Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma excision combined with reconstructive surgery

1. The effect of the aqueous extract of Cissus sicyoides (CS) on isolated guinea pig aortic rings was studied. CS contracts the smooth muscle of the aorta in a dose-response relation. 2. The extract of CS increases the norepinephrine contraction in normal calcium and in solutions without calcium. 3. Lanthanum inhibits the contraction induced by CS. 4. The vasoconstrictor effect of CS was increased in solutions without calcium or with low calcium, which is an inverse calcium-dependent contraction. 5. Prolonged exposure to calcium-free solution did not abolish CS contraction. These contractions can be elicited repeatedly even after 6 hr of continuous exposure to calcium-free solutions. 6. Caffeine reduces contractile response induced by CS in normal calcium, as well as in solutions without calcium. 7. Our results support the idea that the aqueous extract of CS acts at the membrane level, increasing the calcium entry through the membrane as well as acting on the internal calcium deposits, possibly on the sarcoplasmic reticulum.     

Cellular UDP-glucose deficiency caused by a single point mutation in the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene

We previously isolated a mutant cell that is the only mammalian cell reported to have a persistently low level of UDP-glucose. In this work we obtained a spontaneous revertant whose UDP-glucose level lies between those found in the wild type and the mutant cell. The activity of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UDPG:PP), the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of UDP-glucose, was in the mutant 4% and in the revertant 56% of the activity found in the wild type cell. Sequence analysis of UDPG: PP cDNAs from the mutant cell showed one missense mutation, which changes amino acid residue 115 from glycine to aspartic acid. The substituted glycine is located within the largest stretch of strictly conserved residues among eukaryotic UDPG:PPs. The analysis of the cDNAs from the revertant cell indicated the presence of an equimolar mixture of the wild type and the mutated mRNAs, suggesting that the mutation has reverted in only one of the alleles. In summary, we demonstrate that the G115D substitution in the Chinese hamster UDPG:PP dramatically impairs its enzymatic activity, thereby causing cellular UDP-glucose deficiency.     

Space-time finite elements for a simplified thermo-metallurgical problem relevant to casting

The non-linear thermo-metallurgical problem, relevant for the cooling of a molten metal including the macro-segregation that occurs during the cooling process, is studied here. Due to the strong non-linearities involved in phase transformations, it is necessary to use a fine resolution in space-time in a finite element approximation in order to meet accuracy requirements. We derive space-time FE-methods based on the discontinuous and continuous Galerkin method in time for the energy equation. This formulation integrates the stored energy exactly for a given heat flux. When macro-segregation is incorporated into the model, the problem can be formulated in such a way that the phase-transition drives a flow of species. In addition, diffusion is possible throughout the domain. The model can be further rewritten using a potential approach. By this approach for modelling macro-segregation, we are able to obtain discretizations that guarantee that the balance equations are satisfied, and it is possible to solve the phase-transition problem either as a field problem or as a local problem (defined by a local evolution rule).     

Brandschutz; subjektiv-?ffentliche Nachbarrechte

Nachbarn kommt kein Mitspracherecht dahingehend zu, dass die Zufahrt für Einsatzfahrzeuge der Feuerwehr gew?hrleistet sein müsste.     

Heat transport and void fraction in granulated debris

The paper discusses the boiling heat transfer from a porous bed with internal heat sources and refers to the configuration in a nuclear reactor after a partial core melt. The flow of coolant, the temperature and the local liquid/vapor distribution were investigated in a two-dimensional configuration. Experiments were conducted using monodisperse beds as well as a mixture of two different particle sizes with a total porosity below 20%. In some tests the bed was supported by a shell of porous material to create a gap along the bottom of the test container. Water was used for tests up to 9% of the critical pressure, while other tests were made with R134a up to 44% of the critical pressure. The maximum heating rate realized inductively was 730 kW/m². The experiments have been compared to analytical results with a one-dimensional approach.It is shown that in contrary to the situation in small cylindrical configurations the heat transfer was increased by large buoyancy driven convective flows. If there was a gap along the container bottom an additional flow of liquid improved the coolability of the bottom region even if the upper part of the particle bed was already overheated. In case of high density ratios (water at low pressure), the measurements indicated a strong enhancement of the coolant flow above a certain minimum heating rate resulting in decreasing vapor fraction values which were nearly independent of the system pressure. This was assumed to be caused by the appearance of vertical channels through which the vapor could flow through the particle bed.     

Non-point sources and the waste discharge charge system.

The development of a waste discharge charge system (WDCS) in South Africa has been proposed to promote waste reduction and water conservation. The WDCS is based on the polluter pays principle and is designed such that the management of waste discharges achieves resource quality objectives (RQOs) at the minimum total cost to the catchment. Two charges are distinguished: first a charge for optimising use of the resource (incentive charge); and secondly, a charge for development and operation of mitigation measures in the resource (mitigation charge). The WDCS is applied to both point sources and non-point sources (NPS) of contamination. In the inclusion of NPS, the charge system distinguishes between registered and non-registered NPS, with the charge applied to the former group only, in the first instance. This paper introduces the WDCS by describing the principles and the theoretical basis of the WDCS, highlighting the link to RQOs as the benchmark of acceptable externalities. The paper explores the inclusion of NPS in the WDCS, describing: first, the principles of NPS inclusion in the WDCS; secondly, the types of NPS included in the present version of the WDCS; thirdly, the methodology for charge estimation; and finally, non-registered NPS and their potential inclusion in future editions of the WDCS. The paper concludes with remarks and challenges facing the first edition of the WDCS.