Toxicity of inhaled 91YCl3 in dogs

Few systematic studies have been devoted to investigating the role of Ca2+ as an intracellular messenger in prokaryotes. Here we report an investigation on the potential involvement of Ca2+ in signalling in Bacillus subtilis, a Gram-positive bacterium. Using aequorin, it is shown that B. subtilis cells tightly regulate intracellular Ca2+ levels. This homeostasis can be changed by an external stimulus such as hydrogen peroxide, pointing to a relationship between oxidative stress and Ca2+ signalling. Also, B. subtilis growth appears to be intimately linked to the presence of Ca2+, as normal growth can be immediately restored by adding Ca2+ to an almost non-growing culture in EGTA containing Luria broth medium. Addition of Fe2+ or Mn2+ also restores growth, but with 5-6 h delay, whereas Mg2+ did not have any effect. In addition, the expression of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase C (AhpC), which is strongly enhanced in bacteria grown in the presence of EGTA, also appears to be regulated by Ca2+. Finally, using 45Ca2+ overlay on membrane electrotransferred two-dimensional gels of B. subtilis, four putative Ca2+ binding proteins were found, including AhpC. Our results provide strong evidence for a regulatory role for Ca2+ in bacterial cells.     

Posttraining electrical stimulation of vagal afferents with concomitant vagal efferent inactivation enhances memory storage processes in the rat

Peripherally administered or released substances that modulate memory storage, but do not freely enter the brain, may produce their effects on memory by activating peripheral receptors that send messages centrally through the vagus nerve. Indeed, vagus nerve stimulation enhances memory performance, although it is unclear whether this effect is due to the activation of vagal afferents or efferents. To eliminate the possible influence of descending fibers on memory storage processes, rats were implanted with cuff electrode/catheter systems along the left cervical vagus. Forty-eight hours following surgery, each animal received a 3. 0-microliter infusion (1.0 microliter/min) of either lidocaine hydrochloride (75.0 mM) or isotonic saline below the point of stimulation. Animals were then trained 10 min later on an inhibitory-avoidance task with a 0.75-mA, 1.0-s foot shock. Sham stimulation or vagus nerve stimulation (0.5-ms biphasic pulses; 20.0 Hz; 30 s; 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8 mA) was administered immediately after training. Memory, tested 24 h later, was enhanced by stimulation whether descending vagus nerve fibers were inactivated or not. Both lidocaine- and saline-infused groups showed an intensity-dependent, inverted-U-shaped pattern of retention performance, with the greatest effect observed for 0.4 mA (U = 9, p < .05, and U = 7, p < .01, respectively). Additionally, animals that received lidocaine infusions, but no vagus nerve stimulation, showed impaired memory compared to the performance of saline-infused control animals (U = 11, p < .05). Together, these findings suggest that vagal afferents carry messages about peripheral states that lead to the modulation of memory storage and that the memory-enhancing effect produced by vagus nerve stimulation is not mediated via the activation of vagal efferents.     

Botulism after intake of half-fermented fish

From 1975 to 1997, 21 cases of foodborn botulism have been reported in Norway. Half-fermented fish is the major cause. We describe one patient with botulism following intake of home-prepared half-fermented fish. Seven people had eaten fish from the same bucket, but only two developed symptoms. The fish was initially stored at 13 degrees C; this probably explains why toxin developed. Type E toxin in moderate concentrations was found in fish samples. The patient was treated with specific antitoxin and made a gradual recovery. He returned to work after eight months.     

Characterization of copolyester of polyethylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene terephthalate by 1H NMR and GPC

Summary The copolyester of polyethylene terephthalate-polyoxyethylene terephthalate (PET-POET) has been characterized by ¹H NMR and GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatography). The ¹H NMR method provides a ready determination of the PET/POET mole ratio as well as the number of ethoxylate (EO) units in POET. Factors that may affect the accuracy of the determination are also discussed.     

Evaluation of Silicon-Nitride Ceramic Valves

Silicon-nitride ceramic valves can improve the performance of both light- and heavy-duty automotive engines because of the superior material properties of silicon nitrides over current metal alloys. However, ceramics are brittle materials that may introduce uncertainties in the reliability and durability of ceramic valves. As a result, the lifetime of ceramic valves are difficult to predict theoretically due to wide variations in the type and distribution of microstructural flaws in the material. Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods are therefore required to assess the quality and reliability of these valves. Because ceramic materials are optically translucent and the strength-limiting flaws are normally located near the valve surface, a laser-scatter method can be used for NDE evaluation of ceramic valves. This paper reviews the progress in the development of this NDE method and its application to inspect silicon-nitride ceramic valves at various stages of manufacturing and bench and engine tests.     

Simultaneously developing laminar flow in an isothermal circular tube

An accurate numerical solution for simultaneously developing laminar flow in an isothermal circular tube is presented for Pr = 0.01, 0.70, 5.0 and 50.0 for 10⁻⁶ < x⁺ < 0.10. Local and average Nusselt numbers are tabulated. very large number of radial nodes is required to achieve grid independence and accuracy. Previous results are inaccurate at small nondimensional axial distances from the tube entrance because of an insufficient number of radial nodes and simplifying assumptions.     

Experimental pure fluid and binary mixture performance in a heat pump equipped with a distillation column

An experimental heat pump system that included a distillation column, accumulator/sump, and heater was experimentally investigated using two different working fluids, R32 and a mixture of R32/134a. Performance variations with changes in sump heater power, condenser and evaporator heat transfer fluid flow, and compressor speed were examined. Heating capacity generally increased with increases in the factors tested. Heating capacity increases were generally smaller with the R32/134a tests than with the R32 tests, except with variations in sump heater power. An increase in sump heater power caused a pronounced increase in the circulating R32 concentration during the mixture tests, and the heating capacity increased markedly. The increase in heating capacity with sump heater power during the R32/134a tests was on par with the increase with compressor power during these same tests. The increase in capacity with sump heater power during the R32/134a tests also was substantial even when compared with the capacity increase with compressor speed during the R32 tests.