MALDI-TOF characterization of macromonomers

1996

Methacryloyl endfunctionalized oligostyrene macromonomers were characterized by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization/time of flight (MALDI-TOF) spectroscopy and by isocratic and gradient high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The molar mass distribution derived by the different techniques coincide for the investigated oligomers. Mixing experiments revealed that the MALDI-TOF peak areas do not necessarily represent the mixing ratio of the components. Combination of gradient HPLC and MALDI-TOF has resolved the chemical composition of the coupling products formed by reaction of the living anion with oxygen.

A biogeochemical model for chalk alteration by fungi in semiarid environments

1996

Fungal filaments are the most abundant organic features in weathered profiles developed on chalky limestone ("platy calcrete"). Their activity affects the mineral dynamics of the pore/carbonate microsystem. A theoretical biogeochemical model is proposed to describe the Ca-oxalate-carbonate cycle related to fungal activity in dry environments.

The new element 112

1996

The new element 112 was produced and identified unambiguously in an experiment at SHIP, GSI Darmstadt. Two decay chains of the isotope277112 were observed in irradiations of208Pb targets with70Zn projectiles of 344 MeV kinetic energy. The isotope decays by emission of α particles with a half-life of (240 −90 +430 )µs. Two different α energies of (11,649±20) keV and (11,454±20) keV were measured for the two observed decays. The cross-section measured in three weeks of irradiations is (1.0 −0.4 +1.8 ) pb.

Two shortest path metrics on well-formed parentheses strings

1996

We present an analysis of two transformations on well-formed parentheses strings. Using a lattice approach, the corresponding least-move distances are computable, the first in linear time and the second in quadratic time.

Modulation of the Antiviral 2-5A System in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1-Infected CEM Cells by Propentofylline

1996

2′,5′-OIigoadenylates (2-5A) play an essential role in the establishment of the antiviral state of cells exposed to virus infection. However, - after an initial increase observed in some cell lines - the activity of the interferon (IFN)-inducible, 2-5A-forming 2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5A synthetase) strongly decreases soon after infection of cells with the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). In the present report, we show that in IFN-treated human T lymphoblastoid CEM cells, the decrease in 2-5A synthetase activity had already occurred at day 1 post infection (p.i.)- At days 3 and 5 p.i., the 2-5A synthetase activity in the IFN-treated infected cells amounted to only 10-12% of…

SMILETRAP — Atomic mass measurements with ppb accuracy by using highly charged ions

1996

In the SMILETRAP facility externally produced highly charged ions are captured in a Penning trap and utilized for high precision measurements of atomic masses. Accuracy tests on a ppb level have been performed, using highly charged carbon, oxygen and neon ions. In all cases hydrogen ions served as a reference for the calibration and monitoring of the magnetic field in the trap. Deviations smaller than 3 ppb from the expected results were found in mass measurements of the16O and20Ne atomic masses. The proton atomic mass, determined from the reference measurements on hydrogen ions, is in good agreement with the accepted value [1]. A direct mass measurement on the86Kr-isotope, using trapped86K…

Three-Dimensional Neutronics and Shielding Analyses for the ITER Divertor

1996

3-D neutronics and shielding analyses have been performed for the divertor region of the ITER interim design. The peak neutron wall loading in the divertor region is 0.6 MW/m{sup 2} at the divertor cassette dome. The total nuclear heating in the 60 divertor cassettes is 102.4 MW. The peak helium production in the VV behind the pumping ducts is 0.5 He appm/FPY implying that rewelding might be feasible. The total nuclear heating in the parts of the TF coils in the divertor region is only 2.1 kW. 5 refs., 4 figs., 5 tabs.

A strategy for chromatographic and structural analysis of monosaccharide species from glycoproteins.

