Phase separation in a Ni-12.7 at. pct Al alloy at 550 °C

The phase separation at 550 °C in a Ni-12.7 at. pct Al alloy was investigated by means of small angle X-ray scattering, large angle X-ray scattering, electrical resistivity, and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that an abrupt change in the electrical resistivity and small angle scattering occurred within 15 seconds at 550 °C, following quenching from 1060 °C, and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of small nuclei. However, after this period of rapid change, there was an incubation period of about ten hours in which there was minimal net growth of the nuclei. After the incubation period, growth was accelerated. High angle side bands were observed after a few minutes annealing, and their development closely paralleled the growth of the nuclei and precipitate particles at this temperature. For times beyond the incubation period, small angle X-ray scattering diagrams from single crystals became markedly anisotropic, indicating a quasi-regular spatial distribution of particles. The large and rapid change, in both electrical resistivity and in X-ray small angle scattering, observed after annealing at 550 °C of samples quenched from 1060 °C was attributed to the formation of tiny regions of short range ordered Ni₃Al which constitute subcritical nuclei.     

On the ratio of citable versus non-citable items in economics journals

This paper presents a study of possible changes in patterns of document types in economics journals since the mid-1980s. Furthermore, the study includes an analysis of a possible relation between the profile of a journal concerning composition of document types and factors such as place of publication and JIF. The results provide little evidence that the journal editors have succeeded in manipulating the distribution of document types. Furthermore, there is little support for the hypothesis that journal editors decrease the number of publications included in the calculation of JIF or for that matter for the hypothesis that journal editors increase the number of publications not included in the calculation of JIF. The results of the analyses show that there is a clear distinction of journals based on place of publication and JIF     

Characterization of a potent and specific class of antisense oligonucleotide inhibitor of human protein kinase C-alpha expression

The use of antisense oligonucleotides to inhibit the expression of targeted mRNA sequences is becoming increasingly commonplace. Although effective, the most widely used oligonucleotide modification (phosphorothioate) has some limitations. In previous studies we have described a 20-mer phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide inhibitor of human protein kinase C-alpha expression. In an effort to identify improved antisense inhibitors of protein kinase C expression, a series of 2' modifications have been incorporated into the protein kinase C-alpha targeting oligonucleotide, and the effects on oligonucleotide biophysical characteristics and pharmacology evaluated. The incorporation of 2'-O-(2-methoxy)ethyl chemistry resulted in a number of significant improvements in oligonucleotide characteristics. These include an increase in hybridization affinity toward a complementary RNA (1.5 degrees C per modification) and an increase in resistance toward both 3'-exonuclease and intracellular nucleases. These improvements result in a substantial increase in oligonucleotide potency (>20-fold after 72 h). The most active compound identified was used to examine the role played by protein kinase C-alpha in mediating the phorbol ester-induced changes in c-fos, c-jun, and junB expression in A549 lung epithelial cells. Depletion of protein kinase C-alpha protein expression by this oligonucleotide lead to a reduction in c-jun expression but not c-fos or junB. These results demonstrate that 2'-O-(2-methoxy)ethyl-modified antisense oligonucleotides are 1) effective inhibitors of protein kinase C-alpha expression, and 2) represent a class of antisense oligonucleotide which are much more effective inhibitors of gene expression than the widely used phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotides.     

Immunocytochemical evaluation of protein kinase C translocation to the inner nuclear matrix in 3T3 mouse fibroblasts after IGF-I treatment

The complex pathway which links the agonist-cell membrane receptor binding to the response at the genome level involves, among other elements, protein kinase C (PKC). Agonists acting at the cell membrane can affect an autonomous nuclear polyphosphoinositide signaling system inducing an activation of nuclear phosphoinositidase activity and a subsequent translocation of PKC to the nuclear region. The fine localization of PKC has been investigated by means of electron microscopy quantitative immunogold labeling in 3T3 mouse fibroblasts, mitogenically stimulated by IGF-I. The enzyme, which in untreated cells is present in the cytoplasm, except for the organelles, and in the nucleoplasm, after IGF-I treatment is reduced in the cytoplasm and almost doubled in the nucleus. The PKC isoform translocated to the nucleus is the alpha isozyme, which is found not only associated with the nuclear envelope but mainly with the interchromatin domains. By using in situ matrix preparations, PKC appears to be retained at the nuclear matrix level, both at the nuclear lamina and at the inner nuclear matrix, suggesting a direct involvement in the phosphorylation of nuclear proteins which are responsible for the regulation of DNA replication.     

Evaluation of acupuncture and occlusal splint therapy in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders

One hundred patients showed signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder, were participated in a one year follow up study. The patients were randomly divided into four groups: Acuhealth treatment (group A), occlusal splint therapy (group B), Acuhealth and occlusal splint therapy (group C), and control (group D). Each group comprised 25 patients. The patients were examined before and 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. At the three month evaluation, the patients who were not satisfied with the treatment outcome were offered additional treatment. The result showed that 87% of the patients treated by Acuhealth unit, 77.3% of the patients treated with occlusal splint therapy, and 91.3% of the patients received Acuhealth and occlusal splint therapy were improved subjectively and clinically after 3 months follow-up. The patients who responded well to treatment initially also responded well in the long run. The study showed that the Acuhealth unit proved to be an ideal early therapy for TMD, and complemented later with occlusal splint.