[Water distribution and microclimatic effects of sprinkler irrigation on spring wheat field]

Measurements of sprinkler irrigation on spring wheat field indicated that spring wheat canopy could intercept water by 25-30%, and compared with that above canopy in first milking period, the uniformity coefficient below canopy could be increased by 7-9%. Floating and evaporation loss of sprinkler irrigation water could reach 20-25% of the total. In addition, sprinkler irrigation on spring wheat field could decrease air and soil temperature, and increase air actual vapor pressure and relative humidity, which played a definite role in restraining crop transpiration.

Atomic-beam alignment of inorganic materials for liquid-crystal displays

The technique used to align liquid crystals-rubbing the surface of a substrate on which a liquid crystal is subsequently deposited-has been perfected by the multibillion-dollar liquid-crystal display industry. However, it is widely recognized that a non-contact alignment technique would be highly desirable for future generations of large, high-resolution liquid-crystal displays. A number of alternative alignment techniques have been reported, but none of these have so far been implemented in large-scale manufacturing. Here, we report a non-contact alignment process, which uses low-energy ion beams impinging at a glancing angle on amorphous inorganic films, such as diamond-like carbon. Using this approach, we have produced both laptop and desktop displays in pilot-line manufacturing, and found that displays of higher quality and reliability could be made at a lower cost than the rubbing technique. The mechanism of alignment is explained by adopting a random network model of atomic arrangement in the inorganic films. Order is induced by exposure to an ion beam because unfavourably oriented rings of atoms are selectively destroyed. The planes of the remaining rings are predominantly parallel to the direction of the ion beam.

[Schistosoma japonicum: purification and diagnostic application of recombinant 32 kD antigen]

Separation and purification of rSj32 were carried out with SDS-PAGE and electroelution technique. The purified rSj32, AWA and SEA were used to examine sera of patients with schistosomiasis, healthy individuals and patients with other parasitic diseases by ELISA. The results showed that the molecule weight of rSj32 was 37 kD. The sensitivity and specificity of rSj32 as a coating antigen in ELISA were as good as those of AWA and SEA. It is suggested that rSj32 antigen is a potential antigen for immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica.

Permineralized Callixylon woods from the Late Devonian Cleveland Shale of Ohio, U.S.A. and that of Kettle Point, Ontario, Canada

Two permineralized woods are described in this paper, one from the Late Devonian Cleveland Shale of Ohio, USA and the other from the Late Devonian Huron Shale of Kettle Point, Ontario, Canada. Both samples of wood are satisfactorily preserved with primary and secondary xylem but without cortex and bark. Both are identified as Callixylon. They differ in specific characters from each other and from other described species. Hence two new species are designated, Callixylon beckii and Callixylon huronensis, respectively, to accommodate them in the class Progymnospermopsida (Progymnospermophyta) under the group Archaeopteridales.

Michael addition reactions between chiral Ni(II) complex of glycine and 3-(trans-enoyl)oxazolidin-2-ones. A case of electron donor-acceptor attractive interaction-controlled face diastereoselectivity

This study has demonstrated that the readily available and inexpensive 3-(trans-3'-alkyl/arylpropenoyl)oxazolidin-2-ones, featuring high electrophilicity and conformational homogeneity, are synthetically superior Michael acceptors over the conventionally used alkyl enoylates, allowing for a remarkable improvement in reactivity and, in most cases, diastereoselectivity of the addition reactions with a Ni(II) complex of the chiral Schiff base of glycine with (S)-o-[N-(N-benzylprolyl)amino]benzophenone. Kinetically controlled diastereoselectivity in the corresponding Michael addition reactions between the Ni(II) complex of glycine and the oxazolidin-2-ones was systematically studied as a function of steric, electronic, and position effects of the substituents on the starting Michael acceptor. In both aliphatic and aromatic series the simple diastereoselectivity was found to be virtually complete, affording the products via the corresponding TSs with the approach geometry like. The face diastereoselectivity of the reactions between the Ni(II) complex of glycine and the 3-(trans-3'-alkylpropenoyl)oxazolidin-2-ones was found to depend exclusively on the steric bulk of the alkyl group on the starting Michael acceptor. In contrast, the face diastereoselectivity in the reactions of aromatic oxazolidin-2-ones with the Ni(II) complex of glycine was shown to be controlled predominantly by the electronic properties of the aryl ring. In particular, the additions of the Ni(II) complex of glycine with 3-(trans-3'-arylpropenoyl)oxazolidin-2-ones, bearing electron-withdrawing substituents on the phenyl ring, afforded the (2S,3R)-configured products with synthetically useful diastereoselectivity and in quantitative chemical yields, thus allowing for an efficient access to the sterically constrained beta-aryl-substituted pyroglutamic and glutamic acids.

