Study of the new ellipsometric measurement method using integrated analyzer in parallel mode.

A new type of ellipsometer using an integrated analyzer composed of 12 sub-analyzers with different azimuth angles was constructed and studied. By using a two-dimensional CCD array camera to measure the light intensity emerging in parallel from each sub-analyzer with the azimuth angles uniformly distributed in the range of about 180 degrees , the ellipsometric parameters were extracted within the data acquisition time less than 1 second. The ellipsometric parameters for the polished bulk Si sample were measured to show good agreement with the results measured by using another two ellipsometric methods.

Mitochondrial structural and functional dynamics in Huntington's disease.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal, dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by chorea, involuntary movements, and cognitive impairments. Tremendous progress has been made since the discovery of HD gene in 1993, in terms of developing animal models to study the disease process, unraveling the expression and function of wild-type and mutant huntingtin (Htt) proteins in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and understanding expanded CAG repeat containing mutant Htt protein interactions with CNS proteins in the disease process. HD progression has been found to involve several pathomechanisms, including expanded CAG repeat protein interaction with other CNS proteins, transcriptional dysregulation, calcium dyshomeostasis, abnormal vesicle trafficking, and defective mitochondrial bioenergetics.

[Expression and clonal proliferation of TCR Vbeta subfamilies of peripheral T-cells in acute myeloid leukemia patients].

This study was purposed to investigate the expression and clonal proliferation of receptor (TCR) Vbeta subfamilies of the T-cells in acute leukemic patients at different disease status (onset, complete remission or relapse) and to analyze the influence of the leukemic cell load on anti-leukemic effect of peripheral T-lymphocytes of the patients. Gene sequences of peripheral TCR Vbeta 24 families from 11 leukemic patients and 3 normal donors were expanded by RT-PCR. Genescan technique was applied to evaluate clonal expression of the TCRVbeta subfamilies, clonal characteristics of the CDR3 from peripheral blood of AML patients at different disease status.

Transfer of Ephedra genomic DNA to yeasts by ion implantation.

The genomic DNA from Ephedra glauca was randomly transferred to Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Hansenula anomala by argon and nitrogen ion implantation. Through repeated subculturing and using reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis to quantify the concentrations of the secondary metabolites, l-ephedrine and d-pseudoephedrine, 12 recombinant strains of genetically stable yeast were obtained, each using glucose as a carbon source, NaNO3 as a nitrogen source and producing l-ephedrine and/or d-pseudoephedrine. After culturing in liquid medium for 72 h, extracellular l-ephedrine and d-pseudoephedrine concentrations of 18.

Massively-parallel ultra-high-aspect-ratio nanochannels as mesoporous membranes.

Many fabrication technologies have been used to build nano/mesoporous materials/filters with a good size control, but the integration of these systems into a microsystem format has been a challenge. Microfabricated nanofilters suffer from small open volume and low-throughput. In this paper, we developed a novel fabrication strategy for generating massively-parallel, regular vertical nanochannel membranes with a uniform, well-controlled gap size of approximately 50 nm and a depth up to approximately 40 microm, by using only standard semiconductor fabrication techniques.

Clam farmers and Oystercatchers: effects of the degradation of Lanice conchilega beds by shellfish farming on the spatial distribution of shorebirds.

The Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum cultivation is an original shellfish farming activity strongly mechanized. In the Chausey archipelago (France) this activity settles on the Lanice conchilega beds, habitat known to host a rich and diversified benthic macrofauna and which is an attractive feeding ground for birds. A first study highlighted that this activity had strong negative effects on the L.

[Diversity of halophilic Actinomycetes from mud volcano in Xinjiang].

Objective: To know halophilic actinomycetes and their enzyme-producing ability from mud volcano in Usu County, Xinjiang, China.

Methods: Soil samples in mud volcano were isolated with five isolation media containing 5% and 10% NaCl (w/v) with dilution-plate method. The activities of lipase, galactosidase, amylase, esterase and cellulase from isolated strains were qualitatively detected by using five selective media.

A Nanofilter Array Chip for Fast Gel-Free Biomolecule Separation.

We report here a microfabricated nanofilter array chip that can size-fractionate SDS-protein complexes and small DNA molecules based on the Ogston sieving mechanism. Nanofilter arrays with a gap size of 40-180nm were fabricated and characterized. Complete separation of SDS-protein complexes and small DNA molecules were achieved in several minutes with a separation length of 5mm.

