600 research outputs found
Polarized Deep Inelastic Scattering Off the "Neutron" From Gauge/String Duality
We investigate deep inelastic scattering off the polarized "neutron" using
gauge/string duality. The "neutron" corresponds to a supergravity mode of the
neutral dilatino. Through introducing the Pauli interaction term into the
action in space, we calculate the polarized deep inelastic
structure functions of the "neutron" in supergravity approximation at large t'
Hooft coupling and finite with . In
comparison with the charged dilatino "proton," which has been obtained in the
previous work by Gao and Xiao, we find the structure functions of the "neutron"
are power suppressed at the same order as the ones of the "proton." Especially,
we find the Burkhardt-Cottingham-like sum rule, which is satisfied in the work
by Gao and Xiao, is broken due to the Pauli interaction term. We also
illustrate how such a Pauli interaction term can arise naturally from higher
dimensional fermion-graviton coupling through the usual Kaluza-Klein reduction.Comment: 21pages,5figures, published versio
Mutation of SLC35D3 causes metabolic syndrome by impairing dopamine signaling in striatal D1 neurons
We thank Dr. Ya-Qin Feng from Shanxi Medical University, Dr. Tian-Yun Gao from Nanjing University and Dr. Yan-Hong Xue from Institute of Biophysics (CAS) for technical assistance in this study. We are very thankful to Drs. Richard T. Swank and Xiao-Jiang Li for their critical reading of this manuscript and invaluable advice. Funding: This work was partially supported by grants from National Basic Research Program of China (2013CB530605; 2014CB942803), from National Natural Science Foundation of China 1230046; 31071252; 81101182) and from Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-EW-R-05, KJZD-EW-L08). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Lignocellulosic saccharification by a newly isolated bacterium, Ruminiclostridium thermocellum M3 and cellular cellulase activities for high ratio of glucose to cellobiose
Background: Lignocellulosic biomass is one of earth's most abundant resources, and it has great potential for biofuel production because it is renewable and has carbon-neutral characteristics. Lignocellulose is mainly composed of carbohydrate polymers (cellulose and hemicellulose), which contain approximately 75 % fermentable sugars for biofuel fermentation. However, saccharification by cellulases is always the main bottleneck for commercialization. Compared with the enzyme systems of fungi, bacteria have evolved distinct systems to directly degrade lignocellulose. However, most reported bacterial saccharification is not efficient enough without help from additional β-glucosidases. Thus, to enhance the economic feasibility of using lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production, it will be extremely important to develop a novel bacterial saccharification system that does not require the addition of β-glucosidases. Results: In this study, a new thermophilic bacterium named Ruminiclostridium thermocellum M3, which could directly saccharify lignocellulosic biomass, was isolated from horse manure. The results showed that R. thermocellum M3 can grow at 60 °C on a variety of carbon polymers, including microcrystalline cellulose, filter paper, and xylan. Upon utilization of these substrates, R. thermocellum M3 achieved an oligosaccharide yield of 481.5 ± 16.0 mg/g Avicel, and a cellular β-glucosidase activity of up to 0.38 U/mL, which is accompanied by a high proportion (approximately 97 %) of glucose during the saccharification. R. thermocellum M3 also showed potential in degrading natural lignocellulosic biomass, without additional pretreatment, to oligosaccharides, and the oligosaccharide yields using poplar sawdust, corn cobs, rice straw, and cornstalks were 52.7 ± 2.77, 77.8 ± 5.9, 89.4 ± 9.3, and 107.8 ± 5.88 mg/g, respectively. Conclusions: The newly isolated strain R. thermocellum M3 degraded lignocellulose and accumulated oligosaccharides. R. thermocellum M3 saccharified lignocellulosic feedstock without the need to add β-glucosidases or control the pH, and the high proportion of glucose production distinguishes it from all other known monocultures of cellulolytic bacteria. R. thermocellum M3 is a potential candidate for lignocellulose saccharification, and it is a valuable choice for the refinement of bioproducts
Up-regulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1α by cobalt chloride correlates with proliferation and apoptosis in PC-2 cells