Prevention and treatment of hepatitis B relapse after liver transplantation

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) on hepatitis B(HB)-related diseases and the efficiency of prevention and treatment with lamivudine on recurrence of hepatitis B posttransplant in China.

METHODS

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) under veno-venous bypass was performed in 10, of whom 9 males had hepatitis B and 1 female had hepatocellular cancer (HCC) without HB pretransplant. Eight of the 9 males had fulminant hepatitis B (FHB) and they all had preoperative serious jaundice, ascites and coagulopathy. Six had encephalopathy; 1 was associated with acute renal failure, and 1 with gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Seven of the 10 patients had lamivudine to prevent reinfection with hepatitis B.

RESULTS

Of the 8 patients who have survived for 2-12 months, 7 have survived for 6-12 months. Two died, one of recurrent FHB and the other from multi-organ failure (MOF). Seven preoprative HB patients of the 8 survivors have excellent liver function through 1 has positive HBsAg 6 months after OLT. One of the 8 survivors, the female with HCC pretransplant, suffered hepatitis B 6 months after OLT and her hepatic function has been gradually improving with lamivudine therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

OLT is an effective therapy for certain cases of FHB and HCC and lamivudine may prevent recurrence of hepatitis B after OLT.

Regulation of the tinman homologues in Xenopus embryos

Vertebrate homologues of the Drosophila tinman transcription factor have been implicated in the processes of specification and differentiation of cardiac mesoderm. In Xenopus three members of this family have been isolated to date. Here we show that the XNkx2-3, Xnkx2-5, and XNkx2-10 genes are expressed in increasingly distinctive patterns in endodermal and mesodermal germ layers through early development, suggesting that their protein products (either individually or in different combinations) perform distinct functions. Using amphibian transgenesis, we find that the expression pattern of one of these genes, XNkx2-5, can be reproduced using transgenes containing only 4.3 kb of promoter sequence. Sequence analysis reveals remarkable conservation between the distalmost 300 bp of the Xenopus promoter and a portion of the AR2 element upstream of the mouse and human Nkx2-5 genes. Interestingly, only the 3' half of this evolutionarily conserved sequence element is required for correct transgene expression in frog embryos. Mutation of conserved GATA sites or a motif resembling the dpp-response element in the Drosophila tinman tinD enhancer dramatically reduces the levels of transgene expression. Finally we show that, despite its activity in Xenopus embryos, in transgenic mice the Xenopus Nkx2-5 promoter is able to drive reporter gene expression only in a limited subset of cells expressing the endogenous gene. This intriguing result suggests that despite evolutionary conservation of some cis-regulatory sequences, the regulatory controls on Nkx2-5 expression have diverged between mammals and amphibians.

Rational design of highly diastereoselective, organic base-catalyzed, room-temperature Michael addition reactions

Via the rational design of a single-preferred transition state, stabilized by electron donor-acceptor-type attractive interactions, structural and geometric requirements for the corresponding starting compounds have been determined. The Ni(II) complex of the Schiff base of glycine with o-[N-alpha-picolylamino]acetophenone, as a nucleophilic glycine equivalent, and N-(trans-enoyl)oxazolidin-2-ones, as derivatives of an alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid, were found to be the substrates of choice featuring geometric/conformational homogeneity and high reactivity. The corresponding Michael addition reactions were found to proceed at room temperature in the presence of catalytic amounts of DBU to afford quantitatively the addition products with virtually complete diastereoselectivity. Acidic decomposition of the products followed by treatment of the reaction mixture with NH4OH gave rise to the diastereomerically pure 3-substituted pyroglutamic acids.

[Simultaneous detection and differentiation of O1 classical E1 Tor, O139 and nonO1 nonO139 strains of Vibrio cholerae by using multiplex PCR]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the rapid and sensitive procedures for detection and differentiation of O1 classical(CVC), El Tor(EVC), O139 and nonO1 nonO139 strains of Vibrio cholerae.

METHODS

Four pairs of primers were designed from toxin sub-unit A(ctxA) gene, O139 special gene, Haemolytic subunit A gene and Toxin coregulated pilus subunit A gene. Multiplex PCR was established to simultaneously detect those four genes. CVC, EVC, O139 and nonO1 nonO139 strains can be detected and differentiated by the size and numbers of Multiplex PCR bands via electrophoresis. Two pairs of inside primers were designed from ctx A and O139 special gene, and a nested PCR was established.

