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This paper presents a novel micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) piezoelectric vector hydrophone based on ZnO thin film. The approximate theory analysis is introduced in sensitivity and resonant frequency, and a simulation on the vector hydrophone is carried out by finite element method (FEM). Results of the theory analysis and FEM simulation agree well. The results show that the ratio of the piezoelectric layer thickness and Si layer thickness exists an optimum value for sensitivity, and MEMS piezoelectric vector hydrophones in smaller size have higher sensitivity than piezoresistive ones and are of passivity.

Accumulation of methylglyoxal (MG) contributes to glucotoxicity and mediates beta cell apoptosis. The molecular mechanism by which GLP-1 protects MG-induced beta cell apoptosis remains unclear. Metformin is a first-line drug for treating type 2 diabetes associated with AMPK activation. However, whether metformin prevents MG-induced beta cell apoptosis is controversial. Here, we explored the signaling pathway involved in the anti-apoptotic effect of GLP-1, and investigated whether metformin had an anti-apoptotic effect on beta cells. MG treatment induced apoptosis of beta cells, impaired mitochondrial function, and prolonged activation of AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK). The MG-induced pro-apoptotic effects were abolished by an AMPK inhibitor. Pretreatment of GLP-1 reversed MG-induced apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction, and suppressed prolonged AMPK activation. Pretreatment of GLP-1 reversed AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR)-induced apoptosis, and suppressed prolonged AMPK activation. However, metformin neither leads to beta cell apoptosis nor ameliorates MG-induced beta cell apoptosis. In parallel, GLP-1 also prevents MG-induced beta cell apoptosis through PKA and PI3K-dependent pathway. In conclusion, these data indicates GLP-1 but not metformin protects MG-induced beta cell apoptosis through improving mitochondrial function, and alleviating the prolonged AMPK activation. Whether adding GLP-1 to metformin provides better beta cell survival and delays disease progression remains to be validated.

Accumulation of methylglyoxal (MG) contributes to glucotoxicity and mediates beta cell apoptosis. The molecular mechanism by which GLP-1 protects MG-induced beta cell apoptosis remains unclear. Metformin is a first-line drug for treating type 2 diabetes associated with AMPK activation. However, whether metformin prevents MG-induced beta cell apoptosis is controversial. Here, we explored the signaling pathway involved in the anti-apoptotic effect of GLP-1, and investigated whether metformin had an anti-apoptotic effect on beta cells. MG treatment induced apoptosis of beta cells, impaired mitochondrial function, and prolonged activation of AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK). The MG-induced pro-apoptotic effects were abolished by an AMPK inhibitor. Pretreatment of GLP-1 reversed MG-induced apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction, and suppressed prolonged AMPK activation. Pretreatment of GLP-1 reversed AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR)-induced apoptosis, and suppressed prolonged AMPK activation. However, metformin neither leads to beta cell apoptosis nor ameliorates MG-induced beta cell apoptosis. In parallel, GLP-1 also prevents MG-induced beta cell apoptosis through PKA and PI3K-dependent pathway. In conclusion, these data indicates GLP-1 but not metformin protects MG-induced beta cell apoptosis through improving mitochondrial function, and alleviating the prolonged AMPK activation. Whether adding GLP-1 to metformin provides better beta cell survival and delays disease progression remains to be validated.

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious disease such that global latent patient can be as high as one third of the world population. Currently, latent tuberculosis was diagnosed by stimulating the T cells to produce the biomarker of tuberculosis, i.e., interferon-γ. In this paper, we developed a paraboloidal mirror enabled surface plasmon resonance (SPR) interferometer that has the potential to also integrate ellipsometry to analyze the antibody and antigen reactions. To examine the feasibility of developing a platform for cross calibrating the performance and detection limit of various bio-detection techniques, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method was also implemented onto a biochip that can be incorporated into this newly developed platform. The microfluidic channel of the biochip was functionalized by coating the interferon-γ antibody so as to enhance the detection specificity. To facilitate the processing steps needed for using the biochip to detect various antigen of vastly different concentrations, a kinetic mount was also developed to guarantee the biochip re-positioning accuracy whenever the biochip was removed and placed back for another round of detection. With EIS being utilized, SPR was also adopted to observe the real-time signals on the computer in order to analyze the success of each biochip processing steps such as functionalization, wash, etc. Finally, the EIS results and the optical signals obtained from the newly developed optical detection platform was cross-calibrated. Preliminary experimental results demonstrate the accuracy and performance of SPR and EIS measurement done at the newly integrated platform.

The MEMS A0mode Lamb wave (flexural plate wave) ultrasonic devices have been shown to be extremely useful for sensor and actuator applications. The design and fabrication process of a MEMS flexural plate wave device based on the LTO/ZnO/LTO/Si3N4multilayered composite membrane are presented. The flexural plate wave was respectively launched and received by both Al interdigital transducers. In order to reduce the stress of the thin membrane induced mainly by the in-plane compressive stress of ZnO film, two fabrication process of DC and RF magnetron sputtering were used to deposit the ZnO films, respectively. The FPW device based on LTO(0.2μm)/ZnO(1μm)/ LTO(2μm)/Si3N4(0.5μm) thin membrane was fabricated. The center frequency of the MEMS flexural plate wave device is measured at 3.69MHz, which agrees with the theoretical predictions.

