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Theranostic nanoplatforms with accurate diagnosis and effective therapy show a bright prospect for tumor treatments. Herein, a novel boracic acid-modified graphite carbon nitride and Prussian blue nanohybrid (PB@B-g-C 3 N 4) was developed, which provides sialic acid-targeted Raman recognition and synergistic photothermal/photodynamic therapy in the near-infrared region. Owing to the specific interaction between boracic acid and sialic acid and Raman response at 2157 cm−1 of PB, the nanohybrids exhibit high specificity and Raman sensitivity for detection of the overexpressed sialic acid on tumor cells. Moreover, the photothermal conversion efficiency of PB@B-g-C 3 N 4 is as high as 47.0% with 808 nm laser irradiation due to the enhanced absorbance of PB@B-g-C 3 N 4. PB@B-g-C 3 N 4 also possesses excellent photodynamic activity, which is attributed to the energy transfer of PB (type I) and electron transfer between PB and B-g-C 3 N 4 (type II). This nanotheranostic agent for Raman recognition of cancer markers and synergistic photothermal/photodynamic therapy holds great potential for the development of efficient theranostic nanoplatforms. [Display omitted] • A multifunctional boracic acid-modified g-C 3 N 4 and Prussian blue nanohybrid was developed. • PB@B-g-C 3 N 4 provided specific and sensitive Raman detection of sialic acid on tumor cells. • High photothermal conversion efficiency was obtained due to the enhanced absorbance of PB@B-g-C 3 N 4. • Energy transfer and electron transfer of PB@B-g-C 3 N 4 significantly improved photodynamic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The calculations of the electronic structure and optical properties of Nb-doped β -Ga 2 O 3 are made. • The calculations are performed employing the GGA+U model for XC potential. • With the increase of Nb doping concentration, absorption spectrum of the doped system extends to the visible region. • When the Nb doping concentration gradually increases, the carrier lifetime is prolonged, the conductivity is increased. The electronic structure and optoelectronic properties of Nb-doped β -Ga 2 O 3 were investigated by using plane wave ultrasoft pseudopotential generalized gradient approximation +U (GGA + U) method based on density functional theory. Four supercell models, namely, Ga 23 O 36 Nb 1 , Ga 32 O 48 , Ga 39 O 60 Nb 1 , and Ga 47 O 72 Nb 1 , were constructed. Results show that the formation energy of the doped system is lower and has higher stability under Ga-rich conditions than in O-rich conditions. With the increment in Nb doping concentration, the formation energy and lattice constant gradually increase, the stability of the system gradually decreases, and the band gap of the system gradually narrows. As the doping concentration increase, the absorption intensity increases. Furthermore, the increasing doping concentration accelerates the separation of holes and electrons, prolongs the carrier lifetime, and enhances conductivity. These conclusions provide a certain theoretical basis for the wide application of β -Ga 2 O 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, we describe light-induced switching of the state of polarization of a side-polished fiber (SPF) coated with a chalcogenide (ChG) film, amorphous As2Se3 ( a -As2Se3). The transient photodarkening effect produced by a -As2Se3 under 532-nm laser illumination modulated the refractive index of the coated ChG, changed the refractive index of the a -As2Se3-coated SPF device, and controlled and switched the phase retardation. When this design was used, a 70° phase change coupled with an optical loss of <0.2 dB was achieved at a probe-beam wavelength of 1550 nm; moreover, the extinction ratio achieved using an inline fiber polarizer was 22.8 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the space-frame structure is analyzed using the spectral element method (SEM). It is periodic and composed of many geometrically uniform components. They can be considered as space beam-column elements. The spectral stiffness matrixes of the elements are established by using the variational method and the discrete Fourier transform theory. Then frequency responses of the structure are obtained by solving the spectral equations. In comparison with the results of the finite element method, those in the SEM are more accurate by taking less time, and the vibration bandgaps are observed from the responses of the structure. Moreover, the span, the substructure height, the substructure number, the material combination, the structural damping and the load location have obvious influences on the structural dynamic properties. These findings will provide the engineers with new ideas of the structural and the vibration isolation design. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The common average power spectrum estimation algorithm may cause the loss in detection performance because power spectrum amplitude is simply squared. The statistical properties of FFT of the segmented observations are analyzed, and a novel algorithm using frequency domain phase compensation for detecting line-spectrum in Gaussian noise is proposed. The phase compensation factor is estimated using Monte Carlo method. The sporadic and continuous outliers are removed by using difference and TPM method. Finally the statistics is checked by using generalized likelihood ratio. The detection performances of AVGPR, GPR and the proposed algorithm are theoretically compared. The simulation results show that the detection performance of the proposed algorithm is improved by 5 dB under a certain false alarm rate compared to AVGPR algorithm. It fully utilizes the phase information of the signal and has the advantages of simple and exact parameter estimation and good robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Sr–Ce addition on the structure and properties of A356 aluminum alloy are investigated under a constant of Sr content with increasing addition of Ce. When Sr is added to the aluminum melt in combination with Ce, the average secondary dendrite arm spacing reduces in the original matrix phase and decreases initially and later increases with the increase of Ce concentration. In addition, the iron-rich phase changes from coarse acicular structure to Chinese script and short rod-shaped structures, and Ce adsorb on the surface of the iron-rich phase resulting in the transformation of β-Al5FeSi into π-Al8Mg3FeSi6. When Ce content is 0.06%, the best modification effect is achieved. The tensile strength and elongation of the as-cast alloy reach 202MPa and 11.4%, which are 1.5% and 65.2% higher than those of adding Sr alone; the values after T6 heat treatment are 276 MPa and 13.3%, which are 12.7% and 22.0% higher than those of adding Sr alone, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time‐restricted eating (TRE) is a new therapeutic strategy for the management of weight loss and dysmetabolic diseases. At present, TRE (8/16, 8 h eating:16 h fasting) is the most common form of TRE. Therefore, this meta‐analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on TRE (8/16) in overweight and obese adults to determine its impact on body weight and metabolism. Articles reviewed from PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register for the relevant RCTs that compared TRE (8/16) to non‐TRE in overweight and