1996

A general strategy for the chromatographic and structural analysis of the monosaccharide species fucose (Fuc), N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), galactose (Gal), glucose (Glc), mannose (Man), N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) present in glycoproteins is described. Qualitative and quantitative aspects for the separation of these glycoprotein monosaccharides (monosaccharide species) using ligand-exchange chromatography (LEC) and high pH anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) in combination with pulsed-amperometric detection (PAD), refractive index (RI) and ultraviolet (UV) monitoring are discussed in detail. The conditions for the acidic hydrolysis of glycoproteins and…

Genetic organization of the mle locus and identification of a mleR-like gene from Leuconostoc oenos

1996

Characterization of the mle locus harboring the malolactic enzyme gene mleA and malate permease gene mleP from Leuconostoc oenos was completed in this study by mRNA analysis. Northern (RNA) blot experiments revealed a 2.6-kb transcript, suggesting an operon structure harboring mleA and mleP genes. Primer extension analysis showed that the mle operon has a single transcription start site located 17 nucleotides upstream of the ATG translation start site for the mleA gene. We found sequences, TTGACT and TATGAT (which are separated by 18 bp), that are closely related to the gram-positive and Escherichia coli consensus promoter sequences. Upstream of the mleA gene, an 894-bp open reading frame t…

C0-semigroups norm continuous at infinity

1996

Supercritical CO2 extraction of essential oils from orange peel

1996

The supercritical fluid extraction of orange essential oil was studied using dehydrated orange peel (0.0538 kg H2O kg−1 dm) from naveline cultivars as raw material and CO2 as solvent. The effect of operation conditions was analyzed in a series of experiments at 313 and 323 K and pressures between 1 and 25 MPa. Furthermore, the effect of CO2 flow rate and particle size of orange peel was studied in the range of 0.5 to 3.5 kg h−1 and 0.1 to 10 mm. The subcritical CO2 dissolves hardly any essential oils, however, on reaching the critical point, the amount of essential oils dissolved increased with pressure, within the range of pressures considered in this study. Increasing solvent mass flow de…

Identification of a third secondary carrier (DcuC) for anaerobic C4-dicarboxylate transport in Escherichia coli: roles of the three Dcu carriers in u…

1996

In Escherichia coli, two carriers (DcuA and DcuB) for the transport of C4 dicarboxylates in anaerobic growth were known. Here a novel gene dcuC was identified encoding a secondary carrier (DcuC) for C4 dicarboxylates which is functional in anaerobic growth. The dcuC gene is located at min 14.1 of the E. coli map in the counterclockwise orientation. The dcuC gene combines two open reading frames found in other strains of E. coli K-12. The gene product (DcuC) is responsible for the transport of C4 dicarboxylates in DcuA-DcuB-deficient cells. The triple mutant (dcuA dcuB dcuC) is completely devoid of C4-dicarboxylate transport (exchange and uptake) during anaerobic growth, and the bacteria are…

Localization of alkali metal ions in sodium-promoted palladium catalysts as studied by low energy ion scattering and transmission electron microscopy

1996

Three series of palladium-based catalysts have been studied by Low Energy Ion Scattering (LEIS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The first series is comprised of Na-Pd/SiO{sub 2} catalysts, obtained by addition of palladium to a silica support and by further addition of sodium ions with a Na/Pd atomic ratio (R) equal to 0,6.4 and 25.6. The second series consists of palladium catalysts supported on natural pumice, in which, due to a different loading of supported palladium, R{prime}, the (Na+K)/Pd atomic ratio, is equal to 17.0 and 39.4. The third series is represented by two palladium-based catalysts supported on {open_quotes}model pumices,{close_quotes} synthetic silico-aluminat…

A missing link: What is behind de Broglie's "Periodic phenomenon"?

1996

The present work constitutes an attempt to give the interpretation of de Broglie's internal periodic phenomenon which ascribes the frequencym0c2/h to each single entity in its eigensystem of coordinates. This phenomenon provides existence in principle of the ideal proper-time scale, making it possible to identify the geometric proper-time interval with a physically existing one, thus ensuring the realization of basic postulates of the relativity theory. According to the latter, neither time nor de Broglie's frequency are invariant with respect to the Lorentz transformation of the coordinate system. A search for the fundamental invariant demands passing over to dimensionless quantities, and …

A novel SP-1 site in the human interleukin-1β promoter confers preferential transcriptional activity in keratinocytes

1996

To investigate the mechanisms of transcriptional activation of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in non-monocytic cells, we constructed a series of reporter plasmids with the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene linked to various parts of the human IL-1beta promoter and performed transient transfection experiments. We identified a promoter segment that activates transcription most efficiently in keratinocytes. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) with a 43-mer oligonucleotide derived from the functionally identified cis-acting element revealed specific complexes. By competition analysis with transcription factor consensus sequence oligonucleotides and by immunosupershift, tra…

