MRI of congenital Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome

MRI findings of bilateral central macrogyria allowed the diagnosis of a congenital variant of Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome in four patients aged between 13 and 32 years, with facio-pharyngo-glosso-masticatory central diplegia, mental retardation and seizures.     

Recognition of human recombinant myelin associated glycoprotein by anti-carbohydrate antibodies of the L2/HNK-1 family

The L2 and HNK-1 monoclonal antibodies recognize carbohydrate determinants containing sulfate-3-glucuronate that are prominent on cells of neural crest lineages. In humans these epitopes are most abundant on the Myelin Associated Glycoprotein and it was assumed that they co-localize on the same molecules. Recently, in vitro synthesized carbohydrates have provided a basis for the different recognition requirements of these two antibodies. We now provide in vivo evidence that a human melanoma cell line can produce glycoproteins such as fibronectin, which is recognized by both the L2 and HNK-1 antibodies, and simultaneously a transfected Myelin Associated Glycoprotein carrying only L2-type carbohydrates. Conceivably, the differential expression of L2- and HNK-1 type glycans could have a role in development.     

Intracellular regulation of TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human melanoma cells

The observation that TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a member of the TNF cytokine family, induces apoptosis in a number of different tumor cell types led us to compare the tumoricidal effects of TRAIL to those of other TNF family molecules on human melanoma cells. We found that a high proportion of the melanoma cell lines tested were killed by TRAIL, whereas all the melanoma lines were resistant to the other TNF family cytokines tested. TRAIL-induced death was characterized by caspase activation and cellular protein cleavage within minutes of TRAIL addition, and death could be completely inhibited by the caspase inhibitors Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp (IETD) and Val-Ala-Asp (VAD), indicating the presence of a TRAIL receptor signaling pathway similar to that identified for Fas and TNF receptors. Specific TRAIL receptor expression was determined by RT-PCR, and the presence of mRNA encoding the "protective" TRAIL receptors did not correspond to resistance or sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Addition of protein synthesis inhibitors to TRAIL-resistant melanomas rendered them sensitive to TRAIL, indicating that the presence or the absence of intracellular apoptosis inhibitors may mediate resistance or sensitivity to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Expression of one such inhibitor, FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP), was highest in the TRAIL-resistant melanomas, while being low or undetectable in the TRAIL-sensitive melanomas. Furthermore, addition of actinomycin D to TRAIL-resistant melanomas resulted in decreased intracellular concentrations of FLIP, which correlated with their acquisition of TRAIL sensitivity. Collectively, our results indicate that TRAIL-induced apoptosis occurs through a caspase signaling cascade and that resistance is controlled by intracellular regulators of apoptosis.     

Quasi-optical measurement of carcinotron phase noise at 350 GHz

Phase noise of a single carcinotron operating at 350 GHz, at offset frequencies in the range 10⁵-10⁷ Hz, from the carrier has been measured. A quasi-optical analogue of the delay line frequency discriminator method was used, demonstrating a simple method capable of measuring phase noise in the (sub)mm region. The results obtained are of practical use in the design of phase locked systems, in the wavelength region used     

国内首个钻井VFD控制系统研制成功

上海振华重工（集团）股份有限公司成功研发出国内首个钻井VFD控制系统,并通过了通讯测试和软件测试。目前,该系统已成功安装于“振海2号”,这标志着振华重工成功扪。破国外技术垄断,成为国内首家、世界第4家完全掌握钻井VFD控制系统技术的制造企业。     

Parietal eye-pineal morphology in lizards and its physiological implications

Pineal complexes in 85 species of lizards examined comprised seven morphological types. Members of the same family do not necessarily have the same pineal complex type. "Regressive" parietal eyes were not common except in certain arboreal lizards, primarily from the family Chameleontidae. The parietal eye is often retained in burrowing lizards, presumably because these animals are occasionally exposed to light and the parietal eye is a more suitable photoreceptor for a burrower than are lateral eyes. The pineal of certain lizards possesses a finger-like projection that extends toward the parietal eye. This extension, along with pineal wall convolutions, results in more photoreceptor cells oriented for maximal absorption of light. It is rare to find convolutions and an extension in the same pineal. Cartilage deposits and blood sinuses may modify the intensity and wavelength of light reaching the pineal. These observations suggest that the intracranial pineal of lizards is a more important photoreceptor than was previously realized, a situation that may be a factor in the occasional "failure" of parietalectomy experiments.