Multistage fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of landslide hazards based on a cloud model.

To accurately study the risk assessment of landslide disasters, firstly, the environmental conditions of induced landslide disasters are regarded as a fuzzy system, and the landslide risk factors in the multi-level analysis system are constructed to build a multi-level fuzzy evaluation index system. Then, the cloud model theory is introduced to improve the importance scale and membership degree involved in the evaluation process, and the multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method of landslide risk improved by a cloud model is proposed. Thus, a multi-level fuzzy evaluation cloud model for evaluating landslide risk is established. Finally, using the improved cloud model method, a multistage fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of landslide risk is conducted for the K112+210~K112 +630 section of the Long Chuan to Huaiji Highway Project in Guangdong Province. The results show that the improved cloud model can solve the problem of uncertainty in the process of landslide preparation and occurrence, greatly improve the effectiveness of landslide evaluation results, and provide an effective reference for landslide disaster prevention.

Circular RNA SMARCA5 inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer by miR-19b-3p/HOXA9 axis.

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the main type of lung cancer, remaining a leading cause of cancer-related mortality around the world. Circular RNA SMARCA5 (circSMARCA5) is a novel circular RNA associated with the pathogenesis of several cancers. However, the role of circSMARCA5 in NSCLC remains unknown. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the functions of circSMARCA5 in NSCLC and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The expression pattern of circSMARCA5 was determined using qRT-PCR in NSCLC samples and cell lines. The correlation between miR-19b-3p and circSMARCA5 in NSCLC tissues was detected by qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation was examined utilizing CCK-8 assay. Cell migration and invasion was evaluated using Transwell assay. We used the bioinformatics software TargetScan and miRanda to predict circRNA-miRNA and miRNAi-mRNA interactions. Further, the regulatory role of circSMARCA5 in the malignant development of NSCLC in vivo was examined. RESULTS: The results showed that circSMARCA5 was down-regulated in NSCLC tissues as compared to the adjacent normal tissues. Overexpression of circSMARCA5 in NSCLC cell lines significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, circSMARCA5 exerted its tumor-suppressive activity through acting as a sponge for microRNA (miR)-19b-3p. Suppression of miR-19b-3p exhibited inhibitory effects on proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cell lines, which could be attributed to the regulation of homeobox A9 expression. Finally, overexpression of circSMARCA5 inhibited tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION: Collectively, circSMARCA5 executed its inhibitory effects on NSCLC cell lines through miR-19b-3p/HOXA9 axis. The results indicated that circSMARCA5 might be a therapeutic target for the treatment of NSCLC.

Plastic limit bearing calculation of blasting-roof in deep hole mining and its applications.

A plastic bearing calculation method for a blasting-roof is proposed to solve the problem of determining the blasting-roof thickness in deep hole mining. A mechanical analysis model for the plastic bearing was built for the typical boundary conditions of blasting-roofs. The external and internal work of the blasting-roof are equal under the plastic limit state through calculation. The limit bearing formulae of blasting-roofs under various boundary conditions were derived based on the principle of virtual work. A Vertical Crater Retreat stope was taken as the object, and the safe blasting-roof thickness was determined to be 6 m using the derived formula (considering the safety coefficient). A numerical model of stope was constructed using the Surpac-Flac3D technique, while the blasting-roof stability was simulated under different thicknesses. Variations in the simulated indexes (stress and plastic zone volume) prove that the theoretical calculations are reliable. The plastic bearing calculation method can provide a new method to determine the blasting-roof thickness in deep hole mining.

In vitro evaluation of anti-hepatoma activity of brevilin A: involvement of Stat3/Snail and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways.

Brevilin A, a natural sesquiterpene lactone extracted from Centipeda minima, has been found to exhibit anti-tumor effect. However, the roles of brevilin A on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not yet been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of brevilin A in HCC and the underlying in vitro mechanisms. The HCC cell lines, HepG2 and SMMC-7221, were treated with different concentrations of brevilin A (0 µM, 2.5 µM, 5 µM, 10 µM, 15 µM, and 20 µM) for 48 h. MTT assay was performed to detect the cell viability. Flow cytometry was performed to detect cell apoptosis. Cell invasion was detected using the transwell assay. The expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-Stat3), Stat3, Snail, ß-catenin, and c-Myc were detected using the western blot analysis. The results showed that brevilin A reduced cell viability and invasion in HepG2 and SMMC-7221 cells. The apoptotic rates of HepG2 and SMMC-7221 cells treated with brevilin A were found to be markedly increased. The expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were decreased after the treatment with brevilin A. In addition, brevilin A suppressed the Stat3/Snail and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways in HCC cells. Collectively, brevilin A displayed an anti-tumor effect against HCC in vitro, which might be attributed to the inactivation of Stat3/Snail and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways.

