Quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence by quinones

Obese (Lepr(fa)/Lepr(fa)) Zucker rats have a missense mutation in the leptin receptor gene. One amino acid substitution in the extracellular domain common to all known leptin receptor proteins results from this mutation. Obese Zucker rats are unable to respond behaviorally to leptin which is peripherally administered. However, conflicting reports exist on whether obese Zucker rats can respond to centrally administered leptin. The purpose of this study was to determine whether obese Zucker rats responded behaviorally and metabolically to intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) administered leptin and to compare the responses of lean and obese Zucker rats. We found that both lean and obese Zucker rats had similar body weight and food intake responses when administered a single i.c.v. leptin injection in a range of doses (1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 microg), as well as daily i.c.v. administered leptin for five consecutive days. Both single and daily leptin administration also decreased respiratory quotient (RQ) similarly in lean and obese Zucker rats, indicating mobilization of fat as an energy source for leptin-treated rats. After withdrawal of daily leptin treatment, lean and obese Zucker rats exhibited different recovery responses. It is concluded that obese Zucker rats can respond to exogenous leptin when leptin is delivered into the brain ventricles.     

The effects of foveal load and visual context on peripheral letter recognition

Peripheral letter recognition was examined by presenting subjects with a letter triad centered 7.16 degrees to the right of fixation. At the same time, a single letter was presented at the point of fixation that was either the same as one of the letters in the triad or different from any of the triad letters. On other trials, no letter was presented at the point of fixation. Results supported and extended previous foveal load research. The disruptive effect of foveal load does not depend solely on the presence or absence of a foveal stimulus. Recognition of the first letter in non-words was disrupted when a foveal letter was presented that was different from the peripheral letter. Recognition of the middle letter for both words and non-words was disrupted when a foveal letter was presented that was the same as the middle letter. A significant interaction between foveal letter and triad type was also found. No evidence was found to suggest that recognition of a peripheral letter is significantly better when that same letter is also present at the point of fixation.     

Molecular cloning and functional expression of a recombinant 72.5 kDa fragment of the 110 kDa regulatory subunit of smooth muscle protein phosphatase 1M

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: We compared adverse reactions and image quality for hysterosalpingography (HSG) performed with ionic (diatrizoate meglumine combined with iodipamide meglumine [DM + IM]) and nonionic (iohexol) contrast media. METHODS: We performed a study of 95 patients who had HSG and were randomly selected to receive DM + IM or iohexol. Patients reported episodes of abdominal pain and other adverse reactions immediately and 24 hr after the procedure and categorized severity of symptoms on a subjective scale. Two radiologists evaluated image quality for diagnosis. RESULTS: Prevalence of abdominal pain and other reactions both immediately and 24 hr after HSG was lower in patients who received iohexol than in patients who received DM + IM. Moderate or severe abdominal pain was significantly lower in the iohexol group than in the DM + IM group (p < .05). Visualization of the uterine cavity and ampullary rugae was judged excellent with both contrast media (87% with iohexol and 92% with DM + IM). CONCLUSION: Iohexol and DM + IM are excellent contrast media for use during HSG; iohexol 300 may cause fewer episodes of more severe and prolonged abdominal pain.     

Optimization of the Sintering Parameters for Materials Manufactured by Powder Injection Molding

Powder Metallurgy and Metal Ceramics - The properties of sintered and heat-treated steels produced from the Catamold 8740 material by powder injection molding were examined. Parts made of the...     

Effect of the Porous Skeletal Iron Structure on the Infiltration of Aluminum Melts

Powder Metallurgy and Metal Ceramics - The infiltration of aluminum melts into porous metal skeletons produced by powder metallurgy methods, including 3D printing, under a pressure gradient was...     

Contact model of cracks in orthotropic materials

We consider a plane strain problem for an orthotropic half plane loaded at infinity and containing a crack along its fixed edge. To remove a singularity near the right crack tip, we introduce an artificial contact zone. The problem under consideration is reduced to the mixed Dirichlet-Riemann boundaryvalue problem. We present the exact solution of this problem and deduce formulas for stresses in the contact zone and on the continuation of the crack and for the stress intensity factors. By using both analytic and numerical methods, we prove that the energy-release rate is quasiinvariant in the process of crack propagation relative to the size of the contact zone. On the basis of these results, we propose an algorithm for the evaluation of the paramenters of fracture of composites of finite dimensions with interface cracks. As a special case, we develop a model of interface cracks with actual contact zone and establish the dependences of the length of this zone on the external load and elasticity moduli of the material. Dnepropetrovsk State University, Dnepropetrovsk. Translated from Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 35, No. 5, pp. 59–66, September–October, 1999     

Ia. V. Villie as a surgeon

Children during the first few years of their lives, presenting with lymphohypoplastic diathesis were studied for their blood serum content of sodium, potassium, chlorine. Relationship was found of the electrolyte balance to the processes of the lipid peroxidation, activity of the hormonal link of the antioxidant defence system.