Prostate enlargement in mice due to fetal exposure to low doses of estradiol or diethylstilbestrol and opposite effects at high doses

On the basis of results of studies using high doses of estrogens, exposure to estrogen during fetal life is known to inhibit prostate development. However, it is recognized in endocrinology that low concentrations of a hormone can stimulate a tissue, while high concentrations can have the opposite effect. We report here that a 50% increase in free-serum estradiol in male mouse fetuses (released by a maternal Silastic estradiol implant) induced a 40% increase in the number of developing prostatic glands during fetal life; subsequently, in adulthood, the number of prostatic androgen receptors per cell was permanently increased by 2-fold, and the prostate was enlarged by 30% (due to hyperplasia) relative to untreated males. However, as the free serum estradiol concentration in male fetuses was increased from 2- to 8-fold, adult prostate weight decreased relative to males exposed to the 50% increase in estradiol. As a model for fetal exposure to man-made estrogens, pregnant mice were fed diethylstilbestrol (DES) from gestation days 11 to 17. Relative to controls, DES doses of 0.02, 0.2, and 2.0 ng per g of body weight per day increased adult prostate weight, whereas a 200-ng-per-g dose decreased adult prostate weight in male offspring. Our findings suggest that a small increase in estrogen may modulate the action of androgen in regulating prostate differentiation, resulting in a permanent increase in prostatic androgen receptors and prostate size. For both estradiol and DES, prostate weight first increased then decreased with dose, resulting in an inverted-U dose-response relationship.     

An analysis of interleukin-8, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein serum concentrations to predict fever, gram-negative bacteremia and complicated infection in neutropenic cancer patients

A prospective study was performed to assess the potential value of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels to predict fever, gram-negative bacteremia and complicated infection in neutropenic patients with cancer. Serum samples were obtained three times a week during 208 neutropenic episodes following cytotoxic chemotherapy. Fever of any cause developed during 104 out of 191 evaluable episodes. Serum levels of neither cytokine nor CRP were predictive of fever within more than 24 h before its onset. Unlike CRP, both IL-6 and IL-8 serum levels were significantly different between microbiologically documented infections and unexplained fevers. The highest values of IL-6 and IL-8 were observed in episodes of gram-negative bacteremia. Using receiver-operating-characteristic curves, the analysis of cytokine levels measured around the onset of fever indicated that IL-8 is potentially useful for predicting gram-negative bacteremia, with a high negative predictive value of > 90% and a moderate positive predictive value of 50% (sensitivity, 70%; specificity, 91%). In patients with persistent fever, predictions of further clinical complications, defined as prolonged fever of more than 7 days' duration, pneumonia, shock and/or death due to infection, were best predicted by IL-6. With an IL-6 cutoff value of 250 pg/ml in samples obtained 8 to 32 h after onset of fever, the positive predictive value was 92%, the negative predictive value 91% (sensitivity, 85%; specificity, 95%). The positive predictive value of IL-6 in samples obtained another 24 h later from patients still febrile remained > 90%, but the negative predictive value dropped to 47%. In any of the analyses, the predictive values of CRP levels were poor and inferior to either cytokine. These findings may have clinical value in identifying subgroups of patients requiring different therapeutic approaches.     

Perfluorocarbons are effective oxygen carriers in cardiopulmonary bypass

Intravascular perfluorochemical (PFC) emulsions together with a high oxygen (O2) tension may increase the delivery of dissolved O2 to useful levels. A severely anemic model of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was used to test the hypothesis that a novel PFC emulsion (PFCE; Oxygent [Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp., San Diego, CA] 90% w/v perflubron) used at a high PO2 during bypass delivers sufficient O2 to ameliorate hypoxic myocardial contractile dysfunction. Acutely anemic dogs (N = 42; hematocrit = 15.8 +/- 0.6% [mean +/- SEM] before CPB and 10.9 +/- 0.1% during CPB) were divided into four groups. Group 1 was a control (n = 12). As CPB was initiated, groups 2 (n = 10), 3 (n = 10), and 4 (n = 10) had 1.35 g PFC.kg-1, 2.7 g PFC.kg-1, or 5.4 g PFC.kg-1 added via the venous return cannula. Pre-CPB and post-CPB cardiac function was measured by the first derivative of left ventricular pressure (dP/dtmax). The dP/dtmax on separation from CPB was: group 1, 619 +/- 96; group 2, 738 +/- 56; group 3, 782 +/- 101; and group 4, 828 +/- 100 (p < 0.05 groups 3 and 4 versus group 1). Mortality during the first hour after separation from CPB was higher in group 1 than in PFCE treated dogs; however, this trend did not attain statistical significance (p < 0.065). The PFC dose was higher in survivors than in nonsurvivors (2.6 +/- 0.4 g PFC.kg-1 versus 1.2 +/- 0.5 g PFC.kg-1; p < 0.05). A PFCE used at a high PO2 provides sufficient physically dissolved O2 to relieve myocardial hypoxic injury in a severely anemic model of CPB. Current PFCEs are effective O2 carriers. This finding suggests that they can be used as a temporary erythrocyte substitute to diminish the need for allogeneic transfusions during cardiac operations.     

