Corrigendum: Highly Ordered Mesoporous NiCo2O4 as a High Performance Anode Material for Li-Ion Batteries

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2019.00521.].

Fine-tuning the photosynthetic light harvesting apparatus for improved photosynthetic efficiency and biomass yield

Photosynthetic electron transport rates in higher plants and green algae are light-saturated at approximately one quarter of full sunlight intensity. This is due to the large optical cross section of plant light harvesting antenna complexes which capture photons at a rate nearly 10-fold faster than the rate-limiting step in electron transport. As a result, 75% of the light captured at full sunlight intensities is reradiated as heat or fluorescence. Previously, it has been demonstrated that reductions in the optical cross-section of the light-harvesting antenna can lead to substantial improvements in algal photosynthetic rates and biomass yield. By surveying a range of light harvesting antenna sizes achieved by reduction in chlorophyll b levels, we have determined that there is an optimal light-harvesting antenna size that results in the greatest whole plant photosynthetic performance. We also uncover a sharp transition point where further reductions or increases in antenna size reduce photosynthetic efficiency, tolerance to light stress, and impact thylakoid membrane architecture. Plants with optimized antenna sizes are shown to perform well not only in controlled greenhouse conditions, but also in the field achieving a 40% increase in biomass yield.

Decrease of FGF19 contributes to the increase of fasting glucose in human in an insulin-independent manner

PURPOSE

The ileum-derived fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) plays key roles in hepatic glucose homeostasis in animals in an insulin-independent manner. Here, we analyzed the association of FGF19 with glucose effectiveness (GE, the insulin-independent glucose regulation), as well as hepatic glucose production (HGP) in Chinese subjects.

METHODS

GE was measured by frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT) in normal glucose tolerance (NGT), isolated-impaired glucose tolerance (I-IGT), and isolated-impaired fasting glucose (I-IFG) subjects. The oral glucose tolerance test-derived surrogate of GE (oGE) was determined in NGT, I-IFG, combined glucose intolerance (CGI), and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) subjects. HGP was assessed by labeled ([3-³H]-glucose) hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp in NGT subjects. Insulin secretion and sensitivity were calculated by the hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps in a subgroup of NGT, I-IGT, and I-IFG subjects. Serum FGF19 levels were determined by ELISA.

RESULTS

FGF19 positively correlated with GE (r = 0.29, P = 0.004) as determined by FSIVGTT. The result was further confirmed by oGE (r = 0.261, P < 0.001). FGF19 was negatively associated with FPG (r = - 0.228, P = 0.025), but the association no longer existed after adjusting for GE (r = - 0.177, P = 0.086). FGF19 was negatively associated with basal HGP (r = - 0.697, P = 0.006). However, the correlation between FGF19 and insulin secretion and sensitivity were not found.

CONCLUSIONS

FGF19 levels are associated positively with GE and negatively with HGP. The increase of FPG in human is at least partially due to the decrease of FGF19 in an insulin-independent manner.

Effect of combined testing of ceramides with high-sensitive troponin T on the detection of acute coronary syndrome in patients with chest pain in China: a prospective observational study

OBJECTIVE

Ceramides are associated with coronary plaque vulnerability. We aim to investigate the potential diagnostic value of ceramides for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Chinese patients with chest pain.

DESIGN

Prospective observational survey.

SETTING

Shanghai, China, 2016-2017.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 2773 patients with chest pain from four hospitals in Shanghai, China, between August 2016 and October 2017.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Performance of metabolites model in detection of ACS cases including ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-STEMI (NSTEMI) and unstable angina.

