Extreme learning machines for reverse engineering of gene regulatory networks from expression time series.

Motivation: The reconstruction of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) from genes profiles has a growing interest in bioinformatics for understanding the complex regulatory mechanisms in cellular systems. GRNs explicitly represent the cause-effect of regulation among a group of genes and its reconstruction is today a challenging computational problem. Several methods were proposed, but most of them require different input sources to provide an acceptable prediction.

A new steroidal saponin from Polygonatum sibiricum.

A new furostan type steroidal saponin, kingianoside Z (1), along with four known compounds (2-5), was isolated from the ethanolic extract of Polygonatum sibiricum Delar. ex Redoute. Their structures were determined by spectroscopical method and by comparison with previously reported spectroscopic data.

New Cassane Diterpenoids from Caesalpinia sappan and their Antiplasmodial Activity.

One new cassane diterpene possessing an unusual bridge between C-19 and C-20 named caesalsappanin R (), as well as another new diterpene caesalsappanin S (), were isolated from the seeds of with methanol extract. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis and examined alongside existing data from prior studies. Their biological activities were profiled by their antiplasmodial activity.

Room-temperature 2D semiconductor activated vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are opening a new platform for revitalizing widely spread optoelectronic applications. The realisation of room-temperature vertical 2D lasing from monolayer semiconductors is fundamentally interesting and highly desired for appealing on-chip laser applications such as optical interconnects and supercomputing. Here, we present room-temperature low-threshold lasing from 2D semiconductor activated vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) under continuous-wave pumping.

-Equol Activates cAMP Signaling at the Plasma Membrane of INS-1 Pancreatic β-Cells and Protects against Streptozotocin-Induced Hyperglycemia by Increasing β-Cell Function in Male Mice.

-equol, which is enantioselectively produced from daidzein by gut microbiota, has been suggested as a chemopreventive agent against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the effects of -equol on pancreatic β-cell function. β-Cell growth and insulin secretion were evaluated with male Institute of Cancer Research mice and isolated pancreatic islets from the mice, respectively.

Cytisine induces apoptosis of HepG2 cells.

Cytisine is a quinolizidine alkaloid, which has been reported to be among the major bioactive components of Sophora alopecuraides L. Quinolizidine alkaloids have previously been demonstrated to inhibit the proliferation of several types of tumor cells. However, few studies have investigated the effects of cytisine on cancer cells.

Myricitrin Protects Cardiomyocytes from Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury: Involvement of Heat Shock Protein 90.

Modulation of oxidative stress is therapeutically effective in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Myricitrin, a naturally occurring phenolic compound, is a potent antioxidant. However, little is known about its effect on I/R injury to cardiac myocytes.

New cucurbitane triterpenoids with cytotoxic activities from Hemsleya penxianensis.

Seven new cucurbitane triterpenoids, Pengxianencins A-G (1-7) including one alkaloid, were isolated from the ethanol extract of the tubers of Hemsleya penxianensis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR spectra as well as HR-ESI-MS. The evaluation of inhibition activity against human Hela, MCF-7, and A-549 cell lines showed that compounds 1, 4, 6, 7 have different levels of cytotoxic activities, with IC values ranging from 1.

Sago worms as a nutritious traditional and alternative food for rural children in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Background And Objectives: The sago worm Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is a nutritious food source found in the remaining parts of a sago palm trunk after the removal of sago starch by farmers. The effort to increase sago worm consumption is investigated in an intervention study among children aged <5 years.

Methods And Study Design: Children aged 1-5 years were allocated to a sago worm inclusive diet (n=10) and to a control group eating a usual diet, but without sago worms (n=13).

Exploring the influence of indololactone structure on selectivity for binding to the C1 domains of PKCα, PKCε, and RasGRP.

C1 domain-containing proteins, such as protein kinase C (PKC), have a central role in cellular signal transduction. Their involvement in many diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and immunological and neurological disorders has been extensively demonstrated and has prompted a search for small molecules to modulate their activity. By employing a diacylglycerol (DAG)-lactone template, we have been able to develop ultra potent analogs of diacylglycerol with nanomolar binding affinities approaching those of complex natural products such as phorbol esters and bryostatins.

Effect of sweetener combination and storage temperature on physicochemical properties of sucrose free white chocolate.

The influence of a combination of sweeteners (Stevia (St) and sucralose (Su)) and storage temperature on thermal properties, microstructure, water content, texture and Bloom of sucrose free white chocolate was investigated. A strong relationship between the microstructure and the highest percentage of Bloom was observed. The samples with 100%Su and 50%S+50%Su presented microstructures with channels through which solids and fat could more easily spread to the surface, increasing the fat and sugar Bloom formation.

Myricitrin Alleviates Oxidative Stress-induced Inflammation and Apoptosis and Protects Mice against Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been increasingly considered as a main cause of heart failure and death in diabetic patients. At present, no effective treatment exists to prevent its development. In the present study, we describe the potential protective effects and mechanisms of myricitrin (Myr) on the cardiac function of streptozotosin-induced diabetic mice and on advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-induced H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

Seasonal variations of urate in a Swedish adult population.

