Index to collectors of the piperaceae represented in the T. G. Yuncker Herbarium of DePauw University

In 1987 the New York Botanical Garden (NY) purchased the T. G. Yuncker Herbarium of DePauw University (DPU), which contains T. G. Yuncker’s collections of Piperaceae from the Pacific, South America, and Central America. An index to the collectors of the Piperaceae is presented. These collections have been incorporated into the New York Botanical Garden Herbarium and are available for study.     

The Fontinalaceae in the Winona H. Welch Herbarium (DPU) and a list of Welch's collecting trips outside of Indiana

The Fontinalaceae in the Welch Herbarium, now deposited in the New York Botanical Garden Herbarium (NY), consist of 8034 packets, 385 of which represent 118 types. Three appendices provide: a) a list of known Fontinalaceae types in the Welch Herbarium; b) a list of collectors of Fontinalaceae whose collections were studied by Welch after the publication of her monograph in 1960; and c) a list of Welch's collecting trips outside of Indiana.     

Pandanus from Ok Tedi region,Papua New Guinea,collected by Debra Donoghue

In the course of ethnobotanical and ethnoarchaeological studies in the Ok Tedi region, Kiunga subprovince, Western Province, Papua New Guinea, Debra Donoghue collected several botanical specimens as vouchers for her studies into the prehistory of edible-nut pandans in the New Guinea Highlands and for David Hyndman’s study of the use and names of pandans in the region. These specimens were submitted to me through Dr. Hyndman for identification, and one set of duplicates has been deposited in the Lae Herbarium (PNG) and another in the University of Malaya Herbarium (KLU). Some of the collections are of considerable botanical interest, representing hitherto little-known species. One collection represents a new edible-nut species. The following list contains the botanical identifications, collection data, and some taxonomic comments. All the collections were made in June 1981. The Ok Tedi region is located around 5°12’S, 141°17’E.     

Apparent Reduction of ADAM10 in Scrapie-Infected Cultured Cells and in the Brains of Scrapie-Infected Rodents

It has been described that A disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM10) may involve in the physiopathology of prion diseases, but the direct molecular basis still remains unsolved. In this study, we confirmed that ADAM10 was able to cleave recombinant human prion protein in vitro. Using immunoprecipitation tests (IP) and immunofluorescent assays (IFA), reliable molecular interaction between the native cellular form of PrP (PrP^C) and ADAM10 was observed not only in various cultured neuronal cell lines but also in brain homogenates of healthy hamsters and mice. Only mature ADAM10 (after removal of its prodomain) molecules showed the binding activity with the native PrP^C. Remarkably more prion protein (PrP)-ADAM10 complexes were detected in the membrane fraction of cultured cells. In the scrapie-infected SMB cell model, the endogenous ADAM10 levels, especially the mature ADAM10, were significantly decreased in the fraction of cell membrane. IP and IFA tests of prion-infected SMB-S15 cells confirmed no detectable PrP-ADAM10 complex in the cellular lysates and PrP-ADAM10 co-localization on the cell surface. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the levels of ADAM10 in the brain homogenates of scrapie agent 263K-infected hamsters and agent ME7-infected mice were also almost diminished at the terminal stage, showing time-dependent decreases during the incubation period. Our data here provide the solid molecular basis for the endoproteolysis of ADAM10 on PrP molecules and interaction between ADAM10 and PrP^C. Obvious loss of ADAM10 during prion infection in vitro and in vivo highlights that ADAM10 may play essential pathophysiological roles in prion replication and accumulation.     

Mechanism of bFGF-binding Peptide Reversing Adriamycin Resistance in Human Gastric Cancer Cells

Development of drug resistance is a challenging problem in cancer chemotherapy. It has been shown that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) plays an important role in an epigenetic mechanism of drug resistance. We have isolated a bFGF binding peptide P7 with inhibitory activity against bFGF-induced proliferation of human gastric cancer cells by screening a phage display library. In this study, we found that P7 peptide also has efficacy of reversing bFGF-induced resistance to Adriamycin (ADM) in human gastric cancer cells. Further investigations with SGC-7901 cells revealed that inhibition of Akt activation triggered by bFGF, and reversal of bFGF-induced up-regulation of Bcl-2 and XIAP and down-regulation of Bax, contribute to P7 peptide counteracting the anti-apoptotic effect of bFGF, and further reversing bFGF-induced resistance to ADM. The results suggested that the bFGF-binding peptide may have therapeutic potential of drug resistance in gastric cancer.     

Expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β, and IL-4 in the Spinal Tuberculous Focus and Its Impact on the Disease

To investigate the expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β, and IL-4 in the spinal tuberculous focus and its relationship with the lesions type, severity, and bone destruction. The pathological samples of patients with spinal tuberculosis (TB) were divided into hyperplasia group and necrosis group according to their intra-operative and post-operative pathological findings. Normal bone tissues were taken as the control group. Pathology and expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β, and IL-4 in different tissues were compared among these three groups using immunohistochemical staining, quantitative image analysis, and measurement of bone tissue. 286 granulomas observed in the 14 samples in the hyperplasia group, which included 84 necrotizing and 202 non-necrotizing granulomas. As for the 20 samples in the necrosis group, there were 356 necrotizing and 186 non-necrotizing granulomas among all the 542 granulomas. The proportion of necrotizing granulomas in the necrosis group was significantly higher than that of the hyperplasia group. By inter-group comparison, expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ of granulomas in the hyperplasia group was significantly higher than that of the necrosis group, while the expression of TGF-β, IL-4 of granulomas in the necrosis group was significantly higher than that of the hyperplasia group. Also, expression of IFN-γ of non-necrotizing granulomas was significantly higher than that of necrotizing granulomas in the hyperplasia group, and expression of TGF-β in necrotizing granulomas was significantly higher than that of non-necrotizing granulomas in the necrosis group. The lesions were mainly bone resorption in the hyperplasia group, whereas mostly necrotic bones accompanied by local fibrosis in the necrosis group. Expression levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ in the hyperplasia group have a positive correlation to bone loss, whereas expression levels of TGF-β, IL-4 in the necrosis group have a positive correlation to the bone formation. The high expressions of TNF-α, IFN-γ in the spinal tuberculous focus were associated with protective immune cells. TGF-β and IL-4 were related to allergic lesions, fibrosis and osteogenesis. Expression imbalance of TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β, and IL-4 might aggravate the allergy of TB.     

Index to collectors and type specimens represented in the portion of Hobart and William Smith Colleges Herbarium (DH) deposited at New York Botanical Garden (NY) in 1983

An index to the collectors and types included in the portion of the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Herbarium (DH) recently deposited at the New York Botanical Garden (NY) is presented.     

cDNA library construction from meristematic tissue of finger millet panicle

A protocol to obtain full-length cDNA using a SuperScript® Full-Length cDNA Library Construction Kit II (Invitrogen, United States) was developed, and a high quality cDNA library of meristem tissue of finger millet panicle (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) was constructed. The titer of the constructed cDNA library was 3.01 × 10⁵ CFU/mL, the average length of the insert was approximately 1070 base pairs, and the average efficiency of insertion of cDNA fragments was 99.5%. The sequencing of randomly selected clones created cDNA library was carried out. The cDNA sequences of clones were identified by BLAST search. The cDNA library analysis and selective sequencing indicate good functionality and full size of cDNA inserts of the clones. The constructed cDNA library from meristematic tissue of finger millet panicle is a good and reliable source for isolation and identification of key genes of metabolism and development of meristem as well for creation of new genetic markers for genetic research and molecular selection.     

Impregnation of the Bacterial Cellulose Membrane with Biologically Produced Silver Nanoparticles

Different wound dressings with antibacterial property have been surveyed and one among them is bacterial cellulose (BC). Since the BC does not have antibacterial property, the biologically produced silver nanoparticles (SNPs) were impregnated into the BC. For the BC production, Hestrin–Schramm broth was used. Formation of the BC was proven by enzymatic hydrolysis. For SNPs production, the bacterial supernatant was treated with AgNO₃ and formation of SNPs was monitored through spectrophotometer, TEM and XRD. For impregnation of SNPs into the BC, the cleaned membrane was placed in the bacterial supernatant that contained 1 mmol of AgNO₃. The antibacterial assay was done for the BC/SNPs. Enzymatic hydrolysis proved the presence of the BC. Spectrophotometer and XRD results showed the formation of SNPs. TEM analysis revealed the presence of SNPs with sizes around 5–100 nm. SEM micrographs showed the impregnation of SNPs into the BC. Antibacterial test exhibited the antibacterial activity of the BC/SNPs.     