RESULTS

Plasma levels of 12 ceramide molecules and corresponding ratios were compared between patients diagnosed with ACS and those without. Cer(d18:1/24:1(15Z))/Cer(d18:1/24:0) ratio, Cer(d18:1/14:0) and Cer(d18:1/22:0) were independent predictors of ACS after adjustment of traditional risk factors and high-sensitivecardiac troponin T. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed a significant improvement in detecting ACS in the multivariable model with ceramides compared with that without (0.865 (0.840 to 0.889) vs 0.808 (0.776 to 0.841), p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Distinct plasma ceramides are independent diagnostic predictors of ACS among patients with chest pain. Ceramides together with high-sensitive troponin and traditional factors showed great potential in identifying ACS among patients with chest pain.

Highly Ordered Mesoporous NiCo2O4 as a High Performance Anode Material for Li-Ion Batteries

The controlled synthesis of highly ordered mesoporous structure has attracted considerable attention in the field of electrochemistry because of its high specific surface area which can contribute the transportation of ions. Herein, a general nano-casting approach is proposed for synthesizing highly ordered mesoporous NiCo₂O₄ microspheres. The as-synthesized mesoporous NiCo₂O₄ microsphere materials with high Brunner-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area (~97.77 m²g⁻¹) and uniform pore size distribution around 4 nm exhibited a high initial discharge capacity of ~1,467 mAhg⁻¹, a good rate capability as well as cycling stability. The superior electrochemical performance was mainly because of the highly porous nature of NiCo₂O₄, which rendered volume expansion during the process of cycling and shortened lithium-ions transport pathways. These properties showcase the inherent potential for use of highly ordered mesoporous NiCo₂O₄ microspheres as a potential anode material for lithium-ion batteries in the future.

Relationship between neuronal network architecture and naming performance in temporal lobe epilepsy: A connectome based approach using machine learning

Impaired confrontation naming is a common symptom of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The neurobiological mechanisms underlying this impairment are poorly understood but may indicate a structural disorganization of broadly distributed neuronal networks that support naming ability. Importantly, naming is frequently impaired in other neurological disorders and by contrasting the neuronal structures supporting naming in TLE with other diseases, it will become possible to elucidate the common systems supporting naming. We aimed to evaluate the neuronal networks that support naming in TLE by using a machine learning algorithm intended to predict naming performance in subjects with medication refractory TLE using only the structural brain connectome reconstructed from diffusion tensor imaging. A connectome-based prediction framework was developed using network properties from anatomically defined brain regions across the entire brain, which were used in a multi-task machine learning algorithm followed by support vector regression. Nodal eigenvector centrality, a measure of regional network integration, predicted approximately 60% of the variance in naming. The nodes with the highest regression weight were bilaterally distributed among perilimbic sub-networks involving mainly the medial and lateral temporal lobe regions. In the context of emerging evidence regarding the role of large structural networks that support language processing, our results suggest intact naming relies on the integration of sub-networks, as opposed to being dependent on isolated brain areas. In the case of TLE, these sub-networks may be disproportionately indicative naming processes that are dependent semantic integration from memory and lexical retrieval, as opposed to multi-modal perception or motor speech production.

GNAI1 and GNAI3 Reduce Colitis-Associated Tumorigenesis in Mice by Blocking IL6 Signaling and Down-regulating Expression of GNAI2

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Interleukin 6 (IL6) and tumor necrosis factor contribute to the development of colitis-associated cancer (CAC). We investigated these signaling pathways and the involvement of G protein subunit alpha i1 (GNAI1), GNAI2, and GNAI3 in the development of CAC in mice and humans.

METHODS

B6;129 wild-type (control) or mice with disruption of Gnai1, Gnai2, and/or Gnai3 or conditional disruption of Gnai2 in CD11c+ or epithelial cells were given dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce colitis followed by azoxymethane (AOM) to induce carcinogenesis; some mice were given an antibody against IL6. Feces were collected from mice, and the compositions of microbiomes were analyzed by polymerase chain reactions. Dendritic cells (DCs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) isolated from spleen and colon tissues were analyzed by flow cytometry. We performed immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analyses of colon tumor tissues, MDSCs, and mouse embryonic fibroblasts to study the expression levels of GNAI1, GNAI2, and GNAI3 and the interactions of GNAI1 and GNAI3 with proteins in the IL6 signaling pathway. We analyzed the expression of Gnai2 messenger RNA by CD11c+ cells in the colonic lamina propria by PrimeFlow, expression of IL6 in DCs by flow cytometry, and secretion of cytokines in sera and colon tissues by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We obtained colon tumor and matched nontumor tissues from 83 patients with colorectal cancer having surgery in China and 35 patients with CAC in the United States. Mouse and human colon tissues were analyzed by histology, immunoblot, immunohistochemistry, and/or RNA-sequencing analyses.

