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The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of resveratrol on hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and proliferation in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and the underlying mechanism. Primary rat PASMCs were isolated and cultured in vitro and pretreated with different concentrations of resveratrol (10, 20, and 40 µmol/L) or the NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibitor VAS2870 (10 µmol/L) for 0.5 h. The cells were then cultured under normoxia (21% O

Multi-wave exploration has become one of the main means of unconventional shale gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin, China. How to effectively improve the resolution of the shale gas reservoir layer and distinguish high-quality shale has become one of the difficulties for shale gas exploration. The spectral inversion technology can effectively break the resolution limit of the conventional technology and greatly improve the resolution of the thin shale layer; however, it also needs enough prior information to overcome the problem of multiple solutions in the inversion. The compressed sensing (CS) theory has the ability to reconstruct complete data using incomplete data can use less data information to improve the accuracy of spectral inversion. A novel constrained spectral inversion method based on CS is presented to handle these situations. The CS technique is applied to the objective function of spectral inversion, which can improve the accuracy of the spectral inversion algorithm and create profiles with a higher resolution and greater continuity. Applications through theoretical and real data can illustrate very high performance of the presented algorithm.

To protect against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in lens epithelial cells is a potential strategy in preventing cataract formation. The present study aimed at studying the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of p-coumaric acid (p-CA) on hydrogen peroxide- (H2O2-) induced apoptosis in human lens epithelial (HLE) cells (SRA 01–04). Cells were pretreated with p-CA at a concentration of 3, 10, and 30 μM before the treatment of H2O2 (275 μM). Results showed that pretreatment with p-CA significantly protected against H2O2-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, as well as downregulating the expressions of both cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 in HLE cells. Moreover, p-CA also greatly suppressed H2O2-induced intracellular ROS production and mitochondrial membrane potential loss and elevated the activities of T-SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px of H2O2-treated cells. As well, in vitro study showed that p-CA also suppressed H2O2-induced phosphorylation of p-38, ERK, and JNK in HLE cells. These findings demonstrate that p-CA suppresses H2O2-induced HLE cell apoptosis through modulating MAPK signaling pathways and suggest that p-CA has a potential therapeutic role in the prevention of cataract.

Seismic exploration in the mountainous areas of western Chinese is extremely difficult because of the complexity of the surface and subsurface, which results in shooting difficulties, seismic data with low signal-to-noise ratio, and strong interference. The complexity of the subsurface structure leads to strong scattering of the reflection points; thus, the curved-line acquisition method has been used. However, the actual subsurface structural characteristics have been rarely considered. We propose a design method for irregular acquisition based on common reflection points (CRP) to avoid difficult-to-shoot areas, while considering the structural characteristics and CRP positions and optimizing the surface-receiving line position. We arrange the positions of the receiving points to ensure as little dispersion of subsurface CRP as possible to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the seismic data. We verify the applicability of the method using actual data from a site in Sichuan Basin. The proposed method apparently solves the problem of seismic data acquisition and facilitates seismic exploration in structurally complex areas.

Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is an incurable disease associated with the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and vascular remodeling. The present study examined whether TRAM-34, a highly selective blocker of calcium-activated potassium channel 3.1 (Kca3.1), can help prevent such hypertension by reducing proliferation in PASMCs. Rats were exposed to hypoxia (10% O2) for 3 weeks and treated daily with TRAM-34 intraperitoneally from the first day of hypoxia. Animals were killed and examined for vascular hypertrophy, Kca3.1 expression, and downstream signaling pathways. In addition, primary cultures of rat PASMCs were exposed to hypoxia (3% O2) or normoxia (21% O2) for 24 h in the presence of TRAM-34 or siRNA against Kca3.1. Activation of cell signaling pathways was examined using Western blot analysis. In animal experiments, hypoxia triggered significant medial hypertrophy of pulmonary arterioles and right ventricular hypertrophy, and it significantly increased pulmonary artery pressure, Kca3.1 mRNA levels and ERK/p38 MAP kinase signaling. These effects were attenuated in the presence of TRAM-34. In cell culture experiments, blocking Kca3.1 using TRAM-34 or siRNA inhibited hypoxia-induced ERK/p38 signaling. Kca3.1 may play a role in the development of PAH by activating ERK/p38 MAP kinase signaling, which may then contribute to hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling. TRAM-34 may protect against hypoxia-induced PAH.

