Shallow‐water hydrothermal plumes concomitantly host both photosynthetic and chemoautotrophic organisms in a single biotope. Yet, rate measurements to quantify the contributions of different ...autotrophic activity types are scarce. Herein, we measured the light and dark dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) uptake rates in the plume water of the Kueishantao hydrothermal field using the 13C‐labeling approach. Seventy percent of the plume‐water samples had chemoautotrophy as the dominant mode of carbon fixation, with the dark DIC uptake rates (up to 18.6 mg C/m3/h) within the range of the primary production in productive inner‐shelf waters. When considered alongside the geochemical and microbiological observations, the rate data reveal the distribution of different trophic activities in the hydrothermal plume. The autotrophic activity at the initial phase of plume dispersal is low. This is explained by the short response time the chemoautotrophs have to the stimulation from vent‐fluid discharge, and the harmful effects of hydrothermal substances on phytoplankton. As plume dispersal and mixing continue, chemoautotrophic activities begin to rise and peak in waters that have low‐to‐moderate Si(OH)4 content. Toward the plume margin, chemoautotrophy declines to background levels, whereas photosynthesis by phytoplankton regains importance. Our results also provide preliminary indication to the loci of enhanced heterotrophy in the plume. Results of artificial mixing experiments suggest that previously formed plume water is the primary source of microbial inoculum for new plume water. This self‐inoculation mechanism, in combination with the intense DIC uptake, helps to sustain a distinct planktonic autotrophic community in this rapidly flushed hydrothermal plume.
The aim was to determine the prevalence and impact of an occluded "culprit" artery (OCA) in patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).
We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web ...of Science, with no language restrictions, up to 1 Jul. 2016. Observational cohorts or clinical trials of adult NSTEMI were eligible for inclusion to determine the prevalence if the proportion of OCA on coronary angiography was reported. Studies were further eligible for inclusion to determine the outcome if the association between OCA and clinical endpoints was reported.
Among the 60,898 patients with NSTEMI enrolled in 25 studies, 17,212 were found to have OCA. The average proportion of OCA in NSTEMI was 34% (95% CI 30-37%). Patients with OCA were more likely to have left circumflex artery as their culprit artery (odds ratio (OR) 1.65, 95% CI 1.15-2.37, p = 0.007), and this was associated with lower left ventricular ejection fraction (standard mean difference -0.29, 95% CI -0.34 to -0.34, p < 0.001), higher peak enzyme level (standard mean difference 0.43, 95% CI 0.27-0.58, p < 0.001), and higher risk for cardiogenic shock (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.35-2.04, p < 0.001), compared with patients with a non-occlusive culprit artery. Death rate (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.49-1.98, p < 0.001) and recurrent myocardial infarction (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.06-2.75, p = 0.029) were also higher in patients with OCA, compared with patients with a non-occlusive culprit artery.
Patients with OCA comprised a substantial portion of the NSTEMI population. These patients present with more severe symptoms and worse clinical outcome. Whether these patients should be treated with more aggressive strategy warrants further study.
This study investigates the long-term effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) consumption on avian growth performance, on the proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA damage of spleen cells, and on intestinal ...integrity. Two hundred and eight 5-day-old black-feathered Taiwan country chickens were fed diets containing 0, 2, 5, and 10 mg/kg of DON for 16 weeks. Body weight gain of male birds in the 2 mg/kg group was significantly lower than that in the 5 mg/kg group. At the end of trial, feeding DON-contaminated diets of 5 mg/kg resulted in heavier spleens. Moreover, the increase in DON induced cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA damage signals in the spleen, the exception being female birds fed 10 mg/kg of DON showing reduced proliferation. Expression of claudin-5 was increased in jejunum of female birds fed 2 and 5 mg/kg of DON, whereas decreased expression levels were found in male birds. In conclusion, our results verified that DON may cause a disturbance to the immune system and alter the intestinal barrier in Taiwan country chickens, and may also lead to discrepancies in growth performances in a dose- and sex-dependent manner.
