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Microtubule affinity regulating kinase 4 (MARK4), an important member of the serine/threonine kinase family, regulates the phosphorylation of microtubule-associated proteins and thus modulates microtubule dynamics. In human atherosclerotic lesions, the expression of MARK4 is significantly increased. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that MARK4 exerts a proatherogenic effect via regulation of lipid metabolism (cholesterol, fatty acid, and triglyceride), inflammation, cell cycle progression and proliferation, insulin signaling, and glucose homeostasis, white adipocyte browning, and oxidative stress. In this review, we summarize the latest findings regarding the role of MARK4 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis to provide a rationale for future investigation and therapeutic intervention.

Understanding excitation and inhibition balance in the brain begins with the tale of two basic types of neurons, glutamatergic projection neurons and GABAergic interneurons. The diversity of cortical interneurons is contributed by multiple origins in the ventral forebrain, various tangential migration routes, and complicated regulations of intrinsic factors, extrinsic signals, and activities. Abnormalities of interneuron development lead to dysfunction of interneurons and inhibitory circuits, which are highly associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, and intellectual disability. In this review, we mainly discuss recent findings on the development of cortical interneuron and on neurodevelopmental disorders related to interneuron dysfunction.

This paper studies the dynamic interaction between the net positions of traders and risk premiums in commodity futures markets. Short‐term position changes are driven mainly by the liquidity demands of noncommercial traders, while long‐term variation is driven primarily by the hedging demands of commercial traders. These two components influence expected futures returns with opposite signs. The gains from providing liquidity by commercials largely offset the premium they pay for obtaining price insurance.

Microparticles (MPs) are heterogeneous populations of cell-derived vesicles that play an important role in intercellular communications. The release of MPs by tumor cells is a very common event in tumor microenvironments (TMEs). Tumor cell-derived MPs (T-MPs) contain a variety of bioactive molecules, thus modulating various biological processes, including the regulation of immune cell phenotype and function, as well as immune responses. Moreover, T-MPs can be used as natural carriers to deliver therapeutic drugs into tumor cells and immune cells, thus remodeling TMEs and modifying anti-tumor immune responses. These features allow T-MPs to function as potential biomaterials to be applied in tumor immunotherapies and vaccines. This article describes protocols for the isolation of T-MPs from supernatants of cultured tumor cells by multi-step centrifugations. Tools and protocols are also provided in order to characterize and validate the isolated MPs and to analyze the interaction between T-MPs and different target cells. © 2021 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Isolation of tumor cell-derived microparticles by multi-step centrifugations Basic Protocol 2: Characterization and validation of tumor cell-derived microparticles Basic Protocol 3: Functional analysis of the uptake of tumor cell-derived microparticles by different cell types.

Anisodamine (654-1), a well-known cholinergic antagonist, is marketed as synthetic anisodamine (mixture of four isomers, 654-2) in China. To preparative resolution and comparison of the bioactivities of the four isomers of synthetic anisodamine, current work explores an economic and effective separation method by using preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and diastereomer crystallization. Their absolute configurations were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and circular dichroism method. The purities of each isomer were more than 95%. Among them, 654-2-A2 (6R, 2'S configuration) exhibited better effect on cabachol preconditioned small intestine tension more than 654-2 and other isomers. The direct separation method without using HPLC was tried as well, which was still on progress. This is the first report of the method for preparative separation of four isomers of synthetic anisodamine which could be used for large-scale production in industry.

An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that micro‐ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are important tumor suppressors during carcinogenesis. However, the function of miRNA‐541 (miR‐541) in malignancies, especially lung cancer, has not been widely reported. In this study, miR‐541 expression was significantly decreased in squamous cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cancerous tissue and SCLC cell lines. To analyze miR‐541 function in SCLC, we overexpressed miR‐541 in SCLC cell lines (SK‐MES‐1 and H226). According to the CCK8, wound scratch, and transwell invasion assay results, miR‐541 overexpression significantly inhibited SCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion ability. Next, using RT‐PCR, Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and luciferase assays, HMGA2 was identified, for the first time, as a direct regulatory target of miR‐541 in SK‐MES‐1 and H226 cells. Furthermore, upregulating HMGA2 expression significantly alleviated the suppressive effects of miR‐541 on SK‐MES‐1 and H226 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In summary, our study revealed that miR‐541 inhibited SCLC proliferation and invasion by directly targeting HMGA2.

