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Past studies show that firms adjust dividends very slowly to their dividend targets. This paper reinvestigates the dynamics of corporate dividend policy using a generalized partial adjustment model. We show that firms adjust dividends to their target payouts much faster than previously documented. This study also shows that their target dividends are predominantly driven by firm-specific effects, and tend to become significantly more stable when managers form future earnings prospects adaptively. Thus, dividend-smoothing behavior could arise from their attempts to conform to the target payouts, thereby leading to higher dividend adjustment speeds.

In this paper, we solve the portfolio selection problem. In our approach, we first propose a modified immune algorithm (IA) to reuse the memory cells we got in earlier stages, so that more information can be utilized in the next stages. Our experimental results show that the modified IA can successfully obtain significantly higher return than genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). Second, we also propose a hybrid of IA and PSO (IA-PSO), and a hybrid of GA and PSO. From our experiments, the hybrid IA-PSO maintains the high return while becoming more stable.

利用碳热还原法制备了LiFePO 4 /C 以及 Zn掺杂的 LiFePO 4 /C. 通过X射线衍射、扫描电镜、透射电镜、恒流充放电、循环伏安法等手段对其物化性质进行了分析. 结果表明: 少量Zn掺杂不改变LiFePO 4 的晶体结构. 在充放电过程中, Zn 2+ 可以减少晶体体积收缩, 为锂离子的扩散提供较大的空间, 使其充放电性能特别是较高倍率下的循环特性得到提高.

This study examines both a moderator and a mediator of perceived service quality and payment equity as they relate to customer loyalty in the banking industry. Through the moderating factor, the length of the customer–bank relationship, this study builds a conceptual framework for distinguishing between transactional- and relationship-oriented customers and provides an empirical analysis by using structural equation modelling. The empirical findings of this study, the result of the examination of 610 banking customers, showed that different lengths of the customer–bank relationship form loyalty from different variables and from a different path. For transactional-oriented customers, loyalty was built through the achievement of overall customer satisfaction; whereas for relationship-oriented customers, loyalty was built through the establishment of trust. Suggestions and limitations based on the finding are also discussed.

Endothelial injury has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases, including thrombotic disorders. Hyperin (quercetin-3-O-galactoside), a flavonoid compound and major bioactive component of the medicinal herb Apocynum venetum L., is commonly used to prevent endothelium dysfunction. However, its mode of action remains unclear. To the best of our knowledge, we have for the first time investigated the protective effect hyperin exerts against H2O2-induced injury in human endothelium-derived EA.hy926 cells using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)‑based quantitative proteomic analysis. The results showed that H2O2 exposure induced alterations in the expression of 250 proteins in the cells. We noted that the expression of 52 proteins associated with processes such as cell apoptosis, cell cycle and cytoskeleton organization, was restored by hyperin treatment. Of the proteins differentially regulated following H2O2 stress, the anti-apoptotic protein, myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), and the pro-apoptotic protein, BH3-interacting domain death agonist (Bid), exhibited marked changes in expression. Hyperin increased Mcl-1 expression and decreased that of Bid in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, flow cytometric analysis and western blot analysis of the apoptosis-related proteins, truncated BID (tBid), cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, Fas, FasL and caspase-8, demonstrated that the rate of apoptosis and the pro-apoptotic protein levels were decreased by hyperin pre‑treatment. In the present study we demonstrate that hyperin effectively prevents H2O2‑induced cell injury by regulating the Mcl‑1‑ and Bid-mediated anti‑apoptotic mechanism, suggesting that hyperin is a potential candidate for use in the treatment of thrombotic diseases.

