Chloroplast primers were developed for phylogenetic and comparative studies in Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae).

Astragalus lehmannianus (Fabaceae) is a vulnerable species found in the cold deserts of northwestern China. We aimed to characterize polymorphic microsatellite loci for A. lehmannianus to support future studies of population genetic dynamics and conservation management of the species.

Extrahepatic manifestations of Hepatitis E, though rare, are being increasingly reported in the medical literature. In this review article, we will discuss the extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis E, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, pancreatitis, and cryoglobulinemia, their clinical association with hepatitis E, and their management.

Background: One of the future applications of magnetic nanoparticles is the development of new iron-oxide-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) negative contrast agents, which are intended to improve the results of diagnostics and complement existing Gd-based contrast media. Results: Iron oxide nanoparticles designed for use as MRI contrast media are precisely examined by a variety of methods: powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy and zero-field nuclear magnetic resonance (ZF-NMR) spectroscopy. TEM and XRD measurements reveal a spherical shape of the nanoparticles with an average diameter of 5-8 nm and a cubic spinel-type crystal structure of space group Fd-3m. Raman, Mössbauer and NMR spectroscopy clearly indicate the presence of the maghemite γ-Fe2O3 phase. Moreover, a difference in the magnetic behavior of uncoated and human serum albumin coated iron oxide nanoparticles was observed by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Conclusion: This difference in magnetic behavior is explained by the influence of biofunctionalization on the magnetic and electronic properties of the iron oxide nanoparticles. The ZF-NMR spectra analysis allowed us to determine the relative amount of iron located in the core and the surface layer of the nanoparticles. The obtained results are important for understanding the structural and magnetic properties of iron oxide nanoparticles used as T 2 contrast agents for MRI.

This paper describes the preparation and characterization of a new type of core-shell nanoparticle in which the structure consists of a hydrogel core encapsulated within a porous silver shell. The thermo-responsive hydrogel cores were prepared by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization of a selected mixture of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and acrylic acid (AAc). The hydrogel cores were then encased within either a porous or complete silver shell for which the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) extends from visible to near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths (i.e., λmax varies from 550 to 1050 nm, depending on the porosity), allowing for reversible contraction and swelling of the hydrogel via photothermal heating of the surrounding silver shell. Given that NIR light can pass through tissue, and the silver shell is porous, this system can serve as a platform for the smart delivery of payloads stored within the hydrogel core. The morphology and composition of the composite nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, TEM, and FTIR, respectively. UV-vis spectroscopy was used to characterize the optical properties.

Malignant giant cell tumor of bone (MGCTB) is extremely rare. Currently, population-based prognosis studies are lacking. This study aimed to determine the impact of demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment on prognosis among patients with MGCTB.

The distinction between low-grade (grade 1) chondrosarcoma and its benign counterparts can be challenging. This systematic review aims to quantify the diagnostic accuracies of all functional imaging modalities used in the diagnosis of chondrosarcoma.

We describe a new fish blood fluke (Digenea: Aporocotylidae: Electrovermis zappum n. gen., n. sp.) and its life cycle in the intertidal zone adjacent to Mobile Bay (north-central Gulf of Mexico). This is the first elucidated aporocotylid life cycle that includes a chondrichthyan definitive host or a bivalve intermediate host. The new species undergoes asexual reproduction within the gonad of the variable coquina clam before maturing in the heart of the lesser electric ray. These adults and cercariae had identical 28S, 18S, and ITS2 nucleotide sequences. The new genus is similar to Ogawaia Cutmor et al., 2018 by having an inverse U-shaped intestine, a looping testis, and a uterus having distinct ascending and descending segments. It differs by having a body that is ≥ 30 × longer than wide, a testis with >30 curves, an obvious cirrus sac enveloping an extremely elongate cirrus, an ovary anterior to the seminal vesicle, and a post-gonadal uterus. The new species further differs from the type species of Ogawaia (Ogawaia glaucostegi Cutmore et al., 2018) by having a massive seminal vesicle (>10% of body length), a cirrus sac enveloping an extremely elongate cirrus, and a slightly sinuous uterus. Histology confirmed gametogenesis in an infected coquina clam but no discernible cellular response to infection was observed. We also i) characterize a second morphologically and genetically distinct cercaria (perhaps representing an innominate chondrichthyan aporocotylid) infecting the green jackknife clam in Mississippi Sound (north-central Gulf of Mexico), ii) compare all known aporocotylid cercariae infecting estuarine and marine mollusks and polychaetes and iii) provide a key to identify those cercariae. A phylogenetic analysis including nucleotide sequences from adult and cercarial specimens of the newly collected fish blood flukes further supports the notion that chondrichthyan aporocotylids are monophyletic and use bivalves as the first intermediate host; perhaps unlike any other blood fluke lineage.

