Pattern formation of second harmonic conical waves in a nonlinear medium with extended defect structure

We experimentally demonstrate the propagation of the conical second harmonic fields generated from a nonlinear crystal with extended defects to investigate their pattern formation. The generated second harmonic waves are found to be the interference of multiple Bessel-like beams that originate from distinct longitudinal layers inside the crystal. To reconstruct the experimental results, we model the individual Bessel-like beam to be the superposition of an ensemble of identical decentered Gaussian waves with random phases. We present that the randomness of the phases leads the Bessel-like beams to show wave profiles with different extent of localization. Moreover, we use the coherent superposition of the developed wave functions with a phase factor to manifest the interference of multiple Bessel-like beams. The relative phases among the Bessel-like beams are shown to be closely related to the near and far-field patterns. With the experimental observations and the theoretical model, the relative phases are decided to successfully reconstruct the propagation characteristics of the multiple Bessel-like beams.

Search for a light sterile neutrino at Daya Bay

A search for light sterile neutrino mixing was performed with the first 217 days of data from the Daya Bay Reactor Antineutrino Experiment. The experiment's unique configuration of multiple baselines from six 2.9 GW(th) nuclear reactors to six antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 m and 561 m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls makes it possible to test for oscillations to a fourth (sterile) neutrino in the 10(-3) eV(2)<|Δm(41)(2) |< 0.3 eV(2) range. The relative spectral distortion due to the disappearance of electron antineutrinos was found to be consistent with that of the three-flavor oscillation model. The derived limits on sin(2) 2θ(14) cover the 10(-3) eV(2) ≲ |Δm(41)(2)| ≲ 0.1 eV(2) region, which was largely unexplored.

Loddigesiinols G-J: α-glucosidase inhibitors from Dendrobium loddigesii

Four new polyphenols, loddigesiinols G–J (compounds 1–4) and a known compound, crepidatuol B (5), were isolated from the stems of Dendrobium loddigesii that have long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and have recently been used to treat type 2 diabetes. Compounds 1–5 structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of compounds 1–4 were determined using theoretical calculations of electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and the absolute configuration of compound 5 was determined by a comparison of the experimental ECD spectra and the literature data. Compounds 1–5 are strong inhibitors of α-glucosidase, with IC₅₀ values of 16.7, 10.9, 2.7, 3.2, and 18.9 μM, respectively. Their activities were significantly stronger than trans-resveratrol as a positive control (IC₅₀ values of 27.9 μM).

Spectral measurement of electron antineutrino oscillation amplitude and frequency at Daya Bay

A measurement of the energy dependence of antineutrino disappearance at the Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment is reported. Electron antineutrinos (ν¯(e)) from six 2.9  GW(th) reactors were detected with six detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 and 561 m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls. Using 217 days of data, 41 589 (203 809 and 92 912) antineutrino candidates were detected in the far hall (near halls). An improved measurement of the oscillation amplitude sin(2)2θ(13)=0.090(-0.009)(+0.008) and the first direct measurement of the ν¯(e) mass-squared difference |Δm(ee)2|=(2.59(-0.20)(+0.19))×10(-3)  eV2 is obtained using the observed ν¯(e) rates and energy spectra in a three-neutrino framework. This value of |Δm(ee)2| is consistent with |Δm(μμ)2| measured by muon neutrino disappearance, supporting the three-flavor oscillation model.

Developmental specificity in skeletal muscle of late-term avian embryos and its potential manipulation

Unlike the mammalian fetus, development of the avian embryo is independent of the maternal uterus and is potentially vulnerable to physiological and environmental stresses close to hatch. In contrast to the fetus of late gestation in mammals, skeletal muscle in avian embryos during final incubation shows differential developmental characteristics: 1) muscle mobilization (also called atrophy) is selectively enhanced in the type II fibers (pectoral muscle) but not in the type I fibers (biceps femoris and semimembranosus muscle), involving activation of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation and suppression of S6K1-mediated protein translation; 2) the proliferative activity of satellite cells is decreased in the atrophied muscle of late-term embryos but enhanced at the day of hatch, probably preparing for the postnatal growth. The mobilization of muscle may represent an adaptive response of avian embryos to external (environmental) or internal (physiological) changes, considering there are developmental transitions both in hormones and requirements for glycolytic substrates from middle-term to late-term incubation. Although the exact mechanism triggering muscle fiber atrophy is still unknown, nutritional and endocrine changes may be of importance. The atrophied muscle fiber recovers as soon as feed and water are available to the hatchling. In ovo feeding of late-term embryos has been applied to improve the nutritional status and therein enhances muscle development. Similarly, in ovo exposure to higher temperature or green light during the critical period of muscle development are also demonstrated to be potential strategies to promote pre- and posthatch muscle growth.

