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Purpose: To systematically synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO)-based symptom management on readmission rate, quality of life, symptom burden, anxiety, depression, and mortality in adult cancer patients. Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the PRISMA guideline in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Scopus for studies of randomized controlled trials reporting ePRO-based symptom management from January 1st, 2018, to May 31st, 2023. Two reviewers independently assessed risk-of-bias using Cochrane Risk-of-Bias version 2 and extracted the data. Subgroup analysis was conducted to identify the source of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was performed by using the leave-one-out method. The study protocol was registered on the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (INPLASY) (DOI:). Results: A total of 10 studies were included in our review, comprising a total of 5321 participants. The results showed ePRO-based symptom management can improve quality of life (QOL) (SMD = 4.42, 95% CI 0.14 to 8.69, P = 0.04) in cancer patients. No significant differences in the impact on the improvement of readmission rate (RR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.04, P = 0.15), symptom burden (SMD = 1.23, 95% CI − 1.34 to 3.79, P = 0.35), anxiety (SMD = − 0.00, 95% CI − 0.34 to 0.34, P = 0.99), depression (SMD = 0.03, 95% CI − 0.17 to 0.24, P = 0.74), and mortality (RR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.19 to 1.83, P = 0.36) between the two groups. In the subgroup analysis, readmission rates more than 30 days were significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (relative rate (RR) = 0.85, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.99, P = 0.03). Also, the intervention group’s QOL significantly improved compared to the control group when assessed within 1 month after the intervention (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 3.75 to 4.94, P < 0.00001). In the sensitivity analysis, it was found that the results for readmission rates and quality of life (QOL) were unstable, indicating that further research is needed in the future. Conclusion: Cancer patients often have different symptoms. Symptom management in cancer patients is an emerging topic. However, due to the limited numbers of included studies, the long-term effect of ePRO-based symptom management still needed to be validated. Registration details: inplasy (DOI:). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclobutanes are popular structural units in bioactive compounds and versatile intermediates in synthetic chemistry, but their synthesis is challenging owing to high ring strain. In this study, a novel method for highly regio‐ and diastereoselective synthesis of fluoroalkylcyclobutanes bearing vicinal quaternary and tertiary stereocenters is realized by a photocatalytic 4‐exo‐trig cyclization cascade of thioalkynes or trifluoromethylalkenes. Density functional theory calculations reveal that a unique fluorine effect, arising from hyperconjugative π→σ*C‐F interactions, accounts for the regio‐reversed radical addition at the sterically hindered alkene carbon, which facilitates an unprecedented 4‐exo‐trig ring closure. This chemistry enables the direct and controllable construction of medicinally valuable quaternary‐carbon‐containing cyclobutanes from readily available raw materials, nicely complementing the existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclobutanes are popular structural units in bioactive compounds and versatile intermediates in synthetic chemistry, but their synthesis is challenging owing to high ring strain. In this study, a novel method for highly regio‐ and diastereoselective synthesis of fluoroalkylcyclobutanes bearing vicinal quaternary and tertiary stereocenters is realized by a photocatalytic 4‐exo‐trig cyclization cascade of thioalkynes or trifluoromethylalkenes. Density functional theory calculations reveal that a unique fluorine effect, arising from hyperconjugative π→σ*C‐F interactions, accounts for the regio‐reversed radical addition at the sterically hindered alkene carbon, which facilitates an unprecedented 4‐exo‐trig ring closure. This chemistry enables the direct and controllable construction of medicinally valuable quaternary‐carbon‐containing cyclobutanes from readily available raw materials, nicely complementing the existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the shortcomings of existing methods for predicting the settlement of surrounding buildings caused by deep foundation pit construction, this study uses the monitoring data of a foundation pit project in Shanghai and divides the construction process of the pit into three working conditions, that is, enclosure construction, earthwork excavation, and basement support construction. The attention mechanism and residual update are integrated into the artificial neural network (ANN) model, and the root-mean-square error, average absolute error, and determination coefficient are used as the evaluation indices of the model. The artificial neural network prediction model LSTM-RA-ANN for building settlements in deep foundation pit construction was then established. The prediction performance of the model was also analysed under different working conditions, and the influences of the main factors (including the soil parameter, monitoring point location, activation function, hyperparameter, and input number) on the evaluation index was further explored. The results indicate that the performances of the established LSTM-RA-ANN model are closely related to the construction conditions, the predicted settlements agree well with the monitored ones in three working conditions with the greatest errors occurring at a later time of the working conditions, and the prediction accuracy of the great–small order corresponds to basement support, enclosure construction, and earthwork excavation respectively. The farther the monitoring point is from the edge of the pit, the better the model performance is. The activation function, initial learning rate, and maximum iteration batch have a great influence on the evaluation indices of the model, while the number of input points has little effect on the evaluation indices. These results may serve as a reference for the safe construction and normal operation of foundation pit engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy management strategy (EMS) is a key technology for plug‐in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The energy management of certain series–parallel PHEVs involves the control of continuous variables, such as engine torque, and discrete variables, such as clutch engagement/disengagement. Herein, a control‐oriented model is established for a series–parallel plug‐in hybrid system with clutch engagement control from the perspective of mixed‐integer programming. Subsequently, an EMS based on continuous‐discrete reinforcement learning (CDRL), which enables simultaneous output of continuous and discrete variables, is designed. During training, state‐of‐charge (SOC) randomization is introduced to ensure that the hybrid system exhibits optimal energy‐saving performance in both high and low SOC. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed CDRL strategy is verified by comparing EMS based on charge‐depleting charge‐sustaining (CD‐CS) with rule‐based clutch engagement control and dynamic programming (DP). In the simulation results, it is shown that, under a high SOC, the CDRL strategy proposed in this article can improve energy efficiency by 8.3% compared to CD‐CS, and the energy consumption is just 6.6% higher than the global optimum based on DP, while under a low SOC, the numbers are 4.1% and 3.9%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous lane-change, a key feature of advanced driver-assistance systems, can enhance traffic efficiency and reduce the incidence of accidents. However, safe driving of autonomous vehicles remains challenging in complex environments. How to perform safe and appropriate lane change is a popular topic of research in the field of autonomous driving. Currently, few papers consider the safety of reinforcement learning in discretionary lane-change scenarios. We introduce safe hybrid-action reinforcement learning into discretionary lane change for the first time and propose the Parameterized Soft Actor–Critic with PID Lagrangian (PASAC-PIDLag) algorithm. Furthermore, we conduct a comparative analysis with Parameterized Soft Actor–Critic (PASAC), which is an unsafe version of PASAC-PIDLag. Both algorithms are employed to train the lane-change strategy to output both discrete lane-change decisions and continuous longitudinal vehicle acceleration. Our simulation results indicate that at a traffic density of 15 vehicles per kilometer (15 veh/km), the PASAC-PIDLag algorithm exhibits superior safety with a collision rate of 0%, outperforming the PASAC algorithm, which has a collision rate of 1%. The generalization assessments reveal that at low traffic density levels, both the PASAC-PIDLag and PASAC algorithms are proficient in attaining zero collision rates. However, at high traffic density levels, although both algorithms result in collisions, PASAC-PIDLag has a much lower collision rate than PASAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforcement learning has shown success in solving complex control problems, yet safety remains paramount in engineering applications like energy management systems (EMS), particularly in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). An effective EMS is crucial for coordinating power flow while ensuring safety, such as maintaining the battery state of charge within safe limits, which presents a challenging task. Traditional reinforcement learning struggles with safety constraints, and the penalty method often leads to suboptimal performance. This study introduces Lagrangian-based parameterized soft actor–critic (PASACLag), a novel safe hybrid-action reinforcement learning algorithm for HEV energy management. PASACLag utilizes a unique composite action representation to handle continuous actions (e.g., engine torque) and discrete actions (e.g., gear shift and clutch engagement) concurrently. It integrates a Lagrangian method to separately address control objectives and constraints, simplifying the reward function and enhancing safety. We evaluate PASACLag's performance using the World Harmonized Vehicle Cycle (901 s), with a generalization analysis of four different cycles. The results indicate that PASACLag achieves a less than 10% increase in fuel consumption compared to dynamic programming. Moreover, PASACLag surpasses PASAC, an unsafe counterpart using penalty methods, in fuel economy and constraint satisfaction metrics during generalization. These findings highlight PASACLag's effectiveness in acquiring complex EMS for control within a hybrid action space while prioritizing safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of deep foundation pits in subway stations can affect the settlement of existing buildings adjacent to the pits to varying degrees. In this paper, the Long Short-Term Memory neural network prediction model of building settlement caused by deep foundation pit construction was established using the monitoring data of building settlement around a deep foundation pit project in a metro station in Shanghai, and appropriate hyperparameters including batch size and training set ratio were determined. The accuracy of settlement prediction for single-point and multi-point monitoring of buildings was analyzed. Meanwhile, the effects of construction parameters, engineering geological parameters, and spatial parameters on the accuracy of building settlement prediction were investigated. The results show that the batch size and training set proportion can be taken as 16 and 60%, respectively, when using the Long Short-Term Memory neural network prediction model. The proposed Long Short-Term Memory network model can stably predict the settlement of buildings adjacent to deep foundation pits. The accuracy of settlement prediction at a single point of a building (80%) is lower than the accuracy of coordinated prediction at multiple points (88%). More accurate settlement prediction is achieved with the total reverse construction method. The more detailed the consideration of working conditions, geological parameters, and spatial parameters, the better. The evaluation metrics of the prediction model, RMSE, MAE, and R2, were 0.57 mm, 0.65 mm, and 0.91, respectively. The results of this paper have some practical reference value for analyzing the settlement of buildings caused by foundation pit works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Distant metastasis is the leading cause of death in patients with rectal cancer. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the risk factors of distant metastasis in T3 T4 rectal cancer using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), pathological features, and serum indicators. Methods: The clinicopathological data of 146 cases of T3 T4 rectal cancer after radical resection from January 2015 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Pre- and postoperative follow-up data of all cases were collected to screen for distant metastatic lesions. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression methods were used to analyze the relationship between MRI features, pathological results, serum test indexes, and distant metastasis. Results: Of the 146 included patients, synchronous or metachronous distance metastasis was confirmed in 43 (29.4%) cases. The patients' baseline data and univariate analysis showed that mrEMVI, maximum tumor diameter, mr T Stage, pathological N stage, number of lymph node metastasis, cancer nodules, preoperative serum CEA, (Carcinoembryonic antigen) and CA199 were associated with distant metastasis. In the multiple logistic regression model, mrEMVI, pathological N stage, number of lymph node metastasis, maximum tumor diameter, and preoperative serum CEA were identified as independent risk factors for distant metastasis: mrEMVI [odds ratio (OR) = 3.06], pathological N stage (OR = 6.52 for N1 vs N0; OR = 63.47 for N2 vs N0), preoperative serum CEA (OR = 0.27), tumor maximum diameter (OR = 1.03), number of lymph nodes metastasis (OR = 0.62). And, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted and the area under the curve was calculated (area under the curve [AUC) = 0.817, 95% CI = 0.744-0.890, P <.001]. Conclusions: mrEMVI, pathological N stage, number of lymph node metastasis, maximum tumor diameter and preoperative serum CEA are the independent risk factors for distant metastasis in T3 T4 rectal cancer. A comprehensive analysis of the risk factors for distant metastasis in rectal cancer can provide a reliable basis for formulating individualized treatment strategies, follow-up plans, and evaluating prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro and in vivo models play integral roles in preclinical drug research, evaluation, and precision medicine. In vitro models primarily involve research platforms based on cultured cells, typically in the form of two‐dimensional (2D) cell models. However, notable disparities exist between 2D cultured cells and in vivo cells