Mechanically Excellent, Notch-Insensitive, and Highly Conductive Double-Network Hydrogel for Flexible Strain Sensor.

A novel double-network conductive hydrogel based on lithium acetate/gelatin/polyacrylamide (PAAM) was synthesized by heating-cooling and subsequent γ-ray radiation-induced polymerization and cross-linking. Owing to the hydrogen bonding interaction between lithium acetate, physical cross-linked gelatin, and chemical cross-linked PAAM, the resultant hydrogel exhibited high tensile strength (1260 kPa), high ionic conductivity (35.2 mS cm-1), notch-insensitivity (tensile strength 415 kPa, elongation at break 872% with transverse notch), and extensive strain monitoring range (0.15-800%) under optimum conditions. The lithium acetate/gelatin/polyacrylamide hydrogel strain sensor attached to the skin can sensitively monitor the subtle movements of the human body. The strain sensor based on the resultant hydrogel with transverse notch can still work for 1200 cycles, due to that the covalent-cross-linked PAAm chain bridges the cracks and stabilizes the deformation, while the physical-cross-linked gelatin was unzipped to make the blunting of notch. The conductive hydrogel with high-sensitivity and high stability is expected to be used as materials for the preparation of flexible strain sensors in the future.

Recruited monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells promote the arrest of tumor cells in the premetastatic niche through an IL-1ß-mediated increase in E-selectin expression.

The tumor premetastatic niche initiated by primary tumors is constructed by multiple molecular factors and cellular components and provides permissive condition that allows circulating tumor cells to successfully metastasize. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a population of immature cells in pathological conditions, play a critical role in the formation of the premetastatic niche. However, few researches are focused on the function of monocytic MDSCs (mo-MDSCs), a subtype of MDSCs, in the construction of the niche. Here, we show that the number of mo-MDSCs is significantly increased in the premetastatic lungs of tumor-bearing mice, thus promoting tumor cell arrest and metastasis. Before the arrival of tumor cells, the lung-recruited mo-MDSCs produced IL-1ß, thereby increasing E-selectin expression and promoting tumor cell arrest on endothelial cells. Depletion of mo-MDSCs in the premetastatic lungs decreased IL-1ß production, resulting in reduced E-selectin expression. In addition, compared with alveolar macrophages and interstitial macrophages, mo-MDSCs were the major source of IL-1ß expression in the premetastatic lungs. Cytokine array analyses and transwell experiments revealed that CCL12 recruits mo-MDSCs to premetastatic lungs. CCL12 knockdown in tumor-bearing mice significantly decreased mo-MDSC infiltration into the premetastatic lungs, leading to reduced E-selectin expression. Overall, the permissive conditions produced by the infiltrated mo-MDSCs correlated with increased tumor cell arrest and metastasis. These results reveal a novel role of mo-MDSCs in constructing the premetastatic niche. Thus, inhibition of mo-MDSCs infiltration may change the premetastatic niche to normal condition and attenuate tumor metastasis.

A genome scan for quantitative trait loci associated with Vibrio anguillarum infection resistance in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) by bulked segregant analysis.

A recent genetic linkage map was employed to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with Vibrio anguillarum resistance in Japanese flounder. An F1 family established and challenged with V. anguillarum in 2009 was used for QTL mapping. Of the 221 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers used to detect polymorphisms in the parents of F1, 170 were confirmed to be polymorphic. The average distance between the markers was 10.6 cM. Equal amounts of genomic DNA from 15 fry that died early and from 15 survivors were pooled separately to constitute susceptible bulk and resistance bulk DNA. Bulked segregant analysis and QTL mapping were combined to detect candidate SSR markers and regions associated with the disease. A genome scan identified four polymorphic SSR markers, two of which were significantly different between susceptible and resistance bulk (P=0.008). These two markers were located in linkage group (LG) 7; therefore, all the SSR markers in LG7 were genotyped in all the challenged fry by single marker analysis. Using two different models, 11-17 SSR markers were detected with different levels of significance. To confirm the associations of these markers with the disease, composite interval mapping was employed to genotype all the challenged individuals. One and three QTLs, which explained more than 60 % of the phenotypic variance, were detected by the two models. Two of the QTLs were located at 48.6 cM. The common QTL may therefore be a major candidate region for disease resistance against V. anguillarum infection.

