Effects of vanadate on the activities of mice glucokinase and hexokinase

This study aimed at acquiring knowledge on the hypoglycemic mechanisms of sodium metavanadate (SMV) showed that the liver glucokinase and muscle hexokinase activities increased rapidly after oral SMV was given, and that the blood glucose level was correlated closely with the activities of the two enzymes but not with the insulin level; which indicated that SMV could improve the altered glucose phosphorylation in diabetic mice independently of stimulating insulin secretion. This was probably one of the mechanisms of hypoglycemic effects of SMV.     

Microperiodic structures: direct writing of three-dimensional webs

Applications are emerging that require the creation of fine-scale structures in three dimensions--examples include scaffolds for tissue engineering, micro-fluidic devices and photonic materials that control light propagation over a range of frequencies. But writing methods such as dip-pen nanolithography and ink-jet printing are either confined to two dimensions or beset by wetting and spreading problems. Here we use concentrated polyelectrolyte inks to write three-dimensional microperiodic structures directly without using masks. Our technique enables us to write arbitrary three-dimensional patterns whose features are nearly two orders of magnitude smaller than those attained with other multilayer printing techniques.     

A new troodontid dinosaur from China with avian-like sleeping posture

Discovering evidence of behaviour in fossilized vertebrates is rare. Even rarer is evidence of behaviour in non-avialan dinosaurs that directly relates to stereotypical behaviour seen in extant birds (avians) and not previously predicted in non-avialan dinosaurs. Here we report the discovery of a new troodontid taxon from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, China. Numerous other three-dimensionally preserved vertebrate fossils have been recovered recently at this locality, including some specimens preserving behavioural information. The new troodontid preserves several features that have been implicated in avialan origins. Notably, the specimen is preserved in the stereotypical sleeping or resting posture found in extant Aves. Evidence of this behaviour outside of the crown group Aves further demonstrates that many bird features occurred early in dinosaurian evolution.     

Lymphocyte egress from thymus and peripheral lymphoid organs is dependent on S1P receptor 1

Adaptive immunity depends on T-cell exit from the thymus and T and B cells travelling between secondary lymphoid organs to survey for antigens. After activation in lymphoid organs, T cells must again return to circulation to reach sites of infection; however, the mechanisms regulating lymphoid organ exit are unknown. An immunosuppressant drug, FTY720, inhibits lymphocyte emigration from lymphoid organs, and phosphorylated FTY720 binds and activates four of the five known sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors. However, the role of S1P receptors in normal immune cell trafficking is unclear. Here we show that in mice whose haematopoietic cells lack a single S1P receptor (S1P1; also known as Edg1) there are no T cells in the periphery because mature T cells are unable to exit the thymus. Although B cells are present in peripheral lymphoid organs, they are severely deficient in blood and lymph. Adoptive cell transfer experiments establish an intrinsic requirement for S1P1 in T and B cells for lymphoid organ egress. Furthermore, S1P1-dependent chemotactic responsiveness is strongly upregulated in T-cell development before exit from the thymus, whereas S1P1 is downregulated during peripheral lymphocyte activation, and this is associated with retention in lymphoid organs. We find that FTY720 treatment downregulates S1P1, creating a temporary pharmacological S1P1-null state in lymphocytes, providing an explanation for the mechanism of FTY720-induced lymphocyte sequestration. These findings establish that S1P1 is essential for lymphocyte recirculation and that it regulates egress from both thymus and peripheral lymphoid organs.     

Carbon isotopic fractionation during photolysis of hexachlorobenzene

The occurrence of carbon isotope fractionation during dechlorination of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) to pentachlorobenzene (penta-CB) has been evaluated under ultraviolet irradiation in a photo-reactor. Stable carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C) of HCB and penta-CB increases from -27.3‰ to 18.8‰ and from -33.9‰ to -19.5‰, respectively. The isotopic fractionation of the reactants and products are described with the Rayleigh model, and the following enrichment factors (ε) are obtained: -14.8‰ for the dechlorination of HCB and 22.7‰ for the dechlorination product (penta-CB). With the initial δ¹³C value of HCB, this enrichment factor can be used to estimate the fraction (f) of HCB remaining by Rayleigh equation. Strong enrichment of δ¹³C in HCB and penta-CB during photochemical dechlorination might serve as a powerful tool to monitor the photolysis process, such information may provide additional evidence to aid in further understanding the biogeochemical processes of these compounds undergoing in the environment.     