To establish a new method for identifying genus of Lilium by DNA barcoding technology, ITS, ITS2, psbA-trnH, matK and rbcL sequences were analyzed in term of variation of inter- and intra-species, barcoding gap, neighbor-joining tree to distinguish genus of Lilium based on 978 sequences from experimental and GenBank database, and identification efficiency was evaluated by Nearest distance and BLAST1 methods. The results showed that DNA barcoding could identify different species in genus of Lilium. ITS sequence performed higher identification efficiency, and had significant difference between intra- and inter-species. And NJ tree could also divide species into different clades. Results indicate that DNA barcoding can identify genus of Lilium accurately. ITS sequence can be the optimal barcode to identify species of Lilium.

This study investigates whether there are “peer effects” in capital structure adjustments using an instrumental variable (IV) approach proposed by Leary and Roberts (2014, Journal of Finance). This study finds that firms refer to peer firms’ decisions and characteristics in setting target leverage ratios and in adjusting their leverage toward their leverage targets. This study also finds evidence for “asymmetric” peer effects for over-levered and under-levered firms: (i) over-levered firms increase the speed of the adjustment when adverse equity shocks happen to their peers, while under-levered firms do so when there are positive equity shocks to their peers; (ii) peer effects regarding leverage adjustment speeds are more significant for over-levered firms than for under-levered firms.

Since rubber was applied in people’s normal life, researchers have started to exploit the rubber reinforcing techniques and the relative mechanism. Developing high-effective, simple and economical reinforcing methods and fillers are the emphasis of rubber industry, technology and science. In this paper a rubber ideal filler (IF) is shown. This IF is a kind of composite with core-shell structure which was synthesized by seeded emulsion polymerization. It used styrene (St), polybutadiene oligomer (PBD) as monomers and divinyl benzene (DVB) as cross-linking agent. The effect of the amount of cross-linking agent, concentration of emulsifier and initiator on the stability of the emulsion was studied. The morphology of the latex particles with core-shell structure was characterized by high resolution SEM (ESEM) and DSC (Tg). The results showed that cross-linking polymeric particles exhibited strong reinforcing effect on styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).

Speciation of arsenic extracted with room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) ([bmim][BF 4 ] (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) and [bmim][PF 6 ] (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate)) from an As-humic acid (As-HA) complex contaminated soil (As-HA/soil) in a blackfoot disease endemic area has been studied by X-ray absorption (near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS)) spectroscopy. About 45% of arsenic in the As-HA/soil can be extracted with [bmim][BF 4 ] while the relatively less hydrophilic [bmim][PF 6 ] extracts 25% of arsenic. The extracted arsenic in the [bmim][BF 4 ] and [bmim][PF 6 ] from the As-HA/soil possesses mainly As(III) species, suggesting that at least two reaction paths may be involved in the extraction process: (1) splitting of As-HA and (2) reduction of As(V) to As(III). The refined EXAFS spectra also indicate that the As(III) extracted in the RTILs possesses the AsO 2 − structure, which has the As–O bond distances of 1.77–1.79 A and coordination numbers of 4.0–4.2.

By small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) spectroscopy, changes of electronic density of selected element can be determined. A size growth of Cu–ZnO nanoparticles encapsulated in the carbon shell during temperature-programmed carbonization of Cu 2+ - and Zn 2+ -starch (Cu-to-Zn ratio = 1) at 343–523 K was observed by in situ SAXS. The Cu–ZnO@C behaves like a nanoreactor for catalytic partial oxidation of methanol (POM) to yield H 2 -rich product gas. It seems that the enhanced POM may be associated with the high collision frequency of methanol, oxygen (as O atoms) and copper catalytic species in the confined nanoreactor.

This paper analyzes the recently epidemic status of schistosomiasis, the change of natural and social factors, and field survey and evaluation data of schistosomiasis in Ya'an City after Lushan Earthquake on April 20, 2013, and proposes that it is necessary to strengthen the conventional schistosomiasis control measures, the control of exogenous infection sources, the control of Oncomelania hupensis snails and health education for ensuring no major epidemics after the disaster. This paper also recommends the direction and suggestions for future schistosomiasis control in Ya' an City.

