New technique for movement analysis: application to biological systems

A new system for motion analysis is described. Modulation of light intensity of an organism's movement over an opaque and transparent checkerboard grid is monitored by a photocell. The photocell's output is proportional to the organism's amplitude and frequency of movement. This output is analyzed by a continuous interval dot display and spectrum analysis. The system was tested by analyzing the activity of 4 Drosophila strains which are known to differ in their activity. General applicability of the system is discussed.     

Forecasting trend output in the Euro area

This paper is an applied study about forecasting trend output and the output gap in the Euro area. The need for trend output forecasts is justified by an analysis of the monetary strategy of the European Central Bank. Trend output serves as a direct inflation indicator and helps to determine the reference value for money. For both purposes, trend output has to be forecasted. A permanent–transitory decomposition based on cointegration restrictions gives an estimate of trend output in the Euro area. Ex‐ante point forecasts of trend output are computed and bootstrap simulation is employed to construct prediction intervals that take estimation uncertainty into consideration. The uncertainty of trend output and the output gap is quite large and raises questions about their usefulness as indicators for monetary policy. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于输出时滞方法的采样数据系统故障估计

从时滞系统角度率先研究了一类非均匀采样数据系统的故障估计问题.首先,基于输出时滞方法将采样数据系统建模成具有时变时滞输出的连续时间系统;然后,通过分析自适应诊断观测器不再适用于此类连续时滞系统的原因,提出了一种能够保证估计误差指数收敛的增广故障估计滤波器设计新方法;并进一步研究了具有噪声干扰的采样数据系统的时变故障估计问题;最后,通过对某型飞控系统的仿真实验结果验证了所提方法的有效性.     

Pathways for oxidative fuel provision to working muscles: Ecological consequences of maximal supply limitations

The study of metabolic fuel provision and its regulation has reached an exciting stage where specific molecular events can be correlated with parameters of the organism's ecology. This paper examines substrate supply pathways from storage sites to locomotory muscle mitochondria and discusses ecological implications of the limits for maximal flux through these pathways. The relative importance of the different oxidative fuels is shown to depend on aerobic capacity. Very aerobic, endurance-adapted animals such as long distance migrants favor the use of lipids and intramuscular fuels over carbohydrates and circulatory fuels. The hypothesis of functional co-adaptation between oxygen and metabolic fuel supply systems allows us to predict that the capacity of several biochemical processes should be scaled with maximal oxygen consumption. Key enzymes, transmembrane transporter proteins, glucose precursor supply and soluble fatty acid transport proteins must all be geared to support higher maximal glucose and fatty acid fluxes in aerobic than in sedentary species.     

Pathways for oxidative fuel provision to working muscles: ecological consequences of maximal supply limitations.

The study of metabolic fuel provision and its regulation has reached an exciting stage where specific molecular events can be correlated with parameters of the organism's ecology. This paper examines substrate supply pathways from storage sites to locomotory muscle mitochondria and discusses ecological implications of the limits for maximal flux through these pathways. The relative importance of the different oxidative fuels is shown to depend on aerobic capacity. Very aerobic, endurance-adapted animals such as long distance migrants favor the use of lipids and intramuscular fuels over carbohydrates and circulatory fuels. The hypothesis of functional co-adaptation between oxygen and metabolic fuel supply systems allows us to predict that the capacity of several biochemical processes should be scaled with maximal oxygen consumption. Key enzymes, transmembrane transporter proteins, glucose precursor supply and soluble fatty acid transport proteins must all be geared to support higher maximal glucose and fatty acid fluxes in aerobic than in sedentary species.     

Architecture and functional properties of the CFTR channel pore

The main function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is as an ion channel for the movement of small anions across epithelial cell membranes. As an ion channel, CFTR must form a continuous pathway across the cell membrane—referred to as the channel pore—for the rapid electrodiffusional movement of ions. This review summarizes our current understanding of the architecture of the channel pore, as defined by electrophysiological analysis and molecular modeling studies. This includes consideration of the characteristic functional properties of the pore, definition of the overall shape of the entire extent of the pore, and discussion of how the molecular structure of distinct regions of the pore might control different facets of pore function. Comparisons are drawn with closely related proteins that are not ion channels, and also with structurally unrelated proteins with anion channel function. A simple model of pore function is also described.     

