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Pregnant women are more likely to be affected by restless legs syndrome (RLS) than the general population. Restless legs syndrome during pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Currently unknown is the worldwide and regional prevalence of RLS in pregnant women. We performed a meta-analysis to provide a full profile of the prevalence of RLS during pregnancy. A systematic search of the PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases was performed to identify studies that were published up to April 2017, followed by random-effects meta-analyses. A total of 196 articles were identified, among which 27 longitudinal and cross-sectional observational studies with 51,717 pregnant subjects were included in the analysis. The pooled overall prevalence of RLS across all three trimesters was 21%. According to the regional classification of the World health organization, the prevalence of RLS during pregnancy in the European Region, Western Pacific Region, Eastern Mediterranean Region, and Region of the Americas was 22%, 14%, 30%, and 20%, respectively. The regional prevalence in the African Region and South-East Asia Region was not assessed because of insufficient data. We also analyzed the prevalence of RLS in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, and the rates of RLS were 8%, 16%, and 22%, respectively. We also found that the high prevalence of RLS decreased to 4% after delivery. No publication bias was found in these analyses. The findings emphasize the high occurrence of RLS during pregnancy. Future studies should examine the effects of RLS during pregnancy on maternal and fetal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Point cloud data extraction is an important process in scan-tracking measurement. In this paper, a new method of on-line three-dimensional point cloud data extraction for scan-tracking measurement is proposed for reducing extremely dense sampled data while maintaining data accuracy during the real-time scan-tracking measuring process. It is inspired from sketch paintings: First outlining the broad contour of the curve and then revising local details till the interpolated curve satisfies the required accuracy. This method adopts bi-Akima spline interpolation for connecting acquired points in NC machining or for point data fitting in reverse engineering. It can reduce efficiently the amount of point data with a smaller data reduction ratio and a smoother machined/fitted surface than conventional three-dimensional chordal method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation and prediction the performance of horizontal wells completed by inflow control devices is the foundation of ICDs completion parameters design-optimization. In this work, a new semi-analytical model that couples the reservoir inflow to the downhole flow is developed for predicting the performance of horizontal wells with inflow control devices in a box-shaped reservoir with bottom-water drive. The reservoir inflow model is based on a 3D volumetric source model that incorporates reservoir permeability heterogeneity in the near well region, reservoir anisotropy, and near-wellbore formation damage. The downhole flow model considers pressure drops due to fluid flow in the tubing, ICDs, and annulus. The calculated results are compared with that obtained from reservoir simulator Eclipse™ showing a good agreement. Influential factors analysis indicates that the reduction in the ICD flow-restriction size gives an even more uniform inflow profile at the cost of reduction in well's productivity. For fractured reservoirs, the optimum well production performance is reached when the number of openhole packers is maximum, which means there is only one ICD joint per compartment. Variable ICD flow-restriction size design not only further improves the well production performance but also causes the increase in well's productivity compared with uniform ICD flow-restriction size design. Ignoring annulus flow will result in higher calculation value of well's productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The corosolic acid (CA), also known as plant insulin, is a pentacyclic triterpenoid extracted from plants such as Lagerstroemia speciosa. It has been shown to have anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. Its structural analogs ursolic acid (UA), oleanolic acid (OA), maslinic acid (MA), asiatic acid (AA) and betulinic acid (BA) display similar individual pharmacological activities to those of CA. However, there is no systematic review documenting pharmacological activities of CA and its structural analogues. This study aims to fill this gap in literature.Purpose: This systematic review aims to summarize the medical applications of CA and its analogues.Methods: A systematic review summarizes and compares the extraction techniques, pharmacokinetic parameters, and pharmacological effects of CA and its structural analogs. Hypoglycemic effect is one of the key inclusion criteria for searching Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases up to October 2020 without language restrictions. 