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In the field of cancer research, scientific investigations are based on analysing differences in the secretome, the proteome, the transcriptome, the expression of cell surface molecules, and the deregulation of signal transduction pathways between neoplastic and normal cells. Accumulating evidence indicates a crucial role in carcinogenesis concerning not only stromal cells but also normal cells from target organs and tissue where tumours emerge. The tumour microenvironment ( TME) definitively plays an important role in regulating neighbouring cell behaviour. To date, limited attention has been focused upon interactions between cancer cells and normal cells. This review concentrates on the interactions between stromal and healthy cells from the TME in cancer development. In the article, the authors also describe mutations, genes and proteins expression pattern that are involved in tumour development in target organ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the release of dissolved black carbon (DBC) from bulk-BC, its surface properties, colloidal stability, and oxidative stress to rice seedlings in the presence and absence of rice root exudates were compared. The bulk-BCs were prepared at 550 °C and derived from wood chips and pig manure, respectively. The release of DBC from bulk-BC was significantly enhanced (20.19–23.63%) by the introduction of root exudates, where low molecular weight organic acids played a dominating role in the dissociation of DBC from carbon skeleton. The surface properties of DBC were greatly modified by root exudates including decreases in the surface area (18.13%) and mineral contents (43.90–69.57%). The O-containing groups and graphitization were also enhanced by 11.46% and 18.65%, respectively. Meanwhile, the presence of root exudates not only reduced the colloidal stability of DBC but also lowered the intensity of free radicals (19.44–22.22%) in DBC. Consequently, the oxidative stress of DBC to rice seedlings was significantly (p < 0.05) alleviated, evidenced by reduced antioxidative enzyme activities (5.67–29.25%) and soluble protein content (15.75–46.79%) in rice plants. These results indicate that the interaction between DBC and root exudates could remarkably modify the surface properties and reactivity of DBC, which has profound implications for understanding the behavior and functions of DBC in the environment. • The presence of root exudates enhanced the release of DBC from bulk-BC. • Root exudates modified surface properties of DBC including surface area, ash content, oxyl groups. • Root exudates reduced the colloidal stability of DBC in aqueous solutions. • Root exudates reduced the intensity of free radicals in DBC and its phytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Aberrant promoter methylation turns off gene expression and is involved in human malignancy. Studies show that first exon methylation has a tighter association with gene silencing compared to promoter methylation or gene mutation. However, to our knowledge the clinical importance of exonic methylation in renal cell carcinoma is unknown. We analyzed renal cell carcinoma for VHL gene exonic methylation using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Materials and Methods In 48 institutionally banked renal cell carcinoma patient tissue samples VHL exon sequencing was done as well as methylation analysis of promoter and exon 1 by mass spectrometry or conventional bisulfite analysis. Methylated human lymphocytic DNA (0% and 100%), nontemplate distilled H 2 O, and the UOK121 and UOK171 human renal cell carcinoma cell lines served as assay controls. Samples were considered hypermethylated if a CpG site showed greater than 50% methylation. Results Nine of the 43 patient samples read by our exon 1 assay had methylated VHL exon 1 sites, including 3 showing hypermethylation. The exon 1 methylation assay was robust and reproducible. Samples with exon 1 hypermethylation showed no exonic mutations. All samples assayed at VHL exon 2 were hypermethylated. Conclusions To assay renal cell carcinoma tumors for VHL methylation matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry is robust and reproducible, and capable of quantifying the methylation status of individual DNA bases. Exon 1 methylation may be an alternate mechanism of VHL gene silencing in renal cell carcinoma in addition to mutation and promoter methylation. Applying this assay in patient populations may allow enhanced diagnosis or tumor typing in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Sorption of SMX by herb-residue derived biochars was examined. [•] Low-temperature chars exhibited high sorption for SMX. [•] Formation of (−)CAHB accounted for high sorption of SMX on low-temperature chars. [•] Herb-residue biochars may serve as a potential sorbent for ionizable pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A novel engineered sorbent (i.e., MnO x -loaded biochar) was synthesized. [•] Layered structures of MnO x were well dispersed on the carbon surface. [•] Biochar/MnO x composite has strong sorption capacity to Cu2+. [•] MnO x -loaded biochar as a low-cost sorbent may have promising environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoplastics (NPs) are widely detected in aquatic ecosystems and attracting considerable attention. Although ecotoxicological impacts of NPs on aquatic biota are increasingly identified, the extent and magnitude of these detrimental effects on fish and aquatic invertebrates still lack systematic quantification and mechanistic interpretation. Here, the toxicity, influencing factors, and related mechanisms of NPs to fish and aquatic invertebrates are critically reviewed and summarized based on a total of 634 biological endpoints through a meta-analysis, where five vital response categories including growth, consumption, reproduction, survival, and behavior were emphasized to elucidate the negative impacts