New amphiphilic block copolymers based on oligomeric polyethylenimine and poly(
d,
l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PEI–PLGA) were synthesized by directly coupling PLGA with a carboxyl terminal group to PEI. ...The block copolymers were prepared by varying the length of the hydrophobic PLGA block (
M
n
=6, 10, and 21
K), while that of the hydrophilic PEI block (
M
n
=423) was fixed. PEI–PLGA block copolymers were found to be self-assembled in water by using a PLGA segment as a hydrophobic aggregate block and a PEI segment as a hydrophilic corona-forming block. The block copolymers formed micelle-like aggregates with critical association concentration (cac) in the range of 1.54–2.57×10
−3
g/l in water. It was found that the size and cac of the aggregates depended on the hydrophobic block length and the ionic state of the PEI block. The aggregate size decreased and the cac increased, when the PLGA block length decreased and the PEI block was protonated. As a general program aimed at the development of a new nanoscopic drug carrier, the cellular uptake behavior of PEI–PLGA aggregates was compared with that of plain PLGA nanoparticles by using confocal microscopy. The results showed that PEI–PLGA aggregates was readily adsorbed onto the cell surfaces and translocated into the cytoplasm, implying their versatile applicability as a drug carrier.
The theory, equipment and method of hydraulic fracturing stress measurement used in underground coal mine roadways in China are presented. A quality assurance system and a quality ranking scheme were ...developed for hydraulic fracturing stress measurements under specific conditions encountered in Chinese underground coal mines. During the last 8
years, a total of 204 hydraulic fracturing stress measurement campaigns have been carried out in 49 coal mines within 13 Chinese coal districts. The test sites which are located in sub-horizontal, inclined and steeply dipping coal measures range in depth from 69.2
m to 1 283
m. Each stress data record was assigned a quality between A and E according to a proposed data quality ranking scheme. A total of 97 stress data records of A and B quality were used to investigate the distribution characteristics of in-situ stresses within the coal districts. Generally, in-situ stresses increase with depth. In shallow coal mines, the rate of increase in horizontal stresses with depth is greater than the rate of increase of vertical stress. With increasing depth the rate of increase in horizontal stresses decreases. A considerable scatter in the in-situ stress test data may be due to distinct differences in both the strength and deformation moduli of strata located in varying geological environments and different coal districts. In addition, large folds and faults often result in a change in orientation of the maximum horizontal stress, and in distinct changes in stress values. Three types of stress field distribution have been noted with
σ
H
>
σ
h
>
σ
v
found mainly in relatively shallow coal mines (<
400
m), the
σ
H
>
σ
v
>
σ
h
type in moderately deep coal mines (400–600
m), and the
σ
v
>
σ
H
>
σ
h
type predominantly in moderately deep to deep coal mines. The ratio of the maximum horizontal principal stresses to vertical stress is usually between 0.5 and 2.0 in the coal districts.
►204 hydraulic fracturing stress measurement campaigns carried out in 49 coal mines within 13 Chinese coal districts. ►Proposed data quality ranking scheme. ►In-situ stress distribution characteristics in Chinese underground coal mines.
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► Both transcript and protein levels of
Bxvap-1 increase in the pine-grown stage of
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. ► BxVap-1 is found around oesophageal glands and metacorpus in
B. ...xylophilus. ►
Bxvap-1-knockdown nematodes show reduced movement in the pine host. ► BxVap-1 is involved in
B. xylophilus invasion and migration, possibly by suppressing the pine defence mechanism.
The pinewood nematode,
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a destructive pest in several countries including Japan, China and Korea. Of three genes encoding the venom allergen-like protein in
B. xylophilus,
Bxvap-1 showed the highest transcript levels at the pine-grown propagative stage. In addition, western blot and immunohistochemical analyses using anti-BxVap-1 polyclonal antibody verified a specific increase in BxVap-1 expression levels at the pine-grown propagative stage. Using immunohistochemistry, BxVap-1 was detected around the putative oesophageal glands and metacarpus, suggesting that BxVap-1 is secreted into the host pine tree and is involved in the parasitic mechanism. To explain the parasitic role of BxVap-1, we measured the migration rate inside pine seedlings of
B. xylophilus either with or without
Bxvap-1 knockdown by RNA interference.
Bxvap-1 knockdown resulted in a significantly lower migration rate in the >6
cm region compared with the control
B. xylophilus. These results suggest that BxVap-1 is involved in
B. xylophilus migration, perhaps by suppressing the pine tree defence mechanism.
Effects of the Korean carcass-grading system on carcass traits and meat quality parameters for the
longissimus dorsi (LD) and
semimembranosus (SM) muscles were investigated for Hanwoo steer beef. ...High quality grade beef cuts had significantly higher intramuscular fat content than those of low quality grade beef cuts. To establish a guaranteed system of eating quality for Hanwoo steer beef, a palatability prediction model was developed. The model development approach used canonical discriminant analysis and multivariate regression to assess effects of muscle type, cooking method, and aging treatment on Hanwoo beef quality grade. The palatability prediction model can provide Korean consumers with detailed information about expected eating quality for an individual cut, as well as provide critical information to the industry for maintaining high-quality beef production. The model is a significant advance in grading compared with the traditional carcass grading system, which applies a single quality grade to an entire carcass.
