Toll-like receptor-mediated innate immunity against herpesviridae infection: a current perspective on viral infection signaling pathways

BACKGROUND: In the past decades, researchers have demonstrated the critical role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the innate immune system. They recognize viral components and trigger immune signal cascades to subsequently promote the activation of the immune system. MAIN BODY: Herpesviridae family members trigger TLRs to elicit cytokines in the process of infection to activate antiviral innate immune responses in host cells. This review aims to clarify the role of TLRs in the innate immunity defense against herpesviridae, and systematically describes the processes of TLR actions and herpesviridae recognition as well as the signal transduction pathways involved. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies of the interactions between TLRs and herpesviridae infections, especially the subsequent signaling pathways, will not only contribute to the planning of effective antiviral therapies but also provide new molecular targets for the development of antiviral drugs

Out-of-Plane Dynamic Response of Elliptic Curved Steel Beams Based on the Precise Integration Method

The dynamic response of curved steel beams has long been a research focus in curved bridges. The formula for the dynamic response under a moving load was derived according to the basic principles of the precise integration method. Combined with the necessary conditions of this method, the stiffness matrix of a variable-curvature beam was obtained using matrix inversion, and the mass matrix of the structure was obtained using the concentrated mass method. The dynamic response of the structure was obtained by applying moving loads and masses at different speeds to the curved beam. Finite element simulation and laboratory curved-beam models of the variable-curvature steel beam were established. By comparing the laboratory measurement results against the theoretical data obtained in this study, we propose that our theory has practical engineering significance. It can be used as a theoretical basis for the study of variable curvature steel beam structures and for guiding the construction of curved beams

Erratum to: Expression and function of phosphodiesterases (PDEs) in the rat urinary bladder

SCI(E)CORRECTION1

Expression and function of phosphodiesterases (PDEs) in the rat urinary bladder

Abstract Background It has been shown that hosphodiesterases (PDEs) play an important role in mediating the smooth muscle tone of rat urinary bladder. However, the gene expression profiles of them were still unknown. Methods Urinary bladder Strips were obtained from both neonatal and adult Sprague-Dawley rats. RT-PCR/western blot and organ bath were used to measure the expression and function of PDEs. Results Adult rat urinary bladder expressed various PDE mRNA with the following rank order: PDE5A ≈ PDE9A ≈ PDE10A > PDE2A ≈ PDE4A ≈ PDE4D > PDE4B ≈ PDE3B ≈ PDE8B ≈ PDE7A ≈ PDE7B > PDE1A. PDE1B, PDE1C, PDE3A, PDE4C, PDE8A, and PDE11A were not detected. Of interest, the mRNA and protein of PDE3A were significantly decreased in adult rat urinary bladder compared to neonatal rat urinary bladder. Cilostamide, a specific inhibitor for PDE3, significantly inhibited the amplitude and frequency of carbachol-enhanced phasic contractions of neonatal rat bladder strips by 38.8% and 12.1%, respectively. Compared to the neonatal rat bladder, the effect of cilostamide was significantly blunted in adult rat urinary bladder: the amplitude and frequency of carbachol-enhanced phasic contractions were decreased by 13.4% (P < 0.01 vs neonatal rat bladder) and 4.4%, respectively. However, the mRNA and the protein levels of PDE3B were similar between neonatal and adult rat bladder. Conclusion We found that several PDE isoforms were expressed in the rat urinary bladder with distinct levels. Moreover, we showed that the function of PDE3 was blunted in adult rat bladder likely due to the decreased expression of PDE3A

Influence Analysis of Field Evacuation in Reducing Psychological Anxiety of Subway Fire

In order to effectively reduce the psychological anxiety of subway passengers in the fire state and improve the effect of fire emergency management, the fire anxiety status of passengers of different genders was counted, based on the fire state-trait anxiety questionnaire. The questionnaire and mathematical statistics were used to discuss the influence of different time periods after the intervention of on-site drills on the psychological anxiety level of passengers. Results: Before the field exercise, the overall fire anxiety level of the sample was in the normal range ; After on-site exercise, female fire anxiety level decreased, but still did not eliminate anxiety, and the effect of male education is not obvious ; After one hour of on-site training, the overall scores of fire anxiety of the samples were reduced; One day after the on-site exercise, women’s psychological anxiety scores began to improve, and men’s psychological anxiety continued to improve. Conclusion: On the whole, on-site drills are effective. After one day of on-site drills, the intervention effect basically disappears. However, on-site drills have a significant effect on eliminating the tension in the face of subway fires, and there are significant differences in these aspects of characteristics between people of different genders in the face of subway fires

Selection on synonymous sites for increased accessibility around mirna binding sites in plants

Abstract Synonymous codons are widely selected for various biological mechanisms in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Recent evidence suggests that microRNA (miRNA) function may affect synonymous codon choices near miRNA target sites. To better understand this, we perform genome-wide analysis on synonymous codon usage around miRNA target sites in four plant genomes. We observed a general trend of increased site accessibility around miRNA target sites in plants. Guaninecytosine (GC)-poor codons are preferred in the flank region of miRNA target sites. Within-genome analyses show significant variation among miRNA targets in species. GC content of the target gene can partly explain the variation of site accessibility among miRNA targets. miRNA targets in GC-rich genes show stronger selection signals than those in GC-poor genes. Gene&apos;s codon usage bias and the conservation level of miRNA and its target also have some effects on site accessibility, but the expression level of miRNA or its target and the mechanism of miRNA activity do not contribute to site accessibility differences among miRNA targets. We suggest that synonymous codons near miRNA targets are selected for efficient miRNA binding and proper miRNA function. Our results present a new dimension of natural selection on synonymous codons near miRNA target sites in plants, which will have important implications of coding sequence evolution

Chinese striped-neck turtles vocalize underwater and show differences in peak frequency among different age and sex groups

Background Turtle vocalizations play an important role throughout their lives by expressing individual information (position, emotion, or physiological status), reflecting mating preferences, and synchronizing incubation. The Chinese striped-neck turtle (Mauremys sinensis) is one of the most widely distributed freshwater turtles in China, whose wild population is critically endangered. However, its vocalization has not been studied, which can be the basis for behavioral and ecological studies. Methods Five different sex–age groups of turtles were recorded underwater in a soundproof room. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis for classification of Chinese striped-neck turtle calls were unreasonable. The turtle calls were manually sought using visual and aural inspection of the recordings in Raven Pro 1.5 software and classified according to differences perceived through auditory inspection and the morphological characteristics of the spectrograms. The results of similarity analysis verified the reliability of manual classification. We compared the peak frequency of the calls among different age and sex groups. Results We identified ten M. sinensis call types, displayed their spectra and waveforms, and described their auditory characteristics. Most calls produced by the turtles were low-frequency. Some high-frequency call types, that are common in other turtle species were also produced. Similar to other turtles, the Chinese striped-neck turtle generates harmonic vocalizations. Courtship behaviors were observed when one of the call types occurred in the mixed-sex group. Adult females produced more high-frequency call types, and subadult males had higher vocalizations than other groups. These results provide a basis for future research on the function of vocalizations, field monitoring, and conservation of this species