Laser floating zone growth of textured Ag/(Bi,Pb)SrCaCuO superconductors

1992

La formation du capital humain : gestion par le marché ou gestion par l'État

1992

Human capital formation : state or market management This paper examines the likely difficulties of the management by the state of the education sector. Concerning the operation of the system, the analysis is based on international comparisons and on the French experience. As a whole the difficulties are linked to the weak accountability and justification in the use of the resources mobilized. This arises from the absence of the regulatory mechanisms as those existing in a market oriented activity. Economist's approach and tools (cost-effectiveness, production theory, ...) can be used as a substitute to such mechanisms. In a same line of argument, the article adresses the issue of external …

Lithotripsy of gallbladder stones in 1992: Improved indications and actual results

1992

ESWL of gallbladder stones and subsequent adjuvant oral dissolution is a safe and comfortable therapy of symptomatic cholecystolithiasis. This method is limited on highly selected 10 to 15% of patients. Recent experience indicates that the ideal indication is given in patients with radiolucent solitary gallstones (diameter ≤2 cm) which are harboured in a gallbladder with unimpaired contractility. 1 year after ESWL 80% of those patients present with a stone free gallbladder. Computed tomography of gallstones may probably improve selection of patients and therapeutic success.

Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses: The current status

1992

In view of the epidemiological connotation of childhood neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (NCL) as one of the most frequent progressive lysosomal diseases and neurodegenerative disorders in children, the recognition of the individual clinical forms of childhood NCL is still based on invasive diagnostic electronmicroscopy which, currently, may be applied also for prenatal diagnosis. Like other inherited disorders, the NCL group has finally also benefited from the genetic breakthroughs of localization of the genes for infantile NCL and juvenile NCL on chromosomes 1 and 16, respectively. This review concerns recent advances in morphological studies, broadening of the clinical spectrum of childhoo…

false

1992

A structural investigation is described of poly(L-lactic acid) by best fitting of powder X-ray diffraction patterns. The examined sample shows the already known pseudo-orthorhombic α-form, and it was possible to determine the location of the two 103 polymeric helices in the unit cell and the size distribution of the crystallites. Furthermore, a study is reported of the crystallization kinetics of the above cited polymer by light depolarization measurements in an optical microscope. The crystallization kinetic constants in bulk were evaluated in a temperature range (70–165°C) wider than that previously resulting from measurements of radial growth of spherulites.

Mise en évidence de corps d'origine cosmique probable au sein de la formation de Carnot (République Centrafricaine)

1992

Resume Deux etudes realisees independamment l'une de l'autre, ont permis de mettre en evidence, au sein de la Formation de Carnot, formation fluviatile mesozoique, d'une part des spherules magnetiques recuperees dans les residus d'un forage (zone de Boyali), d'autre part une anomalie magnetique tres localisee (sur 270 metres de long) traduisant la presence d'un corps decametrique a forte magnetisation remanente (zone de Gambondo). Ces deux elements magnetiques ont une origine cosmique probable. Ils correspondent a des micrometeorites et a une meteorite ayant atteint l'ouest de la Republique Centrafricaine entre l'Albien et le Maastrichtien.

Protective effect of serotonin on migraine attacks

1992

Tetrandrine and Isotetrandrine, Two Bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinoline Alkaloids from Menispermaceae, with Rat Uterine Smooth Muscle Relaxant Activity

1992

Abstract The effects of two bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, 1S, 1′S tetrandrine and its isomer 1R, 1′S isotetrandrine, were investigated in rat isolated uterus in order to identify the mechanism of relaxant action and to study the influence of the absolute configuration on the activity of these alkaloids. Both inhibited the uterine contraction induced by high K+, acetylcholine and oxytocin. In Ca2+-free medium, isotetrandrine relaxed the sustained contraction induced by oxytocin but tetrandrine did not. The relaxant effects of the alkaloids may be due to blockade of calcium influx through specific channels. Tetrandrine and isotetrandrine modify the calcium channel in a nonreversi…

Cephalic anatomy of Sinentomon erythranum Yin (Protura : Sinentomidae)

1992

Abstract The structure of the head capsule, endoskeletal structures, oral folds, mouthparts, foregut, maxillary and labial glands, and the central nervous system of the Chinese proturan Sinentomon erythranum Yin (Protura : Sinentomidae) have been described. The most significant features are the unusual thickness of the cuticle with numerous serrated lines, the reduction of sutures and the absence of linea ventralis, the simplification of gnathal pieces, and the reduction of the musculature. A comparison with other Protura and Apterygota leads to some morphological and phylogenetical interpretations of the cephalic structures, in particular those concerning the entotrophy.

