Mutations in the Caenorhabditis elegans unc-4 gene alter the synaptic input to ventral cord motor neurons.

Identification of the genes orchestrating neurogenesis would greatly enhance our understanding of this process. Genes have been identified that specify neuron type (for example cut and numb in Drosophila and mec-3 in Caenorhabditis elegans) and process guidance (for example, unc-5, unc-6 and unc-40 in C. elegans and the fas-1 gene of Drosophila). We sought genes defining synaptic specificity by identifying mutations that alter synaptic connectivity in the motor circuitry in the nematode C. elegans. We used electron microscopy of serial sections to reconstruct the ventral nerve-cords of uncoordinated (unc) mutants that have distinctive locomotory choreographies. Here we describe the phenotype of mutations in the unc-4 gene in which a locomotory defect is correlated with specific changes in synaptic input to a subset of the excitatory VA motor neurons, normally used in reverse locomotion. The circuitry alterations do not arise because of the inaccessibility of the appropriate synaptic partners, but are a consequence of changes in synaptic specificity. The VA motor neurons with altered synaptic inputs are all lineal sisters of VB motor neurons; the VA motor neurons without VB sisters have essentially the same synaptic inputs as in wild-type animals. The normal function of the wild-type allele of unc-4 may thus be to invoke the appropriate synaptic specificities to VA motor neurons produced in particular developmental contexts.     

Susceptibility of beta 2-microglobulin-deficient mice to Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

The beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) protein associates with the products of the class I major histocompatibility (MHC) loci; this combination functions in the thymic development of and antigen presentation to CD8+ T cells. Mice in which the beta 2m gene has been disrupted by homologous recombination fail to express class I MHC gene products, and therefore lack CD8+ T cells and measurable cytotoxic T-cell responses. However, beta 2m- mice appear to have normal development of both CD4+ alpha/beta T-cell receptor (TCR+) and gamma/delta TCR+ T cells and are not overtly more susceptible than beta 2m+ mice to potential environmental agents of infection or to experimental viral infection. Here we show that beta 2m- mice suffer high parasitaemias and early death when infected with the obligate cytoplasmic protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Despite this increased susceptibility, the beta 2m- mice are more responsive than their beta 2m+ littermates in terms of lymphokine production, making higher levels of both interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma in response to mitogen stimulation. In addition, the beta 2m- mice show essentially no inflammatory response in parasite-infected tissues. These results confirm previous experiments on mice depleted of CD8+ cells using antibody treatment in demonstrating the importance of CD8+ T cells in immune protection in T. cruzi infection. They also implicate CD8+ T cells and/or class I MHC molecules in regulation of lymphokine production and recruitment of inflammatory cells.     

Tumour necrosis factor alpha restores granulomas and induces parasite egg-laying in schistosome-infected SCID mice.

Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is a parasitic disease caused by several species of schistosome worms (blood flukes). The key pathogenic event in this disease is the formation of granulomas around schistosome eggs trapped in portal venules of the liver. Granulomas are a distinctive form of chronic inflammation characterized by localized aggregation of activated macrophages around an inciting stimulus. Each granuloma evolves to form a fibrous scar; in schistosomiasis, the result is widespread hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension. To identify the specific immune signal molecules necessary for granuloma formation, we studied schistosome infections in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, which have normal macrophages but lack functional B or T lymphocytes. Here we report that the immunoregulatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha is necessary and sufficient to reconstitute granuloma formation in schistosome-infected SCID mice. Moreover, we find that the parasitic worms require tumour necrosis factor alpha for egg-laying and for excretion of eggs from the host. The implication of this latter result is that the parasite has adapted so successfully to its host that it uses a host-derived immunoregulatory protein as a signal for replication and transmission.     

Human infection by genetically diverse SIVSM-related HIV-2 in west Africa.