A highly efficient organocatalytic Michael addition/I2-mediated cyclization reaction sequence between 1,3-diketones and unsaturated pyrazolones was achieved in the presence of a chiral cinchonidine-derived squaramide catalyst and I2 under mild reaction conditions. A variety of optically active spiro-dihydrofuran pyrazolones were obtained in good to high yields (71–97 %) with excellent diastereoselectivities and high to excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99:1 dr and 99 % ee). A gram-scale synthesis of chiral spiro-dihydrofuran pyrazolones was also successfully realized.

Macrophages play a central role in innate immunity as the first line of defense against pathogen infection. Upon exposure to inflammatory stimuli, macrophages rapidly respond and subsequently undergo metabolic reprogramming to substantially produce cellular metabolites such as itaconate. As a derivate of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, itaconate is derived from the decarboxylation of cis-aconitate mediated by immunoresponsive gene 1 in the mitochondrial matrix. It is well known that itaconate has a direct antimicrobial effect by inhibiting isocitrate lyase. Strikingly, two recent studies published in Nature showed that itaconate markedly decreases the production of proinflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide-treated macrophages and ameliorates sepsis and psoriasis in animal models, revealing a novel biological action of itaconate beyond its regular roles in antimicrobial defense. The mechanism for this anti-inflammatory effect has been proposed to involve the inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase, blockade of IκBζ translation and activation of Nrf2. These intriguing discoveries provide a new explanation for how macrophages are switched from a pro- to an anti-inflammatory state to limit the damage and facilitate tissue repair under proinflammatory conditions. Thus, the emerging effect of itaconate as a crucial determinant of macrophage inflammation has important implications in further understanding cellular immunometabolism and developing future therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In this review, we focus on the roles of itaconate in controlling the inflammatory response during macrophage activation, providing a rationale for future investigation and therapeutic intervention.

Mesoporous CeO2 with flowerlike and cottonlike hierarchical structures were prepared through a facile solvothermal strategy by using cerium glycolate as precursors. In the whole synthesis process, the solvothermal reaction time plays an important role in morphology control. Structure and composition information of the corresponding cerium glycolate were obtained and compared by using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Oriented attachment/anisotropic crystal growth with Ostwald ripening/multistep splitting process mechanism was proposed for the formation of the cerium glycolate precursor. The catalytic test results show that the final CeO2 microparticles exhibit enhanced CO conversion performance and better reduction behavior than pure ceria. Furthermore, as a good support, the synthesized Au/CeO2 samples demonstrate higher catalytic activity in the oxidation of CO than pure ceria.

Characteristics of 106 wines from 5 major grape varieties and 3 typical geographic regions in China were investigated by means of profiling of organic acids and phenolic compounds analysis. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography method was developed and thus, large number of samples could be determined in a quick and reliable way. The results showed that different origins and varieties were characteristic of various profiles of organic acid and phenolic compounds. In order to investigate possible correlation between organic acids and phenolic compounds content and grape variety and/or geographical origin, analysis of variance and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were conducted. A satisfactory LDA result for red wines according to geographic origin was obtained, in which the correct classification was 100% and the leave-one-out validation accuracy was 90%. The corresponding results of white wines were 91% and 86%, respectively. When LDA was processed, according to grape varieties, the proportionality of successfully classified wines was 96%, while the leave-one-out validation accuracy was 94%. The organic acids and phenolic compounds profiles were useful in the classification of Chinese wines according to grape variety and geographic origin.

