HY（张虎勇） Zhang

Gene deficiency and pharmacological inhibition of caspase-1 confers resilience to chronic social defeat stress via regulating the stability of surface AMPARs

Both inflammatory processes and glutamatergic systems have been implicated in the pathophysiology of mood-related disorders. However, the role of caspase-1, a classic inflammatory caspase, in behavioral responses to chronic stress remains largely unknown. To address this issue, we examined the effects and underlying mechanisms of caspase-1 on preclinical murine models of depression. We found that loss of caspase-1 expression in Caspase-1−/− knockout mice alleviated chronic stress-induced depression-like behaviors, whereas overexpression of caspase-1 in the hippocampus of wild-type (WT) mice was sufficient to induce depression- and anxiety-like behaviors. Furthermore, chronic stress reduced glutamatergic neurotransmission and decreased surface expression of glutamate receptors in hippocampal pyramidal neurons of WT mice, but not Caspase-1−/− mice. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of caspase-1-interleukin-1β (IL-1β) signaling pathway prevented the depression-like behaviors and the decrease in surface expression of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) in stressed WT mice. Finally, the effects of chronic stress on both depression- and anxiety-like behaviors can be mimicked by exogenous intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of IL-1β in both WT and Caspase-1−/− mice. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that an increase in the caspase-1/IL-1β axis facilitates AMPAR internalization in the hippocampus, which dysregulates glutamatergic synaptic transmission, eventually resulting in depression-like behaviors. These results may represent an endophenotype for chronic stress-induced depression.

RMF calculation and phenomenological formulas for the rms radii of light nuclei

The RMF (Relativistic Mean Field) calculations are performed systematically for light isotopes (A < 40) with NL-SH parameter set. The calculated binding energies and root mean square (rms) radii of light nuclei are discussed. On the basis of the theoretical calculations and the experimental data, we have suggested a group of phenomenological formulas for the neutron, proton and matter rms radii for nuclei with A < 40, including the drip-line nuclei. In these formulas, the effects of binding energies, isospin and separation energies are considered. These formulas not only agree to the experimental data for stable nuclei well, but also reproduce the abnormal large radii of nuclei near the drip-line that the previous empirical models fail to reproduce them

Calculation of the Griffith Cohesive Energy of the Ni3AlBx Symmetrical Grain Boundary

A Monte Carlo simulation, with the energetics described by the embedded atom method, has been employed to study the physical behaviour of boron atoms during relaxation of the Ni3AlBinfinity grain boundary. It has also been used to calculate not only the peak concentrations of Ni and B and the valley concentration of Al at the grain boundary, but also the dependence of the grain boundary cohesion on the B bulk concentration. During relaxation of impure Ni3Al grain boundaries, we suggest that, as the segregating species, the B atoms either insert into interstices in the grain boundary or substitute Ni atoms. Meanwhile, as the inducing species, they induce Ni atoms to substitute for Al atoms. Calculations show that in the equilibrium, when the B bulk concentration x increases from 0.1 to 0.9, the peak concentration of B increases, the peak concentration of Ni maximizes while the valley concentration of Al minimizes at x = 0.5. The calculations also show the best cohesion of the grain boundary at x = 0.5.

Excitation energy as a basic variable to control nuclear disassembly

Abstract: Thermodynamical features of Xe system is investigated as functions of temperature and freeze-out density in the frame of lattice gas model. The calculation shows different temperature dependence of physical observables at different freeze-out density. In this case, the critical temperature when the phase transition takes place depends on the freeze-out density. However, a unique critical excitation energy %and the same excitation reveals regardless of freeze-out density when the excitation energy is used as a variable instead of temperature. Moreover, the different behavior of other physical observables with temperature due to different ρf vanishes when excitation energy replaces temperature. It indicates that the excitation energy can be seen as a more basic quantity to control nuclear disassembly.