Beneficial synergy of adsorption-intercalation-conversion mechanisms in Nb₂O₅@nitrogen-doped carbon frameworks for promoted removal of metal ionsviahybrid capacitive deionization

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an emerging water purification technology, but the ion adsorption capacity of traditional carbon-based CDI electrodes is still unsatisfactory. Herein, a novel faradaic electrode by anchoring Nb2O5nanoparticles on nitrogen-doped carbon frameworks as anodes and activated carbon (AC) as cathodes in a hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI) system was originally developed to capture Na+ionsviaadsorption-intercalation-conversion mechanisms. The synergistic effects of the nanostructure and carbon coating were beneficial to enhancing electrical conductivity and offering fast Na+ion diffusion pathways. Impressively, the HCDI system demonstrated an excellent ion adsorption capacity of 35.4 mg g−1in a 500 mg L−1NaCl solution at 1.2 V as well as stable regeneration ability.In situRaman andex situXPS measurements unraveled that the mechanism of ion removal from water was the reversible redox reaction of Nb2O5. The new overall understanding of the synergistic effects opens opportunities for the design of HCDI systems for efficient removal of metal ions from saline water.</p

Effect of Tryptophan Hydroxylase-2 rs7305115 SNP on suicide attempts risk in major depression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Suicide and major depressive disorders (MDD) are strongly associated, and genetic factors are responsible for at least part of the variability in suicide risk. We investigated whether variation at the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) gene rs7305115 SNP may predispose to suicide attempts in MDD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We genotyped TPH2 gene rs7305115 SNP in 215 MDD patients with suicide and matched MDD patients without suicide. Differences in behavioral and personality traits according to genotypic variation were investigated by logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no significant differences between MDD patients with suicide and controls in genotypic (AG and GG) frequencies for rs7305115 SNP, but the distribution of AA genotype differed significantly (14.4% vs. 29.3%, <it>p </it>< 0.001). The G-allele frequency was significantly higher in cases than control group (58.1% vs.45.6%, <it>p </it>< 0.001), but the A-allele carrier indicated a decreased trend in MDD with suicide behaviors than control group (41.9% vs.54.4%, <it>p </it>< 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that TPH2 rs7305115 AA (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.22-0.99), family history of suicide (OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.17-5.04), negative life events half year ago (OR 6.64, 95% CI 2.48-11.04) and hopelessness (OR 7.68, 95% CI 5.79-13.74) were significantly associated with the suicide behaviors in MDD patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study suggested that hopelessness, negative life events and family history of suicide were risk factors of attempted suicide in MDD while the TPH2 rs7305115A remained a significant protective predictor of suicide attempts.</p

Chromatin Remodeling of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis is Mediated by an HGF‐PU.1‐DPP4 Axis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasizes mainly to the liver, which accounts for the majority of CRC-related deaths. Here it is shown that metastatic cells undergo specific chromatin remodeling in the liver. Hepatic growth factor (HGF) induces phosphorylation of PU.1, a pioneer factor, which in turn binds and opens chromatin regions of downstream effector genes. PU.1 increases histone acetylation at the DPP4 locus. Precise epigenetic silencing by CRISPR/dCas9KRAB or CRISPR/dCas9HDAC revealed that individual PU.1-remodeled regulatory elements collectively modulate DPP4 expression and liver metastasis growth. Genetic silencing or pharmacological inhibition of each factor along this chromatin remodeling axis strongly suppressed liver metastasis. Therefore, microenvironment-induced epimutation is an important mechanism for metastatic tumor cells to grow in their new niche. This study presents a potential strategy to target chromatin remodeling in metastatic cancer and the promise of repurposing drugs to treat metastasis

SOAC engine: A system to manage composite web service authorization

The authorization of composite web services is different from traditional authorization in a close system due to the dynamic and complex relationships among service consumers and resources (component services). This demonstration is to show the functionality of a system named Service Oriented Authorization Control Engine (SOAC Engine)

Threats and Avoidance Measures of Frost Damage of 'Shushanggan'Apricot in the Ili River Valley

[Objectives] To explore the threat factors of frost damage to 'Shushanggan'Apricot in the Ili River Valley, and to provide measures for avoiding frost damage. [Methods] Based on the meteorological data of the Ili River Valley counties and cities during the 12 years from 2010 to 2021 and using the critical low temperature of ‘Shushanggan’Apricot as the main factor, we comprehensively analyzed the threats of low temperature in winter in January and late frost in April in spring in the Ili River Valley. [Results] During the 12 years, there were 4 years of low temperature below the critical (-26 - -28℃) of ‘Shushanggan’ Apricot in the Ili River Valley counties and cities in January, accounting for 33.3%, and a total of 59 d. The frequency of occurrence was: Nilka County > Qapqal County > Yining City > Gongliu County > Huocheng County > Khorgos City > Yining County > Tekes County > Xinyuan County. In April, there were 9 years with a low temperature below the critical temperature (-0.6 ℃) flowering and fruit setting of ‘Shushanggan’Apricot, accounting for 75%, and a total of 134 d. The frequency of occurrence was: Nilka County > Tekes County > Gongliu County > Yining County > Huocheng County > Khorgos City > Xinyuan County > Yining City > Qapqal County. The low temperature threats of ‘Shushanggan’Apricot suitable cultivation areas were ranked as follows: Nilka County > Gongliu County > Tekes County > Qapqal County > Huocheng County > Yining City > Yining County > Khorgos City > Xinyuan County. Combined with the observation and survey of frost damage on the spot, we comprehensively analyzed and evaluated the cultivation area of ‘Shushanggan’Apricot in the Ili River Valley: three counties (Nilka County, Gongliu County, and Tekes County) in the eastern region, except Xinyuan County, suffered frequent late frost damage, are suitable areas for the cultivation of ‘Shushanggan’ Apricot; three counties and two cities in the western region (Qapqal County, Huocheng County, Yining City, Yining County, Khorgos City) and Xinyuan County in the eastern region are suitable areas for ‘Shushanggan’ Apricot. The inversion zone at an altitude of 820-1 100 in the valley is the superior area for ‘Shushanggan’ Apricot. [Conclusions] We explored the suitable areas in the origin area of ‘Shushanggan’ Apricot, and came up with measures to avoid frost damage, to provide a reference for the development of ‘Shushanggan’ Apricot

Low Density Lipoproteins Amplify Cytokine-signaling in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells

Recent studies suggest there is a high incidence of elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) patients and a survival benefit from cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. The mechanisms of these observations and the kinds of patients they apply to are unclear. Using an in vitro model of the pseudofollicles where CLL cells originate, LDLs were found to increase plasma membrane cholesterol, signaling molecules such as tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT3, and activated CLL cell numbers. The signaling effects of LDLs were not seen in normal lymphocytes or glycolytic lymphoma cell-lines but were restored by transduction with the nuclear receptor PPARδ, which mediates metabolic activity in CLL cells. Breakdown of LDLs in lysosomes was required for the amplification effect, which correlated with down-regulation of HMGCR expression and long lymphocyte doubling times (LDTs) of 53.6 ± 10.4 months. Cholesterol content of circulating CLL cells correlated directly with blood LDL levels in a subgroup of patients. These observations suggest LDLs may enhance proliferative responses of CLL cells to inflammatory signals. Prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm the therapeutic potential of lowering LDL concentrations in CLL, particularly in patients with indolent disease in the “watch-and-wait” phase of management

