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Water availability is an important issue all over the world, and membrane filtration technology is one of the most effective measures for remediation. As a sustainable and renewable biomass material, natural wood has a hierarchical and three-dimensional interconnected microstructure, which provides an alternative for water filter design. Longitudinal filtration could take advantage of the micropores, while the treatment speed is severely limited. This study examined a wood filter in which muddy wastewater can be transported into the microchannels and out of the vertically stacked micropores. The filter takes full advantage of the pores present in the wood without sacrificing the speed of hydraulic flow within the main transport channels, exhibiting excellent performance for mud removal. In this manner, water flux, decolorization, and turbidity are highly dependent on the groove number, groove depth, and thickness of the filter. Due to the reorientation of the water transport pathways, the clogging of micropores could be easily alleviated, thus promoting the filter lifecycle. The design of the cross-flow wood filter can provide an available platform for various wastewater treatment cases with different impurities, displaying an application prospect in the wastewater treatment field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-glucan is widely used in aquaculture due to its immunostimulatory effects, but the specific effect and potential regulatory mechanism on largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) are still unclear. Here, we evaluated the effects of β-glucan on growth, resistance to Aeromonas schubertii, intestinal health, and transcriptome of largemouth bass to reveal the potential regulators, metabolic pathways, and altered differential microbiota. Four experimental diets were designed with β-glucan supplementation levels of 0 (control), 100 (LA-100), 200 (MA-200), and 300 (HA-300) mg kg-1, and each diet was fed to largemouth bass (79.30 ± 0.50 g) in triplicate for 70 days, followed by a 3-day challenge experiment. Results showed that different β-glucan supplementations had no significant effects on growth performance and whole-body composition. Fish fed a diet with 300 mg kg-1 β-glucan significantly increased the activity of lysozyme than those fed diets with 0 and 100 mg kg-1 β-glucan. In addition, the survival rate of largemouth bass in β-glucan supplementation groups was significantly higher than the control group at 12- and 24-h challenge by Aeromonas schubertii. Transcriptome analysis showed that a total of 1,245 genes were differentially expressed [/log2(fold change)/ ≥1, q-value ≤0.05], including 109 immune-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Further analysis revealed that significantly upregulated and downregulated DEGs associated with immunity were mapped into 12 and 24 pathways, respectively. Results of intestinal microflora indicated that fish fed a diet with 300 mg kg-1 β-glucan had higher bacterial richness and diversity as evaluated by Sobs, Chao, Ace, and Simpson indices, but no significant differences were found in the comparison groups. Furthermore, 300 mg kg-1 β-glucan significantly increased the relative abundance of Mycoplasma and decreased Proteobacteria (mainly Escherichia-Shigella and Escherichia coli) and Bacillus anthracis in largemouth bass intestinal microflora. The findings of this study provided new insights that will be valuable in future studies to elucidate the mechanism of immunity enhancement by β-glucan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical Sb2S3 hollow microspheres assembled by nanowires have been successfully synthesized by a simple and practical hydrothermal reaction. The possible formation process of this architecture was investigated by X-ray diffraction, focused-ion beam-scanning electron microscopy dual-beam system, and transmission electron microscopy. When used as the anode material for lithium-ion batteries, Sb2S3 hollow microspheres manifest excellent rate property and enhanced lithium-storage capability and can deliver a discharge capacity of 674 mAh g-1 at a current density of 200 mA g-1 after 50 cycles. Even at a high current density of 5000 mA g-1, a discharge capacity of 541 mAh g-1 is achieved. Sb2S3 hollow microspheres also display a prominent sodium-storage capacity and maintain a reversible discharge capacity of 384 mAh g-1 at a current density of 200 mA g-1 after 50 cycles. The remarkable lithium/sodium-storage property may be attributed to the synergetic effect of its nanometer size and three-dimensional hierarchical architecture, and the outstanding stability property is attributed to the sufficient interior void space, which can buffer the