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Laryngeal cancer (LC) is the most common aggressive malignancy of the head and neck. LncRNA ZNFX1 antisense RNA 1 (ZFAS1) displays oncogenic properties in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, but its regulatory role in laryngeal cancer progression remains obscure. Here, we found that ZFAS1 expression in laryngeal cancer tissues and cells was higher than that in adjacent normal tissues and normal nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. Highly expressed ZFAS1 was associated with advanced lymph node metastasis stages and clinical stages. ZFAS1 overexpression promoted LC cell proliferation, invasion, and N-cadherin and Vimentin expression, and suppressed E-cadherin expression. While ZFAS1 knockdown played an opposite role. Mechanistically, ZFAS1 stabilized RNA binding fox-1 homolog 2 (RBFOX2) protein expression by binding to RBFOX2, and RBFOX2 overexpression reversed the effect of ZFAS1 silence on cell functions. Moreover, highly expressed RBFOX2 led to skipping of MENA exon 11a and generating a pro-invasive isoform (MENA

Background TAS-102, a novel antimetabolite, is approved for treatment of refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). This study sought to determine whether the addition of TAS-102 to oxaliplatin (TAS-OX) was safe and effective in metastatic CRC previously treated with oxaliplatin. Methods This investigator-initiated, open-label, single-arm phase 1b study enrolled patients with metastatic CRC previously treated with 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin. In dose escalation, TAS-102 was given at 3 dose levels: 25, 30, and 35 mg/m2 twice daily on day 1 to day 5 with 85 mg/m2 oxaliplatin on day 1 in 14-day cycles. The primary endpoint of dose escalation was the recommended dose for expansion, and in dose expansion, the primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST, version 1.1). Results Forty-one patients were treated with TAS-OX. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed in the 11 patients treated in escalation. The recommended dose for expansion was 35 mg/m2 TAS-102 twice daily on day 1 to day 5 in combination with 85 mg/m2 oxaliplatin on day 1 in 14-day cycles. In the intention-to-treat population, the ORR was 2.4% (95% CI, 0%-12.9%) with 1 of 41 patients having a partial response, although 12 (29%) had tumor shrinkage. The median progression-free survival was 2.7 months (95% CI, 2.4-4.8 months) and median overall survival was 6.8 months (95% CI, 5.7-10 months). Conclusions TAS-OX is safe with no unexpected toxicities at standard doses of each agent. The combination did not result in a clinically meaningful ORR, although progression-free survival and overall survival were encouraging in this heavily pretreated population. Lay summary For metastatic colorectal cancer, the treatment combination of TAS-102 and oxaliplatin was found to be well-tolerated and revealed no unexpected side effects. Twelve of 41 patients had reductions in the size of their tumor, and the study treatment delayed the time to tumor growth as opposed to what would be expected.

Four and a half LIM domain protein 1 (FHL1) belongs to the FHL protein family and is predominantly expressed in skeletal and cardiac muscle. FHL1 acts as a scaffold during sarcomere assembly and plays a vital role in muscle growth and development. Autophagy is key to skeletal muscle development and regeneration, with its dysfunction associated with a range of muscular pathologies and disorders. In this study, we constructed FHL1-silenced or FHL1-overexpressed myoblasts to investigate its role in autophagy during the differentiation of chicken myoblasts into myotubules. Our data showed that FHL1 contributes to myoblast differentiation as measured through MyoG, MyoD, Myh3, and Mb mRNA expression, MyoG and MyHC protein expression and the morphological characteristics of myoblasts. The results showed that FHL1 silencing inhibited the expression of ATG5 and ATG7, meanwhile, immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation showed that FHL1 and LC3 interacted to regulate the correct formation of autophagosomes. FHL1 inhibition increased cleaved caspase-3 and PARP abundance and promoted myoblast apoptosis. Furthermore, FHL1 rescued skeletal muscle atrophy through regulating the expression of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1. Taken together, these data suggested that FHL1 regulates chicken myoblast differentiation through its interaction with LC3.

