Effects of accelerated testing on porcine bioprosthetic heart valve fiber architecture

We undertook the following study to quantitatively assess the changes in porcine bioprosthetic heart valve (PBHV) fiber architecture to increasing levels of fatigue damage using an in vitro accelerated test model. PBHVs were subjected to 0-500 million test cycles at 16 Hz, and small-angle light scattering (SALS) was used to quantify the gross fiber structure of the cusps. The degree of gross fiber alignment remained essentially constant from 0 to 500 million cycles over the entire cusp. Increasing fiber orientation randomness, indicative of local damage, was observed only in the vicinity of the nodulus of Arantii after 50 million cycles. The SALS data from the damaged regions suggested shearing between fiber layers, which may be part of the failure process and accelerates valve failure. Histological analysis revealed a relatively intact gross fiber structure with the collagen fiber crimp remaining, although delamination and de-registration of the crimp was also observed. Accelerated tested PBHVs also demonstrated a pronounced 'sagging', which began at the earliest cycle number tested (1.4 million cycles) and whose rate decreased logarithmically with cycle number. Results of this study suggest that PBHV cusps can alter their shape without any visually apparent material yielding or fiber failure under continual cyclic loading. Further, while most of the 4 mmHg pressure fixed PBHV's gross fiber architecture remains unchanged after 500 million cycles of accelerated testing, localized accumulated fiber damage can occur on a sub-visual structural level as early as 50 million cycles.     

The shapes of the motor domains of two oppositely directed microtubule motors, ncd and kinesin: a neutron scattering study

The shapes of the motor domains of kinesin and ncd, which move in opposite directions along microtubules, have been investigated. Using proteins expressed in Escherichia coli, it was found that at high salt (> 200 mM) Drosophila ncd motor domain (R335-K700) and human kinesin motor domain (M1-E349) were both sufficiently monomeric to allow an accurate determination of their radii of gyration (Rg) and their molecular weights. The measured Rg values of the ncd and kinesin motor domains in D2O were 2.06 +/- 0.06 and 2.05 +/- 0.04 nm, respectively, and the molecular weights were consistent with those computed from the amino acid compositions. Fitting of the scattering curves to approximately 3.5 nm resolution showed that the ncd and kinesin motor domains can be described adequately by triaxial ellipsoids having half-axes of 1.42 +/- 0.38, 2.24 +/- 0.44, and 3.65 +/- 0.22 nm, and half-axes of 1.52 +/- 0.23, 2.00 +/- 0.25, and 3.73 +/- 0.10 nm, respectively. Both motor domains are described adequately as somewhat flattened prolate ellipsoids with a maximum dimension of approximately 7.5 nm. Thus, it appears that the overall shapes of these motor domains are not the major determinants of the directionality of their movement along microtubules.     

控制棒钴吸收体的活度分布

应用单组中子微扰理论,对辐照后控制棒钴吸收体内活度分布进行理论分析,得到活度分布计算的解析表达式。对高通量工程试验堆(HFETR)首次出堆的2根控制棒钴吸收体进行数值计算。利用钴靶活度水下测量装置进行这2根钴吸收体活度分布的实验测量。计算与实验测量结果相符。通过理论计算所得到的活度分布可作为辐照后~(60)Co同位素分装依据。本文得到的控制棒相对价值曲线理论计算值与实验测量结果符合良好。     

The nitric oxide-cGMP pathway may mediate communication between sensory afferents and projection neurons in the antennal lobe of Manduca sexta

The nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP signaling system is thought to play important roles in the function of the olfactory system in both vertebrates and invertebrates. One way of studying the role of NO in the nervous system is to study the distribution and properties of NO synthase (NOS), as well as the soluble guanylyl cyclases (sGCs), which are the best characterized targets of NO. We study NOS and sGC in the relatively simple and well characterized insect olfactory system of the hawkmoth, Manduca sexta. We have cloned Manduca sexta nitric oxide synthase (MsNOS) and two sGCs (MsGCalpha1 and MsGCbeta1), characterized their basic biochemical properties, and studied their expression in the olfactory system. The sequences of the Manduca genes are highly similar to their mammalian homologs and show similar biochemical properties when expressed in COS-7 cells. In particular, we find that MsGC functions as an obligate heterodimer that is stimulated significantly by NO. We also find that MsNOS has a Ca2+-sensitive NO-producing activity similar to that of mammalian neuronal NOS. Northern and in situ hybridization analyses show that MsNOS and the MsGCs are expressed in a complementary pattern, with MsNOS expressed at high levels in the antennae and the MsGCs expressed at high levels in a subset of antennal lobe neurons. The expression patterns of these genes suggest that the NO-sGC signaling system may play a role in mediating communication between olfactory receptor neurons and projection neurons in the glomeruli of the antennal lobe.     

