Electric-field control of nonvolatile magnetization in Co40Fe40B20/Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))(0.7)Ti(0.3)O3 structure at room temperature

We report a large and nonvolatile bipolar-electric-field-controlled magnetization at room temperature in a Co(40)Fe(40)B(20)/Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))(0.7)Ti(0.3)O(3) structure, which exhibits an electric-field-controlled looplike magnetization. Investigations on the ferroelectric domains and crystal structures with in situ electric fields reveal that the effect is related to the combined action of 109° ferroelastic domain switching and the absence of magnetocrystalline anisotropy in Co(40)Fe(40)B(20). This work provides a route to realize large and nonvolatile magnetoelectric coupling at room temperature and is significant for applications.

Measurement of the neutron radius of 208Pb through parity violation in electron scattering

We report the first measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry A(PV) in the elastic scattering of polarized electrons from 208Pb. A(PV) is sensitive to the radius of the neutron distribution (R(n)). The result A(PV)=0.656±0.060(stat)±0.014(syst) ppm corresponds to a difference between the radii of the neutron and proton distributions R(n)-R(p)=0.33(-0.18)(+0.16) fm and provides the first electroweak observation of the neutron skin which is expected in a heavy, neutron-rich nucleus.

New precision limit on the strange vector form factors of the proton

The parity-violating cross-section asymmetry in the elastic scattering of polarized electrons from unpolarized protons has been measured at a four-momentum transfer squared Q2 = 0.624  GeV2 and beam energy E(b) = 3.48  GeV to be A(PV) = -23.80 ± 0.78(stat) ± 0.36(syst) parts per million. This result is consistent with zero contribution of strange quarks to the combination of electric and magnetic form factors G(E)(s) + 0.517G(M)(s) = 0.003 ± 0.010(stat) ± 0.004(syst) ± 0.009(ff), where the third error is due to the limits of precision on the electromagnetic form factors and radiative corrections. With this measurement, the world data on strange contributions to nucleon form factors are seen to be consistent with zero and not more than a few percent of the proton form factors.

Identification of breast cancer prognosis markers using integrative sparse boosting

OBJECTIVES

In breast cancer research, it is important to identify genomic markers associated with prognosis. Multiple microarray gene expression profiling studies have been conducted, searching for prognosis markers. Genomic markers identified from the analysis of single datasets often suffer a lack of reproducibility because of small sample sizes. Integrative analysis of data from multiple independent studies has a larger sample size and may provide a cost-effective solution.

METHODS

We collect four breast cancer prognosis studies with gene expression measurements. An accelerated failure time (AFT) model with an unknown error distribution is adopted to describe survival. An integrative sparse boosting approach is employed for marker selection. The proposed model and boosting approach can effectively accommodate heterogeneity across multiple studies and identify genes with consistent effects.

RESULTS

Simulation study shows that the proposed approach outperforms alternatives including meta-analysis and intensity approaches by identifying the majority or all of the true positives, while having a low false positive rate. In the analysis of breast cancer data, 44 genes are identified as associated with prognosis. Many of the identified genes have been previously suggested as associated with tumorigenesis and cancer prognosis. The identified genes and corresponding predicted risk scores differ from those using alternative approaches. Monte Carlo-based prediction evaluation suggests that the proposed approach has the best prediction performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Integrative analysis may provide an effective way of identifying breast cancer prognosis markers. Markers identified using the integrative sparse boosting analysis have sound biological implications and satisfactory prediction performance.

Bioequivalence of two misoprostol tablets in healthy Chinese female volunteers: a single-dose, two-period, double crossover study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the bioequivalence of a new generic formulation of misoprostol (CAS 59122-46-2) 0.2 mg tablets (test) and the available branded tablet (reference) for the requirement of state regulatory criteria and the marketing of the test product in China.

METHODS

A randomized-sequence, 2-period crossover study was conducted in 20 healthy Chinese female volunteers in the fasted state. Blood samples were collected at baseline and 0.083, 0.17, 0.25, 0.33, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 and 6 h after a single oral dose of 0.6 mg misoprostol test or reference, followed by a 7-day washout period. Misoprostol acid, the active metabolite of misoprostol, was determined by an HPLC-MS/MS method. Drug And Statistics 2.0 was used to calculate the pharmacokinetics parameters and assess bioequivalence of the 2 formulations. It was considered bioequivalent if the 90% CIs of the mean ratios (test: reference) for Tmax, Cmax and AUC0-t were all within the range from 80% to 125%. Adverse events were monitored throughout the study based on clinical parameters and patient reports.

