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The ambitious targets for renewable energy penetration warrant huge flexibility in the power system. Such flexibility does not come free. In this paper, we examine the possibility of utilizing storage systems for achieving high renewable energy penetration, and identify the trade-off between providing flexibility and arbitrage against real-time prices. More precisely, we investigate the relationship among the operation cost, storage capacity, and the renewable penetration level. This illustrates the value of storage as well as the true cost induced by the high renewable penetration targets.

In this work, manganese is selectively and efficiently recovered from spent lithium-ion batteries via advanced oxidation by using potassium permanganate and ozone, and the transition metal-doped α-MnO2 and β-MnO2 are one-step prepared for catalytic oxidation of VOCs. The recovery rate of manganese can be approximately 100% while the recovery efficiency of cobalt, nickel, and lithium is less than 15%, 2%, and 1%, respectively. Compared with pure α-MnO2 and β-MnO2, transition metal-doped α-MnO2 and β-MnO2 exhibit better catalytic performance in toluene and formaldehyde removal attributed to their lower crystallinity, more defects, larger specific surface area, more oxygen vacancies, and better low-temperature redox ability. Besides, the introduction of the appropriate proportion of cobalt or nickel into MnO2 can significantly improve its catalytic activity. Furthermore, the TD/GC-MS result indicates that toluene may be oxidized in the sequence of toluene - benzyl alcohol - benzaldehyde-benzoic acid - acetic acid, 2-cyclohexen-1-one, 4-hydroxy-, cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-dione - carbon dioxide. This method provides a route for the resource utilization of spent LIBs and the synthesis of MnO2.

Faced with a large amount of spent lithium-ions batteries from new energy vehicles and portable electronic devices such as personal computers and mobile phones. If they are not treated properly, they would not only result in serious environmental pollution but also lead to the loss of valuable resources like Co and Li. At present, most of researchers mainly focused on the metal recovery via hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical method. In this work, manganese-based metal oxides (MnOx(SY), MnOx(MS)) and cobalt-based oxides (CoOx(GS)) are synthesized using manganese and cobalt-based metals recovered from spent ternary, manganate and cobaltate lithium-ion batteries as a precursor, respectively. A series of supported multi-metal oxides were prepared by supporting 10% (wt) of MnOx(SY), MnOx(MS) and CoOx(GS) on CeO2 with different morphologies via impregnation method. The catalytic activities of the metal oxides during the oxidation of 2-ethoxyethyl acetate are investigated. The results obtained show that MnOx(MS)/CeO2-C, MnOx(SY)/CeO2-C and CoOx(GS)/CeO2-P have better catalytic performances due to their excellent physicochemical properties compared to the MnOx(SY), MnOx(MS), CoOx(GS), CeO2-R, CeO2-P, CeO2-C, MnOx(MS)/CeO2-R, MnOx(MS)/CeO2-P, MnOx(SY)/CeO2-R, MnOx(SY)/CeO2-P, CoOx(GS)/CeO2-R, CoOx(GS)/CeO2-C. In-situ diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy results prove that gaseous O2 plays a vital role in facilitating the complete oxidation of intermediates such as ‒C˭O, ‒COO, ‒C‒O‒C, ‒C‒O into CO2 during 2-ethoxyethyl acetate oxidation. Furthermore, thermal desorption/gas chromatography-mass spectrometer results show that the main by-products obtained during 2-ethoxyethyl acetate oxidation are ethanol,2-methoxy-; ethanol, 2-methoxy-, acetate and acetic acid.

