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Objective To explore the effect of KCNQ1OT1 gene knockout combined with bruceine D on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Methods Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing, and Transwell invasion assay were used to detect the effects of bruceine D and siKCNQ1OT1 on the viability, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Effect of bruceine D and siKCNQ1OT1 on the expression of KCNQ1OT1 in MDA-MB-231 cells was detected by qRT-PCR. Western blot was used to detect the effect of bruceine D and siKCNQ1OT1 on the expression of EMT-related proteins and CDC42, p-MKK7, MKK7 proteins in MDA-MB-231 cells. Results Bruceine D and siKCNQ1OT1 could significantly inhibit the viability, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells, and the inhibitory effect was enhanced when they were combined (all P < 0.05); bruceine D downregulated the expression of KCNQ1OT1 in MDA-MB-231 cells (all P < 0.05); bruceine D combined with siKCNQ1OT1 significantly decreased CDC42, p-MKK7, N-cadherin, and Vimentin expression in MDA-MB-231 cells and increased the expression of E-cadherin (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Bruceine D combined with siKCNQ1OT1 significantly inhibit the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, and its molecular mechanism may be related to the blocking of CDC42/MKK7 signaling pathway.

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) can activate farnesoid X receptor (FXR) to involve in the formation of gallstones. Here, this study aimed to probe the potential mechanism of TUDCA-FXR network in the formation of bile duct stone. The levels of TUDCA, FXR and NCK1 were decreased, while the level of miR-107 was increased in the serum of bile duct stone patients. FXR expression was positively correlated with TUDCA or NCK1 expression in patients, moreover, TUDCA pretreatment in biliary epithelial cells increased the levels of FXR and NCK1, and rescued the decrease of NCK1 caused by FXR knockdown in cells. Then functional analysis showed FXR knockdown caused apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) as well as suppressed proliferation in biliary epithelial cells in vitro, which were attenuated by TUDCA pretreatment or NCK1 overexpression Mechanistically, NCK1 was a target of miR-107, which was up-regulated by FXR silencing, and FXR knockdown-induced decrease of NCK1 was rescued by miR-107 inhibition. Additionally, miR-107 expression was negatively correlated with TUDCA expression in bile duct stone patients, and TUDCA pretreatment in biliary epithelial cells decreased miR-107 expression by FXR. Functionally, the pretreatment of TUDCA or FXR agonist suppressed miR-107-evoked apoptosis and ERS in biliary epithelial cells. In conclusion, TUDCA up-regulates FXR expression to activate NCK1 through absorbing miR-107, thus suppressing the apoptosis and ERS in biliary epithelial cells, these results provided a theoretical basis for elucidating the mechanism of bile duct stone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is imperative to solve the problem of the electrolytic efficiency of chlorine evolution in extremely dilute chlorine-containing solutions for electrochemical advanced oxidation processes, electrochemical antifouling and chlorine-containing disinfectant preparation. In this paper, an IrO2–Ta2O5 electrode is modified using SnOx, and the activity and selectivity of the chlorine evolution reaction (CER) are successfully improved. The modification of SnOx changes the electronic structure of IrO2–Ta2O5, thus affecting the electrochemical reaction process and mechanism. Compared with the CER activity of the IrO2–Ta2O5 electrode, the CER activity of the SnOx@IrO2–Ta2O5 electrode is increased, whereas the OER activity is decreased. At a current density of 50 mA cm−2, the potential difference between the CER and OER of the SnOx@IrO2–Ta2O5-3 electrode is 254 mV, which is 89 mV higher than that of the IrO2–Ta2O5 electrode. This proves that the selectivity of the CER at the SnOx@IrO2–Ta2O5 electrode has been improved. Due to the low concentration of chloride ions, the current efficiency of the IrO2–Ta2O5 electrode is only 10.7%. The current efficiency of the SnOx@IrO2–Ta2O5-1(2,3) electrode increases to 23.6%, 36.7% and 49.6%, respectively. For the IrO2–Ta2O5 electrode, its rate-determining step (RDS) is the second electron transfer. However, for the SnOx@IrO2–Ta2O5-3 electrode, its RDS is electrochemical desorption. It can be inferred that the modification of SnOx can accelerate the electrochemical desorption of adsorbed Cl. In addition, the application of the SnOx@IrO2–Ta2O5 electrode in the preparation of AEW is investigated. The HClO content in AEW2 (prepared using the SnOx@IrO2–Ta2O5-3 electrode) is 1.85 mmol L−1, which is 4.6 times of that in AEW1 (prepared using the IrO2–Ta2O5 electrode). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of jackup offshore platforms with towers are widely applied in ocean engineering. The dynamic response of the platforms to waves of large wave height is critical, as such waves may cause platform accidents, property damage, and casualties. Therefore, it is important to investigate the coupling effect of jackup offshore platform, towers and seabed foundations under waves of large wave height. In this study, the coupling effect of offshore platforms, tower structures, and seabed foundations under the impact of waves of large wave height was studied via a physical flume model test. The experimental results show that the impact of waves of large wave height on the platforms is significant when the wave is blocked by the platform surface as the water body gathers under the platform surface, causing a pile group effect that results in the onshore piles being subjected to larger pressures than the front ones. The combined action of wave impact and pile leg squeezing force leads to an increase in the pore pressure of the foundation bed near the pile leg, and the soil near the pile leg becomes soft, revealing the mechanism of instability of the offshore platform's pile foundation under waves of large wave height. The acceleration of the longitudinal movement of the platform increases under waves of large wave height, and the vortex-induced vibration of the platform includes the vibration along the direction of the wave and perpendicular to it. A coupled vibration effect between the tower structure and the platform occurs under waves of large wave height, reducing the vibration of the platform itself. Furthermore, damping members are installed on the tower structure, greatly reducing the natural vibration period and the motion response of the tower structure. This study provides significant enlightenment for the design of offshore platforms with towers to protect against waves of large wave height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the Biden administration took office, China–US relations have been undergoing major adjustments. The US has strategically accelerated the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy and related containment mechanisms against China, building multilateral networks led by the US to contain China on multiple fronts. As China–US strategic rivalry keeps intensifying, China faces increasingly complex peripheral strategic environment, regional economic cooperation and security situation. Through the analysis of the intentions and plans of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, it is found that there is a huge mismatch between the cost that the US can afford to adopt the strategy and its expected benefits, and a significant gap also exists between its current comprehensive national power and its ability to afford the cost of the strategy, which will severely limit the implementation effects of the US Indo-Pacific Strategy. These factors therefore create conditions for China, as the weaker party, to effectively cope with and successfully hedge against various challenges posed by the US Indo-Pacific Strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the manifestations and achievements of Modi government's "Issue-by-Issue" diplomacy with China since 2016. It discusses the causes and development of India's attitude towards China and analyses India's thinking behind its diplomacy with China. In this paper, an attempt has been made to find out the thinking's influence on India's attitude towards its participation in the Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI). Based on these discussions and analyses, the study concludes that India is suspicious of the BRI. Moreover, whether China can dispel India's suspicion actually does not depend on China's policy orientation towards India and its effects, rather it depends on the specific dividends that the BRI can achieve in other countries in South Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess Ezrin expression in the primary hepatic carcinoma patients and associated with clinical, pathological characteristics.Materials and Methods: Fifty-one patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) with completed clinical data were retrospectively analyzed in this study. The Ezrin expression in PHC and normal control liver tissue was tested by immunohistochemical assay. The Ezrin expression and relationship with clinical characteristics were evaluated.Results: The Ezrin positive rate were 66.7% and 15.7% with expression score of 3.21 ± 1.46 and 0.60 ± 1.10, respectively, in the cancer tissue and control tissue with statistical difference (P < 0.05). The Ezrin expression was associated with the metastasis status of the patients (P < 0.05) but not associated with the age (P > 0.05), gender (P > 0.05), differentiation (P > 0.05), and tumor diameter (P > 0.05).Conclusion: Ezrin protein is highly expressed in human PHC tissue which can be used for the prediction of metastasis disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]