Erucic acid metabolism in rat liver. A combined biochemical and radioautographical study.

1992

Metabolism of erucic acid was studied in rat liver in comparison with oleic acid in relation with diet lipids. Rats were fed for 3 or 60 days a balanced diet containing 30% of the calories of either rapeseed oil rich in erucic acid or sunflower seed oil rich in linoleic acid. They were intravenously injected with tritiated erucic or oleic acid. After 1 or 15 min, the radioactivity recovered in liver lipids was 9 to 26% whatever the diet or the acid injected. One minute after injection of erucic acid a high part of radioactivity was recovered in the free fatty acid fraction and as untransformed erucic acid. After 15 min the major part of radioactivity was recovered in the triacylglycerol fra…

Proton-antiproton annihilation into ηηπ-observation of a scalar resonance decaying into ηη

1992

Abstract The results of a measurement of pp annihilation at rest into ηηπ 0 are presented. Assuming a resonance dominated model for the annihilation process an isoscalar J PC =0 ++ resonance decaying into ηη is observed with a mass of 1560±25 MeV/ c 2 and a width of 245±50 MeV/ c 2 .

Preparation of thin counting samples by volatilization-condensation

1992

Abstract We describe a technique for the preparation of thin counting samples of metallic elements for a α-particle and fission-fragment spectroscopy. The elements are volatilized in a carrier gas stream through a capillary and condensed on a cooled thin collector foil.

Studies on the impact of winter climate on rubber and wheat cultivation in the mountains of southern China, applying a fuzzy cluster analysis

1992

Data from climatic stations in China, located south of 30° N and > 400 m above sea-level, were analysed in order to study the relationship with winter climate, on the one hand, and with rubber and winter wheat cultivation, on the other. Three relevant agroclimatic parameters were investigated for January, namely mean temperature, precipitation total and sunshine duration. By applying a fuzzy cluster analysis, three agroclimatic regions were found in winter; the boundaries coincide with the macro-scale topography of southern China. In one case the boundary even corresponds with the position of the Kunming quasi-stationary front. Winter climate in the three agroclimatic regions was found to s…

Red Cell Membrane Protein Lateral Mobility in Diabetes Mellitus

1992

In a group of 24 diabetics subdivided for type, we evaluated the red cell membrane protein lateral mobility marking intact red cells with pyrene-3-maleimide (3-PM) and calculating the dimer to monomer fluorescence intensity ratio (Iex/Im). The same fluorescent parameter was determined in a group of 13 normal controls. From the obtained data, it is evident that the red cell membrane protein lateral mobility clearly discriminates normals from diabetics of type 1 and 2. In normals and in diabetics of type 1 and 2 no relationship is present between this fluorescent determinant and the glycometabolic parameters (FBGL and HbA1c); considering all the diabetics, a negative relationship is evident b…

Unified QCD determination of all vector meson coupling constants

1992

Coupling constants of all vector mesons are determined in QCD by means of a new QCD sum-rule method. The results are found to be sensitive to the binding energy (i.e. meson and quark mass differences). For standard values of quark masses we obtainf ϱ=202 MeV,f K*=216 MeV,f D*=212±22 MeV,f B*=138±42 MeV, $$f_{D_s^* } = 238 \pm 21\,MeV$$ and $$f_{B_s^* } = 163 \pm 45\,MeV$$ . Based on this approach the spin-flavour symmetry for the heavy quark systems are also discussed.

A practicableγ 5-scheme in dimensional regularization

1992

We present a new simpleγ5 regularization scheme. We discuss its use in the standard radiative correction calculations including the anomaly contributions. The new scheme features an anticommutingγ5 which leads to great simplifications in practical calculations. We carefully discuss the underlying mathematics of ourγ5-scheme which is formulated in terms of simple projection operations.

Job absenteeism and arterial hypertension: results of a hypertension control program.

