Correlation dimension and affinity of AE data and bicolored noise

1993

This paper is concerned with the general question of the dynamics of the magnetosphere. In general, to solve the dynamics of the magnetosphere one has to solve magnetohydrodynamic equations with some appropriate set of boundary conditions. This results in a very complex solution, which gives indications of being chaotic. The question of the chaotic nature of the magnetospheric dynamics has been addressed by various authors by looking at the correlation dimension of the auroral electrojet index. There has been disagreement on the outcome of such experiments, so the authors report on a detailed analysis of the auroral electrojet index time series. They find a correlation dimension of 3.4. For…

Glutathione metabolism in primary astrocyte cultures: flow cytometric evidence of heterogeneous distribution of GSH content.

1993

The time-course of intracellular glutathione (GSH) values after incubation with L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO), a selective inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, showed that glutathione turns over with a half-life of 5 h. Intracellular GSH was assayed by flow cytometry using three different methods. Astrocytes showed a narrow range of cellular size but a wide range of intracellular GSH. This heterogeneity was resolved into three distinct subpopulations which represent 20%, 35% and 45% of the total astrocyte number. The less abundant subpopulation had the lower GSH content, while the most abundant was the subpopulation with the higher content. Over 95% of astrocytes were in t…

Testicular tumors in childhood: a national report

1993

The authors report preliminary data of an Italian multicentric, retrospective study of primary testicular tumors (PTT) in childhood involving 20 Italian departments of pediatric surgery. Forty cases of PTT were observed during a 10-year period (1977–1987), with yolk-sac tumors being the most frequent (45%). Most testicular tumors were first perceived as a unilateral testicular mass. Scrotal ultrasonography represents the main diagnostic investigation, together with serum marker levels.

Oils for weed control: Uses and mode of action

1993

The role of oils in herbicide treatments is reviewed, both in terms of their own intrinsic activity and of their enhancement of the performance of other herbicides. The phytotoxicity of oils can be related to their physical properties. Their efficacy as adjuvants can vary with the plant /pesticide combination involved, and differences may also be observed between oils of mineral and vegetable origin. The possible mechanisms involved in the enhancement of activity by oils are discussed and areas of work that might elucidate these further are indicated

Spectrophotometric determination of phenol and resorcinol by reaction with p-aminophenol

1993

Abstract Based on the reaction with p-aminophenol, a series of procedures have been developed for the spectrophotometric determination of phenol and resorcinol. Three basic approaches have been studied: (i) a batch procedure, using the dissolved oxygen as oxidant, (ii) a stopped-flow procedure by use of KIO4 as oxidant and (iii) a flow injection (FI) procedure developed in the presence of KIO4. Phenol can be accurately determined at 626 nm, in the stopped-flow mode, after a reaction time of 45 min in 0.005M NaOH, 0.004M KIO4 and 500 μg/ml of PAP. The development of a manifold, which incorporates a sample parking, is a convenient approach which makes it possible to measure, in the stopped-fl…

Perkutane Entfernung eines intraperitonealen Fremdkörpers

1993

Social functioning as a significant factor in women's help-seeking behaviour during the climacteric period.

1993

In order to identify the psychosocial factors that lead to the demand for medical care related to the menopause, we carried out a case/control study. A case was defined as a woman who sought gynaecological care due to "menopausal complaints" (n = 85) and a control referred to a woman drawn at random from the general population. The cases showed greater psychiatric morbidity and social dissatisfaction, a lower level of diffused social support and a higher frequency of severe life events and the controls showed greater social maladjustment in objective conditions. The multivariate analysis (logistic regression) carried out after adjusting all the relevant variables, indicated that the demand …

Chromosome analysis of Bothus podas (Pisces, Pleuronectiformes) from the Mediterranean Sea

1993

A modal diploid number 2n=38 has been determined in both sexes of the pleuronectiform Bothus podas from the Gulf of Palermo (Mediterranean). An XX-XY sex-determining mechanism presumably occurs in this species. Application of silver staining (NORs) along with G- and C-banding techniques showed that secondary constrictions occurring in a large metacentric pair were variable in length in different fish. Polymorphisms of these areas seem to have a genetic, rather than transcriptional, basis.

