Stress Relaxation of Wood Flour/Polypropylene Composites at Room Temperature

To investigate the time-dependent property of wood flour/polypropylene (PP) composites and the effect of coupling agents on it, both tensile stress relaxation and compressive stress relaxation curves were determined at various wood contents (0, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70%) without a coupling agent and were also determined at 50 and 60% wood contents with different coupling agents such as maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) and silane. Bending modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of wood flour/PP composites at various wood contents without coupling agents and at 60% wood content with MAPP and silane as coupling agents were also tested to compare with stress relaxation results. All measurements were performed at 26 ± 1°C. Results showed that 1) the tensile stress relaxation appeared to have similar trends with compressive stress relaxation (They both declined obviously after adding coupling agents at the same wood content.); 2) wood content had a great influence on stress relaxation behavior of wood flour/PP composites (The lowest stress relaxation rates appeared at 40% wood content for both tensile and compressive stress relaxation of wood flour/PP composites without coupling agent, suggesting the best compatibility between wood and PP is at about 40% within the experimental conditions of this study.); 3) optimal loading level of a coupling agent for stress relaxation varied with type of coupling agents and wood content (Within the experimental conditions used in this study, the optimal loading level for MAPP was 2% at both wood contents, whereas for silane, it was 1.5% at 50% wood content and 2% at 60% wood content.); and 4) lower stress relaxation rates corresponded to higher bending MOR and MOE values at 60% wood content. This suggests that long-term performance of wood flour/PP composites would be consistent with bending strength at room temperature

Regulation of Migration in Mythimna separata (Walker) in China: A Review Integrating Environmental, Physiological, Hormonal, Genetic, and Molecular Factors

Each year the Mythimna separate (Walker), undertakes a seasonal, long-distance, multigeneration roundtrip migration between southern and northern China. Despite its regularity, the decision to migrate is facultative, and is controlled by environmental, physiological, hormonal, genetic, and molecular factors. Migrants take off on days 1 or 2 after eclosion, although the preoviposition period lasts ≈7 d. The trade-offs among the competing physiological demands of migration and reproduction are coordinated in M. separata by the “oogenesis-flight syndrome.” Larvae that experience temperatures above or below certain thresholds accompanied by appropriate humidity, short photoperiod, poor nutrition, and moderate density tend to develop into migrants. However, there is a short window of sensitivity within 24 h after adult eclosion when migrants can be induced to switch to reproductive residents if they encounter extreme environmental factors including starvation, low temperature and long photoperiod. Juvenile hormone (JH) titer is low before migration but high titers are associated with termination of migratory behavior and the switch to reproduction. Early release of JH by the corpora allata in environmentally stressed 1-d old adults, otherwise destined by larval conditions to be migrants, switches them to residents. Offspring inherit parental additive genetic effects governing migratory behavior. However, they also retain flexibility in expression of both flight and reproductive life history traits. The insect neuropeptide, allatotropin, which activates corpora allata to synthesize JH, controls adult flight and reproduction. Future research directions to better understand regulation of migration in this species are discussed

Dai-Huang-Fu-Zi-Tang Alleviates Intestinal Injury Associated with Severe Acute Pancreatitis by Regulating Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore of Intestinal Mucosa Epithelial Cells

Objective. The aim of the present study was to examine whether Dai-Huang-Fu-Zi-Tang (DHFZT) could regulate mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) of intestinal mucosa epithelial cells for alleviating intestinal injury associated with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods. A total of 72 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (sham group, SAP group, and DHFZT group, n=24 per group). The rats in each group were divided into 4 subgroups (n=6 per subgroup) accordingly at 1, 3, 6, and 12 h after the operation. The contents of serum amylase, D-lactic acid, diamine oxidase activity, and degree of MPTP were measured by dry chemical method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The change of mitochondria of intestinal epithelial cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results. The present study showed that DHFZT inhibited the openness of MPTP at 3, 6, and 12 h after the operation. Meanwhile, it reduced the contents of serum D-lactic acid and activity of diamine oxidase activity and also drastically relieved histopathological manifestations and epithelial cells injury of intestine. Conclusion. DHFZT alleviates intestinal injury associated SAP via reducing the openness of MPTP. In addition, DHFZT could also decrease the content of serum diamine oxidase activity and D-lactic acid after SAP

Stage-specific transcriptomes of the Mussel Mytilus coruscus reveals the developmental Program for the Planktonic to Benthic Transition

Many marine invertebrate larvae undergo complex morphological and physiological changes during the planktonic—benthic transition (a.k.a. metamorphosis). In this study, transcriptome analysis of different developmental stages was used to uncover the molecular mechanisms underpinning larval settlement and metamorphosis of the mussel, Mytilus coruscus. Analysis of highly upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at the pediveliger stage revealed enrichment of immune-related genes. The results may indicate that larvae co-opt molecules of the immune system to sense and respond to external chemical cues and neuroendocrine signaling pathways forecast and trigger the response. The upregulation of adhesive protein genes linked to byssal thread secretion indicates the anchoring capacity required for larval settlement arises prior to metamorphosis. The results of gene expression support a role for the immune and neuroendocrine systems in mussel metamorphosis and provide the basis for future studies to disentangle gene networks and the biology of this important lifecycle transformation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Silicon Layer Intercalation of Centimeter-Scale, Epitaxially-Grown Monolayer Graphene on Ru(0001)

We develop a strategy for graphene growth on Ru(0001) followed by silicon-layer intercalation that not only weakens the interaction of graphene with the metal substrate but also retains its superlative properties. This G/Si/Ru architecture, produced by silicon-layer intercalation approach (SIA), was characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and angle resolved electron photoemission spectroscopy. These experiments show high structural and electronic qualities of this new composite. The SIA allows for an atomic control of the distance between the graphene and the metal substrate that can be used as a top gate. Our results show potential for the next generation of graphene-based materials with tailored properties.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Appl. Phys. Let

Improved laccase production by Trametes versicolor using Copper-Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine as a novel and high-efficient inducer

A highly efficient strategy using Copper-Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine (GHK-Cu) as a novel inducer was developed to enhance laccase production by Trametes versicolor. After medium optimization, laccase activity increased by 12.77-fold compared to that without GHK-Cu. The laccase production of 1113.8 U L−1 was obtained by scaling-up culture in 5-L stirring tank. The laccase production induced by CuSO4 was poorer than that of GHK-Cu at the same mole concentration. GHK-Cu could increase the permeability of cell membrane with less damage, and it facilitated the adsorption, accumulation, and utilization of copper by fungal cells, which was beneficial for laccase synthesis. GHK-Cu induced better expression of laccase related genes than that of CuSO4, resulting in higher laccase production. This study provided a useful method for induced production of laccase by applying GHK chelated metal ion as a non-toxic inducer, which reduced the safety risk of laccase broth and provided the potential application of crude laccase in food industry. In addition, GHK can be used as the carrier of different metal ions to enhance the production of other metalloenzymes

Prevalence and prognosis of molecularly defined familial hypercholesterolemia in patients with acute coronary syndrome

BackgroundFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) can elevate serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, which can promote the progression of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the effect of FH on the prognosis of ACS remains unclear.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, 223 patients with ACS having LDL-C ≥ 135.3 mg/dL (3.5 mmol/L) were enrolled and screened for FH using a multiple-gene FH panel. The diagnosis of FH was defined according to the ACMG/AMP criteria as carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. The clinical features of FH and the relationship of FH to the average 16.6-month risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) were assessed.ResultsThe prevalence of molecularly defined FH in enrolled patients was 26.9%, and coronary artery lesions were more severe in patients with FH than in those without (Gensini score 66.0 vs. 28.0, respectively; P < 0.001). After lipid lowering, patients with FH still had significantly higher LDL-C levels at their last visit (73.5 ± 25.9 mg/dL vs. 84.7 ± 37.1 mg/dL; P = 0.013) compared with those without. FH increased the incidence of CVEs in patients with ACS [hazard ratio (HR): 3.058; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.585–5.900; log-rank P < 0.001].ConclusionFH is associated with an increased risk of CVEs in ACS and is an independent risk factor for ACS. This study highlights the importance of genetic testing of FH-related gene mutations in patients with ACS

Early results from GLASS-JWST. XIV: A spectroscopically confirmed protocluster 650 million years after the Big Bang

