172,487 research outputs found
Participation of c-FLIP in NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome activation
No full textCellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) is an inhibitor of caspase-8 and is required for macrophage survival. Recent studies have revealed a selective role of caspase-8 in noncanonical IL-1 beta production that is independent of caspase-1 or inflammasome. Here we demonstrated that c-FLIPL is an unexpected contributor to canonical inflammasome activation for the generation of caspase-1 and active IL-1 beta. Hemizygotic deletion of c-FLIP impaired ATP-and monosodium uric acid (MSU)-induced IL-1 beta production in macrophages primed through Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Decreased IL-1 beta expression was attributed to a reduced activation of caspase-1 in c-FLIP hemizygotic cells. In contrast, the production of TNF-alpha was not affected by downregulation in c-FLIP. c-FLIPL interacted with NLRP3 or procaspase-1. c-FLIP is required for the full NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and NLRP3 mitochondrial localization, and c-FLIP is associated with NLRP3 inflammasome. c-FLIP downregulation also reduced AIM2 inflammasome activation. In contrast, c-FLIP inhibited SMAC mimetic-, FasL-, or Dectin-1-induced IL-1 beta generation that is caspase-8-mediated. Our results demonstrate a prominent role of c-FLIPL in the optimal activation of the NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes, and suggest that c-FLIP could be a valid target for treatment of inflammatory diseases caused by over-activation of inflammasomes
Cidariplura maraho Wu & Owada 2013
No full textCidariplura maraho Wu & Owada, 2013 (Figs 15, 16, 33, 42, 52) Cidariplura maraho Wu & Owada, in Wu et al., 2013: 151, figs 14–16, 41, 42, 62, 73, 82. Type material. Holotype, ♂, Taiwan, Nantou County, Meifeng, 2,100 m, 29. VI. 2012, TFRI147244 S. Wu & W. C. Chang leg. (TFRI) (Fig. 15). Paratypes (9♂ 4♀): the same collecting locality as that of holotype, 1♂, 18. VII. 1990, TFRI00010165, Y. C. Chang leg.; the same locality, 3♂, 20. VII. 2011, TFRI00128724 ♂, S. Wu & W. C. Chang leg. (TFRI); Hualien, Ci’en, 1,950 m, 2♂, 28. VI. 2011, S. Wu & W. C. Chang leg.; the same locality, 1♂, 18. VII. 2011, S. Wu & W. C. Chang leg. (TFRI); Pilu-Shenmu, 2,000 m, 1♀, 16.VII. 2012, M. Owada & L. C. Shih leg. (ESRI); Nantou, Biluxi, 1♂, 12. VII. 2011, C. M. Fu leg.; Turnyuan, 1♀, 23. VI. 2007, 1,950 m, C. M. Fu leg. (NMNS); Taichung, Wuling, 1,850 m, 1♀, 10–12. VIII. 1990, M. Owada leg. (NSMT); Hualien, Tsu’en, 1,990 m, 1♂, 26. VI. 1989, M. Owada leg. (NSMT); Nantou, Hotso [Lushan Spa], 1♀, 26–29. VI. 1973, M. Owada leg. (NSMT). Additional material examined (2♂ 2♀). Hualien, Tsu’en, 2,000 m, 1♀, 13. VII. 2015, NSMT3284 ♀, M. Owada & L. Shih leg. (NSMT); Nantou, Sunlinksea, 1,700 m, 1♂, 25. VI. 2017, NSMT3283 ♂, M. Owada & L. Shih leg. (NSMT); Kaohsiung, Tianchi-2, 2,280 m, 1♂ 1♀, 6. VII. 2015, M. Owada & C.-M. Fu leg. (NSMT). Diagnosis. The species is easily distinguished from other species in C. gladiata complex due to the paler ground coloration of the wings and the more contrasting forewing medial region, the less curved transversal lines on both wings, and the medial part of the corpus bursae, which is incised with longitudinal wrinkles. Distribution and phenology. Endemic to Taiwan. The adults occur from June to August.Published as part of Wu, Shipher, Owada, Mamoru & Wang, Min, 2019, Review of Cidariplura Butler, 1879 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Herminiinae). Part 1: the Cidariplura gladiata species complex, pp. 489-502 in Zootaxa 4668 (4) on page 496, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4668.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/344986
Methanofollis formosanus Wu, Chen & Lai, 2005, sp. nov.