Contribution of the Na+/K+-pump to the membrane potential

The inward movement of sodium ions and the outward movement of potassium ions are passive and the reverse movements against the electrochemical gradients require the activity of a metabolism-driven Na+/K+-pump. The activity of the Na+/K+-pump influences the membrane potential directly and indirectly. Thus, the maintenance of a normal electrical function requires that the Na+/K+-pump maintain normal ionic concentrations within the cell. The activity of the Na+/K+-pump also influences the membrane potential directly by generating an outward sodium current that is larger when the Na+/K+-pump activity is greater. The activity of the Na+/K+-pump is regulated by several factors including the intracellular sodium concentration and the neuromediators norepinephrine and acetylcholine. The inhibition of the Na+/K+-pump can lead indirectly to the development of inward currents that may cause repetitive activity. Therefore, the Na+/K+-pump modifies the membrane potential in different ways both under normal and abnormal conditions and influences in an essential way many cardiac functions, including automaticity, conduction and contraction. Key words. Active transport of ions; cardiac tissues; electroneutral and electrogenic Na+/K/-pump; control of Na+/K+-pump; normal and abnormal electrical events.     

Chemotactic and random movement of cord-blood granulocytes

Chemotactic responsiveness and random movement of cord-blood granulocytes were studied with a modified Boyden's method. Cord-blood granulocytes were less active chemotactically than granulocytes from healthy children and adults, whereas the random filter movement of the cells from all three sources was about the same. In cord sera, concentrations of cell directed chemotaxis inhibitors were equal to those in sera from other age groups. Compared with the situation in healthy children and adults, the generation of chemotactic factors in cord-blood sera was impaired. This impairment was not related to an increased activity of chemotactic factor inactivators. Measurement of the cyclic nucleotide levels in granulocytes from cord-blood and from children belonging to various age groups revealed that the cord granulocytes have significantly lower concentrations of cAMP and cGMP, which could have been responsible for the decreased chemotactic responsiveness.     

Chemotactic and random movement of cord-blood granulocytes

Summary Chemotactic responsiveness and random movement of cord-blood granulocytes were studied with a modified Boyden's method. Cord-blood granulocytes were less active chemotactically than granulocytes from healthy children and adults, whereas the random filter movement of the cells from all three sources was about the same. In cord sera, concentrations of cell directed chemotaxis inhibitors were equal to those in sera from other age groups. Compared with the situation in healthy children and adults, the generation of chemotactic factors in cord-blood sera was impaired. This impairment was not related to an increased activity of chemotactic factor inactivators. Measurement of the cyclic nucleotide levels in granulocytes from cord-blood and from children belonging to various age groups revealed that the cord granulocytes have significantly lower concentrations of cAMP and cGMP, which could have been responsible for the decreased chemotactic responsiveness.     

Über eine Arbeitstheorie zu den Beziehungen zwischen dem Stadium einer Infektionskrankheit und der Höhe des Cholesterinspiegels im Blut

Summary By following the level of cholesterine in the blood in infectious diseases the possibility is afforded theoretically of determining the organism's reaction during the period of incubation, which may perhaps be of practical and theoretical importance.     

Modes of influence of vision on postural reactions associated with voluntary arm movements]

Postural changes associated with voluntary movements of the arm as observed during a positioning task, were studied on subjects standing upright on a force platform. Subjects performed the movements with either a normal visual field or without peripheral vision (tubular vision). Data analysis comprised the EMG activity of soleus and tibialis anterior and the displacement of the vertical component of the force applied to the platform. Average data of EMG indicate that the masking of the extrofoveal receptors increases the desactivation of soleus before the onset of the movement and provokes a burst of activity in the soleus 80 to 100 ms after the onset of the movement.     

