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The energy allocation for vegetative and reproductive growth is regulated by developmental signals and environmental cues, which subsequently affects seed output. However, the molecular mechanism underlying how plants coordinate yield-related traits to control yield in changing source-sink relationships remains largely unknown. Here, we discovered the lectin receptor-like kinase LecRK-VIII.2 as a specific receptor-like kinase that coordinates silique number, seed size, and seed number to determine seed yield in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The lecrk-VIII.2 mutants develop smaller seeds, but more siliques and seeds, leading to increased yield. In contrast, the plants overexpressing LecRK-VIII.2 form bigger seeds, but less siliques and seeds, which results in similar yield to that of wild-type plants. Interestingly, LecRK-VIII.2 promotes the growth of the rosette, root, and stem by coordinating the source-sink relationship. Additionally, LecRK-VIII.2 positively regulates cell expansion and proliferation in the seed coat, and maternally controls seed size. The genetic and biochemical analyses demonstrated that LecRK-VIII.2 acts upstream of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene MPK6 to regulate silique number, seed size, and seed number. Collectively, these findings uncover LecRK-VIII.2 as an upstream component of the MAPK signaling pathway to control yield-related traits and suggest its potential for crop improvement aimed at developing plants with stable yield, a robust root system, and improved lodging resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many complex networks possess a scale-free vertex-degree distribution in a power-law form of ck-γ, where k is the vertex-degree variable and c and γ are constants. To better understand the mechanism of the power-law formation in scale-free networks, it is important to understand and analyze their vertex-degree sequences. We had shown before that, for a scale-free network of size N, if its vertex-degree sequence is k1 < k2 < ... < k1, where {k1; k2; ..., k1} is the set of all non-equal vertex degrees in the network, and if its power exponent satisfies γ > 1, then the length l of the vertex-degree sequence is of order log N. In the present paper, we further study complex networks with a more general vertex-degree distribution, not restricted to the power-law, and prove that the same conclusion holds as well. In addition, we verify the new result by real data from a large number of real-world examples. We finally discuss some potential applications of the new finding in various fields of science, technology, and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new homozygous humanized transgenic mouse strain, HLA-A2.1+/+HLA-DP4+/+ hCD4+/+mCD4-/-IAβ-/-β2m-/- (HLA-A2/ DP4), was obtained by crossing the previously characterized HLA-A2+/+β2m-/- (A2) mouse and our previously created HLADP4+/+ hCD4+/+mCD4-/-IAβ-/- (DP4) mouse. We confirmed that the transgenes (HLA-A2, HLA-DP4, hCD4) inherited from the parental A2 and DP4 mice are functional in the HLA-A2/DP4 mice. After immunizing HLA-A2/DP4 mice with a hepatitis B DNA vaccine, hepatitis B virus-specific antibodies, HLA-A2-restricted and HLA-DP4-restricted responses were observed to be similar to those in naturally infected humans. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that HLA-A2/DP4 transgenic mice can faithfully mimic human cellular responses. Furthermore, we reported four new HLA-DP4-restricted epitopes derived from HBsAg that were identified in both vaccinated HLA-A2/DP4 mice and HLA-DP4-positive human individuals. The HLAA2/ DP4 mouse model is a promising preclinical animal model carrying alleles present to more than a quarter of the human population. This model should facilitate the identification of novel HLA-A2- and HLA-DP4-restricted epitopes and vaccine development as well as the characterization of HLA-DP4-restricted responses against infection in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of parallel node-disjoint paths between any pair of nodes is a desirable property of interconnection networks, because such paths allow tolerance to node and/or link failures along some of the paths, without causing disconnection. Additionally, node-disjoint paths support high-throughput communication via the concurrent transmission of parts of a message. We characterize maximum-sized families of parallel paths between any two nodes of alternating group networks. More specifically, we establish that in a given alternating group network AN, there exist n−1 parallel paths (the maximum possible, given the node degree of n−1) between any pair of nodes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these parallel paths are optimal or near-optimal, in the sense of their lengths exceeding the internode distance by no more than four. We also show that the wide diameter of AN is at most one unit greater than the known lower bound D+1, where D is