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In this study, we concentrate on the seismic signature of subducted sediments and suggest the formation of the L‐discontinuity beneath the ancient craton related to migrated sediment dehydration. We first determined the single‐crystal elasticity of topaz, the product of sediment dehydration, at high pressures and temperatures by Brillouin scattering. Using the derived elastic parameters, we establish the velocity and density profiles of subducted sediments in the upper mantle. According to our modeling results, 8.5–17.5 vol.% sediments intruding into the upper mantle will induce a 2%–4% low‐VS anomaly at 210–260 km. Meanwhile, continuous heating will lead to the dehydration of phengite in sediments. The dehydration of this amount sediments can generate a 3%–6% ISS with negative Clapeyron slopes, satisfying the observed L‐discontinuity in northern Finland and northern America without the anisotropy changes but accompanied by low‐velocity anomalies. Our study thus provides new insights into the origin of the L‐discontinuity. Plain Language Summary: The origin of the global seismic discontinuities in the Earth's mantle has been well understood, but the formation mechanism of some local seismic discontinuities is still vague. Lehmann discontinuity (L‐discontinuity) is one of the regional discontinuities in the upper mantle with a 2%–6% impendence contrast (ISS) and negative Clapeyron slope. However, the deformation mechanism changes of olivine cannot explain the formation of the L‐discontinuity without the anisotropy changes. Here, we emphasize the significance of the migration and dehydration of the subducted sediments in the origin of the L‐discontinuity beneath the ancient craton. We determined the single‐crystal elasticity of topaz, the product of the sediment dehydration, and then investigated the seismic signature of subducted sediments. Our modeling results indicated that ∼17.5 vol.% sediments intruding into the upper mantle would lead to ∼4% low‐VS anomalies at 210–260 km. After the continuous heating, these intruding sediments would dehydrate by the reaction with the negative Clapeyron slopes, thus producing significant ISS. Therefore, the migration and dehydration of the subducted sediments can reasonably interpret the seismic characteristics of the L‐discontinuity beneath the cratonic regions such as northern Finland and northern America. Our results deepen the understanding of the origin of the L‐discontinuity. Key Points: Single‐crystal elasticity of topaz under high pressure and temperature has been investigated by Brillouin scatteringThe obtained elasticity parameters are used to model the density and velocity profiles of the subducted sedimentsWe suggest the formation of the L‐discontinuity beneath the ancient craton related to migrated sediment dehydration [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Price levels of medical services may vary across regions with different income levels, which would raise concerns about the equal access to medical services. This study aimed to estimate the spatial price index of medical services to measure price levels across 31 provincial regions in China. Methods: Price data were collected from medical service price schedule in each region. Two methods based on the Purchasing Power Parities were used to estimate the spatial price index and measure price differences across regions. The two-way fixed effects models were used to examine the association between medical service price levels and income levels, and further investigate the impacts of price differences on utilization of medical services and medical expenditure. Results: The consistent estimation results were given by two methods. Medical service price level in the highest-price region was found to be 74% higher than the lowest. There was a significant negative correlation between price levels and income levels, as well as price levels and the utilization of outpatient services. Moreover, we also found a 1% increase in medical service price level was significantly associated with a 0.34% and 0.24% increase in the medical service expense per outpatient visit and per inpatient respectively. Conclusions: Regions in China had significant gaps in medical service price levels. Policymakers should pay more attention to regional price differences and take great measures such as enhancing financial protection to ensure the equal access to medical services and better achieve the universal health coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have determined the single‐crystal elasticity of clinohumite [Mg8.85Ti0.19Si3.93O16(OH1.11F0.89)] using Brillouin measurement up to 21 GPa at 300 K and 1 bar at 750 K, respectively. The elasticity of clinohumite was determined to be KS0 = 126.2(3) GPa, G0 = 79.7(2) GPa with pressure derivatives KS′ = 4.2(1), G′ = 1.3(1), pressure derivatives ∂KS/∂T = −0.024(1) GPa/K, and ∂G/∂T = −0.011(1) GPa/K). We comprehensively examined the effects of varying H2O, fluorine content and thermal states, on the velocity and density structures of the subducted harzburgite layer. Assuming a typical H2O content of 2 wt.% within harzburgite, our modeling has shown that hydrous harzburgite with clinohumite as the decomposition product of serpentine along a hot slab geotherm even has the VP and VS 0.4–0.8(6)% greater than it dry counterpart at 250–380 km depth. Yet in the top transition zone, the addition of H2O and F can effectively lower the sound velocities and density. The F‐bearing hydrous harzburgite has the VP and VS 1.1(5)–1.3(3)% lower than its dry counterpart, and only 0.6(5)% and 2.3(5)% greater than the pyrolitic mantle. Along cold slab geotherm, phase A will replace clinohumite as the dominant hydrous phase in the harzburgite, the VP and VS are 4.8(5)–5.3(3)% and 5.9(5)–6.0(3)% greater than the pyrolitic mantle in the upper mantle. In the top transition zone, the difference is approximately 3% in VP and 5% in VS. Our results provide crucial experimental evidence for future assessments of the seismic signals of subducted slabs with different hydrous minerals and thermal states. Plain Language Summary: Subducted slab plays a crucial role in connecting the Earth's surface to the interior. Transportation of H2O and other important volatiles to the Earth's mantle via subducted slab can greatly influence a series of physical properties of mantle minerals. Clinohumite is one of the most important H2O and fluorine (F) carriers in the subducted slab. Here, we determined the single‐crystal elasticity of F‐bearing clinohumite at high pressures and temperatures. The obtained elasticity data were applied to model the velocity profiles of the hydrous harzburgite. Our results show that the addition of H2O and F can enhance the velocity difference between harzburgite and pyrolitic mantle at 250–380 km depth along the hot slab geotherm, and VP and VS of harzburgite with 2 wt.% H2O and clinohumite as the H2O‐bearing phase are 0.4–0.8(6)% greater than those of dry harzburgite. In the transition zone depth, addition of H2O and Fe lowers the sound velocities of harzburgite. Hydrous harzburgite has a lower VP and VS than its corresponding dry phase. These new velocity constraints can help us better understand the circulation of H2O and F within Earth's interior and identify the detected seismic observations of subducted slabs with different compositions and thermal states. Key Points: Single‐crystal elasticity of F‐bearing clinohumite was determined to 21 GPa and 750 K and shows strong dependence with F contentThe obtained results were used to model the velocity profiles of the hydrous harzburgite layer considering the thermal state and compositionH2O and F in clinohumite have significant influence on the velocity profile of subduction slab [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthopyroxene is one of the dominant minerals in the Earth's upper mantle. In this study, we used Raman spectroscopy to investigate the lattice vibration and phase transition of orthopyroxene with four different compositions using diamond-anvil cells up to 34 GPa at 300 K. Our orthopyroxene samples contain 0 (En100), 9% (En91Fs9), 11% (En86Fs11), and 21% (En74Fs21) Fe. At ambient conditions, the Raman modes exhibit a negative dependence on the Fe content, with the exception of the modes at ~850 and 930 cm–1. In contrast, these two Raman modes increase with increasing the Fe content. The phase transition from metastable α- to β-phase was observed at 12.9–15 GPa for samples with <21 mol% Fe and varying Fe content has a minor effect on the phase transition pressure. Besides Fe, incorporation of 2–24 mol% Al can cause an increase in the phase transition pressure from 10–13 to 14–16 GPa. At 