Epigenetic signatures of regional tau pathology and cognition in the aging and pathological brain.

Primary age-related tauopathy (PART) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) share hippocampal phospho-tau (p-tau) pathology but differ in p-tau extent and ß-amyloid presence. As a result, PART uniquely enables investigation of amyloid-independent p-tau mechanisms during brain aging. We conducted an epigenome-wide association (EWAS) study of PART, nominating 13 new and robust p-tau/methylation associations.

The response to influenza vaccination is associated with DNA methylation-driven regulation of T cell innate antiviral pathways.

Background: The effect of vaccination on the epigenome remains poorly characterized. In previous research, we identified an association between seroprotection against influenza and DNA methylation at sites associated with the RIG-1 signaling pathway, which recognizes viral double-stranded RNA and leads to a type I interferon response. However, these studies did not fully account for confounding factors including age, gender, and BMI, along with changes in cell-type composition.

The response to influenza vaccination is associated with DNA methylation-driven regulation of T cell innate antiviral pathways.

Background: The effect of vaccination on the epigenome remains poorly characterized. In previous research, we identified an association between seroprotection against influenza and DNA methylation at sites associated with the RIG-1 signaling pathway, which recognizes viral double-stranded RNA and leads to a type I interferon response. However, these studies did not fully account for confounding factors including age, gender, and BMI, along with changes in cell type composition.

Longitudinal analysis of influenza vaccination implicates regulation of RIG-I signaling by DNA methylation.

Influenza virus infection alters the promoter DNA methylation of key immune response-related genes, including type-1 interferons and proinflammatory cytokines. However, less is known about the effect of the influenza vaccine on the epigenome. We utilized a targeted DNA methylation approach to study the longitudinal effects (day 0 pre-vaccination and day 28 post-vaccination) on influenza vaccination responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

A comparative study of ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy combined with histopathology and Xpert MTB/RIF in the diagnosis of lymph node tuberculosis.

Background: Cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (CTBL) is a disease often ignored in clinical work, and pathology and Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) are the commonly used methods for tuberculosis diagnosis. This study aimed to compare ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy combined with histopathology and Xpert in the diagnosis of lymph node tuberculosis.

Methods: A total of 217 patients highly suspected for CTBL were retrospectively enrolled.

Deep Learning-Based Holographic Polarization Microscopy.

Polarized light microscopy provides high contrast to birefringent specimen and is widely used as a diagnostic tool in pathology. However, polarization microscopy systems typically operate by analyzing images collected from two or more light paths in different states of polarization, which lead to relatively complex optical designs, high system costs, or experienced technicians being required. Here, we present a deep learning-based holographic polarization microscope that is capable of obtaining quantitative birefringence retardance and orientation information of specimen from a phase-recovered hologram, while only requiring the addition of one polarizer/analyzer pair to an inline lensfree holographic imaging system.

The far-upstream regulatory region of RFL is required for its precise spatial-temporal expression for floral development in rice.

A rice mutant aberrant floral organ 1 (afo1) was identified, showing increased floral organ number, aberrant floral organ identity and loss of floral meristem determinacy. A disruption of sequence integrity at 6292-bp upstream of RFL by a T-DNA insertion led to varied RFL expression patterns in floral meristem and floret in afo1 and caused the mutant phenotype. The LEAFY (LFY) transcription factor and its homologs affect many aspects of plant development, especially floral development.

Free synthetic and natural estrogen hormones in influent and effluent of three municipal wastewater treatment plants.

Three municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in southeastern Pennsylvania were sampled to determine the presence and concentrations of 12 natural and synthetic estrogen hormones in the wastewater influent and effluent. The target estrogens were 17alpha-estradiol, estrone, estriol, equilin, 17alpha-dihydroequilin, 17beta-estradiol, 17alpha-ethinyl estradiol, gestodene, norgestrel, levonorgestrel, medrogestone, and trimegestone. One WWTP uses a biofilm reactor (packed-bed trickling filter),and the other two use suspended-growth media (continuously stirred activated sludge reactor and sequential batch reactor).

Ultrasound-induced destruction of low levels of estrogen hormones in aqueous solutions.

The removal of estrogen hormones from water and wastewater is of importance due to their adverse effects toward ecosystems and potential risks to human health. The ultrasound-induced destruction of estrogen compounds in aqueous solutions is studied in a batch reactor using a 1.1 W/mL sonication unit and in a continuous flow reactor using a 2.

Use of adsorption process to remove organic mercury thimerosal from industrial process wastewater.

Carbon adsorption process is tested for removal of high concentration of organic mercury (thimerosal) from industrial process wastewater, in batch and continuously flow through column systems. The organic mercury concentration in the process wastewater is about 1123 mg/L due to the thimerosal compound. Four commercially available adsorbents are tested for mercury removal and they are: Calgon F-400 granular activated carbon (GAC), CB II GAC, Mersorb GAC and an ion-exchange resin Amberlite GT73.

[The catalytic wet air oxidation reaction of acetic acid with Ti-Ce series catalyst].

The influence factors and reaction mechanism during the catalytic wet air oxidation of acetic acid with Ti-Ce series catalyst was investigated in this paper. The results show that the reaction was influenced by the catalyst load, the reaction temperature, the pH of the reaction system and the partial pressure of oxygen. More than 90% removal efficiency of acetic acid (as COD) can be obtained at the reaction conditions as follow: temperature 230 degrees C, oxygen partial pressure 2-2.