Mast cells in the pinna of Balb/c 'nude' (nu/nu) and heterozygotes (ny/+)mice.

The relative number of mast cells in the ear lobes' skin (pinna) of nude (athymic) nu/nu and normal (thymic) nu/+ heterozygotes of Balb/c mice was similar. The results obtained contradict some suggestions about the general influence of the thymus on the number of mast cells in the skin and suggest the existence of some local factor(s) in regulation of skin mast cell numbers.     

The effect of D-6-methyl-8-[β-isopropylaminoethyl] ergoline-I on the lactation in nursing rats

D-6-Methyl-8-[-isopropylaminoethyl] ergoline-I [VÚFB-10726], beginning from the dose of 0.05 mg/kg p.o., suppresses lactation through the inhibition of prolactin secretion in nursing rats.     

Effect of air ionization on blood serotonin in vitro

Summary The effect of negative and positive air ionisation on siliconized blood serotonin was studied in vitro. The experiments showed that within 10 min positive ionisation increased serotonin levels in total blood (+40%), plasma (+90%), erythrocytes (+50%) and thrombocytes (+200%). On the other hand, negative ionization (10 min) lowered the serotonin content of total blood (–30%), plasma (–42.5%), erythrocytes (–41.7%) and thrombocytes (–72.3%), thus confirming the Krueger Effect in vitro.This research was generously supported by a grant from the Joint Research Fund of the Hebrew University and Hadassah, and Dr. and Mrs.Leonard Appleby of Palmbeach, Florida.Acknowledgment: Our thanks are due to Mr.B. Shalita, Mrs.Zippora Adar and Mrs.Olga Fradkin for devoted technical assistance.     

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     

Butterflies and ants: The communicative domain

Associations with ants, termed myrmecophily, are widespread in the butterfly family Lycaenidae and range from mere co-existence to more or less specific mutualistic or even parasitic interactions. Secretions of specialized epidermal glands are crucial for mediating the interactions. Transfer of nutrients (carbohydrates, amino acids) from butterfly larvae to ants plays a major role, but manipulative communication with the help of odour signals is also involved. By means of myrmecophily, lycaenid butterflies largely escape ant predation, and certain species gain protection through attendant ants or achieve developmental benefits from ant-attendance. Benefits to the ants range from minimal to substantial food rewards. While most lycaenid species maintain facultative relationships with a variety of ant genera, highly specific and obligatory associations have convergently evolved in a number of butterfly lineages. As a corollary, communication systems are largely unspecific in the former, but may be highly specialized in the latter. The sophisticated communication between obligate myrmecophiles and their host ants is tightly connected with the evolutionary rise of specialized life-cycles and thus is a source of augmenting diversity within the butterflies.     

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.     

论信息市场环境下的图书馆营销观

分析了信息市场的发展对图书馆信息资源建设、信息技术的开发以及信息传播方式和获取手段所产生的影响，探讨了面对激烈的市场竞争图书馆引入营销观念的必要性，并对具体的营销策略做了详尽的阐述。