A genetic model was proposed for simultaneously analyzing genetic effects of nuclear, cytoplasm, and nuclear-cytoplasmic interaction (NCI) as well as their genotype by environment (GE) interaction for quantitative...A genetic model was proposed for simultaneously analyzing genetic effects of nuclear, cytoplasm, and nuclear-cytoplasmic interaction (NCI) as well as their genotype by environment (GE) interaction for quantitative traits of diploid plants. In the model, the NCI effects were further partitioned into additive and dominance nuclear-cytoplasmic interaction components. Mixed linear model approaches were used for statistical analysis. On the basis of diallel cross designs, Monte Carlo simulations showed that the genetic model was robust for estimating variance components under several situations without specific effects. Random genetic effects were predicted by an adjusted unbiased prediction (AUP) method. Data on four quantitative traits (boll number, lint percentage, fiber length, and micronaire) in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) were analyzed as a worked example to show the effectiveness of the model.展开更多
Dynamic casual modeling of functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) signals is employed to explore critical emotional neurocircuitry under sad stimuli. The intrinsic model of emotional loops is built on the basis...Dynamic casual modeling of functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) signals is employed to explore critical emotional neurocircuitry under sad stimuli. The intrinsic model of emotional loops is built on the basis of Papez's circuit and related prior knowledge, and then three modulatory connection models are established. In these models, stimuli are placed at different points, which represents they affect the neural activities between brain regions, and these activities are modulated in different ways. Then, the optimal model is selected by Bayesian model comparison. From group analysis, patients' intrinsic and modulatory connections from the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) to the right inferior frontal gyrus (rlFG) are significantly higher than those of the control group. Then the functional connection parameters of the model are selected as classifier features. The classification accuracy rate from the support vector machine(SVM) classifier is 80.73%, which, to some extent, validates the effectiveness of the regional connectivity parameters for depression recognition and provides a new approach for the clinical diagnosis of depression.展开更多
Topographic shielding of cosmic radiation flux is a key parameter in using cosmogenic nuclides to determine surface exposure ages or erosion rates. Traditionally, this parameter is measured in the field and uncertaint...Topographic shielding of cosmic radiation flux is a key parameter in using cosmogenic nuclides to determine surface exposure ages or erosion rates. Traditionally, this parameter is measured in the field and uncertainty and/or inconsistency may exist among different investigators. This paper provides an ArcGIS python code to determine topographic shielding factors using digital elevation models (DEMs). This code can be imported into ArcGIS as a geoprocessing tool with a user-friendly graphical interface. The DEM-derived parameters using this method were validated with field measurements in central Tian Shan. Results indicate that DEM-derived shielding factors are consistent with field-measured values. It provides a valuable tool to save fieldwork efforts and has the potential to provide consistent results for different regions in the world to facilitate the comparison of cosmogenie nuclide results.展开更多
We study the nucleon form factors and the nucleon-△(1232) transitions in a framework of hypercentral constituent quark model. The pion meson cloud effect is taken into account explicitly. Our results show that the ...We study the nucleon form factors and the nucleon-△(1232) transitions in a framework of hypercentral constituent quark model. The pion meson cloud effect is taken into account explicitly. Our results show that the pion cloud contributes substantially to the nucleon form factors as well as to the helicity amplitudes of △(1232), and it gives an improved agreement compared to the experimental.展开更多
Baculoviruses were first identified as insect-specific pathogens, and it was this specificity that lead to their use as safe, target specific biological pesticides. For the past 30 years, AcMNPV has served as the subj...Baculoviruses were first identified as insect-specific pathogens, and it was this specificity that lead to their use as safe, target specific biological pesticides. For the past 30 years, AcMNPV has served as the subject of intense basic molecular research into the baculovirus infectious cycle including the interaction of the virus with a continuous insect cell line derived from Spodoptera frugiperda. The studies on baculoviruese have led to an in-depth understanding of the physical organization of the viral genomes including many complete genomic sequences, the time course of gene expression, and the application of this basic research to the use of baculoviruses not only as insecticides, but also as a universal eukaryotic protein expression system, and a potential vector in gene therapy. A great deal has also been discovered about the viral genes required for the replication of the baculovirus genome, while much remains to be learned about the mechanism of viral DNA replication. This report outlines the current knowledge of the factors involved in baculovirus DNA replication, using data on AcMNPV as a model for most members of the Baculoviridae.