RNA-Puzzles: a CASP-like evaluation of RNA three-dimensional structure prediction.

We report the results of a first, collective, blind experiment in RNA three-dimensional (3D) structure prediction, encompassing three prediction puzzles. The goals are to assess the leading edge of RNA structure prediction techniques; compare existing methods and tools; and evaluate their relative strengths, weaknesses, and limitations in terms of sequence length and structural complexity. The results should give potential users insight into the suitability of available methods for different applications and facilitate efforts in the RNA structure prediction community in ongoing efforts to improve prediction tools.

TaMCA4, a novel wheat metacaspase gene functions in programmed cell death induced by the fungal pathogen Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a physiological process to remove redundant or harmful cells, for the development of multicellular organisms, or for restricting the spread of pathogens (hypersensitive response). Metacaspases are cysteine-dependent proteases which play an essential role in PCD. Triticum aestivum metacaspase 4 (TaMCA4) is a type II metacaspase gene cloned from 'Suwon11' wheat, with typical structural features such as peptidase C14 caspase domain and a long linker sequence between the two subunits.

[Discussion on five methods used for the determination of temporal clustering on infectious diseases].

To demonstrate and evaluate five different methods in the determination of temporal clustering on infectious diseases. The incidence rates of bacillary dysentery in Jinshui district, Zhengzhou city, Henan province from 2008 to 2010 were analyzed by 5 different methods-Cluster Analysis, Runs Test, Negative Binomial Distribution, Circular Distribution and Concentration Ratio. Through Cluster Analysis, data showed that the epidemic period was from May to Sept.

Association between survivin -31G > C promoter polymorphism and cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis protein and has a crucial role in the development of cancer. The survivin -31G>C (rs9904341) promoter polymorphism influences survivin expression and has been implicated in cancer risk. However, conflicting results have been published from studies on the association between survivin -31G>C polymorphism and the risk of cancer.

A new stable and reliable method for labeling nucleic acids of fully replicative viruses.

Efficiently labeling nucleic acids of fully replicative viruses is a challenge. In this work, a 'molecular light switch' complex [Ru(phen)(2)(dppz)](2+), where phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, has been exploringly used to label vaccinia virus nucleic acid. The labeled virions exhibited strong and stable fluorescence and could be imaged at the single-virion level.

Bis[μ(2)-bis-(diphenyl-phosphan-yl)methane-κP:P']bis-(μ(4)-diphenyl-phosphinato-κO:O:O':O')bis-(μ(2)-trifluoro-acetato-κO:O')tetra-silver(I) acetonitrile disolvate.

In the cation of the title compound, [Ag(4)(C(2)F(3)O(2))(2)(C(12)H(10)O(2)P)(2)(C(25)H(22)P(2))(2)]·2CH(3)CN, the two independent Ag(+) cations are four-coordinated in a distorted tetra-hedral geometry by one P atom from a bis-(diphenyl-phosphan-yl)methane (dppm) ligand, one O atom from a trifluoro-acetate anion and two O atoms from two diphenyl-phosphinate (dpp) ligands. Two dppm ligands, two dpp ligands and two trifluoro-acetate anions bridge four metal atoms, forming a centrosymmetric tetra-nuclear complex. Intra-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and a weak π-π inter-action [centroid-centroid distance = 3.

[Development of genetic transformation system of Valsa mali of apple mediated by PEG].

Objective: The genetic transformation of Valsa mali var. mali was developed by PEG-mediated protoplasts transformation.

Method: It was transformed by PEG-induced fusion of protoplasts.

Bis[μ(2)-bis-(diphenyl-phosphan-yl)methane-κP:P']bis-(μ(4)-diphenyl-phosphinato-κO:O:O':O')bis-[μ(2)-trifluoro-methane-sulfonato-(0.546/0.454)]-κO:O';κO:O-tetra-silver(I) acetonitrile disolvate.

In the centrosymmetric tetra-nuclear title compound, [Ag(4)(C(12)H(10)O(2)P)(2)(CF(3)O(3)S)(2)(C(25)H(22)P(2))(2)]·2CH(3)CN, the Ag(I) atom is coordinated by one P atom from a bis-(diphenyl-phosphan-yl)methane (dppm) ligand, two O atoms from two diphenyl-phosphinate (dpp) ligands and one O atom from a trifluoro-methane-sulfonate (OTf) anion in a highly distorted tetra-hedral geometry. Four Ag(I) atoms are bridged by two dppm ligands, two dpp ligands and two OTf anions, forming a tetra-nuclear complex. An weak intra-molecular Ag⋯Ag [3.

Endogenous hydrogen peroxide is a key factor in the yeast extract-induced activation of biphenyl biosynthesis in cell cultures of Sorbus aucuparia.

Biphenyls are unique phytoalexins produced by plants belonging to Pyrinae, a subtribe of the economically important Rosaceae family. The formation of aucuparin, a well-known biphenyl, is induced by yeast extract (YE) in cell cultures of Sorbus aucuparia. However, the molecular mechanism underlying YE-induced activation of biphenyl biosynthesis remains unknown.

Mifepristone may shorten the induction-to-abortion time for termination of second-trimester pregnancies by ethacridine lactate.

Background: We reviewed our experience with adding mifepristone to the protocol for the termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks of gestation by intra-amniotic ethacridine lactate.

Study Design: The study consisted of women who presented for the termination of a second-trimester pregnancy between August 2000 and July 2008.

