Multidimensional occurrence and diet risk of emerging contaminants in freshwater with urban agglomerations.

Freshwater systems near highly urbanized areas are extremely susceptible to emerging contaminants (ECs), yet their stereoscopic persistence in aquatic ecosystems and related risks remain largely unknown. Herein, we characterized the multi-mediums distribution of 63 ECs in Baiyangdian Lake, the biggest urban lake in the North of China. We identified variations in the seasonal patterns of aquatic EC levels, which decreased in water and increased in sediment from wet to dry seasons.

Bisphenol A Analogues Induce Neuroendocrine Disruption via Gut-Brain Regulation in Zebrafish.

There is epidemiological evidence in humans that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) is tied to abnormal neuroendocrine function with both behavioral and intestinal symptoms. However, the underlying mechanism of this effect, particularly the role of gut-brain regulation, is poorly understood. We exposed zebrafish embryos to a concentration series (including environmentally relevant levels) of BPA and its analogues.

The neurobehavioral impacts of typical antibiotics toward zebrafish larvae.

Due to the widely usage in livestock, aquaculture and clinics, antibiotic residues are existed in aqueous environments and their potential toxicity to aquatic organisms is concerning. Here, we used zebrafish as the model to investigate the neurotoxicity and involved mechanism of seven antibiotics that were frequently detected in surface waters. The results revealed that the short-term exposure to clarithromycin (CLA), chlortetracycline (CTC) and roxithromycin (ROX) induced behavioral effects, with effective concentration of 1 μg/L (CTC and ROX) and 100 μg/L (CLA, CTC and ROX) respectively.

MiR-4652-5p Targets RND1 to Regulate Cell Adhesion and Promote Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression.

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is one subtype of non-small-cell lung cancer, whose pathogenesis has not been fully understood. Exploring molecular mechanisms of LUSC helps a lot with the development of LUSC novel therapy. Hence, our study aims to investigate novel molecular mechanisms.

Occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes in the Fuhe urban river and its driving mechanism.

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in urban rivers can affect human health via the food chain and human pathogenic bacteria diffusion. Sediment can be a sink for ARGs, causing second sources of ARG contamination through diffusion. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and phytoplankton on the distribution of the ARGs in the sediment and water of Fuhe river in Baoding city, China.

Congruence Amidst Discordance between Sequence and Protein-Content Based Phylogenies of Fungi.

Amid the genomic data explosion, phylogenomic analysis has resolved the tree of life of different organisms, including fungi. Genome-wide clustering has also been conducted based on gene content data that can lighten the issue of the unequal evolutionary rate of genes. In this study, using different fungal species as models, we performed phylogenomic and protein-content (PC)-based clustering analysis.

The change of accumulation of heavy metal drive interspecific facilitation under copper and cold stress.

Plant diversity has important functions in ecosystem productivity overyielding and community stability. Little is known about the mechanism causing productivity overyielding and stability under harsh conditions. This study investigated the photosynthetic response and subcellular distribution of uni- and co-cultured duckweeds (Lemna aequinoctialis and Spirodela polyrhiza) under excess copper (1.

Omics data reveal the unusual asexual-fruiting nature and secondary metabolic potentials of the medicinal fungus Cordyceps cicadae.

Background: Ascomycete Cordyceps species have been using as valued traditional Chinese medicines. Particularly, the fruiting bodies of Cordyceps cicadae (syn. Isaria cicadae) have long been utilized for the treatment of chronic kidney disease.

Divergent and Convergent Evolution of Fungal Pathogenicity.

Fungal pathogens of plants and animals have multifarious effects; they cause devastating damages to agricultures, lead to life-threatening diseases in humans, or induce beneficial effects by reducing insect pest populations. Many virulence factors have been determined in different fungal pathogens; however, the molecular determinants contributing to fungal host selection and adaptation are largely unknown. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of seven ascomycete insect pathogens and performed the genome-wide analyses of 33 species of filamentous ascomycete pathogenic fungi that infect insects (12 species), plants (12), and humans (9).

Trajectory and genomic determinants of fungal-pathogen speciation and host adaptation.

Much remains unknown regarding speciation. Host-pathogen interactions are a major driving force for diversification, but the genomic basis for speciation and host shifting remains unclear. The fungal genus Metarhizium contains species ranging from specialists with very narrow host ranges to generalists that attack a wide range of insects.

Diallyl disulfide selectively causes checkpoint kinase-1 mediated G2/M arrest in human MGC803 gastric cancer cell line.

