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OBJECTIVE: The clinical outcome, especial the immunologic responses to cancer and graft, of dendritic cell (DC) vaccine in the treatment of advanced de novo colorectal cancer (CRC) in renal transplant patients was investigated in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 7 patients were received 1 cycle tumor lysate pulsed autologous DC vaccine. The positive cell-mediated cytotoxicity responses to DC vaccine against CRC cell in two out of 7 patients were seen by delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) test. The positive cell-mediated cytotoxicity responses to DC vaccine against normal kidney cell in all 7 patients were not seen by DTH tests and no notable change of renal function during and after vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: DC vaccine has emerged as a promising new strategy in the treatment of advanced de novo CRC in renal transplant patients and DC vaccines have become an attractive therapeutic option, developing immune responses specific against CRC cell, achieving clinical efficacy without graft failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global asymptotic robust stability of equilibrium is considered for neutral-type hybrid bidirectional associative memory neural networks with time-varying delays and parameters uncertainties. The results we obtained in this paper are delay-derivative-dependent and establish various relationships between the network parameters only. Therefore, the results of this paper are applicable to a larger class of neural networks and can be easily verified when compared with the previously reported literature results. Two numerical examples are illustrated to verify our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple production is high in China, but problems such as extensive management and poor technology are common in the Chinese apple industry. A wireless sensor network (WSN) can be used to monitor environmental information to enable timely and appropriate decision-making on pest prevention or to provide the necessary nutrition based on the collected data, thus improving apple quality and yield. The WSN nodes communicate with each other via wireless signals," therefore, a propagation model is' needed to deploy the nodes and facilitate the application of a WSN in an apple orchard. Most of the existing empirical propagation models do not include environmental parameters; however, the density of leaves and the size of apples vary with time in an apple orchard from spring to winter. A 2.4 GHz empirical propagation model was developed for a gala apple orchard, including two parameters related to the environment: the month and the antenna height. Field tests were performed on the same line of apple trees for different months and at different heights in a gala apple orchard in China's Shandong province. The tests were repeated from March to December in the middle of each month. The path losses at 18 distance points and six heights were collected in each test. An empirical model was created using the month, the antenna height, and the propagation distance as parameters to estimate the path loss in the horizontal direction along a line of gala apple trees. Validation experiments were also performed along a line of trees at five different heights from March to December in a different gala apple orchard. The validation results showed that the new model could estimate the path loss in the gala apple orchard. Most of the determination coefficients were larger than 0. 7, and most of root mean square errors (RMSE) were less than 5. Simulation experiments were also conducted to evaluate the performance of the new model in applying a WSN to a gala apple orchard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swab samples were obtained from groups of 25 carcasses at various stages of processing at a large beef packing plant. The log mean number of aerobes recovered from carcasses after skinning was 2.2 log CFU/cm². Spraying the uneviscerated carcasses with 5% lactic acid reduced the numbers of aerobes by about 1 log unit; but subsequent carcass dressing operations, a second treatment with 5% lactic acid, pasteurizing, and carcass cooling had no substantial effect upon the number of aerobes on carcasses. The total numbers of colfforms or Escherichia coli cells recovered from skinned carcasses were <2 log CFU/ 2,500 cm². The numbers were reduced by the washing of uneviscerated carcasses but increased after evisceration operations. The numbers were reduced by spraying with lactic acid and pasteurizing, with no coliforms or E. coli being recovered from pasteurized carcass sides. No coliforms or E. coli cells were recovered from the forequarters of cooled carcass sides, but E. coli cells were recovered from the hindquarters of 1 of 50 cooled carcass sides, at 1.4 log CFU/1,000 cm². The numbers of aerobes on conveyor belts in the carcass breaking facility were similar to the numbers on cooled carcass, but the numbers of aerobes on cuts and trimmings and the number of coliforms and E. coli cells on the products and belts were higher than the numbers on carcasses. The findings indicate that most cooled carcasses produced at the plant carry E. coli at numbers < 1 CFU/10,000 cm² but that product can be contaminated with small numbers of E. coli (<1 CFU/100 cm²) during carcass breaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Complement Factor H (CFH), HTRA1 and CX3CR1 are associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Caucasian population. We aimed to determine whether, and of what magnitude, these AMD susceptibility SNPs are associated with exudative AMD in Han Chinese. METHODS: Exudative AMD cases and age-matched controls were recruited from Nantong University Hospital (109 cases, 150 controls). Six SNPs in CFH, HTRA1 and CX3CR1 were genotyped. The allele/genotype frequencies were compared between the case and the control. Interactions of SNP–SNP or SNP–smoking status were assessed. RESULTS: The CFH rs800292 showed significant associations with a reduced risk for exudative AMD. CX3CR1 V249I and T280M and the HTRA1 promoter SNP were significantly associated with the risk of exudative AMD. The two SNPs in CX3CR1 were in complete linkage disequilibrium. None of the AMD-susceptibility SNPs had interactions with each other or with smoking status to confer an altered AMD risk. CONCLUSIONS: We have replicated the associations of the CFH and HTRA1 SNPs and report for the first time the association of CX3CR1 with exudative AMD in Han Chinese. There was no interaction among the SNPs from different genes, indicating that they might alter the AMD risk independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The palladium-catalyzed Suzuki−Miyaura coupling of pyridyl-2-boronic esters provided an efficient approach to useful biaryl building blocks containing a 2-pyridyl moiety. The convenient reaction protocol demonstrates its potentially wide applications in medicinal chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Protoplasts isolated from wild cotton Gossypium davidsonii were cultured in KM8P medium supplemented with different phytohormones. The most effective combination was 0.45 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2.68 M α-naphthaleneacetic acid and 0.93 M kinetin and the division percentage at the 8th day was 30.78 3.04 %. The density of protoplasts at 2–10 105 cm−3 was suitable for protoplast