Generalization of matching extensions in graphs (II)

Proposed as a general framework, Liu and Yu(Discrete Math. 231 (2001) 311-320) introduced $(n,k,d)$-graphs to unify the concepts of deficiency of matchings, $n$-factor-criticality and $k$-extendability. Let $G$ be a graph and let $n,k$ and $d$ be non-negative integers such that $n+2k+d\leq |V(G)|-2$ and $|V(G)|-n-d$ is even. If when deleting any $n$ vertices from $G$, the remaining subgraph $H$ of $G$ contains a $k$-matching and each such $k$- matching can be extended to a defect-$d$ matching in $H$, then $G$ is called an $(n,k,d)$-graph. In \cite{Liu}, the recursive relations for distinct parameters $n, k$ and $d$ were presented and the impact of adding or deleting an edge also was discussed for the case $d = 0$. In this paper, we continue the study begun in \cite{Liu} and obtain new recursive results for $(n,k,d)$-graphs in the general case $d \geq0$.Comment: 12 page

Effects of pH on Double Stranded RNA Stability in European Corn Borer Nucleases

RNA interference (RNAI) is an immune response that can be exploited to make greener pesticides. It works by inciting suppression of a specific target gene using fed or injected dsRNA. Targeting a specific gene sequence also means RNAi can be used to target a specific organism. However, some insects, such as lepidopterans, have nucleases, called dsRNases, in their gut and hemolymph that sever dsRNA and lower RNAi efficiency (1). Ostrinia nubilalis, the European corn borer, (ECB), is a prime example of a lepidopteran pest which decimates corn supplies across the Midwest and does not respond to RNAi. Comparison of dsRNA stability in dsRNase genes in ECB and western corn rootworm (WCR), a coleopteran pest that has very high RNAi efficiency, indicates that dsRNA is rapidly degraded in ECB tissues, but not WCR tissues, despite similar expression of dsRNase genes in both species. These findings suggest that another variable, such as pH may be influencing dsRNA stability in insects (2)

Effects of Nanoparticles on Double-Stranded RNA Stability in Moth Hemolymph

RNA interference (RNAi) is an immune response in which double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) suppresses a target gene. By designing dsRNA to target genes that are necessary for life, dsRNA can potentially be used as an insecticide. RNAi-based insecticides are badly needed because they are more specific than conventional pesticides and because many insects have developed resistance to pesticides. Unfortunately, some insects produce enzymes that degrade dsRNA and prevent the RNAi response (Cooperet al., 2018). Therefore, RNAi-based insecticides currently cannot be used to control all insects. Here we investigate dsRNA stability when incubated in hemolymph ex vivoto determine if degradation of dsRNA is contributing to the inadequate RNAi response exhibited by lepidopterans, such as the European corn borer (ECB, Ostrinia nubilalis). Our findings indicate that dsRNA is significantly degraded in ECB hemolymph, but encapsulation of dsRNA in chitosan-based nanoparticles (CB-NPs) enhances stability. These findings provide insight into RNAi efficiency limitations in insects, and may provide a method to enhance RNAi efficiency in lepidopterans and other RNAi-refractory pests

Effects of Nanoparticles on Double-Stranded RNA Stability in Corn Soil

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) can potentially be used as a pesticide because these molecules trigger an immune response called RNA interference (RNAi). If the expression of essential genes matching the dsRNA sequence are silenced, then the pest dies. New classes of pesticides, including RNAi-based pesticides, are needed to overcome pesticide resistance and reduce the environmental impacts of pesticides. Unfortunately, dsRNA is easily degraded by enzymes in the environment, particularly those produced by microbes in the soil (Dubelmanet al., 2014),severely limiting delivery of dsRNA to cryptic (soil dwelling) species unless transgenic plants are used. Here we investigate dsRNA stability when incubated in corn soil supernatant ex situ to determine if encapsulation of dsRNA in chitosan-basednanoparticles (CB-NPs) enhances stability in corn soil. Interestingly, dsRNA stability was not affected by soil supernatant, possibly due to the time of year when sampling was performed (Icozet al., 2008). Nonetheless, these findings provide insight into dsRNA stability in soil, and in the future may lead to a method for protecting dsRNA from environmental degradation using CB-NPs

Effects of Nanoparticles on Double-Stranded RNA Stability in Corn Soil

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) can potentially be used as a pesticide because these molecules trigger an immune response called RNA interference (RNAi). If the expression of essential genes matching the dsRNA sequence are silenced, then the pest dies. New classes of pesticides, including RNAi-based pesticides, are needed to overcome pesticide resistance and reduce the environmental impacts of pesticides. Unfortunately, dsRNA is easily degraded by enzymes in the environment, particularly those produced by microbes in the soil (Dubelmanet al., 2014),severely limiting delivery of dsRNA to cryptic (soil dwelling) species unless transgenic plants are used. Here we investigate dsRNA stability when incubated in corn soil supernatant ex situ to determine if encapsulation of dsRNA in chitosan-basednanoparticles (CB-NPs) enhances stability in corn soil. Interestingly, dsRNA stability was not affected by soil supernatant, possibly due to the time of year when sampling was performed (Icozet al., 2008). Nonetheless, these findings provide insight into dsRNA stability in soil, and in the future may lead to a method for protecting dsRNA from environmental degradation using CB-NPs

