Gate-controlled phase switching in a parametron.

The parametron, a resonator-based logic device, is a promising physical platform for emerging computational paradigms. When the parametron is subject to both parametric pumping and external driving, complex phenomena arise that can be harvested for applications. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate deterministic phase switching of a parametron by applying frequency tuning pulses. To our surprise, we find different regimes of phase switching due to the interplay between a parametric pump and an external drive. We provide full modeling of our device with numerical simulations and find excellent agreement between model and measurements. Our result opens up new possibilities for fast and robust logic operations within large-scale parametron architectures.

Activation of the respiratory burst in macrophages. Phosphorylation specifically associated with Fc receptor-mediated stimulation.

Inflammatory macrophages elicited from the peritoneal cavity of mice injected with endotoxin can avidly ingest E opsonized with IgG antibody (EIgG) or with IgM antibody and C (EIgMC). However, only ingestion of EIgG is associated with activation of the respiratory burst and release of superoxide anion. We compared the endogenous phosphorylation of proteins from macrophages stimulated by interaction with EIgG or EIgMC on the premise that proteins phosphorylated after stimulation by EIgG but not EIgMC could play a role in activating the enzyme (oxidase) responsible for the respiratory burst. Proteins were separated by one-dimensional and two-dimensional electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. We found that proteins with approximate Mr of 20 kDa, 23 kDa, 46 kDa, 48 kDa (three proteins), 67 kDa, and 130 kDa were more heavily phosphorylated after EIgG stimulation than after EIgMC stimulation. Exposure to PMA, which activates the respiratory burst oxidase, induced phosphorylation of the 23-kDa, 48-kDa group, and 130-kDa proteins that were phosphorylated after stimulation by EIgG. Activity of protein kinase C was found to be significantly increased in the particulate fraction of macrophages stimulated by EIgG but not in the particulate fraction of EIgMC-stimulated cells. These data are compatible with the hypotheses that phosphorylation of specific cellular proteins, especially with a Mr of approximately 48 kDa, is involved in activation of the respiratory burst oxidase, and that function of protein kinase C also plays a part in this activation process.

Development of a program for planned cesarean delivery and immediate pediatric surgical repair of ventral wall defects.

The development of a program for timed elective delivery and immediate repair of ventral wall defects is described. Our experience with 3 cases of immediate surgical repair of gastroschisis shows that this program can be applied in tertiary care centers to shorten pre- and postoperative stay and to present the neonate to surgery in optimal condition.