Validation of a specific selection criterion for dental periapical radiography

We report three children with hemidystonia in whom anti-cardiolipin (aCL) antibodies were demonstrated. Systemic lupus erythematosus was excluded on the basis of both clinical and serological criteria, and the diagnosis of primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) was made. In two cases, aCL antibodies could be causally related to a presumed immune-mediated thrombotic event involving the basal ganglia as shown by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the remaining patient the finding of white matter alteration on NMR might be due to cross-reactivity of anti-phospholipid (aPL) antibodies with cerebral phospholipids, resulting in demyelination. We suggest that PAPS must always be considered when isolated or recurrent focal cerebral ischaemia, and particularly hemidystonia, occur in childhood.     

A comparative evaluation of two sensitive serum neutralization tests for bovine herpesvirus-1 antibodies

The need for frequent injections and monitoring, the possibility of multiple gestations, and the higher cost compared to clomiphene citrate, prevents many clinicians from using human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) for ovulation induction. A sequential medication regimen, in which HMG is taken after clomiphene, overcomes these problems. We retrospectively compared per cycle fecundity and birth rates in 119 cycles of clomiphene-HMG, 524 cycles of clomiphene alone, 57 cycles of HMG alone, and 79 cycles of concurrent HMG and clomiphene in patients receiving intra-uterine insemination (IUI), who were free of endometriosis or tubal disease. Per cycle fecundity for clomiphene-HMG was 22% [95% confidence interval (CI) 12-34%], double that of clomiphene alone (11%) (95% CI 8-14%) (P < 0.01), and equal to HMG alone (18%) (95% CI 7-29%) or HMG and clomiphene together (19%) (95% CI 10-28%). The multiple birth rate for clomiphene-HMG (7/21) equalled that for HMG alone (3/12) and HMG and clomiphene together (3/8). The average number of ampoules of HMG required [follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) 75 mIU, luteinizing hormone (LH) 75 mIU] was decreased by 65% from 24.5 +/- 1.0 for HMG or HMG and clomiphene together to 8.6 +/- 0.3 for clomiphene-HMG (P < 0.001). Per cycle fecundity was identical when one, two or three ampoules of HMG per day were administered after clomiphene. We conclude that ovulation induction with sequential clomiphene-HMG results in fecundity double that of clomiphene alone and equal to HMG alone or concurrent with clomiphene, thereby reducing the requirement for HMG.     

Annealing behavior of Ar ion irradiated Bi2Sr2Can-1CunO4+2n superlattice and intergrowth films

Artificially layered Bi₂Sr₂Ca_n–1Cu_nO_4+n films were synthesized by sequential sputter deposition of BiO, SrCu_0.5O_1.5 and CaCuO₂ layers. Annealing behavior of these films which were irradiated by Ar ions was studied. Defect assisted improvement of their crystalline perfection is expected which might results in the improvement of the superconducting properties of these films. An artificial film, such as an intergrowth of 2223 and 2234 phases, and superstructure films of (2245)₁(2201)₁ and (2234)₁(2212)₁, were irradiated by Ar ions (150 keV, 2–10×10¹² ions/cm₂) and annealed at 730 °C. An improvement of superconducting transition temperatures were observed.     

Simple ASK transmitter using a 790 nm self-pulsating laser diodefor local area networks

A simple amplitude shift keying (ASK) optical link is demonstrated by using a low-cost self-pulsating laser diode and an envelope detector for a low-cost broadband local area network. A link sensitivity of -22 dBm was achieved at 200 Mbit/s. Because the self-pulsation frequency can be tuned by the bias current, frequency division multiplexing can be simply implemented for multiuser applications     

InSb,GaSb, and GaInSb grown using trisdimethylaminoantimony

GalnSb alloys as well as the constituent binaries InSb and GaSb have been grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy using the new antimony precursor trisdimethylaminoantimony (TDMASb) combined with conventional group III precursors trimethylindium (TMIn) and trimethylgallium (TMGa). InSb layers were grown at temperatures between 275 and 425°C. The low values of V/III ratio required to obtain good morphologies at the lowest temperatures indicate that the pyrolysis temperature is low for TDMASb. In fact, at the lowest temperatures, the InSb growth efficiency is higher than for other antimony precursors, indicating the TDMASb pyrolysis products assist with TMIn pyrolysis. A similar, but less pronounced trend is observed for GaSb growth at temperatures of less than 500°C. No excess carbon contamination is observed for either the InSb or GaSb layers. Ga_1-xIn_xSb layers with excellent morphologies with values of x between 0 and 0.5 were grown on GaSb substrates without the use of graded layers. The growth temperature was 525°C and the values of V/III ratio, optimized for each value of x, ranged between 1.25 and 1.38. Strong photoluminescence (PL) was observed for values of x of less than 0.3, with values of halfwidth ranging from 13 to 16 meV, somewhat smaller than previous reports for layers grown using conventional precursors without the use of graded layers at the interface. The PL intensity was observed to decrease significantly for higher values of x. The PL peak energies were found to track the band gap energy; thus, the luminescence is due to band edge processes. The layers were all p-type with carrier concentrations of approximately 10¹⁷ cm³. Transmission electron diffraction studies indicate that the Ga_0.5In_0.5 Sb layers are ordered. Two variants of the Cu-Pt structure are observed with nearly the same diffracted intensities. This is the first report of ordering in GalnSb alloys.     

Analysis of culture fluorescence by a fiber-optic sensor inNicotiana tabacum plant cell culture

The on-line sensing of viable cell weight in plant cell culture process is applied to analysis and control of process. The fiber-optic fluorescence sensor was constructed to measure the NADH-dependent fluorescence inNicotiana tabacum plant cell culture and the analysis of fluorescence signal was done to be correlated with the viable cell weight. The structured kinetic model for cell growth was proposed to estimate the theoretical viable cell weight. The dimensional analysis was proposed for the interpretation of fluorescence signal, in which the path length, the inner filter effect and the hydrodynamic conditions were considered as the key factors on fluorescence signal. The dimensional analysis and empirical correlation of fluorescence signal to viable cell weight was applied to the interpretation of the detected fluorescence signal during cultivation. The proposed interpretation of fluorescence signal using dimensional analysis was well correlated with the viable cell weight estimated by the structured kinetic model as well as by empirical correlation.     

Development of the Base Station Controller and Manager in the CDMA Mobile System

The base station (BS) in the CDMA Mobile System (CMS) connects calls through the radio interface and is designed to provide mobile subscribers with high quality service in spite of mobile subscribers’ motions. The BS consists of multiple base station transceiver subsystems (BTSs), a base station controller (BSC) and a base station manager (BSM). This paper is concerned with the BSC and the BSM. The BSC is located between the BTSs and the mobile switching center (MSC) connected with the public network, and is responsible for controlling mobile calls from and to mobile subscribers via the BTSs. The BSM provides operator-interfaces per the BS and takes responsibility of operation and maintenance (OAM) of the BS. Design of the BSC is based on two module types: functional module and unit module. The functional module is used to support new services easily and the unit module to increase the system capacity economically. Both modular types are easily achieved by inserting the corresponding modules to the system. Particularly, in order to efficiently support the soft handover which is one of CDMA superior advantages, the BSC adopts a large high-speed packet switch connecting up to 512 BTSs, and thus mobile subscribers can be provided with soft handover in high probability. The BSM is based on a commercial workstation to support OAM functions efficiently and guarantee high reliability of the functions. The BSM uses graphical user interface (GUI) for efficient OAM functions of the BS.     

Substrate transport and cocaine binding of human dopamine transporter is reduced by substitution of carboxyl tail with that of bovine dopamine transporter

A chimeric dopamine transporter (DAT) cDNA encoding mutant human DAT (hDAT) protein in which the intracellular carboxyl-terminal tail is replaced by that of the bovine dopamine transporter (bDAT) was constructed. The chimeric hDAT cDNA was expressed in COS-7 cells, and [3H]dopamine and [3H]MPP+ uptake and [3H]CFT binding capacities were assessed. Substrate transport and ligand binding of bDAT were reduced by 32-43% as a result of substitution of the carboxyl tail in hDAT, suggesting that the functional characteristics of bDAT arise from differences in the carboxyl tail between human and bovine DAT. Thus, it appears that the sequences encoded within the carboxyl terminal of DAT would be one of the important determinants for its functions.