A global transcriptional activator involved in the iron homeostasis in cyanobacteria.

Cyanobacteria use a series of adaptation strategies and a complicated regulatory network to maintain intracellular iron (Fe) homeostasis. Here, a global activator named IutR has been identified through three-dimensional chromosome organization and transcriptome analysis in a model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Inactivation of all three homologous IutR-encoding genes resulted in an impaired tolerance of Synechocystis to Fe deficiency and loss of the responses of Fe uptake-related genes to Fe-deplete conditions. Protein-promoter interaction assays confirmed the direct binding of IutR with the promoters of genes related to Fe uptake, and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis further revealed that in addition to Fe uptake, IutR could regulate many other physiological processes involved in intracellular Fe homeostasis. These results proved that IutR is an important transcriptional activator, which is essential for cyanobacteria to induce Fe-deficiency response genes. This study provides in-depth insights into the complicated Fe-deficient signaling network and the molecular mechanism of cyanobacteria adaptation to Fe-deficient environments.

Research progress of ZIC5 for tumor metastasis.

The zinc finger protein of the cerebellum (ZIC) family comprises five members (ZIC1-5), homologous with the odd-paired (OPA) gene in Drosophila melanogila. These transcription factors contain five Cys2His zinc finger domains, constituting one of the most abundant transcription factor families in human cells. ZIC proteins significantly contribute to transcriptional regulation and chromatin remodeling. As a member of the ZIC family, ZIC5 is essential for animal growth and development. Numerous studies have investigated the connection between ZIC proteins and cancer as well as tumor metastases in recent years. Many studies have found that within tumor tissues, the transcription and translation processes increase the expression of ZIC5 which is linked to tumor aggressiveness. This review aims to provide an objective summary of the impact of ZIC5 on tumor metastasis and consider the potential application of ZIC5 targets in both tumor therapy and the early detection of cancer.

A Comparative Study of Nafion 212 and Sulfonated Poly(Ether Ether Ketone) Membranes with Different Degrees of Sulfonation on the Performance of Iron-Chromium Redox Flow Battery.

For an iron-chromium redox flow battery (ICRFB), sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membranes with five various degrees of sulfonation (DSs) are studied. To select the SPEEK membrane with the ideal DS for ICRFB applications, the physicochemical characteristics and single-cell performance are taken into consideration. Following all the investigations, it has been determined that the SPEEK membrane, which has a DS of 57% and a thin thickness of 25 µm, is the best option for replacing commercial Nafion 212 in ICRFB. Firstly, it exhibits a better cell performance according to energy efficiency (EE) and coulombic efficiency (CE) at the current density range between 40 mA cm-2 and 80 mA cm-2. Additionally, it has a more stable EE (79.25-81.64%) and lower discharge capacity decay rate (50%) than the Nafion 212 (EE: 76.74-81.45%, discharge capacity decay: 76%) after 50 charge-discharge cycles, which proves its better oxidation stability as well. In addition, the longer self-discharge time during the open-circuit voltage test further demonstrates that this SPEEK membrane could be employed for large-scale ICRFB applications.

A look under the hood of genomic-estimated breed compositions for brangus cattle: What have we learned?

