Y-STR INRA189 polymorphisms in Chinese yak breeds

To further explore Y-STR INRA189 polymorphisms in the yak, and to determine the genetic differences among yak breeds, genotyping analysis of INRA189 in 102 male yak individuals from three yak breeds in Qinghai Province of China was performed. Genotyping revealed the presence of four alleles, with sizes of 149, 155, 157, and 159 bp, respectively. Of these, the 157-bp allele, which was found with the highest frequency in the three yak breeds, was the dominant allele. Interestingly, the 149-bp allele was only detected in the Gaoyuan breed, and the 159-bp allele was only found in the Huanhu and Datong breeds. Only the 157- and 155-bp alleles were found in all three yak breeds. Taking the three yak breeds as a single population, the frequency of these four alleles was 0.0294, 0.0686, 0.8628, and 0.0392, respectively. The average polymorphism information content in the three yak breeds was 0.2379, indicating that the INRA189 was a low polymorphic Y-STR marker in yak.

Expression of TRAIL and its receptor DR5 and their significance in acute leukemia cells

We investigated the roles of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its receptor death receptor 5 (DR5) in the onset of acute leukemia and changes in their expression during chemotherapy. Bone marrow samples from 16 patients newly diagnosed with acute leukemia were collected before chemotherapy. Bone marrow samples from patients with non-hematologic malignancies served as the control group. Peripheral blood samples of patients with acute leukemia were also collected before chemotherapy and at 1 and 3 days after chemotherapy. Mononuclear cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood were isolated and used to detect the expression of TRAIL and DR5 by flow cytometry. Compared with mononuclear cells from the control group, mononuclear cells from newly diagnosed patients with acute leukemia showed no significant difference in the expression of TRAIL (P > 0.05) but showed significantly increased expression of DR5 (P < 0.05). TRAIL and DR5 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after chemotherapy was significantly increased compared to expression before chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Patients showing high expression of DR5 had a higher remission rate. One of the mechanisms underlying the treatment of leukemia with chemotherapy drugs may be the induction of TRAIL and DR5, which may promote apoptosis in leukemia cells. TRAIL-mediated apoptosis is regulated by DR5 expression.

New measurement of antineutrino oscillation with the full detector configuration at Daya Bay

We report a new measurement of electron antineutrino disappearance using the fully constructed Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment. The final two of eight antineutrino detectors were installed in the summer of 2012. Including the 404 days of data collected from October 2012 to November 2013 resulted in a total exposure of 6.9×10^{5} GW_{th}  ton days, a 3.6 times increase over our previous results. Improvements in energy calibration limited variations between detectors to 0.2%. Removal of six ^{241}Am-^{13}C radioactive calibration sources reduced the background by a factor of 2 for the detectors in the experimental hall furthest from the reactors. Direct prediction of the antineutrino signal in the far detectors based on the measurements in the near detectors explicitly minimized the dependence of the measurement on models of reactor antineutrino emission. The uncertainties in our estimates of sin^{2}2θ_{13} and |Δm_{ee}^{2}| were halved as a result of these improvements. An analysis of the relative antineutrino rates and energy spectra between detectors gave sin^{2}2θ_{13}=0.084±0.005 and |Δm_{ee}^{2}|=(2.42±0.11)×10^{-3}  eV^{2} in the three-neutrino framework.

[Relationship between serum histamine levels and ST-segment resolution in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the dynamic changes in serum histamine levels and their association with ST-segment resolution in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

A total of 84 consecutive STEMI patients who received primary PCI were enrolled in this study. The dynamic changes in serum histamine levels were observed from before PCI to 1 week after PCI. Factors associated with ST-segment resolution were identified by multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTS

The serum histamine levels of STEMI patients decreased during the first week after PCI. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the factors associated with ST-segment resolution 2 h after PCI were: the histamine level 2 h after PCI (r=-0.361, P=0.001), pain to balloon time, infarct related artery, and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade after PCI.

CONCLUSION

The higher histamine level 2 h after PCI was independently associated with poor myocardial reperfusion in STEMI patients.

Search for a light sterile neutrino at Daya Bay

A search for light sterile neutrino mixing was performed with the first 217 days of data from the Daya Bay Reactor Antineutrino Experiment. The experiment's unique configuration of multiple baselines from six 2.9 GW(th) nuclear reactors to six antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 m and 561 m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls makes it possible to test for oscillations to a fourth (sterile) neutrino in the 10(-3) eV(2)<|Δm(41)(2) |< 0.3 eV(2) range. The relative spectral distortion due to the disappearance of electron antineutrinos was found to be consistent with that of the three-flavor oscillation model. The derived limits on sin(2) 2θ(14) cover the 10(-3) eV(2) ≲ |Δm(41)(2)| ≲ 0.1 eV(2) region, which was largely unexplored.

Spectral measurement of electron antineutrino oscillation amplitude and frequency at Daya Bay

A measurement of the energy dependence of antineutrino disappearance at the Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment is reported. Electron antineutrinos (ν¯(e)) from six 2.9  GW(th) reactors were detected with six detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 and 561 m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls. Using 217 days of data, 41 589 (203 809 and 92 912) antineutrino candidates were detected in the far hall (near halls). An improved measurement of the oscillation amplitude sin(2)2θ(13)=0.090(-0.009)(+0.008) and the first direct measurement of the ν¯(e) mass-squared difference |Δm(ee)2|=(2.59(-0.20)(+0.19))×10(-3)  eV2 is obtained using the observed ν¯(e) rates and energy spectra in a three-neutrino framework. This value of |Δm(ee)2| is consistent with |Δm(μμ)2| measured by muon neutrino disappearance, supporting the three-flavor oscillation model.

A health risk assessment of reclaimed municipal wastewater for industrial and miscellaneous use

The study evaluated the safety of reclaimed water using health risk assessment and biotoxicity tests. The reclaimed water was produced from reverse osmosis and used in industrial and miscellaneous purposes. The health risk assessment was conducted based on the concentrations of detectable pollutants in reclaimed water in a hypothetical scenario. The estimated carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks are lower than the generally accepted level. Biotoxicity evaluation included three genotoxicity tests, a chronic toxicity test using medaka fishes, and a subchronic toxicity test using mice. The reclaimed water is not genetically toxic, and does not cause significant chronic effects on these model organisms. These results confirm the safety of using reclaimed water from municipal wastewater treatment plants.

Observation of electron-antineutrino disappearance at Daya Bay

The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment has measured a nonzero value for the neutrino mixing angle θ(13) with a significance of 5.2 standard deviations. Antineutrinos from six 2.9 GWth reactors were detected in six antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (flux-weighted baseline 470 m and 576 m) and one far (1648 m) underground experimental halls. With a 43,000 ton-GWth-day live-time exposure in 55 days, 10,416 (80,376) electron-antineutrino candidates were detected at the far hall (near halls). The ratio of the observed to expected number of antineutrinos at the far hall is R=0.940±0.011(stat.)±0.004(syst.). A rate-only analysis finds sin(2)2θ(13)=0.092±0.016(stat.)±0.005(syst.) in a three-neutrino framework.

Highly flexible near-infrared metamaterials

Plasmonic or metamaterial nanostructures are usually fabricated on rigid substrate i.e. glass, silicon. Optical functionality of such kinds of nanostructures is limited by the planar surface and thus sensitive to the incident angle of light. In this work, we demonstrated that a tri-layer flexible metamaterials working at near infrared (NIR) regime can be fabricated on transparent PET substrate using flip chip transfer (FCT) technique. FCT technique is solution-free and can also be applied to fabricate other functional nanostructures device on flexible substrate. We demonstrated NIR metamaterial device can be transformed into various shapes by bending the PET substrate.

Narrowband plasmonic excitation on gold hole-array nanostructures observed using spectroscopic ellipsometer

Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) modes on gold hole-array nanostructures were studied using spectroscopy ellipsometer in reflection mode. Using background free techniques in the optical ellipsometer, clear SPP bands on gold nanostructure/air interface were measured in UV-Visible-Near infrared (NIR) regime (300 nm-1800 nm). Plasmonic excitation with bandwidth of 13 nm (FWHM) was observed in reflection measurement, and it is much narrower than that observed in transmission measurement mode. In addition, the plasmonic excitation bands were characterized in both amplitude and phase domain. Theoretical analysis using reciprocal lattice vector method and rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) agreed well with the experimental results. By measuring the TM and TE waves simultaneously, the spectroscopic ellipsometer provides an important method to analyze both amplitude and phase information in plasmonic nanostructures and metamaterials.

