Conversion of peat and coal nitrogen through HCN and NH3 to nitrogen oxides at 800 °C

1993

The conversion of fuel nitrogen through HCN and NH3 to nitrogen oxides (N2O, NO and NO2) was studied using an entrained-flow reactor at 800 °C with one coal and four peats at 5 and 1% O2. The ON ratios of the fuels were between 7 and 20. A clear dependence was found between the HCNNH3 ratio measured just after the vigorous pyrolysis step and the N2ONO ratio in the flue gas when these were plotted as a function of the initial ON ratio of the fuel.

Current views on intravesical treatment and chemoprophylaxis of superficial bladder cancer. The present role of epirubicin and doxorubicin.

1993

Since 1972, a large number of studies have shown that intravesical treatment with doxorubicin (adriamycin) is effective against carcinoma in situ and multiple papillary tumors. Furthermore, it significantly reduces the recurrence rate after transurethral resection. Its efficacy has been compared with that of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), which is the only treatment accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration for therapy of carcinoma in situ (Tis). In more recent years, a few studies have been performed using intravesical epirubicin in the hope that different properties of the molecule might enhance the activity of the anthracyclines, but produce fewer and milder side-effects. After we…

Production of biologically active light chain of tetanus toxin inEscherichia coli

1993

AbstractThe activity of the light (L) chain of tetanus toxin, and of mutants constructed by site-directed mutagenesis, was studied by expression and purification of the proteins from E. coli. Wild-type recombinant L chain (pTet87) was active in the inhibition of exocytosis from cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, although at a level 5–15% of that of L chain purified from tetanus toxin. L chain mutants which terminated at Leu-438 (pTet89), or which contained a Cys-to-Ser mutation at residue 439 (pTet88) were equally as active as the full-length recombinant protein. The reduced activity of pTet87 L chain correlated with C-terminal proteolysis of the protein upon purification. A tryptic …

Color choice behavior in cats and the effect of changes in the color of the illuminant.

1993

New states as observed by the Crystal Barrel experiment

1993

Abstract The Crystal Barrel Detector has been in operation since October 1989. Results on the analysis of the annihilation of protonium at rest into three pseudoscalars is presented. The π 0 π 0 π 0 final state confirms the existence of ƒ 2 (1520)→π 0 π 0 . In the ηη system of the π 0 ηη final state an isoscalar J PC = 0 ++ resonance with a mass of 1560 MeV/c 2 and a width of 245 MeV/c 2 is observed. The identification with ƒ 0 (1590) is doubtful since the ηη' decay is not observed with the corresponding strength. Our analysis yields an upper limit for the relative branching ratio BR(ƒ 0 (1560)→ηη') BR(ƒ 0 (1560)→ηη) .

The algebraic structure of cohomological field theory

1993

Abstract The algebraic foundation of cohomological field theory is presented. It is shown that these theories are based upon realizations of an algebra which contains operators for both BRST and vector supersymmetry. Through a localization of this algebra, we construct a theory of cohomological gravity in arbitrary dimensions. The observables in the theory are polynomial, but generally non-local operators, and have a natural interpretation in terms of a universal bundle for gravity. As such, their correlation functions correspond to cohomology classes on moduli spaces of Riemannian connections. In this uniformization approach, different moduli spaces are obtained by introducing curvature si…

The project scheduling polyhedron: Dimension, facets and lifting theorems

1993

Abstract The Project scheduling with resource constraints can be formulated as follows: given a graph G with node set N, a set H of directed arcs corresponding to precedence relations, and a set H′ of disjunctive arcs reflecting the resource incompatibilities, find among the subsets of H′ satisfying the resource constraints the set S that minimizes the longest path in graph (N, H ∪ S). We define the project scheduling polyhedron Qs as the convex hull of the feasible solutions. We investigate several classes of inequalities with respect to their facet-defining properties for the associated polyhedron. The dimension of Qs is calculated and several inequalities are shown to define facets. For …

Spiroplectinella Kisel’man 1972 (Foraminifera) aus dem Rupelium (Oligozän) des Mainzer Beckens

1993

Die Wandstrukturen der bislang zur GattungSpiroplectammina Cushman 1927 gestellten Foraminiferen-Arten aus dem Rupelium des Mainzer Beckens wurden naher untersucht. Da Pseudoporen in der Wandung vorhanden sind, gehoren die Arten zur GattungSpiroplectinella Kisel’man 1972. Diese Gattung ist weder in die Uberfamilie der Spiroplectamminacea noch in die der Textulariacea einzuordnen, sondern, wie von Hottinger et al. (1990) vorgeschlagen, von beiden abzutrennen.

