Corrigendum to: The TianQin project: current progress on science and technology

In the originally published version, this manuscript included an error related to indicating the corresponding author within the author list. This has now been corrected online to reflect the fact that author Jun Luo is the corresponding author of the article

miR-4780 Derived from N2-Like Neutrophil Exosome Aggravates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Angiogenesis in Colorectal Cancer

Despite significant advances in diagnostic methods and treatment strategies, the prognosis for patients with advanced colon cancer remains poor, and mortality rates are often high due to metastasis. Increasing evidence showed that it is of significant importance to investigate how the tumor microenvironment participates in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). In this manuscript, neutrophils were sequentially stimulated with all-trans retinoic acid and transforming growth factor-β in turn to induce the neutrophil polarization. Differentially expressed miRNA in neutrophil exosomes have been sequenced by microarray profile, and the effect of N2-like neutrophil-derived exosomal miR-4780 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis was investigated. In our results, we found that neutrophils were enriched in CRC tumor tissue and that CD11b expression correlated with tumor site and serous membrane invasion. At the same time, we demonstrated that internalization of N2 exosomes exacerbated the viability, migration, and invasion of CRC cell lines and inhibited apoptosis. To further investigate the molecular mechanism, we analyzed the miRNA expression profile in the N2-like neutrophils, which led to the selection of hsa-miR-4780 for the subsequent experiment. The overexpression of miR-4780 from N2-like neutrophil-derived exosomes exacerbated EMT and angiogenesis. Moreover, miR-4780 can regulate its target gene SOX11 to effect EMT and angiogenesis in CRC cell lines. CRC with liver metastasis model also validated that aberrant expression of miR-4780 in N2-like neutrophil exosomes exacerbated tumor metastasis and development of tumor via EMT and angiogenesis. In conclusion, our current findings reveal an important mechanism by which mR-4780 from N2-like neutrophil exosomes exacerbates tumor metastasis and progression via EMT and angiogenesis

Adjustable thermal expansion in La(Fe, Si)13-based conductive composites by high-pressure synthesis

Providing a suitable contact interface, where a high conductivity material with a desirable coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) adjoins the target micro-electric devices, is very crucial to optimize the properties and service life of the relevant instruments. Regrettably, a high conductivity, low thermal expansion and relatively inexpensive material is very rare. Composites, fortunately, can offer a method to design materials with adjustable properties by mixing two or more diverse constituents. In this paper, high conductivity composites with adjustable thermal expansion were successfully prepared by a high-pressure synthesis. The composites are based on combining La(Fe,Si)13-based compounds, the materials showing a giant, isotropic negative thermal expansion (NTE) properties, within Cu matrix. The La(Fe,Si)13-based compounds were used to adjust the CTE of the composites, while the Cu phase is in charge of tuning the thermal conductivity properties. Thus, by changing the relative amount of the two components, the composites with high conductivities and adjustable CTE were achieved. Furthermore, the thermal expansion and magnetic properties of the composites were investigated by a physical property measurement system. The present results highlight the potential applications of the Cu-based high conductivity composites with room-temperature NTE properties in the thermal contacts to various semiconductor and microelectronic devices. Keywords: La(Fe, Si)13-based compounds, Metal-matrix composites, Negative thermal expansio

Transition Metal-Free Direct C–H Functionalization of Quinones and Naphthoquinones with Diaryliodonium Salts: Synthesis of Aryl Naphthoquinones as β‑Secretase Inhibitors

A novel ligand-free, transition metal-free direct C–H functionalization of quinones with diaryliodonium salts has been developed for the first time. The transformation was promoted only through the use of a base and gave aryl quinone derivatives in moderate to good yields. This methodology provided an effective and easy way to synthesize β-secretase inhibitors. The radical trapping experiments showed that this progress was the radical mechanism

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) promotes retinol uptake and metabolism in the mouse ovary

Abstract Background Retinoids (retinol and its derivatives) are required for the development and maintenance of normal physiological functions of the ovary. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of ovarian retinoid homeostasis during follicular development remain unclear. Methods The present study determined retinoid levels and the expression levels of genes involved in the retinol uptake and its metabolic pathway in the ovaries of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-treated mice and in granulosa cells treated with FSH using ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) combined with quadrupole time-of-flight high-sensitivity mass spectrometry (Q-TOF/HSMS) and real-time PCR analysis. Results The levels of total retinoids and retinoic acid (RA) and expressions of retinol-oxidizing enzyme genes alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (Adh1) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (Aldh1a1) are increased in the ovaries of mice treated with FSH; in contrast, the retinyl ester levels and retinol-esterifying enzyme gene lecithin: retinol acyltransferase (Lrat) expression are diminished. In FSH-treated granulosa cells, the levels of retinyl esters, retinaldehyde, and total retinoids are augmented; and this is coupled with an increase in the expressions of stimulated by retinoic acid 6 (Stra6) and cellular retinol-binding protein 1 (Crbp1), genes in the retinol uptake pathway, and Adh1, Adh7, and Aldh1a1 as well as a diminution in Lrat expression. Conclusions These data suggest that FSH promotes retinol uptake and its conversion to RA through modulating the pathways of retinol uptake and metabolism in the mouse ovary. The present study provides a possible mechanism for the regulation of endogenous RA signaling in the developing follicles

Circulating MiR-146a May be a Potential Biomarker of Coronary Heart Disease in Patients with Subclinical Hypothyroidism

Background/Aims: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) plays a crucial role in the development and progression of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, any associated changes in the circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) levels and slightly elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in CHD patients are unknown. miR-146a is a well known miRNA associated with inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Here, we evaluated miR-146a expression in patients, with the goal of re-evaluating the effect of SCH on CHD. Methods: A total of 192 study subjects who underwent coronary angiography for either suspected or confirmed CHD were enrolled in 3 groups: CHD with SCH, CHD alone, and healthy controls. The circulating levels of miR-146a were quantified using qRT-PCR. Results: Levels of miR-146a were positively correlated with CHD severity, as indicated by the Gensini score (r=0.354). The relative expression of miR-146a in the CHD+SCH, CHD and healthy control groups was 2.223±0.827, 1.588±0.726 and 0.632±0.309, respectively. Plasma TSH levels were positively correlated with miR-146a levels (r=0.321). According to multivariate logistic regression analyses, miR-146a levels were associated with the incidence of CHD in patients with SCH. For diagnosing CHD, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of miR-146a and TSH was 0.779 and 0.752, respectively. When the TSH and miR-146a levels were combined to form a composite panel, the AUC of the panel was 0.858. Conclusion: Plasma miR-146a levels correlated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and increased with TSH slightly elevated in patients with CHD. Thus, miR-146a may have good predictive value for CHD among individuals with elevated TSH levels