29–30.1 GPa, we observed the second apparent change in the Raman spectra for all four investigated samples. For Fe-bearing orthopyroxene, this change in the Raman spectra and frequency shift is associated with the phase transition from β- to γ-phase, whereas for En100, it should be caused by the change of coordination number of Si from 4 to 6 or the presence of α-popx phase. Using the obtained Raman frequency shifts, we calculated the Grüneisen parameters at high pressures. These parameters are useful for understanding the thermoelastic properties of orthopyroxene at high pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation models are used to emulate real-world phenomena, and errors are inevitable in the numerical computation process. Owing to that, simulation models need to be verified and validated to ensure the models and their implementations are correct. In this paper, V&V has been done for the micro3d discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) model by comparing simulation results with corresponding theory, including any analytical solutions, other numerical solutions and experimental data. DDD simulations are a powerful simulation methodology that can help researchers better understand the plastic behavior of crystalline materials. In this study, parametric analyses for DDD simulations parameters have been performed. In addition, simulation results are verified and validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical service prices play a crucial role in cost containment in China. This study aimed to assess the change in medical service price levels at the macro level and the relationship with relevant macroeconomic factors. Methods: Data from the 2022 China Statistics Yearbook, the 2022 China Health Statistics Yearbook, and the 2020 China National Health Accounts Report were used. Time trends of health price levels, utilization, and health expenditure were examined. A time-series regression model was employed to measure the impact of service utilization and medical service prices on total medical service expenditure growth from 2000 to 2021. The Johansen cointegration test was conducted to test the cointegrating relationship between medical service price levels and total medical service expenditure, average wage of employees and CPI. The Granger causality test was performed to observe the direction of causality. Results: Descriptive analyses showed consistent growth in utilization and medical service price levels from 2000 to 2021. The time-series model indicated that medical service expenditure was influenced by the rise in inpatient admissions and price levels of medical service and medicine. The Johansen cointegration test identified a long-term equilibrium relationship between medical service price levels and total medical service expenditure, average wage and CPI. The change in medical service price levels was the Granger cause of the change in medical service expenditure, but it had no impact on average wage and CPI. However, the change in medical service price levels was influenced by these three macroeconomic factors. Conclusions: The growth of medical service expenditure in China was driven by inpatient use and price level. There was a long-term equilibrium relationship between medical service price levels and relevant macroeconomic factors. However, medical service price levels only affected medical service expenditure and have no impact on average wage and CPI. It is necessary to improve the value transmission mechanism of medical service prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effects of water and carbon on the velocity profiles of subducted oceanic crust in the upper mantle. High pressure and temperature Brillouin measurements were conducted to determine the single‐crystal elasticity of aragonite (CaCO3) up to 20 GPa and 600 K, respectively. Using the finite‐strain method, we determined the elastic parameters: KS0 = 70.7 GPa, G0 = 36.1(3) GPa with KS′ = 5.0(1), G′ = 1.3(1), ∂KS/∂T = −0.020(2) GPa/K, and ∂G/∂T = −0.015(1) GPa/K. When combined with literature results, our findings reveal that neither hydrous minerals nor carbonate alone can explain the observed 3%–4% and 3%–7% low velocity anomalies in the compressional (VP) and shear‐wave (VS) velocities of subducted oceanic crust in the circum‐Pacific region at 150–250 km depth. Considering the combined effect of water and carbonate, the addition of 5.9–6.9 vol.% aragonite together with 10 vol.% lawsonite in the oceanic crust can produce a 3%–4% and 6.1%–8.1% low velocity anomalies in the VP and VS at 150–250 km depth, respectively, consistent with the seismic observations in the region. Complete dehydration of lawsonite accompanied by the gradual decarbonization of the subducted oceanic crust explains the absence of low‐velocity anomalies below 300‐km depth. Our findings help for a better understanding of the possible influence of carbon and water on seismic velocities of the mantle. As a result, the circulation of carbon and water may be better understood while taking the complex velocity structure of subduction zones and mineral physics findings into account. Plain Language Summary: The subducting slab generally exhibits higher wave velocities than the normal mantle due to its lower temperatures. However, seismological studies have detected the existence of 3%–4% and 3%–7% low compressional (VP) and shear‐wave (VS) velocity anomalies in the subducted oceanic crust at 150–250 km depth in the circum‐Pacific region, respectively, which cannot be explained by water (lawsonite) alone. Our new experimental constraints on the single‐crystal elasticity of aragonite up to 20 GPa and 600 K indicate that aragonite, along with water, can significantly reduce the velocity of mid‐ocean ridge basalts which constitute a major component of the subducted oceanic crust. The presence of 5.9–6.9 vol.% aragonite together with 10 vol.% lawsonite can make the VP and VS of subducted oceanic crust 3%–4% and 6.1%–8.1% lower than surrounding mantle, respectively. Below 300‐km depth, subducted oceanic crust will be seismically detected as a high‐velocity structure due to complete dehydration of lawsonite and gradual decarbonization with aragonite content less than 8 vol.%. These findings contribute to our understanding of the complex relationship between carbon, water, and depth‐dependent velocity anomalies in the subduction process. Key Points: Single‐crystal elasticity of aragonite was determined to 20 GPa and 600 K, showing the lowest VP and VS compared to magnesite and dolomiteThe obtained results were used to model the velocity profiles of the subducted oceanic crust in the upper mantleThe low‐velocity anomalies within the subducted oceanic crust at 150–250 km depth should be a net effect of water and carbon [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structures of social networks with power laws have been widely investigated. People have a great interest in the scale-invariant generating mechanism. We address this problem by introducing a simple model, i.e., a heuristic probabilistic explanation for the occurrence of a power law. In particular, the proposed model can be used to explain the generative mechanism that leads to the scale-invariant of the degree distribution with a power exponent of τ > 2 . Furthermore, a stochastic model (the pure birth points process) is used to describe the cumulative growth trend of edges of a temporal social network. We applied our model to online temporal social networks and found that both the degree distribution scaling behaviors and the growth law of edges can be quantitatively reproduced. We gained further insight into the evolution nature of scale-invariant temporal social networks from the empirical observation that the power exponent τ gradually decreases and approaches 2 or less than 2 over evolutionary time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinearly preconditioned inexact Newton methods have been applied successfully for some difficult nonlinear systems of algebraic equations arising from the discretization of partial differential equations. The preconditioning step involves identifying and balancing the nonlinearities in the system. One of the challenging tasks when applying the methods is to accurately and efficiently identify the unbalanced nonlinearities. In this work, we propose an unsupervised learning strategy based on the classical principal component analysis that learns the bad behavior of a Newton solver in the nonlinear residual subspace of a training problem. A new initial guess is produced by the nonlinear preconditioner where a projected low dimensional Jacobian system corresponding to the slow subspace of the current residuals is solved for the Newton correction