Summary The sexine layer of pollen grain is mainly composed of sporopollenins. The sporophytic secretory tapetum is required for the biosynthesis of sporopollenin. Although a few of enzymes involved in sporopollenin biosynthesis have been reported, the regulatory mechanism of these enzymes in tapetal layer remains elusive. ABORTED MICROSPORES (AMS) and MALE STERILE 188/MYB103/MYB80 (MS188/MYB103/MYB80) are two tapetal cell-specific transcription factors required for pollen wall formation. AMS functions upstream of MS188. Here we report that AMS and MS188 target the CYP703A2 gene which is involved in sporopollenin biosynthesis. We found that AMS and MS188 were localized in tapetum while CYP703A2 was localized in both tapetum and locule. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) showed that MS188 directly bound to the promoter of CYP703A2 and luciferase-inducible assay showed that MS188 activated the expression of CYP703A2. Yeast two hybrid and Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays (EMSAs) further demonstrated that MS188 complexed with AMS. The expression of CYP703A2 could be partially restored by the elevated MS188 in ams mutant. Therefore, our data reveal that MS188 coordinates with AMS to activate CYP703A2 in sporopollenin biosynthesis of plant tapetum. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Microglial cells are critical in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain and several microglial receptors have been proposed to mediate this process. Of these receptors, the P2Y12 receptor is a unique purinergic receptor that is exclusively expressed by microglia in the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we set forth to investigate the role of P2Y12 receptors in microglial electrophysiological and morphological (static and dynamic) activation during spinal nerve transection (SNT)-induced neuropathic pain in mice. First, we found that a genetic deficiency of the P2Y12 receptor (P2Y12(-/-) mice) ameliorated pain hypersensitivities during the initiation phase of neuropathic pain. Next, we characterised both the electrophysiological and morphological properties of microglia in the superficial spinal cord dorsal horn following SNT injury. We show dramatic alterations including a peak at 3days post injury in microglial electrophysiology while high resolution two-photon imaging revealed significant changes of both static and dynamic microglial morphological properties by 7days post injury. Finally, in P2Y12(-/-) mice, these electrophysiological and morphological changes were ameliorated suggesting roles for P2Y12 receptors in SNT-induced microglial activation. Our results therefore indicate that P2Y12 receptors regulate microglial electrophysiological as well as static and dynamic microglial properties after peripheral nerve injury, suggesting that the microglial P2Y12 receptor could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Obesity is associated with a notable risk for disease, including risk of cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension. Adipose tissue modulates the metabolism by releasing free fatty acids (FFAs) and adipokines, including leptin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL‑6). Altered secretion patterns of FFAs and adipokines have been demonstrated to result in obesity‑associated insulin resistance (IR) and inflammatory responses. MicroRNA-199a-3p (miR)-199a-3p expression is significantly induced in differentiated human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and indicates the association with T2DM. However, the association between miR-199a-3p levels in adipocytes and obesity‑associated IR, as well as inflammatory responses remains to be elucidated. The present study observed an elevation of miR‑199a‑3p expression level in mature human adipocytes (visceral) compared with pre-adipocytes. In addition, miR‑199a‑3p expression was higher in visceral adipose deposits from obese subjects. FFA, TNF-α, IL‑6 and leptin significantly induced miR‑199a‑3p expression in mature human adipocytes, while resistin had the opposite effect. miR‑199a‑3p may represent a factor in the modulation of obesity‑associated IR and inflammatory responses.

Microglia and peripheral monocytes contribute to hypersensitivity in rodent models of neuropathic pain. However, the precise respective function of microglia and peripheral monocytes has not been investigated in these models. To address this question, here we combined transgenic mice and pharmacological tools to specifically and temporally control the depletion of microglia and monocytes in a mouse model of spinal nerve transection (SNT). We found that although microglia and monocytes are required during the initiation of mechanical allodynia or thermal hyperalgesia, these cells may not be as important for the maintenance of hypersensitivity. Moreover, we demonstrated that either resident microglia or peripheral monocytes are sufficient in gating neuropathic pain after SNT. We propose that resident microglia and peripheral monocytes act synergistically to initiate hypersensitivity and promote the transition from acute to chronic pain after peripheral nerve injury., Microglia and monocytes contribute to neuropathic pain states, but the precise role of the two cell types is not clear. Here Peng et al. use temporally controlled ablation of monocytes and microglia in mice to show that these cells work together to initiate neuropathic-pain like behaviour, but are less important in the maintenance phase.

In this paper, the rapid prototyping of W-Cu composites by laser cladding was reported. The influence of the mass ratio of W and Cu on the structure and properties were investigated. Ni and Co were added to the W-Cu composites to promote the sintering densification. The effect of the elements on the structure, phase composition and properties of W-Cu composites was investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) and hardness test. The results showed that when Cu content increases to 60 wt.%, W particles were distributed around Cu agglomerates. When Ni content increases to 3.0 wt.%, γ-Ni phase could be observed. It was found that Co was concentrated at the interface between W and Cu phase and enhance the diffusion of W in Cu phase. Both Ni and Co could increase the density of the W-Cu composites greatly.