Numerous studies have found that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) modulates plasticity. rTMS has often been used to change neural networks underlying learning, often under the ...assumption that the mechanism of rTMS-induced plasticity should be highly similar to that associated with learning. The presence of visual perceptual learning (VPL) reveals the plasticity of early visual systems, which is formed through multiple phases. Hence, we tested how high-frequency (HF) rTMS and VPL modulate the effect of visual plasticity by investigating neurometabolic changes in early visual areas. We employed an excitatory-to-inhibitory (E/I) ratio, which refers to glutamate concentration divided by GABA+ concentration, as an index of the degree of plasticity. We compared neurotransmitter concentration changes after applying HF rTMS to the visual cortex with those after training in a visual task, in otherwise identical procedures. Both the time courses of the E/I ratios and neurotransmitter contributions to the E/I ratio significantly differed between HF rTMS and training conditions. The peak E/I ratio occurred 3.5 h after HF rTMS with decreased GABA+, whereas the peak E/I ratio occurred 0.5 h after visual training with increased glutamate. Furthermore, HF rTMS temporally decreased the thresholds for detecting phosphene and perceiving low-contrast stimuli, indicating increased visual plasticity. These results suggest that plasticity in early visual areas induced by HF rTMS is not as involved in the early phase of development of VPL that occurs during and immediately after training.
DNA from low-biodiversity fracture water collected at 2.8-kilometer depth in a South African gold mine was sequenced and assembled into a single, complete genome. This bacterium, Candidatus ...Desulforudis audaxviator, composes >99.9% of the microorganisms inhabiting the fluid phase of this particular fracture. Its genome indicates a motile, sporulating, sulfate-reducing, chemoautotrophic thermophile that can fix its own nitrogen and carbon by using machinery shared with archaea. Candidatus Desulforudis audaxviator is capable of an independent life-style well suited to long-term isolation from the photosphere deep within Earth's crust and offers an example of a natural ecosystem that appears to have its biological component entirely encoded within a single genome.
In this work, we developed a simple yet robust single particle scattering intensity measurement method for the quantification of cancer-related biomarkers. The design is based on the plasmonic ...coupling effect between noble metal nanoparticles. First, the primary and secondary antibodies were conjugated onto the surface of 60 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, act as capture probes) and 50 nm silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, act as signal amplification probes) respectively. In the presence of corresponding antigen, a sandwiched immunocomplex was formed, resulting a significantly enhanced scattering intensity in contrast to that of individual probes. By measuring the intensity change of the particles with a dark-field microscope (DFM), the amount of target protein could be accurately quantified. As a proof of concept experiment, quantification of three types of antigens, including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) by this platform was demonstrated with limit of detection (LOD) of 1.7, 3.3, and 5.9 pM, respectively, with a linear dynamic range of 0 to 300 pM. Furthermore, to elucidate the potential in clinical application, the content of antigens in a serum sample was also quantified directly without additional sample pretreatment. In order to validate the reliability of this method, the measured result was also compared with that obtained by regular enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, showing good consistency between these two data sets. Therefore, owing to the simplicity and accuracy of this method, it could be potentially applied for massive disease screening in clinical assay in the future.
Reprogramming of glucose metabolism is a key event in tumorigenesis and progression. Here, we show that active c-Src stimulates glycolysis by phosphorylating (Tyr194) and activating PFKFB3, a key ...enzyme that boosts glycolysis by producing fructose-2,6-bisphosphate and activating PFK1. Increased glycolysis intermediates replenish non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and serine pathway for biosynthesis of cancer cells. PFKFB3 knockout (KO) cells and their counterpart reconstituted with PFKFB3-Y194F show comparably impaired abilities for proliferation, migration, and xenograft formation. Furthermore, PFKFB3-Y194F knockin mice show impaired glycolysis and, mating of these mice with APCmin/+ mice attenuates spontaneous colon cancer formation in APCmin/+ mice. In summary, we identify a specific mechanism by which c-Src mediates glucose metabolism to meet cancer cells’ requirements for maximal biosynthesis and proliferation. The PFKFB3-Tyr194 phosphorylation level highly correlates with c-Src activity in clinical tumor samples, indicating its potential as an evaluation for tumor prognosis.
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•Tyrosine kinase c-Src activates PFKFB3 by phosphorylating it at Tyr194•Activated PFKFB3 promotes glycolysis and facilitates tumorigenesis•PFKFB3-Y194F knockin mice show a glycolysis defect•PFKFB3-Y194F knockin attenuates APCmin/+ mice colon cancer formation
Ma et al. identify a mechanism of c-Src in promoting tumorigenesis and progression by phosphorylating and activating PFKFB3, an indispensable activator of the rate-limiting enzyme PFK1. PFKFB3 activation further stimulates glycolysis that provides precursors for biosynthesis of proliferating tumor cells.
