Our previous studies and the others have strongly suggested that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway plays a critical role in ischemic brain injury. Here we reported that Tat-JNK binding ...domain (JBD) of JNK-interacting protein-1 (JIP-1), a smaller 11-mer peptide corresponding to residues 153–163 of murine JIP-1 conjugated to Tat peptide, perturbed the assembly of JIP-1–JNK3 complexes, thus inhibiting the activation of JNK3 induced by ischemia/reperfusion in the vulnerable hippocampal CA1 subregion. As a result, Tat-JBD diminished the increased phosphorylation of c-Jun (a nuclear substrate of JNK) and the increased expression of Fas ligand induced by ischemia/reperfusion in the vulnerable hippocampal CA1 subregion. At the same time, through inhibiting phosphorylation of Bcl-2 (a cytosolic target of JNK) and the release of Bax from Bcl-2/Bax dimers, Tat-JBD attenuated Bax translocation to mitochondria and the release of cytochrome c induced by ischemia/reperfusion. Furthermore, the activation of caspase3 and hydrolyzation of poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase induced by brain ischemia/reperfusion were also significantly suppressed by preinfusion of the peptide Tat-JBD. Importantly, Tat-JBD showed neuroprotective effects on ischemic brain damage
in vivo, and administration of the peptide after ischemia also achieved the same effects as preinfusion of the peptide did. Thus, our findings imply that Tat-JBD induced neuroprotection against ischemia/reperfusion in rat hippocampal CA1 region via inhibiting nuclear and non-nuclear pathways of JNK signaling. Taken together, these results indicate that Tat-JBD peptide provides a promising therapeutic approach for ischemic brain injury.
The separate and combined effects of Soret diffusion of the hydrogen molecule (H
2) and radical (H) on the structure and propagation speed of the freely-propagating planar premixed flames, and the ...strain-induced extinction response of premixed and nonpremixed counterflow flames, were computationally studied for hydrogen–air mixtures using a detailed reaction mechanism and transport properties. Results show that, except for the conservative freely-propagating planar flame, Soret diffusion of H
2 increases the fuel concentration entering the flame structure and as such modifies the mixture stoichiometry and flame temperature, which could lead to substantial increase (decrease) of the flame speed for the lean (rich) mixtures respectively. On the other hand, Soret diffusion of H actively modifies its concentration and distribution in the reaction zone, which in turn affects the individual reaction rates. In particular, the reaction rates of the symmetric, twin, counterflow premixed flames, especially at near-extinction states, can be increased for lean flames but decreased for rich flames, whose active reaction regions are respectively located at, and away from, the stagnation surface. However, such a difference is eliminated for the single counterflow flame stabilized by an opposing cold nitrogen stream, as the active reaction zone up to the state of extinction is always located away from the stagnation surface. Finally, the reaction rate is increased in general for diffusion flames because the bell-shaped temperature distribution localizes the H concentration to the reaction region which has the maximum temperature.
Upper critical field and its anisotropy in LiFeAs Zhang, J. L.; Jiao, L.; Balakirev, F. F. ...
Physical review. B, Condensed matter and materials physics,
05/2011, Letnik:
83, Številka:
17
Journal Article
Heading date in rice is an important agronomic trait controlled by several genes. In this study, flowering time of variety Dianjingyou 1 (DJY1) was earlier than a near-isogenic line (named NIL) ...carried chromosome segment from African rice on chromosome 3S, when grown in both long-day (LD) and short-day (SD) conditions. By analyzing a large F2 population from NIL × DJY1, the locus DTH3 (QTL for days to heading on chromosome 3) controlling early heading date in DJY1 was fine mapped to a 64-kb segment which contained only one annotated gene, a MIKC-type MADS-box protein. We detected a 6-bp deletion and a single base substitution in the C-domain by sequencing DTH3 in DJY1 compared with dth3 in NIL, and overexpression of DTH3 caused early flowering in callus. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the transcript level of dth3 in NIL was lower than that DTH3 in DJY1 in both LD and SD conditions. The Early heading date 1 (Ehd1) which promotes the RFT1, was up-regulated by DTH3 in both LD and SD conditions. Based on Indel and dCAPs marker analysis, the dth3 allele was only present in African rice accessions. A phylogenetic analysis based on microsatellite genotyping suggested that African rice had a close genetic relationship to O. rufipogon and O. latifolia, and was similar to japonica cultivars. DTH3 affected flowering time and had no significant effect on the main agronomic traits.
