EMERGING PROPERTIES IN POPULATION DYNAMICS WITH DIFFERENT TIME SCALES

1995

The aim of this work is to show that at the population level, emerging properties may occur as a result of the coupling between the fast micro-dynamics and the slow macrodynamics. We studied a prey-predator system with different time scales in a heterogeneous environment. A fast time scale is associated to the migration process on spatial patches and a slow time scale is associated to the growth and the interactions between the species. Preys go on the spatial patches on which some resources are located and can be caught by the predators on them. The efficiency of the predators to catch preys is patch-dependent. Preys can be more easily caught on some spatial patches than others. Perturbat…

Hippocampal event-related potentials to pitch deviances in an auditory oddball situation in the cat: experiment I.

1995

Hippocampal event-related potentials (ERP) in the areas CA1, CA3, and dentate fascia (Df) were recorded in cats during an oddball situation when pitch deviant tones occurred in a series of standard tones. When difference waves were calculated by subtracting ERPs to the standard tones from those to the deviant tones, no clear N40d, corresponding to a cat analogue of the human mismatch negativity (MMN) observed in earlier studies, could be detected. Instead, a prominent later negativity (N130d) was observed. A possible extra-hippocampal source of the process reflected by the MMN-like negativity, and a relation between an orienting response (OR) and the N130d are discussed.

Electrochemical reduction of the nitrite to ammonium ions in presence of [MoO2(O2CC(S)C6H5)2]2−

1995

Abstract Ammonia is formed during potentiostatic reduction of sodium nitrite solutions on the nafion-complex-coated electrode. When (NH4)2[MoO2(O2CC(S)(C6H5)2)2] is present in NaNO2 solutions a polarographic wave is associated to electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite ion. The wave height varies linearly on the concentration of nitrite ion, allowing a procedure for analysing this ion. This electrochemical behaviour distinguishes the nitrite from the nitrate ions. The Mo(VI), Mo(V), and Mo(IV) are involved in catalytic redox processes determining formation of NH4+ from nitrite ions.

First observation of the production of nucleon resonances in antiproton annihilation in liquid deuterium

1995

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL AROUSAL RELATED TO TYPE-A COMPONENTS IN ADOLESCENT BOYS

1995

The association between psychophysiological responses (heart rate, skin conductance and blood volume) and Type A behavior was studied in adolescent boys (n = 48) in computer-controlled experiments. Although psychophysiological arousal was related to the type of stress-evoking element, task-specificity did not result in significant psychophysiological differences between Type As and Nontype As. The indication is that physiological arousal may be a constitutional characteristic of Type A behavior. The multidimensionality of type A behavior must be considered in any investigation examining the psychophysiological Type A-Nontype A differences. Different Type A dimensions, together with previous…

Chlorinated short chain aliphatic hydrocarbons in pine needles by purge and trap gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

1995

The concentrations of volatile chlorinated short chain aliphatic hydrocarbons in pine needles have been measured using purge and trap GC/MS. The concentrations of dichloromethane, chloroform, dichloroethene and tetrachloroethene in the needles were calculated. The concentrations of dichloromethane and tetrachloroethene were highest. As a rule the concentrations were higher in the older needles. The needle samples were collected from five sampling points in an area situated in the Southern Finland in the vicinity of a metal scrab plant. Reference needles were collected in the Central Finland. Needles originated from years 1991, 1992 and 1993.

Correct oligomerization is a prerequisite for insertion of the central molecular domain of staphylococcal α-toxin into the lipid bilayer

1995

Staphylococcal alpha-toxin is a primarily hydrophilic molecule that binds as a monomer to target membranes and then aggregates to form amphiphilic oligomers that represent water-filled transmembrane channels. Current evidence indicates that a region located in the center of the molecule inserts deeply into the bilayer. In the present study, we sought to determine whether membrane insertion was triggered by the oligomerization process, and whether insertion correlated with pore formation. Double mutants of alpha-toxin were prepared in which His-35 was replaced by Arg, and cysteine residues were introduced at positions 69, 130 and 186. Substitution of His-35 with Arg rendered the toxin molecu…

Inhibition of inflammatory responses by epitaondiol and other marine natural products

1995

The marine metabolites pacifenol, stypotriol triacetate and epitaondiol were tested for their effects on a number of inflammatory responses. Epitaondiol exhibited a potent topical anti-inflammatory activity related to inhibition of leukocyte accumulation. The other compounds showed a lower potency, similar to that of indomethacin. None of the compounds affected superoxide generation by human neutrophils but pacifenol effectively inhibited the degranulation response. This compound and epitaondiol decreased the release of eicosanoids with a higher potency on the cyclo-oxygenase pathway. Only epitaondiol inhibited human recombinant synovial phospholipase A2 activity in a concentration-dependen…