RESULTS

The main pharmacokinetics parameters for the test and reference were as follows: t1/2 was (0.680 ± 0.371) h and (0.650 ± 0.264) h; Tmax was (0.415 ± 0.087) h and (0.399 ± 0.097) h; Cmax was (1.941 ± 0.417) ng/mL and (2.047 ± 0.397) ng/mL; AUC0-t was (1.535 ± 0.419) ng·h/mL and (1.652 ± 0.400)ng·h/mL, and the AUC0-∞ was (1.576 ± 0.465) ng·h/mL and (1.686 ± 0.396) ng·h/mL. The mean ratios (test: reference) for Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞ were 95.3% ±13.2%, 92.65% ± 17.31%, and 93.61%±18.97%, respectively. No significant (p>0.05) differences in pharmacokinetic parameters were found between preparations, treatments and periods.

CONCLUSIONS

This single-dose study in healthy Chinese fasted volunteers was shown that the misoprostol test and reference met the requirement of US and China regulatory criterion, and the test and reference were bioequivalent.

Beam-target double-spin asymmetry A{LT} in charged pion production from deep inelastic scattering on a transversely polarized {3}He target at 1.4<Q{2}<2.7 GeV{2}

We report the first measurement of the double-spin asymmetry A{LT} for charged pion electroproduction in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic electron scattering on a transversely polarized {3}He target. The kinematics focused on the valence quark region, 0.16<x<0.35 with 1.4<Q{2}<2.7  GeV{2}. The corresponding neutron A{LT} asymmetries were extracted from the measured {3}He asymmetries and proton over {3}He cross section ratios using the effective polarization approximation. These new data probe the transverse momentum dependent parton distribution function g{1T}{q} and therefore provide access to quark spin-orbit correlations. Our results indicate a positive azimuthal asymmetry for π{-} production on {3}He and the neutron, while our π{+} asymmetries are consistent with zero.

Assessment of modeled mercury dry deposition over the Great Lakes region

Three sets of model predicted values for speciated mercury concentrations and dry deposition fluxes over the Great Lakes region were assessed using field measurements and model intercomparisons. The model predicted values were produced by the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System for the year 2002 (CMAQ2002) and for the year 2005 (CMAQ2005) and by the Global/Regional Atmospheric Heavy Metals Model for the year 2005 (GRAHM2005). Median values of the surface layer ambient concentration of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) from all three models were generally within 30% of measurements. However, all three models overpredicted surface-layer concentrations of gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) and particulate bound mercury (PBM) by a factor of 2-10 at the majority of the 15 monitoring locations. For dry deposition of GOM plus PBM, CMAQ2005 showed a clear gradient with the highest deposition in Pennsylvania and its surrounding areas while GRAHM2005 showed no such gradient in this region; however, GRAHM2005 had more hot spots than those of CMAQ2005. Predicted dry deposition of GOM plus PBM from these models should be treated as upper-end estimates over some land surfaces in this region based on the tendencies of all the models to overpredict GOM and PBM concentrations when compared to field measurements. Model predicted GEM dry deposition was found to be as important as GOM plus PBM dry deposition as a contributor to total dry deposition. Predicted total annual mercury dry deposition were mostly lower than 5 μg m(-2) to the surface of the Great lakes, between 5 and 15 μg m(-2) to the land surface north of the US/Canada border, and between 5 and 40 μg m(-2) to the land surface south of the US/Canada border. Predicted dry deposition from different models differed from each other by as much as a factor of 2 at regional scales and by a greater extent at local scales.

IL-7Rα deficiency in p53null mice exacerbates thymocyte telomere erosion and lymphomagenesis

