The cross-talk between the urokinase receptor and fMLP receptors regulates the activity of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor

The receptor (CXCR4) for the stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF1) and the urokinase-receptor (uPAR) are up-regulated in various tumors. We show that CXCR4-transfected cells migrate toward SDF1 on collagen (CG) and do not on vitronectin (VN). Co-expression of cell-surface uPAR, which is a VN receptor, impairs SDF1-induced migration on CG and allows migration on VN. Blocking fMLP receptors (fMLP-R), alpha-v integrins or the uPAR region capable to interact with fMLP-Rs, impairs migration of uPAR/CXCR4-transfected cells on VN and restores their migration on CG. uPAR co-expression also reduces the adherence of CXCR4-expressing cells to various components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and influences the partitioning of beta1 and alpha-v integrins to membrane lipid-rafts, affecting ECM-dependent signaling. uPAR interference in CXCR4 activity has been confirmed in cells from prostate carcinoma. Our results demonstrate that uPAR expression regulates the adhesive and migratory ability of CXCR4-expressing cells through a mechanism involving fMLP receptors and alpha-v integrins.     

Highly reactive oxygen species: detection, formation, and possible functions

The so-called reactive oxygen species (ROS) are defined as oxygen-containing species that are more reactive than O(2) itself, which include hydrogen peroxide and superoxide. Although these are quite stable, they may be converted in the presence of transition metal ions, such as Fe(II), to the highly reactive oxygen species (hROS). hROS may exist as free hydroxyl radicals (HO·), as bound ("crypto") radicals or as Fe(IV)-oxo (ferryl) species and the somewhat less reactive, non-radical species, singlet oxygen. This review outlines the processes by which hROS may be formed, their damaging potential, and the evidence that they might have signaling functions. Since our understanding of the formation and actions of hROS depends on reliable procedures for their detection, particular attention is given to procedures for hROS detection and quantitation and their applicability to in vivo studies.     

Novel macrophage polarization model: from gene expression to identification of new anti-inflammatory molecules

Plasticity is a well-known property of macrophages that is controlled by different changes in environmental signals. Macrophage polarization is regarded as a spectrum of activation phenotypes adjusted from one activation extreme, the classic (M1), to the other, the alternative (M2) activation. Here we show, in vitro and in vivo, that both M1 and M2 macrophage phenotypes are tightly coupled to specific patterns of gene expression. Novel M2-associated markers were characterized and identified as genes controlling the extracellular metabolism of ATP to generate pyrophosphates (PPi). Stimulation of M1 macrophages with PPi dampens both NLR and TLR signaling and thus mediates cytokine production. In this context extracellular PPi enhanced the resolution phase of a murine peritonitis model via a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Therefore, our study reveals an additional level of plasticity modulating the resolution of inflammation.     

Studies on induction hardening of powder-metallurgy-processed Fe-Cr/Mo alloys

Induction hardening of dense Fe-Cr/Mo alloys processed via the powder-metallurgy route was studied. The Fe-3Cr-0.5Mo, Fe-1.5Cr-0.2Mo, and Fe-0.85Mo pre-alloyed powders were mixed with 0.4wt%, 0.6wt%, and 0.8wt% C and compacted at 500, 600, and 700 MPa, respectively. The compacts were sintered at 1473 K for 1 h and then cooled at 6 K/min. Ferrite with pearlite was mostly observed in the sintered alloys with 0.4wt% C, whereas a carbide network was also present in the alloys with 0.8wt% C. Graphite at prior particle boundaries led to deterioration of the mechanical properties of alloys with 0.8wt% C, whereas no significant induction hardening was achieved in alloys with 0.4wt% C. Among the investigated samples, alloys with 0.6wt% C exhibited the highest strength and ductility and were found to be suitable for induction hardening. The hardening was carried out at a frequency of 2.0 kHz for 2-3 s. A case depth of 2.5 mm was achieved while maintaining the bulk (interior) hardness of approximately HV 230. A martensitic structure was observed on the outer periphery of the samples. The hardness varied from HV 600 to HV 375 from the sample surface to the interior of the case hardened region. The best combination of properties and hardening depth was achieved in case of the Fe-1.5Cr-0.2Mo alloy with 0.6wt% C.     

A New Adaptive Formant Vocoder

A new type of vocoder system based upon formant analysis is presented in this paper. The LMS adaptive algorithm is used for tracking formants of speech signals. The results of computer simulation show that the new vocoder has better synthesized speech quality.     

未来的计算机的体系结构

自从1981年10月在东京的国际会议上日本发表第五代计算机规划以来,在计算机科学界渐渐承认冯·诺依曼式计算机的地位将变得愈来愈不重要。计算从顺序而集中转向并行而分布,此时大量的系统必须在一起工作,这将要求有新一代的通用计算机。     

On the Parsimony of Some Model-Selection Criteria in Econometric Modeling

ＯｎｔｈｅＰａｒｓｉｍｏｎｙｏｆＳｏｍｅＭｏｄｅｌ－ＳｅｌｅｃｔｉｏｎＣｒｉｔｅｒｉａｉｎＥｃｏｎｏｍｅｔｒｉｃＭｏｄｅｌｉｎｇＺＨＡＮＧＷｅｉ；ＬＩＵＢａｏ（ＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＳｙｓｔｅｍＥｎｇｉｎｅｅｒｉｎｇ（ＩＳＥ），ＴｉａｎｊｉｎＵｎｉｖ...     

Precedent Order on Economic Sectors of Qingchuan County

ＰｒｅｃｅｄｅｎｔＯｒｄｅｒｏｎＥｃｏｎｏｍｉｃＳｅｃｔｏｒｓｏｆＱｉｎｇｃｈｕａｎＣｏｕｎｔｙＬＩＵＧｕａｎｇｚｈｏｎｇ；ＸＵＪｉｕｐｉｎｇ；ＨＥＣｈａｎｇｚｈｅｎｇ（Ｄｅｐｔ．ｏｆＡｐｐｌｉｅｄＭａｔｈｅｍａｔｉｃｓ，ＣｈｅｎｇｄｕＵｎｉｖｅｒｓ...     

用海水浇灌农作物

随着世界人口的增长和淡水资源的日趋珍贵,研究人员正把眼光投向大海,他们要用海水浇灌某些经挑选的植物。当前全球最紧迫的问题之一就是要找到足够的水和土地来满足全球性食品需求。据联合国粮农组织估计,在今后的30年内需要20亿公顷（约合49．42亿英亩）的新耕地─—面积相当于亚利桑那、新墨西哥、犹他、科罗拉多、爱达荷、怀俄明以及蒙大拿诸州的总和──才能满足热带和亚热带地区迅速增长的人口的食品需求、可是在这些地带的国家中可供农业拓展的土地只有9亿3千万公顷──而且其中很大一部分被森林覆盖,是应保护之地。显然,我们需…     

能源的研究与开发

能源是发展经济的重要支柱之一,因而能源的研究和开发,成了各国科技政策的一个重点。本组文章着重介绍了能源形势,能源研究计划和重点,绿色能源的发展,太阳能利用方法及其理论,以及分布广泛的碳氢化合物新能源——气水化合物。我们确信,虽然耗能量在不断增加,但依靠科学技术的力量,世界也不会产生能源危机。