Treatment of end-stage renal disease by transplantation: clinical results with 111 cases

The efficacy of renal transplantation for patients with end-stage renal disease was reviewed in 108 patients receiving 111 transplants followed for an average of two and one-half years after transplantation. Overall patient survival decreased 10 per cent per year from 90 per cent after the first year to 70 per cent at three years. Kidney survival was slightly less, with a similar pattern. Patients with better tissue matches and living related donor allografts had fewer and less severe rejections and better ultimate function than did patients with poor tissue matches and cadaver allografts. However, a significant number of patients with poor tissue matches and cadaver allografts had excellent results. Eighty-six per cent of all survivors with functioning kidneys had serum creatinines of 2.0 mg./100 ml. or below. Mortality was associated primarily with sepsis from a variety of bacterial, fungal, viral and protozoan organisms often associated with other complications such as rejection or gastrointestinal bleeding. Recipients over the age of 40 were in a higher risk group. Rejection per se, however, played a minor role. Urological and skeletal complications were a major source of morbidity but were not associated with mortality.     

Sprengabbruch von Stahlbeton‐Schornsteinen

Demolition of reinforced conrete chimneys by means of blasting. Demolition of reinforced conrete chimneys by means of blasting is designed and executed by specialized companys regulary. Knowledges about blast procedures are desirable for planing and other concerned persons, because there are risks of damages of buildings and a large public interest too. The authors intend to describe the tilt and impact of a blasted chimney and the propagation of vibrations. They are concerning for the size of dangers of neighbouring buildings to decrease existing prejudices due to blasting.     

Drying of glassy polymer varnishes: A quartz resonator study

We report on desorption measurements on polymeric thin films coated onto quartz crystal resonators. Due to the high sensitivity of quartz crystal microbalances, the experiments can be performed on very thin films, which have small diffusion time constants even in the glassy state. When drying is performed slowly enough, diffusion equilibrium can be maintained through the whole process of desorption, including the glassy domain. From these quasi-stationary pressure ramps, we derived the solvent chemical potential as a function of polymer volume fraction μ(ϕ). The results fit well to a model recently proposed by Leibler and Sekimoto.¹ In addition, we have derived the mutual diffusion coefficient D(ϕ) from pressure step experiments. We observe a strong decrease of D(ϕ) for high polymer concentrations typical of hypodiffusive systems like polymers. We investigated the drying of an industrial varnish that is a blend of 2 copolymers as well as the drying of its components separately. Both the solvent chemical potential μ(ϕ) and the mutual diffusion coefficient D(ϕ) of the blend interpolate between the respective quantities of the components. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 2235–2246, 1998     

Probability density function approach coupled with detailed chemical kinetics for the prediction of knock in turbocharged direct injection spark ignition engines

In this work a new knock model is derived which accounts for the inherent feature of knocking combustion, namely that it is a stochastic phenomenon. It provides the probability of autoignition and distinct criteria to determine the mean knock onset as well as the relative number of knocking cycles. For modeling purposes an ignition progress variable is proposed to determine the reactive state of the unburnt fuel–air mixture and the occurrence of autoignition. Statistical information of this quantity is introduced by presuming a clipped Gaussian probability density function (PDF). Its shape is defined by the Favre mean and variance of the ignition progress variable for which transport equations are derived. The chemical source terms that appear in these equations are closed by employing a presumed PDF approach to account for turbulence chemistry interaction. A clipped Gaussian PDF distribution for temperature and a β$\beta$-PDF for mixture fraction are employed. Hence, the impact of temperature and mixture fraction fluctuations on the ignition progress variable is accounted for. The chemical source terms are evaluated based on tabulated chemistry incorporating detailed chemical kinetics. For the assessment of the knock model a spark timing sweep was performed on the engine test bench for a full-load operating point at n=2000$n=2000$ rpm. In-cylinder flow simulations including gas exchange, mixture formation, combustion, and knock were carried out and the results are compared with experimental data. It is shown that the knock model is able to predict the mean knock onset with reasonable accuracy and that the impact of a spark timing sweep on the number of knocking cycles is well captured.     