Model independent assertions for integration of heterogeneous schemas

1992

Due to the proliferation of database applications, the integration of existing databases into a distributed or federated system is one of the major challenges in responding to enterprises' information requirements. Some proposed integration techniques aim at providing database administrators (DBAs) with a view definition language they can use to build the desired integrated schema. These techniques leave to the DBA the responsibility of appropriately restructuring schema elements from existing local schemas and of solving inter-schema conflicts. This paper investigates the assertion-based approach, in which the DBA's action is limited to pointing out corresponding elements in the schemas an…

Neutrino properties

1992

Neutrinos have reached the status of being probes to study the structure of other systems. We have not, however, definite answers to the questions associated with its intrinsic properties. The selected topics are organized according to a 'Decamerous', which covers both aspects of neutrino physics. One comes to the conclusion that we are entering an exciting period in this field, with experiments able to establish new phenomena and/or put better limits to some intrinsic properties.

Modulation of cytosolic free calcium concentration by ?1-adrenoceptors in rat atrial cells

1992

The effects of α1-adrenoceptor stimulation by phenylephrine (PE) and β-adrenoceptor stimulation by isoprenaline (ISO) on Ca2+ current (ICa) and free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were studied in isolated atrial myocytes from rat hearts. PE did not significantly affect the magnitude of ICa, whereas large increases of peak ICa were observed in response to ISO. In electrically driven cells, PE evoked a concentration-dependent, gradual increase in diastolic [Ca2+]i and, initially, an increase in the height of peak [Ca2+]i transients. When the diastolic [Ca2+]i was increased to a greater extent, the amplitude of [Ca2+]i transients was decreased. Simultaneous measurements of [Ca2+]i …

MR-Tomographie versus CT-Arthrographie bei glenohumeralen Instabilitäten

1992

In a prospective study the diagnostic value of MRI compared to CT arthrography (CT-A) was evaluated in 26 patients with 27 instable shoulder joints. Surgical and/or arthroscopic correlation was available in all cases. Both methods showed a high accuracy (96% CT-A, 94% MRI) in the evaluation of the glenoid labrum. CT-A was significantly superior to MRI in the detection of capsular lesions (sensitivity 96% vs. 44%, accuracy 96% vs. 72%, negative predictive value 96% vs. 67%). CT-A and MRI results regarding humeral head fractures were similar; fractures of the glenoid rim were better detected by CT-A, the difference, however, was statistically not significant. Overall, CT-A proved to be superi…

La conférence de 1865 et le volume de Hetzel

1992

Cream fermentation by a mixed culture of lactococci entrapped in two-layer calcium alginate gel beads

1992

This investigation was directed towards the development of a process which produces a fermented cream of greatly reduced cell number.Lactococcus lactis subsp.Lactis andLactococcus lactis subsp.lactis biovardiacetylactis were entrapped separately in normal or two-layer Ca-alginate gel beads. Pasteurized cream (31% fat content) was inoculated with free-cells and with normal or two-layer beads. When 8% of the total volume was occupied by the gel, there was 300–800 times more inoculum in this system and the fermentation time was considerably reduced (5h against 18h). When pH 5.0 was reached, the residual free-cell count was 150 and 1800 times less than for a classical inoculation method with fr…

Cerium(IV) arsenite as a solid-phase reactor for use in flow-injection analysis. Spectrophotometric determination of promethazine

1992

Abstract Cerium(IV) arsenite is used as a strongly oxidizing solid-phase reactor in an unsegmented continuous-flow injection assembly. Its preparation procedure produces particles of uniform size with suitable physico-chemical properties for use in a continuous-flow system. A manifold is proposed for the determination of promethazine in pharmaceutical preparations by spectrophotometric monitoring of the red colour produced by the oxidized drug. A linear calibration graph is obtained over the range 5–400 μg ml −1 of promethazine.

Serum levels of cytokines in chronic liver diseases

1992

Serum levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were investigated in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) and correlated with the type of underlying disease and various clinical and laboratory parameters. Two hundred sixty-four patients suffering from various CLD were studied; 136 cases presented with liver cirrhosis, and 128 patients were in the noncirrhotic stage of their underlying liver diseases. Serum levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and CRP were elevated in patients with CLD. Endogenous cytokine patterns in CLD were stage dependent and only margina…

Projectile and target delta excitation in the (3He, t) and (3He, 3He) reactions

1992

Abstract We study simultaneously the ( 3 He , t) and ( 3 He, 3 He) reactions on proton and neutron targets in the region of the delta excitation resonance. We observe that the mechanism of delta excitation in the target dominates the ( 3 He, t) reaction on the proton, but the mechanism of delta excitation in the projectile is important in the ( 3 He, t) reaction on the neutron, and largely dominates the ( 3 He, 3 He) reaction on proton and neutron targets. The two mechanisms give rise to different shapes in the energy distributions of the t or 3 He outgoing particles and the weights and shapes of the mechanism change appreciably with the energy of the projectile. The combined experimental s…

