Enhanced Orbital Degeneracy in Momentum Space for LaOFeAs

The Fermi surfaces (FS) of LaOFeAs (in $k_z$=0 plane) consist of two hole-type circles around $\Gamma$ point, which do not touch each other, and two electron-type co-centered ellipses around M point, which are degenerate along the M-X line. By first-principles calculations, here we show that additional degeneracy exists for the two electron-type FS, and the crucial role of F-doping and pressure is to enhance this orbital degeneracy. It is suggested that the inter-orbital fluctuation is the key point to understand the unconventional superconductivity in these materials.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Y(2175): Distinguish Hybrid State from Higher Quarkonium

The possibility of Y(2175) as a $2{^3D_1}$ $s\bar{s}$ meson is studied. We study the decay of $2{^3D_1}$ $s\bar{s}$ from both the $^3P_0$ model and the flux tube model, and the results are similar in the two models. We show that the decay patterns of $1^{--}$ strangeonium hybrid and $2{^3D_1}$ $s\bar{s}$ are very different. The experimental search of the decay modes $KK$, $K^{*}K^{*}$, $K(1460)K$, $h_1(1380)\eta$ is suggested to distinguish the two pictures. Measuring the $K^{*}K^{*}$ partial width ratios is crucial to discriminate the $2{^3D_1}$ from the $3{^3S_1}$ $s\bar{s}$ assignment.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure

Purification and characterization of a novel defensin from the salivary glands of the black fly, Simulium bannaense

BACKGROUND: Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are haematophagous insects that can cause allergic reactions and act as vectors of pathogens. Although their saliva has been thought to contain a diverse array of physiologically active molecules, little information is available on antimicrobial factors in black fly salivary glands, especially no defensins have been reported so far. METHODS: A novel cationic defensin designated SibaDef was purified using reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) from the salivary glands of the black fly Simulium bannaense. The amino acid sequence of SibaDef was determined by a combination method of automated Edman degradation and cDNA sequencing. The morphologic changes of Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus or Bacillus subtilis treated with SibaDef were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to analyze the expression of SibaDef mRNA in whole bodies of insects after oral infection with the bacteria S. aureus or B. subtilis. RESULTS: Surprisingly, the phylogenetic analysis of defensin-related amino acid sequences demonstrated that SibaDef is most closely related to defensins from the human body louse Pediculus humanus corporis (Anoplura: Pediculidae), rather than to other dipteran defensins. SibaDef showed potent antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.83 μM to 2.29 μM. SEM analysis indicated that SibaDef killed microorganisms through the disruption of cell membrane integrity. The transcript levels of SibaDef in the bacteria-immunized flies increased with the time course, reaching maximum at 36 h and then slowly decreased from that time point. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that SibaDef is involved in the innate humoral response of the black fly S. bannaense, and it might play a significant role in the defence against microorganisms in both sugar and blood meals

Glucocorticoid Receptor β Acts As a Co-activator of T-Cell Factor 4 and Enhances Glioma Cell Proliferation

We previously reported that glucocorticoid receptor β (GRβ) regulates injury-mediated astrocyte activation and contributes to glioma pathogenesis via modulation of β-catenin/T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) transcriptional activity. The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanism behind cross-talk between GRβ and β-catenin/TCF in the progression of glioma. Here, we reported that GRβ knockdown reduced U118 and Shg44 glioma cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that GRβ knockdown decreased TCF/LEF transcriptional activity without affecting β-catenin/TCF complex. Both GRα and GRβ directly interact with TCF-4, while only GRβ is required for sustaining TCF/LEF activity under hormone-free condition. GRβ bound to the N-terminus domain of TCF-4 its influence on Wnt signaling required both ligand- and DNA-binding domains (LBD and DBD, respectively). GRβ and TCF-4 interaction is enough to maintain the TCF/LEF activity at a high level in the absence of β-catenin stabilization. Taken together, these results suggest a novel cross-talk between GRβ and TCF-4 which regulates Wnt signaling and the proliferation in gliomas