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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 1,459 records · Page 81

MiR-144 overexpression as a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome glioblastoma cell invasiveness and resistance to chemotherapy

Abstract Glioblastoma (GB) is the most aggressive and common form of primary brain tumor, characterized by fast proliferation, high invasion, and resistance to current standard treatment. The average survival rate post-diagnosis is only of 14.6 months, despite the aggressive standard post-surgery treatment approaches of radiotherapy concomitant with chemotherapy with temozolomide. Altered cell metabolism has been identified as an emerging cancer hallmark, including in GB, thus offering a new target for cancer therapies. On the other hand, abnormal expression levels of miRNAs, key regulators of multiple molecular pathways, have been correlated with pathological manifestations of cancer, such as chemoresistance, proliferation, and resistance to apoptosis. In this work, we hypothesized that gene therapy based on modulation of a miRNA with aberrant expression in GB and predicted to target crucial metabolic enzymes might impair tumor cell metabolism. We found that the increase of miR-144 levels, shown to be downregulated in U87 and DBTRG human GB cell lines, as well as in GB tumor samples, promoted the downregulation of mRNA of enzymes involved in bioenergetic pathways, with consequent alterations in cell metabolism, impairment of migratory capacity, and sensitization of DBTRG cells to a chemotherapeutic drug, the dichloroacetate (DCA). Taken together, our findings provide evidence that the miR-144 plus DCA combined therapy holds promise to overcome GB-acquired chemoresistance, therefore deserving to be explored toward its potential application as a complementary therapeutic approach to the current treatment options for this type of brain tumor.

Cardoso, Ana M. S.↗

Repeated exposure to eucalyptus wood smoke alters pulmonary gene and metabolic profiles in male Long-Evans rats

Abstract Exposure to wildfire smoke is associated with both acute and chronic cardiopulmonary illnesses, which are of special concern for wildland firefighters who experience repeated exposure to wood smoke. It is necessary to better understand the underlying pathophysiology by which wood smoke exposure increases pulmonary disease burdens in this population. We hypothesize that wood smoke exposure produces pulmonary dysfunction, lung inflammation, and gene expression profiles associated with future pulmonary complications. Male Long-Evans rats were intermittently exposed to smoldering eucalyptus wood smoke at 2 concentrations, low (11.0 ± 1.89 mg/m3) and high (23.7 ± 0.077 mg/m3), over a 2-week period. Whole-body plethysmography was measured intermittently throughout. Lung tissue and lavage fluid were collected 24 h after the final exposure for transcriptomics and metabolomics. Increasing smoke exposure upregulated neutrophils and select cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In total, 3446 genes were differentially expressed in the lungs of rats in the high smoke exposure and only 1 gene in the low smoke exposure (Cd151). Genes altered in the high smoke group reflected changes to the Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2 stress and oxidative stress responses, which mirrored metabolomics analyses. xMWAS-integrated analysis revealed that smoke exposure significantly altered pathways associated with oxidative stress, lung morphogenesis, and tumor proliferation pathways. These results indicate that intermittent, 2-week exposure to eucalyptus wood smoke leads to transcriptomic and metabolic changes in the lung that may predict future lung disease development. Collectively, these findings provide insight into cellular signaling pathways that may contribute to the chronic pulmonary conditions observed in wildland firefighters.

Toxicology↗

Dynamics of Dirac strings and monopolelike excitations in chiral magnets under a current drive

