A class of compact dwarf galaxies from disruptive processes in galaxy clusters

Dwarf galaxies have attracted increased attention in recent years, because of their susceptibility to galaxy transformation processes within rich galaxy clusters. Direct evidence for these processes, however, has been difficult to obtain, with a small number of diffuse light trails and intra-cluster stars being the only signs of galaxy disruption. Furthermore, our current knowledge of dwarf galaxy populations may be very incomplete, because traditional galaxy surveys are insensitive to extremely diffuse or compact galaxies. Aware of these concerns, we recently undertook an all-object survey of the Fornax galaxy cluster. This revealed a new population of compact members, overlooked in previous conventional surveys. Here we demonstrate that these 'ultra-compact' dwarf galaxies are structurally and dynamically distinct from both globular star clusters and known types of dwarf galaxy, and thus represent a new class of dwarf galaxy. Our data are consistent with the interpretation that these are the remnant nuclei of disrupted dwarf galaxies, making them an easily observed tracer of galaxy disruption.     

TLR4 mutations are associated with endotoxin hyporesponsiveness in humans

There is much variability between individuals in the response to inhaled toxins, but it is not known why certain people develop disease when challenged with environmental agents and others remain healthy. To address this, we investigated whether TLR4 (encoding the toll-like receptor-4), which has been shown to affect lipopolysaccharide (LPS) responsiveness in mice, underlies the variability in airway responsiveness to inhaled LPS in humans. Here we show that common, co-segregating missense mutations (Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) affecting the extracellular domain of the TLR4 receptor are associated with a blunted response to inhaled LPS in humans. Transfection of THP-1 cells demonstrates that the Asp299Gly mutation (but not the Thr399Ile mutation) interrupts TLR4-mediated LPS signalling. Moreover, the wild-type allele of TLR4 rescues the LPS hyporesponsive phenotype in either primary airway epithelial cells or alveolar macrophages obtained from individuals with the TLR4 mutations. Our findings provide the first genetic evidence that common mutations in TLR4 are associated with differences in LPS responsiveness in humans, and demonstrate that gene-sequence changes can alter the ability of the host to respond to environmental stress.     

Cursoriality in bipedal archosaurs

Modern birds have markedly foreshortened tails and their body mass is centred anteriorly, near the wings. To provide stability during powered flight, the avian centre of mass is far from the pelvis, which poses potential balance problems for cursorial birds. To compensate, avians adapted to running maintain the femur subhorizontally, with its distal end situated anteriorly, close to the animal's centre of mass; stride generation stems largely from parasagittal rotation of the lower leg about the knee joint. In contrast, bipedal dinosaurs had a centre of mass near the hip joint and rotated the entire hindlimb during stride generation. Here we show that these contrasting styles of cursoriality are tightly linked to longer relative total hindlimb length in cursorial birds than in bipedal dinosaurs. Surprisingly, Caudipteryx, described as a theropod dinosaur, possessed an anterior centre of mass and hindlimb proportions resembling those of cursorial birds. Accordingly, Caudipteryx probably used a running mechanism more similar to that of modern cursorial birds than to that of all other bipedal dinosaurs. These observations provide valuable clues about cursoriality in Caudipteryx, but may also have implications for interpreting the locomotory status of its ancestors.     

Geometric quantum computation using nuclear magnetic resonance

A significant development in computing has been the discovery that the computational power of quantum computers exceeds that of Turing machines. Central to the experimental realization of quantum information processing is the construction of fault-tolerant quantum logic gates. Their operation requires conditional quantum dynamics, in which one sub-system undergoes a coherent evolution that depends on the quantum state of another sub-system; in particular, the evolving sub-system may acquire a conditional phase shift. Although conventionally dynamic in origin, phase shifts can also be geometric. Conditional geometric (or 'Berry') phases depend only on the geometry of the path executed, and are therefore resilient to certain types of errors; this suggests the possibility of an intrinsically fault-tolerant way of performing quantum gate operations. Nuclear magnetic resonance techniques have already been used to demonstrate both simple quantum information processing and geometric phase shifts. Here we combine these ideas by performing a nuclear magnetic resonance experiment in which a conditional Berry phase is implemented, demonstrating a controlled phase shift gate.     

基于混沌时间序列的误差纠错预测模型

提出了一种新型的非常实用的非线性时间序列的预测模型,即误差纠错预测模型(EAM),并从概率统计的角度严格证明了该方法的可靠性,同时分析了受噪声扰动的时间序列的预测.先按一般方法确定嵌入维数与时间步长,在每个当前时刻,先用局域线性回归方法得到预测点的预测值,根据信息在非线性演化中产生的失真误差大小予以修正得到修正值,并以该点为新的基点作进一步预测.该方法具备了滑动窗口二次自回归模型(MWDAR)的适用于小数据集且对大数据集具有高效率的优点,而且克服了MWDAR方法中一次项和二次项阶数及滑动窗口长度等参数难以确定,从而会导致预测恶化,使得应用受到限制的缺点.分别用Logistic方程产生的小数据集和大数据集的混沌时间序列数据作了预测,结果良好.     

基于理想点的三角模糊数多指标决策法

研究了属性权重和属性值均以三角模糊数形式给出的模糊多指标决策问题,定义了三角模糊数正理想方案和负理想方案,由此给出了三角模糊数多指标决策问题的理想点法。该方法简单实用,所需信息小.最后用该方法分析了一个实际问题。     

基于模糊Petri网的供应链牛鞭效应的成因与控制建模分析

从信息流角度,建立了基于模糊Petri网的牛鞭效应成因与控制模型,给出了相应的模糊推理算法,通过仿真分析,验证了一些重要结果。该模型描述了供应链中信息对决策的影响及供应链成员同步运作的现象,将供应链中牛鞭效应成因与控制可视化,为牛鞭效应问题的进一步研究提供一个新的思路。     

基于预积分体渲染技术的水下三维声场体可视化

海洋水声环境对海军作战具有重要影响。三维可视化技术能够更直观、有效地刻画和描述海洋水声环境,提高作战指挥人员对环境效应的理解和应用。该技术应用OpenGL的多纹理技术,采用预积分体渲染方法对舰艇水下三维声场进行体可视化表达。在对可视化效果的讨论中发现,采用预积分纹理映射方法在不增加切片数量、不增加绘制时间情况下,提高了图形质量,较好的解决了传统切片纹理映射方法的缺点,使指挥人员能够更加清楚地得到此时舰艇水下声传播规律,声场结构,为其制定战术决策提供可靠的技术支持。     

Defining the resistance to oxygen transfer in tissue hypoxia

Studies of O2 supply in freshly isolated adult mammalian cells provide new insight into the factors that limit mitochondrial oxygenation in vivo. Of particular importance, mitochondria are present at high densities and often in apparent clusters, both of which contribute to local O2 gradients under hypoxic conditions. Current evidence indicates that the mitochondrial distribution is a component of the differentiated phenotype of adult mammalian cells and that specific motors and anchoring mechanisms are present to allow redistribution in response to developmental, physiological and pathological challenges. To compare the importance of resistance to O2 transfer under different conditions and at different sites along the supply path in vivo, a simple mathematical expression of relative resistance to O2 supply is introduced. Under various pathophysiological conditions, this resistance increases in specific regions of the pulmonary, circulatory or cellular supply path and results in O2 deficiency in the mitochondria. Regardless of cause, the relative resistance increases dramatically in the vicinity of mitochondrial clusters during hypoxia.