Long nanopore reads are advantageous in de novo genome assembly. However, nanopore reads usually have broad error distribution and high-error-rate subsequences. Existing error correction tools cannot ...correct nanopore reads efficiently and effectively. Most methods trim high-error-rate subsequences during error correction, which reduces both the length of the reads and contiguity of the final assembly. Here, we develop an error correction, and de novo assembly tool designed to overcome complex errors in nanopore reads. We propose an adaptive read selection and two-step progressive method to quickly correct nanopore reads to high accuracy. We introduce a two-stage assembler to utilize the full length of nanopore reads. Our tool achieves superior performance in both error correction and de novo assembling nanopore reads. It requires only 8122 hours to assemble a 35X coverage human genome and achieves a 2.47-fold improvement in NG50. Furthermore, our assembly of the human WERI cell line shows an NG50 of 22 Mbp. The high-quality assembly of nanopore reads can significantly reduce false positives in structure variation detection.
Although the fates of microplastics (0.1-5 mm in size) and nanoplastics (<100 nm) in marine environments are being increasingly well studied
, little is known about the behaviour of nanoplastics in ...terrestrial environments
, especially agricultural soils
. Previous studies have evaluated the consequences of nanoplastic accumulation in aquatic plants, but there is no direct evidence for the internalization of nanoplastics in terrestrial plants. Here, we show that both positively and negatively charged nanoplastics can accumulate in Arabidopsis thaliana. The aggregation promoted by the growth medium and root exudates limited the uptake of amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics with positive surface charges. Thus, positively charged nanoplastics accumulated at relatively low levels in the root tips, but these nanoplastics induced a higher accumulation of reactive oxygen species and inhibited plant growth and seedling development more strongly than negatively charged sulfonic-acid-modified nanoplastics. By contrast, the negatively charged nanoplastics were observed frequently in the apoplast and xylem. Our findings provide direct evidence that nanoplastics can accumulate in plants, depending on their surface charge. Plant accumulation of nanoplastics can have both direct ecological effects and implications for agricultural sustainability and food safety.
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FZAB, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Abnormal N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is closely associated with the occurrence, development, progression and prognosis of cancer, and aberrant m6A regulators have been identified as novel ...anticancer drug targets. Both traditional medicine-related approaches and modern drug discovery platforms have been used in an attempt to develop m6A-targeted drugs. Here, we provide an update of the latest findings on m6A modification and the critical roles of m6A modification in cancer progression, and we summarize rational sources for the discovery of m6A-targeted anticancer agents from traditional medicines and computer-based chemosynthetic compounds. This review highlights the potential agents targeting m6A modification for cancer treatment and proposes the advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) in the discovery of m6A-targeting anticancer drugs. Three stages of m6A-targeting anticancer drug discovery: traditional medicine-based natural products, modern chemical modification or synthesis, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted approaches for the future.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
•Rubber-modified recycled aggregate concrete with 3 different rubber contents was tested.•The best mix ratio of rubber content was provided.•Addition of recycled aggregate and rubber enhanced fatigue ...life of concrete.•Fatigue life equation of rubber-modified recycled aggregate concrete was presented.
Based on the performance requirements for airport pavement concrete, this study analyzes the mechanical properties, fatigue properties and damage characteristics of rubber-modified recycled aggregate concrete (RRAC) with waste rubber replacement rates of 10%, 20% and 30%. The test results for compressive strength, four-point flexural bending, elasticity modulus and fatigue life on RRAC showed that the compressive strength of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) increased by 10.1% from that of normal concrete (NC) (rubber-free and recycled-aggregate-free concrete). The compressive strength, flexural strength and elasticity modulus of the RRAC decreased with the increase in rubber particle content. However, the peak deflection, peak strain and ultimate strain increased with the increase of rubber particle content with a certain range. When rubber particle content reached 20% of the sand, the ultimate strain of RRAC was 3.45times that of rubber-free RAC. Based on the Weibull theory, statistical analysis was performed on the test results, and double logarithm fatigue equations for RRAC under different failure probabilities were provided, which could be used to predict the ultimate fatigue strength of RRAC. An analysis of the damage characteristics showed that both recycled aggregate and rubber particle could enhance the concrete’s fatigue life. This enhancement was most significant when the rubber particle content reached 20%.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Arsenic (As) contamination of rice (Oryza sativa) is a worldwide concern and elucidating the molecular mechanisms of As accumulation in rice may provide promising solutions to the problem. Previous ...studies using microarray techniques to investigate transcriptional regulation of plant responses to As stress have identified numerous differentially expressed genes. However, little is known about the metabolic and regulatory network remodelings, or their interactions with microRNA (miRNA) in plants upon As(III) exposure.
We used Illumina sequencing to acquire global transcriptome alterations and miRNA regulation in rice under As(III) treatments of varying lengths of time and dosages.
We found that the response of roots was more distinct when the dosage was varied, whereas that of shoots was more distinct when the treatment time was varied. In particular, the genes involved in heavy metal transportation, jasmonate (JA) biosynthesis and signaling, and lipid metabolism were closely related to responses of rice under As(III) stress. Furthermore, we discovered 36 new As(III)-responsive miRNAs, 14 of which were likely involved in regulating gene expression in transportation, signaling, and metabolism.
Our findings highlight the significance of JA signaling and lipid metabolism in response to As(III) stress and their regulation by miRNA, which provides a foundation for subsequent functional research.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NMLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
A waste-rubber-modified recycled-aggregate concrete (RMRAC) intended for road construction was produced by adding granulated waste rubber to recycled-aggregate concrete (RAC). The impact mechanical ...properties of the RMRAC were studied using a variable cross-section 74-mm-diameter split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The dynamic mechanical properties and the toughness of the RMRAC were studied at four strain rates, corresponding to four different input pressures, and were compared to those observed in the static condition. The effects of the rubber particle size, rubber content, and strain rate on the dynamic compressive strength and toughness of the RMRAC were analysed. Test results show that the RMRAC exhibits an enhanced strain rate effect and has good impact resistance relative to RAC.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Chromatin dynamics regulated by epigenetic modification is crucial in genome stability and gene expression. Various epigenetic mechanisms have been identified in the pathogenesis of human diseases. ...Here, we examined the effects of ten epigenetic agents on pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection by using GFP-reporter assays. Inhibitors of bromodomain protein 4 (BRD4), which receives much more attention in cancer than viral infection, was found to exhibit substantial anti-viral activity against PRV as well as a range of DNA and RNA viruses. We further demonstrated that BRD4 inhibition boosted a robust innate immune response. BRD4 inhibition also de-compacted chromatin structure and induced the DNA damage response, thereby triggering the activation of cGAS-mediated innate immunity and increasing host resistance to viral infection both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the inhibitory effect of BRD4 inhibition on viral infection was mainly attributed to the attenuation of viral attachment. Our findings reveal a unique mechanism through which BRD4 inhibition restrains viral infection and points to its potent therapeutic value for viral infectious diseases.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
As a reproductive endocrine disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has influenced billions of women during childbearing age worldwide. Owing to its complex etiology and ambiguous pathogenesis, ...there is still not a specific method to cure it. Clinical treatments, such as hormone therapy and surgical treatment, have side effects. Therefore, it is essential and urgent to seek alternative treatment to solve these problems. The satisfactory efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), immunotherapy, medicinal foods, vitamin therapy, diet therapy, psychotherapy, spa, and oxygen therapy, in treating PCOS, has aroused an increasing number of medical workers’ concern and gradually become the mainstream. This paper reviews the application of CAM in the treatment of PCOS, especially from the perspective of TCM. Meanwhile, the limitations of the literature about CAM in the treatment of PCOS are mentioned and analyzed as well.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) critically regulate liver homeostasis and diseases through angiocrine factors. Notch is critical in endothelial cells (ECs). In the current study, Notch ...signaling was activated by inducible EC‐specific expression of the Notch intracellular domain (NIC). We found that endothelial Notch activation damaged liver homeostasis. Notch activation resulted in decreased fenestration and increased basement membrane, and a gene expression profile with decreased LSEC‐associated genes and increased continuous EC‐associated genes, suggesting LSEC dedifferentiation. Consistently, endothelial Notch activation enhanced hepatic fibrosis (HF) induced by CCl4. Notch activation attenuated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) signaling, and activation of sGC by 3‐(5′‐hydroxymethyl‐2′‐furyl)‐1‐benzylindazole (YC‐1) reversed the dedifferentiation phenotype. In addition, Notch activation subverted the hepatocyte‐supporting angiocrine profile of LSECs by down‐regulating critical hepatocyte mitogens, including Wnt2a, Wnt9b, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). This led to compromised hepatocyte proliferation under both quiescent and regenerating conditions. Whereas expression of Wnt2a and Wnt9b was dependent on eNOS‐sGC signaling, HGF expression was not rescued by the sGC activator, suggesting heterogeneous mechanisms of LSECs to maintain hepatocyte homeostasis. Conclusion: Endothelial Notch activation results in LSEC dedifferentiation and accelerated liver fibrogenesis through eNOS‐sGC signaling, and alters the angiocrine profile of LSECs to compromise hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration (LR). (Hepatology 2018).
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
•Microalgae were cultured in aquaculture wastewater by newly developed MPBR.•Concentrated microalgae cultivation with diluted wastewater was achieved in MPBR.•MPBR could remove most of the nutrients ...with a short HRT of only 1 day.•Unionized ammonia was completely removed by microalgae cultivation in MPBR.
An efficient continuous microalgae cultivation process for biomass production and nutrients removal from aquaculture wastewater was developed using a membrane photobioreactor (MPBR). Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus were firstly batch cultured in aquaculture wastewater. C. vulgaris showed better performance with the specific growth rate of 0.17d−1 and was continuously cultivated in MPBR. The average volumetric biomass productivity in the MPBR operated at HRT of 1 day was 42.6mgL−1d−1, which was 5.8-fold larger than that achieved in batch cultivation in flask. Advanced nutrients removal from aquaculture wastewater was also achieved in MPBR. The average reduction in TN and TP was 86.1% and 82.7%, respectively, after stabilization. The corresponding effluent concentration was below 1.30 and 0.12mgL−1 for TN and TP, respectively. Unionized ammonia, which is usually toxic to aquatic animals, was also effectively removed in MPBR, with effluent concentration below 0.002mgL−1.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP