Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA by polymerase chain reaction in serum and liver of children with chronic hepatitis B negative for hepatitis B viru…

1992

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in the serum of 87 and liver tissue of 40 children with chronic hepatitis B, negative for HBV DNA by dot blot and Southern blot hybridization, respectively. In sera HBV DNA could be detected in 73 hepatitis B surface antigen carriers; 14 were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), 56 were anti-HBe-seropositive and 3 had neither HBeAg nor positive anti-HBe. In 14 anti-HBe-positive patients no HBV DNA could be found. Viral sequences in liver tissue were present in 33 specimens; 20 were HBeAg and 13 were anti-HBe-seropositive. All of the 7 negative children had anti-HBe. Our results confirm polymerase chain reaction to be a more sen…

1H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopic characterization of sulfonamide complexes of nickek(II)-carbonic anhydrase. Resonance assignments based on NOE effects

1992

The binding of acetazolamide, p-fluorobenzensulfonamide, p-toluenesulfonamide, and sulfanilamide to nickel(II)-substituted carbonic anhydrase II has been studied by 1H NMR and electronic absorption spectroscopies. These inhibitors bind to the metal ion forming 1:1 complexes and their affinity constants were determined. The 1H NMR spectra of the formed complexes show a number of isotropically shifted signals corresponding to the histidine ligands. The complexes with benzene-sulfonamides gave rise to very similar 1H NMR spectra. The NMR data suggest that these aromatic sulfonamides bind to the metal ion altering its coordination sphere. In addition, from the temperature dependence of 1H NMR s…

Abnormalities in serum concentrations of interleukin-2, interferon-alpha and interferon-gamma in schizophrenia not detected.

1992

The hypothesis of an immunological defect in schizophrenia has been supported by reports on abnormal production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferons (IFNs) in schizophrenic patients. In the present study we determined the serum concentrations of IL-2, IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma in 10 first onset, neuroleptic-naive schizophrenics, in 6 pretreated patients who were drug free (1 week to 2 years) at the time of the investigation and in 15 matched healthy controls. No IFN-alpha was detected in schizophrenics' and in control sera. No differences were found in IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels between schizophrenics and controls. Thus the present study failed to support the hypothesis of an immunological …

A grand ensemble Monte Carlo study of metal adsorption on a (110) bcc substrate

1992

Abstract The multilayer adsorption of a metal on a (110) bcc substrate has been studied by a grand-canonical Monte Carlo simulation in continuous, three-dimensional space. The obtained values of the critical parameters are compared with the results of a similar 2D Monte Carlo calculation and are interpreted in the spirit of the theory of Asada. A sharp transition from monolayer to multilayer adsorption is observed. The transition is accompanied by a substantial structural rearrangement in the adlayers immediately at the substrate. Generally it appears that the inclusion of the third dimension in the simulation reveals some important features of the phase transition and of the structure of t…

On lead-scandium tantalate solid solutions with high electrocaloric effect

1992

Abstract The PbSc0,5Ta0,5O3 solutions are found to be a useful material for active elements of microcryogenic devices based on electrocaloric effect. A temperature difference of ΔT = 1. 0-1.8 K at field intensities 20–30 kV/cm in the interval of 210–310 K can be achieved by simultaneous or separate introducing of Sb and Co ions in B-sites of the lattice. The most important contribution to the electrocaloric effect is due to field-induced Fn3m → R3m phase transition in the case of high ordering of B-ions in the perovskite structure ABO3.

Identification of the yolk receptor protein in oocytes of Nereis virens (Annelida, Polychaeta) and comparison with the locust vitellogenin receptor

1992

In oviparous animals large amounts of yolk proteins of extraovarian origin are accumulated by developing oocytes during vitellogenesis. The yolk protein precursors, the vitellogenins (VTG), are transported into the oocytes by receptor-mediated endocytosis. In oocytes of the polychaetous annelid, Nereis virens, the receptor protein for VTG was visualized by ligand blotting studies as a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 190 kDa under non-reducing conditions. Anti-Locusta VTG receptor antibodies recognize the Nereis VTG receptor protein. The Nereis VTG receptor protein binds Locusta and Schistocerca VTG; the VTG receptor proteins of both locust species bind the Nereis vitellin. These …

The laser-plotter: A versatile lithographic tool for integrated optics and microelectronics

1992

Abstract The apparatus described here represents a low cost approach to artwork generation for integrated optics and microelectronics, in the resolution range around 2 μm. Its main characteristics are given below, together with some examples of the kind of patterns it can generate.

