| 1. |
- Klionsky, Daniel J., et al.
(författare)
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Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
- 2012
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Ingår i: Autophagy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1554-8635 .- 1554-8627. ; 8:4, s. 445-544
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field.
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| 2. |
- Chen, Yongqin David, et al.
(författare)
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Multiscale streamflow variations of the Pearl River basin and possible implications for the water resource management within the Pearl River Delta, China
- 2010
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Ingår i: Quaternary International. - : Elsevier BV. - 1040-6182 .- 1873-4553. ; 226:1-2, s. 44-53
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Long monthly streamflow series of three control hydrological stations of the Pearl River basin were analyzed by using the scanning t-test and the scanning F-test. Possible implications of the changing properties of streamflow variations for the water resource management of the Pearl River Delta are also discussed. The results indicated that: 1) more complicated changes were observed in terms of the second center moment when compared to the first original moment More significant abrupt changes of the second center moment imply more sensitive response of streamflow stability to climate changes and human activities; 2) abrupt behaviors of the first (second) center moment of the streamflow variations tend to be more sensitive to climate changes and/or human activities in the larger river basin when compared to those in the smaller river basin. These phenomena are attributed to buffering functions of more storage space of longer river channel, and more complicated and longer runoff yield and concentration processes in the river basin of larger drainage area; 3) annual minimum streamflow of the Pearl River basin tends to be increasing. This will be helpful for better human mitigation of the salinity intrusion in dry seasons across the Pearl River Delta. Annual maximum streamflow, when compared to annual minimum streamflow, shows larger-magnitude variability reflected by larger standard deviation, implying unfavorable conditions for flood mitigation in the Pearl River Delta. The results of this paper are of scientific and practical merits for water resource management and sound human mitigation to water hazards across the Pearl River Delta, and also are a good case study for similar researches in other river deltas in the world under the changing environment. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.
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| 3. |
- Feng, Boya, et al.
(författare)
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Structural and Functional Insights into the Mode of Action of a Universally Conserved Obg GTPase
- 2014
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Ingår i: PLoS biology. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1544-9173 .- 1545-7885. ; 12:5, s. e1001866-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Obg proteins are a family of P-loop GTPases, conserved from bacteria to human. The Obg protein in Escherichia coli (ObgE) has been implicated in many diverse cellular functions, with proposed molecular roles in two global processes, ribosome assembly and stringent response. Here, using pre-steady state fast kinetics we demonstrate that ObgE is an anti-association factor, which prevents ribosomal subunit association and downstream steps in translation by binding to the 50S subunit. ObgE is a ribosome dependent GTPase; however, upon binding to guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp), the global regulator of stringent response, ObgE exhibits an enhanced interaction with the 50S subunit, resulting in increased equilibrium dissociation of the 70S ribosome into subunits. Furthermore, our cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the 50S? ObgE? GMPPNP complex indicates that the evolutionarily conserved N-terminal domain (NTD) of ObgE is a tRNA structural mimic, with specific interactions with peptidyl-transferase center, displaying a marked resemblance to Class I release factors. These structural data might define ObgE as a specialized translation factor related to stress responses, and provide a framework towards future elucidation of functional interplay between ObgE and ribosome-associated (p) ppGpp regulators. Together with published data, our results suggest that ObgE might act as a checkpoint in final stages of the 50S subunit assembly under normal growth conditions. And more importantly, ObgE, as a (p) ppGpp effector, might also have a regulatory role in the production of the 50S subunit and its participation in translation under certain stressed conditions. Thus, our findings might have uncovered an under-recognized mechanism of translation control by environmental cues.
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| 4. |
- Liu, Qiang, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of cooling rate and Ti addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties in as-cast condition of hypereutectic high chromium cast irons
- 2012
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Ingår i: ISIJ International. - : Iron and Steel Institute of Japan. - 0915-1559 .- 1347-5460. ; 52:12, s. 2210-2219
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effect of cooling rate and Ti additions on the mechanical properties and carbides characteristics such as morphology, size distribution and composition was studied in high-chromium cast irons containing Fe-17 mass%Cr-4 mass%C. Based on the size distribution, composition and morphology, M 7C3 type carbides were roughly classified into "primary M7C3 carbides" and "eutectic M7C3 carbides" with a 11.2μ m border size. Thereafter, the change of the solidification structure and especially the refinement of carbides size were determined. It was found that both the size and number values should be summarized systematically for primary M 7C3 carbides and eutectic M7C3 carbides, respectively. Also, TiC carbides with a high formation temperature can not only act as a nuclei of M7C3 carbides, but they also contain a Ti(C, N) core. In the as-cast condition, the bulk hardness of the cast irons increases with an increased Ti content. In addition, the wear loss increases with an increased Ti content. Neither the bulk hardness nor the wear loss did change too much with an increased cooling rate.
