USE OF A PETHIDINE AND MIDAZOLAM COMBINATION FOR THE REVERSIBLE SEDATION OF CRABEATER SEALS (LOBODON CARCINOPHAGUS)

Between October and December of 1996–1999, off eastern Antarctica (60°-150°E), we darted 31 crabeater seals with midazolam and pethidine at estimated dose rates of 0.15–0.4 mg/kg and 1–3 mg/kg, respectively. Maximum sedation was reached at 23 ± 9 min (n = 18) and first signs of recovery were noted at 54 ± 24 min (n = 4). Seals greater than 250 kg body-mass were sedated by administration of approximately 90–100 mg midazolam and 600 mg pethidine, but the degree of sedation was unpredictable and did not permit invasive procedures in some cases. Behavior of the seal and adjacent conspecifics affected the success of procedures and our ability to monitor vital signs. Naloxone and flumazenil reversed sedation, making this combination attractive for use in animals adjacent to water. Additional ketamine was administered to two seals, resulting in improved restraint.     

城郊景观动态模型研究──以沈阳市东陵区为例

基于渗透理论、马尔柯夫过程理论,采用中性模型方法,建立了3个不同的城郊景观动态模型,模型中分别介入不同自然因子和决策因子.利用模型对研究区景观进行了动态变化模拟.对模拟结果进行了评价,评价方法与指标包括:1)多分辨率拟合分析;2)最近邻概率;3)斑块大小和数目.结果发现,综合介入决策因素和自然因子的模型具有最好的效果.     

不同育秧方式和插植密度下晚籼稻群体动态结构的研究

不同育秧方式和插植密度下晚籼稻群体动态结构存在差异。旱育秧群体分蘖速度快,分蘖能力强。稀植可促进个体分蘖多发、有效穗数增多,但旱育稀植并无分蘖早发的优势。旱育稀植使主茎基部叶片变短而上部叶片变长,生育后期叶面积消长平稳,地上部干物质积累较多。旱育秧、稀植都使主茎叶总数增多,全生育期延长。     

Fusion of phosphatidylserine and mixed phosphatidylserine-phosphatidylcholine vesicles Dependence on calcium concentration and temperature

Dynamic light scattering has been used to study the temperature dependence of Ca²⁺-induced fusion of phosphatidylserine vesicles and mixed vesicles containing phosphatidylserine and different phosphatidylcholines. The final vesicle size after Ca²⁺ and EDTA incubation serves as a measure of the extent of fusion. With phosphatidylserine vesicles, the extent of fusion shows a sharp maximum at an incubation temperature which depends on the Ca²⁺ concentration between 0.8 and 2 mM. The shift in the fusion peak temperature with Ca²⁺ concentration is similar to the typical shift in the phase transition temperature with divalent cation concentration in acidic phospholipids. The results suggest a direct correlation between the fusion peak temperature and the phase transition temperature in the presence of Ca²⁺ prior to fusion. With mixed vesicles containing up to 33% of a phosphatidylcholine in at least 2 mM Ca²⁺, the extent of fusion as a function of incubation temperature also shows a maximum. The fusion peak temperature is essentially independent of the quantity and type of phosphatidylcholine and the Ca²⁺ concentration, and identical to that with pure phosphatidylserine in excess Ca²⁺. The results imply that Ca²⁺-induced molecular segregation occurs first, and fusion subsequently takes place between pure phosphatidylserine domains.     

Cytochemical evidence of an organized microtubular cytoskeleton in Xenopus laevis oocytes: involvement in the segregation of mitochondrial populations.

An organized microtubular cytoskeleton was discovered in the cytoplasm of Xenopus laevis oocytes. The microtubules were observed in 10- to 30-micron cryostat sections by indirect immunoperoxidase labeling using an antibody to tubulin. A gradual extraction of cells with a nonionic detergent was essential for good penetration of the antibody into the cells. In the cytoplasm of all previtellogenic oocytes, a dense network of criss-crossed long microtubules was associated in a basket-like structure surrounding the mitochondrial mass. At the beginning of vitellogenesis, the network meshes enlarged, while clusters of mitochondria migrated, in close association with microtubule bundles. At the beginning of vitellogenesis, the reorganization of the microtubular network, mostly in the vegetal hemisphere, occurred during the segregation of the mitochondrial populations. Reorganization is characterized by (1) a temporary enlargement of the network and close association of mitochondrial clusters with microtubular bundles, and (2) a progressive organization of a ring-shaped microtubular structure in the crown elaboration area. It is hypothesized that these modifications of the microtubular cytoskeleton contribute to the maintenance of cell shape and the polarized organization of the cell.     