The Brangus cattle were developed to utilize the superior traits of Angus and Brahman cattle. Their genetic compositions are expected to be stabilized at 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus. Previous studies have shown more than expected Angus lineage with Brangus cattle, and the reasons are yet to be investigated. In this study, we revisited the breed compositions for 3,605 Brangus cattle from three perspectives: genome-wise (GBC), per chromosomes (CBC), and per chromosome segments (SBC). The former (GBC) depicted an overall picture of the "mosaic" genome of the Brangus attributable to their ancestors, whereas the latter two criteria (CBC and SBC) corresponded to local ancestral contributions. The average GBC for the 3,605 Brangus cattle were 70.2% Angus and 29.8% Brahman. The K-means clustering supported the postulation of the mixture of 1/2 Ultrablack (UB) animals in Brangus. For the non-UB Brangus animals, the average GBC were estimated to be 67.4% Angus and 32.6% Brahman. The 95% confidence intervals of their overall GBC were 60.4%-73.5% Angus and 26.5%-39.6% Brahman. Possibly, genetic selection and drifting have resulted in an approximately 5% average deviation toward Angus lineage. The estimated ancestral contributions by chromosomes were heavily distributed toward Angus, with 27 chromosomes having an average Angus CBC greater than 62.5% but only two chromosomes (5 and 20) having Brahman CBC greater than 37.5%. The chromosomal regions with high Angus breed proportions were prevalent, tending to form larger blocks on most chromosomes. In contrast, chromosome segments with high Brahman breed proportion were relatively few and isolated, presenting only on seven chromosomes. Hence, genomic hitchhiking effects were strong where Angus favorable alleles resided but weak where Brahman favorable alleles were present. The functions of genes identified in the chromosomal regions with high ( ≥ 75 % ) Angus compositions were diverse yet may were related to growth and body development. In contrast, the genes identified in the regions with high ( ≥ 37.5 % ) Brahman compositions were primarily responsible for disease resistance. In conclusion, we have addressed the questions concerning the Brangus genetic make-ups. The results can help form a dynamic picture of the Brangus breed formation and the genomic reshaping.

Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Combined With Elastography for the Evaluation of Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer in Rats.

OBJECTIVES: By comparing with the control group, we evaluated the usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with elastography for the assessment of muscle invasion by bladder cancer (MIBC) in a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model. METHODS: In the experimental group, 40 SD rats developed in situ bladder cancer (BLCA) in response to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea treatment, whereas 40 SD rats were included in the control group for comparison. We compared PI, Emean , microvessel density (MVD), and collagen fiber content (CFC) between the two groups. In the experimental group, Bland-Altman test was used to assess the relationships between various parameters. The largest Youden value was used as the cut-off point, and binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the PI and Emean . Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic power of parameters, individually and in combination. RESULTS: The PI, Emean , MVD, and CFC were significantly lower in the control group than in the experimental group (P < .05). The PI, Emean , MVD, and CFC were significantly higher for MIBC than for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (P < .05). There were significant correlations between PI and MVD, and between Emean and CFC. The diagnostic efficiency analysis showed PI had the highest sensitivity, CFC had the highest specificity, and PI + Emean had the highest diagnostic efficacy. CONCLUSION: CEUS and elastography can distinguish lesions from normal tissue. PI, MVD, Emean , and CFC were useful for the detection of BLCA myometrial invasion. The comprehensive utilization of PI and Emean improved diagnostic accuracy and have clinical application.

Flexible, Wash-Resistant Human Mechanical Energy Harvesting and Storage System for Monitoring Human Movement.

The rapid development of personal portable electronic devices has brought an increasingly urgent need for flexible and portable power sources. Herein, a low-cost, wearable, efficient, sustainable energy harvesting and storage system for human motion detection has been developed, based on a supercapacitor (SC) and triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Carbon cloth (CC)-loaded ZnO/ZnS nanoarrays and a PVD-treated polyurethane conductive sponge are employed as positive and negative triboelectric friction layers, respectively. Besides, flexible and robust silicone rubber provides stable output performance and enables the TENG to harvest mechanical energy from human motion even under complex conditions. As a result, it shows excellent electrical output performance in terms of the open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and average power density, reaching 175 V, 12 µA, and 816.7 mW m-2, respectively. These outstanding performances enable the TENG to effectively charge an all-solid-state symmetrical SC (MnO2/LiMn2O4@CC//MnO2/LiMn2O4@CC) and subsequently store it as electrochemical energy for sustainable power supply. Because of the flexible all-texture-type structure of the entire system, it is capable of monitoring the human body's movement. This work has a promising future in random mechanical energy harvesting and storage, as well as human motion tracking.

