Search

Abstract In plants, B3 transcription factors play important roles in a variety of aspects of their growth and development. While the B3 transcription factor has been extensively identified and studied in numerous species, there is limited knowledge regarding its B3 superfamily in pepper. Through the utilization of genome-wide sequence analysis, we identified a total of 106 B3 genes from pepper (Capsicum annuum), they are categorized into four subfamilies: RAV, ARF, LAV, and REM. Chromosome distribution, genetic structure, motif, and cis-acting element of the pepper B3 protein were analyzed. Conserved gene structure and motifs outside the B3 domain provided strong evidence for phylogenetic relationships, allowing potential functions to be deduced by comparison with homologous genes from Arabidopsis. According to the high-throughput transcriptome sequencing analysis, expression patterns differ during different phases of fruit development in the majority of the 106 B3 pepper genes. By using qRT-PCR analysis, similar expression patterns in fruits from various time periods were discovered. In addition, further analysis of the CaRAV4 gene showed that its expression level decreased with fruit ripening and located in the nucleus. B3 transcription factors have been genome-wide characterized in a variety of crops, but the present study is the first genome-wide analysis of the B3 superfamily in pepper. More importantly, although B3 transcription factors play key regulatory roles in fruit development, it is uncertain whether B3 transcription factors are involved in the regulation of the fruit development and ripening process in pepper and their specific regulatory mechanisms because the molecular mechanisms of the process have not been fully explained. The results of the study provide a foundation and new insights into the potential regulatory functions and molecular mechanisms of B3 genes in the development and ripening process of pepper fruits, and provide a solid theoretical foundation for the enhancement of the quality of peppers and their selection and breeding of high-yield varieties.

Background Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Palbociclib (CDK 4/6 inhibitor), Gedatolisib (PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor) and PD0325901 (MEK1/2 inhibitor) in colorectal cancer (CRC), however single agent therapeutics are often limited by the development of resistance. Methods We compared the anti-proliferative effects of the combination of Gedatolisib and Palbociclib and Gedatolisib and PD0325901 in five CRC cell lines with varying mutational background and tested their combinations on total and phosphoprotein levels of signaling pathway proteins. Results The combination of Palbociclib and Gedatolisib was superior to the combination of Palbociclib and PD0325901. The combination of Palbociclib and Gedatolisib had synergistic anti-proliferative effects in all cell lines tested [CI range: 0.11–0.69] and resulted in the suppression of S6rp (S240/244), without AKT reactivation. The combination of Palbociclib and Gedatolisib increased BAX and Bcl−2 levels in PIK3CA mutated cell lines. The combination of Palbociclib and Gedatolisib caused MAPK/ERK reactivation, as seen by an increase in expression of total EGFR, regardless of the mutational status of the cells. Conclusion This study shows that the combination of Palbociclib and Gedatolisib has synergistic anti-proliferative effects in both wild-type and mutated CRC cell lines. Separately, the phosphorylation of S6rp may be a promising biomarker of responsiveness to this combination.

While renewable H2 evolution will require inexpensive, abundant catalysts, non-noble metals typically show relatively low activities. Here, authors examine lanthanide metal sesquioxide doped metallic Ni and show efficient, stable performances for alkaline H2 evolution electrocatalysis.

