Wireless GPS-based phase-locked synchronization system for outdoor environment

Synchronization of data coming from different sources is of high importance in biomechanics to ensure reliable analyses. This synchronization can either be performed through hardware to obtain perfect matching of data, or post-processed digitally. Hardware synchronization can be achieved using trigger cables connecting different devices in many situations; however, this is often impractical, and sometimes impossible in outdoors situations. The aim of this paper is to describe a wireless system for outdoor use, allowing synchronization of different types of - potentially embedded and moving - devices. In this system, each synchronization device is composed of: (i) a GPS receiver (used as time reference), (ii) a radio transmitter, and (iii) a microcontroller. These components are used to provide synchronized trigger signals at the desired frequency to the measurement device connected. The synchronization devices communicate wirelessly, are very lightweight, battery-operated and thus very easy to set up. They are adaptable to every measurement device equipped with either trigger input or recording channel. The accuracy of the system was validated using an oscilloscope. The mean synchronization error was found to be 0.39 μs and pulses are generated with an accuracy of <2 μs. The system provides synchronization accuracy about two orders of magnitude better than commonly used post-processing methods, and does not suffer from any drift in trigger generation.     

Z-Phe-Ala-diazomethylketone (PADK) disrupts and remodels early oligomer states of the Alzheimer disease Aβ42 protein

The oligomerization of the amyloid-β protein (Aβ) is an important event in Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology. Developing small molecules that disrupt formation of early oligomeric states of Aβ and thereby reduce the effective amount of toxic oligomers is a promising therapeutic strategy for AD. Here, mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry were used to investigate the effects of a small molecule, Z-Phe-Ala-diazomethylketone (PADK), on the Aβ42 form of the protein. The mass spectrum of a mixture of PADK and Aβ42 clearly shows that PADK binds directly to Aβ42 monomers and small oligomers. Ion mobility results indicate that PADK not only inhibits the formation of Aβ42 dodecamers, but also removes preformed Aβ42 dodecamers from the solution. Electron microscopy images show that PADK inhibits Aβ42 fibril formation in the solution. These results are consistent with a previous study that found that PADK has protective effects in an AD transgenic mouse model. The study of PADK and Aβ42 provides an example of small molecule therapeutic development for AD and other amyloid diseases.     

以MyD88 TIR二聚化为靶点的抗炎抑制剂筛选模型的建立

MyD88是IL-1R/TLR受体超家族向细胞内转导胞外信号时募集到受体胞浆尾部的重要接头蛋白．由TIR结构域介导的MyD88分子同源二聚化是它招募到受体胞浆尾部的前提,然后二聚化的MyD88再募集下游信号分子,传递信号,引发促炎基因的表达．本研究旨在建立一种模型,以实现活细胞原位的、基于荧光信号变化的MyD88二聚化抑制物的高通量筛选．我们分别构建了MyD88 TIR与GFP和RFP的融合蛋白表达质粒,瞬时转染HeLa细胞,在488 nm激发光下,转染GFP-MyD88 TIR和RFP-MyD88 TIR细胞,检测到绿色荧光与红色荧光间的共振能量转移(FRET)．而当细胞转染GFP-MyD88 TIR和RFP或RFP-MyD88 TIR和GFP,因TIR二聚化不能实现,FRET效率受到严重影响．实验结果提示,依赖双阳性表达GFP-MyD88 TIR和RFP-MyD88 TIR的细胞株,检测不同化合物对于荧光FRET效率的影响,可以建立MyD88 TIR二聚化抑制药物的筛选模型．此外,我们构建了原核表达质粒,利用纯化的His-MyD88 TIR分别与GST或GST-MyD88 TIR蛋白进行体外结合实验,发现GST-MyD88 TIR(而非GST)可以与His-MyD88 TIR相互结合．结果的差异性提示,利用His-MyD88 TIR和GST-MyD88 TIR体外结合实验分析,可以进一步确定抑制物是否直接阻断了TIR的相互作用．结合真核细胞的荧光FRET阻断结果和原核表达的重组蛋白相互作用分析,可确定MyD88 TIR二聚化的抑制物．利用这一模型可以对商品化的小分子库、自行制备的天然产物组分进行广泛的筛选,从中获得有效抑制MyD88二聚化的化合物,参与对MyD88信号通路依赖的慢性炎症、自身免疫性疾病的药物治疗．     

中国鳖甲族一新纪录属及一新种记述(鞘翅目,拟步甲科)

报道中国鳖甲族1新纪录属及1新种:异颚弗鳖甲Freudeia heteromaxillaria sp.nov.,描述了新种的形态特征并附鉴别特征图和整体照片。新种模式标本保存于中国科学院西北高原生物研究所和河北大学博物馆。     

Lying patterns of high producing healthy dairy cows after calving in commercial herds as affected by age,environmental conditions and production

