Influence of the preparation conditions on the size and morphology of nanocrystalline lanthanum orthoferrite

Nanocrystalline LaFeO₃ is prepared by the dehydration of coprecipitated lanthanum and iron(III) hydroxides. It is shown that the behavior of the samples during heating and the size distribution of LaFeO₃ nanocrystals can be considerably different depending on the scheme used for coprecipitation of lanthanum and iron hydroxides; independently of the method employed for coprecipitation of the initial compounds, sintering of the samples at 950°C leads to the formation of lanthanum orthoferrite crystals up to 100 nm in size.     

Protruded lumbar intervertebral nucleus pulposus in a 12-year-old girl who recovered after nonsurgical treatment: a follow-up case report

Restless legs syndrome affects millions, but most healthcare providers don't know it exists. Its sleep-deprived victims are plagued by indescribable crawling sensations in their legs that occur at night and that are only relieved by moving the legs. Many home healthcare clients, already challenged by their primary illness, are also affected by the persistent symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome. It is important that home care nurses learn about Restless Legs Syndrome-what it is, how to assess it, and what can be done about it.     

High-temperature electrical conductivity of aluminium nitride

The electrical conductivity of hot-pressed polycrystalline aluminium nitride doped with oxygen and beryllium was measured as a function of temperature from 800 to 1200° C and over a range of nitrogen partial pressure from 10² to 10⁵ Pa. The effect of beryllium dopant, the independence of conductivity from nitrogen partial pressure, and the observed activation energy suggested extrinsic electronic species or aluminium vacancies as charge carriers. Polarization measurements made with one electrode blocking to ionic species indicated that the aluminium nitride with oxygen impurity was an extrinsic electronic conductor.     

Comments on `Hash-based and index-based join algorithms for cubeand ring connected multicomputers' by E.R. Omiecinski and E.T. Lin

The cost distributions of both the parallel hybrid-hash join and the parallel join-index join algorithms proposed in the above-named work (ibid., vol.1, p.329-43, Sept. 1989) are presented in more detail. The result shows that almost the entire relation may need to be retrieved from disk, though the join selectivity is low. A table of semi-join selectives and cube sizes is given to show the condition that the join-index method performs better than the hybrid-hash method, i.e., the really low selectivity for the join-index method. An error in one of the cost formulas is corrected, and a more efficient method on the final join in the join-index method is proposed     

Extensive thrombophlebitis with reactive thrombocytosis in a high risk Chinese parturient associated with retained placenta increta: a case report

Forty-three patients with spastic quadriplegia (mean age 7.9 years, range 3.3 to 17.2 years) underwent bone mineral density (BMD) measurement of the lumbar spine and were evaluated between 2.6 and 5.5 years (mean 3.8) later to determine whether this measurement had predicted risk of fracture over the subsequent period of observation. Other potential risk factors that were evaluated include body weight z score, serum vitamin D levels, previous fracture, and hip spica casting. The baseline measurements showed that BMD falls further below normal with increasing age and was more than one standard deviation below age-matched normal mean in 38 of the 43 patients. Fracture rate did not differ between those with low and those with very low spinal BMD. Similarly, serum vitamin D levels and body weight z scores were not predictive of fracture. However, fracture rate was over fourfold greater following spica casting and more than threefold greater following an initial fracture. Fracture rates in the study group were similar to those reported for age- and sex-matched normal children, though generally the location of the fractures and mechanisms of injury differed.     

Continuous hydrogen evolution from cyclohexanes over platinum catalysts supported on activated carbon fibers

The continuous production of hydrogen from cyclohexanes is achieved effectively using Pt/ACF (ACF = activated carbon fiber) catalysts in a fixed-bed flow reactor. The Pt catalysts are more effective than a Pd/ACF catalyst for the reaction. Besides cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, 1,4-dimethylcyclohexane, and p-menthane can also be employed as hydrogen source in the reaction system.     

Isolation and characterization of C-reactive protein (CRP) cDNA and genomic DNA from Xenopus laevis. A species representing an intermediate stage in CRP evolution

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a prototypic acute phase protein in human and rabbit. Although it is structurally and functionally conserved from invertebrate to human, there are species-specific differences in patterns of expression and putative function. To further investigate the biological significance, regulation, and evolution of CRP, we isolated Xenopus CRP and subsequently derived and sequenced corresponding cDNA and the genomic clones. The structure and expression of Xenopus CRP were also compared to those of the other CRPs. Analyses of the amino acid sequence and the nucleotide sequence reveal that the mature Xenopus CRP is a 222-amino acid protein preceded by a 16-residue signal peptide. During development, Xenopus CRP is expressed, only when the liver appears, and therefore is not likely to play a role in early embryonic development. Compared to other species, Xenopus CRP is present at an intermediate low level of < 1 microgram/ml in the normal serum. Unlike human and rabbit CRP, Xenopus CRP is not induced by turpentine or heatshock treatment. The heatshock consensus sequence (Woo, P., Korenberg, J. R., and Whitehead, A. S. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 4136-4142) are not present in the Xenopus CRP gene. It is suggested that Xenopus CRP represents a transitional period in CRP evolution when host defenses switched from primitive innate immunity to a much more complex immune system. The constitutive functions of CRP gradually became less essential as the result of the development of a complex immune system.     

Neurotoxicity following the ingestion of a Chinese medicinal plant, Alocasia macrorrhiza

1. A case of poisoning due to the raw root tuber of a Chinese medicinal plant, Alocasia macrorrhiza is presented. 2. The patient developed neurological (severe pain and numbness in the perioral area and throat) and gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain) symptoms immediately after eating the root tuber. 3. A macrorrhiza has properties and morphology very similar to another medical plant. A. odora. The root tuber of the latter is known to contain a neurotoxin sapotoxin.