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Background: Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) is a two‐stage strategy to induce rapid regeneration of the remnant liver. The technique has been associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. This study aimed to evaluate mitochondrial function, biogenesis and morphology during ALPPS‐induced liver regeneration. Methods: Male Wistar rats (n = 100) underwent portal vein ligation (PVL) or ALPPS. The animals were killed at 0 h (without operation), and 24, 48, 72 or 168 h after intervention. Regeneration rate and proliferation index were assessed. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption and adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP) production were measured. Mitochondrial biogenesis was evaluated by protein level measurements of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ co‐activator (PGC) 1‐α, nuclear respiratory factor (NRF) 1 and 2, and mitochondrial transcription factor α. Mitochondrial morphology was evaluated by electron microscopy. Results: Regeneration rate and Ki‐67 index were significantly raised in the ALPPS group compared with the PVL group (regeneration rate at 168 h: mean(s.d.) 291·2(21·4) versus 245·1(13·8) per cent, P < 0·001; Ki‐67 index at 24 h: 86·9(4·6) versus 66·2(4·9) per cent, P < 0·001). In the ALPPS group, mitochondrial function was impaired 48 h after the intervention compared with that in the PVL group (induced ATP production); (complex I: 361·9(72·3) versus 629·7(165·8) nmol per min per mg, P = 0·038; complex II: 517·5(48·8) versus 794·8(170·4) nmol per min per mg, P = 0·044). Markers of mitochondrial biogenesis were significantly lower 48 and 72 h after ALPPS compared with PVL (PGC1‐α at 48 h: 0·61‐fold decrease, P = 0·045; NRF1 at 48 h: 0·48‐fold decrease, P = 0·028). Mitochondrial size decreased significantly after ALPPS (0·26(0·05) versus 0·40(0·07) μm2; P = 0·034). Conclusion: Impaired mitochondrial function and biogenesis, along with the rapid energy‐demanding cell proliferation, may cause hepatocyte dysfunction after ALPPS. Surgical relevanceAssociating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) is a well known surgical strategy that combines liver partition and portal vein ligation. This method induces immense regeneration in the future liver remnant. The rapid volume increase is of benefit for resectability, but the mortality and morbidity rates of ALPPS are strikingly high. Moreover, lagging functional recovery of the remnant liver has been reported recently.In this translational study, ALPPS caused an overwhelming inflammatory response that interfered with the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ co‐activator 1‐α‐coordinated, stress‐induced, mitochondrial biogenesis pathway. This resulted in the accumulation of immature and malfunctioning mitochondria in hepatocytes during the early phase of liver regeneration (bioenergetic destabilization).These findings might explain some of the high morbidity if confirmed in patients. Defines the biochemical basis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Visual electrophysiology is routinely used to detect the visual complications of multiple sclerosis, but the analysis mostly focuses on visual evoked potential (VEP) and especially the P100 component. Our goal was to analyze the components and waveform alterations of VEPs and pattern electroretinograms (PERGs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with good vision. Methods: The main VEP and PERG components of 85 patients with MS were analyzed in two groups: 38 patients who had optic neuritis in their history (ON group) and 47 patients who had never had optic neuritis (MS group). The results were compared against a control group of 47 healthy subjects. Results: Both VEP and PERG alterations occurred in a greater number of patients than expected, and these alterations were not necessarily linked to ON in the history or a deterioration of visual acuity. Conclusions: Both VEP and PERG can detect dysfunction in the visual system in MS, even if the patient has no subjective symptoms. Even if PERG is not routinely used in neuro-ophthalmology, the results suggest that PERG assessment may provide useful information describing the retinal defect in MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting suitable candidates for liver transplantation is the most challenging task of pre-transplant evaluation. In addition to somatic assessment, psychosocial evaluation has been proven important in identifying patients at high risk of potential failure. The Transplant Evaluation Rating Scale (TERS) is a widely used rating instrument for the assessment of psychosocial risk factors before liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to explore the predictive value of TERS for mortality in liver transplant patients before and after transplantation. The medical records of patients referred for psychiatric evaluation before liver transplantation between 2003 –2013 were analysed. Administering TERS was part of the pre-transplant evaluation. The TERS scores of patients who died before and after transplantation were compared with those who survived following transplantation. One hundred and sixteen patients were referred for pre-transplant psychiatric evaluation. Patients with successful liver transplants scored significantly lower on TERS than those who died before transplantation (30.65 ± 6.06 vs. 34.75 ± 8.25,p = .031). Patients who died after transplantation scored significantly better on TERS than those who died before transplantation (28.79 ± 2.81 vs. 34.75 ± 8.25,p = .003). There was no significant difference between the deceased and surviving transplanted patients’ TERS scores (28.79 ± 2.81 vs. 31.19 ± 6.66,p = .365). TERS appears to be a suitableratinginstrument to help select candidates who have higher chance to survive prior to transplantation but it could not predict post-transplant mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem/habitat restoration has become a major goal of international biodiversity policy. However, restorations are often limited in space or time, and we know little on whether and how restoration and management affect vertebrates. Here we assessed the local and landscape-scale effects of habitat restoration and management on small-mammal communities in the Egyek- Pusztakócs marsh system ( Hortobágy National Park, Hungary), site of the largest active restoration of grasslands on former croplands in Europe. We live-trapped mice, voles and shrews in spring and autumn in 2 years (four sampling periods) at two sites in six habitat types: croplands, grasslands restored 3-6 years earlier and natural grasslands. Data on 421 individuals of 12 species showed that restored grasslands were similar to croplands and natural grasslands in species richness, abundance and composition. At the local scale, management influenced abundance because there were more small mammals in unmanaged and early-mown grasslands with taller vegetation than in late-mown or grazed grasslands with lower vegetation, or in ploughed croplands. Elevation was also important because sites at higher elevation provided refuges during spring floods or summer droughts. At the landscape scale, the proportion of restored and natural grasslands positively affected the abundance of small mammals, whereas the proportion of linear habitats (roads, canals) had a negative effect on abundance. Our results show that management is more important than restoration per se at the local scale, which is expected for habitat generalists such as small mammals in contrast to specialists such as plant-feeding invertebrates. However, restoration provides landscape-scale benefits by increasing the area of grasslands that can serve as refuges for small mammals in unfavourable periods. We thus conclude that a mosaic of restored and appropriately managed grasslands with tall vegetation will provide the best chances for the persistence of small-mammal communities in dynamic landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aldaz gave a refinement of Hölder's inequality in 2008. We will improve this result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Queues with Markovian arrival and service processes, i.e., MAP/MAP/1 queues, have been useful in the analysis of computer and communication systems and different representations for their stationary sojourn time and queue length distribution have been derived. More specifically, the class of MAP/MAP/1 queues lies at the intersection of the class of QBD queues and the class of semi-Markovian queues. While QBD queues have a matrix exponential representation for their queue length and sojourn time distribution of orderNand N2, respectively, whereNis the size of the background continuous time Markov chain, the reverse is true for a semi-Markovian queue. As the class of MAP/MAP/1 queues lies at the intersection, both the queue length and sojourn time distribution of a MAP/MAP/1 queue has an orderNmatrix exponential representation. The aim of this article is to understand why the order N2distributions of the sojourn time of a QBD queue and the queue length of a semi-Markovian queue can be reduced to an orderNdistribution in the specific case of a MAP/MAP/1 queue. We show that the key observation exists in establishing the commutativity of some fundamental matrices involved in the analysis of the MAP/MAP/1 queue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host-seeking female tabanid flies, that need mammalian blood for the development of their eggs, can be captured by the classic canopy trap with an elevated shiny black sphere as a luring visual target. The design of more efficient tabanid traps is important for stock-breeders to control tabanids, since these blood-sucking insects can cause severe problems for livestock, especially for horse- and cattle-keepers: reduced meat/milk production in cattle farms, horses cannot be ridden, decreased quality of hides due to biting scars. We show here that male and female tabanids can be caught by a novel, weather-proof liquid-filled black tray laid on the ground, because the strongly and horizontally polarized light reflected from the black liquid surface attracts water-seeking polarotactic tabanids. We performed field experiments to reveal the ideal elevation of the liquid trap and to compare the tabanid-capturing efficiency of three different traps: (1) the classic canopy trap, (2) the new polarization liquid trap, and (3) the combination of the two traps. In field tests, we showed that the combined trap captures 2.4–8.2 times more tabanids than the canopy trap alone. The reason for the larger efficiency of the combined trap is that it captures simultaneously the host-seeking female and the water-seeking male and female tabanids. We suggest supplementing the traditional canopy trap with the new liquid trap in order to enhance the tabanid-capturing efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background Some of the most important questions relating to the use of biological therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases concern the duration of maintenance therapy. Aim To assess the disease course and frequency of relapse of Crohn's disease ( CD) following discontinuation of biological therapy, and to determine predictive factors for relapse. Methods One hundred twenty-one CD patients who had achieved clinical remission following 1 year of biological therapy and for whom biological therapy was then discontinued participated in this prospective observational study. Eighty-seven CD patients had received infliximab and 34 adalimumab. The definition of relapse was an increase of >100 points in CDAI to at least a CDAI of 150 points. Results Biological therapy was restarted within 1 year of treatment cessation in 45% of patients. Logistic regression analysis revealed that previous biological therapy ( P = 0.011) and dose intensification during the 1-year course of biological therapy ( P = 0.024) were associated with the need for and the time to the restarting of biological therapy. Smoking was observed to have an effect that was not statistically significant ( P = 0.053). Conclusions Biological therapy was restarted a median of 6 months after discontinuation in almost half of Crohn's disease patients in who had been in clinical remission following 1 year of biological therapy. These results suggest that, in the event of the presence of certain predictive factors, biological therapy should probably be continued for more than 1 year by most patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical resistivity and thermal properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube/polypropylene (MWCNT/PP) composites have been investigated in the presence of coupling agents applied for improving the compatibility between the nanotubes and the polymer. A novel olefin-maleic-anhydride copolymer and an olefin-maleic-anhydride copolymer based derivative have been used as compatibilizers to achieve better dispersion of MWCNTs in the polymer matrix. The composites have been produced by extrusion followed by injection moulding. They contained different amounts of MWCNTs (0.5, 2, 3 and 5 wt%) and coupling agent to enhance the interactions between the carbon nanotubes and the polymer. The electrical resistivity of the composites has been investigated by impedance spectroscopy, whereas their thermal properties have been determined using a thermal analyzer operating on the basis of the periodic thermal perturbation method. Rheological properties, BET-area and adsorption-desorption isotherms have been determined. Dispersion of MWCNTs in the polymer has been studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this national, multicenter, cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) among prisoners, and to identify related risk behaviors including injection drug use. Overall, 4,894 inmates from 20 prisons were enrolled. To have a comparison group, prison staff were also asked to take part. Altogether, 1,553 of the 4,894 inmates from seven prisons completed a questionnaire on risk behaviors. According to the survey, 1.5%, 4.9%, and 0.04% of the prisoners were tested positive for HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV, respectively. These prevalence data are among the lowest reported from prisons worldwide, although comparable to the Central European data. The prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV in the Hungarian prison staff was low (0.38%, 0.47%, and 0%, respectively). The rate of HCV infection was significantly higher among inmates who have ever injected drugs (22.5%) than among inmates who reported they had never injected drugs (1.1%). This first prevalence study of illegal drug injection-related viral infections among Hungarian prisoners points out that ever injecting drugs is the main reason for HCV infection among inmates. The opportunity to reach drug users infected with HCV for treatment underlines the importance of screening programs for blood-borne viruses in prisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare the Psoriatic Arthritis Quality of Life (PsAQoL) instrument, the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) as a measure of functional status, and the generic health status (utility) measure the EuroQoL (EQ-5D) in terms of ability to assess disease severity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods: The differences between known groups and correlations of the PsAQoL, the HAQ and the EQ-5D with clinical measures were analysed in a sample of 183 PsA patients. Results: Different severities of PsA determined by known groups were distinguished well by all three questionnaires; more severe disease was associated with significantly worse values of the instruments. The correlations revealed a strong relationship between each of the measures, and with the patients’ pain on the visual analogue scale (VAS), the patient global VAS, and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and a weak relationship with the disease duration and the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI). The PsAQoL also correlated strongly with the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28). Conclusions: The PsAQoL, the HAQ, and the EQ-5D are able to distinguish well across levels of PsA severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the