Differential Phase-contrast Interior Tomography

Differential phase contrast interior tomography allows for reconstruction of a refractive index distribution over a region of interest (ROI) for visualization and analysis of internal structures inside a large biological specimen. In this imaging mode, x-ray beams target the ROI with a narrow beam aperture, offering more imaging flexibility at less ionizing radiation. Inspired by recently developed compressive sensing theory, in numerical analysis framework, we prove that exact interior reconstruction can be achieved on an ROI via the total variation minimization from truncated differential projection data through the ROI, assuming a piecewise constant distribution of the refractive index in the ROI. Then, we develop an iterative algorithm for the interior reconstruction and perform numerical simulation experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of our proposed approach

Construction of an integrated genetic linkage map for the A genome of Brassica napus using SSR markers derived from sequenced BACs in B. rapa

Background The Multinational Brassica rapa Genome Sequencing Project (BrGSP) has developed valuable genomic resources, including BAC libraries, BAC-end sequences, genetic and physical maps, and seed BAC sequences for Brassica rapa. An integrated linkage map between the amphidiploid B. napus and diploid B. rapa will facilitate the rapid transfer of these valuable resources from B. rapa to B. napus (Oilseed rape, Canola). Results In this study, we identified over 23,000 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) from 536 sequenced BACs. 890 SSR markers (designated as BrGMS) were developed and used for the construction of an integrated linkage map for the A genome in B. rapa and B. napus. Two hundred and nineteen BrGMS markers were integrated to an existing B. napus linkage map (BnaNZDH). Among these mapped BrGMS markers, 168 were only distributed on the A genome linkage groups (LGs), 18 distrubuted both on the A and C genome LGs, and 33 only distributed on the C genome LGs. Most of the A genome LGs in B. napus were collinear with the homoeologous LGs in B. rapa, although minor inversions or rearrangements occurred on A2 and A9. The mapping of these BAC-specific SSR markers enabled assignment of 161 sequenced B. rapa BACs, as well as the associated BAC contigs to the A genome LGs of B. napus. Conclusion The genetic mapping of SSR markers derived from sequenced BACs in B. rapa enabled direct links to be established between the B. napus linkage map and a B. rapa physical map, and thus the assignment of B. rapa BACs and the associated BAC contigs to the B. napus linkage map. This integrated genetic linkage map will facilitate exploitation of the B. rapa annotated genomic resources for gene tagging and map-based cloning in B. napus, and for comparative analysis of the A genome within Brassica species

Statistical Overview of WordNet from 1.6 to 2.0

We defined several discrete random variables and made their statistical comparisons between different versions of WordNet, by which the macroscopical evolution of WordNet from 1.6 to 2.0 is explored. And at the same time, the examples of extreme data will be enumerated during the experimental analysis

PSCA and Oct-4 Expression in the Benign and Malignant Lesions of Gallbladder: Implication for Carcinogenesis, Progression, and Prognosis of Gallbladder Adenocarcinoma

PSCA and Oct-4 have been thought as markers of cancer stem cells. Although overexpression of PSCA and Oct-4 in cancer has been reported, little is known about the clinical and pathological significance with PSCA and Oct-4 expression in gallbladder adenocarcinoma. In this study, overexpression of PSCA and Oct-4 was detected in gallbladder adenocarcinoma (54.6% and 55.6%). Less expression of PSCA and Oct-4 was detected in the pericancerous tissues (19.6% and 21.7%), gallbladder polyps (13.3% and 13.3%), and gallbladder epithelium with chronic cholecystitis (14.3% and 14.3%). The overexpression of PSCA and Oct-4 was significantly associated with differentiation, tumor mass, lymph node metastasis, invasion of gallbladder adenocarcinoma, and decreased overall survival. Our study suggested that overexpression of PSCA and Oct-4 might be closely related to the carcinogenesis, progression, metastasis, or invasive potential and prognosis of gallbladder carcinoma

Pyrvinium Treatment Confers Hepatic Metabolic Benefits via β-Catenin Downregulation and AMPK Activation

Genetic evidence has indicated that β-catenin plays a vital role in glucose and lipid metabolism. Here, we investigated whether pyrvinium, an anthelmintic agent previously reported as a down-regulator of cellular β-catenin levels, conferred any metabolic advantages in treatment of metabolic disorders. Glucose production and lipid accumulation were analyzed to assess metabolic response to pyrvinium in hepatocytes. The expression of key proteins and genes were assessed by immunoblotting and RT-PCR. The in vivo efficacy of pyrvinium against metabolic disorders was evaluated in the mice fed with a high fat diet (HFD). We found that pyrvinium inhibited glucose production and reduced lipogenesis by decreasing the expression of key genes in hepatocytes, which were partially elicited by the downregulation of β-catenin through AXIN stabilization. Interestingly, the AMPK pathway also played a role in the action of pyrvinium, dependent on AXIN stabilization but independent of β-catenin downregulation. In HFD-fed mice, pyrvinium treatment led to improvement in glucose tolerance, fatty liver disorder, and serum cholesterol levels along with a reduced body weight gain. Our results show that small molecule stabilization of AXIN using pyrvinium may lead to improved glucose and lipid metabolism, via β-catenin downregulation and AMPK activation