MyoD and Myf-5 differentially regulate the development of limb versus trunk skeletal muscle

The myogenic progenitors of epaxial (paraspinal and intercostal) and hypaxial (limb and abdominal wall) musculature are believed to originate in dorsal-medial and ventral-lateral domains, respectively, of the developing somite. To investigate the hypothesis that Myf-5 and MyoD have different roles in the development of epaxial and hypaxial musculature, we further characterized myogenesis in Myf-5- and MyoD-deficient embryos by several approaches. We examined expression of a MyoD-lacZ transgene in Myf-5 and MyoD mutant embryos to characterize the temporal-spatial patterns of myogenesis in mutant embryos. In addition, we performed immunohistochemistry on sectioned Myf-5 and MyoD mutant embryos with antibodies reactive with desmin, nestin, myosin heavy chain, sarcomeric actin, Myf-5, MyoD and myogenin. While MyoD(-/-) embryos displayed normal development of paraspinal and intercostal muscles in the body proper, muscle development in limb buds and brachial arches was delayed by about 2.5 days. By contrast, Myf-5(-/-) embryos displayed normal muscle development in limb buds and brachial arches, and markedly delayed development of paraspinal and intercostal muscles. Although MyoD mutant embryos exhibited delayed development of limb musculature, normal migration of Pax-3-expressing cells into the limb buds and normal subsequent induction of Myf-5 in myogenic precursors was observed. These results suggest that Myf-5 expression in the limb is insufficient for the normal progression of myogenic development. Taken together, these observations strongly support the hypothesis that Myf-5 and MyoD play unique roles in the development of epaxial and hypaxial muscle, respectively.     

Alkali-metal Na Adsorption and Promoted Oxidation on Si(100)2×1 Surface

The alkali-metal Na adsorption on Si(100)2×1 surface and its promoted oxidation and Si oxidegrowth have been investigated by means of thermal desorption,work function,Auger electronspectroscopy and photoemission electron spectroscopy.The experimental data showed that therewas a new state,interface electron state,near the Fermi level after the deposition of Na atoms.It wasfound that the presence of Na always caused an increase of the oxygen initial uptake whereas thepromotion of Si oxide growth was observed only at the coverage of Na greater than 0.5 ML.A newmechanism of Na-promoted Si oxide growth is suggested in this paper.     

Local staging with CT of tumors of the upper urothelium

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of computerized tomography (CT) to stage transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. METHODS: 29 transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract submitted to nephroureterectomy were retrospectively evaluated. All 29 tumors had preoperative CT scans performed to stage the lesion. The pathological staging was compared to that of CT. RESULTS: 10 of the 29 tumors had CT evidence of tumor extension and 19 had localized noninvasive tumor on CT. Of the 10 patients with CT findings of tumor extension, 2 (20%) had superficial tumors and 8 (80%) had tumors that invaded into the adventitial fat, renal parenchyma or perirenal fat (pT3, pT4). Of the 19 patients with localized noninvasive tumor on CT, 13 (68%) had superficial tumors and 6 (32%) had pT3 or pT4 tumors. CT sensitivity for tumor invasion was 57% with a specificity of 87.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis shows that CT is of limited value in staging these tumors. When CT demonstrates direct tumor extension through the renal pelvic or ureteral wall, it is a sensitive indicator of high-stage tumor. However, the results obtained in low stage tumors must be viewed with caution.     

VRCTC-310--a novel compound of purified animal toxins separates antitumor efficacy from neurotoxicity

Two purified animal venom toxins, crotoxin and cardiotoxin, have been combined to produce a unique natural product (VRCTC-310) currently under investigation as an antitumor agent by the National Cancer Institute. In vitro, it has demonstrated cytotoxic disease specificity and a unique mechanism of action when submitted to COMPARE analysis. In vivo, tolerance was developed to the neurotoxic properties of crotoxin which allowed comparison of several schedules of fixed and escalating daily i.m. doses to mice bearing s.c. Lewis Lung carcinoma. An 83% inhibition of tumor growth was achieved using an escalating dose schedule starting at 1.8 mg/kg and reaching 6.3 mg/kg/day on day 20. Although some irritation around the sites of i.m. injection was noted, animal weight loss was negligible and there were no other signs of adverse toxicity. This natural product represents a new, membrane interactive anticancer agent which produces a unique spectrum of cytotoxicity in vitro and which has demonstrated interesting in vivo antitumor efficacy.     

