bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assay of the Esterase Activity of Thrombin, Plasmin and Trypsin with a Chromogenic Substrate p-Nitrobenzyl p-Toluenesulfonyl-L-Arginine
Authors: Aogaichi Tadashi , Plaut Gerhard W. E
Published: July 2018

p-Nitrobenzyl p-toluenesulfonyl-L-arginine has been synthesized. A number of trypsin-like enzymes can catalyze the hydrolysis of this ester leading to formation of p-nitrobenzyl alcohol. After separation from the ester and p-toluenesulfonylarginine by extraction into chloroform, the p-nitrobenzyl alcohol liberated can be measured spectrophotometrically at 271 nm. Under the conditions of the assay, the hydrolysis of 1 μmol/ml of the ester is equivalent to an absorbance change of 4.45 cm–1 at 271 nm. With 0.10 mM p-nitrobenzyl p-toluenesulfonyl-L-arginine in 0.1 M Tris-HCl at pH 8.4 and 30°, the enzymatic hydrolysis is linearly proportional to time up to consumption of 60% of the ester. Product formation is proportional to enzyme concentration with 0.05 to 0.2 NIH clotting units/ml for bovine or human thrombin, 0.005 to 0.02 CTA units/ml for human plasmin, and 0.01 to 0.04 μg/ml protein for bovine pancreatic trypsin. In 0.1 M Tris-HCl at pH 8.4 and 30°, Kmis 14 μM and Vmax is 0.037 μmol/min/NIH unit/ml for bovine thrombin, Km is 78 μM and Vmax is 0.31 μmol/min/CTA unit/ml for human plasmin, and Km is 12 μM and Vmax is 138 μmol/min/mg protein/ml for bovine trypsin. With bovine thrombin, activities at pH 7.3 and at pH 9.2 were 30% lower and 40-50% higher than the rate at pH 8.4. Samples of bovine and human thrombin ranging in specific clotting activity from 59 to 2133 NIH units/mg protein showed esterase activities varying from 0.15 to 0.4 μmol p-nitrobenzyl alcohol formed/10 min/NIH unit.
Cigarette-Smoking Effect on Platelet Function
Authors: Grignani G , Gamba G , Ascari E
Published: July 2018

The immediate effect of cigarette-smoking on ADP-induced platelet aggregation and on platelet adhesiveness was investigated in 12 normal subjects aged 20 to 40, in 10 normal subjects aged 43 to 72 and in 10 patients with cerebrovascular disease aged 45 to 75.

All the subjects were heavy smokers (more than 20 cigarettes a day).

After smoking 2 cigarettes a significant increase in ADP aggregation and platelet adhesiveness was found in the group of young heavy smokers, while in the old subjects with or without cerebrovascular disease the increase in platelet activity was never significant.

These data were discussed and some hypotheses for this higher reactivity of platelets from young people were suggested.
Characterisation of Serum Fibrinogen Degradation Products Using Gel Chromatography and Radioimmunoassay
Authors: Ratky S. M , Sykes A , Cooke E. D , Gordon Y. B
Published: July 2018

Fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDP) are detected by radioimmunoassay in the serum of all subjects. Some of these FDPs have considerable biological activity in vivo, and hence may play a significant part in the process of coagulation. Chromatography of serum samples from patients including those with pulmonary emboli and deep venous thrombosis indicates that the majority of non-clottable fibrin(ogen)-related antigen present is of high molecular weight- greater than that of fibrinogen – and that in pathological situations there is a quantitative increase not a qualitative alteration in the molecular species present.
Early Venous Thrombosis
Authors: Day T. K , Cowper S. V , Kakkar V. V , Clark K. G. A
Published: July 2018

The passage of a minimal electric charge was used to initiate thrombosis in rabbit femoral veins, and the events occurring during formation of the thrombus were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Thrombosis began to occur within ten minutes after passage of the charge, upon an apparently unaltered endothelium. The first event was the laying down of a fibrin meshwork and this was shortly followed by the appearance of regularly arranged platelet clumps.
Inherited Bleeding Syndromes in Iraq
Authors: Al-Mondhiry Hamid A. B
Published: July 2018

This paper presents data on the occurrence and pattern of inherited bleeding syndromes (IBS) in Iraq, a hitherto unexplored problem. During the first fourteen months of a prospective on-going study at a major university center, 116 patients from 62 families were diagnosed as having IBS. All patients were referred because of moderate to severe bleeding diatheses. They included 62 haemophiliacs, 32 patients with von Willebrand’s disease (VWD), 9 with Christmas disease (CD), 6 with afibrinogenemia, 1 with prothrombin deficiency, and 6 were thought to have platelet dysfunction. 32 other bleeders (16 hemophiliacs, 14 VWD, and 2 CD) were also recognized among the pedigrees studied but were not available for full investigations. The clinical and laboratory features of the patients observed in Iraq do not seem to be significantly different from those of patients in Western Europe or North America. Although the absolute incidence and relative distribution of these disorders in the entire population cannot yet be determined, the rate of occurrence per segment population is likely to be high, most likely due to the high rate of consanguinity and large number of births per family, phenomena still prevalent in this country.
Purification and Properties of a Neutral Protease from Soil Bacterium WM 122
Authors: Papaioannou S. E , Marsheck W. J
Published: July 2018

