Search

Hemangioma (HA) are tumors formed by hyper-proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. As a potential endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) can mimic estrogen to disturb the estrogenic signals. Our present study investigated the potential roles of phthalates on the progression of HA and found that 100 nM BBP can significantly trigger the migration and invasion of HA cells, which was evidenced by the results that BBP can induce the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) and vimentin. Further, BBP can increase the expression of Zeb1, one powerful transcription factor for cell migration and invasion. Targeted inhibition of Zeb1 blocked BBP induced cell migration. Mechanistically, BBP can increase the mRNA stability of Zeb1 via suppression of miR-655. Further, BBP can enhance the protein stability of Zeb1 via upregulation of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM). Collectively, our present study revealed that BBP can trigger the migration and invasion of HA cells via upregulation of Zeb1. • BBP triggers the motility of HA cells. • Zeb1 is involved in BBP induced cell motility. • miR-655 is involved in BBP increased mRNA stability of Zeb1. • TAM mediates BBP increased protein stability of Zeb1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Using drilling and blasting method to construct the Mountain tunnel, it is important to monitoring and analysis of blasting seismic wave. The research of simple characteristics of blasting vibration wave such as amplitude, frequency, duration in the previous study, it is lack the detailed characteristics of blasting seismic waves such as frequency distribution characteristics of blasting seismic wave, blasting energy distribution. Thus, Fourier transform and wavelet packet transform are both used to analysis the time - frequency characteristics of measured vibration signal, and the characteristics of its multi-frequency band and energy distribution are discussed. The blasting vibration with the blasting charge of 79.2 kg are did, and the wave are received distance blast source 10 m, 25 m, 40 m. The maximum three vector resultant velocity at 10 m is 5.84 cm/s, which meets the specification safety requirement. Analysis of blasting vibration signals of vertical axis which distance blast source 10 m, the main frequency of this signal is 101.9 Hz, and the relative amplitude is 2382 use by Fourier transform. The Wavelet packet analysis show that, blasting vibration signal has obvious energy distribution characteristics of multi-frequency band. The dominant frequency band (31.25 Hz~125.00 Hz) contains more than 70% of the energy of vibration signal. Highlights • The blasting vibration test was carried out on the Xiaobei No.1 tunnel. • Fourier transform and wavelet packet analysis are performed on the same signal. • The highest frequency band was found in the first 10 bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis (OA) by microarray analysis. Three gene expression datasets GSE1919, 19664 and 55235 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus, and data of OA samples and healthy controls were used. After data preprocessing, differential expression analysis between the OA group and controls was performed using LIMMA (Linear Models for Microarray Data) package and genes with |log 2 FC (fold change)| > 1 and P < 0.05 were screened as DEGs (differentially expressed genes). The screened DEGs were then subject to functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis using DAVID (Database for Annotation Visualization and Integrated Discovery). Next, gene-set enrichment analysis was performed using Enrichment map Cytoscape plug-in, followed by detecting sub-networks using clusterONE. Finally, risk subpathways were screened using iSubpathwayMiner package. A total of 141 DEGs were screened, including 52 up-regulated ones and 89 down-regulated ones. These DEGs were enriched in 48 GO terms that were mainly related to locomotory behavior, taxis, adhesion, and 11 pathways that were related to cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, as well as several signaling pathways. The enrichment map enriched gene-sets mainly related to cell death and apoptosis, and extracellular components. The risk pathways up-regulated DEGs were exclusively related to arachidonic acid metabolism and glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, and the top two risk pathways were tyrosine metabolism for the down-regulated ones. From this study we conclude that genes involved in cell death and apoptosis, as well as cell–extracellular matrix interaction, may be essential for OA pathogenesis by altering multiple signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cr3+/Yb3+-codoped glasses were studied as broadband down shifting materials for improving solar cells’ efficiency. We observed Föster resonance energy transfers (FRET) from Cr3+: 4T2g to Yb3+: 2 F5/2. The ET efficiency was up to 84 %, and the measured quantum yield (QY) reached 21.51 %. The glass can convert solar photons in super wide UV–Vis range to near infrared photons with the minimum quantum yields larger than 10%. Thus, such materials can be applied for improving silicon solar cells’ conversion efficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Arsenic exposure is a significant risk factor for folate-resistant neural tube defects (NTDs), but the potential mechanism is unclear. In this study, a mouse model of arsenic-induced NTDs was established to investigate how arsenic affects early neurogenesis leading to malformations. The results showed that in utero exposure to arsenic caused a decline in the normal embryos, an elevated embryo resorption, and a higher incidence of malformed embryos. Cranial and spinal deformities were the main malformation phenotypes observed. Meanwhile, arsenic-induced NTDs were accompanied by an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance manifested by elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased antioxidant activities. In addition, changes in the expression of autophagy-related genes and proteins (ULK1, Atg5, LC3B, p62) as well as an increase in autophagosomes were observed in arsenic-induced aberrant brain vesicles. Also, the components of the upstream pathway regulating autophagy (AMPK, PKB, mTOR, Raptor) were altered accordingly after arsenic exposure. Collectively, our findings propose a mechanism for arsenic-induced NTDs involving AMPK/PKB-mTORC1-mediated autophagy. Blocking autophagic cell death due to excessive autophagy provides a novel strategy for the prevention of folate-resistant NTDs, especially for arsenic-exposed populations. [Display omitted] • Arsenic causes cranial and spinal deformities in mouse embryos. • Arsenic-induced NTDs are accompanied by an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance. • Excessive autophagy is observed in arsenic-induced aberrant brain vesicles. • ROS-dependent AMPK/PKB-mTORC1 participates in arsenic-induced NTDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Microbial storage and VFAs production in AD sludge were impaired by salinity. • Compatible solutes production was stimulated under high salinity. • The intracellular polymers dynamics were incorporated in the model. • The model more accurately describes the AD process under salinity than ADM1. Abstract High salinity can suppress the metabolic activities of anaerobic sludge in treating saline organic wastewater, but its impacts on production of intracellular polymers, which play important roles in microbial metabolism and carbon storage, remain unclear. This work examined the dynamics of intracellular polymers, functioning as microbial storage (for supplementing re-utilizable carbon source) and compatible solutes (for equalizing the salinity-induced osmotic pressure) respectively, in response to salinity (0–30 g/L NaCl) and evaluated their impacts on glucose transformation in a batch-fed anaerobic digestion (AD) system. Based on the experimental data, a mathematical model was developed to distinguish the stored carbohydrates and compatible solutes, and quantify the metabolic products. The results show a significantly stimulated formation of compatible solutes and a suppressed production of stored carbohydrates and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) under the salinity shock, due to their competition for substrate electrons. Taking into account the dynamics of intracellular polymers, the model in this study provides a more accurate description on the batch AD process under salinity shock than the existing Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1) proposed by the International Water Association (IWA). This work may lay a solid basis for improved monitoring and optimization of practical saline wastewater treatment processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keloid is characterized by hyper-proliferation of fibroblasts and excess extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Transmembrane protein 88 (TMEM88), belonging to the TMEM family, was involved in the regulation of tumorigenesis and fibrogenesis. However, the role of TMEM88 in keloid formation remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TMEM88 on keloid-derived fibroblasts (KFs) proliferation and ECM expression, and explore the underlying mechanism. Our results demonstrated that TMEM88 was lowly expressed in human keloid tissues and TGF-β1-stimulated KFs. TMEM88 overexpression significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of KFs, as well as suppressed ECM expression in TGF-β1-stimulated KFs. Furthermore, TMEM88 overexpression greatly inhibited the protein levels of β-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-myc in TGF-β1-stimulated KFs. In conclusion, our data indicate that