Specific discrimination of three pathogenic salmonella enterica subsp enterica serotypes using CarB-based oligonuceotide microarray

It is important to rapidly and selectively detect and analyze pathogenic Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica in contaminated food to reduce the morbidity and mortality of Salmonella infection and to guarantee food safety. In the present work, we developed an oligonucleotide microarray containing duplicate specific capture probes based on the carB gene, which encodes the carbamoyl phosphate synthetase large subunit, as a competent biomarker evaluated by genetic analysis to selectively and efficiently detect and discriminate three S. enterica subsp. enterica serotypes: Choleraesuis, Enteritidis, and Typhimurium. Using the developed microarray system, three serotype targets were successfully analyzed in a range as low as 1.6 to 3.1 nM and were specifically discriminated from each other without nonspecific signals. In addition, the constructed microarray did not have cross-reactivity with other common pathogenic bacteria and even enabled the clear discrimination of the target Salmonella serotype from a bacterial mixture. Therefore, these results demonstrated that our novel carB-based oligonucleotide microarray can be used as an effective and specific detection system for S. enterica subsp. enterica serotypes.open117Nsciescopu

Alloy Design to Prevent Intergranular Corrosion of Low-Cr Ferritic Stainless Steel with Weak Carbide Formers

Effect of weak carbide formers, Mo, Mn and Si, on intergranular corrosion (IGC) of low-Cr ferritic stainless steel is analyzed after IGC test using TEM and three dimensional atom probe. The co-addition ofMo, Mn and Si to low-Cr ferritic stainless steel effectively prevents IGC by forming along grain boundaries CMn4MoSi intermetallic compounds, which act not only as carbon trap sites but also as diffusion barrier against solute Cr diffusion toward grain boundaries. The low solubility of Cr in the CMn4MoSi intermetallic compound results in replenishing Cr in the Cr-depleted area. (C) The Author(s) 2015. Published by ECS. All rights reserved.114Ysciescopu

Journey of water in pine cones

Pine cones fold their scales when it rains to prevent seeds from short-distance dispersal. Given that the scales of pine cones consist of nothing but dead cells, this folding motion is evidently related to structural changes. In this study, the structural characteristics of pine cones are studied on micro-/macro-scale using various imaging instruments. Raindrops fall along the outer scales to the three layers (bract scales, fibers and innermost lignified structure) of inner pine cones. However, not all the layers but only the bract scales get wet and then, most raindrops move to the inner scales. These systems reduce the amount of water used and minimize the time spent on structural changes. The result shows that the pine cones have structural advantages that could influence the efficient motion of pine cones. This study provides new insights to understand the motion of pine cones and would be used to design a novel water transport system.119Ysciescopu

Simultaneous Determination of Seven Constituents in Herbal Prescription Jaeumganghwa-Tang Using HPLC-PDA

A simple and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic method was applied to the quantitative analysis of seven components of the traditional herbal prescription Jaeumganghwa-tang (JGT), including 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, liquiritin, ferulic acid, nodakenin, and glycyrrhizin. All seven compounds were separated in less than 40 min on a Gemini C18 column at 40°C by gradient elution using 1.0% (v/v) aqueous acetic acid and acetonitrile containing 1.0% (v/v) acetic acid as mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min and the detector was a photodiode array (PDA) set at 230 nm, 254 nm, 280 nm, and 330 nm. The calibration curves showed good linearity (r2 > 0.9998) in different concentration ranges. The recovery of each component was in the range of 91.47–102.62%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs, %) less than 4.5%. The RSDs (%) for intra- and interday precision were 0.06–2.85% and 0.06–2.83%, respectively. The concentrations of the seven components in JGT were in the range 0.74–5.48 mg/g

Measurement of real pulsatile blood flow using x-ray PIV technique with CO2 microbubbles

