•Granular activated carbon was modified by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).•Pore structure and surface chemistry of bare and modified AC were characterized.•PDMS coated AC had better benzene adsorption ...capacity under humid conditions.•Hydrophobic PDMS-coated surface favors benzene adsorption under humid conditions.
A series of hydrophobic-modified (polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating) activated carbons (ACs) were developed to answer a fundamental question: what are the determinants that dominate the adsorption on ACs under humid conditions? Using column experiments, an inter-comparison among bare-AC and PDMS-coated ACs was conducted regarding the association of surface characteristics and adsorption capacity. Primary outcomes occurred in two dominating markers, hydrophobicity and total micropore volume, which played a key role in water adsorption on ACs. However, their contributions to water adsorption on ACs substantially differed under different Pwater/Pair conditions. Hydrophobicity was the only contributor in Pwater/Pair=0.1–0.6, while the two markers contributed equally in Pwater/Pair=0.7–1.0. Furthermore, PDMS-coated AC had a significant increase in benzene adsorption capacities compared to bare-AC at 0–90% relative humidity, while these differences were not significant among PDMS-coated ACs. It is thus presumed that the balance between the two markers can be shifted to favor almost unchanged benzene adsorption capacities among PDMS-coated ACs over a large range of relative humidity. These findings suggest potential benefits of PDMS coating onto ACs in enhancing selective adsorption of hydrophobic volatile organic compounds under high humid conditions. To develop new porous materials with both high total micropore volume and hydrophobicity should thus be considered.
Testicular cancer is the most common solid malignancy among young men. We downloaded data of testicular cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to find novel genes in the testicular ...cancer microenviroment based on ESTIMATE algorithm‐derived immune scores. A total of 156 cases of testicular cancer were included in this study and 165 cases of normal testicular tissues were used. We divided the testicular cancer patients into high‐ and low‐score groups based on their immune scores. We identified 1,226 differentially expressed genes (fold change > 2, false discovery rate < 0.05), including 688 downregulated genes and 538 upregulated genes, between these two groups. The top Gene Ontology terms were involved in the immune response‐regulating cell surface receptor signaling pathway, immune response‐activating cell surface receptor signaling pathway, external side of the plasma membrane, and receptor ligand activity. By performing the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis, we demonstrated that cAMP signaling pathway was highly enriched among these differentially expressed genes. High expression of LINC01564, LINC02208, ODAM, RNA5SP111, and RNU6‐196P were found to be associated with poor overall survival. The expression of genes was further validated by the Human Protein Atlas and only ALB and IFNG were demonstrated to be differentially expressed between testis tissue and testicular cancer tissue.
Testicular cancer is the most common solid malignancy among young men. We used the ESTIMATE algorithm to calculate immune scores and obtain several novel genes associated with testicular cancer microenvironment. Two genes were validated by the Human Protein Atlas database to be differentially expressed between testis tissue and testicular cancer tissues. These findings would contribute greatly to the understanding of the potential mechanism of testicular cancer.
An asymmetric 1,6‐conjugate addition of thioacetic acid with para‐quinone methides has been developed by using chiral phosphoric acid catalysis in the presence of water. A series of sulfur‐containing ...compounds were thus obtained in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. Theoretical studies indicated that the water‐bridged proton transfer is a potentially favorable reaction pathway. An unprecedented O−H⋅⋅⋅π interaction between water and the aromatic nucleus of chiral phosphoric acid was discovered to contribute significantly to the stereocontrol in the catalysis.
Building bridges: The title reaction was realized in the presence of water, and successfully solved the challenge of remote stereocontrol for the para‐quinone methide substrates. Theoretical studies indicated that the water‐bridged proton transfer and an unprecedented O−H⋅⋅⋅π interaction, between water and the aromatic nucleus of the chiral phosphoric acid, play important roles in the transition state.
Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the important tumors that have been proven to be treatable with immunotherapy. This study aims to identify and validate a molecular prognostic index of BCa based on ...immunogenomic landscape analysis.
The cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database and immunology database and analysis portal (ImmPort) database were used to identified differentially expressed immune-related genes (IRGs). Prognostic IRGs were screened and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Multivariate Cox analysis was performed to develop a molecular prognostic index of BCa. Internal and external validation were then performed in TCGA cohort and GEO cohort, respectively. Besides, we also explore the relationship between this index and clinical characteristics, immune cell infiltration and tumor microenvironment.
