Rapid-time-course miniature and evoked excitatory currents at cerebellar synapses in situ.

Neurotransmission from mossy fibre terminals onto cerebellar granule cells is almost certainly mediated by L-glutamate. By taking advantage of the small soma size, limited number of processes and short dendrite length of granule cells, we have obtained high-resolution recordings of spontaneous miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (m.e.p.s.cs) and evoked currents in thin cerebellar slices. Miniature currents have a similar time-course and pharmacology to evoked currents and consist of an exceptionally fast non-NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) component (measured rise-time, 200 microseconds; estimated pre-filtered rise-time less than 100 microseconds; decay time constant, tau = 1.0 ms), followed by 50 pS NMDA channel openings that are directly resolvable. We could find no evidence for the recent proposal that miniature currents in granule cells are mediated solely by NMDA channels with a novel time course. The non-NMDA receptor component of m.e.p.s.cs has a skewed amplitude distribution, which suggests potential complications for quantal analysis. The difference in time course between the m.e.p.s.cs reported here and other synaptic currents in the brain could reflect differences in synaptic function or electrotonic filtering; the relative contribution of these possibilities has yet to be established.     

漫谈音乐院校钢琴副科教学的艺术

钢琴副科课是我国音乐院校针对非钢琴专业的学生开设的一门钢琴课程.本文以如何上好钢琴副科课为探讨的主要目的,从基础和提高视谱能力这两个角度来展开讨论,力图使学生学习更富有热情和效率,对知识的掌握更为主动和全面.     

Mutation of the matrix metalloproteinase 2 gene (MMP2) causes a multicentric osteolysis and arthritis syndrome.

The inherited osteolyses or 'vanishing bone' syndromes are a group of rare disorders of unknown etiology characterized by destruction and resorption of affected bones. The multicentric osteolyses are notable for interphalangeal joint erosions that mimic severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (OMIMs 166300, 259600, 259610 and 277950). We recently described an autosomal recessive form of multicentric osteolysis with carpal and tarsal resorption, crippling arthritic changes, marked osteoporosis, palmar and plantar subcutaneous nodules and distinctive facies in a number of consanguineous Saudi Arabian families. We localized the disease gene to 16q12-21 by using members of these families for a genome-wide search for homozygous-by-descent microsatellite markers. Haplotype analysis narrowed the critical region to a 1.2-cM region that spans the gene encoding MMP-2 (gelatinase A, collagenase type IV; (ref. 3). We detected no MMP2 enzymatic activity in the serum or fibroblasts of affected family members. We identified two family-specific homoallelic MMP2 mutations: R101H and Y244X. The nonsense mutation effects a deletion of the substrate-binding and catalytic sites and the fibronectin type II-like and hemopexin/TIMP2 binding domains. Based on molecular modeling, the missense mutation disrupts hydrogen bond formation within the highly conserved prodomain adjacent to the catalytic zinc ion.     

分子间作用力对制备含有机废弃之水泥浆体影响研究

研究以水泥处理固体有机物时，有机物对水泥水化的影响。以膜流模式说明水份在水泥浆体内传输的现象。水膜存在半干之水泥浆体，其厚度小于100nm，膜流由离分压所驱动，而离分压来自分子间作用力。膜拟结果发现，水泥浆体内局部位置可用以进行水化之水量为Q=-Aslv／6vπ。当有机物添加在水泥浆体内时，会影响Hamaker常数，Aslv因此可能使膜流不稳定或完全抑制膜流，因而使水泥浆体内局部缺水，影响水化进行，造成成品强度降低，影响品质。     

应用量子力学

量子力学是当前物理学及其相关科学的重要科学分支，也是当前许多新科学技术中的重要应用的基础。本书包含了现代新科学技术工程师所需要的量子力学方面的新材料，如研究和了解原子核、原子、分子和固体材料，以及激光器和其他量子光学器件所需要的科学资料等。     

机器人路径规划的计算机模拟及统计分析

以计算机模拟为辅助工具 ,讨论了机器人路径规划的算法 ,提出一种简化算法二次规划 ,既可避免组合爆炸 ,又能得到一个较优的解 ,即满意解     

Induction of hemopoietic chimerism in the caprine fetus by intraperitoneal injection of fetal liver cells

Summary Intraperitoneal injection of allogeneic liver cells from 43-day-old male fetuses into normal 60-day female goat fetuses resulted in persistent hemopoietic chimerism in surviving recipients without clinical evidence of graft-versus-host disease. Transplantation of normal fetal liver cells into preimmunocompetent goat fetuses affected with -D-mannosidosis may provide an alternative strategy for evaluating hemopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of human lysosomal storage diseases.     

Changes in glycosaminoglycan sulfation and protein kinase C subcellular distribution during differentiation of the human colon tumor cell line Caco-2

Summary During the spontaneous differentiation (day 5 to day 15 of the culture) of Caco-2 cells, the sulfation of cell layer glycosaminoglycans increased, whereas protein kinase C activity was concomitantly redistributed from the membrane to the cytosol. The protein kinase C activators, 4-phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate and 1,2-dioctanoyl-glycerol inhibited glycosaminoglycan sulfation. By contrast, 4-phorbol 12, 13 didecanoate was ineffective.These results suggest that membrane-bound PKC may exert a modulatory effect on glycosaminoglycan sulfation, and this effect is gradually attenuated as Caco-2 cell differentiation progresses.     

Evolutionary and ecological implications of cardenolide sequestration in the monarch butterfly

Summary Monarch butterflies sequester cardenolides from their larval host plants in the milkweed genusAsclepias for use in defense against predation. Of 108Asclepias species in North America, monarchs are known to feed as larvae on 27. Research on 11 of these has shown that monarchs sequester cardenolides most effectively, to an asymptote of approximately 350 g/0.1 g dry butterfly, from plants with intermediate cardenolide contents rather than from those with very high or very low cardenolide contents. SinceAsclepias host plant species are distributed widely in space and time across the continent, monarchs exploit them by migration between breeding and overwintering areas. After overwintering in central Mexico, spring migrants east of the Rocky Mountains exploit three predominantAsclepias species in the southern USA that have moderately high cardenolide contents. Monarchs sequester cardenolides very effectively from these species. First generation butterflies are thus well protected against predators and continue the migration north. Across the northern USA and southern Canada most summer breeding occurs on a fourthAsclepias species and in autumn most of these monarchs migrate back to Mexican overwintering sites. The ecological implications of this cycle of cardenolide sequestration for the evolution of monarch migration are discussed.     

Chemical ecology of oviposition in phytophagous insects

Summary Selection of a suitable site for oviposition by phytophagous insects is critical for successful development of the offspring. The behavioral events leading to oviposition are mediated to a large extent by chemical cues associated with potential host plants. Orientation and landing are primarily guided by volatile constituents of a plant, whereas assessment of a leaf surface depends on contact stimuli. Chemical mechanisms that ensure adequate spacing of progeny on limited resources include the production of oviposition-deterring pheromones as well as recognition of plant constituents released as a result of previous damage. Perception of chemical cues that affects oviposition involves receptors on antennae, tarsi, mouthparts or the ovipositor. Complex behavior such as tarsal drumming or stem runs may serve to provide increased receptor contact with chemical stimuli. Abiotic and biotic environmental factors often influence the production or release of behavior-modifying chemicals by a plant, and therefore affect oviposition preferences. Plant chemistry may be involved in associative learning, but may also lead to mistakes. Thus a clear correlation between oviposition preference and offspring success does not always exist.