Effects of TRPM8 on the proliferation and motility of prostate cancer PC-3 cells

We investigated the effects of transient receptor potential M8(TRPM8)channel on the proliferation and motility of androgen-independent prostate cancer PC-3 cells.After being permanently transfected with an empty vector and cDNA encoding the TRPM8 protein,cells were analysed for cell cycle distribution and motility using flow cytometry and scratch assay.Immunocytochemistry and Ca^(2+)imaging analysis revealed the overexpression of functional TRPM8 channel on both endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane of PC-3-TRPM8 cells.Cell cycle distribution and scratch assay analysis revealed that TRPM8 induced cell cycle arrest at the G_(0)/G_(1)stage(P<0.05)and facilitated the cell apoptosis induced by starvation(P<0.05).Furthermore,TRPM8 inhibited the migration of PC-3-TRPM8 cells(P<0.01)through the inactivation of focal-adhesion kinase.It appears that TRPM8 was not essential for the survival of PC-3 cells;however,the overexpression of TRPM8 had negative effects on the proliferation and migration of PC-3 cells.Thus,TRPM8 and its agonists may serve as important targets for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Study of total variation diminishing (TVD) slope limiters in dam-break flow simulation

A two-dimensional （2D） dam-break flow numerical model was developed based on the finite-volume total variation diminishing （TVD） and monotone upstream-centered scheme for conservation laws （MUSCL）-Hancock scheme, which has second-order accuracy in both time and space. A Harten-Lax-van Leer-contact （HLLC） approximate Riemann solver was used to evaluate fluxes. The TVD MUSCL-Hancock numerical scheme utilizes slope limiters, such as the minmod, double minmod, superbee, van Albada, and van Leer limiters, to prevent spurious oscillations and maintain monotonicity near discontinuities. A comparative study of the impact of various slope limiters on the accuracy of the numerical flow model was conducted with several dam-break examples including wet and dry bed cases. The numerical results of the superbee and double minmod limiters agree better with the theoretical solution and have higher accuracy than other limiters in one-dimensional （1D） space. The ratio of the downstream water depth to the upstream water depth was used to select the proper slope limiter. For the 2D numerical model, the superbee limiter should not be used, owing to significant numerical dispersion.

Flow dynamics and sediment transport in vegetated rivers:A review

The significance of riparian vegetation on river flow and material transport is not in dispute.Conveyance laws,sediment erosion and deposition,and element cycling must all be adjusted from their canonical rough-wall boundary layer to accommodate the presence of aquatic plants.In turn,the growth and colonization of riparian vegetation are affected by fluvial processes and river morphology on longer time scales.These interactions and feedbacks at multiple time scales are now drawing significant attention within the research community given their relevance to river restoration.For this reason,a review summarizing methods,general laws,qualitative cognition,and quantitative models regarding the interplay between aquatic plants,flow dynamics,and sediment transport in vegetated rivers is in order.Shortcomings,pitfalls,knowledge gaps,and daunting challenges to the current state of knowledge are also covered.As a multidisciplinary research topic,a future research agenda and opportunities pertinent to river management and enhancement of ecosystem services are also highlighted.

Longitudinal dispersive coefficient in channels with aquatic vegetation:A review

The determination of longitudinal dispersion coefficient in rivers is necessary for pollution control,environmental risk assessment,and management.In rivers with aquatic vegetation,the flow field is remarkably modified by canopies,which affects velocity profiles and dispersion characteristics dominated by the heterogeneity of the velocity field.The dispersion is deduced from lateral and vertical longitudinal velocity gradients for compound channels with vegetated floodplains and rectangular channels with river-wide vegetation,respectively.Although many efforts have been exerted to clarify the dispersion process in different conditions and predict the diffusion of contaminants in vegetated rivers,no studies have introduced it systematically.This study reviews the dispersion coefficient characteristics,including magnitude,main impacted factors,and relationships with flow and vegetation features,in channels with aquatic canopies considering the variation of impact factors changing with the different vegetation and river morphology scenarios.Several typical methodologies for determining longitudinal dispersion coefficients are also summarized to understand the dispersion processes and concepts.Apart from the pioneer outcomes of previous studies,the review also emphasizes the deficiency of existing studies and suggests possible future directions for improving the theory of dispersion in vegetated channels.

