Fast and deterministic switching of a vortex core induced by an out-of-plane current in notch disks.

The magnetic vortex, as one of the most interesting magnetic solitons, has attracted great interest over the past two decades. A fast and reliable method to switch vortex polarity and chirality is one of the key issues for various applications. Based on micromagnetic simulation, here we report a fast, low energy cost and deterministic switching of a vortex core, by the designing of a notch structure in disks and the use of out-of-plane current geometry. We demonstrate that with such a design, the multiple switching problems found in notch disk systems can be avoided. Furthermore, the switching time can be reduced by more than 50% compared with disks without notches.

Identification of genes and pathways related to lipopolysaccharide signaling in duckling spleens.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major component of the outer cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, activates the immune system and threatens the health of livestock and poultry. However, little is known about the genes and pathways involved in the immune response of ducklings to LPS. To elucidate the genes involved in the response of 7-day-old duckling spleens treated with LPS, RNA from LPS-treated and control duckling spleens was analyzed by RNA-Seq. The results showed 11,095 and 10,840 genes with >10 clean reads in the LPS-treated and control groups, respectively. Among these genes, 89 were differentially expressed (log2 ratio ≥ 1, P ≤ 0.01, false discovery rate ≤ 0.001); 67 of these were upregulated and 22 were downregulated in the LPS-treated group compared to the control. GO and GO-rich analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were enriched in 13 functional categories (P < 0.05). Pathway analysis and pathway richness analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were enriched in six pathway categories (P < 0.05). Further analysis showed that some immune system-related signaling pathways, such as the hematopoietic cell lineage, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway, complement and coagulation cascades, antigen processing and presentation, and chemokine signaling pathway, are active during the immune response. To confirm the RNA-Seq results, we detected CCL4, LBP, CD71, and STEAP3 expression using real-time PCR analysis, and the results were consistent with the RNA-Seq results. Our results provide new information on the genes involved in the immune response of duckling spleens to LPS.

Perindopril attenuates renal tubulointerstitium injury by inhibiting scavenger receptor A over-expression in diabetic rats.

Scavenger receptor A (SR-A) is the main receptor through which oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and advanced glycation end products get into the cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of an ACE inhibitor, perindopril, on the expression of SR-A in renal tubulointerstitium of diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by injection with streptozotocin. The rats were then randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group; untreated diabetes mellitus group; and diabetes mellitus group treated with the ACE inhibitor, perindopril. After a 24-week treatment, tubulointerstitial injury index was assessed on Masson's trichrome sections. The number of macrophages and the expression of SR-A protein in renal tubulointerstitium were detected by immunohistochemistry and the expression of SR-A mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The tubulointerstitial injury index, the number of macrophages and the expression of SR-A mRNA were significantly higher in the diabetes group than the normal control group. Perindopril treatment not only attenuated the tubulointerstitial injury and the macrophages infiltration but also reduced the overexpression of SR-A mRNA in diabetic rats. The expression of SR-A protein was most obvious in renal tubulointerstitium in diabetic rats, which was attenuated by perindopril treatment. The findings of the present study indicate that perindopril may have renoprotective effects of diabetic nephropathy via inhibiting the expression of SR-A in renal tubulointerstitium.

Paired box 6 (PAX6) regulates glucose metabolism via proinsulin processing mediated by prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3).

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Human patients with aniridia caused by heterozygous PAX6 mutations display abnormal glucose metabolism, but the underlying molecular mechanism is largely unknown. Disturbed islet architecture has been proposed as the reason why mice with complete inactivation of paired box 6 (PAX6) in the pancreas develop diabetes. This is not, however, the case in human aniridia patients with heterozygous PAX6 deficiency and no apparent defects in pancreatic development. We investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the development of abnormal glucose metabolism in these patients. METHODS: A human aniridia pedigree with a PAX6 R240Stop mutation was examined for abnormal glucose metabolism using an OGTT. The underlying mechanism was further investigated using Pax6 R266Stop mutant small-eye mice, which also have abnormal glucose metabolism similar to that in PAX6 R240Stop mutation human aniridia patients. RESULTS: Paired box 6 (PAX6) deficiency, both in aniridia patients with a heterozygous PAX6 R240Stop mutation and in mice with a heterozygous Pax6 R266Stop mutation, causes defective proinsulin processing and abnormal glucose metabolism. PAX6 can bind to the promoter and directly upregulate production of prohormone convertase (PC)1/3, an enzyme essential for conversion of proinsulin to insulin. Pax6 mutations lead to PC1/3 deficiency, resulting in defective proinsulin processing and abnormal glucose metabolism. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: This study indicates a novel function for PAX6 in the regulation of proinsulin processing and glucose metabolism via modulation of PC1/3 production. It also provides an insight into the abnormal glucose metabolism caused by heterozygous PAX6 mutations in humans and mice.

[Image reconstruction based on tomosynthesis].

As a reconstruction method earlier than CT, tomosynthesis has its characteristic. This paper first analyzes principles of tomosynthesis, through transformation of equation set of tomosynthesis, which describes relation between sectional image and projection image, and we have proved that tomosynthesis is the same as Algebraic Reconstruction Techniques essentially. Reconstruction of tomosynthesis is indeed the reconstruction of Algebraic Reconstruction Techniques which under limited angle. We may regard all directive projection information as constitution of two limited angle projection information. Finally we reconstruct sectional image by using conception of "row" in tomosynthesis. And computer simulation has proved our conclusion to be correct.

Analysis for 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea by chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

We used chemical ionization mass spectrometry to quantify the cancer chemotherapeutic agent 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea in biological fluids. A stable isotope-labeled internal standard was added to the fluid being analyzed. Protonated molecular ion intensity ratios were determined by selected ion monitoring of sample extracts inserted directly into the chemical ionization source. Peak ratios were calculated for chlorine isotope ratios in their natural abundance, to verify the integrity of the data acquired, and to compute the drug concentration. The assay was applied to measure the compound in rat blood and plasma and in human plasma, and to monitor in vitro metabolism in rat-liver microsomal preparations. For the analyses we used a quadrupole mass spectrometer interfaced to a commercial computer system. Data-system characteristics are described.