Two kinds of the representative artifactitious aggregates, namely the calcium-base and silicon-base, were chosen in the experimental study. Through analysis of SEM, it was found that the former’s main chemical component is calcium carbonate with a structure of crystal granules, the later might be a rock of silicon-base in a state of sandwich. Through experiments of the paste fluidity, ZETA potential and concrete test with different water-reducers, it was shown that the calcium-base aggregate, which could be easily used to prepare high workability and high strength concrete with the polycarboxylic water-reducer, bears a lower water-sobbing ability and has a well adaptability with any water-reducer, and that the silicon-base aggregate, a higher water-sobbing ability, a higher ZETA potential value of its powders, a bad adaptability that there might be a problem of producing HPC though using the high property polycarboxylic water-reducer.

Chronic cigarette smoking induces pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) by largely unknown mechanisms. Renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is known to function in the development of PAH. Losartan, a specific angiotensin II receptor antagonist, is a well-known antihypertensive drug with a potential role in regulating angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), a recently found regulator of RAS. To determine the effect of losartan on smoke-induced PAH and its possible mechanism, rats were daily exposed to cigarette smoke for 6 months in the absence and in the presence of losartan. Elevated right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), thickened wall of pulmonary arteries with apparent medial hypertrophy along with increased angiotensin II (Ang II) and decreased ACE2 levels were observed in smoke-exposed-only rats. Losartan administration ameliorated pulmonary vascular remodeling, inhibited the smoke-induced RVSP and Ang II elevation and partially reversed the ACE2 decrease in rat lungs. In cultured primary pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) from 3- and 6-month smoke-exposed rats, ACE2 levels were significantly lower than in those from the control rats. Moreover, PASMCs from 6-month exposed rats proliferated more rapidly than those from 3-month exposed or control rats, and cells grew even more rapidly in the presence of DX600, an ACE2 inhibitor. Consistent with the in vivo study, in vitro losartan pretreatment also inhibited cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced cell proliferation and ACE2 reduction in rat PASMCs. The results suggest that losartan may be therapeutically useful in the chronic smoking-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling and PAH and ACE2 may be involved as part of its mechanism. Our study might provide insight into the development of new therapeutic interventions for PAH smokers.

A slow-release type carboxylic polymer(SLPC) is synthesized with the monomer mixture at a certain Molecule ratio of methacrylic acid, methoxy polyethylene glycol methacrylate and polyethylene glycol di-methacrylate. Test results of the fluidity, Zeta potential and adsorption in cement paste show that the polymer SLPC has the remarkable anti-adsorbing and high fluid-retaining ability for enhancing fluidity of cement paste as time elapsed, concrete experimental results indicated that it could be used to substitute 30～50% polycarboxylic type water-reducer in the same quality for preparing high workability concrete and controlling its slump loss.

The primary aim of the present study was to investigate the over expression of the rice (Oryza sativa L.) programmed cell death 5 (OsPDCD5) gene in rice plant. Constitutive expression of OsPDCD5 from the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter induced programmed cell death (PCD) in transgenic rice. Programmed cell death was accompanied by typical features, including inhibition of developmental growth, a reduction of fresh weight, degradation of total protein content, and fragmentation of genomic DNA. These results suggest that OsPDCD5 plays an essential role in the regulation of PCD in rice plants. (Managing editor: Li-Hui ZHAO)

The primary aim of the present study was to investigate the overexpression of the rice (Oryza sativa L. subsp. japonica var. Zhonghua 11) flowering control gene (rFCA-RRM2) in monocotyledonous model rice. Constitutive expression of rFCA-RRM2 from the Act 1–5 rice promoter caused late flowering in transgenic rice and increased grain weight that was more than 50% higher than that of control plants, which is the first demonstration of rFCA-RRM2 being able to increase rice production. Late flowering was accompanied by strong phenotype and some morphological modifications. These observations suggest that rFCA-RRM2 is a useful tool for phenotype improvement and yield enhancement in cereal crops. (Managing editor: Ping HE)

