Phenogenetic analysis of prenatal development of the glucocorticoid function of the adrenals in silver foxes after long-term selection for domesticated behavior

The level of cortisol in serum and adrenals and its production by adrenals in vitro was studied by the radioimmune method in male and female silver fox embryos, starting from day 30 of pregnancy every five days. Pregnant females from a commercial population and an experimental population, which had been selected for domestic behavior, was used. It was shown that, at the end of the prenatal developmental stage, all investigated parameters of the glucocorticoid function of adrenals were significantly lower in embryos from selected mothers as compared to the unselected control group. The addition of adrenocorticotropic hormone into the incubation medium increased cortisol biosynthesis at all embryogenesis stages, but in the selected population the increase was less than that in the control group.     

Determination of organochlorine pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl residues in fatty fish by tandem solid-phase extraction cleanup

A rapid, multiresidue solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique for determination of organochlorine pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) residues in nonfatty fish was modified for use with fatty fish. In the modified procedures, samples are extracted with acetonitrile, and the extract is cleaned up with both C18 and Florisil SPE columns. Residues are determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The original method was modified for use with fatty fish by reducing the amount of tissue extracted and by using an improved Florisil SPE cleanup. Recovery data are presented for 24 fortified organochlorine pesticide residues (0.12 ppm) and 3 fortified PCB residues (0.80 ppm) from flounder, bluefish, and shad samples, which contained 0.8, 5.4, and 22.6% fat, respectively. For the 3 types of fish, recoveries of 23 of 24 fortified organochlorine pesticide residues ranged from 55 to 129%, and recoveries of 3 fortified PCB residues ranged from 55 to 104%. There were no significant differences in recovery based on fish species and/or fat content for the majority of residues studied. This SPE method and the official AOAC method yielded comparable results for fish containing incurred organochlorine residues.     

Relationship of a dystrophin-associated glycoprotein to junctional acetylcholine receptor clusters in rat skeletal muscle

The relationship of a member of the transmembrane dystrophin-associated glycoprotein (DAG) complex to acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) was investigated using immunofluorescence techniques at rat neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) viewed en face. These results were compared with those from a similar previous study of dystrophin and an autosomal homologue (utrophin or dystrophin-related protein, DRP) (Bewick et al. Neuro Report 1992; 3: 857-860). The region of highest 43 K DAG (43DAG) labelling projected beyond the AChRs by approximately 0.3 microns, as does that for dystrophin. By contrast DRP labelling precisely co-localizes with the AChRs. These results suggest that at the NMJ, the region of high 43DAG concentration encompasses the area of highest intensity labelling for both DRP and dystrophin.     

Transfected glucocorticoid receptor and certain GR fragments evoke cell death in malignant lymphoid, not myeloid cell lines

We compared the data from four growth hormone (GH) immunoassays for analyzing 24-h GH profiles in four apparently normal subjects and four obese subjects (508 serum samples). The detection limit was 0.02 microgram/L for one immunochemiluminometric assay (ICMA), 0.1 microgram/L for two IRMAs, and 0.4 microgram/L for one RIA. All GH pulses with a peak ICMA value > 1 microgram/L were detected by each of the other methods. Overall, the correlation coefficient between the values obtained with all four assays exceeded 0.90. However, for GH concentrations < or = 0.25 microgram/L, acceptable concordance (r2 > or = 0.80) was reached only between the ICMA and one IRMA; between the ICMA and the RIA, concordance was acceptable only for GH concentrations > or = 10 micrograms/L. In the normal subjects, the percentage of undetectable values was 0% with the ICMA but 29% with one of the IRMAs; in obese subjects, the corresponding values were 12% and 38%.     

Taste receptor response to sodium chloride and natriuresis in the workers and employees of an industrial enterprise

Studied in the course of one-stage epidemiologic survey of 1191 individuals were the threshold of gustatory sensitivity to table salt and nycterine natriuresis, relation of these indices to dietary habits, some risk factors for cardiovascular disorders and clinical parameters. Differing relations were established between gustatory sensitivity to table salt and natriuresis and age and gender of the examinees, the level of blood pressure, aggravated heredity in respect of arterial hypertension, smoking and alcohol abuse, this enabling one to embark upon a differential approach to dietetic correction of salt consumption.     

从复印机纸盒结构看人性化设计

静电复印机是常用的办公设备,复印时要将不同规格的复印纸装入纸盒,经常需要操作者对纸盒进行调整。从使用者的角度讲,要用最小的力气、最简便的方法来完成对机器的操纵。这就需要考虑进行人性化设计。纸盒调整主要有自动监测纸盒尺寸的功能和纸盒内侧挡板(导纸板)的调整。对比不同品牌和不同机型复印机的纸盒设计,可看出人性化设计对方便操作者使用的重要性,也为购买机器时提供了借鉴。     

曹娥江大闸闸墩混凝土高温季节温控措施

曹娥江大闸是国内最大的河口大闸,其中闸墩施工在夏季高温季节进行.较全面地阐述了混凝土原材料取料温度值的选取及控制措施,已浇筑混凝土内外温差及降温速率的控制措施等.根据闸墩的结构及边界条件,为了控制温度应力防止裂缝的产生,在施工过程中采取了骨料预冷、冷水拌和、掺冰屑拌和、仓面遮阳、内部通冷却水及外侧保温等综合温控措施,确保了闸墩混凝土的施工质量.