In this series of work, we examined the role of measuring cytokine mRNA expression in the urinary sediments for the assessment of SLE disease activity. The Th-1/Th-2 imbalance observed in patients with active lupus nephritis supports its relevance in pathogenesis. Our results also suggest that urinary T-BET-to-GATA-3 expression ratio may predict lupus flare. The measurement of mRNA expression in the urinary sediment may provide valuable information for the assessment and risk stratification of SLE patients. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / In this series of work, we investigated (i) the pattern of cytokine gene expression in the urinary sediment of lupus patients, (ii) the relation between the gene expression profile in the urinary sediment and the clinical and histological disease activity of lupus patients; and (iii) the application of this non-invasive method on the assessment and monitoring of SLE disease activity. / Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a relapsing autoimmune disease with clinical manifestations that affect multiple organ systems. Lupus nephritis (LN) is recognized as one of the most severe organ involvement in SLE and affects half of the lupus patients. LN is characterized by intra-renal lymphocyte activation and inflammation. Since most of the cytokines exert their effects in a paracrine fashion, measuring their expression at the site of pathology should be of biologic relevance. Although kidney biopsy is widely used to determine the histology and severity of LN, this invasive procedure has its own risk and is not practical for serial monitoring. We hypothesize that measurement of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the urinary sediment may provide a non-invasive means to assess the disease activity of lupus patients. / Chan Wing Yan. / "August 2005." / Adviser: Cheuk Chun Szeto. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: B, page: 3692. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 302-333). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Ectopic and over-expression of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) have been reported to induce tumor formation. Mas protein is a member of GPCR family and was originally isolated from human epidermoid carcinoma. It was demonstrated that mas mRNA was abundantly expressed in human and rat brains by in situ hybridization and RNase protection assays. However, cellular mechanism that leads to such tumorigenic transformation is still an open question. / In order to identify the cellular mechanism of mas-induced tumor formation, a full-length mas cDNA was cloned into a mammalian expression vector pFRSV with dihydrofolate reductase gene as a selection marker. Detailed analyses of mas-transfected cell lines by Southern blot, Northern blot and tumorigenicity assay indicated that tumorigenicity of mas-transfected cells depended on the sites of chromosomal integration and the levels of mas expression. These results suggest that overexpression of mas is not sufficient to induce tumor formation. In line with the ability of mas-transfected cells Mc0M80 to form solid tumor in nude mice, MTT cell proliferation assay indicated that the mas-transfected cells Mc0M80 proliferated faster than vector-transfected cells. Moreover, mas-transfected cells Mc0M80 exhibited significantly increased anchorage-independent growth. Furthermore, mas-transfected cells Mc0M80 showed higher percentage cells in G2/M phase but lower in S-phase in comparison with vector-transfected cells. / Interestingly, Southern blot analysis of individual xenografted tumor tissue indicated that tumor was composed of cells not only derived from injected mas-transfected CHO cells but also cells from mouse tissues. The presence of mouse stromal cells in the tumor was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Previously our laboratory had identified some up- and down-regulated genes in mas-transfected cells by fluorescent differential display (FluoroDD). Northern blot showed that these differential expressed genes were up- or down-regulated in mas-transfected cells and tumor samples, which might play an important role in cancerous growth. / Taken together, these results suggest that over-expression of GPCR mas up-regulated tumor-related genes, resulting in promoting excessive cell growth and tumorigenic transformation. In addition, when the tumor mass formed they secreted some growth factor(s) which altered the migration of mouse stromal cells into tumor mass. The interactions of transformed cells and stromal cells further aggravate the tumorigenicity process. / To complement our fluorescent differential display study and to compare changes of gene expression when transformed cells were exposed to the microenvironment in nude mice, protein expression profiles of mas over-expressing cells as well as tumor tissues were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and mass spectrometry. The 2D-PAGE analysis showed that a similar but distinct protein expression profiles in mas-transfected cells and in mas-induced tumor. Mass spectrometry analysis identified several cancerous growth-related proteins and they are involved in processes such as cell signaling, energy metabolism, transcription and translation and cytoskeleton organization. / Lin Wenzhen. / "December 2005." / Adviser: Cheung Wing Tai. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-11, Section: B, page: 6381. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 222-240). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Pang, Weng I. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-148). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vi / PUBLICATIONS --- p.vii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xiii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xv / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xvi / Chapter SECTION I: --- BACKGROUND --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 1: --- CIRCULATING NUCLEIC ACIDS IN PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1 --- Prenatal diagnosis --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Circulating fetal DNA in maternal plasma --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Biology of circulating fetal DNA --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Clinical applications of circulating fetal DNA --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Qualitative fetal-specific sequence detection --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Quantitative aberration detection --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Circulating fetal epigenetic markers --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Circulating fetal RNA in maternal plasma --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Biology of circulating fetal RNA --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Clinical applications of circulating fetal RNA --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Quantitative aberration detection --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2.2 --- Chromosomal aneuploidy detection --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Enrichment of fetal RNA --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Circulating microRNA in maternal plasma --- p.10 / Chapter CHAPTER 2: --- FETAL GROWTH AND WELL-BEING --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1 --- Normal fetal growth --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Role of the mother --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Role of the placenta --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Role of the fetus --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Role of the somatotrophic axis --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2 --- Abnormal fetal growth --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Intrauterine growth restriction --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Definition of IUGR --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Risk factors of IUGR --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Diagnosis of IUGR --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.4.1 --- Biometric tests --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.4.2 --- Biophysical tests --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.4.3 --- Biochemical tests --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.4.4 --- Others --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3 --- Limitations of current modalities in fetal growth assessment --- p.23 / Chapter 2.4 --- Aims of this thesis --- p.24 / Chapter SECTION II: --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.26 / Chapter CHAPTER 3: --- QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF CIRCULATING RNA --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1 --- Sample collection and processing --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Preparation of plasm a --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Preparation of blood cells --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Preparation of placental tissues --- p.27 / Chapter 3.2 --- Total RNA extraction --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Plasma and blood cells --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Placental tissues --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3 --- Quantitative measurements of nucleic acids --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Principles of real-time quantitative PCR --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- One-step QR T-PCR assays for placental mRNA quantification --- p.3 7 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- QPCR assays for checking genomic DNA contamination --- p.43 / Chapter 3.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.45 / Chapter SECTION III: --- EVALUATION OF PLACENTA-DERIVED MRNA AS POSSIBLE MARKERS FOR FETAL GROWTH ASSESSMENT --- p.46 / Chapter CHAPTER 4: --- SELECTION OF POTENTIAL FETAL GROWTH MRNA MARKERS FOR MATERNAL PLASMA DETECTION --- p.47 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.47 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.49 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Sample collection and processing --- p.49 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Experimental design --- p.49 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- RNA extraction and quantification --- p.51 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.51 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.52 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Identification of potential fetal growth mRNA markers in maternal plasma --- p.52 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Development of real-time QR T-PCR assays --- p.56 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Validation of maternal plasma detectability and pregnancy-specificity --- p.58 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Assessment of the gestational trend in maternal plasma --- p.64 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.68 / Chapter CHAPTER 5: --- RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CIRCULATING PLACENTAL MRNA AND FETAL GROWTH --- p.72 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.72 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.73 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Sample collection and processing --- p.73 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- "Ultrasound measurement, placental weight and birth weight.