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Li S, Liu N, Piao J, Meng F, Li Y. Onco Targets Ther. 2020;13:12383–12395. The Editor and Publisher of OncoTargets and Therapy wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised following the authors request to replace the image in Figure 1G, after noticing it had been duplicated with the same image in Figure 1F. The authors were asked to provide additional original data that would further verify the reported findings, but they were unable to do this in a satisfactory manner. The Editor requested to retract the article and the authors do not agree with this decision. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

Dual-mode persistent luminescence and helical-array-induced mechanoluminescence (ML) are observed for the first time from two different polymorphs (SCp and SCb) of a pair of AIE-active enantiomers, respectively. The impressive afterglows from the SCp crystals of (R)-ImNCz and (S)-ImNCz are composed of persistent thermally activated delayed fluorescence and ultralong organic phosphorescence, and their colours can be tuned from yellow to sky blue by temperature in a mild window from 0 degrees C to 100 degrees C. In particular, the SCp crystals of (S)-ImNCz present relatively stable warm-white afterglows at around room temperature. The generation of dualmode persistent luminescence from SCp crystals is probably associated with the charge separation and recombination as well as the small Delta E-ST values of enantiomer molecules and the strong intermolecular interactions in crystal structures. On the other hand, the conspicuous ML of (R)-ImNCz and (S)-ImNCz from SCb crystals likely results from their helical arrays and notable AIE properties, enabling the formation of crystals with polar space groups and high fluorescence quantum yields. The results from this polymorphic system may provide useful guidance for the development of new organic emitters with innovative applications.

Dual-mode persistent luminescence and helical-array-induced mechanoluminescence (ML) are observed for the first time from two different polymorphs (SCp and SCb) of a pair of AIE-active enantiomers, respectively. The impressive afterglows from the SCp crystals of (R)-ImNCz and (S)-ImNCz are composed of persistent thermally activated delayed fluorescence and ultralong organic phosphorescence, and their colours can be tuned from yellow to sky blue by temperature in a mild window from 0 degrees C to 100 degrees C. In particular, the SCp crystals of (S)-ImNCz present relatively stable warm-white afterglows at around room temperature. The generation of dualmode persistent luminescence from SCp crystals is probably associated with the charge separation and recombination as well as the small Delta E-ST values of enantiomer molecules and the strong intermolecular interactions in crystal structures. On the other hand, the conspicuous ML of (R)-ImNCz and (S)-ImNCz from SCb crystals likely results from their helical arrays and notable AIE properties, enabling the formation of crystals with polar space groups and high fluorescence quantum yields. The results from this polymorphic system may provide useful guidance for the development of new organic emitters with innovative applications.

The joint transmission scheme of polar codes and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) has been regarded as a promising technology for future wireless communication systems. However, most of the existing polar-coded SCMA (PC-SCMA) systems suffer from high latency caused by the feedback iteration and list decoding. In addition, the error performance of PC-SCMA systems is unsatisfactory for ultra-reliable transmission. Inspired by the compelling benefits of non-binary polar codes, in this paper, we design a non-binary polar-coded SCMA (NB-PC-SCMA) system with a free order matching strategy to address the issues of delay and reliability. Specifically, we first formulate a joint factor graph for NB-PC-SCMA and propose a non-binary successive cancellation list (NB-SCL) and damping based joint iterative detection and decoding (NSD-JIDD) multiuser receiver to improve the BER and latency performance. Then, a lazy-search based NB-SCL (L-NB-SCL) decoding is proposed to reduce the computational complexity by simplifying the path search pattern of the list decoder. After that, we modify the update of user nodes for SCMA detection to improve the convergence error and finally propose the improved NSD-JIDD (ISD-JIDD) algorithm, which can avoid redundant operations by exploiting L-NB-SCL decoding. Simulation results show that the proposed NB-PC-SCMA system achieves better bit error rate (BER) performance and considerable latency gain when compared to its counterparts. In particular, the proposed ISD-JIDD can achieve similar BER performance of NSD-JIDD with less complexity.

Dual-mode persistent luminescence and helical-array-induced mechanoluminescence (ML) are observed for the first time from two different polymorphs (SCp and SCb) of a pair of AIE-active enantiomers, respectively. The impressive afterglows from the SCp crystals of (R)-ImNCz and (S)-ImNCz are composed of persistent thermally activated delayed fluorescence and ultralong organic phosphorescence, and their colours can be tuned from yellow to sky blue by temperature in a mild window from 0 degrees C to 100 degrees C. In particular, the SCp crystals of (S)-ImNCz present relatively stable warm-white afterglows at around room temperature. The generation of dualmode persistent luminescence from SCp crystals is probably associated with the charge separation and recombination as well as the small Delta E-ST values of enantiomer molecules and the strong intermolecular interactions in crystal structures. On the other hand, the conspicuous ML of (R)-ImNCz and (S)-ImNCz from SCb crystals likely results from their helical arrays and notable AIE properties, enabling the formation of crystals with polar space groups and high fluorescence quantum yields. The results from this polymorphic system may provide useful guidance for the development of new organic emitters with innovative applications.

