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Gamma-ray angular distributions in oriented $$^{92}$$ Mo produced via the $$^{6}$$ Li+ $$^{89}$$ Y reaction were studied in this work. The characteristic $$\gamma $$ rays in $$^{92}$$ Mo were measured by means of the GALILEO array, which is composed of 25 Compton-suppressed HPGe detectors arranged in a nearly 2 $$\pi $$ geometry. A detailed analysis of the spin-alignment attenuation factors ( $$\alpha _2$$ ) for different excited states in $$^{92}$$ Mo was performed, by analyzing the measured angular distribution coefficients of several pure-E2 transitions. The relationship between $$\alpha _2$$ and the spin was established in $$^{92}$$ Mo and the 244-keV transition between the 5 $$^-_1$$ and 4 $$^+_1$$ states resulted to have a E1 + M2 character with a mixing ratio ( $$\delta $$ ) of $$-0.05^{+0.05}_{-0.06}$$ , consistent with shell model calculations.

To study the effect of ulinastatin (UTI) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway.A total of 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=8), I/R group (n=8), and UTI group (n=8), and the rat model of MIRI was established. The changes in the content of serum biochemical indexes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), were detected using the kits, and the changes in the expressions of serum inflammatory factors, including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were detected using the quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Moreover, the ERK phosphorylation level in myocardial tissues was detected using the immunofluorescence method, and the ERK phosphorylation level and cleaved caspase-3 expression were detected via qRT-PCR and Western blotting.Compared with those in sham group, the serum SOD content significantly declined, while the MDA content was significantly increased in I/R group, and they were significantly improved in UTI group (p0.01). The results of detection using qRT-PCR and ELISA kits revealed that the inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) in UTI group were significantly improved (p0.01). The immunofluorescence results showed that the ERK phosphorylation level in myocardial tissues was significantly increased in UTI group. The results of qRT-PCR and Western blotting manifested that both ERK phosphorylation level and cleaved caspase-3 expression were significantly improved in UTI group (p0.01).UTI can play a protective role in MIRI through up-regulating the ERK signaling pathway.

To investigate the role of microRNA-155 (miR-155) in the potential invasion of colon cancer cell and the underlying mechanism.The expression level of miR-155 in colon cancer and adjacent normal tissues was detected by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). miR-155 mimics (miR-155), or siRNA against β-catenin (β-catenin siRNA), was transfected into human colon cancer cell line SW-480 using Lipofectamine 2000, respectively. RT-PCR was used to measure the expression levels of miR-155 and β-catenin mRNA, and β-catenin protein expression level was detected by Western blot. The in-vitro cell invasion abilities were determined by transwell invasion assays after up-regulating miR-155 or knocking down of β-catenin.MiR-155 directly regulates β-catenin at the transcriptional level, and promotes the invasion potential of colon cancer cell, at least partly through the upregulation of β-catenin.The findings of this study suggest that miR-155 and β-catenin may have a unique potential as a novel biomarker candidate for diagnosis and treatment of tumor metastasis.

This prospective study analyzed the clinical characteristics of myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)-associated vasculitis and explored the relationship between MPO-ANCA and clinical manifestations of the associated vasculitis in 132 p-ANCA and MPO-ANCA-positive patients (average age, 62.3 ± 14.8 years) who were initially diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis. The p-ANCA and MPO-ANCA levels in peripheral blood were detected in all patients. Among these, 128 (97%) had microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), 3 (2.3%) had granulomatous polyangiitis, and 1 (0.7%) had eosinophilic granulomatous vasculitis. The average time of diagnosis was 10.2 ± 18 months; only 14 (10.6%) patients were diagnosed within 1 month. The main organs involved and the corresponding number of patients were: renal, 95 (72%); lung, 89 (67.4%); joints, 35 (26.5%); heart, 26 (19.7%); peripheral nerve, 23 (17.4%); skin rash, 14 (10.6%); and CNS, 13 (9.8%). Older patients were more likely to show lung involvement in the early disease stage, whereas the joints were involved mostly in the younger patients. The p-ANCA levels (mean titers, 1:60) were not correlated with disease activity and extent of organ involvement, and the MPO-ANCA levels were positively correlated with disease activity, but had no correlation with the extent of organ involvement. MPO-ANCA vasculitis is a common occurrence in China; it mainly involves the elderly and presents as clinical manifestations of MPA. However, the multiple organ damage is not specific leading to delay in diagnosis. MPO-ANCA may play a pathogenic role in the associated vasculitis, and the diverse clinical manifestations might be related with the different characteristics of MPO-ANCA.