Long-term treatment with the ace inhibitor captopril, alone or in combination with hydrochlorothiazide, in elderly hypertensives: Effects on blood pr…

1993

Abstract The efficacy and tolerability of long-term treatment with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril was evaluated in elderly hypertensive subjects. One hundred thirty patients were studied (61 men and 69 women; mean age, 68.33 ± 5.49 years), all with mild to moderate arterial hypertension (mild = 90–105 mmHg; moderate = 105–115 mmHg). Patients with secondary hypertension were excluded from the study. After a 2-week drug washout, patients were given captopril 25 to 100 mg/day alone or in combination with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 25 mg/day for 15 weeks. After 2 weeks of treatment, significant decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressures were observed (P

IL-2, IL-3, and IFN-gamma differently affect in vivo frequencies of circulating precursors of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL-p)

1993

Experimental animal and human in vivo studies have previously demonstrated the impact of exogenous administration of various cytokines on frequencies of circulating myeloid and LAK precursor cells. For the first time we investigated whether exogenous cytokines, in the absence of antigenic challenge, may also influence frequencies of circulating antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursor cells. We further asked whether triggering of autoimmune pathways as has been reported for several cytokines can be confirmed on the cellular level by demonstration of induction of autoreactive CTL-p. Limiting dilution analysis was used to determine alloreactive CTL-p frequencies in 31 patients with n…

Expression of the 60 kDa heat shock protein in normal and inflamed liver.

1993

The 60 kDa heat shock proteins (HSP 60) have been well conserved throughout evolution and are highly immunogenic. Cross-reactivity between bacterial and mammalian HSP 60 is considered a likely mechanism in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. T cell and B cell reactivity to HSP 60 is found in patients with rheumatoid or juvenile arthritis, and the expression of HSP 60 in the inflamed joint is found to be increased. In this study the presence of HSP 60 was demonstrated in normal and inflamed lives. HSP 60 was found to be predominantly expressed in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells, and mainly localized in mitochondria. Heat stress in the form of a 1 h incubation at 42 degrees C increased HSP…

Parity non-conservation at the peak of p-resonances in low-energy neutron-nucleus scattering

1993

Abstract Parity-non-conserving effects at the top of ρ-wave resonances in low-energy neutron-nucleus scattering are revisited in view of recent measurements in 238 U and 232 Th. This is done in the framework of the valence model. A quite simple expression in terms of the strength of the neutron-nucleus parity-non-conserving force is derived for the P ( E p ) asymmetry. The result, which is independent on the nucleus, can usefully be considered as a benchmark for those effects. Comparison of experiment to theory confirms earlier conclusions, namely the expected strength of the neutron-nucleus parity-non-conserving force is much too low to account for observations in this approach, even if th…

Presence of estrogen-binding sites on macrophage-like synoviocytes and cd8+, cd29+, cd45ro+ t lymphocytes in normal and rheumatoid synovium

1993

Objective. To study the presence of estrogen-binding sites (EBS) in the synovial tissues of male and female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in age and sex-matched healthy controls. Methods. Both type 1 (high affinity, low binding capacity) and type 2 (reduced affinity, higher binding capacity) EBS were investigated in both soluble and nuclear fractions of homogenized synovial tissue samples by a dextran-coated charcoal method. To determine what type of synovial cell was positive for EBS, cryosections of synovial tissues were immunostained with a specific monoclonal anti–estrogen receptor antibody (anti-ER MAb) using both immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques. Double…

Glutamine synthetase isozymes in germinating barley seeds

1993

Glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2) is a key enzyme of ammonia assimilation in higher plants. In the present study the subunit composition and localization of GS in germinating barley (Hordeum vulgare) seed have been clarified. Analysis of the GS polypeptide composition by immunoblotting revealed two different polypeptides. A and B, with a molecular mass of 42 and 40 kDa, respectively. In the scutellum subunit A was already present in the ungerminated seed and remained unchanged, whereas subunit B appeared on day 2 and increased about 5-fold during germination. Polypeptide B also appeared later during germination in the aleurone layer, roots and weakly in the etiolated shoots. By immunogo…