Noncarrier naked antigen-specific DNA vaccine generates potent antigen-specific immunologic responses and antitumor effects

Genetic immunization strategies have largely focused on the use of plasmid DNA with a gene gun. However, there remains a clear need to further improve the efficiency, safety, and cost of potential DNA vaccines. The gold particle-coated DNA format delivered through a gene gun is expensive, time and process consuming, and raises aseptic safety concerns. This study aims to determine whether a low-pressured gene gun can deliver noncarrier naked DNA vaccine without any particle coating, and generate similarly strong antigen-specific immunologic responses and potent antitumor effects compared with gold particle-coated DNA vaccine. Our results show that mice vaccinated with noncarrier naked chimeric CRT/E7 DNA lead to dramatic increases in the numbers of E7-specific CD8+ T-cell precursors and markedly raised titers of E7-specific antibodies. Furthermore, noncarrier naked CRT/E7 DNA vaccine generated potent antitumor effects against subcutaneous E7-expressing tumors and pre-established E7-expressing metastatic pulmonary tumors. In addition, mice immunized with noncarrier naked CRT/E7 DNA vaccine had significantly less burning effects on the skin compared with those vaccinated with gold particle-coated CRT/E7 DNA vaccine. We conclude that noncarrier naked CRT/E7 DNA vaccine delivered with a low-pressured gene gun can generate similarly potent immunologic responses and effective antitumor effects has fewer side effects, and is more convenient than conventional gold particle-coated DNA vaccine.

The nuclear factor kappa-B pathway in airway epithelium regulates neutrophil recruitment and host defence following Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection

Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia usually results from a deficit of the innate immune system. To investigate whether inflammatory signalling by airway epithelial cells provides a pivotal line of defence against P. aeruginosa infection, we utilized two separate lines of inducible transgenic mice that express a constitutive activator of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) pathway (IKTA) or a dominant inhibitor of NF-kappaB (DNTA) in airway epithelial cells. Compared with control mice, IKTA mice showed an enhanced host response to P. aeruginosa infection with greater neutrophil influx into the lungs, increased expression of Glu-Leu-Arg-positive (ELR(+)) CXC chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC), superior bacterial clearance and improved survival at 24 h after infection. Neutrophil depletion abrogated the improvement in host defence identified in IKTA mice. In contrast, DNTA mice showed impaired responses to P. aeruginosa infection with higher bacterial colony counts in the lungs, decreased neutrophilic lung inflammation and lower levels of KC in lung lavage fluid. DNTA mice given recombinant KC at the time of P. aeruginosa infection demonstrated improved neutrophil recruitment to the lungs and enhanced bacterial clearance. Our data indicate that the NF-kappaB pathway in airway epithelial cells plays an essential role in defence against P. aeruginosa through generation of CXC chemokines and recruitment of neutrophils.

Temporal knowledge representation and reasoning techniques using time Petri nets

In this paper, we present temporal knowledge representation and reasoning techniques using time Petri nets. A method is also proposed to check the consistency of the temporal knowledge. The proposed method can overcome the drawback of the one presented in Yao (1994). It provides a useful way to check the consistency of the temporal knowledge.

Fuzzy backward reasoning using fuzzy Petri nets

Chen, Ke and Chang (1990) have presented a fuzzy forward reasoning algorithm for rule-based systems using fuzzy Petri nets. In this paper, we extend the work of Chen, Ke and Chang (1990) to present a fuzzy backward reasoning algorithm for rule-based systems using fuzzy Petri nets, where the fuzzy production rules of a rule-based system are represented by fuzzy Petri nets. The system can perform fuzzy backward reasoning automatically to evaluate the degree of truth of any proposition specified by the user. The fuzzy backward reasoning capability allows the computers to perform reasoning in a more flexible manner and to think more like people.