RESULTS

GNAI1 and GNAI3 (GNAI1;3) double-knockout (DKO) mice developed more severe colitis after administration of DSS and significantly more colonic tumors than control mice after administration of AOM plus DSS. Development of increased tumors in DKO mice was not associated with changes in fecal microbiomes but was associated with activation of nuclear factor (NF) κB and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3; increased levels of GNAI2, nitric oxide synthase 2, and IL6; increased numbers of CD4+ DCs and MDSCs; and decreased numbers of CD8+ DCs. IL6 was mainly produced by CD4+/CD11b+, but not CD8+, DCs in DKO mice. Injection of DKO mice with a blocking antibody against IL6 reduced the expansion of MDSCs and the number of tumors that developed after CAC induction. Incubation of MDSCs or mouse embryonic fibroblasts with IL6 induced activation of either NF-κB by a JAK2-TRAF6-TAK1-CHUK/IKKB signaling pathway or STAT3 by JAK2. This activation resulted in expression of GNAI2, IL6 signal transducer (IL6ST, also called GP130) and nitric oxide synthase 2, and expansion of MDSCs; the expression levels of these proteins and expansion of MDSCs were further increased by the absence of GNAI1;3 in cells and mice. Conditional disruption of Gnai2 in CD11c+ cells of DKO mice prevented activation of NF-κB and STAT3 and changes in numbers of DCs and MDSCs. Colon tumor tissues from patients with CAC had reduced levels of GNAI1 and GNAI3 and increased levels of GNAI2 compared with normal tissues. Further analysis of a public human colorectal tumor DNA microarray database (GSE39582) showed that low Gani1 and Gnai3 messenger RNA expression and high Gnai2 messenger RNA expression were significantly associated with decreased relapse-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

GNAI1;3 suppresses DSS-plus-AOM-induced colon tumor development in mice, whereas expression of GNAI2 in CD11c+ cells and IL6 in CD4+/CD11b+ DCs appears to promote these effects. Strategies to induce GNAI1;3, or block GNAI2 and IL6, might be developed for the prevention or therapy of CAC in patients.

Clearance of damaged mitochondria via mitophagy is important to the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning in kidneys

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) affords tissue protection in organs including kidneys; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here we demonstrate an important role of macroautophagy/autophagy (especially mitophagy) in the protective effect of IPC in kidneys. IPC induced autophagy in renal tubular cells in mice and suppressed subsequent renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). The protective effect of IPC was abolished by pharmacological inhibitors of autophagy and by the ablation of Atg7 from kidney proximal tubules. Pretreatment with BECN1/Beclin1 peptide induced autophagy and protected against IRI. These results suggest the dependence of IPC protection on renal autophagy. During IPC, the mitophagy regulator PINK1 (PTEN induced putative kinase 1) was activated. Both IPC and BECN1 peptide enhanced mitolysosome formation during renal IRI in mitophagy reporter mice, suggesting that IPC may protect kidneys by activating mitophagy. We further established an in vitro model of IPC by inducing ‘chemical ischemia’ in kidney proximal tubular cells with carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). Brief treatment with CCCP protected against subsequent injury in these cells and the protective effect was abrogated by autophagy inhibition. In vitro IPC increased mitophagosome formation, enhanced the delivery of mitophagosomes to lysosomes, and promoted the clearance of damaged mitochondria during subsequent CCCP treatment. IPC also suppressed mitochondrial depolarization, improved ATP production, and inhibited the generation of reactive oxygen species. Knockdown of Pink1 suppressed mitophagy and reduced the cytoprotective effect of IPC. Together, these results suggest that autophagy, especially mitophagy, plays an important role in the protective effect of IPC.

