Three-Dimensional Distribution of Turbulent Mixing in the South China Sea*

A three-dimensional distribution of turbulent mixing in the South China Sea (SCS) is obtained for the first time, using the Gregg–Henyey–Polzin parameterization and hydrographic observations from 2005 to 2012. Results indicate that turbulent mixing generally increases with depth in the SCS, reaching the order of 10[superscript −2] m[superscript 2] s[superscript −1] at depth. In the horizontal direction, turbulence is more active in the northern SCS than in the south and is more active in the east than the west. Two mixing “hotspots” are identified in the bottom water of the Luzon Strait and Zhongsha Island Chain area, where diapycnal diffusivity values are around 3 × 10[superscript −2] m[superscript 2] s[superscript −1]. Potential mechanisms responsible for these spatial patterns are discussed, which include internal tide, bottom bathymetry, and near-inertial energy

Effects of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor on Local Inflammation in Experimental Stroke of Rat

This study was aimed to investigate whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can modulate local cerebral inflammation in ischemic stroke. Rats were subjected to ischemia by occluding the right middle cerebral artery (MCAO) for 2 hours. Rats were randomized as control, BDNF, and antibody groups. The local inflammation was evaluated on cellular, cytokine, and transcription factor levels with immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time qPCR, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, respectively. Exogenous BDNF significantly improved motor-sensory, sensorimotor function, and vestibulomotor function, while BDNF did not decrease the infarct volume. Exogenous BDNF increased the number of both activated and phagocytotic microglia in brain. BDNF upregulated interleukin10 and its mRNA expression, while downregulated tumor necrosis factor α and its mRNA expression. BDNF also increased DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-kappa B. BDNF antibody, which blocked the activity of endogenous BDNF, showed the opposite effect of exogenous BDNF. Our data indicated that BDNF may modulate local inflammation in ischemic brain tissues on the cellular, cytokine, and transcription factor levels

RNA-binding protein DND1 participates in migration, invasion, and EMT of prostate cancer cells by degrading CLIC4

Dead-End 1 (DND1) is an RNA-binding protein (RBP) with regulatory functions in multiple cancers, including gastric and colorectal. Nevertheless, the role that DND1 plays in prostatic cancer (PCa) as well as the hidden molecular mechanism is still obscure. The gene expression of DND1 and survival analyses in PCa were analyzed by the UALCAN database. Expression of DND1 and chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4) were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and EDU staining were employed for the estimation of cell viability. The capabilities of cells to migrate and invade were appraised by the wound healing assay as well as the Transwell assay, while epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was measured by immunofluorescence and western blot assay. The interaction of DND1 and CLIC4 was predicted by PCTA, linkedomics, and RPISeq databases. It was discovered that DND1 expression was elevated in PCa cells. DND1 silencing had suppressive impacts on the proliferative, migrative, and invasive capabilities as well as EMT in DU145 and 22Rv1 cells. Mechanistically, bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that DND1 was negatively correlated with CLIC4 and that DND1 protein could bind to CLIC4 mRNA. Additionally, the CLIC4 level was reduced in PCa cells. CLIC4 depletion countervailed the suppressive impacts of DND1 deficiency on the capabilities of DU145 and 22Rv1 cells to proliferate, migrate, and invade as well as the process of EMT. These results suggested that DND1 silencing repressed the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT in PCa by regulating the mRNA level of CLIC4