Increase of organic solvent tolerance of Escherichia coli by the deletion of two regulator genes, fadR and marR

The improvement of bacterial tolerance to organic solvents is a main prerequisite for the microbial production of biofuels which are toxic to cells. For targeted genetic engineering of Escherichia coli to increase organic solvent tolerances (OSTs), we selected and investigated a total of 12 genes that participate in relevant mechanisms to tolerance. In a spot assay of 12 knockout mutants with n-hexane and cyclohexane, the genes fadR and marR were finally selected as the two key genes for engineering. Fatty acid degradation regulon (FadR) regulates the biosynthesis and degradation of fatty acids coordinately, and the multiple antibiotic resistance repressor (MarR) is the repressor of the global regulator MarA for multidrug resistance. In the competitive growth assay, the ΔmarR mutant became dominant when the pooled culture of 11 knockout mutants was cultivated successively in the presence of organic solvent. The increased OSTs in the ΔmarR and ΔfadR mutants were confirmed by a growth experiment and a viability test. The even more highly enhanced OSTs in the ΔfadR ΔmarR double mutant were shown compared with the two single mutants. Cellular fatty acid analysis showed that the high ratio of saturated fatty acids to unsaturated fatty acids plays a crucial role in OSTs. Furthermore, the intracellular accumulation of OST strains was significantly decreased compared with the wild-type strain

Incidental finding of a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor in a postmenopausal woman with complex endometrial hyperplasia

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCTs) arise from the non-germ cell component of the ovary and typically present in young women with evidence of hyperandrogenism such as precocious puberty, amenorrhea, hirsutism and virilization. It is very rare accounting for less than 0.2% of all ovarian tumors, and because of the rarity, no standardized treatment approach has reached a consensus. The prognosis is generally good with complete reversion of symptoms after surgery, although some cases have been reported to be malignant. Recently the need for DICER1 mutations testing in paediatric patients has been emphasized for the surveillance of possible synchronous tumors and affected family members. Authors present here a case of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor incidentally found while performing a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in a postmenopausal woman with endometrial hyperplasia that caused intractable vaginal bleeding

Continuous phase-shift lithography with a roll-type mask and application to transparent conductor fabrication

We report the development of a near-field optical nanolithography method using a roll-type phase-shift mask. Sub-wavelength resolution is achieved using near-field exposure of photoresist through a cylindrical phase mask, allowing dynamic and high throughput continuous patterning. As an application, we present the fabrication of a transparent electrode in the form of a metallic wire grid by using the roller-based optical lithography method. To fabricate a mesh-type metal pattern, a specific phase-shift mask was designed and critical experimental parameters were also studied. As a result, a transparent conductor with suitable properties was achieved with a recently built cylindrical phase-shift lithography prototype designed to pattern on 100 mm 2 of substrate area.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98604/1/0957-4484_23_34_344008.pd

Urinary bladder rupture during voiding cystourethrography

Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) is a commonly performed diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of vesicoureteral reflux with urinary tract infection or congenital renal diseases in children. The procedure is relatively simple and cost-effective, and complications are very rare. The iatrogenic complication of VCUG range from discomfort, urinary tract infection to bacteremia, as well as bladder rupture. Bladder rupture is a rare complication of VCUG, and only a few cases were reported. Bladder rupture among healthy children during VCUG is an especially uncommon event. Bladder rupture associated with VCUG is usually more common in chronically unused bladders like chronic renal failure. Presented is a case of bladder rupture that occurred during a VCUG in a healthy 9-month-old infant, due to instilled action of dye by high pressure. This injury completely healed after 7 days of operation, and it was confirmed with a postoperative cystography. The patient's bladder volume, underlying disease, velocity of the contrast media instilled, catheter size, and styles of instillation are important factors to prevent bladder rupture during VCUG. Management of bladder rupture should be individualized, but the majority of infants are treated with the operation. In conclusion, bladder rupture is a rare complication, however, delicate attention is needed in order to prevent more dire situations