Key enzymes of degradation and angiogenesis as factors of tumor progression for squamous-cell cervical carcinoma

Destruction of the connective tissue matrix (CTM) and angiogenesis are the two processes playing a key role in tumor progression. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a leading role in processes of tissue destruction. Tissue collagenases MMP-1 and MT1-MMP hydrolyze fibrillar collagens constituting the base of CTM and enable tumor invasion. Gelatinases A and B (MMP-2 and MMP-9) hydrolyze type IV collagen which is the main component of basal membranes and contribute to the development of metastases. Endogenous activators and inhibitors are involved in the regulation of expression and activity of these enzymes. MMP-9 was shown to release vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the principal inductor of angiogenesis, bound to CTM. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is involved in the induction of VEGF synthesis and stimulation of endothelial cell proliferation mediated by angiotensin II (AII) and its type 1 receptor (AT1R). Experiments reported in the present article addressed the distinctive features of expression of key degradation and angiogenesis enzymes in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix. MMP-1, MT1-MMP, MMP-2, and MMP-9 and their endogenous regulators TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, as well as ACE, were the objects of research. Experiments were performed with clinical specimens including tumor tissue samples, for which presence or absence of metastasis to regional lymph nodes was taken into account, and morphologically normal tissue samples. Increased expression of MMP-1, MT1-MMP, and MMP-9 and decreased expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were shown to make the principal contribution to the destructive (invasive) potential of cervical carcinomas; the effect of changes in MMP-2 expression was less pronounced. Dramatically increased expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 was evident in metastasizing tumors. ACE activity in tumor samples was generally higher than activity in normal tissue. Substantial expression of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, and ACE was detected in morphologically normal tissue adjacent to the tumor; this can contribute to increased destructive potential of a tumor. The data reported are important for understanding the mechanisms of tumor progression, have prognostic value, and may affect the choice of individual therapeutic strategy for the patients.     

Adaptive Combiner for MapReduce on cloud computing

MapReduce is a programming model to process a massive amount of data on cloud computing. MapReduce processes data in two phases and needs to transfer intermediate data among computers between phases. MapReduce allows programmers to aggregate intermediate data with a function named combiner before transferring it. By leaving programmers the choice of using a combiner, MapReduce has a risk of performance degradation because aggregating intermediate data benefits some applications but harms others. Now, MapReduce can work with our proposal named the Adaptive Combiner for MapReduce (ACMR) to automatically, smartly, and trainer for getting a better performance without any interference of programmers. In experiments on seven applications, MapReduce can utilize ACMR to get the performance comparable to the system that is optimal for an application.     

G6PD Punjab,a dialysis sensitive variant of human glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

Erythrocyte samples from 101 individuals, originally from Punjab and living at the time of investigation in England, were screened for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) variants by Beutler’s fluorescent spot test and standard cellulose acetate gel (Cellogel) electrophoresis. All but 2 of the 40 males in the study were found to be indistinguishable from normal G6PD B. One of the variants had 2% of the normal activity and resembled G6PD Mediterranean in electrophoretic behaviour. The other variant showed 52% of the normal activity and migrated slower than G6PD B in Cellogel with about half of the normal band intensity. A set of physicochemical characteristics of the variant determined by conventional methods distinguished it from the variants reported so far. It was designated as G6PD Punjab, and the corresponding allele asG6PD PUN. The most striking feature of G6PD Punjab is a remarkable alteration in its electrophoretic behaviour after dialysis.     

Heme Oxygenase-2 Suppress TNF-α and IL6 Expression via TLR4/MyD88-Dependent Signaling Pathway in Mouse Cerebral Vascular Endothelial Cells

Heme oxygenase (HO) represents an intrinsic antiinflammatory system based on its ability to inhibit expression of proinflammatory cytokines. The constitutive isoform heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) has high expression and activity in cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (CMVEC). This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of HO-2 in regulation of TLR4/MyD88-dependent signaling and to study the effect of HO-2 on the expression and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL6) in CMVEC. HO-2 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and HO-2 overexpression plasmids were used to observe the effect of HO-2 on proinflammatory cytokines in CMVEC in vitro, and the results showed that the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of TNF-α and IL6 were increased and decreased, respectively, compared with control groups. LPS-stimulated TNF-α and IL6 mRNA and protein were also reduced in CMVEC treated with an inhibitor of TLR4 signaling, CLI-095, or HO-2 overexpression. CLI-095 and HO-2 overexpression both reduced TLR4 expression in CMVEC, and HO-2 shRNA blocked these effects of CLI-095. CLI-095 and HO-2 overexpression potently suppressed TLR4/MyD88-dependent proinflammatory cytokine expression in CMVEC. These results suggest that HO-2 plays an important role in protecting CMVEC against cytokine-mediated inflammation.     