division and calli formation, with a division percentage of 32.21 3.64 % and a plating efficiency of 9.12 2.61 % at the 40th day. The optimal osmotic potential was achieved using 0.5 M glucose or 0.1 M glucose plus 0.5 M mannitol. Protoplasts were cultured in three ways, a double-layer culture system, with liquid over solid medium was proved to be the best way. Embryo induction was further increased by addition of 0.14 M gibberellic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract??In plants, MYB transcription factors play important roles in many developmental processes and various defense responses.AtMYB24, as a member ofR2R3-MYBgene family inArabidopsis, was found mainly expressed in flowers, especially in microspores and ovules using Northern blots andin situhybridization. It was further found that the expression ofAtMYB24was tightly regulated during anther development. Over-expression ofAtMYB24in transgenic plants resulted in pleiotropic phenotypes, including dwarfism and flower development defects, in particular, producing abnormal pollen grains and non-dehiscence anthers. Further analysis showed that the anther development of theAtMYB24-oxlines was retarded starting from the anther developmental stages 10?11. At stages 12 and 13, the septum and stomium cells of anthers would not break, and fewer or no fibrous bands were found in the endothecium and connective cells in theAtMYB24-oxplants. Similar aberrant anther phenotype was also observed in theAtMYB24-GR-ox lines treated with dexamethasone (DEX). Quantitative real-time PCR showed expression of genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway, such asCHSandDFR, andAtGTP2were altered inAtMYB24-oxlines. These results suggest an important role ofAtMYB24in the normal development of anthers inArabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the direct gate tunneling current are measured for strained p-channel metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) on (100) wafers for uniaxial and biaxial stress. Decreases/increases in the gate tunneling current for various stresses primarily result from repopulation into a subband with a larger/smaller out-of-plane effective mass. Strain-induced changes in the valence band offset between Si and SiO2 are also important but play a secondary role. Hole tunneling current is found to decrease for biaxial and uniaxial compressive stress and increase for biaxial tensile stress. The hole tunneling data is modeled using k·p self-consistent solution to Poisson and Schrödinger’s equation, and a transfer matrix method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel coplanar waveguide-fed tri-band monopole antenna with a compact radiator (10 × 23 mm2) for WLAN/WiMAX applications is presented. By etching properly an inverted-L slot on the straight strip loaded with a rectangular tuning patch and further adjusting the dimensions and positions of these structures, three distinct wide bands can be achieved. The measured and simulated results show that the proposed antenna has 10 dB impedance bandwidth of 470 MHz (2.38-2.85 GHz), 360 MHz (3.36-3.72 GHz) and 890 MHz (4.98-5.87 GHz) to cover all the 2.4/5.2/5.8 GHz WLAN bands and 2.5/3.5/5.5 GHz WiMAX bands. Also, the proposed antenna produces good dipole-like radiation pattern over the covering bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient distortion-correcting algorithm for the intra-coding of a depth map is presented by considering the property of the flat area in a depth map. The influence of the distortion of reference pixels on the rate-distortion (RD) cost function of the macro-block (MB) in a flat region of a depth map is analysed. Then, the RD performance of the flat region is improved by correcting the distortion of the first MB in the flat area on the basis of this analysis. Experiments show that the performance of the synthesis view of the proposed method can achieve average peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 0.32 and 0.30 dB compared with the JMVC8.5 and the plane segmentationbased intra-prediction method, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Legendre polynomials, the boundary value problem of a charged, conducting hemisphere in an infinite space was reduced to the solution of an infinite system of linear, algebraic equations. Analytical solutions of electric charge and electric stress on the surface of the hemisphere were obtained. The numerical analysis revealed non-uniform distributions of the electric charge and electric stress over the surface of the hemisphere with local singularities at the edge of the hemisphere. Both the electric charge and electric stress distributions were expressed in terms of the power function with respect to the distance to the nearest hemisphere edge. The power index for the flat surface is larger than that corresponding to the spherical surface. Numerical result of the capacitance of the conducting hemisphere is the same as the result reported in the literature. There is no net force acting on the hemisphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Background: To evaluate the effect of trabecular meshwork photocoagulation (TMP) in elevation of intraocular pressure to treat or prevent hypotony. Methods: The IOP change of sixteen hypotonic eyes (or about to be hypotonic after silicon oil removal) in sixteen cases was retrospectively analyzed after TMP. Fifteen eyes of them had intraocular silicone oil. Different laser was applied to destroy trabecular meshwork 1-5 times (1.8 ± 1.2 times in average) under gonioscope or endoscope. Nine eyes exposed large area of RPE (large retinal defect), one eye had ciliary membrane, six eyes had ciliary membrane and retinal defect. Results: After TMP (1 week to 4 year follow-up), the IOP was 11.9 ± 3.1 mm Hg (n = 16), which is significantly higher than the values before TMP (8.5 ± 1.9 mm Hg, P = 0.000). The sixteen eyes' IOP increased by 3.4 ± 2.5 mm Hg, of which eight eyes with an IOP <10 mm Hg before laser showed an IOP ≥10 mm Hg after TMP. After laser, silicone oil was removed from eight eyes, one eye suffered from retinal detachment after removal of silicon oil during the follow-up. Conclusions: TMP can significantly increase the intraocular pressure with long-lasting effect, and provide an opportunity for removal of silicon oil despite of large area of retinal defect or ciliary membrane in selected eyes. Acknowledgements: This clinical procedure and care protocols were approved by the Committee on Ethical of Chengdu Aier Eye Hospital and Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University. All of patients have signd the informed consent. And some funds of this clinical supported by Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chitosan-based coating with antimicrobial agent has been developed recently to control the decay of fruits. However, its fresh keeping and antimicrobial mechanism is still not very clear. The preservation mechanism of chitosan coating with cinnamon oil for fruits storage is investigated in this paper. Results in the atomic force microscopy sensor images show that many micropores exist in the chitosan coating film. The roughness of coating film is affected by the concentration of chitosan. The antifungal activity of cinnamon oil should be mainly due to its main consistent trans-cinnamaldehyde, which is proportional to the trans-cinnamaldehyde concentration and improves with increasing the attachment time of oil. The