trans

Most bacteria release extracellular vesicles (EVs). Recent studies have found these vesicles are capable of gene delivery, however the consequences of vesicle-mediated transfer on the patterns and rates of gene flow within microbial communities remains unclear. Previous studies have not determined the impact of both the genetic cargo and the donor and recipient species on the rate of vesicle-mediated gene exchange. This report examines the potential for EVs as a mechanism of gene transfer within heterogeneous microbial populations...

Compromise in adherens junction (AJ) is associated with several chronic inflammatory diseases. Previously we reported that Janus kinase-3, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase plays a crucial role in AJ formation through its interaction with beta-catenin. In this report, we characterize the structural determinants responsible for Jak3 interactions with beta-catenin and determine the functional implications of previously unknown tyrosine residues on beta-catenin phosphorylated by Jak3. We demonstrate that Jak3 auto-phosphorylation was the rate- limiting step during Jak3 trans-phosphorylation of beta-catenin where Jak3 directly phosphorylated three tyrosine residues viz...

Aneuploidy, a condition of unbalanced chromosome content, represents a large-effect mutation that bears significant relevancy to human health and microbe adaptation. As such, extensive studies of aneuploidy have been conducted in unicellular model organisms and cancer cells. Aneuploidy also frequently is associated with plant polyploidization, but its impact on gene expression and relevance to polyploid genome evolution/functional innovation remain largely unknown. Here, we used a panel of diverse types of whole-chromosome aneuploidy of hexaploid wheat, all under the common genetic background of cv...

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) reside in the supportive stromal niche in bone marrow (BM); when needed, however, they are rapidly mobilized into the circulation, suggesting that HSPCs are intrinsically highly motile but are usually stayed in the niche. We questioned what determines the motility of HSPCs. Here we show that transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced intracellular plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 activation is responsible for keeping HSPCs in the BM niche. We found that the expression of PAI-1, a downstream target of TGF-β-signaling, was selectively augmented in niche-residing HSPCs...

We studied the effect that three alcohols, ethanol (EA), propanol (PA), and isopropanol (IPA), have on the skin permeation of p-hydroxy benzoic acid methyl ester (HBM), a model ester-type prodrug. HBM was applied to Yucatan micropig skin in a saturated phosphate buffered solution with or without 10% alcohol, and HBM and related materials in receptor fluid and skin were determined with HPLC. In the absence of alcohol, p-hydroxy benzoic acid (HBA), a metabolite of HBM, permeated the skin the most. The three alcohols enhanced the penetration of HBM at almost the same extent...

Amyloid β (Aβ) is the major component of senile plaques (SP) in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, and serves as an inflammatory stimulus for microglia. Trans-caryophyllene (TC), a major component in the essential oils derived from various species of medicinal plants, has displayed its neuro-protective effects in previous studies. However, whether TC has a protective role in AD remains unknown. In this study, the effects of TC on Aβ1-42-induced neuro-inflammation were investigated. We found that TC reduced the release of LDH in BV-2 microglial cells treated with Aβ1-42...

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to use a super-thin, free superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap in the functional surgery for treating subungual melanoma and to evaluate its outcomes. METHODS: Forty-one patients with primary subungual melanoma of ≤ 2-mm thickness who were treated with functional surgery were prospectively enrolled. Following oncologic resection, a thin SCIP flap was harvested along the trans-superficial fat layer and transferred to the defect with further thinning by primary defatting...

Developing an early warning model to predict the driver's mental workload (MWL) is critical and helpful, especially for new or less experienced drivers. The present study aims to investigate the correlation between new driver's MWL and their work performance, regarding the number of errors. Additionally, the Group method of data handling (GMDH) is used to establish the driver's MWL predictive model based on subjective rating (NASA task load index (NASA-TLX)) and six physiological indices. The results indicate that NASA-TLX and the number of errors are positively correlated, and the predictive model shows the validity of the proposed model with an R(2) value of 0...

BACKGROUND: Optic atrophy may be the sequela of optic nerve injury due to any insult, including isolated and syndromic genetic diseases. Alanyl-tRNA synthetase 2 (AARS2) pathogenic variants have been reported to cause leukodystrophy with ovarian failure, and cardiomyopathy (#615889) as well as combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency-8 (#614096). We report a young child who presented with decreased vision due to optic atrophy and was found to harbor missense variants in the AARS2 gene expanding the phenotypic expression of the AARS2 gene...

A copper complex, [CuI(tmpa)(MeCN)]+, effectively reductively couples NO(g) at RT in methanol, giving a structurally characterized hyponitrito-dicopper(II) adduct. Hydrogen-bonding from MeOH is critical for the hyponitrite complex formation and stabilization. This complex exhibits the reverse redox process in aprotic solvents, giving CuI + NO, leading to CuI-mediated NO disproportionation. The relation-ship of this chemistry to biological iron and/or copper mediated NO reductive coupling to give N2O(g) is discussed...

