Recovery of locomotor activity in the adult chronic spinal rat after sublesional transplantation of embryonic nervous cells: specific role of serotonergic neurons

We have reviewed the genetic structure of HIV-1 from the perspective of understanding viral and cellular regulatory factors that affect viral replication. Comparisons are drawn, as appropriate, with other human retroviruses, such as HIV-2, in regard to our understanding of pathogenesis. The synthesis of viral protein and the manner in which viral assembly takes place is also discussed.     

Object substitution masking: When does mask preview work?

When a target is enclosed by a 4-dot mask that persists after the target disappears, target identification is worse than it is when the mask terminates with the target. This masking effect is attributed to object substitution masking (OSM). Previewing the mask, however, attenuates OSM. This study investigated specific conditions under which mask preview was, or was not, effective in attenuating masking. In Experiment 1, the interstimulus interval (ISI) between previewed mask offset and target presentation was manipulated. The basic preview effect was replicated; neither ISI nor preview duration influenced target identification performance. In Experiment 2, mask configurations were manipulated. When the mask configuration at preview matched that at target presentation, the preview effect was replicated. New evidence of ineffective mask preview was found: When the two configurations did not match, performance declined. Yet, when the ISI between previewed mask offset and target presentation was removed such that the mask underwent apparent motion, preview was effective despite the configuration mismatch. An interpretation based on object representations provides an excellent account of these data. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Targeting of active sialyltransferase to the plant Golgi apparatus

Glycosyltransferases in the Golgi apparatus synthesize cell wall polysaccharides and elaborate the complex glycans of glycoproteins. To investigate the targeting of this type of enzyme to plant Golgi compartments, we generated transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase, a glycosyltransferase of the mammalian trans-Golgi cisternae and the trans-Golgi network. Biochemical analysis as well as immunolight and immunoelectron microscopy of these plants indicate that the protein is targeted specifically to the Golgi apparatus. Moreover, the protein is predominantly localized to the cisternae and membranes of the trans side of the organelle. When supplied with the appropriate substrates, the enzyme has significant alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase activity. These results indicate a conservation of glycosyltransferase targeting mechanisms between plant and mammalian cells and also demonstrate that glycosyltransferases can be subcompartmentalized to specific cisternae of the plant Golgi apparatus.     

Response of intraocular pressure to retrobulbar and peribulbar anesthesia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the response of intraocular pressure (IOP) to retrobulbar and peribulbar anesthesia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were prospectively masked and randomized to receive either 4 cc of retrobulbar anesthesia (X = 29) or 6 cc of peribulbar anesthesia (X = 30), each consisting of a 50:50 mixture of 2% xylocaine and 0.75% bupivacaine with 150 units of hyaluronidase. IOPs were measured pre-anesthesia and 1, 2, and 5 minutes post-anesthesia in nonglaucoma patients undergoing cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. RESULTS: Mean IOPs in the retrobulbar group as determined with a tonometer were 18.24, 18.66, 19.14, and 17.86 mm Hg pre-anesthesia and 1, 2, and 5 minutes post-anesthesia, respectively. In the peribulbar group, the mean IOPs were 18.53, 21.20, 20.40, and 19.20 mm Hg, respectively. The 1-minute pressures in the two groups were statistically different (P = .023). Within the peribulbar group, the 1- and 2-minute pressures were statistically different from the pre-anesthesia IOP (P = .001 and P = .018, respectively). CONCLUSION: Peribulbar anesthesia, with its higher volume of anesthetic (6 vs 4 cc), results in a higher initial IOP. This difference was slight and short lived, and occurred in the absence of any external ocular compression. This study may have application in avoiding elevation of IOP in select patients undergoing a local procedure.     

