Ca2+ release induced by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate is a steady-state phenomenon controlled by luminal Ca2+ in permeabilized cells.

Low concentrations of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) evoke a very rapid mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ stores in many cell types, which can be followed by a further, much slower efflux. Two explanations have been suggested for this biphasic release. The first proposes that the Ca2+ stores vary in their sensitivity to InsP3, and each store releases either its entire contents or nothing (all-or-none release); the second proposes instead that the stores are uniformly sensitive to the effects of InsP3, but that they can release only a fraction of their Ca2+ before their sensitivity is somehow attenuated (steady-state release). Experiments using purified InsP3 receptor molecules reconstituted into lipid vesicles have shown heterogeneity of the receptors in their response to InsP3 under conditions in which the total Ca2+ level at both sides of the receptor is held constant. We now report that in permeabilized A7r5 smooth-muscle cells incubated in Ca(2+)-free medium, the amount of 45Ca2+ remaining in the stores after the rapid transient phase of release is independent of their initial Ca2+ levels, indicating that partially depleted stores are less sensitive to InsP3. Moreover, if the stores are reloaded with 40Ca2+ after the first stimulus, reapplication of the same low concentration of InsP3 will release further 45Ca2+. This recovery of InsP3 sensitivity is almost complete. Under these conditions, Ca2+ release must thus occur by a steady-state mechanism, in which the decreasing Ca2+ content of the stores slows down further release.     

Resistant orthogonal procrustes analysis

In this paper two alternative loss criteria for the least squares Procrustes problem are studied. These alternative criteria are based on the Huber function and on the more radical biweight function, which are designed to be resistant to outliers. Using iterative majorization it is shown how a convergent reweighted least squares algorithm can be developed. In asimulation study it turns out that the proposed methods perform well over a specific range of contamination. When a uniform dilation factor is included, mixed results are obtained. The methods also yield a set of weights that can be used for diagnostic purposes.     

舰船·天安门·顶戴花翎——“‘洋务运动‘博物馆“东立面形象反思

通过对“洋务运动博物馆”东立面形象的反思 ,讨论了建筑形态设计中隐喻手法的运用 ;就此引申 ,探讨传统问题 ,指出正确理解传统与创新的四个方面。     

Influence of hydrochlorothiazide on the pain threshold and on the antinociceptive activity of morphine,in rats

Summary Hydrochlorothiazide, acutely injected in rats, has a weak analgesic activity per se and potentiates and prolongs the antinociceptive effect of morphine.This work was supported in part by grants from Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, and by Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione, Roma.     

The crystal-like anatomical uniformity of the striate cortex

The visual field is topographically mapped onto the primary visual cortex (V1), forming a retinotopic map which is far more detailed for the foveal regions than for the periphery. We found that receptive field (RF) size in monkey V1 increases with eccentricity, and that a 1—2 m² V1 region contains roughly a complete set of machinery necessary to analyze a visual-field area whose size is about that of the RFs of the cells. This allows V1 to be anatomically uniform, and is in sharp contrast with the retina.     

Elaboration and Properties of Nanocomposite Structures Based on Crown Modified Platinum Nanoparticles

1 Results This paper presents the development of platinum nanocomposites structures based on organically modified c.a.2 nm core platinum nanoparticles.The chemical modification of the 4-mercaptoaniline functionalized particles by various in coming molecules is evidenced and precisely quantified.The particles can be dissolved like molecules in various solvents depending on the features of the new crown and X-rays shows that the interparticle distance is affected by the crown modification.These platinum n...     

Nanostructured Functional Thermoplastic Polymeric Materials Based on the Molecular Control of the Blending

1 Results The development of the concepts of nanotechnology has given an important impact on the design of new polymer based materials which are in most cases characterized by a multiphase morphology. When at least one phase has nanometric dimension(s) the system can be considered as a nanocomposite where the interface is not only determining for the adhesion but also may play a role in some bulk properties. Indeed in nanostructured multiphase solids the interface is significant as a bulk component. The...     

The Three-component One-pot Synthesis of 4,6-Diarylpyrimidin-2(1h)-ones and 9-Phenyl-8-oxa-10,12-diaza-tricyclo[7.3.1.0~(2,7)]trideca-2(7),3,5-trien-11-one

1 Results Pyrimidinones (PMs) are a class of important heterocycles which have been well documented throughout the literature due to their biological importance. They exhibit a wide range of pharmaceutical and therapeutic properties[1].A rapid and efficient one-pot method for the synthesis of 4,6-diarylpyrimidin-2(1H)- ones and related heterocycles is described.The condensation of acetophenone derivatives,aldehydes and urea in the presence of sulfamic acid was employed to synthesize a variety of pyrimid...