throughput analysis of data services over high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) systems. The achievable throughput is calculated with an approximate analytical method based on the Padhye model that has two input parameters: the packet loss probability and the transmission control protocol (TCP) round trip time. The proposed solution is to calculate these parameters with an equivalent queuing network model of the HSDPA system that takes into account the possible congestion points in the system and the protocol layers that have dominant impact on the delay and packet drop. The modelling considerations and the analysis method are described in detail. Finally, the model is validated with a performance study of the HSDPA system that is executed with detailed NS2- based simulations too. The proposed method is found to be reasonably accurate requiring less computational effort than the simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian ginseng ( Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) has been used in Chinese medicine for two thousand years. The root of ginseng contains several saponins (ginsenosides) which are biologically active compounds. Individual ginsenosides suppress tumor cell growth, induce cell differentiation, regulate apoptosis and inhibit metastasis formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate its chemo-preventive effects in an animal test model, through its regulatory effects on apoptosis and the cell cycle. The expression of genes ( Bcl-2, Bcl-x and Cyclin D1) which affect apoptosis were examined, in different organs of animals which had consumed a ginseng-containing diet in the presence of a known carcinogen (DMBA). The pattern of gene expression was determined by Q-RT-PCR. The increase of antiapoptotic gene expression after carcinogenic exposure was suppressed by consumption of ginseng which promoted apoptosis. The population is exposed to numerous physical and chemical insults in the modern environment and these include compounds which are known carcinogens. Research has shown that it is possible to interfere with the multi-step process of carcinogenesis through the use of compounds with chemo-preventive effects, such as the inhibition of the activation of antiapoptotic genes. These results support the efficacy of ginseng-containing diets and dietary supplements in the prevention of cancerous diseases. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) and its receptors are widely expressed in the nervous system and various other tissues. PACAP exerts strong anti-apoptotic effects in neuronal cell lines and, according to recent data, also in non-neuronal cells. The peptide is present in the cardiovascular system and has various distinct effects. We have demonstrated earlier that PACAP has protective effects against in vitro ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Preconditioning with brief intermittent periods of ischemia is known to provide protection against ischemic injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether PACAP could enhance the protective effect of preconditioning against in vitro ischemic injury. Cultured cardiomyocytes were exposed to brief preconditioning ischemia followed by 2 h ischemia and 4 h reperfusion. Both PACAP treatment and preconditioning alone significantly increased cell viability and decreased the ratio of cell death. Pretreatment with PACAP was found to further reduce the level of cleaved caspase-8 but it did not lead to additional survival rate when compared to cells treated with PACAP or preconditioning alone. These results show that although both PACAP and preconditioning have a protective effect against ischemia/reperfusion-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, their effects are not additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let 0 ≦ a 1 < a 2 < ⋯ be an infinite sequence of integers and let r 1( A, n) = |( i; j): a i + a j = n, i ≦ j|. We show that if d > 0 is an integer, then there does not exist n 0 such that d ≦ r 1 ( A, n) ≦ d + [√2 d + ½] for n > n 0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Montgomery and Vaughan improved a theorem of Erdö and Fuchs for an arbitary sequence. Sárközy extended this theorem of Erdös and Fuchs for two arbitrary sequences which are "near" in a certain sense. Using the idea of Jurkat (differentiation of the generating function), we will extend similarly the result of Montgomery and Vaughan for "sufficiently near" sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction of the nca [18F]fluoride ion was investigated toward a series of N6-benzoyl 2",3"-isopropylidene-adenosine-5"-sulfonates including the methane-(mesylate), p-toluene-(tosylate), p-nitro-benzene-(nosylate)- and 2,2,2-trifluoro-ethane-sulfonate (tresylate) derivatives under usual nucleophilic substitution conditions. In these reactions cyclisation of the title compounds was observed whilst the radiofluorination took place only with low yield. The fluorine-18 uptake was found to be 1.17% for mesylate, 1.46% for tosylate, 0.99% for nosylate and 0.40% for tresylate under the conditions applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sárközy generalized a theorem of Erdős and Fuchs by considering sums of..... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of HNO is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The effectiveness of triacontanol in the micropropagation of two woody, economically important fruit plant species was investigated. Triacontanol was added to the routine multiplication and rooting media of apple ( Malus domestica cv. JTE-E4) and sour cherry ( Cerasus fruticosa cv. Probocskai) rootstocks at concentrations of 2, 5, 10 and 20 μg/l. It was found to increase the number of shoots and the fresh weight of apple in the multiplication phase and to enhance root number and chlorophyll content in the rooting phase. The addition of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to the media further improved the effect of triacontanol. A less pronounced effect could be seen in the multiplication phase of sour cherry, although there was an enhancement of shoot proliferation. In the rooting phase, however, the application of triacontanol caused a significant increase in the number of roots per plant, and this effect was further improved when triacontanol was combined with 0.5 mg indole-3-butyric acid/l. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Available data and our observations suggest that elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and -10 and some complement parameters may be associated with a poor response to IFN alpha. We evaluated how baseline levels of C5b-9, IL-6, and IL-10 influence the outcome of IFN alpha treatment. Methods: Fifty-one patients with established chronic hepatitis C were enrolled and treated with IFN alpha-2b. Before and after a 12-week-IFN-treatment (3 MU or 5 MU tiw) serum levels of IL-6, IL-10, C5b-9 and RNA of hepatitis C virus (HCV) were assessed. Sera of 46 sex- and age-matched, healthy blood donors served as control. Results: While two-thirds of patients was considered 'responder', 14 patients had no significant decrease either in HCV RNA or in ALT levels. In the responder's group lower baseline levels of IL-6 and C5b-9 were found than those in the 'non-responder' group. As a result of IFN therapy HCV RNA and C5b-9 levels significantly decreased. While the serum concentration of IL-6 increased during the follow-up period, regarding IL-10, no change was observed. In patients with 'low' baseline levels of C5b-9 (<2053 ng/ml) IFN alpha resulted in a significantly (P = 0.0005) higher decrease in HCV RNA level. Regarding 'low' IL-6 values (<1.47 pg/ml) similar but somewhat less significant (P = 0.0039) difference was found if the change of HCV RNA was investigated. The odds ratio of patients with low IL-6 and/or C5b-9 to responding to IFN alpha treatment was almost 10 times (CI: 9.1 (1.8-50.9)) higher as compared with patients without 'low' levels of these parameters. Conclusion: Our data suggest that serum level(s) of IL-6 and/or C5b-9 taken prior to the initiation of IFN treatment may serve as surrogate marker(s) in evaluating patients with chronic hepatitis C whether to get IFN alpha in monotherapy or to consider having combination therapy in the form of IFN alpha-ribavirin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of e & i Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Based on the findings of the previous country-level research and interviews conducted by the partner institutions, we aimed at developing an International Core Competence Profile for Regional Health Network Managers (RHNMs), which later may serve as a foundation for the project’s final goal: the curriculum development for EU RHNMs. Core Competence Profile (CCP): The CCP describes in a comprehensive and structured manner what activities a RHNM needs to perform to reach the goals of health promotion and prevention by managing the network of local actors. Two central and one ancillary circle of competences were defined-all three interrelated. The two central, overlapping circles are the Health Content Planning Cycle and the Network Management Cycle, both defined as cycles, emphasizing the importance of repeated feedback and readjustment of the processes. Relevant competencies’ list: Based on the CCP, we ordered knowledge/skill areas to the competences named in the profile. According to the interview results combined with assessment, Health Content Planning Cycle is mostly based on broader health- and policy planning related knowledge (e.g. public health, social epidemiology, interdisciplinary social), and needs a strong basis in data collection and analysis knowledge and skills. Network Management Cycle is based very strongly on a wide range of ‘‘people’’ and communication skills (oral and written, with different stakeholders and in different settings), as well as strategic management. Based on the project team’s assessment, RHNMs need advanced level knowledge in the areas of: interdisciplinary knowledge; implementation science; stakeholder analysis; facilitation of process; PR-written and oral communications; people skills, diplomacy, conflict management; strategic management; project management, and fund raising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[11C]-labeled form of ten A2a adenosine receptor specific 8-styryl-7-methyl-xanthine derivatives ([11C]-caffeines) were synthesised by N-methylation of the corresponding 8-styryl-xanthine derivatives using [11C]-methyl iodide in optimized reaction conditions. The results show that the [11C]-methylations take place with excellent radiochemical yields (35–93%), and can be utilised easily in online preparations. These labeled ligands may facilitate the positron emission tomographic (PET) investigation of adenosine A2a receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North African desert ants belonging to