Hypercalcitoninemia in pancreatitis-evidence for immunochemical heterogeneity

Summary Recently in our laboratory we have demonstrated increased immunoreactive calcitonin (iCT) levels in 4 patients with acute pancreatitis and hypocalcemia¹. The present study consists of 17 additional patients in whom serial determinations for (iCT) were performed. Furthermore, with the use of 2 different antisera directed against human calcitonin we present evidence for immunochemical heterogeneity of this hormone in acute pancreatitis.     

印度高技术中心的激光与粒子加速器研究

在印度前总理英迪拉甘地亲自关心下建立的印度高技术中心,主要从事激光和粒子加速器研究.目前已建立了2×1012W的四路钕玻璃激光振荡放大链,用于激光等离子体研究;建立的两台同步辐射源,临界波长分别为3.8A和61A,主要用于显微照相,光刻和微型机械元件加工等领域.     

自旋电子学功能材料进展

巨磁电阻效应的发现开拓了磁电子学的新学科,20世纪90年代,磁电子学得到迅速的发展,并在应用上取得显著的经济效益与巨大的社会效应,本世纪初,研究的重点已转移到半导体自旋电子学的新方向,并已取得重要的进展。本文将结合我们科研组的研究工作,概述从磁电子学到半导体自旋电子学材料的发展,重点介绍稀磁半导体材料研究的进展。     

Emergence in holographic scenarios for gravity

‘Holographic’ relations between theories have become an important theme in quantum gravity research. These relations entail that a theory without gravity is equivalent to a gravitational theory with an extra spatial dimension. The idea of holography was first proposed in 1993 by Gerard ׳t Hooft on the basis of his studies of evaporating black holes. Soon afterwards the holographic ‘AdS/CFT’ duality was introduced, which since has been intensively studied in the string theory community and beyond. Recently, Erik Verlinde has proposed that even Newton׳s law of gravitation can be related holographically to the ‘thermodynamics of information’ on screens. We discuss these scenarios, with special attention to the status of the holographic relation in them and to the question of whether they make gravity and spacetime emergent. We conclude that only Verlinde׳s scheme straightforwardly instantiates emergence. However, assuming a non-standard interpretation of AdS/CFT may create room for the emergence of spacetime and gravity there as well.     

Methods for increasing sensitivity in immunoelectrophoresis

Résumé On décrit 2 modifications apportées à la méthode d'immunoélectrophorèse. L'une d'elles comprend l'électrophorèse dans 2 sens, aux pH divers, en milieu gélifié suivie par l'analyse immunologique, permettant une définition plus avantageuse. L'autre comprend l'électrophorèse sur un fil de rayonne ou d'acétate de cellulose suivie par l'analyse immunologique en milieu gélifié, permettant l'analyse des quantités d'antigène à partir de 3 µg.     

Displaced tables in Latin: the Tables for the Seven Planets for 1340

The anonymous set of astronomical tables preserved in Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS lat. 10262, is the first set of displaced tables to be found in a medieval Latin text. These tables are a reworking of the standard Alfonsine tables and yield the same results. However, the mean motions are defined differently, the presentation of the tables is unprecedented, and some new functions are introduced for computing true planetary longitudes. The absence of any instructions as well as unusual technical terms in the headings make it difficult to appreciate the cleverness that went into the construction of these tables that are extant in a unique copy. In this article we provide a detailed analysis of these tables and their underlying parameters. The displaced tables are typical of a pervasive tendency in Islamic science to provide extensive and elegant numerical tables for the convenience of practitioners. The underlying astronomical theory is neither questioned nor affected. Edward S. Kennedy      

An approach for the in vitro screening of drugs for activity against leprosy

Summary Slow growing strains of mycobacteria isolated from leprous tissues present a characteristic resistance pattern to antibacterial agents that is comparable to drug sensitivity ofM. leprae in man.The Hansen Chair of Research is a foundation of Le Secours aux Lépreux (Canada) Inc..     

