Role of Raf in vascular protection from distinct apoptotic stimuli

Raf kinases have been linked to endothelial cell survival. Here, we show that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) differentially activate Raf, resulting in protection from distinct pathways of apoptosis in human endothelial cells and chick embryo vasculature. bFGF activated Raf-1 via p21-activated protein kinase-1 (PAK-1) phosphorylation of serines 338 and 339, resulting in Raf-1 mitochondrial translocation and endothelial cell protection from the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, independent of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1 (MEK1). In contrast, VEGF activated Raf-1 via Src kinase, leading to phosphorylation of tyrosines 340 and 341 and MEK1-dependent protection from extrinsic-mediated apoptosis. These findings implicate Raf-1 as a pivotal regulator of endothelial cell survival during angiogenesis.     

一株灰葡萄孢细胞壁完整性缺陷突变株的分子鉴定和表型分析

为探明灰葡萄孢细胞壁相关基因功能,用荧光增白剂Calcofluor White（CFW）从灰葡萄孢T-DNA插入突变体库中筛选细胞壁完整性缺陷突变株,发现一株突变株D-59对CFW的敏感性与野生型相比提高了2.8倍。通过TAIL-PCR扩增突变株的T-DNA插入位点的侧翼序列并对其进行序列分析表明,T-DNA插入于突变株BC1G₀0770.1基因的外显子部位。RT-PCR的结果显示,D-59的BC1G₀0770.1基因不表达。突变株D-59的表型分析表明,突变株的菌丝稀疏,菌落呈土黄色,产孢量明显下降,孢子萌发异常,致病能力减弱,细胞壁的几丁质含量下降了48%。     

Angiogenesis-independent endothelial protection of liver: role of VEGFR-1

The vascular endothelium was once thought to function primarily in nutrient and oxygen delivery, but recent evidence suggests that it may play a broader role in tissue homeostasis. To explore the role of sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) in the adult liver, we studied the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor activation on mouse hepatocyte growth. Delivery of VEGF-A increased liver mass in mice but did not stimulate growth of hepatocytes in vitro, unless LSECs were also present in the culture. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was identified as one of the LSEC-derived paracrine mediators promoting hepatocyte growth. Selective activation of VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) stimulated hepatocyte but not endothelial proliferation in vivo and reduced liver damage in mice exposed to a hepatotoxin. Thus, VEGFR-1 agonists may have therapeutic potential for preservation of organ function in certain liver disorders.     

Spider web protection through visual advertisement: role of the stabilimentum

The conspicuous white silken adornments known as stabilimenta, which are commonly found in the orb webs of some spiders, appear to be protective devices that warn birds of the presence of webs in their flight path. Webs endowed with artificial equivalents of stabilimenta tended to survive intact the early morning period when birds are on the wing; unmarked webs showed a high incidence of destruction.     

Perineural epithelium: a new concept of its role in the integrity of the peripheral nervous system

A multilayered, squamous-celled epithelial cell membrane covering the individual nerve fasciculi of the entire peripheral nervous system ( both voluntary and autonomic) including the sensory and motor end organs has been demonstrated in various species of animals, including man. This membrane is the direct continuation of the pia-arachnoid mater from the central nervous system.Functional significance of this membrane, especially as a diffusion barrier and as a protector of the peripheral nervous system, is briefly discussed.     

高校图书馆在地方非物质文化遗产保护中的角色定位再认识

传承保护非物质文化遗产是高校图书馆的基本职能,也是其存在和可持续发展的依据.结合温州大学图书馆保护地方非物质文化遗产的实例,对高校图书馆在地方非物质文化遗产保护中的角色定位进行了探讨.     

Application of information technology in plant protection in Denmark: from vision to reality

With 2051 licences sold to farmers, ‘PC-Plant Protection’ is the most widely used PC-based farm level decision support system for control of weeds, pests and diseases in Denmark and in Europe. The system is distributed by the Danish Agricultural Advisory Centre and marketed by the local advisory centres. In order to help the local advisors promote sales at farmers meetings or agricultural exhibitions, they are provided with a video film of the field assessment methods, overhead transparencies outlining the structure of recommendation models, and sales brochures. More than 30 non-technical articles have been published in the national agricultural newspapers and magazines. National and regional TV stations have broadcast interviews with farmers on their experience with the system. A farm survey of 488 farmers who used the system in 1995 shows that the system has been well accepted by the farmers not only because of the reliable recommendations but also because of increased profits. A similar survey among crop production advisors also showed that the system has been very useful both for the direct and indirect advisory services.     

Epitopes involved in antibody-mediated protection from Ebola virus

To determine the ability of antibodies to provide protection from Ebola viruses, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the Ebola glycoprotein were generated and evaluated for efficacy. We identified several protective mAbs directed toward five unique epitopes on Ebola glycoprotein. One of the epitopes is conserved among all Ebola viruses that are known to be pathogenic for humans. Some protective mAbs were also effective therapeutically when administered to mice 2 days after exposure to lethal Ebola virus. The identification of protective mAbs has important implications for developing vaccines and therapies for Ebola virus.     

Alkaloids from catecholamines in adrenal tissue: possible role in alcoholism

Epinephrine and norepinephrine condensed with acetaldehyde or with formaldehyde in dilute aqueous solution at neutral pH and room temperature to form 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroiso-quinoline alkaloids. Similar condensation reactions occurred in cow adrenal glands perfused with dilute aldehyde solutions at 37 degrees C. Biosynthesis of these alkaloids in vivo could play a role in altering an individual's behavior during and after the ingestion of alcohol.     

