AnAnolis skin melanophore assay suitable for photoaffinity labeling studies with α-MSH

Summary Visual determination of MSH-induced pigment migration in melanophores of small pieces ofAnolis carolinensis skin is standardized by first measuring photoelectrometrically the change in reflection/transmission of the whole dorsal skin in response to different hormone concentrations. This method allows the rapid and precise recording of time-response curves after photoaffinity labeling of MSH receptors or of dose-response curves of large series of synthetic compounds.Acknowledgments. We wish to thank Ms V. Jäggin, Ms C. Schulthess and Ms G. van Hees for excellent technical assistance, Dr. R. Andreatta, Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, for his generous gift of -MSH and Prof. A Pletscher for his continuous interest. This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.     

Bicuculline and picrotoxin block γ-aminobutryic acid-gated Cl− conductance by different mechanisms

Summary Using isolated, internally perfused bullfrog dorsal root ganglion cells we have studied the dose-response curves for -aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the presence of internally or externally applied GABA antagonists. With external application of antagonists the inhibition of the GABA current by bicuculline was competitive and that by picrotoxin was noncompetitive. Picrotoxin but not bicuculline blocked when internally perfused.To whom reprint requests should be addressed.Acknowledgments. We thank Drs S. Minakami and S. Yasui for helpful discussions and comments.     

The susceptibility to exercise-induced muscle damage increases as rats grow larger

Summary Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and N-acetyl--glucosaminidase activities were both elevated after eccentric exercise indicating that this type of exercise causes muscle damage. Muscle damage as measured by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the vastus intermedius was greater and occurred later in larger rats indicating that the susceptibility to muscle damage is increased and the repair process delayed in older and larger animals.     

Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection

Summary Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection have disporven some of the central tenets of both the handicap mechanism and the sexy son hypothesis. These results suggest that the good genes approach to sexual selection may generally lead to erroneous results.Runaway sexual selection seems possible under a wide variety of circumstances. Quantittive genetic models have revealed runaway processes for sexually selected attributes expressed in both sexes and for attributes of parental care. Furthermore, the runaway could occur simultaneously in a series of populations that straddle an environmental gradient. While the models support the feasibility of runaway processes, empirical studies are needed to evaluate whether runaways actually happen. Estimates of critical genetic parameters are particularly needed, as well as measures of natural and sexual selection acting on the same population.The models also show that sexual selection has tremendous potential to produce population differentiation, particularly in epigamic traits. Differentiation is promoted by indeterminancy of evolutionary outcome, transient differences among populations during the final slow approach to equilibrium, sampling drift among equilibrium populations, and the tendency of sexual selection to amplify geographic variation arising from spatial differences in natural selection. Recent work with two- and three-locus models of sexual selection has produced results that parallel the results of the polygenic models^36–38,58. Thus the feature of indeterminate equilibria (outcome dependent on initial conditions) is common to both types of model.     

A new semisynthetic ergot peptide alkaloid: DCN 203-922

Summary We report the synthesis, stereochemistry and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of DCN 203-922, a novel ergot alkaloid of the cyclol type, which contains in its peptide moiety the uncommon amino acid L-allo-isoleucine.Part of this paper was reported by this author at the Herbstversammlung der Schweizerischen Chemischen Gesellschaft, Bern, in October 1986.     

A major metabolite of Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol reduces its cataleptic effect in mice

Summary The results described here demonstrate that THC-induced catalepsy in mice can be substantially inhibited by the prior administration of ¹-THC-7-oic acid, the major metabolite of THC in most species including humans. This raises the possibility that the intensity and duration of action of THC may depend to a large degree on the levels of this metabolite at the sites of action.We thank the National Institute on Drug Abuse for supporting this project by grants DA-02043 and DA-02052 and for supplying all of the cannabinoids. One of us (S.B.) is also the recipient of a Research Scientist Award from NIDA. We are grateful to Kristen Carlson and Thomas Honeyman for helpful suggestions in preparing this report.     

干密度及细颗粒含量对滑坡坝溃决影响的试验研究

为研究坝体物质组成对滑坡堰塞坝溃决过程的影响,本文针对不同干密度、细颗粒含量,配制8组不同的坝体材料,开展人工堰塞坝的水槽模型试验,分析模型试验中不同坝体材料的浸润线发展过程、纵向侵蚀过程及溃决破坏特征。结果表明：(1)堰塞坝浸润线发展速率随着干密度减小而增大,随着细颗粒含量减小而增大。(2)干密度较小的坝体其溃决历时明显小于干密度较大的坝体,并且干密度较小的坝体其侵蚀速度明显大于干密度较大的坝体;细颗粒含量较大的坝体侵蚀速度慢,溃决达到稳定时的时间更长。(3)随着干密度减小,堰塞坝抗侵蚀能力减弱,易形成冲沟,冲沟两侧壁越早形成悬空面,溃口处易失稳坍塌,溃决持续时间越短;细颗粒含量越大,砂土堰塞坝面抗侵蚀能力越弱,越易形成冲沟,溃口处易多次失稳坍塌,溃决持续时间越长。研究成果不仅深化对堰塞坝灾害的认识,还为进一步揭示外界诱发因素与堰塞坝的内在响应机制提供依据。     

水平井分段压裂各段产能评价技术研究进展

为了更好掌握水平井分段压裂后各层段产能贡献情况,本文分析水平井分段压裂各段产能评价存在的问题,系统梳理现有的3种水平井分段压裂各段产能评价技术,并提出该技术未来的重点攻关方向。结论认为：①水平井分段压裂产能评价主要存在测试仪器输送困难和测试资料解释困难;②产出剖面测井技术的测试仪器因井身结构和井况使其适用性受限制,分布式光纤监测技术可实时连续监测压裂动态,但数据解释仍是最大的难题;示踪剂监测技术选取合适的示踪剂可弥补上述2种技术的不足;③下一步攻关方向应着重于各技术的测试工艺和数据解释。通过对水平井分段压裂各段产能评价技术综合剖析,可对现场测试提供技术参考和后续技术发展提供新视角。     

泥石流宽级配砾石土结构特征实验研究

泥石流堆积物是一种宽级配砾石土,深入研究其结构特征和渗透特性,具有重要的理论和实践意义。根据粗细颗粒的含量,提出了接触式堆积、紧密堆积和基底式堆积三种结构类型,并通过实验进行了验证和分析;分析表明,细粒含量是决定宽级配土结构的关键。击实实验显示土中细颗粒含量达到16.52%时,干密度最大;渗透实验也表明此时其渗透性接近细粒土的渗透性;数值模拟表明,细颗粒含量达到22.23%时,孔隙率最小。理论分析和实验研究认为,宽级配砾石土中紧密堆积结构的细颗粒含量上限应为20%,超过这个含量,粗颗粒的骨架作用会被减弱,强度降低。