Mesoscale eddies, as a considerable transporter of ocean heat, dissolved oxygen and other biochemical tracers, have an important influence on the distribution of marine resources and global climate change. The observation of their three-dimensional (3D) structure will facilitate the understanding of eddy dynamics. Underwater gliders have been applied in observing the mesoscale eddies in recent years. The main objective of this paper is to determine the optimal configuration of an underwater glider network for reconstructing the 3D structure of an anticyclonic eddy in the northern South China Sea. Based on a simple parameterized model for the temperature anomaly field of the eddy, a numerical experiment was performed to test three glider network topologies (two perpendicular parallel patterns and one crossing pattern). A comprehensive metric combining three metrics was proposed to evaluate the reconstruction performance. The relationship between the metric and configuration of the glider network including the number and allocation was revealed. Comparing the reconstruction performance of different configurations, the optimal number and topology of gliders in the network were determined. The numerical results demonstrate the efficiency of the glider network with an appropriate configuration in observing the 3D structure of a mesoscale eddy. From August 4 to 29, 2017, a field experiment was conducted by Tianjin University in northern South China Sea to verify the simulation results. The results of this research can be applied to the design of glider networks for observing the mesoscale eddies’ 3D structure in situ. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

This paper has been retracted.Li S, Liu N, Piao J, Meng F, Li Y. Onco Targets Ther. 2020;13:12383–12395. The Editor and Publisher of OncoTargets and Therapy wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised following the authors request to replace the image in Figure 1G, after noticing it had been duplicated with the same image in Figure 1F. The authors were asked to provide additional original data that would further verify the reported findings, but they were unable to do this in a satisfactory manner. The Editor requested to retract the article and the authors do not agree with this decision. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

Mesoscale eddies, as a considerable contributor to the transport of ocean heat, dissolved oxygen and other biochemical tracers, have an important influence on the distribution of marine resources and global climate change. The purpose of this research is to capture the high variability of an anticyclonic eddy in South China Sea to observe its thermohaline vertical structure in different transections. 12 'Petrel II' gliders developed by Tianjin University were deployed in a northern area of the South China Sea during August 4-August 29, 2017 to observe the dynamics of eddies. Combining the high resolution in situ dataset collected by gliders and the monthly averaged climatological temperature and salinity provided by the World Ocean Atlas 2013 (WOA13), the vertical structure of the eddy has been observed. The eddy lasted more than 20 days from August 2 to August 24, 2017. The properties of the water mass in the anticyclonic eddy are similar to the Kuroshio water indicating that the eddy may generate in Kuroshio. The eddy can penetrate 700m depth. Crossing the eddy from northeast to southwest, the maximum anomalies of potential temperature, salinity and potential density were about 3-{circ} C at about 120m, 0.5psu at about 50m, and negative 0.6kg/m 3 at about 150m, respectively. The anomalies distributions of potential temperature, salinity and potential density in the northwest and southeast of the eddy have great similarity. However, the magnitude of anomalies in the northwest are higher than those in the southeast of the eddy. Based on the sea level anomaly (SLA) from satellite altimeter data distributed by Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS), the eddy was moving towards west during the experiment period. © 2018 IEEE.

