Where, when and how much: regulation of myelin proteolipid protein gene expression

The myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) gene (Plp) encodes the most abundant protein found in myelin from the central nervous system (CNS). Expression of the gene is regulated in a spatiotemporal manner with maximal levels of expression occurring in oligodendrocytes during the active myelination period of CNS development, although other cell types in the CNS as well as in the periphery can express the gene to a much lower degree. In oligodendrocytes, Plp gene expression is tightly regulated. Underexpression or overexpression of the gene has been shown to have adverse effects in humans and other vertebrates. In light of this strict control, this review provides an overview of the current knowledge of Plp gene regulation.Received 4 August 2003; received after revision 17 September 2003; accepted 24 September 2003     

Polarization of immunity induced by direct injection of naked sequence-stabilized mRNA vaccines

In the context of developing a safe genetic vaccination strategy we tested and studied globin-stabilized mRNA-based vaccination in mice. This vaccination strategy has the advantages of genetic vaccination (easy production, adaptability to any disease and inexpensive storage when lyophilized), but not the drawbacks of DNA vaccination (long-term uncontrolled expression of a transgene, possibility of integration into the host genome and possible induction of anti-DNA antibodies). We report here that injection of naked -globin untranslated region (UTR)-stabilized mRNA coding for -galactosidase is followed by detectable translation in vivo. In addition, we show that such a vaccination strategy primes a T helper 2 (Th2) type of response which can be enhanced and shifted to a Th1-type immune response by application of recombinant granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 day after mRNA injection. Our data demonstrate that the administration of globin UTR-stabilized mRNA is a versatile vaccination strategy that can be manipulated to fit the requirement of antiviral, antibacterial or antitumor immunity.Received 14 June 2004; received after revision 19 July 2004; accepted 9 August 2004     

Constructing three-dimension space graph for outlier detection algorithms in data mining

Outlier detection has very important applied value in data mining literature. Different outlier detection algorithms based on distinct theories have different definitions and mining processes. The three-dimensional space graph for constructing applied algorithms and an improved GridOf algorithm were proposed in terms of analyzing the existing outlier detection algorithms from criterion and theory.     

须条与长丝间距对Sirofil成纱结构性能的影响

分析了Sirofil纺纱过程中“V”形区的动态变化及粗纱须条与长丝间距大小对“V”形区形状和单纱受力的影响,认为间距增大会使“V”形区夹角增大、单纱段长度变长,并以此为依据,保持其他工艺参数不变,改变粗纱与长丝间距大小,试纺Sirofil纱,通过理论分析和实验比较讨论间距大小对Sirofil成纱结构性能的影响。结果表明：随着间距增大,成纱直径系数趋小、毛羽减少、强伸性与条干均呈非单调性变化;综合考虑成纱结构和性能,在其他参数相同时,Sirofil最佳成纱间距为12～16mm。     

Crosstalk model and estimation formula for VLSI interconnect wires

We develop an interconnect crosstalk estimation model on the assumption of linearity for CMOS device. First, we analyze the terminal response of RC model on the worst condition from the S field to the time domain. The exact 3 order coefficients in S field are obtained due to the interconnect tree model. Based on this, a crosstalk peak estimation formula is presented. Unlike other crosstalk equations in the literature, this formula is only used coupled capacitance and grand capacitance as parameter. Experimental results show that, compared with the SPICE results, the estimation formulae are simple and accurate. So the model is expected to be used in such fields as layout-driven logic and high level synthesis, performance-driven floorplanning and interconnect planning.     

Thyroid hormone controls carnitine status through modifications of γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase activity and gene expression

The carnitine system plays a key role in β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids by permitting their transport into the mitochondrial matrix. The effects of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism were studied on γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase (BBH), the enzyme responsible for carnitine biosynthesis in the rat. In rat liver, BBH activity was decreased in the hypothyroid state and increased in hyperthyroid animals. The modifications in BBH activity correlated with changes in the enzyme Vmax values. These changes were shown to be related to hepatic BBH mRNA abundance. Thyroid hormones are known to interact with lipid metabolism, in particular by increasing long-chain fatty acid oxidation through activation of carnitine-dependent fatty acid import into mitochondria. Our study showed that thyroid hormones also increased carnitine bioavailability. Received 23 October 2001; received after revision 11 January 2002; accepted 15 January 2002     

立体车库钢结构系统失效树分析及软件研制

基于有限元理论 ,结合优化准则法 ,提出了立体停车库钢结构系统失效树理论分析方法 ,开发了计算软件FTA ,算例结果表明 :根据结构规模和具体特征选择合理的控制参数 ,不仅可以提高计算效率 ,而且可以保证计算的准确性 ;失效树中第一个失效元件是导致其余元件失效的根源 ,加强第一个失效元件 ,是保证结构系统不失效的最合理、最经济的方法 ;本文提出的分析计算方法及其软件FTA是有效的。     

Porcine factor V: cDNA cloning, gene mapping, three-dimensional protein modeling of membrane binding sites and comparative anatomy of domains

Factor V is a plasma protein essential for blood coagulation. This protein is involved in activated protein C resistance, the most common inherited thrombotic disorder known. We utilized the polymerase chain reaction to clone the porcine factor V gene by generating overlapping clones amplified with primers chosen by comparison with known nucleotide sequences. The porcine factor V cDNA contig encodes a predicted 2258-amino acid protein, making it the largest in comparison to the bovine, human, and murine proteins. Porcine factor V has the highest level of homology with bovine factor V, but also has high levels of conservation of important residues with all the species. Radiation hybrid mapping assigned the porcine factor V gene to chromosome 4. Three-dimensional models of factor V were generated and used to analyze membrane-binding sites in terms of conserved, and therefore likely important residues. Received 3 October 2000; revised 23 November 2000; accepted 6 December 2000     

Transformation: a tool for studying fungal pathogens of plants

Plant diseases caused by plant pathogenic fungi continuously threaten the sustainability of global crop production. An effective way to study the disease-causing mechanisms of these organisms is to disrupt their genes, in both a targeted and random manner, so as to isolate mutants exhibiting altered virulence. Although a number of techniques have been employed for such an analysis, those based on transformation are by far the most commonly used. In filamentous fungi, the introduction of DNA by transformation typically results in either the heterologous (illegitimate) integration or the homologous integration of the transforming DNA into the target genome. Homologous integration permits a targeted gene disruption by replacing the wild-type allele on the genome with a mutant allele on transforming DNA. This process has been widely used to determine the role of newly isolated fungal genes in pathogenicity. The heterologous integration of transforming DNA causes a random process of gene disruption (insertional mutagenesis) and has led to the isolation of many fungal mutants defective in pathogenicity. A big advantage of insertional mutagenesis over the more traditional chemical or radiation mutagenesis procedures is that the mutated gene is tagged by transforming DNA and can subsequently be cloned using the transforming DNA. The application of various transformation-based techniques for fungal gene manipulation and how they have increased our understanding and appreciation of some of the most serious plant pathogenic fungi are discussed. Received 9 May 2001; received after revision 2 July 2001; accepted 3 July 2001