Abbreviations: ACTB: actin, beta; ATG: autophagy related; BNIP3: BCL2 interacting protein 3; BNIP3L/NIX: BCL2 interacting protein 3 like; BUN: blood urea nitrogen; CASP3: caspase 3; CCCP: carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone; COX4I1: cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4I1; COX8: cytochrome c oxidase subunit 8; DAPI: 4ʹ,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; DNM1L: dynamin 1 like; EGFP: enhanced green fluorescent protein; EM: electron microscopy; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; FC: floxed control; FIS1: fission, mitochondrial 1; FUNDC1: FUN14 domain containing 1; H-E: hematoxylin-eosin; HIF1A: hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha; HSPD1: heat shock protein family D (Hsp60) member 1; IMMT/MIC60: inner membrane mitochondrial protein; IPC: ischemic preconditioning; I-R: ischemia-reperfusion; IRI: ischemia-reperfusion injury; JC-1: 5,5ʹ,6,6ʹ-tetrachloro-1,1ʹ,3,3ʹ-tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide; KO: knockout; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; mito-QC: mito-quality control; mRFP: monomeric red fluorescent protein; NAC: N-acetylcysteine; PINK1: PTEN induced putative kinase 1; PPIB: peptidylprolyl isomerase B; PRKN: parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase; ROS: reactive oxygen species; RPTC: rat proximal tubular cells; SD: standard deviation; sIPC: simulated IPC; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; TOMM20: translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20; TUNEL: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling

Multicellularity-interweaved bone regeneration of BMP-2-loaded scaffold with orchestrated kinetics of resorption and osteogenesis

Synchronization of material resorption and new bone formation is vital to achieve harmonious bone regeneration in the treatment of large bone defects. To exposit the resorption/osteogenesis properties in the guided bone repairing, rhBMP-2-loaded trimodal macro/micro/nano-porous bioactive glass scaffolds (TMS-rhBMP-2) were set as substrate model. We penetratingly investigated the particular function of hierarchical structure and incorporated rhBMP-2 in the resorption/osteogenesis, and dissected the cellular interplay throughout the regenerative procedure. The results suggested that rhBMP-2 significantly facilitated osteoclastogenesis-mediated scaffold degradation and strikingly up-regulated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-involved osteogenesis in vitro. Further gene microarray and related proteins expression indicated that in the presence of rhBMP-2, MSCs rather than differentiated MSCs could exert synergistic effects on osteoclastogenesis, osteoclasts maturation and resorptive function; meanwhile, rhBMP-2-induced MSCs osteogenesis was also strengthened by the osteoclasts. In vivo micro-CT, X-ray, kinetic and histological analyses qualitatively and quantitively demonstrated the optimized coupling of bioresorption/osteogenesis and the most rapid regeneration in TMS-rhBMP-2. Consequently, with rhBMP-2 acted as ignitor and MSCs/osteoclasts interaction as booster, a harmonious bone regeneration was obtained. Besides, long-term magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in virtue of Gd³⁺ suggested that the degradation products mainly distributed in liver and spleen, verifying the accumulation/discharge profiles and safety application of TMS-rhBMP-2 system in vivo. This study will not merely provide guidance for the design of clinical bone repairing materials, but shed substantial light on the multicell-mediated tissue regeneration.