Ferroptosis-Related Prognostic Gene LAMP2 Is a Potential Biomarker Differential Expressed in Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Background: It remains unclear about the mechanisms of prostate cancer progressing to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and the correlation with ferroptosis. Methods: We compared the gene profiles between localized prostate cancer and metastatic CRPC using the GEO dataset and intersected with a cluster of known ferroptosis-related genes. We received differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CRPC related to ferroptosis and performed survival analysis to analyze the prognostic values. Furthermore, we conducted single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) to analyze immune infiltration and investigate microRNA crosstalk and methylation for prognostic genes using online databases. Results: We identified 84 DEGs in CRPC related to ferroptosis and 19 hub genes densely connected into networks by enrichment analysis. We performed survival analysis and Cox regression for these genes and identified LAMP2 with significantly prognostic values in overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) of prostate cancer. Furthermore, we found immune infiltration of various immune cells significantly correlated with LAMP2 expression in prostate cancer and identified multiple microRNAs associated with LAMP2 expression in prostate cancer. In addition, we found that the methylation level of LAMP2 in prostate cancer was significantly associated with cancer and identified 8 methylation sites for LAMP2. Conclusion: Ferroptosis-related gene LAMP2 is a potential biomarker with prognostic value for prostate cancer.

A first-in-class HBO1 inhibitor WM-3835 inhibits castration-resistant prostate cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo.

The prognosis and overall survival of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients are poor. The search for novel and efficient anti-CRPC agents is therefore extremely important. WM-3835 is a cell-permeable, potent and first-in-class HBO1 (KAT7 or MYST2) inhibitor. Here in primary human prostate cancer cells-derived from CRPC patients, WM-3835 potently inhibited cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle progression and in vitro cell migration. The HBO1 inhibitor provoked apoptosis in the prostate cancer cells. It failed to induce significant cytotoxicity and apoptosis in primary human prostate epithelial cells. shRNA-induced silencing of HBO1 resulted in robust anti-prostate cancer cell activity as well, and adding WM-3835 failed to induce further cytotoxicity in the primary prostate cancer cells. Conversely, ectopic overexpression of HBO1 further augmented primary prostate cancer cell proliferation and migration. WM-3835 inhibited H3-H4 acetylation and downregulated several pro-cancerous genes (CCR2, MYLK, VEGFR2, and OCIAD2) in primary CRPC cells. Importantly, HBO1 mRNA and protein levels are significantly elevated in CRPC tissues and cells. In vivo, daily intraperitoneal injection of WM-3835 potently inhibited pPC-1 xenograft growth in nude mice, and no apparent toxicities detected. Moreover, intratumoral injection of HBO1 shRNA adeno-associated virus (AAV) suppressed the growth of primary prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice. H3-H4 histone acetylation and HBO1-dependent genes (CCR2, MYLK, VEGFR2, and OCIAD2) were remarkably decreased in WM-3835-treated or HBO1-silenced xenograft tissues. Together, targeting HBO1 by WM-3835 robustly inhibits CRPC cell growth.

Coexistence of tet(A) and blaKPC-2 in the ST11 hypervirulent tigecycline- and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from a blood sample.

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae are distributed worldwide. This study aimed to characterize a hypervirulent tigecycline-resistant and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain, XJ-K2, collected from a patient's blood. We tested antimicrobial susceptibility, virulence, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on strain XJ-K2. WGS data were used to identify virulence and resistance genes and to perform multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and phylogenetic analysis. Three novel plasmids, including a pLVPK-like virulence plasmid (pXJ-K2-p1) and two multiple resistance plasmids (pXJ-K2-KPC-2 and pXJ-K2-p3), were discovered in strain XJ-K2. The IncFII(pCRY) plasmid pXJ-K2-p3 carried the dfrA14, sul2, qnrS1, blaLAP-2, and tet(A) resistance genes. The IncFII(pHN7A8)/IncR plasmid pXJ-K2-KPC-2 also carried a range of resistance elements, containing rmtB, blaKPC-2, blaTEM-1, blaCTX-M-65, and fosA3. MLST analysis revealed that strain XJ-K2 belonged to sequence type 11 (ST11). Seven complete phage sequences and many virulence genes were found in strain XJ-K2. Meanwhile, antimicrobial susceptibility tests and G. mellonella larval infection models confirmed the extensively drug resistance (XDR) and hypervirulence of KJ-K2. To our knowledge, this is the first observation and description of the ST11 hypervirulent tigecycline- and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae strain co-carrying blaKPC-2 and the tet(A) in a patient's blood in China. Further investigation is needed to understand the resistance and virulence mechanisms of this significant hypervirulent tigecycline- and carbapenem-resistant strain.

