Programmed Secretion Arrest and Receptor-Triggered Toxin Export during Antibacterial Contact-Dependent Growth Inhibition

Contact-dependent growth inhibition (CDI) entails receptor-mediated delivery of CdiA-derived toxins into Gram-negative target bacteria. Using electron cryotomography, we show that each CdiA effector protein forms a filament extending ∼33 nm from the cell surface. Remarkably, the extracellular filament represents only the N-terminal half of the effector. A programmed secretion arrest sequesters the C-terminal half of CdiA, including the toxin domain, in the periplasm prior to target-cell recognition. Upon binding receptor, CdiA secretion resumes, and the periplasmic FHA-2 domain is transferred to the target-cell outer membrane. The C-terminal toxin region of CdiA then penetrates into the target-cell periplasm, where it is cleaved for subsequent translocation into the cytoplasm. Our findings suggest that the FHA-2 domain assembles into a transmembrane conduit for toxin transport into the periplasm of target bacteria. We propose that receptor-triggered secretion ensures that FHA-2 export is closely coordinated with integration into the target-cell outer membrane

Quantification of sulcal emergence timing and its variability in early fetal life: Hemispheric asymmetry and sex difference

Human fetal brains show regionally different temporal patterns of sulcal emergence following a regular timeline, which may be associated with spatiotemporal patterns of gene expression among cortical regions. This study aims to quantify the timing of sulcal emergence and its temporal variability across typically developing fetuses by fitting a logistic curve to presence or absence of sulcus. We found that the sulcal emergence started from the central to the temporo-parieto-occipital lobes and frontal lobe, and the temporal variability of emergence in most of the sulci was similar between 1 and 2 weeks. Small variability (\u3c 1 week) was found in the left central and postcentral sulci and larger variability (\u3e2 weeks) was shown in the bilateral occipitotemporal and left superior temporal sulci. The temporal variability showed a positive correlation with the emergence timing that may be associated with differential contributions between genetic and environmental factors. Our statistical analysis revealed that the right superior temporal sulcus emerged earlier than the left. Female fetuses showed a trend of earlier sulcal emergence in the right superior temporal sulcus, lower temporal variability in the right intraparietal sulcus, and higher variability in the right precentral sulcus compared to male fetuses. Our quantitative and statistical approach quantified the temporal patterns of sulcal emergence in detail that can be a reference for assessing the normality of developing fetal gyrification

Drive-in torque for self-tapping screws into timber

Self-tapping screws have been widely used in timber constructions nowadays. Current practice considers self tapping screws perform best in connecting two members when they are fully threaded, however the drive-in resistance caused by the friction between woods and screws can potentially damage the screw and reduce the effectiveness of its applications. The relationship between their thread configuration and the drive-in torque force has not been investigated, and how would knots in the member affect the drive-in force remains in question. This study conducted a series of tests aiming to demonstrate the influence of thread configuration on the drive-in torque of screws. Two types of self-tapping screws and three different thread configurations were studied. The drive-in torque for partially threaded screws was found to be significantly slower than that of the fully threaded ones. The results showed knots can significantly influence the positioning of screw and increase the drive-in torque. The application of pre-drilled hole was found to be an effective way to minimise the influence of knots. This article points out that with appropriate consideration of thread configuration, partially threaded self-tapping screws can not only achieve the same efficiency with fully-threaded ones, they will also benefit from reduced drive-in torque force

Mutanase from Paenibacillus sp. MP-1 produced inductively by fungal α-1,3-glucan and its potential for the degradation of mutan and Streptococcus mutans biofilm

Laetiporus sulphureus is a source of α-1,3-glucan that can substitute for the commercially-unavailable streptococcal mutan used to induce microbial mutanases. The water-insoluble fraction of its fruiting bodies from 0.15 to 0.2% (w/v) induced mutanase activity in Paenibacillus sp. MP-1 at 0.35 μ ml−1. The mutanase extensively hydrolyzed streptococcal mutan, giving 23% of saccharification, and 83% of solubilization of glucan after 6 h. It also degraded α-1,3-polymers of biofilms, formed in vitro by Streptococcus mutans, even after only 3 min of contact

