天津市地下水生态系统服务价值演变

基于千年生态系统评估对生态系统服务的分类方法，将天津市地下水生态系统服务功能划分为供给、调节、 支持和文化 4 个方面，以此为基础建立地下水生态系统服务价值评估指标体系，采用价值量评估方法构建货币化 的价值评估模型，对地下水生态系统服务价值进行测算，并重点分析南水北调中线工程通水前后天津市地下水生 态系统服务价值演变特征。结果表明：2008—2019 年，天津市地下水生态系统年均总服务价值为 83.71 亿元，其 中，南水北调中线工程通水前（2008—2014 年）为 69.81 亿元，通水后（2015—2019 年）为 103.18 亿元；通水后，地 下水调节服务价值、支持服务价值增大，供给服务价值减小；南水北调中线工程对地下水生态系统服务价值的贡 献呈增大趋势，由 2015 年 2.64 亿元增加至 2019 年 24.01 亿元。     

气候变化背景下滇中引水工程水源区与受水区 降水丰枯遭遇分析

基于历史实测降水数据与全球气候模型预估数据，使用 Morlet 小波方法分析滇中引水工程水源区与受水区 降水序列的周期变化和未来的降水趋势。同时，采用 Copula 函数计算历史时期（1960—2021 年）与未来时期 （2022—2100 年）水源区与受水区降水丰枯异步或丰枯同步的概率。结果表明：1960—2021 年降水序列存在 26~39?a、18~25?a、4~7?a 的 3 类时间尺度的周期变化，2022—2100 年降水序列存在 38~55?a、18~30?a、5~12?a 的 3 类时间尺度的周期变化，降水量呈现“多—少—多”的循环交替，预计未来 10~20?a 将持续处于降水较多的时期； 过去 62?a，水源区和受水区降水丰枯异步频率 36.4%，同期丰水年频率为 25.3%，同期枯水年频率小于 30%，水源区 和受水区具有水量互补的引水条件，两区域之间存在着水量补偿特征；与历史丰枯遭遇对比，未来降水量丰枯同 步频率均呈现减小的趋势，丰枯异步呈现增加的趋势，同枯和源枯受丰的频率减少，未来有利于调水的降水丰枯 组合概率平均增加 3.75%；在近、中、远期预估中，从 SSP1-2.6 情景过渡到 SSP5-8.5 情景，SSP5-8.5 情景下降水量 丰枯异步频率比 SSP1-2.6 情景大，说明水源区与受水区的降水区域差异变大，降水时空差异更加显著。通过对滇 中引水工程水源区与受水区降水量丰枯遭遇的综合分析、定量评估和模拟预测，为滇中引水工程水资源调度协同 一体化提供数据支撑及参考依据。     

Hemodynamics in a three-dimensional printed aortic model: a comparison of four-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance and image-based computational fluid dynamics

Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine - This study aims to compare an electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated four-dimensional (4D) phase-contrast (PC) magnetic resonance imaging...     

ROS-Mediated Anti-Tumor Effect of Coptidis Rhizoma against Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Hep3B Cells and Xenografts

Coptidis Rhizoma is the dried rhizome from the Coptis chinensis Franch. that has been shown to have a number of beneficial pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, the anti-cancer effects of Coptidis Rhizoma on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer properties of Coptidis Rhizoma ethanol extract (CR) in HCC Hep3B cells and in a xenograft mouse model. Our results showed that the CR significantly inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in Hep3B cells through increased expression of Bcl-2 associated x-protein (Bax) and cleavage of poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), reduced expression of Bcl-2, and activated caspases. CR also increased the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which caused a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, ΔΨm) and activation of the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Moreover, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a ROS inhibitor, markedly blocked the effects of CR on apoptotic pathways. CR also induced the expression of light chain 3 (LC3)-I/II, a key autophagy regulator, whereas CR-mediated autophagy was significantly suppressed by NAC. In addition, pre-treatment with NAC perfectly attenuated the inhibition of cell invasion and migration of CR-stimulated Hep3B cells. Furthermore, oral administration of CR suppressed Hep3B tumor growth in xenograft mice without toxicity, alterations to body weight, or changes in hematological and biochemical profiles. Taken together, our findings suggest that CR has anti-tumor effects that result from ROS generation, and may be a potential pharmacological intervention for HCC.     

Human DDX17 Unwinds Rift Valley Fever Virus Non-Coding RNAs

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-transmitted virus from the Bunyaviridae family that causes high rates of mortality and morbidity in humans and ruminant animals. Previous studies indicated that DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) restricts RVFV replication by recognizing two primary non-coding RNAs in the S-segment of the genome: the intergenic region (IGR) and 5′ non-coding region (NCR). However, we lack molecular insights into the direct binding of DDX17 with RVFV non-coding RNAs and information on the unwinding of both non-coding RNAs by DDX17. Therefore, we performed an extensive biophysical analysis of the DDX17 helicase domain (DDX17_135–555) and RVFV non-coding RNAs, IGR and 5’ NCR. The homogeneity studies using analytical ultracentrifugation indicated that DDX17_135–555, IGR, and 5’ NCR are pure. Next, we performed small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments, which suggested that DDX17 and both RNAs are homogenous as well. SAXS analysis also demonstrated that DDX17 is globular to an extent, whereas the RNAs adopt an extended conformation in solution. Subsequently, microscale thermophoresis (MST) experiments were performed to investigate the direct binding of DDX17 to the non-coding RNAs. The MST experiments demonstrated that DDX17 binds with the IGR and 5’ NCR with a dissociation constant of 5.77 ± 0.15 µM and 9.85 ± 0.11 µM, respectively. As DDX17_135–555 is an RNA helicase, we next determined if it could unwind IGR and NCR. We developed a helicase assay using MST and fluorescently-labeled oligos, which suggested DDX17_135–555 can unwind both RNAs. Overall, our study provides direct evidence of DDX17_135–555 interacting with and unwinding RVFV non-coding regions.     

Capsiate Intake with Exercise Training Additively Reduces Fat Deposition in Mice on a High-Fat Diet,but Not without Exercise Training

While exercise training (ET) is an efficient strategy to manage obesity, it is recommended with a dietary plan to maximize the antiobesity functions owing to a compensational increase in energy intake. Capsiate is a notable bioactive compound for managing obesity owing to its capacity to increase energy expenditure. We aimed to examine whether the antiobesity effects of ET can be further enhanced by capsiate intake (CI) and determine its effects on resting energy expenditure and metabolic molecules. Mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8 per group) and fed high-fat diet. Mild-intensity treadmill ET was conducted five times/week; capsiate (10 mg/kg) was orally administered daily. After 8 weeks, resting metabolic rate and metabolic molecules were analyzed. ET with CI additively reduced the abdominal fat rate by 18% and solely upregulated beta-3-adrenoceptors in adipose tissue (p = 0.013) but did not affect the metabolic molecules in skeletal muscles. Surprisingly, CI without ET significantly increased the abdominal fat rate (p = 0.001) and reduced energy expenditure by 9%. Therefore, capsiate could be a candidate compound for maximizing the antiobesity effects of ET by upregulating beta-3-adrenoceptors in adipose tissue, but CI without ET may not be beneficial in managing obesity.     

Borage Oil Enhances Lamellar Body Content and Alters Fatty Acid Composition of Epidermal Ceramides in Essential Fatty Acid-Deficient Guinea Pigs

Borage oil [BO: 40.9% linoleic acid (LNA) and 24.0% γ-linolenic acid (GLA)] reverses disrupted epidermal lipid barrier in essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD). We determined the effects of BO on lamellar body (LB) content and LNA and GLA incorporation into epidermal ceramide 1 (CER1) and epidermal ceramide 2 (CER2), major barrier lipids. EFAD was induced in guinea pigs by a diet of 6% hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO) for 10 weeks (group HCO) or 8 weeks followed by 6% BO for 2 weeks (group HCO + BO). LB content and LNA and GLA incorporation into CER1 were higher in group HCO + BO than in group HCO. Small but significant levels of LNA, GLA, and their C20-metabolized fatty acids [dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) and arachidonic acid (ARA)] were incorporated into CER2, where ARA was detected at a level lower than LNA, but DGLA incorporation exceeded that for GLA in group HCO + BO. Dietary BO enhanced LB content and differential incorporation of GLA into CER1 and DGLA into CER2.     

Effects of caffeine ingestion and thermotherapy on blood orexin circulation in humans

Food Science and Biotechnology - Caffeine and orexin can affect awakening, neuroendocrine, and sympathetic nerve function. Our previous study has reported that caffeine intake can increase human...     

Transition metal nanoparticles doped carbon paper as a cost-effective anode in a microbial fuel cell powered by pure and mixed biocatalyst cultures

The poor wettability and high cost of the carbonaceous electrodes materials prohibited the practical applications of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) on large scale. Here, a novel nanoparticles of metal sheathed with metal oxide is electrodeposited on carbon paper (CP) to introduce as high-performance anodes of microbial fuel cell (MFC). This thin layer of metal/metal oxide significantly enhance the microbial adhesion, the wettability of the anode surface and decrease the electron transfer resistance. The investigation of the modified CP anodes in an air-cathode MFCs fed by various biocatalyst cultures shows a significant improving in the MFC performance. Where, the generated power and current density was 140% and 210% higher as compared to the pristine CP. Mixed culture of exoelectrogenic microorganism in wastewater exhibited good performance and generated higher power and current density compared to yeast as pure culture. The excellent capacitance with a distinctive nanostructure morphology of the modified-CP open an avenues for practical applications of MFCs.