Knockdown of long non-coding RNA HOTAIR inhibits cisplatin resistance of gastric cancer cells through inhibiting the PI3K/Akt and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways by up-regulating miR-34a.

HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), a well-known long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), has been reported to be related to cisplatin (DDP) resistance in gastric cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of HOTAIR in DDP resistance of gastric cancer (GC) remains largely undefined. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and underlying mechanism of HOTAIR in regulating cisplatin resistance of GC. The results showed that HOTAIR was over-expressed in GC tissues and GC cell lines, while miR-34a was low-expressed. Luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay proved that HOTAIR directly bound to miR-34a. MiR-34a expression was significantly increased in si-HOTAIR-transfected cells. Anti-miR-34a reversed the effect of si-HOTAIR on the DDP resistance, apoptosis-related genes, PI3K/Akt and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways in DDP-resistant GC cells, indicating that the effects of HOTAIR are dependent on miR-34a. In addition, knockdown of HOTAIR enhanced DDP inhibitory effect on tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, HOTAIR knockdown inhibited DDP resistance of gastric cancer cells by upregulating miR-34a. The effect of HOTAIR/miR-34a axis on GC cells may be involved in the PI3K/Akt and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways. The results indicated that HOTAIR might be a new potential target in GC therapy.

Expression of Twist protein in colorectal carcinoma and its effect on proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells.

This paper aims to study Twist protein expression in colorectal carcinoma and its effect on the proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells, and to explore its specific mechanism of promoting cancer. Tissues of 20 patients and specimens of 20 normal people were examined by colonoscopy biopsy; the Twist mRNA expression level was detected by real-time quantitative PCR; the RNA interference in colorectal carcinoma cell line CT-26 cells was performed by lipid transfection method; the effects of Twist interference on proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells were observed by CCK8 assay and tran swell assay; the mRNA and protein levels of mRNA in CT-26 cells were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. The Twist mRNA level in colorectal cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in corresponding para-carcinoma tissues and control group (P<0.05); Twist mRNA expression level in the cancer tissues combined with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that without lymph node metastasis (P<0.05); the proliferation and migration ability of Twist siRNA transfected CT-26 cells were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05); CT-26 cells with Twist interference could significantly decrease the mRNA and protein levels of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Twist protein can increase the proliferation and migration ability of the colorectal cancer cells, and its mechanism may be related to MMP-9.

The Cytochrome P450 Gene CsCYP85A1 Is a Putative Candidate for Super Compact-1 (Scp-1) Plant Architecture Mutation in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).

The dwarf or compact plant architecture is an important trait in plant breeding. A number of genes controlling plant height have been cloned and functionally characterized which often involve in biosynthesis or signaling of plant hormones such as brassinosteroids (BRs). No genes for plant height or vine length have been cloned in cucurbit crops (family Cucurbitaceae). From an EMS-induced mutagenesis population, we identified a super compact (SCP) mutant C257 which was extremely dwarf due to practically no internode elongation. Under dark growing condition, C257 did not undergo skotomorphogenesis and its mutant phenotype could be rescued with exogenous application of brassinolide (BL), suggesting SCP might be a BR-deficient mutant. Segregation analysis revealed a single recessive gene scp-1 that was responsible for the SCP mutation. Map-based cloning combined with a modified MutMap identified CsCYP85A1, a member of the plant cytochrome P450 monooxygenase gene family, as the most possible candidate gene for scp-1, which encodes a BR-C6-oxidase in the BR biosynthesis pathway. We show that a SNP within the second exon of scp-1 candidate gene caused the SCP phenotype. Three copies of the CsCYP85A gene are present in the cucumber genome, but only the scp-1/CsCYP85A1 gene seemed active. The expression of CsCYP85A1 was higher in flowers than in the leaves and stem; its expression in the wild type (WT) was feedback regulated by BL application. Its expression was reduced in C257 as compared with the WT. This was the first report of map-based cloning of a plant height gene in cucurbit crops. The research highlighted the combined use of linkage mapping, an improved MutMap method and allelic diversity analysis in natural populations in quick cloning of simply inherited genes in cucumber. The roles of CsCYP85A1 in regulation of internode elongation in cucumber was discussed.

