TGF-β-induced activation of conjunctival fibroblasts is modulated by FGF-2 and substratum stiffness

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effects of substratum stiffness on the sensitivity of human conjunctival fibroblasts to transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and to explore the molecular mechanism of action. Methods Human conjunctival fibroblasts were cultured on collagen-coated plastic or silicone plates. The stiffness of the silicone plates was 0.2 or 64 kPa. Cells were treated by 2.5 ng/mL TGF-β2 with or without fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 (0–100 ng/mL) for 24 h or 48 h. The protein expression levels were determined by Western blot analysis. Cell proliferation was assessed using the WST-8 assay. Results FGF-2 suppressed the TGF-β-induced expression of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and collagen type I (Col I), but not fibronectin (FN). Both FGF-2 and TGF-β2 increased cell proliferation without an additive effect. The induction of α-SMA by TGF-β2 was decreased on the soft substratum, without any change in the expression level or subcellular location of Yes-associated protein/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ). FGF-2 suppressed TGF-β-induced α-SMA expression even on the soft substratum. Conclusions FGF-2 treatment and a soft substratum suppressed TGF-β-induced transdifferentiation of conjunctival fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. FGF-2 attenuated the TGF-β-induced expression of α-SMA, even on a soft substratum.

Influence of Surcharge Load on the Adjacent Pile Foundation in Coastal Floodplain

<p><strong> </strong>In this paper, in order to investigate the behavior of existing piles caused by the horizontal and compression deformation of soft substratum due to backfill surcharge on coastal floodplain, three-dimensional finite element models of piles adjacent to surcharge load were established. The deformation and migration law of soft soil was analyzed. The behavior of single pile and double row pile adjacent to surcharge load were studied, in which the influence of surcharge load location, surcharge pressure, pile stiffness, and pile top constraint conditions were considered. The results show that as the position of surcharge load is closer and the surcharge pressure increases, the response (e.g. deformation and bending moment) is more obvious. With the increase of pile stiffness, the range of passive load is increased. The deformation behavior of pile body under different constraints of pile cap is significantly different. The effect of secondary bending moment caused by pile axial force is obvious and cannot be ignored. If there is a thick soft substratum, it is beneficial to improve the behavior of adjacent piles by using cement mixing pile reinforcement.</p>

Subtidal littering: Indirect effects on soft substratum macrofauna?

Changes in macrofauna community structure, abundance and species richness were examined both before and one year after the deployment of plastic and glass bottles at littered (litter density: 16 items / 100 m2) and non-littered (control) surfaces at three unimpacted coastal areas of the western Saronikos Gulf (Greece). In parallel, LOI% at the adjacent sediments and changes in the composition of feeding types of the megaepifauna that colonized the litter were examined across treatments. Significant changes in macrofauna community structure were demonstrated between before and after littering. At only one of the sites was there detected a significant difference in macrofauna community structure between control and littered plots after littering. This difference was linked with a significant increase in the abundance of opportunistic polychaete species and LOI% levels in the sediment surface due to the entrapment of macrophytal debris within the littered surface. The study did not show a consistent direct response of macroinfauna community to litter and the associated megafauna. Unlike the megafauna attracted by litter items, soft-substratum macrofauna is less responsive to the addition of novel hard substrates in adjacent sediments. Alternatively, it could be that the impact of littering with small items triggers a macrofauna response detectable in the long-run.

Anapetopsis, a new Late Silurian Gastropod from Nova Scotia

Anapetopsis, a new late Silurian gastropod genus, is described from the Stonehouse Formation of Arisaig, Nova Scotia. Two new species, A. maclearni and A. lalajae, are assigned to the genus which displays a widely expanded aperture possibly reflecting association with a soft substratum.