A New Technology for Applanation Free Corneal Trephination: The Picosecond Infrared Laser (PIRL)

The impact of using a Femtosecond laser on final functional results of penetrating keratoplasty is low. The corneal incisions presented here result from laser ablations with ultrafast desorption by impulsive vibrational excitation (DIVE). The results of the current study are based on the first proof-of-principle experiments using a mobile, newly introduced picosecond infrared laser system, and indicate that wavelengths in the mid-infrared range centered at 3 μm are efficient for obtaining applanation-free deep cuts on porcine corneas.     

Sequence and functional analysis of the cloned Neisseria meningitidis CMP-NeuNAc synthetase

The CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-NeuNAc) synthetase gene of Neisseria meningitidis group B is located on a 2.3-kb EcoRI fragment within the cps gene cluster. Nucleotide sequence determination of the gene encoding the CMP-NeuNAc synthetase revealed a 515-bp open reading frame that can encode a 18.9-kDA protein. A computer data base scan revealed a 59.4% identity to the CMP-NeuNAc synthetase gene of E. coli K1. Enzymatic activity was confirmed in vitro and in vivo. Transformation of the CMP-NeuNAc defective E. coli K1 strain EV5 with the meningococcal CMP-NeuNAc synthetase could complement the defect in E. coli.     

Long food chains are in general chaotic

The question whether chaos exists in nature is much debated. In this paper we prove that chaotic parameter regions exist generically in food chains of length greater than three. While nonchaotic dynamics is also possible, the presence of chaotic parameter regions indicates that chaotic dynamics is likely. We show that the chaotic regions survive even at high exponents of closure. Our results have been obtained using a general food chain model that describes a large class of different food chains. The existence of chaos in models of such generality can be deduced from the presence of certain bifurcations of higher codimension.     

Regulation of human T lymphocyte surface antigen mobility by purinergic receptors

The present study was undertaken to establish whether the capping mechanism of normal human T lymphocytes is regulated by a purinergic receptor. Interaction of T lymphocytes with adenosine significantly increased the mobility of the T3, T4, and T8 surface antigens. This enhanced rate of capping was reflected by a significant decrement in the time intervals to achieve half-maximal capping. T lymphocytes preincubated with theophylline or isobutylmethylxanthine did not exhibit accelerated capping or a decrease in the time required for half-maximal capping in response to adenosine, suggesting that these agents inhibited the binding of adenosine to its receptor. A role for a cAMP-dependent pathway in capping was suggested by the observation that the phosphodiesterase inhibitor RO-201724 caused a decrease in the concentration of adenosine required to accelerate the capping process. Moreover, exposure of T lymphocytes to the cyclic nucleotide derivatives 8-N3-cAMP and 8-Br-cAMP mimicked the effect of adenosine, significantly reducing the time to half-maximal capping. Photoaffinity labeling of intracellular cAMP receptors with 32P-8-N3-cAMP indicated that adenosine caused occupancy of the receptors. This effect of adenosine was inhibited by theophylline, a known purinergic receptor blocker. The data support the concept that the T cell capping mechanism is mediated by an adenylate cyclase-coupled purinergic receptor that activates a cAMP-dependent pathway, and that this pathway is functional in the T3+, T4+, (inducer) and T3+, T8+ (suppressor) subsets.     

A New Assay for Determining Ganglioside Sialyltransferase Activities Lactosylceramide-2,3-Sialyltransferase (SAT I) and Monosialylganglioside-2,3-Sialyltransferase (SAT IV)

A new assay for the determination of lactosylceramide-2,3-sialyltransferase (SAT I, EC 2.4.99.9) and monosialoganglioside sialyltransferase (SAT IV, EC 2.4.99.2) is described. The assay utilised the commercially available fluorophore labelled sphingolipids, boron dipyrromethene difluoride (BODIPY) lactosylceramide (LacCer), and BODIPY-monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1) as the acceptor substrates, for SAT I and SAT IV, respectively. HPLC coupled with fluorescence detection was used to analyse product formation. The analysis was performed in a quick and automated fashion. The assay showed good linearity for both BODIPY sphingolipids with a quantitative detection limit of 0.05 pmol. The high sensitivity enabled the detection of SAT I and SAT IV activities as low as 0.001 μU, at least 200 fold lower than that of most radiometric assays. This new assay was applied to the screening of SAT I and SAT IV activities in ovine and bovine organs (liver, heart, kidney, and spleen). The results provided evidence that young animals, such as calves, start to produce ganglioside sialyltransferases as early as 7 days after parturition and that levels change during maturation. Among the organs tested from a bovine source, spleen had the highest specific ganglioside sialyltransferase activity. Due to the organ size, the greatest total ganglioside sialyltransferase activities (SAT I and SAT IV) were detected in the liver of both bovine and ovine origin.     

The Effect of Traffic Density on Lead Contents in Roadside Soils: An Analysis of Published Data

Data from eight published studies were combined to show that the influence of traffic density on Pb contents in roadside soils increases with proximity to the road.     

The origin of the nitrogen atom in the thiazole ring of thiamine in Escherichia coli

Methods are described for the isolation and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the 4-methyl-5-β-hydroxyethyl thiazole moiety of thiamine in microbial cells. Using these methods, it was determined that in Escherichia coli the nitrogen atom in the thiazole ring of thiamine is derived solely from l-tyrosine.     

Chemische Untersuchung der Nostochaceen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Inhibition of dehydration-induced fusion between liposomal membranes by carbohydrates as measured by fluorescence energy transfer

The relative abilities of a number of naturally occurring carbohydrates to inhibit dehydration-induced fusion between palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine:phosphatidylserine (85:15) large unilamellar vesicles have been studied. Fusion events were quantified using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer technique. Trehalose was most effective at inhibiting fusion (0.4 g/trehalose/g lipid showed 30% probe intermixing), followed by maltose (60% intermixing), fructose (60%), sucrose (70%), glucose (80%), cellobiose, glycerol, raffinose, and myo-inositol (90%). The relative abilities of these carbohydrates to inhibit fusion correlate directly with their abilities to interact with phospholipids, maintain bilayer fluidity, and preserve biological membranes. The results are discussed in relation to the crystalline structure of the carbohydrates and their possible influence on level of interaction with phosphate head groups.