Over the past few decades, understandings and evidences concerning the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in deciding the cell fate have been constantly growing. Generally, during ER stress, ...the signal transductions are mainly conducted by three ER stress transducers: protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring kinase 1 (IRE1) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6). Consequently, the harmful stimuli from the ER stress transducers induce apoptosis and autophagy, which share several crosstalks and eventually decide the cell fate. The dominance of apoptosis or autophagy induced by ER stress depends on the type and degree of the stimuli. When ER stress is too severe and prolonged, apoptosis is induced to eliminate the damaged cells; however, when stimuli are mild, cell survival is promoted to maintain normal physiological functions by inducing autophagy. Although all the three pathways participate in ER stress-induced apoptosis and autophagy, PERK shows several unique characteristics by interacting with some specific downstream effectors. Notably, there are some preliminary findings on PERK-dependent mechanisms switching autophagy and apoptosis. In this review, we particularly focused on the novel, intriguing and complicated role of PERK in ER stress-decided cell fate, and also discussed more roles of PERK in restoring cellular homeostasis. However, more in-depth knowledge of PERK in the future would facilitate our understanding about many human diseases and benefit in searching for new molecular therapeutic targets.
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) refers to the unique capability of aggressive tumor cells to mimic the pattern of embryonic vasculogenic networks. In the study we demonstrated that CD133 expression was the ...highest in triple-negative (TN) breast cancer specimens. Importantly, VM showed statistical correlation with CD133(+) expression. The presence of the close relationship between VM and CD133(+) expression might be central for TN tumor relapse and progression. The TN breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231 cells developed a range of colony morphologies paralleling the holoclone, meroclone and paraclone morphologies produced by normal keratinocytes and other epithelial cancer cell lines when plated at clonal densities. Holoclone cells were capable of forming more colonies on soft agar than meroclone cells and paraclone cells, suggesting that holoclone cells had higher self-renew potential and might harbors cancer stem cells (CSCs) subpopulation. Strikingly, it was holoclone that displayed CD133(+) phenotype and formed VM. In addition, holoclone acquired endothelial cell marker vascular endothelial-cadherin expression and upregulated VM mediators matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expression. The subpopulation with holoclone morphology, CD133(+) phenotype and CSCs characteristics might have the capacity of transdifferentiation and contributed to VM in TN breast cancer. The related molecular pathways may be used as novel therapeutic targets for the inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis in TN breast carcinoma.
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The anisotropy of β-Sn grain is becoming the most crucial factor to dominate the electromigration (EM) behavior with the downsizing of solder bumps. When the c-axis of β-Sn grain is ...parallel to the electron flow direction, excessive dissolution of cathode Cu occurs due to the large diffusivity of Cu along the c-axis; when the c-axis of β-Sn grain is perpendicular to the electron flow direction, limited dissolution of cathode Cu occurs even in the current crowding regions. However, there is no evident dissolution of cathode Ni regardless of the orientation of β-Sn grains, due to the protection of a stable interfacial (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 intermetallic compound (IMC) layer and the extremely low solubility of Ni in β-Sn. Cu6Sn5-type protrusions selectively precipitated in specific Sn grains with small angle θ (between the c-axis of Sn grain and electron flow direction) but not in the neighbor grains with large angle θ or along the direction of c-axis of β-Sn. Sn hillocks are squeezed out to relieve the compressive stress generated by the formation of Cu6Sn5-type IMCs. The high diffusion anisotropy in β-Sn grains, which is calculated by a proposed model, accounts for the novel diffusion behavior of solute atoms, dissolution of cathode and consequent precipitation of IMCs in Ni/Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu/Cu flip chip solder joints.
In recent years, there have been significant advances on materials development for additive manufacturing (AM) applications. However, the use of composites or nanocomposite materials for improved ...performance and multifunctionality are still limited. This review paper attempts to provide a comprehensive review of both commercially available materials as well as research activities related to recent progress on high-performance polymer nanocomposites that are being used in various AM techniques. Four AM techniques including Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Multi Jet Fusion (MJF), and Stereolithography (SLA) are discussed. The development of printable polymer composites especially polymer nanocomposites is rapidly expanding the AM materials portfolio, which makes the production of multifunctional parts with complex structures possible.
Uniform, well‐defined star‐shaped PbS nanocrystals with tunable sizes (40–100 nm, see Figure), as well as octahedral PbS nanocrystals, have been readily synthesized in aqueous solutions containing a ...mixture of the surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide/ sodium dodecyl sulfate (CTAB/SDS) at low temperature (80 °C). The size of the PbS nanostars can be accurately controlled by adjusting the reaction time. This result may open new avenues for the green chemical synthesis of shape‐controlled semiconductor nanocrystals.
•We examine the long term effects of inorganic and organic fertilizers on SOC sequestration and crop yields.•The mixed application of inorganic fertilizers and crop residuals can strongly increase ...the SOC and crop yields.•Corn and winter wheat yields and the mineralization amount of SOC have significant correlation with SOC.
The aim of the study is to analyze the effects of different fertilization of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and crop yields after a 22 years long-term field experiment. The crop yields and SOC were investigated from 1981 to 2003 in Dry-Land Farming Research Institute of Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Hebei Province, China. The dominant cropping systems are winter wheat–summer corn rotation. There were totally sixteen treatments applied to both wheat and corn seasons: inorganic fertilizers as main plots and corn stalks as subplots and the main plots and subplots all have four levels. The results revealed: after 22 years, mixed application of inorganic fertilizers and crop residuals, the SOC and crop yields substantially increased. Higher fertilizer application rates resulted in greater crop yields improvement. In 2002–2003, wheat and corn for the highest fertilizer inputs had the highest yield level, 6400kgha−1 and 8600kgha−1, respectively. However, the SOC decreased as the excessive inorganic fertilizer input and increased with the rising application of corn stalks. The treatment of the second-highest inorganic fertilizer and the highest corn stalks had the highest SOC concentration (8.64gCkg−1). Pearson correlation analysis shows that corn and winter wheat yields and the mineralization amount of SOC have significant correlation with SOC at p<0.05 level.
The layered rock masses with structural planes are widely distributed, among which the transverse isotropy caused by the bedding structural plane has a great influence on the stability of the slope ...and surrounding rock. Construct a beam-particle model (BPM) to reveal the layered slate fracture characteristics is of great significance. This paper takes the layered carbonaceous slate of the Muzhailing tunnel in Shanxi as the research specimens, carries out the Brazilian split test and uniaxial compression test of the layered slate with different bedding inclination angles, and conducts out a systematic numerical analysis based on the BPM solver. The test and numerical results show that: (1) In the Brazilian split test, the load–displacement curve of the layered slate has the development trend of the initial stage, the rock specimens compaction, nearly linear elasticity, and finally complete collapse. As the bedding inclination angle changes from
0
∘
to
90
∘
, the tensile strength of slate decreases successively. (2) In the uniaxial compression test, when the bedding inclination angle is
0
∘
and
90
∘
, the compressive strength is greater, and the bedding inclination angle is
30
∘
,
45
∘
and
60
∘
, the compressive strength is small and the value is close, showing a “U”-shaped change as a whole. (3) With the change of bedding inclination angle and the comprehensive influence of matrix and bedding, the split failure mode of layered slate is complex and changeable, and roughly presents split tensile failure, shear slip failure and comprehensive tensile shear failure. (4) Through the comparative analysis of test load–displacement response and failure mode, the BPM solver can better reproduce the split evolution process of layered slate under different bedding inclination angles, and prove the robustness and stability of the program. The BPM solver can provide a new numerical research method for the widespread engineering practice of layered rock masses.
In August 2022, the Tohoku region of Japan suffered three major heavy rainfall events, while one was related to an anticyclone, and the others were induced by a “Baiu‐like” stationary front. By using ...the Lagrangian backward trajectories, we found the moisture sources of the three events varied much due to the rapidly changing atmospheric conditions. In general, moisture from the Sea of Japan contributed the most in all events, while the western Pacific also played a certain role. Surprisingly, moisture from tropical storms and the East China Sea did not contribute much due to the along‐transport precipitation. But, based on forward‐traced trajectories, we confirmed that tropical storms did enhance moisture transport from subtropical regions via their southerly wind. Overall, this study highlights the role of the moisture gains nearby and the outer flows of tropical storms during heavy rainfalls in a northern region.
Plain Language Summary
Heavy rainfalls hit northern Japan (i.e., the Tohoku region) from early‐ to mid‐August 2022, which were caused by a moving high‐pressure system, a rare north‐located “Baiu‐like” stationary front, and tropical storms. The highly accumulated moisture over Tohoku was supplied by the moistening over the marginal seas and the subtropical western Pacific, while the inland region also supplied a certain amount. Surprisingly, moisture carried by tropical storms (Songda, Trases, and Meari) and that from the East China Sea did not contribute much, because they were lost due to the precipitation during the transport. Most of the moisture was obtained nearby over the Sea of Japan. On the other hand, although storms did not contribute much moisture, their related wind fields did enhance moisture transport from moist‐rich regions to the Tohoku region.
Key Points
Three heavy rainfalls occurred over the Tohoku region with varied moisture sources
Moisture gains from the nearby Sea of Japan contributed the most, while the western Pacific played a secondary role
Moisture that was carried by tropical storms did not contribute much to the events but the storm‐induced southerly wind did
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