Crystal structures of binary systems of saturated fatty acids

Data on crystal lattices of 13 different mixtures of the system palmitic acid:stearic acid (C₁₆/C₁₈) could be obtained by means of X-ray and electron diffraction. The modification occurring in all concentrations was found to be in conformity with the known γ₄- or C-form of the pure components. It is characterized by the fact that, in mixtures with 95-60 mol % stearic acid, the shorter chained palmitic acid molecules may be incorporated in the crystal lattice of pure stearic acid without dimension c of the unit cell being changed. In concentration ranges of 50–20% C₁₈-molecules, one form of mixture which proves to be stable is characterized by constancy of nearly all unit cell parameters of various mixture ratios. From SP10 to SP0, the lattice constants of pure palmitic acid are mainly obtained. The occurrence of C₁₈-molecules of up to 10% in the unit cell of palmitic acid results in a slight decrease of the angle β by 1–2^o and an enlargement of the distance to neighbored molecules.     

Polymorphismus und Kristallisationsvorgänge in Fettgemischen beim Übergang von der Schmelze in die feste Phase

Polymorphism and Crystallization Processes in Fat Mixtures when Changing from the Melting to the Solid Phase Mixtures of trilaurin and trimyristin melt when chilled from 100° C to room temperature will solidify in an orthorhombic β′-mixed form. With some mixture concentrations the following phase transition into the thermodynamically stable triclinic β-form does not occur directly, but a metastable triclinic intermediate form with different crystal lattice dimensions happens. During this process the transition into the stable β-modification is retarded with increasing trimyristin shares. Up to six weeks after preparation phase transition as well as processes of crystalline transfigurations of thirteen different mixture concentrations are analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction results. To explain the transformation processes a model is developed according to which it is with a concentration ranging from 60 to 10 % of trimyristin shares that a very slowly proceeding disintegration of β-triglycerid molecules, having been previously distributed statistically, occurs in such a manner as to result in an especially regular arrangement of molecules of different length (β_M-mixture modification) as well as in the occurrence of the crystal form of the pure substances.     

Chronic laryngeal edema as a late reaction to radiochemotherapy

Recent advances in molecular biology have permitted significant progress toward the treatment of malignant brain tumors using gene transduction methods. Adenovirus vectors have recently been shown to transduce genes successfully into brain tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo. We have investigated the feasibility of gene transduction for brain tumors using adenovirus vectors. To evaluate in vitro transduction rate by adenovirus vectors, rat 9L gliosarcoma cells or human glioblastoma cells were infected with recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectors containing the E. coli beta-galactosidase gene (Adex-CALacZ) and stained with X-Gal. We observed a multiplicity of infection (MOI)-dependent rate. Approximately 100% transgene expression was achieved at a MOI of 5 after seven days of incubation. To evaluate transgene expression in a rat brain tumor model, AdexCALacZ was stereotactically injected into established rat 9L brain tumors. Intratumoral injection of AdexCALacZ resulted in high transgene expression in tumor cells. Although injection of AdexCALacZ in the normal basal ganglia resulted in broad and diffuse transduction into endogenous neural cells, direct intratumoral injection resulted in transduction that was relatively restricted to the tumor cells as well as some neighboring normal cells. Transduction rates were relatively elevated at the margin of the tumor. Our results suggest that adenovirus vectors might be a feasible method to transfer therapeutic genes into malignant brain tumors.     

