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Three experiments based on the nuclear reactions 14N + 110Pd, 10B + 114Cd and 11B + 114Cd were performed. Coincidences between γ-rays emitted from these reactions were measured with the same detection array which consisted of 14 HPGe detectors. A new band structure was identified using an offline analysis of coincidence data. Because of the isomeric nature of the bandhead, the new band cannot be connected to any known state in any residual nuclei of the used reactions. To assign it to a specific nucleus, we evaluated the experimental population intensities of various known bands in known residual nuclei and investigated the entrance channel effects in the three different experiments. The population intensity patterns of the known bands were observed to exhibit regular systematics. Based on such experimental systematics, we suggest that the most reasonable nuclide assignment for the new band is the 120I nucleus.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common head and neck cancer with a high metastasis and poor prognosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with regulatory function and broadly participate in cancer development. However, the correlation of circular RNA ABCB10 (circABCB10) with LSCC remains unclear. Here, we were interested in the role of circABCB10 in the modulation of LSCC progression. Our data demonstrated that the depletion of circABCB10 significantly inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of LSCC cells. Meanwhile, circABCB10 knockdown was able to remarkably reduce the invasion and migration of LSCC cells. Mechanically, circABCB10 served as a sponge for microRNAs-588 (miR-588) and miR-588 could target and down-regulated chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) expression in LSCC cells. The overexpression of CXCR4 or miR-588 inhibitor could reverse circABCB10 depletion-attenuated malignant phenotypes of LSCC cells. Functionally, the depletion of circABCB10 alleviated the tumor growth of LSCC cells in the tumorigenicity analysis of nude mice. The CXCR4 expression was decreased while the miR-588 expression was enhanced by circABCB10 depletion in vivo. Thus, we concluded that circABCB10 was involved in the malignant progression of LSCC by regulating miR-588/CXCR4 axis. Our finding provides new insights into the mechanism of circRHOT1 contributing to the development of LSCC. CircABCB10 and miR-588 may be used as potential targets for the treatment of LSCC.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly conserved and stable closed-loop non-coding RNAs. They are involved in numerous biological functions, including regulating gene transcription or protein translation by interacting with proteins and regulating expression of microRNAs. The aberrant expression of circRNAs has been reported in many cancers, including gastric cancer. By regulating gene expression, circRNAs are able to affect the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. The current review focused on the characteristics and biological functions of circRNAs, the carcinogenic potential and the possible implications of circRNAs on the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. In conclusion, circRNAs may serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosis, as well as therapeutic targets.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy is an important treatment option for individuals with cancer, but it has certain limitations. Identifying a better target that can overcome tumor immune escape and stimulate T cell activity is critical. This research aimed to delve into the molecular mechanism underlying the immunoregulatory function of metadherin (MTDH), which is a novel and potential therapeutic target in hepatocellular cancer (HCC). A small interfering RNA library was screened using the luciferase reporter assay and PD-L1 promoter. The Cancer Genome Atlas database and HCC tissues were used to investigate the relationship between MTDH and PD-L1. The association between MTDH and β-catenin/lymphoid enhancer binding factor (LEF-1) was discovered by co-immunoprecipitation. The chromatin immunoprecipitation assay was used to investigate the interaction of MTDH with the PD-L1 promoter when LEF-1 expression was silenced. Locked nucleic acid antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) were used to inhibit MTDH. We utilized in vitro co-cultures and in vivo syngeneic tumor development experiments to confirm the effectiveness of MTDH ASO combined with PD-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb). MTDH was demonstrated to be a PD-L1 modulator. MTDH increased PD-L1 expression and upregulated PD-L1 transcriptional activity through β-catenin/LEF-1 signaling. More importantly, MTDH ASO improved the anti-PD-1 response and increased cytotoxic T-cell infiltration in PD-1 mAb-treated malignancies. MTDH effectively predicts the therapeutic efficacy of ICB therapy. Our results imply that combining MTDH ASO with PD-1 mAb could be a promising therapeutic strategy for HCC. In addition, MTDH is a potential novel biomarker for predicting the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.