obese adults. Eight RCTs were included in this meta‐analysis. Participants following TRE (8/16) showed significant body weight reduction (mean difference [MD]: −1.48 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −2.53 to −0.44) and fat mass reduction (MD: −1.09 kg, 95% CI: −1.55 to −0.63). There was no significant difference in lean mass change with TRE intervention (MD: −0.48 kg, 95% CI: −1.02 to 0.05, p =.08, I2 = 41%). The energy restriction and early TRE (eTRE) subgroups resulted in greater weight loss. TRE (8/16) showed beneficial effects on the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR, MD: −0.32, 95% CI: −0.59 to −0.06), but had no significant effect on other parameters of glucose metabolism and lipid profiles. In conclusion, TRE (8/16), especially eTRE, or in combination with caloric intake restriction, is a potential therapeutic strategy for weight control in overweight and obese adults. TRE (8/16) also reduced HOMA‐IR; therefore, it may have a positive effect on glucose metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of siderite reductive ore and the ultrafine grinding-magnetic flocculation separation (MFS) of this ore were investigated in the present work. The results indicated that the iron phase in the raw ore was predominantly metallic iron with an iron particle size below 30 μm, and the phosphorus compound was apatite. By applying MFS to siderite reductive ore containing 37.14% Fe and 0.52 P, a concentrate assaying 66.37% Fe and 0.19 P with 74.32% recovery was produced. The iron recovery increased by 5.77% compared with the results of the conventional magnetic separation. The high efficiency in phosphorus removal and iron recovery achieved by the MFS process may be attributed to the adequate liberation of iron particles and the increase in magnetic force on the iron mineral fines in the form of flocs in a magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The basic/helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors are ubiquitous transcriptional regulators that control many different developmental and physiological processes in the eukaryotic kingdom. In this study, the function of AtbHLH112, an uncharacterised member of the bHLH family in Arabidopsis was investigated. Overexpression of AtbHLH112 suppressed lateral root (LR) development in Arabidopsis seedlings. Examination under the microscope revealed that abnormal lateral root primordia (LRP) with flat-head and more than four cell layers retained in the endodermal layer account for over 45% of the total number of LRP and LRs. This suggests that LRP emergence was prevented before LRP penetrated the cortical layer in the transgenic lines. Decreased auxin level within the LRP and parental root cells surrounding the LRP, as well as downregulated expression of cell-wall-remodelling (CWR) genes in the roots may contribute to the suppression of LR emergence in AtbHLH112-overexpressing lines. This finding was further supported by the observation that exogenous application of auxin recovered LR development and upregulated the expression of CWR genes in AtbHLH112-overexpressing lines. Lateral root emergence is tightly regulated, although molecular components involved in this process are still largely unknown. This study showed that overexpression of a basic/helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor AtbHLH112 specifically suppresses lateral root emergence by decreasing the local auxin level and downregulating expression of cell-wall-remodelling (CWR) genes. Our results suggest that AtbHLH112 may represent a novel repressor of cell separation during lateral root emergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 3 and IRF7 have been identified as regulators of type I interferon (IFN) gene expression in mammals. In the present study, the two genes were cloned and characterized in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla. The full-length cDNA sequence of IRF3 and IRF7 in the European eel, named as AaIRF3 and AaIRF7 consists of 2879 and 2419 bp respectively. Multiple alignments showed that the two IRFs have a highly conserved DNA binding domain (DBD) in the N terminus, with the characteristic motif containing five tryptophan residues, which is a feature present in their mammalian homologues. But, IRF7 has only four of the five residues in other species of fish. The expression of AaIRF3 and AaIRF7 both displayed an obvious dose-dependent manner following polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (PolyI:C) challenge. In vivo expression analysis showed that the mRNA level of AaIRF3 and AaIRF7 was significantly up-regulated in response to PolyI:C stimulation in all examined tissues/organs except in muscle, with a lower level of increase observed in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge and Edwardsiella tarda infection, indicating that AaIRF3 and AaIRF7 may be more likely involved in antiviral immune response. In addition, some pattern recognition receptors genes related with the production of type I IFNs and those genes in response to type I IFNs were identified in the European eel genome database, indicating a relatively conserved system in the production of type I IFN and its signalling in the European eel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We explore, in the context of AdS/CFT correspondence, the causality constraints on the Noncritical Einstein-Weyl (NEW) gravity model in five dimensions. The scalar and shear channels are considered as small metric perturbations around an AdS black brane background. Our results show that the causality analysis on the propagation of these two channels imposes a new bound on the coupling of the Weyl-squared term in the NEW gravity. This new bound imposes more stringent restrictions than those by the tachyon-free condition, improving the predictive power of the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new eudesmanolide, 1-oxo-11 αH-eudesma-2,4(14)-dien-12,8 β-olide ( 1), and four new guaianolides, 9 β,10 β-epoxy-4 α-hydroxy-1 βH,11 αH-guaian-12,8 α-olide ( 2), 9 β,10 β-epoxy-4 α-hydroxy-1 βH,11 βH-guaian-12,8 α-olide ( 3), 4 α,9 α-dihydroxy-1 βH,11 αH-guai-10(14)-en-12,8 α-olide ( 4), and 4 α,9 α-dihydroxy-1 βH,11 βH-guai-10(14)-en-12,8 α-olide ( 5), together with one known eudesmanolide and two known germacranolides, were isolated from the whole plants of Carpesium triste. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including 2D-NMR techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To provide information for umbilical cord blood ( UCB) banks to adopt optimal collection strategies and to make UCB banks operate efficiently, we investigated the reasons for exclusion of UCB units in a 3-year recruitment period. Study Design and Methods We analyzed records of the reasons for exclusion of the potential UCB donation from 2004 to 2006 in the Tzu- Chi Cord Blood Bank and compared the results over 3 years. We grouped these reasons for exclusion into five phases, before collection, during delivery, before processing, during processing, and after freezing according to the time sequence and analyzed the reasons at each phase. Results Between 2004 and 2006, there were 10,685 deliveries with the intention of UCB donation. In total, 41.2% of the UCB units were considered eligible for transplantation. The exclusion rates were 93.1, 48.4, and 54.1% in 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. We excluded 612 donations from women before their child birth, 133 UCB units during delivery, 80 units before processing, 5010 units during processing, and 421 units after freezing. There were 24 UCB units with unknown reasons of ineligibility. Low UCB weight and low cell count were the first two leading causes of exclusion (48.6 and 30.9%). The prevalence of artificial errors, holiday or transportation problem, low weight, and infant problems decreased year after year. Conclusion The exclusion rate was high at the beginning of our study as in previous studies. Understanding the reasons for UCB exclusion may help to improve the efficiency of UCB banking programs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2007, the economic turmoil in the USA has had a dramatic impact on immigrant populations living within the nation’s borders. One such group is Chinese migrants who came to the USA as students in the 1980s and 1990s. This paper focuses on a segment of this population—medical professionals—who obtained graduate degrees in the USA and subsequently stayed on to work in pharmaceutical or health industries in Philadelphia’s metropolitan area. As a result of the economic crises in the USA and also the burgeoning market in China, pharmaceutical companies have begun to repatriate some of these Chinese professionals. This paper will examine reflections on the return experience to Shanghai, which has developed rapidly to become the most commercialized modern city in China as a result of the market reform initiated in 1979. I argue that neoliberal ideology in the USA not only forces these Chinese immigrants back to China, but also challenges their concepts of identity and citizenship, including cultural citizenship. This paper also examines the ways in which processes of change are affected by global capitalism and neoliberalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mx protein is known to play an important role in vertebrate immune response to viral infection. In this study, cDNA sequences of four Mx isoforms, designated as MxA, B, C and D were characterized in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla. These sequences contained an open reading frame of 1899, 1896, 1866, 1779 bp, flanked by 95, 53, 138, 69 bp of 5′ untranslated region and 389, 241, 136, 124 bp of 3′ untranslated region, respectively. A phylogenetic tree constructed with Mx peptide sequences from vertebrates revealed that MxA, C and D in the European eel formed into a clade containing zebrafish MxA and MxB and Mx proteins in other teleosts, whereas MxB in the eel was clustered together with zebrafish MxD, MxG and MxF. The transcription level of all Mx isoforms increased in a poly I:C dose-dependent manner in peripheral blood leukocytes of eels, as revealed by real-time PCR. A further experiment was conducted to reveal the temporal change in expression of these isoforms in various organs/tissues following poly I:C stimulation, and significant increase in expression was observed at various degrees in different organs or in different sampling occasions within the 12 h experimental period. In particular, MxA had the highest level of increase, while MxB had the lowest; and three isoforms, MxA, MxB and MxD had the highest increase in intestine, while the highest increase of MxC expression was observed in liver. These four isoforms of eel Mx are thus expressed differentially, and further work is certainly required to clarify the activity of promoter elements and antiviral activity of these Mx isoforms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Small molecules (SM) can greatly enhance the efficiency of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell generation, but the mechanisms by which they act have not been fully explored. We show here that an SM cocktail (NaB, PD03259, and SB431542) significantly promotes iPS cell generation from human fibroblasts, and NaB is more potent than the other two common histone deacetylase inhibitors (valproic acid and Trichostatin A) in promoting cellular reprogramming. Our data indicate that the SM cocktail substantially upregulates the miR302/367 cluster expression by increasing the stability and transcriptional level of this microRNA (miRNA) cluster in a manner dependent on the four defined transcription factors (TFs). Among the four TFs, Oct4 in particular appears to be required for the induction of the miR302/367 cluster by the SM cocktail. We also found that NaB alone can enhance the TFs-dependent upregulation of the miR302/367 cluster. Using a promoter reporter assay, we show that the SM cocktail remarkably enhanced the transcriptional activity of the four TFs in the miR302/367 promoter. Notably, attenuation of miRNA302/367 using a miRZip impairs the ability of the SM cocktail in promoting reprogramming. Collectively, these findings suggest that the SM cocktail promotes reprogramming at least partly through the induction of the miR302/367 cluster expression. Further insights into this process may pave the way for the generation of iPS cells using only SM cocktails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy has thrived as a promising treatment for psoriasis. However, overdose of PUVA treatment will cause side-effects, such as melanoma formation. And these side-effects are often ignored during PUVA therapy. Hence, in situ monitoring therapeutic response of PUVA therapy is important to minimize side-effects. Aberrant expression of tyrosinase (TYR) has been proved to be associated with melanoma, indicating that TYR is a potential target for evaluation of PUVA therapy. Herein, we reported a strategy for in situ monitoring TYR activity during PUVA therapy by using a cell-array chip-based SERS platform. The cell-array chip was used to simulate cell survival environment for cell culture. Capture of single cells and living cell analysis were realized in the isolated microchambers. An enzyme-induced core-shell self-assembly substrate was used to evaluate TYR activity in living cells during PUVA therapy. The gold nanoparticle modified with a SERS reporter, 4-mercaptobenzonitrile (4-MBN), was used as the core. In the presence of oxygen and TYR, hydroxylation of l -tyrosine occurred, leading to the reduction of silver ion on the surface of gold cores. The growth of silver shells was accompanied by the increased SERS intensity of the reporter, which is related directly to TYR activity. The detection limit for TYR activity is 0.45 U/mL. Upregulation of TYR activity was successfully monitored after PUVA therapy. Notably, real-time and in situ information of therapeutic response can be obtained through monitoring PUVA therapy by using a cell-array chip-based SERS platform, which has great potential to guide the clinical application of PUVA therapy. Monitoring PUVA therapeutic response with a SERS-cell-array chip strategy. [Display omitted] • PUVA therapy was in situ monitored by combining SERS and a microfluidic chip. • Tyrosinase activity in living single cells was dynamically monitored. • In situ information of tyrosinase activity during PUVA therapy was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel dynamic compensation method based on Bayesian inversion is proposed. • The bandwidth is increased without introducing high-frequency noise. • The frequency characteristics of the probe system can be improved. Undesired