Stimulation of CD40 in human bladder carcinoma cells inhibits anti-Fas/APO-1 (CD95)-induced apoptosis

Genetic predisposition and androgen dependence are important characteristics of the common patterned loss of scalp hair known as male pattern baldness. The involvement of the 5alpha-reductase enzyme in male pattern baldness has been postulated due to its role in the metabolism of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. There are two known isozymes of 5alpha-reductase. Type I has been predominantly localized to the skin and scalp. Type II, also present on the scalp, is the target of finasteride, a promising treatment for male pattern baldness. We conducted genetic association studies of the 5alpha-reductase enzyme genes (SRD5A1 on chromosome 5 and SRD5A2 on chromosome 2) using dimorphic intragenic restriction fragment length polymorphisms. From a population survey of 828 healthy families comprising 3000 individuals, we identified 58 young bald men (aged 18-30 y) and 114 older nonbald men (aged 50-70 y) for a case control comparison. No significant differences were found between cases and controls in allele, genotype, or haplotype frequencies for restriction fragment length polymorphisms of either gene. These findings suggest that the genes encoding the two 5alpha-reductase isoenzymes are not associated with male pattern baldness. Finally, no clear inheritance pattern of male pattern baldness was observed. The relatively strong concordance for baldness between fathers and sons in this study was not consistent with a simple Mendelian autosomal dominant inheritance. A polygenic etiology should be considered.     

A steady-state-kinetic random mechanism for glutathione S-transferase A from rat liver. A model involving kinetically significant enzyme-product complexes in the forward reaction

With specially arranged inducing elements on a white surface of uniform luminosity, a phenomenally complete Necker cube can be seen in any array where only the 'corners' of the cube are physically represented. The subjectively seen bars of the cube disappear when the inducing 'discs' are seen as 'holes' in an interposing surface, through which the corners of a partially occluded cube are viewed. Illusory brightness effects are also observed in connection with the different organizations of this ambiguous figure.     

1/f noise in CMOS transistors for analog applications

Noise measurements of the 1/f noise in PMOS and NMOS transistors for analog applications are reported under wide bias conditions ranging from subthreshold to saturation. Two “low noise” CMOS processes of 2 μm and 0.5 μm technologies are compared and it is found that the more advanced process, with 0.5 μm technology, exhibits significantly reduced 1/f noise, due to optimized processing. The input referred noise and the power spectral density (PSD) of the drain current 1/f noise are modeled in saturation as well as in subthreshold and are compared with the common empirical approaches such as the SPICE models. The results of this study are useful to the design and modeling of 1/f noise of CMOS analog circuits     

Refined version of the finite differences method in the theory of elasticity

A refined version of the finite differences method in the theory of elasticity is proposed and demonstrated while analyzing and investigating the static reactions of a clamped body. Attention is paid to the singularity points at the edges, whose diagnosis can be performed by a special criterion presented here.     

Diglycerin und höhere Oligomere des Glycerins als Synthesebausteine

Diglycerol and Higher Oligomers of Glycerol as Components for Synthesis Part 1 of the paper gives a survey on methods for the preparation of diglycerol and higher oligomers of glycerol. The reactions from diallylic ether, from isopropylideneglycerol with epichlorohydrin, and from glycidol with glycerol are reported. For polyglycerol the alkaline catalyzed condensation of glycerol is discussed. Gaschromatograms of DGLC and PGLC from DSW's Rheinberg production site are presented. Part 2 deals with diglycerol reaction products, e. g. the mono-to tetra-fatty acid esters useful as emulsifying agents, a complex ester prepared by the reaction of a fatty acid mixture and a dicarboxylic acid useful as wool wax substitute, an etherification product from epichlorohydrin, diglycoldialdehyde as oxidation product and diglyceroldiformal after condensation with formaldehyde. The production of so-called non-caloric fat-substitutes from protected (isopropylidene derivatives) and unprotected tri- or tetraglycerols is mentioned.     

Ion-sensitive field-effect transistors in standard CMOS fabricated by post processing

Highly integrated ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) microsystems require the monolithic implementation of ISFETs, CMOS electronics, and additional sensors on the same chip. This paper presents new ISFETs in standard CMOS, fabricated by post-processing of a standard CMOS VLSI chip. Unlike CMOS compatible ISFETs fabricated in a dedicated process, the new sensors are directly combined with state-of-the-art CMOS electronics and are subject to continuous technology upgrading. The ISFETs presented include an intermediate gate formed by one or more conducting layers placed between the gate oxide and the sensing layer. The combination of the highly isolating gate oxide of the MOS with a leaky or conducting sensing layer allows the use of low temperature materials that do not damage the CMOS chip. The operation of ISFETs with an intermediate gate and sensing layers fabricated at low temperature is modeled. ISFETs with a linear pH response and drift as low as 0.3 mV/h are reported.     

Kinematic analysis of limb movements in neuropsychological research: Subtle deficits and recovery of function.

Argues that an analysis of spatial and temporal characteristics of visually guided limb movements can provide insights into the nature of neuropsychological deficits and the functional organization of the brain. Kinematic analysis of limb movements in both normal Ss and neurological patients can reveal differences in the contribution of the left and right hemispheres to the control of simple visually guided aiming tasks. Examples show how such analysis can be used to address the question of recovery of function in patients with manual apraxia and hemispatial neglect. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tissue perfusion in relation to cardiac output during continuous positive-pressure ventilation and administration of propranolol or verapamil

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to determine whether administration of propranolol or verapamil modifies the hemodynamic adaptation to continuous positive-pressure ventilation (CPPV), in particular the regional distribution of cardiac output (CO). METHODS: General hemodynamics and regional blood flows assessed by microsphere technique (15 microns) were recorded in 16 anesthetized pigs during spontaneous breathing (SB) and CPPV with 8 cm H2O end-expiratory pressure (CPPV8) before and after intravenous administration of propanolol (0.3 mg.kg-1 followed by 0.15 mg.kg-1.h-1, n = 8) or verapamil (0.1 mg.kg-1 followed by 0.3 mg.kg-1.h-1, n = 8). RESULTS: CPPV8 depressed CO by 25% without shifts in its relative distribution with the exception of a noteworthy increase in adrenal perfusion. Propranolol increased arterial blood pressure, and due to a fall in heart rate, CO dropped by 25%. The kidneys and, to a lesser extent, the splanchic region and central nervous system received increased fractions of the remaining CO at the expense of skeletal muscle flow. Similar patterns were seen during SB and CPPV8 such that the combination of propranolol and CPPV8 depressed CO by 50%. The circulatory effects of verapamil were less evident but myocardial perfusion tended to increase. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of propranolol or verapamil with CPPV does not result in any specific hemodynamic interaction in anesthetized pigs, except that the combined effect of propranolol and CPPV may severely reduce CO.     

Dark noise currents and energy resolution of CdZnTe spectrometers

The effect on energy resolution of dark noise currents experimentally observed in state of the art CdZnTe spectrometers is quantitatively analyzed. Expressions for the energy resolution determined by shot noise, generation-recombination noise, and 1/f noise are discussed in turn and are compared with the linewidth due to incomplete charge collection. The effect of the dark noise upon energy resolution is directly measured by monitoring the broadening of peaks provided by a pulser, due to biased, non-irradiated CdZnTe spectrometers that are connected in parallel. The noise characteristics of the spectrometers under study were measured separately and their dominant noise mechanism is characterized. In this manner, the effect on resolution of the dark noise is correlated not only with the dc value of the dark current but also with the noise spectral behavior which is determined by the noise mechanism.