Direct Degradation of Fresh and Dried Macroalgae by Agarivorans albus B2Z047.

Marine macroalgae are increasingly recognized for their significant biological and economic potential. The key to unlocking this potential lies in the efficient degradation of all carbohydrates from the macroalgae biomass. However, a variety of polysaccharides (alginate, cellulose, fucoidan, and laminarin), are difficult to degrade simultaneously in a short time. In this study, the brown alga Saccharina japonica was found to be rapidly and thoroughly degraded by the marine bacterium Agarivorans albus B2Z047. This strain harbors a broad spectrum of carbohydrate-active enzymes capable of degrading various polysaccharides, making it uniquely equipped to efficiently break down both fresh and dried kelp, achieving a hydrolysis rate of up to 52%. A transcriptomic analysis elucidated the presence of pivotal enzyme genes implicated in the degradation pathways of alginate, cellulose, fucoidan, and laminarin. This discovery highlights the bacterium's capability for the efficient and comprehensive conversion of kelp biomass, indicating its significant potential in biotechnological applications for macroalgae resource utilization.

Based on metabolomics, the optimum wind speed process parameters of flue-cured tobacco in heat pump bulk curing barn were explored.

To explore the influence of wind speed on the quality of tobacco in this study, we employed a heat pump-powered intensive curing barn and a three-stage curing process. By evaluating the influence of fan parameters on the quality of tobacco leaves at different curing stages, the optimal wind speed was determined. After adopting the optimized wind speed process, the degradation of macromolecular substances was faster, the accumulation of aroma substances was delayed to 55 °C, and the accumulation was more complete. Among them, the contents of reducing sugar and total sugar in flue-cured tobacco leaves were 22.25% and 29.2%, respectively, which were lower than those in the control group. The sugar was converted into more aroma substances, and the total amount of neutral aroma substances was 48.82% higher than that of the control group. The content of related aroma substances increased significantly. The content of petroleum ether extract related to aroma substances increased by 0.93% compared with the control group. The macromolecular substances were degraded more fully than the control group, such as the starch content decreased to 1.56%. The results of metabolomics showed that the contents of aldehydes, heterocyclic compounds, alcohols, ketones and esters increased significantly in different degrees after this process. These results show that the optimization of wind speed parameters can significantly improve the baking quality of tobacco leaves. This study provides a reference for the optimization of the flue-cured tobacco baking process.

Antifibrotic effect of rapamycin containing polyethylene glycol-coated alginate microcapsule in islet xenotransplantation.

Islet microencapsulation is an attractive strategy for the minimization or avoidance of life-long immunosuppression after transplantation. However, the clinical implementation of this technique is currently limited by incomplete biocompatibility. Thus, the aim of the present study was to demonstrate the improved biocompatibility of rapamycin-containing polyethylene glycol (Rapa-PEG)-coating on alginate microcapsules containing xenogeneic islets. The Rapa-PEG-coating on the alginate layer was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the molecular cut-off weight of the microcapsules was approximately 70 kDa. The viabilities of the alginate-encapsulated and Rapa-PEG-coated alginate-encapsulated islets were lower than the viability of the naked islets just after encapsulation, but these the differences diminished over time in culture dishes. Rapa-PEG-coating on the alginate capsules effectively decreased the proliferation of macrophage cells compared to the non-coating and alginate coating of xenogeneic pancreas tissues. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion did not significantly differ among the groups prior to transplantation. The random blood glucose levels of diabetic mice significantly improved following the transplantation of alginate-encapsulated and Rapa-PEG-coated alginate-encapsulated islets, but there were no significant differences between these two groups. However, there was a significant decrease in the number of microcapsules with fibrotic cell infiltration in the Rapa-PEG-coated alginate microcapsule group compared to the alginate microcapsule group. In conclusion, Rapa-PEG-coating might be an effective technique with which to improve the biocompatibility of microcapsules containing xenogeneic islets. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Decreased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients. METHODS: Relevant studies were selected from 3 major literature databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE) without language restriction. Main inclusion criteria is that a case-control study in which RNFL thickness was measured by a commercial available optical coherence tomography (OCT) in OSAS patients. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 12.0 software. Efficacy estimates were evaluated by weighted mean difference with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Primary outcome evaluations were: the average changes of RNFL thickness in total OSAS patients, subgroup analysis of RNFL thickness changes in patients of different OSAS stages, and subgroup analysis of 4-quadrant RNFL thickness changes in total OSAS patients. RESULTS: Of the initial 327 literatures, 8 case-control studies with 763 eyes of OSA patients and 474 eyes of healthy controls were included (NOS scores ≥6). For the people of total OSAS, there had an average 2.92 µm decreased RNFL thickness compared with controls (95% CI: -4.61 to -1.24, P = 0.001). For subgroup analysis of OSAS in different stages, the average changes of RNFL thickness in mild, moderate, severe, and moderate to severe OSAS were 2.05 (95% CI: -4.40 to 0.30, P = 0.088), 2.32 (95% CI: -5.04 to 0.40, P = 0.094), 4.21 (95% CI: -8.36 to -0.06, P = 0.047), and 4.02 (95% CI: -7.65 to -0.40, P = 0.03), respectively. For subgroup analysis of 4-quadrant, the average changes of RNFL thickness in Superior, Nasal, Inferior, and Temporal quadrant were 2.43 (95% CI: -4.28 to -0.57, P = 0.01), 1.41 (95% CI: -3.33 to 0.51, P = 0.151), 3.75 (95% CI: -6.92 to -0.59, P = 0.02), and 0.98 (95% CI: -2.49 to 0.53, P = 0.203), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that RNFL thickness in OSAS patients is much thinner than healthy population, especially in superior and inferior quadrant. The impact of OSAS disease on RNFL and visual function should be taken seriously in the further study.

