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Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick‐borne hemorrhagic fever disease with high fatality rate of 10%–20%. Vaccines or specific therapeutic measures remain lacking. Human interferon inducible transmembrane protein 3 (hIFITM3) is a broad‐spectrum antiviral factor targeting viral entry. However, the antiviral activity of hIFITM3 against SFTS virus (SFTSV) and the functional mechanism of IFITM3 remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that endogenous IFITM3 provides protection against SFTSV infection and participates in the anti‐SFTSV effect of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ interferons (IFNs). IFITM3 overexpression exhibits anti‐SFTSV function by blocking Gn/Gc‐mediated viral entry and fusion. Further studies showed that IFITM3 binds SFTSV Gc directly and its intramembrane domain (IMD) is responsible for this interaction and restriction of SFTSV entry. Mutation of two neighboring cysteines on IMD weakens IFITM3‐Gc interaction and attenuates the antiviral activity of IFITM3, suggesting that IFITM3‐Gc interaction may partly mediate the inhibition of SFTSV entry. Overall, our data demonstrate for the first time that hIFITM3 plays a critical role in the IFNs‐mediated anti‐SFTSV response, and uncover a novel mechanism of IFITM3 restriction of SFTSV infection, highlighting the potential of clinical intervention on SFTS disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically evaluates the efficacy of autologous platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) combined with negative pressure sealing drainage (NPSD) in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). A comprehensive computerized search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), from database inception to November 2023, on the treatment of DFU using autologous PRP combined with NPSD. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and conducted quality assessments based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. A total of 17 RCTs involving 1325 DFU patients were included. The analysis revealed that the application of autologous PRP combined with NPSD in DFU patients significantly increased the ulcer healing rate (OR = 3.54, 95% CI: 2.71–4.62, p < 0.001) and the overall treatment efficacy rate (OR = 4.99, 95% CI: 3.46–7.19, p < 0.001), and significantly reduced the wound healing time (SMD = −2.05, 95% CI: −2.61 to −1.49, p < 0.001). This study indicates that the treatment of DFU with autologous PRP combined with NPSD accelerates wound healing, improves the overall treatment efficacy rate, and offers a new option for the management of DFU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Distal symmetric sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) is a common neurologic complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the underlying mechanisms and changes in serum metabolites remain largely undefined. This study aimed to characterize the plasma metabolite profiles of participants with T2DM using targeted metabolomics analysis and identify potential biomarkers for DSPN. Methods: A combined liquid chromatography MS/MS and direct flow injection were used to quantify plasma metabolite obtained from 63 participants with T2DM, 81 with DSPN, and 33 nondiabetic control participants. A total of 130 metabolites, including amino acids, biogenic amines, sphingomyelins (SM), phosphatidylcholines, carnitines, and hexose, were analyzed. Results: A total of 16 plasma metabolites and 3 cholesterol‐related laboratory parameters were found to have variable importance in the projection score >1.0 and false discovery rate <5.0% between control, T2DM, and DSPN. Among these variables, five serum metabolites, including phenylalanine (AUC = 0.653), alanine (AUC = 0.630), lysine (AUC = 0.622) tryptophan (AUC = 0.620), and SM C16:0 (AUC = 0.630), are potential biomarkers (all p <.05) in distinguishing T2DM with DSPN from those without (AUC = 0.720). Conclusions: In this cross‐sectional study, derangement of several metabolites in the plasma was observed in T2DM with and without DSPN, and these metabolites may be potential biomarkers for predicting DSPN. Longitudinal studies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reward learning has been shown to habitually guide overt spatial attention to specific regions of a scene. However, the neural mechanisms that support this bias are unknown. In the present study, participants learned to orient themselves to a particular quadrant of a scene (a high‐value quadrant) to maximize monetary gains. This learning was scene‐specific, with the high‐value quadrant varying across different scenes. During a subsequent test phase, participants were faster at identifying a target if it appeared in the high‐value quadrant (valid), and initial saccades were more likely to be made to the high‐value quadrant. fMRI analyses during the test phase revealed learning‐dependent priority signals in the caudate tail, superior colliculus, frontal eye field, anterior cingulate cortex, and insula, paralleling findings concerning feature‐based, value‐driven attention. In addition, ventral regions typically associated with scene selection and spatial information processing, including the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and temporo‐occipital cortex, were also implicated. Taken together, our findings offer new insights into the neural architecture subserving value‐driven attention, both extending our understanding of nodes in the attention network previously implicated in feature‐based, value‐driven attention and identifying a ventral network of brain regions implicated in reward's influence on scene‐dependent spatial orienting. Reward learning can guide overt spatial attention to specific regions of an object‐rich scene. We demonstrate that the brain regions supporting value‐driven spatial attention for said scenes include much of the previously documented value‐driven attention network, but also regions like the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and temporo‐occipital cortex, which are typically associated with scene, space, and object processing. We provide novel insight into the neural mechanisms by which specific scene‐reward associations bias visual information processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: dissemination; evolution; human mpox; outbreak EN dissemination evolution human mpox outbreak 1 4 4 05/30/23 20230501 NES 230501 Mpox (monkeypox), which is similar to smallpox, was first reported in Central Africa in the 1970s and was once predominantly endemic in East and Central African countries.[1] Since May 6, 2022, there has been a dramatic increase in confirmed cases of monkeypox worldwide. We have been monitoring the prevalence of mpox virus (MPXV) and systematically analyzing its development in recent months from the perspective of dissemination and genetic evolution dynamics. Lineage B.1 ( I n i = 607) includes all MPXV genomes for the 2022 outbreak (Table S2). [Extracted from the article]

