A Comparative Study on Hotel Consumers’ Online Feedback Behaviors

This paper is intended to analyze the interrelationship between the textual comment and the itemized rating in consumers\u27 online feedback, and to study differentiations among diversified segments of consumers who leave the feedback. The data were collected from both an international top tourism service website which operates hotel booking services internationally and offers online hotel reputation feedback services, and its China host website. Based on the coded comments and itemized ratings from the dataset, our study shows that different customer segments demonstrate varied interrelationship behavioral patterns, and factors like satisfaction and contextual backgrounds will matter. The findings from this research may help hotels to develop varied marketing strategies for different segment of customers, and help online reputation sites to improve their services by distinguishing dissimilar behavioral patterns in different customer segments

Subcellular localization and expression analysis of the BmDSCLP protein from silkworm, Bombyx mori

Leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins play important roles in the transduction of cellular signals and activation of defense responses. By scanning the cDNA library of silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupae constructed in our laboratory, we identified a 1557 bp gene that encodes a protein homologous to the death-associated small cytoplasmic leucine-rich protein, which was named as BmDSCLP. The full-length gene (GenBank accession no. FJ602779) contained a 642 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 213 amino acid residues. The ORF of this gene was inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a(+) to construct a recombinant expression plasmid and the fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. The fusion protein was purified by Ni-affinity chromatography and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and its size was then, determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and found to be 27.74 kD. Polyclonal antibodies were raised by subcutaneous injection of the recombinant protein into New Zealand white rabbits and the titer reached 1:12800. Analysis of the subcellular localization of the BmDSCLP protein revealed that, the protein was localized in both the cytoplasm and nucleus, but the amount in the former was slightly higher than that in the latter. In addition, real-time fluorescence quantification polymerase chain reaction studies were conducted to investigate BmDSCLP transcription at different developmental stages and in different tissues of the fifth instar larva. The results indicated that, BmDSCLP is widely transcribed in different stages and tissues of the silkworm. Analysis of stage-specific transcription patterns indicated that, the transcriptional level of BmDSCLP was highest in adults and lowest in eggs. Analysis of tissue-specific transcription patterns revealed that, the transcriptional level of BmDSCLP was highest in genital organs and lowest in silk glands. These results suggest that BmDSCLP plays important roles in the reproductive development of B. mori.Keywords: Bombyx mori, death-associated small cytoplasmic leucine-rich protein, prokaryotic expression, fluorescence quantification polymerase chain reactio

Silencing SARS-CoV Spike protein expression in cultured cells by RNA interference

AbstractThe severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been one of the most epidemic diseases threatening human health all over the world. Based on clinical studies, SARS-CoV (the SARS-associated coronavirus), a novel coronavirus, is reported as the pathogen responsible for the disease. To date, no effective and specific therapeutic method can be used to treat patients suffering from SARS-CoV infection. RNA interference (RNAi) is a process by which the introduced small interfering RNA (siRNA) could cause the degradation of mRNA with identical sequence specificity. The RNAi methodology has been used as a tool to silence genes in cultured cells and in animals. Recently, this technique was employed in anti-virus infections in human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C/B virus. In this study, RNAi technology has been applied to explore the possibility for prevention of SARS-CoV infection. We constructed specific siRNAs targeting the S gene in SARS-CoV. We demonstrated that the siRNAs could effectively and specifically inhibit gene expression of Spike protein in SARS-CoV-infected cells. Our study provided evidence that RNAi could be a tool for inhibition of SARS-CoV

SIRT5 promotes IDH2 desuccinylation and G6PD deglutarylation to enhance cellular antioxidant defense

Abstract Excess in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) is considered as a major cause of cellular oxidative stress. NADPH, the main intracellular reductant, has a key role in keeping glutathione in its reduced form GSH, which scavenges ROS and thus protects the cell from oxidative damage. Here, we report that SIRT5 desuccinylates and deglutarylates isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), respectively, and thus activates both NADPH‐producing enzymes. Moreover, we show that knockdown or knockout of SIRT5 leads to high levels of cellular ROS. SIRT5 inactivation leads to the inhibition of IDH2 and G6PD, thereby decreasing NADPH production, lowering GSH, impairing the ability to scavenge ROS, and increasing cellular susceptibility to oxidative stress. Our study uncovers a SIRT5‐dependent mechanism that regulates cellular NADPH homeostasis and redox potential by promoting IDH2 desuccinylation and G6PD deglutarylation

Isolation, purification, and structural elucidation of Stropharia rugosoannulata polysaccharides with hypolipidemic effect

