Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Ann Bot 2021 Apr 13. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, CO USA.

Background And Aims: Most angiosperms rely on pollinators to transport pollen and effect fertilization. While some floral visitors are effective pollinators, others act as thieves-consuming pollen but effecting little pollination in return. The importance of pollen theft to male and female reproductive success has received little attention. Read More

Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs 2021 Apr;20(2):96-105

Laboratory of Biomechanical Engineering, Department of Applied Mechanics, College of Architecture & Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Objective: The role of sauna bathing in cardiovascular function treatment has been increasingly explored, but insufficient attention has been paid to its efficacy. We performed a meta-analysis to provide more evidence for the efficacy of sauna treatment in cardiovascular nursing.

Methods: Sixteen peer-reviewed journal articles were screened to summarize the efficacy of the sauna on cardiovascular function. Read More

Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2021 Apr 13:1-9. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Structural Biology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Skin aging usually leads to the excessive deterioration of the dermal extracellular matrix, loss of antimicrobial function, loss of skin barrier function, and a series of inflammatory processes. Bioactive peptides have been widely used in cosmetics due to their protective effects on skin and efficient absorption. Combination of different peptides may lead to synergistic or antagonistic effects, so different formulas need to be designed and tested properly. Read More

Cytogenet Genome Res 2021 Apr 13:1-15. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Research Institute of Medical Genetics, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Tomsk, Russian Federation.

Most copy number variations (CNVs) in the human genome display incomplete penetrance with unknown underlying mechanisms. One such mechanism may be epigenetic modification, particularly DNA methylation. The IMMP2L gene is located in a critical region for autism susceptibility on chromosome 7q (AUTS1). Read More

Neuroimmunomodulation 2021 Apr 13:1-9. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Anesthesiology, Laiyang Central Hospital, Yantai City, China.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the role of curcumin (Cur) in isoflurane (ISO)-induced learning and memory dysfunction in Sprague-Dawley rats and further elucidate the mechanism of the protective effect produced by Cur.

Methods: Rat models of cognitive impairment were established by inhaling 3% ISO. The Morris water maze test was used to assess the cognitive function of rats. Read More

Kidney Blood Press Res 2021 Apr 13:1-10. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

School of Physical Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China.

Background: Hypertensive nephropathy is one of the major causes of ESRD. Exercise has been considered a nonpathological therapy for hypertension and its complications, yet mechanisms remain unclear. We sought to investigate whether periodic swimming could ameliorate hypertension-induced kidney dysfunction and its underlying mechanisms. Read More

Nanotechnology 2021 Apr 13. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan Univ., Taipei, TAIWAN.

Rhodamine 6G (R6G) molecules linked CdZnSeS/ZnS green-emitting quantum dots (QDs) are self-assembled onto Ag nanoparticles (NPs) for studying the surface plasmon (SP) coupling effect on the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process from QD into R6G. SP coupling can enhance the emission efficiency of QD such that FRET has to compete with QD emission for transferring energy into R6G. It is found that FRET efficiency is reduced under the SP coupling condition. Read More

Aging (Albany NY) 2021 Apr 12;13. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability and Disease Prevention, Department of Pathology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong, P.R. China.

Mounting evidence has shown that miRNA-150 expression is upregulated in gastric cancer (GC) and is associated with gastric carcinogenesis, but the underlying oncogenic mechanism remains elusive. Here, we discovered that miRNA-150 targets the tumor suppressor SUFU to promote cell proliferation, migration, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via the dual activation of Hedgehog (Hh) and Wnt signaling. MiRNA-150 was highly expressed in GC tissues and cell lines, and the level of this miRNA was negatively related to that of SUFU. Read More

Psychiatry Res 2021 Apr 3;300:113917. Epub 2021 Apr 3.

Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for depression, but it can cause cognitive deficit. Unfortunately, effective preventive measures are still lacking. The endocannabinoid system is thought to play a key role in regulation of cognitive process. Read More

Differentiation 2021 Apr 8;119:1-9. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

College of Pharmacy, Inje University, Gimhae, 50834, South Korea.

Taxol (paclitaxel), a chemotherapeutic agent for several cancers, can adversely affect the peripheral nervous system. Recently, its negative impact on cognitive function in cancer patients has become evident. In rodents, taxol impaired learning and memory, with other possible negative effects on the brain. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2021 Apr 10;117:105069. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Mathematica, United States.

