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Objective: Coastal cities, due to their proximity to coastlines and unique climatic conditions, face growing challenges from extreme temperature events associated with climate change. Research on the impact of extreme temperatures on tuberculosis (TB) in these cities is limited, and findings from different regions lack consensus. This study focuses on Shantou, a coastal city in China, to investigate the influence of extreme temperatures on TB within this distinctive geographical context. Methods: Distributed Lag Non-Linear Models (DLNM) were employed to evaluate the effect of extreme temperatures on TB incidence risk in Shantou, a coastal city in China, spanning from 2014 to 2021. Daily TB case data were provided by the Shantou Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Institute. Daily meteorological information was sourced from the Reliable Prognosis website, while daily air pollutant data were obtained from the China Air Quality Online Monitoring and Analysis Platform. Results: The study revealed a significant association between extreme temperatures and TB incidence, with the impact peaking at a lag of 27 days after exposure. Notably, extreme cold temperatures led to a temporary decrease in TB incidence with a lag of 1–2 days. Subgroup analysis indicated that males had a notably higher risk of TB under extreme temperature conditions compared to females. Additionally, individuals aged 65 years and above showed a significant cumulative effect in such conditions. Conclusions: This research enhances our comprehension of the effects of extreme temperatures on TB in coastal cities and carries substantial public health implications for TB prevention in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of venture capital in promoting entrepreneurship and funding innovation cannot be underestimated. However, it is important to acknowledge noteworthy concerns associated with collusive behavior in the venture capital process. "Guanxi" is a relatively intimate and closed social relationship, which can impact venture capital through trust and social obligations. Drawing on the theories of unethical pro-relational behavior and social networks, using data from GEM-listed companies supported by venture capital from 2009 to 2021, this research investigates the phenomenon of collusion behavior between venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on the influence of "guanxi". The research finds that the presence of "guanxi" between venture capitalists and entrepreneurs tends to facilitate collusive behavior. Specifically, "guanxi" tends to increase entrepreneurial self-interest behavior, and venture capitalists' returns, infringe upon minority shareholders' interests, and increase corporate operational risk. Moreover, the study further explores the moderator effect of equity incentives on such collusion behavior. This research not only enriches the theoretical framework of the relationship between "guanxi" and venture capital activities but also provides insight into the ethical implications associated with "guanxi", contributing to the broader literature on social relationships and unethical behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rock mass cracks caused by the surge of water pressure may become an important part of the water inrush channel. A large number of weak vibration signals will be induced during the hydraulic fracturing process. The source signal can be obtained by monitoring technology such as microseismic (MS) or acoustic emission. In the paper, the disaster-causing mechanism of water inrush disaster in tunnels is analyzed. The relationship between water inrush disaster and microseism is established. The main MS event is fracture development in the rock mass progressive failure water inrush. The main MS event is the impact activity of fillings and channel rock wall driven by water flow in the filling structure instability water inrush. The hydraulic fracturing test of rock-like materials is carried out. The effectiveness of acoustic emission (AE) monitoring technology is verified by comparing the fracture shape and AE positioning results. This study provides a theoretical basis for monitoring and early warning of water inrush disaster. At the same time, this research idea can provide reference for the study of engineering geological disasters such as large deformation and rockburst, and provide strong support for the safety construction of major infrastructure projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to examine the restriction of a right process on a Radon topological space, excluding a negligible set, and investigate whether the restricted object can induce a Markov process with desirable properties. We address this question in three aspects: the induced process necessitates only right continuity; it is a right process, and the semi-Dirichlet form of the induced process is quasi-regular. The main findings characterize the negligible set that meets the requirements within a universally measurable framework. These characterizations can be employed to generate instances of Markov processes that are non-right or (semi-)Dirichlet forms that are non-quasi-regular. Specifically, we will construct an example of a non-tight, strong Feller, symmetric right process on a non-Lusin Radon topological space, whose Dirichlet form is not quasi-regular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to apply machine learning (ML) techniques to develop and validate a risk prediction model for post-stroke lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) based on patients' limb function, activities of daily living (ADL), clinical laboratory indicators, and DVT preventive measures. We retrospectively analyzed 620 stroke patients. Eight ML models—logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), neural network (NN), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), Bayesian (NB), and K-nearest neighbor (KNN)—were used to build the model. These models were extensively evaluated using ROC curves, AUC, PR curves, PRAUC, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and clinical decision curves (DCA). Shapley's additive explanation (SHAP) was used to determine feature importance. Finally, based on the optimal ML algorithm, different functional feature set models were compared with the Padua scale to select the best feature set model. Our results indicated that the RF algorithm demonstrated superior performance in various evaluation metrics, including AUC (0.74/0.73), PRAUC (0.58/0.58), accuracy (0.75/0.77), and sensitivity (0.78/0.80) in both the training set and test set. DCA analysis revealed that the RF model had the highest clinical net benefit. SHAP analysis showed that D-dimer had the most significant influence on DVT, followed by age, Brunnstrom stage (lower limb), prothrombin time (PT), and mobility ability. The RF algorithm can predict post-stroke DVT to guide clinical practice. Stroke patients often have issues expressing DVT symptoms due to impaired consciousness, cognition, or sensation. The Padua scale is not well-suited for stroke patients. A DVT web calculator was created using machine learning algorithms based on limb function and daily mobility abilities. A flowchart was developed to assess the risk of lower extremity DVT after stroke, providing valuable clinical guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly investigates the oscillatory behaviors in a class of discontinuous equations with a variable delay. Under the restrictions of boundedness and monotonicity on the time-delay function, the type and distribution of zero points of the solution are firstly determined. And then, the non-existence of oscillatory solutions with infinite frequency is proven for the systems with two classes of discontinuous vector fields. In detail, by applying the inequality techniques on a backward shift operator, an exact lower bound of the time is provided to ensure the vanishing of infinite frequency oscillations after this time. The obtained results improve some previous works in the cases of the constant delay and constant vector fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

