Parallel and robust skeletonization built on self-organizing elements.

A massively parallel neural architecture is suggested for the approximate computation of the skeleton of a planar shape. Numerical examples demonstrate the robustness of the method. The architecture is constructed from self-organizing elements that allow the extension of the concept of skeletonization to areas remote to image processing.

Preparation and Characterization of Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Composite Materials Using the Amphoteric Property of Amino Acids: Amino Acid Intercalated Layered Double Hydroxide and Montmorillonite.

Deprotonated and protonated forms of L-tyrosine or L-phenylalanine were intercalated by Zn-Al hydrotalcite (HT) and Na-montmorillonite (Na-mont), respectively. The intercalated materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, BET measurements, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Intercalation was successful as the increased basal spacings attested.

Chloride distribution in the CA1 region of newborn and adult hippocampus by light microscopic histochemistry.

GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, exerts its effect by rendering the postsynaptic GABAA receptors permeable to chloride ions. Thus, depolarizing or excitatory effects of GABA, experienced in early postnatal life or in certain regions and/or conditions of the adult brain, is thought to be associated with a reversed transmembrane chloride gradient. However, there is only limited direct information about the correlation of the actual excitatory versus inhibitory effects of GABA and the local chloride distribution.

Homogeneous and heterogeneous asymmetric reactions: Part 11. Sonochemical enantioselective hydrogenation of trifluoromethyl ketones over platinum catalysts.

Enantioselective sonochemical hydrogenation of alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluoromethyl ketones, namely, 1,1,1-trifluoroacetophenone and 1,1,1-trifluoro-phenylacetone was carried out over various platinum catalysts modified by cinchonidine in different solvents. Both compounds yielded the (R)-alcohol as major product. The reaction rates and the enantiomeric excesses were determined over Pt/C, Pt/SiO2, Pt/K-10 and Pt/Al2O3 catalysts under conventional conditions.

Ultrasonics in heterogeneous metal catalysis: sonochemical chemo- and enantioselective hydrogenations over supported platinum catalysts.

Sonochemical chemo- and enantioselective hydrogenations over supported platinum catalysts are described. We disclose our results with respect to a sonochemical modification of the chemoselective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde over supported platinum catalysts, and the asymmetric hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate promoted by various ultrasonic pretreatments. The ultrasonic pretreatment of the supported platinum catalysts was found to be highly beneficial in almost every case, improving both the catalytic activity and selectivity.

Sonochemical enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate over platinum catalysts.

Chiral sonochemical hydrogenation of an aliphatic alpha-ketoester, ethyl pyruvate to ethyl lactate was carried out over various platinum catalysts in different solvents under atmospheric hydrogen pressure. The reaction rates and the enantiomeric excesses were determined over Pt/C, Pt/SiO2 and Pt/K-10 catalysts both under conventional and sonochemical conditions. The effect of ultrasounds on the catalytic activity and enantioselectivity was tested applying sonochemical pretreatment before the reaction.

Time-dependent actions of aluminates on membrane and action potentials of snail neurons.

Aluminum (Al) is one of the elements, which is frequently subjected to experiments, however, the neurological observations with it are rather conflicting. The cause of this controversiality is not known but relates to some human disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and others as well. We studied the time-dependent actions of AlCl3 base solutions on resting membrane potential (Em), input resistance (Rin) and spike shape in giant neurons of the snail Helix pomatia L.

Pre- and postsynaptic effects of eugenol and related compounds on Helix pomatia L. neurons.

We showed how eugenol blocks the synaptic transmission and gave a possible interpretation how it inhibits the excitation-contraction coupling that several authors described previously. Eugenol acts both in the pre- and postsynaptic side of the neurons. It blocks the Ca2+-currents, decreases the membrane potential of the neurons, increases the inward resistance and decreases the GABA, ACh and glutamate evoked excitatory responses in submillimolar concentration.

Hydrogen-bonding interactions in the crystalline-phase structures of cinnamic acid derivatives.

Secondary interactions responsible for the crystalline-phase structures of various cinnamic acids and cinnamic acid esters drawn from the Cambridge Structural Database were studied with the help of the Cerius package implemented on an SGI workstation. Primarily hydrogen-bonding interactions were sought, but deviation from planarity was also measured. For the acids, the main structural feature is the strong hydrogen bonding between the carboxyl groups.

High-field NMR studies of 3beta-tetrahydropyranyloxy steroids.

Comprehensive NMR studies were carried out on 3beta-hydroxy-pregnene and cholestene analogs, each containing a tetrahydropyranyl ether group at the 3-position. Two-dimensional NMR experiments (COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, and HSQC-TOCSY) permitted the complete assignments of both the (1)H and (13)C resonances of these derivatives in deuterated benzene or chloroform. The aromatic solvent-induced NMR signal shifts (ASIS) were also investigated.

Speciation of insulin-mimetic VO(IV)-containing drugs in blood serum.