Objective: The glymphatic system cleans amyloid and tau proteins from the brain in animal studies of Alzheimer disease (AD). However, there is no direct evidence showing this in humans. Methods: Participants (n = 50, 62.6 ± 5.4 years old, 36 women) with AD and normal controls underwent amyloid positron emission tomography (PET), tau PET, structural T1‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and neuropsychological evaluation. Whole‐brain glymphatic activity was measured by diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI‐ALPS). Results: ALPS‐indexes showed negative correlations with deposition of amyloid and tau on PET images and positive correlations with cognitive scores even after adjusting for age, sex, years of education, and APOE4 genotype covariates in multiple AD‐related brain regions (all p < 0.05). Mediation analysis showed that ALPS‐index acted as a significant mediator between regional standardized uptake value ratios of amyloid and tau images and cognitive dysfunction even after correcting for multiple covariates in AD‐related brain regions. These regions are responsible for attention, memory, and executive function, which are vulnerable to sleep deprivation. Interpretation: Glymphatic system activity may act as a significant mediator in AD‐related cognitive dysfunction even after adjusting for multiple covariates and gray matter volumes. ALPS‐index may provide useful disease progression or treatment biomarkers for patients with AD as an indicator of modulation of glymphatic activity. ANN NEUROL 2023;93:164–174 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Aims: A model for predicting responsiveness to immunotherapy in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) has not been well established. We aimed to establish a new classifier for CIDP patients based on clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and electrophysiological features. Methods: The clinical, laboratory, and electrophysiological features of 172 treatment‐naïve patients with CIDP between 2003 and 2019 were analyzed using an unsupervised hierarchical clustering. The identified pivotal features were used to establish simple classifications using a tree‐based model. Results: Three clusters were identified: 1, n = 65; 2, n = 70; and 3, n = 37. Patients in Cluster 1 scored lower on the disability assessment score before treatment. More patients in Clusters 2 (90.0%) fulfilled demyelinating criteria than patients in Cluster 1 (30.8%, p <.001). Cluster 3 had more patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (27.0%) and hypoalbuminemia (3.40 g/dL) than did Cluster 2 (CKD: 0%, p <.001; hypoalbuminemia: 4.09 g/dL, p <.001). The responsiveness to pulse steroid therapy was higher in Cluster 2 (70.0%) than in Clusters 1 (31.8%; p =.043) and 3 (25.0%; p =.014). A tree‐based model with four pivotal features classified patients in our cohort into new clusters with high accuracy (89.5%). Discussion: The established hierarchical clustering with the tree‐based model identified key features contributing to differences in disease severity and response to pulse steroid therapy. This classification system could assist clinicians in the selection of treatments and could also help researchers by clustering patients for clinical treatment trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variable temperature 133Cs‐NMR experiments were performed to probe the local environment of the cesium ions in hydrated cesium cobaltates (Cs0.2CoO2·0.63H2O) from 170 to 390 K. Temperature dependence of the chemical shifts and linewidths reveals two‐phase transitions at a temperature near 200 and 350 K. Three inequivalent cesium sites are observed as the temperature is reduced below 200 K, indicating restricted motion of the cesium ions and a tendency to electron localization on cobalt ions. The results provide evidence for a definite order of the cesium ions and the charge order of the cobalt ions in the CoO2 layers. Two inequivalent cesium sites with larger chemical shift differences are observed as the temperature is above 350 K, indicating a spectacular change in the space between the CoO2 planes, which provides evidence for the transition between the bilayer‐hydrated and monolayer‐hydrated structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies show that most financial market anomalies exhibit a momentum effect. Based on two datasets, (i) an original 22‐factor sample and (ii) a more comprehensive 187‐factor sample, we find that factor momentum effect is weak at the individual factor level. In both samples, only about 22%– 27% of the factors exhibit strong return continuation and dominate the factor momentum portfolio while the remaining factors do not. The factor momentum strategies do not outperform the corresponding long‐only strategies in either sample. The choice of factors affects the ability of factor momentum to explain individual stock momentum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a small‐sized oxide semiconductor field‐effect transistor (OSFET) is developed as a driving transistor suited for small high‐resolution displays of virtual reality/augmented reality devices. We examine the electrical characteristics of an OSFET with a channel length of 200 nm to note its excellent saturation characteristics, high breakdown voltage, high reliability, and low off‐state current. Additionally, we fabricate a 3207‐ppi organic light‐emitting diode display to examine the performance of the OSFET in an active panel. The experimental results showed a high contrast ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fabricated a 1.50‐inch, 3207‐ppi OLED display with drivers capable of 32‐division driving, which is achieved by monolithically stacking OSFETs over SiFETs. Taking advantages of minute OSFETs with a high withstand voltage, Si‐OS connection regions were provided in subpixels to connect Si drivers and OS pixel arrays at given positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidating the physiological mechanisms that underlie thermal stress and discovering how species differ in capacities for phenotypic acclimatization and evolutionary adaptation to this stress is critical for understanding current latitudinal and vertical distribution patterns of species and for predicting their future state in a warming world. Such mechanistic analyses require careful choice of study systems (species and temperature‐sensitive traits) and design of laboratory experiments that reflect the complexities of in situ conditions. Here, we critically review a wide range of studies of intertidal molluscs that provide mechanistic accounts of thermal effects across all levels of biological organization – behavioural, organismal, organ level, cellular, molecular, and genomic – and show how temperature‐sensitive traits govern distribution patterns and capacities for coping with thermal stress. Comparisons of congeners from different thermal habitats are especially effective means for identifying adaptive variation. We employ these mechanistic analyses to illustrate how species differ in the severity of threats posed by rising temperature. Counterintuitively, we show that some of the most heat‐tolerant species may be most threatened by increases in