This study provides the candidate sequences in the identification of Radix et Rhizoma Clematidis and its adulterants using DNA barcoding. We amplified and sequenced the region psbA-trnH, with the data of 284 sequences from GenBank, the differential intra- and inter-specific divergences, genetic distance, barcoding gap were used to evaluate five barcodes, and the identification efficiency was assessed using BLAST1 and Nearest Distance methods. The results showed that psbA-trnH barcodes performed high identification efficiency and inter-specific divergences among the five different DNA barcodes. Analysis of the barcoding gap and NJ tree showed psbA-trnH was superior to other barcodes. Based on the identification and PCR amplification efficiency, psbA-trnH can be the ideal barcode to identify Radix et Rhizoma Clematidis and its adulterants accurately.

In Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), the optical path difference of laser metrology is applied to increase spectrum measure precision. However, due to the characteristics of laser single frequency and steady frequency, the uneven speed of moving mirror, circuit delay etc. cause the deviation of sampling point. In this paper, based on the interference theory of spectrometer, according to the Fourier contrary transform and methods of error analysis, the theory model between relative error of spectrum measure and the deviation of sampling point is established. Some simulation computations of the model have been done, the result indicates that, as a theory basis, the model can be applied in analyzing the sampling error of spectrometer and correction algorithm.

This paper focused on ordinary fuzzy controller for operation of control rule by approximate processing for a particular discrete points, resulting in steady-state performance results information loss; made binary optimized fuzzy control algorithm of bilinear interpolation. On the basis of basic fuzzy controller, it was to avoid error due to an approximate calculation of the loss of information, used by dual bilinear interpolation algorithm to improve continuity of control rules, so as to achieve the goal of improving stability precision.

The population of social network sites (SNSs) users in the world is growing rapidly, and the growth rate is beyond imagination. In light of this, this study conducting in-depth interviews to discover the relevant clues and factors that may affect users’ adoption of social network website. The results indicated that attitude has a significant influence on behavioral intention, and intrinsic motivation such as perceived playfulness has a positive influence on the creation of behavior intention. However, perceived usefulness shows no significant influence on behavioral motivation. Moreover, perceived playfulness, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and relationship development all have significant influence on behavior and attitude.

Small baseline subsets interferometric synthetic aperture radar technique is analyzed to detect and monitor the loess landslide in the southern bank of the Jinghe River, Shaanxi province, China. Aiming to achieve the accurate preslide time-series deformation results over small spatial scale and abrupt temporal deformation loess landslide, digital elevation model error, coherence threshold for phase unwrapping, and quality of unwrapping interferograms must be carefully checked in advance. In this experience, land subsidence accompanying a landslide with the distance

Recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV) virions were constructed containing a gene for resistance to neomycin (neoR), under the control of either the herpesvirus thymidine kinase (TK) gene promoter (vTK-Neo), or the human parvovirus B19 p6 promoter (vB19-Neo), as well as those containing an upstream erythroid cell-specific enhancer (HS-2) from the locus control region of the human beta-globin gene cluster (vHS2-TK-Neo; vHS2-B19-Neo). These recombinant virions were used to infect either low density or highly enriched populations of CD34+ cells isolated from human umbilical cord blood. In clonogenic assays initiated with cells infected with the different recombinant AAV-Neo virions, equivalent high frequency transduction of the neoR gene into slow-cycling multipotential, erythroid, and granulocyte/macrophage (GM) progenitor cells, including those with high proliferative potential, was obtained without prestimulation with growth factors, indicating that these immature and mature hematopoietic progenitor cells were susceptible to infection by the recombinant AAV virions. Successful transduction did not require and was not enhanced by prestimulation of these cell populations with cytokines. The functional activity of the transduced neo gene was evident by the development of resistance to the drug G418, a neomycin analogue. Individual high and low proliferative colony-forming unit (CFU)-GM, burst-forming unit-erythroid, and CFU-granulocyte erythroid macrophage megakaryocyte colonies from mock-infected, or the recombinant virus-infected cultures were subjected to polymerase chain reaction analysis using a neo-specific synthetic oligonucleotide primer pair. A 276-bp DNA fragment that hybridized with a neo-specific DNA probe on Southern blots was only detected in those colonies cloned from the recombinant virus-infected cells, indicating stable integration of the transduced neo gene. These studies suggest that parvovirus-based vectors may prove to be a useful alternative to the more commonly used retroviral vectors for high efficiency gene transfer into slow or noncycling primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells, without the need for growth factor stimulation, which could potentially lead to differentiation of these cells before transplantation.

