| 1. |
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| 2. |
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- 2019
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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| 3. |
- Klionsky, Daniel J., et al.
(author)
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Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
- 2012
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In: Autophagy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1554-8635 .- 1554-8627. ; 8:4, s. 445-544
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Bi, Hui, et al.
(author)
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Investigation on the joint travel behavior in bike sharing systems during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from New York City
- 2024
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In: Journal of Transport Geography. - 0966-6923. ; 117
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As the COVID-19 pandemic worsened, many people saw bikes as one of the safest means of transportation in the hard-hit cities. All the bike sharing utilization patterns during the pandemic are worthy of careful attention. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of niche but notable cycling behaviors, such as multi-person round trip (MPRT), defined as two or more cyclists intentionally riding together then returning bikes to the original docking station. This study extends the relevant literature by firstly proposing a MPRT identification framework based on individual bike sharing trip records, with consideration of interpersonal relationships between co-travelers, as well as the specificity of round trips against one-way trips. Taking New York City as a case study, this study examines the changes over space and time of MPRT frequencies from 2019 (i.e. pre-pandemic period) to 2020 (i.e. pandemic period), and the reasons for it. Notably, special consideration of the aforementioned analysis is paid to the influence of the real-time situation of COVID-19 in terms of cases, deaths, hospitalizations, and tests. Results reveal that (1) the MPRT frequencies obey a long tail distribution, both prior to and during the COVID-19 outbreak; (2) the group size, temporal patterns and co-traveler community are profoundly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak; (3) four indicators related to COVID-19 show different influences on co-travelers over time; (4) bike sharing availability and personal economic situation are closely related with MPRT frequencies. These findings can help develop more targeted strategies for improving the operation of a bike sharing system to meet the possible diversified demands of cyclists during the future pandemics.
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| 6. |
- Guo, Hui-Hui, et al.
(author)
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Alleviation of allergic asthma by rosmarinic acid via gut-lung axis
- 2024
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In: Phytomedicine. - : Elsevier. - 0944-7113 .- 1618-095X. ; 126
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Asthma affects 3% of the global population, leading to over 0.25 million deaths. Due to its complexity, asthma is difficult to cure or prevent, and current therapies have limitations. This has led to a growing demand for alternative asthma treatments. We found rosmarinic acid (RosA) as a potential new drug candidate from natural medicine. However, RosA has poor bioavailability and remains mainly in the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration, suggesting the involvement of gut microbiota in its bioactivity. Purpose: To investigate the mechanism of RosA in alleviating allergic asthma by gut-lung axis. Methods: We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolites analysis to investigate RosA's modulation of gut microbiota. Techniques of molecular biology and metabolomics were employed to study the pharmacological mechanism of RosA. Cohousing was used to confirm the involvement of gut microbiota in RosA-induced improvement of allergic asthma. Results: RosA decreased cholate levels from spore-forming bacteria, leading to reduced 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) synthesis, bronchoconstriction, vasodilation, and inflammatory cell infiltration. It also increased short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels, facilitating the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins to promote intestinal integrity. SCFAs upregulated intestinal monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), thereby improving their systemic delivery to reduce Th2/ILC2 mediated inflammatory response and suppress eosinophil influx and mucus production in lung. Additionally, RosA inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS) production and translocation, leading to reduced TLR4-NF kappa B mediated pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress. Conclusions: The anti-asthmatic mechanism of oral RosA is primarily driven by modulation of gut microbiotaderived 5-HT, SCFAs, and LPS, achieving a combined synergistic effect. RosA is a safe, effective, and reliable drug candidate that could potentially replace glucocorticoids for asthma treatment.
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| 7. |
- Jin, Ying-Hui, et al.
(author)
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Chemoprophylaxis, diagnosis, treatments, and discharge management of COVID-19 : An evidence-based clinical practice guideline (updated version)
- 2020
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In: Military Medical Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2054-9369. ; 7:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of a rapidly spreading illness, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), affecting more than seventeen million people around the world. Diagnosis and treatment guidelines for clinicians caring for patients are needed. In the early stage, we have issued "A rapid advice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infected pneumonia (standard version)"; now there are many direct evidences emerged and may change some of previous recommendations and it is ripe for develop an evidence-based guideline. We formed a working group of clinical experts and methodologists. The steering group members proposed 29 questions that are relevant to the management of COVID-19 covering the following areas: chemoprophylaxis, diagnosis, treatments, and discharge management. We searched the literature for direct evidence on the management of COVID-19, and assessed its certainty generated recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Recommendations were either strong or weak, or in the form of ungraded consensus-based statement. Finally, we issued 34 statements. Among them, 6 were strong recommendations for, 14 were weak recommendations for, 3 were weak recommendations against and 11 were ungraded consensus-based statement. They covered topics of chemoprophylaxis (including agents and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) agents), diagnosis (including clinical manifestations, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respiratory tract specimens, IgM and IgG antibody tests, chest computed tomography, chest x-ray, and CT features of asymptomatic infections), treatments (including lopinavir-ritonavir, umifenovir, favipiravir, interferon, remdesivir, combination of antiviral drugs, hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine, interleukin-6 inhibitors, interleukin-1 inhibitors, glucocorticoid, qingfei paidu decoction, lianhua qingwen granules/capsules, convalescent plasma, lung transplantation, invasive or noninvasive ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)), and discharge management (including discharge criteria and management plan in patients whose RT-PCR retesting shows SARS-CoV-2 positive after discharge). We also created two figures of these recommendations for the implementation purpose. We hope these recommendations can help support healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients.
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| 8. |
- Luo, Yifei, et al.
(author)
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Technology Roadmap for Flexible Sensors
- 2023
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In: ACS Nano. - : American Chemical Society. - 1936-0851 .- 1936-086X. ; 17:6, s. 5211-5295
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Humans rely increasingly on sensors to address grand challenges and to improve quality of life in the era of digitalization and big data. For ubiquitous sensing, flexible sensors are developed to overcome the limitations of conventional rigid counterparts. Despite rapid advancement in bench-side research over the last decade, the market adoption of flexible sensors remains limited. To ease and to expedite their deployment, here, we identify bottlenecks hindering the maturation of flexible sensors and propose promising solutions. We first analyze challenges in achieving satisfactory sensing performance for real-world applications and then summarize issues in compatible sensor-biology interfaces, followed by brief discussions on powering and connecting sensor networks. Issues en route to commercialization and for sustainable growth of the sector are also analyzed, highlighting environmental concerns and emphasizing nontechnical issues such as business, regulatory, and ethical considerations. Additionally, we look at future intelligent flexible sensors. In proposing a comprehensive roadmap, we hope to steer research efforts towards common goals and to guide coordinated development strategies from disparate communities. Through such collaborative efforts, scientific breakthroughs can be made sooner and capitalized for the betterment of humanity.
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| 9. |
- Sung, Yun Ju, et al.
(author)
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A multi-ancestry genome-wide study incorporating gene-smoking interactions identifies multiple new loci for pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure
- 2019
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In: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press. - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 28:15, s. 2615-2633
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Elevated blood pressure (BP), a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, is influenced by both genetic and lifestyle factors. Cigarette smoking is one such lifestyle factor. Across five ancestries, we performed a genome-wide gene–smoking interaction study of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP) in 129 913 individuals in stage 1 and follow-up analysis in 480 178 additional individuals in stage 2. We report here 136 loci significantly associated with MAP and/or PP. Of these, 61 were previously published through main-effect analysis of BP traits, 37 were recently reported by us for systolic BP and/or diastolic BP through gene–smoking interaction analysis and 38 were newly identified (P < 5 × 10−8, false discovery rate < 0.05). We also identified nine new signals near known loci. Of the 136 loci, 8 showed significant interaction with smoking status. They include CSMD1 previously reported for insulin resistance and BP in the spontaneously hypertensive rats. Many of the 38 new loci show biologic plausibility for a role in BP regulation. SLC26A7 encodes a chloride/bicarbonate exchanger expressed in the renal outer medullary collecting duct. AVPR1A is widely expressed, including in vascular smooth muscle cells, kidney, myocardium and brain. FHAD1 is a long non-coding RNA overexpressed in heart failure. TMEM51 was associated with contractile function in cardiomyocytes. CASP9 plays a central role in cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Identified only in African ancestry were 30 novel loci. Our findings highlight the value of multi-ancestry investigations, particularly in studies of interaction with lifestyle factors, where genomic and lifestyle differences may contribute to novel findings.
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| 10. |
- Wain, Louise V., et al.
(author)
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Novel Blood Pressure Locus and Gene Discovery Using Genome-Wide Association Study and Expression Data Sets From Blood and the Kidney
- 2017
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In: Hypertension. - 0194-911X .- 1524-4563. ; 70:3, s. e4-e19
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Elevated blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and has a substantial genetic contribution. Genetic variation influencing blood pressure has the potential to identify new pharmacological targets for the treatment of hypertension. To discover additional novel blood pressure loci, we used 1000 Genomes Project-based imputation in 150 134 European ancestry individuals and sought significant evidence for independent replication in a further 228 245 individuals. We report 6 new signals of association in or near HSPB7, TNXB, LRP12, LOC283335, SEPT9, and AKT2, and provide new replication evidence for a further 2 signals in EBF2 and NFKBIA. Combining large whole-blood gene expression resources totaling 12 607 individuals, we investigated all novel and previously reported signals and identified 48 genes with evidence for involvement in blood pressure regulation that are significant in multiple resources. Three novel kidney-specific signals were also detected. These robustly implicated genes may provide new leads for therapeutic innovation.
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| 11. |
- Wang, Fang, et al.
(author)
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Emerging contaminants: A One Health perspective
- 2024
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In: Innovation. - 2666-6758. ; 5
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Environmental pollution is escalating due to rapid global development that often prioritizes human needs over planetary health. Despite global efforts to mitigate legacy pollutants, the continuous introduction of new substances remains a major threat to both people and the planet. In response, global initiatives are focusing on risk assessment and regulation of emerging contaminants, as demonstrated by the ongoing efforts to establish the UN's Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Prevention. This review identifies the sources and impacts of emerging contaminants on planetary health, emphasizing the importance of adopting a One Health approach. Strategies for monitoring and addressing these pollutants are discussed, underscoring the need for robust and socially equitable environmental policies at both regional and international levels. Urgent actions are needed to transition toward sustainable pollution management practices to safeguard our planet for future generations.
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| 12. |
- Zhu, Hui Hui, et al.
(author)
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Large-scale photonic network with squeezed vacuum states for molecular vibronic spectroscopy
- 2024
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In: Nature Communications. - 2041-1723 .- 2041-1723. ; 15:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Although molecular vibronic spectra generation is pivotal for chemical analysis, tackling such exponentially complex tasks on classical computers remains inefficient. Quantum simulation, though theoretically promising, faces technological challenges in experimentally extracting vibronic spectra for molecules with multiple modes. Here, we propose a nontrivial algorithm to generate the vibronic spectra using states with zero displacements (squeezed vacuum states) coupled to a linear optical network, offering ease of experimental implementation. We also fabricate an integrated quantum photonic microprocessor chip as a versatile simulation platform containing 16 modes of single-mode squeezed vacuum states and a fully programmable interferometer network. Molecular vibronic spectra of formic acid and thymine under the Condon approximation are simulated using the quantum microprocessor chip with high reconstructed fidelity (> 92%). Furthermore, vibronic spectra of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and benzene under the non-Condon approximation are also experimentally simulated. Such demonstrations could pave the way for solving complicated quantum chemistry problems involving vibronic spectra and computational tasks beyond the reach of classical computers.
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Alastair, Kerr, et al.
(author)
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The long noncoding RNA ADIPINT is a gatekeeper of pyruvate carboxylasefunction regulating human fat cell metabolism
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The pleiotropic function of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is well recognized,but their direct role in governingmetabolic homeostasis is less understood. Herein,we describe a human adipocyte-specific lncRNA, ADIPINT, that regulatespyruvate carboxylase (PC) an enzyme pivotal to energy metabolism. With a novelapproach, Targeted RNA-protein identification using Orthogonal Organic PhaseSeparation (TROOPS) and validation with electron microscopy, we show thatADIPINT binds to PC. ADIPINT knockdown alters the interactome anddecreases the mitochondrial abundance and enzymatic activty of PC. Decreases inADIPINT or PC expression reduce adipocyte lipid synthesis, breakdown and lipidcontent. In human white adipose tissue, ADIPINT expression is increased inobesity, linked to fat cell size, adipose insulin resistance and PC activity. Thus, weidentify ADIPINT as a regulator of lipid metabolism in human white adipocytes,which at least in part is mediated through its interaction with PC.
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| 15. |
- Baeckdahl, Jesper, et al.
