Cas12f1 gene drives propagate efficiently in herpesviruses and induce minimal resistance.

Background: Synthetic CRISPR-Cas9 gene drive has been developed to control harmful species. However, resistance to Cas9 gene drive can be acquired easily when DNA repair mechanisms patch up the genetic insults introduced by Cas9 and incorporate mutations to the sgRNA target. Although many strategies to reduce the occurrence of resistance have been developed so far, they are difficult to implement and not always effective.

High-resolution reconstruction of April-September precipitation and major extreme droughts in China over the past ∼530 years.

Extreme drought events have increased, causing serious losses and damage to the social economy under current warming conditions. However, short-term meteorological data limit our understanding and projection of these extremes. With the accumulation of proxy data, especially tree-ring data, large-scale precipitation field reconstruction has provided opportunities to explore underlying mechanisms further.

Precipitation regulates the responses of xylem phenology of two dominant tree species to temperature in arid and semi-arid forest of the southern Altai Mountains.

Arid and semi-arid forests are important carbon sinks, with implications for the global carbon balance. However, the impacts of climate warming on the growth of arid and semi-arid forest tree species and ecosystem carbon sink dynamics remain uncertain because the effects of the complex interactions between precipitation and temperature on xylem phenology are not clearly understood. Here, we monitored xylem formation over two years in two dominant tree species (Siberian larch, Larix sibirica Ledeb.

Tropical volcanoes synchronize eastern Canada with Northern Hemisphere millennial temperature variability.

Although global and Northern Hemisphere temperature reconstructions are coherent with climate model simulations over the last millennium, reconstructed temperatures tend to diverge from simulations at smaller spatial scales. Yet, it remains unclear to what extent these regional peculiarities reflect region-specific internal climate variability or inadequate proxy coverage and quality. Here, we present a high-quality, millennial-long summer temperature reconstruction for northeastern North America, based on maximum latewood density, the most temperature-sensitive tree-ring proxy.

Discrete Element Modeling of Instability Mechanisms of Unbound Permeable Aggregate Base Materials in Triaxial Compression.

Unbound permeable aggregate base (UPAB) materials with strong load-transmitting skeleton yet adequate inter-connected pores are desired for use in the sponge-city initiative. However, the micro-scale fabric evolution and instability mechanism of macroscopic strength behavior of such UPAB materials still remain unclear. In this study, virtual monotonic triaxial compression tests were conducted by using the discrete element method (DEM) modeling approach on specimens with different gradations quantified by the parameter of gravel-to-sand ratio (G/S).

[Tree-ring reconstruction of March-August drought variability over the past 567 years in the Yajiang region of West Sichuan Plateau, China].

We constructed standard tree-ring-width chronology of var. for the Larima sampling site in the Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province, by the single-free detren-ding method. The results showed that there was significant and positive correlation between the tree-ring chronology and March-August 1-month scale standardized precipitation and evapotranspiration index (SPEI1) of Yajiang region.

[Radial growth of dominant coniferous species and their responses to climate changes in the Altay Mountains, China].

Based on the standard method of dendrochronology, we examined the tree-ring width index of two dominant tree species in the Altay Mountains, China, including and . We analyzed the basal area increments (BAI) of those two species and the relationships between their radial growth and the climatic factors, which were compared in similar habitats. The results showed that the BAI of was greater than , but the radial growth rate of was greater.

SET Domain-Containing Protein 5 Enhances the Cell Stemness of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway.

Background: SET domain-containing protein 5 (SETD5) could promote non-small cell lung cancer (NS-CLC) cell invasion, but the effect of SETD5 on NSCLC cell stemness characteristics is unknown. Thus we attempted to evaluate the effect of SETD5 on NSCLC stemness and its mechanism.

Methods: The expressions of SETD5 and stemness-related genes (SOX2, OCT4, ABCG2) were detected in NSCLC tissues by immunohistochemistry assay, qRT-PCR, and western blot.

Characteristics of tree-ring density at different stem heights and their climatic responses.

Taking windfall woods of in the southern mountainous area of the Ili Prefecture as the research object, tree-ring density chronologies were developed from the discs for maximum density (MXD), minimum density (MID), mean earlywood density (EWD), and mean latewood density (LWD) at five different stem heights (1.3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 m) to examine the climatic responses of tree-ring density by correlation analysis with local meteorological data. The results showed that there was a good coherence among the four types of tree-ring density chronologies for the same stem height, which was relatively significant for the data from 10, 15 and 20 m.

Pre-culture Sudan Black B treatment suppresses autofluorescence signals emitted from polymer tissue scaffolds.

In tissue engineering, autofluorescence of polymer scaffolds often lowers the image contrast, making it difficult to examine cells and subcellular structures. Treating the scaffold materials with Sudan Black B (SBB) after cell fixation can effectively suppress autofluorescence, but this approach is not conducive to live cell imaging. Post-culture SBB treatment also disrupts intracellular structures and leads to reduced fluorescence intensity of the targets of interest.

Validation of research trajectory 1 of an Exposome framework: Exposure to benzo(a)pyrene confers enhanced susceptibility to bacterial infection.

The exposome provides a framework for understanding elucidation of an uncharacterized molecular mechanism conferring enhanced susceptibility of macrophage membranes to bacterial infection after exposure to the environmental contaminant benzo(a)pyrene, [B(a)P]. The fundamental requirement in activation of macrophage effector functions is the binding of immunoglobulins to Fc receptors. FcγRIIa (CD32a), a member of the Fc family of immunoreceptors with low affinity for immunoglobulin G, has been reported to bind preferentially to IgG within lipid rafts.

Application of Citizen Science Risk Communication Tools in a Vulnerable Urban Community.

