The purpose of this study was to use a kind of safe,long acting and reversible hormonal regimen for male contraception .The studied regimen was a subdermal insertion of a two rod implant (Sino implant, each rod c...The purpose of this study was to use a kind of safe,long acting and reversible hormonal regimen for male contraception .The studied regimen was a subdermal insertion of a two rod implant (Sino implant, each rod containing 75 mg levenorgestrel LNG) in each subject's forearm, followed 3 weeks after by monthly injection of TU (Testosterone Undecanoate 250 mg) for 3 months. Eighteen weeks after implantation, the Sino implant was removed. There were altogether 16 male volunteers recruited in the entire research program. Among them 6 cases reached azoospermia; one case reached oligozoospermia (sperm density <3 million/ml); 5 cases' sperm density declined greatly, the lowest to be 5.7±1.3 million/ml; the other four cases' sperm density also declined, but remained within normal range (above 20 million/ml), the lowest to be 24.5±9.0 million/ml. The duration to reach azoospermia was 16.7±0.5 weeks. The duration to resume to normal range of sperm density was 8.2±2.5 weeks in the subjects with azoospermia and oligozoospermia. In the first two weeks after insertion the LNG release of Sino implant's mean serum LNG level was about 0.38 ng/ml, in the rest of the time the LNG levels in blood was rather constant about 0.24 ng/ml. Routine analyses of blood and urine, liver and kidney functions, and blood chemistry including those parameters (TG,TC,HDL C,LDL C) of lipid metabolism didn't change much throughout the research. All the subjects' libido and sex function were well kept. Clinical observation didn't show any other adverse effects during the research.展开更多
In post-disaster emergency shelter aid, various relief agencies and other actors with different backgrounds need to cooperate in a tremendously short amount of time and under very different circumstances. In this arti...In post-disaster emergency shelter aid, various relief agencies and other actors with different backgrounds need to cooperate in a tremendously short amount of time and under very different circumstances. In this article, we describe a research project that develops and tests a new approach in which the demands for shelters in a specific situation are methodically connected with available, innovative and sustainable shelter solutions, a DSS （decision support system）. The DSS is a digital tool that translates the gathered evidence on needs, solutions and location including long-term effects of shelter provision into advice for the provision of sustainable, integral broader shelter solutions and designs. The outcome is a set of characteristics for a DSS for the provision of on-demand emergency shelters. A DSS that meets these characteristics leads to the provision of sustainable shelters that meet the needs of the users and, therefore, have higher performance in long term.展开更多
Climate refugia can serve as a remnant habitat or stepping stones for species dispersal under climate warming.The largest freshwater lake by surface area,Lake Superior,USA and Canada,serves as a model system for under...Climate refugia can serve as a remnant habitat or stepping stones for species dispersal under climate warming.The largest freshwater lake by surface area,Lake Superior,USA and Canada,serves as a model system for understanding cooling-mediated local refugia,as its cool water temperatures and wave action have maintained shoreline habitats suitable for southern disjunct populations of arctic-alpine plants since deglaciation.Here,we seek to explain spatial patterns and environmental drivers of arctic-alpine plant refugia along Lake Superior’s shores,and assess future risk to refugia under moderate(+3.5℃)and warmest(+5.7℃)climate warming scenarios.First,we examined how the interactive effects of summer surface water temperatures and wind affected onshore temperatures,resulting in areas of cooler refugia.Second,we developed an ecological niche model for the presence of disjunct arctic-alpine refugia(pooling 1253 occurrences from 58 species)along the lake’s shoreline.Third,we fit species distribution models for 20 of the most common arctic-alpine disjunct species and predicted presence to identify refugia hotspots.Finally,we used the two climate warming scenarios to predict changes in the presence of refugia and disjunct hotspots.Bedrock type,elevation above water,inland distance,July land surface temperature from MODIS/Terra satellite and near-shore depth of water were the best predictors of disjunct occurrences.Overall,we predicted 2236 km of the shoreline(51%)as disjunct refugia habitat for at least one species under current conditions,but this was reduced to 20% and 7% with moderate(894 km)and warmest(313 km)climate change projections.展开更多
Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) is an oncogenic virus that ubiquitously establishes life-long persistence in humans. To ensure its survival and maintain its B cell transformation function, EBV has developed powerful strategie...Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) is an oncogenic virus that ubiquitously establishes life-long persistence in humans. To ensure its survival and maintain its B cell transformation function, EBV has developed powerful strategies to evade host immune responses. Emerging evidence has shown that micro RNAs(mi RNAs) are powerful regulators of the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. In this review, we summarize current progress on how EBV utilizes mi RNAs for immune evasion. EBV encodes mi RNAs targeting both viral and host genes involved in the immune response. The mi RNAs are found in two gene clusters, and recent studies have demonstrated that lack of these clusters increases the CD4^+ and CD8^+ T cell response of infected cells. These reports strongly indicate that EBV mi RNAs are critical for immune evasion. In addition, EBV is able to dysregulate the expression of a variety of host mi RNAs, which influence multiple immune-related molecules and signaling pathways. The transport via exosomes of EBV-regulated mi RNAs and viral proteins contributes to the construction and modification of the inflammatory tumor microenvironment.During EBV immune evasion, viral proteins, immune cells, chemokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and pro-apoptosis molecules are involved. Our increasing knowledge of the role of mi RNAs in immune evasion will improve the understanding of EBV persistence and help to develop new treatments for EBV-associated cancers and other diseases.展开更多
Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha is a Ponto-Caspian species invasive in Europe and North America, with great environmental impact. It lives byssally attached to hard substrata in large aggregations, which is often ex...Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha is a Ponto-Caspian species invasive in Europe and North America, with great environmental impact. It lives byssally attached to hard substrata in large aggregations, which is often explained by its preferences for conspecifics, though direct evidence for such preferences has been rather limited so far. We studied the reactions of zebra mussels to con- specifics, hypothesizing that they may either be attracted to one another or form aggregations only in the absence of alternative attachment sites, in Experiment 1, we tested mussel tendency to detach from existing druses depending on druse size （2-25 individuals） and substratum type （soft： sand; hard： glass）. Mussels detached significantly more often on the hard substratum and from larger druses compared to soft substratum and smaller druses, respectively. This indicates that mussels tended to avoid conspecifics at high density, particularly when alternative substratum was available. In Experiment 2, we tested the responses of single mussels to distant （3 or 15cm） conspecifics （0, 3, 15 individuals per 2.51 tank） on the sandy substratum. The presence of conspecifics, regardless of their distance and density, resulted in single unattached mussels staying more often in their initial positions. Mussels did not move preferentially towards or away from the conspecifics. Thus, even on unsuitable substratum mussels were not attracted by conspecifics and probably exhibited an avoidance reaction by reducing their movement. This suggests that dense mussel aggregations are formed due to the lack of available alternative attachment sites rather than due to their preferences for conspecifics.展开更多
This paper presents a prey-predator model considering the predator interacting with non-refuges prey by class of functional responses. Here we also consider harvesting for only non-refuges prey. We discuss the equilib...This paper presents a prey-predator model considering the predator interacting with non-refuges prey by class of functional responses. Here we also consider harvesting for only non-refuges prey. We discuss the equilibria of the model, and their stability for hiding prey either in constant form or proportional to the densities of prey population. We also investigate various possibilities of bionomic equilibrium and optimal harvesting policy. Finally we present numerical examples with pictorial presentation of the various effects of the prey predator system parameter.展开更多
文摘The purpose of this study was to use a kind of safe,long acting and reversible hormonal regimen for male contraception .The studied regimen was a subdermal insertion of a two rod implant (Sino implant, each rod containing 75 mg levenorgestrel LNG) in each subject's forearm, followed 3 weeks after by monthly injection of TU (Testosterone Undecanoate 250 mg) for 3 months. Eighteen weeks after implantation, the Sino implant was removed. There were altogether 16 male volunteers recruited in the entire research program. Among them 6 cases reached azoospermia; one case reached oligozoospermia (sperm density <3 million/ml); 5 cases' sperm density declined greatly, the lowest to be 5.7±1.3 million/ml; the other four cases' sperm density also declined, but remained within normal range (above 20 million/ml), the lowest to be 24.5±9.0 million/ml. The duration to reach azoospermia was 16.7±0.5 weeks. The duration to resume to normal range of sperm density was 8.2±2.5 weeks in the subjects with azoospermia and oligozoospermia. In the first two weeks after insertion the LNG release of Sino implant's mean serum LNG level was about 0.38 ng/ml, in the rest of the time the LNG levels in blood was rather constant about 0.24 ng/ml. Routine analyses of blood and urine, liver and kidney functions, and blood chemistry including those parameters (TG,TC,HDL C,LDL C) of lipid metabolism didn't change much throughout the research. All the subjects' libido and sex function were well kept. Clinical observation didn't show any other adverse effects during the research.
文摘In post-disaster emergency shelter aid, various relief agencies and other actors with different backgrounds need to cooperate in a tremendously short amount of time and under very different circumstances. In this article, we describe a research project that develops and tests a new approach in which the demands for shelters in a specific situation are methodically connected with available, innovative and sustainable shelter solutions, a DSS （decision support system）. The DSS is a digital tool that translates the gathered evidence on needs, solutions and location including long-term effects of shelter provision into advice for the provision of sustainable, integral broader shelter solutions and designs. The outcome is a set of characteristics for a DSS for the provision of on-demand emergency shelters. A DSS that meets these characteristics leads to the provision of sustainable shelters that meet the needs of the users and, therefore, have higher performance in long term.
