Antioxidant properties of polysaccharides from Laetiporus sulphureus in submerged cultures

Intracellular polysaccharides (IPS) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) are isolated respectively from mycelia and filtrates of submerged culture by Laetiporus sulphureus in a 20-L stirred tank bioreactor with corresponding antioxidant properties investigated. Effective productions of IPS and EPS by submerged cultures of L. sulphureus are available. Number of average molecular weights (Mn) and protein/polysaccharide ratios are 1.29×10,sup>6 Da and 8.24% for IPS and 3.95×106 Da and 2.38% for EPS. IPS shows an excellent antioxidant property in reducing power and scavenging effect on superoxide anion, whereas EPS has a powerful antioxidant activity in reducing power, chelating effect on ferrous ions and scavenging effect on superoxide anion, as evidenced by their quite low EC50 values below 5 mg/ml. Confirmed by the result is the potential antioxidant application of fermented L. sulphureus polysaccharides in health-promoting functional food and pharmaceutical industries.Key words: Laetiporus sulphureus, intracellular polysaccharide, exopolysaccharide, antioxidant activity

TO USE A TREE OR A FOREST IN BEHAVIORAL INTENTION

Cloud computing is a new technology that has been applied to education and has e nabled the development of cloud computing classrooms; however, student behavioral intentions toward cloud computing remain unclear. Most researchers have evaluated, integrated, or compared few (1 to 3) theories to examine user behavioral intentions and few have addressed additional theories or models. In this study, we test, compare, and unify six well -known theories, namely, service quality (SQ), self - efficacy (SE), the motivational model (MM), technology acceptance model (TAM), theory of reason action (TRA)/theory of planned behavior (TPB), and innovation diffusion theory (IDT) in the context of cloud computing classrooms. This empirical study was conducted using an online survey. The data collected from the samples (n=478) were analyzed using structural equation modeling. We independently analyzed each of the six theories, formulating a united model. The analysis yielded three valuable findings. First, comparing the explained variance and degree of freedom (df) difference, yielded the following ranking in explained variance: MM=TAM\u3eIDT\u3eTPB\u3eSE=SQ (equal =; superior to\u3e). Second, comparing the explained variance yielded the following ranking in explained variance: MM\u3eTAM\u3eIDT\u3eTPB\u3eSE=SQ. Third, based on the united model of six theories, some factors significantly affect behavioral intention and others do not. The implications of this study are critical for both researchers and practitioners

A Microcantilever-based Gas Flow Sensor for Flow Rate and Direction Detection

The purpose of this paper is to apply characteristics of residual stress that causes cantilever beams to bend for manufacturing a micro-structured gas flow sensor. This study uses a silicon wafer deposited silicon nitride layers, reassembled the gas flow sensor with four cantilever beams that perpendicular to each other and manufactured piezoresistive structure on each micro-cantilever by MEMS technologies, respectively. When the cantilever beams are formed after etching the silicon wafer, it bends up a little due to the released residual stress induced in the previous fabrication process. As air flows through the sensor upstream and downstream beam deformation was made, thus the airflow direction can be determined through comparing the resistance variation between different cantilever beams. The flow rate can also be measured by calculating the total resistance variations on the four cantilevers.Comment: Submitted on behalf of EDA Publishing Association (http://irevues.inist.fr/handle/2042/16838

Measurement of Refractive Index Change of Optical Fiber Core Induced by Femtosecond Laser Scanning

We report a new method to measure the refractive index change in optical fiber core induced by femtosecond (fs) laser exposure. An in-line Fabry-Perot interferometer, serving as the measurement platform, is constructed on a commercial single-mode optical fiber by onestep femtosecond (fs) laser fabrication. A positive refractive index change is observed and measured accurately as the laser pulse energy surpasses the ablation threshold

