Dysregulated expression of microRNAs （miRNAs） in various tissues has been associated with a variety of diseases, including cancers. Here we demonstrate that miRNAs are present in the serum and plasma of humans and o...Dysregulated expression of microRNAs （miRNAs） in various tissues has been associated with a variety of diseases, including cancers. Here we demonstrate that miRNAs are present in the serum and plasma of humans and other animals such as mice, rats, bovine fetuses, calves, and horses. The levels of miRNAs in serum are stable, reproducible, and consistent among individuals of the same species. Employing Solexa, we sequenced all serum miRNAs of healthy Chinese subjects and found over 100 and 91 serum miRNAs in male and female subjects, respectively. We also identified specific expression patterns of serum miRNAs for lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and diabetes, providing evidence that serum miRNAs contain fingerprints for various diseases. Two non-small cell lung cancer-specific serum miRNAs obtained by Solexa were further validated in an independent trial of 75 healthy donors and 152 cancer patients, using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. Through these analyses, we conclude that serum miRNAs can serve as potential biomarkers for the detection of various cancers and other diseases.展开更多
AIM: To identify the property of dendritic cells (DCs) of peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) in patients with chronic HBV infection. METHODS: Twenty patients with persistent HBV infection were included in this study, 1...AIM: To identify the property of dendritic cells (DCs) of peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) in patients with chronic HBV infection. METHODS: Twenty patients with persistent HBV infection were included in this study, 10 healthy subjects being used as a control group. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of T cell-depleted populations were incubated and induced into mature dendritic cells in the RPMI-1640 medium in the presence of cytokines GM-CSF, IL-4, FLt-3,TNF-alpha and 100mL.L(-1 )of fetal calf serum for a total of 10-12 days. The expressions of surface markers on DCs were evaluated using flow cytometric analysis. ELISA method was used to determine the cytokine levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-10 in the supernatant produced by DCs. For detection of the stimulatory capacity of DCs to T cell proliferation, mytomycin C-treated DC were incubated with allogenic T cells. RESULTS: A typical morphology of mature DCs from healthy subjects and HBV-infected patients was induced in in vitro incubation, but the proliferation ability and cellular number of DCs from HBV-infected patients significantly decreased compared with healthy individuals. In particular, the expression levels of HLA-DR, CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2) on DC surface from patients were also lower than that from healthy individuals (0.46 vs 0.92 for HLA-DR, 0.44 vs 0.88 for CD80 and 0.44 vs 0.84 for CD86,P【0.05). The stimulatory capacity and production of IL-12 of DCs from patients in allogenic mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) significantly decreased, but the production level of nitric oxide (NO) by DCs simultaneously increased compared with healthy subjects (86 +/- 15 vs 170 +/- 22 micromol.L(-1), P 【0.05). CONCLUSION: The patients with chronic HBV infection have the defective function and immature phenotype of dendritic cells, which may be associated with the inability of efficient presentation of HBV antigens to host immune system for the clearance of HBV.展开更多
Rice yield and heading date are two distinct traits controlled by quantitative trait loci （QTLs）. The dissection of molecular mechanisms underlying rice yield traits is important for developing high-yielding rice va...Rice yield and heading date are two distinct traits controlled by quantitative trait loci （QTLs）. The dissection of molecular mechanisms underlying rice yield traits is important for developing high-yielding rice varieties. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of Ghd8, a major QTL with pleiotropic effects on grain yield, heading date, and plant height. Two sets of near isogenic line populations were developed for the cloning of GhdS. Ghd8 was narrowed down to a 20-kb region containing two putative genes, of which one encodes the OsHAP3 subunit of a CCAAT-box binding protein （HAP complex）; this gene was regarded as the Ghd8 candidate. A complementary test confirmed the identity and pleiotropic effects of the gene; interestingly, the genetic effect of Ghd8 was dependent on its genetic background. By regulating Ehdl, RFT1, and Hd3a, Ghd8 delayed flowering under long-day conditions, but promoted flowering under short-day conditions. Ghd8 up-regulated MOC1, a key gene controlling tillering and branching; this increased the number of tillers, primary and secondary branches, thus producing 50% more grains per plant. The ectopic expression of Ghd8 in Arabidopsis caused early flowering by 10 d-a situation similar to the one observed by its homolog AtHAP3b, when compared to wild-type under long-day conditions; these findings indicate the conserved function of Ghd8 and AtHAP3b in flowering in Arabidopsis. Our results demonstrated the important roles of Ghd8 in rice yield formation and flowering, as well as its opposite functions in flowering between rice and Arabidopsis under long-day conditions.展开更多
Thirty years ago,Coullet et al.proposed that a special optical field exists in laser cavities bearing some analogy with the superfluid vortex.Since then,optical vortices have been widely studied,inspired by the hydrod...Thirty years ago,Coullet et al.proposed that a special optical field exists in laser cavities bearing some analogy with the superfluid vortex.Since then,optical vortices have been widely studied,inspired by the hydrodynamics sharing similar mathematics.Akin to a fluid vortex with a central flow singularity,an optical vortex beam has a phase singularity with a certain topological charge,giving rise to a hollow intensity distribution.Such a beam with helical phase fronts and orbital angular momentum reveals a subtle connection between macroscopic physical optics and microscopic quantum optics.These amazing properties provide a new understanding of a wide range of optical and physical phenomena,including twisting photons,spin–orbital interactions,Bose-Einstein condensates,etc.,while the associated technologies for manipulating optical vortices have become increasingly tunable and flexible.Hitherto,owing to these salient properties and optical manipulation technologies,tunable vortex beams have engendered tremendous advanced applications such as optical tweezers,high-order quantum entanglement,and nonlinear optics.This article reviews the recent progress in tunable vortex technologies along with their advanced applications.展开更多
