CD26 Induces Colorectal Cancer Angiogenesis and Metastasis through CAV1/MMP1 Signaling

CD26 has been reported as a marker for colorectal cancer stem cells endowed with tumor-initiating properties and capable of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. In this study, we investigated the functional effect of CD26 on CRC angiogenesis and metastasis, and the potential underlying mechanism. The functional effects of CD26 overexpression or repression were determined by a wound healing experiment, and cell migration and invasion assays in vitro and in mouse models. Differentially expressed genes regulated by CD26 were identified by genome-wide mRNA expression array and validated by quantitative PCR. CD26 functionally regulated CRC cell migration and invasion in vitro and angiogenesis and metastasis in vivo. Genome-wide mRNA expression array and qPCR showed that MMP1 was up-regulated in CD26+ subpopulation, and a subsequent experiment demonstrated the regulatory effect of CD26 on MMP1 in CRC cell lines with CD26 repression or overexpression. Furthermore, overexpression of CAV1 abrogated the CD26-regulated MMP1 induction in CRC cell lines. This study demonstrated the functional roles of CD26 in inducing CRC migration, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis and identified the potential involvement of MMP1 and CAV1 in such process. CD26 is an attractive therapeutic target for combating tumor progression to improve the prognosis of CRC patients.     

Optimization of a multiperiod refinery planning problem under uncertainty

Uncertainty in refinery planning presents a significant challenge in determining the day-to-day operations of an oil refinery. Deterministic modeling techniques often fail to account for this uncertainty, potentially resulting in reduced profit. The stochastic programming framework explicitly incorporates parameter uncertainty in the problem formulation, thus giving preference to robust solutions. In this work, a nonlinear, multiperiod, industrial refinery problem is extended to a two-stage stochastic problem, formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear program. A crude-oil sequencing case study is developed with binary scheduling decisions in both stages of the stochastic programming problem. Solution via a decomposition strategy based on the generalized Benders decomposition (GBD) algorithm is proposed. The binary decisions are designated as complicating variables that, when fixed, reduce the full-space problem to a series of independent scenario subproblems. Through the application of the GBD algorithm, a feasible mixed-integer solution is obtained that is more robust to uncertainty than its deterministic counterpart.     

Alternative PWHT to Improve High-Temperature Mechanical Properties of Advanced 9Cr Steel Welds

Creep-resistant 9Cr steels are extremely important in thermal power generation industry due to their marked resistance to creep and corrosion. The weldability of these alloys is critical since they are used in welded construction equipment. The required mechanical properties are achieved after post-weld heat treatment. This study examined the effect of different post-weld heat treatments on microstructure and mechanical properties of creep strength-enhanced 9Cr steel welding deposits. It was obtained with an experimental flux-cored arc welding wire used under protective gas (Ar-20% CO₂). The heat treatments used were: (1) tempering (760 °C?×?2 h), (2) solubilizing (1050 °C?×?1 h)?+?tempering (760 °C?×?2 h) and (3) solubilizing (1150 °C?×?1 h)?+?first tempering (660 °C?×?3 h)?+?second tempering (660 °C?×?3 h). All-weld metal chemical composition was analyzed, and hot tensile tests were carried out at different temperatures. Charpy-V impact tests and Vickers microhardness measurements were also performed. Microstructures were studied using x-ray diffraction and optical and scanning electron microscopy. In all cases, a martensitic matrix with intergranular and intra-granular precipitates was detected. In the as-welded condition, δ-ferrite was also found. Microhardness dropped, and the impact energy increased with post-weld heat treatments. The highest hot tensile strength result was achieved with samples submitted to austenization at 1150 °C and double tempering at 660 °C.     

Theoretical and experimental studies of a new aniline derivative corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in acid medium

4-Chloro-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)aniline (CPYA) was synthesized by a simple and inexpensive method and tested as a corrosion inhibitor in acid medium for mild steel by using gravimetric studies and electrochemical measurements. An average maximum efficiency of 96.0% was achieved at 4.59 mmol/L. Corrosion kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were also analyzed. Surface analyses (atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy) show that protection is enabled by adsorption on the metal, forming a film. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to access information regarding the molecular structure in the corrosive medium and to support interpretation of the results obtained by experimental methods.     

Algorithms for the coalitional manipulation problem

We investigate the problem of coalitional manipulation in elections, which is known to be hard in a variety of voting rules. We put forward efficient algorithms for the problem in Borda, Maximin and Plurality with Runoff, and analyze their windows of error. Specifically, given an instance on which an algorithm fails, we bound the additional power the manipulators need in order to succeed. We finally discuss the implications of our results with respect to the popular approach of employing computational hardness to preclude manipulation.     

A hand-held, two-channel stimulator-ophthalmoscope

A hand-held optical system for presenting focused stimuli on known retinal areas by direct ophthalmoscopy is described. The optical system provides a time-modulated stimulus beam of variable dimension, retinal illuminance, wave-length, and polarization, and a steady background beam of variable retinal illuminance and wavelength. Both beams enter the patient's eye in maxwellian-view for precise control of the ratio of stimulus to background retinal illuminance. The stimulator-ophthalmoscope allows the examiner to compensate easily for variable fixation.     

Cranial Base Synchondrosis Lacks PTHrP-Expressing Column-Forming Chondrocytes

The cranial base contains a special type of growth plate termed the synchondrosis, which functions as the growth center of the skull. The synchondrosis is composed of bidirectional opposite-facing layers of resting, proliferating, and hypertrophic chondrocytes, and lacks the secondary ossification center. In long bones, the resting zone of the epiphyseal growth plate houses a population of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP)-expressing chondrocytes that contribute to the formation of columnar chondrocytes. Whether PTHrP⁺ chondrocytes in the synchondrosis possess similar functions remains undefined. Using Pthrp-mCherry knock-in mice, we found that PTHrP⁺ chondrocytes predominantly occupied the lateral wedge-shaped area of the synchondrosis, unlike those in the femoral growth plate that reside in the resting zone within the epiphysis. In vivo cell-lineage analyses using a tamoxifen-inducible Pthrp-creER line revealed that PTHrP⁺ chondrocytes failed to establish columnar chondrocytes in the synchondrosis. Therefore, PTHrP⁺ chondrocytes in the synchondrosis do not possess column-forming capabilities, unlike those in the resting zone of the long bone growth plate. These findings support the importance of the secondary ossification center within the long bone epiphysis in establishing the stem cell niche for PTHrP⁺ chondrocytes, the absence of which may explain the lack of column-forming capabilities of PTHrP⁺ chondrocytes in the cranial base synchondrosis.     

An approach to reduce energy consumption and performance losses on heterogeneous servers using power capping

Journal of Scheduling - Rapid growth of demand for remote computational power, along with high energy costs and infrastructure limits, has led to treating power usage as a primary constraint in...