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Background: Lysyl oxidase enzymes (LOXs), as extracellular matrix (ECM) protein regulators, play vital roles in tumor progression by remodeling the tumor microenvironment. However, their roles in glioblastoma (GBM) have not been fully elucidated. Methods: The genetic alterations and prognostic value of LOXs were investigated via cBioPortal. The correlations between LOXs and biological functions/molecular tumor subtypes were explored in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). After Kaplan‒Meier and Cox survival analyses, a Loxl1-based nomogram and prognostic risk score model (PRSM) were constructed and evaluated by time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analyses. Tumor enrichment pathways and immune infiltrates were explored by single-cell RNA sequencing and TIMER. Loxl1-related changes in tumor viability/proliferation and invasion were further validated by CCK-8, western blot, wound healing, and Transwell invasion assays. Results: GBM patients with altered LOXs had poor survival. Upregulated LOXs were found in IDH1-wildtype and mesenchymal (not Loxl1) GBM subtypes, promoting ECM receptor interactions in GBM. The Loxl1-based nomogram and the PRSM showed high accuracy, reliability, and net clinical benefits. Loxl1 expression was related to tumor invasion and immune infiltration (B cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells). Loxl1 knockdown suppressed GBM cell proliferation and invasion by inhibiting the EMT pathway (through the downregulation of N-cadherin/Vimentin/Snai1 and the upregulation of E-cadherin). Conclusion: The Loxl1-based nomogram and PRSM were stable and individualized for assessing GBM patient prognosis, and the invasive role of Loxl1 could provide a promising therapeutic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents and compares the mathematical models and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models for degassing of oxygen from water in a laboratory-scale multi-function gas-liquid contactor under various operating conditions. The optimum correlations of the overall volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient ( k L a ) are determined by the mathematical models of specific contactors. Both the continuous-reactor model and semi-batch model can evaluate the degassing efficiency with relative errors within ±13%. Similarly, CFD models agree with experimental data with relative errors of ±10% or less. Overall, the mathematical models are deemed easy to use in engineering practice to assist the selection of efficient contactors and determine their optimum operation parameters. The CFD models have a wider applicability, and directly provide the local mass transfer details, making it appropriate for harsh industrial scenarios where empirical correlations for important quantities are unavailable. Combining these two types of models can effectively guide the design, optimization, and operation of the high-throughput degassing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn dendrite growth during repeated plating and stripping of a Zn metal anode often causes short-circuiting by puncturing the separator. Herein, we propose a separator modification strategy to regulate the Zn-ion flux and achieve uniform Zn deposition through the OH-terminated SiO 2 nanosphere coating. The interspaces between the uniform SiO 2 nanospheres construct a network of Zn-ion transport channels, and the negatively charged hydroxyl groups on the surface of SiO 2 nanospheres can electrostatically attract the Zn ions to direct the ion migration. The negative charges on SiO 2 nanospheres are retained at a higher pH, which enables the SiO 2 coating to consistently regulate the Zn-ion flux in the operating pH range of the Zn stripping/plating process. With a uniform Zn deposition guided by the SiO 2 coating, the dendrite formation is suppressed and the side reactions are alleviated. As a result, the Zn||Zn symmetric cell achieves a cyclic life of 1000 h at both 3 and 5 mA cm -2 . Meanwhile, the Zn||Cu asymmetric cell is able to maintain a Coulombic efficiency of 99.62% at 1 mA cm -2 for 2000 cycles, which outperforms many previously reported strategies.

Bismuth tungstate (Bi 2 WO 6 ) nanomaterials are widely used as visible-light driven photocatalysts. However, limited attention has been paid to the purity of prepared Bi 2 WO 6 nanoparticles, which may affect the photocatalytic performance and hinder in-depth study of Bi 2 WO 6 . In this work, the impurities of Bi 2 WO 6 formed during the hydrothermal process under a wide range of acid-base conditions (from 1.5 M HNO 3 to 0.5 M NaOH) were qualitatively analyzed and accurately quantified for the first time. After confirmation of Bi 2 WO 6 stability, the impurities were dissolved using acid or base treatment, followed by measurements of the ion concentrations using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Furthermore, various characterization techniques including XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, UV-Vis DRS, XPS and FTIR were implemented to explore the change in morphology and optical properties of Bi 2 WO 6 prepared in different acid-base environments, and to facilitate qualitative analysis of impurities. The hydrolytic properties of raw materials used for the synthesis of Bi 2 WO 6 were also analyzed with UV-Vis transmittance observation. Following these analyses, the types and contents of impurities in Bi 2 WO 6 prepared by the hydrothermal method under different acid-base conditions were determined. Results show that the primary impurity is WO 3 ·0.33H 2 O (41.09%) for the precursor prepared in 1.5 M nitric acid solution. When the pH of the precursor was in the range of 0.97-7.01, the synthesized Bi 2 WO 6 has relatively high purity, and the impure products were identified as BiONO 3 . Bi 2 O 3 began to appear when pH reached 9.01 and it reached 18.88% when pH was 12.98. The final product was Bi 2 O 3 exclusively for the precursor conditioned in 0.5 M NaOH solution. In addition, the accuracy of the proposed quantitative method using ICP-MS was validated for several scenarios by weight difference experiments., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Objective: To investigate the expression of CD10 in tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAF) in colorectal adenomas and its relation to cancerization and recurrence of adenoma. Methods: Tissue samples of low-grade adenoma ( n =50), high-grade adenoma ( n =50) and colorectal adenocarcinoma ( n =50) were collected, and tissue samples at the distal margin of corresponding colorectal lesions were taken as controls. The expression of CD10 in the stromal TAFs, and the expressions of β-catenin, Ki-67, p53 and CyclinD1 in tumor cells were detected by immunohistochemistry (Envision). The correlation of CD10 expression in stromal TAFs with the expressions of β-catenin, Ki-67, p53 and CyclinD1 in tumor cells was analyzed by Spearmen. One hundred samples of low-grade colorectal adenoma were collected, including 57 non-recurrent cases and 43 recurrent cases (16 cases of recurrent adenoma and 27 cases of recurrent adenocarcinoma); the expression of stromal TAF CD10 were determined and compared among groups. Results: There was no TAF in normal colorectal mucosa. The expression rates of TAF CD10 in low-grade adenoma, high-grade adenoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma were 22%, 50% and 78%, respectively (all P <0.05). The expression of Ki-67 and β-catenin in low-grade adenoma, high-grade adenoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma was on a rising trend (all P <0.01). The expression of CyclinD1 in high-grade adenoma was higher than that in colorectal adenocarcinoma and low-grade adenoma (all P >0.05). The expression of p53 in colorectal adenocarcinoma and high-grade adenoma was higher than that in low grade adenoma (all P <0.01). The expression of TAF CD10 was correlated with the expression of p53, Ki-67 and β-catenin-nucleus( r =0.264、0.307、0.320, all P <0.01),but not correlated with CyclinD1 and β-catenin-membrane ( r =0.012、-0.073, all P >0.05). The TAF CD10 level was significantly higher in low-grade adenoma with recurrence than that in those without recurrence ( P <0.05).The expression of CD10 in recurrent colorectal adenocarcinoma was higher than that in recurrent adenoma ( P <0.05). Conclusion: The expression of TAF CD10 is increased gradually in the process of adenoma-cancer, indicating that it may play an important role in the canceration of adenoma. Adenomas with high expression of CD10 TAF are likely to be recurrent and cancerized, and detection of TAF CD10 combined with p53, Ki-67 and β-catenin may be of value in predicting canceration or recurrence of colorectal adenoma.

Objective: To compare the biological characteristics of colorectal cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) with normal fibroblasts (NFs)., Methods: CAFs and NFs were isolated from fresh specimens of colorectal cancer and their paired normal colon tissue and cultured by tissue explant method. Light microscopy, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Western blot, immunofluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy and flow cytometry were used to identify isolated fibroblasts and to explore their characteristics of activation and growth., Results: Primary colorectal CAFs and NFs were isolated and cultured successfully. NFs showed spindled morphology and were arranged in interlacing or spiral bundles. CAFs were polygonal or spindle, but were fatter than NFs. They were distributed randomly and arranged irregularly, and had obvious actin expression. CAFs and NFs both expressed fibronectin, but not E-cadherin, CD31 and caldesmon. qPCR showed that CAFs expressed more fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and less fibroblast specific protein 1 (FSP1) than that of NFs. There was no difference in the expression of α-SMA between NFs and CAFs by Western blot. α-SMA was bundled in parallel to the long axis of the cell by immunofluorescence. By electron microscopy, CAFs but not NFs showed dense myofilament that was arranged regularly. Flow cytometry showed that the percentage of S- and G2-phase in CAFs were significantly lower than that in NFs. mRNA expression of transforming growth factor β1, stromal derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-D in CAFs were lower while that for PDGFC was higher than that in NFs. That indicated the proliferation of CAFs was inhibited and the secretion of some cytokines was different when compared with NFs., Conclusions: CAFs show differences with NFs in morphology, characteristics of activation and secretion of some cytokines. The proliferation of CAFs is down regulated as compared with NFs.