Skyrmion lines in metallic chiral magnets carry an emergent magnetic field experienced by the conduction electrons. The inflow and outflow of this field across a closed surface is not necessarily equal, thus it allows for the existence of emergent monopoles. One example is a segment of skyrmion line inside a crystal, where a monopole and antimonopole pair is connected by the emergent magnetic flux line. This is a realization of Dirac stringlike excitations. Here we study the dynamics of monopoles in chiral magnets under an electric current. We show that in the process of creation of skyrmion lines, skyrmion line segments are first created via the proliferation of monopoles and antimonopoles. Then these line segments join and span the whole system through the annihilation of monopoles. The skyrmion lines are destroyed via the proliferation of monopoles and antimonopoles at high currents, resulting in a chiral liquid phase. We also propose to create the monopoles in a controlled way by applying an inhomogeneous current to a crystal. Remarkably, an electric field component in the magnetic field direction proportional to the current squared in the low current region is induced by the motion of distorted skyrmion lines, in addition to the Hall and longitudinal voltage. As a result, the existence of monopoles can be inferred from transport or imaging measurements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Phases of Theories with ℤ 𝑁 1-Form Symmetry, and the Roles of Center Vortices and Magnetic Monopoles

We analyze the phases of theories having a microscopic ℤ 𝑁 1-form symmetry, starting with a topological BF theory and deforming it so that only the microscopic symmetry is preserved. These theories have a well-defined notion of confinement, prototypical examples being pure SU⁡(𝑁) and ℤ 𝑁 gauge theories in the continuum and on the lattice. Our analysis shows that the generic phases are in 𝑑 = 2, only the confined phase; in 𝑑 = 3, both the confined phase and the topological BF phase; and in 𝑑 = 4, the confined phase, the topological BF phase, and a Coulomb phase. We construct a ℤ𝑁 lattice gauge theory with a deformation that, surprisingly, produces up to (𝑁−1) photons. We give an interpretation of these findings in terms of the behaviors of two competing drivers of confinement—magnetic monopoles and center vortices—and conclude that proliferation of center vortices is necessary but insufficient for confinement, while proliferation of magnetic monopoles is both necessary and sufficient.

Color confinement↗

Quantum Spin Ice in Three-Dimensional Rydberg Atom Arrays

Quantum spin liquids are exotic phases of matter whose low-energy physics is described as the deconfined phase of an emergent gauge theory. With recent theory proposals and an experiment showing preliminary signs of Z 2 topological order [G. Semeghini , ], Rydberg atom arrays have emerged as a promising platform to realize a quantum spin liquid. In this work, we propose a way to realize a U(1) quantum spin liquid in three spatial dimensions, described by the deconfined phase of U(1) gauge theory in a pyrochlore lattice Rydberg atom array. We study the ground state phase diagram of the proposed Rydberg system as a function of experimentally relevant parameters. Within our calculation, we find that by tuning the Rabi frequency, one can access both the confinement-deconfinement transition driven by a proliferation of “magnetic” monopoles and the Higgs transition driven by a proliferation of “electric” charges of the emergent gauge theory. We suggest experimental probes for distinguishing the deconfined phase from ordered phases. This work serves as a proposal to access a confinement-deconfinement transition in three spatial dimensions on a Rydberg-based quantum simulator. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Shah, Jeet (ORCID:0000000158738129)↗

Novel T9 loop conformation of filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

As of 2017, tuberculosis had infected 1.7 billion people (23% of the population of the world) and caused ten million deaths. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is quickly evolving, and new strains are classified as multidrug resistant. Thus, the identification of novel druggable targets is essential to combat the proliferation of these drug-resistant strains. Filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z (FtsZ) is a key protein involved in cytokinesis, an important process for Mtb proliferation and viability. FtsZ is required for bacterial cell division because it polymerizes into a structure called the Z-ring, which recruits accessory division proteins to the septum. Here, the crystal structure of the MtbFtsZ protein has been determined to 3.46 Å resolution and is described as a dimer of trimers, with an inter-subunit interface between protomers AB and DE . In this work, a novel conformation of MtbFtsZ is revealed involving the T9 loop and the nucleotide-binding pocket of protomers BC and EF .

