Correlations of isokinetic and psychophysical back lift and static back extensor endurance tests in men

1994

Isokinetic lift, psychophysical lift, and static back endurance tests are among the most widely used measurements of muscle function for determining risk for, and recovery from, back problems. After determining test repeatability we examined the degree of association between these test measures in 100 men selected to represent a variety of occupations and lifestyles. Isokinetic lifting had low correlations with test results for psychophysical lifting (r = 0.28) and static back endurance (r = 0.24). Static back endurance and psychophysical lift test results were not at all correlated (r = 0.03). RELEVANCE--:Muscle function measurements for back problems are sometimes arbitrarily selected due…

Using Heavy Quark Fragmentation into Heavy Hadrons to Determine QCD Parameters and Test Heavy Quark Symmetry

1994

We present a detailed analysis of the use of heavy quark fragmentation into heavy hadrons for testing the heavy quark effective theory through comparison of the measured fragmentation parameters of the $c$ and $b$ quarks. Our analysis is entirely model independent. We interpret the known perturbative evolution in a way useful for exploiting heavy quark symmetry at low energy. We first show consistency with perturbative QCD scaling for measurements done solely with $c$ quarks. We then apply the perturbative analysis and the heavy quark expansion to relate measurements from ARGUS and LEP. We place bounds on a nonperturbative quark mass suppressed parameter, and compare the values for the $b$ …

Imaging of surface plasmon propagation and edge interaction using a photon scanning tunneling microscope

1994

We report the direct imaging of surface plasmon propagation on thin silver films using the photon scanning tunneling microscope. It is found that the surface plasmon remains tightly confined in the original launch direction with insignificant scattering to other momentum states. A propagation length of 13.2 \ensuremath{\mu}m is measured at \ensuremath{\lambda}=632.8 nm. We also present images showing the interaction of a surface plasmon with the edge of the metal film supporting it. The most remarkable feature is the absence of specularly reflected beam.

Cognitive Overload and Orthographic Errors: When Cognitive Overload Enhances Subject–Verb Agreement Errors. A Study in French Written Language

1994

Three experiments were carried out to test the hypothesis that cognitive overload enhances the occurrence of subject-verb agreement errors in French. Highly educated adults were presented orally with sentences they were required to write down. The sentences were of the types “N1 de N2 V” (Noun 1 of Noun 2 Verb: Le chien des voisins arrive/The neighbours’ dog is arriving) versus “Prl Pr2 V” (Pronoun 1 Pronoun 2 Verb: Il les aime/He likes them). In these sentences, N1 (Pr1) and N2 (Pr2) matched or mismatched in number. In the three experiments, the sentences had to be recalled either in an isolated condition (i.e. every presented sentence had to be immediately recalled) or with a concurrent …

Early detection of embryonic malformations by transvaginal and color Doppler sonography.

1994

A total of 834 women with uneventful pregnancies were followed prospectively until the 15th week of gestation by TVS to screen for early embryonic malformations. Twenty-eight embryonic anomalies were detected in this series (3.3%). The median gestational age at diagnosis was 11 (range, 8 to 15) weeks. Two neural tube defects were missed by early TVS screening. Two suspected abdominal wall defects were not confirmed by repeat mid-second trimester abdominal sonography representing 6.7% of all fetal malformations evident by 24 weeks of gestation. The sensitivity and specificity of TVS screening for fetal malformations in this series were 93.3 and 99.7%, respectively. In addition, the role of T…

First synthesis of single-“strapped cyclam-porphyrins”

1994

The first synthesis of strapped cyclam porphyrins is described ; these will be studied as dioxygen carriers as well as cytochrome C oxidase models. The original derivatives are characterized by mass spectrometry and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The cofacial conformation of the two different macrocycles is confirmed by 1H NMR data.

Staining of immunoblots by immunochromatography.

1994

Study of annihilation at rest into ωηπ0

1994

Abstract We have studied p p annihilations at rest in liquid hydrogen into the final state ωηπ 0 where ω decays to π 0 γ . This reaction is dominated by the production of α 0 (980) and contributions from a 2 (1320) and b 1 0 (1235). Upper limits for the production of an axial vector h ′ 1 (1380) meson and vector mesons ω(1390), ω(1600), and φ(1680) decaying to ωη are given. The branching ratio of p p annihilation into ωηπ 0 was determined to be (0.68±0.01±0.05)%.