Personality traits in subjects at risk for unipolar major depression: A family study perspective

1992

Particular patterns of personality (e.g., introversion, neuroticism, obsessionality) have been found to be associated with unipolar depression by a large number of investigators; recent prospective studies have stressed neuroticism as a premorbid risk factor for depression. This study examines whether similar patterns of personality are found in relatives of affective disorder patients and of controls. First-degree relatives of normal controls and of subjects with primary unipolar depression were studied using the Munich Personality Test. Relatives in remission from an episode of unipolar depression had clearly higher levels of neuroticism and rigidity and lower levels of extraversion than …

Structure and Synthesis of a New Indole Alkaloid, 19 (S)-Hydroxy-Nb-methylraumacline, Obtained by the Biotransformation of Ajmaline in Plant Cell Cul…

1992

Abstract From the plant cell suspension cultures of Tauwolfia serpentina Benth ., which were cultivated in the alkaloid-production medium after feeding of ajmaline (1) , a new indole alkaloid 19- ( S )-hydroxy- N b -methylraumacline ( 4 ) was isolated. The structure of 4 first elucidated by spectroscopic analysis was determined by the chemical synthesis from ajmaline ( 1 ).

Walter Zimmermann and the Growth of Phylogenetic Theory

1992

seminal theoretical paper, "Arbeitsweise der botanischen Phylogenetik und anderer Gruppierungswissenschaften" ("Methods of botanical phylogenetics and other grouping sciences"), first published in 1931. In this paper, Zimmermann clearly ex? pressed many of the underlying principles of phylogenetic systematics?ideas that were later taken up by Hennig and formed the core of his theory. Zimmermann also focused attention on several basic meth?

Measurements of atmospheric condensation nuclei size distributions in Siberia

1992

Abstract The least investigated atmospheric aerosol is the one in remote continental areas. In this study, measurements of condensation nuclei size distributions near Lake Baikal, Siberia, were performed. Data for total aerosol number concentration and aerosol size distribution were obtained. The measurement equipment consisted of a TSI screen diffusion battery (SDB) Model 3040 and a TSI condensational nuclei counter (CNC) Model 3020. The average aerosol number concentration was about 104 cm−3. The evolution of aerosol number concentration during the day is correlated with the solar radiation. The inversion problem was solved using Tihonov's regularisation procedure. The possibility of appl…

Line strengths of the ν2 + ν3 and ν3 − ν2 bands of methane (12CH4)

1992

Abstract The individual linestrengths of two related bands of 12 CH 4 , ν 2 + ν 3 near 4545 cm −1 and ν 3 − ν 2 near 1484 cm −1 , were measured with accuracies of 3% and 5%, respectively. In the analysis, an eight-term expansion of the dipole moment through second order was required to fit the strengths of transitions up to J ′ = 10 in ν 2 + ν 3 and J ′ = 12 in ν 3 − ν 2 and to explain the considerable perturbations observed. Application of this model reduced the rms deviations from 68% (zero-order) to 6.3% with the 248 selected lines of ν 2 + ν 2 and from 37% to 5.8% with 186 lines of ν 3 − ν 2 . The integrated bandstrengths for the two bands, respectively, are 1.84(5) and 0.0085(4) cm −2 …

Monte Carlo test of the self-consistent field theory of a polymer brush

1992

Platelets, eicosanoids and aging.

1992

Alpha 2-receptor-mediated inhibition of intraluminal release of gastric somatostatin in anaesthetized rats.

1992

Alino, S. F., Garcia, D. & Uvnas-Moberg, K. 1992. Alpha2-receptor-mediated inhibition of intraluminal release of gastric somatostatin in anaesthetized rats. Acta Physiol Scand144, 233–238. Received 22 February 1991, accepted 11 October 1991. ISSN 00014772. Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain, Department of Cell Biology and Morphology Science, University of Pais Vasco, Leioa, Spain and Department of Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. The aim of the present study was to investigate how the sympathetic nervous system affects the vagally induced intragastric release of somatostatin and gastrin. Experiments were performed on a…

Effect of acidosis and anoxia on iron delocalization from brain homogenates.

