Cancer metastasis, a leading cause of death in patients, is associated with aberrant expression of epigenetic modifiers, yet it remains poorly defined how epigenetic readers drive metastatic growth ...and whether epigenetic readers are targetable to control metastasis. Here, we report that bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), a histone acetylation reader and emerging anticancer therapeutic target, promotes progression and metastasis of gastric cancer. The abundance of BRD4 in human gastric cancer tissues correlated with shortened metastasis-free gastric cancer patient survival. Consistently, BRD4 maintained invasiveness of cancer cells
and their dissemination at distal organs
. Surprisingly, BRD4 function in this context was independent of its putative transcriptional targets such as MYC or BCL2, but rather through stabilization of Snail at posttranslational levels. In an acetylation-dependent manner, BRD4 recognized acetylated lysine 146 (K146) and K187 on Snail to prevent Snail recognition by its E3 ubiquitin ligases FBXL14 and β-Trcp1, thereby inhibiting Snail polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Accordingly, genome-wide transcriptome analyses identified that BRD4 and Snail regulate a partially shared metastatic gene signature in gastric cancer cells. These findings reveal a noncanonical posttranscriptional regulatory function of BRD4 in maintaining cancer growth and dissemination, with immediate translational implications for treating gastric metastatic malignancies with clinically available bromodomain inhibitors. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings reveal a novel posttranscriptional regulatory function of the epigenetic reader BRD4 in cancer metastasis via stabilizing Snail, with immediate translational implication for treating metastatic malignancies with clinically available bromodomain inhibitors. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/79/19/4869/F1.large.jpg.
Biochar (BC) derived from waste products is a cost-effective sorbent for remediation of metal-contaminated soils. We studied the kinetics and adsorption mechanisms for removal of metal ions, such as ...lead (Pb2+) and cadmium (Cd2+) with biochar. The adsorption capacities of BC for Pb2+and Cd2+increased after alkaline treatment. The highest sorption capacities were 175.53 and 68.08 mg g–1, for Pb and Cd, respectively. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm and pseudo second kinetic equation could well fit the adsorption processes, revealing that the sorption mechanisms of Pb2+and Cd2+by BC are complex and predominantly controlled by chemisorption. BC has a higher affinity for Pb than Cd, due to easy hydrolysis of Pb at low pH. Furthermore, precipitation as carbonate minerals (2PbCO3·Pb(OH)2and CdCO3) and complexation with functional groups (carboxyl and hydroxyl) were also important for adsorption of Pb and Cd by BC.
Due to harsh electromagnetic environment in electric vehicle (EV), the measured current and voltage signals can be seriously polluted, which results in an estimation error of state of charge (SOC). ...The proposed denoising approach based on wavelet transform matrix (WTM) can analyze and denoise the nonstationary current and voltage signals effectively. This approach reduces the computation burden and is convenient to be programed in microcontroller unit, which is suitable for EV real-time application. The steps of the approach are as follows: 1) decomposition of the current and voltage signals based on WTM; 2) denoising of the wavelet coefficients under the thresholding rule; and 3) reconstruction of the denoised current and voltage signals based on inverse WTM. A battery-management system prototype was built to verify the approach on a Li(NiCoMn)O 2 battery module with nominal capacity of 200 Ah and rated voltage of 3.6 V. SOC estimation error with the proposed denoising approach is limited within 1%. Compared to the maximum error of 2.5% using an adaptive extended Kalman filter without denoising, an estimation error reduction of 1.5% is achieved.
In recent years, a variety of chaos-based digital image encryption algorithms have been suggested. Most of these algorithms implement permutations and diffusions at the pixel level by considering the ...pixel as the smallest (atomic) element of an image. In fact, a permutation at the bit level not only changes the position of the pixel but also alters its value. Here we propose an image cryptosystem employing the Arnold cat map for bit-level permutation and the logistic map for diffusion. Simulations have been carried out and analyzed in detail, demonstrating the superior security and high efficiency of our cryptosystem.
Introduction
The loss of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is associated with the etiology of diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study investigated the effects of circular RNA ZNF532 (circZNF532) ...on apoptosis and pyroptosis of RPE cells.
Materials and Methods
Blood samples were collected from patients with DR and healthy volunteers. A human RPE cell line ARPE‐19 was induced by high glucose (HG) and assayed for cell viability, apoptosis, and pyroptosis. The binding of miR‐20b‐5p with circZNF532 and STAT3 was confirmed by a luciferase activity assay. A mouse model of diabetic retinopathy was established.
Results
CircZNF532 and STAT3 were upregulated but miR‐20b‐5p was downregulated in the serum samples of patients with DR and HG‐induced ARPE‐19 cells. Elevated miR‐20b‐5p or CircZNF532 knockdown enhanced proliferation but reduced apoptosis and pyroptosis of ARPE‐19 cells. CircZNF532 sponged miR‐20b‐5p and inhibited its expression. STAT3 was verified as a target of miR‐20b‐5p. MiR‐20b‐5p modulated ARPE‐19 cell viability, apoptosis, and pyroptosis by targeting STAT3. Mice with STZ‐induced diabetes showed elevated expressions of circZNF532 and STAT3 but decreased the level of miR‐20b‐5p compared with the controls. Knockdown of circZNF532 inhibited apoptosis and pyroptosis in mouse retinal tissues.
