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It has been assumed that patients with strict immunosuppressive treatment after solid organ transplantation have only marginal risk in developing autoimmune encephalitis. We reported a woman in her late 40 s who presented with generalized convulsions and loss of consciousness. After detailed history review, neuropsychological tests, metagenomic next-generation sequencing of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain, and electroencephalogram, she was diagnosed as anti-CASPR2 encephalitis based on the positive anti-CASPR2 auto-antibody in serum and CSF. The patient underwent liver transplantation and has taken lenvatinib for 2 months, in addition to tacrolimus, mycophenotale mofetil, and entecavir administered for half a year. This case was the first report of anti-CASPR2 encephalitis in post–organ transplantation patients. Together with the reports of other encephalitis cases in organ transplantation, it warns the possibility of developing immune-oriented encephalitis in patients undergoing immunosuppression, especially in combination with other treatments of immunomodulatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic research indicated that microglial P2Y12 receptors (P2Y12Rs) are involved in the pathophysiology of epilepsy through regulated microglial-neuronal interactions, aberrant neurogenesis, or immature neuronal projections. However, whether the clinic case of epilepsy would be associated with P2Y12 receptor gene polymorphisms is presented with few data. In our study, a total of 176 patients with epilepsy and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms, namely rs1491974 and rs6798347, were selected for analysis. The results revealed that carriers of the G allele of rs1491974 G>A or rs6798347 G>A may be associated with an increased risk of epilepsy (OR = 0.576, 95% CI = 0.368–0.901, p = 0.015; OR = 0.603, 95% CI = 0.367–0.988, p = 0.043). Interestingly, we found that the rs1491974 G>A genotype and allele frequencies have only a significant difference in female instead of male case (p = 0.004 for genotype; p = 0.001 for allele). The subgroup analysis demonstrated that individuals with the rs1491974 G>A genotype might have more frequent seizure (OR = 0.476, 95% CI = 0.255–0.890; p = 0.019). These data implied that both rs1491974 and rs6798347 polymorphisms of P2Y12R would be able to play import roles in epilepsy susceptibility, whereas the rs1491974 polymorphism may be specifically related to seizure frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloid-beta (Aβ) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and has been regarded as the main therapeutic target for AD. However, most of the Aβ-targeted clinical trials have not succeeded. Therefore, the Aβ-targeted therapeutic strategy on treating this complex disease needs to be re-evaluated. In this review, we analyzed the challenges and critical points of the current anti-Aβ therapeutic strategies. In addition to Aβ, multiple pathological events such as tau hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation, which are involved in AD pathogenesis and synergistically drive disease progression, could be important targets for AD treatment. Tertiary prevention strategies are needed for the successful management of AD due to its complex and dynamic pathogenesis. Systemic perspective addressing the disease pathogenesis within and outside the brain, as well as the multidomain intervention targeting risk factors and comorbidities, are important approaches for the therapeutic solutions of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperphosphorylated tau is an important pathological agent in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tau effluxes from the brain to the blood could potentially stimulate the production of naturally occurring antibodies (NAbs). We aimed to investigate whether NAbs to tau (NAbs-tau) was generated in human blood and to figure out the alteration of plasma NAbs-tau level in AD patients. About 192 AD patients and 192 age-matched and non-demented controls (NC) were enrolled in the present study. Immunofluorescence staining and western blot assays were used to confirm the existence of NAbs-tau in human blood. The plasma level of NAbs-tau in NC and AD group was analyzed by ELISA. Immunofluorescence staining and western blot assays confirmed the existence of NAbs-tau in human blood. However, no significant difference in the plasma level of NAbs-tau was observed between NC and AD group. Furthermore, the plasma level of NAbs-tau had no significant correlation with MMSE scores. The present study confirmed that NAbs-tau exists in human blood but does not differ in level between the NC and AD group. Plasma NAbs-tau is not a reliable biomarker for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, is becoming a major challenge for global health and social care. However, the current understanding of AD pathogenesis is