Oxidation of N,N-Benzylalkylamines to Nitrones by Mo(VI) and W(VI) Polyperoxo Complexes

1996

Abstract Oxidation of N,N-benzylalkylamines in chloroform by Mo(VI) and W(VI) polyperoxo complexes (PPC) of general formula Q+3{PO4[MO(O2)2]4}3− (Q+ = onium ion) yield the corresponding nitrones as oxidized products quantitatively. Only in the case of N,N-benzylmethylamine the formation of nitrone is accompanied by 25% of benzaldoxime. Oxidation of N,N-benzyltertbutylamine and N,N-benzylisopropylamine follows second order kinetics. This finding does not disqualify the hypothesis that the reaction might occur by a rate determining nucleophilic attack of the amine onto the peroxide oxygens leading, through a Bartlett-type transition state, to the probable formation of the corresponding hydrox…

Two-phonon magneto-Raman scattering in quantum wells: Fröhlich interaction

1996

We have developed a theoretical model of two-phonon resonant magneto-Raman scattering in a semiconductor quantum well (QW). Frohlich electron-phonon interaction has been considered and the corresponding selection rules are derived for Faraday geometry and backscattering configuration. The resonant profiles are analyzed as a function of magnetic field and laser energy. To simplify the discussion a three-band model with parabolic masses has been used as a first approach, studying later the role of heavy-hole light-hole admixture in the scattering process. It is shown that, due to mixing effects, Frohlich interaction contributes to the two-phonon Raman spectra in the parallel (z(σ ± , σ ± ) z)…

Towards highly luminescent phenylene vinylene films

1996

Abstract Fluorescence and electronic absorption spectra, fluorescence decay curves and fluorescence quantum yields of a series of oligo (p-phenylene vinylenes) are investigated in solution, nanoaggregates and vapour-deposited or cast ultrathin films. The film constituting molecules are varied in chain length and modified by electron donating and withdrawing substituents and bulky alkyl spacers. PPP-MO calculations serve to rationalize the resulting spectral changes. In dilute solutions, fluorescence yields of the short oligomers with alkyl or oxyalkyl substituents approach the region of unity. The yields decrease with chain length, reaching a long-chain limit of ΦF=0.4–0.7. Introduction of …

Ab initio conformational study of 2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene

1996

Abstract The conformers of 2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene were determined through ab initio MO full geometry optimization with a 6-31G * basis set. Different minima were found corresponding to twisted anti, anti, syn, anti and syn, syn structures. An estimate of the interconversion rate between conformers was performed.

Di- and Tri-organotin(IV) Complexes ofN-Acetyltriglycine andN-Benzoyltriglycine: Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization

1996

Di- and tri-organotin(IV) derivatives of N-acetyltriglycine and N-benzoyltriglycine (HA) were obtained by refluxing equimolar mixtures of the ligand and the organotin(IV) oxide or hydroxide in methanol or acetone. According to the spectroscopic data, triorganotin(IV) derivatives adopt a trigonal-bipyramidal structure in which the planar R 3 Sn IV unit is bonded by a monodentate carboxylate group and a donor group, presumably the amide C=O. The reaction of HA with the appropriate diorganotin(IV) compounds gave both dicarboxylates R 2 SnA 2 , with six-coordinated tin, and dimeric tetra-organodistannoxanes {[R 2 SnA] 2 O}2, in which the tin atoms are essentially five-coordinated.

Radical cystectomy with or without adjuvant polychemotherapy for non-organ-confined transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: prognostic im…

1996

To analyze the effectiveness of adjuvant polychemotherapy after radical cystectomy for non-organ-confined transitional cell bladder cancer (Stages pT3b, pT4a, and/or pN1 or pN2).Of 166 consecutive patients undergoing cystectomy at two institutions from 1987 to 1993, 80 received adjuvant polychemotherapy with methotrexate, vinblastine, and cisplatin plus doxorubicin (MVAC) or epirubicin (MVEC), whereas 86 had cystectomy only. The patients were evaluated for relapse-free survival and length of progression-free interval on the basis of follow-up data obtained in 1995 and 1996.Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly higher progression-free rate for patients after adjuvant chemotherapy (P…

