Modes decomposition in particle-in-cell software CEMPIC

The numerical method of modes analysis and decomposition of the output signal in 3D electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulation is presented. By the method, multiple modes can be resolved at one time using a set of diagnostic data, the amplitudes and the phases of the specified modes can all be given separately. Based on the method, the output signals of one X-band tri-bend mode converter used for one high power microwave device, with ionization process in the device due to the strong normal electric field, are analyzed and decomposed.

Long noncoding RNA LINC01124 activates hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by absorbing microRNA-1247-5p and overexpressing FOXO3

Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1124(LINC01124)has been identified as an important regulator of non-small-cell lung cancer.However,the expression and detailed role of LINC01124 in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)remain unestablished to date.Therefore,this study aimed to elucidate the role of LINC01124 in the aggressiveness of HCC cells and identify the underlying regulatory mechanism.Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the expression of LINC01124 in HCC.Cell Counting Kit-8 assay,Transwell cell migration and invasion assays,and a xenograft tumor model were used to investigate the function of LINC01124 in HCC cells,and bioinformatics analysis,RNA immunoprecipitation,luciferase reporter assay,and rescue experiments were used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.Herein,LINC01124 overexpression was confirmed in HCC tissues as well as cell lines.Further,the downregulation of LINC01124 decreased HCC cell proliferation,migration,and invasion in vitro,whereas the upregulation of LINC01124 triggered the opposite results.Additionally,LINC01124 ablation impaired tumor growth in vivo.Mechanistic analyses revealed that LINC01124 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to sponge microRNA-1247-5p(miR-1247-5p)in HCC cells.Moreover,forkhead box O3(FOXO3)was identified as a direct target of miR-1247-5p.FOXO3 was positively regulated by LINC01124 in HCC cells through the sequestration of miR-1247-5p.Finally,rescue assays revealed that the inhibition of miR-1247-5p or overexpression of FOXO3 reversed the effects of LINC01124 silencing on the HCC cell malignant phenotype.In summary,LINC01124 plays a tumor-promoting role in HCC by regulating the miR-1247-5p-FOXO3 axis.The LINC01124-miR-1247-5p-FOXO3 pathway may provide a foundation for the identification of alternative therapies for HCC.

Dietary intake and serum levels of copper and zinc and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma:A matched case-control study

Background:Copper and zinc are involved in the development of multiple malignancies;yet,epidemiological evidence on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is limited.This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary intake and serum levels of copper and zinc with the risk of HCC.Methods:A total of 434 case-control pairs matched for sex and age(±1 year)were included in this study.Cases with newly diagnosed HCC were from the Guangdong Liver Cancer Cohort(GLCC)study,and healthy controls were from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study(GNHS).A semi-quantitative 79-item food frequency questionnaire(FFQ)was used to assess habitual dietary intakes of copper and zinc.Serum levels of copper and zinc were measured by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.The copper(Cu)/zinc(Zn)ratio was computed by dividing copper levels by zinc levels.Conditional logistic regression models were performed to calculate the odds ratio(OR)and 95%confidence intervals(CI)for per 1 standard deviation increase(per-SD increase)in copper and zinc levels.Results:Higher dietary intake(OR_(per-SD increase)=0.65,95%CI:0.44,0.96,P_(trend)=0.029)and serum levels of zinc(OR_(per-SD increase)=0.11,95%CI:0.04,0.30,P_(trend)<0.001)were both associated with a lower risk of HCC.Subgroup analyses showed that the inverse association was only pronounced in men but not in women(P_(interaction)=0.041 for dietary zinc intake and 0.010 for serum zinc levels).Serum copper levels(OR_(per-SD increase)=2.05,95%CI:1.39,3.03,P_(trend)=0.020)and serum Cu/Zn ratio(OR_(per-SD increase)=6.53,95%CI:2.52,16.92,P_(trend)<0.001)were positively associated with HCC risk,while dietary copper intake and dietary Cu/Zn ratio were not associated with HCC risk.Conclusion:Zinc may be a protective factor for HCC,especially among men,but the effects of copper on HCC risk are not clear.

Core-shell lipid-polymer nanoparticles as a promising ocular drug delivery system to treat glaucoma

Nowadays,tremendous researches have been focused on the core-shell lipid-polymer nanoparticles(LPNs) due to the advantages of both liposomes and polymer nanoparticles.In this work,LPNs were applied to encapsulate brinzolamide(Brz-LPNs) for achieving sustained drug release,improving drug corneal permeation and enhancing drug topical therapeutic effect.The structure of Brz-LPNs was composed of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid(PLGA) nanocore which encapsulated Brz(Brz-NPs) and lipid shell around the core.Brz-LPNs were prepared by a modified thin-film dispersion method.With the parameters optimization of Brz-LPNs,optimal Brz-LPNs showed an average particle size of151.23±1.64 nm with a high encapsulation efficiency(EE) of 86.7%±2.28%.The core-shell structure of Brz-LPNs were confirmed by transmission electronic microscopy(TEM).Fourier transformed infrared spectra(FTIR) analysis proved that Brz was successfully entrapped into Brz-LPNs.Brz-LPNs exhibited obvious sustained release of Brz,compared with AZOPT^■ and Brz-LPs.Furthermore,the corneal accumulative permeability of Brz-LPNs significantly increased compared to the commercial available formulation(AZOPT^■) in vitro.Moreover,Brz-LPNs(1 mg/mL Brz) showed a more sustained and effective intraocular pressure(IOP) reduction than Brz-LPs(1 mg/mL) and AZOPT^■(10 mg/mL Brz) in vivo.In conclusion,Brz-LPNs,as promising ocular drug delivery systems,are well worth developing in the future for glaucoma treatment.