Many large porphyry Cu-Au deposits are connected to adakitic rocks known to be closely associated with ridge subduction. For example, there are several subducting ridges along the east Pacific margin, e.g., in Chile, ...Many large porphyry Cu-Au deposits are connected to adakitic rocks known to be closely associated with ridge subduction. For example, there are several subducting ridges along the east Pacific margin, e.g., in Chile, Peru, and South America, most of which are associated with large porphyry Cu-Au deposits. In contrast, there are much fewer ridge subductions on the west Pacific margin and porphyry Cu-Au deposits are much less there, both in terms of tonnage and the number of deposits. Given that Cu and Au are moderately incompatible elements, oceanic crust has much higher Cu-Au concentrations than the mantle and the continental crust, and thus slab melts with their diagnostic adakitic chemistry have systematically higher Cu and Au, which is favorable for mineralization. Considering the geotherm of subducting slabs in the Phanerozoic, ridge subduction is the most favorable tectonic setting for this. Therefore, slab melting is the likely link in the spatial association between ridge subduction and Cu-Au deposits. Geochemical signatures of slab melting and hence maybe ridge subduction in less eroded regions in eastern China, the central Asian orogenic belt etc. may indicate important exploration targets for large porphyry Cu-Au deposits.展开更多
High rates of fertilizer nitrogen (N) are applied in greenhouse vegetable fields in southeastern China to maximize production;however,the N budgets of such intensive vegetable production remain to be explored.The goal...High rates of fertilizer nitrogen (N) are applied in greenhouse vegetable fields in southeastern China to maximize production;however,the N budgets of such intensive vegetable production remain to be explored.The goal of this study was to determine the annual N balance and loss in a greenhouse vegetable system of annual rotation of tomato,cucumber,and celery at five N (urea) application rates (0,348,522,696,and 870 kg N ha-1 year-1).Total N input to the 0-50 cm soil layer ranged from 531 to 1 053 kg ha-1,and N fertilizer was the main N source,accounting for 66%-83% of the total annual N input.In comparison,irrigation water,wet deposition,and seeds in total accounted for less than 1% of the total N input.The fertilizer N use efficiency was only 18% under the conventional application rate of 870 kg N ha-1 and decreased as the application rate increased from 522 to 870 kg N ha-1.Apparent N losses were 196-201 kg N ha-1,of which 71%-86% was lost by leaching at the application rates of 522-870 kg N ha-1.Thus,leaching was the primary N loss pathway at high N application rates and the amount of N leached was proportional to the N applied during the cucumber season.Moreover,dissolved organic N accounted for 10% of the leached N,whereas NH3 volatilization only contributed 0.1%-0.6% of the apparent N losses under the five N application rates in this greenhouse vegetable system.展开更多
We report new 40Ar/39Ar dating results ob-tained from total fusion and incremental-heating analyses of sanidine and biotite from three tuffs found interbedded within the fossil-bearing deposits of Liaoning, northeast ...We report new 40Ar/39Ar dating results ob-tained from total fusion and incremental-heating analyses of sanidine and biotite from three tuffs found interbedded within the fossil-bearing deposits of Liaoning, northeast China. The first is a new sample of the Bed 6 Sihetun tuff from the Yixian Formation, previously dated by our team as middle Early Cretaceous, and recently considered by Lo et al., partially reset due to metamorphism from a nearby ba-saltic sill. The second is the Yixian Bed 9 tuff from Heng-daozi considered by Lo et al. to be unaffected by metamor-phism and whose age, based on total fusion 40Ar/39Ar dating of biotite, argues for a Jurassic age for the Yixian Formation. The third tuff is a previously undated tuff from the upper part of the underlying Tuchengzi Formation. Single crystal total fusion 40Ar/39Ar analyses of the Sihetun sanidine showed homogeneous radiogenic Ar, Ca/K ratios, excellent reproducibility and gave a mean age of 125.0 ± 0.18 (1SD) ± 0.04 (SE) Ma. Single sanidine展开更多
Transforming growth factor-beta （TGF-β）/bone morphogenic protein （BMP） signaling is involved in the vast majority of cellular processes and is fundamentally important during the entire life of all metazoans. Dere...Transforming growth factor-beta （TGF-β）/bone morphogenic protein （BMP） signaling is involved in the vast majority of cellular processes and is fundamentally important during the entire life of all metazoans. Deregulation of TGF-β/ BMP activity almost invariably leads to developmental defects and/or diseases, including cancer. The proper functioning of the TGF-β/BMP pathway depends on its constitutive and extensive communication with other signaling pathways, leading to synergistic or antagonistic effects and eventually desirable biological outcomes. The nature of such signaling cross-talk is overwhelmingly complex and highly context-dependent. Here we review the different modes of cross-talk between TGF-β/BMP and the signaling pathways of Mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/ Akt, Wnt, Hedgehog, Notch, and the interleukin/interferon-gamma/tumor necrosis factor-alpha cytokines, with an emphasis on the underlying molecular mechanisms.展开更多
The concentrations of eight heavy metals （Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Hg, and As） in the intertidal surface sediments from Quanzhou Bay were determined to evaluate their levels and spatial distribution due to urbanizati...The concentrations of eight heavy metals （Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Hg, and As） in the intertidal surface sediments from Quanzhou Bay were determined to evaluate their levels and spatial distribution due to urbanization and economic development of Quanzhou region, southeast China. The ranges of the measured concentrations in the sediments are as follows： 24.8-119.7 mg/kg for Cu, 105.5-241.9 mg/kg for Zn, 34.3-100. 9 mg/kg for Pb, 0.28-0. 89 mg/kg for Cd, 51.1-121.7 mg/kg for Cr, 16.1-45.7 mg/kg for Ni, 0.17-0.74 mg/kg for Hg, and 17.7-30.2 mg/kg for As. The overall average concentrations of above metals exceed the primary standard criteria but meet the secondary standard criteria of the Chinese National Standard of Marine Sediment Quality. Several contents of Cu and Hg exceed the secondary standard criteria at some stations. The results of geoaccumulation index （Igeo） show that Cd causes strong pollution in most of the study area. There are no significant correlations among most of these heavy metals, indicating they have different anthropogenic and natural sources. Some locations present severe pollution by heavy metals depending on the sources, of which sewage outlets, aquatic breeding, and commercial ports are the main sources of contaminants to the area.展开更多