(author)
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Spatial mapping reveals human adipocyte subpopulations with distinct sensitivities to insulin
- 2021
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In: Cell Metabolism. - : Elsevier BV. - 1550-4131 .- 1932-7420. ; 33:9, s. 1869-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The contribution of cellular heterogeneity and architecture to white adipose tissue (WAT) function is poorly understood. Herein, we combined spatially resolved transcriptional profiling with single-cell RNA sequencing and image analyses to map human WAT composition and structure. This identified 18 cell classes with unique propensities to form spatially organized homo-and heterotypic clusters. Of these, three constituted mature adipocytes that were similar in size, but distinct in their spatial arrangements and transcriptional profiles. Based on marker genes, we termed these Adipo(LEP), Adipo(PLIN), and Adipo(SAA). We confirmed, in independent datasets, that their respective gene profiles associated differently with both adipocyte and whole-body insulin sensitivity. Corroborating our observations, insulin stimulation in vivo by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp showed that only Adipo(PLIN) displayed a transcriptional response to insulin. Altogether, by mining this multimodal resource we identify that human WAT is composed of three classes of mature adipocytes, only one of which is insulin responsive.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Cao, Zi-Jun, et al.
(author)
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State-of-the-art review of inherent variability and uncertainty in geotechnical properties and models : Chapter 6: Determining characteristic values of geotechnical parameters and resistance: an overview
- 2021
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- CEN committee TC250 is currently working on an update of the Eurocodes. Subcommittee SC10,in charge of updating EN 1990 (Basis of structural and geotechnical design has installed aworking group to produce a background document with the working title ‘Reliability Backgrounds of the Eurocodes’, with the intention to document and explain the reliability framework underlying all Eurocodes and the implementation of reliability aspects in them. As part of that effort, quantitative information on the inherent variability and uncertainty in loads, material properties and models is compiled. ISSMGE TC304 identified this as an opportunity to provide an overview of the relevant information available in the geotechnical literature such as the statistics of soil/rock properties. The EPRI TR 105000 report (Phoon et al. 1995) provided an overview of the statistics of inherent soil properties and measurement errors, but these statistics have not yet been updated systematically since 1995. Also, rock properties were not covered by the TR 105000 report. Other than soil/rock properties and measurement errors, there are also other important statistics, such as the statistics of transformation uncertainties and model factors.The current technical report has the following features:1. It serves as an update for the TR 105000 report on the statistics of inherent soil properties. Chapter 1 compiles the site specific statistics for univariate soil properties. Chapter 3 compiles the random field parameters (e.g., the scales of fluctuation) for spatial variability of soils. Many of the statistics are new.2. It contains statistics that are not covered by the TR 105000 report. Chapter 1 compiles the site specific statistics for some rock and rock mass properties. Chapter 2 compiles the site specific correlations between soil/rock properties. Chapter 5 compiles the statistics for transformation uncertainties.3. Chapter 4 compiles the statistics of geotechnical design model factors . Chapter 6 reviews methods that determine the characteristic value defined by the Eurocode 7. Chapter 7 reviews some numerical evidences for the worst case scale of fluctuation.
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| 18. |
- Chen, Hui, et al.
(author)
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Adaptive migratory orientation of an invasive pest on a new continent
- 2023
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In: iScience. - 2589-0042. ; 26:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Many species of insects undertake long-range, seasonally reversed migrations, displaying sophisticated orientation behaviors to optimize their migratory trajectories. However, when invasive insects arrive in new biogeographical regions, it is unclear if migrants retain (or how quickly they regain) ancestral migratory traits, such as seasonally preferred flight headings. Here we present behavioral evidence that an invasive migratory pest, the fall armyworm moth (Spodoptera frugiperda), a native of the Americas, exhibited locally adaptive migratory orientation less than three years after arriving on a new continent. Specimens collected from China showed flight orientations directed north-northwest in spring and southwest in autumn, and this would promote seasonal forward and return migrations in East Asia. We also show that the driver of the seasonal switch in orientation direction is photoperiod. Our results thus provide a clear example of an invasive insect that has rapidly exhibited adaptive migratory behaviors, either inherited or newly evolved, in a completely alien environment.
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| 19. |
- Chen, Hui, et al.
(author)
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Lidar as a Potential Tool for Monitoring Migratory Insects : A Field Case Study in Sweden
- 2024
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In: iScience. - 2589-0042. ; 27:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The seasonal migrations of insects involve a substantial displacement of biomass with significant ecological and economic consequences for regions of departure and arrival. Remote sensors have played a pivotal role in revealing the magnitude and general direction of bioflows above 150 m. Nevertheless, the take-off and descent activity of insects below this height is poorly understood. Our lidar observations elucidate the low-height dusk movements and detailed information of insects in southern Sweden from May to July, during the yearly northward migration period. Importantly, by filtering out moths from other insects based on optical information and wing beat frequency, we have introduced a promising new method to monitor the flight activities of nocturnal moths near the ground, many of which participate in migration through the area. Lidar thus holds the potential to enhance the scientific understanding of insect migratory behaviour and improve pest control strategies.
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| 20. |
- Chen, Si, et al.
(author)
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A graphene field-effect capacitor sensor in electrolyte
- 2012
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In: Applied Physics Letters. - : AIP Publishing. - 0003-6951 .- 1077-3118. ; 101:15, s. 154106-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The unique electronic properties of graphene are exploited for field-effect sensing in both capacitor and transistor modes when operating the sensor device in electrolyte. The device is fabricated using large-area graphene thin films prepared by means of layer-by-layer stacking. Although essentially the same device, its operation in the capacitor mode is found to yield more information than in the transistor mode. The capacitor sensor can simultaneously detect the variations of surface potential and electrical-double-layer capacitance at the graphene/electrolyte interface when altering the ion concentration. The capacitor-mode operation further facilitates studies of the molecular binding-adsorption kinetics by monitoring the capacitance transient
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| 21. |
- Chen, Zhi, et al.
(author)
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Large-Area Crystalline Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Thin Films
- 2021
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In: Angewandte Chemie International Edition. - : Wiley. - 1433-7851 .- 1521-3773. ; 60:25, s. 14124-14130
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report that continuous MOF films with highly controlled thickness (from 44 to 5100 nm) can be deposited over length scales greater than 80 centimeters by a facile, fast, and cost-effective spray-coating method. Such success relies on our discovery of unprecedented perfectly dispersed colloidal solutions consisting of amorphous MOF nanoparticles, which we adopted as precursors that readily converted to the crystalline films upon low-temperature in situ heating. The colloidal solutions allow for the fabrication of compact and uniform MOF films on a great deal of substrates such as fluorine-doped tin oxide, glass, SiO2, Al2O3, Si, Cu, and even flexible polycarbonate, widening their technological applications where substrates are essential. Despite the present work focuses on the fabrication of uniform cobalt-(2-methylimidazole)2 and zinc-(2-methylimidazole)2 films, our findings mark a great possibility in producing other high-quality MOF thin films on a large scale.