In order to avoid the discharge of deplating wastewater with high concentration of NO3−, an environmental friendly process, consisting of precipitation, electrodeposition and oxidation, is developed in this research for the treatment of real high acidic deplating wastewater containing Ag+, Cu2+, NO3− and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The wastewater is treated by precipitation to remove Ag+, electrodeposition to remove Cu2+, oxidation to reduce COD successively and then reused for deplating plastic plated parts. In precipitation process, 99.9% Ag+ in wastewater is precipitated by HCl and silver metal is then recovered through the replacement of AgCl by iron powder. Because of the high conductivity, Cu2+ in wastewater is then separated and recovered as copper metal on cathode through electrodeposition. The effect of electrodeposition parameters including cathode material, current density, electrode distance, reaction temperature and Cu2+ initial concentration is investigated. Up to 89.3% Cu2+ can be recovered in 80 min at the optimal condition. Finally, the COD is removed from 1360 mg L−1 to 378 mg L−1 in subsequent H2O2 oxidation process to ensure the reuse of water. Because the valuable Ag and Cu metals are recovered and the COD is removed, the wastewater can be reused as deplating solution. The estimated profit of this precipitation-electrodeposition-oxidation process reveals its practical feasibility. Furthermore, the process realizes the cleaner production of the deplating technology because it avoids the discharge of unmanageable wastewater with high NO3− concentration. More importantly, the process can also be improved to treat similar wastewater.

This paper is concerned with the state estimation problem of a robotic unmanned surface vehicle with the measurements of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). Two nonlinear observers are proposed to estimate the position and velocity information of a robotic unmanned surface vehicle by using loosely coupled GPS/IMU integration. One is based on the measurements of the position, velocity and acceleration corrupted by noises, and the other is based on the measurements of the position and acceleration corrupted by noises. A salient feature of the developed observers is that they can achieve desired estimation performance in the presence of measurement noises. The stability analyzes are given to prove the closed-loop systems are input-to-state stable. Finally, simulation and experiment results are given to verify the efficacy of the two designed nonlinear observers for a robotic unmanned surface vehicle.

A target enclosing scheme is investigated for autonomous surface vehicles. The target moves with a time-varying and unknown velocity, and only the relative range and angle is available. A yaw rate control law is proposed at first, where an extended state observer is designed to identify relative dynamics. Next, using the torque and position date from the follower, a fuzzy system is utilized based on prediction errors to estimate the dynamics caused by parametric uncertainty, unmodeled hydrodynamics and external disturbances. Finally, using the reconstructed unknown dynamics, a predictor-based bounded kinetic control law is proposed. Though Lyapunov theory, the target enclosing system is analyzed, and the result of input-to-state stability is proved. Simulation study for two vehicles shows the effectiveness of this target enclosing controller.

Through the powerful hydrothermal method, five rare-earth (Re = Dy, Gd, Ho, Pr, and Sm) three-dimensional (3D) cluster-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been synthesized, namely, [Dy(L)(H

This paper is concerned with the problem of coordinated path-following for networked underactuated autonomous surface vehicles in the presence of time-varying state-dependent cyber-attack. An adaptive bounded neural network controller is proposed to mitigate the malicious effect of the cyber-attack. At first, an individual path-following control law is designed for each vehicle by fusing a back-stepping technique, a line-of-sight guidance principle and a predictor-based neural network method. Second, a path update law is developed based on a synchronization approach together with an adaptive control method. The salient features of the proposed controller are presented as follows. First, an adaptive corrective signal is incorporated into the path update law design such that a desired formation can be achieved regardless of the time-varying state-dependent cyber-attack. Second, by using a saturation function and a projection operator, the proposed controller is bounded and the bound is known as a priori. It is proven that the closed-loop system is input-to-state practical stable in the face of time-varying state-dependent cyber-attack. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive bounded neural network controller for coordinated path-following of networked underactuated autonomous surface vehicles subject to the cyber-attack.

A dramatic N-substituent controlled tandem annulation of 2-(2-(2-bromoethyl)phenyl)-1-sulfonylaziridines with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds has been developed. When the N-substituent was a 4-methylbenzenesulfonyl group (Ts), sequential ring opening of aziridines, nucleophilic substitution, and lactamization took place to provide a series of hexahydrobenz[ e]isoindole compounds in good yields with good diastereoselectivities. By contrast, 3-benzazepine compounds were afforded in good yields via ring opening of aziridines and nucleophilic substitution when the N-substituent was the 4-nitrobenzenesulfonyl group (Ns).

The Single-Event response of Microsemi 28 nm PolarFire FPGA is characterized using neutron and 64 MeV proton sources. Single-Event Latchup (SEL), Single Event Upset (SEU) and Single Event Functional Interrupt (SEFI) results are presented.