AIM: To observe the inhibition of antisense oligonucleotides (asON) phosphorthioate to the tissue inhibitors metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) gene and protein expression in the liver tissue of immunologically induced hepa...AIM: To observe the inhibition of antisense oligonucleotides (asON) phosphorthioate to the tissue inhibitors metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) gene and protein expression in the liver tissue of immunologically induced hepatic fibrosis rats. The possibility of reversing hepatic fibrosis through gene therapy was observed. METHODS: Human serum albumin (HSA) was used to attack rats, as hepatic fibrosis model, in which asONs were used to block the gene and protein expressing TIMP-1. According to the analysis of modulator, structure protein, coding series of TIMP-1 genome, we designed four different asONs. These asONs were injected into the hepatic fibrosis models through coccygeal vein. The results was observed by RT-PCR for measuring TIMP-1 mRNA expression, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for collagen I, II, special staining of collagen fiber, and electron microscopic examination. RESULTS: Hepatic fibrosis could last within 363 days in our modified model. The expressing level of TIMP-1 was high during hepatic fibrosis process. It has been proved by the immunohistochemical and the electron microscopic examination that the asON phosphorthioate of TIMP-1 could exactly express in vivo. The effect of colchicine was demonstrated to inhibit the expressing level of mRNA and the content of collagen I, III in the liver of experimental hepatic fibrosis rats. However, the electron microscopy research and the pathologic grading of hepatic fibrosis showed that there was no significant difference between the treatment group and the model group (P】 0.05). CONCLUSION: The experimental rat model of hepatic fibrosis is one of the preferable models to estimate the curative effect of anti-hepatic fibrosis drugs. The asON phosphorthioate of TIMP-1 could block the gene and protein expression of TIMP-1 in the liver of experimental hepatic fibrosis rats at the mRNA level. It is possible to reverse hepatic fibrosis, and it is expected to study a new drug of antihepatic fibrosis on the genetic level. Colchicine has very limited th展开更多
With the proliferation of the Internet of Things(IoT),various services are emerging with totally different features and requirements,which cannot be supported by the current fifth generation of mobile cellular network...With the proliferation of the Internet of Things(IoT),various services are emerging with totally different features and requirements,which cannot be supported by the current fifth generation of mobile cellular networks(5G).The future sixth generation of mobile cellular networks(6G)is expected to have the capability to support new and unknown services with changing requirements.Hence,in addition to enhancing its capability by 10–100 times compared with 5G,6G should also be intelligent and open to adapt to the ever-changing services in the IoT,which requires a convergence of Communication,Computing and Caching(3C).Based on the analysis of the requirements of new services for 6G,this paper identifies key enabling technologies for an intelligent and open 6G network,all featured with 3C convergence.These technologies cover fundamental and emerging topics,including 3C-based spectrum management,radio channel construction,delay-aware transmission,wireless distributed computing,and network self-evolution.From the detailed analysis of these 3C-based technologies presented in this paper,we can see that although they are promising to enable an intelligent and open 6G,more efforts are needed to realize the expected 6G network.展开更多
The skeleton is a dynamic organ that is constantly remodeled. Proteins secreted from bone cells, namely osteoblasts, osteocytes,and osteoclasts exert regulation on osteoblastogenesis, osteclastogenesis, and angiogenes...The skeleton is a dynamic organ that is constantly remodeled. Proteins secreted from bone cells, namely osteoblasts, osteocytes,and osteoclasts exert regulation on osteoblastogenesis, osteclastogenesis, and angiogenesis in a paracrine manner. Osteoblasts secrete a range of different molecules including RANKL/OPG, M-CSF, SEMA3A, WNT5A, and WNT16 that regulate osteoclastogenesis. Osteoblasts also produce VEGFA that stimulates osteoblastogenesis and angiogenesis. Osteocytes produce sclerostin（SOST） that inhibits osteoblast differentiation and promotes osteoclast differentiation. Osteoclasts secrete factors including BMP6, CTHRC1, EFNB2, S1P, WNT10B, SEMA4D, and CT-1 that act on osteoblasts and osteocytes, and thereby influencea A osteogenesis. Osteoclast precursors produce the angiogenic factor PDGF-BB to promote the formation of Type H vessels, which then stimulate osteoblastogenesis. Besides, the evidences over the past decades show that at least three hormones or ＂osteokines＂from bone cells have endocrine functions. FGF23 is produced by osteoblasts and osteocytes and can regulate phosphate metabolism. Osteocalcin（OCN） secreted by osteoblasts regulates systemic glucose and energy metabolism, reproduction, and cognition. Lipocalin-2（LCN2） is secreted by osteoblasts and can influence energy metabolism by suppressing appetite in the brain.We review the recent progresses in the paracrine and endocrine functions of the secretory proteins of osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts, revealing connections of the skeleton with other tissues and providing added insights into the pathogenesis of degenerative diseases affecting multiple organs and the drug discovery process.展开更多
High-entropy ceramics (HECs) are solid solutions of inorganic compounds with one or more Wyckoff sites shared by equal or near-equal atomic ratios of multi-principal elements.Although in the infant stage,the emerging ...High-entropy ceramics (HECs) are solid solutions of inorganic compounds with one or more Wyckoff sites shared by equal or near-equal atomic ratios of multi-principal elements.Although in the infant stage,the emerging of this new family of materials has brought new opportunities for material design and property tailoring.Distinct from metals,the diversity in crystal structure and electronic structure of ceramics provides huge space for properties tuning through band structure engineering and phonon engineering.Aside from strengthening,hardening,and low thermal conductivity that have already been found in high-entropy alloys,new properties like colossal dielectric constant,super ionic conductivity,severe anisotropic thermal expansion coefficient,strong electromagnetic wave absorption,etc.,have been discovered in HECs.As a response to the rapid development in this nascent field,this article gives a comprehensive review on the structure features,theoretical methods for stability and property prediction,processing routes,novel properties,and prospective applications of HECs.The challenges on processing,characterization,and property predictions are also emphasized.Finally,future directions for new material exploration,novel processing,fundamental understanding,in-depth characterization,and database assessments are given.展开更多