Literature survey of the on-line preconcentration in flow-injection atomic spectrometric analysis

1992

The literature on the use of “on-line” preconcentration in flow injection atomic spectrometric analysis is reviewed, taking into account its application both in flame and electrothermal atomic absorption methods as well as in plasma emission spectrometry. The basis of the different preconcentration approaches, such as liquid-liquid extraction, column preconcentration and “on-line” precipitation are discussed. The literature survey reveals the analytical performance of the developed methodologies.

Relative incidence and mortality of congenital heart defects diagnosed by angiohemodynamic methods: a 17-year study.

1992

Over a 17-year period (January 1971 to January 1988), 2322 children, aged 0-14 years, were diagnosed as having congenital heart disease (CHD) by cardiac catheterization and angiography. Excluding those with highly complex or undiagnosed defects, there were 2156 children with CHD, 72.4% of whom were treated surgically, with a total surgical mortality rate of 24.1%. After a mean follow-up of 9 years the overall mortality of the cohort was 29.9%, 29.1% occurring in the first month of life, 39.6% between 1 month and 1 year, and 31.2% between 1 and 14 years. The incidence, mortality, and age at death of each cardiac defect are presented and compared with the results of other studies. The overall…

A new principle to normalize plasma concentrations allowing single-sample clearance determinations in both children and adults.

1992

A sufficiently accurate quantification of renal function requiring only one plasma sample without an additional gamma-camera study has, until now, only been possible in adults. A new principle will be presented here allowing the universal application of known algorithms, regardless of the clearance substance used, by normalizing the plasma concentrations with respect to the individual body dimensions of the patients - for infants as well as for adults. In this respect, algorithms are developed for clearance determinations using technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG3), which are based on steady-state studies as the reference. They allow the calculation of quantitative clearance …

Torre para comunicaciones y prácticas de bomberos en la Eliana, Valencia. España

1992

The article brings the description of the characteristics of the project and the execution of the work on a communication tower which should also serve for practices of fire brigades and which has a water tank in the base.

QUANTUM YANG-MILLS THEORY ON ARBITRARY SURFACES

1992

We study quantum Maxwell and Yang-Mills theory on orientable two-dimensional surfaces with an arbitrary number of handles and boundaries. Using path integral methods we derive general and explicit expressions for the partition function and expectation values of contractible and noncontractible Wilson loops on closed surfaces of any genus, as well as for the kernels on manifolds with handles and boundaries. In the Abelian case we also compute correlation functions of intersecting and self-intersecting loops on closed surfaces, and discuss the role of large gauge transformations and topologically nontrivial bundles.

MULTIFRACTAL ELECTRONIC WAVE FUNCTIONS IN THE ANDERSON MODEL OF LOCALIZATION

1992

Investigations of the multifractal properties of electronic wave functions in disordered samples are reviewed. The characteristic mass exponents of the multifractal measure, the generalized dimensions and the singularity spectra are discussed for typical cases. New results for large 3D systems are reported, suggesting that the multifractal properties at the mobility edge which separates localized and extended states are independent of the microscopic details of the model.

Immunorecognition of different ganglioside epitopes on human normal and melanoma tissues.

1992

There is increasing evidence that cell-surface gangliosides play a role in tumor growth, progression and metastases. In order to determine the frequency of ganglioside GD3 in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma for further therapeutic trials, GD3 ganglioside expression was determined in 119 tissue samples. Of these melanomas, 93% (111/119) were R-24-positive, which indicates the value of this diagnostic marker for melanoma. To study the structural epitopes of gangliosides, 10 ganglioside antibodies with defined specificities and affinities were tested on over 100 fresh-frozen tissue specimens of human normal and melanoma tissues. All the antibodies tested recognize the ganglioside G…

Clause de réserve de propriété. Action en revendication, Compétence concurrente du juge-commissaire et du tribunal

1992

International audience; (Com 1er oct. 1991, SA Mendès c/ SCP Pernaud)

Gage. Vente du bien gagé par le liquidateur, Report du droit de rétention sur le prix, Existence de créances superprivilégiées de salaires, Elément i…

1992

International audience; (Com. 15 oct. 1991, Masson ès qual. c/ Banque Sofinco)

Gage. Droit de rétention, Demande d'attribution judiciaire ou de vente du bien gagé, Prolongement normal de l'exercice du droit de rétention

1992

International audience; (Com. 18 déc. 1990, Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects c/ Soc. Banque privée de crédit moderne et autre)

Revendication mobilière. Incompétence du juge des référés

1992

International audience; (Com. 9 juill. 1991, Soc. Diebold computer leasing c/ Vermot).