oppOntology: a MATLAB Toolbox for Enrichment Analysis.

Biologists often use systems of ontologies to classify gene lists obtained by high-throughput gene or protein-sequencing instruments, and then enrichment scores were used to rank the ontology system. Therefore, the important molecular functional categories related to the phenotype can be conveniently viewed in the ontology system. Since the birth of GO (Gene Ontology) organization, various types of ontology software have been developed to calculate enrichment scores for the target gene list in the GO system. Herein, we provide an enrichment calculation application oppOntology (Omics Pilot Platform for Ontology) developed by MATLAB. oppOntology supports simultaneous calculation of multiple samples with manifold enrichment scores (GeneCount, GeneRatio, EnrichFactor, HypergeometricTest, and FisherExactTest). oppOntology can not only calculate enrichment scores for generic functional databases, such as GO, KEGG, HPO, and MsigDB, but also for self-defined functional category databases and customized GO Slim. Moreover, oppOntology supports online mapping of KEGG pathway diagrams in a batch way. The GUI (Graphical User Interface) of oppOntology is developed on the architecture of AppDesigner in MATLAB, and all input and output files are Microsoft Excel. oppOntology is an independent, easy-to-use enrichment calculation software, that can be available at https://github.com/HangZhouSheep/oppOntology .

The ALFF Alterations of Spontaneous Pelvic Pain in the Patients of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Evaluated by fMRI.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a challenging entity with complicated symptoms for treatment in the male crowd. Accumulating evidence revealed the dysfunction in the central system should be a critical factor for the pathogenesis and development in the CP/CPPS. Therefore, we recruited 20 patients of CP/CPPS and 20 healthy male volunteers, aged 20 to 50 years. Through resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we analyzed the mean amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (mALFF) and the mean fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (mfALFF) to reflect the spontaneous abnormal activated regions in the brains of CP/CPPS patients. Compared to the healthy controls, the group with CP/CPPS had significantly increased mALFF values in the thalamus and augmented fALFF values in the inferior parietal lobule and cingulate gyrus. Significant positive correlations were observed in the extracted mALFF values in the midbrain periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) and the pain intensity (r = 0.2712, p = 0.0019), mALFF values in the thalamus and the scores of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety subscale (r = 0.08477, p = 0.0461), and mfALFF values in the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and the scores of the HADS anxiety subscale (r = 0.07102, p = 0.0282). Therefore, we delineated the clinical alterations in patients of CP/CPPS that might be attributed to the functional abnormality of the thalamus, inferior parietal lobule, and cingulate gyrus. Among these regions, the PAG, thalamus, and SFG may further play an important role in the pathogenesis, with their regulating effect on pain or emotion.

AR-regulated ZIC5 contributes to the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.

