Amorphous Modulation of Atomic Nb-O/N Clusters with Asymmetric Coordination in Carbon Shells for Advanced Sodium-Ion Hybrid Capacitors.

Anode materials with excellent properties have become the key to develop sodium-ion hybrid capacitors (SIHCs) that combine the advantages of both batteries and capacitors. Amorphous modulation is an effective strategy to realize high energy/power density in SIHCs. Herein, atomically amorphous Nb-O/N clusters with asymmetric coordination are in situ created in N-doped hollow carbon shells (Nb-O/N@C). The amorphous clusters with asymmetric Nb-O3/N1 configurations have abundant charge density and low diffusion energy barriers, which effectively modulate the charge transport paths and improve the reaction kinetics. The clusters are also enriched with unsaturated vacancy defects and isotropic ion-transport channels, and their atomic disordering exhibits high structural stress buffering, which are strong impetuses for realizing bulk-phase-indifferent ion storage and enhancing the storage properties of the composite. Based on these features, Nb-O/N@C achieves notably improved sodium-ion storage properties (reversible capacity of 240.1 mAh g-1 at 10.0 A g-1 after 8000 cycles), and has great potential for SIHCs (230 Wh Kg-1 at 4001.5 W Kg-1). This study sheds new light on developing high-performance electrodes for sodium-ion batteries and SIHCs by designing amorphous clusters and asymmetric coordination.

Nitrogen-Rich WN Clusters with Atomic Disorders and Non-Grain Boundaries Confined in Carbon Nanosheets Boosting Sodium-Ion Storage.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) as economic candidates have received considerable attention for large-scale energy storage applications. However, crystalline metal compounds with specific transport routes and rigid structures restrict their practical applications. Herein, the atomically dispersed N-rich amorphous WN clusters confined in the carbon nanosheets (WN/CNSs) are reported. Through advanced tests and calculations, the structural advantages, reaction mechanisms, and kinetic behaviors of the clusters are systematically analyzed. Compared with the crystalline W2 N with low theoretical capacity (only 209.3 mAh g-1 ), the amorphous WN clusters have the advantages of atomic disorders and non-grain boundaries and can afford abundant active sites (unsaturated dangling bonds) and isotropic charge transfer channels, which can be further enhanced by the N-rich characteristics and high electronegativity of the clusters. The encapsulation of CNSs has high conductivity and structural stability, which promotes electron transfer and effectively buffers volume expansions. As a SIB anode, the reversible capacity of WN/CNSs reaches 421.2 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 . Even at 20 A g-1 , the reversible capacity of 170.7 mAh g-1 is maintained after 8000 cycles. This study focuses on the advantages of amorphous nitrides, which have important guiding significance for the design of atomic clusters for high-performance metal ion batteries.

SCARA5 plays a critical role in the progression and metastasis of breast cancer by inactivating the ERK1/2, STAT3, and AKT signaling pathways.

Scavenger receptor class A member 5 (SCARA5) is a candidate anti-oncogene in several malignancies. However, whether SCARA5 is a suppressor gene in breast cancer and its role in breast cancer cell growth and metastasis remain to be determined. Here, we investigated the biological functions of SCARA5 in the progression and metastasis of breast cancer and explored the underlying mechanisms. A total of 65 breast cancer patients and three cell lines (ZR-75-30, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231) were analyzed in the study. RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect mRNA and protein expression, and lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and microvessel density (MVD). MTT, colony formation, TUNEL assays, invasion assays and Transwell assays, and flow cytometric analyses were used to evaluate the effect of SCARA5 on breast cancer cells. SCARA5 was significantly downregulated in breast cancer tissues and cells and significantly correlated with tumor size, histological grade, lymph node metastasis, pTNM stage, VEGF-A, VEGF-C, LVD, and MVD. SCARA5 overexpression significantly suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and migration, and induced G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis of ZR-75-30 cells. SCARA5 decreased the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, AKT, and STAT3, and downregulated downstream signaling effectors, including MMP-2, 3, and 9, VEGF-A, VEGF-C, Bax, Cyclin B1, Cyclin D1, and Cyclin E1, and upregulated E-cadherin, Bcl-2, and caspase 3. SCARA5 is associated with multiple signaling pathways and plays a critical role in the progression and metastasis of breast cancer. The present results provide the first evidence that SCARA5 inhibits lymphangiogenesis by downregulating VEGF-C, thereby inhibiting breast cancer lymphatic metastasis.

