Single-stranded circular RNAs (circRNAs), generated through 'backsplicing', occur more extensively than initially anticipated. The possible functions of the vast majority of circRNAs remain unknown. ...Virus-derived circRNAs have recently been described in gamma-herpesviruses. We report that oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) generate circRNAs, some of which encompass the E7 oncogene (circE7). HPV16 circE7 is detectable by both inverse RT-PCR and northern blotting of HPV16-transformed cells. CircE7 is N
-methyladenosine (m
A) modified, preferentially localized to the cytoplasm, associated with polysomes, and translated to produce E7 oncoprotein. Specific disruption of circE7 in CaSki cervical carcinoma cells reduces E7 protein levels and inhibits cancer cell growth both in vitro and in tumor xenografts. CircE7 is present in TCGA RNA-Seq data from HPV-positive cancers and in cell lines with only episomal HPVs. These results provide evidence that virus-derived, protein-encoding circular RNAs are biologically functional and linked to the transforming properties of some HPV.
Conventional dc-dc Boost converter has limited boost capacity, and its power device suffers high voltage stress. A novel Z-source based dc-dc boost converter featured with high step-up capability and ...low device voltage stress is proposed in this paper. The proposed topology can also provide a common ground for input and output, which is lacking in the traditional Z-source topology. Compared with other high step-up topologies, the proposed converter can achieve higher voltage gain under the same duty ratio and maintain low voltage stresses on the switch and diode. Moreover, there are fewer passive components in the proposed structure than in other structures. The steady-state analysis for the continuous conduction mode and discontinuous conduction mode is also provided in this manuscript. Finally, a prototype circuit with 40V-60V input voltage, 400V output voltage and 200W output power is implemented in the laboratory. Experiment results confirm the analysis and the features of the proposed converter.
Great challenges remain concerning the cost‐effective manufacture of high‐performance metal meshes for transparent glass heaters (TGHs). Here, a high‐performance silver mesh fabrication technique is ...proposed for TGHs using electric‐field‐driven microscale 3D printing and a UV‐assisted microtransfer process. The results show a more optimal trade‐off in sheet resistance (Rs = 0.21 Ω sq−1) and transmittance (T = 93.9%) than for indium tin oxide (ITO) and ITO substitutes. The fabricated representative TGH also exhibits homogeneous and stable heating performance, remarkable environmental adaptability (constant Rs for 90 days), superior mechanical robustness (Rs increase of only 0.04 in harsh conditions–sonication at 100 °C), and strong adhesion force with a negligible increase in Rs (2–12%) after 100 peeling tests. The practical viability of this TGH is successfully demonstrated with a deicing test (ice cube: 21 cm3, melting time: 78 s, voltage and glass thickness: 4 V, 5 mm). All of these advantages of the TGHs are attributed to the successful fabrication of silver meshes with high resolution and high aspect ratio on the glass substrate using the thick film silver paste. The proposed technique is a promising new tool for the inexpensive fabrication of high‐performance TGHs.
A high‐performance silver mesh fabrication technique is proposed for transparent glass heaters using electric‐field‐driven microscale 3D printing and a UV‐assisted microtransfer process. The silver mesh exhibits excellent photoelectric properties with Rs = 0.21 Ω sq−1 at T = 93.9%. Despite the mechanical robustness tests, adhesion fatigue, and operational stability tests, the comprehensive performance of silver mesh is hardly changed.
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain cancer with a poor prognosis and few treatment options. Here, building on the observation of elevated lactate (LA) in resected GBM, we ...develop biomimetic therapeutic nanoparticles (NPs) that deliver agents for LA metabolism-based synergistic therapy. Because our self-assembling NPs are encapsulated in membranes derived from glioma cells, they readily penetrate the blood-brain barrier and target GBM through homotypic recognition. After reaching the tumors, lactate oxidase in the NPs converts LA into pyruvic acid (PA) and hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
). The PA inhibits cancer cell growth by blocking histones expression and inducing cell-cycle arrest. In parallel, the H
2
O
2
reacts with the delivered bis2,4,5-trichloro-6-(pentyloxycarbonyl)phenyl oxalate to release energy, which is used by the co-delivered photosensitizer chlorin e6 for the generation of cytotoxic singlet oxygen to kill glioma cells. Such a synergism ensures strong therapeutic effects against both glioma cell-line derived and patient-derived xenograft models.
•As(III) can be effectively removed by ball milled, sulfidated ZVI (S-mZVIbm).•As(III) was removed primarily through As4S4 formation under anoxic conditions.•As(III) was removed through adsorption ...onto corrosion product under oxic conditions.•S-mZVIbm/sand column rapidly reduces As(III) in a groundwater from 300 to 10 µg/L.•S-mZVIbm in sand column treats >750 BV groundwater with a capacity of 12.2 mg/g.
