Canine platelets express functional Toll-like receptor-4: lipopolysaccharide-triggered platelet activation is dependent on adenosine diphosphate and thromboxane A2 in dogs.

BackgroundFunctional Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) has been characterized in human and murine platelets indicating that platelets play a role in inflammation and hemostasis during sepsis. It is unclear whether canine platelets could express functional TLR4 by responding to its ligand, lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We sought to determine if dogs express functional TLR4 and if LPS-induced platelet activation requires co-stimulation with ADP or thromboxane A2 (TxA2). Canine platelets were unstimulated (resting) or activated with thrombin or ADP prior to flow cytometric or microscopic analyses for TLR4 expression. We treated resting or ADP-primed platelets with LPS in the absence or presence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and inhibited TLR4 with function blocking antibody or LPS from Rhodobacter sphaeroides (LPS-RS).ResultsWe discovered that dog platelets have variable TLR4 expression, which was upregulated following thrombin or ADP activation. LPS augmented P-selectin expression and thromboxane B2 secretion in ADP-primed platelets via TLR4. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase by ASA attenuated LPS-mediated P-selectin expression demonstrating that TLR4 signaling in platelets is partially dependent on TxA2 pathway.ConclusionExpression of functional TLR4 on canine platelets may contribute to hypercoagulability in clinical septic dogs. Cyclooxygenase and TxA2 pathways in TLR4-mediated platelet activation may present novel therapeutic targets in dogs with sepsis

A Market Shaping Approach for the Biopharmaceutical Industry: Governing Innovation Towards the Public Interest

Enhancing research and development and ensuring equitable pricing and access to cutting-edge treatments are both vital to a biopharmaceutical innovation system that works in the public interest. However, despite delivering numerous therapeutic advances, the existing system suffers from major problems: a lack of directionality to meet key needs, inefficient collaboration, high prices that fail to reflect the public contribution, and an overly-financialized business model

Three R2R3 MYB transcription factor genes from Capsicum annuum showing differential expression during fruit ripening

Three R2R3-MYB genes, designated CaMYB1, CaMYB2 and CaMYB3, were isolated from hot pepper (Capsicum annuum. L). CaMYB1, CaMYB2 and CaMYB3 encode polypetides consisting of 340, 262 and 345 amino acids respectively, containing R2R3 domain and the signature motif specific for the interaction between MYB and bHLH proteins in the R3 domain. Phylogenetic analysis based on the deduced amino acid sequences of these three R2R3 MYB transcription factor members revealed that CaMYB1 and CaMYB2 clustered together with the anthocyanin-related subgroup of R2R3 MYB proteins from other plants, while CaMYB3 did not. CaMYBs transcripts accumulation was detected in all stages of fruit development and in flower and leaves. Three CaMYBs transcription factors showed differential expression during fruit ripening. Anthocyanin biosynthetic gene expression patterns were quite different in young leaves, flower, and the four stages of fruit development. CaMYB1 and CaMYB2 may regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis in hot pepper.Key words: Anthocyanin, Capsicum annuum, gene expression, R2R3 MYB transcription factor

Evaluation of ECMWF medium-range ensemble forecasts of precipitation for river basins

Providing probabilistic forecasts using Ensemble Prediction Systems has become increasingly popular in both the meteorological and hydrological communities. Compared to conventional deterministic forecasts, probabilistic forecasts may provide more reliable forecasts of a few hours to a number of days ahead, and hence are regarded as better tools for taking uncertainties into consideration and hedging against weather risks. It is essential to evaluate performance of raw ensemble forecasts and their potential values in forecasting extreme hydro-meteorological events. This study evaluates ECMWF's medium-range ensemble forecasts of precipitation over the period 1 January 2008 to 30 September 2012 on a selected midlatitude large-scale river basin, the Huai river basin (ca. 270 000 km2) in central-east China. The evaluation unit is sub-basin in order to consider forecast performance in a hydrologically relevant way. The study finds that forecast performance varies with sub-basin properties, between flooding and non-flooding seasons, and with the forecast properties of aggregated time steps and lead times. Although the study does not evaluate any hydrological applications of the ensemble precipitation forecasts, its results have direct implications in hydrological forecasts should these ensemble precipitation forecasts be employed in hydrology

Photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of rhodamine B in aqueous solution using Ti/TiO?mesh photoelectrodes

Author name used in this publication: X. Z. LiAuthor name used in this publication: F. B. LiAuthor name used in this publication: C. L. Mak2001-2002 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Inclusion of interbar currents in a network-field coupled time-stepping finite-element model of skewed-rotor induction motors

Author name used in this publication: S. L. HoAuthor name used in this publication: W. N. FuVersion of RecordPublishe

Finite element analysis on piezoelectric ring transformer

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

Cats with thermal burn injuries from California wildfires show echocardiographic evidence of myocardial thickening and intracardiac thrombi.

Recent increases in the prevalence and severity of wildfires in some regions have resulted in an increased frequency of veterinary burn patients. Few studies exist regarding diagnostics and management of burn wounds in veterinary patients and current knowledge is extrapolated from human literature and research models. Post-burn cardiac injury is a common finding and predictor of mortality in human patients and echocardiography is an important tool in monitoring response to therapy and predicting outcome. We describe the notable findings from cats naturally exposed to California wildfires in 2017 and 2018. Domestic cats (n = 51) sustaining burn injuries from the Tubbs (2017) and Camp (2018) wildfires were prospectively enrolled and serial echocardiograms and cardiac troponin I evaluations were performed. Echocardiograms of affected cats revealed a high prevalence of myocardial thickening (18/51) and spontaneous echocardiographic contrast and thrombi formation (16/51). Forty-two cats survived to discharge and 6 died or were euthanized due to a possible cardiac cause. For the first time, we describe cardiovascular and coagulation effects of thermal burn and smoke inhalation in cats. Further studies in veterinary burn victims are warranted and serve as a translational research opportunity for uncovering novel disease mechanisms and therapies

Influence of AgNO3 on somatic embryo induction and development in Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.)

In this present study, we explored the effects of silver nitrate (AgNO3) on somatic embryo induction and the development from immature zygotic embryos in Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.). AgNO3 played a minor role on in vitro embryo induction frequency and in the number of somatic embryos per explant. However, 1 mg L–1 AgNO3 enhanced synchronization and significantly inhibited abnormal somatic embryo formation suggesting that AgNO3 might serve an important function in controlling the development of somatic embryos in Manchurian ash. Our results provided foundation for a future more efficient somatic embryogenesis and regeneration protocol.Key words: Abnormality, Fraxinus mandshurica, silver nitrate, somatic embryogenesis, synchronization

Magnetic coupling properties of rare-earth metals (Gd, Nd) doped ZnO: first-principles calculations

The electronic structure and magnetic coupling properties of rare-earth metals (Gd, Nd) doped ZnO have been investigated using first-principles methods. We show that the magnetic coupling between Gd or Nd ions in the nearest neighbor sites is ferromagnetic. The stability of the ferromagnetic coupling between Gd ions can be enhanced by appropriate electron doping into ZnO:Gd system and the room-temperature ferromagnetism can be achieved. However, for ZnO:Nd system, the ferromagnetism between Nd ions can be enhanced by appropriate holes doping into the sample. The room-temperature ferromagnetism can also be achieved in the \emph{n}-conducting ZnO:Nd sample. Our calculated results are in good agreement with the conclusions of the recent experiments. The effect of native defects (V$_{\rm{Zn}}$, V$_{\rm{O}}$) on the ferromagnetism is also discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure