Positrons and electron-irradiation induced defects in the layered semiconductor InSe

1992

The positron annihilation characteristics of the layered semiconductor InSe have been investigated. No evidence for low temperature positron trapping is found in as-grown and heavily deformed InSe. The temperature dependence of the S-parameter in these sample exhibits an increase rate in good agreement with the linear expansion coefficient along the c-axis. The positron lifetime spectra of electron-irradiated 0.01% Sn-doped InSe show a long-lifetime component of 336 ps which is tentatively attributed to positrons trapped at isolated In vacancies. Isochronal annealing experiments performed on these samples show that the recovery of the positron lifetime measured at 77K is accomplished in two…

Improvement of the MgH2 Formation-Decomposition Reaction: Kinetic Study of the CeMg11Ni System

1992

Subcellular Localization of GLUT4 in Nonstimulated and Insulin-Stimulated Soleus Muscle of Rat

1992

Soleus muscles of fed rats were fixed by vascular perfusion with paraformaldehyde; individual fibers were teased and immunostained with a polyclonal antibody against the COOH-terminal of GLUT4. The binding sites were visualized by a horseradish peroxidase–coupled secondary antibody and diaminobenzidine. The fibers were embedded in epoxy resin and studied by electron microscopy. Strong immunoreactivity was found in subsarcolemmal clusters of vesicles and cisternae, Golgilike structures, and triadic junctions. Clusters of vesicles between myofibrils were occasionally stained. The plasma membrane was unlabeled. However, the plasma membrane was labeled when the rats had been injected with insul…

Chromatin structure of the yeast SUC2 promoter in regulatory mutants

1992

We have previously suggested that two positioned nucleosomes are removed from the promoter of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SUC2 gene upon derepression by glucose starvation. To gain further insight into the changes accompanying derepression at the chromatin level we have studied the chromatin structure of the SUC2 promoter in several mutants affecting SUC2 expression. The non-derepressible mutants snf1, snf2 and snf5 present a chromatin structure characteristic of the repressed state, irrespective of the presence or absence of glucose. The non-repressible mutants, mig1 and ssn6, as well as the double mutant snfs sn6 exhibit an opened chromatin structure even in the presence of glucose. Thes…

Electron-relaxation-mode interaction in BaTiO3:Nb.

1992

Dielectric relaxation was previously reported in ${\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}$:Fe single crystals at radio frequencies [M. Maglione et al., Phys. Rev. B 40, 11 441 (1989)]. We have measured the dielectric dispersion in four ${\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}$:Nb samples (${\mathit{x}}_{\mathrm{Nb}}$0.3 at. %) as a function of frequency (10f${10}^{9}$ Hz) and temperature (20T450 K). The electronic conductivity of ${\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}$:Nb enhances drastically the relaxation step at all temperatures. In the rhombohedral phase of ${\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}$:Nb (T180 K), an unusual slowing down of the relaxation motion is measured. The relaxation time increases to more than ${10}^{\mathrm{\en…

Effects of artificial plant cover on plant colonization of a bare peat surface

1992

. This paper describes the effect of artificial plant cover on plant colonization of a bare peat surface, resulting from peat harvesting. Plant species colonization was compared on plots supplied with plastic models simulating Vaccinium vitis-idaea plants and plots without this artificial cover. After two growing seasons, species composition and total biomass of the established plant cover were similar in the two plot types. However, the number of established seedlings in the plots with artificial cover was significantly higher than that in the plots without cover. Out of 13 species observed four differed significantly in their performance on the two plot types. Betula spec. had both higher…

Magnetic field and temperature dependent correlations in the singlet ground state system CsFeBr3

1992

Abstract In the singlet ground state system CsFeBr 3 the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the magnetic dispersion curves have been measured by inelastic neutron scattering. At a field of 4.1 T magnetic Bragg peaks appear at (⅓ ⅓ 1) and (⅔ ⅔ 1). The correlation lengths were derived from the experimental data by integrating the constant Q -scans over the energy transfer. The Q -dependence was fitted to Lorentzians and correlations lengths were extracted for different directions in the lattice. These correlation lengths decrease with increasing temperature and increase with increasing field. Above the phase transition the correlation lengths decrease again.

