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Understanding the mechanisms regulating root development under drought conditions is an important question for plant biology and world agriculture. We examine the effect of osmotic stress on abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinin and ethylene responses and how they mediate auxin transport, distribution and root growth through effects on PIN proteins. We integrate experimental data to construct hormonal crosstalk networks to formulate a systems view of root growth regulation by multiple hormones. Experimental analysis shows: that ABA-dependent and ABA-independent stress responses increase under osmotic stress, but cytokinin responses are only slightly reduced; inhibition of root growth under osmotic stress does not require ethylene signalling, but auxin can rescue root growth and meristem size; osmotic stress modulates auxin transporter levels and localization, reducing root auxin concentrations; PIN1 levels are reduced under stress in an ABA-dependent manner, overriding ethylene effects; and the interplay among ABA, ethylene, cytokinin and auxin is tissue-specific, as evidenced by differential responses of PIN1 and PIN2 to osmotic stress. Combining experimental analysis with network construction reveals that ABA regulates root growth under osmotic stress conditions via an interacting hormonal network with cytokinin, ethylene and auxin.

Biodiesel is viewed as the alternative to petroleum diesel, but its poor low-temperature performance constrains its utilization. Cloud point (CP), the onset temperature of thermal crystallization, appropriately shows the low-temperature performance. The effective way to reduce CP is to remove saturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). Compared to current methods, this work describes an extraordinary approach to fractionating FAMEs by forming solid urea inclusion compounds (UICs). Urea inclusion fractionation reduces the CPs by removing high melting-point linear saturated FAME components. Urea inclusion fractionation in this study was performed under various processing conditions: mass ratios of urea to FAMEs and solvents to FAMEs, various solvents, FAMEs from various feedstocks, and processing temperatures. Supersaturation of urea in the solution is the driving force, and it significantly affects yield, composition, CP, separation efficiency, and selectivity. Through a single urea inclusion fractionation process, FAMEs, except palm oil FAMEs, resulted in CP reduction ranging from 20 to 42 oC with a yield of 77–80% depending on the compositions. CP of palm oil FAMEs could reach as low as -17 oC with a yield of 46% after twice urea inclusion fractionation. According to the model prediction, the cetane number after urea inclusion fractionation decreased about 0.7–2 but was still higher than the minimum biodiesel requirement. Oxidation stability after urea inclusion decreased according to the proposed model, but this can be mitigated by adding antioxidants. Emission evaluation after urea inclusion fractionation indicated decreased hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. However, it resulted in the increasing emission of nitrogen oxides.

Stat6 is known to drive macrophage M2 polarization. However, how macrophage polarization is fine-tuned by Stat6 is poorly understood. Here, we find that Lys383 of Stat6 is acetylated by the acetyltransferase CREB-binding protein (CBP) during macrophage activation to suppress macrophage M2 polarization. Mechanistically, Trim24, a CBP-associated E3 ligase, promotes Stat6 acetylation by catalyzing CBP ubiquitination at Lys119 to facilitate the recruitment of CBP to Stat6. Loss of Trim24 inhibits Stat6 acetylation and thus promotes M2 polarization in both mouse and human macrophages, potentially compromising antitumor immune responses. By contrast, Stat6 mediates the suppression of TRIM24 expression in M2 macrophages to contribute to the induction of an immunosuppressive tumor niche. Taken together, our findings establish Stat6 acetylation as an essential negative regulatory mechanism that curtails macrophage M2 polarization. Stat6 promotes M2 macrophage polarization. Here the authors characterize Trim24-CBP-Stat6 circuit regulating M2 macrophage polarization via Stat6 acetylation, and show it contributes to pro-tumorigenic macrophage activity in mice.

In recent decades, many new and exciting findings have paved the way to the better understanding of plant responses in various environmental changes. Some major areas are focused on role of phytohormone during abiotic stresses. Salicylic acid (SA) is one such plant hormone that has been implicated in processes not limited to plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. This review summarizes the various roles and functions of SA in mitigating abiotic stresses to plants, including heating, chilling, salinity, metal toxicity, drought, ultraviolet radiation, etc. Consistent with its critical roles in plant abiotic tolerance, this review identifies the gaps in the literature with regard to the complex signalling network between SA and reactive oxygen species, ABA, Ca2+, and nitric oxide. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms underlying signalling networks that control development and stress responses in plants and underscore prospects for future research on SA concerning abiotic-stressed plants are also discussed.

Calcium plays a key role in determining the specificity of a vast array of signalling pathways in plants. Cellular calcium elevations with different characteristics (calcium signatures) carry information on the identity of the primary stimulus, ensuring appropriate downstream responses. However, the mechanism for decoding calcium signatures is unknown. To determine this, decoding of the salicylic acid (SA)-mediated plant immunity signalling network controlling gene expression was examined. A dynamic mathematical model of the SA-mediated plant immunity network was developed. This model was used to predict responses to different calcium signatures; these were validated empirically using quantitative real-time PCR to measure gene expression. The mechanism for decoding calcium signatures to control expression of plant immunity genes enhanced disease susceptibility 1 (EDS1) and isochorismate synthase 1 (ICS1) was identified. Calcium, calmodulin, calmodulin-binding transcription activators (CAMTA)3 and calmodulin binding protein 60g (CBP60g) together amplify each calcium signature into three active signals, simultaneously regulating expression. The time required for calcium to return to steady-state level also quantitatively regulates gene expression. Decoding of calcium signatures occurs via nonlinear interactions between these active signals, producing a unique response in each case. Key properties of the calcium signatures are not intuitive, exemplifying the importance of mathematical modelling approaches. This approach can be applied to identifying the decoding mechanisms of other plant calcium signalling pathways.

