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.     

Dynamic Model Averaging and CPI Inflation Forecasts: A Comparison between the Euro Area and the United States

The paper forecasts consumer price inflation in the euro area (EA) and in the USA between 1980:Q1 and 2012:Q4 based on a large set of predictors, with dynamic model averaging (DMA) and dynamic model selection (DMS). DMA/DMS allows not solely for coefficients to change over time, but also for changes in the entire forecasting model over time. DMA/DMS provides on average the best inflation forecasts with regard to alternative approaches (such as the random walk). DMS outperforms DMA. These results are robust for different sample periods and for various forecast horizons. The paper highlights common features between the USA and the EA. First, two groups of predictors forecast inflation: temporary fundamentals that have a frequent impact on inflation but only for short time periods; and persistent fundamentals whose switches are less frequent over time. Second, the importance of some variables (particularly international food commodity prices, house prices and oil prices) as predictors for consumer price index inflation increases when such variables experience large shocks. The paper also shows that significant differences prevail in the forecasting models between the USA and the EA. Such differences can be explained by the structure of these respective economies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intra-brain microinjection of human mesenchymal stem cells decreases allodynia in neuropathic mice

Neuropathic pain is a very complex disease, involving several molecular pathways. Current available drugs are usually not acting on the several mechanisms underlying the generation and propagation of pain. We used spared nerve injury model of neuropathic pain to assess the possible use of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) as anti-neuropathic tool. Human MSCs were transplanted in the mouse lateral cerebral ventricle. Stem cells injection was performed 4 days after sciatic nerve surgery. Neuropathic mice were monitored 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21 days after surgery. hMSCs were able to reduce pain-like behaviors, such as mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, once transplanted in cerebral ventricle. Anti-nociceptive effect was detectable from day 10 after surgery (6 days post cell injection). Human MSCs reduced the mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory interleukin IL-1β mouse gene, as well as the neural β-galactosidase over-activation in prefrontal cortex of SNI mice. Transplanted hMSCs were able to reduce astrocytic and microglial cell activation.     

TiC对原位自生钛基复合材料高温变形的影响

通过等温热压模拟试验研究了原位自生5% TiC(体积分数,下同)颗粒增强Ti-1100复合材料在1000~1150℃的热变形行为.在不同的温度区间内计算了原位自生5%TiC/Ti-1100复合材料的塑性变形激活能.结果发现,TiC颗粒对钛基材料的热变形行为有明显影响.复合材料的塑性变形激活能在不同的温度区间内变化.在1000℃,复合材料的表观塑性变形激活能为536 kJ/mol,显著高于纯钛合金的激活能;在1150℃,计算出的复合材料表观塑性变形激活能为245.2 kJ/mol,略大于纯钛合金的激活能.变形激活能的显著差别显示复合材料的变形机制发生了变化.在此温度区间内,TiC/Ti复合材料的变形机制受到TiC颗粒以及基体中α/β相比例的影响.     

固液流化床中不同粒径粒子群的滑流速度

在稳定的流动状态下,实验考察了铅直管内粒径不同的两组分粒子群的滑流速度,并与每一组分单独存在时的值进行了对比.相对于单组分时的滑流速度,两组分场合的每一组分的滑流速度都会发生偏离并相互接近,偏离的程度受两个粒子群的粒径比、浓度比以及总粒子浓度的影响.通过对两个粒子群之间的相互影响因素的定量分析,以单成分的空隙方程式为基础,建立了在多种操作条件下直接计算滑流速度的模型.     

商业建筑单体消防指标智能化计算研究

为了实现商业建筑消防的快速化设计,提高设计人员的工作效率,文章介绍了通过对Auto CAD二次开发,将商业建筑的施工图进行模型简化.通过对简化后的建筑施工图平面消防相关信息的提取与赋值后,结合消防设计防火规范相关规定,对建筑消防设计中的重要数值进行智能化计算,在经模型验证后发现智能化计算结果满足设计需求和国家规范规定....     

H5亚型禽流感病毒HA基因昆虫/杆状病毒系统的表达及对BALB/c小鼠的免疫保护

经RT-PCR扩增了禽流感病毒A/Goose/Guangdong/1／96 H5N1亚型1．7kb HA基因的cDNA,将其克隆到pMD18-T中并测序。亚克隆到杆状病毒转移载体pMelBacA的蜜蜂蜂毒素分泌信号下游中,测序正确后与线性化的杆状病毒DNA(Bac-N-BlueTM DNA)共转染Sf9昆虫细胞。将重组杆状病毒感染HFive细胞,72h左右收获细胞,超声波裂解,SDS—PAGE结果表明HA基因在重组杆状病毒感染的HFive细胞中获得表达。蛋白胶薄层扫描分析显示:表达的HA蛋白占重组杆状病毒感染细胞总蛋白含量的17．1％。Western-blot 及血凝实验结果显示,表达的禽流感H5N1亚型病毒HA蛋白具有生物学活性。表达的H5 HA蛋白定量乳化后,皮下多点注射免疫SPF 级BALB/c雌性小鼠,免疫后产生了H5 HA特异抗体,并在三免前后达到并保持较高水平。用致死剂量的HPAIV H5N1攻击小鼠,免疫组小鼠提供了100％的保护力,而对照组小鼠先后发病且死亡:为研制禽流感H5N1亚型病毒亚单位疫苗,防制禽流感奠定了基础。     

企业员工职业生涯停滞原因的实证研究

职业生涯停滞问题是职业发展的一个重要方面,由其所引发的一系列问题必须予以高度重视。通过对某机械行业企业员工开展问卷调查的实证方式,运用统计软件SPSS对数据进行科学的统计与分析,证实了造成职业生涯停滞的六大因素,并进一步探讨了这六大因素之间的相互作用关系。通过本次研究能够了解造成职业生涯停滞的成因,从而帮助企业和个人防范于未然,避免职业停滞现象的发生。