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The role of lysosomal hydrolases in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis and secondary liver injury, as an important aspect of multisystem organ failure, remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the lysosomal fragility in both organs in acute experimental pancreatitis (AEP) of graded severity in dogs. In 7 dogs, the moderate (M) and in 13 dogs severe (S) variant of bile--trypsin AEP--was induced; 6 dogs were in control group (C). The 24 h survival time was 6/7 and 6/13, respectively. After that time, the dogs were sacrificed and the lysosomal enriched subfraction (L) from both organs was isolated by ultracentrifugation. The total (T) and free (F) activities of beta-glucuronidase (beta G), cathepsins (Cs) and acid phosphatase (AcP) according to Gianetto and de Duve were assayed. The fractional free activity (% F/T) was adapted as and index of lysosomal stability. The %F/T of BG in the homogenate of the pancreas in AEP(S) was higher than that in AEP(M) (92% vs. 71%, p0.05, and vs. 37% in C, p0.005). The %F/T of Cs and AcP showed a similar pattern. The %F/T of beta G in L of the liver in AEP(S) was 38% vs. 29% in AEP(M), (p0.05), and vs. 20% in C (p0.05). In AEP in dogs the %F/T activities of lysosomal hydrolases in the pancreas and liver were increased, suggesting the labilization of lysosomal membranes in severe form of this disease. Our results support the pathogenic role of lysosomal hydrolases in the damage to the pancreas and liver in acute pancreatitis.

Observations of bulk plasma rotation in radio frequency (RF) heated JET discharges are reported. This study is concentrated on RF heated L-mode plasmas. In particular, the toroidal rotation profiles in plasmas heated by ion cyclotron resonance frequency (ICRF) waves and lower hybrid (LH) waves have been analysed. It is the first time that rotation profiles in JET plasmas with LH waves have been measured in dedicated discharges. It is found that the toroidal plasma rotation in the outer region of the plasmas is in the co-current direction irrespective of the heating scenario. An interesting feature is that the toroidal rotation profile appears to be hollow in many discharges at low plasma current, but a low current in itself does not seem to be a sufficient condition for finding such profiles. Fast ion transport and finite orbit width effects are mechanisms that could explain hollow rotation profiles. This possibility has been investigated by numerical simulations of the torque on the bulk plasma due to fast ICRF accelerated ions. The obtained torque is used in a transport equation for the toroidal momentum density to estimate the effect on the thermal bulk plasma rotation profile.

The European Fusion Development Agreement's mission for JET is the development of ITER scenarios exploiting the specific properties of the device. This task requires significant improvements in the measuring techniques. The most innovative diagnostic upgrades are in the fields of edge measurements, detection of fast magnetohydrodynamics modes and "burning plasma" diagnostics. The importance of plasma-wall interactions, and, in particular, the issue of tritium inventory promoted the development of the quartz microbalance, a detector with improved time resolution to measure material redeposition in the remote areas of the inner divertor. Measurement of Alfven cascades with unprecedented spectral resolution, reaching a toroidal n number of up to 16, was obtained using an O-mode microwave reflectometer as an interferometer. For the diagnosis of the fusion products, a new approach is being developed to measure the He ash based on double charge exchange between thermalized particles and neutrals from JET beams. There have been several upgrades of the neutron diagnostic systems, one of which, the new time of flight neutron spectrometer designed for high counting rates is described. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Absolute lifetimes of excited states of D 2 O + and OD + have been directly measured using the high frequency deflection technique. Separate relative measurements show that the D 2 O + and OD + lifetimes are 13–8% longer than those of H 2 O + and OH + in the same vibrational levels.

Radiative lifetimes of the A 2Σ+, B 2Π, B' 2Δ, C 2Π, D 2Σ+ and F 2Δ electronic states in NO have been measured at high spectral resolution using the High Frequency Deflection technique. Particular attention has been paid to levels in the vicinity of or above the first dissociation limit in order to search for predissociation effects. The well-known effect in the C state is confirmed, while new predissociations of the A and D states and their rates are established. An anomaly in the lifetime series (B', v = 0-5) at v = 4 is explained in terms of the B'(v = 4) ∼ F(v = 1) configuration interaction. The variation in the A-X transition moment has been measured and found to be substantially different from earlier estimates.

The High Frequency Deflection technique introduced at this laboratory a couple of years ago has proved to be a very versatile general method for measuring optical lifetimes. Thus lifetime measurements have been performed in a large number of atoms, ions, molecules and ion-molecules with much greater efficiency than other methods permit and at 20-50 times higher spectral resolution than what is normally achieved. The present version of the apparatus associated with the High Frequency Deflection technique is described in this paper from a technical point of view and its performance is discussed.