Low-field diamagnetic response of granular superconductors at finite temperatures

1994

We study the low-field diamagnetic response of granular superconductors at finite temperatures by means of a simple two-dimensional Josephson-junction array. The temperature effects are taken into account by inserting white-noise current sources in parallel to the resistively shunted junction circuit models of the Josephson junctions of the network. By this analysis we argue that a simplified one-dimensional description of the equivalent circuit, proposed by the authors for cylindrical granular superconductors, is still valid even in the presence of thermally activated flux jumps. A flux-creep picture for intergranular flux motion follows.

Effects of sublethal exposure to lead on levels of energetic compounds in Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852).

1994

Lead is neither essential nor beneficial to living organisms; all existing data show that its metabolic effects are adverse. Lead is toxic to all phyla of aquatic biota. Most of the lead discharged into surface water is rapidly incorporated into suspended and bottom sediments. The American red crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, lives in a wide range of environmental conditions that include highly polluted waters. Lead present in take sediments can be available to aquatic animals such as P. clarkii because it is a detritivor and burrow into the sediment. In fact, we found remarkable levels of lead in tissues of P. clarkii caught in Albufera Lake and kept 15 days in clean water (e. g. 223 [mu]g/g…

Many localized electrons in disordered systems with Coulomb interaction: A simulation of the Coulomb glass

1994

A Superantigen as Virulence Factor in an Acute Bacterial Infection

1994

This study addresses the role of a bacterial superantigen as a potential virulence factor during an acute systemic infection. BALB/c mice were intravenously infected with a recombinant Staphylococcus aureus strain capable of producing plasmid-encoded staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) or with the SEB plasmid-deficient parental strain. Infection with SEB-producing bacteria resulted in an initial expansion and subsequent decrease of circulating V beta 8+ T lymphocytes. This numeric decrease was accompanied by a SEB-specific state of hyporesponsiveness of splenic T cells. In parallel with SEB-triggered unresponsiveness of a large proportion of T lymphocytes, a weakening of the overall T cell r…

Indications of Two Separate Relaxators in the Subphonon Region of Tetragonal BaTiO 3

1994

Significant discrepancies were generally reported in the dynamics of BaTiO3 between results deduced from various experimental techniques. Here dielectric and quasi-elastic light scattering measurements are investigated on high-quality BaTiO3 crystals. We show that two relaxators have to be introduced below the soft-phonon frequency. A complete dielectric dispersion in a very wide frequency range is thus achieved which consistently relies the high-frequency dielectric results and the Raman data. There is also a qualitative agreement between our two-relaxator model and the dynamics which were deduced some time ago from EPR experiments.

Identities of sums of commutative subalgebras

1994

SiaR un'algebra associativa tale cheR=A+B conA, B sottoalgebre commutative. Si dimostra cheR soddisfa l'identita polinomiale [[x,y],[z,t]]≡0 e che, seV e la varieta determinata da questa identita,V e la piu piccola varieta contenente tutte le algebre somma di sottoalgebre commutative. Si determina inoltre la struttura delle algebre libere diV.

Anaplastic Wilms' tumour, a subtype displaying poor prognosis, harbours p53 gene mutations

1994

The genetics of Wilms' tumour (WT), a paediatric malignancy of the kidney, is complex. Inactivation of the tumour suppressor gene, WT1, is associated with tumour aetiology in approximately 10-15% of WTs. Chromosome 17p changes have been noted in cytogenetic studies of WTs, prompting us to screen 140 WTs for p53 mutations. When histopathology reports were available, p53 mutations were present in eight of eleven anaplastic WTs, a tumour subtype associated with poor prognosis. Amplification of MDM2, a gene whose product binds and sequesters p53, was excluded. Our results indicate that p53 alterations provide a molecular marker for anaplastic WTs.

