Analysis of linkage between beta-lactoglobulin and J blood group system loci in cattle

Linkage between loci controlling variants of beta-lactoglobulin and blood groups of the J system in cattle was studied by means of stochastic genetic methods reported earlier. The studies were conducted on a herd of Black Pied cattle improved with Holstein sires; population genetic data were analyzed. A plot for lod score was constructed, and point (r - 0.28) and interval estimations of the coefficient of recombination were obtained. The results are in good agreement with earlier reported data on other subjects.     

Fatigue crack in large-scale tubular joints for offshore structures

Tubular members have been used for constructing offshore structures. Large-scale fatigue tests of welded tubular K-joints under the balanced in-plane bending brace were carried out to investigate the fatigue behavior of API 2W Gr.50 steel produced by POSCO. The experimental results were verified by numerical approaches and compared with the IIW, DnV RP-C203 and API RP 2A-WSD design curves. The test results based on the hot spot stress were in agreement with the design curves. The SCF factor for tubular K-jo...     

Attenuation of alcohol consumption by a novel nontoxic ibogaine analogue (18-methoxycoronaridine) in alcohol-preferring rats

We previously reported that single administration of ibogaine, an indol alkaloid with antiaddictive properties, dose dependently reduced alcohol intake in three strains of alcohol-preferring rats. The present study examined the effect of different doses of a newly developed nontoxic ibogaine analogue, 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC), on alcohol intake. Selectively bred alcohol-preferring rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of vehicle or 5, 20 and 40 mg/kg of 18-MC at 9:30 AM, and their consumption of alcohol, water and food was measured for 24 h. Our results demonstrate that a single injection of 18-MC significantly and dose dependently attenuated alcohol consumption and preference and commensurately increased water intake. Only the highest dose of 18-MC significantly decreased food intake. Although the true mechanism of action of 18-MC in suppressing alcohol intake is not yet fully understood, it may, like ibogaine, exert its attenuating effects on alcohol consumption by modulating neurotransmitters believed to be involved in the regulation of alcohol intake.     

Decreased survivability and a DNA repair defect in the cells of patients with xeroderma pigmentosum and Cockayne syndrome under the action of radiation and chemical mutagens

The action of ionizing radiation and chemical mutagens--epoxides (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, epichlorohydrin)--upon survival and repair processes in xeroderma pigmentosum (XP2SP) and Cockayne syndrome (CS1SP) patients' cells was studied, compared to healthy donor's cells VH-10 and C5RO. Ionizing radiation was demonstrated to enhance significantly higher survival decrease of XP2SP and CS1SP fibroblasts, compared to healthy donor's cells, according to the cloning efficiency criterion. In contrast to this, no significant difference between XP2SP and healthy donor's cells was found, according to cells' ability to replicative DNA synthesis after gamma irradiation. Differences in survival of mutant cells and healthy donor's cells after treatment by epoxides were found significant only following XP2SP being treated by ethylene oxide. DNA single-string breaks in XP2SP and in CS1SP cells treated by mutagens studied were proved to occur with the same frequency as in the DNA of the control cells; however the DNA repair according to this criterion was significantly suppressed in mutant cells.     

Influence of substituents in fluorobenzene derivatives on the cytochrome P450-catalyzed hydroxylation at the adjacent ortho aromatic carbon center

In the present study, the effects of extracellular magnesium concentration ([Mg2+]ex) on stimulus-secretion coupling processes were investigated in rat gastric parietal cells in vitro. Extracellular magnesium reduction resulted in (1) an increase of basal intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]in), (2) an enhancement of both carbachol and thapsigargin-induced calcium responses, (3) an improved filling state of intracellular calcium stores, (4) an increase of both basal and carbachol-induced acid secretion, whereas intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclicAMP) levels and histamine stimulated acid secretion were not affected. The effects of high [Mg2+]ex were opposite to the described results, except that high [Mg2+]ex was able to decrease significantly histamine-stimulated cyclicAMP levels and acid secretion. These findings indicate a modulatory role of [Mg2+]ex on the intracellular signalling processes and acid secretory properties in rat parietal cells. These effects seemed to be mediated by regulating (1) calcium loading capacity of intracellular stores, (2) the permeability of the calcium influx pathway, and (3) the formation of cyclicAMP.