MicroRNA-612 regulates the proliferation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of human colon cancer cells via G protein-coupled receptor 132 (GPR132)

Purpose: To investigate the effect of microRNA-612 (miR-612) on human colon cancer cells, and the mechanism involved. Methods: Expressions of miR-612 and GPR132 were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR)el , while cell viability was evaluated using cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) and colony formation assays. Dual luciferase assay was used to determine the interaction between miR-612 and GPR132, while cell migration and invasion were measured by Transwell assay. Results: The expression levels of miR-612 in colon cancer tissues and cell lines were significantly down-regulated (p < 0.05). Overexpression of miR-612 in colon cancer cells led to significant inhibition of their proliferation and colony formation. Transwell assays revealed that miR-612 overexpression markedly stopped the migration, invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Conclusion: These results indicate that miR-612 exerts anti-cancer effect by suppressing the expression of GPR132 at the translational level. The in vitro tumor suppressive activity of miR-612 against colon cancer reveals its potential for the management of colon cancer

Visual motion sensitivity as an indicator of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus

ObjectivesThis current study is based on a set of visual motion sensitivity tests, investigating the correlation between visual motion sensitivity and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), thereby furnishing a scientific rationale for preventing and controlling DR.MethodsThis research was conducted by a combination of questionnaire collection and on-site investigation that involved 542 T2DM recruited from a community. The visual motion sensitivity determined the visual motion perception of the participants across three spatial frequencies (low, medium, and high) for both the first- and second-order contrast. The logistic regression model was adopted to investigate the relationship between visual motion sensitivity and DR prevalence. Besides, the Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing visual motion sensitivity and restricted cubic spline (RCS) functions to assess the dose–response relationship between visual motion sensitivity and glycated hemoglobin.ResultsAmong 542 subjects, there are 162 cases of DR, with a prevalence rate of 29.89%. After adjusting factors of age, gender, glycated hemoglobin, duration of diabetes, BMI, and hypertension, we found that the decline in first- and second-order high spatial frequency sensitivity increased the risk for DR [odds ratio (OR): 1.519 (1.065, 2.168), 1.249 (1.068, 1.460)]. The decline in perceptual ability of second-order low, medium, and high spatial frequency sensitivity is a risk factor for moderate to severe DR [OR: 1.556 (1.116, 2.168), 1.388 (1.066, 1.806), 1.476 (1.139, 1.912)]. The first-order and the second-order high spatial frequency sensitivity are significantly positively correlated with glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.105, p = 0.015 and r = 0.119, p = 0.005, respectively).ConclusionVisual motion sensitivity especially for the second-order high spatial frequency stimuli emerges as a significant predictor of DR in T2DM, offering a sensitive diagnostic tool for early detection

Quasi-Free Electron States Responsible for Single-Molecule Conductance Enhancement in Stable Radical

Stable organic radicals, which possess half-filled orbitals in the vicinity of the Fermi energy, are promising candidates for electronic devices. In this Letter, using a combination of scanning-tunneling-microscopy-based break junction (STM-BJ) experiments and quantum transport theory, a stable fluorene-based radical is investigated. We demonstrate that the transport properties of a series of fluorene derivatives can be tuned by controlling the degree of localization of certain orbitals. More specifically, radical has a delocalized half-filled orbital resulting in Breit-Wigner resonances, leading to an unprecedented conductance enhancement of 2 orders of magnitude larger than the neutral nonradical counterpart ( ). In other words, conversion from a closed-shell fluorene derivative to the free radical in opens an electron transport path which massively enhances the conductance. This new understanding of the role of radicals in single-molecule junctions opens up a novel design strategy for single-molecule-based spintronic devices

The function of mating plugs in the spider Neriene emphana: mating strategy or sperm protection?

