Esterified estrogens with and without methyltestosterone decrease arterial LDL metabolism in cynomolgus monkeys

OBJECTIVES: To assess retinal complications and to identify risk factors for retinal complications following aqueous shunt procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of 38 consecutive aqueous shunt procedures that were performed on 36 patients at the Eye Institute of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, from June 1993 to March 1995 (minimum follow-up, 6 months) were reviewed. The mean +/- SD follow-up was 11.4 +/- 5.2 months (median, 10.5 months). RESULTS: Twelve patients (32%) had the following retinal complications: 4 serous choroidal effusions (10%) that required drainage, 3 suprachoroidal hemorrhages (8%), 2 vitreous hemorrhages (5%), 1 rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (3%), 1 endophthalmitis (3%), and 1 scleral buckling extrusion (3%). Surgical procedures for retinal complications were required in 8 (67%) of these 12 patients. Visual acuity decreased 2 lines or more in 9 (75%) of these 12 patients. The median onset of a postoperative retinal complication was 12.5 days, with 10 patients (83%) experiencing complications within 35 days. Serous choroidal effusions developed in 10 other patients (26%), and these effusions resolved spontaneously. Visual acuity decreased 2 lines or more in 2 (20%) of these additional 10 patients. Patients who experienced serious retinal complications were significantly older, had a higher rate of hypertension, and postoperative ocular hypotony. Serious retinal complications were distributed evenly among patients with Krupin valves with discs and Molteno and Baerveldt devices. Experience with the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant was limited. CONCLUSION: Aqueous shunt procedures may be associated with significant retinal complications and subsequent visual loss.     

Measurement of femtosecond pulse shapes via ionization of air

In summary, we have demonstrated a new method for the characterization of ultrashort pulses which can be easily implemented and which is particularly well suited to high intensity lasers. It is shown that it is possible to simply determine the temporal shape of femtosecond pulses using plasma-induced cross-phase modulation in ionized air     

Comparison of ras-p21 bound to GDP and GTP: differences in protein and ligand dynamics

This paper documents the first essential dynamics analysis of ras protein ligands and of the protein itself, showing important features of their dynamic properties. Essential dynamics analysis of 300 ps of full solvent molecular dynamics simulations revealed differences in structure and dynamics between GDP- and GTP-bound forms of H-ras-p21. Regions in the protein which exhibited a structural shift correspond to the switch regions described previously. Differences in dynamics between H-ras-p21 GDP and H-ras-p21 GTP may be related to interactions of ras with GAP and its receptor and effector. Molecular dynamics of free GDP (in the absence of protein) were performed in water for 2 ns and analysed using essential dynamics. The conformations of GDP and GTP when bound to the protein were compared with free GDP, revealing that the ligands bind to the protein in an energetically unfavourable conformation. GDP and GTP molecules from various other protein crystal structures were also analysed. These ligands adopt similar conformations to those seen in H-ras-p21.      

Optimization of the spark plasma sintering processing parameters affecting the properties of polyimide

The present study deals with the optimization of polyimide (PI) mechanical properties, obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), by using a method combining Design of Experiments (DOE) with physical, structural, and mechanical characterizations. The effects of SPS parameters such as temperature, pressure, dwell time, and cooling rate on the density, mechanical properties, and structure of PI were investigated. The experimental results revealed that the mechanical properties of the material were optimized by raising the sintering temperature up to 350°C. The optimized SPS processing parameters were a temperature of 350°C, a pressure of 40 MPa, and a dwell time of 5 min. Under these conditions, a relative density of 99.6% was reached within only a few minutes. The corresponding mechanical properties consisted of Young's modulus of 3.43 GPa, a Shore D hardness of 87.3, and a compressive strength of 738 MPa for a maximum compressive strain of 61.8%. Moreover, when working at 320°C and at 100 MPa, an increase in the dwell time was necessary to enhance the properties. Contrary to the other parameters, the cooling rate appeared to be a non‐significant parameter. Finally, correlations between the PI structure and the mechanical properties were made to demonstrate the densification mechanisms. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41542.     

A designed organic–zeolite hybrid acid–base catalyst

An organic–zeolite hybrid catalyst was synthesised via solid-state impregnation of the zeolite with an amount of melamine corresponding to 20 mol% of the aluminium content. A high density of basic sites is formed in the zeolite. From infrared spectroscopy and TGA measurements we infer that melaminium cations are formed in the zeolite which are highly thermally stable. IR spectroscopic and TGA measurements showed the presence of melaminium after pre-treatment in vacuum at 450 °C. The catalyst exhibited activity in the Knoevenagel condensation reaction between benzaldehyde and ethyl cyanoacetate which is suggested to be promoted by the presence of acid and base sites. The catalyst activity was compared with other known base catalysts including hydrotalcites and magnesium oxide on alumina support.     

The 11B(p,α)8Be?→?α?+?α and the 11B(α,α)11B Reactions at Energies Below 5.4?MeV

Measurements of the absolute cross section and angular distributions for the $^{11} \hbox{B}(p,\alpha)^{8}{\text{Be}}\rightarrow\alpha+\alpha$ and the ¹¹B(α,α)¹¹B reactions have been performed from 0.15 to 3.8?MeV for the ¹¹B(p,α) study and from 2 to 5.4?MeV for the ¹¹B(α,α) reaction. The absolute cross sections are presented in terms of the total number of α-particles detected in order to avoid uncertainties due to ambiguities in the number of alpha particles emitted in the reaction at a particular energy. The angular distributions of the ¹¹B(p,α)⁸Be(2⁺) reaction were fit to a Legendre polynomial expansion and the coefficients are presented. Finally, the ¹¹B(α,α)¹¹B data were fit in terms of phase shifts (ignoring the spin of the target), providing a convenient representation of the elastic cross section data between 2 and 5.4?MeV.     

The UML as a formal modeling notation

The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is an Object Management Group (OMG) object-oriented (OO) modeling notation standard. It consists of a set of notations for modeling systems from a variety of views and at varying levels of abstraction. While the UML reflects some of the best OO modeling experiences available, it suffers from a lack of precise semantics that is necessary if one is to use the notations to precisely model systems and to rigorously reason about the models. In this paper we discuss some of the problems with the current UML semantic document and present the approach that the precise UML group (pUML) group is using to develop a precise semantics for the UML. The approach utilizes mathematical techniques to explore and gain insights into appropriate semantics for UML modeling concepts. The insights and formal expressions will then be used to develop a UML semantics document written in natural language that defines the semantics in a precise, consistent, and understandable manner.