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In Arctic ecosystems, increasing temperatures are driving the expansion of nitrogen (N) fixing shrubs across tundra landscapes. The implications of this expansion to the biogeochemistry of Arctic ecosystems is of critical importance, yet many details about the form, location, and availability of N from these shrubs remain unknown. To address this knowledge gap, the spatiotemporal variability of nitrate (NO3−) and its environmental and edaphic controls were investigated at an alder (Alnus viridis spp. fruticosa) dominated permafrost tundra landscape in the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, USA. Soil pore water was collected from locations within alder shrubland growing along a well-drained hillslope and compared to soil pore water collected from locations outside (upslope, downslope, and between) the alder shrubland. δ15N and δ18O of soil pore water were consistent with the predicted range of NO3− produced through microbial degradation of N-rich alder shrub organic matter. Soil pore water collected within alder shrubland had an average NO3− concentration of (4.27 ± 8.02 mg L−1) and differed significantly from locations outside alder shrubland (0.23 ± 0.83 mg L−1; p 3− within and downslope of alder shrubland corresponded to precipitation events, where NO3− accumulated in the soil was flushed downslope during rainfall. Enrichment of both δ15N and δ18O isotopes at wetter downslope locations indicate that denitrification buffered the mobility and spatial extent of NO3−. These findings have important implications for nutrient production and mobility in N-limited permafrost systems that are experiencing shrub expansion in response to a warming Arctic.

The aggregation properties of two peptide–porphyrin conjugates were investigated by optical spectroscopy and microscopy imaging with nanometer resolution. Specifically, a tetraphenylporphyrin platform was functionalized by (L)-magainin, a 23-residue long antimicrobial peptide, and by a (L)-magainin analogue differing from the parent peptide by a single residue substitution,i.e.i.e.an Alavs.Phe replacement in the position 5 of the peptide chain. Spectroscopic and microscopy results show that this single-site substitution has a small effect on the secondary structure attained by the two peptide analogues, but deeply affects the morphology of the mesoscopic structures deposited on hydrophilic mica from methanol/water solutions. In particular, only the Ala-substituted peptide-porphyrin conjugate was shown to be able to form micrometric fibrils, coating homogeneously a hydrophilic mica surface. These results pave the way for potential applications of porphyrin-peptide compounds in localized photodynamic therapy and for designing solid-state stereoselective sensors.

El autor describe brevemente las manifestaciones clínicas y el diagnóstico del síndrome post-apendicectomia. Se añaden algunas consideraciones acerca de la patogenia de la tiflitis parcelar y de la tifloatomia que parecen ser cuadros más directamente atribuíbles a la falta del apéndice. Se sugiere que el déficit de 5 hidroxitriptamina puede probablemente ser de importancia en la aparición del síndrome.

As one of the main working modes, the energy recovered with regenerative braking system provides an effective approach so as to greatly improve fuel economy of hybrid electric bus. However, it is still a challenging issue to ensure braking stability while maximizing braking energy recovery. To solve this problem, an efficient energy recovery control strategy is proposed based on the modified nonlinear model predictive control method. Firstly, combined with the characteristics of the compound braking process of single-shaft parallel hybrid electric bus, a 7 degrees of freedom model of the vehicle longitudinal dynamics is built. Secondly, considering nonlinear characteristic of the vehicle model and the efficiency of regenerative braking system, the particle swarm optimization algorithm within the modified nonlinear model predictive control is adopted to optimize the torque distribution between regenerative braking system and pneumatic braking system at the wheels. So as to reduce the computational time of modified nonlinear model predictive control, a nearest point method is employed during the braking process. Finally, the simulation and hardware-in-loop test are carried out on road conditions with different tire–road adhesion coefficients, and the proposed control strategy is verified by comparing it with the conventional control method employed in the baseline vehicle controller. The simulation and hardware-in-loop test results show that the proposed strategy can ensure vehicle safety during emergency braking situation and improve the recovery energy almost 17% compared with the conventional rule-based strategy in the general braking situation. Therefore, the proposed control strategy might offer a theoretical reference for the design of the actual braking controller in engineering practice.

