Circ-CCS regulates oxaliplatin resistance via targeting miR-874-3p/HK2 axis in colorectal cancer

Background. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignancy that threatens the patient’s life. Previous reports showed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) can affect CRC development. Herein, we demonstrated the characters of circular RNA copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase (circ-CCS) in CRC tissues and cells. Methods. Circ-CCS, CCS mRNA, microRNA-8743p (miR-874-3p) and hexokinase 2 (HK2) were indicated by qRT-PCR and western blot in CRC. The cell roles were examined. Additionally, the interaction between miR-874-3p and circ-CCS or HK2 was forecasted by the bioinformatics method and assessed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Finally, the mouse test was implemented to demonstrate the effect of circ-CCS in vivo. Results. Circ-CCS and HK2 were increased, whereas miR-874-3p was diminished in CRC. Circ-CCS lack subdued the IC50 value of oxaliplatin, cell proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis metabolism in CRC cells, while it endorsed cell apoptosis. Furthermore, miR-874-3p was validated as having a tumor repressive effect in CRC cells by restraining HK2. The results also showed that HK2 could regulate the development of CRC. In mechanism, circ-CCS targeted miR-874-3p to control HK2. In addition, circ-CCS knock-down also attenuated tumor growth in mice. Conclusion. Circ-CCS expedited CRC through miR874-3p/HK

Measurement of functional resilience of transport network:The case of the Beijing subway network

Resilience is an important concept for measuring a system\u27s ability to cope with various disruptions. This study proposes an application-oriented framework for measuring the dynamic functional resilience (FR) of a transport network responding to supply and demand disruptions without external interventions. On the conceptual side, three complementary capacity-related dimensions, namely, robustness, adaptability, and recoverability, are incorporated in the single FR framework from the perspective of physical laws. On the applied side, we suggest a measurement model given certain network indices and apply it to the Beijing subway network (BSN). The results indicate the measurement model can capture the dynamics of network performances, identify the time-varying bottlenecks, and predict the influence of the dynamic capacity expansions on network resilience. The findings are useful for policy-making regarding the dynamic design, operation, and reconstruction of the transport infrastructure

Microstructure and texture analysis of δ-hydride precipitation in Zircaloy-4 materials by electron microscopy and neutron diffraction

This work presents a detailed microstructure and texture study of various hydrided Zircaloy-4 materials by neutron diffraction and microscopy. The results show that the precipitated δ-ZrH1.66 generally follows the δ (111) //α (0001) and δ[]//α[] orientation relationship with the α-Zr matrix. The δ-hydride displays a weak texture that is determined by the texture of the α-Zr matrix, and this dependence essentially originates from the observed orientation correlation between α-Zr and δ-hydride. Neutron diffraction line profile analysis and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations reveal a significant number of dislocations present in the δ-hydride, with an estimated average density one order of magnitude higher than that in the α-Zr matrix, which contributes to the accommodation of the substantial misfit strains associated with hydride precipitation in the α-Zr matrix. The present observations provide an insight into the behaviour of δ-hydride precipitation in zirconium alloys and may help with understanding the induced embrittling effect of hydrides.Fil: Wang, Zhiyang. University of Wollongong; Australia. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation; AustraliaFil: Garbe, Ulf. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation; AustraliaFil: Li, Huijun. University of Wollongong; AustraliaFil: Wang, Yanbo. University of Sydney; AustraliaFil: Studer, Andrew J.. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation; AustraliaFil: Sun, Guangai. Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, CAEP; ChinaFil: Harrison, Robert P.. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Institute of Materials Engineering; AustraliaFil: Liao, Xiaozhou. University of Sydney; AustraliaFil: Vicente Alvarez, Miguel Angel. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Santisteban, Javier Roberto. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Kong, Charlie. University of New South Wales; Australi

Neuroimaging in repetitive brain trauma

Sports-related concussions are one of the major causes of mild traumatic brain injury. Although most patients recover completely within days to weeks, those who experience repetitive brain trauma (RBT) may be at risk for developing a condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). While this condition is most commonly observed in athletes who experience repetitive concussive and/or subconcussive blows to the head, such as boxers, football players, or hockey players, CTE may also affect soldiers on active duty. Currently, the only means by which to diagnose CTE is by the presence of phosphorylated tau aggregations post-mortem. Non-invasive neuroimaging, however, may allow early diagnosis as well as improve our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of RBT. The purpose of this article is to review advanced neuroimaging methods used to investigate RBT, including diffusion tensor imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, functional magnetic resonance imaging, susceptibility weighted imaging, and positron emission tomography. While there is a considerable literature using these methods in brain injury in general, the focus of this review is on RBT and those subject populations currently known to be susceptible to RBT, namely athletes and soldiers. Further, while direct detection of CTE in vivo has not yet been achieved, all of the methods described in this review provide insight into RBT and will likely lead to a better characterization (diagnosis), in vivo, of CTE than measures of self-report

Genetic improvement of resistance to blast and bacterial blight of the elite maintainer line Rongfeng B in hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) by using marker-assisted selection

Rice blast caused by the fungus Magnaporthe grisea and bacterial blight (BB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae (Xoo) are two major rice diseases in the world. An elite, early maturing maintainer line of hybrid rice, Rongfeng B hybrid rice is susceptible to both blast and BB. For improving its diseases resistance, BL122 and CBB23 were used as the donors of blast resistance genes Pi1 and Pi2 and BB resistance gene Xa23, respectively. These resistant genes were introgressed into Rongfeng B by using a marker-assisted backcross breeding programs, and two improved lines D521 and D524 with Pi1, Pi2 and Xa23 were developed. The results indicated that both improved lines showed high resistance to leaf and neck blast and BB. The resistance frequencies for the rice blast and the length of lesions resulting from BB ranged from 96.7 to 100% and 0.77 to 1.18 cm, respectively. The two improved lines showed the desired variation in the majority of evaluated agronomic traits, including the number of grains per panicle, the grains weight, plant height, and seed setting rate. A new cytoplasmic male sterile line, Rongfeng 3A, with Pi1, Pi2, and Xa23, was successfully developed through successive backcross breeding.Keywords: Gene pyramiding, marker-assisted backcross breeding, rice blast, bacterial bligh

Neuroimaging in repetitive brain trauma

Sports-related concussions are one of the major causes of mild traumatic brain injury. Although most patients recover completely within days to weeks, those who experience repetitive brain trauma (RBT) may be at risk for developing a condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). While this condition is most commonly observed in athletes who experience repetitive concussive and/or subconcussive blows to the head, such as boxers, football players, or hockey players, CTE may also affect soldiers on active duty. Currently, the only means by which to diagnose CTE is by the presence of phosphorylated tau aggregations post-mortem. Non-invasive neuroimaging, however, may allow early diagnosis as well as improve our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of RBT. The purpose of this article is to review advanced neuroimaging methods used to investigate RBT, including diffusion tensor imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, functional magnetic resonance imaging, susceptibility weighted imaging, and positron emission tomography. While there is a considerable literature using these methods in brain injury in general, the focus of this review is on RBT and those subject populations currently known to be susceptible to RBT, namely athletes and soldiers. Further, while direct detection of CTE in vivo has not yet been achieved, all of the methods described in this review provide insight into RBT and will likely lead to a better characterization (diagnosis), in vivo, of CTE than measures of self-report