Research on Modeling Intrahousehold Interactions from the Perspective of Space-Time Constraints

Interactions among family members can yield valuable information for interpreting individual travel decisions. Typically, each family member plays a set role and travel decisions are made by considering the combined needs of household members. This study investigates both multiactivity and multiperson interactions in urban nuclear families and proposes the novel concepts of “activity-restriction degree” and “activity-constraint niche” to quantify the degree of space-time constraints within time geography. A structural equation model is employed to analyze intrahousehold interactions based on individual activity-travel patterns during the workday. The results indicate that the links between family members reflect behavioral responses (with constraints) between individuals and other family members. Household interaction constraints not only influence individual travel decisions but also affect the realization of the household activity for everyone. These interactions lead to reasonable adjustments and mutual support and to the identification of efficient activity patterns that meet the demands of the entire household

Metformin promotes the survival of transplanted cardiosphere-derived cells thereby enhancing their therapeutic effect against myocardial infarction

The CDC differentiation at 4 weeks after transplantation analyzed by immunostaining. A–C: Sections of hearts were immunostained with antibodies to (A) the cardiomyocyte marker tropomyosin, (B) the endothelial cell marker von-Willebrand Factor (vWF), and (C) the smooth muscle cell marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Antibody to GFP was used for identifying surviving CDC-derived cells and DAPI was used for identifying nuclei. Scale bars = 20 μm. DAPI 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. (PDF 178 kb

Regulatory Mechanisms of bHLH Transcription Factors in Plant Adaptive Responses to Various Abiotic Stresses

Basic helix-loop-helix proteins (bHLHs) comprise one of the largest families of transcription factors in plants. They have been shown to be involved in responses to various abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, chilling, heavy metal toxicity, iron deficiency, and osmotic damages. By specifically binding to cis-elements in the promoter region of stress related genes, bHLHs can regulate their transcriptional expression, thereby regulating the plant’s adaptive responses. This review focuses on the structural characteristics of bHLHs, the regulatory mechanism of how bHLHs are involved transcriptional activation, and the mechanism of how bHLHs regulate the transcription of target genes under various stresses. Finally, as increasing research demonstrates that flavonoids are usually induced under fluctuating environments, the latest research progress and future research prospects are described on the mechanisms of how flavonoid biosynthesis is regulated by bHLHs in the regulation of the plant’s responses to abiotic stresses

Embryonic Porcine Skin Precursors Can Successfully Develop into Integrated Skin without Teratoma Formation Posttransplantation in Nude Mouse Model

How to improve the wound healing quality of severe burn patients is still a challenge due to lack of skin appendages and rete ridges, no matter how much progress has been made in the fields of either stem cell or tissue engineering. We thus systematically studied the growth potential and differentiation capacity of porcine embryonic skin precursors. Implantation of embryonic skin precursors (PESPs) of different gestational ages in nude mice can generate the integrity skin, including epidermis, dermis and skin appendages, such as sweat gland, hair follicle, sebaceous gland, etc.. PESPs of embryonic day 42 possess the maximal growth potential, while, the safe window time of PESPs transplantation for prevention of teratoma risk is E56 or later. In conclusion, PESPs can form the 3 dimensional structures of skin with all necessary skin appendages. Our data strongly indicate that porcine embryonic skin precursors harvested from E56 of minipig may provide new hope for high-quality healing of extensive burns and traumas

Olfactory deficit: a potential functional marker across the Alzheimer’s disease continuum

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent form of dementia that affects an estimated 32 million individuals globally. Identifying early indicators is vital for screening at-risk populations and implementing timely interventions. At present, there is an urgent need for early and sensitive biomarkers to screen individuals at risk of AD. Among all sensory biomarkers, olfaction is currently one of the most promising indicators for AD. Olfactory dysfunction signifies a decline in the ability to detect, identify, or remember odors. Within the spectrum of AD, impairment in olfactory identification precedes detectable cognitive impairments, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and even the stage of subjective cognitive decline (SCD), by several years. Olfactory impairment is closely linked to the clinical symptoms and neuropathological biomarkers of AD, accompanied by significant structural and functional abnormalities in the brain. Olfactory behavior examination can subjectively evaluate the abilities of olfactory identification, threshold, and discrimination. Olfactory functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can provide a relatively objective assessment of olfactory capabilities, with the potential to become a promising tool for exploring the neural mechanisms of olfactory damage in AD. Here, we provide a timely review of recent literature on the characteristics, neuropathology, and examination of olfactory dysfunction in the AD continuum. We focus on the early changes in olfactory indicators detected by behavioral and fMRI assessments and discuss the potential of these techniques in MCI and preclinical AD. Despite the challenges and limitations of existing research, olfactory dysfunction has demonstrated its value in assessing neurodegenerative diseases and may serve as an early indicator of AD in the future