Definitive concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) is the standard treatment for cervical esophageal cancer and non-surgical candidates. Initial treatment response affects survival; however, few validated ...markers are available for prediction. This study evaluated the clinical variables and chemoradiation parameters associated with treatment response. Between May 2010 and April 2016, 86 completed CCRT patients’ clinical, dosimetric, and laboratory data at baseline and during treatment were collected. Cox regression analysis assessed the risk factors for overall survival (OS). A receiver operating characteristic curve with Youden’s index was chosen to obtain the optimal cut-off value of each parameter. Treatment response was defined per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v.1.1 at the first post-CCRT computed tomography scan. Responders had complete and partial responses; non-responders had stable and progressive diseases. Logistic regression (LR) was used to evaluate the variables associated with responders. The Cox regression model confirmed the presence of responders (n = 50) vs. non-responders (n = 36) with a significant difference in OS. In multivariate LR, cardiac dose–volume received ≥10 Gy; the baseline hemoglobin level, highest neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio during CCRT, and cumulative cisplatin dose were significantly associated with the responders. The initial clinical treatment response significantly determines disease outcome. Cardiac irradiation may affect the treatment response.
Abstract
Context
Maternal lipids during pregnancy and placental growth factors are associated with excess fetal growth. However, how these factors interact to increase the risk of delivering ...large-for-gestational-age (LGA) neonates remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between maternal plasma triglycerides (TGs) and free fatty acids (FFAs) during pregnancy, cord blood insulin-like growth factors (IGF), and LGA.
Objective
In a cell model, we studied the effect of different FAs on placental IGF-1 secretion.
Methods
This cohort study included pregnant women with term pregnancy and without diabetes or hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Maternal fasting plasma TGs and FFAs were measured in the second trimester. Cord blood IGF-1, IGF-2, and IGF binding protein-1 and protein-3 were measured at the time of delivery. A human trophoblast cell line, 3A-sub-E, was used to evaluate the effect of different FFAs on placental IGF-1 secretion.
Results
We recruited 598 pregnant women–neonate pairs. Maternal plasma TG (180 mg/dL 152.5-185.5 mg/dL vs 166 mg/dL 133-206 mg/dL, P = .04) and cord blood IGF-1 concentrations (72.7 ± 23.0 vs 54.1 ± 22.8 ng/mL, P < .001) were higher in the LGA group and were significantly associated with birth weight z score. Maternal plasma free palmitic acid (PA) and stearic acid (SA), but not oleic acid (OA) or linoleic acid (LA), were significantly associated with cord blood IGF-1 concentrations. In 3A-sub-E cells, treatment with PA, SA, and LA, but not OA, induced IGF-1 expression and secretion.
Conclusion
Certain FFAs can induce placental IGF-1 secretion, which suggests a potential pathophysiology linking maternal plasma lipids and LGA.
The reactivation of the Chelungpu Fault triggered the 1999 Chi-Chi Mw 7.6 earthquake, resulting in substantial ground surface ruptures and severe damage. After the earthquake, the surveys organized ...by the Central Geology Survey (CGS) of Taiwan and the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) immediately investigated a variety of cases related to engineering structures damaged by substantial ground deformation. The investigations gathered valuable in-situ data before human activities disturbed the local setting and altered co-seismic features of interest, providing opportunities for studying the interaction between surface rupture and engineering structures. This study outlines the reconnaissance of damaged engineering structures in Shigang District that cover three typical types of foundations and analyzes the fault geometry and fault slip at the local scale to construct a geomechanical model for numerical simulation. In addition, 3-dimensional (3D) modeling was performed for each case study to investigate the damage mechanisms of the structures subjected to the substantial ground deformations by using PFC3D (Particle Flow Code 3D), which is based on the discrete element method (DEM). The results of the DEM analyses, which have been calibrated with the in-situ data, showed the ability to evaluate the overall ground deformation, the detection of structural movement, and the critical elements of progressive collapse during faulting. This study demonstrates that the 3D DEM simulation is a reliable analysis tool for studying earthquake fault rupture-overburden layer-engineering structure interactions and can produce useful information for hazard assessment with an acceptable computation time. The 3D DEM analysis is therefore suggested to be applied to assess the potential damage scenarios for the engineering structures located in active fault zones.
•Analysis of earthquake fault rupture-overburden layer-engineering structure interaction in the Chelungpu fault zone•Integrated field investigations, geomechanical analysis, and 3D DEM modeling•Damaged cases of engineering structures with different foundation types in the Shigang District were simulated.•Current abilities and limitations of the full-scale 3D DEM model are discussed.
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