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Community structure is a typical characteristic of complex networks. Finding communities in complex networks has many important applications, such as the advertisement and recommendation based on social networks and the discovery of new protein molecules in biological networks, which make it a hot topic in the field of complex network analysis. With the increasing concerns about the leakage of personal privacy, discovering communities spread across the local networks owned by multiple participants accurately while preserving each participant's privacy has become an emerging challenge in distributed community detection. In this article, we propose a general federated graph learning model for privacy-preserving distributed graph learning and develop two federated clique percolation algorithms (CPAs) based on it to discover overlapping communities distributed across multiple participants' local networks without disclosing any participant's network privacy. Homomorphic encryption and hash operation are used in combination to protect the privacy of the vertices and edges of each local network. Furthermore, vertex attributes are involved in the calculation of clique similarity and clique percolation when dealing with attributed networks. The experimental results on real-world and artificial datasets demonstrate that the proposed algorithms achieve identical results to those of their stand-alone counterparts and more than 200% higher accuracy than the simple distributed CPAs without federating learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have accumulatively discovered mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) diversity in the natural populations of the same species, and some of the mtDNA variations may be selected by the host's environment. However, it remains unclear about the molecular mechanisms by which this long-term coexistence of mtDNA variations in the same species affects the metabolism and evolution of the host. By comparing two mitochondrial genomes of cultured population of Hermetia illucens, our study reveals that the mtDNAs of both strains (Ref-strain and Sub-strain) have great structural divergences, and mitochondria of the Sub-strain may be functionally defective, which is consistent with the observed lower body weights and higher oxidative stress levels in the midgut of Sub-strain. Moreover, the differentially expressed genes and differential metabolites between the midguts of both strains were related to the mitochondrial functions including oxidative stress, antioxidant and electron transport chain. Interesting, the midgut microbial compositions differed significantly in both strains. Additionally, 25 of 310 the potentially positively selected genes were related to mitochondrial function. Combination of these multidimensional investigations of both strains helped to reveal how the host insects adapt to mtDNA variations through cyto-nuclear interactions. This study can provide new evidence for understanding the nuclear response to the mitochondria dysfunction in insects, and its role in differentiation of the natural populations and even in the process of speciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Transforming growth factor beta-induced protein (TGFBI) is an extracellular matrix protein induced by TGF-β. Previous studies have reported that the abnormal expression of TGFBI is related to the occurrence and development of some types of cancers, while the role of TGFBI in glioma is uncertain. Methods: The association between TGFBI expression and the prognosis of patients with glioma was analyzed based on data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. TGFBI expression was analyzed in 3 normal human brains and 57 cases of human gliomas by immunohistochemistry followed by an evaluation of the relationships between TGFBI expression and clinic-pathological features. Furthermore, the RNA interference plasmid pSUPER-shTGFBI was constructed and transfected into U87 and U251 cells to explore the effect of short hairpin RNA against TGFBI (shTGFBI) on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis. Western blot analysis was performed to examine the expression of proteins related to apoptosis and proteins in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Results: High TGFBI expression was found to be associated with poor prognosis in patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Immunohistochemistry showed that TGFBI expression was significantly higher in glioma tissue than in normal human brain tissues. The expression level of TGFBI showed no significant correlation with age, sex, lymph-node metastasis, or pathological grade. sh-TGFBI could inhibit proliferation, invasion and migration and induce apoptosis in U87 and U251 cells in vitro. Furthermore, the phosphorylation levels of AKT and mTOR declined significantly in sh-TGFBI transfected U81 and U251 cells when compared with control. Conclusion: TGFBI was up-regulated in glioma cells and played a promoting role in the growth and motility of U87 and U251 cells. These results suggested that TGFBI has the potential to be a diagnostic marker and to serve as a target for the treatment of gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alien species are colonizing mountain ecosystems and increasing their elevation ranges in response to ongoing climate change and anthropogenic