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Ultrasonic atomization technology has recently been widely used in industry due to its higher atomization efficiency. This paper proposes a method of electrostatic-assisted ultrasonic atomization spraying and designs a particular ultrasonic power supply that can directly introduce high-voltage static electricity onto the surface of the ultrasonic atomization so that the liquid can contact the charge and enhance the charging effect. This paper conducts numerical simulation analysis on the atomization process and statistically analyzes the numerical simulation atomization particle size through image processing. In addition, this paper designs experiments from two aspects of atomization particle size and film-forming effect. The results show that the experimental results are consistent with the numerical simulation results, verifying the accuracy of the numerical simulation results. It shows that in sub-droplet formation, introducing static electricity will increase the number of capillary waves, promote two mechanisms of the capillary pinch-off mechanism and the Rayleigh-plain instability, reduce atomization particle size, and increase atomization efficiency. Compared with the traditional airflow beam method, the film-forming surface quality of the electric field beam method is higher, and the surface roughness is lower. It solves the problem that airflow affects film-forming quality in traditional ultrasonic spraying with the airflow beam method. It provides a theoretical basis and scientific guidance for applying electrostatic-assisted ultrasonic atomization technology in the atomization and film preparation industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focuses onmacrofungi in Baotianman Biosphere Reserve and their relationships with plant ecosystems. The findings demonstrate the reserve’s macrofungal resources. The study collected 832 specimens, among which 351 macrofungi species were identified, belonging to six classes, 19 orders, 54 familiae, and 124 genera, and one new species of Abortiporus was found. Among them, 11 familiae with a total of 231 species were dominated, accounting for 20.37% of the total number of familiae and 65.81% of the total number of species; 14 genera with a total of 147 species were dominated, accounting for about 11.38% the total number of genera and 41.88% of the total number of species. The richness of macrofungi at the species level was considerably different across the four vegetation types in the reserve, showing that the vegetation types had a bigger influence on macrofungi. In the evaluation of macrofungal resources, a total of 196 species of edible fungi, 121 species of medicinal fungi, 52 species of poisonous fungi, and 37 species of macrofungi with unclear economic value were counted. Abortiporus baotianmanensis is a new species of podoscyphaceae in the genus Abortiporus. The new species display the reserve’s richness. Next, the project seeks to generate and conserve macrofungal resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), one of the main complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), has become a frequent cause of end-stage renal disease. A clinically convenient, non-invasive approach for monitoring the development of DKD would benefit the overall life quality of patients with DM and contribute to lower medical burdens through promoting preventive interventions. Methods: Weutilized 5hmC-Seal to profile genome-wide 5-hydroxymethylcytosines in plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Candidate genes were identified by intersecting the differentially hydroxymethylated genes and differentially expressed genes from the GSE30528 and GSE30529. Then, a protein interaction network was constructed for the candidate genes, and the hub genes were identified by the MCODE and cytoHubba algorithm. The correlation analysis between the hydroxymethylation level of the hub genes and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was carried out. Finally, we demonstrated differences in expression levels of the protein was verified by constructing amousemodel of DKD. In addition, we constructed a network of interactions between drugs and hub genes using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. Results: This study found that there were significant differences in the overall distribution of 5hmC in plasma of patients with DKD, and an alteration of hydroxymethylation levels in genomic regions involved in inflammatory pathways which participate in the immune response. The final 5 hub genes, including (CTNNB1, MYD88, CD28, VCAM1, CD44) were confirmed. Further analysis indicated that this 5-gene signature showed a good capacity to distinguish between DKD and DM, and was found that protein levels were increased in renal tissue of DKDmice. Correlation analysis indicated that the hydroxymethylation level of 5 hub genes were nagatively correlated with eGFR. Toxicogenomics analysis showed that a variety of drugs for the treatment of DKD can reduce the expression levels of 4 hub genes (CD44, MYD88, VCAM1, CTNNB1). Conclusions: The 5hmC-Seal assay was successfully applied to the plasma cfDNA samples from a cohort of DM patients with or without DKD. Altered 5hmC signatures indicate that 5hmC-Seal has the potential to be a noninvasive epigenetic tool for monitoring the development of DKD and it provides new insight for the future molecularly targeted anti-inflammation therapeutic strategies of DKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf angle is one of the most important agronomic traits in rice, and changes in leaf angle can alter plant architecture to affect photosynthetic efficiency and thus determine grain yield. Therefore, it is important to identify key genes controlling leaf angle and elucidate the molecular mechanisms to improve rice yield. We obtained a mutant rela (regulator of leaf angle) with reduced leaf angle in rice by EMS mutagenesis, and map-based cloning revealed that OsRELA encodes a protein of unknown function. Coincidentally, DENSE AND ERECT PANICLE 2 (DEP2) was reported in a previous study with the same gene locus. RNA-seq analysis revealed that OsRELA is involved in regulating the expression of ILI and Expansin family genes. Biochemical and genetic analyses revealed that OsRELA is able to interact with OsLIC, a negative regulator of BR signaling, through its conserved C-terminal domain, which is essential for OsRELA function in rice. The binding of OsRELA can activate the expression of downstream genes repressed by OsLIC, such as OsILI1 , a positive regulator of leaf inclination in rice. Therefore, our results suggest that OsRELA can act as a transcriptional regulator and is involved in the regulation of leaf inclination by regulating the transcriptional activity of OsLIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene plays essential roles during adaptive responses to water-saturating environments in rice, but knowledge of its signaling mechanism remains limited. Here, through an analysis of a rice ethylene-response mutant mhz1, we show that MHZ1 positively modulates root ethylene responses. MHZ1 encodes the rice histidine kinase OsHK1. MHZ1/OsHK1 is autophosphorylated at a conserved histidine residue and can transfer the phosphoryl signal to the response regulator OsRR21 via the phosphotransfer proteins OsAHP1/2. This phosphorelay pathway is required for root ethylene responses. Ethylene receptor OsERS2, via its GAF domain, physically interacts with MHZ1/OsHK1 and inhibits its kinase activity. Genetic analyses suggest that MHZ1/OsHK1 acts at the level of ethylene perception and works together with the OsEIN2-mediated pathway to regulate root growth. Our results suggest that MHZ1/OsHK1 mediates the ethylene response partially independently of OsEIN2, and is directly inhibited by ethylene receptors, thus revealing mechanistic details of ethylene signaling for root growth regulation. Ethylene regulates adaptive root growth during waterlogging in rice. Here, the authors identify MHZ1 (aka OsHK1), a histidine kinase that positively regulates the root ethylene response by interacting with the ethylene receptor ERS2 and promoting phosphorylation of the response regulator, OsRR21. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of interventional care in pediatric hemoptysis for anomalous bronchial arteries (BAs) and to identify the potential factors resulting in hemoptysis recurrence.Methods: 20 children complained of hemoptysis were diagnosed with anomalous BAs. All patients received transcatheter plug occlusion in Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. The safety and efficacy were evaluated according to clinical symptoms and images monitoring of enrolled subjects grouped as recurrence group and nonrecurrence group. The potential factors causing hemoptysis recurrence were reviewed and summarized.Results: No deaths were recorded in a follow-up. Otherwise, hemoptysis recurrence was found in 8 subjects for 14 times, accounting for about 40%. Compared with nonrecurrence group, it indicated a statistical significance in hemoglobin levels (P=0.049), mycoplasma pneumonia particle assays (MP-PA) titers (P=0.030), and number of anomalous BAs (P=0.020). Meanwhile, 50% recurrent scenarios were associated with a respiratory infection by microbiological assessment before transcatheter plug occlusion. The repeat occlusion was applied for unclosed BAs leading to visual recurrent hemoptysis, the average interval time of which was 5.4 ± 3.6 mon.Conclusion: The data from this retrospective study have shown that transcatheter plug occlusion is a relatively safe procedure with a low mortality. The number of abnormal BAs has been identified as a highly significant predictor of recurrence, and the role of MP and other potential factors should be verified in a multicenter, larger sample size, and randomized controlled trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leucocalocybe mongolica (S. Imai) X.D. Yu &Y.J. Yao is an endemic mushroom with a distribution in Mongolian Plateau. It is an important edible and medicinal mushroom which is often collected unscrupulously. Wild L. mongolica is facing an unprecedented threat and is in a critically endangered state. Exploration of the genetic diversity and population structure of L. mongolica is important for conservation biology. The main distribution areas were investigated. In total, 402 alleles of 223 individuals from 17 wild geographical populations were obtained based on the eight simple sequence repeat loci. The total number of alleles from each population ranged from 11 to 31 with an average of 24 per population. The average observed heterozygosity (HO) and expected heterozygosity (HE) ranged from 0.300 to 0.875 and from 0.188 to 0.621, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that 14.19% of the total molecular variance could be attributed to differences between populations (p <.001), whereas 85.81% to differences within populations. The mean genetic distance (FST) value of 0.171 suggested low genetic differentiation among populations. The UPGMA dendrogram generated from the SSR data suggested that the 17 populations separated into three main sister clusters on the Nei's genetic identity coefficient 0.8. The 223 L. mongolica individuals were divided into three groups by STRUCTURE analysis. Keeping and enriching the population diversity is crucial for the conservation of L. mongolica. The data about the population structure and genetic diversity obtained in this study will facilitate the establishment of conservation measures. Abbreviations AMOVA: analysis of molecular variance; Dest: estimator of actual differentiation; EST-SSR: Expressed sequence tag- simple sequence repeats; Fis: Inbreeding coefficient; Fit: total inbreeding coefficient; Fst: fixation index; GST coefficient of gene differentiation; G'ST: standardized measure of genetic differentiation; HE: expected Heterozygosity; H0: observed heterozygosity; HS: mean genetic diversity within populations; HT: total genetic diversity for species; I: Shannon's diversity index; km: kilometer; L. mongolica: Leucocalocybe mongolica; N: sample size; NA: number of average alleles; NE: number of effective alleles; Nm: gene flow; NP: number of private alleles; NR: allelic richness; NT: number of total alleles; PCoA: principal coordinate analysis; PIC: polymorphism information content; PPB: Percentage of polymorphic loci; TP-M13-SSR: tailed primer M13; UHE: unbiased expected Heterozygosity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leucocalocybe mongolicais a prestigious rare wild edible mushroom in Northeast Asia. It is the unique species of the genus and the studying of its phynotype and genome is crucial to genus and species classification. Beyond that, it has high application and ecological value in the industry of food and atmosphere investigation. On account of the fact that transcriptomic and genomic data ofL. mongolicalacked in the biological information database, that is a limitation to further study. The transcriptome data were obtained by virtue of Illumina paired-end sequencing technology: 42,622,958 clean reads were achieved and 37,302 contigs were generated. These contigs were subsequently assembled into 13,821 unigenes. These unigenes were annotated within 7 public databases. The 3914 unigenes were associated with a COG classification. Throughout all of the unigenes, 6642 were classified as three functional groups; 3110 unigenes were selected from KEGG pathways, and taken to further clustering analysis for 5 main categories; 57 genes, potentially involved in terpenoid, steroid, and unsaturated fatty acids biosynthesis were identified and selected for further research. The total number of carbohydrate-active enzymes ofL. mongolicais 446 and the number of carbohydrate binding module (CBM) is relatively low. CE11, GT19, GT51, GT56, GH131, GH133, GH135 constitute the characteristic carbohydrate-active enzymes subfamily compared to other edible mushrooms. The characteristic carbohydrate enzymes relative to other mushrooms could play a vital role on the metabolism of nutrients. In these generated sequences, 1860 SSRs were identified and characterized as molecular candidate markers existingL. mongolica. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives. This study collected and evaluated data on the costs of outpatient medical care and family burden associated with osteoporosis-related fracture rehabilitation following hospital discharge in China. Materials and Methods. Data were collected using a patient questionnaire from osteoporosis-related fracture patients (N = 123) who aged 50 years and older who were discharged between January 2011 and January 2013 from 3 large hospitals in China. The survey captured posthospital discharge direct medical costs, indirect medical costs, lost work time for caregivers, and patient ambulatory status. Results. Hip fracture was the most frequent fracture site (62.6%), followed by vertebral fracture (34.2%). The mean direct medical care costs per patient totaled 3,910¥, while mean indirect medical costs totaled 743¥. Lost work time for unpaid family caregivers was 16.4 days, resulting in an average lost income of 3,233¥. The average posthospital direct medical cost, indirect medical cost, and caregiver lost income associated with a fracture patient totaled 7,886¥. Patients’ ambulatory status was negatively impacted following fracture. Conclusions. Significant time and cost of care are placed on patients and caregivers during rehabilitation after discharge for osteoporotic fracture. It is important to evaluate the role and responsibility for creating the growing and inequitable burden placed on patients and caregivers following osteoporotic fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA) act synergistically or antagonistically to regulate plant growth and development. ABA is derived from the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Here, we analyzed the interplay among ethylene, carotenoid biogenesis, and ABA in rice (Oryza sativa) using the rice ethylene response mutant mhz5 , which displays a reduced ethylene response in roots but an enhanced ethylene response in coleoptiles. We found that MHZ5 encodes a carotenoid isomerase and that the mutation in mhz5 blocks carotenoid biosynthesis, reduces ABA accumulation, and promotes ethylene production in etiolated seedlings. ABA can largely rescue the ethylene response of the mhz5 mutant. Ethylene induces MHZ5 expression, the production of