Critical Role for Cold Shock Protein YB-1 in Cytokinesis

High levels of the cold shock protein Y-box-binding protein-1, YB-1, are tightly correlated with increased cell proliferation and progression. However, the precise mechanism by which YB-1 regulates proliferation is unknown. Here, we found that YB-1 depletion in several cancer cell lines and in immortalized fibroblasts resulted in cytokinesis failure and consequent multinucleation. Rescue experiments indicated that YB-1 was required for completion of cytokinesis. Using confocal imaging we found that YB-1 was essential for orchestrating the spatio-temporal distribution of the microtubules, β-actin and the chromosome passenger complex (CPC) to define the cleavage plane. We show that phosphorylation at six serine residues was essential for cytokinesis, of which novel sites were identified using mass spectrometry. Using atomistic modelling we show how phosphorylation at multiple sites alters YB-1 conformation, allowing it to interact with protein partners. Our results establish phosphorylated YB-1 as a critical regulator of cytokinesis, defining precisely how YB-1 regulates cell division

Critical Role for Cold Shock Protein YB-1 in Cytokinesis

High levels of the cold shock protein Y-box-binding protein-1, YB-1, are tightly correlated with increased cell proliferation and progression. However, the precise mechanism by which YB-1 regulates proliferation is unknown. Here, we found that YB-1 depletion in several cancer cell lines and in immortalized fibroblasts resulted in cytokinesis failure and consequent multinucleation. Rescue experiments indicated that YB-1 was required for completion of cytokinesis. Using confocal imaging we found that YB-1 was essential for orchestrating the spatio-temporal distribution of the microtubules, β-actin and the chromosome passenger complex (CPC) to define the cleavage plane. We show that phosphorylation at six serine residues was essential for cytokinesis, of which novel sites were identified using mass spectrometry. Using atomistic modelling we show how phosphorylation at multiple sites alters YB-1 conformation, allowing it to interact with protein partners. Our results establish phosphorylated YB-1 as a critical regulator of cytokinesis, defining precisely how YB-1 regulates cell division

Water Network Design and Management via Stochastic Programming

Water is an essential natural resource for life and economic activities. Water resources management is facing major challenges due to increasing demands caused by population growth, increased industrial and agricultural use, and depletion of fresh water sources around the world. In addition to putting stress on our civilization, factors such as water supply availability, spatial population changes, industrial growth, etc. are all sources of major uncertainty in water resources management. There are also uncertainties regarding climate variability and how it affects both water demands and supplies. Stochastic programming is a mathematical tool to help make decisions under uncertainty that models the uncertain parameters using probability distributions and incorporates probabilistic statements in mathematical optimization. This dissertation applies stochastic programming to water resources management. In particular, we focus on reclaimed water distribution network design to effectively reuse water in a municipal system and a water allocation problem in an integrated water system under uncertainty. We first present a two-stage stochastic integer program with recourse for cost- effective reclaimed water network design. Unlike other formulations, uncertain demands, temporal, and spatial population changes are explicitly considered in our model. Selection of pipe and pump sizes are modeled using binary variables in order to linearize the nonlinear hydraulic equations and objective function terms. We then develop preprocessing methods to significantly reduce the problem dimension by exploiting the problem characteristics and network structure. We analyze the sensitivity of the network design under varying model parameters, present computational results, and discuss when the stochastic solution is most valuable. Next, we investigate the use of risk-averse approach in water resources management using the so-called conditional value-at-risk as a risk measure. We develop a multistage risk-averse stochastic program with recourse for long-term water allocation under uncertain demands and water supply variability. We propose a specialized decomposition-based algorithm to solve multistage risk-averse stochastic programs, and present both the single-cut and the multicut version of the algorithm. We then compare the solution methodologies with different ways of decomposing the resulting problem. We solve the multistage risk-averse water allocation problem with different risk aversion levels and model assumptions, present computational results to demonstrate the potential benefits of risk-averse approach, and provide a guideline for risk aversion level selection

Study on the Polymerization and Mechanism of Amino Acid Catalyzed by Laccase

Laccase-catalyzed coloration toward wool was carried out and the K/S of wool fabric dyed was much higher than raw wool, presenting a claybank color. On this basis, the reaction mechanism is elucidated using tyrosine, tryptophan and the mixture as substrates. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and LC-MS as well as FT-IR measurements were used to study the reactions. The results indicate that the laccase-catalyzed reaction of tyrosine monomer, tyrosine monomer and the mixture, respectively, generates free radicals, including phenoxy radical and benzene radicals, pyrrolidine radical. The coupling reaction can occur between two free radicals, and further the Michael addition reaction occurs between benzene radicals with monomer another tyrosine. In view of the tan polytyrosine and rufous polytryptophan, as well as the higher content of tyrosine than tryptophan, the oxidation coupling reaction of tyrosine residue predominates over that of tryptophan residue in the process of laccase-catalyzed coloration toward wool

The bankruptcy act : a fresh start for entrepreneurs or improvident spenders?

