Forms of the Word and the Mystery of the Objectified Nature of the Word

The time has come to proceed from forms of givenness of the word to forms of the word as such. They can, if you like, be called external and inner structures. Humboldt, however, preferred to speak of the external and inner forms of the language. Shpet adopted precisely this distinction. Why did this problem interest Shpet? Already in [Appearance and sense], he had set the task of returning to the source of pretheoretical, living science. Shpet wrote that the outer cover of words and logical expressions obscure the objectified meaning and that it was necessary to remove another cover from the objectified sign so as to grasp a certain genuine intimacy, and in it the fullness of being (Shpet, 1914. Pp. 5-6). We shall keep in mind this major undertaking posed by this scientist. The existence of the inner form of words should not come as a surprise. That same year (1914) Ortega y Gasset wrote that material objects have a third dimension. However, we cannot see or touch it: "For just as depth needs a surface beneath which to be concealed, the surface, or outer cover, in order to be so, needs something over which to spread, covering it" (Ortega y Gasset, 2000. Pp. 62-63).     

Topography of the contours of the inner surface of the wall of the left ventricle of the heart in systole

Chosen at random 38 diastolic preparations of human hearts from persons having not any cardiac pathology, as demonstrate the postmortem examination, have been investigated. The left ventricle casts have been made during the first 24 hours after death according to a strictly fixed technique by means of filling the cardiac chambers with polymere mass--protacryl--under a physiological pressure of the diastolic filling. The trabecules are arranged as a spiral from the apex of the ventricle up to the atrioventricular fibrous ring, with approaching the apex the spiral step increases and the trabecules straighten. The left ventricle cast is devided into some planes, the envelopes and the trabecularity lines are measured. Average values of the shift in the trabecularity lines I, II, III and in the cross sections B, C, D, E are defined in relation to the plane A and in every case in relation to the previous plane Cn-1. The data obtained are presented in tables and diagrams. The greatest shift demonstrate the trabecularity lines I running predominantly along the posterior wall of the left ventricle in the planes B and which are situated nearer to the atrioventricular ring projection. Owing to the presence of the spiral-shaped course of the trabecules, it is possible to suppose that it influences the blood stream twisting clockwise in the left ventricle during the diastole phase. This indicates the necessity to work out some new constructions of artificial cardiac valves, securing the twisted blood stream. The condition mentioned should be taken into consideration while making prostheses of the cardiac valves.     

Interrelationship of the mediator receptors in the terminals of the afferent nerves of the cornea of the eye]

In local application of substances with a mediator action (adrenaline, acetylcholine, histamine) and blockers of specific receptors (dihydroergotoxin, inderal, atropine and of subcutaneous dimedrol) together with dicaine it was possible to reveal a distinct presence in the cornea of the eye of the mediator receptors capable of influencing one another. Pharmacological analysis permitted a supposition to be made that there were two receptor systems in the sensory nerve endings of the cornea; these systems were in reciprocal inhibitory relations; due to this their regular influence on the processes of excitation and inhibition is effected in the sensory nerve ending.     

The early development of the tail and the transformation of the shape of the nucleus of the spermatid of the domestic fowl,Gallus gallus

Summary The differentiation of the spermatid, especially in reference to the formation of the flagellum, and transformation of the shape of the nucleus was investigated in the domestic fowl.In the early stage of the spermatid, a prominent Golgi apparatus appears around the centrioles. The Golgi vesicles then surround the axial-filament complex which develops from the distal centriole. These vesicles fuse to form continuous membrane at the earliest stage of flagellar formation, and in the succeeding stage Golgi lamellae are attached to the plasma membrane of the developing flagellum. From these observations, it is assumed that Golgi apparatus may be a source of the membrane system of the flagellum.The microtubules distributed around the nucleus form the circular manchette. The anterior region of the nucleus with the manchette is cylindrical in shape and the posterior region without it remains irregular in shape. When the circular manchette has been completed, the whole nucleus acquires a slender cylindrical shape. The circular manchette then changes into the longitudinal manchette. The nuclei of spermatids without a longitudinal manchette are abnormal in shape. In view of these observations it is assumed that the nuclear shaping of the spermatid may be accomplished by circular manchette and the maintenance of shape of the elongated nucleus by longitudinal manchette.The authors wish to thank Mr. Takayuki Mori for his helpful suggestions and technical advices     

