Yang Wang

Publications of Yang Wang

• Protic compound mediated living cross-chain-transfer polymerization of rac-lactide: synthesis of isotactic (crystalline)-heterotactic (amorphous) stereomultiblock polylactide.

  Authors: Wei Zhao, Yang Wang, Xinli Liu, Xuesi Chen, Dongmei Cui, Eugene Y-X Chen

  Chemical communications (Cambridge, England). 05/2012;

  A highly efficient strategy for one-pot synthesis of programmable, crystalline-amorphous stereomultiblock PLA from rac-lactide.

• Smoking Status on Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

  Authors: Tao Chen, Wei Li, Yang Wang, Bo Xu, Jin Guo

  Clinical cardiology. 05/2012;

  BACKGROUND: The effect of smoking on prognosis among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is controversial, and data on the importance of smoking cessation or reductions wereBACKGROUND: The effect of smoking on prognosis among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is controversial, and data on the importance of smoking cessation or reductions were lacking. HYPOTHESIS: Smoking cessation or reductions could reduce the risk of adverse outcomes in patient after PCI. METHODS: There were 19 506 consecutive patients who had undergone successful PCI between April 2004 and January 2010 followed. Extensive data, including self-reported smoking habits, were obtained at baseline and during follow-up. RESULTS: Compared with post-PCI quitters and persistent smokers, the nonsmokers and pre-PCI quitters were older and had a higher prevalence of comorbid factors such as hypertension and impaired left ventricle function. The adjusted hazard ratios for mortality were 2.52 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.92-3.30) for nonsmokers, 0.52 (95% CI: 0.32-0.84) for pre-PCI quitters, and 0.11 (95% CI: 0.06-0.22) for post-PCI quitters, compared to persistent smokers. With respect to additional revascularizations, a higher risk was observed among the quitters (1.70 [95% CI: 1.40-2.08] for pre-PCI quitters and 1.59 [95% CI: 1.36-1.85] for post-PCI quitters) as well as the nonsmokers (1.40 [95% CI: 1.20-1.64]). Among persistent smokers, each reduction of 5 cigarettes/day was associated with a 72% decline in mortality risk (P < 0.001) but did not reach statistical significant for repeated revascularizations (0.80 [95% CI: 0.46-1.37], P = 0.4132). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a higher risk of revascularization, the cessation of smoking either before or after PCI is beneficial in all-cause mortality. The apparent smoker's paradox may be explained by the differences in baseline risk or the reduced sensitivity to adverse outcomes as well as the reluctance to seek medical help among smokers. This study received an unrestricted grant from Pfizer Investment Co., China. The authors have no other funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.

• Mapping Dirac Quasiparticles near a Single Coulomb Impurity on Graphene

  Authors: Yang Wang, Victor W. Brar, Andrey V. Shytov, Qiong Wu, William Regan, Hsin-Zon Tsai, Alex Zettl, Leonid S. Levitov, Michael F. Crommie

  05/2012;

  The response of Dirac fermions to a Coulomb potential is predicted to differ significantly from the behavior of non-relativistic electrons seen in traditional atomic and impurity systems.The response of Dirac fermions to a Coulomb potential is predicted to differ significantly from the behavior of non-relativistic electrons seen in traditional atomic and impurity systems. Surprisingly, many key theoretical predictions for this ultra-relativistic regime have yet to be tested in a laboratory. Graphene, a 2D material in which electrons behave like massless Dirac fermions, provides a unique opportunity to experimentally test such predictions. The response of Dirac fermions to a Coulomb potential in graphene is central to a wide range of electronic phenomena and can serve as a sensitive probe of graphene's intrinsic dielectric constant, the primary factor determining the strength of electron-electron interactions in this material. Here we present a direct measurement of the nanoscale response of Dirac fermions to a single Coulomb potential placed on a gated graphene device. Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy were used to fabricate tunable charge impurities on graphene and to measure how they are screened by Dirac fermions for a Q = +1|e| impurity charge state. Electron-like and hole-like Dirac fermions were observed to respond very differently to tunable Coulomb potentials. Comparison of this electron-hole asymmetry to theoretical simulations has allowed us to test basic predictions for the behavior of Dirac fermions near a Coulomb potential and to extract the intrinsic dielectric constant of graphene: {\epsilon}_g= 3.0 \pm 1.0. This small value of {\epsilon}_g indicates that microscopic electron-electron interactions can contribute significantly to graphene properties.