Background Distinguishing parotid pleomorphic adenoma (PPA) from parotid adenolymphoma (PA) is important for precision treatment, but there is a lack of readily available diagnostic methods. In this study, we aimed to explore the diagnostic value of radiomic signatures based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for PPA and PA. Methods The clinical characteristic and imaging data were retrospectively collected from 252 cases (126 cases in the training cohort and 76 patients in the validation cohort) in this study. Radiomic features were extracted from MRI scans, including T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) sequences and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) sequences. The radiomic features from three sequences (T1WI, T2WI and T1WI combined with T2WI) were selected using univariate analysis, LASSO correlation and Spearman correlation. Then, we built six quantitative radiomic models using the selected features through two machine learning methods (multivariable logistic regression, MLR, and support vector machine, SVM). The performances of the six radiomic models were assessed and the diagnostic efficacies of the ideal T1-2WI radiomic model and the clinical model were compared. Results The T1-2WI radiomic model using MLR showed optimal discriminatory ability (accuracy = 0.87 and 0.86, F-1 score = 0.88 and 0.86, sensitivity = 0.90 and 0.88, specificity = 0.82 and 0.80, positive predictive value = 0.86 and 0.84, negative predictive value = 0.86 and 0.84 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively) and its calibration was observed to be good (p > 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the T1-2WI radiomic model was significantly better than that of the clinical model for both the training (0.95 vs. 0.67, p p = 0.001) cohorts. Conclusions The T1-2WI radiomic model in our study is complementary to the current knowledge of differential diagnosis for PPA and PA.

Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a critical regulatory role in cancer progression. However, the underlying mechanisms of circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis remain mostly unknown. Methods Has_circ_0003998 (circ0003998) was identified by RNAs sequencing in HCC patients with /without portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) metastasis. The expression level of circ0003998 was further detected by in situ hybridization on tissues microarray (ISH-TMA) and qRT-PCR in 25 HCC patients with PVTT metastasis. Moreover, the 25 HCC patients with PVTT metastasis and 50 HCC patients without PVTT metastasis were recruited together to analyze the correlation between circ0003998 expression and HCC clinical characteristics. Transwell, migration and CCK8 assays, as well as nude mice model of lung or liver metastasis were used to evaluate the role of circ0003998 in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCC. The regulatory mechanisms of circ0003998 in miR-143-3p and PCBP1 were determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay, nuclear-cytoplasmic fractionation, fluorescent in situ hybridization, RNA pull- down, microRNA sequence, western blot and RNA immunoprecipitation. Results Compared with adjacent normal liver tissues (ANL), circ0003998 expression was significantly upregulated in PVTT tissues and HCC tissues, and its expression correlates with the aggressive characteristics of HCC patients. Further assays suggested that circ0003998 promoted EMT of HCC both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, our data indicated that circ0003998 may act as a ceRNA (competing endogenous RNA) of microRNA-143-3p to relieve the repressive effect on EMT-related stimulator, FOSL2; meanwhile, circ0003998 could bind with PCBP1-poly(rC) binding protein 1 (PCBP1) to increase the expression level of EMT-related genes, CD44v6. Conclusion Circ0003998 promotes EMT of HCC by circ0003998/miR-143-3p/FOSL2 axis and circ0003998 /PCBP1/CD44v6 axis.

Guang-Lei Qiao, Li-Na Song, Zhou-feng Deng, Ying Chen, Li-Jun Ma Department of Oncology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China Purpose: The prognostic value and clinical significance of CD44 variant isoform v6 (CD44v6) in breast cancer remains controversial. Our study aimed to generalize the correlation between CD44v6 expression and clinicopathological features and prognosis in breast cancer by using a meta-analysis. Methods: We performed a comprehensive search of relevant literature from PubMed, Cochrane Database, and EMBASE database that were published before January 2018. The pooled ORs and HRs with 95% CIs were used to estimate the effects. Results: Thirteen articles comprising 1,458 patients were included for analysis. The results revealed that CD44v6 expression was associated with histological grade (overall: OR=1.56, 95% CI [1.06, 2.29], P=0.023; Asian: OR=1.78, 95% CI [1.12, 2.85], P=0.016) and lymph node metastasis (overall: OR=1.96, 95% CI [1.01, 3.78], P=0.046; Asian: OR=2.11, 95% CI [1.00, 4.44], P=0.049). CD44v6 expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer (overall survival: overall: HR=1.55, 95% CI [1.09, 2.22], P=0.015; Asian: HR=2.22, 95% CI [1.34, 3.68], P=0.002). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis demonstrates that CD44v6 is significantly associated with poor prognosis, histological grade, and lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients, especially among Asian patients. Keywords: CD44v6, breast cancer, prognosis, metastasis, meta-analysis

Summary The rapid and effective formation and decomposition of Li2O2 during cycling is crucial to solve the problems associated with the practical limitation of lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries. In this work, a highly dispersed electrocatalyst with Ru nanoclusters inside the special organic molecular cage (RuNCs@RCC3) through a reverse double-solvent method for Li-O2 batteries has been proposed for the first time. This RuNCs@RCC3 shows an effective catalyst enabling reversible formation and decomposition of the Li2O2 at the interface between the Li2O2 and the liquid electrolyte, rather than the sluggish solid-solid interface reactions on commonly used solid catalysts. As a result, the Li-O2 cells with RuNCs@RCC3 show enhanced electrochemical performance, including low overpotential (310 mV at a current density of 100 mA g−1), high specific capacity (15,068 mAh g−1), good rate capability (1,800 mAh g−1 at a current density of 2.8 A g−1), and especially superior cycle stability up to 470 cycles., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • A novel highly dispersed electrocatalyst RuNCs@RCC3 for Li-O2 batteries was designed • Rapid formation and decomposition of large Li2O2 on its own surface • Excellent electrochemical performance of RuNCs@RCC3 in Li-O2 batteries • Superior stability and durability of RuNCs@RCC3 in Li-O2 batteries, Electrochemistry; Energy Storage; Energy Materials

The study was designed to generate an ophthalmic thermosensitive in situ gel with improved mechanical and mucoadhesive properties that may prolong the retention time to enhance the bioavalability of pearl hydrolyzate. The gene was comprised of poloxamer 407, poloxamer188 and Carbopol 934, which were optimized by central composite design and response surface methodology. The rheological properties, transcorneal permeability, retention time and in vitro release behaviors of the optimal gel formulation were investigated. The gel was Newtonian liquid at 25 ℃ and performed as a semisolid gel with non-Newtonian liquid property with a gelation time of 13 s at 35 ℃. Compared with a conventional eye drops, the ophthalmic in situ gel exhibited a sevenfold increase in retention with a sustained release behavior, which was observed with suitable permeability coefficient at 5.58 cm·s-1. In conclusion, the new gel of pearl hydrolyzate prolonged the release duration of drug, which may decrease the frequency of administration of pearl hydrolyzate.

The long-time paradoxical situation of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has been terminated for they emerge as executive at full spectrum of gene expression and translation. More recently, it has been demonstrated that some ncRNAs apparently are associated with chemotherapy, causing cardiotoxicity, which taint long-term recovery of patients in growing body of evidence. The current review focused on up-to-date knowledge on regulation change and molecular signaling of ncRNAs, at mean time evaluate their potentials as diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets to monitor and protect cardio function.

