Identification of the AQP8-miR-92a network associated with the aggressive traits of colorectal cancer.

Even though earlier reports have revealed that Aquaporin 8 (AQP8) exert essential roles in diverse malignancies, its relationship between specific microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulation of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) progression has never been elaborated. Herein, we proved that AQP8 was downregulated in CRC and high level of AQP8 was significantly associated with better survival in CRC patients. Overexpression of AQP8 restrained CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion capacities in vitro.

An injectable self-healing hydrogel-cellulose nanocrystals conjugate with excellent mechanical strength and good biocompatibility.

In this work, a novel strategy for the construction of injectable self-healing nanocomposite (NC) hydrogels dominated by reversible boronic ester bonds was demonstrated. Specifically, NC hydrogels were constructed by the solution-mixing of N,N-dimethylacrylamide-stat-3-acrylamidophenylboronicacid statistical copolymers (PDMA-stat-PAPBA) and poly(glycerolmonomethacrylate) (PGMA) chains grafted cellulose nanocrystals (CNC-g-PGMA). Rheology analysis indicated the as-constructed NC hydrogel displayed about 7-fold increase in the storage modulus with a low CNCs loading level of 1.

Physics of transportation: Towards optimal capacity using the multilayer network framework.

Because of the critical role of transportation in modern times, one of the most successful application areas of statistical physics of complex networks is the study of traffic dynamics. However, the vast majority of works treat transportation networks as an isolated system, which is inconsistent with the fact that many complex networks are interrelated in a nontrivial way. To mimic a realistic scenario, we use the framework of multilayer networks to construct a two-layered traffic model, whereby the upper layer provides higher transport speed than the lower layer.

Optimal Allocation of Node Capacity in Cascade-Robustness Networks.

The robustness of large scale critical infrastructures, which can be modeled as complex networks, is of great significance. One of the most important means to enhance robustness is to optimize the allocation of resources. Traditional allocation of resources is mainly based on the topology information, which is neither realistic nor systematic.

Particle swarm optimization with scale-free interactions.

The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, in which individuals collaborate with their interacted neighbors like bird flocking to search for the optima, has been successfully applied in a wide range of fields pertaining to searching and convergence. Here we employ the scale-free network to represent the inter-individual interactions in the population, named SF-PSO. In contrast to the traditional PSO with fully-connected topology or regular topology, the scale-free topology used in SF-PSO incorporates the diversity of individuals in searching and information dissemination ability, leading to a quite different optimization process.

Coveting thy neighbors fitness as a means to resolve social dilemmas.

In spatial evolutionary games the fitness of each individual is traditionally determined by the payoffs it obtains upon playing the game with its neighbors. Since defection yields the highest individual benefits, the outlook for cooperators is gloomy. While network reciprocity promotes collaborative efforts, chances of averting the impending social decline are slim if the temptation to defect is strong.

Evolution of Chinese airport network.

With the rapid development of the economy and the accelerated globalization process, the aviation industry plays a more and more critical role in today's world, in both developed and developing countries. As the infrastructure of aviation industry, the airport network is one of the most important indicators of economic growth. In this paper, we investigate the evolution of the Chinese airport network (CAN) via complex network theory.

Do younger female breast cancer patients have a poorer prognosis? Results from a population-based survival analysis.

Younger women who develop breast cancer are hypothesized to have poorer survival rates than women who develop it at a later stage in life. Several studies have suggested that differences in biologic characteristics of breast cancer in younger (premenopausal) and older (postmenopausal) women may account for the prognostic variation. This population-based cohort study reports on survival rates of breast cancer in Singapore and examines the hypothesis that younger breast cancer patients have a poorer prognosis.

Population-based survival for cervical cancer in Singapore, 1968-1992.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the cervical cancer survival rates in Singapore during the period of 1968 through 1992 using population-based data.

Study Design: A review of cases with cervical cancer diagnosed between 1968 and 1992 from Singapore Cancer Registry was conducted. Information on vital status at December 31, 1997, was available for 3531 cases.

Population-based survival analysis of colorectal cancer patients in Singapore, 1968-1992.

Since the 1980s, colorectal cancer incidence in Singapore has ranked second to lung in males and females. We describe a population-based analysis of survival of colorectal cancer patients diagnosed from 1968 to 1992 in Singapore. Data of colorectal cancer patients diagnosed during 1968-1992 were retrieved from the Singapore Cancer Registry.