Automatic analysis of facilitated taste-liking

This paper focuses on: (i) Automatic recognition of taste-liking from facial videos by comparatively training and evaluating models with engineered features and state-of-the-art deep learning architectures, and (ii) analysing the classification results along the aspects of facilitator type, and the gender, ethnicity, and personality of the participants. To this aim, a new beverage tasting dataset acquired under different conditions (human vs. robot facilitator and priming vs. non-priming facilitation) is utilised. The experimental results show that: (i) The deep spatiotemporal architectures provide better classification results than the engineered feature models; (ii) the classification results for all three classes of liking, neutral and disliking reach F1 scores in the range of 71%-91%; (iii) the personality-aware network that fuses participants’ personality information with that of facial reaction features provides improved classification performance; and (iv) classification results vary across participant gender, but not across facilitator type and participant ethnicity.EPSR

Mechanism study of lncRNA RMRP regulating esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through miR-580-3p/ATP13A3 axis

Abstract Objective It is well-known that lncRNAs regulate energy metabolism in tumors. This study focused on the action of RMRP on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell proliferation, apoptosis, and glycolysis. Methods In the resected ESCC tissues and adjacent tissues from patients, RMRP/miR-580-3p/ATP13A3 expressions were evaluated. ESCC cell proliferation rates and apoptotic rates were measured by CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. Apoptosis related markers were examined by Western blot. Moreover, glucose uptake, lactic acid, and ATP were measured by commercial kits, whereas HK2 and PKM2 were evaluated by Western blot to study ESCC cell glycolysis. Finally, the editing program of RMRP/miR-580-3p/ATP13A3 was translated by luciferase reporter assay and RIP analysis. Results RMRP and ATP13A3 were induced, while miR-580-3p was reduced in their expression in ESCC tissues. Silencing RMRP reduced proliferation, glycolysis, and anti-apoptosis ability of ESCC cells. RMRP sequestered miR-580-3p to target ATP13A3. Silenced ATP13A3 or overexpressed miR-580-3p rescued overexpressed RMRP-mediated promotion of proliferation, glycolysis, and anti-apoptosis of ESCC cells. Conclusion RMRP accelerates ESCC progression through the miR-580-3p/ATP13A3 axis, renewing a reference for lncRNA-based therapies for tumors

Microplastics as an emerging anthropogenic vector of trace metals in freshwater: Significance of biofilms and comparison with natural substrates

Highlights • Microplastics act as anthropogenic vectors of trace metals in freshwaters. • Adsorption capacity of microplastics is enhanced by biofilms but is not strong as natural substrates. • Biofilms alter the adsorption kinetics and mechanisms of trace metals onto microplastics. • Microplastics enhance exchange rates of trace metals between water and solid materials. • Anthropogenic substrate is necessary in evaluation of migration and fate of trace metals. Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in freshwater environments, and represent an emerging anthropogenic vector for contaminants, such as trace metals. In this study, virgin expanded polystyrene (PS) particles were placed in a eutrophic urban lake and a reservoir serving as the resource of domestic water for 4 weeks, to develop biofilms on the surface. For comparison, natural adsorbents in the form of suspended particles and surficial sediment were also sampled from these waterbodies. The trace metal adsorption properties of anthropogenic (virgin and biofilm covered microplastics) and natural substrates were investigated and compared via batch adsorption experiments. The adsorption isotherms fitted the Langmuir model, revealed that biofilms could enhance the trace metal adsorption capacity of MPs. However, natural substrates still had a greater adsorption capacity. Biofilms also alter the adsorption kinetics of trace metals onto MPs. The process of adsorption onto virgin MPs was dominated by intraparticle diffusion, whereas film diffusion governed adsorption onto biofilm covered microplastics and natural substrates. The trace metal adsorption of all the substrates was significantly dependent on pH and ionic strength. The adsorption mechanisms were further analyzed by SEM-EDS and FT-IR. The enhancement of adsorption was mainly attributed to complexation with functional groups contained in the biofilms, including carboxyl, amino, and phenyl-OH. Collectively, biofilm development intensifies the role of MPs in the migration and fate of trace metals in freshwater, since it does not give MPs an edge over natural substrates in adsorption

