Synthesis method comparison of compositionally complex rare earth-based Ruddlesden–Popper n = 1 T′-type cuprates

The multicomponent approach has been successfully expanded to the Ruddlesden–Popper structure with the synthesis of two different high-entropy cuprate compositions: (La_0.2Nd_0.2Gd_0.2Tb_0.2Dy_0.2)₂CuO₄ and (La_0.2Pr_0.2Nd_0.2Sm_0.2Eu_0.2)₂CuO₄. The effect of synthesis method is explored using both solid-state reaction and polymeric steric entrapment (PSE) methods. It is found that PSE leads to more randomly distributed cation species, providing an advantageous method of synthesis for the growing field of high entropy oxides. In situ high-temperature x-ray diffraction tracks the amorphous to crystalline phase transformation in (La_0.2Nd_0.2Gd_0.2Tb_0.2Dy_0.2)₂CuO₄ powder, synthesized using the PSE method. Using the High-Temperature XRD data, a method for gaining information on the kinetic behavior is also applied. Magnetometry of both compositions indicates ferrimagnetic behavior at low temperatures.     

Asterlingulatosides C and D, cytotoxic triterpenoid saponins from Aster lingulatus

Over the last few decades, European courses in which 'classical' tropical medicine (i.e. parasitology, entomology, and clinical aspects of tropical diseases) is taught have largely become anachronisms. Most countries in the tropics have their own medical schools and few have much need of expatriate doctors. There do, however, appear to be other ways in which Europeans may still help improve health in the tropics. One is to control the quality of the expatriate nurses who are still in demand in the tropics (often as cheaper, generally less demanding substitutes for doctors). This may be achieved by only training the best, insisting they spend some time after graduation gaining maturity before they leave for the tropics, ensuring they realise that their clinical skills will probably be inferior to their local counterparts in the tropics, and encouraging them to continue studying once abroad. The second way Europeans may help is to change the bias of their courses from teaching to training. There seems little doubt that the intellectual personalities of the brightest young men and women in the tropics often develop far better when they spend a period in a foreign environment, especially when they are allowed to function within a team, with trainees and trainers from other countries. Some 'international' courses may offer such benefits, especially if closely tailored to the needs of the trainees and their home countries.     

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor augments beta-amyloid-induced interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and nitric oxide production by microglial cells

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), a chronic cerebral inflammatory state is thought to lead to neuronal injury. Microglia, intrinsic cerebral immune effector cells, are likely to be key in the pathophysiology of this inflammatory state. We showed that macrophage colony-stimulating factor, a microglial activator found at increased levels in the central nervous system in AD, dramatically augments beta-amyloid peptide (betaAP)-induced microglial production of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and nitric oxide. In contrast, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, another hematopoietic cytokine found in the AD brain, did not augment betaAP-induced microglial secretory activity. These results indicate that increased macrophage colony-stimulating factor levels in AD could magnify betaAP-induced microglial inflammatory cytokine and nitric oxide production, which in turn could intensify the cerebral inflammatory state by activating astrocytes and additional microglia, as well as directly injuring neurons.     

Combining mutations in the incoming and outgoing pheromone signal pathways causes a synergistic mating defect in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mating pheromones stimulate Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells to form a pointed projection that becomes the site of cell fusion during conjugation. To investigate the role of mating projections, we screened for mutations that enhanced the weak mating defect of MAT a ste2‐T326 cells that are defective in forming pointed projections. These cells are also 10‐fold more sensitive to α‐factor pheromone because ste2‐T326 encodes truncated α‐factor receptors that are not regulated properly. Mutations in AXL1, STE6 and FUS3 were identified in the screen. AXL1 was studied further because it is required for efficient a ‐factor pheromone production and for selecting the site for bud morphogenesis. Mutation of AXL1 did not enhance the morphogenesis or pheromone sensitivity defects of ste2‐T326. Instead, the synergistic mating defect was apparently due to decreased a ‐factor production because the axl1Δ ste2‐T326 cells mated well with a sst2 α mating partner that is supersensitive to a ‐factor. When combined with a wild‐type mating partner, the ste2‐T326 axl1Δ cells failed to mate because they did not lock cell walls, one of the earliest steps in conjugation. Analysis of axl1Δ in combination with other mutations that cause defects in morphogenesis or pheromone sensitivity (e.g. bar1, sst2, afr1) indicated that both phenotypes of ste2‐T326 cells, supersensitivity to α‐factor and the defect in forming pointed projections, contributed to the synergistic mating defect. We suggest a model that the synergistic mating defect is caused by the combined effects of ste2‐T326 and axl1Δ on the presentation of a ‐factor to partner cells. Altogether, these results demonstrate an important linkage between the incoming and outgoing pheromone signals during the intercellular communication that promotes yeast mating. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Macroengineering in the 1980s

Developing macroengineering projects will require continuous adaptations to changes in concepts, economics, environment, and technology. Contemporary macro- project developers face extraordinary and unprecedented uncertainties, making it incredibly difficult to plan and complete projects. Macroproject planners and developers should at the very least build sufficient economic margins and development flexibility into each project. Some of the key issues that need to be considered in this decade and beyond include financing, the sanctity of supporting contractual agreements, appropriate technology and economics, project execution techniques, and appropriate managerial structures. This will require new procedures and techniques to analyze the many factors bearing upon macroproject developments, as well as a reexamination and enhancement of management tools which can span the vast variety of functions to be coordinated and can respond to the political, social, economic, financial, technical, and construction aspects of macroprojects under volatile and changing circumstances.     

A 45-Mbit/s CMOS VLSI digital phase aligner

An eight-channel, 45-Mb/s digital phase aligner (DPA) has been fabricated in 2-μm CMOS. The device receives asynchronous serial data at a known average clock frequency and unknown phase, and phase-aligns it with a local clock of the same frequency for subsequent synchronous processing. The all-digital architecture of this device minimizes the need for external components and avoids reliance on analog MOS circuitry. Tracking over a phase excursion range of ±4-bit periods has been demonstrated     

"Flocculus neonatorum": a self-resolving benign nodular flocculus of the iris in the newborn

A severely resorbed maxilla was reconstructed utilizing a combined surgical technique that included the placement of a horseshoe-shaped bicortical calvarium onlay graft, fixed by six endosseous implants. Two more implants were placed in the pterygoid process to support and stabilize the prosthesis. The dentition was rehabilitated with a fixed implant-supported hybrid prosthesis.     

Cytotoxicity and NMR spectral assignments of ergolide and bigelovin

A 10-year-old left-handed girl with a developmental stutter and agenesis of the corpus callosum with associated hydrocephalus ceased stuttering immediately upon initiation of steroid therapy for colitis. Steroid taper resulted in a recurrence of the stutter and resumption for treatment of recrudescent colitis caused its disappearance again. Baseline agenesis of the corpus callosum with hydrocephalus and the patient's course in the face of the known effects of steroids on white matter lend support to the hypothesis that stuttering reflects anomalous dominance and/or atypical interhemispheric connectivity, as evidenced by the fact that presumed alterations of white matter tracts affected speech rhythms/stuttering.