Epigenetics is a discipline that studies heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve altering the DNA sequence. Over the past decade, researchers have shown that epigenetic regulation ...plays a momentous role in cell growth, differentiation, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. The main epigenetic mechanisms include the well-understood phenomenon of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and regulation by non-coding RNAs, a mode of regulation that has only been identified relatively recently and is an area of intensive ongoing investigation. It is generally known that the majority of human transcripts are not translated but a large number of them nonetheless serve vital functions. Non-coding RNAs are a cluster of RNAs that do not encode functional proteins and were originally considered to merely regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. However, taken together, a wide variety of recent studies have suggested that miRNAs, piRNAs, endogenous siRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs are the most common regulatory RNAs, and, significantly, there is a growing body of evidence that regulatory non-coding RNAs play an important role in epigenetic control. Therefore, these non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) highlight the prominent role of RNA in the regulation of gene expression. Herein, we summarize recent research developments with the purpose of coming to a better understanding of non-coding RNAs and their mechanisms of action in cells, thus gaining a preliminary understanding that non-coding RNAs feed back into an epigenetic regulatory network.
This review article focuses on the potential of biopolymer-based nanocomposites incorporating nanoparticles, graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and nanoclays in adsorption and membrane ...filtration processes for water treatment. The aim is to explore the effectiveness of these innovative materials in addressing water scarcity and contamination issues. The review highlights the exceptional adsorption capacities and improved membrane performance offered by chitosan, GO, and CNTs, which make them effective in removing heavy metals, organic pollutants, and emerging contaminants from water. It also emphasizes the high surface area and ion exchange capacity of nanoclays, enabling the removal of heavy metals, organic contaminants, and dyes. Integrating magnetic (Fe2O4) adsorbents and membrane filtration technologies is highlighted to enhance adsorption and separation efficiency. The limitations and challenges associated are also discussed. The review concludes by emphasizing the importance of collaboration with industry stakeholders in advancing biopolymer-based nanocomposites for sustainable and comprehensive water treatment solutions.
The rational design of sound absorption boards made of wood materials is an attractive field of research. This article describes a simple and low‐cost ammonium persulfate treatment on coconut wood ...cell walls (Cocos nucifera L.). Reaction parameters such as concentration of reactant and reaction time were optimized. The results of different instrumental characterization such as X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope supports the chemical alterations of the wood cell wall. The quantitative analysis of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin was performed. The significant changes in cell‐walls enhanced average sound absorption coefficient at each frequency range: 60.4% at 500–1000 Hz (t = −10.593 and p < 0.001), 80.8% at 1000–2000 Hz (t = −4.798 and p < 0.001), 96.2% at 2000–4000 Hz (t = −58.527 and p < 0.001) and 83.0% at 500–64000 Hz (t = −51.261 and p < 0.001). It is due to the increment of gas permeability (288.3%, p = <0.001). These results could be beneficial for new research on wood‐based sound absorption materials to regulate the acoustic environment in houses.
The synthesis of biodegradable hydrogel based on naturally available macromolecules is an important area of research. We synthesized new hydrogel using rice-cooked wastewater (starch), acrylamide, ...and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropansulfonic acid in an aqueous medium. The synthesis approach is facile, low-cost, eco-friendly, and novel. The synthesized materials were characterized by scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Thermogravimetric analysis. The hydrogel exhibited maximum tap water absorbency (158.3 g/g) at pH 7, saline water absorbency (50 g/g), urea solution absorbency (141.2 g/g) at 24 h, and excellent water retention capability (47 wt% at 70 °C, 12 h, and 89 wt% at 30 °C, 24 h). Chili plants, mung beans, and pea seeds germinated and grew well in the hydrogel and hydrogel-mixed soil, respectively. The biodegradability study shows 34.6 % at 120 days in soil and 6.5 % at 30 days in the open air. These findings could entice agricultural development in dry soil.
•Synthesis of new starch-based smart hydrogel for agricultural use•Reuse rice-cooked waste water to reduce wastage of carbohydrates polymers.•Studied characterization, water absorbency, agricultural use, and biodegradation•The hydrogels reveal a high water holding capacity and excellent biodegradability.•A promising alternative to commercial synthetic polymer-based hydrogels
This research aimed to study the efficacy of oxidation in wood cell walls by ammonium persulfate solution and the performances in sound absorption coefficients and gas permeability for cross ...sectional Oak wood (Quercus mongolica) species. Reaction parameters were optimized and extensive instrumental characterization techniques were used to study cell wall modifications, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope. The oxidation treatment changed the chemical compositions of wood (hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin), boosting wood porosity (12%) and gas permeability (39%). The effectiveness accelerates improvement of average sound absorption coefficient at each frequency range: 250–500 Hz (4.6%), 500–1000 Hz (26.8%), 1000–2000 Hz (31.8%), 2000–6400 Hz (57.8%) and overall 250–6400 Hz (47.1%) compared to the control samples. Simple wood oxidation treatment could be helpful for novel research and wood based sound absorption materials to manage the acoustic housing environment.
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•Effects of ammonium persulfate on wood cell walls•Enhanced porosity (12%) and gas permeability (39%) of modified wood•The average sound absorption coefficient increases with frequency range.•The APS oxidation treatment on wood is facile and cheaper.
Atherosclerosis is a progressive, chronic inflammation in arterial walls. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in inflammation, but the exact mechanism in atherosclerosis is unclear. Our ...microarray analyses revealed that the levels of lncRNA-FA2H-2 were significantly decreased by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL). Bioinformatics analyses indicated that mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) might be regulated by lncRNA-FA2H-2. In vitro experiments showed that lncRNA-FA2H-2 interacted with the promoter of the MLKL gene, downregulated MLKL expression, and the binding sites between -750 and 471 were necessary for lncRNA-FA2H-2 responsiveness to MLKL. Silencing lncRNA-FA2H-2 and overexpression of MLKL could activate inflammation and inhibited autophagy flux. Both lncRNA-FA2H-2 knockdown and overexpression of MLKL could significantly aggravate inflammatory responses induced by OX-LDL. We found that the 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and Atg7-shRNA enhanced inflammatory responses induced by knockdown of lncRNA-FA2H-2 and overexpression of MLKL. We demonstrated that the effects of MLKL on autophagy might be associated with a mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)-dependent signaling pathways. In vivo experiments with apoE knockout mice fed a western diet demonstrated that LncRNA-FA2H-2 knockdown decreased microtubule-associated expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 II and lysosome-associated membrane protein 1, but increased expression of sequestosome 1 (p62), MLKL, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and interleukin-6 in atherosclerotic lesions. Our findings indicated that the lncRNA-FA2H-2-MLKL pathway is essential for regulation of autophagy and inflammation, and suggested that lncRNA-FA2H-2 and MLKL could act as potential therapeutic targets to ameliorate atherosclerosis-related diseases.
Steam explosion is a useful method to soften and dimensionally stabilizing wood. A significant increase in air permeability and sound absorption capability of steam-exploded palmwood compared to ...untreated palmwood is observed due to changes in cell wall. Cell wall’s changes are characterized by instrumental techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope and gas permeability by capillary flow porometry and sound absorption coefficient by two-microphone transfer function method. The average increase in air permeability (259.3%) and sound absorption coefficient (52.33% at frequency range of 250–6400 Hz) of steam-exploded samples is higher than that of untreated samples. Color of steam-exploded woods become black due to chemical reactions in cell wall during steam explosion. The color change, air permeability and sound absorption coefficient of wood are correlated with the findings. These results suggest that low-pressure steam explosion could be considered as an effective technique for improving the air permeability and sound absorption capability of palmwood in the longitudinal direction. This approach could be useful to manufacture sound absorption board to control the acoustical housing environment.
•Analysis of acoustic properties related to10 different kinds of hardwood species.•Hackberry exhibited highest sound absorption coefficient (0.640 at 4000 Hz).•Elemental analysis and crystallinity ...were performed by EDAX and XRD, respectively.•Air permeability study was executed by capillary flow porometer.•Surface morphology analysis was performed by HR-FESEM.
Wood is one of the most usable natural composite. Noise pollution from the various sources affect the human health and environment worldwide. How to reduce noise pollution has become a major issue? Hence, finding the proper sound absorbing wood is necessary for improved acoustic environment. In the present work, we choose most useful ten different hardwood species. Analysis of basic properties, surface morphology by HR-FESEM, elemental analysis using EDAX, cellulose crystallites by XRD, air permeability by a capillary flow porometer, sound absorption coefficient and sound transmission loss by microphones transfer function method using impedance tube is discussed in detail. The Hackberry wood shows better sound absorption coefficient (0.640 at 4000 Hz), sound transmission loss (15.23 at 4000 Hz) due to the higher value of Darcy permeability constant (9.78), porous surface morphology and lower cellulose crystallites (16.6%). These results became extremely important to the engineers for designing good acoustic housing environment.
The rational design of sound absorption boards made of wood materials is an exciting area of research. This article describes a simple and inexpensive method to increase the sound absorptions ...capacity of Malas hardwood (Homalium foetidum Roxb.) using ammonium persulfate treatment. The reaction parameters such as the concentration of ammonium persulfate and reaction time were optimized. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that ammonium persulfate could significantly affect carbohydrate polymers and lignin of wood by improving oxygen functionalities. The quantitative analysis of carbohydrate polymers (hemicellulose and cellulose) and lignin were evaluated. These changes in carbohydrate polymers and lignin enhanced the air permeability (83.6%) and average sound absorption coefficient at each frequency range 500–1000 Hz (2.6%), 1000–2000 Hz (4.9%), 2000–4000 Hz (17.4%), and overall 500˗6400 Hz (20.8%) compared to the control samples. These results could be beneficial for new research and wood-based sound absorption materials to regulate the acoustic environment in houses.
•Ammonium persulfate changes carbohydrate polymers and lignin.•The modified biopolymers enhanced the porosity (1.2%) and gas permeability (83.6%).•The average sound absorption coefficient increases 20.8% at 5–6.4 kHz.•The ammonium persulfate method is facile and inexpensive.
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