On the self-association potential of transmembrane tight junction proteins

Tight junctions seal intercellular clefts via membrane-related strands, hence, maintaining important organ functions. We investigated the self-association of strand-forming transmembrane tight junction proteins. The regulatory tight junction protein occludin was differently tagged and cotransfected in eucaryotic cells. These occludins colocalized within the plasma membrane of the same cell, coprecipitated and exhibited fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Differently tagged strand-forming claudin-5 also colocalized in the plasma membrane of the same cell and showed fluorescence resonance energy transfer. This demonstrates self-association in intact cells both of occludin and claudin-5 in one plasma membrane. In search of dimerizing regions of occludin, dimerization of its cytosolic C-terminal coiledcoil domain was identified. In claudin-5, the second extracellular loop was detected as a dimer. Since the transmembrane junctional adhesion molecule also is known to dimerize, the assumption that homodimerization of transmembrane tight junction proteins may serve as a common structural feature in tight junction assembly is supported. Received 6 October 2005; received after revision 14 December 2005; accepted 27 December 2005 †These authors contributed equally to this work.     

探讨带参数微分方程边值问题的解法

主要讨论带参数微分方程边值问题的逼近值及渐近值解法,并且利用基础解系、边值函数等概念,解决了带参数的微分方程中参数充分小的范围内解的变化趋势.     

钎焊后自然时效对3003/6xxx/3003复合铝合金性能和组织的影响

以6xxx系铝合金为芯材,3003铝合金为两侧皮材,经熔炼、铸造、复合、热轧、冷轧及成品退火制备了厚度为1.5 mm的3层复合铝合金。在600 ℃下模拟钎焊,经空冷后进行1、5、10、15、20、25、30 d的自然时效。结果显示：复合铝合金的强度、维氏硬度在自然时效初期快速增加,20 d后上升缓慢,30 d时抗拉强度、屈服强度、芯材维氏硬度达到最大,分别为242.3 MPa、122.9 MPa、84.0;芯材晶粒尺寸钎焊后较钎焊前略微长大,经不同自然时效时间的芯材晶粒平均尺寸大小相当,表明自然时效不改变芯材晶粒的大小;钎焊后以及经自然时效之后芯材中标识出的第二相为不规则的AlFeSiMnCu相。     

含未知输入非线性系统的扩展平方根容积卡尔曼滤波算法

针对工程实际应用中存在的未知输入会导致经典的非线性滤波器状态估计精度下降甚至滤波发散的问题,提出了一种基于最小方差无偏估计(minimum variance unbiased estimation, MVUE)准则的扩展平方根容积卡尔曼滤波(extended square-root cubature Kalman filter, ESRCKF)算法。首先,结合上一时刻未知输入估计值对状态一步预测值进行修正,得到含未知输入条件下的状态预测值。其次,设计新息并采用加权最小二乘(weighted least squares, WLS)法获取当前时刻未知输入的无偏估计。最后,通过最小化协方差矩阵的迹,同时采用拉格朗日乘子法和舒尔补引理得到系统状态的最小方差无偏估计。仿真结果表明,相比于现有的非线性滤波算法,ESRCKF算法提高了在处理含未知输入非线性系统时的状态估计精度,并能同时实现系统状态和未知输入的最优估计,验证了该算法的有效性。     

基于VMD-LSTM-IPSO-GRU的电力负荷预测

为了挖掘电力负荷数据中的潜藏信息,提高负荷预测的精度,针对电力负荷强非线性、非平稳性等特点,提出一种基于变分模态分解(variational mode decomposition,VMD)、优化长短期神经网络(long-term and short-term memory network,LSTM)、改进的粒子群算法(improve particle swarm optimization,IPSO)优化门控循环单元(gated recurrent unit neural network,GRU)的混合预测模型。首先,使用相关性分析确定确定输入因素,再将负荷数据运用VMD算法结合样本熵分解为一系列本征模态分量(intrinsic mode fuction,IMF)和残差量,更加合理地确定分解层数和惩罚因子;其次,根据过零率将这些量划分为低频和高频,低频分量使用LSTM网络,高频分量利用IPSO-GRU网络分别进行预测;最后,将预测结果重构得到电力负荷的最终结果。仿真结果表明,相对于其它常规模型,该混合模型可有效的提取模态特征,具有更高的预测精度。     

