Biotechnology: surrogate broodstock produces salmonids

A worldwide decline in the number of wild salmonids calls for strategies to restore endangered populations. Here we show that germ cells can be transplanted between two different salmonid species, with the subsequent production of xenogenic, donor-derived offspring. This pioneering xenotransplantation technology may eventually find applications in facilitating the production of commercially valuable fish, as well as in species conservation.     

Cloning of adiponectin receptors that mediate antidiabetic metabolic effects

Adiponectin (also known as 30-kDa adipocyte complement-related protein; Acrp30) is a hormone secreted by adipocytes that acts as an antidiabetic and anti-atherogenic adipokine. Levels of adiponectin in the blood are decreased under conditions of obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Administration of adiponectin causes glucose-lowering effects and ameliorates insulin resistance in mice. Conversely, adiponectin-deficient mice exhibit insulin resistance and diabetes. This insulin-sensitizing effect of adiponectin seems to be mediated by an increase in fatty-acid oxidation through activation of AMP kinase and PPAR-alpha. Here we report the cloning of complementary DNAs encoding adiponectin receptors 1 and 2 (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) by expression cloning. AdipoR1 is abundantly expressed in skeletal muscle, whereas AdipoR2 is predominantly expressed in the liver. These two adiponectin receptors are predicted to contain seven transmembrane domains, but to be structurally and functionally distinct from G-protein-coupled receptors. Expression of AdipoR1/R2 or suppression of AdipoR1/R2 expression by small-interfering RNA supports our conclusion that they serve as receptors for globular and full-length adiponectin, and that they mediate increased AMP kinase and PPAR-alpha ligand activities, as well as fatty-acid oxidation and glucose uptake by adiponectin.     

科尔沁沙地灌丛改造的工程措施及效果

为了发挥沙生灌木防风固沙和改善生态环境的更大的作用,采用了围封、平茬和补植等工程措施对沙生灌木进行了改造,其改造结果表明:围封2.5年后,所有灌木植物的地上生物量、平均株高和基径均有明显增加,以小黄柳(salix gordejevii)增长最大,围封是未围封的4倍;平茬当年生长量非常明显,地上生物量接近或超过未平茬的植株,未平茬的年生长高度均小于平茬;直播、植苗和扦插是增加灌木分布和覆盖面积的较好的方法,补植2～3年后,随着草本植物的入侵,沙面开始稳定.经过改造,可以增加植物覆盖度,提高灌木和草本生长量,达到改善生态环境的效果.     

Study on Preventive Software Rejuvenation Policy for Two Kinds of Bugs

A new preventive software rejuvenation policy is proposed in this paper. This technique is implemented when additive consumption of physical memory has reached some level. Using the theory of cumulative damage process, two models are given for two kinds of bugs. For the first model, aging-related bug is considered only and consumption of physical memory could be known by tests made at periodic times, optimal preventive rejuvenation policy is analytically derived and numerical example is given. As an extended preventive software rejuvenation policy, Heisenbug and aging-related bug are considered meanwhile in the second model.     

Meta-analysis identifies multiple loci associated with kidney function-related traits in east Asian populations

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), impairment of kidney function, is a serious public health problem, and the assessment of genetic factors influencing kidney function has substantial clinical relevance. Here, we report a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for kidney function-related traits, including 71,149 east Asian individuals from 18 studies in 11 population-, hospital- or family-based cohorts, conducted as part of the Asian Genetic Epidemiology Network (AGEN). Our meta-analysis identified 17 loci newly associated with kidney function-related traits, including the concentrations of blood urea nitrogen, uric acid and serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate based on serum creatinine levels (eGFRcrea) (P < 5.0 × 10(-8)). We further examined these loci with in silico replication in individuals of European ancestry from the KidneyGen, CKDGen and GUGC consortia, including a combined total of ～110,347 individuals. We identify pleiotropic associations among these loci with kidney function-related traits and risk of CKD. These findings provide new insights into the genetics of kidney function.     

CD38 is critical for social behaviour by regulating oxytocin secretion

CD38, a transmembrane glycoprotein with ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity, catalyses the formation of Ca2+ signalling molecules, but its role in the neuroendocrine system is unknown. Here we show that adult CD38 knockout (CD38-/-) female and male mice show marked defects in maternal nurturing and social behaviour, respectively, with higher locomotor activity. Consistently, the plasma level of oxytocin (OT), but not vasopressin, was strongly decreased in CD38-/- mice. Replacement of OT by subcutaneous injection or lentiviral-vector-mediated delivery of human CD38 in the hypothalamus rescued social memory and maternal care in CD38-/- mice. Depolarization-induced OT secretion and Ca2+ elevation in oxytocinergic neurohypophysial axon terminals were disrupted in CD38-/- mice; this was mimicked by CD38 metabolite antagonists in CD38+/+ mice. These results reveal that CD38 has a key role in neuropeptide release, thereby critically regulating maternal and social behaviours, and may be an element in neurodevelopmental disorders.     

High Speed Twin Roll Casting of Aluminum Alloy Strips

The twin roll caster for aluminum alloys has many a dv antages. For example, rapid solidification, low equipment cost, and low running cost, etc. However, the twin roll caster has some disadvantages. They are slow c asting speed and limitation of alloys. In the conventional twin roll caster, the casting speed is slower than 10 m/min. Aluminum alloys, which freezing range is wide, can not be cast. In the present study, break through of these problems wa s tried, and a new type twin roll caster was devised...     

Exploitation of shape memory alloy actuator using resistance feedback control and its development

The relationship between phase transformation and electric re sistivity of Ti-42.6Ni-7Cu SMA was investigated. In the isothermal tensile tests, stress—strain curve shows large hysteresis and nonlinearity, whereas the resistivity—strain curve can be fitted by linearity. The resistivity of SMAs can be determined from the volume fractions of the martensitic and austenitic phas es. This characteristics leads to that the resistance of the SMAs is used as a parameter of strain of SMAs. A SMA actuator using resistance feedback control system was proposed, which can control and retain positioning at any positions without using sensor devices, and the deviation of position of this system was less than 3 μm.     

Light-induced conversion of an insulating refractory oxide into a persistent electronic conductor

Materials that are good electrical conductors are not in general optically transparent, yet a combination of high conductivity and transparency is desirable for many emerging opto-electronic applications. To this end, various transparent oxides composed of transition or post-transition metals (such as indium tin oxide) are rendered electrically conducting by ion doping. But such an approach does not work for the abundant transparent oxides of the main-group metals. Here we demonstrate a process by which the transparent insulating oxide 12CaO x 7Al(2)O(3) (refs 7-13) can be converted into an electrical conductor. H(-) ions are incorporated into the subnanometre-sized cages of the oxide by a thermal treatment in a hydrogen atmosphere; subsequent irradiation of the material with ultraviolet light results in a conductive state that persists after irradiation ceases. The photo-activated material exhibits moderate electrical conductivity (approximately 0.3 S cm(-1)) at room temperature, with visible light absorption losses of only one per cent for 200-nm-thick films. We suggest that this concept can be applied to other main-group metal oxides, for the direct optical writing of conducting wires in insulating transparent media and the formation of a high-density optical memory.