Integrated tunable optical add/drop filter for polarization and wavelength multiplexed signals.

We propose and demonstrate an integrated tunable optical filter which is promising for reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) targeting polarization and wavelength multiplexed signals. The proposed filter is comprised of a polarization diversity scheme and two tunable microring resonators (MRRs). The polarization scheme is implemented by two dimensional (2D) grating couplers which are functioning as signals import, output and add/drop ports, while the MRRs are signals processing units. The add/drop function can be applied on either polarization tribute or any wavelength by controlling the resonate wavelengths of ring resonators. For demonstration, dual polarizations and four-wavelength signals are experimentally added and dropped with good performance and reasonable power penalties.

HPIP promotes non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion through regulation of the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway.

Hematopoietic pre-B-cell leukemia transcription factor (PBX)-interacting protein (HPIP) has been shown to play a role in cancer development and progression. However, the role of HPIP in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has never been revealed. Here, we explore the roles and mechanisms of HPIP in the progression of NSCLC. Our results showed that HPIP expression was significantly higher in NSCLC tissues and cell lines when compared with that in normal lung tissues and cell line. In addition, knockdown of HPIP in NSCLC cells significantly inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, knockdown of HPIP obviously inhibits the protein expression of Shh as well as Smo, Ptc and Gli-1 in A549 cells. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that knockdown of HPIP inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation and invasion through suppressing the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway. Thus, HPIP may be a novel potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.

miR-4458 suppresses glycolysis and lactate production by directly targeting hexokinase2 in colon cancer cells.

miR-4458, a new tumor-suppressor, was reported to down-regulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma. The expression status, roles and inhibitory mechanisms of miR-4458 in other tumors still need to be clarified. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of miR-4458 and to elucidate the potential mechanism in colon cancer cells. Using bioinformatic databases, we predicted that hexokinase2 (HK2), a rate-limiting enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, was a target of miR-4458, so the effects of miR-4458 on glycolysis and lactate production was assessed in colon cancer cells. We found that miR-4458 was down-regulated and HK2 was up-regulated in colon cancer cells. Overexpression of miR-4458 inhibited proliferation, glycolysis, and lactate production under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Luciferase activity assays showed that HK2 was a direct target of miR-4458. Moreover, knockdown of HK2 by specific RNAi also suppressed proliferation, glycolysis, and lactate production under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. In conclusion, our findings suggested that miR-4458 inhibited the progression of colon cancer cells by inhibition of glycolysis and lactate production via directly targeting HK2 mRNA.

Silicon based polarization insensitive filter for WDM-PDM signal processing.

We propose and fabricate a novel circuit that combines two two-dimensional (2D) grating couplers and a microring resonator (MRR). According to the polarization states, one 2D grating coupler first splits the input signals into two orthogonal paths, which co-propagate in the loop and share a common MRR, and then the two paths are combined together by the other 2D grating coupler. The proposed circuit is polarization insensitive and can be used as a polarization insensitive filter. For demonstration, the wavelength division and polarization division multiplexing (WDM-PDM) non return-to-zero differential-phase-shift-keying (NRZ-DPSK) signals can be demodulated successfully. The bit error ratio measurements show an error free operation, reflecting the good performance and the practicability.

SOI based ultracompact polarization insensitive filter for PDM signal processing.

We propose and fabricate a scheme that combines a two-dimensional (2D) grating coupler and a delay interferometer (DI) in a loop configuration. According to the polarization states, the 2D grating coupler first splits the input signals into two paths, which copropagate in the loop and share a common DI, and then combines the two paths together to the same input port. The proposed device is polarization insensitive and can be used for polarization division multiplexed (PDM) signal processing. For demonstration, the PDM non return-to-zero differential-phase-shift-keying signals can be demodulated successfully. The bit error ratio measurements show an error free operation, reflecting the good performance and the practicability of the proposed device.