PPARγ及其辅激活子MED1重组腺病毒的制备与生物学功能分析

目的制备大量PPARγ与MED1腺病毒,探讨其生物学功能。方法以实验室现有的腺病毒原液为材料,用HEK293a细胞包装腺病毒,CsCl梯度离心法纯化病毒,A260法测定病毒颗粒,并通过细胞感染、小鼠活体尾静脉注射病毒等实验,用HE染色法、Real-time PCR及免疫组化法进一步鉴定病毒的生物学功能。结果获得Ad/LacZ、Ad/PPARγ和Ad/MED1,其浓度分别为2.51×1012、1.57×1012、2.59×1012 VP/mL。C57BL/6J小鼠经尾静脉注射Ad/PPARγ,小鼠出现脂肪肝,肝细胞聚集大量脂滴,且PPARγmRNA和蛋白表达显著增加。同样,用Ad/MED1感染3T3-L1细胞或给小鼠尾静脉注射Ad/MED1,MED1表达水平都显著升高。结论Ad/PPARγ、Ad/MED1及对照Ad/LacZ成功制备,为体外细胞病毒感染以及活体研究PPARγ与MED1的基因功能以及网络调控奠定了实验基础。     

Constructing Time‐Scaled Maps: Switzerland from 1950 to 2000†

Abstract

The article discusses the construction of a time‐scaled maps series for Switzerland documenting the shrinking of the country since 1950. It describes underlying network models and the mathematical approach employed for the necessary rescaling. In conclusion, it presents the maps and discusses how the country was shrunk by half.     

Challenges in Managing Empty Container Movements at Multiple Planning Levels

Empty container management deals with repositioning empty containers at minimum costs while fulfilling empty container demands. Due to imbalances in trade, some areas have a surplus of empty containers, while others have a shortage. Therefore, empty containers need to be repositioned globally to make sure that sufficient empty containers are available everywhere. Besides, empty containers need to be repositioned regionally between shippers, consignees, inland depots, terminals and ports in order to fulfil demand. In this paper, the focus is on the empty container management problem at a regional level. The problem is described in detail and opportunities for reducing empty container movements are discussed. Decisions to be taken at each planning level (strategic, tactical and operational) are described, and for each planning level, a detailed overview of planning models proposed in the literature is presented. Planning models considering decisions at several planning levels are discussed as well. Finally, interesting opportunities for future research are identified.     

Collaborative Logistics from the Perspective of Road Transportation Companies

ABSTRACT

To survive under the ever increasing competitive and global pressures to operate more efficiently, transportation companies are obliged to adopt a collaborative focus. Various types of cooperative supply chain relationships have been discussed in both professional and academic literature over the last decades. However, research on horizontal cooperation in logistics remains scarce and scattered across various research domains. Companies operating at the same level of the supply chain and performing comparable logistics functions may cooperate horizontally to increase their productivity, improve their service level and enhance their market position. In this paper, the focus is on the operational planning of horizontal cooperations between road transportation carriers. Following a scientific literature review, a distinction may be made between two operational approaches to horizontal logistics collaboration: order sharing and capacity sharing. For both research streams, a detailed overview of solution techniques proposed in literature is presented. Moreover, some interesting opportunities for future research are identified.     

Sheet metal forming simulation considering die deformation

Due to environmental concerns and safety regulations in the automotive industry, the development of strong and lightweight cars has been a hot issue in the last decade. One solution for this purpose would be to use high-strength steel (HSS) and advanced high-strength steel (AHSS). These materials can make the car lighter while maintaining the crash resistance of the vehicle. HSS and AHSS have more resistance force in the die structure compared with conventional steel due to their higher yield and tensile strength and thus, these materials have a greater effect on die deformation during the sheet metal forming process. As a result, die deformation can affect the blank sheet’s drawn pattern, strain, and stress as well as springback. This study presents a sheet metal forming simulation that considers die deformation. The simulation process was compared with conventional simulation methods. Our results indicate that the sheet metal forming simulation with die deformation consideration provides useful information on the die structure as well as formability and springback.     

Fuel consumption parameters for realizing and verifying fuel consumption prospect algorithm of vehicle driving route information system

Emissions of CO₂, as the main component of greenhouse gases, and high fuel consumption rates are worldwide problems. To solve them, most car manufacturers have concentrated on developing various techniques to improve the efficiencies of engines and transmissions and ECO-ROUTEs to meet environmental regulations. In this study, an algorithm for determining routes that cause the least fuel consumption was developed. The core of this algorithm is a specific EEC (energy efficiency constant) map containing logic that is able to predict fuel consumption. The accuracy of the algorithm was confirmed by vehicle tests for various driving patterns. Parameters affecting vehicle fuel economy were studied and verified. Improvement in the accuracy of this algorithm was confirmed by applying these parameters to ECO-ROUTE logic.     

