A search for exotic dark matter (DM) in the sub-GeV mass range has been conducted using 205 kg day data taken from a p-type point contact germanium detector of the CDEX-10 experiment at China's ...Jinping underground laboratory. New low-mass dark matter searching channels, neutral current fermionic DM absorption (χ+A→ν+A) and DM-nucleus 3→2 scattering (χ+χ+A→ϕ+A), have been analyzed with an energy threshold of 160 eVee. No significant signal was found; thus new limits on the DM-nucleon interaction cross section are set for both models at the sub-GeV DM mass region. A cross section limit for the fermionic DM absorption is set to be 2.5×10^{-46} cm^{2} (90% C.L.) at DM mass of 10 MeV/c^{2}. For the DM-nucleus 3→2 scattering scenario, limits are extended to DM mass of 5 and 14 MeV/c^{2} for the massless dark photon and bound DM final state, respectively.
Prostate cancer (PCa) is considered to be a frequently diagnosed cancer in males with high mortality worldwide, but the molecular mechanism responsible for prostate tumorigenesis and progression ...remains unclear. Increasing evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in PCa. In this review, we focus on the current advances about the role of miRNAs in regulating tumorigenesis and progression of PCa, mainly in suppressing or promoting PCa growth and metastasis, and maintaining the pluripotency of PCa stem cells (PCSC). More studies on miRNAs will provide a better understanding of their regulatory mechanisms in PCa.
A nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) mass screening trial using a combination of immunoglobulin A antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen and nuclear antigen-1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent ...assay in addition to indirect mirror examination in the nasopharynx and/or lymphatic palpation (IMLP) was conducted in southern China. Cantonese aged 30-59 years residing in 2 cities randomly selected by cluster sampling, Sihui and Zhongshan, were invited to participate in this screening from May 2008 through May 2010. Participants were offered fiberoptic endoscopy examination and/or pathologic biopsy if their serologic tests reached our predefined level of high risk or if results from the physical examination indicated possible cancer (i.e., were IMLP positive). A total of 28,688 individuals were voluntarily screened in the initial round. The overall NPC detection rate was 0.14% (41/28,688) with an early diagnosis rate of 68.3% (28/41) during the first year of follow-up. Thirty-eight of 41 cases (92.7%) were detected among the high-risk group, and 7 of 41 cases (17.1%) were detected among the IMLP-positive group. The 2 Epstein-Barr virus serologic tests by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay could be a feasible alternative for NPC screening in endemic areas. Further follow-up is needed to examine whether screening has an effect on decreasing mortality from NPC in these areas.
Superalloy Inconel 625 has been widely used in selective laser melting (SLM). Since SLM-induced microstructure with columnar grains, strong texture, porosity, and undesired properties, heat treatment ...is often used to tune the microstructure and mechanical properties. However, the microstructure evolution of IN 625 from SLM to heat treatment is poorly understood. In this study, IN 625 samples were SLMed and then heat treated at elevated temperatures. Microstructure evolution characteristics of the processed IN 625 alloy have been characterized using optical metallography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, and micro indentation. Fine dendrite microstructures with strong texture parallel to layer build-up direction was observed in the as-SLM samples due to rapid cooling and epitaxial growth. High dislocation density and high microhardness were found in the γ matrix which also contains high Z-contrast precipitates. After annealing at high temperatures, random grain growth accompanied by dislocation annihilation and twinning occurs. The decrease in lattice parameter and the prevalence of large grain boundary misorientation in the γ matrix suggests that SLM-induced residual stress be significantly reduced. In addition, the uncertainty of mechanical properties due to the process variations was quantified.
Previous results from our trial showed that adding oxaliplatin to radiotherapy (RT) increased survival in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at 2 years. Here, we ...present the data of long-term efficacy and late toxic effects.
Between January 2001 and January 2003, 115 Patients with nonkeratinizing/undifferentiated locoregionally advanced NPC were randomly to receive either RT alone (n = 56) or plus concurrent oxaliplatin 70 mg/m2 weekly for six cycles (n = 59).
After a median follow-up of 114 months (range 18–139 months), the 5-year overall survival (OS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) rates in the concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) group were significantly higher than those observed in the RT-alone group (OS, 73.2% versus 60.2%, P = 0.028; MFS, 74.7% versus 63.0%, P = 0.027). However, CCRT did not improve locoregional failure-free survival significantly. Subgroup analyses showed that the superiorities of CCRT mainly existed in the T3-4N0-1 stage subgroup (OS: HR = 0.394, P = 0.034). The grade 3/4 late toxic effects were similar in the two groups.
The long-term follow-up data confirms the role of CCRT as a treatment of locoregionally advanced NPC. Oxaliplatin can be considered as an alternative optional therapeutic regimen for these patients due to its high efficiency and low toxic effect.
The effect of hydrogen on defects in AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) was investigated by using low-frequency noise (LFN) method. The results show that drain-to-source current of ...AlGaN/GaN HEMTs after hydrogen treatment is significantly larger than that of the fresh AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. The maximum variation of drain-to-source current is up to 80 mA at the gate-to-source voltage of 0 V and drain-to-source voltage of 5 V. The suppression of current collapse was also observed, and the gate-lag characteristic becomes better for the AlGaN/GaN HEMTs after hydrogen treatment. Extracted by the LFN method, the trap density decreases by about one order of magnitude in the AlGaN/GaN HEMTs after hydrogen treatment, and this would lead to less depleted electrons in the channel 2-D electron gas. The mechanism for the reduction of trap density could be attributed to H-passivated defects at AlGaN surface, AlGaN barrier layer, and heterostructure interface. The results of this paper may be useful in the design and application of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs.
Clinical intervention for patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa) remains challenging due to the inevitable recurrence of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) after androgen deprivation ...therapy (ADT). Cancer stem cells (CSCs) with serial tumor-propagating capacity are considered to be the driving force for PCa progression and recurrence. In this study, we report that the miR-302/367 cluster, a previously identified potent pluripotency regulator, is upregulated in prostate tumors. Specifically, the forced expression of the miR-302/367 cluster accelerates the in vitro and in vivo growth of PCa cells and their resistance to androgen ablation, whereas the knockdown of the miR-302/367 cluster using anti-sense RNA suppresses the incidence of formation, growth rate and endpoint weight of PCa cell tumors. Mechanistically, we find that LATS2, a key component of the tumor-suppressive Hippo signaling pathway, acts as a direct target of the miR-302/367 cluster in PCa cells. The downregulation of LATS2 by the miR-302/367 cluster reduces the phosphorylation and enhances the nuclear translocation of the YAP oncoprotein. Conversely, the restoration of LATS2 expression abrogates the tumor-promoting effects of forced miR-302/367 cluster expression. Collectively, the potent pluripotency regulator-triggered miR-302/367/LATS2/YAP pathway is essential for prostate tumor-propagating cells and promotes castration resistance. Thus, targeting this signaling axis may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for CRPC.