| 1. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Measurements of (XcJ)-> K+K-K+K- decays
- 2006
-
In: Physics Letters B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 642:3, s. 197-202
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using 14M psi(2S) events taken with the BESII detector, chi(cJ) -> 2(K+K-) decays are studied. For the four-kaon final state, the branching fractions are B(chi(c0,1,2) ->.2(K+K-)) = (3.48 +/- 0.23 +/- 0.47) x 10(-3), (0.70 +/- 0.13 +/- 0.10) x 10(-3), and (2.17 +/- 0.20 +/- 0.31) x 10(-3). For the phi K+K- final state, the branching fractions, which are measured for the first time, are B(chi(c0,1,2) -> phi K+K-) = (1.03 +/- 0.22 +/- 0.15) x 10(-3), (0.46 +/- 0.16 +/- 0.06) x 10(-3), and (1.67 +/- 0.26 +/- 0.24) x 10(-4). For the phi phi final state, B(chi(c0,2) -> phi phi) = (0.94 +/- 0.21 +/- 0.13) x 10(-3) and (1.70 +/- 0.30 +/- 0.25) x 10(-3).
|
|
| 2. |
- Lin, Li-Li, et al.
(author)
-
Effect of Aromatic Coupling on Electronic Transport in Bimolecular Junctions
- 2009
-
In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 113:32, s. 14474-14477
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have performed a systematic first-principles study on conductance-voltage characteristics of bioligo(phenylene ethynylene)-monothiol molecular junctions as recently reported by Wu et al.[Nalure Nanotech. 2008, 3, 569]. It is found that the molecular conductance is very sensitive to the vertical distance between two molecules as well as the titled angle between two molecular planes. By comparing with experimental results, key structure parameters for bimolecular junction are determined, indicating that in the experimental devices, the vertical distance between two molecules is around 0.30 mn, the two planar molecules have a cofacial arrangement, and the length of the molecular bridge is about 2.88 nm. The underlying mechanism for electron transport in these aromatically coupled bimolecular junctions has also been discussed.
|
|
| 3. |
- Duan, Ming-Rui, et al.
(author)
-
DNA binding mechanism revealed by high resolution crystal structure of Arabidopsis thaliana WRKY1 protein
- 2007
-
In: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1362-4962 .- 0305-1048. ; 35:4, s. 54-1145
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- WRKY proteins, defined by the conserved WRKYGQK sequence, are comprised of a large superfamily of transcription factors identified specifically from the plant kingdom. This superfamily plays important roles in plant disease resistance, abiotic stress, senescence as well as in some developmental processes. In this study, the Arabidopsis WRKY1 was shown to be involved in the salicylic acid signaling pathway and partially dependent on NPR1; a C-terminal domain of WRKY1, AtWRKY1-C, was constructed for structural studies. Previous investigations showed that DNA binding of the WRKY proteins was localized at the WRKY domains and these domains may define novel zinc-binding motifs. The crystal structure of the AtWRKY1-C determined at 1.6 A resolution has revealed that this domain is composed of a globular structure with five beta strands, forming an antiparallel beta-sheet. A novel zinc-binding site is situated at one end of the beta-sheet, between strands beta4 and beta5. Based on this high-resolution crystal structure and site-directed mutagenesis, we have defined and confirmed that the DNA-binding residues of AtWRKY1-C are located at beta2 and beta3 strands. These results provided us with structural information to understand the mechanism of transcriptional control and signal transduction events of the WRKY proteins.
|
|
| 4. |
- Lei, Li-Jian, et al.
(author)
-
Estimation of benchmark dose for pancreatic damage in cadmium-exposed smelters
- 2007
-
In: Toxicological Sciences. - Oxford : Oxford University Press. - 1096-6080 .- 1096-0929. ; 97:1, s. 189-195
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to estimate the benchmark dose (BMD) for pancreas dysfunction caused by cadmium (Cd) exposure in smelters. Smelter workers who had been exposed to Cd for more than 1 year and matching nonoccupationally exposed subjects were asked to participate in this study. Urinary cadmium (UCd) was used as a biomarker for exposure, serum insulin and amylase were used as biomarkers for pancreatic effects. In this study, serum insulin and amylase were lower in the smelter workers than in the nonoccupationally exposed subjects. A significant dose-response relationship with UCd was displayed. BMI)s in terms of urinary Cd corrected for creatinine were calculated by use of BMDS (version 1.3.2). The benchmark dose lower limit of a one-sided 95% confidence interval (BMDL) for 10% excess risk was also determined. It was found that the BMDL10 for serum insulin and serum amylase was 3.7 and 5.3 mu g/g Cr, respectively. Compared to the BMDL for renal damage caused by Cd exposure, identified by the effect biomarkers urinary beta(2)-microglobulin, urinary N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, and urinary albumin (UALB), it was shown that BMDL10 for serum insulin is the lowest among all values and UALB gave the highest value (5.8 mu g/g Cr). This study indicates that Cd exposure can result in pancreatic dysfunction and the effect appears at lower urinary Cd level than renal dysfunction. The endocrine function of the pancreas was affected at lower urinary levels of Cd, compared to the exocrine function, which was seen at higher urinary levels of Cd than those giving rise to renal tubular dysfunction.
