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[Objective] In the face of the new requirements and needs of the “two unified” management of natural resources, the ability to acquire natural resources intelligence, analyze and mine natural resources information, and support decision making in natural resources management is lagging behind the needs of development, and it is of great significance to build a new type of high-end think tank system in the field of natural resources for the comprehensive management of natural resources, the study of key issues, and the formulation of relevant policies.[Methods] This study summarized and analyzed the basis and characteristics of existing natural resources observation data in China as well as the current situation of the construction of think tanks in the field of natural resources in China and internationally, and described the current situation of natural resources observation data. [Results] Based on natural resources observation data and focusing on serving the needs of comprehensive natural resources management and ecological civilization construction, we proposed an overall framework of a novel high-end think tank system, consisting of data management, technical support, organizational guarantee, and application service system. [Conclusion] The construction of a new type of high-end think tank system for natural resources is a long-term work, which needs to sum up experience, gradually enrich and improve the content of the construction of the think tank system in the field of natural resources and the relevant institutional mechanism; strengthen the integration, access, supply and sharing mechanism with existing think tank platforms; establish a think tank alliance of China’s natural resources field to achieve the positive interactive situation of mutual exchange of information, mutual use of resources, mutual complementation of strengths, and mutual promotion of development, so as to achieve a positive and interactive situation of mutual promotion. It will also establish an alliance of think tanks in the field of natural resources in China, so as to achieve a benign interactive situation of mutual exchange of information, mutual use of resources, complementarity of advantages and mutual promotion of development, and to support and serve the fine, intelligent and scientific management of natural resources in the new era.

Dioscin has been used as a treatment for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in China. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the modes of action of dioscin have not been elucidated. In this study, flow cytometry and Western blotting were used to identify the proportions of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and the expression of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1) in HT patients’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). A pTg-induced rat model of HT was established by injection of 100 μg pTg. Then, the model rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 5): control (NC), model (HT) and dioscin treatment. After oral administration of dioscin each day for two weeks, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells were analysed by flow cytometry, and the protein expression levels of SENP1, Foxp3, SUMO-1 and SUMO-2/3 were measured by Western blotting. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) was used to identify the SUMOylation of interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4). The results showed that the proportions of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and the expression of Foxp3 were significantly decreased in HT patients, but the expression of SENP1 was enhanced compared to healthy controls (HCs). However, compared to the pTg-induced HT rat group, the expression of Foxp3, SUMO-1, and SUMO-2/3 and the proportions of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells were increased, whereas the expression of SENP1 was decreased, in the dioscin-treated group. Furthermore, the SUMOylation of IRF4 was increased after SENP1 was knocked down. The results of our study indicate that dioscin can promote the differentiation of the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells and subsequently upregulate the SUMOylation of IRF4 by downregulating SENP1 expression.

This paper seeks to estimate exchange rate pass-through in China and investigate its relationship with monetary policy. Linear and VAR models are applied to analyze robustness. The linear model shows that, over the long run, a 1% appreciation of NEER causes a decline in the CPI inflation rate of 0.132% and PPI inflation rate of 0.495%. The VAR model supports the results of the linear model, suggesting a fairly low CPI pass-through and relatively higher PPI pass-through. Furthermore, this paper finds that, with the fixed exchange rate regime, CPI pass-through remains higher. The exchange rate regimes influence on CPI pass through, combined with the fact that appreciation diminishes inflation, suggests that the Chinese government could pursue a more flexible exchange rate policy. In addition, reasons for low exchange rate pass-through for CPI are analyzed. The analysis considers price control, basket and weight of Chinese price indices, distribution cost, and imported and non-tradable share of inputs.

The autoimmune condition Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a disease wherein lymphocytes mediate the autoimmune damage and destruction of the thyroid gland. There are currently no effective means of treating HT, with the primary strategies of thyroid hormone therapy, surgery, or immunomodulatory therapy being associated with serious risks and side effects. There is thus a clear and urgent need to identify novel treatments for HT. In this study, we utilize female SD rats induced HT to evaluated the ability of transplanted MSCs to regulate Th17/Treg interactions in a rat Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) model system. The results showed that Rats in the HT model group exhibited increased thyroid autoantibody levels consistent with successful model development, whereas these levels were lower in rats treated with MSCs. There were also fewer thyroid lesions and less lymphoid infiltration of the thyroid in MSC-treated rats relative to HT model rats, as well as fewer Th17 cells and more Treg cells – an observation consistent with the cytokine analyses. All of these showed that MSCs can regulate Th17/Treg interactions in a rat Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) model system. It suggested that transplanted MSCs could be a potential immunotherapy strategy for the treatment of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent years have witnessed significant progress in the treatment of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC); however, the prognosis of ESCC is still unsatisfactory. Biomarkers are required to improve identification of high-risk populations and help management of ESCC. This study was to evaluate the role of serum CKAP4 in ESCC.Methods: This longitudinal study recruited 207 ESCC patients and age-/sex-matched healthy controls. Circulating levels of CKAP4 were measured using ELISA kits, while the expression of CKAP4 in esophageal tissue was evaluated using Western blotting.Results: Serum CKAP4 levels were higher in ESCC patients (380.2±171.3 pg/mL) than healthy controls (271.8±97.4 pg/mL; P [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geohazards are always followed by many disasters that threaten people's lives and property. They have a characteristic of simultaneous occurrence and regionality. In this century, researchers pay more attention to the mechanisms and assessment methods and techniques of geohazards. The aim of this study is to complete the assessment of susceptibility in Jianshi County, Three Gorges Reservoir in order to avoid disasters and reduce the losses. On basis of the field survey data, the impact factors are chosen and graded. The entropy model is employed to the compute values of different impact factors quantitatively with ArcGIS. All impact factors are weighted based on the calculation results of the entropy model. The result of assessment susceptibility is calculated by different impact factors and reclassified into very high, high, medium, and low susceptibility zones as 10, 20, 30, and 40 % of the total area of Jianshi County, respectively. The percentage is 41.34, 23.90, 21.71, and 13.05 % of the total areas of 162 geohazards and 26.70, 43.52, 23.02, and 6.76 % of the total area of 20 validated geohazards in very high, high, medium, and low susceptibility zones, respectively. There is a significant consistency between the result and validated result. According to the success rate curve, the overall success rate is about 75 %. The present results are scientific and useful for the government management of the geohazards and planning for development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]