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The aim of this study is to prepare epoxy/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/glass fiber (GF) composites (EPGs) with the unique characteristics of low friction and high wear resistance based on triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC). The tribological properties of composites with different filler ratios under different working conditions were systematically studied. At the maximum filler content of 40 wt% PTFE, the minimum coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate reached 0.079 and 0.45 - 10°6 mm³/N-m. The hardness decreased by 44.2% and the density increased by 18.3%. The worn surfaces and transfer films were observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The increasing tendency of velocity and amplitude is beneficial to reduce the carbon-rich region and further enhance the formation of transfer films. It is proved that the tribological properties of TGIC-based epoxy composites are higher than those of other types of epoxy composites. This study offers great insight into the tribological applications of TGIC-based epoxy composites. Highlights • Epoxy/PTFE/GF composites (EPGs) were prepared using TGIC as the base material. • EPGs have good mechanical and tribological properties. • The COF of EPG3 reaches 0.079 and the wear rate becomes 0.45 x 10°6 mm3/(N-m). • The increasing tendency of velocity and amplitude is beneficial to reduce the carbon-rich region and further enhance the formation of transfer films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently isolated an exon-4-deleted epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) variant, termed de4 EGFR. Because the extracellular domain alteration of receptors often influences the antitumor effect of therapeutic antibodies, it is essential to test the sensitivity of de4 EGFR+ tumors to anti-EGFR antibodies. Therefore, in this study, the antitumor activities of mAb CH12, an anti-EGFRvIII antibody developed in our laboratory, as well as a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved anti-EGFR antibody, cetuximab (C225), were characterized on de4 EGFR+ models. The results of FACS assays showed that CH12 bound to de4 EGFR with a higher avidity than did C225. Interestingly, CH12, but not C225, significantly inhibited the metastasis and growth of U87MG-de4 EGFR xenografts, with a growth-inhibition ratio of 46.48% in vivo, and prolonged the survival of the tumor-bearing mice by 37.2%. Treatment with CH12 significantly suppressed tumor proliferation and angiogenesis with increased tumor apoptosis. Mechanistically, de4 EGFR protein expression was virtually undetectable in the U87MG-de4 EGFR xenografts treated with CH12. This may account for the observed reduction of Akt and Erk phosphorylation, cyclin D1, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL expression and the increase of p27 and E-cadherin expression. Intriguingly, LAMP-1, a major component of the lysosome, was significantly up-regulated in the CH12- treated group but not in the C225-treated group, suggesting its contribution to the degradation of de4 EGFR. Taken together, our data demonstrated that mAb CH12 is a promising therapeutic agent for treating de4 EGFR+ gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A complex perovskite Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 (BMT) ceramic sample with an almost ideal ordering of B-site cations was prepared by the conventional solid-state reactions and its infrared (IR) reflective spectrum in the range 50-5000 cm-1 was measured at room temperature. IR symmetry coordinates and their polar directions of the BMT sample were analyzed based on group theory. Eigenfrequencies, intensities, and transverse optical mode and longitudinal optical mode splitting of 16 IR vibrational modes were obtained based on the first-principle calculation and these modes were represented by the linear combinations of the symmetry coordinates. Far infrared reflection spectrum of BMT ceramic sample was fitted by the four-parameter semiquantum model (FPSQ) and assigned based on the calculation results. Generally, the heavier atoms with lower valence have more contributions to the lower frequency modes, while lighter atoms or higher valence atoms often have more contributions to the higher frequency modes. FPSQ fitting shows that the modes Eu(5) (~241 cm-1) and Eu(4) (B220 cm-1) dominated by the vibration of high-valence cation Ta5+ in [TaO6] octahedra play the most important role for dielectric constant ϵ and dielectric loss tan δ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The samples of complex perovskite Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 (BMT) were synthesized at various sintering temperatures and the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and Raman spectra of the samples were