Neurospheres from rat adipose-derived stem cells could be induced into functional Schwann cell-like cells in vitro

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Schwann cells (SC) which are myelin-forming cells in peripheral nervous system are very useful for the treatment of diseases of peripheral nervous system and central nervous system. However, it is difficult to obtain sufficient large number of SC for clinical use, so alternative cell systems are desired.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using a procedure similar to the one used for propagation of neural stem cells, we could induce rat adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) into floating neurospheres. In addition to being able to differentiate into neuronal- and glial-like cells, neurospheres could be induced to differentiate into SC-like cells. SC-like cells were bi- or tri-polar in shape and immunopositive for nestin and SC markers p75, GFAP and S-100, identical to genuine SC. We also found that SC-like cells could induce the differentiation of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells efficiently, perhaps through secretion of soluble substances. We showed further that SC-like cells could form myelin structures with PC12 cell neurites in vitro.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings indicated that ADSC could differentiate into SC-like cells in terms of morphology, phenotype and functional capacities. SC-like cells induced from ADSC may be useful for the treatment of neurological diseases.</p

Enhanced effect of microdystrophin gene transfection by HSV-VP22 mediated intercellular protein transport

Background: Duchenne musclar dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disease caused by mutations of dystrophin gene, there is no effective treatment for this disorder at present. Plasmidmediated gene therapy is a promising therapeutical approach for the treatment of DMD. One of the major issues with plasmid-mediated gene therapy for DMD is poor transfection efficiency and distribution. The herpes simplex virus protein VP22 has the capacity to spread from a primary transduced cell to surrounding cells and improve the outcome of gene transfer. To improve the efficiency of plasmid-mediated gene therapy and investigate the utility of the intercellular trafficking properties of VP22-linked protein for the treatment for DMD, expression vectors for C-terminal versions of VP22-microdystrophin fusion protein was constructed and the VP22-mediated shuttle effect was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Results: Our results clearly demonstrate that the VP22-microdystrophin fusion protein could transport into C2C12 cells from 3T3 cells, moreover, the VP22-microdystrophin fusion protein enhanced greatly the amount of microdystrophin that accumulated following microdystrophin gene transfer in both transfected 3T3 cells and in the muscles of dystrophin-deficient (mdx) mice. Conclusion: These results highlight the efficiency of the VP22-mediated intercellular protein delivery for potential therapy of DMD and suggested that protein transduction may be a potential and versatile tool to enhance the effects of gene delivery for somatic gene therapy of DMD.National Natural Science Foundation of China (30370510, 30170337); CMB Fund (4209347); the Key Project of the State Ministry of Public Health (2001321); and National Nature Science Foundation of China (30400322)

Evaluating soil erosion and sediment deposition rates by &amp;#160;137Cs fingerprinting technique at different karst hillslope positions &amp;#160;in Yunnan Province, southwest China

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In karst environments, soil erosion is a &amp;amp;#160;prominent environmental issue that can cause many other problems. Researching the erosion and deposition rates at the hillslope scale in small watersheds is important for designing efficient soil and water conservation measures for the small watersheds even the large scale areas. In our research, the closed watershed, a representative depression in karst gabin basin, located in the Yunnan province, Southwest China, was selected to assess the soil erosion and sediment mobilisation at different hillslope positions using the &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;137&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;Cs tracing technique. The results showed that the soil erosion rates in the shoulders, backslopes and footslopes were 0.87, 0.35 and 0.49 cm a&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;, respectively, meanwhile the soil sediment rate in depression bottom was 2.68 cm a&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;. The average annual soil erosion modulus of the complete hillslope was 632 t km&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-2&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;a&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;, which confirmed the serious gradation according to karst soil erosion standards. The sediment delivery ratio would summarize 0.82 in the whole catchment according to the square of hillslope and depression bottom. To identify which factor could play the most important role in influencing the estimations using &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;137&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;Cs, a linear correlation and Principal Component Analysis were conducted. The results showed &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;137&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;Cs concentration of different soil depth at different hillslope positions were significantly correlated with soil organic matter (SOM) and total nitrogen (TN) (P&amp;lt;0.05). As the typical karst geomorphological types, these findings are expected to provide data support for the whole watershed soil erosion management and ecological restoration in &amp;amp;#160;fragile karst ecosystem.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</jats:p

Anthropogenic and precipitation factors affecting karst soil erosion in the Nandong Underground River System in Yunnan, Southwest China

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In&amp;amp;#160; karst areas, underground riverine sediment has been widely used to reflect the subterranean stream basin erosion, which influenced by both of precipitation and anthropogenic factors. In this study, 15-years of the sediment yield across Nandong underground river system of China were monitored, Mann-Kendal mutation test and simple proxy indicators were used for detecting the influences of human activities and precititation on sediment yield. The results showed that: 1) both of the anthropologic factor and rainfall impacted sediment yield, although the influence of anthropologic factor on sediment yield was greater (76.38%), and 2) rainfall showed a hysteresis effect on soil and water loss. There were three distinct stages based on the mutation points and variation characteristics of sediment yield from 1998 to 2014, resulting from different driving forces. Before 2004, the decease of sediment yield was caused by natural forest protection project in the whole basin. During 2004 to 2008, because of drought, flood disaster and cultivation on steeper slope, sediment yield of the basin increased. After 2009, sediment yield decreases due to the construction of soil conservation projects and mushrooming reservoirs. As human population is expected to increase, these findings are expected to provide insights for watershed management and ecological restoration in the fragile karst ecosystem.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</jats:p