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Lingguizhugan decoction (LGZGD) on changes of cardiac structure and function, and its putative mechanism of action, by investigating mRNA and protein expression of myocardial nu...OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Lingguizhugan decoction (LGZGD) on changes of cardiac structure and function, and its putative mechanism of action, by investigating mRNA and protein expression of myocardial nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB), and the plasma content of NF-κB in rats with chronic heart failure.METHODS: The chronic heart failure (CHF) model in rats was induced by coronary artery ligation.Sham operation was performed in control rats. Six weeks after the procedure, rats were randomly classified into the various treatment groups: model CHF, Captopril (4.4 mg/kg), low LGZGD dose (2.1 g/kg), medium LGZGD dose (4.2 g/kg), and high LG-ZGD dose (8.4 g/kg). Treatments continued for 4 consecutive weeks. Changes of hemodynamic indices were observed by the PowerLab data acquisition and analysis system. Morphological changes of myocardium were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and Masson staining. The mRNA and protein expression of myocardial NF-κB were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. The plasma content of NF-κB was detected by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay.RESULTS: CHF rats showed significant dysfunction in hemodynamic indices and in cardiac structure.Compared with the sham operation group, mRNA expression of myocardial NF-κB and plasma content of NF-κB of the model group was significantly increased. All three doses of LGZGD, and Captopril,improved the hemodynamic dysfunction, and inhibited the change of cardiac structure while significantly improving the survival rate. Furthermore,compared with the model group, mRNA expression of myocardial NF-κB and plasma content of NF-κB were significantly reduced by all dosage groups of LGZGD as well as the\Captopril group.CONCLUSION: In CHF rats, LGZGD improves changes of cardiac structure and function via its inhibition of NF-κB.展开更多
The laboratory rat is a valuable mammalian model organism for basic research and drug discovery. Here we demonstrate an efficient methodology by applying transcription activator-like effector nucleases(TALENs) technol...The laboratory rat is a valuable mammalian model organism for basic research and drug discovery. Here we demonstrate an efficient methodology by applying transcription activator-like effector nucleases(TALENs) technology to generate Leptin receptor(Lepr) knockout rats on the Sprague Dawley(SD) genetic background. Through direct injection of in vitro transcribed m RNA of TALEN pairs into SD rat zygotes, somatic mutations were induced in two of three resulting pups. One of the founders carrying bi-allelic mutation exhibited early onset of obesity and infertility. The other founder carried a chimeric mutation which was efficiently transmitted to the progenies. Through phenotyping of the resulting three lines of rats bearing distinct mutations in the Lepr locus, we found that the strains with a frame-shifted or premature stop codon mutation led to obesity and metabolic disorders. However, no obvious defect was observed in a strain with an in-frame 57 bp deletion in the extracellular domain of Lepr. This suggests the deleted amino acids do not significantly affect Lepr structure and function. This is the first report of generating the Lepr mutant obese rat model in SD strain through a reverse genetic approach. This suggests that TALEN is an efficient and powerful gene editing technology for the generation of disease models.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of Bushen Huoxue Yin(补肾活血饮,BSHXY) on nuclear transcription factor kappa B(NF-κB) and nitric oxide(NO) in the brain of the Parkinson's disease(PD) model mouse.METHODS:Forty-fi...OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of Bushen Huoxue Yin(补肾活血饮,BSHXY) on nuclear transcription factor kappa B(NF-κB) and nitric oxide(NO) in the brain of the Parkinson's disease(PD) model mouse.METHODS:Forty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups;normal,model and BSHXY treatment groups.Concentrations of NF-κB and NO in mouse brain tissue were determined by ELISA and spectrophotometry,respectively.RESULTS:NF-κB concentration in brain tissue in the model group was 14.04±4.38 μg· L-1,which was higher than that in normal(P<0.01) and BSHXY(P< 0.05) groups.NO content in brain tissue in the model group was 5.93±0.79 μmol · gprot-1,which was also higher than that in model(P<0.01) and BSHXY(P<0.01) groups.However,there were no significant differences in the content of NF-κB and NO between BSHXY and normal groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:The mechanism of BSHXY for treatment of PD is possibly related to inhibition ofNF-κB activation and decreased NO content in the brain.展开更多
Fixed-point attractors with global stability manifest themselves in a number of gene regulatory networks. This property indicates the stability of regulatory networks against small state perturbations and is closely r...Fixed-point attractors with global stability manifest themselves in a number of gene regulatory networks. This property indicates the stability of regulatory networks against small state perturbations and is closely related to other complex dynamics. In this paper, we aim to reveal the core modules in regulatory networks that determine their global attractors and the relationship between these core modules and other motifs. This work has been done via three steps. Firstly, inspired by the signal transmission in the regulation process, we extract the model of chain-like network from regulation networks. We propose a module of "ideal transmission chain(ITC)", which is proved sufficient and necessary(under certain condition) to form a global fixed-point in the context of chain-like network. Secondly, by examining two well-studied regulatory networks(i.e., the cell-cycle regulatory networks of Budding yeast and Fission yeast), we identify the ideal modules in true regulation networks and demonstrate that the modules have a superior contribution to network stability(quantified by the relative size of the biggest attraction basin). Thirdly, in these two regulation networks, we find that the double negative feedback loops, which are the key motifs of forming bistability in regulation, are connected to these core modules with high network stability. These results have shed new light on the connection between the topological feature and the dynamic property of regulatory networks.展开更多
基金This work was supported by Chinese National Programs for High Technology Research and Development(973 Program)(No.2004CB117306).
