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ObjectivesThis study analyzes the influencing factors of the aeroacoustic noise of cruise ship chimney exhaust pipelines, and predicts the noise level in the open area of a domestic cruise ship. MethodsA hybrid approach combining Large Eddy Simulation and Lighthill Analogy is used to conduct a numerical simulation of the pipeline’s aeroacoustic noise under the actual working conditions of a cruise ship. The impacts of the inlet flow rate, outlet pressure, cross-section shape and bending angle on the aerodynamic noise are studied. A real-size cruise ship chimney exhaust pipeline model is then established to analyze the main noise sources and predict the noise level in the open areaa. ResultsThe results show that the larger the inlet velocity and bending angle, the greater the aeroacoustic noise. Furthermore, the aeroacoustic noise of a pipeline with a zero pressure-outlet is greater than that with a non-zero pressure-outlet. It is also found that the aeroacoustic noise of a rectangular cross-sectional pipeline is marginally smaller than that of a circular one. In addition, the narrowband peak frequency decreases as the bending angle increases. Except for the chimney outlet, the noise level in the open area is low. ConclusionsThis study has significant reference value for controlling the aeroacoustic noise of cruise ship chimney exhaust pipelines and improving passenger comfort in open areas.

Abstract Background Liver metastasis is one of the primary causes of poor prognosis in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) patients, but there are few studies on its biomarkers. Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-COAD, GSE41258, and GSE49355 datasets were acquired from the public database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between liver metastasis and primary tumor samples in COAD were identified by limma, and functional enrichment analysis were performed. MuTect2 and maftools were used to measure somatic mutation rates, while ADTEx was used to measure copy number variations (CNVs). The intersection of three machine learning methods, support vector machine (SVM), Random Forest, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), is utilized to screen biomarkers, and their diagnostic performance is subsequently validated. The correlation between biomarkers and immune cells infiltration was analyzed by Spearman method. Results 47 DEGs between liver metastasis and primary tumor samples in COAD were obtained, which were mainly enriched in the complement and coagulation, extracellular matrix (ECM), and peptidase regulator activity, etc. 38 out of 47 DEGs had mutations and exhibited a high frequency of CNV amplification or deletion. Furthermore, 3 biomarkers (MMP3, MAB21L2, and COLEC11) were screened, which showed good diagnostic performance. The proportion of multiple immune cells, such as B cells naive, T cells CD4 naive, Monocytes, and Dendritic cells resting, was higher in liver metastasis samples than that in primary tumor samples. Meanwhile, MMP3, MAB21L2, and COLEC11 exhibited an outstanding correlation with immune cells infiltration. Conclusion In short, 3 biomarkers with good diagnostic efficacy were identified, providing a new perspective of therapeutic targets for liver metastasis in COAD.

New characterizations for generalized inverses along the core parts of three matrix decompositions were investigated in this paper. Let $ A_{1} $, $ \hat{A}_{1} $ and $ \tilde{A}_{1} $ be the core parts of the core-nilpotent decomposition, the core-EP decomposition and EP-nilpotent decomposition of $ A\in \mathbb{C}^{n\times n} $, respectively, where EP denotes the EP matrix. A number of characterizations and different representations of the Drazin inverse, the weak group inverse and the core-EP inverse were given by using the core parts $ A_{1} $, $ \hat{A}_{1} $ and $ \tilde{A}_{1} $. One can prove that, the Drazin inverse is the inverse along $ A_{1} $, the weak group inverse is the inverse along $ \hat{A}_{1} $ and the core-EP inverse is the inverse along $ \tilde{A}_{1} $. A unified theory presented in this paper covers the Drazin inverse, the weak group inverse and the core-EP inverse based on the core parts of the core-nilpotent decomposition, the core-EP decomposition and EP-nilpotent decomposition of $ A\in \mathbb{C}^{n\times n} $, respectively. In addition, we proved that the Drazin inverse of $ A $ is the inverse of $ A $ along $ U $ and $ A_{1} $ for any $ U\in \{A_{1}, \hat{A}_{1}, \tilde{A}_{1}\} $; the weak group inverse of $ A $ is the inverse of $ A $ along $ U $ and $ \hat{A}_{1} $ for any $ U\in \{A_{1}, \hat{A}_{1}, \tilde{A}_{1}\} $; the core-EP inverse of $ A $ is the inverse of $ A $ along $ U $ and $ \tilde{A}_{1} $ for any $ U\in \{A_{1}, \hat{A}_{1}, \tilde{A}_{1}\} $. Let $ X_{1} $, $ X_{4} $ and $ X_{7} $ be the generalized inverses along $ A_{1} $, $ \hat{A}_{1} $ and $ \tilde{A}_{1} $, respectively. In the last section, some useful examples were given, which showed that the generalized inverses $ X_{1} $, $ X_{4} $ and $ X_{7} $ were different generalized inverses. For a certain singular complex matrix, the Drazin inverse coincides with the weak group inverse, which is different from the core-EP inverse. Moreover, we showed that the Drazin inverse, the weak group inverse and the core-EP inverse can be the same for a certain singular complex matrix.

