Application of spatially resolved high resolution crystal spectrometry to inertial confinement fusion plasmas

High resolution (λ∕Δλ ∼ 10 000) 1D imaging x-ray spectroscopy using a spherically bent crystal and a 2D hybrid pixel array detector is used world wide for Doppler measurements of ion-temperature and plasma flow-velocity profiles in magnetic confinement fusion plasmas. Meter sized plasmas are diagnosed with cm spatial resolution and 10 ms time resolution. This concept can also be used as a diagnostic of small sources, such as inertial confinement fusion plasmas and targets on x-ray light source beam lines, with spatial resolution of micrometers, as demonstrated by laboratory experiments using a 250-μm (55)Fe source, and by ray-tracing calculations. Throughput calculations agree with measurements, and predict detector counts in the range 10(-8)-10(-6) times source x-rays, depending on crystal reflectivity and spectrometer geometry. Results of the lab demonstrations, application of the technique to the National Ignition Facility (NIF), and predictions of performance on NIF will be presented.

Unilateral lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway decreases the response of GABA interneurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus to 5-HT(1A) receptor stimulation in the rat

This study examined the firing rate and pattern of electrophysiologically and chemically identified GABA interneurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), and role of 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the firing activity in rats with 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). The interneurons in rats with lesions of the SNc showed a more burst-firing, while having no change in the firing rate; the mPFC and combined mPFC and SNc lesions in rats decreased the firing rate of the interneurons and firing pattern shifted towards a more burst-firing compared to rats with sham lesions of the SNc, respectively. In rats with sham lesions of the SNc, administration of 8-OH-DPAT (1-243 μg/kg, i.v.) produced excitatory-inhibitory, excitatory and inhibitory effects in the firing rate of individual interneurons. However, when these effects were averaged over the group, 8-OH-DPAT had no significant effect on firing rate. In rats with lesions of the SNc, mPFC and the paired lesions, 8-OH-DPAT, at the same doses, inhibited all interneurons tested, respectively. Cumulative doses producing inhibition in rats with the paired lesions were higher than that of rats with lesions of the mPFC. In contrast to rats with sham lesions of the SNc, SNc lesion reduced expression of 5-HT(1A) receptor on parvalbumin positive neurons in the DRN, a subpopulation of GABA interneurons. Our results indicate that the SNc and mPFC regulate the firing activity of GABA interneurons in the DRN. Furthermore, response of likely GABA interneurons to systemic administration of 8-OH-DPAT is altered by lesion of the SNc and mPFC.

Observation of B0→D¯(0)K(+)K(-) and evidence for B(s)(0)→D¯(0)K(+)K(-)

The first observation of the decay B0→D¯(0)K(+)K(-) is reported from an analysis of 0.62 fb(-1) of pp collision data collected with the LHCb detector. Its branching fraction is measured relative to that of the topologically similar decay B(0)→D ¯(0)π(+)π(-) to be (B(B(0)→D¯(0)K(+)K(-))/B(B(0)→D¯(0)π(+)π(-))=0.056±0.011±0.007,where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The significance of the signal is 5.8σ. Evidence, with 3.8σ significance, for B(s)(0)→D¯(0)K(+)K(-) decays is also presented. The relative branching fraction is measured to be B(B(s)(0)→D¯(0)K(+)K(-))/B(B(0)→D¯(0)K(+)K(-))=0.90±0.27±0.20. These channels are of interest to study the mechanisms behind hadronic B decays, and open new possibilities for CP violation analyses with larger data sets.

Genetic characterizations of Giardia duodenalis in sheep and goats in Heilongjiang Province, China and possibility of zoonotic transmission

Background

Giardia duodenalis is a widespread intestinal protozoan of both humans and mammals. To date, few epidemiological studies have assessed the potential and importance of zoonotic transmission; and the human giardiasis burden attributable to G. duodenalis of animal origin is unclear. No information about occurrence and genotyping data of sheep and goat giardiasis is available in China. The aim of the present study was to determine prevalence and distribution of G. duodenalis in sheep and goats in Heilongjiang Province, China, and to characterize G. duodenalis isolates and assess the possibility of zoonotic transmission.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A total of 678 fecal specimens were collected from sheep and goats on six farms ranging in age from one month to four years in Heilongjiang Province, China. The average prevalence of G. duodenalis infection was 5.0% (34/678) by microscopy after Lugol's iodine staining, with 5.6% (30/539) for the sheep versus 2.9% (4/139) for the goats. Molecular analysis was conducted on 34 G. duodenalis isolates based on the triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) gene. 29 tpi gene sequences were successfully obtained and identified as assemblages A (n = 4), B (n = 2) and E (n = 23). High heterogeneity was observed within assemblage E at the tpi locus, with five novel subtypes found out of seven subtypes. Two subtypes of assemblage A were detected, including subtype AI (n = 3) and a novel subtype (designated as subtype AIV) (n = 1). Two assemblage B isolates were identical to each other in the tpi gene sequences.