temperatures because of their small thermal safety margins and minimal abilities to acclimatize to higher temperatures. We discuss recent molecular biological and genomic studies that provide critical foundations for understanding the types of evolutionary changes in protein structure, RNA secondary structure, genome content, and gene expression capacities that underlie adaptation to temperature. Duplication of stress‐related genes, as found in heat‐tolerant molluscs, may provide enhanced capacity for coping with higher temperatures. We propose that the anatomical, behavioural, physiological, and genomic diversity found among intertidal molluscs, which commonly are of critical importance and high abundance in these ecosystems, makes this group of animals a highly appropriate study system for addressing questions about the mechanistic determinants of current and future distribution patterns of intertidal organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Terpios hoshinota is an aggressive, space‐competing sponge that kills various stony corals. Outbreaks of this species have led to intense damage to coral reefs in many locations. Here, the first large‐scale 16S rRNA gene survey across three oceans revealed that bacteria related to the taxa Prochloron, Endozoicomonas, SAR116, Ruegeria, and unclassified Proteobacteria were prevalent in T. hoshinota. A Prochloron‐related bacterium was the most dominant and prevalent cyanobacterium in T. hoshinota. The complete genome of this uncultivated cyanobacterium and pigment analysis demonstrated that it has phycobiliproteins and lacks chlorophyll b, which is inconsistent with the definition of Prochloron. Furthermore, the cyanobacterium was phylogenetically distinct from Prochloron, strongly suggesting that it should be a sister taxon to Prochloron. Therefore, we proposed this symbiotic cyanobacterium as a novel species under the new genus Candidatus Paraprochloron terpiosi. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that 'Paraprochloron' and Prochloron exhibit distinct genomic features and DNA replication machinery. We also characterized the metabolic potentials of 'Paraprochloron terpiosi' in carbon and nitrogen cycling and propose a model for interactions between it and T. hoshinota. This study builds a foundation for the study of the T. hoshinota microbiome and paves the way for better understanding of ecosystems involving this coral‐killing sponge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumour‐derived DNA found in the plasma of cancer patients provides the probability to detect somatic mutations from circulating cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) in plasma samples. However, clonal hematopoiesis (CH) mutations affect the accuracy of liquid biopsy for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, we integrated landscape of CH mutations in 11,725 pan‐cancer patients of Chinese and explored effects of CH on liquid biopsies in real‐world. We first identified 5933 CHs based on panel sequencing of matched DNA of white blood cell and cfDNA on 301 genes for 5100 patients, in which CH number of patients had positive correlation with their diagnosis age. We observed that canonical genes related to CH, including DNMT3A, TET2, ASXL1, TP53, ATM, CHEK2 and SF3B1, were dominant in the Chinese cohort and 13.29% of CH mutations only appeared in the Chinese cohort compared with the Western cohort. Analysis of CH gene distribution bias indicated that CH tended to appear in genes with functions of tyrosine kinase regulation, PI3K‐Akt signalling and TP53 activity, suggesting unfavourable effects of CH mutations in cancer patients. We further confirmed effect of driver genes carried by CH on somatic mutations in liquid biopsy of cancer patients. Forty‐eight actionable somatic mutations in 17 driver genes were considered CH genes in 92 patients (1.80%) of the Chinese cohort, implying potential impacts of CH on clinical decision‐making. Taken together, this study exhibits strong evidence that gene mutations from CH interfere accuracy of liquid biopsies using cfDNA in cancer diagnosis and treatment in real‐world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantitative understanding of physiological thermal responses is vital for forecasting species distributional shifts in response to climate change. Many studies have focused on metabolic rate as a global metric for analyzing the sublethal effects of changing environments on physiology. Thermal performance curves (TPCs) have been suggested as a viable analytical framework, but standard TPCs may not fully capture physiological responses, due in part to failure to consider the process of metabolic depression. We derived a model based on the nonlinear regression of biological temperature‐dependent rate processes and built a heart rate data set for 26 species of intertidal molluscs distributed from 33°S to ~40°N. We then calculated physiological thermal performance limits with continuous heating using T1/2H, the temperature at which heart rate is decreased to 50% of the maximal rate, as a more realistic measure of upper thermal limits. Results indicate that heat‐induced metabolic depression of cardiac performance is a common adaptive response that allows tolerance of harsh environments. Furthermore, our model accounted for the high inter‐individual variability in the shape of cardiac TPCs. We then used these TPCs to calculate physiological thermal safety margins (pTSM), the difference between the maximal operative temperature (95th percentile of field temperatures) and T1/2H of each individual. Using pTSMs, we developed a physiological species distribution model (pSDM) to forecast future geographic distributions. pSDM results indicate that climate‐induced species range shifts are potentially less severe than predicted by a simple correlative SDM. Species with metabolic depression below the optimum temperature will be more thermal resistant at their warm trailing edges. High intraspecific variability further suggests that models based on species‐level vulnerability to environmental change may be problematic. This multi‐scale, mechanistic understanding that incorporates metabolic depression and inter‐individual variability in thermal response enables better predictions about the relationship between thermal stress and species distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), along with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), are three emerging coronaviruses with significant public health implications in the 21st century. SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 gl Almost all animal infections in these natural SARS-CoV-2 infection studies were caused by infected humans. Natural infections of SARS-CoV-2 increased in animals: How should humans interact with animals?. [Extracted from the article]