Observations on the permeability of the choriocapillaris of the eye

Summary The choriocapillaris is a fenestrated capillary bed located posterior to the retinal pigment epithelium. It serves as the main source of supply to the photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and other cells of the outer retina. The permeability of these capillaries to intravenously injected ferritin (MW — approx. 480,000; mol. diam. 11 nm) was examined in the mouse, rabbit, and guinea pig, each of which is characterized by a different type of retinal vascularization. In all three species, the bulk of the ferritin remained in the capillary lumina, where it appeared to be blocked at the level of the diaphragmed fenestrae. Some ferritin was present in endothelial cell vacuoles. The results confirm previous work on the rat choriocapillaris and indicate that the barrier function of the choriocapillary endothelium is present even among species in which the retinal circulation differs significantly.Supported by NIH grant EY03418     

Participation of the endothelium in the development of the atherosclerotic plaque

In the past decade, initiated by the response-to-injury hypothesis of Ross and Glomset, the endothelium has been implicated in atherogenesis but as a passive participant--more involved through its absence than its presence. The hypothesis stated that endothelial desquamation due to an undefined injury led to platelet adhesion to the exposed basement membrane, and infiltration of serum lipoproteins. The subsequent release from the platelet alpha-granule of a potent smooth muscle cell mitogen and chemoattractant--the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)--was postulated to cause the intimal proliferative response that is known to be important in atherosclerotic plaque development. Recent evidence from several laboratories indicates that the endothelium has the potential to play a more active role in plaque development than simply contributing to pathological sequelae resulting from the loss of the nonthrombogenic surface provided by the endothelium. First, the endothelial cell (EC) is the site of attachment, and possibly activation, of blood-borne monocytes which enter the vessel wall as an early event in experimental atherogenesis. We have obtained in vitro evidence that the expression of monocyte binding sites on the surface of EC is a regulatable process and that increased EC turnover and certain exogenous agents acting on EC cause increased monocyte adhesion. Similar events may be responsible for focal adhesion of monocytes to the endothelium in vivo following hypercholesterolemia. Secondly, EC in culture are capable of chemically modifying low density lipoprotein (LDL) by a free radical oxidation process that renders the LDL toxic to proliferating cells and recognizable to the scavenger receptor of monocyte-derived macrophages. Thus, by oxidation of LDL, the EC have the potential to play an active role both in the formation of lipid-laden foam cells and in the accumulation of necrotic tissue which are hallmarks of the atherosclerotic lesion. Thirdly, cultured EC have been recently shown to secrete multiple mitogens for cultured smooth muscle cells. One of these mitogens appears to be closely related, if not identical, to PDGF using the criteria of receptor binding and biochemical and immunological similarity. Production of growth factors by EC is a regulatable process that is stimulated by exogenous agents such as endotoxin and phorbol esters which cause severe injury to cultured EC. Such a regulatory mechanism may participate in the in vivo proliferation of vascular SMC during the atherosclerotic process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Understanding the role of the cytoskeleton in the complex regulation of the endothelial repair

Actin microfilaments and microtubules are important cytoskeletal proteins that regulate endothelial repair through alterations in cell shape and through regulation of cell migration following wounding of the endothelium. Upstream pathways have been identified in the regulation of actin and microtubule organization, especially small GTPases. Recently, there have been numerous proteins suggested to be capable of regulating interaction between microtubules and microfilaments to mediate microtubule regulation of endothelial repair, an important process in limiting injury to the artery wall and in reducing the extent of arterial disease. If disrupted, a rapid repair mechanism is important in reestablishing the integrity of the endothelium in order to reestablish its function as a macromolecular barrier, a thromboresistant surface, and a biologically active tissue. Strategies to improve repair should alter the pathobiology of the atherosclerotic plaque and thus improve the prognosis of patients with atherosclerosis.     