Mesoscale eddies have great influence on heat and material transport in the ocean and thus play an important role in modulating the global climate variability. However, our understanding of their fine three-dimensional (3D) thermohaline and biogeochemical structure remains incomplete because of the scarcity of high-resolution measurements. This research aims to construct the fine 3D structure of an anticyclonic eddy in the northern South China Sea (NSCS) to validate the effectiveness of a glider network for observing mesoscale eddies. Twelve Petrel gliders were deployed in NSCS during August 2017 to gather fine information of an anticyclonic eddy. By combining the high-resolution in situ glider data and the sea level anomaly data, we have constructed a detailed 3D structure of the eddy. The analysis results of the absolute dynamic topography map and the water mass comparison imply that the anticyclonic eddy may generate from eddy shedding of the Kuroshio loop current. The maximum potential temperature anomaly (over 38C) appears at the thermocline, and the maximum salinity anomaly (;0.8 psu) exists at;50 m. The maximum value of the dissolved oxygen concentration (;7.5 mg L21) appears at 50–80 m. The maximum chlorophyll concentration (;1.2 mgL21) lies at 80–120 m, just below that of the dissolved oxygen concentration. The colored dissolved organic matter concentration increases with depth, with the mean value being less than 1.23 ppb above 50 m and beyond 2.2 ppb at 500–800 m. The results verify the capability of the glider network to observe a fine-scaled 3D structure of mesoscale eddies and will provide a useful guide for future eddy observations. © 2019 American Meteorological Society.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has recently emerged as a cancer therapeutic agent because it preferentially induces apoptosis in human cancer over normal cells. Most tumor cells, including lung cancer cell line A549, unfortunately, are resistant to TRAIL treatment even at high dose. Recent studies indicated that TRAIL-resistant cancer cells could be sensitized to TRAIL by combination therapy. Stress and heat shock proteins such as HSP90, HSP70 and HSP27 are induced in response to a wide variety of physiological environmental insults including heat, reactive oxygen species or anticancer drugs. Their elevated expressions facilitate cells to survive in stress circumstances. The HSP27 expression is enhanced in many tumor cells, implying that it is involved in tumor progression and the development of treatment resistance in various tumors, including lung cancer. This fact suggests a novel strategy for the treatment of cancer via inhibiting the function of HSP27. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of a small interfering (si) RNA on the expression of HSP27 gene in the TRAIL-resistant human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549, and the effect of HSP27 siRNA on drug sensitization of A549 cells to TRAIL treatment. The results showed that treatment of A549 cells with HSP27 siRNA down-regulated HSP27 expression but did not induce significant apoptosis. However, combination of HSP27 siRNA with TRAIL-induced significant apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant A549 cells. In addition to inducing caspases activation and apoptosis, combined treatment with HSP27 siRNA and TRAIL also increased JNK and p53 expression and activity. Collectively, these findings provide a conclusion that siRNA targeting of the HSP27 gene specifically down-regulated HSP27 expression in A549 cells, and sensitized the cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has recently emerged as a cancer therapeutic agent because it preferentially induces apoptosis in human cancer over normal cells. Most tumor cells, including lung cancer cell line A549, unfortunately, are resistant to TRAIL treatment even at high dose. Recent studies indicated that TRAIL-resistant cancer cells could be sensitized to TRAIL by combination therapy. Stress and heat shock proteins such as HSP90, HSP70 and HSP27 are induced in response to a wide variety of physiological environmental insults including heat, reactive oxygen species or anticancer drugs. Their elevated expressions facilitate cells to survive in stress circumstances. The HSP27 expression is enhanced in many tumor cells, implying that it is involved in tumor progression and the development of treatment resistance in various tumors, including lung cancer. This fact suggests a novel strategy for the treatment of cancer via inhibiting the function of HSP27. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of a small interfering (si) RNA on the expression of HSP27 gene in the TRAIL-resistant human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549, and the effect of HSP27 siRNA on drug sensitization of A549 cells to TRAIL treatment. The results showed that treatment of A549 cells with HSP27 siRNA down-regulated HSP27 expression but did not induce significant apoptosis. However, combination of HSP27 siRNA with TRAIL-induced significant apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant A549 cells. In addition to inducing caspases activation and apoptosis, combined treatment with HSP27 siRNA and TRAIL also increased JNK and p53 expression and activity. Collectively, these findings provide a conclusion that siRNA targeting of the HSP27 gene specifically down-regulated HSP27 expression in A549 cells, and sensitized the cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Quantifying how land surface height, such as that of the Tibetan region, has changed with time is crucial for understanding a range of Earth processes, including atmospheric dynamics, biotic evolution and tectonics. Elevation reconstructions are highly uncertain and controversial, in part because of assumptions used in their calculation. The largest uncertainties are in the choice of unconstrained thermal lapse rates. Thermal lapse rates are defined as a change in surface temperature with altitude and have long been used to estimate paleoelevation. If we know both the lapse rate and the temperature at two sites at different elevations, then in theory we can calculate their height difference. There are different types of lapse rates (Dry, Saturated, Environmental and Terrestrial), yet which is the most useful for paleoaltimetry is unknown. Previous paleoelevation studies have often used observed modern-day global annual mean free air or terrestrial thermal lapse rates to measure elevation change, with the assumption that observed modern-day lapse rates are similar to those of the past. Here, using the HadCM3L paleoclimate model we demonstrate that Eocene global mean free air and terrestrial thermal lapse rates are not only different from the modern, but also show little predictive skill in reproducing prescribed model topography. Free-air lapse rates are largely insensitive to increased pCO2 (showing only a decrease of ∼0.1-0.5 °C/km), whereas lapse rates at Earth's surface, the most applicable for fossil-based paleoaltimetry, differed significantly locally and globally in the past compared to the Pre-industrial. This suggests that modern terrestrial lapse rate expressions are inappropriate for tracking altitude changes through geologic time. Moist processes and resultant moisture content of airmasses play a critical role in much of this uncertainty. The use of a wet-bulb temperature-derived lapse rate reduces this uncertainty significantly improving the predictive s

