Epithelial marker genes are expressed in cultured embryonic rat lung and in vivo with similar spatial and temporal patterns

Explants of embryonic lung are often used to characterize lung growth, bronchial tree pattern, and cell differentiation. Most investigators culture lungs for 3-7 days in defined media lacking, e.g., added growth factors or hormones. If growth and differentiation are comparable to that in vivo, these cultures show considerable promise for identifying developmental regulatory molecules and target genes, and for elucidating molecular responses. We used in situ hybridization and RT-PCR to compare times and sites of expression of mRNAs of six epithelial genes in cultured and uncultured fetal rat lungs. These genes, expressed in distal lung of adult rats, are surfactant proteins (SP) A, B, and C; LAR, a receptor-type tyrosine phosphatase; Clara cell secretory protein (CC10, CCSP); and T1alpha. SP-A, SF-B, LAR, and CC10 are expressed by both Clara and Type II cells in adult animals. SP-C and T1alpha are unique markers for Type II and Type I cells, respectively. SP-C, LAR, and T1alpha are expressed before the lung is explanted (Day 13.5); SP-A, -B, and CC10 mRNAs are first detected later. The onset of expression is similar in vivo and in vitro. Although the patterns of expression differ for each mRNA, their sites of expression in culture match those in vivo relative to the bronchial tree. The explanted embryonic lung appears to be an excellent experimental model.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

三氯化铝负载HY沸石催化β-甲基萘转移烷基化反应

通过液相沉积法将无水AlCl3负载到HY沸石上制得负载型催化剂。研究了负载前后HY沸石催化β-甲基萘(β-MN)与均四甲苯(TMB)转移烷基化反应性能。结果表明,随着负载型HY沸石的表面酸性增强,沸石的孔径减小,催化β-MN与TMB转移烷摹化反应的活性提高,2,6-／2,7-二甲基萘(DMN)的选择性得到改善。当反应在β-MN与TMB摩尔比为1:1,反应温度为400℃,空速为6.0 h-1的条件下进行时,β-MN的转化率为46.4％,2,6-DMN／2,7-DMN的选择性为25.6％。     

基于平均值位移聚类与EMD测量的图像检索

视觉特征的描述和相似度的测量是图像检索的两大关键.本文提出在较为均匀的L*a*b*颜色空间,利用平均值位移聚类算法提取主色,相似度的测量采用EMD方法,利用粗略检索减少查询时间.然后利用相关反馈与多次检索有效地提高检索准确率.最后通过在原型系统上的两个实验,从查准率、平均序号和检索时间验证了此方法的有效性.