Flow-induced release of adenosine 5′-triphosphate from endothelial cells of the rat mesenteric arterial bed

Adenosine 5-triphosphate (ATP) was released into the perfusate of rat isolated mesenteric arterial beds during each of two consecutive increases in flow. There was no significant difference between the amounts of ATP released on each occasion. Substance P was also released into the perfusate by increased flow, although its release was more variable. Removal of the endothelium of the mesenteric vessels with sodium deoxycholate led to a significant reduction (74%) in the amount of ATP released compared with the release before the endothelium had been removed. This suggests that the ATP released into the mesenteric arterial perfusate during increased flow arises from endothelial cells.     

Biosynthesis of 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid: Steric course of the reaction at the C-4 position

Summary Under the action of the appropriate synthase from ripe tomatoes a 11 mixture of (3S, 4R)-[3,4-²H₂] and (3R, 4S)-[3,4-²H₂]-(2S)-adenosylmethionine is transformed into a 11 mixture of the two meso forms of [²H₂]-1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid, a result which proves the operation of an inversion mechanism and which is consistent with direct nucleophilic displacement of the leaving group in the substrate.     

Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection

Summary Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection have disporven some of the central tenets of both the handicap mechanism and the sexy son hypothesis. These results suggest that the good genes approach to sexual selection may generally lead to erroneous results.Runaway sexual selection seems possible under a wide variety of circumstances. Quantittive genetic models have revealed runaway processes for sexually selected attributes expressed in both sexes and for attributes of parental care. Furthermore, the runaway could occur simultaneously in a series of populations that straddle an environmental gradient. While the models support the feasibility of runaway processes, empirical studies are needed to evaluate whether runaways actually happen. Estimates of critical genetic parameters are particularly needed, as well as measures of natural and sexual selection acting on the same population.The models also show that sexual selection has tremendous potential to produce population differentiation, particularly in epigamic traits. Differentiation is promoted by indeterminancy of evolutionary outcome, transient differences among populations during the final slow approach to equilibrium, sampling drift among equilibrium populations, and the tendency of sexual selection to amplify geographic variation arising from spatial differences in natural selection. Recent work with two- and three-locus models of sexual selection has produced results that parallel the results of the polygenic models^36–38,58. Thus the feature of indeterminate equilibria (outcome dependent on initial conditions) is common to both types of model.     

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.     

Structure of the human CLC-7/Ostm1 complex reveals a novel state

CLC-7 functions as a Cl?/H+ exchanger in lysosomes. Defects in CLC-7 and its β-subunit, Ostm1, result in osteopetrosis and neurodegeneration. Here, we present the cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the human CLC-7/Ostm1 complex (HsCLC-7/Ostm1) at a resolution of 3.6 ?. Our structure reveals a new state of the CLC-7/Ostm1 heterotetramer, in which the cytoplasmic domain of CLC-7 is absent, likely due to high flexibility. The disordered cytoplasmic domain is probably not able to restrain CLC-7 subunits and thus allow their relative movements. The movements result in an approximately half smaller interface between the CLC-7 transmembrane domains than that in a previously reported CLC-7/Ostm1 structure with a well-folded cytoplasmic domain. Key interactions involving multiple osteopetrosis-related residues are affected by the interface change.     

基于PiggyBac转座系统的低溢漏诱导型Tet-On过表达体系的建立及应用

为避免诱导基因稳定表达的Tet-On诱导表达系统溢漏表达,实现简便且高效的外源基因稳定诱导表达, 本研究拟在Tet-On调控的转录水平基础上,将基于稳定配体Shield-1的不稳定结构域FK506结合蛋白引入目的基因的N端,从蛋白水平控制其本底表达水平.为验证该系统的效果,本研究以荧光蛋白TdTomato为报告基因,经流式分析结果证明优化后的体系较原体系的溢漏表达在蛋白水平上降低7倍左右.将该系统应用于基于小鼠胚胎干细胞的体外牙向分化模型,在诱导因子Dox和稳定配体Shield-1的协同作用下,诱导表达牙齿发育相关转录因子Hand2提高了牙向分化诱导的完成度.     

弱左型B半群的真覆盖

弱型B半群是在半富足半群范围内的广义逆半群.该文利用弱左型B半群真覆盖的定义,给出了弱左型B半群真覆盖的相关性质.特别地,得到了相应于弱左型B半群作用在幂单幺半群上的真覆盖的结构定理.     

利用早停可微架构搜索的三维点云模型分类

针对现有三维点云分类网络采用人工设计费时费力的问题,提出早停可微架构搜索(early-stopping differentiable architecture search,ES-DARTS)算法。利用从人工设计网络架构中提取到的先验知识,预定义一个包含高效候选操作的搜索空间,可快速搜索出适用于三维模型分类任务的高性能网络模型;通过追踪网络搜索阶段各候选操作的权重变化,找出跳跃连接操作在双重优化过程中发挥不公平竞争作用的临界点并在此处停止搜索,以保证各候选操作之间的稳定性,解决DARTS算法搜索过程中易出现性能崩溃的问题。提出的算法在ModelNet40数据集上达到了93.2%的识别准确率,比当前人工设计的主流网络具有更高的识别准确率。     

基于掺铕钨酸盐荧光强度比的非接触温度传感

为了突破传统测温技术应用的局限性,利用NaY （WO₄）₂：Eu³⁺玻璃陶瓷（glass ceramics,GC）实现了具有非接触、实时响应、自校准等优势的双模荧光强度比（luminescence intensity ratio,LIR）测温。采用高温熔融淬灭法制备出含NaY （WO₄）₂：Eu³⁺纳米晶的透明GC样品,并进行系列光谱测量和热敏性能分析。结果表明,样品中Eu³⁺的激发态能级⁵D₁和⁵D₀和基态能级⁷F₂和⁷F₀为两对独立的热耦合能级,可分别基于这两对热耦合能级实现性能优异的双模LIR温度传感。该双模LIR测温技术数据可靠、测温范围广、灵敏度高,再结合GC材料优势,是可用于光纤温度传感器的核心技术材料。