exosmosis ratios of Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus flavus could be enhanced by increasing the concentration of cinnamon oil. Morphological observation indicates that, compared to the normal cell, the wizened mycelium of A. flavus is observed around the inhibition zone, and the growth of spores is also inhibited. Moreover, the analysis of gas sensors indicate that the chitosan-oil coating could decrease the level of O2 and increase the level of CO2 in the package of cherry fruits, which also control the fruit decay. These results indicate that its preservation mechanism might be partly due to the micropores structure of coating film as a barrier for gas and a carrier for oil, and partly due to the activity of cinnamon oil on the cell disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feature extraction technique for an electronic nose (e-nose) applied in tobacco smell detection in an open country/outdoor environment with periodic background strong interference is studied in this paper. Principal component analysis (PCA), Independent component analysis (ICA), re-filtering and a priori knowledge are combined to separate and suppress background interference on the e-nose. By the coefficient of multiple correlation (CMC), it can be verified that a better separation of environmental temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure variation related background interference factors can be obtained with ICA. By re-filtering according to the on-site interference characteristics a composite smell curve was obtained which is more related to true smell information based on the tobacco curer's experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible molecular mechanisms of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for treating atrial fibrillation (AF) and the microRNA (miRNA) target for intervention in the future. METHODS: We examined the changes in miRNAs regulating the atrial ion-channel proteins across the whole genome. We compared findings from 90 AF patients with those from 90 healthy subjects before RFA and three months after RFA. RESULT: Twenty-one miRNAs regulating ion-channel proteins were differentially expressed more than tenfold, and the findings were completely reversed after RFA as compared with the pre-RFA results. The colonial regulating effects of miRNAs regulating the outward K+ current channels such as those for the ultra-rapid delayed rectifier potassium current (Ikur), voltage-dependent delayed rectifier potassium current (Ikr), and delayed rectifier potassium channel current (Iks) were more unanimous and stronger, while this was not the case for miRNAs regulating the L-type Ca2+ current and INa current channels. Generally, miR-1266 levels were increased in the blood but down-regulated in the rheumatic atrial tissue, while a dual luciferase test indicated that SCN5A was the direct target gene of miR-1266. CONCLUSION: Using RFA to treat AF may have an impact via reversing the changes in miRNAs regulating the ion-channel proteins, especially for outward K+ current channels such as Ikur, Ikr, and Iks, which may play a major role in electrical remodeling in AF. It may be that miR-1266 is an antiarrhythmic miRNA and an AF intervention target in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent publication [Chen et al., Phys. Rev. B 86, 165136 (2012)], we identified a line of Lifshitz transition points separating the Fermi liquid and pseudogap regions in the hole-doped two-dimensional Hubbard model. Here, we extend the study to further determine the superconducting transition temperature in the phase diagram. By means of large-scale dynamical cluster quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we are able to identify the evolution of the d-wave superconducting dome in the hole-dope side of the phase diagram, with next-nearest-neighbor hopping (t'), chemical potential, and temperature as control parameters. To obtain the superconducting transition temperature Tc, we employ two-particle measurements of the pairing susceptibilities. As t' goes from positive to negative values, we find the d-wave projected irreducible pairing vertex function is enhanced, and the curvature of its doping dependence changes from convex to concave, which fixes the position of the maximum superconducting temperature at the same filling (n ≈0.85) and constraints the dome from precisely following the Lifshitz line. We furthermore decompose the irreducible vertex function into fully irreducible, charge and spin components via the parquet equations, and consistently find that the spin component dominates the pairing vertex function in the doping range where the dome is located. Our investigations deepen the understanding of the phase diagram of the two-dimensional Hubbard model and, more importantly, pose new questions to the field. For example, we found as t' goes from positive to negative values, the curvature of the pairing strength as a function of doping changes from convex to concave, and the nature of the dominant fluctuations changes from charge degree of freedom to spin degree of freedom. The study of these issues will lead to further understanding of the phase diagram of the two-dimensional Hubbard model and also the physics of the hole-doped cuprate high-temperature superconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A system was developed to assess the dynamic processes of droplet impact, rebound, and retention on leaf surfaces with three-dimensional (3-D) images. The system components consisted of a uniform-size droplet generator, two high-speed digital video cameras, a constant-speed track, a leaf holder, and light sources. The droplet generator produced uniform droplets of 100 to 800 !ira diameter. The video cameras captured droplet impact images from two different angle views for 3-D droplet impaction analyses. The camera speed used to capture images was up to 50,O00 frames per second, with image resolution up to 1280 x 8OO pixels. The constant-speed track was used to mount and drive the droplet generator at constant speeds ranging from 1.6 to 10 km h4. The leaf holder supported leaves at various orientations and distances from the droplet generator. Waxy and hairy leaves and water solutions amended with a non-ionic surfactant were used to verify the system functions. Five motion processes of droplets after they impacted on waxy and hairy leaf surfaces were observed." complete retention, split retention, slide retention, splash, and rebound. The droplet motion and deposition process before and after impact were quantitatively analyzed with a 3-D image program. In conclusion, the imaging system was able to precisely observe and quantitatively analyze droplet impaction and deposit formation on waxy or hairy leaves when droplet diameter, droplet discharge speed, droplet discharge height, nozzle travel speed, leaf surface orientation, and spray formulation were variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction behaviors of Fe-Ni-O compounds/systems (NiO, Fe2O3, NiFe2O4, Fe2O3 + NiO and Fe2O3 + Ni) were studied using H2 and activated carbon C as reducing agents, and the mechanism of NiFe2O4 reduction was analyzed. With H2 as reductant, these systems showed lower starting reaction temperatures and lower reaction rates. The differences of reaction rates among the different samples were small compared to those using C as reductant. With C as reductant, the reduction of the Fe2O3 + NiO system