Whole-mount preparations of mouse lens epithelium for the fluorescent cytological study of actin

A technique is given for the preparation of a sheet of epithelial cells from the capsule of the crystalline lens. A new method is described for fixation and staining with fluorescent phalloidin or actin antibody in order to localize the actin cytoskeleton in this tissue. Optical section of the preparation resolves such actin features as apical polygonal arrays, sequestered actin bundles, perinuclear actin aggregates, observed here for the first time, and filamentous networks in the basal region of the cell. This method is superior to previous ones in its ability to preserve actin-abundant sectors distinctively.     

Multiple-User Data Acquisition and Analysis System

The nuclear physics program at the Brookhaven National Laboratory High Flux Beam Reactor (HFBR) employs a pair of PDP-11 computers for the dual functions of data acquisition and analysis. The data acquisition is accomplished through CAMAC and features a microprogrammed branch driver to accommodate various experimental inputs. The acquisition computer performs the functions of multi-channel analyzers, multiscaling and time-sequenced multichannel analyzers and gamma-ray coincidence analyzers. The data analysis computer is available for rapid processing of data tapes written by the acquisition computer. The ability to accommodate many users is facilitated by separating the data acquisition and analysis functions, and allowing each user to tailor the analysis to the specific requirements of his own experiment. The system is to be upgraded soon by the introduction of a dual port disk to allow a data base to be available to each computer.     

Spinal cord herniation after stabbing injury

The commercially available spray management valve provided consistent flow rates when used with hand-compression sprayer systems. The 15-psi spray management valve maintained a constant flow rate of 180, 150, and 155 ml/min in combination with a fine 45 degrees flat fan nozzle and Hudson. B&G, and Chapin hand-compression sprayers, respectively. The 30-psi spray management valve maintained a constant flow rate and adequate spray-on time when combined with the coarse flat fan nozzle for each of the 3 hand-compression sprayers tested.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel polyesterimides

A series of soluble novel polyesterimides was synthesized from diamines [a mixture of 2,2‐bis(4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl)propane (BAPP) with amine‐terminated polysiloxane (ATPS) in various mole ratios] and the ester‐group‐containing dianhydrides. The ester group containing dianhydrides in turn was synthesized by the transesterification reaction of trimellitic anhydride (TMA) with diacetate ester of hydroquinone (HQ), 4,4′‐dihydrophenyl (BP), 1,6‐hexanediol, or ethylene glycol. The resulted polyesterimides were characterized by using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, inherent viscosity, solubility, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The polyesterimides of BP and HQ had relatively high glass transition temperatures in the range of 214.7–227.2 and 195.7–210.5°C, respectively. The glass transitions decreased rather slowly with the increase in polysiloxane content. Thermal stability and the weight‐loss behavior of polyesterimides were studied by TGA. All polyesterimides of BP and HQ (BPI and HQI) showed no significant weight loss below 500°C in a N₂ environment, and the decomposition temperatures (T_d5%) of BPI and HQI were >520°C. Most polyesterimides were soluble in polar aprotic solvents and m‐cresol. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 730–738, 2004     

A reactive modifier that enhances the thermal mechanical properties of epoxy resin through the formation of multiple hydrogen-bonded network

In this study, we synthesized a reactive modifier [DOPO-tris(azetidine-2,4-dione)], terminated with three azetidine-2,4-dione functional groups, from [(9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-yl)tris(4-aminophenyl)methane; DOPO-triamine] and [4-isocyanato-4′-(3,3-dimethyl-2,4-dioxo-acetidino)diphenylmethane; IDD]. We embedded this reactive modifier, which contains multiple hydrogen bond donor and acceptor units, into epoxy resins to promote intermolecular interactions and to tailor its flexibility through the formation of unique pseudo-crosslinked polymer networks. The resulted epoxy resins were found to exhibit glass transition temperature as high as 187 °C and excellent flame retardancy with limited oxygen index (LOI) values around 38. Meanwhile, the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of epoxy systems increases from 0.67 to 2.13 GPa for storage modulus and 0.73–1.67 GPa for loss modulus at 100 °C. Incorporation of reactive modifier into epoxy networks with noncovalent interactions via thermosetting blend was demonstrated to be an effective way to enhance the thermal and physical properties simultaneously.     

滚齿加工齿轮误差的矢量法分析

从共轭原理角度出发，采用矢量法分析了运动偏心下滚齿加工轮齿的本质，阐明了有运动偏心的情况下，滚切出的齿形是有误差的渐开线齿形。     

Effects of mechanical milling on preparation and properties of CuAl1−xFexO2 thermoelectric ceramics

CuAl_1?xFe_xO₂ (x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2) thermoelectric ceramics produced by a reaction-sintering process were investigated. Pure CuAlO₂ and CuAl_0.9Fe_0.1O₂ were obtained. Minor CuAl₂O₄ phase formed in CuAl_0.8Fe_0.2O₂. Addition of 10 mol% Fe lowered the sintering temperature obviously and enhanced the grain growth. At x = 0.1, electrical conductivity = 3.143 Ω^?1 cm^?1, Seebeck coefficient = 418 μV K^?1, and power factor = 5.49 × 10^?5 W m^?1 K^?2 at 600 °C were obtained. The reaction-sintering process is simple and effective in preparing CuAlO₂ and CuAl_0.9Fe_0.1O₂ thermoelectric ceramics for applications at high temperatures.     

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress Promote Apoptotic Cell Death in the Striatum via Cytochrome c/Caspase-3 Signaling Cascade Following Chronic Rotenone Intoxication in Rats

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder marked by nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration. Evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction may be linked to PD through a variety of different pathways, including free-radical generation and dysfunction of the mitochondrial Complex I activity. In Lewis rats, chronic systemic administration of a specific mitochondrial Complex I inhibitor, rotenone (3 mg/kg/day) produced parkinsonism-like symptoms. Increased oxidized proteins and peroxynitrite, and mitochondrial or cytosol translocation of Bim, Bax or cytochrome c in the striatum was observed after 2-4 weeks of rotenone infusion. After 28 days of systemic rotenone exposure, imunohistochemical staining for tyrosine hydroxylase indicated nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuronal cell degeneration. Characteristic histochemical (TUNEL or activated caspase-3 staining) or ultrastructural (electron microscopy) features of apoptotic cell death were present in the striatal neuronal cell after chronic rotenone intoxication. We conclude that chronic rotenone intoxication may enhance oxidative and nitrosative stress that induces mitochondrial dysfunction and ultrastructural damage, resulting in translocation of Bim and Bax from cytosol to mitochondria that contributes to apoptotic cell death in the striatum via cytochrome c/caspase-3 signaling cascade.