Global asymptotic stability of the size distribution in probabilistic models of the cell cycle

Probabilistic models of the cell cycle maintain that cell generation time is a random variable given by some distribution function, and that the probability of cell division per unit time is a function only of cell age (and not, for instance, of cell size). Given the probability density, f(t), for time spent in the random compartment of the cell cycle, we derive a recursion relation for _n(x), the probability density for cell size at birth in a sample of cells in generation n. For the case of exponential growth of cells, the recursion relation has no steady-state solution. For the case of linear cell growth, we show that there exists a unique, globally asymptotically stable, steady-state birth size distribution, _*(x). For the special case of the transition probability model, we display _*(x) explicitly.This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under grants MCS8301104 (to J.J.T.) and MCS8300559 (to K.B.H.), and by the National Institutes of Health under grant GM27629 (to J.J.T.).     

Biomass and production of Argyrodiaptomus furcatus,a tropical calanoid copepod in Broa Reservoir,southern Brazil

The biomass and the production of Argyrodiaptomus furcatus (Sars), the most abundant copepod in Broa Reservoir (São Carlos, São Paulo State), were estimated, determining in the laboratory the development time and the quantity of organic carbon and establishing the relationship between these two parameters. The daily production was calculated from P = B(1- e^gt) and the annual production was obtained by integrating daily production against time. The maximum production of Argyrodiaptomus furcatus in the reservoir depends on the region considered and on the period of the year. The maximum production was 45.15 mg C m^–3d^–1 in March, 1976 at station II, region of macrophytes and 6.74 mg C m^–3d^–1 at station IV, near the dam. The mean production for the year is 6.26 mg C m^–3d^–1 at station II and 1.43 mg C m^–3d^–1 at station IV.     

High-frequency1H NMR studies of the effects of growth factors and phorbol esters on normal syrian hamster diploid fibroblast cells

The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) parameters, spin-lattice (T₁), and spin-spin (T₂) relaxation time, are usually longer for neoplastic cells than for normal cells of the same cell type. This has generally been true at low NMR frequencies (≤100 MHz) when comparisons have been made between normal and neoplastic cells that have both spent a short time in culture. We have previously demonstrated that although the T₁ values of paired normal and neoplastic Syrian hamster (SH) fibroblastic cells in culture are not significantly different when measured at 300 MHz, the 300 MHz T₂ values for the neoplastic cells are smaller than those of the normal cells. (Xin et al. (1986),Cell Biophysics 8, 213.) Since treatment of normal diploid cells with polypeptide growth factors or tumor promoters frequently results in reversible expression of neoplasia-associated phenotypes, T₁ and T₂ were obtained at 300 MHz for treated and untreated SH cells to see if these compounds could also produce smaller 300 MHz T₂ values. Secondary culture SH fetal fibroblast cells were treated with epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (PDD) and 4-α-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (4αPDD). Treatment with either growth factor resulted in smaller T₂ values, but a statistically significant decrease was not observed for PDD or 4αPDD. The observed reductions in T₂ values were correlated with the morphological and growth-stimulatory effects of these compounds on the cells.     

光对尾穗苋幼苗内苋红素合成的诱导

不同苗龄的尾穗苋黄化苗对10 min,15Wm~(-2)白光的反应能力不同。光诱导的苋红素合成始于播种后第 20h,至50h合成能力最大,82h以后幼苗对短时光照的反应能力趋于消失。苋红素合成的滞后期为3h,光处理后18h色素积累达到高峰。光调节苋红素合成符合红光—远红光可逆诱导反应等两个基本模式,确证光敏色素参与调控苋红素合成.     

杂色曲霉在人胃液中体外培养产生杂色曲霉素的研究

本文用正交实验设计法探讨了杂色曲霉(Aspergillus versicolr)在加有两类不同性质营养物的人胃液中产生杂色曲霉素(Sterigmatocystin,简称ST)的条件。发现在26℃斜面静置培养12天后可产生ST。加入半合成物质的最佳配伍是:蔗糖1,000.0mg;蛋白胨50.0mg;KH_2PO_4 7.5mg;MgSO_4·7H_2O_2.5mg;人胃液10.0ml,称之为SPKM人胃液培养基。加入天然物质的最佳配伍是:玉米粉0.5g;豆腐粉0.25g,人胃液10.0ml,称之为CS人胃液培养基。还进一步研究了pH值和培养时间对杂色曲霉产毒菌株在SPKM和CS人胃液培养基中生长及产生ST的影响。根据临床胃酸缺乏程度分级标准,分为pH 1.0,3.0,6.5,8.0四个组。发现在两种人胃液培养基中,无论是杂色曲霉生长,还是产生ST,pH3.0到6.5是发生质变的范围。在两种人胃液培养基pH为6.5时,37℃静置培养8天有痕量ST产生,10天后就明显增加。所以杂色曲霉产生的ST可能是慢性萎缩性胃炎易癌变的原因之一。     

