Selective protection of cells against X-irradiation. Isoproterenol protects only those cells that possesβ-adrenoreceptors

Summary In mixed culture of Chinese hamster fibroblatst, clone 431, and transformed murine L fibroblasts, clone B-82, isoproterenol was found to protect only 431 cells against ionizing radiation. It was shown that 431 cells, in contrast to B-82 cells, possess-adrenoreceptors, and the radioprotective effect of isoproterenol can be realized only if this agent interacts with-adrenoreceptors coupled with the cAMP system. Since malignization often causes the disappearance of-adrenergic and other hormone receptors, the combined culturing and irradiation of the cells studied can be regarded as a model of the growth of malignant cells (B-82) among normal tissue cells (431 cells) under conditions of radiation therapy. A possibility of selective protection against radiation damage of normal tissue cells, with retention of the former radiosensitivity of tumor cells, is discussed.     

AnAnolis skin melanophore assay suitable for photoaffinity labeling studies with α-MSH

Summary Visual determination of MSH-induced pigment migration in melanophores of small pieces ofAnolis carolinensis skin is standardized by first measuring photoelectrometrically the change in reflection/transmission of the whole dorsal skin in response to different hormone concentrations. This method allows the rapid and precise recording of time-response curves after photoaffinity labeling of MSH receptors or of dose-response curves of large series of synthetic compounds.Acknowledgments. We wish to thank Ms V. Jäggin, Ms C. Schulthess and Ms G. van Hees for excellent technical assistance, Dr. R. Andreatta, Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, for his generous gift of -MSH and Prof. A Pletscher for his continuous interest. This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.     

Bicuculline and picrotoxin block γ-aminobutryic acid-gated Cl− conductance by different mechanisms

Summary Using isolated, internally perfused bullfrog dorsal root ganglion cells we have studied the dose-response curves for -aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the presence of internally or externally applied GABA antagonists. With external application of antagonists the inhibition of the GABA current by bicuculline was competitive and that by picrotoxin was noncompetitive. Picrotoxin but not bicuculline blocked when internally perfused.To whom reprint requests should be addressed.Acknowledgments. We thank Drs S. Minakami and S. Yasui for helpful discussions and comments.     

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 new semisynthetic ergot peptide alkaloid: DCN 203-922

Summary We report the synthesis, stereochemistry and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of DCN 203-922, a novel ergot alkaloid of the cyclol type, which contains in its peptide moiety the uncommon amino acid L-allo-isoleucine.Part of this paper was reported by this author at the Herbstversammlung der Schweizerischen Chemischen Gesellschaft, Bern, in October 1986.     

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.     

预应力混凝土箱梁爆炸损伤评估及公式拟合

对预应力混凝土箱梁进行爆炸损伤评估研究。首先,对矩形梁进行爆炸数值分析,结合现场试验结果验证了爆炸数值模型的准确性、可靠性。其次,基于箱梁剩余承载力,建立了箱梁爆后损伤评估准则。通过对预应力混凝土箱梁在不同爆炸工况下的爆后剩余承载力计算,建立箱梁各损伤程度下P?I（超压?冲量）曲线。研究发现,混凝土强度对箱梁超压和冲量临界值影响较大,钢筋屈服强度对超压和冲量临界值影响较小。随着结构损伤等级的增大,各参数对箱梁P?I曲线的影响幅度各不相同。最后,对不同混凝土强度箱梁中各损伤等级P?I曲线进行公式拟合,并对拟合参数β进行分析。     

砂卵石地层盾构隧道掌子面稳定性理论分析

盾构隧道穿越砂卵石地层掘进施工时,由于砂卵石的地层特性及施工扰动,隧道掌子面容易失稳而引发事故。为研究砂卵石地层盾构隧道掌子面稳定所需的最小支护力,结合砂卵石地层的掌子面失稳模式,在三维Murayama模型的基础上,将掌子面前方土体的滑动面形式假设为对数螺旋滑移线,结合上部松动区域的破坏机制,引入椭球体放矿理论,对传统的棱柱体筒仓模型进行改进,进一步通过极限平衡法推导出砂卵石地层的掌子面极限支护力求解公式;最后通过离散元数值模拟验证所推公式,两者的误差为3.1%。结果表明所得公式可对砂卵石地层的掌子面极限支护力进行较为精确的求解。研究成果以期为砂卵石地层掌子面极限支护力计算理论提供依据。