Localization of Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis bv diacetylactis in alginate gel beads affects biomass density and synthesis of several enzymes involve…

1993

Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis bv diacetylactis, immobilized in calcium alginate beads, was grown in synthetic medium in a continuous flow reactor. Cell distribution inside the gel, as well as the activity of various enzymes, was measured after 30 h of operation. The included biomass tended to concentrate at the periphery of the bead along a section of radius about 100 μm long. ATPase activity was maximal in this zone. The activity of NADH oxidase, alcohol dehydrogenase, diacetyl reductase and acetoin reductase, which are repressed in the presence of citrate, were higher in the deeper zones than at the surface of the beads. This result shows that only the peripheral zone of the bead is respo…

Vibrational population of H 2 + after electroionization of thermal H2

1993

In an ion trap experiment we have determined the vibrational population of the lowest 9 vibrational levels of H2+. We used photodissociation of the trapped molecules by 248 nm light from an excimer laser and the dependence of the photodissociation cross section from the vibrational state. Our results are in good agreement to calculations, which are based on the Franck-Condon principle, but include a variation of the internuclear distance in the transition matrix element.

Spatial distribution of two maternal messengers encoding two sea urchin cell surface proteins

1993

We have localized, byin situ hybridization, two messengers, called bepl and bep4 (butanol extracted proteins), coding for cell surface proteins, involved in cell interaction, in sections of eggs of the sea urchinP. lividus. These maternal RNAs are spatially distributed in a gradient with a maximum at one pole of the egg. These results represent the first demonstration of the existence of a gradient of informational molecules in the sea urchin egg,i.e., the biological material for which the gradient theory was first proposed.

Laser and radiofrequency spectroscopy of the 5d 4 6s 6 D multiplet in Ta I

1993

The hyperfine structure (hfs) of181Ta has been investigated using laser radio-frequency double resonance and high resolution laser spectroscopy on collimated atomic beams. The magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole hyperfine structure coupling constants of the 5d46s 6D3/2, 5/2, 7/2, 9/2 metastable states have been determined using radio-frequency spectroscopy. In the 5d4 6s6D1/2 metastable state and the excited 5d3 6s 6p4D3/2,6D5/2, 9/2 as well as the unidentified 28 182.6 cm−1 and 30 021.2 cm−1 states, hfs constants have been obtained from high resolution laser spectroscopy. A radio-frequency converter has been developed in order to reach the frequency region 2.7–10 GHz.

Molecular organization via ionic interactions at interfaces. 1. Monolayers and LB films of cyclic bisbipyridinium tetracations and dimyristoylphospha…

1993

New evidence for a narrow state of mass 2.02 GeV/c2

1993

Abstract We report evidence for the existence of a narrow p p state with a mass of 2.02 GeV/c2 and a width of about 0.02 GeV/c2, produced centrally in π+p(π−p) interactions at 20(12) GeV/c in several final states, proceeding via baryon exchange mechanism, and that could be interpreted as a baryonium candidate. The data come from the analysis of WA56 experiment made at the CERN Ω spectrometer.

European resuscitation council Newsletter

1993

Investigations of the dual contractile/relaxant properties showed by antioquine in rat aorta.