CH4 emission and recovery from municipal solid waste in China

Methane (CH4) is an important greenhouse gas and a major environmental pollutant, second only to carbon dioxide (CO2) in its contribution to potential global wanning. In many cases, methane emission from landfills otherwise emitted to the atmosphere can be removed and utilized, or significantly reduced in quantity by using cost-effective management methods. The gas can also be used as a residential, commercial,or industrial fuel. Therefore, emission reduction strategies have the potential to become low cost, or even profitable. The annual growth rate of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) output in China is 6.24% , with the highest levels found in South China, Southwest China and East China. Cities and towns axe developing quickly in these regions. MSW output was only 76.36 Mt in 1991 and increased to 109.82 Mt in 1997, registering an average increase of 43.8% . In China, methane emission from landfills also increased from 5.88 Mt in 1991 to 8.46 Mt in 1997; so the recovery of methane from landfills is a profitable project.     

Shape optimization of plate with static and dynamic constraints via virtual laminated element

The virtual laminated element method(VLEM) can resolve structural shape optimization problems with a new method.According to the characteristics of VLEM,only some characterized layer thickness values need be defined as design variables instead of boundary node coordinates or some other parameters determining the system boundary.One of the important features of this method is that it is not necessary to regenerate the FE(finite element)grid during the optimization process so as to avoid optimization failures resulting from some distortion grid elements.The thickness distribution in thin plate optimization problems in other studies before is of stepped shape.However,in this paper,a continuous thickness distribution can be obtained after optimi-zation using VLEM,and is more reasonable.Furthermore,an approximate reanalysis method named “behavior model technique“ can be used to reduce the amount of structural reanalysis.Sone typical examples are offered to prove the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed method.     

TCD study of hemodynamic changes in PCA response to photic stimulation

OBJECTIVES: During visual stimulation, the elevated metabolism rate will couple with increase of blood flow velocity(BFV) in posterior cerebral artery(PCA). This study with TCD was aimed to investigate whether the coupling might change according to the different vasoneuronal conditions. METHODS: Ninety-nine volunteers including 24 hypertension(HT) patients and 2 patients suffering from both HT and diabetes mellitus (DM) were enrolled in this trial. BFV and pulse indexes(PI) in P2 segments of PCA on both sides were monitored during visual stimulation. RESULTS: In all subjects, Mean BFV increased and PI went down in response to visual stimulation. The percentages of changes (deltaV and deltaP) of both mean BFV and PI were larger in young group( < 55 years old) than in old one(> or = 55 years old). There was significant positive correlation between deltaV and deltaP. Multivariated regression analysis did not show HT and DM, but age related to deltaV(deltaP). We did not find significant difference of deltaV(deltaP) between left and right sides. CONCLUSIONS: Blood flow velocity in PCA P2 segment increased due to decreased cerebrovascular resistance during visual stimulation and the response weakened with aging of the patient.     

Effects of the rare earth ions on bone resorbing function of rabbit mature osteoclasts<Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

The osteoclast plays initiating and vanguard roles in the course of bone remodeling. The resorption and formation of bone is the basic clues of bone remodeling, which results from the mutual dependent functions of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. When the osteoclasts are activated, the bone resorption function is increased. The excess bone resorption leads to osteoporosis, characterized by formation of many hollows, lacunae and tunnels on the bone surface or in depth[1,2]. The differentiation, pro…     

Haem can bind to and inhibit mammalian calcium-dependent Slo1 BK channels

Haem is essential for living organisms, functioning as a crucial element in the redox-sensitive reaction centre in haemproteins. During the biogenesis of these proteins, the haem cofactor is typically incorporated enzymatically into the haem pockets of the apo-haemprotein as the functionally indispensable prosthetic group. A class of ion channel, the large-conductance calcium-dependent Slo1 BK channels, possesses a conserved haem-binding sequence motif. Here we present electrophysiological and structural evidence showing that haem directly regulates cloned human Slo1 channels and wild-type BK channels in rat brain. Both oxidized and reduced haem binds to the hSlo1 channel protein and profoundly inhibits transmembrane K+ currents by decreasing the frequency of channel opening. This direct regulation of the BK channel identifies a previously unknown role of haem as an acute signalling molecule.