The thymus provides a microenvironment that induces the differentiation of T-progenitor cells into functional T cells and that establishes a diverse yet selftolerant T-cell repertoire. However, the mechanisms that lead to the development of the thymus are incompletely understood. We report herein the results of screening for genes that are expressed in the third pharyngeal pouch, which contains thymic primordium. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based cDNA subtraction screening for genes expressed in microdissected tissues of the third pharyngeal pouch rather than the second pharyngeal arch yielded one transcription factor, MafB, which was predominantly expressed in CD45 ؊ IA ؊ PDGFR␣ ؉ mesenchymal cells and was detectable even in the third pharyngeal pouch of FoxN1-deficient nude mice. Interestingly, the number of CD45 ؉ cells that initially accumulated in the embryonic thymus was significantly decreased in MafB-

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The main objective of the paper is to investigate the dynamic response of the prestressed beams on rigid supports to moving concentrated loads. The governing equation of the transverse vibration of a prestressed continuous beam under the ununiformly distributed load is analytically formulated, taking into account the effect of the prestressing. The forced transverse vibration of the beam under the action of a large number of moving bodies has been investigated by using the method of substructures. In addition, the reaction forces at every rigid supports can be determined from the obtained differential equations. A comparison between the numerical results for the prestressed and the non-prestressed beam is presented to show the influence of the prestressing and the moving velocity of the bodies on the dynamic response of the beam. The calculating results are also examined and validated by experimental measurements at a large ferroconcrete bridge in Vietnam.