collected. Both the structure refinements using the XRD data and the Raman spectra show that the samples sintered above 1500°C with high pellet relative density (>95%) take almost-perfect B-site-ordered structure; while the samples sintered below 1400°C with low pellet relative density (<70%) take the more disordered structure at B-sites. The vibrational modes of 1:2 ordered BMT were obtained and illustrated by using first-principle calculations. With the assistance of the calculation results, Raman peaks of BMT were assigned as A1g(1) (107 cm−1), A1g(2) (212 cm−1), A1g(3) (433 cm−1), A1g(4) (798 cm−1), and Eg(1) (104 cm−1), Eg(2) (160 cm−1), Eg(3) (264 cm−1), Eg(4) (386 cm−1), Eg(5) (576 cm−1). The highly ordered BMT sample at B-site shows longer phonon lifetime and weaker coupling among phonons than the disordered BMT, which probably are the intrinsic reasons for the highly ordered BMT sample to have the low dielectric loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title compound, C14H15ClN4O2+ C2O42-, was obtained as a 1:1 binary ionic compound. Two cations and two anions are connected via ionic N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to form an annulus with internal dimensions of about 8.5 × 9.5 A°, and these units are connected through O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to form a two-dimensional porous layer. Weak C—H⋯π and C—Cl⋯π [Cl⋯centroid = 3.575 (2) and 3.598 (2) Å ] interactions, together with strong π-π stacking interactions [centroid-to-centroid distance = 3.429 (3) Å], contribute to the stability of the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of colloidal unmodified (`naked') gold nanoparticles is investigated by irradiation of a precursor solution with X-rays from a synchrotron source. An interesting morphological evolution as a function of exposure time, from cross-linked network-like structure to individual particles, has been discovered. The particle size decreased with the exposure time and was influenced by the ionic strength of the precursor solution. Contrary to γ-ray exposure, an OH radical scavenger was not required for cluster formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normal adhering cells undergo apoptosis shortly after loss of adhesion to substratum, a phenomenon known as "anoikis." In-vitro-transformed cells and cancer-derived cells are able to survive and grow in the absence of anchorage to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and their neighboring cells. This represents one of the most important oncogenic properties of cancer cells. Integrin-ECM-mediated function is essential for survival and growth of normal adhering cells, while cancer cells are able to abrogate this requirement. This article will review and summarize the recent findings from our laboratory about the molecular signaling pathways important for the regulation of anchorage-independent survival and the growth of transformed fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Our study has shown that integrin-ECM-mediated signaling and cytoskeletal architecture play an essential role in effective recognition of the substrates by activated protein-tyrosine kinases (PTK) and their subsequent signaling functions. Among the various oncogenic PTK-activated pathways, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase {PI3K)/Akt signaling is the most critical for anchorage-independent survival and growth. The activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (Slat3) and its function overlap partially with that of the PT3K/Akt in promoting anchorage-independent growth. Among the Rho family guanosine triphosphatases (GTPase), Cdc42, and to some extent Rac1. also appear to be important for promoting anchorage-independent growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relation between the output power and input pump power and then the threshold pump power and slope efficiency of a four-level single mode fiber laser is analysed in terms of the four-level rate equations and the numerical results are in good agreement with the available experimental results by M. Shimizu (1987). Meanwhile, the theoretical model of this paper is simpler and more reasonable than that of Shimizu and is applied to design a single mode fiber laser as well as a single mode fiber amplifier with four-level material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dose measurements based on methylene blue (MB) bleaching, widely used for ultraviolet light, can also be applied to X-rays including very high flux levels. This method has been tested by using both MB bleaching and Fricke dosimetry for a conventional monochromatic X-ray source and then for 'white-beam' synchrotron radiation. The results show that MB bleaching dosimetry can easily measure X-ray doses up to at least 10[sup5] Gy s[sup-1], as long as the MB concentration is sufficiently