According to the present demand for aircraft components virtual design, two modeling methods of A320 aircraft rudder are proposed. One is to combine MATLAB programming and data processing functions with the practically measured point coordinate data of rudder face to gain and optimise the rudder contour. Then output the optimized curve to CATIA and fill it to gain rudder surface. The other is to obtain three views of rudder by referring to references. And make modeling with CATIA modules of Part DesignSketch Tracer and Generative Shape Design. And based on the second model the meshing method and the analysis is given. Also the process details were offered and the practical circumstances of the two methods were concluded. It will provide a model base for rudder teaching and its performance analysis and static test, improve the teaching quality and develop the students' ability of engineering practice. At the same time possible failure of rudder can be predicted in advance with virtual modeling and thus corresponding measures can be taken in time. It will improve the aircraft safety.

To study the effects of surfactants on wettability of excipients, the contact angles of six types of surfactants on the surface of two common excipients and mixture of three surfactants with excipients were measured using hypsometry method. The results demonstrated that contact angle of water on the surface of excipients was associated with hydrophilcity of excipients. Contact angle was lowered with increase in hydrophilic groups of excipient molecules. The sequence of contact angle from small to large was starchsodium benzoatepolyvinylpyrrolidonesodium carboxymethylcellulosesodium alginatechitosanhydroxypropyl methyl cellulosemagnesium stearate. In addition, surfactants both in droplets and mixed in excipients significantly reduced the contact angle of excipients, and their abilities to lower contact angle varied. The results of the present study offer a guideline in the formulation design of tablets.

Methanogens are the key microorganisms for landfill stabilization. RT-PCR and qPCR detecting system were employed to determine the types and abundance of methanogens in 2-15 year-old solid wastes that sampled from Beishenshu Landfill, Beijing. The organic components were almost stable and the pH values were in alkaline range, which indicated that the landfill was in the methanogenic process. Methanobacterials, Methanosaeta, and Methanosarcina were detected, among which Methanosaeta and Methanosarcina are acetoclastic, and Methanobacterials are hydrogenotrophic. As landfill processing, within this time range, although the bacterial abundance was significantly decreased, the amount of methanogens was first increased and then decreased, and finally became stable after being landfilled for 9 years. Methanosarcina was the dominate taxa. Significant correlations were found between the methanogens and the volatile fatty acids, but the correlations between methanogens and larger molecular organic matters were relatively weak or even absent. Taken together, our study revealed that the amount of methanogens were affected by substrates, but hardly influenced by the conversion of large molecules in these wastes landfilled for more than 2 years.

By constructing the iterative formula with a so-called convergence-control parameter, the generalized two-dimensional differential transform method is improved. With the enhanced technique, the nonlinear fractional Kolmogorov-Petrovskii-Piskunov equations are dealt analytically and approximate solutions are derived. The results show that the employed approach is a promising tool for solving many nonlinear fractional partial differential equations. The algorithm described in this work is expected to be employed to solve more problems in fractional calculus.

As local gene therapy has received attention, immobilizing functional gene onto irregular oral implant surface has become an advanced challenge. Electrostatic layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly technique could achieve this goal and allow local and efficient administration of genes to the target cells. In this study, multilayers of cationic lipid/plasmid DNA (pEGFP-C1) complex (LDc) and anionic hyaluronic acid were assembled onto sandblasted-dual acid etched titanium disks by the LBL technique. Surface characteristics of the coatings were performed by x-ray photospectroscopy (XPS), contact angle measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cell biological characteristics of the coatings were evaluated by in vitro experiments. SEM results demonstrated that the porous titanium surface was gradually flattened with the increase of the multilayer. The XPS survey indicated that the N element was found from the coating. The coating degradation and pEGFP-C1 releasing kinetics showed that the more assembled layer numbers were, the larger the amount of DNA released in the first 30 h. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured directly on the DNA-loaded surface. Higher enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression efficiency was achieved by increasing the number of layers when cells were cultured after 24 or 72 h. The MC3T3-E1 cell viability on the surface of multilayer DNA coatings was significantly higher than that on control porous titanium surface. It was concluded that the approach established by the LBL technique had great potential in immobilizing gene coatings onto the porous titanium surface and subsequently influenced the function of the cultured cell.