Genetic Similarity among Varieties of Armeniaca vulgaris Shushanggan in Ili

[Objectives] To analyze the genetic similarity among varieties of Armeniaca vulgaris Shushanggan in Ili. [Methods] The genetic distance among 13 A. vulgaris Shushanggan varieties was compared at the DNA molecular level, and clustering analysis was performed on them. [Results] The 13 varieties of A. vulgaris Shushanggan were classified into four clusters. The first cluster included Shushang Ganxing 1, Shushang Ganxing 4, Gongliu Yexing and Zhenzhu Youxing, and the similarity coefficient between Shushang Ganxing 1 and Shushang Ganxing 4 reached 0.808; the second cluster were Shushang Ganxing 2, Shushang Ganxing 3 and Liguangxing, and the similarity coefficient between Shushang Ganxing 2 and Shushang Ganxing 3 was 0.846[1]; Ili Baixing, 61 Tuan Guyexing, Chaxian Yexing and Huocheng Yexing were classified into the third cluster, and the similarity coefficient between Ili Baixing and 61 Tuan Guyexing was 0.692; and the fourth cluster included Shushang Ganxing W1 and Yixian Yexing, between which the similarity coefficient was 0.692. [Conclusions] This will lay a foundation for the research of variety identification and genetic structure of A. vulgaris Shushanggan

Association of blood IgG with tumor necrosis factor-alpha and clinical course of chronic lymphocytic leukemiaResearch in context

The intrinsic humoral immunodeficiency of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is often managed with immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT) to maintain IgG levels in the low-normal range (6–8 g/L) but optimal targets for IgG and timing to commence IgRT are unclear. IgG levels fell near 6 g/L at rates of −0.85±0.14 g/L/year in 51 patients who required treatment for CLL within 4.5±0.4 years from initial diagnosis and − 0.27±0.04 g/L/year in 40 patients with progressive disease who remained untreated after 8.5±0.5 years. In contrast, endogenous IgG levels remained above 8 g/L in patients with highly indolent disease (n = 25) and TNFα and beta-2-microglobulin (β2M) in blood decreased when IgRT was used to increase IgG levels over 9 g/L. At 15 g/L but not 5 g/L, the IgRT product Hizentra® inhibited B cell receptor (BCR)-activation, TNFα production, and survival in vitro, particularly of CLL cells that spontaneously made little TNFα. These findings suggest deterioration of the humoral immune system is associated with progressive CLL and altering the dosing of IgRT to achieve higher than conventional IgG target levels may have therapeutic activity. Keywords: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Immunoglobulin replacement therapy, IVIG, SCIG, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Immunodeficiency, Signal transduction, Cytokines, Toll-like receptors, Janus kinases, Bruton's tyrosine kinas

Advanced Glycation End Products Enhance Murine Monocyte Proliferation in Bone Marrow and Prime Them into an Inflammatory Phenotype through MAPK Signaling

Objective. Increased monocytes, particularly the inflammatory subset, are associated with accelerated atherosclerosis in diabetes through thus far incompletely defined mechanisms. The present study tested the hypothesis that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) promote bone marrow monocytes to proliferate and drive them into an inflammatory phenotype. Methods and Results. In vivo, AGEs (25 mg/kg i.p. for 7 days) increased proportions of CD115+ monocytes and the inflammatory subset, the CD115+Ly6Chigh cells, in murine bone marrow (flow cytometry analysis (FCM)), and enhanced gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) but only slightly upregulated mRNA expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) (real-time PCR) in monocytes. In vitro, when the monocytes were treated with different dosages of AGEs (50, 150, and 300 μg/mL), we found that proliferation (CCK8) but not apoptosis (FCM) of the monocytes was induced; the mRNA expressions of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) and GM-CSF were upregulated in a dose-dependent manner while mRNA levels of IL-10 and M-CSF were changed much less in monocytes (real-time PCR). Furthermore, AGEs (300 μg/mL) significantly enhanced the expression of Ki67 in monocytes (immunofluorescence staining (IF)), and this dose of AGEs markedly increased secretion of GM-CSF but not that of M-CSF (ELISA). For a pathway study, the monocytes were stimulated by 300 μg/mL AGEs for different periods of time (0, 15, 30, and 120 min) and the activation of the MAPK pathway was tested (FCM); the results showed the p38 and ERK pathways were activated but not JNK signaling. Pretreatment with an inhibitor of p38 (SB203580) or ERK (U0126) attenuated AGE-induced gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines and GM-CSF (real-time PCR), as well as reversing AGE-induced Ki67 expression (IF). Conclusions. AGEs promote bone marrow monocytes to proliferate and drive them into an inflammatory phenotype through p38 and ERK activation