ALBERT

Description: Comparisons of related species that have diverse spatial distributions provide an efficient way to investigate adaptive evolution in face of increasing global warming. The oyster subjected to high environmental selections is a model species as sessile marine invertebrate. This study aimed to detect the adaptive divergence of energy metabolism in two oyster subspecies from the genus Crassostrea — C. gigas gigas and C. gigas angulata —which are broadly distributed along the northern and southern coasts of China, respectively. We examined the effects of acute thermal stress on energy metabolism in two oyster subspecies after being common gardened for one generation in identical conditions. Thermal responses were assessed by incorporating physiological, molecular, and genomic approaches. Southern oysters exhibited higher fluctuations in metabolic rate, activities of key energetic enzymes, and levels of thermally induced gene expression than northern oysters. For genes involved in energy metabolism, the former displayed higher basal levels of gene expression and a more pronounced downregulation of thermally induced expression, while the later exhibited lower basal levels and a less pronounced downregulation of gene expression. Contrary expression pattern was observed in oxidative stress gene. Besides, energy metabolic tradeoffs were detected in both subspecies. Furthermore, the genetic divergence of a nonsynonymous SNP ( SOD-132 ) and five synonymous SNPs in other genes was identified and validated in these two subspecies, which possibly affects downstream functions and explains the aforementioned phenotypic variations. Our study demonstrates that differentiations in energy metabolism underlie the plasticity of adaptive divergence in two oyster subspecies and suggest C. gigas angulata with moderate phenotypic plasticity has higher adaptive potential to cope with exacerbated global warming. Adaptive divergence of energy metabolism in two oyster subspecies, Crassostrea gigas and C. angulata .

Description: In performing our experiment, impaired autophagy increased hepatocellular damage during the reperfusion period. It was demonstrated by the effect of blocking autophagy using bafilomycin A1 or knocking Atg5 gene out reduces the anti-apoptotic effect of Stat3. Here we focus on the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) in regulating autophagy to alleviate hepatic IRI. We found that Stat3 was up-regulated during hepatic IRI and was associated with an activation of the autophagic signaling pathway. This increased Stat3 expression, which was allied with high autophagic activity, alleviated liver damage to IR, an effect which was abrogated by Stat3 epletion as demonstrated in both in vivo and in vitro methods. The levels of Atg5 protein were decreased when Stat3 was inhibited by HO 3867 or siStat3. We conclude that Stat3 appeared to exert a pivotal role in hepatic IRI, by activating autophagy to alleviate hepatic IRI, and Atg5 was required for this process. The identification of this novel pathway, that links expression levels of Stat3 with Atg5-mediated autophagy, may provide new insights for the generation of novel protective therapies directed against hepatic IRI. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Description: Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) is one of the widely used organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), which are regarded as suitable substitutes for brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Previously, we have validated the toxicity of TDCIPP in PC12 cells owing to the induced alterations in GAP43, NF-H, CaMK2a/2b, and tubulin α/β proteins; however, limited information is currently available on the toxicity and mechanism of TDCIPP. In the present study, cytotoxicity effects were evaluated by exposing PC12 cells to different concentrations of TDCIPP (0–50 μM) for 4 days. To explore the possible mechanisms through which cytotoxicity is induced, changes in intracellular [Ca 2+ ] i levels and the activation of calmodulin dependent protein kinase 2 (CaMK2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathways were evaluated. Furthermore, PC12 cells were pretreated with CaMK2 inhibitor KN93 to investigate the relationship between TDCIPP-induced phosphorylation of CaMK2 and activation of JNK, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK pathways. Our results indicate that TDCIPP-induced toxicity might be associated with the overload of [Ca 2+ ] i levels, increased phosphorylation of CaMK2, and activation of the JNK, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK pathways, the lattermost of which was further demonstrated to be partially elicited by the CaMK2 phosphorylation.