We present the spectroscopic confirmation of a protocluster at $z=7.88$ behind the galaxy cluster Abell2744 (hereafter A2744-z7p9OD). Using JWST NIRSpec, we find seven galaxies within a projected radius of 60kpc. Although the galaxies reside in an overdensity around $>20\times$ greater than a random volume, they do not show strong Lyman-alpha emission. We place 2-$\sigma$ upper limits on the rest-frame equivalent width $<16$-$28$AA. Based on the tight upper limits to the Lyman-alpha emission, we constrain the volume-averaged neutral fraction of hydrogen in the intergalactic medium to be $x_{\rm HI} > 0.45$ (68% CI). Using an empirical $M_{\rm UV}$-$M_{\rm halo}$ relation for individual galaxies, we estimate that the total halo mass of the system is $\gtrsim 4\times10^{11}\,M_\odot$. Likewise, the line of sight velocity dispersion is estimated to be $1100 \pm 200$km/s. Using an empirical relation, we estimate the present-day halo mass of A2744-z7p9OD to be $\sim2\times10^{15}\,M_\odot$, comparable to the Coma cluster. A2744-z7p9OD is the highest redshift spectroscopically confirmed protocluster to date, demonstrating the power of JWST to investigate the connection between dark-matter halo assembly and galaxy formation at very early times with medium-deep observations at $<20$hrs total exposure time. Follow-up spectroscopy of the remaining photometric candidates of the overdensity will further refine the features of this system and help characterize the role of such overdensities in cosmic reionization.Comment: The title has been updated to reflect the published numbering; a minor change has been made to Figure 1 with regard to the MSA shutters on the rgb stamp image. NASA press release article can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2023/webb-reveals-early-universe-prequel-to-huge-galaxy-cluste

Pan-Cancer Analysis of lncRNA Regulation Supports Their Targeting of Cancer Genes in Each Tumor Context

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are commonly dys-regulated in tumors, but only a handful are known toplay pathophysiological roles in cancer. We inferredlncRNAs that dysregulate cancer pathways, onco-genes, and tumor suppressors (cancer genes) bymodeling their effects on the activity of transcriptionfactors, RNA-binding proteins, and microRNAs in5,185 TCGA tumors and 1,019 ENCODE assays.Our predictions included hundreds of candidateonco- and tumor-suppressor lncRNAs (cancerlncRNAs) whose somatic alterations account for thedysregulation of dozens of cancer genes and path-ways in each of 14 tumor contexts. To demonstrateproof of concept, we showed that perturbations tar-geting OIP5-AS1 (an inferred tumor suppressor) andTUG1 and WT1-AS (inferred onco-lncRNAs) dysre-gulated cancer genes and altered proliferation ofbreast and gynecologic cancer cells. Our analysis in-dicates that, although most lncRNAs are dysregu-lated in a tumor-specific manner, some, includingOIP5-AS1, TUG1, NEAT1, MEG3, and TSIX, synergis-tically dysregulate cancer pathways in multiple tumorcontexts

Pan-cancer Alterations of the MYC Oncogene and Its Proximal Network across the Cancer Genome Atlas

Although theMYConcogene has been implicated incancer, a systematic assessment of alterations ofMYC, related transcription factors, and co-regulatoryproteins, forming the proximal MYC network (PMN),across human cancers is lacking. Using computa-tional approaches, we define genomic and proteo-mic features associated with MYC and the PMNacross the 33 cancers of The Cancer Genome Atlas.Pan-cancer, 28% of all samples had at least one ofthe MYC paralogs amplified. In contrast, the MYCantagonists MGA and MNT were the most frequentlymutated or deleted members, proposing a roleas tumor suppressors.MYCalterations were mutu-ally exclusive withPIK3CA,PTEN,APC,orBRAFalterations, suggesting that MYC is a distinct onco-genic driver. Expression analysis revealed MYC-associated pathways in tumor subtypes, such asimmune response and growth factor signaling; chro-matin, translation, and DNA replication/repair wereconserved pan-cancer. This analysis reveals insightsinto MYC biology and is a reference for biomarkersand therapeutics for cancers with alterations ofMYC or the PMN