两种新生大鼠皮质发育障碍模型的差异基因表达谱研究

目的研究两种不同的方法构建皮质发育障碍(DCDs)动物模型中的共同差异表达基因,为进一步研究DCDs形成机制提供基因水平筛选的研究平台。方法用两种方法制备DCDs模型:①射线损伤模型(射线组):采用剂量为1.45 Gy的γ射线照射妊娠15 d的SD大鼠制作子代大鼠DCDs模型;②卡莫司汀(BCNU)药物损伤模型(药物组):妊娠15 d的SD大鼠,腹腔注射BCNU制作子代大鼠DCDs模型。同时设正常对照组。对两种DCDs模型的子代新生鼠(P0)全脑做基因芯片扫描,结果与正常对照组比较,获得两种模型共有的差异基因。结果射线组大鼠与正常比较得到170个差异基因,其中25个上调,145个下调;药物组大鼠与正常比较得到259个差异基因,其中67个上调,192个下调。两组重合的基因共54个,其中3个上调,51个下调。结论皮质发育障碍是一个复杂的病理过程,本实验运用基因芯片技术,对两种不同方法构建的DCDs模型进行了研究,获得两种DCDs模型共有的基因差异表达谱,为进一步研究DCDs形成机制提供了分子生物学平台。     

Physical methods for characterization of microbial surfaces

There are different concepts for explaining the adsorption of microorganisms to solid surfaces: the DLVO theory and the surface free energy. Basic aspects of both theories are discussed. Established methods for determining the surface properties of microbial cells are reviewed: Electrophoretic mobility, colloid titration, electrostatic interaction chromatography, bacterial adherence to hydrocarbons, partitioning in an aqueous two-phase system, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, contact angle measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. They are discussed and classified according to their potential for the correlation of cell surface characteristics and adsorption behavior.     

Origin of organic molecules and biomolecular homochirality

Theories about the origin of biomolecular homochirality, which seems to be a prerequisite for the creation of life, are discussed. First, possible terrestrial and extraterrestrial sources of organic molecules are outlined. Then, mechanisms for the formation of enantiomerically enriched compounds and for the amplification of their chirality are described.     

A comparative arima analysis of the 111 series of the makridakis competition

The 111 series of the Makridakis competition are used to address a number of questions pertaining to use of the Box–Jenkins technique. The ARIMA models developed are compared to the ARIMA models developed independently by Andersen for the Makridakis competition. The time required to perform the analysis for each series is discussed in terms of model complexity. Forecast accuracy, measured as the MAPE for the one step ahead forecast, is discussed for different series lengths.     

Predictive likelihood for coherent forecasting of count time series

A new forecasting method based on the concept of the profile predictive likelihood function is proposed for discrete‐valued processes. In particular, generalized autoregressive moving average (GARMA) models for Poisson distributed data are explored in detail. Highest density regions are used to construct forecasting regions. The proposed forecast estimates and regions are coherent. Large‐sample results are derived for the forecasting distribution. Numerical studies using simulations and two real data sets are used to establish the performance of the proposed forecasting method. Robustness of the proposed method to possible misspecifications in the model is also studied.     

Induction of hyperlipidemia by human thyroid stimulating hormone immunization in rabbits

Summary In our study we are able to demonstrate that with TSH booster and bleeding animals 10–20 days post immunization, when rabbits have increased in antibody titer, there is an increase in cholesterol and triglyceride. These findings are suggestive that most probably we are rendering these rabbits hypothyroid.Acknowledgments. The authors are indebted to Miss J. Meister for her skillful technical help. We are also indebted to the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases for Human Thyroid Stimulating Hormone for iodination.     

Hormonal control of Sertoli cell metabolism regulates spermatogenesis

Hormonal regulation is essential to spermatogenesis. Sertoli cells (SCs) have functions that reach far beyond the physical support of germ cells, as they are responsible for creating the adequate ionic and metabolic environment for germ cell development. Thus, much attention has been given to the metabolic functioning of SCs. During spermatogenesis, germ cells are provided with suitable metabolic substrates, in a set of events mediated by SCs. Multiple signaling cascades regulate SC function and several of these signaling pathways are hormone-dependent and cell-specific. Within the seminiferous tubules, only SCs possess receptors for some hormones rendering them major targets for the hormonal signaling that regulates spermatogenesis. Although the mechanisms by which SCs fulfill their own and germ cells metabolic needs are mostly studied in vitro, SC metabolism is unquestionably a regulation point for germ cell development and the hormonal control of these processes is required for a normal spermatogenesis.     

