Integrin α6 (ITGA6) forms integrin receptors with either integrin β1 (ITGB1) or integrin β4 (ITGB4). How it functions to regulate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression is not well‐elucidated. We ...found that ITGA6 RNA and protein expression levels are significantly elevated in human HCC tissues in comparison with paired adjacent nontumor tissues by RNA sequencing, RT‐qPCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Stable knockdown of ITGA6 with different ITGA6 shRNA expression lentivectors significantly inhibited proliferation, migration and anchorage‐independent growth of HCC cell lines in vitro, and xenograft tumor growth in vivo. The inhibition of anchorage‐dependent and ‐independent growth of HCC cell lines was also confirmed with anti‐ITGA6 antibody. ITGA6 knockdown was shown to induce cell‐cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. Immunoprecipitation assay revealed apparent interaction of ITGA6 with ITGB4, but not ITGB1. Expression studies showed that ITGA6 positively regulates the expression of ITGB4 with no or negative regulation of ITGB1 expression. Finally, while high levels of ITGA6 and ITGB4 together were associated with significantly worse survival of HCC patients in TCGA data set, the association was not significant for high levels of ITGA6 and ITGB1. In conclusion, ITGA6 is upregulated in HCC tumors and has a malignant promoting role in HCC cells through integrin α6β4 complex. Thus, integrin α6β4 may be a therapeutic target for treating patients with HCC.
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Evidence suggests that integrins, which provide an adhesion mechanism between the intracellular and extracellular environments, serve an essential role in cancer progression. Of particular interest in cancer is integrin alpha 6 (ITGA6). In this study, ITGA6 was found to be significantly upregulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Increased ITGA6 expression was linked to increased ITGB4 expression and promotion of HCC malignancy, in complex with ITGB4. Elevated ITGA6 and ITGB4 expression was further associated with reduced patient survival. The findings suggest that the integrin α6β4 complex may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with HCC.
In this paper, a photoexcited multitasking Janus metasurface (MJM) based on the phase‐changed material vanadium dioxide and the photosensitive materials silicon and germanium in the terahertz (THz) ...region is proposed, which also exploits the directionality feature of electromagnetic waves. The MJM can switch its functionalities between working band shifting and full‐space polarized wave control, and six functions can be implemented by exciting the switchable materials. By regulating the power of the incident pump beam, it is feasible to complete band adjustment in terms of normal incidence, i.e. the band range of polarization conversion ratio >0.9 changing from 1.23 THz–1.91 THz to 0.98 THz–1.91 THz in the reflection state and axial ratio (AR) <3 dB band range toggling between 0.69 THz–1.08 THz and 0.67 THz–0.96 THz in the transmission state. However, for the backward incidence,, it presents reflective linear‐to‐circle (LTC) polarization conversion (PC), with AR <3 dB domain of 0.99 THz–1.63 THz. The multiple reflection interference theory and electric field distributions are introduced to interpret the high performance. Moreover, the designed device exhibits a high angular tolerance for achieving LTC PC. The integration of numerous functions in a single structure endows the MJM with the great benefit for efficient polarization‐controlled applications.
Tunable linear‐to‐circle (LTC) polarization conversion (PC) switches working band between 0.69–1.08 THz and 0.67–0.96 THz for normal incidence. In the reflection state, the operating band of the linear‐to‐linear PC changes from 1.23–1.91 THz to 0.98–1.91 THz. For backward incidence, it presents LTC PC with effective domain of 0.99–1.63 THz.
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•Neonicotinoid insecticides were almost exclusively found adsorbed to particulate matter in the atmosphere.•All PM2.5 samples contained at least two neonicotinoids.•Imidacloprid was ...detected at the highest concentrations, 4.33 – 1.13 × 102 pg m−3.•The contributions of THIM and CLO to inhalation exposure were dominant in Zhengzhou.•Rural children less than 6 years old had the highest inhalation daily dose, 91.0 pg kg−1 day−1.
