Observation of the Identical Rigidity Dependence of He, C, and O Cosmic Rays at High Rigidities by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

We report the observation of new properties of primary cosmic rays He, C, and O measured in the rigidity (momentum/charge) range 2 GV to 3 TV with 90×10^{6} helium, 8.4×10^{6} carbon, and 7.0×10^{6} oxygen nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) during the first five years of operation. Above 60 GV, these three spectra have identical rigidity dependence. They all deviate from a single power law above 200 GV and harden in an identical way.

DNA methylation and expression of imprinted genes are associated with the viability of different sexual cloned buffaloes

The DNA methylation of imprinted genes is an important way to regulate epigenetic reprogramming of donor cells in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). However, the effects of sexual distinction on the DNA methylation of imprinted genes in cloned animals have seldom been reported. In this study, we analysed the DNA methylation status of three imprinted genes (Xist, IGF2 and H19) from liveborn cloned buffaloes (L group, three female and three male), stillborn cloned buffaloes (S group, three female and three male) and natural reproduction buffaloes (N group, three female and three male), using bisulphite sequencing polymerase chain reaction (BS-PCR). The expression levels of these imprinted genes were also investigated by quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR). The DNA methylation levels of H19 were not significantly different among the groups. However, the Xist in female and IGF2 in male of the S group were found to be significantly hypomethylated in comparison with the same sexual buffaloes in L group and N group (p < .05). Furthermore, the expression levels of Xist, IGF2 and H19 in the stillborn female cloned buffaloes of S group were significantly higher than that of the female buffaloes in the L group and N group (p < .05). The expression levels of IGF2 and H19 in the stillborn male cloned buffaloes in the S group were significantly higher than that of the male buffaloes in the L group and N group (p < .05). These results indicate that Xist may be associated with the viability of female cloned buffaloes, and IGF2 may also be related to the viability of male cloned buffaloes.

The relationship between red cell distribution width and the risk of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis

INTRODUCTION

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is elevated in various inflammatory diseases, but its clinical significance in Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the value of RDW as a risk factor or marker for HSPN in children.

METHODS

This was a case-control study of 105 Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) patients, 120 HSPN patients and 192 healthy controls. The relationship between RDW-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV) and the clinical characteristics of HSPN patients was determined by a multiple logistic regression analysis (MVLRA). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to compare the diagnostic potential of the RDW-CV, a panel of routine markers and combinations of these indices.

RESULTS

The RDW-CV values were significantly higher in the HSPN group than the HSP group and controls (P < 0.001). Significant correlations were found between RDW-CV and ESR (P = 0.001). A combination of RDW-CV and ESR in a ROC curve showed 80% sensitivity and 84.9% specificity in the HSP patients, and 85.8% sensitivity and 93.8% specificity in the HSPN patients. The MVLRA revealed that RDW-CV (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.16-2.48, P = 0.007) was an independent predictor of HSPN.

CONCLUSIONS

The RDW levels were highest in the HPSN group, suggesting that RDW, especially the combination of RDW and ESR, may have value when assessing the risk of HSPN.

Aqueous extract from Orthosiphon stamineus leaves prevents bladder and kidney infection in mice

BACKGROUND

Extracts from the leaves of Orthosiphon stamineus are used in phytotherapy for treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

PURPOSES

Evaluation of an aqueous extract against infection with uropathogenic Escherichia coli in vivo; investigation of underlying microbiological mechanisms.

STUDY DESIGN

In vivo studies in mice and in vitro investigations on cytotoxicity, antiadhesive potential, influence on bacterial gene expression and quorum sensing.

METHODS

Extract OWE was prepared by hot water extraction. For in vivo studies BALB/c mice were used in an UPEC infection model. The effect of OWE on bacterial load in bladder/kidney tissue was monitored in pre- and posttreatment. Cytotoxicity of OWE against different UPEC strains, T24 bladder/A498 kidney cells, gene expression analysis, monitoring of phenotypic motility and quorum sensing was investigated by standard methods of microbiology.

