Adrenocortical metabolism and plasma corticosterone in soman intoxicated rabbits

Summary The organophosphate neurotoxin soman produced impairments in adrenocortical RNA and protein metabolism. Fasciculate and reticular cell RNA and protein contents were supporessed with sublethal to acutely lethal dosages (20, 30 and 40 g/kg, s.c.) during the acute excitatory phase of intoxication and at 6–8 h post injection. All three dosages produced ca 90% inactivation of plasma cholinesterase. A transient elevation of plasma corticosterone occurred with 20 g/kg soman whereas there was a protracted increase with 30 g/kg. Corticosterone was not significantly elevated with 40 g/kg, but death occurred at 13±4 min. Thus, the magnitude and/or nature of soman-induced metabolic impairments does not appear to prevent adrenal activation.Supported by US Army Medical Research and Development Command Contract DAMD 17-81-C-1202.     

Endorcine cells producing regulatory peptides

Summary Recent data on the immunologication of regulatory peptides and related propeptide sequences in endocrine cells and tumours of the gastrointestinal tract pancreas, lung, thyroid, pituitary (ACTH and opioids), adrenals and paraganglia have been revised and discussed. Gastrin, xenopsin, cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin, motilin, secretin, GIP (gastric inhibitory beenrevised and discussed. Gastrin, xenopsin, cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin, motilin, secretin, GIP (gastric inhibitory polypeptide), neurotensin, glicentin/glucagon-37 and PYY (peptide tyrosine tyrosine) are the main products of gastrointestinal endocrine cells; glucagon, CRF (corticotropin releasing factor), somatostatin, PP (pancreatic polypeptide) and GRF (growth hormone releasing factor), in addition to insulin, are produced in pancreatic islet cells; bombesin-related peptidesare the main markers of pulmonary endocrine cells; calcitonin and CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) occur in thyroid and extrathyroid C cells; ACTH and endorphins in anterior and intermediate lobe pituitary cells, -MSH and CLIP (corticotropoin-like intermediate lobe peptide) in intermediate lobe cells; met- and leu-enkephalins and related peptides in adrenal medullary and paraganglionic cells as well as in some gut (enterochromaffin) cells; NPY (neuropeptide Y) in adrenalin-type adrenal medullary cells, etc.. Both tissue-appropriate and tissue-inappropriate regulatory peptides are produced by endocrine tumours, with inappropriate peptides mostly produced by malignant tumours.     

Perennial N2 supersaturation in an Antarctic lake

The dry valleys of southern Victoria Land in Antarctica contain several closed basins in which perennially ice-covered lakes are found. One of the most unusual features of these lakes is the occurrence of high O2 concentrations in the water column; values ranging from slightly more than saturation to more than four times saturation have been reported. Recently, we considered a bulk O2 budget for Lake Hoare, Antarctica, which led us to suggest that biological processes alone were not sufficient to explain the observed elevated oxygen levels. Consequently, there must be a non-biological source of O2. We suggested that this source results from the exclusion of O2 during the freezing of aerated meltstream water at the bottom of the ice cover, and predicted that this physical mechanism should also enhance the other atmospheric gases. Here we report the results of a study which, for the first time, documents the supersaturation of N2 in a lake. Dissolved N2 levels of 145% and 163% were determined from samples taken just below the ice cover and at a depth of 12 m, respectively. The relatively importance of biological and abiological sources is reflected in the ratio of N2 concentration to O2 concentration. In Lake Hoare this ratio was 1.20 at ice/water interface and 1.05 at 12 m; considerably different from the ratio in equilibrium with air (approximately 1.8). Based on these results, we have determined that about half of the net O2 production in the lake is the result of biological processes.     

Photoperiodic summation is temperature-dependent inPyrrhocoris apterus (L.) (Heteroptera)

Summary InPyrrhocoris apterus, a low temperature, 15°C, prevented the termination of diapause by long days and, unexpectedly, also the induction of diapause by short days. Both responses were enabled at a higher temperature, 26°C. In contrast to current concepts, it was proved that the summation of photoperiodic signals was temperature-dependent, since the morphogenetic development was prevented by starvation.     

