Congenic rats reveal three independent Copenhagen alleles within the Mcs1 quantitative trait locus that confer resistance to mammary cancer

It has previously been shown that the Copenhagen (COP) rat contains several genetic loci that contribute to its mammary tumor-resistant phenotype after 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) administration. One of these loci, mammary carcinoma susceptibility 1 (Mcs1), is located on the centromeric end of chromosome 2 and appears to act in a semidominant fashion. To confirm the existence and independent action of this locus and also aid in the identification of the physical location of the Mcs1 gene, congenic lines were generated by transferring the Mcs1 COP allele onto a Wistar Furth (WF) genetic background. Male carriers were genotyped using microsatellite markers spanning 20-30 cM of the Mcs1 locus. One of the congenic lines minimally retained the COP allele at D2Mit29 on the centromeric end of chromosome 2 and extended distally to D2Rat201. Heterozygous Mcs1 carrier rats were interbred, and the female offspring were treated with DMBA. The female rats from the Mcs1 congenic line that carried one or two COP alleles of the Mcs1 region had a significantly reduced (65 and 85%, respectively) tumor development (P < 0.001) compared with rats carrying zero COP alleles at this locus. A WF.COP-D2Mit29/D2Rat201 homozygous congenic strain derived at the N10 generation was treated with DMBA, and the COP homozygous rats developed 1.5 +/- 0.3 carcinomas/rat versus 6.3 +/- 0.5 in WF control rats (P < 0.0001). Fine mapping of this congenic interval using several recombinant lines identified three genetic loci within the Mcs1 congenic region that independently supported a tumor resistance phenotype. These genetic loci have been termed Mcs1a, Mcs1b, and Mcs1c. In rats for which each locus was homozygous for the COP allele, tumor development was reduced by approximately 60% compared with littermate controls. The identification of these independent loci within the Mcs1 COP allele provide a model of the genetic complexity of cancer.     

铁通资源管理系统的设计和实现

在分析铁路通信资源结构的基础上,利用地理信息系统技术、数据库技术和客户/服务器(C/S)模式,为铁通(ChinaTietong)各级分公司和运营部门提供一套较为完善的资源管理信息系统。文中分析了铁通资源的结构与资源之间的关联,介绍了系统功能、物理结构及体系结构,详细分析了数据库设计、地理信息系统和系统安全性所采用的关键技术。这套系统的应用对铁通网络管理的现代化将起到重要的推动作用。     

光电双基区晶体管(PDUBAT)的器件模型

本文在考虑了晶体管的小注入效应和大注入效应以及基区宽变效应等因素后,首次用近似和简化的数学表示式和相应的等效电路,描述了光电双基区晶体管(PDUBAT)负阻形成的机理并使负阻区和谷值区的理论计算和实验结果一致性很好.     

Adaptive contour smoothing based on inter-region contrast

An adaptive contour smoothing algorithm designed as a preprocessor for shape coders is presented. In the method, the degree of the adaptive smoothing is controlled based on the significance of each contour point, which is quantified according to inter-region contrast in an intensity image. The actual smoothing consists of an expansion operator and a thinning algorithm.     

Development of Boundary Structures for Complex-Shaped Buildings

Over the past few years, the field of architecture has witnessed revolutionary changes in design. The recent completions of Frank O. Gehry’s projects brought unprecedented attention to complex-shaped, nonconventional design. In following these latest trends, the author has been drawn to the issue concerning the structural systems currently being adopted in realizing these complicated designs. It is perhaps inevitable that the traditional structural systems, comprised of structural elements suitable for use in conventional linear shapes, face tremendous challenges and limitations in building such complicated designs. In this context, this research consists of proposing a new alternative by employing “boundary structures with continuously changing curvature,” which follow the complex-curved envelope surface, as well as fabricating an experimental model made of polymer composite materials with computer-aided design/computer-aided engineering/computer-aided manufacturing technologies. Consequently, the study aims at offering architects unprecedented freedom in design and a new paradigm for realizing their creative ideas.     