Sophora moorcroftiana is a leguminous plant endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It has excellent abiotic stress tolerance and is considered an ideal species for local ecological restoration. However, the lack of genetic diversity in the seed traits of S. moorcroftiana hinders its conservation and utilization on the plateau. Therefore, in this study, genotypic variation and phenotypic correlations were estimated for nine seed traits among 15 accessions of S. moorcroftiana over two years, 2014 and 2019, respectively from 15 sample points. All traits evaluated showed significant (P< 0.05) genotypic variation. In 2014, accession mean repeatability was high for seed perimeter, length, width, and thickness, and 100-seed weight. In 2019, mean repeatability for seed perimeter and thickness, and 100-seed weight were high. The estimates of mean repeatability for seed traits across the two years ranged from 0.382 for seed length to 0.781 for seed thickness. Pattern analysis showed that 100-seed weight was significantly positively correlated with traits such as seed perimeter, length, width, and thickness, and identified populations with breeding pool potential. In the biplot, principal components 1 and 2 explained 55.22% and 26.72% of the total variation in seed traits, respectively. These accessions could produce breeding populations for recurrent selection to develop S. moorcroftiana varieties suitable for restoring the fragile ecological environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Abstract Background Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare, recessively inherited neuromuscular disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness. There is a low degree of awareness about SMA amongst the public and healthcare providers, which may impact the perception of the disease and its proper management. To understand how this lack of awareness may have affected diagnosis, care and support for SMA patients and their caregivers, this study aims to investigate the impact of SMA on the lives and daily activities of SMA patients and their caregivers in Malaysia. Methods Nationwide recruitment was carried out via invitations coordinated by a local SMA advocacy organization. A mixed method cross-sectional study consisting of a self-administered questionnaire followed by in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) was conducted. The interview sessions were audio-taped, and verbatim transcripts analyzed thematically. Results Participants reported feeling stressed, anxious and depressed. There were issues with delayed diagnosis, lack of information from healthcare professionals about the disease progression, and limited access to supportive services like physiotherapy. Participants expressed their concerns living with self-doubt and turmoil with having to modify their lifestyles, relationships with family and friends, and challenges with educational and career opportunities. Various themes of their hopes for the future touched on having access to treatment, clinical trials, holistic care for symptom management, as well as improving infrastructure for disability access. Conclusion This study, to the best of our knowledge represents the first comprehensive study on SMA in South East Asia, highlights a plethora of issues and challenges experienced by persons with spinal muscular atrophy (PWSMA) and their caregivers in Malaysia, from the point of SMA diagnosis and throughout the management of care, in addition to the deep psychosocial impact of living with SMA. The significant findings of this study may contribute to a better understanding among stakeholders to make improvements in clinical practice, the education system, the work environment as well as holistic care support and society at large.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been successfully used in a variety of tumors, however, the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy for patients with glioma is limited. In this study, we tried to clarify gene expression signatures related to the prognosis of gliomas and construct a signature to predict the survival of patients with gliomas.Methods: Calcium-related differential expressed genes (DEGs) between gliomas and normal brain tissues were comprehensively analyzed in two independent databases. Univariate, multivariate Cox regression analysis and proportional hazards model were used to identify the prognostic of calcium-related risk score signature. The CIBERSORT algorithm and association analysis were carried out to evaluate the relationship between calcium-related signature and characteristic clinical features, tumor-infiltrating immune cell signatures as well as immune checkpoint molecules in glioma. A nomogram model was developed for predicting the overall survival for patients with gliomas.Results: We found the intersection of 415 DEGs between gliomas and normal brain tissues, and identified that an eighteen calcium-related gene panel was significantly enriched in these DEGs. A calcium-related signature derived risk score was developed to divide patients into high- and low-risk groups. Low levels of calcium-related gene expression in high-risk score cases were accompanied with worse outcomes of patients. Calcium-related risk scores were significantly associated with characteristic clinical features, immune infiltrating signatures of tumor microenvironment, and exhausted T cell markers including programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), lymphocyte activating 3 (LAG3), and T cell membrane protein 3 (TIM-3), which contribute to an adverse therapeutic effect of immunotherapy. Calcium-related signature risk score was considered as an independent prognostic parameter to predict the of overall survival of patients with gliomas in nomogram model.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that calcium signaling pathway is highly associated with immunosuppression of gliomas and overall survival of patients. Targeting the calcium signaling pathway might be a new strategy to reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment of gliomas and improve the efficacy of glioma immunotherapy.

Since the advent of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), researchers have paid extensive attention to MOFs due to their determined structural composition, controllable pore size, and diverse physical and chemical properties. Photocatalysis, as a significant application of MOFs catalysts, has developed rapidly in recent years and become a research hotspot continuously. Various methods and approaches to construct and modify MOFs and their derivatives can not only affect the structure and morphology, but also largely determine their properties. Herein, we summarize the advanced synthesis of MOFs-based materials in the field of the photocatalytic decomposition of water to produce hydrogen in the recent three years. The main contents include the overview of the novel synthesis strategies in four aspects: internal modification and structure optimization of MOFs materials, MOFs/semiconductor composites, MOFs/COFs-based hybrids, and MOFs-derived materials. In addition, the problems and challenges faced in this direction and the future development goals were also discussed. We hope this review will help deepen the reader’s understanding and promote continued high-quality development in this field.

