Characterization of 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptors in goat cerebral arteries

1995

1. In isolated goat middle cerebral artery segments, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, 10(-8)-3 x 10(-5) M) elicited concentration-dependent contractions with EC50 = 2.1 (1.9-2.5) x 10(-7) M and Emax = 64 +/- 2% of 50 mM KCl-induced contraction. 2. Several 5-HT receptor agonists were used: (a) the agonist of 5-HT2 receptors alpha-methyl-5-hydroxy-tryptamine (10(-7)-3 x 10(-4) M) induced strong contraction (51 +/- 6%); (b) the selective agonists of 5-HT1 receptors sumatriptan (10(-8)-10(-5) M) and 5-carboxamidotryptamine (10(-9)-10(-4) M) and the agonist of 5-HT1A receptors 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (10(-7)-3 x 10(-5) M) induced weak contractions (8, 18 and 14%, respectively); and (c) …

Characterisation of the external features ofSchistocephalus solidus (M�ller, 1776) (Cestoda) from different geographical regions and an assessment of…

1995

A comparative study of some morphological (segment number, scolex morphology and biometry, length and weight) and biological (maturation in different hosts) features ofSchistocephalus solidus plerocercoids and adults from different geographical regions (Baltic Sea and the British Isles) was carried out. The length of the plerocercoids fromGasterosteus aculeatus was shown to be the variable that best correlated with segment number. A very clear bimodal distribution of segment numbers separated the majority of British and Baltic plerocercoids (British n=21, mean length 25.48, SD 5.63, range 14–34 mm; mean segment number 66.33, SD 8.68, range 51–86. Baltic n=30, mean length 33.23, SD 4.64, ran…

Tumor Vascularity—A Novel Prognostic Factor in Advanced Cervical Carcinoma

1995

Objective: In the search for the optimal treatment of advanced cervical cancer, the identification of valid prognostic factors obtainable without histopathologic investigation of the entire tumor and the locoregional lymph nodes is of paramount interest. Tumor microvessel density has recently been demonstrated to correlate strongly with disease aggressiveness in breast cancer and other malignancies. Methods: We established a computerized image analysis system to quantify tumor microvascularity by using the closest-individual method, which determines the distribution of distances from random points within the tumor to the closest microvessel (DTCMV). Tumor microvascularity was assessed in pa…

Comparison of the effects of salmeterol and salbutamol on clinical activity and eosinophil cationic protein serum levels during the pollen season in …

1995

In atopic asthma there is strong evidence of eosinophils playing an active role in pathogenesis. Some investigations demonstrated that eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) serum levels increased in atopic patients with asthma during pollen season.The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of short-term (1 week) beta 2-agonist treatment on lung function and eosinophil activity in asthmatic patients.We used an open, randomized, cross-over design to compare the effects of salbutamol (200 micrograms q.i.d.) and salmeterol (50 micrograms b.i.d.) on peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), blood eosinophil count and serum levels of ECP as a measure of eosinophil activity in 20 mild atopic asthmatics.…

The lived experience of aging in community-dwelling elders in Valencia, Spain: a phenomenological study.

1995

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the lived experience of aging in community-dwelling elders in Valencia, Spain. A bilingual, bicultural endeavor, this research was a collaborative project conducted by nurse educators in New York City and Valencia. Parse's theory of human becoming guided the research, and van Kaam's phenomenological method of analysis was used to identify common elements and major themes of experience. Findings revealed the meaning of aging to be confirming triumphs through the forceful enlivening of bridled potency. These findings were conceptually consistent with Parse's major themes of meaning, rhythmicity, and cotranscendence. Implications f…

Pentachlorophenol accumulation in the freshwater mussels Anodonta anatina and Pseudanodonta complanata, and some physiological consequences of labora…

1995

Freshwater mussels Anodanta anatina and Pseudanodonta complanata were exposed to (14C)-pentachlorophenol. The wet weight based bioconcentration factor (BCF = activity in animal per activity in water) at steady state varied from 80 to 120 for A. anatina and from 61 to 85 for P. complanata. The species did not differ significantly in their wet weight or lipid based BCFs but dry weight based values were significantly higher (40-50%) for A. anatina. The soft tissue dry weight and dry weight based condition index of A. anatina (Cl4 = soft tissue dry weight per shell length) differed significantly between natural mussel populations. In animals kept from 4 to 8 months in laboratory conditions, the…

Coherent pion production induced by protons and light ions

1995

Abstract We study coherent pion production by means of the (p,n) and (He,t) reactions on different nuclei and at different energies of the projectile. Energy and angular distributions are calculated. The angular distributions are rather narrow along the direction of the momentum transfer, particularly in heavy nuclei. The reaction is sensitive to the longitudinal part of the elementary NN→NΔ interaction. It also provides a new tool to obtain information on the pion-nuclear interaction, complementary to that offered by reactions with real pions.

