Valosin-containing protein regulates the proteasome-mediated degradation of DNA-PKcs in glioma cells.

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) has an important role in the repair of DNA damage and regulates the radiation sensitivity of glioblastoma cells. The VCP (valosine-containing protein), a chaperone protein that regulates ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation, is phosphorylated by DNA-PK and recruited to DNA double-strand break sites to regulate DNA damage repair. However, it is not clear whether VCP is involved in DNA-PKcs (DNA-PK catalytic subunit) degradation or whether it regulates the radiosensitivity of glioblastoma. Our data demonstrated that DNA-PKcs was ubiquitinated and bound to VCP. VCP knockdown resulted in the accumulation of the DNA-PKcs protein in glioblastoma cells, and the proteasome inhibitor MG132 synergised this increase. As expected, this increase promoted the efficiency of DNA repair in several glioblastoma cell lines; in turn, this enhanced activity decreased the radiation sensitivity and prolonged the survival fraction of glioblastoma cells in vitro. Moreover, the VCP knockdown in glioblastoma cells reduced the survival time of the xenografted mice with radiation treatment relative to the control xenografted glioblastoma mice. In addition, the VCP protein was also downregulated in ~25% of GBM tissues from patients (WHO, grade IV astrocytoma), and the VCP protein level was correlated with patient survival (R(2)=0.5222, P<0.05). These findings demonstrated that VCP regulates DNA-PKcs degradation and increases the sensitivity of GBM cells to radiation

Phase reconstruction of strong-field excited systems by transient-absorption spectroscopy

We study the evolution of a V-type three-level system, whose two resonances are coherently excited and coupled by two ultrashort laser pump and probe pulses, separated by a varying time delay. We relate the quantum dynamics of the excited multi-level system to the absorption spectrum of the transmitted probe pulse. In particular, by analyzing the quantum evolution of the system, we interpret how atomic phases are differently encoded in the time-delay-dependent spectral absorption profiles when the pump pulse either precedes or follows the probe pulse. We experimentally apply this scheme to atomic Rb, whose fine-structure-split 5s\,^2S_{1/2}\rightarrow 5p\,^2P_{1/2} and 5s\,^2S_{1/2}\rightarrow 5p\,^2P_{3/2} transitions are driven by the combined action of a pump pulse of variable intensity and a delayed probe pulse. The provided understanding of the relationship between quantum phases and absorption spectra represents an important step towards full time-dependent phase reconstruction (quantum holography) of bound-state wave-packets in strong-field light-matter interactions with atoms, molecules and solids.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

A cost–benefit analysis of the environmental taxation policy in China: A frontier analysis‐based environmentally extended input–output optimization method

China's high‐speed economic development and reliance on overconsumption of natural resources have led to serious environmental pollution. Environmental taxation is seen as an effective economic tool to help mitigate air pollution. In order to assess the effects of different scenarios of environmental taxation policies, we propose a frontier‐based environmentally extended input–output optimization model with explicit emission abatement sectors to reflect the inputs and benefits of abatement. Frontier analysis ensures policy scenarios are assessed under the same technical efficiency benchmark, while input–output analysis depicts the wide range of economic transactions among sectors of an economy. Four scenarios are considered in this study, which are increasing specific tax rates of SO2, NOx, and soot and dust separately and increasing all three tax rates simultaneously. Our estimation results show that: raising tax rates of SO2, NOx, and soot and dust simultaneously would have the highest emission reduction effects, with the SO2 tax rate making the greatest contribution to emission reduction. Raising the soot and dust tax rate is the most environmentally friendly strategy due to its highest abatement to welfare through avoided health costs. The combination of frontier analysis and input–output analysis provides policy makers a comprehensive and sectoral approach to assess costs and benefits of environmental taxation

Implementasi Pembelajaran Tematik Berbantuan Media Audio Visual Terhadap Peningkatan Kemampuan Calistung Siswa Kelas I SD Negeri 7 Sesetan

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui implementasi pembelajaran tematik berbantuan media audio visual terhadap peningkatan kemampuan membaca, menulis, dan berhitung pada siswa kelas I SDN 7 Sesetan tahun ajaran 2012/2013. Untuk mencapai tujuan tersebut dilakukan penelitian tindakan kelas pada peserta didik kelas I SDN 7 Sesetan yang berjumlah 36 orang. Penelitian ini dilakukan dalam dua siklus pembelajaran dengan tahap perencanaan, tindakan, observasi, dan refleksi. Model pembelajaran yang digunakan adalah pembelajaran tematik berbantuan media audio visual dalam pembelajaran calistung, dan obyek penelitian berupa hasil belajar calistung peserta didik. Untuk mengukur hasil belajar digunakan tes hasil belajar yang diberikan pada tiap akhir siklus. Analisis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis deskriptif. Dalam penelitian ini ditemukan adanya peningkatan ketuntasan dari siklus I ke siklus II untuk kemampuan membaca dari 27,78% menjadi 88,89%, menulis dari 63,89% menjadi 86,11% dan berhitung dari 72,22% menjadi 86,11%. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa penerapan model pembelajaran tematik berbantuan media audio visual dapat meningkatkan hasil belajar peserta didik kelas I SDN 7 Sesetan.Kata Kunci : Model pembelajaran tematik, membaca, menulis, berhitung This study aimed at improving achievement in reading, writing, and math for 1st grade students at SDN 7 Sesetan. This research was classroom action research done in class I SDN 7 Sesetan. The number of the subject was 36 students. This research was carried out in two cycles with the stage of planning, action, observation, and reflection. The learning model which was implemented in this research was thematic learning model assisted by audio visual to improve students' achievement in reading, writing and math. The objects of this research were students' achievement in reading, writing, and math. Students' achievement test was used to measure students' achievement and it was given at the end of every cycle. In this research, the obtained data were analyzed descriptively. In this research there is improvement from cycle I to cycle II, for reading ability from 27,78% to 88,89%, writing from 63,89% to 86,11% and math from 72,22% to 86,11%. The result of the study shows that the implementation of thematic learning model assisted by audio visual can improve students' achievement of class I at SDN 7 Sesetan