Previous studies have shown that diallyl disulfide (DADS), a naturally occurring anticancer agent in garlic, arrested human gastric cancer cells (MGC803) in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Due to the importance of cell cycle redistribution in DADS-mediated anticarcinogenic effects, we investigated the role of checkpoint kinases (Chk1 and Chk2) during DADS-induced cell cycle arrest. In the present study, the northern blot analysis showed that mRNA expression of for Chkl and Chk2 was unchanged.

Linkage of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions to spontaneous culture degeneration in Aspergillus nidulans.

Filamentous fungi including mushrooms frequently and spontaneously degenerate during subsequent culture maintenance on artificial media, which shows the loss or reduction abilities of asexual sporulation, sexuality, fruiting, and production of secondary metabolites, thus leading to economic losses during mass production. To better understand the underlying mechanisms of fungal degeneration, the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans was employed in this study for comprehensive analyses. First, linkage of oxidative stress to culture degeneration was evident in A.

Feasibility and safety of magnetic-controlled capsule endoscopy system in examination of human stomach: a pilot study in healthy volunteers.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and safety of magnetic-controlled capsule endoscopy (MCE) system for examination of human stomach.

Methods: This pilot study enrolled 34 healthy volunteers. All subjects swallowed the MCE and gas-producing powder for gastric distention.

Transcriptional profiling of midgut immunity response and degeneration in the wandering silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Background: Lepidoptera insects have a novel development process comprising several metamorphic stages during their life cycle compared with vertebrate animals. Unlike most Lepidoptera insects that live on nectar during the adult stage, the Bombyx mori silkworm adults do not eat anything and die after egg-laying. In addition, the midguts of Lepidoptera insects produce antimicrobial proteins during the wandering stage when the larval tissues undergo numerous changes.

Genomic perspectives on the evolution of fungal entomopathogenicity in Beauveria bassiana.

The ascomycete fungus Beauveria bassiana is a pathogen of hundreds of insect species and is commercially produced as an environmentally friendly mycoinsecticide. We sequenced the genome of B. bassiana and a phylogenomic analysis confirmed that ascomycete entomopathogenicity is polyphyletic, but also revealed convergent evolution to insect pathogenicity.

Genome sequence of the insect pathogenic fungus Cordyceps militaris, a valued traditional Chinese medicine.

Background: Species in the ascomycete fungal genus Cordyceps have been proposed to be the teleomorphs of Metarhizium species. The latter have been widely used as insect biocontrol agents. Cordyceps species are highly prized for use in traditional Chinese medicines, but the genes responsible for biosynthesis of bioactive components, insect pathogenicity and the control of sexuality and fruiting have not been determined.

Ibrolipim attenuates high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells via PI3K/Akt pathway.

Objective: Endothelial dysfunction is a key event in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis associated with diabetes. Increasing cell apoptosis may lead to endothelial dysfunction and contribute to vascular complications. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the possible role and mechanism of ibrolipim in preventing endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose.

Genome sequencing and comparative transcriptomics of the model entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and M. acridum.

Metarhizium spp. are being used as environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical insecticides, as model systems for studying insect-fungus interactions, and as a resource of genes for biotechnology. We present a comparative analysis of the genome sequences of the broad-spectrum insect pathogen Metarhizium anisopliae and the acridid-specific M.

Effects of selenium on the antioxidant enzymes response of Neocaridina heteropoda exposed to ambient nitrite.

The effects of dietary Selenium (Se) supplementation on muscle superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities and haemolymph superoxide anions (O(2)-) of Neocaridina heteropoda exposed to ambient nitrite were investigated. The results showed supplementation of Se in diet could enhance the resistance of shrimp to low concentration ambient nitrite. The results demonstrated that Se might have a potentially useful role as an effective antioxidant and resistance to aqueous nitrite in shrimp and the effect of the organic Se was better than that of the inorganic Se.

GO-2D: identifying 2-dimensional cellular-localized functional modules in Gene Ontology.

Background: Rapid progress in high-throughput biotechnologies (e.g. microarrays) and exponential accumulation of gene functional knowledge make it promising for systematic understanding of complex human diseases at functional modules level.

Temperature dependence of the 1.06-microm stimulated emission cross section of neodymium in YAG and in GSGG.

A linear temperature dependence between -70 degrees C and +70 degrees C is reported for the peak stimulated emission cross section of Nd3+ ions in both yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) and gadolinium scandium gallium garnet (GSGG).