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Food security, the need to meet nutritional requirements, and four main problems for food protein security in China are analyzed. From the perspective of residentsrsquo; nutritional requirements and balanced dietary patterns, the conclusion is that food security in China is in essence dependent on protein production and security of supply and that fat and carbohydrates supply in China can reach self-sufficiency. Considering the situation of food protein production and consumption in China, policy suggestions are made, which could ensure a balanced supply and demand for food protein and food security in China.

A type of compound texture combining micro‐dimple and variable‐depth groove was designed to improve sealing performance and reduce wear of the plunger couple in diesel engine. The simulation results indicate that moderate oil film thickness can be produced by compound texture to settle the lack of lubrication of groove mode. Meanwhile, higher hydrodynamic pressure is produced to improve sealing performance of a plunger couple, tackling the problem of relatively high leakage of micro‐dimple mode. The compound texture was fabricated on the plunger surface by laser surface texturing (LST) and the test results confirmed the improvement of lubrication and sealing performance. The basic tribological test result shows that that the deepest wear depth and average roughness were reduced by 72.4% and 22.6%, respectively. Meanwhile, the engine bench test result shows that the amount of fuel leakage was reduced by 73.1% as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) show significant potential for exploitation in novel regeneration strategies, although lack of understanding of their responses to bacterial challenge constrains their application. The present study aimed to investigate whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major pathogenic factor of Gram-negative bacteria, regulates the differentiation of hDPSCs and which intracellular signaling pathways may be involved. LPS treatment significantly promoted the differentiation of hDPSCs demonstrable by increased mineralized nodule formation and mRNA expression of several odontoblastic markers in a dose-dependent manner. While inhibition of TLR4, p38, and ERK signaling markedly antagonized LPS-mediated differentiation of hDPSCs. The inhibition of JNK and NF-κB signaling had no detectable effect on LPS activation of hDPSCs. LPS stimulation resulted in phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, IκB-α, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in DPSCs in a time-dependent manner, which was markedly suppressed by their specific inhibitors, respectively. Data demonstrated that LPS promoted odontoblastic differentiation of hDPSCs via TLR4, ERK, and P38 MAPK signaling pathways, but not NF-κB signaling. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 554-561, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odontoblasts are the first-line defense cells against invading microorganisms. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a crucial role in innate immunity, and TLR9 is involved in the recognition of microbial DNA. This study aimed to investigate whether odontoblasts can respond to CpG DNA and to determine the intracellular signaling pathways triggered by CpG DNA. We found that the mouse odontoblast-like cell line MDPC-23 constitutively expressed TLR9. Exposure to CpG ODN induced a potent proinflammatory response based on an increase of IL-6 and TNF-alpha expression. Pretreatment with an inhibitory MyD88 peptide or a specific inhibitor for TLR9, NF-kappaB or IkappaBalpha markedly inhibited CpG ODN-induced IL-6 and TNF-alpha expression. Moreover, the CpG ODN-mediated increase of kappaB-luciferase activity in MDPC-23 cells was suppressed by the overexpression of dominant negative mutants of TLR9, MyD88 and IkappaBalpha, but not by the dominant negative mutant of TLR4. This result suggests a possible role for the CpG DNA-mediated immune response in odontoblasts and indicates that TLR9, MyD88 and NF-kappaB are involved in this process., (Crown Copyright 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of two different one-step self-etching adhesives., Methods: Two single-step self-etching adhesive systems, Clearfil Tri-S Bond and G-Bond, were evaluated. As a control, a two-step self-etching adhesive system, Clearfil SE Bond, was used. The teeth to be restored were randomly assigned. The resin composite used to restore the teeth was Clearfil AP-X. The three adhesive systems were evaluated by Modified USPHS at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. The evaluation consisted of retention rate, color match, marginal discoloration (interfacial staining), marginal adaptation (integrity), wear, post-operative sensitivity, caries recurrence, and other failures. Changes over time and across groups were evaluated statistically using generalized estimating equations., Results: During the 12-month study period, no statistical differences were observed among the three groups (P > 0.05) in retention rate, color match, marginal discoloration (interfacial staining), marginal adaptation (integrity). No wear, post-operative sensitivity, caries recurrence, or other failures were detected in any groups. The two one-step self-etching adhesives tested showed good clinical performance at the end of 12 months.

Objective: To investigate the effects of ectomesenchymal stem cells on hematopoiesis after total body irradiation in rats., Methods: The primary ectomesenchymal stem cells were isolated from E11.5 SD fetal mandibular processes by 2.5 g/L trypsin and cultured with DMEM/F12. The morphology and growth rate were observed by inverted microscope. Eighty SD male rats randomly divided into ectomesenchymal stem cells group (n = 20), fibroblast group (n = 20), saline group (n = 20) and control group (n = 20), the first three groups were irradiated with 60Co gamma rays at 6. 0 Gy. The number of their bone marrow nucleated cells was counted after 4 weeks; the forming ability of colony-forming unit-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM) and histopathology of bone marrow were also observed., Results: The cultured cells displayed monolayer growth and fibroblast-like with 2-4 processes. The ectomesenchymal stem cells could increase the number of bone marrow nucleated cells and peripheral blood white cell count, and improve the forming ability of CFU-GM. After 4 weeks of transplantation, the number of the peripheral blood white cells in group A was more than that in groups B and C (P < 0.05), the contents of Hb in groups A and D was significantly higher than those in groups B and C (P < 0.05). After 4 weeks, the bone marrow nucleated cells in group A were significant more than those in groups B and C (P < 0.01); CFU-GM in groups A and D was higher than that in groups B and C (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Ectomesenchymal stem cells have characteristics of stem cells. It may improve hematopoiesis recovery of irradiated rats.