Evaluation of a community-Based electricity load management program

During the summer of 1980, Davis (CA) undertook a program to encourage residents to reduce peak electricity use. The program was initiated by the local utility company and carried a collective financial incentive: for every 1% reduction in peak electricity use, the utility would reward the city $10,000 up to a maximum of $100,000. This paper discusses the program and evaluates its effects during the first experimental summer of operation.Most of the strategies developed in Davis to reduce peak load also indirectly encouraged conservation during off-peak hours, and the program evolved, in effect, as a conservation program. Total electricity use for the Davis residential sector, adjusted for weather and prices, was reduced by about 7%, and the reduction of peak load was somewhat greater. The program was economically rewarding to residents, the city, and the utility. In addition, the program had other, intangible impacts on general energy consciousness and community spirit.     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensinogen gene polymorphisms and heart rate variability in twins

Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with congestive heart failure, post-myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, and advancing age. A deletion/insertion polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and a substitution (M235T) in the angiotensinogen gene have been associated with risk for heart disease. The aim of this study was to determine the heritability of HRV and related parameters in monozygotic and dizygotic twins and to assess the influence of ACE and angiotensinogen polymorphisms. We studied 95 MZ pairs and 46 DZ pairs. We measured HRV and related parameters, ACE and angiotensinogen levels, plasma norepinephrine, ACE, and angiotensinogen genotypes. We found that HRV and related parameters were significantly influenced by genetic variability, although nonshared genetic effects were also important. Angiotensinogen and plasma norepinephrine were generally correlated with decreased HRV, whereas ACE was correlated with perturbances of normal rhythmic HRV. Nevertheless, the DD ACE genotype was associated with increased HRV (p <0.05), whereas angiotensinogen polymorphisms had no effect. We conclude that HRV and related parameters are in part heritable. Interestingly, the DD ACE genotype is associated with increased HRV.     

Qualit?tseinstufung und schnelle Jodzahlbestimmung von Butterfett anhand einer Triglyceridanalyse

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe statistischer Verfahren wurden anhand einer repräsentativen Zahl verschiedener Butterfette Triglyceridformeln entwickelt, um bei unterschiedlichen Fütterungsbedingungen im Hinblick auf die Milchfettqualität und hier insbesondere auf die zu erwartende Butterstreichfähigkeit eine Klassifizierung durchführen zu können. Mit einer schnellen gaschromatographischen Triglyceridanalyse kann damit in einfacher Weise eine Qualitätseinstufung des Butterfettes anhand der direkt gemessenen C54- oder C36-Anteile oder C40/C36-Quotienten oder eine Klassifizierung anhand theoretisch ermittelter Jodzahlen vorgenommen werden. Außerdem konnte gezeigt werden, daß die Triglyceride C36, C54, C52 und C34 die höchsten Anteile an ungesättigten Fettsäuren aufweisen, C48 und C40 dagegen die geringsten.

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Classification of butter fat quality and rapid determination of iodine number by triglyceride analysis

Summary Statistical methods were employed to a representative number of different butter fats in order to develop triglyceride formulae for characterizing the milk fat quality and especially for classifying the expected spreadability of butter, which results from the different feeding conditions of cows. The quality of butter fat can be easily classified by the directly measured C54 or C36 portions or C40/C36 quotients, which can be obtained with a rapid gas chromatography triglyceride analysis. A classification is also possible by determining the iodine number, either experimentally or more rapidly by calculation, using the developed formulae with different numbers of triglycerides. Furthermore, it could be shown that the triglycerides C 36, C 54, C 52, and C 34 have the highest content of unsaturated fatty acids, whereas C48 and C40 have the lowest.

     

Rare localization of a reticulum-cell sarcoma in the clavicular epiphysis

Two different methods for classifying cochlear pathology were applied to 62 BEKESY AUDIOGRAMS obtained from cochlear pathology subjects to determine which method was the better indicator of cochlear pathology. The two methods compared were: (1) Jerger's type II, which is based upon the difference (D) between the client's threshold for the interrupted-tone tracing and the threshold for the continuous-tone tracing; and (2) Bilger's Wc, which is the swing width of the continuous tone tracing for 4,000 Hz. Results indicated that D classified 62% of the audiograms (39) correctly, and Wc classified 52% of the audiograms (32) correctly. Both measures jointly classified 37% of the audiograms (23) correctly and jointly missed 23% of the audiograms (14). Statistical analysis showed no difference between the two methods in classifying cochlear pathology.