Substance P and beta-endorphin mediate electro-acupuncture induced analgesia in mouse cancer pain model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Opioid analgesics are generally used to combat the pain associated with cancerous conditions. These agents not only inhibit respiratory function and cause constipation, but also induce other significant side effects such as addiction and tolerance, all of which further contribute to a reduced quality of life for cancer patients. Thus, in the present study, the effects of electro-acupuncture treatment (EA) on mechanical allodynia were examined in a cancer pain mouse model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In order to produce a neuropathic cancer pain model, S-180 sarcoma cells were inoculated around the sciatic nerve of left legs of Balb/c mice. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning confirmed the mass of S-180 cancer cells embedded around the sciatic nerve. Mechanical allodynia was most consistently induced in the mouse sarcoma cell line S-180 (2 × 10⁶sarcoma cells)-treated group compared to all the other groups studied. EA stimulation (2 Hz) was administered daily to ST36 (Zusanli) of S-180 bearing mice for 30 min for 9 days after S-180 inoculation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>EA treatment significantly prolonged paw withdrawal latency from 5 days after inoculation. It also shortened the cumulative lifting duration from 7 days after inoculation, compared to the tumor control. Also, the overexpression of pain peptide substance P in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord was significantly decreased in the EA-treated group compared to the tumor control on Day 9 post inoculation. Furthermore, EA treatment effectively increased the concentration of β-endorphin in blood and brain samples of the mice to a greater extent than that of the tumor control as well as the normal group. The concentration of β-endorphin for EA treatment group increased by 51.457% in the blood and 12.6% in the brain respectively, compared to the tumor control group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings of this study suggest that a S-180 cancer pain model is useful as a consistent and short time animal model. It also indicated that EA treatment could be used as an alternative therapeutic method for cancer pain due to a consequent decrease in substance P and increase in β-endorphin levels.</p

Fabrication and Encapsulation of a Short‐Period Wire Grid Polarizer with Improved Viewing Angle by the Angled‐Evaporation Method

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/101761/1/adom201300276-sup-0001-S1.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/101761/2/adom201300276.pd

KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF GOLF SWING PERFORMED WITH INTENDED LATE HITTING

The purposes of this study were to analyze and compare the kinematic parameters for standard and purpose golf swings. The purpose golf swing is characterized as intended late hitting and increase displacement of ball through the air (carry). Twenty-five male college golfers were recruited as sUbjects and Science eye field 3 camera system was used to measure the parameters of deterministic model. Paired t-test was used to compare between two different golf swings and correlation coefficients between selected parameters and carry were also computed. As results, a significant difference between standard and purpose golf swings was found in terms of increasing carry. Coefficients of correlation indicated that post-impact ball velocity, pre-impact club head velocity, and meet rate were positively correlated with carry. However, backspin, and angle of release were negatively correlated with carry. These results represented that the parameters of deterministic model were very useful indicators to determine performance and the purpose swing is beneficial to increase carry

Under-reporting of Energy Intake from 24-hour Dietary Recalls in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

AbstractObjectivesChronic degenerative diseases are closely related to daily eating habits, nutritional status, and, in particular, energy intake. In clarifying these relationships it is very important for dietary surveys to report accurate information about energy intake. This study attempted to identify the prevalence of the under-reporting of energy intake and its related characteristics based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in the years 2007–2009.MethodsThe present study analyzed dietary intake data from 15,133 adults aged ≥19 years using 24-hour dietary recalls. Basal metabolic rates were calculated from the age- and gender-specific equations of Schofield and under-reporting was defined as an energy intake <0.9, represented by the ratio of energy intake to estimated basal metabolic rate.ResultsUnder-reporters (URs) accounted for 14.4% of men and 23.0% of women and the under-reporting rate was higher in the age group 30–49 years for both men and women. The results from an analysis of the age-specific socioeconomic characteristics of participants classified as URs showed that under-reporting was high in women living alone and in women with only elementary school education or no education. The results from an analysis of the health-specific characteristics of URs showed that a large proportion of URs had poor self-rated health or were obese, or both, compared with non-URs. The proportion of participants who consumed less than the estimated average requirements for nutrients was significantly higher in URs compared with non-URs.ConclusionThe under-reporting of energy intake was associated with age, gender, education level, income level, household status (single-person or multi-person), self-rated health, physical activity, and obesity