A cuticular protein from the moulting stages of an insect

A 22 kDa peptide was purified from prepupal cuticles of 5th instar Calpodes ethlius caterpillars. It was absent earlier in the stadium and from the egg and adult, i.e. it is related to cuticle turnover rather than cuticle structure. It was present at larval and metamorphic moults, showing that it is related to moulting not just metamorphosis. The cDNA corresponding to the 22 kDa peptide was isolated by antibody screening of an epidermal cDNA expression library. Hybridization to Calpodes genomic DNA showed that the gene was present as a single copy. The deduced amino acid sequence is not like any of the sequences of cuticular structural proteins that have been published, but has a 47 amino acid sequence similar to bacteriophage T7 N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase (34% identical, 51% similar). The amino acid sequence, the timing of expression in development, and the similarity between the substrate of the bacteriophage amidase and components of insect cuticle, all suggest that the 22 kDa protein may have a role in cleaving chitin-peptide bonds as a prerequisite for digestion of the cuticle by chitinases and proteases.     

Toxocara canis: ultrastructural aspects of larval moulting in the maturing eggs

The morphology of the surface of Toxocara canis larvae, developing in the eggs to reach infectivity, has been studied for the first time at an electron microscopical level. In most 11-day and some 15-day eggs, the larvae are surrounded by two shed cuticles. The outer first shed cuticle is composed of two layers. the inner second shed cuticle is much thicker than the outer one. The presence of both shed cuticles indicates that the larva has undergone two developmental stages in the maturing egg. The larvae in most 15-day eggs are surrounded by one shed cuticle composed of outer electron-dense and inner layers. This cuticular sheath is identical with the described inner second shed cuticle, except for its apparently reduced thickness. The infective larvae inside the 30-day eggs are enveloped by one cuticular sheath, derived from the second moulted cuticle, and consisting only of a single layer. The findings are discussed with respect to data concerning the moulting process in other nematode species.     

Evidence for a clade of nematodes, arthropods and other moulting animals

The arthropods constitute the most diverse animal group, but, despite their rich fossil record and a century of study, their phylogenetic relationships remain unclear. Taxa previously proposed to be sister groups to the arthropods include Annelida, Onychophora, Tardigrada and others, but hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships have been conflicting. For example, onychophorans, like arthropods, moult periodically, have an arthropod arrangement of haemocoel, and have been related to arthropods in morphological and mitochondrial DNA sequence analyses. Like annelids, they possess segmental nephridia and muscles that are a combination of smooth and obliquely striated fibres. Our phylogenetic analysis of 18S ribosomal DNA sequences indicates a close relationship between arthropods, nematodes and all other moulting phyla. The results suggest that ecdysis (moulting) arose once and support the idea of a new clade, Ecdysozoa, containing moulting animals: arthropods, tardigrades, onychophorans, nematodes, nematomorphs, kinorhynchs and priapulids. No support is found for a clade of segmented animals, the Articulata, uniting annelids with arthropods. The hypothesis that nematodes are related to arthropods has important implications for developmental genetic studies using as model systems the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the arthropod Drosophila melanogaster, which are generally held to be phylogenetically distant from each other.     

Effects of thyroxine on avian moulting may not involve prior conversion to tri-iodothyronine

The HMK gene, encoding a killer toxin (HMK) of Hansenula mrakii strain IFO 0895, and the HSK gene, encoding a killer toxin (HSK) of H. saturnus strain IFO 0117, were cloned and sequenced. The HMK and HSK genes encode precursors to killer toxins of 125 amino acids (aa) and 124 aa, respectively. Both precursors have an N-terminal signal sequence of 37 aa which may be removed by a signal peptidase, and a propeptide which may be cleaved off by a KEX2-like protease. There is extensive homology between the aa sequences of HMK and HSK with the exception of the addition of one aa residue in HMK. The HMK and HSK genes were placed, separately, downstream from the yeast GAL10 promoter and introduced into a mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that was resistant to the HMK. The transformants were capable of killing sensitive yeasts in medium that contained galactose with killing spectra similar to those of the donor strains of the toxins. These observations suggest that both killer toxins were synthesized and secreted from S. cerevisiae cells and killed sensitive yeasts, perhaps by the same mechanism as that associated with the donor strains and, moreover, that the difference in primary structure between the two toxins is responsible for the difference in their killing spectra.     