Metabolic phenotypes and the gut microbiota in response to dietary resistant starch type 2 in normal-weight subjects: a randomized crossover trial

Resistant starch (RS) has been reported to reduce body fat in obese mice. However, this effect has not been demonstrated in humans. In this study, we tested the effects of RS in 19 volunteers with normal body weights. A randomized, double-blinded and crossover design clinical trial was conducted. The study subjects were given either 40 g high amylose RS2 or energy-matched control starch with three identical diets per day throughout the study. The effect of RS was evaluated by monitoring body fat, glucose metabolism, gut hormones, gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and metabolites. The visceral and subcutaneous fat areas were significantly reduced following RS intake. Acetate and early-phase insulin, C-peptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion were increased, and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were decreased after the RS intervention. Based on 16S rRNA sequencing, certain gut microbes were significantly decreased after RS supplementation, whereas the genus Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005 showed an increase in abundance. Other potential signatures of the RS intervention included Akkermansia, Ruminococcus_2, Victivallis, and Comamonas. Moreover, the baseline abundance of the genera Streptococcus, Ruminococcus_torques_group, Eubacterium_hallii_group, and Eubacterium_eligens_group was significantly associated with the hormonal and metabolic effects of RS. These observations suggest that a daily intake of 40 g of RS is effective in modulating body fat, SCFAs, early-phase insulin and GLP-1 secretion and the gut microbiota in normal-weight subjects.

The construction of thiol-functionalized DNAsomes with small molecules response and protein release

In this work, a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) polymer (PNIPAAm) was prepared via the photoinduced reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using Ru(bpy)₃Cl₂·6H₂O as photoinitiator. The design and spontaneous assembly of thiol-functionalized DNA-Thiol/PNIPAAm polymeric capsule (DNAsomes) by water-in-oil Pickering emulsion method and effective response with small molecules (Sybr green and phenanthrene) were described. The intermediate product, DNA-Thiol/PNIPAAm conjugates and DNAsomes were characterized by using ¹H NMR, dynamic light scattering (DLS), SEM, TEM and UV-vis methods. The obtained results indicated that DNA-Thiol/PNIPAAm constructs assembled in a Pickering emulsion could produce DNA-based spherical DNAsomes with typically 3.3-267.7 μm in diameter. The DNAsomes showed a vesicle formation approximately 2 μm in diameter, resulting in phenanthrene molecule intercalating with DNAsomes. The phenomenon indicated that the DNA-Thiol/PNIPAAm conjugates may have potential applications in recognition polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules. The membrane of the DNAsomes could effective response toward small molecules such as Sybr green or phenanthrene, and DNAsomes has release capability of protein (BSA) under reductive agent glutathione (GSH). Our results highlight the potential of integrating aspects of supramolecular and polymer chemistry into the design and construction of DNA-polymeric capsule, guest molecule encapsulation, control delivery of drugs, recognition organic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules and gene-directed capsule synthesis.

FDG-PET and MRI in the Evolution of New-Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

New-onset refractory status epilepticus is a clinical condition characterized by acute and prolonged pharmacoresistant seizures without a pre-existing relevant neurologic disorder, prior epilepsy, or clear structural, toxic, or metabolic cause. New-onset refractory status epilepticus is often associated with antineuronal antibodies and may respond to early immunosuppressive therapy, reflecting an inflammatory element of the condition. FDG-PET is a useful diagnostic tool in inflammatory and noninflammatory encephalitis. We report here FDG-PET findings in new-onset refractory status epilepticus and their correlation to disease activity, other imaging findings, and outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twelve patients who met the criteria for new-onset refractory status epilepticus and who had FDG-PET and MR imaging scans and electroencephalography at a single academic medical center between 2008 and 2017 were retrospectively identified. Images were independently reviewed by 2 radiologists specialized in nuclear imaging. Clinical characteristics and outcome measures were collected through chart review.

