Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection

Summary Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection have disporven some of the central tenets of both the handicap mechanism and the sexy son hypothesis. These results suggest that the good genes approach to sexual selection may generally lead to erroneous results.Runaway sexual selection seems possible under a wide variety of circumstances. Quantittive genetic models have revealed runaway processes for sexually selected attributes expressed in both sexes and for attributes of parental care. Furthermore, the runaway could occur simultaneously in a series of populations that straddle an environmental gradient. While the models support the feasibility of runaway processes, empirical studies are needed to evaluate whether runaways actually happen. Estimates of critical genetic parameters are particularly needed, as well as measures of natural and sexual selection acting on the same population.The models also show that sexual selection has tremendous potential to produce population differentiation, particularly in epigamic traits. Differentiation is promoted by indeterminancy of evolutionary outcome, transient differences among populations during the final slow approach to equilibrium, sampling drift among equilibrium populations, and the tendency of sexual selection to amplify geographic variation arising from spatial differences in natural selection. Recent work with two- and three-locus models of sexual selection has produced results that parallel the results of the polygenic models^36–38,58. Thus the feature of indeterminate equilibria (outcome dependent on initial conditions) is common to both types of model.     

Differential effects of prostaglandins and isoproterenol on cAMP content and Na,K pump activity in rat submandibular acini

Summary The -adrenergic agonist isoproterenol and prostaglandins E₁ and E₂ (but not F₂) increased the cAMP content of rat submandibular acini in vitro, but only isoproterenol enhanced ouabain-sensitive⁸⁶Rb (K) uptake. These findings suggest that cAMP is not involved in the activation of the Na, K pump in salivary cells.     

Regulation of cellulose synthesis in Acetobacter xylinum by cyclic diguanylic acid

Cellulose is the most abundant renewable carbon resource on earth and is an indispensable raw material for the wood, paper, and textile industries. A model system to study the mechanism of cellulose biogenesis is the bacterium Acetobacter xylinum which produces pure cellulose as an extracellular product. It was from this organism that in vitro preparations which possessed high levels of cellulose synthase activity were first obtained in both membranous and soluble forms. We recently demonstrated that this activity is subject to a complex multi-component regulatory system, in which the synthase is directly affected by an unusual cyclic nucleotide activator enzymatically formed from GTP, and indirectly by a Ca (2+) -sensitive phosphodiesterase which degrades the activator. The cellulose synthase activator (CSA) has now been identified as bis-(3' 5')-cyclic diguanylic acid (5'G3'p5'G3'p) on the basis of mass spectroscopic data, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis and comparison with chemically synthesized material. We also report here on intermediary steps in the synthesis and degradation of this novel circular dinucleotide, which have been integrated into a model for the regulation of cellulose synthesis.     

Eicosapentaenoic acid in tissue lipids ofPieris brassicae

Summary Larvae of the cabbage white butterfly,Pieris brassicae, have a dietary requirement for linolenic acid (C183n3) and were found to accumulate two other members of the n-3 family, C203n3 and C205n3 (eicosapentaenoic acid) especially in testicular phospholipids. Arachidonic acid was observed in trace amounts only. During diapause the relative titer of eicosapentaenoic acid increased in testicular phospholipids to about 4.2% of the fatty acids. Eicosapentaenoic acid is a possible precursor of prostaglandins, suggesting that prostaglandins of the 3-series predominate in this insect.     

Protective effect of vitamins against trichothecene toxicity towardsSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary Several trichothecene mycotoxins were shown to inhibit the growth ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae. This effect was most pronounced with the macrocyclic trichothecenes, especially verrucarin A. Much less growth inhibition was observed with T-2 toxin. Verrucarol, diacetoxyscirpenol, acetyl T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, T-2 tetraol and neosolaniol were inactive at a concentration of 75 g of toxin per disc. Incubation ofS. cerevisiae with verrucarin A together with vitamins resulted in a decrease in toxicity. Pyridoxine-HCl, Ca-pantothenate, thiamine-HCl and -tocopheryl acetate were amongst the most potent of the vitamins tested which reversed growth inhibition, overcoming the inhibitory potential of the toxins.9 December 1986The authors thank Dr J. Behrend, Makor Company, Israel, for a generous gift of verrucarin A and roridin A.     

A major metabolite of Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol reduces its cataleptic effect in mice

Summary The results described here demonstrate that THC-induced catalepsy in mice can be substantially inhibited by the prior administration of ¹-THC-7-oic acid, the major metabolite of THC in most species including humans. This raises the possibility that the intensity and duration of action of THC may depend to a large degree on the levels of this metabolite at the sites of action.We thank the National Institute on Drug Abuse for supporting this project by grants DA-02043 and DA-02052 and for supplying all of the cannabinoids. One of us (S.B.) is also the recipient of a Research Scientist Award from NIDA. We are grateful to Kristen Carlson and Thomas Honeyman for helpful suggestions in preparing this report.     

基于改进断裂点理论的机场吸引范围界定

合理界定机场吸引范围,是构建坚固民航运输网络的关键环节。现有的机场吸引范围界定方法,很少考虑与其衔接的地面交通网络,以及旅客出行偏好的影响。为提高机场吸引范围的实用性,本文以城市断裂点理论为基础,对其中的重要参数予以改进。首先,以综合交通运输为背景,指出发达的公路和铁路运输网络对民用机场具有很大的竞争与促进作用,并提出以地面交通出行时间为量化标准的吸引范围界定方法。然后,为分析旅客出行偏好的行为机理,针对于与机场衔接的地面交通网络来建立离散选择模型。其次,将研究区域的机场所在城市看作是一个整体,运用专家评价法和熵权法综合确定机场的吸引规模,并通过机场吞吐量与城市对外出行总量针对机场规模进行修正。最后,通过算例验证改进模型的实际可操作性,为确定多机场系统吸引范围界定提供新的思路和方法。     

震区中小跨径桥梁墩柱配筋率取值范围

为研究配筋率对钢筋混凝土桥梁延性抗震性能的影响,并在不同设防烈度对主筋配筋率的合理取值进行细分。以钢筋混凝土桥梁为研究对象,通过拟静力模型试验与有限元数值分析的方法,研究竖向钢筋(主筋)配筋率对桥墩延性的影响,提出典型桥墩的多级性能水平量化指标;并探究在氯离子侵蚀的恶劣环境下,不同配筋率对桥梁抗震性能所带来的影响,从而对氯离子侵蚀环境下的震区中小跨径桥梁墩柱配筋率取值范围提供参考建议。结果表明：考虑氯离子侵蚀作用下的恢复力模型能够较好地反映刚度的退化特性,墩柱的最佳配筋率取值范围为1.11%～2.72%;当加速度为0.3g(g为重力加速度)时,仅从配筋率的角度已无法满足墩柱的损伤指标,建议采用减隔震体系进行抗震设计,如采用延性体系时配筋率不得小于2.64%。研究结果可为中小跨径连续桥梁抗震设计提供参考。