Round Ball Research Articles

Human Cytomegalovirus Can Activate and Induce Apoptosis in Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Objective Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a very important cell system in bone marrow stromal and human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the most common complications following stem cells transplantation. Our studies were to investigate the CMV infection of MSCs as well as the apoptosis induction effects.Methods MSCs were infected by 100,10,1 TCID50 of CMV. After 48h of culture with DMEM supplemented with 10% (v/v) fetal calf serum, MSCs shapes were observed. CMV particles and ultra structure in the cells were detected with transmission electron microscope. RT-PCR assay was used to detect the mRNA expression of CMV immediate early (IE) gene and GAPDH gene. Flow Cytometry was used to detect the apoptotic cells.Results After the infection of CMV, shape of MSCs changed, turning from thin shuttle shape to round and thick ball shape, even escaping from wall. Cell shape changed more dominantly as the CMV titer increased. With transmission electron microscope, CMV particles and typical cellular apoptotic character could be seen in the cells. MSCs infected by CMV could express IE mRNA compare with the uninfected and there were more apoptotic and necrosis cells in the cells infected by CMV.Conclusion CMV can not only infect MSCs and activate in the cells but also can induce apoptosis of the cells.

NF-κB Inhibitor Pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate Can Increase the Infection and Activation of Cytomegalovirus in Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Objective Because of the central role of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in cell survival and proliferation in many kinds of cancer cells, NF-κB inhibitor may have a potential role in the therapy of cancer. Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the most common complications following stem cells transplantation. Some data report that CMV infection has a very close relation with NF-κB activation. But it is unknown what effect of NF-κB inhibitor pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PTDC) on the infection and activation of cytomegalovirus in mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs).Methods MSCs were infected by 1 TCID50 of CMV combined with/without 1μmol/L of PTDC. After 48h of culture with DMEM supplemented with 10% (v/v) fetal calf serum, MSCs shapes were observed. RT-PCR assay was used to detect the mRNA expression of CMV immediate early (IE) gene and GAPDH gene. Flow Cytometry was used to detect the CMV PP65 antigen positive cells.Results Shape of some MSCs changed after the infection of 1 TCID50 of CMV. But in MSCs infected by 1 TCID50 of CMV combined with 1μmol/L of PTDC, Cell shape changed more dominantly, almost all cells changed from thin shuttle shape to round and thick ball shape. While in the cells treated only with PDTC, shape of the cells did not changed. RT-PCR assay showed that there was a very bright band of CMV IE mRNA in MSCs infected by 1 TCID50 of CMV combined with 1μmol/L of PTDC compared with the cells infected only with 1 TCID50 of CMV. More CMV pp65 antigen positive cells were found in MSCs infected by 1 TCID50 of CMV combined with 1μmol/L of PTDC with Flow Cytometry.Conclusion NF-κB activation may affect CMV infection of cells. NF-κB inhibitor PTDC can increase the infection and activation of CMV in MSCs and we should pay more attention to CMV infection when we use NF-κB inhibitor in clinical work..

Cylindrical surfaces of delaunay

For the cylindrical norm onR 3, for which the isoperimetric shape is a cylinder rather than a round ball, there are analogs of the classical Delaunay surfaces of revolution of constant mean curvature.

Morphology, microstructure, and mechanical properties of a copper electrodeposit

This paper presents two new experimental observations on electrodeposited copper: unusual morphology as seen in the scanning electron microscope at high magnification, and mechanical properties, as measured by tensile testing. We report detailed characterization of a 2.6 μm thick copper electrodeposit, made on silicon using laboratory procedures and similar to materials now widely used in advanced electronic interconnect structures. The microstructure was characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron backscattered diffraction, imaging in a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and microtensile testing. Initial observations indicated microstructural dimensions and mechanical properties in the expected ranges. However, using high-magnification, high resolution imaging in the FESEM, we found a surprising result: the morphology of this electrodeposit resembled an agglomeration of round balls or spheres approximately 30–50 nm in diameter. Both X-ray and electron diffraction results showed grain and subgrain sizes much larger than the individual spheres. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of spheres of copper atoms were carried out to interpret the observations, and produced a degree of interpenetration of the spheres that was consistent with the observations. However, in MD simulations of two initially misoriented spheres of up to a thousand atoms, with diameters up to 3 nm and for durations up to 30 ps, the spheres readily agglomerated but remained misoriented. So, the mechanism and rate of crystallographic grain growth within the agglomeration of spheroids remains unknown. This unusual spheroidal morphology may be related to the unusual room-temperature grain growth observed in electrodeposited copper.