Simple Metals at High Pressure

In this lecture we review high-pressure phase transition sequences exhibited by simple elements, looking at the examples of the main group I, II, IV, V, and VI elements. General trends are established by analyzing the changes in coordination number on compression. Experimentally found phase transitions and crystal structures are discussed with a brief description of the present theoretical picture.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figures, lecture notes for the lecture given at the Erice course on High-Pressure Crystallography in June 2009, Sicily, Ital

Spectroscopic ellipsometry and electrical studies of as-grown and rapid thermal oxidized Si\u3csub\u3e1−x−y\u3c/sub\u3eGe\u3csub\u3ex\u3c/sub\u3eC\u3csub\u3ey\u3c/sub\u3e films

Transmission electron microscopy results showed the formation of SiC precipitation in a rapid thermally oxidized (RTO) Si1−x−yGexCy sample with high-C content. The spectroscopic ellipsometry results showed that the E1 gap increased and E2 gap decreased as the C concentration increased. For the oxidized samples, the amplitude of the E2 transitions reduced rapidly and the E1 transition shifted to a lower energy. The reduction in the E2 transitions was due to the presence of the oxide layer. A high-Ge content layer and the low-C content in the RTO films accounted for the E1 shift to lower energy. The electrical measurements showed that RTO at 800 °C did not improve the oxide quality as compared to 1000 °C

Electrical Properties of Rapid Thermal Oxides on Si\u3csub\u3e1−x−y\u3c/sub\u3eGe\u3csub\u3ex\u3c/sub\u3eC\u3csub\u3ey\u3c/sub\u3e Films

The electrical characteristics of rapid thermal oxides on Si1−x−yGexCy layers are reported. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicate segregation of Ge at the SiO2/Si1−x−yGexCy interface, a thin GeO2 layer at the oxide surface, and elemental Ge at the interface and in the oxide. The interface state density of the samples ranges from 3.0×1011 to 3.6×1012 eV−1 cm−2. All the samples show electron trapping behavior and the trap generation rate decreases with increasing C concentration. The charge-to-breakdown value and the oxide breakdown field are higher for Si0.887Ge0.113 than for Si1−x−yGexCy samples, and these values decrease with increasing C concentration

Structural Characterization of Rapid Thermal Oxidized Si\u3csub\u3e1−x−y\u3c/sub\u3eGe\u3csub\u3ex\u3c/sub\u3eC\u3csub\u3ey\u3c/sub\u3e Alloy Films Grown by Rapid Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition

The structural properties of as-grown and rapid thermal oxidized Si1−x−yGexCy epitaxial layers have been examined using a combination of infrared, x-ray photoelectron, x-ray diffraction, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy techniques. Carbon incorporation into the Si1−x−yGexCy system can lead to compressive or tensile strain in the film. The structural properties of the oxidized Si1−x−yGexCy film depend on the type of strain (i.e., carbon concentration) of the as-prepared film. For compressive or fully compensated films, the oxidation process drastically reduces the carbon content so that the oxidized films closely resemble to Si1−xGex films. For tensile films, two broad regions, one with carbon content higher and the other lower than that required for full strain compensation, coexist in the oxidized films

Screening of patients with tuberculosis for diabetes mellitus in China.

Objective  There is a high burden of both diabetes (DM) and tuberculosis (TB) in China, and this study aimed to assess feasibility and results of screening patients with TB for DM within the routine healthcare setting of six health facilities. Method  Agreement on how to screen, monitor and record was reached in May 2011 at a stakeholders' meeting, and training was carried out for staff in the six facilities in July 2011. Implementation started in September 2011, and we report on 7 months of activities up to 31 March 2012. Results  There were 8886 registered patients with TB. They were first asked whether they had DM. If the answer was no, they were screened with a random blood glucose (RBG) followed by fasting blood glucose (FBG) in those with RBG ≥ 6.1 mm (one facility) or with an initial FBG (five facilities). Those with FBG ≥ 7.0 mm were referred to DM clinics for diagnostic confirmation with a second FBG. Altogether, 1090 (12.4%) patients with DM were identified, of whom 863 (9.7%) had a known diagnosis of DM. Of 8023 patients who needed screening for DM, 7947 (99%) were screened. This resulted in a new diagnosis of DM in 227 patients (2.9% of screened patients), and of these, 226 were enrolled to DM care. In addition, 575 (7.8%) persons had impaired fasting glucose (FBG 6.1 to <7.0 mm). Prevalence of DM was significantly higher in patients in health facilities serving urban populations (14.0%) than rural populations (10.6%) and higher in hospital patients (13.5%) than those attending TB clinics (8.5%). Conclusion  This pilot project shows that it is feasible to screen patients with TB for DM in the routine setting, resulting in a high yield of patients with known and newly diagnosed disease. Free blood tests for glucose measurement and integration of TB and DM services may improve the diagnosis and management of dually affected patients