| 11. |
- Gong, Y., et al.
(author)
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Fenofibrate Inhibits Cytochrome P450 Epoxygenase 2C Activity to Suppress Pathological Ocular Angiogenesis
- 2016
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In: Ebiomedicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 2352-3964. ; 13, s. 201-211
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Neovascular eye diseases including retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy and age-related-macular-degeneration are major causes of blindness. Fenofibrate treatment in type 2 diabetes patients reduces progression of diabetic retinopathy independent of its peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)alpha agonist lipid lowering effect. The mechanism is unknown. Fenofibrate binds to and inhibits cytochrome P450 epoxygenase (CYP) 2C with higher affinity than to PPAR alpha. CYP2C metabolizes omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs). While omega-3 LCPUFA products from other metabolizing pathways decrease retinal and choroidal neovascularization, CYP2C products of both omega-3 and omega-6 LCPUFAs promote angiogenesis. We hypothesized that fenofibrate inhibits retinopathy by reducing CYP2C omega-3 LCPUFA (and omega-6 LCPUFA) pro-angiogenic metabolites. Fenofibrate reduced retinal and choroidal neovascularization in PPAR alpha-/-mice and augmented omega-3 LCPUFA protection via CYP2C inhibition. Fenofibrate suppressed retinal and choroidal neovascularization in mice overexpressing human CYP2C8 in endothelial cells and reduced plasma levels of the pro-angiogenic.-3 LCPUFA CYP2C8 product, 19,20-epoxydocosapentaenoic acid. 19,20-epoxydocosapentaenoic acid reversed fenofibrate-induced suppression of angiogenesis ex vivo and suppression of endothelial cell functions in vitro. In summary fenofibrate suppressed retinal and choroidal neovascularization via CYP2C inhibition as well as by acting as an agonist of PPAR alpha. Fenofibrate augmented the overall protective effects of omega-3 LCPUFAs on neovascular eye diseases. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://reativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
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| 12. |
- Kassotis, Christopher D., et al.
(author)
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Adverse Reproductive and Developmental Health Outcomes Following Prenatal Exposure to a Hydraulic Fracturing Chemical Mixture in Female C57Bl/6 Mice
- 2016
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In: Endocrinology. - : Oxford University Press. - 0013-7227 .- 1945-7170. ; 157:9, s. 3469-3481
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Unconventional oil and gas operations using hydraulic fracturing can contaminate surface and groundwater with endocrine-disrupting chemicals. We have previously shown that 23 of 24 commonly used hydraulic fracturing chemicals can activate or inhibit the estrogen, androgen, glucocorticoid, progesterone, and/or thyroid receptors in a human endometrial cancer cell reporter gene assay and that mixtures can behave synergistically, additively, or antagonistically on these receptors. In the current study, pregnant female C57Bl/6 dams were exposed to a mixture of 23 commonly used unconventional oil and gas chemicals at approximately 3, 30, 300, and 3000 μg/kg·d, flutamide at 50 mg/kg·d, or a 0.2% ethanol control vehicle via their drinking water from gestational day 11 through birth. This prenatal exposure to oil and gas operation chemicals suppressed pituitary hormone concentrations across experimental groups (prolactin, LH, FSH, and others), increased body weights, altered uterine and ovary weights, increased heart weights and collagen deposition, disrupted folliculogenesis, and other adverse health effects. This work suggests potential adverse developmental and reproductive health outcomes in humans and animals exposed to these oil and gas operation chemicals, with adverse outcomes observed even in the lowest dose group tested, equivalent to concentrations reported in drinking water sources. These endpoints suggest potential impacts on fertility, as previously observed in the male siblings, which require careful assessment in future studies.
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| 13. |
- Kawakatsu, Taiji, et al.
(author)
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Epigenomic Diversity in a Global Collection of Arabidopsis thaliana Accessions
- 2016
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In: Cell. - : Elsevier. - 0092-8674 .- 1097-4172. ; 166:2, s. 492-505
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The epigenome orchestrates genome accessibility, functionality, and three-dimensional structure. Because epigenetic variation can impact transcription and thus phenotypes, it may contribute to adaptation. Here, we report 1,107 high-quality single-base resolution methylomes and 1,203 transcriptomes from the 1001 Genomes collection of Arabidopsis thaliana. Although the genetic basis of methylation variation is highly complex, geographic origin is a major predictor of genome-wide DNA methylation levels and of altered gene expression caused by epialleles. Comparison to cistrome and epicistrome datasets identifies associations between transcription factor binding sites, methylation, nucleotide variation, and co-expression modules. Physical maps for nine of the most diverse genomes reveal how transposons and other structural variants shape the epigenome, with dramatic effects on immunity genes. The 1001 Epigenomes Project provides a comprehensive resource for understanding how variation in DNA methylation contributes to molecular and non-molecular phenotypes in natural populations of the most studied model plant.
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| 14. |
- Chen, X., et al.