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop Interfaces for Inverter-Based Microgrid Experiments Including Transitions

Microgrids continue to proliferate, particularly those that rely on inverter-based resources as the microgrid's voltage and frequency leader. Hardware-in-the-loop simulations can de-risk microgrid deployments, and therefore we need power-hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) interfaces for grid-forming (GFM) inverters to enable simulations of seamless transitions between islanded and grid-connected operation. Such interfaces are particularly challenging when the inverters need to switch modes, i.e., between grid-following (GFL) and GFM as the microgrid transitions between grid-connected and islanded operation. This paper presents two PHIL interfaces for such microgrids and the preliminary experimental results.

experiments↗

Autonomous Microgrid Restoration Using Grid-Forming Inverters and Smart Circuit Breakers

The proliferation of distributed inverter-based resources (IBRs) raises the questions if these IBRs can be used to blackstart microgrids and distribution feeders after major outages. In this paper, we propose and evaluate an autonomous microgrid restoration concept using grid-forming (GFM) IBRs and smart circuit creakers (SCBs). The concept is first explored in simulation platform and then a hardware testbed containing actual GFM inverters is developed to demonstrate these functionalities. A combination of dispatchable virtual oscillator control (dVOC) and droop-based control schemes have been designed for GFM inverter controls in the software simulations and hardware testbed. Subsequently, operation of SCBs using two distinct principles have been demonstrated that can restore or connect portions of the network.

black start↗

Lycorine targets multiple myeloma stem cell‐like cells by inhibition of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway

Summary Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterised by the proliferation and accumulation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. Despite the progress in treatment over the last few years, MM remains incurable and the majority of patients relapse. MM stem‐like cells (MMSCs) have been considered as the main reason for drug resistance and eventual relapse. Currently, therapeutic agents are not enough to eradicate MMSCs, and finding effective strategies to eradicate MMSCs may improve the outcome of patients. Here we showed that lycorine, a natural compound from the Amaryllidaceae species, effectively inhibits the proliferation of myeloma cells from cell lines or patients, mainly through decreasing ALDH1 + cells. Mechanistically, lycorine decreases the MMSC population through inhibition of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway by reducing the β‐catenin protein level. Moreover, lycorine could overcome the increasing proportion of ALDH1 + cells caused by bortezomib (BTZ) treatment, and a combination BTZ and lycorine have a synergistic effect on anti‐myeloma cells. Furthermore, we found a similar reduction of MMSC characteristics by lycorine in BTZ‐resistant MM cells and primary CD138 + plasma cells. Collectively, our findings indicate lycorine as a promising agent to target MMSCs to overcome the drug resistance of BTZ, and that, alone or in combination with BTZ, lycorine is a potential therapeutic strategy for MM treatments.

Wang, Haiqin↗

Cross talk between RNA N6‐methyladenosine methyltransferase‐like 3 and miR‐186 regulates hepatoblastoma progression through Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway

Abstract Objectives N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) is a ubiquitous epigenetic RNA modification that plays a pivotal role in tumour development and metastasis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression profiling, clinical significance, biological function and the regulation of m6A‐related genes in hepatoblastoma (HB). Materials and Methods The mRNA and protein expression levels of m6A‐related genes were analysed using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and tissue microarray (TMA) cohort. Kaplan‐Meier analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of m6A‐related genes in HB. Knockdown of m6A‐related genes was conducted to analyse its function on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification were used to explore the potential molecular mechanism and signalling pathway. Results We found that most m6A‐related genes were significantly upregulated in HB tumour tissues. High levels of methyltransferase‐like 3 (METTL3, P = .013), YTHDF2 ( P = .037) and FTO ( P = .032) indicated poor clinical outcomes, and the upregulation of METTL3 was an independent prognostic factor in HB patients. Functional assays showed that knockdown of METTL3 could dramatically suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion of HB cells. In addition, METTL3 was identified to be a direct target of microRNA‐186 (miR‐186). Consistently, miR‐186 was low expressed in HB tumour tissues. Moreover, overexpression of miR‐186 significantly inhibited cell aggressive phenotype both in vitro and in vivo, while the inhibitory effect could be reversed by METTL3 overexpression. Mechanism study indicated that miR‐186/METTL3 axis contributed to the progression of HB via the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway. Conclusions M6A‐related genes were frequently dysregulated in HB. miR‐186/METTL3/Wnt/β‐catenin axis might serve as novel therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers in HB.

