清水作用下全动床复式河槽河床演变特性

通过水槽试验,探讨了清水作用下由非均匀沙构筑而成的全动床复式河槽的演变特性,包括河床完全粗化后河道稳定宽度及滩岸侵蚀的沿程变化.复式河槽断面构筑而成后,实施倒灌,然后恢复地形,最后用全站仪施测初始河道地形,在试验结束后,相应断面再做精细床面形态测量.复式河槽流量由槽首的矩形堰量测,水位由自动水位仪量测.试验结果表明,随着泥沙淤积量的增大,主槽水深变浅;而河道水深变浅,又将会使床面泥沙起动的作用力减小,河道水深将变得更浅.清水作用下的全动床复式河槽达到稳定时,河道稳定宽度将沿程变化;河道完全粗化后,主槽宽度增大,滩岸侵蚀速率在空间上变化趋势表现为越往下游,滩岸侵蚀速度越小;在清水作用下,河道滩岸发生侵蚀,其侵蚀面积有沿程减小的趋势,这与流速沿程的变化相一致.     

数值积分法计算抛物线形渠道恒定渐变流水面线

针对目前差分试算法、迭代法及图解法求解水面线存在着计算过程繁复、误差较大的问题,该文通过对抛物线断面渠道恒定渐变流水面线微分方程进行恒等变形,并对引入的特征水深与特征湿周的关系进行分析及计算,重点考察工程实际中常用的特征水深范围为0.6~1.5 m的抛物线形断面渠道,依据最小二乘法进行回归分析将方程中的特征湿周由不可积函数替代为可积分的幂函数,实现了由有限差分逐一断面推算到数值积分法的直接求解。与现有方法相比,该抛物线形断面渠道恒定渐变流水面线简化计算公式具有工作效率明显提高、精度好的特点。实例计算及误差分析表明:在工程实用范围内(特征水深范围0.6~1.5 m)该公式最大相对误差仅为0.17%,对生产实践具有实用推广意义。     

Extending Our Reach: Surveying,Analyzing, and Planning Outreach to Extension Staff

This study describes how University of Minnesota Extension staff locate and use information to accomplish daily activities. The major findings were: (a) information seeking is a daily or weekly need; (b) staff use predominately online resources from a variety of sources—peer-reviewed journals, technical or research reports, and government information—and use search engines most frequently to locate them; and (c) Extension staff are aware of the majority of library resources and services. Extension staff welcome advanced information-seeking tools and techniques for professional development.     

梯形明渠水跃共轭水深的优化计算

梯形明渠水跃共轭水深的计算问题在水工消能设计中具有重要意义 ,目前常用的方法有试算法、图解法、近似公式法 ,它们存在计算精度不高、求解复杂、使用不便等缺点。为此 ,本文把该问题等价于两个非线性优化问题 ,建议统一用笔者研制的加速遗传算法 (AGA)来处理。实例的计算结果说明 ,AGA比常用方法简便、计算精度高且具有通用性     

Marine Toxins Targeting Ion Channels

This introductory minireview points out the importance of ion channels for cell communication. The basic concepts on the structure and function of ion channels triggered by membrane voltage changes, the so-called voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs), as well as those activated by neurotransmitters, the so-called ligand-gated ion channel (LGICs), are introduced. Among the most important VGIC superfamiles, we can name the voltage-gated Na⁺ (Na_V), Ca²⁺ (Ca_V), and K⁺ (K_V) channels. Among the most important LGIC super families, we can include the Cys-loop or nicotinicoid, the glutamate-activated (GluR), and the ATP-activated (P2X_nR) receptor superfamilies. Ion channels are transmembrane proteins that allow the passage of different ions in a specific or unspecific manner. For instance, the activation of Na_V, Ca_V, or K_V channels opens a pore that is specific for Na⁺, Ca²⁺, or K⁺, respectively. On the other hand, the activation of certain LGICs such as nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, GluRs, and P2X_nRs allows the passage of cations (e.g., Na⁺, K⁺, and/or Ca²⁺), whereas the activation of other LGICs such as type A γ-butyric acid and glycine receptors allows the passage of anions (e.g., Cl⁻ and/or HCO₃⁻). In this regard, the activation of Na_V and Ca_V as well as ligand-gated cation channels produce membrane depolarization, which finally leads to stimulatory effects in the cell, whereas the activation of K_V as well as ligand-gated anion channels induce membrane hyperpolarization that finally leads to inhibitory effects in the cell. The importance of these ion channel superfamilies is emphasized by considering their physiological functions throughout the body as well as their pathophysiological implicance in several neuronal diseases. In this regard, natural molecules, and especially marine toxins, can be potentially used as modulators (e.g., inhibitors or prolongers) of ion channel functions to treat or to alleviate a specific ion channel-linked disease (e.g., channelopaties).     

