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Malignancy is a major public health problem and among the leading lethal diseases worldwide. Although the current tumor treatment methods have therapeutic effect to a certain extent, they still have some shortcomings such as poor water solubility, short half-life, local and systemic toxicity. Therefore, how to deliver therapeutic agent so as to realize safe and effective anti-tumor therapy become a problem urgently to be solved in this field. As a medium of information exchange and material transport between cells, exosomes are considered to be a promising drug delivery carrier due to their nano-size, good biocompatibility, natural targeting, and easy modification. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the isolation, identification, drug loading, and modification of exosomes as drug carriers for tumor therapy alongside their application in tumor therapy. Basic knowledge of exosomes, such as their biogenesis, sources, and characterization methods, is also introduced herein. In addition, challenges related to the use of exosomes as drug delivery vehicles are discussed, along with future trends. This review provides a scientific basis for the application of exosome delivery systems in oncological therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to carry out a thorough investigation on the optimization of the vehicle suspension system based on vibration and noise management. First, a transfer path analysis is proposed to clarify the weight coefficient of vehicle's suspension system reaction optimization, resulting in an improved suspension system in reaction to optimization objective function to avoid the limitations of traditional vehicle suspension system's reaction optimization and ensure that the natural frequency and decoupling rate objectives will not deteriorated. To complete the optimization of the vehicle suspension system based on vibration and noise management, the variable step size algorithm is utilized to enhance the filtered least mean square method while at the same time, the adaptive algorithm is improved. The strategy put forward in this research has been shown to have a good effect on the optimization of the vehicle's suspension system through experimental verification. This method can effectively enhance the vehicle's overall comfort and stability while increasing operating safety. It is anticipated that it will serve as a valuable resource for future studies in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal lagoons provide many important services to human society, but their year-round use for aquaculture introduces large amounts of sewage. The contamination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is therefore of great concern. In this study, 50 ARGs subtypes, two integrase genes (intl1, intl2), and 16S rRNA genes were detected by high-throughput quantitative PCR, and standard curves of all target genes were prepared for quantification. The occurrence and distribution of ARGs in a typical coastal lagoon (XinCun lagoon, China) were comprehensively explored. We detected 44 and 38 subtypes of ARGs in the water and sediment, respectively, and discuss the various factors influencing the fate of ARGs in the coastal lagoon. Macrolides-lincosamides-streptogramins B was the primary ARG type, and macB was the predominant subtype. Antibiotic efflux and antibiotic inactivation were the main ARG resistance mechanisms. The XinCun lagoon was divided into eight functional zones. The ARGs showed a distinct spatial distribution owing to the influence of microbial biomass and anthropogenic activity in different functional zones. Fishing rafts, abandoned fish ponds, the town sewage zone, and mangrove wetlands provided a large quantity of ARGs to the XinCun lagoon. Nutrients and heavy metals also significantly correlated with the fate of the ARGs, especially NO 2 −-N and Cu, which cannot be ignored. It is noteworthy that lagoon-barrier systems coupled with persistent pollutant inputs result in coastal lagoons acting as a "buffer pool" for ARGs, which can then accumulate and threaten the offshore environment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embryogenesis is the critical developmental phase in the life cycle of flowering plants, which starts with the double fertilization. In the model plant Arabidopsis, since the single-celled zygote follows a defined cell division and differentiation pattern to form a mature embryo, Arabidopsis embryogenesis is an ideal system for research of the cell fate determination and cell–cell communication. Here, we present an efficient semi–in vivo zygotic embryogenesis system in Arabidopsisvia ovule culture. To achieve highly efficient embryogenesis, some key factors were carefully investigated. B5 medium supplemented with 10% sucrose was suitable for embryogenesis. After 5 d of culture, about 43% of all ovules could develop from the zygote stage to the globular embryo stage. By applying the system, we found that exogenous spermidine was not required for embryo development in ovules, and dicyclohexylamine, an inhibitor of spermidine synthase, significantly inhibited embryogenesis, and the inhibiting effect could be rescued by exogenous spermidine. Also, we tested the development of the ovules at 1-celled embryo stage after laser microdissection of apical cell, confirming it a useful system for experimental embryological investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly efficient growth of a centimeter‐scale MoS2 monolayer film by oxide scale sublimation chemical vapor deposition (OSSCVD) in a time as short as 60 s is reported. Benefiting from the superior catalytic ability of Dragontrail glass (DT‐glass) substrate and the controlled large vapor supersaturation of the molybdenum source, the ultrafast deposition of MoS2 is realized with maintaining large‐sized single‐crystalline domains over 20 µm at maximum in the film. It is comparable to those reported for MoS2 grown in tens of minutes and even hours. Similar to the face‐to‐face precursor feed route, the gas‐controlled OSSCVD with a showerhead configuration facilitates a homogeneous and controllable source supply. It enables high‐quality monolayer MoS2 film deposition on 2 × 2 cm2 DT‐glass with centimeter‐scale uniformity confirmed by microscopic, spectroscopic, and electrical characterizations. Back‐gate MoS2 field‐effect transistors fabricated on polycrystalline continuous film exhibit the maximum field‐effect mobility of 5.1 cm2 V−1s−1 and a peak Ion/Ioff ratio of 5 × 108. They reach 40 cm2 V−1 s−1 and 1.2 × 109, respectively, on single‐crystalline domains. These results are even greater than those for MoS2 grown using 1–2 orders of magnitude longer deposition time and higher temperatures. This study highlights the opportunities for low‐cost high‐throughput production of large‐area high‐quality monolayer MoS2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are more likely to suffer from hypertension. At the same time, the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) and nitric oxide (NO) in patients with OSA are also changed in OSA patients. We investigated the correlation between serum levels of MMP‐9, NO in patients with OSA and their association with hypertension in those patients, and the effects of continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) on these serum biomarkers and blood pressure. Methods: Serum MMP‐9 and NO levels and blood pressure of 57 patients with newly diagnosed OSA and 30 controls were measured; among them, 30 patients with moderate to severe OSA underwent 