Hores: A timetabling system for Spanish secondary schools

1995

Constructing a timetable is a difficult problem faced by every school every year. A feasible solution has to satisfy many different requirements and constraints. A good solution has to provide compact timetables for classes and teachers. In order to help the schools, we have developed HORES, a robust and flexible timetabling system suited to the needs of Spanish secondary schools. HORES runs on a PC and is fast and user-friendly. It may handle virtually every condition required by the schools and obtains good quality solutions in very short computing times. It also allows the user to modify interactively the solutions. HORES is now being used by schools with satisfactory results.

Mixed-valence polyoxometalate clusters. III. Vibronic problem for the 2-electron reduced heteropoly blue with the Keggin structure

1995

Abstract A general approach to the vibronic problem of delocalized electronic pairs in mixed-valence compounds is developed and applied to understand the ways of electron delocalization in dodecanuclear polyoxometalate clusters containing two moving electrons. The interplay between electronic and vibronic interactions is examined. The electronic spectrum is shown to consist of two spin triplets 3 T 1 and 3 T 2 and three spin singlets 1 A 1 , 1 E and 1 T 2 levels determined by the double-transfer processes (parameter P ). Jahn-Teller and pseudo-Jahn-Teller problems ( 3 T 1 + 3 T 2 ) ⊗ ( e + t 2 ) and ( 1 A 1 + 1 E + 1 T 2 ) ⊗ ( e + t 2 ) have been considered in the framework of the Piepho-Kr…

Mixed-valence polyoxometalate clusters. II. Delocalization of electronic pairs in 18-site heteropoly blues with Wells-Dawson structure

1995

Abstract The problem of delocalization of two electrons in the 18-site Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate is examined from a general approach that takes into account both single- and double-transfer processes, as well as the Coulomb interactions between the two delocalized electrons. The electronic energy levels of this mixed-valence cluster are calculated and the conditions giving rise to the stabilization of a singlet ground spin state for the electronic pair are elucidated. It is shown that the spin pairing results from the simultaneous effects of single- and double-electron transfer processes, which are operative even when the two delocalized electrons are fairly widely separated in the Wells…

A New Look at Homogeneous Ice Nucleation in Supercooled Water Drops

1995

Abstract The classical theory for homogeneous ice nucleation in supercooled water is investigated in the light of recent data published in various physico-chemical journal on the physical properties of supercooled water and in the light of recent evidence that the cooperative nature of the hydrogen bonds between water molecules is responsible for a singularity behavior of pure supercooled water at −45°C. Recent rates for homogeneous ice nucleation in supercooled water drops field from field experiments at the cirrus cloud level and from cloud chamber studies were shown to be quantitatively in agreement with the laboratory-derived lowest temperatures to which ultrapure water drops of a given…

Evidence for the presence of collagenous domains in Candida albicans cell surface proteins

1995

Rabbit polyclonal antibodies (PAbs) directed towards the amino-terminal cysteine-rich 7S domain (PAb anti-7S), the major internal collagenous domain (PAb anti-type IV), and the C-terminal noncollagenous region (PAb anti-NC1) of the type IV collagen molecule were probed by indirect immunofluorescence against Candida albicans blastoconidia and germinated blastoconidia. Most nongerminating cells and mother blastoconidia from which germ tubes originated showed strong fluorescence when PAb anti-7S was used, whereas with PAb anti-type IV, fluorescence was found almost exclusively on the surface of filamentous forms. A patched fluorescent pattern rather than a homogenous confluent fluorescence was…

Endoscope-assisted Craniotomy

1995

We describe a surgical technique to improve visualization of deep brain structures during craniotomy. The technique, developed in a cadaveric model, combines the use of an operating microscope and a solid-rod lens endoscope. Addition of the endoscope during craniotomy allows the operator to visualize structures that otherwise might not have been seen. An approach to the brain stem is demonstrated.

Enzymatic formation of the sarpagan-bridge: a key step in the biosynthesis of sarpagine- and ajmaline-type alkaloids.

1995

The glucoalkaloid strictosidine has been converted under cell-free conditions into 10-deoxysarpagine (= normacusine B) in the presence of a crude soluble enzyme extract and microsomal protein isolated from cell suspensions of Rauwolfia serpentina. The enzymatic formation of this alkaloid bearing the C-5/C-16 bond (sarpagan-bridge), which is characteristic for all sarpagine- and ajmaline-type alkaloids, is dependent on NADPH and oxygen. Inhibition studies indicate that for the synthesis of 10-deoxysarpagine a cytochrome P450 dependent monoxygenase is necessary.