Differential activity of the G protein beta5 gamma2 subunit at receptors and effectors

The G protein beta5 subunit differs substantially in amino acid sequence from the other known beta subunits suggesting that beta gamma dimers containing this protein may play specialized roles in cell signaling. To examine the functional properties of the beta5 subunit, recombinant beta5 gamma2 dimers were purified from baculovirus-infected Sf9 insect cells using a strategy based on two affinity tags (hexahistidine and FLAG) engineered into the N terminus of the gamma2 subunit (gamma2HF). The function of the pure beta5 gamma2HF dimers was examined in three assays: activation of pure phospholipase C-beta in lipid vesicles; activation of recombinant, type II adenylyl cyclase expressed in Sf9 cell membranes; and coupling of alpha subunits to the endothelin B (ETB) and M1 muscarinic receptors. In each case, the efficacy of the beta5 gamma2HF dimer was compared with that of the beta1 gamma2HF dimer, which has demonstrated activity in these assays. The beta5 gamma2HF dimer activated phospholipase C-beta with a potency and efficacy similar to that of beta1 gamma2 or beta1 gamma2HF; however, it was markedly less effective than the beta1 gamma2HF or beta1 gamma2 dimer in its ability to activate type II adenylyl cyclase (EC50 of approximately 700 nM versus 25 nM). Both the beta5 gamma2HF and the beta1 gamma2HF dimers supported coupling of M1 muscarinic receptors to the Gq alpha subunit. The ETB receptor coupled effectively to both the Gi and Gq alpha subunits in the presence of the beta1 gamma2HF dimer. In contrast, the beta5 gamma2HF dimer only supported coupling of the Gq alpha subunits to the ETB receptor and did not support coupling of the Gi alpha subunit. These results suggest that the beta5 gamma2HF dimer binds selectively to Gq alpha subunits and does not activate the same set of effectors as dimers containing the beta1 subunit. Overall, the data support a specialized role for the beta5 subunit in cell signaling.     

钢管内径光电检测装置

介绍了一种检测细长钢管内径的光电检测装置。该装置利用线阵ＣＣＤ作传感器，采用８０３１单片机作为主控制。     

13SiMnNiCrMoV钢切口疲劳裂纹萌生门槛值

本文研究在13SiMnNiCrMoV 结构钢中用尖裂纹的应力强度因子来反映三点弯曲缺口试样的疲劳裂纹萌生规律。当 R=0.1,f=100Hz,试样尺寸 B×W×L=12.5×25×117mm 时,缺口名义应力幅的门槛值为Δσ_(th)=3315ρ~(0.352) MPa,0.5mm≤ρ≤5mmΔK_(th)=250ρ~(0.352) MPam~(1/2)门槛值与ρ有关。同时得到缺口裂纹萌生的循环次数 N_i 与名义应力幅Δσ、缺口曲率半径ρ的定量关系是N_i=3.98×10~(22)ρ~(1.62)/Δσ~(4.85),N_i≤10~(5.5)并讨论了(ΔK_1/ρ~(1/2))_(th)与ρ无关的结论。     

内蒙古煤系高岭土作为FCC催化剂基质的研究

研究两种内蒙古煤系高岭土（1^＃、2^＃）的化学组成、晶体结构并与苏州高岭土进行了比较。对三种高岭土进行酸改性，利用BET、吡啶-TPD和微反测试分别研究改性前后高岭土的性能特点。并将内蒙古高岭土1^＃与苏州高岭土采用半合成方法合成了FCC催化剂，测定了其裂化活性。研究结果表明，内蒙古1^＃具有较良好的晶体结构和化学组成，经酸改性后比表面积大大增加，具有合适的孔径分布，裂化活性较好，可以取代苏州高岭土作为FCC催化剂的基质。     

普物光学实验的现代化

为了扩大学生的视野，增加实验的兴趣，充分调动学生学习的积极性和创新精神，我们将一些反映当前光学发展的新内容、新技术引进到普物光学实验中，并在实验教学方法上进行了改革。本文介绍了我们的具体做法和体会。