基金supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(RGPIN-2019-06040).
文摘Climate refugia can serve as a remnant habitat or stepping stones for species dispersal under climate warming.The largest freshwater lake by surface area,Lake Superior,USA and Canada,serves as a model system for understanding cooling-mediated local refugia,as its cool water temperatures and wave action have maintained shoreline habitats suitable for southern disjunct populations of arctic-alpine plants since deglaciation.Here,we seek to explain spatial patterns and environmental drivers of arctic-alpine plant refugia along Lake Superior’s shores,and assess future risk to refugia under moderate(+3.5℃)and warmest(+5.7℃)climate warming scenarios.First,we examined how the interactive effects of summer surface water temperatures and wind affected onshore temperatures,resulting in areas of cooler refugia.Second,we developed an ecological niche model for the presence of disjunct arctic-alpine refugia(pooling 1253 occurrences from 58 species)along the lake’s shoreline.Third,we fit species distribution models for 20 of the most common arctic-alpine disjunct species and predicted presence to identify refugia hotspots.Finally,we used the two climate warming scenarios to predict changes in the presence of refugia and disjunct hotspots.Bedrock type,elevation above water,inland distance,July land surface temperature from MODIS/Terra satellite and near-shore depth of water were the best predictors of disjunct occurrences.Overall,we predicted 2236 km of the shoreline(51%)as disjunct refugia habitat for at least one species under current conditions,but this was reduced to 20% and 7% with moderate(894 km)and warmest(313 km)climate change projections.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundations of China(81372139,31670171)the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(2015JJ2149)the Hunan Provincial Innovation Foundation for Postgraduates(CX2016B055)
文摘Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) is an oncogenic virus that ubiquitously establishes life-long persistence in humans. To ensure its survival and maintain its B cell transformation function, EBV has developed powerful strategies to evade host immune responses. Emerging evidence has shown that micro RNAs(mi RNAs) are powerful regulators of the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. In this review, we summarize current progress on how EBV utilizes mi RNAs for immune evasion. EBV encodes mi RNAs targeting both viral and host genes involved in the immune response. The mi RNAs are found in two gene clusters, and recent studies have demonstrated that lack of these clusters increases the CD4^+ and CD8^+ T cell response of infected cells. These reports strongly indicate that EBV mi RNAs are critical for immune evasion. In addition, EBV is able to dysregulate the expression of a variety of host mi RNAs, which influence multiple immune-related molecules and signaling pathways. The transport via exosomes of EBV-regulated mi RNAs and viral proteins contributes to the construction and modification of the inflammatory tumor microenvironment.During EBV immune evasion, viral proteins, immune cells, chemokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and pro-apoptosis molecules are involved. Our increasing knowledge of the role of mi RNAs in immune evasion will improve the understanding of EBV persistence and help to develop new treatments for EBV-associated cancers and other diseases.
文摘Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha is a Ponto-Caspian species invasive in Europe and North America, with great environmental impact. It lives byssally attached to hard substrata in large aggregations, which is often explained by its preferences for conspecifics, though direct evidence for such preferences has been rather limited so far. We studied the reactions of zebra mussels to con- specifics, hypothesizing that they may either be attracted to one another or form aggregations only in the absence of alternative attachment sites, in Experiment 1, we tested mussel tendency to detach from existing druses depending on druse size （2-25 individuals） and substratum type （soft： sand; hard： glass）. Mussels detached significantly more often on the hard substratum and from larger druses compared to soft substratum and smaller druses, respectively. This indicates that mussels tended to avoid conspecifics at high density, particularly when alternative substratum was available. In Experiment 2, we tested the responses of single mussels to distant （3 or 15cm） conspecifics （0, 3, 15 individuals per 2.51 tank） on the sandy substratum. The presence of conspecifics, regardless of their distance and density, resulted in single unattached mussels staying more often in their initial positions. Mussels did not move preferentially towards or away from the conspecifics. Thus, even on unsuitable substratum mussels were not attracted by conspecifics and probably exhibited an avoidance reaction by reducing their movement. This suggests that dense mussel aggregations are formed due to the lack of available alternative attachment sites rather than due to their preferences for conspecifics.
文摘This paper presents a prey-predator model considering the predator interacting with non-refuges prey by class of functional responses. Here we also consider harvesting for only non-refuges prey. We discuss the equilibria of the model, and their stability for hiding prey either in constant form or proportional to the densities of prey population. We also investigate various possibilities of bionomic equilibrium and optimal harvesting policy. Finally we present numerical examples with pictorial presentation of the various effects of the prey predator system parameter.