An extracellular protease SN 687, secreted by the soil bacterium isolate WM 122, has been purified by means of gel filtration, ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-Sephadex and hydroxylapatite chromatography. Apparent homogeneity was ascertained by Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protease was inactivated by ethylenediamine tetracetic acid (EDTA) but not by diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), and it was partially inhibited by serum inhibitors. SN 687 was shown to be of high specific activity against casein and fibrin, but it did not hydrolyze L- lysine -methyl ester dihydrochloride (LME), p-tosyl-L-arginine-methyl ester hydrochloride (TAME) and N-benzoyl-L-tyrosine-ethyl ester hydrochloride (BTEE) synthetic substrates. The optimum pH for hydrolysis of casein was 7.5 and the molecular weight, as determined by gel filtration, was 31,000.
Protease Nexin 1 Is Expressed in the Human Placenta
Authors: White Elizabeth A , Baker Joffre B , McGrogan Michael , Kitos Paul A
Published: July 2018

Protease nexin 1 (PN1), a serine protease inhibitor that inactivates thrombin, urokinase, and plasmin, is produced abundantly in cultures of human fibroblasts and rat and human glioma cells. The major sites of PN1 synthesis in vivo and the specific physiological function(s) of this serpin are unknown. Using Northern blot analysis and a full-length PN1 cDNA probe we demonstrated the presence of PN1 mRNA in human term placentas. In situ hybridization of placental tissue with a PN1 riboprobe showed that PN1 mRNA is present throughout the placenta and is also abundant in the placental membranes. Immunohistochemical analysis with an anti-PN1 antibody showed co-localization of PN1 and its mRNA within the placenta.
Plasma Factor V Activation Is Prevented by Activated Protein C in the Presence of Phospholipid Vesicles, Not Platelets
Authors: Solymoss Susan , Nguyen Kim Thi Phu
Published: July 2018

Activated protein C (APC) is a vitamin K dependent anticoagulant which catalyzes the inactivation of factor Va and VIIIa, in a reaction modulated by phospholipid membrane surface, or blood platelets. APC prevents thrombin generation at a much lower concentration when added to recalcified plasma and phospholipid vesicles, than recalcified plasma and platelets. This observation was attributed to a platelet associated APC inhibitor. We have performed serial thrombin, factor V one stage and two stage assays and Western blotting of dilute recalcified plasma containing either phospholipid vesicles or platelets and APC. More thrombin was formed at a given APC concentration with platelets than phospholipid. One stage factor V values increased to higher levels with platelets and APC than phospholipid and APC. Two stage factor V values decreased substantially with platelets and 5 nM APC but remained unchanged with phospholipid and 5 nM APC. Western blotting of plasma factor V confirmed factor V activation in the presence of platelets and APC, but lack of factor V activation with phospholipid and APC. Inclusion of platelets or platelet membrane with phospholipid enhanced rather than inhibited APC catalyzed plasma factor V inactivation. Platelet activation further enhanced factor V activation and inactivation at any given APC concentration.

Plasma thrombin generation in the presence of platelets and APC is related to ongoing factor V activation. No inhibition of APC inactivation of FVa occurs in the presence of platelets.
Thromboembolic Disease – Critical Evaluation of Laboratory Investigation
Authors: Malm Johan , Laurell Martin , Nilsson Inga Marie , Dahlbäck Björn
Published: July 2018

Previous studies of patients with thromboembolic disease have revealed an association either with hereditary anticoagulant protein deficiencies or with defects in the fibrinolytic system. To obtain a more comprehensive picture and to investigate which analyses are useful in the evaluation of such patients, we have performed an extensive laboratory investigation in 439 individuals with thromboembolic disease. Anticoagulant protein deficiencies were found in 24 patients. Deficiencies of protein C (n = 10) and protein S (n = 9) were most common followed by deficiencies of antithrombin III (n = 3) and plasminogen (n = 2). Six of the nine protein S deficient patients demonstrated a selective deficiency of free protein S with normal total protein S concentrations. To diagnose protein C and S deficiencies among the 201 patients receiving oral vitamin K antagonists, the concentrations of protein C and S were compared with the mean concentration of several other vitamin K-dependent proteins. One protein C and three protein S deficiencies were identified among the treated patients. The number of protein C deficiencies found in this group was significantly lower than the number found among untreated patients. Although fewer protein S deficiencies were also identified among the treated patients, than in the untreated group, the difference was not statistically significant. The results suggest that protein C deficiencies went undetected in the treated group and that oral anticoagulant therapy should be discontinued before efforts to diagnose protein C deficiency are made. We found no cases with heparin cofactor II deficiency. Lupus anticoagulant was present in 10 patients. Evaluation of the fibrinolytic system revealed that the patient group had slightly lower mean euglobulin fibrinolytic activity (EFA) after venous occlusion than controls and a subgroup (approximately 15%) of patients with EFA below the level of the 5th percentile of controls, could be distinguished. Repeated analysis demonstrated a substantial individual day-to-day variation in both patients and controls and the combined EFA results did not clearly distinguish patients from controls. There was a significant negative correlation between EFA and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) levels in both patients and controls and the patient group had significantly higher levels of PAI than the control group. In contrast, there was no difference between controls and patients in tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) release after venous occlusion and no correlation between EFA and tPA was observed. These results suggest that although a statistically significant difference between patients and controls in values of fibrinolytic parameters was found, an extensive laboratory evaluation of the fibrinolytic system in individual patients may not be warranted. The association between patients with thrombosis and deficiencies of anticoagulant proteins suggests that the investigation of individual patients should focus on these components.
The Effects of Vitamin K1 and Warfarin on Prothrombin Expression in Human Hepatoblastoma (HepG2) Cells
Authors: Jamison C Scott , Burkey Bryan F , Degen Sandra J Friezner
Published: July 2018