the network diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract-An optical transpose interconnection system (OTIS) network with n[sup2] nodes is a two-level swapped architecture built of n of an n-nodes basis network that constitute its clusters. A simple rule for intercluster connectivity (node j in cluster i connected to node i in cluster j, for all i ≠ j) leads to regularity, modularity, packageability, fault tolerance, and algorithmic efficiency of the resulting networks. We prove that an OTIS (swapped) network with a connected basis network posses maximal fault tolerance, regardless of whether its basis network is maximally fault tolerant. We also show how the corresponding maximal number of node-disjoint paths between two nodes of a swapped network can be algorithmically, constructed in a manner that is independent of the existence and construction of node-disjoint paths within its basis network. Our results complement previous studies that show swapped networks inheriting some desirable properties (e.g., Hamiltonicity) from their basis networks. Here, we show that the swapped connectivity actually introduces a desirable property that may not exist in the basis network. Furthermore, our general result about maximal connectivity and the corresponding node-disjoint path construction for swapped networks replace a number of proofs and constructions in the literature for specific basis networks and obviate the need for proving maximal fault tolerance and dealing with node-disjoint path constructions for many other basis networks of potential practical interest. Additionally, we use our parallel path constructions to establish that the fault diameter and wide diameter of an OTIS network is no more than 4 units greater than its diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photocatalyst anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) films were immobilized via sol-gel technique on foam nickel modified with SiO2 films as transition layer (indicated as TiO2/SiO2 films). The structural properties of TiO2/SiO2 composite films were characterized using TG-DSC, XRD, FE-SEM, and BET. The photocatalytic activities of immobilized TiO2/SiO2 films were tested through photocatalytic degradation reactions of gaseous acetaldehyde under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The substrate modification with transition layer of SiO2 films improved the specific surface area (SSA) of substrate and the acetaldehyde adsorption on photocatalyst film enormously and resulted in great enhancement of photocatalytic activity and stability. The degradation ratio of gaseous acetaldehyde (concentration of 100 ppmv) on TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts reached 100% after 100 minutes of irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2/SiO2 films reduced about 15% after 9 consecutive runs, which was more stable than that of TiO2 films, and was completely recovered after heating at 300°C for 1hour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of low degree and, thus, low complexity, Cayley-graph interconnection structures, such as honeycomb and diamond networks, are known to be derivable by systematic pruning of 2D or 3D tori. In this paper, we extend these known pruning schemes via a general algebraic construction based on commutative groups. We show that, under certain conditions, Cayley graphs based on the constructed groups are pruned networks when Cayley graphs of the original commutative groups are κD tori. Thus, our results offer a general mathematical framework for synthesizing and exploring pruned interconnection networks that offer lower node degrees and, thus, smaller VLSI layout and simpler physical packaging. Our constructions also lead to new insights, as well as new concrete results, for previously known interconnection schemes such as honeycomb and diamond networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternating group graphs AGn, studied by Jwo and others, Constitute a class of Cayley graphs that possess certain desirable properties compared with other regular networks considered by researchers in parallel and distributed computing. A different form, ANn, of such graphs, proposed by Youhou and dubbed alternating group networks, has been shown to possess advantages over AGn. For example, ANn has a node degree that is smaller by a factor of about 2 while maintaining a diameter comparable to that of AGn, is maximally fault-tolerant, and shares some of the positive structural attributes of the well-known star graph. In this paper, we characterize the distance between any two nodes in ANn and present an optimal (shortest-path) routing algorithm for this class of networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Melhem presented a "new" class of low-diameter interconnection (LDI) networks in this journal [10]. We note that LDI networks are the same as the previously known generalized de Bruijn graphs, point out an error in the decomposition of LDI networks into permutations, and