disturbances, posing increasing threats to native species. However, how quickly alien species spread upward and what drives their invasion remains insufficiently understood. Here, using 26,952 occurrence records of 58 alien plant species collected over two centuries in the Czech Republic, we explored the elevation range and invasion speed of each alien species and the underlying factors driving these variables. We collected species traits relevant for invasion (e.g., clonality, flowering time, life span, invasion status, height, mycorrhizal type, native range, naturalized range, monoploid genome size, and Ellenberg-type indicator values for light, temperature, and nitrogen), human-associated factors (e.g., introduction pathways and the sum of economic use types), and minimum residence time. We explored the relationships between these factors and species' elevation range and invasion speed using phylogenetic regressions. Our results showed that 58 alien species have been expanding upward along mountain elevations in the Czech Republic over the past two centuries. A stronger effect of species' traits than human-associated factors has been revealed, e.g., clonality was a key trait supporting the invasion of alien species into the mountains, while human-associated factors showed no effect. Our findings highlight that the characteristics associated with rapid reproduction and spread are crucial for alien species' invasion into montane regions. Identifying key drivers of this process is important for predicting the spatiotemporal dynamics of alien species in high-altitude ecosystems and thus employing apposite measures to reduce the threat to native plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the molecular markers indicative of early-stage hypothyroidism induced by treatment with iodine-131, in order to assist in further investigations of radio iodine-induced hypothyroidism. A total of 59 patients diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (male/female, 16/43; median age, 46.4 years) and 27 healthy subjects (male/female, 7/21; median age, 44.6 years) were included in the present study. All patients were treated with appropriate doses of iodine-131 and, three months following treatment, the patients were subdivided into two groups: A group with early-stage hypothyroidism symptoms, and a group with non-early-stage hypothyroidism, including euthyroid patients and patients remaining with hyperthyroidism. Tissue samples from the patients and healthy subjects were collected by fine needle biopsies, and the mRNA expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), nuclear factor (NF)-κB, Ku70, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), early growth response 1 (Egr-1), TP53 and ataxia telangiectasia mutated were analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction prior to iodine-131 treatment. The association of the variation of target genes with susceptibility to early-stage hypothyroidism was analyzed. Compared with normal subjects, the mRNA expression levels of Ku70 (0.768, vs. 3.304, respectively; P<0.001) and EGFR (0.859, vs. 1.752, respectively; P<0.05) were significantly higher, whereas those of NF-κB (0.884, vs. 0.578, respectively; P<0.05) and Bcl-2 (1.235, vs. 0.834, respectively; P<0.05) were lower in the hyperthyroid patients. Following treatment with iodine-131, 30 of the 59 (50.8%) patients with hyperthyroidism were diagnosed with early-stage hypothyroidism, and in the early-stage hypothyroidism group, the mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2 were significantly decreased (P<0.05), whereas those of Egr-1 (P<0.05) were significantly increased, compared with the non-early-stage hypothyroidism group. The association between the changes in the expression levles of Bcl-2 and Egr-1 and susceptibility to early-stage hypothyroidism was supported by multivariate regression analysis. No significant changes in the expression levels of the other target genes were detected. The opposing changes in the mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2 and Egr-1 in patients with early-stage hypothyroidism indicates their potential as prognostic markers of early-stage hypothyroidism induced by iodine-131 treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and practical exo-oxime ether auxilixaryfor ortho-C–H functionalization of aromaticalcohols has been developed. Selective olefination of aromatic alcoholswere first achieved via a six- or seven-membered exo-acetone oxime ether palladacycle with broad substrate scope. Inaddition, the crystal of the exo-palladacycle intermediatewas obtained for the first time, and the application of this methodin total synthesis of 3-deoxyisoochracinic acid was accomplished viaa novel retro-synthetic disconnection approach, thus demonstratingthe utility of this transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman detection of thiram is demonstrated by using Ag-nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on Au film over nanosphere (AuFON) substrate as the hybrid substrate. The SERS signal of the Ag NPs attached to solid supports is studied. The close coupling together of thousands of Ag NPs on AuFON leads to the generation of hot spots for SERS. The Ag NPs on AuFON can be applied to detect rhodamine-6G (R6G) with the detection limitation of 10-11 M and the pesticide thiram in acetone with a detection limit of as low as 0.24 ppm, which is much lower than