1992

This study reports the findings of one of the stages of a programme for the detection and control of arterial hypertension, started in I980 in an automobile company with a workforce of 9,782. In the initial screening, 522 hypertensive males were found using epidemiological criteria and 206 of these fulfilled the criteria of definite hypertension. The objective of this study consisted of evaluating, 9 years after the start of the program, the indirect cost in terms of the reduction in the morbidity indicator-temporary work incapacity (TWI). Analysis is based on a comparison of the prevalence of hypertension in the population when the program was begun (6%) and in 1989 (9.8%). It can be obser…

ON THE USE OF SATELLITE THERMAL DATA FOR DETERMINING EVAPOTRANSPIRATION IN PARTIALLY VEGETATED AREAS

1992

Abstract The use of satellite data for determining daily evapotranspiration over completely vegetated areas has been analysed by different authors. However, if the soil surface is partially covered by vegetation the problem becomes more complicated, because in this case the value of the temperature measured by the satellite varies with the viewing geometry. In this work we have studied the influence of the satellite observation angle for crops with different cover degree, field geometry and ground emissivity. For this purpose we have used the simplified relation proposed by Jackson et al.LET d=Rnd−B(T3−T a)iwhere ET 4 and R nd are the daily values of evapotranspiration and net radiation res…

On Barbilian spaces in projective lattice geometries

1992

We introduce the notion of a Barbilian space of a projective lattice geometry in order to investigate the relationship between lattice-geometric properties and the properties of point-hyperplane structures associated with. We obtain a characterization of those projective lattice geometries, the Barbilian space of which is a Veldkamp space.

Neutron distributions from pionic atoms

1992

Abstract The radii of neutron distributions in nuclei are extracted from experimental shifts and widths of pionic atoms. A best fit to pionic-atom data is carried out by varying simultaneously the neutron radii and the parameter of a pion-nucleus optical potential. We have used three different potentials: one of them theoretical plus a small phenomenological part, another one semiphenomenological, with the linear terms in the density obtained from experimental πN amplitudes and the quadratic terms fitted to the pionic-atom data, and a third one purely phenomenological, obtained from a direct fit to pionic-atom data. The radii obtained with all of them are remarkably close and also close to …

HLA DRw8 and primary biliary cirrhosis

1992

Enzymatic glycosylation of o-glycopeptides

1992

Abstract O-Glycosylation of serine derivatives carried out with N-urethane protected glucosamine yields O-glycopeptides which are regio- and stereoselectively galactosylated with the aid of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.22).

Endogenous noradrenaline release from guinea-pig isolated trachea is inhibited by activation of M2 receptors

1992

Overflow of endogenous noradrenaline (NA) from guinea-pig isolated tracheae was evoked by electrical field stimulation (3 Hz, 540 pulses). The muscarinic receptor agonist oxotremorine inhibited the evoked overflow of NA in a concentration-dependent manner (EC50 84 nM). Methoctramine, pirenzepine and p-fluoro-hexahydrosiladiphenidol (each 1 microM) shifted the concentration-response curves of oxotremorine to the right with apparent pA2 values of 7.60, 6.74 and 6.18, respectively. It is concluded that sympathetic nerve terminals in the guinea-pig trachea are endowed with inhibitory muscarinic M2 receptors.

DNA strand break induction, mutagenicity, and cytotoxicity of the mycotoxins 11-β-hydroxy-7-deoxy-rosenonolactone, rosenonolactone, and trichothecin.

1992

11-β-hydroxy-7-deoxy-rosenonolactone (TSS1), a mycotoxin of the rosenane class, was tested on cytotoxicity, induction of DNA single strand breaks and muta-genicity. Its effects were compared to those of rosenonolactone and trichothecin. TSS1 had stronger antibiotic activity againstEscherichia coli (EC 50: 10μg/mL) than rosenonolactone (EC 50: >200μg/mL) but weaker activity than trichothecin (EC 50: 3μg/mL). The same order of activity was found for the inhibition of yeast fermentation (EC 50 of TSS1: 45μg/mL; EC 50 of rosenonolactone: > 120μg/mL; EC 50 of trichothecin: 3.4μg/mL). In the trypan blue exclusion test using V79 Chinese hamster cells, TSS1 proved to be cytotoxic (EC50: 30μg/mL) at…

Precision mass measurements of antiprotons in a Penning trap

1992

Utilizing electron cooling, the TRAP collaboration has lowered the energy at which antiprotons can be stored and studied by more than 10 orders of magnitude, starting with 6 MeV particles from LEAR. We have held cryogenic antiprotons a few degrees above absolute zero for two months and the storage lifetime so established, more than 3.4 months is the longest directly measured limit for antiprotons. Measuring their cyclotron frequencies in a precision cylindrical Penning trap, we have shown that the inertial masses of the antiprotons and protons are the same to a fractional accuracy of 4 parts in 108, a 1000-fold improvement over the previous comparisons. This is the most stringent test of CP…

Applications of stable V79-derived cell lines expressing rat cytochromes P4501A1, 1A2, and 2B1.

