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Centromere‐associated protein E (CENP‐E) is a kinesin motor protein essential for mitosis and a new target for anticancer agents with less side effects. To rationally design anticancer drug candidates based on structure, it is important to determine the three‐dimensional structure of the CENP‐E motor domain bound to its inhibitor. Here, we report the first crystal structure of the CENP‐E motor domain in complex with a non‐hydrolysable ATP analogue, adenylyl‐imidodiphosphate (AMPPNP). Furthermore, the structure is compared with the ADP‐bound form of the CENP‐E motor domain as well as the AMPPNP‐bound forms of other kinesins. This study indicates that helix α4 of CENP‐E participates in the slow binding of CENP‐E to microtubules. These results will contribute to the development of anticancer drugs targeting CENP‐E. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the covalent linkage of two bent bisanthracene amphiphiles with a biphenyl spacer bearing hydrophilic pendants, we synthesized a new molecular clip with a C-shaped conformation. The molecular clip provides an acyclic, open cavity surrounded by four anthracene panels in water. In contrast to previous clip- and tweezers-like compounds as well as cage-shaped compounds, the C-shaped polyaromatic cavity displays unusual wide-ranging capturing abilities toward not only planar perylene-based pigments and cylindrical single-walled carbon nanotubes but also highly branched macromolecules (carbazole dendrimers). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the covalent linkage of two bent bisanthracene amphiphiles with a biphenyl spacer bearing hydrophilic pendants, we synthesized a new molecular clip with a C-shaped conformation. The molecular clip provides an acyclic, open cavity surrounded by four anthracene panels in water. In contrast to previous clip- and tweezers-like compounds as well as cage-shaped compounds, the C-shaped polyaromatic cavity displays unusual wide-ranging capturing abilities toward not only planar perylene-based pigments and cylindrical single-walled carbon nanotubes but also highly branched macromolecules (carbazole dendrimers). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functionalization of the polyaromatic shell of a micelle-like molecular capsule was accomplished by simple functionalization of the amphiphilic subunits composed of a bent bis-anthracene framework and two trimethylammonium groups. In aqueous solutions, functionalized subunits assemble spontaneously and quantitatively into spherical capsules providing anthracene shells with external diameters of 2-3 nm through hydrophobic and aromatic-aromatic interactions. The shape and size of the functionalized capsules remain similar to the original, but the emissive intensities increase significantly (up to 5-fold) by attaching cyano or phenylethynyl groups. Furthermore, the shell-functionalization drastically enhances the host-guest photophysical properties (up to 8-fold) in the cavities of the capsules, as estimated by emission intensities from the encapsulated fluorescent dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New porphyrin sensitizers based on donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) approach have been designed, synthesized, characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and their photovoltaic properties explored. N,N'-Diphenylamine acts as donor, the porphyrin is the π-spacer, and either carboxylic acid or cyanoacryclic acid acts as acceptor. All compounds were characterized by using 1H NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, UV-visible emission spectroscopies as well as electrochemical methods. The presence of aromatic groups between porphyrin π-plane and acceptor group push the absorption of both Soret and Q-bands of porphyrin towards the red region. The electrochemical properties suggests that LUMO of these sensitizers above the TiO2 conduction band. Finally, the device was fabricated using liquid redox electrolyte (I-/ I3 -) and its efficiency was compared with that of a leading sensitizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim The existence of other primary tumors during the treatment and management of gastric cancer ( GC) is an important issue. The present study investigated the prevalence and management of synchronous colorectal neoplasms ( CRN) in surgically treated GC patients. Methods Of 381 surgically treated GC patients, 332 (87.1%) underwent colonoscopy to detect CRN before surgery or within a year after surgery. Results CRN were synchronously observed in 140 patients (42.2%). Adenoma was observed in 131 patients (39.4%). Endoscopic resection was done in 18 patients with adenoma. Colorectal cancer ( CRC) was observed in 16 patients (4.8%), superficial CRC in 13 and advanced CRC in three patients. Endoscopicresection of superficial CRC was carried out in seven patients, whereas simultaneous surgical resection of CRC was done in nine patients. CRN were more frequently observed in men. CRC was more frequently observed in GC patients with distant metastasis, albeit without significance. The overall survival of GC patients with CRN or CRC was poorer than that of patients without CRN or CRC. Conclusion Synchronous CRN were commonly associated with GC and screening colonoscopy should be offered to patients with GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterovirus 68 ( EV68) infection occasionally manifests with fatal outcomes. However, detection of EV68 in serum and its clinical outcomes are yet to be determined. In this study, we retrospectively tested stored serum samples collected from pediatric pneumonia patients whose nasopharyngeal specimens were positive for EV68. Of total 28 nasopharyngeal sample-positive patients, EV68 was detected in serum samples among 12 (43%) patients aged between 1 and 4 years. Our results suggest that EV68 can cause viremia by which the virus may exhibit systemic manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atroposelective formation: Selective formation of a molecular capsule was demonstrated from an amphiphilic cis‐atropisomer bearing three anthracene rings and four sulfonate groups through hydrophobic and aromatic–aromatic interactions. The dimeric capsule binds small guest molecules; the resultant host–guest complexes exhibit ground‐state charge‐transfer interactions accompanied by changes in host emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atropselektive Bildung: Ein amphiphiles cis ‐ Atropisomer mit drei Anthracenringen und vier Sulfonatgruppen bildet über hydrophobe und Aren ‐ Aren ‐ Wechselwirkungen eine molekulare Kapsel. Die dimere Kapsel bindet kleine Gastmoleküle, und die entstehenden Wirt ‐ Gast ‐ Komplexe zeigen Charge ‐ Transfer ‐ Wechselwirkungen, die mit Änderungen der Wirt ‐ Emission einhergehen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aromatic micelles: Hydrophobic and aromatic–aromatic interactions promoted the spontaneous formation of micelle‐inspired molecular capsules with large aromatic shells from bent bisanthracene amphiphiles (see picture). The micellar capsules could accommodate fluorescent‐dye guests in water, and the resultant nanocomposites exhibited strong fluorescence through efficient energy transfer from the host shells to the encapsulated guests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aromatische Micellen: Hydrophobe und Aren ‐ Aren ‐ Wechselwirkungen vermitteln die spontane Bildung micellartiger molekularer Kapseln mit großen aromatischen Schalen aus gebogenen Bisanthracen ‐ Amphiphilen (siehe Bild). Die micellaren Kapseln können in Wasser Fluoreszenzfarbstoffe aufnehmen, und die resultierenden Nanokomposite zeigen starke Fluoreszenz aufgrund eines effizienten Energietransfers von der Schale zum verkapselten Gastmolekül. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We created a system that allows the visualization of breath sounds (visual stethoscope). Aim We compared the visual stethoscope technique with auscultation for the detection of bronchial intubation in pediatric patients. Methods In the auscultation group, an anesthesiologist advanced the tracheal tube, while another anesthesiologist auscultated bilateral breath sounds to detect the change and/or disappearance of unilateral breath sounds. In the visualization group, the stethoscope was used to detect changes in breath sounds and/or disappearance of unilateral breath sounds. The distance from the edge of the mouth to the carina was measured using a fiberoptic bronchoscope. Results Forty pediatric patients were enrolled in the study. At the point at which irregular breath sounds were auscultated, the tracheal tube was located at 0.5 ± 0.8 cm on the bronchial side from the carina. When a detectable change of shape of the visualized breath sound was observed, the tracheal tube was located 0.1 ± 1.2 cm on the bronchial side (not significant). At the point at which unilateral breath sounds were auscultated or a unilateral shape of the visualized breath sound was observed, the tracheal tube was 1.5 ± 0.8 or 1.2 ± 1.0 cm on the bronchial side, respectively (not significant). Conclusions The visual stethoscope allowed to display the left and the right lung sound simultaneously and detected changes of breath sounds and unilateral breath sound as a tracheal tube was advanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ce-doped Gd3Al3Ga2O12 (Ce:GAGG) crystal shows good scintillation performances, especially high light yield. However, its scintillation decay contains slower components. Such phenomenon is due to the delayed radiative recombination process which is caused by trapping effects in the transport stage of scintillation mechanism. Various defects including oxygen vacancy can give rise to shallow traps in the forbidden gap of the material which can cause such phenomena. To study the influence of such oxygen defects, 0.2-mol% Ce-doped GAGG single crystals were grown by Floating Zone method using growth atmosphere with different oxygen concentrations. The optical and scintillation properties of the crystals were examined. The light yield and emission wavelength of these samples did not depend on the oxygen content in the growth atmosphere. On the other hand, scintillation decays of the samples grown under the high oxygen concentrations (100 and 40% oxygen) were faster than that of the sample grown under the lower concentration (20%). Oxygen content in the growth atmosphere thus appears an important parameter in the optimization of the growth process of these materials (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

' Candidatus Helicobacter heilmannii' induce chronic gastritis, which eventually leads to gastric B-cell type mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. This study was performed using an animal model of infection with ' Candidatus Helicobacter heilmannii' to elucidate how this chronic inflammation is induced or maintained. BALB/c mice were infected with the ' Candidatus Helicobacter heilmannii' isolate SH4. The animals were examined at 8, 26, 54, and 83 weeks after the infection. The stomach of the animals was resected and immunostained for peripheral lymph node addressin (PNAd) and mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 (MAdCAM-1), ' Candidatus Helicobacter heilmannii,' and CD45R/B220. An in vitro binding assay with L- and E-selectin·IgM chimeric proteins was performed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate transcripts of N-acetylglucosamine-6- O-sulfotransferases (GlcNAc6STs), which direct the expression of the PNAd and MAdCAM-1. Chronic gastritis developed in the infected animals, and its severity increased with the duration of the infection. B-cell type MALT lymphoma developed in some animals at 54 and 83 weeks after infection. PNAd- and MAdCAM-1-expressing high endothelial venule (HEV)-like vessels were induced in infected animals which developed chronic gastritis and MALT lymphoma. The number of HEV-like vessels increased as chronic inflammation progressed. The induced HEV-like vessels were bound by L- and E-selectin·IgM chimeric protein. mRNA expressions of GlcNAc6ST-1 and MAdCAM-1 increased in the infected animals. HEV-like vessels expressing GlcNAc6ST-1-mediated L-selectin ligand carbohydrate and MAdCAM-1 may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ' Candidatus Helicobacter heilmannii'-induced chronic gastritis and MALT lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have used activation tagging with T-DNA carrying cauliflower mosaic virus 35S enhancers to investigate the complex signaling networks underlying disease resistance in Arabidopsis. From a screen of ~5000 lines, we identified constitutive disease resistance (CDR1) encoding an apoplastic aspartic protease, the overexpression of which causes dwarfing and resistance to virulent Pseudomonas syringae. These phenotypes reflect salicylic-acid-dependent activation of micro-oxidative bursts and various defense-related genes. Antisense CDR1 plants were compromised for resistance to avirulent P. syringae and more susceptible to virulent strains than wild type. CDR1 accumulates in intercellular fluid in response to pathogen attacks. Induction of CDR1 generates a small mobile signal, and CDR1 action is blocked by the protease inhibitor pepstatin and by mutations in the protease active sites. We propose that CDR1 mediates a peptide signal system involved in the activation of inducible resistance mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferredoxin (Fd)-dependent glutamate synthase is present in green leaves, etiolated leaves, shoots, and roots of Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Columbia). In photosynthetic green leaves and shoots, Fd-dependent glutamate synthase accounts for more than 96% of the total glutamate synthase activity in vitro with the remaining activity derived from an enzyme that uses NADH as the electron donor. In etiolated leaves and roots, Fd-dependent glutamate synthase is 3-4-fold less active than in green leaves, but represents 70-85% of the total glutamate synthase activity in these tissues. Fd-dependent glutamate synthase is detected as a single peptide of 165 kDa on a western blot of green leaf and shoot tissues, and this Fd-dependent glutamate synthase polypeptide is 3-4-fold less abundant in etiolated leaves and roots. In these non-photosynthetic tissues, there is a higher activity of NADH-dependent glutamate synthase. The A. thaliana gltS mutant (strain CS254) contains, only 1.7% and 17.5% of the wild-type Fd-dependent glutamate synthase activity in leaves and roots, respectively. Western blots indicate that the Fd-dependent glutamate synthase peptide of 165 kDa is absent from leaves and roots of the gltS mutant. In contrast, NADH-dependent glutamate synthase activity in leaves and roots is unaffected. During illumination of wild-type dark-grown leaves for 72 h, the levels of Fd-dependent glutamate synthase protein and its activity increased threefold to levels equivalent to those in green leaves. In contrast, NADH-dependent glutamate synthase activity decreases, twofold during illumination. The complete nucleotide sequence of the complementary DNA for A. thaliana Fd-dependent glutamate synthase has been determined. Analysis of the amino acid sequence deduced from the complete cDNA sequence (5178 bp) has revealed that A. thaliana Fd-dependent glutamate synthase is synthesized as a 1648-amino-acid precursor protein (180090 Da) which consists of a 131-amino-acid transit peptide (14603 Da) and a 1517-amino-acid mature peptide (165487 Da). The A. thaliana Fd-dependent glutamate synthase has a high similarity to maize Fd-dependent glutamate synthase (83%) and to the analogous region of NADH-dependent glutamate synthase (42%) and NADPH-dependent glutamate synthases (40-43%) from different organisms. The A. thaliana Fd-dependent glutamate synthase contains the purF-type glutamine-amido-transfer domare as well as ravin and iron-sulfur-cluster-binding domains. The deduced primary structures of A. thaliana Fd-dependent glutamate synthase and of glutamate synthases from other organisms indicate that Fd-dependent glutamate synthase may have evolved from bacterial NADPH-dependent glutamate synthase. The cDNA hybridized to RNA of about 5.3 kb from different tissues of A. thaliana. A high steadystate level of Fd-dependent glutamate synthase mRNA is found in photosynthetic green leaves and shoots, and roots contain less mRNA for Fd-dependent glutamate synthase. In the gltS mutant, there are twofold and fourfold lower levels of Fd-dependent glutamate synthase mRNA in leaves and roots, respectively, relative to those in wild-type A. thaliana. Under continuous illumination of dark-grown leaves, the Fddependent glutamate synthase mRNA is induced twofold to a level equivalent to that in green leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinach leaf ferredoxin and ferredoxin : NADP oxidoreductase as well as pig adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase have been purified to homogeneity. Ferredoxin-NADP reductase and adrenodoxin-NADP reductase can perform the same diaphorase reactions (dichloroindophenol, ferricyanide and cytochrome c reduction) albeit not with the same efficiency. Despite the differences in their redox potentials, animal and plant ferredoxins can be used as heterologous substrates by the ferredoxin-NADP reductases from both sources. In heterologous systems, however, the ferredoxin/adrenodoxin concentrations must be increased approximately 100-fold in order to reach rates similar to those obtained in homologous systems. Ferredoxin and adrenodoxin can form complexes with the heterologous reductases as demonstrated by binding experiments on ferredoxin-Sepharose or ferredoxin- NADP-reductase - Sepharose and by the realization of difference spectra. Adrenodoxin also weakly substitutes for ferredoxin in NADP photoreduction, and can be used as an electron carrier in the light activation of the chloroplastic enzyme NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase. In addition adrenodoxin is a good catalyst of pseudocyclic photophosphorylation, but not of cyclic phosphorylation and can serve as a substrate of glutamate synthase. These results are discussed with respect to the known structures of plant and animals ferredoxins and their respective reductases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the early detection of new microcracks on aluminum and aluminum alloys caused by a fatigue. Measurement of the change in the contact potential difference of the aluminum and aluminum alloy specimens; Application of measurement at atmospheric pressure; Diameter of effective probe.

Objective Materials and Methods Results Conclusions This study aimed to investigate the effect of plasma‐activated Ringer's lactate solution (PAL) on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells and carcinogenic processes with a particular focus on iron and collagenous matrix formation.We used three OSCC cell lines, one keratinocyte cell line, and two fibroblast lines, and cell viability assays, immunoblotting, flow cytometry, and transmission electron microscopy were performed to evaluate the effect and type of cell death. The effect of PAL treatment on lysyl oxidase (LOX) expression was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Tamoxifen‐inducible Mob1a/b double‐knockout mice were used for the in vivo experiment.PAL killed OSCC cells more effectively than the control nontumorous cells and suppressed cell migration and invasion. Ferroptosis occurred and the protein level of LOX was downregulated in cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, PAL improved the survival rate of mice and suppressed collagenous matrix formation.We demonstrated that PAL specifically kills OSCC cells and that ferroptosis occurs in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, PAL can prevent carcinogenesis and improve the survival rate of oral cancer, especially tongue cancer, by changing collagenous matrix formation via LOX suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase transition of water confined in nanospaces with charged inner‐surfaces was investigated by vibrational spectroscopy. Aerosol sodium bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelles give a series of spherical nanospaces with controlled inner‐radius (Rw) with nanometer‐scale precision. Successive spectroscopic measurements of the confined water with decreasing temperature revealed that the water freezes to metastable cubic ice (Ic) coexisting with super‐cooled water or unstable amorphous ice at the Rw ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 nm. When Rw exceeded 2.0 nm, stable hexagonal ice (Ih) dominated. The drastic change of the dominant ice structure with the increase of 1 nm in Rw shows that the thickness of water layers affected by the inner surface can be estimated to be ~1 nm, where three or four layers of water hydrated to the surface. It is worth noting that the clear phase transition behavior of the confined water vanishes at Rw = 1.2 nm and that the gradual formation of Ic and coexistence of super‐cooled water or glassy state of water are detected. The range of the effective interaction between interfacial water and the charged inner surfaces and the mechanism of the extremely slow phase transition were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the fifth most common cancer of female cancer death and leading cause of lethal gynecological cancers. High‐grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is an aggressive malignancy that is rapidly fatal. Many cases of OC show amplification of the 8q24 chromosomal region, which contains the well‐known oncogene MYC. Although MYC amplification is more frequently observed in OCs than in other tumor types, due to the large size of the 8q24 amplicon, the functions of the vast majority of the genes it contains are still unknown. The TIGD5 gene is located at 8q24.3 and encodes a nuclear protein with a DNA‐binding motif, but its precise role is obscure. We show here that TIGD5 often co‐amplifies with MYC in OCs, and that OC patients with high TIGD5 mRNA expression have a poor prognosis. However, we also found that TIGD5 overexpression in ovarian cancer cell lines unexpectedly suppressed their growth, adhesion, and invasion in vitro, and also reduced tumor growth in xenografted nude mice in vivo. Thus, our work suggests that TIGD5 may in fact operate as a tumor suppressor in OCs rather than as an oncogene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bladder cancer (BlC) is the fourth most common cancer in males worldwide, but few systemic chemotherapy options for its effective treatment exist. The development of new molecularly‐targeted agents against BlC is therefore an urgent issue. The Hippo signaling pathway, with its upstream LATS kinases and downstream transcriptional co‐activators YAP1 and TAZ, plays a pivotal role in diverse cell functions, including cell proliferation. Recent studies have shown that overexpression of YAP1 occurs in advanced BlCs and is associated with poor patient prognosis. Accessing data from our previous screening of a chemical library of compounds targeting the Hippo pathway, we identified