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Information about the visual world is transmitted to the brain in sequences of action potentials in retinal ganglion cell axons that make up the optic nerve. In vivo recordings of ganglion cell spike trains in several animal models have revealed much of what is known about how the early visual system processes and encodes visual information. However, such recordings have been rare in one of the most common animal models, the rat, possibly owing to difficulty in detecting spikes fired by small diameter axons. The many retinal disease models involving rats motivate a need for characterizing the functional properties of ganglion cells without disturbing the eye, as with intraocular or in vitro recordings. Here, we demonstrate a method for recording ganglion cell spike trains from the optic chiasm of the anesthetized rat. We first show how to fabricate tungsten-in-glass electrodes that can pick up electrical activity from single ganglion cell axons in rat. The electrodes outperform all commercial ones that we have tried. We then illustrate our custom-designed stereotaxic system for in vivo visual neurophysiology experiments and our procedures for animal preparation and reliable and stable electrode placement in the optic chiasm.

Study Objective: To assess the efficacy of butorphanol for the relief of shivering following the epidural administration of 2% lidocaine. Design: Randomized, double-blind study. Setting: Labor and delivery department of a university-affiliated hospital inpatient facility. Patients: Sixty-one healthy labor patients. Interventions: Patients who had sustained shivering associated with lidocaine epidural anesthesia were given normal saline or butorphanol 1 mg. Patients were observed for 20 minutes following the administration of a study solution. Measurements and Main Results: Shivering ceased within a mean time of 12.9 ± 3.8 minutes in approximately 81 % of the patients who received epidural butorphanol ( p 〈 0.01), while 3% of the patients in the placebo group had no shivering following the administration of epidural saline. No sedation or changes in fetal heart rate were associated with epidural butorphanol. Conclusions: Epidural butorphanol is effective in the treatment of postepidural shivering associated with epidural lidocaine. Epidural agonist opioids have been reported to be efficacious in the management of postepidural shivering. This study demonstrated that a partial agonist opioid also is effective in the treatment of postepidural shivering.

Respiratory effects, nausea, somnolence, and pruritus were compared during a 48-hr period of continuous epidural morphine (n = 34) and fentanyl (n = 32) infusion in 66 patients following elective total replacement of the hip or knee joint. Respiratory effects were assessed by PaCO2. Side effects were assessed by visual analogue scale and considered to be present when the score was above 30. Assessment was made at preoperative visits then 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hr after the epidural injection. The bolus dose and subsequent infusion rate were 3,900 +/- 1,300 micrograms and 427 +/- 213 micrograms.hr-1 for morphine, and 85 +/- 46 micrograms and 56 +/- 27 micrograms.hr-1 for fentanyl. Pain relief was similar in both groups. In the morphine group, PaCO2 elevation and nausea occurred over a period of more than 12 hr (P less than 0.05). In the fentanyl group, there was no PaCO2 change, and nausea was confined to the first few hours. Nausea was more severe (P less than 0.01 at six hours and more frequent (24 hr cumulative incidence, 53 vs 28%, P less than 0.05) in the morphine group. Somnolence was prominent within several hours in two-thirds of patients in both groups. Somnolence continued to decline thereafter in the morphine group, but it was demonstrable in approximately half of the patients throughout the second day in the fentanyl group. The incidence was higher in the fentanyl group at the 48th hr (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The ubiquitin ligase activity of the breast and ovarian cancer–associated tumor suppressor protein BRCA1, as part of a heterodimer with BARD1 (BRCA1-associated RING domain 1), is critical for its role as a tumor suppressor, but its targets, and the consequences of ubiquitin modification, by the BRCA1 protein complex are only now being discovered. BRCA1 is now known to control the ubiquitination of the estrogen and progesterone receptors, and although the consequences of the ubiquitination of these steroid receptors are unknown, the identification of these specific substrates suggests a link between the ubiquitin ligase activity of BRCA1 and its specificity as a tumor suppressor in breast and ovarian tissues.