was much more facile compared to NiFe2O4, Fe2O3 + Ni, and pure Fe2O3. The heat released from the initial reduction of NiO by CO led to a higher temperature, which was more favorable for the further reduction of the Fe2O3 + NiO system. In both cases, NiFe2O4 appeared to be more difficult to reduce, as it required a higher starting temperature and exhibited a lower reaction rate and lower final reduction degree. Additionally, the data suggested that with increasing temperature, the products for the reduction of NiFe2O4 appeared in the order NiFe2O4→ Fe3O4 + NiO → Fe3O4 + Ni → FeO + FexNiy → FexNiy + Fe (FemCn). Based on this data, kinetic information about the H2 reduction for the five compounds/systems, such as apparent activation energy and reaction mechanism, was obtained [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La3+(lanthanide 3+) ion doping may significantly improve the photoluminescence properties of CaSi2O2N2 : Eu2+, a potential yellow-green phosphor for ultraviolet or blue light-emitting diodes. The optimization mechanism was studied in detail by the case of La3+ doping. The La3+ ions could stabilize Ca2+ vacancies, inhibit the oxidization of Eu2+ to Eu3+, based on x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray absorption near-edge structure measurements and first-principles calculations. Consequently, not only could the total number of activators be increased, but also the non-radiative transition probability between Eu2+ and Eu3+ could be reduced as a result of La3+ doping. It was also observed that the photoluminescence of CaSi2O2N2 : Eu2+ phosphors could be enhanced by the addition of many La3+ ions, but not Sm3+ and Yb3+ ions, which confirmed the mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A real-time map-building system is proposed for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to build a map of an unknown underwater environment. The system, using the AUV's onboard sensor information, includes a neuro dynamics model proposed for complete coverage path planning and an evidence theoretic method proposed for map building. The complete coverage of the environment guarantees that the AUV can acquire adequate environment information. The evidence theory is used to handle the noise and uncertainty of the sensor data. The AUV dynamically plans its path with obstacle avoidance through the landscape of neural activity. Concurrently, real-time sensor data are "fused" into a two-dimensional (2D) occupancy grid map of the environment using evidence inference rule based on the Dempster-Shafer theory. Simulation results show a good quality of map-building capabilities and path-planning behaviors of the AUV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SH3 domains are common structure, interaction, and regulation modules found in more than 200 human proteins. In this report, we studied the third SH3 domain from the human CIN85 adaptor protein, which plays an important role in both receptor tyrosine kinase downregulation and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase inhibition. The structure of this domain includes an additional 90° kink after the last canonical β-strand and features unusual interactions between the termini well outside the boundaries of the standard SH3 domain definition. The extended portions of the domain are well-structured and held together entirely by side chain-side chain interactions. Extensive expression screening showed that these additional contacts provide significantly increased stability to the domain. A similar 90° kink is found in only one other SH3 domain structure, while side chain contacts linking the termini have never been described before. As a result of the increased size of CIN85 SH3 domain C, the proximal proline rich region is positioned such that a possible intramolecular interaction is structurally inhibited. Using the key interactions of the termini as the basis for sequence analysis allowed the identification of several SH3 domains with flanking sequences that could adopt similar structures. This work illustrates the importance of careful experimental analysis of domain boundaries even for a well-characterized fold such as the SH3 domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High quality LaOFeP superconducting materials have been successfully synthesized by a two-step solid reaction method. We first prepared a La-Fe-P ternary alloy following a pre-alloying treatment; the resultant La-Fe-P ternary alloy was found to be the key precursor for producing the final LaOFeP superconductors in our experiments. The LaOFeP samples in general have a superconducting transition temperature of about Tc4.1 K as demonstrated by the measurements of resistivity and magnetic susceptibility. The volume ratio of the superconducting phase in the high quality sample is estimated to be as high as 95% at the temperature of 2 K. Structural analysis by means of x-ray diffraction, electron diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy shows that the LaOFeP crystal has a layered tetragonal structure with a P4/nmmspace group. Structural defects such as stacking faults in the LaOFeP sample have also been briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The corrosion behavior and surface morphology of Ni–SiC composite coatings produced by electrodeposition with the aid of magnetic field were studied. The results of the electrochemical analysis including polarization resistance and potentiodynamic polarization curves showed that a magnetic field of 0.1 T could significantly improve the corrosion resistance of the composite. The electrochemical impedance spectra revealed that a passive layer was formed on the surface of the Ni–SiC coating with the magnetic field. The microstructures of electrodeposited Ni–SiC composite coatings were also examined. More SiC particles were found to be incorporated into the coating with the presence of magnetic field, which was considered to be one of the reasons for the enhancement of corrosion resistance as SiC particles were reported to be corrosion inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Recent studies indicate that the anti-malarial agent artemisinin and its derivatives may exert an anti-inflammatory effect. In this study, we explored the effect of artesunate, an artemisinin derivative, on tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced production of interleukins, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8, in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), and further investigated the signal mechanism by which this compound modulates those cytokines' production. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Quantitative measurement of hepatic perfusion has the potential to provide important information in the assessment and management of various liver diseases. The utility of hepatic perfusion characterization relies on the resolution of each component of its dual blood supply, i.e. the hepatic artery and portal vein. In this study, a linear equation was derived by integrating the differential equation describing the kinetic behaviour of contrast agent (CA) in a dual-input single-compartment model, from which the kinetic parameters can be easily obtained using the linear least-squares method. The usefulness of this method was investigated using computer simulations, in comparison with the non-linear least-squares (NLSQ) method. This method calculated the kinetic parameters faster than the NLSQ method by a factor of approximately 10, with almost the same accuracy as the NLSQ method. This method will be useful for analysing the kinetic behaviour of CA in the unique liver environment, especially by generating the functional images of kinetic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Thirteen solid ternary complexes Ln(Pdc)3(Phen) (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu;) have been synthesized in absolute ethanol by rare-earth element chloride low hydrate reacting with the mixed ligands of ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APdc) and 1,10-phenanthroline H2O (o-Phen H2O) in the ordinary laboratory atmosphere without any cautions against moisture or air sensitivity. IR spectra of the complexes showed that the Ln3+ ion was coordinated with six sulfur atoms of three Pdc− and two nitrogen atoms of o-Phen H2O. It was assumed that the coordination number of Ln3+ is eight. The constant-volume combustion energies of the complexes, Δc U, were determined by a precise rotate-bomb calorimeter at 298.15 K. Their standard molar enthalpies of combustion, Δc H m o , and standard molar enthalpies of formation, Δf H m o were calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the voltammetric behaviour of a series of methyl-substituted benzenes in 1M LiPF6/EC-DMC electrolyte, xylene was selected and tested as an electrolyte additive for overcharge protection of Li-ion batteries. From the overcharge curves, CV behaviour and SEM observations of the cells in the presence of xylene, it was found that the additive can polymerize at the overcharged voltage to form a dense layer of isolating polymer film at the cathode surface, which blocks off further oxidation of the electroactive material and electrolyte and, therefore, improves the overcharge tolerance of the Li-ion battery. In addition, the xylene additive has shown only a slight influence on the cycling behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) transverse relaxation time (T2) of cartilage is sensitive to organization of collagen fibers in the cartilage, it may be a noninvasive image marker for senescent changes in cartilage collagen and early cartilage degeneration. The purpose of this study was to determine age?dependent differences in cartilage T2 values in healthy asymptomatic women.Quantitative T2 maps of patellar cartilage from 30 asymptomatic women ages 22–86 years were obtained using a 3.0T MRI scanner. The study population was stratified by age into 4 cohorts: 18–30, 31–45, 46–65, and 66–86 years. Spatial differences in cartilage T2 were determined as a function of normalized distance from bone. Older groups were compared with the 18–30?year?old group to determine the effects of age on cartilage T2 values. Regions were considered statistically significantly different if the mean T2 values between groups differed at P < 0.05.Mean cartilage T2 profiles were nearly identical for the 2 youngest cohorts. Compared with the 18–30?year?old group, T2 values were statistically significantly longer in the superficial 40% of cartilage in the 46–65?year?old group and over the entire cartilage thickness in the 66–86?year?old group.The location of T2 elevations in women over the age of 45 years is consistent with the theory that senescent changes of cartilage collagen begin near the articular surface and progress to the deeper cartilage with advancing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes is reported to be associated with olfactory dysfunction and cognitive decline. However, whether and how olfactory neural circuit abnormalities involve cognitive impairment in diabetes remains uncovered. This study thus aimed to investigate olfactory network alterations and the associations of odor-induced brain activity with cognitive and metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetes. Participants with normal cognition, including 51 patients with type 2 diabetes and 41 control subjects without diabetes, underwent detailed cognitive assessment, olfactory behavior tests, and odor-induced functional MRI measurements. Olfactory brain regions showing significantly different activation between the two groups were selected for functional connectivity analysis. Compared with the control subjects, patients with diabetes demonstrated significantly lower olfactory threshold score, decreased brain activation, and disrupted functional connectivity in the olfactory network. Positive associations of the disrupted functional connectivity with decreased neuropsychology test scores and reduced pancreatic function were observed in patients with diabetes. Notably, the association between pancreatic function and executive function was mediated by olfactory behavior and olfactory functional connectivity. Our results suggested the alteration of olfactory network is present before clinically measurable cognitive decrements in type 2 diabetes, bridging the gap between the central olfactory system and cognitive decline in diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liver X receptor a (LXRα) is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily which could regulate the transcription of the genes involved in cholesterol transportation. In this study, Lentiviral vector containing LXRα shRNAs were constructed and transferred in bovine muscle satellite cells. The results indicated that LXRα down regulated PPARα, PPARγ, ABCA1, LPL, ApoE genes after 48 h post-pLenti-03 viruses' infection. The silencing effects of bovine LXRα gene on related were significant. This work identifies bovine LXRα role in cholesterol metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: It is well known that job burnout is a major problem for many professions. Correctional officers, the most important driving force in correctional facilities, deal with unwilling and potentially violent populations, and this may lead to burnout. However, in China, few studies are available regarding burnout among correctional officers and associations with work-related factors. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of work characteristics on job burnout among Chinese correctional officers in public prisons. Study design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in March/April 2011. The study population comprised 2185 correctional officers working in four prisons in a province in north-east China. A questionnaire that examined job burnout [three subscales: emotional exhaustion (EE), cynicism (CY) and professional efficacy (PE)], work conditions, occupational stress and demographic factors was distributed to these correctional officers. In total, 1769 responses were received (response rate 81%). Multiple logistic regression was used to explore the factors related to burnout. Results: Mean (±standard deviation) scores were 10.59 ± 7.51 for EE, 9.65 ± 6.56 for CY and 23.90 ± 9.39 for PE. Strong extrinsic effort and reward were the most powerful predictors of job burnout; an imbalance between effort and reward at work and perceived threat was mainly associated with EE and CY, and strong overcommitment was mainly associated with EE and PE. Conclusions: Chinese correctional officers experience a slightly higher level of job burnout, and this is affected by work-related stress. It is important to reduce occupational stress in correctional officers and improve disadvantageous work conditions in order to reduce burnout in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the benefits of fluorine-18 fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FFDG-PET) in patients undergoing secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCRS) for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods: Patients were identified, and their clinical information was extracted by review of the gynaecologic oncology database of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. 