Joining S100 proteins and migration: for better or for worse,in sickness and in health

The vast diversity of S100 proteins has demonstrated a multitude of biological correlations with cell growth, cell differentiation and cell survival in numerous physiological and pathological conditions in all cells of the body. This review summarises some of the reported regulatory functions of S100 proteins (namely S100A1, S100A2, S100A4, S100A6, S100A7, S100A8/S100A9, S100A10, S100A11, S100A12, S100B and S100P) on cellular migration and invasion, established in both culture and animal model systems and the possible mechanisms that have been proposed to be responsible. These mechanisms involve intracellular events and components of the cytoskeletal organisation (actin/myosin filaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules) as well as extracellular signalling at different cell surface receptors (RAGE and integrins). Finally, we shall attempt to demonstrate how aberrant expression of the S100 proteins may lead to pathological events and human disorders and furthermore provide a rationale to possibly explain why the expression of some of the S100 proteins (mainly S100A4 and S100P) has led to conflicting results on motility, depending on the cells used.     

Modified in vitro assay for melanocyte-stimulating hormone

Résumé L'activité de l'MSH dans du sérum de rat peut être mesurée maintenant grâce à une méthode nouvelle, très sensitive, de test biologique in vitro. Cette méthode a été modifiée de façon à réduire à un minimum acceptable des variations expérimentales.     

A role for glutathione in muscle contraction

Résumé Le traitement de fibres en pulsation d'un muscle (cultivé en vase clos) avec l'oxydant diamide, spécitique pour la conversion du glutathione (GSH) au disulfide (GSSG), arrête vite tout mouvement. Après quelques heures d'incubation, le niveau normal de l'activité est retabli.

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The author is grateful to Dr.David Yaffe for advice and encouragement.     

Emerging roles for WNK kinases in cancer

The subfamily of WNK protein kinases is composed of four human genes and is characterised by a typical sequence variation within the conserved catalytic domain. Although most research has focussed on the role of WNK1, WNK3 and WNK4 in regulating different ion transporters in both the kidney and extrarenal tissues, there is growing evidence for additional roles of WNK kinases in various signalling cascades related to cancer. Here, we review the connection between WNK kinases and tumorigenesis and describe existing experimental evidence as well as potential new links to major aspects of tumour biology. In particular, we discuss their role in G1/S cell cycle progression, metabolic tumour cell adaptation, evasion of apoptosis and metastasis.     

A role for spatiotemporal scales in modeling

Bogen and Woodward's distinction between data and phenomena raises the need to understand the structure of the data-to-phenomena and theory-to-phenomena inferences. I suggest that one way to study the structure of these inferences is to analyze the role of the assumptions involved in the inferences: What kind of assumptions are they? How do these assumptions contribute to the practice of identifying phenomena? In this paper, using examples from atmospheric dynamics, I develop an account of the practice of identifying the target in the data-to-phenomena and theory-to-phenomena inferences in which assumptions about spatiotemporal scales play a central role in the identification of parameters that describe the target system. I also argue that these assumptions are not only empirical but they are also idealizing and abstracting. I conclude the paper with a reflection on the role of idealizations in modeling.     

抗肿瘤单克隆抗体导向药物的研究进展

单克隆抗体（单抗）对相应的抗原有高度特异性。因此,利用单抗作为治疗剂或利用单抗作为特异性载体制成导向药物（免疫偶联物）,对于治疗肿瘤有巨大潜力和引人瞩目的前景。大量研究证明,单抗导向药物对肿瘤靶细胞有选择性杀伤作用,显示特异性结合和内化;在动物体内显示肿瘤特异性分布以及更高的疗效。单抗与单抗导向药物在人体应用面临一些免疫学和药理学的问题。当前研究的发展趋向是单抗人源化,偶联物小型化与偶联物高效化。     

Cultivation ofSpirulina in sewage for poultry feed

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences - A method for cultivatingSpirulina platensis in domestic raw sewage, coupled with pisciculture and water reclamation in an integrated recycling system, has...     

Evidence for synergism in steroid hormone-receptor association

Summary A number of glucocorticoids stimulated oestradiol binding to liver cytosol receptor; oestradiol activated glucocorticoid receptor association at a time when it reversed triamcinolone mediated increase in liver glycogen synthesis.These studies were supported by the DRGST (IMB 7570744), the INSERM (CL 7650014) and the CNRS (AI 03 1917).