A Sensitive Radial Diffusion Method for Detection of Esterolytic Activities of Proteases

The influence of under-nutrition (sub-maintenance feeding) and ad libitum feeding on the deposition of proteins in different subcellular sarcoplasmic fractions of red (tonic) and white (phasic) muscles of growing broilers was investigated. The relative concentration of overall sarcoplasmic proteins was lesser in red than in white muscles from ad libitum fed broilers. The content of mitochondrial proteins was slightly more and that of lysosomal and microsomal proteins and of true soluble proteins was lesser in red than in white muscles. Besides, the relative amount of some specific molecular weight proteins in each subcellular fractions differed by more than 50% between red and white muscle.

There was also conspicuous differences in the influence of under-nutrition on the proteins in red and white muscles. Some reduction in mitochondrial, lysosomal, microsomal, and soluble protein content occurred only in white muscle, whereas little change was found in subcellular fractions in red muscle from underfed broilers. The relative amount of some proteins in each subcellular fraction of both muscles remained unaffected, and that of others either decreased or increased more than 20 to 50% due to nutritional stress.     

Protonated Form: The Potent Form of Potassium-Competitive Acid Blockers

Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) are highly safe and active drugs targeting H⁺,K⁺-ATPase to cure acid-related gastric diseases. In this study, we for the first time investigate the interaction mechanism between the protonated form of P-CABs and human H⁺,K⁺-ATPase using homology modeling, molecular docking, molecular dynamics and binding free energy calculation methods. The results explain why P-CABs have higher activities with higher pKa values or at lower pH. With positive charge, the protonated forms of P-CABs have more competitive advantage to block potassium ion into luminal channel and to bind with H⁺,K⁺-ATPase via electrostatic interactions. The binding affinity of the protonated form is more favorable than that of the neutral P-CABs. In particular, Asp139 should be a very important binding site for the protonated form of P-CABs through hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. These findings could promote the rational design of novel P-CABs.     

Kinderculture: The Corporate Construction of Childhood

Kinderculture: The Corporate Construction of Childhood. Shirley R. Steinberg and Joe L. Kincheloe, eds. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1997. 270 pp.     

The murine male antigen. I. Sensitive detection by the PEC transfer system

The peritoneal exudate cell (PEC) transfer system was investigated as a means of studying the murine male antigen (H-Y). The initial studies reported here established: (1) The sensitive detection by the PEC technique of male incompatibility; (2) the time interval and dose range which produces significant immunity to H-Y within the PEC system; (3) the specificity of the induction of immunity to H-Y; and (4) the specificity of the expression of anti-H-Y immunity. It is concluded that the PEC system provides a sensitive nonsubjective approach to the study of histo-compatibility barriers.     

The Tenebrionidae of California: A Time Sensitive Snapshot Assessment

Due to a diversity of habitats and its geologic history, the US state of California hosts a spectacular assemblage of darkling beetle species (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). In addition to being part of the California Floristic Province, one of 34 global biodiversity hotspots identified by Conservation International, California also has additional areas which are parts of the Great Basin, Mojave, and Sonoran deserts. California is divided into nine floristic regions. Each region is assessed in terms of faunal composition and endemism. A “snapshot” of our present knowledge of the Tenebrionidae indicates that 447 currently recognized species, representing 108 genera, occur in California of which one hundred and ninety are endemic. California is compared to other nearby regions in diversity and endemism. An analysis of currently valid species vs a more realistic species account based on unpublished records of likely synonyms and known species yet to be described in the scientific literature is presented. The California Floristic Region, rather than other more arid parts of California, has the highest number of total and endemic species. Because of their high diversity and endemism, tenebrionids could potentially provide a valuable tool for monitoring the environment for conservation purposes.     

Diffusion of molecules on biological membranes of nonplanar form. II. Diffusion anisotropy.

Molecules diffusing on nonplanar membranes, which have different amounts of corrugation in different directions, may experience dissimilar diffusion coefficients in each direction. Smith et al. (1979, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 76:5641-5644) measured diffusion anisotropy on fibroblast cell membranes in which the ratio of the diffusion coefficients, in different directions, was 0.27. In the present work we calculate the effect of anisotropic corrugation on the rate of diffusion of molecules on membranes. We find that part of the anisotropy reported by Smith et al. (1979, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 76:5641-5644) can be explained by the membrane nonplanarity, and we present the way of calculating this geometric factor.     

东北地区蒙古栎群落区系成分

根据吴征镒、王荷生区系分析方法, 分析了东北地区蒙古栎群落中２６１ 种维管植物的区系成分, 其中温带成分占４７－４７ ％ , 东亚成分占４２－０２ ％ , 中国特有成分占１０－５１ ％ （ 世界分布不统计在内） 。并分析了种所在属的分布区类型, 温带分布属占９０－３％ 。还分别分析了蒙古栎群落的乔木层、灌木层、草本层以及层间植物的区系成分。     

Ghosts of Futures Present: Photographs in the Filipino Migrant Archive

This article explores the role of photographs in shaping the social selves of Filipino temporary labor migrants. Examining the production of photographic self-images by Filipino migrants in Hong Kong and their reception in the Philippines, I show how people deploy photography as a technology to bring into being their desired future selves. By making present ghosts of the future, photographs of the self shape distinctive translocal subjectivities.     

Form birefringence of muscle.

We investigate the sensitivity of measurements of muscle birefringence to cross-bridge dynamics in the resting, active, and rigor states. The theory of form birefringence is reviewed, and an optical model is constructed for the form birefringence of muscle. Values for the parameters in the model are selected or deduced from the literature. As an illustration of the use of the model, plausible distributions for the orientations of cross-bridges in the resting, active, and rigor states are constructed using a model for cross-bridge dynamics suggested by Huxley and Kress (1985). The general magnitude of the predictions of our model is comparable with that of published measurements of muscle birefringence. However, the precise values of the predicted birefringence for the resting, active, and rigor states are sensitive to the assumed orientations of cross-bridges. We also investigate the dependence of muscle birefringence on sarcomere length and on disorder in the orientation of the myofilament array. We conclude that measurements of muscle birefringence can play a useful role in distinguishing between proposed models of cross-bridge dynamics.     

Form of the worm: genetics of epidermal morphogenesis in C. elegans

The development of the epidermis of the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans illustrates many common processes of epithelial morphogenesis. In the worm, these morphogenetic movements have been described with single-cell resolution, and the roles of individual cells have been probed in laser killing experiments. Genetic dissection is yielding insights into the molecular mechanisms of these complex morphogenetic processes.