Ultrastructural differences in mitochondria of skeletal muscle in the prerigor and rigor states.

Loss of cristae and matrix occur in the mitochondria of skeletal muscles prior to any observable changes in myofibrillar proteins during the development of rigor mortis. Care must be observed because ultrastructural changes in mitochondria in some studies may be attributed to a specific trauma, whereas the changes may be due to the lower pH in postmortem muscle.     

Ultrastructural differences in mitochondria of skeletal muscle in the prerigor and rigor states

Summary Loss of cristae and matrix occur in the mitochondria of skeletal muscles prior to any observable changes in myofibrillar proteins during the development of rigor mortis. Care must be observed because ultrastructural changes in mitochondria in some studies may be attributed to a specific trauma, whereas the changes may be due to the lower pH in postmortem muscle.Scientific Journal Series, Paper No. 9633, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.     

NMR-studies of triiodothyropropionic acid in ethanol-HCl.

The barrier to rotation in the N-acetyl methyl ester of the thyroxine was found to be 8.6 kcal mol-1. Previous experiments determining the barrier to rotation in triiodothyropropionic acid in HCl-ethanol were shown to be in error.     

Categorization, anomalies and the discovery of nuclear fission

The characteristics of scientific revolutions and by the same token the question of which events in the history of science deserve the name of revolutionary are controversial themes in the philosophy of science. An issue of disagreement is the question of whether or not events in which only parts of a paradigm are overthrown can truly be called a revolution, or if this term is to be reserved for the developments in which a wholesale replacement of ideas takes place. In this paper Kuhn's latest attempt to state a principle for distinguishing revolutionary developments will be reviewed, and it will be argued that certain developments entailing only partial replacements of the paradigm can be called revolutionary. The discovery of fission will serve as case study to illustrate this idea.     

The impact of different energy options on atmospheric CO2 levels

Conclusions It is found that large differences in future atmospheric CO₂ concentration may be estimated due to different energy supply strategies. At present there seems to be no immediate need to reduce fossil fuel consumption. However, considering the magnitude of possible effects, efforts should be made to keep the increase of fossil fuel consumption as low as possible. Especially with regard to the CO₂ strategy given in figure 6 it should be borne in mind that fossil fuel plants which are planned today are expected to operate beyond the 1st decade of the next century     

生物活性物质的电致化学发光检测

电致化学发光是通过电极上直接或间接发生的电化学反应而产生的一种化学发光,因此电致化学发光检测是在化学发光和电化学基础上发展起来的一种新的分析技术。电致化学发光检测技术不但保留了化学发光分析和电化学分析固有的优点,同时还具有其自身的优点,如所发生的化学发光反应易于控制;方法更灵敏,更具有选择性;可以获得更多的化学信息;扩大了化学发光方法可检测的范围;更易于与现代分离技术联用。生物体中很多生物活性物质具有电活性,因此用现代电化学技术研究其电化学行为具有重要的理论意义和实际应用价值。生物体中的生物活性物质通常浓度很低,并且成分复杂,因此分离检测生物体中生物活性物质非常困难。由于电致化学发光检测具有灵敏度高,选择性好的特点,无疑是检测生物体中生物活性物质的强有力工具,如果它能与HPLC、CE及FIA等现代分离技术相结合,将表现出更加强大的生命力。     

Alkalosis and renal excretion of ammonia by rat kidney

Upon sulfate administration, UpH falls more in alkalotic rats than in controls. Alkalosis can lead to a reduction in UNH3 V at highly acidic urine. The significance of this process is doubtful at UpH ranging from about 6 to 7. At lower UpH less NH3 would be excreted, thereby less H+ would be trapped in urine and some acid would be conserved.     

Elevation of serum xanthine oxidase following halothane anesthesia in the rat

Summary Halothane anesthesia was found to be hepatotoxic in the rat, as demonstrated by a significant elevation of serum xanthine oxidase (SXO) level. SXO appeared to be a more sensitive marker of liver damage than serum, glutamic oxalacetic transaminsa. SXO was found to be elevated also following exposure to relative hypoxia.     