Conclusions/Significance

This is the first report of G. duodenalis infections in sheep and goats in China. The present data revealed the unique endemicity on prevalence, distribution and genetic characterization of G. duodenalis in sheep and goats in Heilongjiang Province. The findings of assemblages A and B in sheep and goats implied the potential of zoonotic transmission.

Giardiasis is a kind of zoonotic disease with global distribution. Due to the great number of asymptomatic giardiasis cases, human giardiasis is often underreported. The sources of infection of giardiasis are feces of humans and mammals with the pathogen being transmitted by the fecal-oral route. In this study, we described the occurrence of sheep and goat giardiasis and genetic charaterizations of G. duodenalis isolates in Heilongjiang Province, China. The average infection rate was 5.0% (34/678), with 5.6% (30/539) for the sheep versus 2.9% (4/139) for the goats. G. duodenalis assemblages and subtypes were genetically diagnosed by sequence analysis. Three assemblages were successfully identified out of 29 tpi gene sequences, with the percentages 13.8% (4/29), 6.9% (2/29), 79.3% (23/29) for assemblages A, B and E, respectively. Five novel subtypes were found out of seven subtypes of assemblage E. Two subtypes of assemblage A were detected, with one belonging to a novel subtype and the other belonging to assemblage AI. Two assemblage B isolates were identical to each other at the tpi locus. Prevalence, distribution and genetic characteristics of subtypes of G. duodenalis in sheep and goats appear to be unique in the areas examined. The sheep and goats infected with assemblages A and B have important public heath significance.

Overexpression of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (cyp71av1) and cytochrome P450 reductase (cpr) genes increased artemisinin content in Artemisia annua (Asteraceae)

Finding an efficient and affordable treatment against malaria is still a challenge for medicine. Artemisinin is an effective anti-malarial drug isolated from Artemisia annua. However, the artemisinin content of A. annua is very low. We used transgenic technology to increase the artemisinin content of A. annua by overexpressing cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (cyp71av1) and cytochrome P450 reductase (cpr) genes. CYP71AV1 is a key enzyme in the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway, while CPR is a redox partner for CYP71AV1. Eight independent transgenic A. annua plants were obtained through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, which was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analyses. The real-time qPCR results showed that the gene cyp71av1 was highly expressed at the transcriptional level in the transgenic A. annua plants. HPLC analysis showed that the artemisinin content was increased in a number of the transgenic plants, in which both cyp71av1 and cpr were overexpressed. In one of the transgenic A. annua plants, the artemisinin content was 38% higher than in the non-transgenic plants. We conclude that overexpressing key enzymes of the biosynthesis pathway is an effective means for increasing artemisinin content in plants.

Inhibition of TGF-β signaling in genetically engineered tumor antigen-reactive T cells significantly enhances tumor treatment efficacy

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a cytokine with complex biological functions that may involve tumor promotion or tumor suppression. It has been reported that multiple types of tumors secrete TGF-β, which can inhibit tumor-specific cellular immunity and may represent a major obstacle to the success of tumor immunotherapy. In this study, we sought to enhance tumor immunotherapy using genetically modified antigen-specific T cells by interfering with TGF-β signaling. We constructed three γ-retroviral vectors, one that expressed TGF-β-dominant-negative receptor II (DNRII) or two that secreted soluble TGF-β receptors: soluble TGF-β receptor II (sRII) and the sRII fused with mouse IgG Fc domain (sRIIFc). We demonstrated that T cells genetically modified with these viral vectors were resistant to exogenous TGF-β-induced smad-2 phosphorylation in vitro. The functionality of antigen-specific T cells engineered to resist TGF-β signaling was further evaluated in vivo using the B16 melanoma tumor model. Antigen-specific CD8+ T cells (pmel-1) or CD4+ T cells (tyrosinase-related protein-1) expressing DNRII dramatically improved tumor treatment efficacy. There was no enhancement in the B16 tumor treatment using cells secreting soluble receptors. Our data support the potential application of the blockade of TGF-β signaling in tumor-specific T cells for cancer immunotherapy.

Ultrastructural identification of different subtypes of interstitial cells of Cajal in the chicken ileum

Ultrastructural characteristics of different subtypes of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) remain unclear in birds; however, birds have significant economical and scientific notability. Our aim was to describe and classify ICC in the chicken gut. The ileum of normal adult Three Yellow broiler chickens (n=10) were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ICC were spindle- or stellate-shaped with ramified cell processes. They had numerous mitochondria, abundant intermediate filaments, fusiform nuclei (oval or indented), with a dense band of peripheral heterochromatin, and formed close contacts by true gap junctions with each other and with neighboring smooth muscle cells (SMC). The ICC were in close contact with enteric nerves, but true gap junctions were not found between them. A new subtype of ICC located in the lamina propria mucosae has been discovered. Some of the ICC showed typical features of SMC, including a basal lamina, caveolae, and dense bodies. Lacking intermediate filaments and caveolae distinguished them from the fibroblast-like cells showing well-developed secretory organelles, including coated vesicles and a patchy basal lamina. The ultrastructural features and distribution of ICC in chicken intestine is similar to mammals. They may play similar key regulatory roles in gastrointestinal motility. The new subtype of ICC discovered in the lamina propria mucosae may play a role in the regulation of secretion and absorption.

