Plasma Observations Near Neptune: Initial Results from Voyager 2

The plasma science experiment on Voyager 2 made observations of the plasma environment in Neptune's magnetosphere and in the surrounding solar wind. Because of the large tilt of the magnetic dipole and fortuitous timing, Voyager entered Neptune's magnetosphere through the cusp region, the first cusp observations at an outer planet. Thus the transition from the magnetosheath to the magnetosphere observed by Voyager 2 was not sharp but rather appeared as a gradual decrease in plasma density and temperature. The maximum plasma density observed in the magnetosphere is inferred to be 1.4 per cubic centimeter (the exact value depends on the composition), the smallest observed by Voyager in any magnetosphere. The plasma has at least two components; light ions (mass, 1 to 5) and heavy ions (mass, 10 to 40), but more precise species identification is not yet available. Most of the plasma is concentrated in a plasma sheet or plasma torus and near closest approach to the planet. A likely source of the heavy ions is Triton's atmosphere or ionosphere, whereas the light ions probably escape from Neptune. The large tilt of Neptune's magnetic dipole produces a dynamic magnetosphere that changes configuration every 16 hours as the planet rotates.

[A study on the promotion of adhesion properties of adhesives to metals treated by positive oxidation]

The adhesion to three alloys: Durabond, GH30 and soft Co-Cr, by PE adhesive was investigated. The surfaces of metals were treated by polishing, sand-blasting, positive-oxidation and complex processing in order to test the tensile bond strengths between metals and PE adhesive; to study the effects of the surface treatment of metals on adhesive properties; and to compare the tensile strength with that from the control experiment with EB composite resin and Panavia-EX resin under the same conditions. The results showed the mean tensile bond strengths between PE adhesive and Durabond, GH30 and soft Co-Cr alloys after the treatment of sandblasting and positive oxidation were 214.65 +/- 51.68 kg/cm2, 372.88 +/- 21.88 kg/cm2 and 349.21 +/- 48.32 kg/cm2 respectively, displaying better adhesive properties and stability of resistance to water.

[Comparison of effect in the change of respiration by stimulating three trigeminal subnucleus]

Experiments were performed on 31 rabbits. After recovery from surgical anesthesia the change of respiration were observed in various experimental conditions, under which original nucleus of trigemini (ONT), terminal nucleus of trigemini (TNT), spinal tractus nucleus of trigemini (SNT) were respectively stimulated by an electrical current (EC) or monosodium glutamate (MSG) or lidocaine (LID). Because SNT had a longitudinal long shape, three different sections of SNT were selected as stimulating points respectively, namely rostral point (A2.33 mm), middle point (AP0 mm) and caudal point P1.9 mm). Phrenic nerve discharge and its integrated curve, PCO2 and blood pressure were recorded by a RM-6000 polygraph. The results indicated that the stimulations of EC and MSG to SNT and TNT enhanced respiratory activity obviously. Stimulation of EC and MSG to ONT caused much less enhancement of respiration. Microinjection of LID to TNT and ONT decreased respiratory activity, but microinjection of LID to SNT increased. The present experiment concluded that stimulation of SNT and TNT could cause significant change in respiration.

[Observation on enhanced adhesion to dentin by amino acid]

An amino acid was adopted to pretreat the surface of dentin. The bond strength between GP adhesive and dentin mediated by the amino acid was enhanced after the pretreatment. Furthermore, the longer the stored time of extracted tooth was, the better the effect of adhesion was. This pretreatment will benefit the adhesive restoration for dead tooth or low activity tooth clinically.

[Contribution of EEG to the diagnosis of epilepsy in Shanghai]

The electroencephalographs (EEGs) of 9963 patients examined for some form of neurological disorder were studied. The male:female ratio was 129:1 and the age range of 11-40 years accounted for 67.12% of those studied. Of 3914 clinically confirmed epileptic patients, 68.37% had an abnormal EEG characterized by major general or focal discharges. 50.56% of 3814 suspected epileptic patients exhibited high levels of abnormal discharge and 452 non-epileptic patients also exhibited abnormalities. Such discharges also occurred in 671 patients suspected of other neurological disorders.

Three point mutations in the factor IX genes of five hemophilia B patients. Identification strategy using localization by altered epitopes in their hemophilic proteins

In five patients with hemophilia B and detectable Factor IX antigen, altered reactivity to a specific polyclonal antibody fraction or monoclonal anti-Factor IX antibodies was noted. Amplification of selected portions of their Factor IX genes by polymerase chain reaction allowed rapid identification of a single base transition in each of the five families tested. In a patient with severe hemophilia and an altered calcium binding domain, a G to A transition in exon II changed the codon for Glu-27 to Lys (Factor IXSeattle 3). Patients from two families with mild hemophilia with decreased reactivity to a MAb that binds to a site within the sequence coded for by exon IV had a G to A transition changing the codon for Gly-60 to Ser (Factor IXDurham). Two unrelated patients with moderately severe hemophilia lacked reactivity to another murine monoclonal anti-Factor IX which binds to an epitope in the amino-terminal half of the heavy chain of Factor IXa. In these patients, exon VIII contained a G to A transition changing Arg-248 to Gln (Factor IXSeattle 4).

