Retinol binding protein 4 promotes hyperinsulinism-induced proliferation of rat aortic smooth muscle cells

Recent studies have suggested that retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), an adipocytokine related to insulin resistance (IR), may play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is one of the most common causes of atherosclerosis. Hyperinsulinism promotes proliferation of VSMCs through the MAPK pathway. However, whether RBP4 is involved in insulin-induced proliferation of VSMCs leading to atherosclerosis remains unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the role of RBP4 and the potential relevance of signaling pathways in this process. Different concentrations of RBP4 (1 and 4 μg/ml) were added to rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) during insulin-induced proliferation. The levels of cell growth signaling pathway proteins ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3 and p-STAT3 were assessed by western blotting in order to identify the pathway(s) that are activated during insulin-induced proliferation. The specific inhibitors of ERK1/2 (PD98059) and JAK2 (AG490) were used to confirm our findings. Insulin induced proliferation of RASMCs in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and increased the expression of ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3 and p-STAT3 in a time-dependent manner. RBP4 enhanced insulin-induced proliferation of RASMCs and expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-JAK2. RBP4-induced proliferation of RASMCs was reduced by the ERK1/2 inhibitor, while it was unaffected by the JAK2 inhibitor. These results suggest that RBP4 mediates VSMC proliferation induced by insulin via activation of the MAPK pathway, and highlight RBP4 as a modulator of atherosclerosis in hyperinsulinemia, therby enhancing our understanding on a number of unexpected aspects of CVD

On-line detection of spherical sensor for inrush current detection

With the exploration and demand for the field of marine, underwater vehicles are used in deep water widely, however, there is a lack of research about underwater vehicles which are applied in shallow wary water. When underwater vehicles working in shallow wary water, they will be affected by the inrush current effect of shallow waters, so the research of underwater vehicles about anti current control becomes a meaningful item. But due to the high cost of underwater work, simulation and analysis to the inrush current online detection mechanism first, to determine the effects of surge phenomenon of underwater vehicles. Electromotor drives propeller to generate the flow, the detection mechanism is subjected to the impact of all directions. For some mechanical analysis of the inrush current online detection mechanism and analyzing the influence on the water inrush current when it moved in this paper, so we can reduce the effects of water inrush current on underwater vehicles in the subsequent experiments

Serum Lectin-Like Oxidized-Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1 and Adiponectin Levels Are Associated With Coronary Artery Disease Accompanied With Metabolic Syndrome

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major public health problem for developed and developing countries and is the single leading cause of death worldwide. Objectives: There is very few evidence regarding changes of both serum Lectin-like oxidized-low density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) and adiponectin in patients with CAD accompanied with metabolic syndrome (MS). Here we aimed to evaluate serum levels of LOX-1 and adiponectin in patients with CAD accompanied with MS. Patients and Methods: Thirty patients with coronary artery disease without metabolic syndrome, 30 patients with coronary artery disease and metabolic syndrome, 30 ones with metabolic syndrome and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled. For all subjects, a questionnaire was filled to collect data, and peripheral blood samples were collected aseptically from the antecubital vein to measure serum Lectin-like oxidized-low density lipoprotein receptor-1 and adiponectin levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Serum LOX-1 level was highest in CAD + MS group; the difference between control and disease groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Adiponectin level had the lowest value in CAD + MS group; the difference between control and disease groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in serum Lectin-like oxidized-low density lipoprotein receptor-1and adiponectin in patients with different ages and gender. Serum LOX-1 level was changed negatively and linearly (R2 = 0.721) correlated with adiponectin level in different groups. Conclusions: Patient with CAD and MS had higher risk than those with only CAD because of lipid and glucose metabolism abnormalities. Combination measurements of serum LOX-1 and adiponectin levels may be helpful to evaluate the severity of CAD together with MS

QTL Mapping and Heterosis Analysis for Fiber Quality Traits Across Multiple Genetic Populations and Environments in Upland Cotton

An “immortalized F2” (IF2) population and two reciprocal backcross (HSBCF1 and MARBCF1) populations were constructed to investigate the genetic bases of fiber quality traits in upland cotton across four different environments. A relatively high level of heterosis for micronaire (MIC) in IF2 population as well as fiber length (FL) and MIC in MARBCF1 population was observed. A total of 167 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected in the three related experimental populations and their corresponding midparental heterosis (MPH) datasets using the composite interval mapping (CIM) approach. An analysis of genetic effects of QTLs detected in different populations and their MPH datasets showed 16 (24.24%) QTLs of partial dominance, and 46 (69.70%) QTLs of overdominance were identified in an IF2 population; 89 (62.68%) additive QTLs, three (2.11%) partial dominant QTLs, and 49 (34.51%) over-dominant QTLs were detected in two BCF1 populations. Multi-environment analysis showed 48 and 56 main-QTLs (m-QTLs) and 132 and 182 epistasis-QTLs (e-QTLs), by inclusive composite interval mapping (ICIM) in IF2 and two BCF1 populations, respectively. Phenotypic variance explained by e-QTLs, except for MARBCF1 population, was higher than that by m-QTLs. Thus, the overdominant, partial dominant, and epistasis effects were the main causes of heterosis in the IF2 population, whereas the additive, overdominant, and epistasis effects were the primary genetic basis of heterosis in the two BCF1 populations. Altogether, additive effect, partial dominance, overdominance, and epistasis contributed to fiber quality heterosis in upland cotton, but overdominance and epistasis were the most important factors