different genera and inhabiting different areas (sand dunes, salt pans, inundation flats and gravel plains) exhibit different ways of skylight navigation: some rely especially on the polarized light in the sky, others depend more effectively on the position of the sun. Are these differences due to species- or genus-specific idiosyncrasies of the ant's skylight compass, or are they caused by differences in the overall degree of polarization prevailing in the celestial hemisphere that vaults the different kinds of habitat? Theoretically, such differences are to be expected, as various parameters known to influence the degree of polarization in the Earth's atmosphere – such as the albedo of the ground and the content of water vapour, dust and haze in the airlayers above the ground – do vary between the different types of habitat mentioned above. The first wide-field, video-polarimetric study of skylight polarization presented here clearly shows that at any particular locality the temporal (day-to-day) variations of the degree of skylight polarization are much more pronounced than the differences recorded at the same local time at different localities. In contrast, the angle of polarization is unaffected by atmospheric disturbances and accords well with the predictions of Rayleigh scattering. Consequently, differences in behavioural performances of navigating North African desert ants are due to interspecific and intergeneric differences in the ants' navigational systems rather than to general differences in the skylight stimuli experienced by the ants during navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triacontanol, a long-chain primary alcohol was found to be an effective growth regulator in the micropropagation of balm, Melissa officinalis. In both the multiplication and the rooting phase, concentrations of 2, 5, 10 and 20 μg triacontanol per liter were applied. After 4 weeks of culture, the fresh weight of shoots was measured in the multiplication phase and root formation, photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll content and the fresh and dry weights of shoots were analyzed in the root induction phase. In the multiplication phase, 5 μg/l triacontanol was found to be the optimal concentration, while in the rooting phase 2 μg/l was the most effective. Triacontanol increased the number and length of roots, and it enhanced shoot growth, fresh weight, and the chlorophyll content, but it had no effect on the dry weight and the photosynthetic activity of the plants. Results of our work demonstrate that triacontanol can be applied as an effective growth regulator in the tissue culture of balm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure was developed to isolate mesophyll and bundle sheath chloroplasts of a high degree of intactness and low cross-contamination. Light-induced CO fixation of isolated chloroplasts was similar to that of protoplasts and cells in that it was low and was stimulated by the addition of exogenous substrates. O evolution was absent in both bundle sheath chloroplasts and cells. The flash-induced 515 nm absorbance change of intact mesophyll chloroplasts showed a biphasic rise, previously known to be a characteristic only of intact algae. With bundle sheath chloroplasts or cells, no 515 nm signal could be detected. In the presence of 10 μmol l phenazine methosulphate, bundle sheath chloroplasts exhibited a flash-induced 515 nm signal with a monophasic rise and amplitude comparable to that of the mesophyll chloroplasts. A similar signal was obtained with bundle sheath chloroplasts suspended in an extract prepared from the mesophyll tissue. Both the substrate stimulation of the CO fixation and the reconstitution of the 515 nm signal in bundle sheath chloroplasts by the mesophyll extract indicate the requirement of cooperation between the mesophyll and bundle sheath cells of maize leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetative segregation of a mixed plastid population in protoplast fusion-derived cell lines can be directed by a selection favouring the multiplication of one of the parental plastid types. This report defines some of the critical conditions leading to a homogeneous plastid population in cybrid plants generated by protoplast fusion between Nicotiana plumbaginifolia and an albino and streptomycin-resistant N. tabacum plastid mutant. Light (1,500 lx) conferred a strong selective advantage to chloroplasts versus albino plastids, while the lack of this effect in dim light (300 lx) indicated that a sufficient light intensity is essential to the phenomenon. Selection on streptomycin-containing medium in the dark, however, led to the preferential multiplication of resistant plastids. Streptomycin selection of resistant chloroplasts in the light, consequently, results in a plastid selection of doubled stringency. In another experiment a definite, but leaky, selection for chloroplast recombination (selection for greening on streptomycin-containing medium in dim light) was used to reveal various recombination products. Protoplast fusion in fact resulted in cybrid plants showing only simple chimeric segregation of unchanged parental plastids. These results demonstrate the essential requirement for stringent plastid selection, as defined by cell culture conditions, to precede the formation of shoots expected to possess the desired plastid genetic composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several structure-spectrum correlations has been established on nitrogen containing six membered aromatic heterocyclic compounds. 