Efficient expression of human factor Ⅸ cDNA in liver mediated by hydrodynamics-based plasmid administration

The transfection of plasmid DNA into mammalian cells is an indispensable tool in the study of gene transfer and gene function. Since the original report in 1990 on the successful expression of a reporter gene in muscle[1], plasmid DNA injection has been widely used to mediate gene transfer study. As a gene transfer vector, naked DNA has many obvious advantages. It is easy and cheap to be prepared and more safe after transfection. But the plasmid mediated gene expression is low because of t…     

Research ＆ Development of Grade X70 LSAW Steel Pipes for West-East Gas Pipeline

In this article the research and development of X70 large diameter longitudinal seam submerged arc welded (LSAW) steel pipes for West-East Gas Transportation Pipeline project (WEGTP) in China are introduced, including the key technique, fabrication of pipe production line, mass production and the latest progress of LSAW steel pipe technique.     

Flow and heat transfer behaviour of nanofluids in microchannels

Flow and heat transfer of aqueous based silica and alumina nanofluids in microchannels were experimentally investigated. The measured friction factors were higher than conventional model predictions at low Reynolds numbers particularly with high nanoparticle concentrations. A decrease in the friction factor was observed with increasing Reynolds number, possibly due to the augmentation of nanoparticle aggregate shape arising from fluid shear and alteration of local nanoparticle concentration and nanofluid viscosity. Augmentation of the silica nanoparticle morphology by fluid shear may also have affected the friction factor due to possible formation of a core/shell structure of the particles. Measured thermal conductivities of the silica nanofluids were in approximate agreement with the Maxwell-Crosser model, whereas the alumina nanofluids only showed slight enhancements. Enhanced convective heat transfer was observed for both nanofluids, relative to their base fluids (water), at low particle concentrations. Heat transfer enhancement increased with increasing Reynolds number and microchannel hydraulic diameter. However, the majority of experiments showed a larger increase in pumping power requirements relative to heat transfer enhancements, which may hinder the industrial uptake of the nanofluids, particularly in confined environments, such as Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS).     

Acylation of nitriles to β-ketonitriles catalyzed by a heterometallic alkoxide cluster of neodymium and sodium： NdNa8（O^tBu）10（OH）

Catalytic acylation of nitriles with esters in the presence of 10 mol% NdNa8(OtBu)10(OH) is developed.The procedure is suitable for both enolizable and nonenolizable esters and affords β-ketonitriles in moderate to high yields.The heterometallic alkoxide cluster NdNa8(OtBu)10(OH) is structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction,and a mechanism for the production of β-ketonitriles using the cluster is proposed and verified.     

An overview of resistive random access memory devices

With recent progress in material science, resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices have attracted interest for nonvolatile, low-power, nondestructive readout, and high-density memories. Relevant performance parameters of RRAM devices include operating voltage, operation speed, resistance ratio, endurance, retention time, device yield, and multilevel storage. Numerous resistive-switching mechanisms, such as conductive filament, space-charge-limited conduction, trap charging and discharging, Schottky Emission, and Pool-Frenkel emission, have been proposed to explain the resistive switching of RRAM devices. In addition to a discussion of these mechanisms, the effects of electrode materials, doped oxide materials, and different configuration devices on the resistive-switching characteristics in nonvolatile memory applications, are reviewed. Finally, suggestions for future research, as well as the challenges awaiting RRAM devices, are given.     

Evidence for a spin-aligned neutron-proton paired phase from the level structure of (92)Pd

Shell structure and magic numbers in atomic nuclei were generally explained by pioneering work that introduced a strong spin-orbit interaction to the nuclear shell model potential. However, knowledge of nuclear forces and the mechanisms governing the structure of nuclei, in particular far from stability, is still incomplete. In nuclei with equal neutron and proton numbers (N = Z), enhanced correlations arise between neutrons and protons (two distinct types of fermions) that occupy orbitals with the same quantum numbers. Such correlations have been predicted to favour an unusual type of nuclear superfluidity, termed isoscalar neutron-proton pairing, in addition to normal isovector pairing. Despite many experimental efforts, these predictions have not been confirmed. Here we report the experimental observation of excited states in the N = Z = 46 nucleus (92)Pd. Gamma rays emitted following the (58)Ni((36)Ar,2n)(92)Pd fusion-evaporation reaction were identified using a combination of state-of-the-art high-resolution γ-ray, charged-particle and neutron detector systems. Our results reveal evidence for a spin-aligned, isoscalar neutron-proton coupling scheme, different from the previous prediction. We suggest that this coupling scheme replaces normal superfluidity (characterized by seniority coupling) in the ground and low-lying excited states of the heaviest N = Z nuclei. Such strong, isoscalar neutron-proton correlations would have a considerable impact on the nuclear level structure and possibly influence the dynamics of rapid proton capture in stellar nucleosynthesis.     