Thorium(IV) removal from aqueous medium by citric acid treated mangrove endophytic fungus Fusarium sp. #ZZF51

Thorium(IV) biosorption is investigated by citric acid treated mangrove endophytic fungus Fussarium sp. #ZZF51 (CA-ZZF51) from South China Sea. The biosorption process was optimized at pH 4.5, equilibrium time 90 min, initial thorium(IV) concentration 50 mg L(-1) and adsorbent dose 0.6 g L(-1) with 90.87% of removal efficiency and 75.47 mg g(-1) of adsorption capacity, which is obviously greater than that (11.35 mg g(-1)) of the untreated fungus Fussarium sp. #ZZF51 for thorium(IV) biosorption under the condition of optimization. The experimental data are analyzed by using isotherm and kinetic models. Kinetic data follow the pseudo-second-order model and equilibrium data agree very well with the Langmuir model. In addition, FTIR analysis indicates that hydroxyl, amino, and carbonyl groups act as the important roles in the adsorption process.

Secondary metabolites of a mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus (No. GX7-3B) from the South China Sea

The mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus (No. GX7-3B) was cultivated in potato dextrose liquid medium, and one rare thiophene compound (1), together with anhydrojavanicin (2), 8-O-methylbostrycoidin (3), 8-O-methyljavanicin (4), botryosphaerone D (5), 6-ethyl-5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxynaphthoquinone (6), 3β,5α-dihydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (7), 3β,5α,14α-trihydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-7, 22-dien-6-one (8), NGA0187 (9) and beauvericin (10), were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data. This is the first report of a natural origin for compound 6. Moreover, compounds 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10 were obtained from marine microorganism for the first time. In the bioactive assays in vitro, compounds 2, 3, 9 and 10 displayed remarkable inhibiting actions against α-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with IC50 values 2.01, 6.71, 1.89, and 3.09 μM, respectively. Furthermore, in the cytotoxicity assays, compounds 7 and 10 exhibited strong or moderate cytotoxic activities against MCF-7, A549, Hela and KB cell lines with IC50 values 4.98 and 2.02 (MCF-7), 1.95 and 0.82 (A549), 0.68 and 1.14 (Hela), and 1.50 and 1.10 μM (KB), respectively; compound 8 had weak inhibitory activities against these tumor cell lines; compounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 exhibited no inhibitory activities against them.

Distant metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) relapses more frequently than hormone receptor-positive subtypes and is often associated with poor outcomes. This retrospective study reviewed the pattern of distant metastasis with regard to survival in patients with TNBC. A total of 205 TNBC patients were analyzed. TNBC patients with lung metastases had the longest median post-metastatic OS (with 95% confidence interval) of 16.6 (10.3-22.9) months, followed by the bone, 16.3 (11.7-20.8) months, the liver, 8.9 (3.5-14.4) months, the pleura, 7.5 (2.8-12.3) months, and the brain, 4.3 (0.6-8.0) months. Kaplan-Meier plots indicated that TNBC patients with metastatic spread to brain, liver, and pleural had poorer post-metastatic OS rate than patients with lung metastases (p = 0.001, 0.004, and 0.029, respectively). Moreover, brain and liver metastases correlated significantly with poorer post-metastatic OS as compared to bone metastasis (p = 0.004 and 0.011, respectively). Route of first metastasis correlated significantly with survival of TNBC patients with brain metastases being the poorest survival indicator, followed by metastases to liver, pleura, bone, and lung.

Surveillance of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection in humans and detection of the first imported human case in Taiwan, 3 April to 10 May 2013

On 3 April 2013, suspected and confirmed cases of influenza A(H7N9) virus infection became notifiable in the primary care sector in Taiwan, and detection of the virus became part of the surveillance of severe community-acquired pneumonia. On 24 April, the first imported case, reported through both surveillance systems, was confirmed in a man returning from China by sequencing from endotracheal aspirates after two negative throat swabs. Three of 139 contacts were ill and tested influenza A(H7N9)-negative.

