Ligand-binding domain of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) had the highest sensitivity and activity among FXR variants in a fluorescence-based assay

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR, NR1H4) has been recognized as an attractive therapeutic target because it is a nuclear hormone receptor that controls the expression level of cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase, which in turn regulates bile acid production and cholesterol excretion. To compare receptor activity between each domain and the full-length protein, human FXR cDNA was cloned from a human liver cDNA library. Three human FXR cDNA, designated FXR₂₀, FXR₃₃, and FXR₅₃ cDNA, were subcloned and ligated into a pET28a expression vector. Each protein was expressed in Escherichia coli (BL21) and purified by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid column chromatography. Approximately 5 mg of FXR₃₃ (1–182 amino acids deleted from FXR, 37 kDa) and 2 mg of FXR₅₃ (the full-length protein of FXR, 59 kDa) was purified from 1 L of Luria-Bertani culture, achieving at least 90% purity. The coactivator recruitment assay for FXR activation was carried out with the three variants of the FXR protein by using dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluoroimmunoassay-europium-N¹-labeled anti-His antibody. From an optimized assay, a saturated hyperbolic fluorescence signal curve was produced when 250 nM of FXR₃₃ and 100 nM of steroid receptor coactivator-1 peptide, a coactivator of FXR consisting of 26 amino acids, were used with a concentration dependence on chenodeoxycholic acid (from 0 to 200 μM). The ligand-binding domain of FXR (FXR₃₃) was the most suitable protein for studying the activation of FXR with a fluorescence-based assay, because it showed better structural stability than either the full length of FXR (FXR₅₃) or the DNA-binding domain of FXR (FXR₂₀).     

Interaction of CETP inhibitory peptide and lipoprotein substrates in cholesteryl ester transfer assay: relationship between association properties and inhibitory activities

In a previous study, CETP inhibitory peptide (3 kDa) was isolated from hog plasma. The peptide, synthesized chemically according to the amino acid sequence of the 3-kDa peptide (designated P₂₈), showed CETP inhibitory activity both in vitro and in vivo [Cho et al. (1998) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1391, 133–144]. We report herein further unique features of P₂₈ when it was associated with the cholesteryl ester (CE)-donor and-acceptor lipoproteins. Lipoprotein substrates with P₂₈ present in both HDL (as a CE-donor) and LDL (as a CE-acceptor) served as poor substrates, with CE-transfer activity decreased up to 60% compared to normal substrates without P₂₈. P₂₈ was found to be located in HDL fractions of hog plasma and showed the same electromobility as that visualized by PAGE on 7% polyacrylamide gel under nondenaturing conditions. Addition of apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1) or apoB antibody to a normal CE-transfer mixture did not alter CE-transfer activity. However, addition of apoA-1 or −B antibody to a CETP-inhibition mixture decreased the inhibitory activity of P₂₈ by ca. 20%. Western blot analysis revealed that P₂₈ was associated only with human and hog HDL among several lipoproteins purified from human, hog, and rabbit. CFTP-inhibition assays with various lipoprotein substrates revealed that P₂₈ exhibited substrate-specific inhibitory activity. The inhibitory activity of P₂₈ was highly dependent on the type of lipoprotein substrate (whether CE-donor or-acceptor); P₂₈ inhibited CE transfer from HDL to LDL, but it did not inhibit CE transfer from HDL to HDL.     

铸轧板形的影响因素及控制策略

本文阐述了铸轧板形的力学本质 ,并推导出板形的计量公式。结合大量试验观察 ,基于“广义原始辊缝”概念 ,运用体积不变原理及 P-H图对铸轧环境下板形的影响因素进行了分析 ,提出铸轧板形主要与金属的布流状态有关 ,针对板形缺陷的不同模式提出了相应控制策略。     

Ultrastructural investigation of intact orbital implant surfaces using atomic force microscopy

This study examined the surface nanostructures of three orbital implants: nonporous poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), porous aluminum oxide and porous polyethylene. The morphological characteristics of the orbital implants surfaces were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM topography, phase shift and deflection images of the intact implant samples were obtained. The surface of the nonporous PMMA implant showed severe scratches and debris. The surface of the aluminum oxide implant showed a porous structure with varying densities and sizes. The PMMA implant showed nodule nanostructures, 215.56 ± 52.34 nm in size, and the aluminum oxide implant showed crystal structures, 730.22 ± 341.02 nm in size. The nonporous PMMA implant showed the lowest roughness compared with other implant biomaterials, followed by the porous aluminum oxide implant. The porous polyethylene implant showed the highest roughness and severe surface irregularities. Overall, the surface roughness of orbital implants might be associated with the rate of complications and cell adhesion. SCANNING 33: 211–221, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

