One Who Grew up Drinking Wolf Milk and Her Writing

Panel: Why I Write What I Writ

Simulation of adaptive array algorithms for 3G CDMA systems

The increasing demand for mobile communication services without a corresponding increase in RF spectrum allocation motivates the need for new techniques to improve spectrum utilization. CDMA systems and adaptive antenna array are two approaches that show real promise for increasing spectrum efficiency. In this research, we investigate the performance of different adaptive array algorithms, blind and non-blind, in the CDMA systems. Three algorithms, least-squares despread re-spread multitarget constant modulus algorithm (LS-DRMTCMA), Wiener solution with pilot channel on reverse link of 3G CDMA and least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm with training sequence, are developed. A C++ simulation testbed is created to compare the performance of these algorithms. It is shown from the simulation results that system performance is greatly improved by using adaptive array. Wiener solution with pilot channel can outperform the other algorithms in all the test situations considered (e.g., AWGN channel, four types of fading channels). However the LMS algorithm with training sequence has less computational requirements than the other algorithms

PEDF relieves kidney injury in type 2 diabetic nephropathy mice by reducing macrophage infiltration

Background: Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a multifunctional protein with anti-angiogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. PEDF is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, but its exact role in diabetic kidney remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate whether PEDF can alleviate renal damage in type 2 diabetic nephropathy mice by inhibiting macrophage infiltration. Methods: The db/db mice were randomly divided into diabetes PEDF intervention group (DM-P78-PEDF), diabetes empty carrier intervention group (DM-Vehicle) and diabetes mellitus group (DM). Subsequently, they were injected subcutaneously P78-PEDF (0.3μg/g/d) and PBS for 6 weeks. The kidney weight to body weight ratio was observed of the rats. Automatic biochemical analyzer to determine fasting blood glucose (GLU), blood urea nitrogen (UREA), serum creatinine (CREA), hemoglobin (HGB) content. Histological and ultrastructural pathologic changes in the kidneys were examined through H&E and PAS staining. Kidney tissues levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) were determined by ELISA. Expression of the macrophages infiltration and typing as well as that of PEDF, NF-κB, TLR4 was evaluated in the kidneys. Results: PEDF was located in glomeruli and the expression of PEDF protein and mRNA in kidney of diabetic mice was declined significantly. Compared with diabetic mice treated with vehicle, continuous infusion of P78-PEDF could reduce blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine (CREA), renal macrophage recruitment, inflammatory cytokines, histological changes and restore the expression of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway related factors in diabetic mice. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of P78-PEDF peptide as a potential treatment in the occurrence and development of diabetic renal injur

Brain Network and Abnormal Hemispheric Asymmetry Analyses to Explore the Marginal Differences in Glucose Metabolic Distributions Among Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease Dementia, and Lewy Body Dementia

Facilitating accurate diagnosis and ensuring appropriate treatment of dementia subtypes, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD), and Lewy body dementia (DLB), is clinically important. However, the differences in glucose metabolic distribution among these three dementia subtypes are minor, which can result in difficulties in diagnosis by visual assessment or traditional quantification methods. Here, we explored this issue using novel approaches, including brain network and abnormal hemispheric asymmetry analyses. We generated 18F-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) images from patients with AD, PDD, and DLB, and healthy control (HC) subjects (n = 22, 18, 22, and 22, respectively) from Huashan hospital, Shanghai, China. Brain network properties were measured and between-group differences evaluated using graph theory. We also calculated and explored asymmetry indices for the cerebral hemispheres in the four groups, to explore whether differences between the two hemispheres were characteristic of each group. Our study revealed significant differences in the network properties of the HC and AD groups (small-world coefficient, 1.36 vs. 1.28; clustering coefficient, 1.48 vs. 1.59; characteristic path length, 1.57 vs. 1.64). In addition, differing hub regions were identified in the different dementias. We also identified rightward asymmetry in the hemispheric brain networks of patients with AD and DLB, and leftward asymmetry in the hemispheric brain networks of patients with PDD, which were attributable to aberrant topological properties in the corresponding hemispheres

TGF-β1 Exerts Opposing Effects on Grass Carp Leukocytes: Implication in Teleost Immunity, Receptor Signaling and Potential Self-Regulatory Mechanisms

In fish immunity, the regulatory role of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) has not been fully characterized. Here we examined the immunoregulatory effects of TGF-β1 in grass carp peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and head kidney leukocytes (HKL). It is interesting that TGF-β1 consistently stimulated the cell viability and the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Tnfα and Ifnγ) and T/B cell markers [Cd4-like (Cd4l), Cd8α, Cd8β and Igμ] in PBL, which contrasted with its inhibitory tone in HKL. Further studies showed that grass carp TGF-β1 type I receptor, activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5), was indispensable for the immunoregulatory effects of TGF-β1 in PBL and HKL. Notably, TGF-β1 persistently attenuated ALK5 expression, whereas immunoneutralization of endogenous grass carp TGF-β1 could increase ALK5 mRNA and protein levels. It is consistent with the observation that TGF-β1 decreased the number of ALK5+ leukocytes in PBL and HKL, revealing a negative regulation of TGF-β1 signaling at the receptor level. Moreover, transient treatment with TGF-β1 for 24 h was sufficient to induce similar cellular responses compared with the continuous treatment. This indicated a possible mechanism by which TGF-β1 triggered the down-regulation of ALK5 mRNA and protein, leading to the desensitization of grass carp leukocytes toward TGF-β1. Accordingly, our data revealed a dual role of TGF-β1 in teleost immunity in which it can serve as a positive or negative control device and provided additional mechanistic insights as to how TGF-β1 controls its signaling in vertebrate leukocytes