BOUNDARY ACCESSIBILITY OF A DOMAIN QUASICONFORMALLY EQUIVALENT TO A BALL

A boundary point of a domain $D$ in $\Bbb{R}^n$ is said to be broadly accessible if it ‘almost lies’ on the boundary of a round ball contained in $D$ . If $f$ is a quasiconformal mapping of the unit ball $B^n$ onto $D$ , then it is shown that broadly accessible boundary points on $\partial D$ correspond under $f$ to a set of full measure on $\partial B^n$ . This research was carried out while R. Nakki was visiting The University of Texas at Austin in 1985–86.

Useful fungi of the world: morels and truffles

Morels and truffles differ widely in their form and behaviour. The morels resemble mushrooms to the extent that they have a cap borne upon a central stem, whilst the truffles form solid, round balls, which grow underground. These are the edible ascomycetes. Both morels and truffles represent some of the most highly prized edible mushrooms in the world.The morels are sometimes referred to as the ‘truffles of the north’, but other popular names include ‘sponge’, ‘pine cone’, ‘corncob’, and ‘honeycomb mushroom’. They are the most popular of the springtime, edible fungi, usually occurring from late March through to mid-June, although each crop will survive only for a several days. Morels have a delicate flavour that can be overwhelmed during cooking, but delicious when eaten alone. They are normally prepared by frying in butter and can be preserved, with drying being the most popular method.

Deformation/displacement of posterior digastric and sternocleidomastoid muscles during posterior digastric muscle palpation using magnetic resonance imaging and image processing procedure

Objective: As the process of palpation is basically subjective, the scientific evidence for masticatory muscle palpation, especially from an anatomical point of view, is scarce. Our previous study concerning the quantification of masseter muscle deformation during palpation using magnetic resonance imaging and image analysis procedure showed that masseter muscles are deformed and their fascia must be stretched during palpation (Ishikawa et al., Int J Prosthodont, in press). The aim of this study was to further evaluate the deformation/displacement of posterior digastric and sternocleidomastoid muscles during posterior digastric muscle palpation using almost the same procedure as in the previous study. Subjects and methods: Subjects were 10 male volunteers with an average age of 26·8 years. MR images were taken using a 1·5 T scanner (MAGNEX 150 SHIMAZU Co. Ltd, Kyoto, Japan). Images were obtained on the axial plane with a spin-echo, T1-weighted technique using a head coil. At first, non-compressed condition (control) was taken, then the continuously compressed condition of the bilateral posterior digastric muscle region using round plastic balls was taken. By superimposing a compressed image on a non-compressed image, deformation/displacement was subjectively evaluated and measured using free image analysing software (NIH-image). Results and conclusion: Deformation of the bilateral posterior digastric muscle was difficult to identify, however, the average amount of displacement in medial direction was 9·0 ± 5·3 mm. Although we tried to compress posterior digastric muscles, sternocleidomastoid muscles were additionally deformed and displaced. The amount of medial displacement was 9·3 ± 4·7 mm. The values contained in our results exhibited fairly substantial variance. These findings suggest that masticatory muscle palpation is subjective and inconsistent.

