Osmotic pressure, atomic pressure and the virial equation of state of polymer solutions: Monte Carlo simulations of a bead-spring model

1994

A recently introduced coarse-grained model of polymer chains is studied analyzing various contributions to the pressure as obtained from the virial theorem as a function of chain length N, temperature T and density ϕ. The off-lattice model of the polymer chains has anharmonic springs between the beads, but of finite extensibility, and the Morse-type interaction between beads is repulsive at very short distances and attractive at intermediate distances. Solvent molecules are not explicitly included. It is found that the covalent forces along the chain (modelled by the spring potentials) contribute a negative term to the pressure, irrespective of temperature, which vanishes linearly in ϕ as ϕ…

Muscarinic inhibition of endogenous noradrenaline release from rabbit isolated trachea: receptor subtype and receptor reserve.

1994

The aim of the present study was to characterize putative muscarine receptors on sympathetic nerve terminals in the rabbit trachea. Release of endogenous noradrenaline from in vitro incubated rabbit trachea was evoked by electrical field stimulation (3 Hz, 540 pulses) and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The muscarine receptor agonist oxotremorine inhibited the evoked release of noradrenaline completely at 1 mumol/l (EC50: 64 nmol/l). The concentration response curve was very steep (Hill coefficient of 2.3). Scopolamine shifted the concentration response curve of oxotremorine to the right (-log KB 8.48) demonstrating specific, inhibitory m…

Test of chiral perturbation theory in η decays

1994

The decay of the η-meson into three pions plays an important role as a test of low-energy QCD calculations in the framework of chiral perturbation theory. Previous experiments show results that are inconclusive or even contradictory. The Crystal Barrel experiment at LEAR has determined the braching ratiosΓ(η→3π0)/Γ(η→π+π−π0)=1.47±0.09±0.15 andΓ(η→γγ)/Γ(η→π+π−π0)=1.88±0.10±0.17 using its unique features to detect charged particles as well as neutral particles. The value for the first ratio agrees nicely with the theoretical predictions and solves previous experimental uncertainties. The second value, which yields a partial width ofΓ(η→π+π−π0)=(0.24±0.03) keV, shows that the same next-to-lead…

Casteldaccia eye study: prevalence of cataract in the adult and elderly population of a Mediterranean town.

1994

Prevalence of cataract was studied in a population based survey performed in adults aged 40 years or more living in Casteldaccia, a small Sicilian town. Lens opacities of moderate or severe grade (type II or worse, according to the Lens Opacity Classification System II) were found at the following rates: nuclear opalescence in 18.5%, cortical cataract in 12.9%, posterior subcapsular cataract in 10.8%. All these types of cataract were much more frequent in the elderly population and were about 1.5 times more common in women than in men. Late cataract was found in about 1/3 of subjects aged 60 to 69 years, in 2/3 of subjects aged 70 or more, but rarely under 60 years of age. However, early ca…

The asialoglycoprotein receptor mediates hepatic binding and uptake of natural hepatitis B virus particles derived from viraemic carriers.

1994

As a putative mechanism of hepatitis B virus (HBV) uptake into hepatocytes the interaction between HBV and the hepatic, human-derived asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) was investigated. Sera from patients with different variations of hepatitis B surface antigen-(HBsAg) positive chronic hepatitis, HBV particles isolated from HBV carriers with high-titre viraemia and commercial HBsAg served as sources of HBV. ASGPR was affinity-purified from human liver. HBV that had bound to isolated ASGPR was either detected by radio-immunoassay using solid-phase bound ASGPR or enzyme immunoassay with biotin-ASGPR bound to immobilized HBV. Furthermore, binding and uptake of purified, 125I-labelled HBV par…

Hybrid materials from organic polymers and inorganic salts

1994

The prepaparation of amorphous, homogeneous blends of zwitterionic polymers and transition metal salts was investigated. Homogeneous miscibility was achieved in many cases up to equimolar amounts of salt, depending on the anion and cation chosen. Various analytical techniques point to a solid state solution of the inorganic ions in the polymer matrix.

