A negative association of schizophrenia with an allele of the HLA DQB1 gene among African-Americans

The present study investigated the relationship between the time of nocturnal onset of urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) secretion, and the timing of the steepest increase in nocturnal sleepiness ("sleep gate"), as determined by an ultrashort sleep-wake cycle test (7 min sleep, 13 min wake). Twenty-nine men (mean age 23.8 +/- 2.7 years) participated. The ultrashort sleep-wake paradigm started at 0700 hr after a night of sleep deprivation and continued for 24 hr until 0700 hr the next day. Electrophysiological recordings were carried out during the 7-min sleep trials, which were then scored conventionally for sleep stages. Urinary aMT6s was measured every 2 hr. The results showed that the timing of the sleep gate was significantly correlated with the onset of aMT6s secretion. These results are discussed in light of the possible role of melatonin in sleep-wake regulation.     

1H-NMR resonance assignments, secondary structure, and global fold of the TR1C fragment of turkey skeletal troponin C in the calcium-free state

The TR1C fragment of turkey skeletal muscle TnC (residues 12-87) comprises the two regulatory calcium binding sites of the protein. Complete assignments of the 1H-NMR resonances of the backbone and amino acid side chains of this domain in the absence of metal ions have been obtained using 2D 1H-NMR techniques. Sequential (i,i+1) and short-range (i,i+3) NOE connectivities define two helix-loop-helix calcium binding motifs, and long-range NOE connectivities indicate a short two-stranded beta-sheet formed between the two calcium binding loops. The two calcium binding sites are different in secondary structure. In terms of helix length, site II conforms to a standard "EF-hand" motif with the first helix ending one residue before the first calcium ligand and the second helix starting one residue after the beta-sheet. In site I, the first helix ends three residues before the first calcium ligand, and the second helix starts three residues after the beta-sheet. A number of long-range NOE connectivities between the helices define their relative orientation and indicate formation of a hydrophobic core between helices A, B, and D. The secondary structure and global fold of the TR1C fragment in solution in the calcium-free state are therefore very similar to those of the corresponding region in the crystal structure of turkey skeletal TnC [Herzberg, O., & James, M.N.G. (1988) J. Mol. Biol. 203, 761-779].     

Reliability of seizure classification using a semistructured interview

Methods for standardized classification of epileptic seizures are important for both clinical practice and epidemiologic research. In this study, we developed a strategy for standardized classification using a semistructured telephone interview and operational diagnostic criteria. We interviewed 1,957 adults with epilepsy ascertained from voluntary organizations. To confirm and expand the seizure history, we also interviewed a first-degree relative for 67% of subjects and obtained medical records for 59%. Three lay reviewers used all available information to classify seizures. To assess reliability, each reviewer classified a sample of subjects assigned to the others. In addition, an expert physician classified a sample of subjects assigned to two of the reviewers. Agreement was "moderate-substantial" for generalized-onset seizures, both for the comparisons between pairs of lay reviewers and for the neurologist versus lay reviewers. Agreement was "substantial-almost perfect" for partial-onset seizures, both for pairs of lay reviewers and for the neurologist versus lay reviewers. These results suggest that seizures can be reliably classified by lay reviewers, using operational criteria applied to symptoms ascertained in a semistructured telephone interview.     

Liposome-cell interaction: transfer and intracellular release of a trapped fluorescent marker

When small, unilamellar lipid vesicles containing a high concentration of the fluorescent dye 6-carboxyfluorescein are incubated with either frog retinas or human lymphocytes, fluroescence distributes widely throughout each cell. Since "self-quenching" largely prevents the dye from fluorescing as long as it remains sequestered in vesicles, it is clear that a considerable amount of dye is released from the vesicles and diluted into the much larger volume of the cell.     

Fibrous myopathy. A rheumatic complication of drug abuse

A progressive fibrous myopathy may result from chronic intramuscular drug abuse. This complication may mimic other rheumatic disorders and early recognition may prevent disability. The patient described here presented with fixed flexion and extension contracture of hips and knees, respectively, after abusing meperidine and other agents for 3 years. Soft tissues of thighs and buttocks were "wood hard," EMG showed absence of action potentials in affected muscles, and biopsy revealed extensive replacement of muscle with dense, acellular fibrous tissue. Possible mechanisms are discussed.     

Establishing a limit of recognition for a vapor sensor array

Organic vapor analysis with microsensor arrays relies principally on two output parameters: the response pattern, which provides qualitative information, and the response sensitivity, which determines the limit of detection (LOD). The latter is used to define the operating limit in the low-concentration range, under the implicit assumption that, if a vapor can be detected, it can be identified and differentiated from other vapors on the basis of its response pattern. In this study, the performance of an array of four polymer-coated surface acoustic wave vapor sensors was explored using calibrated response data from 16 solvent vapors in Monte Carlo simulations coupled with pattern recognition analysis. The statistical modeling revealed that the ability to recognize a vapor from its response pattern decreases with decreasing vapor concentration, as expected, but also that the concentration at which errors in vapor recognition become excessive is well above the calculated LOD in most cases, despite the LOD being based on the least sensitive sensor in the array. These results suggest the adoption of a limit of recognition (LOR), defined as the concentration below which a vapor can no longer be reliably recognized from its response pattern, as an additional criterion for evaluating the performance of multisensor arrays. A generalized method for estimating the LOR is presented, as well as a means for improving the LOR via residual error analysis.     

梳齿的不平行对电容式微机械传感器阶跃信号响应的影响

分析了梳齿电容式传感器在三种电容驱动方式下,梳齿电容极板的不平行对传感器受到阶跃加速度信号作用时可靠工作条件的影响。得到了梳齿倾斜效应对传感器阶跃加速度响应影响的分析模型。结果表明梳齿电容在同样的电压驱动下,若电容极板的倾斜角变到0.5°时,对于单边电容结构、双边电容结构和有力反馈的双边电容结构,传感器能够承受的临界阶跃加速度分别变为电容极板完全平行时的0.34、0.44、0.52。并针对DRIE工艺刻蚀梳齿的原理,讨论了改进梳齿不平行的方法。     

研磨加工层对高碳铬轴承钢超长寿命疲劳行为的影响

为了阐明磨石研磨加工层对高碳铬轴承钢JIS SUJ2超长寿命疲劳行为的影响,分别使用经砂纸研磨和电解研磨的砂漏形试样,在室温空气环境下进行旋转弯曲疲劳试验.砂纸研磨试样被除去部分磨石研磨层,电解研磨试样被除去了全部的磨石研磨层.结果表明,两种试样的S-N曲线由位于短寿命区的表面破坏模式和位于长寿命区的内部破坏模式的两条组成,表面破坏模式的S-N曲线受表面粗糙度和表面压缩残余应力的影响.内部破坏模式的S-N曲线不受表面条件的影响,是材料固有的特性.砂纸研磨试样表面破坏模式的疲劳极限最高,是电解研磨试样1.11倍和磨石研磨的1.20倍.表面压缩残余应力对表面破坏模式疲劳极限的影响可以用修正Goodman图表示.还讨论裂纹的萌生和扩展条件,推定超长寿命的疲劳极限.     

微胶囊技术在啤酒生产中的应用研究

介绍了微胶囊固定化啤酒酵母细胞的原理以及研究了影响微胶囊稳定性的几个关键因素,阐述了微胶囊技术在啤酒连续生产应用中的可行性,结果表明连续发酵生产的啤酒与分批发酵相比,风味、口感都比较接近.