Diurnal variation of corticotropin-releasing factor binding sites in the rat brain and pituitary.

1996

1. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is thought to be involved in the regulation of the diurnal activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and to act as a neurotransmitter in the brain. To date it is unknown whether the binding sites of the central CRF system are subject to diurnal variations. 2. We measured the number of CRF binding sites over the course of a complete 24-hr light-dark cycle in the pituitary, amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), cingulate cortex, visceral cortex, paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and locus ceruleus of rats by in vitro receptor autoradiography with iodinated ovine CRF. A 24-hr time course was also es…

Mechanism of oxidative allyl transfer from allylic ammonium cations to palladium(0) α-diimine complexes

1996

Abstract The palladium(0) complex [Pd(η2-fn)(NN′)] (1, fn = fumaronitrile; NN′ = C5H4N-2-CH=NC6H4OME-4) reacts slowly and reversibly with A +  CH 2  CH=CH 2 (2a, A = NEt 3 ; 2 b , A = C 5 H 5 N ) to yield the cationic η3-allypalladium(II) derivative [ Pd (η[ 3 - C 3 H 5 )( N  N ′)] + (3) the free amine A and fn. The equilibrium constant Ke is (2.6 ± 0.1) × 10−3 for 2a and 1.0 ± 0.4 for 2b. Kinetic studies of these oxidative allyl-transfer reactions show that the rates increase with increasing concentration of 2 and with decreasing concentration of fn. A stepwise mechanism is proposed which involves slow and reversible displacement of fn by 2 to give a labile intermediate [ Pd (η 2 - CH…

A PLE-based resolution of cocaine, pseudococaine, and 6- and 7-methoxylated cocaine analogues

1996

Abstract The enzymatic hydrolysis of racemic cocaine and cocaine analogues using pig liver esterase (PLE) is shown to afford a practical means for achieving their chemical resolution. This reaction was found to proceed not only with good enantioselectivity, but with an interesting chemoselectivity as well.

Application of 61Ni Mössbauer spectroscopy to chemical problems

1996

Using the possibility to produce 61Co sources at the MAinz MIcrotron, 61Ni Mossbauer spectroscopy was applied to different kinds of chemical problems. Measurements of isomer shifts and V zz values in some common compounds and compounds with unusual chemical bonding for comparison with band structure calculations, measurement of 61Ni Mossbauer parameters in model compounds for hydrogenase and dehydrogenase with an active [NiS4] centre, and study of novel binary NiF3 compounds at helium temperature are presented.

Blaues Blut - Struktur, Funktion und Evolution der Hämocyanine

1996

Partition of oleic acid between the lymph and portal blood in rats having a diverted bile–pancreatic duct

1996

AbstractThe present study examines the suggestion that in the absence of adequate bile and pancreatic juice, which support the absorption from the gut of long-chain fatty acidsinto lymph, the fatty acids are absorbed directly into the portal blood. Oleic acid (18:l) partitioning between lymph and portal blood was investigated in intact and bile- and pancreatic juice-diverted rats. In a first set of experiments, 18: 1 absorption from the gut into lymph and blood was studied by continuous recovery of the mesenteric lymph for 6 h and mesenteric portal venous blood for 1 h. In a second set of experiments, esterification processes were investigated by study of the mucosal distribution of labelle…

Mitochondrial glutathione oxidation correlates with age-associated oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA

1996

Mitochondria may be primary targets of free radical damage associated with aging. We have found that mitochondrial glutathione is markedly oxidized with aging in rats and mice. The oxidized to reduced glutathione ratio rises with aging in the liver, kidney, and brain. The magnitude of these changes is much higher than that previously found in whole cells of any species previously studied. In the liver, this ratio (expressing GSSG as a percent of GSH) changed from 0.77 +/- 0.19% (n=5) in young rats to 2.47 +/- 1.25% (n=5) in old ones, i.e., 320% of the controls. In the brain and kidney, values for old rats were, respectively, 600 and 540% higher than those of young rats. A marked oxidation o…

Dielectric relaxation and conductivity in ferroelectric perovskites

1996

Abstract Ferroelectric ABO3 perovskites are usually well known for their high dielectric susceptibility. Under selected impurity substitutions their conductivity may be strongly increased. The interaction between electronic conductivity and lattice polarizability may take place over different length scales. At high temperatures (T > 300 K), this interaction length is macroscopic leading to space charges. At low temperatures (T < 50 K), the polaronic interaction is restricted to a few unit cells. In the special case of SrTiO3, these polaronic excitons are sensitive to the quantum fluctuations which lead to the new concept of quantum polarons.