RESULTS

60 EVC, 2 CVC, 15 O139 and 30 nonO1 nonO139 strains isolated from patients were detected with multiplex PCR and nested PCR, and the results were correct. 10 EVC and 15 O139 strains isolated from environment samples were detected, and the results meant that EVC were toxic and O139 were non-toxic. The sensitivity of multiplex PCR reached 100 cfu, and that of nested PCR reached 1-10 cfu.

CONCLUSION

This method is rapid, specific, and sensitive, and possess great value for practical application.

BMP signaling is required for heart formation in vertebrates

In these studies, we have taken advantage of a transient transgenic strategy in Xenopus embryos to demonstrate that BMP signaling is required in vivo for heart formation in vertebrates. Ectopic expression of dominant negative Type I (tALK3) or Type II (tBMPRII) BMP receptors in developing Xenopus embryos results in reduction or absence of heart formation. Additionally, blocking BMP signaling in this manner downregulates expression of XNkx2-5, a homeobox gene required for cardiac specification, prior to differentiation. Notably, however, initial expression of XNkx2-5 is not affected. Mutant phenotypes can be rescued by co-injection of mutant with wild-type receptors or co-injection of mutant receptors with XSmad1, a downstream mediator of BMP signaling. Whole-mount in situ analyses indicate that ALK3 and XSmad1 are coexpressed in cardiogenic regions. Together, our results demonstrate that BMP signaling is required for maintenance of XNkx2-5 expression and heart formation and suggest that ALK3, BMPRII, and XSmad1 may mediate this signaling.

Expression patterns of FHL/SLIM family members suggest important functional roles in skeletal muscle and cardiovascular system

LIM domain containing proteins play critical roles in animal development and cellular differentiation. Here, we describe the cloning and expression patterns of three members of the four and a half LIM domain-only protein family, FHL1, 2, and 3, from mouse. A comparison of embryonic expression patterns of these three highly-related genes indicates that they are expressed in an overlapping pattern in the developing cardiovascular system, and skeletal muscle. In adult tissues, the three genes are expressed in a predominant and overlapping manner in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Of the three genes, FHL2 appears to have the most restricted expression pattern during development, in heart, blood vessels, and skeletal muscle. Expression in heart is highest in cardiac septa and in the region adjacent to the atrio-ventricular ring, suggesting a potential role in septation or conduction system development. In the heart, FHL1expression was observed strongly in developing outflow tract, and to a lesser extent in myocardium. FHL3 displays low and ubiquitous expression during mouse development. Cardiac ventricular expression of FHL1, but not FHL2 or FHL3, was upregulated in two mouse models of cardiac hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy. Taken together, these data indicate the potential importance of this FHL family in the development and maintenance of the cardiovascular system and striated muscle, and suggest that FHL1 may play a role in the development of heart disease.

[Telomerase activity in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the activity of telomerase in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the correlation of telomerase activity with the cancer development.

METHODS

Totally 48 cases of NSCLC tissues were studied accompanied with 7 cases of normal lung tissues and 12 samples of lung tissues adjacent to the tumor. The telomerase activity was detected using Telomerase PCR ELISA kit. Statistics study included chi(2)-test and the exact probabilities. The significance level chosen was P value less than 0.05 (P < 0.05), and all tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

75% (36/48) of NSCLC tissues possessed the expression of telomerase activity and only 8.33% (1/12) of tissues adjacent to tumor and none of the normal lung tissue enabled to express telomerase activity. The statistical difference was significant (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between different histological types of NSCLC, however, the frequency of telomerase expression differed significantly between tumors of well/mordeately differentiated and poorly differentiated; stage I and stage II/III.

CONCLUSION

Telomerase activity might be a good marker in estimating the occurrence, development and diagnosis of NSCLC.

[Boron balance in agroecosystem on brown-red soil of south Hubei Province]

Five sequential cropping systems including rape/soybean-rice, wheat/watermelon-rice, rape/corn-soybean, wheat-sesame and soybean-sesame, were selected study the boron balance in agroecosystem on brown-red soil of south Hubei Province. The results show that the main output of boron was runoff and leaching, which accounted for 48-53% and 41% of the total respectively, while the output by products accounted for 3.4-10.1%. The main inputs were from rainfall, irrigation, fertilization seeds and seedlings, and natural return.

