Induced magnetic fields as evidence for subsurface oceans in Europa and Callisto

The Galileo spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter since 7 December 1995, and encounters one of the four galilean satellites-Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto-on each orbit. Initial results from the spacecraft's magnetometer have indicated that neither Europa nor Callisto have an appreciable internal magnetic field, in contrast to Ganymede and possibly Io. Here we report perturbations of the external magnetic fields (associated with Jupiter's inner magnetosphere) in the vicinity of both Europa and Callisto. We interpret these perturbations as arising from induced magnetic fields, generated by the moons in response to the periodically varying plasma environment. Electromagnetic induction requires eddy currents to flow within the moons, and our calculations show that the most probable explanation is that there are layers of significant electrical conductivity just beneath the surfaces of both moons. We argue that these conducting layers may best be explained by the presence of salty liquid-water oceans, for which there is already indirect geological evidence in the case of Europa.     

Laboratory study of soil acidification and leaching of nutrients from a soil amended with various surface-incorporated acidifying agents

Granular S, finely-ground S, iron sulphate and aluminium sulphate were added at two rates to the surface (0–6 cm) of a soil and acidification and leaching of nutrients were measured over 12 months in a laboratory study. Iron and aluminium sulphate both rapidly lowered soil pH in the top 0–6 cm of the soil. There was little difference in soil pH after 3 and 12 months reaction of these two amendments. In contrast, for granular S and finely-ground S there were clear decreases in soil pH between 3 and 12 months reaction with the soil. Finely-ground S was oxidized in the soil faster than granular S and therefore had a more acidifying effect. The top 0–6 cm of the soil was acidified by all the agents used but the deeper soil was less affected. The only treatments which lowered the pH of the 12–18 cm layer below pH 6 were the high rates of iron and aluminium sulphate. Soil acidification resulted in a decrease in exchangeable Ca, Mg and K, an increase in exchangeable Al and a decrease in effective CEC in the acidified soil layers.At both levels of addition, total ionic strength of percolates from the soil followed the order: aluminium sulphate = iron sulphate > finely gound S > granular S > control and was higher at the higher rate of addition. The pH values of percolates followed the order: control > granular S > finely ground S > iron sulphate = aluminium sulphate and were lower at the higher rate of addition. For the amended soils there was a very close relationship between the pattern and total amounts of SO ₄ ^2- and Ca²⁺ leached.It was concluded that granular S is not an effective acidifying agent since it is oxidized very slowly in the soil and that acidfying agents should be incorporated to the depth that acidification is required.     

Renal proliferative and phenotypic changes in rats with two-kidney, one-clip Goldblatt hypertension

Previous research in this laboratory has shown that preweaning and postweaning juvenile meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, can acquire a spatial task, the Morris water-maze task. The present study examined the influence of age of juvenile acquisition ("before weaning" (BW; Day 10 and 15 after birth) and "after weaning" (AW; Day 20 and 25 after birth)) of a spatial task on subsequent re-acquisition of the same hidden-platform spatial water-maze task. This study also compared sex differences and litter sex-ratio effects on reacquisition performance. Fifteen litters of adults were re-tested in the same water maze 6 weeks after being initially tested as juveniles. All analyses were conducted using a covariate that removed the group differences in the original task performance. Adult voles from female-biased litters, that had previously learned the task at an older juvenile age (AW), reacquired the same task faster than adults that had previously learned the task at a younger juvenile age (BW). In the adult BW group there was also a significant litter sex-ratio effect such that voles born into a female-biased litter re-acquired the task more slowly than did voles born into a male-biased litter. There were no significant sex or litter sex-ratio effects on spatial learning in the AW group. These results show that adult meadow voles can require a spatial task more quickly if they initially learned the task at an older juvenile age, suggestive of a period of infantile amnesia. In addition, these results indicate that the litter sex-ratio can affect adult spatial performance, suggesting that the relative amount of androgens in utero may influence the development of sexually-dimorphic spatial ability in adulthood.     

Gingival recession and exposure of barrier membrane: effect on guided tissue regeneration of Class II furcation defects

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of barrier membrane exposure on the success of guided tissue regeneration in Class II furcation defects. Twenty-six subjects with mandibular Class II furcation defects received initial periodontal therapy followed by guided tissue regeneration surgery. The membrane was placed and the flaps were repositioned so that the membrane was totally submerged. Membranes were removed 4 to 6 weeks later, at which time the extent of their exposure was recorded. An overall improvement in all clinical parameters was observed for all subjects 1 year after surgery. Half of the patients had experienced no membrane exposure, while the other 13 subjects had experienced mild to pronounced exposure; both groups showed similar improvement in all clinical and surgical parameters. In light of the comparable results obtained in exposed sites, and the anatomic difficulties sometimes encountered in covering a membrane completely, in some of these cases the membrane may be left only partially submerged. This approach will allow for tighter occlusal "seal" of the tooth-membrane interface and preservation of the keratinized gingiva.     