GHK-Cu-liposomes accelerate scald wound healing in mice by promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis.

Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine (GHK)-Cu is considered to be an activator of tissue remodeling, and has been used in cosmetic products. In this study, we prepared liposomes encapsulating GHK-Cu and analyzed their effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) proliferation and scald wound healing in mice. The nanoscaled GHK-Cu-liposomes promoted HUVECs proliferation, with a 33.1% increased rate. Flow cytometry analysis showed increased cell number at G1 stage and decreased cell number at G2 stage after GHK-Cu-liposomes treatment. Western blotting indicated that the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast grow factors-2 were both enhanced, as well as cell cycle-related proteins CDK4 and CyclinD1. In a mice scald model, angiogenesis in burned skin treated with GHK-Cu-liposomes was better compared with free GHK-Cu, and immunofluorescence analysis showed enhanced signal of CD31 and Ki67 in GHK-Cu-liposomes treated mice. Moreover, the wound healing time was shortened to 14 days post injury. Our results provide the evidence that GHK-Cu-liposomes could be utilized as a treatment for skin wounds.

MAP18 regulates the direction of pollen tube growth in Arabidopsis by modulating F-actin organization.

For fertilization to occur in plants, the pollen tube must be guided to enter the ovule via the micropyle. Previous reports have implicated actin filaments, actin binding proteins, and the tip-focused calcium gradient as key contributors to polar growth of pollen tubes; however, the regulation of directional pollen tube growth is largely unknown. We reported previously that Arabidopsis thaliana MICROTUBULE-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN18 (MAP18) contributes to directional cell growth and cortical microtubule organization. The preferential expression of MAP18 in pollen and in pollen tubes suggests that MAP18 also may function in pollen tube growth. In this study, we demonstrate that MAP18 functions in pollen tubes by influencing actin organization, rather than microtubule assembly. In vitro biochemical results indicate that MAP18 exhibits Ca(2+)-dependent filamentous (F)-actin-severing activity. Abnormal expression of MAP18 in map18 and MAP18 OX plants was associated with disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in the tube apex, resulting in aberrant pollen tube growth patterns and morphologies, inaccurate micropyle targeting, and fewer fertilization events. Experiments with MAP18 mutants created by site-directed mutagenesis suggest that F-actin-severing activity is essential to the effects of MAP18 on pollen tube growth direction. Our study demonstrates that in Arabidopsis, MAP18 guides the direction of pollen tube growth by modulating actin filaments.

Proteomics of the human endometrial glandular epithelium and stroma from the proliferative and secretory phases of the menstrual cycle.

Despite its importance in reproductive biology and women's health, a detailed molecular-level understanding of the human endometrium is lacking. Indeed, no comprehensive studies have been undertaken to elucidate the important protein expression differences between the endometrial glandular epithelium and surrounding stroma during the proliferative and midsecretory phases of the menstrual cycle. We utilized laser microdissection to harvest epithelial cells and stromal compartments from proliferative and secretory premenopausal endometrial tissue and performed a global, quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis. This analysis identified 1224 total proteins from epithelial cells, among which 318 were differentially abundant between the proliferative and secretory phases (q < 0.05), and 1005 proteins from the stromal compartments, 19 of which were differentially abundant between the phases (q < 0.05). Several proteins were chosen for validation by immunohistochemistry in an independent set of uterine tissues, including carboxypeptidase M, tenascin C, neprilysin, and ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 3 (ENPP3). ENPP3, which was elevated in epithelial glandular cells in the secretory phase, was confirmed to be elevated in midsecretory-phase baboon uterine lavage samples and also observed to have an N-linked glycosylated form that was not observed in the proliferative phase. This study provides a detailed view into the global proteomic alterations of the epithelial cells and stromal compartments of the cycling premenopausal endometrium. These proteomic alterations during endometrial remodeling provide a basis for numerous follow-up investigations on the function of these differentially regulated proteins and their role in reproductive biology and endometrial pathologies.

Synthesis and gene transfection activity of cyclen-based cationic lipids with asymmetric acyl-cholesteryl hydrophobic tails.

A series of novel 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen)-based cationic lipids with asymmetric double hydrophobic tails (cholesteryl and long aliphatic chains) were designed and synthesized. Lysine was chosen as a linking moiety in the molecular backbone. The liposomes formed from 8 and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) could bind and condense plasmid DNA into nanoparticles under a low N/P ratio. These nano-scaled lipoplexes have low cytotoxicity, and might efficiently transfect A549 cells. In vitro transfection results revealed that all cationic lipids showed a comparable or better transfection efficiency (TE) than commercially available Lipofectamine 2000. The length and saturation degree of the aliphatic chain would affect their gene transfection performance, and the linoleic acid-containing 8e could give the best TE.

