MRPS23 is a novel prognostic biomarker and promotes glioma progression.

Mitochondrial ribosomal protein S23 (MRPS23), a component of the ribosome small subunit, has been reported to be overexpressed in various cancers and has been predicted to be involved in increased cell proliferation. It has been confirmed that MRPS23 was involved in the regulation of breast cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation. However, little is known about the function of MRPS23 in glioma. In this study, we found that MRPS23 expression was higher in gliomas than in adjacent normal tissues. Higher expression of MRPS23 in gliomas correlated with poorer prognosis, unfavorable histological features, absence of mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase gene (IDH), absence of chromosome 1p and 19q deletions, and responses to chemoradiotherapy. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated MRPS23 expression was independently prognostic of overall survival, disease-free survival, and progression-free survival in patients with glioma. KEGG enrichment analysis results indicated that high MRPS23 expression was associated with cell proliferation and immune response-related signaling pathways. We also confirmed that MRPS23 was highly expressed in glioma cells lines, and MRPS23 knockdown significantly reduced cell survival, proliferation, and migration of glioma cells lines. Collectively, these findings offer mechanistic insights into how MRPS23 during glioma progression, and identify MRPS23 as a potential therapeutic target in the future.

Multifunctional Carbon Fiber Reinforced C/SiOC Aerogel Composites for Efficient Electromagnetic Wave Absorption, Thermal Insulation, and Flame Retardancy.

Carbon fiber composites have great application prospects as a potential electromagnetic (EM) wave-absorbing material, yet it remains extremely challenging to integrate multiple functions of EM wave absorption, mechanical strength, thermal insulation, and flame retardancy. Herein, a novel carbon fiber reinforced C/SiOC aerogel (CF/CS) composite is successfully prepared by sol-gel impregnation combined with an ambient drying process for the first time. The density of the obtained CF/CS composites can be controlled just by changing sol-gel impregnation cycles (original carbon fiber felt (S0), and samples with one (S1) and two (S2) impregnation cycles are 0.249, 0.324, and 0.402 g cm-3, respectively), allowing for efficient tuning of their properties. Remarkably, S2 displays excellent microwave absorption properties, with an optimal reflection loss of -65.45 dB, which is significantly improved than S0 (-10.90 dB). Simultaneously, compared with S0 (0.75 and 0.30 MPa in the x/y and z directions), the mechanical performance of S2 is dramatically improved with a maximum compressive strength of 10.37 and 4.93 MPa in the x/y and z directions, respectively. Moreover, CF/CS composites show superior thermal insulation capability than S0 and obtain good flame-retardant properties. This work provides valuable guidance and inspiration for the development of multifunctional EM wave absorbers.

Ultrasonic breast tumor extraction based on adversarial mechanism and active contour.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is a high incidence of gynecological diseases; breast ultrasound screening can effectively reduce the mortality rate of breast cancer. In breast ultrasound images, the localization and segmentation of tumor lesions are important steps for the extraction of lesions, which helps clinicians evaluate breast lesions quantitatively and makes better clinical diagnosis of the disease. However, the segmentation of breast lesions is difficult due to the blurred and uneven edges of some lesions. In this paper, we propose a segmentation framework combining active contour module and deep learning adversarial mechanism and apply it for the segmentation of breast tumor lesions. METHOD: We use a conditional adversarial network as the main framework. The generator is a segmentation network consisting of a Deformed U-Net and an active contour module. Here, the Deformed U-Net performs pixel-level segmentation for breast ultrasound images. The active contour module refines the tumor lesion edges, and the refined result provides loss information for Deformed U-Net. Therefore, the Deformed U-Net can better classify the edge pixels. The discriminator is the Markov discriminator; this discriminator provides loss feedback for the segmentation network. We cross-train the discriminator and segmentation network to implement Adversarial Mechanism for getting a more optimized segmentation network. RESULTS: The segmentation performance of the segmentation network for breast ultrasound images is improved by adding a Markov discriminator to provide discriminant loss training. The proposed method for segmenting the tumor lesions in breast ultrasound image obtains dice coefficient: 89.7%, accuracy: 98.1%, precision: 86.3%, mean-intersection-over-union: 82.2%, recall: 94.7%, specificity: 98.5% and F1score: 89.7%. CONCLUSION: Comparing with traditional methods, the proposed method gives better performance. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively segment the lesions in breast ultrasound images, and then assist doctors to realize the diagnosis of breast lesions.

Radix Pseudostellariae protein-curcumin nanocomplex: Improvement on the stability, cellular uptake and antioxidant activity of curcumin.

Radix Pseudostellariae protein (RPP) with satisfactory antioxidant activity and self-assembled ability was extracted from dried Radix Pseudostellariae. In this study, RPP-curcumin nanocomplex (RPP-Cur) was fabricated, and its improvement on the stability, cellular uptake and antioxidant activity of curcumin was investigated. RPP-Cur with homogeneously spherical structure exhibited good stability, which could maintain the morphology against simulated gastrointestinal digestion and up to 300 mM ionic concentration. After RPP nanoparticles encapsulation, the retention of curcumin increased 1.45 times under UV irradiation for 6 h. Besides, RPP-Cur exhibited additive reducing power of curcumin and RPP. The transport efficiency of hydrophobic curcumin across Caco-2 cells monolayer was greatly improved by RPP nanoparticle by 3.7 folds. RPP-Cur was able to be internalized by Caco-2 cells dose-dependently via macropinocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis. The cellular uptake efficiency of embedded curcumin in RPP nanoparticles by Caco-2 cells was significantly higher than that of free curcumin, which might contribute to the enhanced intracellular antioxidant activity of RPP-Cur. These findings suggest that the proteins from Radix Pseudostellariae have potential to be developed into novel delivery system with intrinsic antioxidant activity for the hydrophobic active molecules in healthy food field.

Isolation, Identification, and Immunomodulatory Effect of a Peptide from Pseudostellaria heterophylla Protein Hydrolysate.

In this study, a bioactive peptide YGPSSYGYG (YG-9) with immunomodulatory activity was isolated and identified from Pseudostellaria heterophylla protein hydrolysate. The highest proliferation index of mouse spleen lymphocytes reached 1.19 in the presence of 50 µg/mL YG-9. YG-9 could activate RAW264.7 cells by promoting the secretions of NO, the pinocytosis activity, and the productions of ROS and TNF-α. Moreover, YG-9 enhanced the expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 in RAW264.7 cells. TNF-α secretions induced by YG-9 were reduced in TLR2 and TLR4 siRNAs knockdown cells, and this suggested that macrophage activation of YG-9 was through TLR2 and TLR4. Furthermore, YG-9 promoted the translocation of NF-κB through the acceleration of IκB-α phosphorylation and degradation. Also, TNF-α secretions promoted by YG-9 were inhibited by NF-κB-specific inhibitors pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and BAY11-7082. Altogether, these results suggested YG-9 activated RAW264.7 cells via the TLRs/NF-κB/TNF-α signaling pathway.

Synthesis and characterization of ultralong SiC nanowires with unique optical properties, excellent thermal stability and flexible nanomechanical properties.

Several-millimeter long SiC nanowires (NWs) with unique optical properties, excellent thermal stability and flexible nanomechanical properties were synthesized using a simple method with silicon and phenolic resin as the raw materials. The SiC NWs displayed special optical properties that were attributed to their large size and Al-doping. They displayed broad green emission at 527.8 nm (2.35 eV) and purple emission concentrated at 438.9 nm (2.83 eV), in contrast to the other results, and the synthesized SiC NWs could also remain relatively stable in air up to 1000 °C indicating excellent thermal stability. The Young's moduli of the SiC NWs with a wide range of NW diameters (215-400 nm) were measured using an in situ nanoindentation method with a hybrid scanning electron microscopy/scanning probe microscopy (SEM/SPM) system for the first time. The results suggested that the values of the Young's modulus of the SiC NWs showed no clear size dependence, and the corresponding Young's moduli of the SiC NWs with diameters of 215 nm, 320 nm, and 400 nm were approximately 559.1 GPa, 540.0 GPa and 576.5 GPa, respectively. These findings provide value and guidance for studying and understanding the properties of SiC nanomaterials and for expanding their possible applications.