The effect of thermal and pulsed electric field (PEF) processing on the shelf life of an orange juice-milk beverage (OJMB) was studied. The intensities of the treatments were selected to produce ...similar inactivation of pectin methyl esterase (PME), an enzyme responsible for the jellification and loss of fresh juice cloudiness. Physical properties (pH, °Brix, and color), microbial population, PME activity, and volatile compounds of the product were analyzed during a 4-wk storage at 8 to 10 °C. The pH was not affected by any treatment but decreased during the storage in the untreated sample. The °Brix values were decreased by the 2 treatments. The thermal and PEF treatments initially inactivated PME activity by 90%. During storage, the PME activity remained constant in the 2 treated samples and decreased slightly in the untreated sample. The reductions in bacterial as well as yeast and mold counts were similar after the 2 treatments (4.5 and 4.1 log CFU/mL for thermal against 4.5 and 5 log CFU/mL for PEF). Based on the initial bacterial counts of the control, it was estimated that the shelf lives of the OJMB treated with thermal and PEF processing stored at 8 to 10 °C were 2 and 2.5 wk, respectively. Differences were observed in the color parameters of the OJMB between the 2 treatments in comparison with the control, with a higher difference observed in the thermally processed samples. The relative concentration of volatile compounds was higher in OJMB processed by PEF treatment than that in the thermally processed sample. During storage, the loss of volatile compounds was lower in the PEF sample while thermal and control samples had a similar rate of loss. For an OJMB, treatment with PEF achieved the same degree of microbial and enzyme inactivation as the thermal treatment, but better preserved color and volatile compounds.
To predict the learning curve of tooth preparation for all ceramic crowns of maxillary central incisors on phantom head simulators for graduate students participating in standardized dental resident ...training based on the modified Wright learning curve model, then to analyze and applicate the learning curve.
Twelve graduate students participating in standardized dental resident training were selected to prepare the resin maxillary central incisors on phantom head simulators for all ceramic crowns 4 times. The results of preparation were evaluated by 3 prosthetic experts with at least 10 years' experience focusing on the reduction, contour, taper, shoulder, finish line, margin placement, adjacent tooth injury, and preparation time for tooth preparation. The learning rate of tooth preparation was calculated by scores of tooth preparation of 4 times. The learning curve of tooth preparation was predicted based on the modified Wright learning curve model. According to the criteria of standardized training skill exa
This letter introduces an innovative multi-scale visual servoing framework for optical microscopy, engineered to automatically reposition the microscope for high-magnification target view across ...multiple magnifications, thereby facilitating repetitive and accurate histologic biopsies. The framework encompasses an active microscope-camera system equipped with both auto-calibration and multi-scale visual servoing capabilities. The auto-calibration technique addresses the challenges posed by the limited depth of field and pattern requirements of the microscope-camera system, and determines its intrinsic and hand-eye parameters through a two-step algorithm. The calibration data is then utilized to execute a SIFT matching-based visual servoing control at progressively increasing magnifications, using only a single high-magnification target view as a reference, ultimately enabling rapid and precise repositioning of the microscope. Experimental results demonstrate the precision and stability of the auto-calibration method, as well as the robustness of the visual servoing method against occlusion, blur, and low illumination.
Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of viscosity and fermentability of purified nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) on intestinal nutrient and energy flow and hindgut ...fermentation in growing pigs. In Exp. 1, 15 ileal-cannulated pigs (50.5 ± 2.9 kg BW) were allotted to 5 diets in a 2-period incompletely randomized design. Pigs were provided a cornstarch N-free diet (CST) or a diet containing 5% inulin (INU), carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), or Solka-Floc (SFC). Apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of DM, ash, and GE were greater (P < 0.05) in the MCC and SFC diets than in the INU and CMC diets. Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM, carbohydrates (CHO), and GE and the DE content in the CST and INU diets were greater (P < 0.01) than in the CMC, MCC, and SFC diets. Hindgut disappearance of DM, CHO, and GE in the INU diet was greater (P < 0.05) than in the other N-free diets. The ileal endogenous flow of His, Ile, Leu, Met, Thr, Val, and all dispensable AA in the CMC diet was greater (P < 0.05) than in the other diets. In Exp. 2, 6 ileal-cannulated pigs were allotted to 3 diets containing either a corn–soybean meal control diet or the control diet with 5% INU or CMC in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Ser, Thr, and Val were greater (P < 0.05) in the CMC diet than in the control and INU diets. Incorporation of 5% INU or CMC in the control diet reduced (P < 0.01) the AID of arabinoxylan and insoluble and total NSP. The ATTD of NSP and cellulose and the hindgut disappearance of NSP, β-glucan, and cellulose in the CMC diet were less (P < 0.01) than in the control and INU diets. Inclusion of 5% INU in the diet increased (P < 0.01) hindgut fermentation of insoluble and total NSP compared with the control and CMC diets. In conclusion, depending on the viscosity and fermentability of the NSP, different sources will have different effects on nutrient digestibility and hindgut fermentation. Addition of 5% INU to a corn–soybean meal diet reduced digestibility of the NSP component in the ileum and increased hindgut fermentation of total NSP. In contrast, the inclusion of CMC increased the AID and SID of the diet and reduced total tract digestion and hindgut fermentation of NSP component. Carboxymethylcellulose sodium is not recommended as a source of synthetic fiber in a N-free diet to determine the SID of AA of diets.
The pine sawfly Diprion jingyuanensis Xiao and Zhang (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) is a serious pest of Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. in the Shanxi, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia provinces in P. R. China. The ...sex pheromone of D. jingyuanensis was shown to be the propionate ester of 3,7-dimethyl-2-tridecanol. Virgin females contained an approximate 1:3 blend of the pheromone precursors erythro-(2S,3S,7R/S and 2R,3R,7R/S)-3,7-dimethyl-2-tridecanol and threo-(2S,3R,7R/S and 2R,3S,7R/S)-3,7-dimethyl-2-tridecanol, but the exact stereoisomers were not determined. Males responded the strongest to the propionate ester of the two threo-isomers, (2S,3R,7R) and (2S,3R,7S), in electroantennogram (EAG) recordings, followed by a significant EAG response to the (2S,3R,7R) propionate of diprionol (pheromone component of D. similis), whereas the remaining two isomers (2S,3S,7S and 2S,3S,7R) of the propionate ester of 3,7-dimethyl-2-tridecanol and the acetate of the (2S,3R,7R) isomer (one of the two pheromone components of D. pini) did not elicit any significant increase in antennal response. In the field, the strongly EAG-active (2S,3R,7R)-isomer alone was only weakly (but significantly) attractive to D. jingyuanensis males at 100 µg, while the equally EAG- active (2S,3R,7S)-isomer alone at the same loading was 8–14 times more attractive than was the (2S,3R,7R)-isomer alone. Traps baited with the same amounts of the two threo-isomers ((2S,3R,7R) and (2S,3R,7S), 100 µg + 100 µg) caught significantly more males than did traps baited with other isomers, either of the two isomers alone or other proportions of the two isomers. Thus, the (2S,3R,7S)-isomer is considered as a strong and essential sex-attractant component for D. jingyuanensis males, whereas the (2S,3R,7R)-isomer is a weak but synergistic sex-attractant. This is one of the few examples of a pine sawfly responding significantly stronger to a binary blend of stereoisomers in a synergistic fashion than to a single stereoisomer alone.
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