find that the correct decomposition scheme is an instance of arc coloring for coset graphs. Hence, we pursue a number of general results on arc coloring of coset graphs that can be applied to this particular decomposition problem as well as within many other contexts, including complete arc coloring and normality of coset graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castleman disease (CD), first described in 1954, is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder. A 20-year-old female patient was treated for a "painless mass below the right ear for 1 year". The imagological examination of the patient showed a soft tissue mass about 2.8 cm in diameter in the right parotid gland. Moreover, the patient underwent a right superficial parotidectomy and facial nerve dissection. The mass in the parotid gland was removed, and CD was confirmed by further pathological examination. Imagological examination contributes to the diagnosis and preoperative evaluation of CD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: L-Theanine (LTA) is a biologically active ingredient in tea that shows great potential for regulating lipid metabolism. Bile acids (BA), an important end-product of cholesterol catabolism, participate in the regulation of lipid metabolism and gut microbiota. Here, we investigated the effect of LTA on lipid metabolism and the mechanism by which it regulates BA metabolism and gut microbiota. Male BALB/c mice were treated with LTA for 28 days. RESULTS: Daily LTA doses of 100 and 300 mg kg-1 d-1 altered the gut microbiota in mice, predominantly by decreasing Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Bacteroides, Clostridium and Enterorhabdus microbes associated with bile-salt hydrolase (BSH) activity, thereby decreasing the activity of BSH and increasing the levels of ileum conjugated BA (such as glycocholic acid (GCA) and lithocholic acid), thereby inhibiting the intestinal farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15) signaling pathway. Inhibition of FXR-FGF15 signaling was accompanied by upregulation of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) mRNA and protein expression and increased hepatic production of cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, GCA, glycine cholic acid and glycine ursodeoxycholic acid. Meanwhile, increasing hepatic unconjugated BA upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of liver 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1, liver low-density lipoprotein receptor and type B scavenger receptor. Therefore, the serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides decreased. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that LTA regulates lipid metabolism by modulating the gut microbiota and BA metabolism via the FXR-FGF15-CYP7A1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The highly pandemic 2009 influenza A H1N1 virus infection showed distinguished skewed age distribution with majority of infection and death in children and young adults. Although previous exposure to related antigen has been proposed as an explanation, the mechanism of age protection is still unknown. Methods: In this study, murine model of different ages were inoculated intranasally with H1N1 (A/Beijing/501/09) virus and the susceptibility and pathological response to 2009 H1N1 infection were investigated. Results: Our results showed that the younger mice had higher mortality rate when infected with the same dose of virus and the lethal dose increased with age. Immunohistochemical staining of H1N1 antigens in mice lung indicated infection was in the lower respiratory tract. Most bronchial and bronchiolar epithelial cells in 4-week mice were infected while only a minor percentage of those cells in 6-month and 1-year old mice did. The young mice developed much more severe lung lesions and had higher virus load in lung than the two older groups of mice while older mice formed more inducible bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in their lungs and more severe damage in spleen. Conclusions: These results suggest that young individuals are more sensitive to H1N1 infection and have less protective immune responses than older adults. The age factor should be considered when studying the pathogenesis and transmission of influenza virus and formulating strategies on vaccination and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidative and proliferative effects of grape seed extract (GSE). Piglet intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC1) were selected as an unstressed cell model, or they were exposed to 400 μM H2O2 to establish a H2O2-stimulated cell model. The glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity in response to GSE addition were tested in the unstressed and H2O2-stimulated cell models. The relative mRNA levels of antioxidant or antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis-related genes were measured by Real-Time RT-PCR. In the unstressed status, the cell survival ratio and GSH