Lattice Boltzmann method for simulating flows in open-channel with partial emergent rigid vegetation cover

Flows in open-channel with partial emergent rigid vegetation cover are simulated using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) described by the 2-D nonlinear shallow water equations. The effect of vegetation is represented with the vegetation roughness coefficient, which is related to the vegetation density, diameter of the vegetation elements and drag coefficient. The model is verified by three numerical tests: flow in a 180° curved open channel with partial vegetation cover at the outer bank, flow in a rectangular channel with a finite patch of vegetation and flow in a rectangular channel with a vegetated bank. Numerical results are compared with the experimental data, and the good agreement proved that the presented model can model the vegetated channel flows correctly.

Investigation of the sediment transport capacity in vegetated open channel flow

The suspended sediment transport capacity is important for estimating the suspended load concentration and the ecological environment of the river.So far,few studies have been conducted to investigate the suspended sediment transport capacity in the vegetated sediment-laden flow.In this study,a new formula is derived to predict the sediment transport capacity in a vegetated flow by considering the absolute value of the energy loss between the sediment-laden flow and the clear water flow.Finally,the formula is expressed in a practical form by using the logarithmic matching method.

A novel rat model of seminal vesiculitis

We aimed to establish a novel rat model of seminal vesiculitis that would provide an effective approach to investigate the pathogenesis of this disease in the future. Eight male rats received the same operation, during which the root of one of the two seminal vesicles was partly ligatured with sutures and the other vesicle was left in tact. The samples of seminal vesicles were harvested on the 8th day followi ng the operation. Hematoxylin and eosi n and Mass on's trichrome stains were used to observe the histopathology and the presenee of fibrous tissue in seminal vesicles, respectively. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry were applied to determine the tumor n ecrosis factor-alpha and cyclooxygenase-2 levels in semi nal vesicle tissues. Real-time fluoresce nee qua ntitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the gene expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines. H2O2 levels in the seminal plasma from the seminal vesicle were also measured. Hematoxylin and eosin staining suggested that there was inflammatory cell in filtration into the semi nal vesicles treated by partial root ligati on. The tumor n ecrosis factor-alpha and cyclooxygenase-2 proteins were significantly upregulated in the treated seminal vesicles. The tumor necrosis factor-alpha, cyclooxygenase, interleukin 6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression levels were also upregulated in the treated seminal vesicles. The H2O2 levels in the seminal plasma from seminal vesicles with partial root ligation were significantly elevated compared with those from vesicle left intact. In conclusion, partially ligating the root of the seminal vesicle via sutures in rats is an effective method to establish a seminal vesiculitis rat model.

Incipient sediment motion in vegetated open-channel flows predicted by critical flow velocity

Incipient sediment motion plays a key role in scouring and bed load transport. However, the incipient sediment motion in the vegetated open-channel flows has yet to be fully understood. This study aims to quantify the critical conditions of the sediment particle movement in the presence of emergent and submerged vegetation. A new formula of the critical flow velocity was proposed to predict the incipient sediment motion based on the force balance equation of a sediment particle and the assumption that the velocity distribution in the bed roughness boundary layer fits the logarithmic law. Analysis of the derived formula revealed that the critical flow velocity for incipient sediment motion decreases with the increase in vegetation density. The proposed formula agrees well with the experimental data in the literature, thereby implying that the critical flow velocity can effectively quantify the incipient sediment motion in the vegetated open channel flows.

Effect of backward-facing step heights in vegetation-step model on reducing the velocity of a tsunami inundation and increasing the energy dissipation efficiency

A coastal forest combined with a backward-facing step is an efficient facility to reduce tsunami damage to residential areas behind sea embankments.This study establishes a generalized model,and experimentally explores the water level changes upstream of the vegetation-step mitigation model as well as its energy dissipation effect under different initial Froude numbers,step heights,and vegetation conditions.The results show that the relative backwater rise increases with the growth of vegetation density,patch length and initial Froude number,representing a slowing down of the tsunami inundation.As for energy dissipation,it is mainly caused by the additional resistance of the vegetation and the hydraulic jump.And the vegetation condition not only affects the energy dissipation due to stem-scale turbulence within the patch,but also changes the hydraulic jump process of water falling from the step in cooperation with the step height.As a result,the energy dissipation efficiency always increases with the growth of vegetation density,vegetation patch length and step height.With the criterion that the energy dissipation efficiency and its growth rate can hardly change with vegetation parameters,this study innovatively defines the threshold slope and gives the principle of judging the most cost-effective vegetation conditions at different step heights.These results are expected to provide an important reference for the design of composite tsunami mitigation facilities.