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With the increasing utilization of urban underground space in densely populated cities, it is crucial to understand the interactive impact of the excavation sequence on the excavation group of foundation pits. The foundation pit of Tianta Station of Tianjin Metro Line 7 was adjacent to a deep foundation pit of an apartment, which provided a good case for the study of simultaneous excavation of foundation pits. In this paper, based on two deep foundation pit excavation projects, a finite element model was established to better understand the mutual influence of simultaneous foundation pit excavation. The responses of the two deep foundation pits under five different excavation sequences were investigated, including the horizontal displacement of the ground-connected wall and the displacement of the top of the wall, the settlement of the ground surface, and the supporting axial force of the basement floor slab. The position of the maximum horizontal displacement in different modes is the same, and the shape of the deformation curve was fish-bellied. When both pits B and C were excavated simultaneously, the surface settlement between adjacent pits was smaller than in other working conditions. Mode 5 is optimal among these five modes, in which not only the construction progress is the fastest but also the underground wall deformation and the ground settlement are relatively small. The findings and lessons learned from these two adjacent pits, both of which were constructed using the cap-and-reverse method, can help professionals optimize excavation design and construction, as well as performance prediction and control.

Summary: The p53 tumor suppressor exerts antitumor functions through its ability to regulate the transcription of its downstream targets. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors implicated in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Here, we identify the lncRNA LINC00324 (long intergenic noncoding RNA 00324) as a direct p53 transcriptional target. Knockdown of LINC00324 expression promotes tumor growth by reducing p53 transcriptional activity, whereas ectopic LINC00324 expression demonstrates a reverse effect. Notably, LINC00324 is present in the endogenous p53 complex in tumor cells and directly binds to the C-terminal domain of p53 in vitro. Mechanistically, LINC00324 enables p53 transactivation by competitively disrupting the p53-SET interaction, resulting in an increase of p300/CBP-mediated H3K18 and H3K27 acetylation on the p53 target promoters. Lower LINC00324 expression is associated with more aggressive disease status and predicts worse overall survival of patients with cancer. Our study identifies a p53/LINC00324 positive feedback loop that suppresses tumor growth by counteracting SET-mediated transcriptional repression.

Whether protein samples should be pretreated to remove nonspecific binding proteins in co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) is controversial. In this work, nonspecific binding of proteins to agarose beads was found to be greater than that to magnetic beads. The nonspecific binding was increased with the decrease of ion concentrations but reduced by Nonidet P40. Western blot indicated that p65 and β-actin were present as nonspecifically bound protein to the beads. p53 and β-actin were present in the CO-IP precipitates of nuclear proteins but pretreatment cleared the nonspecifically pulled down p53 and β-actin. These data suggest that magnetic beads are better for CO-IP, but preclearing is necessary to minimize false positive regardless of which bead is used, particularly for nuclear proteins.

Background: Platelet lysate (PL), a novel platelet derivative, has been widely used in regenerative medicine and is a potential therapy for improving hair growth. It is necessary to fully clarify the potential mechanism and evaluate preliminary clinical effect of PL on hair growth. Methods: We used the C57BL/6 model, organ-cultured hair follicles, and RNA-seq analysis to explore the mechanisms of PL regulating hair growth. Then, we performed a randomized, controlled, double-blind study of 107 AGA patients to verify the therapeutic efficacy of PL. Results: The results confirmed that PL improved hair growth and accelerated hair cycling in mice. Organ-cultured hair follicle evaluation confirmed that PL prolonged anagen remarkably and down-regulated IL-6, C-FOS, and p-STAT5a. Clinically, diameter, hair counts, absolute anagen counts and changes from baseline in the PL group showed a significant improvement at 6 months. Conclusions: We elucidated the specific molecular mechanism of PL action on hair growth and proved equal changes in hair follicle performance after PL vs PRP in AGA patients. This study provided novel knowledge of PL, making it ideal for AGA.

BackgroundThis study applied machine learning (ML) algorithms to construct a model for predicting EN initiation for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and identifying populations in need of EN at an early stage.MethodsThis study collected patient information from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database. All patients enrolled were split randomly into a training set and a validation set. Six ML models were established to evaluate the initiation of EN, and the best model was determined according to the area under curve (AUC) and accuracy. The best model was interpreted using the Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME) algorithm and SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) values.ResultsA total of 53,150 patients participated in the study. They were divided into a training set (42,520, 80%) and a validation set (10,630, 20%). In the validation set, XGBoost had the optimal prediction performance with an AUC of 0.895. The SHAP values revealed that sepsis, sequential organ failure assessment score, and acute kidney injury were the three most important factors affecting EN initiation. The individualized forecasts were displayed using the LIME algorithm.ConclusionThe XGBoost model was established and validated for early prediction of EN initiation in ICU patients.