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| 22. |
- Cheng, Shi-Ping, et al.
(author)
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Haplotype-resolved genome assembly and allele-specific gene expression in cultivated ginger
- 2021
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In: Horticulture Research. - : Springer Nature. - 2052-7276. ; 8:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the most valued spice plants worldwide; it is prized for its culinary and folk medicinal applications and is therefore of high economic and cultural importance. Here, we present a haplotype-resolved, chromosome-scale assembly for diploid ginger anchored to 11 pseudochromosome pairs with a total length of 3.1 Gb. Remarkable structural variation was identified between haplotypes, and two inversions larger than 15 Mb on chromosome 4 may be associated with ginger infertility. We performed a comprehensive, spatiotemporal, genome-wide analysis of allelic expression patterns, revealing that most alleles are coordinately expressed. The alleles that exhibited the largest differences in expression showed closer proximity to transposable elements, greater coding sequence divergence, more relaxed selection pressure, and more transcription factor binding site differences. We also predicted the transcription factors potentially regulating 6-gingerol biosynthesis. Our allele-aware assembly provides a powerful platform for future functional genomics, molecular breeding, and genome editing in ginger.
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| 23. |
- Chi, Zhi-Hong, et al.
(author)
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Zinc transporter 7 is located in the cis-Golgi apparatus of mouse choroid epithelial cells.
- 2006
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In: Neuroreport. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0959-4965. ; 17:17, s. 1807-11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The cellular localization of zinc transporter 7 protein in the mouse choroid plexus was examined in this study. Zinc transporter 7 immunoreactive cells were detected in the third, lateral, and fourth ventricles of CD-1 mouse brain. Distinct zinc transporter 7 immunoreactivity was concentrated in the perinuclear regions of the positive cells. The results from zinc autometallography showed that zinc-positive grains were also predominantly located in the perinuclear areas. Ultrastructural localization showed that zinc transporter 7 immunostaining was predominantly present in the membrane and cisternae of the cis-Golgi networks and some vesicle compartments. The results support the notion that zinc transporter 7 may participate in the transport of the cytoplasmic zinc into the Golgi apparatus, and may be involved in local packaging of zinc-binding proteins in the mouse choroid plexus.
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| 24. |
- Chong, Hui, et al.
(author)
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Organo-ptii complexes for potent photodynamic inactivation of multi-drug resistant bacteria and the influence of configuration
- 2024
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In: Advanced Science. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2198-3844. ; 11:14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PtII based organometallic photosensitizers (PSs) have emerged as novel potent photodynamic inactivation (PDI) reagents through their enhanced intersystem crossing (ISC) processes. Currently, few PtII PSs have been investigated as antibacterial materials, with relatively poor performances reported and with structure-activity relationships not well described. Herein, a pair of configurational isomers are reported of Bis-BODIPY (4,4-difluoro-boradizaindacene) embedded PtII PSs. The cis-isomer (cis-BBP) displayed enhanced 1O2 generation and better bacterial membrane anchoring capability as compared to the trans-isomer (trans-BBP). The effective PDI concentrations (efficiency > 99.9%) for cis-BBP in Acinetobacter baumannii (multi-drug resistant (MDR)) and Staphylococcus aureus are 400 nM (12 J cm−2) and 100 nM (18 J cm−2), respectively; corresponding concentrations and light doses for trans-BBP in the two bacteria are 2.50 µM (30 J cm−2) and 1.50 µM (18 J cm−2), respectively. The 50% and 90% minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50 and MIC90) ratio of trans-BBP to cis-BBP is 22.22 and 24.02 in A. baumannii (MDR); 21.29 and 22.36 in methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), respectively. Furthermore, cis-BBP displays superior in vivo antibacterial performance, with acceptable dark and photoinduced cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate cis-BBP is a robust light-assisted antibacterial reagent at sub-micromolecular concentrations. More importantly, configuration of PtII PSs should be an important issue to be considered in further PDI reagents design.
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| 25. |
- Gao, Hui
(author)
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Estrogen signaling in metabolic disease : a functional genomics approach
- 2006
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Estrogens have traditionally been associated with female reproduction. More and more evidence has also linked estrogens to maintenance of glucose homeostasis and normal heart function. Most of the known effects of estrogen are mediated via a direct interaction of estrogen with estrogen receptors (ERs), ERɑ and ERβ, which regulate the expression of specific sets of genes. Advances in whole genome sequence determination for various species and the development of high throughput techniques, such as gene expression profiling and genome wide identification of DNA-binding sites for specific transcription factors (Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) combined with microarray, ChIP-on-chip), allow for the first time a comprehensive characterization of ER target genes and associated cis-regulatory ER DNA-binding sites. The aim of this thesis was to improve our understanding of the molecular events involved in mediating the effects of estrogen on glucose homeostasis and heart function. To this end, we have investigated the mechanisms behind the effects of estrogen on glucose homeostasis using ERɑ knockout (ERKO) and ERβ knockout (BERKO) mice. The absence of ERɑ, but not ERβ, resulted in glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in both female and male mice. This was shown to be due to profound hepatic insulin resistance in ERKO mice. Gene expression profiling revealed upregulation of lipogenic genes in livers of ERKO mice and we hypothesized that this is a reason for the observed insulin resistance (Paper I). To further explore this finding, we treated ob/ob mice, a rodent model for obesity and type II diabetes, with estradiol and found markedly improved glucose tolerance and insulin response to glucose. Gene expression profiling revealed that hepatic lipogenic genes were decreased in ob/ob mouse livers after estradiol treatment. These studies support the studies in Paper I in suggesting a link between the insulin sensitizing effects of estrogen and decreased expression of lipogenic genes in the liver. We demonstrated that Stat3 is a direct target gene of ERɑ in mouse liver and hypothesized that estrogenic modulation of lipid metabolism in the liver, leading to improved glucose tolerance, is mediated by Stat3 (Paper II). To link estrogen induced changes in gene expression profiles to DNA-binding by ERs, we established genome-wide analysis of promoter occupancy by ERɑ for mouse liver tissue. This analysis confirmed binding of ERɑ to promoter regions of known estrogen target genes. We showed that the estrogen response element (ERE) is the one of the most common motifs present in promoters where have recruitment of ERɑ Genes linked to the identified ERɑ binding sites included important cellular signaling molecules such as Stat3 and several genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism (Paper III). We also employed gene expression profiling to study the molecular mechanism of estrogen action in mouse heart. Overall very few genes were regulated in the heart compared to the liver. However, we identified Ptgds as an ERβ specific target gene in mouse heart and identified the response element that mediates this selective activation (Paper IV). Interestingly, the promoter of Ptgds was occupied by ERɑ and regulated by an ERɑ selective ligand in mouse liver (Paper III). The ER selectivity of Ptgds expression might provide a model to study the molecular basis for receptor selectivity in different tissues. In summary, a functional genomics approach provides a powerful new perspective on estrogen action in different tissues and has the potential to transform traditional research approaches to become more productive and efficient.