Methods for measuring the resonant frequencies and visualizing the motion of the Pb(Zr0.5Ti0.5)O3 microcantilever are investigated. Considering the two-segment structure of the microcantilever, a self-exiting self-sensing method is proposed to obtain the fundamental resonant frequency. An optical system consisting of light microscope, CCD camera and video card is established to visualize the first two vibration mode shapes. The theoretical, measured and visualized first resonance of one micocantilever is 17.28 kHz, 17 kHz and 17.8 kHz, respectively. A theoretical second resonance of 84.16 kHz is seen at 71.9 kHz. The proposed method is valid for measuring and visualizing low resonances of active micro structure.

The function of transcription factors can be critically regulated by SUMOylation. c-Maf, the cellular counterpart of v-maf oncogene, is a potent transactivator of the IL-4 gene in Th2 cells. We found in a yeast two-hybrid screen that c-Maf can interact with Ubc9 and PIAS1, two key enzymes of the SUMOylation pathway. In this study, we report that c-Maf co-localized with these two SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) ligases in the nucleus and that c-Maf can be SUMOylated in vitro and also in primary Th2 cells. We also demonstrated that lysine-33 is the dominant, if not the only, SUMO acceptor site of c-Maf. SUMOylation of c-Maf attenuated its transcriptional activity. Reciprocally, a SUMOylation resistant c-Maf was more potent than WT-c-Maf in driving IL-4 production in c-Maf-deficient Th2 cells. Furthermore, we showed that ablation of the SUMO site did not alter the subcellular localization or the stability of c-Maf protein but instead enhanced its recruitment to the Il4-promoter. We conclude that SUMOylation at lysine-33 is a functionally critical post-translational modification event of c-Maf in Th cells.

Seven monosomic addition plants, each containing the full complement of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia (2n = 20, genome constitution PP) and an aberrant chromosome of Nicotiana sylvestris (2n = 24, SS), were produced from backcrosses of hyperdiploid derivatives of the sesquidiploid hybrid PPS to N. plumbaginifolia. The N. sylvestris chromosomes in these plants were characterized by karyotype analysis, Southern hybridization with DNA markers previously localized on N. sylvestris chromosomes and a 269-bp fragment from the 3' end of 25S rDNA, and fluorescence in situ hybridization using 25S rDNA, 5S rDNA and telomere repeats (TTTAGGG)(n) as probes. The N. sylvestris chromosomes in these plants were identified to be telocentrics 6S, 7S and 8S, and deletions 7S, 10, 12S and 12L, respectively. The successful identification of aberrant chromosomes in these lines enabled us to assign DNA markers to arms and sub-arm regions of N. sylvestris chromosomes. All aberrant chromosomes in the addition lines could be transmitted through mitosis and meiosis. The potential applications of the addition lines in high-resolution physical mapping, the isolation of N. sylvestris chromosomes by flow cytometry, and an understanding of the chromosomal distribution of 45S rDNA in N. sylvestris are discussed.

Measuring the instrument response function (IRF) and fitting by reconvolution algorithms are routines to improve time resolution in fluorescence lifetime measurements. Iodide ions were successfully used to quench the fluorescence of fluorescein in this study. By systematically adding saturated NaI water solution in basic fluorescein solution, the lifetimes of fluorescein were reduced from 4 ns to 24 ps. The quenched lifetime of fluorescein obtained from the analysis of Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) measurement agrees well with that from femtosecond frequency up-conversion measurement. In time resolved excitation spectra measurements, the IRF should be measured at various detection wavelengths providing scattring materials are used. This study could not only reduce the complexity of IRF measurement, but also avoid the existing color effect in system. This study should have wide applications in time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging.

The cover image of this issue consists of confocal images of c-Maf localization in HEK293 T cells, taken from Lin et al. (pp. 1174–1184). In this article, the authors examine regulation of c-Maf function by SUMOylation. The authors show that c-Maf colocalizes with SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) ligases; SUMOylation attenuates c-Maf transcriptional activity, and subsequently, IL-4 expression.

The function of transcription factors can be critically regulated by SUMOylation. c-Maf, the cellular counterpart of v-maf oncogene, is a potent transactivator of the IL-4 gene in Th2 cells. We found in a yeast two-hybrid screen that c-Maf can interact with Ubc9 and PIAS1, two key enzymes of the SUMOylation pathway. In this study, we report that c-Maf co-localized with these two SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) ligases in the nucleus and that c-Maf can be SUMOylated in vitro and also in primary Th2 cells. We also demonstrated that lysine-33 is the dominant, if not the only, SUMO acceptor site of c-Maf. SUMOylation of c-Maf attenuated its transcriptional activity. Reciprocally, a SUMOylation resistant c-Maf was more potent than WT-c-Maf in driving IL-4 production in c-Maf-deficient Th2 cells. Furthermore, we showed that ablation of the SUMO site did not alter the subcellular localization or the stability of c-Maf protein but instead enhanced its recruitment to the Il4-promoter. We conclude that SUMOylation at lysine-33 is a functionally critical post-translational modification event of c-Maf in Th cells.