Recent developments in the understanding of antinuclear autoantibodies

Cytological identification of soybean mitotic metaphase chromosomes (2n = 40) has been severely limited by their small size and uniform karyomorphology. We have developed fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), PCR-primed in situ labelling (PCR-PRINS) procedures, and molecular probes for routine cytological identification and for the physical mapping of soybean somatic chromosomes. Chromosome preparation has been achieved by modifications of previous protocols and through the preparation of root-tip protoplasts prior to chromosome spreading. Initially our probe selection focused on highly repeated DNAs that provide very intense localized hybridization signals. Repetitive gene probes that have proven valuable include the rDNA loci (5S and 45S) which are chromosome specific. We have also developed satellite DNA probes for two different sequence families: the SB92 and the STR120 satellites. Both of these are tandemly arranged at multiple chromosomal loci. By using different cloned examples of each family, we have been able to selectively label unique subsets of soybean chromosomes. Double hybridization with biotin and digoxigenin labeled probes has allowed us to determine the chromosomal overlap between different probes. In addition, we have joined portions of the metaphase chromosome painting patterns with the genetic map by single-copy FISH and PCR-PRINS detection of the RFLP loci G8.15, G17.3, and A199a and A199b. Total genomic DNA in situ hybridization (GISH) patterns were also used to characterize the soybean chromosomes.     

Compressive and tribological properties of Al2O3 fibre and hexagonal BN particle hybrid reinforced Al-Si alloys

Al₂O₃ fibre-hexagonal BN particle hybrid reinforced aluminium-silicon alloys were fabricated by centrifugal force infiltration route. Hardness test and ultimate compressive test results are reported. The wear and friction properties of hybrid MMCs was investigated by means of a block-on-ring (bearing steel) type wear rig in a dry sliding condition. It is shown that the hardness and ultimate compressive strength of hybrid MMCs was evidently decreased with the addition of hexagonal BN particles, however, the wear rate and coefficient of friction of hybrid MMCs was improved simultaneously with increase of BN particle volume fraction, especially for the higher applied loads in the test.     

Efficient encoding of IEEE 802.11n LDPC codes

Addressed is the issue of LDPC coding for the emerging IEEE 802.11n standard. An efficient encoding algorithm is proposed. The algorithm is simple and easy to implement. The memory requirement is trivial     

Neuromuscular activation patterns during treadmill walking after space flight

Astronauts adopt a variety of neuromuscular control strategies during space flight that are appropriate for locomoting in that unique environment, but are less than optimal upon return to Earth. We report here the first systematic investigation of potential adaptations in neuromuscular activity patterns associated with postflight locomotion. Astronaut-subjects were tasked with walking on a treadmill at 6.4 km/h while fixating a visual target 30 cm away from their eyes after space flights of 8-15 days. Surface electromyography was collected from selected lower limb muscles and normalized with regard to mean amplitude and temporal relation to heel strike. In general, high correlations (more than 0.80) were found between preflight and postflight activation waveforms for each muscle and each subject: however relative activation amplitude around heel strike and toe off was changed as a result of flight. The level of muscle cocontraction and activation variability, and the relationship between the phasic characteristics of the ankle musculature in preparation for toe off also were altered by space flight. Subjects also reported oscillopsia during treadmill walking after flight. These findings indicate that, after space flight, the sensory-motor system can generate neuromuscular-activation strategies that permit treadmill walking, but subtle changes in lower-limb neuromuscular activation are present that may contribute to increased lower limb kinematic variability and oscillopsia also present during postflight walking.     

利用假单胞菌天冬氨酸－β－脱羧酶高效生产L－丙氨酸

通过诱变筛选得到一株具有高活性Ｌ－Ａｓｐ－β－脱羧酶的菌株ＰｓｅｕｄｏｍｏｎａｓＮＸ－１，对该株酶形成和酶反应的条件进行了详细研究，该株可以高效地转化Ｌ－Ａｓｐ生成Ｌ－ＡＩａ，转化４～５山每Ｌ培养液可转化Ｌ－Ａｓｐ量高达１４００ｇ左右，生成Ｌ－Ａｌａ浓度高达９０％以上，摩尔转化率近１００％。     

关于保障鞍山市城市饮水安全的研究及对策

本文在全面阐述鞍山市水资源现状的基础上,系统地分析了鞍山市供水系统存在的问题,并针对鞍山实际情况,提出了保障鞍山市城市饮水安全的相关研究及对策。     

酶促合成生物柴油反应动力学

以Candidasp.99-125脂肪酶为催化剂,甘油三油酸酯和甲醇为底物,采用有序机制模型对酶促合成生物柴油的酯交换反应动力学进行了研究,并与经典乒乓机制模型进行了比较。研究结果表明,反应初速率的实验值与有序机制模型方程的计算值吻合很好。对于固定化Candidasp.99-125脂肪酶催化合成生物柴油的酯交换反应机理进行研究,采用有序机制模型比经典乒乓机制模型更为精确。反应过程中,醇抑制为竞争性抑制,在甘油三油酸酯浓度较小的范围内,醇抑制作用较为显著,醇浓度越低反应初速率越快。该有序机制模型可用来预测生物柴油的生产批次或连续反应器中酯交换反应的速率,确定最佳底物油脂和醇的浓度。     

Nephrotic syndrome. What is new since the 1988 study?

Hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) patients often have nonmeasurable disease. In such patients, predictive biomarkers other than tumor response may be required to compare therapeutic effects. We examined the predictive value for survival of various clinical and laboratory parameters, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA), in HRPC patients treated with suramin. Data from 103 HRPC patients were analyzed using various survival analyses, the likelihood ratio approach, and logistic regression analyses. When pretreatment factors, percentage decrease in PSA at 4 weeks from start of treatment (deltaPSA), and updated survival data were fit by a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, acid phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, and deltaPSA were significant, with risk ratios close to 1. There was a decrease in likelihood ratio with increasing APSA. A logistic regression model was developed to predict the probability of <1 year of survival from the start of treatment. Hemoglobin and deltaPSA were found to be significant variables. However, in view of the complexities involving the relationship between PSA expression and prostate cancer growth and possible selective effect of treatment on PSA, further prospective testing is necessary. Therefore, deltaPSA cannot necessarily be used as a biomarker for survival response in individual patients during the evaluation of the therapeutic response of HRPC to new antineoplastic drugs.