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Inflammatory responses after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) contribute to severe secondary brain injury, leading to poor clinical outcomes. However, the responsible genes for effective anti-inflammation treatment in ICH remain poorly elucidated. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of human ICH were explored by online GEO2R. Go and KEGG were used to explore the biological function of DEGs. Protein–protein interactions (PPI) were built in the String database. Critical modules of PPI were identified by a molecular complex detection algorithm (MCODE). Cytohubba was used to determine the hub genes. The mRNA-miRNA interaction network was built in the miRWalk database. The rat ICH model was applied to validate the key genes. A total of 776 DEGs were identified in ICH. Go and KEGG analyses indicated that DEGs were mainly involved in neutrophil activation and the TNF signaling pathway. GSEA analysis presented that DEGs were significantly enriched in TNF signaling and inflammatory response. PPI network was constructed in the 48 differentially expressed inflammatory response-related genes. The critical module of the PPI network was constructed by 7 MCODE genes and functioned as the inflammatory response. The top 10 hub genes with the highest degrees were identified in the inflammatory response after ICH. CCL20 was confirmed as a key gene and mainly expressed in neurons in the rat ICH model. The regulatory network between CCL20 and miR-766 was built, and the miR-766 decrease was confirmed in a human ICH dataset. CCL20 is a key biomarker of inflammatory response after intracerebral hemorrhage, providing a potential target for inflammatory intervention in ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maximum ocean depth so far reported is about 11 000 m, and is located in the Mariana Trench in the Western Pacific Ocean. The hybrid unmanned underwater vehicle, Haidou, is developed to perform scientific survey at the deepest parts of the Earth oceans. For vehicles working at the full-ocean depth, acoustic positioning is the most effective and popular method. The 11 000 m class acoustic positioning system is relatively massive and complex, and it requires specialized research vessels equipped with compatible acoustic instruments. As a compact testbed platform, it is impractical for Haidou to carry an LBL/USBL beacon with its large volume and weight. During the descent to about 11 000 m, horizontal drift could not be eliminated because of the hydrodynamics and uncertain ocean currents in the sea trials. The maximum depth recorded by Haidou is 10 905 m, and determining the precise location of the deepest point is challenging. With the bathymetric map produced by a multibeam sonar, the terrain contour matching (TERCOM) method is adopted for terrain matching localization. TERCOM is stable in providing an accurate position because of its insensitivity to the initial position errors. The final matching results show the best estimate of location in the reference terrain map. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Range is an important factor to the design of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), while drag reduction efforts are pursued, the investigation of body-propeller interaction is another vital consideration. We present a numerical and experimental study of the hull-propeller interaction for deeply submerged underwater vehicles, using a proportional-integral- derivative (PID) controller method to estimate self-propulsion point in CFD environment. The hydrodynamic performance of hull and propeller at the balance state when the AUV sails at a fixed depth is investigated, using steady RANS solver of Star-CCM+. The proposed steady RANS solver takes only hours to reach a reasonable solution. It is more time efficient than unsteady simulations which takes days or weeks, as well as huge consumption of computing resources. Explorer 1000, a long range AUV developed by Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, was studied as an object, and self-propulsion point, thrust deduction, wake fraction and hull efficiency were analyzed by using the proposed RANS method. Behind-hull performance of the selected propeller MAU4-40, as well as the hull-propeller interaction, was obtained from the computed hydrodynamic forces. The numerical results are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the experimental results obtained in the Qiandao Lake of Zhejiang province, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its apparent rate-limiting function, BACE1 (β-secretase) appears to be a prime target for prevention of amyloid-β (Aβ) generation in brains with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The activity of BACE1 is regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), a transcription factor binding site of the BACE1 promoter, indicating that PPARγ may be a potential target for AD treatment. Several studies have demonstrated that PPARγ activation is involved in the immunostimulation of amyloid-β precursor protein processing by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The present study found that tripchlorolide (T), with a similar chemical structure to that of NSAIDs, decreased the levels of Aβ secreted in N2a-APP695 cells. T treatment reduced the mRNA and protein levels of BACE1 and the protein level of sAPPβ, a cleaved N-terminal fragment of APP by BACE1. The treatment also translocated