The pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis

Cardiac fibrosis is characterized by net accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in the cardiac interstitium, and contributes to both systolic and diastolic dysfunction in many cardiac pathophysiologic conditions. This review discusses the cellular effectors and molecular pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis. Although activated myofibroblasts are the main effector cells in the fibrotic heart, monocytes/macrophages, lymphocytes, mast cells, vascular cells and cardiomyocytes may also contribute to the fibrotic response by secreting key fibrogenic mediators. Inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, reactive oxygen species, mast cell-derived proteases, endothelin-1, the renin/angiotensin/aldosterone system, matricellular proteins, and growth factors (such as TGF-β and PDGF) are some of the best-studied mediators implicated in cardiac fibrosis. Both experimental and clinical evidence suggests that cardiac fibrotic alterations may be reversible. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for initiation, progression, and resolution of cardiac fibrosis is crucial to design anti-fibrotic treatment strategies for patients with heart disease.     

Identification of low-frequency variants associated with gout and serum uric acid levels

We tested 16 million SNPs, identified through whole-genome sequencing of 457 Icelanders, for association with gout and serum uric acid levels. Genotypes were imputed into 41,675 chip-genotyped Icelanders and their relatives, for effective sample sizes of 968 individuals with gout and 15,506 individuals for whom serum uric acid measurements were available. We identified a low-frequency missense variant (c.1580C>G) in ALDH16A1 associated with gout (OR = 3.12, P = 1.5 × 10(-16), at-risk allele frequency = 0.019) and serum uric acid levels (effect = 0.36 s.d., P = 4.5 × 10(-21)). We confirmed the association with gout by performing Sanger sequencing on 6,017 Icelanders. The association with gout was stronger in males relative to females. We also found a second variant on chromosome 1 associated with gout (OR = 1.92, P = 0.046, at-risk allele frequency = 0.986) and serum uric acid levels (effect = 0.48 s.d., P = 4.5 × 10(-16)). This variant is close to a common variant previously associated with serum uric acid levels. This work illustrates how whole-genome sequencing data allow the detection of associations between low-frequency variants and complex traits.     

英语转移否定句的理解与翻译

在翻译中,英语的否定结构是一个常见的语言现象.由于英汉两种语言在表达方法上存在很大差异,尤其在表达否定概念上,英语在用词、语法和逻辑等方面与汉语都有很大不同.如何将英语否定句的确切含义准确地用汉语表达出来,是一个较为复杂的事.本文就英语转移否定句的理解与翻译从3个方面进行了探讨.     

切削用量对刀具耐用度影响的探讨

简述了切削用量对刀具耐用度的影响程度,叙述了在零件加工过程中合理的选取切削用量和合适的刀具耐用度,对于提高机械加工的效率有很大的作用.     

氧化镍掺杂酚醛树脂热解炭的结构及抗氧化性研究

在酚醛树脂中直接掺杂三氧化镍粉末,研究氧化镍掺杂量、炭化温度对氧化镍改性树脂热解炭结构和氧化温度的影响。用X射线衍射、拉曼光谱、扫描电镜和综合热分析等手段对氧化镍改性树脂热解炭的石墨化度、显微结构及氧化温度进行表征。结果表明,埋炭条件下掺杂三氧化二镍,450～750℃温度下被逐级还原成一氧化镍和单质镍,其催化热解炭形成晶须、片状或块状结构;氧化镍改性树脂热解炭石墨化度随炭化温度升高和氧化镍掺杂量增加而增高,其氧化温度高于酚醛树脂氧化温度;氧化镍的最佳掺杂量为3%～5%。     

Effect of protein molecules on the photoluminescence properties and stability of water-soluble CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots

The fact that the photoluminescence properties of quantum dots are always strongly influenced by the environment limits the scope of further progress in the field of QD’ bio-applications. In this paper, the effects of immunoglobulin G (IgG) on the photo-luminescence properties and stability of water-soluble CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots coated with amphiphilic poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) are studied. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra, UV-vis spectra and excited state lifetime measurements are used to characterize the influence of different protein molecules, such as IgG (goat anti-human IgG, rabbit anti-human IgG, human IgG, and goat anti-human IgG-human IgG conjugates), avidin and bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the PL properties of QDs. The PL intensity and stability of CdSe/ZnS are largely enhanced compared to that of pure CdSe/ZnS QDs when the IgG molecules are added into the QD solution. The PL intensity increases with increasing the IgG concentration, but there appears no influence on the PL peak and a full width at half maximum (FWHM). The PL evolution of QDs as a function of different protein molecules depends on the structure of protein molecules, which is used as a sensor to recognize human IgG. It is inferred that the interaction between PAA coating layer and IgG molecules results in the enhancement of PL intensity. The study of the effect of pH and ion strength on optical properties of QD-IgG mixed solution, compared with the pure QD solution, suggests that pH value and ion strength do not destroy the interaction between the PAA coating layer and IgG. Excited state lifetime analysis indicates that the PL enhancement comes from the passivation of surface of the QDs with the PAA coating layer. IgG molecules have no effects on the properties of the biological system but can increase the stability and PL intensity of CdSe/ZnS QDs, which will enlarge the application of QDs in biomedicine and other fields.     

一类商品价格供需系统的稳定性分析

运用动力系统稳定性理论,建立了一类具有时滞脉冲的商品价格供需系统,讨论了一类商品价格供需系统的稳定性问题.给出了系统在时滞脉冲下零解渐近稳定的条件,分析系统参数、脉冲和时滞量之间的相对关系对系统的影响,发现在一定条件下商品市场的价格调节机制是可行的,能够保证市场商品价格的稳定,但价格这种调节机制是有限的,一旦超出这个范围,就会出现市场商品价格的不稳定.最后进行数值仿真,验证了时滞脉冲稳定的有效性,并给出了经济学解释.     

无界绝对正则序列强律的收敛速度

本文进一步讨论了无界绝对正则序列(未必平稳)的Marcinkiewicz-Zygmund强律的收敛速度。在对随机变量的矩与相对系数给出一定的限制后,得到了与[2]中主要结果相应的结论。     

吖啶橙荧光染色法在遗传毒理学中的应用

本文用吖啶橙(Acridine orange)荧光染色法进行了遗传毒理的研究,并取得了较好的效果。实验内容包括:(1)中国仓鼠体外培养细胞的姐妹染色单体交换试验;(2)中国仓鼠活体中姐妹染色单体交换试验;(3)小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞微核试验;(4)孕鼠骨髓与胎鼠肝血微核试验。与Giemsa染色法相比,吖啶橙荧光染色法有染色特异性强、色泽鲜艳、重复性强、实验结果可靠等优点.