high. This condition can be verified from the deviations from linearity of the bleaching versus exposure time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A subspace-based method is considered to deal with multiple near-field source localisation with a uniform circular array. The property of the centro-symmetric circular array configuration is employed and a matrix which is free of range is constructed. Then, the two-dimensional (2D)-MUSIC method is used to search the 2D angles after the range parameters are separated. After the 2D angles are estimated, a 1D-MUSIC method is used to estimate the corresponding ranges when the estimated 2D angles are substituted into the original form of the received data. It is shown that the proposed method can deal with the case of multiple near-field sources, but with lower computational complexity than that of the available 3D MUSIC method; moreover, the 3D parameters are automatically paired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the fault-tolerant control problem for a class of two independent wheeled mobile robot systems with actuator faults and unknown robot parameters. Partial loss of control effectiveness and bias-actuator faults are addressed without knowing eventually faulty information of actuators. Adaptive schemes are developed to estimate unknown faulty parameters of actuator faults and unknown robot parameters of viscous friction factor and driving gain. Then, the backstepping control technique is utilised to construct the state feed-back control strategy based on the adaptive estimations. By using the Lyapunov stability theory, it is shown that the forward speed and azimuthal angle of wheeled mobile robots can track the given trajectory asymptotically in the case of actuator faults and unknown parameters. The effectiveness of the proposed designs is illustrated via a mobile robot system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steer-by-wire (SbW) systems in road vehicles require an effective controller to provide accurate and robust steering performance. For this purpose, this study proposes an adaptive fast non-singular terminal sliding mode (AFNTSM) controller for an SbW system by combining an adaptive estimation law with a fast non-singular terminal sliding mode (FNTSM) control scheme. First, the authors present a model to identify the dynamics of the SbW system, in which the self-aligning torque and friction-related forces are treated as external disturbances. Second, the AFNTSM control design is elaborated, which is proved to be able to guarantee high tracking accuracy via effectively estimating the self-aligning torque, fast convergence rate owing to its exponential stability, strong robustness against system and road surface uncertainties, and inherently smooth control inputs. Subsequently, the selection criteria of the control parameters are given in details. Finally, experimental results are shown to demonstrate that the designed AFNTSM controller has great superiority in comparison with an FNTSM controller without adaptation and an adaptive sliding mode controller based on conventional sliding mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title complex, [Ni(C4H6N2)6]Cl2·2H2O, is a mononuclear complex in which the NiII ion, lying on a centre of inversion, is coordinated by six 1-methyl­imidazole ligands that define an octa­hedral geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a robust sliding mode learning control scheme is proposed to address the congestion control problem in differentiated services (DiffServ) networks. A validated non-linear network model is based on fluid flow theory corresponding to two important services, namely, the premium traffic and the ordinary traffic. The proposed congestion controller is able to efficiently cope with both the physical network resource constraints and unknown time delays associated with networking systems. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel atmospheric pressure plasma microjet (APPμJ) array is proposed to realize maskless parallel micropatterned etching of materials. Due to applying microfabrication technology, the dimension and distance of multiple jets in an array can be adjusted at a micro/nanoscale. However, interactions among multiple jets often lead to inconsistency of microjets and nonuniformity of sample etching. In this study, a 1 × 2 APPμJ array with 90-μm nozzles and varying jet-to-jet distance is developed. The effects of different operating factors on the consistency of the APPμJ array are investigated. The experiment results show that the consistency of the microjet array and uniformity of sample etching can be greatly improved by optimizing operating parameters, such as applied voltage, gas flow rate, and jet-to-jet distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) can be induced to differentiate into enteric