Spectrophotometric determination of iron(III)-dimethyldithiocarbamate (ferbam) using 9-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2,3,7-trihydroxyl-6-fluorone.

A spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of iron(III)-dimethyldithiocarbamate (ferbam) by concerting it into an iron(III)-9-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2,3,7-trihydroxyl-6-fluorone complex. In NH(3)-HAc buffer solution (pH 6.5), the reagent reacts with ferbam to form a blue complex with a maximum absorption peak at 640nm.

Expression pattern of dmrt4 from olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in adult gonads and during embryogenesis.

The dmrt (doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor) gene family comprises several transcription factors that share a conserved DM domain. Dmrt1 is considered to be involved in sexual development, but the precise function of other family members is unclear. In this study, we isolated genomic DNA and cDNA sequences of dmrt4, a member of the dmrt gene family, from olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, through genome walking and real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR.

[The effect of temperature on the 4f5d emission of Pr3+ in the Pr3+-doped SrAl12O19].

The emission spectra of SrAl12O19 : Pr3+ at temperature from 308 to 483 K were investigated under vacuum ultraviolet excitation. Both the dipole-forbidden 4f2 --> 4f2 transition and the dipole-allowed 4f5d --> 4f2 transitions were observed. The intensity of the 4f5d --> 4f2 emission relative to that of the 4f2 --> 4f2 emission increased with increasing temperature.

Correlation between structure and resistivity variations of the live human skull.

A study on correlation between structure and resistivity variations was performed for live adult human skull. The resistivities of 388 skull samples, excised from 48 skull flaps of patients undergoing surgery, were measured at body temperature (36.5 degrees C) using the well-known four-electrode method in the frequency range of 1-4 MHz.

Low-level expression of HER2 and CK19 in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells: relevance for detection of circulating tumor cells.

Background: Detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the blood of cancer patients may have prognostic and predictive significance. However, background expression of 'tumor specific markers' in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) may confound these studies. The goal of this study was to identify the origin of Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and HER-2 signal in PBMC and suggest an approach to enhance techniques involved in detection of CTC in breast cancer patients.

Overexpression of immediate early gene X-1 (IEX-1) enhances gamma-radiation-induced apoptosis of human glioma cell line, U87-MG.

Malignant gliomas are usually incurable even if adjuvant therapy is delivered after neurosurgical treatment. Therefore, to enhance their radiation-induced apoptosis, it is important to detect the mechanism(s) leading to the death of malignant glioma cells. We report that apoptosis was induced in a time-dependent manner after gamma-radiation and that irradiated U87-MG cells (human glioblastoma cell line) expressed immediate early gene X-1 (IEX-1) with p53.

BatchPrimer3: a high throughput web application for PCR and sequencing primer design.

Background: Microsatellite (simple sequence repeat - SSR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers are two types of important genetic markers useful in genetic mapping and genotyping. Often, large-scale genomic research projects require high-throughput computer-assisted primer design. Numerous such web-based or standard-alone programs for PCR primer design are available but vary in quality and functionality.

Photoreactivation of (6-4) photolyase in Dunaliella salina.

Dunaliella salina is a unicellular green alga and possesses two types of photolyase: Class II cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) photolyase and (6-4) photolyase. The gene of D. salina (6-4) photolyase is the first one found in unicellular organisms.

A quantitative method based on total relative change for dynamic electrical impedance tomography.

We proposed a new method based on total relative change (TRC) from measured boundary voltages to quantify the volume changes of fluid during electrical impedance tomography (EIT) monitoring. The results showed that TRC linearly correlated with the volume of infused saline solution into a phantom, and the slope of TRC changes was approximately linear with the infusion speed. A inserted copper tube at different positions did not affect TRC significantly.

Image reconstruction for Magnetic Induction Tomography and Preliminary simulations on a simple head model.

