Imprinting of Igf2 and H19 from a 130 kb YAC transgene

A stringent test for imprint control elements is to examine their function at ectopic loci in transgenic experiments. Igf2 and H19 are part of a larger imprinting region and as a first step, we examined these reciprocally imprinted genes in transgenic experiments using a 130 kb YAC clone. After paternal inheritance, H19 was appropriately repressed and Igf2 was expressed, irrespective of copy number or genetic background. After maternal inheritance H19 was consistently expressed, albeit with some variability. The levels of H19 expression per copy of the transgene inversely correlated with Igf2 (-lacZ) expression in cis. The consistent imprinting of H19 from this YAC contrasts with the previously described imprinting of mini-H19 transgenes, which only occurs at multi-copy loci, is inconsistent, and is prone to genetic background effects. We propose a novel model in which silencing of the H19 gene is the default state and its activation after maternal inheritance is the key mechanistic event for imprinting in this region. In addition, in situ analysis of the Igf2-lacZ reporter indicates that additional mesoderm-specific enhancers are present within the YAC clone. No obvious phenotype was detected from the excess gene dosage of H19.     

Infrared thermography (IRT) and ultraviolet fluorescence (UVF) for the nondestructive evaluation of ballast tanks’ coated surfaces

This paper quantifies the detectability limits of infrared thermography (IRT) and ultraviolet fluorescence (UVF) techniques in the thickness measurements of the naval protective coatings applied on ship ballast tanks. The change in signal per unit thickness (25 μm) is used to describe each technique resolution, when using a pulsed-thermographic procedure and a UVF spectroscopic analysis. Furthermore, Tanimoto criterion in addition to a local signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) computation measure the revealability of pinholes, the IRT technique provides an 83% revealability while the UVF imaging has a 66% value. The goal of this work is to benchmark the novel UVF approach against that of the IRT procedures.     

Increase in the expression of biglycan mRNA expression Co-localized closely with that of type I collagen mRNA in the infarct zone after experimentally-induced myocardial infarction in rats

Biglycan, a small dermatan sulphate proteoglycan, has been postulated to interact with other components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), specifically collagens. We hypothesized that biglycan messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is increased in the myocardial infarct zone. Biglycan mRNA expression after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats was determined with the use of Northern blotting and in situ hybridization, and its expression pattern was compared to that of type I collagen mRNA [alpha1(I) collagen]. The left coronary artery was ligated in male Sprague-Dawley rats, and the hearts were excised on days 2 and 7. The Northern blot analysis demonstrated that expression of biglycan mRNA in the infarct on days 2 and 7 were 4.0- and 6.8-fold higher, respectively, compared to the sham-operated hearts. The in situ hybridization revealed intense signals for both biglycan and alpha1(I) collagen mRNA on day 2 in the spindle-shaped mesenchymal cells located between the surviving myocytes in the infarct peripheral zone. On day 7, biglycan mRNA signals were observed in the interior of the infarct around the infarct granulation tissue, a distribution that was essentially the same as that of alpha1(I) collagen. These results demonstrated that the increases in the infarct biglycan mRNA expression produced by mesenchymal cells (presumably myofibroblasts and fibroblasts) was closely co-localized with that of type I collagen mRNA, indicating that biglycan contributes to the infarct healing processes.     

Phase Diagram of the BaO-CuO Binary System

The phase diagram of the BaO-CuO binary system has been investigated in air and in a mixed gas of Ar + 0.21 atm of O₂. The existence of two compounds, BaCuO₂ and Ba₂CuO₃, was confirmed. The phase transition of Ba₂CuO₃ from an orthorhombic to a tetragonal phase was observed to occur at 1083 K. The lattice constants of the tetragonal Ba₂CuO₃ phase were determined to be a = 1.2975 nm and b = 0.3992 nm. BaCuO₂ was shown to melt incongruently by a synthetic reaction at 1289 K. Furthermore, the existence of two eutectic reactions and a peritectic reaction in the present system was confirmed.     

Clonidine reduces dopamine and increases GABA in the nucleus accumbens: an in vivo microdialysis study

The spectrum of infectious disease (ID) emergencies in hospitalized patients was assessed in a prospective study of 3,626 inpatient ID consultations in a 1,350-bed teaching hospital. ID emergencies, defined by a need or anticipated need for advanced life support or by irreversible organ damage leading to permanent functional loss, were encountered in 175 patients. Infections of the central nervous system (26.3%), cardiovascular system (14.9%), alimentary system (13.1%), and lower respiratory tract (7.4%) and adverse reactions to antimicrobial agents (7.4%) were most common. In 18.9% of the cases, the referring clinicians were unaware of the emergency at the time of referral. Drug reactions (46.1%), severe alimentary and peritoneal infections (32.0%), upper respiratory tract infections (28.6%), and skin and soft-tissue infections (27.3%) were most frequently missed. The emergency ID conditions were not recognized because they had an atypical presentation (51.5%), were not commonly seen in the referring specialty (24.2%), were due to rare organisms (15.2%), or had unusual anatomical sites of involvement (9.1%). A close liaison between clinicians and the ID team is crucial for recognition of ID emergencies at their early stages so that appropriate investigations and management can be instituted expediently, before the occurrence of irreversible damage.     

Depletion layer in pn-junction of diamond with phosphorus donor and boron acceptor

In order to understand characteristics of diamond pn-junction, ionized dopant and carrier profiles in pn-junction of diamond with phosphorus (P) donor and boron (B) acceptor are calculated. There exists a large transition region at a depletion layer edge due to Debye tailing at room temperature (RT). The length of Debye tailing, λ, is reduced with increasing compensation ratios and temperatures. The Debye tailing is predicted to facilitate an early effect of a pnp-bipolar transistor.     

Distributed crossbar architecture for area-efficient combined data/instruction caches with multiple ports

A proposal to improve the low access bandwidth of conventional one-port caches by utilising a multi-bank structure with distributed crossbar to increase port number at small additional area cost is presented. This enables combination of data and instruction caches into a single multi-port cache as well as different wordlength for each port. Through dynamically scheduling the storage space used for data and instructions, 25% smaller storage capacity is sufficient for a given maximum cache-miss probability.     

模拟流体中真核状态鞭毛运动和纤毛运动的放大推进机构

由于大部分的生物体都具有相对的自发性、功能性和有效率性，模仿生物体动作的机械研究在工程领域是非常重要的。根据这个观点，我们研究了一种基于水中微生物动作的微型推进机构。