Optimal method for fetal brain age prediction using multiplanar slices from structural magnetic resonance imaging

The accurate prediction of fetal brain age using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may contribute to the identification of brain abnormalities and the risk of adverse developmental outcomes. This study aimed to propose a method for predicting fetal brain age using MRIs from 220 healthy fetuses between 15.9 and 38.7 weeks of gestational age (GA). We built a 2D single-channel convolutional neural network (CNN) with multiplanar MRI slices in different orthogonal planes without correction for interslice motion. In each fetus, multiple age predictions from different slices were generated, and the brain age was obtained using the mode that determined the most frequent value among the multiple predictions from the 2D single-channel CNN. We obtained a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.125 weeks (0.875 days) between the GA and brain age across the fetuses. The use of multiplanar slices achieved significantly lower prediction error and its variance than the use of a single slice and a single MRI stack. Our 2D single-channel CNN with multiplanar slices yielded a significantly lower stack-wise MAE (0.304 weeks) than the 2D multi-channel (MAE = 0.979

Hot fluids, burial metamorphism and thermal histories in the underthrust sediments at IODP 370 site C0023, Nankai Accretionary Complex

This research used samples and data provided by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). The authors are grateful to the IODP and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT). We thank crew, drilling team, geologists and lab technicians on D/V Chikyu and the staff of the Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research for supporting operations. This work was supported by the ECORD research grant [2017 to MYT]; and the NERC grant [NE/P015182/1 2017 to SAB]. ZW acknowledges technical support provided by Colin Taylor at the University of Aberdeen. Petromod 2017 was provided by Schlumberger. VBH and KUH acknowledge funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through the Cluster of Excellence, The Ocean Floor – Earth’s Uncharted Interface“ and Project Grant HE8034/1-1 2019. This is a contribution to the Deep Carbon Observatory.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Support for UNRWA's survival

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides life-saving humanitarian aid for 5·4 million Palestine refugees now entering their eighth decade of statelessness and conflict. About a third of Palestine refugees still live in 58 recognised camps. UNRWA operates 702 schools and 144 health centres, some of which are affected by the ongoing humanitarian disasters in Syria and the Gaza Strip. It has dramatically reduced the prevalence of infectious diseases, mortality, and illiteracy. Its social services include rebuilding infrastructure and homes that have been destroyed by conflict and providing cash assistance and micro-finance loans for Palestinians whose rights are curtailed and who are denied the right of return to their homeland

Aged garlic has more potent antiglycation and antioxidant properties compared to fresh garlic extract in vitro

Protein glycation involves formation of early (Amadori) and late advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) together with free radicals via autoxidation of glucose and Amadori products. Glycation and increased free radical activity underlie the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. This study investigated whether aged garlic has more potent antiglycation and antioxidant properties compared to fresh garlic extract in vitro in a cell-free system. Proteins were glycated by incubation with sugars (glucose, methylglyoxal or ribose) ±5–15 mg/mL of aged and fresh garlic extracts. Advanced glycation endproducts were measured using SDS-PAGE gels and by ELISA whereas Amadori products were assessed by the fructosamine method. Colorimetric methods were used to assess antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging capacity, protein-bound carbonyl groups, thiol groups and metal chelation activities in addition to phenolic, total flavonoid and flavonol content of aged and fresh garlic extracts. Aged garlic inhibited AGEs by 56.4% compared to 33.5% for an equivalent concentration of fresh garlic extract. Similarly, aged garlic had a higher total phenolic content (129 ± 1.8 mg/g) compared to fresh garlic extract (56 ± 1.2 mg/g). Aged garlic has more potent antiglycation and antioxidant properties compared to fresh garlic extract and is more suitable for use in future in vivo studies