3‐month CPAP treatment. Results: In comparison to the control group, the MMP‐9 serum levels were higher (232.8 ± 103.2 ng/ml versus 161.6 ± 56.5 ng/ml, p <.001*), there was no statistical significance difference among serum NO (26.7 ± 9.1 IU/ml versus 31.0 ± 11.7 IU/ml, p =.06), and MMP‐9 was negatively correlated to NO, especially in patients with hypertension (r = −.644, p =.02*). MMP‐9, NO, and blood pressure were significantly recovered in the patients with OSA after CPAP treatment for 3 months (p <.05*). Conclusion: The MMP‐9 level and the NO level were altered in OSA patients. The relationship between the two especially in patients with hypertension suggests the potential mechanism of OSA‐induced hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two customers and two uniform machines. Each customer has a set of jobs. These jobs may be processed on a uniform machine or may be outsourced with an outsourcing cost. Every customer has an objective function for his jobs. Manufacturers want to find the best scheduling scheme for both customers. We present algorithms for these problems for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A newly developed oxide scale sublimation chemical vapor deposition (OSSCVD) technique for 2D MoS2 growth is reported. Gaseous MoO3, which is supplied separately from H2S, can be generated in situ by flowing O2 over Mo metal with oxidation and sublimation processes. In this method, particularly, controllably and abruptly modulating the supply of MoO3 is achievable by precisely tuning O2 flow. Having appropriate conditions, where the generation rate of MoO3 on the Mo metal surface is not larger than its sublimation rate, is critical to enable stable growth. Otherwise, MoS2 deposition can be caused by accumulated MoO3 on the metal surface, regardless of oxygen supply. Proof‐of‐concept experiments with varied process parameters are conducted, confirming OSSCVD enables MoS2 growth with significantly improved flexibility, controllability, and reproducibility relative to conventional powder‐source CVD. By utilizing alkali‐aluminosilicate glass, Dragontrail, as catalytic substrate, single‐crystalline MoS2 triangular domains as large as 25 µm are obtained, followed by a fully covered monolayer on Dragontrail in 25 min. Substrate pretreatment by H2S yields enlarged domain size and reduced domain density, owning to the extracted alkali metals from Dragontrail into the growth zone. The study opens new avenues for the controllable growth of high‐quality MoS2 and other transition metal dichalcogenides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To screen for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) biomarkers, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-labeled quantitative proteomics assay was used to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) during chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). Method: The iTRAQ technique was applied to compare DEPs in the serum of a CIH rat model and control group. Biological analysis of DEPs was performed using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia to explore related biological functions and signaling pathways. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to validate their expression in sera from patients with OSA and CIH rats. Results: Twenty-three DEPs (fold change ≥1.2 or ≤0.833, p<0.05) were identified, and two DEPs (unique peptides>3 and higher coverage) were further verified by ELISA in the CIH rat model and OSA subject: apolipoprotein A-IV (APOA4, p<0.05) and Tubulin alpha-1A chain (TUBA1A, p<0.05). Both groups showed significant differences in the expression levels of DEPs between the CIH and control groups and the severe OSA and non-OSA groups. APOA4 was found to be upregulated and TUBA1A downregulated in both the sera from OSA patients and CIH rats, on comparing proteomics results with clinical results. There were two pathways that involved three DEPs, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway (p<0.05) and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction (p<0.05). Conclusion: APOA4 and TUBA1A may be potential novel biomarkers for CIH and OSA, and may play an important role in the development of OSA complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with unique electrical properties are fascinating materials used for future electronics. However, the strong Fermi level pinning effect at the interface of TMDCs and metal electrodes always leads to high contact resistance, which seriously hinders their application in 2D electronics. One effective way to overcome this is to use metallic TMDCs or transferred metal electrodes as van der Waals (vdW) contacts. Alternatively, using highly conductive doped TMDCs will have a profound impact on the contact engineering of 2D electronics. Here, a novel chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using mixed molten salts is established for vapor–liquid–solid growth of high‐quality rhenium (Re) and vanadium (V) doped TMDC monolayers with high controllability and reproducibility. A tunable semiconductor to metal transition is observed in the Re‐ and V‐doped TMDCs. Electrical conductivity increases up to a factor of 108 in the degenerate V‐doped WS2 and WSe2. Using V‐doped WSe2 as vdW contact, the on‐state current and on/off ratio of WSe2‐based field‐effect transistors have been substantially improved (from ≈10–8 to 10–5 A; ≈104 to 108), compared to metal contacts. Future studies on lateral contacts and interconnects using doped TMDCs will pave the way for 2D integrated circuits and flexible electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A carbon-free inorganic precursor, MoO 2 Cl 2 , as the molybdenum source for atomically thin MoS 2 growth was pioneeringly identified. • Uniquely, MoO 2 Cl 2 is available for integration with the standard well-controlled MOCVD system. • Using MoO 2 Cl 2 and H 2 S as the molybdenum and sulfur sources, respectively, in a standard MOCVD set-up ensures a highly reproducible growth process and eliminates the carbon contamination existing in typical MOCVD-grown MoS 2. • Carbon-free monolayer MoS 2 films were successfully grown with decent quality and wafer-scale homogeneity. To bring atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) to practical application, a highly reproducible process to grow them over a large scale is indispensable. Here, we develop a carbon-free reproducible route for the scalable growth of high-quality monolayer MoS 2 by selecting molybdenum dichloride dioxide (MoO 2 Cl 2) as the Mo source and integrating the precursor with a standard low-pressure cold-wall metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system. Specifically, combined with H 2 S as the sulfur source and using catalytic Dragontrail glass (DT-glass) as the main substrate, we investigate the effect of MoO 2 Cl 2 flux, temperature, and deposition time on the growth, confirming MoO 2 Cl 2 with reasonably high vapor pressure is well compatible with the MOCVD system that enables precise control of sources for uniform nucleation and growth of MoS 2 over a large area. We successfully demonstrate the growth of carbon-free MoS 2 monolayers on DT-glass with decent crystalline, optical, and electrical properties. Additionally, the initial attempts also manifest that the proposed strategy could be generalized for growing ultrathin MoS 2 on other technologically important substrates, such as SiO 2 /Si and quartz, exhibiting superior optical quality and wafer-scale uniformity. This work provides a new avenue for the large-scale production of high-quality MoS 2 