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Objective: To evaluate the anticancer effect of ellagic acid on gastric cancer cells. Methods: MTT assay was used to evaluate the effect of ellagic acid at different concentrations (0.5-100 μg/mL) on gastric cancer AGS cells. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses were applied to assess apoptosis (BCL-2, CASP-3, and BAX) and autophagy (LC3, ATG5, and BECN1) in AGS cells treated with ellagic acid. The expression of invasion-related markers including TP53, CDKN2A, and PTEN was determined. In addition, cell cycle markers including cyclin A, B, D, and E were measured by ELISA. Oxidative stress markers were evaluated using spectrophotometry. Results: Ellagic acid inhibited the proliferation of AGS cells in a concentration-and time-dependent manner. The expression of BCL-2 was significantly decreased (P0.05). Moreover, the oxidative stress markers including SOD, TAC, and MDA were increased by ellagic acid (P

In order to optimize the process parameters of the mechanical properties of PP/corn straw composites and further optimize the preparation process, the orthogonal test design of L16(44) was used to prepare PP/corn straw composites under different process parameters. The effects of wood-plastic ratio, hot pressing temperature, hot pressing time and hot pressing pressure on the mechanical properties of PP/corn straw composites were analyzed. The results showed that the wood-plastic ratio had the greatest influence on the mechanical properties of PP/corn straw composites among the four factors of wood-plastic ratio, hot pressing temperature, hot pressing time and hot pressing pressure. Secondly, the hot pressing pressure has a great influence on the flexural strength and impact strength of PP/corn straw composites, and the hot pressing temperature has a great influence on the tensile strength of PP/corn straw composites, the hot pressing time has the least influence on the properties of PP/corn straw. When the ratio of wood to plastic is 4:6, the hot pressing temperature is 185 °C, the hot pressing time is 10 min, and the hot pressing pressure is 2.5 MPa, the flexural strength is the maximum value of 39.58 MPa, and the impact strength is the smallest. When the ratio of wood to plastic is 4:6, the hot pressing temperature is 185 °C, the hot pressing time is 15 min, and the hot pressing pressure is 2.5 MPa, the tensile strength is 17.18 MPa. When the ratio of wood to plastic is 3:7, the hot pressing temperature is 190 °C, the hot pressing time is 15 min, and the hot pressing pressure is 2.5 MPa, the impact strength is the maximum value of 3.94 kJ/m², and the flexural and tensile strength are the smallest. By comparing the mechanical properties of these three processes, without considering the focus, the optimal preparation process was obtained as follows: wood-plastic ratio 4:6, hot pressing temperature 185 °C, hot pressing time 15 min, hot pressing pressure 2.5 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The main obstacle to the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is metastasis. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are highly involved in the progression of NPC. In this study, we aimed to explore the regulatory role of lncRNA P73 antisense RNA 1 T (TP73‐AS1) and miR‐495 in migration and invasion of NPC cells. The expression levels of TP73‐AS1, miR‐495, and junctional adhesion molecule A (JAM‐A) in NPC tissue samples and cell lines were examined by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and/or Western blot. NPC cells were transfected with vectors overexpressing TP73‐AS1, short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against TP73‐AS1, shRNA against JAM‐A, miR‐495 mimics, miR‐495 inhibitor, and their corresponding negative controls as designated. The MTT assay, cell migration assay, and transwell assay were performed to detect cell viability, migration, and invasion, respectively. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the binding of TP73‐AS1 and miR‐495, and miR‐495 and JAM‐A. TP73‐AS1 and JAM‐A were significantly upregulated while miR‐495 was markedly downregulated in NPC tissues and cell lines compared to normal controls. The overexpression of TP73‐AS1 promoted migration and invasion of NPC cell line CNE‐2. TP73‐AS1 targeted miR‐495 and negatively regulated its expression. TP73‐AS1 upregulated the expression of JAM‐A through miR‐495. TP73‐AS1 mediated migration and invasion of CNE‐2 cells via upregulating JAM‐A. LncRNA TP73‐AS1, miR‐495, and JAM‐A are involved in migration and invasion of NPC cells. The TP73‐AS1/miR‐495/JAM‐A axis may serve as a therapeutic target for the treatment of NPC.

Subduction initiation (SI) is crucial for understanding the driving mechanisms of plate tectonics, the strength, and heterogeneity of the lithosphere, as well as the interaction of various driving/resisting forces. However, where and how subduction zones form remains confusing and contentious because of limited observational data. Geodynamic modelling provides a data-independent, reproducible way to test different hypotheses of SI. Most numerical models of SI have been reviewed by the geodynamic community in the past; however, little attention was paid to analogue modelling works. In this study, we have reviewed analogue models of SI according to the driving mechanisms (induced or spontaneous), then to whether or not SI occurs near pre-existing subduction zones, and finally to the tectonic settings of SI, which are usually different-typed lithospheric weak zones, including lithospheric-scale inclined faults, locally thinned zones, transform boundaries, passive margins, island arcs, back-arc basins/spreading centres, and plume head margins. Induced SI and strain localization cannot occur within the intact plate unless some weak zones exist, whose strengths are largely affected by their tectonic styles. The lithospheric-scale inclined fault is the weakest tectonic setting; the locally thinned zone also has relatively low strength; the transform boundary and the passive margin are strong. Spontaneous SI of oceanic lithosphere is usually triggered by extra loads, such as collapsed continental crust and flooding plume materials. The negative buoyancy of oceanic lithosphere will then take over and drive self-sustaining subduction. Modelling results may explain why a young oceanic plate sometimes underthrusts beneath an old one and why transference SI still does not happen after long-lasting India-Asia collision (~55 Ma). According to the experiences and deficiencies of the past works, future analogue modelling works should focus on transform collapse, subduction transference, case studies modelling, non-cylindrical modelling, realistic model setups of weak zones, and quantitative evaluation/analyses of SI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]