不同鈣肥來源及鈣肥濃度對文心蘭假球莖內礦物元素的影響

Oncidium hybrid ‘Gower Ramsey' was studied to investigate mineral nutrients in the pseudobulb of oncidium by different calcium fertilizer sources and calcium concentrations in the three growth stages. In the all different calcium fertilizer sources and calcium concentration treatments, Ca levels in the preudobulbs would increase when increasing calcium concentration in the nutrient solution in the six months old growth stage and the 1 year old growth without flowering stage. The Ca levels in the pseudbulbs at 400 ppm were the highest. The N levels in the pseudobulbs decreased from the six months old growth stage to the 1 year old growth without flowering stage. The P levels in the pseudobulbs in the six months old growth stage were the highest in all stages. The Ca and K levels in the pseudobulbs would decrease from the six months old growth stage to the 1 year old growth without flowering stage. The K levels in the pseudobulbs decreased sharply when increasing calcium concentration in the nutrient solution from 100 ppm to 300 ppm in all stages. The Mn levels in the pseudobulbs with Ca(NO3)2 treatments would be higher than those with CaCl2 and CaO treatments. The Zn levels in the pseudobulbs in the six months old growth stage were the highest in all stages. The Cu levels in the pseudobulbs did not change significantly with the increasing calcium supplement in the nutrient solution.以不同鈣肥來源及鈣肥濃度處理文心蘭Oncidium'Gower Ramsey'半年生及一年生不開花及一年生開花後植株，假球莖的鈣濃度會隨增加鈣濃度施用而上升。半年生植株的假球莖氮濃度皆較一年生不開花及開花後時期高，以Ca(NO3)2為鈣源處理之半年生植株的假球莖氮濃度會隨增加鈣濃度施用而上升。半年生植株假球莖的磷濃度皆較一年生不開花及開花後時期高，以CaCl2及Ca(NO3)2為鈣源處理之半年生植株的假球莖的磷濃度會隨增加鈣濃度施用而上升。以Ca(NO3)2為鈣源處理之半年生、一年生不開花及開花後植株的假球莖鉀濃度均以l00ppm處理最高，並隨鈣濃度增加至300ppm而驟降。以CaCl2及Ca(NO3)2為鈣源處理之半年生植株的假球莖鎂濃度較一年生不開花及開花後時期高。植株在不同生育階段以Ca(NO3)2為鈣源處理之假球莖的錳濃度皆較以CaCl2及Ca(NO3)2為鈣源處理高。假球莖的鋅濃度以不同鈣源處理，於不同生育階段分別以CaCl2為鈣源處理之一年生不開花植株最高及以Ca(NO3)2與CaO為鈣源處理之半年生植株最高。以不同鈣源處理的半年生植株假球莖銅濃度皆較其他生育階段高，即假球莖的銅濃度由半年生植株至一年生不開花及開花後植株有降低的趨勢

Fucosyltransferase 1 and 2 play pivotal roles in breast cancer cells.

FUT1 and FUT2 encode alpha 1, 2-fucosyltransferases which catalyze the addition of alpha 1, 2-linked fucose to glycans. Glycan products of FUT1 and FUT2, such as Globo H and Lewis Y, are highly expressed on malignant tissues, including breast cancer. Herein, we investigated the roles of FUT1 and FUT2 in breast cancer. Silencing of FUT1 or FUT2 by shRNAs inhibited cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenicity in mice. This was associated with diminished properties of cancer stem cell (CSC), including mammosphere formation and CSC marker both in vitro and in xenografts. Silencing of FUT2, but not FUT1, significantly changed the cuboidal morphology to dense clusters of small and round cells with reduced adhesion to polystyrene and extracellular matrix, including laminin, fibronectin and collagen. Silencing of FUT1 or FUT2 suppressed cell migration in wound healing assay, whereas FUT1 and FUT2 overexpression increased cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis of breast cancer in vivo. A decrease in mesenchymal like markers such as fibronectin, vimentin, and twist, along with increased epithelial like marker, E-cadherin, was observed upon FUT1/2 knockdown, while the opposite was noted by overexpression of FUT1 or FUT2. As expected, FUT1 or FUT2 knockdown reduced Globo H, whereas FUT1 or FUT2 overexpression showed contrary effects. Exogenous addition of Globo H-ceramide reversed the suppression of cell migration by FUT1 knockdown but not the inhibition of cell adhesion by FUT2 silencing, suggesting that at least part of the effects of FUT1/2 knockdown were mediated by Globo H. Our results imply that FUT1 and FUT2 play important roles in regulating growth, adhesion, migration and CSC properties of breast cancer, and may serve as therapeutic targets for breast cancer

