Using a Hybrid Multiattribute Decision-Making Model for Evaluating the Sustainable Development Potential of Characteristic Towns and Exploring Development Planning Strategies.

In recent years, with the development of 'China's new urbanization, the "characteristic town movement" with the development of industrial economy first has brought problems to a large number of rural settlements, such as no cultural planning, no consumption of industry, and no soul. Then, in reality, there are still a large number of rural settlements under the planning of the upper-level local government, with the goal of developing into a characteristic town in the future. Therefore, this study believes that there is an urgent need to build a framework for evaluating the construction potential of rural settlements with sustainable characteristic towns. Not only that but also a decision analysis model should be provided for real-world empirical cases. This model needs to cover the assessment of the sustainable development potential of characteristic towns as the goal and the formulation of improvement strategies. This study combines the data collection of current characteristic town development rating reports, applies data exploration technology to extract core impact elements and obtain hierarchical decision rules, integrates expert domain knowledge with DEMATEL technology, and establishes an impact network relationship diagram between core impact elements. At the same time, the representative characteristic town cases are assessed for their sustainable development potential, and the modified VIKOR technique is applied to clarify the actual problems of the empirical cases, in an attempt to determine whether the development potential and development plan of the characteristic town meet the sustainable development needs from the pre-evaluation mechanism.

Lattice-strained palladium nanoparticles as active catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction.

Introduction of lattice strain into catalysts is a facile way to modify catalytic behaviour. Here, we report the synthesis of Pd nanoparticles with compressive strain by pulsed laser ablation of a Pd target immersed in an aqueous solution. The intensive quenching effect induces obvious compressive strain which improves the ORR performance of the Pd nanoparticles significantly.

The regulation of immune cells by Lactobacilli: a potential therapeutic target for anti-atherosclerosis therapy.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease regulated by several immune cells including lymphocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. Gut probiotic bacteria like Lactobacilli have been shown immunomodificatory effects in the progression of atherogenesis. Some Lactobacillus stains can upregulate the activity of regulatory T-lymphocytes, suppress T-lymphocyte helper (Th) cells Th1, Th17, alter the Th1/Th2 ratio, influence the subsets ratio of M1/M2 macrophages, inhibit foam cell formation by suppressing macrophage phagocytosis of oxidized low-density lipoprotein, block the activation of the immune system with dendritic cells, which are expected to suppress the atherosclerosis-related inflammation. However, various strains can have various effects on inflammation. Some other Lactobacillus strains were found have potential pro-atherogenic effect through promote Th1 cell activity, increase pro-inflammatory cytokines levels as well as decrease anti-inflammatory cytokines levels. Thus, identifying the appropriate strains is essential to the therapeutic potential of Lactobacilli as an anti-atherosclerotic therapy.

Low NT-proBNP levels: An early sign for the diagnosis of ischemic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is seen to be mostly elevated in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). However, cases of AHF presenting with low NT-proBNP levels have been reported. In this study designed to investigate the factors associated with low NT-proBNP levels in AHF patients, we discovered that etiology and related factors have an influence on NT-proBNP levels. METHODS: In this study, 154 AHF patients met the study criteria (117 men, median age 74years; left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 46±13%; New York Heart Association [NYHA] classes II-IV). We analyzed the different clinical variables of patients based on plasma NT-proBNP levels. In addition, we identified the differences in NT-proBNP levels between ischemic and non-ischemic etiologies, as well as the relationships between time from symptom onset to ED visit and NT-proBNP levels. RESULTS: The group with low NT-proBNP levels showed an ischemic association, higher LVEF, lower NYHA class and shorter time from symptom onset to ED visit. Plasma NT-proBNP levels were lower in the ischemic group than in the non-ischemic group (P<0.01). Meanwhile, NT-proBNP levels were relatively low in patients during early phases of AHF hospitalization and increased with time from symptom onset to ED visit (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: We inferred that low NT-proBNP levels may infer the ischemic etiology especially in patients with normal LVEF in the early phases of AHF hospitalization.

Role of tetraspanin CD151-α3/α6 integrin complex: Implication in angiogenesis CD151-integrin complex in angiogenesis.

Tetraspanin CD151 mainly associates with laminin-binding integrins and forms CD151-integrin complex. We previously reported that CD151 could be a potential target for angiogenesis, but the mechanisms involved are still unclear. This study investigated the role of CD151-integrin complex in angiogenesis and the signaling mechanisms involved. Here we showed that CD151 and CD151-AAA mutant were both well expressed at the protein level. CD151 gene transfer promoted angiogenesis and improved skin temperature of the lateral ischemic hindlimb, whereas CD151-AAA mutant abrogated the increase in capillary density and skin temperature. Further, CD151-AAA mutant failed to activate the FAK, ERK, PI3K/Akt/eNOS, and Rac1/Cdc42 signaling pathways. Moreover, CD151-AAA mutant was unavailable to promote bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) proliferation and migration, in contrast to the effects of CD151. The results suggested that formation of CD151-integrin complex was likely to be a prerequisite for CD151-induced angiogenesis and signaling pathways.

Adeno associated viral vector-delivered and hypoxia response element-regulated CD151 expression in ischemic rat heart.

AIM: The aim of this study was to improve the delivery efficacy and target specificity of the pro-angiogenic gene CD151 to the ischemic heart. METHODS: To achieve the inducible expression of adeno-associated viral (AAV)-delivered CD151 gene in only the ischemic myocardium, we generated an AAV construct in which CD151 expression can be controlled by the hypoxia response element (HRE) sequence from the human Enolase gene. The function of this vector was examined in rat H9C2 cardiac myoblasts and in ischemic rat myocardium. The expression of CD151 in the areas of ischemic myocardium was confirmed at the mRNA level by real-time PCR and on the protein level by Western blot, whereas the CD151 expression in the microvessels within the areas of ischemic myocardium was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: HRE significantly enhances the expression of CD151 under hypoxic conditions or in the ischemic myocardium, and forced CD151 expression increases the number of microvessels in the ischemic myocardium. CONCLUSION: The AAV-mediated, HRE regulated delivery of the CD151 gene shows higher expression in the ischemic myocardium and more efficiently targets CD151 to the hypoxic regions after myocardial infarction.

Activation of the ERK signaling pathway is involved in CD151-induced angiogenic effects on the formation of CD151-integrin complexes.

AIM: To assess the roles of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and CD151-integrin complexes on proliferation, migration, and tube formation activities of CD151-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: CD151, anti-CD151 and CD151-AAA mutant were inserted into recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors and used to transfect HUVECs. After transfection, the expression of CD151 was measured. Proliferation was assessed using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell migration was evaluated in Boyden transwell chambers using FBS as the chemotactic stimulus. The tube formation assay was performed on matrigel. The potential involvement of various signaling pathways was explored using selective inhibitors. RESULTS: CD151 gene delivery increased the expression of CD151 at both the mRNA and protein levels. Overexpression of CD151 promoted cell proliferation, migration and tube formation in vitro, and phosphorylation of ERK was also increased. Further, CD151-induced cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation were attenuated by the ERK inhibitor PD98059 (20 micromol/L) but not by a p38 inhibitor (SB203580, 20 micromol/L). Moreover, there was no significant difference in CD151 protein expression between the CD151 group and the CD151-AAA group, but the CD151-AAA mutant abrogated cellular proliferation, migration, and tube formation and decreased the phosphorylation of ERK. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that activation of the ERK signaling pathway may be involved in the angiogenic effects of CD151. Activation of ERK was dependent on the formation of CD151-integrin complexes. Therefore modulation of CD151 may be as a novel therapeutic strategy for regulating angiogenesis.