Search

The evolutionary sequence for high-mass star formation starts with massive starless clumps that go on to form protostellar, young stellar objects and then compact H  ii regions. While there are many examples of the three later stages, the very early stages have proved to be elusive. We follow-up a sample of 110 mid-infrared dark clumps selected from the ATLASGAL catalogue with the IRAM telescope in an effort to identify a robust sample of massive starless clumps. We have used the HCO+ and HNC (1-0) transitions to identify clumps associated with infall motion and the SiO (2-1) transition to identity outflow candidates. We have found blue asymmetric line profile in 65 per cent of the sample, and have measured the infall velocities and mass infall rates (0.6–36 × 10−3 M⊙ yr−1) for 33 of these clumps. We find a trend for the mass infall rate decreasing with an increase of bolometric luminosity to clump mass, i.e. star formation within the clumps evolves. Using the SiO 2-1 line, we have identified good outflow candidates. Combining the infall and outflow tracers reveals that 67 per cent of quiescent clumps are already undergoing gravitational collapse or are associated with star formation; these clumps provide us with our best opportunity to determine the initial conditions and study the earliest stages of massive star formation. Finally, we provide an overview of a systematic high-resolution ALMA study of quiescent clumps selected that allows us to develop a detailed understanding of earliest stages and their subsequent evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans–Candida albicans is an important virulence factor for dental caries. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of some environmental conditions on the biofilm formation like inoculation concentration, temperature, sugar, amino acid, metal ions and saliva, and then establish a persistent in vitro biofilm model for further research. Based on the single factor experiment, the factors participating in the biofilm formation including sugar, inoculation concentration, and saliva increased the biofilm mass, while amino acid, metal ions, temperatures reduced biofilm mass. Optimal conditions for biofilm formation were the inoculation dosage of S. mutans and C. albicans of 108 and 107, respectively, the addition of 0·3 g l−1 sucrose and sterile saliva. These results contribute to a deep understanding of the factors involved in oral biofilm formation of the important cariogenic pathogen S. mutans and the opportunistic pathogen C. albicans to study better for biofilm and promote the design of new therapeutic approaches. The present research also provides a model for evaluating the therapeutic potential for drugs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed modes observed in red giants allow for investigation of the stellar interior structures. One important feature in these structures is the buoyancy spike caused by the discontinuity of the chemical gradient left behind during the first dredge-up. The buoyancy spike emerges at the base of the convective zone in low-luminosity red giants and later becomes a glitch when the g-mode cavity expands to encompass the spike. Here, we study the impact of the buoyancy spike on the dipolar mixed modes using stellar models with different properties. We find that the applicability of the asymptotic formalisms for the coupling factor, q , varies depending on the location of the evanescent zone, relative to the position of the spike. Significant deviations between the value of q inferred from fitting the oscillation frequencies and either of the formalisms proposed in the literature are found in models with a large frequency separation in the interval 5–15 μHz, with evanescent zones located in a transition region that may be thin or thick. However, it is still possible to reconcile q with the predictions from the asymptotic formalisms, by choosing which formalism to use according to the value of q. For stars approaching the luminosity bump, the buoyancy spike becomes a glitch and strongly affects the mode frequencies. Fitting the frequencies without accounting for the glitch leads to unphysical variations in the inferred q , but we show that this is corrected when properly accounting for the glitch in the fitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of our pilot millimeter observations of periodic maser sources. Using SMA, we carried out 1.3-mm observations of G22.357+0.066 and G25.411+0.105, while ALMA 1.3-mm archival data were used in the case of G9.62+0.19E. Two continuum cores (MM1 and MM2) were detected in G22.357+0.066, while three cores (MM1 – MM3) detected in G25.411 + 0.105. Assuming dust-to-gas ratio of 100, we derived the masses of the detected cores. Using the 12CO (2–1) and 13CO (2–1) line emission, we observed gas kinematics tracing the presence of bipolar outflows in all three star-forming regions. In the cases of G22.357+0.066 and G9.62+0.19E, both with similar periodic maser light-curve profiles, the outflowing gas is seen in the north-west south-east direction. This suggest edge-on view of the two sources. G25.411+0.105, with a contrasting light-curve profile, show a spatially collocated blue and red outflow lobes, suggesting a face-on view. Our results suggest that orientation effects may play a role in determining the characteristics of the light curves of periodic methanol masers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the caviar software package, a standard tool for astrometry of images from the Cassini imaging science subsystem (ISS), Gaussian fitting is used to measure the centre of point-like objects, achieving a typical precision of about 0.2 pixels. In this work, we consider how alternative methods may improve on this. We compare three traditional centroiding methods: two-dimensional Gaussian fitting, median, and modified moment. Results using 56 selected images show that the centroiding precision of the modified moment method is significantly better than the other two methods, with standard deviations for all residuals in sample and line of 0.065 and 0.063 pixels, respectively, representing a factor of over 2 improvement compared to Gaussian fitting. Secondly, a comparison of observations using Cassini ISS images of Anthe is performed. Anthe results show a similar improvement. The modified moment method is then used to reduce all ISS images of Anthe during the period 2008–2017. The observed-minus-calculated residuals relative to the JPL SAT393 ephemeris are calculated. In terms of α × cos(δ) and δ in the Cassini-centred international celestial reference frame, mean values of all residuals are close to 0 km, and their standard deviations are less than 1 km for narrow angle camera images, and about 4 km for wide angle camera images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of the diagnostic value of interleukin-27 (IL-27) for tuberculous pleurisy (TP). Methods Literature on IL-27 diagnosis of TP was retrieved and screened from six databases (four English databases and two Chinese databases). The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio and summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) were measured to assess accurately the comprehensive evaluation of IL-27 for TP. Results Eleven studies with a total of 1454 patients were identified in the analysis. The combined diagnostic value of IL-27 for TP was as follows: sensitivity of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93–0.97), specificity of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.89–0.92), positive likelihood ratio of 13.99 (95% CI: 7.01–27.93), negative likelihood ratio of 0.07 (95% CI: 0.05–0.10), diagnostic odds ratio of 275.20 (95% CI: 112.83–671.23) and area under the SROC of 0.9830. Conclusion IL-27 has an excellent diagnostic value for TP and could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for TP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Gonorrhoea remains a leading public health burden and the development of vaccine against gonorrhoea becomes more urgent. Here, a novel Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA vaccine delivered by Salmonella enteritidis ghosts was developed and the immune responses of the vaccine candidate were evaluated. Methods and Results: Neisseria gonorrhoeae nspA gene was cloned into the pVAX1 vector. The constructed recombinant plasmid pVAX1‐nspA was loaded into the lyophilized SE ghosts to produce SE ghosts (pVAX1‐nspA). Then, the immune responses induced by SE ghosts (pVAX1‐nspA) alone and co‐administrated with SE ghosts (pVAX1‐porB) were evaluated in mouse model. Co‐administered SE ghosts (pVAX1‐nspA) and SE ghosts (pVAX1‐porB) could elicited significantly higher levels of specific IgG antibody responses and lymphocyte proliferative responses than the control groups. Furthermore, the group co‐administered SE ghosts (pVAX1‐nspA) and SE ghosts (pVAX1‐porB) had the highest bactericidal antibody titres. Conclusions: Co‐administration of SE ghosts (pVAX1‐nspA) and SE ghosts (pVAX1‐porB) elicited significant specific humoral and cellular immune responses. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study demonstrates the potential of co‐administration of SE ghosts (pVAX1‐nspA) and SE ghosts (pVAX1‐porB) as an attractive vaccination regimen for gonorrhoea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Interventions using prebiotic inulin‐type fructans (ITFs) are widely prescribed to modulate the gut microbiota composition and activity to promote health. However, the impacts of ITFs on post‐antibiotic reconstitution of the gut microbiome remain incompletely understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ITFs supplementation on intestinal inflammation, the composition of the intestinal microbiota and the colonic transcriptome after antibiotic treatment. Methods and Results: Male BALB/c mice were subjected to an antibiotic cocktail (ABx) treatment for 7 days, and their microbiomes were then reconstituted either spontaneously or with ITFs supplementation (5%) for 14 days. Our data showed that ITFs supplementation delayed the recovery of antibiotic‐induced colitis compared with the spontaneous recovery. Neither ITFs supplementation nor spontaneous recovery could restore the microbial community composition at the genus level back to its initial composition. ITFs supplementation increased the relative abundance of some beneficial bacteria and butyrate levels, but resulted in selective blooms of some opportunistic pathogens and elevated the pathways associated with diseases linked to gut microbiota function. Both ITFs supplementation and spontaneous recovery could restore the colonic transcriptome nearly to the initial profile to a certain extent; however, ITFs supplementation delayed the restoration of the immunoglobulin genes compared to spontaneous recovery. Conclusion: These data showed that post‐antibiotic ITFs consumption did not always lead to beneficial effects but might lead to potential adverse effects in the context of dysbiosis. Significance and Impact of the Study: These findings highlighted that caution is required when supplementing ITFs to restore intestinal homeostasis in the context of dysbiosis resulting from broad‐spectrum antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G+0.693-0.03 is a quiescent molecular cloud located within the Sagittarius B2 (Sgr B2) star-forming complex. Recent spectral surveys have shown that it represents one of the most prolific repositories of complex organic species in the Galaxy. The origin of such chemical complexity, along with the small-scale physical structure and properties of G+0.693-0.03, remains a mystery. In this paper, we report the study of multiple molecules with interferometric observations in combination with single-dish data in G+0.693-0.03. Despite the lack of detection of continuum source, we find small-scale (0.2 pc) structures within this cloud. The analysis of the molecular emission of typical shock tracers such as SiO, HNCO, and CH3OH unveiled two molecular components, peaking at velocities of 57 and 75 km s−1. They are found to be interconnected in both space and velocity. The position–velocity diagrams show features that match with the observational signatures of a cloud–cloud collision. Additionally, we detect three series of class I methanol masers known to appear in shocked gas, supporting the cloud–cloud collision scenario. From the maser emission we provide constraints on the gas kinetic temperatures (∼30–150 K) and H2 densities (104–105 cm−2). These properties are similar to those found for the starburst galaxy NGC 253 also using class I methanol masers, suggested to be associated with a cloud–cloud collision. We conclude that shocks driven by the possible cloud–cloud collision is likely the most important mechanism responsible for the high level of chemical complexity observed in G+0.693-0.03. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Develop quantitative assays (qPCR) to determine the detection threshold limits, colonization and persistence of Trichoderma gamsii, Trichoderma afroharzianum and T. harzianum inoculants in cropping soils, the wheat rhizosphere and their in planta suppressive efficacy against the crown rot pathogen Fusarium pseudograminearum. Methods and Results: Trichoderma qPCR primers were designed from the internal transcribed spacer region of 5.8S rDNA and from sequences of DNA fragments diagnostic for each inoculant genotype. The minimum detection thresholds of qPCR assays varied between 1 × 103 (log 3) and 8 × 104 (log 4·9) conidia (genome) equivalents per gram of soil for multi‐ and single‐copy target sequences, respectively and were independent of soil type. There was a strong correlation (r > 0·974) between culture‐dependent and culture‐independent (qPCR) quantification methods. In wheat bioassays, Trichoderma inoculants colonized rhizosphere soils and wheat roots at 56–112 days postemergence to a depth of 20 cm but were more abundant (P < 0·001) at 0–10 cm root depth, means ranging from 2 × 102 (log 2·3) to 4 × 105 (log 5·6) conidia equivalents per gram of rhizosphere soil or root tissue. Inoculants reduced (P < 0·001) F. pseudograminearum biomass in wheat crown and root tissue by up to 5754‐fold and increased (P = 0·008) plant biomass, relative to the pathogen control. Conclusions: The qPCR assays provided sensitive and accurate assessment of wheat root and rhizosphere soil colonization of Trichoderma inoculants. Strains persisted through to grain maturity at levels shown to significantly suppress F. pseudograminearum in planta. Significance and Impact of the Study: The qPCR assays developed here were used to determine the wheat rhizosphere dynamics of T. harzianum, T. afroharzianum and T. gamsii inoculants and their suppressive efficacy against F. pseudograminearum in planta. These assays can be applied to monitor inoculant dynamics in suppressing crown rot and other wheat root diseases in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a continuing effort to investigate the role of magnetic fields in evolved low- and intermediate-mass stars (principally regarding the shaping of their envelopes), we present new Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) high-resolution polarization data obtained for the nebula OH 231.8+4.2. We found that the polarized emission likely arises from aligned grains in the presence of magnetic fields rather than radiative alignment and self-scattering. The ALMA data show well organized electric field orientations in most of the nebula and the inferred magnetic field vectors (rotated by 90°) trace an hourglass morphology centred on the central system of the nebula. One region in the southern part of OH 231.8+4.2 shows a less organized distribution probably due to the shocked environment. These findings, in conjunction with earlier investigations (maser studies and dust emission analysis at other scales and wavelengths) suggest an overall magnetic hourglass located inside a toroidal field. We propose the idea that the magnetic field structure is closely related to the architecture of a magnetic tower and that the outflows were therefore magnetically launched. While the current dynamical effect of the fields might be weak in the equatorial plane principally due to the evolution of the envelope, it would still be affecting the outflows. In that regard, the measurement of the magnetic field at the stellar surface, which is still missing, combined with a full magnetohydrodynamic treatment are required to better understand and constrain the events occurring in OH 231.8+4.2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a multi‐functional cytokine with profound and diverse effects on physiology and pathology. Identifying the molecular determinants underlying the functions and pathogenic effects of TNF is key to understanding its mechanisms of action and identifying new therapeutic opportunities based on this important molecule. Previously, we showed that some evolutionarily conserved peptides derived from TNF could induce cell death (e.g. apoptosis and/or necrosis), a feature of immune defence mechanisms shared by many vertebrates. In this study, we demonstrated that necrosis‐inducing peptide P16 kills human glioblastoma cancer cells and primary human hepatoma or renal cancer cells isolated from patients who had not responded to standard treatments. Importantly, we show that the necrosis‐inducing peptide P1516 significantly improves survival by inhibiting tumour metastasis in a 4T1 breast cancer syngeneic graft mouse model. Because the lymphatic system is an important metastatic route in many cancers, we also tested the effect of TNF‐derived peptides on monolayers of primary human lymphatic endothelial cells (hDLEC) and found that they increased junctional permeability by inducing cytoskeletal reorganization, gap junction formation and cell death. Transmission electron microscopy imaging evidence, structural analysis and in‐vitro liposome leakage experiments strongly suggest that this killing is due to the cytolytic nature of these peptides. P1516 provides another example of a pro‐cytotoxic TNF peptide that probably functions as a cryptic necrotic factor released by TNF degradation. Its ability to inhibit tumour metastasis and improve survival may form the basis of a novel approach to cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sarcopenia is emerging as an important public health problem, and evidences have determined that poor sleep is associated with muscle strength, but the potential effects of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), snoring and witnessed apnea on handgrip strength have not been evaluated. Aim We aimed to examine the association between EDS, snoring, witnessed apnea and muscle strength in an adult population. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods This cross-sectional study comprised 19 434 adults. Handgrip strength was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer. EDS was assessed by Epworth Sleepiness Scale, snoring and witnessed apnea during sleep were reported through simple yes/no questions. Analysis of covariance was carried out to determine the association between EDS with snoring or witnessed apnea and muscle strength. Results The means (95% confidence interval) for average handgrip strength/body weight (kg/kg) across symptoms categories were 0.396 (0.333–0.472), 0.393 (0.330–0.467), 0.396 (0.333–0.471) and 0.386 (0.325–0.460) (P  <   0.0001), respectively. Similar results were observed with maximal handgrip strength/body weight (kg/kg). Conclusions Self-reported EDS accompanied with snoring or apnea is associated with lowest handgrip strength, independently of confounding factors. Whether improvement of EDS, snoring and apnea, can ameliorate age-associated decline in muscle strength warrants further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Methotrexate (MTX) is an efficacious treatment for psoriasis; however, its widespread application is limited by its unpredictable efficacy. Objectives: To investigate the association of clinical factors and variants of psoriasis susceptibility genes with clinical responses to MTX in a prospective cohort. Methods: A total of 221 patients with psoriasis were recruited. Patients who achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) improvement ≥ 75% at week 12 were defined as responders, whereas those with PASI improvement < 50% were defined as nonresponders. In 90 screening patients, genetic variants for 18 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in 14 susceptibility genes, and HLA‐Cw6 status were initially compared for responders and nonresponders. Statistically significant associations in genetic variants were verified in all 221 patients. Results: Overall, 49% and 45% of patients achieved PASI 75 improvement during screening and verification stages, respectively. Concomitant arthritis with psoriasis and high body mass index (BMI) negatively affect the efficacy of MTX. TT genotype of rs10036748 in TNIP1 was significantly associated with PASI 75 response at week 12 (54% and 37%, P < 0·05). A significantly higher PASI 90 response was observed in patients with TT genotype of rs10036748 (27% vs. 12%, P < 0·01) and TC/TT genotype of rs4112788 in LCE3D (25% vs. 13%, P < 0·05) at week 12 compared with those who had other genotypes. After adjustment for all confounding factors, only BMI (P < 0·05), arthritis (P < 0·05) and genotype of rs10036748 (P < 0·05) were significantly associated with clinical responses to MTX. Conclusions: Patients with psoriasis with TT genotype of rs10036748 in TNIP1, with lower BMI, without arthritis will achieve a better response to MTX. What's already known about this topic? Methotrexate is the first‐line treatment for moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis. However, there is significant heterogeneity in individual responses to methotrexate.Patients with psoriasis who are positive for HLA‐Cw6 show improved response to methotrexate treatment. What does this study add? Concomitant psoriasis and high body mass index negatively affect the efficacy of methotrexate.TT genotype of rs10036748 in TNIP1 was significantly associated with better responses to methotrexate. What is the translational message? Patients with psoriasis with TT genotype of rs10036748 in TNIP1 will demonstrate a better response to methotrexate.Treatment with methotrexate can be recommended particularly for those patients with psoriasis who have a low body mass index and do not have arthritis. Linked Comment: Cheng. Br J Dermatol 2019; 181:660–661. Plain language summary available online Respond to this article [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To observe the therapeutic effects of vaginal infusion of probiotic Clostridium butyricum WZ001 on bacterial vaginosis (BV) in mice. Methods and Results: Female ICR mice were used to establish the model of BV by infecting oestrogen‐treated mice with Escherichia coli, and then treated with high‐ and low dose of C. butyricum. Clinical indexes of mice in the C. butyricum‐treated groups were significantly improved and comparable to those in the antibiotic group. Pap staining showed that neutrophil count was significantly increased after modelling and largely decreased after C. butyricum treatment (P < 0·01). Dynamic observation of E. coli and Lactobacillus showed that the number of E. coli significantly decreased in the C. butyricum‐treated groups or in the antibiotic group with prolonged treatment (P < 0·01). Besides, the number of E. coli in the low‐dose C. butyricum group was higher than that in either its high‐dose counterpart or the antibiotic group respectively (P < 0·01). The number of Lactobacillus decreased evidently in the antibiotic group (P < 0·01), while that in the C. butyricum groups remained consistent. Moreover, C. butyricum inhibited the proliferation of E. coli by the experiment in vitro. The phosphorylation of nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) p65 in vaginal tissue and the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, IL‐1β, TNF‐α and IL‐6, increased after modelling and significantly decreased after treated with C. butyricum (P < 0·01), with no difference found when compared with the antibiotic group. Conclusion: Clostridium butyricum inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria as well as the inflammatory response induced by E. coli and promotes the growth of Lactobacillus to maintain the vaginal micro‐ecological balance. Significance and Impact of the Study: Our results suggest that probiobitc C. butyricum WZ001 has a great potential in the clinical treatment of BV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of molecular clouds in galactic centres is thought to differ from that in galactic discs due to a significant influence of the external gravitational potential. We present a set of numerical simulations of molecular clouds orbiting on the 100-pc stream of the Central Molecular Zone (the central |${\sim }500\,{{\rm pc}}$| of the Galaxy) and characterize their morphological and kinematic evolution in response to the background potential and eccentric orbital motion. We find that the clouds are shaped by strong shear and torques, by tidal and geometric deformation, and by their passage through the orbital pericentre. Within our simulations, these mechanisms control cloud sizes, aspect ratios, position angles, filamentary structure, column densities, velocity dispersions, line-of-sight velocity gradients, spin angular momenta, and kinematic complexity. By comparing these predictions to observations of clouds on the Galactic Centre 'dust ridge', we find that our simulations naturally reproduce a broad range of key observed morphological and kinematic features, which can be explained in terms of well-understood physical mechanisms. We argue that the accretion of gas clouds on to the central regions of galaxies, where the rotation curve turns over and the tidal field is fully compressive, is accompanied by transformative dynamical changes to the clouds, leading to collapse and star formation. This can generate an evolutionary progression of cloud collapse with a common starting point, which either marks the time of accretion on to the tidally compressive region or of the most recent pericentre passage. Together, these processes may naturally produce the synchronized starbursts observed in numerous (extra)galactic nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a polarimetric investigation of the protoplanetary nebula Frosty Leo performed with the Submillimeter Array. We were able to detect, in the low continuum level (peak at 14.4 mJy beam−1), a marginal polarization at 2.6σ. The molecular line investigation based on the CO J  = 3 → 2 emission shows a peak emission of 68.1 Jy beam−1 km s−1 and the polarization detection in this CO line is also marginal, with a peak at 3.8σ. In both cases, it was therefore not possible to use the electric vector maps (⁠|$\boldsymbol {E}$| field) to accurately trace the magnetic field (⁠|$\boldsymbol {B}$| field) within the PPN. The spatio-kinematic modelling realised with the different velocity channel maps indicates three main structures: a distorted torus accompanied by a bipolar outflow or jet aligned with its axis and a flattened spherical 'cap'. The comparison of the CO polarization segments with our model suggests that the polarized emission probably arises in the first two components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide new astrometric observations of Enceladus from images taken using the Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) Narrow-Angle Camera. Astrometric reduction was performed using a new fully automatic camera repointing technique built within the Caviar software package. The new automatic procedure is based on the k-d tree technique and has been developed as an alternative to the manual technique currently available in Caviar. We describe the new procedure and demonstrate its effectiveness compared with manual processing. Repointing corrections were computed using reference stars from the UCAC4 and Gaia DR1 star catalogues. We compare the observed-minus-computed (O−C) residuals of Enceladus based on UCAC4 with those based on Gaia DR1, relative to the JPL SAT375 ephemeris and the IMCCE NOE ephemeris, respectively. We reduced all available Cassini ISS images of Enceladus during the period 2013–2017, producing a total of 1109 Cassini -centred astrometric observations. These are provided in right ascension (α) and declination (δ) in the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF). Estimated mean O−C residuals relative to JPL's SAT375 ephemeris were 0.7 km in α  × cos(δ) and 1.8 km in δ, with standard deviations of 2.4 and 3.2 