Comparison of The Genome Profiles Between Head and Body Lice

The body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus) is known to have diverged from the head louse (P. humanus capitis) but genomic differences between these two subspecies still remain unexplored. To compare genomic profiles between head and body lice, whole genome sequences of head lice were determined by next generation sequencing methods based on both Illumina Genome analyzer and Roche GS FLX pyrosequencing and compared with the reference genome sequences of the body louse. Total consensuses generated by mapping to the body louse genome in conjunction with de novo assembly of head louse genome sequences revealed a head louse genome size of 110 Mbp with a 96% coverage of the body louse genome sequences. A total of 12,651 genes were predicted from the head louse genome sequences although more precise assembly and functional annotation of the genome is required for a more accurate gene count. Among the 873 genes that were putatively specific to the head louse, 15 genes were confirmed to be transcribed in both head and body lice, suggesting the previously estimated gene number of the body louse was likely underestimated. The single nucleotide polymorphism analysis showed that the nucleotide diversity of genome between head and body lice was 2.2%, which was larger than that of the transcriptome between head and body lice. An endosymbiont genome analysis showed that the composition of endosymbionts in head lice was similar to that of body lice and Candidatus Riesia pediculicola was the primary endosymbiont in both head and body lice

MicroRNAs Dynamically Remodel Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle Cells

Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) express a unique set of microRNAs (miRNAs) which regulate and maintain the differentiation state of SMCs. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of miRNAs during the development of gastrointestinal (GI) SMCs in a transgenic animal model. We generated SMC-specific Dicer null animals that express the reporter, green fluorescence protein, in a SMC-specific manner. SMC-specific knockout of Dicer prevented SMC miRNA biogenesis, causing dramatic changes in phenotype, function, and global gene expression in SMCs: the mutant mice developed severe dilation of the intestinal tract associated with the thinning and destruction of the smooth muscle (SM) layers; contractile motility in the mutant intestine was dramatically decreased; and SM contractile genes and transcriptional regulators were extensively down-regulated in the mutant SMCs. Profiling and bioinformatic analyses showed that SMC phenotype is regulated by a complex network of positive and negative feedback by SMC miRNAs, serum response factor (SRF), and other transcriptional factors. Taken together, our data suggest that SMC miRNAs are required for the development and survival of SMCs in the GI tract

Snow-Ice-Inspired Approach for Growth of Amorphous Silicon Nanotips

The growth of one-dimensional nanostructures without a metal catalyst via a simple solution method is of considerable interest due to its practical applications. In this study, the growth of amorphous silicon (a-Si) nanotips was investigated using an aqueous solution dropped onto the Si substrate, followed by drying at room temperature or below for 24 h, resulting in the formation of a-Si nanotips on the Si substrate. Typically, the a-Si nanotips were up to 1.6 μm long, with average top and middle diameters of 30 and 80 nm, respectively, and contained no metal catalyst in their structure. The growth of a-Si nanotips can be explained in terms of the liquid−solid mechanism, where the supercritical Si solution (liquid) generated on the Si substrate (after reaction with the aqueous solution) promotes the nucleation of solid Si (acting as seeds) on the roughened surface, followed by surface diffusion of Si atoms along the side wall of the Si seeds. This is very similar to the phenomenon observed in the growth of snow ice crystals in nature. When photoexcited at 265 nm, the a-Si nanotips showed blue luminescence at around 435 nm (2.85 eV), indicating feasible applicability of the nanotips in optoelectronic functional devices

Current Advancements in the Molecular Mechanism of Plasma Treatment for Seed Germination and Plant Growth

Low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma has been used in various fields such as plasma medicine, agriculture, food safety and storage, and food manufacturing. In the field of plasma agriculture, plasma treatment improves seed germination, plant growth, and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, allows pesticide removal, and enhances biomass and yield. Currently, the complex molecular mechanisms of plasma treatment in plasma agriculture are fully unexplored, especially those related to seed germination and plant growth. Therefore, in this review, we have summarized the current progress in the application of the plasma treatment technique in plants, including plasma treatment methods, physical and chemical effects, and the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of low-temperature plasma treatment. Additionally, we have discussed the interactions between plasma and seed germination that occur through seed coat modification, reactive species, seed sterilization, heat, and UV radiation in correlation with molecular phenomena, including transcriptional and epigenetic regulation. This review aims to present the mechanisms underlying the effects of plasma treatment and to discuss the potential applications of plasma as a powerful tool, priming agent, elicitor or inducer, and disinfectant in the future