An animal expresses its physiological and well-being status by its behaviour. Changes in behaviour can be associated with health, production or well-being problems and therefore with the profitability of the farm. The objectives of the present study were to analyse lying patterns of healthy cows, collected with a commercial behaviour sensor, in early lactation in relation to environmental conditions, age of the cow and production performance. In future, these results may be used as a ‘baseline’ for detection of alterations in behaviour that indicate health problems. The study involved 210 healthy multiparous Israeli Holstein cows in three commercial dairy farms. Only healthy cows during the first 28 days after calving were included in this study. Data were analysed in relation to calving season, age of cows and correlation between milk production and lying time.The results show that lying time increased significantly with age and is significantly (P < 0.05) higher in winter than in summer (summer lactation 2: 491 ± 17 min/day (mean ± SD), summer lactation 3 and more: 520 ± 25 min/day, winter lactation 2: 531 ± 25 min/day, winter lactation 3 and more: 579 ± 38 min/day).The proportion of positively and negatively milk production and lying time correlated cows is affected by calving season.This study indicates that behaviour variables in early lactation are affected by calving season, lactation number and type of correlation between milk production and lying time.     

Neotropical Copestylum (Diptera,Syrphidae) breeding in Agavaceae and Cactaceae including seven new species

We studied 42 species of saprophagous, Neotropical Copestylum (Diptera, Syrphidae) reared from decaying Cactaceae and Agavaceae. Thirty‐three species were reared during fieldwork in Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Trinidad from 1998–2007. Nine species came from museum and private collections. Seven were new species. We describe these new species and the third stage larva and/or puparium and breeding sites of 40 species. Not described are two apparent species related to Copestylum apicale (Loew, 1866) reared from Cactaceae. Resolution of their status was beyond the scope of this paper but reference is made to their distinctive larval morphology. Based on early stage characters all reared species can be placed in ten species groups, all but three of which have been recognized previously on the basis of adult characters. A high level of congruence was found between adult and larval characters in terms of these species groups. Eight of the groups appear to be related closely and may represent a monophyletic lineage within Copestylum that has diversified in xeric habitats. Early stage morphology varied within and amongst groups but two trends in functional morphology are recognizable. One trend is towards feeding in watery decay and the other towards feeding in firmer decay. The latter trend is characterized by species that scoop food and use grinding mills in their head skeletons to break it up. They also have armoured thoraces with varying arrangements of sclerotized spicules or stiffened setae for gripping and protection during tunnelling, a short anal segment, and a short posterior breathing tube for protecting the openings. The former trend is characterized by species with opposite and contrasting features. They filter food and have well‐developed pre‐oral setal filters but they lack grinding mills or only have poorly developed grinding mills. They have reduced thoracic armature, elongate anal segments, and posterior breathing tubes which facilitates simultaneous feeding and respiration. Comparison with 23 Copestylum species reared from bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) suggests a common pattern of diversification in that species groups with the largest body sizes are more specialized.     

Exploiting Social Networks to Mitigate the Obesity Epidemic

Despite significant efforts, obesity continues to be a major public health problem, and there are surprisingly few effective strategies for its prevention and treatment. We now realize that healthy diet and activity patterns are difficult to maintain in the current physical environment. Recently, it was suggested that the social environment also contributes to obesity. Therefore, using network‐based interaction models, we simulate how obesity spreads along social networks and predict the effectiveness of large‐scale weight management interventions. For a wide variety of conditions and networks, we show that individuals with similar BMIs will cluster together into groups, and if left unchecked, current social forces will drive these groups toward increasing obesity. Our simulations show that many traditional weight management interventions fail because they target overweight and obese individuals without consideration of their surrounding cluster and wider social network. The popular strategy for dieting with friends is shown to be an ineffective long‐term weight loss strategy, whereas dieting with friends of friends can be somewhat more effective by forcing a shift in cluster boundaries. Fortunately, our simulations also show that interventions targeting well‐connected and/or normal weight individuals at the edges of a cluster may quickly halt the spread of obesity. Furthermore, by changing social forces and altering the behavior of a small but random assortment of both obese and normal weight individuals, highly effective network‐driven strategies can reverse current trends and return large segments of the population to a healthier weight.     

BR-TRG-Ⅰ型体腔热灌注治疗系统安全性评估的动物实验

目的探讨应用BR-TRG-I型体腔热灌注治疗系统进行持续循环腹腔热灌注治疗（continuous circulatory hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion treatment,CCHIP）对实验动物的生命体征、肝肾功能及内脏器官病理形态的影响。方法选用家猪作为实验动物,应用BR-TRG-I型体腔热灌注治疗系统建立CCHIP动物模型,分别用44℃、45℃的设定温度进行CCHIP。在CCHIP期间记录实验动物的生命体征变化;CCHIP前及治疗后1d、3d、7d和14d抽取外周血液保存备检;CCHIP结束后即刻及2周后处死动物,观察内脏器官的大体形态学改变,切取肝、肾、小肠等器官进行病理检查。结果44℃CCHIP持续1.5h对猪的生命体征、肝肾功能无明显影响,肝、肾、小肠等脏器损伤较轻,2周后恢复正常;45℃CCHIP持续1.5h对猪的生命体征影响严重,肝肾功能损害持续2周尚不能恢复正常,肝、肾、小肠等脏器病理损伤明显。结论44℃温度CCHIP1.5h安全可行,可以作为CCHIP的安全温度;45℃温度CCHIP1.5h可对实验动物肝肾功能造成严重损害,不适合作为CCHIP的治疗温度。