文摘A genetic model was proposed for simultaneously analyzing genetic effects of nuclear, cytoplasm, and nuclear-cytoplasmic interaction (NCI) as well as their genotype by environment (GE) interaction for quantitative traits of diploid plants. In the model, the NCI effects were further partitioned into additive and dominance nuclear-cytoplasmic interaction components. Mixed linear model approaches were used for statistical analysis. On the basis of diallel cross designs, Monte Carlo simulations showed that the genetic model was robust for estimating variance components under several situations without specific effects. Random genetic effects were predicted by an adjusted unbiased prediction (AUP) method. Data on four quantitative traits (boll number, lint percentage, fiber length, and micronaire) in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) were analyzed as a worked example to show the effectiveness of the model.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30900356,81071135)
文摘Dynamic casual modeling of functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) signals is employed to explore critical emotional neurocircuitry under sad stimuli. The intrinsic model of emotional loops is built on the basis of Papez's circuit and related prior knowledge, and then three modulatory connection models are established. In these models, stimuli are placed at different points, which represents they affect the neural activities between brain regions, and these activities are modulated in different ways. Then, the optimal model is selected by Bayesian model comparison. From group analysis, patients' intrinsic and modulatory connections from the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) to the right inferior frontal gyrus (rlFG) are significantly higher than those of the control group. Then the functional connection parameters of the model are selected as classifier features. The classification accuracy rate from the support vector machine(SVM) classifier is 80.73%, which, to some extent, validates the effectiveness of the regional connectivity parameters for depression recognition and provides a new approach for the clinical diagnosis of depression.
基金supported by the Professional Development Award of the University of Tennessee
文摘Topographic shielding of cosmic radiation flux is a key parameter in using cosmogenic nuclides to determine surface exposure ages or erosion rates. Traditionally, this parameter is measured in the field and uncertainty and/or inconsistency may exist among different investigators. This paper provides an ArcGIS python code to determine topographic shielding factors using digital elevation models (DEMs). This code can be imported into ArcGIS as a geoprocessing tool with a user-friendly graphical interface. The DEM-derived parameters using this method were validated with field measurements in central Tian Shan. Results indicate that DEM-derived shielding factors are consistent with field-measured values. It provides a valuable tool to save fieldwork efforts and has the potential to provide consistent results for different regions in the world to facilitate the comparison of cosmogenie nuclide results.
基金The project supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos. 10475088 and 90103020, the CAS Knowledge Innovation Project under Grant No. KC2-SW-N02, and the Institute of Theoretical Physics The support from the Center of Theoretical Nuclear Physics, Lanzhou National Laboratory of Heavy Ion Accelerator is appreciated. 0ne of authors (Y.B. Dong) thanks the Department of Physics, Genova University for the hospitality. Authors are grateful to the discussions with M.M. Giannini and Santopinto.
文摘We study the nucleon form factors and the nucleon-△(1232) transitions in a framework of hypercentral constituent quark model. The pion meson cloud effect is taken into account explicitly. Our results show that the pion cloud contributes substantially to the nucleon form factors as well as to the helicity amplitudes of △(1232), and it gives an improved agreement compared to the experimental.