Description: ABSTRACT Objective: Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of worldwide mortality and long-term disability in adults. This study aims to explore the effects of RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing of the S100B gene on nerve function recovery and morphological changes of hippocampus cells in rat models with ischemic stroke. Methods : Sixty Wistar rats were assigned into different group. S100B and Caspase 3 mRNA and protein expressions were evaluated by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Positive rate of S100B, NeuN, and MAP2 expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Water content, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in brain tissues were measured. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to detect serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β. A neurological severity score (NSS) was used to test nerve function. TUNEL assay was used to determine hippocampal cell apoptosis. Results : Downregulation of S100B showed a lower number of S100B immune positive cells, but higher NeuN and MAP2-positive cells, increased SOD level, declined MDA level, prominently faster recovery of neurological function, decreased TRCS, TCTP, TCFP and IE levels, an obvious increase in the number of survival neurons, a decrease in the number of apoptotic cells, notably decreased TNF-α and IL-1β contents, as well as infarct volume, an obvious decrease in positive hippocampal cell Caspase 3 expression and protein expressions of Caspase 3 and cleaved Caspase 3. Conclusion : This study provides data to suggest that RNAi-mediated silencing of S100B gene could improve the recovery of nerve function while inhibiting apoptosis of hippocampal cells in rats with ischemic stroke. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Description: Abstract Texturing is an effective approach to improving the piezoelectricity of piezoelectric ceramics. In this work, 〈001〉 textured Li+‐doped 0.852Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–0.11Bi0.5K0.5TiO3–0.038BaTiO3 ternary lead‐free piezoelectric ceramics are prepared by the reactive templates grain growth (RTGG) method. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrate a high orientation degree of 77% along the 〈001〉 direction. Outstanding electro‐strain response, which is higher than most of reported BNT‐based textured ceramics, is achieved due to the contribution of oriented‐grains along the 〈001〉 direction. A large electro‐strain of 0.55% with a relatively low hysteresis is obtained at 6.5 kV/mm with corresponding large signal piezoelectric coefficient () of 846 pm/V in the textured ceramics, which is 49% higher than that of the random ceramics. Besides, the electro‐strain could reach as high as 0.52%@5.5 kV/mm ( = 945 pm/V) at 100°C. These results indicate that the RTGG is an effective way to design high performance lead‐free piezoelectric materials.

Description: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are a population of pluripotent cells which can differentiate into different cell types. However, there are few reports with regard to differentiate ESCs into epidermal cells in vitro . In this study, we aimed to investigate differentially methylated promoters involved in process of differentiation from ESCs into epidermal-like cells (ELCs) induced by human amnion. We successfully induced ESCs into ELCs, which expressed the surface markers of CK19, CK15 and β1-integrin. With MeDIP-chip arrays, we identified 3435 gene promoters to be differentially methylated, involving 894 HCP (high CpG-containing promoter), 974 ICP (intermediate CpG-containing promoter) and 1567 LCP (low CpG-containing promoter) among all the 17 500 DNA methylation regions of gene promoters in both ESCs and ELCs. Gene oncology and pathway analysis demonstrated that these genes were involved in all the three categories of GO enrichment analysis, including biological process, molecular function and cellular component. All these data suggested that embryonic stem cells can differentiate into epidermal-like cells and promoter methylation is of great importance in this process. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Description: Fractures and defects in wellbore cement can lead to increased possibilities of CO 2 leakage from abandoned wells during geological carbon sequestration. To investigate the physicochemical response of defective wellbore cement to CO 2 -rich brine, we carried out a reactive flow-through experiment using an artificially fractured cement sample at a length of 224.8 mm. A brine solution with dissolved CO 2 at a pH of approximately 3.9 was injected through the sample at a constant rate of 0.0083 cm 3 /s. Surface optical profilometry analysis and 3D X-ray microtomography imaging confirmed fracture closure and self-healing behavior consistent with the measured permeability decrease. Visual inspection of the reacted fracture surface showed the development of reactive patterns mapping the flow velocity field inside the fracture, as well as restricted flow towards the sample outlet. The post-experiment permeability of the core sample was measured at half of its initial permeability. A reactive transport model was developed with parameters derived from the experiment to further examine property evolution of fractured cement under dynamic flow of CO 2 -rich brine. Sensitivity analysis showed that residence time and the size of initial fracture aperture are the key factors controlling the tendency to self-healing or fracture opening behavior and therefore determine the long-term integrity of the wellbore cement. Longer residence time and small apertures promote mineral precipitation, fracture closure, and therefore flow restriction. This work also suggests a narrow threshold separating the fracture opening and self-sealing behavior. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Description: Interleukin (IL)-10–expressing B cells play a critical role in the immune homeostasis in the body; its regulation has not been fully understood. Micro-RNA (miR)-17-92 cluster has strong regulation in the immunity. This study tests a hypothesis that miR-17-92 cluster suppresses IL-10 expression in B cells. In this study, peripheral B cells were collected from patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). The B cells were treated with specific allergens, dust mite extracts, in the culture. The expressions of miR-17-92 cluster and IL-10 in the culture were assessed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that the levels of miR-19a, but not the rest of the 5 members (miR-17, miR-18a, miR-19b, miR-20a, and miR-92a), were significantly higher in peripheral B cells from AR patients as than in B cells from healthy participants. Exposure of B cells from AR patients to specific allergen, dust mite extracts, significantly increased the levels if miR-19a and suppressed the expression of IL-10 in B cells. The levels of histone deacetylase 11 and acetylated H3K9 were higher, and the RNA polymerase II and c-Maf (the IL-10 transcription factor) were lower, at the IL-10 promoter locus. In conclusion, miR-19a mediates the allergen-specific immune response–decreased IL-10 expression in B cells.