Characterizing the mobility of uranium and vanadium in groundwater with a hydraulic connection to surface water is important to inform the best management practices of former mill tailing sites. In this study, the recharge of river water to the unsaturated and saturated zones of a uranium-contaminated alluvial aquifer was simulated in a series of forced-gradient single- and multi-well injection-extraction tests. The injection fluid (river water) was traced with natural and artificial tracers that included halides, fluorobenzoates, lithium, and naphthalene sulfonate to characterize the potential mass transport mechanisms of uranium and vanadium. The extraction fluid (river water/groundwater mixture) was analyzed for the tracers, uranium, and vanadium. The results from the tracers indicated that matrix diffusion was likely negligible over the spatiotemporal scales of the tests as evident by nearly identical breakthrough curves of the halides and fluorobenzoates. In contrast, the breakthrough curves of lithium and naphthalene sulfonate indicated that sorption by cation exchange and sorption to organic matter, respectively, were potential mass transport mechanisms of uranium and vanadium. Uranium was mobilized in the saturated zone containing gypsum (gypsum-rich zone), the vadose zone (vadose-rich zone), and the saturated zone containing organic carbon (organic-rich zone) whereas vanadium was mobilized only in the saturated gypsum-rich zone. The mechanisms responsible for the mobilization of uranium and vanadium were likely dissolution of uranium- and vanadium-bearing minerals and/or desorption from the gypsum-rich zone, flushing of uranium from the vadose-rich zone, and desorption of uranium from the organic-rich zone due to the natural contrast in the geochemistry between the river water and groundwater. The experimental design of this study was unique in that it employed the use of multiple natural and artificial tracers coupled with a direct injection of native river water to groundwater. These results demonstrated that natural recharge and flooding events at former mill tailing sites can mobilize uranium, and possibly vanadium, and contribute to persistent levels of groundwater contamination.

A tracer test was conducted in a geothermal reservoir using a cation-exchanging tracer to interrogate flow pathway surface area to volume ratios and a thermally-degrading tracer to interrogate average flow pathway temperatures. The test interpretations are used to predict when thermal drawdown will occur at a production well due to injecting cooler spent geothermal water into an injection well. The cation-exchanging tracer provides constraints on the timing of thermal drawdown, and the thermally-degrading tracer provides constraints on the magnitude of thermal drawdown. Uncertainties associated with the method, including assumptions made about flow pathway geometry, are discussed.

Resumen Objetivo El tratamiento de la incontinencia urinaria femenina ha sufrido una revolucion en los ultimos anos por la aparicion en el mercado de las cintillas suburetrales. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar 2 tecnicas quirurgicas para el tratamiento de la incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo: Monarc™ (cintilla suburetral transobturadora) y MiniArc® (mini-cintilla suburetral de incision unica). Material y metodos Estudio retrospectivo observacional comparativo desde enero de 2005 hasta diciembre de 2011 con 317 mujeres diagnosticadas de incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo. Doscientas catorce fueron tratadas con la cintilla suburetral transobturadora Monarc™ y 103 con la mini-cintilla MiniArc®. Los resultados han sido tratados con el programa informatico SPSS v 15 y el nivel de significacion estadistica ha sido p ≤ 0,005. Resultados Los 2 grupos de pacientes son homogeneos en cuanto a la edad, el numero de partos, la presencia de incontinencia urinaria de urgencia o histerectomia previa. Diferencias significativas en estancia hospitalaria, tiempo quirurgico y complicaciones precoces a favor del Miniarc®, pero no en las tardias donde no hay diferencias significativas globales. El 84% de las pacientes tratadas con la cintilla transobturadora Monarc™ estan curadas frente al 72% en las que colocamos un MiniArc® con diferencia significativa. Conclusion Debemos realizar un mayor numero de estudios de alta calidad de caracter prospectivo y aleatorizados, con mayor numero de pacientes y tiempo de seguimiento para confirmar o rechazar la diferencia que hemos encontrado en la tasa de exito a favor de cintilla suburetral transobturador Monarc™.

Objective The treatment of female stress urinary incontinence has undergone a revolution in recent years due the emergence on the market of suburethral slings. The aim of this study is to compare two surgical techniques for treating stress urinary incontinence: Monarc™ (transobturator suburethral sling) and MiniArc ® (single-incision suburethral mini-sling). Materials and methods Comparative, retrospective, observational study from January 2005 to December 2011 on 317 women diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence. Of these, 214 were treated with the Monarc™ transobturator suburethral sling, and 103 were treated with the MiniArc ® mini-sling. The results were treated with SPSS v.15 software, and the statistical significance was p ≤ .005. Results The two patients groups were homogeneous in terms of age, number of births, presence of urgency urinary incontinence and prior hysterectomy. There were significant differences in hospital stay, surgical time and early complications in favor of the MiniArc ® , technique, but overall there were no significant differences in the late complications. Some 84% of the patients treated with the Monarc™ transobturator sling were cured compared with the 72% of patients in whom we implanted a MiniArc ® , a difference that was statistically significant. Conclusion We need to perform more high-quality, prospective and randomized studies with larger number of patients and longer follow-up times to confirm or disprove the difference that we found in the success rate for the Monarc™ transobturator suburethral sling.

