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Accurate information about the vehicle state such as sideslip angle is critical for both advanced assisted driving systems and driverless driving. These vehicle states are used for active safety control and motion planning of the vehicle. Since these state parameters cannot be directly measured by onboard sensors, this paper proposes an adaptive estimation scheme in case of unknown measurement noise. Firstly, an estimation method based on the bicycle model is established using a square-root cubature Kalman filter (SQCKF), and secondly, the expectation maximization (EM) approach is used to dynamically update the statistic parameters of measurement noise and integrate it into SQCKF to form a new expectation maximization square-root cubature Kalman filter (EMSQCKF) algorithm. Simulations and experiments show that EMSQCKF has higher estimation accuracy under different driving conditions compared to the unscented Kalman filter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) serves as a critical enzyme in mediating the N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) that ensures RNA stability and effective translation processes. The role of NAT10 in driving the advancement of breast cancer remains uninvestigated. Methods: We observed an increase in NAT10 expression, both at mRNA level through the analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and at the protein level of tumor tissues from breast cancer patients. We determined that a heightened expression of NAT10 served as a predictor of an unfavorable clinical outcome. By screening the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) cell bank, this expression pattern of NAT10 was consistency found across almost all the classic breast cancer cell lines. Results: Functionally, interference of NAT10 expression exerts an inhibitory effect on proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells. By using ac4C RNA immunoprecipitation (ac4c-RIP) and acRIP-qPCR assays, we identified a reduction of ac4C enrichment within the ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters, multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), consequent to NAT10 suppression. Expressions of MDR1 and BCRP exhibited a positive correlation with NAT10 expression in tumor tissues, and the inhibition of NAT10 in breast cancer cells resulted in a decrease of MDR1 and BCRP expression. Therefore, the overexpressing of MDR1 and BCRP could partially rescue the adverse consequences of NAT10 depletion. In addition, we found that, remodelin, a NAT10 inhibitor, reinstated the susceptibility of capecitabine-resistant breast cancer cells to the chemotherapy, both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: The results of our study demonstrated the essential role of NAT10-mediated ac4c-modification in breast cancer progression and provide a novel strategy for overcoming chemoresistance challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eukaryotic cells coordinate growth under different environmental conditions via mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). In the amino-acid-sensing signalling pathway, the GATOR2 complex, containing five evolutionarily conserved subunits (WDR59, Mios, WDR24, Seh1L and Sec13), is required to regulate mTORC1 activity by interacting with upstream CASTOR1 (arginine sensor) and Sestrin2 (leucine sensor and downstream GATOR1 complex). GATOR2 complex utilizes β-propellers to engage with CASTOR1, Sestrin2 and GATOR1, removal of these β-propellers results in substantial loss of mTORC1 capacity. However, structural information regarding the interface between amino acid sensors and GATOR2 remains elusive. With the recent progress of the AI-based tool AlphaFold2 (AF2) for protein structure prediction, structural models were predicted for Sentrin2-WDR24-Seh1L and CASTOR1-Mios β-propeller. Furthermore, the effectiveness of relevant residues within the interface was examined using biochemical experiments combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Notably, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis detected the structural transition of GATOR2 in response to amino acid signals, and the deletion of Mios β-propeller severely impeded that change at distinct arginine levels. These findings provide structural perspectives on the association between GATOR2 and amino acid sensors and can facilitate future research on structure determination and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) is a crucial H2O2 scavenger that utilizes ascorbic acid as an electron donor and plays a significant role in plant stress resistance. This study aims to identify and characterize the Brassica napus L. APX gene family through genome and transcriptome sequencing, while also revealing their expression profile under low-temperature stress via transcriptome and proteome analysis. The results indicate the presence of 18 genes with three different conserved domains distributed in Brassica napus L., which can be classified into three major branches based on phylogenetic analysis. Eleven members were predicted to have the low-temperature response component (LTR). Most APX genes exhibit up-regulated transcriptional expression under low temperature stress, particularly APX2, APX4, APX12, and APX18. In terms of proteomics data, only six members (APX2, APX4, APX8, APX12, APX17, and APX18) showed temporal specificity in their expression patterns. Therefore, this study provides valuable insights into the complexity of the APX family in the functional characterization of its genes for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the correlation between vitamin D and diabetic nephropathy. Methods: Relevant evidences were searched from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid and China Knowledge Resource Integrated (CNKI), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform databases (WANFANG), and VIP dating from inception to December 2019 to obtain the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of vitamin D in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of included studies. Rev Man 5.3 software was used to conduct statistical analysis. Results: A total of 10 studies involving 651 patients were identified. These studies were finally included into the meta-analysis. A meta-analysis results showed that vitamin D is the protection factor in diabetic nephropathy, the group treated with vitamin D did better than the traditional drug and the placebo group. After taking vitamin D, the level of vitamin D in the patient's body increased significantly. Pooled results showed that there was a significant difference for vitamin D (MD = 38.24, 95%CI = 32.69–43.79, p < 0.001.) The patient had a significant decrease in urinary protein; the difference was statistically significant (MD = − 180.92, 95%CI = − 212.67 to − 149.16, p < 0.001). The blood creatinine content decreased obviously (MD = − 17.13, 95%CI = − 27.88 to − 6.37, p < 0.01). However, most of the included studies did not report the quality of life and adverse reactions of patients, making it impossible to analyze these measures. Conclusion: This study showed that vitamin D played an active role in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy and can be used in future clinical applications. However, there are still some studies of low quality in the included studies, so it is suggested that clinical and scientific researchers carry out more high-quality, large sample, multi-center randomized controlled trials (RCTS) to provide more evidence-based medical evidence for future studies on vitamin D treatment of diabetic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid energy consumption increase in China's non-ferrous metal industry (NMI), there are