Showing papers by "Charles University in Prague published in 1977"

Studies on glycyl-proline naphthylamidase. I. Lymphocytes.

Abstract: Glycyl-proline naphthylamidase (Gly-Pro-Nase) was discovered in 39.4% (±3.4) of peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy adult humans and in 38.5% (±3.1) of peripheral blood lymphocytes of mini-pigs using glycyl-L-proline-4-methoxy-2-naphthylamide as the substrate and Fast Blue B (diazonium salt to be preferred) or hexazotized New Fuchsin as the coupling agents. The pH optimum of the enzyme is in the alkaline range in the vicinity of neutral. The enzyme activity in lymphocytes is not influenced by 10−3 M EDTA, 10−3 M N-ethyl-maleimide, and 10−3 M MnCl2. It is inhibited to about 50% by 1.4·10−4 M Pb (NO3)2. Individual lymphocytes differ in their activity. In some lymphocytes only one small positive dot in the cytoplsm can be seen. In other cells the number of these dots is greater. In other cases the cytoplasm is overfilled with positively reacting granules and rods. Gly-Pro-Nase in lymphocytes is confined to lysosomes. These organelles may not be its exclusive localization, however. The activity of Gly-Pro-Nase is present in lymphocytes forming E-rosettes with sheep erythrocytes. There is no correlation between the number of bound erythrocytes and the enzyme activity. An unequivocal presence of this enzyme in B-lymphocytes remains to be established. Gly-Pro-Nase is present in differentiated lymphocytes particularly in those bearing ring-shaped nucleoli. It was demonstrated neither in the blastically transformed lymphocytes (after phytohemagglutinine stimulation) nor in epithelial lymphocytes of the human jejunum. Its activity does not go parallel to that of acid esterase or acid phosphatase. Preliminary investigation on peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients sufferring of various diseases of the hemopoetic system revealed a decreased number of positively reacting lymphocytes in chronic lymphatic leukemia (1–20%), normal or slightly elevated values in chronic myeloid leukemia (40–68%), highly elevated values in myelofibrosis (60–78%), and decreased, normal or elevated values in lymphogranuloma (0–70%). Studies on the metabolic as well as diagnostic significance of Gly-Pro-Nase activity in lymphocytes are in progress.

Type A influenza: Postmortem virus isolations from different organs in human lethal cases

Abstract: Trachea, lung, liver, spleen, pancreas and brain of 77 heman patients who had died in the course of clinically diagnosed influenza were subjected to virological and histopathological examination. Type A influenza viruses closely related to the virus variants contemporarily in circulation were isolated from 12 of the lethal cases. In 10 of them, virus was demonstrated in organs other than respiratory, most often the brain. Influenza antigen was also demonstrated in brain tissue by immunofluorescence.

Serial Composition of 2-Way Finite-State Transducers and Simple Programs on Strings

Abstract: Hopcroft and Ullman ~i] described an algorithm for reverse run of deterministic generalized sequential machines. This algorithm does not go beyond abilities of 2-way finite automata. The algorithm was then used [ 2 ] in the proof of the fact that serial composition of a deterministic gsm A 1 and a 2way deterministic finite-state transducer A 2 can be replaced by a single 2-way deterministic finite-state transducer, say A 3. Let us recall the main idea of the proof (c.f. fig. i).

Vaginal impedance measurement used for mating in the rat

Abstract: An apparatus consisting of 2 silver ring electrodes attached to a plastic rod and connected to a transistor indicator was used to measure electrical impedance changes in the vagina of rats. A statistically significant increase in electrical impedance occurred at proestrus. By determining when this peak occurs, the optimal time for pairing can be established. In paired animals the absence of the peak provides a reliable means of diagnosing pregnancy.

Ultrastructure of Ewing's Tumour.

Abstract: Tumour tissue surgically excised from 10 patients bearing Ewing's tumour of bones was examined electron microscopically and histoenzymologically. In all cases the tumour was composed of polygonal cells with cytoplasm poor in organelles but with conspicuous aggregates of glycogen particles. There were numerous intercellular connections of desmosomal type and a distinct cell membrane bound positivity for alkaline phosphatase activity. In two cases in which there was a negative reaction for alkaline phosphatase, the lack of enzyme activity might have been related to cytotoxic treatment carried out for several months immediately before excision of the tissue used for histoenzymological studies. The problem of histogenesis of Ewing's tumour remains unresolved although some of the present findings support a haemangiogenic origin of the tumour.

Stationary electromagnetic fields around black holes. I. General solutions and the fields of some special sources near a Schwarzschild black hole.

