EXISTENCE OF A GROUND STATE SOLUTION FOR THE CHOQUARD EQUATION WITH NONPERIODIC POTENTIALS

We study the Choquard equation-Δu+V(x)u-b(x)∫R3|u(y)|2/|x-y|dyu,x∈R3,where V(x)=V1(x),b(x)=b1(x)for x1>0 and V(x)=V2(x),b(x)=b2(x)for x1<0,and V1,V2,b1and b2are periodic in each coordinate direction.Under some suitable assumptions,we prove the existence of a ground state solution of the equation.Additionally,we find some sufficient conditions to guarantee the existence and nonexistence of a ground state solution of the equation.

Human cytomegalovirus autophagy is related to the interferon synthesis and mTOR signal pathway

Introduction:Human cytomegalovirus(HCMV)is reported to be involved in the occurrence of many human diseases.To further investigate the biological changes of HCMV,we analyzed the relevant factors that affect the autophagy caused by HCMV infection.Methods:Firstly,we cultured human embryonic lung fibroblasts(HELF)cells with HCMV infection,and evaluated the effects of HELF cells infected with different viruses through Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay(ELISA),Real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction(RT-qPCR),Acridine orange(AO)staining and Western blotting(WB)experiments.Results:Through the above experiments,we found that the combined treatment of HCMV infection and carbamazepine,rapamycin and si-mTOR promoted the increase of interferon(IFN)-α/βexpression and protein level,and caused the increase of LC3B protein level in HELF cells.In addition,HCMV infection could also affect the biological activities of HELF cells by regulating signal pathways like the JAK/STAT.Conclusion:Autophagy induced by HCMV is affected by the changes in the biological behavior of HELF cells,especially IFN-α/βsynthesis and mTOR signal pathway.These findings might shed new light on HCMVrelated disease treatment.

Echocardiographic Measurements in Normal Chinese Adults(EMINCA)II focusing on left ventricular and left atrial size and function by three-dimensional echocardiography

Current guidelines encourage large studies in a diverse population to establish normal reference ranges for three-dimensional(3D)echocardiography for different ethnic groups.This study was designed to establish the normal values of 3D-left ventricular(LV)and left atrial(LA)volume and function in a nationwide,population-based cohort of healthy Han Chinese adults.A total of 1117 healthy volunteers aged 18–89 years were enrolled from 28 collaborating laboratories in China.Two sets of 3D echocardiographic instruments were used,and full-volume echocardiographic images were recorded and transmitted to a core laboratory for image analysis with a vendor-independent off-line workstation.Finally,866 volunteers(mean age of 48.4 years,402 men)were qualified for final analysis.Most parameters exhibited substantial differences between different sex and age groups,even after indexation by body surface area.The normal ranges of 3D-LV and 3D-LA volume and function differed from those recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging guidelines,presented by the World Alliance Societies of Echocardiography(WASE)study,and from the 2D values in the EMINCA study.The normal reference values of 3D echocardiography-derived LV and LA volume and function were established for the first time in healthy Han Chinese adults.Normal ranges of 3D-LV and 3D-LA echocardiographic measurements stratified with sex,age,and race should be recommended for clinical applications.

Activation of Piezo1 contributes to matrix stiffness-induced angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background:Despite integrin being highlighted as a stiffness-sensor molecule in matrix stiffness-driven angiogenesis,other stiffness-sensor molecules and their mechanosensory pathways related to angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)remain obscure.Here,we explored the interplay between Piezo1 and integrinβ1 in the mechanosensory pathway and their effects on HCC angiogenesis to better understand matrix stiffness-induced angiogenesis.Methods:The role of Piezo1 in matrix stiffness-induced angiogenesis was investigated using orthotopic liver cancer SD rat models with high liver stiffness background,and its clinical significance was evaluated in human HCC tissues.Matrix stiffness-mediated Piezo1 upregulation and activation were assayed using an in vitro fibronectin(FN)-coated cell culture system with different stiffness,Western blotting and Ca^(2+)probe.The effects of shPiezo1-conditioned medium(CM)on angiogenesis were examined by tube formation assay,wound healing assay and angiogenesis array.The underlying mechanism by which Piezo1 participated in matrix stiffness-induced angiogenesis was analyzed by microRNA quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR),matrix stiffness measurement,dual-luciferase reporter assay,ubiquitination assay and co-immunoprecipitation.Results:Increased matrix stiffness significantly upregulated Piezo1 expression at both cellular and tissue levels,and high expression of Piezo1 indicated an unfavorable prognosis.High matrix stiffness also noticeably enhanced the activation level of Piezo1,similar to its expression level.Piezo1 knockdown significantly suppressed tumor growth,angiogenesis,and lung metastasis of HCC rat models with high liver stiffness background.shPiezo1-CM from HCC cells attenuated tube formation and migration abilities of vascular endothelial cells remarkably,and analysis of differentially expressed pro-angiogenic factors revealed that Piezo1 promoted the expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),CXC chemokine ligand 16(CXCL16)and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2(IGFBP2).Matrix stiffness-caused Piezo1 upregulation/activation restrained hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)ubiquitination,subsequently enhanced the expression of downstream pro-angiogenic factors to accelerate HCC angiogenesis.Besides,collagen 1(COL1)-reinforced tissue stiffening resulted in more expression of Piezo1 via miR-625-5p.Conclusions:This study unravels a new mechanism by which the inte-grinβ1/Piezo1 activation/Ca2+influx/HIF-1αubiquitination/VEGF,CXCL16 and IGFBP2 pathway participates in matrix stiffness-driven HCC angiogenesis.Simultaneously,a positive feedback regulation loop as stiff matrix/integrinβ1/miR-625-5p/Piezo1 and COL1/stiffer matrix mediates matrix stiffness-caused Piezo1 upregulation.

Rhizosphere effect of different aquatic plants on phosphorus depletion

A series of pot experiments with Alternanthera philoxeroides,Typha latifolia,Sagittaria sagittifolia and Phragmites communis were conducted to assess the phosphorus depletion effect in the rhizosphere.The ratio of root to shoot,root morphology,phosphorus uptake efficiency and phosphorus utilization efficiency were analyzed.An obvious variation in phosphorus concentrations between the rhizosphere soil and non-rhizosphere soil was observed.The water-soluble P contents in the rhizosphere soil of A.philoxeroides,T.latifolia,S.sagittifolia and P.communis were reduced by 81%,42%,18%and 16%,respectively,compared with that in the non-rhizosphere soil.A.philoxeroides had the highest phosphorus uptake efficiency(1.32 mg/m),while T.latifolia achieved the effective phosphorus depletion by the strong rooting system and the high phosphorus uptake efficiency(0.52 mg/m).T.latifolia not only used phosphorus to produce biomass economically,but also adjusted carbon allocation to the roots to explore the soil for more available phosphorus.A.philoxeroides and T.latifolia were more effective in depleting phosphorus in the rhizosphere than S.sagittifolia and P.communis.