The efficiency of producing porcine transgenic cloned embryos is still low due to lower developmental competence compared to in vivo-fertilized/cultured embryos. This phenomenon may correlates with poor culture condition. Energy substrate in culture medium play an important role in optimizing culture condition. This study pertain to investigate the effect of replacing pyruvate and lactate with glucose in PZM-3 medium at the rest part culture period on porcine embryonic development after SCNT. Porcine adult fibroblasts cells were transfected with pEGFP-C1 vector. Then transfected cells were used as donor cells for producing re-constructed embryos. Results have shown that supplement of glucose up to 5mM concentration in PZM-3 at the rest part of culture period improved the development of transgenic cloned embryos. Moreover, supplement of glucose(5mM) as energy substrate in PZM-3 at 48h of culture was optimal time. However, with regard to the percentage of EGFP-positive blastocyst, there was no significant difference between treatments. In conclusion, replacing pyruvate and lactate with glucose in PZM-3 medium at the rest part of culture period was beneficial to the development of transgenic cloned embryos and had no effect on transgene expression.

To determine the pulmonary pathological changes in hematological malignancy patients with pulmonary complications.17 hematological malignancy patients underwent surgical treatment were evaluated retrospectively. The pathological changes of all the surgical specimens were examined postoperatively by standard hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.Pathological examination confirmed: aspergillus infection in 9 patients, sub-acute inflammation (fibrosis and hematoma formation) in 3, and each in 1 of pulmonary infarction with granulomatous tissue in the periphery; granulomatous inflammation with calcified tubercle; alveolar dilation and hemorrhage, interstitial fibrosis and focal vasculitis; intercostal neurilemmoma; and moderate-differentiated adenocarcinoma accompanied by intrapulmonary metastasis. And several operative complications (1 case of fungal implantation, 3 pleural effusion and adhesions and 2 pulmonary hematoma) were occurred. The coincidence rate of pre- and post-operative diagnosis was 9/14 (64.3%). After surgery, 8 patients were received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT, allo-gene or autologous), with 7 succeeded. On effective secondary antifungal prophylaxis, 4 of 5 patients of aspergillosis succeeded in transplantation with free from mycotic relapse, one patient died from fungal relapse.Hematological malignancies with persistent and/or resistant pulmonary infection, hemoptysis, or unexplained lung diseases, should be treated in time by surgery operation to effectively eliminate residual disease and obtain a definitive diagnosis, so as to create a prerequisite condition for the following treatments. Moreover, the secondary antifungal prophylaxis can provide active roles for patients scheduled for chemotherapy and/or HSCT.

The Yellow River in China is being polluted with artificial pollution, which brings great challenges to drinking water treatment plants along the Yellow River. The conventional treatment processes could not ensure satisfactory quality of drinking water, and the innovative processes are crucial for the achievement of the newly issued drinking water standard (GB5749-2006).Ultra filtration (UF) technology is a new, more effective water treatment technologies, polluted Yellow River water was used as the raw water for UF study. In this experiment, high-density sedimentation tanks and UF technology were combined, the results show that the combination process is effective in removing turbidity, algae, bacteria, COD Mn etc. in long-term process can ensure safe, reliable operation.