Running-induced muscle injury and myocellular enzyme release in rats

1994

The relationships and time course of exercise-induced muscle damage, estimated by beta-glucuronidase activity and microscopy, to muscle swelling, estimated by muscle water content and microscopy, and to the serum activity of creatine kinase (CK) and the concentration of carbonic anhydrase III were studied in rats 2, 12, 48, and 96 h after 90 min of intermittent running uphill (+13.5 degrees) or downhill (-13.5 degrees) at a speed of 17 m/min. The injury was more pronounced in soleus after uphill running and in the red parts of quadriceps femoris and in the white part of vastus lateralis after downhill running, whereas triceps brachii was not damaged. Increase in muscle water content preced…

Conduction times of cortical projections to paravertebral muscles in controls and in patients with multiple sclerosis

1994

Sesquiterpene lactones and acetylenes from Artemisia reptans

1994

Abstract The aerial parts of Artemisia reptans yielded a new thiophene acetylene, four new guaianolides, a new acyclic sesquiterpene related to davanone and several known compounds.

Dido's problem in the plane for domains with fixed diameter

1994

We find the connected compact domains in the closed half-plane, with fixed area and diameter, which minimize the relative perimeter.

Non-commutative geometry and covariance: From the quantum plane to quantum tensors

1994

Reflection and braid equations for rank two $q$-tensors are derived from the covariance properties of quantum vectors by using the $R$-matrix formalism.

Bibliographic/Archival Material Relating to the History of Archaeology

1994

Acute normovolaemic anaemia prevents ethanol-induced gastric damage in rats through a blood flow related mechanism.

1994

The aim of the study was to assess whether changes in gastric mucosal blood flow induced by acute normovolaemic anaemia influence the susceptibility of the gastric mucosa to ethanol-induced damage, and the relationship of these changes with nitric oxide biosynthesis. Acute normovolaemic anaemia, promoted by exchanging 3 ml of blood by a plasma expander, induced a significant increase in gastric mucosal blood flow measured by hydrogen gas clearance, without changes in arterial blood pressure. After intragastric 60% ethanol administration, gastric blood flow was still significantly higher in anaemic than in control rats, and this was associated with a lower macroscopic and microscopic gastric…

Comparison of living polymerization systems

1994

Recent developments in the field of living polymerization are surveyed. Comparison of the available mechanistic and kinetic information is made for living anionic, cationic, free radical, group transfer, ring-opening metathesis, Ziegler-Natta and immortal polymerizations. This evaluation indicates that the majority of living polymerizations involve quasiliving equilibrium between active (propagating) and dormant (nonpropagating) polymer chains. On the basis of the kinetics of a general model for quasiliving and ideal living polymerizations it is concluded that ideal living polymerization is a special subclass of quasiliving polymerizations. Classification of living polymerization systems is…

Theoretical approaches to behavior change in myofunctional therapy

1994

The effectiveness of myofunctional therapy depends not only on the quality of the individual exercises but also considerably on the patient's compliance. In this paper, factors are described which may decisively influence patients motivation to cooperate during treatment. Based on experience in dealing with patients, clinical studies and psychological knowledge, theoretical approaches to patient motivation are discussed, namely aspects of verbal communication, control, reward, behavior agreement as well as verbal self-control and self-reward.

Expression of M-cadherin protein in myogenic cells during prenatal mouse development and differentiation of embryonic stem cells in culture.