The interaction of As(III) with micron-sized, mechanochemically sulfidated zero-valent iron (S-mZVIbm) has been studied under both anoxic and oxic conditions. The As(III) removal capacity varied with the increase of S/Fe molar ratio under anoxic conditions, while it continuously decreased under oxic conditions. A series of sequential extractions, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy analyses were used to investigate As(III) removal mechanisms. In the absence of oxygen, As(III) was removed from solution primarily through the formation of As4S4 with less than half of the removal resulting from the adsorption of As(III)/As(V) and FeAsS precipitation. Under oxic conditions, adsorption onto iron (oxyhydr)oxides was the dominant mechanism of As(III) removal. Increasing sulfidation decreased particle Fe(0) content, which resulted in less production of iron (oxyhydr)oxides and therefore lower As(III) removal capacities. Column experiments showed that less than 2 wt% of S-mZVIbm in sand was able to rapidly reduce the As(III) concentration in a real groundwater from 300 to 10 µg/L, the Chinese drinking water standard, for up to 750 BV with an EBCT of 2.54 min. This study demonstrates that S-mZVIbm is an efficient and cost-effective material in treating As-contaminated water to ensure water safety.
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Conventional dc–dc boost converters have limited boosting capabilities, and the main switching device may suffer relatively high voltage stress and current stress. A novel transformerless dc‐dc boost ...converter is proposed in this paper. The proposed topology, which combines the traditional active switch‐inductor and quasi‐Z‐source network, can increase the voltage gain without limiting the duty cycle or increasing the voltage and current stresses of the power switches. The detailed analysis including working principles, steady‐state characteristics, non‐ideal element analysis and a comprehensive comparison is also presented in this paper. To verify the proposed converter's performance, a prototype circuit with 20–30 V input voltage, 200 V output voltage, and 200 W output power is implemented in the laboratory. Experiment results confirm the theoretical analysis and advantages of the proposed converter.
Dietary fiber intake helps to maintain gut homeostasis. Fiber deficiency causes commensals to utilize mucins as an energy source to destroy mucus layer, thus promoting susceptibility to inflammatory ...bowel disease. Here, we reported that oroxylin A, a natural flavonoid, ameliorated low-grade colonic inflammation caused by fiber deficiency, alleviated colitis, and further prevented colitis-associated colon cancer in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of oroxylin A was due to its alteration of gut microbiota. We found that the levels of Eubacterium coprostanoligenes was significantly increased by oroxylin A and the colonized Eubacterium coprostanoligenes significantly protected against colitis and carcinogenesis in colon of mice. Together, our results in this study suggest that oroxylin A may reduce the susceptibility to intestinal diseases by increasing the level of Eubacterium coprostanoligenes which could provide a therapeutic alternation for the treatment of intestinal diseases.
•The disruption of the mucus layer caused by a fiber-free diet increases intestinal disease risk in mice.•Oroxylin A protects mucus layer and altered the gut microbiota in mice.•Oroxylin A ameliorates colitis and colon cancer by altering the gut microbiota in mice.•Eubacterium coprostanoligenes ameliorates colitis and colon cancer by protecting mucus layer in mice.
As important components of the biological soil crusts (BSCs) and of the primary stage of crust succession, cyanobacterial communities occupy an important ecological niche and play an important ...ecological role in desertification areas. In this study, we focused on the karst desertification area, which also belongs to the same category of desertification, and selected three study areas, Guanling-Zhenfeng Huajiang (HJ), Bijie Salaxi (SLX), and Shibing (SB), in the Guizhou Plateau, which represents the overall ecological environment of South China karst, to conduct surveys on the diversity of BSC species and soil properties. Analysis of the cyanobacterial communities and physicochemical properties using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, principal component analysis, and redundancy analysis revealed that: (1) The three study areas had common cyanobacterial species, with a total of 200 species distributed across 22 genera, 2 classes, 5 orders, and 6 families belonging to the Oscillatoriales (39%), Scytonematales (24.5%), Chroococcales (23%), Nostocales (11.5%), and Rivulariales (2%), (2) The number of species increased with the intensity of karst desertification-while Oscillatoriaceae was the dominant family in HJ and moderate-severe desertification areas, Chroococcaceae and Scytonemataceae were dominant in the mild and potential desertification areas SLX and SB, (3) The Shannon-Wiener diversity indices followed the trend: SLX (3.56) > SB (3.08) > HJ (3.01), indicating that the species were more evenly distributed in mild desertification, (4) In the carbonate background, shrubland harbored the largest number of cyanobacterial species compared to grassland, bare land, and arbor woodland; however, the highest number was documented in arbor woodland in dolomite karst, (5) The soil is weathered limestone or yellow soil in all three areas, with pH ranging from 5.73 to 6.85, fine sand dominated, and soil nutrients increased with the intensity of desertification, and (6) Redundancy analysis showed that organic carbon, soil moisture content (0-5 cm), and total nitrogen substantially influenced cyanobacterial diversity. These results reveal that differences in soil nutrient content play an important role in regulating the cyanobacterial diversity and composition, thereby establishing a foundation for further research and application of soil ecological restoration of cyanobacteria in BSCs of karst desertification areas.
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