Feng Zhang^*, Hong Sun^†, Sai Zhang^†, Xin Yang^‡, Guogang Zhang^*, Tao Su^†

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.5, pp. 709-719, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14772331883976

Abstract PER3, a circadian clock gene, plays an important role in colorectal cancer, but its action and underlying mechanism in colorectal cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) remain unclear. In this study, the colorectal CSCs were enriched in colorectal HCT-116 sphere-forming cells, expressing lower levels of stem cell markers CD133, CD44, LGR5, and SOX2 compared with HCT-116 cells. A drug-resistant strain from HCT-116 was established. Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis showed that PER3 was downregulated in colorectal CSCs and drug-resistant HCT-116. Overexpression of PER3 could strengthen 5-FU-induced inhibitory effects on colorectal CSCs, but knockdown of PER3 decreased its… More >

Qifang Long^*, Weipei Zhu^*, Jundong Zhou^†, Jinchang Wu^†, Weixian Lu^‡, Cui Zheng^‡, Dongmei Zhou^‡, Ling Yu^‡, Ru Yang^‡

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.4, pp. 595-603, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14765492198706

Abstract Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal malignant gynecologic tumors with a high relapse rate worldwide. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in ovarian cancer and other malignant tumors as a small population of cells that are capable of self-renewal and multidifferentiation. CD133⁺ ovarian CSCs have been reported to be more tumorigenic and more resistant to chemotherapeutic treatment. Thus, CD133 has emerged as one of the most promising therapeutic markers for ovarian cancer treatment. In the current study, we constructed a recombinant adenovirus Cre/loxP regulation system to selectively introduce truncated Bid (tBid) expression specifically… More >

Vivian Adamski^*, Anne Dorothée Schmitt^*, Charlotte Flüh^*, Michael Synowitz^*, Kirsten Hattermann^†1, Janka Held-Feindt^*1

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.3, pp. 341-353, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14737243054982

Abstract Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors. The most malignant form, the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM; WHO IV), is characterized by an invasive phenotype, which enables the tumor cells to infiltrate into adjacent brain tissue. When investigating GBM migration and invasion properties in vitro, in most cases GBM cell lines were analyzed. Comprehensive investigations focusing on progression-dependent characteristics of migration processes using fresh human glioma samples of different malignancy grades do not exist. Thus, we isolated fast-migrating tumor cells from fresh human glioma samples of different malignancy grades (astrocytomas WHO grade II, grade III, GBM,… More >

T. M. Agbaje^a,b, S. S. Motsa^a,* , S. Mondal^c,† , P. Sibanda^a

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.9, pp. 1-13, 2017, DOI:10.5098/hmt.9.36

Abstract In this work, we present a compliment of the spectral perturbation method (SPM) for solving nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) with applications in fluid flow problems. The (SPM) is a series expansion based approach that uses the Chebyshev spectral collocation method to solve the governing sequence of differential equation generated by the perturbation series approximation. Previously the SPM had the limitation of being used to solve problems with small parameters only. This current investigation seeks to improve the performance of the SPM by doing the series expansion about a large parameter. The new method namely… More >

Stephen K. Ogbonnaya, Oluseyi O. Ajayi^*

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.9, pp. 1-12, 2017, DOI:10.5098/hmt.9.31

Abstract Heat exchangers as a heat transfer device has gained wide applications across different levels of domestic and industrial set-ups. Various studies have been carried out to study, analyse and predict its performance. However, one major phenomenon that limits heat exchanger performance is attributed to fouling. Based on this, various studies and approaches have focused on reduction, elimination and mitigation of fouling. This study therefore focused on this. It reviewed several attempts that have been carried out to understand and mitigate the incidents of fouling in heat exchangers. The study found that despite the existing models More >

Tarek Alsaied¹, Jouke P. Bokma², Mark E. Engel³, Joey M. Kuijpers², Samuel P. Hanke¹, Liesl Zuhlke⁴, Bin Zhang⁵, Gruschen R. Veldtman⁶

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 393-398, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12468

Abstract Background: Reported long-term outcome measures vary greatly between studies in Fontan patients making comprehensive appraisal of mortality hazard challenging. We sought to create a clinical risk score to assist monitoring of Fontan patients in the outpatient setting.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted to evaluate risk factors for long-term (beyond the first postoperative year) mortality in Fontan patients. Studies were eligible for inclusion if ≥90 patients were included or ≥20 long-term mortalities we reported. Risk factors for long-term mortality were determined. The pooled hazard ratios were used to create components of a clinical score for long-term mortality… More >

Zhou C^1,2, CA Busso³, YG Yang², Z Zhang⁴, ZW Wang¹, YF Yang⁵, XG Han¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.86, pp. 205-213, 2017, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2017.86.205

Abstract The mixed salt stress is common in nature. Salt stress always affects plant growth. Different plant species have different adaptive capacity to salty soils. Leymus chinensis is an herbaceous plant with different leaf colors. However, little research was conducted to explore the different tolerance mechanisms to salt stress among the three different leaf colour genotypes of Leymus chinensis (grey green, transitional color, yellow green). Pot experiments for Leymus chinensis in three leaf colors were conducted under mixed salt treatments in 2010. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein concentrations, and the activity of various antioxidant enzymes [i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase… More >

González FM, DR Pérez

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.86, pp. 332-339, 2017, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2017.86.332

Abstract The Argentine arid Patagonia, in general, and ‘La Payunia’ ecosystem in particular, are important areas for conservation due to the high number of endemic species. However, this region presents a high level of degradation as a result of human activities. Thus, ecological rehabilitation strategies need to be implemented to recover certain areas. The main objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the reintroduction of two selected native species in severely degraded areas, and (2) determine if the survival and growth of an endemic shrub species, Senna arnottiana, increase when it is associated with a perennial… More >

Giaccio GCM¹, P Laterra², F Cabria³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.86, pp. 112-123, 2017, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2017.86.112

Abstract The analysis of lateral flow runoff of superficial nutrients and sediments from an agricultural origin and their retention by infiltration of riparian vegetation strips are of great importance in reducing the agricultural externalities on surface water quality. The aim of this study was to relate soil infiltration to the main biophysical properties of riparian environments in the Pampa Austral of Argentina, defined by the composition of its plant community and the coverage of exotic species. We explored the relationships between hydraulic conductivity (K_s) and aboveground, litter and root biomasses, organic matter concentration, terrain slope, soil bulk… More >

Mirleau-Thebaud V^1,2, J Dayde¹, JD Scheiner^1,3,4

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.86, pp. 53-67, 2017, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2017.86.053

Abstract Soil compaction represents an important issue in the actual context of agricultural system sustainability. Research on the various developments of root systems under tillage has been explored for many crops, whether for the biomass area or the underground, but very little concerns Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The objectives of the study were to understand the impact of soil tillage and of the induced mechanically compacted soil on: i) sunflower’s root system architecture, ii) biomass area iii) production. Two complementary experiments were realized in the south of France (France’s main sunflower production area). In both experiments, increased More >