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One of the features of pathological cardiac hypertrophy is enhanced translation and protein synthesis. Translational inhibition has been shown to be an effective means of treating cardiac hypertrophy, although system-wide side effects are common. Regulators of translation, such as cardiac-specific long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), could provide new, more targeted therapeutic approaches to inhibit cardiac hypertrophy. Therefore, we generated mice lacking a previously identified lncRNA named CARDINAL to examine its cardiac function. We demonstrate that CARDINAL is a cardiac-specific, ribosome-associated lncRNA and show that its expression was induced in the heart upon pathological cardiac hypertrophy and that its deletion in mice exacerbated stress-induced cardiac hypertrophy and augmented protein translation. In contrast, overexpression of CARDINAL attenuated cardiac hypertrophy in vivo and in vitro and suppressed hypertrophy-induced protein translation. Mechanistically, CARDINAL interacted with developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 1 (DRG1) and blocked its interaction with DRG family regulatory protein 1 (DFRP1); as a result, DRG1 was downregulated, thereby modulating the rate of protein translation in the heart in response to stress. This study provides evidence for the therapeutic potential of targeting cardiac-specific lncRNAs to suppress disease-induced translational changes and to treat cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure., Introduction Heart failure is the common end stage for most cardiomyopathies and has both a high prevalence and mortality rate (1, 2). Although previous decades have witnessed great progress in [...]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recently recognized as playing a role in the pathogenesis of vascular remodeling-related diseases by modulating the functions of miRNAs. However, the interplay between circRNAs and proteins during vascular remodeling remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated a previously identified circRNA, circEsyt2, whose expression is known to be upregulated during vascular remodeling. Loss- and gain-of‑function mutation analyses in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) revealed that circEsyt2 enhanced cell proliferation and migration and inhibited apoptosis and differentiation. Furthermore, the silencing of circEsyt2 in vivo reduced neointima formation, while circEsyt2 overexpression enhanced neointimal hyperplasia in the injured carotid artery, confirming its role in vascular remodeling. Using unbiased protein-RNA screening and molecular validation, circEsyt2 was found to directly interact with polyC-binding protein 1 (PCBP1), an RNA splicing factor, and regulate PCBP1 intracellular localization. Additionally, circEsyt2 silencing substantially enhanced p53β splicing via the PCBP1-U2AF65 interaction, leading to the altered expression of p53 target genes (cyclin D1, p21, PUMA, and NOXA) and the decreased proliferation of VSMCs. Thus, we identified a potentially novel circRNA that regulated vascular remodeling, via altered RNA splicing, in atherosclerotic mouse models.

In this study, we explore the potential of using laser-induced photo-fragmentation of O3 by UV radiation as a quantitative diagnostic tool in non-thermal O2-mixed plasmas. We analyze the optical processes of O3 using a comprehensive kinetic model with a 226 nm laser, which is typically used in the two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence (TALIF) measurement of O atoms. Our model demonstrates that the fluorescence intensity from atomic O fragments produced by the same laser is directly proportional to the population of precursor O3. This makes various diagnostic purposes achievable through the proposed O3 full photo-fragmentation (FPF) TALIF spectroscopy, including calibration of TALIF signals of O atoms and quantification of both O and O3 in O2-mixed plasmas. We present detailed theoretical principles, technical requirements, and successful examples of implementation for different diagnostic aims using the proposed O3 FPF-TALIF spectroscopy. However, we also specify the limitations of the developed diagnostic methods, particularly under low E/N conditions (<30 Td), where other interferential species such as the vibrationally excited ground-state O 2 ( X 3 Σ g − , v ≠ 0) are abundantly produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addressing the substantial greenhouse gas emissions produced by the energy-intensive Haber–Bosch synthesis, this study investigates the viability of sustainable nitrogen fixation (NF) via low-temperature plasma systems energized by renewable sources. Utilizing vibrational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering as a diagnostic tool, we probed the nitrogen rovibrational temperature and population dynamics within a DC glow discharge in atmospheric air, a setting with considerable promise for eco-friendly fertilizer production. Besides, density for atomic N , O , and NO was quantified by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) or two-photon absorbed LIF methods. Our findings reveal a quasi-equilibrium between rotational and vibrational energy states in the DC glow discharge environment, reaching an approximate value of 3500 K at the discharge core. The discharge parameters, discharge current, air flow rate, and discharge gap influence the rovibrational temperature, density distribution of species of interest, and the NF energy cost. However, the influences induced by these parameters are of limitations. Further analysis implies that the high gas temperature and its induced significant vibrational-rotational and vibrational-translational energy exchange are mainly responsible for the non-ideal NF energy cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to realize the effective enrichment of phosphorus in high phosphorus converter slag, using the Ca O-Si O2-Fe2O3-P2O5-MgO-MnO slag with a P2O5content of 10% (mass fraction) as the research object, the form of phosphorus in the high phosphorous slag was studied by the laboratory hot state experiment.The effects of basicity and Fe2O3content on the enrichment of phosphorus in high phosphorus converter slag were investigated.The results show that the phosphorus element in the high phosphorus converter slag mainly exists in the form of n2CaO·Si O2-3CaO·P2O5 (n C2S-C3P) solid solution and the changes of slag basicity and Fe2O3content have no effect on the phosphorus occurrence form.The change of basicity has an effect on the production of 2CaO·Si O2.Too high or too low basicity is not conducive to the enrichment of phosphorus from slag to phosphorus-rich phase.Controlling the slag basicity in the range of 1.5-1.8 is conducive to the full enrichment of phosphorus in slag.Increasing the Fe2O3content in the slag can reduce the precipitation of 2CaO·Si O2and increase the content of P2O5in the phosphorus-rich phase, which is favorable for the enrichment of phosphorus in the slag.