PPARγ from cytoplasm to nuclear. Intriguingly, T, like pioglitazone (a PPARγ agonist), suppressed the BACE1 activity in N2a-APP695 cells, which was attenuated by GW9662 (a PPARγ antagonist). These results indicate that T may be a PPARγ agonist to enhance the binding of nuclear PPARγ to the BACE1 promoter, which may in turn inhibit the transcription and translation of BACE1, suppress the activity of BACE1, and ultimately attenuate the generation of Aβ. Due to its capability to alter Aβ generation and to protect central neural system against the neurotoxicity of Aβ, T may serve as a promising agent in modulating Aβ-related pathology in Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Pin1 inhibitor Juglone on proliferation, migration and the angiogenic ability of breast cancer cell line MCF7Adr. MCF7Adr cells were cultured and separately treated with Pin1 inhibitor Juglone (treatment group) and DMEM without drug (control group). The cell cycle was examined by flow cytometry. Cell migration was measured by wound-healing assay. Cyclin E protein content was detected by Western blotting. The angiogenesis factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cell media was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that the percentage of cells in G/M phase in treatment group was significantly higher than that in control group (25.5% vs. 10.1%, P<0.05), and that in G/G phase and S stage in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group (40.5% vs. 48.2%, and 33.7% vs. 41.7%, P<0.05). Cyclin E protein content in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group (39.2±7.4 vs. 100±23.1, P<0.05). (A-A)/A value in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group (23.9±3.8 vs. 100±14.4, P<0.05). VEGF-A, -B, and -C contents in cell media of treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group ( P<0.05). It was suggested that Pin1 inhibitor Juglone can effectively inhibit the proliferation, migration and the angiogenic ability of MCF7Adr cells, and can be used as an alternative drug therapy for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of fosinopril on the electrophysiological characteristics of the left ventricular hypertrophic myocardium in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Twenty-four 10-week-old male SHRs were divided into fosinopril and non-fosinopril groups ( n = 12 each). Twelve 10-week-old Wistar-Kyoto rats were used a control group. Left ventricular mass index and ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) were measured after 8 weeks of fosinopril or saline treatment. L-type calcium current ( I), sodium current ( I), and transient outward potassium current ( I) were measured in left ventricular myocytes after 8 weeks of fosinopril or saline treatment using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. VFT was higher in the fosinopril group than in the non-fosinopril group (17.5 ± 1.2 mA vs. 15.6 ± 1.1 mA, P < 0.01). The density of I was lower in the fosinopril group than in the non-fosinopril group (−7.17 ± 0.13 pA/pF vs. −7.87 ± 0.13 pA/pF, P < 0.05). The density of I was higher in the fosinopril group than in the non-fosinopril group (14.46 ± 0.28 pA/pF vs. 12.66 ± 0.25 pA/pF, P < 0.05). I was positively correlated with VFT ( r = 0.90, P < 0.001) and was found to be associated independently with VFT ( P < 0.001). Fosinopril improves the electrophysiological characteristics of the left ventricular hypertrophic myocardium in SHRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An octadecylamine functionalized graphene oxide (ODA-GO)/carbon nanotube (CNT)/polyethylene composite with a segregated and double-percolated structure was fabricated. In the composite, ODA-GO and CNT hybrids formed a well-developed conductive network in the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix; and the highly conductive ODA-GO/CNT/HDPE component was localized at the interstitial space between ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) granules. Structural examinations showed the formation of the segregated and double-percolated conductive network, as a result of an ultralow percolation threshold of ~0.06 vol.%. More interestingly, with the addition of a small content of ODA-GO/CNT/HDPE component, the maximal yield strength and tensile modulus of the composites reached 29.6 and 617 MPa, respectively; these corresponded to remarkable increases of 38.3 % and 13.8 % over the conventional segregated UHMWPE composites. The mechanical reinforcement was ascribed to the intensified interfacial adhesion between UHMWPE domains and cooperative effect of ODA-GO/CNT hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-pressure crystallization experiments of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were conducted under air and N atmosphere. Compared with the sharp decrease of the molecular weight of air sample from 1.63 × 10 to 3.11 × 10, the weight loss of N protection sample was successfully restricted to the value below 10 %. Stable α-crystals were generated in both air and N protection samples which both exhibited very high crystallinity up to 66.3 and 64.5 %, respectively. It is high pressure that leads to the perfect crystalline structure by inducing crystalline reorganization and lamellar thickening. A diffraction streak appeared in the 2D-SAXS pattern of air sample in contrast to the broad scattering signal in N protection sample, implying the formation of oriented crystals during PLA degradation. As observed from scanning