Thyrotropin receptor and membrane interactions in FRTL-5 thyroid cell strain in microgravity

The aim of this work was to analyze the possible alteration of thyrotropin (TSH) receptors in microgravity, which could explain the absence of thyroid cell proliferation in the space environment. Several forms of the TSH receptor are localized on the plasma membrane associated with caveolae and lipid rafts. The TSH regulates the fluidity of the cell membrane and the presence of its receptors in microdomains that are rich in sphingomyelin and cholesterol. TSH also stimulates cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation and cell proliferation. Reported here are the results of an experiment in which the FRTL-5 thyroid cell line was exposed to microgravity during the Texus-44 mission (launched February 7, 2008, from Kiruna, Sweden). When the parabolic flight brought the sounding rocket to an altitude of 264?km, the culture media were injected with or without TSH in the different samples, and weightlessness prevailed on board for 6 minutes and 19 seconds. Control experiments were performed, in parallel, in an onboard 1g centrifuge and on the ground in Kiruna laboratory. Cell morphology and function were analyzed. Results show that in microgravity conditions the cells do not respond to TSH treatment and present an irregular shape with condensed chromatin, a modification of the cell membrane with shedding of the TSH receptor in the culture medium, and an increase of sphingomyelin-synthase and Bax proteins. It is possible that real microgravity induces a rearrangement of specific sections of the cell membrane, which act as platforms for molecular receptors, thus influencing thyroid cell function in astronauts during space missions.     

固体推进剂的非线性结构模型

在大多数固体推进剂特性的线性和非线性理论中,一个主要的缺陷在于忽略了内部损伤。对于那些已引出损伤参数的非线性理论,数值常数与推进剂的物理性质无关。而且,这些理论具有如此复杂的性质以至于要完成一个庞大的实验测试程序。已经提出了一个表示固体推进剂性质的简单方法。这个方法以一个基本定律为基础,该定律用一个应力衰减函数修正粘弹表达式。根据单轴试验数据,可用衰减函数表示推进剂的非线性性质。在卸载期损伤的表达式中,这个方法比过去的方法显示出重大的改进。分别定义松弛和再加载为过去最大应力的正态函数。利用这种方法对复杂的过程进行了预测,而且实测应力与预测应力很接近。     

第三章 带有动力传动装置的行星式液压振动器

行星式液压振动器与惯性振动器有关,在这种振动器内部被作成实心、空心或在液压缸的端头带凸肩的工作元件(转子)多半沿壳体内的圆形轨道滚动。这种振动器的扰动力直接在接触点由转子传给壳体。这使得人们有可能在合理地选择材料和正确计算的情况下,制造出扰动力很大、非常坚固耐用和其它类型振动器无法达到的振动器。内装式结构方案有很高的可靠性和很长的工作寿命,因其内部不存在机械传动装置。     

一种大变形多空间域连续体结构拓扑优化方法

针对大变形非线性结构拓扑优化问题,提出了基于混合细胞自动机(HCA, Hybrid Cellular Automata)多空间域连续体结构拓扑优化方法;采用密度法,建立了单元相对密度表示的材料弹-塑性模型;以单元相对密度和应变能作为细胞自动机(CA,Cellular Automata)的状态信息,利用CA局部控制规则,修改相对密度,迭代实现各设计空间域应变能均匀分布;设计了多空间域拓扑优化HCA算法,采取多个对象同时耦合优化迭代,各自收敛策略,解决了多空间域优化迭代算法收敛稳定性问题;最后,以汽车保险杆结构横梁和支撑等两个设计空间为例,施加大变形动态载荷作用,对提出的多空间结构优化算法进行了验证,优化后结构有效地降低了碰撞作用力峰值达54％,提高了结构安全性.     

Can identification of a fourth domain of life be made from sequence data alone, and could it be done on Mars?

A central question in astrobiology is whether life exists elsewhere in the universe. If so, is it related to Earth life? Technologies exist that enable identification of DNA- or RNA-based microbial life directly from environmental samples here on Earth. Such technologies could, in principle, be applied to the search for life elsewhere; indeed, efforts are underway to initiate such a search. However, surveying for nucleic acid-based life on other planets, if attempted, must be carried out with caution, owing to the risk of contamination by Earth-based life. Here we argue that the null hypothesis must be that any DNA discovered and sequenced from samples taken elsewhere in the universe are Earth-based contaminants. Experience from studies of low-biomass ancient DNA demonstrates that some results, by their very nature, will not enable complete rejection of the null hypothesis. In terms of eliminating contamination as an explanation of the data, there may be value in identification of sequences that lie outside the known diversity of the three domains of life. We therefore have examined whether a fourth domain could be readily identified from environmental DNA sequence data alone. We concluded that, even on Earth, this would be far from trivial, and we illustrate this point by way of examples drawn from the literature. Overall, our conclusions do not bode well for planned PCR-based surveys for life on Mars, and we argue that other independent biosignatures will be essential in corroborating any claims for the presence of life based on nucleic acid sequences.     

复杂产品项目管理中技术成熟度等级的梯度化发展研究

本文综述了技术成熟度等级的发展历史,并分析了9级技术成熟度等级的差异化应用及研发过程中的阶段特征,为复杂产品项目研发管理中的技术成熟度等级实际应用提供参考。     

失落了的文明

在气候炎热的危地马拉丛林中,一群人在血红色的大金字塔下站了好几个小时.他们一动不动.所有的目光都集中在塔顶的石刻上.在那儿,国王的头上佩带着翎毛,一手持一柄双首鳄节杖,正要从留有祖先信息的神堂中现身而出.这群人虽然看不到国王的动态、却懂得这种宗教仪式的奥秘:通过服用致幻药飘飘然地进入阴间.国王会使用黑曜岩刀片或鱼脊骨,刺穿他自己的阴茎.随即掏出一根绳子穿过伤口,让血液沥到几张树皮纸上.然后他拿起带血的树皮纸将它点燃,从缕缕上升的烟雾中金蛇飞舞的幻象便呈现在国王的面前.     

应及时切实地检查原料需要计划系统

在过去的十年里,上千个制造公司在原料需求量计划系统(MRP—material Requir—ment Planning)上,采用了许多新技术。还有些公司不惜花费大量的时间和资金去设计原材料需求量计划系统,但都没有取得预期的效果。虽然企业的效益不断增加,库存量减少了20—40％,功效提高了5—20％,为顾客服务水平提高了10—50％,但大部分公司并     

汉莎开辟新的航空货运市场

汉莎航空公司目前正开拓一些新的国内和国际货运业务,并为此寻找新的货运枢纽和合作伙伴,以便巩固其世界最大定期货运商的地位。 该计划包括收回汉莎在货运分部中的全部股本,使其成为一个独立的经营实体。这是公司为摆脱赤字而采取的重大调整战略的一部分。汉莎管理委员会已同意成立独立的货运公司,并正在与工会进行协商。主要问题是雇员的养老保护问题,目前养老金是由政府提供的。雇员养老保护问