神经元轴突电刺激响应的有限元数值模拟

为了研究神经元轴突的微观生理电传导特性,建立了神经元轴突的三维有限元模型,通过数值计算模拟神经元轴突对电刺激的动态响应.建立海马神经元轴突的三维几何模型并指定其生物物理参数,根据Hodgkin-Huxley方程和Maxwell方程,建立偏微分方程组,对神经元轴突有限元模型施加不同持续时间和不同脉冲幅度的电流脉冲并求解,获得神经元轴突的三维电势分布和动作电位曲线.数值模拟结果显示,该神经元轴突的静息电位约为-65 mV;对模型施加持续时间为2 ms,强度0.01 A/m2的电流脉冲刺激未产生动作电位,施以(2 ms、0.2 A/m2),(20ms、0.01 A/m2),(20ms、0.2 A/m2)脉冲刺激均产生动作电位,峰值分别出现在0.012 s、0.017 s和0.012 s,动作电位幅度约为100mV,持续时间约为2 ms.神经元轴突电刺激响应的有限元模拟结果与实验结果吻合,表明所建立的神经元轴突有限元模型及数值模拟方法合理、可靠,为深入研究神经电生理特性提供了基础模型和仿真分析方法.     

Light-induced hormone conversion of T4 to T3 regulates photoperiodic response of gonads in birds

Reproduction of many temperate zone birds is under photoperiodic control. The Japanese quail is an excellent model for studying the mechanism of photoperiodic time measurement because of its distinct and marked response to changing photoperiods. Studies on this animal have suggested that the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) is an important centre controlling photoperiodic time measurement. Here we report that expression in the MBH of the gene encoding type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (Dio2), which catalyses the intracellular deiodination of thyroxine (T4) prohormone to the active 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), is induced by light in Japanese quail. Intracerebroventricular administration of T3 mimics the photoperiodic response, whereas the Dio2 inhibitor iopanoic acid prevents gonadal growth. These findings demonstrate that light-induced Dio2 expression in the MBH may be involved in the photoperiodic response of gonads in Japanese quail.     

减载伸长路径下棕榈纤维加筋砂力学响应

为探究减载伸长破坏下棕榈纤维对石英砂力学性能的影响,对饱和状态下棕榈纤维加筋石英砂进行排水状态下的三轴伸长试验,分析了不同纤维长度和掺量下的应力-应变曲线,并对其初始弹性模量和割线模量进行比较。应用摩尔库伦准则分析得到剪切强度随纤维配比的变化规律。对剪切过程中的素砂和加筋砂的体积应变及孔隙比进行了比较分析。结果表明：(1)纤维加筋会增强石英砂在伸长破坏中的应力应变强度。对峰值应力和残余应力提升效果最佳的的纤维掺量和纤维长度分别为0.9%和12 mm。(2)试样的初始弹性模量和峰值割线模量均随有效围压的增大而增大,伸长试验中试样的整体刚度与有效围压呈正相关关系。纤维对石英砂剪切强度的增强效果只能在低围压状态时显现。(3)加筋砂的伸长破坏中孔隙比小于素砂,纤维的加入减小了石英砂的临界孔隙比,削弱了石英砂的剪胀性。试验结果为探究纤维加筋砂界面增强机理提供试验依据。      

Role of cell shape in growth control

Tissue culture plastic adhesivity was precisely varied by applying different concentrations of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The extent of cell spreading was thus accurately controlled so that cells cultured on these substrata could be held at any one of a graded series of quantitated cell shapes. Cell shape was found to be tightly coupled to DNA synthesis and growth in nontransformed cells. These findings suggest a mechanism that is important in growth control of mammalian cells, and provide a more fundamental interpretation of such phenomena as density dependent inhibition of cell growth and anchorage dependence.