Environmental Impact of Using Different Energy Sources for Family House Heating

Environmental impacts of using various sources of energy in heating a family house with 180 m2 of floor surface were compared by means of the SimaPro computer programme and attached to its databases, describing the environmental impacts of using typical materials and technologies. The set of compared heat energy sources comprised nine different sources. After normalisation （which meant recalculating the impacts into their proportions to the average impact of the kind, experienced by an average European in a year）, weighting （which meant attaching arbitrary weights to three aggregate impact categories according to a methodology Eco-indicator 99 E/E） and summation of the weighted results expressed in so-called ecopoints, the coal combustion furnace turned out to have the greatest impact. It was followed by an electric stove and an oil burning furnace. The wood burning furnace and the heat pump had the smallest impact, almost equal in size. Results indicate that in case of renewable energy carriers like wood, straw and pellets, the total environmental hazard factor in 70% and more is derived from the respiratory harmful inorganic emissions. Extending the analysis by a LC assessment of equipment （boilers and pumps） might change the order of technologies.

Modulation of protein fate decision by small molecules:targeting molecular chaperone machinery

Modulation of protein fate decision and protein homeostasis plays a significant role in altering the protein level,which acts as an orientation to develop drugs with new mechanisms.The molecular chaperones exert significant biological functions on modulation of protein fate decision and protein homeostasis under constantly changing environmental conditions through extensive protein-protein interactions(PPIs)with their client proteins.With the help of molecular chaperone machinery the processes of protein folding,trafficking,quality control and degradation of client proteins could be arranged properly.The core members of molecular chaperones,including heat shock proteins(HSPs)family and their co-chaperones,are emerging as potential drug targets since they are involved in numerous disease conditions.Development of small molecule modulators targeting not only chaperones themselves but also the PPIs among chaperones,co-chaperones and clients is attracting more and more attention.These modulators are widely used as chemical tools to study chaperone networks as well as potential drug candidates for a broader set of diseases.Here,we reviewed the key checkpoints of molecular chaperone machinery HSPs as well as their co-chaperones to discuss the small molecules targeting on them for modulation of protein fate decision.

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma:Exploring molecular mechanisms and differentiation pathways to better understand disease outcomes and prognosis

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma(FLC)is a rare but aggressive liver cancer of children that occurs predominantly in teenagers without a history of liver disease.Surgical resection remains the only therapeutic option,and the recurrence rate is extremely high(>50%within 3 years).A newly discovered chromosomal deletion that occurs in the majority of FLCs generates a novel kinase fusion between DnaJ heat shock protein family member B1(DNAJB1)and protein kinase cAMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha(PRKACA)(DNAJB1-PRKACA).Despite its high penetrance and apparent specificity for FLC,the oncogenic role of this fusion event remains unclear.In this review article,we discuss the histology,presentation and diagnosis,current treatment,and roles of the DNAJB1-PRKACA as well as research models contributing to our understanding of this disease.