1994

Molecules regulating morphogenesis by cell-cell interactions are the cadherins, a class of calcium-dependent adhesion molecules. One of its members, M-cadherin, has been isolated from a myoblast cell line (Donalies et al. [1991] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88:8024—8028). In mouse development, expression of M-cadherin mRNA first appears at day 8.5 of gestation (E8.5) in somites and has been postulated to be down-regulated in developing muscle masses (Moore and Walsh [1993] Development 117:1409—1420). Affinity-purified polyclonal M-cadherin antibodies, detecting a protein of approximately 120 kDa, were used to study the cell expression pattern of M-cadherin protein. It was first visualized …

In vitro study of human alveolar macrophage and peripheral blood mononuclear cell reactive oxygen-intermediates release induced by sulfur dioxide at …

1994

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a major air pollutant in urban areas. Alveolar macrophages (AM) located on the alveolar surface are in direct contact with this inhaled gas. We evaluated the dose-dependent effect of SO2 exposure on the oxidative metabolism of AM and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) by measuring the spontaneous and stimulated reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) release. AM or PBMNC were placed on a polycarbonate membrane, which was in direct contact with the surface of a nutrient reservoir. For exposure of the cells to SO2 a special chamber was employed, in which humidified standard air with 5% CO2 at 37 degrees C was mixed with SO2 at the desired concentration. Periods of …

Radial cracks around inclusions: A program to calculate P-T paths with respect to elastic properties of minerals

1994

Abstract Radial cracking around inclusions in a matrix originated by their differential elastic behavior allows the development of a new method for reconstructing the evolution of P-T paths during metamorphism. The appearance of radial cracking is a function of the variation of the elastic parameters between the matrix and inclusion, the initial P-T conditions of inclusion entrapment and the component of isothermal decompression characteristic for a retrograde path. The program RADCRA is written in FORTRAN 77 and presents a general form to calculate the different P-T evolutions for a matrix and an inclusion during metamorphism. Necessary input data are the elastic properties of each mineral…

The formation of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines by the reaction of 3-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazol-5-amine with chalcones

1994

Cyclocondensation reactions of the pyrazol-5-amine 1 and the 1-aryl-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-ones 2a-d yield the 6,7-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines 7a-d. Whereas 7a-c can be isolated in pure state, 7d is subjected to a spontaneous oxidation.

Synthesis and Muscarinic Activity of Isoxazole-substituted 1,2,5,6-Tetrahydropyridines

1994

Induction of stress proteins inLeuconostoc oenos to perform direct inoculation of wine

1994

The enhancement or induction of the protein synthesis was clearly observed in cells ofL. oenos labeled with35S for five proteins during heat shock at 42°C and acid shock at pH 3. Furthermore, no stress protein was induced after exposure ofL. oenos to ethanol shock 10% (v/v). Moreover, survival ofL. oenos in wine and ability to perform alolactic fermentation was improved after direct inoculation when cells were pretreated at 42°C.

Antiproton-proton annihilation in-flight

1994

This is an overview of the preliminary results of\(\bar pp\) annihilation at incident\(\bar p\) momenta of 600, 1200 and 1940 MeV/c(*). The data was taken at LEAR with the Crystal Barrel Detector (E. Akeret al.:Nucl. Instrum. Methods A,321, 108 (1992)). In the two pseudoscalar final states seven different channels are observable and their angular distributions are measured. They are compared to older data, if existent, and are found to be equal within the experimental errors. In the three-meson final states, an overview of the already examined final states is given. Striking signals in the Dalitz plots and invariant-mass projections for a set of final states are observed. In the final state…

Third-generation hepatitis C virus tests in asymptomatic anti-HCV-positive blood donors

1994

This study evaluated the performance of third-generation anti-HCV assays in blood donors who were positive by second-generation anti-HCV, and assessed any possible relationship between antibody patterns, HCV replication and liver damage. Fifty-two second-generation enzyme immunoassay-positive asymptomatic Italian blood donors were retested for anti-HCV by third-generation enzyme immunoassay and recombinant immunoblot assay (Ortho third-generation enzyme immunoassay, third-generation recombinant immunoblot assay), utilising recombinant C33c and NS5 and synthetic peptide C100 and C22 antigens, and for HCV-RNA by "nested" polymerase chain reaction with 5' region primers. Alanine aminotransfera…