across various aspects, rendering the former inadequate for replicating the physiologically relevant functions of human or animal organs and tissues. Consequently, these models failed to accurately reflect real‐life scenarios post‐drug administration. Complex in vitro models (CIVMs) refer to in vitro models that integrate a multicellular environment and a three‐dimensional structure using bio‐polymer or tissue‐derived matrices. These models seek to reconstruct the organ‐ or tissue‐specific characteristics of the extracellular microenvironment. The utilization of CIVMs allows for enhanced physiological correlation of cultured cells, thereby better mimicking in vivo conditions without ethical concerns associated with animal experimentation. Consequently, CIVMs have gained prominence in disease research and drug development. This review aimed to comprehensively examine and analyze the various types, manufacturing techniques, and applications of CIVM in the domains of drug discovery, drug development, and precision medicine. The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the progress made in CIVMs and their potential future use in these fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although some simple and rapid colorimetric methods have been developed to detect organophosphorus pesticides (OPs), the difficult extraction and easy denaturation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) are still drawbacks needing to be overcome. Here, we propose a MOF nanozyme-mediated AChE-free colorimetric strategy for the direct detection of OPs. In the presence of OPs (pirimiphos-methyl as a model), the intense blue of oxidized 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) becomes light due to the quenching effect of OPs towards hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) that are generated by the decomposition of H2O2 catalyzed by the Cu4Co6 ZIF nanozyme with excellent peroxidase (POD)-like activity. The developed colorimetric sensor exhibits assay performance and offers a universal and promising analysis strategy for detecting OPs in practical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetically encoded biosensors based on fluorescent proteins (FPs) are powerful tools for tracking analytes and cellular events with high spatial and temporal resolution in living cells and organisms. Compared with intensiometric readout and ratiometric readout, fluorescence lifetime readout provides absolute measurements, independent of the biosensor expression level and instruments. Thus, genetically encoded fluorescence lifetime biosensors play a vital role in facilitating accurate quantitative assessments within intricate biological systems. In this review, we first provide a concise description of the categorization and working mechanism of genetically encoded fluorescence lifetime biosensors. Subsequently, we elaborate on the combination of the fluorescence lifetime imaging technique and lifetime analysis methods with fluorescence lifetime biosensors, followed by their application in monitoring the dynamics of environment parameters, analytes and cellular events. Finally, we discuss worthwhile considerations for the design, optimization and development of fluorescence lifetime-based biosensors from three representative cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Difluoroalkyl groups and cyclopentenones are both important units in synthetic and medicinal chemistry. The difuoroalkylation coupled with a cyclopentenone formation still remains a challenge. Herein, we report a visible‐light‐induced cascade difluoroalkylative 5‐endo cyclization of ynones with difluoroalkyl bromides to access difluoroalkylated cyclopentenones, which may find wide applications for the concise synthesis of fluorinated cyclic molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The choline prolinate ([Ch][Pro]) as a hydrogen bond acceptor and ethylene glycol (EG) as a hydrogen bond donor are both used to synthesize the deep eutectic solvents (DESs) [Ch][Pro]-EG to capture CO2. The CO2 capacity of [Ch][Pro]-EG is determined, and the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) spectrum are used to investigate the CO2 capture mechanism. The results indicate that CO2 reacts with both the amino group of [Pro]− anion and the hydroxyl group of EG, and the mechanism found in this work is different from that reported in the literature for the [Ch][Pro]-EG DESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolism is a hallmark of cancer and it involves in resistance to antitumor treatment. Therefore, the purposes of this study are to classify metabolism-related molecular pattern and to explore the molecular and tumor microenvironment characteristics for prognosis predicting in prostate cancer. Methods: The mRNA expression profiles and the corresponding clinical information for prostate cancer patients from TCGA, cBioPortal, and GEO databases. Samples were classified using unsupervised non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering based on differentially expressed metabolism-related genes (MAGs). The characteristics of disease-free survival (DFS), clinicopathological characteristics, pathways, TME, immune cell infiltration, response to immunotherapy, and sensitivity to chemotherapy between subclusters were explored. A prognostic signature was constructed by LASSO cox regression analysis based on differentially expressed MAGs and followed by the development for prognostic prediction. Results: A total of 76 MAGs between prostate cancer samples and non-tumorous samples were found, then 489 patients were divided into two metabolism-related subclusters for prostate cancer. The significant differences in clinical characteristics (age, T/N stage, Gleason) and DFS between two subclusters. Cluster 1 was associated with cell cycle and metabolism-related pathways, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), etc., involved in cluster 2. Moreover, lower ESTIMATE/immune/stromal scores, lower expression of HLAs and immune checkpoint-related genes, and lower half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values in cluster 1 compared with cluster 2. The 10 MAG signature was identified and constructed a risk model for DFS predicting. The patients with high-risk scores showed poorer DFS. The area under the curve (AUC) values for 1-, 3-, 5-year DFS were 0.744, 0.731, 0.735 in TCGA-PRAD dataset, and 0.668, 0.712, 0.809 in GSE70768 dataset, 0.763, 0.802, 0.772 in GSE70769 dataset. Besides, risk score and Gleason score were identified as independent factors for DFS predicting, and the AUC values of risk score and Gleason score were respectively 0.743 and 0.738. The nomogram showed a favorable performance in DFS predicting. Conclusion: Our data identified two metabolism-related molecular subclusters for prostate cancer that were distinctly characterized in prostate cancer. Metabolism-related risk profiles were also constructed for prognostic prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-photon excited ratiometric fluorescent pH sensor is reported by combining l-cysteine–protected AuNCs (Cys@AuNCs) with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). Cys@AuNCs were synthesized through a one-step self-reduction route and showed pH-responsive photoluminescence at 650 nm. Benefiting from the opposite pH response of Cys@AuNCs and FITC, the fluorescence ratio (F515 nm/F650 nm) of FITC&Cys@AuNCs provided a large dynamic range of 200-fold for pH measurement in the response interval of pH 5.0–8.0. Based on the excellent two-photon absorption coefficient of Cys@AuNCs, the sensor was expected to achieve sensitive quantitation of pH in living cells under two-photon excitation. In addition, colorimetric biosensing based on enzyme-like metal nanoclusters has attracted wide attention due to their low-cost, simplicity, and practicality. It is crucial to develop high catalytic activity nanozyme from the viewpoint of practical application. The synthesized Cys@AuNCs exhibited excellent photoactivated peroxidase-like activity with high substrate affinity and catalytic reaction rate, promising for rapid colorimetric biosensing of field analysis and the control of catalytic reactions by photostimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In water-related projects, the application of steel sheet pile cofferdams is becoming more and more widespread, and the influence of tunnel construction on the mechanical properties of adjacent cofferdams is important. In this study, the object of research was the mechanical properties of large-span steel sheet pile cofferdams. The open-cut tunnel project was located in Suzhou Yinshan Lake, China. According to the actual construction steps of the tunnel foundation pit, assuming that the soil was a small strain hardening soil model, combined with on-site monitoring data, a three-dimensional elastoplastic finite difference model was established. The results show that during tunnel construction, the maximum settlement of the cofferdam appeared at 0.27~0.53 m on the side of the foundation pit; the maximum horizontal displacement of the steel sheet pile occurred at the pile bottom of foundation pit side, and the seepage gradually increased during construction, eventually resulting in water gushing at the bottom of the foundation pit. After the completion of tunnel construction, the settlement value of the cofferdam presented a pattern that first increased and then decreased from the side of the foundation pit to the side of the adjacent lakeside; the steel cofferdam tilted toward the side of the foundation pit, with a maximum inclination angle of 3.37°. It should be pointed out that as the construction progressed, the axial force of the tie rods in the steel cofferdam changed from a U-shaped distribution to a V-shaped distribution. This study could provide a reference for the impact of tunnel foundation pit construction on adjacent steel cofferdam and could also provide a reference for the safety research of open-cut tunnel construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of the diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI)-derived parameters D value, K value, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) parameter apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected extramural venous invasion (EMVI) (mrEMVI) in rectal cancer patients. Methods: Forty patients who underwent MRI for rectal cancer were retrospectively evaluated. DKI-derived parameters D and K were measured using the Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit. Conventional ADC values were measured from the corresponding DWI images. An experienced radiologist evaluated the mrEMVI status on MR images using the mrEMVI scoring system. An independent sample t-test or analysis of variance was used to analyze and compare the measurement data. The x2 test or Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the diagnostic performance of these parameters. Results: Among the 40 patients, MRI showed positive EMVI in 15 patients and negative EMVI in 25 patients. Positive mrEMVI status was associated with age, positive circumferential resection margin, pT-stage, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), distant metastasis, and serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (P = 0.004–0.036). The dispersion coefficient (D) values and ADC values were significantly higher in the mucinous adenocarcinoma (MC) group than in the common adenocarcinoma (AC) group (P = 0.001), while kurtosis coefficient (K) values were lower in the MC group than in the AC group (P = 0.022). D values were significantly higher in the KRAS-mutated group than in the wild-type group (P < 0.05), whereas K values were lower in the KRAS-mutated group than in the wild-type group (P < 0.05). All three parameters (D, K, and ADC values) showed good diagnostic performance for discriminating MC from AC. Both the D and K values showed certain diagnostic performance for discriminating KRAS mutation. Conclusion: DKI-derived parameters, conventional ADC values, and mrEMVI are associated with different histopathological prognostic factors. All DKI-derived parameters and conventional ADC values may distinguish MC from AC. DKI-derived parameters may also be used to discriminate KRAS mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Infection is the most common complications of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in treating urinary calculi. However, the risk factors for developing infectious complications after surgery have not been clarified, and the predictive value of some factors is controversial. This study aimed to assess the risk factors for postoperative infectious complications of PCNL. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE to obtain studies reporting risk factors for postoperative infection complications after PCNL. In this review, demographic factors, laboratory test factors, and perioperative factors were evaluated. The odds ratio (OR) or mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to assess the risk factors. A total of 18 studies were included, with a total of 7161 study patients with a mean age of 46.4 to 55.5 years and an incidence of infectious complications after PCNL ranging from 2.4% to 40.4%. Twelve factors were identified as independent risk factors for post-PCNL infection complications (P < 0.05), female (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.23–2.07), positive urine culture (UC) (OR = 3.16, 95% CI 2.11–4.74), positive renal pelvis urine culture (RPUC) (OR = 5.81, 95% CI 1.75–19.32), positive stone culture (SC) (OR = 5.11, 95% CI 1.46–17.89), positive urine leukocyte (OR = 3.61, 95% CI 2.45–5.34), infected stones (OR = 7.00, 95% CI 1.27–38.55), elevated blood leukocyte (MD = 0.71, 95% CI 0.31–1.10), elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (MD = 0.55, 95% CI 0.43–0.66), preoperative stenting (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.10–2.20), multiple puncture access (OR = 2.58, 95% CI 1.75–3.82), prolonged operative time (MD = 10 20, 95% CI 4.80–15.60), and postoperative residual stone (OR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.24–1.98). Female, UC positivity, RPUC positivity, SC positivity, urine leukocyte positivity, infected stones, elevated peripheral blood leukocytes, elevated NLR, preoperative stent implantation, multiple puncture channels, prolonged operation time, and postoperative residual stones were identified as independent risk factors for infection complications after PCNL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bioresponsive polymeric nanocarrier for drug delivery is able to alter its physical and physicochemical properties in response to a variety of biological signals and pathological changes, and can exert its therapeutic efficacy within a confined space. These nanosystems can optimize the biodistribution and subcellular location of therapeutics by exploiting the differences in biochemical properties between tumors and normal tissues. Moreover, bioresponsive polymer-based nanosystems could be rationally designed as precision therapeutic platforms by optimizing the combination of responsive elements and therapeutic components according to the patient-specific disease type and stage. In this review, recent advances in smart bioresponsive polymeric nanosystems for cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy will be summarized. We mainly discuss three categories, including acidity-sensitive, redox-responsive, and enzyme-triggered polymeric nanosystems. The important issues regarding clinical translation such as reproducibility, manufacture, and probable toxicity, are also commented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a major worldwide health problem due to its high prevalence and mortality rate. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 12 (ADAM12) is aberrantly expressed in various cancers and plays an important role in tumor progression. However, its explicit effect and molecular mechanism in ccRCC remain unclear. Methods: We investigated the dysregulation of ADAM12 in ccRCC through public databases and bioinformatics analyses. The expression of ADAM12 was further verified in ccRCC tissues by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The relationship between ADAM12 expression and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed statistically. The effects of ADAM12 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of ccRCC cells were examined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Results: ADAM12 was significantly upregulated in ccRCC tissues and associated with poor prognosis in ccRCC patients. ADAM12 promoted ccRCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and the growth of subcutaneous tumors in vivo. Knockdown of ADAM12 successfully suppressed its oncogenic function. Mechanistically, its overexpression induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by downregulating E-cadherin and upregulating N-cadherin and Snail. Moreover, ADAM12 participated in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway and activated the downstream signal ERK1/2 by shedding the EGFR ligand, thereby upregulating target genes including c-Myc, enhancing cell survival and invasion ability, and promoting tumor progression, metastasis and the induction of EMT. Conclusions: High expression of ADAM12 induced EMT and promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by activating the EGFR/ERK signaling pathway in ccRCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia oil extracted from the seeds of Camellia oleifera Abel. is a popular and high-quality edible oil, but its yield is limited by seed setting, which is mainly caused by self-incompatibility (SI). One of the obvious biological features of SI plants is the inhibition of self-pollen tubes; however, the underlying mechanism of this inhibition in C. oleifera is poorly understood. In this study, we constructed a semi-in vivo pollen tube growth test (SIV-PGT) system that can screen for substances that inhibit self-pollen tubes without interference from the genetic background. Combined with multi-omics analysis, the results revealed the important role of galloylated catechins in self-pollen tube inhibition, and a possible molecular regulatory network mediated by UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) and serine carboxypeptidase-like (SCPL) was proposed. In summary, galloylation of catechins and high levels of galloylated catechins are specifically involved in pollen tube inhibition under self-pollination rather than cross-pollination, which provides a new understanding of SI in C. oleifera. These results will contribute to sexual reproduction research on C. oleifera and provide theoretical support for improving Camellia oil yield in production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For single-phase grid-connected inverters, the second-order generalized integrator-based phase-locked loop (SOGI-PLL) is widely used for good harmonics attenuation and frequency adaptability. However, existing studies usually neglect the frequency feedback loop in the modeling and design process, and thus, the potential instability caused by the frequency feedback loop is not well explained. Besides, the improper design of SOGI-PLL can lead to the inverter instability both under ideal and weak grid conditions. Therefore, by fully considering the coupling of the frequency feedback loop, this article establishes an accurate model for SOGI-PLL. Furthermore, effects of different PLL parameters on behaviors of both the SOGI-PLL itself and the inverter are studied, based on which a graphical method for PLL parameters design is proposed. As proved, the frequency feedback loop can deteriorate the stability and performance of both SOGI-PLL itself and inverter system, especially if rapid transient is expected. The modeling method is also extended to the low-pass filter-SOGI-PLL and the improved parameters design is discussed. Experimental results verify the correctness of the proposed PLL model and the abovementioned analysis results. The proposed model is helpful to deeply reveal the instability mechanism and provides a reference for the PLL design under nonideal grid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-linked polyphosphazene-based microspheres have great promise for their specific properties and uniform structures and have attracted much attention due to their potential applications. In this research, cross-linked poly(cyclotriphosphazene-co-fluorescein) (PCTPF) microspheres were synthesized and used as carriers for drug delivery applications. The successful preparation of the PCTPF microspheres was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The new appeared bands in FT-IR spectra confirmed the successful polymerization between hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP) and fluorescein (FLUS). While the SEM results showed that the size of the microspheres was strongly dependent on the mole ratio of HCCP to FLUS. The particle size distribution was determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and the results showed that the decreased mole ratio of HCCP to FLUS increases the size of the microspheres. The crystalline nature of PCTPF microspheres was checked by X-ray diffraction and the results showed the amorphous nature of PCTPF microspheres. The thermal properties of the PCTPF microspheres were examined by thermogravimetric analysis and the results exhibited that the increase in thermal properties was ascribed to the cross-linked covalently bonded structure of PCTPF microspheres. The cross-linking density of the prepared PCTPF microspheres was examined via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and the obtained results suggested that the decreased HCCP:FLUS mole ratio could be more capable to cross-link with HCCP in high density. The prepared PCTPF-3 microspheres were used as drug carriers for the anti-cancer drug "Fluorouracil" (5-FU). 