Search

The aim of this study was to determine the radio sensitization of docetaxel in human esophageal squamous carcinoma ECA109 cell line by observing the effects of docetaxel in ECA109 cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis rate and related protein expression. Docetaxel inhibits the proliferation in ECA109 cell line in a dosedependent and time-dependent manner, and 1nM was chosen for radio sensitization according to the inhibition curves. The D0 and SF2 values of ECA109 cells were 3.00Gy and 0.95, respectively, and of docetaxel (1nM) with irradiation group were 2.54Gy and 0.88. G0/G1 decreased (P<0.05), G2/M phase saw a spike (P<0.05) in the docetaxel with radiation group at 12h, 24h and 48h, while the apoptotic index witnessed a surge at 24h and 48h (P<0.05). The docetaxel with radiation group obtained a higher expression of p21 and bax protein than the docetaxel group and the radiation group (P<0.05), and a higher ratio of bcl-2/bax than the others (P<0.05). Docetaxel could inhibit the proliferation in ECA109 cell line. p21, bax, bcl-2 and other related proteins can regulate cell cycle phase distribution and induce cell apoptosis, thereby increasing the radiosensitivity effect of docetaxel in ECA109 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the carbonation effect on the design parameters of a bridge deck link slab made by ecological high ductility cementitious composites (Eco-HDCC), flexural and compressive properties of Eco-HDCC were studied. Besides, the carbonation front and pH profile in the pore solution of Eco-HDCC specimens with different carbonation ages were determined. Results indicate that the ultimate flexural strength of Eco-HDCC has little change as carbonation age increases, and first cracking strength increases for carbonation ages of 3 d~7 d, then decreases. The ultimate deflection of Eco-HDCC after being carbonated is higher than that of the virgin specimen. Besides, as the carbonation age prolongs, the compressive strength and elastic modulus of Eco-HDCC slightly increase. In addition, with the increase of the carbonation age, carbonation front of Eco-HDCC increases while the pH value of the pore solution decreases. When the depth ranges are 15 mm~25 mm and 37 mm~40 mm for carbonation ages of 56 d, the pH values are 10.4 and 11.2, which may destroy the passive film of the steel bar. Moreover, the mechanical property parameters for the design of the link slab made by Eco-HDCC can be selected according to non-carbonated material for the purpose of safe and conservative design. The corrosion-resistant steel bar or fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bar could be a promising choice to prevent steel bar corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh water resources in the North China Plain are declining due to increasing industrial and domestic water use. These uses raise the agricultural demand for low quality water. To provide appropriate management techniques for safely using saline water, different mulching materials were tested on ridgetillage tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Four treatments: control (bare land, CK), black plastic (BPM), black sheet net (BSN), and wheat straw (SM) were designed to: (i) evaluate the effects of mulching on the irrigation amount, soil salinity, tomato yield, and irrigation water productivity (IWP); and (ii) develop integrated irrigation strategies using saline water securely. The average required water for the SM and BPM treatments reduced by 12 and 20%, respectively. Electrical conductivity of saturated paste extracts (ECe) increased from 1.91 to 4.07 dS m-1 in 0- to 40-cm root zone and from 2.33 to 4.24 dS m-1 in 0- to 120-cm soil profile after the first year irrigation, and then fluctuated slightly during the next 3 yr due to precipitation and evaporation. The ECe for the SM treatment was always the least in 4 yr. Compared with CK, the BPM and SM treatments over 4 yr increased the average tomato yield by 26 and 42%, and increased the average IWP by 62 and 70%, respectively. Therefore, straw mulching was the best mulching material to safely use saline water of <6.3 dS m-1 for the ridgetillage tomato under drip irrigation, followed by black plastic mulching, in a temperate semi humid monsoon climate zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and KRA.S gene are important driver genes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The studies are mainly focused on detection of EGFR gene for advanced NSCLC, and the mutation feature of EGFR and KRA.S gene in early NSCLC tissue is unknown. This study aims to investigate the mutations of EGFR and KRA.S gene in NSCLC, and the relationship between the genotype and clinicopathologic features. Methods The hotspot mutations in EGFR and KRAS gene in 754 tissue samples of stage I-IIIa NSCLC from Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital were detected by modified amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) real-time PCR kit, and analyzed their correlation with clinical variables. Results The hotspot mutation rates in EGFR and KRAS were 34.5% and 13.1% respectively, and there were EGFR-KRAS double mutations in 3 samples. The mutation rate of EGFR was higher in females than that in males (39.5% vs 29.4%, P=0.076), significantly increased in adenocarcinomas (38.7%) compared to that in the other forms of NSCLC (P<0.01), but still lower than that reported in some Asian studies of advanced adenocarcinoma (-50%). Meanwhile, the mutation rate of KRA.S was remarkably higher in males than that in females (16.6% vs 9%, P=0.048), increased in adenocarcinomas compared to that in the other forms of NSCLC, but the difference was not significant (P=0.268). Samples harbored EGFR mutation were younger than those harbored KRA.S mutation (P=0.031,5), and had significant difference in gender between the two groups (P<0.01). Conclusion The mutation rate of EGFR in stag I-IIIa NSCLC patients was lower than that in advanced NSCLC patients. And the percentage of the NSCLC patients with EGFR- KRAS double mutations is 0.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of the supply of electricity to economic growth is self-evident. However, the existing research mostly focuses on the linear relationship between electricity consumption and economic growth, while ignoring the nonlinear relationship between them. What's more, the existing research also ignores the spatial correlation of power consumption and its spillover effect on economic growth. In order to address the deficiency of the existing research, this study empirically analyzes the effects of Chinese provincial electricity of economic growth based on the panel threshold model and panel spatial model with 30 provincial samples from 1995 to 2014. The results show that China's power consumption causes threshold effect and spatial spillover on economic growth. When per capita GDP, per capita consumption expenditure, and per capita investment exceed a certain threshold, the positive role in stimulating economic growth of electricity consumption is significantly different from those of the elasticity when the per capita GDP, per capita consumption expenditure, and per capita investment do not exceed the corresponding thresh value. Not only does the local electricity consumption significantly promote economic growth of the local region, the electricity consumption spillover effects of the adjacent provinces can also promote the economic growth of the local region. If the spatial spillover effect of electricity consumption is neglected, the supportive effect of electricity consumption on economic growth will be underestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]