FAM172A inhibits breast cancer cell growth and metastasis by upregulating Notch 3

Purpose: To investigate the role of family with sequence similarity 172 member A (FAM172A) in breast cancer. Methods: FAM172A expression was evaluated by western blot and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Colony formation and CCK-8 assays were used to assess cell proliferation, while cell migration and invasion were evaluated by Transwell assay. Results: FAM172A expression was reduced in breast cancer cells and tissues when compared to controls (p < 0.001). Overexpression of FAM172A repressed proliferation of breast cancer cells (p < 0.001) and suppressed cell migration and invasion (p < 0.001). Overexpression of FAM172A increased Notch 3 expression in breast cancer cells. Knockdown of Notch 3 attenuated the FAM172A overexpression-induced decrease in breast cancer cell proliferation. Silencing of Notch 3 reversed the FAM172A (p < 0.001). Conclusion: FAM172A represses breast cancer cell growth and metastasis via upregulation of Notch 3; thus, FAM172A and Notch 3 are potential targets for breast cancer therapy. Keywords:&nbsp

Quantum interference induced by multiple Landau-Zener transitions in a strongly driven rf-SQUID qubit

We irradiated an rf-SQUID qubit with large-amplitude and high frequency electromagnetic field. Population transitions between macroscopic distinctive quantum states due to Landau-Zener transitions at energy-level avoided crossings were observed. The qubit population on the excited states as a function of flux detuning and microwave power exhibits interference patterns. Some novel features are found in the interference and a model based on rate equations can well address the features.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, comments are welcom

High-frequency modeling and filter design for PWM drives with long cables

Aiming at the problems emerging in a pulse width modulation (PWM) drive system with long cables, the accurate modeling of power cables is the premise for predicting and analyzing these relevant phenomena, and a proper filter design is the key solution to these problems. This paper proposes high-frequency cable models to represent these frequency-dependent characteristics, especially for the high-frequency resistance of cables, which is an easily overlooked factor that determines the damping of overvoltage. The proposed models can be used for accurately representing the cable characteristics in a wide frequency range, and correctly simulating the differential mode (DM) overvoltage and common mode (CM) current, including the peak value, oscillation frequency, and damping of the transient waveform. In addition, improved filter networks are proposed to suppress the DM voltage and CM current, with the merit of low losses, small volume, and excellent abilities for suppressing overvoltage. The proposed cable models and the filter design were validated in a 750 W PWM drive system with 200 m power cables

Overtaking Safety Evaluation and Setting of Auxiliary Lane on Two-Lane Highway in China

Overtaking experiments on four two-lane highways were conducted. The data of overtaking conflict time (the time difference between the time of driving back to the original lane and the time of meeting with the first opposing vehicle) and experimental drivers’ risk feeling were observed. Membership was adopted to denote the experimental drivers’ risk feelings which also denote the severity of traffic conflict. Membership ranges from 0 to 1 and corresponding risk becomes higher; that is, traffic conflict becomes more serious. According to the observed relationship between overtaking conflict time, and drivers’ risk feeling membership, Cauchy distribution function was adopted as membership function. The thresholds of the severity of traffic conflict were determined through Delphi method. The relationship model among traffic volume, overtaking conflict time and design speed was established according to experimental data. Then the idea of setting auxiliary lane on two-lane highway in China was presented. And the traffic volume values that need setting auxiliary lane corresponding to different design speed and traffic conflict degree were given according to the established model. It is expected to improve the traffic safety level of two-lane highway in China through setting auxiliary lane

Multidimensional analysis reveals environmental factors that affect community dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in poplar roots

IntroductionPoplar is a tree species with important production and application value. The symbiotic relationship between poplar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has a key role in ecosystem functioning. However, there remain questions concerning the seasonal dynamics of the AMF community in poplar roots, the relationship between AMF and the soil environment, and its ecological function.MethodPoplar roots and rhizosphere soil were sampled at the end of April and the end of October. The responses of AMF communities to season, host age, and host species were investigated; the soil environmental factors driving community changes were analyzed.ResultsThe diversity and species composition of the AMF community were higher in autumn than in spring. Season, host age, host species, and soil environmental factors affected the formation of the symbiotic mycorrhizal system and the AMF community. Differences in the communities could be explained by soil pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available potassium, and glomalin content.DiscussionThe AMF community was sensitive to changes in soil physicochemical properties caused by seasonal dynamics, particularly total potassium. The change in the mycorrhizal symbiotic system was closely related to the growth and development of poplar trees