neurons and to produce more nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). METHODS: Bone marrow stromal cells were harvested from male Sprague–Dawley rats and cultured in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum. The BMSC were passaged six times and characterized by flow cytometry. The BMSC were pre-induced by basic fibroblast growth factor (10 ng/mL) for 24 h, then induced with GDNF in fetal gut condition medium (FGCM) for 10 days. The expressions of neuronal markers neural specific enolase (NSE), neurofilament (NF), glial cell marker, glial fibrillary acedic protein (GFAP), and enteric neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and enteric neural transmitter vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were detected by fluorescent immunohistochemistry. Expression levels of GDNF and NGF mRNA were determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The cultured BMSC were CD90 (99.7%) positive and CD45 negative on flow cytometry. At day 10 of induction, 58.5 ± 10.8% cells adopted neuron-like morphological changes and showed expression of NSE (47.6 ± 7.5%), NF (75.6 ± 8.4%), GFAP (negative), PGP9.5 (57.7 ± 6.5%), nNOS (46.6 ± 5.4%) and VIP (72.3 ± 6.7%) by immunofluorescence. The BMSC expressed low levels of NGF and GDNF mRNA; however, after induction of GDNF in FGCM, the expression levels of NGF and GDNF mRNA were significantly increased. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow stromal cells have the potential to be induced to differentiate into enteric neurons, express enteric neural transmitters, and produce more NGF and GDNF. Therefore, BMSC could be used as new method to treat gastrointestinal motility disorders associated with enteric neural lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticle-based combination therapy strategy of photothermal therapy (PTT) and immunotherapy is an attractive cancer treatment for ablating tumors and eliciting host immune responses. However, this strategy is often hampered by tedious treatment process and limited immune response, and usually needs to be combined with checkpoint blockades to enhance therapeutic effect. Herein, a nanoplatform with mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) as a vector, which integrated photothermal agent polydopamine (PDA), model antigen ovalbumin (OVA), and antigen release promoter ammonium bicarbonate (ABC) in an easy way for melanoma PTT-immunotherapy is designed. The formulated MSNs-ABC@PDA-OVA nanovaccine exhibits excellent photothermal properties and effectively eliminates primary tumors. Under laser irradiation, the MSNs-ABC@PDA-OVA nanovaccine realizes rapid antigen release and endosome escape, enhances dendritic cells activation and maturation, facilitates migration to tumor-draining lymph nodes, and induces robust antitumor immune responses. Impressively, single injection of MSNs-ABC@PDA-OVA combines with single round of PTT successfully eradicates melanoma tumors with a cure rate of 75% and generates strong immunological memory to inhibit tumor recurrence and lung metastasis. Hence, the research offers a simple and promising strategy of synergistic PTT-immunotherapy to effectively treat cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reconstruction of large bone defects remains a significant challenge for orthopedists. Three-dimensional-printed (3DP) scaffold is considered a promising repair material. Static magnetic field (SMF) treatment is an effective and noninvasive therapeutic method to improve bone regeneration. However, the osteogenic effect of SMF on human bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) in 3DP scaffolds, as well as its potential mechanism, are unclear. In this study, the osteogenic effect of SMF on hBMSCs in a 3DP scaffold was investigated in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the potential mechanism for promoting osteogenesis was investigated by proteomic analysis. The results showed that SMF promoted osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs in vitro. A total of 185 differential proteins were identified under SMF conditions by proteomic analysis. The osteogenic effect might be associated with bone morphogenetic protein-Smad1/5/8-signaling pathway and increased transport of phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 and phosphorylated Smad2/3 to the nucleus by up-regulating Smad4 under SMF conditions. The in vivo experiment showed that bone regeneration and osseointegration was enhanced by SMF in the rat model of bone defect. In conclusion, moderate SMF was a safe and effective method for enhancing osteogenesis in 3DP scaffolds in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Different types of steppes could provide heterogeneous habitat environments for underground microorganisms, but much less is known about how soil microbes fit the distinct habitats and what are the underlying mechanisms in shaping their community patterns. 