IPO5 promotes the proliferation and tumourigenicity of colorectal cancer cells by mediating RASAL2 nuclear transportation.

Background: Karyopherin nuclear transport receptors play important roles in tumour development and drug resistance and have been reported as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for tumour treatment. However, IPO5, one of the karyopherin nuclear transport receptor family members, remains largely uncharacterized in tumour progression.

Methods: The TCGA data, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR), western blotting, and IHC analyses were used to detect IPO5 expression in CRC tissues.

Giant Poisson's Effect for Wrinkle-Free Stretchable Transparent Electrodes.

The next generation of flexible electronics will require highly stretchable and transparent electrodes, many of which consist of a relatively stiff metal network (or carbon materials) and an underlying soft substrate. Typically, such a stiff-soft bilayer suffers from wrinkling or folding when subjected to strains, causing high surface roughness and seriously deteriorated optical transparency. In this work, a network with a giant effective Poisson's ratio on a soft substrate is found to be under biaxial tension upon deformation, and thus does not wrinkle or fold, but maintains smooth surfaces and high transparency.

SSH3 facilitates colorectal cancer cell invasion and metastasis by affecting signaling cascades involving LIMK1/Rac1.

Slingshot phosphatase 3 (SSH3) is a member of the SSH phosphatase family that regulates actin filament dynamics. However, its role in cancer metastasis is relatively unclear compared to that of SSH1. Here, we showed that SSH3 was upregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC).

KMT5A promotes metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma through reducing cadherin-1 expression.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most common types of kidney cancer and is accompanied by a poor prognosis due to a high potential for metastasis and recurrence. The mechanism of ccRCC metastasis is not well known. N-lysine methyltransferase KMT5A serves a crucial role in the progression of human cancer; however, the function of KMT5A in the development of ccRCCs has not yet been investigated, which has triggered an interest in investigating the potential association between KMT5A and ccRCC.

Improvement of Compressibility and Thaw-Settlement Properties of Warm and Ice-Rich Frozen Soil with Cement and Additives.

The warm and ice-rich frozen soil (WIRFS) that underlies roadway embankments in permafrost regions exhibit large compression and thaw deformation, which can trigger a series of distresses. Cement and additives were used in this study to improve the compressibility and thaw-settlement properties of WIRFS. We, therefore, selected optimum additives and studied the improvement effect on the frozen soil with 30% water content based on our previous research.

Optimal parameter identification of synthetic gene networks using harmony search algorithm.

Computational modeling of engineered gene circuits is an important while challenged task in systems biology. In order to describe and predict the response behaviors of genetic circuits using reliable model parameters, this paper applies an optimal experimental design(OED) method to obtain input signals. In order to obtain informative observations, this study focuses on maximizing Fisher information matrix(FIM)-based optimal criteria and to provide optimal inputs.

Effects of Fructose and Overexpression of Shock-Related Gene groL on Plantaricin Q7 Production.

The effects of fructose on plantaricin Q7 biosynthesis in Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) Q7 were investigated. Fructose induced and accelerated plantaricin Q7 production in the early stages of biosynthesis.

Ultrafine and carboxylated β-chitin nanofibers prepared from squid pen and its transparent hydrogels.

TEMPO-mediated oxidation has been successfully used to prepare carboxylated chitin nanofibers (ChNFs) with purified chitins originating from the outer shells of crab and shrimp (α-form) or tubeworm (β-form). However, the method for obtaining carboxylated ChNFs with squid pen chitin (hydrated β-form) has not been developed yet. It might be due to the existence of the small amount of partial deacetylation (DD ≈ 9%) in the squid pen β-chitins.

PEDOT:PSS/Grafted-PDMS Electrodes for Fully Organic and Intrinsically Stretchable Skin-like Electronics.

Skin-like electronics require materials that are conducting, soft, intrinsically stretchable, and highly robust. However, electronic devices often consist of multilayers, and the failure of the electronic devices mostly starts from the debonding of the layers because of poor interfacial adhesion and large mechanical mismatch. Herein, we introduce a fully organic and intrinsically stretchable electrode that achieves high robustness by grafting the substrate to improve the interfacial adhesion and by introducing deep folds and wrinkles to improve the stretchability.

IRF1 inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer by suppressing the RAS-RAC1 pathway.

Background: Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) plays a role in the immune response, cellular necrosis, DNA damage, and DNA repair, offering an attractive target for anticancer treatment. However, little is known about the role of IRF1 in the regulation of CRC progression.

Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the expression level of IRF1; Cell Counting Kit-8, migration assay, and xenograft mouse models were used to examine the function of IRF1 in CRC cell lines; a ChIP assay was used to examine the binding between IRF1 and Ras association domain-containing protein 5 (RASSF5).

Exfoliated Graphene Leads to Exceptional Mechanical Properties of Polymer Composite Films.

Polymers with superior mechanical properties are desirable in many applications. In this work, polyethylene (PE) films reinforced with exfoliated thermally reduced graphene oxide (TrGO) fabricated using a roll-to-roll hot-drawing process are shown to have outstanding mechanical properties. The specific ultimate tensile strength and Young's modulus of PE/TrGO films increased monotonically with the drawing ratio and TrGO filler fraction, reaching up to 3.

Effect of surface chemistry on the dispersion and pH-responsiveness of chitin nanofibers/ natural rubber latex nanocomposites.

Chitin nanofibers (ChNFs) have emerged as a rising nanomaterial due to their excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility and biodegradability etc. Herein, carbonylated ChNFs (C-ChNFs) and zwitterionic ChNFs (NC-ChNFs) decorated with both amino (-NH) and carboxyl (-COOH) groups were used to prepare ChNFs/natural rubber (NR) nanocomposite films by dip molding method, respectively. The results showed that C-ChNFs had better dispersion than that of NC-ChNFs in NRL matrix.