The mechanisms by which prostate cancer (PCa) progresses to the aggressive castration-resistant stage remain uncertain. Zinc finger of the cerebellum 5 (ZIC5), a transcription factor belonging to the ZIC family, is involved in the pathology of various cancers. However, the potential effect of ZIC5 on PCa malignant progression has not been fully defined. Here, we show that ZIC5 is upregulated in PCa, particularly in metastatic lesions, in positive association with poor prognosis. Genetic inhibition of ZIC5 in PCa cells obviously attenuated invasion and metastasis and blunted the oncogenic properties of colony formation. Mechanistically, ZIC5 functioned as a transcription factor to promote TWIST1-mediated EMT progression or as a cofactor to strengthen the ß-catenin-TCF4 association and stimulate Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Importantly, ZIC5 and the androgen receptor (AR) form a positive feed-forward loop to mutually stimulate each other's expression. AR, in cooperation with its steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3), increased ZIC5 expression through binding to the miR-27b-3p promoter and repressing miR-27b-3p transcription. In turn, ZIC5 potentiated AR, AR-V7, and AR targets' expression. Besides, ZIC5 inhibition reduced AR and AR-V7 protein expression and enhanced the sensitivity of PCa to enzalutamide (Enz) treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. These findings indicate that the reciprocal activation between AR and ZIC5 promotes metastasis and Enz resistance of PCa and suggest the therapeutic value of cotargeting ZIC5 and AR for the treatment of advanced PCa.

opplncRNA: A MATLAB Package for Comprehensive Pathway Analysis of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA in Humans.

The discovery of new lncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs) and their regulatory pathways has always been a hotspot in the field of ceRNA (competing endogenous RNA). Herein, we report opplncRNA (Omics Pilot Platform of lncRNA), a novel and rapid tool for investigating lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions based on the architecture of MATLAB AppDesigner. opplncRNA is useful to analyze the regulatory interaction networks of lncRNA with a friendly GUI (graphical user interface). There are three lncRNA databases (ENCORI, LncBase, and miRcode) about lncRNA-miRNA interactions that have been integrated into opplncRNA, as well as seven miRNA databases (miRcode, ENCORI, TarBase, miRTarBase, miRDB, miRanda, and miRecords) about miRNA-mRNA interactions as also. opplncRNA can read expression data from any profile techniques, such as microarray or RNA-seq. Then, the relationships between lncRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA can be directly calculated through the profile data of lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA by the threshold of correlation coefficients. Integrated databases can be used to filter calculation outcomes to obtain more reliable pathways. Moreover, opplncRNA has the functionality of directly demonstrating 3 layers network from lncRNA to mRNA in command line form.

Comprehensive comparison of sample preparation workflows for proteomics.

Mass spectrometry-based proteomics experiments can be subject to a large variability, which forms an obstacle to obtaining deep and accurate protein identification. Here, to obtain an optimal sample preparation workflow for in-depth proteome identification in human tissues, we systematically compared typical procedures in the four key steps during sample preparation, including two lysis buffers (5% SDS and 7M urea/2M thiourea), acetone precipitation, two proteolytic enzyme methods (in-solution digestion and FASP), and two pre-fractionation methods (SDS-PAGE and hi-pH RPLC). Compared with other methods, the procedure, including urea/thiourea as the lysis buffer, in-solution digestion, followed by hi-pH RPLC, yields an increase in proteome coverage (+15%), matched peptides (+42.4%), and significantly high protein concentrations. We also used combinations of these sample preparation methods to demonstrate a high identification rate in the range of low molecular weight (LMW), and the performance of sample preparation workflows varied between different groups of proteins. Importantly, 3 proteins defined as missing proteins (MPs) following the Human Proteome Project (HPP) guidelines were found in our data set. Overall, our findings provide an optimal sample preparation workflow for highly efficient and unbiased global proteomic analysis in human tissues.

Lysine demethylase 5A promotes prostate adenocarcinoma progression by suppressing microRNA-330-3p expression and activating the COPB2/PI3K/AKT axis in an ETS1-dependent manner.