monolayers and facilitates their use in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Laryngeal cancer is one of the most common head and neck malignant tumors and is commonly resistant to X‐ray‐based radiotherapy. NF‐κB interacting lncRNA (NKILA) has been reported to serve as a tumor suppressor in several cancers through combining with NF‐κB: IκB complex thereby inhibiting NF‐κB activation. Herein, we demonstrated a low NKILA expression in laryngeal cancer and its correlation with shorter overall survival in patients with laryngeal cancer. NKILA serves as a tumor suppressor in laryngeal cancer by suppressing laryngeal cancer cell viability and migration, whereas promoting cell apoptosis; NKILA knockdown reverses the cytotoxicity of X‐ray radiation on laryngeal cancer cells through combining with NF‐κB: IκB complex to inhibit IκB phosphorylation, inhibit p65 nuclear translocation, and finally inhibit NF‐κB activation. NF‐κB binds to the promoter region of NKILA to activate its transcriptional activity, upregulated NKILA then inhibits IκB phosphorylation and NF‐κB activation, thus forming a negative feedback loop to sensitize laryngeal cancer cell to X‐ray radiation. In conclusion, NKILA can serve as a promising agent of enhancing the cytotoxicity of X‐ray radiation on laryngeal cancer and addressing the radioresistance of laryngeal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) showed higher prevalence in cardiovascular diseases due to aberrant hypoxia and oxidative stress. However, not all OSAS patients end up with cardiovascular disorders, and identification of novel biomarker will be invaluable for differentiating patients at risk. Here we tested the serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels in 47 untreated OSAS patients and found that the MMP-9 level was positively correlated with severity of OSAS, which was consistent with hypoxia degree and duration. Besides, the MMP-9 level was higher in patients complicated with systematic hypertension (P < 0.001). Furthermore, we selected those OSAS patients without any cardiovascular dysfunction (n=35) and followed up for up to five years. By the end of follow-up, 12 patients had hypertension onset and 3 patients had left ventricular hypertrophy. By analyzing the clinical outcomes with MMP-9 expression, we demonstrated that high serum MMP-9 in OSAS patients was a risk factor for occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, we cultured the vascular endothelial cells (VEC) from rat aorta in hypoxia condition to investigate whether MMP-9 was elevated due to hypoxia in OSAS patients. Cellular results revealed that the expression, secretion, and activity of MMP-9 were all upregulated by hypoxia and can cleave the beta2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) on VEC surface. Our results not only determined MMP-9 as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in OSAS patients, but also showed the possible involvement of hypoxia-MMP-9-β2AR signaling axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Defects and their spatial distribution are crucial factors in controlling the electronic and optical properties of semiconductors. By using scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy, the type of impurities/defects in WS2 subdomains with different optical properties is successfully assigned. A higher population of Cr impurities is found in the W‐terminated edge domain, while the S‐terminated domain contains more Fe impurities, in accordance with the luminescence characteristics of chemical‐vapor‐grown WS2 of a hexagonal shape. In agreement with the first‐principles calculations, the domains with Cr substitutional dopants exhibit strong trion emission. Fe atoms tend to gather into trimer configuration and introduce deep acceptor levels which compensate the n‐type doping and suppress trion emission. It is also discovered that the domain with higher luminescence but smaller defect concentration tends to get oxidized more rapidly and degrade the 2D structure with many triangular holes. Excitons tend to accumulate at the edges of the oxidized triangular holes and results in enhanced PL emission. The findings indicate that choosing stable elements as dopant and controlling the number of specific edge structures within a crystal domain of 2D transitional metal dichalcogenides can be a new route to improve the optical properties of these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) can be accumulated into the human body via food intake and inhalation. Numerous studies indicated that BPA can trigger the tumorigenesis and progression of cancer cells. Laryngeal cancer cells can be exposed to BPA directly via food digestion, while there were very limited data concerning the effect of BPA on the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Our present study revealed that nanomolar BPA can trigger the proliferation of LSCC cells. Bisphenol A also increased the in vitro migration and invasion of LSCC cells and upregulated the expression of matrix metallopeptidase 2. Among various chemokines tested, the expression of IL-6 was significantly increased in LSCC cells treated with BPA for 24 hours. Neutralization antibody of IL-6 or si-IL-6 can attenuate BPA-induced proliferation and migration of LSCC cells. Targeted inhibition of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor, while not estrogen receptor (ERα), abolished BPA-induced IL-6 expression, proliferation, and migration of LSCC cells. The increased IL-6 can further activate its downstream signal molecule STAT3, which was evidenced by the results of increased phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT3, while si-IL-6 and si-GPER can both reverse BPA-induced activation of STAT3. Collectively, our present study revealed that BPA can trigger the progression of LSCC via GPER-mediated upregulation of IL-6. Therefore, more attention should be paid for the BPA exposure on the development of laryngeal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of xenogenic acellular dermal matrix (xeno-ADM) in tracheal reconstruction.Method: Two patients were treated with this surgical method to reconstruct the trachea in 2013. The patients were diagnosed with tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma by histopathological biopsy. The tumor was resected with half of the tracheal circumference and repaired by xeno-ADM. The patients were followed up for 31 and 33 months, respectively.Result: No infection or tracheal fistula was observed. The grafts were clear. Both patients were successfully decannulated without dyspnea and could breathe and speak without prosthesis. The cervical mobility was not impaired.Conclusion: Xeno-ADM was successfully used to reconstruct a stable and well-functioning trachea. This surgical method is simple, safe, and effective with fewer complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleotide excision repair is a well-conserved DNA repair pathway that removes bulky and/or helix-distorting DNA lesions, such as UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts. Transcription-coupled repair ( TCR) is a subpathway of nucleotide excision repair that is dedicated to rapid removal of DNA lesions in the transcribed strand of actively transcribed genes. In eukaryotic cells, TCR is triggered by RNA polymerase II ( RNAP II). Rad26, a DNA-dependent ATPase, Rpb9, a nonessential subunit of RNAP II, and Sen1, a 5′ to 3′ RNA/ DNA and DNA helicase, have been shown to facilitate TCR in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In contrast, a number of factors have also been found to repress TCR in the yeast. These TCR repressors include Rpb4, another nonessential subunit of RNAP II, Spt4/5, a transcription elongation factor complex, and the RNAP II-associated factor 1 complex ( PAFc). It appears that the eukaryotic TCR process involves intricate interplays of RNAP II with TCR facilitators and repressors. In this minireview, we summarize recent advances in TCR in S. cerevisiae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) can be used as a new membrane substitute for repairing mucosal defects. The objective of this study is to explore the effectiveness of xenogenic acellular dermal matrix (xeno-ADM) in hypopharynx reconstruction. A total of 40 patients were treated with this surgical method to reconstruct hypopharynx in our department between February 2011 and October 2012. Patients were diagnosed had hypopharyngeal cancer located at lateral and/or postpharyngeal wall. The mucosal defect size after hypopharyngeal resection was 3 × 4 cm-6 × 7 cm, and was repaired by xeno-ADM. Patients were followed up for 11-36 months. 