limited, and no early diagnosis and disease-modifying therapy are currently available. During the past year, significant progress has been made in clinical research on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of AD. In this review, we summarize the latest achievements, including diagnostic biomarkers, polygenic hazard score, amyloid and tau PET imaging, clinical trials targeting amyloid-beta (Aβ), tau, and neurotransmitters, early intervention, and primary prevention and systemic intervention approaches, and provide novel perspectives for further efforts to understand and cure the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of pathological tau is the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies and is closely correlated with cognitive decline. Clearance of pathological tau from the brain is a major therapeutic strategy for tauopathies. The physiological capacity of the periphery to clear brain-derived tau and its therapeutic potential remain largely unknown. Here, we found that cisterna magna injected 131I-labelled synthetic tau dynamically effluxed from the brain and was mainly cleared from the kidney, blood, and liver in mice; we also found that plasma tau levels in inferior vena cava were lower than those in femoral artery in humans. These findings suggest that tau proteins can efflux out of the brain and be cleared in the periphery under physiological conditions. Next, we showed that lowering blood tau levels via peritoneal dialysis could reduce interstitial fluid (ISF) tau levels in the brain, and tau levels in the blood and ISF were dynamically correlated; furthermore, tau efflux from the brain was accelerated after the addition of another set of peripheral system in a parabiosis model. Finally, we established parabiosis mouse models using tau transgenic mice and their wild-type littermates and found that brain tau levels and related pathologies in parabiotic transgenic mice were significantly reduced after parabiosis, suggesting that chronic enhancement of peripheral tau clearance alleviates pathological tau accumulation and neurodegeneration in the brain. Our study provides the first evidence of physiological clearance of brain-derived pathological tau in the periphery, suggesting that enhancing peripheral tau clearance is a potential therapeutic strategy for tauopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MLL-fusions represent a large group of leukemia drivers, whose diversity originates from the vast molecular heterogeneity of C-terminal fusion partners of MLL. While studies of selected MLL-fusions have revealed critical molecular pathways, unifying mechanisms across all MLL-fusions remain poorly understood. We present the first comprehensive survey of protein-protein interactions of seven distantly related MLL-fusion proteins. Functional investigation of 128 conserved MLL-fusion-interactors identifies a specific role for the lysine methyltransferase SETD2 in MLL-leukemia. SETD2 loss causes growth arrest and differentiation of AML cells, and leads to increased DNA damage. In addition to its role in H3K36 tri-methylation, SETD2 is required to maintain high H3K79 di-methylation and MLL-AF9-binding to critical target genes, such as Hoxa9. SETD2 loss synergizes with pharmacologic inhibition of the H3K79 methyltransferase DOT1L to induce DNA damage, growth arrest, differentiation, and apoptosis. These results uncover a dependency for SETD2 during MLL-leukemogenesis, revealing a novel actionable vulnerability in this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric random access memory is still challenging in the feature of combination of room temperature stability, non-destructive readout and high intensity storage. As a non-contact and non-destructive information readout method, surface potential has never been paid enough attention because of the unavoidable decay of the surface potential contrast between oppositely polarized domains. That is mainly due to the recombination of the surface movable charges around the domain walls. Here, by introducing a laser beam into the combination of piezoresponse force microscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy, we demonstrate that the surface potential contrast of BiFeO3 films can be recovered under light illumination. The recovering mechanism is understood based on the redistribution of the photo-induced charges driven by the internal electric field. Furthermore, we have created a 12-cell memory pattern based on BiFeO3 films to show the feasibility of such photo-assisted non-volatile and non-destructive readout of the ferroelectric memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human rhinovirus-C (HRV-C) has been increasingly detected in patients with acute respiratory diseases (ARDs). Prolonged surveillance was performed on children with ARD to investigate the molecular epidemiology and clinical characteristics of HRV in Chongqing, China. Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) were collected from hospitalized children with ARD during 2009-2012. HRV-C was genotyped by sequencing the VP4/VP2 coding region. Among the 1,567 NPAs obtained, 223 (14.2%) were HRV positive, and 75.3% of these 223 NPAs were co-infected with other viruses. HRV-A (54.7%) and HRV-C (39.9%) accounted for the majority of HRV infections. Logistic regression models demonstrated significant associations between HRV-A, HRV-C, and asthma attacks, as well as between HRV-C and wheezing. A phylogenetic tree showed that HRV-C2 was the predominant type of HRV-C, followed by HRV-C43, HRV-C1, and HRV-C17. Three novel genotypes were proposed on the basis of a low identity with the known HRVs. Our results showed that HRV-A and HRV-C were the predominant types of HRV infection, and HRV-C showed a high genetic variation in Chongqing, China. HRV infection was associated with asthma attacks and wheezing; furthermore, HRV infections played a minor role in causing severe pneumonia. This knowledge provides information for the prevention and control of HRV associated with ARDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We first propose a way for generating Lie algebras from which we get a few kinds of reduced Lie algebras, denoted by R, R and R, R, respectively. As for applications of some of them, a Lax pair is introduced by using the Lie algebra R whose compatibility gives rise to an integrable hierarchy with 4-potential functions and two arbitrary parameters whose corresponding Hamiltonian structure is obtained by the variational identity. Then we make use of the Lie algebra R to deduce a nonlinear integrable coupling hierarchy of the mKdV equation whose Hamiltonian structure is also obtained. Again,via using the Lie algebra R, we introduce a Lax pair and work out a linear integrable coupling hierarchy of the mKdV equation whose Hamiltonian structure is obtained. Finally, we get some reduced linear and nonlinear equations with variable coefficients and work out the elliptic coordinate solutions, exact traveling wave solutions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is thought to be an inflammatory disorder of autoimmune background. The aim of this study is to investigate the involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). Methods: Serum concentrations of VEGF and b-FGF of 48 GO patients, 30 Graves' hyperthyroid disease (GD) patients without ophthalmopathy, and 30 healthy controls were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Patients with GO were subdivided into two groups according to clinical activity scores (CAS): a score of 3 or less is considered as inactive (CAS ≤ 3, inactive GO, n = 14), and 4 or more is considered active eye disease (CAS ≥ 4, active GO; n = 34). All of the patients with active GO underwent corticosteroid therapy. Results: The concentrations of serum VEGF and b-FGF were significantly higher in patients with GO and in those with GD than in controls. The serum levels of VEGF and b-FGF in patients with active GO were higher than those in patients with inactive GO and those in GD patients ( P < 0.05). Moreover, serum VEGF and b-FGF concentratison were significantly correlated with CAS in GO patients ( p < 0.01). Mean VEGF and b-FGF levels in corticosteroid-responsive patients (CAS decreases ≥3 after treatment) decreased significantly after corticosteroid treatment ( P < 0.05), and these changes were accompanied by a decrease of CAS ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that serum VEGF and b-FGF levels were increased in patients with active GO and could reflect the degree of ocular inflammatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical trials have shown that antioxidant supplementation increased the risk of lung and skin cancers, but the underlying molecular mechanism is unknown. Here, we show that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as an exemplary antioxidant induced significant death and DNA damage in human lung and skin normal cells through a reductive mechanism. Our results show direct evidence of reductive DNAdamage in the cells. We found that EGCG was much more toxic against normal cells than H2O2 and cisplatin as toxic and cancer-causing agents, while EGCG at low concentrations (⩽100 μM) increased slightly the lung cancer cell viability. EGCG induced DNA double-strand breaks and apoptosis in normal cells and enhanced the mutation frequency. These results provide a compelling explanation for the clinical results and unravel a new reductive damaging mechanism in cellular processes. This study therefore provides a fresh understanding of aging and diseases, and may lead to effective prevention and therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Switchable diode effect in ferroelectric diodes has attracted much attention for its potential applications in novel nonvolatile memories. We briefly review recent investigations on the switchable diode effect in ferroelectric diodes both experimentally and