DMPCA (N‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenethyl)‐6‐methyl‐2,3,4,9‐tetrahydro‐1H‐carbazol‐1‐amine) as an agent able to induce the phosphorylation of LATS1 and YAP1/TAZ in BlC cells, thereby suppressing their viability both in vitro and in mouse xenografts. Our data indicate that DMPCA has a potent anti‐tumor effect, and raise the possibility that this agent may represent a new and effective therapeutic option for BlC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are composed of DNA and antimicrobial proteins, including myeloperoxidase (MPO). Recent studies have demonstrated that impaired regulation of NETs could trigger an autoimmune response. Propylthiouracil (PTU), an antithyroid drug, is associated with a risk of MPO antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) production and MPO ANCA-associated vasculitis (MPO AAV). This study was undertaken to clarify the mechanism of MPO ANCA production, using the PTU-induced model of MPO AAV. Methods NETs were induced by treating human neutrophils with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) in vitro. We examined whether the addition of PTU influenced the NET formation induced by PMA and the degradation of NETs by DNase I, which is regarded as a regulator of NETs. Furthermore, we examined whether NETs generated by the combination of PMA and PTU induced MPO ANCA and MPO AAV in vivo in rats. Results When NETs were induced by PMA with PTU using human neutrophils in vitro, abnormal conformation of NETs was observed. Interestingly, the abnormal NETs were hardly digested by DNase I. Moreover, rats immunized with the abnormal NETs, which had been induced by PMA with PTU using rat neutrophils, produced MPO ANCA and developed pulmonary capillaritis. When rats were given oral PTU with intraperitoneal injection of PMA, pauci-immune glomerulonephritis and pulmonary capillaritis occurred with MPO ANCA production in the serum. Conclusion Our findings indicate that abnormal conformation and impaired degradation of NETs induced by PTU are involved in the pathogenesis of PTU-induced MPO ANCA production and MPO AAV. These findings suggest that disordered NETs can be critically implicated in the pathogenesis of MPO AAV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miura M, Fujita H, Suzuki A, Kubota KC, Fukasawa Y, Shimoda N, Tsuchihashi S, Tamaki T. A case of progressive thrombotic microangiopathy after ABO-incompatible renal transplantation. Clin Transplant 2011: 25 (Suppl. 23): 19-22. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. A 21-yr-old man of blood type O receiving hemodialysis for IgA nephropathy underwent living-related ABO-incompatible (ABOI) renal transplantation from his mother, whose blood type is A. He was negative for flow cross-match, anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody, and anti-MICA antibody. Pre-treatment anti-A IgG titer was 1:256. Desensitization consisted of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, methylprednisolone, rituximab, and plasmapheresis. He developed acute antibody rejection at day 2 post-transplant, which was successfully treated. After renal artery reconstruction surgery at day 91 for renovascular hypertension caused by renal artery stricture, the patient suffered from acute prostatitis, which subsequently induced type III acute antibody-mediated rejection. Even after recovery from the rejection after temporary hemodialysis, graft function progressively deteriorated and consecutive allograft biopsy showed progressive thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) without any evidence of donor-specific antibody other than anti-A antibody. The tacrolimus dose was kept low for fear of tacrolimus-induced TMA. Despite these efforts, the patient resumed hemodialysis six months' post-transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Keratinocyte-specific Pten-null mice revealed distinct phenotypes, including epidermal and sebaceous gland hyperplasia. To determine the candidate genes that contribute to their phenotypes, we analyzed a comprehensive gene expression of Pten-null keratinocytes using microarray technology. Consequently, it was demonstrated that the most induced gene was adipocyte-specific fatty acid-binding protein (FABP4). Collectively, it is conceivable that the FABP4 pathway mediates the sebaceous gland hyperplasia in keratinocyte-specific Pten-null mice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An automatic vehicle speed measurement system is presented that can reliably associate the vehicle ID with the retrieved vehicle speed. The system captures images of vehicles passing between two points on the ground that are in the same vicinity, using a pair of linescan cameras installed in a parallel configuration, and measures the speed of passing vehicles by measuring the time taken for the vehicle license plate to move between the two points. In the proposed method, a pair of linescan cameras arranged in parallel is first used to detect passing vehicles and retrieve images of the front sections of the vehicles by capturing images of the vehicles from an angle diagonal to the direction of motion. High-resolution images of the front section of the vehicles are obtained by image capture at a diagonal to the direction of the vehicles in order to obtain high spatial and temporal resolution images of the objects passing in front of the linescan cameras without the images being overly large. However, the license plate in the retrieved images is distorted depending on the position of the plate and the vehicle speed, and this distortion is corrected by performing a geometrical transformation on the images, based on the position at which the license plate passes the cameras and the time the vehicle takes to pass, as determined by finding corresponding blocks. After this, license plate recognition is used to determine the vehicle speed at the position of the license plate. A 24-hour vehicle speed measurement experiment that used an infrared LED for illumination only during the nighttime achieved an 85.1% success rate in measuring the speeds of vehicles at the position of the license plates, thus verifying the validity of the proposed method. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 89(10): 33–45, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.20274 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a multifunctional phosphatase whose substrate is phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3), and it is also a ubiquitously expressed tumor suppressor gene that down-regulates phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI3Ks). Although there are a few reports about PTEN related to hepatocellular carcinoma, the role of PTEN in the liver remains unclear. Therefore, to clarify the role of PTEN in the liver, we generated and analyzed hepatocyte-specific Pten-deficient mice (Pten-deficient mice). The liver of 40-week-old Pten-deficient mice revealed macrovesicular steatosis, ballooning hepatocytes, lobular inflammatory cell infiltration, and perisinusoidal fibrosis that are characteristic of human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). By 80 weeks of age, 100% of Pten-deficient livers showed adenomas and 66% had hepatocellular carcinomas. Thus, PTEN is important for the prevention of adipogenic and tumorigenic transformation, and Pten-deficient mice are a novel model for NASH and hepatocellular carcinoma. Our results suggest that the controlled blocking of molecules acting downstream of PI3K might provide significant therapeutic benefit to patients predisposed to NASH and hepatocellular carcinoma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There are currently no treatments for salivary gland diseases, making it vital to