Conclusion
CircZNF532 knockdown rescued human RPE cells from HG‐induced apoptosis and pyroptosis by regulating STAT3 via miR‐20b‐5p.
We report a possible axis of circZNF532, miR‐20b‐5p, and STAT3 that affects the pyroptosis of RPE cells in the setting of diabetic retinopathy (DR) conditions. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate whether circZNF532 would affect RPE cell pyroptosis in DR via miR‐20b‐5p and STAT3, thus providing a novel insight into the pathology of cell pyroptosis under conditions of DR.
•Self-adaptive permutation–diffusion and DNA random encoding are developed.•DNA random encoding firstly disarranges the bit distribution of the plaintext.•The quantization processes are disturbed by ...the intrinsic features of the plaintext.•The introduced disturbances can be automatically retrieved in the decryption end.•The reusability of the random variables dramatically promote the efficiency.
This paper presents a solution for secure and efficient image encryption with the help of self-adaptive permutation–diffusion and DNA random encoding. The plain image is firstly converted to DNA sequence using random encoding rules, so as to disarrange the bit distribution of the plaintext. A self-adaptive permutation–diffusion procedure is subsequently introduced for further encryption. The quantization processes of the permutation and diffusion procedures are disturbed by the intrinsic features of the plaintext, with the introduced disturbances can be automatically retrieved in the decryption end. The security of the system originates from the plaintext-related quantization of the encryption process which makes the cryptosystem secure against plaintext attack. Besides, the reusability of the random variables can dramatically promote the efficiency of the cryptosystem, which renders great potential for real-time secure image applications.
Due to the restricted use and ban of brominated flame retardants, organophosphorus compounds (OPs), extensively used as flame retardants and plasticizers, are ubiquitous in various environmental ...compartments worldwide. The present study shows that the release of OPs from a wide variety of commercial products and wastewater discharge might be considered as primary emission sources and that high potential of long-range atmospheric transport and persistence of OPs would be responsible for their presence in various matrices on a global scale. The occurrence and environmental behaviors of OPs in diverse matrices (e.g., dust, air, water, sediment, soil and biota) are reviewed. Human exposures to OPs via dermal contact, dust ingestion, inhalation and dietary intake are comprehensively evaluated. Finally, this study identifies gaps in the existing issues and generates a future agenda for the emerging contaminants OPs.
Display omitted
•Organophosphorus compounds (OPs) are ubiquitous in various environmental matrices worldwide.•Release of OPs from products and wastewater discharge are treated as primary emission sources.•High potentials of LRAT and persistence of OPs account for their global occurrence.•Dust intake is more important than inhalation and food intake for human, especially for toddlers.•Research gaps are concluded to define the directions and the primary emphasis of future studies.
The emission sources, environmental occurrence, toxicity and human exposure of organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers are fully reviewed.
Direct myocardial and vascular injuries due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection-driven inflammation is the leading cause of acute cardiac injury associated with ...coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, in-depth knowledge of the injury characteristics of the heart affected by inflammation is lacking. In this study, using a quantitative spatial proteomics strategy that combines comparative anatomy, laser-capture microdissection, and histological examination, we establish a region-resolved proteome map of the myocardia and microvessels with obvious inflammatory cells from hearts of patients with COVID-19. A series of molecular dysfunctions of myocardia and microvessels is observed in different cardiac regions. The myocardia and microvessels of the left atrial are the most susceptible to virus infection and inflammatory storm, suggesting more attention should be paid to the lesion and treatment of these two parts. These results can guide in improving clinical treatments for cardiovascular diseases associated with COVID-19.
Display omitted
•Spatial proteome maps of COVID-19 myocardia and microvessels are established•SARS-CoV-2-driven inflammation leads to region-resolved dysfunction of the heart•Mechanisms of dysregulated contraction, conduction, and circulation are elaborated•Myocardia and microvessels of the left atrium are affected by inflammation the most
Leng et al. establish a region-resolved proteome map of the inflammatory myocardia and microvessels of COVID-19 hearts. The myocardia and microvessels of the left atrium are the most affected by inflammation storm. These results could provide guidance in improvement of clinical treatments for cardiovascular diseases associated with COVID-19.
Lately, a number of image encryption algorithms that are either based on pixel level or bit level encryption have been proposed. However, not only pixel level permutation, but also bit level ...permutation has its intrinsic drawbacks. This paper proposes a new cryptosystem to address these drawbacks. Different kinds of permutation algorithms are first comprehensively analyzed and compared. Because, from a bit level perspective, an image can be considered as a natural three-dimensional (3D) bit matrix (width, height, and bit length), a new 3D bit matrix permutation is proposed, in which the Chen system is used to develop a random visiting mechanism to the bit level of the plain-image. By combining aspects of the Chen system with a 3D Cat map in the permutation stage, a new mapping rule is developed to map one random position to another random position (that is, double random position permutation) in the 3D matrix rather than using traditional sequential visiting to the plain-image. Simulations are carried out and the results confirm the security and efficiency of our new cryptosystem.