(S)- or (R)-3-(E-enoyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones: ideal Michael acceptors to afford a virtually complete control of simple and face diastereoselectivity in addition reactions with glycine derivatives

[formula: see text] Enantiomerically pure (S)- or (R)-3-(E-enoyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones were found to serve as ideal Michael acceptors in addition reactions with achiral Ni(II) complexes of glycine Schiff bases. Virtually complete control of simple and face diastereoselectivity, observed in these reactions, combined with quantitative chemical yields renders this methodology synthetically superior to the previous methods.

[Schistosoma japonicum ferritin: cloning, nucleotide sequencing, expression, and purification]

Our previous work showed that immunization of mice with Schistosoma japonicum (Sj) immature eggs induced significant immunity against fecundity and embryonation of the parasite. The Sj adult cDNA library was screened by sera from rabbits against Sj immature egg antigen (RASjIEA). The genes encoding molecules which may induce immunity against fecundity/embryonation were chosen for further cloning and expression. First of all, RASjIEA was absorbed with E. coli lysate to remove cross reactive antibodies. The cDNA library was then immunoscreened using the routine method. The resulted positive plaques were rescreened till individual clones were confirmed. Phagemids were obtained using in vivo excision. The positive clones were amplified using PCR. The sizes of the genes were determined by agarose gel electrophoresis. After DNA sequencing of the genes cloned, Gene bank was searched and six different genes were identified from a total of 102 positive clones. One of six identified genes, Sj ferritin (SjFer) was chosen to subclone into pGMC vector. According to DNA sequences of Sj Fer and MCS (multiple cloning site) of the vector, forward primer (Fer/GMC1) and reverse primer (Fer/GMC2) were designed and used to amplify Sj Fer by PCR. The Sj Fer cDNA and expression vector pGMC were digested with BamHI and XhoI. The digested cDNA and pGMC were ligased by T4 DNA ligase to construct a recombinant which was then used to transform E. coli strain ER2566. The fusion protein GMCSF-Sj Ferritin was expressed in insoluble form, the inclusion body. Pellets were harvested and resolved in Tris-HCl buffer containing 8M urea. GMCSF-Sj Ferritin was purified by affinity chromatography using Ni-NTA resin. The molecular weight was determined by SDS-PAGE. This study first reports the gene encoding S. japonicum ferritin as a new candidate for schistosome vaccine.

A pilot study of pain management during rehabilitation for hip and knee arthroplasty

{\it

OBJECTIVE

} To evaluate the efficacy of pain management in a clinical pathway for rehabilitation after hip and knee arthroplasty, in which scheduled medications are rapidly tapered and prn medications are continued throughout the inpatient stay. {\it

STUDY DESIGN

} A prospective cross-sectional study. {\it

SETTING

} General rehabilitation unit of a regional acute rehabilitation center. {\it

PATIENTS

} Twenty-nine patients admitted consecutively to the rehabilitation unit in three months. {\it

OUTCOME MEASURES

} Number of pills/day of prn pain medication, pain scores at admission and discharge, frequency of constipation and nausea, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) gain, and length of stay (LOS). {\it

RESULTS

} For all patients, prn pain medication use was 2.4 pills/day/patient; the mean FIM gain was 22.1; and the average LOS was 9.8 days. In comparison to the Vicodin group, patients on Darvocet N-100 had significantly fewer requests for prn pain medication each day (3.1 vs. 1.1, p < 0.01), significantly better FIM gains better (18.9 vs. 24.1, p < 0.05), and fewer side effects (nausea and constipation). {\it

CONCLUSION

} Choosing the right pain medication is imperative for achieving optimal efficiency in clinical pathways for orthopedic rehabilitation. In this pilot study, Darvocet N-100 is the preferred narcotic over codeine and its derivatives.

Traumatic sciatic nerve contusion

A case of isolated post-traumatic sciatic nerve contusion is reported, sustained after direct blunt trauma to the region of the buttock after a fall. Evaluation of this nerve injury not only included an EMG/ NCS, but also confirmatory evidence was obtained using the Minor's iodine-starch test to detect disturbances of sweat secretion. This case of sciatic nerve contusion responded to stimulator-guided local steroid injections. Cross-sectional anatomy of the sciatic nerve and various etiologies of sciatic nerve neuropathy is revisited.

