Role of exosomal circular RNAs as microRNA sponges and potential targeting for suppressing hepatocellular carcinoma growth and progression

In this editorial,we comment on the article by Lyu et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology(2023;2219-2840).Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a frequently encountered and highly aggressive primary liver cancer,which remains the third-commonest cause of cancer-related death despite the current therapeutic modalities.There is urgency in developing novel thera-peutic approaches,such as by manipulating extracellular vesicles,which con-stitute a highly heterogeneous nanoparticle population that contains various cargoes.These cargoes have a pivotal role in cell-to-cell communication and can modify the functional level of the recipient cells via their uptake by other recipient cells.Exosomal non-coding RNAs have particular evolving significance in HCC,such as circular RNAs,which have been found differentially expressed in normal hepatic and HCC tissues.The aberrations in their expression levels have a key role in the HCC development and progression and the overall prognosis.In this editorial,we will shed light on the emerging role of exosomal circular RNAs in HCC development and progression,focusing on the oncogenic or potentially tumor suppressive effect of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomal non-coding RNAs.

Characterization of Flame Retardancy and Oil-Water Separation Capacity of Superhydrophobic Silylated Melamine Sponges

A silylated melamine sponge(SMS)was prepared by two simple steps,namely,immersion and dehydration of a melamine sponge coated with methyltrichlorosilane.The silylated structure of SMS was characterized by FT-IR(Fourier-transform infrared)spectroscopy,SEM(Scanning electron microscopy)and in terms of water contact angles.Its oil-water absorption and separation capacities were measured by FT-IR and UV-visible spectrophoto-metry.The experimental results have shown that oligomeric silanol covalently bonds by Si-N onto the surface of melamine sponge skeletons.SMS has shown superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle exceeding 150°±1°,a better separation efficiency with regard to diesel oil(by 99.31%(wt/wt%)in oil-water mixture and even up to 99.99%(wt/wt%)for diesel oil in its saturated aqueous solution.Moreover,SMS inherited the intrinsicflame retardancy of the melamine sponge.In general,SMS has shown superhydrophobicity,high porosity,excellent selectivity,remarkable recyclability,and better absorption capacity for various oils and organic solvents,and a high separation efficiency for oil in saturated aqueous solutions.

SMS结构的光纤F-P腔压力传感器的实验研究

对单模—多模—单模(SMS)结构的光纤法布里—珀罗(F-P)腔压力传感器进行了研究。从理论上分析了SMS光纤F-P腔压力传感器的工作原理;并用有限元软件仿真了传感器的压力灵敏度为0.36μm/MPa,熔接组成光纤F-P腔传感器。实验测试结果表明:灵敏度为0.0043/N,得到峰值点幅值与压力的相关性系数R2为98.80%,具有良好的线性关系,符合光纤压力传感器的设计要求。

A green cross-linking method for the preparation of renewable threedimensional graphene sponges for efficient adsorption of Congo red dye

Graphene-based materials possess significant potential for the treatment of dye wastewater due to their exceptional adsorption properties toward stubborn pollutants.However,their utilization is hindered by high preparation costs,low yields,environmental pollution during synthesis,and challenges in regenerating the adsorbent.This study proposes a novel approach to address these limitations by developing nitrogen-doped three-dimensional(3D)polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)crosslinked graphene sponges(N-PGA)using a cross-linking method with ammonium carbonate.This method offers a relatively mild,environmentally friendly approach.Ammonium carbonate serves as both a reducing and modifying agent,facilitating the formation of the intrinsic structure of N-PGA and acting as a nitrogen source.Meanwhile,PVA is utilized as the cross-linking agent.The results demonstrate that N-PGA exhibits a favorable internal 3D hierarchical porous structure and possesses robust mechanical properties.The measured specific surface area(BET)of N-PGA was as high as406.538 m^(2)·g^(-1),which was favorable for its efficient adsorption of Congo red(CR)dye molecules.At an initial concentration of 50 mg·L^(-1),N-PGA achieved an impressive removal rate of 89.6%and an adsorption capacity of 112 mg·g^(-1)for CR dye.Furthermore,it retained 79%of its initial adsorption capacity after 10 cycles,demonstrating excellent regeneration performance.In summary,the synthesized N-PGA displays remarkable efficacy in the adsorption of CR dye in wastewater,opening up new possibilities for utilizing 3D porous graphene nanomaterials as efficient adsorbents in wastewater treatment.