[The Effect of the Phase on Characteristic Energy of All-Trans-ß-Carotene].

All-trans-ß-carotene has important functions of light collection and light protection, and it is also an important electrooptical material. The Raman spectra of polyenes are a result of the modulation effect of the π electron energy gap on the vibration of CC bonds, which associate with the external field. So it has higher theoretical significance and practical value to study the molecular structure and properties change under the external field. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra and resonant Raman spectra of all-trans-ß-carotene in cyclohexanol were measured from 341 to 275 K. The liquid-solid phase transition of the sample appears at 295 K. The characteristic energy describes the conformational change of all-trans-ß-carotene molecule. After the solution phase transition, the characteristic energy ε of all-trans-ß-carotene molecule becomes bigger. And when temperature decreasing, the rate of change of the Huang-Rhys, the wavelength of UV absorption peak, electron-phonon Parameter, RSCSs of the CC bond increase. the Huang-Rhys in solid phase is an order of magnitude higher then liquid phase. The characteristic energy of liquid is 0.206 7 eV. The characteristic energy of liquid is 0.559 6 eV. The increasing of the characteristic energy ε makes the rate of increasing of the effectively conjugated length becomes bigger. The decreasing of the π electric energy gap quickens. The function of moderation from electron energy gap to all-trans-ß-carotene molecule enhances. Electron-phonon Parameter increases. RSCSs of the CC bond substantially increases.

Lower cognitive function in patients with age-related macular degeneration: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cognitive impairment in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Relevant articles were identified through a search of the following electronic databases through October 2015, without language restriction: 1) PubMed; 2) the Cochrane Library; 3) EMBASE; 4) ScienceDirect. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 12.0 software. Standardized mean differences with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated. All of the included studies met the following four criteria: 1) the study design was a case-control or randomized controlled trial (RCT) study; 2) the study investigated cognitive function in the patient with AMD; 3) the diagnoses of AMD must be provided; 4) there were sufficient scores data to extract for evaluating cognitive function between cases and controls. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale criteria were used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. RESULTS: Of the initial 278 literatures, only six case-control and one RCT studies met all of the inclusion criteria. A total of 794 AMD patients and 1,227 controls were included in this study. Five studies were performed with mini-mental state examination (MMSE), two studies with animal fluency, two studies with trail making test (TMT)-A and -B, one study with Mini-Cog. Results of the meta-analysis revealed lower cognitive function test scores in patients with AMD, especially with MMSE and Mini-Cog test (P≤0.001 for all). The results also showed that differences in the TMT-A (except AMD [total] vs controls) and TMT-B test had no statistical significance (P>0.01). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score was ≥5 for all of the included studies. Based on the sensitivity analysis, no single study influenced the overall pooled estimates. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests lower cognitive function test scores in patients with AMD, especially with MMSE and Mini-Cog test. The other cognitive impairment screening tests, such as animal fluency test and TMT, need more studies to assess.

[Study on the Turning Effect of the Energy Gap of π Electron on Atomic Vibration in Conjugated Linear Polymer].

