Weighted f-values, A-values, and line strengths for the E1 transitions among 3d, 3d4s, and 3d4p levels of Fe III

Weighted oscillator strengths, weighted radiative rates, and line strengths for all the E1 transitions between 285 fine-structure levels belonging to the 3d⁶, 3d⁵4s, and 3d⁵4p configurations of Fe III are presented, in ascending order of wavelength. Calculations have been undertaken using the general configuration interaction (CI) code CIV3. The large configuration set is constructed by allowing single and double replacements from any of 3d⁶, 3d⁵4s, 3d⁵4p, and 3d⁵4d configurations to nl orbitals with n?5,l?3 as well as 6p. Additional selective promotions from 3s and 3p subshells are also included in the CI expansions to incorporate the important correlation effects in the n=3 shell. Results of some strong transitions between levels of 3d⁶, 3d⁵4s, and 3d⁵4p configurations are also presented and compared with other available calculations. It is found that large disagreements occur in many transitions among the existing calculations.     

Co-doped ZnO dilute magnetic semiconductor

This paper reports on recent findings in the Co-doped ZnO system where as-deposited samples with n-type semiconductor properties display magnetic ordering above room temperature. Detailed atomic scale structural characterization has eliminated clustering and second-phase formation as the source of the magnetic behavior. Upon high-temperature annealing in oxygen, the samples become insulating and the magnetization drops. This suggests that the observed magnetic behavior of the oxide is directly related to the presence of intrinsic defects, notably oxygen vacancies and Zn interstitials. These defects are believed to mediate exchange coupling of the Co spins through electron doping of the matrix, and perhaps also the formation of bound magnetic polarons.     

A pilot evaluation of alternating preoperative chemotherapy in the management of patients with locoregionally advanced breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND: This prospective trial was conducted to evaluate the outcome of patients treated with preoperative and post operative chemotherapy, mastectomy, and irradiation for locoregionally advanced breast carcinoma. METHODS: Between June 1986 and September 1990, 71 patients received 2 cycles of doxorubicin that alternated with 2 cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil prior to mastectomy; irradiation was administered when the tumor was not amenable to surgical resection. Additional chemotherapy and tamoxifen, in hormone receptor-positive tumors, was used after mastectomy. Post-operative irradiation was given on a selective basis for patients at high risk for locoregional disease recurrence. RESULTS: Although 5 patients (7%) had disease progression, clinical partial or complete tumor response to preoperative chemotherapy was noted in 46 patients (65%). Sixty-eight patients (96%) underwent mastectomy. With a median follow-up of 52 months, the relapse-free and overall survival rates at 5 years were 42% and 57% respectively. Locoregional tumor recurrence occurred in 14 patients (20%), and 28 patients (39%) developed metastatic disease. Menopausal status, clinical presentation (noninflammatory vs. inflammatory), and American Joint Committee on Cancer clinical stage were independent covariates associated with patient outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative alternating chemotherapy, with the selective use of irradiation, resulted in significant locoregional disease regression and the successful integration of mastectomy into the therapeutic strategy. Locoregional tumor control and relapse-free and overall survival estimates for the approach described herein compared favorably with other comtemporary reports for this condition.     

Prevalence and identification of abnormal lipoprotein levels in a biracial population aged 23 to 35 years (the CARDIA Study). The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study

This study examines the prevalence of abnormal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in young adults to determine the ability of National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) guidelines to identify persons with elevated LDL cholesterol, to compare other algorithms with those of the ATP, and to determine the contributions of race, gender, and other coronary artery disease risk factors to identifying patients with elevated LDL and low HDL cholesterol. The cohort was population-based, aged 23 to 35 years, and included relatively equal numbers of blacks and whites, and men and women. The prevalence of LDL cholesterol > or = 160 mg/dl (> 4.1 mmol/L) was 5% in black women, 4% in white women, 10% in black men, and 9% in white men. ATP identified most participants with elevated LDL cholesterol (range: 58.8% of white men to 70.7% of black women). Lipoprotein panels would have been required in 6% to 7% of women and to 15% to 18% of men. Algorithms that used nonlipid risk factors required more lipoprotein panels and identified fewer additional participants at risk. The prevalence of HDL cholesterol < 35 mg/dl (0.9 mmol/L) was 3% in women, 7% in black men, and 13% in white men. Algorithms that used nonlipid risk factors before measuring HDL cholesterol would require HDL cholesterol measurements in 35% of whites and 56% of blacks, but reduced sensitivity for identifying low HDL cholesterol (range: 58% in white men to 93% in black women). In young adults, algorithms based on nonlipid risk factors and family history have lower sensitivity, and increase rather than decrease the number of fasting lipoprotein panels required when compared with ATP levels.     

