Critical role of extracellular vesicles in modulating the cellular effects of cytokines

Under physiological and pathological conditions, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are present in the extracellular compartment simultaneously with soluble mediators. We hypothesized that cytokine effects may be modulated by EVs, the recently recognized conveyors of intercellular messages. In order to test this hypothesis, human monocyte cells were incubated with CCRF acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line-derived EVs with or without the addition of recombinant human TNF, and global gene expression changes were analyzed. EVs alone regulated the expression of numerous genes related to inflammation and signaling. In combination, the effects of EVs and TNF were additive, antagonistic, or independent. The differential effects of EVs and TNF or their simultaneous presence were also validated by Taqman assays and ELISA, and by testing different populations of purified EVs. In the case of the paramount chemokine IL-8, we were able to demonstrate a synergistic upregulation by purified EVs and TNF. Our data suggest that neglecting the modulating role of EVs on the effects of soluble mediators may skew experimental results. On the other hand, considering the combined effects of cytokines and EVs may prove therapeutically useful by targeting both compartments at the same time.     

基于RSM和FEM的辊锻件长度控制技术

以某钩尾框精密辊锻工艺为研究对象,首次应用响应面法(RSM)和有限元数值模拟法(FEM)对精密辊锻件的长度控制问题进行了研究.首先以满足辊锻件长度和降低轧辊最大扭矩为目标,采用FORGE3有限元软件建立了RSM与FEM相结合的二阶分析模型,研究了轧辊间隙、摩擦因子、轧辊转速和坯料温度对辊锻件的长度和轧辊最大扭矩的显著性和影响规律;其次采用优化后的工艺参数对该辊锻工艺进行了再模拟,提出了辊锻件长度的调试原则,利用该原则和点的反追踪技术对辊锻模具进行了再设计,同时分析了设计、模拟和生产辊锻件的长度和辊锻过程的功率耗散和分布.研究结果表明:应用RSM和FEM可准确有效地掌握精密辊锻件的长度控制技术.     

ML-TEA:一套基于机器学习和技术分析的量化投资算法

量化投资尝试利用计算机算法来预测证券的价格和进行证券的交易,并从中获取超额收益,是系统工程在金融投资领域的重要应用.本文设计了一套基于机器学习和技术指标的量化投资算法ML-TEA(machine learning and technical analysis).该模型以技术指标作为输入变量,再分别通过不同的机器学习算法来预测股票数日之后的涨跌方向,并根据预测的方向来构建投资组合.实证结果显示:第一,三种模型的年化收益率都在25%以上,远超大盘指数的10.60%、买入持有策略的3%以及现有策略.从风险调节绩效(夏普比率、特雷纳比率和詹森绩效)来看,三种策略也都远超基准策略和现有策略.以夏普比率为例,三种策略均在1.50以上,而市场指数的夏普比率为0.38.第二,Ada-TEA和SVM-TEA都可以容忍远高于市场实际成本的交易成本.     

Epigenetics: a link between addiction and social environment

The detrimental effects of drug abuse are apparently not limited to individuals but may also impact the vulnerability of their progenies to develop addictive behaviours. Epigenetic signatures, early life experience and environmental factors, converge to influence gene expression patterns in addiction phenotypes and consequently may serve as mediators of behavioural trait transmission between generations. The majority of studies investigating the role of epigenetics in addiction do not consider the influence of social interactions. This shortcoming in current experimental approaches necessitates developing social models that reflect the addictive behaviour in a free-living social environment. Furthermore, this review also reports on the advancement of interventions for drug addiction and takes into account the emerging roles of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors in the etiology of drug addiction and that HDAC may be a potential therapeutic target at nucleosomal level to improve treatment outcomes.     

Arboreality predicts Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection level in tropical direct-developing frogs

Pathogen-mediated changes in host behaviour can result from hosts altering their habitat preferences. Although infection risk with pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians is associated with environments favouring its growth, the relationship with microhabitat use has not been examined. Here, we aim to determine if microhabitats used by frogs during their nocturnal activity predict B. dendrobatidis prevalence and infection intensity. Our focal host, Eleutherodactylus coqui, is a habitat generalist that uses multiple habitats from the forest floor to the canopy. We analysed data on B. dendrobatidis occurrence in 157 adults and 122 juveniles at El Yunque National forest in Puerto Rico. We categorized each individual’s nocturnal microhabitat as forest floor, curled palm fronds in the floor, arboreal bromeliads and foliage or tree trunks 50 cm to 2.5 m above ground. We found that frogs on the forest floor had the greatest B. dendrobatidis prevalence (73%), compared with those active in vegetation above ground (55%). Overall, the probability of B. dendrobatidis infection in frogs using microhabitats on the forest floor was twice as great as for those on arboreal substrates. Differences in B. dendrobatidis prevalence and intensity in E. coqui may be explained by specific abiotic conditions of microenvironments (temperature and humidity) affecting both pathogen and host, and by the age-specific ecological requirements of hosts. Adults were found to be most active in microhabitats where individuals had lower infection burdens, suggesting pathogen-modulated habitat choice. This work has important implications for the evolutionary dynamics of enzootic diseases and provides data that may inform potential mitigation strategies against a generalist amphibian pathogen.     

何作霖先生最早发现莱芜铁矿是接触变质矿床——读《山东博山莱芜间地质矿产》有感

1949年8月,何作霖受山东省政府工矿部的邀请,在博山莱芜间进行地质调查,查明莱芜有三处铁矿。尤其是莱芜矿山地区的接触变质磁铁矿的发现,为以后寻找和勘探莱芜铁矿提供了可靠线索及依据。同时何作霖还预测了莱芜与吐丝口间煤田的存在。     

Melatonin and mitochondrial function during ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury occurs in many organs and tissues, and contributes to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Melatonin, an endogenously produced indolamine, provides a strong defense against IR injury. Mitochondrion, an organelle for ATP production and a decider for cell fate, has been validated to be a crucial target for melatonin to exert its protection against IR injury. In this review, we first clarify the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial dysfunction during IR and melatonin’s protection of mitochondria under this condition. Thereafter, special focus is placed on the protective actions of melatonin against IR injury in brain, heart, liver, and others. Finally, we explore several potential future directions of research in this area. Collectively, the information compiled here will serve as a comprehensive reference for the actions of melatonin in IR injury identified to date and will hopefully aid in the design of future research and increase the potential of melatonin as a therapeutic agent.     

聚羧酸减水剂对磷酸镁水泥性能的影响

以重烧氧化镁和磷酸二氢铵为主要原料,以硼砂为缓凝剂,加入聚羧酸减水剂(PCE)制备磷酸镁水泥(MPC),研究PCE的加入量对MPC的凝结时间、流动度、强度及软化系数的影响.并采用X射线衍射(XRD)分析MPC体系中的物相组成,利用Topas 6.0软件中的Rietveld方法定量分析MPC物相含量,用场发射扫描电镜(SEM)分析其微观形貌.实验表明,随着PCE加入量的增加,MPC流动度、凝结时间以及早期强度都呈现先上升后下降的趋势.当PCE加入量为4％时,MPC流动度达到248 mm,终凝时间为15 min,1.5 h强度达到36.4 MPa,28 d强度达到108.5 MPa,浸水28d后软化系数为0.91.浸水超过94 d后,MPC强度均明显下降,试样表面析出白色晶体,造成表面层结构疏松,但加入4％PCE的试样内部结构较致密,因此强度损失率较低.