5-FU drug was loaded on the prepared microspheres and their in vitro drug release experiment was performed, in which the results showed that the drug released from the PCTPF-3/5-FU microspheres was in a controlled manner up to 336 h. According to the results, the PCTPF microspheres might be used in cancer therapy as drug carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AE (acoustic emission) features could reflect the process of fracture initiation and propagation in rocks. Taking Lalin railway tunnel granite as an example, a three-dimensional particle flow numerical model of rock was established based on the PFC (particle flow code). The mechanical properties between particles were simulated using parallel bond. The rock burst stress path was simulated using the movement of the wall in the particle flow model. The results of uniaxial compression tests in a laboratory were used to calibrate the mesoscale mechanical parameters of the particle flow model. AE features of rock deformation and failure under different confining pressures were then studied. It shows that the unloading direction of rock may produce strong dilatation deformation during rock burst; with the increase of confining pressure, the more obvious dilatation deformation and the more possibility of serious rock burst to occur; the unloading failure of rock reveals that rock burst is a mixed failure of tensile and shear, and the tensile cracks account for about 70%; the number of AE events of rock unloading failure occur at the top and bottom of the rock first and then expand rapidly to the middle part until the rock is completely destroyed; in the process of rock burst, AE rupture strength is relatively concentrated, the number of AE events surge obviously, and the number of AE events in surge period account for more than 80% of all AE events. The results presented herein may be referable in analyzing the mechanism of rock burst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim of reducing the number of sensors, this article investigates the single-sensor grid-following control for the LCL-filtered inverter system, and proposes an intuitive robust stability analysis method in the linear framework to handle power control and grid voltage variations in engineering practice. Specifically, through the use of a state-and-disturbance observer, the lumped-disturbance compensated suppression and nominal system full-state feedback technologies are equivalently realized. And the lumped-disturbance estimation carrying voltage phase information at the point of common coupling is further used as synchronization target of the phase-locked loop (PLL) to achieve grid-following control, and the resulting phase-shift is further corrected by accurate phase compensation. In addition, due to the nonlinear nature of the PLL and the power control and grid voltage variations, the system analysis is faced with the dilemma of complex nonlinear analysis or small-signal analysis without a fixed equilibrium point. In this case, a PLL small-signal model with bounded parameter perturbation characterizing power control and grid voltage variations is developed, and further incorporated into the output impedance modeling of the single-sensor grid-following controlled inverter. According to the edge theorem, the system stability in the studied uncertain region is analyzed via four edge output impedances, and appropriate control parameters are selected accordingly. Finally, the experimental results from a downscaled prototype are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed single-sensor grid-following control scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the stability problem is investigated for a class of time-invariant current controlled LCL-type weak-grid-tied inverter (WGTI) system. Considering that the existing stability analysis methods rarely effectively handle the adverse effects of both sinusoidal pulsewidth modulation (SPWM) saturation and plant uncertainty, and the corresponding theoretical results are poor in accuracy and completeness, this article proposes an intuitive stability analysis method in Laplace-domain to ensure the system robustness against SPWM saturation and plant uncertainty. Specifically, the describing function (DF) is employed to characterize the averaged SPWM saturation nonlinear model in Laplace domain. By designing equivalent functions without the poles inside the right-half s-plane, the Nyquist criterion required by the DF is equivalently converted into the Hurwitz criterion of closed-loop characteristic polynomial with interval coefficients containing uncertain circuit parameters. Subsequently, by means of the Kharitonov’s theorem, the interval characteristic polynomial is transformed into four Kharitonov polynomials with fixed parameters that are easy to analyze. The state-and-disturbance-observer (SDO)-based current controlled WGTI system is adopted as a case of application study. In order to reduce the conservatism of the Kharitonov’s theorem applied here, a “pointwise” stability analysis on the grid impedance is implemented. Finally, the controller parameters are determined by stability region analysis with different grid impedance points, and the effectiveness of the proposed method is further verified by a series of steady-state and transient experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the grid-connected inverter, grid voltage sag can be a typical phenomenon. From the prospective of safe and robust operation, the inverter should be stable when the grid voltage sag (or large disturbance) occurs. Although the inverter stability in this case has attracted considerable attentions, few studies have given suggestions on the system stability boundary and parameter design. To fill this gap, this article deeply discusses the large-signal stability of the system under different situations and reveals the quantified impact of the phase-locked loop (PLL) on the large-signal stability of the system based on the fundamental current-source model. The large-signal stability criterion and boundaries for grid voltage sags are established, which are instructive to the design of PLL parameters. Besides, a novel design guideline for the PLL parameters is proposed to ensure the robust operation of the system both under the steady-state and grid voltage sags, as well as to achieve good dynamic performance after large disturbance occurs. The theoretical, simulation, and experimental results show that the proposed stability boundary has certain accuracy and the PLL parameters design guideline can ensure the system stability both under steady-state and grid voltage sag conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study was aimed to evaluate the postoperative outcomes of Mini Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (Mini-PCNL) and Standard Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (Standard-PCNL) to determine the optimum option for patients with renal calculi. For publications published between January 2010 and April 2021, a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases was done. The literatures were chosen based on the criteria for inclusion and exclusion. After the data were retrieved and the quality was assessed, the meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager Software (RevMan 5.4.1, Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). We selected 20 trials with a total of 4953 people out of 322 studies. There were 2567 patients treated with Mini-PCNL and 2386 patients treated with Standard-PCNL. Meta-analysis results showed no difference in stone-free rates (SFR, P = 0.93), fever (P = 0.83), and postoperative pain (VAS score) (P = 0.21) between Mini-PCNL and Standard-PCNL. Patients in the Mini-PCNL group experienced shorter hospital stay (P < 0.0001), less hemoglobin drop (P < 0.00001), less blood transfusion (P < 0.00001), higher postoperative tubeless (P = 0.0002), and fewer complications including bleeding (P = 0.01), perforation (P = 0.03), and leakage (P = 0.01). Compared with Standard-PCNL, operative time was longer in the Mini-PCNL group (P = 0.0005). Mini-PCNL had a shorter hospital stay, less hemoglobin drop, less blood transfusion, greater postoperative tubeless, fewer complications, and a longer operational time when compared to Standard-PCNL. SFR, fever, and postoperative pain were similar in both of them. Mini-PCNL may be a superior option for patients with proper size renal calculi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that the traditional linearization method cannot accurately analyze the grid-tied inverter (GTI) system with nonlinear nature, in the single-phase case, a novel nonlinear model for the GTI system considering nonlinear factors, including synchronous