Isolation of Potential Photosynthetic N\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e-Fixing Microbes from Topsoil of Native Grasslands in South Dakota

Nitrogen fertilizer is one of the most limiting factors and costly inputs in agriculture production. Current fossil fuel-dependent ammonia production is both energy intensive and environmentally damaging. An economically practical and environmentally friendly solution for the production of ammonia is urgently needed. Solar-powered N2-fixing cyanobacteria provide a unique opportunity and promise for applications in agriculture compared to all other N2-fixing bacteria that cannot use solar energy. Isolation of nitrogen-fixing microbes from the topsoil of native grasslands may have the potential to use them in crop fields as living ammonia factories. This may be a mechanism to free farmers from heavy reliance on fossil fuels-dependent chemical nitrogen fertilizers and to improve soil health for sustainable agriculture. To screen for solar-powered N2-fixing cyanobacteria in topsoil of native grasslands in South Dakota, we collected 144 topsoil samples from several native grasslands. Six photosynthetic microbial strains were isolated that are capable of growing well autotrophically in a nitrogen-free medium, suggesting that these six microbial strains have the ability to fix N2. They were assigned the names: Xu15, Xu81, Xu86, Xu111, Xu141, and WW3. Based on cell morphology and its 18S rRNA gene sequence that we obtained, strain Xu15 was reassigned as Chloroidium saccharophilum Xu15, a common terrestrial coccoid green alga. An acetylene reduction assay detected substantial ethylene production, suggesting nitrogenase activity occurrences in cultures Xu81 and Xu15. The other four are in the process of purification for testing their nitrogenase activity. Xu81, Xu111 and Xu141 are probably unicellular microalga, while WW3 and Xu86 are likely filamentous cyanobacteria. Future research will focus on developing these validated N2-fixing microbes as in situ living ammonia factories in crop fields

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0075323 promotes glioblastoma cells proliferation and invasion via regulation of autophagy

Abstract Background Protein p62 (sequestosome 1) encoded by gene SQSTM1 plays a vital role in mediating protectively selective autophagy in tumor cells under stressed conditions. CircSQSTM1 (hsa_circ_0075323) is a circular transcript generated from gene SQSTM1 (chr5:179260586–179260782) by back-splicing. However, the potential role of hsa_hsa_circ_0075323 in glioblastoma (GBM) remains unclear. Here, we aimed to explore the biological function of hsa_circ_0075323 in GBM and its relationship with autophagy regulation. Results Hsa_circ_0075323 is highly expressed in GBM cells and mainly locates in the cytoplasm. Inhibition of hsa_circ_0075323 in U87-MG and T98G cells attenuated proliferation and invasion ability significantly, while upregulation of has_ circ_0075323 enhanced proliferation and migration of U251-MG and A172 cells. Mechanistically, depletion of hsa_circ_0075323 in GBM cells resulted in impaired autophagy, as indicated by increased expression of p62 and decreased expression of LC3B. Conclusions Hsa_circ_0075323 regulates p62-mediated autophagy pathway to promote GBM progression and may serve as a prognostic biomarker potentially

Correlation of T/S ratio and the mean terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length.

<p>(A) Correlation of T/S ratio assessed by real-time PCR-based telomere assay and the mean TRF length determined by southern blotting in ten DNA samples. The linear regression line that best fit the data (p = 0.002) is shown. (B) The mean terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length was assessed by southern blotting. Size of molecular weight markers (Kb) is shown at the left side. S₁–S₉: nine randomly-selected DNA samples, Ref: the reference DNA used in real-time PCR-based telomere assay.</p

Exploration of influencing factors for placental telomere length based on unconditional logistic regression analysis.

<p>a: long or short placental telomere length, taking the mean of placental telomere length of the control group as the cutting point, *: p<0.01.</p

Spearman correlation analysis of placental cadmium concentration and placental lead concentration with placental telomere length.

*<p>: p<0.05.</p

Image_1_Using mixed reality technique combines multimodal imaging signatures to adjuvant glioma photodynamic therapy.jpg

BackgroundPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) promotes significant tumor regression and extends the lifetime of patients. The actual operation of PDT often relies on the subjective judgment of experienced neurosurgeons. Patients can benefit more from precisely targeting PDT’s key operating zones.MethodsWe used magnetic resonance imaging scans and created 3D digital models of patient anatomy. Multiple images are aligned and merged in STL format. Neurosurgeons use HoloLens to import reconstructions and assist in PDT execution. Also, immunohistochemistry was used to explore the association of hyperperfusion sites in PDT of glioma with patient survival.ResultsWe constructed satisfactory 3D visualization of glioma models and accurately localized the hyperperfused areas of the tumor. Tumor tissue taken in these areas was rich in CD31, VEGFA and EGFR that were associated with poor prognosis in glioma patients. We report the first study using MR technology combined with PDT in the treatment of glioma. Based on this model, neurosurgeons can focus PDT on the hyperperfused area of the glioma. A direct benefit was expected for the patients in this treatment.ConclusionUsing the Mixed Reality technique combines multimodal imaging signatures to adjuvant glioma PDT can better exploit the vascular sealing effect of PDT on glioma.</p