TMEM88 inhibits the TGF-β1-stimulated cell proliferation, migration and ECM expression in KFs through the inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, TMEM88 may be a potential therapeutic target for treating keloids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monolithic aerogel-like alumina was synthesized via the accumulation of mesoporous hollow microspheres through an epoxide-driven sol–gel method. The addition of propylene oxide to the solution controls the gelation process, while the aging time and H 2 O/ethanol molar ratio in the initial component determine the morphology of the gel. The bulk density of the as-prepared sample was 0.133 g/cm 3 , and the BET surface area was 505.6 m 2 /g, which were very close to the values for the common alumina aerogel synthesized through the supercritical drying method. The microstructural evolution of the aerogel-like material as a function of aging time was carefully studied by SEM and TEM. The transition from solid particles to urchin-like mesoporous hollow microspheres can be explained as a self-templating process according to the Ostwald ripening mechanism. In addition, the samples were heat treated to 800 °C, 1000 °C and 1200 °C for 2 h. With an increase of the heat treatment temperature, the crystalline phases of the aerogel-like alumina varied from γ-phase alumina to θ-phase alumina. The microstructures as well as the physical properties, such as the thermal conductivity and elastic modulus, of samples heat-treated at different temperatures were also measured and revealed that the samples exhibited excellent stability against high temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Oxyfluoride glass comprising Yb3+ ions and Ag nanoclusters was prepared via a melt-quenching method. The molecule-like Ag clusters (ML-Ag) in the glass displayed broad absorption and emission bands in the ultraviolet (UV) and visible spectral regions, respectively. The luminescence quantum yield (QY) was determined to be higher than 90%. We observed energy transfer from ML-Ag nanoclusters to Yb3+ ions as evidenced by time resolved luminescence spectra, which resulted in a four-fold enhancement in NIR emission of Yb3+. The luminescence enhancement effect described here would be applied to boost the efficiency of solar cells by converting high energy UV photons into NIR photons that better match the absorption of photovoltaic devices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

● Bio-hybrid consisting of living cells and self-assembled bio-FeS was developed;. ● The cells drive efficient regeneration of bio-FeS for enhanced Cr reduction;. ● Bio-FeS shell serves as a protective layer to improve the bacterial Cr tolerance;. ● Bio-FeS forms a transmembrane electron channel to enhance Cr reduction;. ● The bio-hybrid is efficient for cyclic treatment real electroplating wastewater. Biogenic ferrous sulfide nanoparticles (bio-FeS) as low-cost and green-synthesized nanomaterial are promising for heavy metals removal, but the need for complicated extraction, storage processes and the production of iron sludge still restrict their practical application. Here, a self-regenerable bio-hybrid consisting of bacterial cells and self-assembled bio-FeS was developed to efficiently remove chromium (Cr(VI)). A dense layer of bio-FeS was distributed on the cell surface and in the periplasmic space of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, endowing the bacterium with good Cr(VI) tolerance and unusual activity for bio-FeS-mediated Cr(VI) reduction. An artificial transmembrane electron channel was constituted by the bio-FeS to facilitate extracellular electron pumping, enabling efficient regeneration of extracellular bio-FeS for continuous Cr(VI) reduction. The bio-hybrid maintained high activity within three consecutive treatment-regeneration cycles for treating both simulated Cr(VI)-containing wastewater (50 mg/L) and real electroplating wastewater. Importantly, its activity can be facilely and fully restored through bio-FeS re-synthesis or regeneration with replenished fresh bacteria. Overall, the bio-hybrid merges the self-regeneration ability of bacteria with high activity of bio-FeS , opening a promising new avenue for sustainable treatment of heavy metal- containing wastewater. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Eu2+/Tb3+/Eu3+ co-doped fluorosilicate glass ceramics containing SrLaF5 nanocrystals were prepared. XRD results showed the rare earth ions were enriched into the precipitated nanophase. It deduced efficient energy transfers (ET) from Eu2+ to Tb3+ and Eu3+ and intense warm white luminescence of the glass ceramics. Comparing the glass, the luminescence quantum yield (QY) of the glass ceramics was enlarged by about 3 times. That demonstrated the potential WLED application of the present glass ceramics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Coagulation/co-catalytic membrane system integrated coagulation, filtration and AOP. • Fe3+ served as both the coagulant for DOM removal and PMS activator. • MoS 2 in catalytic membrane accelerate the redox cycling of Fe species. • Surface-bound radicals enable efficient BPA removal and in-situ membrane cleaning. • The system showed stable performance during 53 h treatment of WWTP effluent. Low-pressure catalytic membranes allow efficient rejection of particulates and simultaneously removing organics pollutant in water, but the accumulation of dissolved organic matters (DOM) on membrane surface, which cover the catalytic sites and cause membrane fouling, challenges their stable operation in practical wastewater treatment. Here we propose a ferric salt-based coagulation/co-catalytic membrane integrated system that can effectively mitigate the detrimental effects of DOM. Ferric salt (Fe3+) serving both as a DOM coagulant to lower the membrane fouling and as a co-catalyst with the membrane-embedded MoS 2 nanosheets to drive perxymonosulfate (PMS) activation and pollutant degradation. The membrane functionalized with 2H-phased MoS 2 nanosheets showed improved hydrophilicity and fouling resistance relative to the blank polysulfone membrane. Attributed to the DOM coagulation and co-catalytic generation of surface-bound radicals for decontamination at membrane surface, the catalytic membrane/PMS/ Fe3+ system showed much less membrane fouling and 2.6 times higher pollutant degradation rate in wastewater treatment than the catalytic membrane alone. Our work imply a great potential of coagulation/co-catalytic membrane integrated system for water purification application. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to regulations on bisphenol A (BPA) in many countries, a variety of bisphenol analogues are being widely manufactured and applied. However, there is a big knowledge gap on bioaccumulation and biomagnification of these emerging bisphenols in aquatic organisms. The bioaccumulation and magnification of nine bisphenol analogues in aquatic organisms at different trophic levels collected from Taihu Lake, China, were evaluated. The total concentrations of the nine bisphenols in the lake waters were in the range of 49.7–3480 ng/L (mean, 389 ng/L). BPA, bisphenol AF (BPAF) and bisphenol S (BPS) were the most predominant analogues in the water. The mean natural logarithm bioaccumulation factor (log BAFs) of BPAF, bisphenol C (BPC), bisphenol Z (BPZ) and bisphenol E (BPE) were greater than BPA, and there was a significantly positive correlation between log BAFs of the biphenols and their octanol-water partition coefficients (log K ow ). The trophic magnification factors of BPAF, BPC and BPZ were 2.52, 2.69 and 1.71, respectively, suggesting that they had the potential to biomagnify in the food web. The results of this study call for further investigations on risk assessment of these emerging pollutants in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Ce3+ and Dy3+ co-doped oxyfluoride glasses and glass ceramics containing CeOF or CeF3 nanocrystals have been prepared in the reducing atmosphere. The crystallinity increased significantly with the Ce3+ concentration, while the crystal size of nanocrystals is mainly influenced by the annealing temperatures. The glasses and glass ceramics emitted white light, deriving from a combination of the Ce3+ blue and the Dy3+ yellow light. The emission intensity and CIE chromaticity coordinates of the Ce3+ and Dy3+ co-doped glasses can be tuned by adjusting the ratio of Ce3+/Dy3+ concentration or the annealing temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Anodic H 2 S reduction was coupled with cathodic CO 2 reduction. • Anodic reaction was mediated by Fe2+ to produce pure element sulfur particles. • CO 2 reduction at methanogenic biocathode was mediated by electrolytic H 2. • High biogas upgrading level and stability was achieved in continuous operation. In this work, a single microbial electrochemical system was developed for multiple goals simultaneously – CO 2 reduction, biogas purification, upgrading and sulfur recovery. This system consists of a methanogen-inoculated biocathode for CO 2 reduction and a ferrous ion (Fe2+)-mediated abiotic anode for hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) oxidation. In the cathodic chamber, methane production rate of 20.6 ± 1.0 μmol·h−1 and high upgrading level (up to 98.3% methane content) were achieved. In the anodic chamber, H 2 S was completely removed and selectively converted into elemental sulfur particles. The system showed stable performance during continuous operation for treating both pure CO 2 and mixed gases, with a cathodic coulombic efficiency of up to 85.2%. This simple system holds a great potential for practical application for biogas upgrading and sulfur recovery from waste water/gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]