Generation of frequency-chirped optical pulses in a large-slippagefree-electron laser

We have investigated the optical output of the free-electron laser for infrared experiments (FELIX) when it is driven by an electron beam with a ramped energy. We show that the applied slow ramp on the electron beam energy leads to a frequency chirp on each picosecond optical pulse. Typical values for the chirp are 0.2% frequency sweep across a 1.5-ps-long optical pulse. The optical pulses were analyzed with a double-grating pair and with a second-order autocorrelator. The pulse duration was reduced in the double-grating pair by 20%. A linear dependence of the chirp on the cavity desynchronization was measured     

Insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene associated with macroangiopathy and blood pressure in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

In the search for new risk factors for diabetic macroangiopathy the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene was studied in 237 consecutive patients (125 men and 112 women) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The female population showed an excess of ischemic electrocardiographic changes or definite myocardial infarctions in the patients homozygous for the deletion [D/D; odds ratio (OR) 2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-5.3] and in the insertion/deletion heterozygotes (I/D; OR 1.8; CI 1.1-3.1) compared with the patients homozygous for the insertion (I/I). In the total series coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and claudication were more often observed in the patients with I/D (OR 1.5; CI 1.0-2.2) or the D/D genotype patients (OR 1.7; CI 1.1-2.6) than in those with the genotype I/I. The systolic blood pressure was lower in patients with genotype I/I (138 +/- 19 mmHg) than in those with the genotype I/D (149 +/- 22 mmHg) or D/D (150 +/- 21 mmHg; P < 0.02). The prevalence of hypertension and the median urinary albumin excretion rate also tended to be lowest in the I/I genotype patients. Multiple logistic analysis revealed that in women the angiotensin-converting enzyme D/D genotype is independently associated with coronary heart disease. Our findings suggest that variation at the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene locus is one of the factors involved in the predisposition of diabetic patients to the development of arterial disease and hypertension.     

Evidence for superantigen involvement in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus aetiology

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease whose onset is believed to be triggered by unknown environmental factors acting on a predisposing genetic background. Islet-infiltrating T (IIT) cells from two IDDM patients, who had died at the onset of the disease from brain swelling as a complication of ketoacidosis, were analysed. The results provided evidence for the involvement of a pancreatic islet cell membrane-bound superantigen as a diabetes aetiopathogenetic factor. There was a selective expansion of a T-cell receptor (TCR) variable segment of the beta-chain (V beta 7) in these IIT cells in association with unselected V alpha-chain segments; extensive junctional diversity of the TCR V beta 7 chains; and evidence of positive selection, after exposure to diabetic islet cell membrane preparations, of V beta 7+ T-cell clones among peripheral blood lymphocytes from non-diabetic individuals.     

Brazzein, a new high-potency thermostable sweet protein from Pentadiplandra brazzeana B

We have discovered a new high-potency thermostable sweet protein, which we name brazzein, in a wild African plant Pentadiplandra brazzeana Baillon. Brazzein is 2,000 times sweeter than sucrose in comparison to 2% sucrose aqueous solution and 500 times in comparison to 10% of the sugar. Its taste is more similar to sucrose than that of thaumatin. Its sweetness is not destroyed by 80 degrees C for 4 h. Brazzein is comprised of 54 amino acid residues, corresponding to a molecular mass of 6,473 Da.     

A probabilistic method for the design of power grounding systems

An improved multivariable, probabilistic method for the safety analysis of power grounding systems is presented. The application of this method is demonstrated in four examples. The first three examples illustrate the practical evaluation of one new and two existing substation grounding grids when the substation is connected to an overhead distribution system. The fourth example ascertains the relative impact of a difference between the S curve of IEC Publication 479 and Dalziel's equation for the allowable body current used in ANSI/IEEE Std 80-1986 on the validity of an exposure model based on the requirements of Std 80. In this example, the statistical data on ground faults have been taken from actual system records. Further possible refinements of the exposure model are discussed     

Comparing the motivations of Spanish and Finnish computer personnel with those of the United States

A survey of perceptions of IS personnel – managers, technical specialists and programmer/analysts – was conducted by the Association for Technical Information in Spain, using the JDS/DP, a modification of the job diagnostic survey instrument. Data were collected on fifteen job variables, related to four motivation aspects: job components, satisfaction levels, need for growth/achievement and goal participation/feedback. The results were compared with those of a similar survey for the same job types in Finland. Results were also compared with the norms developed for computer personnel in the USA. The survey revealed that personnel attracted to the computer field have a high need for growth and a low need for social interaction. It also revealed that the work itself was ranked highest among eleven motivating factors. For both Spain and Finland, the technical specialist job had a mis-match between the job's motivating potential and the employee's need for growth, compared with similar personnel in the USA. By examining the core job dimensions, managers can redesign the job to produce a match between these two major components of motivation.     

Induction of Fos immunoreactivity in the brain by exposure to the elevated plus-maze

The log-rank test is commonly used to assess therapeutic effect in prospective, randomised clinical trials. This test is sensitive to differences in survival between treatment groups at a specific endpoint, but cannot determine whether such a difference is due to an enhanced cure rate or an enhanced survival time among uncured patients. To investigate the clinical impact of such limitations, an algorithm was constructed to simulate clinical, randomised, adjuvant therapy trials in patients with a cured fraction of 0.27 and a median survival time for uncured patients of 3.4 years. Hypothetical therapies were introduced to increase rate of cure, increase median survival time, or achieve a combination of these effects. For 500 simulated patients recruited over a 5 year period and then followed for three additional years, a 50% enhancement of median survival time (to 5.1 years) led to a survival increase detectable at the P = 0.05 level in 780 of 1000 trials, whereas a 50% enhancement of cured fraction (to 40.5%) led to a detectable increase at the same level in only 449 of 1000 trials. These findings suggest that, in clinical trials of adjuvant therapy for stage 2 breast cancer, the log rank test may be more sensitive to increases in tumour-related survival time than to increases in cured fraction.     

Cooperation of Ito cells and hepatocytes in the deposition of an extracellular matrix in vitro

Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the deposition of extracellular matrix components in both normal and fibrotic liver are still poorly understood. We have investigated the influence of cooperation between Ito cells and hepatocytes in matrix deposition in vitro. Immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled proteins from media of 5-day-old Ito cell primary cultures showed that these cells secreted high levels of the major basement membrane components, ie, collagen IV, laminin, and entactin/nidogen. By immunocytochemistry, precursors of basement membrane components were found intracellularly, but only scarce deposits were seen around the cells. When hepatocytes were added to 2-day-old Ito cell primary cultures, they established close contacts with Ito cells in less than 24 hours and expressed ZO-1, a tight junction-associated protein not detectable in standard hepatocyte culture. Cytochemistry analysis revealed an abundant extracellular matrix deposited over hepatocyte cords and between hepatocytes and Ito cells. Immunocytochemistry studies showed that this matrix contained laminin, fibronectin, and collagens proIII and IV. These data indicate that a high level of matrix protein synthesis by liver cells in vitro is not sufficient to induce extracellular matrix deposition, and that cell-cell interactions are strongly involved in this process. Hepatocyte/Ito cell co-culture, which may reflect the actual situation in vivo, represents a useful tool for studying liver fibrogenesis.