M2 microglia transplantation has previously demonstrated beneficial effects on spinal cord injury (SCI) by regulating neuroinflammation and enhancing neuronal survival. Exosomes (EXOs), secreted by almost all cell types, embody partial functions and properties of their parent cells. However, the effect of M2 microglia-derived EXOs (M2-EXOs) on SCI recovery and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we isolated M2-EXOs and intravenously introduced them into mice with SCI. Considering the reciprocal communication between microglia and astroglia in both healthy and injured central nervous systems (CNSs), we subsequently focused on the influence of M2-EXOs on astrocyte phenotype regulation. Our findings indicated that M2-EXOs promoted neuron survival and axon preservation, reduced the lesion area, inhibited A1 astrocyte activation, and improved motor function recovery in SCI mice. Moreover, they inhibited the nuclear translocation of p65 and the activation of the NF-κB signalling pathway in A1 astrocytes. Therefore, our research suggests that M2-EXOs mitigate the activation of neurotoxic A1 astrocytes by inhibiting the NF-κB signalling pathway, thereby improving spinal tissue preservation and motor function recovery following SCI. This positions M2-EXOs as a promising therapeutic strategy for SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the methods of theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation are used to investigate the force and wear behavior of disc cutter in the process of rock breaking, and the accurate prediction of wear degree is realized. First, this paper proposes an accurate calculation method of the rock failure area. Based on this method, a new model suitable for a constant cross-section disc cutter to predict the normal and rolling forces is then proposed. Furthermore, analysis and comparison of the wear of a single disc cutter and a double disc cutter under varying penetration conditions were conducted by a numerical simulation method, the simulation results showed that the wear amount of the single disc cutter between different penetration shows an obvious aggregation trend. In contrast, the wear of the double disc cutter demonstrated a linear increase as the penetration increased. Finally, the analytic hierarchy process, fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, and variable-weight theory were used to evaluate the wear degree. The evaluation model was validated by a field case in a metro section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shear strength of a jointed rock mass is a key factor for evaluating the overall stability of an engineering rock mass. Fillers have an obvious weakening effect on the shear strength of a jointed rock mass In this paper, experiments are conducted to study the mechanism by which the shear strength of a jointed rock mass filled with gypsum is weakened under hydraulic coupling effects. The experimental results are as follows. (1) During the shear process, a multipeak phenomenon can be observed in the shear displacement–shear load curve, and the existence of backfill delays the occurrence of peak shear stress. (2) The thickness of the filler obviously weakens the peak shear resistance of the rock mass by up to 53.65%. The reduction rate of the peak shear stress is positively correlated with the normal stress. In terms of the shear strength, the greater the thickness of the filler is, the greater the cohesion and the smaller the internal friction angle of the jointed rock mass. (3) The sensitivity of the peak shear stress of the filled jointed rock mass to the water content of the filler is lower than that to the thickness of the filler. The maximum reduction rate of the peak shear stress of the rock mass caused by the water content of the filler is 54.55%. Within a certain range, the greater the water content of the filler is, the greater the cohesion of the jointed rock mass and the smaller the internal friction angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the disturbance patterns of surrounding rock and soil during TBM excavation holds great significance in ensuring the safe construction of tunnels. Geomechanical model testing serves as an effective approach for such research. However, the current model tests suffer from lengthy curing times of rock similar materials and the simplification of tunneling simulation devices. To address these issues, this paper presents an innovative approach by preparing a rock similar material with early strength and good brittleness and utilizing a self-developed scaled TBM testing machine for rock breaking simulations. The conducted tests demonstrate that an increased content of sulphoaluminate cement significantly enhances the compressive-tensile ratio of the rock-like similar materials, thus indicating the excellent performance of the developed materials. The impact zone of TBM tunneling primarily encompasses the surrounding rock within 0.5D in front of the tunnel face and 2D at the rear. The proposed method for similar material preparation and the model test device put forward in this paper can serve as valuable references for similar tunneling experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood color is a crucial factor influencing the overall quality of wood products. In this study, we investigated color differences between sapwood (SW) and heartwood (HW) in 4 Chinese fir clones of the same age, using the CIE L*a*b* system. Our results revealed distinct color variations between SW and HW within the same clone, with notable discrepancies observed among different clones. Interestingly, these variation in wood color correlated with wood density, consistent with previous research. Metabolite analysis using an untargeted metabolomics approach was conducted, employing ultra-performance liquid chromatography in conjunction with a quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC/Q-TOF–MS/MS), identifying a total of 938 metabolites spanning 12 superclasses. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) revealed distinct metabolic differences between SW and HW in various Chinese fir clones, with significant variations in abundance patterns and species-specific differences observed in the HW group. Further analysis, through Orthogonal Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA), pinpointed specific metabolites responsible for these distinctions. Among these metabolites, flavonoids, recognized for their role in color formation, stood out prominently. Metabolomic pathway enrichment analysis (MPEA) indicated the involvement of these differential metabolites in various pathways, including flavonoid biosynthesis. The study underscores the intricate relationship between metabolites and wood color variation in Chinese fir clones, accentuating potential applications in enhancing wood quality and decay to resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization, the issue of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) pollution in aquatic ecosystems has become increasingly severe, posing threats to the ovarian tissue and reproductive capacity of aquatic organisms. However, the combined effects of Cu and Cd on the ovarian development of fish and other aquatic species remain unclear. In this study, female Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were individually or co-exposed to Cu and/or Cd in water. Ovarian and serum samples were collected at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days, and the bioaccumulation, ovarian development, and hormone secretion were analyzed. Results showed that both single and combined exposure significantly reduced the gonadosomatic index and serum hormone levels, upregulated estrogen receptor (er) and progesterone receptor (pr) gene transcription levels, and markedly affected ovarian metabolite levels. Combined exposure led to more adverse effects than single exposure. The data demonstrate that the Cu and Cd exposure can impair ovarian function and structure, with more pronounced adverse effects under Cu and Cd co-exposure. The Cu and Cd affect the metabolic pathways of nucleotides and amino acids, leading to ovarian damage. This study highlights the importance of considering combined toxicant exposure in aquatic toxicology research and provides insights into the potential mechanisms underlying heavy metal-induced reproductive toxicity in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permeability assessment of naturally fractured rocks and fractured rocks after fracturing is critical to the development of oil and gas resources. In this paper, based on the discrete fracture network (DFN) modeling method, the conventional discrete fracture network (C-DFN) and the rough discrete fracture network (R-DFN) models are established. Through the seepage numerical simulation of the fractured rocks under different DFN, the differences in permeability of the fractured rocks under different parameters and their parameter sensitivity are analyzed and discussed. The results show that unconnected and independent fractures in the fracture network may weaken the seepage capacity of the fractured rocks. The fractured rock