Formation of current singularity in a topologically constrained plasma.

Recently a variational integrator for ideal magnetohydrodynamics in Lagrangian labeling has been developed. Its built-in frozen-in equation makes it optimal for studying current sheet formation. We use this scheme to study the Hahm-Kulsrud-Taylor problem, which considers the response of a 2D plasma magnetized by a sheared field under sinusoidal boundary forcing.

miRNA-221-3p Enhances the Secretion of Interleukin-4 in Mast Cells through the Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog/p38/Nuclear Factor-kappaB Pathway.

Mast cells play a central role in asthma. Moreover, serum miRNA-221-3p (miR-221) has been shown to be markedly increased in children with asthma. In the current study, we aimed to examine miR-221 expression in an asthma model and elucidate the mechanisms regulating interleukin (IL)-4 secretion in mast cells.

Synthesis and anti-cancer activity evaluation of 5-(2-carboxyethenyl)-isatin derivatives.

A series of novel di- or trisubstituted isatin derivatives were designed and synthesized in 5-6 steps in 25-45% overall yields. Their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR and 13C NMR as well as LC-MS. The anticancer activity of the fourty-three new isatin derivatives against human T lymphocyte cells Jurkat was evaluated by MTT assay in vitro.

Low toxic and high soluble camptothecin derivative 2-47 effectively induces apoptosis of tumor cells in vitro.

The cytotoxic activity of camptothecin derivatives is so high that these compounds need to be further modified before their successful application as anti-cancer agents clinically. In this study, we reported the synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel camptothecin derivative called compound 2-47. The changes in structure did not reduce its activity to inhibit DNA topoisomerase I.

Cloning and Characterization of Filamentous Fungal S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase from Aspergillus nidulans.

S-Nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) metabolizes S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and has been shown to play important roles in regulating cellular signaling and formulating host defense by modulating intracellular nitric oxide levels. The enzyme has been found in bacterial, yeast, mushroom, plant, and mammalian cells. However, to date, there is still no evidence of its occurrence in filamentous fungi.

Substituent-Controlled Chemoselective Cleavage of C═C or Csp(2)-C(CO) Bond in α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds with H-Phosphonates Leading to β-Ketophosphonates.

An unprecedented substituent-controlled chemoselective cleavage of C═C double bond or C(sp(2))-C(CO) bond along with aerobic phosphorylation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with H-phosphonates through a radical process has been disclosed. The current strategy provides an access to β-ketophosphonates under mild conditions with a wide substrate scope.

[Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis:clinical analysis of 11 cases].

Objective: To analyze the clinical manifestation, laboratory findings, radiological data of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis.

Methods: The clinical manifestation, laboratory findings, radiological data of eleven patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis were analyzed.

Results: Main symptoms included epilepsy presented in 9 cases, psychiatric symptom in 7 cases, dyskinesia in 5 cases, autonomic dysfunction in 3 cases.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 21 exists in the Chinese Han population.

Recently, mutations in transmembrane protein 240 (TMEM240) were identified as the cause of spinocerebellar ataxia type 21 (SCA21) in several French families. Clinically, SCA21 is characterized as an early-onset, slowly progressive cerebellar syndrome typically associated with cognitive impairment. To date, molecular screening of SCA21 has not been reported among patients of other ethnic origins or in other areas.

C9ORF72 repeat expansion is not detected in sporadic ataxia patients in mainland China.

Expansion of a GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat in the gene C9ORF72 is a common pathogenic mutation in families with autosomal dominant frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In order to understand whether pathogenic GGGGCC expansions of C9ORF72 are associated with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) in mainland China, we performed an experiment to determine the prevalence of pathogenic hexanucleotide expansions of C9ORF72 in a large cohort of Chinese Han patients with SCA. 411 sporadic patients with SCA and 314 healthy controls were screened for pathogenic hexanucleotide expansions of C9ORF72 utilizing a repeat primed polymerase chain reaction assay.

Chronic exposure to mono-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate causes endocrine disruption and reproductive dysfunction in zebrafish.

Phthalic acid esters are frequently detected in aquatic environments. In the present study, zebrafish were exposed to low concentrations (0 µg/L, 0.46 µg/L, 4.

Ultrafine Molybdenum Carbide Nanoparticles Composited with Carbon as a Highly Active Hydrogen-Evolution Electrocatalyst.

The replacement of platinum with non-precious-metal electrocatalysts with high efficiency and superior stability for the hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER) remains a great challenge. Herein, we report the one-step synthesis of uniform, ultrafine molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) nanoparticles (NPs) within a carbon matrix from inexpensive starting materials (dicyanamide and ammonium molybdate). The optimized catalyst consisting of Mo2C NPs with sizes lower than 3 nm encapsulated by ultrathin graphene shells (ca.

SCA38 is rare in Mainland China.

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorders distributed worldwide. Nearly 35 SCAs have been localized and 28 genes have been identified. Recently, mutations in the elongation of a very long chain fatty acids-5 gene (ELOVL5) were reported to cause a SCA38 subtype.

Kinetically Controlled Growth of Fine Gold Nanofractals from Au(I) via Indirect Galvanic Replacement Reaction.