increased with the addition of GSE at 1 and 10 μg/mL but diminished at 60 μg GSE/mL. The addition of 1 μg/mL GSE upregulated the mRNA expression levels of B-Cell Lymphoma protein-2 (Bcl-2), cysteine aspartases-3 (Caspase-3), cysteine aspartases-8 (Caspase-8) and glutathione peroxidase-1(GPx-1), while it downregulated that of Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax), copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase (GST), thioredoxin, thioltransferase and thioredoxin reductase. As GSE reached 60 μg/mL, the tumor protein p53 (p53) and caspase-8 gene expressions were upregulated. In stressed status, 1 and 10 μg GSE/mL promoted the increase of GSH. H2O2- induced increases in Bax, p53, and Caspase-3 mRNA expressions were attenuated by the subsequent addition of 1 μg GSE/mL and promoted the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, GPx-1 and thioltransferase (Ttas). Treatment with 60 μg GSE/ml resulted in a significant reduction in Bax, p53, manganese superoxide dismutase and GST mRNA expressions. These results indicate that GSE exhibits antioxidative and proliferative functions on unstressed IPEC1 cells at low and medium levels and oxidative and antiproliferative functions at high levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium alloys as biodegradable metal implants have received a lot of interest in biomedical applications. However, magnesium alloys have extremely high corrosion rates a in physiological environment, which have limited their application in the orthopedic field. In this study, calcium phosphate compounds (Ca-P) coating was prepared by arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-cysteine (RGDC) peptide-induced mineralization in 1.5 simulated body fluid (SBF) to improve the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of the AZ31 magnesium alloys. The adhesion of Ca-P coating to the AZ31 substrates was evaluated by a scratch test. Corrosion resistance and cytocompatibility of the Ca-P coating were investigated. The results showed that the RGDC could effectively promote the nucleation and crystallization of the Ca-P coating and the Ca-P coating had poor adhesion to the AZ31 substrates. The corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of the biomimetic Ca-P coating Mg alloys were greatly improved compared with that of the uncoated sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the antidiarrhea and antioxidant properties of honokiol extracted from Magnoliae officinalis cortex (bark of Magnolia officinalis), an important medical material in traditional Chinese medicine, for treating diseases such as diarrhea and thrombotic stroke. Methods: The antidiarrhea activity of honokiol was investigated using castor oil-induced diarrhea as well as neostigmine-induced increase in small intestine transit in mice. In castor oil-induced diarrhoea test, mice received honokiol (25, 50 and 100mg/kg BW) orally once daily for 1 day and the mice' droppings were observed. In small intestine transit test, mice received honokiol (25, 50 and 100mg/kg BW) orally once daily for 4 days and the percentage distance travelled by charcoal meal was noted to determine. For the determination of anti-oxidant activity, with 50 mg/kg vitamin E as positive control, the mice were administered with 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg honokiol orally and daily for 14 days. The activity and gene expression of antioxidative enzymes as well as antioxidant status were monitored to assess the antioxidant potential of honokiol. Results: All doses of honokiol showed (p < 0.001) significant inhibitory activity against castor oil-induced diarrhea when compared with model control (diarrhea Index, 1.10 vs. 1.39)-. Honokiol at all doses also reduced neostigmine-stimulated small intestinal transit by approximately 16 % in comparison with -neostigmine control group-(59.0 % vs. 70.1%). Compared with control (no honokiol), the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in the plasma (CAT, 7.31 vs. 13.21 U/mL; GSH-Px, 439.6 vs. 608.9 U/m; T-SOD, 82.2 vs. 109.8 U/mL) and liver (CAT, 7.73 vs. 14.39 U/mg; GSH-Px, 167.6 vs. 202.7 U/mg; T-SOD, 44.3 vs. 53.9 U/mg) were significantly enhanced by honokiol (p < 0.01). CAT and GSH-Px gene expressions were also significantly enhanced by honokiol (p < 0.05), compared with control (no honokiol) (CAT, 0.32 vs. 0.39; GSH-Px, 4.49 vs. 5.80). Additionally, total antioxidant capacity was increased by 60 % with 100 mg/kg honokiol. Conclusion: The results provide some justification for the use of Magnoliae officinalis cortex as an antidiarrheal remedy in Chinese traditional medicine. The fact that honokiol also enhanced both the non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant defense systems, suggests its potential as a natural antioxidant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant catechin found in green tea, effectively reduces body weight and tissue and blood lipid accumulation. To explore the mechanism by which EGCG inhibits cellular