Hepatocyte Growth Factor Increases Osteopontin Expression in Human Osteoblasts through PI3K, Akt, c-Src, and AP-1 Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been demonstrated to stimulate osteoblast proliferation and participated bone remodeling. Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted phosphoglycoprotein that belongs to the SIBLING family and is present during bone mineralization. However, the effects of HGF on OPN expression in human osteoblasts are large unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we found that HGF induced OPN expression in human osteoblasts dose-dependently. HGF-mediated OPN production was attenuated by c-Met inhibitor and siRNA. Pretreatment of osteoblasts with PI3K inhibitor (Ly294002), Akt inhibitor, c-Src inhibitor (PP2), or AP-1 inhibitor (curcumin) blocked the potentiating action of HGF. Stimulation of osteoblasts with HGF enhanced PI3K, Akt, and c-Src activation. In addition, incubation of cells with HGF also increased c-Jun phosphorylation, AP-1-luciferase activity, and c-Jun binding to the AP-1 element on the OPN promoter. HGF-mediated AP-1-luciferase activity and c-Jun binding to the AP-1 element was reduced by c-Met inhibitor, Ly294002, Akt inhibitor, and PP2. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that the interaction between HGF and c-Met increases OPN expression in human osteoblasts via the PI3K, Akt, c-Src, c-Jun, and AP-1 signaling pathway

Determination of the number of J/ψ events with J/ψ → inclusive decays

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Two-photon widths of the χ c0,2 states and helicity analysis for χ c2→γγ

Based on a data sample of 106×106 ψ ′ events collected with the BESIII detector, the decays ψ ′→γχ c0,2, χ c0,2→γγ are studied to determine the two-photon widths of the χ c0,2 states. The two-photon decay branching fractions are determined to be B(χ c0→γγ)=(2. 24±0.19±0.12±0.08)×10 -4 and B(χ c2→γγ)=(3.21±0.18±0. 17±0.13)×10 -4. From these, the two-photon widths are determined to be Γ γγ(χ c0)=(2. 33±0.20±0.13±0.17)keV, Γ γγ(χ c2)=(0.63±0.04±0. 04±0.04)keV, and R=Γ γγ(χ c2)/ Γ γγ(χ c0)=0.271±0. 029±0.013±0.027, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and those from the PDG B(ψ ′→γχ c0,2) and Γ(χ c0,2) errors, respectively. The ratio of the two-photon widths for helicity λ=0 and helicity λ=2 components in the decay χ c2→γγ is measured for the first time to be f 0/2=Γγγλ= 0(χ c2)/Γγγλ=2(χ c2)=0. 00±0.02±0.02. © 2012 American Physical Society.published_or_final_versio

Search for a light exotic particle in J/psi radiative decays

Using a data sample containing 1.06x10^8 psi' events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII electron-positron collider, we search for a light exotic particle X in the process psi' -> pi^+ pi^- J/psi, J/psi -> gamma X, X -> mu^+ mu^-. This light particle X could be a Higgs-like boson A^0, a spin-1 U boson, or a pseudoscalar sgoldstino particle. In this analysis, we find no evidence for any mu^+mu^- mass peak between the mass threshold and 3.0 GeV/c^2. We set 90%-confidence-level upper limits on the product-branching fractions for J/psi -> gamma A^0, A^0 -> mu^+ mu^- which range from 4x10^{-7} to 2.1x10^{-5}, depending on the mass of A^0, for M(A^0)<3.0 GeV/c^2. Only one event is seen in the mass region below 255 MeV/c^2 and this has a mu^+mu^- mass of 213.3 MeV/c^2 and the product branching fraction upper limit 5x10^{-7}.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review

Control of style-of-faulting on spatial pattern of earthquake-triggered landslides

Predictive mapping of susceptibility to earthquake-triggered landslides (ETLs) commonly uses distance to fault as spatial predictor, regardless of style-of-faulting. Here, we examined the hypothesis that the spatial pattern of ETLs is influenced by style-of-faulting based on distance distribution analysis and Fry analysis. The Yingxiu–Beichuan fault (YBF) in China and a huge number of landslides that ruptured and occurred, respectively, during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake permitted this study because the style-of-faulting along the YBF varied from its southern to northern parts (i.e. mainly thrust-slip in the southern part, oblique-slip in the central part and mainly strike-slip in the northern part). On the YBF hanging-wall, ETLs at 4.4–4.7 and 10.3–11.5 km from the YBF are likely associated with strike- and thrust-slips, respectively. On the southern and central parts of the hanging-wall, ETLs at 7.5–8 km from the YBF are likely associated with oblique-slips. These findings indicate that the spatial pattern of ETLs is influenced by style-of-faulting. Based on knowledge about the style-of-faulting and by using evidential belief functions to create a predictor map based on proximity to faults, we obtained higher landslide prediction accuracy than by using unclassified faults. When distance from unclassified parts of the YBF is used as predictor, the prediction accuracy is 80%; when distance from parts of the YBF, classified according to style-of-faulting, is used as predictor, the prediction accuracy is 93%. Therefore, mapping and classification of faults and proper spatial representation of fault control on occurrence of ETLs are important in predictive mapping of susceptibility to ETLs