Synergistic acceleration of machine learning and molecular docking for prostate-specific antigen ligand design.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serves as a critical biomarker for the early detection and continuous monitoring of prostate cancer. However, commercial PSA detection methods primarily rely on antigen-antibody interactions, leading to issues such as high costs, stringent storage requirements, and potential cross-reactivity due to PSA variant sequence homology. This study is dedicated to the precise design and synthesis of molecular entities tailored for binding with PSA. By employing a million-level virtual screening to obtain potential PSA compounds and effectively guiding the synthesis using machine learning methods, the resulting lead compounds exhibit significantly improved binding affinity compared to those developed before by researchers using high-throughput screening for PSA, substantially reducing screening and development costs. Unlike antibody detection, the design of these small molecules offers promising avenues for advancing prostate cancer diagnostics. Furthermore, this study establishes a systematic framework for the rapid development of customized ligands that precisely target specific protein entities.

Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based overexpression screening and characterization of AgrC, a Receptor protein of quorum sensing in Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus AgrC is an important component of the agr quorum-sensing system. AgrC is a membrane-embedded histidine kinase that is thought to act as a sensor for the recognition of environmental signals and the transduction of signals into the cytoplasm. However, the difficulty of expressing and purifying functional membrane proteins has drastically hindered in-depth understanding of the molecular structures and physiological functions of these proteins. Here, we describe the high-yield expression and purification of AgrC, and analyze its kinase activity. A C-terminal green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion to AgrC served as a reporter for monitoring protein expression levels in real time. Protein expression levels were analyzed by the microscopic assessment of the whole-cell fluorescence. The expressed AgrC-GFP protein with a C-terminal His-tagged was purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) at yields of ≥ 10 mg/L, following optimization. We also assessed the effects of different detergents on membrane solubilization and AgrC kinase activity, and polyoxyethylene-(23)-lauryl-ether (Brij-35) was identified as the most suitable detergent. Furthermore, the secondary structural stability of purified AgrC was analyzed using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. This study may serve as a general guide for improving the yields of other membrane protein preparations and selecting the appropriate detergent to stabilize membrane proteins for biophysical and biochemical analyses.

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Outer Membrane Vesicles from Fusobacterium nucleatum Cultivated in the Mimic Cancer Environment.

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a Gram-negative bacterium that has been identified as an important pathogenic gut bacterium associated with colorectal cancer. Compared with the normal intestine, the pH value of the tumor microenvironment is weakly acidic. The metabolic changes of F. nucleatum in the tumor microenvironment, especially the protein composition of its outer membrane vesicles, remain unclear. Here, we systematically analyzed the effect of environmental pH on the proteome of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from F. nucleatum by tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling-high-resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. A total of 991 proteins were identified in acidic OMVs (aOMVs) and neutral OMVs (nOMVs), including known virulence proteins and putative virulence proteins. Finally, 306 upregulated proteins and 360 downregulated proteins were detected in aOMVs, and approximately 70% of the expression of OMV proteins was altered under acidic conditions. A total of 29 autotransporters were identified in F. nucleatum OMVs, and 13 autotransporters were upregulated in aOMVs. Interestingly, three upregulated autotransporters (D5REI9, D5RD69, and D5RBW2) show homology to the known virulence factor Fap2, suggesting that they may be involved in various pathogenic pathways such as the pathway for binding with colorectal cancer cells. Moreover, we found that more than 70% of MORN2 domain-containing proteins may have toxic effects on host cells. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses demonstrated that a number of proteins were significantly enriched in multiple pathways involving fatty acid synthesis and butyrate synthesis. Seven metabolic enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism pathways were identified in the proteomic data, of which 5 were upregulated and 2 were downregulated in aOMVs, while 14 metabolic enzymes involved in the butyric acid metabolic pathway were downregulated in aOMVs. In conclusion, we found a key difference in virulence proteins and pathways in the outer membrane vesicles of F. nucleatum between the tumor microenvironment pH and normal intestinal pH, which provides new clues for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. IMPORTANCE F. nucleatum is an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium that can be enriched in colorectal cancer tissues, affecting multiple stages of colorectal cancer development. OMVs have been demonstrated to play key roles in pathogenesis by delivering toxins and other virulence factors to host cells. By employing quantitative proteomic analysis, we found that the pH conditions could affect the protein expression of the outer membrane vesicles of F. nucleatum. Under acidic conditions, approximately 70% of the expression of proteins in OMVs was altered. Several virulence factors, such as type 5a secreted autotransporter (T5aSSs) and membrane occupation and recognition nexus (MORN) domain-containing proteins, were upregulated under acidic conditions. A large number of proteins showed significant enrichments in multiple pathways involving fatty acid synthesis and butyrate synthesis. Proteomics analysis of the outer membrane vesicles secreted by pathogenic bacteria in the acidic tumor microenvironment is of great significance for elucidating the pathogenicity mechanism and its application in vaccine and drug delivery vehicles.

