Influence of resolution on elevation and slope at watershed scale in Loess Plateau.

This article studied the effects of resolution on elevation and slope using Statistical and Geostatistical methods. Xian' Nan watershed in Loess Plateau was taking as the study area. The base data was a 1:10000 topographic map and the resolutions studied in this paper included 5 m, 25 m and 50 m.

Human SH2B1 mutations are associated with maladaptive behaviors and obesity.

Src homology 2 B adapter protein 1 (SH2B1) modulates signaling by a variety of ligands that bind to receptor tyrosine kinases or JAK-associated cytokine receptors, including leptin, insulin, growth hormone (GH), and nerve growth factor (NGF). Targeted deletion of Sh2b1 in mice results in increased food intake, obesity, and insulin resistance, with an intermediate phenotype seen in heterozygous null mice on a high-fat diet. We identified SH2B1 loss-of-function mutations in a large cohort of patients with severe early-onset obesity.

[Analysis of indexes used to evaluate immunization coverage rate of first dose of measles containing vaccine].

Objective: To obtain an objective index of evaluating the immunization coverage rate of first dose of measles containing vaccine (MCV1)by comparison of the indexes in Guizhou Province.

Methods: Multistage random sampling method was applied to draw subjects from healthy children who had no measles history and aged from 8 months to 6 years of age. The investigated immunization coverage rate (IIR) and the estimated immunization coverage rate (EIR) were evaluated according to the positive rate of measles antibody as a gold standard, and the data of incidence cases as a reference.

Anti-interleukin-12/23p40 antibody attenuates chronic rejection of cardiac allografts partly via inhibition γδT cells.

In our previous study, we showed that treatment with an anti-interleukin (IL)-12/23p40 antibody inhibits acute cardiac allograft rejection via inhibiting production of interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-17a. However, the impact of this antagonistic anti-p40 antibody on chronic cardiac rejection was unclear. Hearts of B6.

Epidemiological characteristics of Japanese encephalitis in Guizhou Province, China, 1971-2009.

Objective: The aim of the study was to establish the contemporary epidemiological characteristics of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in Guizhou Province.

Methods: A retrospective study of National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS) data from 1971 through 2009, was conducted to ascertain the geographical, seasonal, and age distributions of JE incidence in Guizhou Province, China.

Results: A total of 68 425 JE cases were reported in Guizhou from 1971-2009.

Neuronal Cbl controls biosynthesis of insulin-like peptides in Drosophila melanogaster.

The Cbl family proteins function as both E3 ubiquitin ligases and adaptor proteins to regulate various cellular signaling events, including the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) pathways. These pathways play essential roles in growth, development, metabolism, and survival. Here we show that in Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila Cbl (dCbl) regulates longevity and carbohydrate metabolism through downregulating the production of Drosophila insulin-like peptides (dILPs) in the brain.

NF-κB–inducing kinase (NIK) promotes hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance in obesity by augmenting glucagon action.

The canonical inhibitor of nuclear factor κB kinase subunit β (IKK-β)–nuclear factor of κ light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1 (NF-κB1) pathway has been well documented to promote insulin resistance; however, the noncanonical NF-κB–inducing kinase (NIK)–NF-κB2 pathway is not well understood in obesity. Additionally, the contribution of counter-regulatory hormones, particularly glucagon, to hyperglycemia in obesity is unclear. Here we show that NIK promotes glucagon responses in obesity.

Glycochenodeoxycholate induces rat alveolar epithelial type II cell death and inhibits surfactant secretion in vitro.

Bile acid-induced lung injury has become an important topic for neonatologists after the discovery of a high incidence of infant respiratory distress syndrome complicated from maternal intrahepatic cholestasis. To explore the molecular pathway of bile acid-induced lung injury, we investigated the cytotoxicity of the glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC) to alveolar epithelial type II cells (AECII), as the main component of bile acid. The results demonstrated that glycochenodeoxycholate induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and increased caspase activity in the primary cultured AECII.

Shp2 controls female body weight and energy balance by integrating leptin and estrogen signals.

In mammals, leptin regulates food intake and energy balance mainly through the activation of LepRb in the hypothalamus, and estrogen has a leptin-like effect in the hypothalamic control of metabolism. However, it remains to be elucidated how estrogen signaling is intertwined with the leptin pathway. We show here that Shp2, a nonreceptor tyrosine phosphatase, acts to integrate leptin and estrogen signals.

Glucose enhances leptin signaling through modulation of AMPK activity.

Leptin exerts its action by binding to and activating the long form of leptin receptors (LEPRb). LEPRb activates JAK2 that subsequently phosphorylates and activates STAT3. The JAK2/STAT3 pathway is required for leptin control of energy balance and body weight.

Hepatic TRAF2 regulates glucose metabolism through enhancing glucagon responses.

Obesity is associated with intrahepatic inflammation that promotes insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF)2 is a key adaptor molecule that is known to mediate proinflammatory cytokine signaling in immune cells; however, its metabolic function remains unclear. We examined the role of hepatic TRAF2 in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.

Herbal constituent sequoyitol improves hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance by targeting hepatocytes, adipocytes, and β-cells.

The prevalence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes increases rapidly; however, treatments are limited. Various herbal extracts have been reported to reduce blood glucose in animals with either genetic or dietary type 2 diabetes; however, plant extracts are extremely complex, and leading compounds remain largely unknown. Here we show that 5-O-methyl-myo-inositol (also called sequoyitol), a herbal constituent, exerts antidiabetic effects in mice.

RASSF1A hypermethylation is associated with aflatoxin B1 and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: RASSF1A hypermethylation is frequently observed in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). But the possible related risk factors and prognosis evaluation for this epigenetic alteration are still unknown.