We have initiated the characterization of the DNA helicases from HeLa cells, and we have observed at least 4 molecular species as judged by their different fractionation properties. One of these only, DNA helicase I, has been purified to homogeneity and characterized. Helicase activity was measured by assaying the unwinding of a radioactively labelled oligodeoxynucleotide (17 mer) annealed to M13 DNA. The apparent molecular weight of helicase I on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is 65 kDa. Helicase I reaction requires a divalent cation for activity (Mg2+ greater than Mn2+ greater than Ca2+) and is dependent on hydrolysis of ATP or dATP. CTP, GTP, UTP, dCTP, dGTP, dTTP, ADP, AMP and non-hydrolyzable ATP analogues such as ATP gamma S are unable to sustain helicase activity. The helicase activity has an optimal pH range between pH8.0 to pH9.0, is stimulated by KCl or NaCl up to 200mM, is inhibited by potassium phosphate (100mM) and by EDTA (5mM), and is abolished by trypsin. The unwinding is also inhibited competitively by the coaddition of single stranded DNA. The purified fraction was free of DNA topoisomerase, DNA ligase and nuclease activities. The direction of unwinding reaction is 3' to 5' with respect to the strand of DNA on which the enzyme is bound. The enzyme also catalyses the ATP-dependent unwinding of a DNA:RNA hybrid consisting of a radioactively labelled single stranded oligodeoxynucleotide (18 mer) annealed on a longer RNA strand. The enzyme does not require a single stranded DNA tail on the displaced strand at the border of duplex regions; i.e. a replication fork-like structure is not required to perform DNA unwinding. The purification of the other helicases is in progress.

Hydroxyapatite(HAP) particles were hydrothermally synthesized with the surface morphologies adjusted by cyclohexane-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-hexacarboxylic acid(H6E) as the template. HAP particles were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM and FTIR. The protein adsorption-desorption behaviors of positively charged lysozyme(LYS), fibrinogen(FN) and negatively charged bovine serum albumin(BSA) on these HAP particles were examined. The results indicate that using H6 E as a template to fabricate micro-nano structures on HAP particles through hydrothermal reaction is simple and controllable. HAP particles with micro-nano structures show selective protein adsorption-desorption properties for different proteins. The protein-loaded shell-like HAP particle(HAP50-protein) shows an excellent protein release behavior in vitro.

Through comparison of HER2/neu oncogene detected by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in breast cancer, to explore the effect of CISH on detecting gene amplification of HER2.Selected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast samples whose pathological types were infiltrating ductal carcinomas (255 retrospective samples, 271 prospective samples), and these samples were detected by IHC and CISH.(1) In the retrospective study, CISH identified gene amplification in 91.6% of IHC score 3+ tumors (120/131) and in 56.5% of IHC score 2+ tumors (39/69), thus the concordant ratio between IHC and CISH was 81.2% (207/255). The two results showed significant correlation (P0.01). (2) In the prospective study, the ratio of HER2 protein over expression detected by IHC was 31.7%, the ratio of HER2 gene amplification detected by CISH was 27.3%. CISH identified gene amplification in 91.4% of IHC score 3+ tumors (53/58) and in 46.4% of IHC score 2+ tumors (13/28), Concordant ratio between IHC and CISH was 89.7% (243/271). Two results showed significant correlation (P0.01). (3) Paired CISH/FISH results were concordant in 14 of 15 cases. The remaining case was detected by FISH, but showed no HER2 gene amplification by CISH. (4) The gene amplification by CISH had a significantly reverse correlation with ER and PR expression (P0.01).The results of HER2 gene amplification detected by CISH have high concordance with the results detectd by IHC and FISH. CISH is a novel technique for detecting HER2 gene amplification.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a common soft tissue tumor, which rarely occur in the skeleton. Its histological origin still remains controversial. This study was to investigate the pathologic and X-ray features of primary MFH of bone, and provide reference for imaging diagnosis.Clinical data and X-ray images of 16 MFH patients, treated from Jan. 1982 to Jun. 2002 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, were analyzed retrospectively.Pathologic manifestations of the patients were malignant multinucleated giant cells, pleomorphic and bizarre form of the tumor cells, and wheel-spoke arrangement of the fibroblast-like cells. Pathologically, the tumor tissue was consisted of various kinds of cells, which were mainly fibroblasts and histiocytes. The principal X-ray manifestations included solitary osteolytic changes, cortical expansion around the tumor, the penetration of the cortex with soft tissue mass formation, slight periosteal reaction and pathologic fracture.The diagnosis of MFH mainly depends on pathologic examination and X-ray manifestations.