Abstract: Oil quenching is applied to a Ti-45Al-7.5b alloy (in at%) in order to investigate the occurrence of local “hot spots” during rapid cooling from the single α-phase region. After quenching the microstructure consists of large α 2-Ti3Al grains and a small volume fraction of massively transformed γ m-TiAl particles. The majority of the γ m-particles show a featureless α 2/γ m interface, whereas in the immediate vicinity of some γ m-particles lamellar α 2/γ-structures exist, exhibiting a Blackburn orientation relationship. The extension into the α 2-parent grain is in the range of 1–10 μm. In this study it is investigated, if the diffusion-controlled formation of the γ-laths is triggered by the release of latent heat during the α → γ m transformation, which leads to a local increase in temperature by a hot spot effect. A theoretical model is presented, which describes the temperature conditions around the hot spot. The model predicts that the life time of the hot spot is much too short to generate γ-laths observed with a length of 1–10 μm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Materials surface properties were improved by the application of a rf glow discharge treatment for vacuum and electronic applications. The surface morphology was studied under different glow discharge treatments and it could be shown by experiments that the roughness of materials surface varied due to the glow discharge treating process and that a clean and smooth surface could be obtained after the treatment. The experimental results revealed that the outgassing rates for different gases decreased and the evacuating properties for the materials improved following the application of the glow discharge treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weekly PM2.5 samples were collected for one year in Beijing and Shanghai and the carbonaceous species analyzed to investigate and compare their time series patterns and possible sources in the two biggest cities of China. Weekly carbonaceous concentrations varied in wide ranges with 8.6-59 µgm-3 for OC and 1.5-25.4 µgm-3 for EC in Beijing, and with 5.1-38.4 µgm-3 for OC and 2.3-13.0 µgm-3 for EC in Shanghai. The annual average concentrations of OC and EC in PM2.5 were 23.9 and 8.8 µgm-3 in Beijing and 14.6 and 6.10 µgm-3 in Shanghai, respectively. Similar weekly variations of OC and EC concentrations were found for both cities with much higher concentrations in late fall through winter, probably due to enhanced emissions coupled with unfavorable meteorological conditions. The estimated SOC accounted for high portion of the total OC in both Beijing and Shanghai throughout the year, indicating SOC may be an important contributor to fine organic aerosol in these urban areas. In Beijing, the C14 analysis of limited samples suggested there was a significant contribution of modern carbon to the total fine carbonaceous particulate burden with higher fractions in the harvest seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weekly PM2.5 samples were collected for one year in Beijing and Shanghai and the carbonaceous species analyzed to investigate and compare their time series patterns and possible sources in the two biggest cities of China. Weekly carbonaceous concentrations varied in wide ranges with 8.6-59 µgm-3 for OC and 1.5-25.4 µgm-3 for EC in Beijing, and with 5.1-38.4 µgm-3 for OC and 2.3-13.0 µgm-3 for EC in Shanghai. The annual average concentrations of OC and EC in PM2.5 were 23.9 and 8.8 µgm-3 in Beijing and 14.6 and 6.10 µgm-3 in Shanghai, respectively. Similar weekly variations of OC and EC concentrations were found for both cities with much higher concentrations in late fall through winter, probably due to enhanced emissions coupled with unfavorable meteorological conditions. The estimated SOC accounted for high portion of the total OC in both Beijing and Shanghai throughout the year, indicating SOC may be an important contributor to fine organic aerosol in these urban areas. In Beijing, the C14 analysis of limited samples suggested there was a significant contribution of modern carbon to the total fine carbonaceous particulate burden with higher fractions in the harvest seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shengmai injection (SMI), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl., and Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., has been used to treat acute and chronic heart failure. This study aimed to further clarify the effects of SMI on energy metabolism. SMI could improve cell-survival rate and also reduce myocardial cell hypertrophy and apoptosis. Mitochondria are important sites of cellular energy metabolism, and SMI protects mitochondrial function which was evaluated by mitochondrial ultrastructure, mitochondrial respiratory control ratio (RCR), and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in this study. The expression levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and phosphocreatine (PCr) increased. The expression levels of free fatty acid oxidation [carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1)], glucose oxidation [glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4)], and mitochondrial biogenesis-related genes (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α [PGC-1α]) were upregulated after SMI treatment. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important signaling pathway regulating energy metabolism and also can regulate the above-mentioned indicators. In the present study, SMI was found to promote phosphorylation of AMPK. However, the effects of SMI on fatty acid, glucose oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, as well as inhibiting apoptosis of hypertrophic cardiomyocytes were partly blocked by AMPK inhibitor–compound C. Moreover, decreased myocardial hypertrophy and apoptosis treated by SMI were inhibited by AMPK knockdown with shAMPK to a certain degree and AMPK knockdown almost abolished the SMI-induced increase in the expression of GLUT-4, CPT-1, and PGC-1α. These data suggest that SMI suppressed Ang II–induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis via activation of the AMPK signaling pathway through energy-dependent mechanisms.

An investigation of cross-cultural differences between the United States, Japan, and China in perceptions of male to female intimate partner violence, and in the extent to which gender and traditional attitudes toward women related to these perceptions. College students (n = 943) read two fictitious scenarios describing marital and dating violence. MANOVA results showed gender differences in the perceptions of violence between the three countries. Male participants had more traditional attitudes toward women and placed more blame on female victims. The magnitude of the difference between women’s and men’s scores was much smaller for Japanese students than for American and Chinese students. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses demonstrated that the effects of respondent gender were reduced when traditional attitudes toward women were taken into account. Differences in beliefs about appropriate gender roles still exist among college students in these countries and may be related to socially tolerant attitudes toward violence against women.