Constant scalar curvature hypersurfaces with spherical boundary in Euclidean space

It is still an open question whether a compact embedded hypersurface in the Euclidean space with constant mean curvature and spherical boundary is necessarily a hyperplanar ball or a spherical cap, even in the simplest case of a compact constant mean curvature surface in \mathbb{R}^3 bounded by a circle. In this paper we prove that this is true for the case of the scalar curvature. Specifically we prove that the only compact embedded hypersurfaces in the Euclidean space with constant scalar curvature and spherical boundary are the hyperplanar round balls (with zero scalar curvature) and the spherical caps (with positive constant scalar curvature). The same applies in general to the case of embedded hypersurfaces with constant r -mean curvature, with r \geq 2 .

The Perfect Shape for a Rotating Rigid Body

(2002). The Perfect Shape for a Rotating Rigid Body. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 75, No. 1, pp. 30-32.

114 大電流単発放電における電極形状変化の観察

Change of electrode shape occurs in high-current single discharge of a thin electrode : shape formed after discharge vary from a thinner needle for tungsten with negative polarity to a round ball for most of other electrodes. We have carried out time-resolved observation of the change using a high-speed imaging system during and after the discharge. The imaging system, which employs the second harmonics of a Q-switched Nd : YAG laser as an illuminating light, has a time resolution of 10ns and capable to observe the electrode shape through the bright arc plasma. We observe that tip of the electrode becomes molten state during the discharge and remains liquid state until hundreds of microseconds after end of the discharge. The melted electrode forms molten droplets, which move away from the tip along the electrode and induce the wear of the electrode length. They solidify eventually to determine the final electrode shape. Effects of discharge conditions to the shape change and the wear length are studied in some details.

Some sharp isoperimetric theorems for Riemannian manifolds

We prove that a region of small prescribed volume in a smooth, compact Riemannian manifold has at least as much perimeter as a round ball in the model space form, using dif- ferential inequalities and the Gauss-Bonnet-Chern theorem with boundary term. First we show that a minimizer is a nearly round sphere. We also provide some new isoperimetric inequalities in surfaces.

Constant mean curvature spacelike hypersurfaces with spherical boundary in the Lorentz-Minkowski space

We study compact spacelike hypersurfaces (necessarily with non-empty boundary) with constant mean curvature in the ( n + 1)-dimensional Lorentz-Minkowski space. In particular, when the boundary is a round sphere we prove that the only such hypersurfaces are the hyperplanar round balls (with zero mean curvature) and the hyperbolic caps (with non-zero constant mean curvature).

Pioneers of the hardwood: Indiana and the birth of professional basketball

Pioneers of the hardwood: Indiana and the birth of professional basketball

Knot theory and plane algebraic curves

Knot theory has been known for a long time to be a powerful tool for the study of the topology of local isolated singular points of a plane algebraic curve. However it is rather recently that knot theory has been used to study plane algebraic curves in the large. Given a reduced plane algebraic curve Γ − ℂ 2 passing through the origin, let L r =Γ∩ ∂ B r 4 be the intersection of Γ with a round ball inC 2 of radius r > 0 centered at the origin. When this intersection is transverse, L r is an oriented link in S r 3 = ∂ B r 4. The main purpose of this paper is to present a survey of the results relating the topology of the pair ( S r 3, L r ) to the topology of the pair ( B r 4,Γ∩ B r 4).