Two of the most important features of Au nanostructures, size and shape, are significantly affected by the reduction kinetics of the relevant metal precursors. Because of the high standard oxidative potential of gold ionic species, AuCl4(-) in particular, Au fractals formed via various chemical or electrochemical approaches often have very coarse branches with diameters varying from tens of nanometers to submicrometers, even though extensive chemicals and/or complicated processes have been deployed to control the reduction kinetics. Herein we report an indirect galvanic replacement (IGR) strategy where the electrons generated in a galvanic replacement reaction from anode oxidation are channeled out to a separate conducting film on which the cathodic metal can be deposited.

Cu/Fe-Cocatalyzed Formation of β-Ketophosphonates by a Domino Knoevenagel-Decarboxylation-Oxyphosphorylation Sequence from Aromatic Aldehydes and H-Phosphonates.

A domino Knoevenagel-decarboxylation-alkene difunctionalization sequence has been developed for the conversion of benzaldehydes into β-ketophosphonates, catalyzed by a cooperative Cu/Fe system, whereby C-P and C=O bonds are formed simultaneously in a one-pot reaction. The reaction proceeds in good yields and with a broad substrate scope and environmentally benign conditions.

A neutralizing scFv antibody against infectious bursal disease virus screened by flow cytometry.

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is considered a vital viral disease that threatens the poultry industry worldwide. In this study, a recombinant single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody library derived from chickens immunized with VP2 protein of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was constructed. The library was subjected to three rounds of screening by flow cytometry (FCM) against VP2/IBDV through a bacteria display technology, resulting in the enrichment of scFvs.

Soluble Expression and Purification of the Catalytic Domain of Human Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 in Escherichia coli.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in angiogenesis through binding to its specific receptors, which mainly occurs to VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), a kinase insert domain-containing receptor. Therefore, the disruption of VEGFR-2 signaling provides a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer by inhibiting abnormal or tumorinduced angiogenesis. To explore this potential, we expressed the catalytic domain of VEGFR- 2 (VEGFR-2-CD) as a soluble active kinase in Escherichia coli.

High throughput screening of scFv antibodies against viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus by flow cytometry.

Viral hemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) is an economically important disease that affects salmon and trout worldwide. In this study, a recombinant single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody library derived from rainbow trout immunized with purified viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) was constructed. The library was subjected to three rounds of screening by flow cytometry (FCM) against VHSV through a bacteria display technology, resulting in the enrichment of scFv.

β-ketophosphonate formation via aerobic oxyphosphorylation of alkynes or alkynyl carboxylic acids with H-phosphonates.

A synergistic Cu/Fe-catalyzed aerobic oxyphosphorylation of alkynes or alkynyl carboxylic acids with H-phosphonate is disclosed. The useful β-ketophosphonate products were obtained in good yields under oxygen atmosphere in a novel way. This reaction exhibits a wide substrate scope, and the mechanistic experiments indicate that a radical mechanism forms both C-P and C═O bonds simultaneously.

Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA) is an extremely rare cause of autosomal recessive ataxia in Chinese Han population.

Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA) is a very common cause of hereditary autosomal recessive ataxia among western Europeans. We aim to define the frequency of FRDA in Chinese Han population due to the lack of reports of FRDA in China. The GAA trinucleotide repeats in the FXN gene were analyzed by triplet repeat-primed PCR (TP-PCR) in 122 unrelated hereditary ataxia (HA) and 114 unrelated hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) patients.

[Determination of 12 bisphenol substances in functional foods by QuEChERS and high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

A method based on high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrom- etry (HPLC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of 12 bisphenol substances in functional foods (powder, tablet, capsule) was presented. The samples were extracted by acetonitrile containing 1% (v/v) acetic acid followed by further cleaned up using matrix solid-phase disper- sion to remove matrix interferences. The separation of the 12 bisphenol substances was performed on a Thermo Aquasil C18 column (150 mm x 4.

Chinese homozygous Machado-Joseph disease (MJD)/SCA3: a case report.

A young Chinese male patient was identified as homozygous for Machado-Joseph disease (MJD)/spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. This patient had a 4-year medical history mainly presenting severe ataxia, abnormal eye movement and pyramidal signs. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and cervical spinal cord revealed no obvious abnormality despite the severe symptoms and the findings of an electromyogram.

Relationship between obesity and sex, and prevalence of asthma-like disease and current wheeze in Han children in Nanjing, China.

Objective: To investigate the relationships between body mass index (BMI) and sex, and asthma-like disease and current wheeze in Han children in Nanjing, China.

Methods: Han children aged 3-14 years were recruited. Height and weight were measured; individuals were classified into obesity, thinness and normal-weight groups on the basis of the calculated BMI.

Simultaneous synthesis and assembly of noble metal nanoclusters with variable micellar templates.

Simultaneous synthesis and assembly of Au, Pt, and Pd nanoclusters (NCs; with sizes ≤3 nm) into mesoscale structures with defined boundaries are achieved using their metal halides, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and thiourea (Tu). Geometric shape, hierarchical organization, and packing density of resultant assemblages vary depending on metal precursors and CTAB concentration. For example, rod- or tube-like assemblages are formed from Au NCs, giant vesicles and/or dandelion-like assemblages from Pt NCs, and rhombic/hexagonal platelet assemblages from PdS NCs and Pd NCs.

KIT and BRAF heterogeneous mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors after secondary imatinib resistance.

Background And Aims: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumor of the digestive tract and characterized by expression of KIT protein. Imatinib is the frontline therapy for metastatic and unresectable GIST patients showing clinical responses in 80 % of cases. Despite the often long-lasting clinical benefit seen in most patients treated with imatinib, many will eventually suffer disease progression.