Neonicotinoid insecticide (NEO) concentrations in ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and daily exposure via inhalation were investigated during spring and fall in an urban area in Beijing and in urban and rural areas of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China. Four NEOs, including imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin, were assessed using a QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, safe) extraction procedure coupled to liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Of 64 PM2.5 samples, 100% contained at least two NEOs (imidacloprid and acetamiprid). Imidacloprid was detected at the highest levels, ranging from 4.33 to 1.13 × 102 pg m−3. A relative potency factor method that considered different toxicities was used to integrate the four NEO concentrations. The total NEO concentrations in air in the Zhengzhou rural area (mean: 80.86 pg m−3) were higher than those in urban areas. Differences between seasons were not significant (p > 0.05). The highest value for the total average daily dose via inhalation of four NEOs (ADDinh,total), 91.0 pg kg−1 day−1, was found in rural children <6 years old. The ADDinh,total of rural residents was significantly higher than that of urban residents when there was no intensive pesticide application. Although the ADDinh,total values were below the current chronic reference dose, when possible joint toxicity and the increasing use of NEOs are considered, a potential health risk via inhalation is evident. We believe this study is the first to characterize NEO levels in fine particulate matter and to evaluate inhalation exposure in urban and rural residents under nonoccupational scenarios in China. It will enhance our understanding of exposure to NEOs and provide a basis for risk management decisions.
Abstract
Magnetic topological insulators (MTIs) offer a combination of topologically nontrivial characteristics and magnetic order and show promise in terms of potentially interesting physical ...phenomena such as the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect and topological axion insulating states. However, the understanding of their properties and potential applications have been limited due to a lack of suitable candidates for MTIs. Here, we grow two-dimensional single crystals of Mn(Sb
x
Bi
(1-
x
)
)
2
Te
4
bulk and exfoliate them into thin flakes in order to search for intrinsic MTIs. We perform angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, low-temperature transport measurements, and first-principles calculations to investigate the band structure, transport properties, and magnetism of this family of materials, as well as the evolution of their topological properties. We find that there exists an optimized MTI zone in the Mn(Sb
x
Bi
(1-
x
)
)
2
Te
4
phase diagram, which could possibly host a high-temperature QAH phase, offering a promising avenue for new device applications.
We reported a reactive probe for HSO3(-), which showed a colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence response to HSO3(-) with fast response (t1/2 = 20 s), good specificity and low detection limit (3.0 ...nM). The probe was cell membrane permeable and successfully used for visualizing trace SO2 derivatives in living cells.
Abstract
Background
Bupleurum chinense
(
B. chinense)
is a plant that is widely distributed globally and has strong pharmacological effects. Though the chloroplast(cp) genome of
B. chinense
has been ...studied, no reports regarding the mitochondrial(mt) genome of
B. chinense
have been published yet.
Results
The mt genome of
B.chinense
was assembled and functionally annotated. The circular mt genome of
B. chinense
was 435,023 bp in length, and 78 genes, including 39 protein-coding genes, 35 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes, were annotated. Repeat sequences were analyzed and sites at which RNA editing would occur were predicted. Gene migration was observed to occur between the mt and cp genomes of
B. chinense
via the detection of homologous gene fragments. In addition, the sizes of plant mt genomes and their GC content were analyzed and compared. The sizes of mt genomes of plants varied greatly, but their GC content was conserved to a greater extent during evolution. Ka/Ks analysis was based on code substitutions, and the results showed that most of the coding genes were negatively selected. This indicates that mt genes were conserved during evolution.
Conclusion
In this study, we assembled and annotated the mt genome of the medicinal plant
B. chinense
. Our findings provide extensive information regarding the mt genome of
B. chinense
, and help lay the foundation for future studies on the genetic variations, phylogeny, and breeding of
B. chinense
via an analysis of the mt genome.
miR393, which is encoded by MIR393a and MIR393b in Arabidopsis, post-transcriptionally regulates mRNAs for the F-box auxin receptors TIR1 (Transport Inhibitor Response Protein 1), AFB1 (Auxin ...Signaling F-box Protein 1), AFB2 and AFB3. However, biological functions of the miR393-TIR1/AFBs module in auxin response and plant development is not fully understood. In the study herein, we demonstrate that miR393 accumulated in response to exogenous IAA treatment, and its induction was due to enhanced MIR393b transcription but not MIR393a. Overexpression of a miR393-resistant form of TIR1 (mTIR1) enhanced auxin sensitivity and led to pleiotropic effects on plant development including inhibition of primary root growth, overproduction of lateral roots, altered leave phenotype and delayed flowering. Furthermore, miR393 level was increased in 35S:mTIR1 plant, suggesting that TIR1 promoted the expression of miR393 by a feedback loop. The interaction between miR393 and its target indicates a fine adjustment to the roles of the miR393-TIR1 module, which is required for auxin responses in plant development.