18F-FDG-PET scan and analysis were performed by nuclear medicine experts at our hospital. Results: The PET group and the control group of patients evaluated by conventional imaging methods differed significantly with respect to the proportion of patients who underwent complete SCRS and the number of residual lesions (p = 0,002 and 0.006, respectively). A Cox model showed that longer progression-free survival (PFS) correlated significantly with 18F-FDG-PET evaluation [relative risk (RR) = 0.432; p = 0,001], sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapies (RR = 0.604; p = 0.034) and resection completeness (RR = 0.679; p = 0.039). Longer overall survival (OS) correlated significantly with sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy (RR = 0.317; p = 0.0 00) and the CA-125 level after two cycles of chemotherapy (RR = 2.663; p = 0.003). Surgical safety and complications did not significantly differ between the two groups of patients. Conclusion: 18F-FDG-PET is useful for evaluating patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Patients who undergo PET-guided SCRS have a greater chance of complete tumour resection and a longer PFS. Advances in knowledge: SCRS guided by PET results in fewer residual lesions. PET-guided SCRS is safe and can prolong PFS and OS in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulk ultrafine grained (UFG)/nanocrystal metals possess exceptional strength but normally poor ductility and thermal stability, which hinder their practical applications especially in high-temperature environments. Through microalloying strategy that enables the control of grains and precipitations in nanostructured regime, here we design and successfully produce a highly microstructure-stable UFG Al-Cu-Sc alloy with ~275% increment in ductility and simultaneously ~50% enhancement in yield strength compared with its Sc-free counterpart. Although the precipitations in UFG alloys are usually preferentially occurred at grain boundaries even at room temperature, minor Sc addition into the UFG Al-Cu alloys is found to effectively stabilize the as-processed microstructure, strongly suppress the θ-Al2Cu phase precipitation at grain boundary, and remarkably promote the θ'-Al2Cu nanoparticles dispersed in the grain interior in artificial aging. A similar microalloying strategy is expected to be equally effective for other UFG heat-treatable alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robot simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) problem is a very important and challenging issue in the robotic field. The main tasks of SLAM include how to reduce the localization error and the estimated error of the landmarks and improve the robustness and accuracy of the algorithms. The extended Kalman filter (EKF) based method is one of the most popular methods for SLAM. However, the accuracy of the EKF based SLAM algorithm will be reduced when the noise model is inaccurate. To solve this problem, a novel bioinspired neural model based SLAM approach is proposed in this paper. In the proposed approach, an adaptive EKF based SLAM structure is proposed, and a bioinspired neural model is used to adjust the weights of system noise and observation noise adaptively, which can guarantee the stability of the filter and the accuracy of the SLAM algorithm. The proposed approach can deal with the SLAM problem in various situations, for example, the noise is in abnormal conditions. Finally, some simulation experiments are carried out to validate and demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The huge population basic and the transformational changes to healthcare system in China have gained wide public attention in recent years. Along with these issues is a growing literature about doctor's job satisfaction; however, more is known about its negative related factors. Thus, this study was an attempt to assess the level of job satisfaction among Chinese doctors and to explore factors that enhance their job satisfaction. Study design: Cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period of September/October 2010. A questionnaire containing job satisfaction assessed by Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), demographic characteristics, work conditions, psychological capital (PsyCap) and perceived organizational support (POS) was distributed to 1300 registered doctors in Liaoning province. A total of 984 respondents became our subjects (effective response rate 75.7%). Hierarchical regression was performed to explore the factors associated with satisfaction. Results: The average MSQ score was 65.86 (level ranking for MSQ, 20-100) in our study population. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that POS (β = 0.412, P < 0.001), PsyCap (β = 0.255, P < 0.001), incentive system (β = 0.119, P < 0.001) and educational background (β = 0.056, P = 0.042) were positively associated with job satisfaction. Conclusions: The job satisfaction of Chinese doctors was at a moderate level. POS and PsyCap seemed to be the most crucial factors in relation to job satisfaction. Therefore, efficient measures such as building a supportive work environment and developing doctors' PsyCap should be considered by health administrators in order to promote job satisfaction among Chinese doctors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the isovalent substitution effect by partially introducing Se on the S site in the newly discovered superconductor Nb2PdS5 (Tc ∼ 6 K) whose upper critical field is found to be far above its Pauli paramagnetic limit. In this Nb2Pd(S1-xSex)5 (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.8) system, superconductivity is systematically suppressed by the Se concentration and ultimately disappears when x ⩾ 0.5, after which a semiconductinglike ground state emerges. In spite of the considerably reduced Tc with Se doping, the ratio of the upper critical field Hc2 to Tc remains unaffected. Moreover, the size of the heat capacity jump at Tc is smaller than that expected for a BCS superconductor, implying that a strong-coupling theory cannot be the origin of this large upper critical field. In addition, the low-lying quasiparticle excitations are consistent with a nodeless gap opening over the Fermi surface. These results combined impose severe constraints on any theory of exotic superconductivity in this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has increased dramatically amongst multiethnic population. However, how gestational diabetes mellitus damages the developing embryo is still unknown. In this study, we used yolk sac membrane (YSM) model to investigate angiogenesis in the developing chick embryo. We determined that in the presence of high glucose, it retarded the growth and extension of the embryonic vascular plexus and it also reduced the density of the vasculature in yolk sac membrane model. Using the same strategy, we used the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as a model to investigate the infl uence of high glucose on the vasculature. We established that high