Endorcine cells producing regulatory peptides

Summary Recent data on the immunologication of regulatory peptides and related propeptide sequences in endocrine cells and tumours of the gastrointestinal tract pancreas, lung, thyroid, pituitary (ACTH and opioids), adrenals and paraganglia have been revised and discussed. Gastrin, xenopsin, cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin, motilin, secretin, GIP (gastric inhibitory beenrevised and discussed. Gastrin, xenopsin, cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin, motilin, secretin, GIP (gastric inhibitory polypeptide), neurotensin, glicentin/glucagon-37 and PYY (peptide tyrosine tyrosine) are the main products of gastrointestinal endocrine cells; glucagon, CRF (corticotropin releasing factor), somatostatin, PP (pancreatic polypeptide) and GRF (growth hormone releasing factor), in addition to insulin, are produced in pancreatic islet cells; bombesin-related peptidesare the main markers of pulmonary endocrine cells; calcitonin and CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) occur in thyroid and extrathyroid C cells; ACTH and endorphins in anterior and intermediate lobe pituitary cells, -MSH and CLIP (corticotropoin-like intermediate lobe peptide) in intermediate lobe cells; met- and leu-enkephalins and related peptides in adrenal medullary and paraganglionic cells as well as in some gut (enterochromaffin) cells; NPY (neuropeptide Y) in adrenalin-type adrenal medullary cells, etc.. Both tissue-appropriate and tissue-inappropriate regulatory peptides are produced by endocrine tumours, with inappropriate peptides mostly produced by malignant tumours.     

Perennial N2 supersaturation in an Antarctic lake

The dry valleys of southern Victoria Land in Antarctica contain several closed basins in which perennially ice-covered lakes are found. One of the most unusual features of these lakes is the occurrence of high O2 concentrations in the water column; values ranging from slightly more than saturation to more than four times saturation have been reported. Recently, we considered a bulk O2 budget for Lake Hoare, Antarctica, which led us to suggest that biological processes alone were not sufficient to explain the observed elevated oxygen levels. Consequently, there must be a non-biological source of O2. We suggested that this source results from the exclusion of O2 during the freezing of aerated meltstream water at the bottom of the ice cover, and predicted that this physical mechanism should also enhance the other atmospheric gases. Here we report the results of a study which, for the first time, documents the supersaturation of N2 in a lake. Dissolved N2 levels of 145% and 163% were determined from samples taken just below the ice cover and at a depth of 12 m, respectively. The relatively importance of biological and abiological sources is reflected in the ratio of N2 concentration to O2 concentration. In Lake Hoare this ratio was 1.20 at ice/water interface and 1.05 at 12 m; considerably different from the ratio in equilibrium with air (approximately 1.8). Based on these results, we have determined that about half of the net O2 production in the lake is the result of biological processes.     

Photoperiodic summation is temperature-dependent inPyrrhocoris apterus (L.) (Heteroptera)

Summary InPyrrhocoris apterus, a low temperature, 15°C, prevented the termination of diapause by long days and, unexpectedly, also the induction of diapause by short days. Both responses were enabled at a higher temperature, 26°C. In contrast to current concepts, it was proved that the summation of photoperiodic signals was temperature-dependent, since the morphogenetic development was prevented by starvation.     

A major metabolite of Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol reduces its cataleptic effect in mice

Summary The results described here demonstrate that THC-induced catalepsy in mice can be substantially inhibited by the prior administration of ¹-THC-7-oic acid, the major metabolite of THC in most species including humans. This raises the possibility that the intensity and duration of action of THC may depend to a large degree on the levels of this metabolite at the sites of action.We thank the National Institute on Drug Abuse for supporting this project by grants DA-02043 and DA-02052 and for supplying all of the cannabinoids. One of us (S.B.) is also the recipient of a Research Scientist Award from NIDA. We are grateful to Kristen Carlson and Thomas Honeyman for helpful suggestions in preparing this report.     

Binding of 11-cis retinaldehyde to the partially purified cellular retinaldehyde binding protein from bovine retinal pigment epithelium

Summary 11-cis retinaldehyde binding analysis was performed on a bovine retinal pigment epithelium preparation of cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP), whose purity degree was estimated as 75%. Equilibrium binding studies were carried out measuring the replacement of tritium-labeled with unlabeled 11-cis retinaldehyde at 25°C. Analysis of the experimental data both by a direct curve-fitting procedure utilizing a non linear least square regression analysis and by a conventional Scatchard plot revealed a single non-interacting binding site with an apparent equilibrium constant of 0.9×10^–7 M.A binding stoichiometry of approximately 1 mol of 11-cis retinaldehyde/mol of binding protein can be calculated from the experimental data. Competition studies carried out in the presence of unlabeled trans and cis isomers of Vitamin A derivatives confirm the high degree of specificity of the 11-cis retinaldehyde binding.     

预应力混凝土箱梁爆炸损伤评估及公式拟合

对预应力混凝土箱梁进行爆炸损伤评估研究。首先,对矩形梁进行爆炸数值分析,结合现场试验结果验证了爆炸数值模型的准确性、可靠性。其次,基于箱梁剩余承载力,建立了箱梁爆后损伤评估准则。通过对预应力混凝土箱梁在不同爆炸工况下的爆后剩余承载力计算,建立箱梁各损伤程度下P?I（超压?冲量）曲线。研究发现,混凝土强度对箱梁超压和冲量临界值影响较大,钢筋屈服强度对超压和冲量临界值影响较小。随着结构损伤等级的增大,各参数对箱梁P?I曲线的影响幅度各不相同。最后,对不同混凝土强度箱梁中各损伤等级P?I曲线进行公式拟合,并对拟合参数β进行分析。     

砂卵石地层盾构隧道掌子面稳定性理论分析

盾构隧道穿越砂卵石地层掘进施工时,由于砂卵石的地层特性及施工扰动,隧道掌子面容易失稳而引发事故。为研究砂卵石地层盾构隧道掌子面稳定所需的最小支护力,结合砂卵石地层的掌子面失稳模式,在三维Murayama模型的基础上,将掌子面前方土体的滑动面形式假设为对数螺旋滑移线,结合上部松动区域的破坏机制,引入椭球体放矿理论,对传统的棱柱体筒仓模型进行改进,进一步通过极限平衡法推导出砂卵石地层的掌子面极限支护力求解公式;最后通过离散元数值模拟验证所推公式,两者的误差为3.1%。结果表明所得公式可对砂卵石地层的掌子面极限支护力进行较为精确的求解。研究成果以期为砂卵石地层掌子面极限支护力计算理论提供依据。     

一种磁流变弹性体执行器的联合优化方法研究

磁流变弹性体（magnetorheological elastomer, MRE）执行器作为智能减振应用系统的核心元件,其结构的优化是决定执行器性能上限及系统控制成效的关键。针对目前MRE执行器优化方法及理论研究欠缺的问题,文中面向一款横向隔振的MRE执行器,基于其机械结构和有效磁路,以优越磁控性能、低功耗和快速响应时间为优化目标,提出了一种新的MRE执行器联合参数优化方法。首先,基于MATLAB和COMSOL的联合仿真,将遗传优化算法和电磁有限元分析方法进行有效结合,实现对MRE执行器的优化编程;其次,完成对器件的全局尺寸结构优化设计,使得器件具备优越磁控性能（526.21 mT）、低功耗（44.05 W）及快速响应（5.43 ms）;最后,通过搭建测试系统对优化后装配的MRE执行器进行测试和评估,验证了文中优化方法的可行性和有效性。提出的联合优化方法不仅适用于MRE执行器结构,还可为多领域减/隔振应用的共性MRE器件优化设计提供理论参考。     

基于机器视觉的车辆时空参数识别

车辆荷载信息是分析桥梁受力和性能评估的重要依据,其中车辆时空信息是准确识别车辆荷载的关键参数。考虑到传统在桥面埋设传感器的方法影响交通、破坏路面,提出了一种基于机器视觉技术的车辆荷载时空参数识别方法,包括车辆的横向定位、车速、车轴数、轴距的识别。基于正面拍摄视频,采用背景差分法来实现车辆检测,进一步通过车牌识别确定车辆在图像中的位置,然后根据车牌与车道线距离来实现车辆横向定位。基于侧面拍摄视频,采用图像标定方法,结合已知长度的辅助检测线来获取车辆的轴距、轴数、车速等车辆参数。通过试验室模型试验和现场试验验证了提出的方法。结果表明,现场试验中车辆横向定位和车速的最大误差分别为2.42%和2.67%,轴距的平均误差为1.63%,识别结果可以为更多其他车辆参数如轴重和总重的识别提供重要的技术支撑。