1992

1. Chinese hamster V79-derived cell lines, stably expressing cytochromes P4501A1, 1A2, and 2B1 activities, were constructed by genetic engineering in continuation of our work to establish a battery of V79 derived cell lines designed to study the metabolism of xenobiotics. 2. Cell lines XEM1 and XEM2, expressing cytochrome P4501A1, were capable of the O-dealkylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin and the hydroxylation of benzo[a]pyrene. 3. Cell lines XEMd.MZ and XEMd.NH, expressing P4501A2, were shown to hydroxylate 17 beta-estradiol and 2-aminofluorene. 4. Cell line SD1, expressing cytochrome P4502B1, was able to hydroxylate testosterone stereo- and regio-specifically at the 16 alpha and 16 beta posit…

Spontaneous echo contrast imaging in infective endocarditis: a predictor of complications?

1992

Infective endocarditis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Valvular destruction and congestive heart failure are more common in patients with echocardiographically detectable vegetations. In addition, spontaneous platelet aggregation is increased when vegetations are present on cardiac valves. The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic value of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) imaging, as SEC is supposed to reflect red blood cell aggregates stimulated by platelet activity. We studied 293 patients with clinical signs of infective endocarditis. Vegetations, attached to the aortic or mitral valve, were found in 130 patients (44.4%) who were followed for a mean period …

CT-guided stereotactic biopsy aided by Doppler ultrasonic vascular monitoring

1992

The use of a 20 MHz pulsed Doppler technique during stereotactic brain tumour biopsies is described. By means of a miniaturized ultrasonic probe the tissue planned for biopsy was investigated for vessel signals. Out of 41 patients, with this technique a flow-pulse curve in front of the biopsy cannula was registered in 14 cases. In 9 cases one pulse curve was determined and in 5 cases two or more flow curves were found, indicating the presence of arterial vessels. The depth of the vessels signal could be localized and this area avoided for biopsy sampling. In a series of 41 stereotactic biopsies carried out in this way there was no intra-operative haemorrhage or postoperative haematoma.

Diffusion of innovative agricultural production systems for sustainable development of small islands: A methodological approach based on the science …

1992

In order to develop small islands, not only must a vital agricultural system be maintained, but the range of opportunities for tourism must be increased with respect to both the seaside and the environmental features of the rural landscape. As an alternative to the traditional and economically declining ones, many innovative production processes can be identified, but their success depends on their interaction with the physical, biological, economic and social environment. In order to identify the main nodes and the most critical interactions, so as to increase the probability of success of a new productive process, a methodological approach based on the science of complexity is proposed fo…

Effect of mesoglycan on macrorheologic and microrheologic parameters

1992

Abstract Whole blood filtration, mean erythrocyte aggregation, and erythrocyte membrane fluidity were examined in 10 patients with vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD) and in 15 VAD patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) treated with mesoglycan (100 mg orally twice a day) for 30 days. The red cell membrane transverse fluidity gradient was evaluated in the VAD subjects, and the red cell membrane protein lateral mobility was measured in the VAD subjects with NIDDM. In both groups, mesoglycan treatment was responsible for an increase in erythrocyte membrane fluidity. This finding, which reflects an improvement in the dynamic properties of red cell membrane, assumes part…

Number and functionality of beta-adrenergic receptors in the mouse lymphocytic P388 leukemia as a doxorubicin-sensitive and -resistant variant.

