Optimized synthesis of art patterns and layered textures

published_or_final_versio

Expression and functional analysis of apoptosis-related gene BmICAD in silkworm, Bombyx mori

The ICAD gene plays an important role in the growth and development processes in insects. We conducted a molecular cloning and functional analysis to study a specific silkworm gene BmICAD related to apoptosis. The BmICAD gene was obtained from the fifth instar larvae of the silkworm by RTPCR and over-expressed in Escherichia coli as His-tagged fusion proteins. Subcellular localization of the protein indicated that BmICAD was found in the cytoplasm near the nucleus. RNAi assay indicated that the apoptosis rate of Bm5 cells increased markedly. A His pull-down assay was used to investigate proteins that bind to rBmICAD. Two proteins, DNA supercoiling factor (SCF) and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), were found. These results indicate that down regulation of BmICAD can increase the apoptosis rate of Bm5 cells, and that SCF and SPARC may have important roles by interacting with BmICAD during this process.Key words: Bombyx mori, BmICAD, subcellular localization, RNAi, protein interaction

Prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae: A cause for community‑acquired infection among pediatric populaztion

Background: Atypical pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a leading cause of mortality among the pediatric age group.Objectives: Our study was designed to know the prevalence of M. pneumoniae in children with community‑acquired pneumonia and the involvement in the cytoadherence to the respiratory epithelium by M. pneumoniae using electron microscopy and immuno‑gold labeling technique.Materials and Methods: A total of 152 children of 1 month to 12 years of age of both sexes attending Hebei Provincial People’s Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei with diagnosed pneumonia were included in the study.Results: Out of 152 children 84 (55.3%) were males, and 68 (44.7%) were females. The mean age of the patients in the control group (50 patients) was 18.5 ± 3 months with 31 (62%) males and 19 (38%) females. IgM antibodies against M. pneumoniae were positive in 84 (55.3%) males and 68 (44.7%) females. Out of 50 patients 9 (18%) were found to positive for IgM M. pneumoniae antibodies of which four (44.4%) males and 5 (55.5%) females were positive. Our study observed that the gold particles were clustered on the filamentous extension of the tip of the cells. Out of 152 serum samples subjected to particle agglutination assay 138 (90.7%) were positive 1:320 titer, 9 were >1:80 and 3 showed titer was >1:40.Conclusion: We suggest that clinicians should consider empirical therapy of broad spectrum antibiotics therapy to cover these atypical pathogens to reduce the severity before obtaining the serological results. From our study, we also suggest electron microscopic and biochemical studies for better diagnosis of these pathogens.Key words: Atypical, community‑acquired pneumonia, electron microscope, gold labelin

Molecular characterization of Cymbidium kanran cultivars based on extended random amplified polymorphic DNA (ERAPD) markers

Fifty-four Cymbidium kanran cultivars from China, Japan and Korea were examined and analyzed by using the successive screening of 3'-end extended random primer amplified polymorphic DNA (ERAPD) markers to determine their molecular diversity and relationships. In ERAPD analyses, the strandspecific DNA sequence of direct oligonucleotide extension sequencing primers was independently read from each of the RAPD fragments without recourse to cloning or strand separation. Eight primers, identified from 80 original RAPD primers, produced strong repetitive polymorphic bands that were used in 3'-end-extended random primer amplified DNA marker analysis. The products of primers ACTGAACGCCCG + ACTGAACGCCGG and ACTGAACGCCC + ACTGAACGCC, linked to the same locus (2.5 - kb), were developed from the original ACTGAACGC RAPD primer; the products of this marker were more stable and specific than the original RAPD marker. Unweighted pair-group mean analysis (UPGMA) grouped them into two clusters based upon geographical traits. We demonstrated that the ERAPD technique is a powerful tool for cultivar identification and establishment of genetic relationships of cultivars in Cymbidium kanran.Key words: Cymbidium kanran; genetic relationship; Extended random amplified polymorphic DNA (ERAPD

铁转运刺激因子研究进展

2003-2004 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

DMT1的结构及其基因表达调控

2004-2005 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

The Rearing and Biology of the Desert Beetle, Microdera punctipennis, Under Laboratory Conditions

Microdera punctipennis Kasz (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is a unique species that lives in the desert region of Central Asia and has adopted a nocturnal habit to survive the desert environment. Female adults are larger in size than male adults. The female/male ratio was 1.04:1. A rearing method using reused plastic bottles was used. The rearing conditions were 30 ± 0.5°C, 30 ± 6% relative humidity (RH), and 16:8 L:D photoperiod. Cabbage was provided as food. Cannibalism was avoided by rearing one larva in a bottle. A complete life cycle was obtained under these conditions. The viability of eggs, larvae, prepupae, pupae, and teneral adults was 93.54%, 83.71%, 84.76%, 87.64%, and 93.59%, respectively. Embryogenesis took 7.35 days on average. The larval duration in each instar was 2.25 days. The mean duration of the larvae, prepupae, pupae, and teneral adult was 49.27, 7.05, 9.95, and 10.12 days, respectively. The coloration of each developmental stage gradually changed from creamy white to light brownish or black. Females commenced oviposition when their body color became black. On average, each female produced 568 eggs

Effect of dietary arginine supplementation on reproductive performance of mice with porcine circovirus type 2 infection

The objective of this study was to investigate whether supplemental dietary arginine increases reproductive performance in mice infected with porcine circovirus type2 (PCV2). A total of 50KM female mice were allotted randomly to the arginine group (0.6% arginine + gestation diet) and control group (1.22% alanine + gestation diet). All the mice began to mate after 14 days of treatment with our prepared feed and challenged with PCV2 at the dose of 100 TCID50 (50% tissue culture infection dose, TCID50) after 7 days of pregnancy. Abortion rate, litter number, litter birth weight, the daily weight gain in the first 7 days and survival rate in the first 2 weeks of the neonates were calculated. The serum progesterone, estrogen, nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) on the 14th day of pregnancy were measured. Arginine supplementation decreased the abortion rate of pregnant mice and mortality of neonates caused by PCV2 infection. Further, litter number, litter birth weight and the daily weight gain of neonates increased in the arginine group compared to the control group. Arginine supplementation increased significantly the serum progesterone (P < 0.01) and nitric oxide levels (P < 0.05), but had little effect on the serum estrogen level. SOD activity and T-AOC in the arginine group were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the control group. In conclusion, arginine supplementation partially reversed the reproductive failure in mice caused by PCV2 infection