A new, transportable ergometer for the measurement of musculotendinous stiffness during wrist flexion.

We present here a new, dedicated mechanical device for monitoring quick-release movements of the wrist. The ergometer was designed to easily assess musculotendinous properties during wrist flexion. Maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) and quick-release (QR) movements during wrist flexion were performed on 14 subjects. A validation of the ergometer, using a test-retest methodology, was performed to assess its reliability and sensitivity. The device has been technically and biomechanically validated in a range of situations, including inertia measurement (mean inertia was found 0.0119+/-0.0012 N m s(2) rad(-1)) and appearance of the unloading reflex. Our results indicate that the device provides highly reliable, sensitive evaluation of wrist muscle stiffness (intraclass correlation coefficient for inertia, maximal voluntary contraction and stiffness index were 0.873, 0.994 and 0.930, respectively). Its portability facilitates measurement of the influence of repetitive, occupational activity on the musculotendinous complex of the wrist flexors.     

The Effect of Academic Load and Work Conditions on the Sympathoadrenal Function and the Indices of Heart Rhythm Regulation in 17- to 18-Year-Old Girls

The dynamics of the sympathoadrenal function and the specific features of heart rhythm regulation were studied in female students and clothing factory female workers during their adaptation to academic and work conditions. Periods of the strongest functional tension in test systems were found in first-year students: the beginning of an academic year, the end of the first semester, and a period after winter examinations, all characterized by an increase in the central-circuit and sympathetic effects on sinus rhythm, acceleration of the heart rate, activation of sympathoadrenal mechanisms, and a decrease in sympathoadrenal reserves. The comparative analysis allowed us to disclose general trends typical of females of this age group such as the relative maturity of the sympathoadrenal system (SAS) and optimum correlation between autonomic and centralized heart rhythm regulation and to reveal the differences in the character and dynamics of functional shifts caused by a specific effect of academic load and work conditions. The degree of correlation between the indices characteristic of hormonal and mediator SAS mechanisms and the statistical characteristics of heart rhythm was proposed as the criteria for estimating the functional tension of the human body.     

Segmentally repeated pattern of expression of a cell surface glycoprotein in Drosophila embryos

We report here that a previously described cell surface antigen (Brower, Smith & Wilcox, 1980) is expressed in a segmentally repeating pattern of stripes in the epidermis and nervous system of segmented Drosophila embryos. We also report that the antigenic activity is found on two closely related cell surface glycoproteins. The pattern of expression of this antigen is reminiscent of the expression of some segmentation genes and is affected by mutation of at least two of these genes, fushi tarazu and paired. Thus these glycoproteins are candidates for cell surface molecules involved in carrying out the patterning processes controlled by segmentation genes.     

Seasonal changes in the cecal microflora of the high-arctic Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus)

The dominant cecal bacteria in the high-arctic Svalbard reindeer were characterized, their population densities were estimated, and cecal pH was determined in summer, when food quality and availability is good, and in winter, when it is very poor. In summer the total culturable viable bacterial population was (8.9 +/- 5.3) X 10(8) cells ml-1, whereas in winter it was (1.5 +/- 0.7) X 10(8) cells ml-1, representing a decrease to 17% of the summer population density. Of the dominant species of cultured bacteria, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens represented 23% in summer and 18% in winter. Streptococcus bovis represented 17% in summer and 5% in winter. Bacteroides ruminicola represented 10% in summer and 26% in winter. In summer and winter, respectively, the proportion of the viable population showing the following activities was as follows: fiber digestion, 36 and 48%; cellulolysis, 10 and 6%; xylanolysis, 33 and 48%; and starch utilization, 77 and 71%. The most abundant cellulolytic species in summer was Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, representing 62% of the total cellulolytic population, and in winter it was Ruminococcus albus, representing 80% of the total cellulolytic population. The most abundant xylanolytic species in summer was Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, and in winter it was Bacteroides ruminicola, representing 59 and 54% of the xylanolytic isolates in summer and winter, respectively. The cecal bacterial of the Svalbard reindeer have the ability to digest starch and the major structural carbohydrates of the diet that are not digested in the rumen. The cecum in these animals has the potential to contribute very substantially to the digestion of the available plant material in both summer and winter.     

Presence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. albidus</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. laurentii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. uniguttulatus</Emphasis> in Crop and Droppings of Pigeon Lofts (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Columba livia</Emphasis>)

Columba livia is an important reservoir and carrier of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus uniguttulatus, Cryptococcus laurentii and Cryptococcus albidus. Upper digestive tract of this species is also known as a habitat for Cryptococcus neoformans. Given the increasing clinical interest of this microorganism, 331 swabs from crop and 174 dropping samples from pigeon lofts in Grand Canary Island have been studied. The obtained results show an extensive presence samples 81 positive (24.47%) of Cryptococcus spp. in analysed crops: 32 (9.66%) for C. neoformans, 24 (7.2%) for C. uniguttulatus, 23 (6.9%) for C. albidus and 2 (0.6%) for C. laurentii. In the same way, Cryptococcus spp was also isolated in 82 (47.13%), dropping samples: C. neoformans in 59 (33.9%), C. uniguttulatus, in 9 (5.17%), C. laurentii in 8 (4.59%) and C. albidus in 6 (3.44%) of the investigated samples, respectively. The cryptococcosis produced by species of cryptococci other than C. neoformans has become more important during the last decade, supporting the study on the role of pigeon in the epidemiology of this disease.     