Fear and Food Recognition in Naive Common Ravens

Fear and Food Recognition in Naive Common Ravens

The Aftermath of Prairie Grove: Union Letters from Fayetteville

Civil War literature tells of generals and campaigns and battles. Few books or articles chronicle quiet but desperate struggle to provide adequate medical care for thousands of wounded soldiers left in wake of clashing armies. Nevertheless, often nightmarish world of Civil War medical care should be of considerable interest to anyone who seeks to understand military, scientific, or social aspects of war. Special Collections department of University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, holds a small but valuable collection of documents written by a Federal surgeon and his son while serving in Arkansas. documents provide a rare view of treatment of wounded soldiers after battle of Prairie Grove. They also contain interesting information about life in and around Fayetteville during a time of travail. fighting at Prairie Grove on December 7, 1862, was extremely intense and casualties were heavy. Federal records state that Army of Frontier lost 1251 men (175 killed, 813 wounded, and 263 missing). Confederate records, less reliable and probably conservative, indicate that First Corps of Trans-Mississippi Army lost at least 1317 men (164 killed, 817 wounded, and 336 missing). The troops of enemy were armed with Enfield Austrian muskets, shot guns, and a few squirrel rifles, observed a Federal surgeon. Most of severer wounds were caused by conical bullets; but nearness of contending forces at times gave to round balls nearly same penetrating and crushing effect. Another Federal medical officer added that armies were engaged at such murderously close range that most of balls passed entirely through, causing lacerated wounds of a terrible character.1 After Confederates withdrew, victorious Federals found themselves overwhelmed by number of wounded, both their own and those left behind by enemy. Little in way of additional medical expertise or supplies could be found in war-ravaged frontier region of northwestern Arkansas. A civilian doctor described situation: wounded from this battle were removed to Fayetteville, and public buildings and private houses were taken for hospitals; but there was a great deficiency of means to take proper care of men, town and country around it having been greatly impoverished by war, and inhabitants being of poorest class. There was no adequate supply of bandages, lint, bedding, stimulants, nor means of fitting up empty houses and making them comfortable, nor of cooking food. A minister in Fayetteville recorded that the number of wounded was so great, and supplies so scanty, that for a few days little I was able to furnish them seemed luxurious when compared with coarse fare with which they were served. These observers might also have noted that Army of Frontier was short of skilled medical personnel, for some of Federal regimental surgeons and assistant surgeons were practitioners of dubious quality. A medical crisis of serious proportions was developing in aftermath of Prairie Grove.2 Military authorities in St. Louis responded as best they could to grim news from northwest Arkansas. Dr. Ira Russell and several other capable surgeons were dispatched to Fayetteville from St. Louis. Russell was a prominent Massachusetts physician with considerable medical and administrative skills. He had risen rapidly in army since joining Eleventh Massachusetts Infantry as regimental surgeon in 1861. He quickly was promoted to brigade surgeon, commissioned an officer in United States Volunteers, and sent to Baltimore to establish a military hospital. His success in Baltimore resulted in his being assigned to St. Louis in November 1862 to establish a similar hospital there. Several weeks later, he was hurrying to Arkansas accompanied by his sons Fred and Erwin, who served as his clerks and aides. …

Round Towers, Spirit Grocers and Ball Alleys

Round Towers, Spirit Grocers and Ball Alleys

Any 2-Sphere in E3 with Uniform Interior Tangent Balls is Flat

This paper addresses some flatness properties of an (n – 1)-sphere Σ in Euclidean n-space En resulting from the presence of round balls in En tangent to Σ. The notion of tangency used here is geometric rather than differentiable, for a round n-cell Bp (that is, the set of points whose distance, in the standard metric, from some center point is less than or equal to a fixed positive number) is said to be tangent to the (n – 1)-sphere Σ in En at a point p ∈ Σ if p ∈ Bp and Int Bp ⊂ Σ = ∅. The ball Bp is called an interior tangent ball at p if Int Bp ⊂ Int Σ; otherwise, it is called an exterior tangent ball at p.

Two Cases of Metaphyseal Chondrodysplasia

The growth plate cartilages obtained from two patients with metaphyseal chondrodysplasia were investigated by light and electron microscopy.Histologically, the linear columns were irregular and occasionally round ball like clusters were seen in the hypertrophic zone.Electron microscopically, a large number of chondrocytes had dilated cisternae of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. Furthermore, the degenerating chondrocytes with enlarged mitochondria, dense nucleus, large lipid granules and numerous vacuoles were frequently observed even in the resting and proliferating zone. The cartilagenous matrix represented an unusual fibrillar appearance.The present study reveals that the involvement of the metaphysis in this disorder may be a result of degenerative changes due to the abnormal mechanism of protein biosynthesis or protein transport in resting and proliferating chondrocytes.

A surface in $E\sp{3}$ is tame if it has round tangent balls

A surface in $E\sp{3}$ is tame if it has round tangent balls