• Regulation of lung surfactant secretion by microRNA-150.

  Authors: Tingting Weng, Amarjit Mishra, Yujie Guo, Yang Wang, Lijing Su, Chaoqun Huang, Chunling Zhao, Xiao Xiao, Lin Liu

  Biochemical and biophysical research communications. 05/2012;

  P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is a purinergic ion-channel receptor. We have previously shown that the activation of P2X7R in alveolar type I cells stimulates surfactant secretion in alveolar type II cells.P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is a purinergic ion-channel receptor. We have previously shown that the activation of P2X7R in alveolar type I cells stimulates surfactant secretion in alveolar type II cells. In this study, we determined whether miR-150 regulates P2X7R-mediated surfactant secretion. The miR-150 expression level in alveolar type II cells was much higher than alveolar type I cells, which was inversely correlated with the P2X7R protein level. An adenovirus expressing miR-150 significantly reduced the P2X7R protein expression in E10 cells, an alveolar type I cell line. Furthermore, pre-treatment of E10 cells with the adenovirus reduced the surfactant secretion induced by E10 cell conditioned medium. Our study demonstrates that miR-150 regulates surfactant secretion through P2X7R.

• Disrupted sleep without sleep curtailment induces sleepiness and cognitive dysfunction via the tumor necrosis factor-alpha pathway.

  Authors: Vijay Ramesh, Deepti Nair, Shelley X L Zhang, Fahed Hakim, Navita Kaushal, Foaz Kayali, Yang Wang, Richard C Li, Alba Carreras, David Gozal

  Journal of neuroinflammation. 05/2012; 9(1):91.

  ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Sleepiness and cognitive dysfunction are recognized as prominent consequences of sleep deprivation. Experimentally induced short-term sleep fragmentation, even in the absence ofABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Sleepiness and cognitive dysfunction are recognized as prominent consequences of sleep deprivation. Experimentally induced short-term sleep fragmentation, even in the absence of any reductions in total sleep duration, will lead to the emergence of excessive daytime sleepiness and cognitive impairments in humans. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha has important regulatory effects on sleep, and seems to play a role in the occurrence of excessive daytime sleepiness in children who have disrupted sleep as a result of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition associated with prominent sleep fragmentation. The aim of this study was to examine role of the TNF-alpha pathway after long-term sleep fragmentation in mice. METHODS: The effect of chronic sleep fragmentation during the sleep-predominant period on sleep architecture, sleep latency, cognitive function, behavior, and inflammatory markers was assessed in C57BL/6 J and in mice lacking the TNF-alpha receptor (double knockout mice). In addition, we also accessed the above parameters in C57BL/6 J mice after injection of a TNF-alpha neutralizing antibody. RESULTS: Mice subjected to chronic sleep fragmentation had preserved sleep duration, sleep state distribution, and cumulative delta frequency power, but also exhibited excessive sleepiness, altered cognitive abilities and mood correlates, reduced cyclic AMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation and transcriptional activity, and increased phosphodiesterase-4 expression, in the absence of AMP kinase-alpha phosphorylation and ATP changes. Selective increases in cortical expression of TNF-alpha primarily circumscribed to neurons emerged. Consequently, sleepiness and cognitive dysfunction were absent in TNF-alpha double receptor knockout mice subjected to sleep fragmentation, and similarly, treatment with a TNF-alpha neutralizing antibody abrogated sleep fragmentation-induced learning deficits and increases in sleep propensity. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings show that recurrent arousals during sleep, as happens during sleep apnea, induce excessive sleepiness via activation of inflammatory mechanisms, and more specifically TNF-alpha-dependent pathways, despite preserved sleep duration.

