Apoptosis in the morphology of Lyme borreliosis

BACKGROUND: Morphological, mainly ultrastructural changes in borreliosis has been the matter of contemporary interest indeed and it seems to be more and more clear that they are the product of an immunologic reaction. The aim of this study is to find out the epidermal changes of erythema migrans and acrodermatitis chronica on the ultrastructural level. METHODS AND RESULTS: There were 14 cases of erythema migrans and 5 acrodermatitis examined and many apoptotic keratinocytes, but also Langerhans cells and melanocytes were the dominant findings. Considering the very short time needed for apoptosis there is a good reason to take our findings as an important component of the borreliosis pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of many apoptotic cells in Lyme disease epidermis emphasises the importance of the immunology in the borreliosis pathogenesis. The striking number of apoptotic melanocytes suggests the higher affinity of the borrelia to the neuroectodermal tissue.     

Inferences on the mechanism of emulsion polymerisation of styrene from characterisation of the polymer end-groups

Solute electrolyte and adsorbed emulsifier can be removed by ion exchange from polystyrene latices prepared with persulphate initiator. Rigorous purification of the ion-exchange resins is necessary to avoid contamination by leached polyelectrolytes. These ion-exchanged latices are stabilised by strong acid surface groups - sulphate end-groups of the polymer molecules. The number of surface groups as determined by conductometric titration of the latex, plus the number buried within the particle as determined by conductometric titration of the polymer in solution (or by X-ray fluorescence), is less than the expected value of two per polymer molecule. The other end-groups are shown to be hydroxyl groups by oxidation to the carboxyl form followed by ion exchange and titration. The total number of end-groups thus determined is close to two per molecule. As the pH of the polymerisation medium is decreased, the proportion of hydroxyl end-groups increases and that of the sulphate end-groups decreases. No carboxyl groups are detected in ion-exchanged latices prepared in a nitrogen atmosphere, independent of the nature of the emulsifier. The dye partition method gives end-group concentrations that are far lower than those determined by titration or X-ray fluorescence, probably because the formation of the dye end-group ion-pair is not complete. Finally, for latices prepared at relatively low emulsifier concentrations, the contribution of the sulphate end-groups to the surface charge density is significant and cannot be overlooked, as has been done in the past.     

Mutations in the EXT1 and EXT2 genes in hereditary multiple exostoses

In an in-vitro preparation of gastric mucosae of Rana pipiens, the effect of adding melittin to a concentration of 5x10-6 M in the secretory solution on the transepithelial potential difference (PD), resistance (R) and short-circuit current (Isc) was studied. In 20 min, melittin decreased the PD by 9.3 mV and R by 148 ohm cm2. These changes can be explained by a decrease in the resistance, RP, of the paracellular pathway. To determine whether specific-ion pathways were responsible for the decrease in R, the effect of melittin on the partial conductances of Cl-, K+ and Na+ was also studied using the ion substitution method. Melittin decreased the PD response to changes in nutrient Na+, K+ and Cl- and the PD response to changes in secretory Cl-, but did not affect PD responses to changes in secretory Na+ or K+. Therefore, melittin decreased the nutrient membrane partial conductances of Cl-, K+ and Na+ and secretory membrane partial conductance of Cl-, without affecting the secretory partial conductances of Na+ or K+. Initially, melittin increased Isc in regular and Cl--free but not in Na+-free solutions. There was a delayed decrease in Isc. The results indicate that melittin decreases RP, increases the Na+ conductance of the secretory membrane and inhibits, eventually, the Na+/K+-ATPase pump.     

The effect of an antiphlogistic incorporated in liposomes on experimentally induced inflammation

The antiphlogistic Ibuprofen incorporated in liposomes caused a decrease of the inflammatory edema induced by Carrageenan in the distal part of the rat's hind leg after both the intramuscular and percutaneous administration. The antiphlogistic effect of free Ibuprofen in the cream was weaker. Intramuscular administration of empty liposomes slowed down in the initial stages the development of inflammation and slightly diminished the size of edema.     

