Optimal Aspect Ratio and Excitation Spectral Region of LSPR Sensors Using Individual Au Dimmeric Nanoplates

Plasmonics - Both the excitation wavelength and aspect ratio AR are key parameters controlling the refractive index sensitivity performances of plasmonic sensors of individual Au nanoplate dimmers....     

Sex steroid changes during temperature‐induced gonadal differentiation in Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminck & Schegel, 1846)

Sex steroid changes during temperature‐induced gonadal differentiation were evaluated in the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Larvae were reared at 21 ± 0.5°C, 24 ± 0.5°C and 28 ± 0.5°C from day 40 post‐hatching (dph) to 90 dph. The proportion of males was 61.1, 76.7, 87.8 and 47.8% in 21°C, 24°C, 28°C and in control groups, respectively. Gonadal differentiation was circa 65 dph, when fishes were a mean 39 mm total length (TL). The gonads developed faster when fishes were reared in higher temperatures. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) analyses indicated that the level of estradiol‐17β (E2) changed during the period of gonadal differentiation and peaked at an onset of ovarian differentiation in all groups. Compared with fish in control groups, the levels of E2 were lower in thermal‐treated groups, especially in the highest temperature groups. The present results indicate that E2 plays a major role in the process of ovarian differentiation, and suggest that temperature‐induced masculinization in P. olivaceus is mainly due to a decrease in the E2 level during the period of ovarian differentiation.     

Deep Cutaneous Neoscytalidium dimidiatum Infection: Successful Outcome with Amphotericin B Therapy

Mycopathologia - Phaeohyphomycosis is a term used to describe a heterogenous group of cutaneous and systemic mycotic infections caused by melanized fungi. Many fungi have been reported as pathogens...     

An Air‐Stable and Dendrite‐Free Li Anode for Highly Stable All‐Solid‐State Sulfide‐Based Li Batteries

Li metal is a promising anode material for all‐solid‐state batteries, owing to its high specific capacity and low electrochemical potential. However, direct contact of Li metal with most solid‐state electrolytes induces severe side reactions that can lead to dendrite formation and short circuits. Moreover, Li metal is unstable when exposed to air, leading to stringent processing requirements. Herein, it is reported that the Li₃PS₄/Li interface in all‐solid‐state batteries can be stabilized by an air‐stable Li_xSiS_y protection layer that is formed in situ on the surface of Li metal through a solution‐based method. Highly stable Li cycling for over 2000 h in symmetrical cells and a lifetime of over 100 cycles can be achieved for an all‐solid‐state LiCoO₂/Li₃PS₄/Li cell. Synchrotron‐based high energy X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy in‐depth analysis demonstrates the distribution of different components within the protection layer. The in situ formation of an electronically insulating Li_xSiS_y protection layer with highly ionic conductivity provides an effective way to prevent Li dendrite formation in high‐energy all‐solid‐state Li metal batteries.     

rSJYB1 inhibits collagen type I protein expression in hepatic stellate cells via down‐regulating activity of collagen α1 (I) promoter

YB1 is a negative regulator in liver fibrosis. We wondered whether SJYB1, a homologous protein of YB1 from Schistosoma japonicum, has an effect on liver fibrosis in vitro. Recombinant SJYB1 (rSJYB1) protein was expressed in a bacterial system and purified by Ni‐NTA His·Bind Resin. A human hepatic stellate cell line, the LX‐2 cell line, was cultured and treated with rSJYB1. The role of rSJYB1 on LX‐2 cells was then analysed by Western blot and luciferase assay. We succeeded in expressing and purifying SJYB1 in a bacterial system and the purified rSJYB1 could be recognized by S japonicum‐infected rabbit sera. Western bolt analysis showed that rSJYB1 inhibited the expression of collagen type I, but had little effect on α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA). Further analysis revealed that rSJYB1 inhibited the activity of collagen α1 (I) (COL1A1) promoter and functioned at ?1592/?1176 region of COL1A1 promoter. Our data demonstrate that rSJYB1‐mediated anti‐fibrotic activity involves inhibiting the activity of COL1A1 promoter and subsequently suppressing the expression of collagen type I in hepatic stellate cells.     

Pollination in Lilium sargentiae (Liliaceae) and the first confirmation of long‐tongued hawkmoths as a pollinator niche in Asia

The geographical distribution of pollinators is an important factor determining the biogeographical pattern of floral evolution and diversification. In Africa, a guild of plant species has converged in a floral syndrome for pollination by long‐tongued hawkmoths (predominantly Agrius convolvuli). It is hypothesized that such floral convergence could track the geographical distribution of long‐tongued hawkmoths, so it may not be confined to Africa. We investigated the pollination biology of Lilium sargentiae E. H. Wilson, which is endemic to China and exhibits traits suggestive of long‐tongued hawkmoth pollination. Lilium sargentiae was visited by A. convolvuli as well as small beetles (Nitidulidae) but pollination was mostly or totally effected by the moth. It was consistent with other hawkmoth‐pollinated plants in terms of floral tube length, nectar traits, tepal reflectance, and scent composition. We present the first experimental evidence for the hypothesis proposed above and for hawkmoth pollination in the widespread and ornamentally and economically important genus Lilium L. in a natural habitat. Our findings imply that long‐tongued hawkmoths (especially the extremely widespread A. convolvuli) as a distinctive pollinator niche may have underlain the evolution of long‐tubed (>8 cm) flowers across different continents.     