reference frame phase-locked loop (PLL) and duty-cycle saturation in pulsewidth modulation, is proposed, and the corresponding global asymptotic stability condition is given. Specifically, some system nonlinear factors, e.g., duty-cycle saturation phenomenon and Park (dq) transformation and cosine operation in second-order generalized integrator-based PLL (SOGI-PLL), are investigated, and their sector-bounded conditions are derived. In order to seek less conservative results, the system state of the SOGI-PLL is restructured such that the linear part of the PLL system can be stabilized. Then, the nonlinear state-space model with sector bounded for the whole GTI system is formulated. Furthermore, the deduced sector conditions are introduced into the derivation of the Lyapunov function by using the S-procedure lemma, and the global asymptotic stability condition of the inverter system is, thus, obtained. The system stability regions under different grid impedances, current references, and control parameters are further analyzed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed theories is fully supported by transient experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of rock burst grades is an important basis for rock burst prevention measures, and the AE (acoustic emission) features of rocks could reflect the rock burst grades. Taking a railway tunnel in western China as an example, the original rock cores with different rock burst grades were obtained by core drilling method; the cylindrical specimens in a diameter of 50 mm with a height of 100 mm were made from different directions (transverse, oblique, longitudinal) of the original rock cores. The AE features of different directions specimens during indoor uniaxial compression test were obtained. Using the ratio of the cumulative AE energy Eq before the main fracture to the cumulative AE energy E after the final fracture of specimens in different directions, the corresponding new methods for estimating the rock burst grade were proposed respectively; the estimation results were compared with the actual rock burst grades and the estimation results of the traditional rock burst estimation methods. It shows that the estimation accuracy of the method based on Eq/E of specimens in different directions reaches 80%, which is in good agreement with the actual rock burst grades; compared with the traditional rock burst estimation methods, the estimation results of Eq/E-based rock burst estimation methods are more reliable; when Eq/E of specimens in different directions is used to estimate rock burst grades, the reliability of the estimated results from high to low is longitudinal, oblique, and transverse specimen. The results presented herein are important for the prevention and control of rock burst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study distributed composite optimization over networks: agents minimize a sum of smooth (strongly) convex functions–the agents’ sum-utility–plus a nonsmooth (extended-valued) convex one. We propose a general unified algorithmic framework for such a class of problems and provide a convergence analysis leveraging the theory of operator splitting. Distinguishing features of our scheme are: (i) When each of the agent’s functions is strongly convex, the algorithm converges at a linear rate, whose dependence on the agents’ functions and network topology is decoupled; (ii) When the objective function is convex (but not strongly convex), similar decoupling as in (i) is established for the coefficient of the proved sublinear rate. This also reveals the role of function heterogeneity on the convergence rate. (iii) The algorithm can adjust the ratio between the number of communications and computations to achieve a rate (in terms of computations) independent on the network connectivity; and (iv) A by-product of our analysis is a tuning recommendation for several existing (non-accelerated) distributed algorithms yielding provably faster (worst-case) convergence rate for the class of problems under consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Swiss-type rectifier (SR) uses harmonic injection circuit and two dc–dc converters to help three-phase uncontrolled rectifier bridge to achieve better power factor correction (PFC). By applying the full-bridge topology to the dc structure, both the soft switching and the high-frequency galvanic isolation can be achieved. However, two full-bridge structures are required to realize the PFC principle of SR. That means the current flows through at least four switches and two transformers during the power conduction or freewheeling period. There are improvements in both conduction loss and core utilization. Thus, an optimized single-stage isolated Swiss-type ac/dc converter based on a single full-bridge with midpoint-clamper is proposed. Only one full-bridge structure is used to improve the conduction loss and core utilization. Two bidirectional voltage clampers are used to implement the PFC principle of the SR. The performance of the proposed converter has been verified by experiments. A total of 95.4% efficiency under half rated power and 5% input current THD under rated power have been achieved under a 10-kW 380 Vac input/400 Vdc output prototype with 90 kHz switching frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automotive intelligence has become a revolutionary trend in automotive technology. Complex road driving conditions directly affect driving safety and comfort. Therefore, by improving the recognition accuracy of road type or road adhesion coefficient, the ability of vehicles to perceive the surrounding environment will be enhanced. This will further contribute to vehicle intelligence. In this paper, considering that the process of manually extracting image features is complicated and that the extraction method is random for everyone, road surface condition identification method based on an improved ALexNet model, namely, the road surface recognition model (RSRM), is proposed. First, the ALexNet network model is pretrained on the ImageNet dataset offline. Second, the weights of the shallow network structure after training, including the convolutional layer, are saved and migrated to the proposed model. In addition, the fully connected layer fixed to the shallow network is replaced by 2 to 3, which improves the training accuracy and shortens the training time. Finally, the traditional machine learning and improved ALexNet model are compared, focusing on adaptability, prediction output, and error performance, among others. The results show that the accuracy of the proposed model is better than that of the traditional machine learning method by 10% and the ALexNet model by 3%, and it is 0.3 h faster than ALexNet in training speed. It is verified that RSRM effectively improves the network training speed and accuracy of road image recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a malignant tumor with high mortality. Nomogram is an important tool used in clinical prognostic assessment. We aimed to establish a novel nomogram to predict the overall survival (OS) of EC patients after radical esophagectomy. Methods: Data pertaining to the survival, demography, and clinicopathology of 311 EC patients who underwent radical esophagectomy were retrospectively investigated. The nomogram was established based on Cox hazard regression analysis. The calibration curves and Harrell's concordance index (C‐index) were used to verify the predictive accuracy and ROC curves were used to assess the efficacy of the nomogram. Kaplan–Meier curves showed the prognostic value of the related risk classification system. Pearson correlation test was performed to