IOT(Internet of things) is a relatively new technology, more and more integrated into our lives. In this paper we use infant incubator for example, introduce the application of IOT technology to reduce the risk of the use of medical devices, and through the dynamic management to improve the management level and efficiency. Put forward a method of medical equipment linked. Combined with the point of IOT technology and sensor technology, we find out the actual needs of the management and use of infant incubator. For the dynamic management of medical equipment, we use sensors to control risk points. The system meets the needs of the hospital and patients in many areas.

Supervisory sampling inspection is one of the administrative supervision measures for medical devices. As the reinspection work affects the final conclusion of sampling inspection, inappropriate overturn during the reinspection has already impaired the impartiality and authority of the supervisory inspection work. By the statistics of survey materials, this article analyzes the reasons for requesting reinspection and making overturns, and proposes a scheme for eliminating the interference factors such as the understanding divergences and the defects of standards, the inspection capacity and the issues of sampled devices, etc. To enhance the authoritative of reinspection, this article also proposes principals of evasion, precedence, arbitration and assessment, and the improvement of the reinspection workflow in order to make the reinspection work more appropriate, more efficient and more impartial.

This paper considers the state estimation problem of a robotic unmanned surface vehicle by using Global Positioning System (GPS) and inertial measurement unit (IMU) measurements. Firstly, the kinematic strapdown equations are developed for marine vehicles based on the experimental platform. Then, two nonlinear observers are proposed to estimate the position and velocity information of marine vehicles via loosely coupled GPS/IMU integration. One is based on the measurements of the position, velocity and acceleration, and the other is based on the measurements of the position and acceleration. For both nonlinear observers, the origin of the closed-loop systems are shown to be globally asymptotically stable. Finally, the results of simulations and experiments are given to verify the effectiveness of the two nonlinear observers.

Alpine treelines represent one of the most distinct vegetation boundaries between canopy closed montane forest and treeless alpine vegetation. This transitional ecotone is highly sensitive to global and regional climate change and is considered as an ideal indicator of such changes. Treeline studies have evolved from morphological description to various hypotheses of treeline formation. Although individual hypothesis may provide reasonable explanation locally, a generalized hypothesis that is applicable on the global scale is still lacking. Temperature is considered the limited factor controlling the distribution of alpine treeline as low temperature restricts biochemical processes of tree growth. However, which particular biochemical processes are affected by low temperature remains unknown. This paper summarized the mechanisms of treeline formation with a focus on how low temperature affects photosynthesis characteristics, nutrient characteristics, non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and antioxidant system. We also reviewed the key issues and future perspectives in treeline research.高山林线是郁闭森林与高山植被之间的分布界限,作为重要的生态过渡带,对全球和区域性气候变化的反应极为敏感,被认为是气候变化的理想监测器.高山林线研究从最初的形态描述到林线成因假说都是为了寻找高山林线形成的原因.迄今出现的高山林线成因假说都能够在局地尺度解释高山林线成因,但仍然缺乏可以普遍解释全球高山林线现象的假说.温度是林线分布的限制因子,低温限制了林线树种的生存及生长,但是低温影响了哪一个生化过程仍不明确,其影响机理还需进一步探讨.本文对高山林线形成机理,特别是对低温对高山林线植物光合特性、养分特征、非结构性碳水化合物和抗氧化系统的影响等研究进展进行综述,并提出了未来林线研究应该关注的问题.

Background: The role of postradiation systemic therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastasis (BM) was controversial. Thus, we explored the role of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis (RTOG-RPA) and graded prognostic assessment (GPA) in identifying population who may benefit from postradiation systemic therapy. Methods: The clinical data of NSCLC patients with documented BM from August 2007 to April 2015 of two hospitals were studied retrospectively. Cox regression was used for multivariate analysis. Survival of patients with or without postradiation systemic therapy was compared in subgroups stratified according to RTOG-RPA or GPA. Results: Of 216 included patients, 67.1% received stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), 24.1% received whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT), and 8.8% received both. After radiotherapy, systemic therapy was administered in 58.3% of patients. Multivariate analysis found that postradiation systemic therapy (yes vs. no) (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.361, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.202- 0.648, P= 0.001), radiation technique (SRS vs. WBRT) (HR = 0.462, 95% CI = 0.238- 0.849, P= 0.022), extracranial metastasis (yes vs. no) (HR= 3.970, 95% CI = 1.757–8.970, P= 0.001), and Karnofsky performance status (

