Heat stress response of male germ cells

The vast majority of mammalian testes are located outside the body cavity for proper thermoregulation. Heat has an adverse effect on mammalian spermatogenesis and eventually leads to sub- or infertility. Recent studies have provided insights into the molecular response of male germ cells to high temperatures. Here, we review the effects of heat on male germ cells and discuss the mechanisms underlying germ cell loss and impairment. We also discuss the role of translational control in male germ cells as a potential protective mechanism against heat-induced germ cell apoptosis.     

Aspects of gene polymorphisms in cerebral infarction: inflammatory cytokines

During the last decade, a growing corpus of evidence has indicated an important role of inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of cerebral lesion following stroke. Recent data suggest that genetics may in turn contribute to modulating the effects of inflammatory cytokines on cerebral infarction (CI). This paper reviews the physiologic characteristics of major inflammatory cytokines and recent research developments related to cell biology and pathobiology in CI. In particular, this review focuses on the genetic aspects of inflammatory cytokines and their implications in CI.Received 22 June 2004; received after revision 11 November 2004; accepted 16 December 2004     

One Dimensional Nanostructures for Lithium-ion Batteries, Gas Sensors and Optoelectronics Applications

1 Results One dimensional (1D) nanostructures such as nanowires,nanotubes,nanorods and nanoribbons have been extensively investigated for a wide range of applications[1].Here,we present the synthesis,characterization and technological applications of several 1D nanostructures including SnO2 nanowires,CuO nanoribbons,CdSe nanowires and In2O3 nanowires.SnO2 nanowires were synthesized by thermal evaporation combined with a self-catalyzed growth procedure.Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation shows...     

科氏力对高速旋转汽轮机叶片动态特性的影响

采用解析的方法，建立了高速旋转汽轮机叶片中科氏力和科氏动应力的计算模型。该模型克服了以往在叶片动态特性分析时难以考虑科氏力影响的问题，导出了科氏动应力和非稳态气流动应力比值的计算公式以及科氏力和离心力比值的计算公式，并进行了实例分析．计算结果表明，科氏力对叶片轴向振动和扭转振动的固有频率没有影响，对切向振动的影响很小，可以忽略不计；科氏力所产生的动应力不到非稳态气流动应力的1%。     

Coherence of Our Best Scientific Theories

Putnam in Realism in mathematics and Elsewhere, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1975) infers from the success of a scientific theory to its approximate truth and the reference of its key term. Laudan in Philos Sci 49:19–49 (1981) objects that some past theories were successful, and yet their key terms did not refer, so they were not even approximately true. Kitcher in The advancement of science, Oxford University Press, New York (1993) replies that the past theories are approximately true because their working posits are true, although their idle posits are false. In contrast, I argue that successful theories which cohere with each other are approximately true, and that their key terms refer. My position is immune to Laudan’s counterexamples to Putnam’s inference and yields a solution to a problem with Kitcher’s position.     

Production of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding proteins by rat intestinal stromal cells in vitro

To determine if intestinal stromal cells secrete diffusible factors such as insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) capable of regulating epithelial cell growth in vitro, stromal cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion of rat intestine. Incorporation of [³H]thymidine into DNA and [¹⁴C]leucine into protein of IEC-6 cells, a model intestinal epithelial cell line, was significantly increased (two- to threefold) when the IEC-6 cells were co-cultured with stromal cells, relative to IEC-6 cells grown alone. Medium conditioned by stromal cells stimulated DNA synthesis of IEC-6 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of the conditioned medium revealed that intestinal stromal cells secreted IGF-I, but little IGF-II, in addition to an M _r 32,000 IGF-binding protein (IGFBP-2) and an IGFBP having M _r∼ 24,000. We conclude that rat intestinal stromal cells secrete one or more diffusible factors, which may include IGF-I and IGFBPs, capable of stimulating proliferation of IEC-6 cells in vitro. Received 25 August 1997; received after revision 7 November 1997; accepted 20 November 1997