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.     

Induction of cyst formation by low temperature in the dinoflagellate<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gonyaulax polyedra</Emphasis> Stein: Dependence on circadian phase and requirement of light

Encystment, which at a temperature of 15°C is photoperiodically controlled inGonyaulax polyedra, can also be induced by a decrease of temperature, from 20 to 10 or 8°C in the absence of photoperiodic signals. The cyst-inducing capacity of the decrease in temperature depends on the circadian phase: in constant light, the maximum of sensitivity was found at the beginning of subjective night. In a light/dark cycle, however, cyst formation was reduced during dark phase, indicating that light is required for the process of encystment. A similar light dependence was seen in the effect of the physiologically occurring cyst inducer 5-methoxytryptamine, but not in the encystment response to the protonophores monensin and nigericin.     

Thrombospondin co-localises with TGFβ and IGF-I in the extracellular matrix of human osteoblast-like cells and is modulated by 17β estradiol

Thrombospondin (TSP) is a multifunctional glycoprotein which is synthesised by several cell types including osteoblasts, and incorporated into the extracellular matrix (ECM) of these cells. The function and regulation of TSP in bone is not clear. In this study, using a long term culture model of human osteoblast-like cells, we examined the distribution of TSP in the ECM and its modulation by added estradiol. In this model the osteoblast-like cells form a regular multilayer which continues to increase in depth up to 50 days post confluence. In the ECM of these cultures and in 19-week fetal bone, the bone markers osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase were diffusely distributed in the matrix. In contrast, labelling for TSP was concentrated, confined to the banded collagen and its immediately adjacent ECM. This pattern of labelling resembled that of the growth factors transforming growth factor-I (TGF), and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), with which TSP label co-localised. Labelling intensities were comparable between fetal bone and the in vitro material for TSP, TGF and IGF-I. TSP label was present by 10 days post confluence, reached a maximum by 20 days, and declined slowly thereafter, a time course which was similar to that of IGF-I. Incubation of osteoblast-like cell cultures with 17 estradiol resulted in an increase in multilayer depth and a maximal 3-fold increase in TSP labeling at 30 days as well as approximately 2-fold increases for TGF and IGF-I. The dose-response relationship for these responses to estradiol treatment was biphasic with maximal increases at 10^–10 M–10^–11 M of added estradiol. Treatment with 17 estradiol produced labelling intensities that were not significantly different from controls. Studies with other cell types have suggested that TSP may be involved in modulation of growth factor activity. The similarities between TSP, TGF and IGF-I, in terms of their distribution and regulation by 17 estradiol treatment, may indicate a role for TSP in modulating bone cell proliferation and function through interaction with local growth factors.     

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations before 2.2 billion years ago

The composition of the Earth's early atmosphere is a subject of continuing debate. In particular, it has been suggested that elevated concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide would have been necessary to maintain normal surface temperatures in the face of lower solar luminosity in early Earth history. Fossil weathering profiles, known as palaeosols, have provided semi-quantitative constraints on atmospheric oxygen partial pressure (pO2) before 2.2 Gyr ago. Here we use the same well studied palaeosols to constrain atmospheric pCO2 between 2.75 and 2.2 Gyr ago. The observation that iron lost from the tops of these profiles was reprecipitated lower down as iron silicate minerals, rather than as iron carbonate, indicates that atmospheric pCO2 must have been less than 10(-1.4) atm--about 100 times today's level of 360 p.p.m., and at least five times lower than that required in one-dimensional climate models to compensate for lower solar luminosity at 2.75 Gyr. Our results suggest that either the Earth's early climate was much more sensitive to increases in pCO2 than has been thought, or that one or more greenhouse gases other than CO2 contributed significantly to the atmosphere's radiative balance during the late Archaean and early Proterozoic eons.     

质量成本控制的数学模型

通过对质量成本的构成分析,给出了一个对质量成本进行定量分析计算的数学模型,并讨论了如何进行质量成本控制的方法。     

面向对象的二叉树装配模型研究

文章研究可装配性设计中的产品装配建模,提出一种以装配体为对象并能充分反映装配过程特点的二叉树装配模型。应用面向对象技术,建立了相应的数据结构及应用框架,为可装配性评价奠定了基础,也可做为通用的产品装配模型应用于ＣＡＰＰ等领域。     

利用8098单片机的热电偶参比端温度的全补偿方法

本文介绍在采用微机来进行热电偶测温处理时,通过查表的方法实现参比端温度的完全补偿,并完成热电势到温度的处理。     

含双二苯基膦戊烷铜(Ⅰ)配合物的合成与性质

室温,氮气氛下,铜（Ⅱ）盐和双二苯基膦戊烷（ｄｐｐｐ５）在溶液中通过还原取代反应合成了８种铜（Ⅰ）配合物（１．［Ｃｕ（ｄｐｐｐ５）］２（ＢＦ４）２,２．［Ｃｕ２（ｄｐｐｐ５）２（Ｃ８Ｈ３Ｏ２ＳＦ３）２］,３．［Ｃｕ２（ｄｐｐｐ５）３］（ＣＣｌ３ＣＯＯ）２,４．［ＣｕＢｒ（ｄｐｐｐ５）］２,５．［Ｃｕ２（ｄｐｐｐ５）Ｃｌ２］,６．［Ｃｕ２（ｄｐｐｐ５）３］（ＣＨ３ＣＯＯ）２,７．［Ｃｕ（ｄｐｐｐ５）（ＮＯ３）］,８．［Ｃｕ２（ｄｐｐｐ５）３］（ＣｌＯ４）２）。通过元素分析、红外光谱、热重、摩尔电导测定对其进行表征,表明这是一种行之有效的有机膦配合物的合成方法。     

关于人造天体运动轨迹确定的一种方法

作者在该文中,从万有引力定律出发,根据有心力的特点,再采用切坐标法很方便地推导出在地球万有引力作用下,人天体运动的轨道必是圆锥曲线,并指出由发射时初始条件能方便地进一步确定其轨迹的形状。     

贮氢合金的开发与研究进展

贮氢合金是近年来开发的一类新型高性能材料。本文介绍了贮氢合金的开发和研究的最新进展,论述了它在氢的提纯、热泵、空调、压缩机和镍—氢化物电池等高技术领域中的应用前景。