Abstract Mood instability, a subjective emotional state defined as rapid mood oscillations of up and down, is a symptom that occurs in several psychiatric disorders, particularly major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Heat shock protein A12A (HSPA12A) shows decreased expression in the brains of schizophrenia patients. However, the causal effects of HSPA12A in any psychiatric disorders are completely unknown. To investigate whether HSPA12A affects mood stability, Hspa12a-knockout mice (Hspa12a − /−) and wild-type (WT) littermates were subjected to tests of open field, forced swimming, elevated plus maze, and sucrose preference. Cerebral lactate levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) was assessed by BrdU labeling. We found that acute mood stress increased hippocampal HSPA12A expression and CSF lactate levels in mice. However, Hspa12a − /− mice exhibited behaviors of mood instability (anhedonia, lower locomotor activity, antidepression, and anxiety), which were accompanied by impaired AHN, decreased CSF lactate levels, and downregulated hippocampal glycolytic enzyme expression. By contrast, HSPA12A overexpression increased lactate production and glycolytic enzyme expression of primary hippocampal neurons. Intriguingly, lactate administration alleviated the mood instability and AHN impairment in Hspa12a − /− mice. Further analyses revealed that HSPA12A was necessary for sustaining cerebral lactate homeostasis, which could be mediated by inhibiting GSK3β in hippocampal neurons, to maintain AHN and mood stabilization. Taken together, HSPA12A is defined as a novel regulator of mood stability and exerts therapeutic potential for mood disorder. Our findings establish a framework for determining mood disorder and AHN relevance of cerebral lactate homeostasis. HSPA12A is a novel mood stabilizer through inhibiting GSK3β in hippocampal neurons, thereby sustaining glycolysis-generated lactate to maintain cerebral lactate homeostasis, which ultimately leading to maintenance of hippocampal neurogenesis and mood stabilization.

Ultrasonography is a widely used medical imaging technique for detecting breast cancer. While manual diagnostic methods are subject to variability and time-consuming, computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) methods have proven to be more efficient. However, current CAD approaches neglect the impact of noise and artifacts on the accuracy of image analysis. To enhance the precision of breast ultrasound image analysis for identifying tissues, organs and lesions, we propose a novel approach for improved tumor classification through a dual-input model and global average pooling (GAP)-guided attention loss function. Our approach leverages a convolutional neural network with transformer architecture and modifies the single-input model for dual-input. This technique employs a fusion module and GAP operation-guided attention loss function simultaneously to supervise the extraction of effective features from the target region and mitigate the effect of information loss or redundancy on misclassification. Our proposed method has three key features: (i) ResNet and MobileViT are combined to enhance local and global information extraction. In addition, a dual-input channel is designed to include both attention images and original breast ultrasound images, mitigating the impact of noise and artifacts in ultrasound images. (ii) A fusion module and GAP operation-guided attention loss function are proposed to improve the fusion of dual-channel feature information, as well as supervise and constrain the weight of the attention mechanism on the fused focus region. (iii) Using the collected uterine fibroid ultrasound dataset to train ResNet18 and load the pre-trained weights, our experiments on the BUSI and BUSC public datasets demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms some state-of-the-art methods. The code will be publicly released at https://github.com/425877/Improved-Breast-Ultrasound-Tumor-Classification.