1992

On the integration of kinetic models using a high-order taylor series method

1992

A general equation to derive kinetic models up to any order is given. This equation greatly facilitates the application of the Taylor series method to the integration of kinetic models up to very high orders. When dealing with non-stiff models, computing time is always reduced by increasing the integration order, at least up to the 20th order. When the model is stiff, the integration order should be optimized; however, a twelfth order is recommended to integrate weakly stiff models. The use of an algorithm which permits the immediate calculation of the integration step size required to maintain a given accuracy leads to further reductions in computing time. When implemented as recommended h…

MHC-unrestricted recognition of bacteria-infected target cells by human CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

1992

Abstract A CD8 + αβTCR + T cell clone (A35) was isolated from the synovial fluid of a patient with postenteric reactive arthritis caused by Yersinia enterocolitica . This clone efficiently killed autologous and allogeneic target cells that had been preincubated with live but not with heat-killed bacteria. There was no restriction by polymorphic parts of HLA-A, -B. or -C molecules and a HLA class II-deficient mutant cell line was lysed as efficiently as its normal counterpart, whereas infected HLA class I-deficient cells (Daudi cells) were not. The clone showed crossreaction between Yersinia enterocolitica , Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Streptococcus pyogenes , but did not…

Inhibition of neuronally mediated secretion in rat colonic mucosa by prostaglandin D2

1992

Abstract The effect of prostaglandin D 2 (PGD 2 ) on ion transport across the mucosa of the descending colon was studied in rats. PGD 2 dose-dependently decreased baseline short-circuit current of mucosa-submucosal preparations mounted either in the Ussing chamber or mounted as an everted sac. However, with the everted sac technique, the tissue was about 1000 times more sensitive to PGD 2 . Concomitant with the decrease in short-circuit current, PGD 2 increased the mucosal-to-serosal fluxes of sodium and chloride and decreased the serosal-tomucosal flux of chloride. PGD 2 inhibited the secretory action of the PGI 2 analogue iloprost, PGD 2α , and neurotensin. The action of these secretagogu…

True and Apparent Oxygen Permeabilities of Contact Lenses

1992

We studied the passage of oxygen through some commercially available contact lenses. Oxygen diffusion coefficients were determined by the time-lag method and a 201T Redher permeometer was used to measure the oxygen permeability and transmissibility by the polarographic method. The measurements were carried out at room temperature with 0.09% sodium chloride physiologic solution. The following types of lenses were tested: (1) 12 lenses of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) of a mean thickness of 0.194 mm (observed Dk approximately 6.3 barrers) (1 barrier is equivalent to 10(-11) cm3 of O2 (STP).cm2/cm3.s.mm Hg). (2) 13 lenses of a cross-linked polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA), manufacture…

El Instituto Luis Vives. Colegio Español de México

1992

Uno de los aspectos menos conocidos del exilio republicano de 1939 es su dimensión educativa. Resulta hasta cierto punto paradójico que siendo, precisamente, las facetas cultural y educativa la más destacadas del exilio, ésta última haya merecido tan poca atención por parte de los investigadores. Esa realidad educativa continua siendo en el momento actual prácticamente desconocida, en lo que se refiere a los niveles no universitarios. Se trata de una significa ti va laguna en la historiografía del exilio, de la cual fueron protagonistas un buen número de españoles, los cuales, casi sin excepción, no han merecido la necesaria reivindicación histórica, reservada fundamentalmente a las grandes…

Interpretation and Chemometric Evaluation of the Bilirubin Interference in the Kinetic Spectrophotometry Determination of Creatinine in Serum by Use …

1992

Abstract SUMMARY In an alkaline picrate medium we demonstrated the occurrence of isosbestic points over the range 520–550 nm, the position depending on the bilirubin content and less on the albumin content. Bilirubin does not markedly modify the ratt constant of the reaction between creatinine and picrate, however, it does modify the intercept of the Ln ΔA vs t, plots. The absolute value of Ln ΔA varies with the concentration, though not with time, which indicates that bilirubin acts by consuming part of the initially present creatinine irrespective of its owr concentration at the wavelengths typically used in the creatinine determination. The Ln ΔA values at the isosbestic points coincide …

Does the VP1 gene of foot-and-mouth disease virus behave as a molecular clock?

