The evergreen broadleaved forests (EBLFs) of Southwest China have a long-term stable environment and support a diverse flora, thus forming a global biodiversity hotspot. However, the key drivers that ...have shaped the genetic diversity patterns of species in these EBLFs are not well understood. Quercus delavayi, Q. schottkyana, and Q. kerrii are sympatric oak species with different seed biological traits that are typical for these EBLFs. This study combined multilocus phylogeography and ecological niche modeling to screen 33 Q. delavayi populations. Their population genetic structure was inferred in comparison with previous studies on Q. schottkyana and Q. kerrii. The seed germination traits of all three species were also investigated. cpDNAs showed a significant phylogeographic structure in Q. delavayi, which was not detected in Q. schottkyana or Q. kerrii. Quercus delavayi, Q. kerrii, and Q. schottkyana exhibited different pollen-to-seed migration ratios (r = 219, 117, and 22, respectively), which are linked to the germination schedules of acorns. The distributions of Q. delavayi and Q. schottkyana remained long-term stable since the last glacial maximum (LGM) with a similar nSSR genetic gradient change along latitude. Instead, Q. kerrii experienced a prominent range expansion since the LGM with genetic diversification between the East and the West of the Tanaka line due to environmental heterogeneity. These results identify seed traits and environmental heterogeneity as two key drivers that shape the population genetic structure of EBLF trees in Southwest China. These should be considered in regional forestry conservation and management.
We investigate the formation and properties of crude oil/water interfacial films. The time evolution of interfacial tension suggests the presence of short and long timescale processes reflecting the ...competition between different populations of surface-active molecules. We measure both the time-dependent shear and extensional interfacial rheology moduli. Late-time interface rheology is dominated by elasticity, which results in visible wrinkles on the crude oil drop surface upon interface disturbance. We also find that the chemical composition of the interfacial films is affected by the composition of the aqueous phase that it has contacted. For example, sulfate ions promote films enriched with carboxylic groups and condensed aromatics. Finally, we perform solution exchange experiments and monitor the late-time film composition upon the exchange. We detect the film composition change upon replacing chloride solutions with sulfate-enriched ones. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report the composition alteration of aged crude oil films. This finding might foreshadow an essential crude oil recovery mechanism.
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•Secondary hydrate formation (SHF) are studied both experimentally and numerically.•A new kinetic model integrates hydrate pore-scale morphology and the SHF ...characteristics.•Heterogeneous manner of hydrate formation are quantified in Cubic Hydrate Simulator.•The SHF significantly exacerbates the hydrate formation heterogeneity.
The challenge of secondary hydrate formation (SHF) is frequently encountered in hydrate formation and dissociation experiments. However, there is currently a lack of modeling theory of SHF kinetics in the field and laboratory tests. In this work, the hydrate formation experiments concerning the SHF are carried out in a cubic hydrate simulator (CHS), where the pressure profiles and temperature spatial distributions are measured. A new kinetic model of hydrate formation integrating hydrate pore-scale morphology and SHF characteristics is developed. The newly developed model with unified kinetic parameters is employed in the Tough+hydrate (T+H) simulator to duplicate the experiment processes numerically, which achieves excellent agreement with the experimental data. The results show that the evolutions of the spatial distributions of the temperature and hydrate saturation behave in heterogeneous manners in the hydrate formation processes. This also reveals that the SHF can significantly exacerbate the hydrate heterogeneity in the CHS. Two additional experiments and comparisons with currently available models have validated the feasibility and accuracy of the new model. This work provides a reliable and adaptable model for describing the entire lifecycle of the hydrate formation kinetics in the porous media.
The present study aimed to investigate whether the mitochondrial KATP channel contributes to angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced vascular dysfunction, the development of hypertension, and ...atherosclerosis.
ApoE (−/−) mice fed a high-fat diet were chronically infused with Ang II for eight weeks and concomitantly treated with losartan (ARB), apocynin, or 5-hydroxy decanoate (5-HD), or 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Systolic blood pressure was measured, and pathological changes of aortic or liver tissue were observed. Nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) levels and vasorelaxation rate were measured, and protein and mRNA expressions were examined by western blot and RT-PCR. Ang II-induced development of hypertension was suppressed not only by ARB, and apocynin but also by 5-HD or 3-MA. Ang II infusion decreased aortic NO production and relaxation, as well as SOD2 activity in liver, which were improved by all treatments. In addition, Ang II-induced activation of autophagy was suppressed by 5-HD in aortic tissue, furthermore, Ang II increases the atherosclerotic index in plasma and exacerbates the development of atherosclerosis by increases of fat deposition in the aorta and liver. Lipid metabolism-related mRNA expressions (LXR-α, LDLR, SRBI, Acca, and FASN) were changed by Ang II. Similarly, not only ARB, and apocynin, but also 5-HD and 3-MA suppressed Ang II-induced these changes.