High-explosive compounds including hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) were used extensively in weapons research and testing at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Liquid effluents containing RDX were released to an outfall pond that flowed to Canon de Valle at LANL's Technical Area 16 (TA-16), resulting in the contamination of the alluvial, intermediate and regional groundwater bodies. Monitoring of groundwater within Canon de Valle has shown persistent RDX in the intermediate perched zone located between 225 and 311 m below ground surface. Monitoring data also show detectable levels of RDX putative anaerobic degradation products. Batch and column experiments were conducted to determine the extent of adsorption-desorption and transport of RDX and its degradation products (MNX, DNX, and TNX) in major rock types that are within the RDX plume. All experiments were performed in the dark using water obtained from a well located at the center of the plume, which is fairly oxic and has a neutral pH of 7.5. Retardation factors and partitioning coefficient (Kd) values for RDX were calculated from batch experiments. Additionally, retardation factors and Kd values for RDX and its degradation products were calibrated from column experiments using a one-dimensional transport model with equilibrium sorption (linear isotherm). Results from the column and batch experiments showed little to no sorption of RDX to the aquifer materials tested, with retardation factors ranging from 1.0 to 1.8 and Kd values varying from 0 to 0.70 L/kg. Results also showed no measurable differences between the transport properties of RDX and its degradation products.

Summary Cerebral infarction that affects young women is extremely serious, despite its low incidence, with mortality rates of nearly 20%. In the case of a pregnant woman it is a serious injury at as time of maximum personal and family development. Although theoretically cerebral apoplexy has very varied aethiopathological causes there are many young women in whom the principal cause is never found. The clinical neurological investigation needs to be supported by radiological diagnostic techniques to make an initial diagnosis between ischaemic or haemorrhage pathology. Cranial tomography will be indicated by the same criteria as in non pregnant patients, without threatening embryonic or foetal viability. The dosage of radiation used does not endanger foetal well-being, and it should help us try to predict maternal prognosis and to establish the most appropriate therapy.

A simple derivation of the effects of vessels is given which demonstrates a concentration dependence not been previously shown. Probe pressure effects on in vivo vascular parameters of the uterine cervix are assessed.

Tissue vasculature is altered when cancer develops. Consequently, noninvasive methods of monitoring blood vessel size, density, and oxygenation would be valuable. Simple spectroscopy employing fiber optic probes to measure backscattering can potentially determine hemoglobin parameters. However, heterogeneity of blood distribution, the dependence of the tissue-volume-sampled on scattering and absorption, and the potential compression of tissue all hinder the accurate determination of hemoglobin parameters. We address each of these issues. A simple derivation of a correction factor for the absorption coefficient, μa, is presented. This correction factor depends not only on the vessel size, as others have shown, but also on the density of blood vessels. Monte Carlo simulations were used to determine the dependence of an effective pathlength of light through tissue which is parameterized as a ninth-order polynomial function of μa. The hemoglobin bands of backscattering spectra of cervical tissue are fit using these expressions to obtain effective blood vessel size and density, tissue hemoglobin concentration, and oxygenation. Hemoglobin concentration and vessel density were found to depend on the pressure applied during in vivo acquisition of the spectra. It is also shown that determined vessel size depends on the blood hemoglobin concentration used.

The treatment of female stress urinary incontinence has undergone a revolution in recent years due the emergence on the market of suburethral slings. The aim of this study is to compare two surgical techniques for treating stress urinary incontinence: Monarc™ (transobturator suburethral sling) and MiniArc(®) (single-incision suburethral mini-sling).Comparative, retrospective, observational study from January 2005 to December 2011 on 317 women diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence. Of these, 214 were treated with the Monarc™ transobturator suburethral sling, and 103 were treated with the MiniArc(®) mini-sling. The results were treated with SPSS v.15 software, and the statistical significance was P≤.005.The two patients groups were homogeneous in terms of age, number of births, presence of urgency urinary incontinence and prior hysterectomy. There were significant differences in hospital stay, surgical time and early complications in favour of the MiniArc(®), technique, but overall there were no significant differences in the late complications. Some 84% of the patients treated with the Monarc™ transobturator sling were cured compared with the 72% of patients in whom we implanted a MiniArc(®), a difference that was statistically significant.We need to perform more high-quality, prospective and randomised studies with larger numbers of patients and longer follow-up times to confirm or disprove the difference that we found in the success rate for the Monarc™ transobturator suburethral sling.

