Increased transgene expression mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus in human neuroglia cells under microgravity conditions

The space environment has the special characteristics of radiation, noise particularity and weightlessness, all of which have adverse effects on astronauts’ muscles, bones, neurons and immune system. Some reports have shown that chemotherapy and radiotherapy can increase the activity of the recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) which is widely used in gene therapy. In this paper, recombinant AAV2 (rAAV2) was first packaged with the enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) gene and used to infect neuroglia cells including the U87 and U251 cell lines, under microgravity conditions; it was then detected by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The results show that microgravity affects the adhesion ability of cells, promotes transgene expression induced by rAAV2 and causes changes of viral infection receptors at different time points. These findings broaden the current understanding of the microgravity effects on rAAV, with significant implications in gene therapy and the mechanisms of increased virus pathogenicity under space microgravity.

The Ninth Visual Object Tracking VOT2021 Challenge Results

acceptedVersionPeer reviewe

Assessing the Impact of Road Network on Urban Landscape Ecological Risk Based on Corridor Cutting Degree Model in Fuzhou, China

The rapidly expanding road network has resulted in the separation of the urban ecological landscape. To assess the potential implication of the road systems on the landscape ecological risk, the corridor cutting degree model based on roadway impact zones was introduced, and the effects of the road system on the landscape pattern change were analyzed in Fuzhou City, China, in 2000, 2010, and 2020. Meanwhile, through spatial auto-correlation analysis and a geographical detector model, it was shown that there was a link between the characteristics of the road network and the temporal and spatial distribution of landscape ecological risk index, and the main determinants of landscape ecological risk were identified. The outcome indicated that (1) the intermediate cutting had the greatest impact on the ecological landscape of the four corridor cutting modes of the road network. Furthermore, the land types with a higher corridor cutting degree index were woodland, cultivated land, and grassland, accounting for 35.23%, 33.61%, and 5.95% of the total cutting areas, respectively, and the landscape fragmentation was relatively serious. (2) Fuzhou’s landscape ecological risk has significantly increased over the past 20 years, with sub-high-risk and high-risk areas experiencing increases of 9.47% and 7.63%, respectively, and the spatial distribution pattern being primarily high-high and low-low clustering. (3) Corridor cutting degree index (CCI) and distance from sampling point to road (shortest distance) were two key factors that altered the geographic distribution of ecological risk in the landscape, and they showed a positive and negative connection, respectively. (4) In the geographic distribution of landscape ecological risk, the interaction between CCI and land type, or shortest distance and land type, was much higher than that of other components, with an explanation rate of more than 22%. The study findings could provide a scientific basis for integrated transportation and ecological restoration strategies in national space

Recent developments in the management of ascites in cirrhosis.

In recent years, advances have been made for treating ascites in patients with cirrhosis. Recent studies have indicated that several treatments that have been used for a long time in the management of portal hypertension may have beneficial effects that were not previously identified. Long-term albumin infusion may improve survival in patients with cirrhosis and ascites while beta-blockers may reduce ascites occurrence. Transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS) placement may also improve survival in selected patients in addition to the control with ascites. Low-flow ascites pump insertion can be another option for some patients with intractable ascites. In this review, we summarize the latest data related to the management of ascites occurring in cirrhosis. There are still unanswered questions, such as the optimal use of albumin as a long-term therapy, the place of beta-blockers, and the best timing for TIPS placement to improve the natural history of ascites, as well as the optimal stent diameter to reduce the risk of shunt-related side-effects. These issued should be addressed in future studies

Analysis and Optimization Strategy of Active Power Dynamic Response for VSG under a Weak Grid