vector. Numerical experiments for high Reynolds number incompressible flow problems show that the proposed method is more robust and efficient compared with existing nonlinear solvers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indentation hardness tests are widely used in engineering to test the hardness of a material, which can be performed on a macroscopic scale or microscopic scale. In the present work, copper specimens with different thicknesses were indented with a mechanically-instrumented Rockwell tester. The effects of spacing between indents, indent distance to the edge of the sample, and specimen thickness on the hardness measurement were systematically quantified. Non-linear finite-element modeling was performed, assuming elastic-plastic material response with strain hardening. The two-dimensional numerical modeling of stand-alone and multiple indentations helped to shed more light on the deformation field under indentation, especially the size of the plastic zones and any interaction between them. In addition to the geometric effects, the influence of strain hardening of the test material was also investigated using the finite element analysis. The combined experimental and numerical results provided a range of indent spacings and thicknesses, which yield small to no effect on hardness values. The simulations also quantified the size and shape of the plastic zone under an indent. Lastly, the modeling results showed a competition between the effect of intrinsic material hardening and indent spacing on the value of the measured hardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stable { 1 - 10 } <110> single component sharp texture was obtained during ambient temperature tube High-Pressure Shearing (t-HPS) of 99.999% purity aluminum. It is shown that the grain size and the grain aspect ratio saturate at ~ 8 μm and ~ 1.6, respectively, at an equivalent strain of ~ 30 and the high-angle grain boundary fraction continues to decrease after this saturation even to equivalent strains exceeding ~ 200. The { 1 - 10 } <110> texture emerges at an equivalent strain of ~ 6 to 9 with the completion of recrystallization and develops gradually as a sole component sharp texture with increasing intensity upon further processing. This component is a stable orientation in t-HPS processing although it was not previously observed experimentally as a shear texture. Thus, t-HPS processing provides a new and effective experimental tool for simple shear testing that is distinctly different from earlier shear strain methods such as torsional processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single‐crystal elasticity of both α‐ and β‐orthopyroxene was determined up to 20 GPa and 300 K by Brillouin scattering. Using the derived full elastic moduli (Cij), we investigated the contribution of the metastable pyroxene to the seismically observed 3%–5% low‐velocity anomalies along the subducting slab in the top transition zone. Our modeled results show that a harzburgite wedge with a 1000‐K colder geotherm and metastable α‐orthopyroxene and olivine displays compressional (VP) and shear‐wave (VS) velocities 3.0%–3.6(6)% and 2.0%–2.8(6)% lower than the surrounding mantle at 410–460 km depth, respectively. At deeper depth up to 520 km, VP and VS of this metastable wedge with β‐orthopyroxene and olivine are 3.6%–4.4(6)% and 2.8%–4.3(6)% lower than the pyrolitic mantle, respectively. The presence of both metastable orthopyroxene and olivine instead of metastable olivine alone helps better explain the origin of the low‐velocity anomalies within the subduction slab in the top transition zone. Plain Language Summary: Subducting slab plays a significant role in transportation the surface material to the Earth's deep interior. It is normally imaged as a high‐velocity body compared to the surrounding mantle. However, seismic studies detected the existence of 3%–5% low compressional‐wave velocity anomalies accompanied with strong seismic shear‐wave anisotropies within the subducting slab at the top transition zone in various locations of the Earth which cannot be explained by the presence of metastable olivine alone. Besides olivine, orthopyroxene could also remain metastable in the coldest harzburgite layer of the slab. Here we report experimental results on the single‐crystal elasticity of both α‐ and β‐orthopyroxene up to 20 GPa and 300 K. These experimental results allow us to provide a comprehensive evaluation on the velocity profiles of the coldest harzburgite layer of the slab. We found that the coldest harzburgite layer with 22–37 vol.% orthopyroxene and 62–78 vol.% olivine has the VP and VS 3.0%–4.4(6)% and 2.0%–4.5(6)% lower than those of the pyrolitic mantle in the mantle transition zone, respectively. The observed 3%–5% low‐velocity anomalies within the slab in the top transition zone should be explained by the metastable orthopyroxene and olivine instead of metastable olivine alone. Key Points: Single‐crystal elasticity of α‐ and β‐orthopyroxene was determined to 20 GPa and shows anomalous change across the phase transitionThe obtained results were used to model the velocity profiles of the coldest harzburgite layer of the sinking subduction slabWe find that the low‐velocity anomalies within the slab at the top transition zone should be caused by metastable orthopyroxene and olivine [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effective components contained in compound Kushen injection (CKI) and the genes and signalling pathways related to gastric cancer (GC) were analyzed through the network pharmacology method of traditional Chinese medicine, and various possible mechanisms by which CKI affects the proliferation, differentiation, survival, and metastasis of GC cells were discussed. The PI3K/AKT signalling pathway is considered to be one of the most important pathways targeted by CKI in the regulation of GC cells. The implementation of related cell experiments also confirmed the information we revealed. Methods: Effective drug components of Kushen and Baituling in CKI were identified from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP). Genes related to GC were identified using the GENECARD and OMIM databases. The common target genes related to the effective components of the drug and GC were identified using the intersection method and visualized using software. A protein–protein interaction network (PPI) was established using STRING online software to confirm the key genes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to predict the key pathways of CKI in GC treatment. BGC-803 and MKN-28 GC cells were used to verify the signalling pathway. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration ability, and invasion ability were assessed using CCK8, flow cytometry, scratch, and transwell assays. Immunofluorescence assays and western blotting were used to detect the expression of related proteins. Results: CKI regulated GC cells through 35 effective drug components of GC-related target genes. In total, 194 genes were common targets of CKI and GC. The most significant function of the enriched genes was DNA-binding transcription activator activity as demonstrated by GO enrichment analysis. The metabolic pathway with the highest enrichment was the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway as demonstrated by KEGG enrichment analysis. Our cell experimental evidence also shows that CKI inhibits GC cell growth and migration and induce GC cell apoptosis. In addition, CKI inhibits the EMT process in GC cells through the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. Conclusion: AKT1 is a key gene for CKI treatment of GC. CKI inhibited GC cell growth and migration and induced GC cell apoptosis. In addition, CKI regulated the EMT process in GC cells through the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effective components contained in compound Kushen injection (CKI) and the genes and signalling pathways related to gastric cancer (GC) were analyzed through the network pharmacology method of traditional Chinese medicine, and various possible mechanisms by which CKI affects the proliferation, differentiation, survival, and metastasis of GC cells were discussed. The PI3K/AKT signalling pathway is considered to be one of the most important pathways targeted by CKI in the regulation of GC cells. The implementation of related cell experiments also confirmed the information we revealed. Methods: Effective drug components of Kushen and Baituling in CKI were identified from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP). Genes related to GC were identified using the GENECARD and OMIM databases. The common target genes related to the effective components of the drug and GC were identified using the intersection method and visualized using software. A protein–protein interaction network (PPI) was established using STRING online software to confirm the key genes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to predict the key pathways of CKI in GC treatment. BGC-803 and MKN-28 GC cells were used to verify the signalling pathway. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration ability, and invasion ability were assessed using CCK8, flow cytometry, scratch, and transwell assays. Immunofluorescence assays and western blotting were used to detect the expression of related proteins. Results: CKI regulated GC cells through 35 effective drug components of GC-related target genes. In total, 194 genes were common targets of CKI and GC. The most significant function of the enriched genes was DNA-binding transcription activator activity as demonstrated by GO enrichment analysis. The metabolic pathway with the highest enrichment was the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway as demonstrated by KEGG enrichment analysis. Our cell experimental evidence also shows that CKI inhibits GC cell growth and migration and induce GC cell apoptosis. In addition, CKI inhibits the EMT process in GC cells through the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. Conclusion: AKT1 is a key gene for CKI treatment of GC. CKI inhibited GC cell growth and migration and induced GC cell apoptosis. In addition, CKI regulated the EMT process in GC cells through the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humite-group minerals play a crucial role in transporting water and fluorine to the Earth's deep mantle through slab sinking. In this study, we have used Brillouin scattering to determine the single-crystal elastic constants of four natural humite-group minerals with varying H2O and fluorite contents under ambient conditions, including one chondrodite [Mg4.88Si1.94O8(OH0.78F1.22)] (F61-Chn), one humite [Mg7.03Si3.07O12(OH1.26F0.74)] (F37-Hu), and two clinohumite [Mg8.85Ti0.19Si3.93O16(OH1.11F0.89) and Mg8.63Fe0.10Ti0.24Si3.97O16(OH1.84F0.16)] (F45-Chu and F8-Chu) samples. The adiabatic bulk (KS0) and shear (G0) moduli calculated from the elastic constants using Voigt-Reuss-Hill averages are: KS0 = 120.4(3) GPa and G0 = 74.1(5) GPa for F61-Chn, KS0 = 122.4(3) GPa and G0 = 78.4(2) GPa for F37-Hu, KS0 = 126.2(3) GPa and G0 = 79.7(2) GPa for F45-Chu, and KS0 = 120.5(3) GPa and G0 = 76.8(2) GPa for F8-Chu. Our results indicate that the addition of F leads to a noticeable increase in the elasticity of clinohumite and chondrodite, which is in contrast to the effect of H2O. Although Fe has a negligible effect on the bulk modulus of clinohumite, it can produce a substantial decrease in the shear modulus. These results provide important insights into the influence of humite-group minerals on the mantle velocity structure. Furthermore, we have investigated the effects of composition on the elasticity and sound velocities of minerals along the forsterite-brucite join in the MgO-SiO2-H2O system, confirming previous observations. Increasing H2O content along the forsterite-brucite join leads to apparent reductions in the elasticity and sound velocities. The influence of Fe on the elasticity and sound velocities of these minerals has also been evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider numerical simulation of two-phase flows in porous media using implicit methods. Because of the complex features involving heterogeneous permeability and nonlinear capillary effects, the nonlinear algebraic systems arising from the discretization are very difficult to solve. The traditional Newton method suffers from slow convergence in the form of a long stagnation or sometimes does not converge at all. In this paper, we develop nonlinear preconditioning strategies for the system of two-phase flows discretized by a fully implicit discontinuous Galerkin method. The preconditioners identify and approximately eliminate the local high nonlinearities that cause the Newton method to take small updates. Specifically, we propose two elimination strategies: one is based on exploring the unbalanced nonlinearities of the pressure and the saturation fields, and the other is based on identifying certain elements of the finite element space that have much higher nonlinearities than the rest of the elements. We compare the performance and robustness of the proposed algorithms with an existing single-field elimination approach and the classical inexact Newton method with respect to some physical and numerical parameters. Experiments on three-dimensional porous media applications show that the proposed algorithms are superior to other methods in terms of robustness and parallel efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases the risk of colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Evidences suggest that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with a low risk of IBD and protects against experimental colitis in mouse models. However, the effect of H. pylori infection in CAC remains unclear. We previously reported that H. pylori infection increased M2 macrophages in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced chronic colitis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a pivotal role in colon cancer. Therefore, we established a H. pylori-infected CAC mouse model induced by azoxymethane and DSS to explore the effect of H. pylori infection on TAMs in CAC. Here, we demonstrated that H. pylori infection attenuated the development of CAC by decreasing tumor multiplicity, tumor size, tumor grade and colitis scores. Moreover, H. pylori infection reduced the infiltration of TAMs, particularly M2-like TAMs in CAC tumors, accompanied with the down-regulated pro-inflammatory and pro-tumorigenic factors TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-23 in tumors of CAC mice. Our study suggests that H. pylori infection can reduce TAMs infiltration and regulate cytokines expression in CAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a multilayer nonlinear elimination preconditioned inexact Newton method for a nonlinear algebraic system of equations, and a target application is the three-dimensional steady-state incompressible Navier--Stokes equations at high Reynolds numbers. Nonlinear steadystate problems are often more difficult to solve than time-dependent problems because the Jacobian matrix is less diagonally dominant, and a good initial guess from the previous time step is not available. For such problems, Newton-like methods may suffer from slow convergence or stagnation even with globalization techniques such as line search. In this paper, we introduce a cascadic multilayer nonlinear elimination approach based on feedback from intermediate solutions to improve the convergence of Newton iteration. Numerical experiments show that the proposed algorithm is superior to the classical inexact Newton method and other single layer nonlinear elimination approaches in terms of the robustness and efficiency. Using the proposed nonlinear preconditioner with a highly parallel domain decomposition framework, we demonstrate that steady solutions of the Navier--Stokes equations with Reynolds numbers as large as 7,500 can be obtained for the lid-driven cavity flow problem in three dimensions without the use of any continuation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new creep–fatigue damage cumulative model is proposed under multiaxial thermomechanical random loading, in which the damage at high temperature can be divided into the pure fatigue damage and the equivalent fatigue damage from creep. During the damage accumulation process, the elementary percentage of the equivalent fatigue damage increment is proportional to that of the creep damage increment, and the creep damage is converted to the equivalent fatigue damage. Moreover, combined with a multiaxial cyclic counting method, a life prediction method is developed based on the proposed creep–fatigue damage cumulative model. In the developed life prediction method, the effects of nonproportional hardening on the fatigue and creep damages are considered, and the influence of mean stress on damage is also taken into account. The thermomechanical fatigue experimental data for thin‐walled tubular specimen of superalloy GH4169 under multiaxial constant amplitude and variable amplitude loadings were used to verify the proposed model. The results showed that the proposed method can obtain satisfactory life prediction results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Halysituberosus Dong & Wang, 2017 is treated as a synonym of Allorhynchium van der Vecht, 1963 (syn. nov.). Halysituberosus yingjiangensis Dong & Wang, 2017 is a new synonym