understand signaling mechanisms operating in acinar and ductal cells so as to develop regenerative therapies. To date, little work has focused on elucidating the signaling cascades controlling the differentiation of these cell types in adult mammals. To analyze the function of the Hippo‐TAZ/YAP1 pathway in adult mouse salivary glands, we generated adMOB1DKO mice in which both MOB1A and MOB1B were TAM‐inducibly deleted when the animals were adults. Three weeks after TAM treatment, adMOB1DKO mice exhibited smaller submandibular glands (SMGs) than controls with a decreased number of acinar cells and an increased number of immature dysplastic ductal cells. The mutants suffered from reduced saliva production accompanied by mild inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis in SMGs, similar to the Sjogren's syndrome. MOB1‐deficient acinar cells showed normal proliferation and apoptosis but decreased differentiation, leading to an increase in acinar/ductal bilineage progenitor cells. These changes were TAZ‐dependent but YAP1‐independent. Biochemically, MOB1‐deficient salivary epithelial cells showed activation of the TAZ/YAP1 and β‐catenin in ductal cells, but reduced SOX2 and SOX10 expression in acinar cells. Thus, Hippo‐TAZ signaling is critical for proper ductal and acinar cell differentiation and function in adult mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single SH group in the B chain (33 kDa), generated by the specific reduction of the single interchain SS bond of human urinary urokinase, was alkylated (UK · B) with iodoacetamide to prevent a spontaneous SH-SS interchange. An SS bond in UK · B was exclusively alkylated with iodoacetamide (R · CAM-UK · B) after reduction with dithiothreitol in 0.3 M guanidine · HCl in the presence of the competitive inhibitor N&alpha:-benzoyl-L-argininamide with concomitant loss of 65-68% of the esterolytic activity towards N-acetyl-glycyl-L-lysine methyl ester. This specific SS bond was located at Cys194-Cys222 whose SS loop contained the active-site Ser198, as determined by amino acid analyses and identification of the N and C termini of the tryptic digest. Transformation of UK · B into R · CAM-UK · B induced no shift of the optimal pH in the bell-shaped pH/activity profile; pH values for 50% activity were similar (pH 9.7) for 10-min alkalization of the enzyme but different between UK · B (pH 9.4) and R · CAM-UK · B (pH 8.8) for 18-h alkalization. An unaltered Km value and a decline by 64% in k... in the esterolytic activity indicate that the pretransition Michaelis complex is formed without degeration of the primary substrate-binding site, but the catalytic pathway thereafter has deteriorated. In affinity labeling with dansyl chloride or Nalpha;-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethylketone, which interrupted the catalysis at the latest at a stage involving the abortive acyl intermediate, the second-order rate constant for UK · B was lowered to 28% or 35% for R · CAM-UK · B, respectively, but the labeling yields were similar. The results indicate that indispensable structural elements, such as the catalytic triad and oxyanion hole, are maintained but a local conformation, which is necessary for efficient transition to the acyl intermediate and/or for resistance against alkaline inactivation, is destabilized with Cys194-Cys222 scission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell competition is a biological process by which unfit cells are eliminated from "cell society." We previously showed that cultured mammalian epithelial Madin‐Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells expressing constitutively active YAP were eliminated by apical extrusion when surrounded by "normal" MDCK cells. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the elimination of active YAP‐expressing cells was unknown. Here, we used high‐throughput chemical compound screening to identify cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) as a key molecule triggering cell competition. Our work shows that COX‐2‐mediated PGE2 secretion engages its receptor EP2 on abnormal and nearby normal cells. This engagement of EP2 triggers downstream signaling via an adenylyl cyclase‐cyclic AMP‐PKA pathway that, in the presence of active YAP, induces E‐cadherin internalization leading to apical extrusion. Thus, COX‐2‐induced PGE2 appears a warning signal to both abnormal and surrounding normal cells to drive cell competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian STE20‐like protein kinase 1/2 (MST1/2) and nuclear Dbf2‐related kinase 1/2 (NDR1/2) are core components of Hippo signaling that are also known to be important regulators of lymphocyte trafficking. However, little is understood about the roles of other Hippo pathway molecules in these cells. Here, we present the first analysis of the function of Mps one binder kinase activator‐1 (MOB1) in T lymphocytes in vivo. T‐cell‐specific double knockout (DKO) of MOB1A/B in mice [tMob1 DKO mice] reduces the number of naïve T cells in both the circulation and secondary lymphoid organs, but leads to an accumulation of CD4+CD8− and CD4−CD8+ single‐positive (SP) cells in the thymus. In vitro, naïve MOB1A/B‐deficient T cells show increased apoptosis and display impaired trafficking capacity in response to the chemokine CCL19. These defects are linked to suppression of the activation of MST and NDR kinases, but are independent of the downstream transcriptional co‐activator Yes‐associated protein 1 (YAP1). Thus, MOB1 proteins play an important role in thymic egress and T‐cell survival that is mediated by a pathway other than conventional Hippo‐YAP1 signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the main viral causes of lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI), especially in young children. RSV vaccines, including maternal and infant vaccines, are under development; however, more epidemiological studies are needed to develop effective vaccination strategies. Objectives: To estimate detailed age‐specific incidence rates and severity of RSV‐associated LRTI (RSV‐LRTI) using data from a community‐based prospective cohort study in the Philippines. Patients/Methods: Cohort children who visited health facilities due to acute respiratory symptoms were identified, and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected to detect RSV. The severity of RSV‐LRTI was assessed using the severity definition proposed by the World Health Organization. Risk factors for developing RSV‐LRTI and contribution of SpO2 measurement were also evaluated. Results: A total of 395 RSV episodes which occurred in children aged 2‐59 months were categorised as 183 RSV‐LRTI, 72 as severe RSV‐LRTI and 29 as very severe RSV‐LRTI. Children aged 3‐5 months had the highest incidence rate of RSV‐LRTI, at 207.4 per 1000 child‐years (95% CI: 149.0‐279.5). Younger age group, place of living and low educational level of caregivers were associated with developing RSV‐LRTI. Clinical manifestations had low levels of agreement with hypoxaemia as measured by pulse oximeter. Conclusion: The highest burden of RSV was observed in young infants aged 3‐5 months, whereas the burden was also high in those aged 12‐20 months. Future vaccination strategies should consider the protection of older children, especially those aged one year, as well as young infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FEAT, the protein encoded by methyltransferase‐like 13 (METTL13), is aberrantly upregulated in most human cancers and potently drives tumorigenesis in vivo; however, its role in normal tissues remains elusive. Immunoblotting has displayed weak FEAT expression in normal human tissues, including the testis. Here, we found that FEAT is expressed in fetal and adult Leydig