Polymorphisms in the promoter of the CD14 gene and their associations with susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis

Although the role of CD14 in recognizing Mycobacterium tuberculosis is well-understood, the possible role of polymorphisms in susceptibility to develop tuberculosis remains unclear. This study evaluates whether there is an association of polymorphisms within the promoter of the CD14 gene with susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis. In a case-control study, we genotyped the eight known single nucleotide polymorphisms SNPs within the promoter of the CD14 gene of 698 Han Chinese subjects. Statistically significant differences between tuberculosis patients and healthy controls were found for G-1619A, T-1359G, A-1145G, and C-159T. The haplotype-GGGT, composed of these four SNPs, exhibited a significant association with the disease. Furthermore, expression levels of soluble CD14 were significantly higher in tuberculosis patients with the GGGT haplotype than with other haplotypes, while IgE expression levels were significantly reduced. Our results suggest that these four SNPs within the promoter of the CD14 gene are associated with susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis.

Molecular Characterization of Stolbur Group Subgroup E (16SrXII-E) Phytoplasma Associated with Potatoes in China

Phytoplasmas have been reported from more than 70 plant species in China, most of which are from woody plants and very few are from potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). During the growing seasons of 2005 through 2011, potato disease surveys were conducted in seed and commercial fields in Yunnan Province and Inner Mongolia. Potato plants displayed symptoms of curled, yellowish and purplish leaves, shortened internodes, aerial tuber formation, and few small malformed underground tubers. Although the location of the fields surveyed each year varied, the disease seems to have become increasingly prevalent. In Yunnan, disease incidence was 5 to 24% in 2005 and 15 to 100% in 2010 and 2011. In Inner Mongolia, disease incidence in seed potato fields was 5 to 15% in 2006 and 25 to 50% in 2011. Total DNA was extracted from the leaves, stems, and roots of symptomatic and asymptomatic plants with a DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA) according to the manufacturer's instruction. A nested PCR was performed by using primer pair P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 to detect the presence of phytoplasmas (1,3). An approximate 1.25-kb PCR product was amplified from symptomatic plants but not from asymptomatic plants. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns were analyzed by digesting the 1.2-kb amplicon singly with restriction enzymes AluI, BfaI, HhaI, HpaI, KpnI, MseI, and TaqI. Comparing the RFLP patterns of samples with previously published phytoplasma strains, the phytoplasmas matched patterns of the stolbur group, subgroup E (16SrXII-E) (1). In addition, the PCR product from P1/P7, diluted 1:30, was amplified by using primer pair P1A/P7A (2). The nested PCR product was cloned into pCR8/GW/TOPO vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and sequenced by the Core Lab of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and GENEWIZ (South Plainfield, NJ). Nucleotide sequences (GenBank Accession No. EU293841) were analyzed by iPhyClassifier software (4), confirming the relationship of this phytoplasma to 'Candidatus Phytoplasma fragariae' with RFLP patterns identical to group 16SrXII-E. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular characterization of the stolbur group phytoplasmas associated with potato disease in China. The potato is becoming increasingly important in China. The impacts of stolbur on potato yield losses, disease distributions, and insect vectors are currently under investigation. References: (1) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol 54:337, 2004. (3) C. D. Smart et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:2988, 1996. (4) Y. Zhao et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 59:2582, 2009.

Control of Fusarium wilt in banana with Chinese leek

The inhibitory effects of Chinese leek(Allium tuberosum) on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) and on Fusarium wilt incidence were studied in order to identify a potential efficient way to control the disease. Adopting the rotation system of Chinese leek-banana reduced the Fusarium wilt incidence and disease severity index by 88 %-97 % and 91 %-96 %, respectively, improved the crop value by 36 %-86 %, in an area heavily infested by Foc between 2007 and 2009. As a result of inoculation in the greenhouse, Chinese leek treatment reduced disease incidence and the disease severity index by 58 % and 62 %, respectively in the variety Baxi (AAA) and by 79 % and 81 %, respectively in the variety Guangfen NO.1 (ABB). Crude extracts of Chinese leek completely inhibited the growth of Foc race 4 on Petri dishes, suppressed the proliferation of the spores by 91 % and caused 87 % spore mortality. The findings of this study suggest that Chinese leek has the potential to inhibit Foc growth and Fusarium wilt incidence. This potential may be developed into an environmentally friendly treatment to control Fusarium wilt of banana.