RESULTS

Twelve patients underwent 21 FDG-PET scans and 50 MR imaging scans. Nine (75%) patients were positive for autoantibodies. All patients had identifiable abnormalities on the initial FDG-PET in the form of hypermetabolism (83%) and/or hypometabolism (42%). Eight (67%) had medial temporal involvement. All patients (n = 3) with N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antibodies had profound bilateral occipital hypometabolism. Initial MR imaging findings were normal in 6 (50%) patients. Most patients had some degree of persistent hyper- (73%) or hypometabolism (45%) after immunosuppressive therapy. FDG-PET hypometabolism was predictive of poor outcome (mRS 4-6) at hospital discharge (P = .028).

CONCLUSIONS

Both FDG-PET hypometabolism and hypermetabolism are seen in the setting of new-onset refractory status epilepticus and may represent markers of disease activity.

Treatment Response Prediction of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Based on Histogram Analysis of Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The prediction of treatment response is important in planning and modifying the chemoradiation therapy regimen. This study aimed to explore the quantitative histogram indices for treatment-response prediction of nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on diffusional kurtosis imaging compared with a standard ADC value (ADC_standard).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-six patients with an initial diagnosis of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma and diffusional kurtosis imaging acquisitions before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled. Patients were divided into respond-versus-nonrespond groups after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and residual-versus-nonresidual groups after radiation therapy. Histogram parameters of diffusional kurtosis imaging-derived parameters (ADC, ADC coefficient corrected by the non-Gaussain model [D], apparent kurtosis coefficient without a unit [K]) were calculated. The ADC_standard was calculated on the basis of intravoxel incoherent movement data. The intraclass correlation coefficient, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Student t test or Mann-Whitney U test, and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Most of the parameters had good-to-excellent consistency (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.675-0.998). The pre-ADC_standard, pre-ADC (10th, 25th, 50th percentiles), pre-D (10th, 25th, 50th percentiles), and pre-K_50th were significantly different between the respond and nonrespond groups, while the pre-ADC_10th, pre-K_90th, post-ADC_50th, post-K_75th, post-K_90th, and the percentage change of parameters before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (▵ADC_50th%) were significantly different between the residual and nonresidual groups (all P < .05). Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that setting pre-D_50th = 0.875 × 10^-3mm²/s as the cutoff value could result in optimal diagnostic performance for neoadjuvant chemotherapy response prediction (area under the curve = 0.814, sensitivity = 0.70, specificity = 0.92), while the post-K_90th = 1.035 (area under the curve = 0.829, sensitivity = 0.78, specificity = 0.72), and▵ADC_50th% = 0.253 (area under the curve = 0.833, sensitivity = 0.94, specificity = 0.72) were optimal for radiation therapy response prediction.

CONCLUSIONS

Histogram analysis of diffusional kurtosis imaging may potentially predict the neoadjuvant chemotherapy and short-term radiation therapy response in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, therefore providing evidence for modification of the treatment regimen.

Multiparameter diffusion-weighted imaging for characterizing pathological patterns in lupus nephritis patients: A preliminary study

BACKGROUND

Microstructural changes of lupus nephritis (LN) kidney such as inflammatory cell infiltration or fibrosis could influence water molecular movement or diffusion, which indicates that diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) may become a valuable tool in evaluation of this disease.

PURPOSE

To explore whether multiparameter diffusion-weighted imaging (mDWI) could contribute to characterize pathological patterns in LN patients.

STUDY TYPE

Retrospective.

POPULATION

Twenty-two patients with LN.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

Multi-b value DWI was performed with a 3.0 T scanner.

ASSESSMENT

Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)_m , perfusion-related diffusion coefficient (D_f ), molecular diffusion coefficient (D_s ), perfusion fraction (f), ADC_s , α, ADC_k , and mean kurtosis (MK) were calculated by monoexponential, biexponential, stretched-exponential, and kurtosis models fits, respectively.

STATISTICAL TESTS

Independent sample t-test, Pearson analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC).