The Visible absorption and Raman spectra of ß-carotene were measured in dimethyl sulfoxide in temperature ranging from 81 to 25 ℃ and in carbon disulfide in pressure range from 0.04 to 0.60 GPa, respectively. The results indicated that the visible absorption and Raman spectra are both red-shifted, Raman scattering cross section increase with the temperature decreasing. And with the pressure increasing, the visible absorption spectra are red-shifted, but the frequency shift towards higher frequencies in the Raman spectra, the Raman scattering cross section decrease unexpectedly. The latter can't be explained by the model of "effective conjugation length" and "coherent weakly damped electron-lattice vibrations". In this paper, we combined electron-vibration coupling rule with theoretical calculations and found that the electron-phonon coupling constant had a certain changing trend with the temperature and pressure variation, which Indicate that the interaction between π-electron and CC bond vibration was essential for this experiment result. Thus, the turning effect of energy gap of the π on CC vibration mode is responsible for such phenomenon.

[Degradation of m-Cresol with Fe-MCM-41 in Catalytic Ozonation].

Fe-MCM-41 was first used for the treatment of m-cresol in catalytic ozonation. The effect of the percentage of Fe dopping mass, catalyst dosage and the natural concentration of substrate on m-cresol conversion and TOC removal were studied. The structural property of Fe-MCM-41 was characterized by X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction, Mössbauer spectra and BET of catalysts. The results showed that Fe dopping mass had a great effect on the catalytic activity of Fe-MCM-41 in catalytic ozonation and the optimal percentage of dopping mass was 4.4% (wt). The results showed that with Fe dopping mass increase, the degree of crystallinity became weaker, the crystal surface distance reduced, as well as the specific surface area, pore volume and aperture. γ-Fe2O3 was the only form staying on the surface of MCM-41, and the catalyst had good ferromagnetism and stability. Ozonation played a role of both direct oxidation and indirect oxidation in the reaction, approximately the same ratio. Under the experimental condition of the natural pH of model wastewater,using 4.4% (wt) Fe-MCM-41 as catalyst, natural concentration of m-cresol 500 mg x L(-1), catalyst dosage 0.1 g x L(-1) and reaction time 30 min, m-cresol conversion and TOC removal were 100% and 26.8%, respectively.

[Effect on Fermi Resonance by Some External Fields: Investigation of Fermi Resonance According to Raman Spectra].

Fermi resonance is a phenomenon of molecular vibrational coupling and energy transfer occurred between different groups of a single molecule or neighboring molecules. Many properties of Fermi resonance under different external fields, the investigation method of Raman spectroscopy as well as the application of Fermi resonance, etc need to be developed and extended further. In this article the research results and development about Fermi resonance obtained by Raman spectral technique were introduced systematically according to our work and the results by other researchers. Especially, the results of the behaviors of intramolecular and intermolecular Fermi resonance of some molecules under some external fields such as molecular field, pressure field and temperature field, etc were investigated and demonstrated in detail according to the Raman spectra obtained by high pressure DAC technique, temperature variation technique as well as the methods we planed originally in our group such as solution concentration variation method and LCOF resonance Raman spectroscopic technique, and some novel properties of Fermi resonance were found firstly. Concretely, (1) Under molecular field. a. The Raman spectra of C5H5 N in CH3 OH and H2O indicates that solvent effect can influence Fermi resonance distinctly; b. The phenomena of the asymmetric movement of the Fermi resonance doublets as well as the fundamental involved is tuned by the Fermi resonance which had not been found by other methods were found firstly by our variation solution concentration method; c. The Fermi resonance properties can be influenced distinctly by the molecular group reorganization induced by the hydrogen bond and anti-hydrogen bond in solution; d. Fermi resonance can occurred between C7 H8 and m-C8H10, and the Fermi resonance properties behave quite differently with the solution concentration; (2) Under pressure field. a. The spectral lines shift towards high wavenumber with increasing pressure, and frequency difference Δ varies with pressure, which induced the change of W; b. The W of νi + ν4 ν3 of CCl4 in C6H6 decreased more quickly in solution than in pure liquid with increasing pressure and the Fermi resonance disappeared ahead of that in pure liquid, which indicates that the phenomenon of Fermi resonance induced by pressure effect can reveal the mechanism of some solvent effects. (3) Under temperature field. a. The Fermi resonance properties of different molecules behave quite differently with temperature. For an instance, the one of CO2 can be influenced distinctly by temperature, while the one of CS2 behaves no change with temperature. This article offers systematic theoretical and experimental support to the investigation of identification and assignment of molecular spectral line, the confirmation of molecular conformation and conformers, the effect of hydrogen bond on molecular structure and properties, etc.