Information value of the indices of the nonspecific resistance of the body

A number of nonspecific resistance characteristics in mice, such as the total number of peritoneal exudate cells, the percentage and absolute number of macrophages, their cytochemical activity in the spontaneous tetrazolium test and cytochemical capacity, have been studied by comparison with the resistance of the animals to tularemia infection induced by Francisella tularensis, Ga?ski?'s vaccinal strain 15. Of these characteristics, the cytochemical capacity of peritoneal exudate macrophages, i.e. the total cytochemical activity of macrophages contained in a unit of volume, has been the most informative as regards the level of nonspecific resistance to this infection. Other characteristics under study cannot serve as criteria for the evaluation of the nonspecific resistance of the body to F. tularensis.     

Characterization of the guanidinobenzoatase in the epididymal fluids of the mouse

Guanidinobenzoatase (GB), a proteolytic enzyme found in the epididymal fluids of mice, was purified to apparent homogeneity by molecular sieving and affinity chromatography. It has a molecular mass of 71 kDa and its enzymatic activity is heat labile and sensitive to EGTA. Its kinetic parameters (Km of 6.66 μM and a Vmax of 4.38 nmol/min/mg) were determined using 4-methylumbelliferyl-p-guanidinobenzoate (MUGB) as the substrate. GB activity is concentrated in the cauda epididymal region of the genital tract. Heat-solubilized whole zonae, biologically active ZP3, and several serine proteinase inhibitors, including a proteinase inhibitor endogenous to the male genital tract, effectively block the ability of GB to hydrolyze MUGB. Pretreating cumulus-free, zonae intact oocytes with purified GB reduces, in a concentration-dependent manner, the number of sperm able to bind to the zonae. The function of the soluble enzyme is not known. Its ability to bind both trypsin inhibitors and ZP3 suggests a possible role in gamete recognition. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 47:204–209, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