of NPs to fish and aquatic invertebrates from physiological to molecular levels. Our results revealed that NPs significantly decreased the survival, behavior, and reproduction of fish and/or aquatic invertebrates by 56.1%, 24.2%, and 36.0%, respectively. NPs exposure increased the oxidative stress and oxidative damage by 72.0% and 9.6%, respectively; while significantly decreased antioxidant prevention system and neurotransmission by 24.4% and 15.9%, respectively. Also, the effects of particle size, functional group, and concentration range of NPs on the physiological and biochemical reactions in the living organisms were discussed. This information is helpful to more accurately understanding the underlying toxic mechanisms of NPs to aquatic biota and guiding future studies. [Display omitted] • Toxicity of NPs to fish/aquatic invertebrates was reviewed through a meta-analysis. • NPs lead to negative effects on consumption, behavior, reproduction, and survival. • NPs induce oxidative stress and neurotoxicity to fish/aquatic invertebrates. • NPs toxicity is dependent on the particle size, functional group, and concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The sorption characteristics of tetracycline (TC) by waste tire powder and its chars were investigated to explore the potential of using waste tires as effective sorbents for removal of TC from aqueous solution. Naphthalene (NAPH), a typical hydrophobic organic compound, was selected as asorbate for comparison. TC displayed much lower sorption affinity to tire powder than NAPH. However, it exhibited similar adsorption affinity as NAPH on the pyrolyzed tire chars, which was mainly attributed to π-π electron-donor–acceptor interactions of TC with the graphite surface of chars. TC and Cu2+ could mutually facilitate the sorption of each other on both tire powder and pyrolyzed chars in a wide pH range. This could be explained by the metallic complexation and/or surface-bridging mechanisms (i.e., Cu- or TC-bridging). However, Cu2+ and NAPH depressed the sorption of each other on tire powder and displayed negligible impact to each other on the highly pyrolyzed chars. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The montmorillonite mineral with different water contents and the sodium chloride aqueous solution were investigated by molecular dynamics simulation, and the different characteristics of water and ion within these two systems were compared. The simulation results reveal that the locations of interlayer counterions are influenced by the ismor-phous substitution of mineral, and the interlayer water molecules form hydrogen bonds with the tetrahedron oxygen atoms, oriented along the mineral surface. By the way, the self-diffusion coefficient of water molecules and counterions in the interlayer is smaller than those in aqueous solution, especially in the zz direction. But the peak intensity of radial distribution functions between oxygen/hydrogen and sodium and inter-water atoms in montmorillonite system is higher than those in bulk solution, which means that the degree of integration of water molecules within the crystal layers is higher than the aqueous solution. All of these quantitative results show that the structure properties of interlayer water are significantly different from the free water molecules, and this study laid the foundation for the next step to study the high-pressure mechanical properties of saturated clay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the summary and analysis of the theories and models which were adequate to interpret the compressibility of saturated clay under low stress, such as diffuse double layer theory and nonparallel plate model, it was found that these theory or model failed to describe the bilinear shape of compression curves under high pressure. In order to facilitate a qualitative description of the complete compression process of clay, the total pore volume was classified into three different structural levels, which were called macropore, micropore and interlayer pore respectively. Under high pressure, apart from the expulsion of the free water enmeshed inside the aggregates and particles, the organized water molecules that adsorbed on the crystals were also be squeezed out layer by layer. And when two surfaces or particles approached closer to a few nanometers, continuum theories of attractive van der Waals and repulsive double-layer forces often failed to describe these interactions; other Non-DLVO forces came into play. Therefore, a new thought of study on the compressibility of saturated clay under high to has been proposed in the last part of this paper. By describing the specific arrangement of water molecules around the clay miner with the lattice density functional theory and conducting steered molecular dynamics simulation, the constitutive relation of saturated clay under high pressure could be constructed on the basis of molecular scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the phylogenetic relationships of Apis species (Hymenoptera: Apidae) have been generally accepted, genetic variation within most species and some new possible species’ status have not been studied in detail. In this study, we surveyed the genetic variation of mitochondrial DNA sequences in Apis species from China and investigated the phylogeography of Apis dorsata F. in China and neighboring Asian areas. The phylogeny of Chinese Apis species was consistent with the generally accepted Apis phylogeny, and a substructure within A. dorsata was suggested. Furthermore, results of analysis of molecular variance revealed significant genetic structuring of A. dorsata between Hainan Island and China mainland. When compared with neighboring Asian areas, Chinese A. dorsata grouped with one A. dorsata sample from Palawan Island of Philippines and two samples from Malaysia. Another two samples from Malaysia clustered with one Nepalese sample and the cluster from Thailand also was supported. These