Gate shape optimization using design of experiment to reduce the shear rate around the gate

Numerical analysis is used to optimize the gate shape of the mold part in the molding process. The objective of this research was to develop a procedure that will optimize the gate shape of the mold part by using Design of Experiments approach. The computer-aided engineering software Moldflow was used to simulate the plastic injection molding process and the Minitab software was used to analyze the computational results from Moldflow. The Bulk Molding Compounds (BMC) UNI-203S thermoset material was chosen as the molding material. Four different types of gate shapes were analyzed to find the gate shape to be used in the optimization. The Type 3 gate shape was selected as basis for the gate optimization because this shape yielded the minimum shear rate around the gate among all. The thickness, width, length and angle of the gate were selected as the design variables. Erosion around a gate due to repetitive shear flow during molding process was considered as an important issue to extend the service life of the expensive mold. It is normally very difficult to prevent erosion due to high injection pressure and repetitive use of the mold, especially in certain molding parts as BMC reflector in automotive parts, so it has become the subject of researches. The effectiveness of design variables was evaluated by observing shear rate around the gate. The objective of the optimization was to minimize the average shear rate around the gate. Response Surface Method was applied to identify the optimum values of the design variables. The computed optimum values were validated numerically. The optimized gate shape showed the reduced shear rate by about 11%.     

Surveillance and Poaching on Inshore Reefs of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia, is managed under the GBR Marine Park Act (1975) and is seen as a shining example of marine resource management. The principle tool of management is zoning for multiple use. We examined surveillance and illegal fishing around two inshore islands (Magnetic and Orpheus) of the GBR Marine Park in 2000/2001. Both islands are near Townsville, the largest city adjacent to the GBR. Surveillance effort was low, with vessels present on only 16% of days of the year. Measurable but low levels of illegal recreational fishing occurred within no-take zones. Levels decreased with increasing surveillance effort. Thus zoning was not completely successful in protecting fish targeted by fisheries, even within the most highly enforced sections of the Park. The expansion of no-take zones in 2004 from 4.6% to 33.4% of the area of the 358,000 km2 Park represents a considerable challenge for future surveillance and enforcement.     

Neural-network multiple models filter (NMM)-based position estimation system for autonomous vehicles

A highly accurate and reliable vehicle position estimation system is an important component of an autonomous driving system. In generally, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver is employed for the vehicle position estimation of autonomous vehicles. However, a stand-alone GPS does not always provide accurate and reliable information of the vehicle position due to frequent GPS blockages and multipath errors. In order to overcome these problems, a sensor fusion scheme that combines the data from the GPS receiver and several on-board sensors has been studied. In previous researches, a single model filter-based sensor fusion algorithm was used to integrate information from the GPS and on-board sensors. However, an estimate obtained from a single model is difficult to cover the various driving environments, including urban areas, off-road areas, and highways. Thus, a multiple models filter (MMF) has been introduced to address this limitation by adapting multiple models to a wide range of driving conditions. An adaptation of the multiple model is achieved through the use of the model probability. The MMF combines several vehicle models using the model probabilities, which indicate the suitability of the current driving condition. In this paper, we propose a vehicle position estimation algorithm for an autonomous vehicle that is based on a neural network (NN)-based MMF. The model probabilities are determined through the NN. The proposed position estimation system was evaluated through simulations and experiments. The experimental results show that the proposed position estimation algorithm is suitable for application in an autonomous driving system over a wide range of driving conditions.     

Estimation of soot oxidation rate in DPF under carbon and non-carbon based particulate matter accumulated condition

By high particulate matter(PM) reduction performance, diesel particulate filter(DPF) is applied to almost all of modern HSDI diesel engine. PM emitted from diesel engine is consist of carbon based and non-carbon based material. Representative carbon based PM is soot. Non-carbon based PM is produced by wear of engine and exhaust component, combustion of lubrication oil and sulphur in fuel. Accumulation of non-carbon based PM affects pressure difference of DPF and thus accuracy of soot mass estimation in DPF can be lowered during normal and regeneration condition when the pressure difference caused by non-carbon based PM is not recognized correctly. Also unevenly accumulated PM inside of DPF can produce locally different exhaust gas temperature and thus it can lower accuracy of soot mass estimation during regeneration. This study focuses on estimation of soot oxidation rate not by conventional pressure difference but by exhaust gas analysis at up and downstream of DPF. Results, strong correlations between CO₂ -fuel mass ratio and soot oxidation was observed.