Evidence for prolonged recovery of dopaminergic transmission after detoxification in alcoholics with poor treatment outcome

It has been hypothesized that dysfunction of dopaminergic neurotransmission is involved in the pathogenesis of alcohol addiction. Therefore, peripheral dopamine levels, sensitivity of central dopamine receptors (apomorphine-induced Growth Hormone (GH) secretion), and the inhibitory efficacy of G-proteins on adenylyl cyclase activity (as an indicator for dopamine D2-receptor coupled second messenger mechanisms) were measured in 45 alcohol-dependent patients before and after detoxification and in 10 healthy controls. The time needed to adjust to abstinence conditions differed between patients with good and poor treatment outcome. In subsequent abstainers, effects of alcohol withdrawal were already found during the first 24 hours of abstinence (normalisation of GH response, increases in dopamine levels and the inhibitory efficacy of G-proteins). During the next 7 days of abstinence, no more significant changes were observed in the assessed variables. In subsequent relapsers, no significant effect of acute ethanol withdrawal on the same measures was found. However, at day 8 of abstinence, increases in apomorphine-induced GH secretion (towards normalisation), in dopamine plasma levels, and in the inhibitory efficacy of G-proteins (towards above-normal levels) were observed. This retarded adjustment of dopaminergic signal transduction seems to reflect the relapse risk of treatment nonresponders.     

Glucocorticoid receptor binding to rat liver nuclei occurs without nuclear transport

The binding of cell-free activated glucocorticoid receptor-steroid complexes from HTC cells to various preparations of HTC and rat liver nuclei has been examined under conditions that did or did not support the nuclear translocation of macromolecules via nuclear pores. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such study with functionally active isolated nuclei. Conventionally prepared HTC nuclei were found to be porous, as determined from their inability to exclude the fluorescent macromolecule phycoerythrin (PE) at 4 degrees C. Thus the nuclear binding of activated complexes to these nuclei can not involve nuclear translocation. Further studies, using established conditions with sealed nuclei prepared from rat liver, revealed that nuclear translocation of PE containing a covalently linked, authentic nuclear translocation sequence could be obtained at 22 degrees C, but not at 4 degrees C. However, under the same conditions, activated glucocorticoid complexes displayed equal levels of nuclear binding at both temperatures. We therefore conclude that the current translocation conditions with intact rat liver nuclei are not sufficient to reproduce the nuclear transport of glucocorticoid complexes observed in intact cells. The nuclear binding that was seen with intact rat liver nuclei was not affected by aurintricarboxylic acid, which selectively inhibits protein-nucleic acid interactions. The antibody AP-64, shown to be specific for amino acids 506-514 of the nuclear translocation sequence of the rat glucocorticoid receptor, inhibited the nuclear binding of activated complexes, apparently by blocking receptor access to the nuclear membrane. Collectively, these data argue that activated complex binding to nuclei capable of nuclear translocation involves only an association with nuclear membrane components such as nuclear pores. Thus this system, and these reagents, may be useful in future studies of activated complex binding to nuclear pores.     

Cytomegalovirus papillitis in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Visual prognosis of patients treated with ganciclovir and/or foscarnet

BACKGROUND: Of those patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome in whom cytomegaloviral retinitis develops, cytomegaloviral papillitis reportedly develops in up to 4% as well. Although occasionally patients have a good visual outcome, the majority have a poor visual prognosis, with a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse, even with treatment. METHODS: To evaluate the effects of prolonged induction with foscarnet or ganciclovir on the visual prognosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) papillitis, the records of 22 patients seen between 1990 and 1995 at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Eye Clinic were reviewed. Papillitis was defined as greater than 270 degrees of disc edema/blurring of the disc margins as seen on direct examination and on color fundus photographs. RESULTS: Eighteen patients with a mean initial visual acuity of 20/69 (range, 20/ 15-20/400) were treated with induction doses of intravenous ganciclovir (range, 5-7.5 mg/kg twice daily) or foscarnet (range, 60-90 mg/kg twice or 3 times daily) for a mean of 3.3 weeks. The mean follow-up period was 4.8 months (range, 1-13 months). These patients maintained a mean final visual acuity of 20/68 (range, 20/ 25-20/400) with greater than 90% resolution of the papillitis. The remaining four patients had poor outcomes (visual acuity < 20/400) because of progressive CMV papillitis or retinitis. The median survival time was 4.5 months from the diagnosis of papillitis, but 7 months from the onset of CMV ocular infection. CONCLUSION: Patients with CMV papillitis have good visual prognosis when managed with high and prolonged doses of intravenous foscarnet and/or ganciclovir.