[Resonance Raman Spectral Properties Studies of Beta-carotene in Solution].

Beta-carotene is an important kind of polyene biomolecules, which has significant applications on researching optoelectronic and functional materials. In-situ high pressure Raman spectra of beta-carotene are measured in CS2 solution and water respectively at pressure range from 0-0.60 GPa. Then we compared both of them the Raman shift and CC bond of the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the Raman spectra. It is therefore concluded that both of the samples' Raman shift moved to the high wave number and the full width at half maximum increased depending of the pressure. The experiment phenomena were interpreted by the theory of "coherent weakly damped electronic-lattice vibration model" and "effective conjugation length model". The mechanism is that the beta-carotene is compressed and has the lower structure order, shorte the effective conjugation length, decreased Raman active, weaker the coherent weakly damping CC bond vibration in high pressure. Because of the CC bond length become short, so the Raman spectra are found to blueshift. The CC bond of the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the Raman spectra increased is attributed to the increase of difference in C--C and C==C bond lengths. Moreover, due to dissolving in non-polar CS2 solvent, the beta-carotene encounters the interaction of the surrounding solvent molecules. So the dispersion force interaction between solute and solvent is more sensitive to pressure. Then it makes that the slop of Raman shift and the full width at half maximum in the CS2 solution are faster than dissolved in water with increasing pressure. This paper provides an application value for research on molecular structure change under the external field and the presence form of polyenes biomolecules in the solvent.

[Resonance raman spectra of linear polymer molecule].

The present paper summarizes the characteristics of resonance Raman spectra of the linear polymer molecule, and its relations with the molecular structure, including: electronic spectra(ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum), Raman spectra characteristics and its relations with external field; Modulation relation between the electron energy gap and CC atom vibration; Several experimental results were obtained: The UV-visible absorption spectra are red-shifted with decreasing temperature, increasing solvent density and reducing solution concentration, and because the linear polymer molecule has high structured order, decreasing pi electron energy gap; extended pi electronic delocalization, large effective conjugation length, large intensity of the Raman activity, Ramrnan spectrum are red-shifted, with large scattering cross section. "Am plitude modes" are the ideal theory models to study the linear polymer molecule.

[Effect of pressure on electron-phonon coupling constants of all-trans-beta-carotene].

The present paper cited that R Tubino and other people introduced a kind of electron-phonon coupling constants with dimension, which can establish the relation with the Huang-Rhys factor and calculate the electron-phonon coupling constants of every C-C bond vibration mode. There are many reports about the visible absorption and Raman spectra of all-trans-beta-carotene with pressure. But the study about the Raman scattering cross section and the Huang-Rhys factor with pressure have not been reported now. Visible absorption and Raman spectra of all-trans-beta-carotene were measured in carbon disulfide in the pressure range from 0. 04 to 0. 60 GPa. The results indicated that the visible absorption spectra of beta-carotene in nonpolar solvent carbon disulfide are red-shifted with pressure increasing, but the frequency shifts towards higher frequencies in the Raman spectra, the Raman scattering cross section decreases, Huang-Rhys factor increases, and the electron-phonon coupling constants of CC bond vibration modes increase. The mechanism is that all-trans-beta-carotene caused by compression and a decrease in the structurally ordered properties of the molecules leads to narrow energy gap of the pi, shortens effective conjugation length, hinders delocalization of pi-electron, decreases the Raman scattering cross section, and increases the Huang-Rhys factor and the electron-phonon coupling constants.

[Temperature characteristics of huang-Ryes factor of all-trans-beta-carotene].

A visible absorption and Raman spectra of all-trans-beta-beta-carotene was measured in cyclohexanol solution in the temperature range from 68 degrees C to 26 degrees C. The results indicated that the visible absorption spectra are red-shifted, Raman scattering cross section increases, Huang-Ryes factor and electron-phonon coupling constants of CC bond vibration modes decreases with the temperature decreasing. The changes are interpreted using the theory of "coherent weakly damped electronic-lattice vibration model" and "effective conjugation length model". The red shift of the absorption spectra and intensity of the Raman active are attributed to the thermal conformational change-induced increase in the effective conjugation length in all-trans-beta-carotene chains. All-trans-beta-carotene has strong coherent weakly damped CC bonds vibrational properties, which lead to large Raman scattering cross section in the solvent of low temperature. The electron-phonon coupling constants with dimension are used, which can easily establish relation with the Huang-Rhys factor and calculate the electron-phonon coupling constants of CC bond vibration modes. Effective conjugation length, the pi-electron delocalization range and the Raman scattering cross section are described by the electron-phonon coupling constants.