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is an essential T-cell survival cytokine. IL-7 receptor (IL-7Rα) deficiency severely impairs T-cell development due to substantial apoptosis. We hypothesized that IL-7Rα(null)-induced apoptosis is partially contributed by an elevated p53 activity. To investigate the genetic association of IL-7/IL-7Rα signaling with the p53 pathway, we generated IL-7Rα(null)p53(null) (DKO) mice. DKO mice exhibited a marked reduction of apoptosis in developing T cells and an augmented thymic lymphomagenesis with telomere erosions and exacerbated chromosomal anomalies, including chromosome duplications, breaks, and translocations. In particular, Robertsonian translocations, in which telocentric chromosomes fuse at the centromeric region, and a complete loss of telomeres at the fusion site occurred frequently in DKO thymic lymphomas. Cellular and molecular investigations revealed that IL-7/IL-7Rα signaling withdrawal diminished the protein synthesis of protection of telomere 1 (POT1), a subunit of telomere protective complex shelterin, leading to telomere erosion and the activation of the p53 pathway. Blockade of IL-7/IL-7Rα signaling in IL-7-dependent p53(null) cells reduced POT1 expression and caused telomere and chromosome abnormalities similar to those observed in DKO lymphomas. This study underscores a novel function of IL-7/IL-7Rα during T-cell development in regulating telomere integrity via POT1 expression and provides new insights into cytokine-mediated survival signals and T-cell lymphomagenesis.

Sodium valproate inhibits MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell migration by upregulating NM23H1 expression

Breast cancer is a common cancer in women, with a highly variable course, from inoffensive to lethal. To find a more effective strategy for its treatment, sodium valproate has been tested as an anti-cancer drug; it is the only clinically available histone deacetylase inhibitor. However, data about the effects of sodium valproate on breast cancer are insufficient in both animals and humans; studies have yielded conflicting conclusions. In particular, little is known about the association between expression of the metastasis suppressor Nm23H1 gene and breast cancer. We hypothesized that sodium valproate regulates NM23H1 expression, and affects migration and/or invasion. We found that sodium valproate at concentrations of 0.8-3.2 mM inhibits migration and modulates Nm23H1 gene expression in a concentration-dependent manner. Confluent MDA-MB-231 cells were scratched by a micropipette tip after VPA treatment for 24 h; 24 h later, the scratch was almostly closed in the 0 mM VPA-treated cells, while the 3.2 mM VPA-treated cells migrated the slowest. The cell migration ratio exposed to 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 mM VPA was about 66.67, 30.67 and 26.67% (P < 0.05). We also found evidence that sodium valproate upregulates NM23H1 expression, which is a clue to its anti-cancer mode of action. The NM23H1 gene expression was relative fold increased determined by Western blotting at 3.2 mM VPA. Collectively, these observations indicate that sodium valproate has potential for use in breast cancer treatment.

Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas: classification, imaging findings, and treatment

Intracranial DAVFs are pathologic dural-based shunts and account for 10%-15% of all intracranial arteriovenous malformations. These malformations derive their arterial supply primarily from meningeal vessels, and the venous drainage is either via dural venous sinuses or through the cortical veins. DAVFs have a reported association with dural sinus thrombosis, venous hypertension, previous craniotomy, and trauma, though many lesions are idiopathic. The diagnosis is dependent on a high level of clinical suspicion and high-resolution imaging. Cross-sectional imaging techniques by using CT and MR imaging aid in the diagnosis, but conventional angiography remains the most accurate method for complete characterization and classification of DAVFs. The pattern of venous drainage observed on dynamic vascular imaging determines the type of DAVF and correlates with the severity of symptoms and the risk of hemorrhage.

Microbial response to limited nutrients in shallow water immediately after the end-Permian mass extinction

Previous work indicates that a variety of microbes bloomed in the oceans after the end-Permian faunal mass extinction, but evidence is sporadically documented. Thus, the nature and geographic distribution of such microbes and their associations are unclear, addressed in this study using a series of biomarker groups. On the basis of microbial biomarker records of the 2-methylhopane index, evidence is presented for cyanobacterial blooms in both the western and eastern Tethys Sea and in both shallow and deep waters, after the mass extinction. The enhanced relative abundance of C(28) (expressed by the C(28) /C(29) ratio of) regular steranes suggests a bloom of prasinophyte algae occurred immediately after the end-Permian faunal extinction, comparable with those observed in some other mass extinctions in Phanerozoic. Significantly, cyanobacteria and prasinophyte algae show a synchronized onset of bloom in the shallow water Bulla section, north Italy, inferring for the first time their coupled response to the biotic crisis and the associated environmental conditions. However, in Meishan of Zhejiang Province in south China, the bloom declined earlier than in Bulla. The association of increased 2-methylhopane index with a negative shift in the nitrogen isotope composition infers a scenario of enhanced nitrogen fixation by cyanobacteria immediately after the faunal mass extinction. N(2) fixation by cyanobacteria is here interpreted to have provided prasinophyte algae with ammonium in nutrient-limited shallow waters, and thus caused their associated blooms.