Abstract Background The incidence of hypoxemia during painless gastrointestinal endoscopy remains a matter of concem. To date, there is no recognized simple method to predict hypoxemia in digestive endoscopic anesthesia. The NoSAS (neck circumference, obesity, snoring, age, sex) questionnaire, an objective and simple assessment scale used to assess obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), combined with the modified Mallampati grade (MMP), may have certain screening value. This combination may allow anesthesiologists to anticipate, manage, and consequently decrease the occurrence of hypoxemia. Methods This study was a prospective observational trial. The primary endpoint was the incidence of hypoxaemia defined as pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2)

Studies of circular RNAs have often been limited to the tissue or organism level. Here, authors investigate the comprehensive expression landscape of circRNAs in human and mouse at single-cell resolution, revealing highly specific and dynamic changes of circRNAs during multiple biological processes.

An improved star-shaped honeycomb (ISSH) is a kind of honeycomb structure with excellent performance. The main objective of this study was to provide some ideas for the optimization of the ISSH structure in ships. As a result, 2D-ISSH specimens were fabricated using 3D printing technology, and a quasistatic compression test was carried out to investigate the deformation mode and mechanical properties. The experimental results showed that the 2D-ISSH structure exhibited “V”-shaped and “-”-shaped deformation patterns with a double-platform stress stage. To further utilize the excellent performance of the structure and obtain a better negative Poisson’s ratio effect and broader application, based on the properties of the 2D-ISSH specimen, a 3D-ISSH structure was proposed and a finite element simulation was carried out. The simulation results of the 3D-ISSH structure showed different deformation patterns, including “X”- shaped and “-”-shaped patterns. According to the deformation mechanism of typical cells, the stress formula for the 3D-ISSH double platform was derived, and the theoretical results agreed well with the numerical results. The effects of the structural design, materials, and dimensions on the mechanical properties, such as the energy absorption and negative Poisson’s ratio, of the ISSH and similar structures were explored. The combined performance of various honeycombs was evaluated from multiple perspectives.

To investigate the effect of nodal configuration on the mechanical properties of hexachiral honeycombs, three specimens, namely, a standard honeycomb, a thickened-node honeycomb, and a filled-node honeycomb, were prepared using 3D-printing technology. Several quasi-static compression tests were performed, which revealed that nodal reinforcement can inhibit nodal aberrations during ligament winding, thus facilitating the “rotational” mechanism and improving the negative Poisson’s ratio properties of the honeycomb. Experiments performed using the finite element method showed that nodal reinforcement mainly played a role in the stage of stress rise, and the role of nodal filling was more significant than that of nodal thickening. Low-strain standard honeycombs presented the highest specific absorption energy. However, the specific absorption energy of the filled-node honeycomb and the thickened-node honeycomb exceeded that of the standard honeycomb at a strain of 0.71. The conclusions presented herein can aid in the optimal design of honeycombs and contribute to the design of protective structures.

Abstract Background Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most frequent complications following strabismus surgery. Penehyclidine, an anticholinergic agent, is widely used as premedication. This study investigated the effect of preoperative penehyclidine on PONV in patients undergoing strabismus surgery. Methods In this prospective, randomized, double-blind study, patients scheduled for strabismus surgery under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to either penehyclidine (n = 114) or normal saline (n = 104) group. Penehyclidine was administrated immediately after anesthesia induction, and normal saline was substituted as control. PONV was investigated from 0 to 48 h after surgery. Intraoperative oculocardiac reflex (OCR) was also recorded. Results Compared with normal saline, penehyclidine significantly reduced PONV incidence (30.7% vs. 54.8%, P

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer‐related death, and there remains a need for novel therapies for this malignancy. Here, we examined the effects of alpha‐lipoic acid (LA), a drug used for treating human diabetic complications, on lung cancer growth. We report that LA limited lung cancer growth in xenograft mice and reduced lung cancer A549 cell viability. We observed autophagy activation in human lung cancers, and report that LA inactivated autophagy in A549 cells. In addition, LA activated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/p70S6K signaling. Inhibition of mTOR with rapamycin reversed LA‐induced inactivation of autophagy and abolished LA‐induced suppression of A549 cell viability. Altogether, the data suggest that LA exerts an anti‐lung cancer effect through mTOR‐mediated inhibition of autophagy, and thus LA may have therapeutic potential for lung cancer management.