We have collected in vivo spectroscopy data of cervical lesions from two separate locations. The data are analyzed to determine spectroscopic and colposcopic accuracy as compared to the gold standard of pathology.

Effects of the contrast agent, acetic acid, on mammalian cells are studied using light scattering measurements, viability and fluorescence pH assays. Results depend on whether cells are in PBS or are live and metabolizing.

Purpose To compare the safety and eficacy when two different types of intrastromal ring segments (ICRS): Intacs vs. KeraRing were used to treat keratoconus. Methods Interventional, retrospective, comparative case serie study. A total of 53 keratoconic eyes were separated in two groups matched by age and degree of keratoconus: 31 (Group A) treated with Intacs ICRS and 22 (Group B) treated with KeraRing ICRS. Main outcomes were uncorrected, best corrected visual acuity (UVA and BCVA), sphere, astigmatism, spherical equivalent (EE) and mean keratometric values (km) pre and 3 month after implantation. Safety of the procedure was also evaluated. In both groups the femtosecond laser (IntraLase Corp, Irvine CA) were used to create the tunnel. Results 3 month postop UVA were 0,26?0,2 vs 0,30?0,2 in Group A and B (p=0,6). BCVA was 0,61?0,2 and 0,67?0,2 in Group A and B (p=0,4). Postop sphere, cylinder and EE were -1,3?3,6D, 2,9?1,9D and -2,6?3,4D in Group A vs -1,3?1,8D, -3,1?2,0D and -2,2?2,4D in Group B respectively (p>0,05 in all comparison). Group A mean km was 43,1?12,6D vs 44,7?5.0D in Group B (p=0,6). Rate of explantation was 16,6% in Group A due to extrusion, neovascularization or non-controled inflamation vs none in Group B. Conclusion In this serie Intacs or KeraRing implantation to correct keratoconus seems to induce the same visual outcomes. However the tolerance of keraRing was better than intacs.

En este trabajo se estudió la influencia del sexo en el desarrollo de la leishmaniasis experimental, al observar la evolución clínica de la lesión y el patrón inmunohistopatológico en ratones consanguíneos C57BL/6 infectados con parásitos de la cepa AZV de Leishmania mexicana. El estudio mostró divergencias en el curso de la patología entre ambos sexos. Se registraron diferencias significativas (P

Purpose: To evaluate corneal structure in keratoconus eyes using “in vivo” laser confocal microscopy. Methods: In this prospective study we evaluated 23 eyes of 12 consecutive patients with keratoconus [6 men and 6 women, mean aged 37,30 ± 9,93; range: 23-52 years]. 23 eyes of normal patient were the control group. Keratoconus were classified in mild ( 55D).We evaluated using laser confocal microscopy the corneal epithelium, Bowman layer and anterior, intermediate and posterior stroma. We quantified the mean density per mm2 of basal epithelial cells, anterior stromal keratocites (50 μm down Bowman layer), intermediate and posterior (50 μm up endothelial cells). All measurements were done by the same masked examiner. Results: Of the 23 eyes, 16 had mid keratoconus , 5 moderate keratoconus and 2 severe keratoconus. Basal epithelial cells density was 5600,22 cel./mm2 ± 975,13. Keratocite density was 391,04 cel./mm2 ± 105,39 in anterior stroma, 353,83 cel./mm2 ± 53,28 in intermediate stroma and 349,43 cel./ mm2 ± 61,34 in posterior stroma. We found a reduction of cellular density in all measurements with a p

