Corneal avascularity is due to soluble VEGF receptor-1

Corneal avascularity-the absence of blood vessels in the cornea-is required for optical clarity and optimal vision, and has led to the cornea being widely used for validating pro- and anti-angiogenic therapeutic strategies for many disorders. But the molecular underpinnings of the avascular phenotype have until now remained obscure and are all the more remarkable given the presence in the cornea of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, a potent stimulator of angiogenesis, and the proximity of the cornea to vascularized tissues. Here we show that the cornea expresses soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1; also known as sflt-1) and that suppression of this endogenous VEGF-A trap by neutralizing antibodies, RNA interference or Cre-lox-mediated gene disruption abolishes corneal avascularity in mice. The spontaneously vascularized corneas of corn1 and Pax6+/- mice and Pax6+/- patients with aniridia are deficient in sflt-1, and recombinant sflt-1 administration restores corneal avascularity in corn1 and Pax6+/- mice. Manatees, the only known creatures uniformly to have vascularized corneas, do not express sflt-1, whereas the avascular corneas of dugongs, also members of the order Sirenia, elephants, the closest extant terrestrial phylogenetic relatives of manatees, and other marine mammals (dolphins and whales) contain sflt-1, indicating that it has a crucial, evolutionarily conserved role. The recognition that sflt-1 is essential for preserving the avascular ambit of the cornea can rationally guide its use as a platform for angiogenic modulators, supports its use in treating neovascular diseases, and might provide insight into the immunological privilege of the cornea.     

Signal relay by BMP antagonism controls the SHH/FGF4 feedback loop in vertebrate limb buds.

Outgrowth and patterning of the vertebrate limb are controlled by reciprocal interactions between the posterior mesenchyme (polarizing region) and a specialized ectodermal structure, the apical ectodermal ridge (AER). Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signalling by the polarizing region modulates fibroblast growth factor (FGF)4 signalling by the posterior AER, which in turn maintains the polarizing region (SHH/FGF4 feedback loop). Here we report that the secreted bone-morphogenetic-protein (BMP) antagonist Gremlin relays the SHH signal from the polarizing region to the AER. Mesenchymal Gremlin expression is lost in limb buds of mouse embryos homozygous for the limb deformity (Id) mutation, which disrupts establishment of the SHH/FGF4 feedback loop. Grafting Gremlin-expressing cells into ld mutant limb buds rescues Fgf4 expression and restores the SHH/FGF4 feedback loop. Analysis of Shh-null mutant embryos reveals that SHH signalling is required for maintenance of Gremlin and Formin (the gene disrupted by the ld mutations). In contrast, Formin, Gremlin and Fgf4 activation are independent of SHH signalling. This study uncovers the cascade by which the SHH signal is relayed from the posterior mesenchyme to the AER and establishes that Formin-dependent activation of the BMP antagonist Gremlin is sufficient to induce Fgf4 and establish the SHH/FGF4 feedback loop.     

中祁连地块东段元古宙基底湟源群沉积构造环境

通过对中祁连地块东段元古宙基底湟源群原岩建造及其地球化学特征的研究,认为：湟源群主要由各种千枚岩、片岩、变粒岩、大理岩、石英岩和斜长角闪岩等组成的中浅变质的表壳岩组合;其原岩为一套由陆源碎屑岩、不纯碳酸盐岩、中基性大山岩等组成的火山岩沉积岩组合;湟源群中变质沉积岩系中沉积韵律、沉积条带构造的广泛发育以及浊积层的存在等,指示了其原岩建造具有复理石或类复理石建造的特征;其中变质杂砂岩的地球化学特征类似于大陆岛弧或安底斯岛弧型杂砂岩的特征;湟源群变质中基性火山岩的地球化学特征类似于岛弧或活动大陆边缘的钙碱性火山岩的特征。经综合分析得出,湟源群沉积构造环境可能为陆缘弧后盆地且靠近大陆一侧。     

强包含度公式的若干注记

给出了 Ｃ． Ｃ． Ｗ ａｎｇ 和 Ｈ． Ｓ． Ｄｏｎ 定义的强包含度公式的改进形式,指出该公式和 Ｋｏｓｋｏ 定义的强包含度公式在性质上的差异。定义了基于模糊积分的强包含度公式。     

基于WWW信息系统的连接技术及其一种实现

对两层客户机／服务器（ｃｌｉｅｎｔ／ｓｅｒｖｅｒ）结构与客户机／服务器／服务器３ 层体系结构进行了比较和分析,讨论了目前采用 Ｗ Ｗ Ｗ 技术的信息系统的一些常用连接技术,重点阐述了 Ｃｏｌｄ Ｆｕｓｉｏｎ这样一种简捷、高效的连接技术,并用 Ｃｏｌｄ Ｆｕｓｉｏｎ 实现了一个 Ｗ Ｗ Ｗ 上的应用系统     

用阳离子置换法制备汞系高温超导薄膜

介绍了最近发明的一种制备汞系高温超导薄膜的新方法—阳离子置换法．采用Ｔ１ 系外延超导薄膜作为先驱薄膜,将Ｔ１ 系超导薄膜在Ｈｇ 气氛下进行热处理,用Ｈｇ 置换先驱薄膜中的Ｔ１,进而生成Ｈｇ 系外延超导薄膜．用此方法,成功地在ＬａＡｌＯ３ （００１）衬底上制做出了高质量的ＨｇＢａ２ＣａＣｕ２Ｏｘ 超导薄膜．Ｘ－光衍射θ－２θ扫描和极图测试表明,薄膜具有很纯的超导相和很好的外延结构．超导临界温度可达１２２Ｋ．在７７Ｋ温度下,临界电流密度达到３．４×１０６ Ａ／ｃｍ ２,在１１０Ｋ 温度下,临界电流密度仍可保持在０．７×１０６Ａ／ｃｍ ２ ．