Lysine demethylase 5A (KDM5A) is a histone demethylase frequently involved in cancer progression. This research aimed to explore the function of KDM5A in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) and the molecular mechanism. KDM5A was highly expressed in collected PRAD tissues and acquired PRAD cells. High KDM5A expression was correlated with reduced survival and poor prognosis of patients with PRAD. Knockdown of KDM5A suppressed the proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasiveness of PRAD cells and reduced angiogenesis ability of endothelial cells. Downstream molecules implicated in KDM5A mediation were predicted using integrated bioinformatic analyses. KDM5A enhanced ETS proto-oncogene 1 (ETS1) expression through demethylation of H3K4me2 at its promoter. ETS1 suppressed the transcription activity of miR-330-3p, and either further ETS1 overexpression or miR-330-3p inhibition blocked the functions of KDM5A knockdown in PRAD. miR-330-3p targeted coatomer protein complex subunit ß2 (COPB2) mRNA. Downregulation of miR-330-3p restored the expression of COPB2 and activated the PI3K/AKT pathway in PRAD. The results in vitro were reproduced in vivo where KDM5A downregulation suppressed the growth and metastasis of xenograft tumors in nude mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that KDM5A promoted PRAD by suppressing miR-330-3p and activating the COPB2/PI3K/AKT axis in an ETS1-dependent manner.

Upregulation of COPB2 Promotes Prostate Cancer Proliferation and Invasion Through the MAPK/TGF-ß Signaling Pathway.

There is increasing evidence that coatomer protein complex subunit beta 2 (COPB2) plays an important role in various cancer types. This study explored the role and the downstream mediators of COPB2 in prostate cancer (PCa). The expression of COPB2 was determined by the Cancer Genome Atlas database and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. COPB2 expression was upregulated in PCa tissues and correlated with Gleason score, biochemical recurrence, and poor prognosis. The functional roles of COPB2 in PCa were verified through a series of experiments. Knocking down COPB2 expression inhibited the growth and clonogenesis of PCa cells, promoted cell apoptosis, and inhibited the ability of scratch repair, invasion of PCa cells, and tumor growth in Nude mice. To analyze downstream signaling pathways, ingenuity pathway analysis, GSEA, and whole-genome expression spectrum GeneChip analysis were used. Western blot revealed that COPB2 expression promoted the proliferation and invasion of PCa cells by regulating the MAPK/TGF-ß signaling pathway. The interacting protein (nuclear protein 1, NUPR1) was identified via Co-IP, real-time PCR, Western blot, and TCGA database in sampled tissues. The expressions of the interaction proteins NUPR1 and COPB2 were negatively regulated by each other. COPB2 could be a new biomarker for PCa diagnosis and monitoring and to provide a theoretical basis for identifying effective drug intervention targets through in-depth mechanistic studies.

Combined suppression effects on hydrodynamic cavitation performance in Venturi-type reactor for process intensification.

Hydrodynamic cavitation is an emerging intensification technology in water treatment or chemical processing, and Venturi-type cavitation reactors exhibit advantages for industrial-scale production. The effects of temperature on hydrodynamic cavitating flows are investigated to find the optimum reaction conditions enhancing cavitating treatment intensity. Results show that the cavitation performance, including the cavitation intensity and cavitation unsteady behavior, is influenced by (1) cavitation number σ (the pressure difference affecting the vaporization process), (2) Reynolds number Re (the inertial/viscous ratio affecting the bubble size and liquid-vapor interface area), and (3) thermodynamic parameter Σ (the thermal effect affecting the temperature drop). With increasing temperature, the cavitation length first increases and then decreases, with a cavitation intensity peak at the transition temperature of 58 °C. With the growth of cavitation extent, the cavity-shedding regimes tend to transition from the attached sheet cavity to the periodic cloud cavity, and the vapor volume fluctuating frequency decreases accordingly. A combined suppression parameter (CSP) is provided to predict that, with increasing CSP value, the cavitation intensity can be decreased. Recommendations are given that working under the low-CSP range (55-60 °C) could enhance the intensification of the cavitation process.

Flexible Triboelectric Nanogenerators Based on Electrospun Poly(vinylidene fluoride) with MoS2/Carbon Nanotube Composite Nanofibers.

