岩石统计损伤本构模型与试验

基于Mohr-Coulomb破坏准则以及岩石微元强度服从Weibull函数随机分布假设,通过有效应力原理引入孔隙水压力,构建了新的统计损伤本构模型,该模型可以考虑孔隙体积变化和损伤阀值的影响。此外,提出了一种新的岩石微元强度计算方法。为使模型参数具有明确的物理意义,采用应力~应变曲线峰值点强度确定模型参数m和F0。采用砂岩常规三轴压缩试验对本构模型的合理性进行验证,并在此基础上,分析岩石损伤演化、孔隙率变化规律,探讨围压对模型参数的影响。结果表明,该模型能够较好地反映岩石三轴应力~应变关系。     

基于强化学习的仿生机器鱼节能研究

利用仿生机器鱼平台, 模拟鱼类集群游动过程, 通过实验方法探究机器鱼集群游动时的能量节省问题。具体地, 将两条机器鱼按照一定的前后距离和左右距离固定在低湍流水洞中, 并正对来流方向; 控制前方(领航)机器鱼游动姿态的变化, 使得后方(跟随)机器鱼处在变化的流场环境中。基于强化学习理论, 建立跟随机器鱼在该流场环境下游动所消耗的能量值与其游动姿态之间的映射关系; 利用该映射关系, 获得跟随机器鱼能量消耗最小值对应的游动姿态信息, 并将该信息反馈至机器鱼运动控制器中, 调整机器鱼游动姿态,达到节省机器鱼能量的目标。     

Distinct classes of chromosomal rearrangements create oncogenic ETS gene fusions in prostate cancer

Recently, we identified recurrent gene fusions involving the 5' untranslated region of the androgen-regulated gene TMPRSS2 and the ETS (E26 transformation-specific) family genes ERG, ETV1 or ETV4 in most prostate cancers. Whereas TMPRSS2-ERG fusions are predominant, fewer TMPRSS2-ETV1 cases have been identified than expected on the basis of the frequency of high (outlier) expression of ETV1 (refs 3-13). Here we explore the mechanism of ETV1 outlier expression in human prostate tumours and prostate cancer cell lines. We identified previously unknown 5' fusion partners in prostate tumours with ETV1 outlier expression, including untranslated regions from a prostate-specific androgen-induced gene (SLC45A3) and an endogenous retroviral element (HERV-K_22q11.23), a prostate-specific androgen-repressed gene (C15orf21), and a strongly expressed housekeeping gene (HNRPA2B1). To study aberrant activation of ETV1, we identified two prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP and MDA-PCa 2B, that had ETV1 outlier expression. Through distinct mechanisms, the entire ETV1 locus (7p21) is rearranged to a 1.5-megabase prostate-specific region at 14q13.3-14q21.1 in both LNCaP cells (cryptic insertion) and MDA-PCa 2B cells (balanced translocation). Because the common factor of these rearrangements is aberrant ETV1 overexpression, we recapitulated this event in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating that ETV1 overexpression in benign prostate cells and in the mouse prostate confers neoplastic phenotypes. Identification of distinct classes of ETS gene rearrangements demonstrates that dormant oncogenes can be activated in prostate cancer by juxtaposition to tissue-specific or ubiquitously active genomic loci. Subversion of active genomic regulatory elements may serve as a more generalized mechanism for carcinoma development. Furthermore, the identification of androgen-repressed and insensitive 5' fusion partners may have implications for the anti-androgen treatment of advanced prostate cancer.     

Calcium dependent corticosteroid release from the perfused cat adrenal gland

Zusammenfassung Es wird gezeigt, dass die Freisetzung von ACTH in der durchströmten Katzennebenniere nur bei Anwesenheit von Kalzium erfolgt. Strontium, nicht aber Magnesium kann Kalzium freisetzen, während Magnesium (15 mM die Freisetzung von ACTH in Gegenwart von Kalzium hemmt. Ein Vergleich zwischen Brenzkatechinamin und Kortikosteronfreisetzung wird diskutiert.     

坝基各向异性岩石力学特性试验研究

为了掌握坝基层理面发育变质凝灰岩的力学特性,对垂直和平行于层理面方向的变质凝灰岩试样进行了三轴压缩试验.基于试验结果,得到了不同围压下垂直和平行于层理面的变质凝灰岩强度和变形参数,研究了其强度和变形特性的各向异性特征,最后分析了三轴压缩状态下试样的破坏形式及机制.研究结果表明,变质凝灰岩强度和变形特性与层理面方位角关系密切,垂直和平行于层理面方向的强度和变形参数表现出显著的各向异性特征,并随围压呈一定规律的变化.     

myo-Inositol polyphosphate may be a messenger for visual excitation in Limulus photoreceptors

Photoreceptor excitation begins with the absorption of a photon by rhodopsin and proceeds through an unknown sequence of steps that leads to changes in specific ionic conductances. These conductance changes produce the receptor potential. It has been proposed that hydrolysis of phosphoinositides is involved in the control of a variety of physiological processes. Recent studies have implicated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate as an intracellular messenger in the cascade mediating hormone-stimulated secretion. We propose that one of the steps in the excitatory cascade in Limulus ventral photoreceptors may be an increase in intracellular concentration of myo-inositol polyphosphates, derived from hydrolysis of the membrane component phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate by a phospholipase. Here we present biochemical and electrophysiological evidence that an inositol polyphosphate may be an intracellular messenger in the cascade mediating excitation, based on the following criteria: the cells possess the synthetic and degradative metabolism for the messenger; the natural stimulus leads to a change in the concentration of the messenger within the cells; and intracellular injection of exogenous messenger mimics naturally occurring electrophysiological events.     

Turnover of hepatic collagen in reversible and irreversible fibrosis

Zusammenfassung Werden Ratten bis zu 60 Tage lang mit Carbontetrachlorid behandelt, dann ist die Vermehrung des hepatischen Kollagens reversibel; bei einer Behandlung von mehr als 140 Tagen bleibt sie jedoch bestehen.     

Community structure and metabolism through reconstruction of microbial genomes from the environment

Microbial communities are vital in the functioning of all ecosystems; however, most microorganisms are uncultivated, and their roles in natural systems are unclear. Here, using random shotgun sequencing of DNA from a natural acidophilic biofilm, we report reconstruction of near-complete genomes of Leptospirillum group II and Ferroplasma type II, and partial recovery of three other genomes. This was possible because the biofilm was dominated by a small number of species populations and the frequency of genomic rearrangements and gene insertions or deletions was relatively low. Because each sequence read came from a different individual, we could determine that single-nucleotide polymorphisms are the predominant form of heterogeneity at the strain level. The Leptospirillum group II genome had remarkably few nucleotide polymorphisms, despite the existence of low-abundance variants. The Ferroplasma type II genome seems to be a composite from three ancestral strains that have undergone homologous recombination to form a large population of mosaic genomes. Analysis of the gene complement for each organism revealed the pathways for carbon and nitrogen fixation and energy generation, and provided insights into survival strategies in an extreme environment.