Neuronal units linked to microvascular modules in cerebral cortex: response elements for imaging the brain

How neuronal activity changes cerebral blood flow is of biological and practical importance. The rodent whisker-barrel system has special merits as a model for studies of changes in local cerebral blood flow (LCBF). Stimulus-evoked changes in neural firing and 'intrinsic signals' recorded through a cranial window were used to define regions of interest for repeated flow measurements. Whisker-activated changes in flow were measured with intravascular markers at the pia. LCBF changes were always prompt and localized over the appropriate barrel. Stimulus-related changes in parenchymal flow monitored continuously with H2 electrodes recorded short latency flow changes initiated in middle cortical layers. Activation that increased flow to particular barrels often led to reduced flow to adjacent cortex. Dye was injected into single penetrating arterioles from the pia of the fixed brain and injected into arterioles in slices of cortex where barrels were evident without stains. Arteriolar and venular domains at the surface were not directly related to underlying barrels. Capillary tufts in layer IV were mainly coincident with barrels. The matching between a capillary plexus (a vascular module) and a barrel (a functional neuronal unit) is a spatial organization of neurons and blood vessels that optimizes local interactions between the two. The paths of communication probably include: neurons to neurons, neurons to glia, neurons to vessels, glia to vessels, vessels to vessels and vessels to brain. Matching a functional grouping of neurons with a vascular module is an elegant means of reducing the risk of embarrassment for energy-expensive neuronal activity (ion pumping) while minimizing energy spent for delivery of the energy (cardiac output). For imaging studies this organization sets biological limits to spatial, temporal and magnitude resolution. Reduced flow to nearby inactive cortex enhances local differences.     

Histomorphometric, physical, and mechanical effects of spaceflight and insulin-like growth factor-I on rat long bones

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide belong to the same neuropeptide family. Both peptides are present in nerve fibers in the gastric wall and are thought to be involved in the regulation of inflammatory processes. Experimental ulcers were induced in the rat gastric mucosa by local application of acetic acid. During the healing process we examined the PACAP and VIP innervation by means of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. The ulcer area was examined from day 1 to day 15 after ulcer induction. There was a marked depletion of PACAP in nerve fibers at the ulcer margin from day 1 and onwards. On day 10 and day 15, PACAP-immunoreactive nerve fibers could again be visualized at the ulcer margin. In contrast, VIP immunoreactive nerve fibers were present at the ulcer margin at all time points studied. From day 10 following ulcer induction PACAP- and VIP- immunoreactive nerve fibers were increased in frequency in the smooth muscle beneath the ulcer. An upregulation of VIP and PACAP mRNA was also demonstrated in the myenteric ganglia adjacent to ulcer. The present results indicate that neuronal PACAP and VIP react differently to the inflammation at the ulcer margin but similarly in the smooth muscle during the ulcer healing.     

Mutational analysis of the Mu transposase. Contributions of two distinct regions of domain II to recombination

Mu transposase is a member of a protein family that includes many transposases and the retroviral integrases. These recombinases catalyze the DNA cleavage and joining reactions essential for transpositional recombination. Here we demonstrate that, consistent with structural predictions, aspartate 336 of Mu transposase is required for catalysis of both DNA cleavage and DNA joining. This residue, although located 55 rather than 35 residues NH2-terminal of the essential glutamate, is undoubtedly the analog of the second aspartate of the Asp-Asp-35-Glu motif found in other family members. The core domain of Mu transposase consists of two subdomains: the NH2-terminal subdomain (IIA) contains the conserved Asp-Asp-Glu motif residues, whereas the smaller COOH-terminal subdomain (IIB) contains a large positively charged region exposed on its surface. To probe the function of domain IIB, we constructed mutant proteins carrying deletion or substitution mutations within this region. The activity of the deletion proteins revealed that domains IIA and IIB can be provided by different subunits in the transposase tetramer. Substitution mutations at two pairs of exposed lysine residues within the positively charged surface of domain IIB render transposase defective in transposition at a reaction step after DNA cleavage but prior to DNA joining. The severity of this defect depends on the structure of the DNA flanking the cleavage site. Thus, these data suggest that domain IIB is involved in manipulating the DNA near the cleavage site and that this function is important during the transition between the DNA cleavage and the DNA joining steps of recombination.     

Protein content and cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of fractionated white perch retina

In the retinas of teleost fish dopamine, released from interplexiform cells, modulates synaptic transmission at both the chemical and electrical synapses of retinal horizontal cells. This modulation is due to activation of adenylate cyclase and phosphorylation by protein kinase A, perhaps of the synaptic ion channel proteins themselves. In this study we have fractionated the white perch retina by Percoll density gradient centrifugation in order to identify proteins which coenrich with horizontal cells. In addition we have tested retinal fractions for phosphorylation by native cAMP-dependent kinase. Our findings indicate that there are at least 3 proteins of molecular weights 28, 43/44 and 50 kDa which coenrich with horizontal cells and 3 proteins of 30/31 kDa, 35 kDa (putative rhodopsin) and 48 kDa (putative arrestin) which coenrich with photoreceptor fractions. The 43/44 kDa phosphoprotein is a target for cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation and thus is apparently an element of the dopaminergic modulatory pathway in perch horizontal cells.     