Wages and productivity growth in the Nordic countries

1995

Abstract The study examines growth in productivity and real wages in four Nordic countries, viz. Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, thus extending Gordon's (1987) analysis concentrating on the U.S., Japan and Europe. The results confirm certain key findings of Gordon's (1987) study. In particular, the cyclically adjusted measures of productivity growth confirm the slowdown in productivity growth in the mid-1970s. Gordon's finding that there are considerable differences across the different sectors of the economy is similarly supported. As far as country-specific development in productivity growth is concerned, the results imply that there are considerable inter-country differences which G…

Thymidylate synthases from Hymenolepis diminuta and regenerating rat liver: purification, properties, and inhibition by substrate and cofactor analog…

1995

Comparative studies of thymidylate synthases, isolated from the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, and regenerating liver of its host, rat, aimed at a possibility of specific inhibition of the helminthic enzyme, are presented. While similar in structure (dimers with monomer molecular masses of 33.7 kDa and 34.9 kDa, respectively) and parameters describing interactions with substrates and products, the tapeworm and rat enzymes differed in the dependences of reaction velocity on temperature (Arrhenius plots biphasic and linear, respectively). The tapeworm, compared with the host, enzyme was less sensitive to the competitive slow-binding inhibition by 5-fluoro-dUMP and its 2-thio congener, but eq…

Liming induced stimulation of the amino acid metabolism in mycorrhizal roots of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.)

1995

Localization and activity of three enzymes involved in the amino acid metabolism of ectomycorrhizas were investigated within an interdisciplinary experiment performed in a mature Norway spruce stand in Southern Germany (Hoglwald). The enzymes NAD-glutamate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase were present in root cells, whereas aminopeptidase was found in mycorrhizas of Norway spruce such as “Piceirhiza nigra” and those with the fungi Cenococcum geophilum, Elaphomyces sp., Russula ochroleuca and Tylospora sp. Mycorrhizas growing in the humus layer contained about double the amount of protein found in those taken from the upper mineral soil (0–5 cm).

Evaluation of diagnostic criteria for analgesic nephropathy in patients with end-stage renal failure: results of the ANNE study

1995

It was found that in Belgium, renal imaging techniques, demonstrating a decreased renal mass of both kidneys combined with either bumpy contours or papillary calcifications, were the only methods to reliably diagnose analgesic nephropathy (AN) in patients with end-stage renal failure. However, these criteria were selected in an area with a high prevalence of this disease (15.6% of the dialysis population at December 1990). To evaluate the criteria selected to diagnose AN in populations with lower or unknown prevalences of AN, the Analgesic Nephropathy Network of Europe (ANNE) was formed, consisting of 23 dialysis units from 14 European countries and Brazil. During 1991-1992, 598 new patient…

Effects of spatial scale and vegetation cover on predation of artificial ground nests

1995

Scale-dependent effects of landscape heterogeneity on predation of artificial ground nests were studied. Two spatial scales were selected: landscape grain size and single stand size. The landscape types did not differ from each other in their total predation intensity. Depredation was highest in larger stands in all the landscape types studied and the highest predation rate was detected in the largest stands within the most fragmented landscapes. This is possibly due to concentration of rodent-eating predators from surrounding open areas into large stands in the study year when their main prey, voles, crashed. In crash years, alternative predation on e.g. forest bird nests may play an impor…

ESD of nonthermal halogen atoms from In-doped (001) KBr

1995

Abstract We have measured the kinetic energy distributions of neutral halogen atoms emitted due to electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) from In-doped (001)KBr single crystals. The concentration of In+ in investigated samples varied between 1017 and 1020 particles/cm3. The measurements were performed at target temperature of 150°C. In all cases the energy spectra consist of two peaks. The distribution of low-energy particles can be described by the thermal (Maxwellian) energy spectrum. Particles contributing to the second peak have nonthermal kinetic energies. The emission of halogen atoms having nonthermal energies decreases with an increase in the concentration of In impurities. At the sam…

Coriolis interaction parameters of the (2100; F2) bands of SiH4 and GeH4. A test of local mode models

1995

Abstract The high-resolution spectra of the (2100; F 2 , N ), N = 1 and 2, bands of SiH 4 and GeH 4 have been recorded and preliminary analyzed. The Coriolis interaction parameter 2 Bζ 3 is obtained; it provides a test of three widely used models: the harmonically coupled anharmonic oscillators model with two different kinds of variables, and the normal mode model with Darling-Dennison resonance included.