Analytical technique for studying the structure of glycoprotein N-glycans

1993

Abstract The aim of this study was to develop an analytical strategy for the structural analysis of glycoprotein N-glycans by combining several sensitive methods without any elaborate equipment. The following consecutive steps were optimized and applied: (1) immobilization of glycopeptide N-glycosidase F (EC 3.2.2.18) on several polymeric and a silica support, the latter giving a maximum binding capacity of 11.3% of starting activity; (2) lectin affinity chromatography was miniaturized using Mobitec columns of volume 200 μl; the binding capacity of glycoproteins on concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin columns was in the range 0.5–1 μg; (3) N-linked oligosaccharides were isolated from co…

Subtypes of non-transformed human mammary epithelial cells cultured in vitro: histo-blood group antigen H type 2 defines basal cell-derived cells.

1993

Normal (non-transformed) human mammary epithelial cell lines derived from reduction mammoplasties were analyzed by immunocytochemistry with more than 80 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other specific reagents to tissue-specific and developmentally regulated antigens at different passage levels. A subpopulation of poorly differentiated, proliferating epithelial cells, corresponding to the 'selected' cell type of late passages, is shown to be characterized by a new marker, the histo-blood group antigen H type 2, probably carried on a membrane-bound glycolipid. These cells also express a number of other onco-developmental carbohydrate antigens [Le(y), Le(x), sialosyl-Le(a), precursor of Thoms…

The astrophysical implications of low-energy resonances in 22Ne + α

1993

Abstract The 22 Ne( 6 Li, d) α-transfer reaction has been used to search for α-unbound levels in 26 Mg of importance for resonant α-capture on 22 Ne in stellar helium burning. To determine the resonance strengths of the observed states the 22 Ne(α, n) 25 Mg reaction was investigated in the energy range between 600 and 900 keV. One resonance was identified and its strength determined. The astrophysical implications of the present results are discussed.

Modulatory role of magnesium on the contractile response of rat aorta to several agonists in normal and calcium-free medium.

1993

Abstract Acute withdrawal of external Mg2+ increased basal tone of rat isolated aorta incubated in the presence of Ca2+. Above normal levels of Mg2+ (1–4 Mm) inhibited basal tone while much higher levels of the divalent cation (64–256 Mm) evoked contractile responses regardless of the presence of Ca2+. Contractile responses to noradrenaline (1μm) and KCl (80 Mm) were inhibited by addition of cumulative concentrations of Mg2+. Acetylcholine-induced contractions in the presence of physiological concentrations of Mg2+ (1 Mm) decreased gradually to the basal tone, but a sustained contraction was observed in the absence of this ion. In Ca2+-free medium, acetylcholine-induced phasic responses ind…

Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography in Dissection of the Aorta and Evaluation of Degenerative Aortic Disease

1993

The combination of different ultrasound techniques such as transthoracic, suprasternal, subcostal, and TEE has a high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of aortic dissection. Limitations of this combined ultrasound technique are related to the visualization of the ascending part of the aortic arch, which, because of the interposition of the trachea, cannot be visualized completely. The beginning or end of a dissection in this part of the aorta may be misinterpreted. However, false-negative results are rare. False-positive results due to artifacts resulting from reverberations in an ectatic ascending aorta must be taken into account. The most important diagnostic goals in acute or …

REVOLUTIONS IN MATHEMATICS

1993

Unipotent Finitary Linear Groups

1993

Nasal airway, lip competence, and craniofacial morphology

1993

The aim of the present investigation was to demonstrate whether children selected by their open lip posture show differences in their nasal airway resistance and facial morphology compared to children with closed lip closure. Thirty-two children with poor lip competence were compared to a control group of 20 with secure mouth closure. Patients with poor lip competence showed a significantly higher ML-NSL angle and also ML-NL angle. Anterior rhinomanometry, as well as measurements of the pharyngeal space on lateral headfilms, displayed no significant differences between the two groups. The same material was also grouped cephalometrically into skeletal open and skeletal deep bite configuratio…