Performance improvement in stepped solar still modified by sponge layer

In this paper,the experimental investigation on the performance improvement of conventional stepped solar still is conducted.The steps are covered by the porous material to improve the performance of the conventional device and increase the evaporation rate.All the parameters,including the temperature on the glass surface,the water temperature inside the evaporation zone,and the amount of water produced in both conventional and modified stepped solar stills are measured and compared.The efficiency of two devices and their exergy efficiency have been calculated.Finally,the economic analysis of both devices has been done to check the economic feasibility of the modified device.The amount of freshwater generated during one day was 2244.4 and 3076.2 mL/m^(2),respectively for the conventional and modified stepped solar stills.As a result,the amount of water produced in one day by modified stepped solar still is 35.5% more than the conventional one.Also,the costs for the conventional and modified stepped solar stills have been calculated as 0.0359 and 0.029$/(L·m^(-2)),respectively.

Efficient removal of U(VI) from wastewater by a sponge-like 3D porous architecture with hybrid electrospun nanofibers

Removal of uranium(VI)from nuclear wastewater is urgent due to the global nuclear energy exploitation.This study synthesized novel sponge-like 3D porous materials for enhanced uranium adsorption by combining electrospinning and fibrous freeze-shaping techniques.The materials possessed an organic-inorganic hybrid architecture based on the electrospun fibers of polyacrylonitrile(PAN)and SiO_(2).As a sup-porting material,the surface of fibrous SiO_(2) could be further functionalized by cyano groups via(3-cyanopropyl)triethoxysilane.All the cyano groups were turned into amidoxime(AO)groups to obtain a amidoxime-functionalized sponge(PAO/SiO_(2)-AO)through the subsequent ami-doximation process.The proposed sponge exhibited enhanced uranium adsorption performance with a high removal capacity of 367.12 mg/g,a large adsorption coefficient of 4.0×10^(4)mL/g,and a high removal efficiency of 97.59%.The UO_(2)^(2+)adsorption kinetics perfectly conformed to the pseudo-second-order reaction.The sorbent also exhibited an excellent selectivity for UO_(2)^(2+) with other interfering metal ions.2023 Hohai University.Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.

LncRNAs unraveling their sponge role in glioblastoma and potential therapeutic applications

Glioblastoma multiforme(GBM),the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults,is the most malignant and still has no cure.However,the novel role of long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)in the pathogenesis of glioblastoma is attracting extensive attention.LncRNAs are transcribed RNA molecules over 200 nucleotides long that do not encode proteins.Unlike small non-coding RNAs,such as microRNAs(miRNAs),lncRNAs have more complex secondary and tertiary structures that enable them to interact with DNA,RNA,and proteins and perform multiple regulatory functions.LncRNAs act as molecular sponges,absorbing and sequestering other biomolecules,particularly miRNAs,thereby preventing these molecules from performing their normal functions.LncRNAs influence glioblastoma through gene expression regulation,molecular sponge capacity,epigenetic modulation,and signaling pathway interactions.In glioblastoma,a large number of lncRNAs have been found to be abnormally expressed,affecting tumor growth,invasion and resistance to treatment.Due to its regulatory role and disease-specific expression patterns,lncRNA has become a potential biomarker for glioblastoma and a promising new therapeutic target.This paper discusses the spongy role of lncRNAs in glioblastoma and its potential therapeutic applications,which will lay a foundation for our understanding of glioblastoma biology and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the future.

医用防护服用聚丙烯SMS抗菌面料制备与表征

为解决医用防护服用聚丙烯SMS非织造布耐久性抗菌问题,利用课题组制备的银氮共掺杂纳米二氧化钛(Ag-N-TiO_(2))光催化抗菌剂,以聚丙烯SMS非织造布为基材,采用浸渍法,通过优化工艺制备出Ag-N-TiO_(2)/聚丙烯SMS非织造布抗菌试样。以大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌为目标菌种,采用振荡法测试分析了Ag-N-TiO_(2)/聚丙烯SMS非织造布试样的抗菌性能。利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)表征试样的微观形貌,同时还测试了负载抗菌剂前后试样的主要性能。结果表明:Ag-N-TiO_(2)成功负载到聚丙烯SMS非织造布上,试样对大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌率分别为100%和100%,洗涤20次后其抑菌率分别为100%和96.1%,抗菌耐久性优于AA级,且主要性能良好,均符合医用防护服面料相关标准要求。

Ultrahydrophobic melamine sponge via interfacial modification with reduced graphene oxide/titanium dioxide nanocomposite and polydimethylsiloxane for oily wastewater treatment

