Decreased Expression of Plakophilin-2 and αT-Catenin in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Potential Markers for Diagnosis

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a hereditary disease of the heart muscle. Clinical challenges remain, however, in identifying patients with ARVC in the early or concealed stages with subtle clinical manifestations. Therefore, we wanted to identify potential targets by immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis in comparison with controls. Pathogenic mutations were identified in 11 of 37 autopsied patients with ARVC. As observed from IHC analysis of the RV, expression of αT-catenin and plakophilin-2 is significantly decreased in autopsied patients with ARVC as compared to controls, and the decreased expression is consistent in patients with and without pathogenic mutations. Furthermore, ARVC specimens demonstrated a reduced localization of αT-catenin, desmocollin-2, desmoglein-2, desmoplakin, and plakophilin-2 on intercalated discs. These findings have been validated by comparing RV specimens obtained via endomyocardial biopsy between patients with ARVC and those without. The pathogenic mutation was present in 3 of 5 clinical patients with ARVC. In HL-1 myocytes, siRNA was used to knockdown CTNNA3, and western blotting analysis demonstrated that the decline in αT-catenin expression was accompanied by a significant decline in the expression of plakophilin-2. The aforementioned effect was directed towards protein degradation rather than mRNA stability. Plakophilin-2 expression decreases concurrently with the decline in CTNNA3 expression. Therefore, the expression of αT-catenin and plakophilin-2 could be potential surrogates for the diagnosis of ARVC.     

Preparation and properties of a novel bone repair composite: nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose

Nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose (n-HA/CS/CMC) composites with weight ratios of 70/10/20, 70/15/15 and 70/20/10 were prepared through a co-solution method. The properties of the composites were characterized by means of burn-out test, IR, XRD, TEM and universal material testing machine. The degradation and bioactivity were also investigated by in vitro test in a simulated body fluid (SBF) for 8 weeks. The results showed that n-HA particles were dispersed uniformly in organic phase, and strong chemical interactions formed among the three phases. Moreover, the composites were similar to natural bone in morphology and size. In addition, the compressive strength was improved compared with n-HA/CS composite. The biodegradation rate was controllable by altering weight ratio of the CS/CMC. Meanwhile, the composites could induce apatite particles to deposit in SBF. All the above results indicate that the novel composites of n-HA/CS/CMC have a promising prospect used for bone repair materials in view of the good mechanical property, adjustable biodegradation rate and bioactivity in SBF. Additionally, the study would provide a good guide to exploit clinical application of natural cellulose.     

MILP formulations for highway petrol station replenishment in initiative distribution mode

To investigate highway petrol station replenishment in initiative distribution mode,this paper develops a mixed-integer linear programming(MILP)model with minim...     

The m6A Methyltransferase METTL3-Mediated N6-Methyladenosine Modification of DEK mRNA to Promote Gastric Cancer Cell Growth and Metastasis

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third deadliest cancer in the world, and the occurrence and development of GC are influenced by epigenetics. Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) is a prominent RNA n6-adenosine methyltransferase (m6A) that plays an important role in tumor growth by controlling the work of RNA. This study aimed to reveal the biological function and molecular mechanism of METTL3 in GC. The expression level of METTL3 in GC tissues and cells was detected by qPCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry, and the expression level and prognosis of METTL3 were predicted in public databases. CCK-8, colony formation, transwell and wound healing assays were used to study the effect of METTL3 on GC cell proliferation and migration. In addition, the enrichment effect of METTL3 on DEK mRNA was detected by the RIP experiment, the m6A modification effect of METTL3 on DEK was verified by the MeRIP experiment and the mRNA half-life of DEK when METTL3 was overexpressed was detected. The dot blot assay detects m6A modification at the mRNA level. The effect of METTL3 on cell migration ability in vivo was examined by tail vein injection of luciferase-labeled cells. The experimental results showed that METTL3 was highly expressed in GC tissues and cells, and the high expression of METTL3 was associated with a poor prognosis. In addition, the m6A modification level of mRNA was higher in GC tissues and GC cell lines. Overexpression of METTL3 in MGC80-3 cells and AGS promoted cell proliferation and migration, while the knockdown of METTL3 inhibited cell proliferation and migration. The results of in vitro rescue experiments showed that the knockdown of DEK reversed the promoting effects of METTL3 on cell proliferation and migration. In vivo experiments showed that the knockdown of DEK reversed the increase in lung metastases caused by the overexpression of METTL3 in mice. Mechanistically, the results of the RIP experiment showed that METTL3 could enrich DEK mRNA, and the results of the MePIP and RNA half-life experiments indicated that METTL3 binds to the 3’UTR of DEK, participates in the m6A modification of DEK and promotes the stability of DEK mRNA. Ultimately, we concluded that METTL3 promotes GC cell proliferation and migration by stabilizing DEK mRNA expression. Therefore, METTL3 is a potential biomarker for GC prognosis and a therapeutic target.     

