Ruffle assembly

Abstract: The organic compound diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) represents a high production volume chemical found in cosmetics, personal care products, laundry detergents, and household items. DEHP, along with other phthalates causes endocrine disruption in males. Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals has been linked to the development of several adverse health outcomes with apical end points including Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). This study examined the adult male zebrafish (Danio rerio) transcriptome after exposure to environmental levels of DEHP and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) using both DNA microarray and RNA-sequencing technologies. Our results show that exposure to DEHP is associated with differentially expressed (DE) transcripts associated with the disruption of metabolic processes in the liver, including perturbation of five biological pathways: 'FOXA2 and FOXA3 transcription factor networks', 'Metabolic pathways', 'metabolism of amino acids and derivatives', 'metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins', and 'fatty acid, triacylglycerol, and ketone body metabolism'. DE transcripts unique to DEHP exposure, not observed with EE2 (i.e. non-estrogenic effects) exhibited a signature related to the regulation of transcription and translation, and ruffle assembly and organization. Collectively our results indicate that exposure to low DEHP levels modulates the expression of liver genes related to fatty acid metabolism and the development of NAFLD.

Abstract: Gram-positive bacteria are an important pathogenic factor for bacterial pneumonia. The aim of the present study was to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and to explore their associated pathways or expression patterns. Expression profiling of gene arrays from two independent datasets, GSE6269 and GSE35716, were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus. The DEGs between peripheral blood samples from healthy controls and patients with bacterial pneumonia were identified. The Functional Annotation Tool in the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery was used to annotate and analyze the DEGs in Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Multiple proteins were used to generate a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. A total of 624 (621 annotated) were identified in the GSE6269 dataset and 398 (295 annotated) DEGs were identified in the GSE35716 dataset between pneumonia and healthy samples. A total of 40 common DEGs were identified between the 2 datasets, including 4 downregulated and 32 upregulated DEGs. In the GO category cellular component, melanosome was highly enriched among 11 genes; in the category biological process, the three most enriched items were regulation of ruffle assembly, negative regulation of calcium ion transport and necroptotic process. In the KEGG terms, only the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway (Homo sapiens 04064) was significantly enriched. In the PPI network, five genes (CCL4, TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor and cathepsin B) were identified to have a high degree of interaction with other DEGs. In conclusion, these five genes may represent key genes associated with pneumonia caused by Gram-positive bacteria. All of these results provide primary information and basic knowledge to understand the mechanisms of the pathogenesis.

Abstract: A dust ruffle assembly for forming dust ruffles using dust ruffle components on one, two, or three sides of a bed while allowing adjustments for height, fullness, bed size, and number of dust ruffle layers. The dust ruffle assembly is positioned between the mattress and box springs of a bed. Dust ruffle components are attached to strips, and the strips are fastened to support members. The device permits adjustment of the dust ruffle height to accommodate bed frames and foundations of different heights. The fullness of a dust ruffle layer is quickly adjusted by adding additional dust ruffle components. The strips and support members accommodate a range of mattress sizes, and the dust ruffle components are interchangeable on beds of different sizes. The support members accommodate multiple strips for forming more than one dust ruffle layer on one, two, or three sides of a bed.

Abstract: An interchangeable bed ruffle assembly may include a bed platform capable of intercalating between the top mattress and the box-spring base of a bed. The bed platform has first fasteners attached to a top surface and juxtaposed along a perimeter and across an entire width of the bed platform respectively. An adjustable bed ruffle may be removably attached to the bed platform and be capable of being seated about an outer perimeter of the top mattress and the box-spring base. The bed ruffle preferably has a second fasteners attached to its inner surface. The plurality of second fasteners may be removably connected to select ones of the first fasteners respectively such that the bed ruffle hangs downwardly from the perimeter of the bed platform. In this way, the bed ruffle is freely disconnected from the bed platform while the bed platform remains at a stationary position.