Impact of COVID-19 on fish and crustacean export from China with building resilient food system through China's lens

For China's fish and crustacean trade globally, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2020 has posed previously unprecedented challenges. This study investigates these concerns by analyzing China's fish and crustacean export activities and correlating the shift in trade throughout the pre-pandemic and pandemic phases. Despite the numerous factors for the changing trade, this research attempts to explain those related to the pandemic and coping mechanisms. The investigation is supported by and linked to a conceptual framework for the resilience of the perishable agricultural food system by China during the pandemic. The results indicated that fish and crustacean exports from China decreased as the incidence of infections increased both globally and within the country. Trade with important markets including Japan, Korea, and the United States was badly affected by the outbreak. While shipments to Korea saw the fastest growth throughout the pandemic, the monthly growth rate of fish exports to the USA was the lowest. However, China's fish and crustacean trade recovered well after the epidemic, with faster growth rates and lower instability. The pandemic even resulted in a decrease in the unit value realized for all fish and crustacean commodities. The government's long-term efforts to ensure food security and prompt policy responses during the outbreak have demonstrated that China's food system can endure and rebound from perturbations. China's “green route” for perishable agricultural goods in the domestic market and prohibition on illegal obstructions serve as examples of how to maintain supply flow during an outbreak

Dynamic Interactions between TIP60 and p300 Regulate FOXP3 Function through a Structural Switch Defined by a Single Lysine on TIP60

SummaryThe human FOXP3 molecule is an oligomeric transcriptional factor able to mediate activities that characterize T regulatory cells, a class of lymphocytes central to the regulation of immune responses. The activity of FOXP3 is regulated at the posttranslational level, in part by two histone acetyltransferases (HATs): TIP60 and p300. TIP60 and p300 work cooperatively to regulate FOXP3 activity. Initially, p300 and TIP60 interactions lead to the activation of TIP60 and facilitate acetylation of K327 of TIP60, which functions as a molecular switch to allow TIP60 to change binding partners. Subsequently, p300 is released from this complex, and TIP60 interacts with and acetylates FOXP3. Maximal induction of FOXP3 activities is observed when both p300 and TIP60 are able to undergo cooperative interactions. Conditional knockout of TIP60 in Treg cells significantly decreases the Treg population in the peripheral immune organs, leading to a scurfy-like fatal autoimmune disease

Progress in Antarctic marine geophysical research by the Chinese Polar Program

Marine geophysical survey by the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) began with the first science expedition in 1984/1985, although only four cruises were performed in the vicinity of the Antarctic Peninsula between then and 1991/1992. After a 20 year hiatus, Antarctic marine geophysical research was relaunched by the Chinese Polar Environmental Comprehensive Investigation and Assessment Programs (known simply as the Chinese Polar Program) in 2011/2012. Integrated geophysical surveys have been carried out annually since, in Prydz Bay and the Ross Sea. During the last 5 years, we have acquired about 5500 km of bathymetric, gravimetric, and magnetic lines; more than 1800 km of seismic reflection lines; and data from several heat flow and Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS) stations. This work has deepened understandings of geophysical features and their implications for geological tectonics and glacial history in Antarctica and its surrounding seas. Compiled Antarctic Bouguer and Airy isostatic gravity anomalies show different features of tectonics between the East Antarctic stability and West Antarctic activity. Calculated magnetic anomalies, heat flow anomalies and lithospheric anisotropy offshore of Prydz Bay may imply high heat capacity of mantle shielded by the continental shelf lithosphere, but high heat dissipation of mantle due to the Cretaceous breakup of Gondwana along the continent and ocean transition (COT), where large sediment ridges would be brought about by the Oligocene ice sheet retreat and would enlarge free-air gravity anomalies. In the western Ross Sea, CHINARE seismic profiles indicate northern termination of the Terror Rift and deposition time of the grounding zone wedge in the northern JOIDES Basin

MEIS2C and MEIS2D promote tumor progression via Wnt/β-catenin and hippo/YAP signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Background MEIS2 has been identified as one of the key transcription factors in the gene regulatory network in the development and pathogenesis of human cancers. Our study aims to identify the regulatory mechanisms of MEIS2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which could be targeted to develop new therapeutic strategies. Methods The variation of MEIS2 levels were assayed in a cohort of HCC patients. The proliferation, clone-formation, migration, and invasion abilities of HCC cells were measured to analyze the effects of MEIS2C and MEIS2D (MEIS2C/D) knockdown with small hairpin RNAs in vitro and in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was performed to identify MEIS2 binding site. Immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays were employed to detect proteins regulated by MEIS2. Results The expression of MEIS2C/D was increased in the HCC specimens when compared with the adjacent noncancerous liver (ANL) tissues. Moreover, MEIS2C/D expression negatively correlated with the prognosis of HCC patients. On the other hand, knockdown of MEIS2C/D could inhibit proliferation and diminish migration and invasion of hepatoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, MESI2C activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway in cooperation with Parafibromin (CDC73), while MEIS2D suppressed Hippo pathway by promoting YAP nuclear translocation via miR-1307-3p/LATS1 axis. Notably, CDC73 could directly either interact with MEIS2C/β-catenin or MEIS2D/YAP complex, depending on its tyrosine-phosphorylation status. Conclusions Our studies indicate that MEISC/D promote HCC development via Wnt/β-catenin and Hippo/YAP signaling pathways, highlighting the complex molecular network of MEIS2C/D in HCC pathogenesis. These results suggest that MEISC/D may serve as a potential novel therapeutic target for HCC.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152244/1/13046_2019_Article_1417.pd