Double emulsions are complex fluid systems, in which droplets of a dispersed liquid phase contain even smaller dispersed liquid droplets. Particularly, water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions provide significant advantages over simple oil-in-water emulsions for microencapsulation, such as carrier of both aqueous and oily payloads and sustained release profile. However, double emulsions are thermodynamically unstable systems consisting typically of relatively large droplets. Here we show that nanoscale water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions can be prepared by adding a silica precursor polymer, hyperbranched polyethoxysiloxane, to the oil phase without any additional surfactants. The resulting double miniemulsions are transformed to robust water@SiO 2 @polymer@SiO 2 nanocapsules via conversion of the precursor to silica and polymerization of the oil phase. Other intriguing nanostructures like nanorattles and Janus-like nanomushrooms can also be obtained by changing preparation conditions. This simple surfactant-free double miniemulsion polymerization technique opens a promising avenue for mass production of various complex hybrid nanostructures that are amenable to numerous applications. Double emulsions show significant advantages for microencapsulation but are thermodynamically unstable. Here the authors show, that silica nanocapsules with nanorattles or Janus-like nanomushroom structures can be prepared by stabilizing double emulsions with a silica precursor polymer and subsequent polymerization of the oil phase.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease that is becoming increasingly prevalent, and it ranges from simple steatosis to cirrhosis. However, there is still a lack of pharmacotherapeutic strategies approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which results in a higher risk of death related to carcinoma and cardiovascular complications. Of note, it is well established that the pathogenesis of NAFLD is tightly associated with whole metabolic dysfunction. Thus, targeting interconnected metabolic conditions could present promising benefits to NAFLD, according to a number of clinical studies. Here, we summarize the metabolic characteristics of the development of NAFLD, including glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and intestinal metabolism, and provide insight into pharmacological targets. In addition, we present updates on the progresses in the development of pharmacotherapeutic strategies based on metabolic intervention globally, which could lead to new opportunities for NAFLD drug development.

Bovine bone collagen hydrolysates promote bone formation through regulating bone growth. However, the peptide sequences within these isolates have not been characterized. In this study, twenty-nine peptides from bovine bone collagen hydrolysates were purified and identified using nano-HPLC-MS-MS and Peak Studio analysis. HHGDQGAPGAVGPAGPRGPAGPSGPAGKDGR (Deamidation) and GPAGANGDRGEAGPAGPAGPAGPR (Deamidation) enhanced cell viability, inhibited apoptosis, and significantly altered the cell cycle of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells. These peptides were selected to perform molecular docking analysis to examine the mechanism underlying these bioactivities. Molecular docking analysis showed that these two peptides formed hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to activate the EGFR-signaling pathway, which may explain their bioactivity. These findings indicate that these and other similar peptides might be candidates for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with some disorders including cardiovascular diseases. Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, data about the relationships between vitamin D and lipids are inconsistent. The relationship of vitamin D and Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), as an excellent predictor of level of small and dense LDL, has not been reported. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin D status on serum lipids in Chinese adults. The study was carried out using 1475 participants from the Center for Physical Examination, 306 Hospital of PLA in Beijing, China. Fasting blood samples were collected and serum concentrations of 25(OH)D, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured. AIP was calculated based on the formula: log [TG/HDL-C]. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to estimate the associations between serum 25(OH)D and lipids. The association between the occurrences of dyslipidemias and vitamin D levels was assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Confounding factors, age and BMI, were used for the adjustment. The median of serum 25(OH)D concentration was 47 (27-92.25) nmol/L in all subjects. The overall percentage of 25(OH)D ≦ 50 nmol/L was 58.5% (males 54.4%, females 63.7%). The serum 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with TG (β coefficient = -0.24, p < 0.001) and LDL-C (β coefficient = -0.34, p < 0.001) and positively associated with TC (β coefficient = 0.35, p < 0.002) in men. The associations between serum 25(OH)D and LDL-C (β coefficient = -0.25, p = 0.01) and TC (β coefficient = 0.39, p = 0.001) also existed in women. The serum 25(OH)D concentrations were negatively associated with AIP in men (r = -0.111, p < 0.01) but not in women. In addition, vitamin D deficient men had higher AIP values than vitamin D sufficient men. Furthermore, the occurrences of dyslipidemias (reduced HDL-C, elevated TG and elevated AIP) correlated with lower 25(OH)D levels in men, whereas the higher TC and LDL-C associated with higher 25(OH)D levels in women. It seems that the serum 25(OH)D levels are closely associated with the serum lipids and AIP. Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with the increased risk of dyslipidemias, especially in men. The association between vitamin D status and serum lipids may differ by genders.

In this paper, we propose a time-delayed predator-prey model with Holling-type II functional response, which incorporates the gestation period and the cost of fear into prey reproduction. The dynamical behavior of this system is both analytically and numerically investigated from the viewpoint of stability, permanence, and bifurcation. We found that there are stability switches, and Hopf bifurcations occur when the delay τ passes through a sequence of critical values. The explicit formulae which determine the direction, stability, and other properties of the bifurcating periodic solutions are given by using the normal form theory and center manifold theorem. We perform extensive numerical simulations to explore the impact of some important parameters on the dynamics of the system. Numerical simulations show that high levels of fear have a stabilizing effect while relatively low levels of fear have a destabilizing effect on the predator-prey interactions which lead to limit-cycle oscillations. We also found that the model with or without a delay-dependent factor can have a significantly different dynamics. Thus, ignoring the delay or not including the delay-dependent factor might result in inaccurate modelling predictions.