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The woods. Vol. 3, New London
\"On October 16, 2013, 437 students, 52 teachers, and 24 additional staff from Bay Point Preparatory High School in suburban Milwaukee, WI vanished without a trace, finding themselves countless light years away in the middle of an ancient primordial wilderness. Now having barely escaped their confrontation with the swarm, the hunters have led Adrian, Karen, Calder, and the others to their breathtaking home base. But just when they think they may have found answers to what brought them to this alien world, a horror from the teens' past rears its ugly head\"--Page 4 of cover.
Book
An overview of biorefinery-derived platform chemicals from a cellulose and hemicellulose biorefinery
Until recently, most of energy and industrially produced chemicals were derived from fossil fuel-based resources. This along with the continued depletion of finite fossil resources and their attributed adverse environmental impacts, alternatively sourced and more sustainable resources are being pursued as feedstock replacements. Thus, biomass has been identified as an alternate renewable and more sustainable resource as a means to reduce this sector’s dependence on fossil fuel-based resources and to alleviate their environmental impacts. As such, lignocellulosic biomass has been further identified and demonstrated as an abundant renewable resource for the production of biofuels, platform chemicals, and their respective value-added products. This review article provides an overview of the techniques developed for the valorization of biomass in the production of platform chemicals within a biorefinery and the status for commercialization.
Journal Article
The effect of green tea on C-reactive protein and biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
•Green tea significantly reduced serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.•Green tea had no significant effect on total antioxidant capacity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.•Green tea had no significant effect on serum levels of malondealdehyde in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The beneficial effects of green tea on regulating insulin sensitivity and preventing the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been identified.
We aimed to investigate the effect of green tea on serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with T2DM.
A systematic search was performed in the ISI Web of science, PubMed and Scopus to find articles related to the effect of the green tea on CRP, malondealdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in T2DM patients, up to June 2019. There was no language and time limitation. Meta-analyses were performed using both the random and fixed effects model where appropriate, and I2 index was used to evaluate the heterogeneity.
Initial search yielded 780 publications. Eight articles with 614 T2DM patients were eligible. Following green tea consumption, CRP levels significantly decreased (weighted mean difference (WMD): −5.51 mg/dl, 95% CI: −9.18 to −1.83, p = 0.003) compared with the controlled group. Green tea consumption had no significant effect on plasma levels of TAC and MDA (0.02 mg/dl, CI: −0.06 to 0.10; −0.14 mg/dl, CI: −0.40 to 0.12; respectively).
This systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that green tea significantly reduced the circulating levels of CRP, whereas, it had no significant effect on MDA and TAC. Overall, green tea can be considered as a healthy drink to reduce CRP levels in T2DM patients.
Journal Article
Temporal and spatial goal-directed reaching in upper limb prosthesis users
Understanding the fundamental characteristics of prosthetic movement control is imperative in improving prosthesis design and training. This study quantified how using an upper limb prosthesis affected performance during goal-directed reaching tasks. Nine prosthesis users with unilateral transradial limb absence and nine healthy controls completed a series of goal-directed reaching movements with different goals: one spatial and three temporal with different goal frequencies. We quantified end-point accuracy, smoothness, and peak speed for the spatial task and temporal accuracy, horizontal distance, and speed for the temporal task. For the temporal task, we also used a goal-equivalent manifold (GEM) approach to decompose variability in movement distance and speed into those perpendicular and tangential to the GEM. Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) quantified the temporal persistence of each time series. For the spatial task, movements made with prostheses were less smooth, had larger end-point errors, and had slower peak speed compared to those with control limbs (p < 0.041). For the temporal task, movements made with prostheses and intact limbs of prosthesis users and control limbs were similar in distance and speed and had similar timing errors (p > 0.138). Timing errors, distance, speed, and GEM deviations were corrected similarly between prosthetic limbs and control limbs (p > 0.091). The mean and variability of distance, speed, and perpendicular deviations decreased with increased goal frequency (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that prosthesis users have a sufficient internal model to successfully complete ballistic movements but are unable to accurately complete movements requiring substantial feedback.