Viscometric behaviour of polymer blends based on poly (vinylidene fluoride)

1994

The viscosity behaviour of dilute dimethylformamide solutions of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-poly (methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinylidene fluoride)-polystyrene has been studied at 25°C. The polymer concentration ranges are such that neither phase separation nor microgel formation occurs, although we are very close to theta conditions. The intrinsic viscosity and viscosity interaction parameter of the ternary mixtures have been calculated. The estimation of the compatibility of the above polymer pairs has been studied based on: a) specific viscosities; b) viscosity interaction parameters, according to Krigbaum and Wall formalism, and c) viscosity interaction parameters of a system formed by …

Proof of multilayer structural organization in self-assembled polycation-polyanion molecular films

1994

Abstract Multilayer organization of ultrathin polycation-polyanion self-assembled films is demonstrated using two approaches. (1) Fabrication of polyion superlattices with alternation of three different polyelectrolytes in (ABCB) n fashion, which gives rise to a Bragg peak in X-ray reflectivity. The spacing d=93.4 A corresponds to the repeat unit (ABCB) n . (2) Drying-induced manipulation of the film surface at regular intervals. Normally the layer-by-layer adsorption is carried out by keeping the film wet throughout all deposition cycles. Alternatively the film surface can be manipulated by gently drying the film in a stream of nitrogen or air after the adsorption of every layer. When the …

Expression of engrailed in embryos of a beetle and five dipteran species with special reference to the terminal regions

1994

The engrailed expression in embryos of a beetle, four midges and a fly has been analysed with special reference to the terminal regions. In all six species the segmental expression pattern is very similar but variability occurs in the clypeolabrum, foregut and hindgut. In some cases, segmental engrailed expression seems to be extended into the hind- and/or foregut. The engrailed expression of these species is compared with published data from other insects.

Competition between decarboxylation and isomerization in the C3H5O 2+ energy surface. Justification of the experimental results by molecular orbital …

1994

In constrast with recent molecular orbital calculations on the decarboxylation of O-protonated 2-oxetanone, this experimental work indicates that no decarboxylation of this cation occurs in sulphuric acid solution up to 150°C, but instead a clean isomerization to protonated acrylic acid takes place. Parallel theoretical work shows that the gas-phase model is too crude to account successfully for the experimental facts obtained in acidic media. However, the latter are well reproduced when the effect of the solvent is taken into account. The present findings do not necessarily invalidate the reaction mechanism currently accepted to explain the rate enhancement and change of stereochemistry ac…

Effectiveness of platinum wire microcoils for venous occlusion: A study on patients treated for venogenic impotence

1994

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of venous occlusions achieved by embolization with platinum microwire coils. Follow-up venographies in 19 patients, 1-20 months (average 8 months) after coil embolizations, were evaluated. Twenty-eight of 126 (22.2%) coil embolizations were found to be patent. Coils which had not formed or partially formed upon embolization had a patency/recanalization rate of 37.5% (12/32). Among coils which had formed nearly completely or completely only 16 of 95 (17%) showed venous patency. As coil embolization had been augmented by sclerotherapy in all patients, the effectiveness of long-term venous occlusion by platinum wire coils alone is pr…

Aceclofenac versus piroxicam in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee: A double-blind controlled study

1994

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of aceclofenac tablets 100 mg twice daily with piroxicam tablets 20 mg once daily in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee or gonarthritis. A randomized, double-blind, controlled study of 3 months' duration was conducted in patients with gonarthritis diagnosed according to the World Health Organization criteria. A total of 212 patients were recruited; 205 patients fully complied with the inclusion-exclusion criteria. Of these, 103 received aceclofenac and 102 received piroxicam. Fourteen patients in the aceclofenac group and 12 patients in the piroxicam group who failed to complete the 3-month treatment …

Infrared spectroscopic study of a phenyl benzoate side group—methacrylate main chain polymeric liquid crystal

1994

Abstract The temperature dependence of the infrared dichroism of a side chain polymeric liquid crystal was investigated for two homogeneously oriented samples, one aligned with a PVA coating and the other aligned by a magnetic field. From the apparent order parameters, it was found that the rotation of the mesogenic side group was restricted. Not only the rigid part of the side group, but also the alkyl chains were found to be partly ordered. Realignment of the side groups was observed in the case of the magnetically aligned sample at the smectic-nematic transition temperature. Unlike the other absorption bands, the C˭O bond vibration band shifted to higher wavenumbers with increasing tempe…

Synthesis and properties of a photoaffinity labeling reagent for protoporphyrinogen oxidases, the target enzymes of diphenyl ether herbicides

1994

A diazoketone 3 has been synthesized in two steps from acifluorfen 1, a diphenyl ether herbicide. Like the parent compound 1, the diazoketone 3 is toxic to plant cells and inhibits protoporphyrinogen oxidase, the molecular target of diphenyl ether herbicides. On photolysis of 3 in methanol, the generated carbene mainly undergoes the Wolff rearrangement to a ketene which further adds methanol, but many other products are observed. A tritiated derivative of 3 has been prepared which is suitable for photoaffinity labeling experiments.

