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Chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR), combining a metal racemization catalyst with an enzyme, has emerged as an elegant solution to transform racemic substrates into enantiopure products, while compatibility of dual catalysis is the key issue. Conventional solutions have utilized presynthesized metal complexes with a fixed and bulky ligand to protect the metal from the enzyme system; however, this has been generally limited to anionic ligands. Herein, we report our strategy to solve the compatibility issue by employing a reliable ligand that firmly coordinates Show less

We demonstrate a bipartition technique using a superlattice architecture to access correlations between alternating planes of a mesoscopic array of spin-3 chromium atoms trapped in a 3D optical lattice. Using this method, we observe that out-of-equilibrium dynamics driven by long-range dipolar interactions lead to spin anticorrelations between the two spatially separated subsystems. Our bipartite measurements reveal a subtle interplay between the anisotropy of the 3D dipolar interactions and that of the lattice structure, without requiring single-site addressing. We compare our results to theoretical predictions based on a truncated cumulant expansion and a new cluster semiclassical method that we use to investigate correlations at the microscopic scale. Comparison with a high-temperature analytical model reveals quantum thermalization at a high negative spin temperature. Show less

Considering global climate change concerns, issues related to the energy crisis and technologies reliant on non-fossil renewable energy sources are in high demand. Solar energy emerges as one of the alternatives among all renewable energy resources due to its economic viability and environmental sustainability. There are various types of solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies available for commercial applications, such as organic solar cells, silicon-based solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, and perovskite solar cells. Notably, one of the drawbacks of PV devices is their inability to generate power at night or during cloudy days (i.e., low-light conditions). One solution to this problem is to provide backup to the PV devices, such as batteries or energy storage packs. Another less explored alternative backup is the application of long persistent luminescence (LPL) materials as a secondary light source or down shifter. LPL materials can provide an afterglow that can last for hours which can be harvested by PV devices for power generation under low-light conditions. This short overview article discusses the fundamental mechanisms of LPL materials and the feasibility and challenges of integrating LPL materials into PV, which is hoped can provide useful insights for future research directions. Show less

Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a severe type of hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). Despite its rarity, we have encountered more than 100 patients with FCS at our center. Therefore, we aimed to provide a useful resource for clinicians who may encounter such patients and help the scientific community accumulate knowledge to manage this disease. This retrospective study described the clinical characteristics and management of FCS patients at (King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). In total, 29 pediatric patients were included, with a median age of 2.2 months [IQR: 1.3, 12]. Males predominated (62.0%). Key symptoms included a milky blood sample (72.4%), a family history of HTG (65.5%), hepatosplenomegaly (44.8%), acute pancreatitis (31.0%), and eruptive xanthoma (13.8%). Gemfibrozil (22 patients) reduced TG from 47.6 ± 55.7 to 9.4 ± 7.5 mmol/L (mean reduction 38.2 ± 54.5 mmol/L, P<0.001). Fenofibrate (19 patients) lowered TG from 45.4 ± 56.4 to 18.4 ± 13.1 mmol/L (mean difference 27.1 ± 52.0 mmol/L, P=0.001). While the Niacin-aspirin (4 patients) and diet alone (4 patients) had no significant effect (P=1.000) and (P=0.125), respectively. The rarity of FCS makes it more challenging for scientists and clinicians to achieve advancements in its management. We observed that anti-TG medications, especially fibrate derivatives, can be used safely in pediatric patients. They displayed excellent ability to control TG levels in combination with diet restrictions, and treatment compliance was good. Among fibrate derivatives, gemfibrozil controlled TG levels better than fenofibrate, and neither drug had significant side effects. Show less