Journal Article
Autophagy mitigates ethanol-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in esophageal keratinocytes
During alcohol consumption, the esophageal mucosa is directly exposed to high concentrations of ethanol (EtOH). We therefore investigated the response of normal human esophageal epithelial cell lines EPC1, EPC2 and EPC3 to acute EtOH exposure. While these cells were able to tolerate 2% EtOH for 8 h in both three-dimensional organoids and monolayer culture conditions, RNA sequencing suggested that EtOH induced mitochondrial dysfunction. With EtOH treatment, EPC1 and EPC2 cells also demonstrated decreased mitochondrial ATPB protein expression by immunofluorescence and swollen mitochondria lacking intact cristae by transmission electron microscopy. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was decreased in a subset of EPC1 and EPC2 cells stained with ΔΨm-sensitive dye MitoTracker Deep Red. In EPC2, EtOH decreased ATP level while impairing mitochondrial respiration and electron transportation chain functions, as determined by ATP fluorometric assay, respirometry, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Additionally, EPC2 cells demonstrated enhanced oxidative stress by flow cytometry for mitochondrial superoxide (MitoSOX), which was antagonized by the mitochondria-specific antioxidant MitoCP. Concurrently, EPC1 and EPC2 cells underwent autophagy following EtOH exposure, as evidenced by flow cytometry for Cyto-ID, which detects autophagic vesicles, and immunoblots demonstrating induction of the lipidated and cleaved form of LC3B and downregulation of SQSTM1/p62. In EPC1 and EPC2, pharmacological inhibition of autophagy flux by chloroquine increased mitochondrial oxidative stress while decreasing cell viability. In EPC2, autophagy induction was coupled with phosphorylation of AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), a cellular energy sensor responding to low ATP levels, and dephosphorylation of downstream substrates of mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex (mTORC)-1 signaling. Pharmacological AMPK activation by AICAR decreased EtOH-induced reduction of ΔΨm and ATP in EPC2. Taken together, acute EtOH exposure leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in esophageal keratinocytes, where the AMPK-mTORC1 axis may serve as a regulatory mechanism to activate autophagy to provide cytoprotection against EtOH-induced cell injury.
Journal Article
TNFAIP8 controls murine intestinal stem cell homeostasis and regeneration by regulating microbiome-induced Akt signaling
The intestine is a highly dynamic environment that requires tight control of the various inputs to maintain homeostasis and allow for proper responses to injury. It was recently found that the stem cell niche and epithelium is regenerated after injury by de-differentiated adult cells, through a process that gives rise to Sca1+ fetal-like cells and is driven by a transient population of Clu
+
revival stem cells (revSCs). However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate this dynamic process have not been fully defined. Here we show that TNFAIP8 (also known as TIPE0) is a regulator of intestinal homeostasis that is vital for proper regeneration. TIPE0 functions through inhibiting basal Akt activation by the commensal microbiota via modulating membrane phospholipid abundance. Loss of TIPE0 in mice results in injury-resistant enterocytes, that are hyperproliferative, yet have regenerative deficits and are shifted towards a de-differentiated state.
Tipe0
−/−
enterocytes show basal induction of the Clu
+
regenerative program and a fetal gene expression signature marked by Sca1, but upon injury are unable to generate Sca-1
+
/Clu
+
revSCs and could not regenerate the epithelium. This work demonstrates the role of TIPE0 in regulating the dynamic signaling that determines the injury response and enables intestinal epithelial cell regenerative plasticity.
The molecular mechanisms that regulate intestinal Clu+ revival stem cells (revSCs) and their niche to enable regeneration in response to injury are unclear. Here, the authors show that mice without the phospholipid transport protein, TNFAIP8, causes less revSCs to be induced following injury.
Journal Article
Methodology to estimate natural- and vaccine-induced antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in a large geographic region
Accurate estimates of natural and/or vaccine-induced antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 are difficult to obtain. Although model-based estimates of seroprevalence have been proposed, they require inputting unknown parameters including viral reproduction number, longevity of immune response, and other dynamic factors. In contrast to a model-based approach, the current study presents a data-driven detailed statistical procedure for estimating total seroprevalence (defined as antibodies from natural infection or from full vaccination) in a region using prospectively collected serological data and state-level vaccination data. Specifically, we conducted a longitudinal statewide serological survey with 88,605 participants 5 years or older with 3 prospective blood draws beginning September 30, 2020. Along with state vaccination data, as of October 31, 2021, the estimated percentage of those 5 years or older with naturally occurring antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in Texas is 35.0% (95% CI = (33.1%, 36.9%)). This is 3× higher than, state-confirmed COVID-19 cases (11.83%) for all ages. The percentage with naturally occurring or vaccine-induced antibodies (total seroprevalence) is 77.42%. This methodology is integral to pandemic preparedness as accurate estimates of seroprevalence can inform policy-making decisions relevant to SARS-CoV-2.