1992

Abstract Cortical homogenates were prepared from rat brain in Krebs-Ringer phosphate media adjusted to pH 7, 6 or 5 and incubated for 1 hr under aerotic or anaerobic conditions in the presence of dipyridyl, an iron chelator. Low molecular weight species (LMWS) iron was measured spectrophotometrically after passing of the homogenates through a 10,000- M , ultrafiltration membrane. Following aerobic incubation, LMWS iron reached 1.24 μg/g tissue at pH 7, and increased 1.7-fold at pH 6 and 3.1-fold at pH 5. Anoxia enhanced significantly the amount of ultrafiltrable iron at the three pH values, the LMWS iron level being increased by 190% at pH 7, by 113% at pH 6, and by 77% at pH 5. Addition of…

A Trisialoganglioside Containing a Sialyl α2-6 N-Acetylgalactosamine Residue Is a Cholinergic-Specific Antigen, Chol-1α1

1992

Cholinergic-specific antigens termed the Chol-1 family have been suggested to be of a ganglioside nature by Richardson et al. (J. Neurochem. 38, 1605-1614, 1982). Two molecular species of polysialogangliosides among bovine brain gangliosides were found to react with anti-Chol-1 alpha antiserum. One of them, Chol-1 alpha-a, was isolated and characterized as a trisialoganglioside containing the gangliotetraose backbone in which 1 mol of sialic acid was attached to each of the reducing end galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine and internal galactose residues, respectively. The chemical structure of Chol-1 alpha-a was determined for the first time, being as follows: IV3NeuAc III6NeuAc II3NeuAc-GgOse…

Precision measurement of structure function ratios for $^{6}$Li, $^{12}$C and $^{40}$Ca

1992

The structure function ratiosF2C/F2Li,F2Ca/F2Li andF2Ca/F2C were measured in deep inelastic muonnucleus scattering at an incident muon energy of 90 GeV, covering the kinematic range 0.0085<x<0.6 and 0.8<Q2<17GeV2. The sensitivity of the nuclear structure functions to the size and mean density of the target nucleus is discussed.

Inguinal hernia and certain risk factors

1992

There are several studies on inguinal hernias that give some clues about the association between this type of hernia and certain risk factors. This association was suspected long ago but had not been demonstrated. The present study tries to correlate the origin of inguinal hernias and the physical effort of the subjects in accordance with their work activity. The results of this study show that physical effort, as a risk factor, is closely related to the appearance of inguinal hernias. A person whose work involves lifting or other strenuous exertion has a higher risk than those whose jobs are less strenuous (p less than 0.05). This conclusion was reached after taking into account not only t…

Geometric factors in the adiabatic evolution of classical systems

1992

Abstract The adiabatic evolution of the classical time-dependent generalized harmonic oscillator in one dimension is analyzed in detail. In particular, we define the adiabatic approximation, obtain a new derivation of Hannay's angle requiring no averaging principle and point out the existence of a geometric factor accompanying changes in the adiabatic invariant.

Uptake and metabolism of choline by rat brain after acute choline administration.

1992

The present study is concerned with the uptake and metabolism of choline by the rat brain. Intraperitoneal administration of choline chloride (4-60 mg/kg) caused a dose-dependent elevation of the plasma choline concentration from 11.8 to up to 165.2 microM within 10 min and the reversal of the negative arteriovenous difference (AVD) of choline across the brain to positive values at plasma choline levels of greater than 23 microM. Net choline release and uptake were linearly dependent on the plasma choline level in the physiological range of 10-50 microM, whereas the CSF choline level was significantly increased only at plasma choline levels of greater than 50 microM. The bolus injection of …

Effects of endogeic earthworms on soil processes and plant growth in coniferous forest soil

1992

The effects of the endogeic earthworm, Aporrectodea caliginosa tuberculata (Eisen) on decomposition processes in moist coniferous forest soil were studied in the laboratory. The pH preference of this species and its effects on microbial activity, N and P mineralization, and the growth of birch seedlings were determined in separate pot experiments. Homogenized humus from a spruce stand was shown to be too acid for A. c. tuberculata. After liming, the earthworms thrived in the humus and their biomass increased (at pH above 4.8). In later experiments in which the humus was limed, the earthworms positively influenced the biological activity in humus and also increased the rate of N mineralizati…

