Identification of extractable growth factors from small intestinal submucosa

When implanted as a biomaterial for tissue replacement, selected submucosal layers of porcine small intestine induce site-specific tissue remodeling. Small intestinal submucosa (SIS), as isolated, is primarily an acellular extracellular matrix material. In an attempt to discover the components of small intestinal submucosa which are able to induce this tissue remodeling, the material was extracted and extracts were tested for the ability to stimulate Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts to synthesize DNA and proliferate. Each of the four different extracts of small intestinal submucosa had measurable cell-stimulating activity when analyzed in both a whole cell proliferation assay (alamarBlue dye reduction) and a DNA synthesis assay ([3H]-thymidine incorporation). Proteins extracted from SIS with 2 M urea induced activity profiles in the two assays which were very similar to the activity profiles of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) in the assays. As well, the changes in cell morphology in response to the extracted proteins mimicked the changes induced by FGF-2. Neutralization experiments with specific antibodies to this growth factor confirmed the presence of FGF-2 and indicated that it was responsible for 60% of the fibroblast-stimulating activity of the urea extract of small intestinal submucosa. Western blot analysis with a monoclonal antibody specific for FGF-2 detected a reactive doublet at approximately 19 kDa and further confirmed the presence of FGF-2. Cell stimulating activity of proteins extracted from SIS with 4 M guanidine was neutralized by an antibody specific for transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta). Changes in the morphology of the fibroblasts exposed to this extract were nearly identical to changes induced by TGF beta. Although no reactive protein band was detected at 25 kDa in nonreduced western blot analysis, several bands were reactive at higher molecular weight. The identity of this TGF beta-related component of small intestinal submucosa is unknown. Identification of FGF-2 and TGF beta-related activities in SIS, two growth factors known to significantly affect critical processes of tissue development and differentiation, provides the opportunity to further elucidate the mechanisms by which this extracellular matrix biomaterial modulates wound healing and tissue remodeling.     

Mechanical effects of different localization of the point of entry in femoral nailing

Treatments of Chinese hamster V79 cells during one cell cycle with a new type of topoisomerase II inhibitor, ICRF-193, which does not accumulate cleavable topoisomerase-DNA complexes induced both chromosome- and chromatid-type aberrations with high frequencies. Furthermore, ICRF-193 synergistically enhanced the yield of UVB-induced chromatid-type aberrations, chromatid exchanges in particular. Treated with ICRF-193 for the last 3 h before harvest, cells showed frequent incidence of chromatid-type aberrations and synergistic enhancement of UVB-induced chromatid-type aberrations, chromatid exchanges in particular. These results suggest that spontaneous and UVB-induced lesions might be ultimately transformed into chromatid-type aberrations by topoisomerase II-dependent checkpoint process(es) in the G2 phase of the cell cycle.     

Loss of heterozygosity of the von Hippel Lindau gene locus in polypoid dysplasia but not flat dysplasia in ulcerative colitis or sporadic adenomas

Carcinoma in ulcerative colitis (UC) develops from dysplastic precursor lesions, which include flat dysplasia (FD) and polypoid dysplasias (PD). PD may present as single or multiple polypoid structures or as plaque-like lesions that, independent of histological grade, are an indication for colectomy. PDs are histologically similar to adenomas and may not be readily distinguished by light microscopy. It is not known whether FD and PD are different entities, or whether they represent etiologically similar lesions with different morphological expression. We microdissected 25 cases of UC with PD and 19 samples of FD with surrounding chronic colitis (CC) in UC. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the von Hippel Lindau (vHL) gene locus and the putative tumor suppressor genes APC, INK4A (9p16), and p53 was studied. LOH of the vHL gene, INK4A (9p16), and APC was also studied in 11 sporadic adenomas of the colon. LOH at the vHL locus was present in 50% of the samples of PD and in 12% of the samples of FD. LOH was seen in CC close to PD and FD in 26% and 12% of cases, respectively. No adenoma showed LOH of the vHL gene markers studied. LOH in p53 was seen in PD in 16% cases and in FD in 42% cases and in CC close to PD and FD in 0% and 14% cases, respectively. LOH patterns between PD and FD of the markers for APC and 9p16 were not different. LOH in APC was seen in two of five cases of adenoma. We conclude that PD and FD share genetic alterations in APC and 9p16 genes. More frequent involvement of the VHL gene in PD and surrounding CC and involvement of p53 in HGD and CC in FD may represent genetic differences between the development of PD and FD and may be the cause of the different morphology. The infrequency of LOH at the vHL locus in adenomas versus PD may serve as a discriminator between adenomas and PD in diagnostically problematic cases.     