In this paper, we would explore whether the discharge regime in the new Bankruptcy Act would encourage entrepreneurs or improvident spenders. Research on recent trends of bankruptcy was conducted to find out whether there is an increase in bankruptcies due to business failures or improvident spending

In Situ Functionalization of Cellulose with Polyoxometalate for UV-Resistant Performance

Polyoxometalate-based composite materials have recently attracted extensive attention due to their unique structural characteristics and physicochemical properties. In the present work, a flexible anti-UV blocker compatible with cotton fabric was prepared by simple covalent bond self-assembly of carboxyl group (−COOH) and phosphomolybdate. The resultant cotton fabrics were investigated and confirmed by FT-IR, PXRD and SEM-EDS, demonstrating the successful preparation of polyoxometalate-based composite fabric. The UV spectrum of as-designed composite fabric imparts excellent UV absorption capacity and the UPF value reaches 397.19, which is far superior to original cotton (7.09). Furthermore, the blocker was tested on the photosensitive material in direct UV irradiation, which proved its outstanding performance as a flexible, wearable, and visualized UV blocker. In addition, the experimental results confirmed that the prepared composite material exhibited an excellent and stable UV resistant performance (UPF: 100+) after 5 days UV aging irradiation and five times washing. The proposed fabrication strategy could promisingly endow polyoxometalate-based fiber materials with extensive applicability potential

Establishing grading indices of available soil potassium on paddy soils in Hubei province, China

Abstract Soil testing is an important diagnostic tool for assessing crop-available soil potassium (K) and hence making appropriate fertilizer recommendation. This study was aimed at correlating grain yield response data to soil-test K extracted with ammonium acetate (NH4OAc), cold nitric acid (HNO3), sodium tetraphenylboron (NaTPB) and boiling HNO3 solution, based on 54 field trials conducted during 2011 to 2015 across 15 counties in Hubei province, China. The specific objectives were to establish abundance and deficiency indices of available soil-K (ASK) for rice (Oryza sativa L.) and make accurate K fertilizer recommendations. Potassium extracted with NaTPB and boiling HNO3 was 1.47 times and 3.61 times higher respectively than that extracted with cold HNO3, while K extracted with cold HNO3 was 1.32 times higher than that extracted with NH4OAc. There were significant logarithmic relationships between crop response and soil-test K. The R2 values for cold HNO3-K and NaTPB-K methods were much higher than for NH4OAc-K method. In order to calibrate the application, the abundance and deficiency indices of ASK categorized by cold HNO3-K in low, medium, high and very high ranges were 200 mg kg−1 respectively, and that defined by NaTPB-K were 330 mg kg−1, respectively. These values could be used to evaluate soil K supplying capacity and make appropriate K fertilizer recommendations for rice

Effects of Dietary Fish Meal Replaced by Fish Steak Meal on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Intestinal Health and Microflora, Inflammatory Response, and Protein Metabolism of Large Yellow Croaker Larimichthys crocea

Although fish steak meal (FSM) is a potentially available protein source, its efficiency as a fish meal (FM) substitute remains unclear to date. To this end, this study was carried out to determine the effects of dietary FM replaced by FSM on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, intestinal health and microflora, inflammatory response, and protein metabolism of large yellow croaker. Five isolipidic and isonitrogenous diets were formulated by substituting FM with FSM at levels of 0% (FSM0, control diet), 25% (FSM25), 50% (FSM50), 75% (FSM75), and 100% (FSM100), and were fed to juvenile large yellow croaker for 8 weeks. Compared with the control diet, the replacement of 25% dietary FM with FSM did not markedly alter the weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR). When the FM substitution level was over 25%, WG and SGR markedly reduced. The intestinal structure observation found that the FSM75 and FSM100 diets markedly decreased villus height, villus width, and muscle thickness of the anterior intestine. The FSM75 and FSM100 diets significantly decreased enzyme activities of amylase (AMS), lipase (LPS), trypsin, catalase (CAT), and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the liver of large yellow croaker. The mRNA expression levels of intestinal barrier and inflammatory response-related genes suggested that the FSM50, FSM75, and FSM100 diets significantly decreased the mRNA abundances of intestinal barrier-related genes and anti-inflammatory response-related genes, and increased the mRNA abundances of proinflammatory gene il-6 in the anterior intestine. The compositions of intestinal microflora displayed that the FSM50, FSM75, and FSM100 diets decreased relative abundances of Firmicutes phylum and increased relative abundances of Proteobacteria phylum. In addition, the results of protein expression levels showed that the phosphorylation level of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) in FSM75 and FSM100 groups were markedly reduced. In conclusion, FSM can replace up to 25% dietary FM without compromising the growth performance, intestinal health, and protein metabolism of the large yellow croaker

Parental whole life-cycle exposure to tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) disrupts embryonic development and thyroid system in zebrafish offspring

Tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), an emerging environmental pollutant, has been frequently detected in natural waters. The objective of this study was to investigate possible parental transfer of TCEP and transgenerational effects on the early development and thyroid hormone homeostasis in F1 larvae following parental whole life-cycle exposure to TCEP. To this end, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations (0.8, 4, 20 and 100 μg/L) of TCEP for 120 days until sexual maturation. Parental exposure to TCEP resulted in significant levels of TCEP, developmental toxicity including decreased survival and final hatching rates, accelerated heart rate and elevated malformation rate, as well as induction of oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in F1 offspring. In F1 eggs, declined thyroxin (T4) levels were observed, consistent with those in plasma of F0 adult females, indicating the maternal transfer of thyroid endocrine disruption to the offspring. In addition, mRNA levels of several genes along the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis were significantly modified in F1 larvae, which could be linked to transgenerational developmental toxicity and thyroid hormone disruption. For the first time, we revealed that the parental exposure to environmentally relevant levels of TCEP could cause developmental toxicity and thyroid endocrine disruption in subsequent unexposed generation

sj-pdf-1-trj-10.1177_00405175221143070 - Supplemental material for Study of the surface properties of polypropylene by enzyme treatment

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-trj-10.1177_00405175221143070 for Study of the surface properties of polypropylene by enzyme treatment by Weini Jia, Yiqing Yao, Jianmin Guo, Xiaoli Zhang, Zhijie Liang in Textile Research Journal</p