Catalytic Amination of Polylactic Acid to Alanine

In comparison to the traditional petroleum-based plastics, polylactic acid, the most popular biodegradable plastic, can be decomposed into carbon dioxide and water in the environment. However, the natural degradation of polylactic acid requires a substantial period of time and, more importantly, it is a carbon-emitting process. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop a novel transformation process that can upcycle the plastic trash into value-added products, especially with high chemical selectivity. Here we demonstrate a one-pot catalytic method to convert polylactic acid into alanine by a simple ammonia solution treatment using a Ru/TiO2 catalyst. The process has a 77% yield of alanine at 140 degrees C, and an overall selectivity of 94% can be reached by recycling experiments. Importantly, no added hydrogen is used in this process. It has been verified that lactamide and ammonium lactate are the initial intermediates and that the dehydrogenation of ammonium lactate initiates the amination, while Ru nanoparticles are essential for the dehydrogenation/rehydrogenation and amination steps. The process demonstrated here could expand the application of polylactic acid waste and inspire new upcycling strategies for different plastic wastes

Hydrochemical Characteristics of Hot Springs in the Intersection of the Red River Fault Zone and the Xiaojiang Fault Zone, Southwest Tibet Plateau

The coupling relationship between regional seismic activity and the hydrogeochemical field provides an important theoretical basis for regional earthquake precursor exploration. The intersection area of the Red River fault zone (RRF) and the Xiaojiang fault zone (XJF) in southeast Yunnan province has become the focus area of earthquake monitoring and prediction because of its special tectonic position in China. There were 20 hot springs that were sampled and analyzed in the laboratory for major elements, including trace elements, silica, stable isotopes (δ18O and δD), and strontium isotopes, from the years 2015 to 2019. (1) The meteoric water is the main source of recharge for thermal springs in the study area, and recharged elevations ranged from 1.1 to 2 km; (2) the geothermometer method was used to estimate the region of thermal storage temperature, and its temperature ranged between 64.3 to 162.7 °C, whereas the circulation depth ranged from 1.1 to 7.2 km. Hydrochemical types were mainly controlled by aquifer lithology, in which sodium bicarbonate and sulphuric acid water gathered mainly in the RRF, while calcium bicarbonate water gathered mainly in the XJF. According to the silicon–enthalpy equation method, the temperature range and cold water mixing ratio were 97–268 °C and 61–97%, respectively; (3) the circulation depth of the RRF was deeper than that of the XJF, and it was mainly concentrated in the second segment and the fourth segment on the RRF. Most of the hot spring water was immature with a weak water–rock reaction; (4) the hot water intersections of RRF and XJF were obviously controlled by the fault and the cutting depth of granite; (5) the relationship discussed between geothermal anomaly and earthquake activity had a good correspondence with regional seismicity. The intensity of the reaction between underground hot water and the surrounding rock may lead to the change of pore pressure, and the weakening effect of groundwater on fracture may change accordingly, followed by the change in the adjustment of tectonic stress. Eventually, the difference in seismic activity was shown, implying that deep fluid has an important control action on the regional seismicity

Effects of cancer-testis antigen, TFDP3, on cell cycle regulation and its mechanism in L-02 and HepG2 cell lines <i>in vitro</i>

<div><p>TFDP3, also be known as HCA661, was one of the cancer-testis antigens, which only expressed in human tissues. The recent researches about TFDP3 mostly focused on its ability to control the drug resistance and apoptosis of tumor cells. However, the role of TFDP3 in the progress of the cell cycle is rarely involved. In this study, we examined the expression of TFDP3 in human liver tissues firstly. After that, we detect the expression of TFDP3 at the RNA level and protein level in L-02 cell line and HepG2 cell line, and the location of TFDP3 was defined by immunofluorescence technique. Furthermore, we synchronized the cells to G1 phase, S phase and G2 phase, and arrested cell mitosis. The localization of TFDP3 and co-localization with E2F1 molecules in different phases of hepatocyte lines. Finally, TFDP3 gene knockout was performed on L-02 and HepG2 cell lines, and detected the new cell cycles by flow cytometry. The result showed that the expression of TFDP3 molecule is negative in normal liver tissue, but positive in immortalized human hepatocyte cell line, and the expression level is lower than in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. The expression level of TFDP3 was in the dynamic change of L-02 and HepG2 cell lines, and was related to the phase transition. TFDP3 can bind to E2F1 molecule to form E2F/TFDP3 complex; and the localizations of TFDP3 and E2F1 molecules and the co-localization were different in different phases of cell cycle in the nucleus and cytoplasm, which indicated that the E2F/TFDP3 complex involved in the process of regulating the cell cycle. By knocking down the TFDP3 expression level in L-02 and HepG2 cell lines, the cell cycle would be arrested in S phase, which confirmed that TFDP3 can be a potential target for tumor therapy.</p></div