[Temperature effect on the hydrogen bonding behavior between DMSO and water in aqueous DMSO solutions studied by raman spectroscopy].

In the present paper, DMSO/H2O mixture with the ratio of volume 1:1 was measured in the cooling process by Raman spectroscopy, and the Raman assignments was made to the DMSO molecular and water molecular. The results showed that the behavior between intra-molecular hydrogen bonds and inter-molecular hydrogen bonds of DMSO and water leads to the change in the Raman spectra of the S==O stretching vibration of DMSO and the O--H stretching vibration of water. Further analysis showed that the hydrogen bond between DMSO and water was enhanced in the course of temperature decreasing process (27 to -30 degrees C), and the intramolecular hydrogen bonds between water and water replaced the intermolecular hydrogen bonds of DMSO and water in the course of temperature decreasing process (-30 to -60 degrees C). The research provides experimental basis for hydrogen bonding theory in aqueous solution.

[Enhancing stimulated Raman scattering of water and heavy water lattice vibration by laser induced plasma].

Stimulated Raman scattering was studied in water and heavy water using pulse laser at the wavelength of 532nm, not only obtaining the stimulated Raman of O-H and O-D stretching vibration, but also obtaining the stimulated Raman lattice vibration. When the laser energy was 130 mJ, the low frequency Stokes and anti-Stokes 313 cm(-1) line of water could be observed; When the laser energy was 160 mJ, the low frequnecy Stokes and anti-Stokes 280 cm(-1) line of heavy water could be observed. The results were explained by physics mechanism of laser induced plasma.

The effect of the Fermi resonance on the Raman scattering cross sections of the Fermi doublet ν1 and 2ν2 of liquid carbon disulfide in benzene.

The effect of the Fermi resonance (FR) on the Raman scattering cross sections (RSCSs) of the Fermi doublet ν1, 2ν2 of liquid CS2 in C6H6 using the method of changing the volume concentration of the solution is investigated. We have calculated the RSCSs of the Fermi doublet ν1, 2ν2 using Onsager's theory with the 992 cm(-1) Raman line of C6H6 as the internal standard. The result shows that the RSCS of the ν1 line decreases with decreasing the volume concentration of CS2, while that of the 2ν2 line unexpectedly increases. With decreasing the volume concentration of CS2, two main effects of the solvent effect (SE) and the FR in binary solution that can make the ν1, 2ν2 RSCSs change: the SE, as calculated, reduces both the ν1 and 2ν2 RSCSs; the FR plays a significant role in reducing the ν1 RSCS and enhancing the 2ν2 RSCS. In comparison with our previous investigation [J. Raman Spectrosc. 41 (2010) 776-779], it was found that the stronger the FR is, the more the RSCS of the ν1 decreases and the 2ν2 increases. Thus, we proposed that the result can be best explained by taking into account the effect of the FR on the RSCSs of the Fermi doublet. In addition, this paper also gives an explanation to the experimental results deviating from the theoretical results of the scattering coefficients of CS2 in solvent C6H6 as mentioned in Fini's paper.

[Study of Fermi resonance by means of solution concentration variation].

The values of Raman scattering coefficients of some molecules in which Fermi resonance occurs vary with solution concentration variation. We measured the Raman spectra of some solvents such as CCl4, CS2, C6H6, etc by changing the concentration of the solutions ranging from 10% to 100% in volume. As a result, the authors obtained the general law of Fermi resonance. We found some weak Fermi resonance phenomena as well that the two bands of Raman spectrum shift asymmetrically and that the fundamental of overtone is tuned by Fermi resonance and moves towards the same direction with the overtone simultaneously, which is same as the results Bier K. D. obtained by means of high-pressure technique. By means of this method, the authors demonstrated the conclusion that only the fundamental in combinations which has the same symmetry as the fundamental involved in Fermi resonance directly can its intensity variation influence the Fermi resonance. In this article, the authors present a new method to study Fermi resonance. This method is valuable in the identification and the assignment of spectral lines of solutions, the determination of molecular configuration of enzyme, the discrimination of isomer, as well as the influences on the molecular structures and properties caused by hydrogen bond.