of Allorhynchium lugubrinum (Cameron, 1900) (syn. nov.) and Halysituberosus menglianensis Dong & Wang, 2017 is transferred to Allorhynchium as a new combination (comb. nov.). Based on additional COI gene sequencing and morphological characters including genitalia characters, both Allorhynchium diffinis (Giordani Soika, 1986) and Allorhynchium radiatum Li, Barthélémy & Carpenter, 2019 are confirmed to be valid species, and their males of the two species are described for the first time. Allorhynchium quadrimaculatum Gusenleitner, 1997 is newly recorded from China. A key to the Chinese species of Allorhynchium are also updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most prostate cancers (Pcas) develop into castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) after receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The expression levels of PLCε and wnt3a are increased in Pca and regulate androgen receptor (AR) activity. However, the biological function and mechanisms of PLCε and wnt3a in CRPC remain unknown. In this study, we found that the expression levels of PLCε, wnt3a, and AR were significantly increased in CRPC tissues as well as bicalutamide‐resistant‐LNCaP and enzalutamide‐resistant‐LNCaP cells. In addition, PLCε knockdown partly restored the sensitivity of drug‐resistant cells to bicalutamide and enzalutamide by inhibiting the activity of the wnt3a/β‐catenin/AR signaling axis. Interestingly, the resistance of LNCaP cells docetaxel is related to PLCε but not the wnt3a/β‐catenin pathway. We also found that the combination of PLCε knockdown and enzalutamide treatment synergistically suppressed cell proliferation, tumor growth, and bone metastasis using in vitro and in vivo experiments. Our study revealed that PLCε is involved in the progression of drug‐resistance in CRPC and could be a new target for the treatment of CRPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• FIR filter designed with game theory is implemented. • Provides a pathway for a trans receiving data with minimum space required. • Extraordinary results for compression of ultrasound and MRI images are achieved. In image processing, there are many inventions results in processing the images effectively suitable for applications like change detection, SAR image analysis, Television i.e. for compressing videos for effective transmission etc. In Social network, exchange of bulk information needs an effective compression technique to compress, transmit, decompress and reconstruct the original quality of source information. Compression technique can reduce the storage deficiency, energy consumption. In this proposed methodology, an effective Finite Impulse Response filter designed with meta-heuristic techniques-a game theory-based approach provides a compromising data compression ratio for standard input images. Effective quality indicators such as compression ratio, Mean Square Error stands as proof for the implications of the anticipated technique in medical applications as it affords extraordinary results for compression of Ultrasound and MRI images, thus providing a pathway for a trans receiving data with minimum space required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of effective, visible-light-drivable and reusable photocatalysts has drawn great attention for purifying the flowing wastewater. Herein, we have designed and prepared MoS2/CdS heterostructures on carbon fiber (CF) cloth as a novel filter-membrane-shaped photocatalyst. With CF cloth as the substrate, the growth of MoS2 nanosheets (thickness: ~20 nm) and CdS nanoparticles (~5 nm) have been achieved by using a hydrothermal-chemical bath deposition two-step route. CF/ MoS2/CdS cloth shows a strong and wide photoabsorption accompanied by a small peak with an edge around 700 nm. Under visible-light irradiation, CF/MoS2/CdS cloth (area: 4 x 4 cm²) can expeditiously remove 97.3% rhodamine B, 55.6% tetracycline hydrochloride and 68.4% hexavalent chromium after 100 min, and 97.3% methylene blue after 70 min. In particular, when CF/MoS2/CdS cloth (diameter: ~10 cm) is used as a filter-membrane to photocatalytically degrade the flowing wastewater (10 mgL-1 RhB, rate: ~1 Lh-1), 92.6% RhB can be eliminated in eight grading pools. Therefore, CF/MoS2/CdS cloth has the capacity to be a recyclable photocatalyst with high efficiency for purifying the flowing wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pituitary tumors account for 10% of intracranial cancer, and are difficult to treat with chemotherapy. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of matrine on the proliferation of pituitary cancer cells, as well as the molecular mechanism of matrine in progression and development of pituitary tumors. Matrine significantly suppressed the proliferation of pituitary cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Western blotting results showed that the phosphorylation levels of AKT serine/threonine kinase (Akt) and forkhead box O3A (Foxo3a) decreased as the concentration of matrine increased. Matrine increased the nuclear localization of Foxo3a and the expression of proapoptotic genes, such as BCL2 like 11 and BCL2 associated X apoptosis regulator, and inhibited the levels of cytoplasmic Foxo3a. In conclusion, matrine promoted cell death of pituitary cancer cells and was involved in Akt/Foxo3a signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-talk between competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) play key roles in tumor development. In this study, we performed exon-level expression profiling on 26 glioblastomas (GBMs) and 6 controls to identify long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) of GBM initiation and progression using lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network (LMCN). The mRNA and lncRNA expression data, as well as miRNA-target interactions were firstly collected. Then, we used hypergeometric test to detect the lncRNA-mRNA interactions, followed by the construction of LMCN based on Pearson correlation coefficient. With the goal of investigation of the network organization, degree distribution of LMCN was performed. Next, the synergistic, competing lncRNA modules were identified using jActiveModule plug-in of Cytoscape. Moreover, we implemented the pathway analysis for its mRNAs in the module to explore the functions of significant lncRNAs. Using the criteria of degrees >50, 8 hub genes were identified, including EPB41L4A-AS1, ZRANB2-AS2, XIST, HOTAIR, TRAF3IP2-AS1, TPT1-AS1, PVT1 and DLG1-AS1. Furthermore, 1 synergistic, competitive module was identified. In this module, lncRNAs XIST and PVT1 were also the hubs in the synergistic, competing lncRNA module. Functional annotation demonstrated that 5 pathways were identified, including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and mTOR signaling pathway. We have successfully identified several hubs (such as XIST and PVT1) and significant pathways (for instance, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions) for GBM via establishing the LMCN. These findings might offer potential biomarkers to early diagnose, and predict GBM prognosis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effects of benefactor intention and beneficiaries’ perceived helpfulness and personal responsibility in the context of charitable giving on the gratitude and indebtedness of Chinese college students facing financial hardship. Results of the 2 studies we conducted using a scenario methodology indicated that personal responsibility moderated the effect of benefactor intention on gratitude via the mediator of perceived helpfulness. Specifically, when beneficiaries felt less responsible for receiving help, perceiving the benefactor’s intention as benevolent rather than utilitarian led them to perceive the donation as being more helpful, thereby evoking greater gratitude. In contrast, when beneficiaries felt more responsible for receiving the donation, their perceived helpfulness and gratitude did not vary, regardless of the nature of the benefactor’s intention. However, there was no significant moderating effect on indebtedness. Implications for higher education and charitable-giving practices are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Phototherapy has drawn increasing attention including the use of nanocarriers with high drug loading capacity and delivery efficacy for target-specific therapy. We have made use of naturally-occurring halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) to build a biomimetic nanocarrier platform for target-specific delivery of phototherapeutic agents. The HNTs were decorated with poly(sodium- p -styrenesulfonate) (PSS) to enhance the biocompatibility, and were further functionalized by lumen loading the type-II photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG). The HNT-PSS-ICG nanocarrier, without further tethering targeting groups, was shown to associate with the membrane of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) via Pickering effects. Application of HNT-PSS-ICG nanocarrier to human breast cancer cells gave rise to a cell mortality as high as 95%. The HNT-PSS-ICG nanocarrier was further coated with MDA-MB-436 cell membranes to endow it with targeting therapy performance against breast cancer, which was confirmed by in vivo experiments using breast cancer tumors in mice. The membrane-coated and biocompatible nanocarrier preferentially concentrated in the tumor tissue, and efficiently decreased the tumor volume by a combination of photodynamic and photothermal effects upon near-infrared light exposure. Our results demonstrate that the HNT-based nanocarrier by virtue of facial preparation and high loading capacity can be a promising candidate for membrane-targeting nanocarriers. Graphical abstract Biocompatible halloysite nanotube as target-specific nanocarrier for the application in phototherapy of breast cancer. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity has become a severe public health problem worldwide. Crocin, a natural product, has been reported to have a number of pharmacological activities, including antiinflammatory, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, antihypertensive, and cardioprotective action. The aims of the current study were to identify the beneficial effects of crocin on obesity, adipocyte differentiation, and lipolysis and to evaluate the possible role of AMPK. Results indicated that crocin significantly increased AMPK phosphorylation in differentiated adipocytes in vitro and in adipose tissue in db/db mice. Crocin reduced lipid accumulation in differentiated adipocytes. In addition, crocin inhibited the expression of mRNA of important adipogenesis-related regulators, including CEBPa, CEBPß, PPARγ, aP2, FAS, and CD36, in both differentiated adipocytes and adipose tissue in db/db mice. Crocin increased the expression of mRNA of key lipolysis-associated factors, including PPARa, LPL, and HSL, in both differentiated adipocytes and adipose tissue in db/db mice. In adipocytes, knockdown of AMPK significantly suppressed the crocin-induced inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and increase in lipolysis. BML-275 is an inhibitor of AMPK. In adipose tissue in db/db mice, BML-275 suppressed crocin-induced inhibition of fat formation and alleviation of a metabolic disorder. The current results suggest that crocin alleviates obesity in db/db mice and that it inhibits adipocyte differentiation in preadipocytes. Crocin inhibits adipogenesis and promotes lipolysis via activation of AMPK. Therefore, crocin may have promise as an option for the clinical treatment for obesity and associated metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of person-specific risk for adverse health events in medicine has been approached almost exclusively using parametric statistical methods. Random forest is a machine learning method based on tree ensembles that is completely nonparametric and for this reason may be better suited for risk prediction. An introduction to a random forest is provided with a focus on its application to risk prediction. Using data from a total joint replacement registry, we illustrate risk prediction for the binary outcome of 90-day mortality following implantation, as well as time to device failure for aseptic reasons with the competing risk of mortality. Using the methods described in this paper, the random forest could be applied to risk prediction in a wide variety of medical fields. Issues related to implementation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxocara canis is a zoonotic parasite with worldwide distribution. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are integral membrane proteins which involve in a range of biological processes in various organisms. In present study, the full-length coding sequence of abcg-5 gene of T. canis (Tc-abcg-5) was cloned and characterized. A 633 aa polypeptide containing two conserved Walker A and Walker B motifs was predicted from a continuous 1902 nt open reading frame. Quantitative real-time PCR was employed to determine the transcriptional levels of Tc-abcg-5 gene in adult male and female worms, which indicated high mRNA level of Tc-abcg-5 in the reproductive tract of adult female T. canis. Tc-abcg-5 was expressed to produce rabbit polyclonal antiserum against recombinant TcABCG5. Indirect-fluorescence immunohistochemical assays were carried out to detect the tissue distribution of TcABCG5, which showed predominant distribution of TcABCG5 in the uterus (especially in the germ cells) of adult female T. canis. Tissue transcription and expression pattern of Tc-abcg-5 indicated that Tc-abcg-5 might play essential roles in the reproduction of this parasitic nematode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the classification and composite spectra of galaxies in the fourth data release (DR4) of the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST). We select 40 182 spectra of galaxies from LAMOST DR4, which have photometric information but no spectroscopic observations in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). These newly observed spectra are recalibrated and classified into six classes -- passive, Hα-weak, star-forming, composite, LINER and Seyfert -- using the line intensity (Hβ, [OIII]λ5007, Hα and [N II]λ6585). We also study the correlation between spectral class and morphological type through three parameters: concentration index, (u -- r) colour and D4000n index. We calculate composite spectra of high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) for six spectral classes and, using these composites, we pick out some features that can differentiate the classes effectively, including Hβ, Fe5015, HγA, HK and the Mg2 band. In addition, we compare our composite spectra with the SDSS ones and analyse their differences. A galaxy catalogue of 40 182 newly observed spectra (36 601 targets) and the composite spectra of the six classes are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gyrotron performance is sensitive to cavity structure parameters, and the cavity shape is temperature dependent due to thermal deformation induced by temperature rise fromohmic loss power on finite-conductivitycavity wall. Accordingly, this paper studies a frequency-tuning scheme for terahertz gyrotron by properly controlling the cavity thermal deformation. By combining gyrotron nonlinear theory and finite-elementmethod software, controllable thermal-frequency-tuning capability of a continuous-wave 263-GHz gyrotron is systematically investigated, toward maintaining gyrotron operating under gyromonotron condition in frequency-tuning band, and achieving high effi- ciency in broadband frequency-tuning range. After studying cavity thermal distribution, structure deformation, and electron beam--wave interaction, an optimized cavity structure with transition sections on both ends is proposed. Simulation predicts that with the two-transition-section cavity, via additional thermal tuning, the continuous-frequency-tuning band is capable of reaching 1.75 GHz, which is 5 times of the initial bandwidth. Furthermore, using the thermalfrequency- tuning technology, impressive high efficiency above 17% is obtainable in the whole frequency-tuning range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise improves cognitive function in older adults, but the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. Both lysosomal degradation and mitochondrial quality control decline with age. We hypothesized that exercise ameliorates age-related cognitive decline through the improvement of mitochondrial quality control in aged hippocampus, and this effect is associated with lysosomal proteolysis. Sixteen to eighteen-month old male Sprague Dawley rats underwent swim exercise training for 10 weeks. The exercise regimen prevented cognitive decline in aged rats, reduced oxidative stress, and rejuvenated mitochondria in the aged hippocampus. Exercise training promoted mitochondrial biogenesis, increased mitochondrial fusion and fission, and activated autophagy/mitophagy in aged hippocampal neurons. Lysosomal inhibitor chloroquine partly blocked beneficial effects of exercise on cognitive function, oxidative stress, autophagy/mitophagy, and mitochondrial quality control in aged rats. These results suggest that preservation of cognitive function by long-term exercise is associated with improvement of mitochondrial quality control in aged hippocampus and that lysosomal degradation is required for this