In this paper, we present a new elliptic equation rational expansion method to uniformly construct a series of exact solutions for nonlinear partial differential equations. As an application of the method, we choose the (2 + 1)-dimensional Burgers equation to illustrate the method and successfully obtain some new and more general solutions.

Hypoxia has been a research focus in cancer because of its important role in maintaining tumor microenvironments. Previous studies have demonstrated that the expression of several miRNAs was altered under hypoxic conditions, suggesting their crucial roles in the development of cancer. In the present study, the expression of 22 miRNAs reported to be significantly upregulated in cervical cancer tissues was examined. We found that four of these miRNAs were upregulated in response to hypoxia in HeLa cervical cancer cells. MiR-152 was upregulated to the greatest extent and was also found to be upregulated by hypoxia in C33A cells and tumor, but not in non-tumor cervical tissues. Moreover, we found that hypoxia-inducible factor-1α regulated the expression of miR-152 in HeLa cells through a hypoxia-responsive element. A bioinformatic tool predicted that WNT1 and ERBB3 were target genes of miR-152. This was confirmed by dual luciferase assays and Western blots. Overexpression of miR-152 repressed WNT1 and ERBB3 expression and decreased proliferation of HeLa cells. Collectively, these data indicate an important role for miR-152 in regulating the hypoxic response of tumor cells.

Using a cascade impactor (Andersen Series NVA-800), the size-segregated atmospheric particulates were collected daily and characters of lead contents and size distribution in the particles were analyzed from melting preparation, blast furnace smelting and lead-cast processes within a lead-zinc smelter in Shaanxi province. The results showed that emissions of particulate matter were different in different processes, in which the emissions of blast furnace smelting process was 402.83 mg x h(-1), while melting preparation were 182.71 mg x h(-1) and 100.03 mg x h(-1) in lead-cast processes. Lead contents in different sizes of particles varied in different processes. The mass fraction of lead were 111.54 mg x kg(-1), 68.54 mg x kg(-1) and 10.5 mg x kg(-1) in melting preparation, blast furnace smelting and lead-cast respectively. For lead's size distribution, the melting preparation and blast furnace smelting were mainly concentrated in the coarse particles, and the lead proportion in coarse and fine particles was approximately in lead-cast processes. The proportions of lead in coarse particles were 43.42% and 47.48% in melting preparation and blast furnace smelting process respectively, while the proportion of lead in coarse and fine particles was 37.14% and was 45.72% in lead-cast processes. There had peaks in both coarse and fine particles of melting preparation and lead-cast process, but the lead peak appeared only in the coarse particles of blast furnace smelting. It also indicated that the lead's cumulative frequencies of all processes were conforming to lognormal distribution.

The expression of periostin in the tissue of colorectal cancer patients and its correlation with clinical features were studied. Periostin expression was ~4 fold up-regulated in cancer tissues compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Serum levels of periostin in patients were significantly elevated to 32.6 ± 10.8 ng/mL vs 20.4 ± 11.1 ng/mL in healthy volunteers. Higher preoperative serum periostin levels in patients were closely related to advanced-stage disease (stage III/IV), distant and lymph nodes metastasis. High level of periostin expression was detected in the SW480 human colon carcinoma cells, and could be down-regulated by small interfering RNAs (siRNA). The siRNA-mediated knockdown of periostin arrested the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase and induced apoptotic cell death in the SW480 cells. In conclusion, periostin is a promising prognostic and therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.

Two new prenylflavonoids, named sutchuenmedin A (1) and sutchuenmedin B (2), were isolated from the 70% EtOH extract of Epimedium sutchuenense. Their structures were determined from spectral analysis.