inequalities in energy-related CO2 emissions among the sub-sectors. In this paper, a meta-frontier decomposition analysis was proposed for decomposing inter-structural low-carbon economic development inequalities among 29 sub-sectors in China's NMI from 2004 to 2018 into 11 components, including four new factors, i.e., energy- and output-oriented technological gaps and scale economies. In addition, an I(CI) index is constructed to measure the inter-inequalities of low-carbon economic development among NMI and decomposed from the static and dynamic perspectives, respectively. Results show that: (1) I(CI) index was in a downward trend during 2004-2010, while remained stable during 2010-2018; (2) the energy-oriented technological gap (ETG) was the key promoters to increase I(CI); (3) the potential energy intensity (PEI) was the primary inhibiting factor for I(CI); (4) the government can reduce the inter-inequalities by narrowing the technological gap and reducing potential energy intensity in the energy market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na5YSi4O12 (NYSO) is demonstrated as a promising electrolyte with high ionic conductivity and low activation energy for practical use in solid Na-ion batteries. Solid-state NMR was employed to identify the six types of coordination of Na+ ions and migration pathway, which is vital to master working mechanism and enhance performance. The assignment of each sodium site is clearly determined from high-quality 23Na NMR spectra by the aid of Density Functional Theory calculation. Well-resolved 23Na exchangespectroscopy and electrochemical tracer exchange spectra provide the first experimental evidence to show the existence of ionic exchange between sodium at Na5 and Na6 sites, revealing that Na transport route is possibly along three-dimensional chain of open channel-Na4-open channel. Variable-temperature NMR relaxometry is developed to evaluate Na jump rates and self-diffusion coefficient to probe the sodium-ion dynamics in NYSO. Furthermore, NYSO works well as a dual ion conductor in Na and Li metal batteries with Na3V2(PO4)3 and LiFePO4 as cathodes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rectifying and photoelectronic properties of the La0.67Ba0.33MnO3/SrTiO3:Nb junctions with the film thickness from d=0.5 to 30 nm have been systematically studied. It is found that the electronic transport of the junction is dominated by quantum tunneling or thermoionic emission when film thickness is below or above 1 nm. The rectifying ratio and ideality factor, correspondingly, experience a sudden change as film thickness grows from 0.5 to 1 nm and a smooth variation with film thickness above 1 nm. The threshold film thickness for the establishment of a mature depletion layer is therefore 1 nm. The photoemission properties of the junctions also exhibit a strong dependence on film thickness. As experimentally shown, the photocurrent vanishes in the zero thickness limit, and grows rapidly with the increase in film thickness until d=6 nm, where a maximal photocurrent of ∼770 nA/mm2 under the irradiance of the laser of 5 mW and 532 nm is obtained. After this maximum, an increase-to-decrease turning appears with further increasing film thickness. Taking into account the finite diffusion distance of the photocarriers and the strain-enhanced charge trapping in ultrathin film junctions, a theoretical description that well reproduces the experiment results can be obtained, which reveals the severe depression of finite diffusion distance of the extra carriers on photocurrent. The maximal diffusion distance thus obtained is ∼3.5 nm. Similar analyses have been performed for the La0.67Ca0.33MnO3/SrTiO3:Nb junctions, and the corresponding diffusion distance there is ∼1.5 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To identify the risk factors for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria systematically and provide suggestions and an evidence-base for clinical measures. Background: With the increase in the social population, changes in human behaviour and ecosystems, as well as economic development, bacteria have gradually produced drug resistance genes. These have swept through intensive care units causing high mortality. Methods: Relevant literature which included case-control and cohort studies published from January 1999 to March 2017 were searched in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline. Meta-analysis was performed by using StataSE version 12.0 software. Results: Eighteen studies of 235 publications were eligible. Male gender (OR 1.40, 95%CI 1.09, 1.80), having an operative procedure (OR 1.31, 95%CI 1.10, 1.56), a central venous catheter (OR 1.22, 95%CI 1.01, 1.48), mechanical ventilation (OR 1.25, 95%CI 1.07, 1.46), previous antibiotic therapy (OR 1.66, 95%CI 1.41, 1.96), length of ICU stay (weighted mean difference 8.18, 95%CI 0.27, 16.10), and types of health-associated infections were the identified risk factors for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infection in intensive care units; moreover, diabetes mellitus was not. Conclusion: Six risk factors were associated with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infection in intensive care units. Antimicrobial stewardship, infection control, and medical staff prevention care are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tryptophan and its derivatives perform a variety of biological functions; however, the role and specific mechanism of many tryptophan derivatives in intestinal inflammation remain largely unclear. Here, we identified that an Escherichia coli strain (Ec-TMU) isolated from the feces of tinidazole-treated individuals, and indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) in its supernatant, decreased the susceptibility of mice to dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Ec-TMU and ILA contribute to the relief of colitis by inhibiting the production of epithelial CCL2/7, thereby reducing the accumulation of inflammatory macrophages in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, ILA downregulates glycolysis, NF-κB, and HIF signaling pathways via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, resulting in decreased CCL2/7 production in epithelial cells. Clinical evidence suggests that the fecal ILA level is negatively correlated with the progression indicator of inflammatory bowel diseases. These results demonstrate that ILA has the potential to regulate intestinal homeostasis by modulating epithelium-macrophage interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulative evidence demonstrates that the protein tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 functions as a powerful tumor promoter in many types of cancers. Abnormal expression of Shp2 has been implicated in many human malignancies. Overexpression of Shp2 in cancer tissues is correlated with cancer metastasis, resistance to targeted therapy, and poor prognosis. The well-known function of Shp2 is its positive role in regulating cellular signaling initiated by growth factors and cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6). Several recent studies have shown that Shp2 is required for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), triggered by growth factors. However, whether Shp2 is involved in IL-6-signaling-promoted breast cancer EMT and progression, remains undefined. In this study, we showed that exogenous and endogenous IL-6 can enhance breast cancer invasion and migration, through the promotion of EMT. IL-6 also induces the activation of Erk1/2 and the phosphorylation of Shp2. Knockdown of Shp2 attenuated the IL-6-induced downregulation of E-cadherin, as well as IL-6-promoted cell migration and invasion. Moreover, by using Shp2 phosphatase mutants, phosphor-tyrosine mimicking, and deficiency mutants, we provided evidence that the phosphatase activity of Shp2 and its tyrosine phosphorylation, are necessary for the IL-6-induced downregulation of E-cadherin and the phosphorylation of Erk1/2. Our findings uncover an important function that links Shp2 to IL-6-promoted breast cancer progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction of π-conjugation network in ordered fullerenes by self-assembly remains challenging for improving their optoelectronic performance and developing advanced materials. Here, we present a layered stacking of self-n-doped fullerene ammonium iodide (PCBANI) through a delicate balance among iodide anion-C60 π, electrostatic, and C60 π-π interactions to construct an unprecedented supramolecular system. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and computational modeling are carried out to clarify the structure. Remarkably, the formation of intermolecular iodide anion−π interactions between iodide and the surrounded fullerene cores yields an iodide-linked C60 π-π two-dimensional (2-D) network. Consequently, the ordered and tightly packed fullerenes sandwiching iodide could facilitate electron transfer along the network system. Comparative devices incorporating the disordered films show dramatically decreased current densities and manifest the importance of the π-extended network for electron transfer. This work provides a key strategy to control the packing of ordered electron-transport materials to suppress defect formation. Moreover, engineering self-assembly of self-n-doped fullerenes with novel architectures, such as nanowire, nanotube, and nanoparticle would yield new functionalities that are suitable for photovoltaic devices, nanoelectronics, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is one of the most lethal gynecologic cancers. Patients frequently have regional or distant metastasis at diagnosis. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that participate in numerous biological processes. Recent studies have demonstrated that miR-505 is associated with several types of cancer; however, the expression and function of miR-505 have not been investigated in EC. Methods: miR-505 expression in normal endometrial tissue, endometrial carcinomas were quantified by Quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The endometrial carcinoma cell lines HEC-1B and Ishikawa were each transfected with miR-505 or scrambled mimics, after which cell phenotype and expression of relevant molecules were assayed. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and a xenograft mouse model were used to examine miR-505 and its target gene TGF-α. Results: RT-PCR results demonstrated that miR-505 was significantly downregulated in human EC tissues compared to normal endometrial tissues. Besides, miR-505 expression was negatively associated with FIGO stage (stage I-II vs. III-IV), and lymph node metastasis (negative vs. positive). In vitro, overexpression of miR-505 significantly suppressed EC cell proliferation, increased apoptosis and reduced migratory and invasive activity. A miR-505 binding site was identified in the 3′ untranslated region of TGF-α mRNA (TGFA) using miRNA target-detecting software; a dual luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-505 directly targets and regulates TGFA. RT-PCR and Western-blotting results indicated that overexpressing miR-505 reduced the expression of TGF-α and the TGF-α-regulated proteins MMP2, MMP9, CDK2, while induced Bax and cleaved-PARP expression in EC cells. In vivo, overexpression of miR-505 reduced the tumorigenicity and inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors in a mouse model of EC. Conclusions: Taken together, this study demonstrates that miR-505 acts as tumor suppressor in EC by regulating TGF-α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have shown that microRNAs may regulate the ABCB1 gene (ATP-binding cassette, sub-family B [MDR/TAP], member 1). Computational programs have predicted that the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of ABCB1 contains a potential miRNA-binding site for miR-186. Here, we investigated the role of miR-186 in sensitizing ovarian cancer cells to paclitaxel and cisplatin. Results: Human ovarian carcinoma cell lines OVCAR3, A2780, A2780/DDP, and A2780/Taxol were exposed to paclitaxel or cisplatin with or without miR-186 transfection, and cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were used to assess the MDR1, GST-π, and MRP1 expression levels. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to reveal the correlation between miR-186 and ABCB1. Lower miR-186 while higher MDR1 and GST-π mRNA expression levels were found in the A2780/Taxol and A2780/DDP cells than in the A2780 cells. After miR-186 transfection, all the cell lines showed increased sensitivity to paclitaxel and cisplatin. MiR-186 transfection induced apoptosis while anti-miR-186 transfection reduced apoptosis. The dual-luciferase reporter assay verified that that miR-186 combined with the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of ABCB1. MDR1 and GST-π mRNA and protein expression levels were downregulated after transfection with miR-186 but upregulated following anti-miR-186 transfection compared to the mock and negative control cancer cells; however, the MRP1 expression levels did not significantly differ among the groups. Conclusion: Our results are the first to demonstrate that miR-186 may sensitize ovarian cancer cell to paclitaxel and cisplatin by targeting ABCB1 and modulating the expression of GST-π. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose The long term results of vertebral artery ostium (VAO) stenting remain uncertain. We sought to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for recurrent ischemic events on long term follow-up in patients who have undergone VAO stenting. Methods 190 consecutive patients who had undergone a total of 202 stenting procedures for symptomatic atherosclerotic VAO stenosis between January 2011 and December 2012 were screened. Baseline demographics of the patients and morphological features of VAO were recorded. The primary outcome events analyzed included recurrent transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke, and vascular related mortality. Risk factors for these recurrent events were identified. Other outcome events analyzed included in-stent restenosis (ISR) ≥50% and stent fracture noted on follow-up. Results Of the 188 patients with available follow-up data (mean follow-up period 16.7 months), 34 patients suffered recurrent TIAs (18.1%); none had stroke or death. 40 patients were found to have ISR (21.2%) and nine patients had stent fracture (4.7%). Patients with recurrent events were significantly more likely to have ISR, stent fracture, vessel tortuosity, and hyperlipidemia than patients without recurrent events. Conclusions Stenting for VAO stenosis seems to be safe and efficacious. The majority of recurrent events were TIAs, which may be related to ISR, stent fracture, vessel tortuosity, and hyperlipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early-life stress has long-term impacts on the structure and function of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and raises the risk of adult neuropsychiatric disorders including social dysfunction. The underlying neural mechanisms, however, are still uncertain. Here, we show that, in female mice, maternal separation (MS) during the first three postnatal weeks results in social impairment accompanied with hypoactivity in pyramidal neurons (PNs) of the ACC. Activation of ACC PNs ameliorates MS-induced social impairment. Neuropeptide Hcrt, which encodes hypocretin (orexin), is the top down-regulated gene in the ACC of MS females. Activating ACC orexin terminals enhances