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) is one of the most common subtypes of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas and lacks effective treatment. This study aimed to provide a thorough profile of immune characteristics of RLPS. This study included 56 RLPS patients. Multisite tumor tissues were collected from 16 patients. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to identify CD4+, CD8+, FoxP3+, CD20+, or programmed cell death‐1 (PD‐1)+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and Programmed cell death ligand‐1 (PD‐L1) expression in tumor tissues. Ultradeep sequencing of T‐cell receptor (TCR) β‐chain gene was carried out in 42 tumor samples as well as peripheral blood samples collected from 6 patients. In RLPS, TILs were distributed in 3 patterns and T cells were more prevalent than B cells. Generally, the proportion of TILs decreased and PD‐L1 expression increased with tumor progression. Patients with higher PD‐1/PD‐L1 expression tended to have poorer prognosis, whereas patients with tertiary lymphoid structure tended to have a favorable disease‐free survival. Although T‐cell clones in tumors were quite different from those in peripheral blood, TCR sequencing showed low TCR repertoire reads as well as polyclonal status within tumors, which indicated limited T cell response in the tumors. Both TILs distribution and TCR repertoires suggested spatial immune heterogeneity in RLPS. Our research described the immune landscape of RLPS, and suggested RLPS might be a kind of tumor with low T cell infiltration as well as great immune heterogeneity. Therefore, strategies that can facilitate lymphocytic infiltration and immune reactivity need to be developed in the future to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Mitigating the mechanical degradation and enhancing the ionic/electronic conductivity are critical but challengeable issues toward improving electrochemical performance of conversion-type anodes in rechargeable batteries. Herein, these challenges are addressed by constructing interconnected 3D hierarchically porous structure synergistic with Nb single atom modulation within a Co

Background As a common malignant tumor in the colon, colon cancer (CC) has high incidence and recurrence rates. This study is designed to build a prognostic model for CC. Methods The gene expression dataset, microRNA‐seq dataset, copy number variation (CNV) dataset, DNA methylation dataset, and transcription factor (TF) dataset of CC were downloaded from UCSC Xena database. Using limma package, the differentially methylated genes (DMGs), and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and miRNAs (DEMs) were identified. Based on random forest method, prognostic model for each omics dataset were constructed. After the omics features related to prognosis were selected using logrank test, the prognostic model based on multi‐omics features was built. Finally, the clinical phenotypes correlated with prognosis were screened using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and the nomogram model was established. Results There were 1625 DEGs, 268 DEMs, and 386 DMGs between the tumor and normal samples. A total of 105, 29, 159, five, and six genes/sites significantly correlated with prognosis were identified in the gene expression dataset (GABRD), miRNA‐seq dataset (miR‐1271), CNV dataset (RN7SKP247), DNA methylation dataset (cg09170112 methylation site [located in SFSWAP]), and TF dataset (SIX5), respectively. The prognostic model based on multi‐omics features was more effective than those based on single omics dataset. The number of lymph nodes, pathologic_M stage, and pathologic_T stage were the clinical phenotypes correlated with prognosis, based on which the nomogram model was constructed. Conclusion The prognostic model based on multi‐omics features and the nomogram model might be valuable for the prognostic prediction of CC., A novel prognostic model based on multi‐omics features predicts the prognosis of colon cancer patients.

Field practice is an important part of training geography research talents. However, traditional teaching methods may not adequately manage, share and implement instruction resources and thus may limit the instructor's ability to conduct field instruction. A possible answer is found in the rapid development of computer-assisted instruction ( CAI), a new teaching mode for the Information Age. A 'virtual field trip' is an amalgam of Internet and multimedia techniques with great potential for geography field instruction, as it can arouse students' enthusiasm and immerse them in learning. However, limited by available technology, virtual field trips have disadvantages in terms of content presentation, data organisation, and loss or inadequate representation of spatial information. To overcome the above shortcomings, a map-based, spatially correlated design method was proposed for a CAI system in geography. By integrating spatial information technology ( Geographic Information System, Global Positioning System, remote sensing, etc) and information delivery methods (web services, databases, etc), a WebGIS-based teaching assistant system for geography field practice ( TASGFP) was established, realising an effective spatial management scheme and forming a shared platform for instruction material. Its efficiency was verified through the actual application, although there remains room for improvement. Nevertheless, the TASGFP stands as an effective CAI tool in geography instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnIn2S4 microspheres (ZIS MSs) were for the first time decorated with carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and plat- inum nanoparticles (NPs) as dual co-catalysts of for photo- catalytic H2 production. The ZIS MSs co-loaded with CQDs and Pt exhibited a high photocatalytic H2 production rate of 1032.2 mmol h � 1 g � 1 with an apparent quantum efficiency of 2.2 % (420 nm) in triethanolamine aqueous solution under visible-light irradiation, which was much higher than the re- spective photocatalytic rates of pure ZIS, Pt loaded ZIS, and CQDs-decorated ZIS. Such a great enhancement was attrib- uted to the integrative effect of good crystallization, en- hanced light absorption, high electrical conductivity of CQDs, and the vectorial electron transfer from ZIS to CQDs and Pt NPs (ZIS!CQDs!Pt).