Whole-genome sequence of a flatfish provides insights into ZW sex chromosome evolution and adaptation to a benthic lifestyle.

Genetic sex determination by W and Z chromosomes has developed independently in different groups of organisms. To better understand the evolution of sex chromosomes and the plasticity of sex-determination mechanisms, we sequenced the whole genomes of a male (ZZ) and a female (ZW) half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). In addition to insights into adaptation to a benthic lifestyle, we find that the sex chromosomes of these fish are derived from the same ancestral vertebrate protochromosome as the avian W and Z chromosomes. Notably, the same gene on the Z chromosome, dmrt1, which is the male-determining gene in birds, showed convergent evolution of features that are compatible with a similar function in tongue sole. Comparison of the relatively young tongue sole sex chromosomes with those of mammals and birds identified events that occurred during the early phase of sex-chromosome evolution. Pertinent to the current debate about heterogametic sex-chromosome decay, we find that massive gene loss occurred in the wake of sex-chromosome 'birth'.

Establishment and characterization of a new fish cell line from head kidney of half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).

A new cell line (TSHKC) derived from half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) head kidney was developed. The cell line was subcultured for 40 passages over a period of 360 days. The cell line was optimally maintained in minimum essential medium supplemented with HEPES, antibiotics, fetal bovine serum, 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-Me), sodium pyruvate and basic fibroblast growth factor. The suitable growth temperature for TSHKC cells was 24 °C, and microscopically, TSHKC cells were composed of fibroblast-like cells. Chromosome analysis revealed that the TSHKC cell line had a normal diploid karyotype with 2n = 42, contained the heterogametic W chromosome. The TSHKC cell line was found to be susceptible to lymphocystis disease virus. The fluorescent signals were observed in TSHKC when the cells were transfected with green fluorescent protein and red fluorescent protein reporter plasmids.

[Fractal characteristics of daily discharge in different scales watersheds].

Based on the fractal theory and the long-term daily discharge records, this paper analyzed the fractal characteristics of daily discharge in mid-scale watershed (Wushui watershed) and small-scale watersheds (Zhenfu and Shuangxi watersheds). Under the same time scales and different threshold values of daily runoff, the fractal characteristics of daily discharge in the watersheds of different spatial scales and of same spatial scales were evident, and existed self-similarity. With the increase of the threshold values of daily runoff, the fractal dimensions of the daily discharge of different space-scale watersheds decreased gradually. The set of fractal dimensions of the daily discharge in different space-scale watersheds tended to be saturated when the time scale was 120-150 days, and the critical threshold values of daily runoff might appear when the time scale exceeded this number of days.

[Acidification and its effect on the population distributions of microorganisms in an anaerobic baffled reactor].

The changes of pH, COD, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and microbial morphology of the acidification process in an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) were investigated. And the population succession process of the anaerobic microorganisms was quantitatively analyzed by using the Fluorescent In situ hybridization technology (FISH). The results show that the ABR reactor is acidified gradually from the front to the back. After the reactor is entirely acidified, the COD removal efficiency is only 30.9%, and the pH values are lowered by 1.0-2.2, while the VFA in effluent increases by 5.1 times. Additionally, the microbial morphology is significantly affected by the acidification process, in which not only the bacteria are deformed or died, but also the internal and external mass transfer of granular sludge becomes difficult. The quantitative analyses with FISH shows that in the acidification process the Archaea growth is inhibited but the Eubacteria growth is promoted, thus resulting in the sharp decrease of the three crucial microorganisms of the anaerobic digestion. The abundance of the butyrate-oxidizing acetogenic bacteria Syntrophomonas spp. reduces by 30.9%, the propionate-oxidizing acetogenic bacteria Syntrophobacter wolinii reduces by 85.5%, the homoacetogenic bacteria Acetobacterium species E. limosum reduces by 60.0%, and methanomicrobium Methanomicrobiales reduces by 54.3%. All these result in the upsetting of the mass transfer balances of different anaerobic microorganism populations.