A simple interspike interval analyzer for study of neuronal spike trains.

A simple, low cost interspike interval analyzer for the analysis of trains of nerve impulses is described. The analyzer is built with readily available integrated circuits and has been used to analyze spike trains in the lateral vestibular nucleus of cats.     

A repeat expansion in the gene encoding junctophilin-3 is associated with Huntington disease-like 2.

We recently described a disorder termed Huntington disease-like 2 (HDL2) that completely segregates with an unidentified CAG/CTG expansion in a large pedigree (W). We now report the cloning of this expansion and its localization to a variably spliced exon of JPH3 (encoding junctophilin-3), a gene involved in the formation of junctional membrane structures.     

Engraftment of connexin 43-expressing cells prevents post-infarct arrhythmia

Ventricular tachyarrhythmias are the main cause of sudden death in patients after myocardial infarction. Here we show that transplantation of embryonic cardiomyocytes (eCMs) in myocardial infarcts protects against the induction of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in mice. Engraftment of eCMs, but not skeletal myoblasts (SMs), bone marrow cells or cardiac myofibroblasts, markedly decreased the incidence of VT induced by in vivo pacing. eCM engraftment results in improved electrical coupling between the surrounding myocardium and the infarct region, and Ca2+ signals from engrafted eCMs expressing a genetically encoded Ca2+ indicator could be entrained during sinoatrial cardiac activation in vivo. eCM grafts also increased conduction velocity and decreased the incidence of conduction block within the infarct. VT protection is critically dependent on expression of the gap-junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43; also known as Gja1): SMs genetically engineered to express Cx43 conferred a similar protection to that of eCMs against induced VT. Thus, engraftment of Cx43-expressing myocytes has the potential to reduce life-threatening post-infarct arrhythmias through the augmentation of intercellular coupling, suggesting autologous strategies for cardiac cell-based therapy.     

A semiparametric method for predicting bankruptcy

Bankruptcy prediction methods based on a semiparametric logit model are proposed for simple random (prospective) and case–control (choice‐based; retrospective) data. The unknown parameters and prediction probabilities in the model are estimated by the local likelihood approach, and the resulting estimators are analyzed through their asymptotic biases and variances. The semiparametric bankruptcy prediction methods using these two types of data are shown to be essentially equivalent. Thus our proposed prediction model can be directly applied to data sampled from the two important designs. One real data example and simulations confirm that our prediction method is more powerful than alternatives, in the sense of yielding smaller out‐of‐sample error rates. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一阶常微分方程组的奇异摄动问题

结合伸缩坐标法和多重尺度法, 对一类一阶常微分方程组的奇异摄动问题构造了一致有效的渐近展开式, 并以Duffing方程为例, 用本文的方法求得其一阶有效的渐近展开式. 结果表明, 所给方法与其他方法所得结果相符.     

Differential use of an in-frame translation initiation codon regulates human mu opioid receptor (OPRM1)

The pharmacological effects of morphine and morphine-like drugs are mediated primarily through the μ opioid receptor. Here we show that differential use of an in-frame translational start codon in the 5′-untranslated region of the OPRM1 generates different translational products in vivo and in vitro. The 5′-end of the OPRM1 gene is necessary for initiating the alternate form and for subsequent degradation of the protein. Initiation of OPRM1 at the upstream site decreases the initiation at the main AUG site. However, alternative initiation of the long form of OPRM1 produces a protein with a short half-life, resulting from degradation mediated by the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Reporter and degradation assays showed that mutations of this long form at the second and third lysines reduce ubiquitin-dependent proteasome degradation, stabilizing the protein. The data suggest that MOP expression is controlled in part by initiation of the long form of MOP at the alternate site.     

Qualitative and quantitative studies of succinic dehydrogenase in the retina of chick embryos treated with iodoacetate

Résumé Par l'injection d'iodoacétate dans l'uf de poule, on peut, par l'analyse histochimique et l'usage du microscope électronique, démontrer la présence d'une augmentation de l'activité du succinodéhydrogénase pendant la période embryonnaire.

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Supported by Grant No. G-362 of the National Council to Combat Blindness, Inc., N.Y.     

The activities of phenylalanine hydroxylase and hypoxanthine dehydrogenase in chick embryos and an attempt to induce these enzymes

Résumé Bien que l'activité de l'hydroxylase phenylalanine et de la déhydrogénase hypoxanthine dans l'embryon de poulet ne soit pas évidente, la déhydrogénase hypoxanthine augmente d'une façon rapide justement après l'éclosion. L'induction des enzymes par l'irradiation par les Rayons X n'est pas effective non plus.     

The activities of NADP transhydrogenase and cytochrome c reductases in developing chick embryos,especially at hatching

Résumé Dans les muscles pectoraux et cardiaque de l'embryon de poulet, une relation réciproque persiste entre transhydrogénase NADP et cytochrome c reductase NADPH₂, surtout à la période qui précède immédiatement l'éclosion. Cette relation exprime vraisemblablement l'accomplissement d'une plus grande demande d'énergie.