Seasonality in the incidence and prevalence of gout has previously been reported but the cause of this seasonality in gout is not explained. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible seasonal variations of urate in a large unselected Swedish adult population. We analyzed 170,915 urate test results from patients at a tertiary care hospital between 2000 and 2016.

Assessing Common Bean Cultivars for Resistance to the Soybean Looper Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The soybean looper Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is known as an important pest of leguminous plants worldwide. In Brazil, this pest species is gaining importance to producers of the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabaceae) because it limits field production of the crop.

Endogenous phospholipase A inhibitors in snakes: a brief overview.

The blood plasma of numerous snake species naturally comprises endogenous phospholipase A inhibitors, which primarily neutralize toxic phospholipases A that may eventually reach their circulation. This inhibitor type is generally known as snake blood phospholipase A inhibitors (sbPLIs). Most, if not all sbPLIs are oligomeric glycosylated proteins, although the carbohydrate moiety may not be essential for PLA inhibition in every case.

Pharmacological inhibition of Rac1-PAK1 axis restores tamoxifen sensitivity in human resistant breast cancer cells.

Tamoxifen is a standard endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients. Despite its success, development of resistance mechanisms is still a serious clinical problem. Deregulation of survival signaling pathways play a key role in tamoxifen resistance, being upregulation of Rac1-PAK1 signaling pathway one of the most important.

Preclinical trial on the use of doxycycline for the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the duodenum.

Adenocarcinoma of the duodenum comprises 50-70% of duodenal tumors. There is an increase in extracellular matrix metalloproteinases in this disease and it has been suggested that they play an important role in the development and pathology. Therefore, new therapeutic recommendations based on inhibitors of these enzymes, such as doxycycline, are under investigation.

Antioxidant and antitumor activities of Capparis spinosa L. and the related mechanisms.

The 'ethnodrug' Capparis spinosa L. has several pharmacological activities. First, it was found in previous experiments that an ethyl acetate extract of Capparis spinosa L.

Procaine Induces Epigenetic Changes in HCT116 Colon Cancer Cells.

Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world, and it is the major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. The present study aimed at treating colon cancer cell line (HCT116) with different chemotherapeutic drug/drug combinations (procaine, vorinostat "SAHA," sodium phenylbutyrate, erlotinib, and carboplatin). Two different final concentrations were applied: 3 M and 5 M.

Influence of hydrogenated oil as cocoa butter replacers in the development of sugar-free compound chocolates: Use of inulin as stabilizing agent.

The effect of the addition of inulin as a surfactant or stability agent on white compound chocolate sweetened with sucralose and Stevia was studied. Samples were stored at 7, 15 and 30°C during 100days and the influence of inulin on rheological properties, sensorial attributes, shelf-life, physical properties such as melting, crystallization and blooming were analyzed. The shelf-life of the compound chocolate with the incorporation of inulin was higher than the control sample without replacement.

Mechanism of juglone-induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells by the mitochondrial pathway.

This study investigated the nature and mechanism of juglone-induced apoptosis in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. The inhibitory effect of juglone on MCF-7 cell growth was evaluated by the dimethylthiazol tetrazolium assay. Morphological apoptotic changes were characterized using an inverted microscope, Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining, and Giemsa staining.

Anti-Selective Organocatalytic Michael Addition between Phenylacetaldehyde and Nitrostyrene.

Using the reaction between phenylacetaldehyde and nitrostyrene catalyzed by pyrrolidine as a simple model, we have studied the diastereochemical outcome of the organocatalytic Michael reactions between benzylic aldehydes and nitrostyrenes. We found that the anti adduct was obtained in high yield and diastereoselection as was demonstrated by the X-ray structure of the product. In situ NMR studies showed a different reaction pathway when compared to aliphatic aldehydes that yield the syn adduct as major isomer.

Effect of a complex lutein formula in an animal model for light-induced retinal degeneration.

Several retinal degenerative diseases cause vision loss and retinal cell death. Currently, people face prolonged exposure to digital screens, rendering vision protection from light exposure a critical topic. In this study, we designed a complex lutein formula (CLF) by combining several natural compounds: Calendula officinalis, Lycium barbarum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Cassia obtusifolia, and Rhodiola rosea.

Myricitrin Attenuates High Glucose-Induced Apoptosis through Activating Akt-Nrf2 Signaling in H9c2 Cardiomyocytes.

Hyperglycemia, as well as diabetes mellitus, has been shown to trigger cardiac cell apoptosis. We have previously demonstrated that myricitrin prevents endothelial cell apoptosis. However, whether myricitrin can attenuate H9c2 cell apoptosis remains unknown.

Extended Anatomical Grading in Diffuse Axonal Injury Using MRI: Hemorrhagic Lesions in the Substantia Nigra and Mesencephalic Tegmentum Indicate Poor Long-Term Outcome.

Clinical outcome after traumatic diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is difficult to predict. In this study, three magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences were used to quantify the anatomical distribution of lesions, to grade DAI according to the Adams grading system, and to evaluate the value of lesion localization in combination with clinical prognostic factors to improve outcome prediction. Thirty patients (mean 31.