Integrated Analysis of Microarray,Small RNA,and Degradome Datasets Uncovers the Role of MicroRNAs in Temperature-Sensitive Genic Male Sterility in Wheat

Temperature-sensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) line Beijing Sterility 366 (BS366) has been utilized in hybrid breeding for a long time, but the molecular mechanism underlying male sterility remains unclear. Expression arrays, small RNA, and degradome sequencing were used in this study to explore the potential role of miRNA in the cold-induced male sterility of BS366. Microspore observation showed defective cell plates in dyads and tetrads and shrunken microspores at the vacuolated stage. Differential regulation of Golgi vesicle transport, phragmoplast formation, sporopollenin biosynthesis, pollen exine formation, and lipid metabolism were observed between cold and control conditions. Pollen development was significantly represented in the 352 antagonistic miRNA-target pairs in the integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA profiles. The specific cleavage of ARF17 and TIR1 by miR160 and miR393 were found in the cold-treated BS366 degradome, respectively. Thus, the cold-mediated miRNAs impaired cell plate formation through repression of Golgi vesicle transport and phragmoplast formation. The repressed expression of ARF17 and TIR1 impaired pollen exine formation. The results of this study will contribute to our understanding of the roles of miRNAs in male sterility in wheat.     

用不对称醚作调节剂合成苯乙烯-异戊二烯-丁二烯橡胶的反应动力学

以苯乙烯(St)、异戊二烯(Ip)和丁二烯(Bd)为单体,正丁基锂(n-BuLi)为引发荆,乙基乙二醇叔丁基醚(BET)为结构调节剂,合成了线型无规结构的苯乙烯-异戊二烯-丁二烯橡胶(SIBR),进行了聚合反应动力学研究,并与以四氢呋喃(THF)为结构调节剂的体系进行了比较.结果表明,BET的加入提高了聚合反应速率;随反应温度的升高和BET/n-BuLi(摩尔比)的增大,聚合反应速率加快,尤其是St的反应速率提高显著;BET调节聚合速率的能力明显高于THF.     

Performance of N95 elastomeric respirators in high humidity and high coal dust concentration environmentOA

High humidity and high dust concentration in deep coal mines may severely challenge the performance of respirators worn by coal miners.This paper aims at quantitatively evaluating the respirators used in deep coal mines and providing scientific guidance for the respiratory protection of miners.Based on the self-designed in-situ PM_2.5collector,controllable PM_2.5generator,human breathing simulator,and respirator simulation testing system,under the simulated deep mine working ...     

基于低温直接键合的血细胞计数芯片结构制备

研究了一种新颖的微流管道血细胞计数器的结构及其工作原理,采用流体动力学对其液体分层流动特性进行了仿真分析,结合图形制备和低温直接键合工艺制作了硅基微流体管道血细胞计数器结构,并采用红外透射方法对微流体管道结构进行了检测.对封闭管道的流通性及结构的键合强度也进行了测量.研究分析表明,采用上述工艺制备的微流体芯片结构与电子器件兼容性好,具有良好的化学惰性和热稳定性,而且管道结构规则,精度高,键合界面层薄,具有较好的应用前景.     

贮氢合金组成对电极性能的影响

本文研究了混合稀土MmBx贮氢合金B组分的钴含量和Mm(Ni_(0.70)Co_(0.16)Mn_(0.08)Al_(0.06))_x的配比数x对P-C-T曲线平衡氢压、放电容量和电池的循环使用寿命的影响。     

膨胀土地区开挖渠道滑坡的规律与特征

在安徽省近百处开挖渠道滑坡分析的基础上,结合工程地质条件,对膨胀土地区开挖渠道滑坡在滑动面的形态及其形成、滑坡过程和滑坡分布等方面的规律和特征进行了研究。