process. Our findings suggest that exercise training or pharmacological regulation of mitochondrial quality control and lysosomal degradation may be effective strategies for slowing down age-related cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate forecasting of hospital outpatient visits is beneficial for the reasonable planning and allocation of healthcare resource to meet the medical demands. In terms of the multiple attributes of daily outpatient visits, such as randomness, cyclicity and trend, time series methods, ARIMA, can be a good choice for outpatient visits forecasting. On the other hand, the hospital outpatient visits are also affected by the doctors' scheduling and the effects are not pure random. Thinking about the impure specialty, this paper presents a new forecasting model that takes cyclicity and the day of the week effect into consideration.Methods: We formulate a seasonal ARIMA (SARIMA) model on a daily time series and then a single exponential smoothing (SES) model on the day of the week time series, and finally establish a combinatorial model by modifying them. The models are applied to 1 year of daily visits data of urban outpatients in two internal medicine departments of a large hospital in Chengdu, for forecasting the daily outpatient visits about 1 week ahead.Results: The proposed model is applied to forecast the cross-sectional data for 7 consecutive days of daily outpatient visits over an 8-weeks period based on 43 weeks of observation data during 1 year. The results show that the two single traditional models and the combinatorial model are simplicity of implementation and low computational intensiveness, whilst being appropriate for short-term forecast horizons. Furthermore, the combinatorial model can capture the comprehensive features of the time series data better.Conclusions: Combinatorial model can achieve better prediction performance than the single model, with lower residuals variance and small mean of residual errors which needs to be optimized deeply on the next research step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niche astrocytes have been reported to promote neuronal differentiation through juxtacrine signaling. However, the effects of astrocytes on neuronal differentiation following ischemic stroke are not fully understood. In the present study, transplanted astrocytes and neural stem cells (NSCs) were transplanted into the ischemic striatum of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model rats 48 h following surgery. It was observed that the co-transplantation of astrocytes and NSCs resulted in a higher ratio of survival and proliferation of the transplanted NSCs, and neuronal differentiation, in MCAO rats compared with NSC transplantation alone. These results demonstrate that the co-administration of astrocytes promotes the survival and neuronal differentiation of NSCs in the ischemic brain. These results suggest that the co-transplantation of astrocytes and NSCs is more effective than NSCs alone in the production of neurons following ischemic stroke in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cost-effective approach has been developed to synthesize Cu nanoparticles encapsulated into B and N double-doped carbon nanotubes (Cu@BCNNTs) by one-step pyrolysis. According to the specific binding of Cu–Cl and Cu–glutathione (GSH), we employed Cu@BCNNTs to build an electrochemical sensing platform to detect GSH. The unique space-confined structure can prevent Cu nanoparticles from agglomeration. In addition, B and N co-doped porous hollow tubes can improve the electrochemical conductivity, expand the number of active sites, enhance surface adsorption, and shorten the transport path. These favorable characteristics of Cu@BCNNTs make them have excellent electrocatalytic properties. These results display that the prepared sensor can detect GSH from 0.5 to 120 μM with a detection limit of 0.024 μM. The obtained sensors can be successfully applied in the human serum with recovery of GSH ranging from 100.2 to 103.9%. This work provides a new vision to synthesize nanoparticles confined in a hollow tube for the applications in biosensing and medical diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classified diagnose and treatment (CDT) is a hot research topic in hospital management in China. As an essential way to implement CDT, the inpatient admission assessment involves different kinds of vague and uncertain information. The hesitant fuzzy linguistic term set provides a new technology to depict the vague and subjective evaluation information of the experts in hospital. In this paper, we apply the hesitant fuzzy linguistic VIKOR (HFL-VIKOR) method to the inpatient admission assessment process in which all the evaluation information over the patients are expressed as linguistic term sets or linguistic expressions. Firstly, the index of CDT (ICDT) of a patient is introduced to describe the degree to which the patient conforms to the classified diagnose and treatment principle. Based on these indices of different patients, the priorities of inpatient admission are assigned to the patients to ensure that the scarce medical resources be distributed to the most appropriate patients in the view of CDT. The numerical example in the West China Hospital reveals that the HFL-VIKOR method is a feasible and efficient methodology to solve the inpatient admission problem for the purpose of the classified diagnose and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the Goos-Hänchen (GH) effect in a Kretschmann configuration with hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM) of ZnGaO/ZnO multilayer. Calculation method in anisotropic waveguides is developed based on stationary method and physical mechanism of enhanced GH effect is analyzed. Simulation results show the GH shift peaks are significantly influenced by the dispersion of material and the refractive index of prism and substrate. As the GH shift in the proposed Kretschmann configuration is rather sensitive to waveguide parameters, we discuss the possible applications in wavelength de-multiplexing and tiny refractive index detection with high resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, with its usage reaching 30-50% in Western countries. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between insulin dosage (ID)/insulin usage time (IT) and coronary artery lesions in patients of type 2 diabetes with coronary heart disease. Based on the insulin using dosage, 353 type 2 diabetes patients were divided into the high-dose (≥0.5 IU/kg) and low-dose (<0.5 IU/kg) group. Selected coronary angiography was performed and the Gensini score was used to determine the degree of the coronary artery lesions. The homeostasis model assessment-insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IS) index was assessed by HOMA2. Data including age, gender, smoking, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), glucose (Glu), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), C-peptide, ID, IT, diabetes duration time (DT), and IT/DT were collected. The association between insulin usage (both dose and time) and the coronary artery lesions in these patients was then determined. Statistical differences for the two groups for factors including C-peptide, HbA1c, ID, IT, DT, IT/DT and the Gensini score values (P<0.05) were identified. By contrast, no significant differences for factors such as gender, smoking history, age, BMI, TC, TG, LDL, HDL, fasting insulin, Glu, SBP and DBP were observed. The coronary artery damage Gensini score in insulin-insensitive individuals was significantly greater than that in the insulin-sensitive individuals. The Spearman analysis revealed that ID and IT, DT and IT/DT were positively correlated with the coronary artery damage Gensini score. The multivariate regression, the interquartile range method and receiver operating characteristic analyses showed that ID, ID/DT, IT had a greater effect on coronary vascular damage compared with DT. In conclusion, the degree of coronary artery lesions were correlated with ID, IT, DT, IT/DT. High doses of insulin or a high IT/DT ratio may aggravate coronary artery damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PS binary porous structure membrane with big pores on the surface and small pores in the bottom was prepared combine BF method and colloidal crystal template method. Therefore, the big pore size can be controlled by BF conditions, while the small size adjusted by Si02 particles size. Compared with membrane prepared only using BF method, the binary porous structure membranes with high permeability possess potential applications in microfiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the electron beam on the gyrotron