A Comparison between Two Heterodyne Light Sources Using Different Electro-Optic Modulators for Optical Temperature Measurements at Visible Wavelengths

In this paper we have successfully demonstrated a z-propagating Zn-indiffused lithium niobate electro-optic modulator used for optical heterodyne interferometry. Compared to a commercial buck-type electro-optic modulator, the proposed waveguide-type modulator has a lower driving voltage and smaller phase variation while measuring visible wavelengths of 532 nm and 632.8 nm. We also demonstrate an optical temperature measurement system using a homemade modulator. The results show that the measurement sensitivities are almost the same values of 25 deg/°C for both the homemade and the buck-type modulators for a sensing light with a wavelength of 632.8 nm. Because photorefractive impacts are essential in the buck-type modulator at a wavelength of 532 nm, it is difficult to obtain reliable phase measurements, whereas the stable phase operation of the homemade one allows the measurement sensitivity to be improved up to 30 deg/°C with the best measurement resolution at about 0.07 °C for 532 nm

A Collaborative Model for Calculus Reform-A Preliminary Report

Abstract For the past two decades, both pros and cons of calculus reform have been discussed. A question often asked is, "Has the calculus reform project improved students' understanding of mathematics?" The advocates of the reform movement claim that reform-based calculus may help students gain an intuitive understanding of mathematical propositions and have a better grasp of the real-world applications. Nonetheless, many still question its effect and argue that calculus reform purges calculus of its mathematical rigor and poorly prepares students for advanced mathematical training. East Asian students often rank in the top 10 of TIMSS and PISA. However, out-performing others in an international comparison may not guarantee their success in the learning of calculus. Taiwanese college students usually have a high failure rate in calculus. The National Science Council of Taiwan therefore initiated several projects in 2008 for improving students' learning in calculus. This paper provides a preliminary report on one of the projects, PLEASE, and discusses how it was planned to respond to the tenets of calculus reform movement

USP11 regulates PML stability to control Notch-induced malignancy in brain tumours

The promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) protein controls multiple tumour suppressive functions and is downregulated in diverse types of human cancers through incompletely characterized post-translational mechanisms. Here we identify USP11 as a PML regulator by RNAi screening. USP11 deubiquitinates and stabilizes PML, thereby counteracting the functions of PML ubiquitin ligases RNF4 and the KLHL20–Cul3 (Cullin 3)–Roc1 complex. We find that USP11 is transcriptionally repressed through a Notch/Hey1-dependent mechanism, leading to PML destabilization. In human glioma, Hey1 upregulation correlates with USP11 and PML downregulation and with high-grade malignancy. The Notch/Hey1-induced downregulation of USP11 and PML not only confers multiple malignant characteristics of aggressive glioma, including proliferation, invasiveness and tumour growth in an orthotopic mouse model, but also potentiates self-renewal, tumour-forming capacity and therapeutic resistance of patient-derived glioma-initiating cells. Our study uncovers a PML degradation mechanism through Notch/Hey1-induced repression of the PML deubiquitinase USP11 and suggests an important role for this pathway in brain tumour pathogenesis

Mutation and Lineage Analysis of DNMT3A in BCR-ABL1-negative Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

SummaryIn addition to the JAK2 V617F mutation, somatic mutation in DNMT3A has been described in BCL-ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). We have screened for DNMT3A exon 23 mutations in 130 adult Taiwanese patients with chronic phase myeloproliferative neoplasms. Only one somatic DNMT3A R882H mutation was identified in one JAK2 V617F mutation-positive essential thrombocythemia patient (1/91, 1%). Both mutations were detected in the CD34+-, CD19+-, peripheral blood mononuclear cell- and granulocyte-enriched fractions, but were not detected in the CD3+-enriched fraction by lineage analysis. Our findings suggest that DNMT3A mutation is not prevalent in MPNs, and further study is needed to clarify its role in the molecular pathogenesis of myeloproliferative neoplasms