First metal-shrouded two-dimensional semicon-ductor, single-layer Tl2O, is discussed from first-principles. It is thermally and dynamically stable, has a low cleavage energy call-ing for exfoliation from layered Tl2O bulk, and a very small inter-face mismatch compared to (001) Tl metal. Single-layer Tl2O ex-hibits a direct band gap of 1.56 eV and a very high charge carrier mobility of 4.3×103 cm2 V-1 s-1. The metal-shrouded 2D semicon-ductor promises interesting applications in 2D electronics. An in-triguing layer-thickness dependent direct-to-indirect bandgap tran-sition is observed, and contrary to early literature, the bulk is also a semiconductor...

Quantitative singlet fission has been observed for a variety of acene derivatives such as tetracene and pentacene, and efforts to extend the library of singlet fission compounds is of current interest. Preliminary calculations suggest anthradithiophenes exhibit significant exothermicity between the first optically-allowed singlet state, S1, and 2 × T1 with an energy difference of >5000 cm(-1). Given the fulfillment of this ingredient for singlet fission, here we investigate the singlet fission capability of a difluorinated anthradithiophene dimer (2ADT) covalently linked by a (dimethylsilyl)ethane bridge and derivatized by triisobutylsilylethynyl (TIBS) groups...

The stratum corneum (SC) is the outermost layer of the skin and composed of a multilayered assembly of mostly ceramids (Cer), free fatty acids, cholesterol (Chol), and cholesterol sulphate (Chol-S). Due to the tight packing of these lipids, the SC features unique barrier properties defending the skin from environmental influences. Under pathological conditions, where the skin barrier function is compromised, topical application of molecules that rigidify the SC may lead to a restored barrier function. To this end, molecules are required that incorporate into the SC and bring back the original rigidity of the skin barrier...

trans-Resveratrol is often considered as one of the quality standards of red wine, and the development of a sensitive and reliable method for monitoring the trans-resveratrol levels in red wine is an urgent requirement for the quality control. Here, a novel voltammetric approach was described for probing trans-resveratrol using a graphene-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The proposed electrode was prepared by one-step electrodeposition of reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) at a GC electrode. Compared with the bare GC electrode, the introduced graphene film on the electrode surface dramatically improved the sensitivity of the sensor response due to the π-π interaction between the graphene and trans-resveratrol...

Uterine perforation is an uncommon yet serious complication of surgical management of first and second trimester termination of pregnancies. The rate of uterine perforation is under reported, as patients are usually asymptomatic. Although uncommon, uterine perforation can cause life-threatening complications for some patients. This case report discusses a second trimester surgical termination resulting in uterine perforation and haemorrhage secondary to an avulsion of the infundibulopelvic ligament and prolapse of the left fallopian tube and ovary into the uterine cavity...

Whale tracking tags often penetrate semi-rigid blubber, with intramuscular sharp tips and toggling barbs under the subdermal sheath to reduce premature shedding. Tag sites can show persistent regional swellings or depressions. Fibroelastic blubber grips a tag, so if muscle shears relative to blubber during locomotion, the tag tip could cavitate the muscle within overall shearing distance. We modelled shearing of blubber relative to muscle, within the dorsal-ventral peduncular movement range of four common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) cadavers (mean length 186 cm)...

In 2008, the French Public Health Committee admitted that associating ultrasound probe protection, and related precautions, and low-level disinfection would be equivalent to the intermediate level disinfection. In 2010, the French Urology Association (AFU) updated guidelines regarding trans-rectal prostate biopsies, namely preventive measures related to cross-transmission of infections. We report an evaluation of compliance to them, driven in 2016 by AFU's infection committee. Although not recommended, almost one third of the urologists still perform biopsies under general anesthesia, and two thirds of them ask for a urine culture before biopsies...

INTRODUCTION: The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 gave the U.S. Department of Agriculture authority to regulate school wellness policies, which include nutritional standards for foods advertised in schools. Brand marketing programs, which encourage students to purchase a company's products in exchange for money or rewards, were not explicitly prohibited. This study assesses the nutritional quality of products participating in "Box Tops for Education" ("Box Tops"), one of the largest national brand marketing programs in schools...

Neurexins and neuroligins form trans-synaptic complexes that promote synapse development. In this issue of Neuron, Aricescu and colleagues (Elegheert et al., 2017) complement and strengthen two recent reports by the Kim and Rudenko teams (Kim et al., 2017; Gangwar et al., 2017) to dissect the molecular determinants by which MDGAs challenge the neurexin-neuroligin partnership.

OBJECTIVE: HbA1c has been introduced as a complementary diagnostic test for diabetes, but its impact on disease prevalence is unknown. This study evaluated the concordance between HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in the diagnosis of diabetes in the general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a population based investigation, with participants being sampled from the Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Blood samples were collected after overnight fasting and analyzed within 4 hours after collection...