theoretically. Many recent studies demonstrate that the interfacial barrier between the metal-ferroelectrics could be modulated by the polarization charges, and the ferroelectric polarization that can be reversed by an external electric field plays a dominant role in the switchable diode effect. Moreover, we review a self-consistent numerical model, which can well describe the switchable diode effect in ferroelectric diodes. Based on this model, it can be predicted that it is a better choice to select metals with a smaller permittivity, such as noble metals, to obtain a more pronounced switchable diode effect in ferroelectric diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), the proportion of the fast neutron in the tumor (PFN) must be no more than 3%. If a D-T neutron generator is used as a thermal neutron source in BNCT, the moderator must be optimized to decrease the PFN. Based on the analysis of the theory, water, heavy water, polythene, graphite, lead, and tungsten were used to moderate the fast neutrons. If the three-layer material is composed of a 4 cm thickness layer of tungsten, a 13 cm thickness layer of lead, and a 23 cm thickness layer of heavy water, its thermalization efficiency (TE) is highest, which is increased by 191.5% than the maximum TE moderated by single-layer materials and by 19.3% than the maximum TE moderated by double-layer materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

full-scale jet biogas internal loop anaerobic fluidized bed (JBILAFB) reactor, which requires low energy input and allows enhanced mass transfer, was constructed for the treatment of food processing wastewater. This reactor has an active volume of 798 m and can treat 33.3 m wastewater per hour. After pre-treating the raw wastewater by settling, oil separating and coagulation-air floating processes, the reactor was operated with a relatively shorter start-up time (55 days). Samples for the influent and effluent of the JBILAFB reactor were taken and analyzed daily for the whole process including both the start-up and stable running periods. When the volumetric COD loading fluctuated in the range of 1.6-5.6 kg COD m day, the COD removal efficiency, the volatile fatty acid(VFA)/alkalinity ratio, the maximum biogas production and the content of CH in total biogas of the reactor were found to be 80.1 ± 5%, 0.2-0.5, 348.5 mday and 94.5 ± 2.5%, respectively. Furthermore, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) results showed that anaerobic granular sludge and microorganism particles with biofilm coexisted in the reactor, and that the bacteria mainly in bacilli and cocci were observed as predominant species. All the data demonstrated that the enhanced mass transfer for gas, liquid and solid phases was achieved, and that the formation of microorganism granules and the removal of inhibitors increased the stability of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent genome-wide association studies reported that GCKR rs780094 polymorphism is associated with elevated fasting serum triglyceride levels and elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). There are a ample of data on the association between circulating triglyceride, CRP concentrations and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD). To determine whether the GCKR rs780094 polymorphism contributes to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver, a case-control study was performed in 903 Chinese subjects. Among study population, 436 patients with B-mode ultrasound-proven NAFLD (318 with steatosis hepatis I°, 90 with steatosis hepatis II° and 28 with steatosis hepatis III°) and 467 controls were genotyped by using TaqMan allelic discrimination assays. We confirmed the association of GCKR rs780094 with NAFLD in Chinese people (OR = 1.607, 95% CI 1.139-2.271, P = 7.2 × 10). In this study, polymorphism in GCKR rs780094 was not significantly associated with the degree of fatty infiltration of the liver. In addition, the T-allele of GCKR rs780094 was significantly associated with increasing fasting triglyceride ( P = 3.8 × 10) and CRP ( P = 2.9 × 10) concentrations after adjusting for age, gender, and BMI. The association with NAFLD remained significant after adjustment for triglyceride, while adjustment for CRP abolished the association. Genetic variation in GCKR gene rs780094 polymorphism contributes to the risk of NAFLD in Chinese people. The effect of genotype on NAFLD is probably mediated through chronic low-grade systemic inflammation rather than through dislipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to evaluate local response to a bioactive glass based composite putty (NovaBone Putty) in a vertebral body defect model in sheep, as compared to NovaBone, a bioactive glass particulate. Two time periods were used for the study, 6 and 12 weeks. Empty defects were also used as a control. In comparing the three test groups, the relative amount of new bone for both grafted defects was substantially greater than for the empty controls ( P < 0.05). At 6 weeks, the bone formation was 42% for NovaBone Putty, 27% for NovaBone and 1.2% for the ungrafted empty defect. At 12 weeks, the bone formation was 51.4% for NovaBone Putty, 47.3% for NovaBone and 5.1% for the empty defect. NovaBone Putty, the test material, had greater bone content than the NovaBone, both of which were significantly greater than the empty control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