4 patients got infected, and two developed into pharyngeal fistula. Patients regained eating function 2-5 weeks after surgery. No membrane was removed; no severe stenosis of hypopharynx was observed. All patients were successfully decannulated. The overall 3-year survival rate is 67.5 %; the 3-year disease-free rate is 47.5 %. Reconstruction of hypopharynx by xeno-ADM is proved to be a simple, safe and effective method with fewer complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its outstanding performance, carbon nanotube (CNT) has shown great potentials as an enhancement material for composites. However, CNT tends to cluster together or form aggregates during fabrication process, it is a challenging task to effectively mix CNT into a metal matrix. In this study, a novel approach is proposed to disperse CNT into aluminum matrix by using silicon carbide particles (SiCp) as a “carrier”. Through chemical vapor deposition, CNT is grown on the surface of micro-sized SiCp forming a nano/micro-sized hybrid reinforcement, which is named as SiCp(CNT), and then they will be homogeneously distributed in the 6061Al matrix by conventional powder metallurgy process. Three types of SiCp(CNT), with SiCp sizes being 13 μm, 7 μm, 2.5 μm, were used for finding out the effect of SiCp size on the morphology of SiCp(CNT), the microstructure and mechanical properties of the obtained composite. The most significant improvement in tensile properties can be found for the case with the SiCp size to be 7 μm, which has ductility of 8.5%, Young's modulus of 98 GPa, and tensile strength of 428 MPa. This remarkable strengthening effect is attributed to the increase of the “punched zone” size with the presence of CNT on the SiCp surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve a uniform distribution of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcement in aluminum (Al) matrix, novel nano/micro-sized hybrid reinforcements with CNT growing on the surface of SiC particle (SiCp) was synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition method. Subsequently, the hybrid reinforcement (defined as SiCp(CNT)) was mixed in the pure Al matrix by merely blending powder, as a result, CNT was well-dispersed in the matrix with the help of micro-sized SiCp as a “vehicle”. With the novel reinforcement, SiCp(CNT)/Al composite exhibited both improved elastic modulus of 93 GPa (35% higher than that of Al matrix) and tensile strength of 202 MPa (74% higher than that of Al matrix), mainly because CNT was dispersed uniformly and achieved intimate interfaces with Al matrix with the help of well dispersed SiCp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcription coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) is believed to be triggered by an RNA polymerase stalled at a lesion in the transcribed strand of actively transcribed genes. Rad26, a DNA-dependent ATPase in the family of SWI2/SNF2 chromatin remodeling proteins, plays an important role in TC-NER in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, Rad26 is not solely responsible for TC-NER and Rpb9, a nonessential subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II), is largely responsible for Rad26-independent TC-NER. The Rad26-dependent and Rpb9-dependent TC-NER have different efficiencies in genes with different transcription levels and in different regions of a gene. Rad26 becomes entirely or partially dispensable for TC-NER in the absence of Rpb4, another nonessential subunit of RNAP II, or a number of transcription elongation factors (Spt4, Spt5 and the RNAP II associated factor complex). Rad26 may not be a true transcription-repair coupling factor that recruits the repair machinery to the damaged sites where RNAP II stalls. Rather, Rad26 may facilitate TC-NER indirectly, by antagonizing the action of TC-NER repressors that normally promote transcription elongation. The underlying mechanism of how Rad26 functions in TC-NER remains to be elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider scheduling problems with job processing time compatibility on a single unbounded batch machine. Each job's processing time is characterized by an interval. Any number of jobs can be processed in a batch under the condition that the processing time intervals of the jobs in the same batch have a nonempty intersection. The processing time of a batch is given by the left endpoint of the intersection of the processing time intervals of the jobs in the batch. For the makespan minimization problem with individual job release dates, we design a pseudo-polynomial dynamic programming algorithm for the case where the number of distinct release dates is fixed. We also present a class of online algorithms that are 2-competitive and a polynomial-time approximation scheme for the case where the number of release dates is arbitrary. For the problem to minimize the weighted number of tardy jobs under a common due date, we show that it is binary NP -hard and provide a polynomial-time algorithm when the jobs have a common weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the online batch scheduling of equal-length jobs on two identical batch machines. Each batch machine can process up tobjobs simultaneously as a batch (wherebis called the capacity of the machines). The goal is to determine a schedule that maximises the (weighted) number of early jobs. For the non-preemptive model, we first present an upper bound that depends on the machine capacityb, and then we provide a greedy online algorithm with a competitive ratio of 1/(b+ 1). For the preemption-restart model withb= ∞, we first show that no online algorithm has a competitive ratio greater than 0.595, and then we design an online algorithm with a competitive ratio of. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To evaluate the role of 18FDG PET-CT for screening distant metastases before salvage treatment in patients with suspected recurrent head and neck cancer. Studies about 18FDG PET-CT were systematically searched in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases (last update October 05, 2013). We calculated sensitivities, specificities, positive likelihood ratios and negative likelihood ratios, and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic curves for 18FDG PET-CT. Ten PET-CT studies (756 patients and 797 imaging examinations) were identified. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio for 18FDG PET-CT were 0.92 (95% CI=0.83-0.96), 0.95 (95% CI=0.91-0.97), 16.7 (95% CI=9.9-28.4), and 0.09 (95% CI=0.04-0.18), respectively. Overall weighted area under the curve was 0.97 (95% CI=0.96-0.98). 