Histologic transformation (HT) of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) carries a poor prognosis. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-17 database, we conducted a population-based study of adult patients with transformed follicular lymphoma (t-FL), marginal zone lymphoma (t-MZL), lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenström macroglobulinemia (t-LPL/WM), and de novo DLBCL. Primary outcome was relative survival (RS), and secondary outcomes included overall survival (OS) and lymphoma-specific survival (LSS). Outcomes were modeled using flexible parametric survival models, while multivariable modeling was used to compare RS, OS, and LSS. The incidence of HT was highest in splenic MZL (SMZL, 6.78%) and lowest in extranodal MZL (EMZL, 1.62%). Median follow-up times were similar for patients with de novo DLBCL and transformed indolent lymphomas. The 5-year RS and OS were longer in de novo DLBCL compared to all other transformed iNHL subtypes (68 versus 59%, respectively). For t-FL, early transformation (within 2 years of diagnosis, Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.34) and prior treatment (HR = 1.89) were associated with inferior survival. This association was not observed in other transformed lymphoma subtypes. This is the first comparative study to show that the outcomes of t-LPL/WM were inferior compared to de novo DLBCL and highlights the need to incorporate early experimental therapies in patients with t-FL with early transformation and receipt of prior chemotherapy. Show less

To report the surgical outcomes of treating patellar luxation (PL) in dogs with surgical planning based on three-dimensional (3D) automated measurement of femoral angles. Multicenter retrospective study. Forty-one dogs with PL underwent preoperative computed tomography (CT). Three-dimensional femur models were exported as stereolithographic files, and imported into computer-aided design (CAD) software where 3D measurements were performed. The anatomical laterodistal femoral (aLDFA), femoral neck (FNA), and femoral torsion (FTA) angles were recorded. Surgical records, complications, radiographic femoral postoperative alignment, preoperative and postoperative lameness evaluation, and patellar position were reviewed. The success of the surgical outcome was based on the presence of normal patellar tracking at the last clinical recheck. Forty-seven limbs were included; 46% of the cases (22/47) were affected by grade 3 PL. Mean (±SD) 3D aLDFA, FNA, and FTA measurements were 101.4° (±3.6), 132.5° (±2.6), and 17.6° (±4.3) in dogs with medial patellar luxation (MPL) and 89.3° (±7.6), 134.8° (±2.9), 36.9° (±5.3) with lateral patellar luxation (LPL), respectively. Based on the 3D preoperative planning, corrective osteotomies were performed in 34 of 47 cases. The mean radiographic follow-up was 4.7 months. At the final follow-up, PL was successfully treated in 45 of 47 cases. Patella reluxated in five cases. In three of five cases, the 3D automated plan was not followed by the surgeon. Surgical treatment of PL based on 3D femoral measurements successfully corrected PL in 45 of 47 cases (96%). This is the first study reporting the use of 3D automated femoral angle measurement in clinical cases affected by PL. Show less

There are some limitations to using the body condition score (BCS) for client education to prevent obesity, hyperlipidemia-related diseases, and orthopedic diseases in dogs because it is hard to quantify in detail. Especially in small dogs, patellar luxation is a common orthopedic disease that is related to obesity and the hind leg muscle. In this pilot study, the author evaluated the thorax/thigh circumference ratio as a prognostic evaluation index, along with the BCS, for assessing patellar dislocation and other hyperlipidemia-related diseases and states such as hypertriglyceridemia and obesity-related orthopedic disease in small dogs. Eleven client-owned dogs were selected randomly among patients that visited Bundang New York Animal Hospital, South Korea from June 2021 to August 2024. According to the results, triglycerides (TG) showed a negative correlation with thorax/thigh value (R = -0.585, Show less

Hibernation serves as an energy-conserving strategy that enables animals to withstand harsh environments by reducing their metabolic rate significantly. However, the mechanisms underlying energy adaptation in hibernating ectotherms, such as Show less

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a multifunctional protein that catalyzes the hydrolysis of plasma triglycerides, releasing free fatty acids, which play critical roles in the metabolism and transport of lipids. The transcription of Show less