A Palette of Fluorescent Aβ42 Peptides Labelled at a Range of Surface-Exposed Sites

Fluorescence-based single molecule techniques provide important tools towards understanding the molecular mechanism of complex neurodegenerative diseases. This requires efficient covalent attachment of fluorophores. Here we create a series of cysteine mutants (S8C, Y10C, S26C, V40C, and A42C) of Aβ42, involved in Alzheimer’s disease, based on exposed positions in the fibril structure and label them with the Alexa-fluorophores using maleimide chemistry. Direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy imaging shows that all the labelled mutants form fibrils that can be detected by virtue of Alexa fluorescence. Aggregation assays and cryo-electron micrographs establish that the careful choice of labelling position minimizes the perturbation of the aggregation process and fibril structure. Peptides labelled at the N-terminal region, S8C and Y10C, form fibrils independently and with wild-type. Peptides labelled at the fibril core surface, S26C, V40C and A42C, form fibrils only in mixture with wild-type peptide. This can be understood on the basis of a recent fibril model, in which S26, V40 and A42 are surface exposed in two out of four monomers per fibril plane. We provide a palette of fluorescently labelled Aβ42 peptides that can be used to gain understanding of the complex mechanisms of Aβ42 self-assembly and help to develop a more targeted approach to cure the disease.     

Adhesion molecules in atopic dermatitis: patch tests elicited by house dust mite

Different T-helper subsets, which are characterized by the secretion of distinct cytokines (Th1, Th2), have been found in house dust mite-exposed skin of sensitized individuals and in nickel-specific T lymphocytes from nickel contact allergic and non-allergic individuals. In order to evaluate the role which adhesion molecules may play in the homing of different T-cell subsets into allergen-exposed skin of atopic and normal individuals, we compared the expression pattern of adhesion molecules in patch test reactions to house dust mite antigen (D.pt.), nickel sulfate (Ni) and the irritant anthralin. Biopsies were taken at various time points after application of these agents and studied by immuncytochemistry. To exclude an endogenous difference in adhesion molecule expression in atopic and non-atopic skin, sequential biopsies from Ni patch tests of 2 normal individuals were also included in this study. The expression of E-selectin, P-selectin, CD31, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 on endothelial cells and other cells in the skin was quantified by microscopic evaluation. Skin homing T cells were also quantified using antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, UCHL-1, L-selectin and the cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA). Independent of the eliciting substance, all lesions showed an upregulation of all adhesion molecules tested, with the exception of CD62. The appearance of E-selectin and an increase in ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression were first observed at 12 h after application of the various agents. In parallel, the number of CLA+ and L-selectin+ lymphocytes increased steadily. No principle differences could be established between the various types of skin reactions in atopic individuals, nor did the skin of patients with AD differ from normal controls. Our results provide evidence that differential expression of adhesion molecules does not play a major part in observed differential homing of Th1 and Th2-cell subsets into patch test sites provoked by house dust mite and nickel sulfate in atopic and non-atopic individuals.     

The high affinity calcium-binding sites in the epidermal growth factor module region of vitamin K-dependent protein S

