Degree Distribution of Arbitrary AANET

Taking the safe distance between two adjacent planes in the same airline into account, we give a model for the multiairline aeronautical ad hoc network (AANET). Based on our model, we analyze the plane’s degree distribution of any arbitrary AANET. Then, the expressions of the degree distributions of one single plane and the whole networks are both worked out and verified by the simulations, in which we generate several random AANETs. Since our model is a reasonable abstraction of the real situation, the theoretical result we get is very close to the result of the real networks, which is also shown in the simulations

Tetrabenazine is neuroprotective in Huntington's disease mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in Huntingtin protein (Htt). PolyQ expansion in Httexp causes selective degeneration of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSN) in HD patients. A number of previous studies suggested that dopamine signaling plays an important role in HD pathogenesis. A specific inhibitor of vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2) tetrabenazine (TBZ) has been recently approved by Food and Drug Administration for treatment of HD patients in the USA. TBZ acts by reducing dopaminergic input to the striatum.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In previous studies we demonstrated that long-term feeding with TBZ (combined with L-Dopa) alleviated the motor deficits and reduced the striatal neuronal loss in the yeast artificial chromosome transgenic mouse model of HD (YAC128 mice). To further investigate a potential beneficial effects of TBZ for HD treatment, we here repeated TBZ evaluation in YAC128 mice starting TBZ treatment at 2 months of age ("early" TBZ group) and at 6 months of age ("late" TBZ group). In agreement with our previous studies, we found that both "early" and "late" TBZ treatments alleviated motor deficits and reduced striatal cell loss in YAC128 mice. In addition, we have been able to recapitulate and quantify depression-like symptoms in TBZ-treated mice, reminiscent of common side effects observed in HD patients taking TBZ.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results further support therapeutic value of TBZ for treatment of HD but also highlight the need to develop more specific dopamine antagonists which are less prone to side-effects.</p

Electronically Induced Ferromagnetic Transitions in Sm5Ge4-Type Magnetoresponsive Phases

The correlation between magnetic and structural transitions in Gd5SixGe4−x hampers the studies of valence electron concentration (VEC) effects on magnetism. Such studies require decoupling of the VEC-driven changes in the magnetic behavior and crystal structure. The designed compounds, Gd5GaSb3 and Gd5GaBi3, adopt the same Sm5Ge4-type structure as Gd5Ge4 while the VEC increases from 31  e−/formula in Gd5Ge4 to 33  e−/formula in Gd5GaPn3 (Pn: pnictide atoms). As a result, the antiferromagnetic ground state in Gd5Ge4 is tuned into the ferromagnetic one in Gd5GaPn3. First-principles calculations reveal that the nature of interslab magnetic interactions is changed by introducing extra p electrons into the conduction band, forming a ferromagnetic bridge between the adjacent [∝2Gd5T4] slabs

Genetic Diversity of Salmonella enteric serovar Typhi and Paratyphi in Shenzhen, China from 2002 through 2007

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Typhoid and paratyphoid fever are endemic in China. The objective of this investigation was to determine the molecular features of nalidixic acid-resistant <it>Salmonella enteric </it>serovar Typhi (<it>S. typhi</it>) and Paratyphi (<it>S. paratyphi</it>) from blood isolates in Shenzhen, China.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty-five <it>S. typhi </it>and 66 <it>S. paratyphi </it>were isolated from 91 bacteriemic patients between 2002 and 2007 at a hospital in Shenzhen, Southern China. Fifty-two percent (13/25) of <it>S. typhi </it>and 95.3% (61/64) of <it>S. paratyphi </it>A were resistant to nalidixic acid. Sixty-seven isolates of nalidixic acid-resistant <it>Salmonella </it>(NARS) showed decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (MICs of 0.125-1 μg/mL). All 75 NARS isolates had a single substitution in the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of GyrA (Ser83→Phe/Pro/Tyr, or Asp87→Gly/Asn), and 90.7% of these isolates carried the substitution Ser83Phe in GyrA. No mutation was found in the QRDR of <it>gyrB</it>, <it>parC</it>, or <it>parE</it>. Plasmid mediated quinolone resistance genes including <it>qnr </it>and <it>aac(6')-Ib-cr </it>were not detected in any isolate. Twenty-two distinct pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns were observed among <it>S. typhi</it>. Sixty-four isolates of <it>S. paratyphi </it>A belonged to one clone. Eighty-seven investigated inpatients were infected in the community. Six patients infected by <it>S. paratyphi </it>A had a travel history before infection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Nalidixic acid-resistant <it>S. typhi </it>and <it>S. paratyphi </it>A blood isolates were highly prevalent in Shenzhen, China. PFGE showed the variable genetic diversity of nalidixic acid-resistant <it>S. typhi </it>and limited genetic diversity of nalidixic acid -resistant <it>S. paratyphi </it>A.</p

Dscam1 in pancrustacean immunity: current status and a look to the future

The Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule 1 (Dscam1) gene is an extraordinary example of diversity: by combining alternatively spliced exons, thousands of isoforms can be produced from just one gene. So far, such diversity in this gene has only been found in insects and crustaceans, and its essential part in neural wiring has been well-characterized for Drosophila melanogaster. Ten years ago evidence from D. melanogaster showed that the Dscam1 gene is involved in insect immune defense and work on Anopheles gambiae indicated that it is a hypervariable immune receptor. These exciting findings showed that via processes of somatic diversification insects have the possibility to produce unexpected immune molecule diversity, and it was hypothesized that Dscam1 could provide the mechanistic underpinnings of specific immune responses. Since these first publications the quest to understand the function of this gene has uncovered fascinating insights from insects and crustaceans. However, we are still far from a complete understanding of how Dscam1 functions in relation to parasites and pathogens and its full relevance for the immune system. In this Hypothesis and Theory article, we first briefly introduce Dscam1 and what we know so far about how it might function in immunity. By focusing on seven questions, we then share our sometimes contrasting thoughts on what the evidence tells us so far, what essential experiments remain to be done, and the future prospects, with the aim to provide a multiangled view on what this fascinating gene has to do with immune defense

Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals gene network regulation of TGase-induced thermotolerance in tomato

Transglutaminase (TGase), the ubiquitous protein in plants, catalyzes the post-translational transformation of proteins and plays a vital role in photosynthesis. However, its role and mechanism in tomato subjected to heat stress still remain unknown. Here, we carried out a transcriptomic assay to compare the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between wild type (WT) and TGase overexpression (TGaseOE) plants employed to high-temperature at 42 °C and samples were collected after 0, 6, and 12 h, respectively. A total of 11,516 DEGs were identified from heat-stressed seedlings, while 1,148 and 1,353 DEGs were up-and down-regulated, respectively. The DEGs upon high-temperature stress were closely associated with the pathways encompassing protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, carbon fixation, and photosynthetic metabolism. In addition, 425 putative transcription factors (TFs) were identified, and the majority of them associated with the bHLH, HSF, AP2/ERF, MYB, and WRKY families. RNA-seq data validation further confirmed that 8 genes were linked to protein processing and photosynthesis, and the mRNA level of these genes in TGaseOE was higher than that in WT plants, which is consistent in transcriptome results. In conclusion, these results reveal the transcriptional regulation between WT and TGaseOE in tomato under heat stress and shed light on a new dimension of knowledge of TGase-mediated thermotolerance mechanism at the molecular level

Acute effects of different load intensities and rest intervals on muscle strength endurance in male college athletes

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different load intensities with rest intervals between sets on heart rate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), power output, and blood lactate concentration during a squat strength endurance training protocol. A total of 4 sets of strength endurance tests were performed on 15 national Level 2 or above athletes with different load intensities (30% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM), 50% 1RM) and different rest intervals between sets (1 min, 2 min), 20 reps per set. Mean power (P-mean), mean heart-rate (HRmean) and RPE variations during the exercise were collected by using a linear position transducer, heart rate monitor, and Borg 6–20 scale. Besides, finger blood was collected before and after the exercise, and analyzed by using a blood lactate analyzer. HRmean, P-mean and RPE values were significantly higher at 50% 1RM load intensity than at 30% 1RM (p < 0.01), HRmean was significantly higher at 1 min rest interval than at 2 min between sets, while P-mean was significantly higher at 2 min rest interval than at 1 min between sets (p < 0.05); at 30% 1RM loading intensity, blood lactate concentrations were significantly higher at the completion of exercise for the 1 min rest interval between sets than for the 2 min (p < 0.01). However, at 50% 1RM loading intensity, blood lactate increased similarly at the completion of training in multiple sets, independent of the rest interval between sets. From a practical point of view, the results suggest that a 1 min rest interval between sets may be sufficient in a strength endurance training protocol when the load intensity is 30% 1RM. However, when the load intensity is 50% 1RM, we suggest that a 2 min rest interval between sets is required for optimal recovery and maintenance of power output

Concept for a Future Super Proton-Proton Collider

Following the discovery of the Higgs boson at LHC, new large colliders are being studied by the international high-energy community to explore Higgs physics in detail and new physics beyond the Standard Model. In China, a two-stage circular collider project CEPC-SPPC is proposed, with the first stage CEPC (Circular Electron Positron Collier, a so-called Higgs factory) focused on Higgs physics, and the second stage SPPC (Super Proton-Proton Collider) focused on new physics beyond the Standard Model. This paper discusses this second stage.Comment: 34 pages, 8 figures, 5 table

Natural products modulate cell apoptosis: a promising way for treating endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a prevalent epithelial malignancy in the uterine corpus’s endometrium and myometrium. Regulating apoptosis of endometrial cancer cells has been a promising approach for treating EC. Recent in-vitro and in-vivo studies show that numerous extracts and monomers from natural products have pro-apoptotic properties in EC. Therefore, we have reviewed the current studies regarding natural products in modulating the apoptosis of EC cells and summarized their potential mechanisms. The potential signaling pathways include the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) mediated apoptotic pathway, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) mediated apoptotic pathway, NF-κB-mediated apoptotic pathway, PI3K/AKT/mTOR mediated apoptotic pathway, the p21-mediated apoptotic pathway, and other reported pathways. This review focuses on the importance of natural products in treating EC and provides a foundation for developing natural products-based anti-EC agents