Abstract: In the framework of the Newman-Penrose formalism the electromagnetic field of a general stationary source occurring in the vicinity of a Schwarzschild black hole is obtained in the test-field approximation. The field is expressed in terms of hypergeometric functions (radial parts) and spin-s spherical harmonics (angular parts) both outside and inside the radius at which the source is, located. As examples, the fields of point charges, charged rings, current loops and magnetic dipoles (generally located in non-axisymmetric positions) are calculated.

Cretaceous angiosperms of bohemia —Central Europe—

Abstract: Systematic paleobotanical and palynological studies have been performed during the last 20 years, on (a) the angiosperms from the Bohemian Cenomanian freshwater Peruc Formation (upper part of the Middle Cenomanian) and the marine Upper Cenomanian up to the Lower Senonian, and (b) those from the freshwater Lower Senonian from the South Bohemian basins, and the comparison of the results of the studies recorded in other countries of Europe and in the eastern part of North America. Conclusions: 1. The Cretaceous angiosperms showed a rapid evolution of species of short duration, mostly less than for one geological stage. 2. Most of the Cretaceous angiosperm genera became extinct, giving rise to the Tertiary ones. 3. Comparisons of the Cretaceous angiosperm species with the extant ones should be very careful with regard to the abrupt evolution of the angiosperms during the Upper Cretaceous. 4. The palynological research shows the necessity of a complete revision of all earlier conclusions on the Cretaceous angiosperm macroflora, which could be based on a modern complex approach using all available methods (cuticle analysis, palynology, venation studies, etc.).

Relational Automata in a Category and Their Languages

Abstract: Improved shaped polymeric articles, including ostomy seals, are obtained by radiation crosslinking an acrylamide polymer composition comprising a water-soluble acrylamide polymer plasticized with a quantity of a water-miscible polyol (containing water) that provides a soft, flexible and elastomeric composition.

[Experiences with a cardiorecorder system for continuous 24-hour registration of heart rate].

Abstract: Es wird uber die kontinuierliche Registrierung der Herzfrequenz mit einem transportablen Cardiocorder berichtet, der die minutliche Erfassung der Herzfrequenz fur Zeiten bis zu 24 Std erlaubt. Das GerAt besteht im Prinzip aus einem zweikanaligen TonbandgerAt, dessen Laufgeschwindigkeit so untersetzt ist, da\ eine normale Tonbandkassette C 60 fur eine Herzfrequenzregistrierung von 2×24 Std Dauer ausreicht. Auf der ersten Spur des Tonbandes werden die R-Zacken des EKG als Biosignale registriert; auf der zweiten Spur wird in minutlichen AbstAnden eine Zeitmarke aufgegeben. Mit Hilfe eines WiedergabegerAtes wird die 24stundige Aufnahme in ca. 15 min abgespielt. Durch einen eingebauten Impulsformer werden die Signale beider Spuren in digitale Rechteckimpulse umgewandelt. Diese in serieller Form vorliegenden Impulse werden durch ein Interface in einen ZAhler mit Hilfe der Zeitmarke in minutlichen AbstAnden gezAhlt; diese Werte stehen in BCD-Code parallel zur Weitergabe fur PeripheriegerAte wie: Schnelldrucker, Rechner, Kompensationsschreiber etc. zur Verfugung. Wird gleichzeitig die korperliche AktivitAt, standardisiert durch Selbstoder Fremdbeobachtung, ermittelt, so lassen sich diese Verhaltensmuster mit den Herzfrequenzwerten zur weiteren statistischen Verarbeitung zusammenbringen.

Investigation of the colour reaction of phenols with the MBTH Reagent

Abstract: The products of the colour reaction of a systematically selected series of phenols with the MBTH reagent have been investigated by means of spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods. 2,6-Dialkylphenols give red dyes formed by oxidative coupling in thep-position and 2,4-dialkylphenols violet colours due to reaction in theo-position. Phenols with a freep-position and at least one freeo-position give a mixture of the red and violet products. In the case of halogenated phenols dehalogenation occurs in both theo-andp-positions.

On induced subgraphs of a block

Abstract: If G is a block, then a vertex u of G is called critical if G - u is not a block. In this article, relationships between the localization of critical vertices and the localization of vertices of relatively small degrees (especially, of degree two) are studied. A block is called semicritical if a) each edge is incident with at least one critical vertex and b) each vertex of degree two is critical. Let G be a semicritical block with at least six vertices. It is proved that A) there exist distinct vertices u2, v1, u2, and v2 of degree two in G such that u1v1 and u2v2 are edges of G, and u1v2, and u2v2 are edges of the complement of G, and B) the complement of G is a block with no critical vertex of degree two.