18FDG PET-CT has high sensitivity and accuracy for screening distant metastases before salvage treatment in patients with suspected recurrent head and neck cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: To evaluate the role of 18FDG PET-CT for screening distant metastases before salvage treatment in patients with suspected recurrent head and neck cancer. Studies about 18FDG PET-CT were systematically searched in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases (last update October 05, 2013). We calculated sensitivities, specificities, positive likelihood ratios and negative likelihood ratios, and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic curves for 18FDG PET-CT. Ten PET-CT studies (756 patients and 797 imaging examinations) were identified. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio for 18FDG PET-CT were 0.92 (95% CI=0.83–0.96), 0.95 (95% CI=0.91–0.97), 16.7 (95% CI=9.9–28.4), and 0.09 (95% CI=0.04–0.18), respectively. Overall weighted area under the curve was 0.97 (95% CI=0.96–0.98). 18FDG PET-CT has high sensitivity and accuracy for screening distant metastases before salvage treatment in patients with suspected recurrent head and neck cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: T-lymphoma invasion and metastasis inducing factor 1 (Tiam1) overexpression has been reported in a variety of human cancers. However, the investigation of Tiam1 in squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is extremely rare. The aim of the present study is to assess Tiam1 expression and to explore its role in SCCHN. Methods: Tiam1 expression in 119 primary SCCHN tissue specimens was analysed by immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathological parameters and patients’ survival. Additionally, 12 paired SCCHN tissues were evaluated for Tiam1 expression by Western blotting. Results: Western blotting indicated that Tiam1 expression levels in SCCHN carcinomas were significantly higher than those in the corresponding paraneoplastic tissues (P <0.001). Immmunohistochemistry staining revealed that Tiam1 was detected in all primary tumour samples, moreover, Tiam1 overexpression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P <0.001), clinical stage (P <0.001), histological grade (P =0.001) and recurrence (P <0.001). Survival analysis demonstrated that high Tiam1 expression was significantly correlated with shorter disease-free survival and overall survival (both P <0.001). When combining the Tiam1 expression and lymph node status, Kaplan–Meier survival showed that patients with Tiam1 overexpression/lymph node metastasis (+) had both shorter disease-free and overall survival than others (both P <0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis confirmed that lymph node metastasis, histological grade and Tiam1 overexpression were statistically significant, independent predictor of prognosis for patients with SCCHN. Conclusion: Tiam1 may contribute to SCCHN progression, and represent as a novel prognostic indicator as well as a potential therapeutic target for SCCHN. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Polycomb group ( Pc G) proteins are gene repressors that help to maintain cellular identity during development via chromatin remodeling. Fertilization-independent endosperm ( FIE), a member of the Pc G complex, operates extensively in plant development, but its role in rice has not been fully investigated to date., We report the isolation and characterization of a Pc G member in rice, which was designated Os FIE2 for Oryza sativa Fertilization- Independent Endosperm 2. Os FIE2 is a single-copy gene in the rice genome and shows a universal expression pattern., The Os FIE2 RNAi lines displayed pleiotropic phenotypes in vegetative and reproductive organ generation. In unfertilized lines, endosperm formation could be triggered without embryo formation, which indicates that FIE is indeed involved in the suppression of autonomous endosperm development in rice. Furthermore, lateral root generation was promoted early in the roots of Os FIE2 RNAi lines, whereas the primary root was premature and highly differentiated. As the root tip stem cell differentiated, QHB, the gene required for stem cell maintenance in the quiescent center, was down-regulated., Our data suggest that the Os FIE2- Pc G complex is vital for rice reproduction and endosperm formation. Its role in stem cell maintenance suggests that the gene is functionally conserved in plants as well as animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: We found that protein trafficking between apical and basal cell can be unidirectional, which reveals the different roles of the two cells in the cell-to-cell communication between them during early embryogenesis. Abstract: In most angiosperm species, asymmetric zygote division results in an apical cell and a basal cell that have distinct cell fates. Much has been speculated about possible communication between these cell types in relation to their cell fate determination. Here, we report on the use of photoactivatable green fluorescent protein (PA-GFP) in tobacco to trace intercellular communication between apical and basal cells during early embryogenesis. We found that PA-GFP was transported between apical and basal cells of a two-celled proembryo, and that protein trafficking was unidirectional toward the apical cell, highlighting different cell communication roles. Further ultrastructural analysis showed numerous plasmodesmata in the walls connecting the apical and basal cells, which may provide channels for protein trafficking. Our data show a possible unique method of cell-to-cell communication between apical and basal cells during early embryogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histones are highly alkaline proteins that package and order the DNA into chromatin in eukaryotic cells. Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a conserved multistep reaction that removes a wide range of generally bulky and/or helix-distorting DNA lesions. Although the core biochemical mechanism of NER is relatively well known, how cells detect and repair lesions in diverse chromatin environments is still under intensive research. As with all DNA-related processes, the NER machinery must deal with the presence of organized chromatin and the physical obstacles it presents. A huge catalogue of posttranslational histone modifications has been documented. Although a comprehensive understanding of most of these modifications is still lacking, they are believed to be important regulatory elements for many biological processes, including DNA replication and repair, transcription and cell cycle control. Some of these modifications, including acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation and ubiquitination on the four core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4) or the histone H2A variant H2AX, have been found to be implicated in different stages of the NER process. This review will summarize our recent understanding in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We consider a problem of scheduling resumable deteriorating jobs on a single machine with non-availability constraints. The objective is to minimize the total completion time. We prove that the problem with a single non-availability period is NP-hard in the ordinary sense and possesses a fully polynomial-time approximation scheme. In addition, we show that there does not exist a polynomial-time approximation algorithm with a constant worst-case ratio for the problem with two or more non-availability periods, unless . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Base excision repair (BER) of dimethyl sulfate induced N-methylpurines (NMPs) was measured at nucleotide resolution in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of cultured human and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells. NMPs were repaired with heterogeneous rates in the human mtDNA. The nearest-neighbor nucleotides significantly affected the repair rates: NMPs between pyrimidines were repaired much faster than those between purines, and those between a purine and a pyrimidine were repaired at intermediate rates. Repair intermediates of NMPs can also be detected at certain sites of the human mtDNA, indicating an ineffectiveness of processing the intermediates at these sites by the human mitochondrial BER machinery. In contrast to the human mtDNA, the yeast mtDNA did not show detectable repair of NMPs at any sites. Furthermore, a high level of spontaneous strand breaks exists exclusively at purine sites in the yeast mtDNA. Spontaneous NMPs or oxidative lesions were unlikely to be the major causes for the spontaneous strand breaks. Rather, spontaneous depurination combined with inefficient processing of DNA nicks or single-nucleotide gaps by the yeast mitochondrial BER machinery may result in the spontaneous strand breaks. Our results unveil a striking difference in BER between human and the yeast mitochondria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We consider several parallel-machine scheduling problems in which the processing time of a job is a (simple) linear increasing function of its starting time and jobs can be rejected by paying penalties. The objective is to minimize the scheduling cost of the accepted jobs plus the total penalty of the rejected jobs. Three variations of the scheduling cost are considered in this paper. The first is the makespan, the second is the total weighted completion time (for simple linear deterioration), and the third is the total completion time. For the former two problems, we propose two fully polynomial-time approximation schemes to solve them when the number of machines is fixed. For the last problem, we present an optimal -time dynamic programming algorithm when the deteriorating rates are equal for all jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper we study the problem of scheduling deteriorating jobs with release dates on a single machine. The processing time of a job is assumed to be the product of its deteriorating rate and its starting time. Precedence relations may be imposed on the set of jobs. Unlike the classical time-dependent scheduling problems, we assume that the execution of a job can be preempted in the sense that the job’s deteriorating rate is reduced when it is preempted and each continuously processed part of a job can be regarded as an independent job with a specified deteriorating rate. The objective is to minimize some common regular scheduling performance measures. We first show that minimizing a class of regular symmetric functions is polynomially solvable. Then we construct an algorithm for minimizing the maximum job completion cost with or without precedence constraints. Finally we show that minimizing the total weighted completion time is NP-hard even if there are only two distinct release dates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We consider in this paper the scheduling of families of jobs in which both processing and delivery are coordinated together. Only one vehicle is available to deliver the jobs to specified customers. The jobs can be processed together to form processing batches on the machine and setups of batches are required when the machine is changing from one family to another. Jobs from different families cannot be transported together by the vehicle. The objective is to minimize the time when the vehicle finishes delivering the last delivery batch to its customer and returns to the machine. We propose an -time optimal algorithm for the scheduling problem under the group technology assumption. For the scheduling problem without the group technology assumption, we show that the problem is NP-hard and give an -time dynamic programming algorithm, where is the number of jobs, and is the number of families; we also provide a heuristic algorithm with a performance ratio of 3/2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a conserved DNA repair mechanism capable of removing a variety of helix-distorting DNA lesions. Rad26, a member of the Swi2/Snf2 superfamily of proteins, has been shown to be involved in a specialized NER process called transcription coupled NER. Rad16, another member of the same protein superfamily, has been shown to be required for genome-wide NER. Here we show that Rad16 and Rad26 play different roles in repairing repressed and actively transcribed genes in yeast. Rad16 is partially dispensable, and Rad26 plays a significant role in repairing certain regions of the repressed GAL1-10, PHO5 and ADH2 genes, especially in the core DNA of well-positioned nucleosomes. Simultaneous elimination of Rad16 and Rad26 results in no detectable repair in these regions of the repressed genes. Transcriptional induction of the GAL1-10 genes abolishes the role of Rad26, but does not affect the role of Rad16 in repairing the nontranscribed strand of the genes. Interestingly, when the transcription activator Gal4 is eliminated from the cells, Rad16 becomes partially dispensable and Rad26 plays a significant role in repairing both strands of the GAL1-10 genes even under inducing conditions. Our results suggest that Rad16 and Rad26 play different and, to some extent, complementary roles in repairing both strands of repressed genes, although the relative contributions of the two proteins can be different from gene to gene, and from region to region of a gene. However, Rad16 is solely responsible for repairing the nontranscribed strand of actively transcribed genes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Rpb9, a non-essential subunit of RNA polymerase H, mediates a transcription-coupled repair (TCR) sub-pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This subpathway initiates at the same upstream site as the previously identified Rad26 subpathway. However, the Rpb9 subpathway operates more effectively in the coding region than in the region upstream of the transcription start site, whereas the Rad26 subpathway operates equally in the two regions. Rpb4, another non-essential subunit of RNA polymerase II, plays a dual role in regulating the two subpathways, suppressing the Rpb9 subpathway and facilitating the Rad26 subpathway. Simultaneous deletion of RPB9 and RAD26 genes completely abolishes TCR in both the coding and upstream regions, indicating that no other TCR subpathway exists in RNA polymerase II- transcribed genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical Vapor Deposition: Tunable Doping of Rhenium and Vanadium into Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for Two-Dimensional Electronics (Adv. Sci. 11/2021) A new strategy using mixed salts for chemical vapor deposition of tunable Re- and V-doped 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) is realized by Shisheng Li, Takaaki Taniguchi, and co-workers, as described in article number 2004438. By applying the highly conductive V-doped WSe SB 2 sb as van der Waals contacts for 2D WSe SB 2 sb based field-effect transistor, the on-state current and on/off ratio are substantially improved, compared to the metal contacts. [Extracted from the article]