The spontaneous use of memory aids at different educational levels

1996

Three groups of students in different educational levels: 8th–9th grade students (average age 15); 10th–11th grade students (average age 16); and college students (average age 21), completed a metamemory questionnaire on the use of external, general, and formal memory aids in everyday life and study situations. Short-term repetition, mental rehearsing, and summary elaboration were the most frequent aids. The least frequently used were those that require a special training to be used effectively (e.g. Digit-letters and method of loci). There were differences in the use of general memory aids due to education level, but not in the case of external and formal memory aids. Results showed also t…

Induction of accessory cell function of human alveolar macrophages by inhalation of human natural interleukin-2.

1996

Accessory function allows antigen-presenting cells to produce sufficient secondary signals for optimum T cell proliferation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. Alveolar macrophages are inferior accessory cells compared to monocytes (PBM). We report here that the accessory index (AI) of alveolar macrophages and PBM of patients with lung metastases of solid tumors treated with inhalations of human natural IL-2 (hnIL-2) increased following its administration (P0.005). The accessory index was significantly elevated from baseline values after 2 weeks of inhalation of 300,000 IU hnIL-2/day (8.2 +/- 10.2 compared to 1.1 +/- 1; P0.001). The inhalation of 150,000 IU also induced increases in the in…

Synergistic Interactions between Vitamin A and Vitamin E against Lipid Peroxidation in Phosphatidylcholine Liposomes

1996

Interactions between alpha-tocopherol and all-trans retinol in suppressing lipid peroxidation were studied in a unilamellar liposomal system of phosphatidylcholine from either egg or soybean, in which peroxidation was initiated by the water-soluble azo initiator 2,2-azobis(2-amidino-propane)hydrochloride and peroxidation was measured as production of conjugated diene hydroperoxides. While all-trans retinol alone was poorly effective, the combination of all-trans retinol with alpha-tocopherol caused an inhibition period far beyond the sum of the inhibition periods observed with individual antioxidants, providing evidence of synergistic interactions. Furthermore, the inhibition rate calculate…

Antibodies to proteinase 3 mediate expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1).

1996

SUMMARY VCAM-1 was first identified as an adhesion molecule induced on human endothelial cells (HEC) by inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, tumour necrosis factor (TNF), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The molecule binds to a variety of leucocytes, including B cells, T cells, basophils, eosinophils and monocytes. Vascular expression of VCAM-1 has been associated with a number of disease states, including rheumatoid arthritis and vasculitis. The detection of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), especially to proteinase 3 (PR3), has become important in the diagnosis of Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) and related vasculitides. Recently we were able to demonstrate a direct effect of anti-…

Affine Kettengeometrien �ber Jordanalgebren

1996

It is shown that an affine chain geometry over a Jordan algebra can be constructed in a nearly classical manner. Conversely, such chain geometries are characterized as systems of rational normal curves having a group of automorphisms with certain properties.

Effect of low temperature on starvation-survival of the eel pathogen Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2

1996

At present, no reports exist on the isolation of the eel pathogen Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2 from water samples. Nevertheless, it has recently been demonstrated that this biotype can use water as a route of infection. In the present study, the survival of this pathogen in artificial seawater (ASW) microcosms at different temperatures (25 and 5 degrees C) was investigated during a 50-day period, with biotype 1 as a control, V. vulnificus biotype 2 was able to survive in the culturable state in ASW at 25 degrees C in the free-living form, at least for 50 days, entering into the nonculturable state when exposed to low temperature. In this state, this microorganism survived with reduced rates …

A candidate for a noncompact quantum group

1996

A previous letter (Bidegain, F. and Pinczon, G:Lett. Math. Phys.33 (1995), 231–240) established that the star-product approach of a quantum group introduced by Bonneau et al. can be extended to a connected locally compact semisimple real Lie group. The aim of the present Letter is to give an example of what a noncompact quantum group could be. From half of the discrete series ofSL(2,\(\mathbb{R}\)), a new type of quantum group is explicitly constructed.