Feynman diagrams as a weight system: four-loop test of a four-term relation

1996

At four loops there first occurs a test of the four-term relation derived by the second author in the course of investigating whether counterterms from subdivergence-free diagrams form a weight system. This test relates counterterms in a four-dimensional field theory with Yukawa and $\phi^4$ interactions, where no such relation was previously suspected. Using integration by parts, we reduce each counterterm to massless two-loop two-point integrals. The four-term relation is verified, with $ = 0 - 3\zeta_3 + 6\zeta_3 - 3\zeta_3 = 0$, demonstrating non-trivial cancellation of the trefoil knot and thus supporting the emerging connection between knots and counterterms, via transcendental number…

Different La/SS-B mRNA isoforms are expressed in salivary gland tissue of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome

1996

Recently we isolated a La/SS-B mRNA isoform from a cDNA library made from peripheral blood lymphocytes of a patient with primary Sjögren's Syndrome. In the La/SS-B mRNA isoform the exon 1 was replaced. The alternative exon was termed exon 1'. Genomic analysis showed that the exon 1' La mRNA was the result of a promoter-switch in combination with alternative splicing. Due to the unusual structure of the exon 1' La/SS-B mRNA, the function and the behaviour under physiological and pathophysiological conditions in tissue of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus remained obscure. Therefore assays were established allowing a qualitative and quantitative estimati…

The exterior derivative as a Killing vector field

1996

Among all the homogeneous Riemannian graded metrics on the algebra of differential forms, those for which the exterior derivative is a Killing graded vector field are characterized. It is shown that all of them are odd, and are naturally associated to an underlying smooth Riemannian metric. It is also shown that all of them are Ricci-flat in the graded sense, and have a graded Laplacian operator that annihilates the whole algebra of differential forms.

Down-regulation of transcription factors AP-1, Sp-1, and NF-kappa B precedes myocyte differentiation.

1996

Terminal differentiation of myocytes involves withdrawal from the cell cycle, induction of myogenin expression, and finally formation of myotubes. To study the factors that regulate the initial phase of muscle differentiation, we analyzed the binding activities of transcription factors AP-1, Sp-1, and NF-kappa B in L6, C2C12, and rhabdomyosarcoma BA-Han-1C cells. Temporal changes in transcription factor binding activities were compared to the activation of myogenin promoter-driven CAT reporter gene and the expression level of myogenin, a master gene of myogenic differentiation. We observed a prominent decrease in the nuclear binding activities of AP-1, Sp-1, and NF-kappa B already 12 to 24 …

Primary proliferating immature myeloid cells from CML patients are not resistant to induction of apoptosis by DNA damage and growth factor withdrawal.

1996

Induction of apoptosis by growth factor deprivation or gamma-irradiation-induced DNA damage was directly studied in proliferating primary haemopoietic cells derived from CD34-positive cells of 13 CML patients and 12 normal controls. CD34-positive cells were cultured in the presence of appropriate concentrations of SCF and G-CSF for 5–7 d. After gamma irradiation with 500 rad or growth factor deprivation, the fraction of apoptotic cells was assessed by two independent methods applying either measurement of cells incorporating FITC-labelled dUTP by terminal transferase or assessment of the fraction of cells with a less than 2N DNA content in flow cytometry. Proliferating CML cells were not re…

The A dependence of the nuclear structure function ratios

1996

Results are presented for six nuclei from Be to Pb on the structure function ratios F-2(A)/F-2(C)(X) and their A dependence in deep inelastic muon scattering at 200 GeV incident: muon energy. The data cover the kinematic range 0.01 < x < 0.8 with Q(2) ranging from 2 to 70 GeV2. The A dependence of nuclear structure function ratios is parametrised and compared to various models.

Citrate permease gene expression inLactococcus lactissubsp.lactisstrains IL1403 and MG1363

1996

Citrate permease gene expression in the plasmid-free Lactococcus lactis strains IL1403 and MG1363 was studied. The ability to transport citrate results in diacetyl and acetoin production in IL1403 but not in MG1363. Citrate lyase, α-acetolactate decarboxylase, diacetyl and acetoin reductase were detected in IL1403. These data show that L. lactis ssp. lactis strain IL1403 is a citrate permease mutant of the biovar. diacetylactis. Immunological analysis revealed the α-and β-subunits of citrate lyase not only in IL1403 but also in MG1363 where no citrate lyase activity was found.

Demand for Primary Schooling in Rural Mali : Should User Fees Be Increased ?

