The helical repeat of double-stranded DNA varies as a function of catenation and supercoiling

DNA in the cell is intertwined at several levels: one polynucleotide strand wraps helically around its complement and the double helix is in turn coiled in space. The higher-order intertwining most often takes the form of supercoiling of the helix axis, but can also be observed as the wrapping of one DNA duplex around another, as in catenation. We have investigated the relationship between intertwining at these three levels, the double helix, supercoiling, and catenation, using an approach that relies on comparative measurements of DNA linking numbers by gel electrophoresis. The method determines both the handedness of DNA catenanes and the change in helical repeat that accompanies catenation-induced supercoiling. For multiply-linked catenated rings of 3.5 kilobase pairs (kb), we conclude that the double helix unwinds by two-thirds of a turn for every right-handed supercoil involved in linking the two circles. Altering the geometry of the catenanes by linking rings of dissimilar size changes the effect of catenation on helical and superhelical parameters. Our experiments used intact DNA rings, but we note that linear DNA molecules, by virtue of their subdivision into closed loops or domains in vivo, can intertwine in the same ways.     

一种鉴定图像真伪的半脆弱数字水印算法

介绍了将数字水印技术引入到金融信息安全领域的原因,分析了小波变换与人类视觉模型在处理图像时的相似性．在此基础上提出了一种基于人类视觉模型的小波多分辨分析图像数字水印算法,该算法具有很好的不可见性及鲁棒性．该算法借用数字签名思想,用Hash函数生成与图像子块内容有关的图像摘要,并以加密方式产生数字水印．该水印是根据图像子块内容自适应生成的,图像子块内容如果有了显著变化,就会在水印中表现出来．在检测时不需要原始图像,属于盲水印．实验结果表明该算法用于鉴定图像真伪是行之有效的。     

A rate control approach to distributed source coding for interferential multispectral image compression

Distributed source coding (DSC) is applied to interferential multispectral image compression owing to strong correlation among the image frames. Many DSC systems in the literature use feedback channel (FC) to control rate at the decoder, which limits the application of DSC. Upon an analysis of the image data, a rate control approach is proposed to avoid FC. Low-complexity motion compensation is applied first to estimate side information at the encoder. Using a polynomial fitting method, a new mathematical model is then derived to estimate rate based on the correlation between the source and side information. The experimental results show that our estimated rate is a good approximation to the actual rate required by FC while incurring a little bit-rate overhead. Our compression scheme performs comparable with the FC based DSC system and outperforms JPEG2000 significantly.     

基于决策理论的数字调制信号识别

由于多调制的存在，对于一个通信信号进行接收解调的前提条件是首先要确定该信号的调制样式，因此信号调制样式的自动识别是软件无线电接收机中必须具备的功能之一。文中研究了6种常用数字调制信号识别的特征参数集，并采用决策树判别方法进行分类识别。仿真结果表明，在趼氓≥5dB时，识别正确率在99％以上，且当SNR≥20dB时，识别正确率达到100％。其特点是，算法简单，识别正确率高．达到了自动分类识别的目的．并有利于实现识别的实时化。     

DNA primase acts as a molecular brake in DNA replication

A hallmark feature of DNA replication is the coordination between the continuous polymerization of nucleotides on the leading strand and the discontinuous synthesis of DNA on the lagging strand. This synchronization requires a precisely timed series of enzymatic steps that control the synthesis of an RNA primer, the recycling of the lagging-strand DNA polymerase, and the production of an Okazaki fragment. Primases synthesize RNA primers at a rate that is orders of magnitude lower than the rate of DNA synthesis by the DNA polymerases at the fork. Furthermore, the recycling of the lagging-strand DNA polymerase from a finished Okazaki fragment to a new primer is inherently slower than the rate of nucleotide polymerization. Different models have been put forward to explain how these slow enzymatic steps can take place at the lagging strand without losing coordination with the continuous and fast leading-strand synthesis. Nonetheless, a clear picture remains elusive. Here we use single-molecule techniques to study the kinetics of a multiprotein replication complex from bacteriophage T7 and to characterize the effect of primase activity on fork progression. We observe the synthesis of primers on the lagging strand to cause transient pausing of the highly processive leading-strand synthesis. In the presence of both leading- and lagging-strand synthesis, we observe the formation and release of a replication loop on the lagging strand. Before loop formation, the primase acts as a molecular brake and transiently halts progression of the replication fork. This observation suggests a mechanism that prevents leading-strand synthesis from outpacing lagging-strand synthesis during the slow enzymatic steps on the lagging strand.     