…" --- p.74 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Experimental design --- p.74 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- RNA extraction and quantification --- p.75 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Statistical analysis --- p.75 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.75 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Expression of potential growth markers in placental tissues --- p.76 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Relationship between circulating placental mRNA and birth measurements --- p.76 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Relationship between circulating placental mRNA and fetal biometric measurements --- p.77 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.85 / Chapter SECTION IV: --- CLINICAL APPLICATION OF POTENTIAL FETAL GROWTH MARKERS IN THE ASSESSMENT OF IUGR --- p.93 / Chapter CHAPTER 6: --- QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF PLACENTAL MRNA IN IUGR WITH OR WITHOUT PET --- p.94 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.94 / Chapter 6.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.95 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Sample collection and processing --- p.95 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Experimental design --- p.96 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- RNA extraction and quantification --- p.96 / Chapter 6.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.97 / Chapter 6.3 --- Results --- p.97 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Cross-sectional comparison of placental mRNA concentrations --- p.97 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Longitudinal comparison of placental mRNA concentrations --- p.102 / Chapter 6.4 --- Discussion --- p.103 / Chapter SECTION V: --- CONCLUDING REMARKS --- p.107 / Chapter CHAPTER 7: --- CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES --- p.108 / Chapter 7.1 --- A strategy for identifying circulating placental MRNA markers for fetal growth assessment --- p.108 / Chapter 7.2 --- Implications of mRNA marker development strategy --- p.111 / Chapter 7.3 --- Prospects for future work --- p.112 / REFERENCES --- p.116

With the advances of Internet technologies, Internet users can not only deliver instant text message through the Instant Messenger (IM), but enhance the effect of messages delivered with showing lively mood symbols or other pictures on IM. Moreover, Internet users can deliver their looks and voice to other users through webcam and microphone with IM, and IM business also provides convenient daily information through it. At present, Internet users haven¡¦t been charged with IM service yet, but IM business has used the popular software on business, including Internet advertisement and the information service of strategy cooperation. IM plays several roles as a product, information service plat, and marketing channel. It becomes a new commercial tool. The study takes Microsoft MSN Messenger as an applied empirical example. The purpose of this study is to analyze the MSN Messenger marketing strategy with the theory structure of IMC to construct the integrated marketing plan model of MSN Messenger; through the questionnaire survey for MSN Messenger users, the study approves the marketing strategy effect of ¡§MSN Messenger club¡¨ website, and provides the workable suggestions of marketing strategy for MSN business. The study finds that the MSN business unit is highly aware of IMC, and it takes integrated and multi marketing communication plans on MSN Messenger. According to the result of the analysis, the suggestions of marketing strategy includes to enhance the long-term interactive relationship with the resources and stakeholders, and explore more originally interactive advertisements and activities to gather the loyalty of MSN Messenger users. As for the website promotion of ¡§MSN Messenger Club¡¨, this study also suggests to develop more creative Internet suggestions advertisements with instant messenger, add the website¡¦s hyperlink on MSN Messenger or add the information tab service to enhance the relationship connection between website and software, and MSN can actively converge another related pictures resources to enrich the club website.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2003. / "May 2003." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-162).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

A key process underlying synapse development and plasticity is stimulus-dependent translation of localized mRNAs. This process entails RNA packaging into translationally silent granules and exporting them over long distances from the nucleus to the synapse. Little is know about (a) where ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes are assembled, and if in the nucleus, how do they exit the nucleus; (b) how RNPs are transported to specific synaptic sites. At the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ), we uncovered a novel RNA export pathway for large RNP (megaRNP) granules assembled in the nucleus, which exit the nucleus by budding through the nuclear envelope. In this process, megaRNPs are enveloped by the inner nuclear membrane (INM), travel through the perinuclear space as membrane-bound granules, and are deenveloped at the outer nuclear membrane. We identified Torsin (an AAA-ATPase that in humans is linked to dystonia), as mediator of INM scission. In torsin mutants, megaRNPs accumulate within the perinuclear space, and the mRNAs fail to localize to postsynaptic sites leading to abnormal NMJ development. We also found that nuclear envelope budding is additionally used for RNP export during Drosophila oogenesis. Our studies also suggested that the nuclear envelope-associated protein, Nesprin1, forms striated F-actin-based filaments or ‘‘railroad tracks,’’ that span from muscle nuclei to postsynaptic sites at the NMJ. Nesprin1 railroad tracks wrap aoround the postsynaptic regions of immature synaptic boutons, and serve to direct RNPs to sites of new synaptic bouton formation. These studies elucidate novel cell biological mechanisms for nuclear RNP export and trafficking during synapse development.

