Differential effects of the serotonin receptors on cultured rat cerebral cortical neurons

Effects of serotonin (5-HT) on cerebral cortical neurons were examined by patch clamp techniques. 5-HT produced a variety of responses such as outward (19/73 patches/neurons), slow inward (15/73 patches/neurons), fast inward (8/73 patches/neurons), and mixed currents (initially fast inward deflection followed by an outward response: 2/73 patches/neurons), with a latency of 12 sec, 15 sec, 0 sec, and 0 sec respectively, at a holding potential of −60 mV in whole-cell patches. The fast inward currents were again evoked by a selective 5-HT3 receptor agonist, 1-(m-chlorophenyl)-biguanide hydrochloride (CPBG). In the cell-attached patch clamp configuration, 5-HT inside the patch pipette elicited single channel currents with slope conductances of 42 pS and 132 pS (4/42 patches/neurons). CPBG inside the patch pipette evoked inward single channel currents with a lower slope conductance of 41 pS (3/23 patches/neurons). In contrast, application of 5-HT or a 5-HT₂ receptor agonist, α-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine-maleate, outside the patch pipette induced outward single channel currents with a major slope conductance of 140 pS (8/30 patches/neurons) or 135 pS (6/20 patches/neurons), respectively. These results indicate that the outward and fast inward currents may be mediated respectively by the 5-HT₂ receptor, which is coupled to a G-protein, and by the 5-HT₃ receptor, which contains the non-selective cation channel, and that the mixed type may be caused by both the 5-HT₂ and 5-HT₃ receptors. Received 27 September 1996; received after revision 4 November 1996; accepted 7 November 1996     

Effect of hydrogen peroxide on the binding of Merocyanine 540 to human erythrocytes

The fluorescent dye Merocyanine 540 (MC540) is often used as a probe to monitor the molecular packing of phospholipids in the outer leaflet of biomembranes. In a previous study we showed that the increased staining of erythrocytes with a perturbed membrane structure was mainly due to an increase in the fluorescence yield of cell-bound MC540, rather than to an increase of the number of bound molecules. Erythrocytes and ghosts exposed to continuous fluxes of H₂O₂ exhibited pronounced lipid peroxidation. Further, red blood cells subjected to this form of oxidative stress also showed increased staining with MC540. It appeared that this was caused by a strong increase in binding of MC540, together with a slight red shift of the fluorescence emission maximum and a small increase in the fluorescence yield of bound MC540. The changed MC540 binding characteristics were not observed when lipid peroxidation was suppressed by the presence of the antioxidant BHT in the incubation medium. However, open ghosts exposed to H₂O₂ showed no increase of MC540 binding, excluding a direct involvement of lipid peroxidation. Measurement of fluorescence emission spectra and gel filtration studies showed that MC540 can bind to H₂O₂-exposed hemoglobin. Experiments with erythrocytes lysed in hypotonic medium after exposure to H₂O₂ revealed that peroxidation of lipids with H₂O₂ induced a non-specific permeabilization of the plasma membrane to MC540, thereby allowing MC540 to bind to the oxidatively denatured, more hydrophobic hemoglobin. These results indicate that conclusions about packing of phospholipids in the outer leaflet of the membrane based on increased MC540-staining should be drawn with care. Received 27 September 1996; received after revision 5 November 1996; accepted 27 November 1996     

平台用钢微观组织对其分层面上解理断裂应力的影响

利用专门设计的厚度方向缺口四点弯曲试样，结合相应的弹塑性有限元计算结果，在液氮温度下测取了一种海洋平台用钢的６种微观组织分层面上的解理断裂应力σ＊ｆ．结果显示，均匀细小的铁素体＋贝氏体组织具有比铁素体＋带状珠光体为高的σ＊ｆ值．对于同一终轧温度，轧后冷速愈高，其得到的微观组织之σ＊ｆ值愈高．而对于同一轧后冷却制度，则终轧于Ａｒ３与再结晶停止温度之间者其得到的微观组织具有最高的σ＊ｆ值．讨论了各微观组织组成相的作用     

Spectrum characteristics and pump wavelengths of Nd3+-doped double-clad fiber

Conclusion The optimum wavelength of Nd³⁺-doped double-clad fiber laser or amplifier made in China is near 830 nm. The efficiency of Nd³⁺-doped double-clad fiber devices pumped by 820-nm laser is low due to ESA. In order to increase the photochemical stability of the outer cladding, the material of the outer cladding must be advanced.     

Two classes of metabolites fromTheonella swinhoei are localized in distinct populations of bacterial symbionts

The marine spongeTheonella swinhoei (lithistid Family Theonellidae, Order Astrophorida) has yielded many important, bioactive natural products, most of which share structural features with bacterial natural products. The presence of microbial symbionts inT. swinhoei has been reported, and it was originally suggested that the cytotoxic macrolide swinholide A and many of the bioactive cyclic peptides fromT. swinhoei were all produced by symbiotic cyanobacteria. By transmission electron microscopy, we found four distinct cell populations to be consistently present inT. swinhoei: eukaryotic sponge cells, unicellular heterotrophic bacteria, unicellular cyanobacteria and filamentous heterotrophic bacteria. Purification and chemical analyses of each cell type showed the macrolide swinholide A to be limited to the mixed population of unicellular heterotrophic bacteria, and an anti-fungal cyclic peptide occurred only in the filamentous heterotrophic bacteria. Contrary to prior speculation, no major metabolites were located in the cyanobacteria or sponge cells.     

The prey consumption and prey preference of the larvae of the mosquitoCulex (Lutzia) raptor on the larvae ofCulex quinquefasciatus

The maximum consumption of the larvae of the pest and vector mosquitoCulex quinquefasciatus by the predatory mosquitoCulex (Lutzia) raptor was studied at various instars of both the predator and the prey. The prey preferences of the predator when given lavae of different instars were also investigated. The IVth instar of the predator consumed the maximum number of Ist instar and the maximum biomass of IVth instar larvae of the prey. Instars I and II of the predator preferred the Ist of the prey; instars III and IV of the predator preferred instars II and III of the prey respectively.The predator consumed an average of 157.1 larvae during its whole larval period, when each instar of the predator was given its preferred instar of the prey.     

从高放废液中去除超铀元素的TRPO流程热实验

阐述了从高放废液中去除超铀元素的ＴＲＰＯ流程热实验。热实验是用真实动力堆的 高放液进行的，取得了很好的效果。超铀元素镅、镎、钚和铀的去污系数分别大于 ３ ０００，４ ０００， ９５０和 ７ ０００。 ＴＲＰＯ流程在去除超铀元素的同时，还能去除对放射性废物长期危害起决定作用 的９９Ｔｃ。实验结果表明ＴＲＰＯ流程具有去污效率高，反萃效果好，锕系组分之间交叉污染小和试 剂成本低等诸多优点。ＴＲＰＯ流程是一个有效的从高放废液中去除超铀元素的流程。     

多元条件密度函数的投影追踪估计方法

由多元条件密度函数fYX(yx)(x∈Rp)可以知道许多被解释变量Y对解释变量X的回归关系的信息,其条件期望就是回归函数,条件方差就是回归误差项的条件方差.为了克服高维空间数据稀松性带来的估计上的困难,提出多元条件密度函数的投影追踪估计方法,通过最小化Ku llback-Le ib ler距离,得到了最优初始条件密度函数和每一步的增量函数和方向向量,还给出了估计步骤及其终止法则.