cells in the testis. FEAT knockdown using siRNA increased primary cilia formation in MA‐10 Leydig tumor cells, accompanied by enhanced 5′ adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Immunofluorescence analyses of FEAT‐silenced MA‐10 cells showed diminished insulin‐like factor 3 (INSL3) expression. A male Mettl13+/− mouse developed bilateral intraabdominal cryptorchidism, suggesting defective INSL3 production by fetal Leydig cells. Leydig cells from the mouse showed markedly decreased INSL3 protein by immunohistochemistry. Together, these results suggest that FEAT facilitates the INSL3 production in testicular Leydig cells that is essential for transabdominal testis migration. FEAT (METTL13) is expressed in fetal and adult Leydig cells in the testis. FEAT‐silenced MA‐10 Leydig cells showed diminished INSL3 protein. A male Mettl13+/− mouse exhibited bilateral intraabdominal cryptorchidism and markedly decreased INSL3 expression in Leydig cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the lowering of the operation temperature of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) has attracted much attention owing to the trade‐off between the best performance and the life span of SOFCs. For this challenge, new active sites on the Ni surfaces in a Nickel–Yttria‐Stabilized Zirconia (Ni‐YSZ) cermet anode of SOFCs have been created by deposition of trace amounts of platinum oxide (PtOx) followed by an activation step of the anode at 1073 K in a hydrogen flow. The internal resistance (IR) free value (185 mA cm−2 at 0.8 V) observed for the single cell with an anode sputtered with a trace amount of PtOx (Pt content in anode: from 9 to 91 ppm) at 973 K is conspicuously higher than that of a similar single cell with a nonsputtered cermet anode (85 mA cm−2) at 0.8 V and 1073 K. Transmission electron microscopy microanalysis shows that the defect structure is formed on a partially oxidized Ni surface by active Pt species. Also, surface atomistic simulation on NiO (111) predicts the formation of Frenkel defect clusters with Pt cations, which partially cover the Ni surface. The formation of Frenkel defect clusters on the partially oxidized Ni surface (i.e., creation of new active sites for formation of water molecules) promotes the anode reaction, resulting in improvements in the anode performance of SOFC single cells at 973 K. Design of the aforementioned new active sites on Ni through sputtering of trace amounts of PtOx provides a great opportunity for "radical innovation" in the design of intermediate‐temperature SOFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a general view that asparagine synthetase generates asparagine as an amino acid for long-distance transport of nitrogen to sink organs, its role in nitrogen metabolic pathways in floral organs during seed nitrogen filling has remained undefined. We demonstrate that the onset of pollination in Arabidopsis induces selected genes for asparagine metabolism, namely ASN1 ( At3g47340), GLN2 ( At5g35630), GLU1 ( At5g04140), Aap AT2 ( At5g19950), ASPGA1 ( At5g08100) and ASPGB1 ( At3g16150), particularly at the ovule stage (stage 0), accompanied by enhanced asparagine synthetase protein, asparagine and total amino acids. Immunolocalization confined asparagine synthetase to the vascular cells of the silique cell wall and septum, but also to the outer and inner seed integuments, demonstrating the post-phloem transport of asparagine in these cells to developing embryos. In the asn1 mutant, aberrant embryo cell divisions in upper suspensor cell layers from globular to heart stages assign a role for nitrogen in differentiating embryos within the ovary. Induction of asparagine metabolic genes by light/dark and nitrate supports fine shifts of nitrogen metabolic pathways. In transgenic Arabidopsis expressing promoter Ca MV 35S:: ASN1 fusion, marked metabolomics changes at stage 0, including a several-fold increase in free asparagine, are correlated to enhanced seed nitrogen. However, specific promoter Napin2S:: ASN1 expression during seed formation and a six-fold increase in asparagine toward the desiccation stage result in wild-type seed nitrogen, underlining that delayed accumulation of asparagine impairs the timing of its use by releasing amide and amino nitrogen. Transcript and metabolite profiles in floral organs match the carbon and nitrogen partitioning to generate energy via the tricarboxylic acid cycle, GABA shunt and phosphorylated serine synthetic pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hippo signaling pathway is a vital suppressor of tumorigenesis that is often inactivated in human cancers. In normal cells, the Hippo pathway is triggered by external forces such as cell crowding, or changes to the extracellular matrix or cell polarity. Once activated, Hippo signaling down-regulates transcription supported by the paralogous cofactors YAP1 and TAZ. The Hippo pathway's functions in normal and cancer biology have been dissected by studies of mutant mice with null or conditional tissue-specific mutations of Hippo signaling elements. In this review, we attempt to systematically summarize results that have been gleaned from detailed in vivo characterizations of these mutants. Our goal is to describe the physiological roles of Hippo signaling in several normal organ systems, as well as to emphasize how disruption of the Hippo pathway, and particularly hyperactivation of YAP1/ TAZ, can be oncogenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Obstetricians sometimes administer intramyometrial oxytocin to stimulate uterine contraction during cesarean section, but its effects have not been well investigated. We performed a randomized, double-blind study to test the hypothesis that a small dose of intramyometrial oxytocin would induce acceptable uterine contractility more quickly and with fewer hemodynamic side-effects than the same dose administered intravenously. Methods Forty women with a single fetus at ≥36 weeks of gestational age scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomized to the intravenous and intramyometrial groups to receive oxytocin at 0.07 IU/kg. The drug was administered immediately after umbilical cord clamping. Systolic blood pressure, heart rate, intraoperative blood loss, uterine tone, total amount of intraoperative oxytocin, and additional uterotonic drugs administered in the first 24 h were compared. Results Maximum uterine contractility was achieved after 2 and 10 min for the intravenous and intramyometrial groups, respectively. The mean hemodynamic parameters of the intramyometrial group were stable. In contrast, the intravenous group showed a reduction in systolic blood pressure after 2-4 min and increased heart rate after 1-2 min. Intraoperative blood loss, total oxytocin dose, and frequency of additional uterotonic drugs were comparable between the two groups. Conclusion Although intraoperative blood loss was comparable, a small dose of intramyometrial oxytocin was inappropriate to obtain a prompt and acceptable uterine contraction during cesarean section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The majority of patients with Down syndrome ( DS), trisomy 21, have morphologically abnormal thymuses and present with intrinsic immunological abnormalities affecting mainly the cellular immune response. The aim of this study was to examine whether the expression of functionally important molecules is altered in thymic stromal cells in patients with DS. Methods and results We analysed thymic tissues from patients with trisomy 13 ( n = 4), trisomy 18 ( n = 14) and trisomy 21 ( n = 13) for histological alterations, and for the expression of functionally important molecules such as β5t, a thymoproteasome subunit, and cathepsins L and S. In patients with trisomy 13 and trisomy 18, the thymus was morphologically normal or showed only mild depletion of cortical thymocytes. In contrast, the thymus showed variable histological changes in patients with trisomy 21; six of 13 cases showed severe depletion of thymocytes accompanied by the disappearance of thymic lobular architecture. In such thymuses, spindle-shaped keratin-positive cells were densely distributed, and expression of β5t, but not of cathepsin L, was markedly decreased. Conclusions The present study suggests that abnormal thymic architecture and decreased expression of functionally important molecules in thymic stromal cells may be involved in immunological abnormalities in DS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A diagram is presented which shows cleavage of the aryl ether carbon (C)-oxygen (O) bond in carbon dioxide-water.