electron microscopy, the spherulite size of air sample was larger than that of N protection sample, for the radius growth rate of PLA crystals increased as molecular weight decreased. Accordingly, N atmosphere protection can not only effectively prevent PLA from degradation, but also acquire highly crystallized PLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During recent years, major advances have been made in neuroscience, i.e., asynchronous release, three-dimensional structural data sets, saliency maps, magnesium in brain research, and new functional roles of long non-coding RNAs. Especially, the development of optogenetic technology provides access to important information about relevant neural circuits by allowing the activation of specific neurons in awake mammals and directly observing the resulting behavior. The Grand Research Plan for Neural Circuits of Emotion and Memory was launched by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. It takes emotion and memory as its main objects, making the best use of cutting-edge technologies from medical science, life science and information science. In this paper, we outline the current status of neural circuit studies in China and the technologies and methodologies being applied, as well as studies related to the impairments of emotion and memory. In this phase, we are making efforts to repair the current deficiencies by making adjustments, mainly involving four aspects of core scientific issues to investigate these circuits at multiple levels. Five research directions have been taken to solve important scientific problems while the Grand Research Plan is implemented. Future research into this area will be multimodal, incorporating a range of methods and sciences into each project. Addressing these issues will ensure a bright future, major discoveries, and a higher level of treatment for all affected by debilitating brain illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim:To investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on voltage-gated calcium currents in cultured rat hippocampal neurons and the modulatory mechanism.Methods:Cultured hippocampal neurons were prepared from Sprague Dawley rat embryos. Whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique was used to record the voltage-gated calcium currents (VGCCs) from the hippocampal neurons,and the effect of Rb1 was examined.Results:Rb1 (2-100 μmol/L) inhibited VGCCs in a concentration-dependent manner, and the current was mostly recovered upon wash-out. The specific L-type Ca2+ channel inhibitor nifedipine (10 μmol/L) occluded Rb1-induced inhibition on VGCCs. Neither the selective N-type Ca2+ channel blocker ω-conotoxin-GVIA (1 μmol/L), nor the selective P/Q-type Ca2+ channel blocker ω-agatoxin IVA (30 nmol/L) diminished Rb1-sensitive VGCCs. Rb1 induced a leftward shift of the steady-state inactivation curve of ICa to a negative potential without affecting its activation kinetics or reversal potential in the I-V curve. The inhibitory effect of Rb1 was neither abolished by the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin (10 μmol/L), nor by the PKA inhibitor H-89 (10 μmol/L).Conclusion:Ginsenoside Rb1 selectively inhibits the activity of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, without affecting the N-type or P/Q-type Ca2+ channels in hippocampal neurons. cAMP-PKA signaling pathway is not involved in this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A candidate marker for ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI), syndecan-1 (Sdc1), has been shown to be upregulated in myocardial tissues. However, the clinical potential of this marker depends on the ability to obtain samples safely and noninvasively. Therefore, we investigated the expression of soluble Sdc1 in the serum of rats after MI. Anterior descending coronary arteries of Sprague-Dawley rats were ligated, and MI was confirmed by morphologic and physiologic methods. Rats that underwent surgery without ligation served as the control group. We analyzed the expression of Sdc1 mRNA by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and that of Sdc1 protein by western blot in heart tissue from the MI border and compared it to the expression of soluble Sdc1 in serum. The myocardial levels of expression of Sdc1 mRNA and protein were very low in the sham group but increased significantly in the MI group ( P < 0.01). The expression of myocardial Sdc1 reached a peak at day 3 and declined gradually thereafter, although the levels at 14 days remained significantly higher than those in the sham group. The expression of soluble Sdc1 in the sera of the rats in the MI group followed a similar pattern and was linearly correlated with the expression of Sdc1 protein in the MI border zone ( r = 0.952, P < 0.01). Soluble Sdc1 was also detected at low levels in normal rat serum. These results may facilitate additional exploration of the utility of serum Sdc1 as a biomarker for MI in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of aquaporin-5 (AQP5) expression during postnatal development has not been defined in the sweat gland. Previous studies have suggested that AQP isoforms in several peripheral targets are regulated by a neural mechanism. We have examined, in rat sweat glands, the expression of AQP5 during postnatal development and the effects of denervation on AQP5 expression. Both AQP5 mRNA and protein begin to be expressed at postnatal day 10, before sweat-secretory responsiveness first appears; this