permeability increases with increase in connectivity and porosity and decreases with increase in maximum branch length and fracture dip. The use of C-DFN to equate the fracture network in the fractured rocks may underestimate the connectivity of the fracture network. For the more realistic R-DFN, the promotion of gas flow by connectivity is dominant when connectivity is high, and the hindrance of gas flow by fracture roughness is dominant when connectivity is low or when it is a single fracture. The permeability of the fractured rocks with R-DFN is more sensitive to the parameters than that of the fractured rocks with C-DFN. The higher the connectivity and porosity of the fractured rocks, the more obvious the difference between the permeability of the fractured rocks evaluated by C-DFN and R-DFN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of chromium and iron on glucose metabolism via the PI3K/Akt/GLUT4 signaling pathway. Skeletal muscle gene microarray data in T2DM (GSE7014) was selected using Gene Expression Omnibus database. Element-gene interaction datasets of chromium and iron were extracted from comparative toxicogenomics database (CTD). Gene ontology (GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using DAVID online tool. Cell viability, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, and protein expression level were measured in C2C12 cells. The bioinformatics research indicated that PI3K/Akt signaling pathway participated in the effects of chromium and iron associated with T2DM. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake level was significantly higher in chromium picolinate (Cr group) and lower in ammonium iron citrate (FA group) than that for the control group (P < 0.05); chromium picolinate + ammonium iron citrate (Cr + FA group) glucose uptake level was higher than that for the FA group (P < 0.05). Intracellular ROS level was significantly higher in the FAC group than that for the control group (P < 0.05), and that for the Cr + FA group was lower than that for the FA group (P < 0.05). p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, and GLUT4 levels were significantly lower in the FA group than that for the control group (P < 0.05), and the Cr + FA group had higher levels than the FA group (P < 0.05). Chromium might have a protective effect on iron-induced glucose metabolism abnormalities through the ROS-mediated PI3K/Akt/GLUT4 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve sustainable urbanization development, it is crucial to enhance social well-being within limited ecological resources. Industrial agglomeration (IA) and technological innovation (TEI) are considered as important factors affecting eco-efficiency. This paper constructs a two-stage Super-NSBM model to measure the ecological welfare performance (EWP) of 48 major cities in the urban agglomerations of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta from 2009 to 2018, a PVAR model is also constructed to explore the relationship between industrial agglomeration (TEI), technological innovation (IA) and ecological welfare performance. The results show that: Ecological welfare performance increases year by year, and the ecological welfare performance of the production development stage (EWP1) is lower than that of the welfare development stage (EWP2). Technological innovation and industrial agglomeration have a two-way interaction, and the effects of both on ecological welfare performance have regional differences. In the short term, industrial agglomeration most significantly inhibits the ecological welfare performance of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, while technological innovation promotes the ecological welfare performance of the three major urban agglomerations; In the long term, the promoting effects of industrial agglomeration and technological innovation on ecological welfare performance gradually weaken, which are very obvious in the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta. This study has practical implications for optimizing industrial agglomeration patterns, improving technological innovation capacity and ecological welfare performance, and achieving high-quality sustainable development of urban agglomerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To clarify the risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK). In this study, we conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, and Medline, from the inception of the Literature Library to May 16, 2023. Using a specific set of keywords, including “Takayasu Arteritis”, “Tuberculosis”, and “Mycobacterium tuberculosis”, the main objective of this search was to identify all relevant observational studies, including case-control studies, cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies, that report the prevalence of TB in individuals diagnosed with TAK. Two independent evaluators rigorously screened the studies, extracted data, and assessed the study quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. Statistical analyses were conducted using R software version 4.3.0, which allowed for the synthesis of prevalence and subgroup analyses. Subgroup analyses were stratified based on quality scores, World Health Organization regional categorizations, and TB categories. Assessment of publication bias was performed using a funnel plot. The study included a total of 30 studies with 5548 participants. The findings showed that individuals with TAK exhibited an average prevalence of TB infection at 31.27% (95% CI 20.48–43.11%). Significantly, the prevalence of TB infection demonstrated notable regional disparities, ranging from 16.93% (95% CI 7.71–28.76%) in the Western Pacific Region to 63.58% (95% CI 35.70–87.66%) in the African Region. Moreover, the study revealed that patients with TAK displayed a high prevalence of latent TB infection (LTBI) at 50.01% (95% CI 31.25–68.77%) and active TB at 14.40% (95% CI 9.03–20.68%). The high heterogeneity observed in the data highlights significant variability in TB infection rates among the populations studied, with the African Region exhibiting the highest rates. The study concludes that there is a high prevalence of TB infection in the TAK population, with regional variations. Consideration should be given to implementing rigorous TB screening measures and preventive interventions specifically tailored for the TAK population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd), a typical heavy metal not essential for the human body, can cause harm to the liver and kidneys upon exposure. Hence, rapid cadmium detection in the environment is of utmost importance. This research presents an effective approach for detecting divalent cadmium ions (Cd2+) using a sensitive dual hairpin (HP) electrochemical aptasensor. The aptasensor incorporates AuPd/Fe-MOF as signal labels and Au/Cu2O as the substrate material, and the rapid detection of divalent cadmium ions (Cd2+) was based on catalytic hairpin self-assembly (CHA), as the recognition strategy. Au/Cu2O increased the specific surface area of the electrode and provided abundant sites for capturing the complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (CDNA) probe. The electrochemical signal is then amplified through synergistic catalytic hydrogen peroxide with AuPd/Fe-MOF, thereby enhancing the aptasensor's sensitivity. Moreover, the dual HP design effectively reduces the likelihood of non-specific capture and minimizes false positives. In this study, various analytical techniques were utilized to characterize the material and evaluate the aptasensor's performance. The morphological characteristics of the material were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to analyze the elemental composition and distribution of the material, respectively. The electrochemical behavior of the sensor was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), while electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) helped understand the aptasensor's assembly process. Furthermore, the aptasensor's performance was assessed using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Under the optimized experimental conditions, the constructed sensor demonstrated effective detection of Cd2+ in the concentration range of 10–4–10 µM, with a remarkably low detection limit of 2.27 × 10–5 µM. The feasibility of the sensor was validated by successfully detecting Cd2+ in real water samples.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tension failure is a common failure mode for jointed rock mass, with the rock bridge as the main body subjected to the tensile load. To reveal the jointed rock mass stability, the influence of joint persistence (JP) on the tensile capacity and failure behavior of rock bridges is investigated. Considering different JP, the direct tensile test is performed on cubic jointed rock-like specimens using a newly developed direct tensile apparatus. During the failure, an AE detector and a thermal infrared imager are used to monitor the parameters (e.g., AE and temperature). Furthermore, an RFPA3D numerical program validated by the laboratory results is proposed to further investigate the tensile behavior of rock bridges. The results show crucial precursory properties of the AE parameters, indicating that they can be used to discriminate and monitor the failure process under various JP conditions. The temperature response to tension failure is not apparent. With increased JP, the equivalent tensile strength of rock bridges and the weakening degree of rock bridges exhibit a W-shaped variation trend due to the size effect and boundary effect. The load moment effect must be considered under a large JP, and the effect of JP on the rock bridge tensile strength needs to be considered when determining the safety factor for jointed rock mass stability. This study can contribute to a better understanding of JP, thus promoting the analysis of jointed rock mass stability. Highlights: Direct tensile tests on cubic rock-like specimens were conducted on a novel test apparatus. Effect of joint persistence on tension failure behavior was investigated. AE and thermal infrared imager were utilized to analyze the tension failure mechanism. The rock bridge's tensile strength exhibited a "W-shaped" trend with joint persistence increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the rockbolt mechanism of a jointed rock mass under uniaxial tension was systematically revealed with a laboratory test and a numerical simulation. It was found that the rockbolt rock mass experienced five stages under uniaxial tension, the densification stage, elastic stage, plastic deformation stage, progressive debonding stage, and complete debonding stage. The stress-strain curve and ultimate tensile strength of a rockbolt rock mass were analyzed by taking the rockbolt spacing and rockbolt angle as variables. It was found that the improvement effect of the reduction of the rockbolt spacing on the ultimate tensile strength was limited. When the rockbolt spacing was reduced to a certain limit, the stress concentration area between adjacent rockbolts was connected and destroyed, resulting in the increase of the rockbolt rock strength becoming smaller, and even having a downward trend. The increase of the rockbolt angle led to the change of the stress mode and failure mode of the whole structure, and the ultimate tensile strength first increased and then decreased. The optimal rockbolt angle was between 60° and 70°. It is worth noting that there was an obvious mechanical occlusion between the thread on the rockbolt surface and the rock mass, resulting in the multi-stage step-down characteristic of the stress-strain curve in the complete debonding stage. The results of this study can provide a reference for the design and construction of similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we study adjunction relations between some natural functors on the representation category of the category of finite linearly ordered sets and order-preserving injections. We also prove that the Nakayama functor induces an equivalence from the Serre quotient of the category of finitely generated modules by the category of finitely generated torsion modules to the category of finite dimensional modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, several studies have revealed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play significant roles in various tumors, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Furthermore, it has been reported that circ_0005962 was upregulated in LUAD cells. Accordingly, this research is designed to investigate the mechanism of circ_0005962 on LUAD development. Circ_0005962, microRNA-3611 (miR-3611), and Cytochrome P450 family 24 subfamily A member 1 (CYP24A1) level were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell proliferation ability, cell cycle progression, and sphere formation ability were detected using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), Colony formation, flow cytometry, and sphere formation assay. Protein levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Ki67, NANOG, CD133, OCT4, and CYP24A1 were determined using Western blot assay. Using bioinformatics software (Starbase3.0 and TargetScan), the binding between miR-3611 and circ_0005962 or CYP24A1 was predicted and proved using RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays. A xenograft tumor model in vivo was used to analyze the biological role of circ_0005962 on LUAD cell growth. Increased circ_0005962 and CYP24A1, and reduced miR-3611 were observed in LUAD tissues and cell lines. Functional assays testified that circ_0005962 depletion might hinder LUAD cell proliferation and sphere formation capability, but induced cell apoptosis in vitro. Molecular mechanism experiments exhibited that circ_0005962 served as a miR-3611 sponge and mediated CYP24A1 content by absorbing miR-3611. Additionally, silencing of circ_0005962 inhibited tumor growth in xenograft modes. Together, circ_0005962 was overexpressed in LUAD, and its deficiency repressed LUAD progression via targeting the miR-3611/ CYP24A1 axis, providing a novel mechanism for understanding the development of LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, and is caused by multiple pathological factors, such as the overproduction of β-amyloid (Aβ) and the hyperphosphorylation of tau. However, there is limited knowledge of the mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis and no effective biomarker for the early diagnosis of this disorder. Thus in this study, a quantitative phosphoproteomics analysis was performed to evaluate global protein phosphorylation in the hippocampus of Aβ overexpressing APP/PS1 transgenic mice and tau overexpressing MAPT×P301S transgenic mice, two in vivo AD model systems. These animals, up to ten weeks old, do not exhibit cognitive dysfunctions and are widely used to simulate early-stage AD patients. The number of differentially phosphorylated proteins (DPPs) was greater for APP/PS1 transgenic mice than for MAPT×P301S transgenic mice. The function of the DPPs in APP/PS1 transgenic mice was mainly related to synapses, while the function of the DPPs in MAPT×P301S transgenic mice was mainly related to microtubules. In addition, an AD core network was established including seven phosphoproteins differentially expressed in both animal models, and the function of this core network was related to synapses and oxidative stress. The results of this study suggest that Aβ and tau induce different protein phosphorylation profiles in the early stage of AD, leading to the dysfunctions in synapses and microtubule, respectively. And the detection of same DPPs in these animal models might be used for early AD diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer (CC) have poor prognosis after primary treatment, and there is a lack of biomarkers for predicting patients with an increased risk of recurrence of CC. Cuproptosis is reported to play a role in tumorigenesis and progression. However, the clinical impacts of cuproptosis-related lncRNAs (CRLs) in CC remain largely unclear. Our study attempted to identify new potential biomarkers to predict prognosis and response to immunotherapy with the aim of improving this situation. The transcriptome data, MAF files, and clinical information for CC cases were obtained from the cancer genome atlas, and Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to identify CRLs. In total, 304 eligible patients with CC were randomly assigned to training and test groups. LASSO regression and multivariate Cox regression were performed to construct a cervical cancer prognostic signature based on cuproptosis-related lncRNAs. Afterwards, we generated Kaplan–Meier curves, receiver operating characteristic curves and nomograms to verify the ability to predict prognosis of patients with CC. Genes for assessing differential expression among risk subgroups were also evaluated by functional enrichment analysis. Immune cell infiltration and the tumour mutation burden were analysed to explore the underlying mechanisms of the signature. Furthermore, the potential value of the prognostic signature to predict response to immunotherapy and sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs was examined. In our study, a risk signature containing eight cuproptosis-related lncRNAs (AL441992.1, SOX21-AS1, AC011468.3, AC012306.2, FZD4-DT, AP001922.5, RUSC1-AS1, AP001453.2) to predict the survival outcome of CC patients was developed, and the reliability of the risk signature was appraised. Cox regression analyses indicated that the comprehensive risk score is an independent prognostic factor. Moreover, significant differences were found in progression-free survival, immune cell infiltration, therapeutic response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, and IC50 for chemotherapeutic agents between risk subgroups, suggesting that our model can be well employed to assess the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Based on our 8-CRLs risk signature, we were able to independently assess the outcome and response to immunotherapy of CC patients, and this signature might benefit clinical decision-making for individualized treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycled concrete reinforced by polypropylene fibers boosts an alternative sustainable solution to address the need of reusing waste concrete. This paper reports experimental and analytical studies of static and dynamic comprehensive behavior on recycled concrete specimens reinforced with different contents of polypropylene fiber (PPF). Electro-hydraulic pressure testing was used to obtain static compressive strength, whereas 74 mm diameter Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) was applied for dynamic impact compression tests at four strain rates. In addition, the reinforcing mechanism of polypropylene fiber on recycled concrete was analyzed of the micro-structure through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Finally, ANSYS/LS-DYNA was applied for the simulation of the SHPB test, which was validated by good agreements of the stress waveform and failure modes of the fiber-reinforced recycled concrete specimen during the impact test. It appears that polypropylene fiber can optimize the microscopic pore structure inside the concrete, thus effectively improving the mechanical properties of recycled concrete which were originally defected by recycled aggregate. Also, higher strain rates significantly increase dynamic compressive strength as well as impact toughness. This study shows that the optimal content of polypropylene fiber in recycled concrete is 0.1% – 0.2%. The numerical simulation by ANSYS/LS-DYNA further proved that the HOLMQUIST-JOHNSON-COOK (HJC) constitutive model can better reflect the dynamic performance of concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to characterizing so-called order isomorphisms intertwining the L 2 -semigroups of two quasi-regular Dirichlet forms. We first show that every unitary order isomorphism intertwining semigroups is the composition of h-transformation and quasi-homeomorphism. In addition, under the assumption that the underlying spaces admit so-called irreducible decompositions for Dirichlet forms, every (not necessarily unitary) order isomorphism intertwining semigroups can be expressed as the composition of h-transformation, quasi-homeomorphism and multiplication by a certain step function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To extend the peat utilization chain, and combine peat biomethane production with humic acid extraction, the effect of the spectral characteristics of humic acid extracted using strong acids from biomethane fermentation peat residue was investigated. The humic acid structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis). Fourier transform infrared results showed that the humic acid samples obtained through precipitation with different strong acids were different from the humic acid standard in terms of the functional group content. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the humic acid extracted by HNO3 and H3PO4 had a lower fused ring and a simple molecular structure. In addition, the humic acid precipitated by HNO3 had the lowest E4/E6 ratio and highest molecular weight, along with an aromatic structure. The results showed that HNO3 is the best strong acid for the extraction of humic acid from biomethane fermentation peat residue by alkali extraction and acid precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of different fermentation methods on heavy metal bioaccessibilities in wheat flour is undetermined. In this work, gastric and gastrointestinal heavy metal bioaccessibility in wheat flour products (control-wheat dough, T1-mantou made with normally fermented dough, T2-mantou made with over-fermented dough and T3-mantou made with over-fermented dough + Na2CO3) made from two wheat flour samples (NX and QD) was assessed via a modified physiologically-based extraction test. Cadmium, Zn and Mn bioaccessibility in the gastric phase (GP) was greater than in the gastrointestinal phase (GIP), yet the opposite was observed for Cu (p < 0.05). Lead bioaccessibility in the GIP of the QD sample was 1.37-4.08 times greater than that in the GP, while only the control had greater bioaccessibility in the GIP than that in the GP (p < 0.05) for the NX sample. Treatments T2 and T3 had greater Cd, Cu, Zn and Mn bioaccessibilities than the control and T1 in the GP (p < 0.05). In the GIP, however, only T3 had greater Mn bioaccessibility than the control for the NX sample. Enhanced degradation of the heavy metal-phytate following over-fermentation may have led to greater heavy metal bioaccessibility. Results should help food processors reduce human absorption of excessive heavy metals present in wheat flour foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing carbon emissions is the key to fulfilling the "double carbon commitment" and promoting the green transformation of the economy. The financial sector is the forerunner of change in economic development. The rapid development of digital finance has disrupted the traditional financial operation mode and has had a significant impact on economic development and environmental quality. This paper explores the impact of digital finance development on carbon emissions using carbon emission data from 2011 to 2017 in China's counties and combining it with the Digital Inclusive Finance Index of Peking University. The findings are as follows: (1) The development of digital finance can curb carbon emissions, and this causal relationship still holds through a series of robustness tests. The greater the carbon emissions, the better the carbon suppression effect of the development of digital finance. (2) When regions face strict financial regulation and environmental constraints, the development of digital finance can be more effective in reducing carbon emissions. The existence of a digital divide in general can weaken the disincentive effect of the development of digital finance on carbon emissions. (3) The development of digital finance can promote the development of green finance, enhance the level of green technological innovation, improve green total factor productivity, and transform energy structures, thus curbing carbon emissions. This paper not only enriches the literature on the development of digital finance and the environment but also provides a reference for government departments to improve the development strategy of digital finance and achieve "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety disorders are a major public health concern in China. Previous studies have provided evidence for associations between ambient temperature and anxiety outpatient visits, but no studies have examined short-term effects of other meteorological factors such as sunshine duration, wind speed, and precipitation on increased anxiety outpatient visits. We aimed to assess the association between climatic factors and outpatient visits for anxiety in Suzhou, a city with a temperate climate in Anhui Province, China. Daily anxiety outpatient visits, meteorological factors, and air pollutants from 2017 to 2019 were collected. A quasi-Poisson generalized linear regression model combined with distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used to quantify the effects of extreme meteorological factors (sunshine duration, wind speed, and precipitation) on anxiety outpatient visits. All effects were presented as relative risk (RR), with the 90th and 10th percentiles of meteorological factors compared to the median. Subgroup analyses by age and gender were performed to identify susceptible subgroups. A total of 11,323 anxiety outpatient visits were reported. Extremely low sunshine duration and low and high wind speed increased the risk of anxiety outpatient visits. The strongest cumulative effects occurred at lag 0–14 days, and the corresponding RRs of extremely low sunshine duration and low and high wind speed were 1.417 (95% CI: 1.056–1.901), 1.529 (95% CI: 1.028–2.275), and 1.396 (95% CI: 1.007–1.935), respectively. Subgroup analyses showed that males and people aged ≥45 years appeared to be more susceptible to the cumulative effects of extremely low sunshine duration. In addition, the adverse effects of extreme wind speed were more pronounced in the cold season. This study provides evidence that extreme climatic factors have a lagged effect on anxiety outpatient visits. In the context of climate change, these findings may help develop weather-based early warning systems to minimize the effects of extreme meteorological factors on anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Silencing of long non-coding RNA TUC338 inhibits the malignant phenotype of nasopharyngeal cancer cells via modulating the miR-1226-3p/FGF2 axis" has been retracted by the authors due to participants receiving treatment in other hospitals before their tissue was collected for analysis, not meeting the study's inclusion criteria. The results and conclusions of the study may not be reliable as a result. The retraction was agreed upon by all authors involved. [Extracted from the article]