Background Cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chymase has been shown to function in the enzymatic production of angiotensin II (AngII) and the activation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to determine the potential role of chymase in cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary artery remodeling and PAH. Methods Hamsters were exposed to cigarette smoke; after 4 months, lung morphology and tissue biochemical changes were examined using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, radioimmunoassay and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results Our results show that chronic cigarette smoke exposure significantly induced elevation of right ventricular systolic pressures (RVSP) and medial hypertrophy of pulmonary arterioles in hamsters, concurrent with an increase of chymase activity and synthesis in the lung. Elevated Ang II levels and enhanced TGF-β1/Smad signaling activation were also observed in smoke-exposed lungs. Chymase inhibition with chymostatin reduced the cigarette smoke-induced increase in chymase activity and Ang II concentration in the lung, and attenuated the RVSP elevation and the remodeling of pulmonary arterioles. Chymostatin did not affect angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in hamster lungs. Conclusions These results suggest that chronic cigarette smoke exposure can increase chymase activity and expression in hamster lungs. The capability of activated chymase to induce Ang II formation and TGF-β1 signaling may be part of the mechanism for smoking-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling. Thus, our study implies that blockade of chymase might provide benefits to PAH smokers.

Objective To evaluate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) on mice airway inflammation, mucus production and the possible cross-talk between p38 MAPK and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in mucin protein synthesis. Methods Mice were exposed to 4.0 ppm of acrolein for 21 days with daily intraperitoneal injection of SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK. In control mice, sterile saline was administered instead. On days 7 and 21, mice were sacrificed to examine airway inflammation and mucus production by BALF cell counts, cytokine ELISA, and H&E and AB-PAS staining. The mRNA and protein levels of Muc5ac, p38 MAPK and MMP-9 in the lung were determined by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis. MMP-9 activity was measured by gelatin zymography. Results Both the numbers of inflammatory cells and mucus-secreting goblet cells were significantly increased in the airways of mice exposed to acrolein as compared to the control mice. Acrolein-increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was significantly reduced by SB203580. The airway inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia after acrolein challenge were also attenuated by SB203580 administration. Moreover, SB203580 treatment decreased the acrolein-induced increase of Muc5ac and MMP-9 expression and MMP-9 activity in airway epithelium. Conclusions The results indicate an important role of p38 MAPK in acrolein-induced airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in mice. The cooperation of p38 and MMP-9 may contribute to the mucin overproduction after inflammatory challenge.

Based on manifold learning, a new feature extraction method is proposed for face recognition in the paper. The new method is called two-directional two-dimensional unsupervised discriminant projection ((2D)2UDP), which simultaneously works image matrix in the row direction and in the column direction for feature extraction. The experimental results on ORL face databases and AR face databases indicate that the proposed method has higher recognition rate and more stable.

Transgenic lines (GC-1) carrying a senescence-inhibition cheimeric gene, IPT (isopentenyl transferase) gene, CBB23, a isogenic lines carrying Xa23 gene for resistance to bacterial blight, and Hexi15, a commercial cultivar showing high resistance to blast disease, were used as donors to pyramid IPT gene and Xa23 by marker-assisted selection (MAS). Seventeen BC1F1 plants pyramiding Xa23 gene and IPT genes were obtained from three multi-cross combinations. Then, the plants carrying Xa23 and IPT genes were crossed with parental lines of two-line hybrid rice, such as 9311, E32, Pei' ai 64S and W9834S. The progenies were backcrossed the acceptor parents. A total of 17 plants carrying Xa23 and IPT genes were detected by PCR, disease resistance identification and analysis of CTK contents of in the four combinations of "(9311///Hexi15/CBB23// GC-1) x 9311", "(E32///Hexi15/CBB23//GC-1) x E32", "(Pei'ai 64S///Hexi15/CBB23//GC-1) x Pei' ai 64S" and "(GC-1/CBB23//W9834S/Hexi15) x W9834S". These plants showed resistance to blast disease by inoculating test using 21 the lines of Pyricularia grisea from Northern China. Six plants of BC2F1 pyramiding Xa23 and IPT genes were further obtained in the combinations of "[(9311///Hexi15/CBB23//GC-1) x 9311] x 9311", "[(E32///Hexi15/CBB23//GC-1) x E32] x E32". After backcrossed and self-crossed 1 approximately 2nd, the plants pyramiding Xa23 and IPT genes can be used in the program of hybrid rice breeding.