Body weights, one-day food intake amounts, and blood glucose concentrations.

<p>Body weights, one-day food intake amounts, and blood glucose concentrations.</p

A DP-like transcription factor protein interacts with E2fl1 to regulate meiosis in <i>Tetrahymena thermophila</i>

<p>Evolutionarily conserved E2F family transcription factors regulate the cell cycle via controlling gene expression in a wide range of eukaryotes. We previously demonstrated that the meiosis-specific transcription factor E2fl1 had an important role in meiosis in the model ciliate <i>Tetrahymena thermophila</i>. Here, we report that expression of another E2F family transcription factor gene <i>DPL2</i> correlates highly with that of <i>E2FL1</i>. Similar to <i>e2fl1</i>Δ cells, <i>dpl2</i>Δ cells undergo meiotic arrest prior to anaphase I, with the five chromosomes adopting an abnormal tandem arrangement. Immunofluorescence staining and immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that Dpl2 and E2fl1 form a complex during meiosis. We previously identified several meiotic regulatory proteins in <i>T. thermophila</i>. Cyc2 and Tcdk3 may cooperate to initiate meiosis and Cyc17 is essential for initiating meiotic anaphase. We investigate the relationship of these regulators with Dpl2 and E2fl1, and then construct a meiotic regulatory network by measuring changes in meiotic genes expression in knockout cells. We conclude that the E2fl1/Dpl2 complex plays a central role in meiosis in <i>T. thermophila.</i></p

Effects of high fat diet treatment on acid saline injection-induced mechanical hypersensitivity in female TNFRp55-/- mice.

<p>Following 24 weeks of high fat diet treatment, mice received repeated acid saline injections into the gastrocnemius muscle. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds were then measure using an electronic von Frey device for 4 consecutive days. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. N = 8/group.</p

Levels of TNF-α in spinal cord and DRG.

<p>Mice were sacrificed after the last behavioral test, and samples of spinal cord and L3-L5 DRG tissues were collected in separate groups of mice. The concentrations of TNF-α in spinal cord were determined by ELISA. L3-L5 DRG tissues were sectioned to a thickness of 15μm and underwent immunofluorescent staining. The images were quantitatively analyzed by NIH ImageJ. <i>*</i>represent the significant difference (p<0.05) to saline control mice. ^<i>#</i>represents the significant difference (p<0.05) to low fat diet mice. N = 8/group.</p

Levels of TNF-α in muscles and plasma of mice.

<p>Following 24 weeks of high fat diet treatment, mice received repeated acid saline injections into the gastrocnemius muscle. Samples of plasma and gastrocnemius muscles were collected. The concentrations of TNF-α in (<b>A</b>) muscles and (<b>B</b>) plasma were determined by ELISA. The limit of detection for TNF-α was 0.1 pg/mL. *represent the significant difference (p<0.05) to saline control mice. ^<i>#</i>represent the significant difference (p<0.05) to low fat diet mice. N = 8/group.</p

Effects of high fat diet treatment on acid saline injection-induced mechanical hypersensitivity.

<p>Following 24 weeks of high fat diet treatment, mice received repeated acid saline injections into the gastrocnemius muscle. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds were then measured using an electronic von Frey device for 4 consecutive days. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. <i>*</i>represent the significant difference (p<0.05) to saline control mice. ^<i>#</i>represent the significant difference (p<0.05) to low fat diet mice. N = 8/group.</p

Self-Powered Electrochemical Oxidation of 4‑Aminoazobenzene Driven by a Triboelectric Nanogenerator

A rotary disc-structured triboelectric nanogenerator (rd-TENG) on the basis of free-standing electrification has been designed, where the aluminum composite panel has not been tailored to the stator becauseit is commercially available and cost-effective, has good electronic conductivity, and is easily processed. With the rotating speed increasing from 200 to 1000 rpm, the short-circuit current (<i>I</i>_sc) is sharply enhanced from 50 μA to 200 μA, while the measured open-circuit voltage (<i>V</i>_oc) and transferred charge (<i>Q</i>_tr) almost keep constant, 600 V and 0.4 μC, respectively. The matched load for the rd-TENG at a rotating speed of 600 rpm is 2.7 MΩ, generating a maximum power of 19.75 mW, which corresponds to a maximum power density of 2.28 W m^–2. Using the electric power generated by such a rd-TENG, highly toxic and carcinogenic 4-aminoazobenzene can be selectively treated to produce CO₂ or an oligomer <i>via</i> reasonably controlling electrochemical oxidation potentials. The underlying mechanism is tentatively proposed based on the cyclic voltammogram, gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and UV–vis spectra. Here the electrochemical degradation in a single-compartment cell is more valid, preferable, and feasible. The output <i>V</i>_oc and rectified current of rd-TENG guarantee its extensive application to self-power electrochemical degradation of other azo compounds, <i>i</i>.<i>e</i>., 2-(4-dimethylaminophenylazo) benzoic acid, to CO₂. This work suggests that rd-TENG, sustainable energy, can be feasibly designed to self-power a practical electrochemical treatment of dyeing wastewater by harvesting vibration energy

Cyc17, a meiosis-specific cyclin, is essential for anaphase initiation and chromosome segregation in <i>Tetrahymena thermophila</i>

<p>Although the role of cyclins in controlling nuclear division is well established, their function in ciliate meiosis remains unknown. In ciliates, the cyclin family has undergone massive expansion which suggests that diverse cell cycle systems exist, and this warrants further investigation. A screen for cyclins in the model ciliate <i>Tetrahymena thermophila</i> showed that there are 34 cyclins in this organism. Only 1 cyclin, Cyc17, contains the complete cyclin core and is specifically expressed during meiosis. Deletion of <i>CYC17</i> led to meiotic arrest at the diakinesis-like metaphase I stage. Expression of genes involved in DNA metabolism and chromosome organization (chromatin remodeling and basic chromosomal structure) was repressed in <i>cyc17</i> knockout matings. Further investigation suggested that Cyc17 is involved in regulating spindle pole attachment, and is thus essential for chromosome segregation at meiosis. These findings suggest a simple model in which chromosome segregation is influenced by Cyc17.</p

Three-Dimensional Ni/TiO₂ Nanowire Network for High Areal Capacity Lithium Ion Microbattery Applications

The areal capacity of nanowire-based microbatteries can be potentially increased by increasing the length of nanowires. However, agglomeration of high aspect ratio nanowire arrays could greatly degrade the performance of nanowires for lithium ion (Li-ion) battery applications. In this work, a three-dimensional (3-D) Ni/TiO₂ nanowire network was successfully fabricated using a 3-D porous anodic alumina (PAA) template-assisted electrodeposition of Ni followed by TiO₂ coating using atomic layer deposition. Compared to the straight Ni/TiO₂ nanowire arrays fabricated using conventional PAA templates, the 3-D Ni/TiO₂ nanowire network shows higher areal discharging capacity. The areal capacity increases proportionally with the length of nanowires. With a stable Ni/TiO₂ nanowire network structure, 100% capacity is retained after 600 cycles. This work paves the way to build reliable 3-D nanostructured electrodes for high areal capacity microbatteries

Cyc17, a meiosis-specific cyclin, is essential for anaphase initiation and chromosome segregation in <i>Tetrahymena thermophila</i>

<p>Although the role of cyclins in controlling nuclear division is well established, their function in ciliate meiosis remains unknown. In ciliates, the cyclin family has undergone massive expansion which suggests that diverse cell cycle systems exist, and this warrants further investigation. A screen for cyclins in the model ciliate <i>Tetrahymena thermophila</i> showed that there are 34 cyclins in this organism. Only 1 cyclin, Cyc17, contains the complete cyclin core and is specifically expressed during meiosis. Deletion of <i>CYC17</i> led to meiotic arrest at the diakinesis-like metaphase I stage. Expression of genes involved in DNA metabolism and chromosome organization (chromatin remodeling and basic chromosomal structure) was repressed in <i>cyc17</i> knockout matings. Further investigation suggested that Cyc17 is involved in regulating spindle pole attachment, and is thus essential for chromosome segregation at meiosis. These findings suggest a simple model in which chromosome segregation is influenced by Cyc17.</p