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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) decrease the expression of specific target oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes and thereby play crucial roles in tumorigenesis and tumor growth. To date, the potential miRNAs regulating osteosarcoma growth and progression are not fully identified yet. In this study, the miRNA microarray assay and hierarchical clustering analysis were performed in human osteosarcoma samples. In comparison with normal human skeletal muscle, 43 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed in human osteosarcomas (fold change ≥2 and p≤0.05). Among these miRNAs, miR-133a and miR-133b expression was decreased by 135 folds and 47 folds respectively and the decreased expression was confirmed in both frozen and paraffin-embedded osteosarcoma samples. The miR-133b precursor expression vector was then transfected into osteosarcoma cell lines U2-OS and MG-63, and the stable transfectants were selected by puromycin. We found that stable over-expression of miR-133b in osteosarcoma cell lines U2-OS and MG-63 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and induced apoptosis. Further, over-expression of miR-133b decreased the expression of predicted target genes BCL2L2, MCL-1, IGF1R and MET, as well as the expression of phospho-Akt and FAK. This study provides a new insight into miRNAs dysregulation in osteosarcoma, and indicates that miR-133b may play as a tumor suppressor gene in osteosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: When lepidopteran larvae are infected by a large quantity of pathogens or parasitized by nonadaptive parasitoids, hemocytes in the hemocoel will encapsulate these foreign invaders. Cellular encapsulation requires hemocytes, particularly plasmatocytes, to change their states from nonadhesive, spherical cells into adhesive, spreading cells. However, it is unclear how the changes of plasmatocytes are regulated. Here we report that the integrin β1 subunit from hemocytes of Ostrinia furnacalis (Ofint β1) plays an important role in regulating the spreading of plasmatocytes. The full length cDNA sequence (4477bp) of Ofint β1 was cloned from hemocytes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Ofint β1 belonged to the integrin βPS family of Drosophila melanogaster with highest sequence identity (78.7%) to the β-integrin of Pseudoplusia includens. Structural analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence indicated that Ofint β1 had similar functional domains to known β-integrins in other lepidopteran insects. RT-PCR, Northern blotting, Western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses showed that OfINT β1 was expressed mainly in hemocytes, especially in plasmatocytes, and weakly in fat body, Malpighian tubes and epidermis. After hemocytes had spread onto slides, fewer antibodies to OfINT β1 bound to the surface of plasmatocytes. Furthermore, anti-OfINT β1 serum clearly inhibited the spreading of plasmatocytes. Together these results indicate that OfINT β1 may play an important role in regulating the spreading of plasmatocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important constitute of land consolidation, high-standard basic farmland construction is an important means to protect the quantity, quality and ecological environment of cultivated land. Its target not only lies in the increase of cultivated land quantity, but also the improvement of cultivated land quality, agricultural production conditions and ecosystem environments. In the present study, the quality evaluation method and construction arrangement of cultivated land were explored to facilitate the process of decision-making and implementation for high-standard basic farmland construction (HSBFC) with administrative village as the unit. Taking the land comprehensive improvement project area in Quzhou County, Handan City, Hebei Province as a case study, the whole process of the study comprised of three steps: 1) establishment of the evaluation model of cultivated land quality uniformity based on regional optimum cultivated land quality, and construction of the uniformity evaluation index system from the aspects of soil fertility quality, engineering quality, spatial quality and eco-environment quality, according to the new concept of cultivated land quality; 2) calculation of cultivated land quality uniformity by grading indicators, assigning scores and weighting sums, exploring the local homogenization characteristics of regional cultivated land quality through spatial autocorrelation analysis, and analyzing the constraints and transformative potential of barrier factors; 3) arrangement of HSBFC according to the principle of concentration, continuity and priority to the easy operation. The results revealed that the value of farmland quality uniformity for the administrative villages in the study area was between 7.76 and 21.96, and there was a difference between various administrative villages. The regional spatial autocorrelation patterns included High-High (HH), Low-Low (LL), High-Low (HL) and Low-High (LH). These indicate that regional cultivated land quality has local homogenization characteristics. The most restrictive factors in the study area were the medium and low transformation difficulty indexes, including soil organic matter content, farmland shelterbelt network density, field regularity and scale of the field. In addition, there were also high transformation difficulty indicators in some areas, such as sectional configuration. The project area was divided into four partitions: major construction area, secondary construction area, general construction area, and conditional construction area. The cultivated land area of each subarea was 1538.85 ha, 1224.27 ha, 555.93 ha, and 1666.63 ha, respectively. This comprised of 30.87%, 24.56%, 11.15% and 33.42% of the total project area, respectively. The evaluation model and index system could satisfy the evaluation of farmland quality and diagnosis of obstacle factors to facilitate the subsequent construction decision. The present study provides reference for the practice of regional HSBFC, and a new feasible idea and method for related studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐dimensional (2D) materials have aroused widespread interest due to the high potential in modern photoelectronics. The strategy for improving the stability of 2D materials in the air, reinforcing formation, and transport of photoexcited carriers would open up promising routes toward flexible facilities. In this paper, surface engineering is executed on 2D InSe by decorating Au species for a lower bandgap allowing for efficient sunlight harvesting and decreased barrier with the substrate for improved electron transport. Moreover, hot electrons produced by Au nanoparticles under light irradiation pour into InSe for boosting photocurrent. Au nanoparticles also serve as conducting bridges in InSe−Au photoanode, where the contact resistance is two orders of magnitude lower than that of InSe electrode. Compared with InSe and other 2D counterparts, InSe−Au flexible photoelectrochemical detectors behave with outstanding performances under sunlight irradiation, including responsibility 55.4 µA W−1, detectivity 4.18 × 109 Jones. Importantly, the working electrode shows excellent ON/OFF switching stability after bending for 5000 times (3 months of storage in the air). This surface engineering provides a general strategy to tailor 2D materials for wearable photoelectronic devices in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, bilayered nanofibrous mats (BNFs) were fabricated through sequential electrospinning of polyurethane and gelatin. Due to the bilayered construction and individual performance of each layer, the obtained BNFs show different surface wettability in double layers. Meanwhile, BNFs have desirable thermally regulated water vapor transmission rate, water-absorption ratio and adhesive force between the two layers. In addition, the BNFs show satisfactory antibacterial activity and hemostatic property. Therefore, the prepared BNFs can be used as novel wound dressings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is thought to result from an imbalance between glucose metabolism and tumor growth. The Myc oncogene and lethal-7a microRNA (let-7a miRNA) have been suggested to cooperatively regulate multiple downstream targets leading to changes in chromosome stability, gene mutations, and/or modulation of tumor growth. Here, we review the roles of Myc and let-7a in glucose metabolism and tumor growth and addresses their future potential as prognostic markers and therapeutic tools in GBM. We focus on the functions of Myc and let-7a in glucose uptake, tumor survival, proliferation, and mobility of glioma cells. In addition, we discuss how regulation of different pathways by Myc or let-7a may be useful for future GBM therapies. A large body of evidence suggests that targeting Myc and let-7a may provide a selective mechanism for the deregulation of glucose metabolic pathways in glioma cells. Indeed, Myc and let-7a are aberrantly expressed in GBM and have been linked to the regulation of cell growth and glucose metabolism in GBM. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “Targeting alternative glucose metabolism and regulate pathways in GBM cells for future glioblastoma therapies”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil particle size significantly affects the distribution and migration of chromium (Cr) in soil. Limited studies have investigated the impact of soil particle size on Cr partitioning at chromate contaminated sites. In this study, the physicochemical properties of coarse sand, medium sand, fine sand, and silt-clay were analyzed. And the particle size effects on partitioning, leachability, and bioaccessibility of total Cr and Cr(VI) were determined. The results showed the distribution factor (DF) of Cr(VI) in the coarse sand, medium sand, fine sand, and silt-clay fractions were 0.70, 0.79, 1.35, and 1.60, respectively. The total Cr DF values also had the similar result. The leached concentrations of total Cr and Cr(VI) in silt-clay (562.89 mg/L and 551.71 mg/L) was higher than in coarse sand (238.55 mg/L and 228.68 mg/L) fraction. The bioaccessibility of total Cr and Cr(VI) in silt-clay (77.72% and 