The sensitivity of echolocation by the Grey Swiftlet Aerodramus spodiopygius

Experiments were carried out to study the sensitivity of the echolocation system of the Grey Swiftlet Aerodramus spodiopygius to cylindrical aluminium rods of 1, 5, 10 and 20 mm diameters. Using a method of statistical analysis which enabled the data to be compared with the chance performance of a randomly moving (non-echolocating) missile, the results indicated that this species could echolocate the 20 mm diameter rods but those of smaller diameter were hit in an approximately random fashion. It is concluded that the sensitivity threshold of A. spodiopygius lies between 10 and 20 mm diameter for cylindrical metal rods under the prevailing experimental conditions. Comparisons with other data on the sensitivity of this and other swiftlet species are discussed.     

Accuracy of the endpoint assay for virus titration

The statistics of estimators used with the endpoint assay for virus titration were investigated. For a standard assay with 10 wells/dilution, the graphical estimator traditionally used was found to produce estimates with significant positive bias and a relatively low accuracy. Furthermore, the graphical estimator was found to be inconsistent. A superior estimator based on the maximum likelihood principle was developed. The results are discussed in relation to the choice between the endpoint titration assay and the plaque assay, and an alternative two-stage assay is presented.     

Model-based interpretation of complex and variable images.

The ultimate goal of machine vision is image understanding-the ability not only to recover image structure but also to know what it represents. By definition, this involves the use of models which describe and label the expected structure of the world. Over the past decade, model-based vision has been applied successfully to images of man-made objects. It has proved much more difficult to develop model-based approaches to the interpretation of images of complex and variable structures such as faces or the internal organs of the human body (as visualized in medical images). In such cases it has been problematic even to recover image structure reliably, without a model to organize the often noisy and incomplete image evidence. The key problem is that of variability. To be useful, a model needs to be specific-that is, to be capable of representing only ''legal'' examples of the modelled object(s). It has proved difficult to achieve this whilst allowing for natural variability. Recent developments have overcome this problem; it has been shown that specific patterns of variability in shape and grey-level appearance can be captured by statistical models that can be used directly in image interpretation. The details of the approach are outlined and practical examples from medical image interpretation and face recognition are used to illustrate how previously intractable problems can now be tackled successfully. It is also interesting to ask whether these results provide any possible insights into natural vision; for example, we show that the apparent changes in shape which result from viewing three-dimensional objects from different viewpoints can be modelled quite well in two dimensions; this may lend some support to the ''characteristic views'' model of natural vision.     

Determination of two neuropeptide growth factor antagonists, [d-Arg,d-Phe,d-Trp,Leu]-substance P and [Arg, d-Trp,N-MePhe]-substance P(6–11), by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

n-MePhe⁸]-substance P(6–11) (G) are currently undergoing preclinical evaluation as potential anticancer agents and clinical trials are planned for G in the near future. A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation has been developed which is both sensitive (limit of detection 250 pg/263 fmol for G; 500 pg/330 fmol for D) and selective, based on electrochemical detection of the two tryptophan residues present in each peptide. Two ion-pairing agents were included in the isocratic mobile phase to eliminate adsorption of the peptides onto the analytical column. Extensive sample clean-up procedures have been developed for plasma, tissue and tumour based on solid-phase extraction. Precision and accuracy of each assay was 91.3 ± 16.9% (between-day) for G and 99.3 ± 16.9% (between-day) for D. The assays were able to detect the intact peptides and a number of their metabolites in plasma, liver and the WX 322 SCLC human xenograft in nude mice for at least 6 hr after administration of therapeutic and pharmacological doses.     