determine the correlation between the risk classification system and TNM staging. Results: The median OS and 5‐year survival rates in the primary and validation cohorts were 44 months and 29.8%, and 52 months and 27.1%, respectively. We used six independent prognostic factors—age, Sex, AGR, PRL, N stage, and PNI—in the nomogram. The C‐index of nomogram was 0.75 and 0.70 in the primary and validation cohorts, respectively. Calibration curves indicated high consistency between actual and predicted OS. ROC curves showed that nomogram has a better efficacy compared with TNM staging in both cohorts. Patients were divided into three risk groups according to the total nomogram score, the median OS in each group was significantly different in both cohorts. Furthermore, the risk classification system was strongly correlated with the T and N staging system and exhibited a better OS prediction capability. Conclusions: We established a novel and practical nomogram with a subordinate risk classification system to predict the OS of patients after radical esophagectomy. Compared with AJCC staging, this nomogram had preferable clinical capability in terms of individual prognosis assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between vitamin D/calcium and risk of ovarian cancer is still a debatable point. The aim of our study was to systematically investigate the association between vitamin D/calcium, and the risk of ovarian cancer and estimate their dose-response association quantitatively.Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant observational studies. Two investigators screened citations and extracted data independently. Data were extracted and the association between vitamin D/calcium and ovarian cancer risk was estimated by calculating pooled relative risks (RRs). Subgroup analyses, publication bias estimation, and dose-response analyses were carried out as well.Results: In total, 21 articles involving 980,008 participants were included in our present study. No significant association was observed between total vitamin D intake and ovarian cancer risk (RR: 1.02; 95% CI, 0.89-1.16, p = 0.81). Further subgroup analysis suggested that neither dietary vitamin D intake (RR: 0.80; 95% CI, 0.62-1.03, p = 0.09) nor supplementary vitamin D intake (RR: 0.98; 95% CI, 0.85-1.13, p = 0.80) was associated with the risk of ovarian cancer. As for calcium, total calcium intake was found to be statistically inversely associated with ovarian cancer risk in case-control studies (RR: 0.73; 95% CI, 0.63-0.86, p < 0.001) but not in cohort studies (RR: 1.05; 95% CI, 0.90-1.24, p = 0.52). Besides, supplementation with calcium plus vitamin D was not effective for the prevention of ovarian cancer (p = 0.98). Of note, dose-response analysis based on cohort studies suggested a potential inverse U-shape relationship between calcium intake (including total calcium and dietary calcium) and ovarian cancer risk, which indicated that low dose of calcium intake might reduce ovarian cancer risk while high dose of calcium intake might not.Conclusions: Taken together, vitamin D could not decrease the risk of ovarian cancer. The role of calcium intake was not proven for reducing ovarian cancer risk. Besides, no evidence showed combinative use of calcium and vitamin D have additional benefits for ovarian cancer prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the world's third‐most widely produced plastic polymer. Directly transforming PVC to carbonaceous materials for CO2 capture provides an environmentally friendly and attractive strategy to recycle plastics. In this work, a simple and effective method was developed to prepare PVC‐derived carbon spheres. In this method, the classical "spheroidization" process shaped the original PVC powders into millimeter spheres, and a special dehalogenation and cross‐linking process in the presence of a phase‐transfer catalyst transferred the thermoplasticity of the PVC‐spheres into thermosetting, which stabilized the shape. Furthermore, by rationally adjusting the activation conditions, the porous structure of the carbon spheres was well optimized. With a specific surface area up to 1738 m2 g−1 and the developed microporous structure, the as‐prepared carbon spheres showed not only excellent performance in pure CO2 adsorption (8.93 mmol g−1, 39.3 wt% at 0 °C and 5.47 mmol g−1, 24.1 wt% at 25 °C), but also outstanding adsorption capacity and recyclability in low‐concentration CO2 capture, even superior to conventional molecular sieves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predatory mirid bug, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter, feeds on brown planthopper (BPH) eggs that are deposited on rice and gramineous plants surrounding rice fields. The development and reproduction of C. lividipennis are inhibited by feeding on BPH eggs from gramineous species, and the underlining regulatory mechanism for this phenomenon is unclear. In the present study, HPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed that the concentrations of six amino acids (AAs:Ala, Arg, Ser, Lys, Thr, and Pro) were significantly higher in rice than in five gramineous species. When C. lividipennis fed on gramineous plants with BPH eggs, expression of several genes in the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway (Rheb , TOR , and S6K) were significantly lower than that in the insects fed on rice plants with BPH eggs. Treatment of C. lividipennis females with rapamycin, dsRheb, dsTOR, or dsS6K caused a decrease in Rheb , TOR , and S6K expression, and these effects were partially rescued by the juvenile hormone (JH) analog, methoprene. Dietary dsTOR treatment significantly influenced a number of physiological parameters and resulted in impaired predatory capacity, fecundity, and population growth. This study indicates that these six AAs play an important role in the mediated-TOR pathway, which in turn regulates vitellogenin (Vg) synthesis, reproduction, and population growth in C. lividipennis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common tumors in urinary tract tumors. However, the mechanism that supports renal cell carcinoma is unclear. The function of transcription elongation factor A (SII)-like 2 (TCEAL2) and its association with human cancer have not been reported. Materials and Methods: To explore the role of TCEAL2 in carcinogenesis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), we performed bioinformatics analysis to determine the expression levels of TCEAL2 in ccRCC specimens and normal kidney tissue and then verified findings with our samples by qPCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry staining. Furthermore, the lentiviral vectors were used to increase the expression of TCEAL2 in ccRCC cell lines. The immunofluorescence assay was taken to observe the subcellular location of TCEAL2 in ccRCC cells, and CCK-8 and flow cytometry were introduced for assessing cell proliferation and cell cycle of ccRCC cells, respectively. Results: Compared with adjacent normal kidney tissue and human proximal tubular epithelial cells, the expression of TCEAL2 in ccRCC tissues and cell lines was down-regulated. Patients who had low expression of TCEAL2 had a statistically significant late tumor stage. Restore of TCEAL2 in ccRCC cells inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in S phase of ccRCC cells. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of TCEAL2 expression changes in ccRCC. We found that the decrease of TCEAL2 expression may be related to the occurrence of ccRCC. Further research is needed to clarify the molecular mechanism of TCEAL2 in progress of ccRCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]