Design of Compact Planar Diplexer Based on Novel Spiral-Based Resonators

A miniaturized planar diplexer utilizing the novel spiral-based resonators is proposed. The given cell which is initially proposed in this article is composed of two separated rectangular spirals which are asymmetrical to each other and thus, it is called as ‘asymmetrical separated spirals resonator’ (ASSR). ASSR has more superior transmission property than the previous prototype and extremely compact dimension is also achieved. It is demonstrated that ASSR can exhibit bandpass performance with high frequency selectivity and good transmission property within the relatively low frequency band. Based on the given characteristic, one planar diplexer composed of T-junction and two ASSRs is synthesized and the fabricated prototype with compact dimension is achieved, thanks to ASSRs explored. Simultaneously, the transversal dimension of each channel is extremely compact because ASSRs are completely embedded in the feed lines. Both the simulated and measured results indicate that satisfactory impedance matching and high isolation between two channels are achieved. Furthermore, the proposed diplexer is uniplanar and no defected ground structure is introduced

A new pathogenic isolate of Kocuria kristinae identified for the first time in the marine fish Larimichthys crocea

In recent years, new emerging pathogenic microorganisms have frequently appeared in animals, including marine fish, possibly due to climate change, anthropogenic activities, and even cross-species transmission of pathogenic microorganisms among animals or between animals and humans, which poses a serious issue for preventive medicine. In this study, a bacterium was clearly characterized among 64 isolates from the gills of diseased large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea that were raised in marine aquaculture. This strain was identified as K. kristinae by biochemical tests with a VITEK 2.0 analysis system and 16S rRNA sequencing and named K. kristinae_LC. The potential genes that might encode virulence-factors were widely screened through sequence analysis of the whole genome of K. kristinae_LC. Many genes involved in the two-component system and drug-resistance were also annotated. In addition, 104 unique genes in K. kristinae_LC were identified by pan genome analysis with the genomes of this strain from five different origins (woodpecker, medical resource, environment, and marine sponge reef) and the analysis results demonstrated that their predicted functions might be associated with adaptation to living conditions such as higher salinity, complex marine biomes, and low temperature. A significant difference in genomic organization was found among the K. kristinae strains that might be related to their hosts living in different environments. The animal regression test for this new bacterial isolate was carried out using L. crocea, and the results showed that this bacterium could cause the death of L. crocea and that the fish mortality was dose-dependent within 5 days post infection, indicating the pathogenicity of K. kristinae_LC to marine fish. Since K. kristinae has been reported as a pathogen for humans and bovines, in our study, we revealed a new isolate of K. kristinae_LC from marine fish for the first time, suggesting the potentiality of cross-species transmission among animals or from marine animals to humans, from which we would gain insight to help in future public prevention strategies for new emerging pathogens

Conserved Extracellular Cysteines Differentially Regulate the Potentiation Produced by Zn2+ in Rat P2X4 Receptors

One feature of the amino acid sequence of P2X receptors identified from mammalian species, Xenopus laevis and zebrafish is the conservation of ten cysteines in the extracellular loop. Little information is available about the role of these conserved ectodomain cysteines in the function of P2X receptors. Here, we investigated the possibility that ten conserved cysteine residues in the extracellular loop of the rat P2X4 receptor may regulate zinc potentiation of the receptor using a series of individual cysteine to alanine point mutations and functional characterization of recombinant receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. For the C116A, C132A, C159A, C165A, C217A and C227A mutants, 10 µM zinc did not significantly affect the current activated by an EC40 concentration of ATP. By contrast, 5 µM zinc shifted the ATP concentration-response curve to the right in a parallel manner for both the C261A and C270A mutants and the magnitudes of those shifts were similar to that of the wildtype receptor. Interestingly, for the C126A and C149A mutants, 5 µM zinc potentiated ATP-activated current, but increased the maximal response to ATP by 90% and 81% respectively, without significantly changing the EC50 value of ATP. Thus, these results suggest that cysteines and disulfide bonds between cysteines are differentially involved in the potentiation of the rat P2X4 receptor by zinc