•The problems of pixel- or bit-level permutation are analyzed.•A 3D bit level permutation is proposed.•A random visiting to plain-image is proposed.
Despite a rich history of theoretical and empirical work showing that increasing biodiversity results in higher ecosystem function, this research has not made a commensurate impact on the reclamation ...of degraded lands, where enhancing ecosystem function is of primary importance.
In this study, we manipulated plant diversity on heavily degraded mine lands and showed that increasing plant diversity greatly enhanced the reclamation of these lands. We found that high‐diversity assemblages were often associated with more biomass, higher stability and less toxic foliage than low diversity treatments, although the monocultures of Miscanthus sinensis (the most productive species) performed equally well as some of the polycultures.
Our results showed that species composition and richness explained most of the total variation in biomass yield of the experimental plots, indicating that both the selection and complementarity effects influenced the positive diversity effects observed in this study.
Miscanthus sinensis and legumes (as a functional group) were found to be the main contributors to the selection effect. The plots with M. sinensis tended to harbour fewer soil fungal pathogens than those without it and a similar pattern was observed for the legumes, indicating a poorly known plant–soil fungal pathogen feedback for these plants. This kind of feedback appeared to play an important role also in shaping the positive plant species richness–ecosystem function relationships recorded in the degraded mine land. More importantly, we provide the first evidence that the observed plant–soil fungal pathogen feedbacks were likely mediated by chitinolytic bacteria that release anti‐fungal enzymes. Cellulose‐degrading bacteria that aid in plant decomposition and nutrient cycling also attained higher abundances in plots with higher plant diversity, suggesting the contribution of another kind of plant–soil feedback to the positive diversity effects.
Synthesis and applications. Our findings reveal that highly diverse plant assemblages are better able to spur plant–soil feedbacks and that increasing plant diversity is an important strategy to enhance land reclamation efficiency after contamination. Meanwhile, our results also indicate that some plants such as Miscanthus sinensis and legumes should be preferentially used to establish diverse plant communities for rapid reclamation of degraded lands.
抽象
在退化土地的生态恢复中，增强生态系统的功能显得尤为重要。虽然过往大量研究已经反复证明了增加生物多样性能够提高生态系统功能；但是，这些理论研究成果并没有在退化土地的生态恢复方面产生广泛的影响。
本研究在典型的退化土地——铅锌尾矿库上开展了一项大型的野外试验，探究生物多样性对退化土地生态恢复的影响及其机制。结果显示，增加生物多样性有助于退化土地生态恢复，能够提高重建生态系统（植物群落）的生产力与稳定性，降低有毒重金属在植物地上部的累积；但是，生产力最高的物种——芒草（Miscanthus sinensis）的单种样方在上述几个方面的表现与生物多样性最高的混种样方相当。
我们发现，物种的组成与丰富度解释了样方生物量的大部分变异。这说明选择效应和互补效应同时影响着本研究中所观察到的生物多样性对生态系统功能的正效应。
芒草和豆科植物是选择效应的主要贡献者。有芒草的样方的土壤病原真菌的相对丰度显著低于没有芒草的样方；类似地，有豆科植物的样方的土壤病原真菌的相对丰度也显著低于没有豆科植物的样方。这些结果暗示了一种我们了解甚少的芒草和豆科植物与土壤病原真菌之间的反馈机制；而正是这种的反馈积极推动了本研究发现的生物多样性——生态系统功能之间的正相关关系。更重要的是，本研究首次发现，上述植物类群与土壤病原真菌之间的反馈过程很可能是由能释放抗病原真菌物质的几丁质分解细菌所介导的。此外，在生物多样性高的样方中，有助于植物凋落物分解和碳循环的纤维素降解细菌的相对丰度也更高。这表明另一种此前未被报道的植物与土壤之间的反馈也对本研究观察到的生物多样性——生态系统功能关系做出了积极贡献。
总结与应用。本研究的结果表明，生物多样性高的植物群落能够更好地刺激植物与土壤之间的反馈，而增加植物群落的物种多样性无疑是提高退化土地生态恢复效率的重要策略。同时，我们的结果还表明，在退化土地生态恢复的实践中，应优先选用芒草和豆科植物来建立生物多样性较高的植物群落，从而达到高效快速地对退化土地进行生态恢复的目的。
Our findings reveal that highly diverse plant assemblages are better able to spur plant–soil feedbacks and that increasing plant diversity is an important strategy to enhance land reclamation efficiency after contamination. Meanwhile, our results also indicate that some plants such as Miscanthus sinensis and legumes should be preferentially used to establish diverse plant communities for rapid reclamation of degraded lands.
PDF