Loss of function of the tumor suppressor protein BRCA1 is responsible for a high percentage of familial and also sporadic breast cancers. Early work identified a stimulatory transcriptional coactivator function for the BRCA1 protein, and more recently, BRCA1 has been implicated in transcriptional repression, although few examples of repressed genes have been characterized. We recently used an in vitro transcription assay to identify a biochemical mechanism that explained the BRCA1 stimulatory activity. In this study, we identified an ubiquitin-dependent mechanism by which BRCA1 inhibits transcription. BRCA1 ubiquitinates the transcriptional preinitiation complex, preventing stable association of TFIIE and TFIIH, and thus blocks the initiation of mRNA synthesis. What is striking about this mechanism of regulation by BRCA1 is that the ubiquitination of the preinitiation complex is not targeting proteins for degradation by the proteasome, nor are ubiquitin receptors modifying the activity, but rather the ubiquitin moiety itself interferes with the assembly of basal transcription factors at the promoter. Using RNAi to knockdown expression of the endogenous BRCA1 protein, we assessed the level of repression dependent on BRCA1 in the cell, and we found that BRCA1 is at least as significant a transcriptional repressor as it is an activator. These results define a biochemical mechanism by which the BRCA1 enzymatic activity regulates a key cellular process.

R2R3-MYB transcription factors play many important roles in higher plants including the regulation of secondary metabolism, the control of cell shape, and in the response to various stress conditions. In spite of their large number and significance, very few of these genes have been functionally characterized in monocots. Here, we describe the characterization of ZmMYB-IF35 from maize. Using GAL4 fusion constructs, we show that ZmMYB-IF35 possesses the ability to bind DNA in a sequence specific manner and activate transcription in yeast. We also show that ZmMYB-IF35 is capable of binding to the a1 promoter in planta, but it is not sufficient for activation of a1 transcription. Interestingly, a chimeric protein consisting of the MYB domain from ZmMYB-IF35 and the non-MYB C-terminal region of P1, a closely related R2R3-MYB protein, activated transcription from the a1 promoter in planta, suggesting that regions outside the conserved R2R3-MYB domain contribute to regulatory specificity. In situ hybridization experiments demonstrate that ZmMYB-IF35 expresses primarily in epidermal and vascular cells, while its rice ortholog, OsMYB-IF, displays a broad expression pattern in aerial parts of the plant. Together, our results provide novel insights on the participation of ZmMYB-IF35 and related genes in the regulation of secondary metabolic pathways in the grasses.

ALICE is a general-purpose heavy-ion experiment designed to study the physics of strongly interacting matter and the quark-gluon plasma in nucleus-nucleus collisions at the LHC. It currently involves more than 900 physicists and senior engineers, from both the nuclear and high-energy physics sectors, from over 90 institutions in about 30 countries. The ALICE detector is designed to cope with the highest particle multiplicities above those anticipated for Pb-Pb collisions (dN(ch)/dy up to 8000) and it will be operational at the start-up of the LHC. In addition to heavy systems, the ALICE Collaboration will study collisions of lower-mass ions, which are a means of varying the energy density, and protons (both pp and pA), which primarily provide reference data for the nucleus-nucleus collisions. In addition, the pp data will allow for a number of genuine pp physics studies. The detailed design of the different detector systems has been laid down in a number of Technical Design Reports issued between mid-1998 and the end of 2004. The experiment is currently under construction and will be ready for data taking with both proton and heavy-ion beams at the start-up of the LHC. Since the comprehensive information on detector and physics performance was last published in the ALICE Technical Proposal in 1996, the detector, as well as simulation, reconstruction and analysis software have undergone significant development. The Physics Performance Report (PPR) provides an updated and comprehensive summary of the performance of the various ALICE subsystems, including updates to the Technical Design Reports, as appropriate. The PPR is divided into two volumes. Volume I, published in 2004 (CERN/LHCC 2003-049, ALICE Collaboration 2004 J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys. 30 1517-1763), contains in four chapters a short theoretical overview and an extensive reference list concerning the physics topics of interest to ALICE, the experimental conditions at the LHC, a short summary and update of the subsystem designs, and a description of the offline framework and Monte Carlo event generators. The present volume, Volume II, contains the majority of the information relevant to the physics performance in proton-proton, proton-nucleus, and nucleus-nucleus collisions. Following an introductory overview, Chapter 5 describes the combined detector performance and the event reconstruction procedures, based on detailed simulations of the individual subsystems. Chapter 6 describes the analysis and physics reach for a representative sample of physics observables, from global event characteristics to hard processes.