Serotonin receptor HTR6-mediated mTORC1 signaling regulates dietary restriction-induced memory enhancement

Dietary restriction (DR; sometimes called calorie restriction) has profound beneficial effects on physiological, psychological, and behavioral outcomes in animals and in humans. We have explored the molecular mechanism of DR-induced memory enhancement and demonstrate that dietary tryptophan-a precursor amino acid for serotonin biosynthesis in the brain-and serotonin receptor 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 6 (HTR6) are crucial in mediating this process. We show that HTR6 inactivation diminishes DR-induced neurological alterations, including reduced dendritic complexity, increased spine density, and enhanced long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal neurons. Moreover, we find that HTR6-mediated mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling is involved in DR-induced memory improvement. Our results suggest that the HTR6-mediated mTORC1 pathway may function as a nutrient sensor in hippocampal neurons to couple memory performance to dietary intake

Biomechanical analysis of the lumbar spine on facet joint force and intradiscal pressure - a finite element study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Finite element analysis results will show significant differences if the model used is performed under various material properties, geometries, loading modes or other conditions. This study adopted an FE model, taking into account the possible asymmetry inherently existing in the spine with respect to the sagittal plane, with a more geometrically realistic outline to analyze and compare the biomechanical behaviour of the lumbar spine with regard to the facet force and intradiscal pressure, which are associated with low back pain symptoms and other spinal disorders. Dealing carefully with the contact surfaces of the facet joints at various levels of the lumbar spine can potentially help us further ascertain physiological behaviour concerning the frictional effects of facet joints under separate loadings or the responses to the compressive loads in the discs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A lumbar spine model was constructed from processes including smoothing the bony outline of each scan image, stacking the boundary lines into a smooth surface model, and subsequent further processing in order to conform with the purpose of effective finite element analysis performance. For simplicity, most spinal components were modelled as isotropic and linear materials with the exception of spinal ligaments (bilinear). The contact behaviour of the facet joints and changes of the intradiscal pressure with different postures were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results revealed that asymmetric responses of the facet joint forces exist in various postures and that such effect is amplified with larger loadings. In axial rotation, the facet joint forces were relatively larger in the contralateral facet joints than in the ipsilateral ones at the same level. Although the effect of the preloads on facet joint forces was not apparent, intradiscal pressure did increase with preload, and its magnitude increased more markedly in flexion than in extension and axial rotation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Disc pressures showed a significant increase with preload and changed more noticeably in flexion than in extension or in axial rotation. Compared with the applied preloads, the postures played a more important role, especially in axial rotation; the facet joint forces were increased in the contralateral facet joints as compared to the ipsilateral ones at the same level of the lumbar spine.</p

Women with endometriosis have higher comorbidities: Analysis of domestic data in Taiwan

AbstractEndometriosis, defined by the presence of viable extrauterine endometrial glands and stroma, can grow or bleed cyclically, and possesses characteristics including a destructive, invasive, and metastatic nature. Since endometriosis may result in pelvic inflammation, adhesion, chronic pain, and infertility, and can progress to biologically malignant tumors, it is a long-term major health issue in women of reproductive age. In this review, we analyze the Taiwan domestic research addressing associations between endometriosis and other diseases. Concerning malignant tumors, we identified four studies on the links between endometriosis and ovarian cancer, one on breast cancer, two on endometrial cancer, one on colorectal cancer, and one on other malignancies, as well as one on associations between endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome, one on links with migraine headache, three on links with pelvic inflammatory diseases, four on links with infertility, four on links with obesity, four on links with chronic liver disease, four on links with rheumatoid arthritis, four on links with chronic renal disease, five on links with diabetes mellitus, and five on links with cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc.). The data available to date support that women with endometriosis might be at risk of some chronic illnesses and certain malignancies, although we consider the evidence for some comorbidities to be of low quality, for example, the association between colon cancer and adenomyosis/endometriosis. We still believe that the risk of comorbidity might be higher in women with endometriosis than that we supposed before. More research is needed to determine whether women with endometriosis are really at risk of these comorbidities