Abscence of chromosomes abnormalities and acute leukemia : relationships with normal bone marrow cells

The absence of chromosome abnormalities in 50% of human acute leukemias stress the significance of cytogenetic abnormalities in malignancies. Karyotypically normal cells from acute leukemias were shown to be non leukemic cells by cytological and cytogenetic comparisons. Chromosomally normal acute promyelocytic leukemias could be explained by differences between proliferation rates of bone marrow cells and by bias when choosing metaphases to be analysed. The role of chromosomal abnormalities in acute leukemia must be therefore questioned from a new definition of cytogenetic methods.     

Elevation of serum xanthine oxidase following halothane anesthesia in the rat.

Halothan anesthesia was found to be hapatotoxic in the rat, as demonstrated by a significant elevation of serum xanthine oxidase (SXO) level. SXO appeared to be more sensitive marker of liver damage than serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase. SXO was found to be elevated also following exposure to relative hypoxia.     

Fatigue in neuromuscular disorders: focus on Guillain–Barré syndrome and Pompe disease

Fatigue accounts for an important part of the burden experienced by patients with neuromuscular disorders. Substantial high prevalence rates of fatigue are reported in a wide range of neuromuscular disorders, such as Guillain–Barré syndrome and Pompe disease. Fatigue can be subdivided into experienced fatigue and physiological fatigue. Physiological fatigue in turn can be of central or peripheral origin. Peripheral fatigue is an important contributor to fatigue in neuromuscular disorders, but in reaction to neuromuscular disease fatigue of central origin can be an important protective mechanism to restrict further damage. In most cases, severity of fatigue seems to be related with disease severity, possibly with the exception of fatigue occurring in a monophasic disorder like Guillain–Barré syndrome. Treatment of fatigue in neuromuscular disease starts with symptomatic treatment of the underlying disease. When symptoms of fatigue persist, non-pharmacological interventions, such as exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy, can be initiated.     

Quarterly forecasts of the italian business cycle by means of monthly economic indicators

Recent years have witnessed a growing availability of high-frequency indicators which can be used to forecast future economic activity. This paper shows how some of the widely known monthly economic indicators at present available in Italy can be used in a systematic and coordinated manner to forecast the main variables of the National Accounts. In order to reduce as much as possible the amount of judgment in the analysis of the business cycle, a model-based approach is adopted. Thus, a pseudo macro-econometric model of the Italian economy is built, which can be used to produce forecasts one semester ahead of the last National Accounts data release. The model can be used autonomously as well as in combination with the Bank of Italy's quarterly econometric model.     

Reduction of the number of mice used for potency testing of human and animal rabies vaccines

Eight different rabies vaccines were tested for their potency in the standard mouse potency test using 3-, 5- and 7-week-old mice. 5-week-old mice seem to be best suited for this purpose, variability from test to test could be reduced considerably. An ELISA was used in parallel for the evaluation of the rabies glycoprotein content of rabies vaccines. Results of the mouse potency test correlated well with those of the ELISA if highly purified human vaccines were tested. Unspecific reactions in the ELISA caused by adjuvanted veterinary vaccines could not be blocked. Further experiments will be needed in order to evaluate the potency of inactivated veterinary rabies vaccines by a in vitro test.     

Reduction of the number of mice used for potency testing of human and animal rabies vaccines

Summary Eight different rabies vaccines were tested for their potency in the standard mouse potency test using 3-, 5- and 7-week-old mice. 5-week-old mice seem to be best suited for this purpose, variability from test to test could be reduced considerably. An ELISA was used in parallel for the evaluation of the rabies glycoprotein content of rabies vaccines. Results of the mouse potency test correlated well with those of the ELISA if highly purified human vaccines were tested. Unspecific reactions in the ELISA caused by adjuvanted veterinary vaccines could not be blocked. Further experiments will be needed in order to evaluate the potency of inactivated veterinary rabies vaccines by a in vitro test.     

A partial elucidation of the gauge principle

The elucidation of the gauge principle “is the most pressing problem in current philosophy of physics” said Michael Redhead in 2003. This paper argues for two points that contribute to this elucidation in the context of Yang–Mills theories. (1) Yang–Mills theories, including quantum electrodynamics, form a class. They should be interpreted together. To focus on electrodynamics is potentially misleading. (2) The essential role of gauge and BRST symmetries is to provide a local field theory that can be quantized and would be equivalent to the quantization of the non-local reduced theory. If this is correct, the gauge symmetry is significant, not so much because it implies ontological consequences, but because it allows us to quantize theories that we would not be able to quantize otherwise. Thus, in the context of Yang–Mills theories, it is essentially a pragmatic principle. This does not seem to be the case for the gauge symmetry in general relativity.     