novel technique, the pulsed-laser-induced liquid-deposition (PLLD) method, has been employed to grow nanocrystalline TiO films on fluorine-doped tin-oxide-coated (FTO) glass substrates at room temperature. The PLLD method was implemented by directing a pulsed laser into a liquid precursor and depositing the photosynthesized nanocrystalline TiO on an FTO glass substrate immersed in the liquid precursor. The as-grown nanocrystalline TiO films were found to have a rutile crystal structure and consist of a number of flower-like TiO crystal units arrayed together on the FTO glass substrate. Each of the flower-like TiO crystal units was composed of many nanostructured TiO whiskers, and their building blocks were found to be bundles of TiO nanorods with diameter of about 5 nm. The growth of these TiO nanorods is highly anisotropic, with the preferential growth direction along [001]. As-grown nanocrystalline TiO films were annealed at 450°C in air for 30 min for the applications of dye-sensitized solar cells, and the nanostructured characteristics with good porosity were preserved after annealing. A preliminary dye-sensitized solar cell was built based on the annealed nanocrystalline TiO film. The results suggest that the PLLD method is a promising technique for growing nanocrystalline TiO films for photovoltaic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAim:To evaluate the influence of an initial heroin experience under a modified two-chained training schedule on drug-seeking behavior after a long abstinence period.Methods:Rats were trained to respond for intravenous heroin (120 μg/kg) under a heterogeneous chained schedule of reinforcement using different responses in the first and second links of the chain. Animals received low-frequency drug administration training for four days and were then subjected to one month of abstinence in their home cages. Heroin-seeking behavior induced by re-exposure to the first chain associated context or discriminative stimuli was assessed after abstinence.Results:Almost all animals could acquire operant skills quickly under the two-chained schedule training for four days, as measured in first active response latency, travel speed and goal-box enter latency. Both first chain associated context and discriminative stimulus could reinstate heroin-seeking behavior after one month abstinence.Conclusion:These observations suggest that an early experience of drug use is sufficient to maintain heroin-seeking behavior even after a one month abstinence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the oxidation behavior of TiAl3/Al composite coating deposited by cold spray. The substrate alloy was orthorhombic-Ti-22Al-26Nb (at.%). The oxidation kinetics of the coating was tested at 650, 800, and 950 °C, respectively. The parabolic rate constant for the coating oxidized at 650 °C was kp = 7.2 × 10−2 mg·cm−2·h−1/2 for the tested 1200 h. For the coating oxidized at 800 °C, the oxidation kinetics could be separated into two stages with kp value of 39.8 × 10−2 mg·cm−2·h−1/2 for the initial 910 h and 17.7 × 10−2 mg·cm−2·h−1/2 for the stage thereafter. For the coating oxidized at 950 °C, the oxidation kinetics can be separated into three stages with kp of 136.9 × 10−2 mg·cm−2·h−1/2 in the first 100 h, followed by 26.9 × 10−2 mg·cm−2·h−1/2 from 100 to 310 h, and 11.8 × 10−2 mg·cm−2·h−1/2 from 310 to 1098 h. XRD, SEM, and EPMA were used to study the microstructure of the coating. The results indicated that the oxidation took place throughout the entire coating instead of only at the surface. The aluminum phase in the composite coating was soon oxidized to Al2O3 in all tested cases. The aluminum in TiAl3 phase was depleted gradually and oxidized to Al2O3 along with the degradation of TiAl3 to TiAl2 and TiAl as the temperature increased and time proceeded. AlTi2N was also a typical oxidation product at temperature higher than 800 °C. The experimental results also indicated that the protection of the coating was attributed greatly to the interlayer formed between the coating and the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A basic ionic liquid, namely choline hydroxide, was prepared and supported on MgO to form Choline hydroxide/MgO material. The supported ionic liquid material was characterized by XRD, FT–IR and TG and used as a catalyst in one-pot synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from propylene oxide, methanol and carbon dioxide. A good catalytic performance was obtained