Synchrotron X-ray imaging technique has been used to investigate biofluid flows in a non-destructive manner. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of the X-ray PIV technique with CO2 microbubbles as flow tracer for measurement of pulsatile blood flows under in vivo conditions. The traceability of CO2 microbubbles in a pulsatile flow was demonstrated through in vitro experiment. A rat extracorporeal bypass loop was used by connecting a tube between the abdominal aorta and jugular vein of a rat to obtain hemodynamic information of actual pulsatile blood flows without changing the hemorheological properties. The decrease in image contrast of the surrounding tissue was also investigated for in vivo applications of the proposed technique. This technique could be used to accurately measure whole velocity field information of real pulsatile blood flows and has strong potential for hemodynamic diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.1155Ysciescopu

Proteins identification of wheat-rye translocation lines by MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometry and ESI-QTOF/MS

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between Timed Up and Go (TUG) performance, verbal executive function (EF) performance, and quality-of-life (QOL) measures in Parkinson's disease (PD). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Sixteen movement disorder centers from across the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with PD (N=1964). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: TUG test, immediate and delayed 5-word recall, verbal fluency, PD QOL Questionnaire. RESULTS: TUG performance and verbal EF performance were significantly associated with, and predictors of, QOL measures, having the greatest association and predictability with the mobility domain of the QOL measures. CONCLUSIONS: The TUG test and verbal EF tests have QOL correlates, making the combined evaluation of mobility, cognitive, and QOL decline a potential examination tool to evaluate the sequelae of PD

Journey of water in pine cones

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Biological potential of polyethylene glycol (Peg)-functionalized graphene quantum dots in in vitro neural stem/progenitor cells

Stem cell therapy is one of the novel and prospective fields. The ability of stem cells to differentiate into different lineages makes them attractive candidates for several therapies. It is essential to understand the cell fate, distribution, and function of transplanted cells in the local microenvironment before their applications. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an accurate and reliable labeling method of stem cells for imaging techniques to track their translocation after transplantation. The graphitic quantum dots (GQDs) are selected among various stem cell labeling and tracking strategies which have high photoluminescence ability, photostability, relatively low cytotoxicity, tunable surface functional groups, and delivering capacity. Since GQDs interact easily with the cell and interfere with cell behavior through surface functional groups, an appropriate surface modification needs to be considered to get close to the ideal labeling nanoprobes. In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG) is used to improve biocompatibility while simultaneously maintaining the photoluminescent potentials of GQDs. The biochemically inert PEG successfully covered the surface of GQDs. The PEG-GQDs composites show adequate bioimaging capabilities when internalized into neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs). Furthermore, the bio-inertness of the PEG-GQDs is confirmed. Herein, we introduce the PEG-GQDs as a valuable tool for stem cell labeling and tracking for biomedical therapies in the field of neural regeneration

Overexpression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor in breast cancer cells induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition and promotes tumor growth and angiogenesis

The angiotensin II type I receptor (AGTR1) has been implicated in diverse aspects of human disease, from the regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular homeostasis to cancer progression. We sought to investigate the role of AGTR1 in cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, invasion, angiogenesis and tumor growth in the breast cancer cell line MCF7. Stable overexpression of AGTR1 was associated with accelerated cell proliferation, concomitant with increased expression of survival factors including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP), as well as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. AGTR1-overexpressing MCF7 cells were more aggressive than their parent line, with significantly increased activity in migration and invasion assays. These observations were associated with changes in EMT markers, including reduced E-cadherin expression and increased p-Smad3, Smad4 and Snail levels. Treatment with the AGTR1 antagonist losartan attenuated these effects. AGTR1 overexpression also accelerated tumor growth and increased Ki-67 expression in a xenograft model. This was associated with increased tumor angiogenesis, as evidenced by a significant increase in microvessels in the intratumoral and peritumoral areas, and enhanced tumor invasion, with the latter response associated with increased EMT marker expression and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) upregulation. In vivo administration of losartan significantly reduced both tumor growth and angiogenesis. Our findings suggest that AGTR1 plays a significant role in tumor aggressiveness, and its inhibition may have therapeutic implications. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.111212Ysciescopu