Syncope belongs to the transient loss of consciousness(TLOC), characterized by a rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous complete recovery. It is common in children and adolescents, accounting for 1% to 2% of eme...Syncope belongs to the transient loss of consciousness(TLOC), characterized by a rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous complete recovery. It is common in children and adolescents, accounting for 1% to 2% of emergency department visits.Recurrent syncope can seriously affect children's physical and mental health, learning ability and quality of life and sometimes cardiac syncope even poses a risk of sudden death. The present guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of syncope in children and adolescents was developed for guiding a better clinical management of pediatric syncope. Based on the globally recent development and the evidence-based data in China, 2018 Chinese Pediatric Cardiology Society(CPCS) guideline for diagnosis and treatment of syncope in children and adolescents was jointly prepared by the Pediatric Cardiology Society, Chinese Pediatric Society, Chinese Medical Association(CMA)/Committee on Pediatric Syncope, Pediatricians Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association(CMDA)/Committee on Pediatric Cardiology, Chinese College of Cardiovascular Physicians, Chinese Medical Doctor Association(CMDA)/Pediatric Cardiology Society, Beijing Pediatric Society, Beijing Medical Association(BMA). The present guideline includes the underlying diseases of syncope in children and adolescents, the diagnostic procedures, methodology and clinical significance of standing test and headup tilt test, the clinical diagnosis vasovagal syncope, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, orthostatic hypotension and orthostatic hypertension, and the treatment of syncope as well as follow-up.展开更多
Artificial bee colony(ABC) is one of the most popular swarm intelligence optimization algorithms which have been widely used in numerical optimization and engineering applications. However, there are still deficiencie...Artificial bee colony(ABC) is one of the most popular swarm intelligence optimization algorithms which have been widely used in numerical optimization and engineering applications. However, there are still deficiencies in ABC regarding its local search ability and global search efficiency. Aiming at these deficiencies,an ABC variant named hybrid ABC(HABC) algorithm is proposed.Firstly, the variable neighborhood search factor is added to the solution search equation, which can enhance the local search ability and increase the population diversity. Secondly, inspired by the neuroscience investigation of real honeybees, the memory mechanism is put forward, which assumes the artificial bees can remember their past successful experiences and further guide the subsequent foraging behavior. The proposed memory mechanism is used to improve the global search efficiency. Finally, the results of comparison on a set of ten benchmark functions demonstrate the superiority of HABC.展开更多
Objective To study the prevalence of atrial fibrillation （AF） and the relation with its risk factors in China. Methods A total of 19 363 participants （8635 males and 10 728 females） aged 〉35 years in geographical...Objective To study the prevalence of atrial fibrillation （AF） and the relation with its risk factors in China. Methods A total of 19 363 participants （8635 males and 10 728 females） aged 〉35 years in geographically dispersed urban and rural regions of China were included in this cross-sectional survey. All participants received questionnaire, physical and blood examination. Echocardiography were performed for AF patients found in the survey. Results Of the 19 363 participants, 199 were diagnosed with AF. The estimated age-standardized prevalence of AF was 0.78% in men and 0.76% in women. The prevalence of AF in participants aged 〈60 years was 0.41% in men and 0.43% in women, and was 1.83% in both men and women aged 〉_60 years. About 19.0% of males and 30.9% of females with AF were diagnosed with valve disease. Age- and sex-adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that myocardial infarction, left ventricular hypertrophy （LVH）, obesity, and alcohol consumption were associated with a increased risk of AF（P〈0.05）. Conclusion The age standardized prevalence of AF is 0.77% in the participants enrolled in the present study. The number of AF cases aged 〉35 years is 5.26 million according to 2010 Chinese Census. Most risk factors for AF, identified mainly in Western countries, are also detected in China.展开更多
The nitrogen （N） pollution status of the 12 most important rivers in Changshu, Taihu Lake region was investigated. Water samples were collected from depths of 0.5-1.0 m with the aid of the global positioning system ...The nitrogen （N） pollution status of the 12 most important rivers in Changshu, Taihu Lake region was investigated. Water samples were collected from depths of 0.5-1.0 m with the aid of the global positioning system （GPS）. The seasonal variations in the concentrations of different N components in the rivers were measured. Using tension-free monolith lysimeters and ^15N-labeled fertilizer, field experiments were carried out in this region to determine variations of iSN abundance of NO3^- in the leachate during the rice and wheat growing seasons, respectively. Results showed that the main source of N pollution of surface waters in the Taihu Lake region was not the N fertilizer applied in the farmland but the urban domestic sewage and rural human and animal excreta directly discharged into the water bodies without treatment. Atmospheric dry and wet N deposition was another evident source of N pollutant of the surface waters. In conclusion, it would not be correct to attribute the N applied to farmlands as the source of N pollution of the surface waters in this region.展开更多
基金Acknowledgments We thank Drs Fengyong Liu and Sheng Luan at UC Berkeley, USA, for their discussion and help with the writing of the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China （no. 30225037, 30471991, 30570731）, National Basic Research Program of China （973 Program） （no. 2006CB503909, 2004CB518603）, the ＂111＂ Project, and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province （no. BK2004082, BK2006714）.
文摘Dysregulated expression of microRNAs （miRNAs） in various tissues has been associated with a variety of diseases, including cancers. Here we demonstrate that miRNAs are present in the serum and plasma of humans and other animals such as mice, rats, bovine fetuses, calves, and horses. The levels of miRNAs in serum are stable, reproducible, and consistent among individuals of the same species. Employing Solexa, we sequenced all serum miRNAs of healthy Chinese subjects and found over 100 and 91 serum miRNAs in male and female subjects, respectively. We also identified specific expression patterns of serum miRNAs for lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and diabetes, providing evidence that serum miRNAs contain fingerprints for various diseases. Two non-small cell lung cancer-specific serum miRNAs obtained by Solexa were further validated in an independent trial of 75 healthy donors and 152 cancer patients, using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. Through these analyses, we conclude that serum miRNAs can serve as potential biomarkers for the detection of various cancers and other diseases.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.39970831.
文摘AIM: To identify the property of dendritic cells (DCs) of peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) in patients with chronic HBV infection. METHODS: Twenty patients with persistent HBV infection were included in this study, 10 healthy subjects being used as a control group. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of T cell-depleted populations were incubated and induced into mature dendritic cells in the RPMI-1640 medium in the presence of cytokines GM-CSF, IL-4, FLt-3,TNF-alpha and 100mL.L(-1 )of fetal calf serum for a total of 10-12 days. The expressions of surface markers on DCs were evaluated using flow cytometric analysis. ELISA method was used to determine the cytokine levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-10 in the supernatant produced by DCs. For detection of the stimulatory capacity of DCs to T cell proliferation, mytomycin C-treated DC were incubated with allogenic T cells. RESULTS: A typical morphology of mature DCs from healthy subjects and HBV-infected patients was induced in in vitro incubation, but the proliferation ability and cellular number of DCs from HBV-infected patients significantly decreased compared with healthy individuals. In particular, the expression levels of HLA-DR, CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2) on DC surface from patients were also lower than that from healthy individuals (0.46 vs 0.92 for HLA-DR, 0.44 vs 0.88 for CD80 and 0.44 vs 0.84 for CD86,P【0.05). The stimulatory capacity and production of IL-12 of DCs from patients in allogenic mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) significantly decreased, but the production level of nitric oxide (NO) by DCs simultaneously increased compared with healthy subjects (86 +/- 15 vs 170 +/- 22 micromol.L(-1), P 【0.05). CONCLUSION: The patients with chronic HBV infection have the defective function and immature phenotype of dendritic cells, which may be associated with the inability of efficient presentation of HBV antigens to host immune system for the clearance of HBV.
文摘Rice yield and heading date are two distinct traits controlled by quantitative trait loci （QTLs）. The dissection of molecular mechanisms underlying rice yield traits is important for developing high-yielding rice varieties. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of Ghd8, a major QTL with pleiotropic effects on grain yield, heading date, and plant height. Two sets of near isogenic line populations were developed for the cloning of GhdS. Ghd8 was narrowed down to a 20-kb region containing two putative genes, of which one encodes the OsHAP3 subunit of a CCAAT-box binding protein （HAP complex）; this gene was regarded as the Ghd8 candidate. A complementary test confirmed the identity and pleiotropic effects of the gene; interestingly, the genetic effect of Ghd8 was dependent on its genetic background. By regulating Ehdl, RFT1, and Hd3a, Ghd8 delayed flowering under long-day conditions, but promoted flowering under short-day conditions. Ghd8 up-regulated MOC1, a key gene controlling tillering and branching; this increased the number of tillers, primary and secondary branches, thus producing 50% more grains per plant. The ectopic expression of Ghd8 in Arabidopsis caused early flowering by 10 d-a situation similar to the one observed by its homolog AtHAP3b, when compared to wild-type under long-day conditions; these findings indicate the conserved function of Ghd8 and AtHAP3b in flowering in Arabidopsis. Our results demonstrated the important roles of Ghd8 in rice yield formation and flowering, as well as its opposite functions in flowering between rice and Arabidopsis under long-day conditions.
基金funded by The National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2017YFB1104500)Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality(4172030)+3 种基金Beijing Young Talents Support Project(2017000020124G044)Leading talents of Guangdong province program(00201505)National Natural Science Foundation of China(U1701661,91750205,61975133,11604218,61975087)Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(2016A030312010,2017A030313351).
文摘Thirty years ago,Coullet et al.proposed that a special optical field exists in laser cavities bearing some analogy with the superfluid vortex.Since then,optical vortices have been widely studied,inspired by the hydrodynamics sharing similar mathematics.Akin to a fluid vortex with a central flow singularity,an optical vortex beam has a phase singularity with a certain topological charge,giving rise to a hollow intensity distribution.Such a beam with helical phase fronts and orbital angular momentum reveals a subtle connection between macroscopic physical optics and microscopic quantum optics.These amazing properties provide a new understanding of a wide range of optical and physical phenomena,including twisting photons,spin–orbital interactions,Bose-Einstein condensates,etc.,while the associated technologies for manipulating optical vortices have become increasingly tunable and flexible.Hitherto,owing to these salient properties and optical manipulation technologies,tunable vortex beams have engendered tremendous advanced applications such as optical tweezers,high-order quantum entanglement,and nonlinear optics.This article reviews the recent progress in tunable vortex technologies along with their advanced applications.
