Genomic sequence of the pathogenic and allergenic filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus

Aspergillus fumigatus is exceptional among microorganisms in being both a primary and opportunistic pathogen as well as a major allergen. Its conidia production is prolific, and so human respiratory tract exposure is almost constant. A. fumigatus is isolated from human habitats and vegetable compost heaps. In immunocompromised individuals, the incidence of invasive infection can be as high as 50% and the mortality rate is often about 50% (ref. 2). The interaction of A. fumigatus and other airborne fungi with the immune system is increasingly linked to severe asthma and sinusitis. Although the burden of invasive disease caused by A. fumigatus is substantial, the basic biology of the organism is mostly obscure. Here we show the complete 29.4-megabase genome sequence of the clinical isolate Af293, which consists of eight chromosomes containing 9,926 predicted genes. Microarray analysis revealed temperature-dependent expression of distinct sets of genes, as well as 700 A. fumigatus genes not present or significantly diverged in the closely related sexual species Neosartorya fischeri, many of which may have roles in the pathogenicity phenotype. The Af293 genome sequence provides an unparalleled resource for the future understanding of this remarkable fungus.     

Insights from the genome of the biotrophic fungal plant pathogen Ustilago maydis

Ustilago maydis is a ubiquitous pathogen of maize and a well-established model organism for the study of plant-microbe interactions. This basidiomycete fungus does not use aggressive virulence strategies to kill its host. U. maydis belongs to the group of biotrophic parasites (the smuts) that depend on living tissue for proliferation and development. Here we report the genome sequence for a member of this economically important group of biotrophic fungi. The 20.5-million-base U. maydis genome assembly contains 6,902 predicted protein-encoding genes and lacks pathogenicity signatures found in the genomes of aggressive pathogenic fungi, for example a battery of cell-wall-degrading enzymes. However, we detected unexpected genomic features responsible for the pathogenicity of this organism. Specifically, we found 12 clusters of genes encoding small secreted proteins with unknown function. A significant fraction of these genes exists in small gene families. Expression analysis showed that most of the genes contained in these clusters are regulated together and induced in infected tissue. Deletion of individual clusters altered the virulence of U. maydis in five cases, ranging from a complete lack of symptoms to hypervirulence. Despite years of research into the mechanism of pathogenicity in U. maydis, no 'true' virulence factors had been previously identified. Thus, the discovery of the secreted protein gene clusters and the functional demonstration of their decisive role in the infection process illuminate previously unknown mechanisms of pathogenicity operating in biotrophic fungi. Genomic analysis is, similarly, likely to open up new avenues for the discovery of virulence determinants in other pathogens.     

基于光流块统计特征的视频异常行为检测算法

提出了一种基于光流块统计特征的视频异常行为检测算法.该算法首先对训练集视频序列的光流场进行分块及预处理,而后提取光流块的统计特征,所提取的块统计特征同时包括了光流块的幅度信息和相位信息,通过训练集得到的光流块统计特征训练出对应的正常行为的高斯混合模型(GMM).测试集通过同样的方式提取光流块统计特征,通过计算所提取统计特征以多大的概率属于GMM判定所检测光流块的异常程度.实验结果表明,该算法能够在一定程度上解决运动物体一致性和部分遮挡问题,并提高了异常行为检测的准确率.     

通勤出行时间与方式选择

针对不同方式通勤出行者在出行时间上的差异性,从通勤出行方式对通勤出行时间的影响出发,将通勤出行方式选择和出行时间选择纳入同一模型系统,建立由离散选择模型和线性回归模型组成的离散 连续模型,对通勤出行方式和出行时间选择及其相互影响模式进行了深入分析.研究表明,通勤出行方式对出行时间选择有显著影响,通勤者年龄、性别及其家庭成员结构、工作活动属性及通勤途中的非工作活动安排等都是出行方式和出行时间选择的重要影响因素.本研究对准确预测通勤出行选择行为及其对交通管理工作的影响有重要意义.     