km, respectively. No improvement in the precision of the observations was obtained when using the GAIA DR1 star catalogue compared with UCAC4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Oxidative stress limited the growth of cells and 2‐keto‐l‐gulonic acid (2‐KGA) production in vitamin C (Vc) fermentation system. The study aims to investigate the antioxidant effect of glutathione on promoting 2‐KGA in Vc fermentation system using Ketogulonicigenium vulgare 25B‐1 and Bacillus endophyticusST‐1 as the co‐culturing microbes. Methods and Results: The activities of antioxidant‐related enzymes and qPCR were used to study the antioxidant effect of glutathione addition in Vc fermentation system. The addition of GSH and GSH/GSSG increased 2‐KGA production and decreased fermentation time, and the highest 2‐KGA production increased by 40·63% and the lowest fermentation time shortened to 60 h when the addition of optimal concentration ratio of GSH/GSSG was 50 : 1. Moreover, the increased production of 2‐KGA was accompanied by up‐regulated the activities of total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC), total superoxide dismutase (T‐SOD), catalase (CAT) and over‐expressed oxidative stress‐related genes sod, gst, gr, zwf, gp, which resulted in scavenging reactive oxygen species to reduce oxidative stress in Vc fermentation system. Conclusions: Glutathione showed a significant effect on increasing 2‐KGA production and decreasing fermentation time in Vc fermentation system. GSH/GSSG could maintain a dynamic balance with two forms of glutathione and the optimal concentration ratio of GSH/GSSG was 50 : 1. Significance and Impact of the Study: Glutathione is proved to be effective to relieve oxidative stress. The promotion effects of GSSG and GSH on 2‐KGA production could help to further explore the optimization of co‐culture fermentation process for Vc industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that may require systemic therapy. Ciclosporin A (CsA) is a widely used, potent immunosuppressant but it is not effective in all patients with atopic dermatitis, and side‐effects limit its use. Dupilumab, a fully human anti‐interleukin 4 receptor‐alpha monoclonal antibody, inhibits signaling of IL‐4 and IL‐13, key drivers of Type 2/Th2‐mediated inflammation, and is approved in the U.S.A. and the European Union for the treatment of inadequately‐controlled moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis in adults. Objectives: To evaluate efficacy and safety of dupilumab with concomitant topical corticosteroids (TCS) in adults with atopic dermatitis with inadequate response to/intolerance of CsA, or for whom CsA treatment was medically inadvisable. Methods: In this 16‐week, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, phase III trial, patients were randomized 1 : 1 : 1 to subcutaneous dupilumab 300 mg weekly (qw) or every 2 weeks (q2w) or placebo. All received concomitant medium‐potency TCS from Week −2 through Week 16; dosage could be tapered if lesions cleared, or stopped for adverse reactions to TCS. Results: In total, 390 patients were screened, 325 were randomized, and 318 completed the trial. Treatment groups had similar baseline characteristics. Significantly more patients in the dupilumab qw + TCS and q2w + TCS groups achieved ≥ 75% improvement from baseline in the Eczema Area and Severity Index at Week 16 vs. the placebo + TCS group (primary end point) (59·1% and 62·6% vs. 29·6%, respectively; P < 0·001 vs. placebo + TCS, both doses). Other clinical outcomes and atopic dermatitis symptoms were significantly improved in the dupilumab qw + TCS and q2w + TCS groups, including pruritus, pain, sleep disturbance, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and quality of life (QoL). Treatment groups had similar overall rates of adverse events (qw + TCS, q2w + TCS and placebo + TCS groups: 69·1%, 72·0% and 69·4%, respectively) and serious adverse events (1·8%, 1·9% and 1·9%, respectively). Conjunctivitis was more frequent with dupilumab + TCS; skin infections were more frequent with placebo + TCS. Conclusions: Dupilumab + TCS significantly improved signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis and QoL in adults with a history of inadequate response to/intolerance of CsA, or for whom CsA treatment was medically inadvisable. No new safety signals were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Internal plateau' followed by a sharp decay is commonly seen in short gamma-ray burst (GRB) light curves. The plateau component is usually interpreted as the dipole emission from a supra-massive magnetar, and the sharp decay may imply the collapse of the magnetar to a black hole (BH). Fall-back accretion on to the new-born BH could produce long-lasting activities via the Blandford-Znajek (BZ) process. The magnetic flux accumulated near the BH would be confined by the accretion discs for a period of time. As the accretion rate decreases, the magnetic flux is strong enough to obstruct gas infall, leading to a magnetically arrested disc. Within this scenario, we show that the BZ process could produce two types of typical X-ray light curves: type I exhibits a long-lasting plateau, followed by a power-law (PL) decay with slopes ranging from 5/3 to 40/9; type II shows roughly a single PL decay with a slope of 5/3. The former requires low magnetic field strength, while the latter corresponds to relatively high values. We search for such signatures of the new-born BH from a sample of short GRBs with an internal plateau, and find two candidates: GRB 101219A and GRB 160821B, corresponding to type II and type I light curves, respectively. It is shown that our model can explain the data very well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we investigated the influence of weaning on antioxidant status, intestinal integrity, mitochondrial function, and the mitophagy level in piglets (weaned at 21 d) during the 1 wk after weaning. The redox status was measured by antioxidant enzymes activities, related genes expression, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in jejunum. The intestinal barrier function was assessed by the Ussing chamber and expression of tight junction proteins in the jejunum. The function of intestine mitochondria was measured by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and activities of mitochondria oxidative phosphorylation complexes. The levels of light chain 3-1 (LC3-I), light chain 3-II (LC3-II), PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), and Parkin were determined to investigate whether mitophagy is involved in the weaning process. The results showed that, as compared with the preweaning phase (d 0), weaning suppressed (P < 0.05) the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) on d 3 and d 7 postweaning, decreased (P < 0.05) the expression of copper and zinc superoxide dismutase (CulZn-SOD), manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) on d 3 postweaning, declined (P < 0.05) the level of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX-1) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX-4) on d 3 and d 7 postweaning, and increased (P < 0.05) MDA content in jejunum on d 3 and d 7 postweaning. The jejunal transepithelial electrical resistance and levels of occludin, claudin-1, and zonula occludens-1 on d 3 and d 7 postweaning were reduced (P < 0.05), and paracellular flux of fluorescein isothiocyanatedextran (4 kDa) on d 3 and d 7 postweaning was increased (P < 0.05). Weaning induced mitochondrial dysfunction, as demonstrated by decreased (P < 0.05) content of mtDNA on d 3 and d 7 postweaning and declined (P < 0.05) activities of mitochondria complexes (I, II, III, IV) in jejunum on d 1, d 3, and d 7 post- weaning. Weaning led to an increased (P < 0.05) expression level of mitophagy-related proteins, PINK1 and Parkin, in the intestinal mitochondria, as well as an enhancement (P < 0.05) of the ratio of LC3-II to LC3-I content in the jejunal mucosa on d 1, d 3, and d 7 postweaning. These results suggest that weaning disrupted intestinal oxidative balance, and this imbalance may impair intestinal barrier and mitochondrial function and trigger mitophagy in piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement in growth and fatness traits are the main objectives in pig all breeding programs. Tenth rib backfat thickness (10RIBBFT) and days to 100 kg (D100), which are good predictors of carcass lean content and growth rate, respectively, are economically important traits and also main breeding target traits in pigs. To investigate the genetic mechanisms of 10RIBBFT and D100 of pigs, we sampled 1,137 and 888 pigs from 2 Yorkshire populations of American and British origin, respectively, and conducted genome-wide association study (GWAS) through combined analysis and meta-analysis, to identify SNPs associated with 10RIBBFT and D100. A total of 11 and 7 significant SNPs were identified by combined analysis for 10RIBBFT and D100, respectively. And in meta-analysis, 8 and 7 significant SNPs were identified for 10RIBBFT and D100, respectively. Among them, 6 and 5 common significant SNPs in two analysis results were, respectively, identified associated with 10RIBBFT and D100, and correspondingly explained 2.09% and 0.52% of the additive genetic variance of 10RIBBFT and D100. Further bioinformatics analysis revealed 10 genes harboring or close to these common significant SNPs, 5 for 10RIBBFT and 5 for D100. In particular, Gene Ontology analysis highlighted 6 genes, PCK1, ANGPTL3, EEF1A2, TNFAIP8L3, PITX2, and PLA2G12, as promising candidate genes relevant with backfat thickness and growth. PCK1, ANGPTL3, EEF1A2, and TNFAIP8L3 could influence backfat thickness through phospholipid transport, regulation of lipid metabolic process through the glycerophospholipid biosynthesis and metabolism pathway, the metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins pathway. PITX2 has a crucial role in skeletal muscle tissue development and animal organ morphogenesis, and PLA2G12A plays a role in the lipid catabolic and phospholipid catabolic processes, which both are involved in the body weight pathway. All these candidate genes could directly or indirectly influence fat production and growth in Yorkshire pigs. Our findings provide novel insights into the genetic basis of growth and fatness traits in pigs. The candidate genes for D100 and 10RIBBFT are worthy of further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: Increasing attention has been attracted to intestinal microbiota, due to interactions with nutrition, metabolism and immune defence of the host. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) feed additives have been applied in aquaculture to improve fish health, but the interaction with fish gut microbiota is still poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the effect of adding TCM in feed on the intestinal microbiota of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Methods and Results: Bacterial communities of 16 fish intestinal contents and one water sample were characterized by high‐throughput sequencing and analysis of the V4–V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The results showed that the composition and structure of the bacterial community were significantly altered by the TCM feeding. Some phyla increased markedly (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, etc.), while Fusobacteria were significantly reduced. Concurrently, the richness and diversity of the taxonomic units increased, and the microbiota composition of TCM‐treated fish was more homogeneous among individuals. At the genus level, the addition of TCM tended to reduce the incidence of potential pathogens (Aeromonas, Acinetobacter and Shewanella), while stimulating the emergence of some potential probiotics (Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Bacillus and Pseudomonas). Conclusions: These data suggested that the feed additive could regulate the fish intestinal microbiota by reinforcing the microbial balance. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study may provide useful information for further application of TCM for diseases prevention and stress management in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The star formation rate in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) is an order of magnitude lower than predicted according to star formation relations that have been calibrated in the disc of our own and nearby galaxies. Understanding how and why star formation appears to be different in this region is crucial if we are to understand the environmental dependence of the star formation process. Here, we present the detection of a sample of high-mass cores in the CMZ's 'dust ridge' that have been discovered with the Submillimeter Array. These cores range in mass from ~50-2150 M* within radii of 0.1-0.25 pc. All appear to be young (pre-UCHII), meaning that they are prime candidates for representing the initial conditions of high-mass stars and sub-clusters. We report that at least two of these cores ('c1' and 'e1') contain young, high-mass protostars. We compare all of the detected cores with high-mass cores and clouds in the Galactic disc and find that they are broadly similar in terms of their masses and sizes, despite being subjected to external pressures that are several orders of magnitude greater, ~108 K cm-3, as opposed to ~105 K cm-3. The fact that >80 per cent of these cores do not show any signs of star-forming activity in such a high-pressure environment leads us to conclude that this is further evidence for an increased critical density threshold for star formation in the CMZ due to turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by an infrequent but immune-mediated life-threatening disease, with confusing clinical manifestations, rapidly deteriorating health, high morbidity and mortality and challenging diagnosis. Aim: The purpose of this study was to improve the recognition and understanding of HLH. Design: Retrospective observational cross-sectional study. Methods: Data were collected for all cases of adult patients diagnosed with HLH in a large cohort managed at a single medical center from January 2011 to December 2015. Results: The median age was 52years (range 18-90 years) and 123 (60.0%) were male. Over 95% patients manifested fever, hyperferritinemia and elevated lactate dehydrogenase. Underlying triggers of HLH were as follows: 119 (58.0%)malignancies, 83 (40.5%) infections, 14 (6.8%) unknown triggers and 14 (6.8%) autoimmune disorders. The median overall survival was 55days. And elderly patients (age ≥60 years) had a markedly worse survival compared with young patients (age <60 years) (median overall survival 24days vs. 159days, respectively; P<0.001). In a multivariable analysis, platelet <40x109/l (HR=2.534; 95% CI 1.152-5.573; P=0.021), PT prolonged >3 s (HR=1.909; 95% CI 1.127-3.234; P=0.016) and malignancy (HR=1.614; 95% CI 1.008-2.582; P=0.046) were correlated with poor survival. Conclusion: HLH adult patients had very complex clinical manifestations as well as underlying diseases. Patients with PLT <40x109/l, PT prolonged >3 s and malignancy had inferior survival. It is of great importance to improve our understanding of this syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore quasi-periodic pulsations with multiple periods in hard X-ray (HXR) emission from the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor during the impulsive phase of a solar flare (SOL2014-09-10). The completely new observational result is that the shorter periods appear at lower energies of the X-ray photons at the beginning and the longer periods appear at higher energies at the end, with some intersection of the periods at medium energies. We also find shorter and then longer periods during the same phase of this flare. Using the wavelet power spectrum and fast Fourier transform spectrum, we analyse the normalized rapidly varying signal divided by its slowly varying signal, which is the smoothed original HXR flux. The periods of 27 and 37 s are derived at lower-energy channels between 17:25 and 17:29 UT (i.e. 12.0-27.3 and 27.3-50.9 keV). Then, the periods of 27, 46 and 60 s are observed at the medium-energy channel from 17:26 to 17:33 UT, such as 50.9-102.3 keV. Also, the period of 80 s is detected at the higher-energy channel from 17:28 to 17:33 UT, such as 102.3-296.4 keV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Epidemiological data evaluating sleep problems in clinical nurses in mainland China are scarce and an association between sleep problems and occupational stress has not been investigated. Aims To assess the prevalence of sleep problems and associated factors and determine their association with occupational stress among clinical nurses in general hospitals. Methods Nurses were selected through random cluster sampling. They answered a self-administered questionnaire, which included sociodemographic and occupational variables, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scoring system and the Job Content Questionnaire for evaluating occupational stress. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with sleep problems. Results There were 5012 participants. Mean PSQI score of 4951 subjects included in the final analysis was 7.32 ± 3.24, with 2713 subjects having PSQI ≥8, accounting for 55% of participants. Female subjects in the intensive care unit and emergency departments were at higher risk of sleep problems. The following factors also presented a risk for sleep problems: multiple years of service, high monthly night shift frequency, primary and intermediate professional status, temporary employment status and high occupational stressors (including high psychological job demands, low job control and low workplace's social support). Conclusions The overall prevalence rate of sleep problems among clinical nurses in general hospitals in mainland China was high. Many factors could affect the sleep quality of nurses, although occupational stress facilitates development of sleep problems. Various risk factors associated with sleep problems among nurses should be studied extensively and measures for relieving occupational stress should be undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) has been increasingly implicated in the regulation of muscle development. Large White pigs have a higher muscle growth rate than do Mashen pigs. In the present study, the lncRNA expression profiles in skeletal muscle of these 2 pig breeds were compared at 1, 90, and 180 d of age using RNA sequencing. We obtained 2,718 million clean reads and identified a total of 5,153 novel lncRNA. We found 1,407 differentially expressed lncRNA that showed consistent expression patterns between the 2 breeds at all the 3 sampling points. Ten lncRNA were randomly selected, and their expression was validated using Real-time Quantitative PCR. In summary, this study identifies a number of lncRNA that correlate with muscle growth. The regulation and function of these lncRNA in muscle growth and development need to be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the efficiency of genomic prediction using an admixed