BPTF promotes tumor growth and predicts poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinomas.

BPTF, a subunit of NURF, is well known to be involved in the development of eukaryotic cell, but little is known about its roles in cancers, especially in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here we showed that BPTF was specifically overexpressed in NSCLC cell lines and lung adenocarcinoma tissues. Knockdown of BPTF by siRNA significantly inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis and arrested cell cycle progress from G1 to S phase. We also found that BPTF knockdown downregulated the expression of the phosphorylated Erk1/2, PI3K and Akt proteins and induced the cleavage of caspase-8, caspase-7 and PARP proteins, thereby inhibiting the MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling and activating apoptotic pathway. BPTF knockdown by siRNA also upregulated the cell cycle inhibitors such as p21 and p18 but inhibited the expression of cyclin D, phospho-Rb and phospho-cdc2 in lung cancer cells. Moreover, BPTF knockdown by its specific shRNA inhibited lung cancer growth in vivo in the xenografts of A549 cells accompanied by the suppression of VEGF, p-Erk and p-Akt expression. Immunohistochemical assay for tumor tissue microarrays of lung tumor tissues showed that BPTF overexpression predicted a poor prognosis in the patients with lung adenocarcinomas. Therefore, our data indicate that BPTF plays an essential role in cell growth and survival by targeting multiply signaling pathways in human lung cancers

Preparation of cellulose nanofibers from potato residues by ultrasonication combined with high-pressure homogenization

peer reviewedIn this study, the preparation parameters of cellulose nanofibers from potato residues (PCNFs) by ultrasonication combined with high-pressure homogenization were optimized based on yield, zeta-potential and morphology. The optimal parameters were as follows: ultrasonic power of 125 W for 15 min and homogenization pressure of 40 MPa four times. The yield, zeta potential and diameter range of the obtained PCNFs were 19.81%, –15.60 mV and 20–60 nm, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy results showed that part of the crystalline region of cellulose was destroyed, resulting in a decrease in crystallinity index from 53.01% to 35.44%. The maximum thermal degradation temperature increased from 283 °C to 337 °C. PCNFs suspensions were non-Newtonian fluids and exhibited rigid colloidal particle properties. In conclusion, this study provided alternative uses for potato residues generated from starch processing and showed great potential for various industrial applications of PCNFs

Ku80 cooperates with CBP to promote COX-2 expression and tumor growth.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays an important role in lung cancer development and progression. Using streptavidin-agarose pulldown and proteomics assay, we identified and validated Ku80, a dimer of Ku participating in the repair of broken DNA double strands, as a new binding protein of the COX-2 gene promoter. Overexpression of Ku80 up-regulated COX-2 promoter activation and COX-2 expression in lung cancer cells. Silencing of Ku80 by siRNA down-regulated COX-2 expression and inhibited tumor cell growth in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model. Ku80 knockdown suppressed phosphorylation of ERK, resulting in an inactivation of the MAPK pathway. Moreover, CBP, a transcription co-activator, interacted with and acetylated Ku80 to co-regulate the activation of COX-2 promoter. Overexpression of CBP increased Ku80 acetylation, thereby promoting COX-2 expression and cell growth. Suppression of CBP by a CBP-specific inhibitor or siRNA inhibited COX-2 expression as well as tumor cell growth. Tissue microarray immunohistochemical analysis of lung adenocarcinomas revealed a strong positive correlation between levels of Ku80 and COX-2 and clinicopathologic variables. Overexpression of Ku80 was associated with poor prognosis in patients with lung cancers. We conclude that Ku80 promotes COX-2 expression and tumor growth and is a potential therapeutic target in lung cancer

Assembly strategies for rubber-degrading microbial consortia based on omics tools

Numerous microorganisms, including bacteria and fungus, have been identified as capable of degrading rubber. Rubber biodegradation is still understudied due to its high stability and the lack of well-defined pathways and efficient enzymes involved in microorganism metabolism. However, rubber products manufacture and usage cause substantial environmental issues, and present physical-chemical methods involve dangerous chemical solvents, massive energy, and trash with health hazards. Eco-friendly solutions are required in this context, and biotechnological rubber treatment offers considerable promise. The structural and functional enzymes involved in poly (cis-1,4-isoprene) rubber and their cleavage mechanisms have been extensively studied. Similarly, novel bacterial strains capable of degrading polymers have been investigated. In contrast, relatively few studies have been conducted to establish natural rubber (NR) degrading bacterial consortia based on metagenomics, considering process optimization, cost effective approaches and larger scale experiments seeking practical and realistic applications. In light of the obstacles encountered during the constructing NR-degrading consortia, this study proposes the utilization of multi-omics tools to discern the underlying mechanisms and metabolites of rubber degradation, as well as associated enzymes and effective synthesized microbial consortia. In addition, the utilization of omics tool-based methods is suggested as a primary research direction for the development of synthesized microbial consortia in the future

Assembly strategies for polyethylene-degrading microbial consortia based on the combination of omics tools and the “Plastisphere”

Numerous microorganisms and other invertebrates that are able to degrade polyethylene (PE) have been reported. However, studies on PE biodegradation are still limited due to its extreme stability and the lack of explicit insights into the mechanisms and efficient enzymes involved in its metabolism by microorganisms. In this review, current studies of PE biodegradation, including the fundamental stages, important microorganisms and enzymes, and functional microbial consortia, were examined. Considering the bottlenecks in the construction of PE-degrading consortia, a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches is proposed to identify the mechanisms and metabolites of PE degradation, related enzymes, and efficient synthetic microbial consortia. In addition, the exploration of the plastisphere based on omics tools is proposed as a future principal research direction for the construction of synthetic microbial consortia for PE degradation. Combining chemical and biological upcycling processes for PE waste could be widely applied in various fields to promote a sustainable environment

AHP- fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of the safety risk in power investment project along “the Belt and Road”

Energy is the focal point of “the belt and Road” investment cooperation. Because of the uncertainty factors, the safety risk of investment and construction is high, so the management and control of project is very difficult. Taking the 50M wind farm project in a South Asian country as an example, this paper constructs a safety risk assessment index system including 14 basic factors through the identification of the safety factors of “the belt and road” power investment project, and analyzes it by using the AHPfuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The results show that the final safety risk evaluation score of a power investment project in a South Asian country belongs to the “medium risk” range. Geopolitical risk, national sovereignty risk, local legal risk and local natural environment risk are the main indicators, whose risk grade is relatively high. Finally, the paper puts forward the effective risk countermeasures and suggestions

hardnessmeasurementandevaluationofthinfilmonmaterialsurface

给出了基于纳米硬度试验的表层薄膜的硬度测算方法。首先研究如何利用有限元计算弥补纳米硬度测量在压痕深度小于百纳米时的精度缺陷，进而探讨薄膜一基体材料系统的硬度随压痕深度变化的规律，最后导出了根据实验曲线预测表层薄膜材料的硬度的公式，并进行了实验验证

Preparation of cellulose nanocrystals from purple sweet potato peels by ultrasound-assisted maleic acid hydrolysis

peer reviewedThis study aimed at realizing high value utilization of purple sweet potato (PSP) peels. Firstly, ultrasonic assisted ethanol method was used to extract anthocyanins from PSP peels, and the individual anthocyanin composition and antioxidant activity were analyzed. Then the technological parameters of preparing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) by ultrasonic-assisted maleic acid hydrolysis were optimized, and Zeta-potential, chemical structure, thermal stability and crystallinity of CNCs were analyzed. Results showed the optimal technological parameters were as follows: the ratio between PSP peel residues and 75 wt% maleic acid was 1:10 (g/mL, W/W), and ultrasonic-assisted hydrolysis was carried out at 60℃ for 1 h, followed by 120℃ for 2.5 h. The yield and Zeta-potential of CNCs were 8.17 % and −57.7 mV, respectively. The chemical structure and physical properties of CNCs were similar to those of commercial CNCs. In conclusion, ultrasound-assisted maleic acid hydrolysis has great potential to realize the industrialization of CNCs