Dopamine is a catecholamine and an anti-oxidant which functions in responses to stress and it interacts with plant hormones to mediate plant development. At present, there are few studies on the functions of dopamine in apple. This study developed a method for dopamine determination which was used to analyze dopamine in Malus germplasm, in order to clarify the tissue distribution, developmental changes, diurnal variations, and stress responses in apple trees. First, the proposed method was verified. The linear range of quantification was robust from 0.1 to 20 ng mL−1. The instrumental, inter-day precision, and sample repeatability relative standard deviations were 1.024, 5.607, and 7.237%, respectively. The spiked recovery was greater than 100%, indicating the feasibility of the method and its suitability for the rapid analysis of dopamine in Malus. Next, the dopamine content was measured in 322 Malus tissues. The results showed that the dopamine level in Malus was low and the average dopamine content in leaf was higher than in peel and flesh. The dopamine had a skewed distribution that deviated to the right in cultivars and wild accessions. Finally, the tissue specificity, developmental changes, diurnal changes, and responses to stress were analyzed. In cultivar ‘Pinova’ (Malus domestica), the dopamine concentration was the highest in leaf buds and lowest in flesh. The dopamine contents in leaf and flesh decreased with the growth and development of cultivar ‘Liangxiang’ (Malus domestica). The dopamine content of apple leaves was higher after either drought or salinity stress as compared to the control. In this study, a dopamine detection method for apple was established based on HPLC-MS and shown to be a robust approach. This study provides a framework for future research on elucidating the tissue distribution, developmental changes, diurnal variation, and stress responses of dopamine in apple trees.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified trabeculectomy (experimental group) and implantation of EX-PRESS drainage device (control group), combined with intravitreal conbercept injection for neovascular glaucoma (NVG). METHODS: Totally 30 patients with NVG were selected from June 2014 to June 2017, and randomly divided into experimental group and control group. All patients were underwent intravitreal conbercept (0.5 mg/0.05 mL) treatment before surgery. Modified trabeculectomy was performed in MT group, while EX-PRESS drainage device implantation was performed in EX group. The success rates, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), filtering bleb and complications were observed and compared. RESULTS: The differences of success rate, BCVA and filtering bleb were not statistically significant 12mo after the surgery (P>0.05), however, the difference of IOP at 1d, 1wk, 1, 3, and 6mo after surgery was statistically significant (Ftime=390.64, Ptime0.05), while the results at other time point indicate statistical differences (P

Abstract The objective of this study was to explore the effects and underlying intervention mechanisms of Angelica water extract (AWE) on abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) based on serum metabolomics. Firstly, the concentration of main active substances in AWE was determined and the chemical components were identified by UPLC‐Q‐Exactive Orbitrap‐MS/MS. A drug‐induced abortion model was established by mifepristone and misoprostol. After administration AWE (2.16 g/kg) for 7 days, the coagulation function, serum hormone levels, H&E staining, and immunohistochemistry observation of uterus were detected. In addition, serum metabolites profiles were performed on ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole–time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS). The contents of ferulic acid, senkyunolide A, and ligustilide in AWE were 0.7276, 0.0868, and 1.9908 mg/g, respectively. Twenty‐six compounds were identified in AWE. It was found that AWE was effective in regulation of coagulation function and promoting endometrial recovery. Meanwhile, the levels of E2, Pg, and HCG and the expression of ERα, Erβ, and PR were down‐regulated in AUB model and up‐regulated by the treatment of AWE. Twenty‐one potential biomarkers were eventually identified by multivariate statistical analysis. Study indicated that glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, amino acids, retinol metabolism and primary bile acid biosynthesis were the main related metabolic pathways involved for the treatment of AUB by AWE. The results showed that AWE has potential therapeutic effect on AUB by altering the metabolic aberrations.

With the increase in municipal-solid-waste (MSW) production, energy usage, and the curb of the landfill, it has developed the need of our society to use local MSW under the vision of waste-to-energy (WTE). WTE conversion is an environment-friendly way for disposing of MSW around the globe, in this study examining the usage of plastic, wood, and cloth for the refused derived fuels (RDFs) production. RDF is solitary of MSW energy yields, whose reliability and superiority are analysed in the current work. Three different RDFs had been assumed from diverse waste streams accessible at the plant site to propose the best RDF based on energy-efficiency. Plastics, wood, and cloth are the principal constituents in the method of occupied RDFs like RDF-I, RDF-II and RDF-III, respectively. The results demonstrated that the RDF-I holds a high amount of carbon as-well-as hydrogen content and adequate calorific value, which leads to a better fuel-quality and have better activation energy. Thermogravimetric analysis had shown, with the increase in the volatile matter fraction of RDFs, the retention time under the combustion atmosphere has remained increased accordingly and kinetic analysis showed the great activation energy value as compared to the other samples. Regarding all results, RDF-I was recommended to be a good option for energy applications and can be used as a fuel for numerous combustion reactions.

Worldwide, termites are one of few social insects. In this research, the stages of embryonic development in the parthenogenetic and sexual eggs of Reticulitermes aculabialis and R. flaviceps were observed and described. In R. flaviceps, the egg development of the FF and FM groups happened during the early phases of development, whereas in R. aculabialis, this appeared mainly during the late phase of development. The variance in the number of micropyles between the R. flaviceps FF colony type and the R. aculabialis FF colony type was statistically significant. Five stages of egg development were found in both types of R. aculabialis but only the sexual eggs of R. flaviceps. In R. flaviceps, 86% of the parthenogenetic eggs stopped growing during the blastoderm development, with the yolk cell assembling frequently in the center of the egg. According to the results of the single-cell transcriptome sequencing, we investigated the egg-to-larval expression level of genes (pka, map2k1, mapk1/3, hgk, mkp, and pax6) and indicated that the levels of essential gene expression in RaFF were considerably higher than in RfFF (p < 0.05). We also discovered that the oocyte cleavage rate in the FF colony type was considerably lower in R. flaviceps compared to R. aculabialis, which gave rise to a smaller number of mature oocytes in R. flaviceps. During ovulation in both species, oocytes underwent activation and one or two cleavage events, but the development of unfertilized eggs ceased in R. flaviceps. It was shown that termite oocyte and embryonic development were heavily influenced by genes with significant expressions. Results from the databases KEGG, COG, and GO unigenes revealed the control of numerous biological processes. This study is the first to complete a database of parthenogenetic and sexual eggs of R. flaviceps and R. aculabialis.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as vital regulators of gene expression during embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and differentiation. Here, we systemically analyzed the differentially regulated lncRNAs during ESC-derived cardiomyocyte (CM) differentiation. We established a perspicuous profile of lncRNA expression at four critical developmental stages and found that the differentially expressed lncRNAs were grouped into six distinct clusters. The cluster with specific expression in ESC enriches the largest number of lncRNAs. Investigation of lncRNA-protein interaction network revealed that they are not only controlled by classic key transcription factors, but also modulated by epigenetic and epitranscriptomic factors including N6-methyladenosine (m6A) effector machineries. A detailed inspection revealed that 28 out of 385 lncRNAs were modified by methylation as well as directly recruited by the nuclear m6A reader protein Ythdc1. Unlike other 27 non-coding transcripts, the ESC-specific lncRNA Gm2379, located in both nucleus and cytoplasm, becomes dramatically upregulated in response to the depletion of m6A or Ythdc1. Consistent with the role of m6A in cell fate regulation, depletion of Gm2379 results in dysregulated expressions of pluripotent genes and crucial genes required for the formation of three germ layers. Collectively, our study provides a foundation for understanding the dynamic regulation of lncRNA transcriptomes during ESC differentiation and identifies the interplay between epitranscriptomic modification and key lncRNAs in the regulation of cell fate decision.

Dopamine plays numerous physiological roles in plants. We explored its role in the regulation of growth, nutrient absorption, and response to nitrogen (N) deficiency in Malus hupehensis Rehd. Under low N condition, plant growth slowed, and the net photosynthetic rates, chlorophyll contents, and maximal quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) decreased significantly. However, the application of 100 μmol L−1 exogenous dopamine significantly reduced the inhibition of low N stress on plant growth. In addition to modifying root system architecture under low N supply, exogenous dopamine also changed the uptake, transport, and distribution of N, P, and K. Furthermore, exogenous dopamine enhances the tolerance to low nitrogen stress by increasing the activity of enzymes (nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, glutamic acid synthase and glutamine synthetase) involved in N metabolism. We also found that exogenous dopamine promoted the expression of ethylene signaling genes (ERF1, ERF2, EIL1, ERS2, ETR1, and EIN4) under low N stress. Therefore, we hypothesized that ethylene might be involved in dopamine response to low N stress in M. hupehensis. Our results suggest that exogenous dopamine can mitigate low N stress by regulating the absorption of mineral nutrients, possibly through the regulation of the ethylene signaling pathway.

Background: Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is one of the major causative pathogens of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). Immune cells play a critical role in determining the outcomes of virus infection. We aimed to characterize the lymphocyte subsets and transcriptional levels of T lymphocytes-associated transcription factors in peripheral blood cells of children with EV71 infection. Methods: Peripheral blood samples from 32 children with EV71 infection and 32 control subjects were included in this study. The frequencies of T-, B-lymphocytes, and their subsets were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of transcription factors, including T-bet, Gata3, ROR γ t, Foxp3, TCF-1, and BCL-6 in the whole blood cells were evaluated by real-time reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: The frequencies of T cells, helper T cells (Th), cytotoxic T cells (Tc), IFN-γ+ Th1, IFN-γ+ Tc1, and regulatory T (Treg) cells were significantly decreased (P

With the increase in the depth of large-scale open-pit mining, many mines have to face problems such as what is the effect of open-pit blasting on the rock slope and how to ensure the stability of a high-steep slope. The east slope of the Beizhan iron mine in Hejing County, Xinjiang, belongs to the typical open-pit high and steep slope of mined hanging-wall ore. To study the effect of open-pit blasting vibrations on hanging-wall slope stability, the intelligent blasting vibration detector was used to monitor the open-pit blasting wave of the Beizhan iron mine and the corresponding numerical model was established. We fitted the transmission law of slope blasting vibration by Sodev’s regression formula and calculated stress, strain, and vibration velocity of the whole slope by numerical simulation. The result showed that the fitting functional relationship was correct and could be the basic rule of predicting the maximum charge amount per delay interval and minimum safe distance for this area. The estimated open-pit blasting charge weight was reasonable and blasting vibrations would have little effect on the hanging-wall slope. The research method and conclusions in this article have numerous reference values for studying the hanging-wall slope’s kinetic stability.

Abstract. Background:. Clinical outcomes of undifferentiated arthritis (UA) are diverse, and only 40% of patients with UA develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after 3 years. Discovering predictive markers at disease onset for further intervention is critical. Therefore, our objective was to analyze the clinical outcomes of UA and ascertain the predictors for RA development. Methods:. We performed a prospective, multi-center study from January 2013 to October 2016 among Chinese patients diagnosed with UA in 22 tertiary-care hospitals. Clinical and serological parameters were obtained at recruitment. Follow-up was undertaken in all patients every 12 weeks for 2 years. Predictive factors of disease progression were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. Results:. A total of 234 patients were recruited in this study, and 17 (7.3%) patients failed to follow up during the study. Among the 217 patients who completed the study, 83 (38.2%) patients went into remission. UA patients who developed RA had a higher rheumatoid factor (RF)-positivity (42.9% vs. 16.8%, χ2 = 8.228, P = 0.008), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody-positivity (66.7% vs. 10.7%, χ2 = 43.897, P

Several functions have been proposed for m6A in RNA metabolism, yet little is known regarding the specific functions of individual m6A readers. Here, the authors observe that the m6A reader YTHDC2 — which contains an RNA helicase domain — acts on the coding region to promotes mRNA translation by resolving secondary structures.

Adipogenesis is mediated by the complex gene expression networks involving the posttranscriptional modifications. The natural compound rhein has been linked to the regulation of adipogenesis, but the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Herein, we systematically analyzed the effects of rhein on adipogenesis at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Rhein remarkably suppresses adipogenesis in the stage-specific and dose-dependent manners. Rhein has been identified to inhibit fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) demethylase activity. Surprisingly, side-by-side comparison analysis revealed that the rhein treatment and Fto knockdown triggered the differential gene regulatory patterns, resulting in impaired adipocyte formation. Specifically, rhein treatment mildly altered the transcriptome with hundreds of genes dysregulated. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylome profile showed that, although the supply of rhein induced increased m6A levels on a small subset of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), few of them showed dramatic transcriptional response to this compound. Moreover, the specific rhein-responsive mRNAs, which are linked to mitotic pathway, are barely methylated or contain m6A peaks without dramatic response to rhein, suggesting separate regulation of global m6A pattern and adipogenesis mediated by rhein. Further identification of m6A-independent pathways revealed a positive regulator, receptor expressing-enhancing protein 3 (REEP3), in guidance of adipogenesis. Hence, this study provides the mechanistic view of the cellular actions of rhein in the modulation of adipogenesis and identifies a potential novel target for obesity therapeutic research.

Light olefins are important raw materials in the petrochemical industry for the production of many chemical products. In the past few years, remarkable progress has been made in the synthesis of light olefins (C2–C4) from methanol or syngas. The separation of light olefins by porous materials is, therefore, an intriguing research topic. In this work, single-component ethylene (C2H4) and propylene (C3H6) gas adsorption and binary C3H6/C2H4 (1:9) gas breakthrough experiments have been performed for three highly porous isostructural metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) denoted as Fe2M-L (M = Mn2+, Co2+, or Ni2+), three representative MOFs, namely ZIF-8 (also known as MAF-4), MIL-101(Cr), and HKUST-1, as well as an activated carbon (activated coconut charcoal, SUPELCO©). Single-component gas adsorption studies reveal that Fe2M-L, HKUST-1, and activated carbon show much higher C3H6 adsorption capacities than MIL-101(Cr) and ZIF-8, HKUST-1 and activated carbon have relatively high C3H6/C2H4 adsorption selectivity, and the C2H4 and C3H6 adsorption heats of Fe2Mn-L, MIL-101(Cr), and ZIF-8 are relatively low. Binary gas breakthrough experiments indicate all the adsorbents selectively adsorb C3H6 from C3H6/C2H4 mixture to produce purified C2H4, and 842, 515, 504, 271, and 181 cm3 g−1 C2H4 could be obtained for each breakthrough tests for HKUST-1, activated carbon, Fe2Mn-L, MIL-101(Cr), and ZIF-8, respectively. It is worth noting that C3H6 and C2H4 desorption dynamics of Fe2Mn-L are clearly faster than that of HKUST-1 or activated carbon, suggesting that Fe2M-L are promising adsorbents for C3H6/C2H4 separation with low energy penalty in regeneration.

The increased consciousness in greenhouse emissions has encouraged the expansion of new technologies to accommodate the internment and appropriation of carbon dioxide. Demineralisation handling by leaching consuming different reagents, including hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, as well as sodium hydroxide, were considered intended for ash reduction and their effects on the physical, chemical, and thermal behaviour of wheat straw. Dilute-acid reagents reduced the maximum ash content in biomass as 92.94 % in the case of 0.6 mol of HCl, followed by 0.4 mol of HNO3 having 90.75 % ash reduction. While in the case of basic reagent, 0.2 mol of NaOH reduced 85.73 % ash having lower value than the acidic reagents. The acidic leached samples show higher heating value than the basic one as the calorific value is increased by more than 4.15 % and decreased by 3.95 %. It is because the basic reagents rescind the assembly of the hydrocarbon, as portrayed through SEM and FTIR spectra.

Novel porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3), first identified in the United States, has been detected in many other countries. Porcine circovirus is associated with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome, reproductive failure, congenital tremors, and other clinical symptoms. In this study, we established a double polymerase chain reaction assay for detecting both porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and PCV3. This is the first study to detect and characterize the PCV3 genome in the Tianjin region of North China. We collected a total of 169 tissue samples from seven farms between 2016 and 2018. The PCV3-positive rate of all tissue samples was 37.3% (63/169) and the rate of PCV2 and PCV3 coinfection was 14.8% (25/169). PCV2 and PCV3 coinfections with more serious clinical symptoms were found in only three farms. We sequenced three PCV3 strains selected from tissue samples that were positively identified. The complete genome sequences of the three strains shared 97.6–99.4% nucleotide identities with the PCV3 strains in GenBank. Our results showed the extent of PCV3’s spread in Tianjin, and the need to further study PCV3’s pathobiology, epidemiology, isolation, and coinfection.

Abstract Tens of thousands of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been developed in the past two decades, and only ≈100 of them have been demonstrated as porous and hydrophobic. These hydrophobic MOFs feature not only a rich structural variety, highly crystalline frameworks, and uniform micropores, but also a low affinity toward water and superior hydrolytic stability, which make them promising adsorbents for diverse applications, including humid CO2 capture, alcohol/water separation, pollutant removal from air or water, substrate‐selective catalysis, energy storage, anticorrosion, and self‐cleaning. Herein, the recent research advancements in hydrophobic MOFs are presented. The existing techniques for qualitatively or quantitatively assessing the hydrophobicity of MOFs are first introduced. The reported experimental methods for the preparation of hydrophobic MOFs are then categorized. The concept that hydrophobic MOFs normally synthesized from predesigned organic ligands can also be prepared by the postsynthetic modification of the internal pore surface and/or external crystal surface of hydrophilic or less hydrophobic MOFs is highlighted. Finally, an overview of the recent studies on hydrophobic MOFs for various applications is provided and suggests the high versatility of this unique class of materials for practical use as either adsorbents or nanomaterials.

Abstract Background ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF) 8 is a member of one of the largest transcription factor families in plants, the APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) superfamily. Members of this superfamily have been implicated in a wide variety of processes such as development and environmental stress responses. Results In this study we demonstrated that ERF8 is involved in both ABA and immune signaling. ERF8 overexpression induced programmed cell death (PCD) in Arabidopsis and Nicotiana benthamiana. This PCD was salicylic acid (SA)-independent, suggesting that ERF8 acts downstream or independent of SA. ERF8-induced PCD was abolished by mutations within the ERF-associated amphiphilic repression (EAR) motif, indicating ERF8 induces cell death through its transcriptional repression activity. Two immunity-related mitogen-activated protein kinases, MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE 4 (MPK4) and MPK11, were identified as ERF8-interacting proteins and directly phosphorylated ERF8 in vitro. Four putative MPK phosphorylation sites were identified in ERF8, one of which (Ser103) was determined to be the predominantly phosphorylated residue in vitro, while mutation of all four putative phosphorylation sites partially suppressed ERF8-induced cell death in N. benthamiana. Genome-wide transcriptomic analysis and pathogen growth assays confirmed a positive role of ERF8 in mediating immunity, as ERF8 knockdown or overexpression lines conferred compromised or enhanced resistance against the hemibiotrophic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, respectively. Conclusions Together these data reveal that the ABA-inducible transcriptional repressor ERF8 has dual roles in ABA signaling and pathogen defense, and further highlight the complex influence of ABA on plant-microbe interactions.

Postemergence application of nicosulfuron for weed control in maize fields can cause great damage to certain maize inbred lines and hybrids. Two maize genotypes, tolerant inbred (HBR) and sensitive inbred (HBS), were found to significantly differ in their phenotypic responses to nicosulfuron, with the EC50 (50% effective concentration) values differed statistically (763.6 and 5.9 g a.i. ha–1, respectively). Pre-treatment with malathion, a known cytochrome P450 inhibitor, increased nicosulfuron injury in both HBR and HBS. Our results support the hypothesis that nicosulfuron selectivity in maize is associated with cytochrome P450 metabolism. Further analysis of the maize genome resulted in the identification of 314 full length cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP) genes. These genes were classified into 2 types, 10 clans and 44 families. The CYP71 clan was represented by all A-type genes (168) belonging to 17 families. Nine clans possessed 27 families containing 146 non-A-type genes. The consensus sequences of the heme-binding regions of A-type and non-A-type CYP proteins are ‘PFGXGRRXCPG’ and ‘FXXGPRXCXG’, respectively. Illumina transcriptome sequence results showed that there were 53 differentially expressed CYP genes on the basis of high variation in expression between HBS and HBR, nicosulfuron-treated and untreated samples. These genes may contribute to nicosulfuron tolerance in maize. A hierarchical clustering analysis obtained four main clusters named C1 to C4 in which 4, 15, 21, and 13 CYP genes were found in each respective cluster. The expression patterns of some CYP genes were confirmed by RT-qPCR analysis. The research will improve our understanding of the function of maize cytochrome P450 in herbicide metabolism.

The separation of gas molecules with similar physicochemical properties is of high importance but practically entails a substantial energy penalty in chemical industry. Meanwhile, clean energy gases such as H2 and CH4 are considered as promising candidates for the replacement of traditional fossil fuels. However, the technologies for the storage of these gases are still immature. In addition, the release of anthropogenic toxic gases into the atmosphere is a worldwide threat of growing concern. Both in academia and industry, considerable research efforts have been devoted to developing advanced porous materials for the effective and energy-efficient separation, storage, or capture of the related gases. In contrast to conventional inorganic porous materials such as zeolites and activated carbons, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered as a type of promising materials for gas separation and storage. In this contribution, we review the recent research advance of MOFs in some relevant applications, including CO2 capture, O2 purification, separation of light hydrocarbons, separation of noble gases, storage of gases (CH4, H2, and C2H2) for energy, and removal of some gaseous air pollutants (NH3, NO2, and SO2). Finally, an outlook regarding the challenges of the future research of MOFs in these directions is given. Keywords: Metal–organic frameworks, Gas separation and storage, Light hydrocarbon, Harmful gas, Air purification

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Nondiabetic renal diseases (NDRDs) have different clinicopathological features and prognosis from those of diabetic nephropathy. Our study sought to analyze the clinical and pathological features of NDRDs, in different age groups through a cross-sectional study. Methods: All patients with type 2 DM at our center who underwent renal biopsy between March 1997 and March 2017 were screened and divided into three groups by age: Group 1 (youth group), 18–44 years old; Group 2 (middle-aged group), 45–59 years old; and Group 3 (elderly group), ≥60 years old. We analyzed the clinicopathological data and risk factors by univariate and multivariate logistic regression for NDRD of the patients to identify the features of NDRD in different age groups. Results: We included 982 patients in the final analysis. Patients with NDRD accounted for 64.4% of all patients. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) was the most common pathological pattern in young patients with NDRD, accounting for 26.3%. In the middle-aged group, the two most common pathological patterns were IgAN and membranous nephropathy. Membranous nephropathy was the most common pathological pattern in elderly patients with NDRD, accounting for 29.3%. Consistent with pathological features, glomerular hematuria is a risk factor for NDRD in Group 1 (odds ratio [OR], 26.514; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.503–280.910; P = 0.006). On the other hand, rapidly increasing proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome is a risk factor for NDRD in Group 2 (OR, 5.921; 95% CI, 2.061–17.013; P = 0.001) and Group 3 (OR, 90.409; 95% CI, 6.198–1318.826; P = 0.001). Conclusions: This single-center study showed that the proportion and composition of NDRD differ among different age groups. Consistent with pathological features, some clinical indices such as hematuria and proteinuria showed different features among different age groups.

Abstract Morphogenesis of hair follicles during development and in hair reconstitution assays involves complex interactions between epithelial cells and dermal papilla cells (DPCs). DPCs may be a source of cells for hair regeneration in alopecia patients. Reconstitution of engineered hair follicles requires in vitro culture of trichogenic cells, a three-dimensional scaffolds, and biomolecular signals. However, DPCs tend to lose their biological activity when cultured as trichogenic cells, and scaffolds currently used for hair follicle regeneration lack biological efficiency and biocompatibility. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel forms a three-dimensional scaffold that can release endogenous growth factors, is mitogenic for a variety of cell types and is used in model tissue repair and regeneration systems. We found that 5% activated PRP significantly enhanced cell proliferation and hair-inductive capability of mouse and human DPCs in vitro and promoted mouse hair follicle formation in vivo. PRP also formed a three-dimensional gel after activation. We used PRP gel as a scaffold to form many de novo hair follicles on a plane surface, showing it to be candidate bioactive scaffold capable of releasing endogenous growth factors for cell-based hair follicle regeneration.

Abstract Background The hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders. Approximately 10% of the autosomal dominant (AD) HSPs (ADHSPs) have the spastic paraplegia 3A (SPG3A) genotype which is caused by ATL1 gene mutations. Currently there are more than 60 reported ATL1 gene mutations and the genotype-phenotype correlation remains unclear. The study aims to investigate the genotype-phenotype correlation in SPG3A patients. Methods We performed a reanalysis of the clinical features and genotype-phenotype correlations in 51 reported studies exhibiting an ATL1 gene mutation. Results Most HSPs-SPG3A patients exhibited an early age at onset (AAO) of 0.05). The mutational spectrum associated with ATL1 gene mutation is wide, and most mutations are missense mutations, but do not involve the functional motif of ATL1 gene encoded atlastin-1 protein. Conclusions Our findings indicate that there is no clear genotype-phenotype correlation in HSPs-SPG3A patients. We also find that exons 4, 7, 8 and 12 are mutation hotspots in ATL1 gene.

Prior research has established an electrochemical method based on the differential adsorption capacity of gold surfaces with different methylated DNA degrees and found that this method might be valuable for cancer diagnosis by detecting circulating free DNA methylation. However, further investigation on the underlying mechanism and validation of its diagnostic and prognostic values in a large cohort of malignant tumors was limited. We found that DNA with different methylation levels formed particles of diverse sizes on the gold surface. Hydrophobic bonds played a significant role in the binding process of methylated DNA to the gold surface. The detection condition of an adsorption time of 10 min and temperature of 20 °C was optimal. In a large cohort of plasma samples from the patients with different malignant tumors, as well as normal individuals, we found that the electrochemical detection method based on the differential adsorption capacity of methylated DNA degree on a gold surface could be used as a noninvasive tool for malignant tumor diagnosis and prognostic evaluation. The diagnostic efficiency of this method in malignant tumors was even slightly better than that of the current tumor biomarkers widely used in routine clinical practice (circulating free DNA (cfDNA) vs. carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), 0.8131 vs. 0.7191 and cfDNA vs. CA19-9, 0.7687 vs. 0.6693).

Although the plant hormone salicylic acid (SA) plays a central role in signaling resistance to viral infection, the underlying mechanisms are only partially understood. Identification and characterization of SA’s direct targets have been shown to be an effective strategy for dissecting the complex SA-mediated defense signaling network. In search of additional SA targets, we previously developed two sensitive approaches that utilize SA analogs in conjunction with either a photoaffinity labeling technique or surface plasmon resonance-based technology to identify and evaluate candidate SA-binding proteins (SABPs) from Arabidopsis. Using these approaches, we have now identified several members of the Arabidopsis glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) protein family, including two chloroplast-localized and two cytosolic isoforms, as SABPs. Cytosolic GAPDH is a well-known glycolytic enzyme; it also is an important host factor involved in the replication of Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV), a single-stranded RNA virus. Using a yeast cell-free extract, an in vivo yeast replication system, and plant protoplasts, we demonstrate that SA inhibits TBSV replication. SA does so by inhibiting the binding of cytosolic GAPDH to the negative (−)RNA strand of TBSV. Thus, this study reveals a novel molecular mechanism through which SA regulates virus replication.