reference population comprising 3 Yorkshire populations with different genetic backgrounds. In total, 2,084 and 1,388 individuals with growth and reproduction records, respectively, were genotyped with a PorcineSNP80 marker panel. The corrected phenotypic values derived from conventional EBV of each population were taken as response variables. Three approaches, that is, a linear genomic BLUP (GBLUP) model, a Bayesian mixture model (BayesR), and single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP), were implemented to predict genomic breeding values. Our results indicated that the accuracy of genomic prediction was increased by enlarging the reference population by admixing different populations. However, the improvement was lower than expected, because the relationships among individuals of different populations were not strong enough. Among the 3 approaches, for reproduction and growth traits, ssGBLUP produced 30 to approximately 38% and 23 to 31%, respectively, higher accuracy than GBLUP. And the ssGBLUP produced 28 to approximately 38% and 18 to approximately 31% higher accuracy than BayesR. In addition, ssGBLUP also yielded lower bias. In most situations, BayesR performed comparably to GBLUP for most traits. Our results indicated ssGBLUP using an admixed reference population is also meaningful for national joint genetic evaluation of Chinese pig breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present 1.05 mm Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the deeply embedded high-mass protocluster G11.92-0.61, designed to search for low-mass cores within the accretion reservoir of the massive protostars. Our ALMA mosaic, which covers an extent of ~0.7 pc at sub-arcsecond (~1400 au) resolution, reveals a rich population of 16 new millimetre continuum sources surrounding the three previously known millimetre cores. Most of the new sources are located in the outer reaches of the accretion reservoir: the median projected separation from the central, massive (proto)star MM1 is ~0.17 pc. The derived physical properties of the new millimetre continuum sources are consistent with those of low-mass prestellar and protostellar cores in nearby star-forming regions: the median mass, radius and density of the new sources are 1.3 Mʘ, 1600 au and nH2 ~ 107 cm-3. At least three of the low-mass cores in G11.92-0.61 drive molecular outflows, traced by high-velocity 12CO(3-2) (observed with the Submillimeter Array) and/or by H2CO and CH3OH emission (observed with ALMA). This finding, combined with the known outflow/accretion activity of MM1, indicates that high- and low-mass stars are forming (accreting) simultaneously within this protocluster. Our ALMA results are consistent with the predictions of competitive-accretion-type models in which high-mass stars form along with their surrounding clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

755 new CCD observations during the years 2014-2016 have been reduced to derive the precise positions of Triton, the first satellite of Neptune. The observations were made by the 1-m telescope at Yunnan Observatory over 15 nights. The positions of Triton are measured with respect to the stars in Gaia DR1 star catalogue. The theoretical position of Triton was retrieved from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Horizons System that includes the satellite ephemeris nep081xl, while the position of Neptune was obtained from the JPL ephemeris DE431mx. Our results show that the mean (O -- C)s (observed minus computed) are 0.042 and -0.006 arcsec in right ascension and declination, respectively. The dispersions of our observations are estimated at about 0.012 arcsec in each direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black extrinsic tooth stain, which has long troubled many people, is common among children and influences the aesthetics of teeth. The pigment was proposed to be a black insoluble ferric compound, but this is controversial. To determine whether iron exists in black stain, we collected 10 samples of black stain and 10 samples of plaque separately from children with and without black stain using sterile titanium implant curettes, and analysed the samples by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Iron was present in both black stain and plaque, with concentrations ranging from 76·12 to 1116·88 μg g−1. The contents of iron in black stain were significantly higher than in plaque. Because bacteria may be involved in the aetiology of black stain, we assessed the functional genes of bacteria in black stain based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing results obtained using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States. Of 253 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes ( KEGG) pathways tested, 56 differed in abundance between samples from children with and without black stain. Genera altered in black stain were related to many of the pathways. Some KEGG Orthology groups showed differences between black stain and plaque of control group were found to be related to iron. Significance and Impact of the Study In this study, we have confirmed the existence of iron in black extrinsic tooth stain by ICP- MS. It was the first time the functional genes of bacteria in black stain were accessed and the genes associated with iron were found. These findings provided clues on the research of aetiology of black stain, which troubled millions of children. It also revealed the association between metabolic pathway of microbiota and oral phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We targeted the massive star-forming region W33A using the Atacama large sub/millimeter array in bands 6 (230 GHz) and 7 (345 GHz) to search for a sub-1000 au disc around the central O-type massive young stellar object W33A MM1-Main. Our data achieve a resolution of ~0.2 arcsec (~500 au) and resolve the central core, MM1, into multiple components and reveal complex and filamentary structures. There is strong molecular line emission covering the entire MM1 region. The kinematic signatures are inconsistent with only Keplerian rotation although we propose that the shift in the emission line centroids within ~1000 au of MM1-Main could hint at an underlying compact disc with Keplerian rotation. We cannot however rule out the possibility of an unresolved binary or multiple system. A putative smaller disc could be fed by the large-scale spiral 'feeding filament' we detect in both gas and dust emission. We also discuss the nature of the now-resolved continuum sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With advances in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has become a novel treatment for esophageal achalasia. In this study, we investigated the feasibility and safety of POEM in patients with achalasia after failed endoscopic interventions. Data on all patients undergoing POEM treatment of achalasia were collected prospectively. We enrolled 61 patients who underwent POEM for achalasia between July 2011 and January 2014. The preoperative intervention group included patients who had undergone botulinum toxin injection or pneumatic balloon dilation before POEM. The preoperative, operative, and short-term outcome data between the groups were compared. Among preoperative intervention group, 22 patients received endoscopic therapy before being referred for operation (18 dilation only, 2 botulinum toxin only, and 2 both treatments). Procedure time in the preoperative intervention group was similar to the nonpreoperative intervention group (60.8±30.9 vs. 62.0±21.0 minutes, P=0.863). Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in Eckardt scores and manometric outcomes at 1-year follow-up. There were no significant differences in pretreatment and posttreatment D-values of symptom scores and lower esophageal sphincter pressures between groups (6.2±2.2 vs. 6.1±1.8, P=0.840; 27.9±17.6 vs. 24.9±15.2; P=0.569). There was also no significant difference in the incidence of intraoperative complications (P=0.958) and gastroesophageal reflux rate (23.5% vs. 20.0%, P=0.771) between the two groups. Our study demonstrated that POEM is safe and effective, even for treating achalasia in the setting of failed endoscopic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation process of massive stars is not well understood, and advancement in our understanding benefits from high-resolution observations and modelling of the gas and dust surrounding individual high-mass (proto)stars. Here, we report subarcsecond (≲1550 au) resolution observations of the young massive star G11.92−0.61 MM1 with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) and Very Large Array (VLA). Our 1.3 mm SMA observations reveal consistent velocity gradients in compact molecular line emission from species such as CH3CN, CH3OH, OCS, HNCO, H2CO, DCN and CH3CH2CN, oriented perpendicular to the previously reported bipolar molecular outflow from MM1. Modelling of the compact gas kinematics suggests a structure undergoing rotation around the peak of the dust continuum emission. The rotational profile can be well fitted by a model of a Keplerian disc, including infall, surrounding an enclosed mass of ∼30–60 M⊙, of which 2–3 M⊙ is attributed to the disc. From modelling the CH3CN emission, we determine that two temperature components, of ∼150 K and 230 K, are required to adequately reproduce the spectra. Our 0.9 and 3.0 cm VLA continuum data exhibit an excess above the level expected from dust emission; the full centimetre–submillimetre wavelength spectral energy distribution of MM1 is well reproduced by a model