Collective and cooperative dynamics in transition domains of amorphous polymers with multi-shape memory effect

Multi-shape memory effect (multi-SME) in amorphous shape memory polymers (SMPs) linked with collective and cooperative rearrangements and accommodations of monomeric segments, thus leading to generation of complex thermodynamic modes. In this study, an extended domain size model is initially formulated to describe various temperature-dependent relaxation behaviors and domain transitions in amorphous SMPs. According to the Adam-Gibbs theory, a cooperative model is employed to identify the principle role of domain size in the collective dynamics of multi-SME in amorphous SMPs. The phase transition theory is then combined with multi-branch Kelvin model to describe the collective and cooperative relaxation behaviors of the SMPs with multiple transition domains. It is shown that the proposed model is able to characterize the thermomechanical transitions and multiple shape recovery processes. Finally, the model is applied to predict shape recovery behavior of SMPs with triple- and quadruple-SME, respectively, and the theoretical results are well validated by the experimental ones

Single Endemic Genotype of Measles Virus Continuously Circulating in China for at Least 16 Years

The incidence of measles in China from 1991 to 2008 was reviewed, and the nucleotide sequences from 1507 measles viruses (MeV) isolated during 1993 to 2008 were phylogenetically analyzed. The results showed that measles epidemics peaked approximately every 3 to 5 years with the range of measles cases detected between 56,850 and 140,048 per year. The Chinese MeV strains represented three genotypes; 1501 H1, 1 H2 and 5 A. Genotype H1 was the predominant genotype throughout China continuously circulating for at least 16 years. Genotype H1 sequences could be divided into two distinct clusters, H1a and H1b. A 4.2% average nucleotide divergence was found between the H1a and H1b clusters, and the nucleotide sequence and predicted amino acid homologies of H1a viruses were 92.3%–100% and 84.7%–100%, H1b were 97.1%–100% and 95.3%–100%, respectively. Viruses from both clusters were distributed throughout China with no apparent geographic restriction and multiple co-circulating lineages were present in many provinces. Cluster H1a and H1b viruses were co-circulating during 1993 to 2005, while no H1b viruses were detected after 2005 and the transmission of that cluster has presumably been interrupted. Analysis of the nucleotide and predicted amino acid changes in the N proteins of H1a and H1b viruses showed no evidence of selective pressure. This study investigated the genotype and cluster distribution of MeV in China over a 16-year period to establish a genetic baseline before MeV elimination in Western Pacific Region (WPR). Continuous and extensive MeV surveillance and the ability to quickly identify imported cases of measles will become more critical as measles elimination goals are achieved in China in the near future. This is the first report that a single endemic genotype of measles virus has been found to be continuously circulating in one country for at least 16 years

The complete reference genome for grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) genetics and breeding

Grapevine is one of the most economically important crops worldwide. However, the previous versions of the grapevine reference genome consisted of thousands of fragments with missing centromeres and telomeres, which limited the accessibility of the repetitive sequences, the centromeric and telomeric regions, and the inheritance of important agronomic traits in these regions. Here, we assembled a telomere-to-telomere (T2T) gap-free reference genome for the pinot noir cultivar (PN40024) using the PacBio HiFi long reads. The T2T reference genome (PN_T2T) was 69 Mb longer with 9026 more genes identified than the 12X.v2 version (Canaguier et al., 2017). We annotated 67% repetitive sequences, 19 centromeres and 36 telomeres, and incorporated gene annotations of previous versions into the PN_T2T. We detected a total of 377 gene clusters, which showed associations with complex traits, such as aroma and disease resistance. Even though the PN40024 sample had been selfed for nine generations, we still found nine genomic hotspots of heterozygous sites associated with biological processes, such as the oxidation-reduction process and protein phosphorylation. The fully annotated complete reference genome, therefore, provides important resources for grapevine genetics and breeding.This work was supported by the National Natural Science Fund for Excellent Young Scientists Fund Program (Overseas) to Yongfeng Zhou, the National Key Research and Development Program of China(grant2019YFA0906200), the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (CAAS-ZDRW202101), the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (grant KQTD2016113010482651), the BMBF funded de.NBI Cloud within the German Network for Bioinformatics Infrastructure (de.NBI). We thank Bianca Frommer, Marie Lahaye, David Navarro-Payá, Marcela K. Tello-Ruiz and Kapeel Chougule for their help in analyzing the RNA-Seq data and in running the gene annotation pipeline. This study is also based upon work from COST Action CA17111 INTEGRAPE and form COST Innovators Grant IG17111 GRAPEDIA, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).ViticultureT2Tgap-fregene clustercentromeretelomerePublishe