Stropharia rugosoannulata is a widely grown edible mushroom with a high nutritional value. S. rugosoannulata polysaccharides is one of the most important bioactive components of S. rugosoannulata and has a wide range of activities. A S. rugosoannulata polysaccharides, named SRF-3, was derived from the S. rugosoannulata extraction by freeze-thaw combine with hot water extraction method, then prepareed with DEAE-cellulose column and Sephacryl S-200 HR gel column, and its hypolipidemic activity was determined. The structural characteristics of SRF-3 were analyzed by infrared spectral scanning (FT-IR), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). SRF-3 is composed of mannose, galactose, methyl galactose and fructose with ratios of 16, 12, 58 and 12, respectively. In addition, the average relative molecular mass of SRF-3 is approximately 24 kDa. The main chain of SRF-3 is mainly composed of repeating α-D-1,6-Galp and α-D-1,6-Me-Galp units, with branches in the O-2 position of Gal. The structure is presumed to be a mannogalactan, with a small amount of t-β-D-Manp present as a side chain. Hypolipidemic activity assay showed that SRF-3 had good antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects in vitro, suggesting that SRF-3 have potential application in reducing liver fat accumulation

New advances in clinical application of neostigmine: no longer focusing solely on increasing skeletal muscle strength

Neostigmine is a clinical cholinesterase inhibitor, that is, commonly used to enhance the function of the cholinergic neuromuscular junction. Recent studies have shown that neostigmine regulates the immune-inflammatory response through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, affecting perioperative neurocognitive function. This article reviews the relevant research evidence over the past 20 years, intending to provide new perspectives and strategies for the clinical application of neostigmine

Benzyl isothiocyanate induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth in canine mammary carcinoma via down-regulation of the cyclin B1/Cdk1 pathway

Background: Canine mammary carcinoma is common in female dogs, and its poor prognosis remains a serious clinical challenge, especially in developing countries. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) has attracted great interest because of its inhibitory effect against tumor activity. However, its effect and the underlying mechanisms of action in canine mammary cancer are not well-understood. Here, we show that BITC suppresses mammary tumor growth, both in vivo and in vitro, and reveal some of the potential mechanisms involved. Methods: The effect of BITC on canine mammary cancer was evaluated on CIPp and CMT-7364, canine mammary carcinoma lines. The cell lines were treated with BITC and then subjected to wound healing and invasion assays. Cell cycles and apoptosis were measured using flow cytometry; TUNEL assay; immunohistochemistry (IHC) for caspase 3, caspase 9, and cyclin D1; hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining; and/or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: BITC showed a strong suppressive effect in both CIPp and CMT-7364 cells by inhibiting cell growth in vitro; these effects were both dose- and time-dependent. BITC also inhibited migration and invasion of CIPp and CMT-7364 cells. BITC induced G2 arrest and apoptosis, decreasing tumor growth in nude mice by downregulation of cyclin B1 and Cdk1 expression. Conclusion: BITC suppressed both invasion and migration of CIPp and CMT-7364 cells and induced apoptosis. BITC inhibited canine mammary tumor growth by suppressing cyclinB1 and Cdk1 expression in nude mice

New fusion transcripts identified in normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia

Genetic aberrations contribute to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, half of AML cases do not contain the well-known aberrations detectable mostly by cytogenetic analysis, and these cases are classified as normal karyotype AML. Different outcomes of normal karyotype AML suggest that this subgroup of AML could be genetically heterogeneous. But lack of genetic markers makes it difficult to further study this subgroup of AML. Using paired-end RNAseq method, we performed a transcriptome analysis in 45 AML cases including 29 normal karyotype AML, 8 abnormal karyotype AML and 8 AML without karyotype informaiton. Our study identified 134 fusion transcripts, all of which were formed between the partner genes adjacent in the same chromosome and distributed at different frequencies in the AML cases. Seven fusions are exclusively present in normal karyotype AML, and the rest fusions are shared between the normal karyotype AML and abnormal karyotype AML. CIITA, a master regulator of MHC class II gene expression and truncated in B-cell lymphoma and Hodgkin disease, is found to fuse with DEXI in 48% of normal karyotype AML cases. The fusion transcripts formed between adjacent genes highlight the possibility that certain such fusions could be involved in oncological process in AML, and provide a new source to identify genetic markers for normal karyotype AML

Towards joint communication and sensing (Chapter 4)

Localization of user equipment (UE) in mobile communication networks has been supported from the early stages of 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP). With 5th Generation (5G) and its target use cases, localization is increasingly gaining importance. Integrated sensing and localization in 6th Generation (6G) networks promise the introduction of more efficient networks and compelling applications to be developed