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Remote sensing technology is widely used in geothermal resource investigation and prediction. To solve the problems of the low accuracy and many false anomalies in the traditional remote sensing geothermal prediction, this paper presents a method of remote sensing geothermal GIS prediction. Taking Ningdu, Jiangxi Province as the research area, the study on thermal geological conditions was carried out, and the indication functions of geology, remote sensing and geophysical exploration on geothermal energy were analyzed. Furthermore, 13 predictive factors including strata, magmatic rocks, thermal control faults, water control faults, fault intersection, ETM + thermal infrared inversion temperature, ASTER thermal infrared inversion temperature, hydroxyl anomaly, soil moisture, elevation, water system, aero-magnetism and gravity were put forward. Geothermal prediction was carried out with the methods of evidence-weight, prospecting information and characteristic analysis, and 79 geothermal favorable areas consisting of 12 places of Class A, 22 Class B and 45 Class C were delineated through comprehensive analysis. The known geothermal distribution coincides with Class A and Class B favorable areas, and the Class A favorable areas were partially found with geothermal anomalies by the field investigation, indicating high reliability of the prediction. Remote sensing geothermal GIS prediction is a practical and effective method because of its multi-source remote sensing data, incremental prediction factors and intelligence, which can be used as a conventional technique in geothermal resource survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imbalances in NAD+ homeostasis have been linked to aging and various diseases. Nicotine, a metabolite of the NAD+ metabolic pathway, has been found to possess anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remained unknown. Here we find that, independent of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, low-dose nicotine can restore the age-related decline of NAMPT activity through SIRT1 binding and subsequent deacetylation of NAMPT, thus increasing NAD+ synthesis. 18F-FDG PET imaging revealed that nicotine is also capable of efficiently inhibiting glucose hypermetabolism in aging male mice. Additionally, nicotine ameliorated cellular energy metabolism disorders and deferred age-related deterioration and cognitive decline by stimulating neurogenesis, inhibiting neuroinflammation, and protecting organs from oxidative stress and telomere shortening. Collectively, these findings provide evidence for a mechanism by which low-dose nicotine can activate NAD+ salvage pathways and improve age-related symptoms. Nicotine, a metabolite of the NAD+ metabolic pathway, has been found to possess anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remained unknown. Here, the authors show that low-dose nicotine promotes SIRT1 deacetylation of NAMPT and enhanced NAMPT activity which boosts NAD generation and improves age related symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT With-leaf (WL) storage and selling are becoming increasingly popular with consumers for its attractiveness and freshness. To better understand the changes of quality attributes in fruit stored WL, quality, antioxidant properties and volatile in 'Shatangju' mandarin were determined during the 9-week storage at 5C. WL storage decreased titratable acidity, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity determined by 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl but increased ethanol content significantly, whereas WL storage had no significant effects on the content of total soluble solids, acetaldehyde and total phenolics, and reducing power. Furthermore, WL storage decreased the diversity of volatile compounds quickly. Based on the study, 'Shatangju' mandarin fruit WL (packed with polyethylene film and fungicide-treated) could be stored at 5C for up to 7 weeks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study thoroughly describing the quality profile of fruit stored WL. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This paper reports on the changes of quality, antioxidant activity and volatile compositions of 'Shatangju' mandarin fruit stored with leaves (WLs) attached to the remaining pedicle at a temperature commonly encountered in the industry. From the results obtained, 'Shatangju' mandarin stored WL deteriorates much quicker than without leaf because of faster accumulation of acetaldehyde and ethanol, and decrease in total soluble solids, titratable acidity, total phenolics, flavonoids, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, reducing power and the volatile components. The results of the study suggest that a storage life of 7 weeks at 5C is recommended for commercial usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) demonstrate regionally selective susceptibility in Parkinson's disease (PD) compared to those in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). However, the molecular mechanism for this distinct vulnerability remains unclear. Here, it is shown that Legumain, also known as asparagine endopeptidase (AEP), is activated in a subgroup of SRY-box transcription factor 6 /Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1, (Sox6 + /ALDH1A1 + ) neurons in the ventral tier of the SNpc and cleaves Sox6 and ALDH1A1, leading to repression of Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 (Satb1) that is a dimeric/tetrameric transcription factor specifically binding to AT-rich DNA sequences, and toxic dopamine metabolite accumulation. AEP cuts Sox6 and ALDH1A1 in dopaminergic neurons that project to the locus coeruleus (LC), abolishing Sox6's transcriptive and ALDH1A1's enzymatic activities. Co-expressing AEP-truncated Sox6 and ALDH1A1 fragments in 3-month-old A53T SNCA transgenic mice accelerates dopamine degeneration, whereas expressing AEP-resistant Sox6 N336A/N446A and ALDH1A1 N220A mutants alleviates rotenone-induced PD pathologies. Hence, different circuitries and intrinsic properties of dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc and VTA render differential predispositions in PD., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) can induce hyperproliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), which is a key causative factor to the occurrence and progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We previously identified that miR-1181 is significantly downregulated by PDGFBB in human PASMCs. In this work, we further explore the function of miR-1181 and underlying regulatory mechanisms in PDGF-induced PASMCs. First, the expression pattern of miR-1181 was characterized under PDGFBB treatment, and PDGF receptor/PKCβ signaling was found to repress miR-1181 expression. Then, gain- and loss-of-function experiments were respectively conducted and revealed the prominent role of miR-1181 in inhibiting PASMC proliferation and migration. Flow cytometry analysis suggested that miR-1181 regulated the PASMC proliferation through influencing the cell cycle transition from G0/G1 to S phase. Moreover, we exhibited that miR-1181 targeting STAT3 formed a regulatory axis to modulate PASMC proliferation. Finally, serum miR-1181 expression was also observed to be reduced in adult and newborn patients with PAH. Overall, this study provides novel findings that the miR-1181/STAT3 axis mediated PDGFBB-induced dysfunction in human PASMCs, implying a potential use of miR-1181 as a therapeutic and diagnostic candidate for the vascular remodeling diseases.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate the proliferative status of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), which is a core factor modulating pulmonary vascular remodeling diseases, such as atherosclerosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Our previous work has shown that miR-4632, a rarely reported miRNA, is significantly downregulated in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-stimulated human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs), yet its cell function and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Here, we find that miR-4632 is highly expressed in HPASMCs and its expression significantly decreased in response to different stimuli. Functional studies revealed that miR-4632 inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of HPASMCs but had no effects on cell contraction and migration. Furthermore, the cJUN was identified as a direct target gene of miR-4632, while knockdown of cJUN was necessary for miR-4632-mediated HPASMC proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, the downregulation of miR-4632 by PDGF-BB was found to associate with histone deacetylation through the activation of PDGF receptor/phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/histone deacetylase 4 signaling. Finally, the expression of miR-4632 was reduced in the serum of patients with PAH. Overall, our results suggest that miR-4632 plays an important role in regulating HPASMC proliferation and apoptosis by suppression of cJUN, providing a novel therapeutic miRNA candidate for the treatment of pulmonary vascular remodeling diseases. It also implies that serum miR-4632 has the potential to serve as a circulating biomarker for PAH diagnosis., (Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.)