with 98% conversion of epoxide and selectivity of above 90% to DMC + PC over the composite catalyst. However, the catalyst could be reused three times without a significant change in its catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAim:The immediate early gene Arc (activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein) mRNA and protein are induced by strong synaptic activation and rapidly transported into dendrites, where they localize at active synaptic sites. Thus, the Arc mRNA and protein are proposed as a marker of neuronal reactivity to map the neural substrates that are recruited by various stimuli. In the present study, we examined the expression of Arc protein induced by conditioned naloxone-precipitated drug withdrawal in different brain regions of acute morphine-dependent rats. The objective of the present study was to address the specific neural circuits involved in conditioned place aversion (CPA) that has not yet been well characterized.Methods:Place aversion was elicited by conditioned naloxone-precipitated drug withdrawal following exposure to a single dose of morphine. An immunohistochemical method was employed to detect the expression of Arc, which was used as a plasticity marker to trace the brain areas that contribute to the formation of the place aversion.Results:Marked increases in Arc protein levels were found in the medial and lateral prefrontal cortex, the sensory cortex, the lateral striatum and the amygdala. This effect was more pronounced in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), and the bed nucleus of the striatal terminals (BNST) when compared with the control group.Conclusion:Our results suggest that these brain regions may play key roles in mediating the negative motivational component of opiate withdrawal.Acta Pharmacologica Sinica (2009) 30: 282–290; doi: 10.1038/aps.2009.10 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resection of the odontoid process and anterior arch of the atlas results in atlantoaxial instability, which if left uncorrected may lead to severe neurological complications. Currently, such atlantoaxial instability is corrected by anterior and/or posterior C1–C2 fusion. However, this results in considerable loss of rotation function of the atlantoaxial complex. From the viewpoint of retaining the rotation function and providing stability, we designed an artificial atlanto-odontoid joint based on anatomical measurements of 50 pairs of dry atlantoaxial specimens by digital calipers and 10 fresh cadaveric specimens by microsurgical techniques. The metal-on-metal titanium alloy joint has an arc-shaped atlas component, and a hollow cylindrical bushing into which fits a rotation axle of an inverted v-shaped axis component and is implanted through a transoral approach. After the joint was implanted onto specimens with anterior decompression, biomechanical tests were performed to compare the stability parameters in the intact state, after decompression, after artificial joint replacement, and after fatigue test. Compared to the intact state, artificial joint replacement resulted in a significant decrease in the range of motion (ROM) and neutral zone (NZ) during flexion, extension, and lateral bending ( P < 0.001); however, with regard to axial rotation, there was no significant difference in ROM ( P = 0.405), a significant increase in NZ ( P = 0.008), and a significant decrease in stiffness ( P = 0.003). Compared to the decompressed state, artificial joint replacement resulted in a significantly decreased ROM ( P ≤ 0.021) and NZ ( P ≤ 0.002) and a significantly increased stiffness ( P < 0.001) in all directions. Following artificial joint replacement, there was no significant difference in ROM ( P ≥ 0.719), NZ ( P ≥ 0.580), and stiffness ( P ≥ 0.602) in all directions before and after the fatigue test. The artificial joint showed no signs of wear and tear after the fatigue test. This artificial atlanto-odontoid joint may be useful in cases of odontoid resection due to malunion or nonunion of odontoid fracture, atraumatic odontoid fracture, irreducible atlas dislocation, posterior atlantoaxial subluxation, or congenital skull base abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pivotal obstacle to cancer immunotherapy is peripheral T cell tolerance to tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). Tolerance induction among mature T cells in the periphery operates through a variety of mechanisms, including anergy and apoptosis. Although Fas-FasL-mediated apoptosis is a well-defined tolerance inducing mechanism, direct evidence of its interference with TAA-specific immunity in vivo is still lacking. In this report, we used the TRAMP mouse, which expresses SV40 large T antigen (Tag) preferentially in the prostate and develops prostate tumors, as a model system to address the role of Fas-mediated apoptosis in regulating peripheral T cell tolerance. Using RT-PCR and tetramer staining to quantify TAA-specific