Estimation and testing of time-varying coefficient regression models in the presence of linear restrictions

A linear regression model with random walk coefficients is extended to allow for linear restrictions between the coefficients to be satisfied at each point in time. Estimation in this model is shown to be no more involved than estimation in the standard model. It is also demonstrated how, after a slight modification to the testing problem, classical test procedures may be applied to the problem of testing for such restrictions. The performance of the Lagrange Multiplier test for a variety of different restrictions is then investigated via simulation. An empirical application involving testing for homogeneity in a random walk coefficient version of the AIDS model is given.     

Do forecasts produced by organizations reflect anchoring and adjustment?

In attempting to improve forecasting, many facets of the forecasting process may be addressed including techniques, psychological factors, and organizational factors. This research examines whether a robust psychological bias (anchoring and adjustment) can be observed in a set of organizationally-produced forecasts. Rather than a simple consistent bias, biases were found to vary across organizations and items being forecast. Such bias patterns suggest that organizational factors may be important in determining the biases found in organizationally-produced forecasts.     

Electroencephalography of the olfactory bulb in relation to prespawn homing

Summary remarks It is evident that the bulbar EEG is a complex response which can be influenced by several methodological and stimulant variables. What EEG patterns tell us about actual behavior remains obscure. The bulbar EEG which is evoked by homestream water is not necessarily a reflection of olfactory memory. The evoked bulbar EEG also does not necessarily demonstrate the salmon has distinguished the home-water from another water in terms of migrational orientation. Despite lack of absolute specificity, a correlation between bulbar EEG and actual behavioral performance has been observed even though some non-home waters evoke responses similar to that of the home water. In general it has been found that the home water response can be distinguished from the response to other natural waters. Failure to obtain complete specificity may be due to a variety of variables which have been alluded to earlier in this section. Thus considering that the evoked EEG is a reflection of the integration of a diverse afferent input, further electrical and computer analyses may eventually permit the decoding of the EEG in terms of behavior. However, if the EEG proves to be more a quantitative rather than qualitative reflection of brain activity, relating EEG to behavior will prove to be of limited value. Since afferent responses in the olfactory bulb are influenced by impulses from higher brain centers, studies on centrifugal aspects during olfactory stimulation may be useful in gaining some qualitative understanding of the home water evoked EEG of the olfactory bulb.     

A simple system for inspection of microelectrophoretic patterns.

An inexpensive device for inspection of electrophoretic patterns on microgels is described. A common slide frame is modified in order to hold inside microgels immersed in liquid, so that the gels may then be projected on paper screens. The electrophoretic patterns may be drawn on the basis of the gel images. Staff-meeting presentation of microelectrophoretic patterns seems to be another application of the system.     

Notes on toxinology

Conclusions Some of the papers to follow in the present series of communications on toxinology will show that in the field of chemistry, physiology, pharmacology and immunology, as well as molecular biology, animal venoms provide us with some particularly useful models. Obviously, this is one of the main reasons for the growing interest shown by numerous scientists in animal toxins.With reference to medicine, more research is needed in the field just mentioned with the aim of improving medical care. In addition, however, it is postulated that research on the behaviour of venomous animals towards man, and research into the quantities of venom actually applied to man, be intensified. Also, on the basis of results in this context, people most exposed could be provided with more and better information about prevention.Work of this sort requests the collaboration of biologists, who observe toxic animals in their natural habitat and who investigate in particular when, and under what prerogatives, the animals make use of toxins in their natural surroundings. Thus we end up with what has been said in the introduction to these notes: toxic animals are to be studied as entities and toxicity has to be looked at from all aspects essential for life, possibly including parasite and population control.Should the very last point prove valid, fascinating links could be established between toxinology and ecology and in turn migt become important for nature conservation. Thus, toxinology is but a budding field, the limits of which, can yet only be assumed.