大气激光通信中的光斑特性模拟和验证

根据空-地大气激光通信信道的特性,基于惠更斯-菲涅耳原理,应用夫琅禾费圆孔衍射的算法,对光波强度和光斑图像在光束截面内的分布进行分析及计算,研究了传输距离、发射孔径、激光波长以及湍流结构常数等对光斑形状及光强分布的影响。利用对数正态分布建立了大气湍流信道模型,通过对不同传输距离条件下光斑上不同点的光强分布进行计算统计和仿真分析,实验和仿真结果表明：光斑的光强分布图样服从贝塞尔分布。因此,在相同的大气湍流条件下,选择较长波长激光和较大孔径的发射器,可以有效降低光强闪烁引起的衰减,从而提高大气激光的通信质量。     

基于OPNET的高速列车控制网络负载平衡研究

随着工业以太网应用于高速列车并成为其控制网络,将可能出现带宽、吞吐量等一系列技术问题。采用基于流水线R—R的负载平衡调度算法,通过OPNET软件建模并调用该算法进行仿真。仿真结果表明,该算法在列车控制网络中的应用是可行的,能较好地解决列车控制网络的负载平衡问题。     

基于非竞争机制的改进GAF拓扑控制算法

能量问题是制约无线传感器网络发展和应用的瓶颈之一。为均衡网络节点的能量消耗,延长网络的生命周期,需要建立高效的拓扑控制机制。在深入研究GAF算法的基础上,提出了一种基于非竞争机制的改进算法。利用建立的适合度函数和顺序表优化了簇头的选举策略;通过改进虚拟单元格的划分方法,并推导出动态剩余能量阈值估算公式,有效地改善了GAF算法的相关性能。仿真结果表明,改进算法对于减少拓扑控制耗费、延长网络生命周期具有显著效果。     

跨越架线辅助装置在配网放线施工中的应用

针对安装架空线路时存在的安全及运行隐患,研发了一种跨越架线作业的风险控制装置,并将其应用到配网放线施工中,达到了良好的效果,能够提高导线的架设效率,降低成本,提升安全水平.     

利用电阻探针对石油设备及管道的腐蚀进行监测

从1998年起，国内石油炼制行业开始大量炼制进口高硫原油，油气管道的腐蚀问题受到了重视。介绍了电阻探针腐蚀监测系统的原理及组成。并针对油气管道，实施了在线监测，安装了6组腐蚀电阻探针，分析了测量结果，为今后防腐工作提供了依据。     

型腔体组件装配尺寸检测技术分析与运用

为解决型腔体组件装配尺寸的检测问题,以某枪型的型腔体组件为例,分析该型腔体组件的结构特点,设计组合型检测装置,实现准确检测目的.归纳总结了型腔体组件装配尺寸检测技术运用过程中检测装置的设计要领,采用设计与被测型腔体组件相匹配的组合型检测装置,有效解决了型腔体组件装配尺寸检测过程中的定位困难、操作繁琐、检测准确性差等问题.该检测技术对确保型腔体组件装配尺寸的检测稳定性、检测可操作性、检测准确性等方面具有现实的指导意义.     

Variational Tree Synthesis

Modelling trees according to desired shapes is important for many applications. Despite numerous methods having been proposed in tree modelling, it is still a non‐trivial task and challenging. In this paper, we present a new variational computing approach for generating realistic trees in specific shapes. Instead of directly modelling trees from symbolic rules, we formulate the tree modelling as an optimization process, in which a variational cost function is iteratively minimized. This cost function measures the difference between the guidance shape and the target tree crown. In addition, to faithfully capture the branch structure of trees, several botanical factors, including the minimum total branches volume and spatial branches patterns, are considered in the optimization to guide the tree modelling process. We demonstrate that our approach is applicable to generate trees with different shapes, from interactive design and complex polygonal meshes.