文摘Many large porphyry Cu-Au deposits are connected to adakitic rocks known to be closely associated with ridge subduction. For example, there are several subducting ridges along the east Pacific margin, e.g., in Chile, Peru, and South America, most of which are associated with large porphyry Cu-Au deposits. In contrast, there are much fewer ridge subductions on the west Pacific margin and porphyry Cu-Au deposits are much less there, both in terms of tonnage and the number of deposits. Given that Cu and Au are moderately incompatible elements, oceanic crust has much higher Cu-Au concentrations than the mantle and the continental crust, and thus slab melts with their diagnostic adakitic chemistry have systematically higher Cu and Au, which is favorable for mineralization. Considering the geotherm of subducting slabs in the Phanerozoic, ridge subduction is the most favorable tectonic setting for this. Therefore, slab melting is the likely link in the spatial association between ridge subduction and Cu-Au deposits. Geochemical signatures of slab melting and hence maybe ridge subduction in less eroded regions in eastern China, the central Asian orogenic belt etc. may indicate important exploration targets for large porphyry Cu-Au deposits.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China-Japan Science and Technology Agency (NSFC-JST)Major International Joint Research Project (No. 30821140542)+1 种基金the National Basic Research Program (973 Program) of China (No. 2007CB109303)the Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment of China (No. 2008ZX07101-005)
文摘High rates of fertilizer nitrogen (N) are applied in greenhouse vegetable fields in southeastern China to maximize production;however,the N budgets of such intensive vegetable production remain to be explored.The goal of this study was to determine the annual N balance and loss in a greenhouse vegetable system of annual rotation of tomato,cucumber,and celery at five N (urea) application rates (0,348,522,696,and 870 kg N ha-1 year-1).Total N input to the 0-50 cm soil layer ranged from 531 to 1 053 kg ha-1,and N fertilizer was the main N source,accounting for 66%-83% of the total annual N input.In comparison,irrigation water,wet deposition,and seeds in total accounted for less than 1% of the total N input.The fertilizer N use efficiency was only 18% under the conventional application rate of 870 kg N ha-1 and decreased as the application rate increased from 522 to 870 kg N ha-1.Apparent N losses were 196-201 kg N ha-1,of which 71%-86% was lost by leaching at the application rates of 522-870 kg N ha-1.Thus,leaching was the primary N loss pathway at high N application rates and the amount of N leached was proportional to the N applied during the cucumber season.Moreover,dissolved organic N accounted for 10% of the leached N,whereas NH3 volatilization only contributed 0.1%-0.6% of the apparent N losses under the five N application rates in this greenhouse vegetable system.
基金This work was supported bythe Special Fund for the Major State Basic Research Projects of China (Grant No. G000077700) the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZCX3-J-03)+1 种基金 the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49832002) th
文摘We report new 40Ar/39Ar dating results ob-tained from total fusion and incremental-heating analyses of sanidine and biotite from three tuffs found interbedded within the fossil-bearing deposits of Liaoning, northeast China. The first is a new sample of the Bed 6 Sihetun tuff from the Yixian Formation, previously dated by our team as middle Early Cretaceous, and recently considered by Lo et al., partially reset due to metamorphism from a nearby ba-saltic sill. The second is the Yixian Bed 9 tuff from Heng-daozi considered by Lo et al. to be unaffected by metamor-phism and whose age, based on total fusion 40Ar/39Ar dating of biotite, argues for a Jurassic age for the Yixian Formation. The third tuff is a previously undated tuff from the upper part of the underlying Tuchengzi Formation. Single crystal total fusion 40Ar/39Ar analyses of the Sihetun sanidine showed homogeneous radiogenic Ar, Ca/K ratios, excellent reproducibility and gave a mean age of 125.0 ± 0.18 (1SD) ± 0.04 (SE) Ma. Single sanidine
文摘Transforming growth factor-beta （TGF-β）/bone morphogenic protein （BMP） signaling is involved in the vast majority of cellular processes and is fundamentally important during the entire life of all metazoans. Deregulation of TGF-β/ BMP activity almost invariably leads to developmental defects and/or diseases, including cancer. The proper functioning of the TGF-β/BMP pathway depends on its constitutive and extensive communication with other signaling pathways, leading to synergistic or antagonistic effects and eventually desirable biological outcomes. The nature of such signaling cross-talk is overwhelmingly complex and highly context-dependent. Here we review the different modes of cross-talk between TGF-β/BMP and the signaling pathways of Mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/ Akt, Wnt, Hedgehog, Notch, and the interleukin/interferon-gamma/tumor necrosis factor-alpha cytokines, with an emphasis on the underlying molecular mechanisms.
基金Supported by Grants(in part)from the Major Projects Incubator Program of National Key Basic Research Program of China,No.2012CB526700National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81370511+1 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,No.S2011020002348Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,No.13ykjc01 and No.82000-3281901
文摘AIM: To investigate the etiology and complications of liver cirrhosis (LC) in Southern China.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.40673061)the Research Program of Science and Technology of Quanzhou City Government(No.2007Z43)the Foundation of Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment(East China Institute of Technology),Ministry of Education(No.070714).