In vitro multiplication ofVella lucentina M. B. crespo (Brassicaceae), a threatened Spanish endemic species

1995

Vella lucentina M. B. Crespo is a threatened Spanish species that is endemic to a small area in eastern Alicante Province (SE Spain). Micropropagation techniques were applied forex situ conservation of this plant. Aseptic epicotyls bearing the apical bud were grown in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 6-furfurylaminopurine (Kin), N6-benzyladenine (BA) or 6-(γ,γ,-dimethilalylamino) purine (2iP). High multiplication rates were obtained with 0.5, 1, or 2 mg·liter−1 BA, or 1 or 2 mg·liter−1 2iP. Indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-butyric acid were utilized for rooting in half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium. Regenerated plants were transferred to a potting mix and gradually acclim…

Computationally efficient dynamical analysis of optically driven injection-locked GaAs FET oscillators

1995

A computer-aided simulation technique for the dynamical analysis of a class of GaAs FET optically-driven injection-locked oscillators (ODILO's) is presented. By combining a measurement-derived nonlinear model of the illuminated transistor with a phasor-domain analysis method, a first-approximation - but phenomenologically complete - differential model of the synchronized oscillator is derived. Since amplitude and phase of waveform evolutions are directly addressed and evaluated in a stroboscopic-time scale, the calculation of the transient response to modulated input signals can be done in a more user-friendly and computationally efficient manner than possible through conventional time-doma…

Food-attraction conditioning in the snail, Helix pomatia

1995

Adult pulmonate snails (Helix pomatia) were released equidistant between two types of food, carrot and potato, respectively. Naive snails moved in different directions and did not locate either food above chance, although both foods were readily eaten upon direct contact. After a single carrot feeding episode, 75% of the carrot-fed snails moved directly towards the carrot and ate it. Conversely, potato-fed snails located the potato in 67% of the cases. Snails that were fed apple or lettuce behaved like naive animals, with the majority of animals (75% in both cases) locating neither the carrot nor the potato. The ability of snails to locate this particular food after a single feeding episode…

Ecological approach and community education as promoters of the social development of reform school students

1995

ABSTRACT New models of operation are being sought for Finnish reform school education traditionally based on segregation. This article deals with the possibilities of applying the ecological approach and community education to support the socialization of reform school students. The aim is to describe the participation of the students in one Finnish reform school, as well as their expressed need to join in the production system, cultural system, contact system and the decision‐making system of society. This article presents part of a larger project carried out at the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland. In the research project a three‐part division in the description into an ideal state, a r…

Ecotest device for estimation of environmental fate of chemicals in the laboratory

1995

Abstract A glass vessel device with water volume of 20 L was constructed for fast testing of the fate of a chemical in freshwater watercourse environment. The dynamic system consisted of natural water with throughflow, of 4.5 mL min−1 and bottom sediment from a clean oligohumic lake in Central Finland. Duckweed (Lemna sp.) as plant material, lake mussel (Anodonta piscinalis) and crucian carp (Carassius carassius) as test animals were included in the test device. Tetrachloroguaiacol (TeCG) was dissolved at start to water to make 2 μg L−1 concentration. The same concentration of TeCG was maintained in inflow water. After static and dynamic pre-tests, a dynamic four weeks test at 15°C was run …

Primary thermometry with nanoscale tunnel junctions

1995

We have found current-voltage (I-V) and conductance (dI/dV) characteristics of arrays of nanoscale tunnel junctions between normal metal electrodes to exhibit suitable features for primary thermometry. The current through a uniform array depends on the ratio of the thermal energy kBT and the electrostatic charging energy E c of the islands between the junctions and is completely blocked by Coulomb repulsion at T = 0 and at small voltages eV/2 ≤ Ec. In the opposite limit, kBT ≫ Ec, the width of the conductance minimum scales linearly and universally with T and N, the number of tunnel junctions, and qualifies as a primary thermometer. The zero bias drop in the conductance is proportional to T…

H2-He vibrational line-shape parameters: Measurement and semiclassical calculation