1993

1. In the present study we assessed the activity of antioquine, a bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Pseudoxandra sclerocarpa, by examining its effects on the contractile activity of rat isolated aorta, specific binding of [3H]-(+)-cis-diltiazem, [3H]-nitrendipine and [3H]-prazosin to cerebral cortical membranes and the different molecular forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE) isolated from bovine aorta. 2. Contractions in rat aorta induced by high concentrations of KCl (80 mM) and noradrenaline (1 microM) were inhibited by antioquine in a concentration-dependent manner (0.1 microM- 300 microM). The alkaloid appeared more potent against KCl-induced contract…

Antimonic acid hydrate xerogels as proton electrolytes

1993

Abstract Two high stability types of protonic solid electrolytes based on antimonic acid hydrate xerogels have been obtained by the sol-gel technique: Sb 2 O 5 ·(3–4)H 2 O (colloidal) and Sb 2 O 5 ·5H 2 O (polymeric). The first one is a white compact material with conductivity 0.40 mS/cm (298 K) for n =3.7. The last one is transparent for visible light with a conductivity of 0.80 mS/cm. An electrochromic system based on the colloidal gel electrolyte in the form of paste has good performance-more than 10 7 cycles and a lifetime of more than five years.

Epidemiology ofSalmonella typhimurium: ribosomal DNA analysis of strains from human and animal sources

1993

SUMMARYSalmonella typhimuriumis the most frequently identified serovar ofSalmonellain Italy. This serovar is characterized by the widespread dissemination among human and non-human sources of phenotypically and genetically well-differentiated clones.In this study 457 strains ofS. typhimuriumisolated in Italy in the years 1982–91 from human and animal sources were submitted to characterization by the rDNA fingerprinting technique. Application of this typing method, after digestion of chromosomal DNA withHincII endonuclease, confirmed the greatest genetic differentiation of clones ofS. typhimurium, allowing reliable identification of 45 rDNA patterns linked into 9 major clusters. rDNA pattern…

Simulation studies of gas-liquid transitions in two dimensions via a subsystem-block-density distribution analysis

1993

The finite-size scaling analysis of the density distribution function of subsystems of a system studied at constant total density is studied by a comparative investigation of two models: (i) the nearest-neighbor lattice gas model on the square lattice, choosing a total lattice size of 64×64 sites. (ii) The two-dimensional off-lattice Lennard-Jones system (truncated at a distance of 2.5 σ, σ being the range parameter of the interaction) withN=4096 particles, applying the NVT ensemble. In both models, the density distribution functionPL(ρ) is obtained forL×L subsystems for a wide range of temperaturesT, subblock linear dimensionsL and average densities . Particular attention is paid to the qu…

A prospective evaluation of the activity of human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor on the prevention of chemotherapy-related neutropenia in pati…

1993

After informed consent, 86 patients with advanced cancer undergoing potentially myelosuppressive cytotoxic chemotherapy were randomized to receive placebo or subcutaneous granulocyte - colony stimulating factor (G- CSF) 5 μg/Kg/day in order to prevent severe neutropenia and its related morbidity. The incidence of neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <1, 000/mm3) was significantly reduced in patients receiving G-CSF than in controls (18% versus 42%; P <0.05). The duration of neutropenia was also shortened by the administration of G-CSF (4.8 versus 8.2 days; P <0.05). Therapy with G-CSF has also a positive impact on the dose-intensity of employed regimens. Patients treated with G-CSF showed…

Basic variables in reflection-impulsivity: A training programme to increase reflectivity

1993

We found that reflective children in our study had better academic qualifications than impulsive ones. We worked with a sample of 201 Spanish children in their last year of Primary School. We elaborated and applied an intervention programme to increase reflectivity. The results were excellent and showed consistency and stability, which is very unusual in the context of R-I research. There was no significant difference between boys and girls’ performance on MFF20. The children were 12, 13 and 14 year olds and we found a reflection increase at 13 but not at 14. Contrary to the opinion of Salkind and Nelson on this point concerning MFFT, we believe that MFF20 is adequate for these ages. The Sp…

Effects of leflunomide (HWA 486) on expression of lymphocyte activation markers

1993

Leflunomide (HWA 486), an isoxazol derivative, has been shown to be very effective in combating autoimmune diseases and transplantation rejection in a great number of animal models. The main metabolite of leflunomide, A77 1726, is a potent antiproliferative compound. To further elucidate this effect, lymphocytes of healthy human donors were cultured for 24, 48 or 72 h in the presence of PHA or immobilized anti-CD3 antibody. A77 1726 was added at concentrations between 10 and 100 microM. Flow cytometric evaluation of early activation or proliferation markers (IL-2 and transferrin receptors, respectively) showed that their expression was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by A77 1726. Toget…

IL RUOLO DELLA CHIRURGIA NEL TRATTAMENTO DEI TUMORI GERMINALI IN ETA' PEDIATRICA: Analisi dello Studio Cooperativo "AIEOP TCG-'91.