Enzyme-catalysed peptide amidation. Isolation of a stable intermediate formed by reaction of the amidating enzyme with an imino acid

A series of hydrazones and semicarbazones of glyoxylic acid were shown to have a potent inhibitory effect on the enzyme-catalysed conversion of D-Tyr-Val-Gly to D-Tyr-Val-NH2. Among the derivatives tested, the inhibitory activity was increased by the presence of hydrophobic substituents and decreased by polar substituents. The inhibition produced by glyoxylic acid phenylhydrazone was shown to be competitive. No inhibition was obtained with pyruvic acid phenylhydrazone, which possesses a methyl group in place of the alpha-H of glyoxylic acid phenylhydrazone. The inhibitory potencies of these non-peptide substances are in accord with the specificity exhibited by the amidating enzyme in its reaction with peptide substrates. The inhibition produced by the glyoxylic acid derivatives was shown to be due to their ability to act as substrates for the peptide-amidating enzyme. The product formed from [14C]glyoxylic acid phenylhydrazone was identified as oxalic acid phenylhydrazide by co-chromatography in three chromatographic systems. The results demonstrate that the enzyme-catalysed oxidation of glyoxylic acid phenylhydrazone takes place by a mechanism involving hydroxylation. It is implicit that peptide amidation catalysed by the same enzyme proceeds by a similar mechanism.     

Cysteinyl peptides of pig heart NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase that are modified upon inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide

Pig heart NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase is inactivated by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) (Colman, R. F., and Chu, R. (1970) J. Biol. Chem. 245, 601-607), and is completely protected against inactivation, but not against the incorporation of NEM, by isocitrate plus Mn2+. We have now treated the enzyme with [3H]NEM in the absence and presence of isocitrate plus Mn2+, digested it with trypsin, and isolated and sequenced the labeled Cys peptides. In the inactive enzyme, two major peptides, SSGGFVWACK and DLAGCIHGLSNVK, and two minor peptides, CATITPDEAR and EPIICK, were labeled at Cys. Upon reaction with [3H]NEM in the presence of isocitrate plus Mn2+, full catalytic activity was retained and only DLAGCIHGLSNVK was labeled; the Cys of this peptide is therefore not essential for catalysis. The modification of SSGGFVWACK appears to be the major cause of inactivation by NEM. The Cys in SSGGFVWACK may have a catalytic role, most likely in the strengthened binding of Mn2+ in the presence of isocitrate. Isocitrate dehydrogenase was carboxymethylated under denaturing conditions with [14C]iodoacetate and digested with trypsin; 6 unique labeled Cys peptides, containing 6 unique Cys residues, were purified and sequenced. Six corresponding peptides were isolated from enzyme treated under denaturing conditions with [3H]NEM. These results eliminate the previous uncertainty regarding the number of Cys residues in the enzyme. A comparison of the sequences of the NH2-terminal 30 residues and the 6 Cys peptides of the pig heart NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase with the Escherichia coli NADP enzyme provides evidence for great dissimilarity between the two enzymes.     

Does dexamethasone enhance control of acute cisplatin induced emesis by ondansetron?

OBJECTIVE--To determine the contribution of dexamethasone to the efficacy of the 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonist ondansetron in control of cisplatin induced nausea and vomiting. DESIGN--Randomised double blind crossover study. SETTING--Two cancer centres in teaching hospitals, one in the United Kingdom and the other in Germany. SUBJECTS--100 patients (53 men and 47 women) new to cisplatin chemotherapy, 84 of whom completed two consecutive courses of chemotherapy. INTERVENTIONS--Patients were given intravenous dexamethasone (20 mg) or physiological saline with intravenous ondansetron 8 mg before cisplatin, then ondansetron 1 mg/h for 24 hours. Oral ondansetron 8 mg was taken three times daily on days 2-6. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Incidence of complete or major control of emesis (0-2 episodes in the 24 hours after chemotherapy). RESULTS--Complete or major control was obtained in 49 out of 71 (69%) of patients after receiving ondansetron plus dexamethasone compared with 40 out of 71 (56%) when they were given ondansetron alone (p = 0.012). This effect was most pronounced in the first 12 hours after chemotherapy. Patients receiving the combination also had significantly less nausea. Of the 53 patients who expressed a preference, 38 (72%) preferred the combination treatment (p = 0.002) to ondansetron alone. The effect of ondansetron on delayed emesis was less pronounced. CONCLUSIONS--Dexamethasone makes a significant contribution to the efficacy of ondansetron in the control of acute platinum induced emesis.