Direct expression in Escherichia coli of a DNA sequence coding for human growth hormone.

DNA coding for human growth hormone was constructed by using chemically synthesised DNA in conjunction with enzymatically prepared cDNA. This 'hybrid' gene was expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of the lac promoter. A polypeptide was produced having the size and immunological properties characteristic of mature human growth hormone.     

Phenotypic expression in E. coli of a DNA sequence coding for mouse dihydrofolate reductase.

The construction and analysis of bacterial plasmids that contain and phenotypically express a mammalian genetic sequence are described. Such plasmids specify a protein that has enzymatic properties, immunological reactivity and molecular size characteristic of the mouse dihydrofolate reductase, and render host cells resistant to the antimetabolic drug trimethoprim.     

Transformation from temporal to rate coding in a somatosensory thalamocortical pathway

The anatomical connections from the whiskers to the rodent somatosensory (barrel) cortex form two parallel (lemniscal and paralemniscal) pathways. It is unclear whether the paralemniscal pathway is directly involved in tactile processing, because paralemniscal neuronal responses show poor spatial resolution, labile latencies and strong dependence on cortical feedback. Here we show that the paralemniscal system can transform temporally encoded vibrissal information into a rate code. We recorded the representations of the frequency of whisker movement along the two pathways in anaesthetized rats. In response to varying stimulus frequencies, the lemniscal neurons exhibited amplitude modulations and constant latencies. In contrast, paralemniscal neurons in both thalamus and cortex coded the input frequency as changes in latency. Because the onset latencies increased and the offset latencies remained constant, the latency increments were translated into a rate code: increasing onset latencies led to lower spike counts. A thalamocortical loop that includes cortical oscillations and thalamic gating can account for these results. Thus, variable latencies and effective cortical feedback in the paralemniscal system can serve the processing of temporal sensory cues, such as those that encode object location during whisking. In contrast, fixed time locking in the lemniscal system is crucial for reliable spatial processing.     

一种应用于数字化油田的小型RTU的设计

根据数字化油田现场RTU设备的现状,给出一种基于ARM Cortex-M3芯片设计出小型RTU的方案,主要包括:RTU系统结构、模块化的硬件电路设计,以及μC/OS_II操作系统之上的软件设计.该RTU具有采集、处理、控制、通信功能和实时性较好、可靠性较高、功耗较低的特点,能够满足油井现场应用的要求.     

Binding of yeast a1 and alpha 2 as a heterodimer to the operator DNA of a haploid-specific gene

The mating-type locus (MAT) encodes several DNA-binding proteins, which determine the three cell types of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: the a and alpha haploid cell types, and the a/alpha diploid cell type. One of the products of MAT, alpha 2, functions in two cell types. In alpha cells, alpha 2 represses the a-specific genes by binding to the operator as a dimer. In a/alpha diploid cells, alpha 2 acts with a1, a product of the other MAT allele, to repress a different set of genes, the haploid-specific genes. Until now, the nature of the interaction between a1 and alpha 2 was not known, although it had been suggested that alpha 2 may form a heterodimer with a1. I show, by using proteins synthesized in vitro, that a1 and alpha 2 bind the operator of a haploid-specific gene as a heterodimer. The ability of alpha 2 to form both homodimers and heterodimers with a1, each with a different DNA-binding specificity, explains the dual regulatory functions of alpha 2. This is the first example of regulation by heterodimerization among homeobox-containing proteins, a class that includes proteins responsible for the specification of segment identity in Drosophila, mammals and other eukaryotes.     

面向数字化校园的共享数据库中心的设计

在分析了数字化校园建设的基础上,指出了建立共享数据库中心是整合现有校园信息资源的核心,是实现校园信息化的关键之一.通过研究数据仓库技术和联邦数据库技术,提出了一个包含数据源层、共享数据库层和主题分析层的三层体系结构的共享数据库中心设计方案,并对数据源层包含的数据进行了分析,最后给出了该共享数据库系统的实现方法.     