Measurements of stable water isotopes (oxygen and hydrogen) are commonly used to estimate palaeoelevation and quantify past changes in surface height across Tibet. Isotope palaeoaltimetry is often based on simple Rayleigh fractionation of a “parcel of air”, but must make a considerable number of approximations and assumptions. In this paper, we elaborate on the practicability of oxygen water isotopes in palaeoaltimetry, and evaluate a recent challenge to the palaeoaltimetry community. First, we examine the isotopic composition of oxygen (ẟ18O) versus altitude relationship in a set of five topographic realisations of Tibet using an isotope-enabled palaeoclimate model for the mid-Eocene, a period where a variety of topographic ‘uplift’ models have been proposed, and compare it to modern relationships. Second, we investigate whether isotopic composition is a good predictor of more modest changes in topography, such as the introduction of a valley system or uplift of only part of the Tibetan region. The aim of the paper is not to perform a direct comparison to data, but to use the model to further refine knowledge of the strengths and limitations of using oxygen isotopes in palaeoaltimetry. We find that oxygen isotope palaeoaltimetry works surprisingly well, with the exception that it could not identify low elevation valley systems bounded by high elevations because the isotopic composition of the water in the air becomes depleted at the first high elevation that an air parcel passes over and does not recover when it descends into the valley. Hence, isotope-based elevations are biased towards mountain range peaks. Overall, the application of oxygen isotope palaeoaltimetry does have value, but would be further strengthened when employed together with isotope-enabled models. In conjunction with other techniques such as terrestrial thermal lapse rates and energy conservation approaches, over a wide spatial region, a more accurate and fully three-dimension

Spinescence is an important functional trait possessed by many plant species for physical defence against mammalian herbivores. The development of spinescence must have been closely associated with both biotic and abiotic factors in the geological past, but knowledge of spinescence evolution suffers from a dearth of fossil records, with most studies focusing on spatial patterns and spinescence-herbivore interactions in modern ecosystems. Numerous well-preserved Eocene (~39 Ma) plant fossils exhibiting seven different spine morphologies discovered recently in the central Tibetan Plateau, combined with molecular phylogenetic character reconstruction, point not only to the presence of a diversity of spiny plants in Eocene central Tibet but a rapid diversification of spiny plants in Eurasia around that time. These spiny plants occupied an open woodland landscape, indicated by numerous megafossils and grass phytoliths found in the same deposits, as well as numerical climate and vegetation modelling. Our study shows that regional aridification and expansion of herbivorous mammals may have driven the diversification of functional spinescence in central Tibetan woodlands, ~24 million years earlier than similar transformations in Africa. [Abstract copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).]

Quantifying how land surface height, such as that of the Tibetan region, has changed with time is crucial for understanding a range of Earth processes, including atmospheric dynamics, biotic evolution and tectonics. Elevation reconstructions are highly uncertain and controversial, in part because of assumptions used in their calculation. The largest uncertainties are in the choice of unconstrained thermal lapse rates. Thermal lapse rates are defined as a change in surface temperature with altitude and have long been used to estimate paleoelevation. If we know both the lapse rate and the temperature at two sites at different elevations, then in theory we can calculate their height difference. There are different types of lapse rates (Dry, Saturated, Environmental and Terrestrial), yet which is the most useful for paleoaltimetry is unknown. Previous paleoelevation studies have often used observed modern-day global annual mean free air or terrestrial thermal lapse rates to measure elevation change, with the assumption that observed modern-day lapse rates are similar to those of the past. Here, using the HadCM3L paleoclimate model we demonstrate that Eocene global mean free air and terrestrial thermal lapse rates are not only different from the modern, but also show little predictive skill in reproducing prescribed model topography. Free-air lapse rates are largely insensitive to increased pCO2 (showing only a decrease of ∼0.1-0.5 °C/km), whereas lapse rates at Earth's surface, the most applicable for fossil-based paleoaltimetry, differed significantly locally and globally in the past compared to the Pre-industrial. This suggests that modern terrestrial lapse rate expressions are inappropriate for tracking altitude changes through geologic time. Moist processes and resultant moisture content of airmasses play a critical role in much of this uncertainty. The use of a wet-bulb temperature-derived lapse rate reduces this uncertainty significantly improving the predictive s