Effect of adapting target size on the gain of the surround response mechanism in X- and Y-cells in cat retina.

The adaptation field of the surround mechanism of X and Y retinal ganglion cells in the cat was assessed with variable size, unmodulated adapting spots. Both an on-inhibition measure and an off-discharge measure of surround gain was used. Results suggest that the surround mechanism in Y-cells is strongest in the receptive field middle but weak or nonexistent in the middle of X-cell receptive fields.     

Spatial distribution of the adaptation field of the surround response mechanisms in type X cat retinal ganglion cells.

The surround response mechanism in on-center X-cells in cat retina was found to be bimodally distributed and weak or nonexistent in the receptive field middle. An on-inhibition measure was used to assess surround mechanism gain.     

Spatial distribution of the adaptation field of the surround response mechanism in type X cat retinal ganglion cells

Summary The surround response mechanism in on-center X-cells in cat retina was found to be bimodally distributed and weak or nonexistent in the receptive field middle. An on-inhibition measure was used to assess surround mechanism gain.Acknowledgments. This research is supported by Public Health Service grant No. EY 00701.     

视觉感知结合学习的自然图像轮廓检测

本文结合非经典感受野的视觉特性与机器学习的方法,提出了一种自然图像轮廓检测模型.当非经典感受野中的刺激与感受野中心刺激形成一种精确的空间结构时,将对中心产生一种增强效应;另一方面非经典感受野中抑制作用会降低同质成分的响应,我们将这两个机制分别用于增强光滑的轮廓和减少背景中与结构无关的干扰成分.利用逻辑回归概率模型将感受野中的信息与来自非经典感受野中的信息进行有效融合,并根据图像的手工标注数据库,通过学习方法获得一组最优的模型参数.自然图像的实验结果表明该轮廓检测方法能极大地抑制来自纹理的局部边缘,减少虚假轮廓,同时能增强具有一致空间结构的成分,避免轮廓缺失.最后利用Berkeley图像数据库定量地评价了我们方法的性能,并与相关方法进行了比较.该模型不仅为复杂场景中的轮廓检测提供了一个可行的策略,并有助于对生理视觉机制的理解.     

Implication of GABA in the spatial organization of the receptive fields of retinal ganglia cells of frogs]

An histoautoradiographic study of the Chicken and Frog retinae was made following an intravitreal injection if tritiated GABA. This amino acid was especially fixed at the amacrine and horizontal cell level. It has been suggested (Werblin, 1974) that horizontal cells might be responsible for the spatial organization of the receptive fields of retinal ganglion cells. GABA could thus be involved in bringing about of the centre-surround arrangement of the latter receptive fields. We have shown that picrotoxin, a specific GABA-antagonist, does indeed provoke marked changes in the activity of retinal ganglion cells. It provokes a decrease in the response threshold, a facilitation of spontaneous activities, and a marked increase in the receptive field area of the ON-OFF ganglion cells: from 12 at the start, it reaches 24 under the effect of picrotoxin.     

Spatial distribution of signal and adaptive sensitivity in the receptive field surrounds of cat retinal ganglion cells

Summary A comparison was made between adaptive and signal sensitivity profiles of the surround response mechanism of cat retinal ganglion cells. The 2 profiles were found to be similar for X cells but the surrounds of Y cells appear to pool adaptation over a smaller retinal region than they pool signals. Acknowledgments. We wish to thank Mr O. Navarro for his valuable technical assistance. This research is supported by Public Health Service grant No. EY 00701.     

Sinuslichtreizung der rezeptiven Felder einzelner Retinaneurone

Summary The action potentials of optic nerve fibres in cats were stereotactically recorded (light pentobarbital anaesthesia, Curarin-immobilization). The activation of retinal neurons stimulated by light spots within the receptive field centre was a non-linear function of the sinusoidal intensity modulation of the stimuli.     

Volatile sex pheromone in the female German cockroach

Virgin German cockroach adult females release an attractant that can be extracted with organic solvents and trapped from air blown over sexually receptive females. Behavioral assays with an olfactometer showed that the attractant was produced exclusively by adult females and it elicited behavioral responses in adult males, confirming its function as a female sex pheromone. Using behavioral and electrophysiological assays, we localized the site of pheromone production on the tenth abdominal tergite where an adult female-specific gland is found. Females whose glands were ablated were significantly less attractive to males than sham-operated control females.     