Finding inheritance hierarchies in fuzzy-valued concept-networks

In this paper, we extend the works of Chen and Horng (1996) and Itzkovich and Hawkes (1994) to present a new method for finding the inheritance hierarchies in fuzzy-valued concept-networks, where the relevant values (degrees of generalization or degrees of similarity) between concepts in a fuzzy-valued concept network are represented by fuzzy numbers. The proposed method is more flexible than the ones presented previously due to the fact that it allows the grades of similarity and the grades of generalization between concepts to be represented by fuzzy numbers rather than crisp real values between zero and one or interval values in [0,1].

Document retrieval using fuzzy-valued concept networks

This paper presents a new method for document retrieval using fuzzy-valued concept networks, where the relevant degrees between the concepts in a fuzzy-valued concept network are represented by arbitrary shapes of fuzzy numbers. There are two kinds of relevant relationships between any two concepts in a fuzzy-valued concept network, i.e., fuzzy positive association and fuzzy negative association. The relevant matrices and the relationship matrices are used to model the fuzzy-valued concept network. The elements in a relevant matrix represent the relevant degrees between concepts. The elements in a relationship matrix represent the relevant relationships between concepts. Furthermore, ne also allow users' queries to be represented by arbitrary shapes of fuzzy numbers and to use fuzzy positive association relationship and fuzzy negative association relationship for formulating their queries for increasing the flexibility of fuzzy information retrieval systems. We also present an information retrieval method in the Internet environment based on the network-type fuzzy-valued concept network architecture.

High-efficiency and high-contrast phosphorescent top-emitting organic light-emitting devices with p-type Si anodes

We report high-efficiency and high-contrast phosphorescent topemitting organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) by employing the low reflectance p-type Si bottom anodes and the high transmittance Cs(2)CO(3)/Ag top cathodes for effective hole and electron injection. With the green electrophosphorescent material fac tris (2-phenylpyridine) iridium [Ir(ppy)(3)] doped emitting layer, the devices exhibit peak external quantum and power efficiencies of 3.5% (12 cd/A) and 4.5 lm/W, which are the highest values reported for OLEDs using Si wafers as electrodes. Moreover, these devices exhibit significantly higher contrast compared to the conventional bottom-emitting and top-emitting OLEDs with the highly reflective back electrodes.

Ability of chronic wound fluids to degrade peptide growth factors is associated with increased levels of elastase activity and diminished levels of proteinase inhibitors

The stability of peptide growth factors exposed to fluids from healing surgical wounds and from nonhealing chronic wounds was examined in vitro. (125)I-Labeled transforming growth factor-beta1 or platelet-derived growth factor-BB was incubated with fluids from healing surgical wounds and fluids from venous stasis or pressure ulcers. Fluids from healing surgical wounds had no appreciable effect on the level of (125)I corresponding to intact growth factor. In contrast, incubation with fluids from several venous stasis or pressure ulcers resulted in significant degradation of these growth factors. Degradation was blocked by broad-spectrum serine proteinase inhibitors and by specific inhibitors of neutrophil elastase. Levels of elastase activity in wound fluids correlated with the ability to degrade peptide growth factors. Further comparisons showed qualitative and quantitative differences in the endogenous proteinase inhibitors, alpha2-macroglobulin and alpha1-antiproteinase. These results could explain, in part, the variable growth factor levels which have been found in chronic wounds. More importantly, the ability of some chronic nonhealing wounds to rapidly degrade exogenously added growth factors has important implications with regard to past and future clinical attempts to use peptide growth factors to treat these types of problem wounds.

Improved search for nu(mu) --> nu(e) oscillation in a long-baseline accelerator experiment

We performed an improved search for nu(mu) --> nu(e) oscillation with the KEK to Kamioka (K2K) long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment, using the full data sample of 9.2 x 10(19) protons on target. No evidence for a nu(e) appearance signal was found, and we set bounds on the nu(mu) --> nu(e) oscillation parameters. At Deltam(2)=2.8 x 10(-3) eV(2), the best-fit value of the K2Knu(mu) disappearance analysis, we set an upper limit of sin(2)2theta(mue) < 0.13 at a 90% confidence level.