A virtual synchronous generator (VSG) has a good adaptability to the weak grid but its grid-connected active power (GCAP) has the problem of a slow dynamic response under the active power command step. An optimization strategy of the GCAP dynamic response for the VSG based on the virtual negative impedance combined with the active power transient damping control algorithm is proposed in this paper. The optimization strategy first uses the virtual negative impedance control method to reduce the VSG equivalent output impedance and the GCAP dynamic response time of the VSG. Then, the transient damping as well as the inhibition ability of the GCAP dynamic oscillation for the VSG are enhanced by the active power transient damping control algorithm. The Matlab/Simulink simulation software is used to study the GCAP dynamic response performances of the VSG in the condition of the active power command step, and the experimental test platform of a VSG grid-connected system is established. The simulation and experimental results jointly verify the feasibility and superiority of the proposed strategy in improving the GCAP dynamic response characteristics of the VSG under a weak grid

A highly efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction: phosphorus and nitrogen co-doped hierarchically ordered porous carbon derived from an iron-functionalized polymer

Heteroatom-doped carbon materials have shown respectable activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. However, the performances of these materials are not satisfactory for energy conversion devices, such as fuel cells. Here, we demonstrate a new type of phosphorus and nitrogen co-doped hierarchically ordered porous carbon (PNHOPC) derived from an iron-functionalized mesoporous polymer through an evaporation-induced self-assembly process that simultaneously combines the carbonization and nitrogen doping processes. The soft template and the nitrogen doping process facilitate the formation of the hierarchically ordered structure for the PNHOPC. The catalyst possesses a large surface area (1118 cm(2) g(-1)) and a pore volume of 1.14 cm(3) g(-1). Notably, it exhibits excellent ORR catalytic performance, superior stability and methanol tolerance in acidic electrolytes, thus making the catalyst promising for fuel cells. The correlations between the unique pore structure and the nitrogen and phosphorus configuration of the catalysts with high catalytic activity are thoroughly investigated

Baicalein and its underlying mechanism as a protector against liver injury induced by cisplatin in mice

Cisplatin is widely used for the treatment of a variety of cancers but with a high incidence of hepatotoxicity. Baicalein is originally isolated from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi with broad bioactivities. The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of baicalein against cisplatin-induced acute liver injury and the underlying mechanism of this protective effect. Administration of cisplatin (40 mg/kg) for 24 h increased the serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase levels, while baicalein could reverse all those changes induced by cisplatin. Liver histological analysis further evidenced the protection of baicalein against cisplatin-induced liver injury. Baicalein counteracted the increased liver malondialdehyde (amount induced by cisplatin, while baicalein could further increase the cisplatin-induced elevation of the amount of reduced glutathione in the liver. Further results showed that baicalein reversed the cisplatin-induced decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S transferase and glutathione reductase. On the other hand, baicalein alleviated the increase in the serum levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 induced by cisplatin. Taken together, our results demonstrate that baicalein can inhibit cisplatin-induced hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation, which contributes greatly to the amelioration of cisplatin-induced liver injury

Template-assisted synthesis of hierarchically porous Co3O4 with enhanced oxygen evolution activity

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is one of the most important reactions in the energy storage devices such as metal air batteries and unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFCs). However, the kinetically sluggishness of OER and the high prices as well as the scarcity of the most active precious metal electrocatalysts are the major bottleneck in these devices. Developing low-cost non-precious metal catalysts with high activity and stability for OER is highly desirable. A facile, in situ template method combining the dodecyl benzene sulfuric acid sodium (SDBS) assisted hydrothermal process with subsequent high-temperature treatment was developed to prepare porous Co3O4 with improved surface area and hierarchical porous structure as precious catalysts alternative for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Due to the unique structure, the as-prepared catalyst shows higher electrocatalytic activity than Co3O4 prepared by traditional thermal-decomposition method (noted as Co3O4-T) and commercial IrO2 catalyst for OER in 0.1 M KOH aqueous solution. Moreover, it displays improved stability than Co3O4-T. The results demonstrate a highly efficient, scalable, and low cost method for developing highly active and stable OER electrocatalysts in alkaline solutions. (C) 2015 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics. All rights reserved

Generation of super-resolved optical needle and multifocal array using graphene oxide metalenses

10.29026/oea.2021.200031Opto-Electronic Advances421-No