Retail yield and fabrication times for veal as influenced by purchasing options and merchandising styles

Twenty-nine selected styles of subprimals or sections of veal were obtained from a commercial facility to assist in the development of a support program for retailers. They were fabricated into bone-in or boneless retail cuts and associated components by trained meat cutters. Each style selected (n = 6) was used to generate mean retail yields and labor requirements, which were calculated from wholesale and retail weights and processing times. Means and standard errors for veal ribs consisting of five different styles (n = 30) concluded that style #2, 7-rib 4 (10 cm) x 4 (10 cm), had the lowest percentage of total retail yield (P < .05) owing to the greatest percentage of bone. Furthermore, rib style #2 required the longest total processing time (P < .05). Rib styles #3, 7-rib chop-ready, and #5, 6-rib chop ready, yielded the greatest percentage of total retail yield and also had the shortest total processing time (P < .05). Within veal loins, style #2, 4 (10 cm) x 4 (10 cm) loin kidney fat in, had the greatest percentage fat (P < .05). Loin styles #2 and #3, 4 (10 cm) x 4 (10 cm) loin special trimmed, generated more lean and fat trimmings and bone, resulting in lower percentage of total retail yields than loin style #1, 0 (0 cm) x 1 (2.5 cm) loin special trimmed (P < .05). Results indicated that bone-in subprimals and sections required more processing time if fabricated into a boneless end point. In addition, as the number of different retail cuts increased, processing times also increased.     

Differential expression and distribution of focal adhesion and cell adhesion molecules in rat hepatocyte differentiation

The present study has examined the distribution of axons of differing sizes in the optic pathway of the ground squirrel. Axon diameters were measured from electron micrographs at various locations across sections of the optic nerve and tract, and total distributions and numbers were estimated. In both the nerve and tract, roughly 1.2 million optic axons were present. The population of optic axons had a unimodal size distribution, peaking at 0.9 microm in diameter and having an extended tail toward larger diameters. Local axon diameter distributions in the optic tract indicated distinct (though partially overlapping) axon diameter classes, including one of fine sizes peaking at 0.8-0.9 microm, a second of medium sizes peaking around 1.7-1.8 microm, and a third composed of the larger fibers with diameters up to 4.8 microm. The fine-caliber axons were found at all locations in the tract, and were the only axons present immediately adjacent to the pia, while the medium- and coarse-caliber axons were found at deeper locations. Curiously, the larger axons were found primarily in the medial parts of the tract, where axons from the dorsal retina normally course. A similarly restricted distribution of the larger axons was observed in the dorsotemporal parts of the optic nerve, suggesting that this difference in the tract may relate to an asymmetric distribution of ganglion cells on the retina giving rise to these axons. Measurements of axonal size taken within the optic fiber layer in dorsal and ventral parts of the retina confirmed this asymmetry, consistent with previous demonstrations of soma size differences in the dorsal versus ventral retina. The partial segregation of axons by size in the optic tract of the ground squirrel then reflects both the asymmetric distribution of retinal ganglion cell classes and the chronotopic reordering of optic axons that occurs within the chiasmatic region.     

Pub/Sub系统中基于免疫的新型路由算法

为减少Pub/Sub系统中因遍历节点而产生的广播负载,在无标度网络的Pub/Sub系统遍历路由的基础上,提出了基于免疫思想的新型路由算法。第一阶段,通过设置阈值δ,选择初始免疫节点;第二阶段,通过投票机制进一步甄选核心代理节点和免疫节点。仿真实验表明所提出的方法与Pub/Sub系统中传统的Gossip算法及洪泛算法相比较,能够限制消息在确定的范围内传播并且降低消息遍历的时间和广播开销的负载。基于免疫的新型路由算法可加快消息的传播速度、降低网络开销。     

潮白河生态补水对通州区水环境的影响分析

分析了潮白河生态补水对通州区河段的地表水质和地下水位的影响,通过对地表水质、地下水位监测数据分析,结果表明:补水初期,上游补水使白庙橡胶坝上段由劣V类提升至V类,水质明显改善,但由于白庙橡胶坝上游存水以及运潮减河蓄水同时下泄至潮白河下段,下游化学需氧量、总磷、氨氮浓度总体均升高;补水后期,由于上游补水量不足,白庙橡胶坝上游水质变差至劣V类,但受运潮减河泄流水量影响,下游氨氮、总磷浓度均有所下降;沿线地下水受生态补水影响不明显,浅层地下水平均埋深维持在15m左右轻微波动,而深层地下水平均埋深累计增加2.38 m,仅前疃村和杜店单点地下水埋深有所减少.分析结果为探索潮白河生态补水对改善地表水质、回补地下水等目标提供参考.     

网络信息资源分级体系框架的构建

网络信息分级是保障网络信息内容安全的重要手段。主要构建了网络信息资源分级体系框架六元组模型,分析了相关组成元素的内容,以适应不同行业应用。     

热塑性聚酰亚胺的研究及应用进展

聚酰亚胺(PI)作为一种特种工程塑料而被广泛应用,但由于PI的熔融性能较差,产业化发展受到了限制.通过对热固性PI进行改性开发出的热塑性聚酰亚胺(TPI),其熔融性能和加工性能相对热固性PI有了质的提升,能够应用于柔性覆铜板、3D打印等领域.本文概述了TPI的合成方法及热学、力学、加工性能,总结了TPI在柔性线路板及其他重要工业领域的应用,提出了TPI未来的研究方向.