| 1. |
- Sodergren, Erica, et al.
(författare)
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The genome of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.
- 2006
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1095-9203 .- 0036-8075. ; 314:5801, s. 941-52
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report the sequence and analysis of the 814-megabase genome of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, a model for developmental and systems biology. The sequencing strategy combined whole-genome shotgun and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) sequences. This use of BAC clones, aided by a pooling strategy, overcame difficulties associated with high heterozygosity of the genome. The genome encodes about 23,300 genes, including many previously thought to be vertebrate innovations or known only outside the deuterostomes. This echinoderm genome provides an evolutionary outgroup for the chordates and yields insights into the evolution of deuterostomes.
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| 2. |
- Song, Hong-Wei, et al.
(författare)
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Thermal fatigue on pistons induced by shaped high power laser : Part II: Design of spatial intensity distribution via numerical simulation
- 2008
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Ingår i: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. - : Elsevier BV. - 0017-9310 .- 1879-2189. ; 51:3-4, s. 768-778
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the laser induced thermal fatigue simulation test on pistons, the high power laser was transformed from the incident Gaussian beam into a concentric multi-circular pattern with specific intensity ratio. The spatial intensity distribution of the shaped beam, which determines the temperature field in the piston, must be designed before a diffractive optical element (DOE) can be manufactured. In this paper, a reverse method based on finite element model (FEM) was proposed to design the intensity distribution in order to simulate the thermal loadings on pistons. Temperature fields were obtained by solving a transient three-dimensional heat conduction equation with convective boundary conditions at the surfaces of the piston workpiece. The numerical model then was validated by approaching the computational results to the experimental data. During the process, some important parameters including laser absorptivity, convective heat transfer coefficient, thermal conductivity and Biot number were also validated. Then, optimization procedure was processed to find favorable spatial intensity distribution for the shaped beam, with the aid of the validated FEM. The analysis shows that the reverse method incorporated with numerical simulation can reduce design cycle and design expense efficiently. This method can serve as a kind of virtual experimental vehicle as well, which makes the thermal fatigue simulation test more controllable and predictable.
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| 3. |
- Hong, Junmei, et al.
(författare)
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Focusing on RISC assembly in mammalian cells.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Biochem Biophys Res Commun. - : Elsevier BV. - 1090-2104 .- 0006-291X. ; 368:3, s. 703-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- RISC (RNA-induced silencing complex) is a central protein complex in RNAi, into which a siRNA strand is assembled to become effective in gene silencing. By using an in vitro RNAi reaction based on Drosophila embryo extract, an asymmetric model was recently proposed for RISC assembly of siRNA strands, suggesting that the strand that is more loosely paired at its 5' end is selectively assembled into RISC and results in target gene silencing. However, in the present study, we were unable to establish such a correlation in cell-based RNAi assays, as well as in large-scale RNAi data analyses. This suggests that the thermodynamic stability of siRNA is not a major determinant of gene silencing in mammalian cells. Further studies on fork siRNAs showed that mismatch at the 5' end of the siRNA sense strand decreased RISC assembly of the antisense strand, but surprisingly did not increase RISC assembly of the sense strand. More interestingly, measurements of melting temperature showed that the terminal stability of fork siRNAs correlated with the positions of the mismatches, but not gene silencing efficacy. In summary, our data demonstrate that there is no definite correlation between siRNA stability and gene silencing in mammalian cells, which suggests that instead of thermodynamic stability, other features of the siRNA duplex contribute to RISC assembly in RNAi.
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| 4. |
- Lazrak, Ahmed, et al.
(författare)
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alpha(1)-Antitrypsin Inhibits Epithelial Na+ Transport In Vitro and In Vivo
- 2009
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Ingår i: American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. - 1535-4989. ; 41:3, s. 261-270
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A variety of studies have shown that Na+ reabsorption across epithelial cells depends on the protease-antiprotease balance. Herein, we investigate the mechanisms by which alpha(1)-antitrypsin (A1AT), a major anti-serine protease in human plasma and lung epithelial fluid and lacking a Kunitz domain, regulates amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) function in vitro and in vivo. A1AT (0.05 mg/ml = 1 mu M) decreased ENaC currents across Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with human alpha, beta, gamma-ENaC (hENaC) cRNAs, and human lung Clara-like (H441) cells expressing native ENaC, in a partially irreversible fashion. MAT also decreased ENaC single-channel activity when added in the pipette but not in the bath solutions of ENaC-expressing oocytes patched in the cell-attached mode. Incubation of A1AT with peroxynitrite (ONOO-), an oxidizing and nitrating agent, abolished its antiprotease activity and significantly decreased its ability to inhibit ENaC. Intratracheal instillation of normal but not ONOO--treated A1AT (1 mu M) in C57BL/6 mice also decreased Na+-dependent alveolar fluid clearance to the same level as amiloride. Incubation of either H441 cells or ENaC-expressing oocytes with normal but not ONOO--treated MAT decreased their ability to cleave a substrate of serine proteases. A1AT had no effect on amiloride-sensitive currents of oocytes injected with hENaC bearing Liddle mutations, presumably because these channels remain at the surface longer than the wild-type channels. These data indicate that MAT may be an important modulator of ENaC activity and of Na+-dependent fluid clearance across the distal lung epithelium in vivo by decreasing endogenous protease activity needed to activate silent ENaC.
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| 5. |
- Löwemark, Ludvig, et al.