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| 26. |
- Gao, Hui-Ling, et al.
(author)
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Expression of zinc transporter ZnT7 in mouse superior cervical ganglion.
- 2008
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In: Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical. - : Elsevier BV. - 1566-0702. ; 140:1-2, s. 59-65
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons contain a considerable amount of zinc ions, but little is known about the zinc homeostasis in the SCG. It is known that zinc transporter 7 (ZnT7, Slc30a7), a member of the Slc30 ZnT family, is involved in mobilizing zinc ions from the cytoplasm into the Golgi apparatus. In the present study, we examined the expression and localization of ZnT7 and labile zinc ions in the mouse SCG using immunohistochemistry, Western blot and in vivo zinc selenium autometallography (AMG). Our immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the ZnT7 immunoreactivity in the SCG neurons was predominately present in the perinuclear region of the neurons, suggesting an affiliation to the Golgi apparatus. The Western blot results verified that ZnT7 protein was expressed in the mouse SCGs. The AMG reaction product was shown to have a similar distribution as ZnT7 immunoreactivity. These observations support the notion that ZnT7 may participate in zinc transport, storage, and incorporation of zinc into zinc-binding proteins in the Golgi apparatus of mouse SCG neurons.
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| 27. |
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| 28. |
- Gao, Ruo Bin, et al.
(author)
-
A Wideband Co-Linearly Polarized Composite Antenna with High Isolation
- 2024
-
In: IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters. - 1536-1225. ; 23:1, s. 419-423
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this paper, a high-isolation two-port co-linearly polarized (co-LP) composite antenna is proposed. Dipole and W8JK array modes with co-LP omnidirectional patterns can be simultaneously supported by a plate with two etched back-to-back tapered slots. A microstrip differential and a T-divider coupling feeding networks are developed to selectively excite the dipole and W8JK modes, which results in a high isolation and low correlation between two co-LP ports without using any decoupling structures. Reflecting ground is applied to realize the directional radiation. Measurement results show that the overlapped operating band of the antenna can cover 3.4 - 4.1 GHz with low measured envelope correlation coefficients (< 2.5 × 10-3) and high isolation (> 20 dB). Dual-polarized four-port element with good performances can be easily obtained based on the proposed co-LP antenna. The simulated results of the four-port prototype indicate that the proposed antenna is a promising candidate for the future compact massive MIMO array antenna.
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| 29. |
- González-Bengtsson, Amanda, et al.
(author)
-
Estrogen Enhances the Expression of the Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Elongase Elovl2 via ERa in Breast Cancer Cells
- 2016
-
In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:10
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Endocrine therapy is the first-line targeted adjuvant therapy for hormone-sensitive breast cancer. In view of the potential anticancer property of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) together with chemotherapy in estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) positive mammary tumors, we have explored the regulation by estradiol of the fatty acid desaturation and elongation enzymes involved in DHA synthesis in the human breast cancer cell line MCF7, which expresses ER alpha but not ER beta. We demonstrate a robust up-regulation in the expression of the fatty acid elongases Elovl2 and Elovl5 upon estradiol stimulation in MCF7 cells, which was sustained for more than 24 hours. Exposure with the ER inhibitor tamoxifen abolished specifically the Elovl2 but not the Elovl5 expression. Similarly, knockdown of ER alpha eliminated almost fully the Elovl2 but not the Elovl5 expression. Furthermore, ER alpha binds to one specific ERE within the Elovl2 enhancer in a ligand dependent manner. The involvement of ER alpha in the control of especially Elovl2, which plays a crucial role in DHA synthesis, may have potential implications in the treatment of breast cancer.
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| 30. |
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| 31. |
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| 32. |
- Hu, Zhang-Jun, et al.
(author)
-
A TPA-caged precursor of (imino)coumarin for "turn-on" fluorogenic detection of Cu
- 2016
-
In: Analytica Chimica Acta. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. - 0003-2670 .- 1873-4324. ; 933, s. 189-195
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We strategize to utilize the precursors of (imino) coumarin fluorophores to deliver novel reactive Cu+ probes, where tris[(2-pyridyl)-methyl] amine (TPA) works as a reactive receptor towards Cu+. To verify this strategy, CP1, a representative probe and relevant sensing behaviors towards Cu+ are presented here. CP1 features good solubility and fast response for monitoring labile copper in aqueous solution and live cells. The sensing mechanism of CP1 is determined by HPLC titration and mass spectrometric analysis. The probe CP1 exhibits a 60-fold fluorescence enhancement and a detection limitation of 10.8 nM upon the detection of Cu+. CP1 is further applied for imaging labile copper in live cells. This work provides a starting point for future development of Cu+ probes, based on in situ formation of (imino) coumarin scaffolds, as well as their further investigations of copper signaling and biological events. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 33. |
- Huang, Hui, et al.
(author)
-
Synthesis of a novel electrode material containing phytic acid-polyaniline nanofibers for simultaneous determination of cadmium and lead ions
- 2016
-
In: Analytica Chimica Acta. - : Elsevier. - 0003-2670 .- 1873-4324. ; 947, s. 32-41
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The development of nanostructured conducting polymers based materials for electrochemical applications has attracted intense attention due to their environmental stability, unique reversible redox properties, abundant electron active sites, rapid electron transfer and tunable conductivity. Here, a phytic acid doped polyaniline nanofibers based nanocomposite was synthesized using a simple and green method, the properties of the resulting nanomaterial was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). A glassy carbon electrode modified by the nanocomposite was evaluated as a new platform for the simultaneous detection of trace amounts of Cd2+ and Pb2+ using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The synergistic contribution from PANI nanofibers and phytic acid enhances the accumulation efficiency and the charge transfer rate of metal ions during the DPASV analysis. Under the optimal conditions, good linear relationships were obtained for Cd2+ in a range of 0.05–60 μg L−1, with the detection limit (S/N = 3) of 0.02 μg L−1, and for Pb2+ in a range of 0.1–60 μg L−1, with the detection limit (S/N = 3) of 0.05 μg L−1. The new electrode was successfully applied to real water samples for simultaneous detection of Cd2+ and Pb2+ with good recovery rates. Therefore, the new electrode material may be a capable candidate for the detection of trace levels of heavy metal ions.
