Genetic factors in neurotoxicology and neuropharmacology: A critical evaluation of the use of genetics as a research tool

Animals have evolved a detoxication system to enable them to survive in a hostile chemical environment in which foods contain many non-nutrient chemicals. Detoxication depends on enzymes which are often genetically polymorphic. As a result, inter-individual variation is common, and in humans several Mendelian loci have been identified. However, most variation in response is probably due to the action of several genes. Genetic variation in response to the neurotoxin MPTP and to chemically and physically-induced seizures is reviewed. In the former case, differences between pigmented and white mouse strains have been noted which are consistent with the hypothesis that humans are more sensitive than mice or rats because of the presence of melanin in human brains. However, variation in sensitivity probably also depends on other genes. In the case of audiogenic seizures, a single locus has been identified and mapped, but its relationship with seizures induced by other agents is not clear. Genetic variation in response to alcohol is also discussed. The failure of most toxicologists to consider genetic variation as a potentially confounding variable, and as a powerful research tool, is discussed critically in relation to non-repeatability of research on the neurotoxic effects of lead, and in relation to the genetic variation in MPTP, seizures, and alcohol response already noted. It seems clear that genetic methods provide a powerful research tool which is largely being ignored by toxicologists.     

用于焊缝跟踪的调制式红外光学传感器

叙述了一种以脉冲调制的红外光束为信号光源的焊缝跟踪传感器。通过对接 收信号的滤波及“自适应消噪”处理,可以有效地克服电弧光的干扰;利用光源的脉冲 驱动特性,加大了瞬时信号功率,改善了光学传感器对工件表面的适应性。传感器结构简 单、体积小、灵敏度高、能同时实现对焊缝在水平及高度两个方向的自动跟踪在埋弧 及明弧自动焊中均能准确地跟踪。     

乌龙茶做青环境微机控制系统硬件与接口设计

本文介绍乌龙茶做青环境电脑控制系统中的温、湿度测量、A/D转换卡、输出控制电路的硬件、接口设计原理以及系统软件与控制方式。该系统对乌龙茶做青生产过程的环境能进行自动巡回检测,控制温、湿度达到最佳状态,并使生产过程自动化。     

A user designer-based systems methodology

This paper develops the argument that in organizational redesign it is desirable to utilize user-designers as the architects for the redesign. A methodology is developed which emphasizes the use of ideal systems models by user-designers to plan for the organization's future. The methodology involves the creation of an ideal system model, then an analysis of the present system through the creation of root definitions and process models of the existing system. Then root definitions and process models for the idealized system are created. Finally, the two are compared and desirable changes are generated which bring the existing system toward the idealized.     

Error rates in quadratic discrimination with constraints on the covariance matrices

In multivariate discrimination of several normal populations, the optimal classification procedure is based on quadratic discriminant functions. We compare expected error rates of the quadratic classification procedure if the covariance matrices are estimated under the following four models: (i) arbitrary covariance matrices, (ii) common principal components, (iii) proportional covariance matrices, and (iv) identical covariance matrices. Using Monte Carlo simulation to estimate expected error rates, we study the performance of the four discrimination procedures for five different parameter setups corresponding to standard situations that have been used in the literature. The procedures are examined for sample sizes ranging from 10 to 60, and for two to four groups. Our results quantify the extent to which a parsimonious method reduces error rates, and demonstrate that choosing a simple method of discrimination is often beneficial even if the underlying model assumptions are wrong.The authors wish to thank the editor and three referees for their helpful comments on the first draft of this article. M. J. Schmid supported by grants no. 2.724-0.85 and 2.038-0.86 of the Swiss National Science Foundation.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Naja siamensis</Emphasis>, a cryptic species of venomous snake revealed by mtDNA sequencing

Because of possible variation in venom composition, an understanding of venomous snake systematics is of great importance for the optimization of antivenom treatment of snakebite patients. Intraspecific variation in the morphology of many venomous snakes complicates the definition and indentification of some species when allopatric populations are involved. Selectively neutral or near-neutral mtDNA sequences can reveal evolutionary relationships obscured by ecogenetically-caused morphological variation. We use comparative sequencing of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene to reveal the existence of a widespread, cryptic species of spiting cobra from southeast Asia. This species,Naja siamensis, is widely sympatric with other Asiatic cobra species. This may be of considerable medical significance, and calls for further research into venom composition in Asiatic cobras.     

Variability of sterol utilization in stored-products insects

A comparison of sterol utilization by 3 stored-products insects revealed very different capabilities. The fluor beetle,Tribolium castaneum dealkylates and converts dietary sitosterol to about equal amounts of cholesterol (43.7%) and 7-dehydrocholeterol (39.8%), whereas another flour beetle,Tenebrio molitor, produces considerably less 7-dehydrocholesterol (16.8%) and relatively more cholesterol (66.7%) from sitosterol. The lepidopteran,Plodia interpunctella, utilized dietary sterol very similar to plant-feeding lepidoptera, producing primarily cholesterol (86.5%) from sitosterol.     

拟塑性流体理论中一类奇异非线性边界值问题

研究了起源于拟塑性流体理论中的一类奇异非线性两点边界值问题正确的存在性和唯一性。     

高氯氧化锌烟尘浓硫酸脱氯的影响因素

研究了浓硫酸用量、固化反应时间、物料粒度对浓硫酸法脱氯的影响。结果表明,随着浓硫酸用量增加脱氯率增大,当烟尘酸量达到０．５２ｍｌ／ｇ时,再继续增加酸量,脱氯率反而下降;固化反应时间与脱氯率呈线性关系,随着固化反应时间的延长,脱氯率增大;氯化锌烟尘粒度在６０￣１７５μｍ范围内,对脱氯率影响不大。