Abstract Active mechanical metamaterials (AMMs) (or smart mechanical metamaterials) that combine the configurations of mechanical metamaterials and the active control of stimuli‐responsive materials have been widely investigated in recent decades. The elaborate artificial microstructures of mechanical metamaterials and the stimulus response characteristics of smart materials both contribute to AMMs, making them achieve excellent properties beyond the conventional metamaterials. The micro and macro structures of the AMMs are designed based on structural construction principles such as, phase transition, strain mismatch, and mechanical instability. Considering the controllability and efficiency of the stimuli‐responsive materials, physical fields such as, the temperature, chemicals, light, electric current, magnetic field, and pressure have been adopted as the external stimuli in practice. In this paper, the frontier works and the latest progress in AMMs from the aspects of the mechanics and materials are reviewed. The functions and engineering applications of the AMMs are also discussed. Finally, existing issues and future perspectives in this field are briefly described. This review is expected to provide the basis and inspiration for the follow‐up research on AMMs.

To further improve the low-frequency broadband sound absorption capability of the underwater anechoic layer (UAL) on the surface of marine equipment, a novel sound absorption structure with cavities (NSSC) is designed by adding resonators and honeycombs to the traditional sound absorption structure with cavities (SSC). Based on the principle of shear dissipation, the original intention of the design is to allow more parts of the viscoelastic material to participate the dissipation of acoustic energy. The approximate multilayer sound absorption theoretical model based on the modified transfer matrix method is used to verify the accuracy of finite element calculations. In the frequency range of 1100 Hz–10,000 Hz, the sound absorption coefficient (α) of NSSC can reach 0.8. The effects of the presence and size of cylindrical oscillators and honeycomb structures on sound absorption are discussed in detail. The results show that expanding the effective sound absorption range of the damping area of the structure is the key to improve the wideband sound absorption effect. This design concept could guide the structural design of the UAL.

A simple route to fabricate a surface layer comprising Fe3O4 nanoplates on a carbon steel has been successfully demonstrated using etching treatment followed by annealing in oxygen atmosphere. Different sizes of the Fe3O4 (311) exposed nanoplates can be fabricated by varying the annealing temperature. Density Function Theory (DFT) calculation proved that the energy of Fe3O4 (311) surface was the lowest among all exposed facets, which make it most stable. The superhydrophobicity has been realized after modification with trimethoxy silane (HFTMS). Molecular dynamic simulation was further carried out to verify the excellent anti-wettability of the modified surface. In addition, the superhydrophobic surface exhibited a low adhesion with water and displays excellent performance in anti-corrosion, anti-icing and self-cleaning.

Iron-based fluorides are promising alternates for advanced sodium-free battery cathodes due to their large theoretical capacity. However, the rational structural control on the iron-based fluorides toward high-performance batteries is still challenging. To this end, a controllable porous structure on FeF3·0.33H2O sub-microspheres is achieved by a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-assisted hydrothermal method via adjusting the volume of PEG-400. Experimental and molecular dynamic results verify that the formation of small amethyst-like sub-microspheres is mainly ascribed to the steric hindrance reaction of PEG-400, which makes it difficult for F− to combine with Fe3+ to form coordination bonds, and partially hinders the nucleation and growth of FeF3·0.33H2O nanospheres. As a sodium-free battery cathode, the FeF3·0.33H2O sub-microspheres with porous structure and smaller particle size exhibit excellent electrochemical performance with regard to cycle capacity and rate capability (a remaining capacity of 328 mAh g−1 and up to 95.3% retention rate when backs to 0.1 C after 60 cycles).

Air embolism is a rare complication of upper endoscopy and potentially causes life-threatening events. A 67-year-old man with a history of surgery of cardiac carcinoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor underwent painless upper endoscopy because of tarry stools. During the procedure, air embolism developed, which caused decreased pulse oxygen saturation and delayed sedation recovery. He recovered with some weakness of the left upper limb in the intensive care unit without hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The etiology, clinical manifestations, and treatments of air embolism are discussed based on the literature reports. Although air embolism is uncommon in endoscopic examinations, the patients’ outcomes could be improved if clinicians are alert to this potential complication, and promptly start proper diagnostic and therapeutic measures.

