Agenda setting and micro-blog use: An analysis of the relationship between Sina Weibo and newspaper agendas in China

The present study investigates the influence of micro-blogs on the major agenda-setting media in China in the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic railway accident. Study findings are based on a content analysis of micro-blog messages and traditional mainstream media reports that were published in the nine days subsequent to the July 23, 2011 bullet train crash accident. Results suggest that, in the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic train wreck, alternative online media played a decisive role in setting mainstream media agendas and providing a citizen forum on a sensitive issue that their conventional counterparts downplayed, ignored, or missed altogether. In particular, the traditional media’s agenda setting power is no longer universal nor singular within micro-blogging outlets. Instead, traditional media—once a monolithic establishment—are now just one of the role players among many competing influences

Comparison of Genomes of Three Xanthomonas oryzae Bacteriophages

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Xp10 and OP1 are phages of <it>Xanthomonas oryzae </it>pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causative agent of bacterial leaf blight in rice plants, which were isolated in 1967 in Taiwan and in 1954 in Japan, respectively. We recently isolated the Xoo phage Xop411.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The linear Xop411 genome (44,520 bp, 58 ORFs) sequenced here is 147 bp longer than that of Xp10 (60 ORFs) and 735 bp longer than that of OP1 (59 ORFs). The G+C contents of OP1 (51%) and Xop411 and Xp10 (52% each) are less than that of the host (65%). The 9-bp 3'-overhangs (5'-GGACAGTCT-3') in Xop411 and Xp10 are absent from OP1. More of the deduced Xop411 proteins share higher degrees of identity with Xp10 than with OP1 proteins, while the right end of the genomes of Xp10 and OP1, containing all predicted promoters, share stronger homology. Xop411, Xp10, and OP1 contain 8, 7, and 6 freestanding HNH endonuclease genes, respectively. These genes can be classified into five groups depending on their possession of the HNH domain (HNN or HNH type) and/or AP2 domain in intact or truncated forms. While the HNN-AP2 type endonuclease genes dispersed in the genome, the HNH type endonuclease genes, each with a unique copy, were located within the same genome context. Mass spectrometry and N-terminal sequencing showed nine Xop411 coat proteins, among which three were identified, six were assigned as coat proteins (4) and conserved phage proteins (2) in Xp10. The major coat protein, in which only the N-terminal methionine is removed, appears to exist in oligomeric forms containing 2 to 6 subunits. The three phages exhibit different patterns of domain duplication in the N-terminus of the tail fiber, which are involved in determination of the host range. Many short repeated sequences are present in and around the duplicated domains.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Geographical separation may have confined lateral gene transfer among the Xoo phages. The HNN-AP2 type endonucleases were more likely to transfer their genes randomly in the genome and may degenerate after successful transmission. Some repeated sequences may be involved in duplication/loss of the domains in the tail fiber genes.</p

Surgical Treatment of Kawasaki Disease with Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction

A 5-year-old boy suffering from abdominal pain accompanied by a fever of up to 39.5 degrees C for 2 days was admitted to the hospital. Although Flomoxef was administered following admission, the boy's fever persisted and abdominal distension gradually worsened. On the 4th day, dry lips, red eyes and a strawberry tongue were noted. An echocardiogram revealed pericoronary enhancement with mild mitral valve regurgitation and a small degree of pericardial effusion, characteristics compatible with Kawasaki disease. Although intravenous immunoglobulin was administered, the fever and abdominal distension persisted. On the 8th day, a pediatric surgeon was consulted and an exploratory laparotomy was arranged. During the operation, intestinal pseudo-obstruction and fibrin coatings around the intestine near the splenic flexure were found. A colostomy was performed for decompression of the dilated bowel and a biopsy of the lymph node surrounding the splenic flexure was taken. The fever subsided dramatically after decompression of the bowel and the recovery course was uneventful. The pathologic report revealed necrotic lymphadenitis. We report this rare case and review the literature

Effect of sugar positions in ginsenosides and their inhibitory potency on Na+/K+-ATPase activity

Aim: To determine whether ginsenosides with various sugar attachments may act as active components responsible for the cardiac therapeutic effects of ginseng and sanqi (the roots of Panax ginseng and Panax notoginseng) via the same molecular mechanism triggered by cardiac glycosides, such as ouabain and digoxin. Methods: The structural similarity between ginsenosides and ouabain was analyzed. The inhibitory potency of ginsenosides and ouabain on Na+/K+-ATPase activity was examined and compared. Molecular modeling was exhibited for the docking of ginsenosides to Na+/K+-ATPase. Results: Ginsenosides with sugar moieties attached only to the C-3 position of the steroid-like structure, equivalent to the sugar position in cardiac glycosides, and possessed inhibitory potency on Na+/K+-ATPase activity. However, their inhibitory potency was significantly reduced or completely abolished when a monosaccharide was linked to the C-6 or C-20 position of the steroid-like structure; replacement of the monosaccharide with a disaccharide molecule at either of these positions caused the disappearance of the inhibitory potency. Molecular modeling and docking confirmed that the difference in Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitory potency among ginsenosides was due to the steric hindrance of sugar attachment at the C-6 and C-20 positions of the steroid-like structure. Conclusion: The cardiac therapeutic effects of ginseng and sanqi should be at least partly attributed to the effective inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase by their metabolized ginsenosides with sugar moieties attached only to the C-3 position of the steroid-like structure

