含三维内裂纹透明类岩石材料破坏红外热像试验研究

由于目前针对含三维内裂纹的岩石破坏红外热像特征的研究较少,本文基于预埋浇注法制作含内裂纹类岩石试件,开展了单轴压缩块体试验和巴西圆盘劈拉试验,得到含内裂纹的岩石破坏过程,监测内裂纹扩展及试件破坏过程中的红外热像特征,得到以下结论:(1)含三维内裂纹的块体试件在单轴压缩下,在预制内裂纹面上发生剪切破坏;(2)块体试件在单轴压缩作用下红外热像特征明显,在破坏时,在预制内裂纹面处急剧升温;(3)含三维内裂纹巴西圆盘试件在预制内裂纹尖端发生翼型裂纹扩展,边缘带有针刺状Ⅲ型裂纹参与特征,最终翼型裂纹与上下表面贯穿;(4)巴西圆盘试验的红外热像特征与块体单轴压缩不同,在断裂面处未发生明显变化。研究结果为研究三维内裂纹的扩展规律及内裂纹扩展破裂的红外热像规律可提供一定的试验参考。     

双向电流应力下的金属膜电迁移机理研究

对脉冲应力作用下金属铝膜的电迁移失效机理进行了研究,研究了纯交流应力对金属铝膜电迁移可靠性的影响,对影响测试结构的相关因素作了详细的描述。借助于脉冲波形的傅里叶级数分解,研究了一般交流应力条件下金属化电迁移的影响因素。建立了一般交流应力条件下金属铝膜电迁移寿命模型。     

基于SWMM的城市洪涝风险管理研究

为了研究城市洪涝风险评估的问题,采用SWMM(Storm Water Management Model)模拟技术进行洪涝风险危险等级量化研究。以涂家营沟流域为例,基于SWMM模型模拟不同重现期降雨下的淹没情况,计算各子汇水区基于淹没深度、淹没面积、土地利用、人口密度和淹没道路等脆弱性参数建立的危险等级,确定洪灾危险区。结果表明:在20年一遇的情景下研究区溢流量为62 350 m~3,淹没面积为0.177 4 km~2,其原因是排水系统不达标且淤积严重;基于淹没深度和淹没面积的高洪灾风险区面积为0.049 km~2,基于土地利用的高洪灾风险区面积为0.516 km~2,基于人口密度和淹没道路的高洪灾风险区面积为0.041 km~2;该研究区内洪灾危险区由低级到高级的面积分别为1.83 km~2、1.00 km~2和1 950 m~2,高危险区主要集中在城市中心、居民区。淹没深度和淹没面积是确定洪涝灾害等级最敏感的参数,为洪涝风险评估提供依据。研究结果可为我国城市发展规划提供参考依据。     

Override of spontaneous respiratory pattern generator reduces cardiovascular parasympathetic influence

We investigated the effects of voluntary control of breathing on autonomic function in cardiovascular regulation. Variability in heart rate was compared between 5 min of spontaneous and controlled breathing. During controlled breathing, for 5 min, subjects voluntarily reproduced their own spontaneous breathing pattern (both rate and volume on a breath-by-breath basis). With the use of this experimental design, we could unmask the effects of voluntary override of the spontaneous respiratory pattern generator on autonomic function in cardiovascular regulation without the confounding effects of altered respiratory pattern. Results from 10 subjects showed that during voluntary control of breathing, mean values of heart rate and blood pressure increased, whereas fractal and spectral powers in heart rate in the respiratory frequency region decreased. End-tidal PCO2 was similar during spontaneous and controlled breathing. These results indicate that the act of voluntary control of breathing decreases the influence of the vagal component, which is the principal parasympathetic influence in cardiovascular regulation.     

Late recurrences of laryngeal papillomatosis

Laryngeal papillomotasis recurred in 2 patients after 44 and 47 years of remission. The recurrence of papillomatosis after such lengthy periods of remission underscores the fact that, while surgical treatment of laryngeal papillomatosis may maintain the airway and voice, and in some cases control clinically overt disease, it does not address the subclinical mucosal human papillomavirus infection that may lead to recurrence many years after surgery.     

Cyclosporine A in the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis. A prospective, randomized 24-month study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of cyclosporine A (CSA) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: Patients with an early diagnosis of RA, a disease duration of less than 3 years, and without prior disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment were studied. They randomly received oral CSA (3 mg/kg/day) or oral methotrexate (MTX) (0.15 mg/kg/week). In addition, all patients in both groups received oral prednisone (7.5 mg/day). RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were assigned to the CSA group and 51 to the MTX group. After 24 months of treatment, 48 patients from the CSA group and 48 from the MTX group showed significant clinical improvement. This was evaluated by the duration of morning stiffness, grip strength, the total joint count, joint swelling, and joint tenderness and pain, compared to pre-treatment values. The clinical improvement was also associated with a significant decrease in ESR and CRP values in both groups. No significant radiological deterioration was observed in the CSA patients compared to those treated with MTX after 24 months. Four patients from the CSA group dropped out of the study, two because of a synovitis flare, one because of severe hypertrichosis and one because of severe gingival hyperplasia. Three patients from the MTX group withdrew, one because of disease flare-up and two because of gastrointestinal disturbances. CONCLUSION: Early immunointervention in RA patients appears to be crucial to limit the development of joint damage. Cyclosporine A appears to be effective, well tolerated and safe in the long-term treatment of RA and can therefore be used as a first immunomodulatory drug in the armamentarium for the treatment of RA.     