Influence of Branched Polyester Chains on the Emission Behavior of Dipyridamole Molecule and Its Biosensing Ability.

Toward the development of the smart biosensing drug carrier, integration of dye molecules with polymeric chain has been an emerging method in recent years. In this perspective, dipyridamole (Dip)-based branched poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and branched polycaprolactone (PCL) have been synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. After polymerization, the influence of the polyester chains on the Dip emission behavior has been studied systematically in this work.

Ultralight, Superelastic, and Fatigue-Resistant Graphene Aerogel Templated by Graphene Oxide Liquid Crystal Stabilized Air Bubbles.

Graphene aerogel (GA) has attracted great attention due to its unique properties, such as ultralow density, superelasticity, and multifunctionality. However, it is a great challenge to develop superelastic and fatigue-resistant GA (SFGA) with ultralow density because it is generally contradictory to improve the mechanical properties with reducing density of GA. Herein, we report a simple and efficient approach to prepare ultralight SFGA templated by graphene oxide liquid crystal (GOLC) stabilized air bubbles.

Characterization and Levels of Expression of Sensory Neuron Membrane Proteins in the Adult Citrus Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) play an important role in insect chemoreception; however, the SNMPs for Bactrocera minax (Enderlein) (Diptera: Tephritidae), an economically important pest of citrus, remain uncharacterized. Here, we report on the molecular characterization of SNMPs (BminSNMP1 and BminSNMP2) from adult B. minax.

Hierarchical parameter estimation of GRN based on topological analysis.

Reverse engineering of gene regulatory network (GRN) is an important and challenging task in systems biology. Existing parameter estimation approaches that compute model parameters with the same importance are usually computationally expensive or infeasible, especially in dealing with complex biological networks.In order to improve the efficiency of computational modeling, the paper applies a hierarchical estimation methodology in computational modeling of GRN based on topological analysis.

Adsorption of plantaricin Q7 on montmorillonite and application in feedback regulation of plantaricin Q7 synthesis by Q7.

Kieselguhr, bentonite, and montmorillonite were investigated as potential carriers of plantaricin Q7. Highest level of adsorption of plantaricin Q7 was obtained with montmorillonite. Meanwhile, visible inhibition zones were observed against for montmorillonite adsorbed with plantaricin Q7.

The Prediction of Cardiac Events in Patients with Acute ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Meta-analysis of Serum Uric Acid.

Objective: The current study aimed to explore the predictive ability of serum uric acid (SUA) in patients suffering from acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Method: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Medline databases were systematically searched from their respective inceptions to February 2018. Systematic analysis and random-effects meta-analysis of prognostic effects were performed to evaluate STEMI outcomes [i.

Purification and Partial Characterization of Bacteriocin Lac-B23, a Novel Bacteriocin Production by J23, Isolated From Chinese Traditional Fermented Milk.

The exploration and evaluation of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been one of the powerful means to food preservation. A total of 300 strains were isolated from Chinese traditional fermented milk products. A bacteriocin-producing LAB, named J23, was screened and identified.

Aphthous ulcer drug inhibits prostate tumor metastasis by targeting IKKɛ/TBK1/NF-κB signaling.

Tumor metastasis is the major cause of death for prostate cancer (PCa) patients. However, the treatment options for metastatic PCa are very limited. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been reported to be an indispensable step for tumor metastasis and is suggested to associate with acquisition of cancer stem cell (CSC) attributes.

TaN nanoparticles/TiO hollow sphere (0D/3D) heterojunction: facile synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activities of levofloxacin degradation and H evolution.

Active removal of recalcitrant antibiotic contaminants for wastewater purification and hydrogen evolution from water splitting using hollow-structured photocatalysts has attracted considerable interest in the field of environmental governance and energy conversion. Herein, 0D TaN nanoparticles anchored on 3D TiO hollow nanosphere composites (0D/3D Ta/Ti) were designed and fabricated via a feasible surface self-assembly process for the first time. Various techniques were employed to characterize the structure and optical properties of the as-prepared samples.

Plasmonic Au-Loaded Hierarchical Hollow Porous TiO Spheres: Synergistic Catalysts for Nitroaromatic Reduction.

Plasmonic Au nanoparticle (NP)-loaded hierarchical hollow porous TiO spheres are designed and synthesized with the purpose of enhancing the overall catalytic activity by introducing the Au plasmonic effect into the system, where Au NPs themselves are catalytically active. The constructed nanohybrid exhibits both high activity in 4-nitrophenol reduction, compared to all of the previously reported Au-based catalysts, and high selectivity. The synergy of the inherent catalytic property of Au NPs and the plasmonic effect (mainly via hot electron transfer) under irradiation is confirmed by a series of control experiments.

A Novel Microtubule Inhibitor Overcomes Multidrug Resistance in Tumors.

Microtubule inhibitors as chemotherapeutic drugs are widely used for cancer treatment. However, the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer is a major challenge for microtubule inhibitors in their clinical implementation. From a high-throughput drug screen using cells transformed by oncogenic RAS, we identify a lead heteroaryl amide compound that blocks cell proliferation.

Investigation of optical force on magnetic nanoparticles with magnetic-fluid-filled Fabry-Perot interferometer.

The optical force acting on the magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is investigated with the magnetic-fluid-filled fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometer. The shift of interference spectra is related with the local refractive index variation in the light path, which is assigned to the optical-force-induced outward movement of MNPs. The influence of magnetic fluid's viscosity, ambient temperature, strength and orientation of the externally applied magnetic field on the optical-force-induced MNPs' movement is studied in details.