espanolObjetivo: Evaluar la eficacia del tratamiento corticoideo topico prolongado en pacientes operados de LASIK hipermetropico. Material y metodos: Se realiza un estudio prospectivo observador enmascarado. Pacientes candidatos a cirugia LASIK para la correccion de baja y moderada hipermetropia fueron asignados aleatoriamente a recibir tratamiento topico corticoideo (dexametasona) una semana (grupo control) o un mes (dexametasona la primera semana y fluorometalona las tres siguientes), en el grupo estudio. Se comparo la refraccion final manifiesta en ambos grupos. Resultados: Analizamos 105 ojos en cada grupo (estudio y control). El equivalente esferico medio preoperatorio era 3,17 D DE 2,82 D (desviacion estandar) y 3,39 D DE 2,65 D en el grupo estudio y control respectivamente (p=0,6). La refraccion final manifiesta a los 3 meses era 0,62 D DE 0,68 D y 0,6 D DE 0,3 D en el grupo estudio y control respectivamente (p=0,6). Conclusion: La regresion refractiva tras LASIK hipermetropico, no parece ser modulable por el mayor o menor tratamiento corticoideo topico. EnglishPurpose: To evaluate the efficacy of long-term versus short-term steroid treatment in preventing regression after hyperopic LASIK. Material and methods: This is a prospective single masked study. Hyperopic patients who were candidates for LASIK surgery were randomized to be treated with one week (topical dexametasone) in control group or one month (topical dexametasone the first week and topical fluormetalone the next three weeks) in study group. The three month postoperative manifest refraction was compared between the two groups. Results: 105 eyes were included in each group. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent was 3.17 D SD 2.82 D (standard deviation) and 3.39D SD 2.65D in the study and control group, respectively (p=0.6). The final manifest refraction in the three-month postoperative visit was 0.62D SD 0.68D and 0.6D SD 0.3D in the study and control group respectively (p=0.6). Conclusions: Long-term topical steroid therapy does not appear to improve the refractive result in hyperopic LASIK.

We have devised a new technique based on single fluorescent molecule detection for the analysis of specific sequences of DNA. The method consists of synthesizing a fluorescent reporter molecule using a polymerase extension reaction and labeled nucleotides. The fluorescent reporter products are analyzed in a laser-based single-molecule detection system. We have applied this method to the detection of pUC19 and Bacillus anthracis DNA targets. We expect that this method will have applications in rapid detection and identification of DNA from pathogens as well as other sources, and that it will be used for processing of large number of samples in a short period of time.

Se realiza una evaluación histórica de los 50 años del consultorio psicológico de la UNMSM, identificando los periodos de desarrollo en cuatro etapas, que permite valorizar el trabajo especializado, asi como las dificultades y tendencias de desarrollo institucional.

In the current moment it is insisted on considering to be the importance of the critical period of the development of the child, referring to the whole influence of the social, educational and familiar conditions during the whole process of training, which in turn allow the acquisition and develop so much of cognitive, affective processes, since as conative-motivational and in general lines of your personality as an everything. The studies of the memorization, for treating itself about a cognitive indispensable process in the learning, which allows the storage and update of the information, are and they will be always of great transcendency. Likewise independently of the strategy of memorization that is in use, this one I try help to constructing the cognitive aptitudes in every stage of cognitive development of the child. An opportune evaluation so much of the strategies of memorization, since as of the aptitudes, allows us the later detection of problems of school learning, be these of global or specific nature. Of there that in this study it tries to describe and to explain like are the most frequent strategies of memorization in the children from 6 to 11 years that they contribute favourably or inadequately in the structure of the component intellective, or of the cognitive aptitudes in the childhood.

La investigación es de carácter descriptivo comparativo y tiene como objetivo dar a conocer los resultados de una investigación psicológica sobre los esquemas de pensamiento de autodiálogo, positivo y negativo y estilos de aprendizaje de los estudiantes de San Marcos pertenecientes a cada una de las cinco áreas académicas que organizan la formación profesional: Ciencias de la Salud, Ciencias Básicas, Ingenierías, Ciencias Empresariales y Humanidades. Para los efectos del estudio se ha empleado dos instrumentos: (1) Inventario de Autodiálogo (Calvete, Estevés, Landin), que comprende dos subescalas: positivo y negativo, ambas con las especificaciones técnicas para poder inferir resultados válidos y confiables; así tenemos los estadísticos originales, los coeficientes alpha del 0.89 para las escalas de autodiálogo negativo y 0.86, 0.79 y 0.87 para las subescalas de pensamientos relacionados con la ansiedad, depresión e ira, respectivamente. De otro lado, los coeficientes alpha fueron 0.82 para la Escala de autodiálogo positivo y 0.72, 0.76 y 0.55 para las subescalas de minimización, afecto positivo y autoinstrucciones de afrontamiento respectivamente; (2) Cuestionario Honey-Alonso de Estilos de Aprendizaje (CHAEA) que investiga cuatro estilos de aprendizaje: activo, reflexivo, teórico y pragmático, con los consiguientes criterios de validez, 0.84 (teórico), 0.82 (reflexivo), 0.78 (pragmático) y 0.74 (activo).