RESULTS

In the whole group, the activity index (AI) correlated significantly with alpha values in the medulla (rho = -0.54, P = 0.03). The chronicity index (CI) correlated significantly with D_s values in the medulla (rho = -0.61, P = 0.02). No significant association was found between any other diffusion parameter and histologic grade with all P > 0.05. For differentiating proliferative LN (Class III or IV) from Class V, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of alpha in the medulla was 0.833 (P = 0.023). DATA CONCLUSION: mDWI might be used for the characterization of pathological patterns in LN patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Technical Efficacy Stage: 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1075-1084.

Interfacial self-assembly of gold nanoparticle-polymer nanoconjugates into microcapsules with near-infrared light modulated biphasic catalysis efficiency

Gold nanoparticle-based microcapsules based on the interfacial assembly significantly enhanced the biphasic catalytic reaction rate upon near-infrared light irradiation.

A shape-shifting composite hydrogel sheet with spatially patterned plasmonic nanoparticles

A simple and reliable approach was developed to fabricate thermo-responsive composite hydrogel sheets with spatially patterned regions of plasmonic gold nanoparticles. The same hydrogel exhibited different modes of shape deformation under near-infrared laser irradiation depending on the irradiation direction.

Mechanisms of the anterograde trafficking of GPCRs: Regulation of AT1R transport by interacting proteins and motifs

Anterograde cell surface transport of nascent G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) en route from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the Golgi apparatus represents a crucial checkpoint to control the amount of the receptors at the functional destination and the strength of receptor activation-elicited cellular responses. However, as compared with extensively studied internalization and recycling processes, the molecular mechanisms of cell surface trafficking of GPCRs are relatively less defined. Here, we will review the current advances in understanding the ER-Golgi-cell surface transport of GPCRs and use angiotensin II type 1 receptor as a representative GPCR to discuss emerging roles of receptor-interacting proteins and specific motifs embedded within the receptors in controlling the forward traffic of GPCRs along the biosynthetic pathway.

Optimal Data Injection Attacks in Cyber-Physical Systems

The primary goal of this paper is to analyze the dynamic response of a system under optimal data injection attacks from a control perspective. In this paper, optimal data injection attack design problems are formulated in a similar framework of optimal control. We consider a scenario, where an attacker injects false data to a healthy plant comprising many actuators distributed in different regions. For the case, where an attacker pollutes all actuators, an optimal state feedback injection law is proposed to minimize a quadratic cost functional containing two conflicting objectives. For the case, where the attacker only pollutes partial actuators within a short period, the quadratic programming is employed to solve an optimal switching data injection attack design problem using the technique of embedded transformation. A bang-bang-type solution of the quadratic programming exists on account of the minimum value of the Hamilton functional and is achieved at an extreme point of the convex set. Consequently, a switching condition is derived to obtain the optimal attack sequence. We also introduce a closed-form switching policy for data injection attacks with multiple objectives, which is shown optimal in the sense of minimizing a hybrid quadratic performance criterion. Finally, applications of our approaches to a networked dc motor and a power system are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

The GTPase Rab1 Is Required for NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Inflammatory Lung Injury

Uncontrolled inflammatory response during sepsis predominantly contributes to the development of multiorgan failure and lethality. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms for excessive production and release of proinflammatory cytokines are not clearly defined. In this study, we show the crucial role of the GTPase Ras-related protein in brain (Rab)1a in regulating the nucleotide binding domain-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and lung inflammatory injury. Expression of dominant negative Rab1 N124I plasmid in bone marrow-derived macrophages prevented the release of IL-1β and IL-18, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, production of pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18, and attenuated TLR4 surface expression and NF-кB activation induced by bacterial LPS and ATP compared with control cells. In alveolar macrophage-depleted mice challenged with cecal ligation and puncture, pulmonary transplantation of Rab1a-inactivated macrophages by expression of Rab1 N124I plasmid dramatically reduced the release of IL-1β and IL-18, neutrophil count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and inflammatory lung injury. Rab1a activity was elevated in alveolar macrophages from septic patients and positively associated with severity of sepsis and respiratory dysfunction. Thus, inhibition of Rab1a activity in macrophages resulting in the suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation may be a promising target for the treatment of patients with sepsis.

