Network modelling reveals the mechanism underlying colitis-associated colon cancer and identifies novel combinatorial anti-cancer targets

The connection between inflammation and tumourigenesis has been well established. However, the detailed molecular mechanism underlying inflammation-associated tumourigenesis remains unknown because this process involves a complex interplay between immune microenvironments and epithelial cells. To obtain a more systematic understanding of inflammation-associated tumourigenesis as well as to identify novel therapeutic approaches, we constructed a knowledge-based network describing the development of colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC) by integrating the extracellular microenvironment and intracellular signalling pathways. Dynamic simulations of the CAC network revealed a core network module, including P53, MDM2, and AKT, that may govern the malignant transformation of colon epithelial cells in a pro-tumor inflammatory microenvironment. Furthermore, in silico mutation studies and experimental validations led to a novel finding that concurrently targeting ceramide and PI3K/AKT pathway by chemical probes or marketed drugs achieves synergistic anti-cancer effects. Overall, our network model can guide further mechanistic studies on CAC and provide new insights into the design of combinatorial cancer therapies in a rational manner

Fourier Domain Anomaly Detection and Spectral Fusion for Stripe Noise Removal of TIR Imagery

Stripe noise is a common and unwelcome noise pattern in various thermal infrared (TIR) image data including conventional TIR images and remote sensing TIR spectral images. Most existing stripe noise removal (destriping) methods are often difficult to keep a good and robust efficacy in dealing with the real-life complex noise cases. In this paper, based on the intrinsic spectral properties of TIR images and stripe noise, we propose a novel two-stage transform domain destriping method called Fourier domain anomaly detection and spectral fusion (ADSF). Considering the principal frequencies polluted by stripe noise as outliers in the statistical spectrum of TIR images, our naive idea is first to detect the potential anomalies and then correct them effectively in the Fourier domain to reconstruct a desired destriping result. More specifically, anomaly detection for stripe frequencies is achieved through a regional comparison between the original spectrum and the expected spectrum that statistically follows a generalized Laplacian regression model, and then an anomaly weight map is generated accordingly. In the correction stage, we propose a guidance-image-based spectrum fusion strategy, which integrates the original spectrum and the spectrum of a guidance image via the anomaly weight map. The final reconstruction result not only has no stripe noise but also maintains image structures and details well. Extensive real experiments are performed on conventional TIR images and remote sensing spectral images, respectively. The qualitative and quantitative assessment results demonstrate the superior effectiveness and strong robustness of the proposed method

The Evolution of Melanoma – Moving beyond Binary Models of Genetic Progression

To date, over 1000 melanocytic neoplasms, spanning all stages of tumorigenesis, have been sequenced, offering detailed views into their -omic landscapes. This has coincided with advances in genetic engineering technologies that allow molecular biologists to edit the human genome with extreme precision and new mouse models to simulate disease progression. In this review, we describe how these technologies are being harnessed to provide insights into the evolution of melanoma at an unprecedented resolution, revealing that prior models of melanoma evolution, in which pathways are turned 'on' or 'off' in a binary fashion during the run-up to melanoma, are oversimplified

Investigation of the drag reduction performance of bionic flexible coating

The drag is a crucial factor in reducing the speed of movement and increasing unnecessary energy loss. In this work, inspired by dolphins, five bionic flexible coatings with drag reduction performance were designed and manufactured. First and foremost, the mixed solution, composed of the polydimethylsiloxane and ethyl acetate, was sprayed on aluminum disks with a spray gun, and the bionic flexible coatings were obtained by heating the aluminum disks sprayed with the mixed solution. Afterward, the mechanical properties and surface characteristics of the flexible coatings were characterized. The experimental results for the flexible coatings of drag reduction performance were obtained by using the drag force device. Above all, the parametric study focusing on the flexible coating of the mechanical properties affects the station of flow, which is performed to analyze the impact on drag reduction. Selecting the aluminum disk without any coating as a reference, numerical simulation methods were introduced to explore the drag reduction mechanism of the bionic flexible coating. The results evidence that the drag reduction ratio is 21.6% at the rotation velocity 50 rpm. Under the action of frictional resistance, the coating of elastic deformation caused by the viscoelasticity of the coating like the dolphin skin results in a decrease in frictional resistance of the wall

INVESTIGANDO EL CANCER DE PIEL: NUEVAS HERRAMIENTAS

Las mutaciones ocurren en nuestras células durante toda la vida. Aunque la mayoría de las mutaciones son inofensivas, se acumulan en número en nuestros tejidos a medida que envejecemos y, si surgen en genes clave, pueden alterar el comportamiento celular y encaminar a las células hacia el cáncer. También se especula que las mutaciones somáticas (aquellas en tejidos no reproductivos) podrían contribuir al envejecimiento y a enfermedades no relacionadas con el cáncer. Sin embargo, las dificultades técnicas para detectar las mutaciones presentes en un pequeño númerode células, o incluso en células individuales, han obstaculizado la investigación y limitado el progreso en la comprensión de los primerospasos en el desarrollo del cáncer y el impacto de la mutación somática en el envejecimiento y la enfermedad informan un trabajo que superóalgunas de estas limitaciones experimentales para explorar las mutaciones somáticas y la selección en melanocitos individuales, el tipo de célula de la piel que puede dar lugar al cáncer de melanoma

Hg/Se/PbSO4 Recovery by Microwave-Intensified HgSe Pyrolysis from Toxic Acid Mud

The acid mud produced in the nonferrous smelting process is a hazardous waste, which mainly consists of elements Hg, Se, and Pb. Valuable metal (Hg/Se/Pb) can be recovered from acid mud by heat treatment. For safe disposal of the toxic acid mud, a new resource utilization technology by microwave roasting is proposed in this paper. The reaction mechanisms were revealed through thermodynamics and thermogravimetric analysis, which showed that the main reaction was the oxidative pyrolysis of HgSe in the process of roasting. Moreover, the mercury removal effects of acid mud by microwave heating and conventional heating were studied, the recovery rate of mercury by microwave heating for 30 min at 400 °C was 99.5%: far higher than that of conventional heating for 30 min at 500 °C (44.3%). This was due to the high dielectric constant of HgSe, as microwaves can preferentially heat HgSe and reduce the adsorption energy of HgSe on the surface of PbSO4 blocks, thus strengthening the pyrolysis process of HgSe and reducing energy consumption. The preferable prototyping technology for resource utilization of toxic acid mud should be microwave roasting. This study is of great significance for the realization of mercury pollution reduction and for green production of lead-zinc smelting