Fras1 deficiency results in cryptophthalmos,renal agenesis and blebbed phenotype in mice

Loss of tight association between epidermis and dermis underlies several blistering disorders and is frequently caused by impaired function of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Here we describe a new protein in mouse, Fras1, that is specifically detected in a linear fashion underlying the epidermis and the basal surface of other epithelia in embryos. Loss of Fras1 function results in the formation of subepidermal hemorrhagic blisters as well as unilateral or bilateral renal agenesis during mouse embryogenesis. Postnatally, homozygous Fras1 mutants have fusion of the eyelids and digits and unilateral renal agenesis or dysplasia. The defects observed in Fras1-/- mice phenocopy those of the existing bl (blebbed) mouse mutants, which have been considered a model for the human genetic disorder Fraser syndrome. We show that bl/bl homozygous embryos are devoid of Fras1 protein, consistent with the finding that Fras1 is mutated in these mice. In sum, our data suggest that perturbations in the composition of the extracellular space underlying epithelia could account for the onset of the blebbed phenotype in mouse and Fraser syndrome manifestation in human.     

大跨网壳结构板式橡胶支座刚度分析

实际工程中,支座是假定固定或铰接,而实际结构则是介于二者之间,常常采用板式橡胶支座．结合实际工程进行了大跨度网壳结构的板式橡胶支座计算与构造设计,采用大型有限元软件ANSYS模拟分析,重点探讨了在均匀施加支座竖向压力不变的情况下,调整水平推力的大小,得到三向最大位移,利用公式计算出各水平推力对应的水平刚度和竖向刚度,得到主要的变化规律,在实际工程可供参考．     

Indian hedgehog is a major mediator of progesterone signaling in the mouse uterus

The hedgehog family of morphogens are regulators of cell proliferation, differentiation and cell-cell communication. These morphogens have been shown to have important roles in organogenesis, spermatogenesis, stem cell maintenance and oncogenesis. Indian hedgehog (encoded by Ihh) has been shown to be expressed in the uterine epithelium under the control of the steroid hormone, progesterone. Although in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that progesterone achieves its effects on uterine function through epithelial-stromal cross-talk, molecular mediator(s) for this cellular communication pathway have not been elucidated. Using new experimental approaches that ablate Ihh specifically in Pgr-positive uterine cells of the mouse, we demonstrate that Ihh is an essential mediator of Pgr action in the uterus, and expression of this factor is critical in mediating the communication between the uterine epithelium and stroma required for embryo implantation.     

Suppression of Notch signalling by the COUP-TFII transcription factor regulates vein identity

Arteries and veins are anatomically, functionally and molecularly distinct. The current model of arterial-venous identity proposes that binding of vascular endothelial growth factor to its heterodimeric receptor--Flk1 and neuropilin 1 (NP-1; also called Nrp1)--activates the Notch signalling pathway in the endothelium, causing induction of ephrin B2 expression and suppression of ephrin receptor B4 expression to establish arterial identity. Little is known about vein identity except that it involves ephrin receptor B4 expression, because Notch signalling is not activated in veins; an unresolved question is how vein identity is regulated. Here, we show that COUP-TFII (also known as Nr2f2), a member of the orphan nuclear receptor superfamily, is specifically expressed in venous but not arterial endothelium. Ablation of COUP-TFII in endothelial cells enables veins to acquire arterial characteristics, including the expression of arterial markers NP-1 and Notch signalling molecules, and the generation of haematopoietic cell clusters. Furthermore, ectopic expression of COUP-TFII in endothelial cells results in the fusion of veins and arteries in transgenic mouse embryos. Thus, COUP-TFII has a critical role in repressing Notch signalling to maintain vein identity, which suggests that vein identity is under genetic control and is not derived by a default pathway.     

Wnt signalling regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis

The generation of new neurons from neural stem cells is restricted to two regions of the adult mammalian central nervous system: the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle, and the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. In both regions, signals provided by the microenvironment regulate the maintenance, proliferation and neuronal fate commitment of the local stem cell population. The identity of these signals is largely unknown. Here we show that adult hippocampal stem/progenitor cells (AHPs) express receptors and signalling components for Wnt proteins, which are key regulators of neural stem cell behaviour in embryonic development. We also show that the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is active and that Wnt3 is expressed in the hippocampal neurogenic niche. Overexpression of Wnt3 is sufficient to increase neurogenesis from AHPs in vitro and in vivo. By contrast, blockade of Wnt signalling reduces neurogenesis from AHPs in vitro and abolishes neurogenesis almost completely in vivo. Our data show that Wnt signalling is a principal regulator of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and provide evidence that Wnt proteins have a role in adult hippocampal function.     

A centrosomal mechanism involving CDK5RAP2 and CENPJ controls brain size

Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly is a potential model in which to research genes involved in human brain growth. We show that two forms of the disorder result from homozygous mutations in the genes CDK5RAP2 and CENPJ. We found neuroepithelial expression of the genes during prenatal neurogenesis and protein localization to the spindle poles of mitotic cells, suggesting that a centrosomal mechanism controls neuron number in the developing mammalian brain.     

半导体封装测试系统的生产能力规划

半导体封装测试生产线的流程复杂，资源多样。其生产能力规划需要解决生产任务在多个工厂的分配．资源在各个工厂优化安排的问题。当生产能力不足时．还需对如何优化地购进资源进行决策。文章介绍了半导体封装测试生产能力规划需要考虑的各个环节．提出生产过程模型单元（PPM）思想，建立了具有流程适应性的线性规划模型．解决了生产能力分配问题。在前一个问题求解结果基础上，还采用派生模型解决了制定资源购进计划的问题。模型已经成功应用在Intel公司的封装测试生产线上，与原来采用的电子表格的能力规划方法比较：实现了计划制订的自动化；规划时间从原来的22小时降低到目前的2小时；资源的优化分配方案帮助减少了资源的购买量，已为企业节约成本约240万美元。