Acetylcholine release at motor endplates and autonomic neuroeffector junctions: a comparison.

1996

Acetylcholine released at motor endplates and at autonomic neuroeffector junctions binds to nicotinic and muscarinic receptors to affect the activity of the corresponding target cells. Additionally, nicotonic and muscarinic receptors modulate various intracellular regulatory pathways (second messengers, gene expression) and mediate trophic effects. To maintain homeostasis of the individual cell and of the whole organism the release of acetylcholine has to be strictly controlled within both nervous systems. The basic events of synthesis, storage, and release are comparable at motoneurones and autonomic neurones, but mechanisms regulating transmitter release appear to differ. The motor endpla…

The goldfish--a colour-constant animal.

1996

A series of either thirteen or fifteen coloured test fields with hues from blue through grey to yellow were presented on a black background. Goldfish were trained on a bluish-grey test field by food reward. In the training situation, the setup with the coloured papers was illuminated with white light. In the test situation, the colour of the illumination was changed to blue or yellow. In both test illuminations the goldfish preferred the training field in the same way as under white illumination despite the fact that this test field stimulated the cone types very differently from the training situation. As test fields were present that excited the cones in exactly the same way as under whi…

Physical chemistry of the powder metallurgy of beryllium: Chemical characterization of the powder in relation to its granularity

1996

Combining the systematic quantitative chemical analysis of the light impurities H, C, N, and O, the quantitative thermal desorption of molecular H2O and H2, and X ray diffractometry of various size fractions of a commercial Be powder (SP-65 grade from Brush-Wellman) allowed the precise de-termination of the mean composition and equivalent mean thickness of the surface impurity phases in the passivation-contamination layer on the surface of the particles. The overall surface stoichi-ometry is as follows: 0.2 BeOcrystallized, 0.8 [BeO - 0.59 H2O]amorphous, 0.14 H2Oads The result of the elemental analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the unetched surface of a powder pellet is compare…

An anti-zipping preparation system (method and instrument) for curved root canals: A preliminary report

1996

A new instrument and method of preparation of curved canals, with which preparation effects such as "zips" and "elbowing" at the apical third can be easily eliminated, is described. The new system was designed to incorporate requirements previously established during clinical and laboratory experiments.

Spontaneous Raman Scattering Spectrum of Gaseous IrF6 in the Ground Electronic State

1996

Spectroscopy of Hexafluorides with an Odd Number of Electrons: The Vibronic Bands of IrF6

1996

Abstract The low resolution absorption spectroscopy of the first five excited electronic states of IrF 6 has made possible some new assignments for the vibronic transitions of this molecule, and the determination of new vibronic parameter values. They are more accurate than those found in the literature. In this aim, we introduce a simplified tensorial formulation for the linear Jahn–Teller terms in a fourfold degenerate electronic state of an XY 6 -type molecule, which allows easier computation of matrix elements and avoids the use of perturbation theory. Methods for IrF 6 synthesis (using a dynamical flow system) and purification are also presented.

Antagonism by SR 48692 of mechanical responses to neurotensin in rat intestine.

1996

Abstract 1. The effects of SR 48692 on neurotensin (NT)-induced mechanical responses were investigated in rat duodenum and proximal colon by use of isometric, isovolumic preparations. 2. SR 48692 inhibited the relaxant responses to NT in duodenal circular and longitudinal muscle. It also antagonized the NT-induced contractile effects in duodenal circular muscle and in proximal colon (both muscular layers). 3. From Schild analysis and pA2 value for SR 48692 was 8.2 in tissues where NT induced relaxant effects and 7.5 in tissues where NT induced contractile effects and the slope of the regression line was not significantly different from unity, indicating competitive antagonism. 4. SR 48692 d…

Two Questions of L. A. Shemetkov on Critical Groups

1996

Throughout the paper we consider only finite groups. Let X be a class of groups. A group G is called s-critical for X , or simply X-critical, if G is not in X but all proper subgroups of G are in X. w Ž .x Ž . Following Doerk and Hawkes 3, VII, 6.1 , we denote Crit X the class s of all X-critical groups. Knowledge of the structure of the groups in Ž . Crit X for a class of groups X can often help one to obtain detailed s information for the structure of the groups belonging to X. Ž w Ž .x. O. J. Schmidt see 5, III, 5.2 studied the N-critical groups, where N is the formation of the nilpotent groups. These groups are also called w x Schmidt groups. In 2 , answering to a question posed by Shem…

Effect of nonprotein thiols on protein synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes.

