Cause Event Representations for Happiness and Surprise

PACLIC 23 / City University of Hong Kong / 3-5 December 200

Approximation of the Summation-Integral-Type q

We introduce summation-integral-type q-Szász-Mirakjan operators and study approximation properties of these operators. We establish local approximation theorem. We give weighted approximation theorem. Also we estimate the rate of convergence of these operators for functions of polynomial growth on the interval [0,∞)

Approximation of the Summation-Integral-Type q-Szasz-Mirakjan Operators

National Natural Science Foundation of China [61170324]; Class A Science and Technology Project of Education Department of Fujian Province of China [JA12324]; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China [2010J01012]We introduce summation-integral-type q-Szasz-Mirakjan operators and study approximation properties of these operators. We establish local approximation theorem. We give weighted approximation theorem. Also we estimate the rate of convergence of these operators for functions of polynomial growth on the interval [0,infinity]

A Novel Soluble Tin(IV) Porphyrin Modified Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Nanohybrid With Light Harvesting Properties

A dihydroxotin(IV) porphyrin functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) nanohybrid is obtained. Solubility of the nanohybrid in organic solvents is determined by UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy. Electron absorption and fluorescence spectra investigations demonstrate that efficient electron transfer occurs within the nanohybrid at the photoexcited state and the charge-separated state of the nanohybrid is observed by transient absorption spectrum. The results illustrate that this soluble electron donor–acceptor nanohybrid might be a good candidate as a light harvesting material in molecular photoelectronic devices

Molecular Cloning, Expression Profile and 5′ Regulatory Region Analysis of Two Chemosensory Protein Genes from the Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella

Chemosensory proteins play an important role in transporting chemical compounds to their receptors on dendrite membranes. In this study, two full-length cDNA codings for chemosensory proteins of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) were obtained by RACE-PCR. PxylCSP3 and Pxyl-CSP4, with GenBank accession numbers ABM92663 and ABM92664, respectively, were cloned and sequenced. The gene sequences both consisted of three exons and two introns. RT-PCR analysis showed that Pxyl-CSP3 and Pxyl-CSP4 had different expression patterns in the examined developmental stages, but were expressed in all larval stages. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that lepidopteran insects consist of three branches, and Pxyl-CSP3 and Pxyl-CSP4 belong to different branches. The 5′regulatory regions of Pxyl-CSP3 and Pxyl-CSP4 were isolated and analyzed, and the results consist of not only the core promoter sequences (TATA-box), but also several transcriptional elements (BR-C Z4, Hb, Dfd, CF2-II, etc.). This study provides clues to better understanding the various physiological functions of CSPs in P. xylostella and other insects

CD40 Gene Polymorphisms Associated with Susceptibility and Coronary Artery Lesions of Kawasaki Disease in the Taiwanese Population

Background. Kawasaki disease (KD) is characterized by systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology. Our previous studies showed expression of CD40 ligand on CD4+ T cells correlated to the coronary artery lesion (CAL) and disease progress in KD. Other studies from Japan suggested the role of CD40L in the pathogenesis of CAL, and this might help explain the excessive number of males affected with KD but cannot be reproduced by Taiwanese population. This study was conducted to investigate the CD40 polymorphism in KD and CAL formation. Methods. A total of 950 subjects (381 KD patients and 569 controls) were investigated to identify 2 tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) of CD40 (rs4810485 and rs1535045) by using the TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. Results. A significant association was noted with regards to CD40 tSNPs (rs1535045) between controls and KD patients (P = 0.0405, dominant model). In KD patients, polymorphisms of CD40 (rs4810485) showed significant association with CAL formation (P = 0.0436, recessive model). Haplotype analysis did not yield more significant results between polymorphisms of CD40 and susceptibility/disease activity of KD. Conclusions. This study showed for the first time that polymorphisms of CD40 are associated with susceptibility to KD and CAL formation, in the Taiwanese population

Essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides L. induces mitochondrial-mediated pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related apoptosis in human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells

Purpose: To evaluate the cytotoxic effect of essential oil derived from Chenopodium ambrosioides L. in Sichuan Province on human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells, as well as its possible molecular mechanisms.Methods: Cytotoxicity was characterized by MTT assay and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of SMMC-7721 cells ultrastructure. The apoptotic effect of the essential oil was evaluated by changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and Western blot assay.Results: MTT assay data indicate that the essential oil was cytotoxic to SMMC-7721 cells, while TEN revealed that there were vacuoles and nucleus fragmentation in the SMMC-7721 cell cytosol, cell swelling, and a large amount of leakage. Mitochondrial membrane potential assay and Western Blot data indicate that the essential oil induced cell apoptosis.Conclusion: The essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. in Sichuan Province seems to induce apoptosis of human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells via the mitochondrial-mediated pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Thus, this plant requires further investigation as a potential source of ananti-liver cancer drug. Keywords: Chenopodium ambrosioides Essential oil; Anti-tumor activity, Liver cancer Apoptosis, SMMC-7721 cell

Genetic variations of the porcine PRKAG3 gene in Chinese indigenous pig breeds

Four missense substitutions (T30N, G52S, V199I and R200Q) in the porcine PRKAG3 gene were considered as the likely candidate loci affecting meat quality. In this study, the R200Q substitution was investigated in a sample of 62 individuals from Hampshire, Chinese Min and Erhualian pigs, and the genetic variations of T30N, G52S and V199I substitutions were detected in 1505 individuals from 21 Chinese indigenous breeds, 5 Western commercial pig breeds, and the wild pig. Allele 200R was fixed in Chinese Min and Erhualian pigs. Haplotypes II-QQ and IV-QQ were not observed in the Hampshire population, supporting the hypothesis that allele 200Q is tightly linked with allele 199V. Significant differences in allele frequencies of the three substitutions (T30N, G52S and V199I) between Chinese indigenous pigs and Western commercial pigs were observed. Obvious high frequencies of the "favorable" alleles 30T and 52G in terms of meat quality were detected in Chinese indigenous pigs, which are well known for high meat quality. However, the frequency of the "favorable" allele 199I, which was reported to have a greater effect on meat quality in comparison with 30T and 52G, was very low in all of the Chinese indigenous pigs except for the Min pig. The reasons accounting for this discrepancy remain to be addressed. The presence of the three substitutions in purebred Chinese Tibetan pigs indicates that the three substitutions were ancestral mutations. A novel A/G substitution at position 51 in exon 1 was identified. The results suggest that further studies are required to investigate the associations of these substitutions in the PRKAG3 gene with meat quality of Chinese indigenous pigs, and to uncover other polymorphisms in the PRKAG3 gene with potential effects on meat quality in Chinese indigenous pigs

Fibrosis progression in interferon treatment-naive Chinese plasma donors with chronic hepatitis C for 20 years: a cohort study

SummaryObjectivesTo evaluate the progression of fibrosis and factors influencing this in interferon (IFN) treatment-naive Chinese plasma donors infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) for approximately 20 years.MethodsFrom July 2010 to June 2011, we investigated 122 IFN treatment-naive chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients infected by plasma donation in 1992–1995. Liver fibrosis stage and inflammation grade were evaluated by Metavir and Scheuer scoring systems, respectively.ResultsOne hundred and twenty patients underwent liver biopsy. Liver biopsy was not performed in one patient with cirrhosis due to ascites, and another patient was excluded because of an invalid biopsy specimen. Cirrhosis was observed in three patients (fibrosis stage F4 in two patients revealed by biopsy, and one patient with ascites confirmed by physical and Doppler ultrasound examination). Fibrosis stages F1 and F2 were present in 55 and 50 patients, respectively. The severity of liver inflammation was independently related to moderate to severe fibrosis (F ≥2). Older age and male sex showed an increasing tendency for more severe fibrosis (F3/F4) in the present cohort.ConclusionsBased on histopathology results, the progression of fibrosis in patients with CHC infected by repeated plasma donation is slow after HCV infection of approximately 20 years. Liver inflammation is closely related to the development of moderate to severe liver fibrosis