Long-term electrocardiographic monitoring of patients after acute myocardial infarct

The authors present an account on detailed electrocardiographic follow-up of a patient for 12 months after an inferior myocardial infarction. The patient died 14 months after the IM due to arrhythmia after previous remodelling of the left ventricle. The results assembled by means of superstandard methods of signal averaging electrocardiography (method of cumulative amplitudes, RMS signal and frequency analysis) and electrocardiographie body surface mapping (isointegral maps) are confronted with detailed clinical examinations and repeated echocardiographic investigations. The assembled results indicate that the applied superstandard methods make it possible to extract electrocardiographic parameters (presence of pathological high frequency peaks, raised values of partial cumulative amplitudes at the end of the QRS complex at higher frequencies, negative correlation coefficients from comparisons of integral maps with controls) which are a signal that the patient's life is threatened.     

5182铝合金多道次热轧显微组织演变的实验模拟

结合美国Alumax铝业公司热轧工艺规程，在Gleeble 1500热模拟机上对5182铝合金多道次热轧过程进行了实验模拟，通过对各道次变形后显微组织的金相及显微硬度的测定，发现该合金与1050和3003铝合金相比在热轧过程中较容易发生再结晶，再结晶是一种主要的显微组织形态，其再结晶程度可用数学模型加以定量预测。     

Modelling inundation patterns and sediment dynamics in the extensive floodplain along the Tonle Sap River

The Tonle Sap River (TSR) serves as a natural medium for the reversal flow between Tonle Sap Lake (TSL) and the Mekong River to sustain productivity and biodiversity in the TSR floodplain and TSL. Understanding the hydrological connectivity and its dynamics in the TSR, including its floodplain, is therefore important to support activities that aim to maintain ecological services in the TSR–TSL system. Thus, the main objective of this study is to examine the hydrological connectivity of the TSR and its floodplain by a modelling approach that integrates inundation patterns and sediment dynamics. The Caesar–Lisflood model was applied to describe inundation, sediment erosion, transport, and deposition in the TSR for the period of 2003–2013. The inundation areas connected to the TSR ranged from 140 to 2,327 km², whereas the isolated inundation areas from the TSR ranged from 0.27 to 504 km². Sediment dynamics showed its influence on inundation patterns and hydrological connectivity and could alter the yearly inundation ratio (defined as a normalized inundation frequency with a value ranging from 0 to 1) up to 0.8. Our approach provides a quantitative way to determine key factors (e.g., total inundation areas, seasonality, and connectivity of inundation patterns) for further investigation of ecological processes in relation to the inundation patterns and sediment dynamics in the TSR and TSL.     

大功率变频试验仪研制及应用

介绍了变频试验设备在电力系统使用现状,WZR－1型变频试验仪的构成及性能,现场使用情况,适用范围。     

The application of membrane technology for reuse of process water and minimisation of waste water in a textile washing range

Recycling of process streams and reduction of waste disposal using membrane technology in a continuous textile washing process after dyeing with reactive dyes have been investigated theoretically. A mathematical process model of a conventional open-width washing range has been extended by membrane processes to determine the benefits and limitations of the modified washing processes. The concentrations of hydrolysed reactive dyes, sodium chloride, urea and caustic soda have been calculated with this process model. Reverse osmosis for desalination and decolourising and nanofiltration for decolourising have been implemented as membrane technology. Reusing filtered wash water in a previous wash step results in more water saving than recycling to the same wash step according to the process calculations. The total fresh water demand can be reduced by 70% and the total waste water volume by 90% compared with the conventional process. Greater reduction of fresh water use is limited by the osmotic pressure difference between the retentate an permeate streams.     

Identification and characterization of a novel member of the EXT gene family, EXTL2

Recently, two homologous genes, EXT1 and EXT2, with a putative tumor suppressor function have been described. Mutations in both genes are responsible for multiple exostosis syndrome (EXT), an autosomal dominant condition characterized by the presence of multiple osteochondromas, bony excrescences that sometimes undergo malignant transformation to chondrosarcoma. This family of EXT genes has been extended by the identification of an EXT-like (EXTL) gene showing a high degree of homology with the EXT genes. We report here a second EXT-like gene (EXTL2) which is homologous to the EXT and EXTL genes. EXTL2 consists of 5 exons encoding an ubiquitously expressed protein of 330 amino acids. In addition, a putative pseudogene, EXTL2P was also identified. The EXTL2 gene was assigned to chromosome 1p11-p12, whereas EXTL2P was mapped on chromosome 2q24-q31.