A thermodynamic model for tunable multi-shape memory effect and cooperative relaxation in amorphous polymers

By integrating phase transition theory and Takayanagi principle, we have developed a thermodynamic model to describe working mechanism and thermomechanical behavior of shape memory polymers (SMPs) with tunable multi-shape memory effect (multi-SME). Thermodynamics and state/phase transitions of different segments in the SMPs were modeled by considering their cooperative relaxation, which is defined as a process where a group of segments undergo relaxation simultaneously, based on the Takayanagi principle. Dependences of thermomechanical behavior of amorphous polymers on volume fraction, cooperative relaxation and glass transition temperatures of both hard and soft segments were theoretically investigated. Working mechanisms of the multi-SME and cooperative relaxation of the amorphous polymers have well been explained using this newly proposed model, which offers an effective approach for designing new SMPs with multi-segments

miR-767-5p inhibits the invasion of ovarian cancer cell lines by regulating the expression of TBL1XR1 protein

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of miR-767-5P and transductin β1X linked receptor protein 1 (TBL1XR1) on the progression of ovarian cancer. Methods Database analysis: KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Kyoto Encyclopedia) enrichment analysis of miR-767-5P using GEO, miRPATH database and RStudio TOP5 microRNAs with differential expression multiples were selected from low and high expression microRNAs in the GEO data set, then ranked from low to high in terms of differential multiples. The target genes for miR-767-5p were predicted by miRDB and other databases. The intersection was selected. The target genes were screened by the Open Target Platform, GEPIA and other databases. GEPIA and THPA databases were used to analyze the expression level of TBL1XR1 in human organs, immunohistochemical analysis and survival curve analysis. Experimental verification: Dual luciferase assay detected the binding target of miR-767-5P and TBL1XR1. Western blot was used to detect TBL1XR1 expression in ovarian cancer cell lines (OC3, SKOV-3, HO-8910) and normal ovarian epithelial cell line(IOSE80). After transferring into SKOV-3 cells with miR-767-5P over-expression plasmid and TBL1XR1 over-expression plasmid, Western blot was used to detect the expression level of TBL1XR1 and Tanswell cell assay was used to detect cell invasion. Results Database analysis: miR-767-5p with the highest differential ratio of low expression was selected as the target microRNA for follow-up research; miR-767-5p was involved in various cancer-related pathways, and miR-767-5p and TBL1XR1 were closely associated with breast cancer and ovarian cancer, etc. TBL1XR1 was highly expressed in ovarian cancer and was associated with poor prognosis. Experimental verification: miR-767-5p and TBL1XR1 could be targetly bound(P＜0.05); Compared with IOSE80, TBL1XR1 was significantly over-expressed in OC3, SKOV-3 and HO-8910 cells. After the transfection of miR-767-5p over-expressed plasmid, the expression level of TBL1XR1 was decreased and the aggressiveness of ovarian cancer cells was reduced(P＜0.05), while simultaneously transfection of TBL1XR1 over-expressed plasmid could reduce this effect to some extent. Conclusions miR-767-5p regulates TBL1XR1 expression and inhibits the invasion of human ovarian cancer cell lines

AMPK: A Balancer of the Renin–angiotensin System

The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is undisputedly well-studied as one of the oldest and most critical regulators for arterial blood pressure, fluid volume, as well as renal function. In recent studies, RAS has also been implicated in the development of obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and other diseases, and also involved in the regulation of several signaling pathways such as proliferation, apoptosis and autophagy, and insulin resistance. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an essential cellular energy sensor, has also been discovered to be involved in these diseases and cellular pathways. This would imply a connection between the RAS and AMPK. Therefore, this review serves to draw attention to the cross-talk between RAS and AMPK, then summering the most recent literature which highlights AMPK as a point of balance between physiological and pathological functions of the RAS

Homogeneous Precipitation Synthesis and Magnetic Properties of Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) of cobalt ferrite have been synthesized via a homogeneous precipitation route using hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) as the precipitant. The particle size, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of the synthesized particles were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The NPs are of cubic inverse spinel structure and nearly spherical shape. With the increase of oxidation time from 30 to 180 minutes in the reaction solution at 90∘C, the average particle size increases from ~30 nm to ~45 nm. The as-synthesized NPs ~30 nm in size show higher Ms (61.5 emu/g) and moderate Hc (945 Oe) and Mr/Ms (0.45) value compared with the materials synthesized by coprecipitation method using NaOH as precipitate at high pH value