Cultures of human hepatoblastoma (HepG2) cells were treated with vitamin K1 or warfarin and prothrombin antigen and mRNA levels were determined. With 3 and 6 h of 10 µg vitamin K1 treatment secreted prothrombin antigen levels, relative to total secreted protein levels, were increased 1.5-fold and 2.1-fold, respectively, over ethanol-treated control levels as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Dose-response analysis with 3 h of 25 µg/ml vitamin K1 treatment demonstrated a maximal increase of 2.0-fold in secreted prothrombin antigen levels, relative to total secreted protein levels, over ethanol-treated control levels. Pulse-chase analysis with 35S-methionine and immunoprecipitation of 35S-labelled prothrombin demonstrated that, with vitamin K1 treatment (25 µg/ml, 3 h), the rate of prothrombin secretion increased approximately 2-fold and the total amount (intra- and extracellular) of prothrombin synthesized increased approximately 50% over ethanol-treated control levels. Warfarin treatment (1, 5, or 10 µg/ml, 24 h) resulted in decreases in secreted prothrombin antigen levels, relative to total protein levels to approximately 85%, 87% or 81% of ethanol-treated control levels. Analysis of total RNA isolated from these cultures by Northern and solution hybridization techniques demonstrated that prothrombin mRNA was approximately 2.1 kb and that neither vitamin K1 nor warfarin treatment affected the quantity of prothrombin mRNA (ranging from 240–350 prothrombin mRNA molecules per cell). These results demonstrate that vitamin K1 and warfarin, in addition to effects on γ-carboxylation, affect prothrombin synthesis post-transcriptionally, perhaps influencing translation, post-translational processing and/or secretion mechanisms.
Comparison of Recombinant Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitors Expressed in Human SK Hepatoma, Mouse C127, Baby Hamster Kidney, and Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells
Authors: Wun Tze-Chein , Kretzmer Kuniko K , Palmier Mark O , Day Kathleen C , Huang Margaret D , Welsch Dean J , Lewis Charles , Wolfe Richard A , Zobel James F , Lange Gary W , Frazier Ronald B , Bild Gary S , Peel Michelle A , Shell Robert E , Horn Nancy A , Junger Kurt D , Foy Barbara A , Gustafson Mark E , Leimgruber Richard M , Novotny William F , Broze George J , Pyla Yvonne E , Hippenmeyer Paul J , Warren Thomas G
Published: July 2018

Recombinant tissue factor pathway inhibitor (rTFPI) has been expressed in four mammalian expression systems using human SK hepatoma, mouse C127, baby hamster kidney (BHK), and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells as hosts. On sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the immunoaffinity purified rTFPIs all show broad bands and the mean molecular weight of SK hepatoma and C127 rTFPIs (M
r ~ 38,000) appear larger than those of BHK and CHO rTFPIs (M
r ~ 35,000). All these proteins inhibit factor Xa and appear to bind factor Xa with 1:1 stoichiometry. The ability of these proteins to inhibit tissue factor-induced coagulation in plasma was examined using a prothrombin time assay. The relative activities of SK rTFPI:C127 rTFPI:BHK rTFPI:CHO rTFPI were found to be 28:15:2.1:1. By Western blot using specific antisera against the amino- and carboxy-termini of TFPI as probes, it is found that all the immunoaffinity purified rTFPIs possess approximately equal amounts of the amino terminus, but the C127 and BHK rTFPIs are deficient in carboxy terminus and the CHO rTFPI is essentially devoid of this region of the protein. Mono S chromatography allowed separation of the full-length and the truncated molecules with high and low anticoagulant activities, respectively. The above results suggest that proteolysis of the carboxy terminus of TFPI occurs to different extent when TFPI is expressed in different cells and that the carboxy terminal region of the TFPI molecule is important for the inhibition of tissue factor-induced coagulation. Recombinant and non-recombinant SK hepatoma cells appear to produce TFPI with the least amount of proteolysis compared with other cell systems tested and SK TFPI functionally resembles TFPI circulating in the blood.
Peritoneal Fluid and Plasma Fibrinolytic Activity in Women with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Authors: Dörr P J , Brommer E J P , Dooijewaard G , Vemer H M
Published: July 2018

Previous studies have shown that the fibrinolytic activity of peritoneum is depressed in local inflammation. We measured fibrinolytic parameters in peritoneal fluid and in plasma of 10 women with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Nine women, in whom laparoscopy for sterilisation was performed, served as a control group.

In the peritoneal fluid of women with PID, PAI-Ag, t-PA-Ag and u-PA-Ag were many times higher than in the control group. In contrast to the antigens which may be present in inert complexes, the potentially active compounds, measured as t-PA activity and plasmin-activable scu-PA, were not significantly different in the two groups, and in none of the samples was the active enzyme tcu-PA detectable. Nevertheless, the mean peritoneal fluid TDP and FbDP concentrations were about twenty times higher in the PID group than in the control group. In plasma of PID patients, none of the parameters except u-PA-Ag differed from those in the control group. The difference between control and patient plasma u-PA-Ag was statistically significant, but too small to attach any relevance to the observation.

