Prognostic Value,Immune Signature,and Molecular Mechanisms of the PHLDA Family in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Background: Increasing evidence supports the belief that the pleckstrin homology domain family A (PHLDA) family is associated with the development of a variety of cancers. However, the function of the PHLDA family members in PAAD is still unclear. Methods: Comprehensive bioinformatic analyses using R (version 3.6.3), Cytoscape (version 3.9.1), UALCAN, etc., were performed to study the clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic value, immune features, and functional mechanisms of the PHLDA family members in PAAD. Results: The PHLDA family members showed significantly elevated expression in PAAD compared with paracancerous or normal tissues. Their high expression or amplification were significantly correlated with worse clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in PAAD patients. In addition, the role of the PHLDA family members in the immune regulation is diverse and complex. Mechanistically, TP53 mutations were significantly associated with the promoter methylation and expression levels of the PHLDA family members, which were activated in multiple oncogenic pathways, including the EMT, RAS/MAPK, and TSC/mTOR pathways. Moreover, we found that their expression levels were significantly correlated with the sensitivity of multiple traditional chemotherapeutic drugs and novel targeted MEK1/2 inhibitors. Conclusion: The PHLDA family members play an oncogenic role in the development of PAAD and might serve as new biomarkers or therapeutic targets.     

Cyt-C Mediated Mitochondrial Pathway Plays an Important Role in Oocyte Apoptosis in Ricefield Eel (Monopterus albus)

Apoptosis plays a key role in the effective removal of excessive and defective germ cells, which is essential for sequential hermaphroditism and sex change in vertebrates. The ricefield eel, Monopterus albus is a protogynous hermaphroditic fish that undergoes a sequential sex change from female to male. Previous studies have demonstrated that apoptosis is involved in sex change in M. albus. However, the apoptotic signaling pathway is unclear. In the current study, we explored the underlying mechanism of apoptosis during gonadal development and focused on the role of the mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathway in sex change in M. albus. Flow cytometry was performed to detect apoptosis in gonads at five sexual stages and ovary tissues exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in vitro. Then the expression patterns of key genes and proteins in the mitochondrial pathway, death receptor pathway and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) pathway were examined. The results showed that the apoptosis rate was significantly increased in the early intersexual stage and then decreased with the natural sex change from female to male. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that bax, tnfr1, and calpain were mainly expressed in the five stages. ELISA demonstrated that the relative content of cytochrome-c (cyt-c) in the mitochondrial pathway was significantly higher than that of caspase8 and caspase12, with a peak in the early intersexual stage, while the levels of caspase8 and caspase12 peaked in the late intersexual stage. Interestingly, the Pearson’s coefficient between cyt-c and the apoptosis rate was 0.705, which suggests that these factors are closely related during the gonadal development of M. albus. Furthermore, the cyt-c signal was found to be increased in the intersexual stage by immunohistochemistry. After incubation with H₂O₂, the mRNA expression of mitochondrial pathway molecules such as bax, apaf-1, and caspase3 increased in ovary tissues. In conclusion, the present results suggest that the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway may play a more important role than the other apoptotic pathways in sex change in M. albus.     

Precision Killing of Sinoporphyrin Sodium-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy against Malignant Tumor Cells

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has significant advantages in the treatment of malignant tumors, such as high efficiency, minimal invasion and less side effects, and it can preserve the integrity and quality of the organs. The power density, irradiation time and photosensitizer (PS) concentration are three main parameters that play important roles in killing tumor cells. However, until now, the underlying relationships among them for PDT outcomes have been unclear. In this study, human malignant glioblastoma U-118MG and melanoma A375 cells were selected, and the product of the power density, irradiation time and PS concentration was defined as the total photodynamic parameter (TPP), in order to investigate the mechanisms of PS sinoporphyrin sodium (DVDMS)-mediated PDT (DVDMS-PDT). The results showed that the survival rates of the U-118MG and A375 cells were negatively correlated with the TPP value in the curve, and the correlation exactly filed an e-exponential function. Moreover, according to the formula, we realized controllable killing effects of the tumor cells by randomly adjusting the three parameters, and we finally verified the accuracy and repeatability of the formula. In conclusion, the establishment and implementation of a newly functional relationship among the PDT parameters are essential for predicting PDT outcomes and providing personalized precise treatment, and they are contributive to the development of PDT dosimetry.     

