Assay conditions for the mitochondrial NADH:coenzyme Q oxidoreductase

The assay of Complex I activity requires the use of artificial acceptors, such as short-chain coenzyme Q homologs and analogs, because the physiological quinones, such as CoQ10, are too insoluble in water to be added as substrates to the assay media. The medical interest raised in the last years on the pathological changes of Complex I activity has focussed on the requirement of easy reliable assays for its analysis. We have undertaken a systematic examination of the assay conditions of Complex I in mitochondrial membranes, using a series of quinones as electron acceptors, particularly the coenzyme Q homologs CoQ0, CoQ1 and CoQ2, and the analogs duroquinone and decylubiquinone. Our findings have pointed out that the most suitable electron acceptor for the NADH:CoQ reductase assay is the homolog CoQ1. The analog DB, commercially available, although yielding a high activity, nevertheless causes some problems for the standardization of the assay conditions.     

Localization of interferon-gamma and Ia-antigen in T cell line-mediated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

This study reports the cellular localization of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and MHC class II antigen (Ia) in the spinal cord of rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by adoptive transfer of myelin basic protein-specific T cells. Numerous IFN-gamma-positive cells, stained with two different monoclonal antibodies against IFN-gamma, were present from days 3 to 7 after cell transfer. Their number was greatly reduced on day 10. A subpopulation of T cells was IFN-gamma positive. Moreover, a large number of ED1-positive macrophages contained IFN-gamma immunoreactivity. The transient presence of immune cells containing IFN-gamma immunoreactivity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis suggests a pathogenic role of this cytokine in immune-mediated demyelination of the central nervous system.     

Local synthesis of immunoglobulins in neuropathies

It is essential to know how the immune system acts in different neurological diseases, some of them non very well known or of unknown etiology at all. It was applied Reiber and Felgenhauer's formula in 56 patients with different diseases. IgA, IgM, IgG and albumin were quantified in sera and cerebrospinal fluid by simple immunodiffusion. It was observed more frequent IgG local synthesis and IgA in this sample.     

Fractionation of wheat proteins by counter-current distribution using aqueous two-phase systems containing propionic acid

Wheat proteins, soluble in diluted acid (glutenins), have been fractionated by counter-current distribution (CCD) using an aqueous two-phase system. The phase system is based on poly(ethylene glycol) and dextran but contains also 1% propionic acid and 6 mM magnesium sulfate. Approximately half of the bulk proteins partitioned to the upper phase while starch and other particles were recovered only into the lower phase. Whole wheat flour could be applied as sample for the CCD and 57 transfers were carried out. Starch and insoluble proteins remained stationary, while proteins followed the mobile phase to various degrees giving rise to a distribution pattern. The CCD pattern of the proteins showed distinct differences when various kinds of wheat flour were analysed. The patterns indicate that at least six subpopulations of proteins can be obtained by using two-phase extraction.     

Designing for parallel fuzzy computing

As the number of fuzzy logic applications increases, demand for faster architectures will grow. Our design for a VLSI fuzzy processor uses fuzzy inference techniques that optimize processing time. Preprocessing that reduces the number of rules to be processed, parallel computation of active rule degrees of activation, and scalability are major features of this architecture. The journal issue contains a concise summary of this article. The complete article is linked to Micro's home page on the World Wide Web (http://www.computer.org/pubs/micro/micro.htm)     

Distributed channel assignment strategies using coexistenceetiquettes for land based radio environment

The performance of two distributed channel assignment algorithms which use coexistence etiquettes for point to point links are considered by the authors. It has been found that selecting channels prior to transmission at the transmitter as opposed to the receiver, supports greater offered traffic with the additional advantage of a less complex protocol     

Calculation of unbalanced magnetic pull in small cage inductionmotors with skewed rotors and dynamic rotor eccentricity

This paper sets out a simple analytical model which is able to account for the damping effects of a cage rotor on the unbalanced magnetic pull (UMP) when the rotor is dynamically eccentric. The algorithm is implemented for a 4-pole cage induction motor with a variety of rotors with different rotor eccentricity and skew. The model is verified by the assessment of the UMP vibration when the different rotors are fitted in the stator. The characteristics are compared and it is found that the predicted and measured UMP characteristics compare well. It is observed that skewing the rotor cage increases the UMP when the motor is loaded     

Comparison between normal and reverse thin crystalline silicon solar cells

The newly developed ingot growing techniques, as the three-grain and the columnar multigrain ingot processes, are now offering the possibility of slicing thinner wafers (≤ 100 μm). In this paper we present the results obtained on p type large area (≥ 100 cm²) and 100 μm thick wafers by using both conventional and reverse cell manufacturing technologies.The conventional cells are provided with aluminium or boron BSF plus screen-printed silver mirror or a silver-aluminium net; the reverse cells have a FSF and the deep back junction completely covered by a screen-printed or CVD silver layer.The constructing parameters have been chosen on the base of one and two dimensions modeling and both raw material and devices have been completely characterized.This work shows that very thin wafers do not introduce serious problems for the conventional manufacturing of solar cells. The efficiencies of the normal and of the reverse cells are found to be comparable and are of the same order than those of thicker cells, however at a significant lower cost. The main obtained result has to be related to the demonstration of a cell manufacturing feasibility starting from very thin wafers.