Abstract Background MicroRNA-148b (miR-148b) has been detected in various types of tumors, and is generally viewed as a tumor suppressor. Our previous study found the decreased expression of miR-148b in human non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specimens and cell lines. However, the underlying mechanisms of miR-148b in regulating tumor progression remain unclear. Methods Firstly animal experiments were performed to verify whether miR-148b could inhibit the tumor growth. Then, the underlying mechanisms were studied by transfecting recombinant plasmids containing a miR-148b mimic or a negative control (NC) mimic (shRNA control) into NSCLC cell lines PC14/B and A549 cells. Tumor cells transfected with unpackaged lentiviral vectors was used as blank control. Cell proliferation capabilities were measured by using CCK-8 kit and colony formation assay. Cell cycle arrest was compared to clarify the mechanism underlying the tumor cell proliferation. Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection kit was applied to investigate the effect of miR-148b on cell apoptosis. Furthermore, western blot analysis were performed to study the targeting pathway. Results We found that over-expression of miR148b could significantly inhibit tumor growth, while knocking down miR148b could obviously promote tumor growth. Further experiment showed that miR-148b inhibited tumor cell proliferation. Besides, over-expression of miR148b decreased the G2/M phase population of the cell cycle by preventing NSCLC cells from entering the mitotic phase and enhanced tumor cell apoptosis. Further western blot analysis indicated that miR148b could inhibit mitogen-activated protein kinase/Jun N-terminal kinase (MAPK/JNK) signaling by decreasing the expression of phosphorylated (p) JNK. Conclusions These results demonstrate that miR-148b could inhibit the tumor growth and act as tumor suppressor by inhibiting the proliferation and inducing apoptosis of NSCLC cells by blocking the MAPK/JNK pathway.

Metamaterials/Phononic crystals are used to control the propagation of elastic waves/sound waves, and can be used in fields such as vibration isolation, noise reduction, stealth, focusing, and acoustic wave devices. The realization of real-time, flexible and active adjustable control of elastic waves by mechanical reconstruction of metamaterials is a current research hotspot. Here, SMP metamaterials with mechanical reconstruction and self-recovery ability are proposed. Affected by the glass transition temperature of the material, the mechanical properties of the metamaterials are related to the geometric parameters of the lattice configuration and the external temperature. The metamaterials can adaptively switch mechanical properties and shapes without continuous external excitation of the physical field. The finite element method and experiments were used to analyze the deformation and self-recovery process of the metamaterials. The results show that the metamaterial can achieve mechanical programming and response recovery, and the bandgap of the metamaterial can be greatly adjusted by changing the external temperature.

In this paper, Gyroid lattice cylindrical shell (LCS) specimens were designed by a newly proposed mapping methodology and were fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) technology. Their energy absorption and deformation modes were investigated through quasi-static compression tests. A finite element model (FEM) was proposed, which was validated by the experimental results, for a further study on the compressive behavior of the Gyroid LCS. Based on the numerical study, it was found that Gyroid LCS showed superior energy absorption to the hexagonal LCS and triangular LCS with the same density. In addition, a parametric study indicated that main energy absorption factors, namely total energy absorption, specific energy absorption and mean crushing load, were in power function relationship with the relative density. Finally, it was found that thickness gradient and geometric gradient had significant effects on the failure modes of Gyroid LCS under compression. The research in this paper is expected to provide some guidance for the design of energy absorption devices or structures. Keywords: Gyroid lattice cylindrical structure, Energy absorption, Triply periodic minimal surfaces, Quasi-static compression

In this article, we consider a Dancer-type unilateral global bifurcation for the Kirchhoff-type problem $$\displaylines{ -\Big(a+b\int_0^1 | u'|^2\,dx\Big)u'' =\lambda u+h(x,u,\lambda)\quad\text{in } (0,1),\cr u(0)=u(1)=0. }$$ Under natural hypotheses on h, we show that $(a\lambda_k,0)$ is a bifurcation point of the above problem. As applications we determine the interval of $\lambda$, in which there exist nodal solutions for the Kirchhoff-type problem $$\displaylines{ -\Big(a+b\int_0^1 | u'|^2\,dx\Big) u'' =\lambda f(x,u)\quad\text{in } (0,1),\cr u(0)=u(1)=0, }$$ where f is asymptotically linear at zero and is asymptotically 3-linear at infinity. To do this, we also establish a complete characterization of the spectrum of a nonlocal eigenvalue problem.