2. We simultaneously examined the community compositions and structures of soil bacteria, fungi, and diazotrophs across desert, typical, and meadow steppes in Inner Mongolia using high‐throughput sequencing. 3. The results showed that soil bacteria, fungi, and diazotrophs exhibited different distribution patterns across steppe types. Although different steppes displayed obvious differences in climate conditions, plant traits, and soil properties, most of bacterial species were shared by all the steppes while only a few species were unique, indicating that the soil bacterial compositions were hardly influenced by the steppe types. Nevertheless, the habitat heterogeneity could cause shifts in the relative abundance of some bacterial groups, which resulted in significant changes in the community structure of soil bacteria across steppes. However, the fungal community compositions and structures were similar in typical and meadow steppes but that in desert steppe were significantly different. Whereas, the community compositions and structures of diazotrophs were strongly related to the steppe types. In this study, the similar parent material backgrounds of the steppe soils might be the important factor in shaping the homologous bacterial compositions. However, the variations in soil fertility, soil water repellency, and plant species across steppes would be the major driving forces in regulating the compositions and structures of fungal communities, while the diazotrophic communities would be more closely related to the changes in plant traits and soil fertility among steppes. 4. Our results provided evidence of habitat specificity for different microbial groups and their underlying drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust sliding mode-based learning control scheme is newly developed for a class of uncertain discrete-time multi-input multi output systems. In particular, a recursive learning controller is designed to enforce the sliding variable vector to reach and remain on the intersection of the sliding surfaces, and the system dynamics is then guaranteed to asymptotically converge to zero on the pre-described sliding manifold with respect to uncertainty. The 'Lipschitz-like condition' for sliding mode control systems, which presents an essential property of the continuity of uncertain systems, is further extended to the discrete-time case establishing in this study. The appealing attributes of this approach include: (i) the knowledge of the bounds of the uncertainties is not required for the controller design, (ii) the closed-loop system exhibits a strong robustness against uncertain dynamics and (iii) the control scheme enjoys the chattering-free characteristic. Simulation results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Arginine kinase (AK) is expressed in a wide variety of species, including human food sources (seafood) and pests (cockroaches and moths), and has been reported as a novel allergen. However, there has been little research on the allergenicity of AK in crustaceans. In this study the physicochemical properties of AK from mud crab ( Scylla paramamosain) were investigated. RESULTS: Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting and inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that purified AK was unstable in thermal processing and in acid buffer. Under simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) conditions, purified AK was much more readily degraded by pepsin than by trypsin or chymotrypsin. The unpurified AK in crab myogen degraded more markedly than purified AK. In addition, in two-phase gastrointestinal digestion, AK was rapidly degraded by pepsin but resistant to trypsin and chymotrypsin digestion, while tropomyosin derived from mud crab was resistant to pepsin digestion but digested readily by trypsin or chymotrypsin. Further study of serum samples obtained from crab-allergic human patients indicated that the allergenicity of AK was markedly reduced by digestion with SGF but not SIF. CONCLUSION: AK is an important food allergen despite its unstable physicochemical properties of digestibility. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (5): 408–413 Background Four cardiac hormones synthesized by the same gene, i.e. atrial natriuretic peptide, vessel dilator, kaliuretic peptide and long-acting natriuretic peptide, have anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo. Epidermal growth factor’s mechanism of cancer formation involves the activation of Ras. Materials and methods These four cardiac hormones were evaluated for their ability to inhibit mitogen (epidermal growth factor) activation of Ras. Results Epidermal growth factor increased the activation of Ras by 68%, 85% and 90% at its 1, 2 and 5 ng mL−1 concentrations. Vessel dilator, long-acting natriuretic peptide, atrial natriuretic peptide and kaliuretic peptide inhibited 5 ng mL−1 epidermal growth factor’s stimulation of Ras by 73%, 79%, 33% and 45%, respectively, at their 1 μM concentrations. Their effects on epidermal growth factor’s activation of Ras were specific with addition of the cardiac hormones’ respective antibodies (5 μM) blocking 95%, 93%, 100% and 100% ( P < 0·001 for each) of their ability to inhibit epidermal growth factor’s stimulation of Ras. Conclusions Four cardiac hormones specifically inhibit epidermal growth factor’s activation of Ras. This investigation would suggest that these cardiac hormones’ anticancer effects involve the inhibition of mitogens such as epidermal growth factor’s ability to activate Ras as well as inhibiting unstimulated basal activity of Ras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] is a nonselective, postemergence herbicide that contains multiple functional groups, which can form strong coordination with metal cations to give bidentate and tridentate complexes. The complexation of glyphosate with metal cations may affect their distribution and bioavailability in soils. Adsorption kinetics of glyphosate and Cu(II) alone and together were studied using a continuous flow experimental setup on two soils with different characteristics at pH5.5. Four kinetic models, i.e., the Lagergren first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich, and power function equations, were successfully used to describe their adsorption kinetics. Among the four models, the Lagergren first-order kinetic model fit the experimental data of glyphosate and Cu(II) adsorption the best. Glyphosate significantly increased the adsorption quantity of Cu(II) on the Red soil (a Hapludult or Udic Ferrosol), due to the fact that Cu(II) was adsorbed on the sites where glyphosate had been strongly adsorbed. Glyphosate decreased the adsorption of Cu(II) on the Wushan soil (a Haplaquept or Anthrosol), however, because adsorption of glyphosate on this soil was weak and the complex of glyphosate and Cu(II) tended to be highly soluble in water, thus preventing Cu(II) from exchanging with Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions on the soil surface. On the other hand, the presence of Cu(II) decreased the adsorption of glyphosate on both soils, which may be attributed to the lower affinity of the Cu(II)-glyphosate complex to the soils than glyphosate alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the releasing properties and tissue-targeting characteristics of methotrexate-loaded red blood cells (MTX-RBCs), pharmacokinetics and tissue distributions of intravenous injected MTX-RBCs and free MTX were compared. MTX-RBCs were made from rat erythrocytes using a hypertonic method. After i.v. injection of MTX-RBCs or free MTX to rats, both plasma and tissue homogenate samples at each time-point were collected and analyzed by RP-HPLC. From this data, pharmacokinetic parameters and tissue distributions of MTX were obtained. MTX-RBCs were successfully produced by the hypertonic method. After i.v. injection, MTX-RBCs displayed more than three times longer half-life and MRT than free MTX, and the velocity of MTX clearance from plasma was much slower. The ratio of area under the concentration time curve (AUC)tissue to AUCplasma in the liver was clearly higher than that for other organs after MTX-RBCs administration; MRT in the liver was also longer. This study has demonstrated that the hypertonic method for making MTX-RBCs has led to a preparation with slow release properties as well as liver-targeting characteristics in rats. This approach offers considerable potential for the treatment of tumors in liver, which would merit further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrastructure of the tegument in Paraechinophallus japonicus (Bothriocephalidea: Echinophallidae), a cestode parasite of the bathypelagic fish Psenopsis anomala, was studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Paraechinophallus japonicus lacks a true scolex. Four different types of microtriches have been observed on the tegumental surface of P. japonicus. Capilliform (∼2.3-μm long) and blade-like spiniform (∼1.4-μm long) microtriches are intermingled on the surface of the pseudoscolex. Capilliform microtriches are distinct in possessing a short base and a long electron-lucent cap. The strobila is covered with two types of microtriches, namely filiform (∼2.1-μm long) and tusk-shaped microtriches (≤4.5-μm long). Tusk-shaped microtriches are limited to the posterior border of each proglottid and are characterized by a short and narrow base, and a large and wide, sharply pointed, electron-dense cap. Similar tusk-shaped microtriches were previously found in members of the family Echinophallidae and may represent an autapomorphy of echinophallid cestodes, all of them