Myosin Light-Chain Kinase Is Necessary for Membrane Homeostasis in Cochlear Inner Hair Cells

The structural homeostasis of the cochlear hair cell membrane is critical for all aspects of sensory transduction, but the regulation of its maintenance is not well understood. In this report, we analyzed the cochlear hair cells of mice with specific deletion of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in inner hair cells. MLCK-deficient mice showed impaired hearing, with a 5- to 14-dB rise in the auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds to clicks and tones of different frequencies and a significant decrease in the amplitude of the ABR waves. The mutant inner hair cells produced several ball-like structures around the hair bundles in vivo, indicating impaired membrane stability. Inner hair cells isolated from the knockout mice consistently displayed less resistance to hypoosmotic solution and less membrane F-actin. Myosin light-chain phosphorylation was also reduced in the mutated inner hair cells. Our results suggest that MLCK is necessary for maintaining the membrane stability of inner hair cells

Prevalence and trend of hepatitis C virus infection among blood donors in Chinese mainland: a systematic review and meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Blood transfusion is one of the most common transmission pathways of hepatitis C virus (HCV). This paper aims to provide a comprehensive and reliable tabulation of available data on the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors for HCV infection among blood donors in Chinese mainland, so as to help make prevention strategies and guide further research.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic review was constructed based on the computerized literature database. Infection rates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using the approximate normal distribution model. Odds ratios and 95% CI were calculated by fixed or random effects models. Data manipulation and statistical analyses were performed using STATA 10.0 and ArcGIS 9.3 was used for map construction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two hundred and sixty-five studies met our inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of HCV infection among blood donors in Chinese mainland was 8.68% (95% CI: 8.01%-9.39%), and the epidemic was severer in North and Central China, especially in Henan and Hebei. While a significant lower rate was found in Yunnan. Notably, before 1998 the pooled prevalence of HCV infection was 12.87% (95%CI: 11.25%-14.56%) among blood donors, but decreased to 1.71% (95%CI: 1.43%-1.99%) after 1998. No significant difference was found in HCV infection rates between male and female blood donors, or among different blood type donors. The prevalence of HCV infection was found to increase with age. During 1994-1995, the prevalence rate reached the highest with a percentage of 15.78% (95%CI: 12.21%-19.75%), and showed a decreasing trend in the following years. A significant difference was found among groups with different blood donation types, Plasma donors had a relatively higher prevalence than whole blood donors of HCV infection (33.95% <it>vs </it>7.9%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prevalence of HCV infection has rapidly decreased since 1998 and kept a low level in recent years, but some provinces showed relatively higher prevalence than the general population. It is urgent to make efficient measures to prevent HCV secondary transmission and control chronic progress, and the key to reduce the HCV incidence among blood donors is to encourage true voluntary blood donors, strictly implement blood donation law, and avoid cross-infection.</p

Azimuthal Charged-Particle Correlations and Possible Local Strong Parity Violation

Parity-odd domains, corresponding to nontrivial topological solutions of the QCD vacuum, might be created during relativistic heavy-ion collisions. These domains are predicted to lead to charge separation of quarks along the system’s orbital momentum axis. We investigate a three-particle azimuthal correlator which is a P even observable, but directly sensitive to the charge separation effect. We report measurements of charged hadrons near center-of-mass rapidity with this observable in Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at √sNN=200  GeV using the STAR detector. A signal consistent with several expectations from the theory is detected. We discuss possible contributions from other effects that are not related to parity violation

Multistrange baryon elliptic flow in Au plus Au collisions at root(NN)-N-S=200 GeV

We report on the first measurement of elliptic flow nu(2)(p(T)) of multistrange baryons Xi(-)+Xi(+) and Omega(-)+Omega(+) in heavy-ion collisions. In minimum-bias Au+Au collisions at root s(NN)=200 GeV, a significant amount of elliptic flow, comparable to other nonstrange baryons, is observed for multistrange baryons which are expected to be particularly sensitive to the dynamics of the partonic stage of heavy-ion collisions. The p(T) dependence of nu(2) of the multistrange baryons confirms the number of constituent quark scaling previously observed for lighter hadrons. These results support the idea that a substantial fraction of the observed collective motion is developed at the early partonic stage in ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