The Fate Of The Adult Exstrophy Patient

1994

Between 1968 and 1993, 101 patients with bladder exstrophy or incontinent epispadias underwent surgery at our hospital. The standard procedure was ureterosigmoidostomy and additional genital reconstruction. Of the 56 patients who have reached adulthood 45 could be interviewed regarding social integration, sexuality and fertility. All patients have a functioning urinary diversion. Of the 45 patients questioned 41 have completed vocational training or are currently in training, 3 are unemployed and 1 lives at a therapeutic center. Among the patients 29 are married or have a steady partner. All women engage in sexual intercourse and 2 have delivered 3 children by cesarean section. All men achi…

The role of metal corrosion in inflammatory processes: induction of adhesion molecules by heavy metal ions

1994

Prosthetic devices undergo corrosion processes after implantation including the release of certain amounts of metal ions into the adjacent tissues. On reaching the bloodstream, a systemic influence of those ions may be envisaged. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are recognized as an essential component of the mechanisms of endothelial damage. To study the influence of selected heavy metals on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) EIA methods were used to evaluate cellular expression of E-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and GMP-140 under the influence of high (cytotoxic) very low (non-cytotoxic) concentrations of Zn, Ni, Co and Cr. The de novo synthesis of CAMs was studied with the help of m…

Cerebral blood flow autoregulation during hypobaric hypotension assessed by laser Doppler scanning.

1994

Hypobaric hypotension was used to reduce systemic blood pressure in rats below the lower threshold of CBF autoregulation to evaluate a new laser Doppler (LD) “scanning” technique. Spontaneously breathing male Wistar Kyoto rats (n = 8) were anesthetized with chloral hydrate and the head fixed in a stereotaxic head holder. A cranial window with intact dura mater was introduced to assess local CBF (lCBF) by LD. One stationary probe served to detect rapid flow changes, whereas the second probe was used to sample lCBF recordings from many cortical locations by means of a stepping motor-controlled micromanipulator to obtain lCBF frequency histograms. Advantages are an improved spatial resolution…

Moderne topische Glukokortikoide und Antiinfektiva beim superinfizierten atopischen Ekzem: Bilden Prednicarbat und Dodecyldimethylammoniumchlorid ein…

1994

The addition of an anti-infective to a topical glucocorticoid preparation for superinfected atopic eczema is still controversial. To address this question in the context of the topical glucocorticoids of the non-halogenated double-ester type 0.25% prednicarbate cream was compared to the identical preparation incorporating the same amount of the disinfectant didecyldimethylammoniumchloride in patients suffering from atopic eczema carryingStaphylococcus aureus at a density of more than 106 colony-forming units per cm2. One of the preparations was used twice daily over 5 days according to a random plan in a blind fashion. Thereafter treatment was based on either prednicarbate cream or the corr…

Antiproton annihilation at rest in liquid deuterium into π−π0π0pS

1994

With the Crystal Barrel detector, the final state π−π0π0pS at rest in liquid deuterium was measured for the first time. A preliminary partial-wave analysis was performed, which required two interesting features: besides the ρ(770), a second pole was needed in the ππP-wave and a narrow resonance in the ππS-wave, slightly above 1500 MeV/c2. With the same parametrization a high-statistics π+π−π0 data set could also be well described.

Verschiedene Opioide beim kardiovaskul�ren Risikopatienten

1994

Efficient analgesia may be the major objective in the cardiovascular risk patient following myocardial infarction, acute occlusion of peripheral vessels, or dissection/perforation of major abdominal vessels. It was the purpose of the study to investigate the haemodynamic and respiratory side effects of eight different opioids in 57 circulatory risk patients prior to major vascular surgery. Methods. Patients were randomly allocated to eight groups, each receiving a different opioid within a clinical, equipotent dose range (buprenorphine, fentanyl, morphine, nalbuphine, pentazocine, pethidine, tramadol, alfentanil). A complete haemodynamic and blood gas status was obtained prior to as well as…

Topological Linearly Ordered Spaces Determined by Pervin's Quasi-uniformity

1994

: In this paper we study those uniform linearly ordered spaces that are determined by Pervin's quasi-uniformity. In particular, we show that the space of all countable ordinals is determined by a unique quasi-uniformity.