1992

We have carried out a phylogenetic study of the evolution of the VP1 gene sequence from different serological types and subtypes of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). The maximum-likelihood method developed by Hasegawa and co-workers (Hasegawa et al. 1985) for the estimation of evolutionary parameters and branching dates has been used to decide between alternative models of evolution: constant versus variable rates. The results obtained indicate that a constant rate model, i.e., a molecular clock, seems to be the most plausible one. However, additional information suggests the possibility that the appearance of serotype CS has been accompanied by an episode of rapid evolution (Villaverde …

QCD sum rule calculation ofK ℓ3 form factors

1992

We present a combined finite energy sum rule (FESR) and analytic continuation by duality (ACD) calculation of the (neutral)K l3 decay. We confirm the Callan-Treiman relation and investigate the validity of a linear fit for the form factors. Furthermore, we obtain ζ=−0.1...−0.3, consistent with the mean experimental value ζ=−0.1±0.09.

The contribution of the Italian Northern Cross Radiotelescope to the Gamma-Ray Observatory Pulsar Timing Network

1992

The observation of pulsars at gamma-ray energy requires updated pulsar parameters in order to fold the gamma-ray data over time intervals of weeks. The Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory Institute has set up an international agreement including several radiotelescopes and pulsar observers in order to provide a suitable timing support at radio wavelengths. In this paper we describe the system used at the Italian Northern Cross for the pulse timing observations related to the GRO mission.

Risperidone in the Treatment of Disorders with a combined Psychotic and Depressive Syndrome - A Functional Approach

1992

In vitro receptor-binding profiles and in vivo pharmacological studies have shown risperidone to be a potent mixed serotonin-S2 dopamine-D2-like receptor antagonist. While anti-D2 activity may relate to the antipsychotic potency of neuroleptic drugs, an antidepressive efficacy of substances with anti-S2 activity has been suggested. In an open pilot-study, ten patients with schizodepressive disorders or a DSM-III-R diagnosis of psychotic major depressive episodes were treated with risperidone (2-10 mg/d) for six weeks. Weekly psychopathological evaluation was performed, including BPRS, SANS, SAPS, VAS scales, and AIMS and UKU for the assessment of side-effects. Generally, the psychotic syndr…

Prevalence of biliary lithiasis in the elderly people of a small town in Sicily

1992

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of biliary lithiasis (BL) and its major associated factors in the elderly people of a small town in Sicily. All inhabitants over the age of 65 were interviewed and underwent a general physical examination, blood tests and ultrasonography of the gallbladder and biliary tracts. The final group included 328 subjects (162 men and 166 women), representing 63.1% of the population asked to participate, with a mean age of 74.3 +/- 6.8 years (range 65-95). The prevalence of BL (lithiasis in progress + subjects cholecystectomized for previous calculosis) was 18.6%. No male subject had been cholecystectomized. Prevalence was higher in women …

Sensitivity analysis for discretized unilateral plane elasticity problem

1992

Abstract Numerical realization of optimal shape design problems requires gradient information which is used in minimization procedures. There are several possibilities for obtaining this information. Here we present a method, based on the use of the material derivative approach, applied to the finite element discretization of the problem. The advantage of this approach is that is gives the exact values of gradient and it can be very easily implemented on computers. We apply this method in the case of contact problems, where the situation is more involved compared with the case of elasticity problems with classical boundary conditions. We concentrate on a special choice of the cost functiona…

Atomistic modeling of materials properties by Monte Carlo Simulation

1992

In order to optimize materials properties, in many cases a deeper understanding of the relationship between the chemical-atomistic structure and the physical properties of the solid and fluid phases of the material is necessary. Monte Carlo simulation is a tool that allows the reliable calculation of thermodynamic properties of strongly interacting many-body condensed matter systems. Given a model of effective interatomic or intermolecular interactions (drawn either from quantum-chemical-type interactions or from analysis of suitable experimental data), macroscopic bulk properties of a material can be simulated, as well as interfacial phenomena and certain kinds of slow dynamic processes (o…

Separation properties of continuous maps in codimension 1 and geometrical applications

1992

Abstract Nuno Ballesteros, J.J. and M.C. Romero Fuster, Separation properties of continuous maps in codimension 1 and geometrical applications, Topology and its Applications 46 (1992) 107-111. We show that the image of a proper closed continuous map, f , from an n -manifold X to an ( n + 1)-manifold Y , such that H 1 (Y; Z 2 ) =0 , separates Y into at least two connected components provided the self-intersections set of f is not dense in any connected component of Y . We also obtain some geometrical applications.