时变参数辨识方法在导弹自动驾驶仪中的应用

研究适合导弹自适应自动驾驶仪设计中对于参数快速变化的有效的辨识方法,从几种时变参数辨识方法的研究着手,经过适当的修改和组合,得出适用的辨识方法。通过从理论分析到微机仿真等一系列工作,证明了这一辨识方法能够较好跟踪导弹气动参数的变化。     

超临界CO2溶胀过程中葛根素乙醇溶液的溶解特性研究

为了设计用超临界流体抗溶剂结晶(GAS)法制备葛根素的超细颗粒,用静态平衡法考察了超临界CO2溶胀过程中葛根素在乙醇溶液的溶解特性.实验结果表明,体系压力变化对溶解度的影响最为显著.同时,我们发现,伴随着体系压力的递增,溶液中葛根素浓度表现为先扬后抑的趋势,甚至大于其初始值.由此可知,GAS过程CO2兼有抗溶剂和萃取剂的双重功能:前者降低溶质的溶解度,后者则提高溶液浓度.     

Specification of the hull vibration to control underwater radiated noise by estimation with modified experimental sound radiation efficiency

Underwater radiated noise is one of the most important performances related to the stealth of a naval vessel. However, the evaluation frequently cannot be performed due to the problem of the test expense. The specification of the hull vibration is an effective method used to specify the underwater radiated noise indirectly. Therefore, in order to specify hull vibration, the sound radiation efficiency should be correctly determined. In this paper, the sound radiation efficiency which was modified with experimentally derived sound radiation efficiency as well as Maidanik’s and Uchida’s sound radiation efficiency is suggested and verified through experiments. Based on the determined sound radiation efficiency in this research, the specification of the hull vibration to satisfy with the limit of the underwater radiated noise is suggested for a ship.     

Estimating the vibration displacement for the engine’s power transfer shaft by determining engine exciting force

Since the engine and reduction gears in naval vessels are usually supported by a separate mounting system, misalignment between the reduction gears’ input shaft and the engine’s power transfer shaft occurs as a result of the ship’s motion. In this study, this misalignment is experimentally estimated using CAE by identifying the force and moment of the engine at its center of gravity. The force and moment are calculated using 3 acceleration signals on the engine assuming that the motions of the engine and reduction gear system are rigid-body motion. Using CAE and the estimated force of the engine, the vibration displacement of the engine’s power transfer shaft can be estimated and a design to reduce this vibration displacement can be suggested.     

Construction and evaluation of scaled korean side impact dummies

It is necessary to have a dummy that describes the anthropometry of a victim with accuracy. This study presents three scaled side impact dummies constructed for the use of MADYMO. They represent five, fifty and ninety-five percentile Korean males ranged from the age of 25 through 39. Thirty-five anthropometric data were used to scale input files required for MADYSCALE. Geometries, inertia, joints and other parameters for dummies were scaled based on the configurations of EuroSID-1. This study proposes the lateral impact response requirements for head, thorax and pelvis of Korean side impact dummies. A lateral drop impact test was conducted for the head at the height of 200 mm. Lateral pendulum impact tests were also carried out for thorax and pelvis at three specific impact velocities. All these test results were obtained from simulation based on MADYMO. All the procedures of the three tests followed the requirement of ISO/TR 9790.     

Effects of high pressure treatment on the quality and storage of kimchi

The effects of high pressure treatment on the microflora and storage of kimchi were investigated. In a bacterial suspension, numbers of Lactobacillus plantarum were reduced by 6 logs by 500 MPa, at 25 °C for 10 min. Kimchi juice did not alter the rate of inactivation of lactic acid bacteria by high pressure treatment. There was no change in the texture of kimchi subjected to a pressure of 400 MPa, but an increase in cutting force was observed at 600 MPa. When kimchi was pressurized at 400 MPa for 10 min at 25 °C and subsequently stored at 20 °C for 4 weeks, the total number of viable cells stayed at 10³ CFU mL⁻¹. High pressure treatment above 400 MPa prevented excessive acidification that typically occurs during the extended storage of kimchi. The inflation of pouches as a result of accumulated carbon dioxide was also prevented by high pressure treatment. Although colour changes were accelerated by high pressure treatment, this study demonstrates that high pressure treatment can be used to control overripening during the distribution and storage of kimchi products.