Study on Approach for Computer-Aided Design and Machining of General Cylindrical Cam Using Relative Velocity and Inverse Kinematics

Cylindrical Cam Mechanism which is one of the best eq uipments to accomplish an accurate motion transmission is widely used in the fie lds of industries, such as machine tool exchangers, textile machinery and automa tic transfer equipments. This paper proposes a new approach for the shape design and manufacturing of the cylindrical cam. The design approach uses the relative velocity concept and the manufacturing approach uses the inverse kinematics concept. For the shape desig n, the contact points betw...     

Mimicking unfolding motion of a beetle hind wing

This paper presents an experimental research aiming to realize an artificial hind wing that can mimic the wing unfolding motion of AIIomyrina dichotoma, an insect in coleopteran order. Based on the understanding of working principles of beetle wing folding/unfolding mechanisms, the hind wing unfolding motion is mimicked by a combination of creative ideas and state-of-art artificial muscle actuator. In this work, we devise two types of artificial wings and the successfully demonstrate that they can be unfolded by actuation of shape memory alloy wires to provide actuation force at the wing base and along the leading edge vein. The folding/unfolding mechanisms may provide an insight for portable nano/micro air vehicles with morphing wings.     

Recent advances in hydrogen storage technologies based on nanoporous carbon materials

Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier that can potentially facilitate a transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources without producing harmful by-products. Prior to realizing a hydrogen economy, however, viable hydrogen storage materials must be developed. Physical adsorption in porous solids provides an opportunity for hydrogen storage under low-stringency conditions. Physically adsorbed hydrogen molecules are weakly bound to a surface and, hence, are easily released. Among the various surface candidates, porous carbons appear to provide efficient hydrogen storage, with the advantages that porous carbon is relatively low-cost to produce and is easily prepared. In this review, we summarize the preparation methods, pore characteristics, and hydrogen storage capacities of representative nanoporous carbons, including activated carbons, zeolite-templated carbon, and carbide-derived carbon. We focus particularly on a series of nanoporous carbons developed recently: metal–organic framework-derived carbons, which exhibit promising properties for use in hydrogen storage applications.     

应用扩展的Monod模型关联醋酸菌比生长速率

应用扩展的Ｍｏｎｏｄ模型关联了醋酸菌ＩＡＭ１８０２和Ｍ２３的比生长速率，ＩＡＭ１８０２的比生长速率关联式为μ＝０．４８７（１－ＣＰ／２３．８）＾０．２４８ＣＡ／ＣＭ＋ＣＡ；Ｍ２３的关联式为μ＝０．５６８（１－ＣＰ／６１．０）＾０．３０６ＣＡ／ＣＭ＋ＣＡ除临界生长抑制剂浓度附近外，模型良好地表达了两种醋力的比生长速率。     

BAI1 is an engulfment receptor for apoptotic cells upstream of the ELMO/Dock180/Rac module

Engulfment and subsequent degradation of apoptotic cells is an essential step that occurs throughout life in all multicellular organisms. ELMO/Dock180/Rac proteins are a conserved signalling module for promoting the internalization of apoptotic cell corpses; ELMO and Dock180 function together as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for the small GTPase Rac, and thereby regulate the phagocyte actin cytoskeleton during engulfment. However, the receptor(s) upstream of the ELMO/Dock180/Rac module are still unknown. Here we identify brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) as a receptor upstream of ELMO and as a receptor that can bind phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cells. BAI1 is a seven-transmembrane protein belonging to the adhesion-type G-protein-coupled receptor family, with an extended extracellular region and no known ligands. We show that BAI1 functions as an engulfment receptor in both the recognition and subsequent internalization of apoptotic cells. Through multiple lines of investigation, we identify phosphatidylserine, a key 'eat-me' signal exposed on apoptotic cells, as a ligand for BAI1. The thrombospondin type 1 repeats within the extracellular region of BAI1 mediate direct binding to phosphatidylserine. As with intracellular signalling, BAI1 forms a trimeric complex with ELMO and Dock180, and functional studies suggest that BAI1 cooperates with ELMO/Dock180/Rac to promote maximal engulfment of apoptotic cells. Last, decreased BAI1 expression or interference with BAI1 function inhibits the engulfment of apoptotic targets ex vivo and in vivo. Thus, BAI1 is a phosphatidylserine recognition receptor that can directly recruit a Rac-GEF complex to mediate the uptake of apoptotic cells.     

CD1-restricted T-cell responses and microbial infection

CD1, a conserved family of major histocompatibility (MHC)-like glycoproteins in mammals, specializes in capturing lipid rather than peptide antigen for presentation to T lymphocytes. The principles and mechanisms of this newly discovered immune strategy differ markedly from those governing classical MHC-peptide presentation. They might be exploited for the design of new lipid-based microbial vaccines and adjuvants.     

Birth of parthenogenetic mice that can develop to adulthood

Only mammals have relinquished parthenogenesis, a means of producing descendants solely from maternal germ cells. Mouse parthenogenetic embryos die by day 10 of gestation. Bi-parental reproduction is necessary because of parent-specific epigenetic modification of the genome during gametogenesis. This leads to unequal expression of imprinted genes from the maternal and paternal alleles. However, there is no direct evidence that genomic imprinting is the only barrier to parthenogenetic development. Here we show the development of a viable parthenogenetic mouse individual from a reconstructed oocyte containing two haploid sets of maternal genome, derived from non-growing and fully grown oocytes. This development was made possible by the appropriate expression of the Igf2 and H19 genes with other imprinted genes, using mutant mice with a 13-kilobase deletion in the H19 gene as non-growing oocytes donors. This full-term development is associated with a marked reduction in aberrantly expressed genes. The parthenote developed to adulthood with the ability to reproduce offspring. These results suggest that paternal imprinting prevents parthenogenesis, ensuring that the paternal contribution is obligatory for the descendant.     

Comprehensive analysis of the chromatin landscape in Drosophila melanogaster

Chromatin is composed of DNA and a variety of modified histones and non-histone proteins, which have an impact on cell differentiation, gene regulation and other key cellular processes. Here we present a genome-wide chromatin landscape for Drosophila melanogaster based on eighteen histone modifications, summarized by nine prevalent combinatorial patterns. Integrative analysis with other data (non-histone chromatin proteins, DNase I hypersensitivity, GRO-Seq reads produced by engaged polymerase, short/long RNA products) reveals discrete characteristics of chromosomes, genes, regulatory elements and other functional domains. We find that active genes display distinct chromatin signatures that are correlated with disparate gene lengths, exon patterns, regulatory functions and genomic contexts. We also demonstrate a diversity of signatures among Polycomb targets that include a subset with paused polymerase. This systematic profiling and integrative analysis of chromatin signatures provides insights into how genomic elements are regulated, and will serve as a resource for future experimental investigations of genome structure and function.