Molecular function of the novel α7β2 nicotinic receptor

The α7 nicotinic receptor is a promising drug target for neurological and inflammatory disorders. Although it is the homomeric member of the family, a novel α7β2 heteromeric receptor has been discovered. To decipher the functional contribution of the β2 subunit, we generated heteromeric receptors with fixed stoichiometry by two different approaches comprising concatenated and unlinked subunits. Receptors containing up to three β2 subunits are functional. As the number of β2 subunits increases in the pentameric arrangement, the durations of channel openings and activation episodes increase progressively probably due to decreased desensitization. The prolonged activation episodes conform the kinetic signature of α7β2 and may have an impact on neuronal excitability. For activation of α7β2 receptors, an α7/α7 binding-site interface is required, thus indicating that the three β2 subunits are located consecutively in the pentameric arrangement. α7-positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) are emerging as novel therapeutic drugs. The presence of β2 in the pentamer affects neither type II PAM potentiation nor activation by an allosteric agonist whereas it impairs type I PAM potentiation. This first single-channel study provides fundamental basis required to decipher the role and function of the novel α7β2 receptor and opens doors to develop selective therapeutic drugs.     

Maternal eating behavior is a major synchronizer of fetal and postnatal peripheral clocks in mice

Most living organisms show circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior. These oscillations are generated by endogenous circadian clocks, present in virtually all cells where they control key biological processes. To study peripheral clocks in vivo, we developed an original model, the Rev-Luc mouse to follow noninvasively and longitudinally Rev-Luc oscillations in peripheral clocks using in vivo bioluminescence imaging. We found in vitro and in vivo a robust diurnal rhythm of Rev-Luc, mainly in liver, intestine, kidney and adipose tissues. We further confirmed in vivo that Rev-Luc peripheral tissues are food-entrainable oscillators, not affected by age or sex. These data strongly support the relevance of the Rev-Luc model for circadian studies, especially to investigate in vivo the establishment and the entrainment of the rhythm throughout ontogenesis. We then showed that Rev-Luc expression develops dynamically and gradually, both in amplitude and in phase, during fetal and postnatal development. We also demonstrate for the first time that the immature peripheral circadian system of offspring in utero is mainly entrained by maternal cues from feeding regimen. The prenatal entrainment will also differentially determine the Rev-Luc expression in pups before weaning underlining the importance of the maternal chrononutrition on the circadian system entrainment of the offspring.     

The expansion of GPCR transactivation-dependent signalling to include serine/threonine kinase receptors represents a new cell signalling frontier

G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling is mediated through transactivation-independent signalling pathways or the transactivation of protein tyrosine kinase receptors and the recently reported activation of the serine/threonine kinase receptors, most notably the transforming growth factor-β receptor family. Since the original observation of GPCR transactivation of protein tyrosine kinase receptors, there has been considerable work on the mechanism of transactivation and several pathways are prominent. These pathways include the “triple membrane bypass” pathway and the generation of reactive oxygen species. The recent recognition of GPCR transactivation of serine/threonine kinase receptors enormously broadens the GPCR signalling paradigm. It may be predicted that the transactivation of serine/threonine kinase receptors would have mechanistic similarities with transactivation of tyrosine kinase pathways; however, initial studies suggest that these two transactivation pathways are mechanistically distinct. Important questions are the relative importance of tyrosine and serine/threonine transactivation pathways, the contribution of transactivation to overall GPCR signalling, mechanisms of transactivation and the range of cell types in which this phenomenon occurs. The ultimate significance of transactivation-dependent signalling remains to be defined but it appears to be prominent and if so will represent a new cell signalling frontier.     

金属间化合物(Mg,Zn)_(12)Ce与(Mg,Zn)_(11)Ce的研究

对300℃时Mg-Zn-Ce系富镁侧化合物的成分特征、结构和相平衡关系进行了研究.结果表明,Mg-Zn-Ce富镁角存在一个Mg12Ce的二元置换固溶体(Mg,Zn)12Ce,还存在一个三元线性化合物(Mg,Zn)11Ce(τ相).(Mg,Zn)12Ce中Zn的范围为0~7.3%(原子分数),其晶体结构为体心四方晶格.三元线性化合物τ相含Zn为8.5%~43.5%(原子分数),其晶体结构为C底心正交晶格.(Mg,Zn)12Ce和τ相均与α(Mg)存在稳定的两相平衡,且在Mg-Zn-Ce系富镁角还存在三相平衡Mg+(Mg,Zn)12Ce+τ.     

以双城市周家镇为例探讨以产业发展带动小城镇建设

发展小城镇是我国的走城市化道路的必然选择,而城市化必须有经济建设为支撑,双城市周家镇被确定为国家级小城镇综合改革试点镇后,就成了双城的经济特区,通过分析双城周家镇的区位优势及产业优势,对周家镇小城镇建设提出几点建议.     

Reconsideration on Homogeneous Quadratic Riemann Boundary Value Problem

The homogeneous quadratic Riemann boundary value problem (1) with Hoelder continuous coefficients for the normal case was considered by the author in 1997. But the solutions obtained there are incomplete. Here its general method of solution is obtained.     

Abrupt climate change：Debate or action

Global abrupt climate changes have been documented by various climate records, including ice cores, ocean sediment cores, lake sediment cores, cave deposits, loess deposits and pollen records. The climate system prefers to be in one of two stable states, i.e. interstadial or stadial conditions, but not in between. The transition between two states has an abrupt character. Abrupt climate changes are, in general, synchronous in the northern hemisphere and tropical regions. The timescale for abrupt climate changes can be as short as a decade. As the impacts may be potentially serious, we need to take actions such as reducing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.     

The Optimal Solution of the Model with Physical and Human Capital Adjustment Costs

We prove that the model with physical and human capital adjustment costs has optimal solution when the production function is increasing return and the structure of vetor fields of the model changes substantially when the prodution function from decreasing return turns to increasing return. And it is shown that the economy is improved when the coefficients of adjustment costs become small.     

星星草种群地上生物量形成规律的数学拟合

在松嫩盐碱草地上，我们对人工种植在碱斑土壤上生长一年、二年、三年、六星星草坪以及野生的天然星星草地中的星星草种群地上生物量的季节动态进行了测定，并进行数学拟合。用Ｌｏｇｉｓｔｉｃ曲线拟合时，抽穗期以前拟合情况较好，但不能很好地拟合星星草种群大生物量后衰老的过程。用一元多次曲线则能很好地拟合星星草种群地上生物量随生育时间的季节动态。     

基于Intranet的煤矿安全信息系统的开发

提出了利用先进的Intranet技术开发煤矿安全信息系统的解决方案 ,并就系统实现的有关方法和技术进行了详细分析和探讨。Intranet以系统的低成本、可扩充性、强适应性、运行的安全可靠性 ,为煤炭企业提供了一条经济实用的信息化道路