(författare)
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Glacio-eustatic influence on deep water circulation in the South China Sea over the past 500 kyrs – implications for global biogeochemical cycling
- 2008
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Ingår i: Western Pacific Geophysics Meeting, American Geophysical Union, Cairns, Australia, July/August 2008.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- We provide new evidence for the development of a stable estuarinecirculation characterized by stagnating water bodies, nutrient recycling and increased primary productivity in the South China Seaduring glacial intervals caused by the closure of the shallow andnarrow straits connecting the South China Sea in the south and west. Our main evidence comes from records of Mn concentrations and Mn/Al ratios in two sedimentary cores from the northern and southeastern South China Sea covering the last 500 ky. Concentrations and Mn/Al ratios of the redox sensitive element Mn show clear glacial-interglacial cycles with maxima during interglacial periods and minima during glacial periods. These cycles indicate ventilation cycles of the bottom water connected to the glacial-interglacial changes in sea level. In contrast, total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations display an opposite pattern with pronounced maxima during glacial times, especially in the southern part of the basin. The variations in TOC can be ascribed to two factors. Firstly to variations in primary productivity controlled by variations in theintensity of the winter monsoon. Secondly to the degree of preservation of TOC controlled by variations in ventilation, ultimately controlled by sea level. Variations in TOC consequentlyrepresent a superimposition of sea level influenced preservationcontrol and primarily winter monsoon driven variations in primaryproductivity intensity. The decrease in Mn correspond to times when sea level dropped below 40-50 m. Larger amplitude of the variations in TOC and Mn in the southern part of the basin compared to the northern sites suggest that oxygen depletion and nutrient recycling was stronger in the parts of the basin situated the furthest from the only remaining opening to the open Pacific, the Luzon strait.
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| 6. |
- Löwemark, Ludvig, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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New evidence for a glacioeustatic influence on deep watercirculation, bottom water ventilation and primaryproductivity in the South China Sea
- 2009
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Ingår i: Dynamics of atmospheres and oceans (Print). - : Elsevier. - 0377-0265 .- 1872-6879. ; 47:1-3, s. 138-153
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We provide new evidence for the development of a stable estuarinecirculation characterized by stagnating water bodies, nutrientrecycling and increased primary productivity in the South ChinaSea (SCS) during glacial intervals. This circulation was caused bythe closure of the shallow and narrow straits connecting the SCSin the south and west. Our main evidence is derived from newlymeasured Mn concentrations and Mn/Al ratios in two sedimentcores from the northern and southeastern SCS covering the last500 ky. Concentrations and Mn/Al ratios of the redox sensitive elementMnshowclearglacial–interglacial cycles with maxima duringinterglacial periods and minima during glacial periods. These cyclesindicate ventilation cycles of the bottom water, and are connectedto the glacial–interglacial changes in sea level. In contrast, totalorganic carbon (TOC) concentrations display an opposite patternwith pronounced maxima during glacial times, especially in thesouthern part of the basin. The variations in TOC can be ascribed totwo factors. Firstly, variations in primary productivity are controlledby variations in the intensity of the winter monsoon. Secondlyto the degree of preservation of TOC controlled by variations inventilation, which in turn is ultimately controlled by sea level. Consequently, variations in TOC represent a superimposition ofprimarily sea level influenced preservation control and wintermonsoon driven variations in primary productivity intensity. Thedecrease in Mn correspond to times when sea level dropped40–60m below the present level. The larger amplitude of the variationsin TOC and Mn in the southern part of the basin compared tothe northern site suggest that oxygen depletion and nutrient recyclingwas stronger in the parts of the basin situated the furthest away from the only remaining opening to the open Pacific, the LuzonStrait.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Prokopenko, Inga, et al.
(författare)
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Variants in MTNR1B influence fasting glucose levels
- 2009
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 41:1, s. 77-81
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To identify previously unknown genetic loci associated with fasting glucose concentrations, we examined the leading association signals in ten genome-wide association scans involving a total of 36,610 individuals of European descent. Variants in the gene encoding melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B) were consistently associated with fasting glucose across all ten studies. The strongest signal was observed at rs10830963, where each G allele (frequency 0.30 in HapMap CEU) was associated with an increase of 0.07 (95% CI = 0.06-0.08) mmol/l in fasting glucose levels (P = 3.2 x 10(-50)) and reduced beta-cell function as measured by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-B, P = 1.1 x 10(-15)). The same allele was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (odds ratio = 1.09 (1.05-1.12), per G allele P = 3.3 x 10(-7)) in a meta-analysis of 13 case-control studies totaling 18,236 cases and 64,453 controls. Our analyses also confirm previous associations of fasting glucose with variants at the G6PC2 (rs560887, P = 1.1 x 10(-57)) and GCK (rs4607517, P = 1.0 x 10(-25)) loci.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Wang, Lihui, et al.
(författare)
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Function Block Design for Adaptive Execution Control of Job Shop Machining Operations
- 2009
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Ingår i: International Journal of Production Research. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0020-7543 .- 1366-588X. ; 47:12, s. 3413-3434
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Small volume and high product mix contribute greatly to the complexity of job shop operations. In addition, shop floor uncertainty or fluctuation is another issue regularly challenging manufacturing companies, including job delay, urgent job insertion, fixture shortage, missing tools, and even machine breakdown. Targeting the uncertainty, we propose a function block-based approach to generating adaptive process plans. Enabled by the function blocks, a so-generated process plan is responsive and tolerant to an unpredictable change. This paper presents in detail how a function block is designed and what it can do during process plan execution. It is expected that this new approach can largely enhance the dynamism of fluctuating job shop operations.
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