Tomando como referencia el proyecto Tuning, la investigación indaga acerca del reconocimiento de las competencias genéricas del psicólogo a partir de su identificación realizada por los estudiantes de quinto año, dle periodo de internado o práctica preprofesional y egresados, presentando los resultados de las cinco competencias mayoritariamente elegidas, estableciendo su diferenciación e importancia.

La escala Scanning Neuropsicológico de la Personalidad, elaborado por C. Sarria, V. Llaja, P. García, M. Salazar, G. Salazar (2009), es un reciente instrumento inédito diseñado para examinar los componentes estructurales del Sistema de la Personalidad en estudiantes universitarios, basado en el Modelo Teórico Informacional (Ortiz, 1994, 1997, 2004a, 2004b). Mediante el estudio reportado en el presente artículo, se obtuvieron evidencias que señalan que este instrumento posee validez de contenido y de constructo y demostró un índice alto de confiabilidad en lo que respecta tanto a su consistencia interna como en el análisis factorial de todos sus ítems. Finalmente, se realizó el análisis cualitativo neuropsicológico para que pueda ser empleado posteriormente en el examen neuropsicológico de muestras clínicas y educacionales.

The origins of side scattering from a fibroblast and cervical cell line were determined by comparing side-scatter images with images stained for lysosomes, nuclei, and mitochondria on a cell by cell basis. Lysosomes or nuclei are the most efficient type of scatterer depending on the cell type and incident light polarization. The relative scattering efficiencies of lysosomes and mitochondria were the same for both cell lines, while the scattering efficiencies of the nuclei differed. The percent of 90° scattering from the nucleus, mitochondria, and lysosomes as well as the group of other internal cellular objects was estimated. The nucleus was the largest contributor to side scatter in the cervical carcinoma cells. The contributions of lysosomes, mitochondria, the nucleus, and particles unstained by either Hoechst, LysoSensor or MitoTracker ranges from ∼20% to ∼30% in fibroblast cells. The contribution of lysosomes to side scatter was much stronger when the incident light was polarized perpendicular to the scattering plane than when the polarization of the side scatter laser was parallel to the scattering plane. This dependence on side scatter polarization indicates that lysosomes contain scattering structures that are much smaller than the wavelength of light used in the measurements (785 nm). In conclusion, mitochondria were not found to be either the most efficient scatterer or to have the largest contribution to scattering in either cell line, in contrast to previous reports. Rather lysosomes, nuclei and unknown particles all have significant contributions to 90° scattering and the contributions of some of these particles can be modulated by changing the polarization of the incident light.

A critical problem of many pathogen detection assays is the availability of intracellular protein and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Acoustic lysis of suspended vegetative bacterial cells in a microfluidic system offers several advantages over conventional lysis techniques. The intracellular proteins and DNA are released and available for detection. A novel acoustic lysing alternative technique to the existing lysing methods for sample preparation and lysis step is proposed. We report here an efficient lysis device that uses acoustic excitation for performing lysis of Gram-positive and Gram-negative vegetative cells and has a high yield in a short amount of time. We also verified the condition of released protein since one of the major uses of vegetative cells lysis is for protein expression studies. Fluorimetry and flow cytometry were used to assess the degree of damage induced on the cells by the actual lysis method. The acoustic device allows the delivery of proteins in a non-denatured form, without adding chemicals, particles or other substances (e.g. enzymes) that could complicate the process or the detection procedure. The lysis device operates at low power (50–400 mW) and short time (3 min) and has high efficiency in comparison to current lysis standards (>85% vs. 12–50%).

Wistar rats were injected i.p. at 2, 4 and 7 days after birth with 6-OHDA (50 mg/kg). At maturity the phagocytic response of neutrophils was elicited by Escherichia coli (EC) lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Before and at 3 and 24 hours after the injection of LPS (1 mg/kg i.v.) the leucocyte (L) and neutrophil (N) counts and the phagocytic activity of N in blood against EC have been tested. In controls (6 female and 7 male rats) the number of N increases significantly after 3 h. The L and N responses were similar in controls and in treated (SyX) animals. In controls the percentage of phagocytic active N(PA) and the number of bacteria incorporated by 100 n(IB) shows significant rises at 3 h. In the SyX groups (7 females and 7 males) PA does not increase; the IB decreases significantly in females at 3 and 24 h. In conclusion chemical sympathectomy depresses the PR to LPS in rats; this suggests a stimulatory action of the sympathetic system on the phagocytic immune reaction. An immunological sexual dimorphism exists.