Despite the loss of melanocytes, individuals with vitiligo have a significantly lower risk of developing skin malignancies compared to ethnicity-matched controls. The study investigated the molecular mechanisms that protect skin cells (keratinocytes) from UV-B-induced DNA damage in individuals with vitiligo. The study found that upregulation of stem cell factor (SCF) signaling significantly reduced γ-H2AX positivity and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer formation and improved mitochondrial health (elongated mitochondria, reduced reactive oxygen species [ROS] and lipid peroxidation) in keratinocytes upon UV-B exposure. Interestingly, SCF treatment also reduced lipid droplet accumulation and triacylglyceride levels by upregulating lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Further, siLPL increased DNA damage and lipid droplet (LD) accumulation, while NO-1886, an LPL agonist, reversed both, suggesting a direct link between lipid metabolism and DNA damage. Downregulation of NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin1 (SIRT1) with siRNA or with Ex-527, a pharmacological inhibitor of SIRT1, diminished the protective effects mediated by SCF and NO-1886, suggesting SIRT1 to be the final effector protein in the SCF-LPL-SIRT1 signaling axis. Analysis of clinical samples of vitiligo corroborated the upregulation of SCF and LPL in lesional epidermis. In conclusion, our study demonstrates a novel SCF-LPL-SIRT1 signaling axis that confers protection to vitiligo keratinocytes from the harmful effects of UV-B radiation. Show less

Primates, the most colorful mammalian radiation, have previously served as an interesting model to test the functions and evolutionary drivers of variation in eye color. We assess the contribution of photo-regulatory and communicative functions to the external eye appearance of nine macaque species representing all the branches of their radiation. Macaques' well described social structure and wide geographical distribution make them interesting to explore. We find that (1) the posterior option of the anterior eyeball is more pigmented closer to the equator, suggesting photoprotective functions. We also find that (2) the temporal side of the eyeball is more heavily pigmented than the nasal side. This suggests that eyeball pigmentation in macaques is distributed to reduce damage to the corneal limbus. The inclusion of a translocated population of M. fuscata in our analyses also suggests that external eye appearance may change quickly, perhaps owing to phenotypic plasticity. We find no evidence that communicative functions drive variation in external eye appearance in macaques. These results suggest that the amount of light in a species' environment drives variation in eye coloration across macaque species. Furthermore, the geographical distribution of macaques hints at important factors that have yet to be accounted for, such as the reflectivity of the terrain a given species inhabits. Show less

Clearance of residual Host Cell Proteins (HCPs) is critical for the manufacturing processes of biotherapeutics. HCPs have the potential to impact product efficacy and quality, posing a risk to patient safety. It is therefore essential to be able to both identify and quantitate HCPs throughout drug development, even if the proteins are present in low concentrations. Traditional Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs) have historically served as the gold standard for monitoring HCPs; however, ELISA methods are labor-intensive and costly. With an increase of HCPs being identified below detectable quantification levels, there is a need for simultaneous detection of selectively targeted HCPs. Here, we develop a Luminex multiplexing method that is able to accurately quantify two "high-risk" lipases Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL) and Phospholipase B-Like 2 (PLBL2) within the same assay. This study outlines the method development for optimizing parameters such as antibody constructs, conjugation ratios, signal enhancement, and more in order to create the most efficient multiplexing method. As a result, a Luminex multiplexing method can provide a similar result to a monoplexing ELISA method but in a faster and more cost-effective manner. This method can be expanded to include other "high-risk" HCPs and used for future HCP applications. Show less

The alarming global increase in lifestyle-related disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has increased during the last several decades. Poor dietary choices significantly contribute to this increase and prevention measures are urgently needed. Dietary intake of bioactive compounds found in foods are linked to a decrease likelihood of these disorders. For this purpose, a randomized crossover meal study was performed to compare the postprandial metabolic effects of lecithin and oat polar lipids in healthy subjects. Eighteen young healthy subjects ingested test meals enriched with lecithin, oat polar lipids (PLs) or rapeseed oil. There were four test meals (i) 15 g oat polar lipids: OPL, (ii) 18 g sunflower lecithin (of which 15 g were polar lipids): LPL, (iii) 18 g rapeseed oil: RSO, and (iv) reference white wheat bread: WWB. Lipid-enriched test meals contained equivalent amounts of total fat (18 g), and all breakfast meals contained 50 g available carbohydrates. The meals were served as breakfast followed by a standardised lunch (white wheat bread and meat balls) after 3.5 h. Test variables were measured at fasting and repeatedly during 5.5 h after ingestion of the breakfast. Our study demonstrated that both LPL and OPL had beneficial effects on postprandial glucose and insulin responses, and appetite regulating gut hormones, as compared to RSO and WWB. Significant increase in GLP-1, GIP, and PYY concentrations were seen after consuming breakfast meals with LPL and OPL, and ghrelin concentration was reduced compared to meals with RSO and WWB ( Our study revealed that the consumption of both lecithin and oat PLs included in breakfast meal may similarly enhance postprandial glucose tolerance, reduce TG, and enhance the secretion of incretins and appetite regulating hormones in healthy young adults. ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05139355. Show less