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| 34. |
- Jia, Min, et al.
(author)
-
Estrogen Receptor a Promotes Breast Cancer by Reprogramming Choline Metabolism
- 2016
-
In: Cancer Research. - : AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH. - 0008-5472 .- 1538-7445. ; 76:19, s. 5634-5646
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) is a key regulator of breast growth and breast cancer development. Here, we report how ER alpha impacts these processes by reprogramming metabolism in malignant breast cells. We employed an integrated approach, combining genome-wide mapping of chromatin-bound ER alpha with estrogeninduced transcript and metabolic profiling, to demonstrate that ER alpha reprograms metabolism upon estrogen stimulation, including changes in aerobic glycolysis, nucleotide and amino acid synthesis, and choline (Cho) metabolism. Cho phosphotransfse CHPT1, identified as a direct era-regulated gene, was required for estrogen- induced effects on Cho metabolism, including increased phosphatidylcholine synthesis. CHPT1 silencing inhibited anchorage- independent growth and cell proliferation, also suppressing early-stage metastasis of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells in a zebrafish xenograft model. Our results showed that era promotes metabolic alterations in breast cancer cells mediated by its target CHPT1, which this study implicates as a candidate therapeutic target. (C) 2016 AACR.
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| 35. |
- Kanoni, Stavroula, et al.
(author)
-
Implicating genes, pleiotropy, and sexual dimorphism at blood lipid loci through multi-ancestry meta-analysis.
- 2022
-
In: Genome biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1474-760X .- 1465-6906 .- 1474-7596. ; 23:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Genetic variants within nearly 1000 loci are known to contribute to modulation of blood lipid levels. However, the biological pathways underlying these associations are frequently unknown, limiting understanding of these findings and hindering downstream translational efforts such as drug target discovery.To expand our understanding of the underlying biological pathways and mechanisms controlling blood lipid levels, we leverage a large multi-ancestry meta-analysis (N=1,654,960) of blood lipids to prioritize putative causal genes for 2286 lipid associations using six gene prediction approaches. Using phenome-wide association (PheWAS) scans, we identify relationships of genetically predicted lipid levels to other diseases and conditions. We confirm known pleiotropic associations with cardiovascular phenotypes and determine novel associations, notably with cholelithiasis risk. We perform sex-stratified GWAS meta-analysis of lipid levels and show that 3-5% of autosomal lipid-associated loci demonstrate sex-biased effects. Finally, we report 21 novel lipid loci identified on the X chromosome. Many of the sex-biased autosomal and X chromosome lipid loci show pleiotropic associations with sex hormones, emphasizing the role of hormone regulation in lipid metabolism.Taken together, our findings provide insights into the biological mechanisms through which associated variants lead to altered lipid levels and potentially cardiovascular disease risk.
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| 36. |
- Kato, Norihiro, et al.
(author)
-
Trans-ancestry genome-wide association study identifies 12 genetic loci influencing blood pressure and implicates a role for DNA methylation
- 2015
-
In: Nature Genetics. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 47:11, s. 1282-1293
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We carried out a trans-ancestry genome-wide association and replication study of blood pressure phenotypes among up to 320,251 individuals of East Asian, European and South Asian ancestry. We find genetic variants at 12 new loci to be associated with blood pressure (P = 3.9 × 10−11 to 5.0 × 10−21). The sentinel blood pressure SNPs are enriched for association with DNA methylation at multiple nearby CpG sites, suggesting that, at some of the loci identified, DNA methylation may lie on the regulatory pathway linking sequence variation to blood pressure. The sentinel SNPs at the 12 new loci point to genes involved in vascular smooth muscle (IGFBP3, KCNK3, PDE3A and PRDM6) and renal (ARHGAP24, OSR1, SLC22A7 and TBX2) function. The new and known genetic variants predict increased left ventricular mass, circulating levels of NT-proBNP, and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality (P = 0.04 to 8.6 × 10−6). Our results provide new evidence for the role of DNA methylation in blood pressure regulation.
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| 37. |
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| 38. |
- Kerr, Alastair, et al.
(author)
-
The long noncoding RNA ADIPINT is a gatekeeper of pyruvate carboxylase function regulating human fat cell metabolism
-
Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The pleiotropic function of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is well recognized, but their direct role in governing metabolic homeostasis is less understood. Herein, we describe a human adipocyte-specific lncRNA, ADIPINT, that regulates pyruvate carboxylase (PC) an enzyme pivotal to energy metabolism. With a novel approach, Targeted RNA-protein identification using Orthogonal Organic Phase Separation (TROOPS) and validation with electron microscopy, we show that ADIPINT binds to PC. ADIPINT knockdown alters the interactome and decreases the mitochondrial abundance and enzymatic activty of PC. Decreases in ADIPINT or PC expression reduce adipocyte lipid synthesis, breakdown and lipid content. In human white adipose tissue, ADIPINT expression is increased in obesity, linked to fat cell size, adipose insulin resistance and PC activity. Thus, we identify ADIPINT as a regulator of lipid metabolism in human white adipocytes, which at least in part is mediated through its interaction with PC.
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| 39. |
- Koudouridis, Georgios, et al.
(author)
-
A Centralised Approach to Power On-Off Optimisation for Heterogeneous Networks
- 2012
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The design of centralized algorithms and techniques allowing for an efficient utilisation of infrastructure in terms of energy consumption is one of the key challenges in heterogeneous networks (HetNets). In this study the energy efficiency in the HetNet scenario is formulated as an optimisation problem and an iterative improvement algorithmic approach to power on-off of network cells is devised and evaluated. The algorithm is based on the simulated annealing search approach and the obtained network configuration solutions are compared to a baseline configuration scenario where all cells are powered on. The optimization search is guided by an objective function which is defined on outage throughput and energy efficiency. Simulation results show that significant energy reductions gains can be achieved by switching off macro cells and with no loss of the cell edge user throughput. In some scenarios the algorithm generates solutions which considerably increase network throughput. The gains are more pronounced in configurations where pico cells are deployed at hot zones of user clusters.
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| 40. |
- Kristan, Matej, et al.