TCR-expressing cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs), we have shown the presence of TAA-specific CTLs at higher levels in TRAMP mice than in syngeneic C57Bl/6 mice. Tag-specific immunization led to the expansion of Tag-specific CTLs in C57Bl/6 mice, and to their elimination in TRAMP mice. Interestingly, in TRAMP mice with deficient Fas (Hybrid TRAMP- lpr/lpr), Tag-specific CTL elimination in response to Tag immunization did not take place. The results of cytolytic-function assays were consistent with induction and elimination patterns of TAA-specific CTLs and those of RT-PCR and tetramer staining. In conclusion, our data show that Fas-mediated TAA-specific CTL apoptosis contributes to T cell tolerance and suggest that such tolerance could be potentiated following TAA-specific immunization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study carried out application of dielectric barrier discharges driven by an AC power supply to benzene conversion in air. Only carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide was found as oxidation products. The effect of discharge space volume on benzene conversion, CO2 selectivity, and energy efficiency were also investigated, resulting in the facts that the benzene conversion and energy efficiency can be improved obviously using a large EC tape width of a large discharge space volume. The energy efficiency is 1.246 mol-C6H6/ kWh at an energy density of 31 J/L. The mechanism of benzene oxidation was also [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  A new polyoxovanadoborate cluster (H2NCH2CH2NH3)3 {(VO)6[B10O16(OH)6]2} · 11H2O was prepared by hydrothermal technique and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, IR and TGA. The crystal of the new compound belongs to monoclinic system, space group C2/c with a = 20.198(1) Å, b = 13.4476(8) Å, c = 21.602(1) Å, β = 97.067(1)°, V = 5822.8(5) Å3, Z = 4, D c  = 1.956 g cm−3, M = 1714.4, μ = 1.066 mm−1, S = 1.905, R = 0.059, R w  = 0.0966. Index Abstract  A new polyoxovanadoborate cluster (H2NCH2CH2NH3)3{(VO)6 [B10O16(OH)6]2} · 11H2O was prepared by hydrothermal technique and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, IR and TGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Condensations of benzene or toluene, xylene and paraformaldehyde to diphenylmethane (DPM) or its derivatives were performed using acidic ionic liquids Et3NHCl–AlCl3, Et3NHCl–FeCl3, Et3NHCl–ZnCl2, Et3NHCl–CuCl2, Et3NHCl–CuCl, Et3NHCl–SnCl2 as catalysts. The catalytic activity of Et3NHCl–AlCl3 proved to be superior to that of other catalysts for the condensation of benzene and paraformaldehyde, giving 92.4% conversion of HCHO and 76.1% selectivity to diphenylmethane at 80 °C and atmospheric pressure. The effect of various reaction conditions on the reaction and reaction kinetics of DPM synthesis were explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Although TGF-β1 is related to chronic rejection in various solid organs, its role remains controversial in the setting of small bowel transplantation. The aim of this study is to investigate the distinct role of TGF-β1 and its receptors in the setting of chronic small bowel rejection. Sequential protocol biopsies were performed every 2 weeks from week 2 till week 8 after transplantation and recipients were sacrificed at week 16 as the end point. Gene expression was evaluated by SYBR Green I real-time polymerase chain reaction and protein was determined by immunohistochemistry. The gene expressions of TGF-β1 and Type I receptor were upregulated and attained statistical significance at 4, 6 and 8 weeks in allografts. Dynamic expressions of TGF-β1 and Type I receptor mRNA shown by sequential protocol biopsies support the view that TGF-β1 signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic small bowel rejection, especially at the early phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Even though tagged RT-PCR and rTth RT-PCR have been developed to improve strand-specific detection of RNA virus, these assays are not quantitative. In this study, a novel real-time RT-PCR assay, which combines the benefits of both the tagged and rTth RT-PCR has been developed to quantify the strand-specific RNA of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). The tagged-primers plus a TaqMan probe located within the highly conserved viral 3D region were used. The in vitro synthesized minus-and plus-stranded RNA templates were used as a dual control along with the copy number of viral RNA molecules, which is more reliable than reported RT-PCR employing a DNA-based standard. This assay was used to quantify FMDV RNA from 109to 101copies with a maximum sensitivity of between ten and five copies and was shown to be highly reproducible with low intra-and inter-assay variation. Coefficients of variation (CV) values were 0.70–1.39% and 0.98–2.1%, respectively. Importantly, the method was applied to simultaneously quantify both plus-stranded and