Two new species of Camallanus (Nematoda: Camallanidae) from freshwater turtles in Queensland, Australia.

We describe 2 new species of Camallanus (Nematoda: Camallanidae) from freshwater turtles collected in Queensland, Australia: Camallanus nithoggi n. sp. from Elseya latisternum (Gray) and Camallanus waelhreow n. sp. from Emydura krefftii (Gray), Emydura macquarrii (Gray), and Em. macquarrii dharra Cann. The only Camallanus sp. previously reported from turtles is C. chelonius Baker, 1983 (all other species in the family have been transferred to Serpinema). The 2 new species described here differ from C. chelonius in the number of male preanal papillae (7 vs. 6 in C. chelonius), the number of male postanal papillae (5 vs. 4 in C. chelonius), and the number of buccal capsule ridges. Additionally, we removed the tissues overlying the buccal capsule and used scanning electron micrographs (SEM) to show that the peribuccal shields extend laterally from the buccal capsule, the basal ring is separated from the buccal capsule by a narrow isthmus, and there is a buttress along the lateral margin of the buccal capsule that has not previously been observed in species of Camallanus

Angiotensin II induces hypertrophy of human airway smooth muscle cells: expression of transcription factors and transforming growth factor-beta1

Increased smooth muscle mass due to hyperplasia and hypertrophy of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells is a common feature in asthma. Angiotensin II (Ang II), a potent vasoconstrictor and mitogen for a wide variety of cells, has recently been implicated in bronchoconstriction in asthmatics. However, a possible mitogenic role as well as underlying molecular mechanisms of this octapeptide in human ASM cells are not yet known. We studied the effects of Ang II on ASM cell proliferation and growth and on the expression of three transcription factors, egr-1, c-fos, and c-jun, as well as a cytokine, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). Human ASM cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion of bronchial smooth muscle obtained from lung resection tissue. Confluent cells were growth-arrested and subsequently incubated with Ang II (100 nM) for different time periods and processed for the measurement of cell growth and gene expression. Ang II significantly induced DNA and protein synthesis in human ASM cells at 8 h, resulting in a net increase in the accumulation of protein over DNA (i.e., cellular hypertrophy) at 16 h of incubation. Cell counts and MTT-reduction assay, however, showed no increase in cell number as a result of Ang II stimulation. Ang II stimulated the expression of egr-1 and c-fos as early as 15 min, reaching maximum levels at 45 min, whereas the expression of c-jun peaked at 2 h of Ang II exposure. Furthermore, steady-state mRNA levels of TGF-beta1 were upregulated by Ang II after 4 h and reached peak levels at 16 h of incubation. Secretion of biologically active TGF-beta1 from human ASM cells was significantly (P <= 0.02) enhanced by Ang II incubation after 8 h, which remained elevated until 24 h. Our results suggest that the Ang II-induced transient early expression of transcription factors may regulate autocrine genes like TGF-beta1, of which the subsequent late upregulation could contribute to cellular hypertrophy during, for example, airway remodeling in asthma

Non-linear stability in photogravitational non-planar restricted three body problem with oblate smaller primary

We have discussed non-linear stability in photogravitational non-planar restricted three body problem with oblate smaller primary. By photogravitational we mean that both primaries are radiating. We normalised the Hamiltonian using Lie transform as in Coppola and Rand (1989). We transformed the system into Birkhoff's normal form. Lie transforms reduce the system to an equivalent simpler system which is immediately solvable. Applying Arnold's theorem, we have found non-linear stability criteria. We conclude that $L_6$ is stable. We plotted graphs for $(\omega_1, D_2).$ They are rectangular hyperbola.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc

Stellar contents and Star formation in the young cluster Stock 18

We have carried out deep (V$\sim$21 mag) \ubvri photometric study of the star cluster Stock 18. These along with archival Infrared data have been used to derive the basic cluster parameters and also to study the star formation processes in and around the cluster region. The distance to the cluster is derived as 2.8$\pm$0.2 kpc while its age is estimated as $6.0\pm2.0$ Myr. Present study indicates that interstellar reddening is normal in the direction of the cluster. The mass function slope is found to be -1.37$\pm$0.27 for the mass range 1$<M/M_\odot<$11.9. There is no evidence found for the effect of mass segregation in main-sequence stars of the cluster. A young stellar population with age between 1-2 Myr have been found in and around the cluster region. The presence of IRAS and AKARI sources with MSX intensity map also show the youth of the Sh2-170 region.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables (Accepted for publication in New Astronomy

Pre-main-sequence population in NGC 1893 region

In this paper we continued our efforts to understand the star formation scenario in and around the young cluster NGC 1893. We used a sample of the young stellar sources (YSOs) identified on the basis of multiwavelength data (optical, near-infrared (NIR), mid-infrared (MIR) and X-ray) to study the nature of YSOs associated with the region. The identified YSOs show an age spread of ~ 5 Myr. The YSOs located near the nebulae at the periphery of the cluster are relatively younger in comparison to those located within the cluster region. The present results are in accordance with those obtained by us in previous studies. Other main results from the present study are: 1) the fraction of disk bearing stars increases towards the periphery of the cluster; 2) there is an evidence supporting the notion that the mechanisms for disk dispersal operate less efficiently for low-mass stars; 3) the sample of Class II sources is found to be relatively older in comparison to that of Class III sources. A comparison of various properties of YSOs in the NGC 1893 region with those in the Tr 37/ IC 1396 region is also discussed.Comment: Accepted for publication in New Astronom