Surveillance of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection in humans and detection of the first imported human case in Taiwan, 3 April to 10 May 2013

On 3 April 2013, suspected and confirmed cases of influenza A(H7N9) virus infection became notifiable in the primary care sector in Taiwan, and detection of the virus became part of the surveillance of severe community-acquired pneumonia. On 24 April, the first imported case, reported through both surveillance systems, was confirmed in a man returning from China by sequencing from endotracheal aspirates after two negative throat swabs. Three of 139 contacts were ill and tested influenza A(H7N9)-negative.

Polymorphisms in Kallikrein7 and 10 genes and oral cancer risks in Taiwan betel quid chewers and smokers

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the association between mRNA levels, polymorphisms of Kallikrein7 (KLK7) and Kallikrein10 (KLK10), and the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We recruited 217 OSCC patients and 138 healthy controls. All were men, betel quid chewers, cigarette smokers, and Minnan ethnicity. Genotyping was performed using a TaqMan probe genotyping assay. Gene expression levels were determined using real-time polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) for 20 pairs of cancerous and non-cancerous tissues.

RESULTS

Kallikrein10 rs3745535G>T polymorphisms were significantly associated with OSCC development [adjusted OR (AOR) = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.02-2.59], but KLK7 polymorphisms were not. The KLK7 rs10581213(wt/ins + ins/ins) genotypes were significantly associated with early-stage cancer (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.14-0.78), but KLK10 polymorphisms were not. Relative expression analysis indicated that an increase in KLK7 and KLK10 mRNA levels was found in cancerous tissues (2(-ΔΔCT) = 25.23 ± 8.85 and 10.89 ± 4.97, respectively). A significantly higher level of KLK7 was expressed in early-stage cancer with the rs10581213(wt/ins + ins/ins) genotypes, but there was no significant difference in the mRNA levels of KLK7 and KLK10 between early- and advanced-stage cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first correlation of OSCC with KLK10 rs3745535G>T polymorphisms. Early-stage OSCC and high KLK7 mRNA levels were correlated with the rs10581213(wt/ins + ins/ins) genotypes. More studies with large sample sizes are needed to verify our findings.

Xyloketal B exhibits its antioxidant activity through induction of HO-1 in vascular endothelial cells and zebrafish

We previously reported that a novel marine compound, xyloketal B, has strong antioxidative actions in different models of cardiovascular diseases. Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an important endogenous antioxidant enzyme, has been considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular diseases. We here investigated whether xyloketal B exhibits its antioxidant activity through induction of HO-1. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), xyloketal B significantly induced HO-1 gene expression and translocation of the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The protection of xyloketal B against angiotensin II-induced apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production could be abrogated by the HO-1 specific inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin-IX (SnPP). Consistently, the suppressive effects of xyloketal B on NADPH oxidase activity could be reversed by SnPP in zebrafish embryos. In addition, xyloketal B induced Akt and Erk1/2 phosphorylation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and Erk1/2 inhibitor U0126 suppressed the induction of HO-1 and translocation of Nrf-2 by xyloketal B, whereas P38 inhibitor SB203580 did not. In conclusion, xyloketal B can induce HO-1 expression via PI3K/Akt/Nrf-2 pathways, and the induction of HO-1 is mainly responsible for the antioxidant and antiapoptotic actions of xyloketal B.

Decoupling free-carriers contributions from oxygen-vacancy and cation-substitution in extrinsic conducting oxides

The intrinsic oxygen-vacancies and the extrinsic dopants are two major fundamental free-carrier sources for the extrinsic conducting oxides, such as Sn-doped In(2)O(3). Yet, the individual contributions of the above two free-carrier sources to the total carrier concentrations have never been unraveled. A carrier-concentration separation model is derived in this work, which can define the individual contributions to the total carrier concentration from the intrinsic oxygen-vacancies and the extrinsic dopants, separately. The individual contributions obtained from the present carrier-concentration separation model are verified by the two-state trapping model, photoluminescence, and positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) spectroscopy. In addition, the oxygen-vacancy formation energy of the Sn:In(2)O(3) thin film is determined to be 0.25 eV by PAL spectroscopy.