The Nucleating Effect of a Semiflexible Liquid-Crystalline Polymer for the Crystallization of Poly(Phenylene Sulfide)

1995

Abstract Blends of poly(phenylene sulfide) and a semiflexible liquid-crystalline polymer have been prepared, in the whole range of concentration, by melt mixing. The effect of the LCP phase on the crystallization of PPS has been studied by non-isothermal and isothermal calorimetry. It has been found that the addition of only 2-5% LCP into PPS strongly increases the crystallization rate of the latter polymer. This effect has been interpreted as the result of an increased nucleation density. The morphology of the blends, studied by scanning electron microscopy, has shown that the two polymers are incompatible, although the phase dispersion is good. Under elongational flow, the dispersed phase…

Mixed-valence polyoxometalate clusters. I. Delocalization of electronic pairs in dodecanuclear heteropoly blues with keggin structure

1995

Abstract The problem of delocalization of a pair of electrons over dodecanuclear polyoxometalate clusters with the Keggin structure is considered with the aim of explaining the spin pairing in these multi-nuclear mixed-valence systems. A general approach that considers the Coulomb interactions between the two delocalized electrons, as well as the single and double electron transfer processes which can be operative in delocalization of the electronic pairs is developed. The new approach is based on the site-symmetry concept which makes possible a group theoretical classification for the delocalized states of electronic pairs. This procedure proves to be very efficient in the calculation of t…

Oral cromolyn sodium in comparison with elimination diet in the irritable bowel syndrome, diarrheic type. Multicenter study of 428 patients.

1995

In a significant number of patients affected by the irritable bowel syndrome, an adverse reaction to food is proposed to be a causative factor. A diet that eliminates the offending foods is the obvious treatment for such adverse reactions. Compliance with a dietetic regimen is often poor and sometimes not completely free from risks.Since the diarrheic type of irritable bowel syndrome seems mainly affected by food intolerance, and previous observations suggested that oral cromolyn sodium is effective in such patients, a multicenter therapeutic trial in the diarrheic type of irritable bowel syndrome was carried out in 346 of 409 patients with this disease, to evaluate the effects of oral crom…

A new criterion for determining the expansion center for circular-harmonic filters

1995

A new criterion for locating the expansion center of circular harmonic filters is presented. The innovation consists in the use of the information provided by both the circular harmonic energy map and the peak to correlation energy map of the object to be detected. The choice of an expansion center with a high value of peak to correlation energy ensures a good discrimination capability of the filter. In addition, we choose a point which is a local maximum for the energy map. An improvement of the discrimination ability is obtained with respect to previous methods.

Absence of mutation at the GAP-related domain of the neurofibromatosis type 1 gene in sporadic neurofibrosarcomas and other bone and soft tissue sarc…

1995

The NF1 gene encodes neurofibromin, a GTPase-activating protein containing a GAP-related domain (NF1-GRD) that is capable of downregulating ras by stimulating ras intrinsic GTPase activity. We tested 44 sarcomas, nine of which corresponded to sporadic neurofibrosarcomas, for mutations at the NF1-GRD by the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique, finding no mutation in every sample tested. We suggest that inactivation of the NF1-GRD by gene mutation seems not to be an important event in the tumorigenesis of sarcomas.

Ultrastructural alterations and environmental exposure influence the opiate concentrations in hair of drug addicts

1995

Hair samples were taken at autopsy from the head of 1 male and 1 female subject both known as drug abusers. Some of the strands were bleached by in-vitro cosmetic treatment. The bleached hair as well as the original hair samples were partly exposed to water or soil prior to further investigations and drug monitoring. The exposure times were 4 weeks or 6 months for water and 6 months for soil. The hair fibers were examined by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and by scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigations. The electron microscope studies confirmed that all experimental conditions had produced morphological alterations in the hair fibers. After exposure to water or to soil for …

Part-Time Work in the Nordic Countries: A Trap for Women?

1995

Abstract. The aim of the study is to examine the consequences of part-time employment at the individual level, especially for women. Are part-time jobs precarious as compared to full-time jobs, and are they traps, or perhaps rather bridges, in the labour market? The results indicate that the situation of part-timers varies in the Nordic countries. On one hand, the gap between part-time and full-time work has narrowed in Sweden and Norway, which may reflect a normalization of part-time work in these countries. On the other, part-timers' situation in the Finnish labour market still seems more precarious than that of full-timers. However, in most cases part-time work is a bridge rather than a …

Identification of spatially confined states in two-dimensional quasiperiodic lattices.