Three-dimensional(3D)porous absorbents have attracted significant attention in the oily wastewater treatment technology due to their high porosity and elasticity.Given their amphiphilic surface,they have a propensity to simultaneously absorb water and oil,which restricts their range of applications.In this study,a reduced graphene oxide and titanium dioxide nanocomposite(rGO/TiO_(2))was used to fabricate an ultra-hydrophobic melamine sponge(MS)through interfacial modification using a solution immersion technique.To further modify it,poly-dimethylsiloxane(PDMS)was grafted onto its surface to establish stronger covalent bonds with the composite.The water contact angle of the sponge(rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS)was 164.2°,which satisfies the condition for ultrahydrophobicity.The evidence of its water repellency was demonstrated by the Cassie-Baxter theory and the lotus leaf effect.As a result of the increased density of rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS,it recorded an initial capacity that was 2 g/g lower than the raw MS for crude oil absorption.The raw MS retained 53% of its initial absorption capacity after 20 cycles of absorption,while rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS retained 97%,suggesting good recyclability.Excellent oil and organic solvent recovery(90%-96%)was demonstrated by rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS in oil-water combinations.In a continuous separation system,it achieved a remarkable separation efficiency of 2.4×10^(6)L/(m^(3)·h),and in turbulent emulsion separation,it achieved a demulsification efficiency of 90%-91%.This study provides a practical substitute for massive oil spill cleaning.

基于SMS和双重预防机制的机场集团安全治理体系研究

从机场集团角度构建安全治理体系,将SMS融入机场集团化运行,通过治理体系四大支柱和双重预防机制构建,结合新发展阶段要求和机场集团高质量发展,扩展完善安全治理体系,明确各体系要素实际功能,形成机场集团化效能优显、机制完善、长效先进的贯穿式安全治理体系,为机场集团各成员机场如何高效进行安全治理提供参考。

船舶网络安全管理纳入SMS系统的应用研究

在目前的船舶网络安全管理实践中,普遍面临着多方面的挑战。这些挑战主要包括网络安全意识不足、培训机会缺失、安全政策和管理手段的不健全、软件与硬件环境存在缺陷,还有就是应对紧急情况和监管系统的缺乏。为了有效提高船舶网络安全的防护能力,防止潜在的网络攻击和威胁,需要采取多维度的改进措施。具体而言,提高网络安全的教育和意识水平,制定和实施全面的安全保障策略,及时升级和补丁修复软件及设备漏洞,并建立健全的紧急应对和监督体系至关重要。文章接下来聚焦于这些普遍存在的问题,并探讨如何将船舶网络安全管理整合至SMS之中,同时分析集成此类系统的潜在价值及执行上的具体策略。

基于FPGA的SMS4高速数据处理算法设计

随着集成电路的迅猛发展,为使数据通信安全性满足大数据时代的需要,文章详细研究SMS4算法,提出一种用双端口随机存取存储器(Random Access Memory,RAM)代替S盒的多路算法并行处理大数据的结构,并基于现场可编程门阵列(Field Programmable Gate Array,FPGA)实现这一算法。经仿真验证,所设计的结构都能正确处理大数据,其处理速度远超单个算法电路的处理速度。该算法与其他设计结构相比,其处理速度也占据相当优势。

Geological suitability of natural sponge body for the construction of sponge city——a case study of Shuanghe Lake district in Zhengzhou airport zone

Natural and geological environmental conditions have an important impact on the planning and construction of sponge cities.This paper analyzes geological factors that influence the usage of natural sponge bodies,taking the Shuanghe lake district of Zhengzhou airport zone as an example.An evaluation system with seven factors has been established and the weights of these factors are determined using the analytic hierarchy process(AHP)method.Overlay analysis is then carried out on all factors using GIS to evaluate the geological suitability of the construction of the sponge city.The results show that geologically suitable area for city construction in Shuanghe lake district accounts for 12.3%,relatively suitable area accounts for 76.1%,and relatively unsuitable area accounts for 11.6%.For suitable and relatively suitable areas,we should make full use of the advantages of surface infiltration,vadose zone transportation and aquifer storage to build a sponge city infrastructure with geological engineering as the main component,supplemented by engineering measures such as surface water storage and drainage,and jointly establish a sustainable urban hydrological cycle.For less suitable areas,artificial rain and flood control works,such as roof garden,should be considered.The findings of this paper can serve as an important reference for sponge city planning and construction not only in the research area but also in other regions with similar geological conditions.