the activity of ACC PNs and rescues the diminished sociability observed in MS females via an orexin receptor 2 (OxR2)-dependent mechanism. Our results suggest orexin signaling in the ACC is critical in mediating early-life stress-induced social impairment in females [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By taking advantage of low ionization potentials of alkali atoms, we demonstrate terahertz wave generation from cesium and rubidium vapor plasmas with an amplitude nearly one order of magnitude larger than that from nitrogen gas at low pressure (0.02-0.5 Torr). The observed phenomena are explained by the numerical modeling based upon electron tunneling ionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to clarify whether the water extract of Chorispora bungeana was an antioxidant agent against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Our results showed that water extract of Chorispora bungeana treatment significantly reduced neurological deficit scores, infarct size, MDA and carbonyl contents, and GSH/GSSG ratio compared with the model control group. After being treated by Chorispora bungeana, SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities remarkably increased. Chorispora bungeana treatment also improved 8-OHdG expression and cell apoptosis. Our findings indicated that the water extract of Chorispora bungeana possesses neuroprotective effect which is most likely achieved by antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waxy maize contains nearly 100% of the branched amylopectin type of starch, which has a similar structure to that of a commercial anionic organic micro-particle (OMP). It was found that the maize starch would have the same function as the OMP if carboxymethyl groups were introduced; moreover, the performance of carboxymethyl starch as a retention and drainage aid could be enhanced by grafting some cationic groups on the backbone of the starch so that it could absorb on fibers through electrostatic attraction. In this study, the introduced groups of cationic-modified carboxymethyl starch (CCMS) prepared from waxy maize were determined by FT-IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Factors affecting retention and drainage, comparison between CCMS and OMP systems, and also the strengthening effect of CCMS were studied. The results showed that CCMS had excellent performance when it was used with cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) as a retention system. Compared with the OMP, CCMS had better retention performance when the dosage was in the range from 0.01% to 0.08%, and it yielded much more uniform formation of the handsheets. Additionally, CCMS had a strengthening effect on the paper, which distinguished it from other retention aids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel tetraazaporphyrinato (TAP) copper compounds 1–5 substituted with different numbers of 15-crown-5 voids and photochromic 1,2-bisthienylethenes (BTEs) were synthesized by ‘one-pot' reaction and characterized by spectroscopic methods as well as elemental analysis. The effects of BTE and 15-crown-5 substituent number and molecular symmetry on the electronic absorption spectra, infrared spectra, photochromic performance and supramolecular structure formation induced by K+ ions have been systematically investigated. All the BTE-TAP hybrids presented photocyclization and cycloreversion with different quantum yields by irradiation with 365 and 700 nm light in CHCl3 solution, respectively. The steric hindrance derived from the BTE substituents prevents the cofacial dimerization of the compounds, and only linear dimers formed as a result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recovery of uranium(VI) from chloride solution using a liquid emulsion membrane (LEM) technique was studied. The emulsion is constituted by the quaternary salt of benzyloctadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride (BODMAC, R4NCl) as a carrier, kerosene as organic diluent, Span 80 as emulsifying agent and 0.5 mol/l Na2CO3 as stripping phase. The important variables affecting the LEM permeation process such as the concentrations of extractant, internal strip phase, types of organic diluent, and the presence of magnesium chloride or magnesium sulfate were investigated. It was found that, at a given condition, the maximum extraction rate of uranium(VI) reached 80%. The emulsion was stable at low pH in the presence of certain amounts of electrolytes such as NaCl and MgCl2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a method of rotational and vibrational temperature estimation in nitrogen plasma by simulation of the emission spectrum of the first positive system (B 3Πg→A 3Σu+) of nitrogen. The gas kinetic temperature, assumed to be in equilibrium with the rotational temperature, was obtained from a fit to the experimentally obtained 0→0 at 1051 nm, 1→0 at 872.23 nm, and 2→0 at 775.32 nm rovibrational band spectra. Excellent agreement between values inferred from each band [(499±29) K] as well as inferred by using the 3→0 band peak ratio method [(473±25) K] was obtained for a 600 W, 850 G, and 10 mTorr helicon N2 plasma. The vibrational temperature was determined from a Boltzmann plot of the integrated band intensities [(6040±225) K] and by numerical fit to the Δv=+1, +2, and +3 sequences after accounting for Franck-Condon factors and electronic-vibrational transition moments [(6200±400) K]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Magnetic Nozzle Experiment (MNX) is a linear magnetized helicon-heated plasma device, with applications to advanced spacecraft-propulsion methods and solar-corona physics. This paper reviews ion and electron energy distributions measured in MNX with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and probes, respectively. Ions, cold and highly collisional in the main MNX region, are accelerated along a uniform magnetic field to sonic then supersonic speeds as they exit the main region through either mechanical or magnetic apertures. A sharp decrease in density down- stream of the aperture(s) helps effect a transition from collisional to collisionless plasma. The electrons in the downstream region have an average energy somewhat higher than that in the main region. From LIF ion-velocity measurements, we find upstream of the aperture a presheath of strength Δϕps = mrTe, where mrTe is the electron temperature in the main region, and length ∼3 cm, comparable to the ion-neutral mean-free-path; immediately downstream of the aperture is an electrostatic double layer of strength ΔϕDL 3-10 mrTe and length 0.3-0.6 cm, 30-600λD. The existence of a small, ca. 0.1%, superthermal electron population with average energy ∼10 mrTe is inferred from considerations of spectroscopic line ratios, floating potentials, and Langmuir probe data. The superthermal electrons are suggested to be the source for the large ΔϕDL . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low-frequency, transverse electromagnetic wave is observed in a magnetized helicon plasma with 1>β>νe/Ωe. The wave is localized to the vicinity of the largest plasma density gradient and appears only at a low neutral pressure. Based on the scaling of the wave frequency and amplitude with magnetic field strength, the wave is identified as the resistive drift Alfvén wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using laser-induced fluorescence, measurements of parallel ion velocities were made along the axis of a helicon-generated Ar plasma column whose radius was modified by spatially separated mechanical and magnetic apertures. Ion acceleration to supersonic speeds was observed 0.1–5 cm downstream of both aperture types, simultaneously generating two steady-state double layers (DLs) when both apertures were in place. The DL downstream of the mechanical aperture plate had a larger potential drop, Δ[lowercase_phi_synonym]DL=6–9 kTe, compared to the DL downstream of the magnetic aperture, Δ[lowercase_phi_synonym]DL∼3 kTe. In the presheath region upstream of the mechanical aperture, the convective ion speed increased over a collisional distance; from stagnant at 4 cm from the aperture to the 1.4 times the sound speed at the aperture. The dependence of the free- and trapped-ion-velocity-distribution functions on the magnetic-field strength and mechanical-aperture electrical bias are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The condensation of aromatic aldehydes and barbituric acid catalyzed by SiO2·12WO3·24H2O in aqueous media at room temperature gave 5-arylidene barbituric acid in high yields with or without the use of ultrasound, providing a simple and efficient route to synthesis of these compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We carry out detailed momentum-dependent and temperature-dependent measurements on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi2212) superconductor in the superconducting and pseudogap states by super-high resolution laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The precise determination of the superconducting gap for the nearly optimally doped Bi2212 (K) at low temperature indicates that the momentum-dependence of the superconducting gap deviates from the standard d-wave form ()). It can be alternatively fitted by including a high-order term ()) in which the next nearest-neighbor interaction is considered. We find that the band structure near the antinodal region smoothly evolves across the pseudogap temperature without a signature of band reorganization which is distinct from that found in Bi2Sr2CuO6+δ superconductors. This indicates that the band reorganization across the pseudogap temperature is not a universal behavior in cuprate superconductors. These results provide new insights in understanding the nature of the superconducting gap and pseudogap in high-temperature cuprate superconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of self-organizing 'mini-gut' organoid models has brought about a significant breakthrough in biomedical research. Patient-derived tumor organoids have emerged as valuable tools for preclinical studies, offering the retention of genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the original tumor. These organoids have applications in various research areas, including in vitro modelling, drug discovery and personalized medicine. The present review provided an overview of intestinal organoids, focusing on their unique characteristics and current understanding. The progress made in colorectal cancer (CRC) organoid models was then delved into, discussing their role in drug development and personalized medicine. For instance, it has been indicated that patient-derived tumor organoids are able to predict response to irinotecan-based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Furthermore, the limitations and challenges associated with current CRC organoid models were addressed, along with proposed strategies for enhancing their utility in future basic and translational research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The serine-threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a heterotrimeric enzyme complex that plays a vital role in regulating male reproductive activities. However, as an essential member of the PP2A family, the physiological functions of PP2A regulatory subunit B55α (PPP2R2A) in testis remain inconclusive. Hu sheep are noted for their reproductive precocity and fertility, and are ideal models for the study of male reproductive physiology. Here, we analyzed the expression patterns of PPP2R2A in the male Hu sheep reproductive tract at different developmental stages and further investigated its role in testosterone secretion and its underlying mechanisms. In this study, we found that there were temporal and spatial differences in PPP2R2A protein expression in the testis and epididymis, especially the expression abundance in the testis at 8 months old (8M) was higher than that at 3 months old (3M). Interestingly, we observed that PPP2R2A interference reduced the testosterone levels in the cell culture medium, which is accompanied by a reduction in Leydig cell proliferation and an elevation in Leydig cell apoptosis. The level of reactive oxygen species in cells increased significantly, while the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) decreased significantly after PPP2R2A deletion. Meanwhile, the mitochondrial mitotic protein DNM1L was significantly upregulated, while the mitochondrial fusion proteins MFN1/2 and OPA1 were significantly downregulated after PPP2R2A interference. Furthermore, PPP2R2A interference suppressed the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Taken together, our data indicated that PPP2R2A enhanced testosterone secretion, promoted cell proliferation, and inhibited cell apoptosis in vitro, all of which were associated with the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrode materials and electrolytes play a vital role in device-level performance of rechargeable Li-ion batteries (LIBs). However, electrode structure/component degeneration and electrode-electrolyte sur-/interface evolution are identified as the most crucial obstacles in practical applications. Thanks to its congenital advantages, atomic layer deposition (ALD) methodology has attracted enormous attention in advanced LIBs. This review mainly focuses upon the up-to-date progress and development of the ALD in high-performance LIBs. The significant roles of the ALD in rational design and fabrication of multi-dimensional nanostructured electrode materials, and finely tailoring electrode-electrolyte sur-/interfaces are comprehensively highlighted. Furthermore, we clearly envision that this contribution will motivate more extensive and insightful studies in the ALD to considerably improve Li-storage behaviors. Future trends and prospects to further develop advanced ALD nanotechnology in next-generation LIBs were also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is increasing evidence in support of the role of lncRNAs in tumor cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Methods: We examined the expression of the lncRNA ABHD11-AS in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tissues and normal ovarian tissues by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). After inducing ABHD11-AS downregulation by small interfering RNA (siRNA) or ABHD11-AS overexpression by plasmid transfection, we examined the EOC cell phenotypes and expression of related molecules. Results: Expression of the lncRNA ABHD11-AS in EOC tissues was higher than that in normal ovarian tissue. It was positively associated with the tumor stage (stage I/II vs. stage III/IV), and it was lower in the well-differentiated group than in the poorly/moderately differentiated group. Overexpression of ABHD11-AS in the ovarian cancer cell lines A2780 and OVCAR3 promoted ovarian cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and inhibited apoptosis. Silencing of ABHD11-AS had the opposite effect. Subcutaneous injection of tumor cells in nude mice showed that ABHD11-AS could significantly promote tumor growth. In addition, intraperitoneal injection of tumor cells in the nude mice resulted in an increase in the metastatic ability of the tumor. Further, overexpression of ABHD11-AS upregulated the expression of RhoC and its downstream molecules P70s6k, MMP2 and BCL-xL. Silencing of ABHD11-AS had the opposite effect. The RNA pull-down assay showed that ABHD11-AS can combine directly with RhoC. Silencing of RhoC was found to inhibit the cancer-promoting effects of lncRNA ABHD11-AS. Thus, it seems that RhoC is a major target of the lncRNA ABHD11-AS. Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate the role of RhoC in the tumor-promoting effects of the lncRNA ABHD11-AS. The present findings shed light on new therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histone modification is an important epigenetic regulation in higher plants adapting to environment changes including salt and drought stresses. In this report, we show that the Arabidopsis RPD3-type histone deacetylase HDA9 is involved in modulating plant responses to salt and drought stresses in Arabidopsis. Loss-of-function mutants of the gene displayed phenotypes (such as seedling root growth and seed germination) insensitive to NaCl and polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatments. HDA9 mutation led to up-regulation of many genes, among which those involved in response to water deprivation stress (GO: 0009414) were enriched. These genes were much more induced in the mutants than wild-type plants when treated with PEG and NaCl. In addition, we found that in the mutants, salt and drought stresses led to much higher levels of histone H3K9 acetylation at promoters of 14 genes randomly selected from those that respond to water-deprivation stress than in wild-type plants. Our study suggested that HDA9 might be a novel chromatin protein that negatively regulates plant sensitivity to salt and drought stresses by regulating histone acetylation levels of a large number of stress-responsive genes in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is an important reproductive health issue with a serious adverse effect on patients and their families worldwide. The present study evaluated the association between mycoplasma infections and RSA in pregnant patients. Methodology: This case-control study included 107 patients with RSA (study group) and 89 normal pregnant women who had planned abortions (control group) between March 2019 and February 2021. Cervical swabs were assessed for the presence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum by Microtiter Plate Hybridization assay. Results: A total of 52 (48.6%) patients from the study group and 13 (14.6%) patients from control group were positive for mycoplasmas. The presence of M. hominis (29.9% vs. 9%; p = 0.024), U. urealyticum (18.7% vs. 5.6%; p = 0.015) and the co-infection of M. hominis/U. urealyticum (14% vs. 1%; p = 0.032) were significantly higher in the study group. Multivariate analysis revealed that pelvic pain (Odds Ratio [OR] = 3.42; 95% CI = 0.40-3.65; p = 0.015), dysuria (OR = 4.12; 95% CI = 1.59-8.23; p = 0.021), and urinary tract infection (OR = 3.97; 95% CI = 1.52-4.17; p = 0.032) were independent predictors of RSA. Conclusions: The high prevalence of M. hominis/U. urealyticum in this study reveals a significant association with RSA. Pelvic pain and Mycoplasma infections are independent predictors of RSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the feasibility and safety of transradial artery access for endovascular intervention of severe intracranial vertebrobasilar stenosis for selected patients not suitable for transfemoral access. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 58 patients who had undergone intervention for severe intracranial vertebrobasilar stenosis using transradial access between January 2012 and September 2014. The reasons for transradial access were traced. The outcome measures were the technical success rate, 30-day stroke or death in the territory of the culprit artery, periprocedural and access site complication rates. Results: Out of the 58 patients, 19 patients (32.8%) used the transradial approach due to poor iliofemoral artery access, 28 (48.3%) due to unfavorable brachiocephalic or subclavian artery anatomy, 11 (19%) due to unfavorable vertebral artery anatomy. The technical success rate was 100%. There were four periprocedural complications, one of which was asymptomatic. The 30-day stroke rate was 5.2% (3/58 patients), with two of them having no residual neurological deficits. There was no mortality. None had access site complications. Conclusions: For selected patients with severe intracranial vertebrobasilar stenosis with difficult femoral access or anatomical variations precluding provision of a stable support for intracranial intervention, the transradial approach was shown to be a safe and feasible alternative route of access. Future trials of endovascular treatment for intracranial posterior circulation strokes should take into account the route of access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence indicates that miR-146a is involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression in several human malignancies. However, the molecular details underlying miR-146a mediated regulation of its target genes and its precise biological function in cancer, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Methods: The expression levels of genes including miR-146a, APC, VEGF and HAb18G were examined in HCC cell lines and patient specimens were compared with control levels using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. The functions of miR-146a and HAb18G in migration/invasion and liver metastasis formation were determined by transwell and spleen injection assays, respectively. miR-146a related genes were determined by PCR array. The potential regulatory targets of miR-146a were determined by bioinformatics and prediction tools, correlation with target protein expression, and luciferase reporter assay. DNA methylation status of miR-146a promoter were performed by PCR analysis of bisulfite-modified genomic DNA. Results: We demonstrated that miR-146a expression was markedly downregulated in hepatoma cells and hepatoma tissues compared to immortalized normal liver epithelial cells and normal hepatic tissues. DNA methylation of miR-146a promoter correlated with its downexpression and with liver cancer metastasis. The restoration of miR-146a dramatically suppressed HCC cell invasion and metastasis by repressing VEGF expression through upregulating APC, which inhibits β-catenin accumulation in nucleus, and downregulating NF-κB p65 by targeting HAb18G. In human HCC, miR-146a expression was negative correlated with increased HAb18G, VEGF, NF-κB p65 and beneficial prognosis. Conclusion: This study identified a novel target of miR-146a and defined miR-146a as a crucial tumor suppressor in human HCC that acts through multiple pathways and mechanisms to suppress HCC invasion or metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence indicates that mi-146a is involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression in several human malignancies. However, the molecular details underlying mi-146a mediated regulation of its target genes and its precise biological function in cancer, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Methods: The expression levels of genes including mi-146a, APC, VEGF and HAb18G were examined in HCC cell lines and patient specimens were compared with control levels using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. The functions of mi-146a and HAb18G in migration/invasion and liver metastasis formation were determined by transwell and spleen injection assays, respectively. mi-146a related genes were determined by PCR array. The potential regulatory targets of mi-146a were determined by bioinformatics and prediction tools, correlation with target protein expression, and luciferase reporter assay. DNA methylation status of mi-146a promoter were performed by PCR analysis of bisulfite-modified genomic DNA. Results: We demonstrated that mi-146a expression was markedly downregulated in hepatoma cells and hepatoma tissues compared to immortalized normal liver epithelial cells and normal