Melt processable homo- and copolyimides with high thermo-oxidative stability as derived from mixed thioetherdiphthalic anhydride isomers

A series of homo- and copolyimides based on mixed thioetherdiphthalic anhydride isomers (mixed-TDPA) were synthesized with several kinds of aromatic diamines. The properties of these polyimides were characterized by glass transition temperature (T-g), thermal decomposition temperature, and melt processability. A series of copolyimides were prepared to achieve high T-g concurrently with melt processability by means of selecting appropriate diamines and their composition in the copolyimides. As a result, we obtained rheological information for a series of polyimide resins as a function of temperature, time and shear rate. It is found that the processability (e.g., melt viscosity of polyimides) and ultimate product properties (e.g., T-g of polyimides) can be systematically varied by changing the variety and composition of the aromatic diamines. It has been demonstrated that the incorporation of meta-or flexible diamines improve the melt processability of polyimides significantly. Meanwhile, T-g of copolyimides from dual-diamines can be predicted and regulated. Accordingly, copolyimides from 1,3-phenylenediamine (m-PDA) and 3,4'-oxydianiline (3,4'-ODA) were obtained with higher T-g and lower melt viscosity. Such correlations of chemical structures and rheological behavior provide the necessary database for tailor-making new polyimide systems with desirable processability and physical properties

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of a novel one-dimensional heterobimetallic polymer [{Co(dpa)(DMF) (μ-SCN)3Ag}n] [dpa = bis(2-pyridyl)amine]

The synthesis and X-ray characterization of a novel one-dimensional polymeric chain of cobalt(II) and silver(I) heteronuclear complexes with three different bridging thiocyanate groups are reported. The two-dimensional network is formed through hydrogen-bonding interactions of N(3) - H(1) ⋯ S(3) between different chains.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Highly stable copper(I)-olefin coordination polymers capable of co-existing with water and acid

Under solvothermal conditions, the reactions of trans-3(4-pyridyl)acryIic acid (4-HPYA) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), and /ra;w-3-(3-pyridyl)acrylic acid (3-HPYA) and 2,2′-bipyridine (2,2′-bpy) with Cu(MeCN)4BF4 give rise to two unprecedented stable copper(I)-olefin coordination polymers, {[(phen)(4-HPYA)Cu(I)](BF4)}n(1) and {[(2,2′-bpy)(3-HPYA)Cu(I)](BF4)·H2O} n(2), respectively. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2000.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

The first chiral 2-D molecular triangular grid

The two-dimensional coordination polymer, [Cu(PPh3)-(W,N-(2-pyridyl)(4-pyridyImethyl)amine)1.5]-0.5CHCl 3-CIO4 1, with a large chiral triangular cavity and blue fluorescent emission, was synthesized by a solvothermal reaction between [Cu(MeCN)2(PPh3)2]ClO4 and N,N-(2-pyridyl)(4-pyridylmethyl)amine. ©The Royal Society of Chemistry 2000

A new self-assembled copper(I) complex of 2-thioxo-5H-1,3-dithiolo[4,5-b][1,4]dithiepin-6(7H)-one showing three-dimensional supramolecular networks

The synthesis and structural characterization of a supramolecular copper(I) complex of 2-thioxo-1,3-dithiolo[4,5-b][1,4]dithiepin-6(7H)-one are described. The complex crystallized in the orthorhombic space group Pna21 with the cell dimensions a=12.9124(2), b=20.7944(2), c=4.4457(1) Å, V=1193.70(3) Å3 and Z=4. The structure was refined to a final agreement factor R=0.0295. The C6H4OS5Cu units are connected by bridging iodide atoms to form a ladder structure. The CuCu separation is 2.9884(9) Å, and the short SS and SI contacts interchain lead to a novel three-dimensional network. © 1999 Elsevier Science S.A.link_to_subscribed_fulltex