1. Some characteristic differences between vibrational skeletal frequencies were correlated with the product of two internal coordinates. 2. The normal coordinate analysis of pyridine and pyrazine N-oxides was elaborated based on the isoelectronicity with the corresponding fluorobenzenes. 3. The normal coordinate analysis of more complex heterocyclic molecules was attributed to the simpler case of substituted benzenes. 4. The ultraviolet spectra of some condensed heterocyclic compounds were interpreted and the spectrum influencing effect of the substituents was established. 5. Protolytic equilibria were investigated in basic and acidic media for some pyrazine and pyrimidine derivatives. The influence of the substituents on the basicity of the nitrogens was interpreted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple geometrical model is given for the resistivity increase of thin conducting films. The results of our model agree well with the results of the non-geometrical Fuchs-Sondheimer theory. The model is improved for the films with roughness, when additional terms appear in the total resistivity expression. A quantitative analysis is presented for the thickness dependence of these additional terms under the condition of symmetrical deviations from the mean film thickness d. A calculation including the size effect is made for the normal resistivity of the in situ filamentary superconducting composite tapes. The size effect does not seem to play an important role in the stabilization of these discontinuous filamentary systems, not as it can play in continuous filamentary systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The apparent velocity and apparent size of objects approaching an animal strongly depend on their size, their position within the visual field and on the path along which they move. It also makes a considerable difference whether both the animal and the objects are in air, or whether the animal looks from one medium into the other, as is the case in animals that live at the water surface. To systematically investigate this situation we calculated apparent velocity and size in the midsagittal plane of approaching objects of flat horizontal, rodlike vertical and spherical shape. We confine our investigation to object movements along straight horizontal and vertical paths and consider the situation for eyes with and without acute zones. The apparent velocity of an approaching object is low in the far field and increases rapidly close to the eye in both air and water. Along horizontal paths and close to the animal it is higher in water than in air. Along vertical paths and close to the animal it is higher in air than in water. Both relationships are exaggerated when there is an acute zone for vertical resolution along the animal's horizon. Boundary curves are calculated along which an approaching object is seen by a linearly increasing number of receptors. The change of apparent size is characterized by the density of these lines. Below the water surface the change of apparent size is similar to that of the apparent velocity. The apparent size of a horizontally elongated object approaching along a horizontal path increases steadily, that of a vertically elongated object along a vertical line initially increases, but can decrease again near the water surface. An acute zone substantially changes the shape and density of these contour lines. The biological consequences of these effects are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia / Journal Canadien d'Anesthésie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A quantitative description of the hydrochloric acid initiated polymerization of caprolactam (CL) based on the previously proposed mechanism is given. Essential parameters were identified by strategy mainly based on principal component analysis. Our kinetic model is in good agreement with experiments and describes specific features of the kinetics of the process with the suggested parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meniscus degeneration is a very frequent disease of human beings mainly in the developed countries. The ability of the meniscus to participate in load bearing, shock absorption, joint lubrication, and joint stability depends on the maintenance of its structural integrity. Therefore the pathology of the degeneration has been subject of many publications before. These studies all agreed that the grade of the degeneration correlated with the patient’s age, weight, profession, and athletic activity [1]. These reviews also described the biochemical changes in the structure, too [2, 3]. In the current study authors examined degenerated human meniscus with differential scanning calorimetry and demonstrated thermal differences between healthy and intraoperatively removed pathological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5′-Deoxy-5′-[18F]fluoro-adenosine was synthesised by nucleophilic radiofluorination reactions of 5′-deoxy-5′-haloadenosines. The homogeneous isotope exchange in 5′-deoxy-5′-fluoro-adenosine was also investigated. The conversion of these reactions was found to be rather low and depends on the strength of the halogen-carbon bond: 0.248% for chloride-, 0.488% for bromide- and 1.070% for iodide-derivative; there was no reaction observed in the case of fluoro-compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]