The distillation and volatility of ionic liquids

It is widely believed that a defining characteristic of ionic liquids (or low-temperature molten salts) is that they exert no measurable vapour pressure, and hence cannot be distilled. Here we demonstrate that this is unfounded, and that many ionic liquids can be distilled at low pressure without decomposition. Ionic liquids represent matter solely composed of ions, and so are perceived as non-volatile substances. During the last decade, interest in the field of ionic liquids has burgeoned, producing a wealth of intellectual and technological challenges and opportunities for the production of new chemical and extractive processes, fuel cells and batteries, and new composite materials. Much of this potential is underpinned by their presumed involatility. This characteristic, however, can severely restrict the attainability of high purity levels for ionic liquids (when they contain poorly volatile components) in recycling schemes, as well as excluding their use in gas-phase processes. We anticipate that our demonstration that some selected families of commonly used aprotic ionic liquids can be distilled at 200-300 degrees C and low pressure, with concomitant recovery of significant amounts of pure substance, will permit these currently excluded applications to be realized.     

面波勘探和台阵地脉动观测相结合的地基调查法及其在松江古照壁保护中的应用

通过对高密度面波勘探和台阵地脉动勘探的频散分析算法的理论分析,推导出了2种勘探数据频散分析目标函数的统一表达式.根据该结果,用加权函数将2个目标函数结合起来,联合分析2种数据得到一条由高频到低频的完整的频散曲线;反演该频散曲线就可得到由地表到大深度的地下构造.将该方法应用于松江古照壁文物保护之地基勘查,为建立地震响应分析模型提供了由地表到40 m深处的横波速度构造.该方法是一种简便快速并兼顾浅层精度和勘探深度的工程地质调查方法.     

激光干涉定位自动分部重复相机

本文介绍一种用氦氖气体激光器作光源,以光干涉原理定位的自动分步重复照相 机。该机主要由激光干涉系统、精密机械系统、电子控制机和激光频率稳定器组成。由 于采用激光干涉定位系统直接测量工作台位移,保证重复定位精度高于±１微米。 文中着重介绍激光干涉系统结构设计特点及激光用于精密定位时的有关问题．同时 提供了主要技术参数和实验资料。对整机的精度分析和检定结果说明,产品实际精度可 达到±０,７５微米。此种分步相机现已用于工业生产。     

基于小波包和独立分量分析的微弱多源故障声发射信号分离

针对旋转机械设备中同时存在的裂纹、摩擦等多故障源信号难以检测和分离的问题,提出了一种基于小波包分析(WPA)与独立分量分析(ICA)的多源故障信号提取方法,即首先用WPA对含噪线性混合信号降噪预处理,由db2小波基函数进行5层分解后保留62.5~187.5kHz频段信号,然后采用ICA中的FastICA算法对降噪后的混合信号分离,最后对各通道分离出的信号用收缩函数进行频段内去噪处理.对不同输入信噪比的含噪微弱裂纹和摩擦信号进行提取和分析的结果表明,该方法能有效提取出输入信噪比大于-15dB的裂纹和摩擦信号.当混合信号信噪比为-15dB时,裂纹和摩擦信号的输出信噪比分别为-1.31和-1.36dB,相关系数分别为0.62和0.63,提取效果好于结合小波包和FastICA分离方法(信噪比分别为-1.74和-2.06dB,相关系数分别为0.59和0.59)以及单独采用FastICA算法(信噪比分别为-4.57和-4.31dB,相关系数分别为0.17和0.19).因此,所提出的综合WPA和ICA的方法是一种较好的多源微弱信号提取方法.     

Unique astrocyte ribbon in adult human brain contains neural stem cells but lacks chain migration

The subventricular zone (SVZ) is a principal source of adult neural stem cells in the rodent brain, generating thousands of olfactory bulb neurons every day. If the adult human brain contains a comparable germinal region, this could have considerable implications for future neuroregenerative therapy. Stem cells have been isolated from the human brain, but the identity, organization and function of adult neural stem cells in the human SVZ are unknown. Here we describe a ribbon of SVZ astrocytes lining the lateral ventricles of the adult human brain that proliferate in vivo and behave as multipotent progenitor cells in vitro. This astrocytic ribbon has not been observed in other vertebrates studied. Unexpectedly, we find no evidence of chains of migrating neuroblasts in the SVZ or in the pathway to the olfactory bulb. Our work identifies SVZ astrocytes as neural stem cells in a niche of unique organization in the adult human brain.