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Using Mendelian Randomization (MR) and large-scale Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data, this study aimed to investigate the potential causative relationship between testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels and the onset of several cancers, including pathway enrichment analyses of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with cancer allowed for a comprehensive bioinformatics approach, which offered a deeper biological understanding of these relationships. The results indicated that increased testosterone levels in women were associated with a higher risk of breast and cervical cancers but a lower risk of ovarian cancer. Conversely, increased testosterone was linked to lower stomach cancer risk for men, whereas high SHBG levels were related to decreased risks of breast and prostate cancers. The corresponding genes of the identified SNPs, as revealed by pathway enrichment analysis, were involved in significant metabolic and proliferative pathways. These findings emphasize the need for further research into the biological mechanisms behind these associations, paving the way for potential targeted interventions in preventing and treating these cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Al segregation near dislocations on the mobility of two-dimensional electron gas in AlGaN/GaN heterostructure-based high-electron-mobility transistors was investigated. Exponentially varied composition fluctuation was effective in describing Al segregation near dislocations when calculating scattering behavior. Mobility, which was limited by Al segregation surrounding dislocation lines, was calculated to be in the order of 10³ cm²/Vs to 106 cm²/Vs. Results indicated that the mobility in AlGaN/GaN heterojunction was enhanced upon the reduction of dislocation density at low temperature. This study contributes to generating higher electron mobility in AlGaN/GaN heterojunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mobilities of single-layer graphene combined with AlGaN/GaN heterostructures on twodimensional electron gases in graphene/AlGaN/GaN double heterojunction are calculated. The impact of electron density in single-layer graphene is also studied. Remote surface roughness (RSR) and remote interfacial charge (RIC) scatterings are introduced into this heterostructure. The mobilities limited by RSR and RIC are an order of magnitude higher than that of interface roughness and misfit dislocation. This study contributes to designing structures for generation of higher electron mobility in graphene/AlGaN/GaN double heterojunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author discusses a study published in the periodical on the topic assessment of postoperative pain on the basis of numeric ratings. It comments on researcher's methodology to not include the percent of patients which scored greater than four in numeric rating scale (NRS) and also discusses statistical method employed in the study for sensitivity and distinctiveness for NRS.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that results from Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) induced endothelial dysfunction. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 1 (CPEB1) is closely related to the development of epithelial cells, but the role of CPEB1 in AS remains unknown. The RNA and protein levels of CPEB1 expression are increased by Ox-LDL exposure, which is abrogated by c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125. CPEB1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) suppressed the oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Furthermore, CPEB1 siRNA enhanced the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) transcription levels in Ox-LDL-treated HUVECs. Co-Immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay showed that CPEB1 siRNA declined the ubiquitination of SIRT1, and SIRT1 siRNA enhanced the Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), which were decreased by CPEB1 siRNA. In addition, LOX-1 and SIRT1 attenuated the protection of SIRT1 siRNA on Ox-LDL-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, our study revealed that CPEB1 depletion might play an anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic role in Ox-LDL-induced apoptosis and inflammation though SIRT1/LOX‐1 signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is associated with a heavy cancer-related burden in terms of patients' physical and mental health worldwide. Two randomized controlled trials, the US-National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) and Nederlands-Leuvens Longkanker Screenings Onderzoek (NELSON), indicated that low-dose CT (LDCT) screening results in a statistically significant decrease in mortality in patients with lung cancer, LDCT has become the standard approach for lung cancer screening. However, many issues in lung cancer screening remain unresolved, such as the screening criteria, high false-positive rate, and radiation exposure. This review first summarizes recent studies on lung cancer screening from the US, Europe, and Asia, and discusses risk-based selection for screening and the related issues. Second, an overview of novel techniques for the differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodules, including artificial intelligence and molecular biomarker-based screening, is presented. Third, current explorations of strategies for suspected malignancy are summarized. Overall, this review aims to help clinicians understand recent progress in lung cancer screening and alleviate the burden of lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to reveal the landscape and trends of graphene research in the world by using data from Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS). Design/methodology/approach: Index data from CAS have been retrieved on 78,756 papers and 23,057 patents on graphene from 1985 to March 2016, and scientometric methods were used to analyze the growth and distribution of R&D output, topic distribution and evolution, and distribution and evolution of substance properties and roles. Findings: In recent years R&D in graphene keeps in rapid growth, while China, South Korea and United States are the largest producers in research but China is relatively weak in patent applications in other countries. Research topics in graphene are continuously expanding from mechanical, material, and electrical properties to a diverse range of application areas such as batteries, capacitors, semiconductors, and sensors devices. The roles of emerging substances are increasing in Preparation and Biological Study. More techniques have been included to improve the preparation processes and applications of graphene in various fields. Research limitations: Only data from CAS is used and some R&D activities solely reported through other channels may be missed. Also more detailed analysis need to be done to reveal the impact of research on development or vice verse, development dynamics among the players, and impact of emerging terms or substance roles on research and technology development. Practical implications: This will provide a valuable reference for scientists and developers, R&D managers, R&D policy makers, industrial and business investers to understand the landscape and trends of graphene research. Its methodologies can be applied to other fields or with data from other similar sources. Originality/value: The integrative use of indexing data on papers and patents of CAS and the systematic exploration of the distribution trends in output, topics, substance roles are distinctive and insightful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the social insects, ovary state (the presence or absence of mature oocytes) and ovary size (the number of ovarioles) are often used as proxies for the reproductive capacity of an individual worker. Ovary size is assumed to be fixed post-eclosion whereas ovary state is demonstrably plastic post-eclosion. Here, we show that in fact ovary size declines as honeybee workers age. This finding is robust across two honeybee species: Apis mellifera and A. cerana. The ovariole loss is likely to be due to the regression of particular ovarioles via programmed cell death. We also provide further support for the observation that honeybee workers with activated ovaries (mature oocytes present) most commonly have five ovarioles rather than a greater or smaller number. This result suggests that workers with more than five ovarioles are unable to physiologically support more than five activated ovarioles and that workers with fewer than five ovarioles are below a threshold necessary for ovary activation. As a worker's ovariole number declines with age, studies on worker ovariole number need to take this plasticity into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]