|
|
| 5. |
- Li, Weiwei, et al.
(author)
-
Benzothiadiazole-Based Linear and Star Molecules : Design, Synthesis, and Their Application in Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells
- 2009
-
In: CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0897-4756 .- 1520-5002. ; 21:21, s. 5327-5334
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Star molecules have many advantages, such as monodispersity, excellent solubility, and vast structures with different functional groups. A set of four-arm star molecules with benzothiadiazole as the core, oligothiophene its the arm, and triphenylamine its the end group and their linear counterparts were designed and synthesized Organic solar cells (OSCs) fabricated with these star molecules and [6,6]-phenyl C-71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) by spin-coating from solution demonstrate similar short circuit current density (J(sc)) and fill factor (FF) but larger open circuit voltage (V-oc) in comparison With solar cells fabricated with corresponding linear molecules and PC71BM A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18%, with J(sc) = 4.9 mA/cm(2), V-oc = 0 92 V, and FF = 0 41 was achieved with one of these star molecules
|
|
| 6. |
- Li, Yang, et al.
(author)
-
VEGF-B inhibits apoptosis via VEGFR-1-mediated suppression of the expression of BH3-only protein genes in mice and rats.
- 2008
-
In: Journal of Clinical Investigation. - 0021-9738 .- 1558-8238. ; 118:3, s. 913-923
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Despite its early discovery and high sequence homology to the other VEGF family members, the biological functions of VEGF-B remain poorly understood. We revealed here a novel function for VEGF-B as a potent inhibitor of apoptosis. Using gene expression profiling of mouse primary aortic smooth muscle cells, and confirming the results by real-time PCR using mouse and rat cell lines, we showed that VEGF-B inhibited the expression of genes encoding the proapoptotic BH3-only proteins and other apoptosis- and cell death-related proteins, including p53 and members of the caspase family, via activation of VEGFR-1. Consistent with this, VEGF-B treatment rescued neurons from apoptosis in the retina and brain in mouse models of ocular neurodegenerative disorders and stroke, respectively. Interestingly, VEGF-B treatment at the dose effective for neuronal survival did not cause retinal neovascularization, suggesting that VEGF-B is the first member of the VEGF family that has a potent antiapoptotic effect while lacking a general angiogenic activity. These findings indicate that VEGF-B may potentially offer a new therapeutic option for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
|
|
| 7. |
- Liu, Wennuan, et al.
(author)
-
Association of a germ-line copy number variation at 2p24.3 and risk for aggressive prostate cancer.
- 2009
-
In: Cancer research. - 1538-7445. ; 69:6, s. 2176-9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We searched for deletions in the germ-line genome among 498 aggressive prostate cancer cases and 494 controls from a population-based study in Sweden [CAncer of the Prostate in Sweden (CAPS)] using Affymetrix SNP arrays. By comparing allele intensities of approximately 500,000 SNP probes across the genome, a germ-line deletion at 2p24.3 was observed to be significantly more common in cases (12.63%) than in controls (8.28%); P = 0.028. To confirm the association, we genotyped this germ-line copy number variation (CNV) in additional subjects from CAPS and from Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH). Overall, among 4,314 cases and 2,176 controls examined, the CNV was significantly associated with prostate cancer risk [odds ratio (OR), 1.25; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.06-1.48; P = 0.009]. More importantly, the association was stronger for aggressive prostate cancer (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.08-1.58; P = 0.006) than for nonaggressive prostate cancer (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.98-1.45; P = 0.08). The biological effect of this germ-line CNV is unknown because no known gene resides in the deletion. Results from this study represent the first novel germ-line CNV that was identified from a genome-wide search and was significantly, but moderately, associated with prostate cancer risk. Additional confirmation of this association and functional studies are warranted.
|
|
| 8. |
- Sun, Jielin, et al.