Bis[μ-2-(2-carboxyl­atophen­yl)acetato]-κ3 O 1,O 1′:O 2;κ3 O 2:O 1,O 1′-bis­[aqua­(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2 N,N′)nickel(II)]

The title compound, [Ni2(C9H6O4)2(C12H8N2)2(H2O)2], is isostructural with the ZnII analogue. Each NiII atom is coordinated in a distorted octa­hedral geometry by three O atoms from two homophthalate anions, one aqua O atom and two 1,10-phenanthroline N atoms. The two NiII atoms are linked by two bridging homophthalate dianions into a centrosymmetric dinuclear unit. The dinuclear units are linked into one-dimensional ladder-like chains along [100] by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the coordinated water mol­ecules and one of the O atoms of the carboxyl­atomethyl group

An essential role for Stat3 in regulating IgG immune complex‐induced pulmonary inflammation

Growing evidence suggests that transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) 3 may play an important regulatory role during inflammation. However, the function of Stat3 in acute lung injury (ALI) is largely unknown. In the current study, by using an adenoviral vector expressing a dominant‐negative Stat3 isoform (Ad‐Stat3‐EVA), we determined the role of Stat3 in IgG immune complex (IC)‐induced inflammatory responses and injury in the lung from C57BL/6J mice. We show that IgG IC‐induced DNA binding activity of Stat3 in the lung was significantly inhibited by Stat3‐EVA. We demonstrate that both lung vascular permeability (albumin leak) and lung myeloperoxidase accumulation in the Ad‐Stat‐EVA treated mice were substantially reduced when compared with values in mice receiving control virus (Ad‐GFP) during the injury. Furthermore, intratracheal administration of Ad‐Stat3‐EVA caused significant decreases in the contents of neutrophils, inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α and IL‐6), chemokines [keratinocyte cell‐derived chemokine, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐1α, and MIP‐1β], and complement component C5a in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. Using Stat3‐specific small interfering RNA, we show that knocking down Stat3 expression in alveolar macrophages (MH‐S cells) significantly reduced the production of proinflammatory mediators on IgG IC stimulation. These data suggest that Stat3 plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of IgG IC‐induced ALI by mediating the acute inflammatory responses in the lung and alveolar macrophages.—Tang, H., Yan, C., Cao, J., Sarma, J. V., Haura, E. B., Wu, M., Gao, H. An essential role for Stat3 in regulating IgG immune complex‐induced pulmonary inflammation. FASEB J. 25, 4292–4300 (2011). www.fasebj.orgPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154500/1/fsb2fj11187955.pd

Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Stimulation Modulates the Nonlinear Dynamics of Local Field Potentials in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation (LIPUS) can inhibit seizures associated with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), which is the most common epileptic syndrome in adults and accounts for more than half of the cases of intractable epilepsy. Electroencephalography (EEG) signal analysis is an important method for studying epilepsy. The nonlinear dynamics of epileptic EEG signals can be used as biomarkers for the prediction and diagnosis of epilepsy. However, how ultrasound modulates the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of EEG signals in TLE is still unclear. Here, we used low-intensity pulsed ultrasound to stimulate the CA3 region of kainite (KA)-induced TLE mice, simultaneously recorded local field potentials (LFP) in the stimulation regions before, during, and after LIPUS. The nonlinear characteristics, including complexity, approximate entropy of different frequency bands, and Lyapunov exponent of the LFP, were calculated. Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed that LIPUS inhibited TLE seizure and the complexity, approximate entropy of the delta (0.5–4 Hz) and theta (4–8 Hz) frequency bands, and Lyapunov exponent of the LFP significantly increased in response to ultrasound stimulation. The values before ultrasound stimulation were higher ∼1.87 (complexity), ∼1.39 (approximate entropy of delta frequency bands), ∼1.13 (approximate entropy of theta frequency bands) and ∼1.46 times (Lyapunov exponent) than that after ultrasound stimulation (p < 0.05). The above results demonstrated that LIPUS can alter nonlinear dynamic characteristics and provide a basis for the application of ultrasound stimulation in the treatment of epilepsy

Fabrication of Ligusticum chuanxiong polylactic acid microspheres: A promising way to enhance the hepatoprotective effect on bioactive ingredients

hpeer-reviewedLigusticum chuanxiong extract-polylactic acid sustained-release microspheres (LCE-PLA) are fabricated in this study for enhancing both duration and hepatoprotective efficacy of the main bioactive ingredients. LCE-PLA in vitro release, cytotoxicity and in vivo hepatoprotective effect were discussed to evaluate its efficiency and functionality. Results demonstrated that the optimal drug-loading rate and encapsulation efficiency of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP, the main active ingredient) were 8.19%, 83.72%, respectively. The LCE-PLA in vitro release of TMP showed prolong 5-fold and in vitro cytotoxicity declined 25.00% compared with naked LCE. After 6 weeks of in vivo intervention in high fat diet mice, both liver aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were higher in LCE-PLA group than LCE group. The above results indicated that TMP had a higher bioavailability of hepatoprotection when encapsulation of LCE-PLA was applied. The current study has provided a promising novel way to enhance the efficacy of short half-life ingredients.National Natural Science Foundation of Chin