RBEs of Thermal Neutron Capture Therapy and 10B(n,α)7 Li Reaction on Melanoma-Bearing Hamsters

Using Greene's melanoma transplanted into Syrian (golden) hamsters, we determined the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of thermal neutron capture therapy (TNCT) using ¹⁰B-paraboronophenylalanine (¹⁰B-BPA) in comparison with a 9-MeV electron beam. We also obtained the RBE of the ¹⁰B(n,α)⁷Li reaction by calculation based on summed dose data from TNCT. Throughout this study, the Kyoto University Research Reactor was used as the source for thermal neutrons; the reactor was specially altered to attain a low contamination level both for gamma-rays and fast neutrons. ¹⁰B-BPA was administered 8 hours before thermal neutron irradiation to the hamsters with melanoma. The tumor was then irradiated at 5 MW for 90 minutes. The absorbed dose from this TNCT was calculated by the method of Fairchild and Goodman (Phys. Med. Biol. 1966; 2:15–30). The RBEs of the TNCT and the ¹⁰B(n,α)⁷Li reaction obtained by the tumor growth delay time (TGDT) method were 2.22 and 2.51, respectively, at 10.5 days of TGDT. These RBE values varied with TGDT and the absorbed dose. The RBE value of TNCT had a peak at 7.0 days of TGDT; that of the ¹⁰B(n,α)⁷Li reaction was higher at a low absorbed dose level and lower at a high absorbed dose level.     

Effect of cooling rate,cryoprotectant and holding time at different transfer temperatures on the survival of cryopreserved cell suspension culture (Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl.)

Reflexed saltmarsh-grass suspension cultures produced by seed callus were frozen to the liquid nitrogen temperature. Cooling rates, cryoprotectants and holding times were taken as a function of transfer temperatures. The highest survival of cells (45%) was found at a freezing rate of 1°C min^-1, without cryoprotectant treatments. The cryoprotectants (proline, dimethyl sulphoxide, glycerol), used at different concentrations and transfer temperatures, increased the survival rate. The maximum value was 78% at 12.5% (w/v) of proline with –30°C transfer temperature. Considerable improvement of viability (from 0% to 95%) among the 12.5 and 15.0% (v/v) dimethyl sulphoxide cryopreserved cells was achieved by holding them at – 20°C for 10–30 min before plunging into the liquid nitrogen. A 20 min holding time at 15.0% (v/v) glycerol level and – 30°C transfer temperature significantly enhanced the viability of the explants from 42% to 92%. Plants were successfully regenerated from cells cryopreserved with proline (w/v) and dimethyl sulfoxide (v/v) levels of 12.5 and 15.0%, respectively.     

急性缺氧下听觉运动反应的研究

受试者为9名男性青年。在低压舱模拟海拔3000、4000、5000和6000m,分别进行1h实验,共36人次。各高度上停留时作听觉检测,并记录了脑电和主诉。结果表明,在3000m,人的听觉运动反应基本正常;而在5000m、6000m,听觉运动反应的正确率、延时率、遗漏率和反应时等多项指标发生显著变化,工效降低。本研究为急性缺氧防护生理标准和缺氧耐力提供了工效的依据。     

How feeding performance and energy intake change with a small increase in the body size of the three-spined stickleback

Changes in the foraging behaviour due to variation in the body size of the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus were investigated. All sizes of fish had a high probability of attacking prey whenever encountered. The probability of eating the prey increased with the size of the fish, as the larger fish had larger jaws and a greater stomach capacity. Therefore, as fish increased in size there was an increase in the probability of successful prey capture. The level of satiation did not have an effect on the prey handling time, which is contrary to other studies and is probably a result of the large prey sizes. The physical size of the prey meant that the handling times were long regardless of the motivational level of the fish. The larger fish took in more energy and at a faster rate, although the time to reach satiation was similar for all fish sizes. The advantage that large fish appear to have in successfully gaining large prey is negated by their greater metabolic requirement. The changes in feeding performance induced by small increases in body size could have important consequences for intraspecific competition, habitat Use and risk of predation.