A study of structural determinants in the interleukin-1 fold

The structures of interleukin-1ß, basic fibroblastgrowth factor and Erythrina trypsin inhibitor have been analysedin order to determine whether the hydrophobic core remains conserved,even when the structures have extremely low sequence similarities.We find that there are significant differences in the way eachprotein achieves a satisfactory arrangement of core residuesand that positions which contribute to the core of one structureare not guaranteed to contribute to the integrity of another.Furthermore, the side-chain packing arrangements of these coreresidues vary significantly between the three structures. Duringthis analysis the side-chain rotamers for three independentlydetermined interleukin-1ß structures were also compared.It was found that although buried residues are generally inagreement the remaining residues frequently occupy differentrotamers in the three structures. This suggests that althoughmeaningful studies are possible for buried side-chains the resultsobtained from equivalent analyses of accessible residues shouldbe treated with caution. These results are discussed with specificreference to the optimization of side-chain packing in proteinsof known structure.     

GML模式匹配技术研究

GML是基于XML的空间信息编码标准。GML模式匹配技术作为实现应用模式的集成与共享的关键技术,与GML解析机理和实现技术密切相关。本文详细介绍了关于GML模式匹配的概念;给出了匹配方法的步骤、算法及已所实现的模式匹配详细流程,包括语意与结构相似度判断以及权重的设置;最后,对匹配过程中包含的不确定因素进行了分析与讨论。     

腹腔微创手术机器人末端执行机构的设计和实现

为了提高腹腔微创手术的安全性,设计了一种新型的腹腔微创手术机器人末端执行机构,用于夹持手术器械．根据腹腔微创手术的特点和技术要求,采用轴驱动和平行四杆的运动原理设计定点机构．详细介绍了末端执行机构的机械结构,应用D-H法和矢量代数法给出了各个关节的运动学解公式,研究了控制系统的硬件结构和软件系统,并进行了样机实验．实验表明所设计的末端执行机构具有很好的定点运动效果,能够较好地完成手术规划,满足腹腔微创手术要求．     

冲击载荷下磁流变阻尼器结构优化设计

应用于火炮反后坐装置中的磁流变阻尼器工作在高冲击、高速环境下,对磁流变阻尼器的设计指标和性能提出了更高的要求.针对冲击试验中,磁流变阻尼器表现出的阻尼力可调动态范闱的不足,利用Herschel-Bulkley的磁流变液非线性结构特性的平行平板恒流模型,采用多目标规划方法,提出了火炮反后坐装置应用中的磁流变阻尼器优化设计方法.最后分析了磁流变阻尼器磁路设计准则,结合优化设计尺寸,对阻尼器活塞磁场进行了有限元分析.结果表明,磁流变阻尼器阻尼通道处能产生足够大的磁场强度且分布均匀.     

Continuity versus Discretization

The threefold interest in architecture, biology and mathematics motivated us to examine and justify new architectural forms. We discuss some notions of rhythm: Euclidean, morphogenetic and morphologic. Contemporary relationships between structure and form are based on the generation of shape by technological processes, thus the resulting objects are restricted to their material expression. Here a phenomenological organisation of form and its continuity with the landscape arise out of the mathematical and architectural creativity. The use of the computer is applied from outside to inside instead from inside to outside; this means that we are dealing with the organisational processes via continuous methods instead of evolutionary processes given by computer simulations, known as genetic algorithms, where the resulting configurations are reduced to a matter of routine. The role of design as an aesthetic component innovates the theoretical framework of structural engineering to establish the architectural environments.     

Structural and electrical properties of mixed oxides of manganese and vanadium: A new semiconductor oxide thermistor material

Binary oxides of manganese and vanadium have been synthesized by solid state sintering, in which the mass ratio of the individual components Mn₂O₃ and VO₂ have been varied from 90:10 to 5:95. The bulk ceramic samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The initial compositions either rich in Mn₂O₃ or in equi-proportion by mass with VO₂ yield β-Mn₂V₂O₇ or a new crystalline form of Mn₂V₂O₇, with unit cell parameters: a = 7.73091 Å, b = 6.640788 Å, c = 6.70779 Å α = γ = 90° and β = 98.7086° which is designated as γ-Mn₂V₂O₇. The compositions, richer in VO₂ produce MnV₂O₆ co-existing with V₂O₅ the proportion of which increases with increase in VO₂. The surface microanalysis shows a spherical-granular morphology in Mn₂V₂O₇ structure and plate/rod-like structures co-existing with granular morphology in case of MnV₂O₆ together with V₂O₅. The electrical parameters of the negative temperature coefficient thermistors were determined. Depending on the constituent oxide composition, the NTC thermistors showed room temperature resistivity in the range of 6.52 × 10² to 6.1 × 10⁶ Ω-cm. The thermistor constant and activation energy are in the range of 0.12–0.458 eV and 1393–4801 K, respectively.     

On the use of energy minimization for CA based analysis in elasticity

There has been recent interest in exploring alternative computational models for structural analysis that are better suited for a design environment requiring repetitive analysis. The need for such models is brought about by significant increases in computer processing speeds, realized primarily through parallel processing. To take full advantage of such parallel machines, however, the computational approach itself must be revisited from a totally different perspective; parallelization of inherently serial paradigms is subject to limitations introduced by a requirement of information coordination. The cellular automata (CA) model of decentralized computations provides one such approach which is ideally tailored for parallel computers. The proposed paper examines the applicability of the cellular automata model in problems of 2-D elasticity. The focus of the paper is in the use of a genetic algorithm based optimization process to derive the rules for local interaction required in evolving the cellular automata. Received August 28, 2000     

The Other Mathematical Bridge

This paper contextualises, describes and discusses a student project which takes a particular exploratory approach to using mathematical surface definition as a language and vehicle for co-rational design co-authorship for architecture and engineering. The project has two authors, one from an architectural and one from an engineering educational background. It investigates the metaphorical and operational role of mathematics in the design process and outcomes.     

Modelling of the lignin peroxidase LIII of Phlebia radiata: use of a sequence template generated from a 3-D structure

A model of the lignin peroxidase LIII of Phlebia radiata wasconstructed on the basis of the structure of cytochrome c peroxidase(CCP). Because of the low percentage of amino acid identitybetween the CCP and the lignin peroxidase LIII of Phlebia radiata,alignment of the sequences was based on the generation of atemplate from a knowledge of the 3-D structure of CCP and consensussequences of lignin peroxidases. This approach gave an alignmentin which all the insertions in the lignin peroxidase were placedat loop regions of CCP, with a 21.1% identity for these twoproteins. The model was constructed using this alignment andthe computer program COMPOSER, which assembles the model asa series of rigid fragments derived from CCP and other proteins.Manual intervention was required for some of the longer loopregions. The -helices forming the structural framework, andespecially the haem environment of CCP, are conserved in theLIII model and the core is close packed without holes. A possiblesite of the substrate oxidation at the haem edge of LIII isdiscussed.