Abstract Background Postoperative severe complications are always associated with prolonged hospital stays, increased economic burdens, and poor prognoses in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This present study aimed to investigate potential risk factors including serum albumin (Alb) for severe complications in CRC patients. Methods Eligible patients with primary CRC undergoing elective laparoscopic colectomy from July 2015 to July 2017 were included. Postoperative severe complications were defined as grade III and IV according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. ∆Alb was defined as (preoperative Alb − nadir Alb within POD2)/preoperative Alb × 100%. The baseline characteristics, intraoperative data, and laboratory data were obtained from the database for the analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were utilized for the assessment of the association between risk factors and postoperative severe complications. The predictive value of ∆Alb for postoperative severe complications was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results A total of 193 patients were finally included in the analysis data set, of which 38 (19.7%) patients had postoperative severe complications. In the final multivariate logistic regression analysis, ∆Alb was the only independent factor associated with postoperative severe complications (OR 1.66, 95%CI 1.18–2.33, p = 0.003). The area under the curve (AUC) of ∆Alb was 0.916, with the sensitivity and specificity of 0.842 and 0.858 (p

In this paper, we consider the multiplicity of positive solutions for a class of Schrödinger equations involving concave-convex nonlinearities in the whole space. With the help of the Nehari manifold, Ekeland variational principle and the theory of Lagrange multipliers, we prove that the Schrödinger equation has at least two positive solutions, one of which is a positive ground state solution.

Ni5P4 has received considerable attention recently as a potentially viable substitute for Pt as the cathode material for catalytic water splitting. The current investigation focuses on theoretical understandings of the characteristics of active sites toward water splitting using first-principle calculations. The results indicate that the activity of bridge NiNi sites is highly related on the bond number with neighbors. If the total bond number of NiNi is higher than 14, the sites will exhibit excellent HER performance. For the top P sites, the activity is greatly affected by the position of coplanar atoms besides the bond number. Data of bond length with neighbors can be used to predict the activity of P sites as reviewed by machine learning. Partial density of state (PDOS) analysis of different P sites illustrates that the activity of P sites should form the appropriate bond to localize some 3p orbits of the P atoms. Bond number and position of neighbors are two key parameters for the prediction of the HER activity. Based on the current work, most of the low-energy surfaces of Ni5P4 are active, indicating a good potential of this materials for hydrogen evolution reactions.

In this article, we consider the multiplicity of positive solutions for a class of Kirchhoff type problems with concave and convex nonlinearities. Under appropriate assumptions, we prove that the problem has at least two positive solutions, moreover, one of which is a positive ground state solution. Our approach is mainly based on the Nehari manifold, Ekeland variational principle and the theory of Lagrange multipliers.

In this paper, we consider the multiplicity of solutions for a class of Kirchhoff type problems with concave and convex nonlinearities on an unbounded domain. With the aid of Ekeland's variational principle, Jeanjean's monotone method and the Pohožaev identity we prove that the Kirchhoff problem has at least two solutions.

The Cre/loxP site-specific recombination system was applied to Aurantiochytrium limacinum to obtain a transformant without the antibiotic resistance marker gene. First, the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (egfp) and chloramphenicol resistance gene (Cmr), along with the two loxP loci, were integrated into the genome of A. limacinum OUC88 using 18S rDNA sequences as the homologous recombination sites. Then plasmid pSH65, containing a zeocin resistance gene (Bler) was transferred into A. limacinum OUC_CG. After induction with galactose, repeated passage in culture and PCR-based assessment, the pSH65 plasmid was lost and A. limacinum OUC_EG host was shown to no longer have resistance to 100 mg chloramphenicol/L or 5 mg zeocin/L. Through southern blotting and fluorescence detection, egfp was found to be integrated into the genome of A. limacinum OUC_EG, and EGFP was successfully expressed in the cells. The successful application of the Cre/loxP system demonstrates an experimental basis for genetic modification of A. limacinum so as to obtain transformed strains with no antibiotic resistance marker genes.

