Sequence Dependent Structural Transition of Short DNA by Tensile Force

Del 25 de novembre de 2013 al 3 de febrer de 201

Application Research and Practice of TBL Innovative Teaching Method in the Course of Clinical Biochemical Testing Technology

The purpose of this study is to explore the practical application effect of TBL innovative teaching method in the course of clinical biochemistry test technology. The research object is all undergraduate students in the laboratory major of 2018 medical school of our university. The research method is comparative experiment method, the teaching method of LBL teaching is set as control group, while the experimental group adopts TBL teaching method. By the final teaching evaluation and the data collected in the process, the influence of TBL teaching methods on the teaching effect of the course is compared and analyzed. The evaluation methods are combined with subjective and objective evaluation. The evaluation methods include questionnaire, student mutual evaluation, final test and other multiple ways. And the results of this study showed that the average score of the experimental group using TBL teaching method was significantly higher than that of the control group using traditional teaching method. In addition, through the process evaluation, it was found that the students in the experimental group were superior to the students in the control group in terms of learning interest, communication ability and learning methods. As a result, the application of TBL teaching method in the teaching of clinical biochemistry test obviously promotes the teaching quality and effect of this course

A novel activator-type ERF of Thinopyrum intermedium, TiERF1, positively regulates defence responses

Thinopyrum intermedium is resistant to many different pathogens. To understand the roles of ethylene response factors (ERFs) in defence responses, the first member of the ERF family in T. intermedium, TiERF1, was characterized and functionally analysed in this study. The TiERF1 gene encodes a putative protein of 292 amino acids, belonging to the B3 subgroup of the ERF transcription factor family. Biochemical assays demonstrated that the TiERF1 protein is capable of binding to the GCC box, a cis-element present in the promoters of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, and possessing transactivation activity, as well as localizing to the nucleus. The transcript of TiERF1 in T. intermedium is rapidly induced by infection with Rhizoctonia cerealis, Fusarium graminearum, or Blumeria graminis, and ethylene, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid treatments. More importantly, the ectopic expression of TiERF1 in tobacco activated the transcript of the PR genes of tobacco with a GCC box cis-element, and ACO and ACS genes key to ethylene synthesis, and in turn improved the resistance level to Alternaria alternata and tobacco mosaic virus, as well as causing some phenotypic changes associated with ethylene response in the transgenic tobacco plants. Taken together, TiERF1 protein as an ERF transcription activator positively regulates defence responses via the activation of some defence-related genes

Molecular state interpretation of charmed baryons in the quark model

Stimulated by the observation of $\Lambda_c(2910)^+$ by the Belle Collaboration, the $S$-wave $qqq\bar{q}c~(q=u~\text{or}~d)$ pentaquark systems with $I$ = 0, $J^P$ = $\frac{1}{2}^-,~\frac{3}{2}^- and~\frac{5}{2}^-$ are investigated in the framework of quark delocalization color screening model(QDCSM). The real-scaling method is utilized to check the bound states and the genuine resonance states. The root mean square of cluster spacing is also calculated to study the structure of the states and estimate if the state is resonance state or not. The numerical results show that $\Lambda_{c}(2910)$ cannot be interpreted as a molecular state, and $\Sigma_{c}(2800)$ cannot be explained as the $ND$ molecular state with $J^P=1/2^-$. $\Lambda_{c}(2595)$ can be interpreted as the molecular state with $J^P=\frac{1}{2}^-$ and the main component is $\Sigma_{c}\pi$. $\Lambda_{c}(2625)$ can be interpreted as the molecular state with $J^P=\frac{3}{2}^-$ and the main component is $\Sigma_{c}^{*}\pi$. $\Lambda_{c}(2940)$ is likely to be interpreted as a molecular state with $J^P=3/2^-$, and the main component is $ND^{*}$. Besides, two new molecular states are predicted, one is the $J^P=3/2^-$ $\Sigma_{c}\rho$ resonance state with the mass around 3140 MeV, another one is the $J^P=\frac{5}{2}^-$ $\Sigma_{c}^*\rho$ with the mass of 3188.3 MeV.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Uptake, sequestration and tolerance of cadmium at cellular levels in the hyperaccumulator plant species Sedum alfredii.