Vitamin K-dependent protein S, a cofactor of the anticoagulant enzyme-activated protein C, has four epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like modules, all of which have one partially hydroxylated Asp (EGF 1; beta-hydroxyaspartic acid) or Asn (EGF 2, 3, and 4; beta-hydroxyasparagine) residue. The three C-terminal modules have a typical Ca2+ binding sequence motif that is usually present in EGF modules with hydroxylated Asp/Asn residues. Using the chromophoric Ca2+ chelators Quin 2 and 5,5'-Br2BAPTA, we have now determined the Ca2+ affinity of recombinant fragments containing EGF modules 1-3, 1-4, 2-3, and 2-4. EGF modules 1-4 and 2-4 each contains two very high affinity Ca2+-binding sites, i.e. with dissociation constants ranging from 10(-10) to 10(-8) M in the absence of salt and from 10(-8) to 10(-6) M in the presence of 0.15 M NaCl. In contrast, in EGF 1-3 and EGF 2-3, the Ca2+ affinity is 2-4 orders of magnitude lower. EGF 4 thus appears to have the highest Ca2+ affinity, and furthermore it seems to influence the Ca2+ affinity of its immediate N-terminal neighbor EGF 3 by a factor of approximately 230. In addition, EGF 4 seems to influence the Ca2+ affinity of EGF 2 by a factor of approximately 25. The Ca2+ affinity of the binding sites in EGF modules 3 and 4 in fragments EGF 1-4 and EGF 2-4 is 10(3)-10(5)-fold higher than in the corresponding isolated modules, implying important contributions to the Ca2+ affinity of each module from interactions with neighboring modules. This difference is much higher than the approximately 10-fold difference previously found in similar comparisons of EGF modules from fibrillin. However, the modules studied in protein S and fibrillin appear to have the similar Ca2+ ligands. The structural basis for the difference in Ca2+ affinity is not yet understood.     

IBG和税务大楼

此项目包括设计、施工、预算，还有信息管理小组和当地税务局及资金的利用率。信息管理小组和当地税务局是该大楼的使用者计、施工、维护和运作模式都能反映出这一点。年高达1320万英镑。DUO^2的竞标评估标；佳是质量、费用以他们是政府建设机构的代表。     

Ageing of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell stacks including thermal cycling,and expansion behaviour of MgO–NiO anodes

This paper reports on medium term tests of anode-supported five-cell short stacks, as well as on some separate anode development. Two stacks were operated under steady-state conditions: one with unprotected metal interconnects, H₂ fuel and 0.35 A cm⁻² (40% fuel utilisation) polarisation current showed an average cell voltage degradation of 56 mV per 1000 h for 2750 h; one with coated metal interconnects, synthetic reformate fuel and 0.5 A cm⁻² (60% fuel utilisation) polarisation current showed an averaged cell voltage degradation slope of 6.6 mV per 1000 h for 800 h before a power cut prematurely interrupted the test. A third stack was subjected to 13 complete thermal cycles over 1000 h, average cell voltage degradation was evaluated to −2 mV per cycle for operation at 0.3 A cm⁻², open circuit voltage (OCV) remained stable, whereas area specific resistance (ASR) increase amounted on average to 0.008 Ω cm² per cycle.     

Immunolocalization of acidic fibroblast growth factor and receptors in the tubulointerstitial compartment of chronically rejected human renal allografts

Tubular damage and loss associated with interstitial inflammation and fibrosis may be the most important determinants in chronic renal allograft rejection. To elucidate potential pathophysiologic mechanisms associated with tubulointerstitial lesions, we examined the expression of a fibrogenic cytokine, acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) and its high-affinity receptors, in both relevant renal transplant controls (n=5) and tissue from patients (n=19) who underwent nephrectomy after graft loss, secondary to chronic rejection. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated minimal expression of FGF-1 mRNA and protein in the tubulointerstitial compartment of the normal human kidney. In contrast, tubulointerstitial lesions in kidney allografts experiencing chronic rejection demonstrated the exaggerated appearance of both FGF-1 protein and mRNA in resident inflammatory and tubular epithelial cells. Patterns of staining were consistent throughout tubular compartments and did not appear to be localized to any particular region. The tubulointerstitium in kidneys with findings of chronic rejection also exhibited increased immunodetection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the tubular epithelium, inflammatory cell infiltrate, and neovascular structures. The enhanced appearance of FGF-1 and readily detectable fibroblast growth factor receptors suggests that this polypeptide mitogen may serve as an important mediator of growth and repair responses, associated with development of angiogenesis and tubulointerstitial lesions during chronic rejection of human renal allografts.