Acid-sensing ion channel 3 mediates peripheral anti-hyperalgesia effects of acupuncture in mice inflammatory pain

Background: Peripheral tissue inflammation initiates hyperalgesia accompanied by tissue acidosis, nociceptor activation, and inflammation mediators. Recent studies have suggested a significantly increased expression of acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) in both carrageenan- and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammation. This study tested the hypothesis that acupuncture is curative for mechanical hyperalgesia induced by peripheral inflammation. Methods: Here we used mechanical stimuli to assess behavioral responses in paw and muscle inflammation induced by carrageenan or CFA. We also used immunohistochemistry staining and western blot methodology to evaluate the expression of ASIC3 in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Results: In comparison with the control, the inflammation group showed significant mechanical hyperalgesia with both intraplantar carrageenan and CFA-induced inflammation. Interestingly, both carrageenan- and CFA-induced hyperalgesia were accompanied by ASIC3 up-regulation in DRG neurons. Furthermore, electroacupuncture (EA) at the ST36 rescued mechanical hyperalgesia through down-regulation of ASIC3 overexpression in both carrageenan- and CFA-induced inflammation. Conclusions: In addition, electrical stimulation at the ST36 acupoint can relieve mechanical hyperalgesia by attenuating ASIC3 overexpression

Characterization of the monoclonal antibody against classical swine fever virus glycoprotein E-rns and its application to an indirect sandwich ELISA

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) E-rns is an envelope glycoprotein possessing RNase activity. The E-rns-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been considered a discriminating diagnostic test for differentiating infected from vaccinated animals. The purpose of this study was to produce a specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) to E-rns for further developing an indirect sandwich ELISA. The MAb CW813 was shown to specifically recognize both the monomer and dimer forms of Pichia pastoris yeast-expressed E-rns (yE(rns)). The antigenic site recognized by MAb CW813 was mapped to the region of amino acid residues 101-160 of E-rns where it was neither a neutralizing epitope nor essential to RNase activity. Furthermore, MAb CW813 was utilized as a capture antibody to develop a yE(rns)-based indirect sandwich ELISA for detecting swine antibody to E-rns. The assay demonstrated a high sensitivity and specificity that may provide an alternative method for developing a diagnostic kit with easy manipulation and low cost

Upregulation of Haploinsufficient Gene Expression in the Brain by Targeting a Long Non-coding RNA Improves Seizure Phenotype in a Model of Dravet Syndrome

AbstractDravet syndrome is a devastating genetic brain disorder caused by heterozygous loss-of-function mutation in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene SCN1A. There are currently no treatments, but the upregulation of SCN1A healthy allele represents an appealing therapeutic strategy. In this study we identified a novel, evolutionary conserved mechanism controlling the expression of SCN1A that is mediated by an antisense non-coding RNA (SCN1ANAT). Using oligonucleotide-based compounds (AntagoNATs) targeting SCN1ANAT we were able to induce specific upregulation of SCN1A both in vitro and in vivo, in the brain of Dravet knock-in mouse model and a non-human primate. AntagoNAT-mediated upregulation of Scn1a in postnatal Dravet mice led to significant improvements in seizure phenotype and excitability of hippocampal interneurons. These results further elucidate the pathophysiology of Dravet syndrome and outline a possible new approach for the treatment of this and other genetic disorders with similar etiology

Growth and characterization of ZnO films on (11-20) sapphire substrates by atomic layer deposition using DEZn and N2O

Zinc oxide (ZnO) films were grown on (11-20) sapphire substrates at 600 A degrees C by atomic layer deposition (ALD) using diethylzinc (DEZn) and nitrous oxide (N2O). A ZnO buffer layer was deposited at low temperature (LT) prior to the growth of a bulk ZnO film for a typical growth run. In some cases, buffer-layer annealing or post-annealing treatments were employed to optimize ZnO growth. Based on the experimental results of X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), all the as-grown ZnO films were found to show c-axis preferred orientation with co-existence of (ZnO)ayen (sapphire) and (ZnO)ayen (sapphire) relationships in the (0001)ZnO/(11-20)sapphire hetero-interface. Typical room temperature (RT) photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the as-grown ZnO film shows only near band edge (NBE) emissions without defect luminescence. ZnO films with improved quality were achieved by post-annealing or buffer-layer annealing treatments. In particular, buffer-layer annealing was found to improve the crystalline and optical properties of a ZnO film substantially