Repeated gene transfection impairs the engraftment of transplanted porcine neonatal pancreatic cells.

BACKGROUND: Previously, we reported that neonatal porcine pancreatic cells transfected with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene in an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-based plasmid (pEBVHGF) showed improved proliferation and differentiation compared to those of the control. In this study, we examined if pancreatic cells transfected repeatedly with pEBVHGF can be successfully grafted to control blood glucose in a diabetes mouse model. METHODS: Neonatal porcine pancreatic cells were cultured as a monolayer and were transfected with pEBVHGF every other day for a total of three transfections. The transfected pancreatic cells were re-aggregated and transplanted into kidney capsules of diabetic nude mice or normal nude mice. Blood glucose level and body weight were measured every other day after transplantation. The engraftment of the transplanted cells and differentiation into beta cells were assessed using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Re-aggregation of the pancreatic cells before transplantation improved engraftment of the cells and facilitated neovascularization of the graft. Right before transplantation, pancreatic cells that were transfected with pEBVHGF and then re-aggregated showed ductal cell marker expression. However, ductal cells disappeared and the cells underwent fibrosis in a diabetes mouse model two to five weeks after transplantation; these mice also did not show controlled blood glucose levels. Furthermore, pancreatic cells transplanted into nude mice with normal blood glucose showed poor graft survival regardless of the type of transfected plasmid (pCEP4, pHGF, or pEBVHGF). CONCLUSION: For clinical application of transfected neonatal porcine pancreatic cells, further studies are required to develop methods of overcoming the damage for the cells caused by repeated transfection and to re-aggregate them into islet-like structures.

[Broad-area vertical cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers].

Based on the broad-area vertical cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers (VCSOA) of 970 nm, the amplifier gain and bandwidth characteristics were experimentally investigated and analyzed in the reflection mode. For 970 nm broad-area VCSOA operated in reflective mode, the maximum gain amplification of 24.8 dB and optical bandwidth of 0.14 nm (25 GHz) were reached when the injection current was 57% of threshold current and the signal input power was 0.7 W. The experimental gain value was larger than the theoretical value, due to many modes existing in VCSOA. Each mode had relative gain amplification, so the experimental gain value was larger than the theoretical value. This kind of broad-area VCSOA was improved not only in optical gain but also in saturated input power. The authors optimized the structure design of the wide area VCSOA of 970 nm. The simulation results showed that the improvement of the gain and bandwidth of the semiconductor laser could be obtained by appropriately reducing the DBR reflectivity of the emitting laser on the vertical cavity surface.

Rapamycin suppresses the expansion and differentiation of porcine neonatal pancreas cell clusters.

BACKGROUND: The role of rapamycin in pancreas stem cells remains to be clearly elucidated. Herein, we evaluated the effects of rapamycin on porcine neonatal pancreas cell clusters (NPCCs), which primarily comprised pancreatic precursors, and attempted to find an intracellular mechanism about the harmful effects of rapamycin. METHODS: Porcine NPCCs were treated with rapamycin in a monolayer, and the apoptosis and proliferation were determined via caspase-3 assay and H-thymidine uptake analysis. The expression of transcription factors was assessed via reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. For the in vivo study, the porcine NPCCs were transplanted into the kidney subcapsules of normal nude mice and treated with rapamycin. RESULTS: Rapamycin treatment significantly reduced the number of ß cells, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and the insulin contents in the monolayer-cultured porcine NPCCs. Furthermore, rapamycin treatment increased the apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of ß cells in the culture dishes. The expressions of the insulin, pancreatic and duodenal homeobox-1, and NeuroD/Beta2 genes were down-regulated via rapamycin treatment. The expression of insulin-like growth factor-II was significantly down-regulated, but the expression of Foxo1 was simultaneously inversely increased, and the translocation of Foxo1 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus was induced by rapamycin treatment. Moreover, rapamycin treatment induced a marked reduction in the relative volume and absolute mass of ß cells in the porcine NPCCs grafts at 8 weeks after transplantation in the normal nude mice. CONCLUSIONS: Here, we demonstrate that rapamycin treatment suppresses the expansion and differentiation of porcine NPCCs, and the alteration of Foxo1 and insulin-like growth factor-II gene expression might be the crucial factors.