Novel codon-optimized mini-intronic plasmid for efficient, inexpensive, and xeno-free induction of pluripotency

The development of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has revolutionized the regenerative medicine field. This technology provides a powerful tool for disease modeling and drug screening approaches. To circumvent the risk of random integration into the host genome caused by retroviruses, non-integrating reprogramming methods have been developed. However, these techniques are relatively inefficient or expensive. The mini-intronic plasmid (MIP) is an alternative, robust transgene expression vector for reprogramming. Here we developed a single plasmid reprogramming system which carries codon-optimized (Co) sequences of the canonical reprogramming factors (Oct4, Klf4, Sox2, and c-Myc) and short hairpin RNA against p53 ("4-in-1 CoMiP"). We have derived human and mouse iPSC lines from fibroblasts by performing a single transfection. Either independently or together with an additional vector encoding for LIN28, NANOG, and GFP, we were also able to reprogram blood-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) into iPSCs. Taken together, the CoMiP system offers a new highly efficient, integration-free, easy to use, and inexpensive methodology for reprogramming. Furthermore, the CoMIP construct is color-labeled, free of any antibiotic selection cassettes, and independent of the requirement for expression of the Epstein-Barr Virus nuclear antigen (EBNA), making it particularly beneficial for future applications in regenerative medicine

Modeling anisotropic diffusion using a departure from isotropy approach

There are a large number of finite volume solvers available for solution of isotropic diffusion equation. This article presents an approach of adapting these solvers to solve anisotropic diffusion equations. The formulation works by decomposing the diffusive flux into a component associated with isotropic diffusion and another component associated with departure from isotropic diffusion. This results in an isotropic diffusion equation with additional terms to account for the anisotropic effect. These additional terms are treated using a deferred correction approach and coupled via an iterative procedure. The presented approach is validated against various diffusion problems in anisotropic media with known analytical or numerical solutions. Although demonstrated for two-dimensional problems, extension of the present approach to three-dimensional problems is straight forward. Other than the finite volume method, this approach can be applied to any discretization method

Synthesis of a base-stock for electrical insulating fluid based on palm kernel oil

This report presents a method for synthesizing base-stock for green industrial product from a vegetable oil with a high composition of unsaturated fatty acids. Epoxy methyl ester of palm kernel oil was synthesized from laboratory purified palm kernel oil using a two-step reaction and the products were used as a base-stock for green electrical insulation fluid. Epoxidized palm kernel oil was first prepared through epoxidation reaction involving purified palm kernel oil, acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of amberlite as catalyst which lasted for 4 h. It was then followed by transesterification reaction involving the epoxidized product and methanol in the presence of sodium hydroxide as catalyst to synthesize the corresponding epoxy methyl ester. The thermal and electrical breakdown properties of the epoxy methyl ester demonstrated significantly improved properties for its use as raw material for bio-based industrial products such as electrical insulation fluids

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha enhances mRNA expression and secretion of interleukin-6 in cultured human airway smooth muscle cells

Airway smooth muscle (ASM) is considered to be an end-target cell for the effects of mediators released during airway wall inflammation. Several reports suggest that activated ASM may be capable of generating various proinflammatory cytokines. We investigated the effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, a potent proinflammatory cytokine, on cultured human ASM cells by examining the expression and release of the cytokine interleukin (IL)-6, cell proliferation, and the expression pattern of c-fos and c-jun, two nuclear proto-oncogenes constituting the activator protein-1 transcription factor. Growth-arrested cell monolayers were stimulated with human recombinant TNF-alpha in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. TNF-alpha stimulated the expression of IL-6 messenger RNA (mRNA), which was detected after 15 min, reaching a maximum at 1 h. IL-6 protein was readily detected in ASM cell-conditioned medium after 2 h of TNF-alpha stimulation. Protein levels increased in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Release of IL-6 elicited by TNF-alpha was significantly inhibited by dexamethasone, cycloheximide, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). TNF-alpha did not alter DNA biosynthesis up to 48 h or cell numbers up to 120 h. Northern blot analysis of proto-oncogene expression revealed that c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels were elevated after 30 min of TNF-alpha incubation with maximum levels at 1 h and 45 min, respectively. Expression of c-fos mRNA was downregulated by NDGA. Four hours of TNF-alpha treatment resulted in translocation of c-jun immunofluorescence from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in human ASM cells. Our results suggest that despite the lack of a mitogenic response to TNF-alpha, upregulation of primary response genes in human ASM cells may account for the induction of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, in human airways

Microfluidic and Nanofluidic Cavities for Quantum Fluids Experiments

The union of quantum fluids research with nanoscience is rich with opportunities for new physics. The relevant length scales in quantum fluids, 3He in particular, are comparable to those possible using microfluidic and nanofluidic devices. In this article, we will briefly review how the physics of quantum fluids depends strongly on confinement on the microscale and nanoscale. Then we present devices fabricated specifically for quantum fluids research, with cavity sizes ranging from 30 nm to 11 microns deep, and the characterization of these devices for low temperature quantum fluids experiments.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, Accepted to Journal of Low Temperature Physic