Seasonal changes in the activation of crossbridge motions of isolated thick filament from Limulus striated muscle

Summary In dynamic light scattering, measurements of the intensity-intensity time correlation function from a suspension of rod-like particles of length L could reveal dynamical information related to translational and internal motions of those particles. For a suspension of thick filaments isolated from the myosin-regulated, striated muscles of Limulus at KL>1 (where K is the scattering vector), the average characteristic linewidth ( ) increased with the addition of Ca²⁺ or with the depletion of ATP. The increase in the with the addition of Ca²⁺ could be due to the presence of energy-requiring, high-frequency motions of the crossbridges activated by Ca²⁺. The increase in which occurred with the depletion of ATP was assumed to be mainly due to the thermal motions of the crossbridges after they had moved radially away from the filament backbone. The percentage increase in following the addition of Ca²⁺ was found to be seasonal, i.e., values of obtained from thick filaments isolated between the middle of June and the middle of September were smaller than those obtained during the rest of the year. The effect of temperature on the percentage increase in was also different. The increase showed a maximum at about 35°C during the summer and at about 25°C at other times. However, the percentage increase in developed under ATP-depleted conditions showed no temperature-related maximum. The number of bound Ca²⁺ per myosin molecule was 1 during the summer and 2 at other times.Abbreviations DLS dynamic light scattering - L length - K scattering vector - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - average characteristic line width Deceased     

Cytoplasmic streaming inParamecium

Summary Certain species ofParamecium demonstrate rotational cytoplasmic streaming, in which most cytoplasmic particles and organelles flow along permanent route, in a constant direction. By means of novel methods of immobilization, observation and recording, some dynamic properties of cytoplasmic streaming have been described. It was found that the velocity profiles of coaxial layers of cytoplasm have a (parabolic) paraboidal shape and the mean output of cytoplasm flow in different examined zones of streaming is constant. As the consequence of randomly distributed elementary propulsion units within the cytoplasm, particles, which serve as markers of movement, exhibit movements of a saltatory nature; this form of movement is seen inParamecium streaming only in cases of error due to polarization of the saltating particles. Interaction of actin filaments and myosin is likely to occur under specific conditions in microcompartments of cytoplasm where local solations are generated eventually leading to contractions which might propagate on gelated neighbouring areas. Places of elementary contractions are scattered. Therefore the motile effect appears as streaming. Rotational cytoplasmic streaming inParamecium may serve as a convenient model for the study of the dynamics and function of cytoplasmic motility.     

Flexural and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Alkali-Treated Coir/Pineapple Leaf Fibres Reinforced Polylactic Acid Hybrid Biocomposites

Polylactic acid(PLA)possesses good mechanical and biodegradability properties which make it a suitable material for polymer composites whereas brittleness and high costs limit its utilization in various applications.The reinforcement of natural fibres with biopolymers has been formed to be an efficient technique to develop composites having the ability to be fully biodegradable.This study concerns with the incorporation of various percentages of untreated and alkali-treated Coir Fibres(CF)and pineapple leaf fibres(PALF)in PLA biocomposites and characterizations of flexural,morphological and dynamic mechanical properties.Flexural properties showed that the treated C1P1 hybrid composites(C1P1A)displayed highest flexural strength(35.81 MPa)and modulus(5.28 GPa)among all hybrid biocomposites.Scanning Electron Micros-copy(SEM)revealed a behaviour of fibre-matrix adhesion in untreated treated biocomposites.SEM observation revealed good dispersion of the fillers in PLA.Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that C1P1A showed highest glass transition temperature(Tg)and storage modulus(E')while untreated C3P7 displayed the least Tg and E'.Overall findings showed that alkali-treated hybrid biocomposites(CF/PALF/PLA)especially C1P1A have improved flexural properties,dynamic and morphological properties over untreated biocomposites.Success of these findings will provide attracting consideration of these hybrid biocomposites for various lightweight uses in a broad selection of industrial applications such as biomedical sectors,automobile,construction,electronics equipment,and hardware tools.     

水资源约束下西北干旱区城市经济发展与城市化阈值

城市化水平阈值是指在水资源硬约束下,在确保经济发展达到一定速度与规模、生态环境建设得到基本保障、并具备足以支撑城市接纳一定数量农民进城转为非农人口的经济能力时,能达到的“农转非”人口占总人口的最大比例。以干旱区河西走廊为例,分析了在水资源约束下城市经济发展总量及其对应的城市化阈值。采用阈值模型计算表明,未来30a在不跨区调水的前提下,河西走廊总需水量的上限阈值为7.81×109m3,其中生态需水、生产需水和生活需水比例调整为13.2:83.5:3.3,总需水量对应的国内生产总值为1.81×1011元,历年平均增长速度最快可达到6.91%,第一、二、三产业结构调整为18.99:47.20:33.81。在总需水量阈值、经济总量、需水结构与产业结构调整优化和经济增长速度不低于7%、农业需水按0.61%的速度退水9.12×108m3、生态需水比例不低于13%等多重条件约束下,求得河西走廊未来30a能够达到的总人口为5.82×106人,城镇非农业人口可达到2.05×106人,城市化水平可达到35.14%,这一水平仅相当于中国2001年的平均城市化水平。在跨区调水1.31×109m3的条件下,城市化水平可望达到47.17%。进而采用总人口人均拥有的GDP、非农业人口人均拥有的第二、三产业增加值、农业人口人均拥有的第一产业增加值3项经济指标对水资源约束下经济发展总量对城市化水平的保障程度进行了验证分析。由于各城市的缺水状况、取水条件、发展性质、发展阶段与经济发展实力与前景等各不相同,致使不同城市之间对应的总需水量、经济总量、经济增长速度和城市化水平等均表现出较大的差异性。