Magnetic Induction Tomography (MIT) of biological tissue is a contactless and noninvasive method to image the complex conductivity distribution or its changes inside a human body. In this paper, 2D (two-dimensional) simulations of the forward problem in MIT are performed by finite element method and an inverse solver based on regularized Newton-Raphson method is developed to reconstruct MIT images from the simulated measuring data. Preliminary MIT simulations on a simple head model are presented.

The nuclear genome of Brachypodium distachyon: analysis of BAC end sequences.

Due in part to its small genome (approximately 350 Mb), Brachypodium distachyon is emerging as a model system for temperate grasses, including important crops like wheat and barley. We present the analysis of 10.9% of the Brachypodium genome based on 64,696 bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) end sequences (BES).

Folate-targeted dinitrophenyl hapten immunotherapy: effect of linker chemistry on antitumor activity and allergic potential.

Targeting of malignancies with folate-linked therapeutics has proven to be a promising endeavor due to the preferential expression of folate receptors (FR) on human tumors. We have shown that folic acid (pteroyl-glutamate) can be used to deliver an antigenic hapten, fluorescein, to the surface of tumor cells to promote their opsonization within a fluorescein-immunized host. Here, we investigate structure-activity relationships among members of another class of folate-hapten conjugates ( EC57, EC63, EC0293, and EC0294), namely, those containing the dinitrophenyl (DNP) group as the antigenic hapten.

Effects of hydrostatic pressure on microtubule organization and cell cycle in gynogenetically activated eggs of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus).

Indirect immunofluorescence staining was used to detect cytological changes of isolated blastodisks during mitosis of flounder haploid eggs treated with hydrostatic pressure. Changes in microtubule structure and expected cleavage suppression were observed from blastodisk formation to the third cell cycle, with obvious differences between treated and control eggs. In most eggs, microtubules were disassembled and the nucleation capacity of the centrosome was temporarily inhibited after pressure treatment.

Multi-frequency parameter mapping of electrical impedance scanning using two kinds of circuit model.

Electrical impedance scanning (EIS) is a kind of potential bio-impedance measurement technology, especially aiding the diagnosis of breast cancer in women. By changing the frequency of the driving signal in turn while keeping the other conditions stable, multi-frequency measurement results on the object can be obtained. According to the least square method and circuit theory, the parameters in two models are deduced when measured with data at multiple driving frequencies.

An assembly concept for the consecutive introduction of unsymmetrical disulfide bonds: synthesis of a releasable multidrug conjugate of folic acid.

We describe the development of methodology which allows for the introduction of a second disulfide bond into a molecular framework with a pre-existing disulfide linker system. Compounds which contain an S-9-fluorenylmethyl-protected thiol and an additional disulfide linkage are deprotected in situ and trapped with an activated thiophile. This methodology allowed for the synthesis of the first molecule possessing two different biologically active agents covalently attached to a folate receptor targeting ligand unit via two disulfide-based release systems.

Surface organization, light-driven surface changes, and stability of semifluorinated azobenzene polymers.

A series of polymers with 4-perfluoroalkyl-modified azobenzene side groups was investigated for its light-induced changes in surface properties. The ultraviolet (UV) light activated trans to cis isomerization of the azobenzene group, and the influence of molecular order and orientation on this process were studied using near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and water contact angle measurements. Light-induced molecular reorganization in the near-surface region was studied by NEXAFS using in situ UV irradiation of polymer thin films.

The structure of wild and domesticated emmer wheat populations, gene flow between them, and the site of emmer domestication.

The domestication of emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum spp. dicoccoides, genomes BBAA) was one of the key events during the emergence of agriculture in southwestern Asia, and was a prerequisite for the evolution of durum and common wheat. Single- and multilocus genotypes based on restriction fragment length polymorphism at 131 loci were analyzed to describe the structure of populations of wild and domesticated emmer and to generate a picture of emmer domestication and its subsequent diffusion across Asia, Europe and Africa.

Predictors of resistance to preoperative trastuzumab and vinorelbine for HER2-positive early breast cancer.

Purpose: To assess pathologic complete response (pCR), clinical response, feasibility, safety, and potential predictors of response to preoperative trastuzumab plus vinorelbine in patients with operable, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer.