1996

International audience; This paper presents estimates of the price elasticity of demand for primary schooling, using household and school survey data from rural Mali. The elasticity of enrolment with respect to the local school fee is compared with the effects on enrolment of distance to the school and various indicators of school quality, including books per classroom and the number of grades offered. Fees have a negative effect; however, certain improvements in school quality could easily offset in terms of enrolment any negative effect of higher fees to finance such improvements. For example, the astonishingly low average of two books per classroom could be doubled for a 10 per cent incr…

Quantitative image analysis of the chromatolysis in rat facial and hypoglossal motoneurons following axotomy with and without reinnervation.

1996

Image analysis was used to quantify the time course of chromatolysis in regenerating and degenerating motoneurons. Following facial-facial, hypoglossal-hypoglossal nerve suture, or resection of facial and hypoglossal nerves with postoperative survival times of 4 h to 112 days, the texture of the Nissl substance of facial and hypoglossal motoneurons was analyzed on both sides of the brainstem in paraffin serial sections with a VIDASplus image analyzer. In this quantitative study of 149 Wistar rats, alterations of the Nissl substance were measured that were statistically significant but not yet visible to the human eye. Chromatolysis started significantly as early as 8 h and was not fully rev…

Effects of panel experience on olfactory memory performance: influence of stimuly familiarity and labeling ability of subjects

1996

This work attempted to define the impact of panel experience on olfactory memory performance by comparing scores in an odor recognition task obtained from a highly trained descriptive panel (17 subjects) and a naive one (33 subjects with no experience in sensory analysis). During the inspection phase, 16 odorants were presented monadically to subjects for familiarity rating and a written description. The recognition session was planned 7 days later with 32 odorants (including the 16 of the target set). Subjects also described the odor of the stimuli. The memory performance of each panel was estimated by the mean value of individual d' (index of detectability). Training of the descriptive pa…

Configuration of Enolates of β-Ketocarboxylic Acid Esters — Carbocation-Carbanion Salts

1996

Deprotonation of (Z)- or (E)-3-hydroxy-2,3-dimesitylpropenoic acid methyl ester (1a) with tetrakis(dimethylamino)-methane (3) led to stable salt (E)-2a, which belongs to a very rare species of salts that consist of a heteroatom-stabilized carbocation and a heteroatom-stabilized carbanion. An analogous guanidinium salt (E)-2b was formed in the reaction of 3-oxo-2,3-diphenylpropanoic acid methyl ester (1b) and 3. The molecular structures of these enolates were studied by NMR spectroscopy and an X-ray analysis of (E)-2a {MC[N(CH3)2]3} and compared with those of the corresponding alkali enolates.

Motion detection in goldfish investigated with the optomotor response is “color blind”

1996

AbstractThe action spectrum of the optomotor response in goldfish was measured to investigate which of the four cone types involved in color vision contributes to motion detection. In the dark-adapted state, the action spectrum showed a single maximum in the range of 500–520 nm, and resembled the rod spectral sensitivity function. Surprisingly, the action spectrum measured in the light-adapted state also revealed a single maximum only, located in the long wavelength range between 620 and 660 nm. A comparison with spectral sensitivity functions of the four cone types suggests that motion detection is dominated by the L-cone type. Using a two colored, “red-green” cylinder illuminated with two…

Selection and long-term cultures of high-yielding Digitalis obscura plants: RAPD markers for analysis of genetic stability

1996

Fifteen wild-growing plants of Digitalis obscura collected in three differents regions were characterized according to their capacities to biosynthesize cardenolides and to proliferate in vitro. Great genotype-dependent variabilities were found in both parameters. Selected genotypes were differentiated using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Once an elite genotype with high-yielding properties was isolated and micropropagated during 2 years, identity of the donor plant and the regenerants was confirmed by RAPD analysis.

Dual gauge-fixing property of the S matrix.

1996

The {ital S} matrix is known to be independent of the gauge-fixing parameter to all orders in perturbation theory. In this paper by employing the pinch technique we prove at one loop a stronger version of this independence. In particular, we show that one can use a gauge-fixing parameter for the gauge bosons inside quantum loops which is different from that used for the bosons outside loops, and the {ital S} matrix is independent of both. Possible phenomenological applications of this result are briefly discussed. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

Protein Phosphorylation by Peroxisome Proliferators: Species-specific Stimulation of Protein Kinases and Its Role in PP-induced Transcriptional Activ…

1996