ZAR1/2-Regulated Epigenetic Modifications are Essential for Age-Associated Oocyte Quality Maintenance and Zygotic Activation.

The developmental competence and epigenetic progression of oocytes gradually become dysregulated with increasing maternal age. However, the mechanisms underlying age-related epigenetic regulation in oocytes remain poorly understood. Zygote arrest proteins 1 and 2 (ZAR1/2) are two maternal factors with partially redundant roles in maintaining oocyte quality, mainly known by regulating mRNA stability.

PCBP1/2 and TDP43 Function as NAT10 Adaptors to Mediate mRNA acC Formation in Mammalian Cells.

Massive numbers of modified bases in mRNAs sculpt the epitranscriptome and play vital roles in RNA metabolism. The only known acetylated RNA modification, N-4-acetylcytidine (acC), is highly conserved across cell types and among species. Although the GCN5-related acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) functions as an acC writer, the mechanism underlying the acetylation process is largely unknown.

Dielectric barrier discharge-induced chemical vapor generation for highly sensitive analysis of iodine in seawater by ICP-MS.

Background: The accurate determination of iodine in seawater is essential to understanding its impact on the environment and human health. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a widely used technique for elemental analysis due to its high sensitivity, speed, and low limit of detection (LOD). However, its capability in the detection of iodine in complex matrix samples is still limited by the low sample introduction efficiency of pneumatic nebulization and the high ionization energy of iodine.

Arsenic field test kits based on solid-phase fluorescence filter effect induced by silver nanoparticle formation.

Millions of people worldwide are affected by naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater. The development of a low-cost, highly sensitive, portable assay for rapid field detection of arsenic in water is important to identify areas for safe wells and to help prioritize testing. Herein, a novel paper-based fluorescence assay was developed for the on-site analysis of arsenic, which was constructed by the solid-phase fluorescence filter effect (SPFFE) of AsH-induced the generation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) toward carbon dots.

Research related to the diagnosis of prostate cancer based on machine learning medical images: A review.

Background: Prostate cancer is currently the second most prevalent cancer among men. Accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer can provide effective treatment for patients and greatly reduce mortality. The current medical imaging tools for screening prostate cancer are mainly MRI, CT and ultrasound.

m6A-modified circNFIX promotes ovarian cancer progression and immune escape via activating IL-6R/JAK1/STAT3 signaling by sponging miR-647.

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common gynecological malignant cancers. Our previous work confirmed that circNFIX acted as an oncogene in OC, which could promote malignant proliferation, metastasis and angiogenesis. However, the role and mechanism of circNFIX in OC immune escape remain unclear.

Comparatively Evolution and Expression Analysis of GRF Transcription Factor Genes in Seven Plant Species.

Growth regulatory factors (GRF) are plant-specific transcription factors that play pivotal roles in growth and various abiotic stresses regulation. However, adaptive evolution of GRF gene family in land plants are still being elucidated. Here, we performed the evolutionary and expression analysis of GRF gene family from seven representative species.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of amendments derived from vermicompost combined with modified shell powder on Cd immobilization in Cd-contaminated soil by multiscale experiments.

The widespread heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils poses an enormous challenge to food safety. To evaluate the Cd immobilization potential of vermicompost combined with modified shell powder (VMSP) on Cd-contaminated soil, batch adsorption tests and field experiments were conducted. First, the Cd removal characteristics and adsorption mechanisms of vermicompost (V), vermicompost combined with shell powder (VSP), and VMSP in an aqueous solution were investigated by batch tests.

CircNFIX stimulates the proliferation, invasion, and stemness properties of ovarian cancer cells by enhancing SH3RF3 mRNA stability via binding LIN28B.

We aimed to study the regulatory roles and mechanism of circular nuclear factor IX (circNFIX) in cancer growth and stemness properties of ovarian cancer (OC). CircNFIX and SH3RF3 levels in OC tissues and cells were tested by quantitative real-time PCR. RNase R treatment quantified circNFIX RNA stability.

Exosomal circNFIX promotes angiogenesis in ovarian cancer via miR-518a-3p/TRIM44 axis.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a gynecological cancer with high mortality. OC-derived exosomal circRNAs can regulate angiogenesis. This study aims to explore the role and mechanism of exosomal circRNA nuclear factor I X (CircNFIX) derived from OC cells in angiogenesis.

NAT10-mediated N4-acetylcytidine modification is required for meiosis entry and progression in male germ cells.