Involvement of norepinephrine in the hyperglycemic responses of the freshwater giant prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, under cold shock

Hyperglycemic response of freshwater giant prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, under acute cold shock was investigated, and the involvement and stimulatory pathways of norepinephrine (NE) on induced-glycemia were further examined. Remarkable elevations in hemolymph glucose at comparable magnitude were observed in both intact and eyestalkless prawn under cold treatments, suggesting that hyperglycemic response of this species is not solely mediated through the actions of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone released from X-organ sinus gland complex on the target tissues, but NE is involved. Positive and significant correlations were noted between the hemolymph glucose titers and NE contents in both thoracic ganglia and the hemolymph, suggesting that NE plays a significant role in the hyperglycemic responses of this species under cold. Depressive effects of various adrenoceptor antagonists monitored in vivo and in vitro further suggest that the action of NE is primarily mediated through both alpha1- and beta1-adrenoceptors.

Search for coherent charged pion production in neutrino-carbon interactions

We report the result from a search for charged-current coherent pion production induced by muon neutrinos with a mean energy of 1.3 GeV. The data are collected with a fully active scintillator detector in the K2K long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. No evidence for coherent pion production is observed, and an upper limit of is set on the cross section ratio of coherent pion production to the total charged-current interaction at 90% confidence level. This is the first experimental limit for coherent charged pion production in the energy region of a few GeV.

Study on changes of heme oxygenase-1 expression in patients with coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND

Heme oxygenase (HO) is a rate-limiting enzyme of endogenetic carbon monoxide (CO) that degrades heme into carbon monoxide, bilirubin, and iron. These products have important physiologic effects: bilirubin is a potent antioxidant that can act against ischemia/reperfusion injury; there is a negative correlation between the content of HO-1 and the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD).

HYPOTHESIS

This study was undertaken to investigate the changes of HO-1 in patients with CHD.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 40 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP, diagnosed by coronary angiography), and 30 patients with stable angina pectoris (AP, diagnosed by coronary angiography) were selected for the study; another 30 patients with normal coronary artery (diagnosed by coronary angiography) were selected as controls. The levels of HO-1 protein expression in monocyte and lymphocyte in the subjects were tested by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Computer picture analyzing systems were also used to measure the levels of HO-1 protein expression.

RESULTS

Heme oxygenase-1 protein is located in cell plasma. The levels of HO-1 protein expression in patients with CHD were significantly higher than in those without CHD (p < 0.01). There were significant differences of HO-1 expression among the three groups of patients with CHD. The group with AMI was the highest, followed by the group with UAP and finally by the group with AP.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a higher expression of HO-1 in patients with CHD. The levels of HO-1 protein are associated with the severity of CHD.

"Burnout" in intensive care nurses

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between burnout components and selected demographic variables in a group of intensive care unit nurses. This research hopes to heighten awareness of both intensive care nurses and hospital administrators of the importance of burnout in their work setting. A descriptive correlational study design was used to examine the extent of burnout according to selected demographic variables. Sixty-eight intensive care nurses from two hospitals and critical care courses at one university completed a demographic data form and the research questionnaire of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Statistical analysis included non-parametric tests. Study results indicated low to moderate levels of total component scores in all intensive care nurses and on all three subscales of the assessment instrument. Results also indicated that, in this sample, younger nurses (20-29 years of age), separated and divorced nurses, and staff who work full time in ICUs were the most prone to emotional exhaustion. These research findings recommend support for ICU nurses to prevent burnout in their work setting. Further research is necessary to examine what kinds of working environments (job related stress) are effective in mitigating burnout amongst staff in the intensive care field.

Dystonia following administration of intravenous radiographic contrast material

We describe a patient who experienced dystonia coincident with the administration of an i.v. contrast agent. Dystonic reactions are not well known outside of the fields of Emergency Medicine, Neurology, and Psychiatry. They have not been previously reported as a reaction to i.v. contrast material. Prompt consideration and treatment of this condition may prevent unnecessary patient discomfort and interventions.