neoxanthin, an ABA biosynthesis precursor, and ABA accumulation in roots. MHZ5 overexpression results in enhanced ethylene sensitivity in roots and reduced ethylene sensitivity in coleoptiles. Mutation or overexpression of MHZ5 also alters the expression of ethylene-responsive genes. Genetic studies revealed that the MHZ5- mediated ABA pathway acts downstream of ethylene signaling to inhibit root growth. The MHZ5 -mediated ABA pathway likely acts upstream but negatively regulates ethylene signaling to control coleoptile growth. Our study reveals novel interactions among ethylene, carotenogenesis, and ABA and provides insight into improvements in agronomic traits and adaptive growth through the manipulation of these pathways in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Now stimulation of AMPA receptor as well as its downstream pathways is considered as potential central mediators in antidepressant mechanisms. As a signal integrator which binds to AMPA receptor, A-kin ase anchoring protein 79-(AKAP79-) PKA complex is regarded as a potential drug target to exert neuroprotective effects. A well-tolerated and multitarget drug curcumin has been confirmed to exert antidepressant-like effects. To explore whether AKAP79-PKA complex is involved in curcumin-mediated antiexcitotoxicity, we detected calcium signaling, subcellular location of AKAP79-PKA complex, phosphorylation of glutamate receptor, and ERK and AKT cascades. In this study, we found that curcumin protected neurons from glutamate insult by reducing Ca2+ influx and blocking the translocation of AKAP79 from cytomembrane to cytoplasm. In parallel, curcumin enhanced the phosphorylation of AMPA receptor and its downstream pathways in PKA-dependent manner. If we pretreated cells with PKA anchoring inhibitor Ht31 to disassociate PKA from AKAP79, no neuroprotective effects were observed. In conclusion, our results show that AKAP79-anchored PKA facilitated the signal relay from AMPA receptor to AKT and ERK cascades, which may be crucial for curcumin-mediated antiexcitotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA) have a complicated interplay in many developmental processes. Their interaction in rice is largely unclear. Here, we characterized a rice ethylene-response mutant mhz4, which exhibited reduced ethylene-response in roots but enhanced ethylene-response in coleoptiles of etiolated seedlings. MHZ4 was identified through map-based cloning and encoded a chloroplast-localized membrane protein homologous to Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) ABA4, which is responsible for a branch of ABA biosynthesis. MHZ4 mutation reduced ABA level, but promoted ethylene production. Ethylene induced MHZ4 expression and promoted ABA accumulation in roots. MHZ4 overexpression resulted in enhanced and reduced ethylene response in roots and coleoptiles, respectively. In root, MHZ4-dependent ABA pathway acts at or downstream of ethylene receptors and positively regulates root ethylene response. This ethylene-ABA interaction mode is different from that reported in Arabidopsis, where ethylene-mediated root inhibition is independent of ABA function. In coleoptile, MHZ4-dependent ABA pathway acts at or upstream of OsEIN2 to negatively regulate coleoptile ethylene response, possibly by affecting OsEIN2 expression. At mature stage, mhz4 mutation affects branching and adventitious root formation on stem nodes of higher positions, as well as yield-related traits. Together, our findings reveal a novel mode of interplay between ethylene and ABA in control of rice growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) dysfunction is a key contributor to diabetic refractory wounds. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), which critically regulates the mobilization and function of EPCs, is uncoupled in diabetes due to decreased cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). We tested whether GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH I), the rate-limiting enzyme of BH4 synthesis, preserves EPC function in type 1 diabetic mice. Type 1 diabetes was induced in wild-type (WT) and GTPCH I transgenic (Tg-GCH) mice by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). EPCs were isolated from the peripheral blood and bone marrow of WT, Tg-GCH, and GTPCH I-deficient hph-1 mice. The number of EPCs was significantly lower in STZ-WT mice and hph-1 mice and was rescued in STZ Tg-GCH mice. Furthermore, GTPCH I overexpression improved impaired diabetic EPC migration and tube formation. EPCs from WT, Tg-GCH, and STZ-Tg-GCH mice were administered to diabetic excisional wounds and accelerated wound healing significantly, with a concomitant augmentation of angiogenesis. Flow cytometry measurements showed that intracellular nitric oxide (NO) levels were reduced significantly in STZ-WT and hph-1 mice, paralleled by increased superoxide anion levels; both were rescued in STZ-Tg-GCH mice. Western blot analysis revealed that thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) was significantly upregulated in the EPCs of STZ-WT mice and hph-1 mice and suppressed in STZ-treated Tg-GCH mice. Our results demonstrate that the GTPCH I/BH4 pathway is critical to preserve EPC quantity, function, and regenerative capacity during wound healing in type 1 diabetic mice at least partly through the attenuation of superoxide and TSP-1 levels and augmentation of NO level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal surgical treatment for displaced proximal humeral fractures continues to be controversial. One of the new treatment options is the minimally invasive intramedullary nail. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome of using the TRIGEN proximal humeral nail (PHN) for the treatment of displaced proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients. From January 2004 to December 2008, 64 elderly patients (age > 60 years old) with displaced proximal humeral fractures were treated using TRIGEN PHN. A complete 12-month postoperative follow-up was available for 54 patients. The study cohort included two-part (29 shoulders), three-part (22 shoulders), and four-part (3 shoulders) Neer classification fracture types. The Constant-Murley score was used to assess functional outcome. Radiological outcomes were evaluated, and all complications were recorded. All fractures were united. The Constant-Murley score data indicated that the patients experienced improvement from 6 to 12 months postoperatively. The mean absolute Constant-Murley score on the injured side increased from 71.2 ± 11.2 points at 6 months to 82.4 ± 16.4 points at 12 months ( P = 0.01). The mean neck-shaft angle 1 year after surgery was 125° ± 8.1° (95°-140°). Secondary complications were minimal and observed in only 6 of 54 patients. In conclusion, the TRIGEN intramedullary humeral nail is effective for the treatment of proximal humeral fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene plays major roles in adaptive growth of rice plants in water-saturated soil; however, ethylene signaling in rice is largely unclear. Here, we report identification and characterization of ethylene-response mutants based on distinct ethylene-response phenotypes of dark-grown rice seedlings.Ethylene plays essential roles in adaptive growth of rice plants in water-saturating environment; however, ethylene signaling pathway in rice is largely unclear. In this study, we report identification and characterization of ethylene-response mutants based on the specific ethylene-response phenotypes of etiolated rice seedlings, including ethylene-inhibited root growth and ethylene-promoted coleoptile elongation, which is different from the ethylene triple-response phenotype in Arabidopsis. We establish an efficient system for screening and a set of rice mutants have been identified. Genetic analysis reveals that these mutants form eight complementation groups. All the mutants show insensitivity or reduced sensitivity to ethylene in root growth but exhibit differential responses in coleoptile growth. One mutant group mhz7 has insensitivity to ethylene in both root and coleoptile growth. We identified the corresponding gene by a map-based cloning method. MHZ7 encodes a membrane protein homologous to EIN2, a central component of ethylene signaling in Arabidopsis. Upon ethylene treatment, etiolated MHZ7-overexpressing seedlings exhibit enhanced coleoptile elongation, increased mesocotyl growth and extremely twisted short roots, featuring enhanced ethylene-response phenotypes in rice. Grain length was promoted in MHZ7-transgenic plants and 1000-grain weight was reduced in mhz7 mutants. Leaf senescent process was also affected by MHZ7 expression. Manipulation of ethylene signaling may improve adaptive growth and yield-related traits in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We first introduce the latest experimental results, i.e., production of the fine nanostructured and near fully dense transparent YAlO (YAG) bulks at high pressure and modest temperature (2.0-5.0 GPa and 300-500 °C). And then, we employ the first-principles plane wave pseudopotential density functional theory method to calculate the equilibrium lattice parameters and the thermodynamic properties of YAG. The obtained lattice parameters are consistent with the experimental data and the available theoretical data of others. Through the quasi-harmonic Debye model, the dependences of the normalized primitive volume V/V on pressure P, the Debye temperature $$ \Uptheta_{\rm{D}} $$, and the heat capacity C on pressure P and temperature T, as well as the variation of the thermal expansion α with temperature and pressure are obtained successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anti-angiogenic activity is considered to play a key role in the statin-induced anti-tumor effects. We aimed to identify new targets underlying this pleiotropic effect of lovastatin. Methodology/Principal Findings: We investigated the inhibitory effects of lovastatin on endothelial cell biology and angiogenesis in vitro. Lovastatin at high doses inhibited endothelial cell migration and tube formation. Using two- dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry, we identified the up-regulation of the actin-binding protein transgelin 2 in endothelial cells following treatment with lovastatin. Changes in transgelin 2 levels were confirmed by Western blot and confocal microscopy. We further demonstrated that the Rho signaling inactivation and actin depolymerization contributed to the up-regulation of transgelin 2. The knockdown of transgelin 2 by siRNA dramatically enhanced endothelial migration and tube formation, and meanwhile attenuated the inhibitory effects of lovastatin on cell motility. Moreover, the lovastatin-induced inhibition of myosin light chain phosphorylation was also reversed by transgelin 2 knockdown. The activation of Rho GTPase in the absence of transgelin 2 may represent a mechanism underlying the regulation of phosphorylated myosin light chain by transgelin 2. Conclusions/Significance: These results strongly imply a novel role for transgelin 2 in the angiostatic activities of lovastatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diuretic agents are widely used on the treatment of water retention related diseases, among which acetazolamide (AZA) acts originally as a carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitor. Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) being located in renal proximal tubules is required for urine concentration. Previously our lab has reported AZA putatively modulated AQP1. Aim of this study is to testify our hypothesis that regulating AQP1 may mediate diuretic effect of AZA. Methodology/Principal Findings: For in vivo study, we utilized Sprague Dawley rats, as well as AQP1 knock-out (AQP1-/-) mice to examine urine volume, and human kidney-2 (HK-2) cell line was used for in vitro mechanism study. In our present study we found that AZA decreased CAs activity initially but the activity gradually recovered. Contrarily, diuretic effect was consistently significant. AQP1 protein expression was significantly decreased on day 7 and 14. By utilizing AQP1-/- mice, we found diuretic effect of AZA was cancelled on day 14, while urine volume continuously increased in wild-type mice. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) results indicated AQP1 was physiologically bound by myosin heavy chain (MHC), immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence results confirmed this protein interaction. In vitro study results proved AZA facilitated AQP1 translocation onto cell membrane by promoting interaction with MHC, dependent on ERK/ myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) pathway activation. MHC inhibitor BDM and ERK inhibitor U0126 both abolished above effect of AZA. Eventually AZA induced AQP1 ubiquitination, while proteasome inhibitor MG132 reversed AZA's down-regulating effect upon AQP1. Conclusions/Significance: Our results identified AZA exerted diuretic effect through an innovative mechanism by regulating AQP1 and verified its inhibitory mechanism was via promoting MHC-dependent translocation onto cell membrane and then ubiquitin mediated degradation, implicating a novel mechanism and target for diuretic agent discovering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Torcetrapib, a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor which raises high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level, has been documented to increase mortality and cardiac events associated with adverse effects. However, it is still unclear the underlying mechanisms of the off-target effects of torcetrapib. Results: In the present study, we developed a systems biology approach by combining a human reassembled signaling network with the publicly available microarray gene expression data to provide unique insights into the off-target adverse effects for torcetrapib. Cytoscape with three plugins including BisoGenet, NetworkAnalyzer and ClusterONE was utilized to establish a context-specific drug-gene interaction network. The DAVID functional annotation tool was applied for gene ontology (GO) analysis, while pathway enrichment analysis was clustered by ToppFun. Furthermore, potential off-targets of torcetrapib were predicted by a reverse docking approach. In general, 10503 nodes were retrieved from the integrative signaling network and 47660 inter-connected relations were obtained from the BisoGenet plugin. In addition, 388 significantly up-regulated genes were detected by Significance Analysis of Microarray (SAM) in adrenal carcinoma cells treated with torcetrapib. After constructing the human signaling network, the over-expressed microarray genes were mapped to illustrate the context-specific network. Subsequently, three conspicuous gene regulatory networks (GRNs) modules were unearthed, which contributed to the off-target effects of torcetrapib. GO analysis reflected dramatically over-represented biological processes associated with torcetrapib including activation of cell death, apoptosis and regulation of RNA metabolic process. Enriched signaling pathways uncovered that IL-2 Receptor Beta Chain in T cell Activation, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor (PDGFR) beta signaling pathway, IL2-mediated signaling events, ErbB signaling pathway and signaling events mediated by Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor (HGFR, c-Met) might play decisive characters in the adverse cardiovascular effects associated with torcetrapib. Finally, a reverse docking algorithm in silico between torcetrapib and transmembrane receptors was conducted to identify the potential off-targets. This screening was carried out based on the enriched signaling network analysis. Conclusions: Our study provided unique insights into the biological processes of torcetrapib-associated off-target adverse effects in a systems biology visual angle. In particular, we highlighted the importance of PDGFR, HGFR, IL-2 Receptor and ErbB1tyrosine kinase might be direct off-targets, which were highly related to the unfavorable adverse effects of torcetrapib and worthy of further experimental validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is a glycoprotein that mediates osmotic water transport, its expression has been found to correlate with tumour stage in some tumours. However, the mechanism by which AQP1 protein expression is regulated in tumor cells remains to be fully elucidated. We hypothesized that hypoxia might play an important role in AQP1 induction during