Airway responses in healthy and asthmatic subjects following exposure to low ambient air temperature

Agonist-activated Ca2+ entry is important in many biological responses such as secretion and cell growth(1,2). In nonexcitable cells which have no voltage-operated Ca2+ channels (VOCC), agonist-receptor interaction can trigger Ca2+ entry across the plasmalemma via several entry pathways(1-3) (Fig 1): (A) channels which are intrinsic structures of the receptor (receptor-operated channels), (B) channels which are coupled to receptors via a G-protein (G-protein-operated channels), (C) channels which are activated by some second messengers (second-messenger-operated channels), and (D) channels which open upon intracellular nonmitochondrial Ca2+ store depletion (Ca2+ release-activated channels) resulting from inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate-induced Ca2+ release or inhibition of Ca2+ re-uptake (see next section). Ca2+ entry via the 4th type of channel, also known as "capacitative Ca2+ entry" (CCE)[4], has aroused much interest in the past decade because of its intriguing nature as retrograde signalling. In this brief review, we present the evidence for and the possible biochemical processes involved in CCE. We also discuss the use of 2 novel Ca2+ entry blockers: tetrandrine and SK&F 96365. Emphasis will be put on the human leukemic HL-60 cell line, a popular cell system for intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis studies and also a model the signal transduction of which we have been investigating during the past few years.     

Cytokines as adjuvants for ruminant vaccines

Successful vaccination against any potential pathogen is critically dependent on inducing an appropriate immune response. The pivotal role of cytokines in the immune response to vaccination suggests that non-protective responses or responses that exacerbate disease subsequent to infectious challenge may be the result of limiting or preferential production of one or a number of these mediators. This suggests that the use of recombinant cytokines as vaccine adjuvants may offer a mechanism whereby the magnitude and phenotype of the immune response to vaccination can be specifically modified. In mice, recombinant cytokines have been used extensively as therapeutics, while studies describing vaccine adjuvant activity are more limited. Recombinant (r) interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2 and interferon (IFN) gamma have been used primarily to enhance humoral responses with enhanced protection assessed where appropriate. Cytokine adjuvant studies in ruminants have been restricted to recombinant ovine (rov) and bovine (rbov) IL-1 and IL-2. In sheep, their application has been optimised with respect to dose, route of delivery and formulation, for induction of humoral and cell mediated immunity (DTH and cytotoxicity) to the model protein antigen (Ag) avidin. The level of adjuvant activity of IL-1 in particular compares favourably to that of a variety of other traditional and new chemical adjuvants and detailed analysis has indicated no adverse local or systemic side-effects. Recent studies in our laboratory demonstrating the effectiveness of rovIL-1 as an adjuvant in single and multi-component bacterial toxoid vaccines, and studies from other laboratories demonstrating the application of rbovIL-1 as an adjuvant for the response in cattle to live attenuated viral vaccines, suggest that rIL-1 may become the adjuvant of choice for diseases where protection is mediated by high levels of circulating antibody (Ab). With respect to helminth parasites, IL-1 may prove useful as a component of vaccines based on "hidden Ags" which rely on induction of Ab. Based on analysis in mouse models of helminth infection, other cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-10 may be appropriate for vaccines based on induction of mechanisms involved in natural immunity.     

基于μTAS 系统多参量血液分析生物传感器与测量仪器的研究

研制出一种基于μTAS 系统的血液分析型医用多参量测量的生物传感测量仪器.该传感器采用 IDA 结构的微电极阵列,分别固定上不同的酶,当工作区中的微电极上滴上少许血样,通过检测微电极上生化反应所产生的微电流,可同时测试出血液中血糖、胆固醇、酮体和乳酸的浓度.测量仪器的电流测量范围 0-40 μA,灵敏度为 1 nA.该系统经北京医疗器械研究所测试,取得较好的实验结果.     