So-called neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis. Histochemical study with evidence of extractibility of the stored material.

Abstract: Histochemical study of so-called neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses (NCL) showed that the stored material is extractable in the unfixed state especially with alkalized or acidified chloroform-methanol mixtures when compared with other solvents. The extractability was strongly reduced or almost abolished by fixation with formaldehyde. Identical results were obtained with the type one storage material (see Elleder, 1977) in all late infantile cases and in a juvenile case studied, in which, contrary to the infantile form, the stored material displayed a significantly higher degree of extractability. As far as the extractability of the type two storage material is concerned insufficient data have been accumulated, but it seems that it does not differ significantly from the first one. In the control group of lipopigments ceroid was found to be much more extractable under identical conditions than matured lipofuscin which was almost entirely resistant to all extraction procedures. The significance of the results is discussed.

Maximum differences of electron density of states of finite and infinite crystals

Abstract: The formulae determining the maximum differences of the integrated density of states and of the moments of the differential density of states of a finite and of the corresponding infinite crystal in the LCAO method are given and discussed in detail. The binding energies of one-, two- and three-dimensional model of a crystal are shown as an illustration of the general theory.

Anomalous induction in the Carpathians

Abstract: Оnuсывaюmся резульmamы uзученuя вaрuaчuŭ еомa нumно о nоля зaре uсmрuровaнных о¶rt;новременно нa 9 nолевых сmaнцuях в¶rt;оль nрофuля ГСЗ No V, nересекaюще о Кaрnamы. Деmaльно uзучaеmся зонa aномaльноŭ uн¶rt;укцuu нa рaнuце меж¶rt;у внещнuмu u ценmрaльнымu Кaрnamaмu. Посmроены векmоры uн¶rt;укцuu u aнaлuзuровaнa чaсmоmнaя хaрaкmерuсmuкa aномaльно о эффекma. По ¶rt;aнным нa оm¶rt;ельных сmaнцuях о¶rt;новременно зaре uсmрuровaнных возмущенuŭ осущесmвляеmся рaз¶rt;еленuе nоля нa внуmреннюю u внешнюю сосmaвляющuе. Оценuвaеmся лубuнa зaле aнuя сосре¶rt;оmоченно о лuнеŭно о элекmрuческо о mокa, коmорыŭ являеmся о¶rt;нuм uз возможных uсmочнuков внуmренне о nоля. Элекmромa нumные хaрaкmерuсmuкu nоля соnосmaвлены с mеореmuческuмu aномaлuямu рaсчumaннымu ¶rt;ля некоmорых ¶rt;ву-мерно нео¶rt;норо¶rt;ных еоэлекmрuческuх сmрукmур в¶rt;оль nрофuля чuсленным меmо¶rt;ом конечных рaзносmеŭ.

Vaginal impedance measurement used for mating in the guinea-pig:

Abstract: A method for determining the phase of the oestrous cycle by measuring the electrical impedance of the vaginal mucous membrane was examined in the guinea-pig. The apparatus consisted of silver ring electrodes attached to a plastic rod and connected to a transistor indicator. A cyclic increase in impedance was found, and significantly higher values were recorded during the phase of increase (proestrus) than at other times of the cycle. By determining this peak the right time for pairing can be chosen. Conversely, the disappearance of this cyclic culmination in impedance pointed to early pregnancy with a high degree of reliability.

Relative organ blood flow in rats exposed to intermittent high altitude hypoxia.

Abstract: Circulating blood volume, cardiac output and relative organ perfusion changes were studied, using the Sapirstein method of86Rb tissue uptake, in male 75-day-old rats exposed to intermittent high altitude hypoxia (gradually up to 7000 m, 4 h daily, 5 days a week; the total number of exposures was 24). Intermittent hypobaric exposure caused a significant rise of the erythrocyte volume, whereas the plasma volume remained unchanged. The relative perfusion of the left and particularly of the right ventricular myocardium, as well as of the spleen, liver, lung, small intestine and skeletal muscle, was significantly higher. The cardiac output determined in other experimental animals similarly treated was significantly higher after 24 exposures to the intermittent high altitude hypoxia. We suggest that these changes are triggered by tissue hypoxia and a greater blood flow demand.

Plasma testosterone values in transsexual women.

Abstract: Plasma testosterone was determined by radioimmunoassay in 50 transsexual and 50 normal women. The testosterone levels in transsexuals were significantly higher (nearly double) than in normal women. In transsexuals, minor changes in the pattern of the menstrual cycle were also found.