minus-stranded FMDV RNA using tagged-RT and tagged-FP primer during a high-temperature reverse transcription. Highly sensitive and strand-specific real-time RT-PCR assay has been established. We tested the ratio of viral plus-stranded to minus-stranded RNA in acutely infected and persistently infected BHK-21cells, for which the values ranged from 22/1 to 143/1 and from 287/1 to 334/1, respectively, suggesting different replication patterns of plus-and minus-stranded RNA in acutely infected and persistently infected cells. This value ranged from 83/1 to 93/1 in enriched FMDV virions, indicating that FMDV encapsidation is highly specific for plus-stranded RNAs. In addition, the method was applied to surveille the FMDV replication at animal level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared by precipitation polymerization using tebuconazole (TBZ) as a template. Frontal chromatography and selectivity experiments were used to determine the binding capabilities and binding specificities of different MIPs. The polymer that had the highest binding selectivity and capability was used as the solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent for the direct extraction of TBZ from different biological and environmental samples (cabbage, pannage, shrimp, orange juice and tap water). The extraction protocol was optimized and the optimum conditions were: conditioning with 5 mL methanol:acetic acid (9:1), 5 mL methanol and 5 mL water respectively, loading with 5 mL aqueous samples, washing with 1.2 mL acetonitrile (ACN):phosphate buffer (5:5, pH3), and eluting with 3 mL methanol. The MIPs were able to selectively recognize, effectively trap and preconcentrate TBZ over a concentration range of 0.5–15 μmol/L. The intraday and interday RSDs were less than 9.7% and 8.6%, respectively. The limit of quantification was 0.1 μmol/L. Under optimum conditions, the MISPE recoveries of spiked cabbage, pannage, shrimp, orange juice and tap water were 62.3%, 75.8%, 71.6%, 89% and 93.9%, respectively. MISPE gave better HPLC separation efficiencies and higher recoveries than C18 SPE and strong cation exchange (SCX) SPE. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared using bisphenol A (BPA) as a template by precipitation polymerization. The polymer that had the highest binding selectivity and ability was used as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents for direct extraction of BPA from different biological and environmental samples (human serum, pig urine, tap water and shrimp). The extraction protocol was optimized and the optimum conditions were as follows: conditioning with 5 mL methanol–acetic acid (3:1), 5 mL methanol, 5 mL acetonitrile and 5 mL water, respectively, loading with 5 mL aqueous samples, washing with 1 mL acetonitrile, and eluting with 3 mL methanol. MIPs can selectively recognize, effectively trap and preconcentrate BPA over a concentration range of 2–20 μM. Recoveries ranged from 94.03 to 105.3 %, with a relative standard deviation lower than 7.9 %. Under the optimal condition, molecularly imprinted SPE recoveries of spiked human serum, pig urine, tap water and shrimp were 65.80, 82.32, 76.00 and 75.97 %, respectively, when aqueous samples were applied directly. Compared with C18 SPE, a better baseline, better high-performance liquid chromatography separation efficiency and higher recoveries were achieved after molecularly imprinted SPE. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we establish a Rosenthal-type inequality of the maximum of partial sums for p--mixing random fields. As its applications we get the Hájeck-Rènyi inequality and weak convergence of sums of p--mixing sequence. These results extend related results for NA sequence and p*-mixing random fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from methanol and carbon dioxide using potassium methoxide as a catalyst in the presence of CH3I was investigated. The results showed that CH3OK is an effective catalyst; the raised yield (16.2%) and high selectivity (100%) of DMC formation under mild conditions were achieved. The effect of the reaction conditions, such as reaction temperature, pressure of carbon dioxide, the molar ratio of potassium methoxide to methanol and the amount of methyl iodide, on the reaction is discussed. The roles of the potassium methoxide and methyl iodide were explored, that is, the former acts as a catalyst, and the latter does as a promoter to the formation of DMC from CH3OH and CO2. In addition, the reaction mechanism was proposed according to the results obtained in the catalytic reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A symbolic computation method to decide whether the solutions to the system of linear partial differential equation is complele via using differential algebra and characteristic set is presented. This is a mechanization method, and it can be carried out on the computer in the Maple environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]