including dust emission, an unresolved hypercompact H ii region, and a compact ionized jet. In combination, our results suggest that MM1 is an example of a massive proto-O star forming via disc accretion, in a similar way to that of lower mass stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tannins are ubiquitous secondary plant compounds that reduce the biological performance of herbivores by impeding protein metabolism. They may also impact the third trophic level when parasitoids or predators ingest herbivore tissues containing tannins. Microplitis mediator (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an important parasitoid of polyphagous moth species such as Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). In this study, we analyzed the direct and indirect effects of tannic acid on M. mediator development and longevity when wasps either fed directly on tannic acid in honey solution, or developed in H. armigera larvae reared on diet containing tannic acid. The longevity of both male and female M. mediator was shortened when they fed on honey solution containing various concentrations of tannic acid. Transgenerational effects were also evident, as fewer F1 offspring cocooned successfully, and those that did so often had extended developmental times and lower mass of cocoon. When parasitoid larvae developed in host larvae fed tannic acid in their diet, the percentage cocooning successfully, mass of cocoon, and cocoon time were all negatively impacted, although developmental times were unaffected. Surprisingly, the longevity of both male and female parasitoids was extended by the highest tannic acid concentration (5 mg/g of host larva). We conclude that both direct and indirect consumption of tannic acid can negatively affect the fitness of M. mediator, and thus breeding for tannin content in cotton to impede herbivore performance may have unintended effects on the third trophic level that may reduce the agronomic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megaesophagus is a disease where peristalsis fails to occur properly and esophagus is enlarged. The etiology and mechanism of megaesophagus are not well understood. In this study, we reported that junctional adhesion molecule C ( JAM- C) knockout mice on a C57/B6 background developed progressive megaesophagus from embryonic day ( E) 15.5 onward with complete penetrance. JAM- C knockout mice exhibited a significant reduction in the number of nerve fibers/ganglia in the wall of the esophagus. However, histological analysis revealed that the esophageal wall thickness and structure of JAM- C knockout mice at embryonic stages and young adult were comparable to that of control littermates. Thus, megaesophagus observed in JAM- C knockout mice could be attributed, at least in part, to impaired esophageal innervations. Our data suggest JAM- C as a potential candidate gene for human megaesophagus, and JAM- C knockout mice might serve as a model for the study of human megaesophagus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genotype of yellow head virus (YHV), designated as YHV-8, was found in farmed shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis suffering suspectedly from EMS/AHPNS (early mortality disease/acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease) in China in 2012. In this study, a one-step, real-time reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (rRT-LAMP) assay was developed for better detection of both genotypes of YHV-1 and YHV-8. A set of six specific primers was successfully designed targeting a conserved region of the YHV genome. The LAMP reaction was optimized to contain 8 mmol l−1 Mg2+ and 1·4 mmol l−1 dNTPs, and to be performed at 58°C for 60 min. The detection sensitivity of the rRT-LAMP method was as low as 7 × 100 copies per reaction. The specificity of the method was validated by the absence of any cross-reaction with the RNA samples extracted from other shrimp viruses (Taura syndrome virus, white spot syndrome virus, infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus, hepatopancreatic parvovirus) and specific pathogen-free (SPF) shrimp. The resulting standard curves showed high correlation coefficient values. Furthermore, the test of farm samples showed that YHV was detected in three of 111 Litopenaeus vannamei, six of eight Fenneropenaeus chinensis, five of 19 Macrobrachium rosenbergii and none of the nine Marsupenaeus japonicus. These results suggest that this assay is applicable widely as a new rapid and sensitive detection method in the research of YHV. Significance and Impact of the Study In this study, we designate a new genotype of yellow head virus (YHV) as YHV genotype 8 (YHV-8) which was detected in diseased shrimp in China. A rapid, sensitive and specific rRT-LAMP detecting method for both YHV-8 and YHV-1 has been established. It is anticipated that this novel assay will be instrumental for diagnosis and surveillance of the virulent genotypes of YHV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the radiosensitivity of andrographolide on esophageal cancer cell line ECA109. The inhibition effects of andrographolide were measured using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium ( MTT) assay. Clonogenic survival assay was used to evaluate the effects of andrographolide on the radiosensitivity of esophageal cancer cells. Immunofluorescence was employed to examine Bax expression. The changes in cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were assayed using flow cytometry. The expression of NF-κb/ Cleaved- Caspase3/ Bax/ Bcl-2 was measured using Western blot analysis. DNA damage was detected via γ- H2 AX foci counting. With a clear dose and time effects, andrographolide was found to inhibit the proliferation of esophageal cell line ECA109. The results of the clonogenic survival assay show that andrographolide could markedly enhance radiosensitivity ( P < 0.05) with a sensitizing enhancement ratio of 1.28. Andrographolide caused a dose-dependent increase in Cleaved- Caspase3/ Bax protein expression and a decrease in Bcl-2/ NF-κb expression. Apoptosis in andrographolide-treated ECA-109 increased significantly compared with the apoptosis in the simple drug and radiation combined with drug groups ( P < 0.001; P < 0.05). Moreover, compared with the independent radiation group, the andrographolide combined with radiation group increased the number of DNA double chain breaks. Andrographolide can increase the radiosensitivity of esophageal cell line ECA109. This result may be associated with the decrease in the NF-κb level and the induced apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

298 CCD observations during the year 2013 have been reduced to derive the precise positions of near-Earth asteroid (99942) Apophis. The observations were made by the 2.4-m telescope at Yunnan Observatory over 10 nights. The position and proper motion errors of the reference stars in the USNO CCD Astrograph Catalogue 4 (UCAC4) star catalogue are corrected by using the newest correction table provided by Farnocchia et al. The geometric distortion of the field of view is also derived from the unbiased star positions in UCAC4 and removed. The theoretical position of Apophis was retrieved from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Horizons system. Our results show that the mean O-Cs (observed minus computed) are 0.016 and 0.034 arcsec in right ascension and declination, respectively. The dispersions of our observations are estimated at 0.041 and 0.045 arcsec in right ascension and declination, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Previous studies of drug resistance have shown that mutations in the drug resistance-determining region ( DRDR) in the Folp1, RpoB and GyrA genes of Mycobacterium leprae are responsible for resistance to dapsone, rifampin and ofloxacin, respectively. Aim To investigate the prevalence of mutations in genes associated with drug resistance in M. leprae isolates from patients with leprosy in Shandong Province. Methods The DRDR in the FolP1, RpoB and GyrA genes was analysed by direct sequencing of the PCR product from 85 isolates of M. leprae sampled from patients with leprosy in Shandong, China. Results Sequencing results were obtained for FolP1, RpoB and GyrA in 67, 57 and 81 of the 85 samples, with mutation rates of 1.5% (1/67), 8.8% 5/57 and 25.9% (21/81). Three multidrug-resistant samples were found among the new cases: one had a mutation in both Folp1 and RpoB, while the other two had a mutation in both RpoB and GyrA. Conclusions Primary resistance appears to be to either single drugs or combinations of two drugs. The resistance rate to dapsone seems to be low. To our knowledge, this is the first case of multidrug-resistant M. leprae from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthomas are important clinical manifestations of disordered lipid metabolism, which are mostly found in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia ( FH), an inherited disorder that is predominantly caused by mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene ( LDLR). Tuberous and tendinous xanthomas with wide distribution and large size are rare; however, they may indicate the severity of FH, and tend to be found in homozygous FH. In this study, we investigated the clinical and genetic aspects of a young patient with FH presenting with multiple large masses in various locations. The lesions on the elbows and buttocks were locally excised and subsequently confirmed by biopsy to be xanthomas. Genetic analysis further confirmed that the patient was compound