A public participatory geographical information systems (PPGIS) demographic, environmental, socioeconomic, health status portal was developed for the Stambaugh-Elwood (SE) community in Columbus, OH. We hypothesized that soil at SE residences would have metal concentrations above natural background levels. Three aims were developed that allowed testing of this hypothesis.

Revealing Behavioral Learning Deficit Phenotypes Subsequent to In Utero Exposure to Benzo(a)pyrene.

To characterize behavioral deficits in pre-adolescent offspring exposed in utero to Benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P], timed-pregnant Long Evans Hooded rats were treated with B(a)P (150, 300, 600, and 1200 µg/kg BW) or peanut oil (vehicle) on E14, 15, 16, and 17. Following birth, during the pre-weaning period, B(a)P metabolites were examined in plasma and whole brain or cerebral cortex from exposed and control offspring. Tissue concentrations of B(a)P metabolites were (1) dose-dependent and (2) followed a time-dependence for elimination with ∼60% reduction by PND5 in the 1200 µg/kg BW experimental group.

Precipitation reconstruction for the northwestern Chinese Altay since 1760 indicates the drought signals of the northern part of inner Asia.

Based on the significant positive correlations between the regional tree-ring width chronology and local climate data, the total precipitation of the previous July to the current June was reconstructed since AD 1760 for the northwestern Chinese Altay. The reconstruction model accounts for 40.7 % of the actual precipitation variance during the calibration period from 1959 to 2013.

Preparation and optical properties of YH2:Er2+ and Y2O3:Er3+ nanoparticles.

The rare earth hydride nanoparticles have been prepared successfully by a novel method of hydrogen plasma-metal reaction. The YH2:Er2+ nanoparticles of 40-50 nm were polycrystalline and in hexagonal shape. The Y2O3:Er3+ nanoparticles were fabricated by annealing the hydride nanoparticles in air at 300, 500 and 700 degrees C, respectively.

Expression of centrosomal tubulins associated with DNA ploidy in breast premalignant lesions and carcinoma.

The centrosome plays an essential role in chromosomal segregation during cell division. Centrosome dysfunction might lead to aneuploidy and chromosomal instability. Invasive breast tumors with centrosome amplification often show aneuploidy.

Evidence of associations of APOBEC3B gene deletion with susceptibility to persistent HBV infection and hepatocellular carcinoma.

APOBEC3s are a family of cytidine deaminases involved in innate cellular immunity against virus including hepatitis B virus (HBV). A germline deletion across APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B (A3B) genes results in complete removal of the A3B coding region and destroys A3B expression. To determine whether this deletion affects susceptibility to HBV infection and HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), A3B genotypes were analyzed in 1124 individuals with HCC, 510 individuals with persistent HBV infection and 826 healthy controls and the association was estimated by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) computed by logistic regression.

Association between genetic variations in tumor necrosis factor receptor genes and survival of patients with T-cell lymphoma.

The prognosis of T-cell lymphoma (TCL) has been shown to be associated with the clinical characteristics of patients. However, there is little knowledge of whether genetic variations also affect the prognosis of TCL. This study investigated the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily(TNFRSF) genes and the survival of patients with TCL.

Cytokine BAFF gene variation is associated with survival of patients with T-cell lymphomas.

Purpose: Cytokine BAFF is a potent molecule for the activation and survival of B cells, and it also plays an important role in T-cell function. Genetic polymorphism (rs9514828C>T) in BAFF has been associated with elevated BAFF transcription. We sought to determine whether rs9514828 is associated with T-cell lymphoma (TCL) survival.

Tree-ring-based reconstruction of precipitation in the Changling Mountains, China, since A.D.1691.

Seven different tree-ring parameters were obtained from Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) in the Changling Mountains, China. The chronologies were analyzed individually and then compared with each other. The climate response analysis shows that total precipitation (September-July) is the main factor limiting the radial growth of Chinese pine in the Changling Mountains.

Circulating microRNAs, miR-21, miR-122, and miR-223, in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or chronic hepatitis.

Numerous studies have shown that aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression is associated with the development and progression of various types of human cancer and serum miRNAs are potential biomarkers. This study examined whether some commonly deregulated miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are presented in serum of patients with HCC and can serve as diagnostic markers. Serum miRNAs (miR-21, miR-122, and miR-223) were quantified by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in 101 patients with HCC and 89 healthy controls.

Genome-wide interrogation identifies YAP1 variants associated with survival of small-cell lung cancer patients.

Although most patients with small-cell lung cancer respond to chemotherapy, the survival time is highly diverse. We conducted a genome-wide analysis to examine whether germline genetic variations are prognostic factors in small-cell lung cancer patients treated with the same chemotherapy regimen. Genome-wide scan of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) was performed using blood DNA to identify genotypes associated with overall survival in 245 patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy, and the results were replicated in another independent set of 305 patients.

Risk of genome-wide association study-identified genetic variants for colorectal cancer in a Chinese population.

Background: Recent genome-wide association studies have identified 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) in Caucasians. This study evaluated the effects of these newly identified SNPs in a Chinese population.

Methods: We assessed the associations of these 10 SNPs with CRC in a case-control study that consisted of 2,124 cases and 2,124 controls.

[Study on the mechanism of enhancing homing efficiency of human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells into bone marrow after manipulation with tumor necrosis factor alpha in xenotransplanted BALB/c mouse model].

Objective: To investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha on the homing efficiency of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HS/PC) into bone marrow and its mechanism.

Methods: CFSE-labeled umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34+ cells were transplanted into irradiated (control group) or combined with TNF alpha prepared (experimental group) BALB/c recipient mice. The distribution in peripheral blood, liver, lung and homing characteristics in bone marrow and spleen of UCB CD34+ cells, in BALB/c recipient mice were determined 20 hours after xenotransplantation by flow cytometry (FACS) and their homing efficiency was calculated.