Pituitary adenoma is a common primary tumor in central nervons system. The aggressive pituitary adenomas show invasive characteristics with higher recurrence rate and worse prognosis, which normally need the comprehensive therapy of surgery, radiotherapy and chemical medications. The therapy of aggressive pituitary adenomas by temozolomide and whether O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) could predict the curative effect of temozolomide have become hot spots in recent years. This review intends to illustrate the advance of the therapy of aggressive pituitary adenomas by temozolomide. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2015.12.017

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has already become the golden standard prophylactic treatment for carotid artery stenosis and ischemic stroke in recent half century. The influence of selection between CEA and carotid artery stenting (CAS), changes in cognition after surgery, use of patch and shunt and gender difference on perioperative period and postoperative complications remains unclear. More prospective randomized controlled trials with big sample sizes are needed in the future.doi：10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2014.02.002

Blepharospasm (BSP) has a morbidity of 16 to 133 per million and is characterized by orbicularis oculi spasms. BSP can severely impact daily life. However, to date, its pathophysiology has not been clearly demonstrated. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a portable, non-invasive, and high time resolution apparatus used to measure cerebral blood flow. This study aimed to investigate the hemodynamic response patterns of BSP patients and determine whether BSP alone can be an attributional factor to influence the function of the prefrontal area using a verbal fluency task (VFT) and NIRS. Twenty-three BSP patients (10 males and 13 females) and 13 healthy controls (HC; five males and eight females) matched by gender and education were examined using NIRS. BSP patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of depression and anxiety symptoms. A covariance analysis was conducted to analyze differences between the three groups and reduce the influence of different ages and educational levels. Bonferroni was used to process the post hoc test. The bilateral orbitofrontal area (ch36, 39, and 41; P

Recent studies have indicated that inflammation-based prognostic scores, such as the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), modified GPS (mGPS) and C-reactive protein/Albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio, platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), have been reported to have prognostic value in patients with many types of cancer, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we proposed a novel inflammation-based stage, named I stage, for patients with NPC. A retrospective study of 409 newly-diagnosed cases of NPC was conducted. The prognostic factors (GPS, mGPS, CRP/Alb ratios, PLR, and NLR) were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. Then, according to the results of the multivariate analyses, we proposed a I stage combination of independent risk factors (CRP/Alb ratio and PLR). The I stage was calculated as follows: patients with high levels of CRP/Alb ratio (>0.03) and PLR (>146.2) were defined as I2; patients with one or no abnormal values were defined as I1 or I0, respectively. The relationships between the I stage and clinicopathological variables and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. In addition, the discriminatory ability of the I stage with other inflammation-based prognostic scores was assessed using the AUCs (areas under the curves) analyzed by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. The p value of

BACKGROUND: 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (TCP), 2,4,6-tribromophenol (TBP) and 2,4,6-triiodophenol (TIP) are three widely detected trihalophenolic disinfection by-products (DBPs). Previous studies have mainly focused on the carcinogenic risk and developmental toxicity of 2,4,6-trihalophenols. Very little is known about their immunotoxicity in mammals. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of 2,4,6-trihalophenols on mammalian immunity using a mouse macrophage model infected with bacteria or intracellular parasites and aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms from an epitranscriptomic perspective. The identified mechanisms were further validated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). METHODS: The mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7 and primary mouse peritoneal macrophages were exposed to different concentrations of TCP, TBP, and TIP. The pro-inflammatory marker Ly6C, the survival of the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), and the parasite burden of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) were assessed. Furthermore, the global gene expression profiling of macrophages following exposure to 2,4,6-trihalophenols was obtained through RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). The effects of 2,4,6-trihalophenols on RNA 푁[sup 6]-methyladenosine (m[sup 6]A) methyltransferases and total RNA m[sup 6]A levels were evaluated using Western blotting and dot blot, respectively. Transcriptome-wide m[sup 6]A methylome was analyzed by m[sup 6]A-seq. In addition, expression of m[sup 6]A regulators and total RNA m[sup 6]A levels in human PBMCs exposed to 2,4,6-trihalophenols were detected using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and dot blot, respectively. RESULTS: Mouse macrophages exposed to TCP, TBP, or TIP had lower expression of the pro-inflammatory marker Ly6C, with a greater difference from control observed for TIP-exposed cells. Consistently, macrophages exposed to such DBPs, especially TIP, were susceptible to infection with the bacterium E. coli and the intracellular parasite T. gondii, indicating a compromised ability of macrophages to defend against pathogens. Intriguingly, macrophages exposed to TIP had significantly greater m[sup 6]A levels, which correlated with the greater expression levels of m[sup 6]A methyltransferases. Macrophages exposed to each of the three 2,4,6-trihalophenols exhibited transcriptome-wide redistribution of m[sup 6]A. In particular, the m[sup 6]A peaks in genes associated with immune-related pathways were altered after exposure. In addition, differences in m[sup 6]A were also observed in human PBMCs after exposure to 2,4,6-trihalophenols. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that 2,4,6-trihalophenol exposure impaired the ability of macrophages to defend against pathogens. This response might be associated with notable differences in m[sup 6]A after exposure. To the best of our knowledge, this study presents the first m[sup 6]A landscape across the transcriptome of immune cells exposed to pollutants. However, significant challenges remain in elucidating the mechanisms by which m[sup 6]A mediates immune dysregulation in infected macrophages after 2,4,6-trihalophenol exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]