Aquatic resource conservation - The first Yangtze finless porpoise successfully born in captivity

Background. As the sole freshwater subspecies of finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides), the Yangtze finless porpoise (N. p. asiaeorientalis) lives only in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and its appended Poyang and Dongting Lakes. As a result of human activity on the river, including over and illegal fishing, pollution, transportation and dam construction, the population of Yangtze finless porpoises has been steadily and rapidly decreasing during the past several decades, which leads the animal to be endangered. Methods. For saving this unique animal from extinction, three corresponding measures, in situ conservation, ex situ conservation, and intensifying breeding research in captivity, were proposed and have been implemented since the 1980s. Results. After successfully rearing the animals in captivity for almost nine years, the first Yangtze finless porpoise was successfully born in captivity on July 5, 2005. The calf is male, with a body length of 69 cm. This is the first freshwater cetacean ever born in captivity. Conclusion. The successful birth of this calf confirms that it is possible to breed the Yangtze finless porpoise in captivity. Furthermore, this will greatly benefit the conservation efforts, and also greatly bolster our on-going efforts to study the reproductive biology of these animals. Recommendation. More studies and efforts are expected to establish a sustainable, captive colony of the Yangtze finless porpoise, which will not only greatly expand our knowledge about the reproduction biology of this animal, but also help to redeem the wild population through a careful yearly 'soft releasing' process.Background. As the sole freshwater subspecies of finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides), the Yangtze finless porpoise (N. p. asiaeorientalis) lives only in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and its appended Poyang and Dongting Lakes. As a result of human activity on the river, including over and illegal fishing, pollution, transportation and dam construction, the population of Yangtze finless porpoises has been steadily and rapidly decreasing during the past several decades, which leads the animal to be endangered

The Yangtze finless porpoise: On an accelerating path to extinction?

For the conservation of endangered animals to be effective, information on population distribution and abundance requires regular updating from census efforts. The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) has recently been reclassified as critically endangered (CR) due to a rapid decline in abundance. Baseline measures currently used for identifying extinction risk and implementing conservation actions may lag behind the actual demographic trend of a population and, thus, should be updated frequently. In this study, we report the results of a line transect survey of porpoises conducted in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in 2012. Five hundred and five porpoises (95% CI = 348 to 662, CV = 15.86%) remain in the main stem of the Yangtze River, mostly concentrated between Ezhou and Zhenjiang. Our results reveal that the decline in the Yangtze finless porpoise population is more rapid than previously estimated. The porpoise distribution has become more restricted and fragmented with two new gaps in their distribution. We show that the extinction risk for the Yangtze finless porpoise population has increased substantially and, hence, the expected time to extinction has moved closer. Current conservation methods are insufficient and ineffective, and need to be revised. More active conservation actions, such as enforcing year-long fishing bans in the in situ reserves and building more ex situ reserves, should be implemented urgently. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.For the conservation of endangered animals to be effective, information on population distribution and abundance requires regular updating from census efforts. The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) has recently been reclassified as critically endangered (CR) due to a rapid decline in abundance. Baseline measures currently used for identifying extinction risk and implementing conservation actions may lag behind the actual demographic trend of a population and, thus, should be updated frequently. In this study, we report the results of a line transect survey of porpoises conducted in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in 2012. Five hundred and five porpoises (95% CI = 348 to 662, CV = 15.86%) remain in the main stem of the Yangtze River, mostly concentrated between Ezhou and Zhenjiang. Our results reveal that the decline in the Yangtze finless porpoise population is more rapid than previously estimated. The porpoise distribution has become more restricted and fragmented with two new gaps in their distribution. We show that the extinction risk for the Yangtze finless porpoise population has increased substantially and, hence, the expected time to extinction has moved closer. Current conservation methods are insufficient and ineffective, and need to be revised. More active conservation actions, such as enforcing year-long fishing bans in the in situ reserves and building more ex situ reserves, should be implemented urgently. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved