Forms of selenium in vitamin-mineral mixes differentially affect serum prolactin concentration and hepatic glutamine synthetase activity of steers grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue.

The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that sodium selenite (ISe), SEL-PLEX (OSe), vs. an 1:1 blend (MIX) of ISe and OSe in a basal vitamin-mineral (VM) mix would differentially affect metabolic parameters and performance of growing steers grazing toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue mixed forage (E+) pasture. Predominately-Angus steers (BW = 183 ± 34 kg) were randomly selected from herds of fall-calving cows grazing E+ pasture and consuming VM mixes that contained 35 ppm Se as ISe, OSe, and MIX forms.

Overexpression of NR4A1 is associated with tumor recurrence and poor survival in non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

Unlabelled: The expression level and clinical significance of NR4A1 are presently unknown in the non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). This study aimed to explore the expression, prognostic value, and function of NR4A1 in NSCLC.

Methods: Clinicopathological parameters of 167 NSCLC patients who received radical surgery from January 2007 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed.

The effect of MDI on the structure and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) and poly(butylene adipate--butylene terephthalate) blends.

In this work, poly(lactic acid) and poly(butylene adipate--terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT 50/50) were melt-blended in the presence of 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) which acted as a reactive chain extender. The mechanical properties, phase morphology, thermal behavior and crystalline structure of the blends were investigated. Fourier transform infrared measurements revealed that some remarkable chemical interaction had taken place between the two polymers and MDI.

Comprehensive circular RNA profiles in plasma reveals that circular RNAs can be used as novel biomarkers for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of widespread endogenous noncoding RNAs, have been involved in the development of various diseases, including atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and several types of cancers, but there is little knowledge about their associations with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study is aimed to identify the expression profiles of circRNAs in 6 paired SLE and normal participants plasma samples by using a circRNA microarray. The microarray analysis showed that 207 circRNAs were differentially expressed between these two groups, including 113 upregulated and 94 downregulated circRNAs.

Amazon drought and forest response: Largely reduced forest photosynthesis but slightly increased canopy greenness during the extreme drought of 2015/2016.

Amazon droughts have impacted regional ecosystem functioning as well as global carbon cycling. The severe dry-season droughts in 2005 and 2010, driven by Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly, have been widely investigated in terms of drought severity and impacts on ecosystems. Although the influence of Pacific SST anomaly on wet-season precipitation has been well recognized, it remains uncertain to what extent the droughts driven by Pacific SST anomaly could affect forest greenness and photosynthesis in the Amazon.

Label-free multidimensional information acquisition from optogenetically engineered cells using a graphene transistor.

The optogenetic technique, which allows the manipulation of cellular activity patterns in space and time by light, has transformed the field of neuroscience. However, acquiring multidimensional optogenetic information remains challenging despite the fact that several cellular information detection methods have been proposed. Herein, we present a new method to acquire label-free multidimensional information from optogenetically engineered cells using a graphene transistor.

Non-invasive Imaging Methods for Brown Adipose Tissue Detection and Function Evaluation.

Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) has a major role in thermoregulation, producing heat by non-shivering thermogenesis. Primarily found in animals and human infants, the presence of significant brown adipose tissue was identified only recently, and its metabolic role in adults was reconsidered. BAT is believed to have an important role in many metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, and also to be associated with cancer cachexia.

Semicrystalline Hydrophobically Associated Hydrogels with Integrated High Performances.

Hydrophobically associated hydrogels (HA gels) are one of most extensively investigated high strength hydrogels. Semicrystalline HA gels, prepared by micellar copolymerization, show high strength and notable functionalities of self-healing and shape-memory. However, the hydrophobic comonomers in these semicrystalline HA gels are usually limited to the long alkyl length monomers (18-alkyl(meth)acrylates).

Increased activity of β-glucuronidase variants produced by site-directed mutagenesis.

β-glucuronidase (BGus) is an essential glycosyl hydrolase which has been widely used in biological and biomedical applications. In this paper, we report the construction and screening of nineteen Escherichia coli BGus (EBGus) mutants using site-directed mutagenesis. The mutants G559N, G559S and G559T showed a 3-5 fold increase in enzyme activity in comparison to wild type EBGus.

Optical surface plasmon resonance sensor modified by mutant glucose/galactose-binding protein for affinity detection of glucose molecules.

Transdermal extraction of interstitial fluid (ISF) offers an attractive method for minimally invasive blood glucose monitoring. However, only a minute volume of ISF could be transdermally extracted, which is required to be diluted to form a manipulable volume of fluid for easy collection, transportation, and glucose detection. Therefore, a high-resolution glucose detection method is required for detecting glucose concentration in diluted ISF.

Association of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 gene amplification with poor survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To investigate whether gene amplification is associated with clinicopathologic characteristics and its potential impact on survival in patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: Five hundred fifty-six ESCC patients undergoing curative resection of ESCC were retrospectively studied. gene copy number was determined in microarrayed tumor samples using fluorescent hybridization (FISH) analysis.

Serum reference interval of ARCHITECT alpha-fetoprotein in healthy Chinese Han adults: Sub-analysis of a prospective multi-center study.

Objectives: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been widely used in clinical practice for decades. However, large-scale survey of serum reference interval for ARCHITECT AFP is still absent in Chinese population. This study aimed to measure serum AFP levels in healthy Chinese Han subjects, which is a sub-analysis of an ongoing prospective, cross-sectional, multi-center study (ClinicalTrials.

Biochanin A induces anticancer effects in SK-Mel-28 human malignant melanoma cells via induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell invasion and modulation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

The present study aimed to investigate the antitumor activity of Biochanin A in SK-Mel-28 human malignant melanoma cells. An MTT assay was used to study the cytotoxic effects of Biochanin A. wound healing and invasion assays were used to investigate the effects on cell migration and invasion.

Oxymatrine protects against DSS-induced colitis via inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Oxymatrine (OMT), an alkaloid derived from the root of the Sophora flavescens, has been reported to possess a significant effect on relieving UC owing to its anti-inflammatory property. But the other therapeutic mechanism of OMT remains unclear. Recent studies have found, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of UC by pro-inflammatory effects and activating T cells.

Mitophagy in Parkinson's Disease: Pathogenic and Therapeutic Implications.

Neurons affected in Parkinson's disease (PD) experience mitochondrial dysfunction and bioenergetic deficits that occur early and promote the disease-related α-synucleinopathy. Emerging findings suggest that the autophagy-lysosome pathway, which removes damaged mitochondria (mitophagy), is also compromised in PD and results in the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria. Studies using genetic-modulated or toxin-induced animal and cellular models as well as postmortem human tissue indicate that impaired mitophagy might be a critical factor in the pathogenesis of synaptic dysfunction and the aggregation of misfolded proteins, which in turn impairs mitochondrial homeostasis.

Co Nanoparticles Encapsulated in N-Doped Carbon Nanosheets: Enhancing Oxygen Reduction Catalysis without Metal-Nitrogen Bonding.

It is known that introducing metal nanoparticles (e.g., Fe and Co) into N-doped carbons can enhance the activity of N-doped carbons toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).

VRK1 promotes cisplatin resistance by up-regulating c-MYC via c-Jun activation and serves as a therapeutic target in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignant disease characterized by poor prognosis. Chemoresistance remains a major cause of ESCC relapse. Vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) has previously been identified as a cancer-related gene.

High strength and self-healable gelatin/polyacrylamide double network hydrogels.

Double network (DN) hydrogels composed of two different polymer networks with strong asymmetry are excellent structural platforms to integrate different mechanical properties into a single material. However, simultaneously achieving high strength and self-healing properties in DN hydrogels still remains a challenge. In this work, we design and synthesize Gelatin/Polyacrylamide (Gelatin/PAAm) DN gels by combining thermo-reversible and physically crosslinked gelatin as the first network and covalently crosslinked PAAm as the second network.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy for patients with 1 to 3 brain metastases in recursive partitioning analysis class 3.

The prognosis is extremely poor for patients with brain metastases in recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class 3. It is not clear whether dose elevation for brain lesions in addition to whole-brain radiotherapy could improve survival for those patients. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of dose elevation with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for patients with 1 to 3 brain metastases in RPA class 3.

Inactivation of miR-100 combined with arsenic treatment enhances the malignant transformation of BEAS-2B cells via stimulating epithelial -mesenchymal transition.

Chronic arsenic treatment induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promotes tumorigenicity, but the mechanism is unclear. MiR-100 has been shown to be involved in this biologic process. In this study, we hypothesize that inactivation of miR-100 combined with low concentration of arsenic exposure could promote the malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B cell) by promoting EMT.

Ferulic acid promotes survival and differentiation of neural stem cells to prevent gentamicin-induced neuronal hearing loss.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have exhibited promising potential in therapies against neuronal hearing loss. Ferulic acid (FA) has been widely reported to enhance neurogenic differentiation of different stem cells. We investigated the role of FA in promoting NSC transplant therapy to prevent gentamicin-induced neuronal hearing loss.

Chitosan membrane dressings toughened by glycerol to load antibacterial drugs for wound healing.

Transparent and flexible chitosan-based membranes containing antibacterial drugs were prepared through a casting/solvent evaporation method from suspension of chitosan floccule. To enhance mechanical properties, glycerin was incorporated into the floccule suspension to conjugate chitosan as a plasticizer. The mechanism of membrane formation is attributed to inter- and intro-hydrogen bonding between chitosan and glycerol molecules.

Overexpression of IFITM3 predicts poor prognosis in stage IIA esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

Background: Recent research has shown that IFITM3 plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of many malignancies. We investigated the clinicopathological variables and prognostic value of IFITM3 in stage IIA esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were used to examine IFITM3 expression in tumor specimens.

High Performance Complementary Circuits Based on p-SnO and n-IGZO Thin-Film Transistors.

Oxide semiconductors are regarded as promising materials for large-area and/or flexible electronics. In this work, a ring oscillator based on n-type indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) and p-type tin monoxide (SnO) is presented. The IGZO thin-film transistor (TFT) shows a linear mobility of 11.