The BL Lac object (blazar) Mrk 421 was observed during its outburst in 2004 April with the Whipple 10 m telescope for a total of about 24.5 hr. The measured g-ray rate varied substantially over the range from 4 to 10 minute 1 and eventually exceeded the steady g-ray rate of the Crab Nebula (standard candle) by a factor of 3. The overall significance of the g-ray signal exceeded 70 j and the tot...

We have developed a model for the variability of gamma ray emission in jets of active galactic nuclei in which the variability arises as a result of photon-photon pair production interactions with X-rays emitted by a hot spot in the inner part of the accretion disk. As the hot spot orbits around the central engine, the amount of absorption varies periodically. Our model may account for the obse...

The existence of angiotensin II (AII) immunoreactivity in juxtaglomerular (JG) cells of rat kidney, which has been demonstrated previously by immunohistochemical studies, can be explained either as the product of intracellular synthesis or by the internalization of receptor-bound AII originating in plasma. To resolve these two alternative mechanisms, attempts were made to identify AI in JG cell...

The in vitro conversion of enalapril (MK421) to enalaprilic acid (MK422) in human autopsy tissues was examined. MK422 was measured by radioimmunoassay. Human cadaver liver was the only tissue in which significant conversion was demonstrated. The esterase activity was stable after post mortem. Autopsy liver tissues from patients with elevated ante mortem liver function tests were found to have a...

Daily monitoring of Mrk 421 in the X-ray and TeV bands during the first half of 2004 showed rapid flaring events above an elevated base flux level, culminating from March to May 2004 at an average flux level matching the highest detected flux state in 2001. Here we summarise the daily X-ray spectral variability observed with the RXTE-PCA instrument. We also explore the X-ray and TeV gamma-ray c...

Mkn 421 was observed by Chandra twice, on November 5, 1999 as part of the Chandra calibration program, with the ACIS-HETG configuration, and on May 29, 2000 following our Target Of Opportunity request aimed to catch the source in an ultra-high state, with both the ACIS-HETG and the HRC-LETG configurations. In this contribution we present and compare the two Chandra-MEG observations of Mkn 421, ...

Invasive hemodynamic measurements and determination of baroreflex sensitivity were carried out in 12 mildly sodium-depleted normotensive volunteers in a randomized double-blind crossover study with a single dose of converting enzyme inhibitor, MK-421, and placebo. In supine humans at rest, MK-421 caused a reduction in blood pressure through a fall in total peripheral resistance and an increase ...

The Advisory Committee on Existing Chemicals (BUA) of the Federal Republic of Germany convened a panel with expertise in reproductive and developmental toxicology to evaluate the OECD Screening Tests 421 (Reproduction/Developmental Toxicity Screening Test) and 422 (Combined Repeated Dose Toxicity Study with the Reproduction/Developmental Toxicity Screening Test) with respect to their ability to...

2,3,3,3,2',3',3',3'-Octachlorodipropyl ether (Abbreviation; S-421) is originally developed as synergist of a pyrethroid insecticide. In recent years, S-421 is used widely at home, for a mosquito-repellent incense, electric mosquito-repellent, an insect-killing spray, a vacuum cleaner paper pack, etc. as well. On the other hand, S-421 has been detected in vacuum cleaner dust samples as well as h...