lipid accumulation in free fatty acid (FFA) induced HepG2 cell culture, we investigated the proteome change of FFA-induced HepG2 cells exposed to EGCG using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Results: In this study, 36 protein spots showed a significant change in intensity by more than 1.5-fold from the control group to the FFA group and from the FFA group to the FFA + EGCG group. Among them, 24 spots were excised from gels and identified by LC-MS/MS. In total, 18 proteins were successfully identified. All identified proteins were involved in lipid metabolism, glycometabolism, antioxidant defense, respiration, cytoskeleton organization, signal transduction, DNA repair, mRNA processing, iron storage, or were chaperone proteins. This indicated that these physiological processes may play roles in the mechanism of inhibition of lipid accumulation by EGCG in FFA-induced HepG2 cells. Western blotting analysis was used to verify the expression levels of differentially expressed proteins, which agree with the proteomic results. Conclusions: From the proteomic analysis, we hypothesized that EGCG reduced cellular lipid accumulation in FFA-induced HepG2 cells through the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) resulting from the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The induction of ROS may be a result of EGCG regulation of the antioxidant defense system. Activation of AMPK shifted some FFA toward oxidation, away from lipid and triglyceride storage, and suppressed hepatic gluconeogenesis. The findings of this study improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of inhibition of lipid accumulation by EGCG in HepG2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shi G, Ye D-W, Yao X, Zhang S, Dai B, Zhang H, Shen Y, Zhu Y, Zhu Y, Xiao W, Ma C. Extramammary Paget’s diseases in men from the Shanghai area: its association with PSA level increase. APMIS 2010; 118: 777–81. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of prostate cancer in patients with extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD). All cases of EMPD diagnosed between 1992 and 2007 in Shanghai Cancer Hospital were collected and analyzed for the incidence of prostate cancer. The median follow-up was 78 months. In total, 38 cases of invasive and 10 cases of in situ EMPD had been registered. A second malignancy was found in 28.9% (11/38) of patients with invasive EMPD and in 30% (3/10) of patients with in situ EMPD. Patients had an increased risk of developing a second cancer compared with the general population (standardized incidence ratio: 1.7; 95% confidence interval 1.2–2.4). Sixteen patients had serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level above 4 ng/mL; five developed prostate cancer, three of them with PSA levels beyond 100 ng/mL. The incidence of prostate cancer is 10.4% in this patient group. Patients with EMPD were more likely to have prostate cancer than the general population. Although the prognosis of EMPD is fairly good, a thorough search for a second tumor is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A 2009 global influenza pandemic caused by a novel swine-origin H1N1 influenza A virus has posted an increasing threat of a potential pandemic by the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus, driving us to develop an influenza vaccine which confers cross-protection against both H5N1 and H1N1 viruses. Previously, we have shown that a tetra-branched multiple antigenic peptide (MAP) vaccine based on the extracellular domain of M2 protein (M2e) from H5N1 virus (H5N1-M2e-MAP) induced strong immune responses and cross-protection against different clades of HPAI H5N1 viruses. In this report, we investigated whether such M2e-MAP presenting the H5N1-M2e consensus sequence can afford heterosubtypic protection from lethal challenge with the pandemic 2009 H1N1 virus. Results: Our results demonstrated that H5N1-M2e-MAP plus Freund's or aluminum adjuvant induced strong cross-reactive IgG antibody responses against M2e of the pandemic H1N1 virus which contains one amino acid variation with M2e of H5N1 at position 13. These cross-reactive antibodies may maintain for 6 months and bounced back quickly to the previous high level after the 2nd boost administered 2 weeks before virus challenge. H5N1-M2e-MAP could afford heterosubtypic protection against lethal challenge with pandemic H1N1 virus, showing significant decrease of viral replications and obvious alleviation of histopathological damages in the challenged mouse lungs. 100% and 80% of the H5N1-M2e-MAP-vaccinated mice with Freund's and aluminum adjuvant, respectively, survived the lethal challenge with pandemic H1N1 virus. Conclusions: Our results suggest that H5N1-M2e-MAP has a great potential to prevent the threat from re-emergence of pandemic H1N1 influenza and possible novel influenza pandemic due to the reassortment of HPAI H5N1 virus with the 2009 swine-origin H1N1 influenza virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]