Sequential multiphoton multiple ionization of atomic argon and xenon irradiated by X-ray freeelectron laser pulses from SACLA. Abstract. We have investigated multiphoton multiple ionization of argon and xenon atoms at 5 keV using a new x-ray free electron laser (XFEL) facility, the SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free electron LAser (SACLA) in Japan. The experimental results are compared with new theoretical results presented here. The absolute fluence of the XFEL pulse has been determined with the help of the calculations utilizing twophoton processes in the argon atom. The high charge states up to +22 observed for Xe in comparison with the calculations point to the occurrence of sequential L-shell multiphoton absorption and of resonance-enabled x-ray multiple ionization. Journal of Physics

ABSTRACT. We examined the aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression profile responsible for the changes in angiogenesis observed in endometriotic lesions. This study revealed characteristic miRNA expression profiles associated with endometriosis in endometrial tissue and endometriotic lesions from the same patient, and their correlation with the most important angiogenic and fibrinolytic factors. miRNA expression was quantified using a microRNA array and reversetranscription microRNA polymerase chain reaction. Levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (EGFR2), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The endometrial tissue showed significantly lower levels of miR-200b, miR-15a-5p, miR-19b-1-5p, miR-146a-5p, and miR-200c, and higher levels of miR-16-5p, miR106b-5p, and miR-145-5p. VEGFA was significantly upregulated, whereas EGFR2, PTEN, and CXCR4 were markedly downregulated, in the endometriotic tissues compared to that in the normal endometrial tissues. In conclusion, differences in the miRNA levels could modulate the expression of VEGFA, EGFR2, PTEN, and CXCR4, and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The higher angiogenic and proteolytic activities observed in the eutopic endometrium might facilitate the implantation of endometrial cells at ectopic sites.

Atmospheric reactive nitrogen (N r ) has been a cause of serious environmental pollution in China. Historically, China used too little N r in its agriculture to feed its population. However, with the rapid increase in N fertilizer use for food production and fossil fuel consumption for energy supply over the last four decades, increasing gaseous N r species (e.g. NH 3 and NO x ) have been emitted to the atmosphere and then deposited as wet and dry deposition, with adverse impacts on air, water and soil quality as well as plant biodiversity and human health. This paper reviews the issues associated with this in a holistic way. The emissions, deposition, impacts, actions and regulations for the mitigation of atmospheric N r are discussed systematically. Both NH 3 and NO x make major contributions to environmental pollution but especially to the formation of secondary fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), which impacts human health and light scattering (haze). In addition, atmospheric deposition of NH 3 and NO x causes adverse impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems due to acidification and eutrophication. Regulations and practices introduced by China that meet the urgent need to reduce N r emissions are explained and resulting effects on emissions are discussed. Recommendations for improving future N management for achieving ‘win-win’ outcomes for Chinese agricultural production and food supply, and human and environmental health, are described. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Air quality, past present and future’.

Interleukin (IL)-24, a promising therapeutic gene, has been widely used for Cancer Targeting Gene-Viro-Therapy (CTGVT). In this study, IL-24 was inserted into an oncolytic adenovirus in which the E1A gene is driven by an enhanced, short a-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter and the E1B gene is completely deleted to form Ad.enAFP-E1A-DE1B-IL-24. This construct has a potent antitumor effect on liver cancer cell lines in vitro, but little or no effect on normal cell lines, such as L-02 and QSG-7701. In vivo, the complete elimination of Huh-7 liver cancer in nude mice with Ad.enAFP-E1A-DE1B-IL-24 intratumor injection was observed. The design of Ad.enAFP-E1A-DE1B-IL-24 and its potent antitumor effect on liver cancer have not been published previously. The mechanism of the potent antitumor effect of Ad.enAFP-E1A-DE1B-IL-24 is due to the upregulation of GADD34 and intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic signaling.

We have measured electron energy spectra and asymmetry parameters of Ar clusters and Xe clusters illuminated by intense x-rays at 5 and 5.5 keV. A velocity map imaging spectrometer was developed for this purpose and employed at an x-ray free-electron laser facility, SACLA in Japan. The cluster size dependence and the peak fluence dependence of the electron spectra and asymmetry parameters are discussed.