Results: Of 1245 women who requested a termination of a second-trimester pregnancy, 744 women underwent the induction of abortion by intra-amniotic ethacridine lactate with mifepristone (mifepristone group), and 501 received intra-amniotic ethacridine lactate alone (control group).

Microscopy and proteomic analysis of the non-host resistance of Oryza sativa to the wheat leaf rust fungus, Puccinia triticina f. sp. tritici.

Rice (Oryza sativa) cv. Nipponbare expresses non-host resistance (NHR) to the wheat leaf rust fungus, Puccinia triticina f. sp.

[Anti-metastasis effect of thymoquinone on human pancreatic cancer].

Recent studies reported that thymoquinone (TQ), a component derived from the medicinal spice Nigella sativa (also called black cumin), exhibited inhibitory effects on cell proliferation of many cancer cell lines. This study was performed to investigate the anti-metastatic effect of thymoquinone on the pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that thymoquinone suppressed the migration and invasion of Panc-1 cells in a does-dependent manner.

The impact of the catastrophic earthquake in China's Sichuan province on the mental health of pregnant women.

Background: On May 12, 2008, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck China's southwestern Sichuan province. Recent studies have identified mental health problems among the survivors, but little is known about the impact of the Sichuan earthquake on the mental health of pregnant women in the area.

Pharmacokinetic differences between the epimers of cefotetan disodium after single intravenous injection in healthy Chinese volunteers.

The pharmacokinetic behaviors of the epimers of cefotetan disodium (R-CTT, S-CTT) after a single intravenous injection dose in healthy Chinese volunteers were explored in this study. In an open-label, randomized, three-way, cross-over study, 12 volunteers (6 females and 6 males) received a cross-over fashion doses of 0.5, 1.

Saccharothrix yanglingensis sp. nov., an antagonistic endophytic actinomycete isolated from cucumber plant.

An endophytic actinomycete strain, designated Hhs.015(T), was isolated from roots of cucumber seedlings. The endophytic isolate was identified by means of a polyphasic taxonomic approach.

Low-dose mifepristone increases uterine natural killer cell cytotoxicity and perforin expression during the receptive phase.

Objective: To investigate the immunologic mechanism by which low-dose mifepristone serves as an anti-implantation contraceptive drug.

Design: In vitro study.

Setting: University hospital and research laboratory.

Long-range pseudoknot interactions dictate the regulatory response in the tetrahydrofolate riboswitch.

Tetrahydrofolate (THF), a biologically active form of the vitamin folate (B(9)), is an essential cofactor in one-carbon transfer reactions. In bacteria, expression of folate-related genes is controlled by feedback modulation in response to specific binding of THF and related compounds to a riboswitch. Here, we present the X-ray structures of the THF-sensing domain from the Eubacterium siraeum riboswitch in the ligand-bound and unbound states.

Human neonatal neutrophils are resistant to apoptosis with lower caspase-3 activity.

The incidence of neonatal inflammatory diseases remains high despite improved strategies for dealing with infection. Neutrophils are believed to play a significant role in neonatal inflammatory diseases due to their secretion of harmful mediators. Neutrophils rapidly undergo apoptosis following activation; dysregulation of the neutrophil apoptotic pathway may be an underlying mechanism of neonatal inflammatory disorders.

Self-assembled highly ordered ethane-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilica and its application in HPLC.

Monodisperse spherical periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) with ethane integrated in the framework were synthesized and their application as stationary phase for chromatographic separation is demonstrated. The ethane-PMOs were prepared by condensation of 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTSE) in basic condition using octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (C(18)TMACl) as template and ethanol as co-solvent. The morphology and mesoporous structure of ethane-PMOs were controlled under different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and EtOH.

Molecular characterization of a Fus3/Kss1 type MAPK from Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, PsMAPK1.

Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is an obligate biotrophic fungus that causes the destructive wheat stripe rust disease worldwide.

Beclin1/PI3K-mediated autophagy prevents hypoxia-induced apoptosis in EAhy926 cell line.

Although hypoxia can induce cell death, the cancer cells and endothelial cells within a solid tumor that remain active in the hypoxia microenvironment often possess an enhanced survival potential. Developing approaches aimed at increasing the sensitivity of endothelial cells to hypoxia-induced cell death represents a potentially important avenue for antiangiogenesis treatment. This study investigated approaches to increase the sensitivity of endothelial cells to hypoxia-induced apoptosis.

Regulation of AMH and SCF expression in human granulosa cells by GnRH agonist and antagonist.

With the progress of cancer treatment, fertility preservation has become an urgent requisition. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) and antagonist (GnRH-ant) have been used to protect fertility for these patients. However, studies showed that although GnRH-a and GnRH-ant had a comparable down-regulating effect on the pituitary, GnRH-ant could not preserve ovarian function.

Histological and molecular studies of the non-host interaction between wheat and Uromyces fabae.

Non-host resistance (NHR) confers plant species immunity against the majority of microbes. As an important crop, wheat can be damaged by several Puccinia species but is immune to all Uromyces species. Here, we studied the basis of NHR in wheat against the broad bean rust pathogen Uromyces fabae (Uf).

Effects of low-dose mifepristone administration in two different 14-day regimens on the menstrual cycle and endometrial development: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of treatment with mifepristone 5 mg given every day or every other day for 14 days, starting 15 days after menses started for endometrial development.

Study Design: Ten women recruited to the study were given mifepristone 5 mg beginning 15 days after initiation of menses. In Group A, five women were administered mifepristone every day for three cycles; in Group B, five women were administered mifepristone every other day for three cycles.