Reactions of dirhodium(II) monometallated compounds with phosphines. Factors affecting the reactivity and the structure of the doubly-metallated comp…

1992

Abstract Monometallated compounds of formula Rh2(O2CCH3)3[(p-XC6H3)P(p-XC6H4)2](HO2CCH3)2 (X=CH3, Cl) have been prepared in good yield. The reactions with p-substituted triarylphosphines P(p-X′C6H4)3 (X′=CH3, H, Cl) have been studied. For X=X′ and [P]/[Rh2]=1 all the resulting doubly metallated compounds Rh2(O2CCH3)2[(p- XC6H3)P(p-XC6H4)2](HO2CCH3)2 (X=CH3, Cl) have head-to-tail (H-T) structure. For [P]/[Rh2]=3 reaction progress is observed at room temperature. When X=X′ a 1:1 mixture of H-T and H-H compounds is formed for X=Cl but only the H-H compound is obtained for X=CH3. For X ≠ X′ mixtures of H-T and H-H compounds are obtained. The entering phosphine, and to a less extent the phosphin…

Absorption-partition relationships for true homologous series of xenobiotics as a possible approach to study mechanisms of surfactants in absorption.…

1992

Abstract This paper — the latest in this series of reports — deals with the effects of the anionic surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate on the colonic absorption of acidic xenobiotics (phenylalkylcarboxylic acids), as compared with those exerted by the nonionic polysorbate 80. The effects of these surfactants are qualitatively identical but quantitatively different. Thus, the increase in polarity of the colonic absorbant membrane is greater with lauryl sulfate, whereas micellar solubilization is much higher with polysorbate. As for the rest (i.e. the elimination of the stagnant aqueous diffusion layer as a limiting step for absorption), the two surfactants behave in a similar way. The biopharma…

Internuclear ophthalmoplegia of abduction: clinical and electrophysiological data on the existence of an abduction paresis of prenuclear origin.

1992

Three patients showed unilateral and five bilateral abduction paresis. Five had associated adduction nystagmus of the contralateral eye. Electrophysiological testing of masseter and blink reflexes indicated an ipsilateral rostral pontine or mesencephalic lesion, and excluded a lesion of the infranuclear portion of the abducens nerve. Abduction paresis was attributed to impaired inhibition of the tonic resting activity of the antagonistic medial rectus muscle. The prenuclear origin of the disorder is based on morphological and neurophysiological evidence of an ipsilateral inhibitory connection between the paramedian pontine reticular formation and the oculomotor nucleus running close to but …

false

1992

Study of the factors affecting activated sludge settling in domestic wastewater treatment plants

1992

A study has been made of the influence of the process parameters on the settling characteristics of sludge in domestic wastewater treatment plants. The experiments were conducted at a pilot plant situated at the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Valencia, Spain (1,000,000 inhabitants). The influent to the pilot plant was the same as that of the plant. It was found that F/M ratios in the range of 0.25-0.60 g DBO5/g MLVSS day produce values of SVI representative of good settleability of the sludge. Values of sulphide concentration in the influent above 1.0 mg/l negatively affect the process, causing bulking and floating sludge. High values of fats were found to have no influence on the SVI, but d…

Magnetic order in UCu4+xAl8−x

1992

Abstract A neutron diffraction study has been performed on UCu4+xAl8−x. The compound was chosen as an example of a uranium-based system, which goes from a magnetically ordered state to a pure heavy-fermion state. In the range x = 0.25–1, UCu4+xAl8−x orders in a simple collinear antiferromagnetic structure. With increasing concentration of Cu, the ordering temperature decreases and moment compensation develops due to the increasing hybridization of the 5f electrons.