We report on the final electroweak measurements performed with data taken at the Z resonance by the experiments operating at the electron-positron colliders SLC and LEP. The data consist of 17 million Z decays accumulated by the ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL experiments at LEP, and 600 thousand Z decays by the SLID experiment using a polarised beam at SLC. The measurements include cross-sections, forward-backward asymmetries and polarised asymmetries. The mass and width of the Z boson, m(Z) and Gamma(Z), and its couplings to fermions, for example the p parameter and the effective electroweak mixing angle for leptons, are precisely measured: m(Z) = 91.1875 +/- 0.0021 GeV, Gamma(Z) = 2.4952 +/- 0.0023 GeV, rho(l) = 1.0050 +/- 0.0010, sin(2)theta(eff)(lept) = 0.23153 +/- 0.00016. The number of light neutrino species is determined to be 2.9840 +/- 0.0082, in agreement with the three observed generations of fundamental fermions. The results are compared to the predictions of the Standard Model (SM). At the Z-pole, electroweak radiative corrections beyond the running of the QED and QCD coupling constants are observed with a significance of five standard deviations, and in agreement with the Standard Model. Of the many Z-pole measurements, the forward-backward asymmetry in b-quark production shows the largest difference with respect to its SM expectation, at the level of 2.8 standard deviations. Through radiative corrections evaluated in the framework of the Standard Model, the Z-pole data are also used to predict the mass of the top quark, m(t) = 173(+10)(+13) GeV, and the mass of the W boson, m(W) = 80.363 +/- 0.032 GeV. These indirect constraints are compared to the direct measurements, providing a stringent test of the SM. Using in addition the direct measurements of m(t) and m(W), the mass of the as yet unobserved SM Higgs boson is predicted with a relative uncertainty of about 50% and found to be less than 285 GeV at 95% confidence level. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This paper reports 20 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface sediments of Huangpu River in Shanghai, China. Pesticides were analyzed by GC/ECD with dual column. The concentration range of sigmaOCPs in sediments was 2.65-19.54 ng/g. DDTs, BHCs, methoxychlor and dieldrin had higher concentration than others. The concentration range of DDTs and BHCs was 0.68-4.43 ng/g and 0.14-0.77 ng/g, respectively, which shows concentration of DDTs was higher than BHCs. OCPs content increasing from upper to downstream Huangpu River implicats that discharging of industrial effluents and inflow of Suzhou River offered lots of OCPs to middle-lower Huangpu River. Distribution of OCPs components indicate that OCPs in sediments may be derived from the aged and weathered agricultural soils. According to correlation analysis between OCPs and TOC of sediments, TOC content influences the distribution of OCPs in sediment strongly. Contamination level of OCPs in sediment of Huangpu River is relatively lower than other areas. Comparing with ERL and ERM value of risk evaluation, sediments in middle-lower Huangpu River pose a bit high risk to consumers of bottom feeders.