Our data suggest that, in contrast to the classical concept of decreased fibrinolytic activity as a cause of adhesion formation, intraperitoneal fibrinolysis is enhanced in peritoneal inflammation through stimulation of the local production of t-PA and u-PA. Despite concomitant production of PAI, fibrinolysis occurs at a high rate, resulting in high levels of fibrin degradation products. Since this activated fibrinolysis does not meet the demand, therapeutic enhancement should be considered to prevent adhesions.
High Level Expression of Active Human Prothrombin in a Vaccina Virus Expression System
Authors: Falkner F G , Turecek P L , MacGillivray R T A , Bodemer W , Scheiflinger F , Kandels S , Mitterer A , Kistner O , Barrett N , Eibl J , Dorner F
Published: July 2018

We have worked out an efficient and time saving procedure for the expression of recombinant human prothrombin. The glycoprotein was expressed in the vaccinia virus expression system in several mammalian cell lines. The kidney cell lines Vero and BHK and the human cell line Hela were found to efficiently secrete prothrombin. Expression levels of 3–4 µg of factor II per 106 cells per day corresponding to 18–23 mU per 106 cells per day were achieved. Since the expression levels obtained with the vaccinia virus/Vero cell system were comparable to those obtained in amplified transformed CHO cells it provides an alternative system for the efficient expression of human prothrombin and may allow to further elucidate structure-function relationships of (pro)thrombin and its various effectors.
Insights on Monoclonal Antibodies to Kininogens' Heavy Chain Which Influence Kininogens' Binding to Platelets
Authors: Jiang Yongping , Nawarawong Weerasak , Meloni Frank J , Schmaier Alvin H
Published: July 2018

Purified domains of low molecular weight kininogen (LK) can be used directly to determine the epitopes of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that have been shown to influence kininogen function. LK, purified from plasma by carboxymethyl-papain-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography and kaolin adsorption, was digested by trypsin and chymotrypsin. The domains of LK were then separated by gel filtration followed by carboxymethyl-papain-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. Using the purified domains of LK’s heavy chain, the regions on kininogens' heavy chain which various monoclonal antibodies are directed to were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. MAb 2B5 which neutralized kininogens' ability to inhibit calpain cross-reacted with domains 2 and 3. MAb HKH8 which reacted with kininogens' domain 1 and 2 was found to inhibit 125I-HK binding to platelets. At two-fold molar excess, mAb HKH8 was a better inhibitor of 125I-HK binding to platelets than higher concentrations, where the antibody was shown to cause increased binding to platelets. Alternatively, HKH8 F(ab')2 completely inhibited 125I-HK binding to platelets even at high concentrations of antibody. These studies indicate that purified domains of kininogens' heavy chain can be used to rapidly localize epitopes for antibodies. Further, mAb HKH8 should be a valuable probe to understand the mechanisms of kininogens' binding to platelets.
Standardisation of Factor VIII – V. Calibration of the 2nd International Standard for Factor VIII and von Willebrand Factor Activities in Plasma
Authors: Heath A B , Barrowcliffe T W
Published: July 2018

The proposed 2nd International Standard for Factor VIII and von Willebrand Factor activities in plasma, NIBSC code 87/718, was assayed against the 1st IRP, 80/511, and against fresh normal plasma, in 21 laboratories. There were no significant differences between the various assay methods for factor VIII antigen, von Willebrand factor antigen, and von Willebrand factor ristocetin co-factor activity. For factor VIII clotting activity there was a significant difference between the results of one-stage and two-stage assays. Plasma 87/718 has now been established by the WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardisation as the 2nd IS for factor VIII and vWF in plasma with the following potencies: VIII:C 0.60 IU/ampoule; VIII:Ag 0.91 IU/ampoule; vWF:Ag 0.91 IU/ampoule; vWF/RCo 0.84 IU/ampoule.
Unexpected Effects of Aurin Tricarboxylic Acid on Human Platelets
Authors: Kinlough-Rathbone Raelene L , Packham Marian A
Published: July 2018

Aurin tricarboxylic acid (ATA) is a potent inhibitor of ristocetin-mediated platelet agglutination and of shear-induced, von Willebrand factor (vWf)-mediated platelet aggregation, probably via inhibition of vWf interaction with glycoprotein Ib (GPIb). We examined the effects of ATA (both the sodium salt and a solution of ATA in ethanol) on platelet functions in citrated plasma (PRP) and in suspensions of washed platelets in Tyrode-albumin solution (contains 2 mM Ca2+). ATA (42–211 µg/ml) blocked aggregation and release of granule contents induced by thrombin (0.15 U/ml in PRP; 0.03 U/ml in platelet suspension). Responses to higher concentrations of thrombin were not inhibited. ATA also prolonged thrombin-induced clotting of fibrinogen. Since ATA had no effect on fibrinogen-induced responses of chymotrypsin-treated platelets, ATA probably acts on thrombin rather than on fibrinogen.