RESULTS

OWE was quantified (UHPLC) according to the content of rosmarinic acid, cichoric acid, caffeic acid. Three- and 5-day treatment of animals with OWE (750mg/kg) after transurethral infection with UPEC CFT073 reduced the bacterial load in bladder and kidney, similar to norfloxacin. Four- and 7-day pretreatment of mice prior to the infection with UPEC NU14 reduced bacterial bladder colonization. In vitro investigations indicated that OWE (≤2mg/ml) has no cytotoxic or proliferation-inhibiting activity against different UPEC strains as well as against T24 bladder and A498 kidney cells. OWE exerts a dose dependent antiadhesive activity against UPEC strains NU14 and UTI89. OWE reduced gene expression of fimH, but evoked increase of the expression of motility/fitness gene fliC. Increase of bacterial motility on gene level was confirmed by a changed bacterial phenotype by an increased bacterial motility in soft agar assay. OWE inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner bacterial quorum sensing.

CONCLUSION

OWE is assessed as a strong antiadhesive plant extract for which the traditional use in phytotherapy for UTI might be justified.

[Effect of the mediation of the taurine on striatum tissue Ca(2+) homeostasis in manganese exposed rats]

Objective: To elucidate the effect of taurine on neurotoxicity induced by Mn by investigating activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase and content of Mn and active calmodulin in manganese exposed rats. Methods: 156 male SD rats were randomly divided into 1 control group, 3 manganese exposed groups (10, 15, and 20 mg/kg respectively) , and 9 taurine intervened groups based on orthogonal design (doses of taurine intervention were 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg respectively) , with 12 rats in each group. After 12 weeks of exposure, all rats were decapitated and corpus striatums were removed, activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase and content of Mn and active calmodulin were analyzed. Results: The corpus striatum Mn content of the 3 dose groups exposed to Mn and 9 taurine intervened groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05) . Active calmodulin content in 10 mg/kg manganese exposed group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05) . 150 and 200 mg/kg of taurine could decrease active calmodulin content of the group exposed to 10 mg/kg of Mn (P<0.05) . The corpus striatum activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase of the 3 dose groups exposed to Mn were significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05) . 150 mg/kg of taurine could increase activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase of the group exposed to 10 mg/kg of Mn (P<0.05) . 150 and 200 mg/kg of taurine could respectively improve activities of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase of the group exposed to 15, 10 mg/kg of Mn (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Mn can decrease the rats corpus striatum activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase, effect level of active calmodulin in relation to dose of Mn, to a certain extent, taurine could regulate activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase and improve the level of active calmodulin.

An integrated device with high performance multi-function generators and time-to-digital convertors

A highly integrated, high performance, and re-configurable device, which is designed for the Nitrogen-Vacancy (N-V) center based quantum applications, is reported. The digital compartment of the device is fully implemented in a Field-Programmable-Gate-Array (FPGA). The digital compartment is designed to manage the multi-function digital waveform generation and the time-to-digital convertors. The device provides two arbitrary-waveform-generator channels which operate at a 1 Gsps sampling rate with a maximum bandwidth of 500 MHz. There are twelve pulse channels integrated in the device with a 50 ps time resolution in both duration and delay. The pulse channels operate with the 3.3 V transistor-transistor logic. The FPGA-based time-to-digital convertor provides a 23-ps time measurement precision. A data accumulation module, which can record the input count rate and the distributions of the time measurement, is also available. A digital-to-analog convertor board is implemented as the analog compartment, which converts the digital waveforms to analog signals with 500 MHz lowpass filters. All the input and output channels of the device are equipped with 50 Ω SubMiniature version A termination. The hardware design is modularized thus it can be easily upgraded with compatible components. The device is suitable to be applied in the quantum technologies based on the N-V centers, as well as in other quantum solid state systems, such as quantum dots, phosphorus doped in silicon, and defect spins in silicon carbide.