1995

High-resolution inverse Raman spectroscopy has been used to obtain the line shifting and line broadening coefficients of H{sub 2} perturbed by He. Measurements have been made for the {ital Q}-branch transitions ({ital J}=0{r_arrow}5) in a density range of 10 to 20 amagat and from 296 to 995 K. Up to 795 K we have directly deduced from the experimental broadening coefficients the inelastic rotational state-to-state and vibrational dephasing rates. At higher temperatures, owing to the larger number of channels of relaxation which occur, the results have been analyzed using a scaling law. The line shift and broadening coefficients exhibit a square root and a linear dependence on temperature, r…

Redescription ofPhysaloptera brevivaginata Seurat, 1917 (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) from the batMyotis blythii (Tomes) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)…

1995

Physaloptera brevivaginata Seurat, 1917 (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) is redescribed. Seurat's (1917) original description of this species was based on a single immature female. Detailed morphological study of several males, mature and, above all, immature females from the stomach of the lesser mouse-eared batMyotis blythii (Tomes) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Spain, has elucidated many new morphological characters. This physalopterid species is distinguished from other closely-related species by the lengths of the body and spicules, the equatorial position of the vulva, the morphology of the female reproductive system and by a small conical process on the tail of mature females.M. blyth…

Photo- and thermostimulated processes in α-Al2O3

1995

Abstract We reported on the recombination processes determined by the release of electrons from defects connected with the dosimetric 430 K thermostimulated luminescence (TSL) peak as well as with the 260 K TSL peak. These TSL peaks appear in thermochemically reduced α-Al 2 O 3 crystals containing hydrogen and emission of these TSL peaks corresponds to luminescence of the F-center. The X-ray exposure or UV excitation in the absorption band of F-centers at 6.0 eV of reduced α-Al 2 O 3 crystals doped with acceptor impurities results in the appearance of a broad anisotropic complex absorption band in the spectral region 2.5–3.5 eV and in the appearance of a predominant TSL peak at 430 K. Above…

Use of lichens in detecting environmental risk and in geochemical prospecting

1995

This paper provides data on variations in the contents of As, Sb, Ni, V, Pb, Cu, Cr, Au, Zn, Sc, and Al, measured in the thalli of a saxicolous lichen species,Xanthoria calcicola Ochsner s.l., collected in northeastern Sicily, near an industrial zone and along a belt crossing areas of known ores containing sulfides of heavy metals. A total of 91 lichen samples were collected on roof tiles (39) and on rocks (52). In the industrial zone, analysis of lichen thalli revealed high contents of nickel and vanadium, decreasing at increasing distances from the source of contamination. The results have also revealed the versatility ofXanthoria calcicola in geochemical prospecting for heavy metals such…

HST observation of the inner coma of 2060 chiron

1995

Abstract The analysis of persistent comae of very large and distant comets allows us to infer the poorly known physical properties of dust and icy grains produced beyond Jupiter. Chiron is particularly interesting because Fulle ( Astron. Astrophys. 282 , 980–988; 1994) has shown that the strong asymmetricity of its coma (West, Astron. Astrophys. 241 , 635–645 1991) allows us to infer rotational properties of Chiron's nucleus. In this paper we report the observation of the asymmetric inner coma of Chiron from the analysis of 44 images of Chiron and eight images of a standard star available from the HST archive. The images were taken during February/March 1993, when Ch iron was 9.3 AU from th…

Preparation and determination of the structure of high-performance polymer blends by small-angle neutron scattering

1995

Amorphous blends from a deuterated polyaryletherketone and a polyetherimide have been prepared and investigated by neutron scattering. The used components differ remarkably in their structure antheir solution properties. The blends on the other hand are combinatorial mixtures : the scattering quantity Φ 1 Φ 2 /S(q) is independent of the composition of the blends if the polymer chains have the same length

Heat-stable antigen is expressed by murine keratinocytes and delivers costimulatory signals in T-cell activation.

