Background
IL‐25 has been proposed to play a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). This study aimed to evaluate the association of IL‐25 with the ...Th2‐biased inflammatory profiles in CRSwNP.
Methods
Nasal polyp (NP) tissues and control uncinate process tissues were collected from 92 patients with CRSwNP, 20 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), and 16 normal control subjects. IL‐25 expression was examined using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, RT‐qPCR, and ELISA. The inflammatory profiles and clinical characteristics of 2 NP subtypes (IL‐25high and IL‐25low) were evaluated, and the effects of IL‐25 on Th2 cytokine production in cultured dispersed polyp cells were examined in vitro.
Results
The mRNA and protein levels of IL‐25 were significantly increased in the polyp tissues compared with the control uncinate process tissues. The IL‐25high subtype showed greater computed tomography scores, endoscopic scores, and Th2 response. Exposure to IL‐25 activated type 2 innate lymphoid cells and Th2 cells in NP simultaneously which further increased Th2 cytokine production in vitro.
Conclusions
Local IL‐25 plays a crucial role in promoting Th2‐biased inflammatory profiles in NP and may serve as a promising therapeutic target in CRSwNP patients.
Global polarization of Ξ and Ω hyperons has been measured for the first time in Au + Au collisions at √sNN = 200 GeV. The measurements of the Ξ− and ... hyperon polarization have been performed by ...two independent methods, via analysis of the angular distribution of the daughter particles in the parity violating weak decay Ξ → Λ + π, as well as by measuring the polarization of the daughter Λ hyperon, polarized via polarization transfer from its parent. The polarization, obtained by combining the results from the two methods and averaged over Ξ− and ... is measured to be ⟨PΞ⟩ = 0.47 ± 0.10(stat) ± 0.23(syst)% for the collision centrality 20%–80%. The ⟨PΞ⟩ is found to be slightly larger than the inclusive Λ polarization and in reasonable agreement with a multiphase transport model. The ⟨PΞ⟩ is found to follow the centrality dependence of the vorticity predicted in the model, increasing toward more peripheral collisions. The global polarization of Ω, ⟨PΩ⟩ = 1.11 ± 0.87(stat) ± 1.97(syst)% was obtained by measuring the polarization of daughter Λ in the decay Ω → Λ + K, assuming the polarization transfer factor CΩΛ = 1.
According to the CPT theorem, which states that the combined operation of charge conjugation, parity transformation and time reversal must be conserved, particles and their antiparticles should have ...the same mass and lifetime but opposite charge and magnetic moment. Here, we test CPT symmetry in a nucleus containing a strange quark, more specifically in the hypertriton. This hypernucleus is the lightest one yet discovered and consists of a proton, a neutron and a Λ hyperon. With data recorded by the STAR detector1–3 at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, we measure the Λ hyperon binding energy BΛ for the hypertriton, and find that it differs from the widely used value4 and from predictions5–8, where the hypertriton is treated as a weakly bound system. Our results place stringent constraints on the hyperon–nucleon interaction9,10 and have implications for understanding neutron star interiors, where strange matter may be present11. A precise comparison of the masses of the hypertriton and the antihypertriton allows us to test CPT symmetry in a nucleus with strangeness, and we observe no deviation from the expected exact symmetry.The STAR collaboration reports a measurement of the mass difference and binding energy of the hypertriton and its antiparticle. This work constrains the hyperon–nucleon interaction and allows us to test the CPT theorem in a nucleus with strangeness.
We present the results from the 43 GHz Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of 124 compact radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGNs) that were conducted between 2014 November and 2016 May. The ...typical dimensions of the restoring beam in each image are about 0.5 mas × 0.2 mas. The highest resolution of 0.2 mas corresponds to a physical size of 0.02 pc for the lowest redshift source in the sample. The 43 GHz very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) images of 97 AGNs are presented for the first time. We study the source compactness on milliarcsecond and submilliarcsecond scales, and suggest that 95 sources in our sample are suitable for future space VLBI observations. By analyzing our data supplemented with other VLBA AGN surveys from the literature, we find that the core brightness temperature increases with increasing frequency below a break frequency ∼7 GHz, and decreases between ∼7 and 240 GHz but increases again above 240 GHz in the rest frame of the sources. This indicates that the synchrotron opacity changes from optically thick to thin. We also find a strong statistical correlation between radio and γ-ray flux densities. Our correlation is tighter than those in the literature derived from lower-frequency VLBI data, suggesting that the γ-ray emission is produced more cospatially with the 43 GHz VLBA core emission. This correlation can also be extrapolated to the unbeamed AGN population, implying that a universal γ-ray production mechanism might be at work for all types of AGNs.
Colouration in spider mites is due to the presence of carotenoids with diverse colours, including yellows, oranges and reds. Tetranychus urticae has two main colour forms, red and green. Although a ...ketolase has been implicated in determining the colour, the underlying genetic basis of body colour divergence between the two forms has remained unclear. Based on a combination of comparative transcriptomes and RNA interference, we found that a gene encoding a cytochrome P450 enzyme of the CYP4 clan (CYP389B1) had remarkably high expression in adult females of the red T. urticae, as well as in hybrids obtained by crossing the red and green forms. Down‐regulation of this gene by RNA interference resulted in decreased accumulation of red pigment. Up‐regulation of the expressions of a scavenger receptor gene (SCARB1) and a mitochondrial glycine transporter (SLC25A38) also strongly contributed to red colour development in adult females. Suppressing the mRNA levels of these genes also resulted in reduced accumulation of red pigment in the three other spider mites with red body colour. Our results provide evidence that the body colour divergence between the two forms is caused by different expressions of pigmentation‐related genes, and point to a possible role of a novel cytochrome P450 gene (CYP389B1) in regulating red‐orange body colour. These findings expand the number of candidate cytochrome P450 genes involved in endogenous pigmentation and will help to understand their roles in determining colour patterns in mites and other species.
