DNA methylation and microRNAs in cancer

DNA methylation is a type of epigenetic modification in the human genome,which means that gene expression is regulated without altering the DNA sequence.Methylation and the relationship between methylation and cancer have been the focus of molecular biology researches.Methylation represses gene expression and can influence embryogenesis and tumorigenesis.In different tissues and at different stages of life,the level of methylation of DNA varies,implying a fundamental but distinct role for methylation.When genes are repressed by abnormal methylation,the resulting effects can include instability of that gene and inactivation of a tumor suppressor gene.MicroRNAs have some aspects in common with this regulation of gene expression.Here we reviewed the influence of gene methylation on cancer and analyzed the methods used to profile methylation.We also assessed the correlation between methylation and other epigenetic modifications and microRNAs.About 55 845 research papers have been published about methylation,and one-fifth of these are about the appearance of methylation in cancer.We conclude that methylation does play a role in some cancer types.

Nerve growth factor protects against palmitic acid- induced injury in retinal ganglion cells

Accumulating evidence supports an important role for nerve growth factor （NGF） in diabetic retinopathy. We hypothesized that NGF has a protective effect on rat retinal ganglion RGC-5 cells injured by palmitic acid （PA）, a metabolic factor implicated in the development of dia- betes and its complications. Our results show that PA exposure caused apoptosis of RGC-5 cells, while NGF protected against PA insult in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, NGF significantly attenuated the levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS） and malondialde- hyde （MDA） in RGC-5 cells. Pathway inhibitor tests showed that the protective effect of NGF was completely reversed by LY294002 （PI3K inhibitor）, Akt VIII inhibitor, and PD98059 （ERK1/2 inhibitor）. Western blot analysis revealed that NGF induced the phosphorylation of Akt/FoxO1 and ERK1/2 and reversed the PA-evoked reduction in the levels of these proteins. These results indicate that NGF protects RGC-5 cells against PA-induced injury through anti-oxidation and inhibition of apoptosis by modulation of the PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways.

Strategies for Precise Engineering and Conjugation of Antibody Targeted-nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy

Improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer are urgently needed for use in nanotechnology.Nanoparticles(NPs)can reduce the side effects of traditional chemotherapy by sustained release of loaded drugs and increase therapeutic efficiency.NPs can also enhance endothelial permeation retention by size effect and its accumulation in tumor cells through passive targeting.Furthermore,it is critical to treat cancer with a controlled targeted drug which can be specifically delivered into tumor cells and released there,resulting in a targeted therapy to eradicate tumor cells while sparing normal cells.To this end,antibody-mediated targeting therapy has been developed,but imperfections in antibodies(Abs)limit this therapy.Therefore,the combination of NPs and Abs has been highly valued in recent years,because conjugating special Abs on the surface of NPs can increase targeting efficiency,enabling selective delivery of anti-cancer drugs to tumor cells.In this mini-review,we would like to enumerate the strategies for the conjugation of Abs to the surface of the NPs as well as the precise engineering of targeted NPs.The application of targeting antibody fragments in this drug delivery system will also be discussed.

Creep property and microstructural evolution of DD11 alloy under high temperature and low stress

In this paper,the interrupted and ruptured creep tests were carried out in a novel second generation single crystal superalloy named DD11 at 1100℃/130 MPa.The alloy exhibited typical creep curve including primary,steady,and tertiary three creep stages.The microstructural evolution at different stages of the creep were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The results show that theγ′phases transform into rafted structure at the early stage of the steady creep and keep stable during the steady creep stage.As the creep goes on,the rafted structure further coarsens and the topological inversion occurs.In addition,at the primary creep,the dislocations mainly move in theγmatrix and pile up in theγ/γ′interface since the matrix channels widen slightly.The formation of the regular interfacial dislocation networks occurs at the early stage of the steady creep.Under the low stress,the dominated deformation mechanism during steady creep stage is the climbing of the〈010〉type edge dislocation.Furthermore,the effect of the deformation mechanism on creep property was discussed in detail.

Melting mechanisms of Pt-based multimetallic spherical nanoparticles by molecular dynamics simulation

The melting mechanisms of Pt-based multimetallic nanoparticles(NPs)are important to help determine their optimal melting processes.To understand the melting and coalescence behaviors of heterogeneous NPs(Pd-Pt NPs)with various sizes and compositions,molecular dynamics(MD)simulation was employed.The MD results for larger Pd-Pt NPs with an effective diameter of4.6-7.8 nm show that PtPd alloy can form at Pd/Pt interface before Pd NP melted completely,while for Pt-core/Pdshell NP and Pd-core/Pt-shell NP,PtPd alloy formed only after Pd portion melted completely.For smaller Pd-Pt NPs with an effective diameter of 2.5-4.0 nm,PdPt alloy is not formed until both Pd and Pt NPs melted completely.Besides,the coalescence process of Pd-Pt NPs depends on the melting temperature of Pt NP when Pt composition is higher than 20 at%.Furthermore,the melting mechanisms of Pd/Pt/Ir trimetallic NPs are investigated.A two-step melting process occurs in Pd-Pt-Ir NPs and Ir-core/Ptshell/Pd-shell NP,and the melting sequence of Pd-core/Ptshell/Ir-shell NP and Pt-core/Pd-shell/Ir-shell NP is different from Pd/Pt bimetallic NPs.

Characteristics of the Structure and Properties of ZnSnO3 Films by Varying the Magnetron Sputtering Parameters

Transparent conductive oxide ZnSnO3 films were prepared by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering from powder targets and were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, surface profile, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and Hall effect. The structures of the films were either amorphous or nanocrystalline depending on sputtering parameters including deposition time, target power, chamber pressure, and the target-substrate separation. The average transmittance of the ZnSnO3 films within the visible wavelength was approximately 80% and the resistivity of the ZnSnO3 films was in the range of 10^-3-10^-4 Ω cm. The structural, optical, and electrical properties of the ZnSnO3 films could be adjusted and regulated by optimizing the sputtering process, allowing materials with specific properties to be designed.

The Henan extreme rainfall in July 2021: Modulation of the northward-shift monsoon trough on the synoptic-scale wave train

The synoptic-scale wave train is a dominant pattern of the synoptic variability over the tropical western Pacific and usually affects the extreme weather over South China and Southeast Asia.Whether it could extend its influence and contribute to the Henan extreme rainfall in July 2021 still needs to be unraveled.We found that during the Henan extreme rainfall days a positively synoptic-scale vorticity disturbance dominated Henan province,China,which was embedded in the synoptic-scale wave train that originated from the western North Pacific.Moreover,the propagating pathway of this synoptic-scale wave train located northward and was likely modulated by the latitudinal location change of the monsoon trough over the western North Pacific.A northernmost displacement of the monsoon trough in July 2021(∼23.2°N)would facilitate the synoptic-scale wave train to propagate farther northwestward via shifting the related barotropic conversion northward.Therefore,the synoptic-scale wave train from the tropics could reach Henan,provide the necessary lifting forcing,and supply abundant water vapor associated with the anomalous southerly for the occurrence of Henan extreme rainfall event.The results implicate that the pre-existing synoptic-scale wave train regulated by the location of the monsoon trough may be a potential precursor for heavy rainfalls in northern Central China.

Surface modification of 316L stainless steeldiamond-like carbon films

The diamond-like carbon(DLC)film on 316L stainless steel substrate was preparedpulsed plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition,and the performance of the films was optimizedregulating the pulse voltage.Microstructure and properties of DLC film on 316L stainless steel were characterizedatomic force microscopy,field-emission scanning electron microscopy,Raman spectra,nano-indenter and electrochemical workstations.The results showed that DLC films with smooth and dense morphology have a low friction coefficient and high nano-indentation hardness,and the surface hardness of 316L stainless steel substrate was enhancedmore than 3 times.The mechanical properties of DLC films and their bond with 316L stainless steel could be further optimizedincreasing pulse voltage.DLC films on 316L stainless steel substrate increased the self-corrosion potential0.173 V and decreased self-corrosion current99%,which significantly improved the anti-corrosive properties of 316L substrate.

Low-Cycle Fatigue and Creep-Fatigue Behaviors of a Second-Generation Nickel-Based Single-Crystal Superalloy at 760℃

Low-cycle fatigue(LCF)behaviors of a second-generation nickel-based single-crystal superalloys with[001]orientation at 760℃ have been investigated.Different strain amplitudes were introduced to investigate the creep-fatigue effects.The LCF life of none tensile holding(NTH)was higher than that of the 60-s tensile hold(TH)at any strain amplitude.As the strain amplitude was 0.7%,the stacking and cross-slip dislocations appeared together at the γ/γ’coherent microstructure in both TH and NTH specimens.At the strain amplitude of 0.9%,plenty of the cross-slip dislocations appeared inγchannel and other dislocations were stacking at γ/γ’interfaces.However,the SFs still appeared in γ’phase with 60-s TH which caused cyclic softening.As the strain amplitude increased up to 1.2%,the dislocations are piling up at the γ/γ’interfaces and cutting through the γ’phase in both TH and NTH tests,which caused cyclic hardening.The influences of strain amplitude and holding time were complicated.Different stress response behaviors occurred in different loading conditions.The surface characteristic and fracture mechanism were observed by scanning electron microscopy.This result is helpful for building the relationship of various blade fatigue failure modes,cyclic stress response and microstructure deformation under different strain amplitudes.