volume expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circadian system regulates numerous physiological processes including immune responses. Here, we show that mice deficient of the circadian clock genes Cry1 and Cry2 [Cry double knockout (DKO)] develop an autoimmune phenotype including high serum IgG concentrations, serum antinuclear antibodies, and precipitation of IgG, IgM, and complement 3 in glomeruli and massive infiltration of leukocytes into the lungs and kidneys. Flow cytometry of lymphoid organs revealed decreased pre-B cell numbers and a higher percentage of mature recirculating B cells in the bone marrow, as well as increased numbers of B2 B cells in the peritoneal cavity of Cry DKO mice. The B cell receptor (BCR) proximal signaling pathway plays a critical role in autoimmunity regulation. Activation of Cry DKO splenic B cells elicited markedly enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins compared with cells from control mice, suggesting that overactivation of the BCR-signaling pathwaymay contribute to the autoimmunity phenotype in the Cry DKO mice. In addition, the expression of C1q, the deficiency of which contributes to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus, was significantly down-regulated in Cry DKO B cells. Our results suggest that B cell development, the BCR-signaling pathway, and C1q expression are regulated by circadian clock CRY proteins and that their dysregulation through loss of CRY contributes to autoimmunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ezrin, coding protein EZR which cross-links actin filaments, overexpresses and involves invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis in various cancers including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In our previous study, Ezrin was knock down and analyzed by mRNA expression profile which has not been fully mined. In this study, we applied protein-protein interactions (PPI) network knowledge and methods to explore our understanding of these differentially expressed genes (DEGs). PPI subnetworks showed that hundreds of DEGs interact with thousands of other proteins. Subcellular localization analyses found that the DEGs and their directly or indirectly interacting proteins distribute in multiple layers, which was applied to analyze the shortest paths between EZR and other DEGs. Gene ontology annotation generated a functional annotationmap and found hundreds of significant terms, especially those associated with cytoskeleton organization of Ezrin protein, such as "cytoskeleton organization," "regulation of actin filamentbased process," and "regulation of actin cytoskeleton organization." The algorithm of Random Walk with Restart was applied to prioritize the DEGs and identified several cancer related DEGs ranked closest to EZR. These analyses based on PPI network have greatly expanded our comprehension of the mRNA expression profile of Ezrin knockdown for future examination of the roles and mechanisms of Ezrin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that regulate extracellular matrix composition and contribute to cell migration. Microarray studies in mouse placenta suggested that MMP-9 transcript abundance was dependent on distal-less 3 (Dlx3), a placental-specific transcriptional regulator; however, it was not clear if this was a direct or indirect effect. Here we investigate mechanism(s) for Dlx3-dependent MMP-9 gene transcription and gelatinase activity in placental trophoblasts. Initial studies confirmed that MMP-9 activity was reduced in placental explants from Dlx3−/− mice and that murine MMP-9 promoter activity was induced by Dlx3 overexpression. Two binding sites within a murine MMP-9 promoter fragment bound Dlx3, and mutations in both elements reduced basal MMP-9-luciferase reporter activity and abolished regulation by Dlx3. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies in JEG3 cells confirmed Dlx3 binding to the endogenous human MMP-9 promoter at three distinct sites and knockdown of human Dlx3 resulted in reduced endogenous MMP-9 transcripts and secreted activity. These studies provide novel evidence that Dlx3 is involved directly in the transcriptional regulation of mouse and human MMP-9 gene expression in placental trophoblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of transparent Nd3+ ion-doped Lu2O3 ceramics is investigated by pressureless sintering under a flowing H2 atmosphere. The starting Nd-doped Lu2O3 nanocrystalline powder is synthesized by a modified coprecipitant processing using a NH4OH+NH4HCO3 mixed solution as the precipitant. The thermal decomposition behavior of the precipitate precursor is studied by thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis. After calcination at 1000°C for 2 h, monodispersed Nd3+:Lu2O3 powder is obtained with a primary particle size of about 40 nm and a specific surface area of 13.7 m2/g. Green compacts, free of additives, are formed from the as-synthesized powder by dry pressing followed by cold isostatic pressing. Highly transparent Nd3+:Lu2O3 ceramics are obtained after being sintered under a dry H2 atmosphere at 1880°C for 8 h. The linear optical transmittance of the polished transparent samples with a 1.4 mm thickness reaches 75.5% at the wavelength of 1080 nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations demonstrate a “clear” grain boundary between adjacent grains. The luminescent spectra showed that the absorption coefficient of the 3 at.