Introduction: It is generally thought that mating plugs, where present, impede or reduce the possibilities of female subsequent mating. Behavioral studies on numerous spiders, where mating plugs are common, have generally supported this function. However, mating plugs in spiders could plausibly serve other functions as well. Namely, the structure of entelegyne spermathecae—the morphology of most spiders—could require a mechanism that would prevent sperm from leakage, desiccation, and backflow. Although the form and function of mating plugs in several spider species imply their potential adaptation for sperm protection, this function has never been empirically tested. Methods: Here, we test whether mating plugs in the sheet-web spider Neriene emphana serve as a sperm protective device by investigating its genital morphology, its copulation process, and the precise formation of its amorphous mating plugs. Results: This species constructs secretion plugs through male-female cooperation. Additionally, we found sperm plugs to be formed as a side product of sperm transfer, as well as an intermediate type of secretion plugs. These plug materials are transferred in different mating stages as documented by variations in the rhythm of male palpal application during copulation. We showed that complete copulations always resulted in formation of secretion plugs at spermathecal entrances via laborious deposition of male materials. Discussion: While our findings do not reject that secretion plugs in N. emphana prevent females from subsequent mating, we suggest that they must have evolved to provide sperm protection

Ex situ Flora of China

The role of living collections-based research and discovery has been a prominent feature throughout the history of evolution and advance of botanical science: such research is the core and soul of the botanical gardens. Currently, there are c. 162 Chinese botanical gardens, harboring c. 20,000 species in China. As an example of initiatives to utilize the garden cultivated flora to address plant diversity conservation and germplasm discovery for sustainable agriculture and the bio-industries, the Ex situ Flora of China project aims to catalog and document this mega-diversity of plants that are cultivated in the Chinese botanical gardens. The concept of Ex situ Flora of China is a complete new formulation of species, based on garden cultivated individuals and populations, to obtain better morphological descriptions, provide multi-purpose applicability and a fundamental data service that will support national bio-strategies and bio-industries. It emphasises integrative information, accurately collected from living collections across different Chinese botanical gardens, on biology, phenology, cultivation requirements and uses of plant resources, which are normally not available from traditional Floras based on herbarium specimens. The ex situ flora should provide better information coverage for taxonomy, biological and introduction and collection data and color photos of stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seed, as well as useful information of cultivation key points and main use of each plant. In general, the Ex situ Flora of China provides more useful information than the traditional Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae. The project of Ex situ Flora of China is planned to be one of the most important initiatives of the plant diversity research platform for sustainable economic and social development in China. Keywords: Botanical garden, Living collections, Ex situ conservation, Botanical sciences, Cultivated flor

Unpacking the ‘supply-utilization-demand’ interplay: Keys to multifunctional sustainability in rural China

Sustainable rural development is predicated on a delicate balance between rural territorial functions and ecological constraints. While various functions can catalyze economic growth in rural settings, aligning them with inherent ecological variables is essential. An exhaustive analysis of Beijing’s Pinggu District elucidated specific supply-demand thresholds and evaluated the adaptability of current utilization within these boundaries, culminating in a novel optimization strategy. Notably, while locals place significant emphasis on production functions, the area’s topography and soil characteristics present palpable challenges to achieving these goals. We discovered that ‘shackle type’ predominantly characterize individual rural territorial functions, while ‘diversified weak function optimization type’ define multifunctional aspects, showcasing varied development paths and uncovering potential strategies for sustainable improvement. This study contributes a groundbreaking perspective to sustainable rural development, offering key insights and strategic recommendations for policy formulation

Evaluation Strategies on the Thermal Environmental Effectiveness of Street Canyon Clusters: A Case Study of Harbin, China

Urban overheating significantly affects people’s physical and mental health. The addition of street trees is an essential, economical, and effective means by which to mitigate urban heat and optimize the overall thermal environment. Focusing on typical street canyon clusters in Harbin, China, landscape morphology was quantified by streetscape interface measurements (sky view factor, tree view factor, and building view factor). Through ENVI-met simulations, the correlation mechanism between streetscape interface measurements and thermal environment was evaluated, and optimization methods for assessing the thermal environment of urban streets were proposed. The results revealed: (1) The thermal environment optimization efficiency of general street canyon types was greatest when street tree spacing was 12 m. At present, the smaller spacing has not been simulated and may yield better thermal environment results. The average decrease in temperature (Ta), relative humidity (RH) and mean radiant temperature (MRT) was 0.78%, 2.23%, and 30.20%, respectively. (2) Specific street canyon types should adopt precise control strategies of streetscape interface according to their types to achieve the optimal balance between thermal environment optimization and cost. (3) Streetscape interface measurements and thermal environment indexes show quadratic correlation characteristics, and are critical points for further investigation. The conclusions are more specific than previous research findings, which are of great significance for decreasing the urban heat island effect at the block scale, improving residents’ physical and mental health, and improving the urban environment quality