Gossypol inhibits aromatase activity in cultured porcine granulosa cells

The present study investigated whether gossypol inhibited aromatase activity in cultured porcine granulosa cells. Aromatase activity was assayed by measuring (3)H-H(2)O released from [1beta-(3)H]-androstenedione. First, immature porcine granulosa cells were cultured with various doses of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH, 1 to 1000 ng/ml) for 1 to 5 d to determine optimal culture conditions for aromatase activity assay. Second, porcine granulosa cells were cultured with or without FSH in the presence or absence of gossypol. Gossypol, at 4 muM, significantly inhibited FSH-induced aromatase activity while showing no effect on basal aromatase activity. Gossypol did not inhibit cell proliferation during cell culture. These results suggest that gossypol inhibits aromatase activity by interfering with FSH induction of aromatase in cultured porcine granulosa cells.

Maternal energy and protein affect subsequent growth performance, carcass yield, and meat color in Chinese Yellow broilers

This experiment was carried out to investigate effects of maternal ME and CP levels on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of broiler offspring. A total of 1,134 thirty-week-old Chinese Yellow broiler breeders was randomly assigned to 3 dietary ME levels (11.09, 11.51, and 11.92 MJ/kg) and 3 CP levels (15.5, 16.5, and 17.5%) in a 3×3 factorial arrangement. Each dietary treatment had 6 replicates with 21 hens per replicate. At 39 wk of age, 30 settable eggs per replicate were selected for hatching. All broiler offspring were fed the same diets. There were significant ME×CP interactions in egg CP and ether extract (EE) contents, BW at d 1, 22 to 42 d ADG, ADFI during 1 to 21 d and 43 to 63 d, shear force, plasma albumin, cholesterol, and triglycerides contents of broiler offspring. Dietary ME at 11.92 MJ/kg increased average egg weight, egg EE content, and broiler 1-d-old BW compared with 11.09 MJ/kg group at 16.5%, 15.5%, and 17.5% CP levels, respectively (P<0.05). Maternal 11.51 and 11.92 MJ/kg of ME increased 1 to 21-d ADFI, and 11.51 MJ/kg of ME decreased lightness (L*) value of broiler offspring compared with 11.09 MJ/kg group at 17.5 and 16.5% CP levels, respectively (P<0.05). Broiler breeder dietary CP at 17.5% decreased egg EE content, increased average egg weight, egg CP content, BW at d 1, and 1 to 21-d ADFI of broiler offspring compared with 15.5% CP group at 11.92 MJ/kg of ME level (P<0.05). Maternal dietary 15.5% CP increased dressing percentage and decreased yellowness (b*) value of broiler offspring compared with 16.5% and 17.5% CP groups at 11.51 MJ/kg of ME level, respectively (P<0.05). Collectively, the results indicate that maternal diets composed of 11.51 to 11.92 MJ/kg of ME and 17.5% CP at 39 wk of age increased growth performance during 1 to 21 d in Chinese Yellow broiler, whereas 11.51 MJ/kg of ME and 15.5% CP improved carcass dressing percentage and meat color of their offspring.

Antibacterial anthraquinone derivatives from a sea anemone-derived fungus Nigrospora sp

Chemical investigation of a marine-derived fungus Nigrospora sp., isolated from an unidentified sea anemone, yielded two new hydroanthraquinone analogues, 4a-epi-9α-methoxydihydrodeoxybostrycin (1) and 10-deoxybostrycin (2), together with seven known anthraquinone derivatives (3-9). The structures of the two new compounds were established through extensive NMR spectroscopy as well as a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis using Cu Kα radiation. The antibacterial activities of compounds 1-9 and 10 acetyl derivatives (6a, 7a, 8a-8g, 9a) were evaluated in vitro. Compound 6a, the acetylated derivative of 6, exhibited promising activity against Bacillus cereus with an MIC value of 48.8 nM, which was stronger than that of the positive control ciprofloxacin (MIC = 1250 nM). Analysis of the antibacterial screening data for the metabolites and their acetyl derivatives revealed the key structural features required for this activity.