(author)
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Inhibition of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling suppresses bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by attenuating the expression of TGF-beta 1 and FGF-2
- 2016
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In: Experimental and Molecular Pathology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0014-4800. ; 101:1, s. 22-30
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disorder of unknown etiology, which is characterized by alterations in alveolar epithelium function, fibroblast activation, and increased extracellular matrix deposition. Recent studies have demonstrated that PF is associated with uncontrolled production of cytokines after lung injury. In the present study, we found that transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) were both upregulated in bleomycin-induced fibrotic lung tissue and primary murine alveolar epithelial Type II (ATII) cells treated with bleomycin. Furthermore, we discovered that TGF-beta 1 could induce the differentiation of lung resident mesenchymal stem cells (LR-MSCs) into fibroblasts, which may play an essential role in PF. LR-MSCs incubated with FGF-2 showed modest alterations in the expression of alpha-SMA and Vimentin. Moreover, in our study, we found that Wnt/beta-catenin signaling was activated both in vitro and in vivo as a result of bleomycin treatment. Interestingly, we also found that suppression of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling could significantly attenuate bleomycin-induced PF accompanied with decreased expression of TGF-beta 1 and FGF-2 in vitro and in vivo. These results support that controlling the aberrant expression of TGF-beta 1 and FGF-2 via inhibition of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling could serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for PF. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 15. |
- DING, Yunhong, et al.
(author)
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Linear all-optical signal processing using silicon micro-ring resonators
- 2016
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In: Frontiers of Optoelectronics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2095-2767 .- 2095-2759. ; 9:3, s. 362-376
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Silicon micro-ring resonators (MRRs) are compact and versatile devices whose periodic frequency response can be exploited for a wide range of applications. In this paper, we review our recent work on linear all-optical signal processing applications using silicon MRRs as passive filters. We focus on applications such as modulation format conversion, differential phase-shift keying (DPSK) demodulation, modulation speed enhancement of directly modulated lasers (DMLs), and monocycle pulse generation. The possibility to implement polarization diversity circuits, which reduce the polarization dependence of standard silicon MRRs, is illustrated on the particular example of DPSK demodulation.
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| 16. |
- Ekeberg, Tomas, et al.
(author)
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Single-shot diffraction data from the Mimivirus particle using an X-ray free-electron laser
- 2016
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In: Scientific Data. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2052-4463. ; 3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Free-electron lasers (FEL) hold the potential to revolutionize structural biology by producing X-ray pules short enough to outrun radiation damage, thus allowing imaging of biological samples without the limitation from radiation damage. Thus, a major part of the scientific case for the first FELs was three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of non-crystalline biological objects. In a recent publication we demonstrated the first 3D reconstruction of a biological object from an X-ray FEL using this technique. The sample was the giant Mimivirus, which is one of the largest known viruses with a diameter of 450 nm. Here we present the dataset used for this successful reconstruction. Data-analysis methods for single-particle imaging at FELs are undergoing heavy development but data collection relies on very limited time available through a highly competitive proposal process. This dataset provides experimental data to the entire community and could boost algorithm development and provide a benchmark dataset for new algorithms.
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- Halim, Joseph, et al.
(author)
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Synthesis and Characterization of 2D Molybdenum Carbide (MXene)
- 2016
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In: Advanced Functional Materials. - : WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH. - 1616-301X .- 1616-3028. ; 26:18, s. 3118-3127
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Large scale synthesis and delamination of 2D Mo2CTx (where T is a surface termination group) has been achieved by selectively etching gallium from the recently discovered nanolaminated, ternary transition metal carbide Mo2Ga2C. Different synthesis and delamination routes result in different flake morphologies. The resistivity of free-standing Mo2CTx films increases by an order of magnitude as the temperature is reduced from 300 to 10 K, suggesting semiconductor-like behavior of this MXene, in contrast to Ti3C2Tx which exhibits metallic behavior. At 10 K, the magnetoresistance is positive. Additionally, changes in electronic transport are observed upon annealing of the films. When 2 mu m thick films are tested as electrodes in supercapacitors, capacitances as high as 700 F cm(-3) in a 1 M sulfuric acid electrolyte and high capacity retention for at least 10,000 cycles at 10 A g(-1) are obtained. Free-standing Mo2CTx films, with approximate to 8 wt% carbon nanotubes, perform well when tested as an electrode material for Li-ions, especially at high rates. At 20 and 131 C cycling rates, stable reversible capacities of 250 and 76 mAh g(-1), respectively, are achieved for over 1000 cycles.
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| 19. |
- Hertzberg, Benjamin J., et al.
(author)
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Effect of Multiple Cation Electrolyte Mixtures on Rechargeable Zn-MnO2 Alkaline Battery
- 2016
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In: Chemistry of Materials. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0897-4756 .- 1520-5002. ; 28:13, s. 4536-4545
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A Bi2O3 in beta-MnO2 composite cathode material has been synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method and cycled in a mixed KOH-LiOH electrolyte with a range of concentrations. We show that, at a KOH:LiOH molar ratio of 1:3, both proton insertion and lithium insertion occur, allowing access to a higher fraction of the theoretical capacity of the MnO2 while preventing the formation of ZnMn2O4. This enables a capacity of 360 mAh/g for over 60 cycles, with cycling limited more by anode properties than traditional cathodic failure mechanisms. The structural changes occurring during cycling are characterized using electron microscopy and in situ synchrotron energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD) techniques. This mixed electrolyte shows exceptional cyclability and capacity and can be used as a drop-in replacement for current alkaline batteries, potentially drastically improving their cycle life and creating a wide range of new applications for this energy storage technology.
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| 20. |
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