88.58%) was higher than in fine sand (60.72% and 79.55%) fraction. The total Cr proportion of the exchangeable fraction (45.92%–73.67%) was relatively high in the four soil particle size fractions and gradually increased as soil particle size decreased. These implied that finer soil particles are more capable of enriching, mobilizing, and bioaccessibility of Cr and Cr(VI) than the coarse particles, which was related to the higher organic matter, cation exchange capacity, specific surface area, and clay components in smaller particles. The results suggested that higher environmental risk occurred in the finer fraction than in the coarser fraction for the chromate production contaminated soil. Image 1 • Four size fractions exhibited the obvious differences in physicochemical properties. • The finer soil particles are more capable of enriching Cr and Cr(VI). • The finer particles had higher leachability and bioaccessibility of Cr and Cr(VI). • The total Cr speciation in finer size fractions appeared to be more unstable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The spatial distribution characteristics of several ES were bounded by Tai-hang and Yanshan Mountains. • Among the 45 pairs of ES, 38 pairs bore significant correlation. • Multiple services had different degrees of positive and negative correlations with others. • Seven bundles were identified. And four factors played decisive roles in the spatial distribution of the bundle. In high-intensity human activity areas, such as metropolises, rapid changes in land use, agricultural intensification, and population urbanization have resulted in profound and complex transformations in socio-economic ecosystems. The study of ecosystem service (ES) bundle is conducive to various aspects, such as determination of the variation characteristics of ES; identification of the mechanism of interdependence within ES; and driving mechanism of socio-economic-ecological factors to ES to maintain the sustainable development of the region. The research areas include Beijing and its surrounding areas. Ten ES, including grain providing (GP), water yield (WY), carbon sequestration (CS), soil retention (SEC), purified water service, cultural services, and habitat quality (HQ) were selected for valuing and mapping. The ES paired trade-offs and synergetic relationship, bundle was determined, and the bundles' service types and spatial distribution characteristics were analyzed. Subsequently, GeoDetector was used for detecting the factors affecting the bundles' distribution. Results showed that WY, CS, SEC, and HQ were bounded by Tai-hang and Yanshan Mountains. Among the 45 pairs of ES, 38 pairs bore significant correlation. Multiple services had different degrees of positive and negative correlations with other services. For example, GP had a high positive correlation with WY while bearing a high negative correlation with HQ. Seven bundles include SEC, culture, urban, HQ, agriculture, water supply and purification, and water purification. Various factors played decisive roles in the bundles' spatial distribution. Among them, the investment capacity and demand for ecological protection depend on the level of GDP and POP. The formulation of agricultural planting plans is inseparable from TADEM. ASL is directly related to species richness. Results indicate that bundle research can identify the areas of the formation of co-occurrence of trade-offs and synergies and support the formulation of ES optimal management plans for different regions through further research of the driving mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternatively activated (M2) macrophage promotes glioma progression and immune escape as the most immunocyte in glioma microenvironment. Finding out the key protein regulating M2 macrophage polarization is necessary for improving treatment. Whether immunity related GTPase M (IRGM) is involved in glioma development and M2 macrophage polarization is unknown. IRGM and M2 macrophage marker CD206 expression were examined using immunohistochemistry among 35 glioma and 11 non‐cancerous brain specimens. We found IRGM scores were positively correlated with CD206 scores in glioma specimens and monocyte proportion in blood samples. A172 glioma cells transfected with either IRGM knock‐down lentivirus (Lenti‐IRGM) or control lentivirus (Lenti‐HK) were subcutaneously injected into nude mice. In vivo, xenografted glioma size of the Lenti‐IRGM group was smaller and had weaker fluorescence signal than Lenti‐HK control group. Immunofluorescence results showed that there was obviously decreased IRGM, CD206, and IL‐8 expression in the mice glioma of Lenti‐IRGM group than Lenti‐HK control group. In vitro, flow cytometry results showed that M2 polarization from THP‐1 cocultured with Lenti‐IRGM glioma cells decreased in contrast to that with Lenti‐HK glioma cells; there were less interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) and macrophage inflammation protein 3‐α (MIP‐3α), but more interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in the supernatant of Lenti‐IRGM glioma cells than matched control. Western blot and immunofluorescence displayed that IRGM strongly promoted sequestosome‐1 (p62/SQSTM1), necrosis factor receptor‐activating factor 6 (TRAF6) expression and NF‐κB transportation to the nucleus. Realtime PCR results demonstrated IRGM also promoted NF‐κB downstream cytokines IL‐8 and MIP‐3α mRNA expression. These data suggested that IRGM could promote glioma development and M2 macrophage polarization by regulating p62/TRAF6/NF‐κB pathway‐mediated IL‐8 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Glioma is the commonest malignant tumor in the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by rapid growth. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the growth remains unclear. Immunity-related GTPase family M protein (IRGM) participates in immune response to pathogen and tumorigenesis. Proliferation and autophagy are two crucial functions contributing to aggressive growth. Therefore, our aims were to probe whether IRGM regulates glioma proliferation and autophagy. In this study, we found that 47 glioma specimens had more IRGM expression than 11 non-cancerous brain tissues with immunohistochemistry. IRGM was also up-regulated in human glioma cell lines U87, U251 and A172 and so on compared with immortalized astrocytes. Importantly, overexpression of IRGM significantly increased the cell colonies formation, cell proliferation and Akt activation (Thr308 and Ser473 sites) than matched control. On another hand, all of IRGM, autophagy marker LC3II and autophagy adaptor p62 gradually increased after starvation 2 and 4 h. Furthermore, western blot and immunofluorescence results showed that knockdown of IRGM inhibited the formation of LC3-II and the expression of p62. Our data uncovered that IRGM acted in glioma proliferation and autophagy, providing a new target with dual roles for the future translation research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Insect hemocytes must change their state from non-adhesive to adhesive when they spread on or encapsulate foreign invaders. Although integrin β has been reported to play an important role in hemocyte spreading and encapsulation in several insects, how it is involved in the encapsulation process is still unclear. Here we report that integrin β1 of Ostrinia furnacalis (Ofint β1) may modulate plasmatocyte spreading by regulating polymerization of F-actin and further affecting formation of capsules. In the Sephadex A-25 bead-injected larvae, hemocytes forming capsules expressed approximately ten times more Ofint β1 than hemocytes that are free in circulation in hemolymph. When the expression of Ofint β1 in hemocytes was inhibited by dsRNA of Ofint β1 (dsINT), polymerization of F-actin in hemocytes, especially in plasmatocytes, was significantly decreased, spreading of plasmatocytes was inhibited, and encapsulation rate of Sephadex beads was also significantly decreased. Furthermore, hemocytes formed individual aggregates on beads in the dsINT injected larvae, while hemocytes formed complete capsules surrounding the beads in the control larvae; and most of the hemocytes on the beads in the dsINT-injected larvae assumed round forms rather than spread forms. Based on these results, we speculate that integrins on cellular membranes may modulate hemocyte spreading by regulating polymerization of F-actin and further affecting encapsulation of foreign objects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Farmland ecosystem service is an important output of agricultural production, but it has been incompletely reflected in current studies on eco-efficiency. In this study, the value of improved farmland ecosystem services is used as one of the expected outputs. The data envelopment method is used to evaluate the agricultural eco-efficiency (AEE) of 31 provincial administrative regions in China from 2006 to 2018. The spatial autocorrelation method is used to explore the characteristics of AEE in China. Geographical detector model (Geodetector) is adopted to detect the driving factors of AEE spatial differentiation in China. China's AEE trend from 2006 to 2018 was downward with the efficiency value decreasing from 1.023 to 0.995. China's AEE level has improved with an average of 1.004. The spatial distribution pattern represented in space is in the following order: eastern region > western region > northeast region > central region. The AEE gap among provinces in the western region is the largest, and that in the northeast region is the smallest. China's AEE spatial correlation distribution presents random distribution characteristics. During the research period, the low–high (LH) efficiency response area has centered on Yunnan Province. The low–low (LL) level concentration area has centered on Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Liaoning Province. The high–low (HL) level diffusion effect agglomeration area has centered on Heilongjiang Province. Energy input, water resource input, and carbon emission are the core drivers of AEE spatial differentiation in China. Water resource input, pesticide input and labor input are the significant control factors of AEE spatial differentiation in the eastern, central, and western regions of China. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]