2 unusual cutaneous T-cell lymphomas with extracutaneous involvement

The effects of neonatal endotracheal tube (ETT) leakage on inspiratory compliance (Ci) and resistance (Ri) were examined using a lung model with constant compliance. An air leak was created at the end of an ETT. Flow was measured at, above and below the leak by a hot wire anemometer and a pneumotach. Tidal volume (VT) was derived from digitally integrated flow. Pressure was measured at the side port of the ETT adaptors above and below the leak. Percent of air leak (% leak) was defined as the difference between inspiratory volume above (VTa) and below (VTb) the leak divided by VTa and multiplied by 100. Ci and Ri were analyzed conventionally and by linear regression. Percent error of Ci was defined as the difference between inspiratory compliance above the leak (Cia) and below the leak (Cib) divided by Cia and multiplied by 100. The results showed that the inspiratory time (Ti) of the ventilatory setting is the most important factor for determining %leak. Percent error of Ci is in proportion to %leak. The change in inspiratory resistance is complicated, depending on the ventilatory setting, leak site resistance and the method of analysis. This study demonstrates the origin of the computational error in breaths with ETT leakage diagramatically and by use of mathematics. It suggests that air leakage may contribute to a high variability in compliance and resistance measurements.     

On the selection of secondary indices in relational databases

An important problem in the physical design of databases is the selection of secondary indices. In general, this problem cannot be solved in an optimal way due to the complexity of the selection process. Often use is made of heuristics such as the well-known ADD and DROP algorithms. In this paper it will be shown that frequently used cost functions can be classified as super- or submodular functions. For these functions several mathematical properties have been derived which reduce the complexity of the index selection problem. These properties will be used to develop a tool for physical database design and also give a mathematical foundation for the success of the before-mentioned ADD and DROP algorithms.     

Hepatocyte proliferation and gene expression induced by triiodothyronine in vivo and in vitro

Subcutaneous injections of hormone triiodothyronine in rats resulted in peak blood levels at 24 hr with return to baseline by 96 hr. The injections stimulated a liver regeneration response that resembled in timing and in magnitude of DNA synthesis (peak, 24 hr) that induced by 40% hepatic resection. The principal proliferation was of hepatocytes. Although there were some temporal differences from the gene expression of transforming growth factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta, and c-Ha-ras that are known to follow partial hepatectomy, the overall profile of these changes was similar to those after partial resection. The effect was liver specific and could be reproduced three times with no diminution in response in the same animal with injections at 10-day intervals. No response was detected in kidney or intestine. This effect in intact animals contrasted with the minimal ability of triiodothyronine to stimulate hepatocytes in culture. However, when the culture medium was enriched with epidermal growth factor, there was a dose-related response to triiodothyronine. The totality of these experiments provides a preliminary basis for the creation with pharmacological techniques of an in vivo hyperplastic hepatic condition permissive of transfection of new genes, as an alternative to partial hepatectomy. Although triiodothyronine was the test agent used, other hepatic growth factors singly or in combination could be candidates for this purpose.     

Hygienic quality of head lettuce: Effects of organic and mineral fertilizers

The hygienic quality of head lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was investigated after different fertilizer treatments (fresh farmyard manure, composted farmyard manure, stinging nettle extract and calcium ammonium nitrate) in a 2-year field experiment with two trials per year, respectively. For assessment of the hygienic quality the total aerobic bacterial counts, Enterobacteriaceae, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli and Salmonella were investigated in soil, fertilizer and lettuce samples. Plants were washed with running tap water before analysis. The total aerobic bacterial count, as well as the levels of Enterobacteriaceae and coliform bacteria tended to be slightly higher (not significant) after organic compared to mineral fertilization. No Salmonella was detected in any soil, fertilizer or lettuce sample, while E. coli was randomly detected in low concentrations independent from fertilizer treatment. No higher risk of bacterial contamination due to the use of organic fertilizers was indicated.     

An Efficient Palladium N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyst Allowing the Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐Coupling of Aryl Chlorides and Arylboronic Acids at Room Temperature in Aqueous Solution

The application of a highly active Pd‐NHC catalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling of a broad variety of electronically activated and deactivated aryl chlorides with different arylboronic acids in excellent yields is described. This catalyst can be handled under aerobic conditions, is active with low catalyst loadings at room temperature and in an aqueous reaction medium and allows the application of cheap potassium carbonate as the base.