Experimental Design: Forty-eight patients received preoperative trastuzumab and vinorelbine weekly for 12 weeks. Single and multigene biomarker studies were done in an attempt to identify predictors of response.

Primary Multi-frequency Data Analyze in Electrical Impedance Scanning.

This paper deduced the Cole-Cole arc equation in form of admittance by the traditional Cole-Cole equation in form of impedance. Comparing to the latter, the former is more adaptive to the electrical impedance scanning which using lower frequency region. When using our own electrical impedance scanning device at 50-5000Hz, the measurement data separated on the arc of the former, while collected near the direct current resistor on the arc of the latter.

Transcriptional profiling of wheat caryopsis development using cDNA microarrays.

The expression of 7,835 genes in developing wheat caryopses was analyzed using cDNA arrays. Using a mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) method, 29% (2,237) of the genes on the array were identified to be differentially expressed at the 6 different time-points examined, which covers the developmental stages from coenocytic endosperm to physiological maturity. Comparison of genes differentially expressed between two time-points revealed a dynamic transcript accumulation profile with major re-programming events that occur at 3-7, 7-14 and 21-28 DPA.

Cell-free bioassay for measurement of dioxins based on fluorescence enhancement of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled DNA probe.

This study aims to develop a rapid and sensitive cell-free bioassay of dioxins. It is known that dioxin ligand can bind heterodimeric aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and triggers the formation of the complex of dioxin-AhR, AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT), and dioxin-responsive element (DRE) region of the DNA. The hypothesis of the proposed method is that if FITC were labeled at the DRE sequence, its fluorescence intensity would be enhanced when the complex forms because the interaction interface of the binding components (AhR, ARNT, and DRE) creates a rather hydrophobic condition that is in favor of FITC emission.

Prostaglandin E2 downregulates TNF-alpha-induced production of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in HCS-2/8 chondrocytes by inhibiting Raf-1/MEK/ERK cascade through EP4 prostanoid receptor activation.

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1, collagenase-1) plays a pivotal role in the process of joint destruction in degenerative joint diseases. We have examined the regulation of MMP-1 production in human chondrocytic HCS-2/8 cells stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). In response to TNF-alpha, MMP-1 is induced and actively released from HCS-2/8 cells.

Pseudo-polar drive patterns for brain electrical impedance tomography.

Brain electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a difficult task as brain tissues are enclosed by the skull of high resistance and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of low resistance, which makes internal resistivity information more difficult to extract. In order to seek a single source drive pattern that is more suitable for brain EIT, we built a more realistic experimental setting that simulates a head with the resistivity of the scalp, skull, CSF and brain, and compared the performance of adjacent, cross, polar and pseudo-polar drive patterns in terms of the boundary voltage dynamic range, independent measurement number, total boundary voltage changes and anti-noise performance based on it. The results demonstrate that the pseudo-polar drive pattern is optimal in all the aspects except for the dynamic range.

GenoProfiler: batch processing of high-throughput capillary fingerprinting data.

Unlabelled: High-throughput content fingerprinting techniques employing capillary electrophoresis place new demands on the editing of fingerprint files for the downstream contig assembly program, FPC. A cross-platform software application, GenoProfiler, was developed for automated editing of sized fingerprinting profiles generated by the ABI Genetic Analyzers. The batch-processing module extracts the sized fragment information directly from the ABI raw trace files, or from data files exported from GeneMapper or other size calling software, removes the background noise and undesired fragments, and generates fragment size files compatible with the FPC software.

Immediate early gene IEX-1 induces astrocytic differentiation of U87-MG human glioma cells.

The immediate early response gene IEX-1 is involved in the regulation of apoptosis and cell growth. In order to increase the apoptotic sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs and gamma-ray, we attempted to establish U87-MG human glioma cell line expressing IEX-1. Unexpectedly, however, transfection of IEX-1 into U87-MG glioma cells resulted in morphological changes to astrocytic phenotype and increase in glial differentiation marker proteins, S-100 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).