Prioritizing human cancer microRNAs based on genes’ functional consistency between microRNA and cancer

The identification of human cancer-related microRNAs (miRNAs) is important for cancer biology research. Although several identification methods have achieved remarkable success, they have overlooked the functional information associated with miRNAs. We present a computational framework that can be used to prioritize human cancer miRNAs by measuring the association between cancer and miRNAs based on the functional consistency score (FCS) of the miRNA target genes and the cancer-related genes. This approach proved successful in identifying the validated cancer miRNAs for 11 common human cancers with area under ROC curve (AUC) ranging from 71.15% to 96.36%. The FCS method had a significant advantage over miRNA differential expression analysis when identifying cancer-related miRNAs with a fine regulatory mechanism, such as miR-27a in colorectal cancer. Furthermore, a case study examining thyroid cancer showed that the FCS method can uncover novel cancer-related miRNAs such as miR-27a/b, which were showed significantly upregulated in thyroid cancer samples by qRT-PCR analysis. Our method can be used on a web-based server, CMP (cancer miRNA prioritization) and is freely accessible at http://bioinfo.hrbmu.edu.cn/CMP. This time- and cost-effective computational framework can be a valuable complement to experimental studies and can assist with future studies of miRNA involvement in the pathogenesis of cancers

Polyketides with Immunosuppressive Activities from Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Penicillium sp. ZJ-SY2

Nine polyketides, including two new benzophenone derivatives, peniphenone (1) and methyl peniphenone (2), along with seven known xanthones (3–9) were obtained from mangrove endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. ZJ-SY2 isolated from the leaves of Sonneratia apetala. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of MS, 1D, and 2D NMR data. Compounds 1, 3, 5, and 7 showed potent immunosuppressive activity with IC50 values ranging from 5.9 to 9.3 μg/mL

Microwave-assisted puffing of Dendrobium officinale for higher extraction rate of polysaccharides

In order to increase the extraction rate of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides, microwave puffing was used to process its fresh stems and the processing parameters were optimized. Response surface methodology was used to analyze the effects of sample length (1–5cm), moisture content (15%–25%), microwave power (550–790 W), and microwave processing time (20–40 s) on the expansion ratio. The results showed that the optimized expansion ratio of 371.7% was achieved at the following conditions, i.e., sample length of 3.5 cm, moisture content of 23%, microwave power of 706 W, and processing time of 35 s. It was found that polysaccharides were extracted more readily from puffed D. officinale than from non-puffed D. officinale by 41.8%. Moreover, the bioactivities of polysaccharides from puffing D. officinale and non-puffing D. officinale were evaluated and compared in lipid peroxidation inhibition and anti-hyperglycemic assays.Keywords: Dendrobium officinale; Microwave puffing; Polysaccharides; Lipid peroxidation; Anti-hyperglycemic activit

Microwave-assisted puffing of Dendrobium officinale for higher extraction rate of polysaccharides

In order to increase the extraction rate of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides, microwave puffing was used to process its fresh stems and the processing parameters were optimized. Response surface methodology was used to analyze the effects of sample length (1–5cm), moisture content (15%–25%), microwave power (550–790 W), and microwave processing time (20–40 s) on the expansion ratio. The results showed that the optimized expansion ratio of 371.7% was achieved at the following conditions, i.e., sample length of 3.5 cm, moisture content of 23%, microwave power of 706 W, and processing time of 35 s. It was found that polysaccharides were extracted more readily from puffed D. officinale than from non-puffed D. officinale by 41.8%. Moreover, the bioactivities of polysaccharides from puffing D. officinale and non-puffing D. officinale were evaluated and compared in lipid peroxidation inhibition and anti-hyperglycemic assays.Keywords: Dendrobium officinale; Microwave puffing; Polysaccharides; Lipid peroxidation; Anti-hyperglycemic activit

Polyketide Derivatives, Guhypoxylonols A–D from a Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus sp. GXNU-Y45 That Inhibit Nitric Oxide Production

Four undescribed compounds, guhypoxylonols A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4), were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. GXNU-Y45, together with seven previously reported metabolites. The structures of 1–4 were elucidated based on analysis of HRESIMS and NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of the stereogenic carbons in 1–3 were established through a combination of spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Compounds 1–11 were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity. Compounds 1, 3, 4, and 6 showed an inhibitory activity against the production of nitric oxide (NO), with the IC50 values of 14.42 ± 0.11, 18.03 ± 0.14, 16.66 ± 0.21, and 21.05 ± 0.13 μM, respectively

Asperlones A and B, Dinaphthalenone Derivatives from a Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus sp. 16-5C

Racemic dinaphthalenone derivatives, (±)-asperlone A (1) and (±)-asperlone B (2), and two new azaphilones, 6′-hydroxy-(R)-mitorubrinic acid (3) and purpurquinone D (4), along with four known compounds, (−)-mitorubrinic acid (5), (−)-mitorubrin (6), purpurquinone A (7) and orsellinic acid (8), were isolated from the cultures of Aspergillus sp. 16-5C. The structures were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR spectra and the structures of 1 further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, while the absolute configuration of 3 and 4 were determined by comparing their optical rotation and CD with those of the literature, respectively. Compounds 1, 2 and 6 exhibited potent inhibitory effects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein tyrosine phosphatase B (MptpB) with IC50 values of 4.24 ± 0.41, 4.32 ± 0.60 and 3.99 ± 0.34 μM, respectively

Students' perceptions of school climate in the U.S. and China

Although the construct of student climate has been studied extensively in the United States, we know little about how school climate is perceived in other countries. With large class sizes yet higher academic achievement and less disruptive and aggressive student behaviors, schools in China present a contrast to many schools in the United States. Differences in school climate between the two countries were examined in this study. The sample consisted of 10,400 American and 3,435 Chinese students across three grade levels (elementary, middle, and high school) in 85 American and 22 Chinese schools. Factor structure and measurement invariance across countries were first established for the Modified-Delaware School Climate Survey-Student. Differences in latent means were then tested. Across all three grade levels Chinese students scored significantly higher than American students on all four subscales (Teacher-Student Relations, Student-Student Relations, School Liking, and Fairness of School Rules). Effects sizes tended to be smallest in elementary schools and largest in middle schools. Significant differences between American and Chinese students exist in their perceptions of school climate. It is likely that those differences can be attributed to cultural differences in respect of authority, academic and social values, self-regulation and peer-regulation of behaviors, and teachers' classroom management. © 2013 American Psychological Association.link_to_subscribed_fulltex