Several reports have showed that three histologic variables (venous invasion, regional lymph node status, and depth of primary tumor penetration) were associated with the prognosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma patients. Based on these variables, a new classification system has been recommended. This study was designed to evaluate prognostic significance and risk factors of neoplasm in low and middle rectal cancer.Four hundreds and eighty-four consecutive patients with low and middle rectal cancer were treated by the abdominoperineal resection (APR) (356 patients) and the low anterior resection(LAR) (128 patients) between 1990 and 1996. To determine the independent prognostic variables, the variables were evaluated both univariately and multivariately from the perspectives of oncologic outcome.The 5-year survival rate for all patients was 71.1% (344/484), 63.5% (226/356) for APR and 92.2% (118/128) for LAR/SSR, respectively (P0.01). The resulting multivariate analysis using Cox regression showed that the three tumor variables were significantly associated with the 5-year survival (P0.01), the independent prognostic variables included venous invasion, tumor size, and TNM stages.The three tumor variables identified in multivariate analysis as bearing the strongest independent effect on the 5-year survival in low and middle rectal cancer were (in order to decrease prognostic impact) venous invasion, tumor size, and TNM stages. These three tumor variables may be used as important bases for a new classification system.

Expression from the human parvovirus B19p6 promoter fused to the firefly luciferase (‘Luc’) reporter gene was evaluated in a non-erythroid human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line, KB, and a human megakaryocytic leukaemia cell line, MB-02, known to become permissive for B19 replication following erythroid-differentiation. The B19p6-Luc construct was introduced into KB and MB-02 cells, both in undifferentiated and differentiated states, either via DNA-mediated transfection, or via infection with recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV), a non-pathogenic human parvovirus known to possess a broad host-range. Although Luc activity was readily detected in KB cells following transfection of the B19p6-Luc plasmid DNA, no expression from the B19p6 promoter was observed following infection with recombinant virus. In addition, transfection of the reporter plasmid resulted in high-level expression of Luc in differentiated but not in undifferentiated MB-02 cells. However, no Luc activity was detected, even in differentiated MB-02 cells, following infection with recombinant virus. Further studies with an additional recombinant as well as wild-type (wt) AAV revealed that MB-02 cells were non-permissive for AAV infection. A second human megakaryocytic leukaemia cell line, M07e, was likewise resistant to infection by recombinant as well as wt AAV. Taken together, these studies identify the first human cell type that cannot be infected by AAV. They indicate that expression from the B19p6 promoter, in the context of an AAV genome, is restricted to primary human haematopoietic cells, perhaps because parvoviral DNA replication and transcription are intrinsically coupled.

Interleukin 9 (IL-9) stimulates the proliferation of various hematopoietic cell types. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the cell proliferation action, immediate-early gene expression elicited by IL-9 in a human factor-dependent cell line, MO7e, was studied. IL-9 stimulation resulted in a rapid and transient elevation of primary response genes including junB and c-myc. The differential effects of protein kinase inhibitors, herbimycin A, genistein, and H-7 on the steady-state mRNA level and the transcription rate of junB and c-myc genes triggered by IL-9 were also investigated. Herbimycin A, but not genistein, specifically inhibited the expression of junB steady-state mRNA and the in vitro transcription of the junB gene. IL-9-enhanced c-myc gene expression was completely inhibited by both herbimycin A and genistein at the level of transcriptional initiation. H-7 failed to inhibit c-myc, but partially abolished junB mRNA induction. The role of protein kinase C in IL-9-mediated junB induction was also examined. The different responses of junB and c-myc messages to protein kinase inhibitors suggested that more than one pathway may be involved in IL-9-mediated signal transduction which leads to the expression of junB and c-myc genes.