glucose inhibited development of the blood vessel plexus and the blood vessels formed had a narrower diameter than control vessels. Concurrent with the abnormal angiogenesis, we also examined how it impacted cardiogenesis. We determined the myocardium in the right ventricle and left atrium were significantly thicker than the control and also there was a reduction in glycogen content in cardiomyocytes. The high glucose also induced excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the cardiomyocytes. We postulated that it was the excess reactive oxygen species that damaged the cardiomyocytes resulting in cardiac hyperplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of glucocorticoid on adipocytes metabolism and miRNAs that may be involved in adipocyte diff erentiation, primary porcine preadipocytes were treated with 10 - 6 M dexamethasone and RU486 (a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist) for 48 h. PPAR-γ (peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ), and C/EBP-β (CCTTA enhancer binding protein-β) gene and protein expression were measured. The expressions of miRNAs predicted to directly target C/EBP-β were determined, and the functions of the potential miRNAs were verified. The results showed that the triglyceride content in cultured adipocytes increased significantly after 10 - 6 M dexamethasone treatment for 48 h, whereas the cell viability did not differ among the 4 groups (Control: 10 - 6 M dexamethasone; 10 - 6 M RU486: 10 - 6 M dexamethasone + 10 - 6 M RU486) (p > 0.05). Cells treated with dexamethasone for 48 h significantly upregulated perilipin and PPAR-γ gene expression, and PPAR-γ protein expression was also significantly increased. However, C/EBP-β mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly decreased. Both miR-374a and miR-374b, targeting the C/ EBP-β 3'-UTR (3'-untranslated region), were significantly increased. Dual luciferase activity assay results indicated that miR-374a/b was directly recognised and bound to the 3'-UTR of C/EBP-β and thereby suppressed C/EBP-β gene expression. The present study showed that 10 - 6 M dexamethasone promotes lipid accumulation in primary cultures of porcine preadipocytes. PPAR-γ and C/EBP-β protein abundance showed differences after 48 h dexamethasone treatment; miR-374a/b may be involved in regulating of C/ EBP-β expression. These results provide new targets for further regulation of porcine lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aerodynamic characteristics between the canard and wing of the Canard-forward swept wing aircraft configurations have been investigated numerically at low Reynolds number. The variation of the aerodynamic characteristics at different canard positions is the focus of the present investigation. The aerodynamic interference and the mutual coupling effect between the canard and wing will have great influences on the lift, drag, and sideslip characteristics of the whole aircraft. The canard-generated vortex can induce a favorable interference Onto the main wing, controlling the onset of the boundary layer separation from the leading edge. At small angles of attack (α < 10 deg the aerodynamic characteristics are sensitive to the relative position of the canard and the wing, but at high angles of attack (α> 20 deg they are not only related to the orientation of the canard (forward or backward), but also the features of the vortices generated above the canard and the wing, including their strength and location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of two altitudes (3600 and 1600 m) on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation and basal metabolism rate in Chinese Holstein cows. Experiment 1 was conducted to investigate the effect of high altitude (3600 m) on rumen fermentation, in vitro dry matter degradability, and nitrogen metabolism compared with low altitude (1600 m) in Chinese Holstein cows. Results indicated that total volatile fatty acids concentration, total gas production and gas coefficient a, b and c, efficiency of microbial protein synthesis and in vitro dry matter degradability were lower at 3600 m than 1600 m (P < 0.05). The number of protozoa and ammonia nitrogen concentration was higher at 3600 m than 1600 m (P < 0.05). We concluded that carbohydrate fermentation in the rumen was impaired, and ammonia nitrogen used for microbial nitrogen synthesis was also decreased at high altitude of 3600 m compared with 1600 m. Experiment 2 was conducted in vivo to investigate the effect of high altitude on apparent nutrient digestibility and basal metabolism rate in Chinese Holstein cows. Results indicated that the apparent digestibility of the diet's dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre was lower at 3600 m than those at 1600 m, respectively (P < 0.05). In Chinese Holstein cows, basal metabolism rate was increased with increasing level of altitude (P < 0.05). The results indicated that the high altitude of the Tibetan plateau impaired rumen fermentation and elevated the basal metabolism rate of Chinese Holstein cows. Little is currently known about the effect of high altitude on rumen microbial fermentation, digestion and basal metabolic rate in Chinese Holstein cows. This study found that in Chinese Holstein cows on the Tibetan plateau, digestion and rumen fermentation were impaired, and basal metabolism rate was increased. A diet with a higher amount of energy and an improvement of forage quality are recommended for use in lactating dairy cows in high altitude areas to improve energy status and production response of cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charge density waves (CDWs) are periodic modulations of the conduction electron density in solids, which are generally considered to remove electrons from the Fermi level, and thus preclude a superconducting state. However, in a variety of CDW materials, such as the prototypical transition metal chalcogenides, superconductivity has also been observed at very low temperature (Yokoya et al 2001 Science294 2518; Morosan et al 2006 Nat. Phys.2 544; Kiss et al 2007 Nat. Phys.3 720), in which, although the two electronic correlated states are believed to occur in different parts of Fermi surface sheets derived mainly from chalcogen p-states and transition metal d-states, the nature of the relationship between them has not yet been unambiguously determined. Here we report the discovery of superconductivity in Pd-intercalated RETen (RE = rare earth; n = 2.5, 3) CDW systems, in which the chalcogen layers alone are responsible for both superconductivity and CDW instability. Our finding could provide an ideal model system for comprehensive study of the interplay between CDW and superconductivity due to the remarkable simplicity of the electronic structure of Te planes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to optimize the condition of culture to promote the development of embryos fertilized by sex-sorted sperm. Fructose is a monosaccharide hexose that can be used as a substrate for glycolysis. Recently, there has been interest in exploring the embryotrophic properties of fructose during bovine embryo culture. The present study was undertaken to ascertain the effect of supplementation of fructose in culture on the development of sexed embryos in vitro. A total of 2310 slaughterhouse dairy oocytes, spread over 3 experimental replicates, were subjected to routine in vitromaturation (IVM) for 22 h. The maturation medium was M-199 with Earl''s salts, L-glutamine, 26.19 mmsodium bicarbonate, and 25 mmHEPES plus 10% fetal bovine serum. Fertilization of IVM oocytes was performed in Brackett and Oliphant''s medium by using frozen and sorted X-sperm from a single bull. Groups of 50 matured oocytes were added to a final volume of 100 μL of fertilization medium, with a final concentration of 0.3 × 106spermatozoa mL-1. The oocytes were incubated with X-sperm for 6 h in 5% CO2humidified air at 39°C. Presumptive zygotes were randomly allocated to culture either in a control medium (6 mg mL-1of BSA CR1aa medium) or with 4.5 mmfructose added to CR1aa culture medium for 7 days in an atmosphere of 5% O2, 5% CO2, and 90% N2at 39°C. Embryo cleavage, and development to the morulae and blastocyst stages were evaluated on Days 2, 5, and 7 of culture, respectively. Embryos were graded according to International Embryo Transfer Society standards. The total number of blastocysts recorded was the sum of grade C1 and C2 embryos. Data were analyzed by using the General Linear Model (SPSS 11.