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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2009.12.044 Byline: Yichun Shuai (1), Binyan Lu (1), Ying Hu (1), Lianzhang Wang (1), Kan Sun (1), Yi Zhong (1)(2) Keywords: MOLNEURO Abstract: Initially acquired memory dissipates rapidly if not consolidated. Such memory decay is thought to result either from the inherently labile nature of newly acquired memories or from interference by subsequently attained information. Here we report that a small G protein Rac-dependent forgetting mechanism contributes to both passive memory decay and interference-induced forgetting in Drosophila. Inhibition of Rac activity leads to slower decay of early memory, extending it from a few hours to more than one day, and to blockade of interference-induced forgetting. Conversely, elevated Rac activity in mushroom body neurons accelerates memory decay. This forgetting mechanism does not affect memory acquisition and is independent of Rutabaga adenylyl cyclase-mediated memory formation mechanisms. Endogenous Rac activation is evoked on different time scales during gradual memory loss in passive decay and during acute memory removal in reversal learning. We suggest that Rac's role in actin cytoskeleton remodeling may contribute to memory erasure. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China (2) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA Article History: Received 3 July 2009; Revised 6 November 2009; Accepted 22 December 2009 Article Note: (miscellaneous) Published: February 18, 2010

• We evaluated the burden associated with nonfatal slip, trip, and fall incidents. • The focus of the work was surface stone, sand, and gravel mines in the U.S. • The incidence rate was 62 per 10,000 full-time equivalent employees per year. • Incidents led to approximately 23,800 total days lost per year. • The estimated cost of the incidents was approximately $17.5 million per year. • In addition, assessed violations cost the industry approximately $3 million per year. Slips, trips, and falls (STFs) pose a significant financial burden to employers and account for over 33% of the total nonfatal workers' compensation cost in the United States. Previous analyses documenting the burden of STF incidents in the mining industry have focused on occupational fatalities or STFs during equipment ingress, egress. There is limited information on the burden of nonfatal STF incidents in the mining industry and most of it is outdated. Hence, to increase awareness and highlight the importance of STFs in the mining industry, this analysis documents the burden associated with nonfatal STF incidents at surface stone, sand, and gravel (SSG) mines from 2008 through 2017. In this time frame, nonfatal STF incidents occurred at a rate of 62 per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees per year. Pits had a higher prevalence of injuries, but plants had a higher incidence rate. In addition, nonfatal STF incidents at surface SSG mines led to approximately 23,800 total days lost per year with an estimated cost to the mining industry of $17.5 million per year. Assessed violations that are not related to reported injuries but are related to STF hazards identified during Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspections cost the mining industry approximately $3 million per year from 2013 through 2017. Based on the data analyzed in this study, falls to the lower level pose a higher burden in terms of cost; however, falls to the same level have a higher number of incidents and incidence rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of visceral fat accumulation on the renal damage have drawn much attention. We aimed to investigate the possible relationship between visceral adiposity and albuminuria. We included information from a population-based study in 9473 subjects aged 40 years or older. As a novel and valid indicator for visceral adipose function, visceral adiposity index (VAI) was determined by gender-specific equations and calculated using simple anthropometric and functional parameters. Increased urinary albumin excretion was defined as albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) 30 mg/g or greater. The prevalence rate of increased urinary albumin excretion was 6.6% in this population and gradually increased across VAI quartiles. Participants with higher VAI had elevated age, blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting insulin and decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) level. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of increased urinary albumin excretion for increasing VAI quartiles were 1.00 (reference), 1.29 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.94–1.76), 1.46 (95% CI 1.08–1.97) and 1.79 (95% CI 1.33–2.41). In subgroup analysis and after multiple adjustments, significant relation between VAI level and prevalent increased urinary albumin excretion was detected in women, younger subjects, non-obesity subjects, those without diabetes and those with eGFR ≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Visceral fat accumulation evaluating by VAI is independently associated with increased urinary albumin excretion in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The effects of obesity on the micro vascular diseases have drawn much attention. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between obesity measures and albuminuria in Chinese population. Methods We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in 8600 subjects aged 40 years or older from a community in Guangzhou. Urinary albumin excretion and creatinine were measured and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) was calculated as urinary albumin divided by creatinine. Low-grade albuminuria was classified as the highest quartile of ACR in participants without increased urinary albumin excretion. Increased urinary albumin excretion was defined according to the ACR ranges greater or equal than 30 mg/g. Results Pearson’s correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and body fat content were significantly correlated with ACR (all P < 0.01). Prevalence of low-grade albuminuria and increased urinary albumin excretion gradually increased across the BMI, waist circumference and body fat content quartiles (all P for trend < 0.0001). Compared with participants in quartile 1 of BMI, waist circumference and body fat content, participants in quartile 4 had increased prevalence of low-grade albuminuria and increased urinary albumin excretion in logistic regression analysis after adjustment for age, sex, physical activity, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and HbA1c (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Obesity measures are associated with urinary albumin excretion in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A self-powered wireless through-wall communication system for nuclear waste storage. • The thermoelectric