Samples of diaphragm were collected from 53 sika deer from Gifu Prefecture, Japan; 220 sarcocysts were isolated, examined in wet mounts and classified according to their cyst wall protrusions. The sarcocysts were then examined molecularly in order to assign them to different species. All but 11 of the 220 sarcocysts were initially identified by means of a multiplex PCR assay targeting cox1 of five species, whereas the remaining 11 sarcocysts were identified by standard PCR and sequencing. DNA from selected sarcocysts was used for PCR amplification and sequencing of cox1 (59 sequences) and 18S rDNA (23 sequences). The 220 sarcocysts comprised seven major cox1 sequence types or species. Types 4 and 7 were assigned to the known species Sarcocystis pilosa and Sarcocystis ovalis, whereas types 1, 3 and 5 were considered to represent three new species, for which the names Sarcocystis japonica, Sarcocystis matsuoae and Sarcocystis gjerdei have been proposed. Types 2 and 6 were most similar to Sarcocystis tarandi and Sarcocystis taeniata, respectively, but could not be unequivocally assigned to these species. Sarcocysts belonging to S. japonica were macroscopic with fairly thick finger-like protrusions, whereas most sarcocysts of the six other species were microscopic. Sarcocysts of S. cf. tarandi and S. matsuoae were spindle-shaped and possessed thin finger-like cyst-wall protrusions. Sarcocysts of S. pilosa and S. gjerdei had similar hair-like protrusions, whereas those of S. cf. taeniata had a smooth surface. Sarcocysts of S. japonica, S. pilosa, S. cf. tarandi, S. gjerdei, S. matsuoae, S. cf. taeniata and S. ovalis were found in 50 (94.3%), 29 (54.7%), 22 (41.5%), 10 (18.9%), 8 (15.1%), 6 (11.3%) and 1 (1.9%) of the 53 sika deer examined, respectively. An improved multiplex PCR assay targeting cox1 was developed, through which the seven Sarcocystis spp. found in the present study could be identified.

One of the largest issues facing the field of tissue engineering is scaling due to tissue necrosis as a result of a lack of vascularization. We have developed an accessible method for generating large scale vascular networks of arbitrary geometries through the self-assembly of endothelial cells in a collagen gel, similar to vasculogenesis that occurs in the developing embryo. This system can be applied to a wide range of collagen concentrations and seeding densities, resulting in networks of varying phenotypes, lending itself to the recapitulation of vascular networks that mimic those found across different tissues. Methods are thus described for the generation and imaging of these self-assembled three-dimensional networks in addition to image processing methods for rigorous quantitative measurement of various morphological parameters. There are several advantages to the system described herein. •Varied molding procedures allow for irregular geometries, similar to those that would be required for tissue grafts.•Robust network formation translates into centimeter scale constructs.•Whereas similar processes suffer from a high degree of variability and inconsistent characterization, our method employs image analysis techniques to stringently characterize each network based on several objective characteristics.

This study was piloted to evaluate bioaccessibility of particulate-bound trace elements using synthetic epithelia lung fluid; in which dipalmitoylphophatidylcholine was substituted with locus bean gum (LBSFL). The resulting data reveal that no significant change in physicochemical characteristics of the stimulated lung fluid compare with similar synthetic fluids; pH value of 7.3, density (0.998gcm-3), conductivity (13.9 mS m-1), surface viscosity (1.136 × 10-12 pas) and surface tension (50.6 mN m-1). To prove the potential applicability of the fluid in in vitro bioaccessibility test, we compared bioaccessibility of particulates-bound trace elements using this fluid with those of stimulated epithelial lung fluid. Bioaccessibility were relatively low values (<30%) in locus bean substituted lung fluid and stimulated epithelial lung fluid. Specifically, As and Cd had significantly higher bioaccessibility values in locus bean substituted lung fluid than stimulated epithelial lung fluid. The data demonstrate that fluid formulated and used in this study can provide a suitable means of evaluate bioaccessibility of trace elements-bound to airborne particulates. •The fluid was used for assessing bioaccessibility of particulate matters-bound trace elements•The formulated fluid can be applied to study in toxicity assessment•The data can be used for inter-laboratory comparison of bioaccessibility of particulate -bound trace element and could stimulate environmental concerns on the impacts of airborne particulates.