Our present findings evidence that mitochondrial KATP channel-mediated autophagy contributes to Ang II-induced vascular dysfunction, development of hypertension, and atherosclerosis.
•Angiotensin II accelerates the development of hypertension and atherosclerosis.•Angiotensin II induces abnormal lipid metabolism in the liver.•Oxidative stress is involved in the effects of angiotensin II.•The mitochondrial KATP channel mediates the effects of angiotensin II.•PI3K signal pathway contributes to the effects of angiotensin II.
Abstract
Objectives
Increasing evidence suggest that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in cancers. However, the expression pattern and underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in non-small ...cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to elucidate the functions and molecular mechanisms of a certain lncRNA in NSCLC.
Methods
LncRNA microarray was performed to identify differential expressed lncRNAs between pre- and postoperation plasma in NSCLC patients. The expression level of candidate lncRNA in NSCLC tissues, plasma and cells was determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and in situ hybridization. The functional roles of lncRNA were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation, microarray, qRT-PCR and rescue assays were conducted to explore the mechanism action of lncRNA in NSCLC cells.
Results
We identified a novel lncRNA (BRCAT54), which was significantly upregulated in preoperative plasma, NSCLC tissues and NSCLC cells, and its higher expression was associated with better prognosis in patients with NSCLC. Overexpression of BRCAT54 inhibited proliferation, migration and activated apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Conversely, knockdown of BRCAT54 reversed the suppressive effects of BRCAT54. Moreover, overexpression of BRCAT54 repressed NSCLC cell growth in vivo. Mechanistically, BRCAT54 directly bound to RPS9. Knockdown of RPS9 substantially reversed the promoting effects of si-BRCAT54 on cell proliferation and enhanced the inhibitive effect of si-BRCAT54 on BRCAT54 expression. In addition, silencing of RPS9 activated JAK-STAT pathway and suppressed calcium signaling pathway gene expressions.
Conclusion
This study identified BRCAT54 as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC. Targeting the BRCAT54 and RPS9 feedback loop might be a novel therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.
This study identified a novel lncRNA BRCAT54 that was upregulated in NSCLC. Overexpression of BRCAT54 suppressed NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. BRCAT54 inhibited NSCLC by binding to RPS9 to transcriptionally regulate JAK-STAT and calcium signaling pathway genes.
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•Applicability of contact-electro-catalysis for degradation of common antibiotics.•Novel advanced oxidation process for antibiotic removal from wastewater.•Proposed mechanism of ...reactive oxygen species generation revealed.•Polytetrafluoroethylene shown to be a cost-effective, stable catalytic material.•Membrane filtration allows reuse of fluoropolymer catalyst in antibiotic removal.
Antibiotic contamination of water bodies is a major concern in environmental management. Despite their superior efficacy in antibiotic removal, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have yet to be widely adopted owing to their substantial cost associated with the large amounts of chemicals required. In this study, a novel contact-electro-catalysis (CEC) process with reusable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles as a trigger catalyst was applied to replace traditional AOPs, and it was able to degrade three typical antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole SMX, ciprofloxacin CIP, and tetracycline TET) in the secondary effluent of a wastewater treatment plant for the first time. The PTFE particles at a concentration of 0.8 g/L were introduced into antibiotic solutions with an antibiotic concentration of 1 mg/L, and the removal rates of SMX, CIP, and TET after a 90-min operation time reached 50 %, 80 %, and 90 %, respectively. Our findings revealed that the CEC reaction generated ●OH and 1O2, contributing substantially to antibiotic degradation. Thus, new reactive oxygen species generation mechanisms during the CEC process were proposed. Furthermore, we fabricated polyvinylidene fluoride nanofiber membranes using electrospinning to recycle PTFE particles, where a nearly 100 % recovery rate through dead-end filtration was realized with a high water flux of 7.5 m3/(m2∙h). The results of this study provide a promising approach for antibiotic removal from wastewater.
Background:
Osteosarcoma (OSA), the most common primary bone malignancy in children and adolescents, is prone to metastases and unfavorable prognosis. Owing to its strong genomic heterogeneity, ...traditional chemotherapy, or targeted immunotherapy has not effectively improved the related overall survival for decades. Since the landscape of the OSA tumor immune microenvironment is scarcely known, despite it playing a crucial role in predicting clinical outcomes and therapeutic efficacies, we aimed to elucidate its molecular characteristics.
Methods:
The immune signature of 101 OSA samples was explored using transcriptome profiling and clinical characteristics retrieved from the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) program. Correlations between the prognostic immune markers and their clinical chemotherapy responses were assessed and verified based on 45 OSA primary tumors.
Findings:
We identified the heterogeneity underlying tumor immune signature in OSA, and found CD4+ T cells and macrophage markers CD4/IFNGR2/CD68 to be feasible prognostic factors, exerting significantly positive correlation with each other. Specifically, CSF1R, which plays an essential role in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of macrophages, was found to be a specific signature associated with CD4/CD68, with improved OSA clinical outcomes.
Interpretation:
The immune landscape based on CD4/CD68/CSF1R gene signatures showed considerable promise for prognostic and therapeutic stratification in OSA patients. A specific immune signature for OSA, abundantly consisting of Th1-polarized CD4+ T cells and CSF1R-related CD68+ macrophages, may improve the predictive efficacy of chemotherapy and improve prognosis in patients with OSA.
The aim of this study is to investigate the potential impact of catheterization on intimal hyperplasia and explore the efficacy of Paclitaxel loaded PLGA nanoparticles (PTX-NPs) in preventing ...stenosis at the site of venous injury. Under general anesthesia, Central Venous Catheters were inserted into the rat’s right internal jugular veins (IJV) using the cut-down technique. Twenty bare catheters (C) and twenty PTX-NPs coated catheters (P) were assigned to one of four groups (C2, C4, P2, or P4) based on catheter type and expected survival time. 2 or 4 weeks after surgery, IJVs were completely harvested by formalin fixation and gelatin infusion and slides were stained with H&E (Haematoxylin and Eosin) and Masson's technique. The P2 (Paclitaxel coating, 2 weeks) group showed the most proliferation among the four groups and the P4 (Paclitaxel coating, 4 weeks) showed a tendency to decrease proliferation. Additionally, the lumen size in the P4 group was about 6% smaller than in the P2 group, and there was a lower prevalence of stenotic grade in the P4 group. Our study suggests that PTX-NPs coated catheters may be effective in preventing venous stenosis if the intended usage is prolonged, rather than for a short-term period.
Graphical abstract
Schematic representation of catheter functionalization and coating of PTX-NPs on Catheter
Dynamically reconfigurable metasurfaces open up unprecedented opportunities in applications such as high capacity communications, dynamic beam shaping, hyperspectral imaging, and adaptive optics. The ...realization of high performance metasurface-based devices remains a great challenge due to very limited tuning ranges and modulation depths. Here we show that a widely tunable metasurface composed of optical antennas on graphene can be incorporated into a subwavelength-thick optical cavity to create an electrically tunable perfect absorber. By switching the absorber in and out of the critical coupling condition via the gate voltage applied on graphene, a modulation depth of up to 100% can be achieved. In particular, we demonstrated ultrathin (thickness < λ0/10) high speed (up to 20 GHz) optical modulators over a broad wavelength range (5–7 μm). The operating wavelength can be scaled from the near-infrared to the terahertz by simply tailoring the metasurface and cavity dimensions.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting social restrictions have significant implications for mental health. The objective of this study was to determine the monthly trends and types of patients ...experiencing a mental health crisis (MHC) who used emergency medical services (EMSs) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective observational study was conducted using EMS data. During the study period, 8577 patients used EMSs for MHCs. EMS dispatches for MHCs and suicide completion after the COVID-19 pandemic were decreased by 12.4% and 12.7%, respectively, compared to those before the COVID-19 pandemic. Segmented regression analysis found that the number of patients per month was 6.79 before the COVID-19 pandemic. The number decreased to 4.52 patients per month during the COVID-19 pandemic, although the decrease was not statistically significant. The monthly number of patients experiencing an MHC decreased during strict social distancing measures but increased during relaxed social distancing measures. The percentage of hanging increased from 14.20% before the COVID-19 pandemic to 14.30% (p = 0.03) during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas the percentages of jumping (from 15.55% to 15.28%, p = 0.01) and self-harm by smoke (from 4.59% to 3.84%, p < 0.001) during the COVID-19 pandemic were decreased compared to those before COVID-19. However, the effect size for the above findings was small (below 0.20). More than 25% of the patients experiencing an MHC who used EMSs refused to transfer to the ED over both study periods (26.49% in the pre-COVID-19 period and 28.53% in the COVID-19 period). The COVID-19 pandemic and social restrictions seemed to have some effects on the use of EMSs by MHC patients. Hanging is mainly performed indoors and is not found easily if social distancing persists, and a patient experiencing an MHC who refuses to be transferred could potentially attempt suicide. Subsequent studies should be performed to determine whether these findings are temporary during the COVID-19 pandemic or whether they will show different aspects after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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