The role of forecasting in corporate strategy: The xerox experience

This paper presents the system of analysis used by the Xerox Corporation to relate the external environment to company decisions. The system is sophisticated and elaborate, comes to grips with such issues as product forecasting, market monitoring, activity monitoring, materials and labour cost analysis, and product price analysis. In addition, the system examines the longer-term issues associated with corporate strategy, with the more recent initiatives directed toward the strategic focus The Xerox case illustrates very well how externally provided forecasts of economic environments, both at home and abroad, can be used as inputs to a variety of econometric products to serve the individual corporation. The challenge in this work is to build the bridges from the external forces to the critical company decisions. That is a task which requires sophisticated tools and skilled professionals to accomplish. This case study shows what can be done.     

固体氧化物燃料电池-斯特林热机混合动力系统的性能优化

应用电化学、非平衡态热力学和有限时间热力学等理论,建立包含多种不可逆损失的固体氧化物燃料电池与斯特林热机组合而成的混合动力循环系统理论模型,导出混合系统的输出功率和效率的表达式,确定混合系统的最大输出功率和最大效率及其工作在最大输出功率或工作在最大效率时的运行条件,给出系统的优化工作区域,详细讨论了热力学循环过程的不可逆性对混合系统优化性能的影响,探讨了固体氧化物燃料电池与斯特林热机之间的最佳匹配关系.所得结果可为实际混合动力系统的设计和优化运行提供理论依据.     

Mechanoelectrical transduction,ion movement and water stasis in uromodulin

Mechanical movement of a column of the urinary glycoprotein uromodulin modulates an applied voltage. This change is a property of the glycoprotein and its interaction with the walls of the container and is related to its capacitance. The voltage modulation is not accompanied by changes in rotationally restricted water as has been reported for hyaluronic acid. Diffusion experiments with tritiated water also support the hypothesis that uromodulin acts as a water barrier, but allows ion movement.     

Mechanoelectrical transduction, ion movement and water stasis in uromodulin.

Mechanical movement of a column of the urinary glycoprotein uromodulin modulates an applied voltage. This change is a property of the glycoprotein and its interaction with the walls of the container and is related to its capacitance. The voltage modulation is not accompanied by changes in rotationally restricted water as has been reported for hyaluronic acid. Diffusion experiments with tritiated water also support the hypothesis that uromodulin acts as a water barrier, but allows ion movement.     

The performance of the octopus circulatory system: A triumph of engineering over design

Summary Despite the very considerable difficulties presented by the basic molluscan anatomy and the possession of a blood pigment with an oxygen carrying capacity that never exceeds 4.5 vols%, the cephalopod circulatory system contrives to deliver oxygen at a rate fully comparable with that of an active fish. This is achieved by adding accessory pumps to push blood through the gills, by a multiplicity of pulsatile veins and by raising the systemic blood pressure considerably above the levels found in other molluscs. Detailed control of blood distribution is a necessity in a system where the peripheral resistences may be expected to change dramatically when the animal starts to move and large parts of the central nervous system are apparently dedicated to this task. In this account we have reviewed blood pressure and flow at rest and in exercise. We have further examined the evidence which indicates how the animals modulate the cardiac output, drawing attention to the very different response found in cephalopods and the higher vertebrates.     

燃料电池-真空热离子混合系统的性能特性和优化分析

基于固体氧化物燃料电池（SOFC）和真空热离子发电器（VTIG）的粒子流及电流模型,建立考虑多种不可逆性的一类不可逆SOFC-VTIG混合功率系统的一般循环模型.通过该混合模型得到了混合功率系统的效率与输出功率表达式,应用数值模拟获得混合功率系统的效率和功率随系统一些重要参数变化的关系曲线,从而揭示了混合功率系统的性能特征,确定了系统一些重要性能参数的优化判据,讨论了混合功率系统中的一些不可逆损失对系统优化性能的影响.本文所得的结果可为实际SOFC-VTIG混合功率系统的优化设计和运行提供理论依据.     

Insulin secretion: The effector system

Conclusions Studies of the role of the microtubule-microfilamentous system in insulin secretion have been widened by continuing experimentation and analysis to provide a comprehensive working hypothesis which embraces ideas of the way in which the polymerization of microtubules and microfilaments may be regulated and how these cytoskeletal components may act together to enhance the process of granule movement. It is also possible to speculate about, but not yet to demonstrate, the way in which the activities of this effector system could be regulated by calcium and by cyclic AMP, which are essentially involved in the regulation of rates of secretion.