On the J-integral in periodically layered composites

When a heterogeneous elastic material is represented by an effective homogeneous elastic solid, average stress and strain fields are used. The meaning of the J-integral in the effective homogeneous solid is investigated. A periodically layered medium is considered. The relation between the J-integrals in the original layered medium and the effective medium is derived.     

New substrates of papain, based on the conserved sequence of natural inhibitors of the cystatin family

A discontinuous borate/formate buffer system is presented for horizontal polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments. The resolution potential of the system could be altered by changing the total monomer concentration (5-9%T), the concentration of the crosslinker piperazine diacrylamide (2-5%CPDA), as well as the concentration of formate in the gel (40-120 mM), the leading ion of the buffer system. The separation of DNA fragments would be improved by increasing the migration distance from 22 to 28 cm. This discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system proved highly reproducible.     

Adopting a policy of reuse

In many firms' experience, reusing elements of proven systems designs and software is best done through a companywide program. Reuse means savings in design, testing, manufacturing and support. The author gives the basic information a company needs to get started. The author discusses the context for reuse, planning and strategy involved in a reuse program     

Hepatitis GB virus C genome in the serum of aplastic anaemia patients receiving frequent blood transfusions

GB virus C (GBV-C) RNA was detected in five of 18 patients with aplastic anaemia who had received blood transfusions, whereas it was not detected in eight patients who had not received any transfusions. Antibody against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was detected in nine patients in the transfusion group, compared with one of eight who had not received any transfusions. Therefore, the route of transmission of both GBV-C and HCV in these patients appeared to have been multiple blood transfusion. Since all of the GBV-C RNA-positive patients harboured anti-HCV, GBV-C seems to frequently superinfect with HCV. Neither GBV-C nor HCV is likely to have been a causative agent of the anaemia in the cases examined.     

Case performed: simultaneous surgery for left coronary ostial stenosis and gastric cancer

This report describes a case in which a 68-year-old male underwent two operations simultaneously for left coronary ostial stenosis and gastric cancer. Successfully performed procedures were a single coronary artery grafting with the saphenous vein to the left anterior descending artery, and a subtotal gastrectomy using the Billroth II method. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged from the hospital in good condition after 42 days. At present, one-year postoperative, the patient has been visiting the outpatient clinic in healthy condition.     

Annual changes in serum vitellogenin concentrations in viviparous eelpout, Zoarces elongatus

Vitellogenin of matrotrophic viviparous eelpout (Zoarces elongatus) was purified from estradiol-17 beta (E2) treated immature male sera by gel chromatography and anion exchange chromatography. Isolated vitellogenin has a molecular weight of 540 kDa estimated by gel chromatography. Serum levels of vitellogenin in females were measured during oocyte development and gestation by single radial immunodiffusion. Serum vitellogenin level was low (less than 0.2 mg/ml) during the early vitellogenic period, increased in the late vitellogenic period to a peak level (6.4 +/- 2.1 mg/ml) at the beginning of gestation. After that it rapidly decreased to a low level (0.1 +/- 0.1 mg/ml) during the early gestation period. Levels of vitellogenin remained low throughout the gestation period. Serum E2 levels in females showed increased from 1.3 to 3.0 ng/ml during the late vitellogenic period, and declined to 0.4 ng/ml during the early gestation period. Serum levels of E2 showed good correlation with serum vitellogenin levels, suggesting that the vitellogenin synthesis is controlled by E2 in this species. These results combined with the matrotrophic growth of embryo during gestation suggest that there is a shift in the synthesis of maternal nutritional products for embryos from the yolk to other nutrients.     

First evaluation of a year of ambulatory surgery in urology

Day surgery in urology is in full growth actually. The present report is based on our first 120 patients. Low post-operative complication rate, patients' satisfaction and economical savings are the main factors for the important increase in this type of surgery.     

Fungicidal effect of 15 disinfectants against 25 fungal contaminants commonly found in bread and cheese manufacturing.

Resistance of 19 mold and 6 yeast species to 15 commercial disinfectants was investigated by using a suspension method in which the fungicidal effect and germination time were determined at 20 degrees C. Disinfectants containing 0.5% dodecyldiethylentriaminacetic acid, 10 g of chloramine-T per 1, 2.0% formaldehyde, 0.1% potassium hydroxide, 3.0% hydrogen peroxide, or 0.3% peracetic acid were ineffective as fungicides. The fungicidal effect of quaternary ammonium compounds and chlorine compounds showed great variability between species and among the six isolates of Penicillium roqueforti var. roqueforti tested. The isolates of P roqueforti var. carneum, P. discolor, Aspergillus versicolor, and Eurotium repens examined were resistant to different quaternary ammonium compounds. Conidia and vegetative cells were killed by alcohols, whereas ascospores were resistant. Resistance of ascospores to 70% ethanol increased with age. Both P. roqueforti var. roqueforti and E. repens showed great variability of resistance within isolates of each species.