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). As shown in Table 1, addition of fructose to the culture medium affected neither the rate of cleavage nor subsequent development to the morula stage or total blastocyst development. However, the proportion of C1-grade embryos of the total blastocysts was significantly (P< 0.05) improved. This study suggests that addition of fructose to the culture medium can promote embryo quality and yields that are suitable for embryo transfer.Table 1.Effect of addition of fructose on in vitrodevelopment of bovine sexed embryos [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of μ phase to applied stress and long-term thermal exposure has been investigated in the cast Ni-base superalloy K446. It is found that during stress rupture, the applied stress accelerates the precipitation and growth of μ phase. However, during thermal exposure the μ phase precipitating in the form of needles and granules experiences a complicated evolution. The needles, fiber- or sheet-shaped in three-dimension, align very regularly during exposure, either lying in three directions with an acute angle to one another or in two directions perpendicular to each other, the mechanisms of which are characterized in detail. In addition, it is concluded that an excessive precipitation of μ phase severely degrades the mechanical properties of the alloy, whereas its evolution behavior during thermal exposure is determined to have an insignificant influence on the properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unique structured claw-like C60 nanowhiskers were fabricated on an anodic porous alumina membrane. Tips of the C60 nanowhiskers are shaped like cusps, which directly extend into the nanopores of the alumina membrane. It is revealed that the surface stress of the alumina membrane with a highly ordered nanopore arrangement due to thermal treatment is responsible for self-assembled growth of the observed C60 nanowhiskers. The ordering of the nanopore arrangement in the anodic porous alumina membrane helps to form the C60 nanowhiskers along the nanopore channels. The shape and structure of the C60 nanowhiskers are promising characteristics for applications in nanodevices such as field-emission tips and nanoprobes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the cavity model and the concept of the plastic-hardening modulus, a simple relationship was established between the size of an indent and the size of a semi-spherical-shell softening zone. Indentation experiments of a Cu46.25Zr45.25Al7.5Er1 bulk-metallic glass (BMG) were performed over a range of indentation loads from 500 to 4000 mN, using a Vickers indenter. The indentation hardness decreased slightly with the increase in the indentation load from 5.21 GPa at an indentation load of 500 mN to 4.66 GPa at an indentation load of 4000 mN. The evolution of shear bands underneath the indentation was studied using an interface-bonded BMG sample. Shear bands of a semi-spherical-shell shape and a line-shape were observed underneath the indentation. The dependence of the size of the shear-banding zone on the size of the indent was examined, which qualitatively supported the analytical model. The inter-banding spacing decreased with the increase in the indentation load, associated with the release of the stored strain energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Recent studies indicate that the anti-malarial agent artemisinin and its derivatives may exert an anti-inflammatory effect. In this study, we explored the effect of artesunate, an artemisinin derivative, on tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced production of interleukins, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8, in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), and further investigated the signal mechanism by which this compound modulates those cytokines production. Methods. RA FLS obtained from patients with active RA were stimulated with TNF-α and incubated with artesunate, and IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 production was measured by ELISA. DNA-binding activity and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were measured by a sensitive multi-well colourimetric assay and confocal fluorescence microscopy, respectively. Signal transduction proteins expression was measured by western blot. Results. Artesunate decreased the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 from TNF-α-stimulated RA FLS in a dose-dependent manner. Artesunate also prevented TNF-α-induced nuclear NF-κB translocation, DNA-binding activity and gene transcriptional activity, as well as phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα, but phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracelluar signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase were unaffected. The production of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 induced by TNF-α was decreased by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a chemical inhibitor of NF-κB. These observations suggest that artesunate inhibits production of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 through inhibition of NF-κB signalling pathway. We also showed that artesunate prevented Akt phosphorylation. TNF-α-induced production of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 was hampered by treatment with the phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3) kinase inhibitor LY294002, suggesting that inhibition of Akt activation might inhibit IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 production induced by TNF-α. Conclusions. Our results indicate that artesunate exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in RA FLS and provide the evidence that artesunate may have therapeutic potential for RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which investigated whether bone morphogenetic protein type II receptors (BMPR2) mutation disrupt pulmonary vasculogenesis. Previously it was found that expression of BMPR2 is predominantly localized to endothelial cells in lung tissue. For clarifying the role of BMP signaling in pulmonary vasculogenesis/angiogenesis, the expression of BMP-2/BMP-4, BMPR2, Smad1, and phospho-Smad1 in developing human embryos and fetuses were studied. The findings of the study suggested that BMP signaling may probe critical during the development of pulmonary circulation.