(author)
-
Evidence for two independent prostate cancer risk-associated loci in the HNF1B gene at 17q12
- 2008
-
In: Nature Genetics. - London : Nature Publishing Group. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 40:10, s. 1153-1155
-
Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- We carried out a fine-mapping study in the HNF1B gene at 17q12 in two study populations and identified a second locus associated with prostate cancer risk, 26 kb centromeric to the first known locus (rs4430796); these loci are separated by a recombination hot spot. We confirmed the association with a SNP in the second locus (rs11649743) in five additional populations, with P = 1.7 10-9 for an allelic test of the seven studies combined. The association at each SNP remained significant after adjustment for the other SNP.
|
|
| 9. |
- Sun, Jielin, et al.
(author)
-
Sequence variants at 22q13 are associated with prostate cancer risk.
- 2009
-
In: Cancer research. - 1538-7445. ; 69:1, s. 10-5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To search for genetic variants that are associated with prostate cancer risk in the genome, we combined the data from our genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a population-based case-control study in Sweden with publicly available GWAS data from the Cancer Genetic Markers of Susceptibility (CGEMS) study. We limited the cases to those with aggressive disease in an attempt to identify risk variants that are associated with this most clinically relevant form of the disease. Among the most likely candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) identified from the two GWAS, we sequentially confirmed one SNP at 22q13 in two independent study populations: the remaining subjects in Cancer of the Prostate in Sweden and a hospital-based case-control study at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Association of aggressive prostate cancer with the SNP at 22q13 was also observed in the publicly available data of four additional study populations from the second stage of the CGEMS study. In all seven study populations examined, the frequency of allele "C" of rs9623117 at 22q13 was consistently higher in aggressive cases than in controls. The combined allelic test was highly significant, with P = 5.0 x 10(-7). The odds ratio (OR) of allele C for aggressive prostate cancer was estimated to be 1.18 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.11-1.26]. However, the SNP was also associated with nonaggressive prostate cancer, with an estimated OR of 1.11 (95% CI, 1.04-1.19; P = 0.004). The risk-associated variants are located within the genomic region of TNRC6B, a gene involved in miRNA-mediated mRNA degradation. Additional studies are warranted to further confirm the association.
|
|
| 10. |
- Zhang, Ting-Ting, et al.
(author)
-
Protophilicity, electrochemical property, and desulfurization of diiron dithiolate complexes containing a functionalized C-2 bridge with two vicinal basic sites
- 2009
-
In: Polyhedron. - : Elsevier BV. - 0277-5387 .- 1873-3719. ; 28:6, s. 1138-1144
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Two chiron dithiolate complexes [{mu-SC(NBn)CH(NHBn)S-mu)Fe-2(CO)(5)L] (L = PPh3, 2; P(Pyr)(3), 3) containing a functionlized C-2 bridge with two vicinal basic sites were prepared and characterized as models of the FeFe-hydrogenase active site. The molecular structures of 2 and its N-protonated form [(2H(N))(OTf)] were determined by X-ray analyses of single crystals. In the solid state of [(2HN)(OTf)]. Each asymmetric unit contains a molecule of [(2H(N))(OTf)] and a molecule of water. The molecule of water is close to the iron atom of the [Fe(CO)(3)] unit (Fe center dot center dot center dot O(H2O), 4J 99 angstrom). The complexes 2 and 3 are relatively protophilic. P-31 NMR spectra and cyclic voltammograms show that they can be protonated by the mild acids CCl3COOH and CF3COOH. Electrochemical studies show that the first reduction peak of 3 at - 1.51 V versus Fc(+)/Fc is 110 mV more positive than that (-1.62V) found for the analogous diiron azadithiolate complex [{(mu-SCH2)N(CH2C6H5)}Fe-2(CO)(5)P(Pyr)(3)] (7). Protonation of 2 and 3 leads to the anodic shifts of 610-650 mV for the (FeFe1)-Fe-1/(FeFe0)-Fe-1 reduction potentials. The shifts are apparently larger than that (450 mV) for protonation of 7. The reaction of the all-carbonyl complex [{(mu-SC(NBn)CH(NHBn)S-mu}Fe-2(CO)(5)L] with two equivalents of bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) in refluxing toluene affords a desulfurized complex 1(mu-S)(mu-dppm)(2)Fe-2(CO)(4)] (6). The reaction process was studied. A dppm mono-dentate intermediate [{mu-SC(NBn)CH(NHBn)S-mu)Fe-2(CO)(5)(kappa(1)-dppm)] (4) and a dppm mu-bridging species [{mu-SC(NBn)CH(NHBn)S-mu)Fe-2(CO)(4)(mu-dppm)] (5) have been isolated and spectroscopically characterized.
|
|