Human SPLUNC1 can suppress nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tumor formation; however, the correlation between SPLUNC1expression and NPC patient prognosis has not been reported. In the present study, we used a large-scale sample of 1015 tissue cores to detect SPLUNC1 expression and its association with patient prognosis. SPLUNC1 expression was reduced in NPC samples compared to nontumor nasopharyngeal epithelium tissues. Positive expression of SPLUNC1 in NPC predicted a better prognosis (disease-free survival, P = 0.034; overall survival, P = 0.048). Cox's proportional hazards model revealed that SPLUNC1 could be a significant prognostic factor affecting disease-free survival (P = 0.027). A cDNA micro-array analyzed by significant analysis of micro-array (SAM) and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) revealed that an indirect interaction existed between SPLUNC1 and retinoic acid (RA) in the cancer regulatory network. To further investigate the molecular mechanisms involved, we utilized several bioinformatics tools and identified 12 retinoid X receptors heterodimer binding sites in the promoter region of the SPLUNC1 gene. The transcriptional activity of the SPLUNC1 promoter was up-regulated significantly by all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). SPLUNC1 and retinoic acid receptor expression were induced significantly by ATRA, and removal of ATRA led to a progressive loss of SPLUNC1 and retinoic acid receptor expression. ATRA inhibited proliferation and induced the differentiation of NPC cells. Interestingly, over-expression of SPLUNC1 sensitized NPC cells to ATRA, whereas knockdown of SPLUNC1 in HNE1 cells increased cell viability. Under SPLUNC1 knockdown conditions, differentiation was reversed by ATRA treatment. We concluded that SPLUNC1 could potentially predict prognosis for NPC patients and play an important role in ATRA-induced growth inhibition and differentiation in NPC cells.

All-perovskite-oxide heterojunctions composed with tetravalent cation-doped La0.9Hf0.1MnO3 (LHMO) and 0.7 wt% Nb-doped SrTiO3 were fabricated using pulsed laser deposition method. Compared to those hole-doped manganites-based junctions, much stronger rectifying characteristics were observed in the formed junctions. Special attention has been paid to the temperature dependence of photovoltage (Voc) and short-circuits current (Isc). It is notable that, under illumination of a light with λ = 532 nm, the Voc dropped from 700 to 120 mV as the temperature increasing. No sudden change of Voc was observed in the whole temperature from 40 to 300 K. However, a maximum of the short-circuit current was found near the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition temperature. The energy band diagram of such heterojunctions is constructed and physics related to the rectifying behaviors and photoelectric effect is discussed.

In this study, the Indium (In) doped Cd1–xMnx Te (xMn=0.1, CdMnTe) crystals with excess Te in the amount of 0 and 1.2 at% were grown by the Bridgman method. The segregation coefficient of In dopants distributions in the CdMnTe crystals with and without excess Te were determined to be 0.08 and 0.11, respectively. The IR transmission microscopy shown that the size of Te inclusions in CdMnTe crystal with excess Te increased to 5–13 μm with the concentrations of (2–3)×105 cm–3. The PL spectra indicated the formation of Te antisite donor and the compensation of Cd vacancies by Te antisites. The Current-Voltage measurements were performed and the resistivity of the CdMnTe crystal with excess Te was in the range of 108–109 Ω·cm, increased by one order as compared to the crystal without excess Te. Under the radiation of 59.5 keV 241Am, The CdMnTe planar detectors fabricated from the crystal with excess Te revealed the energy resolution of 8.4%, however, no energy response is resolved in the CdMnTe detectors without excess Te. (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

BACKROUND Seven anthocyanin monomers of Yan 73 grape were separated using preparative HPLC and identified by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The stabilities of the seven isolated anthocyanins to light, temperature and pH were also investigated. RESULTS Seven anthocyanin monomers were successfully isolated with an Xbridge Prep C18 column on a preparative scale. The pigments delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, malvidin-3-O-acetylglucoside and malvidin-3-O-coumarylglucoside were yielded in a one-step separation by preparative HPLC, with purities up to 99.9%, 91.7% and 95.5%, respectively. The pigments cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, petunidin-3-O-glucoside, peonidin-3-O-glucoside, and malvidin-3-O-glucoside were further purified with another elution method and their purities were all improved up to 99.9%. Monomeric anthocyanin degradation fitted a first-order reaction model. The seven isolated anthocyanins were significantly more stable in the dark than under light. High temperature was also unfavourable for the stability of anthocyanins. The anthocyanins were more stable at lower pH than at higher pH. In addition, among these anthocyanins, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, malvidin-3-O-acetylglucoside and malvidin-3-O-coumarylglucoside were more susceptible to light, heat, and pH than the others. CONCLUSION A simple and clean isolation method of seven anthocyanin monomers from Yan 73 grape was established. The stabilities of the seven anthocyanin monomers to light, temperature and pH were different, but the trends in changes were similar. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry

Unlike the past work, the optimal operation policy, which minimizes the total batch time is derived for multivessel batch distillation (MVBD) for separation of binary components under constant total reflux. In this article, both the distribution of vessels along the MVBD column and the holdup in each vessel are optimized to minimize the total batch time. Furthermore, the time consumption of the optimal operation policy is also compared with that of the regular constant reflux operation theoretically and experimentally. The results show that the novel operation mode has great advantages in time saving and easy operation by adopting the optimal operation policy. Thus, for a given separation task, MVBD column reveals significant potential for separation with higher efficiency. © 2013 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The structural rearrangement of the ligand binding domain (LBD) of human Vitamin D receptor (hVDR) complexed with 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (natural ligand) and its analogues (denoted as b and c) was studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. MD simulations revealed that these ligands could induce different structural changes of LBD, in which 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 only led to a minute change, suggesting that LBD adopted its canonical active conformation upon binding the natural ligand, while b and c could provoke a clear structural rearrangement of the LBD. In complex of hVDR-LBD/b, it is found that helix 6 (H6) and subsequent loop 6-7 shift outward and the last turn of H11 shifts away from H12, which generate a new cavity at the bottom of binding pocket to accommodate the extra butyl group on the side chain of ligand b. As for hVDR-LBD/c, the steric exclusion of the second side chain of ligand c makes the N-terminal of H7 move outsides and C-terminal of H11 close to H12, expanding the bottom of the pocket. These calculation results agree well the experimental observations. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011

1. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in many biological processes. It is known that aberrant miRNA expression contributes to some pathological conditions. However, it is not known whether miRNAs play any role in the development of insulin resistance in adipocytes, a key pathophysiological link between obesity and diabetes. 2. To investigate the function of miRNAs in the development of insulin resistance, using miRNA microarray analysis we compared miRNA expression profiles between normal insulinsensitive 3T3-L1 adipocytes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes rendered insulin resistant following treatment with high glucose (25mmol/L) and high insulin (1 mol/L). Furthermore, adipocytes were transfected with specific antisense oligonucleotides against miRNA-320 (anti-miR-320 oligo) and the effects on the development of insulin resistance were evaluated. 3. We identified 50 upregulated and 29 downregulated miRNAs in insulin-resistant (IR) adipocytes, including a 50-fold increase in miRNA-320 (miR-320) expression. Using bioinformatic techniques, the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) was found to be a potential target of miR-320. In experiments with anti-miR-320 oligo, insulin sensitivity was increased in IR adipocytes, as evidenced by increases in p85 expression, phosphorylation of Akt and the protein expression of the glucose transporter GLUT-4, as well as insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. These beneficial effects of anti-miR-320 oligo were observed only in IR adipocytes and not in normal adipocytes. 4. In conclusion, the miRNA profile changes in IR adipocytes compared with normal 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Anti-miR-320 oligo was found to regulate insulin resistance in adipocytes by improving insulin–PI3-K signalling pathways. The findings provide information regarding a potentially new therapeutic strategy to control insulin resistance.

