Wnt-beta-catenin signaling initiates taste papilla development

Fungiform taste papillae form a regular array on the dorsal tongue. Taste buds arise from papilla epithelium and, unusually for epithelial derivatives, synapse with neurons, release neurotransmitters and generate receptor and action potentials. Despite the importance of taste as one of our five senses, genetic analyses of taste papilla and bud development are lacking. We demonstrate that Wnt-beta-catenin signaling is activated in developing fungiform placodes and taste bud cells. A dominant stabilizing mutation of epithelial beta-catenin causes massive overproduction of enlarged fungiform papillae and taste buds. Likewise, genetic deletion of epithelial beta-catenin or inhibition of Wnt-beta-catenin signaling by ectopic dickkopf1 (Dkk1) blocks initiation of fungiform papilla morphogenesis. Ectopic papillae are innervated in the stabilizing beta-catenin mutant, whereas ectopic Dkk1 causes absence of lingual epithelial innervation. Thus, Wnt-beta-catenin signaling is critical for fungiform papilla and taste bud development. Altered regulation of this pathway may underlie evolutionary changes in taste papilla patterning.     

Information processing along the course of a visual interneuron.

Locust ocellar retinal cells are innervated by giant second order cells, 2 mm long, which show discrete zones of integration along their course, including a major zone in the axonal length of the neuron. The complex synaptic arrangements which exist between higher-order afferent and efferent cells and these second order cells along their course suggests that transmission takes place by the electrotonic spread of slow potentials. The size and accessibility of these visual interneurons offers a unique preparation for examining mechanisms of graded synaptic transmission.     

Effect of ethanol on toxicity and metabolism of amphetamine in the mouse.

Ethanol, 3 g/kg i.p., did not significantly alter the acute toxicity of amphetamine in the mouse. However, the urinary metabolite pattern was changed, suggesting that ethanol suppressed metabolism of the stimulant during the initial 6 h period. After 24 h, the mouse metabolized the same fraction of a given dose of amphetamine, whether it was given as amphetamine alone or amphetamine mixed with 2,3 or 4 g/kg ethanol.     

基于Pathfinder和虚拟现实的民用机库应急疏散仿真

为了预防机库火灾严重威胁人们的生命安全,且为火灾疏散研究提供更好的实验平台,本文基于Pathfinder建立大型民用机库的疏散仿真模型,根据真实人体参数设置人员性别、身高、肩宽、移动速度等属性,通过计算机模拟得出人员疏散路径和疏散时间,并参照Pathfinder模拟结果选用Unity3D引擎进行虚拟现实环境搭建、交互设计和Agent模型的构建,开发机库虚拟现实应急疏散仿真系统。在群体疏散模拟子模块中模拟8种不同起火位置的疏散情况,并在单人疏散演练子模块中,邀请10位测试者,在机库虚拟环境中选取6个不同的初始位置,进行了5轮疏散测试,结果表明：虚拟现实环境中的模拟结果与Pathfinder模拟结果接近,验证了虚拟现实疏散仿真系统模拟的有效性;单人疏散演练中测试者经过两到三轮练习,疏散时间明显缩短并趋于稳定,验证虚拟现实疏散演练系统可帮助用户提升应急疏散能力。     

一类非线性二层规划的Frank-Wolfe方法

利用下层问题的K-T最优性条件将下层为线性规划的一类非线性二层规划转化为相应的单层规划,同时取互补条件为罚项,得到该类问题的单层罚问题;然后利用Frank-Wolfe方法对单层罚问题进行求解.数值实验表明该方法是可行的.     

基于智能算法的多水源泵站在线优化控制技术

在供水系统实际运行过程中,调度人员往往根据实际需求,在当前水泵运行状态的基础上开启或关闭一台水泵,以调节管网中的压力和流量.人工经验的调度方式难以充分反映并结合管网中压力、流量的变化及实际需求,进而及时作出科学决策.针对此问题,提出了多水源泵站在线优化控制技术,建立了基于直接优化调度方法的在线优化控制模型,采用智能优化算法进行了求解,并确立了四项方案评价指标对在线优化控制方案进行评价.将所建立的模型,应用于南方城市供水系统在线优化控制中,验证了其实用性,并编制了相应的计算程序软件.     

飞行巡线机器人悬停控制系统仿真与设计

针对通讯线路和电力传输线快速发展的趋势,提出使用旋翼直升机作为飞行式巡线机器人的设想。在刚体、非完整假设和飞行原理基础上,建立了巡线机器人以翻滚、俯仰和偏航角为广义坐标的动力学方程。采用线性化方法得到以三个姿态量为输出,以俯仰、翻滚通道输入量、旋翼升力和尾桨配平力为控制输入的悬停状态空间和控制方程。同时,使用极点配置法得到所需的控制输入,并设计了以TMS320F2812DSP为主控芯片的控制系统。Matlab仿真和实验证实了本方法的可行性和易实现性。     

一种改善雷达收发隔离的新方法

针对连续波体制雷达的特点,提出了采用光子晶体高阻表面提高雷达收发隔离的新方法.该方法利用光子晶体频率带隙与周期结构尺寸之间的关系,可灵活设计出雷达工作频段的高阻表面.将光子晶体高阻表面加装到某型连续波雷达的天线上,提高雷达收发隔离度达15 dB,证明了该方法的有效性.