(author)
-
The Sixth Visual Object Tracking VOT2018 Challenge Results
- 2019
-
In: Computer Vision – ECCV 2018 Workshops. - Cham : Springer Publishing Company. - 9783030110086 - 9783030110093 ; , s. 3-53
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Visual Object Tracking challenge VOT2018 is the sixth annual tracker benchmarking activity organized by the VOT initiative. Results of over eighty trackers are presented; many are state-of-the-art trackers published at major computer vision conferences or in journals in the recent years. The evaluation included the standard VOT and other popular methodologies for short-term tracking analysis and a “real-time” experiment simulating a situation where a tracker processes images as if provided by a continuously running sensor. A long-term tracking subchallenge has been introduced to the set of standard VOT sub-challenges. The new subchallenge focuses on long-term tracking properties, namely coping with target disappearance and reappearance. A new dataset has been compiled and a performance evaluation methodology that focuses on long-term tracking capabilities has been adopted. The VOT toolkit has been updated to support both standard short-term and the new long-term tracking subchallenges. Performance of the tested trackers typically by far exceeds standard baselines. The source code for most of the trackers is publicly available from the VOT page. The dataset, the evaluation kit and the results are publicly available at the challenge website (http://votchallenge.net).
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| 41. |
- Kristanl, Matej, et al.
(author)
-
The Seventh Visual Object Tracking VOT2019 Challenge Results
- 2019
-
In: 2019 IEEE/CVF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTER VISION WORKSHOPS (ICCVW). - : IEEE COMPUTER SOC. - 9781728150239 ; , s. 2206-2241
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Visual Object Tracking challenge VOT2019 is the seventh annual tracker benchmarking activity organized by the VOT initiative. Results of 81 trackers are presented; many are state-of-the-art trackers published at major computer vision conferences or in journals in the recent years. The evaluation included the standard VOT and other popular methodologies for short-term tracking analysis as well as the standard VOT methodology for long-term tracking analysis. The VOT2019 challenge was composed of five challenges focusing on different tracking domains: (i) VOT-ST2019 challenge focused on short-term tracking in RGB, (ii) VOT-RT2019 challenge focused on "real-time" short-term tracking in RGB, (iii) VOT-LT2019 focused on long-term tracking namely coping with target disappearance and reappearance. Two new challenges have been introduced: (iv) VOT-RGBT2019 challenge focused on short-term tracking in RGB and thermal imagery and (v) VOT-RGBD2019 challenge focused on long-term tracking in RGB and depth imagery. The VOT-ST2019, VOT-RT2019 and VOT-LT2019 datasets were refreshed while new datasets were introduced for VOT-RGBT2019 and VOT-RGBD2019. The VOT toolkit has been updated to support both standard short-term, long-term tracking and tracking with multi-channel imagery. Performance of the tested trackers typically by far exceeds standard baselines. The source code for most of the trackers is publicly available from the VOT page. The dataset, the evaluation kit and the results are publicly available at the challenge website(1).
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| 42. |
- Li, Qian, et al.
(author)
-
In situ analysis of volatile oil in Angelica sinensis roots by fluorescence imaging combined with mass spectrometry imaging
- 2023
-
In: Talanta. - : Elsevier. - 0039-9140 .- 1873-3573. ; 255
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this study, the spatial distribution and accumulation dynamics of volatile oil in Angelica sinensis roots was realized by fluorescence imaging combined with mass spectrometry imaging. The laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to determine the optimal excitation wavelength and the fluorescent stability of volatile oil in the sections of Angelica sinensis roots. The results demonstrated that 488 nm was the most suitable excitation wavelength for the identification and quantitative analysis of volatile oil. It was observed that volatile oil accumulated in the oil chamber of the phelloderm and secondary phloem, and the oil canal of the secondary xylem. The results also indicated that there were differences in content during different periods. Furthermore, the MALDI-TOF-MSI technology was used to study the spatial distribution and compare the chemical compositions of different parts of Angelica sinensis roots during the harvest period. A total of 55, 49, 50 and 30 compounds were identified from the head, body, tail of the root and root bark, respectively. The spatial distribution of phthalides, organic acids and other compounds were revealed in Angelica sinensis roots. The method developed in this study could be used for the in situ analysis of volatile oil in Angelica sinensis roots.
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| 43. |
- Liang, Jiasheng, et al.
(author)
-
Crystalline Structure-Dependent Mechanical and Thermoelectric Performance in Ag2Se1-xSx System
- 2020
-
In: RESEARCH. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 2639-5274. ; 2020
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Self-powered wearable electronics require thermoelectric materials simultaneously with a high dimensionless figure of merit (zT) and good flexibility to convert the heat discharged by the human body into electricity. Ag-2(S,Se)-based semiconducting materials can well satisfy these requirements, and thus, they are attracting great attention in thermoelectric society recently. Ag-2(S,Se) crystalizes in an orthorhombic structure or monoclinic structure, depending on the detailed S/Se atomic ratio, but the relationship between its crystalline structure and mechanical/thermoelectric performance is still unclear to date. In this study, a series of Ag2Se1-xSx (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.45) samples were prepared and their mechanical and thermoelectric performance dependence on the crystalline structure was systematically investigated. x = 0.3 in the Ag2Se1-xSx system was found to be the transition boundary between orthorhombic and monoclinic structures. Mechanical property measurement shows that the orthorhombic Ag2Se1-xSx samples are brittle while the monoclinic Ag2Se1-xSx samples are ductile and flexible. In addition, the orthorhombic Ag2Se1-xSx samples show better electrical transport performance and higher zT than the monoclinic samples under a comparable carrier concentration, most likely due to their weaker electron-phonon interactions. This study sheds light on the further development of flexible inorganic TE materials.
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| 44. |
- Lindberg, Marie K, 1975, et al.
(author)
-
Estrogen receptor (ER)-beta reduces ERalpha-regulated gene transcription, supporting a "ying yang" relationship between ERalpha and ERbeta in mice.
- 2003
-
In: Molecular endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.). - : The Endocrine Society. - 0888-8809 .- 1944-9917. ; 17:2, s. 203-8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Estrogen is of importance for the regulation of adult bone metabolism. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of estrogen receptor-beta (ERbeta) in vivo on global estrogen-regulated transcriptional activity in bone. The effect of estrogen in bone of ovariectomized mice was determined using microarray analysis including 9400 genes. Most of the genes (95% = 240 genes) that were increased by estrogen in wild-type (WT) mice were also increased by estrogen in ERbeta-inactivated mice. Interestingly, the average stimulatory effect of estrogen on the mRNA levels of these genes was 85% higher in ERbeta-inactivated than in WT mice, demonstrating that ERbeta reduces estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha)-regulated gene transcription in bone. The average stimulatory effect of estrogen on estrogen-regulated bone genes in ERalpha-inactivated mice was intermediate between that seen in WT and ERalphabeta double-inactivated mice. Thus, ERbeta inhibits ERalpha-mediated gene transcription in the presence of ERalpha, whereas, in the absence of ERalpha, it can partially replace ERalpha. In conclusion, our in vivo data indicate that an important physiological role of ERbeta is to modulate ERalpha-mediated gene transcription supporting a "Ying Yang" relationship between ERalpha and ERbeta in mice.