Cui, Xichun↗

Neutron diffraction reveals protonation states in pyridoxal‐5′‐phosphate‐free and glycine external aldimine‐bound serine hydroxymethyltransferase

Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) is a critical enzyme in the one-carbon (1C) metabolism pathway catalyzing the reversible conversion of L-Ser into Gly and concurrent transfer of 1C unit to tetrahydrofolate (THF) to give 5,10-methylene-THF (5,10-MTHF), which is used in the downstream syntheses of biomolecules critical for cell proliferation. The cellular 1C metabolism is hijacked by many cancer types to support cancer cell proliferation, making SHMT a promising target for the design and development of novel small-molecule antimetabolite chemotherapies. To advance structure-assisted drug design, knowledge of SHMT catalysis is crucial, but can only be fully realized when the atomic details of each reaction step governed by the acid–base catalysis are elucidated by visualizing active site hydrogen atoms. Here, we used room-temperature neutron crystallography to directly determine protonation states in Thermus thermophilus SHMT (TthSHMT), capturing protomer A in the apo form lacking the coenzyme pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP), and protomer B as a ternary complex with PLP–Gly-external aldimine and (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5MTHF). We observed protonation of the Schiff base nitrogen in PLP–Gly and neutrality of the catalytic Lys226 side chain in the ternary complex, whereas Lys226 is protonated and positively charged in the apo-active site. Furthermore, we obtained an X-ray structure of TthSHMT in complex with the substrate THF, which binds identically as 5MTHF at the peripheral binding site. In conclusion, the unique structural and functional information provided by neutron crystallography, in combination with X-ray structures, can be employed in the rational design of SHMT inhibitors.

X-ray crystallography↗

Bacillus anthracis spores germinate extracellularly at air-liquid interface in an in vitro lung model under serum-free conditions

Aims: To better understand the parameters that govern spore dissemination after lung exposure using in vitro cell systems. Methods and Results: We evaluated the kinetics of uptake, germination and proliferation of B. anthracis Sterne spores in association with human primary lung epithelial cells, Calu-3, and A549 cell lines. We also analyzed the influence of various cell culture media formulations related to spore germination. Conclusions: We found negligible spore uptake by epithelial cells, but germination and proliferation of spores in the extracellular environment was evident, and was appreciably higher in A549 and Calu-3 cultures than in primary epithelial cells. Additionally, our results revealed spores in association with primary cells submerged in cell culture media germinated 1 h

Powell, Joshua D.↗

Absence of estrogen receptor beta leads to abnormal adipogenesis during early tendon healing by an up‐regulation of PPARγ signalling

Abstract Achilles tendon injury is one of the challenges of sports medicine, the aetiology of which remains unknown. For a long time, estrogen receptor β (ERβ) has been known as a regulating factor of the metabolism in many connective tissues, such as bone, muscle and cartilage, but little is known about its role in tendon. Recent studies have implicated ERβ as involved in the process of tendon healing. Tendon‐derived stem cells (TDSCs) are getting more and more attention in tendon physiological and pathological process. In this study, we investigated how ERβ played a role in Achilles tendon healing. Achilles tendon injury model was established to analyse how ERβ affected on healing process in vivo. Cell proliferation assay, Western blots, qRT‐PCR and immunocytochemistry were performed to investigate the effect of ERβ on TDSCs. Here, we showed that ERβ deletion in mice resulted in inferior gross appearance, histological scores and, most importantly, increased accumulation of adipocytes during the early tendon healing which involved activation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) signalling. Furthermore, in vitro results of ours confirmed that the abnormity might be the result of abnormal TDSC adipogenic differentiation which could be partially reversed by the treatment of ERβ agonist LY3201. These data revealed a role of ERβ in Achilles tendon healing for the first time, thereby providing a new target for clinical treatment of Achilles tendon injury.