文摘The concentrations of eight heavy metals （Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Hg, and As） in the intertidal surface sediments from Quanzhou Bay were determined to evaluate their levels and spatial distribution due to urbanization and economic development of Quanzhou region, southeast China. The ranges of the measured concentrations in the sediments are as follows： 24.8-119.7 mg/kg for Cu, 105.5-241.9 mg/kg for Zn, 34.3-100. 9 mg/kg for Pb, 0.28-0. 89 mg/kg for Cd, 51.1-121.7 mg/kg for Cr, 16.1-45.7 mg/kg for Ni, 0.17-0.74 mg/kg for Hg, and 17.7-30.2 mg/kg for As. The overall average concentrations of above metals exceed the primary standard criteria but meet the secondary standard criteria of the Chinese National Standard of Marine Sediment Quality. Several contents of Cu and Hg exceed the secondary standard criteria at some stations. The results of geoaccumulation index （Igeo） show that Cd causes strong pollution in most of the study area. There are no significant correlations among most of these heavy metals, indicating they have different anthropogenic and natural sources. Some locations present severe pollution by heavy metals depending on the sources, of which sewage outlets, aquatic breeding, and commercial ports are the main sources of contaminants to the area.
基金Supported by the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China(No.1999-10 State Postdoctoral Foundation Commission)
文摘AIM: To observe the inhibition of antisense oligonucleotides (asON) phosphorthioate to the tissue inhibitors metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) gene and protein expression in the liver tissue of immunologically induced hepatic fibrosis rats. The possibility of reversing hepatic fibrosis through gene therapy was observed. METHODS: Human serum albumin (HSA) was used to attack rats, as hepatic fibrosis model, in which asONs were used to block the gene and protein expressing TIMP-1. According to the analysis of modulator, structure protein, coding series of TIMP-1 genome, we designed four different asONs. These asONs were injected into the hepatic fibrosis models through coccygeal vein. The results was observed by RT-PCR for measuring TIMP-1 mRNA expression, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for collagen I, II, special staining of collagen fiber, and electron microscopic examination. RESULTS: Hepatic fibrosis could last within 363 days in our modified model. The expressing level of TIMP-1 was high during hepatic fibrosis process. It has been proved by the immunohistochemical and the electron microscopic examination that the asON phosphorthioate of TIMP-1 could exactly express in vivo. The effect of colchicine was demonstrated to inhibit the expressing level of mRNA and the content of collagen I, III in the liver of experimental hepatic fibrosis rats. However, the electron microscopy research and the pathologic grading of hepatic fibrosis showed that there was no significant difference between the treatment group and the model group (P】 0.05). CONCLUSION: The experimental rat model of hepatic fibrosis is one of the preferable models to estimate the curative effect of anti-hepatic fibrosis drugs. The asON phosphorthioate of TIMP-1 could block the gene and protein expression of TIMP-1 in the liver of experimental hepatic fibrosis rats at the mRNA level. It is possible to reverse hepatic fibrosis, and it is expected to study a new drug of antihepatic fibrosis on the genetic level. Colchicine has very limited th
基金This work is supported by the National Natural Science Youth Fund of China granted by No.61901452 and Innovative Project of ICT/CAS granted by No.20196110
文摘With the proliferation of the Internet of Things(IoT),various services are emerging with totally different features and requirements,which cannot be supported by the current fifth generation of mobile cellular networks(5G).The future sixth generation of mobile cellular networks(6G)is expected to have the capability to support new and unknown services with changing requirements.Hence,in addition to enhancing its capability by 10–100 times compared with 5G,6G should also be intelligent and open to adapt to the ever-changing services in the IoT,which requires a convergence of Communication,Computing and Caching(3C).Based on the analysis of the requirements of new services for 6G,this paper identifies key enabling technologies for an intelligent and open 6G network,all featured with 3C convergence.These technologies cover fundamental and emerging topics,including 3C-based spectrum management,radio channel construction,delay-aware transmission,wireless distributed computing,and network self-evolution.From the detailed analysis of these 3C-based technologies presented in this paper,we can see that although they are promising to enable an intelligent and open 6G,more efforts are needed to realize the expected 6G network.
基金国家重点基础研究发展计划(编号:2008CB418204)国家自然科学基金(批准号:20737002,40873072,40973065)+1 种基金浙江省自然科学基金(编号:Z507093)资助项目United States Department of Agriculture(USDA)Hatch Program(MAS00978)
基金supported in part by grants from 973 Program from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) (2014CB964704 and 2015CB964503)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDB19000000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (31371463, 81672119, and 81725010)
文摘The skeleton is a dynamic organ that is constantly remodeled. Proteins secreted from bone cells, namely osteoblasts, osteocytes,and osteoclasts exert regulation on osteoblastogenesis, osteclastogenesis, and angiogenesis in a paracrine manner. Osteoblasts secrete a range of different molecules including RANKL/OPG, M-CSF, SEMA3A, WNT5A, and WNT16 that regulate osteoclastogenesis. Osteoblasts also produce VEGFA that stimulates osteoblastogenesis and angiogenesis. Osteocytes produce sclerostin（SOST） that inhibits osteoblast differentiation and promotes osteoclast differentiation. Osteoclasts secrete factors including BMP6, CTHRC1, EFNB2, S1P, WNT10B, SEMA4D, and CT-1 that act on osteoblasts and osteocytes, and thereby influencea A osteogenesis. Osteoclast precursors produce the angiogenic factor PDGF-BB to promote the formation of Type H vessels, which then stimulate osteoblastogenesis. Besides, the evidences over the past decades show that at least three hormones or ＂osteokines＂from bone cells have endocrine functions. FGF23 is produced by osteoblasts and osteocytes and can regulate phosphate metabolism. Osteocalcin（OCN） secreted by osteoblasts regulates systemic glucose and energy metabolism, reproduction, and cognition. Lipocalin-2（LCN2） is secreted by osteoblasts and can influence energy metabolism by suppressing appetite in the brain.We review the recent progresses in the paracrine and endocrine functions of the secretory proteins of osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts, revealing connections of the skeleton with other tissues and providing added insights into the pathogenesis of degenerative diseases affecting multiple organs and the drug discovery process.