The biospeciations of three potential insulin-mimetic VO(IV) compounds, VO(maltolate)2, VO(picolinate)2 and VO(6-Me-picolinate)2, in blood serum were assessed via modelling calculations, using the stability constants reported in the literature for the binary insulin-mimetic complexes and their ternary complexes formed with the most important low molecular mass binders in the serum: oxalic acid, lactic acid, citric acid and phosphate. The binding capabilities of two high molecular mass serum proteins, albumin and transferrin, were also taken into account.

Determination of acetic acid in aqueous samples, by water-phase derivatisation, solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography.

The direct derivatisation of acetic acid with n-hexyl chloroformate and with benzyl bromide in water was evaluated. With n-hexyl chloroformate, acetic acid did not give the n-hexyl acetate derivative, but the reaction of acetic acid with benzyl bromide in aqueous solution resulted in the formation of benzyl acetate. The derivatisation of acetic acid with benzyl bromide and the headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) of benzyl acetate were optimised.

Anticonvulsive effect of AMPA receptor antagonist GYKI 52466 on 4-aminopyridine-induced cortical ictal activity in rat.

The effect of GYKI-52466 (1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-methyl-7,8-methylenedioxy-5H-2,3-benzodiazepine), a selective antagonist of AMPA receptor was investigated on the generation and manifestation of 4-aminopyridine-induced cortical epileptiform activity. In vivo experiments were carried out on pentobarbital-anaesthetised adult rats. Ictal epileptiform activity was induced by local application of 4-aminopyridine (4-Ap) to the surface of somatosensory cortex.

Identification of ethyl pyruvate and dihydrocinchonidine adducts by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Several ethyl pyruvate and dihydrocinchonidine adducts, formed by non-covalent interactions with alkali cations, have been identified for the first time using electrospray ionization mass and tandem mass spectrometry. This type of adduct may have an important role in asymmetric reactions of pyruvates in the presence of cinchonas.

Sonochemical hydrosilylation of 2-substituted cyclohexanones in the presence of Wilkinson complex.

The sonochemical hydrosilylation of alkyl substituted cyclohexanones catalyzed by Rh (PPh3)3Cl is described. The application of ultrasonic irradiation during the reaction highly enhances the reaction rates and produces higher yields than those obtained in silent reactions. The stereoselectivity of the reaction has not been changed, the isomeric distribution, i.

Comparisons of urban and rural bioclimatological conditions in the case of a central-European city.

This paper examines the influence of a medium-sized city (Szeged, Hungary) on the bioclimatological conditions of human beings. With the help of suitable indices for the available data set, differences in the annual and diurnal variation of human bioclimatic characteristics between an urban and rural environment are evaluated over a 3-year period. These indices are the thermohygrometric index (THI, defined by air temperature and relative humidity), the relative strain index (RSI, defined by air temperature and vapour pressure) and the number of "beergarden days" (defined by air temperature at 2100 hours).

Estrogen effects on arcuate neurons in rat. An in situ electrophysiological study.

In acute experiments, the effects of i.p. 17beta-estradiol on the activity of arcuate neurons were studied in ovariectomized rats.

The anticonvulsive effect of non-NMDA antagonist GYKI 52466 on 3-aminopyridine-induced primary and secondary cortical ictal activity in rat.

The effect of GYKI 52466, a selective, non-competitive antagonist of the AMPA glutamate receptor subtype was investigated on the development, expression and propagation of 3-aminopyridine-induced cortical ictal activity, both in the primary and secondary focus. In one group of animals GYKI 52466 was administered intraperitoneally, 20 minutes prior to the local application of the convulsant the surface of the cortex of anaesthetized rats. Control animals were injected by physiological solution.

Guaiacol and vanilloid compounds modulate the A-type potassium currents in molluscan neurons.

The actions of guaiacol (2-methoxy-phenol), vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzaldehyd) and other vanilloid compounds such as zingerone (4-/4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl/-2-butanon) and eugenol(2-methoxy4-/2-propenyl/phenol) were investigated on the fast outward potassium currents (A-type currents) in molluscan neurons. Guaiacol (0.01-0.

Aluminum enhances the voltage activated sodium currents in the neurons of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis L.

1. The effects of aluminum on voltage activated sodium currents (VASCs) were investigated by using the conventional two-electrode voltage clamp technique in Lymnaea stagnalis L. neurons.

Chronic low-dose maternal exposure to methylmercury enhances epileptogenicity in developing rats.

Effects of continuous low-dose maternal methylmercury intoxication on the induction and propagation of ictal epileptiform activity induced by 3-aminopyridine, were investigated on the neocortex of 4-weeks-old offspring rats. Epileptogenicity was significantly increased in offspring of mercury-treated animals compared to those of controls, characterized by more frequent occurrence of periodic ictal activity, a facilitated propagation of epileptiform discharges and a strong tendency to generalization. The latency of first ictal event was slightly shorter and the average duration of individual ictal periods slightly longer in treated animals.