Prediction of substructure and toxicity of pesticides with temperature constrained-cascade correlation network from low-resolution mass spectra

Artificial neural networks are trained to predict the toxicity or active substructures of organophosphorus pesticides and then are applied to screening GC/MS data for environmentally hazardous compounds. Every mass spectral scan in the chromatographic run is classified, and separate chromatograms are obtained for either toxicity or substructure classes. Classification of mass spectra allows the detection of chromatographic peaks from potentially hazardous compounds that may be missing from the reference database. The neural network models predict substructures and toxicity from mass spectra without first determining the complete configurational structure of the pesticides. Temperature constrained-cascade correlation networks (TCCCN) were used because they are self-configuring networks that train rapidly and robustly. The toxicity classes are defined by the World Health Organization, and the substructure classes are standard organophosphorus pesticide groupings. The TCCCN models are used to mathematically resolve peaks in the chromatograms by substructure and toxicity. Evaluations yielded classification rates of 97 and 84% for substructure and toxicity, respectively.

The design of potent and selective inhibitors of thrombin utilizing a piperazinedione template: part 1

Utilizing X-ray crystallography and molecular modeling, highly potent and selective peptidomimetic thrombin inhibitors have been designed containing a rigid piperazinedione template. The synthesis and biological activity of these compounds will be described.

The design of potent and selective inhibitors of thrombin utilizing a piperazinedione template: part 2

Potent and selective thrombin inhibitors have been prepared with a piperazinedione template and L-amino acids. Likewise, incorporation of D-amino acids led to potent inhibitors with a novel mode of binding. Herein, the structure activity relationships and structural aspects of these compounds will be described.

Endotoxin-mediated nitric oxide synthesis inhibits IL-1beta gene transcription in ANA-1 murine macrophages

On the basis of previous work demonstrating nitric oxide (NO)-mediated inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) DNA binding, we hypothesized that NO downregulates NF-kappaB-dependent interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) production in an ANA-1 macrophage model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. In the presence of LPS (100 ng/ml), levels of IL-1beta protein and mRNA were significantly upregulated with NO synthase inhibition. Using nuclear run-on analysis and transient transfection studies, IL-1beta gene transcription and IL-1beta promoter activity were also found to be increased with inhibition of NO production. Parallel transfection studies using an NF-kappaB long terminal repeat-reporter plasmid exhibited similar findings, suggesting an NO-mediated effect on NF-kappaB activity. Gel shift studies showed that LPS-associated NF-kappaB DNA binding was increased, both in the setting of NO synthase inhibition and in a reducing environment. Repletion of NO by addition of an S-nitrosothiol restored IL-1beta protein synthesis, mRNA levels, gene transcription, promoter activity, and NF-kappaB DNA binding to levels noted in the presence of LPS alone. Our studies indicate that NO may regulate LPS-associated inflammation by downregulating IL-1beta gene transcription through S-nitrosation of NF-kappaB.

Redox regulation of the rat hepatocyte iNOS promoter

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to define the redox sensitive cis-acting transcriptional mechanisms that regulate inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) promoter function in the hepatocyte.

METHODS

Clonal deletion constructs of the rat hepatocyte iNOS promoter (Genbank X95629; 1845 base pair)-reporter plasmid were transiently transfected into HepG2 cells treated with IL-1 beta and IL-1 beta + hydrogen peroxide.

RESULTS

A segment of the promoter upstream from nucleotide -1126 was associated with redox-sensitive augmentation of promoter activity. Site-directed mutagenesis of 2 antioxidant response elements (AREs) was combined with transfection analysis to demonstrate that mutation of the ARE at nt-1347 ablated oxidant stress-mediated activation of the iNOS promoter.

CONCLUSIONS

This ARE conveys the redox-sensitive response of the rat iNOS promoter. Hepatocyte iNOS expression is a novel and, as yet, poorly described antioxidant mechanism that is cytokine and redox sensitive and that plays a pleuripotent regulatory role in hepatocellular function in the face of sepsis and shock.

[Detection of 8-hydroxyguanine in the DNA of the H2O2-treated HL-60 cells by GC/FID]

This paper describes the DNA damage by hydrogen peroxide in HL-60 cells and the detection of 8-hydroxyguanine produced. The number of cells was at least about 2 x 10(7)/sample. Treatment of HL-60 cells with 0.4 mmol/L hydrogen peroxide for 24 h would result in DNA damage. The DNA samples were isolated, then qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed before hydrolysis. The results of experiments showed that 100-300 microL 98% formic acid could hydrolyze about 0.12 mg DNA samples completely in 150 degrees C for 1 h. After lyophilizing the DNA samples for 6-8 h, one DNA sample was trimethylsilylated completely with 150 microL BSTFA in 150 degrees C for 1 h. The recovery of trimethylsilylated 8-hydroxyguanine was 81.70%. The trimethylsilylated 8-hydroxyguanine was identified by GC/FID and CGC/MS-SIM parallely.