Evolution of spin excitations from bulk to monolayer FeSe

In ultrathin films of FeSe grown on SrTiO (FeSe/STO), the superconducting transition temperature T is increased by almost an order of magnitude, raising questions on the pairing mechanism. As in other superconductors, antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations have been proposed to mediate SC making it essential to study the evolution of the spin dynamics of FeSe from the bulk to the ultrathin limit. Here, we investigate the spin excitations in bulk and monolayer FeSe/STO using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) and quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) calculations. Despite the absence of long-range magnetic order, bulk FeSe displays dispersive magnetic excitations reminiscent of other Fe-pnictides. Conversely, the spin excitations in FeSe/STO are gapped, dispersionless, and significantly hardened relative to its bulk counterpart. By comparing our RIXS results with simulations of a bilayer Hubbard model, we connect the evolution of the spin excitations to the Fermiology of the two systems revealing a remarkable reconfiguration of spin excitations in FeSe/STO, essential to understand the role of spin fluctuations in the pairing mechanism

Cross-sectional return dispersion and volatility prediction

We use intraday and daily data to examine the impact of cross-sectional return dispersion on volatility forecasting in the Chinese equity market. We adopt the GARCH, GJR-GARCH, and HAR models and, by augmenting them with return dispersion measures, provide empirical evidence that the return dispersion exhibits substantial information in describing the volatility dynamics by generating signicantly lower forecasting errors at market and industry levels. Furthermore, the information content of the return dispersion tends to o er economic gain to a mean-variance utility investor. The ndings are robust with respect to alternative volatility proxies, subsample analysis, and alternative market-wide stock indices

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase&nbsp;1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation&nbsp;disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age&nbsp; 6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score&nbsp; 652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc&nbsp;= 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N&nbsp;= 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in&nbsp;Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in&nbsp;Asia&nbsp;and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Effect of Modified Tetraethyl Orthosilicate Surface Treatment Agents on the Permeability of Airport Pavement Concrete

In this paper, three modified tetraethyl orthosilicate surface treatment agents were prepared by using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the preparation monomer, isobutyltriethoxysilane (IBTS) as the hybridizer, and acrylic acid, phosphoric acid, and hydrochloric acid as the catalysts. The effects of the three modified tetraethyl orthosilicate surface treatment agents on the permeability of airport pavement surface concrete were investigated by water absorption tests, water contact angle tests, water penetration resistance tests, chloride ion penetration resistance tests, and carbonation tests, and the mechanisms of action of the modified tetraethyl orthosilicate surface treatment agents were analyzed by microscopic tests. The results showed that all three tetraethyl orthosilicate surface treatment agents could significantly improve the impermeability of concrete, among which the modified tetraethyl orthosilicate surface treatment agent with hydrochloric acid as the catalyst had the most obvious effect on the improvement of the impermeability of concrete. Acrylic acid was weaker than hydrochloric acid as the catalyst of a modified tetraethyl orthosilicate surface treatment agent for the improvement of concrete impermeability; it was only slightly stronger than hydrochloric acid as the catalyst of modified tetraethyl orthosilicate surface treatment agent in terms of the improvement of concrete&rsquo;s resistance to water penetration, and the difference between the two was not significant. Phosphoric acid as a catalyst of the modified tetraethyl orthosilicate surface treatment agent was the least effective for concrete impermeability; it was only stronger than the other two modified tetraethyl orthosilicate surface treatment agents in the improvement of concrete resistance to carbonation, and the carbonation depth of the concrete was only 1 mm in 28 days. SEM and MIP tests showed that the modified tetraethyl orthosilicate surface treatment agents improved the impermeability of concrete mainly by producing additional hydrated calcium silicate gel to plug microcracks and pores, reduce the total porosity of the concrete and the number of multi-harmful and harmful pores, and improve the compactness of the concrete. The test results can provide a reference for the development of modified tetraethyl orthosilicate surface treatment agents and their application in airport pavement surface engineering