End labeling studies of fragmented DNA in the avian growth plate: evidence of apoptosis in terminally differentiated chondrocytes

The chondro-osseous junction has been the subject of considerable scrutiny, especially in terms of the fate and role of the terminally differentiated chondrocyte. Although it has been proposed that these cells change their phenotype and survive in the epiphysis, possibly as osteoblasts, evidence from a number of other studies suggests that chondrocytes may undergo apoptosis or programmed cell death. A useful test for programmed cell death is to end label DNA in cryosections using the commercial reagent ApopTag and detect antibody binding to fragmented DNA by epifluorescence; more direct assessments include examination of the nucleus for condensation of chromatin evaluating fragmentation through alkaline and pulsed field agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA, and measuring apoptosis by flow cytometry. We found that we could label cells in the proliferative and the hypertrophic region of the proximal tibial growth plate of the chick with ApopTag. Most of the chondrocytes in the hypertrophic region were labeled by the reagent; in contrast, few proliferative chondrocytes were stained by the end-labeling procedure. Both agarose and pulsed field electrophoresis were used to confirm that there was fragmentation of chondrocyte DNA. Alkaline gel electrophoresis indicated that there was more fragmentation of DNA from hypertrophic cells than from proliferative chondrocytes. Further evidence in support of apoptosis was provided by electron microscopic observation of cells in the hypertrophic region of the growth plate. We noted that many of the cells in this region of the growth plate appeared to be undergoing programmed cell death since their nuclei contained condensed chromatin. Finally, we used flow cytometry to analyze chondrocytes isolated from the proliferating and hypertrophic regions of the growth plate for apoptosis. Dual parameteric flow cytometric contour plots of Hoechst and 7-amino-actinomycin D fluorescence showed that abut 8% of cells in the plate were apoptotic. Most of these cells were in hypertrophic cartilage. In summary, the results of this investigation indicate that chondrocytes terminate their life history by apoptosis. While it is possible that the terminal labeling studies may overestimate the number of cells undergoing this event, the data lend credence to the view that cells are removed from the epiphysis through apoptosis. If this is the case, then chondrocytes probably enter the terminal phase of their life as fully functioning cells and genomic, and/or local environmental conditions provide termination signals that initiate events that lead to programmed cell death.     

碾压混凝土坝施工进度与质量控制的新措施

碾压混凝土重力坝和拱坝由于连续施工的坝体混凝土体积大，施工期间需要采取较为严格的温度控制措施，而所采取的温控措施是否有效，目前尚没有一个能够用于实际施工过程的快速有效的评估方法和方式，不能根据已施工坝体内的实际情况来控制施工进度和质量。利用分布式光纤温度测量系统来快速地获得坝体混凝土内部的大量温度信息，进而实际标定温度仿真程序并通过标定过程模拟拟施工的连续碾压层，以检验其温控措施的有效性。通过坝体内部的温度、温度变化速率和梯度来达到实时控制坝体碾压上升速度、坝面和仓面养护、以及冷缝灌浆处理等目的。     

The anabolic effects of parathyroid hormone on cortical bone mass, dimensions and strength--assessed in a sexually mature, ovariectomized rat model

We examined the effect of the pineal neurohormone melatonin (MLT) on protection from viral encephalitis. The antiviral activity of MLT was evaluated in normal mice inoculated with Semliki Forest virus (SFV) and in stressed mice injected with the attenuated non-invasive West Nile virus (WN-25). Administration of MLT (s.c.) daily from 3 days before through 10 days after virus inoculation reduced viremia and significantly postponed the onset of disease and death by 7 to 10 days. Moreover, MLT injection reduced mortality of SFV (10 PFU) inoculated mice from 100% to 44%. In mice inoculated with high dose of SFV (100 PFU), MLT postponed death and reduced mortality by 20%. In all of the surviving mice anti-SFV antibodies were detected 22 days after virus inoculation. Infection of mice stressed by either isolation or dexamethasone injection with WN-25 induced mortality of 75% and 50% respectively, which was reduced by MLT administration to 31% and 25%, respectively. The efficiency of MLT in protecting from lethal viral infections warrants further investigations on its mechanisms of action.