tumorigenesis and at the late stages of tumor development. Methods: Isotonic and serumfree hypoxic models were used to investigate AQP1 expression in PC-3M human prostate cancer cells. Results: AQP1 expression was up-regulated by density-induced pericellular hypoxia and cobalt(II) chloride (CoCl2)-induced hypoxia at the transcriptional level. Moreover, phosphorylation of p38 mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK) was induced by density-induced pericellular hypoxia and CoCl2- induced hypoxia, specific inhibitors of p38 MAPK could concentration-dependently block those effects of hypoxia on AQP1 expression. Intracellular calcium ion (Ca2+) and protein kinase C (PKC) were shown to be responsible for the activation of p38 MAPK pathway. In addition, AQP1 induction in dense cultures was dependent on lowered oxygen (O2) tension. In high cell density culture, certain secretory proteins might induce AQP1 expression indirectly. Conclusion: These findings suggest that AQP1 could be induced by hypoxia at transcription level, and the regulation of AQP1 in PC-3M cells is dependent on calcium, PKC and p38 MAPK, as well as low oxygen tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tie L, Li XJ, Wang X, Channon KM, Chen AF. Endotheliumspecific GTP cyclohydrolase I overexpression accelerates refractory wound healing by suppressing oxidative stress in diabetes. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 296: E1423-E1429, 2009. First published March 31, 2009; doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00150.2009.-Refractory wound is a severe complication that leads to limb amputation in diabetes. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays a key role in normal wound repair but is uncoupled in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes because of reduced cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH[sub4]). We tested the hypothesis that overexpression of GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GTPCH 1), the rate-limiting enzyme for de novo BH[sub4] synthesis, retards NOS uncoupling and accelerates wound healing in STZ mice. Blood glucose levels were significantly increased in both male endothelium-specific GTPCH I transgenic mice (Tg-GCH; via a tie-2 promoter) and wild-type (WT) littermates 5 days after STZ regimen. A full-thickness excisional wound was created on mouse dorsal skin by a 4-mm punch biopsy. Wound closure was delayed in STZ mice, which was rescued in STZ Tg-GCH mice. Cutaneous BH[sub4] level was significantly reduced in STZ mice vs. WT mice, which was maintained in STZ Tg-GCH mice. In STZ mice, constitutive NOS (cNOS) activity and nitrite levels were decreased compared with WT mice, paralleled by increased superoxide anion (O[sup-][sub2]) level and inducible NOS (iNOS) activity. In STZ Tg-GCH mice, nitrite level and cNOS activity were potentiated and O[sup-][sub2] level and iNOS activity were suppressed compared with STZ mice. Thus endothelium-specific BH[sub4] overexpression accelerates wound healing in type 1 diabetic mice by enhancing cNOS activity and suppressing oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The purposes of the present study were to both evaluate the protective effects of Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) and to determine the possible molecular mechanisms by which Sal B protects endothelial cells from damage caused by oxidative stress. Methods and results Pretreatment with Sal B markedly attenuated H2O2-induced viability loss, lactate dehydrogenase leakage and apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The mechanism of Sal B protection was studied using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Database searching implicated that glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), a central regulator for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, was up-regulated in Sal B-exposed HUVECs. GRP78 expression regulation was confirmed by western blot and RT–PCR (reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction) analyses. Additionally, GRP94, which shares significant sequence homology with GRP78, was also up-regulated in Sal B-treated cells. Sal B caused pancreatic ER kinase (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK) activation followed by the phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) and the expression of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). Knockdown of endogenous ATF4 expression partially repressed Sal B-induced GRP78 induction. Further investigation showed that ATF6 was also activated by Sal B. Knockdown of GRP78 by siRNA significantly reduced the protective effects of Sal B. Conclusion The results suggest that Sal B induces the expression of GRP78 by activating ATF6 and the PERK–eIF2α–ATF4 pathway. Furthermore, up-regulation of GRP78 by Sal B may play an important role in protecting human endothelial cells from oxidative stress-induced cellular damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The developmental trends of China's industrialization and urbanization were good during the period of the tenth five-year plan. During the ninth five-year plan China's industrialization process evolved from the first phase to the second phase of middle-stage industrialization. Compared with industrialization, China's urbanization has developed more rapidly. In the future, China's industrialization and urbanization will face many problems, including lack of capability to self-innovate in industrial technologies, significant limitations