Lipid uptake by white adipose tissue (WAT) is critically important for storage of excess energy and to protect peripheral tissues from ectopic lipid deposition. When WAT becomes dysfunctional (i.e., with obesity), it is characterized by impaired lipid uptake and increased lipolysis which, together, promote whole-body dyslipidemia. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (N-3 PUFA) are widely studied for their triacylglycerol (TAG)-lowering properties and cardiometabolic health benefits. One potential mechanism underlying these benefits is the modification of WAT lipid uptake; however, there are gaps in our understanding regarding the specific mechanisms by which N-3 PUFA function. Evidence to date suggests that N-3 PUFA promote TAG clearance by increasing lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and the abundance of fatty acid transporters. Specifically, N-3 PUFA have been shown to increase LPL activity through increased gene transcription and modifications of endogenously produced LPL regulators such as apolipoprotein C-II/III and angiopoietin-like proteins. This review presents and discusses the available in vitro and in vivo research to provide a comprehensive overview of N-3 PUFA regulation of WAT lipid uptake in healthy and obese contexts. Additionally, we highlight areas where more research is necessary to better understand the contribution of increased WAT lipid uptake in relation to the TAG-lowering properties associated with N-3 PUFA. Show less

Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) is a relatively rare form of indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, termed Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia (WM) in the presence of an IgM paraprotein. Although traditionally treated with combination chemoimmunotherapy, the management is evolving in the era of targeted molecular therapies including Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi). However, intolerance and refractoriness to BTKi mean newer agents are required, and the prognosis of so-called quadruple-refractory patients is poor. BCL2 is an anti-apoptotic, pro-survival protein that promotes lymphoma cell survival. Inhibition of BCL2 using first-in-class agent venetoclax has already altered the treatment paradigm in other conditions, including chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Show less

Accentuation is encoded by both durational and pitch cues in French. While previous research agrees that the sole presence of pitch cues is sufficient to encode accentuation in French, the role of durational cues is less clear. In four cue-weighting accent perception experiments, we examined the role of pitch and durational cues in French listeners' perception of accentuation. French listeners were tested on acoustic continua ranging from an unaccented first syllable [depla'se] "moved" to an accented first syllable ['de] [pla'se] "a dice placed." The continua were obtained by manipulating pitch and durational cues either separately or conjointly. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants identified each step of the continuum by choosing between two possible segmentations while in Experiments 3 and 4, participants performed an AX discrimination task on two adjacent steps. Results indicate that participants' performance was better when pitch cues were varied compared to when durational cues were varied in both the identification and discrimination tasks. In addition, while participants always benefited from the additional presence of pitch cues, participants did not consistently benefit from the additional presence of durational cues. Together, these results suggest that pitch cues are a better marker of French accentuation than durational cues. Show less

The present study aimed to investigate whether supplementation of modified lysophospholipids (LPLs) in the diet of broiler breeders can benefit their offspring. A total of 264 49-week-old breeders (Ross 308) were allocated and fed based on a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two levels of dietary energy (normal energy = 2800 kcal/kg and low energy = 2760 kcal/kg) and two LPL levels (0 and 0.5 g/kg) for periods of 8 and 12 weeks. The offspring were assessed for growth performance, serum parameters, hepatic antioxidative capability, and expression of genes involved in liver β-oxidation at 7 days old. The LPL inclusion improved ( Show less