[A study of the quality of Fujian native Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. var. biloba Rehd. et Wils]

This study reports on the connexion of the content of the efficacious constituents, magnolol and honokiol of Magnolia officinalis var. biloba with age, diameter of the trunk and various parts of the tree, thus presenting a basis for its collection, quality control and clinical applications.

[The relationships between thymus, other immune organs and various diseases in children (analysis of 621 cases)]

Thymuses, spleens, lymph nodes, tonsils and appendices from 621 autopsy cases were reviewed. The degree of atrophy of these organs might be classified into 3 grades. The main diagnoses of these cases involved more than 130 different diseases, which could be divided into 9 groups: infection, benign tumor, malignant tumor, deformity, amniotic fluid aspiration, fungal infection, autoimmune disease and hemorrhage, etc. Cases of infection with a course less than 5 days showed mild atrophy of the thymus and those cases with a longer course might show moderate or severe degree of atrophy. Cases of benign tumor showed no relationship between the degree of atrophy and the course of the disease. Nevertheless, in cases of malignant neoplasms even there was a history of short course, showed severe atrophy of the thymus. Only mild atrophy was obtained in those patients with deformity, amniotic fluid aspiration and hemorrhage, while severe atrophy was seen in those cases with fungal infection and autoimmune disease. In 81% of the cases, the degree of thymus atrophy was in accordance with those of the other immune organs.

The factor IX BamHI polymorphism: T-to-G transversion at the nucleotide sequence -561. The BamHI/MSPI haplotypes in blacks and Caucasians

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to amplify a 356-bp DNA segment containing the suspected BamHI polymorphic site of the factor IX gene. Following the enzyme digestions and gel electrophoresis, polymorphic genotypes (-,+ and +/- types) were observed. The gene frequencies for the rare (+) allele are about 36% in blacks and 2% in Caucasians. The 356-bp DNA was further purified and sequenced. The sequencing gels revealed a single nucleotide substitution (T to G) at position -561 of the gene in blacks and Caucasians. The T-to-G transversion generated a new BamHI site (GGATCC,+type) from a nonenzymatic site, (TGATCC,-type).

The effect of copper IUD on microcirculation of blood flow in rabbit uterus

A survey of the rabbit's normal microcirculation of blood flow volume in the endometrium and myometrium with or without a copper intrauterine device (IUD) was made. It was found through statistical analyses that the IUD stimulated the endometrium so that microcirculation of blood flow volume in the endometrium increased significantly, but it did not change the microcirculation of blood flow volume in the myometrium and in the opposite uterus.

Several nodulins of soybean share structural domains but differ in their subcellular locations

Four soybean cDNA nodule-specific clones encoding nodulin-23, -26b, -27 and -44 were observed to cross-hybridize under low stringency conditions. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the cDNAs contain three distinct domains: two domains with 70 to 95% homology separated by a third domain unique to each cDNA. Despite a number of nucleotide insertions and deletions, the protein sequences are conserved in the two domains which correlate with the homologous nucleotide domains. The amino terminal domain of each nodulin contains putative signal sequences for membrane translocation, although only two (nodulin-23 and -44) meet all the criteria for a functional signal. Immuno-precipitation of hybrid-release translation products of the four cDNAs revealed that nodulin-23 is associated with the peribacteroid membrane while nodulin-27 is in the cytoplasmic fraction of the nodule. These four nodulins are members of a diverse family with conserved structural features and the genes encoding them appear to have recently evolved from a common ancestor.

Studies on the phenomenon of latent propagated sensation along the channels. II. Investigation on the lines of LPSC on the twelve main channels

Applying an electric impulse at the Jing points and then tapping on the skin surface along the lines perpendicular to the channels, latent PSC of 12 channels was examined respectively on 200 patients at an acupuncture clinic. Of the cases examined, 68.5% were found to have positive latent PSC. No prominent difference was found among the 12 main channels. In patients with higher sensitivity of latent PSC and in those with marked PSC as well, the traces of latent PSC can be located simply by tapping (i.e. without electric impulsation at the Jing points), and the width of the sensitive lines is about 0.5 cm. Furthermore, in cases with marked PSC, the latent sensation lines were always found to be a continuation of the marked ones. These facts indicate that the latent PSC is a common meridian phenomenon in a large number of individuals.