Effect of breeding state, moulting, dehydration, exposure to saturated atmosphere, and arginine vasotocin on cutaneous water permeability in the toad Bufo bufo

Cutaneous water permeability was assessed in hydrated male toads under a variety of conditions, including dehydration and rehydration, and the effects of exogenous arginine vasotocin (AVT) were determined. Cutaneous water permeability (the rate of water uptake by toads in water) was high in toads collected in the breeding pond and declined steeply during the first week, coincident with reduced activity of the cutaneous mucus glands. The slopes of the dose-response curves relating AVT to cutaneous water influx were about the same at the transition from the breeding to the nonbreeding state, but the level of influx was higher in the breeding state. The dose-response relationship in long-term terrestrial-acclimated toads was similar to that in water-acclimated toads. The threshold dose for effect on the cutaneous water permeability was about 1 ng AVT. Dehydration had a substantially greater effect on the cutaneous water permeability than AVT. The ratio between dehydration and AVT responses tended to increase with increasing water transport capacity of the skin. Moulting and acclimation to a saturated atmosphere in fully hydrated toads more than doubled the water permeability and abolished the response to AVT. It is suggested that AVT and other factors increase the cutaneous water permeability by similar mechanisms, such as insertion of water channels in the apical membrane of the epidermal cells. The effect of AVT on the toad skin is interpreted as reflecting the general high potency of neurohypophysial hormones in stimulating the water permeability of membranes of variable permeability.     

转炉炉壳热应力分析

根据实际转炉建立实体模型。以有限元为手段,考虑了炉衬和炉壳材料的物性参数随温度变化的特点和炉衬与炉壳之间膨胀间隙,计算了转炉炉壳在温度载荷和炉衬膨胀压力同时作用下的热应力。所得结果可为转炉炉壳设计提供依据。     

The effect of amount of possession of the trait of hostility on accuracy of perception of hostility in others.

Some theories of personality hold that an individual's perception of others is influenced by his own personality characteristics; more specifically, that a trait of low social value will be projected more into others, and that insight into the possession of these characteristics reduces this distortion. These 2 hypotheses were tested by having a group of college students rate each other (including themselves) on degree of friendliness or hostility. Agreement with group rating about self yielded the insight score. In general, the hypotheses were supported; the "friendly" Ss were most accurate in their perception of others, and insight was positively associated with accurate perception. From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4HL16M. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of rates of infection of two methods of emergency ventricular drainage

The rates of infection of two methods of external ventricular drainage in use at Atkinson Morley's Hospital--namely, (a) percutaneous drainage with Rickham reservoirs and (b) tunnelled ventriculostomies--were compared in this retrospective review. Percutaneous drainage of CSF with Rickham reservoirs was associated with a 27% rate of infection as identified by positive microbiological cultures; tunnelled ventriculostomy catheters had a 10% infection rate. The difference in the infection rate between the two methods was statistically significant (P < 0.015). Other variables examined, including the age and sex of the patients and the reasons for ventricular drainage, were not associated with an increased rate of infection. Most infections from either method were caused by a coagulase negative staphylococcus. The average duration of ventricular drainage before identification of positive cultures was 5.7 days for Rickham reservoirs and 6.0 days for ventriculostomies.     

浅析《野草》的版画特征

鲁迅先生一生热爱美术作品,对版画中木刻兴趣尤甚.<野草>作为其"写心之作",亦呈现出一些与木刻版画一致的审美特征:一是具有木刻版画的色彩特征,多对比、多冷色,有阴郁的美感;二是具有木刻版画的力度特征,环境描写、人物刻画处处刀锋毕现,遒劲有力,有一种"力之美".     

