A topological approach to the correlation of standard formation enthalpy with path index of benzenes derivatives

A mathematical model formulated as ΔfHθm(g)=a+sum from i=1 to 5bipi(i≠2) was constructed for the relationshipbetween standard formation enthalpy ΔfHθm(g) and path index Pi of substituted benzenes derivatives. An empiric equation for the calculation of ΔfHθm(g) was worked out. The calculated values of standard formation enthalpy based on this model are excellently consistent with those from experimental for 55 organic compounds. The model is shown to be simple and of practical usefulness, particularly when required experimental data are unavailable.     

Web multimedia information retrieval using improved Bayesian algorithm

The main thrust of this paper is application of a novel data mining approach on the log of user‘ s feedback to improve web multimedia information retrieval performance. A user space model was constructed based on data mining, and then integrated into the original information space model to improve the accuracy of the new information space model. It can remove clutter and irrelevant text information and help to eliminate mismatch between the page author‘ s expression and the user‘ s understanding and expectation. User spacemodel was also utilized to discover the relationship between high-level and low-level features for assigning weight. The authors proposed improved Bayesian algorithm for data mining. Experiment proved that the au-thors‘ proposed algorithm was efficient.     

A NEW METHOD TO SYNTHESIZE THE CATIONIC GRAFT STARCH

INTRODUCTIONStarch is a kind of abound and cheap resource, which can regenerate and whose structure is composed of glucose units that contain many active hydroxyl groups. The modified starch can be synthesized with various chemistry, physics and biology methods. It has extensive uses among all kinds of paper chemical products. The graft copolymerization of starch with acrylamide(AM) and cationic monomer can join the synthetic chain with high molecular onto the starch backbone. This is a …     

Adult neural stem cells-Functional potential and therapeutic applications

The adult brain has been thought traditionally as a structure with a very limited regenerative capacity. It is now evident that neurogenesis in adult mammalian brain is a prevailing phenomenon. Neural stem cells with the ability to self-renew, differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes reside in some regions of the adult brain. Adult neurogenesis can be stimulated by many physiological factors including pregnancy. More strikingly, newborn neurons in hippocampus integrally function with local neurons, thus neural stem cells might play important roles in memory and learning function. It seems that neural stem cells could transdifferentiate into other tissues, such as blood cells and muscles. Although there are some impediments in this field, some attempts have been made to employ adult neural stem cells in the cell replacement therapy for traumatic and ischemic brain injuries.     

Two-phase flow simulation of aeration on stepped spillway

Stepped spillways have existed as escape works for a very long time. It is found that water can trap a lot of air when passing through steps and then increasing oxygen content in water body, so stepped spillways can be used as a measure of re-aeration and to improve water quality of water body. However, there is no reliable theoretical method on quantitative calculation of re-aeration ability for the stepped spillways. By introducing an air-water two-phase flow model, this paper used k-ε turbulence model to calculate the characteristic variables of free-surface aeration on stepped spillway. The calculated results fit with the experimental results well. It supports that the numerical modeling method is reasonable and offers firm foundation on calculating re-aeration ability of stepped spillways. The simulation approach can provide a possible optimization tool for designing stepped spillways of more efficient aeration capability.     

Protein domain boundary prediction by combining support vector machine and domain guess by size algorithm

Successful prediction of protein domain boundaries provides valuable information not only for the computational structure prediction of multi-domain proteins but also for the experimental structure determination. A novel method for domain boundary prediction has been presented, which combines the support vector machine with domain guess by size algorithm. Since the evolutional information of multiple domains can be detected by position specific score matrix, the support vector machine method is trained and tested using the values of position specific score matrix generated by PSI-BLAST. The candidate domain boundaries are selected from the output of support vector machine, and are then inputted to domain guess by size algorithm to give the final results of domain boundary prediction. The experimental results show that the combined method outperforms the individual method of both support vector machine and domain guess by size.     

Citric acid cycle intermediates as ligands for orphan G-protein-coupled receptors

The citric acid cycle is central to the regulation of energy homeostasis and cell metabolism. Mutations in enzymes that catalyse steps in the citric acid cycle result in human diseases with various clinical presentations. The intermediates of the citric acid cycle are present at micromolar concentration in blood and are regulated by respiration, metabolism and renal reabsorption/extrusion. Here we show that GPR91 (ref. 3), a previously orphan G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), functions as a receptor for the citric acid cycle intermediate succinate. We also report that GPR99 (ref. 4), a close relative of GPR91, responds to alpha-ketoglutarate, another intermediate in the citric acid cycle. Thus by acting as ligands for GPCRs, succinate and alpha-ketoglutarate are found to have unexpected signalling functions beyond their traditional roles. Furthermore, we show that succinate increases blood pressure in animals. The succinate-induced hypertensive effect involves the renin-angiotensin system and is abolished in GPR91-deficient mice. Our results indicate a possible role for GPR91 in renovascular hypertension, a disease closely linked to atherosclerosis, diabetes and renal failure.     

TRPA1 is a candidate for the mechanosensitive transduction channel of vertebrate hair cells

Mechanical deflection of the sensory hair bundles of receptor cells in the inner ear causes ion channels located at the tips of the bundle to open, thereby initiating the perception of sound. Although some protein constituents of the transduction apparatus are known, the mechanically gated transduction channels have not been identified in higher vertebrates. Here, we investigate TRP (transient receptor potential) ion channels as candidates and find one, TRPA1 (also known as ANKTM1), that meets criteria for the transduction channel. The appearance of TRPA1 messenger RNA expression in hair cell epithelia coincides developmentally with the onset of mechanosensitivity. Antibodies to TRPA1 label hair bundles, especially at their tips, and tip labelling disappears when the transduction apparatus is chemically disrupted. Inhibition of TRPA1 protein expression in zebrafish and mouse inner ears inhibits receptor cell function, as assessed with electrical recording and with accumulation of a channel-permeant fluorescent dye. TRPA1 is probably a component of the transduction channel itself.