Bian, Xuting↗

A systems biology approach identifies new regulators of poplar root development under low nitrogen

Summary In Populus , low nitrogen ( LN ) elicits rapid and vigorous lateral root ( LR ) proliferation, which is closely mirrored by corresponding transcriptomic changes. Using transcriptomic data, we built a genetic network encompassing a large proportion of the differentially regulated transcriptome. The network is organized in a hierarchical fashion, centered on 11 genes. Transgenic manipulations of only three of the 11 genes had a strong impact on root development under LN . These three genes encoded an F‐box protein similar to Hawaiian Skirt ( Pta HWS ) and two transcription factors ( Pta RAP 2.11 and Pta NAC 1 ). Up‐ and downregulation of the three genes caused increased and decreased root proliferation under LN conditions, respectively. The transgenic manipulations had a strong positive effect on growth under greenhouse conditions including increased shoot and root biomass. The three genes appeared to encompass a putative yet‐unknown mechanism that underlies root development under LN . Specifically, the genes are predominantly expressed in roots and have a similar temporal response to LN . More importantly, transgenic manipulation for each of the three genes had a highly significant impact on the expression of the other two. The transgenic manipulations appear to also affect the expression of the regulatory mi RNA ( Ptami RNA 164e ) of one of the transcription factors ( Pta NAC 1 ), albeit in an opposite fashion. Consistent with a putative function of Pta HWS in proteasome degradation, treatment with proteasome inhibitor reversed the expression changes in the transgenic plants. The insights from this study will allow genetic modifications of root architecture for more efficient and dynamic nitrogen foraging in biofuel crops like poplar.

Dash, Madhumita↗

Scalability Testing Approach for Internet of Things for Manufacturing SQL and NoSQL Database Latency and Throughput

The proliferation of low-cost sensors and industrial data solutions has continued to push the frontier of manufacturing technology. Machine learning and other advanced statistical techniques stand to provide tremendous advantages in production capabilities, optimization, monitoring, and efficiency. The tremendous volume of data gathered continues to grow, and the methods for storing the data are critical underpinnings for advancing manufacturing technology. This work aims to investigate the ramifications and design tradeoffs within a decoupled architecture of two prominent database management systems (DBMS): sql and NoSQL. A representative comparison is carried out with Amazon Web Services (AWS) DynamoDB and AWS Aurora MySQL. The technologies and accompanying design constraints are investigated, and a side-by-side comparison is carried out through high-fidelity industrial data simulated load tests using metrics from a major US manufacturer. The results support the use of simulated client load testing for comparing the latency of database management systems as a system scales up from the prototype stage into production. As a result of complex query support, MySQL is favored for higher-order insights, while NoSQL can reduce system latency for known access patterns at the expense of integrated query flexibility. Here, by reviewing this work, a manufacturer can observe that the use of high-fidelity load testing can reveal tradeoffs in IoTfM write/ingestion performance in terms of latency that are not observable through prototype-scale testing of commercially available cloud DB solutions.

AWS↗

SU-E-T-752: Three-Dimensional Carcinogenic Maps Induced by Photons and Protons

Purpose: Evaluate the excess relative risk (ERR) induced by photons and protons in each voxel of the lung, and display it as a three-dimensional map, known as the ERRM (i.e. excess relative risk map) along with the dose distribution map. In addition, we also study the effect of variations in the linear energy transfer (LET) distribution on ERRM for a given proton plan. Methods: The excess relative risk due to radiation is estimated using the initiation-inactivation-proliferation formalism. This framework accounts for three biological phenomenon: mutation induction, cell kill and proliferation. Cell kill and mutation induction are taken as a function of LET using experimental data. LET distributions are calculated using a Monte Carlo algorithm. ERR is then estimated for each voxel in the organ, and displayed as a three dimensional carcinogenic map. Results: The differences in the ERR’s between photons and protons is seen from the three-dimensional ERR map. In addition, we also varied the LET of a proton plan and observed the differences in the corresponding ERR maps demonstrating variations in the ERR maps depend on features of a proton plan. Additionally, our results suggest that any two proton plans that have the same integral dose does not necessarily imply identical ERR maps, and these changes are due to the variations in the LET distribution map. Conclusion: Clinically, it is important to have a three dimensional display of biological end points. This study is an effort to introduce 3D ERR maps into the treatment planning workflow for certain sites such as pediatric head and neck tumors.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

SU-F-J-59: Assessment of Dose Response Distribution in Individual Human Tumor

Purpose: To fulfill precision radiotherapy via adaptive dose painting by number, voxel-by-voxel dose response or radio-sensitivity in individual human tumor needs to be determined in early treatment to guide treatment adaptation. In this study, multiple FDG PET images obtained pre- and weekly during the treatment course were utilized to determine the distribution/spectrum of dose response parameters in individual human tumors. Methods: FDG PET/CT images of 18 HN cancer patients were used in the study. Spatial parametric image of tumor metabolic ratio (dSUV) was created following voxel by voxel deformable image registration. Each voxel value in dSUV was a function of pre-treatment baseline SUV and treatment delivered dose, and used as a surrogate of tumor survival fraction (SF). Regression fitting with break points was performed using the LQ-model with tumor proliferation for the control and failure group of tumors separately. The distribution and spectrum of radiation sensitivity and growth in individual tumors were determined and evaluated. Results: Spectrum of tumor dose-sensitivity and proliferation in the controlled group was broad with α in tumor survival LQ-model from 0.17 to 0.8. It was proportional to the baseline SUV. Tlag was about 21∼25 days, and Tpot about 0.56∼1.67 days respectively. Commonly tumor voxels with high radio-sensitivity or larger α had small Tlag and Tpot. For the failure group, the radio-sensitivity α was low within 0.05 to 0.3, but did not show clear Tlag. In addition, tumor voxel radio-sensitivity could be estimated during the early treatment weeks. Conclusion: Dose response distribution with respect to radio-sensitivity and growth in individual human tumor can be determined using FDG PET imaging based tumor metabolic ratio measured in early treatment course. The discover is critical and provides a potential quantitative objective to implement tumor specific precision radiotherapy via adaptive dose painting by number.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Structural analysis of the PTEN:P-Rex2 signaling complex reveals how cancer-associated mutations coordinate to hyperactivate Rac1

The dual-specificity phosphatase PTEN functions as a tumor suppressor by hydrolyzing PI(3,4,5)P 3 to PI(4,5)P 2 to inhibit PI3K-AKT signaling and cellular proliferation. P-Rex2 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho GTPases and can be activated by Gβγ subunits downstream of G protein–coupled receptor signaling and by PI(3,4,5)P 3 downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases. The PTEN:P-Rex2 complex is a commonly mutated signaling node in metastatic cancer. Assembly of the PTEN:P-Rex2 complex inhibits the activity of both proteins, and its dysregulation can drive PI3K-AKT signaling and cellular proliferation. Here, using cross-linking mass spectrometry and functional studies, we gained mechanistic insights into PTEN:P-Rex2 complex assembly and coinhibition. We found that PTEN was anchored to P-Rex2 by interactions between the PDZ-interacting motif in the PTEN C-terminal tail and the second PDZ domain of P-Rex2. This interaction bridged PTEN across the P-Rex2 surface, preventing PI(3,4,5)P 3 hydrolysis. Conversely, PTEN both allosterically promoted an autoinhibited conformation of P-Rex2 and blocked its binding to Gβγ. In addition, we observed that the PTEN-deactivating mutations and P-Rex2 truncations combined to drive Rac1 activation to a greater extent than did either single variant alone. These insights enabled us to propose a class of gain-of-function, cancer-associated mutations within the PTEN:P-Rex2 interface that uncouple PTEN from the inhibition of Rac1 signaling.

D’Andrea, Laura↗