Intein-Mediated Protein Engineering for Cell-Based Biosensors

Cell-based sensors provide a flexible platform for screening biologically active targets and for monitoring their interactions in live cells. Their applicability extends across a vast array of biological research and clinical applications. Particularly, cell-based sensors are becoming a potent tool in drug discovery and cell-signaling studies by allowing function-based screening of targets in biologically relevant environments and enabling the in vivo visualization of cellular signals in real-time with an outstanding spatiotemporal resolution. In this review, we aim to provide a clear view of current cell-based sensor technologies, their limitations, and how the recent improvements were using intein-mediated protein engineering. We first discuss the characteristics of cell-based sensors and present several representative examples with a focus on their design strategies, which differentiate cell-based sensors from in vitro analytical biosensors. We then describe the application of intein-mediated protein engineering technology for cell-based sensor fabrication. Finally, we explain the characteristics of intein-mediated reactions and present examples of how the intein-mediated reactions are used to improve existing methods and develop new approaches in sensor cell fabrication to address the limitations of current technologies

doi:10.1093/nar/gkm641 Tissue-dependent paired expression of miRNAs

It is believed that depending on the thermodynamic stability of the 5’-strand and the 3’-strand in the stem-loop structure of a precursor microRNA (premiRNA), cells preferentially select the less stable one (called the miRNA or guide strand) and destroy the other one (called the miRNA or passenger strand). However, our expression profiling analyses revealed that both strands could be co-accumulated as miRNA pairs in some tissues while being subjected to strand selection in other tissues. Our target prediction and validation assays demonstrated that both strands of a miRNA pair could target equal numbers of genes and that both were able to suppress the expression of their target genes. Our finding not only suggests that the numbers of miRNAs and their targets are much greater than what we previously thought, but also implies that novel mechanisms are involved in the tissue-dependent miRNA biogenesis and target selection process

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies on aging-dependent electrochemical degradation of p-toluene sulfonic acid-doped polypyrrole thin film

The conducting polymer polypyrrole thin film was galvanostatically polymerized on stainless steel substrate for the supercapacitor electrode. The electrochemical stability of the electrode was monitored each 30 days of aging up to 90 days. The FTIR analysis showed an increase in intensity of the absorption peaks, especially high growth of the carbonyl peaks after 90 days of aging. The electrochemical capacitance degradation of the electrode was studied using cyclic voltammetric and galvanostatic charge/discharge analysis in 1 M Na 2 SO 4 electrolyte, which showed ~ 53% of fading in the initial specific capacitance value after 90 days. Further, the electrochemical degradation of polypyrrole electrodes was analyzed in detail using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The analysis showed a large increase in the internal resistance and low-power deliverability of the electrode with respect to aging as the main reasons for the degradation of specific capacitance of the polypyrrole electrode

Effect of electrical stimulation on neural regeneration via the p38-RhoA and ERK1/2-Bcl-2 pathways in spinal cord-injured rats

Although electrical stimulation is therapeutically applied for neural regeneration in patients, it remains unclear how electrical stimulation exerts its effects at the molecular level on spinal cord injury (SCI). To identify the signaling pathway involved in electrical stimulation improving the function of injured spinal cord, 21 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups: control (no surgical intervention, n = 6), SCI (SCI only, n = 5), and electrical simulation (ES; SCI induction followed by ES treatment, n = 10). A complete spinal cord transection was performed at the 10th thoracic level. Electrical stimulation of the injured spinal cord region was applied for 4 hours per day for 7 days. On days 2 and 7 post SCI, the Touch-Test Sensory Evaluators and the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor scale were used to evaluate rat sensory and motor function. Somatosensory-evoked potentials of the tibial nerve of a hind paw of the rat were measured to evaluate the electrophysiological function of injured spinal cord. Western blot analysis was performed to measure p38-RhoA and ERK1/2-Bcl-2 pathways related protein levels in the injured spinal cord. Rat sensory and motor functions were similar between SCI and ES groups. Compared with the SCI group, in the ES group, the latencies of the somatosensory-evoked potential of the tibial nerve of rats were significantly shortened, the amplitudes were significantly increased, RhoA protein level was significantly decreased, protein gene product 9.5 expression, ERK1/2, p38, and Bcl-2 protein levels in the spinal cord were significantly increased. These data suggest that ES can promote the recovery of electrophysiological function of the injured spinal cord through regulating p38-RhoA and ERK1/2-Bcl-2 pathway-related protein levels in the injured spinal cord

Validation of 500-kW/1000-s operation of 5-GHz klystron for KSTAR LHCD system

In this study, a klystron for the KSTAR lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) system was developed as a prototype for a 5 GHz, 500 kW CW operation that is aimed to meet the requirement of the ITER LHCD system as well. Before the 2012 KSTAR campaign, the prototype klystron was validated only for 350 kW CW operation. The weakest part of the klystron for 500 kW CW operation was the RF output window failure due to a thermal stress caused by the temperature gradient. The klystron was equipped with two RF windows, each of which should transmit 250 kW power. Prior to the full performance test of the klystron, the performance of the test RF windows that were identical to those mounted on the klystron was tested with half of the klystron's full power. The temperature increase in the test RF windows was monitored using an IR camera. The temperature difference, Delta T-ce, between the center and edge of the test window at 250-kW 1000-s transmitting power was predicted to be 23 degrees C, which is smaller than the safe Delta T-ce, which is 50 degrees C according to the manufacturer. Based on the result of the test window measurement, 500-kW 1000-s operation of the klystron was conducted successfully. The klystron output power characteristics depending on the phase of load reflection VSWR 1.4:1 were investigated. The klystron generated stable power on a load VSWR of 1.4:1 at various phases. The output power at the worst phase was 380 kW. Details of the IR-imaging setup are discussed and the results obtained are presented.11Nsciescopu