Office otology follow-up

The validation of otological care in the previous quarter century has been based, by and large, on short-term follow-up information. The rapid variation in procedures introduced during this period indicates that there may be need for further consideration. Analyses based on relatively short duration have led the "acceptance" of a variety of diagnostic and treatment methods which have proven disappointing in some cases. To help avoid this invalid "acceptance," a review of patients with significant follow-up may result in a more critical evaluation of future procedural changes. This presentation will be in four parts: 1. History of the office structure. 2. Discussion of five long-term patients that illustrates and supports certain otological concepts. 3. A review of surgical care for chronic suppurative otitis media in 1968. 4. A review of patients treated for serous otitis media with myringotomy and tubal insertion in 1968.     

The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in commercially prepared plasma products

Commercially available lots of plasma derivatives prepared between 1957 and 1975 were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by radioimmunoassay. In all, 69 per cent of lots of plasma protein fraction, 40 per cent of factor IX concentrate, 20 per cent of normal serum albumin, 13 per cent of antihemophilic factor, 3 per cent of fibrinogen, and 0.7 per cent of immune serum globulin lots tested were HBsAg-positive. There was great variation in the prevalence of HBsAg-positive lots of each product among the different manufacturers, reflecting not only differences in methods of processing plasma, but also differences in donor populations. Those manufacturers relying upon volunteer donor plasma or placental source material demonstrated lower rates of HBsAg-positive lots of final products than those relying upon commercial donor plasma. There was a marked decrease in the prevalence of positive lots during the period 1971 to 1973, coincident with the onset of routine plasma donor screening for HBsAg. However, current requirements for plasma screening have not resulted in totally HBsAg-free plasma products. Use of more sensitive and more reliable tests for HBsAg will probably reduce contamination of plasma pools with HBsAg to undetectable levels. Despite HBsAg-status, however, the "high-risk" plasma products (fibrinogen, antihemophilic factor, factor IX concentrate) must still be considered capable of transmitting hepatitis and used only with the strictest indications.     

Reaction and total cross sections for low energy pi + and pi - on isospin zero nuclei

We calculated the electrostatic force between a planar interface, such as a planar-supported lipid bilayer membrane, and the tip of a stylus on which another lipid bilayer or some other biomacromolecular system might be deposited. We considered styli with rounded tips as well as conical tips. To take into account the effect of dynamical hydrogen-bonded structures in the aqueous phase, we used a theory of nonlocal electrostatics. We used the Derjaguin approximation and identified the systems for which its use is valid. We pointed out where our approach differs from previous calculations and to what extent the latter are inadequate. We found that 1) the nonlocal interactions have significant effects over distances of 10-15 A from the polar zone and that, at the surface of this zone, the effect on the calculated force can be some orders of magnitude; 2) the lipid dipoles and charges are located a distance L from the hydrophobic layer in the aqueous medium and this can have consequences that may not be appreciated if it is ignored; 3) dipoles, located in the aqueous region, can give rise to forces even though the polar layer is unchanged, and if this is ignored the interpretation of force data can be erroneous if an attempt is made to rationalize an observed force with a knowledge of an uncharged surface; 4) the shape of the stylus tip can be very important, and a failure to take this into account can result in incorrect conclusions, a point made by other workers; and 5) when L is nonzero, the presence of charges and dipoles can yield a force that can be nonmonotonic as a function of ionic concentration.     

Lack of sensitization to the effects of d-amphetamine and apomorphine on sensorimotor gating in rats

Haemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is the leading cause of acute renal failure in the childhood. It is characterised by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, acute renal failure and injury of the renal microvascular endothelium. In HUS the condition of proteolytic kallikrein-kinin system is unknown. The renal KKS seems to participate in the regulation of blood pressure, control of sodium and water excretion, renal vascular resistance and renin release. In this study the role kallikrein in the developing HUS was studied. The general activity of kallikrein in plasma and urine was determined by trypsin-like peptidohydrolase activity (TP), which was measured using substrate Z-D-Ala-Leu-Arg-pNa. Chymotrypsin-like protease activity (ChP) was measured using substrate Glp-Ala-Ala-Leu-pNa. Clinical data were analysed on 60 pediatric patients with HUS, 29 girls and 31 boys, ranging in the age from 3 months to 11 years. TP and ChP levels were determined in different periods of HUS (anuria, diuresis beginning, polyuria, recovery) in serum and urine. In acute phase TP and ChP activities increased significantly. In diuresis recovery serum TP activity was higher, but urine TP level became normal. In dynamic serum and urine ChP levels had tendency to decrease. The present work showed that TP and ChP levels demonstrated activity of pathological renal process and condition of glomerules.