Cloning, structure, cellular localization, and possible function of the tumor suppressor gene lethal(3)malignant blood neoplasm-1 of Drosophila melan…

1994

The tumor suppressor gene, lethal(3)malignant blood neoplasm-1+, of Drosophila melanogaster is required for the differentiation of the phagocytic blood-cell type, the plasmatocyte. In the homozygously mutated state it causes the malignant transformation of these blood cells. We present here the cloning, sequencing, structure, and expression of the l(3)mbn-1+ gene during development. The cloned gene was identified by germ-line transformation, generation of revertants, and the detection of the corresponding mRNA in blood cells and other tissues. Homologies of the G-S-rich C-terminus of the putative MBN83 protein to human cytokeratins K1, K10, and mouse loricrin were found. The structure and p…

Orbital Decompression for Endocrine Ophthalmopathy: The Endonasal Approach

1994

A surgical endonasal procedure is described to perform orbital decompression in patients suffering from ophthalmopathy in Grave's disease. The decompression technique employs removal of the lamina papyracea as an exclusive modality or in conjunction with a transmaxillary or lateral decompression approach. This present series contain 23 patients who underwent decompression over a 3-year period and were followed for at least 6 months postoperative. The results of decompression were assessed by measuring reduction in proptosis and visual acuity. All patients demonstrated improved visual acuity. Measuring retroplacement of the globe, the endonasal approach proved to equal the results obtained …

Theoretical investigation of the self-trapped hole in alkali halides. I. Long-range effects within the model hamiltonian approach

1994

A small-radius polaron model of the self-trapped hole (Vk-center) in alkali halide crystals is presented. Along with the usual contributions, the electronic polarization is also included in accordance with the electronic polaron theory of Toyozawa. It is shown that the exact solution of the problem within the Landau-Pekar approximation leads to multi-hole quantum states accompanied by the relevant electronic and lattice polarizations. As an example the KCl crystal is considered, for which the Vk-center structure as well as the self-trapping energy are computed. While solving our equations, the local symmetry of the defect is taken into account allowing us to consider a comparatively spread …

Identification of Purine Binding Sites on Torpedo Acetylcholine Receptor

1994

Electrophysiological studies from this and other laboratories have suggested a direct action of ATP on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). To determine the site of binding of this purine derivative, we have covalently modified the nAChR from Torpedo marmorata electrocytes employing 2-[3H]-8-azido-ATP as a photoactivable affinity label. Covalently attached radioactivity was predominantly found in the beta-polypeptide of the receptor. Based on the results of protection studies with several nAChR ligands whose target sites at the receptor are known, we conclude that the purine site(s) differ from those of acetylcholine and of physostigmine, galanthamine and related ligands, and those of…

The influence of counterions and hydrophobic moieties on the thermostability of Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers

1994

Abstract Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) multilayers with various counterions and different organic moieties (one- and two-chain fatty acids, polymeric acid) are prepared to investigate on line temperature-dependent structural changes and desorption by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), interference-enhanced reflection and Nomarsky microscopy. On temperature increase a sequence of phase transitions can be observed. A crystalline LB film melts to a fluid phase and eventually desorbs either from droplets or from a homogeneous film. The phase sequence depends on the counterion: nickel stearate and magnesium stearate melt while the layered structure is conserved; SAXS measurements reveal a continuous,…

Coulomb effects in deuteron breakup by proton impact

1994

We present the first results of a calculation of kinematically complete differential cross sections for the proton-induced deuteron breakup reaction, obtained by using a three-body formalism based on momentum space integral equations which correctly takes into account the Coulomb repulsion between the two protons. Comparison with experimental data is made.

Fragmentation of gold clusters stored in a penning trap

1994

The collision-induced dissociation of positively charged gold clusters (2 to 23 atoms) stored in a Penning trap has been studied. After collisions with rare gases, excited clusters predominantly decay by emission of one or two atoms. The loss of two atoms occurs most likely through the emission of a dimer rather than a sequential evaporation. The minimum kinetic energies of clusters required to induce dissociation exhibit a pronounced odd-even effect. Clusters with an even number of delocalized electrons are more stable than the odd ones.

