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Abstract  Foliar δ13C values of Calligogum kozlovi and Haloxylon ammodendron ranged from −13.13 to −15.11 ‰, while those of the rest 11 species were in the range of −22.22 to −27.73 ‰. This indicates that two of 13 dominant plant species in the Qaidam Basin possess a C4 photosynthetic pathway. Significant differences were observed for the average foliar δ13C values between C3 or C4 plant communities, between grass and shrub communities, even between the same species derived from different sites. Precipitation accounted for the major part of the differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that the magnetism of core-shell nanoparticles (made of maghemite, γ -Fe2O3, cores and transition-metal and metal-oxide shells) is altered substantially by the interface, which is a doped iron-oxide layer formed naturally during the seed-mediated synthesis process, a route used typically to produce core-shell nanoparticles. Characteristics fundamental to useful applications, such as the anisotropy and superparamagnetic blocking temperature, were altered substantially with Cu, CoO, MnO, and NiO shells. To ascertain the origin of this behavior, the prototype γ -Fe2O3/CoO core-shell nanoparticles are described in detail. We show that the magnetism originates essentially from an interfacial doped iron-oxide layer formed via migration of shell ions, e.g., Co2+, into octahedral site vacancies in the surface layers of the γ -Fe2O3 core. For this system, an overall Fe morb/mspin = 0.15 ± 0.03 is measured (morb ~ 0 for the Fe-oxides) and an enhanced Comorb/mspin = 0.65 ± 0.03 elucidates the origin of the unexpectedly high overall anisotropy of the nanoparticle. This interfacial layer is responsible for the overall (e.g., bulk) magnetism and provides a perspective on how the magnetism of core-shell nanoparticles manifests from the selected core and shell materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myostatin is expressed in skeletal muscle tissue where it functions to suppress myoblast proliferation and myofiber hypertrophy. Recently, myostatin was detected in the tendon, mammary gland, and adipose tissue of mice. We sought to determine whether myostatin is expressed in the liver, spleen, lung, and kidney of pigs. Real-time PCR and Western blots demonstrated that myostatin, follistatin, decorin, and activin receptor IIB (ActRIIB) mRNA and proteins were expressed in skeletal muscle, heart muscle, and adipose tissue, and also in liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and cultured fibroblasts. The relative abundance of myostatin was closely related to follistatin and decorin in porcine tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis further demonstrated the presence of myostatin, follistatin, and decorin in the skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, heart muscle, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney of pigs. These results suggest that myostatin could be associated with certain functions of the internal organs, such as energy metabolism or fibrosis. We conclude that myostatin is a factor broadly expressed in the internal organs and muscle tissues of pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wearable self-powered active sensor for respiration and healthcare monitoring was fabricated based on a flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator. An electrospinning poly(vinylidene fluoride) thin film on silicone substrate was polarized to fabricate the flexible nanogenerator and its electrical property was measured. When periodically stretched by a linear motor, the flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator generated an output open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of up to 1.5 V and 400 nA, respectively. Through integration with an elastic bandage, a wearable self-powered sensor was fabricated and used to monitor human respiration, subtle muscle movement, and voice recognition. As respiration proceeded, the electrical output signals of the sensor corresponded to the signals measured by a physiological signal recording system with good reliability and feasibility. This self-powered, wearable active sensor has significant potential for applications in pulmonary function evaluation, respiratory monitoring, and detection of gesture and vocal cord vibration for the personal healthcare monitoring of disabled or paralyzed patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]