Prefabricated buildings have advantages when it comes to environmental protection. However, the dynamics and complexity of building hoisting operations bring significant safety risks. Existing ...research on hoisting safety risk lacks a real-time information interaction mechanism and lacks scientific control decision-making tools based on considering the correlation between safety risks. Digital twin (DT) has the advantage of real-time interaction. This paper presents a safety risk control framework for controlling prefabricated building hoisting operations based on DT. In the case of considering the correlation of the safety risk index of hoisting, the safety risk hierarchy model of hoisting is defined in the process of building the DT model. The authors have established a Bayesian network model into the process of the integrated analysis of the digital twin mechanism model and monitoring data to realize the visualization of the decision analysis process of hoisting safety risk control. The key degree of the indirect inducement variable to direct inducement variable was calculated according to probability. The key factor leading to the occurrence of risk was found. The effectiveness of the hoisting safety risk control method is verified by a large, prefabricated building project. This method provides decision tools for hoisting safety risk control, assists in formulating effective control schemes, and improves the efficiency of information integration and sharing.
In this study, we monitored a thaw slump in the permafrost region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China, including its thaw settlement and solifluction creep characteristics, and analyzed the change ...in soil properties and hydrothermal process in the active layer. In addition, the change of the thaw slump active layer was compared with the change of the active layer in lakeshore areas, which were affected by thermokarst lakes, to study the relationship between thaw slump and thermokarst lake. Results showed that thaw slump solifluction creep displacement mainly occurred at the top 50cm surface soil layer. Under the influence of the thaw slump, the active layer soil bulk density increases gradually along the slope; fine soil particles and soil organic carbon first deposit at the top 30–40cm of the active layer at gentle slope area, and then are significantly leached at the slope bottom. Since the effect of thaw slump weakens the buffering effects of the active layer on heat transfer, the active layer gradually deepened along the slope and the ablation of the underlying ice–rich permafrost increased, which resulted in the increase of the thaw settlement. Concurrently, a large amount of thaw water from the thawed permafrost was released to the active layer, resulting in overland flow at the front part of the gentle slope area and ponding depression at the slope bottom. The active layer changes of the thaw slump and those of thermokarst lake shore were very similar. These results suggest that active layer soil properties were changed by thaw slump, leading to the increase in underlying permafrost ablation, causing large amounts of thaw water accumulating at poorly drained sites, to form sparse small–sized thermokarst lakes. For some large thermokarst lakes adjacent to a small thaw slump, lake coastal erosion caused the thaw slump, and further evolution of the thaw slump resulted in the changes of lakeshore active layer.
•Active layer environment in permafrost regions•The change regulation of soil properties and hydrothermal process in the active layer•The active layer soil properties were changed by thaw slump.
Superior analogs for electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and absorption (EIA) in metasurfaces (MSS) are universal, but fewer integrate both effects in one device, let alone contribute to ...polarization manipulations. Here, note that asymmetrical EITs are rigorously demonstrated under both polarization incidences in dielectric orthogonal dumbbell‐shaped structures, with a maximum group delay of 335 ps. The transverse magnetic (TM) mode excited EIT holds a transparent window at 1.318 THz close to the transverse electric (TE) mode excited that of 1.358 THz, which triggers the linear‐to‐circular polarization conversion at 1.339 THz with an optimized transmittance of 0.67, validated via the axial ratio. Additionally, asymmetrical EIAs are presented with an embedded metal‐phase VO2 plate, holding a common absorption of 0.51 at 1.340 THz, of which the insulating state affects little to the circular‐polarization output. Given the detuning of two frequencies (1.339 and 1.340 THz) can be compensated by the dispersion properties, it can be understood as the original converted circularly polarized propagating light decays with 0.5‐absorption via phase‐tuned VO2, operating as a temperature‐driven switch. The circular‐polarization transmission and absorption are integrated respectively based on EIT and EIA with the different states of VO2, promising broad prospects in multifunctional devices.
Electromagnetically induced transparency shaped transmittance, the transmission phase difference, and the computed axial ratio, generating a narrowband circular transmission centered around 1.364 THz, are reported.
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