Linear Field Dependence of the Normal-State In-Plane Magnetoresistance of Sr2RuO4

The transverse and longitudinal in-plane magnetoresistances in the normal state of superconducting Sr2RuO4 single crystals have been measured. At low temperatures, both of them were found to be positive with a linear magnetic-field dependence above a threshold field, a result not expected from electronic band theory. We argue that such behavior is a manifestation of a novel coherent state characterized by a spin pseudo gap in the quasi-particle excitation spectrum in Sr2RuO4.Comment: 4 pages + 5 figure

Serum outperforms plasma in small extracellular vesicle microRNA biomarker studies of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

Background: To compare computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in quantitative and qualitative plaque assessment. Methods: Patients who underwent IVUS and CTCA within 3 months for suspected coronary artery disease were retrospectively studied. Plaque volumes on CTCA were quantified manually and with automated-software and were compared to IVUS. High-risk plaque features were compared between CTCA and IVUS. Results: There were 769 slices in 32 vessels (27 patients). Manual plaque quantification on CTCA was comparable to IVUS per slice (mean difference of 0.06 ± 0.07, p = 0.44; Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement -2.19–2.08 mm3, bias of -0.06 mm3) and per vessel (3.1 mm3 ± -2.85 mm3, p = 0.92). In contrast, there was significant difference between automated-software and IVUS per slice (2.3 ± 0.09mm3, p < 0.001; 95% LoA -6.78 to 2.25 mm3, bias of -2.2 mm3) and per vessel (33.04 ± 10.3 mm3, p < 0.01). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of CTCA to detect plaques that had features of echo-attenuation on IVUS was 93.3%, 99.6%, 93.3% and 99.6% respectively. The association of ≥2 high-risk plaque features on CTCA with echo attenuation (EA) plaque features on IVUS was excellent (86.7%, 99.6%, 92.9% and 99.2%). In comparison, the association of high-risk plaque features on CTCA and plaques with echo-lucency on IVUS was only modest. Conclusion: Plaque volume quantification by manual CTCA method is accurate when compared to IVUS. The presence of at least two high-risk plaque features on CTCA is associated with plaque features of echo attenuation on IVUS.Ravi Kiran Munnur, Jordan Andrews ... Dorothy Keefe ... Lorelle Smith ... Joanne Bowen ... Sarah Thompson ... et al

Dapagliflozin: a sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor in development for type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing worldwide epidemic. Patients face lifelong therapy to control hyperglycemia and prevent the associated complications. There are many medications, with varying mechanisms, available for the treatment of T2DM, but almost all target the declining insulin sensitivity and secretion that are associated with disease progression. Medications with such insulin-dependent mechanisms of action often lose efficacy over time, and there is increasing interest in the development of new antidiabetes medications that are not dependent upon insulin. One such approach is through the inhibition of renal glucose reuptake. Dapagliflozin, the first of a class of selective sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, reduces renal glucose reabsorption and is currently under development for the treatment of T2DM. Here, we review the literature relating to the preclinical and clinical development of dapagliflozin

MicroRNA profiling in oesophageal adenocarcinoma cell lines and patient serum samples reveals a role for mir-451a in radiation resistance

Many patients with Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma (OAC) do not benefit from chemoradiotherapy treatment due to therapy resistance. To better understand the mechanisms involved in resistance and to find potential biomarkers, we investigated the association of microRNAs, which regulate gene expression, with the response to individual treatments, foc

Diving into the vertical dimension of elasmobranch movement ecology

Knowledge of the three-dimensional movement patterns of elasmobranchs is vital to understand their ecological roles and exposure to anthropogenic pressures. To date, comparative studies among species at global scales have mostly focused on horizontal movements. Our study addresses the knowledge gap of vertical movements by compiling the first global synthesis of vertical habitat use by elasmobranchs from data obtained by deployment of 989 biotelemetry tags on 38 elasmobranch species. Elasmobranchs displayed high intra- and interspecific variability in vertical movement patterns. Substantial vertical overlap was observed for many epipelagic elasmobranchs, indicating an increased likelihood to display spatial overlap, biologically interact, and share similar risk to anthropogenic threats that vary on a vertical gradient. We highlight the critical next steps toward incorporating vertical movement into global management and monitoring strategies for elasmobranchs, emphasizing the need to address geographic and taxonomic biases in deployments and to concurrently consider both horizontal and vertical movements

The effect of chrysanthemum leaf trichome density and prey spatial distribution on predation of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) by Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

The effect of plant architecture, in terms of leaf hairiness, and prey spatial arrangement, on predation rate of eggs of the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, by the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot was examined on cut stems of chrysanthemums. Three levels of leaf hairiness (trichome density) were obtained using two different chrysanthemum cultivars and two ages within one of the cultivars. The number of prey consumed by P. persimilis was inversely related to trichome density. At low prey densities (less than ten eggs per stem), prey consumption did not differ in a biologically meaningful way between treatments.The effect of prey spatial arrangement on the predation rate of P. persimilis was also examined. Predation rates were higher in prey patches on leaves adjacent to the release point of P. persimilis, but significantly greater numbers of prey were consumed in higher density prey patches compared to low density patches. The predators exhibited non-random searching behaviour, spending more time on leaves closest to the release point. The implications of these findings for biological control and predator-prey dynamics are discussed

Complex role of miR-130a-3p and miR-148a-3p balance on drug resistance and tumor biology in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

miRNAs play a crucial role in cancer development and progression. However, results on the impact of miRNAs on drug sensitivity and tumor biology vary, and most studies to date focussed on either increasing or decreasing miRNA expression levels. Therefore, the current study investigated the role of different expression levels of miR-130a-3p and miR-148a-3p on drug resistance and tumor biology in four esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Interestingly, up- and downregulation of both miRNAs significantly increased sensitivity towards chemotherapy. MiRNA modulation also reduced adherence and migration potential, and increased apoptosis rates. Target analyses showed that up- and downregulation of both miRNAs activated the apoptotic p53-pathway via increased expression of either BAX (miR-148a-3p) or Caspase 9 (miR-130a-3p). miR-148a-3p downregulation seemed to mediate its effects primarily via regulation of Bim rather than Bcl-2 levels, whereas we found the opposite scenario following miR-148a-3p upregulation. A similar effect was observed for miR-130a-3p regulating Bcl-2 and XIAP. Our data provide the first evidence that miRNA modulation in both directions may lead to similar effects on chemotherapy response and tumor biology in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Most interestingly, up- and downregulation seem to mediate their effects via modulating the balance of several validated or predicted targets