Sedum alfredii is one of a few plant species known to hyperaccumulate cadmium (Cd). Uptake, localization, and tolerance of Cd at cellular levels in shoots were compared in hyperaccumulating (HE) and non-hyperaccumulating (NHE) ecotypes of Sedum alfredii. X-ray fluorescence images of Cd in stems and leaves showed only a slight Cd signal restricted within vascular bundles in the NHEs, while enhanced localization of Cd, with significant tissue- and age-dependent variations, was detected in HEs. In contrast to the vascular-enriched Cd in young stems, parenchyma cells in leaf mesophyll, stem pith and cortex tissues served as terminal storage sites for Cd sequestration in HEs. Kinetics of Cd transport into individual leaf protoplasts of the two ecotypes showed little difference in Cd accumulation. However, far more efficient storage of Cd in vacuoles was apparent in HEs. Subsequent analysis of cell viability and hydrogen peroxide levels suggested that HE protoplasts exhibited higher resistance to Cd than those of NHE protoplasts. These results suggest that efficient sequestration into vacuoles, as opposed to rapid transport into parenchyma cells, is a pivotal process in Cd accumulation and homeostasis in shoots of HE S. alfredii. This is in addition to its efficient root-to-shoot translocation of Cd

The Molecular Mechanism Of Alpha-Synuclein Dependent Regulation Of Protein Phosphatase 2A Activity

Background/Aims: Alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) is a neuronal protein that is highly implicated in Parkinson\u27s disease (PD), and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is an important serine/threonine phosphatase that is associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as PD. α-Syn can directly upregulate PP2A activity, but the underling mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanism of α-Syn regulating PP2A activity. Methods: α-Syn and its truncations were expressed in E.coli, and purified by affinity chromatography. PP2A Cα and its mutants were expressed in recombinant baculovirus, and purified by affinity chromatography combined with gel filtration chromatography. The interaction between α-Syn and PP2A Cα was detected by GST pull-down assay. PP2A activity was investigated by the colorimetric assay. Results: The hydrophobic non-amyloid component (NAC) domain of α-Syn interacted with PP2A Cα and upregulated its activity. α-Syn aggregates reduced its ability to upregulate PP2A activity, since the hydrophobic domain of α-Syn was blocked during aggregation. Furthermore, in the hydrophobic center of PP2A Cα, the residue of I123 was responsible for PP2A to interact with α-Syn, and its hydrophilic mutation blocked its interaction with α-Syn as well as its activity upregulation by α-Syn. Conclusions: α-Syn bound to PP2A Cα by the hydrophobic interaction and upregulated its activity. Blocking the hydrophobic domain of α-Syn or hydrophilic mutation on the residue I123 in PP2A Cα all reduced PP2A activity upregulation by α-Syn. Overall, we explored the mechanism of α-Syn regulating PP2A activity, which might offer much insight into the basis underlying PD pathogenesis

Modified Dachengqi Tang improves decreased gastrointestinal motility in postoperative esophageal cancer patients

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effects of modified Dachengqi Tang (DCQT) on promoting gastrointestinal motility in post-operative esophageal cancer patients.MethodsSixty postoperative esophageal cancer patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to the modified treatment group or the control group (30 patients in each group). Patients in the treatment group were given DCQT made from decocted herbs and administered via nasojejunal tube at a dosage of 150 mL. Gastrointestinal motility was assessed by recording time for recovery of bowel sounds, flatus, defecation, and the total amount of gastric drainage during the first three postoperative days. Plasma motilin (MTL) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were measured one hour before and three days after surgery.ResultsCompared with the control group, the times to first bowel sound, flatus, and defecation were significantly shorter and there was less gastric drainage in the treatment group (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, and P < 0.05, respectively). In the treatment group, postoperative plasma MTL was significantly higher (P < 0.01) and VIP was significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no difference found in either MTL or VIP from before to after operation in the treatment group (P > 0.05). MTL was significantly lower and VIP was higher postoperatively in the control group, compared to before surgery (P < 0.01).ConclusionsModified DCQT effectively improved decreased gastrointestinal motility in postoperative esophageal cancer patients by increasing MTL and reducing VIP