Let A be a complex matrix. The question when a generalized column constrained inverse coincides with a generalized row constrained inverse was answered, which lead to the generalized constrained inverse of A was introduced and this inverse coincides with the weak group inverse. Moreover, the "distance" between the generalized constrained inverse and the inverse along two matrices was given, that is, the generalized constrained inverse of A coincides with the (Ak, (Ak)*A)-inverse of A, where k is the index of A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correlated double sampling (CDS) circuits are essential to processing the X-ray charge-coupled devices (CCDs) that have been used in the modern X-ray astronomical field. For spectroscopy observations, the energy resolution is of decisive importance. In this paper, a comprehensive study of the CDS algorithm based on the incremental $\Delta \Sigma $ technique, named $\Delta \Sigma $ -CDS algorithm hereafter, is studied. Theoretical and practical aspects for modulations and demodulations for applications with different pixel rates (PRs) are discussed. The concepts of differential cascade-of-integrator filter and truncated cascaded-integrator-comb filter are extensively investigated from both the time-domain and frequency-domain analyses. The operating principles, prototype design, and experimental results are addressed. As a prototype for 100-kHz PR, a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) is designed. When tested with the target X-ray CCD–CCD236 using a $1~\mu $ Ci 55Fe radioisotope, the ROIC achieves an energy resolution characterized by the full-width-at-half-maximum as 132.4 ± 2.4 eV at 5.9 keV, which is very close to the 121-eV limit of CCD236. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most prevalent cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Macrophage-mediated inflammation plays a critical role in NASH pathogenesis; however, optimum therapies for macrophage activation and NASH remain elusive. HSPA12A encodes a novel member of the HSP70 family. Here, we report that NASH patients showed increased hepatic HSPA12A expression and serum HSPA12A contents. Intriguingly, knockout of HSPA12A (Hspa12a-/- ) in mice attenuated high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis and injury. HFD-induced macrophage polarization toward an M1 phenotype and inflammatory responses in the liver of Hspa12a-/- mice were also attenuated. Loss- and gain-of-function studies revealed that the de novo lipogenesis in hepatocytes was regulated by the paracrine effects of macrophage HSPA12A rather than by hepatocyte HSPA12A. In-depth molecular analysis revealed that HSPA12A interacted with the M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) in macrophages and increased its nuclear translocation, thereby promoting M1 polarization and secretion of proinflammatory M1 cytokines; this led, ultimately, to hepatocyte steatosis via paracrine effects. Taken together, these findings show that HSPA12A acts as a novel regulator of M1 macrophage polarization and NASH pathogenesis by increasing nuclear PKM2. Strategies that inhibit macrophage HSPA12A might be a potential therapeutic intervention for NASH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we develop a non-autonomous reaction-diffusion model with the Robin boundary conditions to describe insect dispersal on an isotropically varying domain. We investigate the stability of the reaction-diffusion model. The stability results of the model describe either insect survival or vanishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the existence of positive solutions with prescribed L²-norm for two-component Kirchhoff type systems in the whole space. Under different types of potentials, we consider the L²-subcritical case and L²-critical case by the constrained variational method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Survivin overactivation is a frequent event in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), due to its function in the induction of hepatocyte proliferation and apoptotic dysfunction. Recently, a novel survivin inhibitor named YM155, has demonstrated broad antitumor effects against various malignant tumors. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore how this agent may impact on HCC and elucidate its underlying mechanism of action. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on 8 specimens of human HCC, to assess the protein expression of survivin and phosphorylated retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (p-Rb). In addition, in vitro, HepG2 and Huh7 human HCC cell lines were exposed to 100 µM YM155 for up to 72 h and the cell viability was subsequently determined using MTT assay. Furthermore, the apoptotic status of YM155-treated HCC cells was investigated by flow cytometry, and the protein levels of survivin, procaspase-3 and p-Rb in YM155-treated HCC cells were assessed by immunoblotting analysis. The results demonstrated that HCC specimens expressed high levels of survivin and p-Rb protein compared with those of adjacent noncancerous liver tissues. In vitro, YM155 significantly induced HCC cell apoptosis and growth arrest. At the protein level, YM155 markedly inhibited