the maximal residue limit (MRL) of 7 ppm in fruit prescribed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The hybrid substrates are shown to be highly sensitive for the detection of thriam, which produce highly enhanced Raman signals with good uniformity and reproducibility due to having plenty of hot spots on its surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoscaled supramolecular systems have attracted significant attention because of their promising applications in many fields. This review focuses on recent advances in the construction of nanoassemblies driven by cyclodextrin (CD)-based inclusion complexation and their application in biomedical and biomimetic fields. As a result of the reversibility of the CD-based host-guest interactions, CD-based driving forces provide the opportunity to generate complex and sophisticated nanoassemblies with tunable properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stainless steel (SS) can be an attractive material to create large electrodes for microbial bioelectrochemical systems (BESs), due to its low cost and high conductivity. However, poor biocompatibility limits its successful application today. Here we report a simple and effective method to make SS electrodes biocompatible by means of flame oxidation. Physicochemical characterization of electrode surface indicated that iron oxide nanoparticles (iONPs) were generated in situ on an SS felt surface by flame oxidation. IONPs-coating dramatically enhanced the biocompatibility of SS felt and consequently resulted in a robust electroactive biofilm formation at its surface in BESs. The maximum current densities reached at IONPs-coated SS felt electrodes were 16.5 times and 4.8 times higher than the untreated SS felts and carbon felts, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum current density achieved with the IONPs-coated SS felt (1.92 mA/cm2, 27.42 mA/cm3) is one of the highest current densities reported thus far. These results demonstrate for the first time that flame oxidized SS felts could be a good alternative to carbon-based electrodes for achieving high current densities in BESs. Most importantly, high conductivity, excellent mechanical strength, strong chemical stability, large specific surface area, and comparatively low cost of flame oxidized SS felts offer exciting opportunities for scaling up of the anodes for BESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atypical porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) caused by highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV) is characterized by high fever and high mortality. However, the mechanism underlying the fever induction is still unknown. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), synthesized by cyclooxygenase type 1/2 (COX-1/2) enzymes, is essential for inducing fever. In this study, we found that PGE2, together with COX-1, was significantly elevated by HP-PRRSV. We subsequently demonstrated that extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) were the key nodes to trigger COX-1 expression after HP-PRRSV infection. Furthermore, we proved the direct binding of p-C/EBP-β to the COX-1 promoter by luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. In addition, silencing of C/EBP-β remarkably impaired the enhancement of COX-1 production induced by HP-PRRSV infection. Taken together, our results indicate that HP-PPRSV elicits the expression of COX-1 through the ERK1/2-p-C/EBP-Atypical porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) caused by highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV) is characterized by high fever and high mortality. However, the mechanism underlying the fever induction is still unknown. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), synthesized by cyclooxygenase type 1/2 (COX-1/2) enzymes, is essential for inducing fever. In this study, we found that PGE2, together with COX-1, was significantly elevated by HP-PRRSV. We subsequently demonstrated that extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) were the key nodes to trigger COX-1 expression after HP-PRRSV infection. Furthermore, we proved the direct binding of p-C/EBP-β to the COX-1 promoter by luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. In addition, silencing of C/EBP-β remarkably impaired the enhancement of COX-1 production induced by HP-PRRSV infection. Taken together, our results indicate that HP-PPRSV elicits the expression of COX-1 through the ERK1/2-p-C/EBP-β signaling pathway, resulting in the increase of PGE2, which might be the cause of high fever in infected pigs. Our findings might provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of HP-PRRSV infection. IMPORTANCE The atypical PRRS caused by HP-PRRSV was characterized by high fever, high morbidity, and high mortality in pigs of all ages, yet how HP-PRRSV induces high fever in pigs remains unknown. In the present study, we found out that HP-PRRSV infection could increase PGE2 production by upregulation of COX-1, and we subsequently characterized the underlying mechanisms about how HP-PRRSV enhances COX-1 production. PGE2 plays a critical role in inducing high temperature in hosts during pathogen infections. Thus, our findings here could help us have a better understanding of HP-PRRSV pathogenesis. signaling pathway, resulting in the increase of PGE2, which might be the cause of high fever in infected pigs. Our findings might provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of HP-PRRSV infection. IMPORTANCE The atypical PRRS caused by HP-PRRSV was characterized by high fever, high morbidity, and high mortality in pigs of all ages, yet how HP-PRRSV induces high fever in pigs remains unknown. In the present study, we found out that HP-PRRSV infection could increase PGE2 production by upregulation of COX-1, and we subsequently characterized the underlying mechanisms about how HP-PRRSV enhances COX-1 production. PGE2 plays a critical role in inducing high temperature in hosts during pathogen infections. Thus, our findings here could help us have a better understanding of HP-PRRSV pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flower development is one of the most vital pathways in plant development, during which the epigenetic regulation of gene expression is essential. DNA methylation, the most conserved epigenetic modification, participates in gene expression regulation and transposable element silencing. Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is an important medicinal plant renowned for its colorful and fragrant flowers. Honeysuckle flowers change color from white to gold as a result of carotenoid accumulation during development. However, the role of DNA methylation in flower color changes is not well understood in L. japonica. Here, we performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and transcriptome sequencing during flowering development in honeysuckle. The results showed that a decrease in the levels of genome-wide average DNA methylation during flower development and changes in DNA methylation were associated with the expression of demethylase genes. Moreover, many genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis and degradation, such as LjPSY1, LjPDS1, LjLCYE, and LjCCD4, have altered expression levels because of hypomethylation, indicating that DNA methylation plays an important role in flower color changes in honeysuckle. Taken together, our data provide epigenetic insights into flower development and color change in honeysuckles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As faces often appear under very different viewing conditions (eg brightness, viewing angle, or viewing distance), invariant facial information recognition is a key to our social interactions. Although we would clearly benefit from differentiating different facial expressions (eg angry vs happy) at a distance, there is surprisingly little research examining how expression categorization and associated gaze allocation are affected by viewing distance within the range of typical social space. In this study I systematically varied the size of faces displaying six basic facial expressions of emotion with varying intensities to mimic viewing distances ranging from arms length to 5 m, and employed a self-paced expression categorization task to measure participants' categorization performance and associated gaze patterns. Irrespective of the displayed expression and its intensity, the participants showed indistinguishable categorization accuracy and reaction time across the tested face sizes. Reducing face size decreased the number of fixations directed at the faces but increased individual fixation durations, and shifted gaze distribution from scanning all key internal facial features to fixating at mainly the central face region. The results suggest size-invariant facial expression categorization behaviour within social interaction distance which could be linked to a holistic gaze strategy for extracting expressive facial cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this study was to investigate the effects of surface charge and surface hydrophobicity on anodic biofilm formation, biofilm community composition, and current generation in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs). Glassy carbon surfaces were modified with -OH, -CH3, -SO3-, or -N+(CH3)3 functional groups by electrochemical reduction of aryl diazonium salts and then used as anodes with poised potential of -0.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The average startup times and final current densities for the -N+(CH3)3, -OH, -SO3-, and -CH3, electrodes were (23 d, 0.204 mA/cm2), (25.4 d, 0.149 mA/cm2), (25.9 d, 0.114 mA/cm2), and (37.2 d, 0.048 mA/cm2), respectively. Biofilms on different surfaces were analyzed by nonturnover cyclic voltammetry (CV), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and 16S rRNA gene amplicon pyrosequencing. The results demonstrated that 1) differences in the maximum current output between surface modifications was correlated with biomass quantity, and 2) all biofilms were dominated by Geobacter populations, but the composition of -CH3-associated biofilms differed from those formed on surfaces with different chemical modification. This study shows that anode surface charge and hydrophobicity influences biofilm development and can lead to significant differences in BESs performance. Positively charged and hydrophilic surfaces were more selective to electroactive microbes (e.g. Geobacter) and more conducive for electroactive biofilm formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitivity to the emotions of others provides clear biological advantages. However, in the case of heterospecific relationships, such as that existing between dogs and humans, there are additional challenges since some elements of the