Measurements of temporal variations in soil detachability under different land uses are badly needed to develop new algorithms or evaluate the existing ones for temporal adjustment of soil detachability in continuous soil erosion models. Few studies have been conducted in the Loess Plateau to quantify temporal variations in detachment rate of runoff under different land uses. The objectives of this study were to investigate the temporal variations of soil detachment rate under different land uses and to further identify the potential factors causing the change in detachment rate in the Loess Plateau. Undisturbed soil samples were collected in the fields of arable land (millet, soybean, corn, and potato), grassland, shrub land, wasteland, and woodland and tested in a laboratory flume under a constant hydraulic condition. The measurements started in mid-April and ended in early October, 2006. The results showed that soil detachment rate of each land use fluctuated considerably over time. Distinctive temporal variation in detachment rate was found throughout the summer growing season of measurement in each land use. The maximum detachment rates of different land uses varied from 0·019 to 0·490 kg m–2 s–1 and the minimum detachment rates ranged from 0·004 to 0·092 kg m–2 s–1. Statistical analysis using a paired-samples t-test indicated that variations in soil detachment rate differed significantly at the 0·05 level between land uses in most cases. The major factors responsible for the temporal variation of soil detachment were tillage operations (such as planting, ploughing, weeding, harvesting), soil consolidation, and root growth. The influence of tillage operations on soil detachment depended on the degree of soil disturbance caused by the operations. The consolidation of the topsoil over time after tillage was reflected by increases in soil bulk density and soil cohesion. As soil bulk density and cohesion increased, detachment rate decreased. The impact of root density was inconclusive in this study. Further studies are needed to quantify the effects of root density on temporal variations of soil detachment. This work provides useful information for developing temporal adjustments to soil detachment rate in continuous soil erosion models in the Loess Plateau. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The role of jasmonic acid (JA) in plant wounding response has been demonstrated. However, the source of JA in wound signaling remains unclear. In the present study, pea seedlings were used as material to investigate the systemic induction of JA and the activation of lipoxygenase (LOX)-dependent octadecanoid pathway upon wounding. The results showed that endogenous JA could induce two peaks in the wounded leaves and the stalks, while only one peak in the systemic leaves. LOX activity and its protein amount were also induced and the stimulation mainly occurred in the late phase, while one peak of induction was present after pretreatment with JA. Applied nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), an inhibitor of LOX activity, only inhibited the induction of JA in the late phase, and the resistance of pea was impaired. Furthermore, 13(S)-hydroperoxy-9(Z), 11(E)-octadecadienoic acid (13(S)-H(P)ODE) was confirmed to be the main product of LOX throughout the experimental time. In addition, immunocytochemical analysis also revealed the occurrence of JA biosynthesis and transport upon wounding. These results demonstrated that wound-induced JA in wounded leaves resulted from its biosynthesis and conversion from its conjugates, while in systemic leaves resulted from its transport and biosynthesis; and proved that the LOX pathway was vital to the wound-induced defense response involved in JA biosynthesis.

The effect of hydrogen bond interactions on ionization potentials (IPs) and electron affinities (EAs) of thymine–formamide complexes (T–F) have been investigated employing the density functional theory B3LYP at 6-311++G(d, p) basis set level. All complexes experience a geometrical change on either electron detachment or attachment, and the change might be facilitated or hindered according to the strength of the hydrogen-bonding interaction involved. The strength of hydrogen bonds presents an opposite changing trend on the two processes. A more important role that H-bonding interaction plays in the process of electron attachment than in the process of electron detachment can be seen by a comparison of the IPs and EAs of complexes with that of isolated thymine. Futhermore, the EAs of isolated thymine are in good agreement with the experimental values (AEA is 0.79 eV, VEA is −0.29 eV [Wetmore et al., Chem Phys Lett 2000, 322, 129]). The calculated total NPA charge distributions reveal that nearly all the negative charges locate on thymine monomer in the anions and even in the cationic states, there are a few negative charges on thymine monomer. An analysis of dissociation energies predicts the processes T–F+ T++ F and T–F− T− + F to be the most energetically favorable for T–F+ and T–F−, respectively. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009

Lactotransferrin (LTF) has been shown to regulate tumorogenesis. However, little is known about the role of LTF in regulating the development of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The aim of our study was to investigate whether LTF could regulate the development of NPC by characterizing the pattern of LTF expression in human NPC tissues using cDNA and tissue microarrays. Loss of LTF expression was observed in a significantly higher frequency of NPC tissues compared to that in nontumor nasopharyngeal epithelial tissues. While 61.25% of NPC tissues at the T1/T2 stage were positive for LTF expression, only 40.82% of NPC at the T3/T4 stage were stained by anti-LTF. Similarly, 41.58% of NPC with local lymph node metastasis displayed LTF expression, a value significantly lower than the 46.36% in primary tumors (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that LTF may negatively regulate the development and metastasis of NPC in vivo. Furthermore, overexpression of or treatment with LTF inhibited the proliferation of NPC cells and promoted cell cycle arrest at the G(0)/G(1) phase in vitro. While LTF treatment downregulated expression of cyclin D1 and phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb), expression of p21 and p27 in 5-8F NPC cells was enhanced. Moreover, LTF treatment modulated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, but did not affect p53 and STAT3 expression in 5-8F NPC cells. Thus LTF is likely to be a candidate tumor suppressor and downregulates the development of NPC by inhibiting NPC proliferation through induction of cell cycle arrest and modulation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Therefore, our findings provide new insights in understanding the mechanism(s) underlying the action of LTF in regulating the development of human NPC.

