Magnetoresistance in La- and Ca-doped YBa2Cu3O7–δ

We studied the microstructures, electronic, and magnetic properties on La-doped and La- and Ca-codoped YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO). The superconducting transition temperature remains unchanged up to 10% for La-doped YBCO. The competition between electrons and holons was assumed according to the variation of Tc0 in La and Ca codopings in YBCO. The magnetoresistance (MR) effect is about 8%, which is observed obviously near the critical temperature and is independent of the content of La in La-doped YBCO. MR increases up to about 40% with the incorporation of Ca in La-doped YBCO. We present here possible explanations for the magnetoresistance effect in polycrystalline samples based on the microstructure and the increase of oxygen vacancies at grain-boundary interface. © 2006 American Institute of Physicspublished_or_final_versio

Tolerance of banana for fusarium wilt is associated with early H2O2 accumulation in the roots

Banana plants derived from a tissue culture process possess a high rate of random variations that were widely used as popular cultivars due to the new desired traits. In this study, two near-isogenic lines, one susceptible (parental Williams-8818) and the other resistant (somaclonal variation progeny Williams-8818-1 from Williams-8818) to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense (Foc4), were inoculated with race 4 of F. oxysporum (Fox). Production of O2•− , H2O2 and MDA, as well as changes in enzyme activities, and transcript levels of SOD and CAT in root extracts were monitored every 24 h over 4 days. The histochemical location of H2O2 was also detected. In the resistant iso-line, the accumulation of O2•− and H2O2, and the activation of SOD occurred in the first 24 h, but activation of CAT reached its maximum only after 48 h. All changes were generally lower in the susceptible iso-line when compared to the resistant iso-line. SOD transcripts were further up-regulated until 72 h in the resistant iso-line, but not in the susceptible iso-line. CAT expression was not affected in any of the two iso-lines. This suggests that expressions of the two key genes in the antioxidant system are less suitable indicators for Foc resistance in banana. In contrast, the first “oxidative burst” is a better indicator for different susceptibility of banana to Foc.Key words: Banana, Fusarium oxysporum, catalase, reactive oxygen species, somaclonal variation, disease resistance

The effect of immobilization process to the activity of mthase and mtsase

2003-2004 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

The Role of Background Statistics in Face Adaptation (September 30, pg 12035, 2009)

For the article “The Role of Background Statistics in Face Adaptation” by Jianhua Wu, Hong Xu, Peter Dayan, and Ning Qian, which appeared on pages 12035–12044 of the September 30, 2009 issue, the authors have issued the following correction: We greatly regret that there were the following errors in this article: (1) The program that calculated the summary data in Figures 3e, 4e, 6e, 7, and 9 subtracted a baseline incorrectly. (2) Some individual subjects' curves in supplemental Figures 1, 2, and 4 were mixed up. Corrected versions of these panels and figures are printed here. We have reanalyzed existing data and collected new data for the main experiment in Figure 9. All the statistical relationships we reported remain true, with one exception: the very small aftereffect for the mf-cf condition in Figure 4e is now significant (because the variability is small). However, the aftereffect for the mf-cf condition is indeed significantly smaller than that for the mf-mf condition. Therefore, all our original reported conclusions remain correct

CCL2 recruits inflammatory monocytes to facilitate breast-tumour metastasis

Macrophages abundantly found in the tumor microenvironment enhance malignancy(1). At metastatic sites a distinct population of metastasis associated macrophages (MAMs) promote tumor cell extravasation, seeding and persistent growth(2). Our study has defined the origin of these macrophages by showing Gr1+ inflammatory monocytes (IMs) are preferentially recruited to pulmonary metastases but not primary mammary tumors, a process also found for human IMs in pulmonary metastases of human breast cancer cells. The recruitment of these CCR2 (receptor for chemokine CCL2) expressing IMs and subsequently MAMs and their interaction with metastasizing tumor cells is dependent on tumor and stromal synthesized CCL2 (FigS1). Inhibition of CCL2/CCR2 signaling using anti-CCL2 antibodies blocks IM recruitment and inhibits metastasis in vivo and prolongs the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Depletion of tumor cell-derived CCL2 also inhibits metastatic seeding. IMs promote tumor cell extravasation in a process that requires monocyte-derived VEGF. CCL2 expression and macrophage infiltration are correlated with poor prognosis and metastatic disease in human breast cancer (Fig S2)(3-6). Our data provides the mechanistic link between these two clinical associations and indicates new therapeutic targets for treating metastatic breast disease

