Improved IEEE 802.11 point coordination function considering fiber-delay difference in distributed antenna systems

In this paper, we present an improved IEEE 802.11 wireless local-area network (WLAN) medium access control (MAC) mechanism for simulcast radio-over-fiber-based distributed antenna systems where multiple remote antenna units (RAUs) are connected to one access point (AP). In the improved mechanism, the fiber delay between RAUs and central unit is taken into account in a modification to the conventional point coordination function (PCF) that achieves coordination by a centralized algorithm. Simulation results show that the improved PCF outperforms the distributed coordination function (DCF) in both the basic-access and request/clear-to-send modes in terms of the total throughput and the fairness among RAU

Exploring the Antibacterial Potential and Underlying Mechanisms of Prunella vulgaris L on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Prunella vulgaris L. (PV) is a widely distributed plant species, known for its versatile applications in both traditional and contemporary medicine, as well as in functional food development. Despite its broad-spectrum antimicrobial utility, the specific mechanism of antibacterial action remains elusive. To fill this knowledge gap, the present study investigated the antibacterial properties of PV extracts against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and assessed their mechanistic impact on bacterial cells and cellular functions. The aqueous extract of PV demonstrated greater anti-MRSA activity compared to the ethanolic and methanolic extracts. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS tentatively identified 28 phytochemical components in the aqueous extract of PV. Exposure to an aqueous extract at ½ MIC and MIC for 5 h resulted in a significant release of intracellular nucleic acid (up to 6-fold) and protein (up to 10-fold) into the extracellular environment. Additionally, this treatment caused a notable decline in the activity of several crucial enzymes, including a 41.51% reduction in alkaline phosphatase (AKP), a 45.71% decrease in adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), and a 48.99% drop in superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, there was a decrease of 24.17% at ½ MIC and 27.17% at MIC in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity and energy transfer. Collectively, these findings indicate that the anti-MRSA properties of PV may stem from its ability to disrupt membrane and cell wall integrity, interfere with enzymatic activity, and impede bacterial cell metabolism and the transmission of information and energy that is essential for bacterial growth, ultimately resulting in bacterial apoptosis. The diverse range of characteristics exhibited by PV positions it as a promising antimicrobial agent with broad applications for enhancing health and improving food safety and quality

Research progress on histone acetylation/methylation in oral diseases

Histone acetylation and methylation can affect chromatin conformation and regulate a variety of biological activities. Abnormal histone acetylation and methylation modifications are related to the occurrence and development of a variety of oral diseases. Histone acetylation and methylation increase or decrease in an orderly manner to regulate the development of teeth. Fluoride ions can destroy the balance between histone acetylation and methylation, which may be related to the occurrence of dental fluorosis. In addition, histone acetylation and methylation are involved in the regulation of oral inflammatory diseases. In the inflammatory microenvironment, the expression of histone acetyltransferase GCN5 decreases, and the expression of Dickkopf 1 (DKK1) decreases, activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and ultimately inhibiting the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and H3K27me3 levels were decreased in inflamed dental pulp tissues and cells. EZH2 inhibition inhibited the expression of interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6 and IL-8 in human dental pulp cells under inflammatory stimulation. Histone acetylation/methylation modifications can interact with multiple signaling pathways to promote the occurrence and development of oral tumors and are related to the high invasiveness of salivary gland tumors. Small molecule drugs targeting histone acetylation and methylation-related enzymes can regulate the level of histone methylation/acetylation and have shown potential in the treatment of oral and maxillofacial diseases. For example, the histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat can inhibit the secretion of inflammation-related cytokines; it also promotes the maturation of odontoblasts and the formation of dentin-related matrix, demonstrating its potential in pulp preservation. Understanding the role of histone acetylation/methylation modifications in the occurrence and development of oral diseases will help promote research on epigenetic modifications in oral diseases and provide new perspectives for disease diagnosis and treatment

Plasma Lnc-UCA1/miR-138 axis as a potential biomarker for gestational diabetes mellitus and neonatal prognosis

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the correlations of Lnc-UCA1/miR-138 axis with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk and neonatal prognosis. Material and methods: First, the blood samples from sixty GDM patients and 60 healthy pregnant women were collected to detect the change of Lnc-UCA1/miR-138 axis by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The clinical characteristics of GDM patients, healthy controls, and neonates were recorded. Then, the correlation analysis of Lnc-UCA1, miR-138, and Lnc-UCA1/miR-138 axis levels with clinicopathological characteristics was performed to explore the clinical value of Lnc-UCA1/miR-138 axis in GDM. Finally, the specificity and sensitivity of Lnc-UCA1, miR-138, and Lnc-UCA1/miR-138 axis for GDM diagnosis was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: Our present study found that, when compared with healthy pregnancies, the expression levels of Lnc-UCA1 and miR-138 were increased and decreased, respectively, and Lnc-UCA1/miR-138 axis profile was elevated. Second, Lnc-UCA1 and Lnc-UCA1/miR-138 axis were positively correlated with fasting glucose, one-hour glucose, and two-hour glucose, while miR-138 showed the opposite trend. Furthermore, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) were 0.8196, 0.8021, and 0.8901 for diagnostic efficiencies of Lnc-UCA1, miR-138, and Lnc-UCA1/miR-138, respectively. In addition, higher profiles of Lnc-UCA1 were correlated with birth asphyxia of neonate. Conclusions: Circulating Lnc-UCA1/miR-138 axis might be involved in the pathogenesis of GDM and could function as a novel and effective biomarker for GDM risk and neonatal prognosis

Yeast-produced subunit protein vaccine elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies that protect mice against Zika virus lethal infection

International audienceZika virus (ZIKV) infection is a serious public health concern due to its ability to induce neurological defects and its potential for rapid transmission at a global scale. However, no vaccine is currently available to prevent ZIKV infection. Here, we report the development of a yeast-derived subunit protein vaccine for ZIKV. The envelope protein domain III (EDIII) of ZIKV was produced as a secretory protein in the yeast Pichia pastoris. The yeast-derived EDIII could inhibit ZIKV infection in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that it had acquired an appropriate conformation to bind to cellular receptors of ZIKV. Immunization with recombinant EDIII protein effectively induced antigen-specific binding antibodies and cellular immune responses. The resulting anti-EDIII sera could efficiently neutralize ZIKV representative strains from both Asian and African lineages. Passive transfer with the anti-EDIII neutralizing sera could confer protection against lethal ZIKV challenge in mice. Importantly, we found that purified anti-EDIII antibodies did not cross-react with closely related dengue virus (DENV) and therefore did not enhance DENV infection. Collectively, our results demonstrate that yeast-produced EDIII is a safe and effective ZIKV vaccine candidate