Role of sulphuric acid, ammonia and galactic cosmic rays in atmospheric aerosol nucleation

Atmospheric aerosols exert an important influence on climate through their effects on stratiform cloud albedo and lifetime and the invigoration of convective storms. Model calculations suggest that almost half of the global cloud condensation nuclei in the atmospheric boundary layer may originate from the nucleation of aerosols from trace condensable vapours, although the sensitivity of the number of cloud condensation nuclei to changes of nucleation rate may be small. Despite extensive research, fundamental questions remain about the nucleation rate of sulphuric acid particles and the mechanisms responsible, including the roles of galactic cosmic rays and other chemical species such as ammonia. Here we present the first results from the CLOUD experiment at CERN. We find that atmospherically relevant ammonia mixing ratios of 100 parts per trillion by volume, or less, increase the nucleation rate of sulphuric acid particles more than 100-1,000-fold. Time-resolved molecular measurements reveal that nucleation proceeds by a base-stabilization mechanism involving the stepwise accretion of ammonia molecules. Ions increase the nucleation rate by an additional factor of between two and more than ten at ground-level galactic-cosmic-ray intensities, provided that the nucleation rate lies below the limiting ion-pair production rate. We find that ion-induced binary nucleation of H(2)SO(4)-H(2)O can occur in the mid-troposphere but is negligible in the boundary layer. However, even with the large enhancements in rate due to ammonia and ions, atmospheric concentrations of ammonia and sulphuric acid are insufficient to account for observed boundary-layer nucleation.     

Postischemic ATP levels predict hepatic function 24 hours following ischemia in the rat

Summary Hepatic function was assessed by the aminopyrine breath test (ABT) in male Sprague Dawley rats 24 h after partial hepatic ischemia. ABT decreased progressively to 26.3 (p<0.05) and 19.7% of dose (p<0.05) after 90 and 120 min of ischemia, respectively. ABT at 24 h after injury was correlated to the concentration of ATP in the ischemic lobes 1 h after the onset of reperfusion (r²=0.971) but not to ALT activity in plasma at 1 h (r²=0.391). We conclude that postischemic ATP levels are a better index of subsequent hepatic function than ALT.     

Sharing of an idiotypic marker by monoclonal antibodies specific for distinct regions of hen lysozyme

Idiotypes have been defined serologically as variable-region markers present on unique subsets of antibody molecules. Most studies involving myeloma proteins and antibody responses in inbred mice have indicated that idiotypy is closely related to antigenic specificity. However, indirect evidence suggests that idiotypy can sometimes be dissociated from specificity. In the response to the small monomeric protein, hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL), previous results demonstrated that 70--95% of the anti-HEL antibody found in sera of primed and boosted mice is specific for a particular region of HEL and bears a predominant idiotype (IdX-HEL). In this report, hybridoma anti-HEL antibodies tested with well-characterized peptide fragments of HEL show that the IdX-HEL marker can be found on antibodies of completely distinct antigen specificities. Thus, a mode of recognition other than antigenic recognition probably plays a major role in the immune response to HEL.     

Berechnung von Konzentrationsprofilen in Blutkapillaren und Nierentubuli unter Verwendung derGrätz-Nusseltschen Differentialgleichung

Summary Concentration profiles are computed in blood capillaries and in the artificial perfused proximal tubulus: maximal difference of oxygen partial pressure between wall and centre in lung capillaries 40–60 Torr, in capillaries of the myocard 4–6 Torr. Maximal concentration difference of THO in the proximal tubulus: 8% of the maximum value.     

Cutaneous cancer stem cell maintenance is dependent on beta-catenin signalling

Continuous turnover of epithelia is ensured by the extensive self-renewal capacity of tissue-specific stem cells. Similarly, epithelial tumour maintenance relies on cancer stem cells (CSCs), which co-opt stem cell properties. For most tumours, the cellular origin of these CSCs and regulatory pathways essential for sustaining stemness have not been identified. In murine skin, follicular morphogenesis is driven by bulge stem cells that specifically express CD34. Here we identify a population of cells in early epidermal tumours characterized by phenotypic and functional similarities to normal bulge skin stem cells. This population contains CSCs, which are the only cells with tumour initiation properties. Transplants derived from these CSCs preserve the hierarchical organization of the primary tumour. We describe beta-catenin signalling as being essential in sustaining the CSC phenotype. Ablation of the beta-catenin gene results in the loss of CSCs and complete tumour regression. In addition, we provide evidence for the involvement of increased beta-catenin signalling in malignant human squamous cell carcinomas. Because Wnt/beta-catenin signalling is not essential for normal epidermal homeostasis, such a mechanistic difference may thus be targeted to eliminate CSCs and consequently eradicate squamous cell carcinomas.     

Local hydrogen-clearance and 257-01257-01257-01- measurements in micro-areas of the rat brain

Résumé La pression partielle de l'oxygène et la «clearance» de l'hydrogène ont été mesurées dans des régions circonscrites. Les deux valeurs sont enregistrées par la même microélectrode de platine (diamètre de la pointe 10). Cette méthode nouvelle est appliquée dans des expériences faites sur le cerveau de Rats narcotisés et on est capable d'évaluer les inhomogénités locales de l'apport d'oxygène dépendant du flux du sang.