场助纳米二氧化钛薄膜光催化降解甲紫的研究

纳米二氧化钛是一种重要的无机功能材料。本文采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了TiO_2薄膜,利用"场助"影响其光催化特性。光催化实验以可能具有致癌性并且难以生化降解的三苯甲烷类染料——甲紫作为降解物质,用2100型分光光度计来测量降解率,以确定电场、磁场强度对光催化特性的影响。光催化实验结果表明,外加电场(未参与水的电解)、磁场对于协助光催化降解甲紫有着明显的效果。随着外加电场、磁场强度的增加,甲紫溶液的降解率有大幅提高。反应符合一级动力学方程。     

Mutations that silence constitutive signaling activity in the allosteric ligand-binding site of the thyrotropin receptor

The thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) exhibits elevated cAMP signaling in the basal state and becomes fully activated by thyrotropin. Previously we presented evidence that small-molecule ligands act allosterically within the transmembrane region in contrast to the orthosteric extracellular hormone-binding sites. Our goal in this study was to identify positions that surround the allosteric pocket and that are sensitive for inactivation of TSHR. Homology modeling combined with site-directed mutagenesis and functional characterization revealed seven mutants located in the allosteric binding site that led to a decrease of basal cAMP signaling activity. The majority of these silencing mutations, which constrain the TSHR in an inactive conformation, are found in two clusters when mapped onto the 3D structural model. We suggest that the amino acid positions identified herein are indicating locations where small-molecule antagonists, both neutral antagonists and inverse agonists, might interfere with active TSHR conformations.     

The site of gating in the ventricular conducting system of rabbit, dog and monkey hearts

The longest action potential durations of the ventricular conducting system were found at about two thirds of the distance along each false tendon in dog and monkey hearts. In the rabbit heart, this area which corresponds to the gating mechanism - was found in the middle part of the bundle branches; therefore the number of gates is much smaller in the rabbit than in other 2 species.     

A novel mechanism for jumping in the indian ant<Emphasis Type="Italic">Harpegnathos saltator</Emphasis> (Jerdon) (Formicidae,Ponerinae)

The Indian antHarpegnathos saltator may be unique among insects in using its jumping capacity not only as an escape mechanism but also as a normal means of locomotion, and for catching its prey in flight. High-speed cinematography used to analyse the various phases of the jump suggests thatHarpegnathos employs a novel jumping mechanism to mediate these behaviours: namely the synchronous activation of its middle and hindlegs. Electrophysiological recordings from muscles or nerves in pairs of middle and hindlegs show remarkably synchronous activity during fictive jumping, supporting the synchronous activation hypothesis.Harpegnathos is not the only ant to jump, and a cladistic analysis suggests that jumping behaviour evolved independently three times during ant evolutionary history.     

Considerations on mTOR regulation at serine 2448: implications for muscle metabolism studies

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex exerts a pivotal role in protein anabolism and cell growth. Despite its importance, few studies adequately address the complexity of phosphorylation of the mTOR protein itself to enable conclusions to be drawn on the extent of kinase activation following this event. In particular, a large number of studies in the skeletal muscle biology field have measured Serine 2448 (Ser2448) phosphorylation as a proxy of mTOR kinase activity. However, the evidence to be described is that Ser2448 is not a measure of mTOR kinase activity nor is a target of AKT activity and instead has inhibitory effects on the kinase that is targeted by the downstream effector p70S6K in a negative feedback loop mechanism, which is evident when revisiting muscle research studies. It is proposed that this residue modification acts as a fine-tuning mechanism that has been gained during vertebrate evolution. In conclusion, it is recommended that Ser2448 is an inadequate measure and that preferential analysis of mTORC1 activation should focus on the downstream and effector proteins, including p70S6K and 4E-BP1, along mTOR protein partners that bind to mTOR protein to form the active complexes 1 and 2.     

