Assessing a low-cost methane sensor quantification system for use in complex rural and urban environments

Low-cost sensors have the potential to facilitate the exploration of air quality issues on new temporal and spatial scales. Here we evaluate a low-cost sensor quantification system for methane through its use in two different deployments. The first was a 1-month deployment along the Colorado Front Range and included sites near active oil and gas operations in the Denver-Julesburg basin. The second deployment was in an urban Los Angeles neighborhood, subject to complex mixtures of air pollution sources including oil operations. Given its role as a potent greenhouse gas, new low-cost methods for detecting and monitoring methane may aid in protecting human and environmental health. In this paper, we assess a number of linear calibration models used to convert raw sensor signals into ppm concentration values. We also examine different choices that can be made during calibration and data processing and explore cross sensitivities that impact this sensor type. The results illustrate the accuracy of the Figaro TGS 2600 sensor when methane is quantified from raw signals using the techniques described. The results also demonstrate the value of these tools for examining air quality trends and events on small spatial and temporal scales as well as their ability to characterize an area – highlighting their potential to provide preliminary data that can inform more targeted measurements or supplement existing monitoring networks

Transcriptome profiling of rabbit parthenogenetic blastocysts developed under in vivo conditions

Parthenogenetic embryos are one attractive alternative as a source of embryonic stem cells, although many aspects related to the biology of parthenogenetic embryos and parthenogenetically derived cell lines still need to be elucidated. The present work was conducted to investigate the gene expression profile of rabbit parthenote embryos cultured under in vivo conditions using microarray analysis. Transcriptomic profiles indicate 2541 differentially expressed genes between parthenotes and normal in vivo fertilised blastocysts, of which 76 genes were upregulated and 16 genes downregulated in in vivo cultured parthenote blastocyst, using 3 fold-changes as a cut-off. While differentially upregulated expressed genes are related to transport and protein metabolic process, downregulated expressed genes are related to DNA and RNA binding. Using microarray data, 6 imprinted genes were identified as conserved among rabbits, humans and mice: GRB10, ATP10A, ZNF215, NDN, IMPACT and SFMBT2. We also found that 26 putative genes have at least one member of that gene family imprinted in other species. These data strengthen the view that a large fraction of genes is differentially expressed between parthenogenetic and normal embryos cultured under the same conditions and offer a new approach to the identification of imprinted genes in rabbit. © 2012 Naturil-Alfonso et al.This work was supported by Generalitat Valenciana research programme (Prometeo 2009/125). Carmen Naturil was supported by Generalitat Valenciana research programme (Prometeo 2009/125). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Naturil Alfonso, C.; Saenz De Juano Ribes, MDLD.; Peñaranda, D.; Vicente Antón, JS.; Marco Jiménez, F. (2012). Transcriptome profiling of rabbit parthenogenetic blastocysts developed under in vivo conditions. PLoS ONE. 7(12):1-11. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0051271S111712Harness, J. V., Turovets, N. A., Seiler, M. J., Nistor, G., Altun, G., Agapova, L. S., … Keirstead, H. S. (2011). Equivalence of Conventionally-Derived and Parthenote-Derived Human Embryonic Stem Cells. PLoS ONE, 6(1), e14499. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0014499Lu, Z., Zhu, W., Yu, Y., Jin, D., Guan, Y., Yao, R., … Zhou, Q. (2010). Derivation and long-term culture of human parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells using human foreskin feeders. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 27(6), 285-291. doi:10.1007/s10815-010-9408-5Koh, C. J., Delo, D. M., Lee, J. W., Siddiqui, M. M., Lanza, R. P., Soker, S., … Atala, A. (2009). Parthenogenesis-derived multipotent stem cells adapted for tissue engineering applications. Methods, 47(2), 90-97. doi:10.1016/j.ymeth.2008.08.002Vrana, K. E., Hipp, J. D., Goss, A. M., McCool, B. A., Riddle, D. R., Walker, S. J., … Cibelli, J. B. (2003). Nonhuman primate parthenogenetic stem cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 100(Supplement 1), 11911-11916. doi:10.1073/pnas.2034195100Chen, Z., Liu, Z., Huang, J., Amano, T., Li, C., Cao, S., … Liu, L. (2009). Birth of Parthenote Mice Directly from Parthenogenetic Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells, 27(9), 2136-2145. doi:10.1002/stem.158Sritanaudomchai, H., Ma, H., Clepper, L., Gokhale, S., Bogan, R., Hennebold, J., … Mitalipov, S. (2010). Discovery of a novel imprinted gene by transcriptional analysis of parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells. Human Reproduction, 25(8), 1927-1941. doi:10.1093/humrep/deq144Fang, Z. F., Gai, H., Huang, Y. Z., Li, S. G., Chen, X. J., Shi, J. J., … Sheng, H. Z. (2006). Rabbit embryonic stem cell lines derived from fertilized, parthenogenetic or somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos. Experimental Cell Research, 312(18), 