New nuclideHa263

1992

A new nuclide $^{263}\mathrm{Ha}$ was produced in the bombardment of a $^{249}\mathrm{Bk}$ target with 93-MeV $^{18}\mathrm{O}$ ions. It was detected via spontaneous fission counting and was shown to have a half-life of about 0.5 min. This activity was also separated from the reaction products by automated rapid chemical separations using cation-exchange chromatography in 0.05M \ensuremath{\alpha}-hydroxyisobutyric acid. After chemical separation, $^{263}\mathrm{Ha}$ was found to decay by spontaneous fission (${57}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}15}^{+13}$%) and by \ensuremath{\alpha} emission (${\mathit{E}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}$=8.35 MeV, 43%) with a half-life of ${27}_{\mathrm{\ensurem…

Relationship between HLA I surface expression and different cytopathic effects produced after herpes simplex virus infection in vitro.

1992

In the present study, we investigated the effects of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection on the expression of HLA class I antigens and beta 2-microglobulin in human fibroblasts. The mRNA abundance for HLA class I was shown to be strongly reduced after infection with HSV strains either producing cell rounding or fusion from within (FFWI), however, HLA class I expression on the surface of cells is strongly reduced only after appearance of FFWI. Using a ts mutant (ts 78R) or CyA in combination with a fusion from without (FFWO) inducing strain of HSV, this loss of HLA class I antigens is assumed to be correlated to the rearrangement of the cell membrane during the fusion process itself as a la…

The Buccal Mucosal Graft For Urethral Reconstruction: A Preliminary Report

1992

Autologous buccal mucosa as a substitute for urethral epithelium was studied in 2 dogs and used in 6 patients with difficult urethral reconstruction problems. The indications for an operation in these patients were failed hypospadias repairs with limited skin in 3, severe structure disease after hypospadias repair in 1, a short urethra in 1 and epispadias in 1. Three urethral fistulas and 1 meatal stenosis occurred in 3 patients. No urethral stricture or diverticulum was noted, and the final outcome was good functionally and cosmetically in all patients. This technique is useful for urethral reconstruction when local skin is not available.

Failure of acyclovir to enhance the antiviral effect of α lymphoblastoid interferon on HBe-seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B

1992

Serum HBeAg levels and HBe-seroconversion were investigated in patients with chronic HBeAg-positive hepatitis who were randomized to receive either alpha lymphoblastoid interferon (5 megaunits subcutaneously daily for 16 weeks) plus acyclovir (2 g intravenously daily during weeks 1 and 2 and weeks 9 and 10) (n = 49) or no treatment (n = 48). HBeAg levels in serial dilutions of patient serum were assessed quantitatively by radioimmunoassay and compared with the values found for negative control serum. One year after the start of therapy 44 treated patients and 43 control patients were available for follow-up. A complete response (HBe-seroconversion) occurred in 11 treated patients (25%) and …

Ground-state properties of neutron-deficient platinum isotopes

1992

The hyperfine structure splitting and the isotope shift in the λ=266 nm transition of Pt isotopes within the mass range 183 ≦A≦ 198 have been determined by Resonance Ionization Mass Spectroscopy (RIMS) in combination with Pulsed-Laser Induced Desorption (PLID). The Pt isotopes were obtained at the on-line isotope separator ISOLDE-3/CERN as daugthers of the primarily produced Hg isotopes. Magnetic moments, quadrupole moments, and changes in the mean-square charge radii are deduced and compared with results of a particle-triaxial rotor model and mean field calculations. Good agreement with experimental data (including nuclear level schemes and transition probabilities) can only be obtained if…

Electroweak interaction in muonic atoms

1992

The parity non-conserving effective neutral current interaction between charged leptons and nucleons is studied in its implications for atomic physics. Present results on heavy electronic atoms are discussed within the standard electroweak theory and beyond. The new features provided by muonic atoms open the way to the nuclear-spin-dependent parity non-conserving effects. Different observables proposed to study these effects in muonic atoms are reviewed.