A survey of anesthesia support personnel in teaching programs

Although the amount and complexity of equipment and supplies used in the practice of anesthesia have sharply increased in the past decade, the role of technical support personnel dealing with this technology has not been assessed. In an effort to determine that role, a questionnaire survey was conducted of the apportionment, direction, duties, and training of anesthesia technicians in teaching departments. Two-thirds of the inquiries were returned, disclosing a typical allocation of three anesthetizing locations (or 2000 annual anesthetics) per technician. A large majority of these departments have direct control of their technicians. Virtually all of these personnel are responsible for the routine upkeep and setup of anesthesia machines and monitors, although about one-third perform more specialized clinical functions. The preparation of these technicians for their duties varies widely, with almost 60% high school graduates and virtually all reporting training as on-the-job. The authors conclude that the term "anesthesia technician" remains poorly defined and unstandardized, and that current diverse efforts to address this issue deserve attention.     

基于信息检索课的大学生信息检索行为调查研究

信息检索课程的系统化讲授,对于大学生优化信息检索行为,提高信息检索使用效率具有不容忽视的教学辅助作用。立足问卷调查形成的一系列相关数据,探讨大学生信息检索行为存在问题,最终在课程教学中提出优化大学生信息检索的对策：明确信息检索目的,提升实施效果;有效提升检索行为实施频率,增强综合质量;使得信息获取多元发展,优化成效凸显。     

EvoMiner: frequent subtree mining in phylogenetic databases

The problem of mining collections of trees to identify common patterns, called frequent subtrees (FSTs), arises often when trying to interpret the results of phylogenetic analysis. FST mining generalizes the well-known maximum agreement subtree problem. Here we present EvoMiner, a new algorithm for mining frequent subtrees in collections of phylogenetic trees. EvoMiner is an Apriori-like levelwise method, which uses a novel phylogeny-specific constant-time candidate generation scheme, an efficient fingerprinting-based technique for downward closure, and a lowest-common-ancestor-based support counting step that requires neither costly subtree operations nor database traversal. Our algorithm achieves speedups of up to 100 times or more over Phylominer, the current state-of-the-art algorithm for mining phylogenetic trees. EvoMiner can also work in depth-first enumeration mode to use less memory at the expense of speed. We demonstrate the utility of FST mining as a way to extract meaningful phylogenetic information from collections of trees when compared to maximum agreement subtrees and majority-rule trees—two commonly used approaches in phylogenetic analysis for extracting consensus information from a collection of trees over a common leaf set.     

混凝土坝裂缝变形的不确定性分析模型

混凝土坝裂缝的发生和发展受到不确定因素影响。将大坝系统及其安全监控看作一个受诸多因素影响的不确定性系统,结合裂缝实测资料,应用近似推理模型和信息分配法,建立了裂缝变形的不确定性分析模型。     

基于正交设计的黄池沟退水道弯道体型优化的数值模拟分析

为探求黄池沟退水道弯道的合理体型,采用正交设计与数值模拟相结合的方法研究了体型参数对弯道水流的影响。选取弯道宽度、弯道曲率半径、纵向坡度3个主要影响参数按正交试验设计,确定了9组正交试验方案,利用经水工模型试验结果验证的数学模型对正交试验方案进行模拟,分析了体型参数对弯道及下游陡坡段横向水位差的影响。结果表明,3个体型参数影响作用由大到小依次为纵向坡度、弯道宽度和弯道曲率半径;坡度为显著影响因素,且平坡最佳,弯道曲率半径和弯道宽度影响不显著,据此推荐合理体型参数为坡度取0,弯道宽度和弯道曲率半径采用原设计值。     

全桥拓朴隔离式开关电源主变压器磁设计

全桥拓朴结构的隔离式开关电源能在较小的尺寸下实现较高的功率变换,是高功率密度电源的重要电路结构,其高频主变压器磁心一般选择低损耗功率锰锌软磁铁氧体材料,其设计对电源的尺寸、性能有显著影响.磁设计的目的是用尽可能小的磁心传输尽可能高的功率,但受到两个限制性条件的制约,即磁心的发热和磁饱和.在散热充分的情况下,限制性条件就是磁饱和了.磁心参数设计多采用AP值公式,但目前的几个计算公式都存在一些缺点,要么计算不够准确,要么计算过于复杂不便工程应用.从全桥变压器基本原理出发,将一个工作周期分成了四个时间段.根据各时段的电流大小、方向所对应的磁工作状态,推演了磁心参数计算公式,并用一个实例进行了验证.