Background: Adult substance use contributes to high rates of child maltreatment, adverse parenting, and poor child well-being outcomes. The Children's Bureau in the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Read More

J Mol Graph Model 2021 Mar 30;106:107911. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.

The C/C hydrocarbon gas separation characteristics of nanoporous carbon molecular sieves (CMS) are studied using DFT calculations and MD simulations. To efficiently separate the equimolar CH/CH and CH/CH gas mixtures, CNT gas transport channels are embed between the polyphenylene membranes which created structural deformation for both CNT and membrane. The adsorption and permeation of gas molecules via CMS and the effect of nanochannel density and electric field on gas selectivity are analyzed. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021 Apr 10;556:207-214. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. Electronic address:

Bortezomib is a classical proteasome inhibitor and previous researches have reported its roles of anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory functions in various diseases. However, the role of Bortezomib in myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI) is unclear. Thus, our research seeks to reveal the protective effects of Bortezomib pretreatment in the mice model of MIRI. Read More

Curr Opin Pharmacol 2021 Apr 10;58:27-34. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy. Electronic address:

Muscle maintenance relies on a multidimensional biologic balance that is extremely delicate in breast cancer patients, particularly those with advanced-stage disease. The biology that underpins breast cancer tumorigenesis, tumor progression and response to pharmacotherapies can modify muscle homeostasis, resulting in volumetric muscle loss. This condition dramatically increases the overall patients' frailty, leading to reduced survival and impaired quality of life. Read More

Environ Pollut 2021 Mar 24;282:117010. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China. Electronic address:

This study was undertaken to (a) evaluate the destructive effects of chronic exposure to low-dose of chlorpyrifos (CPF) on antioxidant system and immune function in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and (b) to examine whether dietary supplementation of curcumin can mitigate the adverse effects induced by CPF contamination. The experiment consisted of three groups (with three replicates, 30 fish per replicate) which lasted for 60 days: A control group (without CPF exposure or CU application), CP group (exposed to 0.004 mg/L of CPF), and CU group (exposed to 0. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2021 Apr 10;96:107638. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Ave, Tehran 13164, Iran. Electronic address:

The majority of urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Designing a vaccine will certainly reduce the occurrence of infection and antibiotic resistance of the isolates. Antigen 43 (Ag43) and autotransporter H (UpaH) have been associated with the virulence of UPEC. Read More

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021 Apr 7;203:111752. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300071, China. Electronic address:

The severe side-effects and drug resistance development of conventional chemotherapy are mainly caused by poor tumor penetration as well as nonspecific biodistribution and insufficient cellular uptake of drugs. Herein a branched arginine-rich polymer was synthesized and co-administration of this polymer with doxorubicin, a model drug of chemotherapeutic agents, overcame simultaneously the three obstacles shown above. Co-incubation of the polymer promoted doxorubicin penetration deeply into multicellular tumor spheroids and internalization into cancer cells. Read More

J Environ Manage 2021 Apr 10;289:112526. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India.

Methane (CH) is a prominent Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and its global atmospheric concentration has increased significantly since the year 2007. Anthropogenic CH emissions are projected to be 9390 million metric tonnes by 2020. Here, we present the long-term changes in atmospheric methane over India and suggest possible alternatives to reduce soil emissions from paddy fields. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Apr 6;782:146907. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Plant Ecology and Climate Change Science Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India. Electronic address:

In this study, the impact of long term exposure of elevated ozone (+20 ppb above ambient) on photosynthetic traits and anti-oxidative defense system of Leucaena leucocephala, a tree of great economic importance, was studied in a Free Air Ozone Concentration Enrichment (O-FACE) facility at different time intervals (6, 12, 18, and 24 months). Results showed that net photosynthesis, photosynthetic pigments and lipid peroxidation were significantly reduced after 6, 12 and 24 months of exposure to elevated ozone (eO) whereas stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were significantly decreased after 12 months of exposure to eO. Antioxidant enzymatic activities (catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase) were significantly increased after 12 months of exposure to eO Ascorbate was increased significantly after 6 and 12 months of exposure to eO while reduced glutathione content declined significantly after 6 and 24 months of exposure to eO. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Apr 6;782:146924. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

Recent warming over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is approximately twice the global-mean surface temperature increase and poses a threat to the healthy growth of forests. Although many studies have focused on whether recent climate warming has caused forest growth decline on the TP, it remains unclear how asymmetric warming, that is faster increasing nighttime temperature than daytime, impacts forest growth decline. We explored this question by using a ring-width index series from 1489 juniper trees (Juniperus prezwalskii and J. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Apr 1;782:146853. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 461, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.