The structure of PLZT ceramics and holographic recording

1992

Abstract The influence of the specific structure of transparent PLZT X/65/35 [Pb1-xLax (Zr.65Ti.35)1-x/4O3] ceramics with x = 8.5% and IO% on photorefraction and peculiarities of holographic recording have been studied.

Structure and optical properties of a monolayer single crystal of a cyanine dye

1992

Abstract Molecularly thin single crystals of a cyanine dye prepared by adsorption at a charged surfactant monolayer are studied by polarized optical spectroscopy and electron diffraction. Both techniques independently show a herringbone arrangement of the dye with the long axes of translationally inequivalent molecules forming an angle of 80°. The dye arranges in a primitive rectangular unit cell (a=21.2 A, b=6.14 A) adjacent to an epitaxially related hexagonal cell of the aliphatic tails of the surfactant.

Contractile Response of Human Omental Arteries to Endothelin

1992

Abstract The effects of endothelin have been studied in isolated arterial segments (0·8–1 mm in external diam.) of human omental arteries obtained during the course of abdominal operations (15 patients, 7 men and 8 women). Paired segments, one normal and the other de-endothelized, were mounted for isometric recording of tension in organ baths. Endothelin produced concentration-dependent contractions with an EC50 value of 5·4 × 10−9  m. Removal of endothelium did not affect significantly endothelin-induced contractions (EC50, 6·7 × 10−9  m). Removal of extracellular calcium or addition of the calcium channel blocker nicardipine (10−6  m) diminished but did not abolish responses to endothelin…

false

1992

The synthesis of a new type of combined polymers containing both disc- and rod-like mesogens is reported. The polyesters, having a triphenylene derivative as a discotic mesogen in the side group and azobenzene or biphenyl derivatives as rod-like mesogens in the main chain were characterized by polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray scattering studies. The homopolymer 7 is highly crystalline, while the copolymer 8 is amorphous, both, however, do not form liquid-crystalline phases.

The dynamics of structural modifications of mitochondria at the early stages of sea urchin embryonic development

1992

The organization of the chondriome and the ultrastructure of mitochondria have been studied in eggs and embryos of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. The egg chondriome is characterized by an arrangement in well-delimited clusters. Analysis of mitochondrial clusters on electron micrographs of ultrathin serial sections shows two kinds of mitochondria of different shapes, the rod-shaped and the spherical. The egg mitochondria have a dense matrix and a well-ordered arrangement of cristae which, in rod-shaped variety, are perpendicular to the major axis. Cell division is accompanied by significant changes in intracellular distribution of mitochondria and in their structure. At the stage of 2…

Recombinant epidermolytic (exfoliative) toxin A of Staphylococcus aureus is not a superantigen

1992

The epidermolytic (exfoliative) toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus cause epidermolysis and skin blistering. In addition, they have been implicated to belong to the group of T lymphocyte stimulating molecules known as "superantigens". Here we show that recombinant epidermolytic toxin A produced in S. aureus is not mitogenic for human and murine T lymphocytes. We discuss the possibility that minute contaminations of highly mitogenic exoproteins may cause the mitogenicity in several proteins that are reported to be superantigens.

An algorithm based in Ewald's method to calculate lattice sums in the framework of crystal field theory

1992

A simple procedure to help calculate the electrostatic potential at any point inside an ionic crystal is proposed and tested. The rationale for the mathematical algorithm to calculate lattice sums is based on Ewald's technique. The method is discussed with regard to the dimensions and shape of the crystal lattice. Electrostatic potential for NaCl and MgO type structures are obtained and compared with the values calculated by means of Ewald's method

Differentiation between major and minor depression

1992

Though the concept of Major Depression was generated by clinicians using depressed inpatients as models, a polydiagnostic study in 600 psychiatric inpatients with heterogenous psychological disturbances revealed that all six competing operational definitions of Major Depression (including DSM-III-R and ICD-10) were too restrictive to serve as a general concept of depression. Another polydiagnostic study in 500 primary care outpatients showed that more than two-thirds of all non-chronic depressed cases were below the severity threshold of Major Depression: these patients are classified as Depression Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) by DSM-III-R. Loosening of the over-restrictive time criteria w…

Usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography for diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse

1992

Regulation of cytochrome P450 IID by acute phase mediators in C3H/HeJ mice.

