A case of IgA multiple myeloma: Nutritional perspective in diagnostic testing

A 64-year-old security guard and longstanding known hypertensive presented with hypertensive heart disease (HHD), weight loss, an enlarged prostate, and a spontaneously fractured rib. Malignancy of the prostate with possible metastases to the ribs was strongly suspected. Biochemical profiling revealed a paraprotein. Other biochemical and hematological correlates that were on hand before serum protein electrophoresis were rather atypical. Paraprotein studies by immunofixation revealed IgA myelomatosis. Unlike previous reports from Caucasians there was normocalcaemia, normal protein level, microcytic hypochromia, low MCHC, cholesterol level at the lower limit of the reference range and normal urea level (in the face of markedly raised creatinine level). Nutritional modulation of the classical laboratory features of this disease may account for the fairly atypical laboratory picture. The need to appreciate the influence of nutritional status on the laboratory (especially biochemical) features of a disease and thus interpretation of diagnostic tests appears of exceptional current importance, given the widening gap in socioeconomic status and the level of poverty between the resource poor and developed countries from which the classical, clinical and laboratory features of most diseases were first described. This case report reminds of the need not only to recognize theoretically the impact of nutritional status on the laboratory characteristics of a disease but of the practical application of the nutritional perspective in the interpretation of diagnostic investigations, especially in nutritionally disadvantaged communities.     

Standardization of a dilution method for cyclosporin (C2) estimation in renal transplant patients

Accurate monitoring of blood cyclosporin C2 levels is vital to prevent over immunosuppression and acute renal toxicity in patients who receive organ transplant. The matrix used to dilute patients’ C2 samples prior to the assay affected the final measured values. Hence there was a need to develop a method of dilution that would accurately estimate C2 levels when cyclosporin levels were beyond the calibration range of the method employed. Whole blood, cyclosporin free hemolysate and cell and protein free supernatant obtained after pretreatment of normal blood were used to dilute patients’ C2 samples. C2 was measured in 188 patients using the supernatant method of dilution. C2 was correlated with Co and dose of cyclosporin received by the patient. The use of cell and protein free supernatant obtained after pretreatment of normal blood as a C2 diluent detected higher levels of C2 in the sample. Measured C2 correlated significantly with Co and the cyclosporin dose received by the patient. The uniformly aqueous cell and protein free supernatant ensures uniform dilution of the patients’ C2 sample and measures higher cyclosporin levels.     

Model order reduction using response-matching technique

A method for model order reduction is proposed using response-matching technique. The step and impulse inputs have been considered. All types of pole configurations in the original high-order and reduced low-order system are included in this paper like real, complex and repeated. The proposed method is comparable in quality with similar existing methods and is capable of generating a reduced-order model with a desired pole pattern.     

几种蒸散模型在玉米农田蒸散量计算中的应用比较

模拟蒸散的物理过程,计算农田蒸散量是进行生态系统水资源评价和管理的重要手段,同时也是气象部门进行土壤湿度预报的首要条件.本研究以玉米农田为研究对象,基于涡度相关法观测的蒸散实测资料,比较分析了基于常规气象数据的蒸散模型(Hargreaves法、Priestlev-Taylor法、FAO-Penman-Monteith法)和基于气象梯度数据的蒸散模型(波文比法、梯度法、生态系统过程模型模拟)的模拟精度.结果表明:①Hargreaves法、Priestley-Taylor法和FAO-Penman-Monteith法日蒸散的模拟结果较为一致,总体上高估20%～26%,其中Priestley-Taylor法模拟结果最优;②生态系统过程模型模拟的农田日蒸散精度较高,但模型中涉及的物理过程和参数较多,在实际应用中难于获取;③波文比法在波文比小于0.4且仪器精度较高时可以得到较准确的估算值.研究同时还指出,仪器的安装高度及高差设计对梯度法估算蒸散十分重要.     

集约化农区耕地资源多样性及其发展模式

保护耕地资源生态多样性与提高耕地集约利用效益,对集约化农区耕地资源可持续发展具有重要意义.本文应用生态足迹方法,以新疆生产建设兵团45团灌区为例,对集约化条件下耕地资源生态多样性及其利用模式进行了分析.结果表明:1995年～2005年灌区耕地人均生态足迹呈逐年增加趋势,且与生态承载力基本协调;灌区耕地生态足迹的多样性指数呈现逐年下降的趋势,发展能力有待提高;耕地资源发展能力与多样性指数、GDP足迹三者之间关系达到极显著或显著水平.因此,积极稳妥的搞好集约化农区农业结构调整,走农林牧复合型农业发展模式,是促进耕地资源生态多样性、提高耕地资源集约利用效益的有效手段,最终建立资源节约型和环境友好型的耕地利用保障体系.     