On the ontogeny of the haptor and the evolution of the Monogenea

Data on the ontogeny of the posterior haptor of monogeneans were obtained from more than 150 publications and summarised. These data were plotted into diagrams showing evolutionary capacity levels based on the theory of a progressive evolution of marginal hooks, anchors and other attachment components of the posterior haptor in the Monogenea (Malmberg, 1986). 5 + 5 unhinged marginal hooks are assumed to be the most primitive monogenean haptoral condition. Thus the diagrams were founded on a 5 + 5 unhinged marginal hook evolutionary capacity level, and the evolutionary capacity levels of anchors and other haptoral attachement components were arranged according to haptoral ontogenetical sequences. In the final plotting diagram data on hosts, type of spermatozoa, oncomiracidial ciliation, sensilla pattern and protonephridial systems were also included. In this way a number of correlations were revealed. Thus, for example, the number of 5 + 5 marginal hooks correlates with the most primitive monogenean type of spermatozoon and with few sensillae, many ciliated cells and a simple protonephridial system in the oncomiracidium. On the basis of the reviewed data it is concluded that the ancient monogeneans with 5 + 5 unhinged marginal hooks were divided into two main lines, one retaining unhinged marginal hooks and the other evolving hinged marginal hooks. Both main lines have recent representatives at different marginal hook evolutionary capacity levels, i.e. monogeneans retaining a haptor with only marginal hooks. For the main line with hinged marginal hooks the name Articulon-choinea n. subclass is proposed. Members with 8 + 8 hinged marginal hooks only are here called Proanchorea n. superord. Monogeneans with unhinged marginal hooks only are here called Ananchorea n. superord. and three new families are erected for its recent members: Anonchohapteridae n. fam., Acolpentronidae n. fam. and Anacanthoridae n. fam. (with 7 + 7, 8 + 8 and 9 + 9 unhinged marginal hooks, respectively). Except for the families of Articulonchoinea (e.g. Acanthocotylidae, Gyrodactylidae, Tetraonchoididae) Bychowsky's (1957) division of the Monogenea into the Oligonchoinea and Polyonchoinea fits the proposed scheme, i.e. monogeneans with unhinged marginal hooks form one old group, the Oligonchoinea, which have 5 + 5 unhinged marginal hooks, and the other group form the Polyonchoinea, which (with the exception of the Hexabothriidae) has a greater number (7 + 7, 8 + 8 or 9 + 9) of unhinged marginal hooks. It is proposed that both these names, Oligonchoinea (sensu mihi) and Polyonchoinea (sensu mihi), will be retained on one side and Articulonchoinea placed on the other side, which reflects the early monogenean evolution. Except for the members of Ananchorea [Polyonchoinea], all members of the Oligonchoinea and Polyonchoinea have anchors, which imply that they are further evolved, i.e. have passed the 5 + 5 marginal hook evolutionary capacity level (Malmberg, 1986). There are two main types of anchors in the Monogenea: haptoral anchors, with anlages appearing in the haptor, and peduncular anchors, with anlages in the peduncle. There are two types of haptoral anchors: peripheral haptoral anchors, ontogenetically the oldest, and central haptoral anchors. Peduncular anchors, in turn, are ontogenetically younger than peripheral haptoral anchors. There may be two pairs of peduncular anchors: medial peduncular anchors, ontogentically the oldest, and lateral peduncular anchors. Only peduncular (not haptoral) anchors have anchor bars. Monogeneans with haptoral anchors are here called Mediohaptanchorea n. superord. and Laterohaptanchorea n. superord. or haptanchoreans. All oligonchoineans and the oldest polyonchoineans are haptanchoreans. Certain members of Calceostomatidae [Polyonchoinea] are the only monogeneans with both (peripheral) haptoral and peduncular anchors (one pair). These monogeneans are here called Mixanchorea n. superord. Polyonchoineans with peduncular anchors and unhinged marginal hooks are here called the Pedunculanchorea n. superord. The most primitive pedunculanchoreans have only one pair of peduncular anchors with an anchor bar, while the most advanced have both medial and lateral peduncular anchors; each pair having an anchor bar. Certain families of the Articulonchoinea, the Anchorea n. superord., also have peduncular anchors (parallel evolution): only one family, the Sundanonchidae n. fam., has both medial and lateral peduncular anchors, each anchor pair with an anchor bar. Evolutionary lines from different monogenean evolutionary capacity levels are discussed and a new system of classification for the Monogenea is proposed.In agreeing to publish this article, I recognise that its contents are controversial and contrary to generally accepted views on monogenean systematics and evolution. I have anticipated a reaction to the article by inviting senior workers in the field to comment upon it: their views will be reported in a future issue of this journal. EditorIn agreeing to publish this article, I recognise that its contents are controversial and contrary to generally accepted views on monogenean systematics and evolution. I have anticipated a reaction to the article by inviting senior workers in the field to comment upon it: their views will be reported in a future issue of this journal. Editor     

Riding the waves of the intercalated disc of the heart

Cardiomyocytes interact with each other at their ends through the specialised membrane complex, the intercalated disck (ID). It is a fascinating structure. It allows cardiomyocytes to interact with several neighbouring cells, thereby allowing the complex structure of the heart to develop. It acts as tension transducer, structural prop, and multi signalling domain as well as a regulator of growth. It achieves its many functions through a number of specialised domains and intercellular junctions associated with its complex folded membrane. This review outlines the results of some 20 years of fascination with the ups and downs of the ID. These include locating the spectrin-associated membrane cytoskeleton in the ID and investigating the role of Protein 4.1R in calcium signalling; structural studies of the relationship of the ID to myofibrils, sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria and, finally, consideration of the role of the ID in cardiomyocyte growth and heart disease.     