A rapid HILIC-MS method was developed for measuring the genotoxic impurities aziridine and 2-chloroethylamine. Sample preparation was simple and direct without requiring derivatization. Paired with a 1.5 min isocratic UHPLC separation, sample analysis could be completed in less than 5 min. Linearity was established from 0.5 μg/L to 10 μg/L for both target analytes. For main components at 100 g/L, this equates to 5 parts per billion (ppb) detectability using a benchtop, single quadrupole detector. Three model matrices were evaluated (glycine, phenylalanine, and the pharmaceutical drug asunaprevir), and the method was able to provide suitable repeatability (<10% RSD) and accuracy (±10%) at 5 μg/L concentrations. •Direct sample preparation without derivatization as is needed for GC analyses•Less than 5 min required for sample preparation and HILIC-MS analysis•Part per billion sensitivity in multiple test matrices with good recovery.

Genome-scale species tree inference is largely restricted to heuristic approaches that use estimated gene trees to reconstruct species-level relationships. Central to these heuristic species tree methods is the assumption that the gene trees are estimated without error. To increase the accuracy of input gene trees used to infer species trees, several techniques have recently been developed for constructing longer "supergenes" that represent sets of loci inferred to share the same genealogical history. While these supergene methods are designed to increase the amount of data for gene tree estimation by concatenating several loci into "supergenes" to increase gene tree accuracy, no formal protocols have been proposed to validate this key "supergene" concatenation step. In a recent study, we developed several supergene validation strategies for assessing the accuracy of a popular supergene method: the so-called "statistical binning" pipeline. In this article, we describe a more generalizable and model-based "supergene validation" protocol for assessing the accuracy of supergenes and supergene methods using model-based tests of phylogenetic congruency. •Supergenes are validated by adopting model-based tests of topological congruence•These model-based procedures out preform non-model based methods for supergene construction•The results of this protocol can be used to assess the overall performance of a supergene method across a phylogenomic dataset.

Heavy metal pollutants, particularly Pb are considered as critical contaminants causing harmful health risks for a human. In this study, montmorillonite modified with hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride surfactant (N-HTAC) was applied as a new adsorbent for the Pb+2 adsorption from aqueous solutions. The N-HTAC was characterized by the scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. The central composite design using R software was chosen for modelling the effect of operating parameters. Based on the findings obtained from the analysis of variance, reduced full second-order model with multiple R2, 0.94, adjusted R2, 0.93, and LoF, 0.96, was represented satisfactory adjustment with experimental data. The Solver "add-ins" was employed to gain the optimum conditions for the modelling. The optimum operating points giving the maximum Pb+2 removal (99.99%), were found to be initial Pb+2 concentration: 0.1 mg L1- adsorbent dosage: 4.33 g L-1, HTAC dosage: 4.19 g L-1, pH: 7.13, temperature: 28.06ºC, and the reaction time: 103.4 min. The findings of the study showed that by enhancing and improving natural adsorbents, a significant amount of environmental pollutants can be eliminated. •In this study, a new modified adsorbent (N-HTAC) was used to remove lead ions.•The results of this study showed that the N-HTAC used has high efficiency (99.99%) in the removal of lead.•The results of this study and the data obtained can be used to supplement the information on the removal of contaminants with adsorbents.