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The exact mechanism of the effects of hypoxia on the proliferation and apoptosis in carcinoma cells is still conflicting. This study investigated the variation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) expression and the apoptosis effect of hypoxia stimulated by cobalt chloride (CoCl<sub>2</sub>) in pancreatic cancer PC-2 cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>PC-2 cells were cultured with different concentration (50-200 μmol/L) of CoCl<sub>2 </sub>after 24-120 hours to simulate hypoxia in vitro. The proliferation of PC-2 cells was examined by MTT assay. The cellular morphology of PC-2 cells were observed by light inverted microscope and transmission electron microscope(EM). The expression of HIF-1α on mRNA and protein level was measured by semi-quantitive RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Apoptosis of PC-2 cells were demonstrated by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MTT assay showed that the proliferation of PC-2 cells were stimulated in the first 72 h, while after treated over 72 h, a dose- dependent inhibition of cell growth could be observed. By using transmission electron microscope, swollen chondrosomes, accumulated chromatin under the nuclear membrane and apoptosis bodies were observed. Flow cytometer(FCM) analysis showed the apoptosis rate was correlated with the dosage of CoCl<sub>2</sub>. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis indicated that hypoxia could up-regulate the expression of HIF-1α on both mRNA and protein levels.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Hypoxic microenvironment stimulated by CoCl<sub>2 </sub>could effectively induce apoptosis and influence cell proliferation in PC-2 cells, the mechanism could be related to up-expression of HIF-1α.</p
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Alterations of Serum Levels of BDNF-Related miRNAs in Patients with Depression
Depression is a serious and potentially life-threatening mental disorder with unknown etiology. Emerging evidence shows that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in the etiology of depression. Here this study was aimed to identify and characterize the roles of BDNF and its putative regulatory miRNAs in depression. First, we identified that miR-182 may be a putative miRNA that regulates BDNF levels by bioinformatic studies, and characterized the effects of miR-182 on the BDNF levels using cell-based studies, side by side with miR-132 (a known miRNA that regulates BDNF expression). We showed that treatment of miR-132 and miR-182 respectively decreased the BDNF protein levels in a human neuronal cell model, supporting the regulatory roles of miR-132 and miR-182 on the BDNF expression. Furthermore, we explored the roles of miR-132 and miR-182 on the BDNF levels in depression using human subjects by assessing their serum levels. Compared with the healthy controls, patients with depression showed lower serum BDNF levels (via the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) and higher serum miR-132 and miR-182 levels (via the real-time PCR). Finally, the Pearson’s (or Spearman’s) correlation coefficient was calculated to study whether there was a relationship among the Self-Rating Depression Scale score, the serum BDNF levels, and serum BDNF-related miRNA levels. Our results revealed that there was a significant negative correlation between the SDS scores and the serum BDNF levels, and a positive correlation between the SDS scores and miR-132 levels. In addition, we found a reverse relationship between the serum BDNF levels and the miR-132/miR-182 levels in depression. Collectively, we provided evidence supporting that miR-182 is a putative BDNF-regulatory miRNA, and suggested that the serum BDNF and its related miRNAs may be utilized as important biomarkers in the diagnosis or as therapeutic targets of depression
Density Dependence of Nucleon Bag Constant, Radius and Mass in an Effective Field Theory Model of QCD
With the global color symmetry model (GCM) being extended to finite chemical
potential, the density dependence of the bag constant, the total energy and the
radius of a nucleon, as well as the quark condensate in nuclear matter are
investigated. A maximal nuclear matter density for the existence of the bag
with three quarks confined within is obtained. The calculated results indicate
that, before the maximal density is reached, the bag constant, the total energy
of a nucleon and the quark condensate decrease gradually, and the radius of a
nucleon increases, with the increasing of the nuclear matter density.
Nevertheless no sudden change emerges. As the maximal nuclear matter density is
reached, a phase transition from nucleons to quarks takes place and the chiral
symmetry is restored.Comment: Latex, 15 postscript pages, 6 postscript files, To be published in
Nuclear Physics
Epidemiological investigation of coccidiosis in piglets in southwest of China
Faecal specimens (300) of piglets (7–21 days of age) from different regions of southwest of China were checked for the coccidial oocyst for investigating the infection rates of coccidiosis in piglets in southwest of China and guidance for prevention of coccidiosis. The results showed that, the infection rates of coccidiosis in piglets in Chengdu, Leshan, Nanning, Hezhou, Chongzuo and Haikou were 44, 34, 52, 40, 30 and 34% respectively. The coccidiosis positive rate of the farms was 100% (12/12). The study provides a basis for prevention the coccidiosis in piglets in China
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