1992

Abstract Cytochrome P450 IID6 is a drug metabolizing enzyme and the major target antigen in LKM-1 antibody positive chronic active hepatitis. The histological hallmark of chronic active hepatitis is a lymphocytic infiltrate in the liver. It is unknown whether and how cytokines produced and secreted by these tissue infiltrating mononuclear cells regulate the cellular expression of cytochrome P450 IID6. To study the effect of interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 6 on the hepatocellular RNA expression of cytochrome P450 IID, we injected each of the cytokines in C3H HeJ mice. We found a time-dependent suppression of the cytochrome in the liver. Six hours after the intraperitonea…

Biotransformation of caffeine and theophylline in mammalian cell lines genetically engineered for expression of single cytochrome P450 isoforms

1992

Primary steps in the metabolism of caffeine and theophylline are cleavage of methyl groups and/or hydroxylation at position 8, mediated by cytochromes P450. V79 Chinese hamster cells genetically engineered for stable expression of single forms of rat cytochromes P450IA1, P450IA2 and P450IIBI and human P450IA2 and rat liver epithelial cells expressing murine P450IA2 were used to overcome problems arising in the proper allocation of metabolic pathways to specific isoforms by conventional techniques. These cell lines were exposed to caffeine and/or theophylline, and concentrations of metabolites formed in the medium were determined by HPLC. Caffeine was metabolized by human, rat and murine P45…

Involvement of cyclic guanosine monophosphosphate (cGMP) and cytosolic guanylate cyclase in the regulation of synaptic ribbon numbers in rat pineal g…

1992

In the rat pineal gland N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity and synaptic ribbon (SR) numbers display a circadian rhythm. It is well-known that NAT activity is regulated by adrenergic mechanisms involving cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) as a second messenger. However, the mechanism involved in the regulation of SR numbers has not been established so far. In the present in vitro study, we have investigated the effects of 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (8-bromo-cGMP), a cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) analog, and stimulation of guanylate cyclase on SR numbers. Incubation with 8-bromo-cGMP increased SR numbers in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Further, stimulation of the …

Local Environment of Co2+ Ions in β″-Alumina Crystals

1992

Does endoscopic follow-up improve the outcome of patients with benign gastric ulcers and gastric cancer?

1992

This study investigated whether an endoscopic surveillance program for patients with "benign" gastric ulcers and gastric cancer leads to early detection of neoplasms and improves survival. The clinical course of all patients diagnosed between 1977 and 1986 as having either gastric ulcers or gastric cancer was followed for a minimum of 3 years. Of 597 patients with initially benign gastric ulcers, 452 (76%) returned for the recommended endoscopic follow-up examinations. In eight patients (1.8%), repeated biopsies disclosed malignant neoplasms; four of these patients (0.9%) had become asymptomatic. Survival curves were nearly identical in patients who complied and those who did not. Of 241 pa…

Hepatitis C virus infection as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis. A case-control study.

1992

Objective To determine whether chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an independent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma and whether it increases the cirrhosis-related risk for hepatocellular carcinoma. Design Two pair-matched case-control studies. Setting A referral-based hospital. Patients In study I, 212 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (197 of whom had known underlying cirrhosis) were compared with controls who had chronic nonhepatic diseases. In study II, the 197 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis were compared with 197 pair-matched controls who had cirrhosis but not hepatocellular carcinoma. Measurements Levels of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV), hepatiti…

Multiscaling and the classification of continuous phase transitions

1992

Multiscaling of the free energy is obtained by generalizing the classification of phase transitions proposed by Ehrenfest. The free energy is found to obey a new generalized scaling form which contains as special cases standard and multiscaling forms. The results are obtained by analytic continuation from the classification scheme of Ehrenfest.