It is of importance to clarify pathophysiology of diabetic heart diseases such as heart failure and coronary artery disease. We reported a novel clinical phenotype called triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy ( TGCV), showing aberrant TG accumulation in both coronary arteries and myocardium, in a cardiac transplant recipient. Here, we examined autopsied diabetics for TG deposition in cardiovasculature. Consecutive series of hearts from advanced diabetes mellitus ( DM) subjects ( DM group: DMG, n = 20) and those from age- and sex-matched non-diabetic controls (non DM group: NDMG, n = 20) were examined. The diagnostic criteria of 'advanced DM' was made based on 2014 Clinical Practice Recommendations proposed by the American Diabetes Association. The mean duration of DM was 15.8 years. All DMG suffered from heart diseases including coronary artery diseases and 14 subjects had multi-vessel disease. Tissue TG contents were measured biochemically. Coronary arterial TG contents was significantly higher in DMG compared with NDMG. Spatial distribution of TG in transverse sections of coronary arteries showed TG deposition mainly in smooth muscle cells by Imaging Mass Spectrometry. Abundant TG deposition in coronary artery might be associated with advanced DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A contactless power transfer system for electric vehicles must have high efficiency, a large air gap, good tolerance to misalignment in the lateral direction, compactness, and light weight. In this paper, a new 1.5-kW transformer has been developed using a novel H-shaped core which is more efficient, more robust to misalignment, and lighter than previous rectangular cores, to satisfy these criteria, and its characteristics are described. An efficiency of 95% was achieved across a 70-mm mechanical gap. Iron-loss modeling of the equivalent circuit is also presented. The calculated efficiency using this model shows good agreement with experimental results. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 184(2): 61-70, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.22377 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We investigated the function of ASN2, one of the three genes encoding asparagine synthetase (EC 6.3.5.4), which is the most highly expressed in vegetative leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression of ASN2 and parallel higher asparagine content in darkness suggest that leaf metabolism involves ASN2 for asparagine synthesis. In asn2-1 knockout and asn2-2 knockdown lines, ASN2 disruption caused a defective growth phenotype and ammonium accumulation. The asn2 mutant leaves displayed a depleted asparagine and an accumulation of alanine, GABA, pyruvate and fumarate, indicating an alanine formation from pyruvate through the GABA shunt to consume excess ammonium in the absence of asparagine synthesis. By contrast, asparagine did not contribute to photorespiratory nitrogen recycle as photosynthetic net CO2 assimilation was not significantly different between lines under both 21 and 2% O2. ASN2 was found in phloem companion cells by in situ hybridization and immunolocalization. Moreover, lack of asparagine in asn2 phloem sap and lowered 15N flux to sinks, accompanied by the delayed yellowing (senescence) of asn2 leaves, in the absence of asparagine support a specific role of asparagine in phloem loading and nitrogen reallocation. We conclude that ASN2 is essential for nitrogen assimilation, distribution and remobilization ( via the phloem) within the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical and scintillation properties of a 1.0-mol% Dy-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) grown under N2 atmosphere and undoped YAG crystals were investigated. Both crystals were grown by the Czochralski process. The one of the undoped YAG crystal was grown in an Ar + H2 (97:3) reducing atmosphere. Absorption peaks at 352 nm and 366 nm observed in 1.0-mol% Dy-doped YAG originated from 4f-4f transition of Dy3+. In addition, the crystal showed sharp emission lines at near 482 nm and 584 nm under 352 nm UV and alpha-ray excitation. The light output of Dy-doped YAG was estimated to be approximately 20,000 photons/(5.5-MeV alpha ray, 241Am). The scintillation decay time constants for Dy-doped YAG crystal was around 400 ns and 40 ns. Undoped YAG crystals grown under Ar + H2(97:3) atmosphere showed absorption and excitation peak at 370 nm. A 400-nm emission peak was observed under 370-nm excitation. The light output of the crystal was also estimated to be 50,000 photons/(5.5-MeV alpha ray). The scintillation decay time constants of the crystal were around 370 ns and 50 ns. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the textural properties of edible fungi, raw and boiled cubic samples cut from stipe of the king oyster mushroom Pleurotus eryngii were compressed from various directions by different type utensils, and their deformed tissue structures were examined. Differences in the loads between compress directions were observed by the homogenous compression. A significant difference between the loads of the boiled upper (~10 N) and lower (~12 N) portions of stipe by intrusive compression from parallel to the growth direction was found. In the scanning electron microscopy ( SEM) images, the arrangement of fibrous spawn in the lower-portion tissue was characterised by curl-like formations. The fibre also appeared tangled in irregular arrangements. The results of this study indicate that the firmness of mushroom tissue was produced by the complex attributes, which were the mechanical strength and physicochemical bindings of the fibre, and that the fibre arrangement and/or formation of the tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please cite this paper as: Burmaa et al. (2012) Cumulative incidence of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 by a community-based serological cohort study in Selenghe Province, Mongolia. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(601), e97-e104. Background Large community outbreaks of pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 occurred between October and December 2009 in Mongolia. A serological study was conducted among the general population by testing paired sera collected before and after the first wave of pandemic in Selenghe province, Mongolia. None of the study participants had been vaccinated for pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 before the second samples were collected. Objective The objective of this study was to estimate cumulative incidence of pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 in different age-groups of Selenghe province residents. Methods After informed consent was obtained from apparently healthy volunteers, the paired sera and background information were collected. Antibody titers were measured using hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) and microneutralization (MN) assays for A/California/07/2009pdm. A fourfold rise in antibody titers was regarded as the evidence of infection. Results The overall cumulative incidences in the study group for all ages were 28·8% (76/264) by HI, 35·2% (93/264) by MN, and 25·0% (66/264) by both HI and MN. Cumulative incidences of infection varied among age-groups, with children aged 2-4 and 5-9 years having high cumulative incidence of infection. Overall cumulative incidences of infection in the whole population were estimated to be 23·0% (4946/21 460) by HI, 30·2% (6473/21 460) by MN, and 18·8% (4036/21 460) by both HI and MN. Conclusions This study indicates that about one-fourth of the total population in Selenghe province was infected with pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 virus during the first wave of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exceptionally rapid hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline [TOF=252,000 h−1] over palladium containing MCM-41 (Pd/MCM-41) with excellent yield of >99% can be achieved in supercritical carbon dioxide at 50 °C and a hydrogen pressure of 2.5 MPa. It has been observed that this promising method preferred a single phase between liquid substrate and carbon dioxide-hydrogen system. The ascendancy of the supercritical carbon dioxide medium is established in comparison with the conventional organic solvent and solvent-less conditions. Changes in the reaction parameters such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen pressure, temperature and the reaction time do not affect the selectivity. A combined experimental and theoretical study has elucidated the mechanism under the studied reaction condition because experimental observations revealed a direct conversion of nitrobenzene to aniline. However, density functional theory (DFT) calculation shows that the direct conversion is energetically unfavourable; hence, a stepwise mechanism has been proposed. Theoretical predictions and experimental observations suggested that the rate-limiting step of nitrobenzene conversion is different from that of the liquid phase hydrogenation. This catalytic process can also be successfully extended to the hydrogenation of other aromatic nitro compounds with different substituents. Easy separation of the liquid product from catalyst and the use of an environmentally friendly solvent make this procedure a viable and an attractive green chemical process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed at investigating the physiological role of ferredoxin-glutamate synthases (EC 1.4.1.7), NADH-glutamate synthase (EC 1.4.1.14) and carbamoylphosphate synthetase (EC 6.3.5.5) in Arabidopsis. Phenotypic analysis revealed a high level of photorespiratory ammonium, glutamine/glutamate and asparagine/aspartate in the GLU1 mutant lacking the major ferredoxin-glutamate synthase, indicating that excess photorespiratory ammonium was detoxified into amino acids for transport out of the veins. Consistent with these results, promoter analysis and in situ hybridization demonstrated that GLU1 and GLU2 were expressed in the mesophyll and phloem companion cell–sieve element complex. However, these phenotypic changes were not detected in the GLU2 mutant defective in the second ferredoxin-glutamate synthase gene. The impairment in primary ammonium assimilation in the GLT mutant under nonphotorespiratory high-CO2 conditions underlined the importance of NADH-glutamate synthase for amino acid trafficking, given that this gene only accounted for 3% of total glutamate synthase activity. The excess ammonium from either endogenous photorespiration or the exogenous medium was shifted to arginine. The promoter analysis and slight effects on overall arginine synthesis in the T-DNA insertion mutant in the single carbamoylphosphate synthetase large subunit gene indicated that carbamoylphosphate synthetase located in the chloroplasts was not limiting for ammonium assimilation into arginine. The data provided evidence that ferredoxin-glutamate synthases, NADH-glutamate synthase and carbamoylphosphate synthetase play specific physiological roles in ammonium assimilation in the mesophyll and phloem for the synthesis and transport of glutamine, glutamate, arginine, and derived amino acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be a public health problem worldwide. NAFLD is more prevalent in men than in women. Tamoxifen, a potent estrogen receptor antagonist, causes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe form of NAFLD. Thus, there may be a sex difference that is dependent on estrogens in NAFLD and NASH. Hepatocyte-specific Pten-deficient mice exhibit hepatic lesions analogous to NASH and are considered to be a clinical model of NASH. We aimed to shed light on any sex differences in the hepatic lesions of Pten-deficient mice and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: At 40 weeks, livers from male and female Pten-deficient mice were processed for measuring lipid content, genes expression analysis, and histological examination. Level of serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also determined. Seventy-six-week-old mice were used in tumor burden experiments. Results: Hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and even carcinogenesis in Pten-deficient mice were attenuated in females compared to males. Attenuated fatty liver in females was ascribed to inactivation of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c. Hepatic inflammation in females was suppressed via decreased ROS with increased antioxidant gene expression and decreased proinflammatory cytokine production. Anti-cancer effect in female mice was, at least in part, due to the significantly lower ratio of oleic to stearic acid in the liver. Conclusions: Hepatic lesions in Pten-deficient mice were attenuated in females compared to males, as were human NAFLD and NASH. Some of the underlying mechanisms in sex difference appeared to be due to the change of gene expression, dependent on estrogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the role of glutamine synthetases (cytosolic GS1 and chloroplast GS2) and glutamate synthases (ferredoxin-GOGAT and NADH-GOGAT) in the inorganic nitrogen assimilation and reassimilation into amino acids between bundle sheath cells and mesophyll cells for the remobilization of amino acids during the early phase of grain filling in Zea mays L. The plants responded to a light/dark cycle at the level of nitrate, ammonium and amino acids in the second leaf, upward from the primary ear, which acted as the source organ. The assimilation of ammonium issued from distinct pathways and amino acid synthesis were evaluated from the diurnal rhythms of the transcripts and the encoded enzyme activities of nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, GS1, GS2, ferredoxin-GOGAT, NADH-GOGAT, NADH-glutamate dehydrogenase and asparagine synthetase. We discerned the specific role of the isoproteins of ferredoxin and ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase in providing ferredoxin-GOGAT with photoreduced or enzymatically reduced ferredoxin as the electron donor. The spatial distribution of ferredoxin-GOGAT supported its role in the nitrogen (re)assimilation and reallocation in bundle sheath cells and mesophyll cells of the source leaf. The diurnal nitrogen recycling within the plants took place via the specific amino acids in the phloem and xylem exudates. Taken together, we conclude that the GS1/ferredoxin-GOGAT cycle is the main pathway of inorganic nitrogen assimilation and recycling into glutamine and glutamate, and preconditions amino acid interconversion and remobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]