Facile synthesis of silicon nitride nanowires with flexible mechanical properties and with diameters controlled by flow rate.

Ultralong Si3N4 nanowires (NWs) were successfully synthesized with size controlled in N2 gas by using an efficient method. The diameters of the Si3N4 NWs increased when the flow rate of N2 gas increased, with average diameters of 290 nm from flow rates of 100 ml/min, 343 nm from flow rates of 200 ml/min and 425 nm from flow rates of 400 ml/min. Young's modulus was found to rely strongly on the diameters of the Si3N4 NWs, decreasing from approximately 526.0 GPa to 321.9 GPa; as the diameters increased from 360 nm to 960 nm. These findings provide a promising method for tailoring these mechanical properties of the NWs in a controlled manner over a wide range of Young's modulus values. Vapour-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanisms were used to model the growth of Si3N4 NWs on the inner wall of an alumina crucible and on the surface of the powder mixture. Alumina may be an effective mediator of NW growth that plays an important role in controlling the concentrations of Si-containing reactants to support the growth of NWs on the inner wall of the alumina crucible. This approach offers a valuable means for preparing ultralong Si3N4 NWs doped with Al with unique properties.

Ordered Silica Nanoparticles Grown on a Three-Dimensional Carbon Fiber Architecture Substrate with Siliconborocarbonitride Ceramic as a Thermal Barrier Coating.

Hierarchical structure consisting of ordered silica nanoparticles grown onto carbon fiber (CF) has been fabricated to improve the interfacial properties between the CFs and polymer matrix. To improve the reactivity of CFs, their surface was modified using poly(1,4-phenylene diisocyanate) (PPDI) via in situ polymerization, which also resulted in the distribution of numerous isocyanate groups on the surface of CFs. Silica nanoparticles were modified on the interface of CF-PPDI by chemical grafting method. The microstructure, chemical composition, and interfacial properties of CFs with ordered silica nanoparticles were comprehensively investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results indicated an obvious increase in the interfacial shear strength, compared to that of CF precursor, which was attributed to silica nanoparticles interacting with the epoxy resin. Furthermore, siliconborocarbonitride (SiBCN) ceramic was used as thermal barrier coating to enhance 3D CF architecture substrate antioxidant and ablation properties. Thermogravimetric results show that the thermal stability of the CF with SiBCN ceramic layer has a marked increase at high temperature.

[Cd uptake in rice cultivars and Cd fractions in soil treated with organic acids and EDTA].

A pot experiment was conducted to examine the yield, quality and cadmium (Cd) uptake in different rice cultivars, and Cd speciation in soil after exposing to Cd (0, 1 and 5 mg x kg(-1)) in the presence of organic acids and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The results showed that general increase in the yield for cultivars Xiushui63 and II you527 was observed. Yield of two rice cultivars were in order of organic acids treatment or organic acids + 1/2EDTA treatment > EDTA treatment. The exchangeable, carbonate related and ferric-manganese oxidation related Cd increased; while organic complexation Cd and residules decreased in the presence of organic acids and EDTA. Cadmium concentrations in grain, straw and roots of both cultivars markedly reduced in the presence of organic acids and EDTA. Grain Cd concentration was the lowest for plants treated with EDTA, followed by organic acids + 1/2EDTA, and the highest Cd concentration in grain was found in the treatment with organic acids. Grain Cd concentration decreased by 9.0% to 49.3% and 16.5% to 30.6% at 1 mg x kg(-1) Cd in the presence of organic acids and EDTA, and by 12.7% to 28.5% and 4.3% to 19.1% at 5 mg x kg(-1) Cd. Cadmium concentration and accumulation in plants and total Cd content in soil were higher in Xiushui63 than in that in II you527. Grain Cd concentration decreased, and yield and quality of two rice cultivars increased at the same time in the presence of organic acids + 1/2EDTA.

[Effect of phosphor on accumulation and chemical forms of cadmium, and physiological characterization in different varieties of Capsicum annuum L].

