miR-218 targets survivin and regulates resistance to chemotherapeutics in breast cancer

Multidrug resistance (MDR) remains one of the most significant obstacles in breast cancer treatment, and this process often involves dysregulation of a great number of microRNAs (miRNAs). Some miRNAs are indicators of drug resistance and confer resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, although our understanding of this complex process is still incomplete. We have used a combination of miRNA profiling and real-time PCR in two drug-resistant derivatives of MCF-7 and Cal51 cells. Experimental modulation of miR expression has been obtained by retroviral transfection. Taxol and doxorubicin IC50 values were obtained by short-term drug sensitivity assays. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry after annexin V staining, by caspase 3/7 and caspase 9 activity assays and the levels of apoptosis-related proteins bcl-2 and bax by real-time PCR and Western blot. miR target was studied using transient transfection of luciferase constructs with the 3 untranslated regions (UTR) of target mRNAs. Small interfering RNA-mediated genetic knock-down was performed in MDR cells and its modulatory effect on apoptosis examined. The effect of miRNA on tumorigenicity and tumor drug response was studied in mouse xenografts. miRNA profiling of two drug-resistant breast cancer cell models indicated that miR-218 was down-regulated in both MCF-7/A02 and CALDOX cells. Ectopic expression of miR-218 resensitized both drug-resistant cell lines to doxorubicin and taxol due to an increase in apoptosis. miR-218 binds survivin (BIRC5) mRNA 3-UTR and down-regulated reporter luciferase activity. Experimental down-regulation of survivin by RNA interference in drug-resistant cells did mimic the sensitization observed when miRNA-218 was up-regulated. In addition, resensitization to taxol was also observed in mouse tumor xenografts from cells over-expressing miR-218. miR-218 is involved in the development of MDR in breast cancer cells via targeting survivin and leading to evasion of apoptosis. Targeting miR-218 and survivin may thus provide a potential strategy for reversing drug resistance in breast cancer

In China's Wake: Has Asia Gained From China's Growth?

China’s growth has been rapid but the value of China's international trade has grown even faster. This trade-biased growth is bringing both challenges and opportunities for Asian economies that are highly integrated with Chinese trade networks. Moreover in ASEAN countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, China’s success has been seen as a threat to its existing trade and manufacturing base. We use an historical simulation analysis to examine the impacts of China’s growth on Asian economies. We find that a decade of China’s growth has raised GDP per capita in the developed Asian economies by around 16%. The effect on the ASEAN-4 economies is not as strong but still large, the GDP of the ASEAN-4 economies increased by approximately 7%. The main source of these gains is found to be lower durable goods import costs which induce accumulation of machinery and equipment capital.Economic Growth, China, Trade Costs

Annealing-induced Fe oxide nanostructures on GaAs

We report the evolution of Fe oxide nanostructures on GaAs(100) upon pre- and post-growth annealing conditions. GaAs nanoscale pyramids were formed on the GaAs surface due to wet etching and thermal annealing. An 8.0-nm epitaxial Fe film was grown, oxidized, and annealed using a gradient temperature method. During the process the nanostripes were formed, and the evolution has been demonstrated using transmission and reflection high energy electron diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. These nanostripes; exhibited uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. The formation of these nanostructures is attributed to surface anisotropy, which in addition could explain the observed uniaxial magnetic anisotropy

Can the age discrepancies of neutron stars be circumvented by an accretion-assisted torque?

It is found that 1E 1207.4-5209 could be a low-mass bare strange star if its small radius or low altitude cyclotron formation can be identified. The age problems of five sources could be solved by a fossil-disk-assisted torque. The magnetic dipole radiation dominates the evolution of PSR B1757-24 at present, and the others are in propeller (or tracking) phases.Comment: ApJL accepted, or at http://vega.bac.pku.edu.cn/~rxxu/publications/index_P.ht

Spin Dependence of Interfacial Reflection Phase Shift at Cu/Co Interface

The spin dependent reflection at the interface is the key element to understand the spin transport. By completely solving the scattering problem based on first principles method, we obtained the spin resolved reflectivity spectra. The comparison of our theoretical results with experiment is good in a large energy scale from Fermi level to energy above vacuum level. It is found that interfacial distortion is crucial for understanding the spin dependence of the phase gain at the Cu$|$Co interface. Near the Fermi level, image state plays an important role to the phase accumulation in the copper film.Comment: 6 papges, 3 figures, accepted by Physical Review

Basic physical and chemical processes in space radiation effects on polymers

The effects of space ionizing radiation on polymers is investigated in terms of operative physical and chemical processes. A useful model of charged particle impact with a polymer was designed. Principle paths of molecular relaxation were identified and energy handling processes were considered. The focus of the study was on energy absorption and the immediately following events. Further study of the radiation degradation of polymers is suggested

The International Effects of China's Growth, Trade and Ecucation Booms

China’s international trade flows have increased by 500% since 1992, far outstripping GDP growth. Likewise tertiary education enrollments have increased by 300%. We simulate these changes using a multi-sector growth model of the Chinese and USA economies. A decade of trade biased growth in China is found to have a large effect on the USA economy – raising GDP approximately 3-4.5 percentage points. We also show that the trade bias in China’s growth accounts for more than half of the observed growth in tertiary enrolments in China. In contrast neutral growth has practically no effect on USA incomes or China’s stock of skilled labour. Finally the simulations reveal that China’s education boom per se has practically no long run impact on the USA economy. The results thus indicate that the pattern of productivity growth in exports sectors, as might be caused by falling trade costs, has been critical in transmitting benefits of Chinese growth to the world economy. They also point to an important link between falling trade costs and human capital formation.Economic Growth, China, Human Capital, Trade Costs

Correspondence Between DGP Brane Cosmology and 5D Ricci-flat Cosmology

We discuss the correspondence between the DGP brane cosmology and 5D Ricci-flat cosmology by letting their metrics equal each other. By this correspondence, a specific geometrical property of the arbitrary integral constant I in DGP metric is given and it is related to the curvature of 5D bulk. At the same time, the relation of arbitrary functions $\mu$ and $\nu$ in a class of Ricci-flat solutions is obtained from DGP brane metric.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, accepted by MPLA, added referenc