1996

The ability of nonprotein thiols to modulate rates of protein synthesis was investigated in isolated rat hepatocytes. Addition of cysteine stimulates protein labelling by [14C]Leucine. Glutathione depletion, induced by in vivo administration of L-buthionine sulfoximine and diethylmaleate, did not alter the effect of cysteine, although it decreased the rate of protein synthesis by 32%. The effect of cysteine on protein synthesis does not seem to be related to a perturbation of the redox state of the NAD+/NADH system or to changes in the rate of gluconeogenic pathway. The following observations indicate that cysteine may stimulate protein synthesis by increasing intracellular levels of aspart…

The role of the microcirculation in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS): a review and perspective

1996

Major advances in intensive care medicine during the past two decades have altered the spectrum of disease encountered by intensive care physicians, anaesthesiologists, traumatologists and pathologists. One of the most important manifestations of severe trauma or infections is the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), a life-threatening condition that often ends in multiple organ failure (MOF) and death. Evidence gathered from clinical and morphological observations in humans, taken together with experimental animal studies and a vast accumulation of in vitro data, clearly indicate that the microcirculation lies at the centre of this complex process, which results in peripheral vascul…

Induction of interferon regulatory factors, 2′‐5′ oligoadenylate synthetase, P68 kinase and RNase L in chronic myelogenous leukaemia cells and its re…

1996

The genes crucially determining the therapeutic response of chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) to interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) are unknown. Recently, two independent IFN-alpha signalling pathways were identified: the classic pathway mediates induction of 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5 OAS), p68 kinase and IFN regulatory factor-2 (IRF-2), whereas the alternate pathway leads to activation of IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1). We investigated whether deficient or imbalanced expression of components of these two pathways is associated with resistance of CML cells to antiproliferative action of IFN alpha/beta. Constitutive and IFN-induced transcript levels of IFN-dependent genes in mononucl…

Patterns of intense physical activity among 15- to 30-year-old Finns

1996

Previous studies have reported increasing trends in physical activity in the Finnish population. These reports have not, however, included the perspective of cardiorespiratory stress in adolescent and young adults. We examined the present patterns of physical activity among Finnish adolescents and young adults in 1992. We specifically assessed whether the young people experience the volume of physical activity that is believed to stress the cardiorespiratory system appropriately in order to increase the level of fitness. The subjects in the present study were participants of a large multicenter study of atherosclerosis precursors in children and young adults. Physical activity was measured …

Value of Deoxyribonucleic Acid Ploidy and Nuclear Morphometry for Prediction of Disease Progression in Renal Cell Carcinoma

1996

AbstractPurpose: A retrospective study was performed on 108 patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (pT1 to 3a N0M0) to determine whether ploidy and nuclear morphometry are independent predictive factors in addition to stage and grade.Materials and Methods: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content was analyzed by flow cytometry and nuclear morphometry characterized by 5 nuclear descriptors. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify significant prognostic factors for disease progression.Results: A model combining tumor stage and grade, DNA ploidy and nuclear minor axis was chosen as optimal with risk of disease progression increased with increasing tumor stage and grad…

Monadic Second-Order Logic over Rectangular Pictures and Recognizability by Tiling Systems

1996

Abstract It is shown that a set of pictures (rectangular arrays of symbols) is recognized by a finite tiling system iff it is definable in existential monadic second-order logic. As a consequence, finite tiling systems constitute a notion of recognizability over two-dimensional inputs which at the same time generalizes finite-state recognizability over strings and also matches a natural logic. The proof is based on the Ehrenfeucht–Fraisse technique for first-order logic and an implementation of “threshold counting” within tiling systems.