1995

Heat-stable antigen (HSA), expressed by various antigen-presenting cells (APC), has been described as a costimulatory molecule for CD4+ T cells. Recently, we observed that HSA also serves as an important costimulatory molecule on epidermal Langerhans cells (LC). During these studies, low levels of HSA staining were also detected on normal murine keratinocytes (KC). To investigate whether HSA also is involved in T-cell activation by KC, normal murine KC or the spontaneously transformed KC cell-line PAM 212 were treated with PDB or PMA to induce HSA-expression. FACS analyses showed induction of HSA expression on normal murine KC, as well as PAM 212 cells. In functional assays PDB or PMA-treat…

Automated Determination of Trimipramine and N-Desmethyl-Trimipramine in Human Plasma or Serum by HPLC With On-Line Solid Phase Extraction

1995

A fully automated method including column-switching and isocratic high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for determination of the tricyclic antidepressant trimipramine (T) and its N-demethylated metabolite N-desmethyltrimipramine (DT). The limit of quantification was below 10 ng/ml for T and DT. The assay revealed linearity between detector response and drug concentration in a therapeutically relevant range of 10 to 500 ng/ml. The mean intra- and interassay variabilities were 6.2 and 12.3%, respectively, for T and 4.7 and 8.7% respectively, for DT. The method can be applied to therapeutic drug monitoring of patients under T therapy and may be useful for pharmacokinetic …

Hepatitic C virus infection and autoimmunity : clinical features, diagnostic tools and therapeutical aspects

1995

Summary Since the genom of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) was detected the pathogenesis of a distinct group of chronic liver disease and some non-hepatic disorders of sofar unknown origin could be newly established. A wide variety of clinical features including vasculitis, glomerulonephritis, porphyria and rheumatoid-like symptoms may become apparant separately or in combination. HCV can be precipitated in cryoglobulins and tissue-related HCV was found in liver and kidney specimen, for instance. HCV-related cryoglobulinemia or circulating immune complexes often occur with vasculitis. Hematological changes may be present such as thrombocytopenia. A considerable amount of patients show circulati…

Seed population dynamics on badland slopes in southeastern Spain

1995

6 páginas, figuras, tablas.

Noise and gain performance of PSA transistor series for personal communication systems vs. emitter number and operating conditions

1995

The booming market of communication system applications in the low microwave range put greater demands on the component performance at lower supply voltages and limited current consumption, as well as on production cost and integration level. In this work, we present the results of an extensive characterization activity carried out on several advanced polysilicon bipolar transistors as requested by the manufacturer. The devices were grouped according to their emitter finger number and were characterized over the 2-6 GHz frequency range in terms of noise, gain and scatterino parameters at different bias conditions. A comparative analysis has been performed to explore how the transistor perfo…

A cross‐cultural and multi‐behavioral analysis of the relationship between nonverbal immediacy and teacher evaluation

1995

Nonverbal immediacy of teachers has been demonstrated to be substantially associated with increased cognitive and affective learning in students. The assumption underlying the current research is that teacher communication behaviors that enhance student learning will also enhance positive evaluations of teachers by those students. This study sought to determine what specific teacher nonverbal immediacy behaviors are most associated with students' evaluations of their teachers. Our research was based on data drawn from the cultures of Australia, Finland, and Puerto Rico as well as the dominant United States culture. Each study was conducted in the primary language of the sample studied. The …

Growth rates or radiobiological hypoxia are not correlated with local metabolite content in human melanoma xenografts with similar vascular network.

1995

Investigations were carried out on two lines of human melanomas (MF; n = 12 and EE; n = 13) xenografted in nude mice. The tumours were characterised by a similar vascular supply but showed a pronounced difference in the rate of volume growth and in the radiobiologically hypoxic fraction. The distribution of ATP, glucose and lactate in the tumours was investigated using quantitative bioluminescence and single photon imaging. Concentrations of the metabolites were obtained as global values for the entire tumour mass, in regions with densely packed, structurally intact tumour cells ('viable zones'), in areas with necrosis, stromal cells and fibrous material ('necrotic zones') and in adjacent n…

Ventilación asistida vía máscara nasal en pacientes hospitalizados en una sala de neumología por descompensación de su obstrucción crónica al flujo a…

1995

Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of assisted ventilation through a nasal mask (AVN) in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who were admitted to a pneumology ward due to decompensation, with PaCO2 > 60 mmHg and pH < 7.35. We studied 13 COPD patients who were first observed for 1-2 days until adaptation and then given 2 daily sessions of AVN lasting 4 hours with double positive pressure (DP90) devices through Sullivan mask with a cannula for hyperoxia. Gasometric readings were recorded, along with subjective assessment of condition and problems with the mask. Gasometric readings were taken as follows: the first upon admission to the ward (AW), the second with AV…

Die korrekte Bestimmung des Base Excess (BE, mmol/l) im Blut

1995

Reactive neurogenesis during regeneration of the lesioned medial cerebral cortex of lizards