Our understanding of the biology and origins of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) derives from studies of cultured isolates from urban populations experiencing epidemic infection and disease. To test the hypothesis that such isolates might represent only a subset of a larger, genetically more diverse group of viruses, we used nested polymerase chain reactions to characterize HIV-2 sequences in uncultured mononuclear blood cells of two healthy Liberian agricultural workers, from whom virus isolation was repeatedly unsuccessful, and from a culture-positive symptomatic urban dweller. Analysis of pol, env and long terminal repeat regions revealed the presence of three highly divergent HIV-2 strains, one of which (from one of the healthy subjects) was significantly more closely related to simian immunodeficiency viruses infecting sooty mangabeys and rhesus macaques (SIVSM/SIVMAC) than to any virus of human derivation. This subject also harboured multiply defective viral genotypes that resulted from hypermutation of G to A bases. Our results indicate that HIV-2, SIVSM and SIVMAC comprise a single, highly diverse group of lentiviruses which cannot be separated into distinct phylogenetic lineages according to species of origin.     

热力系统的熵分析

根据热力学第二定律,应用熵平衡法对热力系统进行分析和设计。作为实例,应用此方法分析以溴化锂—水为工质的单级制冷系统和单级热转换器系统。结果表明,熵平衡法不仅可以获得如能量法和(火用)分析法相同的结果,而且还可清晰地揭示系统中各个过程的不可逆性,对系统性能系数和效率的影响。该系数和效率仅取决于过程的性质而与环境条件无关。     

锁相环直流调速系统及其稳定性分析

本文给出了一个在传统转速电流双闭环基础上增加锁相环路构成的直流调速系统。该系统具有稳定性好,稳态精度高,调速范围宽的优点。文中给出了系统的稳定性分析及参数设计方法。     

黑曲霉胞外葡萄糖淀粉酶的纯化及特性

黑曲霉（Ａｓｐｅｒｇｉｌｌｕｓｎｉｇｅｒ７２８）的粗酶液，经硫酸铵沉淀，ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－２５柱凝胶过滤脱盐，ＤＥＡＥ－Ｔｏｙｏｐｅａｒｌ离子交换柱层析和ＳｅｐｈａｃｒｙＳ－１００凝胶层析纯化，经ＰＡＧＥ鉴定为一条带ＳＤＳ凝胶电泳测定分子量为７００００．金属离子Ｆｅ３＋对该酶有一定的抑制作用，该酶的等电点为３．７，最适ｐＨ为４，最适温度为６０℃．Ｅ２８０１％为１５．７２，Ｋｍ值为０．１１２×１０－３ｍ．     

建筑火灾综合模拟评估在大空间建筑火灾中的初步应用

运用火灾规律双重性理论，探讨建筑火灾综合模拟评估的理论框架，以影院会堂类大空间建筑为例，运用一些可调试的模拟方法、统计分析及其模型，给出在火灾评估具体环节和应用程式上的一定程度的量化描述．实现火灾综合模拟评估理论模型的可操作性，使更进一步准确和方便地估算建筑火灾对人员、财产造成危害的几率，和判断这种危害的发生具备了初步的可能．     

Protein aggregation as primary and characteristic cell reaction to various stresses

Ehrlich carcinoma and EL-4 thymoma ascites cells were subjected in vitro to heat shock, ATP depletion, oxidative stress, Ca²⁺ overlading and iodoacetamide treatment. After the transient stresses, Triton (X-100)-insoluble TIS) fractions were isolated from the cells and analysed by electrophoresis and immunoblotting. All stresses used caused rapid aggregation of cell proteins. This was manifested in a signficant rise in protein content in the TIS fractions. The protein increase was mostly due to and increase in the insolubility of actin, 57 kDa protein of intermediate filaments, 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP 70), and some specific proteins whose insolubilization was a characteristic sign for each type of cell injury. Different survival rates in the cell lines after either stress corrlated well with differences in their TIS protein accretion. Possible mechanisms for stress-induced protein aggregation and its relationship with cell viability are suggested.