Autoantibodies against the human asialoglycoprotein receptor: Effects of therapy in autoimmune and virus-induced chronic active hepatitis

1993

The hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) was recently identified as a target antigen for both humoral and cellular immune response in inflammatory liver diseases. Thereby anti-ASGPR autoantibodies directed against human substrate were closely associated with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis. The present study compares the occurrence, titer and immunoglobulin classification of anti-human(h-)-ASGPR antibodies in 23 patients with newly diagnosed autoimmune chronic hepatitis before and after initiation of immunosuppressive therapy to 22 patients with autoimmune hepatitis in remission. Additionally, 1-year follow-up examinations of 42 patients with HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis and …

Subcutaneous octreotide versus oral loperamide in the treatment of diarrhea following chemotherapy

1993

Forty patients with chemotherapy-related diarrhea were randomized to receive (i) octreotide 0.5 mg three times per day s.c. or (ii) loperamide 4 mg three times per day p.o. until complete remission of diarrhea was achieved. In the octreotide group 80% of patients showed complete resolution of loose bowel movements within 4 days of therapy, while in the loperamide group this goal was obtained in only 30% of cases (p < 0.001). If after 4 days no benefit was seen, patients were considered to have failed antidiarrheal therapy. Failure was recorded in only one case (5%) treated with s.c. octreotide and in five patients (25%) who received loperamide. The mean duration of antidiarrheal therapy nec…

Hydrolysed cow's milk formulae.

1993

Immunologic and absorptive tests in celiac disease: can they replace intestinal biopsies?

1993

The sensitivity and specificity of several immunologic and absorption tests were determined in infants with celiac disease (31 male, 39 female; median age, 2.6 years) in different phases of the disease and in a group of control subjects with chronic diarrhea of different etiologies (32 male, 28 female; median age, 1.2 years). Intestinal biopsy was performed both in the patients and in the controls as a 'gold standard' for the diagnosis. The anti-gliadin antibody (AGA) IgG values showed a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 47%; AGA IgA were 69% sensitive and 92% specific; anti-endomysial antibodies (EmA) were 100% sensitive and 97% specific; the xylose test was 71% sensitive and 53% spe…

A descriptive model for citrate utilization by Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis bv diacetylactis

1993

A model for the use of citrate by Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis bv diacetylactis CNRZ 125 is proposed. Citrate metabolism by this strain leads to the production of acetate, CO2 and C4 compounds (diacetyl, acetoin, 2,3-butylene glycol). The model furnishes correct simulations, consistent with published results on the pathways used and on lactose-citrate co-metabolism. Citric acid is incorporated independently of growth. The production of flavoring compounds is a complex process, depending on the rate of citrate utilization, on the proportion of pyruvate arising from citrate and which condenses to form α-acetolactate and CO2, on the rate of transformation of α-acetolactate to diacetyl and ace…

Corsello G, Maresi E, Corrao AM, Dimita U, Lo Cascio M, Cammarata M, Giuffrè L (1992): VATER/VACTERL association: Clinical variability and expanding …

1993

Stabilization of the rhombohedral phase in LiZr2(PO4)3 by thermal quenching

1993

Abstract Two LiZr2(PO4)3 samples, which show rhombohedral and monoclinic symmetries, have been studied by powder XRD and MAS-NMR (31P and 7Li) techniques. In the monoclinic sample phosphorus occupies three crystallographic sites and lithium is preferentially placed in M2 environment. When the samples are subjected to successive heating-quenching treatments, the rhombohedral phase is not appreciably modified while the monoclinic phase is transformed into the rhombohedral one. In the quenched samples only one site for phosphorus has been detected and occupancy of lithium in the more symmetric M1 site is favoured. After the thermal treatments, when the samples are stored at room temperature fo…

Leaf domatia in the section Alaternus (Miller) DC. of the genus Rhamnus (Rhamnaceae)

1993

Anatomical and morphological study of leaves from three species of Rhamnus (R. alaternus, R. myrtifolius and R. ludovici-salvatoris) which comprise the section Alaternus (Miller) DC. from the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands, have revealed the presence of domatia, which are macroscopic infundibuliform structures. Although not all the leaves of one single plant showed domatia, all the individuals of each species examined presented these structures.