Path Exploration and Practice of Sponge City Construction in the Pearl River Delta:A Case Study of Dalang Town,Dongguan City

In order to deal with global climate warming and practice the construction of national ecological civilization,a sponge city has become an important national plan for regional comprehensive management and development because it can systematically solve the issues of regional water resources,water security,water environment and water ecology,and provide a comprehensive plan of sustainable development for regional water control,storage and use.Sponge city construction has been carried out across the country.In this paper,taking Dalang Town as an example,and combining its local climate,geological geomorphology,hydrological conditions,current situation and future planning of urban space,management system and other characteristics,the connotation,construction strategy and objectives,index decomposition and other key contents of sponge city were discussed,and the methods of sponge city construction in the builtup area with high rainfall,abundant groundwater and high density were studied to provide reference for formulating solutions and schemes for Dalang Town and developing sponge city construction in the Pearl River Delta.

Design Strategies for Cellular Nanosponges as Medical Countermeasures

The interest in using therapeutic nanoparticles to bind with harmful molecules or pathogens and subsequently neutralize their bioactivity has grown tremendously.Among various nanomedicine platforms,cell membrane-coated nanoparticles,namely,“cellular nanosponges,”stand out for their broadspectrum neutralization capability challenging to achieve in traditional countermeasure technologies.Such ability is attributable to their cellular function-based rather than target structure-based working principle.Integrating cellular nanosponges with various synthetic substrates further makes their applications exceptionally versatile and adaptive.This review discusses the latest cellular nanosponge technology focusing on how the structure–function relationship in different designs has led to versatile and potent medical countermeasures.Four design strategies are discussed,including harnessing native cell membrane functions for biological neutralization,functionalizing cell membrane coatings to enhance neutralization capabilities,combining cell membranes and functional cores for multimodal neutralization,and integrating cellular nanosponges with hydrogels for localized applications.Examples in each design strategy are selected,and the discussion is to highlight their structure–function relationships in complex disease settings.The review may inspire additional design strategies for cellular nanosponges and fulfill even broader medical applications.

Comparison of ethanol-soaked gelatin sponge and microspheres for hepatic arterioportal fistulas embolization in hepatic cellular carcinoma

Hepatic arterioportal fistulas(APFs)are common in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Moreover,correlated with poor prognosis,APFs often complicate antitumor treatments,including transarterial chemoembolization(TACE).AIM To compare the efficacy of ethanol-soaked gelatin sponges(ESG)and microspheres in the management of APFs and their impact on the prognosis of HCC.METHODS Data from patients diagnosed with HCC or hepatic APFs between June 2016 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Furthermore,APFs were embolized with ESG(group E)or microspheres(group M)during TACE.The primary outcomes were disease control rate(DCR)and objective response rate(ORR).The secondary outcomes included immediate and first follow-up APF improvement,overall survival(OS),and progression-free survival(PFS).RESULTS Altogether,91 participants were enrolled in the study,comprising 46 in group E and 45 in group M.The DCR was 93.5%and 91.1%in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.714).The ORRs were 91.3%and 66.7%in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.004).The APFs improved immediately after the procedure in 43(93.5%)patients in group E and 40(88.9%)patients in group M(P=0.485).After 2 mo,APF improvement was achieved in 37(80.4%)and 33(73.3%)participants in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.421).The OS was 26.2±1.4 and 20.6±1.1 mo in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.004),whereas the PFS was 16.6±1.0 and 13.8±0.7 mo in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.012).CONCLUSION Compared with microspheres,ESG embolization demonstrated a higher ORR and longer OS and PFS in patients of HCC with hepatic APFs.

The superhydrophobic sponge decorated with Ni-Co double layered oxides with thiol modification for continuous oil/water separation

In this paper, the superhydrophobic polyurethane sponge(SS-PU) was facilely fabricated by etching with Jones reagent to bind the nanoparticles of Ni-Co double layered oxides(LDOs) on the surface, and following modification with n-dodecyl mercaptan(DDT). This method provides a new strategy to fabricate superhydrophobic PU sponge with a water contact angle of 157° for absorbing oil with low cost and in large scale. It exhibits the strong absorption capacity and highly selective characteristic for various kinds of oils which can be recycled by simple squeezing. Besides, the as-prepared sponge can deal with the floating and underwater oils, indicating its application value in handling oil spills and domestic oily wastewater. The good self-cleaning ability shows the potential to clear the pollutants due to the ultralow adhesion to water. Especially, the most important point is that the superhydrophobic sponge can continuously and effectively separate the oil/water mixture against the condition of turbulent disturbance by using our designed device system, which exhibit its good superhydrophobicity, strong stability.Furthermore, the SS-PU still maintained stable absorption performance after 150 cycle tests without losing capacity obviously, showing excellent durability in long-term operation and significant potential as an efficient absorbent in large-scale dispose of oily water.