四辊破碎机车刀架的改造

针对四辊破碎机车刀架车削中存在的几个问题,详细介绍了电动车刀架的结构和工作原理,建立主要设计参数的数学表达式,并进行适当的分析。改造后,这种电动车刀架运行平稳、可靠、方便、省力,取得了预期的效果。     

Results of treatment of cancer of the cardia

Cancer of the cardia is traditionally discussed with cardiac cancer of the lower portion of the esophagus and upper gastric cancer invading the esophagus, and the specific characteristics of cancer of the cardia have never been clearly defined. We reviewed the outcome of 172 patients with adenocarcinoma of the cardia who had undergone radical surgery between 1949 and 1994 in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery of the Cancer Institute Hospital. The centers of the tumors were located within 2 cm above and below the boundary between the esophagus and the stomach, and their longitudinal diameter was less than 8 cm. We divided the patients into an early period (1949-1979; n = 79) and a late period (1980-1994; n = 93), and focused on the historical transition. There were no differences in patient gender or histology between the two periods. However, the late period was associated with fewer cases of esophageal invasion and shorter longitudinal diameter, as the age of the population advanced. The number of advanced cancers such as the localized and infiltrative type had decreased, and early cancer and early clinical stage had become more common, but despite the fact that the number of early cancers had increased, extended dissection, such as thoracic and paraaortic lymph node dissection, was performed more frequently. By clinical stage, the long-term outcome markedly improved in Stage I patient in the late period, and tended to improve in Stage II and III patients. This appears to have been attributable to the prevention of micrometastasis by extended dissection, although the number of early cancers is another major potential cause. There were no differences in the outcome of Stage IV patients between the two periods, and further advances in multimodality therapy must be awaited. The range of resection is basically proximal gastrectomy, and if there are adequate indications, the prognosis is favorable. In view of the status of lymphatic flow and lymph node metastasis, and long-term results, lateroaortic lymph node dissection is important. Since the number of early cancer patients has been increasing, if intraabdominal recurrence is prevented, intrathoracic lymph node dissection will contribute greatly to the outcome of such patients.     

焦炭热性能指标意义浅析

通过对焦炭在高炉内的历程及其变化规律的剖析,阐述焦炭热性能指标的意义,形象地把焦炭在高炉内的损耗分为三部分(M1,M2,M3)。指出M2对焦比及焦炭价格有一定的指导作用。     

Comparison of the results of surgical and conservative treatment of fractures of the diaphysis of the tibia

In this paper is treated the fundamental problematic of the fracture of the diaphysis of the tibia and the therapeutic results after the conservative and operative treatment are confronted. Among 518 patients with 433 open fractures and 35 with closed fractures of the diaphysis of the tibia, successful treatment of more 2/3 was obtained in the period from 1968 to 1972. Following our casuistics and literature, whose results are similar, we find out that the average total treatment of the osteosynthesis of the fracture of the diaphysis was shortened for 2,5 months depending upon the type and the localisation of the fracture. Apolied methods of the operative and conservative and conservative treatment in relation to the velocity of the medical cure as well as to the extreme anatomical-functional results are analised. We noticed that osteosynthesis, made by the intermedullary nail and the extension of the canals or by a small AO table, by the achieved stability makes conditions of immediate motions and an early rehabilitation. Because of that it gives the best functional results.     

Effect of antibiotics of chemotaxis of human leukocytes

The effect of 20 different antibiotics on chemotaxis by human neutrophils was studied. Human leukocytes incubated with chloramphenicol, rifampin, sodium fusidate, and tetracyclines in vitro showed markedly depressed migration. The mechanisms by which these antibiotics affect leukotaxis are discussed.     

Quality of life of relatives of mental patients

Usage of quality of life of psychiatric patients' relatives as the parameter of estimation of the quality of psychiatric care is considered. By means of standard questionnaire elaborated by the authors as well as by means of both individual and group conversations the quality of life was analyzed in 40 relatives which lived together with psychiatric patients. Different spheres of their life and difficulties (financial, social-psychologic, production) were examined in families with such patients. The defects of psychiatric care that had direct influence on the quality of life of the psychiatric patients' relatives are outlined.