alverine citrate can be said to decrease the sensitivity of the intestinal mechanoreceptors, which is consistent with its previously established anti-spasmodic effects.

Single-nerve activities were recorded in the gasserian ganglia of anesthetized cats by glass extracellular micro-electrodes to determine whether sensory endings exist within the alveolar bone. Trigeminal cells responded to mechanical and/or thermal stimulation applied to the maxillary bone. Some were activated by specific kinds of fairly precise mechanical stimuli (moderate forces applied in a preferential direction); others exhibited a coarse mechanical sensitivity. In addition, electrical stimulation was applied to the maxillary bone to determine the conduction velocities of the relevant fibers. These mainly ranged between 1 and 6 m/s, which indicates that the fibers belonged to the small-diameter category (thinnest myelinated and unmyelinated fibers). Similar results were obtained from animals with osseointegrated implants. It was concluded that the alveolar bone is endowed with sensory endings capable of detecting mechanical and thermal changes, and that these receptors may provide compensatory sensitivity in edentulous subjects whose main (periodontal) sensitivity has been eliminated.

Intestinal blood flow was recorded in anesthetized rats and cats using laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF). This new technique provides continuous and accurate measurements of the intestinal blood flow, without affecting the blood circulation. Electrical stimulation (1 ms, 5-30 V, 5-50 Hz) applied either afferent or efferent vagal fibres elicited changes in the intestinal blood flow consisting mainly of increases. Similar results were obtained upon applying chemical stimulation to intestinal sensory endings using cholecystokinin (CCK) or substrance P (SP; 10-20 micrograms/kg intravenously given). Bilateral vagotomy and atropine treatment markedly reduced or suppressed these vascular effects. In addition experiments in which the activation of gastrointestinal afferents were activated by applying electrical stimulation to the abdominal vagal nerves yielded similar results. Finally, these effects were reduced after selectively severing vagal afferents. It is concluded that intestinal blood changes may be triggered by activation of the sensory endings from the digestive organs through the vagal nerves.

Two dimensional texture simulations, based on the Landau-de Gennes equations of nematodynamics in the absence of flow, were carried out for nematics with embedded faceted binary and multiple particles using temperature, size, and density as topological control variables. The stable modes obtained from kinetic simulations are summarized in texture phase diagrams in terms of temperature, particle separation and particle size. The key novelty in 2D faceted particles is the presence of corners that are sources/sinks of disclination lines or active corner defects. Under close corner-to-corner proximity, disclination lines form inter- or intra- particle links, while under larger distances, surface defects decorate the corners. This generic geometric behaviour is modulated by temperature since the line tension of disclinations decreases with increasing temperature. The characteristic texture diagrams show that for nanoparticles, increasing particle separation results in a disclination mode sequence of linked particles, cross-linked particles, and intra-particle disclinations. For colloidal particles, increasing size results in a mode sequence of linked particles and isolated particles with corner defects. For intermediate particle size, a continuous evolution of the phase diagrams from the former to the latter is demonstrated. At low temperatures, increasing interparticle distances leads to a defect breakage at a critical value independent of particle size. Multimer particle assemblies form stable filaments via a corner-to-corner interparticle disclination linkage mechanism. The stability of the multimers to bending is characterized using curvature as a topological control variable. As stretching-driven instabilities in binary particles give rise to surface defects modes, bending-driven instabilities give rise also to multi-particle rings with corner decorated surface defects. The integrated texture phase diagrams, topological transitions, tension and bending-driven instabilities demonstrate the potential functionality of faceted particle liquid crystal nanocomposites.