1993

Authors analyze the preliminary results of the first multicentric cooperative study on Germ Celkl Tumors in childhood (TCG 91). The Authors discuss the role of primary surgical procedure on the treatment of benign forms and of resectable malignant tumors.

Concomitant loss of conformation and superantigenic activity of staphylococcal enterotoxin B deletion mutant proteins.

1993

The T-cell-stimulating activity of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is an important factor in the pathogenesis of certain staphylococcal diseases. To investigate the immunologically active domains of the SEB molecule, we have produced truncated fragments of recombinant SEB by C-terminal and N-terminal deletions. The fragments were expressed as fusion proteins with protein A, including a cleavage site to remove the protein A part. Mutant proteins were tested for the ability to stimulate human resting T cells and SEB-reactive T-cell clones. Deletion of only 9 amino acids from the C terminus leads to complete loss of T-cell-stimulating activity. Removing further amino acids from the SEB mole…

MECHANISMS OF TENSION DEVELOPMENT INDUCED BY MONENSIN IN GUINEA-PIG AORTA : EFFECTS OF VERAPAMIL, OUABAIN, PRAZOSIN AND GLIBENCLAMIDE

1993

The influence of monensin (10 µmol/L) alone and in the presence of verapamil (3 µmol/L) or ouabain (1 mmol) and prazosin (1 µmol/L) or glibenclamide (10 µmol/L) were studied on the muscle tension of guinea pig aorta. Changes in tissue sodium, potassium and calcium ion contents of the aortic muscle produced by monensin in the presence of prazosin were evaluated. Monensin in normal Tyrode's solution containing prazosin caused an increase in the resting tension followed by a decrease and returned to normal values. Verapamil reduced the muscle tension induced by monensin. After ouabain, monensin induced sustained increase in the resting tension. Glibenclamide partially reversed the relaxant pha…

Geographical mapping of metabolites in biological tissue with quantitative bioluminescence and single photon imaging

1993

This article features a novel technique for measuring the spatial distribution of metabolites, such as ATP, glucose, and lactate, in rapidly frozen tissue. Concentration values are obtained in absolute terms and with a spatial resolution of single-cell dimension. The method is based on enzymatic reactions that link the metabolite of interest to luciferase with subsequent light emission. Using a specific array, cryosections are brought into contact with the enzymes in a well-defined, reproducible way inducing a distribution of light across the section with an intensity that is proportional to the metabolite concentration. The emitted light can be visualized through a microscope and an imagin…

Non linear relaxation in the presence of an absorbing barrier

1993

Comparative study of the rat uterine smooth muscle relaxant activity of three bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinolines with tetrandrine

1993

Abstract The relaxant activity of three bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinolines—obaberine, popisonine and lindoldhamine—was examined in rat isolated uterus and their inhibitory potencies were compared with that of tetrandrine. All alkaloids tested relaxed KCl-depolarized rat uterus and totally or partially inhibited oxytocin-induced rhythmic contractions. The degree of methylation of the free phenolic hydroxy groups and the loss of one diarylether bridge influence the potency of relaxant action of these alkaloids. Only alkaloids with absolute configuration 1R,1′S or 1R1′R acted intracellularly, promoting relaxation of contractile responses induced by oxytocin or vanadate in a Ca2+-free medium.

Controlling the spatial distribution of aluminum in ZSM-5 crystals

1993

Abstract The spatial distribution of aluminum over ZSM-5 crystals was systematically studied using electron microprobing on polished crystals. Crystals synthesized with TPABr as template exhibit a pronounced enrichment of aluminum in the crystal rim, essentially irrespective of the aluminum source employed, although aluminum sources with organic anions are favoring less inhomogeneous profiles. With 1,6-hexanediol or from totally inorganic reaction gels, crystals with completely homogeneous aluminum profiles are obtained, even if the crystals grow larger than 50 μm. In the 1,6-hexanediol system the homogeneous profiles could be changed to profiles similar to the TPABr system by addition of K…