Detection of IgA and IgM antibodies to HIV-1 in neonates by radioimmune western blotting.

1992

OBJECTIVE--To detect infection with HIV-1 by IgA and IgM response at birth in children born to HIV-1 seropositive mothers. DESIGN--Western blotting and radioimmune western blotting on stored sera from infected and uninfected babies born to HIV-1 seropositive mothers. Sera were pretreated to remove IgG. SETTING--Parma and Bologna, Italy. SUBJECTS--12 infected and five uninfected babies born to HIV-1 seropositive mothers and three babies born to seronegative mothers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Effectiveness of western blotting and radioimmune western blotting in detecting antibodies to HIV-1 gene products. RESULTS--With conventional western blotting we found IgA class antibodies to HIV-1 proteins…

SCALING THEORY AND THE CLASSIFICATION OF PHASE TRANSITIONS

1992

The recent classification theory for phase transitions (R. Hilfer, Physica Scripta 44, 321 (1991)) and its relation with the foundations of statistical physics is reviewed. First it is outlined how Ehrenfests classification scheme can be generalized into a general thermodynamic classification theory for phase transitions. The classification theory implies scaling and multiscaling thereby eliminating the need to postulate the scaling hypothesis as a fourth law of thermodynamics. The new classification has also led to the discovery and distinction of nonequilibrium transitions within equilibrium statistical physics. Nonequilibrium phase transitions are distinguished from equilibrium transiti…

Relativistic density-dependent Hartree approach for finite nuclei.

1992

We develop a relativistic density-dependent Hartree approach for finite nuclei, where the coupling constants of the relativistic Hartree Lagrangian are made density dependent and are obtained from the relativistic Brueckner-Hartree-Fock results of nuclear matter. The calculated results on binding energies and root mean square radii of {sup 16}O and {sup 40}Ca agree very well with experiment. The charge densities from electron scattering are also calculated and their dependence on the nucleon-nucleon interaction is discussed in relation with nuclear matter properties.

Inter- and intramolecular motions in proteins

1992

The use of 57 Fe Mossbauer radiation allows the study of protein crystal dynamics by a time-resolved analysis of X-ray scattering. In myoglobin crystals, the main source of the root mean squared amplitude of motions come from intramolecular protein dynamics. Segments of the size of an α-helix move collectively. Long-range correlated motions give only a minor contribution. Comparison with Mossbauer absorption spectroscopy shows that protein-specific dynamics is frozaen out below 200 K and the lattice dynamics in mainly responsible for the low-temperature behavior

A molecular dynamics study of large-scale reversible aggregation of anisotropic particles

1992

We report findings of 1000 ps molecular dynamics simulations of a bidimensional system of 4050 Lennard–Jones particles with electric dipoles, undergoing spinodal separation. This simple system is used to model the reversible aggregation of building blocks bearing specific and fixed adhesion sites at their surface. Aggregation regions so obtained resemble images of self-assembled biological structures. Statistical analyses of these regions evidence the interplay of thermodynamic instability and of interaction range between the attachment sites. They also illustrate some basic aspects of the morphogenesis of extended biomolecular/cellular structures, self-organized from initially homogeneous …

Crust Formation and Plate Motion in the Early Archean

1992

Mounting evidence for voluminous continental crust formation in the early Archean involving intracrustal melting and selective preservation of granitoid rocks suggests that initial crust formation crust formation and growth were predominantly by magmatic underplating in plumegenerated Iceland-type settings. Collision of these early islands to give rise to larger blocks is suggested by extensive horizontal shortening in both supracrustal and granitoid assemblages. Preservation of early Archean high-grade gneisses that were once at depths of 20 to 30 kilometers implies that these blocks developed thick, subcrustal roots despite high mantle heat flow. Rigid continental plates must have existed…

Enthalpic and entropic contributions of water molecules to the functional T → R transition of human hemoglobin in solution

1992

Generalized solvent-mediated forces contribute to free energy at the functional T → R transition of human hemoglobin A (HbA). Their contribution is here sorted out quantitatively in both its enthalpic and entropic parts, along with the average number of water molecules involved. The latter (about 75 waters in average) must be considered together with HbA as one statistically defined functional unit for oxygen transport. Their configurations are expected to undergo frequent structural rearrangements. Lifetimes of statistically relevant configurations do not need to (although, of course, they may) exceed by more than a factor 5 the normal H-bond lifetimes of the pure solvent. Compared to the …