The lifetimes of 108 different rotational levels of the OH A state (υ = 0-2) have been measured at high spectral resolution using the High Frequency Deflection technique. From these lifetimes the variation of the electronic transition moment is deduced as well as the predissociation rates for levels above the dissociation limit and the formation rate of OH through inverse predissociation.

Lifetimes of 32 bands in NO originating from the A2Σ+, B2Π, B'2Δ and D2Σ+ states and a system reported by Migeotte have been directly measured, using the high frequency deflection technique. The results are compared to earlier direct measurements and the lifetimes are discussed in relation to various types of states. For instance the Migeotte bands are found to have lifetimes similar to those of the D2Σ+ state, and consequently they are likely to originate from this (Rydberg) state. The lifetime of the C2Π state is also discussed with particular application to the NO concentration in the atmosphere.

As pointed out earlier, gas jets excited with a monoenergetic electron beam in the keV, mA region yield intense atomic and molecular spectra. It has also been shown that high-frequency sweeping of the electron beam and fast-coincidence techniques convert this light source to a convenient method for determining atomic and molecular lifetimes. An improved version of such an apparatus has now been completed, being designed for 2–20 keV, 300 mA electrons and a variable sweep frequency. The apparatus has just been tested on a great number of lifetimes in the range 1–10 000 ns in atoms and molecules such as H, He, N, O, C2, CH, CH+, CO2+, N2, N2+, and O2+. Good agreement is obtained in most cases where measurements using other techniques are available. Presumably this high frequency deflection technique will find its most important applications in determining lifetimes in molecules of vital astrophysical interest including transitions in the infrared region.

We have studied the spectra of scandium (600-6 000 ?) with the beam-foil method. In the v.u.v. a few previously unreported Sc III transitions appeared, as well as several well-known Sc III multiplets, whereas most lines in the air region were ascribed to earlier classified Sc I and Sc II transitions. We also measured the mean lifetimes of 20 excited Sc I-Sc III levels and generally found good agreement with previous theoretical calculations and emission measurements.

The surface free energy and polarity values of a number of organic pigments are obtained from contact angle measurements and the interfacial tension equation of Wu(1). The pigment types studied are phthalocyanine, quinacridone, toluidine red, isoindolinone, indanthrone, β-oxynaphthoic acid derivative, and thioindigoid red. The surface free energies obtained agree reasonably well with those predicted from parachor and density values.

The spectra of NH+, OH+and SH+in the range 3 000-5 000 Å have been studied at 0.2-0.4 Å FWHM resolution using the High-Frequency Deflection technique. Radiative lifetimes of low-lying excited electronic states in these molecules were simultaneously measured and found to be of the magnitude of 400-1 100 ns.

Lifetimes of various J-levels of low lying resonance levels in Fe I and Fe II have been measured at high spectral resolution using the High Frequency Deflection technique. The results are compared with earlier results and recommended multiplet f-values are given for astrophysical abundance determinations.

Majority of literature data support the significance of proteases activation in pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. The ability of cathepsins to the activation of trypsinogen was shown and the labilization of lysosomes of pancreas in different models of acute experimental pancreatitis (AEP) was reported. In present work the dynamic of lysosomal changes during the course of AEP in dogs is evaluated. AEP was induced in 17 mongrel dogs by Elliot's method. Six healthy dogs served as a control group (I). Pancreatitic dogs were killed after 6 hr (G. II, n = 5), after 12 hrs (G. III, n = 5), and after 24 hrs (G. IV, n = 6 survivors). The pancreata were removed and divided into segments A (less advanced changes, [B] most advanced changes) and C (intermediate changes). The lysosomal enriched subfraction was isolated from the C segments at 15 000 X g for 20 min. The total (T) and free (F) activity of beta-glucuronidase (beta-G), acid phosphatase (AP), acid cathepsins (Cs) was estimated and the value F/T (relative free activity-r.f.a.) was calculated as an index of lysosomal stability. The progressive increase of r.f.a. of hydrolases in whole homogenate and in lysosomal enriched subfraction depending on time of AEP was observed suggesting labilization of pancreatic lysosomes. This labilization was more expressed in corresponding parts of organ with more advanced pathological changes. The differences between part A and B were most evident after 6 hrs of AEP. The labilization of lysosomes is more pronounced after 12 and 24 hrs than after 6 hrs in analogical parts of organ. These results indicate that labilization of lysosomes in pancreas correspond to the degree of pathological changes of pancreatic tissue.

