Exploring gender-based spatio-temporal patterns of informal street vending:A case study in Fangshan District, Beijing, China

Many studies have shown that, due largely to family and socio-cultural influences, women prefer part-time and flexible employment, which aligns with the character of informal street vending. However, unlike many other workers, female vendors must consider the temporary use of space and co-produce an ever-changing environment that interacts with a diverse range of people with heterogeneous demands, a phenomenon that has received little research attention. Using spatial-temporal behavior mapping and on-site observations at three street spaces in Fangshan District, Beijing, China, we examined the spatio-temporal behavioral patterns of female vendors and explored gender differences in the type, mode, spatial meaning, and time of informal vending in the Chinese urban context. Our results indicate that when vending space is limited, male vendors tend to cluster; female vendors are more dispersed, and more likely to occupy spaces with unfavorable selling environments. When there are fewer vendors on the site, female vendors sell closer to the inner side of the street (i.e., less accessibility compared with male vendors). Most female vendors sell relatively lightweight and small goods with low profit margins. Male vendors tend to occupy fixed stalls and utilize heavier transport equipment, while female vendors are more likely to be flexible in location and use lightweight transport equipment. Furthermore, female vendors are more likely than male vendors to operate during weekdays and in daylight hours than on the weekends and at night. We also attempted to understand the potential reasons for gender differences in temporary space use, and informal socio-economic co-production, in urban street contexts. Our study provides further scientific basis for the promotion of more inclusive, vibrant, and healthy urban environments by considering the largely overlooked group of informal female street vendors and their temporary inhabitation and use of urban street space

The Inhibitory Role of B7-H4 in Antitumor Immunity: Association with Cancer Progression and Survival

B7-H4 is one of the most recently identified members of B7 superfamily of costimulatory molecules serving as an inhibitory modulator of T-cell response. B7-H4 is broadly expressed in human peripheral tissues and inducibly expressed in immune cells. The expression of B7-H4 has been observed in various types of human cancer tissues, and its soluble form has been detected in blood samples from cancer patients. However, its precise physiological role is still elusive, as its receptor has not been identified and the expression levels are not consistent. This paper summarizes the pertinent data on the inhibitory role of B7-H4 in antitumor immunity and its association with cancer progression and survival in human patients. The paper also discusses the clinical significance of investigating B7-H4 as potential markers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and as therapeutic targets

Characterization of Φ2954, a newly isolated bacteriophage containing three dsRNA genomic segments

Abstract Background Bacteriophage Φ12 is a member of the Cystoviridae and is distinct from Φ6, the first member of that family. We have recently isolated a number of related phages and five showed high similarity to Φ12 in the amino acid sequences of several proteins. Bacteriophage Φ2954 is a member of this group. Results Φ2954 was isolated from radish leaves and was found to have a genome of three segments of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), placing it in the Cystoviridae. The base sequences for many of the genes and for the segment termini were similar but not identical to those of bacteriophage Φ12. However, the host specificity was for the type IV pili of Pseudomonas syringae HB10Y rather than for the rough LPS to which Φ12 attaches. Reverse genetics techniques enabled the production of infectious phage from cDNA copies of the genome. Phage were constructed with one, two or three genomic segments. Phage were also produced with altered transcriptional regulation. Although the pac sequences of Φ2954 show no similarity to those of Φ12, segment M of Φ2954 could be acquired by Φ12 resulting in a change of host specificity. Conclusions We have isolated a new member of the bacteriophage family Cystoviridae and find that although it shows similarity to other members of the family, it has unique properties that help to elucidate viral strategies for genomic packaging and gene expression.</p

Characterization of Φ8, a Bacteriophage Containing Three Double-Stranded RNA Genomic Segments and Distantly Related to Φ6

AbstractThe three double-stranded RNA genomic segments of bacteriophage Φ8 were copied as cDNA, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Although the organization of the genome is similar to that of Φ6, there is no similarity in either the nucleotide sequences or the amino acid sequences, with the exception of the motifs characteristic of viral RNA polymerases that are found in the presumptive polymerase sequence. Several features of the viral proteins differ markedly from those of Φ6. Although both phages are covered by a lipid-containing membrane, the protein compositions are very different. The most striking difference is that protein P8, which constitutes a shell around the procapsid in Φ6, is part of the membrane in Φ8. The host attachment protein consists of two peptides rather than one and the phage attaches directly to the lipopolysaccharide of the host rather than to a type IV pilus. The host range of Φ8 includes rough strains of Salmonella typhimurium and of pseudomonad

Downregulation of developmentally regulated endothelial cell locus-1 inhibits the growth of colon cancer

Developmentally regulated endothelial cell locus-1 (Del1) is an embryonic angiogenic factor expressed in early embryonic endothelial cells, but recently has been found to be expressed in some forms of cancers including colon and breast cancers, and melanoma, and human cancer cell lines. Overexpression of Del1 accelerates tumor growth by enhancing vascular formation, implying Del1 may be a potential target for anti-angiogenic cancer therapy. The study aims to investigate whether downregulation of Del1 could inhibit the growth of tumors established in nude Balb/c mice by subcutaneous implantation of human LS-174T colon cancer cells. The shRNA expression vectors targeting human Del1, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were constructed. Gene transfection of Del1-shRNA downregulated expression of Del1 in LS-174T cells in vivo and in vitro, but did not alter the proliferative or survival properties of cells in vitro. Gene transfection of VEGF-shRNA downregulated expression of both VEGF and Del1 in LS-174T cells in vivo and in vitro. Both Del1-shRNA and VEGF-shRNA gene therapies exhibited anti-tumor activities and they also showed a synergistic effect in suppressing growth of colon tumors by anti-angiogenesis and anti-proliferation. Although further investigation to clarify the mechanisms explaining the role of Del1 in tumor growth, and the interaction between VEGF and Del1, is required, the results indicate that downregulation of Del1 presents a potent therapeutic strategy to combat colon cancer

Impact of sphingomyelin levels on coronary heart disease and left ventricular systolic function in humans

Sphingomyelin (SM) is an abundant phospholipid in cell membranes and in lipoproteins. In human plasma, SM is mainly found in atherogenic lipoproteins; therefore, higher levels of SM may promote atherogenesis. We investigated the relations between plasma SM levels and the presence of angiographic coronary heart disease (CHD) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. We studied 732 patients referred for coronary angiography. Median SM levels were higher among patients with CHD and in those with LV systolic dysfunction (LVEF<50%) than in patients without CHD or LV dysfunction. SM levels were significantly correlated with fibrinogen levels, diabetes, apoB, and triglyceride levels. On multivariate analyses, higher median SM levels were associated with a higher risk of CHD and lower LV ejection fraction. The pro-atherogenic property of plasma SM might be related to 1) CHD; 2) LV systolic dysfunction; and 3) metabolism of apoB-containing or triglyceride-rich lipoproteins

The inhibitory role of B7-H4 in antitumor immunity: association with cancer progression

B7-H4 is one of the most recently identified members of B7 superfamily of costimulatory molecules serving as an inhibitory modulator of T-cell response. B7-H4 is broadly expressed in human peripheral tissues and inducibly expressed in immune cells. The expression of B7-H4 has been observed in various types of human cancer tissues, and its soluble form has been detected in blood samples from cancer patients. However, its precise physiological role is still elusive, as its receptor has not been identified and the expression levels are not consistent. This paper summarizes the pertinent data on the inhibitory role of B7-H4 in antitumor immunity and its association with cancer progression and survival in human patients. The paper also discusses the clinical significance of investigating B7-H4 as potential markers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and as therapeutic targets