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.     

Binding of 11-cis retinaldehyde to the partially purified cellular retinaldehyde binding protein from bovine retinal pigment epithelium

Summary 11-cis retinaldehyde binding analysis was performed on a bovine retinal pigment epithelium preparation of cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP), whose purity degree was estimated as 75%. Equilibrium binding studies were carried out measuring the replacement of tritium-labeled with unlabeled 11-cis retinaldehyde at 25°C. Analysis of the experimental data both by a direct curve-fitting procedure utilizing a non linear least square regression analysis and by a conventional Scatchard plot revealed a single non-interacting binding site with an apparent equilibrium constant of 0.9×10^–7 M.A binding stoichiometry of approximately 1 mol of 11-cis retinaldehyde/mol of binding protein can be calculated from the experimental data. Competition studies carried out in the presence of unlabeled trans and cis isomers of Vitamin A derivatives confirm the high degree of specificity of the 11-cis retinaldehyde binding.     

健康与患黑胫病烟株根内AMF多样性和群落结构差异分析

丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF）在烟草生长生理、抗病抗逆等方面具有积极作用.为探明烟株患黑胫病后对根内AMF多样性和群落结构的影响,分别以烟草K326和云烟87健康、感染黑胫病烟株的根部及根际土壤作为研究对象,应用Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术探明烟草根部AMF多样性,采用显微形态观察烟草根内AMF侵染水平和根际土壤孢子密度,并分析土壤理化性质和AMF侵染特征的相关性.高通量测序结果表明在烟草根部共检测出1 655个AMF-OTUs,隶属于1纲4目5科6属,其中,Glomus为云烟87健康烟株根内AMF的优势属,其余样品优势属均为Paraglomus.聚类分析表明两个品种健康烟株根内AMF群落相似性较高,患病植株间根内AMF群落比较类似.侵染结果显示,患病烟株AMF侵染状况与土壤孢子密度均低于健康烟株根际土壤. RDA分析结果表明,全钾是影响AMF孢子密度和侵染状况的主要驱动因子,其次为速效磷和全磷;土壤p H值为烟株根内AMF多样性的主要影响因素,且两者呈负相关;此外,土壤中钾含量对烟草根内AMF群落组成的影响最为明显.研究...     

边界层对粗糙单裂隙溶质运移影响试验

为探究非费克(non-Fickian)运移表现出的峰值提前到达和拖尾等现象,开展了粗糙单裂隙溶质运移试验,总结了粗糙单裂隙中溶质运移特征及运移机理,结合边界层理论对峰值提前到达和拖尾现象进行了分析和解释。结果表明：峰值时间和拖尾时间与边界层厚度之间存在较好的线性相关关系;边界层对裂隙介质溶质运移有较为显著影响,即水流速度越小,边界层厚度越大,滞留在边界层内部的溶质越多,溶质获取率越低;粗糙单裂隙中溶质穿透曲线的峰值提前和拖尾现象是由裂隙中心处以惯性力主导的主流区和裂隙壁面以黏性力主导的边界层区共同作用造成的,其中峰值时间主要由主流区的对流因素控制,而边界层区域的存在对拖尾时间影响较大。     

太湖流域超标特大洪水风险预警系统建设及应用

为做好超标洪水调度、保障流域防洪安全,开发建设了由基于水文水动力学耦合的超警超保风险区域预警模型与基于水文学法的洪水淹涝风险快速评估模型共同组成的超标特大洪水风险预警系统,该系统在太湖流域预报调度一体化系统中通过智能交互方式进行模型与系统的紧密集成,实现了预报调度成果的可视化。基于水利一张图的超警超保与淹涝动态展示,实现了预报产品从点到面、从常规预报到影响预测的突破,以及洪水风险由静态评估向实时快速动态分析的转变。应用结果表明：系统在2020年太湖流域性大洪水中累计发布超警超保风险提示39期、洪水淹涝风险评估4期,预测结果与实际基本一致,为科学调度防御超标洪水提供了技术支撑,避免了江苏省苏州市3万多的人员转移,有力保障了太湖流域防洪安全。