2,672 research outputs found
Correlation between the reliability of HEMT devices and that of a combined oscillator-amplifier
We evaluate an oscillator-amplifier MMIC submitted to high-temperature operating life time tests. To relate adequately these results with individual components’ results, it is important to realise that failure mechanisms in non-linear MMICs are governed by the maximally instantaneous voltages/currents and hence that comparisons should be conducted at equal instantaneous conditions
Possible role of extracellularly released phagocytic proteinases in the coagulation disorder during liver transplantation
Orthotopic liver transplantation is frequently associated with a complex coagulation disorder, influencing the outcome of the procedure. In this respect, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) had been suggested to be of causative importance for bleeding complications after reperfusion of the liver graft. In 10 consecutive patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantations, we studied the occurrence of two phagocyte proteinases of different origin in the graft liver perfus-ate and in systemic blood during the operation, as well as their effects on hemostasis. As compared with plasma samples taken at the end of the anhepatic phase, highly significant increases of cathepsin B and thrombin-anti-thrombin III complexes (TAT), as well as highly significant decreases in antithrombin III, protein C, and C1-inhibitor were observed in graft liver perfusate. Von Willebrand factor and fibrinogen were slightly decreased, whereas the elastase-alpha1 proteinase inhibitor complexes (EPI) were elevated. In plasma the activity of cathepsin B remained unchanged during the prereperfusion phases, but immediately after revascularization of the graft this cysteine proteinase increased. The EPI showed a gradual increase in plasma during the preanhepatic and anhepatic phases but a more pronounced increase in the reperfusion phase. In parallel with the rise in these two proteinases TAT increased and the activities of antithrombin III and C1-inhibitor in plasma decreased after reperfusion. At 12 hr after revascularization plasma levels of TAT, antithrombin III, and C1-inhibitor had returned to the prereperfusion ranges, whereas cathepsin B and EPI were significantly above the baseline levels. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that extracellularly released lysosomal proteinases may play a role in the development of a DIC-like constellation, including thrombin formation after revascularization of the liver graft. For the first time we could prove the occurrence of phagocyte proteinases in graft liver perfusate and evaluate the importance of these proteinases for the understanding of the pathophysiology leading to bleeding complications in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation
Xenogeneic, extracorporeal liver perfusion in primates improves the ratio of branched-chain amino acids to aromatic amino acids (Fischer's ratio)
In fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), the development of hepatic encephalopathy is associated with grossly abnormal concentrations of plasma amino acids (PAA). Normalization of the ratio of branched-chain amino acids to aromatic amino acids (Fischer's ratio) correlates with clinical improvement. This study evaluated changes in PAA metabolism during 4 h of isolated, normothermic extracorporeal liver perfusion using a newly designed system containing human blood and a rhesus monkey liver. Bile and urea production were within the physiological range. Release of the transaminases AST, ALT and LDH were minimal. The ratio of branched (valine, leucine, isoleucine) to aromatic (tyrosine, phenylalanine) amino acids increased significantly. These results indicate that a xenogeneic extracorporeal liver perfusion system is capable of significantly increasing Fischer's ratio and may play a role in treating and bridging patients in FHF in the future
Thickness-dependent secondary structure formation of tubelike polymers
By means of sophisticated Monte Carlo methods, we investigate the
conformational phase diagram of a simple model for flexible polymers with
explicit thickness. The thickness constraint, which is introduced geometrically
via the global radius of curvature of a polymer conformation, accounts for the
excluded volume of the polymer and induces cooperative effects supporting the
formation of secondary structures. In our detailed analysis of the temperature
and thickness dependence of the conformational behavior for classes of short
tubelike polymers, we find that known secondary-structure segments like helices
and turns, but also ringlike conformations and stiff rods are dominant
intrinsic topologies governing the phase behavior of such cooperative tubelike
objects. This shows that the thickness constraint is indeed a fundamental
physical parameter that allows for a classification of generic polymer
structures
Application of Multicanonical Multigrid Monte Carlo Method to the Two-Dimensional -Model: Autocorrelations and Interface Tension
We discuss the recently proposed multicanonical multigrid Monte Carlo method
and apply it to the scalar -model on a square lattice. To investigate
the performance of the new algorithm at the field-driven first-order phase
transitions between the two ordered phases we carefully analyze the
autocorrelations of the Monte Carlo process. Compared with standard
multicanonical simulations a real-time improvement of about one order of
magnitude is established. The interface tension between the two ordered phases
is extracted from high-statistics histograms of the magnetization applying
histogram reweighting techniques.Comment: 49 pp. Latex incl. 14 figures (Fig.7 not included, sorry) as
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Ground-state properties of tubelike flexible polymers
In this work we investigate structural properties of native states of a
simple model for short flexible homopolymers, where the steric influence of
monomeric side chains is effectively introduced by a thickness constraint. This
geometric constraint is implemented through the concept of the global radius of
curvature and affects the conformational topology of ground-state structures. A
systematic analysis allows for a thickness-dependent classification of the
dominant ground-state topologies. It turns out that helical structures,
strands, rings, and coils are natural, intrinsic geometries of such tubelike
objects
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