Endogenous oscillatory activity and TTX-sensitive spikes of the heart muscle in early juveniles of the isopod crustaceanLigia exotica

The heart beat of early juveniles of the littoral isopodLigia exotica occurred at a frequency of 250 to 350/min, associated with rhythmic activity of the heart muscle. Each burst was composed of a slow depolarizing potential with superimposed spike potentials. The spike potential was eliminated by perfusion with TTX-containing or Na⁺-free saline. In TTX-saline, the slow potential was unchanged in frequency and amplitude. By current injection into the heart muscle, the rhythm of the slow potential was phase-shifted and its frequency was changed in a membrane potential-dependent manner. These results show that the heart ofLigia early juveniles acts as an endogenous muscle oscillator generating oscillatory slow potentials and Na⁺-dependent spikes.     

Antioxidant survey to assess antagonism to redox stress using a prokaryotic and an eukaryotic system

Using a prokaryote (Escherichia coli) and a metazoa-resembling eukaryote (Ochromonas danica), we surveyed antioxidants which might overcome redox stress imposed by menadione sodium bisulphite (MD) and buthionine sulphoximine (BSO). BSO oxidant stress was evident only inO. danica; MD oxidant stress was evident in both organisms. Glutathione, its precursors, e.g. cysteine, homocysteine, and 2-oxo-4-thiazolidine carboxylic acid, and red blood cells, emerged as prime antioxidants for relieving BSO and MD oxidant stress. BSO and MD oxidant activity and antioxidant-annulling effect inO. danica were judged comparable to those found in animal cells whereas the resultsE. coli were not entirely equivalent. TheO. danica system emerged as a practical, rapid, and useful system for pinpointing oxidant stressors and antioxidants, and shows promise for studies with mammalian systems.     

(−)-Epigallocatechin gallate,a polyphenolic tea antioxidant,inhibits peroxynitritemediated formation of 8-oxodeoxyguanosine and 3-nitrotyrosine

Reaction with peroxynitrite at pH 7.4 and 37°C was found to increase the 8-oxodeoxyguanosine levels in calf thymus DNA 35-38-fold. This oxidation of deoxyguanosine, as well as the peroxynitrite-mediated nitration of tyrosine to 3-nitrotyrosine, was significantly inhibited by ascorbic acid, glutathione and (–)-epigallocatechin gallate, a polyphenolic antioxidant present in tea. For 50% inhibition of the oxidation of deoxyguanosine to 8-oxodeoxyguanosine, 1.1, 7.6 of 0.25 mM ascorbate, glutathione or (–)-epigallocatechin gallate, respectively, was required. For 50% inhibition of tyrosine nitration, the respective concentrations were 1.4, 4.6 or 0.11 mM. Thus, (–)-epigallocatechin gallate is a significantly better inhibitor of both reactions than either ascorbate or glutathione. Reaction of (–)-epigallocatechin gallate with peroxynitrite alone resulted in the formation of a number of products. Ultraviolet spectra of two of these suggest that the tea polyphenol and/or its oxidation products are nitrated by peroxynitrite.     

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.     

Concept of an extracellular regulation of muscular metabolic rate during heavy exercise in humans by psychophysiological feedback

Efferent motor signals to skeletal muscles concern not only the space/time pattern of motion, but also the setting of muscular performance and through this the control of the current metabolic rate. For an optimal adjustment of metabolic rate during heavy exercise — e.g. in athletic competitions — a feedback control system must exist, including a programmer that takes into consideration a finishing point (teleoanticipation). The presented experiments, using Borg's scale, indicate the existence and functioning of a system for optimal adjustment of performance during heavy exercise and the relevance of teleoanticipatory effects. Thus motor learning includes not only somatosensory control, but also metabolic control. With regard to migratory birds, such metabolic control would have to operate in the individual as well as in the migrating flock as a whole.     

从高放废液中去除超铀元素的TRPO流程热实验

阐述了从高放废液中去除超铀元素的ＴＲＰＯ流程热实验。热实验是用真实动力堆的 高放液进行的，取得了很好的效果。超铀元素镅、镎、钚和铀的去污系数分别大于 ３ ０００，４ ０００， ９５０和 ７ ０００。 ＴＲＰＯ流程在去除超铀元素的同时，还能去除对放射性废物长期危害起决定作用 的９９Ｔｃ。实验结果表明ＴＲＰＯ流程具有去污效率高，反萃效果好，锕系组分之间交叉污染小和试 剂成本低等诸多优点。ＴＲＰＯ流程是一个有效的从高放废液中去除超铀元素的流程。     

用子波变换分析方法实时监测视觉诱发电位的潜伏期

诱发电位的实时监测在临床中有重要意义。本文提出利用多分辨率子波分析技术来实时监测视觉诱发电位的潜伏期。为克服随机噪声的影响，我们引入相邻响应的相关系数来修正所检测得的潜伏期的偏移，并应用前一次响应的波峰位置来决定当前的搜寻范围。实验表明，本方法能实时监测视觉诱发电位的潜伏期。     

流动注射化学发光自动监测盐酸氯丙嗪片的体外溶出度

建立了一种简单而灵敏的流动注射化学发光体系连续自动监测盐酸氯丙嗪片溶出度的方法，并对Ce(SO4)2盐酸氯丙嗪化学发光体系的适宜反应条件和主要影响因素进行了讨论．测定了三种不同来源的盐酸氯丙嗪片的溶出度，结果与药典标准方法测得值一致、体系具有稳定性好、灵敏度高、简单、方便和大动态测量范围，能便捷地在线监测盐酸氯丙嗪片的溶出全过程。     

含朱砂中成药中锌、镉、钴、镍的薄层扫描色谱测定

应用金属螯合物-薄层扫描色谱技术，研究建立了中药中锌、镉、钴、镍测定的新方法．本法操作简单，灵敏度高．应用于含朱砂中成药牛黄清心片、天王补心九中锌、镉、钴、镍的可溶态、有机态、无机态含量及总量的测定．与原子吸收光谱法测定结果相吻合．平均回收率分别为98．43％、103．5％、104．5％、98，65．