Enhanced wound healing and hemostasis with exosome-loaded gelatin sponges from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

BACKGROUND Rapid wound healing remains a pressing clinical challenge,necessitating studies to hasten this process.A promising approach involves the utilization of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(hUC-MSCs)derived exosomes.The hypothesis of this study was that these exosomes,when loaded onto a gelatin sponge,a common hemostatic material,would enhance hemostasis and accelerate wound healing.AIM To investigate the hemostatic and wound healing efficacy of gelatin sponges loaded with hUC-MSCs-derived exosomes.METHODS Ultracentrifugation was used to extract exosomes from hUC-MSCs.Nanoparticle tracking analysis(NTA),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and western blot techniques were used to validate the exosomes.In vitro experiments were performed using L929 cells to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the exosomes and their impact on cell growth and survival.New Zealand rabbits were used for skin irritation experiments to assess whether they caused adverse skin reactions.Hemolysis test was conducted using a 2%rabbit red blood cell suspension to detect whether they caused hemolysis.Moreover,in vivo experiments were carried out by implanting a gelatin sponge loaded with exosomes subcutaneously in Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats to perform biocompatibility tests.In addition,coagulation index test was conducted to evaluate their impact on blood coagulation.Meanwhile,SD rat liver defect hemostasis model and full-thickness skin defect model were used to study whether the gelatin sponge loaded with exosomes effectively stopped bleeding and promoted wound healing.RESULTS The NTA,TEM,and western blot experimental results confirmed that exosomes were successfully isolated from hUC-MSCs.The gelatin sponge loaded with exosomes did not exhibit significant cell toxicity,skin irritation,or hemolysis,and they demonstrated good compatibility in SD rats.Additionally,the effectiveness of the gelatin sponge loaded with exosomes in hemostasis and wound healing was validated.The results of the coagulation index experiment indicated that the gelatin sponge loaded with exosomes had significantly better coagulation effect compared to the regular gelatin sponge,and they showed excellent hemostatic performance in a liver defect hemostasis model.Finally,the full-thickness skin defect healing experiment results showed significant improvement in the healing process of wounds treated with the gelatin sponge loaded with exosomes compared to other groups.CONCLUSION Collectively,the gelatin sponge loaded with hUC-MSCs-derived exosomes is safe and efficacious for promoting hemostasis and accelerating wound healing,warranting further clinical application.

Exploration of Sponge System Design in Wetland Parks Based on Rainwater and Flood Control: A Case Study of Southern Anhui Province

Based on the background that wetland resources in China are under threat and urgently need to be protected,a series of rainwater and flood problems caused by urban construction is analyzed comprehensively,and the design and planning methods of wetland parks in response to rainwater and flood disasters caused by floods and heavy rainfall are explored.Southern Anhui with complex and variable terrain and frequent rainfall and flood disasters is selected as the research area,with Xuanzhou District of Xuancheng City as the main research object.The relationship between municipal drainage of urban park and water conservancy drainage is investigated from different sample selection,design samples,and design flow rates.Based on literature review and model building methods,an urban storm flood model suitable for typical wetland parks in southern Anhui is constructed after processing the survey data using Arc GIS,SWMM(storm water management model).On this basis,a methodology and principles for designing a sponge system of wetland park based on rainwater and flood control are proposed,including technical measures such as rainwater collection,retention,and purification.This paper provides certain research results in design schemes,effect evaluations,ecological and social benefits,and useful suggestions and solutions for urban stormwater management and resilience development.

基于SMSolver的铝合金附着式升降防护平台竖向主框架结构设计校验

附着式升降防护平台是现代建筑施工,特别是高层建筑施工中的重要装备。竖向主框架是附着式升降防护平台中承受和传递平台的竖向和水平荷载的主要结构,结构构件多并且复杂。本文针对一种铝合金附着式升降防护平台的竖向主框架结构进行研究,采用SM Solver软件静力学方法,计算出竖向主框架各构件的内力,再进行构件材料强度校验。