Preparation of Silicon Carbide/Aluminum Nitride Ceramics Using Organometallic Precursors

Solid solutions of 2H -SiC/AlN can be prepared at temperatures less than 1600°C by rapid pyrolysis ("hot drop") of mixtures of [(Me₃Si)_0.80((CH₂=CH)MeSi)_1.0(MeHSi)_0.35] _n (VPS) or [MeHSiCH₂] _n (MPCS) with [R₂AlNH₂]₃, where R=Et, i -Bu or simply by slow pyrolysis of the precursor mixture in the case of [Et₂AlNH₂]₃. In contrast, slow pyrolysis of mixtures of VPS or MPCS with [ i -Bu₂AlNH₂]₃ yields a composite of 2 H -AlN and 3 C -SiC at 1600°C, which transforms into a single 2 H -SiC/AlN solid solution on heating to 2000°C. The influences of the nature of the precursor and processing conditions on the structure, composition, and purity of the SiC/AlN materials are discussed.     

INTRODUCTION TO INCONEL ALLOY 740: AN ALLOY DESIGNED FOR SUPERHEATER TUBING IN COAL-FIRED ULTRA SUPERCRITICAL BOILERS

1. IntroductionW hile w orldw ide environm entalrestrictionsare requiring pow ercom paniesto reduce SO x,N O x andCO 2 em issions, econom ic pressuresare sim ultaneously necessitating im provem entsin the therm aleffi-ciency ofallcoal-fired plants. A ddin…     

Application of the scaling factor method to estimation of beta dose distributions for dissimilar media separated by a planar interface

Reliable methods of estimating doses are essential for the use of beta emitting radionuclides for radiotherapy. The passage of electrons through matter is a very complex phenomenon due to the large number of elastic and inelastic interactions resulting in scattering and energy losses. The analytical solution for the electron transport being intractable, the problem has been addressed by the Monte Carlo technique. Empirical or semiempirical less time consuming methods, such as the scaling factor method, may appear more preferable in practice when dealing with complicated source distributions. The method, proposed by Cross and co-workers [AECL Report Nos. AECL-1617 (1982), AECL 10521 (1992)] consists in the derivation of beta-ray dose distribution in other media from those in water by using a "scaling factor" or "relative attenuation factor" on distance and a closely related renormalization factor imposed by the energy conservation. This work investigates the accuracy of the scaling factor method using a statistical approach, a generalized chi 2 test, focusing on the particular case of potential interest, the scaling factor for water to bone. The direct comparison of the shapes of the depth dose deposition curves in the two media indicates discrepancies of less than 5% up to at least 60% of the range in bone, a depth within which 95% of the initial energy is deposited. The scaling factor derived by this method, 0.9720 +/- 0.0012, confirms the existing experimentally determined value of 0.973 +/- 1% [AECL Report No. AECL-10521 (1992)]. The accuracy of the determination is increased by almost a factor of 10. A way of improving the scaling method, especially for depth over the 60% continuous slowing down approximation range, by using a modulation function is also proposed.     

Composite rectilinear deformation for stretch and squish navigation

We present the first scalable algorithm that supports the composition of successive rectilinear deformations. Earlier systems that provided stretch and squish navigation could only handle small datasets. More recent work featuring rubber sheet navigation for large datasets has focused on rendering and on application-specific issues. However, no algorithm has yet been presented for carrying out such navigation methods; our paper addresses this problem. For maximum flexibility with large datasets, a stretch and squish navigation algorithm should allow for millions of potentially deformable regions. However, typical usage only changes the extents of a small subset k of these n regions at a time. The challenge is to avoid computations that are linear in n, because a single deformation can affect the absolute screen-space location of every deformable region. We provide an O(klogn) algorithm that supports any application that can lay out a dataset on a generic grid, and show an implementation that allows navigation of trees and gene sequences with millions of items in sub-millisecond time.     

