Theoretical Foundations of the Design of a Lever Mechanism of Oscillations of the Mold of a Sorting Machine for the Continuous Casting of Billets

Metallurgist - We consider specific features of the design of the lever mechanism of oscillation for the mold of a radial sorting machine with continuous casting of billets under the conditions of...     

Features of the Continuous Casting of Small-Section Billets from Copper-Based Alloys

Metallurgist - We present a survey of the main specific features of the continuous casting of billets of copper-based alloys with small cross sections. It is possible to significantly increase the...     

Isolated vasculitis of the peripheral nervous system

We present a patient with a subacute asymmetrical sensorimotor polyneuropathy. The pathological features were predominantly loss of nerve fibers, axonal degeneration and healed vasculitis. The epineural vessels were involved, while endoneurial capillaires were preserved. Muscle biopsy revealed neurogenic features with normal blood vessels. After three years, motor and sensory function was almost normal, without any specific treatment. No abnormal findings suggesting collagen diseases or other underlying immunological disorders were obtained by various laboratory tests. In conclusion, the present case strongly suggests that the vasculitis was confined to the peripheral nerves.     

The development of the external features of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

The present study describes the post-hatching development of the external features of the platypus. Specimens range in age from the day of hatching through to 6 months old, and provide the first comprehensive view of the developmental sequence of these features. Various features, those specific to the platypus, those specific to monotremes and those shared with marsupials and eutherians, are described. Features specific to the platypus, including the bill and webbing of the forefeet, are seen to develop precociously. Many features show similarities to marsupials, although marsupials show differential development both in timing and in morphology. The developmental progression is related to the age, in days, although the exact age of the specimens is unclear, and relies on ages given to the specimens at the time of collection, sometimes as long as 70 years ago. Despite this, the progression of development of these features suggests that the ageing given is relatively accurate.     

Haemoglobin D-Ouled Rabah among the Mozabites: a relevant variant to trace the origin of Berber-speaking populations

We have studied haemoglobin (Hb) variants and blood groups (ABO, RH, and Kell) in 598 children from the Berber population of the Mzab. Hb D-Ouled Rabah, considered as a private marker of the Kel Kummer Tuaregs, and Hb C were found at the same gene frequency (0.015). Haplotype analysis suggests a single origin to the Hb D mutation. Genetic distances calculated from the blood group data cluster Mozabites and Tuaregs with the other Berber-speaking groups, Arabic-speaking populations being more distant. But, we found no specific relationship between Mozabites and Kel Kummers. Tuaregs in general exhibit features that tend to differentiate them from other Berber-speaking groups. Hb D-Ouled Rabah may be specific of Berber-speaking populations.     

Determination of the structure of exochelin MN, the extracellular siderophore from Mycobacterium neoaurum

BACKGROUND: Siderophores are compounds produced by bacteria to acquire iron. Exochelin MN, the extracellular siderophore from Mycobacterium neoaurum, is of particular interest because it has been shown to transport iron into M. leprae, which is responsible for the disease leprosy. Exochelins from other species cannot mediate iron transport in M. leprae, suggesting a specific uptake mechanism involving exochelin MN. We set out to determine the structure of exochelin MN and identify the features of the molecule that may account for this specificity. RESULTS: The structure of exochelin MN was elucidated by a combination of techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, derivatization and gas chromatography. Exochelin MN is a peptide, containing the unusual amino acid beta-hydroxyhistidine and an unusual N-methyl group. The peptide coordinates iron(III) octahedrally using its two cis-hydroxamate groups plus the hydroxyl and imidazole nitrogen of the beta-hydroxyhistidine. The three-dimensional structure of the hexadentate exochelin/gallium complex was deduced from NMR data. CONCLUSIONS: Exochelin MN has some structural features in common with other siderophores, but has a unique three-dimensional structure, which is presumably important for its specific activity in M. leprae. Exochelin MN may be a target for drug design in the fight against infection with this pathogen.     