日光温室采光面三效率计算模式及其优化选择研究

本文针对日光温室常见的3种采光面（圆弧面、椭圆和抛物面）,给出了各自采光效率、土地使用率和保温效率（简称三效率）的理论计算模式,并通过分析得出,各个高效采光面上的采光效率均随纬度增加而降低,随距冬至的日数而增加,随作物高度而降低,随高跨比增加而增加。在三种采光面中,无论时间、地点、高跨比和种植高度怎样变化,均以圆弧面的采光效率为最高,椭圆面次之,抛物面最低。另一方面,从土地使用效率来看,椭圆面最高,但它的保温效率最低。因此,采光面形状的选择应因使用对象而宜,本文给出了最佳选择建议。     

Angioarchitecture of the pancreas of the cat

Summary By the use of scanningand transmission electron microscopy, the possible sources of errors in interpretation of the microcirculation of the pancreas can be reduced in comparison to the classical India-ink injection method. Sphincter-like structures in the capillary wall of the cat pancreas are established by pericytes. These sphincters encircle the junctional zones between the endocrine and exocrine capillaries. They are assumed to be regulatory structures of blood flow and to regulate indirectly hormone secretion according to demand.This work was financially supported through the kindness of Eli Lilly GmbH, Bad Homburg, Bundesrepublik Deutschland     

Development of the hypothalamic-cortical interrelations in the ontogeny of the cat

Under chloralose narcosis, employing the evoked potentials method, studies have been made on the projection of the posterior hypothalamus to the frontal cortex in 1-30 days old kittens. The animals were divided into 3 age groups: 1-9, 10-19 and 20-30 days. Studies of the EPs in different points of pericruciate zone showed that these potentials are observed in all the investigated points from the first days of postnatal life. The latent period of responses in the youngest animals varied from 40 to 80 ms, exhibiting insignificant fluctuations depending on the cortical zone investigated. From the very beginning of postnatal life, in the same cortical zone the EPs may be observed in response to stimulation of the ischiadic nerve as well. In older animals, the latent period of the EPs decreases in all the points, the decrease being most significant near the crucial fissure. To the 30th day of postnatal life, the EPs in this zone with respect to their latency and configuration became quite similar to those in adult animals. In the third age period, the latency varies from 6 to 10 ms in the focus of maximum activity; with the removal of the recording electrode from this zone the latent period of the hypothalamo-cortical responses increases up to 30-40 ms. Overlapping of the EPs in response to central and peripheral stimulation was observed at all age periods.     

Modulation of the effects of mutations in the basic region of the OmpA signal peptide by the mature portion of the protein

Oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis was used to study the structure-function relationship of the positively charged amino terminus of the Escherichia coli outer membrane protein OmpA signal peptide. Mutations were isolated which reduced the overall charge of the amino-terminal region from +2 (wild type) to +1, 0, and -1, as well as one mutation from Thr to Ser at position 4. DNA encoding the wild type and mutant OmpA signal peptides was then fused in-frame to DNA encoding the mature regions of Staphylococcus aureus nuclease A and TEM beta-lactamase. In the case of both the beta-lactamase and nuclease fusions, normal processing was no longer observed when the charge at the amino terminus was reduced to zero or made negative. Differences between the two hybrid proteins were observed in the case of the Thr to Ser mutation. As expected, this mutation had no effect on the beta-lactamase hybrid; however, the processing rate of the nuclease hybrid protein was reduced to nearly one-half. Furthermore, this effect was essentially reversed when a Lys residue at position 3 was deleted. A model is presented which explains the differing effects of a signal peptide mutation on the secretion of different hybrid proteins based on kinetic differences in the translocation of the nuclease and beta-lactamase proteins.     

Removal of the endothelium eliminates the stress-induced adrenoreactivity of the aorta

Emotional painful stress, experimental myocardial infarction and surgical stress induced by thoracotomy decreased the adrenoreactivity of isolated rat aorta with intact endothelium. The endothelium removal enhanced the response of aorta to noradrenaline, the enhancement being much more pronounced after stress exposures than in control. As a result, the adrenoreactivity of denuded preparations from stress-exposed animals appeared to be not reduced but, on the contrary, increased in comparison with the control. Since stress is known to increase the density and the affinity of alpha 2-adrenoceptors to a much more extent than those of alpha 1-adrenoceptors, it was suggested that the revealed in this work stress-induced potentiation of the inhibitory effect of the endothelium is due to the hyperactivation of endothelial alpha 2-adrenoceptors which mediate the release of endothelium derived relaxing factor. The significance of the effect in the development of pathological states of the organism is discussed.     