Control of oxidative metabolism in volume-overloaded rat hearts: effects of different lipid substrates.

1994

The relationship between intracellular energy parameters and myocardial O2 consumption (VO2) was studied in control and volume-overloaded hearts perfused with different lipid substrates and over a range of left ventricular work loads. In control hearts, a unique linear relationship between log of cytosolic [ATP]/[ADPf].[Pi] (where [ADPf] is concentration of free ADP) and myocardial VO2 was observed between low and high work loads for both fatty acids studied. In volume-overloaded hearts perfused in the presence of exogenous palmitate, the slope of the relationship between log [ATP]/[ADPf].[Pi] and myocardial VO2 was considerably depressed. It would seem that, under these conditions, much o…

The effects of linearly increasing flip angles on 3D inflow MR angiography

1994

As recently demonstrated, spin saturation effects in 3D time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography (MRA) can be reduced by using RF pulses with linearly increasing flip angles (ramp pulses) in the main direction of flow. We developed a model for calculating the signal distribution of proton flow within the excitation volume (slab) for different ramp slopes and compared the results with the measured distribution for the lower-leg arteries. The ramp pulses were generated using the Fourier transformation of the desired excitation profiles. With a bandwidth of 6 kHz and a pulse length of 2.56 ms satisfactory ramps with variable slopes were generated and applied in a standard flow-compensated 3D FISP s…

false

1994

Liquid crystalline side chain polymers containing photoreactive azobenzene chromophores in the dark-adapted trans form and phenylbenzoate groups as co-mesogens have been prepared and investigated as monomolecular layers at the water/air interface and as multilayer assemblies deposited onto solid supports by the Langmuir–Blodgett–Kuhn (LBK) technique. Pressure area isotherms at variable temperatures together with reflection absorption spectra and Brewster angle microscopic pictures have been taken and analyzed (i) to derive information about the structural order and the packing properties of the mesogenic side groups within the monolayers of different homo- and co-polymeric systems and ii) t…

Low-temperature anharmonic lattice deformations near rotator impurities: A quantum Monte Carlo approach.

1994

At zero temperature the equilibrium structures of a system consisting of a quantum rotator (${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$) embedded in a relaxing lattice (Ar) surrounding are studied with a variational approach. With symmetric wave functions (para-${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$), we obtain a cubic lattice deformation near the rotator, while with antisymmetric wave functions (ortho-${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$), we obtain a tetragonal lattice deformation forming a stable oriented ground state. At low temperatures, we investigate the properties of this system with a quantum Monte Carlo simulation. On top of the tetragonal deformation the width of the nearest-neighbor oscillations follows classical ``scaling'' laws according …

Isolation of naturally processed peptides recognized by cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) on human melanoma cells in association with HLA-A2.1.

1994

Cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones have previously been derived from peripheral blood of melanoma patient SK29(AV). They lyse autologous melanoma cells but not autologous Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B lymphocytes. Immunoselection experiments indicate that these CTL clones recognize 4 different antigens (Aa, Ab, B, C) in association with a single HLA restriction element, HLA-A2.1. While the expression of antigens B and C appears to be confined to SK29-melanoma cells, antigens Aa and Ab are shared by a high proportion of allogeneic HLA-A2-positive melanoma lines. HLA-A2.1 and total HLA class I molecules have now been purified from SK29-melanoma cells using affinity chromatography an…

Blends of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) with styrene copolymers

1994

Binary blends of poly(2,6–dimethyl–1,4–phenylene oxide) (PPE) with various styrene copolymers were investigated. Poly(styrene–co–acrylonitrile) (SAN), poly[styrene–co–(methyl methacrylate)] (SMMA), poly[styrene–co–(acrylic acid)] (SAA) and poly[styrene–co–(maleic anhydride)] (SMA) are only miscible with PPE when the amount of comonomer is rather small. From calculated binary interaction densities it can be concluded that the strong repulsion between PPE and comonomer limits miscibility. In blends of PPE with SAN, as well as with ABS, the inter-facial tension between the blend components is significantly reduced upon addition of polystyrene–block–poly–(methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymers…