The melatonin rhythm: both a clock and a calendar

The paper briefly reviews the data which shows that the circadian production and secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland can impart both daily, i.e., clock, and seasonal, i.e., calendar, information to the organism. The paper summarizes the 3 patterns of nocturnal melatonin production that have been described. Clearly, regardless of the pattern of nocturnal melatonin production a particular species normally displays, the duration of nightime elevated melatonin is proportional to the duration of the night length. Since daylength under natural conditions changes daily the melatonin rhythm, which adjusts to the photoperiod sends time of year information to the organism. The melatonin receptors which subserve the clock message sent by the pineal gland in the form of a melatonin cycle may reside in the biological clock itself, namely, the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). The melatonin receptors that mediate seasonal changes in reproductive physiology are presumably those that are located on the pars tuberalis cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Besides these receptors which likely mediate clock and calendar information, melatonin receptors have been described in other organs. Interestingly, the distribution of melatonin receptors is highly species-specific. Whereas the clock and calendar information that the melatonin cycle imparts to the organism relies on cell membrane receptors, a fact that is of some interest considering the high lipophilicity of melatonin, recent studies indicate that other functions of melatonin may require no receptor whatsoever.     

基于DSP的电子耳蜗语音处理器的研制

电子耳蜗是一项正在迅速发展的聋人康复新技术，其关键是要研制出可靠、灵活、价格低廉的产品。首先介绍电子耳蜗的原理及其进展，然后介绍基于TMS320VC5402 DSP处理器的电子耳蜗语音处理器。实验证明：基于DSP的电子耳蜗系统可以按照患者的实际情况灵活选择各种语音处理方案，并能方便实现语音预处理、噪声抑制和对应各电极的频谱阈值调整，是一种比较好的系统结构。     

The pineal and melatonin: Regulators of circadian function in lower vertebrates

Summary The pineal has been identified as a major circadian pacemaker within the circadian system of a number of lower vertebrates although other pacemaking sites have been implicated as well. The rhythmic synthesis and secretion of the pineal hormone, melatonin, is suggested as the mechanism by which the pineal controls circadian oscillators located elsewhere. Both light and temperature cycles can entrain the pineal melatonin rhythm. The pineal, therefore, acts as a photo and thermoendocrine transducer which functions to synchronize internal cycle with cycles in the environment. A model is presented which portrays the pineal as a major component of a multioscillator circadian system and which suggests how these multiple circadian clocks are coupled to each other and to cycles of light and temperature in the external world.     

Pineal ‘synaptic’ ribbon numbers and melatonin synthesis of rat are resistant to guanethidine sympathectomy

Chemical sympathectomy is widely used to study the impact of the noradrenergic system on neuronal and neuroendocrine circuits. We tested the effects of intraperitoneal injections of guanethidine, an adrenergic neuron blocking agent, on selected functional parameters of the rat pineal gland which are known to be under sympathetic influence. The reliability of the method was demonstrated by the clear enophthalmus developed by experimental animals. However, neither the numbers of synaptic ribbons nor melatonin synthesis differed between treated and control rats, both parameters exhibiting the nocturnal increase seen in intact animals. These results are in striking contrast to those obtained upon chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine or surgical superior cervical ganglionectomy. We conclude that guanethidine is not capable of sufficiently removing noradrenergic influence from the rat pineal gland, and that this substance is thus inferior to other experimental methods of sympathectomy.     

褪黑素对持续光照小鼠学习记忆能力的影响

运用Ｙ－迷宫检测小鼠的分辨学习和记忆能力,观察了年龄,每天２４小时连续１个月的持续光照和每日定时注射褪黑素对小鼠分辨学习和记忆能力的影响。结果表明,成年小鼠与青年小鼠相经学习和记忆能力下降;持续光照可引起小鼠学习记忆能力出现不同程度的下降;实验结果提示,褪黑素在维持学习记忆能力中具有重要作用。     

平面型共振隧穿二极管和其组成MOBILE

为了解决传统台面型共振隧穿二极管制作过程中横向钻蚀问题，提出了一种采用离子注入法在N^＋GaAs衬底上制作平面型共振隧穿二极管，通过离子注入对器件之间进行隔离，取代了台面制作工艺中的通过湿法腐蚀隔离器件的目的．研究了它的I-V特性，测得的峰谷电流比为3．4．研究了由平面型共振隧穿二极管构成的单双稳态逻辑单元，实现了作为反相器的功能．     

液体硅橡胶在电子耳蜗中的初步应用

电子耳蜗的植入部分主要包括刺激电极及语音处理2部分，目前，对耳蜗电极进行了大量的研究，但是由于影响电极刺激效果的因素很多，所以不能确定哪一种刺激电极最好。介绍了液体硅橡胶在电子耳蜗电极上的应用，由于工艺及技术的问题，用Silastic MDX-4210做了初步尝试，希望对以后的研究有一定参考。     

仿生种植牙模型的三维有限元分析与结构优化

目的:研究不同弹性模量和厚度的仿生牙周膜对仿生种植牙模型骨界面应力分布的影响,优化仿生种植牙模型的结构.方法:对仿生种植牙三维有限元模型施加100N的载荷,应用三维有限元方法,分别对6种不同弹性模量和5种不同厚度的仿生牙周膜的仿生种植牙三维有限元模型的骨界面进行应力分析.结果:当仿生牙周膜弹性模量为689MPa、膜厚0.25mm左右时,骨界面上的应力最小且分布均匀.结论:在仿生种植牙模型中,取仿生牙周膜厚为0.25mm、弹性模量为689MPa时,能达到模型的结构优化.     

Photoreceptors in the pineal of lower vertebrates: Functional aspects

Summary The pineal of lower vertebrates characteristically contains true and modified photoreceptors with functional und structural homologies to retinal photoreceptors. Afferent nerves convey photic information from the pineal to sensory areas of the brain stem. Light also influences synthetic activity within the organ, controlling the rhythm in melatonin production which is generated endogenously. The molecular mechanisms underlying this rhythmic event are described and the hypothesis advanced that the pineal transduces several forms of environmental stimulus involved in the regulation of rhythmic function.     

信息检索在专利技术开发中的作用

通过对一项公开专利技术CN1440744A(纳米包覆退黑激素复合保健品)的开发提供信息检索跟踪服务的实例，论证了信息检索在专利技术开发中的地位和作用。