Pot experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of different Phosphor (P) levels (0, 0.3% and 0.5%) on the plant growth, activities of antioxidant enzymes, accumulation and chemical forms of cadmium (Cd) in Capsicum annuum L. when exposed to Cd (10 mg x kg(-1)). The results showed that dry weights of leaf, fruit, roots and total dry weights of plant, and concentration and accumulation of Cd significantly differed between two varieties of Capsicum annuum L. Dry weights of fruit and total plant of Chaotianjiao increased by P (0.3% and 0.5%), while that of Yanjiao425 was inhibited. Activities of catalase (CAT) were increased at first, and then reduced in the presence of P; Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) of Chaotianjiao increased with increasing levels of P, but activities of SOD and POD of Yanjiao425 decreased with increasing levels of P. Chemical forms of Cd in fruit of Capsicum annuum L. were in order of F(NaCl) > F(HAC) > F(E) > Fr > F(HC) > F(W). The total extractable Cd, ethanol-extractable Cd, hydrochloric acid-extractable Cd and residual Cd in fruit of Ynajiao425 obviously decreased in the presence of P compared to the control, while the total extractable Cd, water-extractable Cd, acetic acid-extractable Cd and residual Cd in fruit of Chaotianjiao increased. Cadmium accumulations of Capsicum annuum L. were in order of roots > stew > leaf > fruit. Cadmium accumulations in fruit and plant of Yanjiao425 were decreased by 47.7% and 58.5% , 5.5% and 13. 1% in the presence of 0.3% and 0.5% P when exposed to Cd, and Cd accumulations in fruit and plant of Chaotianjiao were decreased by 23.6% in the presence of 0.3% P.

[Effect of different zinc levels on accumulation and chemical forms of cadmium, and physiological characterization in Capsicum annuum L].

Pot experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of different zinc (Zn) levels (0, 100, 200, 400 and 600 micromol x L(-1)) on the plant growth,activities of antioxidant enzymes, contents of chlorophyll a and b, accumulation and chemical forms of cadmium (Cd) in Capsicum annuum L. when exposed to Cd (20 mg x kg(-1)). The results showed that dry weights of leaf, stem, fruit and root, and contents of chlorophyll a and b in Capsicum annuum L. were increased by Zn ( < or = 400 micromol x L(-1)), while inhibited by high Zn (600 micromol x L(-1)). Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were reduced by Zn ( < or =400 micromol x L(-1)), the lowest activities of SOD and CAT were recorded in 400 micromol x L(-1) Zn, but activities of SOD and CAT were increased when Zn >400 micromol x L(-1). Cadmium concentrations in stem, fruit and root of Capsicum annuum L. were decreased by 2.7%-5.4%, 7.5%-28.1% and 7.6%-21.8% in the presence of Zn when exposed to Cd. The total extractable Cd, NaCl- extractable Cd, water-extractable Cd and ethanol-extractable Cd in fruit were reduced by 7.7%-21.8%, 4.11%-23.6%, 54.5%-66.8% and 4.8%-86.7% in the presence of Zn,while acetic acid- extractable Cd and residual Cd were increased by 28.0%-68.0% and 12.6%-25.0%.

Cd uptake in rice cultivars treated with organic acids and EDTA.

A pot experiment was conducted to examine the activity of antioxidant enzymes, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), proline and protein, and Cd uptake in different rice cultivars exposed to Cd (0, 1 and 5 mg/kg) in the presence of organic acids and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The results showed the increase in activity of dismutase (SOD), contents of proline and protein but a decline in activities of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), and MDA content for cultivars Xiushui63 and IIyou527. The resistance to Cd was higher in Xiushui63 than that in Iyou527 under the same Cd treatment. Cadmium contents in grain, straw and roots of both cultivars were markedly reduced in the presence of organic acids and EDTA. Grain Cd contents was the highest for plants treated with organic acids, followed by organic acids + 1/2EDTA, and the lowest with EDTA; Cd contents in straw and root were the lowest for plants treated with organic acids, followed by organic acids + 1/2EDTA, and the highest with EDTA treatment when exposed to Cd.