Journal Article
No evidence for active viral infection in unicentric and idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease by Viral-Track analysis
Castleman disease (CD) is a rare hematologic disorder characterized by pathologic lymph node changes and a range of symptoms due to excessive cytokine production. While uncontrolled infection with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is responsible for the cytokine storm in a portion of multicentric CD (HHV-8-associated MCD) cases, the etiology of unicentric CD (UCD) and HHV-8-negative/idiopathic MCD (iMCD) is unknown. Several hypotheses have been proposed regarding the pathogenesis of UCD and iMCD, including occult infection given the precedent established by HHV-8 infection. To investigate potential active infections in UCD and iMCD, we implemented Viral-Track, a computational method that identifies viral mRNA sequences from next-generation sequencing data. We applied Viral-Track to short sequencing reads from a cohort of UCD (n = 22), iMCD (n = 19), and controls (n = 86). While viral sequences for several unusual viruses were identified in individual CD patients, sequences for the same virus were not found across multiple CD patients or they were not specific to CD samples and were also found in non-CD samples. These results suggest that active viral infection is unlikely to be a pathological driver of UCD or iMCD.
Journal Article
A high-density genome-wide association with absolute blood monocyte count in domestic sheep identifies novel loci
Monocytes are a core component of the immune system that arise from bone marrow and differentiate into cells responsible for phagocytosis and antigen presentation. Their derivatives are often responsible for the initiation of the adaptive immune response. Monocytes and macrophages are central in both controlling and propagating infectious diseases such as infection by Coxiella burnetii and small ruminant lentivirus in sheep. Genotypes from 513 Rambouillet, Polypay, and Columbia sheep ( Ovis aries ) were generated using the Ovine SNP50 BeadChip. Of these sheep, 222 animals were subsequently genotyped with the Ovine Infinium ® HD SNP BeadChip to increase SNP coverage. Data from the 222 HD genotyped sheep were combined with the data from an additional 258 unique sheep to form a 480-sheep reference panel; this panel was used to impute the low-density genotypes to the HD genotyping density. Then, a genome-wide association analysis was conducted to identify loci associated with absolute monocyte counts from blood. The analysis used a single-locus mixed linear model implementing EMMAX with age and ten principal components as fixed effects. Two genome-wide significant peaks (p < 5x10 -7 ) were identified on chromosomes 9 and 1, and ten genome-wide suggestive peaks (p < 1x10 -5 ) were identified on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, and 16. The identified loci were within or near genes including KCNK9 , involved into cytokine production, LY6D , a member of a superfamily of genes, some of which subset monocyte lineages, and HMGN1 , which encodes a chromatin regulator associated with myeloid cell differentiation. Further investigation of these loci is being conducted to understand their contributions to monocyte counts. Investigating the genetic basis of monocyte lineages and numbers may in turn provide information about pathogens of veterinary importance and elucidate fundamental immunology.
Journal Article
Positive Youth Development and Academic Achievement in Slovenia
BackgroundThe transition from lower-secondary to upper-secondary education marks a critical period for adolescents that impacts their academic achievement.ObjectiveBased on Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework, we examined associations between math achievement as measured by PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) and PYD outcomes, such as Character, Confidence, Connection, and Caring, as well as variability by gender and school types.MethodUsing a cross sectional study design, we investigated Slovenian adolescents (N = 2802; 52% girls) who recently transitioned to upper-secondary level, who had participated in PISA study, and who had completed a PYD Short Form questionnaire.ResultsWe used multiple regression analyses to address the study goals. Significant positive associations between Character, Confidence and math achievement and significant negative associations between Connection and math achievement were observed. In general, the associations between Caring and math achievement were not significant. Specifically, Confidence was positively associated with math achievement in general gymnasiums, in technical programmes, and among boys in our sample. Caring was negatively associated with math achievement in technical gymnasiums. Connection was negatively associated with math achievement in technical programmes. Character was positively associated with math achievement in vocational programmes of medium duration.ConclusionsAcross school types and gender, different associations were significant, indicating the importance of contextualizing when planning interventions. The results support the need for contextual understanding of factors that can promote academic (math) achievement. As Slovenia is ethnically homogeneous, the effects of contexts, such as school types and gender, can be given more attention as key factors for promoting PYD.
Journal Article