Apply implicitly restarted Arnoldi method to solving eigenvalue problem and reducing dimensionality in neutron diffusion

国防科工局核能开发科研项目（cosSYST等热工水力计算分析软件的自主化研发与示范应用）资

Impact of the vertical strain on the Schottky barrier height for graphene/AlN heterojunction: a study by the first-principles method

Recent years, graphene-based van der Waals (vdW) heterojunction becomes more and more popular in optoelectronics, nanoelectronics, and spintronics device area. Besides, the modulation of Schottky barrier height (SBH) is rather desired to improve the performance of corresponding devices. In the current study, we have focused on the interfacial characteristics and electronic structure of graphene/AlN heterostructure by the first-principles calculations. The results show the intrinsic electronic properties are preserved after graphene and AlN contacting due to the weak interaction between two sublayers. The Bader charge analysis shows that the electrons are transferred from AlN to graphene, leading to graphene as an acceptor while AlN as a donor. Besides, by varying the interlayer distance from 2.5 to 4.3 Å, we found both the n-SBH and p-SBH are significantly tuned. In addition, the optical absorption intensity is enhanced significantly in the graphene/AlN heterojunction. Our findings imply that the SBH is controllable, which is highly desirable in the nano-electronic devices

Co-combustion characteristics and kinetics of meager coal and spent cathode carbon block by TG-MS analysis

As a hazardous waste, the spent cathode carbon block (SCCB) has a high calorific value while it is difficult to fire, its harmless disposal is a major difficulty at present. Herein, a method of mixed combustion of meager coal and SCCB in a pulverized coal furnace for disposal of SCCB is proposed, and thermogravimetric mass spectrometry (TG-MS) is used to characterize the combustion and gas release characteristics. The effects of the heating rate and mixing ratio on combustion are analyzed as well. The result shows that the comprehensive combustibility index and combustion stability index of SCCB-5 at a heating rate of 50 °C/min are both the highest. Abundant oxygen-containing groups in SCCB promote the co-combustion process. The release of hydrogen fluoride is relatively low below 1000 °C so that the use of pulverized coal boilers meets the temperature requirement for disposal of SCCB. The good melting characteristics of ash after mixing sintering also confirm this point. Finally, the kinetic calculation results show that the combustion activation energy is the lowest when the mixing ratio is 5%, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. The highest activation energy values for the combustion of meager coal, SCCB and SCCB-5 are 46.90, 89.39, 59.87 kJ mol−1, respectively

Modeling human gastric cancers in immunocompetent mice

Gastric cancer (GC) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. GC is determined by multiple (epi)genetic and environmental factors; can occur at distinct anatomic positions of the stomach; and displays high heterogeneity, with different cellular origins and diverse histological and molecular features. This heterogeneity has hindered efforts to fully understand the pathology of GC and develop efficient therapeutics. In the past decade, great progress has been made in the study of GC, particularly in molecular subtyping, investigation of the immune microenvironment, and defining the evolutionary path and dynamics. Preclinical mouse models, particularly immunocompetent models that mimic the cellular and molecular features of human GC, in combination with organoid culture and clinical studies, have provided powerful tools for elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying GC pathology and immune evasion, and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Herein, we first briefly introduce current progress and challenges in GC study and subsequently summarize immunocompetent GC mouse models, emphasizing the potential application of genetically engineered mouse models in antitumor immunity and immunotherapy studies

Study on Slagging Characteristics of Co-Combustion of Meager Coal and Spent Cathode Carbon Block

The harmless disposal of spent cathode carbon blocks (SCCBs) has become an urgent issue in the primary aluminum industry, and the disposal of SCCBs by co-combustion in pulverized coal boilers is expected to be the most effective treatment method. A muffle furnace at 815 °C was used in this study to perform a co-combustion experiment of meager coal and SCCBs. The ash fusion characteristics (AFTs), microscopic morphology, and minerals composition of co-combustion ash were characterized. The interaction mechanism of different mineral components and the change in AFTs and viscosity-temperature characteristics were investigated using FactSage software. Results show that the change in the ash deformation temperature (DT) is correlated linearly with the SCCB addition ratio, whereas other characteristic temperatures exhibit a nonlinear relationship. The contents of SiO2, Al2O3, and Na2O collectively determine the DT in the ash, and the influence degree from high to low is in the order of SiO2, Na2O, and Al2O3. The phase diagram of Na2O–Al2O3–SiO2 is used to accurately predict the changing trend of the melting point of co-combustion ash. The ratio changes between refractory and fusible minerals in the ash, as well as the degree of low-temperature eutectic reaction between sodium- and calcium-containing minerals, are the main factors affecting the melting point of ash. When the blending amount of SCCBs is 5%, mostly complete combustion is achieved, and slagging does not occur easily. The optimal blending ratio of SCCBs is obtained using the co-combustion method from the aspect of AFTs and viscosity-temperature characteristics. This work lays a theoretical foundation for industrial application

The emerging role of adaptor proteins in regulating innate immunity of sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome caused by a dysregulated immune response. A large number of adaptor proteins have been found to play a pivotal role in sepsis via protein-protein interactions, thus participating in inflammatory cascades, leading to the generation of numerous inflammatory cytokines, as well as oxidative stress and regulated cell death. Although available strategies for the diagnosis and management of sepsis have improved, effective and specific treatments are lacking. This review focuses on the emerging role of adaptor proteins in regulating the innate immunity of sepsis and evaluates the potential value of adaptor protein-associated therapeutic strategy for sepsis