Identification of circulating miRNA as early diagnostic molecular markers in malignant glioblastoma base on decision tree joint scoring algorithm.

PURPOSE: The lack of clinical markers prevents early diagnosis of glioblastoma (GBM). Many studies have found that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) can be used as early diagnostic markers of malignant tumours. Therefore, the identification of novel circulating miRNA biomolecular markers could be beneficial to clinicians in the early diagnosis of GBM. METHODS: We developed a decision tree joint scoring algorithm (DTSA), systematically integrating significance analysis of microarray (SAM), Pearson hierarchical clustering, T test, Decision tree and Entropy weight score algorithm, to screen out circulating miRNA molecular markers with high sensitivity and accuracy for early diagnosis of GBM. RESULTS: DTSA was developed and applied for GBM datasets and three circulating miRNA molecular markers were identified, namely, hsa-miR-2278, hsa-miR-555 and hsa-miR-892b. We have found that hsa-miR-2278 and hsa-miR-892b regulate the GBM pathway through target genes, promoting the development of GBM and affecting the survival of patients. DTSA has better classification effect in all data sets than other classification algorithms, and identified miRNAs are better than existing markers of GBM. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that DTSA can effectively identify circulating miRNA, thus contributing to the early diagnosis and personalised treatment of GBM.

Species profiles, in-situ photochemistry and health risk of volatile organic compounds in the gasoline service station in China.

Accompanying with increases in vehicle population and gasoline consumption, gasoline evaporation accounted for an enlarged portion of total volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in China, raising increasing environmental concerns especially in megacities. In this study, an intensive sampling campaign was performed in a gasoline service station, to reveal emission characteristics, environmental and health impacts of VOCs. It was strikingly found that 24 % of air samples exceeded the national standard of 4 mg/m3 for non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) on the boundary of the station, with the equipment of Stage I and II controls. VOC groups and species profiles showed that alkanes dominated total VOCs. As typical markers of evaporative loss of gasoline, C4-5 species (i-pentane, n-pentane and n-butane) as well as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) accounted for 49.6 % of VOCs. Species profile and diagnostic ratios indicated the prominent contribution of gasoline evaporative losses from refueling or breathing processes, as well as the interference of vehicle exhaust in the ambient air at the site. Intensive O3 production was reproduced by the photochemical box model, demonstrating that O3 formation was co-limited by both VOCs (especially trans-2-butene) and NOx. Inhalation health risk assessment proved that exposure to hazardous VOCs caused non-cancer risk (HQ = 3.08) and definitely posed cancer risks at a probability of 1.3 × 10-4 to workers. Remarkable health risks were mainly imposed by halocarbons, aromatics and alkenes, in which 1,2-dichloropropane caused the highest non-cancer risk (HQ = 1.3) and acted as the primary carcinogen (ICR = 5.1 × 10-5). This study elucidated the high unqualified rate in gasoline service stations after the implementation of latest standards in China, where new regulations targeted halocarbons and updates in existing vapor recovery systems were suggested for VOC mitigation.

Traditional Chinese medicine Jianpi therapy in exercise-induced fatigue: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced fatigue (EIF) is a common occurrence in sports competition and training. It may cause trouble to athletes' motor skill execution and cognition. Although traditional Chinese medicine Jianpi therapy has been commonly used for EIF management, relevant evidence on the effectiveness and safety of Jianpi therapy is still unclear. METHODS: Databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, SinoMed, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang will be searched for relevant randomized controlled trials from databases from 2000 to 2021. Randomized controlled trials related to traditional Chinese medicine Jianpi therapy in the treatment and management of EIF will be included. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the data will be performed in RevMan 5.3 according to the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Two authors independently performed the literature searching, data extraction, and quality evaluation. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomized clinical trials. RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analysis will summarize the latest evidence for traditional Chinese medicine Jianpi therapy in EIF. The results will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal once completed. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of our research will provide evidence to support traditional Chinese medicine Jianpi therapy as an effective intervention for patients with EIF.OSF Registration DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/NRKX4.