This paper considers the guidance law design for distributed containment maneuvering of a group of fully-actuated autonomous surface vehicles subject to velocity constraints under a directed graph. A saturated guidance law is designed for each vehicle based on a constant bearing guidance method and a containment maneuvering approach. By using the presented saturated guidance law, the fully-actuated marine surface vehicles are able to track a convex hull spanned by multiple virtual leaders moving along multiple parameterized paths. A key feature of the proposed saturated guidance law is that velocity constraints are not violated and aggressive maneuvers during transient phase can be avoided. On the basis of Lyapunov theory and graph theory, the globally uniformly asymptotically stable and locally uniformly exponentially stable of the closed-loop system is analyzed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed saturated guidance law is illustrated by the simulation study.

Background Risk factors and treatments for brain metastasis (BM) in patients with adenocarcinoma have not been fully profiled in previous studies because of the enrolment of patients with tumours of mixed histology. Thus, we specifically addressed the issue in patients with adenocarcinoma. Methods Clinical data for 373 patients with pathologically confirmed adenocarcinoma were studied retrospectively. Factors including age (≤60 vs. > 60), gender (male vs. female), stage at diagnosis, T status (T1–2 vs. T3–4), N status (N0–1 vs. N2–3), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status (wild-type vs. mutant) and smoking status (never vs. current) were analyzed. Results In multivariate analysis, age (P = 0.006) and N status (P = 0.041) were independent risk factors for BM. In patients with BM, adding systemic therapy to local therapy improved median post-brain-metastasis survival (mPBMS) (P = 0.02). However, if stratification was conducted according to the recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classification or graded prognostic assessment (GPA) scoring, only patients in RPA class II (P = 0.020) or with GPA score 1.5-2.5 (P = 0.032) could benefit from local plus systemic therapy. Those who received both pemetrexed and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as systemic therapies had a longer mPBMS than those who received TKIs alone, regardless of whether local therapy was applied. In patients with EGFR-sensitive mutations, TKIs therapy led to a longer mPBMS than conventional chemotherapy (P = 0.002). Conclusions Adenocarcinoma patients who were younger than 60 years of age and those with N2–3 disease have a significantly higher risk of BM. The addition of systemic therapy to local therapy can significantly prolong mPBMS, but the survival benefit confined in certain populations. Patients with opportunity to receive both pemetrexed and TKIs had the longest mPBMS.

Sustained activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is closely related to diabetes and stroke. However, it is unknown whether NLRP3 inflammasome plays an essential role in stroke in diabetes. We aim to investigate the effect and the potential mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome in diabetic mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. A type 2 diabetic mouse model was induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ). Diabetic mice received MCC950 (the specific molecule NLRP3 inhibitor) or vehicle 60 minutes before the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion. MCC950 reduced the neurological deficit score of 24 h after cerebral ischemia reperfusion and improved the 28-day survival rate of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in diabetic mice. Furthermore, we found that the mRNA transcription levels of NLRP3, IL-1β, and caspase-1 in the core ischemic area were remarkably amplified in diabetic mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, whereas this phenomenon was obviously attenuated by MCC950 pretreatment. In conclusion, the NLRP3 inflammasome was involved in the complex diseases of diabetic stroke. MCC950, the NLRP3 specific inhibitor, ameliorated diabetic mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and improved the 28-day survival rate during the recovery stage of ischemic stroke.

Background. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is closely related to diabetes and obesity, both of which are confirmed to increase the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Our study aimed to investigate whether the polymorphisms in GIP genes could affect the risk of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients in the Chinese Han population. Methods. We selected and genotyped two haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tag-SNPs) (rs2291725 C>T, rs8078510 G>A) of GIP gene based on CHB data in HapMap Phase II database (r2<0.8). The case-control study of Chinese Han population involved 390 diabetic patients with CAD as positive group and 276 diabetic patients without CAD as control group. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared between the two groups. Results. In dominant inheritance model, the carriers of T/T or T/C had a lower risk of CAD (OR = 0.635, 95% CI = 0.463–0.872, p=0.005), even after adjustment other CAD risk factors (gender, age, BMI, smoking status, dyslipidemia, hypertension history, and diabetic duration) (OR′ = 0.769, 95% CI′ = 0.626–0.945, p′=0.013). The allele A at rs8078510 was associated with decreased risk of CAD (OR = 0.732, p=0.039). p=0.018 in subgroup analysis, individuals with higher BMI (≥24 kg/m2) had increased risk for CAD when carrying C/C at rs2291725 (OR′ = 1.291, 95% CI′ = 1.017–1.639, p′=0.036). In age p=0.015). Carriers of allele G in rs8078510 had higher susceptibility to CAD (OR = 2.049, 95% = CI 1.213–3.463, p=0.007). p=0.004; in addition, allele G in rs8078510 would bring higher CAD risk to the carriers who ever smoked (OR = 1.695, 95% CI = 1.080–2.660, p=0.021). Conclusion. The genetic variability of GIP gene is associated with CAD and it may play a role in the premature CAD in the Chinese Han population with type 2 diabetes.