Quantitative genetics of zooplankton life histories

Quantitative genetic techniques are powerful tools for use in understanding the microevolutionary process. Because of their size, lifespan, and ease of culture, many zooplankton species are ideal for quantitative genetic approaches. As model systems, studies of zooplankton life histories are becoming increasingly used for examination of the central paradigms of evolutionary theory. Two of the fundamental empirical questions that zooplankton quantitative genetics studies can answer are: 1) How much genetic variance exists in natural populations for life history traits? 2) What is the empirical evidence for trade-offs that permeate life history theory based on optimality approaches? A review of existing data onDaphnia indicates substantial genetic variance for body size, clutch size, and age at first reproduction. Average broad-sense heritabilities for these three characters across 19 populations of 6 species are 0.31, 0.31, and 0.34, respectively. Although there is some discrepancy between the two pertinent studies that were designed to decompose the total genetic variance into its additive and non-additive components, a crude average seems to suggest that approximately 60% of the total genetic variance has an additive basis. The existing data are somewhat inconsistent with respect to presence/absence of trade-offs (negative genetic correlations) among life history traits. A composite of the existing data seems to argue against the existence of strong trade-offs between offspring size and offspring number, between present and future reproduction, and between developmental rate and fecundity. However, there is some evidence for a shift toward more negative (less positive) covariances in more stressful environments (e.g., low food). Zooplankton will prove to be very useful in future study in several important areas of research, including the genetics and physiology of aging, the importance of genotype-environment interaction for life history traits, and the evolution of phenotypic plasticity.     

On the limitations of comparing mean square forecast errors

Linear models are invariant under non-singular, scale-preserving linear transformations, whereas mean square forecast errors (MSFEs) are not. Different rankings may result across models or methods from choosing alternative yet isomorphic representations of a process. One approach can dominate others for comparisons in levels, yet lose to another for differences, to a second for cointegrating vectors and to a third for combinations of variables. The potential for switches in ranking is related to criticisms of the inadequacy of MSFE against encompassing criteria, which are invariant under linear transforms and entail MSFE dominance. An invariant evaluation criterion which avoids misleading outcomes is examined in a Monte Carlo study of forecasting methods.     

Bayesian Assessment of Dynamic Quantile Forecasts

Bayesian methods for assessing the accuracy of dynamic financial value‐at‐risk (VaR) forecasts have not been considered in the literature. Such methods are proposed in this paper. Specifically, Bayes factor analogues of popular frequentist tests for independence of violations from, and for correct coverage of a time series of, dynamic quantile forecasts are developed. To evaluate the relevant marginal likelihoods, analytic integration methods are utilized when possible; otherwise multivariate adaptive quadrature methods are employed to estimate the required quantities. The usual Bayesian interval estimate for a proportion is also examined in this context. The size and power properties of the proposed methods are examined via a simulation study, illustrating favourable comparisons both overall and with their frequentist counterparts. An empirical study employs the proposed methods, in comparison with standard tests, to assess the adequacy of a range of forecasting models for VaR in several financial market data series. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An evaluation of forecasting using leading indicators

We consider the use of indices of leading indicators in forecasting and macro-economic modelling. The procedures used to select the components and construct the indices are examined, noting that the composition of indicator systems gets altered frequently. Cointegration within the indices, and between their components and macro-economic variables are considered as well as the role of co-breaking to mitigate regime shifts. Issues of model choice and data-based restrictions are investigated. A framework is proposed for index analysis and selecting indices, and applied to the UK longer-leading indicator. The effects of adding leading indicators to macro models are considered theoretically and for UK data.     

The use of growth curves in forecasting market development—a review and appraisal

The growth curves suitable for forecasting market development are identified and described. The underlying theoretical basis, if any, for their use is examined, and published examples of their applications are given. Doubt is cast on the value of long-term forecasts derived from growth curves applied to markets for consumables. The problems of choice between competing curves are demonstrated by means of some examples. The requirements that a growth curve should meet in order to be an appropriate forecasting tool are identified and illustrated. Many of the published examples of growth curve use are shown to be vulnerable to criticism under one or more of these criteria.     

The co-discovery of conservation laws and particle families

This paper presents an epistemological analysis of the search for new conservation laws in particle physics that was especially prominent in the 1950s and 1960s. Discovering conservation laws has posed various challenges concerning the underdetermination of theory by evidence, to which physicists have found various responses. These responses include an appeal to a plenitude principle, a maxim for inductive inference, looking for a parsimonious system of generalizations, and unifying particle ontology and particle dynamics. The connection between conservation laws and ontological categories is a major theme in my analysis: While there are infinitely many conservation law theories that are empirically equivalent to the laws physicists adopted for the fundamental standard model of particle physics, I show that the standard family laws are the only ones that determine and are determined by the simplest division of particles into families.     