Landscape Pattern Changes Affect Runoff and Sediment Yield in the Nandong Underground River System in Southwest China

Since 2008, soil and water treatment and ecological restoration have been applied in the karst areas of Southwest China, but the effect of the treatments in karst fault basins is not clear. As a typical watershed of a faulted basin, studying the influence of landscape pattern changes on runoff and sediment yields in the Nandong underground river system (NURS) helps to establish the relationship between watershed and runoff and sediment changes. It provides a theoretical basis and effective method for water and soil management assessment, and soil and water treatment in karst fault basins. The vegetation topographic factor (VTF) was constructed using the normalized vegetation index (NDVI), digital elevation model (DEM) and water-system map from 2000 to 2018. On the basis of VTF classification, the vegetation topographic landscape index (VTLI) was calculated using the FRAGSTATS software, and the effects of VTLI changes on NURS runoff and sediment yield were analyzed. The study found the following: (1) PD, IJI, LSI and SHDI were positively correlated with runoff and sediment yield (p p p < 0.05), and the correlation coefficients were −0.179 and 0.271, respectively. (2) The interpretation of VTLI for runoff increased from 0.639 to 0.778, and the interpretation of sediment transport decreased from 0.809 to 0.613. (3) In urban areas, VTF decreased and was persistent. VTF increased in the basin mountain edge area. In mountainous areas, VTF was unchanged, but has an antipersistence trend. The NURS ecological restoration project had achieved obvious results, and the change in the watershed increased runoff production and reduced sediment production. The capacity of soil and water conservation in the high slope area of the mountain edge of the basin recovered and showed a trend of sustainable development. Due to the urban expansion brought about by economic development, the capacity of soil and water conservation around the city has declined, and it showed a sustainable development trend. Policymakers should strengthen the ecological environment of urban areas and coordinate development within mountainous areas

Landscape Pattern Changes Affect Runoff and Sediment Yield in the Nandong Underground River System in Southwest China

Since 2008, soil and water treatment and ecological restoration have been applied in the karst areas of Southwest China, but the effect of the treatments in karst fault basins is not clear. As a typical watershed of a faulted basin, studying the influence of landscape pattern changes on runoff and sediment yields in the Nandong underground river system (NURS) helps to establish the relationship between watershed and runoff and sediment changes. It provides a theoretical basis and effective method for water and soil management assessment, and soil and water treatment in karst fault basins. The vegetation topographic factor (VTF) was constructed using the normalized vegetation index (NDVI), digital elevation model (DEM) and water-system map from 2000 to 2018. On the basis of VTF classification, the vegetation topographic landscape index (VTLI) was calculated using the FRAGSTATS software, and the effects of VTLI changes on NURS runoff and sediment yield were analyzed. The study found the following: (1) PD, IJI, LSI and SHDI were positively correlated with runoff and sediment yield (p &lt; 0.01), and the correlation coefficients were 0.693, 0.668, 0.551 and 0.582 and 0.62, 0.635, 0.627 and 0.63, respectively. AI and CONNECT were significantly negatively correlated with runoff and sediment yield (p &lt; 0.01), and the correlation coefficients were −0.551 and −0.596, −0.627 and −0.446, respectively. The LPI and DIVISION index were not significantly correlated with discharge, but were significantly correlated with sediment yield (p &lt; 0.05), and the correlation coefficients were −0.179 and 0.271, respectively. (2) The interpretation of VTLI for runoff increased from 0.639 to 0.778, and the interpretation of sediment transport decreased from 0.809 to 0.613. (3) In urban areas, VTF decreased and was persistent. VTF increased in the basin mountain edge area. In mountainous areas, VTF was unchanged, but has an antipersistence trend. The NURS ecological restoration project had achieved obvious results, and the change in the watershed increased runoff production and reduced sediment production. The capacity of soil and water conservation in the high slope area of the mountain edge of the basin recovered and showed a trend of sustainable development. Due to the urban expansion brought about by economic development, the capacity of soil and water conservation around the city has declined, and it showed a sustainable development trend. Policymakers should strengthen the ecological environment of urban areas and coordinate development within mountainous areas.</jats:p

Grating Spectrum Design and Optimization of GMM-FBG Current Sensor

In this study, the performance of a current sensor based on giant magnetostrictive materials (GMM) and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) has been improved by optimizing the spectral characteristics of gratings. By analyzing the influence of FBG on the current sensor characteristics, three key parameters (gate region length, refractive index modulation depth, and toe cutting system) are selected for optimization. The optimal grating parameters are determined to improve the linearity and sensitivity of sensor output. Experimental tests reveal that after grating optimization, the current sensor shows excellent performance parameters, including a linearity of 0.9942, sensitivity of 249.75 mV/A, and good stability in the temperature range of 0–60 °C. This research can provide a reference for improving the grating design and performance of existing GMM-FBG current sensors