Factors influencing the properties of voltammetric carbon fibre electrodes: the importance of the pH of the medium used for the electrical treatment and of the resin coating of the fibres

Electrical treatment of resin-coated voltammetric carbon fibre electrodes with triangular voltage at low (1.1) pH resulted in electrodes almost insensitive to ascorbic acid (AA) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) while their response to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) was practically the same as after treatment in the usually employed pH 7.4 medium. Electrodes treated at high pH (12.0), on the other hand, were more sensitive to AA and DOPAC than those treated at pH 7.4 and less sensitive to 5-HIAA. Exposing resin-coated electrodes to the treatment media without electrical treatment was not sufficient to obtain the same results as with the application of the current. Electrodes without resin coating were sensitive to AA without electrical treatment while coated electrodes were not. Electrical treatment increased the sensitivity of non-coated electrodes and rendered coated electrodes even more sensitive than non-coated ones. Treatment of coated electrodes for a maximum sensitivity to 5-HIAA was found to require less time than to obtain maximum sensitivity to the other compounds. Present results suggest that it is possible to prepare selective voltammetric electrodes by choosing the right parameters for their electrical pretreatment.     

Improvement of the method for the indication of the causative agent of anthrax

A combined method for the indication of the causative agent of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis), including the preparation of the material to be tested, the exposure of the magneto-imunosorbent in the sample, cultivation in selective medium, DNA extraction with subsequent testing in the polymerase chain reaction with primers to genes cap, pag and chromosomal sequence Ba813, the registration and interpretation of results, has been developed. All determinations, including the preparation of samples, last not more than 6 hours. The indication of B. anthracis by the proposed method makes it possible not only to confirm its presence in the sample Under test, but also to evaluate its epidemic potential.     

Frequency of the stages in the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in the rat

This study determined the optimum number of tubules to be counted per testis cross section, and the number of animals per treatment group, when changes in stage frequencies in the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium are criteria for assessing effects of treatment on spermatogenesis. A data base of 9,672 observed and staged tubules was collected from testicular cross sections of 15 Sprague-Dawley rats. A significant variation between animals was found for the frequencies of Stages I, II, IV, VI, VIII, and XIII. Computer simulation was used to randomly select different combinations of animal and tubule numbers from the observed data. Stage frequency means from each simulation experiment were compared statistically to observed mean frequencies. A model that used data from all 14 stages was analyzed. The following conclusions were made: a) a minimum of 200 tubule cross sections/testis is recommended for estimating stage frequencies; b) for a fixed number of tubules scored, the number of animals sampled is more important than the number of tubules per animal in reducing variance; c) to detect a difference of 2 standard deviations from the mean with a 2% error rate and examining 200 tubules/testis, at least 12 animals must be used per group when assessing all 14 stages; d) when individual stages are examined using 10 animals per group, only Stage VII has 80% or greater power of test (alpha = 0.05) to detect a frequency difference; e) pooling stages into 3-4 groups is recommended to improve the power of detecting a treatment difference.     

Contribution of transplantations to the understanding of the role of the PLP gene

We present an overview of the results obtained in a cross-transplantation system using respectively controls,jimpy (jp), andshiverer mutant mice as donors and recipients. Homochronic transplantations (O days into O days) demonstrated that jp environment is non-toxic for non-jp cells and that, contrary to in vitro, jp oligodendrocytes phenotype cannot be modified by environmental factors at this age. Transplantations of embryonic fragments into the newborn brain demonstrated that in contrast to oligodendrocyte precursors contained in fragments of newborn tissue, jimpy embryonic stem cells are sensitive to environmental factors able to modulate the proportion of surviving oligodendrocytes. In addition, these series evidenced a disjunction between the surviving and the myelinating capacity of jp cells demonstrating a pleiotropic effect of the jp mutation on oligodendrocyte biology. Results are discussed with regards to the recent molecular biological finding on the role of the DM20/PLP gene.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Majorie B. Lees