hepatic tissues. DNA methylation of mi-146a promoter correlated with its downexpression and with liver cancer metastasis. The restoration of mi-146a dramatically suppressed HCC cell invasion and metastasis by repressing VEGF expression through upregulating APC, which inhibits β-catenin accumulation in nucleus, and downregulating NF-κB p65 by targeting HAb18G. In human HCC, mi-146a expression was negative correlated with increased HAb18G, VEGF, NF-κB p65 and beneficial prognosis. Conclusion: This study identified a novel target of mi-146a and defined mi-146a as a crucial tumor suppressor in human HCC that acts through multiple pathways and mechanisms to suppress HCC invasion or metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence indicates that miR-146a is involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression in several human malignancies. However, the molecular details underlying miR- 146a mediated regulation of its target genes and its precise biological function in cancer, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Methods The expression levels of genes including miR-146a, APC, VEGF and HAb18G were examined in HCC cell lines and patient specimens were compared with control levels using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. The functions of miR-146a and HAb18G in migration/invasion and liver metastasis formation were determined by transwell and spleen injection assays, respectively. miR-146a related genes were determined by PCR array. The potential regulatory targets of miR-146a were determined by bioinformatics and prediction tools, correlation with target protein expression, and luciferase reporter assay. DNA methylation status of miR-146a promoter were performed by PCR analysis of bisulfite-modified genomic DNA. Results We demonstrated that miR-146a expression was markedly downregulated in hepatoma cells and hepatoma tissues compared to immortalized normal liver epithelial cells and normal hepatic tissues. DNA methylation of miR-146a promoter correlated with its downexpression and with liver cancer metastasis. The restoration of miR-146a dramatically suppressed HCC cell invasion and metastasis by repressing VEGF expression through upregulating APC, which inhibits β-catenin accumulation in nucleus, and downregulating NF-κB p65 by targeting HAb18G. In human HCC, miR-146a expression was negative correlated with increased HAb18G, VEGF, NF-κB p65 and beneficial prognosis. Conclusion This study identified a novel target of miR-146a and defined miR-146a as a crucial tumor suppressor in human HCC that acts through multiple pathways and mechanisms to suppress HCC invasion or metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TEMPO-mediated oxidation has been reported to effectively convert C6 primary hydroxyl groups to carboxyl groups for better water-solubility. However, the pH decreases continuously during the oxidation process, and it is therefore difficult to maintain the stability of the reaction. The control of pH at a constant level throughout the oxidation process is a complicated task. The applicability of a carbonate buffer system and a borax buffer system with various continuous addition rate of sodium hypochlorite solution was considered. Carbonate buffer solution and borax buffer solution can efficiently buffer the pH. The results of carboxyl content and DP of celluloses proved that the activities of sodium hypochlorite solution can be maintained when sodium hypochlorite is added with controlled flow rates without adjusting pH by hydrochloric acid. Buffer solutions created a milder reaction environment in which the damage of celluloses would be buffered. The conclusion was consistent with DP tests of celluloses. Compared with carbonate buffer, the borax buffer with high ability of penetration could enhance the depth and width of oxidation, which was demonstrated by the results of X-ray diffraction patterns and carboxyl content of celluloses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of microRNA-1 (miR-1) has been studied in cardiac and skeletal muscle differentiation. However, it remains unexplored in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) differentiation. The aim of this study was to uncover novel targets of and shed light on the function of miR-1 in the context of embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation of SMCs in vitro. miR-1 expression is steadily increased during differentiation of mouse ESC to SMCs. Loss-of-function approaches using miR-1 inhibitors uncovered that miR-1 is required for SMC lineage differentiation in ESC-derived SMC cultures, as evidenced by downregulation of SMC-specific markers and decrease of derived SMC population. In addition, bioinformatics analysis unveiled a miR-1 binding site on the Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) 3' untranslated region (3′UTR), in a region that is highly conserved across species. Consistently, miR-1 mimic reduced KLF4 3′UTR luciferase activity, which can be rescued by mutating the miR-1 binding site on the KLF4 3′UTR in the reporter construct. Additionally, repression of the miR-1 expression by miR-1 inhibitor can reverse KLF4 downregulation during ESC-SMC differentiation, which subsequently inhibits SMC differentiation. We conclude that miR-1 plays a critical role in the determination of SMC fate during retinoid acid-induced ESC/SMC differentiation, which may indicate that miR-1 has a role to promote SMC differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of three novel 2,3,9,10,16,17,24,25-octakis(octyloxycarbonyl)phthalocyanine compounds M[Pc(COOC8H17)8] (M = 2H, Cu, Zn) (1-3) have been synthesized via the cyclic tetramerization of 4,5-di(octyloxycarbonyl)phthalonitrile, which was obtained by a newly developed procedure with ο-xylene as starting material, promoted with organic base 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in the absence and presence of metal salt like M(acac)2·H2O (M = Cu, Zn) in n-octanol at 120 °C. In addition to elemental analysis, these novel octakis(octyloxycarbonyl)-substituted phthalocyanine compounds have been characterized by a series of spectroscopic methods. The electrochemistry of these compounds was also studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods. A significant shift to the positive direction for both the first oxidation and the first reduction of compound 1, relative to H2Pc, reveals the electron-withdrawing nature of octyloxycarbonyl groups attached to the peripheral positions of phthalocyanine. The effect of peripheral octyloxycarbonyl substitution on the electrochemistry of the series of phthalocyanines 1-3 has been reasonably explained by theoretical calculation results using the density functional theory (DFT) method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is the predominant pathological subtype of kidney cancer and is categorized as immunotherapy responsive. Hence, immunotherapy has become a worthwhile therapy for KIRC. Furthermore, tumor mutation burden (TMB) has been regarded as the most prevalent biomarker to predict immunotherapy response. Accordingly, we spent the effort to characterize the status and the predictive potential for immunotherapy response of gene mutations in KIRC. In this study, we identified common somatic mutations in KIRC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), and UTokyo cohorts in cBioportal database. BRCA1-related protein 1 (BAP1) was identified as the only common gene mutation related to TMB and overall survival. We finally explored whether mutation of BAP1 was related to immune response and immune infiltration. In brief, we identified and demonstrated that BAP1 mutations commonly occurred in KIRC patients, associated with lower TMB, and indicating a poorer prognosis. Furthermore, BAP1 mutation