Clinical features and surgical effect of vireoretinal diseases with contralateral blindness

AIM: To investigate the clinical characteristics and surgical results of vireoretinal diseases in 68 patients with contralateral blindness(solitary eye). <p>METHODS: A total of 68 patients(68 eyes)with contralateral blindness were enrolled in this retrospective consecutive study. The clinical characteristics, surgical procedures and temponade materials chosen, preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, complications and prognosis were analyzed. The follow-up ranged from 4 months to 5 years, with an average of(11.30±9.57)months. At the last follow-up, the surgical effects were evaluated.<p>RESULTS:After operation, visual acuity increased significantly. The number of eyes with vision of 0.05 or better increased from 22 eyes(32.4%)preoperative to 60 eyes(88.2%)postoperative, and that of 0.3 or better from 3 eyes(4.4%)to 37 eyes(54.4%). The best-corrected visual acuity before and after surgery also differed significantly(<i>t</i>=8.986, <i>P<</i>0.01). <p>CONCLUSION: With vitreoretinal surgery, visual impairment or loss due to vitreoretinal diseases can be avoided in most patients with contralateral blindness

Screening of oleaginous yeast with xylose assimilating capacity for lipid and bio-ethanol production

Microbial oil is a promising new biodiesel resource, which have great potential in industrial-scale production. In our preliminary study, 57 oleaginous yeast with xylose assimilating capacity were isolated from 13 soil samples, 16 strains were identified as potential lipid biomass producer. Four strains which showed higher lipid content were used for further ethanol fermentation at different conditions. Strain 9-44 belonging to Pichia guillermondii showed the highest ethanol production (21.91 g/l), and the theoretical ethanol yield was 85.90%. Our study will be of great significance for coupling of lipid and bio-ethanol production, and also provide a choice of cellulocis biomass utilization.Key words: Microbial oil, oleaginous yeast, Pichia guillermondii, bio-ethanol, cellulocis biomass

Phosphorylation of Icariin Can Alleviate the Oxidative Stress Caused by the Duck Hepatitis Virus A through Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Signaling Pathways

The duck virus hepatitis (DVH) caused by the duck hepatitis virus A (DHAV) has produced extensive economic losses to the duck industry. The currently licensed commercial vaccine has shown some defects and does not completely prevent the DVH. Accordingly, a new alternative treatment for this disease is urgently needed. Previous studies have shown that icariin (ICA) and its phosphorylated derivative (pICA) possessed good anti-DHAV effects through direct and indirect antiviral pathways, such as antioxidative stress. But the antioxidant activity showed some differences between ICA and pICA. The aim of this study is to prove that ICA and pICA attenuate oxidative stress caused by DHAV in vitro and in vivo, and to investigate their mechanism of action to explain their differences in antioxidant activities. In vivo, the dynamic deaths, oxidative evaluation indexes and hepatic pathological change scores were detected. When was added the hinokitiol which showed the pro-oxidative effect as an intervention method, pICA still possessed more treatment effect than ICA. The strong correlation between mortality and oxidative stress proves that ICA and pICA alleviate oxidative stress caused by DHAV. This was also demonstrated by the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an intervention method in vitro. pICA can be more effective than ICA to improve duck embryonic hepatocytes (DEHs) viability and reduce the virulence of DHAV. The strong correlation between TCID50 and oxidative stress demonstrates that ICA and pICA can achieve anti-DHAV effects by inhibiting oxidative stress. In addition, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) of ICA and pICA showed significant difference. pICA could significantly inhibit the phosphorylation of p38, extra cellular signal regulated Kinase (ERK 1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), which were related to mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways. Ultimately, compared to ICA, pICA exhibited more antioxidant activity that could regulate oxidative stress-related indicators, and inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPKs signaling pathway