Novel insights into circular RNAs in clinical application of carcinomas

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), formed by nonsequential back-splicing of pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) transcripts, have been widely concerned in recent years. With advances in high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology, previous work has revealed that a large number of circRNAs, which are endogenous, abundant and stable in mammalian cells, may be involved in atherosclerotic vascular disease risk, neurological disorders, prion diseases and carcinomas. Remarkably, interaction between circRNAs and microRNA has already been observed to perform a significant role in a variety of cancers, including gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. Recent work has suggested that circRNAs may play critical roles in the initiation and development of cancers and could become potential new biomarkers for cancers. Herein, we review the current understanding of the roles of circRNAs in cancers and the potential implications of circRNAs in cancer-targeted therapy

Modeling Periodic HFMD with the Effect of Vaccination in Mainland China

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), associated with more than 20 disease-causing enteroviruses, is one of the major public health problems in mainland China, and the unique vaccine available is for enterovirus 71 (EV71). In this paper, we propose a new epidemic model to investigate the effect of EV71 vaccination on the spread of HFMD with multiple pathogenic viruses in mainland China. In addition, suitable periodic transmission functions are designed, with a two-year period and taking into consideration the effects of opening and closing of schools. After defining the basic reproduction number R0, we prove that the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if R01. We use the model to simulate the HFMD reported data in mainland China from January 2008 to June 2019. The numerical experiments show that increasing the vaccinated rate can effectively control the spread of HFMD in mainland China, yet the disease does not become extinct. Moreover, if we can control the baseline contact rate of infectious individuals and the recovery rate of symptomatic infectious individuals under certain conditions, which can be achieved by improving protective measures and medical conditions, then the disease will be eliminated

BES1/BZR1 Family Transcription Factors Regulate Plant Development via Brassinosteroid-Dependent and Independent Pathways

The BES1/BZR1 family is a plant-specific small group of transcription factors possessing a non-canonical bHLH domain. Genetic and biochemical analyses within the last two decades have demonstrated that members of this family are key transcription factors in regulating the expression of brassinosteroid (BR) response genes. Several recent genetic and evolutionary studies, however, have clearly indicated that the BES1/BZR1 family transcription factors also function in regulating several aspects of plant development via BR-independent pathways, suggesting they are not BR specific. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of this family of transcription factors, the mechanisms regulating their activities, DNA binding motifs, and target genes. We selectively discuss a number of their biological functions via BR-dependent and particularly independent pathways, which were recently revealed by loss-of-function genetic analyses. We also highlight a few possible future directions

Photodegradation of Gas Phase Benzene by SnO2 Nanoparticles by Direct Hole Oxidation Mechanism

Photodegradation of gas phase benzene by SnO2 nanoparticles has been studied in humid air, dry air and N2 by using a tubular photoreactor. The SnO2 nanoparticles are synthesized by the oxidation of anhydrous stannic chloride (SnCl4) in a propane/air turbulent flame. Direct hole oxidation and the ·OH radical mechanisms have been discussed based on experimental results. The goal of this research is to explore a viable and efficient alternative photocatalyst and photocatalytic process, in particular, for humidity-tolerant photocatalyst or photocatalytic process in environmental applications

Numerical Simulation of the Distribution of In Situ Cigarette Combustion-Generated Particulate Matter

This paper has established a two-dimensional (2D) mathematical model for the generation, growth, and deposition of cigarette total particulate matter (TPM) in the smoldering state. The model has covered the chemical reactions and mass transfer as well as the mechanism of generation, flow, and condensation of particulate matter inside a burning cigarette. Cigarette smoke was generated by puffing under a constant pressure, and the pressure of the filter outlet was −274 Pa. The peak of the concentration of particulate matter was spatially overlapped with the peaks of pyrolysis and oxidation. Pertaining to the cross section of the cigarette at the same axial position, the peak of the diameter of particulate matter along the radial distribution first appeared in the zone near the edge of the cigarette cross section, and then gradually moved to the center of the cigarette with the cigarette smoke moving away from the combustion cone. The maximum number density of particulate matter calculated by the 2D mathematical model at the same axial position of the cigarette and the corresponding particle diameter, as well as the filtration efficiency of the filter rod, are in good accordance with the experimental data reported in previous studies

Hydraulic Traits and Non-Structural Carbon Responses to Drought Stress in <i>Reaumuria soongorica</i> (Pall.) Maxim. and <i>Salsola passerina</i> Bunge

Drought-induced plant mortality, resulting from either hydraulic failure or carbon starvation, is hypothesized to be modulated by the drought intensity. However, there is a paucity of research investigating the response strategies in desert shrubs under drought stress with different intensities. We transplanted potted Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim. and Salsola passerina Bunge seedlings in the rain-out shelter, and implemented three water treatments: a control (well-watered, CK), a chronic drought (gradually less watered, CD), and a flash drought (not watered, FD). We then quantified plant physiological traits associated with water use and carbon assimilation. Both R. soongorica and S. passerina showed similar changes in water use and carbon characteristics under different drought treatments. Water use efficiency was not significantly changed, but embolism resistance was significantly lower in CD, and leaf specific conductivity and embolism resistance were significantly lower in FD compared to CK. Under the drought treatment, both shrubs had significantly lower hydraulic safety margins than CK, with FD being significantly lower than CD. Notably, FD had lower carbon assimilation and a lower leaf non-structural carbon concentration, but higher stem non-structural carbon concentration. The results of a principal component analysis showed that net photosynthetic rate, sapwood specific conductivity, embolism resistance, midday water potential, and leaf and stem soluble sugar concentration were the main axes of variation for R. soongorica traits. CK had the highest water use efficiency, net photosynthetic rate, and gas exchange rate, while FD had the lowest embolism resistance and highest osmoregulation. Midday water potential, leaf and stem soluble sugar concentration were the main axes of variation for S. passerina traits, and individual distribution under three water treatments was associated with drought tolerance traits. The findings suggest that species exhibit different response strategies for resistance to drought stress, with R. soongorica being drought-avoidant and S. passerina being drought-tolerant. These findings highlight the adaptive capacity of desert shrubs to water deficit and provide insights for assessing hydraulic failure and carbon starvation in desert shrubs