In PRP and platelet suspensions, ATA (acid form 106 µg/ml; sodium salt 122 µg/ml) had little effect on ADP-induced platelet aggregation. The sodium salt of ATA (61–122 µg/ml) enhanced collagen-induced aggregation and release by platelets in citrated plasma and by washed platelets; the enhancement was extensively inhibited by aspirin. With platelet suspensions, ATA significantly enhanced aggregation and release caused by low concentrations of sodium arachidonate (15–50 µM); aggregation and release caused by higher concentrations of arachidonate were somewhat inhibited by ATA. Arachidonate-induced aggregation and release were also enhanced by ATA in PRP. ATA enhanced aggregation and release induced by the calcium ionophore A23187; aspirin had little effect on the enhancement. ATA also enhanced aggregation and release caused by the thromboxane A2 mimetic, U46619 (0.1–.4 µM) or platelet-activating factor (PAF) (5 ng/ ml), but enhancement was never as extensive as when these platelet responses were caused by arachidonate or A23187; aspirin partially inhibited these enhancements. Thus, although ATA may interfere with the interaction of GPIb with large vWf multimers and inhibit the activity of thrombin, thereby having antithrombotic properties, it has potentiating effects on some other agonists; these effects should be considered if it is used as an antithrombotic agent.
The Ex Vivo Effect of Preadsorbed Vitronectin on Platelet Activation
Authors: Fabrizius-Homan D J , Cooper S L , Mosher D F
Published: July 2018

The activation of ex vivo canine platelets by preadsorbed vitronectin (VN) was sensitive not only to the polymer substrate utilized but also to the adsorption conditions employed. Lower levels of maximal platelet deposition were obtained for VN-coated silicone rubber (SR) than for other VN-coated substrates with comparable levels of adsorbed VN, but this effect was diminished with increased residence time of VN on the SR surface. Submonolayer and monolayer surface concentrations of VN elicited similar maximal levels of platelet deposition at both short (<3 h) and long (>12 h) residence times, but thrombi were larger and more dense for the submonolayer surface concentrations. VN was also more effective in forming thrombi when adsorbed sequentially before albumin instead of after albumin. To further examine these differences in the nature of adsorbed VN between substrates and adsorption conditions, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) elutability measurements and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance optics (FTIR-ATR) evaluations of the adsorbed protein were performed. An SDS solution was able to remove a greater percentage of the VN which was adsorbed to a submonolayer than a monolayer surface concentration when SDS displacement was initiated immediately after adsorption was terminated. However, if the adsorbed protein was allowed to reside on the surface for a length of time before the introduction of the SDS displacing media, a greater percentage of the monolayer surface concentration was removed. The submonolayer surface concentration may be better able to increase its strength of contact with the surface during the added residence time than the monolayer surface concentration. FTIR-ATR spectra of VN showed less structural alterations when it was adsorbing to SR than to a segmented polyurethane, a more thrombogenic material when coated with VN. Thus, the ability of VN to stimulate thrombus formation appeared to correlate with the percentage of VN which was nonelutable by SDS and the amount of structural alterations observed by FTIR-ATR, both of which are indications of its extent of contact with the surface.
Faktor VIII:C aus Tiermaterial
Authors: Jones P.
Published: July 2018

Faktor VIII:C vom Schwein bietetsich al seine brauchbare Alternative zu menschlichen Konzentraten bei bestimmten Patienten an. Der Autor hat Erfathrung mit dem alten Material, das routinemäßig für die Prophylaxe während chirurgischer Eingriffe oder beischweren Blutungen bei Fehlen einer hinreichenden Menge an menschlichem Material angewendet wurde. Es war schwer löslich, verursachte Fieberreaktionen und, besonders bei hoher Dosierung, eine Thrombozytopenie. Seine Wirksamkeit war auf 8–10 Tage beschränkt, so daϐ dann Rinderoder menschliches Konzentrat substituiert warden muϐte, bis die Wundheilung vollständing war. Abgesehen von diesen Einschränkungen verdanken viele Hämophile ihr Leben der Verwendung doeses Materials.

Das neue über Polyelektrolyte hergestellte Schweinematerial (Hyate: C) hat verschiedene wichtige Vorteile. Das PAF-Problem scheint gelöst zusein, schwere Reaktionen sind selten (sollten aber immer als möglich angesehen warden), es ist leicht löslich und, was das Wichtigste von allem ist, seine Antigenität scheint viel geringer zu sein als jene des alten Prodluktes. Patienten wurden erfolgreich über mehr als 10 Tage behandelt und wiederholte Behandlungszyklen wurden nicht von anaphylaktischen Reaktionen begleitet.

Hyate: C bietet eine alternative und wahrscheinlich sicherere Methode der Therapie für Patienten mit Antikörpern (besonders solchen, die eine hohe anamnestische Reaktion aufweisen) als aktivierte Prothrombin-Komplex-Produkte. Die Verwendung dieses Produktes sollte immer erwogen warden, wenn Schweineantikörper fehlen oder in niedriger Konzentrationtion vorhanden sind. Es bleibt jedoch Vorsicht bei der Anwendung erforderlich. Das Material muϐ nach Ansicht des Autors noch immer als ein experimentelles Produkt betrachtet warden.
Perioperative, Single-Surgeon Experience in Cerebrovascular Bypass Procedures at Academic Medical Center and Community Hospital
Authors: Nissman Kathleen W. , Zomorodi Ali R. , Gupta Dhanesh K. , Dhakal Ishwori , Li Yi-Ju , James Michael L.
Published: July 2018

Background Little evidence exists for superiority of neurosurgical outcomes from care subspecialization. Outcomes of a single neurosurgeon after complex vascular neurosurgery in an academic medical center were compared against those in a community hospital.