A Single Amino Acid Substitution in MIL1 Leads to Activation of Programmed Cell Death and Defense Responses in Rice

Lesion mimic mutants are an ideal model system for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of programmed cell death and defense responses in rice. In this study, we identified a lesion mimic mutant termed miner infection like 1-1 (mil1-1). The mil1-1 exhibited lesions on the leaves during development, and the chloroplasts of mil1-1 leaves were disrupted. Reactive oxygen species were found to accumulate in mil1-1 leaves. Cell death and DNA fragmentation were observed in mil1-1 leaves, indicating that the cells in the spots of mil1-1 leaves experienced programmed cell death. Most agronomic traits decreased in mil1-1, suggesting that the growth retardation in mil1-1 caused reduced per-plant grain yield. However, the mutation of MIL1 activated the expression of pathogen response genes and enhanced resistance to bacterial blight. The MIL1 gene was cloned using the positional cloning approach. A missense mutation 751 bp downstream of ATG was found in mil1-1. The defects of mil1-1 were able to be rescued by delivering a wild-type MIL1 gene into mil1-1. MIL1 encoded hydroperoxide lyase 3 (OsHPL3), and the expression of OsHPL3 was induced via hormone and abiotic stresses. Our findings provide insights into the roles of MIL1 in regulating programmed cell death, development, yield, and defense responses in rice.     

Molecular Characterization and Expression Patterns of Two Pheromone-Binding Proteins from the Diurnal Moth Phauda flammans (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea: Phaudidae)

Sex pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) play an important role in sex pheromone recognition in Lepidoptera. However, the mechanisms of chemical communication mediating the response to sex pheromones remain unclear in the diurnal moths of the superfamily Zygaenoidea. In this study, Phauda flammans (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea: Phaudidae) was used as a model insect to explore the molecular mechanism of sex pheromone perception in the superfamily Zygaenoidea. Two novel pheromone-binding proteins (PflaPBP1 and PflaPBP2) from P. flammans were identified. The two pheromone-binding proteins were predominantly expressed in the antennae of P. flammans male and female moths, in which PflaPBP1 had stronger binding affinity to the female sex pheromones Z-9-hexadecenal and (Z, Z, Z)-9, 12, 15-octadecatrienal, PflaPBP2 had stronger binding affinity only for (Z, Z, Z)-9, 12, 15-octadecatrienal, and no apparent binding affinity to Z-9-hexadecenal. The molecular docking results indicated that Ile 170 and Leu 169 are predicted to be important in the binding of the sex pheromone to PflaPBP1 and PflaPBP2. We concluded that PflaPBP1 and PflaPBP2 may be responsible for the recognition of two sex pheromone components and may function differently in female and male P. flammans. These results provide a foundation for the development of pest control by exploring sex pheromone blocking agents and the application of sex pheromones and their analogs for insect pests in the superfamily Zygaenoidea.     

华南风化花岗岩劈拉断裂行为的试验与细观模拟研究

为研究不同风化程度花岗岩在劈拉受载下的破损行为,该文对广东从化地区新鲜、微风化、中风化三种风化程度的花岗岩进行微观特征测量及巴西圆盘试验研究。分别基于考虑空间相关特征的随机模型和数字图像技术两种方法实现对岩样细观结构的表征,结合细观参数反演技术,建立反映岩石细观非均质组构特性的颗粒离散元模型,对花岗岩劈拉试验进行数值仿真试验研究。结果表明,随着风化级别的提高,花岗岩中粘结力较强的长石等矿物向粘土矿物转化,结晶强度降低,微孔隙等软弱结构增多,岩石宏观力学性能不断劣化,劈拉破坏由单一裂纹主导转为多条分叉状裂纹,岩样脆性也逐渐减弱。基于两种方法建立的细观随机力学模型仿真结果均表明岩样的劈拉强度随风化级别的提高逐渐降低,与试验结果变化趋势相符,分析得到不同风化花岗岩的劈拉破裂响应特征与试验结果一致,且从细观层面对花岗岩样受劈拉作用的渐进破裂响应提供了深入认识。     