Background This report describes the favorable results of mutual reporting of process and outcome of care for major resections of the colon and rectum, one of six focal points for the Center for Medicare Services studies seeking to broadly reduce death and complications and enhance consistency of care. Methods A group of 66 surgical specialists in 9 cities in Kentucky reported cases to a quality improvement network over the past 5 years, and these data were supplemented by chart verification and patient satisfaction surveys. Consecutive colon and rectal resections (N = 309) were reported by 23 general and colorectal surgeons. Eighty percent of the operations were performed by 4 surgeons. Results Forty-four percent of the patients had colorectal cancer, and 27% had diverticulitis; 84% of colon resections were performed by general surgeons whereas 77% of rectal resections were performed by colorectal specialists. Audit showed 6 leaks/fistulas and 16 patients who required unscheduled readmissions. Eleven patients had prolonged ileus. Only 2 patients died. Consensus among network surgeons included the following: 1. Mutual reporting led to a narrowing of choices and improved timing for antibiotic prophylaxis. 2. Standard order sets in one hospital led to a shortened duration of stay. 3. Surgeon participation in a quality improvement network led to a safe reduction in preoperative cardiology consultation. 4. More patients arrive with all evaluations complete due to increased utilization of preoperative anesthesiology clinics. 5. Enhanced operating room throughput has been achieved by joint anesthesia/surgery reporting and includes reduced time to induction of anesthesia and in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit and lessened use of expensive postoperative antiemetics. 6. Reported medication errors were reduced by standard order sets, as were other reported adverse events. Conclusions Practicing surgeons meet and/or exceed published benchmarks for colorectal resections and can further improve their outcomes by standardization and refinement of orders and procedures and improved collaboration with anesthesiologists.

The R2R3 MYB transcription factor C1 requires the basic helix-loop-helix factor R as an essential co-activator for the transcription of maize anthocyanin genes. In contrast, the R2R3 MYB protein P1 activates a subset of the C1-regulated genes independently of R. Substitution of six amino acids in P1 with the C1 amino acids results in P1(*), whose activity on C1-regulated and P1-regulated genes is R-dependent or R-enhanced, respectively. We have used P1(*) in combination with various promoters to uncover two mechanisms for R function. On synthetic promoters that contain only C1/P1 binding sites, R is an essential co-activator of C1. This function of R is unlikely to simply be the result of an increase in the C1 DNA-binding affinity, since transcriptional activity of a C1 mutant that binds DNA at a higher affinity, comparable with P1, remains R-dependent. The differential transcriptional activity of C1 fusions with the yeast Gal4 DNA-binding domain in yeast and maize cells suggests that part of the function of R is to relieve C1 from a plant-specific inhibitor. A second function of R requires cis-regulatory elements in addition to the C1/P1 DNA-binding sites for R-enhanced transcription of a1. We hypothesize that R functions in this mode by binding or recruiting additional factors to the anthocyanin regulatory element conserved in the promoters of several anthocyanin genes. Together, these findings suggest a model in which combinatorial interactions with co-activators enable R2R3 MYB factors with very similar DNA binding preferences to discriminate between target genes in vivo.

Plant R2R3 MYB domain proteins comprise one of the largest known families of transcription factors. Discrete evolutionary steps have shaped the plant-specific R2R3 MYB family from the broadly distributed R1R2R3 MYB proteins. R1R2R3 MYB domains have a single Cys residue (Cys-130) that needs to be reduced for DNA binding and transcriptional activity. In contrast, most R2R3 MYB domains contain two cysteines, Cys-49 and Cys-53, with Cys-53 at the equivalent position as Cys-130 in R1R2R3 MYB. Using the maize P1 regulator of flavonoid biosynthesis as a typical R2R3 MYB-domain protein, we investigated here the in vitro REDOX requirement for DNA binding by P1. We show that the C53S mutation requires reducing conditions for DNA-binding, whereas C53A binds DNA under oxidizing and reducing conditions. Neither mutation impairs the in vivo regulatory activity of P1. The C49S and C49A mutants bind DNA in vitro irrespective of the REDOX conditions. A C49I mutant, which simulates the MYB domain of c-MYB, binds DNA only under reducing conditions, and its binding is significantly affected by the C53S replacement. It is interesting that under non-reducing conditions, Cys-49 and Cys-53 form a disulfide bond that prevents the R2R3 MYB domain from binding DNA. Together, our results suggest that the evolutionary origin of Cys-49 within the plants has provided R2R3 MYB domains with a regulatory feature not present in animal MYB domains, highlighting fundamental structural and functional differences between similar DNA-binding domains from plants and animals.

