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In response to the failure of traditional administrative methods to manage transboundary polluted areas, this study uses Stackelberg game theory to construct a three‐party dynamic game model from the perspective of government participation. The results show that the central government will only subsidize local governments when the environmental benefits obtained reach a certain threshold, prompting the local governments to increase pollution control efforts to improve environmental benefits. From the perspective of pollutant emission reduction and environmental benefits, the collaborative governance model is superior to both spontaneous governance and the central government‐led model. Finally, the validity of the conclusion is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global environmental problems are becoming more severe, how to efficiently reduce carbon emissions has become an urgent problem to be solved. Manufacturers and retailers can effectively reduce carbon emissions through low‐carbon efforts, and doing so is important for the sustainable development of low‐carbon supply chains. This paper develops a general framework that considers how bounded rationality and fairness concerns affect the manufacturer's and retailer's low‐carbon effort decisions and discusses the evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) and the evolution process of the manufacturer's and retailer's low‐carbon efforts. The ESS shows that the manufacturer and the retailer will increase their low‐carbon efforts when the initial unit profit is higher. Otherwise, a smaller initial unit profit will reduce their low‐carbon efforts. This paper also analyzes different attributes of fairness concerns and finds that advantageous fairness concerns increase low‐carbon efforts, whereas disadvantageous fairness concerns reduce low‐carbon efforts. In addition, fairness concerns will speed up the manufacturer's and retailer's low‐carbon efforts to ESSs. When the manufacturer and retailer choose the "no effort" strategy, they will stop investing quickly, but when they choose the "effort" strategy, they will not invest quickly. This paper can provide decision support for using the low‐carbon effort investment strategy by supply chain members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as tumor promoters or suppressors in various types of cancer. Previous investigations suggest that ceramide synthase 6 (CERS6) antisense RNA 1 (CERS6‐AS1) acts as an oncogene in breast cancer; however, its role in colorectal cancer is unknown. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of CERS6‐AS1 in colorectal cancer. Gene expression in colorectal cancer was examined using reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses. The viability and proliferation of colorectal cancer cells were measured by Cell Counting Kit‐8 assays and colony formation assays. The migratory and invasive capacities of the colorectal cancer cells were assessed by Transwell assay. Cell stemness was examined by sphere‐formation assay. Mechanistically, RNA pull‐down assays, RNA immunoprecipitation assays, and luciferase reporter assays were performed to explore the relationship among CERS6‐AS1, miR‐15b‐5p and spectrin beta, non‐erythrocytic 2 (SPTBN2). Moreover, a xenograft tumor model was established to investigate the role of CERS6‐AS1 in vivo. We found that CERS6‐AS1 and SPTBN2 were highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissues and cells. CERS6‐AS1 depletion inhibited cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion; the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition process and stemness. It suppressed xenograft tumor growth in colorectal cancer. Moreover, SPTBN2 levels were positively regulated by CERS6‐AS1 and negatively regulated by miR‐15b‐5p in colorectal cancer cells. Rescue assays revealed that SPTBN2 reversed the inhibitory effect of CERS6‐AS1 deficiency on the malignant behaviors of colorectal cancer cells. Overall, the lncRNA CERS6‐AS1 facilitates malignant phenotypes of colorectal cancer cells by targeting miR‐15b‐5p to upregulate SPTBN2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main observation and conclusion: Four previously undescribed ent‐abietane diterpenoids (1—4), along with eleven known analogues (5—15), were isolated from the roots of wild Euphorbia fischeriana. Their gross structures were determined via extensive spectroscopic data, and the absolute configurations were elucidated by means of single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, Rh2(OCOCF3)4‐induced CD spectrum and ECD calculations. Their cervical carcinoma inhibition activities counteract HeLa cells were screened by MTT assay, and the structure‐activity relationships were further examined. The results demonstrated that 2 (IC50 value at 3.75 μmol/L) was more potent than cisplatin. The underlying mechanism study revealed that 2 could distinctly induce apoptosis accompanied by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, Ca2+ influx and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, signal pathways including MAPKs/AKT might play a significant role in 2‐induced cervical cancer cells death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process was applied to AA1060 aluminum alloy in an alkaline‐based electrolyte with different concentrations of EDTA‐2Na. The investigation of coatings was concentrated on sparks, phase, structure, morphology, and corrosion resistance. The whole process