reversed its function as a tumor suppressor via influencing Mast cells' quantity. These findings cast light on the predictive value of BAP1 to evaluate immunotherapeutic sensitivity and presented a potential target for KIRC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a serious vascular disease for which there is no effective drug treatment. The incidence of AAA increases significantly as a subject ages, and the molecular mechanism of AAA formation remains elusive. In the present study, we investigated the role of syndecan-4 (SDC4), an important component of focal adhesions, in AAA formation and its association with phenotypic changes in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods and Results: The protein expression levels of SDC4 were significantly decreased in human AAA tissue and those of an AAA mouse model. Moreover, SDC4 knockout (KO) in mice accelerated the formation and rupture of AAAs induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) Mechanistically, the decrease in SDC4 led to the transformation of cultured VSMCs from a contractile to a secretory phenotype. The RhoA-F/G-actinmyocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTF-A) signalling pathway was shown to be involved in SDC4-dependent VSMC alteration. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a G-protein-coupled receptor, attenuated the AAA formation in SDC4-KO and wild-type (WT) mice in response to Ang II and CaCl2 stimulation. Conclusion: We herein demonstrated that silencing SDC4 was associated with increased AAA formation and phenotypic changes in VSMCs via the RhoAF/G-actin-MRTF-A pathway. These findings indicated that a reduction in SDC4 expression was an important pathological alteration and potential therapeutic target for AAA formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An internal scanning probe capable of spatially resolved measurements throughout a horizontal (r,z) cross section of the expansion region between a helicon plasma source and an expansion chamber is described. For complete diagnosis of the expanding magnetoplasma, the probe is designed to simultaneously measure the electron temperature, the electron density, the plasma potential, the magnetic fluctuation spectrum in three dimensions, and the two-dimensional ion velocity distribution function (through a tomographic inversion method). The probe design and operational characteristics as well as representative measurements are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 has a dual role in cancer initiation and progression in a tissue type-dependent manner. Several studies have linked SHP2 to the aggressive behavior of breast cancer cells and poorer outcomes in people with cancer. Nevertheless, the mechanistic details of how SHP2 promotes breast cancer progression remain largely undefined. Methods: The relationship between SHP2 expression and the prognosis of patients with breast cancer was investigated by using the TCGA and GEO databases. The expression of SHP2 in breast cancer tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. CRISPR/ Cas9 technology was used to generate SHP2-knockout breast cancer cells. Cell-counting kit-8, colony formation, cell cycle, and EdU incorporation assays, as well as a tumor xenograft model were used to examine the function of SHP2 in breast cancer proliferation. Quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, and ubiquitination assays were used to explore the molecular mechanism through which SHP2 regulates breast cancer proliferation. Results: High SHP2 expression is correlated with poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. SHP2 is required for the proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo through regulation of Cyclin D1 abundance, thereby accelerating cell cycle progression. Notably, SHP2 modulates the ubiquitin--proteasome-dependent degradation of Cyclin D1 via the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway. SHP2 knockout attenuates the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling and causes the dephosphorylation and resultant activation of GSK3β. GSK3β then mediates phosphorylation of Cyclin D1 at threonine 286, thereby promoting the translocation of Cyclin D1 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and facilitating Cyclin D1 degradation through the ubiquitin--proteasome system. Conclusions: Our study uncovered the mechanism through which SHP2 regulates breast cancer proliferation. SHP2 may therefore potentially serve as a therapeutic target for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In friction stir welding (FSW), the microstructure, mechanical properties of the welded joint and the welding quality of the welding materials are affected by the temperature in the core area of the stirring tool. In this paper, the real-time detection of temperature in the core area of the stirring tool is realised, which is of great significance in improving the quality of the welding. A method for measuring the temperature in the core area is proposed based on the temperature measurement principle of the infrared thermal imager. Firstly, the relationship between the surface temperature of the welding material in the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) and the temperature in the core area of the stirring tool is established based on the principle of temperature measurement using a thermal detector to produce an infrared image and the theory of heat radiation. Then, a heat source transfer model is constructed in the core area. The surface temperature of the welding material in the TMAZ is calculated using the Gauss method. Finally, the temperature in the core area of the stirring tool is obtained. At the same time, the accuracy and feasibility of the temperature measurement method is verified through measurement of the temperature of the core area by choosing to bury a thermocouple from the side of the welding material through transverse drilling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of introducing the nutrient composition and biogas fertilizer, the effects of biogas fertilizer on soil, crops and environment are summarized. Biogas fertilizer can improve soil structure, increase soil organic matter, available nutrient contents and enzyme activity, increase crop yield, quality and resistance, and relieve the non-point source pollution effectively. The harmlessness, application technology and risk are analyzed. Some suggestions are put forward to control the source poUution, strengthen the reseach of fermentation technology, define the standard of bioga fertilizer, and cary out large and medium-sized biogas engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have proved that microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in the tumorigenesis and progression of gastric cancer (GC). Our study was to investigate the correlation between miR-338-3p expression and clinical features as well as prognosis of GC. A total of 138 GC tissue specimens and adjacent non-cancerous tissues were collected for further analysis, then quantitative PCR method was used to detect the relative miR-338-3p expression. Our study showed that tissue miR-338- 3p level was greatly decreased in cancer tissues compared with paired normal tissues. Furthermore, loss of tissue miR-338-3p was positively associated with aggressive clinical characteristics (advanced clinical stage, poorer differentiation and lymph node invasion), shorter overall survival and recurrence free survival. Finally, tissue miR-338-3p expression was confirmed to be an independent prognostic factor for GC. Overall, our findings indicate that miR-338-3p acts as a tumor suppressor in GC and tissue miR-338-3p might serve as a novel prognostic biomarker of GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]