While social robots show promise for therapeutic interventions, accurate assessments of (vulnerable) participants' affective outcomes require attention. The careful selection of devices for recording autonomic processes in response to stress-inducing and relaxing exercises is essential to ensure data quality recordings and participants' comfort. This foundational study assessed two commonly utilized devices to record electrodermal activity (EDA), indexed through skin conductance, concerning their sensitivity to stress-relaxation manipulations and social validity during a robot intervention: a sock with a Shimmer device and a wrist-worn Empatica E4. We aimed to select the most sensitive and easy-to-wear one as a precursor to a larger intervention study featuring mindfulness-based relaxation exercises delivered by an NAO robot. The findings, based on 28 healthy Dutch-speaking adult volunteers wearing both devices, revealed sensitivity in detecting EDA variations in arousal following stressful (increase) and Robot-delivered mindfulness-based relaxation (decrease) exercises, further corroborated by self-reports. Bland-Altman results suggested little agreement between the two devices and lower sensitivity for the Empatica E4. No statistically significant differences concerning wearing comfort between the Empatica E4 and the Shimmer devices emerged. Although both devices independently showed sensitivity to stress/relaxation manipulation, the choice for one or the other should be informed by the activities in the intervention. Show less

Long-persistent luminescence (LPL) materials have attracted intensive attention due to their fascinating emission after excitation. However, current LPL materials typically depend on external doping to introduce traps or emitting centers, resulting in a complex synthesis and controllability. For the first time, we develop another category of undoped LPL materials based on antimonate CaSb Show less

To investigate the use of lipid-lowering drugs and abnormal serum lipid levels in patients at risk of sleep apnea syndrome. Three types of Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were used. First, a 2-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) analysis was used to investigate the association between sleep apnea syndrome risk and serum lipid levels. Multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analysis was subsequently used to investigate the effects of confounding variables on SAS incidence of sleep apnea syndrome. Finally, drug-target Mendelian randomization (DMR) analysis was used to analyze the association between lipid-lowering drug use and sleep apnea syndrome risk. According to the TSMR analysis, the serum HDL-C concentration was negatively correlated with sleep apnea syndrome (OR = 0.904; 95% CI = 0.845-0.967; P = .003). Serum TG levels were positively correlated with sleep apnea syndrome (OR = 1.081; 95% CI = 1.003-1.163; P = .039). The association between serum HDL-C levels and sleep apnea syndrome in patients with MVMR was consistent with the results in patients with TSMR (OR = 0.731; 95% CI = 0.500-1.071; P = 3.94E-05). According to our DMR analysis, HMGCR and PCSK9, which act by lowering serum LDL-C levels, were inversely associated with the risk of sleep apnea syndrome (OR = 0.627; 95% CI = 0.511-0.767; P = 6.30E-06) (OR = 0.775; 95% CI = 0.677-0.888; P = .0002). LPL, that lowered serum TG levels, was positively associated with the risk of sleep apnea syndrome (OR = 1.193; 95% CI = 1.101-1.294; P = 1.77E-05). Our analysis suggested that high serum HDL-C levels may reduce the risk of sleep apnea syndrome. Low serum TG levels have a protective effect against sleep apnea syndrome. The DMR results suggested that the use of HMGCR lipid-lowering drugs (such as statins) and PCSK9 inhibitors has a protective effect against sleep apnea syndrome. However, LPL-based lipid-lowering drugs may increase the risk of sleep apnea syndrome. Show less