The microsomal epoxide hydrolase has a single membrane signal anchor sequence which is dispensable for the catalytic activity of this protein

1994

The microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) catalyses the hydrolysis of reactive epoxides which are formed by the action of cytochromes P-450 from xenobiotics. In addition it has been suggested that mEH might mediate the transport of bile acids. For the mEH it has been shown that it is co-translationally inserted into the endoplasmic reticulum. Here we demonstrate that the N-terminal 20 amino acid residues of this protein serve as its single membrane anchor signal sequence and that the function of this sequence can also be supplied by a cytochrome P-450 (CYP2B1) anchor signal sequence. The evidence supporting this conclusion is as follows: (i) the rat mEH and a CYP2B1-mEH fusion protein, in whic…

Swelling, Acidosis, and Irreversible Damage of Glial Cells from Exposure to Arachidonic Acid in vitro

1994

Swelling and damage of C6 glioma cells and of primary cultured astrocytes were analyzed in vitro during incubation with arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4). The cells were suspended in a physiological medium supplemented with AA at concentrations of 0.001–1.0 m M. Cell swelling was quantified by flow cytometry with hydrodynamic focusing. Flow cytometry was also utilized for assessment of cell viability by exclusion of the fluorescent dye propidium iodide and for measurement of the intracellular pH (pHi) by 2′,7′-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)−5(and −6)carboxyfluorescein. Administration of AA caused an immediate dose-dependent swelling of C6 glioma cells, even at a concentration of 0.01 m M. At this level cel…

Sesquiterpene lactones, lignans and aromatic esters from Cheirolophus species

1994

Abstract The aerial parts of five Cheirolophus species yielded three new guaianolides, a new lignan and three new aromatic esters, together with other known compounds of the same type.

Phylogeny of the Drosophila obscura species group deduced from mitochondrial DNA sequences

1994

Approximately 2 kb corresponding to different regions of the mtDNA of 14 different species of the obscura group of Drosophila have been sequenced. In spite of the uncertainties arising in the phylogenetic reconstruction due to a restrictive selection toward a high mtDNA A+T content, all the phylogenetic analysis carried out clearly indicate that the obscura group is formed by, at least, four well-defined lineages that would have appeared as the consequence of a rapid phyletic radiation. Two of the lineages correspond to monophyletic subgroups (i.e., affinis and pseudoobscura), whereas the obscura subgroup remains heterogeneous assemblage that could be reasonably subdivided into at least two…

Synthesis and mutagenicity of the diastereomeric fjord-region 11,12-dihydrodiol 13,14-epoxides of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene.

1994

Extensive tumorigenicity studies in rodents revealed that dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P) is the most potent carcinogen among all polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) tested so far. The structure of the genotoxic metabolite(s) responsible for this exceptional carcinogenicity is unknown. The fjord-region syn- and anti-DB[a,l]P-11,12-dihydrodiol 13,14-epoxides (syn- and anti-DB[a,l]PDE) were synthesized to clarify their role as possible ultimate mutagenic and carcinogenic metabolites of DB[a,l]P.9-Formyl-11,12-dimethoxybenzo[g] chrysene was prepared from 9-phenanthrylacetic acid by a photochemical route. After reaction of the aldehyde with trimethylsulfonium iodide to generate an oxiranyl si…

Spiral CT of bronchial arteries in chronic thromboembolism.

1994

OBJECTIVE: Computed tomography study of bronchial artery anatomy and evaluation of dilatation and tortuousity as indicators for pulmonary hypertension and surgical risk in patients with chronic thromboembolism were performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed contrast-enhanced, thin section spiral CT scans of 39 patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Findings were compared with mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressure in all, postoperative mortality in 33, and postoperative CT in 5 patients. Twenty patients without pulmonary hypertension served as controls. RESULTS: In the pulmonary hypertension group, 50 bronchial arteries were observed in 30 of 39 patients. Their…