presented a "soft spark" regime which proved by the reduction of light and acoustic emission with increase of current. The results of SEM and EDS showed that more discharge channels were found under surface and the proportion of silicon in the inner layer increased for the sample treated in solution with 5 g/L EDTA‐2Na, which was attributed to D type discharge causing some light emission invisible on sample surface. The polarization test presented a better corrosion resistance with the increase of EDTA‐2Na. However, EIS measurement showed a bigger corrosion resistance for outer layer of sample prepared with the addition concentration up to 3 g/L that meant outer layer played a more critical role in terms of corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic coatings were prepared on 6061 Al alloy in a mixed electrolyte with/without MgO powders at different treatment durations. The results of energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) showed that MgO powder was incorporated into the coatings, and Mg species gradually aggregated into coating inside as prolonging the oxidation time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that MgO additive had a certain effect on the microstructures and coating thickness. The corrosion behavior tests evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution suggested that at the same treatment time, the addition of MgO powders can improve the corrosion resistance of the coating, and the Mg‐rich layer can affect the corrosion resistance of the coating. The tests of mechanical properties showed that the addition of MgO powders improved the stability and hardness of the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism affects postnatal behaviors and is associated with a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying the BDNFMet variant induced dysfunctions of the central nervous system remain obscure. In order to identify the candidate genes and pathways responsible for the dysfunctions associated with this BDNF variation, we analyzed the expression of genes in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala of the BDNFMet variant mice in comparison with the wild-type mice using Illumina bead microarray. Transcriptome profiling analysis revealed region-distinctive and gene-dose dependent changes of gene expression associated with the BDNFMet variant. BDNFMet variant mice exhibited altered expression of genes associated with translational machinery, neuronal plasticity and mitochondrial function based on the gene ontology (GO) annotation. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that the chemokine, cell adhesion, ubiquitin-proteosome and wnt signaling pathways were altered in the BDNFMet variant mice brain. Finally, the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling was identified to be impaired in the hippocampus and microinjection of CX3CL1 into the hippocampus could rescue the hippocampal dependent memory deficits in BDNFMet/Met mice, indicating that CX3CL1 may be an effective treatment option for memory disorders in humans with this genetic BDNF variation. These findings will help us further understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the BDNFMet associated behavior and neuroanatomy alternations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Das geht rein: Phagen können DNA hoch effizient in Wirtzellen einschleusen. Der Gentransfer in widerspenstige mesenchymale Stammzellen (MSCs) gelang durch virusmimetische magnetische Siliciumnanocluster (VMSNCs), die ein auf die MSCs abzielendes Phagenprotein auf ihrer Oberfläche tragen und DNA einschließen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important criterion for effective gene therapy is sufficient chromosomal integration activity. The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system is a plasmid system allowing efficient insertion of transgenes into the host genome. However, such efficient insertion occurs only after the system is delivered to nuclei. Since transposons do not have the transducing abilities of viral vectors, efficient delivery of this system first into cells and then into cell nuclei is still a challenge. Here, a phage display technique using a major coat displayed phage library is employed to identify a peptide (VTAMEPGQ) that can home to rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs). A nanoparticle, called liposome protamine/DNA lipoplex (LPD), is electrostatically assembled from cationic liposomes and an anionic complex of protamine, DNA and targeting peptides. Various peptides are enveloped inside the LPD to improve its targeting capability for rMSCs and nuclei. The rMSC-targeting peptide and nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptide can execute the synergetic effect to promote transfection action of LPD. The homing peptide directs the LPD to target the MSCs, whereas the NLS peptide directs transposon to accumulate into nuclei once LPD is internalized inside the cells, leading to increased gene expression. This suggests that rMSC-targeting peptide and NLS peptide within LPD can target to rMSCs and then guide transposon into nuclei. After entering the nuclei, SB transposon increase the insertion rates into cellular chromosomes. The targeting LPD does not show obvious cell toxicity and influence on the differentiation potential of rMSCs. Therefore, the integration of SB transposon and LPD system is a promising nonviral gene delivery vector in stem cell therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]