基金Financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos.51972089,51672064,and U1435206 are also acknowledged.
文摘High-entropy ceramics (HECs) are solid solutions of inorganic compounds with one or more Wyckoff sites shared by equal or near-equal atomic ratios of multi-principal elements.Although in the infant stage,the emerging of this new family of materials has brought new opportunities for material design and property tailoring.Distinct from metals,the diversity in crystal structure and electronic structure of ceramics provides huge space for properties tuning through band structure engineering and phonon engineering.Aside from strengthening,hardening,and low thermal conductivity that have already been found in high-entropy alloys,new properties like colossal dielectric constant,super ionic conductivity,severe anisotropic thermal expansion coefficient,strong electromagnetic wave absorption,etc.,have been discovered in HECs.As a response to the rapid development in this nascent field,this article gives a comprehensive review on the structure features,theoretical methods for stability and property prediction,processing routes,novel properties,and prospective applications of HECs.The challenges on processing,characterization,and property predictions are also emphasized.Finally,future directions for new material exploration,novel processing,fundamental understanding,in-depth characterization,and database assessments are given.
文摘Syncope belongs to the transient loss of consciousness(TLOC), characterized by a rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous complete recovery. It is common in children and adolescents, accounting for 1% to 2% of emergency department visits.Recurrent syncope can seriously affect children's physical and mental health, learning ability and quality of life and sometimes cardiac syncope even poses a risk of sudden death. The present guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of syncope in children and adolescents was developed for guiding a better clinical management of pediatric syncope. Based on the globally recent development and the evidence-based data in China, 2018 Chinese Pediatric Cardiology Society(CPCS) guideline for diagnosis and treatment of syncope in children and adolescents was jointly prepared by the Pediatric Cardiology Society, Chinese Pediatric Society, Chinese Medical Association(CMA)/Committee on Pediatric Syncope, Pediatricians Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association(CMDA)/Committee on Pediatric Cardiology, Chinese College of Cardiovascular Physicians, Chinese Medical Doctor Association(CMDA)/Pediatric Cardiology Society, Beijing Pediatric Society, Beijing Medical Association(BMA). The present guideline includes the underlying diseases of syncope in children and adolescents, the diagnostic procedures, methodology and clinical significance of standing test and headup tilt test, the clinical diagnosis vasovagal syncope, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, orthostatic hypotension and orthostatic hypertension, and the treatment of syncope as well as follow-up.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(7177121671701209)
文摘Artificial bee colony(ABC) is one of the most popular swarm intelligence optimization algorithms which have been widely used in numerical optimization and engineering applications. However, there are still deficiencies in ABC regarding its local search ability and global search efficiency. Aiming at these deficiencies,an ABC variant named hybrid ABC(HABC) algorithm is proposed.Firstly, the variable neighborhood search factor is added to the solution search equation, which can enhance the local search ability and increase the population diversity. Secondly, inspired by the neuroscience investigation of real honeybees, the memory mechanism is put forward, which assumes the artificial bees can remember their past successful experiences and further guide the subsequent foraging behavior. The proposed memory mechanism is used to improve the global search efficiency. Finally, the results of comparison on a set of ten benchmark functions demonstrate the superiority of HABC.
基金supported by the 10th National Five-Year Plan Projects(2001BA703B14,and 2001BA703B01)of Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Health
文摘Objective To study the prevalence of atrial fibrillation （AF） and the relation with its risk factors in China. Methods A total of 19 363 participants （8635 males and 10 728 females） aged 〉35 years in geographically dispersed urban and rural regions of China were included in this cross-sectional survey. All participants received questionnaire, physical and blood examination. Echocardiography were performed for AF patients found in the survey. Results Of the 19 363 participants, 199 were diagnosed with AF. The estimated age-standardized prevalence of AF was 0.78% in men and 0.76% in women. The prevalence of AF in participants aged 〈60 years was 0.41% in men and 0.43% in women, and was 1.83% in both men and women aged 〉_60 years. About 19.0% of males and 30.9% of females with AF were diagnosed with valve disease. Age- and sex-adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that myocardial infarction, left ventricular hypertrophy （LVH）, obesity, and alcohol consumption were associated with a increased risk of AF（P〈0.05）. Conclusion The age standardized prevalence of AF is 0.77% in the participants enrolled in the present study. The number of AF cases aged 〉35 years is 5.26 million according to 2010 Chinese Census. Most risk factors for AF, identified mainly in Western countries, are also detected in China.
基金Project supported by the State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. 035109)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30390080).
文摘The nitrogen （N） pollution status of the 12 most important rivers in Changshu, Taihu Lake region was investigated. Water samples were collected from depths of 0.5-1.0 m with the aid of the global positioning system （GPS）. The seasonal variations in the concentrations of different N components in the rivers were measured. Using tension-free monolith lysimeters and ^15N-labeled fertilizer, field experiments were carried out in this region to determine variations of iSN abundance of NO3^- in the leachate during the rice and wheat growing seasons, respectively. Results showed that the main source of N pollution of surface waters in the Taihu Lake region was not the N fertilizer applied in the farmland but the urban domestic sewage and rural human and animal excreta directly discharged into the water bodies without treatment. Atmospheric dry and wet N deposition was another evident source of N pollutant of the surface waters. In conclusion, it would not be correct to attribute the N applied to farmlands as the source of N pollution of the surface waters in this region.