Characterization of a high capacity calcium transport system in mitochondria of the yeast Endomyces magnusii

The Ca2+ transport system of Endomyces magnusii mitochondria has been shown previously to be activated by spermine. Here we report it to be regulated also by low, physiological ADP concentrations, by the intramitochondrial NADH/NAD+ ratio, and by Ca2+ ions. The combination of all these physiological modulators induced high initial rates of Ca2+ uptake and high Ca2+-buffering capacity of yeast mitochondria, enabling them to lower the medium [Ca2+] to approximately 0.2 microM. The mechanisms of stimulation by these agents are discussed.     

Independent trafficking of KATP channel subunits to the plasma membrane

KATP channels are unique in requiring two distinct subunits (Kir6.2, a potassium channel subunit) and SUR1 (an ABC protein) for generation of functional channels. To examine the cellular trafficking of KATP channel subunits, green fluorescent protein (GFP) was tagged to the cytoplasmic N or C terminus of SUR1 and Kir6. 2 subunits and to the C terminus of a dimeric fusion between SUR1 and Kir6.2 (SUR1-Kir6.2). All tagged constructs generated functional channels with essentially normal properties when coexpressed with the relevant other subunit. GFP-tagged Kir6.2 (Kir6.2-GFP) showed perinuclear and plasma membrane fluorescence patterns when expressed alone or with SUR1, and a very similar pattern was observed when channel-forming SUR1-Kir6.2-GFP was expressed on its own. In contrast, whereas SUR1 (SUR1-GFP) also showed a perinuclear and plasma membrane fluorescence pattern when expressed alone, an apparently cytoplasmic fluorescence was observed when coexpressed with Kir6.2 subunits. The results indicate that Kir6.2 subunits traffic to the plasma membrane in the presence or absence of SUR1, in contradiction to the hypothesis that homomeric Kir6.2 channels are not observed because SUR1 is required as a chaperone to guide Kir6.2 subunits through the secretory pathway.     

Estimation of the mutagenic potential of the trematode Opisthorchis felineus in experimentally infected guinea pigs

We studied the mutagenic potential of the trematode Opisthorchis felineus in experimentally infected guinea pigs by chromosome analysis. The investigation was conducted on 30 treated (experimentally infected) and 20 normal (uninfected) guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). A sample of living metacercariae of O. felineus was obtained from the muscle of naturally infected crucian carp captured in the Tom River, and 1 ml suspension containing approximately 50 metacercariae in 0.9% NaCl solution was individually given p.o. to guinea pigs that were used as treated specimens, whereas normal guinea pigs from the same stock were given 1 ml 0.9% NaCl solution per individual to serve as controls. The treated and control animals were killed by CO2 asphyxiation and decapitation at 7, 15, 30, 45, and 120 days after contamination. The smears of bone marrow cells for chromosome analysis were prepared by a standard method. Statistical analysis of the data was done using Student's t-test. We found that experimental infection of guinea pigs with O. felineus induced significantly high frequencies of hypoploid cells and, at the 120th day p.i., led to a considerable incidence of chromatid breaks and polyploidy in bone marrow cells.     

Role of leukotrienes revealed by targeted disruption of the 5-lipoxygenase gene

Leukotrienes constitute a class of potent biological mediators of inflammation and anaphylaxis (for reviews see refs 1 and 2). Their biosynthesis derives from 5-lipoxygenase-catalysed oxygenation of arachidonic acid in granulocytes, macrophages and mast cells. To examine the physiological importance of leukotrienes, we have disrupted the 5-lipoxygenase gene by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. 5-Lipoxygenase-deficient (5LX-/-) mice develop normally and are healthy. They show a selective opposition to certain inflammatory insults. Although there is no difference in their reaction to endotoxin shock, the 5LX-/- animals resist the lethal effects of shock induced by platelet-activating factor. Reaction to ear inflammation induced by phorbol ester is normal, whereas inflammation induced by arachidonic acid is markedly reduced. Contrasts were also found in two models of leukocyte chemotaxis in vivo. The phenotype of 5LX-/- mice under injurious insult identifies the role for leukotrienes in the pathophysiology of select inflammatory states.