Progress in long non-coding RNAs as prognostic factors of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is generally recognized as a slow-growing tumor. However, a small subset of patients may still experience relapse or metastasis shortly after therapy, leading to a poor prognosis and raising concerns about excessive medical treatment. One major challenge lies in the inadequacy of effective biomarkers for accurate risk stratification. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are closely related to malignant characteristics and poor prognosis, play a significant role in the genesis and development of PTC through various pathways. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the biological functions of lncRNAs in PTC, identify prognosis-relevant lncRNAs, and explore their potential mechanisms in drug resistance to BRAF kinase inhibitors, tumor dedifferentiation, and lymph node metastasis. By doing so, this review aims to offer valuable references for both basic research and the prediction of PTC prognosis.

MPZL1 suppresses the cancer stem-like properties of lung cancer through ß-catenin/TCF4 signaling.

This study was designed to explore the influence of myelin protein zero-like protein 1 (MPZL1) on the stem-like properties of cancer cells and the underlying mechanism in lung adenocarcinoma. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized to evaluate mRNA expression level. CCK8, wound healing, and transwell assays were applied to assess cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Tumorsphere-formation assay was utilized to assess cancer stem cell-like properties. LF3 was used to block the ß-catenin/Transcription factor 4 (TCF-4) signaling. Xenograft nude mouse model was conducted; tumor weight and volume were recorded. Western blot assay was utilized to detect the expression levels of CD44, CD133, ß-catenin, TCF-4, and MPZL1. Following MPZL1 knockdown, the mRNA expression levels of MPZL1, ß-catenin, and TCF-4 were inhibited, while the mRNA expression levels of the above genes were increased after the MPZL1 overexpression. MPZL1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, reduced the tumorsphere-formation capacity, and restrained the expression levels of CD44 and CD133. However, MPZL1 overexpression promoted the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, enhanced the tumorsphere-formation capacity, and increased the expression levels of CD44 and CD133. Interestingly, LF3 treatment partially revised the effect of MPZL1 overexpression. These findings were further corroborated by in vivo experiments. We concluded that MPZL1 could suppress the lung adenocarcinoma cells' proliferation, migration, invasion, and lung cancer stem cells characteristics. The underlying mechanism is involved in the activation of ß-catenin/TCF-4 signaling.

Engineering polyhedral high entropy oxide with high-index facets via mechanochemistry-assisted strategy for efficient oxidative desulfurization.

High entropy oxides are promising catalysts for numerous catalytic oxidation processes with oxygen as the oxidant. However, most of them often show bulk morphologies, which hinders the full exposure of active sites. In this work, a unique 26-faceted polyhedral high entropy oxide MnNiCuZnCoOx-1000 (P-HEO) with highly active site exposure is fabricated via a mechanochemistry-assisted strategy. By employing such a strategy, the supersaturation of P-HEO during the crystal growth process is effectively reduced to form high-index facets, which is proved to be beneficial to the formation of high-index facets. Characterization results indicate that more oxygen vacancies are generated in P-HEO compared with the bulk counterparts. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the high-index facets {-211} can facilitate adsorption and activation of O2 because of the higher adsorption energy -2.23 eV compared with that of (111) surfaces (-1.79 eV), which induces significantly enhanced activity for organic sulfides oxidation. Interestingly, the synthesized P-HEO with high-index facets shows a 98.4% removal rate of dibenzothiophene from model oil within 8 h at 120 °C, which is much higher than that of the bulk counterparts (33.5%).

A Review on N-Doped Biochar for Oxidative Degradation of Organic Contaminants in Wastewater by Persulfate Activation.

The Persulfate-based advanced oxidation process is the most efficient and commonly used technology to remove organic contaminants in wastewater. Due to the large surface area, unique electronic properties, abundant N functional groups, cost-effectiveness, and environmental friendliness, N-doped biochars (NBCs) are widely used as catalysts for persulfate activation. This review focuses on the NBC for oxidative degradation of organics-contaminated wastewater. Firstly, the preparation and modification methods of NBCs were reviewed. Then the catalytic performance of NBCs and modified NBCs on the oxidation degradation of organic contaminants were discussed with an emphasis on the degradation mechanism. We further summarized the detection technologies of activation mechanisms and the structures of NBCs affecting the PS activation, followed by the specific role of the N configuration of the NBC on its catalytic capacity. Finally, several challenges in the treatment of organics-contaminated wastewater by a persulfate-based advanced oxidation process were put forward and the recommendations for future research were proposed for further understanding of the advanced oxidation process activated by the NBC.