generator could withstand 124 MRads and provide enough power. • Sensing and communication electronics were implemented using JFETs under 2 Mrad. • The through-wall ultrasound data transmission system survived 101 MRads. • The integrated system could work appropriately under 195 ℃ before electronics died. Many nuclear facilities, such as spent fuel storage dry casks and nuclear reactor pressure vessels, are entirely sealed by metal layers to prevent harmful radiation. For safety and security operations, the temperature, pressure, radiation, and humidity inside the vessel needs to be closely monitored. However, no practical technology is currently available to realize the through-wall data communication and monitoring for these vessels due to the inside harsh environment of high temperature and nuclear radiation. In this paper, an innovative self-powered wireless through-wall data communication system for the nuclear environment is presented, which demonstrates a successful solution to such challenges. The presented system is composed of four modules, i.e., energy harvester with power management circuits, ultrasound wireless communication using high-temperature piezoelectric transducers, electronic circuits for sensing and data transmission, and radiation shielding for electronics. Constitutive functions of each module were firstly designed and followed by the system integration. Experiments were conducted subsequently to validate the designed functions and evaluate the performance of the integrated system. Results showed that the average power of over 40 mW was harvested from the thermal flow inside the nuclear spent fuel canisters which could provide enough energy to operate the sensing and data communication systems. The gamma radiation test results showed that the thermoelectric energy harvester and ultrasound transceivers can withstand radiation dosing over 100 Mrad. Furthermore, temperature shock tests demonstrated that the entire system including the shielded electronics can survive and maintain their functionalities at temperatures as high as 195℃. Under the in-lab mocked-up high temperature conditions and radiation shielding, the proposed system is foreseen to survive and operate stably for fifty years inside a nuclear spent fuel canister, and send the frequency modulated data out of the canister for 3 s in every 10 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Our objective was to evaluate the association between habitual daytime napping and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Materials and Methods We conducted a population-based study of 8,547 subjects aged 40 years or older. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to a harmonized definition from a joint statement and the recommended thresholds for the Chinese population. Information about sleep duration was self-reported. Results The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the no daytime napping group, the 0 to 1 hour daytime napping group and the more than 1 hour daytime napping group were 35.0%, 36.0% and 44.5% among the females (P < 0.0001). Increased daytime napping hours were positively associated with parameters of metabolic syndrome in the female subjects, including waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides and fasting plasma glucose (P < 0.05 for all). Multivariate adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that, compared to the no habitual daytime napping females, napping for more than 1 hour was independently associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval, 1.13–1.72). Compared to the female subjects in the no daytime napping group, those habitually napped for more than 1 hour exhibited 46% and 26% increases in the prevalence of central obesity and hypertriglyceridemia (all P < 0.05). No statistically significant associations were detected between daytime napping hours and metabolic syndrome among the male subjects. Conclusion Daytime napping is associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged non-obese Chinese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background & aims: Epidemiological evidence suggests that alcohol consumption is related to the incidence and development of metabolic syndrome. However, data on this issue are unstable and controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to provide a quantitative assessment of the association between alcohol intake and risk of metabolic syndrome. Methods: We searched the Pubmed and Embase databases up to May 2013 to identify prospective cohort studies related to alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome. Summary effect estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were derived using a fixed or random effects model, depending on the heterogeneity of the included studies. Results: Six prospective studies involving 28,862 participants with 3305 cases of metabolic syndrome were included in the meta-analysis. On the basis of the Newcastle Ottawa Scale system, 83.3% of the studies were identified as relatively high-quality. In our primary analysis, compared with nondrinker, very light drinker was associated with decreased risk of metabolic syndrome [pooled relative risk (RR) 0.86, 95% CI: 0.75–0.99, fixed-effect model] while heavy drinker was associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome (pooled RR 1.84, 95% CI: 1.34–2.52, fixed-effect model). No indications of heterogeneity and publication bias were found in these two groups. Estimates of total effects were generally consistent in the sensitivity and stratification analyses. Conclusion: The present meta-analysis of prospective studies suggested that heavy alcohol consumption might be associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome while very light alcohol consumption seemed to be associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Background & aims: Evidence has suggested that low serum potassium concentration or low dietary potassium intake can result in many metabolic disorders. Our objective was to evaluate the association between serum potassium level and risk of prevalent metabolic syndrome. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 10,341 participants aged 40 years or older. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program with modification. Results: The prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome was 51.7% in participants with hypokalemia and 37.7% in those with normokalemia. With the reduction of serum potassium quartiles, participants were tended to have higher level of triglycerides and uric acid, lower level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), larger waist circumference and more severe insulin resistance. Serum potassium level significantly decreased with the increasing number of metabolic syndrome components. Compared with subjects in the highest quartile of serum potassium level, multivariate adjusted odds ratios for prevalent metabolic syndrome in the lowest quartile was 1.48 (95% confidence interval, 1.16–1.87). Moreover, compared with subjects without central obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-C and elevated fasting plasma glucose, those with each of these metabolic syndrome components have lower level of serum potassium after adjusted for age and sex. Conclusions: Low serum potassium level significantly associated with prevalence of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dust deposition on photovoltaic (PV) modules is related to environmental and weather conditions and results in a reduction in power generation efficiency over time. The effects of films on the transmittance can be obtained by testing sample glasses coated with silicon and fluorine super-hydrophobic films with a spectrophotometer. Red soil particles with a diameter of 25 μm were selected to simulate the process of natural dust deposition on PV module samples, and an incubator of constant temperature and humidity was used to simulate the condensation process. PV module samples were irradiated by a solar simulator after the aforementioned simulation process, and the effects of different amounts of sediment in unit areas on the photovoltaic properties and spectral characteristics were determined. The experimental results indicate that the influence of dust on the power generation efficiency of PV modules coated with fluorine super-hydrophobic film is smaller than that for PV modules coated with silicon super-hydrophobic film and that the super-hydrophobic films can not only greatly reduce the dust accumulation on the surface of PV modules but also increase the generating efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigated the effects of Coptis chinensis polysaccharide (CCP) on hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic C57BL/6J mice. CCP was prepared by extraction from Coptis chinensis and oral given to the mice. C57BL/6J mice in each of the 5 groups (eight mice per group) were given either the normal diet (ND) (D12450B, 10% kcal% fat; Research diet, New Brunswick, NJ, USA), HFD (D12451, 45% kcal% fat; Research diet, New Brunswick, NJ, USA), or HFD with CCP of differing hardness (500, 1000, and 2000 ppm) for 20 weeks. Mice given an HFD with CCP showed lowered fasting plasma glucose levels compared to HFD-fed mice. Oral and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests showed that CCP improves impaired glucose tolerance in HFD-fed mice. Histopathological evaluation of the pancreas showed that CCP recovers the size of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, and increases the secretion of insulin and glucagon in HFD-fed mice. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction results revealed that the expression of hepatic genes involved in glucogenesis, glycogenolysis and glucose oxidation were suppressed, while those in glucose uptake, β-oxidation, and glucose oxidation in muscle were increased in mice fed HFD with CCP. CCP increased AMP-dependent kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in 3T3-L1 pre- and mature adipocytes and improved impaired AMPK phosphorylation in the muscles and livers of HFD-induced diabetic mice. CCP stimulated phosphoinositol-3-kinase and AMPK pathway-mediated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that CCP has potential as an anti-diabetic agent, given its ability to suppress hyperglycemia and improve glucose intolerance by increasing glucose uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Increasing studies have suggested that albuminuria might be an important risk factor for peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, studies focusing on the association between low-grade albuminuria and PAD are limited. It would be of great interest to elucidate the association between low-grade albuminuria and PAD in diabetic subjects. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1386 diabetic subjects (age ≥ 40 years) with normal urinary albumin levels from Shanghai, China. A first voided early morning spot urine sample was obtained for urinary albumin and creatinine measurements. Subjects were divided into three groups according to sex-specific cutoff points of urinary albumin–creatinine ratio (UACR) tertiles. Subjects in the upper tertile of UACR were classified as having low-grade albuminuria. PAD was defined by ankle–brachial index (ABI) <0.9 or >1.4. Results: Overall, 106 (7.7%) of the study population had PAD. The prevalence of PAD in tertile 3 of UACR was higher than the prevalence in tertile 2 and tertile 1 (10.2%, 6.4% and 6.4%, respectively; P < 0.05). A fully adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that compared with subjects in tertile 1 of normal UACR, those in tertile 3 had 1.7-fold increased risk for the presence of PAD. Conclusions: In diabetic patients, high normal UACR level, which is below the current cutoff point of microalbuminuria, was associated with the increased prevalence of PAD. It suggested that low-grade albuminuria might be an early marker for the detection of PAD in diabetic patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as an integral functional component of human genome and have been investigated as critical regulators in molecular biology of cancer. A recent study reported that lncRNA-UCA1 induced drug resistance in adriamycin chemotherapy. However, the contributions of lncRNAs to adriamycin resistance in cancers remain largely unknown. To address this issue, we performed a genome-wide lncRNA microarray analysis in adriamycin resistant MCF-7/ADR and parental MCF-7 cells, and revealed differential expression of lncRNAs in distinct category and chromosome distribution patterns. A specific differentially expressed lncRNA (Adriamycin Resistance Associated, termed ARA) was validated in MCF-7/ADR and HepG2/ADR cells. ARA is derived from an intron of PAK3 gene, predicted to contain several stable hairpins in secondary structure and has conservative sequences in primates. ARA expression is significantly associated with adriamycin sensitivity in a panel of breast and liver cancer cell lines and is markedly up-regulated in parental sensitive MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines after receiving adriamycin treatment. The functions of ARA were assessed by silencing this lncRNA in vitro, and we found that ARA knockdown reduced the proliferation, induced cell death, G2/M arrest and migration defects. Furthermore, microarray transcriptomic analysis was carried out to comprehensively depict the ARA-regulated genes. We showed that ARA can modulate multiple signalling pathways, including MAPK signalling pathway, metabolism pathways, cell cycle and cell adhesion-related biological pathways, and regulate cellular processes, including transcriptional processes and protein binding function. Overall, our results indicate novel insights of adriamycin resistance in lncRNA level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]