3669-3682. doi:10.1016/j.yexcr.2006.08.013Wang, S., Tang, X., Niu, Y., Chen, H., Li, B., Li, T., … Ji, W. (2007). Generation and Characterization of Rabbit Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells, 25(2), 481-489. doi:10.1634/stemcells.2006-0226Piedrahita, J. A., Anderson, G. B., & BonDurant, R. H. (1990). On the isolation of embryonic stem cells: Comparative behavior of murine, porcine and ovine embryos. Theriogenology, 34(5), 879-901. doi:10.1016/0093-691x(90)90559-cNaturil-Alfonso, C., Saenz-de-Juano, M. D., Peñaranda, D. S., Vicente, J. S., & Marco-Jiménez, F. (2011). Parthenogenic blastocysts cultured under in vivo conditions exhibit proliferation and differentiation expression genes similar to those of normal embryos. Animal Reproduction Science, 127(3-4), 222-228. doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2011.08.005Besenfelder, U., Strouhal, C., & Brem, G. (1998). A Method for Endoscopic Embryo Collection and Transfer in the Rabbit. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A, 45(1-10), 577-579. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0442.1998.tb00861.xMehaisen, G. M. K., Viudes-de-Castro, M. P., Vicente, J. S., & Lavara, R. (2006). In vitro and in vivo viability of vitrified and non-vitrified embryos derived from eCG and FSH treatment in rabbit does. Theriogenology, 65(7), 1279-1291. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2005.08.007Bilodeau-Goeseels, S., & Schultz, G. A. (1997). Changes in Ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid Content Within in Vitro-produced Bovine Embryos1. Biology of Reproduction, 56(5), 1323-1329. doi:10.1095/biolreprod56.5.1323Conesa, A., Gotz, S., Garcia-Gomez, J. M., Terol, J., Talon, M., & Robles, M. (2005). Blast2GO: a universal tool for annotation, visualization and analysis in functional genomics research. Bioinformatics, 21(18), 3674-3676. doi:10.1093/bioinformatics/bti610Edgar, R. (2002). Gene Expression Omnibus: NCBI gene expression and hybridization array data repository. Nucleic Acids Research, 30(1), 207-210. doi:10.1093/nar/30.1.207Weltzien, F.-A., Pasqualini, C., Vernier, P., & Dufour, S. (2005). A quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay for European eel tyrosine hydroxylase. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 142(1-2), 134-142. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2004.12.019Llobat, L., Marco-Jiménez, F., Peñaranda, D., Saenz-de-Juano, M., & Vicente, J. (2011). Effect of Embryonic Genotype on Reference Gene Selection for RT-qPCR Normalization. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 47(4), 629-634. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0531.2011.01934.xLiu, N., Enkemann, S. A., Liang, P., Hersmus, R., Zanazzi, C., Huang, J., … Liu, L. (2010). Genome-wide Gene Expression Profiling Reveals Aberrant MAPK and Wnt Signaling Pathways Associated with Early Parthenogenesis. Journal of Molecular Cell Biology, 2(6), 333-344. doi:10.1093/jmcb/mjq029Abdoon, A. S., Ghanem, N., Kandil, O. M., Gad, A., Schellander, K., & Tesfaye, D. (2012). cDNA microarray analysis of gene expression in parthenotes and in vitro produced buffalo embryos. Theriogenology, 77(6), 1240-1251. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.11.004Labrecque, R., & Sirard, M.-A. (2011). Gene expression analysis of bovine blastocysts produced by parthenogenic activation or fertilisation. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 23(4), 591. doi:10.1071/rd10243Rizos, D., Clemente, M., Bermejo-Alvarez, P., de La Fuente, J., Lonergan, P., & Gutiérrez-Adán, A. (2008). Consequences ofIn VitroCulture Conditions on Embryo Development and Quality. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 43, 44-50. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01230.xLonergan, P., Rizos, D., Kanka, J., Nemcova, L., Mbaye, A., Kingston, M., … Boland, M. (2003). Temporal sensitivity of bovine embryos to culture environment after fertilization and the implications for blastocyst quality. Reproduction, 337-346. doi:10.1530/rep.0.1260337Memili, E., & First, N. L. (2000). Zygotic and embryonic gene expression in cow: a review of timing and mechanisms of early gene expression as compared with other species. Zygote, 8(1), 87-96. doi:10.1017/s0967199400000861Latham, K. E. (2001). Embryonic genome activation. Frontiers in Bioscience, 6(3), d748-759. doi:10.2741/a639Niemann, H., & Wrenzycki, C. (2000). Alterations of expression of developmentally important genes in preimplantation bovine embryos by in vitro culture conditions: Implications for subsequent development. Theriogenology, 53(1), 21-34. doi:10.1016/s0093-691x(99)00237-xCorcoran, D., Fair, T., Park, S., Rizos, D., Patel, O. V., Smith, G. W., … Lonergan, P. (2006). Suppressed expression of genes involved in transcription and translation in in vitro compared with in vivo cultured bovine embryos. Reproduction, 131(4), 651-660. doi:10.1530/rep.1.01015Morison, I. M., Ramsay, J. P., & Spencer, H. G. (2005). A census of mammalian imprinting. Trends in Genetics, 21(8), 457-465. doi:10.1016/j.tig.2005.06.008Bischoff, S. R., Tsai, S., Hardison, N., Motsinger-Reif, A. A., Freking, B. A., Nonneman, D., … Piedrahita, J. A. (2009). Characterization of Conserved and Nonconserved Imprinted Genes in Swine1. 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15-Deoxy-Δ12,14 Prostaglandin J2 Reduces the Formation of Atherosclerotic Lesions in Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice

AIM: 15-deoxy-Δ¹²,¹⁴ prostaglandin J₂ (15d-PGJ₂) is a ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) having diverse effects such as the differentiation of adipocytes and atherosclerotic lesion formation. 15d-PGJ₂ can also regulate the expression of inflammatory mediators on immune cells independent of PPARγ. We investigated the antiatherogenic effect of 15d-PGJ₂. METHODS: We fed apolipoprotein (apo) E-deficient female mice a Western-type diet from 8 to 16 wk of age and administered 1 mg/kg/day 15d-PGJ₂ intraperitoneally. We measured atherosclerotic lesions at the aortic root, and examined the expression of macrophage and inflammatory atherosclerotic molecules by immunohistochemical and real-time PCR in the lesion. RESULTS: Atherosclerotic lesion formation was reduced in apo E-null mice treated with 15d-PGJ₂, as compared to in the controls. Immunohistochemical and real-time PCR analyses showed that the expression of MCP-1, TNF-α, and MMP-9 in atherosclerotic lesions was significantly decreased in 15d-PGJ₂ treated mice. The 15d-PGJ₂ also reduced the expression of macrophages and RelA mRNA in atherosclerotic lesions. CONCLUSION: This is the first report 15d-PGJ₂, a natural PPARγ agonist, can improve atherosclerotic lesions in vivo. 15d-PGJ₂ may be a beneficial therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis

118 SNPs of folate-related genes and risks of spina bifida and conotruncal heart defects

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Folic acid taken in early pregnancy reduces risks for delivering offspring with several congenital anomalies. The mechanism by which folic acid reduces risk is unknown. Investigations into genetic variation that influences transport and metabolism of folate will help fill this data gap. We focused on 118 SNPs involved in folate transport and metabolism.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using data from a California population-based registry, we investigated whether risks of spina bifida or conotruncal heart defects were influenced by 118 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the complex folate pathway. This case-control study included 259 infants with spina bifida and a random sample of 359 nonmalformed control infants born during 1983–86 or 1994–95. It also included 214 infants with conotruncal heart defects born during 1983–86. Infant genotyping was performed blinded to case or control status using a designed SNPlex assay. We examined single SNP effects for each of the 118 SNPs, as well as haplotypes, for each of the two outcomes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Few odds ratios (ORs) revealed sizable departures from 1.0. With respect to spina bifida, we observed ORs with 95% confidence intervals that did not include 1.0 for the following SNPs (heterozygous or homozygous) relative to the reference genotype: <it>BHMT </it>(rs3733890) OR = 1.8 (1.1–3.1), <it>CBS </it>(rs2851391) OR = 2.0 (1.2–3.1); <it>CBS </it>(rs234713) OR = 2.9 (1.3–6.7); <it>MTHFD1 </it>(rs2236224) OR = 1.7 (1.1–2.7); <it>MTHFD1 </it>(hcv11462908) OR = 0.2 (0–0.9); <it>MTHFD2 </it>(rs702465) OR = 0.6 (0.4–0.9); <it>MTHFD2 </it>(rs7571842) OR = 0.6 (0.4–0.9); <it>MTHFR </it>(rs1801133) OR = 2.0 (1.2–3.1); <it>MTRR </it>(rs162036) OR = 3.0 (1.5–5.9); <it>MTRR </it>(rs10380) OR = 3.4 (1.6–7.1); <it>MTRR </it>(rs1801394) OR = 0.7 (0.5–0.9); <it>MTRR </it>(rs9332) OR = 2.7 (1.3–5.3); <it>TYMS </it>(rs2847149) OR = 2.2 (1.4–3.5); <it>TYMS </it>(rs1001761) OR = 2.4 (1.5–3.8); and <it>TYMS </it>(rs502396) OR = 2.1 (1.3–3.3). However, multiple SNPs observed for a given gene showed evidence of linkage disequilibrium indicating that the observed SNPs were not individually contributing to risk. We did not observe any ORs with confidence intervals that did not include 1.0 for any of the studied SNPs with conotruncal heart defects. Haplotype reconstruction showed statistical evidence of nonrandom associations with <it>TYMS</it>, <it>MTHFR</it>, <it>BHMT </it>and <it>MTR </it>for spina bifida.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our observations do not implicate a particular folate transport or metabolism gene to be strongly associated with risks for spina bifida or conotruncal defects.</p

Differential DARC/ACKR1 expression distinguishes venular from non-venular endothelial cells in murine tissues

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant AI112521 and the John and Virginia Kaneb Fellowship

Compensating control participants when the intervention is of significant value: experience in Guatemala, India, Peru and Rwanda

The Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial is a randomised controlled trial in Guatemala, India, Peru and Rwanda to assess the health impact of a clean cooking intervention in households using solid biomass for cooking. The HAPIN intervention—a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove and 18-month supply of LPG—has significant value in these communities, irrespective of potential health benefits. For control households, it was necessary to develop a compensation strategy that would be comparable across four settings and would address concerns about differential loss to follow-up, fairness and potential effects on household economics. Each site developed slightly different, contextually appropriate compensation packages by combining a set of uniform principles with local community input. In Guatemala, control compensation consists of coupons equivalent to the LPG stove’s value that can be redeemed for the participant’s choice of household items, which could include an LPG stove. In Peru, control households receive several small items during the trial, plus the intervention stove and 1 month of fuel at the trial’s conclusion. Rwandan participants are given small items during the trial and a choice of a solar kit, LPG stove and four fuel refills, or cash equivalent at the end. India is the only setting in which control participants receive the intervention (LPG stove and 18 months of fuel) at the trial’s end while also being compensated for their time during the trial, in accordance with local ethics committee requirements. The approaches presented here could inform compensation strategy development in future multi-country trials

The ε3 and ε4 Alleles of Human APOE Differentially Affect Tau Phosphorylation in Hyperinsulinemic and Pioglitazone Treated Mice

Impaired insulin signalling is increasingly thought to contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The ε4 isoform of the APOE gene is the greatest genetic risk factor for sporadic, late onset AD, and is also associated with risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Neuropathological studies reported the highest number of AD lesions in brain tissue of ε4 diabetic patients. However other studies assessing AD pathology amongst the diabetic population have produced conflicting reports and have failed to show an increase in AD-related pathology in diabetic brain. The thiazolidinediones (TZDs), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists, are peripheral insulin sensitisers used to treat T2DM. The TZD, pioglitazone, improved memory and cognitive functions in mild to moderate AD patients. Since it is not yet clear how apoE isoforms influence the development of T2DM and its progression to AD, we investigated amyloid beta and tau pathology in APOE knockout mice, carrying human APOEε3 or ε4 transgenes after diet-induced insulin resistance with and without pioglitazone treatment.Male APOE knockout, APOEε3-transgenic and APOEε4-transgenic mice, together with background strain C57BL6 mice were kept on a high fat diet (HFD) or low fat diet (LFD) for 32 weeks, or were all fed HFD for 32 weeks and during the final 3 weeks animals were treated with pioglitazone or vehicle.All HFD animals developed hyperglycaemia with elevated plasma insulin. Tau phosphorylation was reduced at 3 epitopes (Ser396, Ser202/Thr205 and Thr231) in all HFD, compared to LFD, animals independent of APOE genotype. The introduction of pioglitazone to HFD animals led to a significant reduction in tau phosphorylation at the Ser202/Thr205 epitope in APOEε3 animals only. We found no changes in APP processing however the levels of soluble amyloid beta 40 was reduced in APOE knockout animals treated with pioglitazone

Racism as a determinant of health: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Despite a growing body of epidemiological evidence in recent years documenting the health impacts of racism, the cumulative evidence base has yet to be synthesized in a comprehensive meta-analysis focused specifically on racism as a determinant of health. This meta-analysis reviewed the literature focusing on the relationship between reported racism and mental and physical health outcomes. Data from 293 studies reported in 333 articles published between 1983 and 2013, and conducted predominately in the U.S., were analysed using random effects models and mean weighted effect sizes. Racism was associated with poorer mental health (negative mental health: r = -.23, 95% CI [-.24,-.21], k = 227; positive mental health: r = -.13, 95% CI [-.16,-.10], k = 113), including depression, anxiety, psychological stress and various other outcomes. Racism was also associated with poorer general health (r = -.13 (95% CI [-.18,-.09], k = 30), and poorer physical health (r = -.09, 95% CI [-.12,-.06], k = 50). Moderation effects were found for some outcomes with regard to study and exposure characteristics. Effect sizes of racism on mental health were stronger in cross-sectional compared with longitudinal data and in non-representative samples compared with representative samples. Age, sex, birthplace and education level did not moderate the effects of racism on health. Ethnicity significantly moderated the effect of racism on negative mental health and physical health: the association between racism and negative mental health was significantly stronger for Asian American and Latino(a) American participants compared with African American participants, and the association between racism and physical health was significantly stronger for Latino(a) American participants compared with African American participants.<br /