No full textMethanofollis formosanus sp. nov. Description of Methanofollis formosanus sp. nov. Methanofollis formosanus (for.mo.sa'nus. N.L. masc. adj. formosanus from Formosa, the beautiful island of Taiwan). Irregularly coccoid cells, non-motile, 1 5-2 0 mmin diameter. Obligately anaerobic cells. Stains Gram-negative. Cell wall has an SDS-sensitive S-layer protein with an Mr of 138 800. Catabolic substrates used include H2/CO2 and formate, but not acetate, methanol, trimethylamine, dimethylamine, ethanol, 2-propanol, iso-butanol, 2-butanol or dimethylamine. Cells are mesophilic and grow at 20- 42°C, with optimal growth at 37°C. Cells grow at pH 5 6- 7-3, with optimal growth atpH 6-6. Cells grow well in 0-4 % NaCl, with optimal growth at 3 % NaCl. Addition ofacetate reduces the lag time and the trace element tungsten greatly promotes cell growth and extends the growth range. No growth is detected in minimal medium. Growth is completely inhibited by chloramphenicol and partly inhibited by tetracycline, but not by ampicillin, penicillin, kanamycin or spectinomycin. The G+C content of DNA of strain ML15T is 58 4 mol%. The type strain is strain ML15T (= OCM 789T = DSM 15483T), isolated from a marine water aquaculture fish pond near Wang-gong, Taiwan.Published as part of Wu, S. - Y., Chen, S. - C. & Lai, M. - C., 2005, Methanofollis formosanus sp. nov., isolated from a fish pond., pp. 837-842 in International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 55 on page
Cidariplura shanmeii Wu & Owada 2013
No full textCidariplura shanmeii Wu & Owada, 2013 (Figs 17, 18, 28, 43, 53) Cidariplura gladiata ab. ochreimacula Strand, 1919: 149, aberration, unavailable infrasubspecific name. Cidariplura gladiata: Wang, 1994: 397; Wang, 2001: 12, nec Butler, 1879. Cidariplura shanmeii Wu & Owada, in Wu et al., 2013: 148, figs 3, 4, 7, 8, part. Type material. Holotype, ♂, Taiwan, Chiayi Co., Shanmei, 800 m, 8. VII. 2011, TFRI128721, S. Wu & W. C. Chang leg. (TFRI) (Fig. 17). Paratypes (8♂ 5♀): Taiwan, the same collecting locality as that of the holotype, 1♂, 5. VIII. 2011, W. C. Chang & S. Wu leg.; the same locality, 1♂, 2. XI. 2011, W. C. Chang & S. Wu leg.; Nantou, Lianhuachi, 600 m, 1♂, 21. V. 2009, C. C. Kuo leg.; the same locality, 1♂, 10. V. 2010, TFRI151527, C. C. Kuo leg.; the same locality, 3♂, 23. VII. 2009, C. C. Kuo leg.; the same locality, 1♂, 12. VII. 2010, C. C. Kuo leg.; 1♂, 10. VIII. 2010, C. C. Kuo leg.; Pingtung, Shouka, 1♀, 450 m, 27. X. 2011, Y. C. Lin leg.; the same locality, 2♀, 22. III. 2012, Y. C. Lin leg.; the same locality, 1♂, 19. VII. 2012, Y. C. Lin leg.; the same locality, 2♀, 15. VIII. 2012, Y. C. Lin leg.; Hualien, Guanfu, 1 ♂, 180 m, 9. VIII. 2010, leg. Y. C. Lin leg.; the same locality, 1♂, 13. IX. 2010, Y. C. Lin leg. (TFRI). Additional material examined. Taiwan. Ilan, Fushan Botanical Garden, 700 m, 1♂, 12, 15–16. VI. 2015, NSMT3305 ♂, M. Owada & S. Wu leg.; the same locality, 2♂ 1♀, 12. V. 2019, NSMT3474 ♂, NSMT3475 ♀, M. Owada & S. Wu leg. (NSMT); Nantou, Lienhuachih [=Lianhuachi], 700 m, 2♂, 17–18. VII. 2012, NSMT3297 ♂ (NSMT), NSMT3300 ♂ (ESRI), M. Owada & L. Shih leg., Huisun Linchang, 770 m, 2♂, 21–22. VI. 2017, NSMT3306 ♂ (NSMT), NSMT3307 ♂ (ESRI), M. Owada & L. Shih leg., Aowanda, 1,000 m, 1♂, 9. V. 2013, NSMT3281 ♂ (NSMT), M. Owada, L. Shih & Y. Chen leg. Notes. Wu et al. (2013) described C. shanmeii with the illustration of the holotype of C. shanmeii, however the illustrated structures in Wu et al. (2013: figs 37, 38, male; 64, female; 69, labial palpus; 80, male foreleg), actually belong to the new species, C. hbun sp. nov., described below. Diagnosis. Externally C. shanmeii and C. hbun are difficult to be separated, but the former species can be distinguished from the latter by the narrowed white forewing discocellular spot, rather than a wider and more yellowish-white spot; the costal process of the valva is digitiform rather