The effect of heparin doses of 1.5 and 6.0 mg/kg of body weight on pancreatic lysosomes was investigated in vivo in dogs. Latent activity of beta-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase and cathepsins in whole pancreatic homogenate, in the subfraction sedimenting at 15 000 x g, and in the supernatant was determined as an index of lysosomal stability. In the whole homogenate a rise in the total activity of beta-glucuronidase was observed, proportional to heparin dose while there was no effect of heparin on the latent activity of beta-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase. On the other hand, the proportion of the latent activity of cathepsins in their total activity increased in heparin-treated dogs, which points to a direct stabilizing effect of the drug on pancreatic lysosomes in the dog. Investigations of subfractions gave, in part only, results approaching those obtained in the whole homogenate.

This chapter highlights the effectiveness of aircraft in cereal fertilization. In an experiment described in the chapter, the reaction of cereals in the 5-year test period clearly recommends aerial fertilizer application. The best results were obtained in 1973 to 1974. The aviation technology proved more favorable in all experiments, giving an increase of yield by 6 to 38% as compared with the effect obtained with ground fertilization. In most of the experiments, the differences proved statistically significant. Particularly good results were obtained with winter wheat, spring wheat, and spring barley. The mean yield increment of these crops was 6 to 20%. When using ground equipment, top nitrogen dressing was applied to spring varieties once and to winter wheat at two dates. This high index of production increase in 1973–1974 in all the cereals tested may be explained by the fact that, parallel to fertilization, heavy rainfall occurred, promoting immediate nitrogen uptake by the plants.

This chapter describes the evaluation of quality and efficacy of herbicide spraying by helicopter. The investigations described in the chapter were performed on two fields with spring barley. A two factorial experiment was set up by the method of randomized sub blocks in a dependent system on brown soil classified to agricultural soil complex. Three replications were made. Spraying was done by a Mi-2 helicopter at two flight velocities, 60 and 90 km/h, equipped with medium-drop nozzles, from a height of 5 m. Two kinds of herbicides were tested: (1) Aminopielik D and (2) Chwastox D. Both are derivatives of phenoxyacetic acid. The rather wide nonuniformity of herbicide mass distribution, particularly at 60 km/h speed, did not give any unfavorable biological effects as regards the crop. Small symptoms of injury observed on the second and third day after spraying were soon heeled, and further development occurred normally as proved by the barley grain yield of 41.7–46.0 q/ha.

In 15 mongrel dogs acute experimental pancreatitis (AEP) was induced by injection of bile and trypsin into the pancreatic duct. After 12 hrs in lysosomal enriched subfraction of the liver in untreated group (N = 5) relative free activity of cathepsins (Cs), acid phosphatase (AP) and beta-glucuronidase (beta G) increased to 50,62, and 53% respectively in comparison to the healthy dogs (N = 6) : 19,43 and 20%. In dogs with AEP treated with prostacyclin (PGI2) in the dose of 20 ng/kg X min for 12 hrs these activities of Cs, AP and beta G were lowered to 30,55 and 41% in comparison with the untreated group. In dogs with AEP (N = 5) additionally pretreated during 1 hr before the induction of AEP with the same rate of PGI2 i.v. infusion, the relative free activity of enzymes was similar to the treated group. After two hrs incubation of lysosomal enriched subfraction in acidic medium (pH = 5,0), the highest values of relative free activity were observed in untreated group, the difference being more pronounced in comparison with control group than before incubation. In those animals treated and pretreated with PGI2, postincubation activities were much lower than in untreated dogs. These results suggest the stabilising effect of PGI2 on hepatic lysosomes, damaged during the course of AEP in dogs.

Environmental considerations prompted by governmental regulations require industries and new housing developments to treat waste liquid effluents to either de-toxify or sequester harmful matter prior to release into the surroundings. Treatment generally takes place while the liquids are in storage. Because of the large volume of liquids involved, tanks and other types of preformed containers are extremely expensive. A less costly solution to this problem has been taken by some sanitary engineers who have simply bulldozed large holes in the ground and then lined the walls and bottoms with what was expected to be impervious coatings or films. This approach, however, leads to further considerations because of the organic matter in the ground. If the H2S and methane constantly being generated cannot be dissipated through the lining, the resulting pressure causes the films or coatings to balloon and eventually burst.