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Two novel gas separation membranes (Phenyl(Ph)-poly(ether ether ketone)s (PEEKs) and PEEKs) based on PEEKs with a high fractional free volume were designed and synthesized. The structure and thermodynamic stability of the membranes were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The two membranes, which were determined to be high-molecular weight polymers by gel permeation chromatography, showed good solubility in a weakly polar solvent. The gas transport properties of the Ph-PEEK membranes were investigated for different gases (CO2, O2, CH4, and N2) at 25°C and 1 atm. The Ph-PEEK-3 membrane with the largest free volume had the largest gas permeability coefficient and maintained good selectivity. The effect of operating temperature on the gas permeation of the Ph-PEEK-3 membrane was also investigated, and the maximum permeability of the four single gases was reached at 55°C and 1 atm.

Full ridge-furrow plastic film-mulching (FM) is an important drought-resistant and high-yield agricultural method employed in the Loess Plateau. The characteristics of FM, which are closely related to high-efficiency resource utilization and root-shoot coordination of crops, may serve as references for yield increases in a broad range of farmland types. However, few studies have investigated this topic. A 2-yr field study was conducted in the rain-fed arid farmland of the Loess Plateau experimental station to investigate the canopy development and root support of FM maize (Zea mays L.). Our results showed that FM not only accelerated canopy growth in the vegetative phase and prolonged the reproductive phase but also promoted N and biomass accumulation in leaves after flowering. The leaf N concentration and biomass in FM maize increased by 6.2-24.7% and 16.9-29.3%, respectively, during R1 (silking)-R3 (milk) stage compared with the control. However, although the total root biomass decreased, and less RL (root length) and root surface area were distributed in deep soil, FM reduced the decline rate of RL and surface area during the R1-R3 period by 20.5 and 15.2% in topsoil, respectively, compared to the control. Moreover, FM significantly increased the root efficiency of leaf nitrogen (REN) absorption by 66.7-84.6% at the R1 stage and increased the water use efficiency (WUE) of grain yield by 20.3-69.4%.In conclusion, maize plants under FM had strengthened photosynthetic organs with high efficiency and long-lasting root support in a prolonged reproductive phase.Abbreviations: CK, control treatment; FM, full ridge−furrow with plastic film-mulching method; PT, planting time; R1, silking stage; R3, milk stage; R6, mature stage; REN, root efficiency for nitrogen absorption, that is, shoot nitrogen absorption per unit of root length; RL, root length; SR, shoot/root biomass ratio; SW, soil water content; V6, 6-leaf stage; WUE, water use efficiency.

Circular RNA (circRNA), a recently identified endogenous non-coding RNA molecule, regulates gene expression in mammals. At the current stage, the expression and function of circRASSF2 in breast cancer (BC) have not been clarified. According to our study, it is found that circRASSF2 sequences contain miR-1205 binding sites, and Homeobox gene A1 (HOXA1) is the target gene of miR-1205. Besides, the clinical observations and histopathologic study reveal that the expression of circRASSF2 increased to a significant extent in BC tissues and serum. Additionally, it is found that circRASSF2 expression had a positive correlation with distant metastasis, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, differentiation and tumor size, and that overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of circRASSF2 high expression BC patients were inferior to those with low circRASSF2 expression. In vitro study, an overt decrease was detected in the proliferation, clone formation ability, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells in cells when circRASSF2 was knocked down. We confirmed the direct interaction between circRASSF2, miR-1205 and HOXA1 by a dual luciferase reporter system. Additionally, our study revealed that over-expression of miR-1205 decreased HOXA1 protein expression, and HOXA1 protein expression decreased when circRASSF2 were knocked down, and when miR-1205 expression was inhibited, HOXA1 expression was significantly increased. In conclusion, our study suggests that circRASSF2 regulates BC progression through the miR-1205/HOXA1 pathway. Our findings suggest the prospect of circRASSF2 serving as therapeutic target as such to cure BC patients.

Paeonia veitchii has been widely distributed in China under different ecological types. Its roots contain diverse phytochemical constituents, which possess very high bioactivities. However, the influence of ecological factors on activities and ingredients of P. veitchii roots still remains unknown. The purpose of this research was to analyze the variation in bioactivities and phytochemical composition of P. veitchii roots upon exposure to various ecological factors. Seven P. veitchii populations collected from different regions in China were evaluated. The results of correlation analysis suggested that four major ecological factors, including average annual temperature, elevation, total potassium, and organic matter, had a strong correlation with the bioactivities of P. veitchii roots. Further, the major ecological factors were also highly correlated with the contents of naringin, gallic acid, benzoylpaeoniflorin, and paeoniflorin. The principal component analysis results supported four major metabolites as the main contributing ingredients. All populations were classified into three groups, G1, G2, and G3, through hierarchical cluster analysis. G1 showed more significant advantages in the above-mentioned four ecological factors, four active ingredients, and bioactivities compared to the other two groups. P. veitchii roots growing at lower average annual temperature, high elevation, rich total potassium and organic matter in the soils were presumed to have relatively higher bioactivities. These data expand the study on the bioactivities and phytochemical composition of P. veitchii roots and have a guiding significance for the ecological factor selection during the cultivation process of this herbaceous peony species.

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