microRNA-181a-5p impedes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of retinoblastoma cells by targeting the NRAS proto-oncogene

Objectives: Accumulating research have reported that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in Retinoblastoma (RB). Nonetheless, the function and underlying mechanism of miR-181a-5p in RB remain ambiguous. Methods: The relative expression levels of miR-181a-5p and NRAS mRNA were detected by quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). RB cell proliferation was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5′-Bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assays. Transwell assays and flow cytometry were performed to detect the migration, invasion, and apoptosis of RB cells. The interaction between miR-181a-5p and NRAS was explored using luciferase experiments, western blotting, and qRT-PCR. Results: miR-181a-5p expression was found to be decreased in RB tissues and cell lines, and its expression was correlated with unfavorable pathological features of the patients. In vitro experiments revealed that miR-181a-5p reduced RB cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while enhancing apoptosis. Further research confirmed that NRAS is a direct target of miR-181a-5p. miR-181a-5p inhibited NRAS expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Co-transfection of pcDNA-NRAS or NRAS small interfering RNA (siRNA) reversed the effects of miR-181a-5p mimics or miR-181a-5p inhibitors on RB cells. Conclusion: miR-181a-5p was significantly downregulated during the development of RB, and it suppressed the malignant behaviors of RB cells by targeting NRAS

Manual of tropical bryology

Bryophytes belong to the oldest land plants. They existed already in the Palaeozoic 300 mio years ago in forms which were hardly different from the extant species. They remained relatively unchanged with relatively low evolution rates (and are thus often called a „conservative“ plant group), but could successfully establish themselves in an always varying environment from Devonian swamps to Permian forests, Mesozoic deserts and as epiphytes in Tertiary rainforests. They are not eaten by snails or insects, and are resistant against fungi and bacteria

Head position change is not associated with acute changes in bilateral cerebral oxygenation in stable preterm infants during the first 3 days of life

OBJECTIVE: Several recent intraventricular hemorrhage prevention bundles include midline head positioning to prevent potential disturbances in cerebral hemodynamics. We aimed to study the impact of head position change on regional cerebral saturations (SctO2) in preterm infants (< 30 weeks GA) during the first three days of life. STUDY DESIGN: Bilateral SctO2 was measured by near infrared spectroscopy. The infant's head was turned sequentially to each side from midline (baseline) in thirty-minute intervals while keeping the body supine. Bilateral SctO2 before and after each position change were compared using paired t-test. RESULTS: In relatively stable preterm infants (gestational age 26.5±1.7 weeks, birth weight 930±220g; n=20), bilateral SctO2 remained within normal range (71.1% - 75.3%) when the head was turned from midline position to either side. CONCLUSION: Stable preterm infants tolerated brief changes in head position from midline without significant alternation in bilateral SctO2; the impact on critically ill infants needs further evaluation

Organic Leadership—Implicit Followership Interaction: Relations among Trust in Supervisor, Active Followership and OCB

Due to the impact of COVID-19, a large number of employees of organizations around the world have been forced to work remotely from home starting in 2020. As a result, leaders and followers face new communication and interaction challenges. If an enterprise is to be successful in the new wave of economic development, it must embrace the role of employee followers. However, there is currently no relevant research. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the interaction between organic leadership and implicit followers from the perspective of followers who are working remotely and further analyze their relationship with trust in their supervisor, organizational citizenship behavior, and active followership. Using the method of questionnaire measurement, multigroup analysis and ANCOVA and PLS-SEM analysis found the following. First, difference in leadership styles (IV) and implicit followers (IV) had significant effects on employees’ trust in supervisor (DV), organizational citizenship behavior (DV), and active followers (DV). Secondly, the influence of the leaders’ styles (IV) on employees’ trust in supervisor (DV), organizational citizenship behavior (DV), and active followership (DV) was significantly affected only when IFTs were anti-prototypical traits. Finally, organizational citizenship behavior (Med) had an indirect effect between trust in supervisor (DV) and active followership (DV). This article not only fills the gaps in the literature related to leaders and followers, but also provides analytical evidence and new thinking which will enable companies to propose management strategies more effectively for employees working remotely in the face of the impact of the epidemic

Intensity measurement bend sensors based on periodically tapered soft glass fibers

We demonstrate a novel technique for tapering periodically an all-solid soft glass fiber, consisting of two types of lead silicate glasses, by the use of a focused CO2 laser beam and investigate the bend sensing applications of the periodically-tapered soft glass fiber. Such a soft glass fiber with periodic microtapers could be used to develop promising bend sensors with a sensitivity of -27.75 µW/m-1 by means of measuring the bend-induced change of light intensity. The proposed bend sensor exhibits a very low measurement error of down to ±1%