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| 5. |
- Liu, Qiang, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-alloyed hypereutectic high chromium cast iron
- 2012
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Ingår i: ISIJ International. - : Iron and Steel Institute of Japan. - 0915-1559 .- 1347-5460. ; 52:12, s. 2288-2294
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-alloyed hypereutectic High Chromium Cast Iron (HCCI) containing Fe-17 mass%Cr-4 mass%C-1.5 mass%Ti was investigated. The size distribution and the volume fraction of carbides (M7C3 and TiC) as well as the matrix structure (martensite) were examined by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). It was found that the number of fine secondary M7C3 carbides with a size below 1 μm increases with lower holding temperatures and shorter holding times during heat treatment. The number of coarse primary M7C 3 carbides with a size above 11.2 μm increases with increasing holding temperatures and longer holding times. In addition, the number of TiC carbides increases with increasing holding times, and martensite units are more refined at longer holding times and lower holding temperatures, respectively. Moreover, the volume fraction of martensite increases with increased holding times. In conclusion, low holding temperatures close to the eutectic temperature and long holding times are the best heat treatment strategies in order to improve wear resistance and hardness of Ti-alloyed hypereutectic HCCI.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Liu, Zhiying, et al.
(författare)
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Solution-Processable Nanotube/Polymer Composite for High-Performance TFTs
- 2011
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Ingår i: IEEE Electron Device Letters. - 0741-3106 .- 1558-0563. ; 32:9, s. 1299-1301
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Thin-film field-effect transistors (TFTs) are readily fabricated using a semiconductor composite that is solution processed under ambient conditions for the conduction channel. The composite comprises single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) embedded in poly-9,9' dioctyl-fluorene-co-bithiophene. Carrier mobility values approaching 10 cm(2)V(-1)s(-1) are obtained for the composite with relatively high SWCNT concentrations. When the SWCNT concentration is reduced for a large ON/OFF current ratio > 10(6), the mobility remains decent around 0.3 cm(2)V(-1)s(-1). The resultant TFTs display remarkable environmental and operational reliability. Nanotube-based composites are therefore of significance in printed electronics owing to their simplicity in device fabrication and competitiveness in device performance.
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| 8. |
- Lopez Cabezas, Ana, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of Carbon Nanotubes on Thermal Stability of Water-Dispersible Nanofibrillar Polyaniline/Nanotube Composite
- 2012
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Ingår i: Materials. - Basel, Switzerland : MDPI AG. - 1996-1944. ; 5:2, s. 327-335
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Significant influence on the thermal stability of polyaniline (PANI) in the presence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is reported. By means of in-situ rapid mixing approach, water-dispersible nanofibrillar PANI and composites, consisting of MWCNTs uniformly coated with PANI in the state of emeraldine salt, with a well-defined core-shell heterogeneous structure, were prepared. The de-protonation process in PANI occurs at a lower temperature under the presence of MWCNTs on the polyaniline composite upon thermal treatment. However, it is found that the presence of MWCNTs significantly enhances the thermal stability of PANI's backbone upon exposure to laser irradiation, which can be ascribed to the core-shell heterogeneous structure of the composite of MWCNTs and PANI, and the high thermal conductivity of MWCNTs.
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| 9. |
- Xu, Chong-Yu, et al.
(författare)
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Statistical properties of the temperature, relative humidity, and net solar radiation in the Blue Nile-eastern Sudan region
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Theoretical and Applied Climatology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0177-798X .- 1434-4483. ; 101:3-4, s. 397-409
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents the results of the first stage of an ongoing project of evaluating the spatial and temporal variability of soil water as fundamental factors for vegetation regeneration in the arid ecosystems in the Blue Nile-eastern Sudan. The specific aim of the present study is to understand the temporal and spatial variations of the major climate variables in the region and discuss its relevance to regional climate variability and changes. In this case, we systematically analyze the major climate variables (maximum and minimum air temperature, relative humidity, and net solar radiation). To evaluate the different characteristics of the climate variables, Mann-Kendall method, two-phase regression scheme, and wavelet transform technique are used; each method has its own strength and weakness, and the results of the three methods complement each other. The results show that the annual and seasonal maximum temperatures are increasing significantly. The annual minimum temperature and minimum temperature in dry seasons are decreasing. The minimum temperature in rainy season is increasing with a smaller rate as compared with the increase of maximum temperature in the season. The difference between maximum and minimum temperature is increasing in all the seasons. Net solar radiation in the region shows a significant increasing trend in all seasons, which corresponds well with the changes of maximum temperature. Besides, significant decreasing trends can be identified for relative humidity in all the seasons.
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| 10. |
- Xu, Jun, et al.
(författare)
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Preservation effects on stable isotope ratios and consequences for the reconstruction of energetic pathways
- 2011
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Ingår i: Aquatic Ecology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1386-2588 .- 1573-5125. ; 45:4, s. 483-492
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stable isotope analysis provides a powerful tool for describing the energetic pathways in a variety of ecosystems. However, isotope ratios of animal tissues can be altered by preservation methods, potentially leading to biased estimates of energy pathways when they are not taken into account. Here, we investigated the direct preservation effects of formalin, ethanol, NaCl, and drying on the delta C-13 and delta N-15 of fish muscle tissues, as well as the ultimate effects on the reconstruction of the energy pathways. All preservation methods, except drying, had significant impacts on delta C-13 and delta N-15 values. The effects of preservation appear to be highly taxa-specific and no significant time-dependent variations in nearly 2-year duration of preservation. delta C-13 and delta N-15 values were generally changed dramatically within the early stage of the preservation process and became stable over a relatively long-term preservation. Using an isotopic balance mixing model, the isotope-based food web reconstruction reveals that, without preservation correction, the importance of the pelagic energetic pathways for the fishes could be misestimated, except for the drying preservation. These results highlight that preservation can bias the interpretation of food web reconstruction results.
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