% Nd-doped Lu2O3 ceramic at 807 nm reached 14 cm−1, while the emission cross section at 1079 nm was 6.5 × 10−20 cm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of polyubiquitin precursors and small ubiquitin adducts. UCH-L1 has been detected in a variety of malignant and metastatic tumours but its biological function in these cells is unknown. We have previously shown that UCH-L1 is highly expressed in Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) and is up-regulated upon infection of B lymphocytes with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Here we show that knockdown of UCH-L1 by RNAi inhibits the proliferation of BL cells in suspension and semisolid agar and activates strong LFA-1-dependent homotypic adhesion. Induction of cell adhesion correlated with cation-induced binding to ICAM-1, clustering of LFA-1 into lipid rafts and constitutive activation of the Rap1 and Rac1 GTPases. Expression of a catalytically active UCH-L1 promoted the proliferation of a UCH-L1-negative EBV transformed lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) and inhibited cell adhesion, whereas a catalytic mutant had no effect, confirming the requirement of UCH-L1 enzymatic activity for the regulation of these phenotypes. Our results identify UCH-L1 as a new player in the signalling pathways that promote the proliferation and invasive capacity of malignant B cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide) (PAAAM) hydrogels have been prepared from partly neutralized acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) by solution polymerization, and their absorbency and adsorption in both CuCl2 and FeCl3 solutions have been investigated. PAAAM hydrogels and their complexes with Cu2+ or Fe3+ have been characterized by FTIR. The absorbency of PAAAM in both CuCl2 and FeCl3 solutions increases initially and then decreases as the absorbing time increases. The adsorption of PAAAM in both CuCl2 and FeCl3 solutions can be described by the pseudo‐second order chemisorption kinetics proposed by Ho and McKay, and the equilibrium uptake of Cu2+ on PAAAM can well be fit with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. However, the equilibrium uptake of Fe3+ on PAAAM increases as the initial Fe3+ concentration increases for Fe3+ concentration smaller than 5.625 × 10−3 mol/L, and then decreases with Fe3+ concentration. The largest uptakes for Cu2+ and Fe3+ are 247 and 173 mg/g, respectively. The results also show that the uptake of Cu2+ and Fe3+ on PAAAM increases remarkably when pH of the solution is changed from 2.3 to 4.2 and from 1.0 and 2.1, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a member of the lipocalin family. Recently, an elevated NGAL expression was reported in several types of cancers. However, the characteristics of NGAL expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are still unknown. Aim: To demonstrate the role of NGAL in ESCC. Methods: NGAL expression in 81 paraffin sections, including ESCC, normal mucosa, simple hyperplasia and dysplasia, and in 73 fresh specimens of ESCC was analysed by immunohistochemistry, western blot and gelatin zymography. Results: On immunohistochemical study, ESCC showed a diverse staining pattern for NGAL. However, only a weak positive signal was present within a restricted cytoplasmic area in the normal oesophageal epithelium. In dysplasia, altered NGAL expression could also be observed. On western blot study, NGAL expression level was found to be significantly higher in ESCC than in normal mucosa (p=0.030), and to be positively correlated with cell differentiation. However, no significant association was observed between NGAL expression and cell proliferation. In addition, the enzymic activity of the NGAL/matrix metalloproteinase 9 complex was much higher in ESCC than in normal mucosa, and was significantly correlated with the depth of tumour invasion in zymography analysis (p = 0.006). Conclusions: The findings suggest that NGAL is involved in the differentiation pathway and invasive progression of ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]