Multi-source weighted-ensemble precipitation (MSWEP) is one of the most popular merged global precipitation products with long-term spanning and high spatial resolution. While various studies have acknowledged its ability to accurately estimate precipitation in terms of temporal dynamics, its performance regarding spatial pattern and extreme rainfall is overlooked. To fill this knowledge gap, the daily precipitation of two versions of MSWEP (MSWEP V2.1 & V2.2) are compared with that of three representative satellite- and reanalysis-based products, namely the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM 3B42 V7), the climate prediction center morphing technique satellite-gauge merged product (CMORPH BLD), and the fifth-generation reanalysis product of the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ERA5). The comparison is made according to the dense daily rainfall observations from 539 rain gauges over the Huaihe River Basin in China during 2006–2015. The results show that MSWEP V2.1, MSWEP V2.2 and CMORPH BLD have better performance on temporal accuracy of precipitation estimation, followed by ERA5 and TRMM 3B42 V7. MSWEPs yield the most even spatial distribution across the basin since it takes full advantage of the multi datasets. As the weighted-ensemble method is independently carried out on each grid in MSWEPs, the spatial distribution of local precipitation is changed by different source data, which results in that MSWEPs perform worse than CMORPH BLD in terms of the representation of precipitation spatial pattern. In addition, the capability of MSWEPs to describe the spatial structure in the rainy season is lower than that in the dry season. Strong precipitation (⩾100 mm/d) events are better represented in TRMM 3B42 V7 products than in MSWEPs. Finally, based on the comparison results, we suggest to improve the merging algorithm of MSWEP by considering the precipitation spatial self-correlation and adjusting the merging weights based on the performance of the source datasets under different precipitation intensities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the tunneling process for constructing subway shields in cities aiming at preventing the risk of water and mud inrush in fault fracture zones and with abundant groundwater. Here, we studied the influence law and the response sensitivity of shield cutter heads with different types and diameters on the critical safety distance. Likewise, we reveal the influence law and response sensitivity of the front fault fracture zone with different thicknesses and water pressure on the critical safety distance. This study simulates the propulsion process of shield tunnels and the moment of water inrush using COMSOL Multiphysics fluid–structure coupling method. Using a numerical simulation of a three-dimensional finite element model, we obtained a formula for a critical safe distance for the fault fracture zone in front of the shield tunnel. This research has particular relevance to the construction of metro shield excavations in cities with fault fracture zones and abundant underground water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on the mechanical response characteristics of supporting structure of closely spaced super large span twin tunnels based on the field monitoring. The pressure on the primary supporting and the axial force of rock bolt were taken into account, and three sections of the twin tunnels were selected to conduct a continuous monitoring which lasted for 328 days. It was found that the steel arch and the shotcrete were the main bearing structures during the excavation of a single super large span tunnel, and the bolts play a certain suspension role only after the excavation of the lower half of the section. During the excavation of the lagging tunnel, obvious asymmetry was found between the loading statuses of the leading tunnel and the lagging tunnel. The bolts of the leading tunnel approximately failed after the excavation of the lagging tunnel, the steel arch and shotcrete bore larger pressure. Obvious asymmetry was also found between the pressure on the two sides of the leading tunnel, the primary supporting on the side away from the rock pillar borne larger pressure. According to the monitoring results, it is recommended to adopt unequal supporting parameters in the design of closely spaced super large span twin tunnels to improve the supporting strength of dangerous parts. This paper might serve as a reference for the design and construction of similar tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of total Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn in soils (0–5 cm) and windowsill dust fractions (45–125, 10–45, and < 10 μm), and soil pollution indices (PI), were investigated in a long-term (~ 70 years) Pb smelter area and in the nearby urban city of Jiyuan, China. Principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized to identify metal contamination sources. Results showed that mean soil Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn concentrations in the smelter area were 803, 13.8, 118, and 323 mg kg−1, while those of the urban area were 270, 7.95, 51.6, and 244 mg kg−1, respectively. Lead and Cd had greater soil PI than Cu and Zn. Lead concentrations in the 45–125, 10–45, and < 10-μm urban dust fractions ranged from 197.1 to 1953 (mean 1020), 202–3962 (2407), and 51.1–1258 (310.7) mg kg−1, while Cd concentrations ranged from 11.1 to 111 (49.2), 10.4–159 (64.3) and 21.5–131 (60.0) mg kg−1, respectively. Excessive Zn concentrations (5000–22,000 mg kg−1) in some urban dust samples were found at two sampling sites, while Zn concentrations were < 2600 mg kg−1 in all other samples. Based on PCA results, metal accumulation near the Pb smelter was dominated by smelting activities. The PCA results further suggested that mass vehicular transportation modes may be an important source of metals such as Cu and Zn in the urban area. Certain samples in both sub-areas had unsafe potential non-carcinogenic risks of Pb for children. These findings suggest that reducing environmentally relevant metal concentrations in this, and similar areas, will likely require a multi-faceted approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a lack of studies on bullying in non-western low-income and middle-income countries. This study reported the prevalence of traditional victimization, cybervictimization, and the combination of these, in 13 European and Asian countries, and explored how psychiatric symptoms were associated with victimization. The data for this cross-sectional, school-based study of 21,688 adolescents aged 13–15 were collected from 2011 to 2017. The main outcomes were traditional and cybervictimization obtained from student self-reports. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess psychiatric symptoms. Generalized estimating equation and logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). The mean prevalence of any victimization was 28.9%, of traditional victimization only, this was 17.7%, and for cybervictimization only this was 5.1%. Cybervictimization occurred both independently, and in combination with, traditional victimization. The mean prevalence of combined victimization was 6.1%. The mean proportion of those who were cyberbullied only among those who were either cyberbullied only or bullied both traditionally and in cyber was 45.1%. The rates of prevalence varied widely between countries. In the total sample, those who experienced combined victimization, reported the highest internalizing symptoms (girls, OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.22–1.29; boys, OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.25–1.33). The study findings suggest that anti-bullying interventions should include mental health components and target both traditional and cyberbullying. Due to the overlap between these, targeting bullying should primarily focus on how to reduce bullying behavior rather than just focusing on where bullying takes place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water inrush due to rock mass progressive failure in karst tunnels is one of the disasters in tunnel construction. The practical measures to ensure the safety of tunnel construction are to clarify the mechanism of water inrush and reserve the safety thickness. In this paper, the geomechanical model test and numerical simulation were carried out based on the Xiema Tunnel in Chongqing, China. The results of the displacement and hydraulic pressure of the monitoring points in the physical and numerical models were analyzed. In view of the reserved safety thickness between the tunnel face and the water-filled karst cave, the orthogonal numerical simulation tests were designed considering the influence of the tunnel diameter, the cave diameter, the cave water pressure, and the surrounding rock grade. The influence laws and response sensitivity of each factor on the safety thickness were obtained. According to the numerical simulation results and the multiple linear regression method, the formula of safety thickness was derived. Finally, some measures and suggestions for preventing and controlling water inrush disasters were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomedicine holds promise to enhance cancer immunotherapy; however, its potential to elicit highly specific anti-tumor immunity without compromising immune tolerance has yet to be fully unlocked. This study develops deep-tissue activatable cancer sono-immunotherapy based on the discovery of a semiconducting polymer that generates sonodynamic singlet oxygen (1O2) substantially higher than other sonosensitizers. Conjugation of two immunomodulators via 1O2-cleavable linkers onto this polymer affords semiconducting polymer immunomodulatory nanoparticles (SPINs) whose immunotherapeutic actions are largely inhibited. Under ultrasound irradiation, SPINs generate 1O2 not only to directly debulk tumors and reprogram tumor microenvironment to enhance tumor immunogenicity, but also to remotely release the immunomodulators specifically at tumor site. Such a precision sono-immunotherapy eliminates tumors and prevents relapse in pancreatic mouse tumor model. SPINs show effective antitumor efficacy even in a rabbit tumor model. Moreover, the sonodynamic activation of SPINs confines immunotherapeutic action primarily to tumors, reducing the sign of immune-related adverse events. To improve the specificity of immunotherapy, here the authors report the design of a semiconducting polymer immunomodulatory nanoparticle with sonodynamic process to remotely release immune-modulators for deep-tissue precision cancer sono-immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe industrial pollution is puzzling human health in the world. How to reduce industrial pollution is worth to be concerned about. Some studies have verified that high-speed railways (HSRs) can directly reduce environmental pollution via green technology. However, the indirectly environmental reducing effect of the HSRs from the regulation effect perspective is rarely explored. To address this research gap, this study used information asymmetry theory and the promotion tournament theory to examine the relationship between high-speed railways (HSRs) and industrial pollution by focusing on the mediating role of environmental regulations and the moderating role of officials' political promotion incentives. Based on a sample of 113 prefecture-level cities, with balanced panel data in China from 2009 to 2017, using the difference-in-differences model, the results show that HSRs can reduce industrial pollution by 22.68% on average. The mechanism is HSRs that can improve the environmental regulation, which plays the mediating effect to further reduce industrial pollution. Additionally, high officials' political promotion incentives can strengthen this mediating effect. A propensity score matching with the difference-in-differences model and the instrumental variable method is used to solve endogenous problems, and a placebo test and a parallel trend test indicate that these results are robust. This study suggests some policy implications on developing environment-friendly transportation and improving environmental regulations to reduce industrial pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel smart solid-gel phase change materials (PCMs) with the photoluminescence and thermochromic properties were designed and fabricated in a simple way. In this work, luminescent mesoporous alumina (LMAa) was firstly prepared through pomelo peel bio-template method, which showed a better photoluminescence performance under the condition of 254 nm light. Next, LMAa and thermochromic pigment (TP) were evenly dispersed in the gelled capric–myristic–stearic fatty eutectic (CA-MA-SA) using magnetic stirring method, in which hydroxypropyl cellulose served as gelling agent, CA-MA-SA as good thermal storage PCM, LMAa as excellent fluorescent material, and TP as visible temperature change indicator. Some advanced techniques were introduced to characterize physical, chemical, and thermal properties of composite PCMs. Results showed that the CA-MA-SA/LMAa1.0 displays obvious luminescence under 254 nm UV light, excellent thermochromic ability from off-white to red as rising the ambient temperature from 35 to 45 °C, limited fluidity at 60 °C, suitable phase change temperature around 19.11 °C, high latent heat about 114.3 J g−1, and so on. The ideal shape stability, thermal, photoluminescent, and reversible thermochromic properties of composite PCMs had not only great application prospect in the field of thermal energy storage, but also brought convenience in practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) and their diester metabolites have been frequently found in various environmental matrices and regarded as emerging environmental pollutants, whereas data on their occurrence in foods and human matrices are still limited. In this study, a novel and simple procedure was developed to simultaneously determine 14 OPEs and 6 diester metabolites in dairy products and human milk. After enzymatic hydrolysis by β-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase, a freeze-dried milk sample was extracted with acetonitrile and purified by solid-phase extraction. Subsequently, all target compounds were determined by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Linearity, limits of detection (LODs), recovery, precision, and matrix effects of the proposed methodology were validated, and the parameters of HPLC-ESI-MS/MS were optimized. LODs for OPEs and their diester metabolites were from 0.001 to 0.02 ng/mL, and limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.01–0.3 ng/mL. Average recoveries at two spiked levels ranged between 67.3 and 121%, with relative standard deviation lower than 20.7%. A test for matrix effects showed that most analytes presented signal suppression, and isotopically labeled ISs were essential for compensating for the matrix effects. Finally, OPEs and their metabolites both showed high detecting frequencies in real samples, which indicated that these emerging pollutants were ubiquitous in foods and the human body, and the impact of the diester metabolites on population exposure must be included in exposure assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural killer (NK) cells play important roles in controlling virus-infected and malignant cells. The identification of new molecules that can activate NK cells may effectively improve the antiviral and antitumour activities of these cells. In this study, by using a commercially available metabolism-related compound library, we initially screened the capacity of compounds to activate NK cells by determining the ratio of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)+ NK cells by flow cytometry after the incubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with IL-12 or IL-15 for 18 h. Our data showed that eight compounds (nafamostat mesylate (NM), loganin, fluvastatin sodium, atorvastatin calcium, lovastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin calcium, and pitavastatin calcium) and three compounds (NM, elesclomol, and simvastatin) increased