From Calcium to Cadmium: Testing the Pairing Functional through Charge Radii Measurements of

Differences in mean-square nuclear charge radii of ^{100-130}Cd are extracted from high-resolution collinear laser spectroscopy of the 5s ^{2}S_{1/2}→5p ^{2}P_{3/2} transition of the ion and from the 5s5p ^{3}P_{2}→5s6s ^{3}S_{1} transition in atomic Cd. The radii show a smooth parabolic behavior on top of a linear trend and a regular odd-even staggering across the almost complete sdgh shell. They serve as a first test for a recently established new Fayans functional and show a remarkably good agreement in the trend as well as in the total nuclear charge radius.

Simple Nuclear Structure in (111-129)Cd from Atomic Isomer Shifts.

Isomer shifts have been determined in ^{111-129}Cd by high-resolution laser spectroscopy at CERN-ISOLDE. The corresponding mean square charge-radii changes, from the 1/2^{+} and the 3/2^{+} ground states to the 11/2^{-} isomers, have been found to follow a distinct parabolic dependence as a function of the atomic mass number. Since the isomers have been previously associated with simplicity due to the linear mass dependence of their quadrupole moments, the regularity of the isomer shifts suggests a higher order of symmetry affecting the ground states in addition. A comprehensive description assuming nuclear deformation is found to accurately reproduce the radii differences in conjunction with the known quadrupole moments. This intuitive interpretation is supported by covariant density functional theory.

Spins, electromagnetic moments, and isomers of (107-129)Cd.

The neutron-rich isotopes of cadmium up to the N=82 shell closure have been investigated by high-resolution laser spectroscopy. Deep-uv excitation at 214.5 nm and radioactive-beam bunching provided the required experimental sensitivity. Long-lived isomers are observed in (127)Cd and (129)Cd for the first time. One essential feature of the spherical shell model is unambiguously confirmed by a linear increase of the 11/2(-) quadrupole moments. Remarkably, this mechanism is found to act well beyond the h(11/2) shell.

Nuclear charge radius of 12Be.

The nuclear charge radius of (12)Be was precisely determined using the technique of collinear laser spectroscopy on the 2s(1/2)→2p(1/2,3/2) transition in the Be(+) ion. The mean square charge radius increases from (10)Be to (12)Be by δ(10,12)=0.69(5) fm(2) compared to δ(10,11)=0.49(5) fm(2) for the one-neutron halo isotope ^{11}Be. Calculations in the fermionic molecular dynamics approach show a strong sensitivity of the charge radius to the structure of ^{12}Be. The experimental charge radius is consistent with a breakdown of the N=8 shell closure.

Vicia villosa agglutinin separates freshly isolated Peyer's Patch T cells into interleukin 5- or interleukin 2-producing subsets.

Murine L3T4 T cells freshly isolated from Peyer's Patch were fractionated based on differential adherence to Vicia villosa agglutinin (VVA). VVA adherent cells secreted IL-5, but not IL-2, after stimulation with Con A and IL-1. In striking contrast, VVA nonadherent PP L3T4 T cells secreted IL-2, but not IL-5, under the same conditions. In addition, supernatants from VVA adherent, but not from VVA nonadherent cells cultures, enhanced IgA secretion by LPS-stimulated splenic B cells to the same extent as purified IL-5. Thus, IL-5-producing T cells are present in PP in situ and may play an important role in the development of mucosal immunity. Further, differential adherence to VVA can be used to separate T cell populations that preferentially secrete IL-5 or IL-2.

High-performance liquid chromatographic measurement of selected blood citric acid cycle intermediates.

We describe a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for analysis of the intermediates of the citric acid cycle. Using two Aminex HPX-87H columns in series at 36 degrees C, the early eluting compounds cis-aconitate, oxaloacetate, alpha-ketoglutarate and citrate-isocitrate can be resolved. Acetonitrile is used for extraction of citric acid cycle intermediates from blood as interfering ultraviolet absorbing peaks are present with perchloric acid or trichloroacetic acid extraction. Acetonitrile extraction is compared with perchloric acid extraction of citric acid cycle intermediates from plasma. Low recovery of some organic acids from blood seems not to be due to enzymatic degradation. Storage of acetonitrile extracts in liquid nitrogen led to a small but significant decrease in pyruvate levels in human blood. However, significant changes in other organic acids were not seen. HPLC methodology allows study of the citric acid cycle in tissue samples as well as blood and promises to facilitate the investigation of human disorders of energy metabolism.

[Effect of tricuspid annuloplasty in mitral/aortic valve replacement on the clinical aspects and global function of the right heart chamber]. / Einfluss der Trikuspidalklappenraffung beim Mitral-/Aortenklappenersatz auf Klinik und Globalfunktion der rechten Herzkammer.

The clinical improvement after mitral or aortic valve surgery is primarily due to the correction of the aortic/mitral valve function and the subsequent decrease of pulmonary artery pressure. The hemodynamic effect of an additional tricuspid annuloplasty, however, is still unclear. To assess the influence of a tricuspid annuloplasty using DeVega- or Carpentier-technique on the clinical outcome, hemodynamics, and right ventricular function in patients with moderate to severe tricuspid insufficiency, 38 patients were studied pre- and 11 +/- 4 months postoperatively. The clinical degree of left heart failure was graded according to the criteria of the NYHA. The extent of right heart failure (RHF) was determined using a clinical score from 0 (no signs) to 3 (severe RHF with pleural effusion/ascites). Mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAPm), end-diastolic volume index (RVEDVI), and ejection fraction (RVEF) of the right ventricle using biplane cineventriculography, as well as the angiographic and dopplerechocardiographic degree of tricuspid insufficiency were determined. The patients were assigned to three groups: gr.I (n = 12): preoperatively no tricuspid insufficiency (TI), gr. II (n = 12): with preop. TI and without tricuspid annuloplasty (TA), gr. III (n = 14): with preop. TI and TA. The patients of all three groups improved postoperatively from NYHA functional class III to class II (p less than 0.001). The clinical score of RHF decreased from 0.8 +/- 0.5 to 0.3 +/- 0.5 in gr. I, from 1.4 +/- 1.1 to 0.6 +/- 0.7 in gr. II, and from 1.7 +/- 1.0 to 0.8 +/- 0.8 in gr. III (p less than 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)