Betaine homocysteine S-methyltransferase: just a regulator of homocysteine metabolism?

Betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT), a Zn²⁺-dependent thiolmethyltransferase, contributes to the regulation of homocysteine levels, increases in which are considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Most plasma homocysteine is generated through the liver methionine cycle, in which BHMT metabolizes approximately 25% of this non-protein amino acid. This process allows recovery of one of the three methylation equivalents used in phosphatidylcholine synthesis through transmethylation, a major homocysteine-producing pathway. Although BHMT has been known for over 40 years, the difficulties encountered in its isolation precluded detailed studies until very recently. Thus, the last 10 years, since the sequence became available, have yielded extensive structural and functional data. Moreover, recent findings offer clues for potential new functions for BHMT. The purpose of this review is to provide an integrated view of the knowledge available on BHMT, and to analyze its putative roles in other processes through interactions uncover to date. Received 26 May 2006; received after revision 3 July 2006; accepted 24 August 2006     

Cholera toxin structure, gene regulation and pathophysiological and immunological aspects

Many notions regarding the function, structure and regulation of cholera toxin expression have remained essentially unaltered in the last 15 years. At the same time, recent findings have generated additional perspectives. For example, the cholera toxin genes are now known to be carried by a non-lytic bacteriophage, a previously unsuspected condition. Understanding of how the expression of cholera toxin genes is controlled by the bacterium at the molecular level has advanced significantly and relationships with cell-density-associated (quorum-sensing) responses have recently been discovered. Regarding the cell intoxication process, the mode of entry and intracellular transport of cholera toxin are becoming clearer. In the immunological field, the strong oral immunogenicity of the non-toxic B subunit of cholera toxin (CTB) has been exploited in the development of a now widely licensed oral cholera vaccine. Additionally, CTB has been shown to induce tolerance against co-administered (linked) foreign antigens in some autoimmune and allergic diseases. Received 25 October 2007; accepted 12 December 2007     

六垛南闸闸下淤积现状分析

针对我国在滨海河口地区修建的挡潮闸在河口建闸后普遍存在的泥沙淤积问题,根据苏北灌溉总渠入海口六垛南闸等处的实测资料,分析该挡潮闸下潮汐引河通道冲淤特性,指出挡潮闸下引河的潮流特性、潮流挟沙特性及引河淤积的原因。认为对闸门进行科学合理的控制、有效利用上游有限的泄水量和闸下落潮水流拖淤来防淤减淤是较为简便易行且经济的措施。     

淮北滨海地区生土农田养分产投分析

在江苏淮地区的新垦土生荒土上,对水稻－小麦－水稻、水稻－油菜－水稻、水稻－绿肥－水稻３种种植模式不同施肥下的氮、磷、钾产投入与土壤肥力关系进行了分析,结果表明：在生荒土上,随着各植年限的增加,氮、磷的产股比有 大的提高。三季种植后,土壤有机质净增量与有机质投入量,总投氮与土壤全氮、碱解氮,总投磷量与土训速 效磷,总投钾量与速效钾呈显著正相,肥料投入对土土壤肥力演变起决定性作用,表６,参１２。     

根据“全口径”投入产出表编制信息投入产出表的矩阵方法及应用

提出一种基于“全口径”投入产出表编制信息投入产出表的矩阵算法 ,它可以大大简化编表过程 .     

动态惩罚机制下互联网金融平台行为及监管策略的演化博弈分析

运用演化博弈理论研究了互联网金融平台行为及监管策略的博弈演化过程,系统考察了互联网金融平台行为及监管博弈过程的影响因素,并重点对固定惩罚机制和动态惩罚机制下互联网金融平台行为及其监管策略博弈均衡进行了比较.研究表明,固定惩罚机制下,互联网金融平台和金融监管机构的博弈过程不能达到稳定的均衡状态,两个群体的行为呈现周期模式.动态惩罚机制下,互联网金融平台和金融监管机构间的博弈演化轨迹呈螺旋收敛的趋势;互联网金融平台的"自律"的初始概率不同,其随时间演化收敛到不同的均衡值;提高最重惩罚度上限,互联网金融平台选择"自律"行为策略的概率增加.     

管路动态对车桥加载系统的影响

本文以车辆轮桥二次调节加载系统为研究对象,建立了考虑管路动态的系统键合图模型。分析研究了管路动态对轮桥二次调节加栽系统性能的影响。通过仿真分析找出了管路液溶、液感、液阻对轮桥加载系统性能的影响规律,为进一步完善和提高车辆轮桥二次调节加载系统性能提供了可靠依据。     

水肥高效利用灌排系统调控面临的问题研究

通过调查我国水肥利用的现状,指出我国农业水利中干旱缺水、非点源污染、水资源利用率低下和灌排系统不配套等问题,提出灌区水肥高效利用需深入研究的热点问题,对探讨水肥高效利用和灌排系统管理理论,指导我国灌排系统精量调控,以最少的水肥投入量获取最佳的灌区产量和经济及生态环境效益,具有重要意义.     

Microstructures and nanostructures of high Andean Penaincisalia lycaenid butterfly scales (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): descriptions and interpretations

The scales of one high Andean eumaeine lycaenid butterfly species with pale dorsal coloration and four species with vivid dorsal colour were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy. The micro‐ and nanostructures are illustrated, described, measured, and interpreted. The vivid colours in the species are caused by a pepper‐pot nanostructure of Urania‐type scales. This nanostructure is a three‐dimensional lattice within the body of the individual scale. The scales of the non‐vivid orange species are lacking this nanostructure and the surfaces of their scales show high microstructure irregularities. This absence of vivid colour may be correlated with thermal regulation. The irregularity of the scale microstructures suggests a heavy environmental pressure on the populations sampled. Previously unknown structural variations of Urania‐type scales are also described. The existence of closed scale microcell structures, explained as an apomorphic character in the tribe Eumaeini, most probably evolved independently several times. It is hypothesized that scale micro‐ and nanostructure modifications develop syntopically within a population, which in turn can lead to rapid diversification.     

网络化控制系统连续动态输出反馈控制器设计

研究一类网络化控制系统的连续动态输出反馈控制器的设计问题.假设网络化控制系统的被控对象为一个定常时滞系统,其网络诱导时滞是随机的且小于一个采样周期的情况下,将此类网络化控制系统模型化为一个混合系统.然后采用李亚普诺夫函数、线性矩阵不等式的方法推导出了该网络化控制系统渐近稳定的充分条件.根据此充分条件,给定一个等式约束,然后通过求解一组线性矩阵不等式,获得了连续动态输出反馈镇定控制器.最后给出一个具体的数值和仿真实例说明了此设计方法是有效的.