Pseudospark switches (PSS) are considered to be an alternative not only to thyratrons or medium-power spark gaps but also to ignitrons. A lifetime of more than 10/sup 8/ discharges with a corresponding total charge transfer of 600 kC was achieved in laser circuits. Electrode erosion is still the main limiting factor to make high power PSS a serious competitor to commercially available switches. One approach to solve this problem is to distribute the total current on several discharge channels with a common hollow cathode. The other one is to look for suitable electrode materials or compounds of them. In order to distribute the discharge homogeneously over more than one single channel synchronous triggering of all channels is indispensable. The trigger method used is a pulsed glow discharge. The characteristics of the trigger discharge as a function of delay and jitter was investigated in combination with actual triggering of all channels. After successful triggering of all channels the corresponding current filaments try to pinch by self-magnetic fields. For long current pulses (i.e. more than 1 or 2 /spl mu/s for a 80 kA peak current) a single plasma column develops in the symmetry axis of the device. Streak photographs allow determination of pinch time as a function of the peak current, the number of channels, the gap distance and so on. A better understanding of electrode phenomena is essential in order to improve PSSs to carry high peak currents and simultaneously allow high charge transfer. The critical current density at which electrode erosion dramatically rises is still an unknown parameter.

We present new results from measurements and simulations of positron spectra, originating from 238U + 181Ta collisions at beam energies close to the Coulomb barrier. The measurements were performed using an improved experimental setup at the double-Orange spectrometer of GSI. Particular emphasis is put on the signature of positrons from Internal-Pair-Conversion (IPC) processes in the measured e+ energy spectra, following the de-excitation of electromagnetic transitions in the moving Ta-like nucleus. It is shown by Monte Carlo simulations that, for the chosen current sweeping procedure used in the present experiments, positron emission from discrete IPC transitions can lead to rather narrow line structures in the measured energy spectra. The measured positron spectra do not show evidence for line structures within the statistical accuracy achieved, although expected from the intensities of the observed $\gamma$ transitions (E$_{\gamma}~1250-1600$ keV) and theoretical conversion coefficients. This is due to the reduced detection efficiency for IPC positrons, caused by the limited spatial and momentum acceptance of the spectrometer. A comparison with previous results, in which lines have been observed, is presented and the implications are discussed., Comment: LaTeX, 20 pages including 5 EPS figures; Accepted by Eur. Phys.Jour. A

Pleural fluid collections are common in those critically ill. We report the case of a left middle cerebral artery stroke patient who developed respiratory distress and required intubation and mechanical ventilation. Although the patient’s clinical status and oxygenation improved, there was persistence of right-sided opacity in the chest radiograph. Further workup proved a right-sided pleural effusion, which was drained and managed. Following extubation, a swallow study was ordered, which led to a fluoroscopic examination that demonstrated esophageal perforation. Thoracic surgery was consulted and did a primary repair of perforation and noted non–small cell carcinoma on the perforated site.

We present the first energy and angle resolved measurements of e+e- pairs emitted from heavy nuclei (Z>=40) at rest by internal pair conversion (IPC) of transitions with energies of less than 2MeV as well as recent theoretical results using the DWBA method, which takes full account of relativistic effects, magnetic substates and finite size of the nucleus. The 1.76MeV E0 transition in Zr90 (Sr source) and the 1.77MeV M1 transition in Pb207 (Bi source) have been investigated experimentally using the essentially improved set-up at the double-ORANGE beta-spectrometer of GSI. The measurements prove the capability of the setup to cleanly identify the IPC pairs in the presence of five orders of magnitude higher beta- and gamma background from the same source and to yield essentially background-free sum spectra despite the large background. Using the ability of the ORANGE setup to directly determine the opening angle of the e+e- pairs, the angular correlation of the emitted pairs was measured. In the Zr90 case the correlation could be deduced for a wide range of energy differences of the pairs. The Zr90 results are in good agreement with recent theory. The angular correlation deduced for the M1 transition in Pb207 is in strong disagreement with theoretical predictions derived within the Born approximation and shows almost isotropic character. This is again in agreement with the new theoretical results., LaTeX, 28 pages incl. 10 PS figures; Accepted by Z.Phys.A

