Intergenerational Ties in Context: Grandparents Caring for Grandchildren in China

Guided by theories and empirical research on intergenerational relationships, we examine the phenomenon of grandparents caring for grandchildren in contemporary China. Using a longitudinal dataset (China Health and Nutrition Survey), the authors document a high level of structural and functional solidarity in grandparent-grandchildren relationships. Intergenerational solidarity is indicated by a high rate of coresidence between grandchildren and grandparents, a sizable number of skipped-generation households (no parent present), extensive childcare involvement by non-coresidential grandparents, and a large amount of care provided by coresidential grandparents. Multivariate analysis further suggests that grandparents’ childcare load is adaptive to familial needs, as reflected by the characteristics of the household, household members and work activities of the mothers

A two-step lineage reprogramming strategy to generate functionally competent human hepatocytes from fibroblasts

Terminally differentiated cells can be generated by lineage reprogramming, which is, however, hindered by incomplete conversion with residual initial cell identity and partial functionality. Here, we demonstrate a new reprogramming strategy by mimicking the natural regeneration route, which permits generating expandable hepatic progenitor cells and functionally competent human hepatocytes. Fibroblasts were first induced into human hepatic progenitor-like cells (hHPLCs), which could robustly expand in vitro and efficiently engraft in vivo. Moreover, hHPLCs could be efficiently induced into mature human hepatocytes (hiHeps) in vitro, whose molecular identity highly resembles primary human hepatocytes (PHHs). Most importantly, hiHeps could be generated in large quantity and were functionally competent to replace PHHs for drug-metabolism estimation, toxicity prediction and hepatitis B virus infection modeling. Our results highlight the advantages of the progenitor stage for successful lineage reprogramming. This strategy is promising for generating other mature human cell types by lineage reprogramming.</p

On Vector Network Equilibrium Problems

In this paper we define a concept of weak equi- librium for vector network equilibrium problems. We obtain suffcient conditions of weak equilib- rium points and establish relation with vector net- work equilibrium problems and vector variational inequalities.The original publication is available at JAIST Press http://www.jaist.ac.jp/library/jaist-press/index.htmlIFSR 2005 : Proceedings of the First World Congress of the International Federation for Systems Research : The New Roles of Systems Sciences For a Knowledge-based Society : Nov. 14-17, 2042, Kobe, JapanSymposium 4, Session 2 : Meta-synthesis and Complex Systems Complex Problem Solving (I

Research progress on long non-coding RNAs for spinal cord injury

Abstract Spinal cord injury is a complex central nervous system disease with an unsatisfactory prognosis, often accompanied by multiple pathological processes. However, the underlying mechanisms of action of this disease are unclear, and there are no suitable targeted therapeutic options. Long non-coding RNA mediates a variety of neurological diseases and regulates various biological processes, including apoptosis and autophagy, inflammatory response, microenvironment, and oxidative stress. It is known that long non-coding RNAs have significant differences in gene expression in spinal cord injury. To further understand the mechanism of long non-coding RNA action in spinal cord injury and develop preventive and therapeutic strategies regarding spinal cord injury, this review outlines the current status of research between long non-coding RNAs and spinal cord injury and potential long non-coding RNAs targeting spinal cord injury

High Resolution Sequence Stratigraphy Correlation and Sedimentary Model of Braided Rivers: A Case on Paleogene Palogue Oilfield, South Sudan

Complicated fluvial sands correlation and braided river models are still challenges for heterogeneous anisotropic reservoir evaluation for petroleum development in oilfields. Based on high-resolution sequence stratigraphy and sedimentology, core observation, and the analysis of logging and seismic data, high-resolution sequence stratigraphy framework of Paleogene Yabus formation of Palogue Oilfield, South Sudan is established, and sedimentary characteristics of braided rivers are analyzed, (1) In braided river deposits, channel bars are usually pro-gradating seawards and going thicker upwards. And braided channels are retro-gradating landwards and going thinner upwards. Both of them can be subdivided into channel (bar) trunks and channels (bar) flanks, showing vertical stacking and lateral migration; (3) As the A/S (Accommodation space/sediments supply) increasing upwards, braided river sands are shifting frequently as a reciprocating migration in Yabus V/VI, and they are more stable as the A/S decreasing upwards as a vertical aggradation in Yabus VII/VIII; (4) With 77 wells sedimentary microfacies identification, sand thickness and sand/bed ratio distribution, sedimentary facies distribution of all members and zones are analyzed. According to the A/S change, three braided river models are concluded, including isolated channel type (high A/S period), crossed channels type (medium A/S period), and superposed channels type (low A/S period)