Acoustic rhinometry in pre-school children.

1993

Acoustic rhinometry was performed in 35 normal nose-breathing children between 3 and 6 years. The average cross-sectional areas at the nasal valve, at the anterior end of the turbinates, and in the nasopharynx were 0.34 +/- 0.06 cm2, 0.35 +/- 0.08 cm2 and 1.37 +/- 0.48 cm2 respectively. The average minimal cross-sectional area was 0.29 +/- 0.06 cm2. The minimal cross-sectional area was located at the nasal valve in 14 and at the anterior end of nasal turbinates in 21 of the 35 children. As would be expected, the cross-sectional areas at different sites of the nasal cavity increased with increasing age of the children. But, whereas the minimal cross-sectional area increased by 0.024 cm2 per …

Some Critical Remarks on the Suitability of the Concept of the Photosynthetic Unit in Photosynthesis Research and Phytoplankton Ecology

1993

Based on the classical definition of the photosynthetic unit after Emerson and Arnold, new definitions are presented and their consistency subjected to critical reflection. Modern molecular approaches to determine the physiological condition or even the efficiency of the photosynthetic machinery via determination of the magnitude of the photosynthetic unit are discussed against the background of new data on the dynamics of the thylakoid membrane.

Configurational effects in17O NMR chemical shifts of hydroxyl-substituted, bicyclo [2.2.1]heptenes and -heptanes, their methylated derivatives and so…

1993

Well resolved natural abundance 17O NMR spectra of 27 mono-, di-, tri- and tetrahydroxybicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes and -heptanes (norbornenes or norbornanes), their methylated derivatives and some related compounds were measured for 0.5 M or saturated solutions in acetonitrile at 65°C. In addition, the 17O NMR chemical shifts of 14 aliphatic and alicyclic alcohols were also determined for reference purposes. The 17O NMR chemical shifts of all compounds were assigned. Both methyl- and hydroxyl-induced deshielding β-effects were consistent with those reported in the literature. Similarly, observed shielding γ-effects were in agreement with the earlier observations and characteristic especially for…

Colour segmentation based on a light reflection model to locate citrus fruits for robotic harvesting

1993

Abstract Colour segmentation with a vision system is a good procedure to identify and locate fruits in robotic harvesting. Natural illumination conditions present in these environments produce a very variable illumination of the scene, in addition, fruits are usually partially occluded, and complete visual information about them is not available. The colour segmentation used for these purposes must take into account the appearance of highlights and shadows that natural illumination conditions produce. A method based on the Dichromatic Reflection Model for the light reflected from the surface object is reported here. Through the assumption of this model the light rays reflected from points o…

Preparation of dithiacycloalkynes by cyclization reactions applying the cesium effect

1993

Abstract The strained dithiacycloalkynes 3a,b and the larger heterocyclic alkynes 3c and 4 are obtained by cesium assisted cyclization reactions of the dithiols 1a–c and 1,4-dibromo-2-butyne (2). The reactivity of 3a–c was studied in cycloaddition and complexation reactions generating the adducts 5a,b and 6 and the silver and cobalt complexes 7 and 8.

Characterization of epitopes recognized by Candida factor 1 and 9 antisera by use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mnn mutants

1993

The use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mnn mutants has facilitated the study of the epitopes recognized by antisera against several antigenic factors of the genus Candida (Candida Check; Iatron Laboratories, Tokyo, Japan). We have taken advantage of the very well characterized structure of the mannans of the different mnn mutants to compare their reactivities with the factor antisera used in the identification of different species of the genus Candida. The results of this study provide evidence that one of the antigenic determinants recognized by factor 1 antisera is the O-linked mannose chains of the cell wall mannoproteins, while that recognized by factor 9 antiserum is the alpha 1-6-linked …