PTPRG suppresses tumor growth and invasion via inhibition of Akt signaling in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Receptor Type G (PTPRG) was identified as a candidate tumor suppressor gene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). PTPRG induces significant in vivo tumor suppression in NPC. We identified EGFR as a PTPRG potential interacting partner and examined this interaction. Dephosphorylation of EGFR at EGFR-Y1068 and -Y1086 sites inactivated the PI3K/Akt signaling cascade and subsequent down-regulation of downstream pro-angiogenic and -invasive proteins (VEGF, IL6, and IL8) and suppressed tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and invasion. The effect of Akt inhibition in NPC cells was further validated by Akt knockdown experiments in the PTPRG-down-regulated NPC cell lines. Our results suggested that inhibition of Akt in NPC cells induces tumor suppression at both the in vitro and in vivo levels, and also importantly, in vivo metastasis. In conclusion, we confirmed the vital role of PTPRG in inhibiting Akt signaling with the resultant suppression of in vivo tumorigenesis and metastasis.published_or_final_versio

A Game of Attribute Decomposition for Software Architecture Design

Attribute-driven software architecture design aims to provide decision support by taking into account the quality attributes of softwares. A central question in this process is: What architecture design best fulfills the desirable software requirements? To answer this question, a system designer needs to make tradeoffs among several potentially conflicting quality attributes. Such decisions are normally ad-hoc and rely heavily on experiences. We propose a mathematical approach to tackle this problem. Game theory naturally provides the basic language: Players represent requirements, and strategies involve setting up coalitions among the players. In this way we propose a novel model, called decomposition game, for attribute-driven design. We present its solution concept based on the notion of cohesion and expansion-freedom and prove that a solution always exists. We then investigate the computational complexity of obtaining a solution. The game model and the algorithms may serve as a general framework for providing useful guidance for software architecture design. We present our results through running examples and a case study on a real-life software project.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, a shorter version to appear at 12th International Colloquium on Theoretical Aspects of Computing (ICTAC 2015

Characterization of the Hamamatsu R11410-10 3-Inch Photomultiplier Tube for Liquid Xenon Dark Matter Direct Detection Experiments

To satisfy the requirements of the next generation of dark matter detectors based on the dual phase TPC, Hamamatsu, in close collaboration with UCLA, has developed the R11410-10 photomultipler tube. In this work, we present the detailed tests performed on this device. High QE (>30%) accompanied by a low dark count rate (50 Hz at 0.3 PE) and high gain (10^7) with good single PE resolution have been observed. A comprehensive screening measurement campaign is ongoing while the manufacturer quotes a radioactivity of 20 mBq/PMT. These characteristics show the R11410-10 to be particularly suitable for the forthcoming zero background liquid xenon detectors.Comment: 19 pages, 18 figure

Influenza-related hospitalizations among children in Hong Kong

Background: It has been difficult to define the burden of influenza in children because of confounding by the cocirculation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In Hong Kong, China, the influenza and RSV infection seasons sometimes do not overlap, thus providing an opportunity to estimate the rate of influenza-related hospitalization in a defined population, free from the effects of RSV. Methods: In a retrospective, population-based study, we estimated the influenza-associated excess rate of hospitalization among children 15 years old or younger in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from 1997 to 1999. Data from a single hospital with intensive use of virologic analyses for diagnosis were obtained to define and adjust for underestimation of the model. Results: Peaks of influenza and RSV infection activity were well separated in 1998 and 1999 but overlapped in 1997. The adjusted rates of excess hospitalization for acute respiratory disease that were attributable to influenza were 278.5 and 288.2 per 10,000 children less than 1 year of age in 1998 and 1999, respectively; 218.4 and 209.3 per 10,000 children 1 to less than 2 years of age; 125.6 and 77.3 per 10,000 children 2 to less than 5 years of age; 57.3 and 20.9 per 10,000 children 5 to less than 10 years of age; and 16.4 and 8.1 per 10,000 children 10 to 15 years of age. Conclusions: In the subtropics, influenza is an important cause of hospitalization among children, with rates exceeding those reported for temperate regions. Copyright © 2002 Massachusetts Medical Society.published_or_final_versio