1995

We study the electronic eigenstates on several two-dimensional quasiperiodic lattices, such as the Penrose lattice and random-tiling lattices, using a tight-binding Hamiltonian in the vertex model. The infinitely degenerate states at E=0 are especially investigated. We present a systematic procedure which allows us to identify numerically the spatially strongly localized so-called confined states.

A Big Five personality inventory in two non‐Indo‐European languages

1995

In this study we report on two successful replications of a five‐factor personality inventory in two non‐Indo‐European languages, Estonian and Finnish, which both belong to the group of Uralic languages. Costa and McCrae's (1985) NEO Personality Inventory was adapted to these two languages. By all relevant psychometric parameters neither developed construct differs from the original construct: the reliabilities of only 11 per cent for the Estonian and 36 per cent for the Finnish subscale were lower than those of the respective NEO‐PI scales. The factor structure of both Estonian and Finnish inventories was very close to the five‐factor structure of the NEO‐PI, accounting for 71.7 per cent …

The Suppressor of fused Gene Encodes a Novel PEST Protein Involved in Drosophila Segment Polarity Establishment

1995

Abstract Suppressor of fused, Su(fu), was identified as a semi-dominant suppressor of the putative serine/threonine kinase encoded by the segment polarity gene fused in Drosophila melanogaster. The amorphic Su(fu) mutation is viable, shows a maternal effect and displays no phenotype by itself. Su(fu) mutations are often found associated to karmoisin (kar) mutations but two complementation groups can be clearly identified. By using a differential hybridization screening method, we have cloned the Su(fu) region and identified chromosomal rearrangements associated with Su(fu) mutations. Two classes of cDNAs with similar developmental patterns, including a maternal contribution, are detectable …

Binding and internalization of human papillomavirus type 33 virus-like particles by eukaryotic cells

1995

Infection of cells by human papillomaviruses (HPVs) associated with malignant genital lesions has not been studied because of the lack of an in vitro system and the unavailability of virions. We have now used virus-like particles (VLPs) of HPV type 33 to analyze the initial events in the interaction of the HPV capsid with cell lines. Binding of VLPs to HeLa cells was observed in biochemical assays and by immunofluorescence. VLP binding was inhibited by antisera raised against VLPs but not by monoclonal antibodies recognizing either L1 or L2 epitopes accessible on VLPs. Under saturating conditions, approximately 2 x 10(4) VLPs were bound per cell, with a dissociation constant of about 100 pM…

false

1995

45 g of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA 500) with a trimodal molar mass distribution (Mw = 500 kg/mol, (Mw/Mn) −1 = 2.33) were fractionated by means of CPF (continuous polymer fractionation) in two steps using 1,4-dioxane as solvent. The counter-current extraction was performed in a glass column (length: 190 cm, diameter: 1.5 cm) filled with a network of wires, introducing the feed 75 cm from its upper end. The distribution of the highest molar mass fraction (Mw = 760 kg/mol) is unimodal and comparatively narrow ((Mw/Mn) −1 = 0.66). Indications exits that fractionation is not only taking place with respect to molar mass but also with respect to tacticity. Mit Hilfe der kontinuierlichen Polymerfrakt…

Clean analytical method for the determination of propoxur

1995

Abstract A method has been developed for the determination of propoxur, a carbamate pesticide, by means of its reaction with p-aminophenol (PAP). The method involves the reaction, in the presence of KIO4, between the quinoneimine form of PAP and the deprotonated form of 2-isopropoxyphenol, obtained by the alkaline hydrolysis of propoxur, to provide an indophenol dye which absorbs at 600 nm. The analysis is carried out in a flow system and, after the measurement step, the waste, the reaction product and the unreacted derivatising agent is detoxified in a UV-irradiated coil placed after the measurement flow-cell and after mixing the waste with a TiO2(anatase) catalyst slurry, which can be reu…

false

1995

Surfaces have a profound effect on the structure and related properties of multiphase polymeric materials, such as polymer mixtures and block copolymer mesophases. In particular, phase transitions in the bulk (unmixing, microphase separation, etc.) may be complemented by surface-induced transitions (formation of wetting layers, surface-directed spinodal decomposition, surface-induced ordering). This review gives a brief introduction to the phenomenological theories of such phenomena, emphasizing the simplest approach based on Flory—Huggins—de Gennes free energy functionals and associated Monte Carlo simulations. More sophisticated theories and recent experiments are mentioned briefly.