Search

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer with a high fatality rate in men and women worldwide. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in NSCLC. MiR-223-3p was proved to act as a promoter in NSCLC progression. However, the regulatory mechanism of miR-223-3p in NSCLC remains little known. This study aimed to explore the regulatory mechanism between miR-223-3p and its target gene Ras homolog family member B (RHOB) in NSCLC. The mRNA level of miR-223-3p and RHOB was measured by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Furthermore, cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Flow cytometry was conducted to analyze cell apoptosis. Transwell assays and wound healing assay were employed to examine migration and invasion. The target relationship between miR-223-3p and RHOB was predicted by starBase online database and verified by dual-luciferase assay. The protein level of RHOB was tested by western blot. Our data suggested that miR-223-3p was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines and high level of miR-223-3p contributed to a poor survival in NSCLC patients. Knockdown of miR-223-3p exerted inhibitory effects on NSCLC cell viability, migration, and invasion and promotion effect on cell apoptosis. Furthermore, RHOB was directly targeted by miR-223-3p and constrained NSCLC progression. Moreover, knockdown of RHOB rescued the effect of anti-miR-223-3p on NSCLC progression. In vivo experiments indicated that miR-223-3p deletion suppressed tumor growth. MiR-223-3p could regulate the NSCLC cellular processes through targeting RHOB.

In this paper, we investigate the optimal decision making of an insurer towards a new insurable business, whose risk is independent of the existing risk faced by the insurer. We assume that the insurer, with the objective of maximizing the expected utility of its final wealth, together with the solvency constraint and the availability of reinsurance as a risk transfer mechanism, is deciding if it is viable to underwrite a new insurance business risk. If this new business is underwritten, it is shown that a stop-loss reinsurance contract is optimal when the solvency risk is quantified by the conditional value at risk. If the regulatory regime changes to the value at risk, the optimal reinsurance form becomes more complicated; it can be either stop-loss or two-layer under the assumption that the new risk has a strictly decreasing probability density function. Numerical examples are provided to illuminate the insurer's decision making and the optimal form of the reinsurance strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: A comprehensive standardized evaluation tool was needed to assess community awareness and preparedness when the pandemic hit the United States. This study aimed to develop and validate a new Coronavirus Awareness and Preparedness Scale (CAPS) through psychometric testing. Methods: This study unfolded in two phases. Phase 1 (conducted in March and April 2020) focused on the development of the scale. Phase 2 (conducted in June and July 2020) measured the reliability and validity of the scale. Psychometric testing, including exploratory factor analysis and reliability testing, was performed with a convenience sample of 1237 faculty, staff, and students at a southern university in the United States. Results: The final CAPS model consists of four factors with 26 items: threat (seven items), confidence (11 items), individual precautions (three items), and public precautions (five items). The scale demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.75). Strong and statistically significant item correlations were observed within the subscales through item analysis. Conclusion: The CAPS is a reliable and valid comprehensive evaluation instrument designed to gauge community awareness and preparedness during the early stages of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Its adaptability makes it suitable for measuring readiness and preparedness concerning any novel airborne disease or future airborne pandemic within a community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Nanoparticles (NPs) have been considered to improve phosphorus (P) availability and activation of soil P in agroecosystems. However, the effects of NPs addition on soil P fractions, microbial characteristics, and plant growth are not well-understood. This study aims to investigate the influences of titanium dioxide (TiO2NPs) and iron oxide (Fe3O4NPs) addition on soil P fractions, microbial characteristics, and plant growth of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Materials and methods: Pot experiment was conducted in 2020 and 2021 years. The exposure of TiO2NPs/Fe3O4NPs (1000 mg kg−1 dry soil) to oilseed rape cultivated was investigated in two contracting calcareous soils (i.e., vegetable field (VF) and cotton field (CF)) for 86 days. Soil pH, Olsen-P, available-Ti/Fe, and Fe-oxides were determined. Different P fractions (CaCl2-P, Citrate-P, Enzyme-P, and HCl-P) were tested by biologically based P fractionation method (BBP). Soil microbial biomass phosphorous (MBP) and alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) were analyzed. The numbers of bacteria and fungi count were measured by flow cytometry method. Plant biomass and total P uptake were examined in the TiO2NPs/Fe3O4NPs treatments. Results and discussion: Compared with the CK treatment, soil pH was decreased by 12.0–18.0% in the TiO2NPs- and Fe3O4NPs-added treatments in both the VF and CF soils. In contrast, soil Olsen-P was increased by 12.0–19.0%, respectively, implying that TiO2NPs/Fe3O4NPs addition improved soil P availability. The addition of TiO2NPs/Fe3O4NPs significantly affected different soil P fractions. For example, the TiO2NPs/Fe3O4NPs treatments increased CaCl2-P and Citrate-P while decreased Enzyme-P content, indicating that a great portion of soil Enzyme-P was transformed into CaCl2-P and Citrate-P in the TiO2NPs/Fe3O4NPs-treated soils. However, TiO2NPs/Fe3O4NPs addition had no significant influences on HCl-P. Soil microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP), ALP activity, and available-Ti/Fe contents were almost unaffected by TiO2NPs/Fe3O4NPs addition. In addition, the addition of TiO2NPs/Fe3O4NPs had no influence on the numbers of soil bacteria and fungi and plant biomass and total P uptake of oilseed rape. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the addition of TiO2NPs/Fe3O4NPs in calcareous soils improved soil P availability, and promoted insoluble P transformed to labile-P (CaCl2-P and Citrate-P). However, TiO2NPs/Fe3O4NPs addition at dose of 1000 mg kg−1 dry soil had no toxic effect on oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). The proper application dosage should be further explored to activate soil P and promote crop growth. Our results provide theoretical basis for the effects of nanoparticles addition on soil P activation, microbial characteristics, and plant growth of Brassica napus L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]