Covalently linking the Escherichia coli global anaerobic regulator FNR in tandem allows it to function as an oxygen stable dimer

Glutathione (GSH) serves as an important anti-oxidant in the brain by scavenging harmful reactive oxygen species that are generated during different molecular processes. The GSH level in the brain provides indirect information on oxidative stress of the brain. We report in vivo detection of GSH non-invasively from various brain regions (frontal cortex, parietal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum) in bilateral hemispheres of healthy male and female subjects and from bi-lateral frontal cortices in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). All AD patients who participated in this study were on medication with cholinesterase inhibitors. Healthy young male (age 26.4±3.0) and healthy young female (age 23.6±2.1) subjects have higher amount of GSH in the parietal cortical region and a specific GSH distribution pattern (parietal cortex>frontal cortex>hippocampus ~ cerebellum) has been found. Overall mean GSH content is higher in healthy young female compared to healthy young male subjects and GSH is distributed differently in two hemispheres among male and female subjects. In both young female and male subjects, statistically significant (p=0.02 for young female and p=0.001 for young male) difference in mean GSH content is found when compared between left frontal cortex (LFC) and right frontal cortex (RFC). In healthy young female subjects, we report statistically significant positive correlation of GSH content between RFC and LFC (r=0.641, p=0.004) as well as right parietal cortex (RPC) and left parietal cortex (LPC) (r=0.797, p=0.000) regions. In healthy young male subjects, statistically significant positive correlation of GSH content was observed between LFC and LPC (r=0.481, p=0.032) regions. This statistical analysis implicates that in case of a high GSH content in LPC of a young male, his LFC region would also contain high GSH and vice versa. The difference in mean of GSH content between healthy young female control and female AD patients in RFC region (p=0.003) and difference in mean of GSH content between healthy young male control and male AD patients (p=0.05) in LFC region is found to be statistically significant. It is the first scientific report correlating alteration (in selective brain regions) of GSH level with clinical status of male and female subjects using non-invasive imaging technique.     

Polymorphic allele of human MRC1 confer protection against tuberculosis in a Chinese population

Mannose receptor is a member of the C-type lectin receptor family involved in pathogen molecular-pattern recognition, and plays a critical role in shaping host immune response. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MRC1 gene may affect expression levels and differences in the structure and function of proteins in different individuals, thereby affecting individual susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis. However, to date, MRC1 polymorphisms associated with susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis have not yet been reported. The present study aimed to investigate potential associations of SNPs in the MRC1 gene with pulmonary tuberculosis in a Chinese population. Six SNPs (G1186A, G1195A, T1212C, C1221G, C1303T and C1323T) in exon 7 of the MRC1 gene were genotyped using the PCR and DNA sequencing methods in the pulmonary tuberculosis patients and the healthy controls. Linkage disequilibrium analysis was performed between polymorphic sites. The study found that the allele frequency of G1186A (rs34039386) of the MRC1 gene in a Chinese population was higher in the pulmonary tuberculosis group than the healthy control group. There was a significant difference in frequency distribution between the two groups (P = 0.037; OR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.58-0.98). Genotypic analysis also indicated that the AG genotypes in a Chinese population were significantly correlated with pulmonary tuberculosis (P < 0.01; OR = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.37-0.87). After adjustment for age and gender, G1186A sites were found to be dominant (P < 0.01; OR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.40-0.87), over-dominant (P = 0.045; OR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.47-0.99) and additive models (P = 0.041; OR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.59-0.99) in association with pulmonary tuberculosis. But, no association was found between the other 5 SNPs (G1195A, T1212C, C1221G, C1303T and C1323T) and tuberculosis (P > 0.05). This study is the first to report that genetic variants in the MRC1 gene can be associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in a Chinese population, and may reduce the risk of infecting pulmonary tuberculosis. This also provides a new experimental basis to clarify the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis.     

Specific inherent optical quantities of complex turbid inland waters, from the perspective of water classification

For optically complex turbid productive waters, the optical behavior of suspended particles is the keynote of characterizing the unordered variations of inherent optical properties (IOPs). Multiple bio-optical measurements and sampling of optically active substances were performed in Lake Taihu, Lake Chaohu, and Lake Dianchi, and Three Gorges reservoir of China, in 2008, 2009, and 2010. On the basis of obtaining adequate observation data, we developed an improved and robust water classification approach, by which complex water conditions were divided into three types, i.e., Type 1 (Normalized Trough Depth at 675 nm, hereafter NTD675, ≥0.092), Type 2 (0 < NTD675 < 0.092), and Type 3 (NTD675 ≤ 0). Furthermore, the specific inherent optical quantities for suspended particles, including the specific absorption coefficient of non-algal particles (a*(nap)), the specific absorption coefficient of phytoplankton (a*(ph)), and the specific scattering coefficient of the suspended particles (b*(p)), were determined for the three classified types of waters. The validation results showed that our proposed values for these specific inherent optical quantities presented relatively high predictive accuracies, with most mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) near 30%, and more importantly, performed much better than that of non-classified waters. Additionally, relative contributions of phytoplankton and non-algal particles to the total particulate absorption and scattering, as well as the spectra, were also analyzed, and the differences among the three classified types of waters were clarified. Overall, the results obtained in this study provide us with new knowledge for understanding complex varied inherent optical properties of highly turbid productive waters.