Population genetic analyses of seven Chinese indigenous chicken breeds in a context of global breeds

Jiangxi province in China is rich in indigenous chicken breeds, which have diverse phenotypes and represent a valuable genetic resource for further genetic improvement of modern breeds. Here, we conducted a series of analyses to reveal genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships and population structure of seven chicken breeds in Jiangxi province in the context of nine non-local chicken breeds, using 600K SNP data. We show that Jiangxi indigenous breeds have more abundant nucleotide diversity than do European local and commercial breeds. Among Jiangxi breeds, Dongxiang Blue-eggshell (DX) and Chongren Partride (CR) display remarkably reduced genetic diversity, as the two breeds exhibit increased inbreeding coefficients, runs of homozygosity, extent of linkage disequilibrium and reduced expected heterozygosity. DX, CR and Taihe Silkie (TH) represent three ancestral lineages of the Jiangxi chicken and display genetic differentiation from the other four Jiangxi breeds, which show a signature of admixture with European commercial breeds. These findings provide insight for the establishment of an efficient conservation program for Jiangxi chicken breeds. Considering the current status of genetic diversity and ancestral representativeness, particular attention should be paid to DX, CR and TH chickens.

[Clinical outcomes of gastric cancer patients received capecitabine based adjuvant chemotherapy and the corresponding pharmacogenomics analysis]

Objective: To investigate the association between Thymidine phosphorylase(TYMP)genetic variation and clinical outcomes of postoperative gastric cancer (GC) patients received capecitabine based regimens. Methods: A total of 198 GC patients underwent surgical treatment and received capecitabine based adjuvant chemotherapy were included in this retrospective study. Peripheral blood and the postoperative tissue specimen of the GC patients were collected for the genotyping of polymorphism and TYMP mRNA expression, respectively. The correlation between polymorphism and clinical outcomes and safety of postoperative GC patients were analysed. Results: Located in the upstream, rs11479 was of clinical significance. The prevalence of rs11479 in TYMP among the GC patients were as follows: CC genotype 125 cases (63.13%), CT genotype 65 cases (32.83%), TT genotype 8 cases (4.04%), minor allele frequency of rs11479 is 0.20. The distribution of three genotypes were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (P=0.901). The analysis results of patients with different genotypes found that the 3-year disease free survival rate of the patients with CT/TT genotype and CC genotype were 73.97% and 65.60%, respectively, which was statistically significant (P=0.003). In terms of overall survival, the 3-year overall survival rate of the two genotypes were 83.56% and 72.80% (P=0.012), respectively. Adjusted in multivariate Cox regression analysis, CT/TT genotype was an independent favorable factor for disease free survival (OR=0.55, P=0.011). Safety analysis indicated that there was no significant association between genotypes and grade 2 adverse reaction. Additionally, of the 79 postoperative tissue specimens, the results showed that the expression of TYMP in cancer tissues of the patients with CT/TT genotypes were significantly higher than those of the wild type CC genotype patients (P<0.001). Conclusion: The polymorphism rs11479 of TYMP have favorable influence on the clinical outcomes of gastric cancer patients received capecitabine based adjuvant chemotherapy treatment through changing the mRNA expression of TYMP.

Multifunctional and Programmable Modulated Interface Reactions on Proteinosomes

A multiresponsive microcapsule has been synthesized by incorporating photoswitchable spiropyran units and the thermoresponsive monomer N-isopropylacrylamide into membrane lumens. By using functionalized light or thermoresponsive groups, this multifunctional microcapsule can modulate programmed release and interface reactions between lipase and fluorescein diacetate, alkaline phosphatase and fluorescein diphosphate, and others. Exposing this multifunctional microcapsule in a programmed controlled way allowed us to develop schematics to understand complicated interface interactions on protocells.