LncRNA-p21 alters the antiandrogen enzalutamide-induced prostate cancer neuroendocrine differentiation via modulating the EZH2/STAT3 signaling

While the antiandrogen enzalutamide (Enz) extends the castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients' survival an extra 4.8 months, it might also result in some adverse effects via inducing the neuroendocrine differentiation (NED). Here we found that lncRNA-p21 is highly expressed in the NEPC patients derived xenograft tissues (NEPC-PDX). Results from cell lines and human clinical sample surveys also revealed that lncRNA-p21 expression is up-regulated in NEPC and Enz treatment could increase the lncRNA-p21 to induce the NED. Mechanism dissection revealed that Enz could promote the lncRNA-p21 transcription via altering the androgen receptor (AR) binding to different androgen-response-elements, which switch the EZH2 function from histone-methyltransferase to non-histone methyltransferase, consequently methylating the STAT3 to promote the NED. Preclinical studies using the PDX mouse model proved that EZH2 inhibitor could block the Enz-induced NED. Together, these results suggest targeting the Enz/AR/lncRNA-p21/EZH2/STAT3 signaling may help urologists to develop a treatment for better suppression of the human CRPC progression

Dynamic Changes in the Global MicroRNAome and Transcriptome Identify Key Nodes Associated With Ovarian Development in Chickens

The analysis of gene expression patterns during ovarian follicle development will advance our understanding of avian reproductive physiology and make it possible to improve laying performance. To gain insight into the molecular regulation of ovarian development, a systematic profiling of miRNAs and mRNAs at four key stages was conducted, using ovarian tissues from hens at 60 days of age (A), 100 days (B), 140 days-not yet laying (C), and 140 days-laying (D). Comparisons of consecutive stages yielded 73 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) (14 for B vs. A, 8 for C vs. B, and 51 for D vs. C) and 2596 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (51 for B vs. A, 20 for C vs. B, and 2579 for D vs. C). In addition, 174 DEMs (22 for C vs. A, 74 for D vs. A, and 78 for D vs. B) and 3205 DEGs (118 for C vs. A, 2284 for D vs. A, and 2882 for D vs. B) were identified between nonconsecutive stages. Some DEGs are involved in the Wnt and TGF-beta signaling pathways, which are known to affect ovarian development and ovulation. An integrative analysis of the miRNA and mRNA profiles identified 3166 putative miRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs containing 84 DEMs and 1047 DEGs. Functional annotation of the networks provides strong evidence that the miRNA regulatory networks may play vital roles in ovarian development and ovulation. Ten DEMs and 10 genes were validated by real-time quantitative PCR. The candidate miRNA-mRNA pairs gga-miR-200a-3p-SFRP4, gga-miR-101-3p-BMP5, gga-miR-32-5p-FZD4, and gga-miR-458b-5p-CTNNB1 potentially associated with ovarian development

N-doped hard/soft double-carbon-coated Na3V2(PO4)3 hybrid-porous microspheres with pseudocapacitive behaviour for ultrahigh power sodium-ion batteries

The development of sodium-ion batteries with high power density is highly challenging yet critically important in many applications. Herein, we develop sodium-ion batteries with ultrahigh power density by using N-doped hard/soft double-carbon-coated Na3V2(PO4)3 hybrid-porous microspheres as a cathode. A higher working potential of 3.4 V, superior rate capability (93 mA h g−1 at 10C, 81 mA h g−1 at 30C) as well as stable cycling performance (72.9% capacity retention at 10C after 1000 cycle) are simultaneously achieved. Very impressively, it can deliver pseudocapacitive behavior and a practical energy density of 317 W h kg−1 at a power density of 194 W kg−1, which also remains 73.5 W h kg−1 even at an ultrahigh power density of 12600 W kg−1. The superior performances can be ascribed to the hybrid-porous microsphere structure, which provide favorable kinetics for bath electron and Na+, large cathode-electrolyte contact area, as well as robust structural integrity. This design provides a promising pathway for developing low-cost sodium-ion batteries with high energy density as well as high power density

NaTi2(PO4)3/N‐Doped Hard Carbon Nanocomposites with Sandwich Structure for High‐Performance Na‐Ion Full Batteries

The well‐matched technology of cathode and anode in Na‐ion full batteries is highly challenging yet critically important in practical applications. Here, the high‐performance Na‐ion full batteries are developed by using NaTi2(PO4)3/N‐doped mesoporous hard carbon hybrid anode and porous Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode. The different anodes are designed for well‐matched Na‐ion full batteries. The unique sandwich and mesoporous structural features endow the hybrid anode with a high reversible capacity (240 mAh g−1 at 1 C), high rate performance (109.7 mAh g−1 at 100 C), ultrahigh energy/power densities (76.56 Wh kg−1/5104 W kg−1) and a long cycle‐life (capacity retention of 92.1 % after 1000 cycles at 100 C) in a half cell. In a full battery this hybrid anode can also deliver a higher capacitive contribution (79.5–87.7 %) and high energy/power densities (104 Wh kg−1/5256 W kg−1). This design provides a promising pathway for developing high performance and low‐cost Na‐ion full batteries

Nitrogen-doped carbon coated ZeO2 as a support to Pt nanoparticles in the oxygen reduction reaction

A new nitrogen-doped carbon (CNx) support for Pt electrocatalysts was prepared by carbonizing polypyrrole on the surface of ZrO2 (ZrO2@CNx) at high temperature. Well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles were easily formed on the ZrO2@CNx. The electrocatalyst was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, TEM, XPS. The electrochemical performances indicate that the presence of ZrO2 modified the electro-structure of Pt on the catalyst surface and that ZrO2@CNx had superior oxygen reduction activity compared to a nitrogen-doped carbon coated carbon (C@CNx).Web of Scienc

Experiment and simulation calculation of micro-cavity dielectric barrier discharge

In order to study the discharge mechanism and discharge parameters evolution of micro-cavity dielectric barrier discharge (MDBD), an experimental platform based on the dielectric panel surface grid micro-structure electrode device was built. Discharge equivalent circuit of the MDBD was established based on the deep analysis of the discharge physical process and experimental results. Then, using Matlab/Simulink and BOLSIG+ software, we solved the Kirchhoff’s voltage equation, Boltzmann equation and the electronic continuity equation to obtain the variation of the discharge characteristic parameters, including air gap voltage, the dielectric surface voltage, the electron density and the electron temperature. The results show that the gas gap voltage and dielectric surface voltage are decreased slightly during discharge, the electron temperature and electron density are consistent with the variation of discharge current. The maximum electron temperature is about 3.0 eV, the average value is about 1.6 eV, and its value is lower than the conventional dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). Keywords: Micro-cavity, Dielectric barrier discharge, Gas gap voltage, Electron density, Electron temperatur