Methods In this retrospective analysis of extracranial-intracranial vascular bypass operations performed between July 1, 2013 and February 1, 2015, cases were identified by cross-referencing the electronic medical record with the surgeon's own records. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative variables were abstracted from cases performed at a tertiary center and a community hospital. Dichotomous postoperative data recorded included extubation in the operating room (OR), readmission, and survival to discharge, and length of stay was also analyzed. Due to small sample size and low readmission rate, Firth's penalized likelihood tests were incorporated in the logistic regression model for parameter estimation and testing.

Results A total of 28 hemispheres in 26 patients were included: 18 hemispheres in 16 patients at the tertiary center and 10 hemispheres in 9 patients at the community hospital. Differences were found in operative time (tertiary mean: 7.21 + 2.5 hours, community mean: 5.19 + 0.9 hours, p = 0.0074) and readmission to the tertiary center (p = 0.078). However, significant difference was observed only for anesthetic type (more likely to include remifentanil and propofol at the tertiary center, p = 0.0104).

Conclusion Subspecialty care alone may be insufficient to enhance outcome after complex neurosurgical procedures.
Auf der Suche nach dem Glück – ein Exkurs zu einigen wissenschaftlichen Grundlagen
Authors: Jordan Wolfgang
Published: July 2018

Ausgehend von dem Märchen „Hans im Glück“ werden einige wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse zur Sozialökonomie, zur Neurobiologie, zur Psychologie, zur Psychiatrie und zur Philosophie des Glücks erläutert und in einer persönlichen Betrachtung einer moralischen, einer ästhetischen, einer geistigen und einer spirituellen Dimension als Grundlage des menschlichen Zusammenlebens zugeordnet.
Zum Glück in der Forensik
Authors: von Schönfeld Carl-Ernst
Published: July 2018

Glück in der Forensik kann für Patienten eine gute Behandlung, für die Gesellschaft Sicherheit und für die Behandler eine sehr befriedigende Arbeit bedeuten. Forensische Behandlung braucht eine Grundhaltung, die auf eine würdevolle positive Identität abzielt und eine Fachlichkeit, die sich an den Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR)-Prinzipien sowie den persönlichen Zielen der Patienten orientiert. Die jüngsten Gesetzesreformen werden zu kürzeren Verweildauern im Maßregelvollzug führen und erfordern eine intensive und gut vernetzte Nachsorge. Rückfallgefahr ist keine reine Glückssache, sondern kann kalkuliert und reduziert werden.
Real homotopy theory and supersymmetric quantum mechanics
Authors: Kim Hyungrok , Saberi Ingmar
Published: July 2018

In the context of studying string backgrounds, much work has been devoted to the question of how similar a general quantum field theory (specifically, a two-dimensional superconformal field theory) is to a sigma model. Put differently, one would like to know how well or poorly one can understand the physics of string backgrounds in terms of concepts of classical geometry. Much attention has also been given of late to the question of how geometry can be encoded in a microscopic physical description that makes no explicit reference to space and time. We revisit the first question and review both well-known and less well-known results about geometry and sigma models from the perspective of dimensional reduction to supersymmetric quantum mechanics. The consequences of arising as the dimensional reduction of a d-dimensional theory for the resulting quantum mechanics are explored. In this context, we reinterpret the minimal models of rational (more precisely, complex) homotopy theory as certain supersymmetric Fock spaces, with unusual actions of the supercharges. The data of the Massey products appear naturally as supersymmetric vacuum states that are entangled between different degrees of freedom. This connection between entanglement and geometry is, as far as we know, not well known to physicists. In addition, we take note of an intriguing numerical coincidence in the context of string compactification on hyper-Kähler eight-manifolds.
Calculations of free energy of surface interactions in crystalline polyethylene
Authors: Yeh In-Chul , Andzelm Jan W.
Published: July 2018

The surface free energy of the crystalline polyethylene (PE) is an important property related with wettability, adhesion, and crystal growth. We investigated the profiles of free energy of surface interactions in the fully thermalized crystalline PE during debonding and shearing with atomistic molecular dynamics simulations using steered molecular dynamics and umbrella sampling techniques. The stress profiles during debonding and shearing processes were also estimated and compared with those obtained from analogous deformation simulations. We estimated the vacuum surface free energies of two different crystallographic surfaces (100) and (010) of the crystalline PE from the free energy changes during the debonding process. The estimated surface free energies were insensitive to the choice of simulation protocols after combining estimates from both forward and backward processes and were in excellent agreement with those obtained from an experiment on PE single crystal aggregates, which underscores the importance of the inclusion of the entropic contribution in the free energy calculated with the fully flexible interface adopted in this study.
Characteristics of the SOL turbulence structure in the first experimental campaign on W7-X with limiter configuration
Authors: Liu S. C. , Liang Y. , Drews P. , Krämer-Flecken A. , Han X. , Nicolai D. , Satheeswaran G. , Wang N. C. , Cai J. Q. , Charl A. , Cosfeld J. , Gao Y. , Grulke O. , Henkel M. , Hollfeld K. P. , Killer C. , Knieps A. , König R. , Neubauer O. , Rack M. , Sandri N. , Sereda S. , Schweer B. , Wang E. H. , Wei Y. L. ,   W7-X Team
Published: July 2018

