Avian Tembusu virus infection effectively triggers host innate immune response through MDA5 and TLR3-dependent signaling pathways

Additional file 4 ATMUV infection causes significant up-regulation of TLR3 and MDA5. RT-PCR was performed to examine the mRNA expression of TLR3 and MDA5 in CEF (A), chickens (B) and 293T cells (C) at the indicated time after ATMUV infection, respectively

Microstructure characteristic and corrosion resistance of pressure resistance seal welded joint of clad tubes

The zirconium alloy clad tube provides a protection and room for the nuclear reaction of fuel rods in the nuclear power plant. The clad tubes are usually sealed up by pressure resistance welding with the end plugs. The non-equilibrium physical metallurgy, caused by welding, often brings about a non-uniformity of microstructure and corrosion resistance in the zirconium alloy joint. In order to investigate the influence of the microstructure on the service performance of the welded joint corrosion experiments were designed and conducted by amplifying the mechanical and heat-affected zone in the joint, using a thermal and mechanical simulation machine. It was shown that the amplified sample had the similar microstructure and micro hardness with the mechanical and heat-affected zone. The corrosion rate of the mechanical and heat-affected zone was higher than that of the base metal of the clad tube. A heat treatment after welding was proposed to weaken the influence of microstructure difference on its corrosive resistance. It was shown that the corrosive resistance could be improved by modifying the microstructure appearance and the distribution of the second phase particles

Consecutive transcutaneous tissue oxygen measurement for determining peripheral revascularization and correlation to ischemic diabetic ulcers outcome

Abstract BACKGROUND The ankle-brachial index (ABI) might underestimate the prevalence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). This study manifested the effectiveness of transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) in determining whether PVD should be treated with revascularization. METHODS 100 patients with diabetic foot ulcers underwent ABI and TcPO2 measurement and were divided into the vascular or nonvascular reconstruction group. TcPO2 and ABI were consecutively measured 4 times within 6 months in patients with DFUs. Differences in TcPO2 values up to 6 months were compared between vascular reconstruction and non-reconstruction groups and patients with and without end-stage renal disease (ESRD). RESULTS Of 100 patients with diabetic foot ulcers, 51 who had abnormal transcutaneous oxygen pressure values underwent vascular reconstruction. TcPO2, but not the ABI, measured before treatment significantly differed between the 2 groups. TcPO2 values significantly increased after vascular reconstruction. TcPO2 values gradually decreased during the 6-month follow-up after vascular reconstruction; however, the ABI tended to increase. In patients with ESRD, transcutaneous oxygen pressure values declined significantly and rapidly within 3 months. TcPO2 values before vascular reconstruction were significantly lower in patients receiving amputation than those receiving limb salvage surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Compared with ABI, TcPO2 measurement is a more accurate and appropriate method for evaluating ischemic limb perfusion and the necessity of revascularization. TcPO2 measurement should be used as the major follow-up tool, and patients with end-stage renal disease should undergo more follow-ups. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Joint Institutional Review Board of Taipei Medical University (N201701054 and N201805105).</jats:p

Increasing trend of primary NO 2 exhaust emission fraction in Hong Kong

Despite the successful reduction in roadside NO x levels, no such decrease has been detected in roadside NO 2 concentration in Hong Kong. One underlying cause could be the rising primary NO 2 fraction of the total emission of NO x. Primary NO 2 can be particularly detrimental to Hong Kong because a large fraction of the population are exposed to the traffic-related primary pollutants in the street canyons formed by congested high-rise buildings. In this study, hourly mean concentration data for roadside nitrogen oxides (NO x), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), and background ozone (O 3) were used to estimate the mean primary NO 2 fraction from vehicle exhausts in Hong Kong. An overall increasing trend was observed for the primary NO 2 fraction (f-NO 2) values in all the three roadside air monitoring sites. The primary NO 2 as a fraction of total NO x (f-NO 2) increased approximately from 2% in 1998 to 13% in 2008 in Hong Kong. The two particular periods of rising f-NO 2 coincided with the two implementation periods of the diesel retrofit programs for the light-duty vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles. Future vehicle emission control strategies should target not only total NO x but also primary NO 2. Health benefit or disease burden estimates should be taken into account and updated in the process of policy planning and evaluation. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Detection of human annexin A1 as the novel N-terminal tag for separation and purification handle

Abstract Background Several fusion tags for separation handle have been developed, but the fused tag for simply and cheaply separating the target protein is still lacking. Results Separation conditions for the human annexin A1 (hanA1) tagged emerald green fluorescent protein (EmGFP) in Escherichia coli were optimized via precipitation with calcium chloride (CaCl2) and resolubilization with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-Na2). The HanA1-EmGFP absorbing with other three affinity matrix was detected, only it was strongly bound to heparin Sepharose. The separation efficiency of the HanA1-EmGFP was comparable with purification efficiency of the His6-tagged HanA1-EmGFP via metal ion affinity chromatography. Three fluorescent proteins for the EmGFP, mCherry red fluorescent protein and flavin-binding cyan-green fluorescent protein LOV from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were used for naked-eye detection of the separation and purification processes, and two colored proteins including a red protein for a Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (Vhb), and a brown protein for maize sirohydrochlorin ferrochelatase (mSF) were used for visualizing the separation process. The added EDTA-Na2 disrupted the Fe–S cluster in the mSF, but it showed little impact on heme in Vhb. Conclusions The selected five colored proteins were efficient for detecting the applicability of the highly selective hanA1 for fusion separation and purification handle. The fused hanA1 tag will be potentially used for simple and cheap affinity separation of the target proteins in industry and diagnosis. </jats:sec