• Facile synthesis of fluorescent dye labeled biocompatible polymers via immortal ring-opening polymerization.

  Authors: Wei Zhao, Yang Wang, Xinli Liu, Dongmei Cui

  Chemical communications (Cambridge, England). 05/2012; 48(37):4483-5.

  A highly efficient strategy for synthesizing "clean" fluorescent dye-labeled biocompatible polymers was established by employing a rare-earth metal catalyst via immortal ROP.

• Detection of the staphylococcal multiresistance gene cfr in Macrococcus caseolyticus and Jeotgalicoccus pinnipedialis.

  Authors: Yang Wang, Yu Wang, Stefan Schwarz, Zhangqi Shen, Nan Zhou, Juchun Lin, Congming Wu, Jianzhong Shen

  The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy. 05/2012;

  OBJECTIVES: To investigate the presence and the genetic environment of the multiresistance gene cfr in Jeotgalicoccus pinnipedialis and Macrococcus caseolyticus from pigs. METHODS: A total of 391OBJECTIVES: To investigate the presence and the genetic environment of the multiresistance gene cfr in Jeotgalicoccus pinnipedialis and Macrococcus caseolyticus from pigs. METHODS: A total of 391 bacterial isolates with florfenicol MICs ≥16 mg/L were obtained from nasal swabs of 557 individual pigs; of these, 75 Gram-positive isolates other than staphylococci and enterococci were screened by PCR for the presence of known florfenicol resistance genes. Species assignments of the cfr-carrying isolates were based on the results of biochemical profiling and 16S rDNA sequencing. The locations of the cfr gene were determined by Southern blotting. Regions flanking each cfr gene were sequenced by a modified random primer walking strategy, and the transferability of cfr was assessed by electrotransformation. RESULTS: Two M. caseolyticus isolates and one J. pinnipedialis isolate were cfr positive. The cfr gene was located either on a 7057 bp plasmid, pSS-03, which was widely distributed among staphylococci of pig origin, or on the ∼53 kb plasmid pJP1. The region of pJP1 that included the cfr gene and the adjacent IS21-558, showed 99.7% identity to the corresponding region of plasmid pSCFS3. In addition, the genes aadD + aacA-aphD, ble and erm(C), coding for aminoglycoside, bleomycin and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance, respectively, were also identified on plasmid pJP1. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that plasmids carrying the multidrug resistance gene cfr are present in two new genera of commensal and environmental bacteria, Macrococcus and Jeotgalicoccus. This observation underlines the role of commensal and environmental flora in the dissemination of clinically important resistance genes, such as cfr.

• Characterization of the vasa gene in the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis: a germ line molecular marker.

  Authors: Qun Wang, Di-An Fang, Jiang-Lin Sun, Yang Wang, Juan Wang, Li-Hua Liu

  Journal of insect physiology. 05/2012;

  The vasa gene first identified in Drosophila encodes an ATP-dependent RNA helicase belonging to the DEAD-box family and is specifically expressed in germ line cells. In this study a full-length vasaThe vasa gene first identified in Drosophila encodes an ATP-dependent RNA helicase belonging to the DEAD-box family and is specifically expressed in germ line cells. In this study a full-length vasa gene homolog from the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) was characterized, comprising of 2,369 bp nucleotides with an open reading frame of 1,866 bp encoding 621 amino acids. The putative protein was shown to contain eight conserved motifs belonging to the DEAD-box protein family and two zinc-finger domains (CCHC) and a Q-motif. Its sequence showed high similarity to vasa homologs of other species. The E. sinensis vasa (Es-vasa) mRNA expression was specific to the gonad and its temporal expression in the ovary and testes were significantly different between various developmental periods. By real-time qPCR analysis, Es-vasa mRNA transcripts were at the highest levels during periods of rapid development in the gonads (stage III-2 in ovaries and spermatocyte stage in testes) and gradually decreased as the gonads matured. In conclusion, we first identified the vasa gene from Chinese mitten crab. The specificity and pattern of Es-vasa expression in gonads indicates that it may be used as molecular marker for germ line in E. sinensis.