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are generally viewed as next generation photovoltaic devices. Electrospun TiO2 nanofibers (NFs) film can be used to construct photoanode for DSSCs. A systematic strategy to optimize such a novel photoanode material of DSSCs was elaborated in this paper. A main drawback of NFs photoanode is the poor adhesion of ceramic NFs film to its conductive glass substrate. This problem can be well solved by sandwiching a transition layer between the overlaid NFs film and the underlaid glass substrate through an interfacial spin-coating pre-treatment. After electrospinning, a controllable calcination is also indispensable for obtaining an ideal nanofibrous mat with good morphology and adhesion. The choice of calcination parameters including temperature, holding time, and heating rate was discussed in detail. In addition, a surface TiCl4 post-treatment can further improve adhesion as well as strength for the NFs photoanode film. And the performance of the resulting DSSCs will benefit from the TiCl4 post-treatment. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A reduction-sensitive graft polymer PHEA-S-S-C16 with poly{α,β-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-aspartamide]} (PHEA) as a backbone and a disulfide-containing alkyl as a side chain (HOOC-S-S-C16 ) is synthesized and evaluated for intracellular DOX delivery. PHEA-S-S-C16 can self-assemble into micelles in aqueous media and load DOX at a total content of 7.3%. In vitro release studies reveal that the release rate of DOX from PHEA-S-S-C16 micelles is accelerated in the presence of DTT. The results of cell experiments indicate that DOX-loaded mPEG-S-S-C16 micelles can achieve rapid DOX release in HeLa cells, as compared with their reduction-insensitive counterparts. Endocytosis inhibition analysis indicates that PHEA-S-S-C16 micelles entered cells mainly via clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

This paper presents a parallel algorithm for constructing Voronoi diagrams based on point-set adaptive grouping. The binary tree splitting method is used to adaptively group the point set in the plane and construct sub-Voronoi diagrams for each group. Given that the construction of Voronoi diagrams in each group consumes the majority of time and that construction within one group does not affect that in other groups, the use of a parallel algorithm is suitable.After constructing the sub-Voronoi diagrams, we extracted the boundary points of the four sides of each sub-group and used to construct boundary site Voronoi diagrams. Finally, the sub-Voronoi diagrams containing each boundary point are merged with the corresponding boundary site Voronoi diagrams. This produces the desired Voronoi diagram. Experiments demonstrate the efficiency of this parallel algorithm, and its time complexity is calculated as a function of the size of the point set, the number of processors, the average number of points in each block, and the number of boundary points. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Pd-catalyzed synthesis of benzylboronic esters through coupling of aryl triflates with 1,1-diborylalkane under ambient conditions is described. Varieties of primary and secondary arylboronic esters could be successfully synthesized by this strategy. Competitive reaction demonstrated that aryl C–OTf bond was more inert than aryl bromide.

The novel exocyclic enamides are efficiently obtained by reaction of various trifluoroatrolactamides with propargyl bromide.