Objectives: To compare initial success rates of blind nasotracheal intubation using directional-tip endotracheal tubes vs standard endotracheal tubes. Methods: A prospective trial comparing directional-tip and standard endotracheal tubes during initial attempts at blind nasotracheal intubation (BNTI) at a university hospital ED. Using an alternating schedule, the directional-tip or standard tube was used for the first attempt at BNTI. An attempt was defined as beginning when the tube was placed through the nose into the posterior pharynx and ending when the patient was intubated or the tube was removed from the nares. After the intubation, the physician graded the difficulty of the technique (i.e., easy/routine, intermediate, difficult, or unable to intubate nasally). Results: There were 49 patients entered over 5 months. Patient presentations for the intubations were trauma (45.8%), overdose (33.3%), respiratory/cardiac event (12.5%), seizure (2.1%), and other (6.3%). Intubation was successful on the first attempt in 18 of 21 patients (86%; 95% CI, 64% to 97%) for the directional-tip tube vs 16 of 28 patients (57%; 95% CI, 37% to 76%) for the standard tube (p = 0.03). The groups did not differ in age, sex, clinical presentation, or perceived difficulty of intubation. Only 1 patient could not be intubated nasally and was subsequently intubated orally. Conclusion: The use of directional-tip tubes may improve the success rate of the first attempt at BNTI.

The 1.444 µm transition of Nd:YAG offers the possibility of a diode pumped[1], high power[2], scaleable eye-save laser. Due to the four level nature of this transition, the performance is not limited by thermal population of the lower laser level, as in Er3+- and Tm3+- lasers at 1.5 µm and 2 µm. respectively. Furthermore the inherent simplicity of diode pumped lasers offers considerable advantages over optical parametric oscillators operating in the near IR, when tuning of the wavelength is of minor interest.

The excitotoxic hypothesis postulates a central role for the excitatory amino acids (EAAs) and their receptors in the neuronal damage that ensues cerebral ischemia-hypoxia and numerous other brain disorders. A major premise of the excitotoxic hypothesis is that neuronal protection can be achieved via blockade of EAA receptors with specific antagonists. This paper describes the use of the rat hippocampal slice preparation in the evaluation of various EAAs and their analogues for their potency as excitotoxins (agonists) and antagonists of the NMDA and the kainate/AMPA glutamate receptor subtypes. The hypersensitivity of hypoxic hippocampal slices to the presence of excitotoxins provided us with an inexpensive, sensitive tool to distinguish between structurally similar compounds. Moreover, these studies indicate that hypoxic neuronal damage cannot solely result from an excitotoxic mechanism; the involvement of voltage-dependent calcium channels in such damage is likely, as is evident from experiments performed in calcium-depleted medium and with the non-competitive NMDA antagonist MK-801. At sub-toxic doses, quinolinate, a tryptophan metabolite implicated in Huntington's disease, appears to be a strong potentiator of the toxicity of all excitotoxins tested.

We present a case in which a patient with normal pulmonary reserve experienced orthopnea and hypoxia secondary to unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis following right scalenectomy. This operation was performed in an attempt to relieve neurovascular compromise at the thoracic outlet. To our knowledge, this association has not been previously described in the literature.

We have studied the relationship between patient movement and changes in the auditory steady-state evoked potential, upper facial muscle electromyogram (FEMG), electroencephalographic-zero crossing frequency (EEG–ZCF) and heart rate during emergence from anaesthesia. Twelve healthy patients underwent surgery during stable isoflurane-nitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia without neuromuscular block. After skin closure, anaesthesia was discontinued abruptly while mechanical ventilation was continued until the patient moved. The magnitude of change in each physiological signal was evaluated in decibels (dB). Both the auditory steady state evoked potential and FEMG showed significant increases in amplitude during the last 5-min period before movement (6.1 and 10.7 dB, respectively). EEG-ZCF increased rapidly after anaesthesia was discontinued (2.5 dB) but there was no further increase in activity before movement. Heart rate did not change before movement. The use of the decibel transformation offers a promising method of displaying and interpreting changes in physiological variables during anaesthesia.

Upconversion pumped visible solid-state lasers could be an interesting alternative to frequency-doubled infrared lasers or visible laser diodes in high-density data storage applications.

One of the interests in solid-state laser physics has focused on diode-pumped blue and green upconversion lasers. At 551 nm upconversion-pumped laser operation in Er3+:LiYF4 at cryogenic temperatures has been reported, see e.g., Ref. 1. Recently room-temperature lasing under different excitation schemes has been achieved.2,3 However, the population and deexcitation processes of the upper laser level as well as the influence of reabsorption on the laser wavelength4 have not yet been quantitatively understood. In this paper the results of a computer simulation of the Er3+:LiYF4 laser are reported. The rate-equation scheme considers all excited levels up to 2H9/2, ground-state depletion, excited-state absorption (ESA) on the pump and laser wavelength, three upconversion processes, stimulated emission, and a realistic resonator design. From the computer simulation the population mechanisms of the laser system are analyzed and suggestions for a better laser performance are derived.

