Functions of ULK1 in autophagy and non-autophagy pathways and its implications in human physiology and disease

ULK1 (unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1), a mammalian serine/threonine kinase, is a key component of autophagy initiation complex and helps to induce all types of autophagy. Canonical autophagy is a process in which, through the interactions of a series of autophagy-related proteins, damaged organelles or misfolded proteins are engulfed by autophagosomes and then merged with lysosomes to be degraded. Thus, canonical autophagy is an important constituent part of the cellular “quality control.” Besides, accumulating evidence indicates that ULK1 exerts autophagy-independent effects in a cell-specific manner. For example, ULK1 facilitates neurite elongation through the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–Golgi trafficking in neurons, stimulates phosphopentose pathway to help NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen) production, and acts as a duplex regulator in type I IFN (type I interferon) induced innate immune response. Considering the importance and diversity of ULK1 in various biological processes, this review aims to present a comprehensive overview of autophagy and non-autophagy related functions of ULK1 in a variety of human physiological, pathological, and disease processes.     

Microenvironment and related genes predict outcomes of patients with cervical cancer: evidence from TCGA and bioinformatic analysis

Cervical cancer (CESC) is one of the most common cancers and affects the female genital tract. Consistent HPV infection status has been determined to be a vital cause of tumorigenesis. HPV infection may induce changes to the immune system and limit the host’s immune response. Immunotherapy is therefore essential to improving the overall survival of both locally advanced and recurrent CESC patients. Using 304 relevant samples from TCGA, we assessed immune cell function in CESC patients to better understand the status of both tumor micro-environment cells and immune cells in CESC. Functional enrichment analysis, pathway enrichment analysis, and PPI network construction were performed to explore the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The analysis identified 425 DEGs, which included 295 up-regulated genes and 130 down-regulated genes. We established that upregulation of CCL5 was correlated with significantly better survival, meaning that CCL5 expression could serve as a novel prognostic biomarker for CESC patients. We further focused on CCL5 as a hub gene in CESC, as it had significant correlations with increased numbers of several types of immune cells. Cell-type fractions of M1 macrophages were significantly higher in the high-immune-scores group, which was associated with better overall survival. Finally, we concluded that CCL5 is a promising prognostic biomarker for CESC, as well as a novel chemotherapeutic target.     

Combination of vegetable soup and glucan demonstrates synergistic effects on macrophage-mediated immune responses

Vegetable soup (VS), a plant-based functional food, has been used as a traditional folk medicine and is attracting attention for its ability to enhance the immune response. β-Glucan, a well-established and effective immunomodulator, has synergistic effects when used in combination with some bioactive compounds. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the synergistic immunomodulatory effects of the combination of VS and β-glucan on macrophage-mediated immune responses. β-Glucan was demonstrated to synergistically enhance the VS-stimulated immune response, including the production of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nitric oxide, mainly through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in macrophages. In addition, this combination has the potential for further development in functional foods with immune-enhancing activity.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-021-00888-x.     

Detector physics and simulation of resistive plate chambers

We present a simulation model suited to study efficiency, timing and pulse-height spectra of Resistive Plate Chambers. After discussing the details of primary ionisation, avalanche multiplication, signal induction and frontend electronics, we apply the model to timing RPCs with time resolution down to 50 ps and trigger RPCs with time resolution of about 1 ns.     

半导体芯片厂有害气体检测器使用经验之探讨

本文除概略介绍气体检测器的种类处，主要对气体检测器的原理和在实际使用中的局限性作一基本归纳叙述。限于篇幅，本文将论述的重点放在气体检测器的选用与设置规划上，提出个人的一点心得与看法，以作为未来设置气体检测器系统时之参考。     

Accurate depth profiling through energy-dependent pulse height deficit compensation in gas ionization detectors

The impact of the pulse height deficit effect in gas ionization detectors on the accurate extraction of depth information from heavy ion elastic recoil detection spectra has been investigated. Thin GaN films and Ge_xSi_1−x/Si heterostructures have been analyzed with a 200 MeV ¹⁹⁷Au beam. Employing an empirical parameterisation of the pulse height deficit, a global energy calibration of the detector can be achieved. Energy spectra have been compared, calibrated with either a constant or a full energy-dependent compensation for the deficit. A constant compensation results in significant distortion of the extracted depth profile for heavier ions, whereas an energy-dependent compensation yields true concentration–depth profiles.     

PtSi／p－Si肖特基势垒红外探测器的研制

介绍了ＰｔＳｉ／ｐ－Ｓｉ肖特基势垒红外探测器（简称ＩＲ－ＳＢＤ）的优化结构及探测机理，给出了探测器的光增益模型，并对器件进行了制作及性能测试。器件在７７Ｋ下，反偏４Ｖ时的反向漏电流为５×１０（－６）μＡ，对１．５２μｍ红外光的灵敏度为２．６９×１０（－２）Ａ／Ｗ，量子效率为２．４％。     

A variable rate multipulse speech coder for CDMA cellular systems

Variable Rate (VR) speech coders are classified into: source-controlled VR coders where the rate is selected depending on the local character of the speech, and network-controlled VR coders where an external control signal selects the coding rate. The first category benefits from the variable rate channels used by Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mobile communications. The second category is indispensable for the right behaviour of the CDMA systems under conditions as high traffic levels. The VR speech coder presented in this communication exhibits both types of control. The source control is achieved by means of a Voice Activity Detector (VAD) and a phonetic classifier. The network control acts on the selection procedure of the multipulse excitation sequence to the synthesis filter. This is the main advantage of our VR MultiPulse speech coder because by means of an external signal the bit rate can be changed only every 4 msec, without transitions or distortions. Considering one-way communication, six different operating rates can be externally selected ranging from 4.8 to 9.1 kbps for the active frames; an average bit rate of 380 bps is required for the noise frames.This work has been partly funded by the Spanish Research National Plan under grant no. TIC92-0800-C05-02 and by Northern Telecom.     

一种新型无突变自动高压电源

本文介绍一种新型高压直流电源，它的输出高压的提升、下降均自动、无级、缓慢地变化，无突变现象，尤其在电网供电突然中断时，也能使用高压自动、缓慢地下降到０。它用于半导体放射性射线探测器，可以避免由于操作的粗心或电网供电突然中继引起高压快速变化或而产生的对该类昂贵探测器及其附件的损害，使探测器的优良性能得以保持。     

双面肖特基势垒型GaAs粒子探测器的电特性研究

研究了有源面积为９ｍｍ２的双面肖特基势垒ＧａＡｓ粒子探测器的电特性。器件工艺简单，结构新颖，反向耐压高于３００Ｖ，反向漏电流密度低（９１ｎＡ／ｍｍ２），该器件能经受能量为１．５ＭｅＶ、剂量为１０００ｋＧｙ的电子照射，电特性正常，是一种抗辐照的粒子探测器。