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In situ generation of 5-formylcytosine (5fC) in nucleosome core particles (NCPs) reveals that 5fC leads to essential DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs). Mechanistic studies using chemical models and mutated histones demonstrate that DPCs form reversibly between the formyl function of 5fC and primary amines on histones. These results suggest that DPC formation from 5fC in chromatin occurs in addition to its role in DNA demethylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption plays an important role in pathophysiological progress of ischemic stroke. However, our knowledge of the dynamic change of BBB permeability and its mechanism remains limited. In the current study, we used a non-human primate (NHP) MCAO model and a serial CSF sampling method that allowed us to determine the dynamic change of BBB permeability by calculating the CSF/serum albumin ratio (AR). We showed that AR increased rapidly and significantly after ischemia, and the fold increase of AR is highly correlated with the infarction size during the subacute phase. Moreover, we determined the temporal change of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-10, MMP-13, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in CSF and serum. Each MMP and TIMP showed different change patterns when comparing their values in CSF and serum. Based on the longitudinal dataset, we showed that the fold increase of MMP-9 in serum and CSF are both correlated to infarction size. Among the measured MMPs and TIMPs, only MMP-2, MMP-13, and TIMP-2 in CSF correlated with AR to some extent. Our data suggest there is no single MMP or TIMP fully responsible for BBB breakdown, which is regulated by a much more complicated signal network and further investigations of the mechanisms are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elemene is a second-line broad-spectrum anti-tumour drug that has been used in China for more than two decades. However, its main anti-tumour ingredient, β-elemene, has disadvantages, including excessive lipophilicity and relatively weak anti-tumour efficacy. To improve the anti-tumour activity of β-elemene, based on its minor molecular weight character, we introduced furoxan nitric oxide (NO) donors into the β-elemene structure and designed six series of new generation β-elemene NO donor hybrids. The synthesised compounds could effectively release NO in vitro, displayed significant anti-proliferative effects on U87MG, NCI-H520, and SW620 cell lines. In the orthotopic glioma model, compound Id significantly and continuously suppressed the growth of gliomas in nude mice, and the brain glioma of the treatment group was markedly inhibited (>90%). In short, the structural fusion design of NO donor and β-elemene is a feasible strategy to improve the in vivo anti-tumour activity of β-elemene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider the following problem: Given a particular description of a multi-agent system (MAS), is it implemented properly? We assume that we are given (possibly incomplete) information about the system and aim at refuting its proper implementation. In our approach, agent collaboration is described as an action theory. Action sequences reaching the collaboration goal are computed by a planner, whose compliance with the actual MAS behaviour allows to detect possible collaboration failures. The approach can be fruitfully applied to aid in offline testing of a MAS implementation, as well as in online monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, first, we investigate a novel one-dimensional logistic-PWLCM (LP) modulation map which is derived from the logistic and PWLCM maps. Second, we propose a novel PCLML spatiotemporal chaos in pseudo-random coupling method that can accelerate the system behavior of the fully spatial chaos. Here, because the better chaotic properties include a wide range of parameter settings and better ergodicity than a logistic map, the LP is used in PCLML as f(x). The Kolmogorov–Sinai entropy density and universality and the bifurcation diagram are employed to investigate the chaotic behaviors of the proposed PCLML model. Finally, we apply the LP and PCLML chaotic systems to image encryption to improve the effectiveness and security of the encryption scheme. By combining self-generating matrix model M and dynamic substitution box (S-Box) methods, we design a new image encryption algorithm. Numerical simulations and security analysis have been carried out to demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has a high security level and can efficiently encrypt several different kinds of images into random-like images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]