Validation of [13C]urea breath test for Helicobacter pylori using a simple gas chromatograph-mass selective detector

OBJECTIVE: Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) is the accepted method for accurately measuring the 13CO2:12CO2 ratio in the non-invasive and non-radioactive [13C]urea breath test (13C-UBT) for Helicobactor pylori. The IRMS instrument, an expensive and highly specialized analyser, is rarely available. The objective of this project was to modify and validate the use of a simple bench-top gas chromatograph-mass selective detector (GC-MSD) for 13C-UBT. METHODS: Breath samples from 71 patients were taken at baseline and 30 min after ingestion of 100 mg [13C]urea. The breath samples were analysed using GC-MSD in the selected ion monitoring mode. The reference 13CO2:12CO2 ratio was from NBS19 obtained from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology. 13CO2:12CO2 ratios of the breath samples were determined. Excess delta per thousand (per mil, delta/thousand) of the 30 min sample over the baseline (deltadelta/thousand) of > or = 6deltadelta/thousand was considered H. pylori positive. Results from 13C-UBT and histology determined blind to each other were compared. RESULTS: The coefficient of variation of the reference 13CO2:12CO2 ratio was 0.06%. Using histology as the 'gold standard', the sensitivity (97.9%) and specificity (95.8%) of the GC-MSD 13C-UBT were comparable to those of other methods of H. pylori diagnosis. CONCLUSION: A gas chromatograph coupled to a mass selective detector that is available in many analytical and biomedical laboratories can be used for the 13C-UBT. This method will increase the availability and reduce the cost of this non-invasive, non-radioactive diagnostic test.     

In vitro study of the percutaneous absorption of four aromatic amines using hairless rat skin

Using hairless rat skin maintained in a Franz diffusion cell, the percutaneous penetration of four aromatic amines: para-chloroaniline (PCPA), meta-trifluoromethylaniline (mTFMA), dichloro-3,4-aniline (3,4-DCA) and dichloro-3,5-aniline (3,5-DCA) were studied. The purpose of the studies was to determine the permeation parameters (rate of permeation, permeability rat constant) in order to compare the rate of absorption of the four amines. The results show that the four amines penetrate significantly across the skin, but with different rates. 10 h after in vitro application (2 mg/cm2), the extent of permeation was PCPA > mTFMA > 3,4-DCA > 3,5-DCA.     

Direct numerical simulation of flow characteristics and heat transfer enhancement in a rib-dimpled cooling channel

The present study reports the numerical investigation on the flow characteristics and heat transfer enhancement of the rib-dimpled channels. Two geometric variables were considered: the rib angle, θ, and the length between the rib center and the dimple rim, l. Nine cases were investigated by combining three different rib angles with three different lengths. Direct numerical simulations were conducted with a Reynolds number of 2800. As θ and l changed, the flow characteristics of the rib-dimpled channel were altered, which lead to different characteristics in the flow mixing and heat transfer rate. The span-wise rotating flow and the up-wash counter rotating vortices played an important role in the augmentation of heat transfer rate. The rib-dimpled channel with l = 0.15 and θ = 70° showed the maximum increase of 32 % in the volume goodness factor, in comparison with the general dimpled channel.

     

Augmented reality assisted facility layout digitization and planning

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - Facility layout planning (FLP) has an important role in manufacturing industries. There are few approaches to solve FLP such as procedural,...     

铜引线键合中影响焊球硬度因素的研究

铜丝球焊由于其经济优势和优越的电气性能近来得到了普及,然而,在引线键合工艺中用铜丝取代金丝面临着一些技术上的挑战。多年来,IC芯片焊盘结构已经逐步适应了金丝球焊。铜在本质上比金硬度高,因此以铜线取代金线便引出了有关硬度的问题。研究了用25．4μm铜丝球焊中与键合机参数有关的铜焊球硬度特性。采用电子打火系统不同的电流和打火时间设置,用5％氢气和95％氮气组成的惰性保护气体形成了一个典型的25．4μm大小的铜焊球,研究了维氏硬度的焊球。用实验设计建立了第一和第二键合参数,进行了无空气焊球基本数据调整。通过改变电子打火系统参数。对硬度特性进行了进一步的测试。典型的键合球的大小和厚度的第一键合响应证实铜键合球的生产实力与电子打火系统的电流和打火时间有关．