expression of emotions are species-specific. Given that faces provide important visual cues for communicating emotional state in both humans and dogs, and that processing of emotions is subject to brain lateralisation, we investigated lateral gaze bias in adult dogs when presented with pictures of expressive human and dog faces. Our analysis revealed clear differences in laterality of eye movements in dogs towards conspecific faces according to the emotional valence of the expressions. Differences were also found towards human faces, but to a lesser extent. For comparative purpose, a similar experiment was also run with 4-year-old children and it was observed that they showed differential processing of facial expressions compared to dogs, suggesting a species-dependent engagement of the right or left hemisphere in processing emotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coupled-channel effects due to coupling of charmonia to the charmed and anticharmed mesons are of current interest in heavy quarkonium physics. However, the effects have not been unambiguously established. In this Letter, a clean method is proposed in order to examine the coupled-channel effects in charmonium transitions. We show that the hindered M1 radiative transitions from the IP to IP charmonia are suitable for this purpose. We suggest to measure one or more of the ratios &Ggr;(h'c → Xcjγ)/&Ggr;(x'cj → XcjΠ0) and &Ggr;(x'cj → XcjΠ)/&Ggr;(x'cj → XcjΠ0), for which highly nontrivial and parameter-free predictions are given. The picture can also be tested using both unquenched and quenched lattice calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a recently introduced method to quantify the time-varying lead-lag dependencies between pairs of economic time series (the thermal optimal path method), we test two fundamental tenets of the theory of fixed income: (i) the stock market variations and the yield changes should be anti-correlated; (ii) the change in central bank rates, as a proxy of the monetary policy of the central bank, should be a predictor of the future stock market direction. Using both monthly and weekly data, we found very similar lead-lag dependence between the S&P 500 stock market index and the yields of bonds inside two groups: bond yields of short-term maturities (Federal funds rate (FFR), 3M, 6M, 1Y, 2Y, and 3Y) and bond yields of long-term maturities (5Y, 7Y, 10Y, and 20Y). In all cases, we observe the opposite of (i) and (ii). First, the stock market and yields move in the same direction. Second, the stock market leads the yields, including especially the FFR. Moreover, we find that the short-term yields in the first group lead the long-term yields in the second group before the financial crisis that started in mid-2007 and the inverse relationship holds afterwards. These results suggest that the Federal Reserve is increasingly mindful of the stock market behavior, seen as key to the recovery and health of the economy. Long-term investors seem also to have been more reactive and mindful of the signals provided by the financial stock markets than the Federal Reserve itself after the start of the financial crisis. The lead of the S&P 500 stock market index over the bond yields of all maturities is confirmed by the traditional lagged cross-correlation analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies of the cocrystallizing system caffeine−maleic acid has shown the existence of 1:1 and 2:1 cocrystals together with a new polymorph of maleic acid. In this current work, we have attempted to rationalize this behavior through measurement of the binary and ternary phase diagrams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lagrangian-Eulerian formulations based on a generalized variational principle of fluid-solid coupling dynamics are established to describe flow-induced vibration of a structure under small deformation in an incompressible viscous fluid flow. The spatial discretization of the formulations is based on the multi-linear interpolating functions by using the finite element method for both the fluid and solid structures. The generalized trapezoidal rule is used to obtain apparently non-symmetric linear equations in an incremental form for the variables of the flow and vibration. The nonlinear convective term and time factors are contained in the non-symmetric coefficient matrix of the equations. The generalized minimum residual (GMRES) method is used to solve the incremental equations. A new stable algorithm of GMRES-Hughes-Newmark is developed to deal with the flow-induced vibration with dynamical fluid-structure interaction in complex geometries. Good agreement between the simulations and laboratory measurements of the pressure and blade vibration accelerations in a hydro turbine passage was obtained, indicating that the GMRES-Hughes-Newmark algorithm presented in this paper is suitable for dealing with the flow-induced vibration of structures under small deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a field manipulation experiment to investigate developmental and demographic responses to warming and increased precipitation in three Inner Mongolian grasshopper species that differ in phenology (an early-season species Dasyhippus barbipes, a mid-season species Oedaleus asiaticus, and a late-season species Chorthippus fallax). Infrared heaters were used for warming the ground surface by 1–2 °C above the ambient condition and