in natural resources, heavy pressure from employment and population migration to nonagricultural sectors, an imbalance in development among regions, an imbalance in quality and quantity of urbanization development, lack of coordination of urbanization and industrialization, significant numbers of employees of village and township enterprises "waiting for urbanization," and farmers migrating to cities for employment. These are profound problems requiring resolution. Continuously promoting China's industrialization and urbanization will become more costly and difficult. During the period of the eleventh five-year plan, China will undertake important projects, such as promoting China's capacity for self-innovation, optimizing the industrial structure, transforming the means of economic growth, coordinating development among regions, cities, and rural areas, increasing migrant-worker income, promoting urban-management levels, and developing tertiary industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research of soil classification and soil grade evaluation is often based on fuzzy theory. So, the traditional method has an inevitable problem about weight matrix which given by some experts, and the final result can be influenced by artificial factors. The essentials of fuzzy synthetically judge is to handle the data of high dimension. That is to reducing the dimension number. The weight matrix in fuzzy theory is corresponding to low dimension projection value of each index. But we can’t define whether the weight matrix given by experts is the best projection value or not. So, the authors apply a new technique of falling dimension named projection pursuit to soil study, through using the improved real coding based accelerating genetic algorithm to optimize the projection direction. Thus, it can transfer multi-dimension data into one dimension data, through searching for the optimum projection direction to realize the soil classification and its grade evaluation. The method can avoid the artificial disturbance, and acquire preferably effect. Thus, the paper provides a new method to the research of soil classification and grade evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have preformed systematical ab initio studies of the structural and electronic properties of short-period Si1[?]xIVx/Si (x = 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, IV=Ge, Sn) superlattices (SLs) grown along the [001] direction on bulk Si. The present calculations reveal that the Si0.875Ge0.125/Si, Si0.75Ge0.25/Si and Si0.875Sn0.125/Si are the G-point direct bandgap semiconductors. The technological importance lies in the expectation that the direct gap Si1[?]xIVx/Si SLs may be used as components in integrated optoelectronic devices, in conjunction with the already well-established and highly advanced silicon technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 5-week-old infant with congenital chylothorax required long-term intravenous access for parenteral nutrition. Cannulation of the inferior vena cava via the left femoral vein was attempted, but the catheter was misplaced into the left ascending lumbar vein. Catheter removal is advised when such malposition is identified. We were able successfully to redirect the catheter into the inferior vena cava using ultrasonographic guidance. This procedure has not been described previously in children. We propose that repositioning of incorrectly placed vascular catheters can be achieved using ultrasound guidance at the bedside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel two-dimensional (2D) simulation method of positive corona current pulses is proposed. A control-volume-based finite element method (CV-FEM) is used to solve continuity equations, and the Galerkin finite element method (FEM) is used to solve Poisson’s equation. In the proposed method, photoionization is considered by adopting an exact Helmholtz photoionization model. Furthermore, fully implicit discretization and variable time step are used to ensure the time-efficiency of the present method. Finally, the method is applied to a positive rod-plane corona problem. The numerical results are in agreement with the experimental results, and the validity of the proposed method is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a theoretical study on collective excitation modes associated with plasmon and surface-plasmon oscillations in cylindrical metallic nanowires. Based on a two-subband model, the dynamical dielectric function matrix is derived under the random-phase approximation. An optic-like branch and an acoustic-like branch, which are free of Landau damping, are observed for both plasmon and surface-plasmon modes. Interestingly, for surface-plasmon modes, we find that two branches of the dispersion relation curves converge at a wavevector qz = qmax beyond which no surface-plasmon mode exists. Moreover, we examine the dependence of these excitation modes on sample parameters such as the radius of the nanowires. It is found that in metallic nanowires realized by state-of-the-art nanotechnology the intra- and inter-subband plasmon and surface-plasmon frequencies are in the terahertz bandwidth. The frequency of the optic-like modes decreases with increasing radius of the nanowires, whereas that of the acoustic-like modes is not sensitive to the variation of the radius. This study is pertinent to the application of metallic nanowires as frequency-tunable terahertz plasmonic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]