operating frequency (the frequency pulling) is studied analytically in the framework of the linear (or small-signal) theory. The theory is applicable for gyrotrons operating at any cyclotron harmonics and in modes with arbitrary axial structures. The present consideration is limited to cases of operation at the fundamental cyclotron resonance and the second harmonic; also two specific axial profiles of the resonator modes are analyzed: the constant and the sinusoidal distributions. In the case of the sinusoidal distribution, we considered the operation in modes with one, two, and three axial variations. It is shown how to use the theory developed for analyzing the frequency tunability due to the frequency pulling effect in a gyrotron with specified parameters of the electron beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic kidney disease is one of the most serious complications of diabetes. Although diabetic kidney disease can be effectively controlled through strict blood glucose management and corresponding symptomatic treatment, these therapies cannot reduce its incidence in diabetic patients. The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and the traditional Chinese herb "Gegen" have been widely used in diabetes-related therapy. However, it remains unclear whether the combined use of these two kinds of medicines contributes to an increased curative effect on diabetic kidney disease. In this study, we examined this issue by evaluating the efficacy of the combination of puerarin, an active ingredient of Gegen, and canagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor for a 12-week intervention using a mouse model of diabetes. The results indicated that the combination of puerarin and canagliflozin was superior to canagliflozin alone in improving the metabolic and renal function parameters of diabetic mice. Our findings suggested that the renoprotective effect of combined puerarin and canagliflozin in diabetic mice was achieved by reducing renal lipid accumulation. This study provides a new strategy for the clinical prevention and treatment of diabetic kidney disease. The puerarin and SGLT2 inhibitor combination therapy at the initial stage of diabetes may effectively delay the occurrence of diabetic kidney injury, and significantly alleviate the burden of renal lipotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low levels of folate combined with high levels of homocysteine may cause unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (URPL). However, the relationships between polymorphisms in genes of the folate metabolic pathway and URPL remain controversial. We conducted a case-control study to explore polymorphisms of the major folate pathway genes, including methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T, MTHFR 1298A>C, methionine synthase (MTR) 2756A>G, methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) 66A>G and reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC-1) 80A>G, and their associations with URPL. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to determine the distributions of MTHFR, MTR and RFC-1 polymorphisms, and the results were validated using direct sequencing. The polymorphisms in MTRR were determined using direct sequencing. Haplotypes were analyzed using SHEsis, an online tool for biological analysis. We found that the MTHFR 677T allele and the 677T/1298A/2756A/66A/80G haplotype were risk factors for URPL, while the MTR 2756G allele and the 677C/1298A/2756A/66A/80A haplotype exhibited protective effects on susceptibility to URPL in a Chinese Han population from the Hangzhou area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objective: To determine the dose of succinylcholine during inhalation induction of a patient. Designed: Prospective, double-blind, randomized study. Setting: Operating room of a university hospital. Patients: 180 adult' ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients with a suspected difficult airway, who were scheduled for surgery. Interventions: Nonpremedicated patients were anesthetized with inhalation of 8% sevoflurane, followed by succinylcholine. Group 1 received intravenous (IV) succinylcholine 0.3 mg/kg, Group 2 had IV succinylcholine 0.6 mg/kg, and Group 3 was given IV succinylcholine 1.0 mg/kg. Direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation were performed after onset of succinylcholine. Measurements: Intubation conditions were scored as excellent, good, or poor. The recovery time of spontaneous respiration, end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PETCO2), and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded. Main Results: Acceptable conditions (excellent and good) for intubation were rated in 80% of Group 1 patients (0.3 mg/kg succhinylcholine), 91.7% of Group 2 patients (0.6 mg/kg), and 93.3% of Group 3 patients (1.0 mg/kg), respectively. Intubation scores were similar in Groups 2 and 3, and were significantly higher than in Group 1 patients (0.3 mg; P < 0.01). Time to recovery of spontaneous respiration in Group 3 was significantly prolonged compared with Groups 1 and 2 (238 ± 59 sec vs 132 ±43 sec, P < 0.001; 238 ± 59 sec vs 151 ±47 sec, P < 0.001, respectively). SpO2 in Group 3 did not differ significantly from Group 1 and 2 values. However, PETCO2 in Group 3 was significantly higher than in Groups 1 or 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We extend an inhomogeneous polynomial representation of special linear Lie superalgebras s∣(m + 1∣n) to an inhomogeneous representation on the tensor space of any irreducible tensor representation of the general linear Lie superalgebras g∣(m∣n) with this polynomial space via Shen's mixed product. We find a sufficient and necessary condition for irreducibility of these inhomogeneous representations, and get the Jordan-Hölder series of those which are not irreducible. Furthermore, we point out that all these irreducible modules are lowest weight modules. Their lowest weights and character formulas are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer stem-like cells (BCSC) have been implicated in tumor growth, metastasis, drug resistance, and relapse but druggable targets in appropriate subsets of this cell population have yet to be identified.Herewe identify a fundamental role for the prolyl isomerase Pin1 in driving BCSC expansion, invasiveness, and tumorigenicity, defining it as a key target of miR200c, which is known to be a critical regulator in BCSC. Pin1 overexpression expanded the growth and tumorigenicity of BCSC and triggered epithelial--mesenchymal transition. Conversely, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of Pin1 reduced the abundance and self-renewal activity of BCSC. Moreover, moderate overexpression of miR200c-resistant Pin1 rescued the BCSC defect in miR200c-expressing cells. Genetic deletion of Pin1 also decreased the abundance and repopulating capability of normal mouse mammary stem cells. In human cells, freshly isolated from reduction mammoplasty tissues, Pin1 overexpression endowed BCSC traits to normal breast epithelial cells, expanding both luminal and basal/myoepithelial lineages in these cells. In contrast, Pin1 silencing in primary breast cancer cells freshly isolated from clinical samples inhibited the expansion, self-renewal activity, and tumorigenesis of BCSC in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our work demonstrated that Pin1 is a pivotal regulator acting downstream of miR200c to drive BCSC and breast tumorigenicity, highlighting a new therapeutic target to eradicate BCSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the effect of hypoxia on the expression of progranulin in HT22 mouse hippocampal cells. To investigate progranulin (PGRN) and the alterations in its expression following hypoxia, the HT22 cells were treated with various concentrations of sodium hydrosulfite (Na2S2O4; 1.20 mM) for a fixed time (6 h) or with a fixed concentration (5 mM) for different lengths of time (2.10 h). The expression of PGRN in the HT22 cells following hypoxia was analyzed by an immunocytochemistry assay and western blot analysis. The data revealed that the HT22 cells were capable of expressing PGRN. Double labeling results revealed that PGRN was able to co-localize with the neuronal markers, βIII.tubulin and doublecortin. Western blot analyses indicated that hypoxia was able to decrease the PGRN levels in a concentration.dependent manner at 6 h, although there was a marginal increase within a shorter period. The results of this study revealed that hypoxic injury is capable of significantly affecting the expression of PGRN, thereby it may provide novel insights with regard to the role of PGRN in ischemic brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]