Methodology: Methylation status, mRNA and protein expression of RASSF1A, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA adducts, were examined in 103 cases of HCC.

Simple random sampling-based probe station selection for fault detection in wireless sensor networks.

Fault detection for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) has been studied intensively in recent years. Most existing works statically choose the manager nodes as probe stations and probe the network at a fixed frequency. This straightforward solution leads however to several deficiencies.

Contribution of blastoderm cells to Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)-Peking duck (Anas platyrhynchos) chimeras.

The purpose of this study was to produce quail-duck chimeras by transferring stage X blastoderm cells and to detect the distribution of donor cells in heterogeneous embryos using PCR. Four experimental groups were made by transferring different amounts of quail blastoderm cells into duck recipients. In early embryonic stages, donor cells labeled with PKH26 fluorescent dye were observed in the head, neural tube and gonads by fluorescent microscopy.

Low testosterone level in middle-aged male patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Endogenous testosterone has been shown to provide a protective role in the development of cardiovascular diseases in men. This study investigated the changes of testosterone level and its relationship to the severity of coronary artery stenosis in middle-aged men with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Serum testosterone concentration was measured in 87 middle-aged men patients with CAD including stable angina pectoris (SAP), unstable angina pectoris (USAP) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Monoamine oxidase-A physically interacts with presenilin-1(M146V) in the mouse cortex.

The concentration of presenilin-1 (PS-1) protein at the mitochondrial-associated aspect of the endoplasmic reticulum supports the potential for a mitochondrial influence of PS-1. Given that carriers of certain Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related PS-1 variants are predisposed to clinical depression and that depression has been historically associated with the mitochondrial enzyme, monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), we investigated cortical MAO-A function in the AD-related PS-1(M146V) knock-in mouse. The MAO-A system was clearly altered in the PS-1(M146V) mouse as revealed by (a) a mismatch between MAO-A protein expression and MAO-A activity; (b) changes in MAO-A-mediated monoaminergic neurotransmitter metabolism; (c) changes in non-cognitive behavior following treatment with the irreversible MAO-A inhibitor clorgyline; and (d) an increase in the potency of clorgyline in these same mice.

Malignant pirates of the immune system.

At great human cost, cancer is the largest genetic experiment ever conducted. This review highlights how lymphoid malignancies have genetically perverted normal immune signaling and regulatory mechanisms for their selfish oncogenic goals of unlimited proliferation, perpetual survival and evasion of the immune response.

PKA phosphorylation couples hepatic inositol-requiring enzyme 1alpha to glucagon signaling in glucose metabolism.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein kinase/endoribonuclease inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) is activated through transautophosphorylation in response to protein folding overload in the ER lumen and maintains ER homeostasis by triggering a key branch of the unfolded protein response. Here we show that mammalian IRE1α in liver cells is also phosphorylated by a kinase other than itself in response to metabolic stimuli. Glucagon-stimulated protein kinase PKA, which in turn phosphorylated IRE1α at Ser(724), a highly conserved site within the kinase activation domain.

Lipocalin 13 protein protects against hepatic steatosis by both inhibiting lipogenesis and stimulating fatty acid β-oxidation.

Obesity is associated with hepatic steatosis, partially due to increased lipogenesis and decreased fatty acid β-oxidation in the liver; however, the underlying mechanism of abnormal lipid metabolism is not fully understood. We reported previously that obesity is associated with LCN13 (lipocalin 13) deficiency. LCN13 is a lipocalin family member involved in glucose metabolism, and LCN13 deficiency appears to contribute to hyperglycemia in obese mice.

Perspectives of biotechnological production of L-ribose and its purification.

L-ribose is a non-natural and expensive sugar that can be used as an important intermediate for the synthesis of L-nucleoside analogues, which are used as antiviral drugs. In contrast to chemical production, biotechnological methods can produce L-ribose from biomass under environmentally friendly conditions. In this mini-review, various strategies for synthesizing L-ribose by applying microorganisms and their enzymes are discussed, including microbial biotransformation and biocatalysis by engineering bacteria.

Overview of human clonorchiasis sinensis in China.

The objective of the survey was to determine the current status, trends and transmission factors for Clonorchis sinensis infection in China and to provide updated information for development control strategies. This was part of a nationwide survey of major human parasitic diseases carried out during 2000-2002 sampled by the stratified randomized cluster sampling method. Fecal examination was conducted using the Kato-Katz thick smear method and egg count per gram of feces (EPG) was determined for the egg-positive patients.

[Determination of trans fatty acid C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3 isomers in milk fat by silver ion solid phase extraction-gas chromatography].

A method for the determination of trans fatty acids C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3 in milk fat was developed by silver ion solid phase extraction-gas chromatography (Ag+ -SPE/GC). The fatty acid methyl esters derived from total milk fat were loaded onto an Ag+ -SPE cartridge, and then eluted with 9 mL of toluene-hexane (5:95, v/v), 8 mL of toluene-hexane (17:83, v/v), 6 mL of toluene-ethyl acetate (17:83, v/v) and 10 mL of toluene-ethyl acetate (30:70, v/v) in sequence. The fraction from each step was analyzed by GC.

Two-level time-domain decomposition based distributed method for numerical solutions of pharmacokinetic models.

In order to predict variations of drug concentration during a given period of time, numerical solutions of pharmacokinetic models need to be obtained efficiently. Analytical solutions of linear pharmacokinetic models are usually obtained using the Laplace transform and inverse Laplace tables. The derivations of solutions to complex nonlinear models are tedious, and such solution process may be difficult to implement as a robust software code.