periodic irrigations were applied to simulate a 50% increase in annual precipitation. We found that warming advanced the timing for egg hatching and grasshopper eclosion in each of the three species. However, grasshopper diapause and increased precipitation appeared to offset the effect of warming on egg development. Hatching and development were more strongly affected by warming in the mid-season O. asiaticus and the late-season C. fallax relative to the early-season D. barbipes. Warming by ∼1.5 °C advanced the occurrence of the mid-season O. asiaticus by an average of 4.96 days; while warming and increased precipitation interactively affected the occurrence of the late-season C. fallax, which advanced by 5.53 days. Our data and those of others suggest that most grasshopper species in the Inner Mongolian grassland are likely to extend their distribution northward with climate change. However, because of the differential response to warming we demonstrate for these species, the different grasshopper species are predicted to aggregate toward the middle period of the growing season, potentially increasing interspecific competition and grazing pressure on grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While viewing faces, human adults often demonstrate a natural gaze bias towards the left visual field, that is, the right side of the viewee’s face is often inspected first and for longer periods. Using a preferential looking paradigm, we demonstrate that this bias is neither uniquely human nor limited to primates, and provide evidence to help elucidate its biological function within a broader social cognitive framework. We observed that 6-month-old infants showed a wider tendency for left gaze preference towards objects and faces of different species and orientation, while in adults the bias appears only towards upright human faces. Rhesus monkeys showed a left gaze bias towards upright human and monkey faces, but not towards inverted faces. Domestic dogs, however, only demonstrated a left gaze bias towards human faces, but not towards monkey or dog faces, nor to inanimate object images. Our findings suggest that face- and species-sensitive gaze asymmetry is more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously recognised, is not constrained by attentional or scanning bias, and could be shaped by experience to develop adaptive behavioural significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the process of metastasis, cells are subjected to various apoptotic stimuli. Aberrant expression of apoptotic regulators often contribute to cell metastasis. Heat shock protein 27(HSP27) is confirmed as an apoptosis regulator, but its antiapoptotic mechanism in metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells remains unclear. Methods: Levels of HSP27 protein and its phosphorylation in Hep3B, MHCC97L to MHCC97H cells with different metastatic potentials were determined by western blot analysis. MHCC97H cells were transfected with specific small interference RNA (siRNA) against HSP27. The in vitro migration and invasion potentials of cells were evaluated by Transwell assay. The apoptosis ratio of MHCC97H cells was analyzed by TUNEL staining and Flow Cytometry. Alteration of signal transduction pathway after HSP27 knockdown in MHCC97H cells was evaluated through a Human Q Series Signal Transduction in Cancer Gene Array analysis. Nuclear NF-κB contentration and endogenous IKK activity were demonstrated by ELISA assay. The association of IKKα, IKKβ, IκBα with HSP27 and the association between IKKβ and IKKα in MHCC97H cells were determined by co-immunoprecipitation assay followed by western blot analysis. Results: HSP27 protein and its phosphorylation increased in parallel with enhanced metastatic potentials of HCC cells. siRNA-mediated HSP27 knockdown in MHCC97H significantly suppressed cells migration and invasion in vitro and induced cell apoptosis; the prominently altered signal transduction pathway was NF-κB pathway after HSP27 knockdown in MHCC97H cells. Furthermore, inhibition of HSP27 expression led to a significant decrease of nuclear NF-κB contentration and endogenous IKK activity. In addition, HSP27 was associated with IKKα, IKKβ, IκBα in three HCC cells above. ELISA assay and western blot analysis also showed a decrease of the association between IKKβ and IKKα, the association between phosphor-HSP27 and IKK complex, and an increase of total IκBα but reducing tendency of phosphor-IκBα when HSP27 expression was efficiently knocked down in MHCC97H cells. Conclusion: Altogether, these findings revealed a possible effect of HSP27 on apoptosis in metastatic HCC cells, in which HSP27 may regulate NF-kB pathway activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study is to determine imaging criteria for differentiating tuberculosis from primary tumors in the adrenal gland on contrast-enhanced CT. Non-contrast and contrast-enhanced CT features in 108 patients with adrenal tuberculosis ( n=34) and primary tumor ( n=74) were retrospectively assessed for the location, size, calcification and enhancement patterns. The primary tumors included 41 adenomas, 11 pheochromocytomas, 4 carcinomas, 3 lymphomas, 6 myelolipomas, 6 ganglioneuromas, 2 neurilemmomas and 1 ganglioneuroblastoma. Biochemical investigation was performed for all patients. Of the tuberculosis cases, 31 (91%) invaded with bilateral involvement, while 7 (9%) of the primary tumors