Er3+ lasers emitting at 1.6 μm are useful for communication and eye-safe atmospheric measurement techniques like LIDAR. In contrast to glass, the garnet crystal YAG (Y3A15O12) as a host for rare earth ions provides good thermal conductivity. The crystals used in this paper were grown in our institute by the Czochralski method. Duczynski et al.,1 reported Er: YAG laser emission at 1.6 μm pumping with a krypton-ion laser at 647 nm with a maximum slope efficiency of 12.7%. Spariosu and Birnbaum2 achieved an Er: YAG laser by exciting the upper laser level at 1.535 μm with an Er:glass laser and obtained slope efficiencies as high as 50%. Due to the weak absorption of the 4I11/2-level of Er around 965 nm (α = 0.34 cm-1 in Er(0.5%):YAG), we investigated the co-doping with Yb to enhance the pump energy absorption (see Fig. 2). Such a pumping scheme has been used in Er glasses and is particularly interesting because high power InGaAs diode lasers emitting around 970 nm are available. Figure 1 shows the relevant energy levels of Er and Yb together with the pumping mechanism and the laser transition. We used the resonant energy transfer between the 2F5/2-level of Yb and the 4In/2-level of Er by pumping into the Yb-level. The 4I11/2-level is depopulated by phonon relaxations and 2.7 μm fluorescence into the 4I13/2-level, which is the upper laser level with a lifetime of 6.5 ms in Er(0.5%):YAG. The Fluorescence spectrum of Er,Yb:YAG shows a strong fluorescence of Yb around 1 μm indicating energy back transfer from Er to Yb, when the Er-ions are excited by the 488-nm line of an argon-ion laser (see (Fig. 2). The back transfer is pronouced due to the relatively long 4I11/2 lifetime in Er:YAG.

To evaluate the validity of three equations for estimation of thoracic electrical field size in a new bioimpedance algorithm, stroke volume (SV) as calculated by these equations was compared with that calculated by Doppler echocardiography in 48 healthy volunteers, both lean and obese. When the volume of electrically participating tissue was estimated from body height (modified Sramek) or body height corrected for body habitus (Sramek-Bernstein), there was considerable variation between bioimpedance and Doppler stroke volumes. When the volume of electrically participating tissue was estimated from the actual measurement of the height of the thorax and the circumference at the base of the thorax, the variation in SV differences decreased substantially (Sramek equation), although still considerable for clinical use, and there was no relationship between SV thus obtained and body habitus. Analysis of calculated stroke indices derived by our Doppler echocardiographic standard, as compared with values in the literature, revealed a systematic underestimation. We conclude that the original Sramek equation systematically underestimates SV by 15% to 20%, and the modified Sramek and Sramek-Bernstein equations systematically underestimates SV by 15% to 20%, and the modified Sramek and Sramek-Bernstein equations systematically overestimate SV in females by about 15%, but provide SV values in males in the predicted range. Further studies on the current assumption that the electrical field size is a truncated cone may improve precision of the bioimpedance method.

We have searched for excited 0+ states in180Hf and182W with one-proton transfer reactions on181Ta targets. Such a state could give rise to internally pair converted transitions to the ground state which would not be accompanied by ground state gamma transitions. No state was found to explain the e+-e− sum energy lines observed in238U+181Ta collisions at the GSI.

The BRCA1 gene product plays a multifunctional role in controlling genome integrity. Embryonic stem cells lacking BRCA1 are reportedly defective in transcription-coupled repair of oxidative DNA damage ([1][1]). Cells lacking intact BRCA1 also manifest a mitotic-checkpoint defect and are more likely

In fusion reactions of58Ni beams with54Pe and58Ni target nuclei neutron deficient evaporation residues have been produced and separated from the beam in an electrostatic deflector with large acceptance. The recoil nuclei were implanted and detected in an array of 100 PIN photodiodes, where also their particle decays were recorded. The assignment of the 0.81 MeV proton line to the decay of109I could be experimentally proven by the observation, that it is followed by the 3.31 MeV alpha emission from108Te. A proton decay from112Cs was not observed. The decay energies of a number of known α emitters have been measured with better precision.

