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Background: HBO1 (histone acetyltransfERαse binding to ORC1) is a histone acetyltransfERαse (HAT) which could exert oncogenic function in breast cancer. However, the biological role and underlying mechanism of HBO1 in breast cancer remains largely unknown. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the role of HBO1 in breast cancer and uncover the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect HBO1 protein expression in breast cancer specimens (n = 112). The expression of protein level was scored by integral optical density (IOD) for further statistical analyses using SPSS. Real-time PCR was used to simultaneously measure mRNA levels of HBO1. The HBO1 protein expression in breast cancer cells was confirmed by western blot. Results: HBO1 was highly expressed in breast cancer tissues and significantly correlated with estrogen receptor a (ERα) (p < 0.001) and progestational hormone (PR) (p = 0.002). HBO1 protein level also correlated positively with histology grade in ERα positive tumors (p = 0.016) rather than ERα negative tumors. 17b-estradiol (E2) could upregulate HBO1 gene expression which was significantly inhibited by ICI 182,780 or ERα RNAi. E2-increased HBO1 protein expression was significantly suppressed by treatment with inhibitor of MEK1/2 (U0126) in T47 D and MCF-7 cells. Conclusions: HBO1 was an important downstream molecule of ERα, and ERK1/2 signaling pathway may involved in the expression of HBO1 increased by E2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study on a new intelligent testing system for both teachers and students centered on the ant-colony-optimization-based test composition (ACO-TC) method which is intended to generate high quality tests for examinations and multiple requirements. The methods of the study include a question bank, pheromone and heuristic information and system analysis. It concludes that the use computer-assisted testing system for maximum benefits is significant in modern education.

Abstract  The proinflammatory and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-inducible cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) has been shown to enhance primary sensory nociceptive signaling. However, the precise cellular site of TNF-α synthesis is still a matter of controversy. Therefore, we focused our study on TNF-α protein synthesis and expression patterns in spinal dorsal horn of naives and rats under intrathecal challenge with LPS. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay showed that the protein level of TNF-α reached peak at 8 h. Double immunofluorescence revealed that LPS-induced expression of TNF-α exclusively located in a subpopulation of microglia, which increased at 8 h in the rat spinal dorsal horn (the injected side). Positive staining of TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) were also found in microglia. These observations have demonstrated the production of this proinflammatory cytokine by central nerve glia especially microglia. Synthesized TNF-α might directly act on microglia via TNFR1, but the inherent mechanisms remain unknown. Further studies are needed to confirm the pathogenic role of tumor necrosis factor in the early stage of inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The present study was initiated to investigate the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 signaling pathway in the early response of spinal cord to systemic inflammation by using Western blotting and immunohistochemical techniques in a rat model intraperitoneally injected with 10 mg/kg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results showed that there was a considerable amount of phosphorylated ERK 1/2 protein in the spinal cord of inflamed animals killed under pentobarbital anesthesia. The result of Western blotting showed that the phosphorylation level of ERK 1/2 in the spinal cord was increased at one hour; then 12 and 24 h after LPS injection the level decreased, while the total ERK 1/2 level seemed unchanged. The phosphorylated ERK 1/2 dominantly existed in the microglia cells of the gray matter of spinal cord, as demonstrated with double immunofluorescent staining 1 h after LPS injection. Collectively, the present results suggest that ERK signal pathway involve the cellular activation in the spinal cord following systemic inflammation, with ERK mainly in microglia. The increase of phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 in microglia of spinal cord after LPS injection implicates that ERK signaling pathway involves intracellular activity of microglia responding to the inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of fluorinated nanosized HZSM-5 catalysts were prepared by impregnating the zeolite with NH4F solution. The samples were characterized by XRD, XRF, FTIR-Py, TPD, 27Al and 29Si MAS-NMR. The effect of calcination temperature on the structure and acidity was studied in the range of 400–500 °C. When the calcination temperature increases, more framework aluminum atoms are removed due to the fluorination. As a result, the number of acid sites and the acid strength decrease, but the ratio of the total Brönsted acid sites to the total Lewis acid sites (BT/LT) increases. The fluorinated nanosized HZSM-5 catalysts exhibit better stability in the methylation of biphenyl (BP) with methanol. Moreover, the stability increases with the increase of the calcination temperature. When the fluorinated nanosized HZSM-5 is calcined at 500 °C, the conversion of BP can keep at about 10% for 50 h. The enhancement of stability may be due to the decrease of the acid strength and the increase of the ratio of BT/LT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poem "Three Haiku and Two Tanka" by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: the pixels; Last Line: held in the cage.

The article presents information on the influence of protein RAB-10 on the accumulation of the lipid phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate on endosomes. Recruitment of peripheral membrane proteins is controlled by endosomes for their functioning. Caenorhabditis elegans RAB-10 and humanRab 10 control a wide range of critical endocytic recycling pathways.

An untitled poem by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: the first taste; Last Line: a child refugee.

An untitled poem by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: summer heat... Last Line: with my son.

An untitled poem by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: laid off... Last Line: of wind chimes.

An untitled poem by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: faraway whistle; Last Line: mother's lullaby.

An untitled poem by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: leaves drifting; Last Line: a silence.

An untitled poem by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: midnight barking— Last Line: of my thoughts.

A 17-4PH steering shaft in the ship was brittle fractured during service, and its chemical composition, microstructure, fracture morphology of the material, and force simulations were analyzed. The results show that the failure mode of the shaft is hydrogen-induced delayed cracking, and the crack source is located on the outer surface of the contact position between the steering shaft and the end of the transfer shaft. Both the stress simulation analysis and the residual stress test prove that there is a greater stress concentration near the source region, which can easily lead to the migration and aggregation of hydrogen (H) during service, thus causing hydrogen-induced delayed cracking. The microstructure of a failure specimen with tempered and higher tensile strength will lead to higher sensitivity to hydrogen.

An untitled poem by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: Tax Day morning; Last Line: clings to my bones.

The poem "Another Year," by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: hometown memories... Last Line: New Year's morning.

An untitled poem by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: Christmas Eve; Last Line: out of topics.

An untitled poem by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: budding lotus-- Last Line: who I am.

A letter is presented about the author's decision to emigrate to Canada.

An untitled poem by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: snow flurries; Last Line: in Chinese.

The poem "Under the Gaze of Time," by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: New Year's Eve; Last Line: morning mist ahead.

The poem "A Life in Four Season" by Chen-ou Liu is presented. First Line: I write her; Last Line: one at a time.