Embryonic expression of the single Tribolium engrailed homolog

We have cloned and sequenced the single Tribolium homolog of the Drosophila engrailed gene. The predicted protein contains a homeobox and several domains conserved among all engrailed genes identified to date. In addition it contains several features specific to the invected homologs of Bombyx and Drosophila, indicating that these features most likely were present in the ancestral gene in the common ancestor of holometobolous insects. We used the cross-reacting monoclonal antibody, 4D9, to follow the expression of the Engrailed protein during segmentation in Tribolium embryos. As in other insects, Engrailed accumulates in the nuclei of cells along the posterior margin of each segment. The first Engrailed stripe appears as the embryonic rudiment condenses. Then as the rudiment elongates into a germ band, Engrailed stripes appear in an anterior to posterior progression, just prior to morphological evidence of the formation of each segment. As in Drosophila (a long germ insect), expression of engrailed in Tribolium (classified as a short germ insect) is preceded by the expression of several homologous segmentation genes, suggesting that similar genetic regulatory mechanisms are shared by diverse developmental types.     

The treatment of biological material by Falck's method and its modifications using a device of original design

Automation of the process of detecting adrenergic nerve structures helped obtain reliable positive results even in cases with low mediator concentration in body tissues. We have elaborated a new method of subsequent staining and microphotographing of biological specimens which permit registration of specific features of adrenergic nerve terminals histologic architecture and their cellular microenvironment.     

Transient neonatal nonketotic hyperglycinemia: a 13-year follow-up

We report on a patient with transient nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH). Onset, clinical features, biochemical and electroencephalographic findings were consistent with neonatal nonketotic hyperglycinemia. The normalization of clinical, biochemical and electroencephalographic features on day 9 without specific therapy suggested a transient form. At the last follow-up the girl was 13 years old, had a normal mental development, no EEG abnormalities or neurological deficits.     

Disseminated tuberculosis of unusual locations

We report a case of disseminated tuberculosis involving the middle ear, the central nervous system, the spine and the lung. The tuberculous epidural abscess and otomastoiditis don't have any specific imaging features. But their coexistence with an other tuberculous involvement might suggest their tuberculous nature. The epidural abscess may result from direct extension from otomastoiditis.     

Determiner selection in romance languages: Evidence from French.

Determiner selection requires the retrieval of the noun's syntactic features (e.g., gender) and sometimes of its phonological features. Miozzo and Caramazza (1999) argued that the selection of determiners in Germanic languages is more straightforward than in Romance languages because it is not dependent on the phonological properties of the following word. In the present study, we used the picture–word interference paradigm to investigate the dependency of the determiner on the noun's features in French. In 3 experiments, we found a gender congruency effect at +200 stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA), indicating that participants were slower to produce the name of a picture (determiner + noun) when the picture–word pair was incongruent in gender than when it was congruent. We failed to replicate this effect at 0 SOA, in line with previous studies (Alario & Caramazza, 2002). Our results suggest that the features involved in determiner selection are not language specific but rather are specific to the determiner system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Magnetic resonance imaging in macromelia and macrodactyly

We report five cases presenting with soft tissue and bone overgrowth that demonstrate the ability of MRI to establish a diagnosis in the absence of specific clinical features. Disorders included macrodystrophia lipomatosa, angiolipomatosis, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, blue rubber bleb naevus syndrome and one case of segmental limited hypertrophy. The MRI appearances, and other radiological features of these conditions are discussed. MRI is recommended in all cases of macrodystrophy when the clinical features and plain film findings are indeterminate.     

Structures and functions of xenobiotic efflux pump P-glycoprotein and MRP--important molecular targets for cancer chemotherapy

This paper deals with the basic features of the xenobiotic efflux pump (P-glycoprotein and MRP) and the clinical significance of the search for specific modulators of these proteins. P-glycoprotein and MRP function as ATP-dependent efflux pumps that extrude cytotoxic drugs from the cells before the drugs reach their intracellular targets, thus conferring resistance to many structurally dissimilar anti-cancer drugs. These proteins are responsible for multidrug resistance of tumor cells, a major obstacle to cancer chemotherapy. To develop well-designed modulators, structural information regarding the specific drug binding sites is important. We recently found that mutations in the putative transmembrane domain (TM) 1 of human P-glycoprotein alter the drug resistance pattern. Some amino acid residues in TM1 together with TM5-6 and TM11-12 may help to govern substrate specificity. The features common to substrates for P-glycoprotein and MRP are also discussed.     