With the miniaturization of wearable smart devices, the demand for portable and sustainable power sources is increasing. Herein, a flexible and lightweight triboelectric nanogenerator (PMC-TENG) was fabricated with MoS2/carbon nanotube (MC)-doped PVDF as the friction substrate based on electrospinning for harvesting random body motion energy under complex mechanical deformations. The charge density on the friction surface of PVDF nanofibers was found to increase significantly as the introduced electron acceptor of the MC composite, and nylon as a clothing material for another friction layer simplifies the structure of the device. Upon optimization of the electrospinning preparation process, the output voltage of the prepared PMC-TENG can reach >300 V and the instantaneous power can reach 0.484 mW (∼6 cm × 6 cm). At the same time, the PMC-TENG remains stable over 3000 cycles and has the ability to charge a capacitor. The flexible device demonstrates an excellent capability of converting mechanical energy to electrical energy. Therefore, this study has good prospects for application in the field of power supply for portable electronic devices and others.

Review of the Development of First-Generation Redox Flow Batteries: Iron-Chromium System.

The iron-chromium redox flow battery (ICRFB) is considered the first true RFB and utilizes low-cost, abundant iron and chromium chlorides as redox-active materials, making it one of the most cost-effective energy storage systems. ICRFBs were pioneered and studied extensively by NASA and Mitsui in Japan in the 1970-1980s, and extensive studies on ICRFBs have been carried out over the past few decades. In addition, ICRFB is considered to be one of the most promising directions for cost-effective and large-scale energy storage applications, as its cost can theoretically be lower than that of zinc-bromine and all-vanadium RFBs, giving it the potential for large-scale promotion. With the resolution of problems such as hydrogen evolution and electrolyte intermixing, the ICRFB technology is moving out of the laboratory and striving for greater power and more stable industrialization requirements. This Review summarizes the history, development, and research status of key components (carbon-based electrode, electrolyte, and membranes) in the ICRFB system, aiming to give a brief guide to researchers who are involved in the related subject.

Long Non-coding RNAs LINC01679 as a Competitive Endogenous RNAs Inhibits the Development and Progression of Prostate Cancer via Regulating the miR-3150a-3p/SLC17A9 Axis.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been indicated as the candidate factors to predict cancer prognosis. However, it is still unknown whether lncRNA combinations may be utilized for predicting overall survival (OS) of prostate cancer (PCa). The present work focused on selecting the potent OS-related lncRNA signature for PCa and studying its molecular mechanism to enhance the prognosis prediction accuracy. Differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) or differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained based on TCGA database by R software "edgeR" package. lncRNAs or mRNAs significantly related to PCa were screened through univariate as well as multivariate Cox regression, for the construction of the risk model for prognosis prediction. Moreover, this constructed risk model was validated through ROC analysis, univariate regression, and Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis. Additionally, we built a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network through bioinformatics analysis. Colony formation, CCK-8, flow cytometry, scratch, and Transwell assays were performed based on PCa cells subjected to small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting LINC01679/SLC17A9 and vector expressing LINC01679/SLC17A9 transfection. Thereafter, the ceRNA mechanism was clarified via qRT-PCR, Western blotting (WB), RNA pull-down, and luciferase reporter assays. Nude mouse tumor xenograft was established to examine LINC01679's oncogenicity within PCa cells. According to our results, LINC01679 depletion promoted cell proliferation, metastasis, tumor growth, and inhibited cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro, which was also associated with poor survival. LINC01679 regulated miR-3150a-3p level by sponging it. Importantly, miR-3150a-3p overexpression was related to the increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis of PCa cells. Rescue assays suggested that miR-3150a-3p mimics rescued the repression on PCa progression mediated by LINC01679 upregulation, but SLC17A9 downregulation reversed the miR-3150a-3p inhibitor-mediated repression on PC progression. Importantly, SLC17A9 downregulation rescued the repression on PCa progression mediated by LINC01679 upregulation. LINC01679 and SLC17A9 are tightly associated with certain clinicopathological characteristics of PCa and its prognostic outcome. In addition, LINC01679 is the ceRNA that suppresses PCa development through modulating the miR-3150a-3p/SLC17A9 axis.