invaded with bilateral involvement ( P<0.001). Tuberculosis often showed calcification (20 of 34; 59%), whereas primary tumors infrequently showed calcification (6 of 74; 8%; P<0.001). Low attenuation in the center with peripheral rim enhancement was more commonly seen in tuberculosis (16 of 34; 47%) than in primary tumors (7 of 74; 9%; P<0.001). In the determination of tuberculosis, the highest sensitivity (91%) and accuracy (91%) were obtained with bilateral involvement, and the highest specificity (99%) was obtained with the contour preserved. In the determination of primary tumors using a combination of having unilateral involvement and being mass-like, the outcome was a sensitivity of 91%, specificity of 94% and accuracy of 92%. CT findings can differentiate tuberculosis from a primary tumor of the adrenal glands with high sensitivity and an acceptable specificity when combined with the endocrinological examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatio-temporal properties of saccadic eye movements can be influenced by the cognitive demand and the characteristics of the observed scene. Probably due to its crucial role in social communication, it is argued that face perception may involve different cognitive processes compared with non-face object or scene perception. In this study, we investigated whether and how face and natural scene images can influence the patterns of visuomotor activity. We recorded monkeys’ saccadic eye movements as they freely viewed monkey face and natural scene images. The face and natural scene images attracted similar number of fixations, but viewing of faces was accompanied by longer fixations compared with natural scenes. These longer fixations were dependent on the context of facial features. The duration of fixations directed at facial contours decreased when the face images were scrambled, and increased at the later stage of normal face viewing. The results suggest that face and natural scene images can generate different patterns of visuomotor activity. The extra fixation duration on faces may be correlated with the detailed analysis of facial features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face perception plays a crucial role in primate social communication. We have investigated the pattern of eye movements produced by rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) as they viewed images of faces. Eye positions were recorded accurately using implanted eye coils, while neutral upright, inverted and scrambled images of monkey and human faces were presented on a computer screen. The monkeys exhibited a similar eye scan pattern while viewing familiar and unfamiliar monkey face images, or while viewing monkey and human face images. No differences were observed in the distribution of viewing times, number of fixations, time into the trial of first saccade to local facial features, and the temporal and spatial characteristics of viewing patterns across the facial images. However, there was a greater probability of re-fixation of the eye region of unfamiliar faces during the first few seconds of the trial suggesting that the eyes are important for the initial encoding of identity. Indeed, the highest fixation density was found in the eye region of all the face images. The viewing duration and the number of fixations per image decreased when inverted or scrambled faces were presented. The eye region in these modified images remained the primary area of fixation. However, the number of fixations directed to the eyes decreased monotonically from the upright images through the inverted versions to the scrambled face images. Nonetheless, the eyes remain the most salient facial substructure regardless of the arrangement of other features, although the extent of salience which they attain may depend both on the low level properties of the eyes and on the global arrangement of facial features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the molecular mechanisms involved in thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1)-mediated regulation of cell growth. Blockade of serum-inducible DNA synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells after neutralizing A4.1 anti-TSP1 antibody; Essentiality of the p21 inhibitory protein for growth suppression on antibody blockade of TSP1.

The lightest charmed scalar meson is known as the D*0(2300), which is one of the earliest new hadron resonances observed at modern B factories. We show here that the parameters assigned to the lightest scalar D meson are in conflict with the precise LHCb data of the decay B-→D+π-π-. On the contrary, these data can be well described by an unitarized chiral amplitude containing a much lighter charmed scalar meson, the D*0(2100). We also extract the low-energy S-wave Dπ phase of the decay B-→D+π-π- from the data in a model-independent way, and show that its difference from the Dπ scattering phase shift can be traced back to an intermediate ρ- exchange. Our work highlights that an analysis of data consistent with chiral symmetry, unitarity, and analyticity is mandatory in order to extract the properties of the ground-state scalar mesons in the singly heavy sector correctly, in analogy to the light scalar mesons f0(500) and K*0(700). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The INK4 family is an important family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) and consists of CDKN2A, CDKN2B, CDKN2, and CDKN2D. Abnormal expression of CDKN2A has been reported in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is associated with the prognosis of patients and infiltration of immune cells. However, there is a lack of systematic research on the roles of the other INK4 family members in the diagnosis, prognosis, and immune regulation of HCC. Using online public databases and clinical samples, we comprehensively analyzed the INK4 family in HCC. All four INK4 proteins were overexpressed in HCC and correlated with advanced cancer stage and poor prognosis. INK4 expression accurately distinguished tumor from normal tissue, particularly CDKN2A and CDKN2C. The INK4 family participated in cell-cycle regulation and the DNA damage repair pathway, which inhibited genotoxic-induced apoptosis in tumorigenesis. INK4 proteins were positively correlated with the infiltration of immune cells (B cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells) and immune checkpoints (CTLA-4, PD1, and PD-L1). CDKN2D had the highest correlation (correlation coefficient >0.3) with all the above-mentioned infiltrating immune cells and immune checkpoints, indicating that it may be useful as an immunotherapy target. The INK4 family was valuable for diagnosis and predicting the prognosis of HCC and participated in the occurrence, progression, and immune regulation of HCC, demonstrating its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in HCC. Introdu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To the best of our knowledge, fibrous hamartoma of infancy (FHI) mimicking teratoma presenting in the parapharyngeal space has not been reported to date. We present one case of this tumour and describe its characteristic findings on multidetector-row CT (MDCT). This case is of interest in that the parapharyngeal space was involved and the mass mimicked teratoma on MDCT. We present the MDCT findings and briefly review the relevant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solubility of 2-butyl-4-chloro-1-[[2′-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl]-4-yl]methyl-5-(hydroxymethyl) imidazole potassium in pure methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-pentanol, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, and cyclohexane was measured by a synthetic method over the temperature range from (293.15 to 343.15) K under atmospheric pressure. The experimental data were correlated by the modified Apelblat model. The results show that the solubility of losartan potassium increases with the increasing temperature in pure methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol and decreases with the increasing temperature in 1-pentanol. It is also found that losartan potassium is sparingly soluble in ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, and cyclohexane, and the solubility in these three solvents varys little with the temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solubility of losartan potassium in mixed 2-propanol + water and 2-propanol + cyclohexane solvents was measured at the temperature ranging from (293.15 to 343.15) K under atmospheric pressure. The experimental data were correlated by the CNIBS/Redlich–Kister model. The results show that the solubility of losartan potassium increases with increasing temperature in these two binary mixed solvents and increases with the increasing mole fraction of water while decreasing mole fraction of cyclohexane, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The X(3872) is the first and the most interesting one amongst the abundant XYZ states. Its mass coincides exactly with the D0D̄*0 threshold with an uncertainty of 180 keV. Precise knowledge of its mass is crucial to understand the X(3872). However, whether it is above or below the D0D̄*0 threshold is still unknown. We propose a completely new method to measure the X(3872) mass precisely by measuring the X(3872)? line shape between 4010 and 4020 MeV, which is strongly sensitive to the X(3872) mass relative to the D0D̄*0 threshold due to a triangle singularity. This method can be applied to experiments which produce copious D*0D̄*0 pairs, such as electron-positron, proton-antiproton, and other experiments, and may lead to much more precise knowledge of the X(3872) mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parity-odd effect in the standard model weak neutral current reveals itself in the long-range parity-violating nuclear potential generated by the pion exchanges in the ΔI=1 channel with the parity-odd pion-nucleon coupling constant h¹π. Despite decades of experimental and theoretical efforts, the size of this coupling constant is still not well understood. In this Letter, we derive a soft-pion theorem relating h¹π and the neutron-proton mass splitting induced by an artificial parity-even counterpart of the ΔI=1 weak Lagrangian and demonstrate that the theorem still holds exact at the next-to-leading order in the chiral perturbation theory. A considerable amount of simplification is expected in the study of h¹π by using either lattice or other QCD models following its reduction from a parity-odd proton-neutron-pion matrix element to a simpler spectroscopic quantity. The theorem paves the way to much more precise calculations of h¹π, and thus a quantitative test of the strangeness-conserving neutral current interaction of the standard model is foreseen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]