Cultural identity of the Slovenian countryside: Territorial integrity and cultural diversity from the perspective of rural communities

Cultural identity of rural areas is discussed with some basic concepts such as culture, territory, contemporary globalization, and individuation processes. This case study of cultural identity in the Slovenian countryside focuses on its spiritual culture, of which several components are presented in detail: the language of rural areas, (handy)crafts, nutrition and food culture, co-operation and mutual help among rural residents at work and in leisure, and the art products of Slovenian farmers. In discussing the present status and the future of rural cultural identity, the danger of idolizing (romanticizing) traditions for the sake of selling them to tourists is pointed out and the necessity of traditions being part of everyday life of rural residents stressed. As a part of work and leisure life of rural residents, traditions are constantly changing due to local as well as to international socio-economic processes, to inner and outer stimuli to keep existing traditions and to create new ones.     

Interferon administered orally: protection of neonatal mice from lethal virus challenge

Interferon was identified in the milk of mice injected with an interferon inducer. The kinetics of interferon appearance in serum and in milk were similar, but maximum concentrations in milk were 10 to 20 percent of those in serum. Interferon administered orally to neonatal mice was detected in their serums. Significantly more newborns survived an oral challenge with vesicular stomatitis virus when interferon had been induced in the lactating mothers.     

砷在铜藻中的亚细胞分布及细胞壁吸附作用研究

为揭示铜藻(Sargassum horneri)细胞壁在砷(As)生物吸附中的作用,以铜藻幼苗为研究对象,测定了不同As胁迫浓度(50、100、150、200、250μmol·L^-1)下细胞亚组分中的As含量变化,并对细胞壁的吸附动力学、细胞壁多糖As吸附效果以及细胞壁多糖傅里叶红外光谱进行了分析研究。结果表明：在低浓度(50μmol·L^-1)As胁迫时,50.0%的As分布于细胞壁,明显高于其他组分;而在高浓度(≥150μmol·L^-1)As胁迫时,As优势分布由细胞壁转向细胞可溶组分,细胞壁中的As比例下降至36.4%～37.3%。随着As胁迫浓度升高,细胞壁As含量呈上升趋势,当As胁迫浓度超过100μmol·L^-1时,细胞壁As含量上升趋于平缓。细胞壁吸附动力学实验表明酯化改性和甲基化改性可降低细胞壁As吸附的平衡容量,其降幅分别为68.5%和42.9%,同时细胞壁多糖红外光谱分析结果也表明羟基、氨基、羧基、硫酸盐基等官能团为细胞壁As吸附提供了结合位点。细胞壁多糖体外吸附实验表明随着多糖浓...     

LRP6 mutation in a family with early coronary disease and metabolic risk factors

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and is commonly caused by a constellation of risk factors called the metabolic syndrome. We characterized a family with autosomal dominant early CAD, features of the metabolic syndrome (hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes), and osteoporosis. These traits showed genetic linkage to a short segment of chromosome 12p, in which we identified a missense mutation in LRP6, which encodes a co-receptor in the Wnt signaling pathway. The mutation, which substitutes cysteine for arginine at a highly conserved residue of an epidermal growth factor-like domain, impairs Wnt signaling in vitro. These results link a single gene defect in Wnt signaling to CAD and multiple cardiovascular risk factors.     

Perivascular meningeal projections from cat trigeminal ganglia: possible pathway for vascular headaches in man

Peroxidase-containing cell bodies were found in the ipsilateral trigeminal ganglia after horseradish peroxidase was applied to the proximal segment of the middle cerebral artery in seven cats. Cell bodies containing the enzyme marker were located among clusters of cells that project via the first division. The existence of sensory pathways surrounding large cerebral arteries provides an important neuroanatomical explanation for the hemicranial distribution of headaches associated with certain strokes and migraine.     

Cell wall protein in plants: autoradiographic evidence

Autoradiography of phloem-parenchyma tissue from carrots, which was allowed to incorporate radioactive proline and then plasmolyzed, indicates that a stable protein moiety is associated with the cell wall.     

The role of area 17 in visual imagery: convergent evidence from PET and rTMS

Visual imagery is used in a wide range of mental activities, ranging from memory to reasoning, and also plays a role in perception proper. The contribution of early visual cortex, specifically Area 17, to visual mental imagery was examined by the use of two convergent techniques. In one, subjects closed their eyes during positron emission tomography (PET) while they visualized and compared properties (for example, relative length) of sets of stripes. The results showed that when people perform this task, Area 17 is activated. In the other, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was applied to medial occipital cortex before presentation of the same task. Performance was impaired after rTMS compared with a sham control condition; similar results were obtained when the subjects performed the task by actually looking at the stimuli. In sum, the PET results showed that when patterns of stripes are visualized, Area 17 is activated, and the rTMS results showed that such activation underlies information processing.     

不同墙体材料日光温室的保温性能

为明确秸秆块墙体日光温室和土墙体日光温室的保温性能,本文以秸秆块墙体日光温室和土墙体日光温室为研究对象,分析了两种墙体结构温室中墙体温度、土壤温度、室内空气温度分布以及晴天和阴天时空气温度变化.结果显示,厚度0.6m的秸秆块墙体日光温室与平均墙厚4.0m土墙体日光温室相比,晴天时温室内空气温度和土壤温度差异不显著,清晨和阴天时秸秆块墙体温室内空气温度略低;秸秆块墙体内侧变温层厚度为15 cm,土墙体内侧变温层厚度为45 cm;秸秆块墙体日光温室中40 cm以内土壤层温度[(15.4±1.0)℃]与土墙体日光温室[(16.1±2.0)℃]无显著差异(P＞0.05);夜间秸秆块墙体日光温室空气温度低于土墙体日光温室空气温度(P＜0.05),白天两者差异不显著(P＞0.05);试验期间,两种墙体结构日光温室中空气温度最低为8.2℃,能满足常规蔬菜反季节栽培对设施保温性能的要求.