Acyl-CoA:cholestereol acyltransferase 1 (ACAT1) is a two-fold dimer (homotetramer) and has two distinct dimerization domains. One domain is in an alpha-helical rich region near the cytoplasmic N-terminus. The other is proposed to be near the C-terminus where multiple transmembrane domains promote hydrophobic interactions between two ACAT1 subunits. The truncation of the ACAT1 N-terminal dimerization domain, Δ1-65, creates a dimer which is fully enzymatically active. It is currently not known how the C-terminal dimerization domain contributes to ACAT1 enzymatic activity. Here we describe a simple method that dissociates ACAT1 dimers through the addition of the non-ionic detergents Triton X-100 or octyl glucoside which disrupt the C-terminal dimerization domain. We also document the protocols for a method to exchange Triton X-100 with CHAPS to restore C-terminal dimerization of the ACAT1 protein, and an optimized liposomal assay to assess ACAT enzymatic activity. •This method can be applied to dissociate ACAT1 subunits by using Triton X-100 or octyl glucoside.•ACAT1 dimerization can be restored by exchanging Triton X-100 with CHAPS.•The liposomal ACAT activity assay conditions have been optimized.

Recent evidence indicates that malignant ascites may be associated with the high malignancy and poor prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) with peritoneal metastasis (PM), but no robust consensus has been reached until now.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) in a liver-specific extracellular matrix (L-ECM) scaffold facilitates hepatocyte viability and maintains hepatocyte functions in vitro. However, whether an intact composition of ECM is required for an efficient ECM-based substrate design remains to be clarified. In this study, two L-ECM hydrogels, namely L-ECM I and L-ECM II, were prepared by pepsin solubilization at 4 °C and 25 °C, respectively. The solubility at 4 °C was 50% whereas that at 25 °C was 95%, thus indicating well-preserved L-ECM. Analysis confirmed higher ECM protein components (especially collagen) in L-ECM II, along with denser fiber network and larger fiber diameter. L-ECM II gel exhibited high compression strength and suitable viscoelastic properties. Furthermore, hepatocytes in L-ECM II showed higher expression of liver-specific functions in 3D culture and wider spread while maintaining the cell-cell contacts in 2D culture. Therefore, an intact L-ECM is important to realize effective substrates for liver tissue engineering.

The purpose of this study was to fabricate pulsatile tubular cardiac tissue using cell sheet based-tissue engineering. First, we fabricated human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSc)-derived cardiomyocyte sheets and normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) sheets which are harvested from temperature responsive culture dishes only by lowering the temperature. Then tubular cardiac tissues are formed by wrapping one hiPSc-derived cardiomyocyte sheet and three NHDF sheets around an octagonal column, and both ends of the tubular tissue were covered with fibrin and collagen gel. The octagonal column with the tubular tissue was connected to an in vitro circulation system in a culture box. After four-day culture, the cardiac tissue survived and pulsated spontaneously in the circulation system. Furthermore, the analysis with a Millar catheter inserted into the cardiac tubes revealed significant inner pressure changes generated by their beating. In addition, the tubular cardiac tissue pulsated in response to the electrical stimulation. Although histological analyses demonstrated that cardiac troponin T-positive cells stratified the inner surface of the tubular tissues, gene expression analyses showed an immature state of these cardiomyocytes. Thus, cell sheet-based tissue engineering realized human pulsatile tubular cardiac tissue fabrication and we believe that these tubular cardiac tissues should contribute to future drug screening and regenerative therapy for heart diseases.

The data in this study are related to the research article "Core-shell electrospun and doped LiFePO4/FeS/C composite fibers for Li-ion batteries" [1]. Core-shell LiFePO4/FeS/C composites fiber were prepared via an electrospinning method for use as cathodes in Li-ion batteries. The data presented in this paper showed the effect of electrospinning parameters, including applied voltage, solution flow rate, the concentration of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (wt%) and a mixed PVP/PEO (polyethylene oxide) (w/w%) polymers on the morphological properties of composites fibers. These data were developed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, the effect of heat-treatment temperature on fiber morphology was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The voltage profile and cycle rate properties of the core-shell LiFePO4/FeS/C composites obtained after various heat treatments were studied.

Sengon (Falcataria moluccana), formerly known as Albizia falcataria or Paraserianthes falcataria, is an essential tree species for the development of community-based timber plantation, especially in Indonesia. The plantations nowadays are facing a significant disease threat, namely infection of gall-rust fungi (Uromycladium falcatarium). However, a clear understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the tree response against the disease is still unknown. We carried out transcriptome assembly using BGISEQ-500 technology to provide assembled de novo transcriptome dataset generated from gall-rust infected and non-infected trees. The construction of assembled transcriptome was conducted using Trinity v.2.3.2 The raw reads are available in the DDBJ platform with accession number, DRA007983.