This study was purposed to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PGI-NHL). The pathological data of 101 PGI-NHL patients admitted in our hospital in the past 15 years were analyzed retrospectively. The results showed that 101 patients with PGI-NHL accounted for 14.49% of NHL in the same period, there were 64 males, 37 females, the range of ages was from 18 to 87 years old, median age was 61 years old; in disease distribution, the stomach PGI-NHL accounted for 58.42%, intestine PGI-NHL accounted for 39.60%, multiple GI involvements (MGI) accounted for 1.98%; in pathological type, diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) accounted for 66.34%, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma accounted for 17.82%, mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) accounted for 3.96%, enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma (EATL) accounted for 7.92%, extra-nodal nasal type NK/T cell lymphoma accounted for 1.98%, follicular lymphoma (FL) accounted for 0.99%, small lymphocyte lymphoma (SLL) accounted for 0.99%. Eighty-nine out of 101 patients were followed up (49 cases live, 40 cases dead), data of the 12 patients were lost; the median survival time was 29 months (1 - 173). The three-year OS and five-year OS were 58.4% and 52.6% respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that the factors affecting OS included sex (P = 0.004), lesion site (P = 0.002), tumor size (P = 0.011), clinical Lugano staging for gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (P = 0.003), IPI score (P = 0.000), pathological cell phenotype (P = 0.001), and pathological type (P = 0.006), their differences were statistically significant (P0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that clinical Lugano staging for gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, IPI score, pathological type were independent prognostic risk factors affecting OS. It is concluded that clinical Lugano staging for gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, IPI score and pathological type are independent risk factors affecting OS.

This study investigated the effects of a strontium-substituted nanohydroxyapatite (Sr-HA) coating, deposited onto porous implant surfaces using an electrochemical process, on implant osseointegration in a rabbit model.The surfaces were analyzed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), a portable surface roughness tester, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Thirty implants (half HA-coated and half Sr-HA-coated) were inserted into femurs of 15 rabbits. After 2, 4, and 8 weeks, the femurs were retrieved and prepared for histomorphometric evaluation.Microscopic examination showed a surface topography of rodlike crystals on both surfaces. XRD and FT-IR showed that the phase of the deposits was HA. No differences were found in surface roughness between the two groups. ICP-AES showed that the Sr/(Ca+Sr) molar ratio of Sr-HA coating was 10.1 mol%. Histologic observation showed that new bone appeared on both surfaces after 2 weeks and became mature after 8 weeks. Histomorphometric analysis showed no differences between the two groups in bone-to-implant contact at 2 weeks or in bone area within all threads at 2 and 4 weeks. The Sr-HA coated group had significantly higher bone-to-implant contact at 4 and 8 weeks. Significant differences were also found in bone area at 8 weeks.The present study showed that this Sr-HA coating, deposited using an electrochemical process, has the potential to enhance implant osseointegration.

Based on wavelet and principal component analysis(PCA), an effective shell texture feature of the coscinodiscus extraction method for classification is proposed in this paper.The feature extraction process involves a normalization of the given image with different sizes followed by shift invariant wavelet transform. The shift invariant feature is computed for subband of wavelet coefficients by PCA. The rate of recognition is calculated in the end. The experiments have proved the method is effective.

In this paper, we propose an based on KHA for extraction of shift invariant multiwavelet features of texture images. The feature extraction process involves a normalization followed by a shift invariant multiwavelet packet transform. The normalization converts a given image into a size invariant image which is then passed to the shift invariant multiwavelet packet transform to generate subbands of shift invariant wavelet coefficients. Then we convert the multiwavelet coefficients matrix to a smaller dimension correlation matrix, and we obtain the KHA coefficients matrix with the rows are eigenvectors of the correlation matrix ordered by decreasing eigenvalue by KHA. An energy signature is computed for each subband of these KHA coefficients. In order to reduce feature dimensionality, only the most dominant wavelet energy signatures are selected as feature vector for classification.