dynamic characteristics constitute a major source of dynamic measurement errors for contact probes and seriously restrict the improvement of measurement velocity and accuracy. However, the dynamic characteristics of probes are difficult to improve through structural enhancement. A novel dynamic compensation method based on Bayesian inversion was proposed to improve the dynamic performance of probe systems. On the basis of the dynamic model of probe systems, a Bayesian inversion model for dynamic compensation was derived and established. A Bayesian compensation model was developed for a self-developed contact probe. A recursive algorithm was also adopted to obtain the estimated state parameters that reflect the output values of dynamic compensation. The compensation effect was verified by simulation and experimental results. The overshoot of the probe system was reduced from 99.15% to 16.46%, and the settling time was shortened from 2.4825 s to 0.1452 s. The compensation effect of this method was better than that of the classical pole-zero configuration technique. The proposed method can effectively improve the time-domain tracking performance and broaden the frequency-domain measurement bandwidth of the probe system at the same time. The suggested approach is practical, effective, and can be widely used for dynamic system compensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrieval database artwork, unlike other artwork, does not present fixed, preset and stable contents; it is formed as external data are retrieved from different sociocultural contexts and combined into the artworks' content. This article aims to address the intertextual relationships between retrieval database artworks and the mass-produced texts from which the database artworks retrieve their data. After briefly discussing the difference between retrieval database artwork and participatory database artwork, and exploring the main concept of intertextuality, we address why intertextuality is essential and beneficial in understanding retrieval database artworks. Two selected works are used to demonstrate that, as the artwork is executed, the meanings and relationships of retrieval database artwork are ever-changing, and the authorship is constantly shifting due to the viewer's participation. Shifting authorship in retrieval database artwork is caused by the daily mass cultural production of original text, which might or might not be retrieved by the database to be incorporated into the artwork. We conclude that retrieval database artworks cannot separate themselves from mass data. The dynamic intertextual relationships between the work and its ongoing retrieval of content from other cultural productions, as well as the viewers' contributions to the work, simultaneously shape and reshape the work and its authorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a model of the Brownian motor in a feedback controlled ratchet, in which the application of the flashing potential depends on the state of the particle to be controlled. We derive an analytical expression for the velocity induced by the feedback ratchet, which is a function of several parameters, including the ratio of the two switching temperatures and the asymmetry parameter of the potential field. The motor shows a current inversion when either parameter is varied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) has been implicated in HBV-associated carcinogenesis through activation of IκB kinase (IKK)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Besides activating NF-κB in the cytoplasm, IKKα was found in the nucleus to regulate gene expression epigenetically in response to various stimuli. However, it is unknown whether nuclear IKKα plays a role in HBx-associated tumor progression. Moreover, the molecular mechanism underlying IKKα nuclear transport also remains to be elucidated. Here, we disclosed HBx as a new inducer of IKKα nuclear transport in hepatoma cells. HBx induced IKKα nuclear transport in an Akt-dependent manner. HBx-activated Akt promoted IKKα nuclear translocation via phosphorylating its threonine-23 (Thr23). In addition, IKKα ubiquitination enhanced by HBx and Akt also contributed to the IKKα accumulation in the nucleus, indicating the involvement of ubiquitination in Akt-increased IKKα nuclear transport in response to HBx. Furthermore, inhibition of IKKα nuclear translocation by mutation of its nuclear localization signal and Thr23 diminished IKKα-dependent cell migration. Taken together, our findings shed light on the molecular mechanism of IKKα nuclear translocation and provide a potential role of nuclear IKKα in HBx-mediated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 1446-1454, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flashing ratchet model of a two-headed molecular motor in a two-dimensional potential is proposed to simulate the hand-over-hand motion of kinesins. Extensive Langevin simulations of the model are performed. We discuss the dependences of motion and efficiency on the model parameters, including the external force and the temperature. A good qualitative agreement with the expected behavior is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Numbers of CD34+ cell and total nucleated cell (TNC) and cord blood volume are commonly used as indicators for haematopoietic potential of umbilical cord blood (UCB) units. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between donor-related factors and the quality indicators of UCB. Methods: Obstetric and neonatal clinical laboratory data of a total of 1549 UCB units were obtained from Buddhist Tzu Chi Stem Cells Center (BTCSCC) Cord Blood Bank. A retrospective multivariate analysis was conducted to analyze the data. Results: Our results showed that birth weight had positive correlations with each of the clinical features of CD34+ cell number, TNC count and unit volume of UCB, followed by the placental weight. Longer gestational period would decrease CD34+ cell number and volume of UCB. Female baby and mode of vaginal delivery of neonates were found to have larger amount of TNC in UCB. Conclusion: Our results would be helpful and beneficial in building up standard criteria for evaluating stored UCB units. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Attaching electron-withdrawing substituent to organic conjugated molecules is considered as an effective method to produce n-type and ambipolar transport materials. In this work, we use density functional theory calculations to investigate the electron and hole transport properties of pentacene (PENT) derivatives after substituent and simulate the angular resolution anisotropic mobility for both electron and hole transport. Our results show that adding electron-withdrawing substituents can lower the energy level of lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and increase electron affinity, which are beneficial to the electron injection and ambient stability of the material. Also the LUMO electronic couplings for electron transport in these pentacene derivatives can achieve up to a hundred meV which promises good electron transport mobility, although adding electron-withdrawing groups will introduce the increase of electron transfer reorganization energy. The final results of our angular resolution anisotropic mobility simulations show that the electron mobility of these pentacene derivatives can get to several cm2 V−1s−1, but it is important to control the orientation of the organic material relative to the device channel to obtain the highest electron mobility. Our investigation provide detailed information to assist in the design of n-type and ambipolar organic electronic materials with high mobility performance. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of n-type perylene bisimide (PBI) derivatives with electron-withdrawing substituents at both bay and imide nitrogen positions were investigated. The effects of these substituents on internal energy relaxation, molecular orbitals, air stability, electronic properties and charge transport behaviors were systematically discussed with density functional theory (DFT) which has been demonstrated reliable for organic semiconductor study. The investigated derivatives with electron-withdrawing substituents show favorable performances in terms of these properties. The LUMO levels are greatly stabilized by at least 0.3eV and these derivatives show the strong absorption from 400 to 700nm which match with the solar spectra very well. The charge transport mainly happens between molecules in the same organic molecular layer and electronic couplings between layer-to-layer molecules are very weak, thus the mobility along layer-to-layer direction is less efficient. The variation of molecular packings and intermolecular interactions produce the highly anisotropic mobilities. The derivative with two fluorine atoms at bay positions and –CH2C3F7 at imide group has broad and strong absorption in the UV-Visible region and the electron mobility could get to 0.514cm2 V−1 s−1 which is greatly encouraging for molecular and material design in organic solar-cell devices. These calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental data. However, not all the functionalization with halogen substituents would induce the increase of the electronic coupling and electron mobility. The derivatives with four halogen substituents at the bay positions could not show advantages in terms of electron mobility which is induced by the distorted conjugated structures. The theoretical understanding of these n-type organic semiconductors figures out the importance of tuning the molecular geometry to get high performance semiconductor materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this work was to evaluate immune responses in BALB/c mice vaccinated subcutaneously by recombinant protein, or intramuscularly by plasmid DNA with fusion antigen of rhoptry protein 2 (ROP2) and major surface protein 1 (SAG1) from Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii). BALB/c mice were immunized with one of three different antigen formulations respectively, which were rROP2-SAG1, pcROP2-SAG1, and pcROP2-SAG1 boosted with rROP2-SAG1. The production of IgG, IgG subclasses, lymphoproliferation, and level of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) were detected after vaccination. The animals vaccinated with rROP2-SAG1 quickly developed specific anti-TLA ( T. gondii lysate antigen) antibodies, which continued to rise after immunization. However, production of IgG against TLA in mice vaccinated with pcROP2-SAG1 was relatively slow and maintained a high level after reaching plateau. There are more vigorous specific lymphoproliferative responses observed in mice of group rROP2-SAG1 than in pcROP2-SAG1. Immune responses in mice of group pcROP2-SAG1 boosted with rROP2-SAG1 were similar to the protein immunization group. Three immunization procedures resulted in a similar level of IFN-γ production. Our results indicate that BALB/c mice vaccinated by three immunization procedures induce similar humoral and cellular immunity against infection of T. gondii. Mice immunized with recombinant protein rROP2-SAG1 produce more humoral immune responses than mice immunized with other antigen formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of tested marker becomes numerous in genetic association studies (GAS) and one major challenge is to derive the multiple testing threshold. Some approaches calculating an effective number (Meff) of tests in GAS were developed and have been shown to be promising. As yet, there have been no comparisons of their robustness to influencing factors. We evaluated the performance of three principal component analysis (PCA)-based Meff estimation formulas (Meff−C in Cheverud (2001), Meff−L in Li and Ji (2005), and Meff−G in Galwey (2009)). Four influencing factors including LD measurements, marker density, population samples and the total number of tested markers were considered. We validated them by the Bonferroni's method and the permutation test with 10 000 random shuffles based on three real data sets. For each factor, Meff−C yielded conservative threshold except with D′ coefficient, and Meff−G would be too liberal compared with the permutation test. Our results indicated that Meff−L based on r2 coefficient achieve close approximation of the permutation threshold. As for a large number of markers, we recommended to use Meff−L with r2 coefficient according to fixed-length separation, as well as fixed-number separation, to obtain accurate estimate of the multiple testing threshold and to save more computational time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lysozyme plays an important role in human innate immunity by causing bacterial cell lysis. We describe for the first time, the actual performance of human lysozyme g-like 2 (HLysG2), a mammalian g-type lysozyme. RT-PCR revealed that the HLysG2 gene was transcribed in eye and testis tissues. A spot was detected from human tears using 2D gel electrophoresis and was identified as HLysG2 using MALDI–TOF/TOF MS and a MASCOT search with a matching score of 140 and 27% sequence coverage of the whole amino acid sequence. To gain insight into the in vitro antimicrobial activities of HLysG2, the mature peptide-coding region was cloned into Pichia pastoris for heterogeneous expression. Recombinant HLysG2, had an optimal at pH 6.0 and 30°C, reached the peak activity of 1.2×104 U/mg at the sodium ion concentration of 75mM and showed a higher salt tolerance than human c-type lysozyme (HLysC). Recombinant HlysG2 inhibited Gram-positive bacterial growth and did not inhibit Gram-negative bacterial and Candida albicans growth. Results indicated that HLysG2 is a potent antibacterial protein that may play a role in the innate immunity of the human eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)–A, -B, and -DRB1 alleles were typed in 46,915 healthy Taiwanese volunteers recruited for Tzu Chi Taiwan Marrow Donor Registry (TCTMDR). The volunteers were separated into Taiwanese and Taiwanese aborigines. In this study, a total of 51 A, 121 B, and 53 DRB1 alleles were found in the Taiwanese group, and 17 A, 32 B, and 23 DRB1 alleles were identified in the Taiwanese aborigines. Some commonly shared alleles appeared more frequently in one group than in the other. The two haplotypes, among the 20 most frequently observed haplotypes in each group, shared in common by both groups were A*3303-B*5801-DRB1*0301 and A*0207-B*4601-DRB1* 0901. However, both haplotype frequencies in each group were extremely different, indicating the existence of genetic diversity between the two groups. In addition, principal component analysis and clustering results based on high-resolution HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 alleles indicated that the Taiwanese group was closest to Southern Chinese and reiterated HLA diversity between the Taiwanese and the Taiwanese aborigines. We believe that our findings in this study may provide useful information in search for HLA-matched donors for patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether fisetin is a potential radiosensitizer for human colorectal cancer cells, which are relatively resistant to radiotherapy. Methods and Materials: Cell survival was examined by clonogenic survival assay, and DNA fragmentation was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay. The effects of treatments on cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were examined by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was performed to ascertain the protein levels of γ-H2AX, phospho-Chk2, active caspase-3, PARP cleavage, phospho-p38, phospho-AKT, and phospho-ERK1/2. Results: Fisetin pretreatment enhanced the radiosensitivity of p53-mutant HT-29 human colorectal cancer cells but not human keratocyte HaCaT cells; it also prolonged radiation-induced G2/M arrest, enhanced radiation-induced cell growth arrest in HT-29 cells, and suppressed radiation-induced phospho-H2AX (Ser-139) and phospho-Chk2 (Thr-68) in p53-mutant HT-29 cells. Pretreatment with fisetin enhanced radiation-induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in HT-29 cells. Fisetin pretreatment augmented radiation-induced phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, which is involved in caspase-mediated apoptosis, and SB202190 significantly reduced apoptosis and radiosensitivity in fisetin-pretreated HT-29 cells. By contrast, both phospho-AKT and phospho-ERK1/2, which are involved in cell proliferation and antiapoptotic pathways, were suppressed after irradiation combined with fisetin pretreatment. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this study is the first to provide evidence that fisetin exerts a radiosensitizing effect in p53-mutant HT-29 cells. Fisetin could potentially be developed as a novel radiosensitizer against radioresistant human cancer cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Coastal Range in eastern Taiwan is characterized by rapid uplift at a rate of about 5mm yr-1 because of active arc-continent collision since the Mio-Pliocene. The Coastal Range includes three main levels of Holocenc marine terraces, labeled the first, second, and third levels descending to the coast. The soils that have developed on the terraces provide a chronosequence for pedogenic studies. Thirteen soil pedons formed from conglomerate associated with tuft were sampled along three transects in the central and southern part of the eastern coast of Taiwan near the localities of Chang-Bin, Cheng-Gong, and Du-Lan. The soils of the oldest terrace (first level) are mainly Typic Hapluderts with one Typic Hapludoll; the soils of the intermediate terrace (second level) are Vertic or Typic Hapludolls; and the soils of the youngest terrace (third level) are Typic Udipsamments. The degree of development of these soils can be determined from horizon index (HI), weighted profile development index (WPDI), weighted mean profile (WMP) clay, WMP silt, WMP sand, and WMP cation exchange capacity with correlation coefficients (r) >0.6 by linear or logarithmic functions. Comparisons of the chronofunctions based on WMP clay data in subtropical and Mediterranean climates suggest that climatic conditions not only control weathering intensity but also influence rates of soil development. The pedogenic evidence in this study supports the correlation of terraces suggested by previous geomorphic and tectonic studies. The anomalous, relatively weaker degree of soil development on the oldest terrace at Du-Lan supports the conclusion that uplift rates in the Du-Lan area are greater than at Chang-Bin and Cheng-Gong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to produce monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against procalcitonin (PCT), a valid post-mortem marker of sepsis marker. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were made from hyperimmune Balb/c mice by injecting 50 mg of purified antigen. These mice were immunized four times and given a final boost, and their spleen cells were collected and fused with SP2/0 myeloma cells under the presence of PEG 1450. Hybridomas were screened by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using purified protein. Lastly, five MAbs were obtained and designated successfully and were characterized by ELISA and Western immunoblotting. By Western immunoblotting, MAbs were found reactive with the patient's serum specifically. The results showed that the monoclonal antibodies could be used for various pathophysiological analyses in further investigations of procalcitonin and in preparing diagnostic kits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Radiotherapy is one of the best choices for cancer treatment. However, various tumor cells exhibit resistance to irradiation-induced apoptosis. The development of new strategies to trigger cancer cell death besides apoptosis is necessary. This study investigated the role of securin in radiation-induced apoptosis and senescence in human cancer cells. Methods and Materials: Cell survival was determined using clonogenic assays. Western blot analysis was used to analyze levels of securin, caspase-3, PARP, p53, p21, Rb, γ-H2AX, and phospho-Chk2. Senescent cells were analyzed using a β-galactosidase staining assay. A securin-expressed vector (pcDNA-securin) was stably transfected into securin-null HCT116 cells. Securin gene knockdown was performed by small interfering RNA and small hairpin RNA in HCT116 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. Results: Radiation was found to induce apoptosis in securin wild type HCT116 cells but induced senescence in securin-null cells. Restoration of securin reduced senescence and increased cell survival in securin-null HCT116 cells after irradiation. Radiation-induced γ-H2AX and Chk2 phosphorylation were induced transiently in securin-wild-type cells but exhibited sustained activation in securin-null cells. Securin gene knockdown switches irradiation-induced apoptosis to senescence in both HCT116 p53-null and MDA-MB-231 cells. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that the level of securin expression plays a determining role in the radiosensitivity and fate of cells. Depletion of securin impairs DNA repair after irradiation, increasing DNA damage and promoting senescence in the residual surviving cells regardless of functional p53 expression. The knockdown of securin may contribute to a novel radiotherapy protocol for the treatment of human cancer cells that are resistant to irradiation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two novel and air-stable cyanated tetracene derivatives, 5-cyanotetracene (1CT) and 5,11-dicyanotetracene (2CT), were synthesized as high-performance organic semiconductors. The stability of 2CT was evaluated by NMR and the electrochemical property was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and UV–vis spectrum. The reorganization energy of 2CT predicted by UB3LYP/6-311g(d,p) is 0.0881eV, which is the lowest among existing compounds. The X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that the 2CT single crystal has a promising face-to-face packing with a relative short intermolecular distance of 3.403Å. Based on the theoretical model we previously developed, the calculated hole mobilities of these air-stable cyanated tetracene derivatives in a–b plane are 2.9cm2 V−1 s−1 for 1CT and 2.2cm2 V−1 s−1 for 2CT, respectively. These oxygen-resisted organics may offer potential to fabricate the flexible electronics under air conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this note we study nonexistence and long time behavior of solutions for a nonlinear degenerate parabolic equation of non-divergence type. In addition, we also construct some special explicit solutions which may blow up in finite time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The development of the central nervous system (CNS) starts from neural stem cells (NSCs). During this process, NSCs are specified in space- and time-related fashions, becoming spatially heterogeneous and generating a progressively restricted repertoire of cell types: neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The processes of neurodevelopment are determined reciprocally by intrinsic and external factors which interface to program and re-program the profiling of fate-determination gene expression. Multiple signaling pathways act in a dynamic web mode to determine the fate of NSCs through modulating the activity of a distinct set of transcription factors which in turn trigger the transcription of neural fate-determination genes. Accumulating evidence reveals that during CNS development, multiple epigenetic factors regulate the activities of extracellular signaling and corresponding transcription factors in a coordinative manner, leading to the formation of a system with sophisticated structure and magic functions. This review aims to introduce recent advances in the epigenetic background of neural cell fate determination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The engraftment outcome of UCB transplantation is highly dependent on cell number. It would be useful to predict CB cell content using information of donor-related variables before cell processing. In this study, CBs were obtained from 1312 single-birth term deliveries in the Buddhist Tzu Chi Stem Cells Center from January 2001 to June 2006. We evaluated whether maternal factors, such as age and race, have an effect on laboratory parameters of hematopoietic content, including CD34+ cell counts, TNCs, and cord blood volume. We also studied the impact of neonatal factors, such as delivery method, gestational age, sex, birth weight, and birth order on the same parameters. In multivariate analysis, babies delivered via Cesarean section had more CD34+ cells and volume, but lower TNCs. Similar results were found for either babies of shorter gestational age or in male infants. Babies with larger birth weight had higher CD34+ cell volume, and TNC, while mothers with fewer previous live births had CB with more TNCs. Maternal age and race had no effect on these laboratory parameters. To conclude, our results suggest that neonatal factors affect CB cell yields. TNCs tend to be more affected by different variables than CD34+ cell counts and volume. These findings may help in collecting CB efficiently and improve the CB transplantation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) are increasingly used as the source of hematopoietic stem cells, but there are large variations in harvest outcome between individuals mobilized by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). We examined the effects of donor characteristics and procedure factors on the day 1 CD34+ cell yield in 373 unrelated healthy donors. G-CSF was administered subcutaneously at a planned dose of 8.3 to 11μg/kg daily for 5 days, followed by harvest started on day 5 of G-CSF treatment. Of the 373 donors, 159 (42.6%) had the radial artery as the inlet access for harvest. Poor day 1 cell yield was defined as < 10 × 106 CD34+ cells/L of processed blood for the first apheresis; 62 donors (16.6%) did not attain this threshold. The male donors had significantly higher yields at harvest compared with the female donors. The female donors had higher CD34+ cell yields if the circulation access was through an artery than if is was through a vein. In a multiple regression analysis, donor age, sex, body mass index (BMI), preharvest white blood cell and circulating immature cell counts, access type, and flow rate correlated with day 1 yield. Female sex, older age, venous access, and a higher flow rate were significantly associated with greater risk for a day 1 poor yield of CD34+ cells (odds ratio = 3.0074, 1.045, 4.3362, and 1.1131, respectively). A higher BMI may decrease the risk (odds ratio = 0.8472). In donors at higher risk for poor CD34+ cell yield, strategies for increasing CD34+ cells must be considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper we study existence and multiplicity of weak solutions of the homogenous Dirichlet problem for a singular semilinear elliptic equation with a quadratic gradient term. The proofs for the main results are based on a priori estimates of solutions of approximate problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Cord blood (CB) is considered an alternative resource to bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. In this study, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, -B, and -DRB1 high-resolution allele types were analyzed from a total of 710 CB units in the Tzu Chi Taiwan Cord Blood Bank. We observed 21 HLA-A alleles, 59 HLA-B alleles, and 28 HLA-DRB1 alleles, whereas 19 unique alleles were present in the CB units of 2,023 individuals selected for confirmatory testing in the Tzu Chi Taiwan Marrow Donor Registry (TCTMDR). The allelic associations between the HLA-A and -B locus were stronger than that of either the HLA-B and -DRB1 loci or the HLA-A and -DRB1 loci. The most common haplotype of CB units in the general Taiwanese population was A*3303-B*5801-DRB1*0301 (6.59%), followed by A*0207-B*4601-DRB1*0901 (3.47%) and then A*1101-B*4001-DRB1*0901 (2.11%). Moreover, two haplotypes, A*2402-B*5201-DRB1*1502 and A*0201-B*1301-DRB1*1202, existed uniquely in the CB units but were not observed in the data of TCTMDR. Although the number of CB units studied for high-resolution of HLA typing in the current study is small, we believe our data should provide useful information to increase the chances of obtaining acceptable HLA-A-, -B-, and -DRB1-matched CB units for patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The chaperone glucose-regulated protein, 78/immunoglobulin binding protein (GRP78/Bip), protects cells from cytotoxicity induced by DNA damage or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In this study, we showed that GRP78 is a major inducible protein in human non-small cell lung cancer H460 cells treated with ER stress inducers, including A23187 and thapsigargin. AEBSF, an inhibitor of serine protease, diminished GRP78 induction, enhanced mitochondrial permeability, and augmented apoptosis in H460 cells during ER stress. Simultaneously, AEBSF promoted Raf-1 degradation and suppressed phosphorylation of Raf-1 at Ser338 and/or Tyr340 during ER stress. Coimmunoprecipitation assays and subcellular fractionations showed that GRP78 associated and colocalized with Raf-1 on the outer membrane of mitochondria, respectively. While treatment of cells with ER stress inducers inactivated BAD by phosphorylation at Ser75, a Raf-1 phosphorylation site; AEBSF attenuated phosphorylation of BAD, leading to cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Additionally, overexpression of GRP78 and/or Raf-1 protected cells from ER stress-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our results indicate that GRP78 may stabilize Raf-1 to maintain mitochondrial permeability and thus protect cells from ER stress-induced apoptosis. J. Cell. Physiol. 