China’s Financing and Subsidization of Capture Fisheries

China’s subsidies financing structure and reporting has changed considerably in the past few years, resulting in decreased transparency. China used to issue a detailed report of its fisheries subsidies programs and amounts in the annual China Fisheries Yearbook volume,however in 2016, this detailed reporting ceased. China used to report the total amount of fuel subsidies provided to the industry, including the proportions provided to the domestic versus distant-water fishing fleets, but China stopped reporting the fuel subsidies given to the DWF industry after 2011. Now, instead of reporting funding that directly supports fuel subsidies, the Chinese central government has altered its subsidy programs so that fishing enterprises receive general funding that they can use to support their operations, which includes fuel subsidies. The Chinese central government no longer tracks criteria that determine how much money in fuel subsidies a given vessel is granted—these allocations are now made at subnational levels of government (provincial-level and below). China issued a notification of its subsidies, including agricultural subsidies, to the WTO in 2019, detailing fisheries subsidies programs for 2017 and 2018, but did not include an estimate for fuel subsidies because of these policy changes. This study relied mostly on primary-source Chinese language materials, including government publications, media reports, and interviews. We examined government laws, regulations, policies, notifications, and analyses and comprehensively cited those that are instrumental to China’s fisheries subsidies program. We also drew upon peer-reviewed academic literature and journalistic accounts to complement our analysis. In cases where we had incomplete data, such as incomplete reporting for provincial subsidies, we estimated amounts to account for these information gaps. A more comprehensive analysis of these findings will be submitted for publication in the peer-reviewed literature by the close of 2021

Maternal hypothyroidism during pregnancy alters the function of the retinol-binding protein 4-mediated mitochondrial permeability conversion pore in the kidneys of offspring rats

OBJECTIVES: To determine the role of the RBP4/PiC/SIRT3 signaling pathway in the opening of the mitochondria permeability transition pore (mPTP) in offspring rats with hypothyroidism during pregnancy. METHODS: Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were employed in this study. Pregnancy was deemed successful when a sperm was found in the uterus. After one week of pregnancy, offspring rats were divided into the following groups: overall hypothyroidism group (OH group), subclinical hypothyroidism group (SCH group), and normal control group (CON group). The establishment of the hypothyroidism model was confirmed when the serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were higher than normal value and TT4 level was within the normal range. The renal mitochondria of offspring rats were extracted on the 14th postnatal day (P14) and 35th postnatal day (P35). RESULTS: At P14, no significant differences in the degree of mPTP opening and expression of phosphoric acid carrier vector (PiC) were detected between the rats in the OH group and the SCH group. However, the expression level of silent mating-type information regulation 3 homolog (SIRT3) was markedly reduced. Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) expression increased in the rats from the OH group, relative to that in those from the SCH group. At P35, the degree of mPTP opening and the expression levels of PiC and RBP4 in the OH group were higher than those in the SCH group. However, SIRT3 expression in the OH group was lower than that observed in the SCH group. CONCLUSION: RBP4 plays an important role in early renal mitochondrial damage and renal impairment in rats suffering from hypothyroidism during pregnancy. The RBP4/PiC/SIRT3 pathway is thus involved in the opening of the renal mPTP in offspring rats with hyperthyroidism

Physical exercise, gut, gut microbiota, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases

Abstract Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and its risk can be independently decreased by regular physical activity. Recently, ASCVD and its risk factors were found to be impacted by the gut microbiota through its diversity, distribution and metabolites. Meanwhile, several experiments demonstrated the relationship between physical exercise and diversity, distribution, metabolite of the gut microbiota as well as its functions on the lipid metabolism and chronic systematic inflammation. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the effects of physical exercise on ASCVD through modulation of the gut microbiota and intestinal function

LncRNA expression profile and ceRNA analysis in tomato during flowering.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that play essential regulatory roles in various developmental processes and stress responses. However, the functions of lncRNAs during the flowering period of tomato are largely unknown. To explore the lncRNA profiles and functions during flowering in tomato, we performed strand-specific paired-end RNA sequencing of tomato leaves, flowers and roots, with three biological replicates. We identified 10919 lncRNAs including 248 novel lncRNAs, of which 65 novel lncRNAs were significantly differentially expressed (DE) in the flowers, leaves, and roots. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were carried out to identify the cis target gene of DE lncRNAs. The results showed that the lncRNAs might play an important role in the growth, development, and apoptosis of flowering tomato plant by regulating the formation of intima in flower tissues, binding to various molecules, influencing metabolic pathways, and inducing apoptosis. Moreover, we identified the interaction between 32, 78, and 397 kinds of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and mRNAs. The results suggest that the lncRNAs can regulate the expression of mRNA during flowering period in tomato by forming competitive endogenous RNA, and further regulate various biological metabolism pathways in tomato