being parasitic in centrolophid fish. A unified terminology of microthrix parts is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the effect of sodium nitrite on the textural properties of cooked pork sausage during 0–21 days at 0–4C storage. Frankfurter-type cooked sausages were prepared at four levels of sodium nitrite (0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg). Texture profile analysis (TPA) attributes of cooked sausages changed as a result of different nitrite additions. Nitrite content was negatively correlated significantly with hardness and adhesiveness (P < 0.01), positively with cohesiveness (P < 0.01), springiness and resilience (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a principal component analysis was applied for reducing variables, based on the correlation of nitrite content and TPA parameters. It indicated that principal component 1 accounted for 65% reprehensive of hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness and resilience, and principal component 2 accounted for 16% relating mainly to chewiness. These two factors can explain the instrumental TPA attributes of cooked sausages by different sodium nitrite added during 21-day cold storage. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The effect of sodium nitrite on the textural properties of cooked sausage could be valuable to the meat industry in order to select the appropriate nitrite addition for improving the texture of sausage. Principal component analysis used in this article may provide a good statistical method in reducing and explaining textural parameters. Moreover, this research could be useful to the further study of the effect of nitrite on cured meat products, and to provide information and experimental results to solve the “nitrite problem” in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two kinds of solid solution systems of Ta-doped MgTiO3 were identified by X-ray diffraction, which can be represented by the formulae MgTi1− x(Mg1/3Ta2/3) xO3 (0≤ x<0.5) and MgTi1− xTa xO3 (0≤ x<0.05). The conductivity and microwave dielectric loss for the two solid solution systems were examined by AC impedance and microwave resonator measurements, respectively. In the system MgTi1− x(Mg1/3Ta2/3) xO3, the mechanism for the solid solution formation is the isovalent substitution of for Ti4+. In the system MgTi1− xTa xO3, the doping mechanism is the aliovalent substitution of Ta5+ for Ti4+, where for a small amount Ta doping, the oxygen vacancies formed during the high-temperature preparation are filled by an extra oxygen introduced from Ta2O5 and further Ta doping leads to an increase in the contents of and electrons, which was consistent with conductivity measurements. In both systems, the Q× f values improved, e.g., ∼17% for the isovalent substitution at x=0.08 and ∼10% for the aliovalent substitution at x=0.02. The filling oxygen vacancy and the substitution of Ta/Mg for Ti may contribute to the improvement of Q× f values for both systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title complex, [Ag(C4H6N2)2]NO3·CH3OH, features a mononuclear cation in which the AgI atom is coordinated in a linear fashion by two N atoms derived from the 2-methyl­imidazole ligands. The cations, anions and methanol mol­ecules are linked by hydrogen bonds into a chain structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) in vitro by Rous Sarcoma Virus represents an important model of cancer, in which a single oncogene, viral src, uniformly and rapidly transforms primary cells in culture. We surveyed the transcriptional program affected by Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) in primary culture of CEFs. As a control, we used cells infected with non-transforming RSV mutant tdl06 in which the src gene was deleted. Using GeneChipR Chicken Genome Arrays that cover 32,773 transcripts corresponding to 28,418 predicted genes, we report 811 genes that were modulated more than 2.5 fold in the virus-transformed cells. Among these, 409 genes were induced and 402 genes were repressed at the level of transcription by viral src. From the repertoire of modulated genes, we selected 20 genes that were most robustly changed (from 190 to 5 fold). We then quantified the transcriptional changes of the 20 selected genes by real-time PCR. The set of strongly induced genes contains vasoactive intestinal peptide, MAP kinase phosphatase 2 and follistatin, among others. The set of strongly repressed genes contains TGF beta 3, TGEF beta-induced gene, and deiodinase. The function of several robustly induced and repressed genes sheds new light on the molecular mechanism of oncogenic transformation. Moreover, the human homologues of the viral-src modulated chicken genes could represent biomarkers of those human cancers in which cellular src is activated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]