Gender, Alcohol Consumption, and Differing Alcohol Expectancy Dimensions in College Drinkers.

Examinations of gender differences in alcohol expectancies among college drinkers typically have used self-report measures to assess single expectancy dimensions and often have been confounded by drinking level. This study examined gender differences in alcohol expectancies using 2 assessment methods. College students (N = 88) completed self-report questionnaires, including expectancy likelihood and subjective evaluation endorsements of expectancies, and a computerized expectancy accessibility task. Expectancy accessibility and endorsement were modestly correlated, with higher alcohol consumption and female gender linked to greater accessibility and endorsement of social enhancement expectancies. Gender moderated the relation between consumption and sociability expectancy accessibility; among men, heavier drinking was associated with more rapid activation of expectancies. Findings suggest complexity in associations among these variables and underscore the need to capture the multidimensionality of the expectancy construct and its relationship to alcohol use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The polyurea structure and the role of Amine-Terminated Polyethers and Polyesters in Polyurethanes

The Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) technology has made it possible to master the fast reaction of di- and polyamines with di- and polyisocyanates, leading to the preferred polyurea structure. Telechelics with amino end groups are gaining increased interest for the manufacture of polyurethane-polyurea materials by this technology. They make it possible to substitute all urethane groups in the elastomers with urea groups. The telechelics which are considered are amine-terminated polyethers (ATPE) and polyesters based on the typical soft-segment forming polycondensation polymers which are widely used in polyurethane chemistry. Isocyanate-terminated prepolymers of toluene diisocyanate and polyether polyols can be hydrolyzed in aqueous alkaline media via the carbamate intermediate to the amineterminated prepolymers. The reactivity of these aromatic ATPEs was ideally fit for the RIM process. ATPEs by the hydrolysis process are somewhat limited if products with low viscosities are required. In the reaction of chloro-nitrobenzenes with polyether polyols followed by the hydrogenation of the nitro groups of the terminal phenoxy moieties, we found a path for the synthesis of low viscosity aromatic ATPEs. Capping of polyether polyols with acetoacetate groups and subsequent reaction of the acetoacetylated polyethers with amines, leads to polyethers with terminal imine or enamine groups, which are derivates of aminocrotonic acid. We determined that this approach is a universal method for the synthesis of a large variety of aromatic as well as aliphatic ATPEs with low viscosities. Trifluoroacetic acid turned out to be the ideal catalyst for the reaction of the acetoacetylated polyethers with aromatic diamines, one amino group forming the imine link, the second one remaining intact and providing the desired reactivity towards isocyanates. Aliphatic diamines do not require a catalyst for this reaction. They lead to aminocrotonates with aliphatic amino groups that have high reactivity towards isocyanates, which is to be expected from aliphatic amines. The reaction of the chloroformates of polyether polyols with diamines can also be used to synthesize a variety of ATPEs. We recently developed an approach to low viscosity ATPEs having secondary amino end groups. The hydroxyl groups of the polyether polyols are converted to chloride or methanesulfonyl. The polyethers terminated with these leaving-groups are reacted with primary aliphatic or aromatic amines to give the secondary ATPEs in very good yields.     

曲堤油田q104块沙四段储层特征研究

曲堤油田Q104块沙四段属于河流相沉积体系,通过对研究区岩芯观察、铸体薄片、X-射线衍射、扫描电镜、图像、粒度、岩芯常规测试以及测井二次解释成果等资料的分析,对储层岩石学特征、物性特征、孔隙类型及孔隙结构特征进行了详细的研究.储层岩石类型主要为灰、灰褐色粉、细长石岩屑或岩屑长石砂岩,成分成熟度和结构成熟度都较低,以泥质胶结为主,粘土矿物主要为伊/蒙间层、高岭石、伊利石、绿泥石,是本区最主要的潜在敏感性.储层物性多属中孔低渗、高孔中渗,储层孔隙度和渗透率具有很好的正相关性.储层面孔率在8-13%左右,储集空间以原生粒间孔为主,孔隙结构较好,属中小孔、中细喉型孔隙结构,储层的最大连通孔喉半径、孔喉半径均值以及中值丰径与渗透率都有着较好的正相关性,渗透率与退汞效率具有很好的负相关性.