Protein S-palmitoylation modification: implications in tumor and tumor immune microenvironment

Protein S-palmitoylation is a reversible post-translational lipid modification that involves the addition of a 16-carbon palmitoyl group to a protein cysteine residue via a thioester linkage. This modification plays a crucial role in the regulation protein localization, accumulation, secretion, stability, and function. Dysregulation of protein S-palmitoylation can disrupt cellular pathways and contribute to the development of various diseases, particularly cancers. Aberrant S-palmitoylation has been extensively studied and proven to be involved in tumor initiation and growth, metastasis, and apoptosis. In addition, emerging evidence suggests that protein S-palmitoylation may also have a potential role in immune modulation. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of S-palmitoylation in tumor cells and the tumor immune microenvironment is essential to improve our understanding of this process. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of S-palmitoylation in tumors and the tumor immune microenvironment, focusing on the S-palmitoylation modification of various proteins. Furthermore, we propose new ideas for immunotherapeutic strategies through S-palmitoylation intervention

Family ostracism and proactive customer service performance: An explanation from conservation of resources theory

Despite the burgeoning interest in work-family conflict, little is known about how family stressors influences employees’ attitudes and behaviors in the workplace. This study focused on family ostracism and investigated its impact on employees’ proactive customer service performance (PCSP). Drawing on conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study further examined the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and the moderating role of family centrality. Using time-lagged data from 264 supervisor-follower dyads of two hotels in the mainland of China, this study found that family ostracism negatively affected employees’ PCSP by eliciting emotional exhaustion. In addition, the findings indicated that family centrality strengthened the direct effect of family ostracism on emotional exhaustion and the indirect effect of family ostracism on PCSP via emotional exhaustion such that the relationships were stronger when family centrality was high. Finally, this study discussed the theoretical implications of these results and provided practical several implications for organizations

Towards an integrated approach for land spatial ecological restoration zoning based on ecosystem health assessment

Mitigating ecosystem degradation has been a worldwide strategy, and China has been implementing land spatial ecological restoration for an all-around ecological preservation in recent years. A comprehensive diagnosis of the ecosystem health status and an effective division of spatial zoning are essential to formulating and implementing ecological restoration strategies at the regional scale. Here, the ecosystem health index (EHI) was computed for the years 2010 and 2020 using the vigor-organization-resilience model. Then, a three-step statistic-based, spatial continuity-based, and practice-based (SSP) zoning framework was developed to classify land spatial ecological restoration zones with the consideration of ecosystem health status, spatial relation, and local practices. We applied the integrated zoning approach using the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of Yangtze River (UAMRYR) in China as the study area. The results showed that: (1) the EHI had a slight decreasing trend from 2010 to 2020, with a spatial distribution pattern of healthy, unhealthy, and to healthy from the center to the periphery in the UAMRYR. (2) Eight land spatial ecological restoration zones were designated and adjusted through the SSP zoning framwork to be space-full and practical. Zone VIII accounted for the largest proportion (41.12%), followed by the Zone Ⅰ (21.57%). (3) Finally, corresponding land spatial ecological restoration strategies were proposed for each zone. This study contributes to land spatial ecological restoration zoning and differentiated restoration strategies in the UAMRYR, shedding light on restoration regulation and Sustainable Development Goals achievement in China and global regions with complicated environmental problems

The antecedents and consequences of being envied by coworkers: An investigation from the victim perspective

This study focused on the victims of coworker envy and presented a comprehensive model of being envied by coworkers to explore its antecedents and consequences in the hospitality context. Based on a sample of 232 employee-supervisor dyads in five Chinese hotels, we found that competitive goal interdependence fostered coworker envy, whereas cooperative goal interdependence prevented it. Further, the experience of being envied by coworkers undermined the frontline hospitality employees' social exchange relationship with coworkers. This in turn prevented them from engaging in organizational citizenship behavior directed at their organizations (OCBO) and specific individuals (OCBI) such as organization members. In addition, envied employees' others' approval of the contingent self-esteem was found to strengthen (1) the direct effect of being envied by coworkers on coworker exchange and (2) the indirect effect of being envied by coworkers on OCBO and OCBI via coworker exchange

Thermal behaviors and regeneration of activated carbon saturated with toluene induced by microwave irradiation

Microwave irradiation is an effective way to regenerate the activated carbon after adsorption and separation of waste. In this work, activated carbon saturated with toluene was efficiently regenerated by microwave irradiation. The maximum regeneration ratio of 77.2% was obtained under the following optimal operation conditions: saturated activated carbon of 5.01 g, microwave power of 500 W, carrier gas N₂ flow of 60 mL/min, and microwave irradiation time of 180 s. It was found that the higher microwave power may result in self-burning of activated carbon due to the presence of traces of oxygen, which might slightly deteriorate the pore structures of activated carbon. On the other hand, the lower microwave power cannot start desorption of toluene or might cause re-adsorption. The introduction of N₂ flow during regeneration was necessary to release the desorbed toluene from activated carbon, but it might cool the adsorption system under a much higher N₂ flow rate.5 page(s

Fabrication and characterization of selective laser melting printed Ti–6Al–4V alloys subjected to heat treatment for customized implants design

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a promising technique capable of rapidly fabricating customized implants having desired macro- and micro-structures by using computer-aided design models. However, the SLM-based products often have non-equilibrium microstructures and partial surface defects because of the steep thermal gradients and high solidification rates that occur during the laser melting. To meet clinical requirements, a heat treatment was used to tailor the physiochemical properties, homogenize the metallic microstructures, and eliminate surface defects, expecting to improve the cytocompatibility in vitro. Compared with the as-printed Ti–6Al–4V substrate, the heat-treated substrate had a more hydrophilic, rougher and more homogeneous surface, which should promote the early cell attachment, proliferation and osseointegration. More importantly, a crystalline rutile TiO2 layer formed during the heat treatment, which should greatly promote the biocompatibility and corrosion resistance of the implant. Compared to the untreated surfaces, the adhesion and proliferation of human bone mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) on heat-treated substrates were significantly enhanced, implying an excellent cytocompatibility after annealing. Therefore, these findings provide an alternative to biofunctionalized SLM-based Ti–6Al–4V implants with optimized physiochemical properties and biocompatibility for orthopedic and dental applications

Evaluation of adaptation of the polylactic acid pattern of maxillary complete dentures fabricated by fused deposition modelling technology: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE:To quantitatively evaluate maxillary complete dentures fabricated from polylactic acid (PLA) using fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology. METHODS:A digital maxillary complete denture was prepared based on a standard maxillary edentulous plaster model. The PLA pattern was printed by a FDM machine, with 5 repetitions, while another 5 wax patterns were printed as control group, using a high accuracy three-dimensional (3D) wax printer. The patterns were scanned with a 3D scanner. A light-body silicone film was made after each denture pattern had been totally seated on the plaster model, and was scanned to determine its thickness, which reflected the 3D space between the plaster model and the tissue surface of the denture pattern. The overall area was separated into four parts: primary stress-bearing area, secondary stress-bearing area, border seal area and relief area, and the average deviation of these four parts were measured. The values were analyzed by independent t-test. RESULTS:The overall mean value and standard deviation of space between PLA denture patterns and plaster model was 0.277 ± 0.021 mm, while that of the wax denture patterns was 0.279 ± 0.045 mm, which showed a good fit overall. No statistically significant ( > 0.05) difference was observed between the PLA patterns and wax patterns. CONCLUSIONS:The adaptation of the PLA pattern of maxillary complete denture printed by FDM technology is comparable to that prepared by wax printer, and can satisfy the accuracy requirements

Preventing Injury and Over-Insertion of Laparoscopic Trocars

Problem Statement: The critical step in laparoscopic surgery is the primary trocar insertion because it is executed with limited visibility of organs inside. Over-insertion frequently occurs due to either inability to stop a breaching trocar or by failure to accurately judge depth of insertion.  Background: Laparoscopic Surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that offers patients benefits that are more favorable than traditional open surgery. The benefits include minimal scarring, less pain and discomfort, and fast recovery. However, this procedure gives surgeons many drawbacks, such as a confined working space, reduced dexterity, and obscured vision. With five million laparoscopic procedures done worldwide in 2013, three million in the US alone, it is a necessity to address the issues surgeons are facing in order to meet the patients' growing demands for laparoscopic surgery.  Advisor(s): Dr. Samir Shreim; Dr. Michelle Khine; Dr. Albert Yee. Graduate Student Advisors: Elena Liang, Phil Thomas. UCI Dean's Choice Awar

Preventing Injury and Over-Insertion of Laparoscopic Trocars

Problem Statement: The critical step in laparoscopic surgery is the primary trocar insertion because it is executed with limited visibility of organs inside. Over-insertion frequently occurs due to either inability to stop a breaching trocar or by failure to accurately judge depth of insertion.  Background: Laparoscopic Surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that offers patients benefits that are more favorable than traditional open surgery. The benefits include minimal scarring, less pain and discomfort, and fast recovery. However, this procedure gives surgeons many drawbacks, such as a confined working space, reduced dexterity, and obscured vision. With five million laparoscopic procedures done worldwide in 2013, three million in the US alone, it is a necessity to address the issues surgeons are facing in order to meet the patients' growing demands for laparoscopic surgery.  Advisor(s): Dr. Samir Shreim; Dr. Michelle Khine; Dr. Albert Yee. Graduate Student Advisors: Elena Liang, Phil Thomas. UCI Dean's Choice Awar