results support the hypothesis that glaciations and deglaciations during the Pleistocene could have greatly influenced the distribution and divergence of A. dorsata in China and Southeast Asia. In addition, the species status of Apis dorsata breviligula Maa and Apis dorsata binghami Cockerell were supported in our study and genetic variation may exist in Apis laboriosa Smith despite of limited natural distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The composition, structure, and adsorption behavior of activated carbons (ACs) derived from three different types of waste polymers, i.e., tire rubber (TR), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethyleneterephtalate (PET), by KOH activation were compared. The AC derived from PET exhibited the largest surface area (2831m2/g) and pore volume (1.68cm3/g) due to the homogenous aromatic composition of PET. The AC derived from PVC exhibited relatively lower surface area (2666m2/g) but more narrowed pore size distribution (2–3nm). The complex composition and high ash content of tire particles resulted in AC product with significantly lower surface area (398.5m2/g) and heterogeneous pore width. Adsorption data of methylene blue (MB) were fitted well by Langmuir equation, indicating monolayer coverage on the ACs. The high oxygen content of PET-derived AC heavily affected its adsorption to MB and iodine. Due to the remarkable surface area and highly mesoporous structures, ACs based on both PET and PVC exhibited much higher adsorption capacities than that of TR and commercial coal-based AC (F400). This study demonstrates that the properties of ACs are highly dependent on their starting polymers and the potential of converting synthetic polymer waste into effective adsorbents for environmental remediation and cleanup. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It is well known that carbon-based organic fertilizer can effectively promote crop growth and improve nutrient utilization efficiency. However, little is known about the effect of microorganisms on the nutrient availability of carbon-based organic fertilizer. To elucidate the contribution of microorganisms to the agricultural benefit of colloidal biochar-based fertilizer, a 5-month pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of different combinations of Methyltrophic bacillus, colloidal biochar, and organic fertilizer on physical–chemical properties of soil, plant growth, physiological-biochemical reactions, yield, and quality of tomato. The results show that the addition of Methyltrophic bacillus effectively promoted the availability of soil nutrients (such as nitrate nitrogen and available potassium) and increased soil cation exchange capacity; meanwhile, it significantly increased the content of chlorophyll-a (9.42–27.41%) and promoted the net photosynthetic rate (10.86–13.73%) and biomass of tomato fruit (17.84–26.33%). The contents of lycopene, vitamin C, total sugar, and soluble sugar in the fruits treated by the ternary combination of Methyltrophic bacillus, colloidal biochar, and organic fertilizer increased by 58.40%, 46.53%, 29.45%, and 26.65%, respectively. The above results demonstrate that the addition of beneficial microorganisms could further improve the performance of biochar-based fertilizer on plant growth, yield, and fruit quality of tomato. This information provides evidence for the promising performance of microorganism-supported biochar organic fertilizer in agricultural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excess release of engineered nanomaterials into farmland poses a serious threat to food security. Although rice varieties exhibit substantial variation in cadmium accumulation, their responses to Cd-based nanoparticles are largely unknown. In this work, we investigated the accumulation of cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs at 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 mg-Cd/L) in two rice varieties with different Cd accumulation capacity. It was found that 5.0 mg-Cd/L of CdTe QDs had minor growth inhibition to the high-Cd-accumulating variety (T705) relative to the low-Cd-accumulating variety (X24) after 7-day exposure. The two rice varieties had comparable Cd content in roots; however, T705 exhibited higher Cd content in shoots than X24. Transmission electron and confocal laser scanning microscopic observations demonstrated that more CdTe QDs can be transported and accumulated from roots to shoots in T705. The activities and gene expression of antioxidative enzymes in leaves of T705 increased more significantly than those of X24. Our findings for the first time validated that Cd accumulation divergence exists in different rice varieties when they are exposed to Cd-based QDs, the genetic basis for which needs to be further examined. Unlabelled Image • High-Cd-accumulating rice variety accumulated more CdTe QDs than low-Cd variety. • High-Cd-accumulating rice variety was more tolerant to the exposure of CdTe QDs. • More CdTe QDs were translocated from roots to shoots for high-Cd-level variety. • Antioxidant related mRNAs in high-Cd variety were more sensitive to CdTe QDs exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presence of magnetic fields, we studied the giant magnetoresistance (MR) effect of Dirac fermions in graphene and silicene, which is related to the spin and valley degrees of freedom. It is found that the electron could resonantly tunnel through the parallel magnetization configuration, but it is blocked in the antiparallel situation. Such a transmission difference leads to a giant MR ratio, which can be controllable electrically in silicene. Furthermore, for the asymmetric structure in silicene, the transport depends strongly on the spin and valley degrees of freedom. Accordingly, this MR device achieves a remarkable spin-valley polarized current which can be effectively controlled by the magnetic fields and electric fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]