The scenario simulations and several problems of the Sponge City construction in semi-arid loess region,Northwest China

Landscape and Ecological Engineering - Sponge City, as a new concept on urban stormwater management, implies well-adapted and resilient of a city on possible stormwater and the derived disaster...     

Analyzing Economic and Environmental Performance of Switchgrass Biofuel Supply Chains

This study optimized the net present value (NPV) of profit of various switchgrass-based ethanol supply chains and estimated associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in west Tennessee. Three configurations of feedstock harvesting and storage, including a large round baler system, a large square baler system, and a chopping/densification system, were evaluated. A mixed-integer mathematical programming model incorporating high-resolution spatial data was used to determine the optimal locations and capacities of cellulosic ethanol plants and feedstock preprocessing facilities, and associated feedstock-draw areas by maximizing the NPV of profit over 20 years. The optimized outputs were then used to estimate the GHG emissions produced in the biofuel supply chain (BSC) per year. The study shows that BSC configurations have important implications for the economic and environmental performance of the system. The harvest and storage configurations affect the locations of conversion and preprocessing facilities, and associated feedstock-draw areas, hence impacting the cost and emissions of both feedstock and biofuels transportation. The findings suggest the BSC system that harvests feedstock with forage choppers and utilizes stretch-wrap balers to increase feedstock density has the highest NPV of profit. The BSC system that uses large square balers for harvest and storage emits the lowest amount of GHGs per year. In addition, the sensitivity analysis suggests that biofuel price and scaling factor of facility capital was influential to the economics of BSC systems. The breakeven price of biofuel for the three BSCs was around $0.97 L^?1.     

VvWRKY13 from Vitis vinifera negatively modulates salinity tolerance

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Mineral nutrition is a very important factor in the success of in vitro plant cultures. The aim was to compare the predictive capacity of the models...     

Application of low-intensity ultrasound to enhance simultaneous nitrification/iron-based autotrophic denitrification

Biotechnology Letters - Intermittent ultrasound with an intensity of 0.2 W/ml was applied during simultaneous nitrification/iron-based autotrophic denitrification to evaluate its impacts...     

Temperature and Moisture Modulate the Contribution of Soil Fauna to Litter Decomposition via Different Pathways

Ecosystems - Soil fauna are crucial decomposers in terrestrial ecosystems, but how the role of soil fauna varies among climatic conditions and litter substrates remains poorly understood. Here, we...     

Novel Functions of CD147 in the Mitochondria Exacerbates Melanoma Metastasis

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer characterized by rapid invasion and metastasis. CD147 is known to be functioning in cell invasion. In this study, we showed that CD147 was translocated from the cell membrane to the mitochondria in advanced melanoma. Melanoma patients with CD147 localized to the mitochondria confer a worse prognosis. The mitochondrial CD147 levels are correlated with the invasion potential of various melanoma cell lines as well as mitochondrial energy metabolism. Depletion of CD147 decreased the activity of mitochondrial complex V. STRING analysis for protein-protein interaction networks (PPIN) in CD147-depleted melanoma cells showed that mitochondrial proteins HSP60 and ATP5B, a subunit of mitochondrial complex V, were node proteins. HSP60 upregulation was correlated with a worse prognosis of melanoma patients. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay indicates that CD147 interacts with HSP60. These data suggested that mitochondrial CD147 may prompt HSP60 to activate ATP5B, thereby promoting the mitochondrial aerobic oxidation and the invasive abilities of melanoma cells. Correlation analysis of the data acquired from patients was helpful to draw a 5-year survival curve for patients who screened positive and negative for mitochondrial CD147. This study unravels the function of CD147 in tumor invasion and highlights it as a potential tumor therapeutic target.     

Translation of the long-term fundamental studies on viral DNA packaging motors into nanotechnology and nanomedicine

Many years of fundamental studies on viral genome packaging motors have led to fruitful applications. The double-stranded DNA(dsDNA) viruses package their genomes into preformed protein shells via nanomotors including several elegant and meticulous coaxial modules. The motor is geared by the hexameric RNA ring. An open washer displayed as hexametric string of phi29 motor ATPase has been reported. The open washer linked into a filament as a queue with left-handed chirality along the dsDNA chain. It was found that a free 5′-and 3′-dsDNA end is not required for one gp16 dimer and four monomers to assemble into the hexametric washer on dsDNA. The above studies have inspired several applications in nanotechnology and nanomedicine. These applications include:(i) studies on the precision motor channels have led to their application in the single pore sensing;(ii) investigations into the hand-in-hand integration of the hexametric pRNA ring have resulted in the emergence of the new field of RNA nanotechnology; and(iii) the studies on the motor stoichiometry of homologous multi-subunits that subsequently have inspired the discovery of new methods in highly potent drug development. This review focuses on the structure and function of the viral DNA packaging motors and describes how fundamental studies inspired various applications. Given these advantages, more nanotechnological and biomedical applications using bacteriophage motor components are expected.     

LncRNA MIAT/miR-133a-3p axis regulates atrial fibrillation and atrial fibrillation-induced myocardial fibrosis

Molecular Biology Reports - Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a commonly encountered heart arrhythmia and a risk factor for cardiovascular system. The purpose of the present study was to explore the role...     

Plasmonic Lens Based on Rectangular Holes

A compact plasmonic lens is proposed in this paper. This plasmonic lens consists of rectangular holes etched on the silver film and arranged on one straight line and possesses the characteristics of short focus length, ultrathin thickness, and strong focus ability. The theoretical design for the plasmonic lens abides by the constructive interference theorem, and the surface plasmon polaritons excited by the holes with linearly polarized light illumination focuses effectively. The plasmonic lenses with single and double focus spots are provided, and the simulation experiment gives the powerful verification. The distinct structure feature and the excellent focusing characteristic of this plasmonic lens are benefit for its applications in optical integration.