The combination of macroeconomic forecasts

The paper examines combined forecasts based on two components: forecasts produced by Chase Econometrics and those produced using the Box-Jenkins ARIMA technique. Six series of quarterly ex ante and simulated ex ante forecasts are used over 37 time periods and ten horizons. The forecasts are combined using seven different methods. The best combined forecasts, judged by average relative root-mean-square error, are superior to the Chase forecasts for three variables and inferior for two, though averaged over all six variables the Chase forecasts are slightly better. A two-step procedure produces forecasts for the last half of the sample which, on average, are slightly better than the Chase forecasts.     

大气污染优化控制理论的一些新进展

本文介绍了国内学者的最新研究成果，包括了大气污染优化控制理论在以下几个具体应用领域的进展：(1)工业污染源的优化布局。应用伴随方法计算目标函数的梯度以求解优化问题，给出了理论框架。进行了数值试验。(2)短期空气质量的动态控制。应用实际气象数据和污染源数据进行了优化控制数值模拟。(3)化学风险的预先评价与控制。应用伴随方法，对运动化学源进行风险评价。规划最佳运输路线；针对禁止化学武器公约中处理日本二战期间遗弃化学武器的有关问题。妥善选择化武销毁工厂的地址。以上优化控制问题，以气象预报模式和大气污染预报模式为基础，而以伴随方法和最优化算法为求解途径，数值试验表明理论的正确性和方法的高效率。新发展的理论和方法与数值模式和观测技术紧密结合，并且顺应了计算机速度和容量高速增长的趋势。从而具有广阔的应用前景。     

Absorption of glycine,L-alanine and L-phenylalanine in the midgut of the larvae ofBombyx mori

Summary A net absorption of glycine, L-alanine and L-phenylalanine occurs across the isolated midgut of the larvae ofBombyx mori. Although glycine and L-phenylalanine are not metabolized, L-alanine is converted by the midgut and has a metabolic effect on the transepithelial electrical potential difference of the tissue.Acknowledgments. We are very much indebted to Prof. V. Capraro for helpful advice and criticism. We are also grateful to Prof. G. Reali for his interest and support of this research.     

Unification and mechanistic detail as drivers of model construction: Models of networks in economics and sociology

We examine the diversity of strategies of modelling networks in (micro) economics and (analytical) sociology. Field-specific conceptions of what explaining (with) networks amounts to or systematic preference for certain kinds of explanatory factors are not sufficient to account for differences in modelling methodologies. We argue that network models in both sociology and economics are abstract models of network mechanisms and that differences in their modelling strategies derive to a large extent from field-specific conceptions of the way in which a good model should be a general one. Whereas the economics models aim at unification, the sociological models aim at a set of mechanism schemas that are extrapolatable to the extent that the underlying psychological mechanisms are general. These conceptions of generality induce specific biases in mechanistic explanation and are related to different views of when knowledge from different fields should be seen as relevant.     

Mechanisms of cellular invasion by intracellular parasites

Numerous disease-causing parasites must invade host cells in order to prosper. Collectively, such pathogens are responsible for a staggering amount of human sickness and death throughout the world. Leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, and malaria are neglected diseases and therefore are linked to socio-economical and geographical factors, affecting well-over half the world’s population. Such obligate intracellular parasites have co-evolved with humans to establish a complexity of specific molecular parasite–host cell interactions, forming the basis of the parasite’s cellular tropism. They make use of such interactions to invade host cells as a means to migrate through various tissues, to evade the host immune system, and to undergo intracellular replication. These cellular migration and invasion events are absolutely essential for the completion of the lifecycles of these parasites and lead to their for disease pathogenesis. This review is an overview of the molecular mechanisms of protozoan parasite invasion of host cells and discussion of therapeutic strategies, which could be developed by targeting these invasion pathways. Specifically, we focus on four species of protozoan parasites Leishmania, Trypanosoma cruzi, Plasmodium, and Toxoplasma, which are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality.     

适宜于展开模糊推理的两类模糊度量空间

给出了衡量模糊推理鲁棒性的度量应有的结构,建立了基于左连续三角模的4类模糊度量空间,证明了基于Lukasiewicz蕴涵和Goguen乘积蕴涵的模糊度量空间是最适宜于展开模糊推理的两类模糊度量空间.