than stouter and curved downwards; the distinctively shorter distal portion of valva rather than nearly equal in length as costal process; the digitiform, straight costal process rather than curved ventrally and tapering; the saccular process is extremely small and curved rather than robust and rod-like pointing parallelly with distal portion of valva; the ductus bursae is extremely narrowed compared to the moderate width of other species in the complex. Re-description. Due to the existence of specimens belonging to both C. shanmeii and C. hbun sp. nov. in the paratype series of C. shanmeii (sensu Wu & Owada, in Wu et al., 2013), we re-describe C. shanmeii herein to clarify the identity of that species. Measurements. Forewing length 12–14 mm in males (n= 17); 12–14 mm in females (n= 5). Eye round; antenna ciliate, male with a pair of long bristles on each segment, length of bristle 2 X diameter of shaft in median region. Head, all segments of thorax as well as femur, tibia and 1st tarsal segment chocolate brown. Male labial palpus (Fig. 28) modified as follows: 1st segment very long, upcurved along frons, surpassing vertex, smoothly covered with ordinary scales; 2nd segment bent at a right angle from the 1st, slender, slightly curved, 0. 5 X shorter than 1st, reaching the anterior part of thorax, internally with specialized ochreous scales which are elongated and enlarged at their apices; 3rd segment long, 3 X longer than 2nd, basal part of labial palpus as wide as medial part, internally with long ochreous scales slender and almost twice as long as those in the 2 nd segment. Labial palpus in female: 3 rd shorter than 2 nd, slender, tapering towards apex. Legs: male foretibia with apical spine. Forewing broad, slightly excurved, apex nearly forming right angle; ground coloration chocolate brown; antemedial and postmedial line slender, light ochreous, the former oblique, wave-like, the latter smoothly excurved outward at discal cell part; discocellular spot white, slender and lunate-shaped; submarginal line slender, ochreous, wave-like; outer margin ochreous; marginal scales chocolate brown. Hindwing chocolate brown; medial line ochreous with one ochreous spot situating at outside of tornal area; outer margin ochreous; marginal scales chocolate brown. Abdomen brown, 8th segment unmodified. Male genitalia (Fig. 43)—Uncus broad, stout, apex hook-like. Tegumen and vinculum long, equal in length; saccus V-shaped, medial part elongated anteriorly. Valva trifurcate, costal process, straight and digitiform, distal portion of valva broad, saccular process short, curved and digitiform. Juxta plate-like, transtilla indistinct. Aedeagus stout, straight, 1. 25 X longer than valva; vesica densly scobinate without cornutus. Female genitalia (Fig. 53)—Papillae anales membranous with short hair-like setae; both pairs of apophyses slender, moderate length; ductus bursae as long as corpus bursae, with a pair of slender lateral sclerites. Corpus bursae elliptical, basal half part surrounded by dense internal spinose patch; ductus seminalis arising from lateral base of corpus bursae, broadened and coiled basally. Distribution and phenology. Endemic to Taiwan. The adults occasionally occur from March to November.Published as part of Wu, Shipher, Owada, Mamoru & Wang, Min, 2019, Review of Cidariplura Butler, 1879 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Herminiinae). Part 1: the Cidariplura gladiata species complex, pp. 489-502 in Zootaxa 4668 (4) on pages 497-498, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4668.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/344986
MPTP/MPP+ suppresses activation of protein C in Parkinson's disease
No full textEndothelial dysfunction and disruption of the blood-brain barrier have been found to be associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the mechanisms underlying these effects have yet to be elucidated. It has also been found that activated protein C (APC) displays neuroprotective properties. Presently, the effects of APC on PD remain unknown. Using a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) neurotoxin rodent model of PD, we found that administration of MPTP can reduce expression of endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR), an N-glycosylated type I membrane protein that has the ability to enhance protein C activation. However, the use of MPTP does not alter levels of thrombomodulin. These findings were verified in an in vitro study showing that 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) treatment leads to suppression of EPCR along with reduction of protein C activation in human primary endothelial cells. Importantly, our results display that activation of the transcriptional factor SP1 is involved in the inhibitory effects of MPTP/MPP+ on EPCR expression. We found that using 300 nM of the SP1 inhibitor MIT can abolish the effects of MPP+ on EPCR expression. Consistently, SP1 silencing using small RNA interference was able to prevent the inhibitory effects of MPTP/MPP+ on the reduction of EPCR expression and impairment of protein C activation. Importantly, our results indicate that overexpression of SP1 inhibits EPCR promoter activity. Our study suggests that EPCR-APC may be a potential therapeutic target for endothelial dysfunction in P
Rude C. G: Rude, A/S; Maskinforretnig Christiana
No full textRUDE C. G: RUDE, A/S; MASKINFORRETNIG CHRISTIANA
Rude C. G: Rude, A/S; Maskinforretnig Christiana ( -
Control and Filtering for Discrete Linear Repetitive Processes with H infty and ell 2--ell infty Performance
No full textRepetitive processes are characterized by a series of sweeps, termed passes, through a set of dynamics defined over a finite duration known as the pass length. On each pass an output, termed the pass profile, is produced which acts as a forcing function on, and hence contributes to, the dynamics of the next pass profile. This can lead to oscillations which increase in amplitude in the pass to pass direction and cannot be controlled by standard control laws. Here we give new results on the design of physically based control laws for the sub-class of so-called discrete linear repetitive processes which arise in applications areas such as iterative learning control. The main contribution is to show how control law design can be undertaken within the framework of a general robust filtering problem with guaranteed levels of performance. In particular, we develop algorithms for the design of an H? and dynamic output feedback controller and filter which guarantees that the resulting controlled (filtering error) process, respectively, is stable along the pass and has prescribed disturbance attenuation performance as measured by and – norms
Measurement of the ratio of prompt χ c to J / ψ production in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV
No full textThe prompt production of charmonium χ c and J / ψ states is studied in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The χ c and J / ψ mesons are identified through their decays χ c → J / ψ γ and J / ψ → μ + μ - using 36 pb - 1 of data collected by the LHCb detector in 2010. The ratio of the prompt production cross-sections for χ c and J / ψ, σ (χ c → J / ψ γ) / σ (J / ψ), is determined as a function of the J / ψ transverse momentum in the range 2 < p T J / ψ < 15 GeV / c. The results are in excellent agreement with next-to-leading order non-relativistic expectations and show a significant discrepancy compared with the colour singlet model prediction at leading order, especially in the low p T J / ψ region
Symposium Festschrift Wu (C S) on his 80th birthday
No full textCP ViolationCarlo Rubbia's congratulatory speech to Prof. Chien-Shiung Wu, and Martin Deutsch' talk on the characteristics of her wor
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