Hydrophobic sequence minimization of the alpha-lactalbumin molten globule

The molten globule, a widespread protein-folding intermediate, can attain a native-like backbone topology, even in the apparent absence of rigid side-chain packing. Nonetheless, mutagenesis studies suggest that molten globules are stabilized by some degree of side-chain packing among specific hydrophobic residues. Here we investigate the importance of hydrophobic side-chain diversity in determining the overall fold of the alpha-lactalbumin molten globule. We have replaced all of the hydrophobic amino acids in the sequence of the helical domain with a representative amino acid, leucine. Remarkably, the minimized molecule forms a molten globule that retains many structural features characteristic of a native alpha-lactalbumin fold. Thus, nonspecific hydrophobic interactions may be sufficient to determine the global fold of a protein.     

Folk medicine of the Qiang nationality

Based on a two-year investigation of folk medicine of the Qiang Nationality, systematic studies have been made on its formation and development, specific methods of physical therapy and experiences and features of clinical application.     

Approaches to the treatment of central nervous system autoimmune disease using specific neuroantigen

The ultimate aim in the treatment of autoimmune disease is to restore self-tolerance to the autoantigen(s) in question. In lieu of this ideal result, the conversion of a destructive or pathogenic autoimmune response into one of benign autoimmunity would also be highly desirable. In either case the use of the antigenic epitope, which is the target of the destructive immune response, would ideally be employed so as to give specificity to the protection without the need for long-term immunosuppression. This review describes a number of different approaches using various forms, doses, and routes of injection of specific neuroantigen to inhibit the different clinical varieties of autoimmune encephalomyelitis in a number of animal models; all done with the view to translating the findings into the clinic for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. We conclude that any treatment strategy for multiple sclerosis (MS) must have a number of features: it must be clinically acceptable, specific, long-lasting, require only short-term treatment, able to shunt off ongoing disease, and have the potential to prevent or deal with epitope spreading. Few of the approaches we describe fulfill all of these criteria. We suggest that investigations of new adjunctive agents to be used with a specific antigen be pursued, and that currently the use of chimeric proteins or DNA vaccination with or without the new adjunctives may hold the most hope for the future.     

An analysis of the epidemic cycle of meningococcal infection in Russia (1969-1993)

In this work the specific features of the epidemiological rise of morbidity in meningococcal infection in Russia for the period of 25 years are analyzed. Some factors influencing the intensity of the disease, such as etiology, specific features arising from the age of patients, social and territorial factors, are analyzed. Two waves of epidemic have been established in a single epidemic cycle. The first wave of epidemic was caused by meningococci of group A and characterized by the prevalence of city-dwellers among the patients; the second wave was caused by meningococci of groups A and B with the prevalence of the latter, especially during the period of the slump of the wave. The "Asiatic" and "European" types of morbidity were distinguished (in Moscow and St. Petersburg). The analysis of the epidemic cycle of meningococcal infection indicates the expediency of the development of new specific wide-profile preparation for prophylaxis.     

Clinical diagnosis of borderline personality: Examination of professional differences.

We examined the influence of clinicians' professional affiliations on the assignment of DSM-III/DSM-III—R borderline personality disorder to clients. Practicing psychologists and psychiatrists provided data on patients who had been clinically diagnosed as manifesting personality disorder. Clinicians also were asked to indicate those features that best described their clients' symptomatology, using a checklist of the Axis II criteria that yielded a diagnosis based on DSM-III criteria. Results indicated that minimal differences existed between the two clinician groups in their diagnoses of borderline personality disorder and that both professional groups relied on the criteria specified in DSM-III. However, several differences in the professionals' weightings of specific features were found. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Formation of the thermodeformational properties of Mn-Cu-based alloys having the two-way shape memory effect

The specific features of the thermodeformational behavior of Mn-Cu-based alloys with the two-way shape memory effect are revealed, and their connection with the diffusionless fcc → fct phase transition and the forming structure is discussed. The mechanism of the reversible thermal deformation caused by directed internal stresses is considered. The factors that affect the temperature interval of the highest thermal sensitivity and the value of reversible and specific thermal deformation are found, and the possibilities of their change by additional alloying and heat treatment are studied.