Differential Response to Cisplatin between Co-cultured Cells and Pure Cultured Cells Based on Single-cell RNA Sequencing of Three-dimensional-cultured Breast Cancer Cells.

Objective: The current study aimed to develop an experimental approach for the direct co-culture of three-dimensional breast cancer cells using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).

Methods: The following four cell culture groups were established in the Matrigel matrix: the untreated Michigan Cancer Foundation (MCF)-7 cell culture group, the MCF-7 cell culture plus cisplatin group, the untreated co-culture group, and the cell co-culture plus cisplatin group. For cell co-culture, MCF-7 cells, human mammary fibroblasts, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were mixed at a ratio of 1:1:1.

Adaptive Tracking Control for Underactuated Double Pendulum Overhead Cranes With Variable Cable Length.

Although the literature on control of overhead crane systems is extensive and relatively mature, there is still a need to develop strategies that can simultaneously handle factors such as the double pendulum effect, variable cable length, input saturation, input dead zones, and external disturbances. This article is concerned with adaptive tracking control for underactuated overhead cranes in the presence of the above-mentioned challenging effects. The proposed controller is composed of the following two components.

State Responses of Several Classes of Linear Systems Based on Fundamental Matrices.

State responses for several classes of linear systems are investigated in this article. The involved systems include state-delayed linear systems, and high-order linear systems. At first, the single-fundamental-matrix-based approach is extended to these systems, and their state responses are expressed by their fundamental matrices (FMs).

On Bicon-Numbers With Their Basic Properties and Applications in Quantum Systems.

Motivated by the fact that there exists the operation of conjugation in quantum systems, the concept of bicon-numbers is proposed in this article. The bicon-numbers are defined by introducing two symbolic parameters into the set of complex numbers. The basic functions of these two symbolic parameters are specified by an axiom which abstracts the operation of complex conjugation.

A Parametric Predictor for Disturbance Attenuation of Discrete-Time Linear Systems With Input Delays.

In this article, a parametric predictor is constructed to predict the future state of a discrete-time linear system with a known constant input delay and external disturbances by introducing a tuning parameter. Then, a predictor-based feedback controller is given to attenuate the unknown disturbance signal. The ultimate bound of the state of the resulted closed-loop system is obtained when the state feedback control law based on this novel predictor is utilized.

Autophagic regulation of cell growth by altered expression of Beclin 1 in triple-negative breast cancer.

Beclin 1 is a promoter gene for autophagy as well as a key factor for regulating tumor cell growth and death. Allelic deletion of Beclin 1 has been observed in certain triple-negative breat cancer (TNBC) cells, and it might be associated with increased proliferation and invasion in TNBC cells. In this study we investigated the relationship between Beclin 1 expression and prognosis for TNBC patients, as well as the influence on cell growth by Beclin 1 overexpression in different cultural conditions.

Biocompatible composite nanoparticles with large longitudinal relaxivity for targeted imaging and early diagnosis of cancer.

Early diagnosis of cancer greatly increases the chances of successful treatment by radical resection. The sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques for detecting early stage tumors can be increased with the assistance of a positive MRI contrast agent. However, the traditional positive MRI contrast agents, such as Gd-chelates and Gd-based inorganic nanoparticles, are often limited by their cytotoxicity and low specificity.

Methods for assessing DNA hybridization of peptide nucleic acid-titanium dioxide nanoconjugates.

We describe the synthesis of peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanoconjugates and several novel methods developed to investigate the DNA hybridization behaviors of these constructs. PNAs are synthetic DNA analogs resistant to degradation by cellular enzymes that hybridize to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with higher affinity than DNA oligonucleotides, invade double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), and form different PNA/DNA complexes. Previously, we developed a DNA-TiO(2) nanoconjugate capable of hybridizing to target DNA intracellularly in a sequence-specific manner with the ability to cleave DNA when excited by electromagnetic radiation but susceptible to degradation that may lower its intracellular targeting efficiency and retention time.

Generalized PID observer design for descriptor linear systems.

A type of generalized proportional-integral-derivative observers is proposed for descriptor linear systems. Based on a general parametric solution to a type of generalized Sylvester matrix equations, a parametric design approach for such observers is established. The proposed approach provides parameterizations for all the observer gain matrices, gives the parametric expression for the corresponding left eigenvector matrix of the observer system matrix, realizes the elimination of impulsive behaviors, and guarantees the regularity of the observer system.

Design of PI observers for continuous-time descriptor linear systems.

A parametric design approach for proportional-integral (PI) observers for continuous-time descriptor linear systems is proposed based on a complete general parametric solution to the generalized Sylvester matrix equation. The proposed approach provides complete parameterizations for all the observer gain matrices, gives the parametric expression for the corresponding finite left eigenvector matrix of the observer system matrix, realizes elimination of impulsive responses, and guarantees the regularity of the observer system. The design method offers all the degrees of design freedom, which can be utilized to achieve various desired system specifications and performances and, thus, has great potentials in applications.

[Expression of COX-2 protein in colorectal carcinoma and the clinical implication].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between COX-2 expression and the clinicopathological factors in colorectal carcinoma and assess the prognostic value of COX-2 detection.

Methods: Tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry by SABC method was employed for detecting COX-2 expression in 126 patients with advanced colorectal cancer, and the relationship of COX-2 expression with the clinicopathological features and prognosis of the patients was retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The patients were divided into two groups of low and high COX-2 groups according to the grade and extent of COX-2 expression.

[Expression of survivin and its clinical significance in colorectal carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression of survivin and the clincopathological factors of colorectal carcinoma and evaluate the significance of survivin in prognostic assessment of the patients.

Methods: Using tissue microarray and immunohistochemical method (SABC), we examined survivin expression in 126 patients with advanced colorectal cancer and retrospectively analyzed the relationship between survivin and both the clinicopathological features and prognosis of the malignancy.

Result: Of the 126 patients, 26 (21%) were found to have a high survivin expression and 100 (79%) had a low expression, without relation to the patients' age, gender, tumor size, tumor location, histological type, lymph node metastasis and Dukes' classification.

[Effects of the lipid-lowering drugs on endothelial hyperplasia in inferior vena cava grafts in dogs].

Objective: To investigate the effects of the lipid-lowering drugs in alleviating endothelial hyperplasia in the inferior vena cava (IVC) grafts in dogs.

Methods: The Dacron grafts seeded with autologous venous fragments were implanted into the IVC of 20 dogs, including 12 dogs receiving oral lipid-lowering drugs serving as the treatment group and the other 8 without medication as the control group. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-ch) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-ch) in the serum were measured regularly, and all the grafts harvested to measure the thickness of the endothelium.