RNAi screen identifies Brd4 as a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukaemia

Epigenetic pathways can regulate gene expression by controlling and interpreting chromatin modifications. Cancer cells are characterized by altered epigenetic landscapes, and commonly exploit the chromatin regulatory machinery to enforce oncogenic gene expression programs. Although chromatin alterations are, in principle, reversible and often amenable to drug intervention, the promise of targeting such pathways therapeutically has been limited by an incomplete understanding of cancer-specific dependencies on epigenetic regulators. Here we describe a non-biased approach to probe epigenetic vulnerabilities in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), an aggressive haematopoietic malignancy that is often associated with aberrant chromatin states. By screening a custom library of small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting known chromatin regulators in a genetically defined AML mouse model, we identify the protein bromodomain-containing 4 (Brd4) as being critically required for disease maintenance. Suppression of Brd4 using shRNAs or the small-molecule inhibitor JQ1 led to robust antileukaemic effects in vitro and in vivo, accompanied by terminal myeloid differentiation and elimination of leukaemia stem cells. Similar sensitivities were observed in a variety of human AML cell lines and primary patient samples, revealing that JQ1 has broad activity in diverse AML subtypes. The effects of Brd4 suppression are, at least in part, due to its role in sustaining Myc expression to promote aberrant self-renewal, which implicates JQ1 as a pharmacological means to suppress MYC in cancer. Our results establish small-molecule inhibition of Brd4 as a promising therapeutic strategy in AML and, potentially, other cancers, and highlight the utility of RNA interference (RNAi) screening for revealing epigenetic vulnerabilities that can be exploited for direct pharmacological intervention.     

An efficient algorithm to generate candidates in discovering frequent episodes

0 IntroductionData mining is widely used in many research fieldssuch as decision supporting systems[1], bio-informationanalysis[2]and knowledge engineering[3-5]. Most data col-lected from scientific experiments or telecommunicationnetworks have inherent sequential nature inthemand canthus be abstractly viewed as a sequence of events . Onebasic problemin miningsuchevent sequencesis discoveryof recurrent combinations of events , which are calledepisodes. Once frequent episodes are discovered,rul…     

Identification of renal Cd36 as a determinant of blood pressure and risk for hypertension

To identify renally expressed genes that influence risk for hypertension, we integrated expression quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of the kidney with genome-wide correlation analysis of renal expression profiles and blood pressure in recombinant inbred strains derived from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). This strategy, together with renal transplantation studies in SHR progenitor, transgenic and congenic strains, identified deficient renal expression of Cd36 encoding fatty acid translocase as a genetically determined risk factor for spontaneous hypertension.     

Na(THF)2(μ2-η5-Cp)(η5,η5,η1-Cp3Yb)(THF)]n: The synthesis and X-ray structure of an anionic organolanthanidepolymer formed via self-assembly

Cp2Yb·2THF reacts with CpNa in 1：1 molar ratio in THF at 40℃ for 2 h, and the in situ generated anionic divalent complex NaYbCp3（THF）n reacts further with an excess of CpH at 40℃ for 48h, after work-up, affording the trivalent anionic ytterbium complex[Na（THF）2（μ2-η^5-Cp） （η^5, η^5,η^1-Cp3Yb）（THF）]n：（1） by oxidation reaction of Cp2Yb with CpH. Crystal structure determination reveals that complex 1 has one-dimension polymeric chains of distinct Na（THF）2（μ2-η^5-Cp） （η^5, η^5,η^1-Cp3Yb）（THF） units, which were formed by the coordination of the bridging Cp ligand with Cp3Yb＇THF and Na（THF）2 in η^5,η^5 mode via self-assembly.