In the first experimental campaign of Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), a combined probe head mounted on the multi-purpose manipulator has been used to measure the scrape-off layer (SOL) turbulence characteristics. The preliminary experimental results are summarized to illustrate the SOL turbulence properties in the limiter configuration on W7-X. In a standard limiter configuration, significant electrostatic fluctuations can be found in the near SOL, and the dominant frequency of fluctuation power is below 100 kHz. The auto-correlation spectrum power law decay factor is α ≈ −1 below 40 kHz and α ≈ –2 between 50 and 200 kHz. A broadband spectrum appears between 240 and 380 kHz with a low spectral power density, but a high cross-correlation coefficient. The statistical characteristics of turbulence are calculated by the two-point cross-correlation technique. A clear poloidal dispersion relation is found in the spectrum S(kθ, f), propagating along the ion diamagnetic drift direction with a group velocity (below 100 kHz) about 0.56 km/s in the near SOL in the laboratory frame. The poloidal correlation length is around 5–10 mm in SOL. The turbulence phase velocity is about 0.5–1 km/s when close to the last closed flux surface, which is comparable with the poloidal E × B drift speed.
Stability and structures in atmospheric pressure DC non-transferred arc plasma jets of argon, nitrogen, and air
Authors: Tiwari N. , Bhandari S. , Ghorui S.
Published: July 2018

The stability of dc non-transferred arc plasma jets and their internal structures is investigated through fast photography, emission spectroscopy, and arc dynamics under different operating conditions. A novel method to explore structures inside extremely intense hot plasma jet is conceived and applied for the first time to investigate arc plasma jets. The study revealed distinct interesting structures and their evolution inside the plasma jet, apparently not reported earlier. The associated fundamental mechanisms are identified from direct experimental evidences. Respective steady state jet characteristics with and without air entrainment are obtained from computational fluid dynamic simulation. Arc root motion, air entrainment, and interaction between electromagnetic and fluid dynamic body forces are found to result in a variety of interesting dynamics and structures inside the plasma jet under different operating conditions. Observed behaviors are notably different in argon, nitrogen, and air plasma. While no unusual structures are found over a range of lower flow rates, interesting structures evolve at higher flow rates. Statistical behavior of these structures is found to have a significant dependence on the gas flow rate and torch power. Apart from air entrainment in the downstream, observed isolated temperature islands inside the jet in the upstream have potential to affect particle trajectory, physical processes, and process chemistry in a significant manner.
Control of dipole properties in high-k and SiO2 stacks on Si substrates with tricolor superstructure
Authors: Hotta Yasushi , Kawayama Iwao , Miyake Shozo , Saiki Ikuya , Nishi Shintaro , Yamahara Kota , Arafune Koji , Yoshida Haruhiko , Satoh Shin-ichi , Sawamoto Naomi , Ogura Atsushi , Ito Akira , Nakanishi Hidetoshi , Tonouchi Masayoshi , Tabata Hitoshi
Published: July 2018

The concept of the tricolor superstructure (TCS), which is a triple-layer stack structure containing two types of high dielectric constant (high-k) layers (designated HK1 and HK2) and a SiO2 layer, is proposed to control the moment and the polarity of the interface dipole layer that are induced at the high-k/SiO2 interfaces. The interface dipole layer is formed by oxygen ion migration from the layer with higher oxygen areal density (σ) to that with lower σ. When the two high-k materials are selected with the order of σHK1 > σSiO2 > σHK2 in a SiO2/HK2/HK1/SiO2 TCS, the dipole directions of the interface dipole layers at the SiO2/HK2 and the HK1/SiO2 interfaces are aligned. Additionally, in the transposed SiO2/HK1/HK2/SiO2 TCS, the total polarity is reversed. The concept is demonstrated using Al2O3 and Y2O3 layers because they offer the order of σAl2O3 > σSiO2 > σY2O3. The two stacking sequence samples composed of SiO2/Y2O3/Al2O3/SiO2 and SiO2/Al2O3/Y2O3/SiO2 that were fabricated using superlattice technique by pulsed laser deposition obviously show opposite dipole polarities. Increasing repetition of the deposited TCS unit also causes the dipole moments to increase systematically. The TCS technique enables control of the properties of the interface dipole layer at high-k/SiO2 interfaces in amorphous systems.
Modulational instability by strong Langmuir waves in q-plasma
Authors: Liang Liufeng , Liu Xiaolan , Gao Weiguang
Published: July 2018

Based on the full Zakharov equations, the dispersion relation of the wave-wave interaction by strong Langmuir waves in nonextensive plasma is obtained. The dispersion equation were analyzed with numerical method and the results indicate that both the wave number range and maximum growth rate of the modulational instability by strong Langmuir waves will enhance with the nonextensive parameter q increasing. Moreover, an analytic study of dispersion equations in two special and important cases, the modulation instability induced by transverse perturbations and longitudinal perturbations, is presented. The analysis shows that the growth rate induced by transverse perturbations and that done by longitudinal perturbations are equal when the nonextensive parameter q is the same. Comparison of the calculated modulational instability with the corresponding analytical solutions shows that they are in good agreement. This research provides a clearer physical picture of the modulational instability in nonextensive plasma.
Evaluating the impact of thermal annealing on c-Si/Al2O3 interface: Correlating electronic properties to infrared absorption
Authors: Lee C.-Y. , Deng S. , Zhang T. , Cui X. , Khoo K. T. , Kim K. , Hoex B.
Published: July 2018