• The structural features of TGFBI determine the biological function of the cell. • TGFBI is an important marker of tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metabolism, apoptosis and immunity. • TGFBI is expected to be a peptide antigen. TGFBI, an extracellular matrix protein induced by transforming growth factor β, has been found to exhibit aberrant expression in various types of cancer. TGFBI plays a crucial role in tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. It also facilitates invasion and metastasis in various types of cancer, including colon, head and neck squamous, renal, and prostate cancers. TGFBI, a prominent p-EMT marker, strongly correlates with lymph node metastasis. TGFBI demonstrates immunosuppressive effects within the tumor immune microenvironment. Targeted therapy directed at TGFBI shows promise as a potential strategy to combat cancer. Hence, a comprehensive review was conducted to examine the impact of TGFBI on various aspects of tumor biology, including cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, and the immune microenvironment. This review also delved into the underlying biochemical mechanisms to enhance our understanding of the research advancements related to TGFBI in the context of tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese (Mn) is widely recognized owing to its low cost, non-toxic nature, and versatile oxidation states, leading to the emergence of various Mn-based nanomaterials with applications across diverse fields, particularly in tumor diagnosis and therapy. Systematic reviews specifically addressing the tumor diagnosis and therapy aspects of Mn-derived biomaterials are lacking. This review comprehensively explores the physicochemical characteristics and synthesis methods of Mn-derived biomaterials, emphasizing their role in tumor diagnostics, including magnetic resonance imaging, photoacoustic and photothermal imaging, ultrasound imaging, multimodal imaging, and biodetection. Moreover, the advantages of Mn-based materials in tumor treatment applications are discussed, including drug delivery, tumor microenvironment regulation, synergistic photothermal, photodynamic, and chemodynamic therapies, tumor immunotherapy, and imaging-guided therapy. The review concludes by providing insights into the current landscape and future directions for Mn-driven advancements in the field, serving as a comprehensive resource for researchers and clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which investigated the sensitivity of Escherichia coli hup mutants to ultra violet. Details on Escherichia coli histone-like protein HU; Information on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-binding proteins; Methodology used to conduct the study; Results of the study.

Purpose: To estimate laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) changes after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using the reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS) questionnaires. Methods: A total of 91 participants were recruited and divided into three groups: control (n = 27), OSA mild to moderate (n = 29), and OSA severe (n = 35) groups according to polysomnography. All participants completed the preoperative RSI, and underwent blinded evaluation on videolaryngoscopy using the RFS questionnaire. Thirty‐four OSA patients who underwent UPPP surgery completed postoperative polysomnography and questionnaires again after a 6‐month follow‐up. Results: The RSI score and RFS were higher in patients with OSA than in those without OSA. Patients with severe OSA also had a higher RSI score and RFS than those with mild to moderate OSA. Apnea and hypopnea index degree and percentage of recording time for <90% oxygen saturation showed positive correlation with LPR symptoms. But the lowest blood oxygen saturation during the recording time was negatively correlated with LPR symptoms. The mean RSI score and RFS before UPPP surgery were 15.88 ± 4.85 and 13.18 ± 4.80, after surgery decreasing to 9.53 ± 4.16 and 8.65 ± 4.87, respectively (P <.05). In 25 patients where surgery was successful, RSI scores, RFSs and individual RSI variables decreased after surgery. Conclusions: LPR symptoms are common among OSA patients, and the coexistence of OSA and LPR cannot be ignored. Successful UPPP surgery potentially reduces LPR symptoms and improves laryngoscopic signs by alleviating sleep respiratory disorders. Level of Evidence: 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this Perspective, we present that polariton modes hosted in two-dimensional (2D) materials can be used to increase and control light–matter interactions at the nanoscale. We analyze the optical response of the most used 2D material nanostructures that support plasmon, exciton, and phonon polariton modes. Polariton characteristic lengths are used to assess the hybrid light–matter modes of different 2D material monolayers and nanoribbons. We present that the 2D material nanodisk can act like a cavity that supports localized polariton modes, which can be excited by a nearby placed quantum system to present ultra-fast and ultra-bright operation. The key to achieve high quality 2D polariton modes is to reduce material losses. Thus, state-of-the-art exfoliation, chemical vapor deposition, and transferring techniques of 2D materials are introduced to fabricate nanostructures that fulfill the stringent requirements of applications in photonics, optoelectronics, and quantum technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmon–exciton interactions between noble metal nanostructures and two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides have drawn great interest due to their significantly enhanced optical properties. Plasmon resonance of noble metal nanoparticles and plasmon–exciton interactions are strongly dependent on the particle morphology. Single-particle spectroscopic studies can overcome the ensemble average effects of sample inhomogeneity to unambiguously reveal the effects of the particle morphology. In this work, plasmon modulated emission of MoS2 in various plasmon–MoS2 hybrid structures has been studied on the single-particle level. Gold (Au) nanoantennas of different shapes including nanosphere, nanorod, nanocube, and nanotriangle with similar overall dimensions, which have different sharp tips and contact areas with MoS2, have been chosen to explore the particle shape effects. Different extent of enhancement in photoluminescence (PL) of MoS2 was observed for Au nanoantennas of different shapes. It was found that Au nanotriangles gave the highest enhancement factor, while Au nanospheres gave the lowest enhancement factor. The numerical simulation results show that the dominant contribution arises from an increased quantum yield, while enhanced excitation efficiency just plays a minor role. The quantum yield enhancement is affected by both the sharp tips and contact mode of the Au nanoantenna with MoS2. Polarization of the MoS2 emission was also found to be modulated by the plasmon mode of the Au nanoantenna. These single-particle spectroscopic studies allow us to unambiguously reveal the effects of the particle morphology on plasmon enhanced PL in these nanohybrids to provide a better understanding of the plasmon–exciton interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant tumors are one of the leading causes of death which impose an increasingly heavy burden on all countries. Therefore, the establishment of research models that closely resemble original tumor characteristics is crucial to further understanding the mechanisms of malignant