Antiphytovirale Aktivität von Rhamnolipid aus Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A rhamnolipid released by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 196 Aa into the culture medium reduced the number of local lesions induced by tobacco mosaic virus on leaves of the hypersensitive host Nicotiana glutinosa L. by up to 90%. The content of potato virus X in the systemically infected host Nicotiana tabacum L. ‘Samsun’ is decreased in inoculated as well as in secondarily infected leaves by up to 50%. In a smaller degree red clover mottle virus is influenced in the systemic host Pisum sativumconvar.speciosum (Dierb.) Alef ‘Nadja’.     

18O-Labeling of guanosine monophosphate upon hydrolysis of cyclic guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate by phosphodiesterase

The hydrolysis of cGMP by phosphodiesterase was conducted in [18O]water to determine the site of bond cleavage and the stoichiometry of 18O incorporation into 5'-GMP. Three different forms of phosphodiesterase including a calmodulin-calcium-dependent enzyme in its basal and activated states were examined. The hydrolysis of cGMP catalyzed by each of the forms of phosphodiesterase proceeded with incorporation of 1 18O atom recoverable in the phosphate moiety of each molecule of 5'-GMP generated. No molecular species of phosphate deriving from the 5'-GMP generated containing two or three 18O were detectable. These results indicate that the phosphodiesterase-catalyzed hydrolysis of cGMP proceeds by nucleophilic substitution at phosphorus resulting in P-O bond cleavage. The stoichiometry of 18O incorporation indicates that the reaction proceeds without phosphate-water oxygen exchange when the hydrolytic reaction is catalyzed by diverse forms of phosphodiesterase in the basal or activated state. These considerations of the phosphodiesterase reaction help to establish the validity of monitoring the rate of enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of cGMP as a function of the rate of 18O-labeling of the phosphate of 5'-GMP when the reaction proceeds in a medium of predetermined 18O enrichment.     

On the choice of the optimal periodic operation for a continuous fermentation process

In this contribution we investigate the impact of the forcing waveform on the productivity of a continuous bioreactor governed by an unstructured, nonlinear kinetic model. The (periodic) forcing is applied on the substrate concentration in the feed. To this end, some alternative waveforms commonly encountered in practice are evaluated and their performance is compared. An analytical/numerical approach is used. The preliminary analytical step is based on the π‐criterion that gives useful information for small amplitudes. The extension to larger amplitudes, when significant improvements are expected, is then performed through a continuation‐optimization procedure. It is found that the choice of the specific waveform has an impact on the performance of the process and there is no unique best forcing for any process condition, but its choice depends on the operating parameters and the forcing amplitude and frequency values. Further, the influence of the waveform functions on the wash‐out conditions are extensively examined. The analysis shows that all the waveforms examined in this work may lead to significant enlargement of the nontrivial regime with respect to a steady state operation. In particular, square‐wave forcing leads in practice to the extinction of the wash‐out conditions for any feed substrate concentration and for a well defined choice of the forcing parameters. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010     

Changes in the levels of wheat- and barley-germ agglutinin during embryogenesis in vivo,in vitro and during germination

Radioimmunoassay has been used to measure levels of wheat-germ agglutinin and barley-germ agglutinin during embryogenesis and germination. The two lectins exhibited similar patterns of accumulation during grain maturation in vivo and both decreased to low levels after imbibition of harvest-ripe grains for 3 d. Precocious germination of immature wheat and barley embryos excised and cultured in vitro could be prevented either by inclusion of abscisic acid or mannitol in the culture medium. Changes in the level of wheat-germ agglutinin induced by in vitro culture depended on the maturation stage of the embryo. No direct correlation was found between application of exogenous abscisic acid and accumulation of the lectin.     

Increasing saliva (free) oestriol to progesterone ratio in late pregnancy: a role for oestriol in initiating spontaneous labour in man?

Oestriol and progesterone concentrations were measured in samples of saliva obtained daily from six normal women during the final four weeks before the spontaneous onset of labour. Progesterone concentrations were found to plateau whereas oestriol concentrations continued to rise so that the mean ratio of saliva oestriol to progesterone increased from 0.80 to 1.43 between 29 days and one day before labour. Saliva oestriol concentrations were 15 times higher than saliva oestradiol concentrations. As saliva steroid concentrations reflect the unbound unconjugated (free) plasma steroid concentrations these data suggest that a changing ratio of oestriol to progesterone may play a part in initiating spontaneous labour in man.