FOXP3 interacts with hnRNPF to modulate pre-mRNA alternative splicing

FOXP3 promotes the development and function of regulatory T cells mainly through regulating the transcription of target genes. RNA alternative splicing has been implicated in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes. We report here that FOXP3 associates with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) F through the exon 2-encoded region of FOXP3 and the second quasi-RNA recognition motif (qRRM) of hnRNPF. FOXP3 represses the ability of hnRNPF to bind to its target pre-mRNA and thus modulates RNA alternative splicing. Furthermore, overexpression of mouse hnRNPF in in vitro-differentiated regulatory T cells (Tregs) reduced their suppressive function. Thus, our studies identify a novel mechanism by which FOXP3 regulates mRNA alternative splicing to modulate the function of regulatory T cells

ESSAYS ON GROWTH, INEQUALITY AND FISCAL POLICIES

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Decision analysis of slope ecological restoration based on AHP

The serious deterioration of the ecological environment comes from a large number of geological disasters. These disasters were caused by a number of engineering activities. Ecological restoration is an important measure to reduce geological disasters and protect the ecological environment. On the basis of the introduction of cast-in-situ grids technology, external-soil spray seeding technology and vegetation bag technology, according to the ecological restoration experiment of the road slope attach to the Three Gorges Pumped-Storage Power Station in Hohhot, decision analysis of slope ecological restoration is done with AHP. It is shown that in arid and semi-arid area, selection of slope ecological restoration scheme mainly needs considering the ecological effect and stability. The major factor of ecological effects is survival rate of vegetation. The major factor of stability is the stability in a whole. Cast-in-situ grids technology will be the first choice for ecological restoration of road slope in arid and semi-arid area. This study provides reference for decision of the slope ecological restoration in arid and semi-arid region

Salvia miltiorrhiza injection ameliorates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via downregulation of PECAM-1

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and PECAM-1 related pathways. Method: Male Wistar rats were used for establishment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion model. The rats were randomly assigned to four groups: experimental group, low dose group (Salvia miltiorrhiza injection, 10 mL/kg/day), moderate dose group (Salvia miltiorrhiza injection, 20 mL/kg/day) and high dose group (Salvia miltiorrhiza injection, 40 mL/kg/day). Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion model was established in the four groups. Evans-TTC staining was used to assess relative area of ischemiareperfusion injury. Blood samples were collected for assay of PECAM-1 expression using enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fresh blood platelets were collected in all groups, and divided into two groups - control group (normal culture) and experimental group (Salvia miltiorrhiza injection). The expression of PECAM-1 in blood platelets was assayed using Western blot. Result: Compared with the experimental group, Salvia miltiorrhiza injection ameliorated myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and decreased the infarction area seen in Evans/TTC staining. PECAM-1 expression in blood was decreased by Salvia miltiorrhiza injection. Blood platelets dysfunction was induced after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, and the level of PECAM-1 increased. However, Salvia miltiorrhiza injection treatment downregulated the expression of PECAM-1 after myocardial ischemiareperfusion. Conclusion: Salvia miltiorrhiza injection maintains normal function of blood platelets and ameliorates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by decreasing expression of PECAM-1

The Performance of Polymer Solution Added with Viscosity Stabilizer and the Evaluation of Its Oil Displacement Efficiency in Daqing Oilfield

Aiming at the low viscosity of polymer solution, which is compounded with fresh water but diluted with produced water, and at the problems concerning oil displacement efficiency, an onsite test on polymer solution with viscosity stabilizer (PSVS) is carried out. As a result, it has great and guiding significance to the application and popularization of viscosity stabilizer by studying the performance of polymer solution with viscosity stabilizer and its influence on oil displacement efficiency. In this paper, aiming at two different kinds of polymer solutions among which one is compounded with fresh water but diluted with fresh produced water and the other with aerated produced water, two laboratory evaluative tests concerning viscosity stabilization, anti-shear stability, fluidity, and absorbability of polymer solution as well as its oil displacement efficiency are done. The results of onsite application of PSVS are traced and analyzed. The viscosity stabilization of the polymer solution adding with viscosity stabilizer becomes much better than that of the normal polymer solution. The resistance and the residual resistance factors, the static oil sand adsorption rate and the dynamic core adsorption rate of the solution are all increased markedly. The working viscosity and oil displacement efficiency are improved markedly as well. In comparison with the polymer solution diluted with fresh produced water, the polymer solution diluted with aerated produced water is much better in terms of viscosity stabilization. Comparing with the normal polymer solution with viscosity stabilizer before sheared, the polymer solution which is sheared before adding with viscosity stabilizer performs obviously better in terms of viscosity stability. In contrast to the adjacent block injected with normal polymer solution, the block under onsite flooding test with injection of PSVS features that the average injection pressure increases slightly but keeps steady, the recovery speed of the average monthly water cut of production wells slows down, the thickness of the absorptive layers increases, and the periodic recovery rate improves as well.Key words: Polymer solution; Viscosity stabilizer; Daqing oilfiel

The prevalence of adverse reactions among individuals with three-dose COVID-19 vaccination

Background: Considering the adverse reactions to vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), some people, particularly the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, are hesitant to be vaccinated. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of adverse reactions and provide direct evidence of vaccine safety, mainly for the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions, to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: From 1st March to 30th April 2022, we conducted an online survey of people who had completed three doses of COVID-19 vaccination by convenience sampling. Adverse reaction rates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. In addition, conditional logistic regression was used to compare the differences in adverse reactions among the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions with the general population. Results: A total of 3339 individuals were included in this study, of which 2335 (69.9%) were female, with an average age of 32.1 ± 11.4 years. The prevalence of adverse reactions after the first dose of inactivated vaccine was 24.6 % (23.1 – 26.2 %), 19.2 % (17.8 – 20.7 %) for the second dose, and 19.1 % (17.7 – 20.6 %) for the booster dose; among individuals using messenger RNA vaccines, the prevalence was 42.7 % (32.3 – 53.6 %) for the first dose, 47.2 % (36.5 – 58.1 %) for the second dose, and 46.1 % (35.4 – 57.0 %) for the booster dose. Compared with the general population, the prevalence of adverse events did not differ in individuals with underlying medical conditions and those aged 60 and above. Conclusions: For individuals with underlying medical conditions and those aged 60 and above, the prevalence of adverse reactions is similar to that of the general population, which provides a scientific basis regarding vaccination safety for these populations