Background Mood states during epidural opioids are not known. The authors studied the change in mood during the 48-h period of epidural morphine and epidural fentanyl in 47 patients after elective hip or knee joint arthroplasty. Methods An epidural catheter was inserted at the L2-L3 or L3-L4 interspace. Anesthesia was induced with thiopenthal and maintained with isoflurane and nitrous oxide. One hour before the conclusion of the operation, patients received an epidural bolus injection of 2 mg morphine (n = 23) or 100 microg fentanyl (n = 24), followed by the same opiate (125 microg/ml morphine or 25 microg/ml fentanyl) epidurally delivered by a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump in the postoperative period for 48 h. Mood was assessed using the bipolar form of the Profile of Mood States before operation and 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after operation. Results There was no significant difference in pain intensity between the groups during epidural PCA. Mood states became more positive over time in the patients who received morphine (P < 0.01 at 48 h) and negative in those who were given fentanyl (P < 0.01 at 24 and 48 h, respectively) compared with those before the operation, and they were more positive in the morphine than in the fentanyl group at 24 h, 48 h (P < 0.05), and 72 h (P < 0.01). Patients in the morphine group were more composed, agreeable, elated, confident, energetic, and clearheaded than were those in the fentanyl group (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between mood scores and pain scores in either group. There was an inverse correlation at 48 h between mood scores and plasma fentanyl concentrations (r = -0.58, P < 0.05). Conclusion Mood states are significantly more positive during epidural morphine PCA than they are during epidural fentanyl PCA.

The authors proposed a method for generation of spiral bevel gears that provides conjugate gear tooth surfaces. This method is based on a new principle for the performance of parallel motion of a straight line that slides along two mating ellispses with related dimensions and parameters of orientation. The parallel motion of the straight line, that is the contact normal, is performed parallel to the line which passes through the foci of symmetry of the related ellipses. The manufacturing of gears can be performed with the existing Gleason’s equipment.

Auf Grund klinischer und experimenteller Untersuchungen wird zur Frage der Entstehung der Plattenatelektasen Stellung genommen. Eine ausgepragte Haufung von Plattenatelektasen findet sich bei Zwerchfellhochstand (operativer Phrenicusausschaltung) und bei pleuritischer Ergusbildung. Zwischen dem Haufigkeitsgrad der Plattenatelektasen nach operativer Phrenicusausschaltung und dem Ausmas des Zwerchfellhochtritts bestehen deutliche Beziehungen. Insbesondere das letztere weist darauf hin, das fur die Bildung der Plattenatelektasen mechanische Faktoren wesentlich sind. Sie werden in Stauchungsvorgangen am Lungenparenchym gesehen, die sowohl bei Zwerchfellhochstand als auch bei pleuritischer Ergusbildung wirksam werden. Stauchungsvorgange fuhren im Lungenparenchym zu einer Zone mangelnder Beluftung, die zu einer vom Bronchialverlauf unabhangigen Atelektase fuhren konnen. Prozesse am Bronchialbaum konnen dabei begunstigend wirken und in vereinzelten Fallen verursachen, das sich die Plattenatelektasen in Richtung der Bronchialaufzweigung ausrichten. Eine Verlegung der Bronchialwege als alleinige Ursache von Plattenatelektasen ist selten. Bei krankhaften Veranderungen am Herzen und im Abdomen sind Veranderungen der Zwerchfellfunktion haufiger als allgemein angenommen wird. Auch Plattenatelektasen bei diesen Zustanden lassen sich daher auf mechanische Faktoren zuruckfuhren, ohne das ein reflexbedingtes aktives Geschehen am Lungenparenchym angenommen werden muste.

Es wird uber spirographische Untersuchungen bei 7 Kranken mit bullosem Lungenemphysem berichtet. Ausgepragte Hyperventilation mit Reduktion der Vitalkapazitat, Vermehrung der Residualluft, verlangerter Fremdgasmischzeit und Einschrankung der dynamischen Atemgrosen standen im Vordergrund der spirographischen Befunde. Es fanden sich somit Veranderungen, wie sie auc fur das gewohnliche substantielle Lungenemphysem typisch sind. Wahrend bei einem Teil der Kranken die Totalkapazitat erwartungsgemas vergrosert war, wurde bei einem anderen Teil der Kranken in Ubereinstimmung mit Mitteilungen aus der anglo-amerikanischen Literatur eine Verminderung der Totalkapazitat festgestellt. Als Erklarung wird angenommen, das in diesen Fallen grosere Emphysemblasen infolge eines Ventilmechanismus soweit von der Ventilation abgeschlossen sind, das sie sich bei der Bestimmung der Totalkapazitat nach der Fremdgasmischungsmethode nicht erfassen lassen.