Die Rolle der Farbduplexsonographie bei Diagnose und Differentialdiagnose von Glomus-caroticum-Tumoren*

1996

BACKGROUND Currently the diagnosis of tumorous lesions of the carotid bifurcation is the domain of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). So far, colour Doppler imaging (CDI) has not been playing an important part in this field. The aim of this study was to define the diagnostic value of CDI in the evaluation of these tumours related to the big arteries and to compare the different imaging techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS 6 female patients with suspected tumours of the carotid bifurcation were examined with CDI. Additionally 5 MRI examinations and 3 preoperative diagnostic DSA examinations were performed in the same patients. Pathologically, there were 4…

Bioelectronic monitoring of parasite-induced stress in brown trout and roach

1996

A non-contact bioelectronic monitoring system was used to record changes in heart rate, ventilation rate and swimming activity in brown trout Salmo trutta and roach Rutilus rutilus, following exposure to two species of cercariae of digenean trematodes: Diplostomum pseudospathaceum which is a common parasite in the lens of fishes and xiphidiocercariae of Plagiorchis elegans, a parasite of anatid birds, both of which have the snail Lymnaea stagnalis as their first intermediate host. Swimming activity increased significantly in roach exposed to Diplostomum cercariae at densities as low as 3.8l−1 and remained elevated for 24–36 h post exposure. Brown trout showed no response when exposed to low…

Degradation of stilbene-type phytoalexins in relation to the pathogenicity of Botrytis cinerea to grapevines

1996

The ability of eight isolates of Botrytis cinerea to degrade the stilbene phytoalexins, resveratrol and pterostilbene, was compared with their pathogenicity to grapevines. All strains which degraded resveratrol and pterostilbene were highly or moderately pathogenic to in vitro cultures of grapevines (Vitis rupestris) after inoculation with agar disks containing mycelium, while those which were unable to degrade phytoalexins were non-pathogenic. In all cases, the hydroxystilbene-degrading activity was related to the presence of laccase activity in the culture filtrates, as shown by using syringaldazine as substrate. The role of laccase-mediated degradation of phytoalexins in relation to path…

A parabolic hemivariational inequality

1996

Supersymmetry and neutrinoless double beta decay.

1996

Neutrinoless double beta decay ($\znbb$) induced by superparticle exchange is investigated. Such a supersymmetric (SUSY) mechanism of $\znbb$ decay arises within SUSY theories with R-parity non-conservation (\rp). We consider the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) with explicit \rp terms in the superpotential (\rp MSSM). The decay rate for the SUSY mechanism of $\znbb$ decay is calculated. Numerical values for nuclear matrix elements for the experimentally most interesting isotopes are calculated within pn-QRPA. Constraints on the \rp MSSM parameter space are extracted from current experimental half-life limits. The most stringent limits are derived from data on $^{76}$Ge. It is s…

Lateralized effect of rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation of the prefrontal cortex on mood.

1996

We studied the effects of rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of different scalp positions on mood Ten normal volunteers rated themselves before and after rTMS on five analog scales labeled ``Tristeza99 (Sadness), ``Ansiedad99 (Anxiety), ``Alegria99 (Happiness), ``Cansancio99 (Tiredness), and ``Dolor/Malestar99 (Pain/Discomfort). rTMS was applied to the right lateral prefrontal, left prefrontal, or midline frontal cortex in trains of 5 seconds9 duration at 10 Hz and 110% of the subject9s motor threshold intensity. Each stimulation position received 10 trains separated by a 25-second pause. No clinically apparent mood changes were evoked by rTMS to any of the scalp positions …

Volatile components of ripe fruits of Morinda citrifolia and their effects on Drosophila

1996

Abstract The only larval resource of the specialist species, Drosophila sechellia , is ripe fruits of Morinda citrifolia . The chemical composition of this fruit, which is very toxic to most Drosophila species, was investigated and 51 compounds were abundant enough to be identified by GC-MS. The ripe fruit is characterized by a large amount of carboxylic acids, especially octanoic and hexanoic acids. The biological effects of the ripe fruit and its main acids were investigated with behavioural studies. Octanoic acid is responsible for the general toxicity of the fruit to most Drosophila species; D. sechellia is the only species which is resistant to this acid. Hexanoic acid has a unique eff…