沥青混合料级配集料的分形特性

基于分形理论,对沥青混合料级配集料的分形特性进行了研究,探讨了集料颗粒、集料粒径分布、集料质量级配以及集料体积的分维等.研究结果表明:分维值可以用来定量地描述沥青混合料中集料的复杂外观结构,在双对数坐标下集料颗粒周长与面积呈现线性关系,相同集料(同料源)不同级配的集料颗粒具有近似相同的分维,相同集料不同截面具有相同的分维,不同集料(不同料源)表现出不同的分维;分维值也可以用来定量地描述沥青混合料中集料粒径分布、集料质量分布、集料体积分布以及集料的空隙率等,集料质量级配分维值越大,其级配就越粗.     

仿生六足机器人步态规划策略实验研究

采用日本弓背蚁进行常规步态实验学研究和仿生学探索,通过对高速数字摄像机采样结果的判断和分析,发现了蚂蚁后足的滑行过程并定义为“滑动相“.此外,还针对蚂蚁直线前进步态给出了合理的步态关系表达式,通过与周期规则步态的对比证明了该式的现实可行性,为仿生六足机器人进行周期不规则步态的规划奠定了理论基础.所采用的实验学研究和仿生学探索相结合的方法能有效提高仿生机器人的技术水平.     

TAPP与DNA作用的共振光散射光谱校正

用吸收装置改变荧光分光光度计入射光的光路,获得光源的强度光谱和样品的透光光谱,并在同一台仪器上建立一种简单的分离表观吸收光谱中吸收和散射成分的方法.通过对TAPP(α,β,γ,δ-四-(对三甲氨基苯基)卟啉)与DNA作用的共振光散射光谱进行校正,结果表明,校正表观分子吸收后,灵敏度提高了2倍左右.校正仪器影响后,从F-2500和F-4500荧光分光光度计获得表观吸收光谱中分离出的TAPP与DNA作用的散射成分,其形状基本一致.     

Defining G protein-coupled receptor peptide ligand expressomes and signalomes in human and mouse islets

Introduction

Islets synthesise and secrete numerous peptides, some of which are known to be important regulators of islet function and glucose homeostasis. In this study, we quantified mRNAs encoding all peptide ligands of islet G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in isolated human and mouse islets and carried out in vitro islet hormone secretion studies to provide functional confirmation for the species-specific role of peptide YY (PYY) in mouse islets.

Materials and methods

GPCR peptide ligand mRNAs in human and mouse islets were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR relative to the reference genes ACTB, GAPDH, PPIA, TBP and TFRC. The pathways connecting GPCR peptide ligands with their receptors were identified by manual searches in the PubMed, IUPHAR and Ingenuity databases. Distribution of PYY protein in mouse and human islets was determined by immunohistochemistry. Insulin, glucagon and somatostatin secretion from islets was measured by radioimmunoassay.

Results

We have quantified GPCR peptide ligand mRNA expression in human and mouse islets and created specific signalomes mapping the pathways by which islet peptide ligands regulate human and mouse GPCR signalling. We also identified species-specific islet expression of several GPCR ligands. In particular, PYY mRNA levels were ~ 40,000-fold higher in mouse than human islets, suggesting a more important role of locally secreted Pyy in mouse islets. This was confirmed by IHC and functional experiments measuring insulin, glucagon and somatostatin secretion.

Discussion

The detailed human and mouse islet GPCR peptide ligand atlases will allow accurate translation of mouse islet functional studies for the identification of GPCR/peptide signalling pathways relevant for human physiology, which may lead to novel treatment modalities of diabetes and metabolic disease.