Sulfur metabolites of methionine (Met) and vitamin E (VE) have antioxidant potential and can maintain liver health in chickens. This study explored the underlying mechanisms of Met sources, the ratio of total sulfur amino acids to lysine (TSAA: Lys), and VE levels on production performances, antioxidant potential, and hepatic oxidation in aged laying hens. Eight hundred and sixty-four, Hy-Line Brown laying hens (70-week age) were divided into 12 treatment groups, each having 6 repeats and 12 birds/each repeat. The dietary treatments consisted of DL-Met (DL-Met), DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid (OH-Met), 3 ratios of TSAA: Lys (0.90, 0.95, and 1.00), and 2 levels of VE (20 and 40 g/ton). Albumen height and Haugh unit significantly increased at a lower level of VE (P < 0.05). Triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in serum and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities (CAT) in the liver significantly reduced at 0.95 TSAA: Lys ratio (P < 0.05). Fatty acid synthase (FAS), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 alpha (CPT-1α) also upregulated at this TSAA: Lys ratio (P < 0.05). Compared with the DL-Met group, the OH-Met group had lower Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 (DPP4) and higher TC, LDL, and VLDL concentrations (P < 0.05).The expression of FAS,CPT-1α), glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), glutathione synthetase (GSS), and Nrf2 were significantly higher in OH-Met compared with the DL-Met group (P < 0.05). OH-Met at 0.95 and DL-Met at 0.90 TSAA: Lys ratio showed higher CAT and lower aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities. Moreover, OH-Met at 0.90 and DL-Met at 0.95 of the TSAA: Lys ratio had a significant reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.05). Overall, these results suggest that OH-Met source with a lower level of VE positively influenced production performance and improved liver health in aged laying hens through improved lipid metabolism and hepatic antioxidant function. Show less

Long persistent luminescence (LPL) materials with color adjustable afterglow have a wide application prospect in display and information encryption, yet there are few reports on such materials. In this paper, SrZn Show less

In this EEG study, we examined the ability of French listeners to perceive and use the position of stress in a discrimination task. Event-Related-Potentials (ERPs) were recorded while participants performed a same-different task. Different stimuli diverged either in one phoneme (e.g., /ʒy'ʁi/-/ʒy'ʁɔ̃/) or in stress position (e.g., /ʒy'ʁi/-/'ʒyʁi/). Although participants reached 93% of correct responses, ERP results indicated that a change in stress position was not detected while a change in one phoneme elicited a MisMatchNegativity (MMN) response. It results that in the early moments of speech processing, stimuli that are phonemically identical but that differ in stress position are perceived as being strictly similar. We concluded that the good performance observed in behavioral responses on stress position contrasts are due to attentional/decisional processes linked to discrimination tasks, and not to automatic and unconscious processes involved in stress position processing. Show less

Objective To observe the expression of adhesion molecule CD226 on the small intestinal group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) in mice. Methods The bioinformatics was used to analyze the expression of CD226 on murine ILCs. Small intestinal mucosal lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) were isolated from wild-type C57BL/6J mice, and the expression of CD226 on ILC1 and ILC3 was detected by flow cytometry. A mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis was constructed to observe the changes in the expression of CD226 on ILC3. Results Both ILC1 and ILC3 in the mice small intestine expressed CD226 molecules; the proportion of ILC3 was reduced, while the expression level of CD226 on ILC3 was increased in the colitis model. Conclusion CD226 is expressed on the small intestines of mice, and although the proportion of ILC3 decreases in the DSS-induced colitis, the expression of CD226 on ILC3 increases. Show less

The long persistent luminescence (LPL) phenomenon in the water environment presents us with a broad blueprint to struggle for a new generation of optical materials. However, the realization of water-resistant LPL remains a formidable challenge due to severe quenching of triplet excitons inflowing media. Here, an electron donor-acceptor system is designed based on a B Show less

This study compared the growth, carcass properties, fatty acid profile, lipid-producing enzyme activity, and expression pattern of genes involved in fat metabolism in Nanyang and Landrace pigs. In the study, 32 Nanyang (22.16 ± 0.59 kg) and 32 Landrace barrows (21.37 ± 0.57 kg) were selected and divided into two groups, each with eight pens and four pigs per pen. The trial period lasted 90 days. The findings showed that the Nanyang pigs had lower average daily weight gain and lean percentage and higher average backfat thickness and lipogenic enzyme activities, including for acetyl-CoA carboxylase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, and fatty acid synthase, than the Landrace pigs. A total of 14 long-chain fatty acids were detected using HPLC-MS, in which it was found that the levels of C14:0, C18:1n-9, C20:1n-9, C20:4n-6, and MUFA were up-regulated and C18:2n-6, C18:3n-3, PUFA n6, n3/n6, and total PUFA were down-regulated in the Nanyang pigs. Moreover, the mRNA levels for genes involved in fat metabolism, Show less

