Transfer ratio of Langmuir-Blodgett films as an indicator of the single-crystal silicon surface modified by polyionic layers

Multilayer nanoscale Langmuir-Blodgett films based on diphilic β-cyclodextrins with various numbers of alkyl chains were grown on single-crystal silicon substrates both unmodified and modified by cationic and anionic polyelectrolyte layers using the polyion complex technique. Ratios of β-cyclodextrin monolayer transfer on substrates were calculated and analyzed. It was shown that this ratio depends on the sign of the polyelectrolyte adhesive layer charge, as well as on the number of alkyl chains in the β-cyclodextrin molecule and the number of deposited monolayers. The observed phenomena characterizing indicator properties of β-cyclodextrin monolayers were interpreted.     

A monitoring and measuring module for tagged neutron experiments

A tagged neutron technology for remote neutron monitoring is used to reduce the background counting rate in recording of useful events. The key elements of the technology are a neutron generator with a built-in α-particle detector, nanosecond electronic system, and fast detectors of secondary radiation produced by emitted neutrons. A module for monitoring and measuring the pulse-height and time parameters of the secondary radiation detector with a time reference to the α-particle detector is described. A prototype of the experimental setup comprising the main components of a standard system based on the tagged neutron technology has been designed to test the module. Numerical calculations have been performed to simulate the γ-ray and neutron transport and the event recording procedure as applied to the geometry of the experimental setup. The time errors and the main sources of background events in measurements using the tagged neutron technology have been investigated. Background counts are shown to affect only slightly the useful data acquired in this geometry.     

Disk diffusion susceptibility testing of dermatophytes with imidazoles

Flupirtine belongs to the class of triaminopyridines and is successfully applied clinically as a non-opiate analgesic drug with additional muscle relaxant properties. Recently it was reported that flupirtine acts like an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex in neuronal cells both in vitro and in vivo. Here we have used primary cortical cells from rat embryos to demonstrate that this compound is also neuroprotective against the toxic effects caused by the prion agent PrPSc and lead acetate (Pb). These two agents display pleiotropic effects on neurons, which include activation of the NMDA receptor complex. At concentrations above 30 microM the toxic-peptide fragment of PrPSc causes apoptotic fragmentation of DNA and is consequently neurotoxic. Pb is neurotoxic at concentrations above 10 microM. Co-administration of flupirtine (10 microM) with either of these agents resulted in reduced neurotoxicity. These data indicate that the cytoprotective effect of flupirtine is measurable in vitro against these noxious agents which show their effects, including modulation of the NMDA receptor complex, pleiotropically.     

Behavioral, situational, and temporal effects of treatment of ADHD with methylphenidate

OBJECTIVE: To determine the behavioral, situational, and temporal effects of 4 months of methylphenidate (MPH) treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: Ninety-one children with ADHD were randomly assigned to receive either MPH (titrated to a target dose of 0.7 mg/kg twice a day) or a placebo. Treatment effects were investigated with measures sensitive to various behaviors (core and associated symptoms), situations (home and school), time periods (morning and afternoon, after reaching the target dose, and after 4 months of treatment), and side effects. RESULTS: MPH treatment improved symptoms of ADHD and oppositional behavior at school, both in the morning and afternoon, but not at home. Side effects (increase in physiological and effective symptoms, lack of weight gain) were significantly more frequent with MPH than with placebo treatment. Benefit was evident after titration, but the onset of some side effects was delayed. Side effects were reported by parents but not by teachers. CONCLUSIONS: Positive effects of MPH on behavior are evident in the classroom, but with MPH given twice daily, parents do not report that MPH improves behavior at home. Greater impact on home behavior may require three times daily MPH and combined treatments.     

Physiologically based indices of volumetric capnography in patients receiving mechanical ventilation

Several indices of ventilatory heterogeneity can be identified from the expiratory CO2 partial pressure or CO2 elimination versus volume curves. The aims of this study were: 1) to analyse several computerizable indices of volumetric capnography in order to detect ventilatory disturbances; and 2) to establish the relationship between those indices and respiratory system mechanics in subjects with normal lungs and in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), both receiving mechanical ventilation. We studied six normal subjects and five patients with early ARDS mechanically ventilated at three levels of tidal volume (VT). Respiratory system mechanics were assessed by end-expiratory and end-inspiratory occlusion methods, respectively. We determined Phase III slopes, Fletcher's efficiency index, Bohr's dead space (VD,Bohr/VT), and the ratio of alveolar ejection volume to tidal volume (VAE/VT) from expiratory capnograms, as a function of expired volume. Differences between normal subjects and ARDS patients were significant both for capnographic and mechanical parameters. Changes in VT significantly altered capnographic indices in normal subjects, but failed to change ventilatory mechanics and VAE/VT in ARDS patients. After adjusting for breathing pattern, VAE/VT exhibited the best correlation with the mechanical parameters. In conclusion, volumetric capnography, and, specifically, the ratio of alveolar ejection volume to tidal volume allows evaluation and monitoring of ventilatory disturbances in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome.     

Interaction of the S phase regulator cdc18 with cyclin-dependent kinase in fission yeast

The fission yeast gene cdc18(+) is required for entry into S phase and for coupling mitosis to the successful completion of S phase. Cdc18 is a highly unstable protein that is expressed only once per cell cycle at the G1/S boundary. Overexpression of Cdc18 causes a mitotic delay and reinitiation of DNA replication, suggesting that the inactivation of Cdc18 plays a role in preventing rereplication within a given cell cycle. In this paper, we present evidence that Cdc18 is associated with active cyclin-dependent kinase in vivo. We have expressed Cdc18 as a glutathione S-transferase fusion in fission yeast and demonstrated that the fusion protein is functional in vivo. We find that the Cdc18 fusion protein copurifies with a kinase activity capable of phosphorylating histone H1 and Cdc18. The activity was identified by a variety of methods as the cyclin-dependent kinase containing the product of the cdc2(+) gene. The amino terminus of Cdc18 is required for association with cyclin-dependent kinase, but the association does not require the consensus cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylation sites in this region. Additionally, both G1/S and mitotic forms of cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylate and interact with Cdc18. These interactions between Cdc18 and cyclin-dependent kinases suggest mechanisms by which cyclin-dependent kinases could activate the initiation of DNA replication and could prevent rereplication.     

Using new physics and technology to advance electrostimulated rolling of metals and alloys

Electrostimulated deformation of metals and alloys, using groove or smooth rolling, requires that several important conditions are satisfied. (1) The deformation site must geometrically overlap with the flow of electric current passing through a strip between the rolls; (2) The density of direct or alternating electric current supplied to deformation site must be sufficiently high (of an order of 104-106A/cm2 ); (3) An efficient heat removal from the deformation site must be achieved. In general, the temperature of a strip must be within the range of 100-300℃. (4) The electric resistance at the roll-strip interface must be minimized. Our recent studies also indicate that the electrostimulated rolling in the shortcut regime is a further condition for obtaining high quality rolling of metals. In this regime, the rolls are placed in physical contact even in the absence of a strip that ensures an uninterrupted passage of electric current between the rolls.Provided that the aforementioned conditions are met, the plastic rolling deformation of various metals and lloys, including the most refractory and deformation resistant ones such as tungsten, molybdenum,their allows with rhenium, becomes possible. A single pass through the rolls is usually sufficient to deform a strip by about 50%- 70% as is the case for tungsten. Significantly, the temperature in the deformation site does not exceed 150-200℃.In our opinion, excellent results for electrostimulated rolling obtained by us are related to new previously unknown behavior of metals and alloys, being subject to pressure treatment and rolling.