Observation of electron-antineutrino disappearance at Daya Bay

The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment has measured a nonzero value for the neutrino mixing angle θ(13) with a significance of 5.2 standard deviations. Antineutrinos from six 2.9 GWth reactors were detected in six antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (flux-weighted baseline 470 m and 576 m) and one far (1648 m) underground experimental halls. With a 43,000 ton-GWth-day live-time exposure in 55 days, 10,416 (80,376) electron-antineutrino candidates were detected at the far hall (near halls). The ratio of the observed to expected number of antineutrinos at the far hall is R=0.940±0.011(stat.)±0.004(syst.). A rate-only analysis finds sin(2)2θ(13)=0.092±0.016(stat.)±0.005(syst.) in a three-neutrino framework.

Model of commensurate harmonic oscillators with SU(2) coupling interactions: analogous observation in laser transverse modes

We theoretically explore the eigenstates of a coupled p:q commensurate harmonic oscillator with SU(2) coupling interactions under the canonical transformation. The spatial patterns of the high-order eigenstates are found to be markedly localized on Lissajous figures from single to multiple periodic orbits. Controlling the pumping size in large-Fresnel-number degenerate cavities, we have experimentally observed the laser transverse modes that display the wave patterns to be analogous to the derived eigenstates.

Bioactive hydroanthraquinones and anthraquinone dimers from a soft coral-derived Alternaria sp. fungus

Five new hydroanthraquinone derivatives, tetrahydroaltersolanols C-F (1-4) and dihydroaltersolanol A (5), and five new alterporriol-type anthranoid dimers, alterporriols N-R (12-16), along with seven known analogues (6-11 and 17), were isolated from the culture broth and the mycelia of Alternaria sp. ZJ-2008003, a fungus obtained from a Sarcophyton sp. soft coral collected from the South China Sea. Their structures and the relative configurations were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NOE spectra as well as single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compound 13 represents the first isolated alterporriol dimer with a C-4-C-4' linkage, and the absolute configuration of 4 was determined using the modified Mosher's method. Compounds 1 and 15 exhibited antiviral activity against the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), with IC₅₀ values of 65 and 39 μM, respectively. Compound 14 showed cytotoxic activity against PC-3 and HCT-116 cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 6.4 and 8.6 μM, respectively.

Electrical and optical properties of NiO composite films by radio frequency magnetron sputtering

The 100-nm NiO-Ag composite films with Ag content of 0 to 24.4 at.% are deposited on glass substrates. It is found that an ultra high electric resistivity (rho) value is obtained and cannot be detected by four point probe measurement when the Ag content is less than 3.4 at.%. The rho value is reduced significantly to 29.0 Omega-cm as Ag content is increased to 4.2 at.%, and it decreases greatly to 0.009 Omega-cm as the content of Ag is further increased to 24.4 at.%. The NiO-Ag composite film with Ag content of 4.2 at.% shows p-type conduction. However, it becomes n-type when the Ag content increases to 9.3 at.%, which results from the Ag atoms segregated at grain boundary of NiO when the excess Ag atoms are added into NiO films. On the other hand, the transmittance of the NiO-Ag films drops continuously from 96.3% to 31.6% as the Ag content increases from 0 to 24.4%.

Synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of eremophilane sesquiterpene 07H239-A derivatives

Nine new derivatives (6-14) of the eremophilane sesquiterpene 07H239-A (5) were designed and semisynthesized with two types of R-groups by amidation. Most of them were active against five human tumor cell lines, and compounds 6-10 were more potent than the natural product 5. In particular, compounds 6 and 9 exhibited the strongest cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-435 with IC₅₀ values of 0.91 and 0.96 μM, respectively. Preliminary structure-activity relationships (SARs) analysis indicated that the 14-carboxyl in 5 was an ideal target for chemical modification, and the side chain of 5 might play a necessary role in facilitating their cytotoxic potencies.

Metabolites of the mangrove fungus Xylaria sp. BL321 from the South China Sea

Two new lactones, 1 and 2, together with five known compounds, 3-7, were isolated from the marine mangrove fungus Xylaria sp. BL321. Their structures were determined by comprehensive analysis of their MS and NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were established on the basis of electronic circular dichroism calculations. It was found that the exocyclic double bond of 1 rearranged into a cyclic double bond to form a new crystal compound (1a) in diluted NaOH solution. Compound 3 was isolated for the first time as a natural product; its absolute configuration was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compounds 4-7 displayed cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435, while compounds 1- 3 were inactive (IC(50) > 50 µM).