     

Blockage of the NLRP3 inflammasome by MCC950 improves anti-tumor immune responses in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The NLRP3 inflammasome is a critical innate immune pathway responsible for producing active interleukin (IL)-1β, which is associated with tumor development and immunity. However, the mechanisms regulating the inflammatory microenvironment, tumorigenesis and tumor immunity are unclear. Herein, we show that the NLRP3 inflammasome was over-expressed in human HNSCC tissues and that the IL-1β concentration was increased in the peripheral blood of HNSCC patients. Additionally, elevated NLRP3 inflammasome levels were detected in tumor tissues of Tgfbr1/Pten 2cKO HNSCC mice, and elevated IL-1β levels were detected in the peripheral blood serum, spleen, draining lymph nodes and tumor tissues. Blocking NLRP3 inflammasome activation using MCC950 remarkably reduced IL-1β production in an HNSCC mouse model and reduced the numbers of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Moreover, inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation increased the numbers of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in HNSCC mice. Notably, the numbers of exhausted PD-1⁺ and Tim3⁺ T cells were significantly reduced. A human HNSCC tissue microarray showed that NLRP3 inflammasome expression was correlated with the expression of CD8 and CD4, the Treg marker Foxp3, the MDSC markers CD11b and CD33, and the TAM markers CD68 and CD163, PD-1 and Tim3. Overall, our results demonstrate that the NLRP3 inflammasome/IL-1β pathway promotes tumorigenesis in HNSCC and inactivation of this pathway delays tumor growth, accompanied by decreased immunosuppressive cell accumulation and an increased number of effector T cells. Thus, inhibition of the tumor microenvironment through the NLRP3 inflammasome/IL-1β pathway may provide a novel approach for HNSCC therapy.     

Gene silencing in cancer by histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation independent of promoter DNA methylation

Epigenetic silencing in cancer cells is mediated by at least two distinct histone modifications, polycomb-based histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27triM) and H3K9 dimethylation. The relationship between DNA hypermethylation and these histone modifications is not completely understood. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation microarrays (ChIP-chip) in prostate cancer cells compared to normal prostate, we found that up to 5% of promoters (16% CpG islands and 84% non-CpG islands) were enriched with H3K27triM. These genes were silenced specifically in prostate cancer, and those CpG islands affected showed low levels of DNA methylation. Downregulation of the EZH2 histone methyltransferase restored expression of the H3K27triM target genes alone or in synergy with histone deacetylase inhibition, without affecting promoter DNA methylation, and with no effect on the expression of genes silenced by DNA hypermethylation. These data establish EZH2-mediated H3K27triM as a mechanism of tumor-suppressor gene silencing in cancer that is potentially independent of promoter DNA methylation.     

一种脉冲压缩信号旁瓣抑制方法

给出了一种在脉冲压缩技术中实现低的压缩脉冲距离旁瓣的方法,由希望的压缩脉冲波形来设计加权滤波器。导出了可实现低的压缩脉冲距离旁瓣的条件。实验用声表面波(SAW)器件实现时,对线性调频信号,其压缩脉冲最大主旁瓣比为50dB。而用数字方法实现时,压缩脉冲最大旁瓣电平还受A/D及D/A变换器位数的限制。     

任意结构阵列基于高阶累积量的信号频率和二维角联合估计算法

提出了一种基于高阶累积量的信号频率和二维角估计算法。假设阵列中存在3个特性完全一致的阵元,此时使用高阶累积量实现的阵列虚拟展宽相当于存在两个和实际阵列相同的虚拟平移阵列,因而在其它阵元位置和响应特性未知的情况下也能实现空间信号频率和二维角估计。推导了使用PRO-ESPRIT算法实现联合估计的过程,并给出了相应的信号配对方法,计算机模拟结果证实了该算法的有效性。     

从线粒体DNA控制区基因探讨红腹锦鸡和白腹锦鸡的分类关系

用聚合链式反应(PCR)和直接测序的方法测定红腹锦鸡(Chrysolophus pictus)和白腹锦鸡(C.amherstiae)各5个样本线粒体DNA控制区的468 bp的序列,共发现26个变异位点.红腹锦鸡的序列变异率为0.90%,白腹锦鸡的序列变异率是0.17%,两者差异极显著.红腹锦鸡和白腹锦鸡的3种碱基(A,T,C)含量差异显著.根据Kumar双参数法计算两种锦鸡的遗传距离为0.035±0.008,按线粒体DNA控制区的进化速率2%/Myr计算,它们的分歧进化的时间大约是(1.75±0.40)Myr,结果支持它们是两个独立的种.红腹锦鸡和白腹锦鸡可能分别起源于秦岭以南地区和横断山脉.