survivin and p-Rb expression, and elevated procaspase-3. YM155 demonstrated significant antitumor effects on HCC cells in the present study. These effects were associated with its anti-proliferative and apoptosis-induction activities. YM155 requires further investigation as a novel agent for potential use as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 1.A novel type of anti-tetra-chiral structure consisting of rolled ligaments is proposed. • 2.Analytical expressions of the plateau stress under the low, medium and high velocity impact loading are derived. • 3.The in-plane dynamic mechanical behaviors of the structures are investigated and compared. Compared with the traditional hexagonal honeycombs with positive Poisson's ratio, chiral metastructures have negative Poisson's ratio property, elevated transverse shear modulus and enhanced impact energy absorption performance, etc. In this study, the in-plane dynamic mechanical behaviors of ordinary anti-tetra-chiral honeycombs (ATH) consisting of straight ligaments with flat cross section and enhanced anti-tetra-chiral metastructures composed of rolled ligaments with curved cross section (RATH) are investigated and compared. The effects of geometric parameters of chiral structure, including α (the ratio of ligament length to ring radius),β (the ratio of ligament thickness to ring radius), γ (the ratio of ligament curvature to ring radius) and impact velocity on the plateau stress are analyzed with numerical simulation method. Theoretical formulas of the Poisson's ratio under the quasi-static compression and plateau stress are derived on the basis of the deformation modes of the metastructure at different impact velocities, and the results obtained from the analytical model are in good agreement with the numerical simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the significance of aberrant expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the activated form of mTOR kinase, phosphorylated mTOR (pmTOR), in human stage IIIB colon cancer. The expression of mTOR and pmTOR was detected by immunohistochemistry in the tumor tissue of stage IIIB colon cancer patients. The association between the expression of mTOR, pmTOR and clinicopathological parameters of patients was analyzed. The positive expression of mTOR and pmTOR was observed to be higher in 75.5% (80/106) and 76.4% (81/106) of the 106 colon cancer specimens, compared with the adjacent normal tissues. The high level of pmTOR expression was found to be significantly higher in the invasive tumor front cells and resulted in a higher risk of mortality. The results suggested that mTOR and pmTOR may be promising clinical markers and present novel molecular targets for designing novel therapeutic strategies to treat this malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Folding of proteins entering the mammalian secretory pathway requires the insertion of the correct disulfides. Disulfide formation involves both an oxidative pathway for their insertion and a reductive pathway to remove incorrectly formed disulfides. Reduction of these disulfides is crucial for correct folding and degradation of misfolded proteins. Previously, we showed that the reductive pathway is driven by NADPH generated in the cytosol. Here, by reconstituting the pathway using purified proteins and ER microsomal membranes, we demonstrate that the thioredoxin reductase system provides the minimal cytosolic components required for reducing proteins within the ER lumen. In particular, saturation of the pathway and its protease sensitivity demonstrates the requirement for a membrane protein to shuttle electrons from the cytosol to the ER. These results provide compelling evidence for the crucial role of the cytosol in regulating ER redox homeostasis, ensuring correct protein folding and facilitating the degradation of misfolded ER proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Howand when disulfide bonds form in proteins relative to the stage of their folding is a fundamental question in cell biology. Two models describe this relationship: the folded precursor model, in which a nascent structure forms before disulfides do, and the quasi-stochastic model, where disulfides form prior to folding. Here we investigated oxidative folding of three structurally diverse substrates, β2-microglobulin, prolactin, and the disintegrin domain of ADAM metallopeptidase domain 10 (ADAM10), to understand how these mechanisms apply in a cellular context. We used a eukaryotic cell-free translation system in which we could identify disulfide isomers in stalled translation intermediates to characterize the timing of disulfide formation relative to translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum and the presence of non-native disulfides. Our results indicate that in a domain lacking secondary structure, disulfides form before conformational folding through a process prone to nonnative disulfide formation, whereas in proteins with defined secondary structure, native disulfide formation occurs after partial folding. These findings reveal that the nascent protein structure promotes correct disulfide formation during cotranslational folding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]