the proportions of NK cells and CD3+ T cells that expressed IFN-γ among PBMCs cultured with IL-12 and IL-15, respectively. When incubated with enriched NK cells (purity ≥ 80.0%), only NM enhanced NK cell IFN-γ production in the presence of IL-12 or IL-15. When incubated with purified NK cells (purity ≥ 99.0%), NM promoted NK cell IFN-γ secretion in the presence or absence of IL-18. However, NM showed no effect on NK cell cytotoxicity. Collectively, our study identifies NM as a selective stimulator of IFN-γ production by NK cells, providing a new strategy for the prevention and treatment of infection or cancer in select populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under high ground stress and strong mining disturbance, the broken block rock mass is prone to slip along the interface, inducing ultra-low friction rock burst dynamic disasters. Considering the high stress environment of deep rock masses, the broken rock mass around the deep roadway is taken as the research object, the dynamic model of block rocks with overburden pressure is established, and a new formula of normal force between blocks is derived based on the changes of block acceleration and normal force, and compared with the previous experimental data to verify the reliability of the established model. The influence of spring stiffness coefficient, inter-block damping, block mass, frequency, amplitude, and overburden pressure of vertical impact load on normal force of the working block is analyzed for rock mass perturbed by vertical and horizontal bidirectional disturbance, and it is found that the ultra-low friction effect between blocks is determined by the minimum value of normal force. The results show that during the vertical movement of the block, the normal force change can be divided into four stages: super extrusion, strong extrusion, weak extrusion, and relative separation. When the granite block model is perturbed by vertical and horizontal bidirectional perturbations, the frequency and amplitude of the vertical impact load, the mass of the block, the spring stiffness coefficient, and the damping between the blocks have a significant impact on the normal force of the working block. The minimum normal force increases in parabolic form with the increase of vertical shock frequency, mass, and damping coefficient between blocks, and decreases linearly with the increase of vertical shock amplitude and spring stiffness coefficient. The smaller the mass of the block, the larger the spring stiffness coefficient, the smaller the damping coefficient; and under the action of low-frequency disturbance and strong impact load, the smaller the minimum normal force, the higher the possibility of the block rock mass inducing ultra-low friction effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although bismuth trioxides (Bi2O3) are a common starting point for bismuth chemistry, the heat capacities and thermodynamic properties of Bi2O3 are not determined. In this paper, high pure α-Bi2O3 containing 0.228 mol H2O was obtained by thermal decomposition of Bi(Ac)3. The heat capacity data from 1.9 to 293 K of α-Bi2O3⋅0.228H2O is measured by the use of physical property measurement system (PPMS). We use different mathematical physics equations to fit the experimental data in three temperature regions of T < 7 K, 7 < T < 66 K, and T > 66 K, respectively. The standard molar heat capacity, entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy are calculated as (113.71 ± 0.11) J K–1 mol–1, (150.07 ± 0.15) J K–1 mol–1, (21.51 ± 0.22) kJ mol–1, and (–23.23 ± 0.23) kJ mol–1, respectively, at T = 298.15 K. The obtained results will fill in the lack of thermodynamic data of Bi2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to adjust buildings temperature, a dodecanol (DD)-palmitic acid (PA)/hydroxylpropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) composite phase change material was prepared by vacuum impregnation. DD-PA was absorbed into the HPMC, which was verified by specific surface area, pore size (BET) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) indicated that the HPMC and DD-PA were only physical combination. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that the phase change temperature and latent heat were 19.34 ºC and 113.12 J g−1, which means good energy storage capacity. The 5% mass loss temperatures (T-5%) of thermo-gravimetric analysis (TG) was higher than 50 ºC, showing the good thermal stability of composite phase change materials. About 60% DD-PA was absorbed in HPMC, which detected by DSC and TG. After 100 thermal cycling, the latent heat, onset temperature (T0), peak temperature (Tpeak) and end temperature (Tend) had changed −1.02%, −8.20%, −4.29% and −5.60%. The result showed that the composite phase change materials own good thermal reliability. In addition, the 2% multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MW CNTs) were added to improve the thermal conductivity. And the thermal conductivity was increased from 0.130 to 0.172 W (mK)−1, the total thermal storage-release time was decreased from 3740 to 2310 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant cancer with an increasing incidence. Circular RNA (circRNA) is recently found to participate in the regulation of CRC progression. However, the role of circ_0007031 in CRC malignant progression remains elusive. 50 CRC patients were implicated in this study. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the RNA expression of circ_0007031, microRNA-485-3p (miR-485-3p) and maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK). Western blot analysis was conducted to determine protein expression. Cell viability and proliferation were demonstrated by cell counting kit-8 and 5-Ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays, respectively. Cell cycle and apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry analysis. The interaction among circ_0007031, miR-485-3p and MELK was predicted by online databases, and identified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Mouse model assay was conducted to reveal the effect of circ_0007031 on tumor formation in vivo. Circ_0007031 and MELK expression were obviously increased, while miR-485-3p expression was decreased in CRC tissues and cells compared with normal colorectal tissues or cells. Circ_0007031 knockdown repressed proliferation, whereas induced cell arrest at G0/G1 phase and apoptosis. On the opposite, circ_0007031 overexpression promoted cell proliferation and induced cell arrest at S phase. Additionally, miR-485-3p inhibitors attenuated circ_0007031 silencing-mediated CRC cell malignancy. MiR-485-3p was unveiled to regulate CRC cell processes via targeting MELK. Circ_0007031 controlled MELK expression via interacting with miR-485-3p. Furthermore, circ_0007031 contributed to tumor formation in vivo. Circ_0007031 knockdown repressed CRC malignant progression by reducing MELK expression through associating with miR-485-3p, suggesting that circ_0007031 was a potential target for the therapy of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to further study the mechanism of rockburst, the relationship between the test model of block rock mass and the structural characteristics of "whipping effect" was established. Based on the structural characteristics of height ratio and width ratio, the self-developed ultra-low friction test loading device was used to investigate the response characteristics of ultra-low friction effect of working block under the combined action of axial compression, stress wave disturbance, and horizontal impact. The results show that: (1) there is a close relationship between the ultra-low friction whipping strength of the working block and its mass, size, and external load. (2) In the absence of stress wave disturbance, the height-width ratio has significant influence on the horizontal displacement response of the working block, HW/SW = (0.8 ~ 1.2); under the stress wave disturbance, the dynamic response characteristics of the working block are studied from the perspectives of width ratio and height ratio respectively. The significant effects of height-width ratio are 0.5–0.63 and 0.8–1.2. (3) When the amplitude of stress wave disturbance is different, the horizontal displacement of the same working block shows the same variation trend with the frequency of stress wave disturbance, and fluctuates with the increase of frequency (first increase, then decrease, and then increase). When HW/SW is equal to 0.5, 0.56, 0.8, and 1.2 respectively, the response of ultra-low friction effect produced by corresponding working conditions is particularly significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]