Ion and metabolite transport in the chloroplast of algae: lessons from land plants

Chloroplasts are endosymbiotic organelles and play crucial roles in energy supply and metabolism of eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms (algae and land plants). They harbor channels and transporters in the envelope and thylakoid membranes, mediating the exchange of ions and metabolites with the cytosol and the chloroplast stroma and between the different chloroplast subcompartments. In secondarily evolved algae, three or four envelope membranes surround the chloroplast, making more complex the exchange of ions and metabolites. Despite the importance of transport proteins for the optimal functioning of the chloroplast in algae, and that many land plant homologues have been predicted, experimental evidence and molecular characterization are missing in most cases. Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge about ion and metabolite transport in the chloroplast from algae. The main aspects reviewed are localization and activity of the transport proteins from algae and/or of homologues from other organisms including land plants. Most chloroplast transporters were identified in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, reside in the envelope and participate in carbon acquisition and metabolism. Only a few identified algal transporters are located in the thylakoid membrane and play role in ion transport. The presence of genes for putative transporters in green algae, red algae, diatoms, glaucophytes and cryptophytes is discussed, and roles in the chloroplast are suggested. A deep knowledge in this field is required because algae represent a potential source of biomass and valuable metabolites for industry, medicine and agriculture.     

Simultaneous measurement of pyridine nucleotide fluorescence and field potentials from the olfactory cortical slice of the guinea-pig

Summary A new probe (tip diameter=700 m) consisting of a micro-light guide and a silver wire electrode was constructed to measure pyridine nucleotide fluorescence and field potentials from nerve tissues. Good kinetic correlations were found between the changes in field potentials and tissue pyridine nucleotide fluorescence caused by stoppage or by resumption of superfusion.     

Naloxone shortens ejaculation latency in male rats

Summary Naloxone, a specific inhibitor of opioid receptors, lowers ejaculation threshold in the male rat coupled with receptive females.This study was sponsored by grant from Tecnofarmaci S.p.A.-Pomezia-Roma (Italy). Naloxone was kindly offered by Salars, Como (Italy)     

SET domain protein lysine methyltransferases: Structure, specificity and catalysis

Site- and state-specific lysine methylation of histones is catalyzed by a family of proteins that contain the evolutionarily conserved SET domain and plays a fundamental role in epigenetic regulation of gene activation and silencing in all eukaryotes. The recently determined three-dimensional structures of the SET domains from chromosomal proteins reveal that the core SET domain structure contains a two-domain architecture, consisting of a conserved anti-parallel β-barrel and a structurally variable insert that surround a unusual knot-like structure that comprises the enzyme active site. These structures of the SET domains, either in the free state or when bound to cofactor S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and/or histone peptide, mimicking an enzyme/cofactor/substrate complex, further yield the structural insights into the molecular basis of the substrate specificity, methylation multiplicity and the catalytic mechanism of histone lysine methylation. Received 10 June 2006; accepted 22 August 2006     

电子封装热应力数值分析

针对目前电子封装的封装密度越来越高、封装厚度越来越薄、封装体在基板上所占面积越来越大,发热引起的失效越来越严重等问题,以晶体管瞬态热应力分析为例,建立热力耦合力学模型.利用ansys研究电子封装热失效问题,得到温度场、应力场和变彤场的分布规律.温度和应力的主要规律包括两点,一是温度和应力都在角点处变化明显,应力比较集中.温度从上到下逐层变化,逐渐减小,并且层与层之间温度变化不大,模型中间部分温度层厚度几乎相同,下半部分同一温度层有规律的变化.二是当温度较高时,在受约束面上和角点处应力值较大,并且在模型的角点和中部出现应力集中现象.     

A light and electron microscope study of spherical structures in the test cells of an ascidianCiona intestinalis L.

Summary Spherical structures in the test cells that surround the embryos of the ascidianCiona intestinalis L. (Tunicata, phylum Chordata) were studied by both light and electron microscope. Our data support the view that these structures are microorganism-like cells living in symbiosis with the test cells. Their possible role is discussed.Acknowledgment. The authors are indebted to the Institute of Comparative Anatomy of Palermo for the use of the Zeiss EM 9 Electron Microscope. Particular thanks to Mr Salvatore Bucculeri for his technical assistance.     

Effect of actinomycin D on the quail oocyte nucleolus during meiotic prophase I

Summary Actinomycine D alters profoundly the distribution of the nucleolar constituents in the quail oocyte at prophase I of meiosis. As a consequence of nucleolar segregation the normally existing relations between the nucleolus fibrillar centers and the microchromosomes are ruptured. The relations between the fibrillar center and the dense fibrills which surround it remain intact, suggesting that they constitute together a functional unit.With the technical assistance of Mrs A. Calisti.