Diffusion Correlation NMR Spectroscopic Study of Anisotropic Diffusion of Water in Plant Tissues

AbstractThe anisotropic diffusion of water in chive (Allium schoenoprasum) tissues has been investigated using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance methods: diffusion-diffusion correlation spectroscopy and diffusion-relaxation correlation spectroscopy. Corresponding one-dimensional T2 and diffusion measurements confirm independently the results of the two-dimensional investigations. In particular the diffusion-diffusion correlation spectroscopy method proves to be very powerful in resolving the different components of the diffusion tensor at different sites in the sample

Influence of the starting composition on the structural and superconducting properties of MgB2 phase

We report the preparation of Mg$_{1-x}$B$_{2}$ (0$\le$x$\le$0.5) compounds with the nominal compositions. Single phase MgB$_{2}$ was obtained for x=0 sample. For 0$<$x$\le$0.5, MgB$_{4}$ coexists with "MgB$_{2}$" and the amount of MgB$_{4}$ increases with x. With the increase of x, the lattice parameter ${\it c}$ of "MgB$_{2}$" increases and the lattice parameter ${\it a}$ decreases, correspondingly T$_{c}$ of Mg$_{1-x}$B$_{2}$ decreases. The results were discussed in terms of the presence of Mg vacancies or B interstitials in the MgB$_{2}$ structure. This work is helpful to the understanding of the MgB$_{2}$ films with different T$_{c}$, as well as the Mg site doping effect for MgB$_{2}$.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Mendelian randomization supports bidirectional causality between telomere length and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential

Human genetic studies support an inverse causal relationship between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and coronary artery disease (CAD), but directionally mixed effects for LTL and diverse malignancies. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), characterized by expansion of hematopoietic cells bearing leukemogenic mutations, predisposes both hematologic malignancy and CAD. TERT (which encodes telomerase reverse transcriptase) is the most significantly associated germline locus for CHIP in genome-wide association studies. Here, we investigated the relationship between CHIP, LTL, and CAD in the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program (n = 63,302) and UK Biobank (n = 47,080). Bidirectional Mendelian randomization studies were consistent with longer genetically imputed LTL increasing propensity to develop CHIP, but CHIP then, in turn, hastens to shorten measured LTL (mLTL). We also demonstrated evidence of modest mediation between CHIP and CAD by mLTL. Our data promote an understanding of potential causal relationships across CHIP and LTL toward prevention of CAD

Oral epithelial stem cells-Implications in normal development and cancer metastasis.

Oral mucosa is continuously exposed to environmental forces and has to be constantly renewed. Accordingly, the oral mucosa epithelium contains a large reservoir of epithelial stem cells necessary for tissue homeostasis. Despite considerable scientific advances in stem cell behavior in a number of tissues, fewer studies have been devoted to the stem cells in the oral epithelium. Most of oral mucosa stem cells studies are focused on identifying cancer stem cells (CSC) in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) among other head and neck cancers. OSCCs are the most prevalent epithelial tumors of the head and neck region, marked by their aggressiveness and invasiveness. Due to their highly tumorigenic properties, it has been suggested that CSC may be the critical population of cancer cells in the development of OSCC metastasis. This review presents a brief overview of epithelium stem cells with implications in oral health, and the clinical implications of the CSC concept in OSCC metastatic dissemination