A current trend in the investigation of state-of-the-art Pt-alloys as proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) electrocatalysts is to study their long-term stability as a bottleneck for their full commercialization. Although many parameters have been appropriately addressed, there are still certain issues that must be considered. Here, the stability of an experimental Pt-Co/C electrocatalyst is investigated by high-temperature accelerated degradation tests (HT-ADTs) in a high-temperature disk electrode (HT-DE) setup, allowing the imitation of close-to-real operational conditions in terms of temperature (60 °C). Although the US Department of Energy (DoE) protocol has been chosen as the basis of the study (30,000 trapezoidal wave cycling steps between 0.6 and 0.95 V Show less

Dyslipidemia is frequently linked to various disorders, and its clinical relevance is now recognized. The role of inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) in dyslipidemia has been acknowledged. This study assessed the potential of arbutin (ARB) to prevent dyslipidemia and its associated OS and inflammation in rats with acute hyperlipidemia. Rats received ARB orally for 14 days and a single intraperitoneal injection of poloxamer-407 on day 15. Poloxamer-407 elevated circulating cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TG), very low-density lipoprotein (vLDL), and LDL, and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C and lipoprotein lipase (LPL). ARB ameliorated the circulating lipids and LPL, and suppressed 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR) in rat liver and in vitro. Fatty acid synthase (FAS) in rat liver and its in vitro activity were suppressed by ARB, which also upregulated the LDL receptor (LDL-R) and ABCA1, and had no effect on ABCG5 and ABCG8 mRNA. ARB ameliorated liver malondialdehyde and nitric oxide and enhanced antioxidants in rats with dyslipidemia. Liver NF-κB p65 and blood inflammatory cytokines were increased in dyslipidemic rats, effects that were reversed by ARB. Moreover, ARB effectively suppressed lymphocyte E-NTPDase and E-ADA activities in dyslipidemic rats. The biochemical findings were supported by in silico data showing the affinity of ARB to bind LDL-R PCSK9 binding domain, HMGCR, FAS, and E-NTPDase. ARB possessed anti-dyslipidemia, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects mediated via the modulation of CHOL and TG synthesis, LPL, lymphocyte E-NTPDase and E-ADA, and cytokine release in rats. Thus, ARB could be an effective agent to attenuate dyslipidemia and its associated OS and inflammation, pending further studies as well as clinical trials. Show less

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy in which plasma cells proliferate abnormally, and it remains incurable. The cells are characterized by high levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and depend on the ERS response for survival. Thus, we aim to find an ERS-related signature of MM and assess its diagnostic value. We downloaded three datasets of MM from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. After identifying ERS-related differentially expressed genes (ERDEGs), we analyzed them using Gene Ontology enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction network, a transcription factor-mRNA network, a miRNA-mRNA network and a drug-mRNA network were constructed to explore the ERDEGs. The clinical application of these genes was identified by calculating the infiltration of immune cells and using receiver operating characteistic analyses. Finally, qPCR was performed to further confirm the roles of ERDEGs. We obtained nine ERDEGs of MM. Gene Ontology enrichment indicated that the ERDEGs played a role in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Additionally, the protein-protein interaction network showed interaction among the ERDEGs, and there were 20 proteins, 107 transcription factors, 42 drugs or molecular compounds and 51 miRNAs which were likely to interact with the nine genes. In addition, immune cell infiltration analyses showed that there was a strong correlation between the nine genes and immune cells, and these potential biomarkers exhibited good diagnostic values. Finally, the expression of ERDEGs in MM cells was different from that in healthy donor samples. The nine ERS-related genes, CR2, DHCR7, DNAJC3, KDELR2, LPL, OSBPL3, PINK1, VCAM1 and XBP1 are potential biomarkers of MM, and this supports further clinical development of the diagnosis and treatment of MM. Show less