heterozygous for two mutations in both alleles of the LDLR gene. This rare case of compound heterozygous FH presenting with multiple large and widely distributed xanthomas provides a better understanding of FH and xanthomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To investigate whether lactic acid bacteria ( LAB) can exhibit anti-allergy properties in antibiotics-treated mice model. Methods and Results Antibiotic treatment affected the composition of the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, and thus has a mild effect on Th1/Th2 balance. Oral administration of Streptococcus thermophilus CCFM218 ( ST218) could not fully repair antibiotic-induced damage to the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, and restore them to their original condition. But ST218 treatment revealed a strong suppressive effect on airway inflammation characterized by reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and levels of Th2 cytokines in lung tissues, which was associated with an enhanced mucosal tolerance. Conclusions These results showed that ST218 could alleviate allergic responses in mice treated with antibiotics, primarily through the modulation of mucosal and systemic responses rather than the restoration of the intestinal microbiota. Significance and Impact of the Study The rise in incidence in allergies may correlate with the widespread and liberal use of antibiotics. This study affirmed that one species of LAB ST218 significantly reduces allergic airway inflammation in antibiotic-treated mice model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): British Heart Foundation Cardiomyopathies are an important cause of heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of the "passive" mechanical components of cardiomyocytes (CMs) as new causes for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Nesprin-1/-2 are highly expressed in skeletal and cardiac muscle and together with SUN (Sad1p/UNC84)-domain containing proteins form the LInker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex at the nuclear envelope (NE), which, in association with lamin A/C and emerin, mechanically couples the nucleus to the cytoskeleton. We have recently identified novel nesprin-1 mutants in  DCM patients, which cause LINC complex disruption, leading to defects in nuclear organisation and myogenesis in vitro. We aim to investigate mechanisms through which these mutations lead to DCM. Therefore, we have generated a nesprin-1 mutant R8253Q knock-in (KI) mouse line (equivalent to human SYNE1 R8272Q) as the first clinically relevant animal model. 2. R8272Q is in close proximity to the binding regions to microtubule (MT) associated proteins kinesin light chain-1/2 and Akap6 at the nuclear envelope, which is potentially in involved in MT organization. Preliminary mouse echocardiography data showed significantly reduced thickness of left ventricle (LV) posterior wall in diastole, and reduced % ejection fraction in the KIs at 15 weeks after birth, suggesting LV dysfunction and a tendency of DCM. Immunofluorescence (IF) of isolated adult cardiomyocytes (ACM) from KI mice showed perinuclear MT localization was significantly reduced, KLC-1/2 and AKAP6 were mislocalized from the NE and altered nuclear positioning. Therefore, we propose to investigate novel roles of nesprin-1 and the LINC complex in cardiomyocyte mechanotransduction using this KI model to explore roles of  nesprin-1 in microtubule organization, nuclear positioning, and CM homeostasis, which will yield insights into signalling leading to DCM and heart failure as well as inform strategies for translational approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study evaluated the clinical characteristics, surgical procedures and prognosis of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumours ( GISTs). Methods Patients with a diagnosis of primary duodenal GIST treated between January 2000 and December 2012 were analysed. Patients with gastric and small intestinal GISTs were chosen as control groups according to the following parameters: age, tumour size, mitotic index and adjuvant imatinib therapy. Operative procedures for patients with duodenal GIST included pancreaticoduodenectomy or limited resection. Disease-free survival ( DFS) was calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results Some 71 patients with duodenal, 71 with gastric and 70 with small intestinal GISTs were included in the study. DFS of patients with duodenal GIST was shorter than that of patients with gastric GIST (3-year DFS 84 versus 94 per cent; hazard ratio ( HR) 3.67, 95 per cent c.i. 1.21 to 11.16; P = 0.014), but was similar to that of patients with small intestinal GIST (3-year DFS 84 versus 81 per cent; HR 0.75, 0.37 to 1.51; P = 0.491). Patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy were older, and had larger tumours and a higher mitotic index than patients who had limited resection. The 3-year DFS was 93 per cent among patients who had limited resection compared with 64 per cent for those who underwent PD ( HR 0.18, 0.06 to 0.59; P = 0.001). Conclusion The prognosis of duodenal GISTs is similar to that of small intestinal GISTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effect of soy lecithin on the bile resistance of Lactobacillus plantarum. Six strains were cultured in MRS broth supplemented with soy lecithin at different concentrations. The strains incubated in MRS broth with 1·0% soy lecithin showed no inhibitory effect on cell growth. After culturing in MRS broth with 0·2-1·0% soy lecithin, the survival rate of harvested cells increased significantly ( P < 0·05) in the 0·3% bile challenge compared with the no added soy lecithin group. The cells incubated with 0·6% soy lecithin were able to grow in an MRS broth with a higher bile salt content. The surface hydrophobicity and cell leakage in the bile challenge were assessed to reveal the physical changes caused by the addition of soy lecithin. The cell surface hydrophobicity was enhanced and the membrane integrity in the bile challenge increased after culturing with soy lecithin. A shift in the fatty acid composition was also observed, illustrating the cell membrane change in the soy lecithin culture. Significance and Impact of the Study In this study, we report for the first time the beneficial effect of adding soy lecithin to an MRS broth on subsequent bile tolerance of Lactobacillus plantarum. Soy lecithin had no inhibitory effect on strain viability but significantly enhanced bile resistance. Surface hydrophobicity and cell integrity increased in strains cultured with soy lecithin. The observed shift in the cell fatty acid composition indicated changes to the cell membrane. As soy lecithin is safe for use in the food industry, its protective effects can be harnessed for the development of bile-sensitive strains with health-benefit functions for use in probiotic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

346 new CCD observations during the years 2011-2014 have been reduced to derive the precise positions of Phoebe, the ninth satellite of Saturn. The observations were made by the 2.4 m telescope at Yunnan Observatory over nine nights. Due to the use of a focal-reducer on the telescope, its significant geometric distortion is solved for and removed for each CCD field of view. The positions of Phoebe are measured with respect to the stars in UCAC2 catalogue. The theoretical position of Phoebe was retrieved from the Institute de Méchanique Céleste et de Calcul des Éphémérides ephemeris which includes the latest theory PH12 by Desmars et al., while the position of Saturn was obtained from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory ephemeris DE431. Our results show that the mean O-Cs (observed minus computed) are -0.02 and -0.07 arcsec in right ascension and declination, respectively. The dispersions of our observations are estimated at about 0.04 arcsec in each direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Membrane distillation bioreactors ( MDBR) have potential for industrial applications where wastewater is hot or waste heat is available, but the role of micro-organisms in MDBRs has never been determined, and thus was the purpose of this study. Methods and Results Microbial communities were characterized by bacterial and archaeal 16S and eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene tag-encoded pyrosequencing of DNA obtained from sludge. Taxonomy-independent analysis revealed that bacterial communities had a relatively low richness and diversity, and community composition strongly correlated with conductivity, total nitrogen and bound extracellular polymeric substances ( EPS). Taxonomy-dependent analysis revealed that Rubrobacter and Caldalkalibacillus were abundant members of the bacterial community, but no archaea were detected. Eukaryotic communities had a relatively high richness and diversity, and both changes in community composition and abundance of the dominant genus, Candida, correlated with bound EPS. Conclusions Thermophilic MDBR communities were comprised of a low diversity bacterial community and a highly diverse eukaryotic community with no archea detected. Communities exhibited low resilience to changes in operational parameters. Specifically, retenatate nutrient composition and concentration was strongly correlated with the dominant species. Significance and Impact of the Study This study provides an understanding of microbial community diversity in an MDBR, which is fundamental to the optimization of reactor performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]