管道网系的系統分析

对于不可压縮流体在一条串联管路上流动的計算,伯努利方程的应用是十分广泛而有效的。但对于具有支路网絡管道体系中流体輸送的問題,还比較缺少一套系統的分析原理和方法。 在本文中,将一般导管阻力的計算公式: 改写成对体积流量线性元件的形式:幷且引入了“全路”的槪念,即得到一組线性方程式,可以用来描写复杂管路体系的一般流动問题。把此方程組用矩陣形式表达出来,不但使列写方程組的过程中有一套明确而简便的规则可循,不易出错,而且还能便于运用电子计算机解方程组。     

Magnetoresistance up to 50 T of highly strengthened Cu-Ag conductors for pulsed high field magnets

The resistance of cold worked Cu-x wt.%Ag alloys (x = 7 and x = 24) is measured in dependence of magnetic field and temperature. The magnetoresistance (MR) in the field range 0 T ? B ? 50 T is positive and increases with magnetic field. If the magnetic field B is applied perpendicular to the transport current I, the magnetoresistance increases in the temperature range from 77 K to 300 K. The highest value of 14% for the MR is measured at 77 K and 50 T. For I‖B it was found that the MR is independent of the temperature in the investigated range from 77 K to 199 K. The MR is attributed to the microstructure of the alloys and appears to be independent of the Ag content of the alloys under investigation.     

Metadata on the radioactive contamination of environmental objects on the territories of Russia and the USSR

A unique data archive, accumulated at the Taifun Scientific and Industrial Association in 1954–2005, on the radioactive contamination of the environment on the territory of the USSR and Russia is presented. The archive contains data on the yearly total β activity of atmospheric fallout on the underlying surface, the total volume β activity in the atmosphere at the ground, the results of measurements of the ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs content in samples combined over one month or quarter, atmospheric aerosols and fallout on individual points, the volume activity of tritium and ⁹⁰Sr in water, rivers, lakes and seas, and the radionuclide contamination density of the territories of populated points as a result of the Chernobyl accident. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 101, No. 2, pp. 149–152, August, 2006.     

A novel crystallization method for visualizing the membrane localization of potassium channels

The high permeability of K+ channels to monovalent thallium (Tl+) ions and the low solubility of thallium bromide salt were used to develop a simple yet very sensitive approach to the study of membrane localization of potassium channels. K+ channels (Kir1.1, Kir2.1, Kir2.3, Kv2.1), were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and loaded with Br ions by microinjection. Oocytes were then exposed to extracellular thallium. Under conditions favoring influx of Tl+ ions (negative membrane potential under voltage clamp, or high concentration of extracellular Tl+), crystals of TlBr, visible under low-power microscopy, formed under the membrane in places of high density of K+ channels. Crystals were not formed in uninjected oocytes, but were formed in oocytes expressing as little as 5 microS K+ conductance. The number of observed crystals was much lower than the estimated number of functional channels. Based on the pattern of crystal formation, K+ channels appear to be expressed mostly around the point of cRNA injection when injected either into the animal or vegetal hemisphere. In addition to this pseudopolarized distribution of K+ channels due to localized microinjection of cRNA, a naturally polarized (animal/vegetal side) distribution of K+ channels was also frequently observed when K+ channel cRNA was injected at the equator. A second novel "agarose-hemiclamp" technique was developed to permit direct measurements of K+ currents from different hemispheres of oocytes under two-microelectrode voltage clamp. This technique, together with direct patch-clamping of patches of membrane in regions of high crystal density, confirmed that the localization of TlBr crystals corresponded to the localization of functional K+ channels and suggested a clustered organization of functional channels. With appropriate permeant ion/counterion pairs, this approach may be applicable to the visualization of the membrane distribution of any functional ion channel.     

在线人工阅卷平台的研究与设计

结合实际工作需求,通过对一些常用考试试题答题、传统人工阅卷方式以及以往人工阅卷系统进行研究、比较和分析,并且适应市场上常见的考试内容开发一套统一的、高安全性、收缩性强的在线人工阅卷平台,来解决计算机“无纸化”考试的多样化阅卷问题.根据实际项目需求对在线人工阅卷的整体功能需求、系统需求和环境需求进行深入探讨,分析和总结人工阅卷的核心功能组件,同时对系统平台的开放性、稳定性、可靠性、安全性等提出更高的要求.     

基于Matlab变压器故障红外图像边缘检测研究

红外图像处理在电力设备故障检测方面有着广泛的应用。介绍几种边缘检测方法,通过MATLAB对各种算法进行变压器故障红外诊断图像处理,实现边缘检测,比较这些方法的优越性,根据实际需要选取相应的边缘算法。