Nicotinic and muscarinic modulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release from porcine and canine small intestine

1992

Strips of porcine and canine small intestine were incubated in vitro and the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection. The spontaneous outflow of 5-HT from the porcine and canine small intestine largely reflects calcium-dependent 5-HT secretion from enterochromaffin cells which are under a spontaneous neuronal, excitatory input as indicated by the inhibitory effect (30-40%) of tetrodotoxin. In both species, nicotine enhanced the release of 5-HT in a concentration-dependent manner by a maximum of about 50% at 100 microM. This effect was blocked by the nicotine receptor antagonist hexamethonium, but not by the subtype-selective nicotine recep…

Available Lysine in Protein, Assay Using o-Phthalaldehyde/ N-Acetyl-L-cysteine Spectrophotometric Method

1992

An assay was based on reaction of free e-amino groups in proteins with the o-phthalaldehyde/N-acetyl-L-cysteine reagent to form isoindoles, which absorb at 335 nm. The procedure was suitable for proteins or mixtures of proteins with available lysine contents of more than 5 moles lysine/mole protein and required absence of free amino acids and peptides. This method was simpler and more convenient than other methods, since it did not require hydrolysis, amino acid analysis, long heating periods or solvent extraction.

Harmonic morphisms in nonlinear potential theory

1992

This article concerns the following problem: given a family of partial differential operators with similar structure and given a continuous mapping f from an open set Ω in Rn into Rn, then when does f pull back the solutions of one equation in the family to solutions of another equation in that family? This problem is typical in the theory of differential equations when one wants to use a coordinate change to study solutions in a different environment.

Protection from experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by application of a bacterial superantigen

1992

Certain bacterial and viral T cell stimulating proteins ('superantigens') are known to be very potent activators of T cells with certain V beta receptors. When applied in vivo these molecules induce anergy in those T cells responding to them. In this study we have investigated the influence of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) on myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific T cells in Lewis rats. As MBP-specific T cells in rats belong exclusively to the V beta 8.2+ CD4+ subset, the induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) allows for an estimation of the functional state of the respective V beta-bearing T cells after enterotoxin-induced activation. In vitro, various MBP-specific T ce…

Modes de vie et préférences des étudiants dijonnais

1992

International audience; Ce cahier présente les résultats d'une enquête, réalisée du début de l'année 1991, sur les conditions de vie des étudiants de l'Université de Bourgogne. Un questionnaire détaillé a été soumis à un échantillon représentatif selon le critère de l'origine géographique. Les thèmes abordés concernent les aspects essentiels de la vie quotidienne d'un agent économique : l'ensemble des aspects budgétaires, le logement, le transport, la restauration, les lieux de consommation, les moyens d'information, les loisirs, etc... Sont mises en évidence des informations très précises sur les activités et les préférences des étudiants par rapport aux diverses caractéristiques de l'offr…

Production of volatile compounds in liquid cultures by six strains of coryneform bacteria

1992

The aromatic profiles of four strains of Brevibacterium linens, one strain of Brevibacterium sp. and one strain of Microbacterium sp. were determined with some pure cultures of these microorganisms in standard trypcase soy liquid medium, which enabled four of these six strains to produce flavour compounds of ripened cheese. Thirty-two flavour compounds were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The identified flavour compounds included the following: fatty acids, alcohols, methylketones, sulphur compounds, aromatic compounds and a pyrazine. Some important differences were found among the six strains studied. The four strains of B. linens had similar flavour profiles. Their…

Tracheomalacia Repair Using Ceramic Rings

1992

Tracheomalacia resulting from tracheostomy or compressive thyroid disease often represents a difficult problem in airway management. In an attempt to improve this condition, biocompatible ceramic rings were surgically implanted in 16 patients to restore normal patency of the airway by first expanding the tracheal lumen lateral, and then in an anterior dimension. Preoperatively, patients displayed moderate to severe obstruction with marked restrictions in lifestyle, as confirmed by history, physical examination, and airway resistance studies. Additionally, three of these patients were trach-dependent at the time of implantation. Postoperatively all 16 patients have normal airway resistance p…

Precision measurement of the conversion electron spectrum of 83mKr with a solenoid retarding spectrometer

1992

This paper reports on precision measurements of conversion lines in the decay of 83mKr with nuclear transition energies of 32.1 keV and 9.4 keV, respectively. The spectra were taken from a submonolayer surface of 83mKr frozen onto a cold backing, using the new Mainz solenoid retarding spectrometer. The high luminosity and resolution of this instrument enables the observation of all allowed conversion lines up to the N-shell and to fully separate the elastic component from inelastic satellites. The combined analysis of the data yields the transition energies Ey=32151.5±1.1 eV and 9405.9±0.8 eV, respectively. The experiment served also to pilot the application of this spectrometer to the ques…