SUMMARY Catecholamines promote lipolysis both in brown and white adipocytes, whereas the same stimuli preferentially activate thermogenesis in brown adipocytes. Molecular mechanisms for the adipose-selective activation of thermogenesis remain poorly understood. Here, we employed quantitative phosphoproteomics to map global and temporal phosphorylation profiles in brown, beige, and white adipocytes under β3-adrenenoceptor activation and identified kinases responsible for the adipose-selective phosphorylation profiles. We found that casein kinase2 (CK2) activity is preferentially higher in white adipocytes than brown/beige adipocytes. Genetic or pharmacological blockade of CK2 in white adipocytes activates the thermogenic program in response to cAMP stimuli. Such activation is largely through reduced CK2-mediated phosphorylation of class I HDACs. Notably, inhibition of CK2 promotes beige adipocyte biogenesis and leads to an increase in whole-body energy expenditure and ameliorates diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. These results indicate that CK2 is a plausible target to rewire the β3-adreneno-ceptor signaling cascade that promotes thermogenesis in adipocytes.

Bouncing and coalescence of a pair of slightly deformed bubbles rising side by side in a quiescent liquid are experimentally studied. The trajectories and shapes of the bubbles are investigated in detail by using a high-speed video camera. The wakes of bubbles are visualized by using a photochromic dye that is colored with UV light irradiation. We observe that the patterns of the trajectories of rising bubbles are strongly dependent on the Reynolds number. When the Reynolds number is over the critical region, two bubbles approach each other and then collide. After the collision, two types of motions are observed-coalescence and bouncing. We investigate the critical Reynolds number and Weber number over which the bubbles bounce. In the definitions of these numbers, we use vertical velocity, instead of horizontal one, as the characteristic velocity. We clarify that the critical Weber number is around 2 regardless of the Morton number. The critical Reynolds number decreases with an increase in the Morton number. Moreover, the visualization of the wake of bubbles enables us to observe the vortex separation from the rear surface of the bubbles on collision. We find that the vortex separation from the rear of bouncing bubbles causes a decrease in the rising velocity and an increase in the horizontal speed after their collision. We also observe that the behavior of repeatedly bouncing bubbles is significantly influenced by the wake instability of a single bubble rather than by the bubble-bubble interaction.By applying an existing model for spherical bubble-bubble interaction, we clarify that the revised model accurately describes the trajectory of a pair of slightly deformed bubbles using the restitution coefficient and velocity fluctuation from the experimental results.

This study experimentally investigated the instability of flow impingement in a cerebral aneurysm, which was speculated to promote the degradation of aneurysmal wall. A patient-specific, full-scale and elastic-wall replica of cerebral artery was fabricated from transparent silicone rubber. The geometry of the aneurysm corresponded to that found at 9 days before rupture. The flow in a replica was analysed by quantitative flow visualization (stereoscopic particle image velocimetry) in a three-dimensional, high-resolution and time-resolved manner. The mid-systolic and late-diastolic flows with a Reynolds number of 450 and 230 were compared. The temporal and spatial variations of near-wall velocity at flow impingement delineated its inherent instability at a low Reynolds number. Wall shear stress (WSS) at that site exhibited a combination of temporal fluctuation and spatial divergence. The frequency range of fluctuation was found to exceed significantly that of the heart rate. The high-frequency-fluctuating WSS appeared only during mid-systole and disappeared during late diastole. These results suggested that the flow impingement induced a transition from a laminar regime. This study demonstrated that the hydrodynamic instability of shear layer could not be neglected even at a low Reynolds number. No assumption was found to justify treating the aneurysmal haemodynamics as a fully viscous laminar flow.

Many abiotic and biotic stresses can reduce plant growth and development. Low temperature is one of the most harmful abiotic stresses, particularly for plants that are tropical or subtropical in origin. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the cold-stress response, components involved in the signal transduction of cold stress have been characterized. In this study, we characterized a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor encoding gene, SlICE1, from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), which shows similarity with Arabidopsis ICE1. e expression of SlICE1 was observed in younger leaves, owers, and green and red fruits. To characterize the function of SlICE1, overexpressing tomato lines were produced. SlICE1-overexpressing tomatoes exhibited chilling tolerance, and SlICE1 enhanced the expression of coldresponsive genes, such as SlCBF1 and SlDRCi7, as well as accumulation of ascorbic acid. e SlICE1 protein was degraded a er cold treatment. ese results indicate that SlICE1 enhances cold tolerance in tomatoes.

Surface protonics by applying electric field promotes low temperature methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation for effective hydrogen production.