Homeoprotein Hbx4 represses adhesion molecule governing cytokinesis and development

Homeobox genes encode proteins with a highly conserved DNA-binding motif and provoke morphological diversification of body segments by differentially controlling the expression of downstream targets. Here, we have identified _hbx4_, one of many homeobox genes in _Dictyostelium discoideum_ and investigated its role during growth and development. In suspension, Hbx4-overexpressing cells, Hbx4^OE^, showed defects in cytokinesis and growth rate. During development, Hbx4^OE^ and _hbx4_-disrupting cells, _hbx4¯_ made differences in shape of mound and slug, cell-type proportioning from wild type KAx3 cells. These phenotypes were similar to those of mutant defective in _cadA_ encoding Ca^2+^-dependent cell adhesion molecule so that we investigated the relationship between _hbx4_ and _cadA_. Overexpression of Hbx4 inhibited the expression of _cadA_ and cAMP also failed to stimulate _cadA_ in Hbx4^OE^. Furthermore, gel mobility shift assay showed the promoter of _cadA_ contained Hbx4-binding site, indicating Hbx4 negatively regulates the expression of _cadA_. Proteome analysis revealed that overexpression of Hbx4 repressed the _rdiA_ and _abpB_ encoding rho guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor1, RhoGDI1 and actin bundling protein 34, ABP34, respectively. And the overexpression of _cadA_ in Hbx4^OE^ cells rescued the defects and increased mRNA level of _rdiA_, _abpB_ and one of Rho GTPase, _rac1b_. These results suggested that Hbx4 can modulate cytokinesis, cell sorting and cell-type proportioning by repressing _cadA_ that regulates GTPase-dependent signaling pathway

The equilibrium of martensite shear stress at phase transitions in TiNi-based alloy

Thermoelastic martensitic transformations play a fundamental role in the shape memory effect and related phenomena. Owing to their unique crystallographic and thermomechanical behaviour, martensitic transformations have generated considerable research in the areas of crystallography, thermodynamics and mechanical behaviour. In the area of thermodynamics a theoretical approach is now added which provides the basis for thermoelastic behaviour through consideration of the Gibbs energy change. In this paper, the interrelation of internal elastic stresses and martensite shear stresses in phase transitions has been defined. A thermoelastic stress equilibrium equation for a wide range of martensitic transformation temperatures has been presented. On the basis of the calculations made, an estimation of dislocation defects formation energy for the TiNi-based alloy has been made. For TiNi-based composition made of TN-10 brand alloy, commercially produced for medical goals, the energy of vacancy formation is about 0.06 kcal/mol. The study and calculations are shown to make clear, using a new approach, the considering of phase transitions in terms of external and internal stresses

Reaction sintering of porous shape-memory titanium-nickelide-based alloys

The problems of reaction sintering of porous shape-memory Ti−Ni-based alloys are examined. An analysis of the structure and parameters of shape-memory materials produced with the use of different reaction sintering modes is performed. The temperature and time intervals are determined over which liquid-phase sintering points responsible for a qualitative change in the TiNi phase of the reaction-sintered Ti−Ni system are observed. The morphological structure and properties of the porous materials are investigated. Models for interactions between phases and phase transformations in the sintered alloys are built. It has been found that changes in the deformation parameters of the porous titanium nickelide-based alloys correlate with an increase in the volume fraction of the TiNi phase and with its wholeness as the sintering time is increased

The Technology of The Manufacturing Thin Wire of TiNi-based Alloys by Using Infrared Radiation

The paper describes the technology of manufacturing a thin nickel-titanium wire through direct exposure to infrared radiation (IR). The effect of IR on the change in the structure of a thin wire made from the TiNi-based alloy was studied during its manufacturing. A comparative analysis of the Ti, Ni and O concentration in the TiNi wire was carried out. The analysis was performed for both a thin wire exposed to infrared radiation and that not exposed to infrared radiation. The wire samples were studied using a scanning electron microscope with the energy dispersive analysis. The infrared radiation effect on the structure of the wire is shown after thermal treatment in the local area of the material

The effect of cobalt additives on martensitic transformations and deformation in sintered porous nickel titanium alloys

Porous nickel titanium (TiNi) shape memory alloys with cobalt additives have been obtained by reaction and diffusion sintering. Analysis of the experimental temperature dependence of the electric resis tance and multiple shape memory effect leads to a conclusion that Co additives below 1 at % in reaction sin tered, and even more so in diffusionsintered, alloys lead to a reduction in intrinsic internal stresses in the TiNi phase. Additives above 1 at % induce dispersion hardening of the alloy. At all concentrations, cobalt additives lead to obstacles for the martensitic phase transformations

Interrupted aortic arch diagnosed with loss of femoral pulse in a patient undergoing patent ductus arteriosus ligation -A case report-

A 12-year-old boy with ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus was presented to the operating room. Upon clamping the patent ductus arteriosus, the femoral arterial pressure curve was lost; however, it returned upon unclamping. Upon further dissection, an interrupted aortic arch was found between the left subclavian artery and patent ductus arteriosus. The surgery was discontinued for further evaluation

Dichlorido[N,N-diethyl-N′-(2-pyridyl­methyl­ene)ethane-1,2-diamine]mercury(II)

The Hg atom in the title compound, [HgCl2(C12H19N3)], adopts a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry, being ligated by two Cl atoms and three N atoms of the N,N-diethyl-N′-(2-pyridylmethyl­ene)ethane-1,2-diamine ligand. The dihedral angle between the HgN3 and HgCl2 least-squares planes is 88.6 (1)°. The Hg—N distances including the pyridine N and the ammonium N atom are about 0.20 Å longer than the Hg—N distance including the imino N atom

Stratifying the early radiologic trajectory in dyspneic patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to stratify the early pneumonia trajectory on chest radiographs and compare patient characteristics in dyspneic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively included 139 COVID-19 patients with dyspnea (87 men, 62.7+/-16.3 years) and serial chest radiographs from January to September 2020. Radiographic pneumonia extent was quantified as a percentage using a previously-developed deep learning algorithm. A group-based trajectory model was used to categorize the pneumonia trajectory after symptom onset during hospitalization. Clinical findings, and outcomes were compared, and Cox regression was performed for survival analysis. RESULTS: Radiographic pneumonia trajectories were categorized into four groups. Group 1 (n = 83, 59.7%) had negligible pneumonia, and group 2 (n = 29, 20.9%) had mild pneumonia. Group 3 (n = 13, 9.4%) and group 4 (n = 14, 10.1%) showed similar considerable pneumonia extents at baseline, but group 3 had decreasing pneumonia extent at 1-2 weeks, while group 4 had increasing pneumonia extent. Intensive care unit admission and mortality were significantly more frequent in groups 3 and 4 than in groups 1 and 2 (P \u3c .05). Groups 3 and 4 shared similar clinical and laboratory findings, but thrombocytopenia ( \u3c 150x103/muL) was exclusively observed in group 4 (P = .016). When compared to groups 1 and 2, group 4 (hazard ratio, 63.3; 95% confidence interval, 7.9-504.9) had a two-fold higher risk for mortality than group 3 (hazard ratio, 31.2; 95% confidence interval, 3.5-280.2), and this elevated risk was maintained after adjusting confounders. CONCLUSION: Monitoring the early radiologic trajectory beyond baseline further prognosticated at-risk COVID-19 patients, who potentially had thrombo-inflammatory responses