This paper is concerned with system identification for autonomous surface vehicles subject to unknown kinetics. The considered unknown kinetics stems from model uncertainties, unmodeled dynamics and external disturbances caused by wind, waves and ocean currents. The identification method is developed based on neural networks owing to its universal approximation property. In the adaptive weight law design, a concurrent learning method is involved to utilize the instantaneous data and the recorded data for adaptation. By using the proposed identification approach, the output weights will approach and stay bounded within a small neighborhood of ideal weights without a persistence of excitation condition. Finally, by resorting to the Lyapunov theory, the performance of the proposed kinetics identification method is analyzed.

Background. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) bestows protective effects upon the cardiovascular system through direct cardiovascular interactions or by improvements to metabolic function. Both these effects are thought to be at least partly mediated by the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). This case-controlled study investigated whether polymorphisms in theGLP-1Rgene affect the risk of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients in the Chinese Han population.Methods. Eleven haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), distributed across 22 kb of the 39 kbGLP-1Rgene, were selected and genotyped in diabetic patients from a Chinese Han population. Patients were classified based on the severity of coronary artery stenosis. Coronary artery stenosis was ≥50% in 394 patients (coronary artery disease- (CAD-) positive group), and coronary artery stenosis was Results. When considered in recessive inheritance mode, patients with the GG genotype at rs4714210 had a lower CAD risk than patients with other genotypes (OR = 0.442, 95% CI = 0.258–0.757,p=0.002), even when other known CAD risk factors were taken into account (ORa = 0.440, 95%CIa = 0.225–0.863,pa=0.017). In additive inheritance mode, GG genotype carriers at rs4714210 exhibited a lower risk of CAD than AA carriers (ORa = 0.475,CIa = 0.232–0.970,pa=0.041).Conclusion. In type 2 diabetic patients from a Han Chinese population, some variations in theGLP-1Rgene were associated with a lower risk of developing CAD.

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and inflammation, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study aimed to investigate whether p38 MAPK contributes to the pathogenesis of T2DM. 6-week-old female db/db mice were randomly assigned to Dmo and Dmi groups, and C57 mice were assigned as controls. The Dmi group was gavaged with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 for 9 weeks, and the effects on β cell dysfunction and apoptosis were investigated. db/db mice showed higher food intake, body mass, fasting glucose, and plasma insulin levels than C57 mice. After SB203580 administration, blood glucose was significantly lower. HOMA β and HOMA IR were improved. Islet mRNA expression levels of the ERS markers were lower. P38 MAPK inhibition reduced blood glucose and improved β cell function, at least in part by reducing β cell apoptosis.

Aims. Protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) pathway mutations lead to failure of β-cell function. The aim of this article was to assess the association between eIF2α and the risk of glucose metabolism abnormalities. Methods. Two eIF2α SNPs (rs9840992 T>C and rs13072593 A>G) were selected based on CHB data from HapMap, and 1466 unrelated nondiabetes individuals were genotyped. All subjects were examined by the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, and 733 participated in a subsequent insulin release test. Various indicators of insulin resistance and islet β-cell function were examined. Results. There were no significant differences in genotype distribution and allele frequency between the prediabetes and controls. CC genotype carriers at rs9840992 showed higher insulin levels at 120 min after a 75 g glucose load than noncarriers. Also, CC homozygotes had higher ΔI30/ΔG30 and ΔI120/ΔG120 than noncarriers, even after adjusting for insulin resistance. CC homozygotes had greater AUCi values than noncarriers. Subjects aged ≥ 65 yrs, those with a BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 and those carrying the rs9840992 risk allele, had a 2.5-fold higher risk of glucose abnormalities than subjects who had none of these risk factors. Conclusion. The eIF2α polymorphism is associated with islet β-cell function in a Chinese population.