Influenza A virus (IAV) PA‐X is a critical ribonuclease protein involved in host cell shutoff but its role in modulating the host immune response to IAV infection remains to be addressed. In this study, host cellular proteins that directly interact with PA‐X were screened to investigate the biological function of PA‐X in the pathogenesis of IAV infection. The protein ankyrin repeat domain 17 (Ankrd17), a positive regulator of inflammatory responses via the retinoic acid‐inducible gene‐I (RIG‐I)‐like receptor (RLR) signaling pathway, was identified as a specific PA‐X binding partner that preferred PA‐X to the PA protein. The N‐terminal ankyrin repeats of Ankrd17 are the key domain for the interaction with PA‐X rather than PA, which is required for the function of Ankrd17 in elevating the host immune response. Using Ankrd17 knockout and overexpression, we confirmed that PA‐X significantly affected the Ankrd17‐mediated response to infection in host cells. Our data therefore reveal a novel function for PA‐X in the regulation of innate immune pathways via the interaction between PA‐X and Ankrd17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption is a critical pathological process involved in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Here, we characterized the profile of five cell adhesion molecules in patients with NMOSD. Methods: We measured levels of cell adhesion molecules, including ICAM‐1, ICAM‐2, VCAM‐1, PECAM‐1, and NCAM‐1, in the serum of 28 patients with NMOSD, 24 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and 25 healthy controls (HCs). Results: ICAM‐2 levels (median: 394.8 ng/mL) were increased in patients with NMOSD compared with MS (267.1 ng/mL, P = 0.005) and HCs (257.4 ng/mL, P = 0.007), and VCAM‐1 and ICAM‐1 levels were higher in patients with NMOSD (641.9 ng/mL and 212.7 ng/mL, respectively) compared with HCs (465 ng/mL [P = 0.013] and 141.8 ng/mL [P = 0.002], respectively). However, serum PECAM‐1 levels were lower in patients with NMOSD (89.62 ng/mL) compared with MS (106.9 ng/mL, P = 0.015) and HCs (107.2 ng/mL, P = 0.007). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that PECAM‐1 (area under the curve (AUC): 0.729) and ICAM‐2 (AUC: 0.747) had adequate abilities to distinguish NMOSD from MS, and VCAM‐1 (AUC: 0.719), PECAM‐1 (area under the curve: 0.743), ICAM‐1 (AUC: 0.778), and ICAM‐2 (AUC: 0.749) exhibited potential to differentiate NMOSD and HCs. Serum levels of PECAM‐1 also demonstrated a negative correlation with Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale scores in patients with NMOSD. Interpretation: Our results reveal possible BBB breakdown signals specifically observed in NMOSD and highlight the potential role of cell adhesion molecules as biomarkers of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activated carbon nanofibers (ACFs) with high specific surface area, excellent conductivity, and narrow pore‐size distribution, are regarded as a promising electrode material for high‐performance supercapacitors (SCs). Herein, a facile route to synthesize large‐scale amorphous CF (a‐CF) using catalytic pyrolysis of acetylene (C2H2) at 260 °C over copper catalysts is reported. The conversion rate of acetylene into a‐CF is estimated as high as 72.05 wt%. Subsequently, the as‐prepared a‐CF is transformed into ACFs by potassium hydroxide (KOH) at 800 °C with high specific surface area and porous structures. Moreover, nitrogen‐doped ACFs are conducted in the activation step through a physical mixing of a‐CF/KOH/melamine with various ratios. For SCs, the as‐prepared N‐ACFs display excellent specific capacitance and cycle stability. In the three‐electrode system, the N‐ACF (CF‐03) demonstrates a specific capacitance value of 227 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, and shows a 94% capacitance retention after a long cycle (10 000 cycles) at 2 A g−1. Moreover, the CF‐03‐based two‐electrode SC demonstrates a high energy density of 14.30 Wh kg−1 and a high power density of 79.88 W kg−1 in 1 m Na2SO4 electrolyte. Herein, a simple and promising way to prepare large‐scale a‐CF, ACF, and N‐doped ACFs is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is a skeleton disease affecting 55% of people over age 60, and the number is still increasing due to an ageing population. One method to prevent osteoporosis is to increase the formation of new bone while preventing the resorption of older bone. Thus, osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is of great importance in improving the treatment of osteoporosis. On the other hand, glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used to treat the chronic inflammatory disorders, but long‐term exposure to GCs can induce osteoporosis. In present study, we treated BMSCs with dexamethasone (DEX) to simulate GC‐induced osteoporosis. MTT assay, ALP activity, and Alizarin Red were used to evaluate the role miRNA‐291a‐3p in the DEX‐induced osteogenic differentiation suppression. Further, we used qPCR and western blot to investigate the mechanisms of miRNA‐291a‐3p affecting BMSCs differentiation. The results showed that miRNA‐291a‐3p could improve the cell viability, osteogenic differentiation, and ALP activity, which are suppressed by DEX in BMSCs. Furthermore, we found that the osteogenesis genes Runx2, DMP1, and ALP were upregulated whereas the lipogenic genes C/EBPα and PPARγ were downregulated when miRNA‐291a‐3p mimics were transfected. Additionally, we demonstrated that miRNA‐291a‐3p promoted BMSCs' osteogenic differentiation by directly suppressing DKK1 mRNA and protein expression and subsequently activating Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. Our study suggests that miR‐291a‐3p plays an important role in preventing osteoporosis and may serve as a potential miRNA osteoporosis biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to investigate the etiology and prognosis of spinal cord infarction (SCI). Methods: Over a period of 16 years, we retrospectively analyzed 31 patients with SCI. Demographic features and symptom presentations were carefully documented. Etiology‐specific MRI features, such as the length and distribution of the lesions and owl's eyes sign, were recorded and analyzed to determine their associations with the clinical signs/symptoms. Results: In total, seven patients had aortic or vertebral artery dissections. We divided the patients with SCI into two groups: those with or without vessel dissection. Among SCI patients, the onset age was younger, and the proportion of patients with long‐segment lesions and posterior pattern involvement on axial view was higher in the group with dissection than in the group without dissection (all P < 0.05). The lesions were frequently located in the upper cervical or lower thoracic‐lumbar regions, and the lengths of the lesions were associated with 1‐month outcomes, suggesting that artery dissection may contribute to the longitudinal and posterior extension of SCI. In contrast, among patients without dissection, the range of longitudinal extensions of in spans of vertebral bodies was broader (range, 1–8). A higher proportion of patients had focal pain adjacent to the lesion (P = 0.05) and a poorer 1‐month outcome (P = 0.04) in the long‐segment lesion group than in the short‐segment lesion group. Conclusions: A detailed history and the use of modern imaging tools may help clinicians search for vessel dissection and other etiologies, evaluate the spatial extension of lesions in SCI, and