Allometric disparity in rodent evolution.

In this study, allometric trajectories for 51 rodent species, comprising equal representatives from each of the major clades (Ctenohystrica, Muroidea, Sciuridae), are compared in a multivariate morphospace (=allometric space) to quantify magnitudes of disparity in cranial growth. Variability in allometric trajectory patterns was compared to measures of adult disparity in each clade, and dietary habit among the examined species, which together encapsulated an ecomorphological breadth. Results indicate that the evolution of allometric trajectories in rodents is characterized by different features in sciurids compared with muroids and Ctenohystrica.

Simulation algorithm for the coupling of the left ventricular mechanical model with arbitrary circulation model.

The left ventricular mechanical model and the circulation model are important for the cardiovascular dynamics simulation that consider the characteristics of the ventricular cells and the structure of left ventricle (LV). Due to the fact that the cardiovascular dynamics is the result of nonlinear interactions between these two models, simultaneous consideration of both models using a strong coupling method is necessary for an accurate simulation. In this paper, we propose a simulation algorithm that is capable of calculating cardiovascular dynamics model by strong coupling of the left ventricular mechanical model and the circulation model.

Mid-Membrane Photolabeling of the Transmembrane Domain of Glycophorin A in Phospholipid Vesicles.

The tandem use of the photosensitive bola-amphiphile 1 (X= H) and cholesterol enabled the determination of the center of the transmembrane domain of glycophorin A (131 amino acid residues) in a membrane by selective functionalization of the protein within a phospholipid bilayer.

Synthesis and nonthrombogenicity of polymer membrane with surface-graft polymers carrying thrombin inhibitor.

An acrylamide derivative of a thrombin inhibitor was synthesized and graft polymerized to the surfaces of polymer membranes. The thrombin-inhibitor activity was unaffected by the introduction of an acryloyl group. The surface-graft membrane deactivated thrombin markedly and suppressed adhesion of platelets, resulting in a high nonthrombogenicity.