tumor development, developing safer and more effective drugs, and formulating personalized treatment plans. Recently, organoids have been widely used in tumor research owing to their advantages including preserving the structure, heterogeneity, and cellular functions of the original tumor, together with the ease of manipulation. This review describes the history and characteristics of tumor organoids and the synergistic combination of three‐dimensional (3D) culture approaches for tumor organoids with emerging technologies, including tissue‐engineered cell scaffolds, microfluidic devices, 3D bioprinting, rotating wall vessels, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats‐CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (CRISPR‐Cas9). Additionally, the progress in research and the applications in basic and clinical research of tumor organoid models are summarized. This includes studies of the mechanism of tumor development, drug development and screening, precision medicine, immunotherapy, and simulation of the tumor microenvironment. Finally, the existing shortcomings of tumor organoids and possible future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distorted octahedral T′ phase of MoTe2 has recently attracted significant interest due to its predicted topological states and novel charge transport properties. Here, we report a nondestructive method for determining the crystal orientation of few-layer T′-MoTe2 flakes by polarized Raman spectroscopy. The experimentally observed Raman modes are assigned to eigenmodes of vibrations predicted by density functional theory calculations. Polarized Raman measurements reveal four distinct types of angle-dependent intensity variations. From group theory, it can be deduced that the intensity of the Bg mode reaches a maximum in the [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective thermal management is becoming increasingly important for high power density electronic devices, which requires materials with high thermal conductivity. A novel graphite film/aluminum composite material with ultrahigh thermal conductivity was fabricated by vacuum hot pressing process to meet this requirement. The effects of fabrication parameters on microstructures and thermal conductivities of these composites were investigated. As a result, the composites with graphite volume fraction of 17.4–69.4% sintered at 655 °C/45 MPa for 100 min exhibit in-plane thermal conductivities of 380–940 W/mK, over 90% of the predictions by rule of mixture. These composites possess higher in-plane thermal conductivities than graphite flake/aluminum composites due to well-controlled graphite orientation and fabrication parameters, which indicates that these composites are promising materials for effective thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Exciton-polariton couplings in Raman spectroscopy are investigated with hybrid structure of monolayer MoS 2 and spectrally tunable plasmonic nanogrooves (NGs). • The Raman mapping images demonstrate that the NGs hybridized with atomically thin MoS 2 can contribute to enhanced Raman signals with high uniformity. • The second-order Raman modes are clearly observed at the room temperature in the coupled samples. • The enhancements in Raman spectra are further examined through electromagnetic field enhancements. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been applied to analyze 2D materials with plasmonic enhancement at hotspots, localized at gaps or junctions. However, the SERS technique strongly demands hotspots at excitation laser wavelengths to achieve energy confinement at the excitation wavelength. In this study, we report the enhancement of Raman signals by the plasmon-exciton coupling between large-area monolayer MoS 2 and plasmonic nanogrooves (NGs). The plasmon-exciton coupling enhances Raman signal instead of SERS enhancement at an excitation wavelength. In addition, spectrally tunable plasmonic NGs are utilized to investigate coupled and de-coupled enhancements. The enhancement performance is further examined through electromagnetic field enhancement. We demonstrate that the proposed nanostructures integrated with atomically thin 2D materials, showing highly uniform Raman signals, are applicable for broad applications in materials science and nanophotonic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a retraction notice for an article titled "SIRT6 Overexpression Induces Apoptosis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma by Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling." The retraction is due to concerns about the duplication of images from other unrelated articles. The authors were unable to provide an explanation for the duplicated images or data for the study. The article will remain online but will be marked as "Retracted." [Extracted from the article]

Summary: Clubroot is one of the most important diseases for many important cruciferous vegetables and oilseed crops worldwide. Different clubroot resistance (CR) loci have been identified from only limited species in Brassica, making it difficult to compare and utilize these loci. European fodder turnip ECD04 is considered one of the most valuable resources for CR breeding. To explore the genetic and evolutionary basis of CR in ECD04, we sequenced the genome of ECD04 using de novo assembly and identified 978 candidate R genes. Subsequently, the 28 published CR loci were physically mapped to 15 loci in the ECD04 genome, including 62 candidate CR genes. Among them, two CR genes, CRA3.7.1 and CRA8.2.4, were functionally validated. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that CRA3.7.1 and CRA8.2.4 originated from a common ancestor before the whole‐genome triplication (WGT) event. In clubroot susceptible Brassica species, CR‐gene homologues were affected by transposable element (TE) insertion, resulting in the loss of CR function. It can be concluded that the current functional CR genes in Brassica rapa and non‐functional CR genes in other Brassica species were derived from a common ancestral gene before WGT. Finally, a hypothesis for CR gene evolution is proposed for further discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the two-agent scheduling problem with rejection on a single machine. In the problem we have two agents A and B with job families J A and J B , respectively. A job in J A or J B is either accepted and processed on the machine, or rejected with a certain rejection penalty having to be paid. The objective is to minimize the sum of the given objective function f A of the accepted jobs and total rejection penalty of the rejected jobs of the first agent A , given that the second agent B only accepts schedules such that the sum of the given objective function f B of the accepted jobs and total rejection penalty of the rejected jobs of the agent B does not exceed a fixed value Q ( Q is a positive integer), where f A and f B are non-decreasing functions on the completion times of their respective jobs. We show that, for all pairs ( f A , f B ) ∈ C max A , C max B , L max A , L max B , ∑ C j A , C max B , ∑ C j A , L max B , ∑ C j A , ∑ w j B U j B , the problems are NP-hard. When ( f A , f B ) = C max A , L max B , we provide a pseudo-polynomial-time algorithm. Moreover, when ( f A , f B ) = C max A , L max B and all B -jobs are accepted, we give a 2-approximation algorithm and an fully polynomial-time approximation scheme. Finally, for ( f A , f B ) ∈ ∑ C j A , L max B , ∑ C j A , ∑ w j B U j B K , we present pseudo-polynomial-time algorithms, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]