The structures of hydrogen-bonded complexes A–Fn (n = 2–7) of adenine with polyformamide molecules have been fully optimized at B3LYP/6-31G(d) basis set level. All the formamide molecules prefer to be NH proton donor rather than CH proton donor and are favorably bound to the five-numbered moiety of adenine. A displacement of formamide molecules to one side of adenine mean plane has happened with an increasing number of formamide molecules. An obvious effect of hydrogen-bonding cooperativity can be seen during the complex process. The most interesting geometrical change of adenine upon the complex is the shortening of the bond C4N6 resulting from the strengthening of the conjugation between the π system of the adenine ring and the lone pair of the nitrogen atom. An existence of weak NH···π bonding interaction between the π system of adenine and NH bond of F7 is found and further conformed by an natural bond orbital analysis specially carried out on A–F7. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008

Gliomas take a number of different genetic routes in the progression to glioblastoma multiforme, a highly invasive variant that is mostly unresponsive to current therapies. The α-chemokine stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α binds to the seven transmembrane G-protein-coupled CXCR-4 receptor and acts to modulate cell migration and proliferation by activating multiple signal transduction pathways. Leucine-rich repeats containing 4 (LRRC4), a putative glioma suppressive gene, inhibits glioblastoma cells tumorigenesis in vivo and cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. We also previously demonstrated that LRRC4 controlled glioblastoma cells proliferation by ERK/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. In the present study, we demonstrate that CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is expressed in human glioblastoma U251 cell line, and that SDF-1α increases the proliferation, chemotaxis, and invasion in CXCR4+ glioblastoma U251 cells through the activation of ERK1/2 and Akt. The reintroduction of LRRC4 in U251 cells inhibits the expression of CXCR4 and SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis-mediated downstream intracellular pathways such as ERK1/2 and Akt leading to proliferate, chemotactic and invasive effects. Furthermore, we provide evidence for proMMP-2 activation involvement in the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis-mediated signaling pathway. LRRC4 significantly inhibits proMMP-2 activation by SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis-mediated ERK1/2 and Akt signaling pathway. Collectively, these results suggest a possible important “cross-talk” between LRRC4 and SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis-mediated intracellular pathways that can link signals of cell proliferation, chemotaxis and invasion in glioblastoma, and may represent a new target for development of new therapeutic strategies in glioma. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 245–255, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Adsorption, diffusion and thermal desorption features of cyclopentane and cyclohexane in silicalite-1 have been investigated using the intelligent gravimetric technique. Both the saturation adsorption loadings and diffusion coefficient of cyclopentane were greater than those of cyclohexane. The diffusivity of cyclopentane was about one order of magnitude greater than that of cyclohexane at the same temperature and initial loading. For cyclopentane, there was only one kind of desorption process at adsorption loadings lower than 4 muc (molecule per unit cell), but two desorption processes appeared at the adsorption loadings higher than 4 muc. While for cyclohexane, one desorption process was found in the whole range of loadings. Both thermal desorption peaks of cyclopentane and cyclohexane moved to higher temperature region with increasing loading.

This study extends the maximal affine models of single assets to a multi-commodity setup. We show that the correlated version of maximal affine models for a single commodity is no longer maximal for multiple commodities. In the maximal model, the convenience yield of a certain commodity could depend on the prices of other commodities, which is consistent with the structural model in our companion study Casassus, Liu, and Tang [Review of Financial Studies, 26, 1324–1362, 2013]. This cross-commodity relationship is a feedback effect that may generate substantial co-movement among long-run commodity prices, a fact that is consistent with many empirical studies. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 35:75–86, 2015

It is pointed out that there exist singularities in the equations describing the dipolar interaction energy derived by S. Lamba. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) See original phys. stat. sol. (b) Vol. 241, No. 13, 3022–3028 (2004)