响应面结合模糊数学感官评价法优化槐花蜜饯配方及品质测定

以新鲜槐花为原料,辅以麦芽糖醇、柠檬酸、鸡蛋清和黄果槲寄生果实多糖等食品添加剂开发低糖槐花蜜饯。通过单因素试验,对鸡蛋清、麦芽糖醇、蜂蜜和黄果槲寄生果实多糖添加量进行筛选,采用响应面结合模糊数学感官评价法优化配方,对其重金属和微生物指标和抗氧化性进行了检验。结果表明,蜜饯最优化参数为鸡蛋清添加量为15%,麦芽糖醇添加量为30%,蜂蜜添加量为10%,黄果槲寄生果实多糖添加量为0.35%,柠檬酸量添加为0.18%、氯化钙添加量和D-异抗坏血酸钠添加量分别为0.01%为0.05%,得到了质地良好的槐花蜜饯产品,颜色均一微黄色,组织状态良好,薄厚均匀、口感细腻、咀嚼性好,槐花风味突出,气味协调。重金属含量低于国家标准限量（＜ 0.05 mg/kg）,未检出沙门氏菌和金黄色葡萄球菌,大肠杆菌和霉菌数量等卫生指标符合国家标准。蜜饯具有较强的总抗氧化能力（FRAP）和较好的清除 1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼（DPPH）的作用。研究结果表明,研制的低糖槐花蜜饯感官指标好,其质量符合国家标准,具有很好的营养价值和抗氧化功能。     

Stability and change in fertility intentions in Britain, 1991-2007

The very low fertility experienced in several European countries in recent decades in the presence of higher intended family sizes has renewed interest in fertility intentions data. While the overall level of childbearing in Britain over the past few decades has remained relatively stable and high in comparison with many other European countries, we have seen sizeable increases in the age at which childbearing starts. This study uses data from the 1991 to 2007 General Household Surveys to examine trends in family intentions data in an attempt to arrive at a better understanding of these recent fertility developments. First, time trends in intended family size are compared with trends in observed fertility. Next, aggregate changes in intentions regarding the level and timing of fertility across the life course for cohorts are investigated together with the extent to which these aggregate intentions are matched by the subsequent childbearing of cohorts. Finally, both change across the life course and uncertainty in family intentions are examined. We conclude by discussing what these findings might tell us about contemporary reproductive decision making.     

Improved hybrid position/force controller design of a flexible robot manipulator using a sliding observer

An improved hybrid position/force controller design of a flexible robot manipulator is presented using a sliding observer. The friction between the end effector and the environment is considered and compensated. For systematic reasons the controller is designed taking into consideration the rigid link subsystems and the flexible joints. The proposed control system satisfies the stability of the two subsystems and copes with the uncertainty of robot dynamics. A sliding observer is designed to estimate the time derivative of the torque applied as input to the rigid part of the robot. For the stability of the observer, it is assumed that the uncertainty of the observed system is bounded. A MRAC algorithm is used for the estimation of the friction forces at the contact point between the end effector and the environment. Finally simulation and experimental results are given, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.     

Discovery of 40Mg and 42Al suggests neutron drip-line slant towards heavier isotopes

A fundamental question in nuclear physics is what combinations of neutrons and protons can make up a nucleus. Many hundreds of exotic neutron-rich isotopes have never been observed; the limit of how many neutrons a given number of protons can bind is unknown for all but the lightest elements, owing to the delicate interplay between single particle and collective quantum effects in the nucleus. This limit, known as the neutron drip line, provides a benchmark for models of the atomic nucleus. Here we report a significant advance in the determination of this limit: the discovery of two new neutron-rich isotopes--40Mg and 42Al--that are predicted to be drip-line nuclei. In the past, several attempts to observe 40Mg were unsuccessful; moreover, the observation of 42Al provides an experimental indication that the neutron drip line may be located further towards heavier isotopes in this mass region than is currently believed. In stable nuclei, attractive pairing forces enhance the stability of isotopes with even numbers of protons and neutrons. In contrast, the present work shows that nuclei at the drip line gain stability from an unpaired proton, which narrows the shell gaps and provides the opportunity to bind many more neutrons.     

South-polar features on Venus similar to those near the north pole

Venus has no seasons, slow rotation and a very massive atmosphere, which is mainly carbon dioxide with clouds primarily of sulphuric acid droplets. Infrared observations by previous missions to Venus revealed a bright 'dipole' feature surrounded by a cold 'collar' at its north pole. The polar dipole is a 'double-eye' feature at the centre of a vast vortex that rotates around the pole, and is possibly associated with rapid downwelling. The polar cold collar is a wide, shallow river of cold air that circulates around the polar vortex. One outstanding question has been whether the global circulation was symmetric, such that a dipole feature existed at the south pole. Here we report observations of Venus' south-polar region, where we have seen clouds with morphology much like those around the north pole, but rotating somewhat faster than the northern dipole. The vortex may extend down to the lower cloud layers that lie at about 50 km height and perhaps deeper. The spectroscopic properties of the clouds around the south pole are compatible with a sulphuric acid composition.