Developmental signaling: Does it bridge the gap between cilia dysfunction and renal cystogenesis?

For more than a decade, evidence has accumulated linking dysfunction of primary cilia to renal cystogenesis, yet molecular mechanisms remain undefined. The pathogenesis of renal cysts is complex, involving multiple cellular aberrations and signaling pathways. Adding to this complexity, primary cilia exhibit multiple roles in a context‐dependent manner. On renal epithelial cells, primary cilia act as mechanosensors and trigger extracellular Ca²⁺ influx in response to laminar fluid flow. During mammalian development, primary cilia mediate the Hedgehog (Hh), Wnt, and Notch pathways, which control cell proliferation and differentiation, and tissue morphogenesis. Further, experimental evidence suggests the developmental state of the kidney strongly influences renal cystic disease. Thus, we review evidence for regulation of Ca²⁺ and cAMP, key molecules in renal cystogenesis, at the primary cilium, the role of Hh, Wnt, and Notch signaling in renal cystic disease, and the interplay between these developmental pathways and Ca²⁺ signaling. Indeed if these developmental pathways influence renal cystogenesis, these may represent novel therapeutic targets that can be integrated into a combination therapy for renal cystic disease. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 102:159–173, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Gametes alter the oviductal secretory proteome

The mammalian oviduct provides an optimal environment for the maturation of gametes, fertilization, and early embryonic development. Secretory cells lining the lumen of the mammalian oviduct synthesize and secrete proteins that have been shown to interact with and influence the activities of gametes and embryos. We hypothesized that the presence of gametes in the oviduct alters the oviductal secretory proteomic profile. We used a combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to identify oviductal protein secretions that were altered in response to the presence of gametes in the oviduct. The oviductal response to spermatozoa was different from its response to oocytes as verified by Western blotting. The presence of spermatozoa or oocytes in the oviduct altered the secretion of specific proteins. Most of these proteins are known to have an influence on gamete maturation, viability, and function, and there is evidence to suggest these proteins may prepare the oviductal environment for arrival of the zygote. Our findings suggest the presence of a gamete recognition system within the oviduct capable of distinguishing between spermatozoa and oocytes.     

Chimonocalamus bidoupensis,a new temperate bamboo species (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from Bidoup National Park,southern Vietnam

A new temperate wood bamboo endemic to Vietnam is described and illustrated as Chimonocalamus bidoupensis N.H.Nghia & V.T.Tran. The new species is similar to C. baviensis in general appearance, but differs by its densely ciliate culms, culm sheaths that are concave at the apex with dense, white hairs on the abaxial surface of the sheath, and perfect florets 7–8 mm long.     

Structural features and molecular evolution of Bowman-Birk protease inhibitors and their potential application

The Bowman-Birk inhibitors (BBIs) are well-studied serine protease inhibitors that are abundant in dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants. BBIs from dicots usually have a molecular weight of 8k and are double-headed with two reactive sites, whereas those from monocots can be divided into two classes, one approximately 8 kDa in size with one reactive site (another reactive site was lost) and the other approximately 16 kDa in size with two reactive sites. The reactive site is located at unique exposed surfaces formed by a disulfide-linked β-sheet loop that is highly conserved, rigid and mostly composed of nine residues. The structural features and molecular evolution of inhibitors are described, focusing on the conserved disulfide bridges. The sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1), with 14 amino acid residues, is a recently discovered bicyclic inhibitor, and is the most small and potent naturally occurring Bowman-Birk inhibitor.Recently, BBIs have become a hot topic because of their potential applications. BBIs are now used for defense against pathogens and insects in transgenic plants, which has advantages over using toxic and polluting insecticides. BBIs could also be applied in the prevention of cancer, Dengue fever, and inflammatory and allergic disorders, because of their inhibitory activity with respect to the serine proteases that play apivotal role in the development and pathogenesis of these diseases. The canonical nine-residue loop of BBIs/STH-1 provides an ideal template for drug design of specific inhibitors to target their respective proteases.     

压力蒸汽灭菌指示剂的筛选和效果验证

利用结晶物质在一定温度下熔融的特性,通过对几种灭菌指示剂内容物进行熔点测定,选出苯甲酸化学试剂和升华硫化学试剂作为高压灭菌指示剂和灭菌参考指示剂。试验表明,这两种指示剂终点明确,简便快速,价格便宜,能满足121℃高压灭菌的温度要求,可以对高压灭菌的日常监测提供依据。     

太湖湖滨生态修复区大型底栖动物群落结构及梯度分布

2010—2011年对太湖贡湖湾湖滨带生态修复区滨岸挺水植物带(Ⅰ)、湾相沉水植物带(Ⅱ)和堰外开敞水体(Ⅲ)3个滨岸生境梯度带的水质状况和底栖动物群落特征进行了研究。结果表明:调查共发现底栖动物13科18种,其中仅出现于1个生境梯度带的物种7个;在其余的11个物种中,有5个种群的密度在生境梯度带间存在显著差异;比较发现,按底栖动物摄食功能类群的相对比例,刮食者相对丰度在带Ⅰ最高,收集者在带Ⅱ最高,滤食者在带Ⅲ最高,不同生境梯度带间底栖动物的摄食功能类群构成存在显著差异。对底栖动物相对丰度和水环境参数的冗余分析显示,环节动物和昆虫与DO、NO3--N和PO43--P浓度正相关,软体动物则与NO3--N和PO43--P负相关,一些腹足类对低DO耐受能力较强,与NH4+-N和COD正相关。修复区3个梯度带水动力条件、水质状况和底质类型的差异性对底栖动物的分布有重要影响,形成了生活习性、摄食特征等显著不同的3个底栖动物群落。     

A modular neural network architecture for pattern classification based on different feature sets

We propose a novel connectionist method for the use of different feature sets in pattern classification. Unlike traditional methods, e.g., combination of multiple classifiers and use of a composite feature set, our method copes with the problem based on an idea of soft competition on different feature sets developed in our earlier work. An alternative modular neural network architecture is proposed to provide a more effective implementation of soft competition on different feature sets. The proposed architecture is interpreted as a generalized finite mixture model and, therefore, parameter estimation is treated as a maximum likelihood problem. An EM algorithm is derived for parameter estimation and, moreover, a model selection method is proposed to fit the proposed architecture to a specific problem. Comparative results are presented for the real world problem of speaker identification.