Microplastic (MP) pollution is a raising global concern in recent years due to its wide distribution. Additionally, most of the MPs have undergone extensive weathering in the environment, and ...weathered MPs may exhibit different physicochemical properties from pristine ones. The review reveals the change in physicochemical properties (e.g. size, color, crystallinity, mechanical property and oxygen-containing groups) and the release of additives and MP-derived intermediates (i.e. oligomers and oxygenated compounds) during weathering processes. Weathering further affects the sorption behavior of MPs for environmental pollutants because of the changed crystallinity, specific surface area and oxygen functional groups. The interaction mechanisms of pristine and weathered MPs with pollutants are summarized, and how weathering processes affect sorption behavior is critically revealed. Because of the changed size, color and surface charges, weathered MPs might be ingested by aquatic organisms in different ways from the pristine ones. The detailed effects of weathering on the ingestion of MPs are discussed, and the potential toxicity of leachates from weathering processes is evaluated. In addition, the environmental components (e.g. natural organic matter and salinity) and biofilm correlated to the sorption behavior of MPs are reviewed. As for the knowledge gap, further studies should focus on the long-term weathering of MPs and the relationships between weathering properties and sorption capacities toward pollutants. The potential risks of weathered MPs and leachates on organisms should be explored.
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•Weathering significantly changes the physicochemical properties of microplastics.•Surface area, oxygen groups and crystallinity critically affect sorption of pollutants.•Effects of weathering on the risks of microplastics and leachates are revealed.•NOM, salinity and biofilms involved in the environmental behavior are reviewed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) OTUD6B antisense RNA 1 (OTUD6B-AS1) is oriented in an antisense direction to the protein-coding gene OTUD6B on the opposite DNA strand. TCGA database data show that ...the expression of the lncRNA OTUD6B-AS1 is downregulated and that OTUD6B-AS1 acts as an antioncogene in a variety of tumors. However, the expression and biological functions of the lncRNA OTUD6B-AS1 are still unknown in tumors, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).
The expression level of OTUD6B-AS1 was measured in 75 paired human ccRCC tissue and corresponding adjacent normal renal tissue samples. The correlations between the OTUD6B-AS1 expression level and clinicopathological features were evaluated using the chi-square test. The effects of OTUD6B-AS1 on ccRCC cells were determined via MTT assay, clone formation assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry. Furthermore, the impact of OTUD6B-AS1 overexpression on the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was investigated. Finally, ACHN cells with OTUD6B-AS1 overexpression were subcutaneously injected into nude mice to evaluate the influence of OTUD6B-AS1 on tumor growth in vivo.
In this study, we found that the expression of the lncRNA OTUD6B-AS1 was downregulated in ccRCC tissue samples and that patients with low OTUD6B-AS1 expression had shorter overall survival than patients with high OTUD6B-AS1 expression, which showed that the different expression level of OTUD6B-AS1 indirectly correlated with survival of patients. Lentivirus-mediated OTUD6B-AS1 overexpression significantly decreased the proliferation of ccRCC cells and promoted the apoptosis of the cells. Furthermore, OTUD6B-AS1 overexpression partly inhibited cell migration and invasion. The overexpression of OTUD6B-AS1 decreased the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and suppressed the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins (E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Snail) in ccRCC cells. In addition, compared with the parental ACHN cells, OTUD6B-AS1-overexpressing ACHN cells injected into nude mice exhibited decreased tumor growth in vivo.
Taken together, our findings present a road map for targeting the newly identified lncRNA OTUD6B-AS1 to suppress ccRCC progression in cell lines, and these results elucidate a novel potential therapeutic target for ccRCC treatment.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective
To evaluate the relation between the expression of PD‐1, PD‐L1, CD3, CD8, Foxp3 and clinicopathological features in patients with oral leukoplakia (OLK) and oral squamous cell carcinomas ...(OSCC) as well as the malignant outcome in OLK patients, and to study the effect of PD‐1 and PD‐L1 on immune microenvironment in the progression of oral carcinogenesis.
Methods
We evaluated the expression of PD‐1/PD‐L1 and composition of CD3+, CD8+and Foxp3+ T lymphocytes in OLK and OSCC samples by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and analyzed their relation with clinical information and malignant transformation in OLK patients.
Results
IHC staining demonstrated that the expression of PD‐1 was significantly increased in the high‐grade OLK group than in the low‐grade OLK group, while PD‐L1 was detected mainly in OSCC. The expression of CD3, CD8, and Foxp3 was found higher in the high‐grade OLK group than in the low‐grade OLK group, and the Foxp3+ cells were found more in the OSCC group than in the high‐grade OLK group. PD‐1 was significantly correlated with CD3 (p < 0.05, R = 0.52), CD8 (p < 0.05, R = 0.46), and Foxp3 (p < 0.05, R = 0.46), and the low PD‐1‐expression group showed a better malignant‐free survival than high PD‐1 expression group in the OLK (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
The PD‐1/PD‐L1 may induce immune suppression in OLK and accelerate the progress of malignant transformation.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Owing to the increasing demand of energy and shifting to the renewable energy resources, lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have been considered as the most promising alternative and green technology for ...energy storage applied in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and other electric utilities. Owing to its environmental benignity, availability, and stable structure, titanium dioxide (TiO
2
) is one of the most attractive anode materials of LIBs with high capability, long cycling life, high safety, and low cost. However, the poor electrical conductivity and low diffusion coefficient of Li-ions in TiO
2
hamper the advancement of TiO
2
as anode materials of LIBs. Therefore, intensive research study has been focused on designing the nanostructures of TiO
2
and its composites to reduce the diffusion length of Li-ion insertion/extraction and improve the electrical conductivity of the electrode materials. In this article, the development of TiO
2
and its composites in nano-scales including fabrication, characterization of TiO
2
nanomaterials, TiO
2
/carbon composite, and TiO
2
/metal oxide composites to improve their properties (capacity, cycling performance, and energy density) for LIBs are reviewed. Meanwhile, the mechanisms for influences of the structure, surface morphology, and additives to TiO
2
composites on the related properties of TiO
2
and TiO
2
composites to LIBs are discussed. The new directions of research on this field are proposed.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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•A square HSS column to H-section beam bolted connection with double cover-plates.•Joint has good energy-dissipation, ductility, reasonable strength and stiffness.•Joint is rigid for ...braced and unbraced frame before slip, and is semi-rigid after slip.•Column splice connection can be assumed rigid in the elastic-plastic analysis.•Formulas for the strength of the joint were proposed and validated by test and FEA.
This study presents six pseudostatic tests on square hollow section steel (HSS) column to H-section beam bolted connections with double cover plates. The failure modes, load–displacement hysteresis curves, and backbone curves of the joints were obtained, as were the energy-dissipating capacity, stiffness, and strength. The seismic energy of the connections is dissipated by slip between the contact surfaces and plastic deformation of the beam, clamp plates and bolt holes. The joints have good rotation capacity, energy-dissipation capacity, and reasonable strength and stiffness. The connections are rigid used in bracing frame and unbracing frame before slip and semirigid for both after slip. They are full-strength in terms of strength classification. Before the interstory drift reaches 0.05, no obvious inelastic deformation occurs, indicating that the connections can be easily repaired by repositioning the connection and retightening the bolts after a severe earthquake because the interstory drift will be much less than 0.05 during a severe earthquake. A finite-element model (FEM) was established and validated through a comparison of the finite element analysis (FEA) and test results, and the bolt tension, stress distribution of the beam, and rotation of the column flange splicing connection were obtained from the FEA results. The tension of the bolt in the beam web decreased slightly, while the tension of the bolt in the beam flange decreased to 60–70% of the original pre-tension when the interstory drift reached 0.06. The column flange splice connection is rigid. Simplified formulas for joint strength were deduced and validated by testing and FEA.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Hollow structured materials are widely applicable in various fields. Although many routes have been explored for getting such materials, a strategy mainly based on physical effect is still deficient. ...Herein, a “stresses induced orientation contraction” mechanism for preparation of hollow structures is reported. The composites constructed by zeolite imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF8) cores and polymerized dopamine (PDA) shells, upon annealing, form intensive interfacial interactions, which drag the ZIF8 cores outward to restrain their shrinkage. The gradually accumulated stresses in the central position of ZIF8 dodecahedron nanoparticles, then destroy the ZIF8 crystalline cores to form the hollow structures. In this stress‐based route for creating hollow interiors with core–shell composites as the starting materials, three critical factors are necessary: 1) an intensive core–shell interfacial interaction; 2) the distinctly higher shrinkage degree of the cores than the shells; and 3) the relatively loose core structures. In oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) tested with three‐electrode solution system and Zn–O2 battery, the achieved hollow nitrogen doped carbon (NC) demonstrates ultrahigh catalytic activities. This work gives an absolutely novel strategy for preparation of hollow structures, which may afford the exploration of a wider range of materials system with hollow interiors.
Phase pure zeolite imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF8) rhombic dodecahedrons transfer into solid carbon during annealing under uniform shrinkage stresses. ZIF8@polymerized dopamine (PDA) core–shell composites form intense interface interactions, which drags the cores outward to restrain their contraction, thus leading to accumulated stresses in the central part of ZIF8 nanoparticles and gradual damage of the interior cores for creating the hollow structures.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The Basidiomycota constitutes a major phylum of the kingdom Fungi and is second in species numbers to the Ascomycota. The present work provides an overview of all validly published, currently used ...basidiomycete genera to date in a single document. An outline of all genera of Basidiomycota is provided, which includes 1928 currently used genera names, with 1263 synonyms, which are distributed in 241 families, 68 orders, 18 classes and four subphyla. We provide brief notes for each accepted genus including information on classification, number of accepted species, type species, life mode, habitat, distribution, and sequence information. Furthermore, three phylogenetic analyses with combined LSU, SSU, 5.8s, rpb1, rpb2, and ef1 datasets for the subphyla Agaricomycotina, Pucciniomycotina and Ustilaginomycotina are conducted, respectively. Divergence time estimates are provided to the family level with 632 species from 62 orders, 168 families and 605 genera. Our study indicates that the divergence times of the subphyla in Basidiomycota are 406–430 Mya, classes are 211–383 Mya, and orders are 99–323 Mya, which are largely consistent with previous studies. In this study, all phylogenetically supported families were dated, with the families of Agaricomycotina diverging from 27–178 Mya, Pucciniomycotina from 85–222 Mya, and Ustilaginomycotina from 79–177 Mya. Divergence times as additional criterion in ranking provide additional evidence to resolve taxonomic problems in the Basidiomycota taxonomic system, and also provide a better understanding of their phylogeny and evolution.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Two undescribed germacrane‐type sesquiterpenoids, salcasins A (1) and B (2), together with three known compounds (3–5) were isolated and identified from the whole plant of Salvia cavaleriei var. ...simplicifolia Stib. The structures of the undescribed compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, such as HR‐ESI‐MS, 1D and 2D NMR data. The relative configurations of 1 and 2 were established by analyzing their NOESY spectra as well as by 13C NMR calculations with DP4+ probability analyses. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by comparing experimental and calculated ECD spectra. Furthermore, the in vivo anti‐Alzheimer's disease activities of 1–5 were evaluated using Caenorhabditis elegans AD pathological model. Among all isolated compounds, salcasin A (1) significantly delayed AD‐like symptoms of worm paralysis, which may be a potential anti‐AD candidate agent.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Nurses' work-related fatigue has been recognized as a threat to nurse health and patient safety. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of fatigue among first-line nurses combating with ...COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, and to analyze its influencing factors on fatigue. A multi-center, descriptive, cross-sectional design with a convenience sample was used. The statistical population consisted of the first-line nurses in 7 tertiary general hospitals from March 3, 2020 to March 10, 2020 in Wuhan of China. A total of 2667 samples from 2768 contacted participants completed the investgation, with a response rate of 96.35%. Social-demographic questionnaire, work-related questionnaire, Fatigue Scale-14, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Chinese Perceived Stress Scale were used to conduct online survey. The descriptive statistic of nurses' social-demographic characteristics was conducted, and the related variables of work, anxiety, depression, perceived stress and fatigue were analyzed by t-tests, nonparametric test and Pearson's correlation analysis. The significant factors which resulted in nurses' fatigue were further analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis. The median score for the first-line nurses' fatigue in Wuhan was 4 (2, 8). The median score of physical and mental fatigue of them was 3 (1, 6) and 1 (0, 3) respectively. According to the scoring criteria, 35.06% nurses (n=935) of all participants were in the fatigue status, their median score of fatigue was 10 (8, 11), and the median score of physical and mental fatigue of them was 7 (5, 8) and 3 (2, 4) respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed the participants in the risk groups of anxiety, depression and perceived stress had higher scores on physical and mental fatigue and the statistically significant positive correlation was observed between the variables and nurses' fatigue, the frequency of exercise and nurses' fatigue had a statistically significant negative correlation, and average daily working hours had a significantly positive correlation with nurses' fatigue, and the frequency of weekly night shift had a low positive correlation with nurses' fatigue (P<0.01). There was a moderate level of fatigue among the first-line nurses fighting against COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China. Government and health authorities need to formulate and take effective intervention strategies according to the relevant risk factors, and undertake preventive measures aimed at reducing health hazards due to increased work-related fatigue among first-line nurses, and to enhance their health status and provide a safe occupational environment worldwide. Promoting both medical and nursing safety while combating with the pandemic currently is warranted.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Wearing titanium particle‐induced osteoclastogenesis, accompanied by peri‐implant osteolysis, is the main cause of long‐term failure of hip prosthesis. Currently, medications used for the prevention ...and treatment of peri‐implant osteolysis show serious side effects. Therefore, development for more effective new drugs with less side effects is extremely urgent. Vaccarin is a natural flavonoid extracted from Vaccaria segetalis, with various biological functions, including antioxidantory, anti‐inflammatory, and promotion of angiogenesis. However, the putative role of vaccarin in the inhibition of titanium particle‐induced osteolysis has not been reported. In this study, it was indicated that vaccarin could effectively inhibit RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis, fusion of F‐actin rings, bone resorption, and expression of osteoclast marker genes in a dose‐dependent manner in vitro. Moreover, vaccarin could also inhibit RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis via the inhibition of NF‐κB and MAPK (p38, ERK, and JNK) signaling pathways, and inhibit the transcription of downstream transcription factors, such as c‐Fos and NFATc1. Consistent with in vitro results, this in vivo study showed that vaccarin exhibited an inhibitory effect on titanium particle‐induced osteolysis by antiosteoclastogenesis. In conclusion, vaccarin could be a promising agent for preventing and treating peri‐implant osteolysis.
This is a very valuable study. Vaccarin (Vac) could inhibit osteoclast formation and function, and titanium (Ti) particle‐induced osteolysis both in vivo and in vitro. This effect may be associated with the inhibition of RANKL‐mediated of NF‐κB and MAPK (p38, ERK, and JNK) signaling pathways. Thus, Vac may provide an alternative prevention and treatment approach for peri‐implant osteolysis caused by Ti particles.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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