分布式多参数光纤传感技术研究进展

分布式光纤传感系统利用光纤既能传感又能传输信号的特性实现对光纤沿线振动、应变、温度等物理量的长距离连续测量,在周界安防、电网管道监控、大型结构健康监测等领域具有十分广阔的应用前景。上述的实际应用中,事件或故障的发生通常表现为振动、应变以及温度等物理量的改变,振动的探测频响高低、应变探测的动态响应能力以及多参数的同时测量都会影响事件的定位或预警。因此,振动的宽频测量、应变的动态测量以及多参数测量,对事件定位和信息完整捕获起着至关重要的作用,能够推动分布式光纤传感的应用发展。本文介绍了近年来在分布式光纤传感系统中,基于瑞利散射的宽频振动测量、基于布里渊散射的应变动态测量以及基于多散射的多参数测量取得的研究进展。

     

超高分辨力微型光谱仪的光学系统设计

由于光谱仪的尺寸限制,微型光谱仪在满足一定光谱范围时,其分辨力往往难以小于0.1 nm。而一些特殊应用场合要求光谱仪不仅具有微小的尺寸,还要求具有极高的光谱分辨力。本文基于Zemax光学设计软件,通过选择合适的初始结构参数与评价函数,自动优化准直镜、聚焦镜、柱透镜、光栅,以及CCD间倾角和距离,设计出光谱分辨力高达0.05 nm,尺寸为90 mm×130 mm×40 mm的Czerny-Turner结构微型光谱仪。在此基础上优化出8个光栅倾斜角度,使微型光谱仪光谱分辨力在优于0.05 nm的同时,波段范围达到了820 nm~980 nm。所设计的光谱仪具有超高的光谱分辨力、微小的外形尺寸与适中的光谱范围等特点。     

基于热重红外联用的煤二次氧化自燃特性研究

为探究煤二次氧化的自燃特性,采用热重、红外光谱联用的实验方法,对原煤样及预氧化煤样进行对比研究,结果表明：原煤样及预氧化煤样的总反应历程相似;随着煤的预氧化程度的加深,煤样燃点之前的特征温度先降低后增高,燃点之后的特征温度变化则不明显;随着煤的预氧化程度的加深,煤样燃点之前的逸出气体量先增加后减少,燃点之后则基本不变;预氧化煤样的活化能比原煤样有所下降,且随着预氧化程度的加深煤样的活化能先降低后增高,其中预氧化至160 ℃时煤样活化能达到最低。因此,预氧化煤样的氧化性要强于原煤样,更容易发生自燃。     

改进的多光谱聚合通道行人检测

针对外部环境的多变性和复杂性导致的单一波段下行人检测准确率较低的问题,提出了一种改进的基于可见和红外双波段聚合通道特征的行人检测算法。分别提取可见图像与红外图像的聚合通道特征;通过改变像素对比规则,采用自适应的阈值进行比较,将得到的改进的中心对称的局部二值模式特征添加到特征通道中;针对多光谱聚合通道特征设计了不同滤波器组进行滤波;训练分类器,实现多光谱下行人检测。实验表明,改进的局部二值模式特征能更好地描述红外图像中行人的对称性,中间滤波层丰富了候选特征池,算法在多种场景均能有效检测出行人,提高了行人检测精度,与利用多光谱聚合积分通道的检测工作相比,平均漏检率有所降低。