predict prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Steviol glycosides (SGs) are extracted from Stevia leaves for use as a natural sweetener. Among SGs, stevioside is most abundant in leaf extracts followed by rebaudioside A (Reb A). However, Reb A is of particular interest because of its sweeter and more pleasant taste compared to stevioside. Therefore, the development of new Stevia varieties with a higher Reb A to stevioside ratio would be desirable for the production of higher quality natural sweeteners. Here, we generated transgenic Stevia plants overexpressing Stevia UDP‐glycosyltransferase 76G1 (SrUGT76G1) that is known to convert stevioside to Reb A through 1,3‐β‐d‐glucosylation in vitro. Interestingly, by overexpressing SrUGT76G1, the Reb A to stevioside ratio was drastically increased from 0.30 in wild‐type (WT) plants up to 1.55 in transgenic lines without any significant changes in total SGs content. This was contributed by a concurrent increase in Reb A content and a decrease in stevioside content. Additionally, we were able to find an increase in the Reb C to dulcoside A ratio in transgenic lines. Using the glutathione S‐transferase‐tagged SrUGT76G1 recombinant protein for an in vitro glucosyltransferase assay, we further demonstrated that Reb C can be produced from the glucosylation of dulcoside A by SrUGT76G1. Transgenic Stevia plants having higher Reb A to stevioside ratio were visually indistinguishable from WT plants. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the overexpression of SrUGT76G1 in Stevia is an effective way to generate new Stevia varieties with higher proportion of the more preferred Reb A without compromising on plant development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To date, many efforts have been made to establish porcine embryonic stem (pES) cells without success. Extraembryonic endoderm (XEN) cells can self‐renew and differentiate into the visceral endoderm and parietal endoderm. XEN cells are derived from the primitive endoderm of the inner cell mass of blastocysts and may be an intermediate state in cell reprogramming. Materials and methods: Porcine XEN cells (pXENCs) were generated from porcine pluripotent stem cells (pPSCs) and were characterized by RNA sequencing and immunofluorescence analyses. The developmental potential of pXENCs was investigated in chimeric mouse embryos. Results: Porcine XEN cells derived from porcine pPSCs were successfully expanded in N2B27 medium supplemented with bFGF for least 30 passages. RNA sequencing and immunofluorescence analyses showed that pXENCs expressed the murine and canine XEN markers Gata6, Gata4, Sox17 and Pdgfra but not the pluripotent markers Oct4, Sox2 and TE marker Cdx2. Moreover, these cells contributed to the XEN when injected into four‐cell stage mouse embryos. Supplementation with Chir99021 and SB431542 promoted the pluripotency of the pXENCs. Conclusions: We successfully derived pXENCs and showed that supplementation with Chir99021 and SB431542 confer them with pluripotency. Our results provide a new resource for investigating the reprogramming mechanism of porcine‐induced pluripotent stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: H5N1 and H9N2 are the most important causes of avian influenza in China. Chemokines and cytokines play important roles in inflammatory response that clearly differ between H5N1 and H9N2 infection. To investigate whether chemokines and cytokines are differentially regulated following H5N1 and H9N2 AIVs infection, dynamic expression of chemokines and cytokines, including IL8L1, IL8L2, CX3CL1, CCL5, CCL20, K203, SCYA4, XLC1, CCLi10, CCL19, IFN‐α, IFN‐β, IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α, were analyzed by real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR in DF‐1 cells. It was found that IL8L1, IL8L2, CX3CL1, CCL5, CCL20, K203, SCYA4, IFN‐α, IFN‐β, IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α increased significantly after induction of H5N1 or H9N2 AIV infection, whereas no expression of XCL1, CCLi10 or CCL19 was detected. H9N2 AIV infection was associated with much stronger chemokine responses than infection with H5N1, whereas the cytokines showed opposite results. It was found that K203 is a constant chemotactic factor independent of subtype of AIVs and infectious dose, CCL20 and IL‐1β are constant regardless of the infectious dose but depend on the subtype of AIV, chemotactic factors IL8L1, IL8L2 and CCL5 are dependent both on subtype of AIVs and infectious dose, and K203, CX3CL1, SCYA4, CCL20, IFN‐α, IL‐1β and TNF‐α are specific to responses to H5N1 AIV infection whereas K203, CCL20, IFN‐β, IL‐1β and IL‐6 are specific to H9N2 infection. These results provide basic data for explaining differences in inflammation and phenotypes of histopathological changes caused by H5N1 and H9N2 and add new information on the roles of chemokines and cytokines in virulence of AIVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematology and serum biochemistry reference values are essential for health evaluation and disease diagnosis in penguins. However, there are currently no published physiological values for captive Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae) and Chinstrap penguins (P. antarcticus), nor for wild or captive Macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus). The present study is the first investigation regarding hematology and serum biochemistry reference values for captive Adélie, Gentoo (P. papua), Chinstrap, and Macaroni penguins in Asia. Fixed effect models for repeated measure were applied to determine the influence of penguin species, age, gender, and age‐gender interaction on each blood parameter. Hematology and serum biochemical data from 122 apparently healthy penguins (24 Adélie, 38 Chinstrap, 46 Gentoo, and 14 Macaroni) were collected between 2009 and 2014. The effects of penguin species were observed for most blood parameters, except total bilirubin, creatine kinase (CK), creatinine, and potassium ion (K+). Values of mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), heterophil, ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes (H/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and chloride ion (Cl‐) had significant positive correlation with age, while significant negative correlation with age was observed in total red blood cells (RBCs), lymphocytes, thrombocytes, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), CK, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and plasma iron. Compared to male penguins, females had lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) but higher calcium ion (Ca2+) values. As for age‐gender interaction, significant positive correlation was shown in MCHC and K+, and the reverse was true in H/L ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The commercial Degussa P25‐TiO2 nanoparticles consisting of a mixed phase are a crucial environmental catalyst but encounter the robust coating problem onto the solid support for poor photocatalysis. Here, we have demonstrated a useful green method for greatly improving water‐flushing robust coating as well as photocatalysis by