The Montana collections of Francis Duncan Kelsey

Francis Duncan Kelsey amassed one of the important early herbaria of Montana plants from 1885 to 1893. His Montana collections contain over 1200 specimens of algae, bryophytes, ferns, angiosperms, and fungi and include at least 41 that serve as types. Originally donated to the Oberlin College Herbarium (OC), the Montana collections, records, and later correspondence of Kelsey are now housed at the Miami University Herbarium (MU). The mycological collections of Kelsey are numbered, dated, and include site information; his other collections are unnumbered and often lack precise dates and/or localities. Kelsey's Montana fieldwork itineraries and sources of exchange are presented. All valid and legitimate names based on Kelsey's Montana collections are listed with pertinent information from his collection notebooks.     

A prepared anti-MSTN polyclonal antibody reverses insulin resistance of diet-induced obese rats via regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR&FoxO1 signal pathways

Suppression of myostatin (MSTN) is associated with skeletal muscle atrophy and insulin resistance. However, the mechanisms by which MSTN regulates insulin resistance are not well known. We have explored the signaling pathways through which MSTN regulates insulin resistance in diet-induced obese rats using a polyclonal antibody for MSTN. The anti-MSTN polyclonal antibody significantly improved insulin resistance and whole-body insulin sensitivity, decreased MSTN protein expression in muscle samples by 39 % in diet-induced obese rats. Furthermore, the anti-MSTN polyclonal antibody significantly enhanced PI3K activity (140 %), Akt phosphorylation (86 %), GLUT4 protein expression (23 %), the phosphorylation of mTOR (21 %), and inhibited the phosphorylation of FoxO1 (57 %), but did not affect the phosphorylation of GSK-3β. Thus, suppression of MSTN by the anti-MSTN polyclonal antibody reverses insulin resistance of diet-induced obesity via MSTN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MSTN/PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathways.     

Polymorphism of DNA Repair Gene xrcc1 and Lung Cancer Risk

The current large-scale meta-analysis was performed to reach a reliable conclusion on the association between X-ray repair cross-complementing 1 (xrcc1) rs1799782 and the development of lung cancer. Studies that investigated the association between rs1799782 and lung cancer risk were identified by searching PubMed. We calculated odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95 % confidence interval (CI) for Trp/Trp vs Arg/Arg, Trp/Trp + Arg/Trp vs Arg/Arg, and Trp/Trp vs Arg/Trp + Arg/Arg contrast models. Combining all 25 studies, we yielded three summary ORs: 1.07 (95 % CI 0.92–1.23) for Trp/Trp vs Arg/Arg, 0.93 (95 % CI 0.87–1.00) for Trp/Trp + Arg/Trp vs Arg/Arg, and 1.08 (95 % CI 0.94–1.25) for Trp/Trp vs Arg/Trp + Arg/Arg, suggesting rs1799782 was not associated with overall risk of lung cancer. Strikingly, a significantly deceased risk was found among Caucasian populations (Trp/Trp + Arg/Trp vs Arg/Arg, OR = 0.86, 95 % CI 0.76–0.97). This study confirms that xrcc1 rs1799782 may lower the risk of lung cancer among Caucasians.     

Computerization of specimen data from the Edward Lee Greene Herbarium (ND-G) at Notre Dame

Computerization of the Edward Lee Greene Herbarium at Notre Dame is described. Reasons for the justification of such a project and the steps involved in data accumulation and data processing are presented. Results are or will be available in two forms: 1) formal publications containing summary information, including information on the more than 4400 taxa that Greene named; and 2) a computerized data bank that today can provide answers to questions from individual systematists about the 65,000 specimens. Problems in automation are discussed, as are the relation of this project to similar ones. Finally, an invitation is extended to readers to query the data bank without cost.