Abstract 4107 Objectives To determine the pulmonary pathological changes in patients of hematological malignancies with pulmonary complications using surgical or thoracoscopic technologie. Methods 17 hematological malignant patients who underwent surgical treatment were evaluated retrospectively in our study. Pulmonary infection was presented in 14 cases following chemotherapy, and lesions can not be completely absorbed after a broad-spectrum anti-bacterial and anti-fungal treatment. Furthermore, computerized tomographic scanning showed that there remained several kinds of localized lesions. Subsequently, all the 17 patients underwent open lung or thoracoscopic biopsies (lobar, partial, or wedge resection). The pathological changes of all the surgical specimens were examined postoperatively by standard hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results Pathological examination confirmed: Aspergillus infection in 9 patients, sub-acute inflammation (fibrosis and hematoma formation) in 3 patients, pulmonary infarction with granulomatous tissue in the periphery in 1 patient, granulomatous inflammation with calcified tubercle in 1 patient, alveolar dilation and hemorrhage, interstitial fibrosis and focal vasculitis in 1 patient, intercostal neurilemmoma in 1 patient, and moderate-differentiated adenocarcinoma accompanied by intrapulmonary metastasis in 1 patient. And several operative complications (1 case of fungal implantation, 3 cases of pleural effusion and adhesions and 2 cases of pulmonary hematoma) were occurred. The coincidence rate of pre- and post-operative diagnosis was 9/14 (64.3%). After surgery, 8 patients were received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT, allo-gene or autologous), in which 7 cases were succeeded. Following the effective secondary antifungal prophylaxis,4 of 5 patients of aspergillosis were succeeded in transplantation free from mycotic relapse,just one patient was dead from fungal relapse. Conclusion Hematological malignancies with certain pulmonary complications, that is, persistent and/or medical-management-resistant pulmonary infection, hemoptysis, or lung diseases of diagnosis unknown, should be treated in time by surgical resection to effectively eliminate the residual disease and to achieve definitive diagnosis, so as to create a prerequisite condition for the following treatments. Moreover, the secondary antifungal prophylaxis could provide positive roles in protecting patients scheduled for chemotherapy and/or HSCT. Keywords hematological malignancies; immunocompromise; pulmonary aspergillosis; pulmonary resection; histopathology ; secondary antifungal prophylaxis Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

All of the former level set algorithms have only one level set function and only one speed function, and it is a complex procedure to minimize the energy function during the evolvement of the zero-level-set. Furthermore, there are a lot of problems in this single speed function. In this paper, a new multi-level-set algorithm with multiplicate speed functions is proposed according to the different properties of different objects: Different level set functions are constructed in different regions, and so are different speed functions accordingly; many zero-level-sets are evolved at the same time and act on one another in order to segment. This method not only enhances the accuracy of segmentation, but also solves the bounder gap problem well, which is quite a puzzle for single level set algorithm. Perfect results are achieved when this method is applied to segment the MR and CT images.

AIM: To study the expression of survivin,a novel member of inhibitors of apoptosis protein (IAP) and its significance in colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: Survivin mRNA expression was evaluated by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 52 colorectal carcinoma samples and 48 adjacent normal colorectal tissue samples. PCR product was sequenced to verify the desired result. Expressions of survivin protein, proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index (PI) and apoptotic index (AI) were detected immunohistochemically in 52 human colorectal carcinomas. RESULTS: The expression of survivin mRNA was detected in a significantly greater proportion of colorectal carcinoma samples than in adjacent normal colorectal tissues (67.3% vs 25%; P < 0.01). There was no relationship between survivin mRNA expression in colorectal carcinomas and sex, tumor size, histological types, lymphnode metastasis, distant metastasis and Dukes’ stage. The PCR product shared 99% of homology with human counterparts. Survivin expression was observed immunohistochemically in 27 of 52 cases of colorectal carcinoma (51.9%). The AI was significently lower in survivin positive group than in survivin negative group (0.67% ± 0.18% vs 1.14% ± 0.42%; P < 0.001), while the PI was greater in survivin positive group than in survivin negative group (51% ± 22% vs 27% ± 18%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Survivin is a special tumor marker independent of histopathological characteristics. It may play an important role during human colorectal tumorigenesis by inhibiting apoptosis and accelerating proliferative activity of colorectal tumor cells.