The purposes of this study was to demonstrate the induction of alpha interferon mRNA in Sendai virus-induced Namalava cells, to follow the level of alpha interferon mRNA synthesis at the transcriptional level, and to determine whether the Namalava cell line expresses the c-myc oncogene and to what degree. The amount of c-myc message deteted in Namalva cell RNA was about one-tenth that of Daudi cell RNA, whereas no difference in the amount of the c-Ha-ras message was observed between the two cell lines.

本文以MSN Messenger為研究對象，從語言遊戲的角度出發，嘗試把網路語言放在一個新的理論位置。網路語言（Netspeak）在本文中的定義為：網路溝通多變的實際情境裡出現的語言，包括書寫、口語的語言，亦包括副語言（語言符號裡的輔助、身勢符號、非語言符號的面部表情和圖像）。 經由文獻探討，「網路溝通的語言遊戲」具備兩個概念：一是「語言遊戲」，一是「情境的言語遊戲」。前者的語言遊戲（Language Play）認為讓語言作平常不作的事就是玩語言遊戲，因此網路語言的特殊性可以歸納成口語強化遊戲和視覺符號遊戲，這個理論有助於我們檢視遊戲的根源轉化自語言的哪個部分。而後者「情境的言語遊戲」則融入了維根斯坦的概念，要我們回到語言的實際運用情境裡面，從實踐的角度來看前面的語言遊戲如何在情境中展現與變化。 本研究採取三種研究方法探索六個研究問題：調查法、內容分析法、對話分析法。內容分析法用來瞭解視覺符號遊戲與口語強化遊戲是什麼；調查法用來瞭解為何使用者玩語言遊戲、語言遊戲在不同情境中的變化；對話分析法則用以找出口語強化遊戲和視覺符號遊戲的對話功能，以及找出MSN溝通環境對傳播情境和溝通者而言，具有怎樣的限制和創造力之特性。 視覺符號遊戲最主要的轉化來源仍是面部表情，其中以MSN內建的表情符號比例最高，而誇張、戲謔版的下載符號則較線條組成的自製符號更受歡迎。口語強化遊戲最主要的轉化來源是語尾助詞，但口語遊戲的轉化來源通常不只一個，和日常生活的語言遊戲、通常一次只有一個變化的現象不一樣。此外，研究者亦發現，口語遊戲是MSN情境裡的核心現象；而視覺符號遊戲的「關係修辭性」比較強。網路情境還容許口語遊戲「視覺效果」的轉化，這樣的視覺效果也可能營造出聽覺效果。 使用者玩語言遊戲最主要的因素是獲致愉悅，其次是社交因素，即玩語言遊戲不但讓談話更為有趣，而且還讓自己和交談的對方變得比較親近。至於語言遊戲在不同情境中的變化，交談的目的僅是在維持某種社會關係時，使用者的溝通愉悅帶來了較多的語言遊戲；若是為了某種特定的任務溝通時，使用者的語言遊戲明顯較少。就熟稔程度來說，在低度熟稔程度的時候，有熟稔程度越高、玩越多視覺符號遊戲的趨勢，兩種遊戲皆是在「半生不熟」的狀況下玩得最多。 此外，不同的情境裡果然存在著不同的言語特色，運用視覺符號遊戲和口語強化遊戲的方式、提出話題的策略以及話題內容都有區別。由對話分析所觀察到MSN的對話限制及其延伸出的可能性有以下五點： 一、「答非所問」形成「話題跳動的彈性」 二、「對話次序」使得「資訊不受干擾」 三、「交談介面」有利於「製造當下的共通性」 四、「非面對面溝通」允許「釋放更多線索」 五、「網路溝通空間」是另一個「語言遊戲的寬廣空間」 建議未來研究可以繼續探討語言遊戲的語藝效果，不只是MSN情境，其他網路溝通情境裡的語言遊戲也有檢視的必要。並且也建議更深入地探討玩家的遊戲心理、遊戲在綜合情境中的面貌，以及混合遊戲產生的效果。

Examines the functions of messengers in six plays by Shakespeare.