Passenger and freight travel patterns: A cluster analysis based on urban networks.

While research on population travel patterns and urban networks has been active, it has primarily focused on passenger travel, leaving freight travel relatively underexplored. This study addresses this gap by analyzing both passenger and freight travel patterns, network structures, and central areas. It uses origin-destination (OD) data, considering total travel volume by purpose and mode.

Targeted Genome Engineering to Control VEGF Expression in Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Potential Implications for the Treatment of Myocardial Infarction.

Human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) exhibit potency for the regeneration of infarcted hearts. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is capable of inducing angiogenesis and can boost stem cell-based therapeutic effects. However, high levels of VEGF can cause abnormal blood vessel growth and hemangiomas.

Expression, refolding, and characterization of a small laccase from Thermus thermophilus HJ6.

An open reading frame of the Thermus thermophilus HJ6 hypothetical laccase, which composed of 729 bases, was cloned and expressed as a fusion protein with six histidine residues in Escherichia coli SoluBL21™ cells. The resulting insoluble bodies were separated from cellular debris by centrifugation and solubilized with 6M guanidine HCl. The solubilized protein was refolded by a simple on-column refolding procedure using Ni-chelation affinity chromatography and then the refolded protein was purified by gel filtration chromatography.

Effects of alprazolam on capture stress-related serum cortisol responses in Korean raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of alprazolam on the stress that Korean raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis) may experience while caught in a live trap by measuring their serum cortisol response. The animals were placed in a live trap with or without being pretreated with oral doses of alprazolam. In both groups, pre-trap blood samples were initially collected without anesthesia before the animals were positioned in the live trap; then post-trap blood samples were collected after the animals had remained in the live trap for 2 h.

DiI staining of fine branches of Bonghan ducts on surface of rat abdominal organs.

Novel thread-like structures and corpuscles, designated Bonghan ducts (BHDs) and corpuscles (BHCs), are known to form a system of networked channels. Here, we tested the effectiveness of a fluorescent carbocyanine dye, DiI (1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate), in staining BHDs and BHCs. DiI solution was infused into a BHC on the surface of a rat abdominal organ at a steady rate and the resulting labeling of neighboring BHCs connected via BHDs was examined, as identified by the red fluorescence of DiI.