Macrolactin Metabolite Production by Bacillus sp. ZJ318 Isolated from Marine Sediment.

A total of 172 microbial strains were screened and isolated from Arctic Ocean marine sediments at a depth of 42 ~ 3,763 m. A microorganism with strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was identified as Bacillus sp. ZJ318 according to the results of 16S rDNA sequencing and phylogenetic tree analyses. Bioactivity-guided isolation of the new/novel metabolite in the ethyl acetate (EA) extract obtained from the fermentation broth of this strain was followed by chromatographic fractionation and subsequent HPLC purification, leading to the isolation of one known macrolactin. The chemical structure of the macrolactin, which indicated macrolactin J isolation from marine microorganisms for the first time, was assigned based on a high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometer system (HR-EMI-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral analyses, and a literature review. To improve macrolactin J production, the corresponding effects of nitrogen sources were investigated, and (NH4)2SO4 was determined to produce the best effect. In addition, the optimal culture conditions were determined by an orthogonal experiment. Under these conditions, the yield of macrolactin J was increased to 2.41 mg/L, which was 2.2 times the original yield. This work lays a foundation for follow-up mechanistic and application research on macrolactin J.

Crystal structure of the domain-swapped dimeric maltodextrin-binding protein MalE from Salmonella enterica.

MalE is a maltose/maltodextrin-binding protein (MBP) that plays a critical role in most bacterial maltose/maltodextrin-transport systems. Previously reported wild-type MBPs are monomers comprising an N-terminal domain (NTD) and a C-terminal domain (CTD), and maltose-like molecules are recognized between the NTD and CTD and transported to the cell system. Because MBP does not undergo artificial dimerization, it is widely used as a tag for protein expression and purification. Here, the crystal structure of a domain-swapped dimeric MalE from Salmonella enterica (named SeMalE) in complex with maltopentaose is reported for the first time, and its structure is distinct from typical monomeric MalE family members. In the domain-swapped dimer, SeMalE comprises two subdomains: the NTD and CTD. The NTD and CTD of one molecule of SeMalE interact with the CTD and NTD of the partner molecule, respectively. The domain-swapped dimeric conformation was stabilized by interactions between the NTDs, CTDs and linkers from two SeMalE molecules. Additionally, a maltopentaose molecule was found to be located at the interface between the NTD and CTD of different SeMalE molecules. These results provide new insights that will improve the understanding of maltodextrin-binding MalE proteins.

Prioritizing key synergistic circulating microRNAs for the early diagnosis of biliary tract cancer.

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor. Serum microRNAs (ser-miRNAs) serve as noninvasive biomarkers to identify high risk individuals, thereby facilitating the design of precision therapies. The study is to prioritize key synergistic ser-miRNAs for the diagnosis of early BTC. Sampling technology, significant analysis of microarrays, Pearson Correlation Coefficients, t-test, decision tree, and entropy weight were integrated to develop a global optimization algorithm of decision forest. The source code is available at https://github.com/SuFei-lab/GOADF.git. Four key synergistic ser-miRNAs were prioritized and the synergistic classification performance was better than the single miRNA' s. In the internal feature evaluation dataset, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for each single miRNA was 0.8413 (hsa-let-7c-5p), 0.7143 (hsa-miR-16-5p), 0.8571 (hsa-miR-17-5p), and 0.9365 (hsa-miR-26a-5p), respectively, whereas the synergistic AUC value increased to 1.0000. In the internal test dataset, the single AUC was 0.6500, 0.5125, 0.6750, and 0.7500, whereas the synergistic AUC increased to 0.8375. In the independent test dataset, the single AUC was 0.7280, 0.8313, 0.8957, and 0.8303, and the synergistic AUC was 0.9110 for discriminating between BTC patients and healthy controls. The AUC for discriminating BTC from pancreatic cancer was 0.9000. Hsa-miR-26a-5p was a predictor of prognosis, patients with high expression had shorter survival than those with low expression. In conclusion, hsa-let-7c-5p, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-17-5p, and hsa-miR-26a-5p may act as key synergistic biomarkers and provide important molecular mechanisms that contribute to pathogenesis of BTC.