The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are prognostic factors for various types of cancer. In this study, we assessed the association of NLR and PLR with the ...prognosis of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in patients who received the standard treatment.
We retrospectively reviewed patients who were diagnosed with SCLC and treated with platinum-based chemotherapy between July 2006 and October 2013 in Gyeongsang National University Hospital Regional Cancer Center and Changwon Samsung Hospital.
In total, 187 patients were evaluated. Compared with low NLR (<4), high NLR (⩾4) at diagnosis was associated with poor performance status, advanced stage, and lower response rate. Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were worse in the high-NLR group (high vs low, 11.17 vs 9.20 months, P=0.019 and 6.90 vs 5.49 months, P=0.005, respectively). In contrast, PLR at diagnosis was not associated with OS or PFS (P=0.467 and P=0.205, respectively). In multivariate analysis, stage, lactate dehydrogenase, and NLR at diagnosis were independent prognostic factors for OS and PFS.
NLR is easily measurable and reflects the SCLC prognosis. A future prospective study is warranted to confirm our results.
Background and Objective
Resistin was recently reported to play a role in inflammation‐related diseases such as arthritis. However, the precise role of resistin in chronic inflammatory diseases, such ...as periodontal disease, remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of nicotine and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the expression of resistin and to assess whether resistin expression influences the levels of inflammatory cytokines, extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules and MMPs in human periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) stimulated with both nicotine and LPS.
Material and Methods
PDLCs were pretreated with isoproterenol or resistin‐specific small interfering RNA (siRNA), stimulated with LPS plus nicotine for 24 h, and then monitored for the production of inflammatory mediators. The concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured by radioimmunoassay and the Griess method, respectively. RT‐PCR and western blot analysis were used to measure the levels of mRNA and protein, respectively. Western blot analysis was also used to assess the activation of various signal‐transduction pathways.
Results
Treatment with nicotine plus LPS up‐regulated the expression of resistin mRNA and the production of resistin protein in PDLCs in a time‐ and concentration‐dependent manner. Isoproterenol‐mediated interference with the function of resistin, or siRNA‐mediated knockdown of resistin expression, markedly attenuated the LPS plus nicotine‐mediated stimulation of PGE2 and NO production, the production of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase proteins and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐12 and MMPs (MMP‐1, MMP‐2 and MMP‐9); however, these treatments restored the expression of ECM molecules. Furthermore, pretreatment with isoproterenol or resistin‐specific siRNA blocked nicotine plus LPS‐induced activation of phosphoinositide‐3‐kinase, glycogen synthase kinase‐3 beta, β‐catenin, p38, ERK, JNK and nuclear factor‐κB.
Conclusion
This is the first study to show that the inhibition of resistin, by either a pharmacological or a genetic silencing approach, has anti‐inflammatory effects. These effects include decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines and the prevention of ECM breakdown in a nicotine plus LPS‐stimulated PDLC model.
The boreal summer Asian monsoon has been evaluated in 25 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project-5 (CMIP5) and 22 CMIP3 GCM simulations of the late twentieth Century. Diagnostics and skill metrics have ...been calculated to assess the time-mean, climatological annual cycle, interannual variability, and intraseasonal variability. Progress has been made in modeling these aspects of the monsoon, though there is no single model that best represents all of these aspects of the monsoon. The CMIP5 multi-model mean (MMM) is more skillful than the CMIP3 MMM for all diagnostics in terms of the skill of simulating pattern correlations with respect to observations. Additionally, for rainfall/convection the MMM outperforms the individual models for the time mean, the interannual variability of the East Asian monsoon, and intraseasonal variability. The pattern correlation of the time (pentad) of monsoon peak and withdrawal is better simulated than that of monsoon onset. The onset of the monsoon over India is typically too late in the models. The extension of the monsoon over eastern China, Korea, and Japan is underestimated, while it is overestimated over the subtropical western/central Pacific Ocean. The anti-correlation between anomalies of all-India rainfall and Niño3.4 sea surface temperature is overly strong in CMIP3 and typically too weak in CMIP5. For both the ENSO-monsoon teleconnection and the East Asian zonal wind-rainfall teleconnection, the MMM interannual rainfall anomalies are weak compared to observations. Though simulation of intraseasonal variability remains problematic, several models show improved skill at representing the northward propagation of convection and the development of the tilted band of convection that extends from India to the equatorial west Pacific. The MMM also well represents the space–time evolution of intraseasonal outgoing longwave radiation anomalies. Caution is necessary when using GPCP and CMAP rainfall to validate (1) the time-mean rainfall, as there are systematic differences over ocean and land between these two data sets, and (2) the timing of monsoon withdrawal over India, where the smooth southward progression seen in India Meteorological Department data is better realized in CMAP data compared to GPCP data.
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