Drug-related lupus in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis under sulfasalazine treatment

The induction of lupus-like syndromes with the appearance of single-stranded DNA antibodies is a well-known complication of drug therapy. In this report we present a patient with an erosive seropositive rheumatoid arthritis developing the clinical and serological features of systemic lupus erythematosus including the occurrence of double-stranded DNA antibodies under sulfasalazine treatment.     

Collective spin modes in superconducting double layers

We investigate a double layer system with tight-binding hopping, intra-layer and inter-layer interactions, as well as a Josephson like coupling. We find that an antiferromagnetic spin polarization induces additional spin-triplet pairing (with S_z = 0) to the singlet order parameter. This causes an undamped collective mode in the superconducting state below the particle-hole threshold, which is interpreted as a Goldstone excitation.This work has been supported by grants from the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (C.H.) and the Bayerische Forschungsstiftung within the research project FORSUPRA II (F.F.).     

Wasserstofftechnologie für Antriebssysteme mit Zukunft

Alongside constant optimisation of conventional motors, BMW has long been conducting basic research on the use of new energy sources and drive systems having significant advantages with respect to emission levels and availability of resources. Electricity stored in batteries or in the form of hydrogen hold considerable promise in the long term. During the present decade, electrically powered cars come into question for short runs; these are characterised by higher efficiency if certain conditions relating to the overall energy balance are met. Significantly greater action radii are possibly only with liquid hydrogen. Although the engineering questions and factors such as storage, safety, and handling can be regarded as basically solved, use of hydrogen-powered vehicles will initially be in niche areas because of the lack of infrastructure. Hybrid systems to compensate for battery risks and charged with natural gas stored in gaseous (CNG) or liquid form (LNG) will serve important pioneering functions. BMW will market natural gas-driven vehicles from the end of 1995.     

A field study of frame-of-reference effects on personality test validity.

As part of a test validation study at a major U.S.-based airline, the authors tested the effects of providing an "at work" frame-of-reference on the validity of the NEO Five-Factor Inventory among a sample of customer service supervisors (N = 206). Frame-of-reference moderated the validity of the Extraversion and Openness to Experience subscales after controlling for cognitive ability. In addition, the frame-of-reference personality test showed incremental validity over cognitive ability (ΔR2 = .16), but the standard personality test did not (ΔR2 = .05). The authors' discussion focuses on implications for personality theory and research and on implications for increasing the validity of personality tests in organizational settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structural invariance of constitutively active and inactive mutants of acanthamoeba myosin IC bound to F-actin in the rigor and ADP-bound states

The three single-headed monomeric myosin I isozymes of Acanthamoeba castellanii (AMIs)-AMIA, AMIB, and AMIC-are among the best-studied of all myosins. We have used AMIC to study structural correlates of myosin's actin-activated ATPase. This activity is normally controlled by phosphorylation of Ser-329, but AMIC may be switched into constitutively active or inactive states by substituting this residue with Glu or Ala, respectively. To determine whether activation status is reflected in structural differences in the mode of attachment of myosin to actin, these mutant myosins were bound to actin filaments in the absence of nucleotide (rigor state) and visualized at 24-A resolution by using cryoelectron microscopy and image reconstruction. No such difference was observed. Consequently, we suggest that regulation may be affected not by altering the static (time-averaged) structure of AMIC but by modulating its dynamic properties, i.e., molecular breathing. The tail domain of vertebrate intestinal brush-border myosin I has been observed to swing through 31 degrees on binding of ADP. However, it was predicted on grounds of differing kinetics that any such effects with AMIC should be small [Jontes, J. D., Ostap, E. M., Pollard, T. D. & Milligan, R. A. (1998) J. Cell Biol. 141, 155-162]. We have confirmed this hypothesis by observing actin-associated AMIC in its ADP-bound state. Finally, we compared AMIC to brush-border myosin I and AMIB, which were previously studied under similar conditions. In each case, the shape and angle of attachment to F-actin of the catalytic domain is largely conserved, but the domain structure and disposition of the tail is distinctively different for each myosin.     

Latex allergy: implementation of an agency program

Allergy to latex has been increasing in both the healthcare consumer and healthcare provider populations over the past decade. Realizing that sensitivity/allergy to latex is an issue for both patients and staff, the authors created an interdisciplinary task force to address latex safety in a healthcare agency that provides care within inpatient, public health, and outpatient settings. In this article, the authors discuss allergic response to latex and testing for latex sensitivity as well as latex allergy in the general population, among patient populations, and among healthcare providers. The authors outline the development of a latex-free product cart, an agency policy and procedure, and staff and patient education strategies.     

Detection of desterolized sunflower oil in olive oil through isomerized Δ7-sterols

Adulteration of expensive edible oils, such as olive oil, often involves desterolized oils in order to render the adulteration undetectable. Sunflower oil contains characteristic Δ7-sterols, which are readily removed upon strong bleaching. It is shown that these Δ7-sterols do not primarily dehydrate (as do Δ5-sterols), but isomerize to Δ8(14)- and Δ14-sterols. These compounds can be analysed by LC on silica gel or GC on capillary columns with stationary phases of intermediate to high polarity.