Expression of TFDP3 in L-02 and HepG2 cell lines in different phases of cell cycle.

<p>(A) L-02 and HepG2 cell lines were synchronized to G1, S, G2 and M phases through TdR method and nocodazole, and synchronization effect was measured by flow cytometry. The proportion of each phase was shown in the figure (Red number = G1 phase, Blue number = S phase, Green number = G2 phase). This experiment was repeated 5 times to count the proportion of cells in each cell after synchronized. It can be seen that the proportion of cells that are synchronized is about 50% or so. (B) The expression of TFDP3 protein in each phase of cell cycle in L-02 and HepG2 cell lines was detected by Western Blot. The result showed that in L-02 and HepG2 cell lines, TFDP3 was expressed in every phase of cell cycle, and the expression level is various in different phases. Moreover, the expression level in S phase was higher than the other phases (p_L-02 = 0.003<0.01; p_HepG2 = 0.007<0.01; n = 5). The results of immunofluorescence staining showed the localization of TFDP3 and E2F1 in different phases of cell cycle in L-02 cell line (C) and HepG2 cell line (D), which were examined by laser confocal scanning microscopy. In the figures, the images from the top to the bottom in turn showed the distribution of E2F1 and TFDP3 in normal untreated cells (8000×), G1 phase, S phase, G2 phase and late stage cells (20000×); from left to right in turn showed nucleus staining (DAPI), E2F1 (FITC tag), TFDP3 (Cy3 tag) and merge images. The red arrows indicate that the location of the E2F1 expressed in nucleus in telophase and G1 phase. The yellow arrows indicate that the E2F1 mainly expressed in cytoplasm in the G2 phase. The blue arrows indicate the expression of TFDP3 in nucleus in telophase. The green arrows indicate that TFDP3 mainly expressed in cytoplasm in S and G2 phase. The co-localization of TFDP3 and E2F1 was indicated by the white arrows.</p

TFDP3 in human normal liver and hepatocellular carcinoma tissue expression.

<p>The figure shows the results of immunohistochemical staining of human normal liver (a,b), human hepatocellular carcinoma (c,d) and human testis tissue sections (e,f). Tissue sections were stained with anti-TFDP3 antibody and subjected to hematoxylin staining (a,c,e ×200 and b,d,f ×400). The expression of TFDP3 in human normal liver tissue was negative, while in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and testicular tissue TFDP3 molecule was stained in nucleus (as indicated by black arrow in the figure) into brown (high expression), and cytoplasm (indicated by blue arrow) into light brown (low expression).</p

Expression of TFDP3 on L-02 cells and HepG2 cells.

<p>(A) The expression of TFDP3 in SK-BR-3, L-02 and HepG2 cell lines in mRNA level was detected by quantitative RT-PCR. TFDP3 and GAPDH primer sequences were shown before. L-02 and HepG2 cell lines expressed TFDP3 at the RNA level, and the expression level of TFDP3 in L-02 cell line was lower than in HepG2 cell line. The expression of TFDP3 in SK-BR-3 cell line was negative. (B) The expression of TFDP3 in SK-BR-3 cells, L-02 cells and HepG2 cells detected by Western Blot, and the expression level of TFDP3 in L-02 cell line was lower than in HepG2 cell line. (C) Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the localization and expression of TFDP3 in L-02 cells and HepG2 cells. TFDP3 molecules could locate only in cytoplasm (as in the cells in mitotic indicated by red arrow), or also locate in the nucleus (as in indicated by white arrow).</p