Integrated Tissue and Blood miRNA Expression Profiles Identify Novel Biomarkers for Accurate Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Breast Cancer: Preliminary Results and Future Clinical Implications.

We aimed to identify miRNAs that were closely related to breast cancer (BRCA). By integrating several methods including significance analysis of microarrays, fold change, Pearson's correlation analysis, t test, and receiver operating characteristic analysis, we developed a decision-tree-based scoring algorithm, called Optimized Scoring Mechanism for Primary Synergy MicroRNAs (O-PSM). Five synergy miRNAs (hsa-miR-139-5p, hsa-miR-331-3p, hsa-miR-342-5p, hsa-miR-486-5p, and hsa-miR-654-3p) were identified using O-PSM, which were used to distinguish normal samples from pathological ones, and showed good results in blood data and in multiple sets of tissue data. These five miRNAs showed accurate categorization efficiency in BRCA typing and staging and had better categorization efficiency than experimentally verified miRNAs. In the Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network, the target genes of hsa-miR-342-5p have the most regulatory relationships, which regulate carcinogenesis proliferation and metastasis by regulating Glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis and the Rap1 signaling pathway. Moreover, hsa-miR-342-5p showed potential clinical application in survival analysis. We also used O-PSM to generate an R package uploaded on github (SuFei-lab/OPSM accessed on 22 October 2021). We believe that miRNAs included in O-PSM could have clinical implications for diagnosis, prognostic stratification and treatment of BRCA, proposing potential significant biomarkers that could be utilized to design personalized treatment plans in BRCA patients in the future.

[Introduction of dynamic balancing randomization method and its application].

Following the development of clinical trials, the methodology of clinical trials has developed a great deal, including randomization method and blinding method, etc. The method of randomization includes simple randomization, stratification randomization, etc. Dynamic randomization is also considered as a method of randomization. Two dynamic randomization methods are introduced in this paper, including a method considering the balance of numbers in each group and a method considering prognostic factors. This paper also demonstrates the procedure of dynamic randomization of the above two methods by simulations and actual examples.

Associations of SRAP markers with dried-shrink disease resistance in a germplasm collection of sea buckthorn (Hippophae L.).

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae L.) is a woody, outcrossing dioecious pioneer plant, being widely planted as a new berry crop with rich nutritional and medicinal compounds. This long-juvenile and long-lived woody plant can be more difficult to cultivate than other crop plants. Dried-shrink disease (DSD) is a dangerous pathogen that destroys sea buckthorn and halts commercial production. We estimated variability of sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers in 77 accessions of 22 sea buckthorn cultivars to seek markers associated with DSD resistance and help to identify potential breeding cultivars. Seventeen SRAP primer combinations generated 289 bands, with a mean of 17 bands per primer combination. At a Dice coefficient of 0.852, the dendrogram generated with 191 polymorphic bands clustered 73 accessions of Hippophae rhamnoides into 2 groups and 4 accessions of Hippophae salicifolia into 1 group. Eleven SRAP markers (Me1-Em3(600), Me1-Em1(680), Me2-Em1(650), Me2-Em1(950), Me3-Em6(1300), Me2-Em6(320), Me2-Em6(400), Me1-Em2(600), Me1-Em1(1200), Me1-Em1(1700), Me2-Em2(250)) were significantly correlated with DSD resistance (P < 0.001). These markers provide a viable option for breeding programs that select lineages with DSD resistance, especially when no other genetic information, such as linkage maps and quantitative trait loci, are available.

AFM tip hammering nanolithography.

Nanolithography at low cost and high speed is made possible by using a vibrating AFM tip in tapping-mode as a nanohammer to forge polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene/butylenes)-block-polystyrene triblock copolymer monolayer thin films after annealing to transform their microstructures from as-cast poorly ordered cylinders into well-ordered hexagonal spheres. Annealing is accomplished in cyclohexane vapor, a selective solvent for the majority poly(ethylene/butylenes) block. Experimental results demonstrate that such structure-tailored thin films enable macroscopic AFM tip writing to be performed in their surface; imprinted and embossed patterns can be generated with a sub-20-nm line-width resolution. In addition, it is found that the lithographic patterns generated can be erased within 5 min by thermal annealing at 70 degrees C, and if necessary the erasion process can be expedited by increasing the annealing temperature.