兰花大棚内无线传感器网络433MHz信道传播特性试验

不同的应用环境对无线传感器网络的性能有一定的影响。该文针对兰花大棚环境中无线传感器网络节点部署的要求及其应用环境的特性,以433 MHz为载波频率,研究了无线射频信号的传播特性和无线信号与影响因素之间的关系,影响因素包括发射功率、数据包长度、距离、发射端位置等参数,获得了接收信号强度、丢包率等数据,并进行了统计分析。试验结果表明,该无线传感器网络信号的衰减符合对数模型,其决定系数R2最大为0.9246,最小为0.8753;发射功率为0和-5 dBm时,信号较强、通信成功率较高;发射功率处在0和-20 dBm时接收信号强度波动较大;在数据传输速率为1.2 kbps、和调制扩频为高斯频移键控方式等参数确定的情况下数据包的长度对丢包率的影响很小。在上述试验研究的基础上,建立了发射功率和接收信号强度之间的关系模型,模型参数与发射功率之间、传播环境因子n与发射功率之间成二次多项式关系,相关系数分别达到0.9967和0.8686;验证试验结果表明：该模型可以较好地预测不同发射功率不同通信距离的接收信号强度,为兰花大棚无线传感器网络的组建提供支持。此外,设计了接收信号强度三维曲面图和等高曲线图,可直观反映兰花大棚环境下无线信号的传播特性,为今后无线节点布置与组网提供依据。     

Expression of volume-activated chloride channel in rat PASMCs treated with hypoxia and hypercapnia and its relationship with MAPK pathway

AIM：To investigate the expression of volume-activated chloride channel (CLC3) in rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) treated with hypoxia and hypercapnia and its relationship with MAPK pathway. METHODS：The method of enzyme digestion was used to isolate the PASMCs in male SD rat for cell primary culture. The cells were identified by immunofluorescence cytochemical method with mouse anti-rat α-smooth muscle actin antibody. The rat model of hypoxia and hypercapnia was established. The protein expression of CLC3 was detected by Western blotting. The mRNA expression of CLC3 was determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS：Compared with control group, the mRNA and protein expression of CLC3 in PASMCs was significantly raised in hypoxia and hypercapnia group. Compared with hypoxic and hypercapnic group, the expression of CLC3 was significantly reduced in ERK inhibitor U0126+ hypoxia and hypercapnia group, and was up-regulated in p38 inhibitor SB203580+ hypoxia and hypercapnia group. p38 activator anisomycin significantly decreased the expression of CLC3 at mRNA and protein levels in hypoxia and hypercapnia group. CONCLUSION：The expression of CLC3 at mRNA and protein levels in PASMCs increases under hypoxia and hypercapnia conditions. The ERK1/2 pathway mediates CLC3 expression in PASMCs induced by hypoxia and hypercapnia. Activation of p38 MAPK pathway down-regulates the expression of CLC3 at mRNA and protein levels induced by hypoxia and hypercapnia.     

Effect of Danhong injection on respiratory inhibition induced by hypoxia

AIM：To investigate the effect of Danhong injection on respiratory inhibition induced by hypoxia and its related mechanism. METHODS：The electromyogram of the diaphragm was monitored to observe the respiratory responses of the rats to hypoxia. The expression of acid-sensingion channel 1a (ASIC1a) in the brainstem after hypoxia was detected by the technique of immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS：The respiratory responses of the rats to hypoxia were initiatory excitation and consequent inhibition. In contrast to pre-hypoxia, the respiration of the rats in hypoxia group was inhibited 30 min after hypoxia (P<0.05), but the respiration of the rats in hypoxia plus Danhong group was still excited (P<0.05), indicating that the respiration of the rats in hypoxia plus Danhong group was not yet depressed at the same time. The ASIC1a positive neurons were detected in the nuclei of trapezoid body and solitary tract. Compared with control group, the expression of ASIC1a was obviously enhanced after hypoxia. In contrast to hypoxia group, the expression of ASIC1a in the rats in hypoxia plus Danhong group was remarkably reduced (P<0.05). CONCLUSION：Danhong injection resists the occurrence of respiratory inhibition after hypoxia, and ASIC1a may participate in this process.     

Molecular mechanism underlining ethanol-induced chloride currents in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

AIM：To study the effects and mechanisms of ethanol on chloride channels in poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-2Z cells. METHODS：The effect of ethanol on the cell growth was analyzed by MTT assay. The technique of whole-cell patch-clamp was used to detect the chloride current. The characteristics of the chloride current were analyzed by using the chloride channel blockers. The siRNA technique was used to analyze the molecular basis of the ethanol-sensitive chloride channels. RESULTS：Under isotonic conditions, the background current was weak and stable. Ethanol at concentrations of 0.17~170 mmol/L activated a chloride current in a concentration-dependent manner (an inverted U-shape), with a maximum effect at the concentration of 17 mmol/L. The currents showed obviously outward rectification and were susceptible to extracellular hypertonicity and the chloride channel blocker, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB). ClC-3 siRNA obviously decreased the currents activated by ethanol. CONCLUSION：Extracellular ethanol induces chloride currents through activating the ClC-3 chloride channels.     

Chloride currents activated by cisplatin in poorly differentiated naso-pharyngeal carcinoma cells are not Ca2+-activated chloride currents

AIM：To investigate the type of chloride channel activated by cisplatin in poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2Z cells). METHODS：The technique of whole-cell patch-clamp was used to investigate the role of Ca2+ in the activation of cisplatin-activated chloride currents and to analyze the effect of hypertonic stress on these currents in CNE-2Z cells. RESULTS：Chloride currents were induced when the cells were exposed to the calcium-free cisplatin solution, showing the similar density to the currents induced by cisplatin with the presence of extracellular calcium. However, the latency and the peak time of cisplatin-activated currents in the absence of extracellular calcium were prolonged. The activation of cisplatin-activated chloride currents was insensitive to the depletion of intra- and extracellular calcium. Calcium channel antagonist nifedipine had no effect on the cisplatin-activated chloride currents, while hypertonic solution completely inhibited those currents. CONCLUSION：The cisplatin-activated chloride currents are independent on intra/extracellular calcium. The chloride channels activated by cisplatin are not calcium-activated chloride channels, but are probably volume-sensitive chloride channels.