概率方法在一种期权定价中的应用

对于期权价格，由于很难得到精确解，一般讨论数值解,章考虑一种亚洲买方期权，在资产价格服从对数正态分布、风险中性、连续交易等假设条件下，利用概率方法，并借助几何平均理论、积分理论等工具，推出一个期权定价的解析公式。同时讨论了期权在理论上及现实应用中的意义。     

Need for DNA topoisomerase activity as a swivel for DNA replication for transcription of ribosomal RNA

Yeast strains with mutations in the genes for DNA topoisomerases I and II have been identified previously in both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The topoisomerase II mutants (top2) are conditional-lethal temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants. They are defective in the termination of DNA replication and the segregation of daughter chromosomes, but otherwise appear to replicate and transcribe DNA normally. Topoisomerase I mutants (top1), including strains with null mutations are viable and exhibit no obvious growth defects, demonstrating that DNA topoisomerase I is not essential for viability in yeast. In contrast to the single mutants, top1 top2 ts double mutants from both Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae grow poorly at the permissive temperature and stop growth rapidly at the non-permissive temperature. Here we report that DNA and ribosomal RNA synthesis are drastically inhibited in an S. cerevisiae top1 top2 ts double mutant at the restrictive temperature, but that the rate of poly(A)+ RNA synthesis is reduced only about threefold and transfer DNA synthesis remains relatively normal. The results suggest that DNA replication and at least ribosomal RNA synthesis require an active topoisomerase, presumably to act as a swivel to relieve torsional stress, and that either topoisomerase can perform the required function (except in termination of DNA replication where topoisomerase II is required).     

Expression of a polypeptide containing a dipeptide repeat is confined to the insect stage of Trypanosoma brucei

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei is transmitted between mammalian hosts by the tsetse fly (Glossina spp.). Trypanosomes ingested by the fly undergo a number of changes in the insect midgut during differentiation to procyclic forms. These include the loss of the variant specific glycoprotein (VSG) coat and the appearance of a common set of procyclic surface antigens. In order to investigate genes other than VSG genes which are expressed only at certain stages of the life cycle, the first cDNA specific to procyclic culture form trypanosomes (equivalent to the stage found in the insect midgut) has been characterized. The encoded polypeptide shows several characteristics of membrane proteins, but its most striking feature is the presence of a repetitive amino-acid sequence in which there are 22 tandem repeats of the dipeptide-Glu-Pro-. Related genes are also found in other trypanosome species and in leishmania. This gene shows many similarities to a number of surface antigen genes described in malaria and, more recently, Trypanosoma cruzi. This is the first example of a repetitive sequence in a parasite protein which is present only in the insect vector, and which therefore cannot be implicated in the mammalian host immune response.     

研究偏序集Sperner性质的一个新方法

设 P是一个有限偏序集 ,Γ是一个群 ,保序地作用于 P上 .Kleitman、Edelberg和 Lubell证明 :P中存在一个 Sperner反链 ,它在Γ的作用下不变 ,换言之 ,它是Γ的某些轨道的并 .给出一个可用于研究偏序集的 NM( normalized matching)性质类似的定理 .     

一类整数小波变换的优化设计及其图像编码应用

整数小波变换已在嵌入式图像编码领域取得了极大的成功,一种实现整数小波变换的方法是提升.给出一种基于提升的参数化构造法,构造一类新的整数小波变换,它们仅用一个自由参数表示.随意调整该参数,就可构造出不同的整数小波变换.作为构造示例,构造了5种整数小波变换,它们的提升滤波器系数全为二进制分数(形如k/2n,k,n∈Z的数).实验表明,其中的两种变换与当前几种广为应用的整数小波变换相比,具有优异的有损和无损图像压缩性能.     

DNA damage response as a candidate anti-cancer barrier in early human tumorigenesis

During the evolution of cancer, the incipient tumour experiences 'oncogenic stress', which evokes a counter-response to eliminate such hazardous cells. However, the nature of this stress remains elusive, as does the inducible anti-cancer barrier that elicits growth arrest or cell death. Here we show that in clinical specimens from different stages of human tumours of the urinary bladder, breast, lung and colon, the early precursor lesions (but not normal tissues) commonly express markers of an activated DNA damage response. These include phosphorylated kinases ATM and Chk2, and phosphorylated histone H2AX and p53. Similar checkpoint responses were induced in cultured cells upon expression of different oncogenes that deregulate DNA replication. Together with genetic analyses, including a genome-wide assessment of allelic imbalances, our data indicate that early in tumorigenesis (before genomic instability and malignant conversion), human cells activate an ATR/ATM-regulated DNA damage response network that delays or prevents cancer. Mutations compromising this checkpoint, including defects in the ATM-Chk2-p53 pathway, might allow cell proliferation, survival, increased genomic instability and tumour progression.