215: 627–635, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new prenylchalcones, xanthohumol C and D, together with two known prenylchalcone derivatives, xanthohumol (1) and 5''-(2''-hydroxyisopropyl)-dihydrofurano-[2'',3''-b]-4,4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-chalcone (4) were isolated and identified from the hops of Humulus lupulus L. The structures of xanhohumol C and D were elucidated as 5''-hydroxy-6'',6''-dimethyl-dihydropyrano-[2'',3''-b]-4,4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-chalcone (2) and 5''-hydroxy-6'',6''-dimethyl-dihydropyrano-[2'',3''-b]-4',6'-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-chalcone (3) on the basis of HRFAB-MS, 1D and 2D NMR (HMQC, HMBC) spectroscopic data. Among the new prenylchalcones, compound 2 showed marginal cytotoxic activity against human stomach carcinoma BGC-823 and human hepatic carcinoma HepG2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective, noninvasive means of selecting cells based on their phase within the cell cycle is an important capability for biological research. Current methods of producing synchronous cell populations, however, tend to disrupt the natural physiology of the cell or suffer from low synchronization yields. In this work, we report a microfluidic device that utilizes the dielectrophoresis phenomenon to synchronize cells by exploiting the relationship between the cell's volume and its phase in the cell cycle. The dielectrophoresis activated cell synchronizer (DACSync) device accepts an asynchronous mixture of cells at the inlet, fractionates the cell populations according to the cell-cycle phase (G1/S and G2/M), and elutes them through different outlets. The device is gentle and efficient; it utilizes electric fields that are 1-2 orders of magnitude below those used in electroporation and enriches asynchronous tumor cells in the G1 phase to 96% in one round of sorting, in a continuous flow manner at a throughput of 2 x 105 cells per hour per microchannel. This work illustrates the feasibility of using laminar flow and electrokinetic forces for the efficient, noninvasive separation of living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Pakua, Chushan and Touliu terraces are three groups of lateritic river terraces resulting from different fluvial systems in central Taiwan. Their geomorphic features do not enable regional correlations to be made. In this study, an alternative scheme based on the quantification of a pedogenic development is proposed for this correlation. Four soil pedons from the Chushan and Touliu terraces are classified as Ultisols (CS-1, CS-2 and TL-1) and an Inceptsol (TL-4) following the Soil Taxonomy. An additional six soil pedons, including an Oxisol (PK-1), Ultisols (PK-2, -3, -4 and -5), and an Inceptsol (PK-6), from the Pakua terraces were included from a previous study [Tsai, H., Huang, W.S., Hseu. Z.Y., Chen, Z.S., 2006. A river terrace soil chronosequence of the Pakua tableland in Taiwan. Soil Science 171, 167–179.]. The weighted mean profile development indices (WPDI) for the pedons suggest a chronological order of I (PK-1), II (PK-2), III (PK-3), IV (PK-4, CS-1 and TL-1), V (PK-5 and CS-2), VI (PK-6) and VII (TL-4). The correlation suggests the Chushan and Touliu terraces correspond to the same surface of an anticline, separated by the Chinshui River. Surface deformation reflects the growth of the underlying structure in which uplift folding occurred in the hinge zone and tilted to the east along the fold limb, as a result of the southern extension of the Pakua anticline. However, the different geometries on both the surface and subsurface from southern Pakua Anticline indicate a mechanism of fault-bend folding for Touliu Hill. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A first example of a highly stable benzimidazole N-donor dinuclear palladacycle complex is reported. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that two ligands assembled through complexation to two palladium(II) ions to give a compressed rectangular shaped metallamacrocycle. This complex catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction effectively in MeOH at room temperature. Hg(0) poisoning test supports the formation of L-Pd(0) species in the catalytic reaction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Scygonadin is a novel antimicrobial peptide, which was originally isolated from the seminal plasma of the mud crab, Scylla serrata. Based on the partial 20-residue NH2-terminal sequence of the peptide, H-Gly-Gln-Ala-Leu-Asn-Lys-Leu-Met-Pro-Lys-Ile-Val-Ser-Ala-Ile-Ile-Tyr-Met-Val-Gly-OH, scygonadin was cloned from the gonads of S. serrata using a degenerated reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA sequence contains an open reading frame of 539 bases (excluding polyA) with a coding capacity of 126 amino acids, which constitutes a putative NH2-terminal signal sequence (1–24) and a mature peptide (25–126). Analysis of the genomic DNA sequence revealed that scygonadin consists of 2300bp containing two introns (1569 and 120bp) and three exons (187, 131 and 218bp) and this sequence is different from any other reported antimicrobial peptide. The theoretical pI of the mature peptide is 6.09, which suggests that it is an anionic molecule. The sex and tissue-specific expression of the scygonadin gene was revealed using RT-PCR and Northern-blot analysis of multiple tissues of S. serrata males and females and this demonstrated that the scygonadin gene was predominantly expressed in the male reproductive tract of S. serrata and was restricted to the ejaculatory duct. This suggests that scygonadin might be one of the antibacterial peptides responsible for protection of the male crab reproductive tract from invading pathogenic microorganisms, so as to maintain a sterile environment leading to successful fertilization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel protein was isolated from the seminal plasma of the mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forskål, 1775). It exhibited an antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacterium Micrococcus leteus with IC90 of 0.125 mg/ml. The extraction procedure for the protein included techniques of acid extraction, ion-exchange chromatography on SP-Sepharose Fast Flow and reverse-phase liquid chromatography on Source 5R RPC. It showed a molecular mass of 10.8 kDa by SDS-PAGE. A partial 20 residue NH2-terminal sequence was determined by Edman degradation and MS-fingerprint of the protein was conducted. Similarity search in protein databases (BLAST) revealed that the protein exhibited no significant homology to any other reported antimicrobial peptides. We propose the name Scygonadin (from the gonad of S. serrata) for this antibacterial protein. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]