New evidence for the enhanced oxygen diffusion in Czochralski silicon at temperatures ranging from 450 °C to 650 °C has been obtained from oxygen precipitation in prolonged annealing of 750 °C following a variety of pre-treatments involving slow ramping anneal or single-step anneal. The two previously proposed fast-diffusing species of oxygen–vacancy and oxygen–silicon-interstitial to understand the enhanced oxygen diffusion at low temperatures are questioned. Moreover, the reason as why significant oxygen precipitation can occur at such a low temperature of 750 °C has been elucidated based on the enhanced oxygen diffusion at low temperatures. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The effects of two-step rapid thermal processing (RTP) sequentially in different ambients on the formation of denuded zone (DZ) and oxygen precipitation in the Czochralski (CZ) silicon wafers have been investigated. With the first-step RTP in Ar ambient, no obvious DZ but a high density of bulk micro-defects (BMDs) were formed in the sample with the second-step RTP in N2 ambient, while the BMD density in the sample with the second-step RTP in O2 ambient was remarkably low. With the first-step RTP in N2 ambient, a high density of BMDs and a width of DZ could be formed in either of the samples with the second-step RTP in Ar or O2 ambient, but the DZ width in the two samples differed to a certain extent. With the first-step RTP in O2 ambient, the two samples with the second-step RTP in Ar and N2 ambients respectively possessed reasonably comparable DZ width and BMD density. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

By means of Fourier-transform infrared absorption spectroscopy, the evolution of nitrogen pairs (N-N) and nitrogen-oxygen complex (NNO) in nitrogen doped Czochralski (NCZ) silicon annealed at 650 °C has been investigated. The evolution of N-N pairs and NNO complexes has been semi-quantitatively elucidated based on the diffusion-limited reaction theory. It is pointed out that the N-O pairs and NNO complexes react with the interstitial atoms, leading to NNOx (x ≥ 1) particles, which serve as the nuclei of oxygen precipitate. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

In this paper, the effect of annealing atmosphere on oxygen precipitation and formation of denuded zone (DZ) in Czochralski (CZ) silicon has been investigated. It was revealed that the high-temperature annealings in various atmospheres resulted in almost identical oxygen outdiffusion length but different widths of DZ in the silicon wafers. It was confirmed that the high-temperature annealing in nitrogen atmosphere induced a high concentration of vacancies in silicon to enhance oxygen precipitation, while the annealing in oxidizing atmosphere or steam-mixed atmosphere induced a high concentration of silicon self-interstitials to retard oxygen precipitation. Moreover, it was confirmed that the steam mixed into the nitrogen atmosphere could suppress the indiffusion of nitrogen atoms. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

In this paper, the effects of vacancies introduced by rapid thermal processing (RTP) on nucleation and growth of oxide precipitates in Czochralski (Cz) silicon are elucidated. Moreover, the nitrogen and vacancy enhancement roles in oxide precipitation are differentiated through designing specific annealing schemes. Furthermore, it is pointed out that the RTP-based internal gettering process for a nitrogen-doped Cz silicon wafer should be different from that for a conventional Cz silicon wafer in order to strengthen the intrinsic gettering capability.

The effects of vacancies introduced by neutron-irradiation on oxygen precipitation at elevated temperatures in Czochralski (CZ) silicon have been investigated. In comparison with noirradiated CZ silicon, the neutron-irradiated CZ silicon exhibits stronger oxygen precipitation at 1050 °C or 1150 °C due to the existence of supersaturated vacancies in the bulk. Moreover, it is proved that the oxygen out-diffusion at high temperature is not enhanced by the supersaturated vacancies induced by neutron-irradiation. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Tsai-type icosahedral quasicrystals (i-QCs) are present in numerous alloy systems. Among them, the icosahedral Ag–In–Yb quasicrystal (i-Ag–In–Yb) is regarded as a prototype for studying various features of QCs, such as crystalline structure and physical properties, due to its good average structural order, good stability both in air and in ultra-high vacuum, amenability to growth of large single grains, and lack of elements with high vapor pressure or toxicity. Here we present a review on recent studies of i-Ag–In–Yb, including studies on bulk structure, crystal growth, physical properties, surface structure and thin film growth on quasicrystalline surface. We believe the results will encourage studies on other QCs.

High-power ultrasound is efficiently applied for the acceleration of solvent-free Passerini reaction leading to α-acyloxy amides (IV), (VIII) and (X).

A series of title compounds is synthesized in which the methyl group of catecholamine is replaced by a trifluoromethyl moiety.