Thermodynamic and19F NMR studies of antimony trifluoride in water

1993

Densities, specific heat capacities per unit volume and enthalpies of dilution at 25°C and osmotic coefficients at 37°C were measured for antimony trifluoride in water as functions of concentration. From the first three properties the apparent and partial molar volumes, heat capacities and relative enthalpies were derived. As well, pH measurements in water at 25°C and19F NMR spectra in water and methanol at 33°C were also carried out. All the thermodynamic properties together with the chemical shifts abruptly change in the very dilute concentration region (<0.1m) and, then, tend to a constant value. These trends have been rationalized through a simple model based on an equilibrium of dissoc…

Peter Zweifel's Bonus Options in Health Insurance

1993

Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin. Production of functionally intact, site-specifically modifiable protein by introduction of cysteine at positions 6…

1993

Staphylococcal alpha-toxin, the prototype of an oligomerizing, pore-forming cytotoxin, is sensitive to biochemical modifications and cannot be labeled with biotin or fluorescein under preservation of its biological activity. In this study, we have used site-directed mutagenesis to introduce cysteine residues at positions 69, 130, and 186. Each mutant was fully and rapidly reactive with several sulfhydryl-specific reagents, indicating superficial location. Coupling of SH-groups with fluorescein-maleimide or biotin-maleimide was tolerated without loss of hemolytic activity at position 130, and the formed hexamers were visible on target cells by fluorescence microscopy and could be detected on…

Are most of the stationary points in a molecular association minima? Application of Fraga's potential to benzene-benzene

1993

The importance of characterizing the stationary points of the intermolecular potential by means of Hessian eigenvalues is illustrated for the calculation of the benzene–benzene interaction using an atom-to-atom pair potential proposed by Fraga (FAAP). Two models, the standard one-center-per atom and another using three-centers-per atom due to Hunter and Sanders, are used to evaluate the electrostatic contributions and the results are compared. It is found in both cases that although using low-gradient thresholds allows optimization procedures to avoid many stationary points that are not true minima computing time considerations makes the usual procedure of using high-gradient thresholds [sa…

Ungewöhnlicher Verlauf von otobasalen Frakturen mit Liquorrhoe*

1993

In the literature the persistence of cerebrospinal Liquorrhea after temporal bone fractures is a rare event. Between 1989 and 1992 four cases of temporal bone fractures with dural involvement were operated at the University ENT Department Mainz. These temporal bone fractures showed delayed or persistent symptoms of dural lacerations between three and sixty months after head injury. During operation we found larger bone-dura defects (1-1.5 cm in diameter) and brain herniations in all cases. Strohm stated that only in rare cases a temporal bone fracture produced a larger gap in the tegmen tympani or antri. Therefore, we assumed that in our cases such larger bone-dura defects were caused by a …

In-beam?-ray spectroscopy of102In

1993

Neutron deficient nuclei close to100Snhave been investigated in-beam by γ-ray spectroscopic methods using the NORDBALL detector array. A beam of 270 MeV58Niwas used to bombard a target of54Fe.Reaction channel separation was achieved with a 4π charged particle multidetector setup together with a 1π neutron detector wall placed in the forward direction. Excited states of102Inwere identified for the first time. The level scheme constructed from γ-γ-particle-coincidence and γ-γ-angular correlation analysis is presented. The structure of102In is discussed and compared to neighboring nuclei in the framework of the nuclear shell-model.

Synergistic platelet antiaggregatory effects of the adenylate cyclase activator iloprost and the guanylate cyclase activating agent SIN-1 in vivo

1993

The aim of our study was to evaluate the platelet antiaggregatory and hemodynamic effects of the stable prostacyclin analog iloprost and the NO-donor SIN-1, an active metabolite of molsidomine. The number of circulating platelets was determined in anesthetized male Wistar rats as a measure of in vivo platelet aggregation. Platelet count decreased from 648 +/- 25 to 476 +/- 15 x 10(3) platelets/microliter and from 578 +/- 36 to 411 +/- 40 (mean +/- SEM) in response to two repetitive injections of collagen (70 micrograms/kg body weight). Treatment with SIN-1 bolus injections (0.3 or 1 mg/kg bw) and/or continuous i.v. infusion of iloprost (0.2 or 0.4 micrograms/kg bw/min) was initiated 15 min …