1995

Abstract This study reports that lesion of the adult lizard medial cortex (lizard hipocampal fascia dentata) induces a short period of intensive neurogenesis which we have termed reactive neurogenesis; a cell proliferation event that occurs in the subjacent ependyma. Specific lesion of the medial cortex was achieved by intraperitoneal injection of the neurotoxin 3-acetylpyridine and proliferating cells were detected using tritiated thymidine or 5-bromodeoxiuridine pulse labelling. After lesion, granule neurons in the lizard medial cortex cell layer appeared pyknotic and died; they were then removed and progressively replaced by a set of new neurons. These neurons were mostly generated from …

Qualitätskontrolle des Base Excess (BE, mmol/l) im Blutgasanalysator

1995

Three-dimensional crystallization of the light-harvesting complex from Mantoniella squamata (Prasinophyceae) requires an adequate purification proced…

1995

Abstract We present a new purification procedure for the light-harvesting complex of Mantoniella squamata whereupon three-dimensional crystallization succeeded. Previous purification methods were based on density centrifugations as the only separating principle. We have extended this preparation procedure by applying anion-exchange and molecular-sieve chromatography techniques. Purity and stability of the complex were proved by denaturing and non-denaturing polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, and spectroscopic measurements. With respect to contaminating lipids the purified pigment-protein complex was examined by thin-layer chromatography and the aggregation and/or oligomeric states were inv…

Temperature effects on counterion binding to spherical polyelectrolytes: the charge-discharge transition of lignosulfonate

1995

Abstract The effect of temperature on the effective charge numbers and diffusion coefficients of polyelectrolytes has not nobee dealth with in many studies. The present study concerns the temperature behavior of lignosulfonate. Lignosulfonate is a polydisperse polyelectrolyte whose molecules are compact spheres in aqueous solutions. One of its most remarkable properties is that is loses its charge in 0.1 M NaCl aqueous solution at about 40°C. In order to explain this charge-discharge transition, a theory for ion binding to spherical polyelectrolytes based on the relative population of two hydration states of the charged groups is presented. The water molecules adjacent to the charged groups…

Factors affecting recurrence and progression in superficial bladder tumours

1995

Prognostic factors in superficial bladder tumours are highly correlated with each other. In this study, their relative importance is examined and grouping of patients in three different prognostic groups suggested. 576 patients (from EORTC protocols 30790 and 30782) were analysed. They have been followed from 3 months to 8.6 years with a median of 4 years. 76 patients developed an invasive tumour (or = T2); the shortest time to invasion was 12 weeks, the longest was 6.6 years. Time from invasion to death ranged from 3 weeks to 4.4 years with a median of 2 years. Prognostic factors contributing to recurrence, invasion and survival were investigated: age, sex, size of largest tumour, number o…

Biochemical bone markers compared with bone density measurement by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry

1995

In contrast to medical imaging, the biochemical markers allow a more frequent determination and are not as invasive as histomorphometric methods. We investigated biochemical markers of type I collagen compared with bone density measurements in 85 females between 41 and 89 years of age (median: 57 years). The bone density measurements were performed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) on the lumbar spine (L1-4). The bone density measurements were stated as a percentage of the norm. All patients were divided into three groups: I =80%; II = 80-130%; III =120%. Based on this classification the median concentration of the I-carboxyterminal propeptide of type I collagen in serum (S-PICP) as…

Nitric oxide synthase isozymes antibodies

1995

Three isozymes of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) have been identified, cDNAs isolated and sequenced, and antibodies produced against each isozyme. Isozyme I (found primarily in central and peripheral neuronal cells), II (in cytokine-induced cells), and III (in endothelial cells) show less than 58% identity in the deduced amino acid sequences from humans. Many investigators have produced isozyme-specific antibodies and used these antibodies to locate these proteins in various cells and tissues. NOS-I is constitutively expressed, and the enzymatic activity is regulated by Ca2+ and calmodulin. The anti-NOS-I antibodies have allowed investigators to characterize non-adrenergic non-cholinergic neur…

Electrically conductive TCNQ complexes of aromatic ionenes

1995

New types of complex salts of 7,7',8,8'-tetracyanoquinodimethane with aromatic ionenes and their model compounds were prepared. The electrical conductivity and the activation energy were measured and discussed in relation to their structure. The effects of the nature of the aromatic unit, and the flexibility and rigidity of the polymer backbone were compared with the corresponding model compounds. The effects of frequency and temperature are discussed in terms of the molecular structure of the complex. The electroconductivity at room temperature of the 1 :1 polymer complex salts was found to be between 2 x 10 -4 and 7 x 10 -5 S/cm, while that of the model complex salts was between 1.3 x 10 …