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| 45. |
- Lindberg, Marie K, 1975, et al.
(author)
-
Estrogen receptor specificity for the effects of estrogen in ovariectomized mice.
- 2002
-
In: The Journal of endocrinology. - : Bioscientifica. - 0022-0795 .- 1479-6805. ; 174:2, s. 167-78
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Estrogen exerts a variety of important physiological effects, which have been suggested to be mediated via the two known estrogen receptors (ERs), alpha and beta. Three-month-old ovariectomized mice, lacking one or both of the two estrogen receptors, were given estrogen subcutaneously (2.3 micro g/mouse per day) and the effects on different estrogen-responsive parameters, including skeletal effects, were studied. We found that estrogen increased the cortical bone dimensions in both wild-type (WT) and double ER knockout (DERKO) mice. DNA microarray analysis was performed to characterize this effect on cortical bone and it identified four genes that were regulated by estrogen in both WT and DERKO mice. The effect of estrogen on cortical bone in DERKO mice might either be due to remaining ERalpha activity or represent an ERalpha/ERbeta-independent effect. Other effects of estrogen, such as increased trabecular bone mineral density, thymic atrophy, fat reduction and increased uterine weight, were mainly ERalpha mediated.
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| 46. |
- Lindberg, Marie K, 1975, et al.
(author)
-
Identification of estrogen-regulated genes of potential importance for the regulation of trabecular bone mineral density.
- 2002
-
In: Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. - : Wiley. - 0884-0431. ; 17:12, s. 2183-95
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Estrogen is of importance for the regulation of trabecular bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study was to search for possible mechanisms of action of estrogen on bone. Ovariectomized (OVX) mice were treated with 17beta-estradiol. Possible effects of estrogen on the expression of 125 different bone-related genes in humerus were analyzed using the microarray technique. Estrogen regulated 12 of these genes, namely, two growth factor-related genes, 8 cytokines, and 2 bone matrix-related genes. Five of the 12 genes are known to be estrogen-regulated, and the remaining 7 genes are novel estrogen-regulated genes. Seven genes, including interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-1receptor type II (IL-1RII), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 (IGFBP-4), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR), leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR), and soluble IL-4 receptor (sIL-4R) were selected as probable candidate genes for the trabecular bone-sparing effect of estrogen, as the mRNA levels of these genes were highly correlated (r2 > 0.65) to the trabecular BMD. The regulation of most of these seven genes was predominantly estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha)-mediated (5/7) while some genes (2/7) were regulated both via ER-alpha and ER-beta. In conclusion, by using the microarray technique, we have identified four previously known and three novel estrogen-regulated genes of potential importance for the trabecular bone-sparing effect of estrogen.
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| 47. |
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| 48. |
- Loth, Daan W, et al.
(author)
-
Genome-wide association analysis identifies six new loci associated with forced vital capacity
- 2014
-
In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 46, s. 669-677
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Forced vital capacity (FVC), a spirometric measure of pulmonary function, reflects lung volume and is used to diagnose and monitor lung diseases. We performed genome-wide association study meta-analysis of FVC in 52,253 individuals from 26 studies and followed up the top associations in 32,917 additional individuals of European ancestry. We found six new regions associated at genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10(-8)) with FVC in or near EFEMP1, BMP6, MIR129-2-HSD17B12, PRDM11, WWOX and KCNJ2. Two loci previously associated with spirometric measures (GSTCD and PTCH1) were related to FVC. Newly implicated regions were followed up in samples from African-American, Korean, Chinese and Hispanic individuals. We detected transcripts for all six newly implicated genes in human lung tissue. The new loci may inform mechanisms involved in lung development and the pathogenesis of restrictive lung disease.
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| 49. |
- Lu, Yiping, et al.
(author)
-
Preparing bulk ultrafine-microstructure high-entropy alloys: Via direct solidification
- 2018
-
In: Nanoscale. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2040-3372 .- 2040-3364. ; 10:4, s. 1912-1919
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the past three decades, nanostructured (NS) and ultrafine-microstructure (UFM) materials have received extensive attention due to their excellent mechanical properties such as high strength. However, preparing low-cost and bulk NS and UFM materials remains to be a challenge, which limits their industrial applications. Here, we report a new strategy to prepare bulk UFM alloys via the direct solidification of high-entropy alloys (HEAs). As a proof of concept, we designed AlCoCr x FeNi (1.8 ≤ x ≤ 2.0) HEAs and achieved a complete UFM in bulk materials. The compositional requirements for obtaining the formation of the UFM are highly demanding, necessitating the coupling of near eutectic alloy composition and the high temperature decomposition of supersaturated primary and secondary phases. Our strategy provides a low-cost and highly efficient method to prepare bulk UFM alloys, with great potential to accelerate the engineering application of these materials.
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| 50. |
- Ma, Fei, et al.
(author)
-
Association of Leukocyte Telomere Length with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease : Role of Folate and Homocysteine
- 2019
-
In: Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. - : S. Karger AG. - 1420-8008 .- 1421-9824. ; 48:1-2, s. 56-67
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with the aging process and age-related degenerative diseases. The relation of peripheral blood LTL to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the role of folate and homocysteine (Hcy) in this relation remain unclear.Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association between LTL and the risks of MCI/AD, and to explore whether folate and Hcy may play a role in this association.Methods: This case-control study included 129 MCI subjects, 131 AD patients and 134 healthy controls. LTL was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Serum folate levels were tested by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, and serum Hcy levels were measured using the enzymatic cycling method. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression and multivariable linear regression with adjustment for potential confounders.Results: The mean LTL was 1.56 +/- 0.25 in controls, 1.44 +/- 0.23 in MCI, and 1.28 +/- 0.28 in AD patients (p< 0.01). In multivariate logistic regression, subjects in the longest LTL tertile had lower OR for MCI (OR 0.246; 95% CI 0.101-0.597) and AD (OR 0.123; 95% CI 0.044-0.345) in comparison to subjects in the shortest tertile. Shorter LTL was dose-dependently related to the ORs of MCI and AD. Further, serum folate concentration was positively associated with LTL (p < 0.01), while serum Hcy level was negatively associated with LTL (p < 0.05). In stratified analyses, LTL-MCI/AD association varied by serum folate and Hcy level. Conclusions: Shorter LTL is associated with the risks of MCI/AD. Folate and Hcy might play an important role in this association.
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