基金This research is supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
文摘Baculoviruses were first identified as insect-specific pathogens, and it was this specificity that lead to their use as safe, target specific biological pesticides. For the past 30 years, AcMNPV has served as the subject of intense basic molecular research into the baculovirus infectious cycle including the interaction of the virus with a continuous insect cell line derived from Spodoptera frugiperda. The studies on baculoviruese have led to an in-depth understanding of the physical organization of the viral genomes including many complete genomic sequences, the time course of gene expression, and the application of this basic research to the use of baculoviruses not only as insecticides, but also as a universal eukaryotic protein expression system, and a potential vector in gene therapy. A great deal has also been discovered about the viral genes required for the replication of the baculovirus genome, while much remains to be learned about the mechanism of viral DNA replication. This report outlines the current knowledge of the factors involved in baculovirus DNA replication, using data on AcMNPV as a model for most members of the Baculoviridae.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Fund of China(No.30973707)National Natural Science Fund of China Youth Project(No.81202631)+1 种基金Natural Science Fund of Anhui Province(No.070413262X)Anhui Provincial Science and Technology Projects (No.10021303024)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Lingguizhugan decoction (LGZGD) on changes of cardiac structure and function, and its putative mechanism of action, by investigating mRNA and protein expression of myocardial nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB), and the plasma content of NF-κB in rats with chronic heart failure.METHODS: The chronic heart failure (CHF) model in rats was induced by coronary artery ligation.Sham operation was performed in control rats. Six weeks after the procedure, rats were randomly classified into the various treatment groups: model CHF, Captopril (4.4 mg/kg), low LGZGD dose (2.1 g/kg), medium LGZGD dose (4.2 g/kg), and high LG-ZGD dose (8.4 g/kg). Treatments continued for 4 consecutive weeks. Changes of hemodynamic indices were observed by the PowerLab data acquisition and analysis system. Morphological changes of myocardium were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and Masson staining. The mRNA and protein expression of myocardial NF-κB were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. The plasma content of NF-κB was detected by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay.RESULTS: CHF rats showed significant dysfunction in hemodynamic indices and in cardiac structure.Compared with the sham operation group, mRNA expression of myocardial NF-κB and plasma content of NF-κB of the model group was significantly increased. All three doses of LGZGD, and Captopril,improved the hemodynamic dysfunction, and inhibited the change of cardiac structure while significantly improving the survival rate. Furthermore,compared with the model group, mRNA expression of myocardial NF-κB and plasma content of NF-κB were significantly reduced by all dosage groups of LGZGD as well as the\Captopril group.CONCLUSION: In CHF rats, LGZGD improves changes of cardiac structure and function via its inhibition of NF-κB.
基金supported by the State Key Development Programs of China (2012CB910400 to Mingyao Liu)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31371455, 31171318 and 81330049)the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (14140900300)
文摘The laboratory rat is a valuable mammalian model organism for basic research and drug discovery. Here we demonstrate an efficient methodology by applying transcription activator-like effector nucleases(TALENs) technology to generate Leptin receptor(Lepr) knockout rats on the Sprague Dawley(SD) genetic background. Through direct injection of in vitro transcribed m RNA of TALEN pairs into SD rat zygotes, somatic mutations were induced in two of three resulting pups. One of the founders carrying bi-allelic mutation exhibited early onset of obesity and infertility. The other founder carried a chimeric mutation which was efficiently transmitted to the progenies. Through phenotyping of the resulting three lines of rats bearing distinct mutations in the Lepr locus, we found that the strains with a frame-shifted or premature stop codon mutation led to obesity and metabolic disorders. However, no obvious defect was observed in a strain with an in-frame 57 bp deletion in the extracellular domain of Lepr. This suggests the deleted amino acids do not significantly affect Lepr structure and function. This is the first report of generating the Lepr mutant obese rat model in SD strain through a reverse genetic approach. This suggests that TALEN is an efficient and powerful gene editing technology for the generation of disease models.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation (No.30672762)
文摘OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of Bushen Huoxue Yin(补肾活血饮,BSHXY) on nuclear transcription factor kappa B(NF-κB) and nitric oxide(NO) in the brain of the Parkinson's disease(PD) model mouse.METHODS:Forty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups;normal,model and BSHXY treatment groups.Concentrations of NF-κB and NO in mouse brain tissue were determined by ELISA and spectrophotometry,respectively.RESULTS:NF-κB concentration in brain tissue in the model group was 14.04±4.38 μg· L-1,which was higher than that in normal(P<0.01) and BSHXY(P< 0.05) groups.NO content in brain tissue in the model group was 5.93±0.79 μmol · gprot-1,which was also higher than that in model(P<0.01) and BSHXY(P<0.01) groups.However,there were no significant differences in the content of NF-κB and NO between BSHXY and normal groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:The mechanism of BSHXY for treatment of PD is possibly related to inhibition ofNF-κB activation and decreased NO content in the brain.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11331011)Support from the Center for Statistical Science of Peking University was also gratefully acknowledged
文摘Fixed-point attractors with global stability manifest themselves in a number of gene regulatory networks. This property indicates the stability of regulatory networks against small state perturbations and is closely related to other complex dynamics. In this paper, we aim to reveal the core modules in regulatory networks that determine their global attractors and the relationship between these core modules and other motifs. This work has been done via three steps. Firstly, inspired by the signal transmission in the regulation process, we extract the model of chain-like network from regulation networks. We propose a module of "ideal transmission chain(ITC)", which is proved sufficient and necessary(under certain condition) to form a global fixed-point in the context of chain-like network. Secondly, by examining two well-studied regulatory networks(i.e., the cell-cycle regulatory networks of Budding yeast and Fission yeast), we identify the ideal modules in true regulation networks and demonstrate that the modules have a superior contribution to network stability(quantified by the relative size of the biggest attraction basin). Thirdly, in these two regulation networks, we find that the double negative feedback loops, which are the key motifs of forming bistability in regulation, are connected to these core modules with high network stability. These results have shed new light on the connection between the topological feature and the dynamic property of regulatory networks.