Mussel farming has been proposed as a mechanism to mitigate eutrophication in coastal waters. However, localizing the intensive filtration of organic matter by mussels can cause a concomitant enrichment of organic matter in sediments below farms, which may influence biogeochemical processes and fates of nutrients in the system. In the context of mitigating eutrophication, it is important to quantify sedimentary changes induced at early life stages of mussel farms. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Mar 30;782:146841. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Cold Regions Research Centre, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada.

Naturally-ignited wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity in northern regions, contributing to rapid permafrost thaw-induced landscape change driven by climate warming. Low-severity wildfires typically result in minor organic matter loss. The impacts of such fires on the hydrological and geochemical dynamics of peat plateau-wetland complexes have not been examined. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Apr 5;782:146893. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Binhai Road 72, Qingdao 266237, China. Electronic address:

Marine aerosols are believed to have an organic surface coating on which fatty acids act as an important component due to their high surface activity. In addition, various kinds of enzyme species are abundantly found in seawater, some of which have been identified to exist in marine aerosols. Herein, from the perspective of marine aerosol interface simulation, we investigate the effect of Burkholderia cepacia lipase on the surface properties of stearic acid (SA) monolayer at the air-water interface by using surface-sensitive techniques of Langmuir trough and Infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Apr 6;782:146909. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Department of Botany, Mycology, and Ecology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, 19 Akademicka St., 20-033 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address:

The scarcity of floral resources and their seasonal discontinuity are considered as major factors for pollinator decline in intensified agricultural landscapes worldwide. The consequences are detrimental for the stability of the environment and ecosystems. Here, we quantified the production of nectar sugars in plant species occurring in man-made, non-cropped areas (non-forest woody vegetation, road verges, railway embankments, field margins, fallow areas) of an agricultural landscape in SE Poland. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Apr 5;782:146866. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address:

Ambient PM has been proved to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases; however, little information is available on the age-dependent effects of PM on the cardiovascular system and the underlying mechanisms following chronic exposure. In this study, multi-aged mice were exposed to PM via the newly developed real-ambient PM exposure system to investigate age-related effects on the heart after long-term exposure. First, the chemical and physical properties of PM used in the exposure system were analyzed. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Mar 26;782:146599. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, Bialystok University of Technology, 45EWiejska St., Bialystok 15-351, Poland. Electronic address:

The aim of the research was to determine the indicators of electricity consumption in every stage of the dairy sewage treatment process in relation to the sewage flow and the load of removed organics (BOD, COD) and nutrients (TN, TP). The research was conducted in a dairy wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) consisting of mechanical treatment, averaging tank, dissolved air flotation (DAF) and biological treatment with sequence batch reactors (SBRs). Energy consumption was measured with the help of transducers. Read More

Cell Immunol 2021 Mar 26;364:104346. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States; Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States. Electronic address:

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells that expand in inflammatory conditions including transplantation. MDSCs may be capable of controlling rejection. The critical mechanisms underlying MDSC mediated alloregulation remain unexplored. Read More

Bioresour Technol 2021 Apr 6;332:125120. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin City, Jilin 132012, PR China.

The non-structural components (extractives and ash) in biomass can affect the torrefaction characteristics. The objective of this study was to investigate the applicability of air oxidative and non-oxidative torrefaction for corn stalk, which has higher organic extractives and lower ash contents. The raw materials were torrefied with air and nitrogen in a fluidized bed reactor at 180℃~235℃ and 200℃~280℃ for 1 h, respectively. Read More

J Plant Physiol 2021 Apr 6;260:153413. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, CEP 36570-900, Viçosa, MG, Brazil. Electronic address:

Trichomes are epidermal structures with a large variety of ecological functions and economic applications. Glandular trichomes produce a rich repertoire of secondary metabolites, whereas non-glandular trichomes create a physical barrier on the epidermis: both operate in tandem against biotic and abiotic stressors. A deeper understanding of trichome development and function would enable the breeding of more resilient crops. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2021 Mar 27;416:125740. Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement (LMGE), F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.

One of the major problems with pesticides is linked to the non-negligible proportion of the sprayed active ingredient that does not reach its intended target and contaminates environmental compartments. Here, we have implemented and provided new insights to the preventive bioremediation process based on the simultaneous application of the pesticide with pesticide-degrading microorganisms to reduce the risk of leaching into the environment. This study pioneers such a practice, in an actual farming context. Read More