Spontaneous Cell Detachment and Reattachment in Cancer Cell Lines: An In Vitro Model of Metastasis and Malignancy

There is an unmet need for simplified in vitro models of malignancy and metastasis that facilitate fast, affordable and scalable gene and compound analysis. “Adherent” cancer cell lines frequently release “free-floating” cells into suspension that are viable and can reattach. This, in a simplistic way, mimics the metastatic process. We compared the gene expression profiles of naturally co-existing populations of floating and adherent cells in SW620 (colon), C33a (cervix) and HeLa (cervix) cancer cells. We found that 1227, 1367 and 1333 genes were at least 2-fold differentially expressed in the respective cell lines, of which 122 were shared among the three cell lines. As proof of principle, we focused on the anti-metastatic gene NM23-H1, which was downregulated both at the RNA and protein level in the floating cell populations of all three cell lines. Knockdown of NM23-H1 significantly increased the number of floating (and viable) cells, whereas overexpression of NM23-H1 significantly reduced the proportion of floating cells. Other potential regulators of these cellular states were identified through pathway analysis, including hypoxia, mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin), cell adhesion and cell polarity signal transduction pathways. Hypoxia, a condition linked to malignancy and metastasis, reduced NM23-H1 expression and significantly increased the number of free-floating cells. Inhibition of mTOR or Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) significantly increased cell death specifically in the floating and not the adherent cell population. In conclusion, our study suggests that dynamic subpopulations of free-floating and adherent cells is a useful model to screen and identify genes, drugs and pathways that regulate the process of cancer metastasis, such as cell detachment and anoikis.     

Fabrication of novel ZnTe-based photocatalyst: Synergistic effect of dye sensitization and bridge engineering for boosting hydrogen evolution over ZnTe

Herein, a novel ZnTe-based photocatalyst is successfully synthesized via a facile combination of water-bath and hydrothermal processes. Morphology characterization and X-ray diffraction analysis reveal that ZnTe presents irregular granular shape and cubic crystal structure. Moreover, Mott-Schottky measurement shows that the conduction band potential of ZnTe is ?0.84 V (vs NHE). With Eosin Y (EY) sensitization, ZnTe exhibits superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity (223.5 μmol g^?1 h^?1). Meanwhile, WC-ZnTe heterojunction is constructed by depositing ZnTe nanoparticles on bulk WC and obtains the optimal H₂ generation rate (559.1 μmol g^?1 h^?1) under EY sensitization. Electrochemical and photoluminescence results further prove that WC as electron bridge could reduce the interfacial resistance and suppress e^?-h⁺ pairs recombination. This study explores the potential application of ZnTe as a newly active photocatalyst in photocatalytic water splitting, and emphasizes the synergistic effect of dye sensitization and bridge engineering.     

温州某公轨共建高架车站结构设计

为了解决城市廊道资源的紧张和公共交通发展需求的矛盾,出现了轨道交通和快速路的共建型式,即公轨共建的复合型交通模式,以温州市域铁路S2线一期工程的人民路站为例,研究公轨共建高架车站的结构设计要点。首先,为降低浅层气体对桩基的承载力及沉降影响,对遇到局部浅层气体发育的基础设计提供了合理的解决方案。然后针对公轨共建一体化车站分别进行了多遇和罕遇地震作用分析,研究表明构件及整体指标满足规范要求。最后针对工程的一些关键技术,如快速路桥面体系的选型、超长结构温度应力的控制措施、轨道梁挠度及应力的控制、快速路桥面振动对车站的影响等进行了分析,并给出了具体的解决方案和指导意见。     

一种基于实时几何测距的船桥主动防撞方法

本文提出一种基于实时几何测距的船桥主动防撞方法。该方法对船的改动量甚微,仅需维持多项距离矩阵,通过告警逻辑矩阵进行展示与告警,能起到很好的船桥防撞提示效果。     

潼湖特大桥跨潮莞高速(88+160+88)m连续刚构关键施工技术

随着交通的日益发展,大跨度跨线连续刚构桥梁修建越来越多。本文结合潼湖特大桥跨潮莞高速(88+160+88)m连续刚构施工的成功实践,详细阐述了该桥的施工关键及其梁体施工的线型控制,跨既有公路施工防护及混凝土施工等关键施工技术,可供类似工程参考。     

基于工程状态标定的诊断载荷试验识别方法及应用

针对在役公路梁式桥梁由于材料性能退化及外部环境等因素共同作用而导致承载力不足、耐久性降低等问题,开展旧桥力学性能的快速诊断试验研究。通过诊断性载荷试验的理论分析和有限元模型标定流程研究,快速、高效地完成在役公路桥梁的承载力性能测量和评估,从而为在役公路桥梁结构的养护管理提供可靠的技术支持。     

浅谈桥梁深基坑挡土墙防护施工方案

本文根据该项工程实际情况和相关技术标准、水文地质特征,对施工准备、测量放线、基坑开挖、挡土墙施工、基坑监测等关键部分进行深入研究。     

高湿黏性颗粒在聚四氟乙烯微孔膜滤料表面沉积特性的数值模拟

基于聚四氟乙烯(PTFE)微孔膜滤料扫描电镜(SEM)图像，建立PTFE微孔膜滤料微观结构模型，采用计算流体力学和离散单元法(CFD?DEM)耦合的方法对黏性颗粒在微孔膜滤料表面沉积特性进行模拟，引入液桥力模型，忽略范德华力的作用，统计计算域内颗粒的受力情况，分析了不同表面能条件下3~6 ?m粒径颗粒在微孔膜滤料表面的沉积特性，将模拟结果与黏附效率的经验公式进行对比。结果表明，黏附效率与经验值、颗粒受力与液桥力模型的相对误差均在6%以内，CFD?DEM耦合计算方法可用于模拟不同环境湿度条件下的颗粒沉积；过滤风速、粒径与黏性是影响沉积形态的重要因素，提高过滤风速及增大颗粒粒径与黏性，颗粒更易在滤料表面形成稳定的树突结构，黏附效率及含尘压降增加。环境相对湿度影响两物体间液桥体积，接触力影响颗粒沉积，当增加表面能与液桥体积时，接触力及液桥力均相应增加，根据受力平衡原理，环境相对湿度对颗粒沉积影响很大。     

A full moon in another land: The Moon Bridge in the Japanese garden of the Huntington Library

In 1913, a so-called Moon Bridge was built in the Japanese garden of the Huntington Library in San Marino, California, USA as a fruit of the Japonism in the Western world at that time. The master carpenter was Toichiro Kawai, a Japanese immigrant from Yokohama who was originally a ship carpenter.The bridge is made of wood and shaped in the exaggerated arch form, which classifies the bridge as a “drum bridge” (Taiko-bashi) in Japanese culture. However, the unique structural form of this bridge, the “woven arch,” is rare in building history.This paper aims to explore why and how such a bridge appeared in such a place and time. For this purpose, we go from the historical background to its construction history, from the concept of the designer to the detailed design methods. Data come partly from the author's first-hand investigation and the limited local archive. The most interesting discoveries were made during the detailed on-site investigation, including the fact that the bridge is designed to express the metaphor of “perfection” (full moon) through its geometrical features, and the design is based according to traditional Japanese methods.