Precision Measurement of the Boron to Carbon Flux Ratio in Cosmic Rays from 1.9 GV to 2.6 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

Knowledge of the rigidity dependence of the boron to carbon flux ratio (B/C) is important in understanding the propagation of cosmic rays. The precise measurement of the B/C ratio from 1.9 GV to 2.6 TV, based on 2.3 million boron and 8.3 million carbon nuclei collected by AMS during the first 5 years of operation, is presented. The detailed variation with rigidity of the B/C spectral index is reported for the first time. The B/C ratio does not show any significant structures in contrast to many cosmic ray models that require such structures at high rigidities. Remarkably, above 65 GV, the B/C ratio is well described by a single power law R^{Δ} with index Δ=-0.333±0.014(fit)±0.005(syst), in good agreement with the Kolmogorov theory of turbulence which predicts Δ=-1/3 asymptotically.

Epigenetic silencing of miR-137 induces drug resistance and chromosomal instability by targeting AURKA in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most prevalent hematologic malignancy. Aberrant microRNAs (miRNAs) expression has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of MM. In this study, we further demonstrated that miR-137 was significantly downregulated in MM and negatively correlated with clinical prognosis. Moreover, we described the epigenetic regulation of miR-137 and its association with progression-free survival in MM patients. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-137 in MM cell line (miR-137 OE) increased its sensitivity to bortezomib and eprirubicin in vitro. Also, some high-risk genetic abnormalities in MM, including deletion of chromosome 1p22.2, 14q or 17p13, and gain of chromosome 1p22.2 were detected in NCI-H929 empty vector (NCI-H929 EV) treated cells but not in the NCI-H929 miR-137 overexpression (NCI-H929 miR-137 OE) cells. Luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that miR-137 targeted AURKA. Ectopic expression of miR-137 strongly reduced the expression of AURKA and p-ATM/Chk2 in MM cells, and increased the expression of p53, and p21. Importantly, miR-137 overexpression together with bortezomib treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth in MM xenograft model. Taken together, this study demonstrates that miR-137 is epigenetically silenced in MM, and overexpression of miR-137 could reduce drug resistance and overcome chromosomal instability of the MM cells via affecting the apoptosis and DNA damage pathways.

Antiproton Flux, Antiproton-to-Proton Flux Ratio, and Properties of Elementary Particle Fluxes in Primary Cosmic Rays Measured with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

A precision measurement by AMS of the antiproton flux and the antiproton-to-proton flux ratio in primary cosmic rays in the absolute rigidity range from 1 to 450 GV is presented based on 3.49×10^{5} antiproton events and 2.42×10^{9} proton events. The fluxes and flux ratios of charged elementary particles in cosmic rays are also presented. In the absolute rigidity range ∼60 to ∼500  GV, the antiproton p[over ¯], proton p, and positron e^{+} fluxes are found to have nearly identical rigidity dependence and the electron e^{-} flux exhibits a different rigidity dependence. Below 60 GV, the (p[over ¯]/p), (p[over ¯]/e^{+}), and (p/e^{+}) flux ratios each reaches a maximum. From ∼60 to ∼500  GV, the (p[over ¯]/p), (p[over ¯]/e^{+}), and (p/e^{+}) flux ratios show no rigidity dependence. These are new observations of the properties of elementary particles in the cosmos.

Influence of storage time on DNA of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae for accurate detection by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

The shipment and storage conditions of clinical samples pose a major challenge to the detection accuracy of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) when using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The aim of the present study was to explore the influence of storage time at 4°C on the DNA of these pathogens and its effect on their detection by qRT-PCR. CT, NG, and UU positive genital swabs from 70 patients were collected, and DNA of all samples were extracted and divided into eight aliquots. One aliquot was immediately analyzed with qRT-PCR to assess the initial pathogen load, whereas the remaining samples were stored at 4°C and analyzed after 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. No significant differences in CT, NG, and UU DNA loads were observed between baseline (day 0) and the subsequent time points (days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28) in any of the 70 samples. Although a slight increase in DNA levels was observed at day 28 compared to day 0, paired sample t-test results revealed no significant differences between the mean DNA levels at different time points following storage at 4°C (all P>0.05). Overall, the CT, UU, and NG DNA loads from all genital swab samples were stable at 4°C over a 28-day period.