'corosolic acid', 'ursolic acid', 'oleanolic acid', 'maslinic acid', 'asiatic acid', 'betulinic acid', 'extraction', 'pharmacokinetic', 'pharmacological' were used to extract relevant literature. The PRISMA guidelines were followed.Results: At the end of the searching process, 140 articles were selected for the systematic review. Information of CA and five of its structural analogs including UA, OA, MA, AA and BA were included in this review. CA and its structural analogs are pentacyclic triterpenes extracted from plants and they have low solubilities in water due to their rigid scaffold and hydrophobic properties. The introduction of water-soluble groups such as sugar or amino groups could increase the solubility of CA and its structural analogs. Their biological activities and underlying mechanism of action are reviewed and compared.Conclusion: CA and its structural analogs UA, OA, MA, AA and BA are demonstrated to show activities in lowering blood sugar, anti-inflammation and anti-tumor. Their oral absorption and bioavailability can be improved through structural modification and formulation design. CA and its structural analogs are promising natural product-based lead compounds for further development and mechanistic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Calcium (Ca2+) acts as a second messenger and constitutes a complex and large information exchange system between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria; this process is involved in various life activities, such as energy metabolism, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Increasing evidence has suggested that alterations in Ca2+ crosstalk between the ER and mitochondria, including alterations in ER and mitochondrial Ca2+ channels and related Ca2+ regulatory proteins, such as sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), and calnexin (CNX), are closely associated with the development of kidney disease. Therapies targeting intracellular Ca2+ signaling have emerged as an emerging field in the treatment of renal diseases. In this review, we focused on recent advances in Ca2+ signaling, ER and mitochondrial Ca2+ monitoring methods and Ca2+ homeostasis in the development of renal diseases and sought to identify new targets and insights for the treatment of renal diseases by targeting Ca2+ channels or related Ca2+ regulatory proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 90 NAC transcription factors (TFs) were identified in the eggplant genome. • Conserved motifs, conserved domains and gene structure of SmNAC genes were resolved. • Chromosomal location, gene replication and synteny of SmNAC genes were investigated. • Expression patterns of SmNAC genes were analyzed in vegetative and reproductive organs, at different developmental stages. • qRT-PCR analyses of ATAF subfamily members, exhibited a large diversity in the regulation of different abiotic stresses. NAC proteins, as one of the largest plant-specific transcription factors, play key roles in plant growth, development process, and various abiotic/biotic stresses. In this study, 90 NAC transcription factors (TFs) were identified in the eggplant genome, among them, 80 NAC genes from eggplant (SmNAC) were anchored unevenly in 12 chromosomes, but 10 SmNAC genes were mapped on unanchored scaffolds. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that only fifty-nine SmNAC genes were divided into 14 different subfamilies. Gene structure analysis revealed that the number of exons ranged from 1 to 16. Motif analysis revealed that the identified SmNAC transcription factors included the conserved NAC domain and motif2 was the conserved motif. In aspects of gene duplication analysis, five pairs of tandem replications and three pairs of fragment replications were identified in eggplant genome. Subsequently, 49 SmNAC genes were collinear with NAC genes from Arabidopsis or tomato, moreover, seven SmNAC genes were collinear with NAC genes in other two species. In addition, expression patterns of SmNAC genes were analyzed in vegetative and reproductive organs, at different developmental stages. Nine genes were not expressed in all of the examined developmental stages, 36 SmNAC genes were ubiquitously expressed in all eggplant organs/tissues, but differentially expressed in different tissues, and other 45 SmNAC genes detected in some tissues declared their involvement in the growth and development of certain tissues. Following further qRT-PCR analysis of SmNAC19, SmNAC31 and SmNAC75 , belonging to ATAF subfamily, exhibited a large diversity in expression patterns, indicating their involvement in the regulation of different abiotic stresses. This study would help to further understand and enrich the physiological function of the SmNAC gene family in eggplant, and could provide high-quality genetic resources for eggplant genetics and breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]