Inhibition of STAT6 with Antisense Oligonucleotides Enhances the Systemic Antitumor Effects of Radiotherapy and Anti-PD-1 in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Diverse factors contribute to the limited clinical response to radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), among which is the ability of these tumors to recruit a retinue of suppressive immune cells-such as M2 tumor-associated macrophages (TAM)-thereby establishing an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that contributes to tumor progression and radio resistance. M2 TAMs are activated by the STAT6 signaling pathway. Therefore, we targeted STAT6 using an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) along with hypofractionated RT (hRT; 3 fractions of 12 Gy each) to primary tumors in three bilateral murine NSCLC models (Lewis lung carcinoma, 344SQ-parental, and anti-PD-1-resistant 344SQ lung adenocarcinomas). We found that STAT6 ASO plus hRT slowed growth of both primary and abscopal tumors, decreased lung metastases, and extended survival. Interrogating the mechanism of action showed reduced M2 macrophage tumor infiltration, enhanced TH1 polarization, improved T-cell and macrophage function, and decreased TGFβ levels. The addition of anti-PD-1 further enhanced systemic antitumor responses. These results provide a preclinical rationale for the pursuit of an alternative therapeutic approach for patients with immune-resistant NSCLC

NF-κB Hyper-Activation by HTLV-1 Tax Induces Cellular Senescence, but Can Be Alleviated by the Viral Anti-Sense Protein HBZ

Activation of I-κB kinases (IKKs) and NF-κB by the human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) trans-activator/oncoprotein, Tax, is thought to promote cell proliferation and transformation. Paradoxically, expression of Tax in most cells leads to drastic up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p21CIP1/WAF1 and p27KIP1, which cause p53-/pRb-independent cellular senescence. Here we demonstrate that p21CIP1/WAF1-/p27KIP1-mediated senescence constitutes a checkpoint against IKK/NF-κB hyper-activation. Senescence induced by Tax in HeLa cells is attenuated by mutations in Tax that reduce IKK/NF-κB activation and prevented by blocking NF-κB using a degradation-resistant mutant of I-κBα despite constitutive IKK activation. Small hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown indicates that RelA induces this senescence program by acting upstream of the anaphase promoting complex and RelB to stabilize p27KIP1 protein and p21CIP1/WAF1 mRNA respectively. Finally, we show that down-regulation of NF-κB by the HTLV-1 anti-sense protein, HBZ, delay or prevent the onset of Tax-induced senescence. We propose that the balance between Tax and HBZ expression determines the outcome of HTLV-1 infection. Robust HTLV-1 replication and elevated Tax expression drive IKK/NF-κB hyper-activation and trigger senescence. HBZ, however, modulates Tax-mediated viral replication and NF-κB activation, thus allowing HTLV-1-infected cells to proliferate, persist, and evolve. Finally, inactivation of the senescence checkpoint can facilitate persistent NF-κB activation and leukemogenesis

Establishment of porcine and human expanded potential stem cells.

We recently derived mouse expanded potential stem cells (EPSCs) from individual blastomeres by inhibiting the critical molecular pathways that predispose their differentiation. EPSCs had enriched molecular signatures of blastomeres and possessed developmental potency for all embryonic and extra-embryonic cell lineages. Here, we report the derivation of porcine EPSCs, which express key pluripotency genes, are genetically stable, permit genome editing, differentiate to derivatives of the three germ layers in chimeras and produce primordial germ cell-like cells in vitro. Under similar conditions, human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells can be converted, or somatic cells directly reprogrammed, to EPSCs that display the molecular and functional attributes reminiscent of porcine EPSCs. Importantly, trophoblast stem-cell-like cells can be generated from both human and porcine EPSCs. Our pathway-inhibition paradigm thus opens an avenue for generating mammalian pluripotent stem cells, and EPSCs present a unique cellular platform for translational research in biotechnology and regenerative medicine

Enhanced photoelectrocatalytic performance of heterostructured TiO2-based nanoparticles decorated nanotubes

Titanium oxide nanotubes were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 powder in NaOH aqueous solution and subsequently calcined. Titanium oxide nanotubes were further decorated by TiO2 nanoparticles through in situ hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide containing alcohol and ammonia in an aqueous medium to form the composite catalyst (TNP/TiO2NTs). The morphology and structure of TNP/TiO2NTs were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis, and Raman spectra. The separation efficiency of photo-excited carriers was investigated by photoluminescence technique and photoelectrochemical behavior. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange. Due to the synergy effect caused by the interaction of titanium oxide nanotubes and TiO2 nanoparticles, the TNP/TiO2NTs composite shows efficient photogenerated carriers' separation and the increased light absorption. The photocatalytic activity was enhanced

Photoelectrochemical Performance of Nb-doped TiO_2 Nanoparticles Fabricated by Hydrothermal Treatment of itanate Nanotubes in Niobium Oxalate Aqueous Solution

Nb-doped TiO_2 nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of titanate nanotubes in niobium oxalate aqueous solution. The effect of Nb doping and rutile content on the photoelectrochemical performance based on TiO_2 powder electrodes was investigated. The results show that Nb-doped TiO_2 with a small amount of rutile exhibits the enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency for dye-sensitized solar cell. The highest photoelectric conversion efficiency of 8.53% is obtained for 1% Nb-TiO_2 containing a small amount of rutile. When a small amount of rutile contained in 2% Nb-TiO_2, a higher photoelectric conversion efficiency of 8.77% is achieved