Abstract: V2O5 films were grown onto MgO (100) substrates by reactive magnetron sputtering between 26 °C to 300 °C to establish a detailed synthesis–structure relation. The effect of deposition temperature on structural characteristics and surface morphology was characterized using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Films prepared at room temperature are amorphous while those deposited above 80 °C exhibit a polycrystalline structure with the orthorhombic symmetry of the V2O5 phase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Progress toward racial equality over the course of U.S. history has not been linear, and reductions in racial inequalities have historically been met with racist backlash. In the current research, we examine whether shifts in racial inequalities in key structural areas in recent decades can be used to predict implicit and explicit racial attitudes among White U.S. residents ( N = 222,203). Consistent with the hypothesis that increasing racial equality is threatening, the majority of the statistically significant effects we observed indicated increased pro-White attitudes among White residents of states where racial inequalities decreased over time. State-level reductions in racial inequalities related to government assistance and employment-which have both been highly politicized-were predictive of greater pro-White attitudes among White U.S. residents. Overall, the current findings provide suggestive evidence that reductions in state-level racial inequalities may threaten the status quo, heightening pro-White attitudes among White U.S. residents., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive and lethal carcinoma. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) serve key regulatory functions in pancreatic cancer. Ferroptosis was induced by erastin treatment and analyzed by examining malondialdehyde (MDA), iron, Fe 2+ and glutathione (GSH). C11-BODIPY 581/591 was used to stain cells for analyzing lipid peroxidation. RNA immunoprecipitation, pull-down and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were applied to evaluate intermolecular interaction. Mice received subcutaneous injection of pancreatic cancer cells as a model of subcutaneous tumor for in vivo tests. Circ&#95;0005397 was abundantly expressed in pancreatic cancer, and its upregulation was associated with low survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. Circ&#95;0005397 expression was induced by EIF4A3. PCBP2 was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer, and circ&#95;0005397 and PCBP2 were positively correlated in patients with pancreatic cancer. Circ&#95;0005397 knockdown sensitized pancreatic carcinoma cells to ferroptosis via downregulating PCBP2. Circ&#95;0005397 promoted PCBP2 transcription via facilitating the binding of KAT6A and H3K9ac to PCBP2 promoter. Silencing of circ&#95;0005397 reduced tumor growth by enhancing erastin-induced ferroptosis in vivo. EIF4A3-induced circ&#95;0005397 inhibited erastin-induced ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer by promoting PCBP2 expression through KAT6A and H3K9ac., (© 2024 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.)

Background: The Da Vinci Surgical System (DVSS) has the advantages of minimal invasion, rapid recovery, safety, and reliability. Although the DVSS has been widely used in various abdominal surgeries, descriptions of its use in robot-assisted retroperitoneal tumor resection (RRTR) are limited to case reports; large-sample systematic studies are lacking. The present study was performed to analyze the data of RRTR in our center, summarize our experience, and provide a reference for other retroperitoneal tumor centers., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 105 patients who underwent RRTR at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2015 to December 2022. Logistic univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors affecting RRTR. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to find the cut-off value, which was then included in the logistic multivariate analysis for verification., Results: Among the 105 patients, 87 successfully underwent RRTR (DVSS group) and 18 underwent conversion to open surgery (conversion group). There was no significant difference in sex, age, body mass index, history of abdominal surgery, or tumor location between the two groups (P > 0.05). The maximum tumor diameter [odds ratio (OR), 1.041; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.015-1.067; P = 0.002] and pathological property (OR, 8.646; 95% CI, 2.370-31.544; P = 0.001) were independent risk factors for conversion to open surgery. Further analysis confirmed that the success rate of RRTR was higher for tumors with a maximum diameter of ≤64 mm and benign tumors. Based on our experience and statistical results, we believe that retroperitoneal tumors that meet the following criteria have a higher success rate of DVSS resection: maximum tumor diameter of ≤64 mm, benign tumors, the tumor has relatively clear boundary, no obvious invasion of surrounding tissues and organs, and no need for combined organ resection., Conclusions: RRTR is safe and effective in the treatment of RPT, and the clinical prognosis is similar to that of open surgery. The success rate of RRTR in patients with appropriate surgical indications for this procedure is higher., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Hao, Cha, Zhou, Li, Gong, Li, Dong, Song, Wu, Guo, Qiu, Wang and Tian.)