expression coincides with the occurrence of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) immunoreactivity. Early noradrenergic and later cholinergic interaction between sweat glands and their innervation are disrupted by neonatal chemical sympathectomy or postnatal severance of the sciatic nerve. Examination of such denervated developing rats has shown that secretory responsiveness fails to arise later in the adults, and AQP5 immunostaining increases in the denervated glands, whereas gland morphogenesis and the occurrence of AQP5 expression proceed normally. Immunobloting has revealed an increase of AQP5 abundance after the denervated mature glands lose their secretory ability. These findings suggest that AQP5 protein is necessary for sweat secretion, and that the expression of AQP5 in rat sweat glands is independent of sympathetic innervation. Our data also indicate that factor(s) regulating the normal morphological development of sweat gland might be responsible for controlling AQP5 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a branch and bound approach is proposed for global optimization problem (P) of the sum of generalized polynomial fractional functions under generalized polynomial constraints, which arises in various practical problems. Due to its intrinsic difficulty, less work has been devoted to globally solving this problem. By utilizing an equivalent problem and some linear underestimating approximations, a linear relaxation programming problem of the equivalent form is obtained. Consequently, the initial non-convex nonlinear problem (P) is reduced to a sequence of linear programming problems through successively refining the feasible region of linear relaxation problem. The proposed algorithm is convergent to the global minimum of the primal problem by means of the solutions to a series of linear programming problems. Numerical results show that the proposed algorithm is feasible and can successfully be used to solve the present problem (P). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-source multi-class classification methods based on multi-class Support Vector Machines and data fusion strategies are proposed in this paper. The centralized and distributed fusion schemes are applied to combine information from several data sources. In the centralized scheme, all information from several data sources is centralized to construct an input space. Then a multi-class Support Vector Machine classifier is trained. In the distributed schemes, the individual data sources are processed separately and modelled by using the multi-class Support Vector Machine. Then new data fusion strategies are proposed to combine the information from the individual multi-class Support Vector Machine models. Our proposed fusion strategies take into account that an Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier achieves classification by finding the optimal classification hyperplane with maximal margin. The proposed methods are applied for fault diagnosis of a diesel engine. The experimental results showed that almost all the proposed approaches can largely improve the diagnostic accuracy. The robustness of diagnosis is also improved because of the implementation of data fusion strategies. The proposed methods can also be applied in other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To quantify the effect of motor-developmental Tuina therapy on 61 children with cerebral palsy. Methods: All the children received the motor-developmental Tuina therapy for 20 min each time, 3 to 6 times per week. The gross motor functions of the children were evaluated by GMFM 66. The baseline period evaluations in 15 children and follow-up period evaluations in 26 children were performed. Results: GMFM 66 score significantly increased at the end of treatment period ( P<0.001). The GMFM 66 score changes per month in treatment period was significantly greater than those of both baseline period and follow-up period ( P<0.001). Conclusion: The effect of motor-developmental Tuina therapy was notable on children with cerebral palsy. Continuous progress of the gross motor functions in these children may be obtained by continuous therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg1, an effective ingredient from ginsenoside, on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced substantia nigra neuron lesion.C57-BL mice were given MPTP to prepare Parkinson disease mice model. Different doses of Rg1 (5, 10, and 20 mg·kg-1·d-1) orN-acetylcystein (NAC) (300 mg·kg-1·d-1) were given 3 d prior to MPTP in the pretreatment groups. Glutathione (GSH) level and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity in substantia nigra were determined by spectrophotometry. Nissl staining, tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining, and TUNEL labeling were used to observe the damage and apoptosis of nigral neurons. Western blot analysis was used to detect the phospho-JNK and phospho-c-Jun levels in midbrain homogenates.Pretreatments of C57-BL mice with different doses of Rg1 or NAC were found to protect against MPTP-induced substantia nigra neurons loss. Rg1 or NAC prevented GSH reduction and T-SOD activation in substantia nigra, and attenuated the phosphorylations of JNK and c-Jun following MPTP treatment.The antioxidant property of Rg1 along with the blocking of JNK signaling cascade might contribute to the neuroprotective effect of ginsenoside Rg1 against MPTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]