Investigation of the Antiasthmatic Properties of Ethanol Extract of Callophyllis japonica in Mice

Purpose: To determine whether an ethanol extract from Callophyllis japonica (C. japonica) could attenuate indices of airway inflammation in a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma.Methods: The free radical scavenging activity of the C. japonica ethanol extracts (CJE) were investigated using an electron spin resonance (ESR) system. To make develop animal model of asthma, mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA.Results: CJE exhibited considerable scavenging activity of 71.08 ± 0.73, 79.11 ± 6.04%, 75.95 ± 7.01%, and 48.56 ± 5.96% of DPPH, alkyl, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals, respectively. The successive intraperitoneal administration of CJE reduced the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), an increase in pulmonary Th2 cytokines, and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE).Conclusion: Administration of CJE markedly alleviates all indices of airway inflammation. This study provides evidence that CJE plays a critical role in the amelioration of the pathogenetic process of allergic asthma in mice.Keywords: Asthma, Phenolic contents, Free radical scavenging, Airway hyper-responsiveness, Cytokines, Immunoglobulin

Listen to genes : dealing with microarray data in the frequency domain

Background: We present a novel and systematic approach to analyze temporal microarray data. The approach includes normalization, clustering and network analysis of genes. Methodology: Genes are normalized using an error model based uniform normalization method aimed at identifying and estimating the sources of variations. The model minimizes the correlation among error terms across replicates. The normalized gene expressions are then clustered in terms of their power spectrum density. The method of complex Granger causality is introduced to reveal interactions between sets of genes. Complex Granger causality along with partial Granger causality is applied in both time and frequency domains to selected as well as all the genes to reveal the interesting networks of interactions. The approach is successfully applied to Arabidopsis leaf microarray data generated from 31,000 genes observed over 22 time points over 22 days. Three circuits: a circadian gene circuit, an ethylene circuit and a new global circuit showing a hierarchical structure to determine the initiators of leaf senescence are analyzed in detail. Conclusions: We use a totally data-driven approach to form biological hypothesis. Clustering using the power-spectrum analysis helps us identify genes of potential interest. Their dynamics can be captured accurately in the time and frequency domain using the methods of complex and partial Granger causality. With the rise in availability of temporal microarray data, such methods can be useful tools in uncovering the hidden biological interactions. We show our method in a step by step manner with help of toy models as well as a real biological dataset. We also analyse three distinct gene circuits of potential interest to Arabidopsis researchers

Language and rigour in qualitative research: Problems and principles in analyzing data collected in Mandarin

In collaborative qualitative research in Asia, data are usually collected in the national language, and this poses challenges for analysis. Translation of transcripts to a language common to the whole research team is time consuming and expensive; meaning can easily be lost in translation; and validity of the data may be compromised in this process. We draw on several published examples from public health research conducted in mainland China, to highlight how language can influence rigour in the qualitative research process; for each problem we suggest potential solutions based on the methods used in one of our research projects in China

Uptake and transport of novel amphiphilic polyelectrolyte-insulin nanocomplexes by caco-2 cells - towards oral insulin

“The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com”. Copyright SpringerPurpose: The influence of polymer architecture on cellular uptake and transport across Caco-2 cells of novel amphiphilic polyelectrolyte-insulin nanocomplexes was investigated. Method: Polyallylamine (PAA) (15 kDa) was grafted with palmitoyl chains (Pa) and subsequently modified with quaternary ammonium moieties (QPa). These two amphiphilic polyelectrolytes (APs) were tagged with rhodamine and their uptake by Caco-2 cells or their polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) with fluorescein isothiocyanate-insulin (FITC-insulin) uptake were investigated using fluorescence microscopy. The integrity of the monolayer was determined by measurement of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). Insulin transport through Caco-2 monolayers was determined during TEER experiments. Result: Pa and insulin were co-localised in the cell membranes while QPa complexes were found within the cytoplasm. QPa complex uptake was not affected by calcium, cytochalasin D or nocodazole. Uptake was reduced by co-incubation with sodium azide, an active transport inhibitor. Both polymers opened tight junctions reversibly where the TEER values fell by up to 35 % within 30 minutes incubation with Caco-2 cells. Insulin transport through monolayers increased when QPa was used (0.27 ngmL-1 of insulin in basal compartment) compared to Pa (0.14 ngmL-1 of insulin in basal compartment) after 2 hours. Conclusion: These APs have been shown to be taken up by Caco-2 cells and reversibly open tight cell junctions. Further work is required to optimise these formulations with a view to maximising their potential to facilitate oral delivery of insulin.Peer reviewe