Concurrent droplet charging and sorting by electrostatic actuation

This paper presents a droplet-based microfluidic device for concurrent droplet charging and sorting by electrostatic actuation. Water-in-oil droplets can be charged on generation by synchronized electrostatic actuation. Then, simultaneously, the precharged droplets can be electrostatically steered into any designated laminar streamline, thus they can be sorted into one of multiple sorting channels one by one in a controlled fashion. In this paper, we studied the size dependence of the water droplets under various relative flow rates of water and oil. We demonstrated the concurrent charging and sorting of up to 600 droplets∕s by synchronized electrostatic actuation. Finally, we investigated optimized voltages for stable droplet charging and sorting. This is an essential enabling technology for fast, robust, and multiplexed sorting of microdroplets, and for the droplet-based microfluidic systems.     

江苏省煤炭资源流转及影响因素分析

根据江苏省煤炭输入和输出的数据,运用GIS手段,分析了江苏省煤炭的流量及流向,2006年江苏省主要的煤炭来源省为山西、安徽、陕西、河南、山东和甘肃6省。对江苏省煤炭调入的原因分析可以看出:江苏省每年所消费煤炭的80%以上需要从外省调入,且调入量逐年增大。2000年以来,江苏省铁路已不能满足日益增长的煤炭调入需求,因此公路和水路成为江苏省煤炭调入的重要渠道,交通状况的完善是影响江苏省煤炭调入量的重要因素;从经济等因素与江苏省煤炭净输入量的单因子分析可以看出,江苏省煤炭资源的净输入量与第二产业贡献率、地区生产总值、人口数量和单位工业增加值能耗等四项指标在0.01水平上相关程度显著;与第三产业贡献率在0.05水平上相关程度显著;与第一产业贡献率、单位地区生产总值能耗、单位地区生产总值电耗等指标的相关程度不显著。主成分分析表明,影响江苏省煤炭调入的因素主要集中在两个主成分上。     

基于全寿命管理的装备资源节约战略研究

随着我军装备现代化建设的不断发展,装备资源供需矛盾日渐突出。如何走出一条投入较少、效益较高的节约型装备建设的路子显得尤为重要,是我军装备现代化建设的一项重大战略任务。本文首先界定了装备资源的范畴,并指出全寿命管理与装备资源节约相辅相成,在此基础上论文结合装备工作实际,运用全寿命管理的思想,研究分析了基于全寿命管理的装备资源节约的基本内涵,包括基本概念和内在要求,最后提出了基于全寿命管理的装备资源节约的战略举措,指出必须在科研采购上抓好装备资源的"优生",在使用保障上抓好装备资源的"优育",在退役报废上抓好装备资源的"再生",以期为部队深入持久地开展装备资源节约工作提供有力的理论指导。     

试论耕地保护的非对称利益冲突

人们在权衡耕地保护利益冲突时往往采取了区别对待的非对称处置方式,使得耕地保护收益被严重低估和耕地资源利用未发挥到最高最佳。耕地资源在开发利用过程中存在的非对称冲突主要包括：耕地保护成本收益的非对称核算;耕地占补平衡与统筹区域土地利用的非对称冲突;土地资源合理利用与土地资源收益的非对称冲突;耕地资源保护与耕地资产经营的非对称冲突。基于耕地保护非对称利益冲突的政策启示是：要提高人们耕地保护的供给意愿,应该依靠“两大支柱”,一是提高收益,把耕地作为一种资产来经营,作为一种价值工程来开发,充满无限商机。实施耕地保护的区域经济补偿,以矫正耕地保护的外部经济性,让耕地保护者真正有利可图;二是协调发展,遵循耕地保护机会成本和耕地资源禀赋的区域差异,统筹区域土地利用,使耕地保护成为实现农业区域专门化,取得规模经济效益和集聚效益的手段,以耕地保护为契机,建立区域协作与联动机制,促进生产要素的合理流动。     

基于TRMM数据和区域综合Z指数的洞庭湖流域近10年旱涝特征分析

利用洞庭湖流域1999年1月-2008年12月间的TRMM3B43月降水量资料,通过区域综合Z指数的构建,旱涝等级的划分以及降水变差系数的计算,对洞庭湖流域近10年来的旱涝发生特点进行了分析,并通过与流域实测降水数据分析结果的对比,验证了TRMM数据在流域旱涝监测中具有很好的可行性和较高可信度。另外,研究结果显示:①在区域综合Z指数构建过程中,由于考虑了区域降水空间分布的不均匀性,文中的计算方法比通常采用的面积平均法更加符合实际;②TRMM数据格点在流域内均匀分布,可有效刻画流域降水的空间分布。其监测的流域旱涝结果较有限气象站点的监测结果更加真实、可靠;③受季节性季风降水及区内复杂地貌特征的影响,洞庭湖流域旱涝发生较为频繁,平均一年内大约有2.8个月和2.4个月,分别表现为流域性的洪涝和干旱。且总体上,流域性洪涝发生的频率和等级要高于干旱;④洞庭湖流域洪涝发生具有持续时间长的特征。在过去10年间,常常有持续2～3个月,甚至更长的洪涝或干旱发生;⑤洞庭湖流域西北部、西南部以及东南部的旱涝发生几率相对较高,而中部和东部的几率相对较低,尤其是北部湖区的几率最低。