Es wird uber eine Methodik berichtet, die es gestattet, unter thorakoskopischer Sicht aus der Lunge durch Probeexcision ein etwa linsengroses Gewebsstuckchen zur histologischen Untersuchung zu entnehmen. Das Instrumentarium, das nach Anlage eines Pneumothorax eingefuhrt wird, besteht im wesentlichen aus einem Thorakoskop, einer Stanze und einer Diathermiekugel an langem Schaft.

Auf Grund tierexperimenteller Untersuchungen an Hunden, Katzen, Kaninchen und Meerschweinchen werden die elektrokardiographischen Veranderungen bei venoser Luftembolie skizziert. Die regelmasig wiederkehrenden, also fur das Ekg bei venoser Luftembolie charakteristischen Befunde werden gelegentlichen Nebenbefunden gegenubergestellt und auch von praemortalen Veranderungen abgegrenzt, die bereits als Ausdruck des sterbenden Herzens angesehen werden mussen. Der Einflus der Tierart auf das Erscheinungsbild der elektrokardiographischen Veranderungen wird herausgestellt (die Befunde nach venoser Luftembolie bei Hunden und Katzen unterscheiden sich von denen bei Kaninchen und Meerschweinchen), und der Ablauf der Ekg-Veranderungen bei uberlebenden Tieren wird beschrieben. Das Ekg nach arterieller und das nach venoser Luftembolie werden miteinander verglichen. Aus den sich ergebenden Unterschieden wird die Folgerung gezogen, das eine koronare Luftembolie wie bei der arteriellen Luftembolie nicht auch Ursache der Ekg-Veranderungen bei venoser Luftembolie sein kann. Zwar werden auch die Ekg-Veranderungen bei venoser Luftembolie als Folge einer koronaren Durchblutungsstorung gedeutet. Die Drosselung der Durchblutung erfolgt aber nicht auf der arteriellen Seite durch Blockierung des Zustroms, sondern von der venosen Seite her durch Behinderung des Abflusses.

Es wird uber 17 Kranke mit Kalksequestern in der tuberkulosen Kaverne berichtet. Die Entstehung und das Schicksal der Kalksequester werden erortert. Sofern es sich um weiche, kreidige Kalksequester handelt, konnen sie sich auflosen und damit aus der Kaverne eliminiert werden. Harte Kalksequester zerfallen mitunter zu einer Art Kalksplit. Das Kalksequester uber den Bronchialweg als sog. Lungensteine ausgestosen werden, ist eine Seltenheit. Selbst kleinste Kalksequester fanden sich bei Kontrolluntersuchungen teils noch nach Monaten wieder. Kavernen mit Kalksequestern haben eine schlechte Prognose. Die Kaverne verkleinert sich allenfalls soweit, das sie den Kalksequester mehr oder weniger fest umschliest. Eine vollige Einheilung von Kalksequestern ist zumindest auserordentlich selten. Auch stark verkleinerte Restkavernen mit Kalksequestern sind daher (so wie der Rundherd) mit einer Zeitbombe zu vergleichen. Die Kaverne mit Kalksequester bildet somit eine Indikation zur Resektionsbehandlung oder zur Kavernendrainage mit abschliesendem kollapstherapeutischen Eingriff.

Es wird uber sieben Kranke mit Lungensarkoidose berichtet, bei denen die Erkrankung mit Hohlraumbildung einherging. Bei zwei Fallen handelte es sich um ein wabenartig aneinander gelagertes Hohlraumsystem, ahnlich der Cystenlunge, das durch ein grosblasiges Emphysem bedingt war, welches sich im Endstadium der Sarkoidose entwickelte. Bei funf Kranken lagen solitare grosere Hohlraume vor, deren Entstehung auf die zentrale Nekrose hyalin-schwieliger Verdichtungsbezirke zuruckgefuhrt wird. Bei einem dieser Falle bestatigte sich dies bei der pathologisch-anatomischen Untersuchung des Sektionspraparates.