Al2O3 is the standard for the passivation of p-type PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact) solar cells. It is well established that the thin interfacial silicon oxide layer in between Al2O3 and c-Si plays a key role in its surface passivation mechanism. In this work, we investigate the interface properties of c-Si/Al2O3 by non-destructive methods. We show that Brewster angle Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has a remarkable sensitivity to the interfacial silicon oxide layer by exploiting the large cross-section of the longitudinal-optic mode. These measurements show that the interfacial SiOx layer increases in atomic density for higher annealing temperatures which coincide with an increase in negative fixed charge density (Qf) determined from contactless capacitance-voltage measurements. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results show a decrease of [OH] at higher annealing temperatures which could be correlated to denser SiOx increasing Qf. This work provides insight into the impact of thermal annealing on the Al2O3/c-Si interface.
Perspective: Chain dynamics of unfolded and intrinsically disordered proteins from nanosecond fluorescence correlation spectroscopy combined with single-molecule FRET
Authors: Schuler Benjamin
Published: July 2018

The dynamics of unfolded proteins are important both for the process of protein folding and for the behavior of intrinsically disordered proteins. However, methods for investigating the global chain dynamics of these structurally diverse systems have been limited. A versatile experimental approach is single-molecule spectroscopy in combination with Förster resonance energy transfer and nanosecond fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. The concepts of polymer physics offer a powerful framework both for interpreting the results and for understanding and classifying the properties of unfolded and intrinsically disordered proteins. This information on long-range chain dynamics can be complemented with spectroscopic techniques that probe different length scales and time scales, and integration of these results greatly benefits from recent advances in molecular simulations. This increasing convergence between the experiment, theory, and simulation is thus starting to enable an increasingly detailed view of the dynamics of disordered proteins.
Effects of electrode chemical reactions on SF6 discharge characteristics in extremely inhomogeneous electric fields
Authors: Wu Zhicheng , Zhang Qiaogen , Ma Chaoqun , Ni Heli
Published: July 2018

SF6 is widely used in the gas-insulated metal-enclosed switchgear or the corona-stabilized gas spark switch applications as a gas dielectric. It is generally believed that the discharge characteristics are only related to the electric field distribution and gas molecular density; however, the electrode chemical reactions can indeed markedly affect the SF6 discharge characteristics in the extremely inhomogeneous electric fields under the steady-state voltage. In this study, we used a needle-plane electrode system to build an extremely inhomogeneous electric field and examined the discharge characteristics within it including U-p characteristics, corona appearance, and corona current. We also analyzed the micro-region characteristics of the electrode surface, including the surface morphology, elemental composition, and chemical state to fully qualitatively determine the role of the electrode chemical reactions in discharge behavior. We found that the N-shaped U-p curve widens, the filamentous leader channels disappear, and the corona current drops suddenly as the duration of the electrode chemical reactions increases. Varying the surface morphology, elemental composition, and chemical state was observed on the electrodes of different polarities through micro-region analysis. The metal fluoride or metal sulfide film on the electrode surface may serve as a resistive coating due to its low electrical conductivity, which obstructs the leader discharge while enhancing the streamer discharge, suppressing the transition from the streamer to leader discharge and altogether significantly altering the discharge characteristics. The resistive coating produced is the primary cause of the electrode chemical reaction effects on the discharge characteristics, primarily as it depresses the transition from the streamer to leader discharge. The results presented here may provide useful guidelines for further research on SF6 discharge under inhomogeneous electric fields.
Fusion reactors may get some help from meandering electrons
Authors: Cesare Chris
Published: July 2018

A radial flux of electrons colliding with turbulent plasma modes is predicted to drive axial currents of more than a million amps in large tokamaks.
Convergent beam electron holography for analysis of van der Waals heterostructures
Authors: Latychevskaia Tatiana , Woods Colin Robert , Wang Yi Bo , Holwill Matthew , Prestat Eric , Haigh Sarah J. , Novoselov Kostya S.
Published: July 2018

Significance

Assembling 2D materials into vertically stacked heterostructures allows an unprecedented control over their properties. The interaction between the individual crystals plays the crucial role here; thus, the information about the local atomic stacking is of great importance. Still, there are no techniques which would allow investigation of the stacking between such crystals with any reasonable throughput. We present the use of convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) to investigate the quality of the interface in such heterostructures. We demonstrate that defects such as misorientation, strain, ripples, and others can be visualized, and quantitative information about such structures can be easily extracted. Furthermore, CBED images can be treated as holograms; thus their reconstruction gives 3D profiles of the heterostructures over a large area.
Post-Conflict Cooperation in Multi-Ethnic Local communities of Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Qualitative Comparative analysis of Diaspora's Role
Authors: Hasić Jasmin
Published: July 2018

How are diaspora involvement in peacebuilding and elite cooperation in multi-ethnic municipalities complementary? This article examines how local elites perceive and respond to conflict-generated diaspora's role in peacebuilding in nine post-conflict multi-ethnic municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and whether these perceptions can determine types of inter-ethnic cooperation within local institutions. Using a systematic comparative case study analysis utilising ideal-type fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), I derive four types of relationships. The results indicate that local elites, experiencing various levels of direct and indirect interaction with diaspora communities, perceive diaspora's role in the process as constraining their own cooperation prospects. The analysis also demonstrates that local elites perceive diaspora as insufficiently competent and imperfectly coordinated to tackle major challenges in local peacebuilding frameworks and that diaspora actions do not significantly affect the reform of current dynamics and practices of intra-ethnic cooperation among elites.