A total of 61 prognostic IRGs were identified and a molecular prognostic index was developed. The top four hub genes included MMP9, IGF1, CXCL12 and PGF. The difference in overall survival between high-risk group and low-risk group was statistically significant. The area under curve of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.757, suggesting the potential for this index. Besides, Internal validation using TCGA cohort and external validation using GEO cohort indicated that this index was of great performance in predicting outcome. T cells CD8, T cells CD4 memory activated, T cells follicular helper, macrophages M0, macrophages M2 and neutrophils were significantly associated with prognosis of BCa patients. Female, high grade, stage III&IV, N1-3 and T3-4 were associated significantly with higher risk score compared with male, low grade, stage I&II, N0 and T1-2, respectively. High risk score had a positive association with higher stromal score and ESTIMATE score while high risk score had a negative association with tumor purity.
This study identified several prognostic immune-related genes of clinical value. Besides, we developed and validated a molecular index based on immunogenomic landscape analysis, which performed well in predicting prognosis of BCa. Further researches are needed to verify the effectiveness of this index and these vital genes.
Plant architecture and leaf color are important factors influencing cotton fiber yield. In this study, based on genetic analysis, stem paraffin sectioning, and phytohormone treatments, we showed that ...the dwarf-red (DR) cotton mutant is a gibberellin-sensitive mutant caused by a mutation in a single dominant locus, designated GhDR. Using bulked segregant analysis (BSA) and genotyping by target sequencing (GBTS) approaches, we located the causative mutation to a ~197-kb genetic interval on chromosome A09 containing 25 annotated genes. Based on gene annotation and expression changes between the mutant and normal plants, GH_A09G2280 was considered to be the best candidate gene responsible for the dwarf and red mutant phenotypes. A 2-nucleotide deletion was found in the coding region of GhDR/GH_A09G2280 in the DR mutant, which caused a frameshift and truncation of GhDR. GhDR is a homolog of Arabidopsis AtBBX24, and encodes a B-box zinc finger protein. The frameshift deletion eliminated the C-terminal nuclear localization domain and the VP domain of GhDR, and altered its subcellular localization. A comparative transcriptome analysis demonstrated downregulation of the key genes involved in gibberellin biosynthesis and the signaling transduction network, as well as upregulation of the genes related to gibberellin degradation and the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway in the DR mutant. The results of this study revealed the potential molecular basis by which plant architecture and anthocyanin accumulation are regulated in cotton.
Press bending is widely used in Al integral panels for the aerospace industry, which, combined with multi-point dies, is an innovative approach. In the forming process, the fracture on integral ...panels is a fatal flaw. In this study, it mainly presents a core method on how to predict fracture on stiffeners by a novel method—the multi-point press bending. With the combination of a multi-point press bending experiment and corresponding finite element method (FEM) simulation, a suitable ductile criterion was selected to predict fracture on an aircraft Al stiffener. Using the fracture criterion, the fracture moments and fracture positions on stiffeners were determined in the multi-point press bending process. Due to the rapid reconfigurable characteristic of multi-point die, an optimal deformation path was discussed to reduce the fracture risk on stiffeners. It was identified that the Cockcroft criterion proved to be the most favorable ductile fracture criterion to predict fracture on stiffeners. Moreover, in the multi-point press bending process of the 7B04-T7451 Al stiffener, it is not prone to fracture with the increase of forming steps. Multi-point forming with an equidifferent curvature deformation path reduces the fracture risk of stiffeners much more than that with an equidifferent radius deformation path.
This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers for prostate cancer (PCa) progression and metastasis, and to discern their biological functions.
Bioinformatics methods were used to screen for hub ...genes. The expression level of key hub genes in PCa was determined and their prognostic significance was examined. A series of functional assays were performed to investigate the function of the highest-ranking hub gene.
Actin related protein 2/3 complex subunit 1A (ARPC1A) was identified as the hub gene. ARPC1A was highly expressed in PCa tissues and cell lines, and was an independent prognostic factor for predicting biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy and overall survival of PCa patients. Knockdown of ARPC1A inhibited PCa cell migration, invasion and cytoskeleton formation, but had no impact on cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. In vivo, ARPC1A overexpression promoted lung metastasis of PCa, but had no efffect on tumor growth. Additionally, glutamine metabolism was identified as an upstream regulator of ARPC1A, and promoted migration, invasion and cytoskeletal changes of PCa cell through ARPC1A.
These findings suggested that ARPC1A, which correlates with poor prognosis in PCa, functions downstream of glutamine metabolism to regulate cytoskeletal changes, cellular migration and cellular invasion in this disease.
Using next‐generation sequencing, this study found that the prevalence of ROS1 fusions in a large cohort of non‐small‐cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) was 1.5%, including most frequent fusion partners and ...rare ROS1 fusion pairs. Crizotinib demonstrated robust response in treating patients with ROS1‐rearranged NSCLC. TP53 mutations in ROS1‐positive patients were significantly associated with shorter crizotinib progression‐free survival.
ROS1 gene rearrangements have been reported in diverse cancer types including non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and with a notably higher prevalence in lung adenocarcinoma. The tyrosine kinase inhibitors, crizotinib, lorlatinib, and entrectinib, have demonstrated favorable efficacy in treating ROS1‐rearranged NSCLCs. Herein, we retrospectively reviewed 17 158 NSCLC patients whose tumor specimen and/or circulating cell‐free DNA underwent comprehensive genomic profiling. A total of 258 unique patients were identified with ROS1 rearrangements, representing an overall prevalence of approximately 1.5% of ROS1 fusions in newly diagnosed and relapsed NSCLC patients. CD74 (38%) was the most common fusion partner of ROS1, followed by EZR (13%), SDC4 (13%), SLC34A2 (10%), and other recurrent fusion partners with lower frequencies, including TPM3, MYH9, and CCDC6. Variant breakpoints occurred in ROS1 introns 33 (37%), 31 (25%), 32 (17%), and 34 (11%) with no obvious hotspots. CD74 (63%) and EZR (50%) were more frequently fused to ROS1 intron 33 than other introns, while ROS1 intron 31 was most frequently fused with SDC4 (79%) and SLC34A2 (81%). Crizotinib progression‐free survival (PFS) was not significantly different between fusion variants involving breakpoints in different ROS1 introns, nor was there a significant difference in PFS between CD74‐ROS1 and non‐CD74‐ROS1 groups of patients. Furthermore, TP53 was most frequently mutated in patients who progressed on crizotinib, and TP53 mutations were significantly associated with shorter crizotinib PFS. ROS1 mutations, including G2032R, were observed in approximately 33% of post‐crizotinib samples. Collectively, we report the prevalence of ROS1 fusions in a large‐scale NSCLC population and the efficacy of crizotinib in treating patients with ROS1‐rearranged NSCLC.
High levels of starch is known to have positive effects on both energy supply and milk yield but increases the risk of rumen acidosis. The use of sugar as a non-structural carbohydrate could ...circumvent this risk while maintaining the benefits, but its effects and that of the simultaneous use of both sugar and starch are not as well-understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different combinations of sugar and starch concentrations on ruminal fermentation and bacterial community composition
in vitro
in a 4 ×4 factorial experiment. Sixteen dietary treatments were formulated with 4 levels of sugar (6, 8, 10, and 12% of dietary dry matter), and 4 levels of starch (21, 23, 25, and 27% of dietary dry matter). Samples were taken at 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after cultivation to determine the disappearance rate of dry matter, rumen fermentation parameters and bacterial community composition. Butyric acid, gas production, and
Treponema
abundance were significantly influenced by the sugar level. The pH, acetic acid, and propionic acid levels were significantly influenced by starch levels. However, the interactive effect of sugar and starch was only observed on the rate of dry matter disappearance. Furthermore, different combinations of starch and sugar had different effects on volatile fatty acid production rate, gas production rate, and dry matter disappearance rate. The production rate of rumen fermentation parameters in the high sugar group was higher. Additionally, increasing the sugar content in the diet did not change the main phylum composition in the rumen, but significantly increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla, while the relative abundance of Proteobacteria was reduced. At the genus level, the high glucose group showed significantly higher relative abundance of Treponema (
P
< 0.05) and significantly lower relative abundance of Ruminobacter, Ruminococcus, and Streptococcus (
P
< 0.05). In conclusion, different combinations of sugar and starch concentrations have inconsistent effects on rumen fermentation characteristics, suggesting that the starch in diets cannot be simply replaced with sugar; the combined effects of sugar and starch should be considered to improve the feed utilization rate.
Plant architecture and leaf color are important factors influencing cotton fiber yield.In this study,based on genetic analysis,stem paraffin sectioning,and phytohormone treatments,we showed that the ...dwarf-red(DR)cotton mutant is a gibberellin-sensitive mutant caused by a mutation in a single dominant locus,designated GhDR.Using bulked segregant analysis(BSA)and genotyping by target sequencing(GBTS)approaches,we located the causative mutation to a～197-kb genetic interval on chromosome A09 containing 25 annotated genes.Based on gene annotation and expression changes between the mutant and normal plants,GH_A09G2280 was considered to be the best candidate gene responsible for the dwarf and red mutant phenotypes.A 2-nucleotide deletion was found in the coding region of GhDR/GH_A09G2280 in the DR mutant,which caused a frameshift and truncation of GhDR.GhDR is a homolog of Arabidopsis AtBBX24,and encodes a B-box zinc finger protein.The frameshift deletion eliminated the C-terminal nuclear localization domain and the VP domain of GhDR,and altered its subcellular localization.A comparative transcriptome analysis demonstrated downregulation of the key genes involved in gibberellin biosynthesis and the signaling transduction network,as well as upregulation of the genes related to gibberellin degradation and the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway in the DR mutant.The results of this study revealed the potential molecular basis by which plant architecture and anthocyanin accumulation are regulated in cotton.
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