In the clinical management of cirrhotic portal hypertension, surgery is often necessary; however, the operative mortality rate is high.Data from 161 patients, who underwent surgery for cirrhotic portal hypertension, were analyzed, and 24 potential predictors of surgical outcome were assessed. A Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used for single-factor comparisons, and multivariate logistic regression for multifactor comparisons to identify key factors for poor surgical outcomes and calculate their scores.Six predictors of poor surgical outcomes were identified: postoperative bleeding within 30 h of2 L, with a score of 3; severe liver atrophy (an anteroposterior diameter of the left lobe of ≤ 55 mm and an oblique diameter of the right lobe ≤ 110 mm), with a score of 3; a base excess of-3 mmol/L, with a score of 3; a platelet count of3 T/L, with a score of 2; an amount of intraoperative bleeding of2 L, with a score of 2; and a red blood cell count of3 G/L, with a score of 1. For patients with good outcome (n = 147), all patients had a score of ≤ 3, except one patient who had a score of 4. With respect to patients who died (n = 14), all had a score of ≥ 5, except one patient who had a score of 4. A significant difference was observed between the two groups (p0.05). The mortality was 100% in patients with a score of ≥ 7.Six key factors for poor surgical outcomes were identified in this study. Operative mortality appears to be significantly increased in patients with a score of 5-6. Surgery should be contraindicated in patients with a score of ≥ 7. To reduce mortality, close attention should be paid to preoperative and intraoperative treatment and prevention to achieve a score of4.

Recently, wide attention has been given to the potential of recombinant baculovirus as a gene transfer vehicle for mammalian gene therapy. In this study, we packaged the recombinant baculoviruses with cytomegalovirus immediate-early (CMV-IE) promoter in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells, and found that the CMV-IE promoter could efficiently drive the exogenic gene expression in the cells 12 h post-infection (h.p.i.). The expression level at 72 h.p.i. was only around half of that driven by polyhedrin promoter (Ppolh). However, the biological activity of the reporter proteins at 72 h.p.i. were similar with that driven by Ppolh. In addition, the Sf9 cells transfected with CMV-IE-containing plasmids also expressed foreign genes, suggesting that the CMV-IE-directed heterogeneous gene expression in the Sf9 cells was baculovirus-independent. These results demonstrate that the CMV-IE promoter might be used as a regular promoter in Sf9 cells.

Aim of the study was to summarize the types and quantities of peripheral hematocytopenia in the patients of hypersplenism caused by cirrhotic portal hypertension and investigate the effect of surgery, including splenectomy on the patient's peripheral blood cells and liver function.The quantities of peripheral blood cells in the 322 patients of hypersplenism, caused by cirrhotic portal hypertension, were retrospectively studied. Then, the preoperative and postoperative values of peripheral blood cells and liver function were compared in 266 patients who were followed up. The liver function was scored and graded according to Child-Pugh scoring system.The study enrolled 322 patients who showed hematocytopenia, including multi-hemocyte decrease in 206 patients (64%) and simple hemocyte decrease in 116 patients (36%). After surgical treatment in the 226 patients who were followed up, the quantities of peripheral blood cells significantly increased (P0.01), Child-Pugh grade A increased by 32 patients (14.2%), while Child-Pugh grade C increased only by 2 patients (0.9%), the liver function scores decreased (P0.05).Hypersplenism caused by cirrhotic portal hypertension mainly manifests as a multi-hemocyte decrease and rarely shows single types of hematocytopenia. Surgical intervention including splenectomy can increase the reduction of hemocytes and promote the recovery of liver function.

In this paper, we have grown self-assembled GaSb quantum dots (QDs) on GaAs (100) substrate by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) technique. The surface morphology, density and size distribution of GaSb QDs are investigated by High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscope and Atomic Force Microscopy, respectively. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy is employed to obtain a cross sectional image of single quantum dot and to present the composition of QDs by focused energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). Feature of QDs of room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy is obvious, and the peak of the QDs at ~l.leV is well separated from wetting layer (WL) at ~ 1.34 eV.

In the [ Pt / Co ] 4 / MgO / [ Co / Pt ] 2 perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions, we have observed antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling when the spacer thickness is larger than 12 A, and a transition to ferromagnetic coupling for lower MgO thickness. The dependence of the interlayer coupling strength on the MgO spacer thickness is well fitted by the theory of free-electron model, providing an unambiguous experimental proof for interlayer exchange coupling theory. The thermal behavior of interlayer coupling shows a translation from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic coupling at 145 K. It can be mainly ascribed to the temperature-dependent enhancement of the magnetization of the ferromagnetic layers.

A compact dual-band bandpass filter using trisection hairpin-shape resonators has been designed and fabricated. Measured results are in good agreement with electromagnetic simulation results and verify that two central frequencies of the fabricated filter are located at about 1.57 GHz (GPS application) and 2.40 GHz (WLAN application). The measured return losses in both 1.57 and 2.40 GHz bands are higher than 16 dB while the measured insertion losses are about 1 dB in the two passbands. The circuit size of the proposed filter occupies only 26 times 26 mm (sime0.22lambda g times 0.22lambda g ).