Post-transcriptional RNA modifications critically regulate various biological processes. N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) is an epi-transcriptome, which is highly conserved in all species. However, the in vivo physiological functions and regulatory mechanisms of ac4C remain poorly understood, particularly in mammals.

Revisiting ZAR proteins: the understudied regulator of female fertility and beyond.

Putative RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), zygote arrested-1 (ZAR1), and ZAR2 (also known as ZAR1L), have been identified as maternal factors that mainly function in oogenesis and embryogenesis. Despite divergence in their spatio-temporal expression among species, the CxxC structure of the C-terminus of ZAR proteins is highly conserved and is reported to be the functional domain for the activity of the RBPs of ZAR proteins. In oocytes from Xenopus laevis and zebrafish, ZAR proteins have been reported to bind to maternal transcripts and inhibit translation in immature growing oocytes, whereas in fully grown mouse oocytes, they promote the translation during meiotic maturation.

Bisphenol A Exposure Disrupts Organelle Distribution and Functions During Mouse Oocyte Maturation.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the ubiquitous environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs). Previous studies have shown that the reproduction toxicity of BPA could cause severe effects on the mammal oocytes and disturb the quality of mature oocytes. However, the toxic effects of BPA on the organelles of mouse oocytes have not been reported.

Cobalt- and Nickel-Containing Germanotungstates Based on Open Wells-Dawson Structure: Synthesis and Characterization of Tetrameric Anion.

Two transition-metal-substituted compounds KH{[Co(HO)][Co(HO)](GeWO)}·32HO (1Co) and KH{[Ni(HO)][Ni(HO)](GeWO)}·32HO (2Ni), have been successfully synthesized, both of which consist of the S-shaped tetrameric structure {GeW} constructed from trivacant Keggin-type germanotungstate precursor KNa[ A-α-GeWO]·25HO. These compounds were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction crystallography, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), electrochemistry, and IR spectra. In addition, the UV spectra and the electrospray-ionization mass spectra (ESI-MS) were employed to investigated the stable pH value range of 1Co and 2Ni in aqueous solution.

Multi-Jet Electrospinning with Auxiliary Electrode: The Influence of Solution Properties.

Multiple jets ejection in electrospinning has been a major approach to achieving a high production rate of ultrafine fibers, also known as nanofibers. This work studies the effect of solution parameters-including dielectric constant, polarity, conductivity and surface tension-on the jet number and jet evolution in the auxiliary electrode electrospinning approach. The results show that it is easier to generate 2⁻6 jets with short stable jet length (1.

Hierarchical Porous Polyamide 6 by Solution Foaming: Synthesis, Characterization and Properties.

Porous polym er materials have received great interest in both academic and industrial fields due to their wide range of applications. In this work, a porous polyamide 6 (PA6) material was prepared by a facile solution foaming strategy. In this approach, a sodium carbonate (SC) aqueous solution acted as the foaming agent that reacted with formic acid (FA), generating CO₂ and causing phase separation of polyamide (PA).

Presence and diagnostic value of circulating tsncRNA for ovarian tumor.

tRNA-derived small non-coding RNAs (tsncRNAs), a class of newly defined small non-coding RNA, have been considered to be involved in various cellular biological processes through regulating gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. However, the presence of circulating tsncRNAs and their diagnostic potential is largely unclear. In this study, we investigate the serum-derived public transcriptome data from ovarian tumor patients and non-cancer controls, and find that circulating tsncRNAs cover a high proportion of total small RNA and are non-random degradation products in serum (ranging from 2.

Enhancing Multiple Jets in Electrospinning: The Role of Auxiliary Electrode.

An auxiliary electrode introduced in traditional spinneret electrospinning is an effective and powerful technique to improve the production rate of nanofibers. In this work, the effects of the arrangement of auxiliary electrode, applied voltage, injection speed, and the distance between the electrode tip and the spinneret tip (ESD) on the jet number and the morphology of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers were investigated systematically. The results showed that the number of jets firstly increased and then decreased with the increase of applied voltage and ESD, respectively, while increasing with the injection speed in both the auxiliary electrode in the vertical position and parallel position.

Hyperbaric Oxygenation Protects Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Transplanted Rat Kidneys by Triggering Autophagy and Inhibiting Inflammatory Response.

BACKGROUND Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a clinically common pathologic process defined as the inability to improve neuronal function. This study aimed to investigate the pathological mechanism of IRI and to explore effects of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on autophagy and inflammatory response in IRI. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ninety Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a Sham group, a kidney transplant group (Trans), and a kidney transplant plus HBO treatment group (Trans+HBO).