Comparative sequence analyses of a new mammalian reovirus genome and the mammalian reovirus S1 genes from six new serotype 2 human isolates.

We previously described isolation of a potentially new mammalian reovirus, designated BYD1, which can cause clinical symptoms similar to that of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in guinea pigs and macaques, from throat swabs of one SARS patient of Beijing, in 2003. For this study, we determined the genome sequences of BYD1 and the S1 gene sequences of other five mammalian reovirus isolates (BLD, JP, and BYL were isolated from different SARS patients during the outbreak, 302I and 302II were isolated from fecal specimens of two children of Beijing in 1982) to allow molecular comparison with other previously reported mammalian reoviruses (MRVs). Comparative analyses of the BYD1 genome with those of three prototype mammalian reovirus strains demonstrated that BYD1 is a novel reassortant virus, with its S1 gene segment coming from a previously unidentified serotype 2 isolate and other nine segments coming from ancestors of homologous T1L and T3D segments, which supports the hypothesis that mammalian reovirus gene segments reassort in nature.

Halomonas lutea sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a salt lake.

A Gram-negative, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated YIM 91125(T), was isolated from a salt lake in Xinjiang province, north-west China. The isolate grew at salinities in the range 1-20% (w/v) and at 4-45 degrees C. Optimal growth occurred at 37 degrees C, pH 7.

Microbulbifer halophilus sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium from north-west China.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain YIM 91118(T), motile with a single polar flagellum, was isolated from Xinjiang province in north-west China and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain YIM 91118(T) grew optimally at 37 degrees C, pH 7.0-8.

[Large scale expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells from umbilical cord blood by magnet stirred culture system].

The aim of this study was to expand hematopoietic progenitor cells at large scale by magnet stirred culture system. Mononuclear cell from umbilical cord blood were cultured in serum-free medium with stem cell factor, FIT-3 ligand and thrombopoietin. Firstly, the role of magnet on cell growth and colony-forming was studied by static culture on 0, 25 and 50 mT.

The effects of head flexion on airway seal, quality of ventilation and orogastric tube placement using the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway.

This prospective self-controlled study was designed to evaluate the influences of head flexion on airway seal, quality of ventilation, and orogastric tube placement through the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (ProSeal LMA) in 80 anaesthetised, paralysed adult patients. After the ProSeal LMA was inserted and the cuff pressure was set at 5.9 kPa, ventilation quality, airway seal pressure, fibreoptic positions of the cuff and the drainage tube, orogastric tube placement and efficacy of intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) were assessed in two randomly selected positions: neutral and flexed position.

[Analysis of symptom checklist 90 of relief crew during critical period after Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan province].

Objective: To investigate the psychological features of relief crew in critical period after Wenchuan earthquake and to improve their mental health.

Methods: On May 12 of 2008, severe earthquake of a magnitude of 8.0 on Richter scale occurred in Wenchuan county, Sichuan province of China.

[A five-year analysis of HBV mutations in a multidrug-resistant patient with chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To investigate HBV mutations in reverse transcriptase (RT) gene and precore/basal core promoter (PC/BCP) regions in a chronic hepatitis B patient and to analyze the link between the mutations and drug resistance or HBeAg sero-conversion.

Methods: Eighteen serum samples were collected from a chronic hepatitis B patient during his 14 hospitalizations from June 2002 to September 2007. HBV DNA was extracted and nested PCR was employed for amplification of target gene fragments.

Virus-like particles of SARS-like coronavirus formed by membrane proteins from different origins demonstrate stimulating activity in human dendritic cells.

The pathogenesis of SARS coronavirus (CoV) remains poorly understood. In the current study, two recombinant baculovirus were generated to express the spike (S) protein of SARS-like coronavirus (SL-CoV) isolated from bats (vAcBS) and the envelope (E) and membrane (M) proteins of SARS-CoV, respectively. Co-infection of insect cells with these two recombinant baculoviruses led to self-assembly of virus-like particles (BVLPs) as demonstrated by electron microscopy.

Cloning and characterization of E-dlg, a novel splice variant of mouse homologue of the Drosophila discs large tumor suppressor binds preferentially to SAP102.

Membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs) act as scaffolds to coordinate signaling events through their multiple domains at the plasma membrane. The MAGUK SH3 domain is noncanonical and its function remains unclear. To identify potential binding partners of MAGUK SH3, the synapse-associated protein 102 (SAP102) SH3 domain was used as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen of a mouse embryonic cDNA library.

Before and after wasting disease in common eelgrass Zostera marina along the French Atlantic coasts: a general overview and first accurate mapping.

We examined the original manuscripts of a French national survey conducted in 1933 on the state of common eelgrass Zostera marina beds along the French Atlantic coasts during the period when wasting disease struck the entire North Atlantic population in the 1930s. Based on GIS related techniques and old sets of aerial photographs, we present the first accurate mapping of the Z. marina beds before wasting disease occurred and assess their spatial recolonization since the 1950s in the Chausey Archipelago (France), which contains large Z.

[Genome analysis of a newly isolated enterovirus].

Objective: To demonstrate molecular characterization of a newly isolated enterovirus.

Methods: Virus were isolated from patient with unknown-causing disease and tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 5'3'RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends, RACE), in an attempt to obtain the sequence of this newly isolated enterovirus.

Results: Sequence analysis showed that this newly isolated enterovirus shared 83%-94% nucleotide identity and 91%-100% amino acid identity with enterovirus 89.

Advanced trauma life support, 8th edition, the evidence for change.

The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma's Advanced Trauma Life Support Course is currently taught in 50 countries. The 8th edition has been revised following broad input by the International ATLS subcommittee. Graded levels of evidence were used to evaluate and approve changes to the course content.

Artificial molecular sieves and filters: a new paradigm for biomolecule separation.

Patterned regular sieves and filters with comparable molecular dimensions hold great promise as an alternative to conventional polymeric gels and fibrous membranes to improve biomolecule separation. Recent developments of microfabricated nanofluidic sieves and filters have demonstrated superior performance for both analytical and preparative separation of various physiologically relevant macromolecules, including proteins. The insights gained from designing these artificial molecular sieves and filters, along with the promising results gathered from their first applications, serve to illustrate the impact that they can have on improving future separation of complex biological samples.

Effects of risperidone on glucose metabolism in Chinese patients with schizophrenia: a prospective study.

Background: While most of the second generation antipsychotic agents are associated with abnormal glucose metabolism, previous studies have shown that risperidone has relatively little effect upon blood glucose levels. This study aimed to explore the effect of risperidone on the glucose-regulating mechanism of patients with schizophrenia by using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), measuring insulin and C-peptide levels.

Methods: Thirty inpatients with schizophrenia taking risperidone were studied.

[Monitoring of graft flow with color Doppler in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipients].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of color Doppler in monitoring graft flow in patients who underwent simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation.

Methods: Totally 18 patients received color Doppler ultrasonography on day 1, 3, and 7 after SPK. Volumes and arteriovenous velocities of the kidney and pancreas grafts were recorded, and resistance index (RI) was calculated.

Optimization of graded multilayer designs for astronomical X-ray telescopes.

We developed a systematic method for optimizing the design of depth-graded multilayers for astronomical hard-x-ray and soft-gamma-ray telescopes based on the instrument's bandpass and the field of view. We apply these methods to the design of the conical-approximation Wolter I optics employed by the balloon-borne High Energy Focusing Telescope, using W/Si as the multilayer materials. In addition, we present optimized performance calculations of mirrors, using other material pairs that are capable of extending performance to photon energies above the W K-absorption edge (69.

[Establishment and evaluation of the diagnostic kit for anti-HIV1/2 antibody and P24 antigen].

Objective: To establish and evaluate an Enzyme Immunoassay diagnostic kit combined with anti-HIV1/2 antibody and P24 antigen for shortening the examination window period of HIV infection in HIV laboratory diagnosis.

Methods: The enzyme-linked reaction plates was coated by anti-HIV P24 monoclonal antibody and HIV 1/2 antigen. Labeling HIV1/2 antigen and anti-HIV P24 polyclonal antibody with horseradish peroxidase, setup an integrated ELISA kit for detecting anti-HIV-1/2 antibody and HIV P24 antigen, and evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of this kit.