Localization of VP4 neutralization sites in rotavirus by three-dimensional cryo-electron microscopy

Three-dimensional structures of several spherical viruses have been determined by electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography. We report here the first three-dimensional structure of the complex between an intact virus and Fab fragments of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody. The antibody is against VP4, one of the two outer capsid proteins of rotaviruses. These large icosahedral viruses cause gastroenteritis in children and young animals and account for over a million human deaths annually. VP4 in these viruses has been implicated in several important functions such as cell penetration, haemagglutination, neutralization and virulence. Here we demonstrate that the surface spikes on rotavirus particles are made up of VP4. Antigenic sites are located near the distal ends of the spikes and two Fab fragments bind to each of the sixty spikes. The mass of the spike indicates that it is a dimer of VP4. The bilobed structure at the distal end of the spike may be involved in both the attachment to the cell and in viral penetration. A novel feature in the virus-Fab complex is the structural difference between the two chemically equivalent Fab fragments on each spike, which could be indicative of variations in the Fab elbow angles.     

Expression of a candidate sex-determining gene during mouse testis differentiation

The development of a eutherian mammal as a male is a consequence of testis formation in the embryo, which is thought to be initiated by a gene on the Y chromosome. In the absence of this gene, ovaries are formed and female characteristics develop. Sex determination therefore hinges on the action of this testis-determining gene, known as Tdy in mice and TDF in humans. In the past, several genes proposed as candidates for Tdy/TDF have subsequently been dismissed on the grounds of inappropriate location or expression. We have recently described a candidate for Tdy, which maps to the minimum sex-determining region of the mouse Y chromosome. To examine further the involvement of this gene, Sry, in testis development, we have studied its expression in detail. Fetal expression of Sry is limited to the period in which testes begin to form. This expression is confined to gonadal tissue and does not require the presence of germ cells. Our observations strongly support a primary role for Sry in mouse sex determination.     

Cloning of a cDNA encoding a non-isopeptide-selective subtype of the endothelin receptor

Endothelin-1 was initially identified as a 21-residue potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced by vascular endothelial cells, but was subsequently found to have many effects on both vascular and non-vascular tissues. The discovery of three isopeptides of the endothelin family, ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3, each possessing a diverse set of pharmacological activities of different potency, suggested the existence of several different endothelin receptor subtypes. Endothelins may elicit biological responses by various signal-transduction mechanisms, including the G protein-coupled activation of phospholipase C and the activation of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Thus, different subtypes of the endothelin receptor may use different signal-transduction mechanisms. Here we report the cloning of a complementary DNA encoding one subtype belonging to the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. COS-7 cells transfected with the cDNA express specific and high-affinity binding sites for endothelins, responding to binding by the production of inositol phosphates and a transient increase in the concentration of intracellular free Ca2+. The three endothelin isopeptides are roughly equipotent in displacing 125I-labelled ET-1 binding and causing Ca2+ mobilization. A messenger RNA corresponding to the cDNA is detected in many rat tissues including the brain, kidney and lung but not in vascular smooth muscle cells. These results indicate that this cDNA encodes a 'nonselective' subtype of the receptor which is different from the vascular smooth muscle receptor.     

Host-parasitoid associations in patchy environments

Studies of insect host-parasitoid interactions have contributed much to the consensus that spatial patchiness is important in the regulation of natural populations. A variety of theoretical models predict that host and parasitoid populations, although unstable in the absence of environmental heterogeneity, may persist at roughly steady overall densities in a patchy environment owing to variation in levels of parasitism from patch to patch. Observed patterns of parasitism, however, have a variety of forms (with variation in attack rates among patches depending directly or indirectly on host density, or showing variation uncorrelated with host density). There is some confusion about the dynamical consequences of these different forms. Here we first show how the dynamical effects of all these forms of environmental heterogeneity can be assessed by a common criterion. This 'CV2 greater than 1 rule' states that the overall population densities will remain roughly steady from generation to generation if the coefficient of variation squared (CV2) of the density of searching parasitoids in the vicinity of each host exceeds approximately unity. By partitioning CV2 into components, we show that both direct and inverse patterns of dependence on host density, and density-independent patterns, all contribute to population regulation in the same way. Second, we show how a maximum-likelihood method can be applied to the kind of field data that are usually available (that is, percentage parasitism versus local host density) to estimate the components of CV2. This analysis indicates that heterogeneity is large enough to stabilize dynamics in 9 of 34 published studies, and that density-independent heterogeneity is the main factor in most cases.     

机床整机建模的自由界面模态综合改进方法之一

对会诸多结合面的复杂机械结构(如机床)的动态分析,由于结合部位的位移不连续性,通常位移协调的动态子结构法已不再适用。本文通过引入联接子结构概念,消除了结合部的位移不连续性,并使各子结构的模态综合步骤与通常的自由界面模态综合法相似,统一了连续结构与具有形变不连续结合面的复杂结构的自由界面子结构法,扩大了自由界面法的适用范围。     

s-单式环的交换性定理(英文)

本文将文献[3]的引理1推广到s-单式环上,并用迭代技术给出文献[4]的定理2一个简易的证明,将若干有1环的交换性定理推广到s-单式环上。     

一类周期拟环的结构

本文得到了拟环满足条件ｘｙ＝ｘｙ￣（ｎ（ｘ，ｙ）ｘ或ｘｙ＝ｙｘ￣（ｎ（ｘ，ｙ）ｙ的分解定理。     

二自由度自谐式机器人动力学的研究

本文对引用弹性元件的二自由度谐式机器人的动力学进行了分析,在该模型中引入了负反馈系统。按预期的机构运动规律和系统的稳定性要求,研究了反馈放大系数的合理选择,并对构件单独和同时运动的仿真图线进行了分析。     

可用于累煤层露天矿山的多周期目标规划模型

本文给出了一个可应用于复合煤层露天矿短期生产计划优化的目标规划模型.模型考虑了与煤质、煤产量及开采程序合理性有关的亏损与盈利.该方法利用了带有客观地确定权重系数的目标规划加权法.文后又给出了一个能说明该模型应用于实际采矿问题的例子.     

Manufacturing''s Roel in Innovation Diffusion and Technological Substitution

Successful innovation management depends upon both, the intrinsic attributes of the new product to be marketed and the firm's internal performance like cost management, timely delivery and quality assurance. The impact of these latter aspects is frequently neglected in the design of models for supporting decision making in innovative firms.A model is outlined to study the market response of different manufacturing policies for innovative goods. It allows e.g. the evaluation of an aggressive strategy with large production capacities from the outset, or a more tentative behavior to. avoid the pressures stemming from high fixed cost and the risks of eventually idle capacity.