Amino-Functionalized Lotus Stem Hydrochar for Rapid Adsorption and In Situ Detoxification of Cr(VI) from Water.

The development of low-cost, efficient, and environmentally friendly adsorbents is the key to highly toxic hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] removal by adsorption. In this paper, amino-functionalized lotus stem hydrochar (ALSHC) was prepared from an agricultural waste lotus stem (LS) for the adsorption removal of Cr(VI) from water. The effects of the initial Cr(VI) concentration, contact time, temperature, coexisting anions, and reusability of ALSHC on Cr(VI) removal were examined in detail.

The porous cantilever beam as a model for spinal implants: Experimental, analytical and finite element analysis of dynamic properties.

Investigation of the dynamic properties of implants is essential to ensure safety and compatibility with the host's natural spinal tissue. This paper presents a simplified model of a cantilever beam to investigate the effects of holes/pores on the structures. Free vibration test is one of the most effective methods to measure the dynamic response of a cantilever beam, such as natural frequency and damping ratio.

Hop2 Interacts with ATF4 to Promote Osteoblast Differentiation.

Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) is a member of the basic leucine zipper (bZip) transcription factor family required for the terminal differentiation of osteoblasts. Despite its critical importance as one of the three main osteoblast differentiation transcription factors, regulators of osteoblast terminal maturation remain poorly defined. Here we report the identification of homologous pairing protein 2 (Hop2) as a dimerization partner of ATF4 in osteoblasts via the yeast two-hybrid system.

Knockdown of Long Noncoding RNA LUCAT1 Inhibits Cell Viability and Invasion by Regulating miR-375 in Glioma.

Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as new gene regulators and prognostic markers in several cancers, including glioma. Here we focused on lncRNA LUCAT1 on the progression of glioma. qRT-PCR was used to determine the expression of LUCAT1 and miR-375 in glioma tissues and cells.

Effect of triple junctions on deformation twinning in a nanostructured Cu-Zn alloy: A statistical study using transmission Kikuchi diffraction.

Scanning electron microscopy transmission Kikuchi diffraction is able to identify twins in nanocrystalline material, regardless of their crystallographic orientation. In this study, it was employed to characterize deformation twins in Cu/10 wt % Zn processed by high-pressure torsion. It was found that in 83% of grains containing twins, at least one twin intersects with a triple junction.

Expression of p16 and Survivin in gliomas and their correlation with cell proliferation.

The survival rate of glioma patients is very low, and a lack of effective diagnostic techniques are available at present. The current study aimed to investigate the expression of p16 and Survivin and their association with proliferation and apoptosis in gliomas, as well as patient characteristics and prognosis. In total, 62 glioma specimens were surgically resected and pathologically confirmed at the Zhumadian Central Hospital (Zhumadian, China) between June 2008 and February 2014.

Design and synthesis of cyclopropylamide analogues of combretastatin-A4 as novel microtubule-stabilizing agents.

A series of novel cyclopropylamide analogues of combretastatin-A4 (CA-4) were designed and synthesized. Most of them had significant in vitro antiproliferative activities, particularly for compounds 7i4, 7c4, 8a4, and 8c4. Moreover, compound 8c4 was also equally potent against paclitaxel resistant cancer cells.

Transforming growth factor β suppresses osteoblast differentiation via the vimentin activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) axis.

ATF4 is an osteoblast-enriched transcription factor of the leucine zipper family. We recently identified that vimentin, a leucine zipper-containing intermediate filament protein, suppresses ATF4-dependent osteocalcin (Ocn) transcription and osteoblast differentiation. Here we show that TGFβ inhibits ATF4-dependent activation of Ocn by up-regulation of vimentin expression.

Chondrocytic Atf4 regulates osteoblast differentiation and function via Ihh.

Atf4 is a leucine zipper-containing transcription factor that activates osteocalcin (Ocn) in osteoblasts and indian hedgehog (Ihh) in chondrocytes. The relative contribution of Atf4 in chondrocytes and osteoblasts to the regulation of skeletal development and bone formation is poorly understood. Investigations of the Atf4(-/-);Col2a1-Atf4 mouse model, in which Atf4 is selectively overexpressed in chondrocytes in an Atf4-null background, demonstrate that chondrocyte-derived Atf4 regulates osteogenesis during development and bone remodeling postnatally.

Atf4 regulates chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation during endochondral ossification by activating Ihh transcription.

Activating transcription factor 4 (Atf4) is a leucine-zipper-containing protein of the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) family. Ablation of Atf4 (Atf4(-/-)) in mice leads to severe skeletal defects, including delayed ossification and low bone mass, short stature and short limbs. Atf4 is expressed in proliferative and prehypertrophic growth plate chondrocytes, suggesting an autonomous function of Atf4 in chondrocytes during endochondral ossification.

Vimentin inhibits ATF4-mediated osteocalcin transcription and osteoblast differentiation.

Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) is an osteoblast-enriched transcription factor that regulates osteocalcin transcription and osteoblast terminal differentiation. To identify functional partners of ATF4, we applied ROS17/2.8 osteoblast nuclear extracts and purified recombinant His-ATF4 onto a Ni(+) affinity matrix chromatography column.

No genetic association between polymorphisms in the kainate-type glutamate receptor gene, GRIK4, and schizophrenia in the Chinese population.

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder with a strong genetic component. Several studies have suggested that dysfunctions in the glutamatergic transmission are linked to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, and that the kainate ionotropic glutamate receptors are involved in this mechanism. A recent study provides cytogenetic and genetic evidence to support a role for the kainate-type glutamate receptor gene (GRIK4), in schizophrenia.

ATF4 is a substrate of RSK2 and an essential regulator of osteoblast biology; implication for Coffin-Lowry Syndrome.

Coffin-Lowry Syndrome (CLS) is an X-linked mental retardation condition associated with skeletal abnormalities. The gene mutated in CLS, RSK2, encodes a growth factor-regulated kinase. However, the cellular and molecular bases of the skeletal abnormalities associated with CLS remain unknown.