Up‐regulation of pigmentation‐associated genes leads to red‐body colour in spider mites.
Significantly low expression of each of CYP389B1, SCARB1 and SLC25A38 genes decreased red pigmentation.
A novel CYP4 clan gene (CYP389B1) has an important effect on body colour divergence.
Skilled motor behavior requires rapidly integrating external sensory input with information about internal state to decide which movements to make next. Using machine learning approaches for ...high-resolution kinematic analysis, we uncover the logic of a rapid decision underlying sensory-guided locomotion in mice. After detecting obstacles with their whiskers mice select distinct kinematic strategies depending on a whisker-derived estimate of obstacle location together with the position and velocity of their body. Although mice rely on whiskers for obstacle avoidance, lesions of primary whisker sensory cortex had minimal impact. While motor cortex manipulations affected the execution of the chosen strategy, the decision-making process remained largely intact. These results highlight the potential of machine learning for reductionist analysis of naturalistic behaviors and provide a case in which subcortical brain structures appear sufficient for mediating a relatively sophisticated sensorimotor decision.
Wolbachia is an intracellular bacterium that has aroused intense interest because of its ability to alter the biology of its host in diverse ways. In the two‐spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, ...Wolbachia can induce complex cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) phenotypes and fitness changes, although little is known about the mechanisms. In the present study, we selected a strain of T. urticae, in which Wolbachia infection was associated with strong CI and enhanced female fecundity, to investigate changes in the transcriptome of T. urticae in Wolbachia‐infected vs. uninfected lines. The responses were found to be sex‐specific, with the transcription of 251 genes being affected in females and 171 genes being affected in males. Some of the more profoundly affected genes in both sexes were lipocalin genes and genes involved in oxidation reduction, digestion and detoxification. Several of the differentially expressed genes have potential roles in reproduction. Interestingly, unlike certain Wolbachia transinfections in novel hosts, the Wolbachia–host association in the present study showed no clear evidence of host immune priming by Wolbachia, although a few potential immune genes were affected.
In vivo pharmacology and optogenetics hold tremendous promise for dissection of neural circuits, cellular signaling, and manipulating neurophysiological systems in awake, behaving animals. Existing ...neural interface technologies, such as metal cannulas connected to external drug supplies for pharmacological infusions and tethered fiber optics for optogenetics, are not ideal for minimally invasive, untethered studies on freely behaving animals. Here, we introduce wireless optofluidic neural probes that combine ultrathin, soft microfluidic drug delivery with cellular-scale inorganic light-emitting diode (μ-ILED) arrays. These probes are orders of magnitude smaller than cannulas and allow wireless, programmed spatiotemporal control of fluid delivery and photostimulation. We demonstrate these devices in freely moving animals to modify gene expression, deliver peptide ligands, and provide concurrent photostimulation with antagonist drug delivery to manipulate mesoaccumbens reward-related behavior. The minimally invasive operation of these probes forecasts utility in other organ systems and species, with potential for broad application in biomedical science, engineering, and medicine.
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•Neural probes with ultrathin, soft microfluidic channels coupled to μ-ILEDs•Optofluidic probes minimize tissue damage and are suitable for chronic implants•Wireless in vivo fluid delivery of viruses, peptides, and small-molecule agents•Combined wireless optogenetics with pharmacology for neural circuit dissection
Ultrathin, flexible optofluidic neural probes enable wireless delivery of agents and optical manipulation in deep brain tissue of freely behaving animals. Combinatorial optogenetic, pharmacological, and viral approaches yield a powerful tool for in vivo dissection of neural circuitry.
Most people living with HIV (PLWH) reside in middle- and low-income countries with limited access to health services. Thus, cost-effective interventions that can reach a large number of PLWH are ...urgently needed.
The objective of our study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an mHealth intervention among PLWH in China.
Based on previous formative research, we designed an mHealth intervention program that included sending weekly reminders to participants via text messages (short message service, SMS) and articles on HIV self-management three times a week via a popular social media app WeChat. A total of 62 PLWH recruited from an HIV outpatient clinic were randomly assigned to intervention or control group. The intervention lasted for 3 months, and all participants were assessed for their medication adherence, presence of depression, quality of life (QoL), and CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4) counts. Upon completing the intervention, we interviewed 31 participants to further assess the feasibility and acceptability of the study.
At baseline, the intervention and control groups did not differ in terms of demographic characteristics or any of the major outcome measures. About 85% (53/62) of the participants completed the intervention, and they provided valuable feedback on the design and content of the intervention. Participants preferred WeChat as the platform for receiving information and interactive communication for ease of access. Furthermore, they made specific recommendations about building trust, interactive features, and personalized feedback. In the follow-up assessment, the intervention and control groups did not differ in terms of major outcome measures.
This pilot study represents one of the first efforts to develop a text messaging (SMS)- and WeChat-based intervention that focused on improving the medication adherence and QoL of PLWH in China. Our data indicates that an mHealth intervention is feasible and acceptable to this population. The data collected through this pilot study will inform the future designs and implementations of mHealth interventions in this vulnerable population. We recommend more innovative mHealth interventions with rigorous designs for the PLWH in middle- and low-income countries.
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800017987; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=30448 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/71zC7Pdzs).
RR1-10.2196/.
A novel film electrode was assembled via a simple filtration process, with an rGO paper as the substrate and Ni-Mn LDH/graphene superlattice composites as the functional layer. The electrode ...presented typical pseudocapacitive behaviours with excellent rate property and cycle stability.
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