Pharmacodynamic profile of CQP 201-403, a novel 8α-amino-ergoline

Summary The profile of action in animals of CQP 201-403, a novel 8-amino-ergoline, is in most aspects that of a very potent dopaminomimetic, both as a prolactin secretion inhibitor, and at the levels of the CNS and the cardiovascular system. Qualitatively CQP 201-403 differs slightly from bromocriptine and apomorphine in its effects on the CNS (no influence on serotonin metabolism in the rat cortex; induction of masculine mounting behavior in rats) and the cardiovascular system of the dog (reflex tachycardia in response to a blood-pressure fall). In man the new compound proved to be highly active in lowering prolactin serum levels and to be more potent than bromocriptine (Parlodel^®).In memory of Dr Annemarie Closse, who died 14 June 1987.     

一种适合于网络专家系统的通用理论(英文)

描述运用于工业自动化的一种自适应自学习方法。基于此方法,Ａｐｔｒｏｎｉｘ公司开发出一套通用软件工具－ＳＴＩＭＴＭ,并应用于不同工业领域。ＳＴＩＭ可用于构造各类专家系统。基于因素空间理论,ＳＴＩＭ具有一系列独特之处,比如自动化、自学习,以及自翻译。如果与因特网,嵌入式控制器以及可编程逻辑控制器等结合使用,ＳＴＩＭ则成为一个十分有效的工具,可应用于远程连通与控制、模式识别、机器故障诊断,以及自动化加工过程中的传感器数据融合     

Cryptic genetic variation promotes rapid evolutionary adaptation in an RNA enzyme

Cryptic variation is caused by the robustness of phenotypes to mutations. Cryptic variation has no effect on phenotypes in a given genetic or environmental background, but it can have effects after mutations or environmental change. Because evolutionary adaptation by natural selection requires phenotypic variation, phenotypically revealed cryptic genetic variation may facilitate evolutionary adaptation. This is possible if the cryptic variation happens to be pre-adapted, or "exapted", to a new environment, and is thus advantageous once revealed. However, this facilitating role for cryptic variation has not been proven, partly because most pertinent work focuses on complex phenotypes of whole organisms whose genetic basis is incompletely understood. Here we show that populations of RNA enzymes with accumulated cryptic variation adapt more rapidly to a new substrate than a population without cryptic variation. A detailed analysis of our evolving RNA populations in genotype space shows that cryptic variation allows a population to explore new genotypes that become adaptive only in a new environment. Our observations show that cryptic variation contains new genotypes pre-adapted to a changed environment. Our results highlight the positive role that robustness and epistasis can have in adaptive evolution.     

Myeloid leukaemia inhibitory factor maintains the developmental potential of embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells, the totipotent outgrowths of blastocysts, can be cultured and manipulated in vitro and then returned to the embryonic environment where they develop normally and can contribute to all cell lineages. Maintenance of the stem-cell phenotype in vitro requires the presence of a feeder layer of fibroblasts or of a soluble factor, differentiation inhibitory activity (DIA) produced by a number of sources; in the absence of DIA the ES cells differentiate into a wide variety of cell types. We recently noted several similarities between partially purified DIA and a haemopoietic regulator, myeloid leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a molecule which induces differentiation in M1 myeloid leukaemic cells and which we have recently purified, cloned and characterized. We demonstrate here that purified, recombinant LIF can substitute for DIA in the maintenance of totipotent ES cell lines that retain the potential to form chimaeric mice.     

Pigeons homing: Some experiments for testing the olfactory hypothesis

Summary Homing experiments on Swiss pigeons show that the birds use olfactory cues for navigational purposes and that outward journey detours influence their initial orientation.This work was supported by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche and by the Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research.