Repeatability of measurements of infant porcine cerebellum tissue up to 30% strain at loading velocity of 10 mms-1 (strain rate 2s-1),100 mms-1 (strain rate 20 s-1), and 500 mms-1 (strain rate100 s-1).

<p>Repeatability of measurements of infant porcine cerebellum tissue up to 30% strain at loading velocity of 10 mms-1 (strain rate 2s-1),100 mms-1 (strain rate 20 s-1), and 500 mms-1 (strain rate100 s-1).</p

Specimen preparation and test apparatus for high-rate extension.

<p>A. Infant swine. B. Fresh brain tissue after removing dura matter. C. Infant cerebellum tissue. D. Infant cerebellar hemispheres. E. Porcine brain tissue sample subjected to extension. F. The biomaterials test instrument at the consistent room temperature (about 22°C).</p

Theoretical curves for the Fung, Gent and Ogden models at each loading velocity.

<p>Theoretical curves for the Fung, Gent and Ogden models at each loading velocity.</p

Lagrange stress versus stretch in the plane of symmetry for loading velocity of 10 mms-1 (strain rate 2s-1), 100 mms-1 (strain rate 20s-1), and 500 mms-1 (strain rate100s-1).

<p>Lagrange stress versus stretch in the plane of symmetry for loading velocity of 10 mms-1 (strain rate 2s-1), 100 mms-1 (strain rate 20s-1), and 500 mms-1 (strain rate100s-1).</p

Insulin regulates titin pre-mRNA splicing through the PI3K-Akt-mTOR kinase axis in a RBM20-dependent manner

<p>Titin, a giant sarcomeric protein, is largely responsible for the diastolic properties of the heart. It has two major</p> <p>isoforms, N2B and N2BA due to pre-mRNA splicing regulated mainly by a splicing factor RNA binding motif 20</p> <p>(RBM20). Mis-splicing of titin pre-mRNA in response to external stimuli may lead to altered ratio of N2B to</p> <p>N2BA, and thus, impaired cardiac contractile function. However, little is known about titin alternative splicing</p> <p>in response to external stimuli. Here, we reported the detailed mechanisms of titin alternative splicing in response</p> <p>to insulin. Insulin treatment in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) activated the PI3K-AktmTOR</p> <p>kinase axis, leading to increased N2B expression in the presence of RBM20, but not in NRCMs in the</p> <p>absence of RBM20. By inhibiting this kinase axis with inhibitors, decreased N2B isoform was observed in NRCMs</p> <p>and also in diabetic rat model treated with streptozotocin, but not in NRCMs and diabetic rats in the absence of</p> <p>RBM20. In addition to the alteration of titin isoform ratios in response to insulin, we found that RBM20 expression</p> <p>was increased in NRCMs with insulin treatment, suggesting that RBM20 levels were also regulated by</p> <p>insulin-induced kinase axis. Further, knockdown of p70S6K1 with siRNA reduced both RBM20 and N2B levels,</p> <p>while knockdown of 4E-BP1 elevated expression levels of RBM20 and N2B. These findings reveal a major signal</p> <p>transduction pathway for insulin-induced titin alternative splicing, and place RBM20 in a central position in the</p> <p>pathway, which is consistent with the reputed role of RBM20 in titin alternative splicing. Findings from this</p> <p>study shed light on gene therapeutic strategies at the molecular level by correction of pre-mRNA mis-splicing.</p

There is a significant difference between maximum Lagrange stress (Mean±SD) of each two loading velocity.

<p>There is a significant difference between maximum Lagrange stress (Mean±SD) of each two loading velocity.</p

Mean±SD of infinitesimal shear modulus at each strain rates.

<p>Mean±SD of infinitesimal shear modulus at each strain rates.</p

Preliminary study on alterations of altitude road traffic in China from 2006 to 2013

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>Road traffic can play an important role in strengthening regional economic activities, especially at high altitude, and it is necessary to know important traffic-related information. Although previous studies reported on road traffic in China, there has been little research on high-altitude road traffic to date.</p><p>Method</p><p>The annual official census of road traffic safety from 2006 to 2013 was used to obtain data on the general population, registered drivers, registered vehicles, newly built roads, road traffic accidents (RTAs), mortality rate per 100 000 populations and per 10 000 vehicles in high-altitude provinces, including Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Chongqing. These provincial data were reviewed retrospectively, with the national data as the reference. Statistical analysis (i.e., t test) was used to compare the estimated average annual change rate of population, number of registered drivers, registered vehicles, and newly built roads in high-altitude provinces with the national rates.</p><p>Results</p><p>Compared with the national data, there are significantly higher annual rates of population growth in Tibet and Xinjiang, registered drivers in Gansu, registered vehicles in Gansu, Sichuan, and Chongqing, and newly built roads in Tibet and Qinghai. Among the investigated provinces, Tibet, Qinghai, and Yunnan had a higher proportion of the roads with the high class. RTAs and RTA-induced casualties in the high-altitude provinces indicated a decreasing trend. The mortality rate per 10 000 vehicles and per 100 000 populations showed a decreasing trend, while the RTA-related mortality rate in Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Gansu remained high.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Major changes for road traffic in high-altitude provinces have occurred over the past decade; however, the RTA-related mortality rate in high-altitude provinces has remained high. This study furthers understanding about road traffic safety in China; further studies on road traffic safety at high altitude should be performed.</p></div

Population from 2006 to 2013 in high-altitude provinces and nationally in China.

<p>Population from 2006 to 2013 in high-altitude provinces and nationally in China.</p

Mortality rate per 10 000 vehicles from 2006 to 2013.

<p>Mortality rate per 10 000 vehicles from 2006 to 2013.</p