• CASP8 -652 6N del polymorphism and cancer risk: a meta-analysis of 30 case-control studies in 50 112 subjects.

  Authors: Fan Zhang, Yuan Yang, Cheng Guo, Yang Wang

  Mutagenesis. 04/2012;

  Disruptions of normal apoptotic pathways, which are mainly mediated by caspases, play an essential role in cancer development. Caspase-8 (CASP8) is encoded by the CASP8 gene and is centrally involvedDisruptions of normal apoptotic pathways, which are mainly mediated by caspases, play an essential role in cancer development. Caspase-8 (CASP8) is encoded by the CASP8 gene and is centrally involved in the apoptosis of T lymphocytes. The association between a six-nucleotide deletion polymorphism (-652 6N del) of the CASP8 gene and the risk of cancer is widely reported; however, study results have been inconsistent and contradictory. To evaluate the association between the CASP8 -652 6N del polymorphism and the risk of cancer and to overcome the limitations of any individual study, a meta-analysis based on a total of 23 700 cases and 26 412 controls from 30 case-control studies was conducted. The results of the overall analysis suggested that the CASP8 -652 6N del polymorphism is associated with decreased risk of cancer for the allele contrast [del versus ins: odd ratio (OR) = 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.80-0.92], the additive genetic model (del/del versus ins/ins: OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.69-0.88), the dominant genetic model (del/del+del/ins versus ins/ins: OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.78-0.89) and the recessive genetic model (del/del versus ins/ins+del/ins: OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.75-0.93). In addition, after stratification for ethnicity and cancer type, significantly reduced risk was found for Asians and Caucasians as well as for individuals in the colorectal cancer group and the 'other cancers' group. Accordingly, there is an association between the CASP8 -652 6N del polymorphism and reduced cancer risk, especially among Asians, Caucasians and those with colorectal cancer. However, further research, such as studies focusing on additional ethnic groups and cancer types, is needed to provide a more exact and comprehensive synthesis conclusion.

• Option for diabetic patients with multi-vessel coronary disease: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG): A meta-analysis.

  Authors: Fan Zhang, Yuan Yang, Dayi Hu, Han Lei, Yang Wang

  Diabetes research and clinical practice. 04/2012;

  Diabetes is prevalent in patients with coronary artery disease. In diabetic patients with multi-vessel coronary disease, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graftingDiabetes is prevalent in patients with coronary artery disease. In diabetic patients with multi-vessel coronary disease, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were widely used for revascularization. We aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of PCI and CABG in these patients. Nine randomized controlled trials were identified in which a total of 1047 diabetic patients were randomly assigned to PCI and 1054 diabetic patients were assigned to CABG. Results showed that five-year mortality was significantly higher in diabetic patients after PCI than after CABG (risk difference (RD) of 7%; P<0.001); repeated revascularization was more common after PCI than after CABG (one-year RD of 13%; P<0.001); major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were also more frequent after PCI (one-year RD of 12%; P<0.001); however, the cerebrovascular accident rate was lower in the PCI group than the CABG group (one-year RD of -2%; P=0.004). Conclusively, in diabetic patients with multi-vessel coronary disease, CABG was not only more effective than PCI in reducing mortality but also led to fewer repeated revascularizations and fewer major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Despite these benefits, CABG did put diabetic patients at higher risk for cerebrovascular accident than did PCI.

• Preparation and characterization of a novel stimuli-responsive nanocomposite hydrogel with improved mechanical properties.

  Authors: Yang Wang, Dajun Chen

  Journal of colloid and interface science. 04/2012; 372(1):245-51.

  A novel stimuli-responsive organic/inorganic nanocomposite hydrogel (NC hydrogel) with excellent mechanical properties was synthesized by in situ polymerization of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethylA novel stimuli-responsive organic/inorganic nanocomposite hydrogel (NC hydrogel) with excellent mechanical properties was synthesized by in situ polymerization of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (MEO(2)MA), oligo (ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA) and acrylic acid (AAc), as the polymeric matrix (PMOA), and fibrillar attpulgite (AT), as the reinforcer and cross-linker. The effect of the AT content on the mechanical properties for the swollen and dried NC hydrogels was determined by tensile testing and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), respectively. The tensile testing results showed that the incorporation of AT nanoparticles significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of NC hydrogels. As the content of AT increased, the tensile strength, tensile modulus and effective cross-linked chain density increased. The DMA results showed that the storage modulus of AT/PMOA NC hydrogels was increased and the glass transition temperatures shifted to higher temperature compared to the pure PMOA hydrogel, which further indicated that the enhancement of mechanical property depended upon the presence and content of AT. In addition, the faster swelling rates of the NC hydrogels were observed in comparison with the corresponding physically cross-linked PMOA hydrogel, except for 1% AT/PMOA sample. However, the deswelling kinetics of NC hydrogels was obviously retarded.

• A new labdane diterpene from Vitex negundo.

  Authors: Cheng-Jian Zheng, Xiao-Peng Lan, Yang Wang, Bao-Kang Huang, Ting Han, Qiao-Yan Zhang, Lu-Ping Qin

  Pharmaceutical biology. 04/2012;

  Context: Vitex negundo Linn. (Verbenaceae) seeds are pepper substitute and occasionally used as a condiment for edible purposes. The seeds also find use for analgesia, sedation, rheumatism and jointContext: Vitex negundo Linn. (Verbenaceae) seeds are pepper substitute and occasionally used as a condiment for edible purposes. The seeds also find use for analgesia, sedation, rheumatism and joint inflammation in folk medicine. Objective: To isolate and characterize bioactive constituents from V. negundo seeds. Materials and methods: The ethanol extract of V. negundo seeds was subjected to repeated column chromatography. Chemical structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analyses on the basis of NMR, IR, and MS data. Several pathogenic fungi isolates were employed to evaluate the antifungal activity of the isolated compound. Results: Chemical investigations of the seed extract afforded a new labdane diterpenoid, named negundol (1a + 1b), as an inseparable mixture of two diastereoisomers in a 5:4 ratio. Their structures were identified as (rel 3S, 5S, 8R, 9R, 10S, 13S, 16S)-3-acetoxy-9, 13-epoxy-16-hydroxy-labda-15, 16-olide (1a), and (rel 3S, 5S, 8R, 9R, 10S, 13S, 16R)-3-acetoxy-9, 13-epoxy-16-hydroxy-labda-15, 16-olide (1b). Compound 1 was active as an antifungal agent with MIC(80) values in the range of 16-64 μg/mL. Discussion and conclusion: The presence of compound 1 in V. negundo is of chemotaxonomic significance, since plants under the genus Vitex are chemically characterized with labdane diterpenoids. Compound 1 exhibited potential antifungal activity and may be considered a lead compound for promising antifungal agent.

• Automated solid-phase extraction hyphenated to voltammetry for the determination of quercetin using magnetic nanoparticles and sequential injection lab-on-valve approach.

  Authors: Yang Wang, Lu Wang, Tian Tian, Xiaoya Hu, Chun Yang, Qin Xu

  The Analyst. 04/2012;

  In this study, an automated sequential injection lab-on-valve (SI-LOV) system was designed for the on-line matrix removal and preconcentration of quercetin. Octadecyl functionalized magnetic silicaIn this study, an automated sequential injection lab-on-valve (SI-LOV) system was designed for the on-line matrix removal and preconcentration of quercetin. Octadecyl functionalized magnetic silica nanoparticles were prepared and packed into the microcolumn of the LOV as adsorbents. After being adsorbed through hydrophobic interaction, the analyte was eluted and subsequently introduced into the electrochemical flow cell by voltammetric quantification. The main parameters affecting the performance of solid-phase extraction, such as sample pH and flow rate, eluent solution and volume, accumulation potential and accumulation time were investigated in detail. Under the optimum experimental conditions, a linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 1.0 × 10(-8) to 1 × 10(-5) mol L(-1) with R(2) = 0.9979. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 1.3 × 10(-9) and 4.3 × 10(-9) mol L(-1), respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for the determination of 1.0 × 10(-6) mol L(-1) quercetin was found to be 2.9% (n = 11) along with a sampling frequency of 40 h(-1). The applicability and reliability of the automated method described here had been applied to the determination of quercetin in human urine and red wine samples through recovery experiments, and the obtained results were in good agreement with those obtained by the HPLC method.

• Characterization of antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from canine infections.

  Authors: Degui Lin, Steven L Foley, Yonghua Qi, Jing Han, Changyi Ji, Ruichao Li, Congming Wu, Jianzhong Shen, Yang Wang

  Journal of applied microbiology. 04/2012;

  Aims: To determine the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa among dogs with suspected soft tissue infections and to characterize these isolates. Methods and Results: Swabs were taken from infectedAims: To determine the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa among dogs with suspected soft tissue infections and to characterize these isolates. Methods and Results: Swabs were taken from infected soft tissues of 402 dogs. P. aeruginosa strains were confirmed phenotypically and tested for susceptibility to 11 antimicrobial agents and genotyped by SpeI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The genetic basis of fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance and the presence of integrons were also characterized. A total of 27 (6.7%) dogs tested positive for P. aeruginosa. Fourteen different SpeI patterns were observed in 25 typeable strains. Among the β-lactams, three isolates presented resistance to ticarcillin and carbenicillin, while only one isolate exhibited resistance to ceftazidime. Among the aminoglycosides (AGs), three strains showed resistance to amikacin, and four strains exhibited resistance to gentamicin and tobramycin. Four strains with mutations that led to the substitution of Thr at position 83 with Ile in GyrA and the exchange of Ser at position 87 with Leu in ParC, displayed resistance to all tested FQs. These strains also carried class 1 integrons and showed resistance to between 6 and 10 antimicrobials. These integrons included four different gene cassettes (aacA4-aadA1, bla(OXA-31) -aadA2, aadA1-arr-3-catB3, and cmlA5-cmlA-aadA1). Conclusions: A small proportion of infected dogs treated in two animal hospitals in Beijing, China carried P. aeruginosa isolates. Low levels of resistance to anti-pseudomonal agents were observed in these strains. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study is the first report on the antimicrobial resistance profiles of P. aeruginosa isolated from infected canine origin in China. Additionally, this is the first report of the oxacillin resistance gene bla(OXA-31) in a canine P. aeruginosa isolate. © 2012The Authors Journal of Applied Microbiology © 2012 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

• Proteomic analysis of porcine alveolar macrophages infected with porcine circovirus type 2.

  Authors: Shuang Cheng, Min Zhang, Wentao Li, Yang Wang, Yingyu Liu, Qigai He

  Journal of proteomics. 04/2012;

  Post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), which is primarily caused by porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), is an emerging swine immunosuppressive disease. To characterize the interactionPost-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), which is primarily caused by porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), is an emerging swine immunosuppressive disease. To characterize the interaction between target immune cells and PCV2, the differential proteomes of porcine alveolar macrophages, with and without PCV2 infection, were analyzed at different time points with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) followed by MALDI-TOF/TOF identification. Mass spectrometry identified 21 altered host-encoded proteins (9 up-regulated and 12 down-regulated proteins), which included cytoskeleton proteins, macromolecular biosynthesis-associated proteins, stress response proteins, signal transduction proteins, energy metabolism, and ubiquitin proteasome pathway-associated proteins. The majority of the changes occurred 48h after PCV2 infection. Moreover, 9 corresponding genes of the differentially expressed proteins were quantified by real time RT-PCR to examine the transcriptional profiles. Western blot analysis further confirmed the differential expression of proteins, including SFN, PSME1, PRP19, HSPB1, TUBA|B, CK-19 and ACTB, in the proteomic profiles. Subcellular distribution analysis of the cytoskeletal proteins and PCV2 clearly demonstrated interactions between PCV2 and the differential protein β-tubulin. Thus, this work effectively provides useful and dynamic protein-related information to further understand the underlying pathogenesis of PCV2 infection.

• Rapid removal of uranium from aqueous solutions using magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 composite particles.

  Authors: Fang-Li Fan, Zhi Qin, Jing Bai, Wei-Dong Rong, Fu-You Fan, Wei Tian, Xiao-Lei Wu, Yang Wang, Liang Zhao

  Journal of environmental radioactivity. 04/2012; 106:40-6.

  Rapid removal of U(VI) from aqueous solutions was investigated using magnetic Fe(3)O(4)@SiO(2) composite particles as the novel adsorbent. Batch experiments were conducted to study the effects ofRapid removal of U(VI) from aqueous solutions was investigated using magnetic Fe(3)O(4)@SiO(2) composite particles as the novel adsorbent. Batch experiments were conducted to study the effects of initial pH, amount of adsorbent, shaking time and initial U(VI) concentrations on uranium sorption efficiency as well as the desorbing of U(VI). The sorption of uranium on Fe(3)O(4)@SiO(2) composite particles was pH-dependent, and the optimal pH was 6.0. In kinetics studies, the sorption equilibrium can be reached within 180 min, and the experimental data were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order model, and the equilibrium sorption capacities calculated by the model were almost the same as those determined by experiments. The Langmuir sorption isotherm model correlates well with the uranium sorption equilibrium data for the concentration range of 20-200 mg/L. The maximum uranium sorption capacity onto magnetic Fe(3)O(4)@SiO(2) composite particles was estimated to be about 52 mg/g at 25 °C. The highest values of uranium desorption (98%) was achieved using 0.01 M HCl as the desorbing agent. Fe(3)O(4)@SiO(2) composite particles showed a good selectivity for uranium from aqueous solution with other interfering cation ions. Present study suggested that magnetic Fe(3)O(4)@SiO(2) composite particles can be used as a potential adsorbent for sorption uranium and also provided a simple, fast separation method for removal of heavy metal ion from aqueous solution.

• Facile synthesis of pendant- and α,ω-chain-end-functionalized polycarbonates via immortal polymerization by using a salan lutetium alkyl precursor.

  Authors: Wei Zhao, Yang Wang, Xinli Liu, Dongmei Cui

  Chemical communications (Cambridge, England). 03/2012; 48(38):4588-90.

  A highly efficient strategy for synthesizing functionalized polycarbonates was established by employing a rare-earth metal catalyst.

• Prevalence of ESBLs and PMQR genes in fecal Escherichia coli isolated from the non-human primates in six zoos in China.

  Authors: Yang Wang, Tao He, Jing Han, Juan Wang, Steven L Foley, Guangyou Yang, Shuangxiu Wan, Jianzhong Shen, Congming Wu

  Veterinary microbiology. 03/2012;

  The aim of this study is to characterize the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes in Escherichia coli from captive non-humanThe aim of this study is to characterize the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes in Escherichia coli from captive non-human primates. A total of 206 E. coli isolates were collected from primates in six zoos in China in 2009 and their susceptibility to 10 antimicrobials were tested by broth microdilution. The susceptibility patterns of E. coli strains varied greatly among different zoos reflecting different backgrounds of antimicrobial usage. Both the ESBL-encoding genes and the PMQR genes were detected by PCR. Of the 206 strains, 65 (32%) were confirmed as phenotypic ESBL producers with bla(CTX-M) (27%, bla(CTX-M-15), n=31, bla(CTX-M-3), n=23 and bla(CTX-M-14), n=2) mainly mediating the ESBL phenotype. qnrS1 (18%, n=36) and oqxAB (15%, n=31) were the predominant PMQR genes and the prevalence of PMQR genes was much higher among phenotypic ESBL producers than that among phenotypic non-ESBL producers from any zoo. Notably, the PMQR genes qnrS1 and oqxAB and β-lactamase genes bla(TEM-1) and bla(CTX-M-3) were found together in 23 E. coli isolates in two zoos in Shanghai. PFGE analysis of these 23 isolates demonstrated nearly identical PFGE profiles (similarity matrix >97%) indicating this specific E. coli genotype was prevalent in these two zoos. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of these four genes coexisting in an E. coli genotype and the first report of antimicrobial resistance profiles in E. coli isolated from primates in China.

• 3D Projection Sideband Cooling.

  Authors: Xiao Li, Theodore A Corcovilos, Yang Wang, David S Weiss

  Physical review letters. 03/2012; 108(10):103001.

  We demonstrate 3D microwave projection sideband cooling of trapped, neutral atoms. The technique employs state-dependent potentials that enable microwave photons to drive vibration-number reducingWe demonstrate 3D microwave projection sideband cooling of trapped, neutral atoms. The technique employs state-dependent potentials that enable microwave photons to drive vibration-number reducing transitions. The particular cooling sequence we employ uses minimal spontaneous emission, and works even for relatively weakly bound atoms. We cool 76% of atoms to their 3D vibrational ground states in a site-resolvable 3D optical lattice.

• FoxP2 is significantly associated with schizophrenia and major depression in the Chinese Han Population.

  Authors: Tao Li, Zhen Zeng, Qian Zhao, Ti Wang, Ke Huang, Junyan Li, You Li, Jie Liu, Zhiyun Wei, Yang Wang, Guoyin Feng, Lin He, Yongyong Shi

  The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry. 03/2012;

  Objectives. The FoxP2 gene, located on 7q31, encodes a transcription factor. It was first discovered through investigations of a large multigenerational family (the KE family) with a rare severeObjectives. The FoxP2 gene, located on 7q31, encodes a transcription factor. It was first discovered through investigations of a large multigenerational family (the KE family) with a rare severe speech and language disorder (Fisher et al., Nat. Genet. 1998;18:168; Lai et al., Nature 2001;413:519). Subsequent studies gave powerful and convincing functional evidence to the connection between FoxP2 and language disorder ( Vernes et al. 2006 ; Groszer et al., Curr Biol 2008;18:354; Vernes et al., New Engl J Med 359(22):2337). Language disorder is commonly considered as a core symptom of schizophrenia and some other mental diseases; thus, we decided to investigate whether the FoxP2 gene played a significant role in schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder in a sample set recruited from the Chinese Han population. Methods. In this study, we focused on 12 SNPs in the FoxP2 gene and carried out case-control studies in 1135 schizophrenia patients, 1135 unrelated major depression patients, 1135 unrelated bipolar disorder patients and 1135 unrelated normal controls recruited from the Chinese Han population. Results. We found rs10447760 was significantly associated with schizophrenia (allelic P = 0.00069) and major depression (allelic P = 0.0011). Conclusions. Our study indicated that the rare variant rs10447760 in FoxP2 may play an important role in schizophrenia and major depression in the Chinese Han population.