Enzymes involved in the dynamic equilibrium of core histone acetylation ofPhysarum polycephalum

1992

DEAE-Scpharose chromatography of extracts from plasmodia of the myxomyccte PI~.~suru~~t ,~/.~crpl~~ho~~ revealed the presence of multiple histone acetyltransferases and histonc deacctylascs. A cyloplasmic histonc acctyltransferase B, specific for histonc H4, and two nuclear acetyltransferases Al and A2 were identilied; Al acetylates all core hislones with a preference for l-13 and H2A. whereas A2 is specific for H3 and also slightly for H2B. Two hislone deacetylases. HDI and HD2, could be discriminated. They differ with respect to subslralc speciliciiy and pH dependence. For the first time the substrate specificity of histonc deacetylascs was determined using HPLC-purilicd individual core h…

Lasers at accelerators: past, present and future

1992

The application of lasers at accelerators is reviewed with emphasis on laser spectroscopy of short-lived isotopes and the determination of nuclear spins, moments, and changes of charge radii in long isotopic chains leading far-off stability. Experimental techniques as well as future directions are discussed.

Acute ammonia toxicity is mediated by the NMDA type of glutamate receptors

1992

AbstractPrevious experiments in our laboratory suggested that ammonium toxicity could be mediated by the NMDA type of glutamate receptors. To assess this hypothesis we tested if MK-801, a specific antagonist of the NMDA receptor, is able to prevent ammonium toxicity. Mice and rats were injected i.p. with 12 and 7 mmol/kg of ammonium acetate, respectively, 73% of the mice and 70% of the rats died. However, when the animals were injected i.p. with 2 mg/kg of MK-801, 15 min before ammonium injection, only 5% of the mice and 15% of the rats died. The remarkable protection afforded by MK-801 indicates that ammonia toxicity is mediated by the NMDA receptor.

Influence of negative allosteric cooperativity in cation transport.

1992

Abstract The bis-macrocyclic ether5 seems to have a negative allosteric cooperativity and is able to transport double the amount of Na+ and K+ cations as monocyclic systems. This compound could be used as a simple model of the plasma membrane Na+−K+ ATPase which actively pumps Na+ out and K+ into the cell, respectively.

Sex concordance for schizophrenia in families

1992

Muon physics — Survey

1992

The empirical basis of the minimal standard model has been consolidated in an impressive way, over the last seventeen years, by precision experiments at the meson factories. I illustrate this by means of selected examples of muonic weak interaction processes. I then describe an extension of Yang-Mills theory, inspired by noncommutative geometry, that yields precisely the standard model but fixes and explains some of its empirical input. In particular, this new approach yields a simple geometrical interpretation of spontaneous symmetry breaking. The algebraic framework of this approach offers a natural place for the lepton and quark matter fields and for inter-family mixing.

Pre-3000 Ma thermal history of the Archean Kaap Valley puton, South Africa

1992

The Kaap Valley pluton is one of several early Archean (3200-3500 Ma) tonalitetrondhjemite plutons that surround the Barberton Greenstone belt, southern Africa. Precise dating using single-grain 207 Pb/ 206 Pb evaporation of zircon and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar laser step-heating of hornblende and biotite indicates that, in its interior, the Kaap Valley pluton preserves a memory of its initial intrusion and cooling, which spanned a time from 3225 to 3142 Ma. The pluton also records the effect of a low-temperature thermal event at its margin as seen by a 40 Ar/ 39 Ar biotite age of 3035 Ma, which is perhaps related to hydrothermal activity and gold mineralization in the adjacent Barberton Greenstone belt…