Description: To understand the effects of substantial topographic relief on deformation localization in the seismically active mountains, like the Longmen Shan thrust belt in the eastern Tibet, sandbox experiments were performed based on the framework of the critical taper theory. Firstly, a reference experiment revealed that the critical taper angle was 12° for our experimental materials. Subsequently, different proto-wedges (subcritical [6° in taper angle], critical [12°], and supercritical [20°]) were introduced to cover the range of natural topographic relief, and we used two setups: setup A considered only across-strike topographic relief, whereas setup B investigated along-strike segmentation of topography, consist of two adjacent proto-wedges. In all experiments, thrust wedges grew by in-sequence accretion of thrust sheets. Setup A revealed an alternating mode of slip partitioning on the accreted thrusts, with large-displacement thrust and small-displacement thrust developing in turn. And contrasting wedge evolutions occurred according to whether the proto-wedge was subcritical or critical–supercritical. In setup B, the differential deformation along the strike produced transverse structures such as tear fault and lateral ramp during frontal accretion. The observed tear fault and its associated thrust system resemble the seismogenic fault system of the 2008 Mw7.9 Wenchuan earthquake. Our experimental results could also explain first-order deformation features observed in the Longmen Shan. Consequently, we conclude that topographic features, including topographic relief across the range and along-strike segmentation of topography, contribute significantly to the kinematics and deformation localization in such active mountains.

Description: Chitin synthase (ChS) plays a critical role in chitin synthesis and excretion. In this study, two ChS genes ( LdChSA and LdChSB ) were identified in Leptinotarsa decemlineata . LdChSA contains two splicing variants, LdChSAa and LdChSAb . Within the first, second, and third larval instars, the mRNA levels of LdChSAa , LdChSAb , and LdChSB coincide with the peaks of circulating 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile hormone (JH). In vitro culture of midguts and an in vivo bioassay revealed that 20E and an ecdysteroid agonist halofenozide stimulated the expression of the three LdChS s. Conversely, a reduction of 20E by RNA interference (RNAi) of an ecdysteroidogenesis gene LdSHD repressed the expression of these LdChS s, and ingestion of halofenozide by LdSHD RNAi larvae rescued the repression. Moreover, disruption of 20E signaling by RNAi of LdEcR , LdE75 , LdHR3 , and LdFTZ-F1 reduced the expression levels of these genes. Similarly, in vitro culture and an in vivo bioassay showed that exogenous JH and a JH analog methoprene activated the expression of the three LdChS s, whereas a decrease in JH by RNAi of a JH biosynthesis gene LdJHAMT downregulated these LdChS s. It seems that JH upregulates LdChS s at the early stage of each instar, whereas a 20E pulse triggers the transcription of LdChS s during molting in L. decemlineata .