R-spondin3 is a myokine that differentiates myoblasts to type I fibres.

Muscle fibres are broadly categorised into types I and II; the fibre-type ratio determines the contractile and metabolic properties of skeletal muscle tissue. The maintenance of type I fibres is essential for the prevention of obesity and the treatment of muscle atrophy caused by type 2 diabetes or unloading. Some reports suggest that myokines are related to muscle fibre type determination. We thus explored whether a myokine determines whether satellite cells differentiate to type I fibres. By examining the fibre types separately, we identified R-spondin 3 (Rspo3) as a myokine of interest, a secreted protein known as an activator of Wnt signalling pathways. To examine whether Rspo3 induces type I fibres, primary myoblasts prepared from mouse soleus muscles were exposed to a differentiation medium containing the mouse recombinant Rspo3 protein. Expression of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) I, a marker of type I fibre, significantly increased in the differentiated myotubes compared with a control. The Wnt/ß-catenin pathway was shown to be the dominant signalling pathway which induces Rspo3-induced MyHC I expression. These results revealed Rspo3 as a myokine that determines whether satellite cells differentiate to type I fibres.

Smart packaging films based on locust bean gum, polyvinyl alcohol, the crude extract of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum petals and its purified fractions.

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum is an ornamental shrub rich in polyphenolic compounds. In this study, polyphenolic compounds were extracted from L. chinense var. rubrum petals (LCP) and further purified on macroporous resin column to afford two fractions. The crude extract of LCP (LCP-CE) and its two purified fractions (LCP-25PF and LCP-50PF) were individually incorporated into locust bean gum/polyvinyl alcohol matrix to develop smart packaging films. The structures, physical and functional properties of the films were compared. Results showed LCP-25PF was mainly composed of anthocyanins, while LCP-50PF was mainly composed of chlorogenic acid and vanillin. LCP-CE, LCP-25PF and LCP-50PF interacted with locust bean gum/polyvinyl alcohol matrix through hydrogen bonds, thereby improving the light and oxygen barrier ability, tensile strength, thermal stability, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity of the film. The film containing LCP-25PF showed the lowest water vapor permeability (10.36 × 10-11 g m-1 s-1 Pa-1) and oxygen permeability (0.42 cm3 mm m-2 day-1 atm-1) but the highest tensile strength (29.76 MPa), antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity. In addition, the films containing LCP-CE and LCP-25PF had pH-/ammonia-sensitivity and effectively indicated shrimp freshness at 4 °C. Results suggested the film containing LCP-25PF could be used as smart packaging film.

Unique cation-template three-dimensional hybrid material demonstrates dielectric switchable response.

The strict tolerance space of three-dimensional (3D) crystalline structures is still a significant challenge in the area of switching dielectrics in comparison with lower-dimensional structures. Generally, the function of crystalline materials can be given or adjusted by controlling the environment in which synthesis takes place or the packing rearrangement. Using this method, special functional enhancements or changes in the dielectrics can be realized by improving the synthetic strategies. Here, a 3D switchable dielectric compound [MeHdabco]K(BF4)3 was achieved by employing the temperature selective effect. In particular, its structure is completely different from the usual 3D perovskite structure, which is constructed using two different cation-template frameworks. Moreover, the 3D [MeHdabco]K(BF4)3 shows a structural phase transition at 358 K. The thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) and X-ray diffractometry results provided evidence of these phase changes. This work provides a feasible strategy that can be used to achieve the different structures of an 'isomer', and enrich the method used for designing diverse functional materials.

Effect of CNT Contents on the Microstructure and Properties of CNT/TiMg Composites.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), dispersed in absolute ethanol, were evenly mixed into Ti/MgH2 powders by wet milling. Then, we applied the vacuum hot-pressed sinteringmethod to the CNTs/TiMg composite materials. An optical microscope (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) were used for the microstructure observation and phase analysis of samples. The mechanical properties were measured via the micro-vickers hardness. The results show that the main phases in the composites were Ti, Mg and C. Meanwhile, a small amount of Ti-Mg solid solution phase was also found. The cross-section morphology of the composites shows that the melted magnesium fills the grain interface during extrusion and that the composites have a better compactness.The microstructures of the composites have been greatly refined as the CNT contents increased. The structure of the composites was further refined when 0.5 wt.% CNTs were added. The fracture surface is obviously a ductile fracture. The microhardness increases obviously with the CNT content increasing. When the content of the CNTs is 1.0 wt.%, the microhardness of the composites reaches 232 HV, which is 24% higher than that of the matrix.