over‐etched three‐dimensional (3D) nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) that can be fabricated by large‐scale electrochemical‐anodic‐oxidation processing at room temperature instead of high‐temperature sintering for traditional ceramic foams up to 1200°C. Also, no additional high‐temperature calcination of 400~900°C was needed. The 3D porous morphology exhibited more TiO2 particles attachment on the rough surface and enlarged pore channels than the 2D. Moreover, the over‐etched 3D AAO exhibited the most attachment of TiO2 nanoparticles after water flushing due to high‐porosity‐and‐contact‐area 3D morphology which enhances the bonding between the substrate and nanoparticles for robust coating. XRD and SEM were used for analyzing the mixed phase and 2D‐3D morphology of the P25‐TiO2 nanoparticles on AAO. After immersion in Methylene blue solution and 20 hour of UV illumination, TiO2 nanoparticles on the over‐etched 3D AAO with robust coating showed the best decomposition rate compared to other supports including Si wafer, typical 2D and 3D AAO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Introduction This study was to assess the association between serum osteocalcin level and glucose metabolism in a Chinese male population. Materials and Methods We carried out a cross-sectional study with a cohort of participants from the Fangchenggang Area Male Health and Examination Survey. The cross-sectional study was carried out among 2,353 men, including 2,139 participants with normal glucose tolerance, 148 with impaired fasting glucose and 66 with type 2 diabetes. A subsample of 1,109 men with measurement of osteocalcin was observed in the cohort. After a 4-year follow-up period, 1,049 non-diabetic and 983 participants with normal glucose tolerance who submitted the available information were enrolled in the cohort. Participants were divided into group-H (≥23.33 ng/ mL) and group-L (<23.33 ng/mL) by osteocalcin level. Results In the cross-sectional study, osteocalcin levels were highest in participants with normal glucose tolerance, followed by those with impaired fasting glucose and type 2 diabetes ( P < 0.001). In partial correlation analysis adjusted for age, serum osteocalcin level was related to glucose level ( r = −0.082, P < 0.001), insulin level ( r = −0.079, P < 0.001) and insulin resistance ( r = −0.065, P = 0.002). Compared with group-H, group-L was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 2.107, 95% confidence interval 1.123-3.955), impaired fasting glucose (odds ratio 2.106; 95% CI 1.528-2.902), and insulin resistance (odds ratio 1.359, 95% confidence interval 1.080-1.710) adjusted for age, education levels, cigarette smoking and lipid profiles. In the cohort study, the increased risk of impaired fasting glucose was significant in group-L vs group-H (3.3% vs 1.2%, P = 0.026). Conclusions Low serum osteocalcin level was a risk factor for impaired glucose metabolism and subsequent type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new PC61BM-based fullerene, [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid pentafluorophenyl ester (PC61BPF) is designed and synthesized. This new n-type material can replace PC61BM to form a P3HT:PC61BPF binary blend or serve as an additive to form a P3HT:PC61BM:PC61BPF ternary blend. Supramolecular attraction between the pentafluorophenyl group of PC61BPF and the C60 cores of PC61BPF/PC61BM can effectively suppress the PC61BPF/PC61BM materials from severe aggregation. By doping only 8.3 wt% PC61BPF, device PC61BPF651 exhibits a PCE of 3.88% and decreases slightly to 3.68% after heating for 25 h, preserving 95% of its original value. When PC61BP with non-fluorinated phenyl group is used to substitute PC61BPF, the stabilizing ability disappears completely. The efficiencies of PC61BP651 and PC61BP321 devices significantly decay to 0.44% and 0.11%, respectively, after 25 h isothermal heating. Most significantly, this strategy is demonstrated to be effective for a blend system incorporating a low band-gap polymer. By adding only 10 wt% PC61BPF, the PDTBCDTB:PC71BM-based device exhibits thermally stable morphology and device characteristics. These findings demonstrate that smart utilization of supramolecular interactions is an effective and practical strategy to control morphological evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please cite this paper as: He et al. (2013) Amaryllidaceae alkaloids inhibit nuclear-to-cytoplasmic export of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 7(6), 922-931. Background Few drugs are currently licensed to treat influenza A infection, and new therapies are needed, especially for highly pathogenic strains. Traditional medicinal plants, such as Lycoris radiata, are a potential source of new antiviral agents. Objective To test 15 Amaryllidaceae alkaloids isolated from the bulbs of L. radiata in vitro for antiviral activities against influenza virus type A, A/Chicken/GuangDong/178/2004 (H5N1, 178). Methods Antiviral activities of the compounds were tested in time-of-addition assays, hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays, neuraminidase (NA) activity assays, and viral entry inhibition assays using H5N1-HIV pseudoviruses. Effects of the compounds on localization and activity of the viral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) were determined by immunofluorescence and an RNP minigenome assay, respectively. Results Among the alkaloids, lycorine ( AA1), hippeastrine ( AA2), hemanthamine ( AA3) and 11-hydroxy vittatine ( AA4) exhibited antiviral activities, with EC90 values of 0·52, 82·07, 4·15, and 13·45 μ m, respectively. These compounds did not affect the function of the outer membrane proteins or the viral entry process and viral RNP activity. As AA1 and AA3 exhibited stronger antiviral activities, they were further analyzed. Intracellular nucleoprotein (NP) localization showed that AA1 and AA3 inhibited the RNP complex in the nucleus at an early stage of a single-round and multi-round of replication. Conclusion Four Amaryllidaceae alkaloids were first determined that could exert anti-influenza activities after virus entry into cells. Furthermore, AA1 and AA3 could inhibit nuclear-to-cytoplasmic export of the RNP complex of virus replication. Thus, these compounds may be developed further as anti-influenza drug candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Metabolic syndrome is often beneficial from testosterone replacement therapy. Although testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) are inversely associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome, it is controversial whether the association between testosterone and metabolic syndrome is independent of SHBG. Methods Testosterone, SHBG and metabolic syndrome were evaluated in 2361 men aged 20-73 years, who participated in the population-based Fangchenggang Area Male Health and Examination Survey. Total testosterone, SHBG and other biochemical profiles were measured. Free testosterone and bioavailable testosterone were calculated on the basis of Vermeulen's formula. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for Asian population. The independent associations with metabolic syndrome were determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Men with metabolic syndrome had a lower level of total testosterone, bioavailable testosterone, free testosterone, or SHBG than those without metabolic syndrome (all p < 0.001). Both total testosterone and SHBG were inversely correlated with body mass index or homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (all age-adjusted p < 0.001). Men within the lowest quartile of total testosterone [odds ratio (OR) = 4.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.72-8.68], bioavailable testosterone (OR = 3.04, 95% CI = 1.81-5.10), free testosterone (OR = 3.08, 95% CI = 1.81-5.27) or SHBG (OR = 4.28, 95% CI = 2.52-7.27) had a risk of metabolic syndrome after adjusting for age, smoking, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and body mass index. Total testosterone remained inversely associated with metabolic syndrome after further adjusting for SHBG (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.92-0.99), while SHBG remained inversely associated with metabolic syndrome after further adjusting for total testosterone (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.97-1.00). Conclusion Total testosterone and SHBG are independent risk factors of metabolic syndrome. Prospective studies are needed to explore whether the association between sex hormones and metabolic syndrome was mediated by insulin resistance or obesity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To examine the association of endogenous sex hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) with C-reactive protein ( CRP) in Chinese men. Design and participants The study population comprised 1989 men at baseline recruitment of a population-based cohort in China. Participant information on risk factors was collected by a face-to-face interview and clinical examination. All subjects in the study were without taking any kind of medication for anti-inflammation purpose or treatment of hypogonadism and with CRP value less than 10 mg/l. Data were analysed using linear regression analyses. Results Higher levels of total testosterone ( TT, β = −0·114, 95% CI, −0·162 to −0·065), free testosterone (β = −0·059, 95% CI, −0·106 to −0·012) and SHBG (β = −0·116, 95% CI, −0·169 to −0·063) were statistically significantly related to lower levels of CRP, after adjustment for age, waist circumference ( WC), triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose, insulin, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes and family history of hypertension or diabetes. In the subgroup of men with body mass index ≥ 27·5 kg/m2 or with metabolic syndrome, findings for TT and SHBG were more pronounced, whereas the associations of TT with CRP were attenuated and nonstatistically significant among subjects with WC ≥ 90 cm or with insulin resistance. No associations were observed between estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and CRP. Conclusions We have confirmed the association of androgens with reduced inflammation as measured by CRP in Chinese men. This is independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors and is explained in part by markers of central obesity and insulin resistance, rather than metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: 2-Phenylethyl acetate (2-PEAc) is a highly valued natural volatile ester with a rose-like odour that is widely used to add scent or flavour to cosmetics, soaps, foods and drinks. In this study, 2-PEAc was synthesised enzymatically by transesterification of vinyl acetate with 2-phenethyl alcohol catalysed by immobilised lipase (Novozym® 435) from Candida antarctic RESULTS: Response surface methodology and a three-level/three-factor Box-Behnken design were used to evaluate the effects of time, temperature and enzyme amount on the molar conversion % of 2-PEAc. The results showed that temperature was the most important variable. Based on the ridge max analysis results, optimum enzymatic synthesis conditions were predicted as a reaction time of 79 min, a temperature of 57.8 °C and an enzyme amount of 122.5 mg. The predicted and experimental yields were 86.4 and 85.4% respectively. CONCLUSION: Three immobilised lipases were screened and 15 reaction conditions were tested in order to find the combination for maximum yield. The optimisation of 2-PEAc synthesis catalysed by Novozym® 435 was successfully developed. The kinetic study of this transesterification reaction showed that it followed an ordered ping-pong bi-bi mechanism without any inhibition by reactants. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Aims: Pioglitazone, known as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist, is used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). T2DM has been associated with reduced performance on numerous domains of cognitive function. Here, we investigated the effects of pioglitazone on memory impairment in a mouse model with defects in insulin sensitivity and secretion, namely high-fat diet (HFD) streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Methods: ICR mice were fed with HFD for 4 weeks and then injected with a single low dose of STZ followed by continued HFD feeding for an additional 4 weeks. Pioglitazone (18 mg/kg, 9 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered for 6 weeks once daily. Y-maze test and Morris water maze test (MWM) were employed for testing learning and memory. Serum glucose, serum insulin, serum triglyceride, brain β-amyloid peptide (Aβ), brain β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE1), brain nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and brain receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) were also tested. Results: The STZ/HFD diabetic mice, characterized by hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia and hypoinsulinemia, performed poorly on Y-maze and MWM hence reflecting impairment of learning and memory behavior with increases of Aβ40/Aβ42, BACE1, NF-κB, and RAGE in brain. Treatment of PPARγ agonist, pioglitazone (18 or 9 mg/kg body weight), significantly reversed diabetes-induced impairment of learning and memory behavior, which is involved in decreases of Aβ40/Aβ42 via inhibition of NF-κB, BACE1 and RAGE in brain as well as attenuation of hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, and hypoinsulinemia. Conclusions: It is concluded that PPARγ agonist pioglitazone may be considered as potential pharmacological agents for the management of cognitive dysfunction in T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five different morphologies selectively synthesized through a microwave hydrothermal route in order to determine the dependence of degradation efficiency on TiO2 morphologies. These five morphologies include nanosphere, nanotube, hollow sphere, nanorod and granule-like particle. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Brunauer-Emment-Teller methods were used to characterize the morphologies, crystalline structures, and specific surface area of these nanostructured TiO2. Oxidants were used as sacrificial electron acceptor to accelerate the degradation. The degradation mechanism of oxalic acid on the surface of TiO2 influenced by oxidants was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystalline structure and bonding behavior of promising titanium oxide material strongly influenced the performance of photocatalysis or photovoltaics devices in application. A novel method to control phase formation of sputtered TiO x films was investigated by various as-sputtered nonstoichiometry x of TiO x and followed by rapid thermal annealing ( RTA) at 550°C-750°C for 2 min in air. The as-deposited TiO x films were amorphous with no X-ray diffraction peak whereas the significant crystalline peaks of anatase or rutile phases were detected after RTA at 550°C-750°C. The nonstoichiometry x of TiO x films greatly influenced formation of crystalline TiO2 phase structures as annealed at 750°C. Pure anatase was detected in nonstoichiometry x > 1.97 specimens whereas pure rutile phase was detected in x < 1.61 specimens, respectively. An anatase-rutile mixture obtained at 1.61 < x < 1.97 showed highly photo-enhanced hydrophilic property after UV irradiation. Different crystalline phase structures of TiO2 films including the rutile, anatase, and mixture can be prepared by reactive sputtering and post RTA for enhancing performance of films. The relationship between process and phase transformation mechanism was also correlated and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terpios hoshinota, a dark encrusting sponge, is known to be a competitor for space in coral reef environments, and facilitates the death of corals. Although numerous cyanobacteria have been detected in the sponge, little is known of the sponge-associated bacterial community. This study examined the sponge-associated bacterial community and the difference between the bacterial communities in the sponge and the coral partially covered by the sponge by analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences of samples isolated from the sponge covering the corals Favia complanata, Isopora palifera, Millepora sp. , Montipora efflorescens and Porites lutea. The sponge-associated bacterial community was mainly (61-98%) composed of cyanobacteria, with approximately 15% of these alphaproteobacteria and gammaproteobacteria, although the proportions varied in different sponge samples. The dominant cyanobacteria group was an isolated group closely related to Prochloron sp. The comparison of the bacterial communities isolated from sponge-free and the sponge-covered P. lutea showed that covering by the sponge caused changes in the coral-associated bacterial communities, with the presence of bacteria similar to those detected in black-band disease, suggesting the sponge might benefit from the presence of bacteria associated with unhealthy coral, particularly in the parts of the coral closest to the margin of the sponge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Select species of the agarophyte Gracilaria were studied from southeastern Australia. The morphology and anatomy of species is described and molecular relations are inferred based on plastid and mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Agar yields and qualities are determined for each species. Gracilaria chilensis , found in Tasmania and Victoria, is morphologically and molecularly similar to G. chilensis from New Zealand and Chile and has low agar yields of 11-16%. Gracilaria cliftonii from Victoria, has high crude agar yield (52%) and is molecularly uniform. Gracilaria perplexa sp. nov., known only from Botany Bay, New South Wales, has an agar yield of 39%. The agar of G. perplexa is unusual in requiring the addition of 0.1 mol L-1 NaCl for alcohol precipitation and is cold-water (25°C) soluble because of the very high sulfate ester content. Molecular phylogeny shows that G. perplexa is closely related to Gracilaria preissiana from western Australia, but differs from the latter in its reduced branching and narrower more terete axes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three Australian-endemic species comprising the genus Areschougia have been examined to determine the structure of their nonfibrillar wall components. The polysaccharide extracted from the most widely distributed species, A. congesta (Turner) J. Agardh, was shown by compositional analyses, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, linkage analysis, and 13C-NMR spectroscopy to be a carrageenan composed predominantly of the repeating disaccharides 6′-O-meth- ylcarrabiose 2,4′-disulfate, carrabiose 2,4′-disulfate (the repeating unit of ι-carrageenan), 4′,6′-O-(1-carboxyethylidene)carrabiose 2-sulfate, and 6′-O-methylcarrabiose 2-sulfate. The carrageenan also contained small amounts of 4-linked Galp residues, some bearing methyl ether substitution at O-3 and some possibly bearing sulfate ester and/or glycosyl substitutions at O-3. The A. congesta carrageenan had unique rheological properties, its gels having some similarities to those of commercial ι-carrageenan but with the viscosity of commercial λ-carrageenan. Polysaccharides from A. ligulata Harvey ex J. Agardh and A. stuartii Harvey were shown by constituent sugar and FTIR analyses to be sulfated galactans rich in mono-O-methylgalactose. The carrageenan structures of Areschougia spp. were consistent with those of the genera Rhabdonia, Erythroclonium, and Austroclonium, the other genera constituting the family Areschougiaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determine explicitly all the stable manifolds for the stochastic flows on certain homogeneous spaces of a semisimple Lie group of non-compact type induced by Lévy processes on the Lie group.2000 Mathematical Subject Classification: 58J65. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dicranemataceae consists of f roe species in four genera of macroscopic red algae endemic to the southern half of Australia plus a single species from southern Japan. Investigations of the nonfibrillar wall components of five of the six species show that all are composed mainly of hybrid (or mixed) beta (β)/kappa (k)-type carrageenans. Detailed studies 0fTylotus obtusatus (Sonder)J. Agardh show that it produces the largest dry-weight percentage of β-carrageenan yet recorded. Monosaccharide composition, total sulfate content, sulfation pattern revealed by infrared and [SUP13]C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and a positive specific optical rotation ([α]D +549 are indicative of a low-sulfate-containing carrageenan with gelling properties similar to those of agar and furcellaran. [β-carrageenan is recorded in only five other red algal species belonging to relatively unrelated families, and we conclude that its uniform occurrence in the highly specialized family Dicranemataceae has phylogenetic significance. Chemical and anatomical examination of the genus Sarcodia, which produces lambda-type carrageenan in both its gametophytic and tetrasporophytic phases, suggests that, despite the recent proposal to incorporate the Dicranernataceae into the Sarcodiaceae, the two families should continue to be separated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]